The Lion's Court (D9, Early Afternoon)

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

Matsu Mogami wrote:

"One Seppun Kato is having Mya Heralds go all throughout the Empire and declare that the Crown Prince is illegitimate, that the Empress needs to step down, and that he will take the throne."

Kayou was momentary shocked before years of schooling took over and she restored her on. "That is . . . unexpected. It seems unlike Seppun-dono to make such a . . . blatant grab for power."

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Thu Apr 23, 2020 2:37 pm

“Utterly despicable if you ask me. An insult to the Empress and her honor, and a misuse of Imperial power for person gain. Heralds shouldn’t be able to ferry individuals message across the Empire.”

Mogami motions to a few gathered.

“Already the news has swayed influential people to speak out for him. Our courts are much more divided than in Toshi no Omoidoso”

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

Kayou nods. "Those that seek power at the price of more death and destruction . . ." she lets that thought trail off.

"It is a dark time. May the Fortunes and the Tao guide us back to a better path."

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Thu Apr 23, 2020 3:02 pm

“Indeed..”

Mogami has a hard look set on her face as a few more speak out for both the Separatists and for the Traditionalists.

“”This could cause the Empire to be at war with itself long after the Steel Chrysanthemum is dealt with.”

She shakes her head and sighs.

“Will your order be able to withstand such bloodshed?”

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Thu Apr 23, 2020 3:47 pm

Seitouna follows the conversations around him in the room, adds to his notes.

Quote:

It was perhaps not a surprise that Suzume Chihaya spoke in favor of Seppun Kato. The entanglement between the Sparrow and the Spider has not been unmarked, though not much can be done about it. It was more surprising, given events, that another Matsu spoke in the same line; one would think that the Matsu would be less fond of having one born to them described so.

Doji Monkhbaatar · **Joined:** Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:29 am **Posts:** 231

Moto Akemi wrote:

"Every voice, big or small, is equally important" Akemi shook her head with a smile "as the Tao teaches us, The dragonfly's buzz is no different from the lion's roar. All creatures have a voice with which they express the Way. So it is with us. Never devalue yourself because you feel your voice is lesser. It's not."

"Kind of you to say so, but if that were true, then ones position in the celestial hierarchy would have no bearing on their words. But it does. The reality is more complex than the ideal."

Moto Akemi · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 4:29 am **Posts:** 258

Doji Monkhbaatar wrote:

"Kind of you to say so, but if that were true, then ones position in the celestial hierarchy would have no bearing on their words. But it does. The reality is more complex than the ideal."

"Ones position in the hierarchy does affect the weight on ones words, but that does not mean those lower down do not have a voice at all. Shinseis words inspired the Kami themselves, and he was but a man, ne? Many that have spoken here stand at the same footing in the celestial hierarchy, yet they are heard. Why not Doji-san?" Akemi smiled at the man.

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

Kodama wrote:

"Samurai-samas, I will not take up much of your time. It is my understanding that the veracity of the heir's existence has been called into question. Is there any who can inform me why such a question should not be answered in a duel where the heir is guarded by their yojimbo, the Emerald Champion, thereby clarifying for all the truth as known by the Heavens, who none can deny, know it?"

Kodama approaches the court again, kneeling to bow before the assembled samurai. "Thank you mina-samas for your silent answers. Obviously the accusation brought forth by Seppun Kato-sama is a severe one. I can see that Shinsei's wisdom, 'You own every word you speak.', has many reevaluating their stances from previous days."

He pauses a moment, looking around the room.

"I can tell that Seppun Kato-sama knows the Tao as well, for which I am gladdened. He has taken to heart the adage, 'The art of war is to put your enemy in a position that he cannot fight from.' For the Empress and her word is as far above him, as a shisha is from him."

"I must ask you then to ask yourselves. Why is his word seized so readily? As the Fortune of Heroes often said, 'Know the ground that you stand upon and what it is that you will defend, or risk dying in the bog that was created for others to drown in.'"

He bows deeply, then rises and retreats to the outskirts of the court, unsure of what more he could do to serve.

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya, not having been challenged directly or immediately, had returned to her seat, losing herself in her contemplation of her form.

Ever since the duel something had been bothering her, and now she dedicated her full energy and focus toward figuring it out.

