[D1, LM, Open] The Wind from the East: Otomo Gorobei

[Otomo Gorobei]

Not important enough to warrant a norimono, according to some--he shot a glare of righteous indignation at Otomo Tooru's norimono--, Otomo Gorobei found himself walking through the gates of Kyuden Ikoma on foot with the minor functionaries of the delegation.

He cast a weather eye across the courtyer, took in the temporary delegation houses, the stump, the villa--nice, if modest--and finally, the dojo. Ah, the dojo. It had been a long time since head had last walked its floor and tested the mettle of its instructors. His fingers skimmed the hilt of his trusty sword, not at all alarming the Ikoma House Guards arrayed in parade dress to receive the Imperial delegation.

[Cearnach]

"Sir!" a gunso interjected. Then his eyes widened in recognition. "Lord Gorobei! There is...Lord Ikoma has made arrangements to receive you. Surely you will be expected in the Tenshu!"

[Otomo Gorobei]

Gorobei grunted his acknowledgment. "But surely there's a way around all that, gunso." He smiled grimly, playing up the old hero persona for this bushi. "A little ceremony's nice and all, but it doesn't suit a warrior, does it?"

[Cearnach]

The gunso bit his lip, briefly considering just how deeply he would get in trouble for letting a potential Imperial Heir loose in the courtyard. "Well...No, you're absolutely right, Lord Gorobei. Please, observe the grounds. It would bring us no end of pride to hear your views on our grounds. Forgive my temerity. Please, continue."

[Otomo Gorobei]

"There is nothing to forgive, Ikoma-san; you were doing your duty. I understand that." He clapped the bushi on the shoulder as he passed by, finally free of the parade and the thousand stinging nettles of the politicians. Taking a deep breath, he made his way across the grounds to pass a moment by a tree, resting his tired feet by sitting among its roots.

[Cearnach]

This thread is now open for PCs looking to meet Otomo Gorobei.

[Soshi Eiji]

There were four winds blowing across the Empire. While the final decision would surely rest with the Empress, if there was one wind that Eiji was particularly rooting for, it was certainly Gorobei. If there was one thing that the Ikoma had trained him to do, it was to spread the glory of the subjects of his stories, and if Eiji had his way, he was going to shout out Gorobei's worth from the rooftops.

Of course, that first meant having some noble/brave deeds of Gorobei to shout about. People wants tales of glory and honor, not a recounting of how well someone brushed their teeth. Given the man's background it seemed likely that he would visit the dojo at some point, and happily it seemed he was not too far away from it as Gorobei negotated his right of passage to the grounds.

[Otomo Gorobei]

There were four winds blowing across the Empire.

The Wind in question shifted in his seat on the ground, letting out a small 'umph' as he got comfortable. Then he slowly turned his head to look at Eiji.

"Well? Come here and make yourself known, Soshi-san, if you mean to."

[Soshi Eiji]

The Wind in question shifted in his seat on the ground, letting out a small 'umph' as he got comfortable. Then he slowly turned his head to look at Eiji.

"Well? Come here and make yourself known, Soshi-san, if you mean to."

Direct in all things, it would seem.

Said Soshi approached as bidden, and bowed deeply.

"A pleasant morning to you, Otomo-sama. This one is known as Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji" he offered as way of introduction. 'It is a great honor indeed to meet such a noteworthy personage as yourself so early in the day."

Eiji paused a moment to take the scene in.

"You've chosen an auspicious tree to inspect, Otomo-sama. Countless honorable Lion have sat in that exact spot, contemplating the lessons of the dojo and more." he offered.

[Otomo Gorobei]

"You've chosen an auspicious tree to inspect, Otomo-sama. Countless honorable Lion have sat in that exact spot, contemplating the lessons of the dojo and more." he offered.

He nodded in return. "Good to meet you, Soshi-san. I am Otomo Gorobei of the House of Totogasi, though I guess you knew that. This is a good tree for exactly what you mention. Roots are solid, but spread out wide enough for a person to keep contact with the ground." He looked up at the foliage. "Good shade, too, which you need in an exposed courtyard like this. I am glad the kids get something out of it."

[Soshi Eiji]

He nodded in return. "Good to meet you, Soshi-san. I am Otomo Gorobei of the House of Totogasi, though I guess you knew that. This is a good tree for exactly what you mention. Roots are solid, but spread out wide enough for a person to keep contact with the ground." He looked up at the foliage. "Good shade, too, which you need in an exposed courtyard like this. I am glad the kids get something out of it."

