New Scorpion Fiction

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2020/4/22/caged-birds/

So....the battle of Ice and Snow?

And Hotaru was Kachiko's Yojimbo?

Edit:

Battle of Ice and Snow

Location: Kyuden Suru Kokai

Date: 1113

Major Forces: Mantis Clan,
Crane Clan

Generals: Yoritomo,
Doji Hoturi

Battles of Rokugan

Battle of Ice and Snow was instigated by Shosuro Kachiko to raise her station to Hantei XXXVIII and the status of the Mantis Minor Clan in the Empire.

Kachiko's plan

During winter court at Kyuden Seppun in 1113 Kachiko approached the Mantis courtier Yoritomo Hogosha with a proposal. The Mantis had to seize Kyuden Suru Kokai, and after herself would be sent as Emperor's emissary to end the conflict, the Mantis had to withdraw. Kachiko would gain a political victory, while the Mantis acceptance of the Emperor's wishes would elevate the position of the Minor Clan in the Imperial Court. In addition the Shosuro family would arrange a trade agreement with the Mantis.

Seizing the village

Yoritomo seized the Doji fortress, and Kachiko arrived to follow up the plan. When the Phoenix were selected by the Shosuro as their trade partners, the Mantis general in anger imprisoned the Imperial emissary, and demanded a ransom of ten thousand koku.

Mantis withdrawal

Doji Hoturi with Daidoji troops led a brilliant counterattack, and despite having to fight in winter - reclaimed the fortress. Yoritomo managed to withdraw to safety.

By what definition of Yõjimbõ, anyway?

I mean, I still find this Kachiko better written than the one from the AEG timeline but I still think that she is just asian Cersei. Sure, she seems to be smarter than Cersei and slightly self-aware, but I guess that would happen with Cersei as well, if her husband had been The Red Viper, instead of Robert.

Sorry for the ASoIaF comparison.

The whole thing actually is a matter of why Shoju allowed his wife to be Imperial Advisor for so long. He was a genuine friend to the Hantei, sure, they could not have that many private conversations but they could be enough to realize that what Kachiko told him about the Hantei and what the Hantei told about Kachiko were at odds. ****, the Hantei noticed that as well and that was one of the reasons why he decided to abdicate.

And I mean, Kachiko's plan of having Sotorii as a puppet, I mean, how long would that work exactly? It's not like she could actually blackmail him about him murdering his own father, and what would happen if Sotorii, now Emperor, decided to get rid of her? It's not like she could go before the Imperial Court and confess to the witness of the previous Emperor's murder one, two or ten years after the fact.

" If I had been trustworthy. If I hadn’t sought power for its own sake, without considering the damage it could cause to the clan or to others."

That's huge personal growth for Kachiko, if she can hold onto the truth of that sentiment. I appreciate that every glimpse we get of her relationship with Hotaru reinforces that it's genuine. It feels like as the Clan War spools up, she's going to find herself on a precipice of change, especially as she's one of the only ones with full knowledge of the Hantei's fate.

Also, Aramoro's clearly not with her or in Toshi Ranbo, letting him be in place for a showdown with Toturi - Round 3 winner takes all

24 minutes ago, Diogo Salazar said:

By what definition of Yõjimbõ, anyway?

Given the Battle of Ice & Snow's reference to Shosuro Kachiko, if it's analogous at all to Old5R, then when her betrothal to Hiruma Makuru was broken in favor of Bayushi Shoju, and Makuru stormed into court to insult her honor & demand a duel for satisfaction, Hotaru stepped in to act as her champion.

Thanks, so not a de facto yōjimbō, just acting champion for a single duel.

And while I understand the desire of FFG to create their own story, it still annoys me that we need to dig up for references from AEG that they make themselves.

23 minutes ago, Diogo Salazar said:

Thanks, so not a de facto yōjimbō, just acting champion for a single duel.

And while I understand the desire of FFG to create their own story, it still annoys me that we need to dig up for references from AEG that they make themselves.

Part of that stems from the fact that when we first see Hotaru/Kachiko et al. we’re far along in their careers. There’s a fair amount of important stuff from courts in recent years that we’ve only gotten in pieces as they bear on current events.

Things like the Winter Court adventure flashing back to the year before story start fleshes out some of what happened in the immediate past, so it seems it’s more that it doesn’t come up until it does.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I totally understand the concept of Noodle Incidents, my point is more about the fact that they could have put a different event. I mean, did Hiruma Maruku even exist in FFG timeline anyway?
They literally have total freedom to go a different way and it's been long enough that either the older fans accepted the new story line anyway or didn't and won't be brought "into the fold" anyway...

2 hours ago, Doji Hyōkin said:

" If I had been trustworthy. If I hadn’t sought power for its own sake, without considering the damage it could cause to the clan or to others."

I spent the whole friggin' fiction waiting for something like that, because while Kachiko is deeply unhappy in the pages preceding that, it's a very selfish unhappiness- she doesn't seem upset about the consequences of her actions upon others until that bit with Yojiro.

But it's nice to see someone who has essentially been nothing but a villain up to this point having a "lightbulb" moment.

