This thread is for official business using the Court Actions rule system. Presiding today is Shiba Rumiko, the Imperial Chancellor. The TN for court actions is 24.

The court today is packed with courtiers. Even those who traditionally have operated on the outside of the main chamber: the gofers, the party people, the duelists, have packed the room, leaving little space for maneuver. In many senses, the time for maneuver has come to an end. This is the moment of decision, and the weight of the moment has bowed more than one back.

The rear door opens to admit the first of the Imperial Officers. Miya Hachi is closely followed by Hida Kozume, each wearing slightly glum expressions. Seppun Sadako appears next, her expression blank as she takes up her position. Then Tooru swans onto the scene, his smirk livened by his best robes, easily the value of 2 years' work on any house's fields.

He is followed by Otomo Keihime, dripping gold and the finest silk, her hair done up in elaborate jade combs She seems almost to float to her place to the left of the throne, her eyes sweeping the chamber, drawing each of the great and the good to look upon the serenity of her expression--her every movement calculated to cry out to an Empire: "look upon your Empress."

In her wake, Kakita Hajime emerges in the Emerald Armor and steps easily to stand to the right of Seppun Sadako. He is followed, at last, by Shiba Rumiko, who moves to the front of the chamber.

Shiba Rumiko stands before the court in all the finery of her office. One might expect a woman once thought to be a shill to tremble under the enormity of what she must do, but there is nothing left of that Shiba Rumiko. Forged by backroom battles against her fellow officers and the great and good of the Empire, she stands unbowed and resolute, her voice not wavering in the slightest as she intones:

"Honored delegates, we were summoned here at the Empress' command. Dutiful servants, we came to debate and to arrange the Empire the best to benefit her and her people. She has been taken from us. The throne stands empty. But we, serving still, have endeavored, each of us, to find some way to ensure that her Empire and her people endure.

The moment has come to choose the means by which we will determine the Imperial Heir. The court will entertain proposals as to how we should best discern who the true heir is."

She then steps backwards, extending her hands to either side to invite the court to speak.

The question has been put. The TN for Court Actions is 24

The Mirumoto came before the court as etiquette demanded, bowing as proper and otherwise. Then he began recounting the Fall of the Kami for a brief time before stopping after the Tournament of the Kami.

"One remembers what answer the Ninth Kami was given. Hantei would wield Rokugan against this contestant for the throne. So this one asks that we turn to tradition. The Emperor should be decided by raising armies, and defeating their opponents on the field of battle. Wield what of Rokugan you can grasp, and cut down your opponents." He finished with a bow to the court.

(Advance Position: War is the way to determine the Emperor.)

[D15, EA, Court] The Floor, Advance Position, Courtier/Awareness TN24, Void for 1k1, 7k4 | 7k4 ⇒ 24 (TN: 24)

(10 points.)

Yasuki Ryoichi stood up.

“Ahem. As an alternative to all-out war, let me suggest that we follow the more traditional path - that is, the person closest in relationship to our honored Empress should naturally succeed her,” the Yasuki suggested. "This has been the clearly understood and lawful path of inheritance for generations, and would be the safest and most widely accepted method for determining matters."

This was …. not particularly helpful for his chosen candidate. But surely it would be better than war?

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15EA Introduce position with 2 raises, Etiquette/Awareness +Benten's +Mastery +Void Point TN34 | 10k6 ⇒ 43 (TN: 34) succeeds for 20 Court Points towards nearest relation inherits

That Dragon is completely insane.

"I'm sorry... did Mirumoto-san just... mention the Ninth Kami in connection with this debate and then honestly suggest general warfare as the only means of determining who rules the Empire?"

The words were fine.

His blank incredulity wasn't quite suited to the audience, however.

--
Courtier/Awareness, TN 24 to refute Mirumoto Jinkan's position, Benten's Blessing applies, Void for +1k1 | 7k5 ⇒ 18 (TN: 24)

Womp womp, nada for action 1 of 3

"Regardless of ill chosen words," Sayomi joined in with Ryusei's argument, and shot a withering glare at Jinkan for bringing up such topics in this court, "what Mirumoto-san suggests goes directly against the last wish and command our glorious late Empress gave to the Champions and Daimyo gathered here today."

