Violet
Matters were progressing swiftly.

Preparations were being made at a blistering rate now, with no time to slow the grand inevitability of what was to come. Everyone from the ashigaru to the Ambassador were making themselves ready. Their efforts over spring for this moment could not go to waste.

Kazuko stood in the center of the designated training ring within the grounds of the Ide Residence, wooden naginata held pointing downward at the throat of one of her ashigaru. Three others were currently picking themselves up off the ground. Today, she was not dressed in the flowing, fanciful robes of the Unicorn Ambassador, but in plain and simple training clothes. The dust kicked up during her exercises settled within her functional braid and along her clothing. To an outside perspective, she would seem far from the center of political power she was.

"Again," She rasped, letting the man beneath her back up. Her troops were good, ready to undertake the assignment ahead of them, but she needed more. They needed to be better, always better. She could not afford to lose any of them in what was to come. As a battle leader it was her duty to view the lives of her soldiers—whether samurai or heimin—as pieces to trade for victory. Yet as Utaku Kazuko, those lives meant far more.

Stepping back, she dropped to one knee and held her polearm up in one hand, readying herself as the four spear-wielding soldiers reoriented themselves and began to spread out around her. Her weapon of choice was perhaps considered old-fashioned in the age of so many more specialized polearms, but to her there were few weapons more capable of fighting when outnumbered. A lesson her four training partners today were learning quite well.
Melanie
Takeda, lost as he was through the city, had barely had time to see Shingen to the stables, lest get changed and prepared for a meeting with the ambassador. Dusty as he was, he still gave a bow, rather than the Unicorn handshake given the ambassadors circumstances.

"Utaku-sama. Thank you for your hospitality" He said with a smile, still in the broken heavily accented Rokugani "The journey from Medinaat Al-Salaam was long, but pleasant. I apologise for my lateness - it appears this city will take some getting used too after the many weeks spent on the road to get here. However, it is good to be off the road for at least a moment."

He left the tea for now, not wanting to be rude.
Violet
"How are our neighbors to the west, Utaku-san? It has been some time since I was in the Burning Sands myself. I hope there has been at least some stability returning since the incident." She did not need to tell the young man of the destruction which had recently rained down upin Medinaat last year and the explosion at the capital. Though it was unlikely he knew the precise cause of the destruction, as only the highest levels of Unicorn leadership would have been aware of Ide Nakato's involvement and the "Immortal" Sorcerer he confronted there.

Kazuko took to tea and sipped from it slowly, gathering her opinions on the man. His Rokugani would need work, and she would not humor him by switching to Mekhem. She would not suffer another fool to damage their clan's reputation again. Still, none of this broke through her impassive stare. "You have been assigned here to the heart of the Empire now. Tell me, what do you know of Ryoko Owari Toshi?"

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Melanie
"Our neighbours and friends remain strong. Through some combination of under and even handed events, some manner of stability seemed to be seeping back into the courts when I left, Utaku-sama." Takeda admitted "The Sultanate have taken it upon themselves to get ahead of any would-be challengers to prevent such a thing from happening ever again."

The young man leant forward and took the tea cautiously, his posture stiff as if doing everything with every muscle to not offend. At the question of what he knew, he nodded "I studied on the way here, Utaku-sama. Coloquially known as the City of Lies, it stands as a powerful fortress of the Bayushi court... Sorry, Scorpion Clans..." Takeda caught himself, trying not to slip into the Burning Sands way of addressing who controlled what "...Trade supremacy."

"A few of the people I talked to on my journeys here described it as a much bigger bazaar - where absolutely nothing is off limits for those with the right coin purses." The younger Unicorn cringed inwardly as he thought he may have overstepped the mark ever so slightly "If you'll excuse the crudeness that such a sentence brings up, Utaku-sama"

He took a sip to steady his nerves, waiting for his superiors next question.
Violet
A broad but not inaccurate summation of the city, and more importantly one that showed the shugenja had cared enough to do the research beforehand. Preparedness was good to see. "No apologies are needed within these walls, Utaku-san. We Children of Shinjo are not so afraid to speak plainly of mercantile endeavors as the rest of the Empire."

