4 hours ago, Horvagab said:

Only so many slots to take for Burmination.

Notice how the mighty Phoenix has set her own clothes ablaze.

1 hour ago, Wintersong said:

War with the Lion is inevitable so from that front there will be curved blades. And from the Crane front, fans. Koans from the dragon front?

I expect straight fans from the Crane, though our curved fans are better. Not at all worried about getting straight koans from the Dragon.

18 minutes ago, BCumming said:

I expect straight fans from the Crane, though our curved fans are better. Not at all worried about getting straight koans from the Dragon.

Even were there want of the historical friendship between Crane and Unicorn, we would still be united by the Lion's mutual antagonism of us. As for the Dragon, they are a wise clan. Hopefully wise enough to see through the rhetoric that will surely lay the blame for their current hardship at our feet.

9 minutes ago, Ide Yoshiya said:

Even were there want of the historical friendship between Crane and Unicorn, we would still be united by the Lion's mutual antagonism of us. As for the Dragon, they are a wise clan. Hopefully wise enough to see through the rhetoric that will surely lay the blame for their current hardship at our feet.

Well you are sending them warm bodies so unless Yokuni says otherwise I'd think you're in the clear with the Dragon ? ?

12 hours ago, shineyorkboy said:

You monster! Because of you Spider won that season!

I don't think Spider won a Kotei that season, much less the whole thing. But yes because of me the Crab lost their main candidate for Warlord of the Colonies. A shame that no-one ever followed through on their bounties for removing Hida Kaiji from contention, though I did it all of my own volition anyway.

3 hours ago, BCumming said:

I expect straight fans from the Crane, though our curved fans are better. Not at all worried about getting straight koans from the Dragon.

I'm worried about getting a straight answer from a Dragon.

1 minute ago, Shu2jack said:

I'm worried about getting a straight answer from a Dragon.

You probably should be. They're not exactly known for that sort of thing

Better than a curved answer from a Unicorn.

The fiction thus far has seemed to imply that the Dragon could go either way on this issue, which makes it odd that in this last fiction the Isawa lady was so certain that we'd support the Unicorn. The "knowing glance" that the Kitsuki gave her seems to be the author setting things up so that, no matter who the Dragon players side with, the Kitsuki can turn around and go "EXACTLY AS PLANNED!"

As a Dragon, it's my opinion that we should study meishodo. I'm certain that meishodo is very dangerous--but, there are many dangerous things in life that can turn into a great blessing if properly controlled. A river, for instance, can destroy many homes and take many lives by flooding its banks after a heavy rain. If properly irrigated, however, the threat of flooding drastically decreases, and the water from the river can be used to turn a desolate plain into fertile farmland. I think that the Djinn we saw, like a river, would be far more dangerous free than controlled. So why, then, should be ban the techniques that the Unicorn have used to bind it?

...But I obviously don't speak for all of the Dragon Clan. I'm curious to hear what my fellow Dragons have to say about this.

41 minutes ago, Mandalore525 said:

The fiction thus far has seemed to imply that the Dragon could go either way on this issue, which makes it odd that in this last fiction the Isawa lady was so certain that we'd support the Unicorn. The "knowing glance" that the Kitsuki gave her seems to be the author setting things up so that, no matter who the Dragon players side with, the Kitsuki can turn around and go "EXACTLY AS PLANNED!"

As a Dragon, it's my opinion that we should study meishodo. I'm certain that meishodo is very dangerous--but, there are many dangerous things in life that can turn into a great blessing if properly controlled. A river, for instance, can destroy many homes and take many lives by flooding its banks after a heavy rain. If properly irrigated, however, the threat of flooding drastically decreases, and the water from the river can be used to turn a desolate plain into fertile farmland. I think that the Djinn we saw, like a river, would be far more dangerous free than controlled. So why, then, should be ban the techniques that the Unicorn have used to bind it?

...But I obviously don't speak for all of the Dragon Clan. I'm curious to hear what my fellow Dragons have to say about this.

Don't forget the geographical issue. Living between the Phoenix and Unicorn might be uncomfortable no matter what side you choose.

2 hours ago, Mandalore525 said:

The fiction thus far has seemed to imply that the Dragon could go either way on this issue, which makes it odd that in this last fiction the Isawa lady was so certain that we'd support the Unicorn. The "knowing glance" that the Kitsuki gave her seems to be the author setting things up so that, no matter who the Dragon players side with, the Kitsuki can turn around and go "EXACTLY AS PLANNED!"

As a Dragon, it's my opinion that we should study meishodo. I'm certain that meishodo is very dangerous--but, there are many dangerous things in life that can turn into a great blessing if properly controlled. A river, for instance, can destroy many homes and take many lives by flooding its banks after a heavy rain. If properly irrigated, however, the threat of flooding drastically decreases, and the water from the river can be used to turn a desolate plain into fertile farmland. I think that the Djinn we saw, like a river, would be far more dangerous free than controlled. So why, then, should be ban the techniques that the Unicorn have used to bind it?

...But I obviously don't speak for all of the Dragon Clan. I'm curious to hear what my fellow Dragons have to say about this.

I agree.

And what is more, by studying how they are bound we may be able to bind them again should the Djinn escape. For even the prison will pass, he will eventually break free. And who knows what else we might discover. All knowledge is useful, if carefully managed and acquired.

Amusing aside:

The Crane's (boo! Kyuden Doji delenda est!) alliance with the Unicorn is mentioned... but no talk whatsoever of any such good terms with the Phoenix. Actually, the politics in general seem a bit different from the assumed old lore default-

The Crab have nobody they can count on- their entire fiction was about how they had to go it alone in their insanely dangerous and important duty.

