Sapphire Ambassadors

Yoshino announced herself at the gates of the manor house. She didn't have an invitation, but she was prepared to wait. Hopefully they'd at least let her do so in a waiting room. Whether she was served tea or not would be telling. If asked who she'd like to see she admitted she wasn't sure, but a representative of the town. Possibly the magistrate. Actually, definitely the magistrate, as there was a threat.

Dressed in one of her finer kimono and doing her best to stay calm, Yoshino still came across as a little skittish. It would be easy to tell she was anxious about something.

Yoshino is conducted to Doji Takei, seated at his desk. He sees Yoshino, and his manner is coolly polite as he gives a slight nod and asks "Is there something you wish to report, samurai-san?"

The magistrate. Good, although she hadn't expected an immediate meeting. She was gladdened by the polite reception so far. It was more than she was used to. Perhaps being here as a competitor was helping?

She bows low, waiting for when she was allowed to speak. It came swiftly. She sensed he must be a busy man. They had even skipped introductions.

"Yes, Doji-sama. A supernatural threat." She took a deep breath. "I am being stalked by a shadow creature. Perhaps a ghost. I saw it in my room the night before last and... I sense it has been attacking me in my sleep. Kitsune Shizenko-san confirmed it was in my room at the inn. Asahina Jiroju-sama has also been assisting me with this."

Whether wisely or not, Yoshino didn't mention both Scorpion she'd spoken to about it. Not to a magistrate. Not so soon.

"I would like to alert you to it and... to request your assistance against it."

So far she'd kept her On well. Having played what she intended to say in her mind a few times she had the key information succinct and accurate. Now she could only hope they'd listen. She bowed again to underscore her request.

"Hmm."

Takei looks at her.

And looks.

And looks.

Then he takes a deep breath.

"If Asahina-san's helping you," he says, "then I suppose it's worth attention. The summary doesn't suffice; details, samurai-san. Perhaps writing them down will help you recall them more effectively."

He slides a piece of paper to her. Ink and a brush are ready to hand.

"Details, yes. Of course."

She nods eagerly and takes the piece of paper. She would write down as many details as she could remember. What time it roughly was. Her room at the inn. About the painting and that it had come through it, according to the Kitsune, but ensuring there was none in the room didn't help. The shadowy form that seemed to blend into the dark of the night. How she felt not herself afterwards, as if the world was duller and grey. The efforts she'd gone to in finding a shugenja who knew about it or could help, and what little that had unfortunately achieved; attempts to ward against it seemed to have failed. The Kitsune would try tonight. That it could be left be, where it would likely keep coming, or 'encouraged' back onto the Wheel. That it was likely strong against physical attacks, making bushi struggle to harm it.

Yoshino wrote down all that she could remember from the incident and all that she had learned before and since.

"I'm sorry... my mind is jumbled today. It's all there, but... the organisation is not." She says apologetically when she sets the brush down.

Takei takes the information and looks over it.

"And this is new for you?" he inquires, somewhat sharply. "Not something with which you've...struggled before?"

A quick nod follows. "Yes...?" Even if it wasn't new, surely he wasn't expecting her to deal with the issue alone?

However, she does catch on to his likely angle of enquiry. "Ano, it is likely connected to my family. There was a tragic incident when I was a child. Asahina-sama believes my family line may be... no, my family history. That it makes me 'attractive to some other spirit than those the ancestors faced'. I believe was how he put it. That it isn't from the south or... the... greater darkness." She looked uncomfortable even saying it. "Which is a relief. I believe he said a hungry spirit is more likely, but I know very little about them Doji-sama."

"I will trust Asahina-san," Takei says, flatly. "And if you have consulted him, I am certain he is taking all appropriate measures. But I must wonder why you delayed in reporting as much to me."

He pauses, considering.

"A spiritual threat is something which I will have to bring to my lord's attention. Remain here, please."

Takei stands and leaves the room, moving with purpose.

Yoshino didn't have to wait long. Apparently not reporting spiritual threats at a gathering of samurai from across the Empire for days was a great way to cut through bureaucracy to get important people's attention quite swiftly.