"We will not sully her memory by breaking those oaths at the first opportunity. We are samurai, we are not oathbreakers or barbarians. Even if some think such is appropriate."


----

D15. Court. Refute Mirumoto Jinkan's proposal. +1k1 Void. Courtier/Awareness | 8k5 ⇒ 59 (TN: 24)
-10 to Jinkan's proposal for War.

"As Kitsu-sama says. The Daughter of Heaven expressly commanded peace from the Clans until the succession is settled. Settling the succession by open war would represent a violation of those oaths, sworn to the Daughter of Heaven in front of the entire Court."


--
Let's try that again! Courtier/Awareness, TN 24 to refute Mirumoto Jinkan's position, Benten's Blessing applies, Void for +1k1 | 7k5 ⇒ 47 (TN: 24)

Another -10 to general war. Action 2 of 3 for Ryusei wastes some explosions but that last roll left me deeply paranoid

Another -10 to Jinkan's position. Crazy like a fox, that Dragon!

She gave a deep bow.

"Shiba-sama, in finding a peaceful process, let us consider what have been identified as key relevant factors in understanding Heaven's presence and will."

"First, as Yasuki-san states, it is agreed that nearness of blood to Hantei is a key consideration. The very presence of Hantei's blood. All candidates are not equally close in blood. Doji Noriko-sama is closest. Seppun Tomaru-sama has the next closest claim. They both have a legitimate legal claim."

"Second, this should be Heaven's decision - an exercise of Heaven's will."

"To that end, preference should be given to candidates who have been shown Heaven's favor in a specific way that can be here documented. My understanding is that some potential signs of this kind have been noted for Doji Noriko-sama, including at least one eye witness account that can be provided by Asahina-san here present. It is likewise the case that Seppun Tomaru-sama has received Heaven's favor since birth as a shugenja of considerable talent, something that can be demonstrated to all present."

"And, to let the final decision be demonstrably and inarguably in Heaven's hands, and Heaven's hands alone, I suggest that lots be drawn between the candidates meeting the criteria above. Let Heaven make the final choice between these two worthy admirable individuals with closest legal claim, and most demonstrable sign of Heaven's prior favor."

"Thank you for the opportunity to offer a peaceful path for consideration and comment."



https://sakkaku.org/r/17627 54 v 34 2 raises called
New position: draw lots between candidates who meet the criteria listed

Kenji could scarcely believe what he was hearing but his brush did not slip. Very well then. He stepped forward.

"Minna-sama. I was briefly willing to entertain Agasha-san's motion, but drawing lots is not a wise course of action with the Empire balanced on the edge of a sword. Yes, the Heavens should decide the next Emperor, and whoever carries their favour should lead. The fact is that they have already shown their favour, it lies with Doji Noriko-sama, as demonstrated throughout multiple official documents and verified historical testimony. The records also show that she is the closest in line, which Yasuki-san made the case for earlier."

He took a short breath before pressing on.

"With both the Heavens and lineage supporting her the spiritual and legal cases for Doji Noriko-sama to become Empress are overwhelming. I humbly urge the court to acknowledge this and enable a swift transition of power."

He bowed deeply and awaited the next to speak.

---
Roll
D15. EA. Court. Introduce position. Etiquette/Awareness. 1CR. +1k0 bonus. Void for +1k1. | 8k4 ⇒ 42 (TN: 29)

Success, +15 to Kenji's position.

"It is disappointing to hear that in the midst of one of the most important moments in our times some are not taking it seriously" Honoka said as she stepped forward, a small shake of her head "one suggests breaking the vow to the departed Empress and invokes one that should never be mentioned in such a place, and another suggests drawing lots as if the position on the Throne was simply a role delegated to one in a play!"

There was a pause and then finally a smile.

"Thankfully others can see the importance of the here and now, so thank you to those. Yasuki-sama suggests we take the traditional path, and Akodo-sama is correct in that the heavens have shown their favour. I believe that the decision is clear, and to delay that beyond this court is to risk leaving Rokugan without leader to guide them on. Therefore I support what Akodo-sama says."

