Doji Shizue truly is the best of the Crane. I can only imagine what a Shinjo Haruko / Doji Kuwanan match would be like, but that'd be a helluva way to sideline him out of the clan.
The Art of Matchmaking - New Fic
Find it quite interesting the statement that the Unicorn import and sell foreign food...
I feel that Shizue may be erring in making a marriage a compulsory cornerstone of a treaty....especially if she has Kuwanan in mind
I have a Blackadder quote popping into my head:
"We'll never get her to marry him."
"Why?"
"Because she's met him..."
3 minutes ago, Magnus Grendel said:Find it quite interesting the statement that the Unicorn import and sell foreign food...
I feel that Shizue may be erring in making a marriage a compulsory cornerstone of a treaty....especially if she has Kuwanan in mind
I have a Blackadder quote popping into my head:
"We'll never get her to marry him."
"Why?"
"Because she's met him..."
I expect the long term set up will have her marrying into the Unicorn. She's high enough profile and shows the Crane support the Unicorn not the other way around.
55 minutes ago, Schmoozies said:I expect the long term set up will have her marrying into the Unicorn. She's high enough profile and shows the Crane support the Unicorn not the other way around.
I fully expected the savior Unicorns to be Chagatai. That would have been amusing.
1 hour ago, Schmoozies said:I expect the long term set up will have her marrying into the Unicorn. She's high enough profile and shows the Crane support the Unicorn not the other way around.
That was my suspicion as well. It does make me wonder if this'll end with her marrying Haruko. It would be an interesting way to resolve Kuwanan's challenge, if he's married off and no longer in a position to make it. Also, when I said that the Champions would have to rouse themselves and make decisions... this is what I meant. Good job, Altansarnai. The Unicorn take the first player token.
It's amusing that we just got competent Altansarnai in the fiction at the same to as the LCG.
I agree about Altansarnai. I got chills when she said she'd lead the Blue Horde into battle against the Lion herself. It just got real. Though at the same time it seems like that's what the Lion wants. They want all out war with the Unicorn.
4 hours ago, phillos said:They want all out war with the Unicorn.
Be careful what you wish for...
Also, given the current state of the Crane Clan, I’m all for Doji Shizue staying in the Unicorn heartlands learning stories from beyond the Empire. Maybe meeting Shono’s new wife.
19 hours ago, Swordbreaker said:I fully expected the savior Unicorns to be Chagatai. That would have been amusing.
Chagatai x Shizue. Chagazue.
One of those marriages that just works, despite everyone and everything saying it shouldn't.
15 hours ago, phillos said:I agree about Altansarnai. I got chills when she said she'd lead the Blue Horde into battle against the Lion herself. It just got real. Though at the same time it seems like that's what the Lion wants. They want all out war with the Unicorn.
Indeed. Whether the Lion's judgement is right - they have the strongest army, but they have a sizeable chunk of it is tied down against the Crane: how effectively they can fight two other clans at once remains to be seen - they (defining 'they' as the Ikoma) certainly seem to be spoiling for that fight.
4 hours ago, Magnus Grendel said:Indeed. Whether the Lion's judgement is right - they have the strongest army, but they have a sizeable chunk of it is tied down against the Crane: how effectively they can fight two other clans at once remains to be seen - they (defining 'they' as the Ikoma) certainly seem to be spoiling for that fight.
Well, I'd say the Ikoma courtiers safely in Otosan Uchi seem to be spoiling for that fight. Ikoma Tsanuri seems less enthusiastic, just committed to her duty. Imagine if not the Dragon but the Scorpion find out about this whole "starving the troops to make them raid and pillage" thing. I'm not sure Shoju would be happy, but I think the Clan at large would have a field day.
28 minutes ago, MirumotoKatsuro said:Well, I'd say the Ikoma courtiers safely in Otosan Uchi seem to be spoiling for that fight. Ikoma Tsanuri seems less enthusiastic, just committed to her duty. Imagine if not the Dragon but the Scorpion find out about this whole "starving the troops to make them raid and pillage" thing. I'm not sure Shoju would be happy, but I think the Clan at large would have a field day.
