[D8 - LE - Phoenix's Blessing] A Prayer to Ekibyogami (Open)

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"You may call me Mari, Isawa-sama. It is a pleasure to meet you." True, an Isawa could make a ronin shugenja a little nervous, but she and the monk knew each other apparently. "Come to remember the fortunes as the evening wanes, I presume?"

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

"It has been quite some time." she nodded. "I wish our meeting again was under better circumstances."

"It is nice to meet you, Mari-san." she gave the ronin a nod. "You are correct. The guidance of the Fortunes is greatly needed now."

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"Hai," sighs Kayou. "All prayers are welcome and hopefully some will be answered."

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"Sometimes, the answer is regrettably no, and that we must endure... though hopefully not tomorrow. At the least, the water kami are in a better mood of late. It is nice to not have headaches from simple prayer." She was definitely grateful for that.

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

"Hai. The Water Dragon and the Rain Dragon have been very accommodating." she smiled. She still felt diminished by the cost, but to Miwako it was worth it.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"This one is pleased that the Heavens have not completely abandoned us in these trying times," says Kayou.

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"I had heard something to the effect of the dragon's involvement, but it is hard to believe they would intervene in mortal affairs so. Not that I am complaining. I have been able to offer healing and rice far more easily than I would normally." A shake of her head. She was still struggling to believe. "Do we know at all how long this will last, I wonder?"

After all, as much as it was valuable, the city could only take so much rain...

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou shook her head. "Nothing seems in balance at the moment. It is difficult to predict anything."

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

"I am not sure." she admitted. "I'm a little surprised it has lasted this long. If it becomes problematic, there may be ways to address it."

Not for the first time, the Phoenix wondered how far the rains extended and whether they followed her. Would it be prudent for her to leave?

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

Mari nodded. "I suppose with such a change, such a righting of the balance locally, there is bound to be a complexity, something we can't put our fingers on. Even at our greatest, we are sometimes fumbling in the dark with magical forces, are we not?" She certainly felt that way at times.

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

"It is a complex situation." she agreed. "The adundance of the water kami has brought cleansing and healing, but may also cause harm and difficulty. But, asking the Heavens to cease this blessing, may be more difficult than requesting it."

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"This one leaves such deep knowledge to those who can talk to the kami and expect to be answered," says Kayou. "This one only has prayer and hard work to offer."

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"I cannot even imagine what it would take to ask them for the blessing in the first place. But as you said, a dragon will act where it will. And by its will, it will accomplish its intentions regardless of our positions. for the moment, though... it is a good thing. Messy? Yes, but the power that flows is purifying. I have felt better than I have in months." She nodded over to Kayou.

"I fear that my humble prayers aren't likely to reach Tengoku's ear. I'm almost a little concerned to ride the Water Dragon right now, wondering if even my own elemental water has been impacted. Thankfully there's been no need."

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

"If the dragon agreed to this blessing, at personal cost to yourself, would you accept?" she asked reflectively. "If it weakened your own connection to the water kami, would it be worth it? Would you consider undoing it?"

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"That..."

She looked visibly taken aback by the question, like it was something that she had never considered at any point in her life. On the hand, would she? She supposed it might be worth it to lose some fragment of her connection to the Earth to make them behave rationally around her. On the other...

"I honestly, Isawa-sama, do not think it is a question I could answer because I would never dare grace the halls of heaven with one such as I's presence. I suppose I would be willing to make the sacrifice if it would do it, but I could never see myself ask. Why do you ask?"

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

"You might be surprised what you would dare, in service to the kami and mankind." she smiled softly. "It's unthinkable to be so bold. But, compared to those defending us with their lives, like Kayou-sensei, it feels like a small thing."

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"It is sometime wise to consider what one's moral limit are," says Kayou quietly. "Hopefully they will not be tested. But understanding one's own heart is important."

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"In this case... it is a feeling that I am not worthy of the halls of heaven is all," she said midly. "If I had the opportunity to set things right, I might be willing to do almost anything to accomplish it. Some things are worthy of sacrifice." She just didn't think herself worthy of ever asking such a thing.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"The which is good, will sacrifice itself for others," says Kayou, "the Dark sacrifices others for its own ends."

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"Yes it does," she agreed firmly. "And once it has laid its hooks into them, it uses them as vessels to sacrifice others in its name." She was sincere in her conviction there. Kayou wasn't wrong at all. Jigoku and Tengoku could be seen in that one distinction. Where one was selfless and demanding of those who would touch it, the other would permit anyone and inherently jealous and selfish. It was the way of the world.

[D8 - LE - Phoenix's Blessing] A Prayer to Ekibyogami (Open)

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