Uniformity and Purpose (D10 MA)

[Agasha Yuna]

"The one who I trust to seek the will of Heaven is far older than me. I see a lifetime of service and devotion to the Empire and Tao both. I trust that."

"The wise friend is my own age. I see that he speaks for the man I trust. So I think we see the same thing. So, yes, perhaps there is no reason to ask. As he already says, 'When something is meant to be, it is obvious to all but the foolish.'"

"The better question is how might we - together - do more good than we might either of us - any of the three of us - alone?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Many of our friends seem wise, since we know our own follies better than we know those of anyone else..."

He seemed amused.

[Jihen]

“Agasha-sama is proving herself to be just as reliable as any other in terms of wisdom. What would she suggest her… or our path to be?”

[Agasha Yuna]

“The wind moves with such subtlety, you do not even notice your own breathing. Be aware. Only a fool knows the wind is empty.”

"We Way followers breathe in and out. But others do not yet see the wind for all that it is. But we can lend our own weight. Our own influence. So the wind is seen."

"I speak in court. If others agree with my words, my breath has more weight and the beauty of the wind becomes more visible. To the extent we support each other's words, we give them weight, we give him visibility."

"Sometimes the wind is seen because of what it moves. The tree branch that trembles or bows. Here, the wrestlers are mighty oaks. Immovable. And yet they will bow. But to whom? I have recalled some of what influences them. Perhaps you two have also? Knowledge shared will make our next step simpler."

[Jihen]

“I have spoken with a number of the wrestlers… and have learned about what motivates them. Some may share interests with you… and some are after baser motivations.” He replied.

“I can share what I know… if you believe it will aid you.”

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"I fear what I have learned so far is a poor fit for me to exert influence, except in one case. I can share what I know."

"Asako Haruo (“Tanikaze”), of Golden Barley village: A long fascination with stories about the Shosuro family’s exploits in the service of the Empire has made Tanikaze susceptible to displays of ninjutsu (He’d never tell anyone! He swears!) and the wiles of romantic seducers. (Ninjutsu/Agility 15, Temptation/Awareness 20.)

"Hida Matabei (“Miyagino”), of Sunda Mizu Mura: Miyagino is a simple man of simple pleasures. He values his personal comfort, his reputation, sake, and cash. There is a story that, early in his career, he feigned illness rather than face the famous Rikuhudo in the ring. (Intimidation 15, Temptation 20.)

"I am also told that Yogo Natsuo has strong feelings on etiquette and rigidly adheres to those feelings. I feel a bit safer approaching him, but have not tried yet."

"That's all I've learned so far."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei... coughed.

"Honestly, I haven't had much time to even notice the wrestlers..."

[Jihen]

Jihen nodded and listened politely to the young Agasha’s findings.

“I have heard similar things… and I can share my notes with you on each of the other wrestlers if you would like.”

Jihen would go into some detail with the pair. It was apparent he had met with a number of them and began to know a great deal about their idiosyncrasies.


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OOC: I’ll gather everything up and pm the two of you in a bit.

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna gave a deep bow of appreciation at the thoroughness of his research. "Thank you, Jihen-san. This is very helpful indeed."

"The other place I wonder if we might consider putting our heads together is ... what research is needed to best be prepared for debate."

"I have been researching educational initiatives - their history, their consequences. There are few examples led from the Imperial level. Primarily the imperially-sanctioned libraries which include the Ikoma Libraries, an assignment given by Emperor Hantei Genji, and now includes the new Imperial library in Otosan Uchi. I think there is an opportunity to build on that initiative."

"Education has largely been left to the clans. Our Lion hosts, for example, have a tradition of a strong standardized curriculum. They arrange for specific texts approved by Akodo to be in every dojo. But it is not the same curriculum that an imperial initiative might include. There is a copy of the Tao in every dojo, but it is not to be opened."

She couldn't hide her disappointment in that discovery.

"The place I think there might be the most opportunity for Imperially sanctioned itinerant teachers - a corp of traveling book readers - is with monastic orders under the Brotherhood. Who have always been supported to tend to the needs of the peasant villages. Either a purely Shinseist order, or perhaps a Shintao/Fortunist order, like the monks of Tenjin but with a focus on honoring the written word by increasing its reach. Readers. Not teachers of reading."

"There was the debate on the legal standing of hypothetical candidates." She had worked hard to recall relevant legal principles. She hoped she'd at least made a decent impression on Shiba-ue who would become her Lord.

"There may be other topics we could anticipate."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"I imagine many smaller discussions will take place- with fewer efforts at protecting those who took part than Shiba-ue provided. It might be best to assess the field, and ascertain who has committed fully, and who might yet be persuaded. For example, I doubt any debate is going to convince most Crane to select anyone other than Lady Bian."

