A continuation of Caged Birds (I suspect part 2 of 3).

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2020/4/29/violence-behind-courtliness/

It's good to see the characters from Wedding at Kyotei Castle turning up again and the results of the RPG in 2018 having an effect on the story.

Yeah, a nice snapshot of the fallout at Tsume. Shows the Crane marriage benefits in action lining up Shiba guards for Phoenix shugenja.

Digging a Hotaru/Kachiko reunion:

"Did you kill my father, the Emerald Champion?"

"No but I did have your best friend, the Emerald Champion killed"

So this either works great for Hotaru (winter in Toshi Ranbo, catch up with Kachiko, start the next summer season in a strong position to start warring with the Lion) or super horribly (Shoju - so she showed up with 3 armies to squat at an Imperial City, and is walking off with my possible traitor wife at the end, yeah time to call in the Legions to deal with this).

On the plus side it may breath some life back into the Kuwanen faction as his sister may draw all the pending Imperial hate away from him,

So I guess the invitation for the Winter Court at Toshi Ranbo was indeed correct 😄

It seems at least that this version of Yojiro is not totally fooled by Kachiko (just mostly)

1 hour ago, Schmoozies said:

On the plus side it may breath some life back into the Kuwanen faction as his sister may draw all the pending Imperial hate away from him,

Kuwanan - attacked and murdered members of the Seppun as part of an attack on an Imperial convoy carrying Prince Sotorii.

Hotaru - occupied Toshi Ranbo and absconded with Bayushi Kachiko (who secretly tried to cover up Sotorii's murder of Hantei XXVIII).

Yoshi - still wrong about everything, ever. Always.

Conclusion: the Crane Clans arrogance has grown beyond all reason, and they need to have everyone in the Empire dunk on them for a while. Clearly, the tsunami was meant to be a humbling punishment from the Heavens that didn't stick.

Or...

Kuwanan - believed he was rescuing the Emperor's legitimate heir from an anonymous death in a remote monastery at the hands of the usurper of the Imperial throne

Hotaru - (spoiler-blocked because it refers to stuff in the current story)

Yoshi - hasn't even been on-screen for a while now, so we have no idea what he's doing

Not saying Crane aren't arrogant (they're Crane, and nobody does arrogance like the Crane) but I think you're overstating it a little here, at least based on the current state of affairs.

33 minutes ago, DGLaderoute said:

Or...

Kuwanan - believed he was rescuing the Emperor's legitimate heir from an anonymous death in a remote monastery at the hands of the usurper of the Imperial throne

Hotaru - (spoiler-blocked because it refers to stuff in the current story)

intends to occupy Toshi Ranbo, but hasn't (yet), and hasn't absconded with anyone (yet). Admittedly has brought an army to the city, though.

Yoshi - hasn't even been on-screen for a while now, so we have no idea what he's doing

Not saying Crane aren't arrogant (they're Crane, and nobody does arrogance like the Crane) but I think you're overstating it a little here, at least based on the current state of affairs.

Yeah, I'm mostly just dunking on them for fun (calling Kakita Yoshi a human waste of space being the hobby of the story discussions and all), but I'm being partially serious as well - depending on how Hotaru's little ploy plays out, and on how quickly Hitomi reports back to Otosan Uchi about what went down with Kuwanan, we've basically got both claimants to the Crane Championship defying Imperial authority. That can't be good for their future prospects, surely.

6 hours ago, DGLaderoute said:

Kuwanan - believed he was rescuing the Emperor's legitimate heir from an anonymous death in a remote monastery at the hands of the usurper of the Imperial throne

I like how this actually makes the deed worse . I can almost see how this will work out with Hotaru:

"Kuwanan you are a good brother and a good samurai, but you are a loose cannon. You are off this case, no arguments. Hand over your mon and katana. Your other katana too!"

Can't help but think getting drunk and having a sword fight is more of a Crab thing...

1 hour ago, shineyorkboy said:

Can't help but think getting drunk and having a sword fight is more of a Crab thing...

