The New Winds

This Event is for Minor Clan Members only

Mai got up as she usually did. She didn't like to be asleep around this time of night after the gaki attack.

Zashi yawns, wiping sleep from his eyes. "Alright, who thought it was a good idea to hold this thing in the middle of the night before our gempuku."

The redhead stretches, a tad longer and leaner than last time. "I'm all for midnight mischief, but I'd rather be doing it with Sakura-chan." Zashi blinks. "Did I say that part out loud?"

"You did," says Sasaiko as she enters, summoned, dressed.

Bowing, she adds, "It is good to see you again, minna-san."

"See, I told you it was too late. Or too early I suppose" The redhead rubs his eyes. "It's good to see you all too. Where's our pirate?"

"Was he coming here?"

Sasaiko raises an eyebrow.

Zashi shrugs. "I don't know why he shouldn't. Kokyou should have been invited based on his dojo ranking.

"But anyway, which one of you planned this get together?"

Like the devil when called, Kokyou dashes the room's shoji screen open to show his majestic self with a fierce swipe of his muscled arm, producing a loud bang. He shows the gathered his majestic self with a wide grin and a loud,

"Yaaar!"

He chuckles, and adds, "Yer dear Kokyou be here, aye!"

Chuckling more, he takes a proper bows to each one of them and finds a seat rather too close to Sasaiko. "No need to tell me how much you miss my presence. It is understood and we are all nearly samurai, now. Let's keep On, I beg of you."

As all of the minor clan samurai gather and converse, the white light flashes and they all find themselves sitting on cushions sitting inside of a small private room. In front of them is a tea set, placed ready to be used for ceremony, as well as a middle aged man dressed in the colors of the Crane. He gives a small nod to each of them and asks gently:

"Who will serve the tea?"

Kokyou grins while looking to both Mai and Sasaiko. He wonders how they would deal with the situation of pouring tea to him, once again, as they used to do when they were younger. Of course, he knows deep in his heart both could serve him well, there's plenty of Kokyou to share. Yet, ego is a tricky thing, and the Crane asked for just one person, it seemed.

Zashi looks around. "I mean, I can..." He pleads with his eyes to have someone help him out

Sasaiko racks her brain.

This is already a test, she thinks, and she tries to puzzle out how.

(Rolling Tea Ceremony / Intelligence to recall if there is some quirk to be considered: got a 19.)

Mai was silent at this strangeness, trying to figure out what was going on.

Lore: Spirit Realms/Lore: Shadowlands: 2#4d10o10k3 32 19 So, Spirit Realms is 32, Shadowlands is 19.

The man looks expectantly at Zashi, waiting for him to begin.

Nothing about the tea set or surrounding seemed out of place or strange to Sasaiko, other than the initial light and their sudden change of setting of course.

Mai didn’t get any feeling that this was a Shadowlands trick, nor did it seem like any spirit realm, though it would be hard to tell from just this room alone. The man certainly seemed human enough

Well, no one else is stepping up.

The figure was polite enough about it, and likely a spirit. Appeasing it made sense. Knowing his luck it was a potential in law to be.

Zashi is no expert, but grinds the leaves like they would to make a remedy in the forest and heats the water, trying to wait until it was a hair below boiling. It's not his specialty, but he tries to make a decent service out if it.

LN tea service-Tea Ceremony/Void-VP spent for phantom skill: 5d10o10k4 24

When Zashi finishes, the man gives a nod of thanks and takes the cup of tea. He drinks it slowly, relishing in its heat and taste.

“Such a good blend. House of the Red Lotus never disappoints.”

He looks at each of them for a moment as if evaluating something.

“I have a request for you all”

"How may we be of service?" Zashi is careful enough to not promise anything with the remark, while still being deferential

Sasaiko is still not sure this is not a test.

I'll have to remember "Red Lotus", she thinks.

"With respect, who honors us with his presence here tonight?" she asks the man.

Kokyou wonders if he has to tone down his presence to avoid such intimidation to both girls. Not having them serve tea for him at this point could lead to further embarrassment in the future, and potential failures. Zashi, though, made his move. That quick witty fox.

The handsome Mantis takes a look at his big bicep on the left, then on the right. They looked quite manly, but not too flashy. With a deep breath, he nods to himself and readjusts his kimono, making sure he looks proper enough before bowing to the Crane to ask,

"How can the Minor Clans be of service?"

Mai hides her suspicions and merely waits silently.