Interview 2: Miyahara Sae

[Cearnach]

The door slides open to reveal Lady Doji, with Kakita Irie standing behind her and a number of servants waiting in the wings, seated in a chair. Another, empty chair sits across the low table from her. That one must be yours.

[Daidoji Sae]

The door slides open to reveal Lady Doji, with Kakita Irie standing behind her and a number of servants waiting in the wings, seated in a chair. Another, empty chair sits across the low table from her. That one must be yours.

Sae steps inside and bows low to Lady Doji - "Doji-Dono" and then another bow, slightly less low but respectful all the same. "Kakita-sama."

She moves to the chair but doesn't sit until invited, her stance straight and tall, her gaze resting firmly on her Clan Champion's forehead.

[Doji Minehime]

Sae steps inside and bows low to Lady Doji - "Doji-Dono" and then another bow, slightly less low but respectful all the same. "Kakita-sama."

She moves to the chair but doesn't sit until invited, her stance straight and tall, her gaze resting firmly on her Clan Champion's forehead.

Kakita Irie favored Sae with a small return bow.

"Please, sit Miyahara-san." Lady Doji's smile was warm--perhaps the most pleasant on in the castle. "Have you had rice?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Kakita Irie favored Sae with a small return bow.

"Please, sit Miyahara-san." Lady Doji's smile was warm--perhaps the most pleasant on in the castle. "Have you had rice?"

Settling down, ensuring her kimono fell just so (one has to be careful of such things in their clan champion's presence).

"Thank you, but I am fortunate to have already been blessed. Although I find my own throat can run dry with so much that needs to be discussed in a morning. If Doji-dono would desire water or tea it would be my honour to serve it."

[Doji Minehime]

Lady Doji inclined her head, allowing herself a small chuckle. "So forthright an offer! If Miyahara-san would be so kind as to serve tea, it would be an excellent accompaniment to our discussion."

[Daidoji Sae]

Lady Doji inclined her head, allowing herself a small chuckle. "So forthright an offer! If Miyahara-san would be so kind as to serve tea, it would be an excellent accompaniment to our discussion."

"I fear I will impart no great example of courtly prowess Doji-dono. If only a focus on etiquette could endow a samurai with the ability of flawless etiquette in all things."

Setting her On as though she were heading into battle Sae prepared to face her greatest test,not completely botching tea.

Day 1, EA, Meet the Daimyo, Roll 1: Tea Ceremony/Void (unskilled) voiding for an extra +1k1, TN 20 | 4k4 ⇒ 19 (TN: 20)

She's almost...almost competent, so close. But this is not a tea up to true crane standards, especially when Sae very nearly hands her champion a steaming cup instead of placing it before her.

"Ah, indeed. As I was saying."

[Doji Minehime]

Lady Doji's poise did not falter even an inch. "And what does Miyahara-san see as the most pressing concern for our delegation?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Lady Doji's poise did not falter even an inch. "And what does Miyahara-san see as the most pressing concern for our delegation?"

"For the delegation as a whole? There will be the usual needs of the Clan to make agreements and dealings, some more urgent than others."

Sai carefully places her cup down and straightens up. "But, to the delegation as a whole, the subject of succession seems the most pressing. The Crane's place in the empire has been one way for a generation, that may change."

Day 1 EA, Meet the Daimyo, Roll 2, Sincerity/Awareness TN 20 | 4k3 ⇒ 42 (TN: 20)

The Magistrate sounded entirely sincere.

[Doji Minehime]

"It may. I know that some of my vassals believe that the worst outcome for us is vanishingly unlikely, but I am not sure that I can be so sanguine. Much is riding on this point. How do you believe we should assure ourselves of benefiting from the Empress' choice?"

[Daidoji Sae]

"It may. I know that some of my vassals believe that the worst outcome for us is vanishingly unlikely, but I am not sure that I can be so sanguine. Much is riding on this point. How do you believe we should assure ourselves of benefiting from the Empress' choice?"

Day 1, EA, Meet the Daimyo, Roll 3 Etiquette (Courtesy)/Awareness, tn 25, Benten's | 8k4 ⇒ 38 (TN: 25)

Sae takes a moment to carefully formulate her argument before beginning (after all, few matters were more delicate than the Empress).

"Humbly, I see two not mutually exclusive options. The first is that we ensure all the candidates are aware of the benefits of a reinvigorated Crane. I believe most would be amenable to this given time. (The most problematic one would probably be childless and dead in a decade anyway)."

Raising her gaze, not giving Minehime a full face stare, but certainly a firmer forehead look. "The second is that we work to support the best candidates for the good of the Empire."