I'd imagine Crab would tend to have a fistfight.

But Toshimoko getting drunk and having a swordfight is very much in character. Hotaru getting caught up in his shenanigans also has precedent, although that's based mostly on knowledge of Hoturi.

15 hours ago, DGLaderoute said:

Not saying Crane aren't arrogant (they're Crane, and nobody does arrogance like the Crane) but I think you're overstating it a little here, at least based on the current state of affairs.

I'd say the Isawa family beats the entire Crane Clan on that (besides, that would be the Doji and the Kakita who are usually seen as arrogant), Jigoku, I would even say the entire Elemental Council beats the entire Crane Clan on the arrogance department 😆

9 hours ago, shineyorkboy said:

Can't help but think getting drunk and having a sword fight is more of a Crab thing...

Though didn't we just see a story where a Crane getting drunk and getting into a sword fight featured prominently 🙂

This move has to look extremely aggressive from the Scorpion's perspective. Certainly Yojiro is freaking out about it and rightfully so. I wonder if and how Shoju will respond. It certainly seems like Crane are approaching open rebellion against his rule considering both Kuwanan and Hotaru's actions. Say what you want about Yoshi, but getting the Unicorn to align with the Crane militarily formally seems extremely needed at this point. If Hotaru get's the Shiba to help her then they seem in a much better position militarily. Though the Unicorn and the Phoenix being on the same side of a conflict seems like a pretty fragile alliance.

3 hours ago, Diogo Salazar said:

I'd say the Isawa family beats the entire Crane Clan on that (besides, that would be the Doji and the Kakita who are usually seen as arrogant), Jigoku, I would even say the entire Elemental Council beats the entire Crane Clan on the arrogance department 😆

One thing I'm noticing in the new stories is that the Isawa has lost their arrogance from Old5R and are now veering more towards being standoffish instead. They are no longer talking big, they ain't talking nothing now. It is nice change, I like it.

I don't know. I would put the whole, the Unicorn are up to something because we don't know how they do what they do pretty arrogant to me.

I mean, it's been almost 3 centuries guys, the Elemental Imbalance clearly can't be blamed on the Unicorn, just get over it.

3 hours ago, phillos said:

If Hotaru get's the Shiba to help her then they seem in a much better position militarily. Though the Unicorn and the Phoenix being on the same side of a conflict seems like a pretty fragile alliance.

The Crane at least are sensible enough not to deploy them both along the same front.

I wonder how well Lion-Phoenix relations are doing when the Lion Emerald Champion and his wife the Phoenix Spiritual Advisor to the Emperor disappear. With Tadaka & Ujina AWOL and Tsukune running around trying to be a responsible adult, does the Council even notice?

Certainly neither Matsu Tsuko nor Ikoma Anakazu care much beyond beating the Crane / Unicorn respectively. As long as they're allowed to have their war, I suspect them to be largely Regent-indifferent.

Lion vs Unicorn, Lion vs Crane vs Mantis, Crab + Mantis vs hole in the Wall, Phoenix vs upset spirits, Scorpion vs the **** they stirred up, Dragon vs ENCROACHING DOOM - As we're going into winter now, that's where it sits, yeah?

2 hours ago, AtoMaki said:

One thing I'm noticing in the new stories is that the Isawa has lost their arrogance from Old5R and are now veering more towards being standoffish instead. They are no longer talking big, they ain't talking nothing now. It is nice change, I like it.

Ehhhhhhhhh.... silent hubris is still hubris. The big change that I've seen (and appreciate!) in this aspect of the Phoenix is that they have very good reasons (not honorable, but good!) to not let anyone know how screwed up things have gotten- because without their mojo, their ability to defend themselves from the aggression of others clans is highly suspect.

1 hour ago, Diogo Salazar said:

I don't know. I would put the whole, the Unicorn are up to something because we don't know how they do what they do pretty arrogant to me.

Counterpoint- A djinn was involved in some elemental shenanigans that Kaito Kosori ran across, and was present in an area visited by Unicorn shugenja.

