https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/11/8/the-stories-we-tell/

' Hantei Daisetsu ' hmm. Nice story by the way. Very Samurai focus on perception being the reality

Crane story, 0/10, needs more Kyuden Doji on fire...

In all seriousness, I enjoyed this one far more than I expected to- those Imperials are a dangerous breed.

*Read Hantei Daisetsu*
*Looks at Mon I'm using as Profile Picture*

Suffice to say, this entire fiction pleases me. The crane story was solid, the discussion regarding the father at the center, even our Dark Lord (Hallowed be his inevitable victory)'s insightfulness and ability to determine the motive of the Soul of Shiba with choosing Tsukune. Its all really solid.

The idea that the Heirs have differences of opinions only makes me want to see the older brother as well.

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The prince seemed to be turning something over in his mind. “So the truth is merely what one believes it to be.”

This triggers the Kitsuki...

I like the nuance in hotaru being happy to let sleeping dogs lie for good reasons and her brother not for other good reasons. Let alone a prince who potentially could be learning the wrong lessons..

Learning the wrong lessons? What harm could there be in his dissatisfaction that Kakita didn't *literally* bring the dead back to life?

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“Very young, which makes her an odd choice to replace Shiba Ujimitsu’s experience,” the prince remarked. “She apparently trained as a bushi with the Lion Clan for some time. Perhaps that influenced the choice: there are signs of trouble between the Phoenix and the Lion.”

What trouble is the prince speaking of? What am I missing? Can't remember that being mentioned in any of the other stories.

And on a side note: If there's is indeed trouble between Lion and Phoenix, is there any clan the Lion has no quarrel with at the moment?

4 minutes ago, Yakamo no Oni said:

And on a side note: If there's is indeed trouble between Lion and Phoenix, is there any clan the Lion has no quarrel with at the moment?

Have you met Lions’ Pride Brawler? Of course there isn’t.

3 minutes ago, Yakamo no Oni said:

What trouble is the prince speaking of? What am I missing? Can't remember that being mentioned in any of the other stories.

And on a side note: If there's is indeed trouble between Lion and Phoenix, is there any clan the Lion has no quarrel with at the moment?

Well, I don't think Lion has any quarrel with Scorpion right now...and no open hostility at least with Crab. But I'm not sure what trouble he's referring to, meta-wise Lion is the only ones who supported the Phoenix petition to ban meishodo.

Stories like this always make me glad not to live in a society like Rokugan's. The lack of objective truth, the emphasis on appearances and not reality.

Of course Machiavelli said that Western societies are mostly vulgar as well and focused on seeming rather than being, but we at least pay lip service to truth I suppose ><

Stories like this always make me glad not to live in a society like Rokugan's. The lack of objective truth, the emphasis on appearances and not reality.

Of course Machiavelli said that Western societies are mostly vulgar as well and focused on seeming rather than being, but we at least pay lip service to truth I suppose ><

8 minutes ago, Waywardpaladin said:

Stories like this always make me glad not to live in a society like Rokugan's. The lack of objective truth, the emphasis on appearances and not reality.

Of course Machiavelli said that Western societies are mostly vulgar as well and focused on seeming rather than being, but we at least pay lip service to truth I suppose ><

Then let us bring more Truth to Rokugan, fellow Dragon!

5 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:

Well, I don't think Lion has any quarrel with Scorpion right now...and no open hostility at least with Crab. But I'm not sure what trouble he's referring to, meta-wise Lion is the only ones who supported the Phoenix petition to ban meishodo.

I can only think of some bits in that Tears of Amaterasu story that got leaked today:

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Relations among the Crane, the Dragon, the Phoenix, and the Unicorn seem to be growing ever more amicable.

I doubt that Lion would appreciate if Crane and Phoenix would get to a little bit more friendly with each other. On the other hand, it doesn't make much sense since Phoneix is still not happy about the whole meishodo affair, I assume. However, later Kachiko explicitly states that there is in fact an alliance with between Crane and Phoenix:

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...the Phoenix - infuriated by the Unicorn's use of gajin magic and bolstered by Isawa Kaede's marriage to their new champion - allying with the Lion, weakening their current alliance with the Crane...

So: Lion might have trouble with Phoenix, because Phoenix is currently allied with Crane even though Kaede and Toturi are married. Apparently, Phoenix and Unicorn "grow more amicable" even though Phoenix with the support of Lion tried to ban meishodo and failed doing so. They probably still hate meishodo but decided for some reasons to engage in diplomatic talks with the Unicorn.

I'm confused....