Careful words, reminding the Utaku that within the *Unicorn* Court he could speak more freely, but not in others. She took to slowly swirling the tea in her hand, staring within at the moving patterns of leaves. Eventually she set the cup back down to continue signing. "Your assessment is not at all incorrect. The Scorpion Clan have leveraged their Imperial-ordained right to produce the opium poppy—a good *We* Introduced to them—to convert what was once a small port city into the largest commercial hub of the Empire. It is also the most corrupt."

There was distinct disdain in her expression. Everyone knew, yet none were bold enough to claim openly, that control of the poppy was part of the price her ancestors were forced to pay for acceptance back to Rokugan. That they had to sacrifice *Anything* To return **Home** Was a point of great contention. "Two winters past, we provided historical documents showing the lands surrounding this city belonged to the Ki-Rin before their exodus to the Emperor. His silence in ruling on the validity of our claim spoke volumes for his approval.

"Unfortunately, the previous Ambassador—also having recently returned from the Caliphate—threw away everything we had built last winter. We can only be grateful the Scorpion embarrassed themselves enough as well that our Emperor in his wisdom decided to intercede and take control of the city directly. We have until winter to prove ourselves the rightful stewards of this city and it will be ours." She let her words sink in, the gravity of the situation. There was no room for error any longer, and Kazuko did not suffer fools. Once she was certain he understood, she would continue. "Therefore, it is imperative that we brief you on the state of clan relations."

The servant girl who ushered Takeda in would return with a small plate of boortsog (fried dough cookies), before disappearing again into the background. Fuyuko's eyes flitted away to the doorway briefly before returning her attention to her lady and visitor.

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Melanie
"I understand, Utaku-sama" The younger Unicorn said after swallowing and with a brief incline of his head.

"The way it was explained to me is that this place is not much different to Medinaat-al-Salaam. Sure, the layout might be different..." Takeda laid his left hand flat in the air, palm down, in front of him "...But the climate, the strife, is not much different." He then laid his right over his left, indicating what he meant.

"I am at your disposal, Utaku-sama." He said, as a way of saying he was ready for the briefing.
Violet
"Good. First, those who stand in opposition to us. The Scorpion are the enemy. They have attempted to drag our name through the mud not once, but twice. First with a false raid on Lion lands over the winter, and now they sought to blame the transit of illegal goods on us. They are not to be trusted, not to be brought into these grounds without my direct approval, and not to be fraternized with outside of duty." If the Scorpion had sought to fight the Unicorn's claim properly, like the civility they claimed to uphold by their work in the shadows, then perhaps Kazuko would be more lenient. As it was they only reinforced the poor opinion she already had of the Emperor's Underhand.

"The Phoenix have proven themselves unable to control their so-called keepers of righteousness. Their shugenja rained down holy fire upon innocents, nearly killing my second in the process. It is unfortunate that my eyes were only opened to this after we had nearly agreed to a lasting alliance." The old wounds of the fallout still felt fresh to the Battle Maiden. They were so close. Yet, their paths were not meant to travel together. "Be wary of them, but do not go out of your way to antagonize. One of our shugenja has been tasked to help improve their opinion of meishodo, and thus we cannot afford for matters to deteriorate further."

She took one of the boortsog and began to eat it, washing it down with the tea. The two most dangerous threats having been addressed, she would wait for if the younger man had any questions before she moved on. There was much to unpack in these few words, and overwhelming him was not her aim.

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Melanie
"Would an extra Shugenja be needed or able to assist in these endeavours?" The junior Unicorn offered. It wasn't timid, but he offered it uneasily, unsure of how Utaku-sama was going to respond to his questions. "I also have been told to act..." He stopped and sought for the right word "....Coy, about my own abilities. Especially around the Phoenix."

