James
After the scouting mission given to him by Ikoma Zenmai, Honda is once again back to the City of Lies, which he despised the mere mention of it, a city filled with the Lion's most vile foes, the dishonorable Scorpion and the heretic Unicorn, enemies that are within the reach of his blade, yet the law of the Emperor is what stays his hand, perhaps there was a hidden wisdom behind this the Kami Akodo held.

No matter, this was a concern for another time, as of now, he would report back to his clan of his foundings and discuss with his fellow Lion on how to proceed on this, as the Lion returned to its den and pride, Honda felt an uneasy strife entering the Embassy, as if a great crisis had befallen the City, or worse, his clan, whatever it was however, he was ready to meet them with claws of steel.

He entered awaiting the arrival of his brothers, sisters, and his lady in the war council room after questioning the Embassy guards to find Ikoma Zenmai, leaving only Honda alone in the room with strategic thoughts and a scowling expression powerful enough to silence the room.
Verna
The wake of the disastrous ambassador's dinner has left the future of this city in deeper waters. 

We needed all the information we could get. 

The return of Honda was good news. The scouting mission was something she had been looking forward to hear about for a long time now. 

She arrived at the war room as swiftly as she could after hearing of Akodo Honda's return. 

*"Glad to see you back in one piece, Lieutenant."* Ikoma Zenmai found a camaraderie with Akodo Honda for they both went the Akodo War College and have individually spent considerable time with the Lion military. 

*"News from your mission?"* She waited and tried to settle her anticipation for what she hoped was useful information. 

||
Jesse
Another day in Lion's embassy, the Lion is wearing his usual black kimono with golden highlights and designs. Accompanied by his sacred katana by his hip, the word was that a samurai was returning from a rather critical mission. The mission's details were to be disclosed in the war council room. Making his way into the room to make his due diligence, Akechi would see the familial Akodo, as well as the head honcho Ikoma Zenmai. 

Making his way inside to an unattended portion of the room, the Lion remained silent in the background while Honda explained the ordeal of his task to the Ambassador.
Dawn
Himiko had just arrived from the Crane embassy. Ironically the Lion's embassy wasn't the first one to greet her in this city. This one had been more warming and welcoming than the Crane's if she had to be fully honest. The tall lion with the veil on her face and the trusty giant dog besides her stepped in. Taking a breath as she had dared not to look in anybody's eyes. She had been thought to not do that. Her eyes were considered evil. That's what her parents had stated before they left her. Perhaps it had been the reason they left her. 

The shrine maiden had brushed off some dust from her still pearly white clothing. She had smiled and bowed down to everyone inside the embassy. Every single person. Stepping towards the door as she gently knocked on it. Stepping inside only to be facing multiple people. Ones she had heard of, but never met before. 

She had not been familiar with anyone here, only with the Kitsu family, as they were the one who raised and rather isolated her for her own sake. 

Himiko bowed down deeply as she apologized. 

*"My apologies for barging in. I was looking for a place to stay."*

She stated. Whilst raising to her full stature. Her blonde hairs fell a bit to her face.
Verna
*"Welcome to Ryoko Owari, Kitsu-san. Know that you always have a place here. Your room will be ready shortly."* 

Zenmai was getting sloppy with her paperwork. Things have understandably been chaotic recently, but she always aimed to be able to welcome her clanmates as soon as they step foot in this city. The ambassador signaled to the workers to prepare a room for Kitsu Himiko at once. 

Zenmai took initiative to introduce everyone around and everyone exchanged pleasantries quickly, so as to return to the original agenda of Akodo Honda's report. 

||
James
Honda took a deep bow to the Lion ambassador "A great honor, Ikoma Zenmai-sama, I apologize for my late arrival, though this scouting mission I received proved to be far from simple, the Dragon and Unicorn I had fallen companionship with had discovered a camp belonging to... Mysterious settlers with unknown reasons in the western plains of the city, four men and a woman with a babe, they had told us they were only simple heinin on a hunting trip, of course we had reason to suspect their motive for making camp so far out of the city, after we had returned to the camp later on, we discovered that the settlers had vanished completely, leaving their mounts and belongings behind, there was nothing of importance regarding information they had left, only the Unicorn took the mounts back to the city, so we know have reason to suspect ill tidings of them after they had escaped" Whether Zenmai was to regard Honda's recent mission as a failure or a minor success, she needed no further telling that even he was not completely satisfied with the result.

Later on, two more Lion emerged from the entrance of the room, a kitsu shugenja with wild golden hair as glorious as a lion's mane that had arrived shortly to the city while Honda was conducting his search in the plains, Honda took a deep bow to the Kitsu "You must be Kitsu Himiko, an honor" And beside her, was another Akodo bushi, and to his great surprise...