---- brainstorming a kata roll: https://orokos.com/roll/801847 ----

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

Horonigai looks to the monk with narrowed eyes and thinks, one that speaks of the Right of the Heavens should know better before inciting challenges in the name of others.

She nearly gets ready to refute the man's words, but since there was no clear offense to Family, Lord and Emperor, she shows compassion, and kills it with kindness.

Her fan pops closed.

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

Matsu Mogami wrote:

“Indeed..”

Mogami has a hard look set on her face as a few more speak out for both the Separatists and for the Traditionalists.

“”This could cause the Empire to be at war with itself long after the Steel Chrysanthemum is dealt with.”

She shakes her head and sighs.

“Will your order be able to withstand such bloodshed?”

"It is deeply troubling on many levels," Kayou says quietly before dropping her voice to a whisper. "Especially as this turns the Lions and Scorpions again each other when they have been firm allies for years."

"This one's Order will be overlooked, no one cares about monks teaching farmers to grow more millet. It is the Four Temples that will suffer, they will have to choose a side and whichever one they choose, the others will punish them for it."

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Thu Apr 23, 2020 10:14 pm

“I am glad your people will be overlooked. It is reassuring to know you and yours will be safe.”

“As far as the Lion and Scorpion go, it is troublesome but time will tell what happens. I have been feeling like they already are hesitant about us.”

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

"Each clan ultimately looks to its own ends first," says Kayou, "as night follows day."

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

Myo-en has been an easy-to-overlook presence off at the side of the court chamber, eyes half-closed and mind roaming toward emptiness as the sounds of the debate flow through her ears. After a considerable time, thought takes shape of its own accord, and she rises to speak.

"Isn't it said of an enlightened ruler that 'His achievements blanket the world but appear not to be his own doing. His transforming influences touches the ten thousand things but the people do not feel they must depend on him. With him there is no promotion or praise, and he lets everything find its own enjoyment.'" She spreads her hands at her sides. "Now we have one man who kills by treachery to reclaim what the Wheel long ago carried away from him, and another who seizes the moment of danger and fear to magnify his own name. How is this rulership enlightened?"

Myo-en shrugs gently. "I do not know the Empress, but do I know she does not desire the throne for her son enough to have sinned as these others have. Perhaps that should be enough. "

She sits and slips back into her half-meditation again.

------
D9 EA Influence (Imperialist)--Courtier/Awa, adding 4 of 6 bo---nus dice from Crane tattoo, VP, 3 raises (TN 30): 9d10o10k4 32

+4 Imperialist

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:45 pm

“I imagine during times like this you must be glad that the Brotherhood is officially removed from all such things.”

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:57 pm

Tsukimi listened to the words of her senpai, and nodded in agreement.

Sometimes, the wisest course of action was to do nothing, and let the decievers fool themselves. To do nothing was also the most difficult thing to do.

Doji Monkhbaatar · **Joined:** Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:29 am **Posts:** 231

Moto Akemi wrote:

"Ones position in the hierarchy does affect the weight on ones words, but that does not mean those lower down do not have a voice at all. Shinseis words inspired the Kami themselves, and he was but a man, ne? Many that have spoken here stand at the same footing in the celestial hierarchy, yet they are heard. Why not Doji-san?" Akemi smiled at the man.

"I have a hard time believing Shinsei was but a man," he replies with a chuckle.

The Hilsilage · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:15 pm **Posts:** 160

The Hilsilage chooses to support the suggestions of others in this more complicated court.

"It would not do to make an opinion of such a complex situation without input, but I clearly see the wisdom in the words of those who speak for the Empress and her child."

(The Hilsilage manages to highlight a few good points already made.)

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

Wasako had been sitting quietly for the majority of her participation in court today. However, she wasn't going to let another day pass by without another attempt. Despite the variety of opinions, nobody had changed her mind and she stayed the course regarding stabilize.

She kept her words simple this time to the court, "It may be a question validity but none can question the Empress's role and commitment to the Throne. In this time of uncertainty, it's the sort of earnest commitment that can grant confidence."

The result: Day 9, Courtier/Awareness at TN15: Void used for Imperialist: 3d10 22

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

Matsu Mogami wrote:

“I imagine during times like this you must be glad that the Brotherhood is officially removed from all such things.”

Kayou nods. "Officially, yes, but as you must of noticed, monks like to meddle." She gives a small smile.

The Lion's Court (D9, Early Afternoon)

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