*The Scorpion was a little disappointing, as he'd never actually met one in person before* Takeda frowned internally *Guess I'll have to second guess whether their masks are similiar to the silk veils at the palace of fle-...And we're off topic*

"Am I to understand the non-fraternization with the Scorpion is to be polite but cautious to talk if approached, or to remove myself from any situation as quickly as possible?" He asked, perhaps a little too earnestly.

*Heavens, I hope I'm not failing this interview.*
Violet
"Speak to Ide Khulan if you wish to know more of how you may be able to assist in the endeavors surrounding the Phoenix. I have left matters in her hands." Though at times her eagerness to action led to meddling in the affairs of her subordinates, for the most part Kazuko was content to let them operate without her micromanagement. For better or worse once a samurai had garnered her trust she tended to give them far more freedom than the average leader would. "Of course it is impossible to avoid contact with the Scorpion. Until this past winter it *Was* Their city and it still teems with them, for now. Do not forget, however, that their aims are not only to gain control this city but to humiliate us in the process. They are the enemy and not to be trusted."

Fuyuko made to refill their tea as the conversation moved to the next logical step. After enemies, but before allies. The most complicated of their relationships behind the Phoenix. "The Lion Clan were also treated as fools by the Scorpion over the winter, and thus we find ourselves at an alignment of purpose for now. Tensions between our people are always high as of late, but we have opened agreeable dialogue with them. Treat them guardedly but with respect, and be wary not to be too familiar with them. Several of their number have let the recent military actions between our clans fester and become personal grudges."

Takeda had been a child during the so-called Clan Wars, and out of the Empire when the War of the Plains raged, so perhaps he was not personally connected to the most recent stirring of their enmity. Still, he was Unicorn, and no Unicorn was fully immune to the history between them and the Lion. That Kazuko had managed to be placed in a city that had within it over the months not one, but *Two* Reasonable Lion Ambassadors was no small miracle. How long it would last remained to be seen.

"When it comes to more direct allies, of course we count the Crane among that number. Though they have been woefully negligent in supporting our ambitions in court, and at least one of their younger samurai is—from what I hear—an unsightly waste of Embassy resources, there are still several among them who have proven staunch friends in our times of need." The new Crane Ambassador seemed to have jumpstarted some movement within the Crane's ranks, but other than Rika and Koharu the Battle Maiden had yet to meet another Crane who seemed remotely useful. Still, best not to speak too negatively of their oldest allies. "Then there are the Mantis. Formerly allied with the Scorpion, they too were taken for fools. After ending that alliance, they rather forcefully came seeking an alliance with us. While I am unsure how much is desperation or opportunism, thus far they seem genuine and useful. We will be progressing further in talks with them soon."

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Melanie
"Ide Khulun... Noted, Utaku-sama." Takeda nodded as he took one of the fried treats. It tasted so sweet and perfect compared to the trail rations he had been running on for several weeks of travelling now, and he savoured it with a satisfied smile.

He noted the clans down mentally, but visibly.

*Scorpion: foe*
*Phoenix: foe-ish*
*Lion:friendly but likely to turn*
*Crane: friend*
*Mantis: friendly*

That left...

"What of the Dragon and Crab, Utaku-sama?" The young Shugenja asked, again with the same reverent shyness, as if he wanted to prove he had something worthwhile to say, but afraid to say it as if he didn't.
Violet
"To be blunt, the Dragon are the Dragon. Idle observers content to sit and watch. However, we have offered them aid in this city and they did accept, so they know we are a clan of our word." Kazuko was not present when the extension of friendship was made to the Dragon, but she had seen the invoices for building supplies sent to their Embassy in the time after. There was also the Dragon blacksmith's request for assistance that Masanori had accepted. "We have no quarrel with the Crab, nor they us, and our clans have often seen eye to eye. But their focus is inward, centered around the Wall. I do not fault them for this—in fact I praise it—but it makes negotiations with them challenging at times."