Well Anakazu who is the Ikoma Daimyo seems all in as he is signing off on the orders. As to the starving troops we don't know how widespread that is, it may be a lever being applied specifically to Tsanuri as the Ikoma leadership may have reason to doubt her (especially if they are aware of her having permitted the Dragon army to cross Lion lands unobstructed) or it could just be a method of stoking aggression among the wider Lion commanders on the Unicorn front. There is also the possibility (although I don't put much faith in it being this) that the famine is something more serious. It could be a sign of the Elemental Imbalance effecting Lion crops, or that resources are being redirected without the consent of Lion upper command.
16 minutes ago, Schmoozies said:It could be a sign of the Elemental Imbalance effecting Lion crops
For what it's worth, in Winter's Embrace - an RPG set during 'last year's' winter court, the Dragon, Unicorn and Lion delegations all have goals of acquiring several tens of thousands of koku worth of rice because of, amongst other things, bad harvests. The concept that there is a famine steadily creeping out of the north-east may have something to it.
The Crane Clan: When you want something done right, send Shizue.
Pity the Unicorn just allied with a clan that's about to start vigorously punching itself in the face.
17 hours ago, Shiba Gunichi said:The Crane Clan: When you want something done right, send Shizue.
Pity the Unicorn just allied with a clan that's about to start vigorously punching itself in the face.
This just caused me a thought, actually: what if, either because the Clan rules against both of them or they end up removing themselves from the competition somehow (say, by being married off, banished, etc), neither Hotaru nor Kuwanan is made the Crane Clan champion, but Shizue? It's probably a long shot because of her physical handicap, but she's demonstrated much more successfully the Art of Peace than her siblings.
17 hours ago, Shiba Gunichi said:Pity the Unicorn just allied with a clan that's about to start vigorously punching itself in the face.
Hah! Joke is on the Crane because the Unicorn is also about to explode via severe Moto overdosing!
1 hour ago, AtoMaki said:Hah! Joke is on the Crane because the Unicorn is also about to explode via severe Moto overdosing!
And the Lion have some internal tensions, although at present they're Bushido-growling it away, and the Scorpion are similarly under internal strain.
The Crab... do not seem to have internal struggles we, the readers, have gotten much of a look at, although we know that Yori is, well.... Yori-ing.
The Dragon are only "divided" insofar as one Ise Zumi ran off to assist Daisetsu and Shahai, but given their population problem, that might be about the scale of their various tensions- a samurai here or there.
The Phoenix... actually don't seem to be coping with too much internal disunity at present, which is
weird
for them.
But I get the feeling the Clan War might have a lot more messy distinctions in terms of conflict this time around...
On 3/27/2020 at 6:12 AM, Mangod said:Chagatai x Shizue. Chagazue.
One of those marriages that just works, despite everyone and everything saying it shouldn't.
Be careful mate, the suggestion might just cause Original Timeline Matsu Hiroru to jump over and beat up Chagatai and anyone who suggest he marries Shizue.
True love crosses dimensions neh ?
The Crab story seems to be waiting for something. We are obviously shown that Yori is around and that outposts and sections of the wall are falling and allowing Shadowlands into the Crab backfield though. So while we don't have a Crab internal struggle yet we do have plenty of external struggles for the Crab to work through. As far as I can tell the Crab are pretty upset with every other clan besides the Mantis right now as well.
I feel like when the Crab finally break apart and/or resort to in fighting then that's the beginning of the end for the empire since that opens the floodgate for the shadowland's forces. If I'm frustrated at anything right now with the story it's the pace of the Crab plot. Though I recognize once you pull that shadowlands trigger it kinda dominates the story, and would re-contextualize the other conflicts going on right now. Does the Crane feud make sense when shadowland's armies are invading the empire?
6 hours ago, phillos said:The Crab story seems to be waiting for something. We are obviously shown that Yori is around and that outposts and sections of the wall are falling and allowing Shadowlands into the Crab backfield though. So while we don't have a Crab internal struggle yet we do have plenty of external struggles for the Crab to work through. As far as I can tell the Crab are pretty upset with every other clan besides the Mantis right now as well.
