[D12, EA, Court] The Floor

[Seppun Sadako]

This thread is for official business using the Court Actions rule system. Presiding today is Seppun Sadako, the Seppun Daimyo. The TN for court actions is 21.

The arrival of the notables of the court today is conducted without much fanfare. They are all of them present, though it is obvious that several of them, Miya Hachi in particular, would rather be elsewhere. Seppun Sadako, dressed in a classically minimalist style much at odds with the intricate fashions of the other Imperials on the dais, takes up a position at the head of the floor.

"The Imperial Court is now in session," she begins without preamble. "Before we open the floor for business, I must inform you all of several matters which have come to the court's attention. Firstly, the investigation of the attack on the ronin Tatsuya and his son continues. Would the Emerald Champion be inclined to provide an update?"

[Kakita Hajime]

Hajime does not bat an eyelash.

"He would. He should like it to be known that several arrests have been made, with executions slated for tomorrow morning, when the cleansing of the temple can be completed and the Kaishakunin's sword can be properly blessed. Those condemned are: Ikoma Jama, who, until yesterday, was the karo of Kyuden Ikoma, and Ikoma Hanzo, the Taisa who, until yesterday, was in charge of the defense of the castle. Also to be executed, the merchant Busaemi and the ronin Aoki. It should be noted that Ikoma Hanzo is not condemned for active participation in the attempted murder, but for failing to take adequate security measures to prevent it." The old Crane's easy smile is reflected in kindly eyes as he looks down on the court. "In the meantime, be assured that measures have been taken to increase the security of the Kyuden, including, with Lord Ikoma's blessing, the deployment of Lady Hirasawa's complement of the Ikoma Army to the immediate vicinity."

His gaze leaves the Lion and returns to the middle distance.

"Additionally, the ronin Ryunosuke, the son of Tatsuya, has departed from the castle without traveling papers. This is an infraction of Imperial Law, but one which, under the circumstances, the Emerald Office is inclined to seek to correct rather than to punish. The magistrates in both Lion and Scorpion territory have been informed that he is to be returned to the Imperial Court for his own safety, and now, through you, that sincere wish has been disseminated to the entire Empire. The Emerald Office is confident that we shall have your support in ensuring that this wayward youth is returned to his father."

Hajime takes a step backward. Speech over.

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako continues.

"This evening we will have the Sumai tournament. We will also," she says, casting a glance Shiba Rumiko's way, "be conducting a debate on the Succession in three days' time. It is our hope that we will end that debate knowing who will be the next Hantei."

She took a breath.

"We are now willing to entertain business from the clans."

[Fukurokujin]

Masaki steps forward again and bows deeply before addressing Kozume and the Court.

"This one would like to present for the court's appreciation some additional measures to those discussed in earlier days, to further our cooperation with the Valley of the Sun, as well as a definition of the blessings that shall be asked of Musubi-no-kami to seal the friendship between our clans."

"To that end, the Crab shall help the Centipede meet their needs for bells and other materials for their religious installations [2 Copper], and we shall gift a piece of armour made by our Kaiu smiths, specifically fitted to Moshi Kashiwa-sama. The Centipede kindly offered to extend the Blessing of the Sun to one of our warriors for one year, to aid in our sacred duty to keep the Empire pure and safe from darkness."

"The ties between our clans will be celebrated by two unions. Yasuki-ke no kashin Kawagoi Haruto is to be married to Moshi-ke no kashin Murakami Fuyumi and join the Centipede; Moshi-ke no kashin Murakami Atsui will be married to Kuni-ke no kashin Kuroyama Shiori and will join the Crab."

"Thank you, Hida-ue."
---
D11 EA - Court action 2; proposing additional agreement with Centipede. 1 Raise | 7k4 ⇒ 32 (TN: 21)
15 Court Points

GM note: Included here because previously inadvertently skipped. This one's on us, so no Court Action is expended. Debate on it, however, will take Court Actions as usual.

[Seppun Sadako]

"Very good," Sadako says. "Do any rise in support of this? Do any rise in opposition?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"I rise in support, Lady Seppun," said Yasuki Ryoichi as he stepped up and bowed. "This agreement will further friendship between the Crab and the Centipede Clans. We hope to set an example for all the Great Clans to act with greater benevolence towards the Minor Clans."

He bowed and stepped back down.

-
12EA Concur with Yasuki Masaki with 1 raise, Etiquette/Awareness +Mastery +Benten's TN26 | 10k5 ⇒ 56 (TN: 26) succeeds for +15 Court Points

[Hiruma Daichi]

As Masaki stepped back to open the floor Daichi stepped forward to give his support. "I believe another deal with the Centipede will do much to solidify the friendly relations we have been trying to achieve with many of the Clans here. The marriages especially promise to be a boon in that."

Supporting a proposition. Supporting the deal with the Centipede Masaki intends to bring up. tn 16 | 6k3 ⇒ 23 (TN: 16)

[Seppun Sadako]

"Then this treaty is accepted with the full-throated support of the Crab. Shall we turn now to other matters?"

[Cearnach]

Having brought up the matter of consequences yesterday, Eiji felt it only right to contribute to today on the topic after the announceent.