That concluded the state of clan affairs. A tangled web indeed, and a political mire of dangers that could easily end a samurai's career should they misstep. Still, no one had caused major mishaps during her tenure as Ambassador. No one but herself. It was a testament to the quality of those she had at her side. Truly she was proud of every one. "We have much work to do in this city. It is rotten to its core; the people who live here are so used to the depravity they can see no other way. We must show them a better way is possible. To that end, there is an upcoming task with which your skills as a shugenja will be invaluable. My second and chief military strategist Utaku Masanori will be gathering personnel to provide further details soon. I will ensure your name is attached to the briefing."

It not be difficult to discern that whatever task she was attaching the young man to was not one she felt comfortable speaking freely on. That she did not even within the walls of the Ide Residence spoke volumes of its import and secrecy. "In addition, I wish to place you in an assignment where your skills can be put to best use. I have received a brief summation of your previous responsibilities, but would like to hear your own words what skills you bring to my arsenal."

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Melanie
The Young Shugenja swallowed *Oh boy*

"I have been a quick learner of Meishodo since I learn I had the gift of being to speak to the spirits, Utaku-sama." He begun "My speciality was chasing down the magical things and making sure they were contained."

"An example, is why I do not have a blade on my sword - the blade itself contains a fire spirit, whose name I know. I call upon the spirit in an emergency to become my blade." The Unicorn said it as if he hadn't really ever had to explain it to anyone. The quiet tone he gave the Older Utaku also meant he was not comfortable even talking about it in the Ide residence, surrounded by clanmates.

"Apart from that, my time in Medinaat-al-salaam has given me skills in both courtly ettiquette and an understanding of the more underhanded aspects of cities and how to handle myself amongst the streets." The Young Unicorn explains.

"I am not afraid of hard work from having been brought up on a horse farm, and I'm a fast learner, as any of my mentors at Otosan Iuchi will attest."

Takeda sat back following his explanation, taking a bit of the fried goods and a sip of tea to calm his nerves.
Violet
"I understand how meishodo functions, Utaku-san." Her betrothed spoke often about his work, and while Kazuko truly did not care about the different inflections of a true name and how it might impact the willingness of a spirit to comply or whatever else Makoto spoke of, it brought him joy to share his knowledge with others and so she humored it. It was the least she could do for a man who would soon find himself burdened with a marriage into her family.

"You are capable of navigating a city, and trained in identifying and addressing potential spiritual threats, then." She stroked her chin thoughtfully, considering her options. Eventually an idea formed in her mind. Taking a brush and parchment, she quickly began to write out a missive. "Our Grand Bazaar outside this city's walls is quite well protected from physical threats, yet the volume of foreign goods flowing through it leaves it open to spiritual dangers. The clan once meant to assist us in this work was the Phoenix, and now that our relations have soured they have chosen to withhold that aid. Thus we find ourselves in need of spiritual security to protect our interests."

While being a vital assignment, it would prove inoffensive. The bazaar would be far more familiar to the well-traveled samurai than the streets of Ryoko Owari, and a more gentle means to ease him back into life within the Emerald Empire.

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Melanie
Takeda listened to the idea and gave it some thought. It wasn't all that dissimilar to some of his duties abroad. At least this time he'd be outside to do them.

"I can begin at once Utaku-sama" The Shugenja said sincerely. "Are we likely to have the Phoenix visit the bazaar again, or..."

The younger Unicorn slumped ever so slightly as he tried to think of the best words to use here.

"...Or are we left to our own *Devices*." He said after a moment's pause. The emphasis on the last word was heavy - Takeda was hoping to show he had a few thoughts here, but he wasn't about to throw them directly at Utaku-sama, or at least not without some permission. However, even the blind could see there were some very serious gears turning in the boys brain
Violet
"The Phoenix have a presence within our bazaar, unlike the Scorpion, and they contribute to providing ashigaru who maintain the security of the place." Inventive thinking was never dismissed outright, but Kazuko would not jeopardize what scant goodwill remained between their clans over an idea. That being said, if the plan was sufficiently useful . . . . "What were you to propose?"