I feel like when the Crab finally break apart and/or resort to in fighting then that's the beginning of the end for the empire since that opens the floodgate for the shadowland's forces. If I'm frustrated at anything right now with the story it's the pace of the Crab plot. Though I recognize once you pull that shadowlands trigger it kinda dominates the story, and would re-contextualize the other conflicts going on right now. Does the Crane feud make sense when shadowland's armies are invading the empire?
Arguably you could pull the Shadowlands trigger earlier, and to keep it from dominating the story it becomes about how the Crab are trying to keep it a secret how bad it’s getting. Keeps it at the clan level, but gives a very different vibe to the Crab.
Alternatively, an increase in references to things like needing jade from Toshi Ranbo, emphasizing the dwindling supplies, a do more with less attitude cranking up the frustrations until the inevitable incursion.
4 hours ago, Doji Hyōkin said:Arguably you could pull the Shadowlands trigger earlier, and to keep it from dominating the story it becomes about how the Crab are trying to keep it a secret how bad it’s getting. Keeps it at the clan level, but gives a very different vibe to the Crab.
Considering one of the Crab's main sources of 'diplomats' is sending out soldiers who are too crippled to continue fighting to remind the other clans how bad the Crab having it I think it would be very out of character for them to try to keep a Shadowlands incursion quiet.
Plus it would be super dishonorable and negligent in their duty to no keep their boss, the Emperor, informed of how their eternal war was going.
By the same token, it’s super dishonourable and negligent that the Phoenix Council didn’t inform the Emperor as to the extent of the elemental imbalance, given that their duty is the spiritual health of the Empire.
I could buy a Crab Champion who won’t admit to the shame of being the one who‘s going to lose the Wall, and doubles down on “We Will Not Fail” mode until it’s too late. Not the direction they seem to be taking, and not the Crab I want, but doable.
17 hours ago, Doji Hyōkin said:Arguably you could pull the Shadowlands trigger earlier, and to keep it from dominating the story it becomes about how the Crab are trying to keep it a secret how bad it’s getting. Keeps it at the clan level, but gives a very different vibe to the Crab.
Alternatively, an increase in references to things like needing jade from Toshi Ranbo, emphasizing the dwindling supplies, a do more with less attitude cranking up the frustrations until the inevitable incursion.
I don't know how you could keep that secret; unlike the elemental imbalance, there aren't many places an evil horde of Tainted samurai, goblins and Oni could come from - if the Kaiu Kabe falls, the rest of the southern Empire will be made abundantly aware of that fact in short order.
13 minutes ago, Mangod said:I don't know how you could keep that secret; unlike the elemental imbalance, there aren't many places an evil horde of Tainted samurai, goblins and Oni could come from - if the Kaiu Kabe falls, the rest of the southern Empire will be made abundantly aware of that fact in short order.
Does anyone outside the Crab know a Watchtower has fallen? Only the Mantis we just saw Oguri hire. Have losses been higher than in recent years? The RPG Beta adventure had a Twenty Goblin Winter, and they were willing to entertain the notion of bolstered support from other clans, but unable to work out an agreeable command structure which indicates that they might be more hard up than usual for bodies on the Wall. Dwindling jade shortage, all signs point to leaks in the dam. Flood's a-comin'...
A story from Hida Kisada's POV (or his kids') would be good now. I can see even well done appeals falling on deaf ears in the capital right now for a couple of reasons.
The Scorpion are in power, and the Scorpion by default believe that everyone else (and themselves) lie to advantage themselves. It's their fundamental distrust of everyone required to do their job of keeping the other clans in check. So they are inclined to hear the appeal of the Crab as a lie off the bat.
The Crab probably /have/ 'cried wolf' before...many times. At least so far as the rest of the Empire is concerned. Had a dire situation...begged for help, handled the problem, and everything was fine without the rest of the Empire even seeing a goblin. After a while saying 'no, really, this is worse than ever' doesn't mean anything.
The other clans are desperate right now. Well, some of them are. The next in line after the Crab, if the Crab buckle, are the Crane (unless they go through the Shinomen, which they don't usually) . But the Crane don't have their normal people on the wall to confirm things, because everyone's dealing with the Lion. And the Crane are just stretched so thin right now that any priority is going to seem very far away. And that is completely without any history of animosity.
Think of that scene in Game of Thrones where Jon Snow opens a box with a wight in it in front of Cersei. That's what it's going to take.