There was a bow and she stepped back to the galleries to let another speak.

(ooc: support Kenji's Position
D15 EA court action - Support Kenji. Courtier/awareness+void+BB+ILS2. Base TN24+2 raises (TN34) | 9k6 ⇒ 42 (TN: 34) passed for +20 points!

Eiji wished that it was a simple matter of swiftly handing over power to Doji Noriko. But the officers of the court had made it clear. Lord Togashi had made it clear. There was not going to be a new ruler today. Rather than picking, picking the manner of picking was such a bureaucratic move. But if that's what the court wanted, that's what the court would get.

"My lords and ladies. This season, I have spun you many tales for your entertainment and education. But the first story of the Empire could indeed be said to be the Fall of the Kami, followed shortly thereafter by the Tournament of the Kami. Now if you haven't heard the story of the Tournament of the Kami.....I'm not sure you're actually from Rokugan, but in short, a group of divine siblings fell to the mortal world, they wished to bring the order of the Heavens to the mortals, and finding they needed someone to lead and others to follow, they held a tournament to decide matters."

He gestures towards the assembled contendors.

"Now, there are many differences between then and now. These are not, despite any appearance to the contrary..." he said looking at Keihime's Solid Gold Attire. "....Kami, and I don't think they would claim to be. They are mortal, the same as you and me. However, they are the closest to the bloodline that we still have.

Additionally, as they are not Kami, some are ill-suited for resolving things with a duel personally, and there's an odd number of them without a Hantei to set the order of the matches.

And so, I would present the following, new modern take on the Tournament of the Kami.

1) Each of the five deemed as the possible successors may elect to either duel for themselves, or to name a champion.

2) Each candidate or their champion will duel each other candidate or champion over the course of a few weeks, with no candidate facing more than one duel per day.

3) The candidate with the most number of wins will be recognized as the new Empress/Emperor.

4) If there is a tie for the most number of wins, the victory will go to whichever of the two was victorious when they faced each other.

5) If the winner duelled personally, they will be named Emperor/Empress, and Kakita Hajime will serve as their Emerald Champion.

6) If the winner had a champion fight their duels for them, Kakita Hajime will step down from his position of Emerald Champion, and their duelist will assume the position, as is proper for the champion of the Emperor/Empress, unless Kakita Hajime was their champion, in which case he may retain his position.

7) As Hantei gave important tasks for the properity of the Empire, so too must the new Emperor/Empress. As their first order of business, they must name each of the other potential successors to imperial positions of no less authority than a clan champion.

Awa/Perform: Storytelling: 53 Link!

"All assembled, is it not obvious?" Hikaru presents. "Doji Noriko is not the Crane candidate. She is the logical candidate. She is established by closest by legitimate bloodline and has shown herself the most capable of rule. It speaks for itself. All else is noise"

Hikaru decides to leave it at that.

____

Support Kenji's position
2 raise called]D15 - Court - Support Kenjis position - Courtier/Awareness - Benten's Blessing - VP spent - 2 raise | 8k6 ⇒ 52 (TN: 34)
Pass, +20 points to Kenji's position

"Soshi-sama provides the method most in keeping with law, with tradition, and with leaving matters to the Will of Heaven. In the history of Rokugan, the throne has only been contested this way twice- I researched the matter at the Ikoma Libraries, and we all know their records are superb. The first, as Soshi-sama notes, is the Tournament of the Kami. But if that precedent is too lofty or legendary for some, the only other time this matter has arisen is instructive- the very method by which the late Daughter of Heaven secured her blessed reign."

He looked about the Court.

"Let the Heavens decide. We are not worthy to elect someone to the Throne, whatever eloquence we may deploy, however suitable we might personally find a given candidate. It is not our place. If there have been signs in the pat, then this method should encourage those who believe in them- surely, if the Heavens truly favor their candidate, then one more demonstration for all to see should be unobjecitonable. It would lay the matter to rest. Definitively, without resorting to opinion, or rhetoric, or political backing."