42 minutes ago, Yakamo no Oni said:

And on a side note: If there's is indeed trouble between Lion and Phoenix, is there any clan the Lion has no quarrel with at the moment?

Answer: Yes, Clan Hare. They’re pen pals. ?

Daisetsu: "He cheated, that's not bringing something back to life. Here let me show you what I've been learning from Shahai........"

Daisetsu pulls out a golden talisman with a blood red ruby at the center.

Daisetsu: "I'll need to borrow your cat"

Daisetsu snaps the cat's neck like a twig. Shizue shrieks on horror. Daisetsu then waves the talisman over the cat. The ruby begins to glow and the cat springs back to life.

Daisetsu: "See, zombie cat, you're welcome"

Shizue: "Ummmm......thanks?"

There's actually a lot of pieces falling together.

Isawa Kaede is betrothed to Akodo Toturi.

Isawa Kaede is also long time friends with Seppun Ishikawa. We read this when she came to him to plead to the Emperor to make a case about banning meishodo.

Fun Fact: It looks like Seppun Ishikawa is not a fan of Kaede being betrothed to Toturi as seen in the flavor text of his card in this article:

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/10/11/the-imperial-cycle/

The reason the Unicorn and Phoenix are amicable and that there is tension between Phoenix and Lion is probably because of the Unicorn story "Curved Blades".

In the story we find Asako Akari (formerly Ikoma Akari). Asako is a Phoenix Maiden who was previously married to Ikoma Anakazu. The marriage along with their daughter were brushed to the side because the Lion wanted the Unicorn Champion to marry Ikoma Anakazu in order to create a diplomatic alliance by marriage. After an exchange of words the Unicorn Champion decided not to agree with the marriage anymore since she would have to take the name Ikoma and become Lion property. She decided to spare the life of Akari and told her to go back to her husband and live happily. Through this kind act the Phoenix clan can get some peace in mind even though there is still some tension regarding meishodo. On the flipside, the Lion are probably putting full blame on the Phoenix for ruining this alliance and possibly causing more blood between Lion and Unicorn.

Ontop of all that we have a small Lion faction working independently with Tsuko leading them. She went ahead and let Doji Kuwanan live to allow the Crane to handle things back in the Imperial City. It's not a fun time to be Lion right about now.

As the old Lion curse says, may we all live in interesting time.

14 minutes ago, ElSuave said:

In the story we find Asako Akari (formerly Ikoma Akari). Asako is a Phoenix Maiden who was previously married to Ikoma Anakazu. The marriage along with their daughter were brushed to the side because the Lion wanted the Unicorn Champion to marry Ikoma Anakazu in order to create a diplomatic alliance by marriage.

Not sure she really counts as a "maiden" at this point...maybe matron.

Great story. I'm now a fan of the young prince!

#teamdaisetsu

30 minutes ago, ElSuave said:

On the flipside, the Lion are probably putting full blame on the Phoenix for ruining this alliance and possibly causing more blood between Lion and Unicorn.

I don't see that. The Lion would be incredible moronic to blame the Phoenix for that. I mean, the Unicorn Clan Champion calls off the wedding. Why would anybody not blame her directly? She's the one who called it off? Unless the Lion suspect that she got blackmailed by the Phoenix, which I also highly doubt they do (Phoenix =/= Scorpion, they just don't have the reputation of doing something that dishonorable).

4 minutes ago, Yakamo no Oni said:

I don't see that. The Lion would be incredible moronic to blame the Phoenix for that. I mean, the Unicorn Clan Champion calls off the wedding. Why would anybody not blame her directly? She's the one who called it off? Unless the Lion suspect that she got blackmailed by the Phoenix, which I also highly doubt they do (Phoenix =/= Scorpion, they just don't have the reputation of doing something that dishonorable).

The Phoenix most likely did not plan for Akari to do what she did, but the Lion probably aren't 100% certain either. (Akari's actions are still seen as a Phoenix clan member). They could see the Phoenix going to drastic measures to prevent Unicorn from forming an alliance with Lion. Especially since Lion was originally against meishodo but now they want a marriage alliance with Unicorn?

-Akari probably acted on her own and wanted to commit suicide to give misfortune over the wedding.

or

-Someone convinced Akari to go commit suicide in order to put misfortune, but whoever convinced her really wanted this to look like a bad act by the Phoenix.

Imperial Family Cup?

I hope this "send off" going into the first cycle is supposed to set the tone from now on.

Right? Wrong? Good? Bad? Depends on your perspective.

I don't want a "Big Bad" all the time.

Oh, and hey. The Prince is about to have his gempukku, we (collectively) just had our gempukku - worlds.

We just got our lesson moving into the world.