*Akechi*

Honda's former doshi from his days as a student in the Akodo War College, he had taken every test of tactics and strategy, vigour and endurance with Akodo Akechi as his brother-in-arms, since fate have placed Honda with Akechi as his fellow Akodo, a competitive-rivalry was created between them than the supposed brotherly-bond, that rivalry grew with each year of studying together, whether that rivalry disappeared or had returned with increase with Akechi's arrival, that was yet to be seen, though Honda never had forgotten.

Honda nevertheless took a bow to Akechi "Hmph, I must admit, I am surprised by your presence Akechi, you once had said you would never be caught inside of Scorpion territory lest you would be found waging war and razing its lands to the ground".
Paul
Shingen arrived only in time to hear this last, the older man striding somewhat stiffly into the room, arriving not long after the duo. The slightest raising of an eyebrow was his only reaction. After all, Shingen had been young once. He, too, had spoken enthusiastically of razing things to the ground; in his case, it had usually been Crane. Ah, to be young again. It was mostly a joke, and entirely internal in any event.

"*My apologies for being late. Akodo Shingen*." The bow of greeting Shingen gave was as stiff as his walk, and probably for the same reasons. "*I've only just arrived, some business needed to be seen to immediately*."

Straightening, Shingen's brown eyes almost seemed to glint as they quickly scanned his fellow Lion; he certainly didn't have a problem meeting anyone's gaze. His brief visual survey complete, Shingen stood at crisp attention, awaiting either information or instructions. He was a visitor here, after all, without some of the authority he was accustomed to.
Verna
Zenmai digested Honda's report. The settlers were suspicious. They could be Unicorn scouts, but any assumptions given the information they had was flimsy. One thing was clear, though. No tracks or camps the size of an army within a good travel distance of the city, so no attack to be expected in the near future. 

*"Good job, Akodo-san. Welcome back to the city."*

It was the first time Zenmai noticed some enmity between the two Akodos. This was good, she thought. A blade only sharpened when met with a whetstone. 

A new Lion arrived at the meeting. From his looks, Zenmai deduced that this was the magistrate that was promised. With all the conflict in the city, his timing couldn't have been better. 

*"Welcome to Ryoko Owari Toshi, Akodo-san."* Alongside Kitsu Himiko, the two new Lion newcomers are introduced to the table and are welcomed into the family. 

Now with Honda's scouting mission report done and the introductions out of the way, the meeting was open for anyone to raise their questions or concerns. 

|| If nothing else is to be raised, Zenmai will update Himiko and Shingen on the status of the city - conflicts, politics and all. Otherwise feel free to continue RPing in the scene with casual chat, rivalries, and introductions.
Jesse
It had been a long while since the Lion had encountered his brethren Akodo Honda, once sharing a competitive feud between the two back in their early school days. Although it seemed time wouldn't change the samurai much since those days, he still managed to get himself into complex situations on simple matters. Hopefully, his skills in battle weren't as perplexing, returning the bow he received from his Lion counterpart:

"The way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case sooner rather than later. It probably explains why they had me sent to these decrepit lands. Although, I must admit the geisha here are rather exquisite." 

He said in a poised manner, getting off from the wall he was reclining on to face his Akodo brethren directly:

"Though unlike taking little field trip around the land, I have uncovered some real issues lying around this city that I had to put down with my blade." 

Saying so zealously, which was pretty unprecedented for Akechi as he usually was somewhat laid back and reclusive. But with Honda around, he couldn't help but feel this spark reigniting that he hadn't felt since those years ago. 

While their little quarrel was ongoing, two more lions entered the room. One was a Kitsu, and the other was another of his Akodo brethren. He would acknowledge them and give them a proper bow, then proceed to direct his attention back at Honda, knowing instinctively he would have something to say back at him. 

||
James
As he had expected, Honda was trapped in a history cycle with Akechi, just as they were students in the Akodo War College, both Lion would boast of their endeavours to increase their glory, even though if they would stake their honor on an extension of untrue stories, or stories with fantastic additions, as if it were a custom created by the two Lion, .

"Oh? And whom did your fierce blade strike down, a Scorpion, a ghost, or an Oni? Perhaps you have claimed greater glory from it than our past battle with the Unicorn".

Saying that, two new Lions entered the room, an Akodo and a Kitsu by their appearance, but his reunion with Akechi deprived his attention from the newcomers, all his focus went to his brother-rival and his gloating story, though sensing thereafter that they weren't alone, Honda was reminded of his ettiquette and bowed to his brethren "Welcome Kitsu-san, Akodo=san" 

*"The pride continues to grow"* Honda thought *"Should the Unicorn attempt to attack the Lion again, they will face a thousand claws of steel"*
Jesse
"It was a rather decrepit fellow, stood well over eight feet tall, and possessed two giant Hamas. They called this abomination a Yōkai, despite that, when push comes to shove, its head came clean off."