Doji Utemaro arrived, his face a grim mask of determination.

Takei returns behind his lord, standing to his right.

Utemaro wasted little time. There would be no tea.

"Takei-san has filled me in on your interview with him on the way over. I believe the question you were about to answers is ''Why did you delay reporting a spiritual attack to the appropriate authorities?' It is a question I would very much like to hear an answer for myself." he said.

Another bow, though even deeper, for the tournament organizer. Yoshino wasn't at all surprised by this turn of events.

"I understand and I apologise for giving that impression. I was attacked in the early hours yesterday. Being a spiritual matter I spoke to the local shrinekeeper at the first opportunity that day. It has not been even a day and a half Doji-sama. Yesterday I was beside myself with anxiety over this along with dutiful consideration of my participation."

She bowed once more. It was a polite rebuff of the accusation, but a rebuff none the less. If any of the Doji had cared then servants would have responded to her loud alarm on the night. If it posed an immediate threat to anyone beyond Yoshino then she was certain the shrine keeper would have escalated it as necessary. Of course Utemaro knew that.

"I am grateful for your concern Doji-sama." Yoshino adds, keeping her gaze down. Not that he'd expressed any, but she would behave as if he had for that was the proper way to behave.

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Etiquette = 27

Doji Yoshino wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 21, 2022 7:46 pm

Another bow, though even deeper, for the tournament organizer. Yoshino wasn't at all surprised by this turn of events.

"I understand and I apologise for giving that impression. I was attacked in the early hours yesterday. Being a spiritual matter I spoke to the local shrinekeeper at the first opportunity that day. It has not been even a day and a half Doji-sama. Yesterday I was beside myself with anxiety over this along with dutiful consideration of my participation."

She bowed once more. It was a polite rebuff of the accusation, but a rebuff none the less. If any of the Doji had cared then servants would have responded to her loud alarm on the night. If it posed an immediate threat to anyone beyond Yoshino then she was certain the shrine keeper would have escalated it as necessary. Of course Utemaro knew that.

"I am grateful for your concern Doji-sama." Yoshino adds, keeping her gaze down. Not that he'd expressed any, but she would behave as if he had for that was the proper way to behave.

-----
Etiquette = 27

There was a small irritated glance at the magistrate.

"Asahina-san is well known for his compassion...sometimes in excess." he remarked.

He refocused his attention on the supplicant.

"Believe it or not, Doji-san, I know quite a bit about your family and your background. That you are competing in this tournament not because of the blue of your kimono, but because of the carp over your heart. I would say your presence here is a slight against us...but you've shown yourself to be worthy of the judges attention.

He gave an irritated shake of the head.

"That notwithstanding, the stakes for our clan here are enormous. If things go badly, this may be the only sapphire tournament rather than the first. And so, I see two paths open to me."

He rapped his fan for attention.

"The first is we rescind your invitation to the tournament, and have the guards escort you to the Crab border with all due speed. They surely have the resources to deal with you."

He rapped his fan a second time.

"Or I can use my influence and call upon my allies to have you remain here."

He unfolded his fan.

"Convince me which path to take, Doji-san." he said simply.

(And make an Awa/Courtier roll at the end of it! Well, unless you do something really weird like Awa/Temptation or Will/Intimidation, but I'll go ahead and guess you're not planning to seduce or threaten your way through this.)

Takei remains stone-faced in the presence of his lord.

The local Lord's words added to the list of confirming evidence of what she always suspected. The Doji knew and did nothing to help. Not before she was born, not when she was a child and not now. The leaders of the family and their more privileged servants, like Utemaro, knew more of her family history than she did. If she were the paranoid sort she might wonder how the Asahina priest was aware of such a creature already or how the inn's servants did nothing the night of the attack. Instead she was simply resigned to it. She would still serve.

Ah, inspiration for today's particular theme... that hasn't happened for the longest time. It took some effort to not state she was so inspired by Utemaro's exceptional display of honesty. A polite smile crossed her lips. She stuck to her training and values.

"I am saddened by your words Doji-sama. There is a Crane with an eight-pointed snowflake in its beak resting on my heart and there always has been. It hurts me to hear that my family, in our family lands, at our own wonderful event, cannot protect me on their own. Even so, I am grateful for your honesty, your compliment and this chance to convince you."

