(D10, EA, Open) Lunching in the Rain

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

Poemu looked thoughtful at that. "I have never been to Unicorn or Crane lands, so it is hard to know what to compare them to." There was a long pause before she continued.

"You have been traveling Lion lands now for at least a week, yes, even if most of that time has been in cities? Imagine the plains around Lion lands, but much of it remains uncultivated. There are mountains on the horizons, but the land itself there is relatively flat. To the south is the Shinomen Mori's northern most reaches, so it is never a dull view."

"The small Miya villages are peaceful and quaint, with few but happy people. Kyuden Miya itself is about as metropolitan as a Dragon city, which is to say small compared to most other clan's head city's. It is well maintained, clean and bright, yet lacks ostentatious displays." Trailing off, Poemu smiled. "Does that answer well Doji-san?"

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

He nods. "It's not too dissimilar from places in Unicorn lands. Though a large portion had been cultivated by the Lion before our return. But we need a good amount of uncultivated land for grazing and raising horses. Feeding them too much grain gets them fat."

"Hopefully one day I'll get to visit the lands of each clan."

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

"That is the same reason there is much uncultivated land in Miya territory too, the horses." Poemu smiled brightly. "Though from what I have heard, Unicorn steed's are quite larger than what I've known my whole life, is that true?"

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

"The standard horses are larger, but the Otaku's steeds are massive in comparison. Maybe twice the size of the horses I've seen from the Empire? Only the Otaku are allowed to ride them though. And only the women can ride them into battle, the men can only ride them if they are selected for the duty of breeding, raising and training them."

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

What a strange custom. She didn't say so out loud, but the Dragon were very much open minded. "That sounds like an imposing horse indeed. I'm sure they're quite lovely as well."

"You're own steed must be quite the talk in Kyuden Doji."

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

"A few have asked about it, yes. But for the most part people just seem to like watching her run around if they're interested at all. I'm trying to socialize her with the other horses but they haven't quite accepted her yet," he says.

"Do you ride?"

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

The question brought a slight smirk to Poemu's face. "Hai, I do. It is one of the foremost skills taught to the Miya Heralds. I'm guessing it's a bit different than the training of Unicorn riding."

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

"I would guess so. For most Unicorn, riding is a matter of course at least. For a great number of them it is a way of life. I spent more time in the saddle than not during my training. All lessons were learned twice, once for the basics and once for how to do so from horseback. Most are taught to ride well before they begin any official training with a sensei, and who haven't been get teased by fellow students that are already ahead in their training."

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

"The Miya are on their horses quite often, but I would not say they live riding at least." Poemu gave a soft nod. "On the other hand, I believe they ride more than any other Rokugani by far, excepting the newly returned Unicorn of course."

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

"I don't doubt it. Anyone required to spread the message of the throne would need to be swift as well as gone often. There is a lot of land to cover here."

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

Poemu nodded thoughtfully before looking intensely curious. "Perhaps so, but I hear the lands outside are quite vast. Do you remember any of your life outside Rokugan Doji-san?"

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

"The vast majority of my life was spent on the ride to the empire. Sixteen years of it. Mostly what I remember are small villages and many landscapes. I did not interact much outside of the clan. Rivers, lakes, mountains, deserts, steppes, plains, forests... all that I only saw for short periods relative to the whole and none that I am likely to see again. If I took up painting to record what I remembered though, it would be through the haze of memory and distorted by the perspective of youth," he said with a smirk.

"While the difference in size of a child and an adult is minuscule on the scale of forests and mountains, the size a child perceives them as is altered by by their own sense of sense of feeling smaller than everyone else around them. A mountain range that might feel twice as large as the Spine of the World by my remembrance, may well have been half the size in reality."

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

Is was an almost abstract, artistic answer. Poemu didn't blame Monkhbaatar in the least. He was right after all, about the perceptions of a child. "I could not even imagine Doji-san. It sounds like it was a journey of great variety. There surely must have been many vista's I could never hope to see, both beautiful and terrible."

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

"The terrible could still be beautiful and the beautiful hold hidden terrors," he replies. "But we had safety in numbers, so for the most part all of them could be enjoyed in their own ways. The desert was incredibly hot and dangerous, but the occasional oasis with date palms made for wonderful stops even there."

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

"It is hard, imagining a desert, Doji-san." Poemu gave a faint smile before tipping her bowl up to drink some of the broth left on the bottom. "There are certainly parts of the Dragon mountains that are dry, but it is rocky, not sandy. And the heat... what is a date?"

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

"There are deserts that are more rocky than sandy, with coarser sands. The real thing that makes them bad is the lack of water. Having so much water in life that imagining a desert is hard is a blessing."

"Well, except for the dates. They are a soft and very sweet, with a pit in the middle. Delicious treat."

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

"They DO sound intriguing. A fruit I take it?" Poemu giggled softly, pushing her bowl away. She'd finished her own ramen while they'd been speaking. "Regardless, if Rokugan is blessed with water and other things, it is only through the diligent works and prayers of all of those working to better it, Doji-san. I am certain you will do, and have done, no less."

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

"Yes, it is a fruit. The grow in large clusters on the tree. Very popular in the desert," he confirms with a nod.

"I've been trying to do what I can, offering prayers at nearly all temples and shrines I come across. One of the first things I did in Nikesake after reporting to the embassy was to head to both of the twin temples."

Agasha Poemu · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:47 pm **Posts:** 896

"I have not had a chance to go to them yet, but I hear they are quite lovely." Poemu gave a warm smile at the thought. "Ano, did... the Unicorn pray to the Kami and Fortune's before you came to Rokugan again?"

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

"Yes, but some of the fortunes are new to us. Those that were made fortunes after the clan left on Shinjo Kami's journey. But the major ones that have been around since before that were never forgotten. The 7 major fortunes, the winds, Inari... all are commonly venerated by the Unicorn. But only recently did I even learn of some of the more recently elevated fortunes like Reichin and Sudaro."

(D10, EA, Open) Lunching in the Rain

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