Balancing Elements (D4 MA, Open)

[Jihen]

Jihen arrived at the baths after court... His mind filled with various thoughts shifting this way and that...

Five heirs... Five Elements... The world seems to be speaking to us...

He pulled himself up from the warm waters and sat alongside one of the stone pools.

He grounded himself in the earth, felt the flow of cool air on his water soaked skin, and touched into the warm vapors that arose from the pool... and sought the Void in them all.

After a time he opened his eyes... feeling refreshed and able to control his thoughts once again...

----

D4 MA, Meditation/Void | 8k4 ⇒ 35 (TN: 20)

[Soshi Eiji]

Jihen arrived at the baths after court... His mind filled with various thoughts shifting this way and that...

Five heirs... Five Elements... The world seems to be speaking to us...

He pulled himself up from the warm waters and sat alongside one of the stone pools.

He grounded himself in the earth, felt the flow of cool air on his water soaked skin, and touched into the warm vapors that arose from the pool... and sought the Void in them all.

After a time he opened his eyes... feeling refreshed and able to control his thoughts once again...

----

D4 MA, Meditation/Void | 8k4 ⇒ 35 (TN: 20)

With having received word that the Lion would NOT in fact be joining them for tea, marking another day without progress with the Lion, Eiji made his way to the baths looking for his own calm. Though it wasn't supernatural in any way, it just felt good to be clean.

He scrubbed up, and made his way to the soaking pool noting the very content looking bald head restng above the water.

That's the kind of relaxation I want.

[Jihen]

Coming to the end of his exercises, Jihen let out a long breath and relaxed his posture.

The chill of the air came back to him as he entered his body more fully once again. The inviting warmth of the pool called to him and he turned to re-enter the water.

Seeing his new fellow guest present, Jihen nodded his head in deference.

"Good afternoon. I hope I did not disturb your relaxation."

[Soshi Eiji]

Coming to the end of his exercises, Jihen let out a long breath and relaxed his posture.

The chill of the air came back to him as he entered his body more fully once again. The inviting warmth of the pool called to him and he turned to re-enter the water.

Seeing his new fellow guest present, Jihen nodded his head in deference.

"Good afternoon. I hope I did not disturb your relaxation."

Eiji shook his head.

"You seem practically to be one with the baths. No more disturbing or permanent than a soap bubble." he said.

He offered a seated bathhouse bow.

"This one is Soshi-ke no kashin Miura Eiji. I hope this day finds you in good spirits."

[Jihen]

"I hope most days I could report that my spirit is good... Even if the world around it is amiss." He replies with a kind smile.

"I am called Jihen of the Four Temples.... aide to Master Chou-sin." He replies with an introduction of his own.

"How does your spirit fare this day Soshi-sama?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji considered the question.

"Like a pebble in a landslide, my good monk. Relatively undamaged, swept away and perhaps easily missed by the larger boulders tumbling down."

He leaned back letting the heat of the bath do it's work.

"I've seen you relgiously attendng to the court. I must admit I am curious what a monk such as yourself thinks watching the clans tear at each other over matters both great and small."

[Jihen]

"What I think? Always a dangerous question to pose to a monk... Especially one as young and frivolous as I." He replied with a smile.

He then paused for a moment before responding, "There's some tearing, yes. And some weaving..."

He adds, "Watching the tapestry be made and remade provides opportunity for reflection... One gets to see how things end up the way we experience them."

He finishes, "And hopefully nudge the artisans when the image becomes a bit distorted..."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji shook his head.

"You should always ask a monk what they think. If they don't open their mouth from time to time, the thought remains trapped, bouncing around inside their bald heads while they meditate causing who knows what damage?" he joked.

He considered the monk's analogy.

"It helps if the artisans agree beforehand if they're making a tapestry or a pair of socks." he mused. "But truly, this is a momentuous court. We are lucky to be here and play whatever small role we do as the Empire prepares for a great change in direction."

He looked curiously at the monk.

"Are you here merely to observe the weaving, my good monk, or is there some bit of stitching that you would turn your own hand towards?" he asked, not really sure what monks wanted at winter court.

[Jihen]

Jihen smiled at the man's earlier comment and nods at the mentioning of possible discord among the artisan's visions.

He then ponders the question asked to him and replies.

"If I were to say I am here merely to observe... Would that preclude me from influencing the stitching? Do the artists not think of what kind of audience will observe their handiwork... Does the intended audience not cause them to change toward convention or break from it with something new? If you were creating a work of art for a man with no eyes... would you not think of the best medium to have him feel and understand the item's beauty?"

He pauses just a moment to allow the man to think.

"So... yes. To avoid speaking only as a stereotypical monk might... in riddles and questions... I am here to observe. To observe on behalf of the parts of the world that do not have eyes, ears, or a voice in these affairs. To be the audience for the artisans as they work their... state-craft."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji smirked a bit.

"I appreciate the effort you are taking to speak to me in a matter I might comprehend. I feel the effort you took to describe what is happening here as 'state-craft' rather than using an analogy such as 'Two bald men fighting over a comb.' he said, clearly amused.

"But...it is a good thing that you're here, at this court. There are many people in the Empire who are not, and while titans of the Empire wrestle over who gets to hold a play, it is a good thing to have someone here to remind us all that in addition to figuring out the seating chart, we're also supposed to be seeing to the needs of the Empire as a whole." he said, more seriously.

[Jihen]

"I really liked that comb... Adept Gorinno should have let it go." He said with a smile.

"My observations may or may not influence anything. I tell the stories... And those who hear will respond as they will."

He lets out a small sigh, "The world itself is always sending us messages... And people respond as they will."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji brightened at that.

"Ah now stories, those are near and dear to my heart my good monk." he said. "Would you be interested in trading one for another?"