She forthrightly dips her head in gratitude.

"I do not know what my ancestors have done or what favours my parents exchanged with the Crab. I do know that I have sought to perform here earnestly. Without bringing shame upon my family or our Clan. Without letting this creature stop me. Without complaint or giving up after feeling drained, like a piece of me was stolen away." There was a sharp inhale of breath, but she persisted. "This is the same way I have been since my gempukku, when I was sent away to scribe unimportantly within our delegation in Yasuki lands. I serve. It is my way to do so, earnestly. If you need more from me then like any of my family you need to but name it. I would not consider it a favour, it would be my duty. That is my sincerity. My allies and influence, my art or voice, they are at the disposal of the Doji. If my family is unwilling to ever acknowledge that I serve, to offer me courtesy in my time of need, then by all means, banish me back to the Crab border with all due speed. I promise I shall never create another work of art for as long as I live for you would have taken my remaining embers of emotion... more surely than my family was taken from me five years ago."

Yoshino bowed low and stayed there. "Please excuse my impertinence. I wish to see this through, but I have never had the luxury of deciding my fate. It is your decision Doji-sama."

-----
Courtier/awareness = 44

Utemaro shook his head.

"You may rise Doji-san. I shall overlook the barb you felt the need to throw in there about the Crane being 'unable' to defend you We will chalk that up to you being weakened by a supernatural force, rather than a basic inability to understand that our allies are part of the Crane's strength. I will send for our allies, and the inn shall be warded tonight." he said.

"I would expect our allies to arrive tomorrow. I'll expect you to cooperate with them fully."

"Was there anything else you needed to report to the magistrate, Doji-san?"

Less the Crane, more the Doji. Still, he was right that allies were part of the Crane's strength. Even so, that meant he fully believed they would be necessary and the Doji locally were absolutely insufficient. Just how big a threat did he think this was? There was more here than she knew about. It was making her head spin.

"I am sorry. I am not feeling myself." She says, rising. "I'll cooperate as you say."

Since he'd asked...

"I would only wish to say that this is a lovely and peaceful town, and that art can provoke strong reactions. I am anxious of the reactions that may be provoked by some of the art one particular competitor is presenting." She didn't know who it was, but repeated instances of paintings of the same vulgar theme was surely the same culprit.

Doji Yoshino wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 22, 2022 7:18 pm

Less the Crane, more the Doji. Still, he was right that allies were part of the Crane's strength. Even so, that meant he fully believed they would be necessary and the Doji locally were absolutely insufficient. Just how big a threat did he think this was? There was more here than she knew about. It was making her head spin.

"I am sorry. I am not feeling myself." She says, rising. "I'll cooperate as you say."

Since he'd asked...

"I would only wish to say that this is a lovely and peaceful town, and that art can provoke strong reactions. I am anxious of the reactions that may be provoked by some of the art one particular competitor is presenting." She didn't know who it was, but repeated instances of paintings of the same vulgar theme was surely the same culprit.

Utemaro cocked his head at that.

"These are all valid points Doji-san, but up to this point there have been no formal complaints lodged. There have been displays that the judges have absolutely not cared for, but thus far all have chosen to respect the art of others, even if they disagree with the method or the message. It is kind of refreshing, actually, that so many have worked in harmony this well, despite vastly different backgrounds." he replied.

Which was an entirely fair and valid point. Art absolutely could shock and offend. Except there was one thing that seemed notably improper about it...

"You are of course right that there is harmony here and it is refreshing to see so many different samurai sharing their art. Yet, the art in question is directly depicting one of our family, another competitor even, in a vulgar way. Not to mention another from outside the Clan. If there have not been any formal complaints then surely it's because of the courtesy of our guests, ne?"

She dipped her head and turned to the magistrate.

"Please consider this a formal complaint from me. I do not know the artist, but this is not how a competitor should behave."

Utemaro frowned a bit, considering the Doji's words.

"Hmm. It bears discussion with the artist and the parties involved at least." he agreed tentatively.