[D1, EM, Event Roleplay] Lady Akodo's Briefing

[Akodo Sanae]

With the vetting process complete, the time has come. Lady Matsu stalks back behind the table, and Lady Akodo gestures for you all to be at ease. From seiza, she begins.

"We are coming together as a delegation in an interesting moment. You are all aware, I am sure, that the question of the Empress' succession is likely to be the focus of the next two weeks. The accession of an Emperor or Empress marks for all Rokugani the beginning of a new era. And while it will sadden our hearts to lose as strong and as generous an Empress as Hantei Retsuhime has been, one cannot demand that Amaterasu surrender her time with her daughter.

So it is for us to lay the foundation for this new era. The Empress will appoint her successor, that much is known, but it is for each clan to adapt to its situation and to define its role in the order that is to come. You are aware that we have faced challenges in the previous few years. Our alliance with the Dragon is all but broken. Our armies have been surprised and reversed in the field."

[Matsu Tsuruyo]

Here, Lady Matsu's knuckles cracked ominously.

[Akodo Sanae]

"And, worst of all, the people surrounding the Empress have begun to direct her favor toward the Phoenix. I am certain that Lady Shiba is an honorable soul, but she has begun to place herself between the Lion and the Throne.

In a normal situation, we could solve that in the traditional manner. But this is not a traditional situation. The very uncertainty of this moment means that our greatest weapon may be too dangerous to unsheathe. Already, conflicts among our people have begun to take on a concerning new aspect. Houses declare themselves for this or that potential heir, using them as totems, blown toward conflict by the great winds of ambition that rise in their wake. This pattern is repeated across the Empire, and while the Empress' word ought to be enough to diffuse the ensuing cacophony, we know from bitter experience that some may close their ears even to her voice.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to define this new era, to dictate the new terms by which we mean to support the Empress in holding her society together for her chosen successor to inherit. To be the bedrock on which the fertile soil rests, undisturbed by wind, nourished by the rain and sun, until the earth bursts with great fields of flowers.

I am relying on you to carry the message of stability, guaranteed by Lion strength, to all the delegations, letting them know the bounties of a peaceful transition, and the powerful will that stands behind it."

[Matsu Tsuruyo]

Lady Matsu, a powerful will in anyone's book, cracks her neck almost as punctuation. Then she bows, formally and precisely.

[Akodo Sanae]

Sanae, feeling the change in air pressure, turns to acknowledge the gesture, before redirecting her attention to the larger delegation.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Like any other, Sayomi listened with great interest to what the Champion had to say. There was a lot to take in today...

"If I may, Lady Akodo," she spoke up politely as it seemed Sanae wanted to hear their voices now, "we have heard much of those who would consider themselves the noble Empress' heir, but I can't say I know much about them for certain. Have you or minna-sama anything more solid to share about them to us, so we may know more what to expect in the days ahead?"

[Akodo Myorin]

Standing nearby, Myorin watched the exchange and then nodded slightly when Sayomi asked her question. She just hoped the Kitsu received one cohesive answer...and not four disparate ones. There were already enough tension in the air without throwing the succession crisis ontop.

[Matsu Masumi]

For all her chest puffing, Masumi was ready to back her Daimyo in the case that there were differing opinions on who should inherit. I would think that the answer is obvious but... Well it wouldn't be a succession crisis if it was resolved easily.

[Akodo Sanae]

Sanae was silent for a moment, casting a small glance toward Ikoma Ryota. When he did not leap forward to volunteer, she cleared her throat.

Still nothing.

So Akodo Sanae turned back to the assembled Lion.

"I am sure that you are all familiar with their names. Something of their personal legends have begun to reach us since the names were released. How much of any of the stories are true is a matter of conjecture, but it would be fair to say that the aggregate for some stretches plausibility. For example, I certainly did not approve a ronin studying at the War College, whether that ronin was clearly an Otomo on musha-shugyo or no. What is more interesting by far than the content of the stories is who chooses to spread them and what it says about what those people look for in a leader.

But that is academic. In the end, the Empress will choose, and we will follow. Of the Winds, the person least likely to be chosen has the most natural base of power. It remains to be seen how closely Lady Doji is committed to her cousin's claim, but I would presume that she is deeply invested in her personal safety. The likelihood that Winds with independent bases of power will survive the next five years is quite small."

[Ikoma Ryota]

"Vanishingly small," said Ryota, his voice tight and dry.

[Akodo Sanae]

Sanae continued. "And that is unfortunate. However, the way of the ambitious is to suffer the repercussions of failure as well as to reap the rewards of success. It is the reason why their efforts are so intense. That is not to say that Noriko is anything but courteous, and I do not believe that she burns with some great desire to be Empress, but, as ever, the true threat of any Wind is less the Wind and more those that are carried along in their wake."

"And that is the true point. These people are still people now, in this moment, but already they are becoming symbols, and symbols get people killed. It is for this reason that we should be careful to encourage others to submit their will to that of the Empress. It really is the only way to save their lives, should they choose in error."

"Of the other four, Lady Keihime has some power now as the Imperial Advisor. She largely stands for the status quo and is the architect of the rise of the Phoenix. Lord Gorobei is an under-minister of gardens or some such who apparently had some adventures a few years ago; I confess that I have yet to discern great qualities in him, but it is possible that the Empress has. And Seppun Tomaru is a priest. More, and the truth, we will have to discover."

[Ikoma Honoka]

Honoka had listened along. It seemed almost a non-answer, which didn't sit well with her.

"The status quo is not ideal" Honoka finally commented "remaining idle and seeing where the stones fall will lead us to being left behind. The way of the ambitious may be a risk verses rewards venture but it is better to take some risk than not lest we find ourselves at the same place at the end that we started."

A small pause.

"What better chance to learn what way the winds will blow than this one? Or if the winds can change course or remain on their path."

[Kitsu Shintaro]

Kitsu Shintaro seemed to perk up a bit as Honoka makes her point, his clever hands fidgeting.

[Akodo Sanae]

"I would be inclined to agree with you, Kamoshita-san, were it not for the Empress'...feelings about her authority, which are considerable." Not to say violent and out of proportion. "We do have one advantage that the Phoenix do not. Their rise is artificial, a reaction caused by Otomo Keihime's concern that we were too close to the Empress."

The unspoken implication that Otomo Keihime might not be great for the Lion hung in the wind.

"That means two things: First, that they are beholden to a wind. If the choice is not the Advisor, and there are some signs that it may not be, then they will be naturally on the outs. Second, their rise is artificial. As Lady Matsu has articulated to me, that suggests that their reach has rather exceeded their grasp."

Sanae paused. "But, that does not mean that we can afford to be blind. Caution dictates that we learn what we can about these winds, and about who is already backing them, without giving ourselves to their cause before the Empress gives her assent."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

It was all so complicated. Why did the ambitions of men and women cloud the process of the Empress' choice, Sayomi pondered.

"Ah, well... we shall all have to keep our eyes and ears on alert for new information. Just like how scouts are the eyes of a general far afield - and report back once there is something new."

And at the end, when a new heir is chosen... if it's an honorable one, then honor is its own reward.

[Akodo Sanae]

"Precisely, Tatsukawa-san. I have every reason to believe that this delegation will be capable of walking that thread, and, Kamoshita-san, of being prepared to adapt to a change in the situation if it should come."