[Jihen]

"I would enjoy that, yes." He said with a nod.

[Soshi Eiji]

"I would enjoy that, yes." He said with a nod.

Eiji nodded, launching into a tale (With eternal gratitude to the original author, Mikal the Ram):

High in the Dragon mountains hidden in hoarfrost,
There was a hunter who lived by the hides
Of elk and of bear of otter and badger
To buy his rice for he had no brothers.

But he had his hounds. They were his helpers
The happiest host any lord could have.
Loyal and faithful, his orders were followed
By his true family; these hounds so fine

Each was the son Of the same sire:
A hound like a stag, the hunter's prize stud.
Their dam was the best of the villages' beasts;
Dauntless and brave like all of her blood.

The hunter would come each year to the court.
And in that land a feast would commence.
Each man would swear his dogs were supreme.
each telling stories of their great skills.

But in the fighting his hounds were fiercer.
Driving their foes well off of the field,
They were the swiftest, the wildest and surest.
All save the slow one who stayed by his side.

When they would hunt, his marvelous hounds
Would fly over hills chasing the hind.
Not to be shaken from the prey they sought.
All save the slow one who stayed by his side.

"All of my hounds are stout hearted;
Speed like the winds and courage like heroes.
All but my Sathi who runs so slow
And stays by my side. He cares not for slaying.

Are you then fearful to take to the field?
All of your fellows run like the fire!
Is your heart weak, Your courage like water,
That you still wait to walk where I walk?"

Many the season they hunted the snows.
Ran on the steeps. Followed the spoor.
Much koku was bought with hides of the beasts
Brought to their bay by Sathi's fast brothers.

On one cold morning they hunted the mountains.
Deep in the mists such music they made!
Hounds on the scent! Wild hunt singing!
All save the slow one who stayed by his side.

Their prey ran far, so they ran faster;
Howling so fierce rang in the forest.
Leaving their master behind on the mountain,
Much slower moving than running mastiffs.

Only slow Sathi remained by his side.
Trotting so silent keeping his speed,
Beside the hunter, at his right hand.
Ignoring the howls of the far hunt.

Up rose a bear out of a brook.
A great angry beast mad with the baying.
The hounds were singing still far on the scent,
All but the slow one who stayed by his side.


The hunter was fearful. He saw his fate;
Here he would fall before this huge foe.
He readied his spear, his chances were spent.
All but slow Sathi who stayed by his side.

The hunter was ready, the great bear roared,
With his paw reached the hunter to rend.
Sathi gave a loud bark and leaped at the beast,
Seeking to bitenand taking the blows.

The bear was strong and wounded good Sathi,
Ripping his shoulder leaving bone showing.
But Sathi bit deep even while dying,
Clawing and digging wounding him dire.

The hunter was free a target to find.
His spear flew into the fur,
Seeking the blood of the great bear.
Striking the breast of the wild beast.

When it had fallen, from the cold field
Came his fair hounds hearing the fight.
He brushed them aside away from the slaying,
Away from good Sathi who'd stayed by his side.

"All of my hounds have stout hearts;
Speed like the winds and courage like heroes.
All but my Sathi who runs so slow,
and stays by my side, and cares not for slaying.

Staying to ward against all the wild.
Staying to watch. Willing to wait.
Of all my hounds, This was the hero!
Knowing his heart and what he would hold."

There in the trees he raised a tower
Of heavy timbers stacked by tens.
Laid on that pile the hunter's protector;
Sathi the proud upon the high pyre.

As were these hounds servants to hunter,
Bound by the heart to serve his hand,
Your warriors sing for glory and slaying.
I'll be the slow one and stay by your side.

[Jihen]

Jihen listened intently to the man as he wove his tale. He nodded his head only slightly, causing condensation to run from the corner of his eye... Surely it was condensation... the rest of his face was covered in little drops except for where it had carved a path down his cheek.

At the end he smiled and nodded, "A wonderful tale... excellently told."

He then took in a breath, "I hope you will not begrudge me if I tell a bit more of a... lighthearted tale from the Four Temples."

He began, "One afternoon offerings were being prepared at the temple's most exquisite venue: the hall was decorated for honored guests of the imperial family in attendance, and from behind the screen of an indescribably magnificent partitioned-off audience area, the smell of food and incense burning in preparation for the event to come filled the air. It was splendid, and a large audience gathered. As they were listening attentively to the recitation of the Abbot, the sound of a dreadfully enormous fart rang out from within the screened-off room.

Everyone's enthusiasm for the event dwindled, but the leader of the service said, without missing a beat:

放逸邪見の里には、ついくわをも惜しむ、聴聞随喜の局より、おほへをこそうち出されたれ

Hōitsu jaken no sato ni wa
tsui ka o mo oshimu
chōmon zuiki no tsubone yori
ōhe o koso uchiidasaretare

In villages of dissolution and heterodoxy,
everyone begrudges the slightest fart(h)ing.
From the sacred halls of heeding and rejoicing,
thence indeed comes a great compassionate wind.

When he said this, it was both surprising and amusing and the audience was filled with even greater anticipation."

[Soshi Eiji]

That caught an unguarded smile from the Scorpion.

"A very artful telling, my good monk." he offered sincerely.

"Your scholarship is quite impressive."

[Jihen]

"I try to put my efforts where they will be of most use." He said with a smile.

"I've always been a bit short-handed when it came to non-academic or artistic pursuits."

[Soshi Eiji]

Well at least it didn't dampen his spirits.

"Well, if I can ever lend you a hand with anything, my good monk, doesn't hesistate to reach out." he offers in a similar vein.

[Jihen]

"Who needs appendages when one is armed with friends?" He says with a smile.