[Doji Minehime]

Minehime nodded slowly. "Interesting. It can, at times, be challenging to illustrate the virtues of a particular candidate if they become too closely tied to only one base of support. They inherit that base's baggage. Otomo Keihime, in particular, suffers from her reliance on her reactionary faction. Once we identify the correct heir, not a difficult task, surely, how can we encourage them to be seen as a candidate for the whole Empire, not just our protege?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Minehime nodded slowly. "Interesting. It can, at times, be challenging to illustrate the virtues of a particular candidate if they become too closely tied to only one base of support. They inherit that base's baggage. Otomo Keihime, in particular, suffers from her reliance on her reactionary faction. Once we identify the correct heir, not a difficult task, surely, how can we encourage them to be seen as a candidate for the whole Empire, not just our protege?"

"Doji-dono doubtless already has a better understanding than myself, but drawing from what I understand?"

Sae's tone changes slightly, as if reciting from memory. "When seeking testimony, one speaker is rarely enough and indeed, one speaker with a material interest in the result or a dishonorable background may be worse than none. It is when you have testimony from the many, the good, the honourable that judgement can be rendered."

She nods to herself. "For a candidate to be viewed as the Empire's choice, it must be, to some extent at least, the Empire's choice. One Clan alone cannot accomplish that. We must ensure that ours is a prominent but not lone voice in their selection."

[Doji Minehime]

"We are of one mind on this. The true challenge is to divine how to make someone the Empire's choice. In another age, my father might well have simply asked to speak with Hantei Yugozohime and present an argument. As it stands, we face a quite different challenge."

[Daidoji Sae]

"We are of one mind on this. The true challenge is to divine how to make someone the Empire's choice. In another age, my father might well have simply asked to speak with Hantei Yugozohime and present an argument. As it stands, we face a quite different challenge."

With a neutral not indicating whatsoever that the Empress was at fault "Indeed."

Clearing her throat. "And the Daughter of Heaven's most ardent supporters, the ones that advise her most closely are not close to us. All the more reason for a unit push alongside other Clans. I will be doing what little I can to ensure that her advisors are hearing the right things from the right people."

Bowing her head deeply.
"Although I am but one small part of our Clan, and my duties to the Throne are ever present."

[Doji Minehime]

Lady Doji blinked. "If your duties to this delegation are impinging on your time, Miyahara-san, then we will have to discuss how to release you from that burden. I had heard that you were a capable samurai, but now I am hearing that you can do very little for the Crane clan, that you minimize your role in the delegation, and that your other duties weigh heavily on you. How can I help to make sure that you do not have a conflict?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Lady Doji blinked. "If your duties to this delegation are impinging on your time, Miyahara-san, then we will have to discuss how to release you from that burden. I had heard that you were a capable samurai, but now I am hearing that you can do very little for the Crane clan, that you minimize your role in the delegation, and that your other duties weigh heavily on you. How can I help to make sure that you do not have a conflict?"

The very faintest ghost of a smile, gone before it even arrived.

"Doji-dono's confidence is all I require, with it I can move mountains."

[Doji Minehime]

Lady Doji nodded, saying impassively. "You may earn it by demonstrating your commitment to the delegation."

Then, a little more slowly. "I refuse to be a distraction."

[Daidoji Sae]

Lady Doji nodded, saying impassively. "You may earn it by demonstrating your commitment to the delegation."

Then, a little more slowly. "I refuse to be a distraction."

"Then I shall do everything in my power to prove it."
Sae pauses for a half second after Minehime's latter statement before smoothing her kimono on her lap.

"If I may. In all my duties I have encountered many samurai who faked admiration and respect for their betters while they deceived or stole from them. It was the root of many crimes in the Imperial City.

But no samurai ever spoke that way of Doji-dono for it seemed you were not merely an inspiration to me, but to many others. Some spoke only of your skill with a sword and they would use words like 'lightning' and 'prodigy'. But the wise ones, they spoke most often of all you have done for the samurai under you, of the close interest you maintain in even the smallest of us.

You are no distraction to me."

[Doji Minehime]

"That is most gracious, MIyahara-san. And a good recovery." She rose. "And I believe it brings this interview to a natural conclusion. I hope that you will be well. Please, ask Yamada Hoshiko in as you leave."

[Daidoji Sae]

"That is most gracious, MIyahara-san. And a good recovery." She rose. "And I believe it brings this interview to a natural conclusion. I hope that you will be well. Please, ask Yamada Hoshiko in as you leave."

"Thank you for your time Doji-dono, fortunes bless you."

Sae rises and bows very politely to both Minehime and the Kakita before quietly exiting.

((Thank for the RP! ))