--
Courtier/Awareness, TN 24 to support Soshi Eiji, Ryusei's third and final action of the Court. Benten's Blessing, Void for +1k1 | 7k5 ⇒ 58 (TN: 24)

+10 to Eiji

Some of the proposals here today were really wild. The Mirumoto, the same one who had stepped forward to ask for help to those in need, spoke today of the Enemy, and used that as a reason to suggest war as the way to choose an Emperor.

Exactly the opposite of the stability the Crab needed to ensure the Empire stood strong.

But other of the proposals were equally bold, if perhaps less obviously so. If the traditional path of blood relations were as clear cut as some suggested, would Ikoma Ryota even have reason to suggest more than one single person as the heir? Perhaps... but was the suggestion then that even the existence of other winds should be understood as a ruse?

The result of the whole thing was that Masaki's face was barely visible today, the mouth of the red carp on her grey fan greeting most of those who looked at her instead.

After many suggestions - including a tournament, which was perhaps the fairest one so far, but still hinged mainly on violence - she takes a step forward when the opportunity presents itself.

"Shiba-ue, honourable delegates. The last two weeks have taught me to have great respect for those who stepped forward today to speak - and it is a great relief that almost here are committed to a manner of choosing that does not hinge on all-out violence. But I would bring forward one question that seems to have been overlooked."

"My cousin Shiozaki Ryoichi-san makes the very reasonable suggestion that we should stick to the more traditional path, which is that of blood relationships. It is hard to argue against such a tradition, as that would imply arguing against the manner in which the Heavens have chosen most of its Children since the Dawn of the Empire. But if thickness of Hantei blood were as obvious a guide as Shiozaki-san and others seem to suggest today, why would Ikoma Ryota-dono even have had so much work, and why would we have five people under consideration today, instead of only the one?"

She shakes her head. "Note that I do not speak against the validity of Doji Noriko-sama's claim to Hantei blood, nor to the strength of her connection. I only think we should not forget that painstaking research brought us to not one, but more individuals who all share a claim to thick Hantei blood."

She flicks the fan in her right hand, although still keeping her face covered by it.

"Soshi-san's suggestion is one that takes this into account, and draws into tradition as well. But I would like to make a different proposal. One that places the decision about the rightful Child of Heaven on the hands of those closes to heaven themselves. One that allows the rightful Hantei to be chosen by those whose Hantei and Imperial Blood is thickest."

"To achieve this, I would suggest that the rightful ruler be decided by none oher than the winds themselves. Preferably in the City Closest to heaven, Otosan-Uchi."

Using her open fan, she gestures to each of the winds in turn. "Courtesy would mandate that one should not nominate oneself, of course. But each of the five Winds could nominate any of the other four as the one they think most worthy of the throne." She then points to three other people in the dais. Otomo Tooru. Seppun Sadako. Miya Hachi. "Of course, Imperial blood is strong not only in the Winds, but also in the other Imperial Families as well. They have no claim to the throne, of course - but their position would allow them to know and understand the will of the Heavens best. So I would suggest that, in addition to the Winds, the Daimyo of the Imperial Families also each nominate one of the Winds."

"This would allow the Will of the Heavens to speak through those closest to them. But it might still keep the voice of heavens muddled - if that is the case, and more than one Wind receives an equal number of nominations, it would then seem that those are seen as equally fit by the Heavens. In that case, it stands to reason that the only way to know the Heavens' will for sure would be to draw lots among those tied. This would ensure that our choice is one that takes into account the word of all those closest to the Heavens - and it would ensure that the Empire's stability is not threatened."

She bows low, her head almost to the ground.