"My lords and ladies, I wish today to tell you a story about names. As I said yesterday, I was born an Ikoma. But beyond that I carried my house's name, and that which my parents called me. Now when I approached my gempukku, I had to chose for myself what my chosen name would be. As everyone knows, this is no small decision! The Lion have generations of ancestors we can choose to honor with our actions. And besides that, you want a name that you can be proud of, one that you wish to hear people shout with pride when you are victorious. And when I married, my names changed again. A Soshi, rather than an Ikoma. A new master and a new house to serve. But I have striven to serve them as faithfully as I did as the names I was born under. Just as I strove to be good and honorable to the name my parents called me when I was but a child.

Having so striven, I find myself introduced to two who have brought shame to their names. Ikoma Jama and Ikoma Hanzo. These two have brought great shame onto their names. Their actions, judged by someone with a truly fine name himself our emerald champion, have warranted death.

And I agree. Their crimes warrant death. However, their crimes do not warrant the tarnishing of their family name Ikoma. Ikoma fought and died to stop the assassination. Ikoma have striven to serve their guests as a good host should.

I am of the opinion that they be given the chance to spare their families the shame of their dishonor. Offer them a chance to commit seppeku so they might cleanse not themselves, but their families of this dishonor. If they refuse even this, the name of Ikoma will bear one more shame and they must be put to death. But please grant them this small mercy to properly atone."

(Advance own position: Offer seppeku to Ikoma Jama and Ikoma Hanzo. 33 vs 21 PassLink!)

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei immediately stepped forward.

"The guilty must pay, that is right and proper. But as Soshi-sama says, their crimes should not be allowed to tarnish the Ikoma family name. My mother was born a samurai of the Ikoma, and it is as loyal son that I urge that the shame of the guilty be cleansed by offering them seppuku."

He paused.

"They do not deserve the consideration in and of themselves. Were it simply a matter of two guilty men, there would be nothing to say. But no samurai belongs solely to himself. I hope the Court will permit the family whose name they have besmirched its own justice."


--
Courtier/Awareness to Concur with Soshi Eiji, and permit the condemned Ikoma Seppuku. Benten's Blessing applies. Shiba Void-Bomb for +2k2. Two called raises, final TN 31 | 8k6 ⇒ 35 (TN: 31)

+20 points to Eiji

Action 1 of 2 for the day expended

[Asahina Hoshiko]

While it will likely do her no favors in the eyes of the Emerald Champion, Hoshiko steps forward as well. "For the sake of their souls, the ritual and meditation that one brings to salvaging their honor through seppuku is more spiritually beneficial than execution. I too would ask the court to grant this small compassion to their souls and their families."


***********************
D12 EA Court: Supporting Eiji's call for compassion 1 raise | 7k4 ⇒ 29 (TN: 26)
+15

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

Yasuki Ryoichi stepped forward and bowed, before offering an alternative position.

“If I understand the testimony of the Emerald Champion correctly, the former karo has organized an attack on the family seat of his own lord, resulting in the death of several warriors of his own family,” Ryoichi recalled. “Whereas, the former taisa has failed to anticipate and prevent a treacherous attack by his own superior.”

“It’s my opinion - and I hope that people agree - that the first man’s crimes are considerably greater than those of the second man,” the Yasuki said. “Therefore, I say, let the former karo be put to death as a criminal and traitor - but allow the former taisa to join the Lion Deathseekers, so that his death can at least be in service to his Clan.”

Ryoichi bowed and stepped back.

—
12EA Advance alternate position: let the punishment fit the crime with 2 called raises, Etiquette/Awareness +Benten’s +Mastery TN31 | 10k5 ⇒ 41 (TN: 31) succeeds for 20 Court Points

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi was a bit loather to step forward after his fellow Crab but he was loathe to leave things as they stood so he decided to step forward and speak up. Offering bows to those on the dais he paused a moment before speaking.

"We've heard two different options and while I hate bringing up a third I feel it needs to be said." His lips curled into a grim line as he took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. "Ikoma Jama is a criminal, that is a fact provided to us by the Emerald Champion himself. He betrayed both Family and Clan and caused the death of three Samurai while imperiling the lives of many others he deserves execution. I'd say he deserves worse if such a thing exists. Anything less is no Compassion but a curse and an offer of leniency to every criminal that sulks in the shadows of our Grand Empire."

"Ikoma Hanzo is a different story, for a criminal he is not. He has failed though, failed in some of the worst ways one can." He shook his head. "I can only imagine the shame he must feel. Does he deserve execution for those failures though? I do not believe so, the Shame of that will not stain him alone like has been said, but his Clan and Family as well. Something that Soshi Eiji-san said is not deserved, and something I agree with. Nor does he deserve what some might say a worse fate and living his life with this stain on his honor. Seppukku is the right path for him, and one I hope the Emerald Champion agrees that he deserves."

With that he offered a deep bow to those gathered and stepped back into the crowd.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TLDR: Execute Ikoma Jama, Seppuku for Ikoma Hanzo

Day 12 Court, Advance own position. Void for 1k1 etiquette/awareness tn 21 | 7k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 21)

[Daidoji Sae]

Sae's expression had frozen into the dangerously neutral rictus as she stalked onto the floor and commenced an attempted tongue lashing of various samurai for trying to interfere with Imperial business and imperial justice.

Unfortunately the Crane is so incandescent with anger that her opening salvo goes absolutely nowhere.

----
Day 12 Court, 1st action, advance position the traitorous murderers must be executed, three raises called, TN 36, spending void, contested Etiquette/Awareness | 10k5 ⇒ 30 (TN: 36)

Advance position that they should all be executed in accordance with law (and this is not a clan issue).
Called 3 raises, fail for -30 to the total.