[D6, EA Expecting] Trotting along

[Shiba Haru]

"You had an ancestor who competed in the Topaz and the Emerald Championship? Bet that was an amazing story. Were they unlucky? Or was the Crane just too skilled? And what happened afterwards? Lotta folks would be sore after losing twice to the same samurai like that."

Haru came to a stop and maneuvered along side her. He shifted in the saddle to show her the old and worn netsuke he wore.

"His name was Shiba Raijin and he lived in the 6th century, this was his and has passed own among duelists in my family ever since. He was a masterful duelist and it is said that he won several of his duels with his eyes closed, not out of arrogance but because he was seeing something else, he claimed he could read a person's intent. He bowed out of the final duel of the Emerald Championship claiming that he had lost. This didn't go over well with some of the Elemental Council but it is said that the Master of Void simply nodded in agreement.

My family has always had a deep connection to the Void, that is why Jiro is marrying a shugenja, his connection is stronger than mine. Together we fulfill all our families traditions, Twin, dueling and the Void.

If I succeed here I think I may take the name Raijin."

[Suzume Rin]

Haru came to a stop and maneuvered along side her. He shifted in the saddle to show her the old and worn netsuke he wore.

"His name was Shiba Raijin and he lived in the 6th century, this was his and has passed own among duelists in my family ever since. He was a masterful duelist and it is said that he won several of his duels with his eyes closed, not out of arrogance but because he was seeing something else, he claimed he could read a person's intent. He bowed out of the final duel of the Emerald Championship claiming that he had lost. This didn't go over well with some of the Elemental Council but it is said that the Master of Void simply nodded in agreement.

My family has always had a deep connection to the Void, that is why Jiro is marrying a shugenja, his connection is stronger than mine. Together we fulfill all our families traditions, Twin, dueling and the Void.

If I succeed here I think I may take the name Raijin."

Rin gasps, peering intently at the netsuke.
"Sounds like he was real wise, the kind of wise where other folks don't even realise how wise you are. I'd imagine that would be frustrating but it never seems to be to them. And you're thinking of taking the name after him?"
She nods firmly
"It's a good reason for a name, samurai's gotta be proud of his traditions. Why only if you succeed though? Raijin-sama seemed like a great man without having to win everything."

[Shiba Haru]

"You know what, I don't know. No one has ever asked me that before including myself. I think in some way I was hoping to complete what he started in his honor but that would require becoming Emerald Champion and I am not that vain to think it would ever happen especially since we just got a new one who will probably hold the position until I am too old to be a legitimate contender for the job.

I probably don't have the temperament for the job anyway, not without the half of us that is Jiro, he's the wise one. Maybe if we were whole we could do it, maybe together we are Raijin."

He said with a shrug.

"What about you, any interesting or famous ancestors you could be?"

[Suzume Rin]

"You know what, I don't know. No one has ever asked me that before including myself. I think in some way I was hoping to complete what he started in his honor but that would require becoming Emerald Champion and I am not that vain to think it would ever happen especially since we just got a new one who will probably hold the position until I am too old to be a legitimate contender for the job.

I probably don't have the temperament for the job anyway, not without the half of us that is Jiro, he's the wise one. Maybe if we were whole we could do it, maybe together we are Raijin."

He said with a shrug.

"What about you, any interesting or famous ancestors you could be?"

"You could be Rai and he could be Jin? Probably solved."
Rin winks

"Well, my most recent famous one is my great-grandfather. There was a dispute with the Lion and they sent a small force down to our lands. 'Course a small Lion force is a pretty big Sparrow force. There was a whole lot of posturing outside a village and it was gonna turn to bloodshed, so my ancestor challenged the Lion commander to a duel to spare everyone the fighting. He was no great duelist, but he wasn't trying to win, see. Just let the Lion cut him down with raising his blade. Now, say what you want about the Lion, but they understand that kind of thing. The matter was considered solved and they left the village alone. It's not the happiest story, but it's harder to be a hero in real life than it is in the stories."

[Shiba Haru]

"You could be Rai and he could be Jin? Probably solved."
Rin winks

"Well, my most recent famous one is my great-grandfather. There was a dispute with the Lion and they sent a small force down to our lands. 'Course a small Lion force is a pretty big Sparrow force. There was a whole lot of posturing outside a village and it was gonna turn to bloodshed, so my ancestor challenged the Lion commander to a duel to spare everyone the fighting. He was no great duelist, but he wasn't trying to win, see. Just let the Lion cut him down with raising his blade. Now, say what you want about the Lion, but they understand that kind of thing. The matter was considered solved and they left the village alone. It's not the happiest story, but it's harder to be a hero in real life than it is in the stories."

"Well he certainly was a hero that's for sure.

Wow.

I think our ancestors would have gotten along as well as we do. If only we could get the Lion to understand these lessons without needing to kill people..and remember them."

[Suzume Rin]

"Well he certainly was a hero that's for sure.

Wow.

I think our ancestors would have gotten along as well as we do. If only we could get the Lion to understand these lessons without needing to kill people..and remember them."

"That would have been funny if they'd met. You're right though, I reckon they would have gotten along pretty well. 'And both of 'em left a legacy that's gone down all the way to us. Wonder if one day our descendants will say the same, talking 'bout that time Shiba Haru saved Isawa So & So from certain death. As for the Lion."

Rin rocks her head left and right
"Ikoma Aya-sama, I think she's good people. Very driven you know, but in a way that makes her more rather than less."