I can easily see the Phoenix (and especially the Council, who have always been a bit removed from the nuts and bolts of day to day life) running into confirmation bias if they keep bumping into stuff like that, even though we, the readers, know that so far as we can tell, the formal Unicorn leadership had no designs of that sort.

Now, on the other hand, what was that djinn doing there? Who might benefit from a situation where traditional Rokugani magic doesn't work as expected, but where meishodo (which is less about honoring the spirits and more about "get in the sack!") does?

Quote

I mean, it's been almost 3 centuries guys, the Elemental Imbalance clearly can't be blamed on the Unicorn, just get over it.

I mean, it's been almost 3 centuries guys, total catastrophic ignorance of Ikoma marriage conventions clearly can't be blamed on the Lion, just get over it 😉

Moreover, a significant part of the Phoenix plotline had Tsukune or Kosori (I forget which) realizing that the imbalance has actually been going on for a lot longer than they realized.

Now, as to this story... The Crane, allied to the Unicorn, have brought in the Phoenix, tentatively allied to the Lion (or are they? Toturi and Kaede's marriage might well but up in the air in terms of how the respective clans see it until Toturi puts in an appearance) as well as the Crane and at odds with the Unicorn.

The Crane have a civil war brewing. The Phoenix present are partially reliant upon magic that might not work as intended. The Scorpion are dealing with a delicate internal situation that Kachiko might well screw up entirely in her efforts to see her lover.

This... is gonna be one **** of a mess.

10 minutes ago, Doji Hyōkin said:

The Crane at least are sensible enough not to deploy them both along the same front.

I wonder how well Lion-Phoenix relations are doing when the Lion Emerald Champion and his wife the Phoenix Spiritual Advisor to the Emperor disappear. With Tadaka & Ujina AWOL and Tsukune running around trying to be a responsible adult, does the Council even notice?

Certainly neither Matsu Tsuko nor Ikoma Anakazu care much beyond beating the Crane / Unicorn respectively. As long as they're allowed to have their war, I suspect them to be largely Regent-indifferent.

Lion vs Unicorn, Lion vs Crane vs Mantis, Crab + Mantis vs hole in the Wall, Phoenix vs upset spirits, Scorpion vs the **** they stirred up, Dragon vs ENCROACHING DOOM - As we're going into winter now, that's where it sits, yeah?

Well depending on the outcome of part 3 we may add Imperial Army versus Crane/Unicorn/Phoenix? (depending on how the overtures at Toshi Ranbo end up).

And I wouldn't put it out of left field to get some sort of flip by the Phoenix as the current allied with Unicorn and the Crane to "siege" the city is very out of character for them. Leaves us with Unicorn/Crane still allied, Lion against both, Phoenix toss up, although I still think they ideologically side with Lion to press their concern's against the Unicorn, Crab/Mantis versus Shadowlands is still a safe bet. Scorpion still sitting as regent, but lets face it lots of suspicion just waiting for an heir (or those who want to "support" said heir) to show up stating that the Scorpion stole his throne. Dragon for now still seem "allied" with the Scorpion by virtue of Sumiko is acting Emerald Champion is supporting Shoju, and while she has her suspicions she hasn't turned on him yet.

18 minutes ago, Shiba Gunichi said:

Counterpoint- A djinn was involved in some elemental shenanigans that Kaito Kosori ran across, and was present in an area visited by Unicorn shugenja.

I can easily see the Phoenix (and especially the Council, who have always been a bit removed from the nuts and bolts of day to day life) running into confirmation bias if they keep bumping into stuff like that, even though we, the readers, know that so far as we can tell, the formal Unicorn leadership had no designs of that sort.

Now, on the other hand, what was that djinn doing there? Who might benefit from a situation where traditional Rokugani magic doesn't work as expected, but where meishodo (which is less about honoring the spirits and more about "get in the sack!") does?

Moreover, a significant part of the Phoenix plotline had Tsukune or Kosori (I forget which) realizing that the imbalance has actually been going on for a lot longer than they realized.