Of course, with Hotaru on the way, I see more bad decisions and tragedy looming, albeit for very human reasons.

4 hours ago, Magnus Grendel said:

New Scorpion Fiction

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2020/4/22/caged-birds/

So....the battle of Ice and Snow?

And Hotaru was Kachiko's Yojimbo?

Edit:

Battle of Ice and Snow

Location: Kyuden Suru Kokai

Date: 1113

Major Forces: Mantis Clan,
Crane Clan

Generals: Yoritomo,
Doji Hoturi

Battles of Rokugan

Battle of Ice and Snow was instigated by Shosuro Kachiko to raise her station to Hantei XXXVIII and the status of the Mantis Minor Clan in the Empire.

Kachiko's plan

During winter court at Kyuden Seppun in 1113 Kachiko approached the Mantis courtier Yoritomo Hogosha with a proposal. The Mantis had to seize Kyuden Suru Kokai, and after herself would be sent as Emperor's emissary to end the conflict, the Mantis had to withdraw. Kachiko would gain a political victory, while the Mantis acceptance of the Emperor's wishes would elevate the position of the Minor Clan in the Imperial Court. In addition the Shosuro family would arrange a trade agreement with the Mantis.

Seizing the village

Yoritomo seized the Doji fortress, and Kachiko arrived to follow up the plan. When the Phoenix were selected by the Shosuro as their trade partners, the Mantis general in anger imprisoned the Imperial emissary, and demanded a ransom of ten thousand koku.

Mantis withdrawal

Doji Hoturi with Daidoji troops led a brilliant counterattack, and despite having to fight in winter - reclaimed the fortress. Yoritomo managed to withdraw to safety.

I think we have to take this entire scenario with a big grain of salt, most notably due to the timing of when it occurred. 1113 would have Hataru as about 8-10 years old a the time of the battle assuming the present estimates of her age being somewhere between 18-20 are correct. Even pushing it out to she's currently 23 would mean she was 13 at the time of the battle.

Well, Old5R had Hoturi doing it when he was 10 (birth date given circa 1103) which'd be even worse...

Katrina's name on the fiction. Feels like it's been a long time since we've gotten a fiction written by her. I really liked it. I'm not the biggest Kachiko and Hotaru fan, but I think they were both written very well here. I'd like a story from Yojiro's perspective now to better understand if he knows more than he lets on. I like that Kachiko can't really read him.

Also I love that Kuwanan is basically a minor detail in Hotaru's thoughts while in Kuwanan's stories he obsesses over his conflict with her.

7 hours ago, Shiba Gunichi said:

I spent the whole friggin' fiction waiting for something like that, because while Kachiko is deeply unhappy in the pages preceding that, it's a very selfish unhappiness- she doesn't seem upset about the consequences of her actions upon others until that bit with Yojiro.

But it's nice to see someone who has essentially been nothing but a villain up to this point having a "lightbulb" moment.

Of course, with Hotaru on the way, I see more bad decisions and tragedy looming, albeit for very human reasons.

Truth be told, I wasn't expecting it to happen, but I'm very happy that it did. It's a big step for Kachiko, and now it's time for her to move forward or back with it. Now her character is becoming something more than just a selfish schemer. I'm also happy that we're getting more about the nature of her relationship with Hotaru. I'm hoping that we get something similar for Hotaru and Toturi, who did get mentioned, at least. It does make me wonder if Hotaru will find out about the assassination attempt on Toturi and be put in a position of picking between him and Kachiko. It might be in her best interest for Kachiko to come clean about it, at least to Hotaru. Hotaru might take the Lion's actions under Matsu Tsuko as evidence that Kachiko was right, but just struck at the wrong Lion leader to counter it.

Where does this put the Dragon Clan, I wonder? Agasha Sumiko has thrown in with Shoju, so even though I have a hard time believing she knows why, I wouldn't be surprised if she knows about Kachiko being sent away. Shoju might also be well-served to come clean with her as much as he can, before some damning report comes to her from the Kitsuki. In the meantime, has Hitomi managed to wrangle the prince?

1 hour ago, MirumotoKatsuro said:

In the meantime, has Hitomi managed to wrangle the prince?

Not that we know of, though honestly, I'm more interested in what the fallout will be of her encounter with Kuwanan - she did catch him murdering Sotorii's Seppun guards, and since Kuwanan was shouting for the Prince, he can't claim he didn't realise who he was attacking.

To quote The Senate: "It's treason, then."

I kinda like how after a story about Toturi fussing over his upturned life, we get a story where Kachiko does the exact same thing. Complete with an ending where they both project their displeasure into their respective spouses. Ah, the irony...

11 hours ago, Mangod said:

Not that we know of, though honestly, I'm more interested in what the fallout will be of her encounter with Kuwanan - she did catch him murdering Sotorii's Seppun guards, and since Kuwanan was shouting for the Prince, he can't claim he didn't realise who he was attacking.

To quote The Senate: "It's treason, then."

Kunawan being Kunawan, he's basically fixated on the "it's a scorpion coup". So yes, it is treason, but from his perspective he's trying to stop treason.

