[LE D9] Benefits of Friends

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Only one I did a damned thing with was th'one they put up t'act like they were doin' us a favor."

[Togashi Shinko]

Shinko seems to think. "Sumi-chan. This is going to likely be a silly question, but I'm a Dragon and we are famous for them: what is the true test of how skilled a samurai we will be?"

[Kaiu Taura]

Taura ponders that question and takes a sip of sake while waiting for the Mantis' reply.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Fer bushi? Combat."

And another drink bites the dust.

"An' I already came outta that alive."

[Togashi Shinko]

"Uh huh" Shinko nods. "And for shugenja it's how good they are with magic. And courtiers, I don't know, how well they can play the courts. None of that, none of them really, were tested. This thing" Shinko motions. "Is a game. It's bragging rights. A way for Clans to show off without people losing limbs."

" A duel doesn't show who has the better army. Or who can feed those armies. Or who can raid the ships carrying rice to feed an army" Shinko shrugs.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"An' yet it's a game everyone's playin'."

Another one bites the dust.

"So th'Crane can feel good 'bout themselves, an' the rest of us can feel grateful for th'chance to play. Except when they decide t'piss on us."

[Kaiu Taura]

"That is the game the Crane are masters of, shaping the Court, ne?" said Taura, that much she had learned. "It is only natural they would use a championship such as this as a chance to try and expand their influence."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"But why d'we dance t'their tune?"

[Togashi Shinko]

"Because everyone gains. Everyone trots out the best and brightest... shows them off to brag. And set them up for marriage, especially the minor Clans." Shinko cocks her head to the side. "I don't doubt that you'll get some marriage proposals. I know that's what my Clan is counting on"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

That just got a snort.

"Aye, they'll line up t'pair their best with someone ain't worth a damn off a ship. I c'n just see the suitors linin' up. Lemme adorn some fuckin' court somewhere miles inland, like some kinda monkey in a cage."

[Kaiu Taura]

"But the Crane have an extensive coastline and maritime trade," says Taura, after thinking for a moment, "and if the Mantis are causing . . . disruption to that trade. Would not a marriage alliance to one of the families of the Mantis possibly reduce those disruptions? It seems to this one that you are more important to the Crane than you think, Yukikaze no Kasumi-san."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"The Crane..."

She nearly spat.

"I'd sooner be used as chum."

[Kaiu Taura]

"This one is simply speculating from available information," said Taura. "You seemed to be wondering what the Crane would invite you, this one was working out a plausible explanation."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh, I know why they invited me. A bit of humiliation, just t'let us know they haven't forgotten."

[Kaiu Taura]

"That seems like a . . . poor use of their resources," says Taura. "This one is not a Crane, nor would she wish to be, but why? You could have done remarkably well on the tests, even shown up the Crane. As by the finalists, they already have been. And just to humiliate you? Are you that important among the Mantis?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Nope. But I am a Mantis. An' I'm a Mantis who's failed outright at half th'crap they came up with to run us through."

[Kaiu Taura]

Taura shrugged. "This one only completed one of the tests in its entirety. But she thinks that she learned something about herself and her skills from each one. If you did well enough to earn your name and passage to adulthood, you have won here. It will be known that you competed at the Topaz Championship and earned your name in front of the Emperor, other than that, only the final Champion will be remembered and exalted above all. We will just be footnotes but we will still have the right to say we were here and completed the tasks."