[Day 4, Mid-Morning] Officer of the Watch (Phoenix Only)

[Shiba Ryusei]

With some dealings with the Dragon, Scorpion, and Lion in process, Ryusei prepared to present the agreements to his delegation head.

[Shiba Higashime]

Lady Shiba was ready to receive them, her intensity not have degraded one bit in the intervening hours since their last meeting.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei bowed low.

"Shiba-ue, we have a couple of agreements to consider- with the Dragon, and with the Scorpion."

And maybe the Lion, but since his player had spaced that thread for a day, he wasn't sure about that yet. But if so, we'll just pretend he said them too.

He paused.

"Both of them concern my family rather directly, so your oversight is extra crucial. I cannot pretend to be fully objective about these agreements. That said, Asako-san carried out the dealings with the Dragon."

His hands didn't shake as he offered the agreement with the Dragon, but it was a near-run thing.

"This treaty has some... complications."

The Phoenix will provide:
4 units of lumber
3 units of paper
A blessing of crops that would make Dragon rice increase next season [next year production increases by 4]

The Dragon can provide:
2 gold
4 iron
4 silver
3 stone

Marriages;
Agasha Yuna to marry Shiba Ryusei, marrying into the Phoenix Clan.

Marriage of Phoenix female shugenja skilled with the earth kami marriage candidate into the Dragon, with the following notes:
1) She is given the opportunity to study at House Ageki with the family and scholars there, and learn about their great work and vow
2) At the end of six months, she can agree to take the vow and marry the heir Ageki Riku. Or, she can declare that the vow is not for her, and a marriage will be arranged to another equivalent status Agasha shugenja in another House.
The proposed candidate is Isawa-ke no kashin Miwa Akihiro

"Asako-san and I failed to coordinate properly during our negotiations, and he was unaware that the Crab would be supplying iron and stone. I have not sought to amend it, because displaying our misstep to the Dragon in that fashion would be... ill-advised. I hope that we can make use of the surplus Iron and stone to diversify our possible trades with other clans, as most of what we have left to work with consists of lumber and paper. "

He paused.

"And in honesty, Shiba-ue, as this treaty concerns my own marriage- to someone who I think would make an excellent wife- I should not in conscience negotiate directly with the Dragon on matters of gravity. Someone with less... emotional investment would be better suited to handle any amendments. The Dragon also want our support for a political objective of somewhat seismic dimensions, and are willing to support the library proposal in exchange, but I believe that more groundwork on both proposals would be advisable before we made them public in a treaty. Certainly, I think we can support them so long as their interests don't conflict with ours."

When that had been resolved on way or the other, it was time for the Scorpion treaty.

The Phoenix will provide:
6 units of paper.

The Scorpion will provide:
2 units of weapons an armor.
The Scorpion will facilitate Isawa Akihiro or the Master of Air's designated representive's access to the Yogo Libraries.

The agreement will be sealed with the marriage of Shiba Saburo of House Shigi to Shosuro Bibari of House Maeda. with Shiba Saburo joining the Scorpion Clan.

"This agreement makes use of a commodity we have in great supply to fulfill a request from the Master of Air that only the Scorpion could arrange. It also secures the marriage of my younger brother, and fulfills our need for a commodity which, according to my Crab contacts, in in high demand this season."

[Shiba Higashime]

Shiba Higashime listened to the story of this weirdly mangled set of negotiations, and frowned.

"I do not like that there has been confusion in the delegation, but that is fixable. If Iron is as valuable a commodity as I suspect, we will come out ahead in the end. More concerning is the other half of that tale. I am not certain that I can in good conscience consign you to a marriage that will require so much emotional investment that you cannot perform your duties. I am concerned that that will destroy you, in the end, and I have some responsibility as your Champion to ensure that my samurai are up to the tasks that are assigned to them."

She turned her full glare on Ryusei. "Are you absolutely certain that you wish to marry someone who makes you feel this much?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

He bowed low.

And did what he had to do.

He told the truth.

On a personal level, Yuna was perfect for him. The mere thought of her smile lightened his heart.

But she was also a superb choice on a dynastic level.

"I do, Shiba-ue. I will not belabor you with emotional reasons. As you say, you are my daimyo, and they are irrelevant. Benten has a hand in this, to be sure, but so do Fukurokujin and Daikoku. Her family is wealthy, and her status as eldest child but not heir is an awkward one for them. My House could use the resources that come with her dowry- you know the straits we are in. I wish to rebuild the Shigi to a state where we can properly serve the Phoenix in naval matters as we once did. You might be able to find me another wealthy wife, but not one who is so harmonious to the culture of the Phoenix Clan. She is pious and committed to spiritual matters, but also interested in finding ways for House Shigi to better sustain itself on more than just laurels won centuries ago. She currently serves as a karo. I do not yet have one picked out, thanks to the state of personnel- or our lack thereof- at Shiro Shigi. My mother fills the role for my father."

