[D12, EA, Court] The Floor

[Seppun Sadako]

There is almost a hint of a smile on the Lady Seppun's face as Yuna makes her request.

"Will any stand in opposition to this?" she asks.

[Seppun Sadako]

Finding none foolhardy enough to argue against a commemoration of the heroic acts of some very dangerous people, Sadako nodded. "Very well, the court acknowledges the heroism of Matsu Tsuruyo, Seppun Gohei, Daidoji Sae, Hiruma Daichi, Akodo Kenji, Doji Arai, Daidoji Ryu, Mirumoto Jinkan, Asahina Hoshiko, Yasuki Masaki, Yasuki Ryoichi, Ikoma Honoka, Ikoma Heika, and Ikoma Fumio in preventing the assassination of Tatsuya and of his son, Ryunosuke."

"Shall we consider the next item on the agenda?"

[Cearnach]

Ryusei took the floor, and bowed.

"Minna-sama, at long last, it's my turn for one of these..."

A small joke, but at his own expense.

"It is not always fashionable to discuss matters of duty. It is often not glamorous. But there is no higher calling for a samurai than to fulfill their duty. And to that end, devoted service is deserving of support. The Phoenix know how the Sparrow Clan labor at a sacred trust. And having been made aware that the Suzume had concerns for the year ahead, we are only too happy to step forward to help."

The scrolls were handed around. It was almost routine by this point.

"The priests of the Isawa Family will bless the fields of the Sparrow Clan, to better enable the Suzume to continue in their duty by ensuring a richer harvest. We will also provide a modest amount of iron and stone, to insure that the wardens of the Golden Sun Plains need look no further afield for such materials. We do this in the name of friendship and mutual esteem."

He paused.

"The Sparrow, in token of the same, will share the fruits of their fields- yams and sake, which the Phoenix Clan will gladly accept. With the example of other such arrangements before us, we hope the Court will honor this arrangement with acceptance."

--
Treaty Skinny:
The Sparrow Provide
2 units of yams
2 units of sake

The Phoenix Provide
2 units of stone
1 unit of Iron
A blessing upon the farms of the Sparrow.

Courtier/Awareness to Advance Own Position- Please Approve this Sparrow/Phoenix Treaty. TN 21. Benten's Blessing Applies. Void Point for +1k1 | 7k5 ⇒ 35 (TN: 21)

10 court points to Ryusei

[Suzume Ryobu]

"We thank our friends among the Phoenix for this," Ryobu says. "It is an honor to stand in their company."

~~~~~
Concurrence succeeds at 52, https://sakkaku.org/r/17384

[Seppun Sadako]

"Hearing no opposition," Sadako says, "the treaty is recognized.

"Let the next item of business be brought forward."

[Fukurokujin]

When the time came and he was recognized from the dais, Isawa Shingo stepped forward and beckoned for the two servants carrying the oversized scroll to bring it forward. As they began to carefully unroll the heavy paper, the Phoenix spoke.

"Minna-sama," he began, polite but with a warmth in his voice. "I was inspired yesterday to capture an event that is perhaps too easily taken for granted, because it is a well established tradition. Sometimes we forget that even the most essential of traditions still require effort for them to be maintained. They are like our laws in this way: if we do not maintain them, if we do not follow them, we begin to lose some of what is essential to us being Rokugani."

The servants unfurled the scroll fully, facing the days at an angle so that much of the court chamber could also see it, as Shingo took a deep breath.

"I believe the Winding Water Banquet is a well established tradition. I hope, with this offering, to guard against it being taken for granted, especially in such times as now, when our grief and strain as an empire are increased. Rather than be forgotten, let the good work of poets from many clans be here immortalized by a simple scribe. Let this work remind us that many small works, not always the finest but certainly the most heartfelt, help uphold our traditions and our well being as an empire."

When observed closely enough, the large scroll is seen to have poetry written across it. There are small clusters of haiku from each great clan in approximately the position their lands hold on a map of the empire - the Phoenix in the upper right and Lion in the middle left, for example. The Phoenix shugenja clearly has not captured every verse from the banquet (who could?), nor to have worried much about the minor clans' contributions, but it is unquestionably a serious work that captures with fine brushwork a variety of the poetry shared at the banquet.

His presentation complete he turns to Seppun Sadako, should the presiding officer have any questions of him. When dismissed, Shingo bows deeply to the dais, turns to bow less deeply to the rest of the court, and then returns to the crowd while the servants carefully re-roll the scroll and deliver it to imperial staffers.

------
Creation roll is linked in this work thread. Rolled a 52.

[Seppun Sadako]

"Thank you, Isawa-san," Sadako says.

"What other business presents itself today?"

[Fukurokujin]

"Seppun-dono, minasan, I would like to present for the court's appreciation an agreement of continued friendly relations and cooperation between the Crab clan and our northeastern neighbours from the Younger Clan of the Fox. Since the start of our time in Kyuden Ikoma - distant as it may now seem with all that has happened - the Crab has been making efforts to back our words calling for strength based onr harmony and cooperation with actions" - she gestures towards the crowd with her grey fan featuring a red carp holding a peach blossom in its mouth - "and we have been happy to see so many others taking similar steps."

Turning to Sadako again. "This treaty is another step in the same direction, another gesture to show that clans Great and Young can keep working together for the Empire's greatness even in difficult times - and, in fact, even more so in those. To celebrate the amity and cooperation between our clans, the Crab offers the Fox [2 Arms, 2 Stone, 1 Iron] to support the clan's efforts for its development and protection from bandits and other outside threats; we also offer a gift of [1 Tea] from our Yasuki lands, as a sign of our friendship. The Fox in turn offered us to share part of their rice harvest [i.e., 2 Rice], as well as gifting us some of the bounty of the Kitsune Mori, in the form of [2 paper, 1 dye]."

"We hope the court will look favourably upon this further effort for continued, harmonious and productive collaboration between the Great and Younger clans."

A deep, respectful bow - a small, but warm smile remaining on her face - and she steps back.

Crab offers Fox:

• 2 Arms
• 2 Stone
• 1 Iron
• 1 Tea

Fox offers Crab:

• 1 Dye
• 2 Paper
• 2 Rice

---------------------
D12 EA - Court. Introducing Fox/Crab treaty. 1 Raise, VP | 8k5+4 ⇒ 49 (TN: 26)
15 Court Points

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi stepped forward to support the deal, but perhaps his frustrations over the earlier actions in courts clouded his mind, as without saying anything he stepped back a few moments later.

Day 12 Court. Supporting Masaki and the Crab/Fox Deal tn 21 | 6k3 ⇒ 18 (TN: 21)

[Kitsune Aiko]

"We sure do 'preciate havin' th' chance t' work with th' Crab on this," Aiko says. "Good t' fin'ly get this tooken care of."

She bows and withdraws.