[Shiba Haru]

"I haven't met Ikoma-san, just Akodo-san and she is an Akodo through and through. I'm still blown away by the idea that someone here doesn't like you, they must be a miserable person."

[Suzume Rin]

"I haven't met Ikoma-san, just Akodo-san and she is an Akodo through and through. I'm still blown away by the idea that someone here doesn't like you, they must be a miserable person."

"That's just the nature of things Haru-san. You can be friends to some people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time. But you can't be friends with all of the people all of the time. Life's just like that, some people rub eachother wrong even if they're both decent folk is all."

[Shiba Haru]

"That's just the nature of things Haru-san. You can be friends to some people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time. But you can't be friends with all of the people all of the time. Life's just like that, some people rub eachother wrong even if they're both decent folk is all."

"Well said, I just don't understand the Lion is all, which isn't good when a lasting empire-wide coalition for peace is your goal." he said with a grin. "Perhaps all the people telling me my dream was too ambitious were right but I have to try."

[Suzume Rin]

"Well said, I just don't understand the Lion is all, which isn't good when a lasting empire-wide coalition for peace is your goal." he said with a grin. "Perhaps all the people telling me my dream was too ambitious were right but I have to try."

"Trying's what matters...well, unless the failing causes trouble. My sensei always used to say 'It don't matter if you win or not, so long as you don't lose' then usually he'd whack someone with a bokken. Besides, if every other clan but the Lion agree they'll look a bit silly, even more so if the Imperials agree."

[Shiba Haru]

"Now that I think about it it would probably be easier to convince the Blessed Emperor to ban all inter-clan combat then it would be to convince the Lion to stop fighting. Yet another reason to win this event, a chance to meet the Emperor at Winter Court.

When you win this thing I hope you will send me an invitation to attend your winter court, I will certainly be inviting you if I somehow pulled it off. You and Mitsuko and Yuji-san, lots of people here will be invited."

[Suzume Rin]

"Now that I think about it it would probably be easier to convince the Blessed Emperor to ban all inter-clan combat then it would be to convince the Lion to stop fighting. Yet another reason to win this event, a chance to meet the Emperor at Winter Court.

When you win this thing I hope you will send me an invitation to attend your winter court, I will certainly be inviting you if I somehow pulled it off. You and Mitsuko and Yuji-san, lots of people here will be invited."

"Of course, and if someone else wins...we just tell them to invite everyone else, right? Be a lot of fun for everyone to come together at winter court."

[Shiba Haru]

"Of course, and if someone else wins...we just tell them to invite everyone else, right? Be a lot of fun for everyone to come together at winter court."

"I think I would prefer if one of us won though, Winter Court Kyuden Suzume would be very interesting."

[Suzume Rin]

"I think I would prefer if one of us won though, Winter Court Kyuden Suzume would be very interesting."

"Oh gosh."
Rin furiously fiddles with her hands.
"I don't know how we'd even start to feed everyone. Maybe we'd use a lotta tents in the fields. Then we could sleep there and the visitors could take the houses."

[Shiba Haru]

"Oh gosh."
Rin furiously fiddles with her hands.
"I don't know how we'd even start to feed everyone. Maybe we'd use a lotta tents in the fields. Then we could sleep there and the visitors could take the houses."

"I'm pretty sure that when the Emperor declares where he will spend his winter the place is flooded with resources by the Imperial coffers to help. It's kind of like receiving the Emperor's Blessing from the Miya. Koku, food, materials, builders; by the time they leave you may not recognize things anymore."

[Suzume Rin]

"I'm pretty sure that when the Emperor declares where he will spend his winter the place is flooded with resources by the Imperial coffers to help. It's kind of like receiving the Emperor's Blessing from the Miya. Koku, food, materials, builders; by the time they leave you may not recognize things anymore."

"That'd be funny to imagine, all those engineers and buildings coming and we have 'em expanding the yam fields. Dunno if they'd be expecting that. Still, I don't think it's gonna happen. Imperial Winter court's a pretty important thing, too important for us."

[Shiba Haru]

"You make it sound impossible but ALL you have to do is win the Topaz Championship. I mean, you did hear the announcement right? That the Emperor will be holding his winter court in the lands of the clan that wins this?"

[Suzume Rin]

"You make it sound impossible but ALL you have to do is win the Topaz Championship. I mean, you did hear the announcement right? That the Emperor will be holding his winter court in the lands of the clan that wins this?"

"Hai hai, I did. It's the first part that makes it so difficult I reckon. And I mean...naww, whoever wins will get the court fair and square."

[Shiba Haru]

Haru began to consider if there was some way to rig things in the Sparrow's favor but dismissed them as impractical and dishonorable.

"Well we will know in a few day's time. Until then I at least still need to place in some of these tests. Honestly the tests have been the only part of this event I haven't enjoyed, I would much rather spend more time with the people here.


Like you."

[Suzume Rin]

Haru began to consider if there was some way to rig things in the Sparrow's favor but dismissed them as impractical and dishonorable.

"Well we will know in a few day's time. Until then I at least still need to place in some of these tests. Honestly the tests have been the only part of this event I haven't enjoyed, I would much rather spend more time with the people here.


Like you."

"That just speaks to your nature I reckon. Even at the start you were focused on the people, not the prestige. People who came here just to win, most of 'em are gonna be disappointed. Reckon finding meaning with people is best."