[D2MM] Why'd You Have to go and Make Things so Consecrated?

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Hoshiko sets the statue down near the space they'd designated. The Fortune was a lot less imposing at knee height, honestly. She wondered if anyone had one of Benten...she could likely find one in the market that would serve.

She adds, "I'd like to call upon the winds to cleanse the space of physical and spiritual clutter." She glances between the pair of more highly ranked monks. "Might I petition you for permission, or does that go to hmm...civil authorities?" As opposed to strictly religious, given that even the civil ones took their power from the order of the Heavens and heavenly descent.

[Chou-sin]

"Who could refuse a guest praying in the place extended to her?" posits Chou-sin. "But if there is a concern about legality, then Daidoji-bugyo is surely the one here best informed about it."

He turns to her, bowing slightly.

[Asahina Minase]

The gathering had been hard to miss and, as she had told her Champion, Minase was always early to rise so she was aware of it. Of course it took some time to be properly attired with the correct accessories and makeup, and an appropriate umbrella for spiritual affairs, ie the one she had painted Shinden Asahina upon, so she was not early, nor was she late as is proper.

A polite bow, appropriate to those present, was made but she remained silent for now. Matters of the legality of calling upon the elements were not her area of expertise.

[Abbot Do]

"Who could refuse a guest praying in the place extended to her?" posits Chou-sin. "But if there is a concern about legality, then Daidoji-bugyo is surely the one here best informed about it."

He turns to her, bowing slightly.

"Oh, inform Daidoji-bugyo about the prayers," Do mocked Chou-sin quietly to himself. "Osano-wo's great big beard, man, can't you see they're in cahoots?"

[Daidoji Ryu]

The gathering had been hard to miss and, as she had told her Champion, Minase was always early to rise so she was aware of it. Of course it took some time to be properly attired with the correct accessories and makeup, and an appropriate umbrella for spiritual affairs, ie the one she had painted Shinden Asahina upon, so she was not early, nor was she late as is proper.

A polite bow, appropriate to those present, was made but she remained silent for now. Matters of the legality of calling upon the elements were not her area of expertise.

Always alert, Ryo turned and bowed to the newcomer, acknowledging her presence.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"Who could refuse a guest praying in the place extended to her?" posits Chou-sin. "But if there is a concern about legality, then Daidoji-bugyo is surely the one here best informed about it."

He turns to her, bowing slightly.

"Oh, inform Daidoji-bugyo about the prayers," Do mocked Chou-sin quietly to himself. "Osano-wo's great big beard, man, can't you see they're in cahoots?"

Hoshiko was already turning to see what Sae had to say about this, and didn't really hear Do's mutters. Someone else did though.

sarcastic and cynical...sounds just like Gobo! Show him the fan! Check his stars!

She froze, long practice sticking that cheerful expression to her face, but it was awfully stiff.

Minase's appearance brought some color back to her cheeks as she offered a bow and thankful greeting. "Just in time, cousin. You've a better eye for the aesthetics of these things."

[Daidoji Sae]

"Who could refuse a guest praying in the place extended to her?" posits Chou-sin. "But if there is a concern about legality, then Daidoji-bugyo is surely the one here best informed about it."

He turns to her, bowing slightly.

"Of course, while my remit extends only to Imperial affairs I have found respect and knowledge of all laws, much a as respect and knowledge of all Fortunes is necessary.

I can think of no reason why a Priestess should not call upon the Kami to ensure spiritual cleanliness in this case, and I know Asahina-san will do so with great skill and reverence."

[Chou-sin]

Chou-sin bows to Sae again.

"Then we await the blessings of prayer," he says, and he looks to the shugenja briefly before clasping his hands and bowing his head.

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu, likewise, bowed his head respectfully.

[Asahina Minase]

Minase nodded to her fellow Asahina at her kind words and then reverently lowered her gaze.

One - to be polite and respectful.

Two - to not let her eyes affect the summoned kami in any way.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Hoshiko nods and aims to avoid keeping everyone waiting too much longer.

The scroll is right to hand, with a woven straw sakura dangling from the silk tie holding it closed. With offerings of a delicate and complex incense to welcome them, Hoshiko calls to he air kami. Her voice is somewhat tentative at first. While the air travels long distance, these are not the spirits of her home, and she offers more than the usual formal phrases of gratitude for their aid.

Voice growing in volume and settling into a cadence of welcome, she eventually shifts into a prayer often used by even peasants on cleaning days as little piles of dust are puffed from the floor and gently wafted out the door. A few tiny beetles, a fair bit of loose hair, and threads follow.

