(L5R) Ch 2 – The Betrothal, part 1

The Teahouse of Jade Thunder

Synopsis: Daidoji Jin is betrothed to Matsu Hira. Meanwhile, the Unicorn Clan continues to march across Lion lands.

It is the Month of the Boar in the year 1168 IC and the Empire of Rokugan has been thrown into chaos. The Unicorn Clan attacked the Lion Clan in an unprovoked and deadly winter assault. Normally, winter is the worst time to conduct a war. But for the Khan, it is an opportunity that was not to be wasted. With its mounted cavalry, the Unicorn use the winter to their advantage and flank the Lion forces at every turn. Their huge mounts glide past the Lion infantry which struggles in sometimes waist deep snow, surrounding them and cutting them off from reinforcements and supply lines. Entire Lion battalions are captured or killed as the Unicorn easily capture towns and cities that dot the Plains of Battle.

But as the New Year approaches, the Khan’s purpose becomes clear. The Khan does not just wish to attack the Lion; the Khan is attacking them only as a means to an end. The Khan is marching his troops to Toshi Ranbo, the Imperial Capital. He intends to take the Imperial Throne and declare himself Emperor. The surviving Hantai siblings, Kaneka and Sezaru, have both refused to take the throne. Kaneka is happy being Shogun and Sezaru continues his hunt of the Shadowlands throughout the empire. Neither wish to engage in courtly power politics and so both refused the Steel Throne. The Khan saw this as weak. He believed that the empire needed someone of strength to rule – someone who was strong enough to fight the tide of the Shadowlands that has ripped across the Empire from time to time over the past century. So the Khan took action.

In the hours after the initial attack, the group of samurai that had just killed a maho-tsukai in an abandoned keep overlooking Daidoji castle, arrive to find the castle in chaos. Amidst the chaos, Ryu looks for Bayushi Yori but does not find her. Finally, he ventures into the basement of Daidoji castle and finds Shosuro Shigeru. He hands him the maho-tsukai’s obi and wakizashi as proof of his death and the completion of their duty. Shigeru thanks him and asks if there was anything else there, a helm perhaps. Ryu says yes, but since Shigeru had never mentioned it, they have taken it as their own. Shigeru is somewhat annoyed, but does nothing else.

Two months later…

Year 1169 IC, Month of the Tiger

The Lion have asked the Crane for help in fighting back the Unicorn war machine. So far, the Crab Clan are not intervening, deciding that the Empire needs strength on the throne. The Mantis Clan have also refused to get involved deciding instead to sell arms to both sides. The Dragon Clan and Scorpion Clan have been silent. Only the Phoenix Clan have rushed to the Lion’s aid, but as peacekeepers, not soldiers. So, the Lion have turned to their allies, the Crane. Daidoji Kikaze, being the highest ranking member of the Crane on this side of the lines of battle, has been elected to negotiate for the Clan. The samurai have been requested to help him in negotiations at Kyuden Ikoma.

The samurai have been living in the Noble Quarter of Kyuden Ikoma since they arrived over a month ago. As a guest of Kyuden Ikoma, Kikaze has been given a guest house in the keep itself.

It is during these negotiations that Daidoji Jin receives a note from Kikaze delivered by his new envoy, Daidoji Chisato. The note tells Jin that as part of an attempt to strengthen ties between the Lion and Crane, he has been betrothed to Matsu Hira. Jin’s face goes red. He is betrothed to the one Lion who hates him. They had dueled several times in the past. Nothing good could come of this. The messenger becomes scared that Jin is about to kill him, but Jin reassures him that he will not.

The note also asks Jin to appoint a Nokado. Jin asks Bayushi Ryu who accepts the honour. Jin then goes to the market to find appropriate wedding gifts for the betrothal to take place later that day at the Teahouse of Jade Thunder.

Ryu decides that while the Crane and Lion were finding new ways to make war, he would try to make peace. He visits the Unicorn compound. It is tightly guarded by Unicorn and Crane samurai, a hedge against any possible Lion attacks. A servant shows him and takes him to a serene snow-covered garden in the back. Ide Murai, the Unicorn advisor, greets him and asks if he would like to try a delicacy from beyond Rokugan’s borders – a dark beverage known as “kohi”. Murai’s father had brought it back from the Burning Sands and they have grown small crops on the Utaku Plains ever since. The brackish liquid is bitter, but Ryu actually enjoys the taste.