The Crane's only real buddies at present seem to be the Unicorn- they're effectively at war with the Lion, Kachiko is shamelessly manipulating Hotaru, and the Phoenix fiction didn;t even mention the Crane, the Crane fiction didn't mention the Phoenix, and so on.

The Dragon seem to be precariously balanced between the Unicorn and the Phoenix, favoring the former a bit since they have a deal for warm bodies.

The Lion don't seem to be on particularly good terms with anyone beyond a word of god statement from the earliest days of information stating an alliance of convenience and Crane-bashing (THE BEST OF ALL GOALS!) with the Scorpion. They're evidently at war with the Crane, and apparently, once Altansarnai's breaking of her engagement goes through, the Unicorn as well.

The Phoenix... seem to have as many allies as the Crab- Shoju and Kachiko regard them as totally unimportant, the Unicorn are annoyed with them, the Crane seem closer to the Ponies than Los Pollos, the Dragon are all... Dragon-y at them, the Lion might go along with anything that threatens the Unicorn but don't exactly seem chummy...

The Scorpion are riding high and seem to be able to pretty much swagger wherever they like- no real allies, unless that old snippet about the Lion holds water, but no outright enemies either.

The Unicorn are presented as having ties of friendship with the Dragon and Crane- and also as being regarded as an "old enemy" by the Crab and things with the Lion which were slated for a treaty are going to keep going violently.

The Otomo have done well!

I wonder if the Scorpion showing such little interest in the Phoenix is why we don't have an infiltrator spoiler in the Phoenix article...

I feel that it would be unfair of us to make war on the Crane at present: they're stricken by a tsunami and need time to rebuild. It would be dishonourable to burn Kyuden Doji during such times. We can entertain ourselves by slaughtering half-civilised horsefolk until they're ready.

Breakfast in Toshi Ranbo, lunch in Shiro Shinjo, dinner in Kyuden Doji. I shall mark it in my calendar.

2 hours ago, Kitsu Seinosuke said:

I feel that it would be unfair of us to make war on the Crane at present: they're stricken by a tsunami and need time to rebuild. It would be dishonourable to burn Kyuden Doji during such times. We can entertain ourselves by slaughtering half-civilised horsefolk until they're ready.

Breakfast in Toshi Ranbo, lunch in Shiro Shinjo, dinner in Kyuden Doji. I shall mark it in my calendar.

Crane are in good enough shape to kill the Lion Champion. But I can understand the Lion, after that incident, wanting to pretend that the Crane are not ready for the Lion's might.

7 hours ago, Kitsu Seinosuke said:

I feel that it would be unfair of us to make war on the Crane at present: they're stricken by a tsunami and need time to rebuild. It would be dishonourable to burn Kyuden Doji during such times. We can entertain ourselves by slaughtering half-civilised horsefolk until they're ready.

Breakfast in Toshi Ranbo, lunch in Shiro Shinjo, dinner in Kyuden Doji. I shall mark it in my calendar.

It would be good for the Crane to ensure their ally remains strong, but, if meishōdō gets banned, the Unicorn could feel that their cultural identity is too treated for them to accept the Lion's terms. This could lead to a war that could weaken the Lion enough for the Crane to secure Toshi Ranbo, in which case the Crane would benefit more from voting against meishōdō. However, the Unicorn wouldn't appreciate this betrayal.

This makes me wonder whether the story will only be affected by the vote result or if which clans took which side, whether a tiebreaker was needed... will also matter.

Eh, the Lion can just fight both. No biggie. Send the Matsu after the Crane and the Akodo and Ikoma after the Unicorn. Should be enough to fight both at the same time.

8 minutes ago, TroutNinja said:

Eh, the Lion can just fight both. No biggie. Send the Matsu after the Crane and the Akodo and Ikoma after the Unicorn. Should be enough to fight both at the same time.

Depends.

If the Crane situation remains at its usual low intensity then yeah probably.

However, I the Lion have 'official' sanction to go against the Unicorn (I.e Meishodo gets outlawed and the Lion and Phoenix are ideal to insure compliance) One would expect the main focus wold be on that.

A situation I am sure Toturi would prefer.

21 hours ago, TroutNinja said:

Eh, the Lion can just fight both. No biggie. Send the Matsu after the Crane and the Akodo and Ikoma after the Unicorn. Should be enough to fight both at the same time.

Yeah. All real strategists know that your best option in warfare is to fight on two fronts simultaneously.

16 minutes ago, JJ48 said:

Yeah. All real strategists know that your best option in warfare is to fight on two fronts simultaneously.

It's always worked super well for the Germans every time they've tried it.

7 minutes ago, shineyorkboy said:

It's always worked super well for the Germans every time they've tried it.

Hey now! I say if the Lion want to walk themselves into a war they can't win so Unicorn and Crane can split their lands down the middle, preferably with some form of wall, I'm all for it.

2 hours ago, JJ48 said:

Yeah. All real strategists know that your best option in warfare is to fight on two fronts simultaneously.

When the army that one family can field equals the army of another entire clan, I don't see the risk.

2 hours ago, Zetsubou said:

Hey now! I say if the Lion want to walk themselves into a war they can't win so Unicorn and Crane can split their lands down the middle, preferably with some form of wall, I'm all for it.

You planning on hiring the Crab to help, too? They know all about building and standing on walls.

2 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:

You planning on hiring the Crab to help, too? They know all about building and standing on walls.

Only seems fair. It is their specialty, after all.

3 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:

You planning on hiring the Crab to help, too? They know all about building and standing on walls.

Yeah, but the Crab are incapable of building and standing on a wall without eventually selling out to the people they're supposed to be defending it from. In this case they would have to sell out to both the Crane and the Unicorn, which would get confusing.