The air in the room feels fresher. It's probably an illusion that the sun seems any brighter though.

When finished, she rolls the scroll carefully away and offers bows to first the spirits and then the assembled humans. "The space should be well-cleared for our work now. We'll plan space for the offered calligraphy...with thanks, Jihen-san." Which should manifest as some form of donation to his temple. "We'll find some appropriate braziers for incense and the like."

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Day 2 MM: (Ghosting thing since I don't know if it will come up/have permission but time is fluid and the forum is soup.) Freedom of the Air: to cleanse Crane House for the shrine installation. VP just cause it's important and I don't trust Sakkaku | 7k4 ⇒ 22 (TN: 15)

–A cleansing ritual used by shugenja when preparing a house or other building for an important even such as a wedding or a festival. The spell entreats the Air kami to raise a soft but carefully controlled wind which sweeps all the dirt, insects, and other filth out of the building. The spell also has a spiritually purifying effect, making evil or malignant spirits reluctant to remain within the dwelling - any kansen, ghosts, or other hostile disembodied spirits within the building will leave for a number of hours equal to the caster's Air. (Evil spirits which are exceptionally strong or which have an extremely strong attachment to the building cannot be banished by this basic spell, however - it is the GM's discretion whether a spirit is strong enough to resist Freedom of the Air.)

I don't think granny counts as hostile, but I'll leave it to GMs if she feels the need to leave (and likely be angry with Hoshiko for a bit XD)

[Daidoji Sae]

Sae claps her hands and offers up a quiet prayer.
"Wonderful, my thanks to the spirits for this gift, and for your entreatment of them."

[Fukurokujin]

In the wake of the winds and the sound of one Crane clapping, Hoshiko hears a momentary silence.

It is blissful.

It is also short-lived.

And just what did you mean by that, young lady?!

[Asahina Minase]

Oblivious to the spiritual contest Hoshiko was in the midst of, Minase stepped forward.

"May I offer some additions to the aesthetics of the shrines?"

She turned to the monks.

"I am Asahina-ke no kashin Tani Minase, trained at the Kakita Academy. I can provide decoration in honour of both Benten and Emma-O in addition to that already decided."

[Jihen]

Jihen bowed in deference to the Crane Artisan and waited for his master to accept the generous offer the young woman extended to them.

[Chou-sin]

"I would not contest a Crane in aesthetic matters," Chou-sin says, "nor would I think it unseemly that one who benefit from a thing contribute to that thing."

He looks about a bit, as if anticipating objections.

[Abbot Do]

Do folded his hands, choosing not to direct fire at that one.

[Asahina Minase]

She nodded in respect.

"Then I will craft something appropriate."

A brief look towards Hoshiko.

"Cousin, although I am absolutely confident on what is best suited for the Shrine to Benten, I am not as familiar with motifs for Emma-O. Perhaps you could suggest an appropriate theme or scene?"

[Asahina Hoshiko]

In the wake of the winds and the sound of one Crane clapping, Hoshiko hears a momentary silence.

It is blissful.

It is also short-lived.

And just what did you mean by that, young lady?!

Hoshiko frowns slightly at the invisible voice, pulling out her fan* both to mollify the old spirit and to hide her mouthed Later!

She nodded in respect.

"Then I will craft something appropriate."

A brief look towards Hoshiko.

"Cousin, although I am absolutely confident on what is best suited for the Shrine to Benten, I am not as familiar with motifs for Emma-O. Perhaps you could suggest an appropriate theme or scene?"

"Of course! There are so many classic examples of his court. I always think a depiction of the karma-reflecting mirror is proper at his shrines. Focuses one's attention on the state of their soul and their responsibility for it, in my opinion." She glances to the space and asks, "how do you think it should be hung? Or is it best resting on a floor stand?"

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*Fan: Painted mostly black, so the negative spaces form the image from the underlying warm gold silk. A bare winter cherry tree, with dry grasses at it's base. Plump buds along the gnarled branches hint at the bloom to come. Example of the technique Great-great... grandpa Isawa's fan.

[Asahina Minase]

"Of course! There are so many classic examples of his court. I always think a depiction of the karma-reflecting mirror is proper at his shrines. Focuses one's attention on the state of their soul and their responsibility for it, in my opinion." She glances to the space and asks, "how do you think it should be hung? Or is it best resting on a floor stand?"

"The mirror . . . yes that can be incorporated easily enough. As for displaying it, we just need to detach it from the handle and it can be hung like any other artwork."

She was already mentally composing the art in her head and working through which paints she would need.