So, if it's been longer than they realized (let's put it together with the whole Dragon Lands low fertility rate) which would put it for at least a century becoming worse and noticeable now, how exactly is that the Unicorn's fault? I mean, the Lion and Scorpion also share a border with the Unicorn and they had no such problem.

18 minutes ago, Shiba Gunichi said:

I mean, it's been almost 3 centuries guys, total catastrophic ignorance of Ikoma marriage conventions clearly can't be blamed on the Lion, just get over it 😉

Oh, I also find this particular notion idiotic as well on the Unicorn part. I mean, I get it, your customs are different than the rest of the Empire, you resent the rest of the Empire seeing you as gaijin , clearly the whole, Ide-Doji diplomacy was a complete failure if in 3 centuries the Unicorn still don't understand how the rest of the Empire works.

31 minutes ago, Shiba Gunichi said:

Now, as to this story... The Crane, allied to the Unicorn, have brought in the Phoenix, tentatively allied to the Lion (or are they? Toturi and Kaede's marriage might well but up in the air in terms of how the respective clans see it until Toturi puts in an appearance) as well as the Crane and at odds with the Unicorn.

This story also has the Tsume fallout, where a Phoenix married into the Crane and successfully retained control of Kyotei from the Lion.

The only pro-Phoenix Lion we see is Toturi married to Kaede, both currently 'missing'.

The only pro-Lion Phoenix we see is Tsukune having trained in a Lion Dojo.

It seems their relations are mostly informal, probably given that the Lion have no interest in getting 'help' for their armies, and the Phoenix don't have much to offer the Ikoma at court.

43 minutes ago, Doji Hyōkin said:

Crab + Mantis vs Hole in the Wall

Fu Leng is Butch Cassidy confirmed !

Now I'm really curious to see an Imperial story, or a Daisetsu/Shahai/Mitsu- or a Sotorii one, where people react to the Clans falling over themselves in contradictory alliances.

18 minutes ago, Mangod said:

Fu Leng is Butch Cassidy confirmed !

Now I'm really curious to see an Imperial story, or a Daisetsu/Shahai/Mitsu- or a Sotorii one, where people react to the Clans falling over themselves in contradictory alliances.

There was supposed to be at least one story missing between Art of Matchmaking (6) and Caged Birds (8). How the World Ought to Work did come out in there so may be one of the missing but it is actually tagged as OP1 when you download it rather then part of the Dominion cycle like the others so I wonder if they are sitting on a story or two that have major implications hinted from card art for something that is in one or more of the delayed card packs.

Whoops, got caught up the clan combobulatings, forgot to include our plucky plot protagonists:

Daisetsu/Shahai/Mitsu & Sotorii/Hitomi - Princes on the Run

Toturi/Kaede/Ishikawa/Kāgi + Chiari - Death in Otosan Uchi

Yori/Tadaka + Tsuki - Into the Shadowlands

46 minutes ago, Doji Hyōkin said:

This story also has the Tsume fallout, where a Phoenix married into the Crane and successfully retained control of Kyotei from the Lion.

The only pro-Phoenix Lion we see is Toturi married to Kaede, both currently 'missing'.

The only pro-Lion Phoenix we see is Tsukune having trained in a Lion Dojo.

It seems their relations are mostly informal, probably given that the Lion have no interest in getting 'help' for their armies, and the Phoenix don't have much to offer the Ikoma at court.

Technically Anakazu is still married to a Phoenix, seeing as how the Unicorn wedding fell through. I'm not sure whether than counts as a plus on the Phoenix-Lion thing.

4 minutes ago, Tonbo Karasu said:

Technically Anakazu is still married to a Phoenix, seeing as how the Unicorn wedding fell through. I'm not sure whether than counts as a plus on the Phoenix-Lion thing.

Sure bae, I drove you to contemplate jigai so that I could provoke conflict with the Unicorn. But on the plus side I've got my war, you're still alive, and we're still married! Wins all around.

The bit about the Phoenix blessing the plains intrigues me... I bet we will hear more about this.