A handy thing, that alter-ego.

[Jihen]

“An unfortunate world we occupy where those who have left the world (monks) are being dictated to by those who still occupy it…” He replied.

“In times of harmony in the past… the Brotherhood was subject to oversight by the Emperor… but now the clans once again seek to place themselves in a position of power over the followers of Shinsei…”

Jihen shook his head, “I’m afraid anything short of the immediate return of an Emperor to the throne would be unconvincing to the clans who debate over matters which they have no right in debating.”

[Agasha Yuna]

"It is one of many reasons it will be good to have an Emperor back in place."

"I do intend to donate some additional resources to Abbot Chou-sin, since the original donation is moving to a different temple. Perhaps we could meet with him together for that purpose."

"But I do trust that all within the Brotherhood will use resources well to aid those most vulnerable."

"I don't think it's a problem that different monastic orders within the Brotherhood have different focuses, different degrees of reflection on Fortunes as well as the Tao. There is so much to learn. There is more learned, collectively, if some look in different directions. So long as the primary devotion to the Tao is sound."

[Jihen]

"It is not a matter of intention Agasha-sama. Abbot Do is an upstanding an fine master... I am sure he intends to do the best with what is granted to him. His monastery however does not have the means to see that this adequately is distributed. Good intentions do not necessarily lead to good outcomes."

He shakes his head slightly, "What is more concerning is the propensity of those without the order to try and dictate proper conduct to those within it... Nearly sixty years ago there was a political faction who believed that monks of a particular sect did not conduct themselves in the proper manner because they responded only to direction from the Emperor..."

He lets out a soft breath through his nose, "This political faction had those monks beheaded because they would not listen to the commands of the clans. This of course led to great disharmony as the people finally realized the evil that it is to do this to those who have left the world in order to help save it..."

He finished, "For the clans to act in a similar fashion over literal spilt tea... Is a sad indication of the fallen nature of our times."

[Agasha Yuna]

She frowned. This was a story she had not read about in her library days. Perhaps it had been deliberately kept quiet.

"A faction of monks were killed? Oh, that's awful. And evil, yes."

"But what political faction or clan would do such a thing? Is that faction still a threat?"

[Jihen]

"Not any longer, no. But it as you quoted earlier... What is now has been before and will be again. It is the short sighted and foolish who believe that life has no patterns, no purposes. All that is now is part of what has been and what will come to be." He replied.

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"To master the future, one must study the past.”

"I am always humbled to realize how much relevant history I don't know." She sighed. "Like this question of succession. Has this ever happened before? How are such decisions ever made?"

"Part of me wants to say ... look, this needs resolution ... and, most of all, a sense that Heaven made the decision. Not anyone else."

"There are only two ways that could happen. Every candidate but one willingly resigns, perhaps citing some Heavenly signal to do so. Or, there is something discernible and inarguable that is a sign of Heaven's blessing. To me, there is. He is a shugenja. The rest are not. There is no clearer more tangible sign of Heaven's blessing from birth."

"If all else is equal, that feels decisive."

[Jihen]

"If all danced in harmony with the Will of Heaven... I'm sure the choice would be quite obvious."

He smiled softly, "Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world... but a fallen one. And we who wander around in darkness... must find allies in the shadows and try to lead them towards the most true light."

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"Remember that the whole episode with the tea was part of a scheme to have Seppun-sama banned from court for the remainder of it. That would have had consequences."

"I did what I could then. As you did. And that was enough to avoid that harm. But it was not just spilled tea."

A regrettable situation where any thought such ugly schemes were reasonable.

"But I think all are united in hoping that the stains from that incident will be wiped clean, and all can carry on, with the good of the Empire and its people as the first priority."

[Jihen]

"It is the base human heart that seeks for revenge..." Jihen replied.

"The spilt tea was just that... and it wasn't. The price had already been paid... The guilty party revealed herself for what she was. She paid the price of her own actions... Tomaru-sama will receive reward in the same manner... thus is the way of karma."

He tilted his head, "To seek recompense beyond that... to fear what the world will think if one does not return damage in kind... That does not wipe the ledger clean. It only adds new marks to that self same ledger."

[Agasha Yuna]

"Agreed."

“The road of revenge leads straight to the sun, hanging on the horizon. There are no wayside inns to give the traveller rest, there are no detours, byways or deviations. It is a long, bloody path that can only end in a grave."

"I do not advocate revenge. I only observe cause and effect."

"Jihen-san, this action was not of my making." Her clan, yes. Her, no. "My only role has been to make the donation, gladly, when the motion was first made. And I do not regret that the court permitted that initial motion. I gave generously. Doji Noriko-sama even moreso. Good will be done with those donations. No matter what. That is not undone."