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Melanie
Takeda squinted at something in the distance, the cogs in his brain working visibly. The Phoenix being present meant he needed to reassess: the more Unicorn parts of his plan might need to be thrown out the window, but the broad strokes were there.

"I know a number of binding spells." The Young Unicorn began "In fact, they're one of my main specialities from my time with our foreign cousins. Most of them involve the help of a spirit and an offering and symbol - a ward, if you will."

"It's static, but if we could funnel the traffic through a checkpoint, say with the help of some ashigaru, and each and every merchant and their wares has to pass through the ward any "Spiritually illegal" Contraband could be dealt with as they can enter but never leave." He explained.

"All that would be needed is some daily tending to the wards, and we may be able to eliminate a number of our problems before they arrive, Utaku-sama."
Violet
"Interesting." Checkpoints were something anyone, samurai to heimin, were familiar with. Whether traveling between clans or provinces, everyone needed some sort of legitimate documentation in order to enter. That something similar could be formed for spiritual matters seemed logical, but curious. If such a thing was possible by traditional means, surely the Phoenix would have recommended it at their first meeting. "I take your earlier question to mean what you have in mind is considered less than traditional to the rest of the Empire, then?"

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Melanie
"The Ward I would be talking about is not an uncommon spell, and in my experience crosses across cultures. You might have heard it called The Ward of Purity." Takeda explained and fidgeted ever so slightly "The ritual involves having a fire kami inhabit the area and keep it pure for as long as it is content to do so. Usually that involves daily offerings of incense or burnable materials since Fire Kami like having things to play with."

"Now normally I could use a bound fire kami that appreciate a nice wood carving to call home, as thats what my Talismans would look like, but I don't think that's going to do it for the Isawa. So, we *Can* Default to the traditional way of doing things - offerings within the area of effect to keep it happy - but it will be a lot slower. " Takeda made his hands look like scales, rising and falling to emphasize his point "Really, whether it comes down to tradition or not is the method."

The young man then paused and looked pensive, tapping a couple fingers on his chin "Y'know, the Isawa *Would* Know this. An omission would mea-." He snapped out of it and gave an apologetic bow "I apologise, Utaku-sama, I was thinking out loud and got ahead of myself."
Violet
"I encourage all to speak freely when here within my offices." The younger man's theorizing garnered a raised eyebrow from the Battle Maiden. Whatever had caught his interest may be of interest to her as well. Kazuko's success, the Unicorn's success, hinged on the information she received, and she was loathe to dismiss any of it. "Please, what was the matter you were considering?"

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Melanie
The younger Unicorn bowed his head low before coming back up look at his superior; a slow nod that showed he understanding.

"I apologise Utaku-sama, some times my mouth can hit the saddle before my brain is in the stirrups" He said, still a little unsure but willing to take the dive anyway, his brain now back to working itself around the mental knot that had been presented.

"As I was saying, the Isawa should know this. The fact they omitted the information means one of three things that I can think of."

"Number 1, and probably the most innocent." The Unicorn raised a finger "They don't have a Shugenja here that can do it. Understandable, if slightly awkward for the Isawa to admit given their pride over being favoured by the kami. While this isn't a complicated spell by any means, it isn't like this is a first year dojo students first prayer neither."

"Second option;" The second finger shot up "We're being left to fend for ourselves. The Isawa don't want to be seen as meddling in this, but they're content for us to do it as long as we do it the right way."

"Third, and perhaps most insidious, would be that they're wanting something to pin on us." Takeda frowned as he held up his third finger "Either by directly ommitting the information so we can't do it and something comes through the cracks, or doing it in a way that confirms their suspicions, they now have ammunition in the courts to use against us." Takeda frowned as he thought deeper about it "Were I an Isawa it's how I would play it: it's almost a win-win either way, unless there's a piece on the *Shah* Board unaccounted for."

