Ichi - Heaven's Tears

[Muskrat]

"Good to meet you, Goto-san," says Kayoko, this time sounding quite sincere. "I am Sister Kayoko. I am a simple nun. Well, I've recently become a nun and moved here to Hokkaido from the south, to get away from my family." You may note that she has not given you her family name. "I'm glad to hear you'll be a good guide--I'm eager to learn more about our new home. I've read a fair amount about Hokkaido, but that's not the same as seeing it. I know the secrets of divination and I'm also skilled in healing and the tea ceremony, so I can take care of any wounds of the body and spirit, if we happen to run into any trouble. But let us pray that we don't. I've no real desire to test my skill."

[Vardaen]

"I've never traveled with a nun, or really talked to one before. I thought you would look different, not so..." he blushes and shuts his mouth and quickly changes the subject, "Its dangerous, even the road we plan to take, but not as bad as some. We have some road much of the way, and well traveled trails. That will both speed our travel and make our passing obvious to anyone wanting to do harm to us." He shrugs and then his food arrives and he thanks the serving girl and starts eating.

[Muskrat]

Kayoko is slightly puzzled by Goto's comment. He seems to think she's attractive--but she's a woman of forty, her age already showing on her face. She shrugs. "Monks and nuns are just people like anyone else. True, we try to live holy lives--well, most of us do--but we have faults like anyone else. I certainly have plenty of faults." She grins at this, as if amused.

[ManWithDoor]

The Monk joins them at this point, giving a sharp laugh at her comment. "Oh yes, many faults indeed, Nun-san. Any holy man claiming to be perfect is selling imperfection." He sits down, claiming a cup of tea. "It seems we are introducing ourselves? I am known as Kusa, a monk of Fujin. I have lived in this province my whole life, dedicating myself to the Fortunes. I can lecture on theology, and remove the liver of a man with my bare hands." He twiddles his large fingers, then goes back to the tea. You notice that his left hand is grotesquely disfigured, likely a defect of birth or an accident. Either way, it looks almost useless. "I have also been blessed by the spirits with certain powers that may or may not be useful on our journey."

[Vardaen]

Goto's eyes flicker from Kayoko's chest to Kusa's hand, he has almost no self control and even less social graces and etiquette but he tries, and he friendly and nice, so that helps the man less than a year since his Gempukku not get slapped around much. "Right right. I've heard some monks have gained Enlightenment and can draw on the elements because of it. Never seen it myself, that will be something to see. Maybe you could give us a demonstration on the road Kusa-sama?" He slurps down some food when it arrives, and then drinks down his sake when that comes as well.

[Muskrat]

"You're looking for flashy shows of power?" asks Kayoko. "I have mastered some of the deeper arts of the mind, but they don't mean you're enlightened--and they're not for casually showing off, but to deal with serious problems." She's clearly pretty critical of Goto's attitude.

Fortunes

MWD, I'm pretty sure that the concept of the Fortunes is something specific to Rokugan. In historical Japanese Shintoism, the gods are simply called "kami" the same as the lesser spirits--they are seen as existing on a continuum, rather than there being some break between lesser and greater spirits.

[ManWithDoor]

"I am no stage magician to show tricks, my new friend. The kami have blessed me with certain gifts for their own reasons, not for fame or pride. Do not worry, your curiosity will be sated soon enough. I fear that this trip will bring dangers that will take all of our strengths to overcome. Hokkaido is not a tame place like the southern provinces." The monk seems rather unflappable, not taking offense at the failure to observe social niceties, or odd requests.

OOC

Thanks Muskrat! I've so used to playing L5R that I fall back on the terminology and theology really easily.

[TetNak]

Tohu leans back and belches loudly. He gives off a laugh at himself just as more food is brought. There are a mix of vegetarian dishes, as well as meats. Most are venison based.

Tohu frowns, "Deer, deer, and more deer." He grunts, then takes a bite anyway.

[Muskrat]

Kayoko takes up her chopsticks and begins inelegantly stuffing her face with the vegetarian fair, apparently little concerned about propriety.

[Vardaen]

"Flashy shows of power? Not what I had in mind, but if you aren't for demonstrating your abilities then that's fine with me." He eats and drinks, and elbows Toho in the side when the man burps, "Remember that one samurai, came up last year from the mainland, gave a kata demonstration. That was an impressive show of chi and focus. That was enlightening." He doesn't really care if the nun doesn't want to share her talents with the group, perhaps he won't share his with her.