[D1, LM, Open] The Wind from the East: Otomo Gorobei

[Soshi Eiji]

Regiments of fan wielders, I'll need to steal that.

"I would probably measure it in ability to impose your will upon reality. This could be done in several ways, of course, whether you have a network of allies to draw upon, or can captivate a court with your voice alone, or know things that others wish to be known or unknown." he suggests.

He taps his fan.

"But it is harder to measure due to fortifications." he admits. "A warrior of the Crab IS a mighty force, of course, but surround him with a nigh impentrable wall of stone, and his strength is multiplied many times. Likewise, if a courtier is afforded the protection of a strong house or a lofty position they will certanly appear stronger if you measure them against one who does not have such."

[Otomo Gorobei]

Gorobei nodded.

"That's true. You've gotta have support. Being exposed and alone is asking for trouble. Of course, you also need to be looking out for what your support today is going to come asking you for tomorrow. Most things are run on reciprocity."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

Ryoichi nodded. "The Yasuki understand the importance of trade," he agreed. "Despite this reciprocity, though, it's still well worth having allies and trade partners. The best trades help both sides."

[Otomo Gorobei]

Gorobei considered that for a moment. "That makes sense to me. The garden is full of pollinators that work well with their particular plants. It is the same concept."

He was slightly relieved that his primary area of expertise was working out to be rich in metaphors.

"I suppose both of you must be looking out for such deals."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"I suppose both of you must be looking out for such deals."

"Otomo-sama is perceptive," Ryoichi admitted ruefully. "That's the duty of those who are sent to court, isn't it? It doesn't have to mean every interaction is transactional, though. Sometimes it can just be a few samurai talking and getting to know one another."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji frowned a bit behind his mask as he considered the words beng exchanged. The Otomo was being very wary, speaking of reciprocity, labelling the two other men as deal-seekers but not himself.

"Perhaps" he said, more to himself than the other two.

He turned his attention to the Yasuki.

"A thought occurs to me, Yasuki-san. Since your family is known for trade, perhaps you can offer some deeper insight into it. In every exchange, be it commercial, or favors, or merely words, someone must give first, yes? And in the time between their giving, and their receiving, there is a period of time filled with uncertainity. They may, after all, receive nothing, or receive something that feels unfair in hindsight. Might I ask, Yasuki-san, what is it that prompts you to give first?" he posed.

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Trust is required, before there can be any exchange," the Yasuki replied promptly. "Even for strangers or rivals, there must be some level of trust before a trade can occur - otherwise, as you say, how can you know whether you get the goods that were agreed upon?"

"As for how to gain trust, that's another, larger subject," Ryoichi said. "But I'm sure the clan dedicated to Loyalty must know all about that already, eh?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Ah the pinchers come out.

Eiji smiled and shook his head.

"I'm afraid I must disagree with you Yasuki-san." he said. "Don't get me wrong; trust IS a wonderful thing. We trust that the Lion are providing a safe gathering space here this winter, even those who have never met a Lion offer up such trust. But that is built on a foundation of all the Winter courts previous, it is not a first."

He considered his fan.

"I would argue that what causes one to let go first in an exchange is their tolerance for the risk. For example, I wrote several letters to strangers before coming to this court. Two of them responded not at all, and three of them responded with words that brought a smile to my face. If my foundation was Trust, would I not feel betrayed by the two who did not respond, rather than enriched by the three that did?"

And now he turned his attention back to the Otomo.

"But what do you think, Otomo-sama? Is it willngness to trust or willingness to risk that you think more highly of?" he asked.

[Otomo Gorobei]

Otomo Gorobei smiles at being deferred to, but oh, is the question challenging.

"I think...that my tolerance for risk is situational. There is much more risk that I am willing to take when I know that I have my sword near at hand and my armor on, if you get my meaning. And as for trust, well, I found it easier to give last year than I do now."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Taking small risks to learn another person's character is, in fact, one way of building trust," the Yasuki offered. "For example, Soshi-san's letters to strangers - if one goes unanswered, it was only a small risk, that cost little. But for those who answered in good faith - they are no longer strangers, and perhaps now you will trust them enough to meet in person."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji certainly felt his risks were paying off as he learned more of the two.