-----------------------
D15 EA - Court. Introduce a proposal: A joint decision by the winds themselves, plus Imperial Family Daimyo. Base TN 24, 2 Raises. VP. Assuming blessing is Seppun-sanctioned again since we don't have much time (and it was on all days so far!) | 8k5+4 ⇒ 36 (TN: 34)

Suggestion: Each wind nominates one wind other than themselves; the daimyo of the imperial families each nominate one wind. The wind with most nominations is chosen by the Heavens; ties are decided by a random draw. This happens in Otosan Uchi.
20 Court Points to this proposal

Kenji stepped forward once more. "Minna-sama, I am sure these suggestions are well intentioned, but what the Empire needs is stability. The Heavens have shown their favour, the line of succession is clear. Doji Noriko-sama is the correct choice and it will be beneficial to make the announcement sooner rather than later."

---

D15. EA. Court. Support own position. Void for +1k1. +1k0 from Artisan. | 8k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 24)

Support own position, +10 court points

Shinnosuke can't keep quiet any longer. No one's said the thing he wanted someone to say! He'll just have to do it himself.

"Yasuki Masaki-san is quite right that all the Winds have some claim by blood. Ikoma Ryota-sama provided the Former Empress with a list of people from whom she might choose her successor without upsetting the ancestral line, just as, if the Former Empress had several children, she would have the right to appoint the child she felt was most worthy to be heir whether or not they were the first born. But of course, most dreadfully for all of us, the Former Empress never made her choice known. Perhaps she hadn't made it yet." He sighs to punctuate this mournful thought.

"In this circumstance we can only fall back on tradition and the line of descent. But at least, if we don't have the words of the Former Empress to guide us, we do have the words of her mother, the heroic Empress Yugozohime of sacred memory. Empress Yugozohime herself decreed that her younger sister, Emihime, should retain her claim to the Throne in case Yugozohime should have no heir of her own body. What Empress Yugozohime wisely guarded against has come to pass a generation later--her line has ended. But we do know from her own words and deeds what her choice would be now. Let's not try to contrive complicated solutions to hide the fact we are debating taking the Throne into our own hands--let us instead trust the foresight of Empress Yugozohime, who saved the Empire and the Hantei line more than once. "

--
D15 EA Court--Advance own position: Retsuhime didn't give us her answer, but Yugozohime already did (and it's Noriko). Courtier/Awa, BB, Prodigy, 1cr | 8k5 ⇒ 51 (TN: 29)
+15 for a new position (though compatible with Kenji's and Ryoichi's)

action 1/3

"I think that all these conversations of trying to find some system to determine who is the next ruler of Rokugan is diminishing to the title of Tenno-Heika. War is not an option, as it would break an oath to the late Empress. Drawing lots and casting votes I believe does not consider competence or the will of Heaven."

"Legally, they all have a claim, though some stronger than others. Instead of waiting for a sign, perhaps we should look to the signs that are already there, as Akodo Kenji-sama and Doji Shinnosuke-sama pointed out. The longer we argue and debate what is already observed, the longer we stand without a Son or Daughter of Heaven to guide our Empire."


------------

D15 Court. Concur with Kenji. Courtier/Awareness. +1k1 Void. 1 Raise | 8k5 ⇒ 71 (TN: 29)
+15 to Kenji's position

"While I understand the wish of many to have this difficult decision behind us, I feel obliged to sustain that assuming only one of those whose claim was pointed out by Ikoma Ryota-sama is worthy, and that their claim is obviously the right one, would be to doubt the work and the word of Ikoma Ryota-sama himself."

She gestures towards Sayomi with her fan, respectfully but directly. "I would also like to clarify one aspect of my suggestion. It is not votes I am arguing for."

"What I suggest is that, since we may not have the luxury of waiting for the Heavens to speak to us in its own voice, we should let the voices we know by now to be closest to the Heavens decide - respecting, of course, the tenet of Courtesy, in that none of the winds should nominate themselves."

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D15 EA - Court, Action 2. 1 Raise, VP, Support own Position | 8k5+4 ⇒ 40 (TN: 29)

Action 2 - Support own Position.

15 more points, total 35 Court Points.

Suzume Ryobu steps forward.

"There is much sense in what Yasuki Masaki says. Her position is one the Sparrow are pleased to endorse."

She bows to the dais and gives a nod to Masaki.

~~~~~
Basic concurrence with Masaki succeeds at 31, https://sakkaku.org/r/17649