Katrina
When Asahina Tomoki arrived at the doorway into the Crane Embassy courtyard, the sentries would bow in recognition of his status as samurai and allow her entry. Just beyond the threshold, a middle-aged servant would take a low bow, gesturing for the new arrival to follow inwards. 

"Welcome to Ryoko Owari, Asahina-sama," She greeted. "We have not had the pleasure of receiving you before, but we are most keen to. If you wish to meet with the Ambassador, she is not too busy right now - you may find her in the garden, this way."

-

Ambassador Doji Rika was inspecting the garden, as she could often be seen doing on days of fair weather. Though her complaints about the Scorpion city were hung on every ear in the Crane Embassy, she did admit from time to time that it was founded on good soils. The bounty of the River of Gold did not only enrich the most prized of Scorpion fields - but the grounds beneath the embassies also.

Today she sat contently beneath the leaves of a growing maple, fanning her face while a young attendant standing beside her rattled through a small stack of unimportant letters. 

The venerable Crane glanced up.
"Ah, a new one. May I offer a most sincere welcome to our little home, Asahina-san. I am Doji Rika, as you may have heard."

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Marlon
Retracing his father's youth, Tomoki hoped to put the man's spirit to rest. And so Tomoki came to Ryoko Owari, passing through the city, to the Crane Embassy, and now passing Crane sentries, half-aware of what was going on around him.

When he showed his badge to the sentries, Tomoki tried to grasp at the finer pieces of etiquette his father had spent so long teaching him. It was like trying to cup rain droplets in his hands. The pieces would slowly pool in his hands, but details would seep through his mind, gone and useless. Eventually, too much had collected, and he was overwhelmed as the knowledge overflowed. He stopped trying to remember etiquette, deciding he'd learn later and offend now.

Mentally exhausted, Tomoki mouthed a silent prayer to the kami and his ancestors for strength and guidance as he followed the middle-aged woman beyond the threshold. "No, Ojisan, it's my pleasure to be greeted with such warm hospitality," He replied.
—

When he came upon the garden, Tomoki couldn't help but glance around like a starstruck child. His eyes appreciated the beauty and value of the herbs collected here. Herbs, he and his uncle would've spent hours hunting for in the plains.

He vaguely heard the woman address him, but used to being half-focused, he understood that she was greeting him and had told him her name. He approached the woman and stopped at what he hoped was a respectful distance, bowing to her from the waist.

"Greetings, Doji Rika-sama, I am Asahina Tomoki. Unfortunately, I know little of you, only that you are the ambassador of our family here. We hear of few things in the Anshin Province, but well met, nonetheless."

He paused, then smoothly added, hoping to appeal to the woman: "This one hopes you'll look into your heart, which is surely magnanimous and great, as all Cranes are predisposed, and forgive me for any missteps in etiquette. It's been long since I've held the company of fellow samurai."
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Katrina
Rika waved him closer. "Come, come. Those lessons in etiquette will naturally resurface, once you've spent a bit of time meeting with your brethren. Believe me, I've seen worse manners from people more experienced than you."

She chuckled to herself, then turned to command her young servant, who was now standing idle with the scrolls and papers neatly tucked.

"Let us have some tea. Something good for the road-weary. And bring out some rice and soup later for Tomoki-san."

The ambassador waved her attendant off with her fan. It was now just the two of them in the garden, and the faint, distant sounds of the bustling city beyond the walls. Rika folded her fan and set it across her lap as she continued to study Tomoki through her aged eyes.

"Make sure you eat your fill, Tomoki-san. I'm sure your days of travel must have thinned you down. We have good cooks here in the Crane Embassy, but you'll want to head out to explore some fine restaurants in Merchant's Quarter, I'm sure. No troubles or plights on the long road, I hope? Though I do enjoy hearing a good story if you have one to tell. As you might have already guessed, my duties and my age have kept me from wandering far."

-

As they conversed, three attendants would carry out a mat, silk cushions and a small tray topped with a steaming ceramic pot and cups. The aroma of fresh tea with a trace of roasted rice filled the air as they poured a small cup for each.

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Marlon
Tomoki drew near the woman as she'd beckoned, sitting across from Rika under the maple's shade. He gave a soft, polite chuckle in response to her witticism, thinking of his own experience with disgraceful elders. 

The garden's fragrant perfume, along with the calming ambiance of the city, slowly coaxed Tomoki into a more relaxed mood. Rika, with her wise and considerate demeanor, effortlessly created an atmosphere of comfort, and Tomoki reciprocated with genuine openness and sincerity. 'I see why Rika-sama is the ambassador,' he thought. 

Tomoki intended to gracefully decline the offer of refreshments, but his stomach betrayed him with a low growl, making any such plan foolish. Instead, he thanked Rika profusely for her hospitality and thanked her attendant as the servant presented the meal. 

—

Prompted by Rika's questioning, Tomoki spun vivid tales of his travels to Ryoko Owari. He shared accounts of healing destitute wanderers on the road, noting a peculiar encounter with an injured samurai. 

"Country folk speak of reavers and bandits on the road, but I met no such Hinin filth," Tomoki said. "Instead..." His voice trailed off, filled with clear distress and sorrow. "I found no such men—only poor peasants left impoverished and bereaved by these clan wars."

After clearing his throat, Tomoki thought of the present (of greatness) and said firmly: "But let us not dampen our cups with tales of woe. Rika-sama, I am eager to hear of our success within the city. What news do you have to share?"

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Katrina
A small bamboo tray was served to Tomoki, topped with a rejuvenating meal of Crane design. A bowl of rice topped with slices of soft bamboo shoots, fish soup, a side dish of young eel, and a sampling of various pickled vegetables made during the winter.

The elder Doji sipped her tea in thoughtful silence as she listened to Tomoki. Nothing he said seemed to unease or upset her still countenance, as if all those concerns were distant and immaterial. 

"Pitiful indeed. But we are making good progress here, steering our clan out of the chaos of yesteryear. The ugly dispute between the Unicorn and the Scorpion was rather *Forcibly* Bottled by the Otomo family intervention, and recently I've gotten news from our magistrate Asahina Tadayasu that we are arriving at a settlement with the Mantis Clan," Said Rika. "Our old rivals are finally growing up and making amends for their vile raids on the coast and sea. Now isn't that fine news?"

She paused to let the information sink in, taking another sip of tea. "And what's more, our clan has been working closely with the Unicorn to undermine what's left of the old criminal power base in the city. I will not share too much detail now, but I expect that you shall hear of our combined success someday soon. There is much work still unfinished - more to be done to strengthen relations with the Unicorn, and with other clans, which I may task you with."

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