"Perhaps, Yasuki-san, the answer is neither trust nor risk alone, but finding the right balance between the two. It is hard to gain anything if you refuse to trust or refuse to risk, and you can lose everything if you trust too easily or risk too readily." Eiji suggested.

He rested his fan upon the back of his hand.

"Finding the perfect balance would lead to the best results; the most gained for the least lost, but often people lean too far one way or the other and fail to reach their fullest potential." he said, shifting the fan back and forth.

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Well said, Soshi-san. Your reasoning seems solid," the Yasuki said, nodding in agreement. "It would be unwise to risk too much, or to little; or to trust too much, or trust too little. A balance is best."

"What do you think, Otomo-sama?" Ryoichi inquired, turning back to Gorobei.

[Otomo Gorobei]

"I think we've reached a compromise on this point, because that's what you do when two people who want to collaborate take opposite positions to start with. That tells me you're going to do okay in the next couple weeks. But sometimes you run into flat-out opposition. Fortunes know that's no fun. And then compromise gets a lot harder. You've got to learn to subvert the enmity, somehow.

You know whose really good at that? Using enmity as a tool, I mean. Lady Kasuga. Helps that you can't declare war on her clan, but you should see how she operates. It's really something."

[Soshi Eiji]

There was a minor moment of doubt where Eiji thought that Gorobei was speakng of Lady Kaguya, but only a minor moment. Ah yes, the woman who so terrified a scribe that he wrote 'Trotoise' on the official records and was then never heard of again.

"Ah, indeed Otomo-sama? I fear I only know her by reputation. From the impression she seems to have made upon Otomo-sama, I would be led to believe that Otomo-sama has had the opportunity to watch Kasuga-sama in action. I would be interested in learning more, were Otomo-sama of a mind to share." he requested.

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

“I have not had the honor of meeting the Lady Kasuga either,” the Yasuki admitted. “She sounds formidable.”

[Otomo Gorobei]

"She is, but only because people know she's willing to do what it takes to get what she needs. She's not the only one like that, here, but she stands out because people know, right? A reputation is like a plant, cultivation is about small adjustments to nurture growth.

So Kasuga Izumi puts the squeeze on the Mantis last year and people heard about it, right? You see that old man Gusai showed up this year, not the kid. So people naturally assume the kid had to stay home because his father thought he'd give away the store. No one wants that kind of heat back home, so they do their best to cut a good deal with the Tortoise so it doesn't come to that. And then she periodically reinforces the point with a play here and there so people don't think she's gone soft. Not the nicest way to do business, but she seems to be effective."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"It does sound very effective," Ryoichi said, nodding. "I.. I'm certainly not fearsome enough to play the game the way she does. But I know she has had years to develop her, ahh, powerful reputation."

"That's an interesting observation about Lord Gusai appearing in person, though," the Yasuki reflected. "What do you suppose the Mantis are hoping for this year?"

[Otomo Gorobei]

"I have my suspicions, but I couldn't tell you for certain. I think that he's probably looking for some alternative sources of wealth, because the Mantis have been feeling stiff competition from the Tortoise for the past few years. They'd probably like the Tortoise to back off a bit, too, but that won't happen. Not if Otomo Tooru has anything to say about it."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

Ryoichi nodded at this insight. "I imagine Lord Otomo must see the Tortoise as an effective counterweight," he commented.

[Soshi Eiji]

It was some great insight....just not the insight Eiji was looking for: 'Otomo Gorobei: Impressed by Tortoise political and economc savvy' was not quite the story he was lookng to tell.

Eiji thought about how to steer this conversation into more fruitful waters.

"Ah, speaking of the.....interesting mix of youth and experience at this Winter Court, I wonder if Otomo-sama or Yasuki-san have any thoughts about some of the....younger samurai attending this court. There are some samurai in attendance who haven't seen their second decade yet. One wonders what sort of influence they'll have on the court, compared to the more experienced attendees."