S2E20: First Day of the Boar

Tomo, Buro, and Kenshi meet important representatives of their respective clans before attending the first day of Winter Court. Will the samurai make a good first impression among the lords and ladies of Otosan Uchi?

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---SHOW NOTES---

The party woke up the next day in the Scorpion Embassy, still shaken by the horrific events of the previous night. Curious about what Yasushi’s final words may have been to Tsubasa, Buro and Kenshi asked to see the letter which Yasushi wrote to Tsubasa before his death. Tsubasa, understanding that the samurai wanted closure after their friend’s death, showed them the letter. It read: To Tsubasa, Duty above all. And it was signed One who understands, Otomo Yasushi.

Meanwhile, Tomo had an audience with Hida Riko, the representative of the Hida family living in Otosan Uchi. Tomo recounted his suspicions of Yasuki Taka, and warned Riko against using the wood from the Shinomen Forest.

Riko told Tomo that she had already heard of his confrontation with Taka, and that speaking out against him is a politically risky move. Taka is an extremely powerful man who provides a great deal of wealth and raw materials to the Crab Clan. She advised using better discretion when speaking to him or else he may gain a fearsome enemy, or worse yet, people will begin to see divisions within their clan and use it against them at court.

However, she admitted that she too has concerns about Taka. He increasingly seems to be acting of his own accord, independently from Crab leadership. More and more he seems to be pursuing his own interests without support from his clan. Riko advised investigating the Karada District Government Office, and speaking with the governess, Hiruma Miroke.

Miroke and Taka have recently become close working partners in the district government office.  If anyone were to have detailed knowledge of Taka’s business dealings within the capital and beyond, it would be Miroke.     

Moreover, Riko explained that Taka and Miroke’s close working relationship is doubly suspicious as the district government office has recently been closed, and attempts to request a formal audience with any representative of the office has been stifled. If anything strange is happening at the district government office or with Miroke, it seems possible that Taka would be involved.

Later, the party met with leadership from their respective clans and organized themselves within the Parade of Clans-- the formal start of Winter Court. The parade traveled through the Ekohikei, Otosan Uchi’s upper districts, until ending at an open field in the Forbidden City. Here, the Emperor sat on a riser above the field, his most trusted attendants at his sides, and the green and gold banners of the Hantei flapping proudly in the cold wind. One by one, every samurai attending this year’s winter court was announced and called before the Emperor, where they said a few words and offered a gift to the Son of Heaven.

Caught up in the stress of the moment, both Tomo and Buro tripped over their words, stumbled over the intricacies of custom, and failed to hold themselves with poise in front of the Emperor. Kenshi, on the other hand, had been preparing for this moment his entire life. Sanshin in hand, Kenshi played a song for the Emperor so beautiful that he caught the attention of every person in attendance. In this moment, Kenshi fulfilled his life’s ambition of playing for the Emperor.

The party sat for hours as more than 500 samurai were called before the Emperor to pay their respects. When it was finally over, tables and cushions were brought out to the field, and servants carried out a feast for the court attendants. The commencement banquet was now underway, and the field came alive as court attendants began to ingratiate themselves with the people they’ll be working with-- and against-- in the coming weeks.

As this happened, Tsubasa introduced the party to Bayushi Togai-- a high-ranking and esteemed general in the Scorpion army, and important figure in the clan’s leadership at court. Togai, Tsubasa explained, was his father.

Credits

Album Art by Dylon Munoz

Music

"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain

"Concentration" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

"Ishikari Lore" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

"Koromogo-e" by Kunai-sho Gakubu at https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kunai-sho_Gakubu

"Ancient Winds" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Artwork by Dylon Munoz

Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings