D1, LE - Dragon Rooftop Stargazing

[Agasha Yuna]

After the meeting with their Daimyo had concluded in the early evening, the Dragon had some time to themselves for meditation and other conversations.

And then, as the evening turned later, Mirumoto Kichinitonda showed Agasha Yuna the ladder leading up to the rooftop in their newly organized space. Aha!

She had by now changed out of her court clothes and into the simplest coarse robe. She still had her hair bound up in the headdress, making an odd contrast. But it took time to remove all the pins. A task best done right before bed.

She invited the others to climb up to the roof with her to enjoy the fresh air and look at the stars.

"It's not the view we are all likely used to, from our mountain homes, but it's a little closer to Heaven. And I think it will help to know each other better. As the Little Teacher says: 'Two men can brave what one man cannot.'"

There were sixteen Dragon delegates.

And, ultimately, three of them on the roof. Chatting.

[Agasha Sanjuro]

His evening meditation complete, Agasha Sanjuro returned to the roof to view the stars at Agasha Yuna's invitation.

He noticed she had changed her garb, but still had on the complex headdress. He mused, it must take some time to remove that and put it in each day. He was glad he had no such trappings.

He breathed in the fresh air and let it out slowly, moving into a sitting position as he spoke. "Yes, truly on both counts," he replied.
"The heavens twinkle with the little lights of Ameratsu until she returns tomorrow."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled at him, glad for the company.

A nod at his words.

"It's been nice to meet you today, Agasha-san. This is my first time at a winter court, and in this kind of role. After school, I was assigned as a Librarian, and over time also earned a place as a Karo to a larger house's Daimyo. At the Izaku library and for the Izaku Daimyo."

"I understand you are a shugenja, and your House has a focus on spiritual matters also. Like mine. The Ageki focus on the study of the earth kami. Does your family have a particular focus in their study and research?"

"Have you traveled outside Dragon lands before?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Mirumoto Jinkan climbed to the roof easily. He was wearing the expensive green and black silk layers he had been sporting for the courtly reception earlier, along with a large hairpin for his bun, and a jade netsuke hanging from his waist. His scarred face moved into a smile as he bowed to the pair already talking.

"Mirumoto Jinkan, of the Ito, late of Shiro Yama." He sat down like a sack of potatoes.

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled as Jinkan joined them.

"Glad you could join, Mirumoto-san. Can you tell us more about Shiro Yama? Or anything you'd like to share about yourself as we get to know each other?"

She glanced at them both.

"There is so much to accomplish here. I don't quite know where to begin. How do you think it will work to find trade partners, and arrange for what the Dragon needs? Should we all ask around, and bring suggestions back to Togashi-ue?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"Uh...sure." The Mirumoto thought for a bit about what to say about his home that wasn't immediately obvious from the name.

"It is built into the side of a mountain, there are mining villages attached to it in the nearby peaks. This is my first time leaving the mountains, so the flatlands are strange to me. As for the trade stuff, I had a meeting with a Daidoji earlier about gaining some rice. I will be submitting a report to Togashi-ue with copies for the other daimyo. What happens to it from there is anyone's guess." Jinkan settled into position to watch the stars.

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"Our shiro is built into the side of a mountain too, or more precisely, called forth out of the side of the mountain. A great feat of earth shugenja magic. And we have a mine also. A gold mine."

"There is a marvelous gold vein in nearby Serpent's Tail mine also. Only that's two veins that look like snakes twisting around each other, gold and iron, and it turns out to be the trail of an earth kami and a fire kami who chased each other around that mountain once. And there is even jade in the place where they collided."

"No jade on our lands. Just nearby."

She smiled, thinking of home.

"That's good news that there is a potential deal to be made with the Crane for rice. That's something we need. Did they mention what they would want in return? Do they have enough to supply all that we need and to commit to a multi-year arrangement? That might take a marriage and other enticements to secure."

[Agasha Sanjuro]

Sanjuro nodded.

"Our shiro is also built into the side of a mountain, though we tend to focus on fire magic rather than earth magic. This is my fourth trip away from the mountains, and the flat lands offer beautiful skies and richer soil for farming than at home. It is a different kind of beauty, though I will always prefer the mountains."

"There are some small farms and mostly mines at home. The veins nearby are of silver and there is some jade."

His thoughts drift to home, to the lands and his wife and daughters.

"Tomorrow we should decide as a delegation who will be dedicated to which tasks. We must be sure not to give away all our resources too early nor promise more than we have," he mused. Shaking out of his reverie, he continued, "However, this is a lovely evening, so let me not get ahead of myself."

"It is a pleasure making your acquaintances and spending this time with you."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"Nice to meet both of you. I don't think that we have much chance of failure this winter court. Enough things go up in the air, you end up catching what you need after all." Jinkan said with an easy tone.

"Deals seem like something that fall into your lap when you aren't looking."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled at Sanjuro's description.

"Ah, we can learn from your experience. Your travel. I have only spent time in Dragon and Phoenix lands. I attended school in Phoenix lands, the Asako Loremaster school. Did you spend time with other clans?"

"The three of us all come from rich mine lands. Between us, there is gold, silver, jade." A commonality.

"I do like the idea of organizing our efforts. Thinking about what needs to be done and how we might divide up the work - or at least take the lead on different pieces, and" -- smiling at Jinkan -- "nonetheless gladly take advantage of what falls into any of our laps. If we continually share what we learn, we can put the puzzle pieces together. Gain the widest perspective."

"And" - she turned to Sanjuro - "I appreciate your thought to exercise patience. That's good advice. As the Little Teacher says: 'Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?”

"I did also want to ask - if you are comfortable sharing - is there anything you are looking for, for your Houses? That we might also want to keep an eye out for the most radiant opportunity?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"I need to get married." Jinkan said, not offering anything further. He closed his eyes and began matching the stars in his head with the ones he had just seen.

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"I am available to marry also. And to marry out-of-clan, since I am not the heir."

"You are your family's heir, right, Mirumoto-san? You need a match to marry into the Dragon? Is there anything in particular that you are looking for?"

"I would also like to look for matches for my siblings. In particular, my brother, Ageki Riku-san, who is the Heir. He must marry a skilled shugenja already a Dragon or able to marry into the Dragon. Ideally, a female shugenja with great affinity with earth. And who enjoys research. I realize that's a challenge. It is surely easier to find within the Dragon than from some other clan. If either of you have family who might be relevant, let me know."