Sapphire Ambassadors

Going off of the hearsay of a like minded man, (and that this is the closest food space for the Otomo), Kaiu Kunio orders a Honey Ginger tea and an order of yakitori to go with it. Hopefully this gets rid of the, surprisingly still going on headache. Alas, for now, he waits for his superior to come.

"With respect, Crab-sama," a staffer replies, "Doji-bugyo has ordered the kitchen closed. There will be some delay in procuring the yakitori, as we will have to go to a stall to get it for you.

"Sincerest apologies for the hindrance, Crab-sama."

There is much bowing.

And who should arrive just as a girl runs out to make provision but Otomo Gaitsu, hat firmly in place.

"That is quite alright, no mortal can control every aspect of life. However, there is one more eating with me today. Otomo-Sama, thank you for making time for me today." He addresses the staffer before noticing the one he plans on eating with today.

Gaitsu smiles and nods his head.

"For a soldier in the Legions of Her Majesty--long may She reign--it is no trouble," he says as he takes his seat.

"With what may I aid such a man?"

"First, perhaps some tea to clear the mind while we wait for food to arrive. I would not wish to make a request upon a superior on an empty stomach."

(Putting this in for later in the convo, D6 EA, Pre-meal Tea, Tea Ceremony/Void, TN 15 | 4k3 ⇒ 13 (TN: 15) )

Gaitsu chuckles softly.

"I see Kaiu-san is a veteran campaigner," he says. "I can wait a bit for the tea."

It arrives--far sooner than the food--and is served, albeit with some drops spilled.

Of that, Gaitsu says nothing.

"When your primary purpose is an engineer, you learn quickly that a lord has little interest in what seems like pedantry to the non-specialist. Putting the best foot forward becomes a must."

Food arrives.

"Shall we, then?" Gaitsu asks, and adds "I receive it humbly" before partaking.

He conducts what is proper for the meal, also following his own advice of never politicking on an empty stomach. He then starts with the simple things, trying to figure out more information about this conversation partner, to get a better idea of what all he could actually help with (not sure if roll because past this day already, but also not good at this as a player ugh)

Gaitsu will...intercede.

"Kaiu-san," he says, "I know you are a man of action and direction. There is not shame in enacting the Imperial Will or in assisting it. Say to me what you need, and we will see if it can be done together."

(Yeah, I know about day-changes and the like...O_o)

"I was wondering if the Imperial Will is leaning one way or another on the matter of magics introduced by the Unicorn. And if it is to be permitted, would there be any chance of it being of use to the south." (Honestly what I initially was going to talk about is the rumors but that isn't such a good idea now that I know they're dying out and having no lasting effect) [please let me know if I can word this better, really have no idea about this whole requesting thing as a player]

Gaitsu nods.

"So far as I am given to understand--and I am not a priest, though I listen to them about such things--the magic of the Unicorn, while heterodox, is permissible. As far as...southern uses go," he says, "I would imagine they are as much as any other prayers. I cannot think that matters would be otherwise."

He drinks of his tea.

"One wonders about such things as happened two nights past. But there is suggestion that...unrest...has been about in Teitaku Town. Perhaps it was of such sort, the night of the full moon?"

(Honestly, you're doing fine.)

"I have heard of spirits from Sakkaku coming out to play with certain people once a month, maybe it is something like that? I doubt it is something as . . . persistent as what others are thinking of with these rumors." He takes a healthy bit of his chicken, giving himself time to think. "It is a good thing there is a specialist coming to help. However, I have no idea who it is."

"A Phoenix, if memory serves," Gaitsu says. "And, yes, one can hope it is merely some prank and not a more...lasting thing.

"Although," he adds, "I wonder about its selection of...targets, what affected us. Perhaps it was something in the Asako's brew?"

"If it were something in the brew, that would mean that Asako-San would be affected just as much, if not more. Have we heard anything about him, I haven't seen him in the town for a while."

"Not exactly an endorsement," Gaitsu replies. "And one has to wonder, then, if Asako-san was actually something else entirely..."

"I head northeast with the Emperor's Blessing after this is over. I could possibly head east and ask the Asako family about his whereabouts, maybe connect the Naisho Province to Phoenix territory and grant them a second way to secure trade that doesn't have an obvious chokepoint?"

"That would be an interesting use of the Blessing," Gaitsu opines around more chicken. "Not a bad one, mind, but of interest. Larger infrastructure projects are not usually addressed thereby; it's usually much more local than that."