To be fair to him, even Yojiro admits as a scorpion that to an outsider it looks like a pretty obvious coup.

We know it isn't, but we have certain advantages.

I imagine the Prince's fate was left open until toturi's decision was resolved (If he'd "gone to the monastery" I imagine he'd have run into Sotorii), and Kuwanan's buggered off, so Hitomi appears to be the only person still looking for him.

22 hours ago, Doji Hyōkin said:

That's huge personal growth for Kachiko, if she can hold onto the truth of that sentiment. I appreciate that every glimpse we get of her relationship with Hotaru reinforces that it's genuine. It feels like as the Clan War spools up, she's going to find herself on a precipice of change, especially as she's one of the only ones with full knowledge of the Hantei's fate

Indeed. Right now, I'm perfectly happy with her being stuck in house arrest for a long, long time as a a non-trivial portion of Rokugani problems are directly or indirectly her fault.

But I'm glad that having YOUR HUSBAND AND FEUDAL LIEGE DOES NOT TRUST YOU shoved in her face does actually trigger a bit of soul-searching as to 'why not?', even if the re-evaluation doesn't stick.

I did also like seeing toshimoko. He is very much the self-indulgent side of the Crane but I have to say he's an enjoyable character.

I'll be interested to see if we ever see more of Hitoshi in the fictions...

52 minutes ago, AtoMaki said:

I kinda like how after a story about Toturi fussing over his upturned life, we get a story where Kachiko does the exact same thing. Complete with an ending where they both project their displeasure into their respective spouses. Ah, the irony...

I agree. I read both at the same time and I thought it was notable that both Kachiko and Toturi were reevaluating their lives and the decisions they have made. Even better that they are directly opposed to each other in this plot thread. I especially like Toturi's struggle since it's basically a question of is his sense of virtue a product of a privileged and sheltered life. It's easy to be a paragon of virtue when you remove yourself from the majority of the struggles in your society.

I'm a bit concerned about the legality of Hotaru attacking Toshi Ranbo considering it's an Imperial holding now...

6 minutes ago, shineyorkboy said:

I'm a bit concerned about the legality of Hotaru attacking Toshi Ranbo considering it's an Imperial holding now...

Is she attacking Toshi Ranbo? As you say, it's an Imperial holding and she's a Clan Champion. She's just visiting the court there for winter, with a very large entourage. Surely the Scorpion administrators wouldn't dream of refusing her entry...

I was under the assumption she was planning to winter there considering it's closer to the front rather than retreat to one of her strongholds. I think this is basically a way to get Kachiko and Hotaru together. It would be a supremely bad move for her to attack Toshi Ranbo I agree.

1 hour ago, Doji Hyōkin said:

Is she attacking Toshi Ranbo? As you say, it's an Imperial holding and she's a Clan Champion. She's just visiting the court there for winter, with a very large entourage. Surely the Scorpion administrators wouldn't dream of refusing her entry...

But Doji-ue, replies Yojiro, we are not hosting a Winter Court at Toshi Ranbo.

What do you mean not hosting a Winter Court? Intercedes Kakita Toshimoko. Are you telling me 1000 Crane Samurai all got their address wrong?

Oh, this is just a pit stop. Sake for my samurai and shochu for their horses!

3 hours ago, phillos said:

I agree. I read both at the same time and I thought it was notable that both Kachiko and Toturi were reevaluating their lives and the decisions they have made. Even better that they are directly opposed to each other in this plot thread. I especially like Toturi's struggle since it's basically a question of is his sense of virtue a product of a privileged and sheltered life. It's easy to be a paragon of virtue when you remove yourself from the majority of the struggles in your society.

Or, to quote a line I particularly like from Benjamin Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine...

"It's easy to be a saint, when you live in paradise."

1 hour ago, DGLaderoute said:

Or, to quote a line I particularly like from Benjamin Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine...

"It's easy to be a saint, when you live in paradise."

And recognition of facts like this is why Sisko was always the best Captain from any of the shows.

4 hours ago, shineyorkboy said:

I'm a bit concerned about the legality of Hotaru attacking Toshi Ranbo considering it's an Imperial holding now...

If she attacks it will end poorly. That said I'm more interested in the fact that Toshimoko is the one who steered her towards Toshi Ranbo with his subtle reminders, (first of her history with Kachiko and being a darling of the winter court due to her actions in "rescuing" her and then about her holding the city against Arasou) and nudging her towards attacking. Makes me wonder even more about his actual loyalties. I wonder if he has a bit more of a connection with parties in the Imperial Court then we suspect.

On 4/23/2020 at 9:58 PM, Schmoozies said:

I think we have to take this entire scenario with a big grain of salt, most notably due to the timing of when it occurred. 1113 would have Hataru as about 8-10 years old a the time of the battle assuming the present estimates of her age being somewhere between 18-20 are correct. Even pushing it out to she's currently 23 would mean she was 13 at the time of the battle.

That's based on the old timeline that starte sooner in the RPG (3-5 years dpending on the book) Specifically this is a nod to Ree Soesbee's novella in Kyuden Seppun.