He paused and took a nervous sip of tea to calm his nerves, his hands a little shaky. 

"Having said that I have not met any of the local Phoenix, Utaku-sama, so I could be wrong on all three counts."
Violet
The three options had been tumbling through the Ambassador's own head as of late. Intentional or oversight, malicious or benign, it was hard to say. She doubted it was of truly ill-intent, but she could not put it past them. "Indeed, Utaku-san. All of them possible options. There is a fourth, however.

"They are *Afraid.* Afraid to send another of their precious, insolent shugenja into our midst who would be likely to make a fool of themselves in a yet more spectacular manner than the last." Kazuko had no love for the priests of the Phoenix. It was their intolerance which denied her people access to their ancestral shrine, their stranglehold on the religious rites which left them blind to the foreign demons slipping into the Empire; djinn and even a rakshasa had appeared in recent years and instead of learning to fight them they preferred to ignore and blame. "A debacle in our bazaar, where the interests of the seven honorable Great Clans are equally represented, would prove a death knell for their reputation."

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Melanie
"We live in a world they unfortunately cannot understand." Takeda repeated one of his sensei's teachings "And you always fear what you don't understand."

The younger Unicorn looked thoughtful "Regardless, I'd hope that this means when the Phoenix learn about it they can see we take the matter of spiritual security seriously."
Violet
One could only hope that Takeda's words proved true. Kazuko, though, had never considered herself an optimist. The Great Clans were too set in their ways, too prejudiced to look at a bigger picture. That was why Shinjo alone was the only Kami to venture into the unknown, and why her followers were still the lone people who could gaze beyond the their own horizon.

"Perhaps." Still, she was not here to crush the hope of her subordinate, even if it was in her eyes a foolish dream. She completed her missive, and handed the parchment to Takeda. "Bring this to the proprietor of the bazaar, Ide Kenza. He will ensure you have what you need for your assignment. My chief of security at the bazaar is a ronin named Atsuko, report any unusual findings to her. Unless absolutely necessary you are not to act against any threats without her approval."

To many the thought of a ronin approving the actions of a Great Clan samurai would be offensive. To Kazuko it was simply effective management. Her life had shaped her such that status meant little to the Ambassador. Spiritual security fell under security, and the ronin was in charge of security. The chain of command should be upheld. "Also, to ensure your reacclimation to life within the Empire proceeds without issue, I am assigning you to meet regularly with my chief diplomat, Ide Takuma. He can assist you in regaining any skills which were lost."

The primary matters concluded, she would once more capture the man's attention. Her briefing had nearly run its course. "Do you have any further questions at this time?"

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Melanie
"I understand" Takeda nodded curtly. He wasn't going to say that an invading spirit usually didn't give time to call for approval, but he also didn't have to explain that until he had met with this Ronin. 

And then the other shoe dropped that he was getting etiquette lessons and he had to mentally let out a long and loud sigh. *Its been three years... I should have expected this, but still.* "I will apply myself to resuming the appropriate skills, Utaku-sama" He said.

"I have no further questions." The Shugenja gave a bow, eager to see what the ambassador had for him. "Thank you, Utaku-sama."
Violet
"Very well. Should you ever need to speak with me, my offices are always open to the samurai under my command." She bowed once more, Fuyuko gently pushing the bowl with the remaining boortsog toward him as an offer. Bringing in new shugenja amidst her ranks was always a boon, one that Kazuko looked forward to utilizing. "May the Five Winds be ever at your back, Utaku-san."

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Melanie
"May the rains fall soft upon your fields." Takeda replied, almost automatically, in response. "Thank you once again Utaku-sama."

He gave a courteous bow as he left, his face a perfect mask until he had gotten well outside the doors and earshot before he blew out a breath he was sure he had been holding the entire time. 

*Well that could have gone better. Worse? Maybe. But better? I think so*