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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jan 9, 2015 15:17:56 GMT
Rokuro was standing at the docks. He had been part of the retinue who had been with the empress on her way to the Mantis lands, but here he would stay behind. The Mantis Champion had come with her personal fleet to pick up the empress and the Clan Champions. To do any less would be dishonourful as the empress deserved the best of the best.
It took a while to get everybody onto the ships. One of the reasons why they would ferry most delegations across in one go was security. With so many ships (almost a quarter of the Mantis warfleet was here, to protect the merchant ships used as transports) it would be bold pirates to attack them. Another reason was that they could combine the strength of all the Moshi shugenja to ensure good weather and if something did happen, enough ships were there to mount a rescue. Rokuro himself would stay on the mainland and do a winter court there as Mantis representative. And as the diplomat who had pushed to get the Mantis their first winter court, he would have his choice. Maybe the Phoenix, as relations between the two clans were not all that good and could use some high level diplomacy to put just right.
It was almost midday when the ships finally left the docks and he could go back to the capital.
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Jan 10, 2015 13:31:44 GMT
Bayushi Satomi and her retinue arrived a bit after the arrival of the Empress and champions, without much fuss as she always preferred. After all effort her clan had put (along Mantis) to Make this Winter Court safe for the guests, everybody could dedicate their time to politics and intrigues… Or so she hoped. The Scorpion crusade against the "invisible enemies of the Empire" was yet far from finished, the Scorpion general knew. And the attack in Ryoko Owari was just a proof that the Clan was susceptible and weakened as everyone else in the Empire, on the contrary belief her champion Sunetra usually sported before that. While observing the sailors maneuvering the ship she was in in the docks of Kyuden Gotei with a bit of interest, Satomi couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen next. A Winter Court, occasion of her presumable marriage with the Emerald Champion, was completely obliterated by the events during the Amethyst Tournament and the chase for the culprits following next. In the meanwhile, Kaneka advanced in his plans, gathering strange allies as Otomo Hotekuhime and Doji Yasuo… It promised to be a fierce Winter Court.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jan 11, 2015 18:21:42 GMT
Kasumi had only arrived just in time, as she had a lot of work to have her new stronghold finished. She had called in a few favours of the Crab to have some Kaiu engineers to design the thing, but it still was a lot of work. However, she couldn't be absent of winter court, as she had a lot to talk about. She had kept her retinue small for her first winter court, just her two yojimbo, members of the new Amethyst Guard, her Hatamoto and a couple of servants. Since she would be going to her own clan's lands, she could ask for extra servants if needed.
When she arrived at the docks, Rokuro came to greet her, bowing deeply. "Tsuruchi-sama," he said with a smile, "good to see you in good health." "Rokuro-san," she replied with a bow of her own, "please, don't let there be formality between us, at least not in private." "Of course, Kasumi-san," Rokuro replied, "how does it feel?" "A lot of work at the moment," Kasumi replied, "we have to put everything in place. But things are proceeding well at the moment." "Good," Rokuro said, "well, there's your ship." "You're not joining us," Kasumi asked. "No, I'll stay on the mainland and continue my work here," he said, "maybe see about that issue near the Dragon lands." "Well, good luck with that," Kasumi said.
He guided her to the waiting Kobune, while crew members were putting her luggage onboard, while she introduced herself to the captain and the Moshi shugenja. It didn't take long and then they were off, waiting just out of the harbour until all ships were loaded. Her rank made that she was one of the last ones (the empress would go onboard the last), so she didn't have to wait long.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jan 14, 2015 19:13:58 GMT
After a swift journey, as if the heavens themselves agreed with it, the fleet of kobune arrived at Kyuden Gotei. The island was clearly vulcanic in origin, although at the coast it had more of a tropical reef. The fleet had to navigate throught the outer reef, something the Mantis captains did with apparent ease. When they rounded a corner of the island, the people on the kobune could clearly see the city of Kyuden Gotei, one of the largest in the empire. In the large harbour were a few other kobune, but it was clear there could be a lot more. The harbour was protected by a stone wall, with on it some defensive structures. Beyond the harbour and the city was the big Mantis palace, now for the occasion decorated with paper lanterns, silk streamers and the banners of all clans. It looked very nice in the afternoon sun. That was something else, the heat in the sun was quite oppressive. While in the mountains of the Dragon and Phoenix there was already snow, here it was clear there would be no snow at all.
OOC: with this we have arrived. You can start writing yourself in your quarters, sweating in the sun, or whatever. Everything is decorated very richly, much more than in any court on the mainland.
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