The Otomo's introduction brought a small smile behind the mask.

"Ah, I'm sure my heraldry and etquette instructors are relieved, wherever they may be. The stage of Winter Court is rather prominent, and they would have been deeply embarrassed had I mistook another Otomo for one whose name is among the most widely spoken even in the leadup to this court." he mused.

He considered the Otomo's words.

"It would seem Otomo-sama has a good eye, both for trees, as one would expect given his position, and one for dojos, given his...training."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

A slim Yasuki in a navy blue kimono emerged from the Crab guest house and into the courtyard.

"Ahh, good morning, minna-sama," he said by way of greeting. "Are you just arrived here, too? I am called Yasuki Ryoichi." He bowed politely.

[Otomo Gorobei]

Gorobei returned Ryoichi's bow with a generous nod. "Good to meet you, Yasuki-san. I am Otomo Gorobei of the House of Totogasi. This is Soshi Eiji. He was just telling me about trees and dojos. They're connected. At least, they seem to be here."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"I am honored to meet you, Otomo-sama," the Yasuki said, bowing low. "They speak well of you in the Crab provinces."

He turned to Eiji and bowed again. "Trees and dojo are connected? What an interesting idea. Please go on."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiiji smiled a bit behind his mask. If Gorobei thought he could catch him out like that, he was undestimating Eiji. Eiji could build a connection between the earth and the sky with enough words.

He unfolded his fan..

"They both bring to mind the idea of carefully managed growth. The gardener plants the tree, keeps it free from weeds, provides it the sun and soil it needs, and eventually what was a twig that a child could snap is a mighty tree that provides shade and comfort to the gardener and indeed will still be here long after the gardener has gone."

He gestures to the dojo with his fan.

"So it is with the wise sensei. Children enter the dojo, the sensei provides them the instruction and training they need to grow, and eventually what leaves the dojo is trained warriors whose exploits may indeed surpass the sensei's own, and be remembered long after the sensei is gone."

He turned his attention back to Gorobei.

"Surely Otomo-sama would agree that those with the talent to create something that will benefit many and remain long after they are gone has almost a duty to do so." he said, talking about trees and dojos, but alluding to something else entirely.

[Otomo Gorobei]

After returning Ryoichi's bow with a nod, Gorobei considered that last bit of Eiji's speech for half a breath. "I do. It is right that a person do what the Heavens have ordained for them to do. And what shows that better than talent?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"A good captain will recognize talent," Ryoichi said with a nod. "The strongest men with the tetsubo get assigned to the front line; the men most accurate with a bow are assigned as archers. To do it the other way around ... well, it wouldn't make sense."

[Soshi Eiji]

"A good captain will recognize talent," Ryoichi said with a nod. "The strongest men with the tetsubo get assigned to the front line; the men most accurate with a bow are assigned as archers. To do it the other way around ... well, it wouldn't make sense."

Eiji taps his fan thoughtfully.

"Common sense indeed, Yasuki-san." he agrees.

Eiji looks thoughtful for a moment.

"Although it brings to mind the fact that winter court is often likened to a battlefield, quite the dangerous one at that. If you measure the strength of your infantry by the strength of their arms, and the sharpness of your archers by the gleam in their eye, one wonders how Yasuki-san measures the strength of the attendees of the Winter court?" he asks of the Crab.

[Otomo Gorobei]

Oho! I was just thinking the same thing! That Scorpion is a wily one!


Gorobei turns to look squarely at Ryoichi, curious as to his answer.

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Although it brings to mind the fact that winter court is often likened to a battlefield, quite the dangerous one at that. If you measure the strength of your infantry by the strength of their arms, and the sharpness of your archers by the gleam in their eye, one wonders how Yasuki-san measures the strength of the attendees of the Winter court?" he asks of the Crab.

"I suspect I would be a poor judge of the strength of the attendees of court," Ryoichi admitted. "How many regiments of fan wielders do we have? How many squadrons of famous orators? These numbers ... well, they don't mean anything in this context."

"I suppose, if I were put to assess the strength of a particular faction in court, I would try to gauge their unity of purpose, and their ability to achieve their goals," the Crab mused. "With this metric, though, it is impossible to make any assessment until later in the season. But at that time, it may already be obvious to all which faction is ascendant and which is not."

"What about you, Soshi-san?" he inquired. "The Scorpion are known for their subtlety and their power of observation. How would you measure such a thing?"