The New Winds

Please conduct your match in this thread

Jiro entered the debating floor calmly, though still feeling a little bit of the ice from the Kaito's death-stare a moment ago. Still, there was the task at hand, and a very serious opponent to consider. He had to be on his A-game for this one.

D7, La: Courtier Finals: Intiative+Void: 7d10o10k6 45

Ikoma Eichiro, clothing stained from the road and eyes still hardened from witnessing death makes his entrance. "My week began with you, Bayushi Jiro-san, it is only fitting that it should end the same way. Let us be the kobune in this koi pond and do our clans proud." He smiles as he remembers, the light of that softening his eyes and he bows.

D7 LA: Courtier Finals: Initiative: 5d10o10k4 33

((You're up first.))

Jiro smiled at the memory. "I agree, there is something that feels fated about it, Ikoma-san. Yes, I think being kobune in the pond will be far better than to be one on the mountainside." He bowed deeply to Eichiro, and when he rose his face had taken on the blank quality expected of the Imperial Courts.

[[Going to go with this in the interest of time. Don't be afraid to pm me if you'd like a different subject]]

"I thought, perhaps, that we could turn to the Tao of Shinsei. The Little Teacher said "When I have a voice in the Emperor's ear, I need no general in the field." I have always found this passage striking, for it may be the most challenging of the Tao's observations. It requires the Empire to be as its discourse suggests, that all samurai do and will kneel at the Emperor's word. There are many positions one might take on this simple sentence in the conditional mood, but I think the most interesting is that it holds true so long as samurai hold true to the words they say about themselves. If we are servants and caretakers first, then naturally it will follow that at our master's voice we will lay aside our arms and address our differences in the manner he appoints."

D7, La, Courtier Finals: Round 1; 10k5+1k0 Courtier 5+1k1 Void. 3 raises called, tn=35: 10d10o10k7-15 36 Exceptional Success: 7 points.

Eichiro considers the argument, he had actually never read the Tao as was tradition for all Lion. An unopened copy in every dojo, kept pristine and put in a place of honor as per the Son of Heavens orders.

"Akodo-no-Kami once said to his lord to whom he had sworn himself and his family to serve everlasting, Glorious Hantei-no-Kami, 'This way is not my way.'" Eichiro says reverently.

"Samurai are those who serve. Our Lords give us tasks to complete, but unless given other orders, it is up to us to complete them according to our talents. If a clan's talents are for war, why then should they choose to not use them. Would this not be a failure of Bushido to not serve their Lord to the best of their abilities?"

((Go big, or go home. Gotta hold you off a bit.
D7 LA: Courtier Finals: Etiquette/AWA, 9k4 + 1k0 for Etiquette 5 = 10k4 TN 32: 10d10o10k4 39
Etiquette negates.
0:0
Jiro leads on raises 3 to 0.))

"Why, if the Son of Heaven should say not to serve in a particular way, Ikoma-san, then that would . Your histories are full of examples of the proud armies of the Lion have set aside their campaigns at his word. A clan may attempt to struggle and to kill, but in the end our call to service places an army at the mercy of the individual with the better argument in the Emperor's presence. Assuming, of course, that the clan that has invested in its army honors its duty to the Son of Heaven."

D7, LA, Courtier Finals Round 2: Courtier/Awareness+1k1 Void, 2 raises Called: 10d10o10k6-10 27 3 points

"We do not reject the orders of our lords, only the way of the Tao." Eichiro contends, "It is written that the best victories are those where no blood is shed, so that the Compassion of the victorious and their Justice is made clear to those they have defeated."

"Peace can be achieved without strength of arms, if all follow the way of Bushido."

D7 LA: Courtier Finals: Courtier/AWA 11k4 + 1k1 VOID = 12k5 or 10k6. Three Raises, TN 20.: 10d10o10k6-15 41
((1 point for success, 3 points for raises, 2 points for Exceptional for a total of 6 points.
Eichiro 6 : Jiro 3
Jiro leads on raises 5 to 3.))

"So in that sense, your decision to reject the Tao is moot. It all comes to the same thing. You were following it without knowledge of it, and, if we turn to other precepts in which Shinsei says that those who understand without instruction and teach without saying anything are the ideal followers of the Way, that makes the Lion clan its greatest practitioners. Won't the Dragon be surprised?"

Courtier Finals, Round 3: Courtier/Awareness+1k1 Void+2k0 honor 4 raises called:10d10o10k7-20: 10d10o10k7-20 47 2 exceptional success+4 raises called=7 points.

Eichiro: 6, Jiro 10.

"Just as they follow may follow Bushido without knowing it. In war and peace, we follow our paths towards our destiny. I simply believe that Bushido is the path."


((D7 LA: Courtier Finals 3: Etiquette/AWA 11k4 + VOID 1k1 + Honor 6k0 + Glory 1 = 18k5+1 or 10k9+1. Three Raises TN 20.: 10d10o10k9-14 34
1 point for success, 3 points for raises, 1 point for exceptional success.
Eichiro 11 to Jiro 10))

Jiro smiled a little sadly. "I hope that the proud sons of Mirumoto were unable to hear you suggest that they do not choose the way of Bushido, Ikoma-san. Perhaps it was just the strain of the day?"

Or the heat of the wasabi?

D7, LA, Courtier Finals: Free Negation Attempt: Etiquette/AWareness+Void: 9d10o10k6 44

Bayushi Jiro wins and is eclared the champion of the Courtier Debates! Final points: 276.

There are a number of whispers that spread through the observers however, many questioning the validity of the tournament and the success of a Scorpion after what Bayushi Sugai had done....

Hearing the whispers, Eichiro turns sternly to the onlookers and points with his fan. "Your victor is Bayushi Jiro. Do not dishonor either him or I by questioning what has occurred here. It was well argued and articulated. If you still have a problem with that, come and see me after the ceremony. I am sure that we can discuss that matter of honor further."

He continues surveying the crowd to see if there are any objections.

Jiro froze in the act of bowing to Eichiro, unsure for a moment how to proceed. Apparently coming to a decision, he held his bow out of respect to the Lion, a truly worthy opponent.

Many of the older members of the crowd look taken aback at the directness the Ikoma showed, but they do not retort. For now.

Satisfied, Eichiro returns the bow to Bayushi Jiro and takes his leave.

/exit

Jiro holds his bow until Eichiro departs, then rises and leaves as well. If he heard the whispers and the grumbling, he makes no outward sign.

/exit.