Ryu speaks to Murai about the Khan’s invasion. Murai supports his Khan, of course, and he calmly states his Clan’s position – that the Khan intends to take the throne. Murai hopes Kikaze would eventually call on him to speak of those matters, but have not heard anything from him. He expects that the Lion are so desperate to get help from the Crane, they will lose the war in the meantime. As Ryu is escorted out, Murai gives Ryu a small package of kohi beans with instructions on how to brew a cup. They do a gift dance before Ryu graciously accepts.

Ryu then sends an invitation to the Lion Clan, hoping to get an idea of what it would take for the Lion to sue for peace.

Meanwhile, Noriyaki is doing research into the helm and discovers it may be a Dragon Helm. He takes it back to his compound and while the others looked on, summons the Kami in a ceremony. A steel Kami responds and answers Noriyaki’s question – that he can indeed command an Elemental Dragon. This Dragon Helm is indeed, a valuable if not legendary, nemuranai. Ryu rationalizes that this Helm is what Shigeru sent them for up the mountain – not necessarily to kill the maho-tsukai. The steel Kami requests that Noriyaki build him a shrine within one day in exchange for such information. Noriyaki agreed.

Ying-Lien, being Unicorn, has had a hard time traveling through Kyuden Ikoma without getting accosted by Lion Clan samurai. So she has a kimono made in Crane colours with the Unicorn mon and white fur trimming. It will not attract as much attention as the purple kimono she normally wears.

Ide Murai summons Ying-Lien. When she arrives at the Ide compound, Murai shares kohi with her and asks her why she is not with the other Battle Maidens. She explains that her duties with her Crane husband preclude her from being on the battlefield even though she really wants to be. She decides, however, that she really wishes to be on the battlefield with the remaining Battle Maidens. Murai says he will arrange papers for her to meet up with a nearby contingent of Battle Maidens lead by Utaku Yaeko.

Kenjiro, in the meantime, discusses the possibility of using the Dragon Helm as a carrot – to get the Lion to agree to allow the Unicorn to cross their lands in exchange for a prominent position in the Khan’s new court (such as Shogun). In exchange, they could give the Dragon Helm to the Unicorn as a token of peace – to ensure that they do not lay waste to the Lion lands.

Before they can set those plans into motion, the samurai all get ready for Jin’s betrothal party. Ryu offers kohi as a gift, but Jin wisely decides against it. They all arrive at the Teahouse of Jade Thunder. It is a large two storey structure with many rooms for both tea and more intimate activities. Many serving girls and geisha greet them and escort them to their private room on the second floor. The servant opens the shoji door. They find a breathtaking view of the Mountain of the Seven Thunders as well as Matsu Hira kneeling beside an older gentleman dressed in Lion colours who introduces himself as Matsu Shogo, Hira’s father. Ryu introduces himself as the Nokado and everyone else files in. When Hira sees the Unicorn, she bolts upward and almost draws her katana before Shogo quietly calms her down.

Daidoji Jin begins by giving three gifts – first a war fan, then a Go set and finally a sake set. Always ready to pick a fight, Hira accuses Jin of offending her by giving her a sake set and implying that she is a drunk. Jin defuses the situation by saying it is to be used to acknowledging victory in war. Unconvinced, Hira tells Jin he is insensitive and that the gift is a bad one. Ying-Lien had enough of Hira and begins arguing with Hira. The two get up and almost draw katanas right there before Kenjiro drags his wife out of the room and takes her back to their quarters.

When Shogo calms his daughter, he presents Jin with a scroll with a painting depicting the Lion victory at the Battle of Black River, despite the mistakes of the Crane. Jin politely disagrees and explains that it was the Lion who refused to listen to Crane commanders. Hira yells at Jin telling him that her grandfather was at that battle and the tales he told were the true accounts of that battle. Jin interrupts and tries again to explain the Crane side of things. Hira accuses Jin of insulting their ancestors and challenges Jin to a duel. Having bested her before, Jin agrees to a duel to first blood the next morning outside the city walls – the duel will decide once and for all who is correct about their version of history.

As they leave the Tea House, Ryu sees a small group of geisha beckoning to him. He cannot resist and tells the others to go home without him. Ryu goes with the geisha to a back room. When they open the shoji door, they find Shosuro Shigeru there to greet them.

Next: The Duty