When she isn't just running the entire show while he crawls into a bottle.

"Agasha-sama has ideas for new enterprise on the coasts. New ventures, new perspectives on what House Shigi can do for the Phoenix Clan."

He rose partway from his bow.

"Part of why I feel this much, Shiba-ue, is for the future I see for my House with an intelligent, well-financed, and committed partner at my side. One who can be honest with me and know that I will listen, even if I hear something I don't want to. One who can offer new ideas while understanding where our traditions come from, and their importance."

He worked his jaw around.

"I would not have an arrangement like the one my parents endure, watching the castle fall apart around us because of personal disharmony. I would have one that strengthens my House for our service to the Phoenix Clan. And I believe this match will do precisely that."

He bowed again.

"Your will be done, Shiba-ue."

[Shiba Higashime]

Higashime considered that for a long moment.

"You are correct that disharmony has done damage to your house. And I cannot fault your reasoning as to her being an asset to you. But the driving factor of any love-match made this quickly is not that it makes one feel good, but that it is derived from intensity of feeling. The intensity will remain with the good feelings are gone. It is much better not to be so entangled."

"But, as it has already happened, and as you have promised much in making this proposal, to say nothing of the strong desirability of the treaty to which this agreement is attached, I can only say that on your own head be it."

"As for the treaty with the Scorpion, it is acceptable. Perhaps Lord Yogo will keep Master Akihiro busy for a year. That would be one less headache."

[Shiba Ryusei]

He simply bowed at her agreeing to the treaty with the most personal importance as low as he could go.

"Hai, Shiba-ue."

On the Scorpion deal- and the comment about Akihiro- he actually allowed himself a thin smile.

"As with the Crab, there may be other arrangements arrived at going forward, but I thought it wise to keep matters limited in scope. While I haven't observed much overt opposition to our interests here, I dislike affording any potential adversaries much of a foothold. And despite the Scorpion's reputation, it was gratifying to have an agreement so... candid in nature."

[Shiba Higashime]

"Hai, it is almost more than could be hoped for. I expected much more animosity from the Lion and possibly the Crane than we have received thus far. Perhaps the Lion are distracted by the Succession. If so, it makes our path that much easier."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"If you will forgive the presumption, Shiba-ue, I have some thoughts on the matter."

He bowed.

"You are no doubt aware of all of this, but I find it helps me to articulate my observations."

He rose.

"I believe the Lion are contending with some internal tensions- not that they would ever be so inept as to state it outright, of course. Where we simply require that the succession be lawful, they may have competing interests."

The Phoenix, more unified at the command level than the Lion? Somewhere in Toshogoku, a peaceful day was dawning.

"Their rice harvest was bountiful, according to Akodo Kenji, so they may also be moving quietly and leveraging their food supplies to secure a stronger position. Or perhaps they hope the succession will restore them to their prior place without a need to contend with us directly."

He made a seesaw motion with his hand.

"Again, they are not so inept as to let us know for sure. As for the Crane..."

He shrugged.

"You saw the one demonstration by Doji-san in regards to our treaty with the Crab. He raised concerns, but did not attack the substance of the agreement itself.They have been frozen out of the main business of Imperial power for so long, I think they are leery of making any outright enemies before they strengthen their field position. The succession is vitally important to them in that regard. And whatever issues they may have with us, we are a relatively safe border for them at the moment. They must keeps eyes on the Lion, Crab, and Scorpion, all while the Otomo regard them with disfavor. That said, it is somewhat alarming that we have not yet had any substantive discussions with their representatives. With the initial Crab, Dragon, and Scorpion treaties either completed or in a promising stage, I will do my best to remedy this going forward."

[Shiba Higashime]

"That would be wise, I agree. This talk of division within the Lion is disturbing in the extreme, but not altogether surprising, given the news of the Wakamiya family this autumn. A fracturing of the Lion clan may erode the oaths sworn by their daimyo to the Empress concerning the succession. Samurai seeking to develop alternative authorities to Akodo Sanae will cling to this or that Wind."

She paused. "That could lead to contagion. I hope Lady Akodo will be able to put her house in order."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"As you say, Shiba-ue. And if she cannot?"

[Shiba Higashime]

"Then this Empire will be at war with itself for the foreseeable future," Shiba Higashime said.

[Shiba Ryusei]

He thought of saying something incredibly obvious and stupid like "that sounds grim," but instead simply bowed to his daimyo, and waited to be dismissed.

[Cearnach]

Which, indeed, he was.

/scene.