~~~~~
Basic concurrence succeeds at 30, https://sakkaku.org/r/17389

[Seppun Sadako]

"Then this court is pleased to accept this treaty. What is the next piece of business before the court?"

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna stepped forward and gave a deep bow.

"Seppun-sama, if it pleases the Court, I offer this calligraphic art, in honor of the Imperial Court and its role."

The art was in the kano style, ink on top of gold leaf.

The kanji 統 had the meaning both of 'govern' and of 'unite'.

https://sakkaku.org/r/17339 36 calligraphy v 21

[Seppun Sadako]

"The Court is pleased to accept this gift."

[Cearnach]

Some time after the treaty with the Fox is accepted, when an opportunity presents itself, Masaki will step forward again, holding a pouch as she did a few times in the first days of court.

"Seppun-dono", she says, bowing deeply once again. "I would like to offer this 'knot of celebration' as a gift to the court, and the Empire. As a traditional amulet blessed with prayers for good fortune, I hope it may bring such good fortune and harmony to families - always, but especially when it is needed the most."

The amulet is an iwai-musubi, done in white, green and golden-coloured straw; five yellow chrysanthemums, also made of plaited straw, are tied to it, in different parts, and one, white and yellow chrysanthemum is tied on top of it.

------
D12 EA - Court; Wara-zaiku; Iwai-Musubi tied to 5 yellow chrysanthemums, a yellow-and-white chrysanthemum on top of it. TN 21 | 7k4+4 ⇒ 31 (TN: 21)

Should add 25 Court points for the day.

[Seppun Sadako]

"Thank you for the generous gift, Yasuki-san."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

At an appropriate moment, Shinnosuke too will bow and present an offering: a mask carved in the likeness of an aged but noble warrior.

"This is my humble rendering of the mask used for the play Seppun Yorimasa," he explains the offering. "Though Yorimasa is at the end of his years in that play, he sings how in his youth he shot down a wicked demon troubling the court of Hantei Genji. As the court prepares for the Demon Chase in a few days, I hoped this gift might be appropriately auspicious."

D12 Court--Artistic offering, Artisan (Masks), TN21 | 7k4 ⇒ 31 (TN: 21)
Pass! 25 pts.

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

Yasuki Ryoichi presented the Imperial Court with another elegant flower arrangement. The white blossoms seemed to climb towards the Heavens, signifying all the Court’s desire for a new Son (or Daughter) of Heaven to be named.

Ikebana12.jpeg (39.24 KiB) Viewed 1333 times

—
12EA Gift for court, Artisan: Ikebana/Awareness +Void Point TN21 | 6k5 ⇒ 63 (TN: 21) succeeds for 25 court points

[Doji Hikaru]

Hikaru steps forward. "Honorable assembly: we have witnessed several treaties passed between Clans that include defense of our seas. I would recommend a gathering of those affected to see if can standardize arrangements or come to mutual agreement. Barring that we could avoid confusion by clearly compiling the agreements made."


____
D12 Court Proposal-Courtier/Awareness-2 raises for TN 31- VP spent | 8k5 ⇒ 32 (TN: 31)

Pass for 20 Court points

[Miya Hachi]

The Lord Herald stands.

"A register of treaties passed at Court is compiled and published upon the return of the Court to the Capital as a matter of course," he says.

He resumes his seat.

~~~~~
Point of order being made

[Cearnach]

Court Points
Yasuki Masaki: 90
Soshi Eiji: 55 (Noriko)
Yasuki Ryoichi: 45 (Tatsuya)
Agasha Yuna: 35 (Tomaru)
Daidoji Shinnosuke: 25
Isawa Shingo: 25
Doji Hikaru: 20
Shiba Ryusei: 20
Hiruma Daichi: 10
Daidoji Sae: -60

+0.5 Glory to Matsu Tsuruyo, Seppun Gohei, Daidoji Sae, Hiruma Daichi, Akodo Kenji, Doji Arai, Daidoji Ryu, Mirumoto Jinkan, Asahina Hoshiko, Yasuki Masaki, Yasuki Ryoichi, Ikoma Honoka, Ikoma Heika, and Ikoma Fumio in preventing the assassination of Tatsuya and of his son, Ryunosuke