He said with a slight smirk noticeable on his facial expression. Remembering long ago, the last time he saw Honda was in an extended battle with the unicorn forces. Where they both would share exuberant tales about their accomplishments in that battle:

"Individually, I'll say it is one of the more daunting foes I've encountered. But solely taking on a squadron of soldiers is another challenge in itself; you wouldn't say, Honda?"

Boastful in his assertion of the brief retelling of their past confrontation, he was ready to see what his fellow Akodo had to say about it. 

||
James
A Yokai Akechi says, Honda otherwise thinks that either the scene was dark for Akechi to see the large individual he cut down, as the time where Akechi claimed to have cut down a Unicorn samurai of ferocious reputation and monstrous appearance on his own or he must've consumed large quantities of sake and illusions began to form in front of him, though as far as he had known him, Akechi was rarely seen with a Sake cup in his hand, keeping this tradition for victories after battle.

Suppose Akechi was true to his word, could it be that the Yokai was real, had it escaped from Jigoku, or was there a malevolent maho-tsukai behind this? What Honda difuse the thought was Akechi's smirk, thinking himself victorious of whomever grasped the most glory during their missions, as always, Akechi anticipated victory LONG before the battle has ended, or rather begun, Honda replied with a scoff.

"A squadron or an army of soldiers, makes little difference to a Lion, if you can call what I faced as *Soldiers*, nothing more than mere simple heinin, whom allow me to say, suffered extreme terror and strife when they had heard that the Lion was making its way to them, as expected, few had the courage enough to face a Lion, much less stand its ground when hearing its name" Honda deepened his chest to show the visage of the fierce Lion that was engraved on his armor.
Jesse
It was hard to wipe the smile on his face as Honda explained the foes he had to face throughout his ventures. Though as he remembered, his Akodo counterpart was one of if not the proudest Lions he had met. Reiterating the fact of how fierce a Lion Bushi was depicted:

"That's something to definitely be proud of, making a group of heinin shiver in fear."

Akechi would remark sarcastically, a display of the Lion being unimpressed by Honda's feats during his mission. Although he had to give it to him, he sold it as it was some astonishing deed to make some lowly warriors fear him. 

"I'll ensure to tell my future children the great tales of Honda and his encounter with the heinins. I would hope too that you tell yours my tales, triumphing over a fiend in the midst of rescuing innocent civilians trapped in a burning old tavern."

The Lion said with a slight smirk on his face, holding his chest high as to mimic the proud Lion. Instead, though, he would be wearing his kimono, finding it much more comfortable and practical to maneuver. 

"Admittedly, though, it is alarming even to have encountered such a creature like that roaming around freely."

||
James
So, it is true, an Oni released in the city, no doubt work of the Unicorn attempting to gain control of the city by placing the blame on the Scorpion, or the demon has gained freedom by escaping from their hands, nevertheless, though Honda had his doubts of the story this is a dangerous matter, but for the Lion who thrive on danger.

"I see... Then I hope you had reported this to lady Zenmai than holding this news for myself and yours, for this is beyond the matter of glory, unless the fell creature's head is within your posession" Said Honda. With an eyebrow raised.
Gloria
At some point during the conversation, the local Hemin open the doors to the embassy, a young man would approach though the doors that bear the mons of the Lion clan and the Ikoma family. Albeit cleaned his kimono has seen some travel as it seems he has just arrived to the embassy after some travel. He would give a greeting bow to those who would be in the main hall as he would direct the hemin to retrieve his belongings.
Jesse
"Of course I have; I am not one to stray too far from my duty and obligations. Sadly, I doubt the crab or the scorpion would have let me keep such a horrid thing as a trophy. Neither would have I wanted to keep such a thing."

He said, reassuring his brethren that this matter was passed on through the chain of command. Now he only worried about these abomination roaming around freely throughout the city and how it would affect the honest people. But amid their discussion, another new face would emerge, that of an Ikoma. Akechi facing his general direction, would return the greetings the Lion had shared with the room. 

"I hope your welcoming wasn't as eventful as mine was in the city."

||
Gloria
*Once dealing with the hemin he joins the gathering of lion here on the floor* 

"Of course cousin, I didn't feel the need to look over my shoulder the entire trip, I consider that to be quite well traveled."

 *Clearly the bard jested the metal fan click-clacking as he places it in his hand.*

"My name is Ikoma Hideyoshi, I look forward to telling the stories of your heroics in the future. I do hope I am not interrupting."

||