Prologue: Choices

Feb 19, 2020 3:23 pm
Shiro Shinjo, Unicorn Lands. One Month After the Topaz Championship

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/yycdbtp80c3kike/ShiroShinjo.jpg

Utaku Kashita - The late afternoon sun dances across the waters of Mizu-umi Ryo as you sit in a room within the main keep of Shiro Shinjo attempting to meditate. The journey from Tsuma had been a long one and whilst you have had time to think on matters you still find your mind jumping between what you consider to be your duty, the best way to serve your clan, and your ninjō, what you really desire. Every so often your eyes fall on the scroll that you have set out, the imperial seal sitting prominently on top. You know soon you will need to make a choice but for the moment you feel your thoughts not able to settle on the 'right' course.

As you are contemplating you are barely aware of the door to the room sliding to the side and a figure entering. After a moment you hear a familiar woman's voice speak out "May I join you?". As you turn your full attention to her you see the woman not waiting for your assent starting to sit by your side. Her hair is pulled back into a tight pony tail and she is dressed in close fitting riding trousers with a purple keikogi top folded in elaborate ripples over an underrobe of silver and gold. Her grey eyes study the sun dancing on the waters of the lake as she sits in silence for a moment. You are quite glad of the moment to gather your thoughts, after all it is not every day that you are joined by someone such as Shinjo Altansarnai, Khan of Khans, Champion of the Unicorn.
Feb 19, 2020 3:33 pm
Kashita bows her head acknowledging the champion. "Of course, Shinjo-sama, it would be an honour."

She looks out at the lake, considering the journey. The path is not always clear. Heed the signs, little Kashita. Her grandmother's words as always remind her of all too often previously underestimated advice.

She considers a question for the champion, but patiently holds her tongue. Courtesy is everything.
Feb 20, 2020 1:50 pm
Altansarnai sits quietly for a long few moments. Following her gaze you see she is not just taking in the sunset but also the rolling, seemingly endless, grasslands beyond Mizu-umi Ryo with a look of almost longing on her face. Without looking to you she begins talking again "I wished to come and congratulate you personally on completing your gempuku in addition to other matters" she spares a glance for the scroll in front of you but does not directly address it at the moment "To some in the other clans we are little better than Gaijin and they try to treat us accordingly. Your successful performance in the tournament whilst bringing pride and glory to the clan will also help address some of those opinions"
Feb 21, 2020 12:19 am
"Thank you, Shinjo-sama. There was a Mantis boy there. How little regard he received from the established clans stretched the bounds of politeness. It was an interesting perspective."
Feb 21, 2020 1:46 pm
She nods, a frown crossing her face "Yes, I heard there was a Mantis competing. An unusual turn of events, you demonstrated yourself admirably in dealing with that in addition to competing in the tournament." she makes a pointed look at the scroll before turning her attention fully on you "So you have your reward for assisting with that matter. Have you decided whether you will take up the offer?" her tone and expression remain neutral as she asks, she does not give any clear indication one way or the other how she expects you to answer.
Feb 21, 2020 1:57 pm
"No, -sama. I am torn. While I am certain the opportunity is just that, I do not know if I could be away for so long. The splendor of our lands, and the herds... It is different than anything I imagined my path would lead to."

She turns, looks at the Khan of Khans, then bows deeply. "Apologies, -sama. What would you do?"
Feb 21, 2020 2:45 pm
At the question Altansarnai smiles and turns to regard the horizon once more "Well, that is quite the question isn't it? We are taught that our desires should be put to the side, that they should not interfere with our duty but sometimes the choice is not so clear. Can we follow a path that satisfies our duty to our family, our clan, and to the emperor at the same time or must we always sacrifice something for the greater good. Is any worthwhile choice truly without a cost" she contemplates her own words for a moment before speaking again "It would be easy for me to tell you to take the offer. To serve our clan by serving the empire as a magistrate, to sacrifice the freedom we have on the steppe and to be constrained but what cost would that be? Would that be the best use of your skills or would you be depriving the clan of one of it's most promising samurai" as she speaks she pulls another set of papers out and sets it alongside the scroll "If I had to make the decision I would take some time to think on it, I understand the offer did not specify you needed to take it up immediately. Take some time and consider how you can best serve" you look to the papers and see they are travel papers bearing the seal of your clan
Feb 21, 2020 3:33 pm
She contemplates for a moment. "Shinjo-sama, you have been generous with your time. I thank you profusely. My last fear is foolish, but in this place I feel serene. I will speak it if only to banish the thought. If I choose to enter imperial service, will the Unicorn still see me as one of our own? Or will I become an outsider, or worse seen as a traitor?"
Feb 26, 2020 9:28 am
She chuckles slightly and shakes her head at the thought "Kashita-kun, you will no more be less of a Unicorn than we all were when we returned to the Empire and ended our wanderings." she puts a hand to her breast "No matter what decision you make if you remain Unicorn within you will always be one of us". As she finishes she moves to stand "I will leave you to your thoughts but personally I have always done my best thinking with a horse under me"
Feb 26, 2020 1:20 pm
"-sama, I cannot join the imperial service as of yet. I do not feel committed to the endeavour. I feel that I must ride the waves, see the land, and find my fate. My mind takes me to the south, to the carpenter's wall, and the thought of being sent somewhere else before I see it, before I test myself there, fills me with loss. If the Emerald Champion's offer will hold for six months or a year, I will know by then whether I am suited."
Feb 26, 2020 1:58 pm
She smiles as though your response was both expected and welcome "The you should follow where the wind takes you, with my blessing". As she leaves you find yourself looking down at the travel papers she has left for you and feel a sense of freedom that has eluded you since your gempuku....
Feb 26, 2020 3:35 pm
That could have gone smoother, smiles Kashita. She examines the travel papers. Having made the decision, she is suddenly in a hurry to get going. But she opens the scroll slowly, ceremoniously. Her hands move with ritualistic purpose, while inside her hot blood screams to get on with it. She bows to the lake, takes a few long shallow breaths, and stills her impatience before verifying the papers.
Mar 3, 2020 12:56 pm
Kashita takes a look over the papers and finds that they authorise her travel between Unicorn lands and those of the Crab. In addition there is a letter of introduction for yourself to one Hida Kutago, Daymio of Shiro Kaotsuki no Higashi (Face of the East Castle). You know this is a town that most Unicorn trade caravans head to when they have business with the Crab as they can reach it directly via the plains to the east of the Shinomen Mori (and thus circumventing the strict tariff inspections that are typical within Scorpion lands).

As the sun finishes dipping beyond the horizon Kashita is already well into her preparations to leave.....
OOC:
Going to close this off at this point and will pick things up as we kick the main game back off....

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