A Concern Or Paranoia? (D11 EA)

[Shinjo]

Shinjo went quiet and then finally said, "Because Fu Leng is the only one whose connection to Tengoku is fully intact. He's the only one whose... Name... would have enough ability to channel that energy to close it. I think I understand what the Nezumi is getting at. He's not wrong, and it could work. It might be the only way. Certainly the only one available to us. It would be up to him, but he would have to make the choice as soon as he stepped through. Mortality hits quickly."

"I think... I need to speak with Shinsei. We were close to a finished plan, and this request would have to be integrated into it because of the immediacy. Shinsei is more the expert on matters involving the spirit realms."

She bit her lip. "Fu Leng doesn't take offenses against lightly. I suspect he will feel that if he must become mortal and lose that aspect of his Name anyway, he might as well strike at Jigoku with it."

[Ryoshun Mai]

"I am just a lowly Artisan, I only speak now as Nazo is not in attendance. The Nezumi said the shaman would wrest the 'sky-people' name from him and leave him with a 'normal' name. I spoke of Name once before with Ch'Jak'Matt." (She pronounced the name decently, after having practiced considerably)

"It seems Name gives power, and strength and Names are usually added to, but rarely ever changed. This one is worried the Nezumi wish to strip a Kami of his power with their name magic, perhaps making him a mere mortal? If that is what 'normal' means?"

"I wish one of our priesthood or Lady Nazo herself could speak to provide insight."

[Jin]

Though he would have supported her if she had chosen to sacrifice her essence, if she has been able to, there was a slight was of relief over Jin's features that the perceptive might catch when he learned that Shinjo could not do so.

[Nanzi]

Nanzi looked to Reiko as this was pretty much counter to her intentions.

"Nanzi knows he is your brother but should not Reiko-san be involved with these plans, as well as Shinsei?" he asked.

[Shinjo]

"Yes, we need her, too."

"Ryoshun-san, Mortality will afflict him anyway, as it did all of us except Hantei."

[Reiko]

Reiko looked disappointed as Shinjo spoke.

"So again it must be Fu Leng who suffers this. Trapped in the realm of evil because of anothers actions and he must pay the highest price."

Then she paused.

"Wait, you say Hantei is different? Why?"

[Jiyo Sora]

Well, that went better than expected.

Sora simply bowed to Shinjo.

Then to Reiko.

[Shinjo]

"I suspect because he has the favor of our mother," she said with a slight frown. "Tengoku, to put it another way, retains more control over him."

[Ninube]

Umeno spoke up from the side. "How many people are there in all the clans and tribes? I doubt anyone has even a close guess. How much jade is there in Rokugan? There's enough for our expedition, rationed, but for all those people?"

"Besides that, even if we had enough jade for everyone, or enough to make certain we could check everyone... imagine the paranoia that could cause. We don't need to tell everyone the why of course, but the first time someone finds out that a shapeshifter could be anyone, anywhere..." The Scorpion shrugged. "The problem could be quite real, but I believe it'll take more thought than just 'jade for everyone and every greeting'."

"Statues. Jade Statues. Have them at important places. When people arrive, they can touch them for the blessings of Tengoku. That will work somewhat."

She listened to the debate about name quietly. She knew nothing of magic. But could the Shadowlands Taint his name somehow?

[Reiko]

"Then perhaps he should be the one to offer his name if he still has that divinity" Reiko crossed her arms "let him do it."

[Anjing Xia]

Xia is visibly concerned but sticks to documenting the meeting for now.

[Shinjo]

"Then perhaps he should be the one to offer his name if he still has that divinity" Reiko crossed her arms "let him do it."

"His divinity is incomplete," she said. "He's mortal like the rest of us. Reiko-san, whether my brother gives up his divinity as part of this plan or loses it to this world's death curse, he won't keep it. It will be his choice how he loses it. That's all."

"Statues. Jade Statues. Have them at important places. When people arrive, they can touch them for the blessings of Tengoku. That will work somewhat."

Shinjo nodded at that. "A clever work around."

[Nanzi]

"How does this Name magic work then? Can someone explain to us how this works, because it seems like that is the plan now and frankly this is the first Nanzi has even heard of this?" he said to the group.

[Jiyo Sora]

What a shame that you tried to challenge the one we had here who was best-informed on the subject. What. A. Pity.

And what a pity, seeing his distrust validated, he allowed himself to be driven off like that.

[Ryoshun Mai]

"This one managed to speak at some length with the Big Rat. As I had been told, Nezumi have at least three roles in society: rememberers, warriors, and shaman. The shaman is the one who names the nezumi and their weapons. I do not know if all weapons have names."

"Nezumi pups gain a name after two years. If they prove themselves mighty, strong, or smart they might gain more Name. As stated before, this is rarely changed though. I asked where it is added within the name, but Ch'Jak'Matt did not know."

"Name is given to weapons either during forging or soon after. Names rarely change, but sometimes have more Name added during battle. The shamans know the details of how this works. The Nezumi said 'the stronger his name, the stronger his Axe's name reacts, therefore more enemies die.' I don't quite understand that bit. This is all I learned."

[Nanzi]

"Then because Fu Leng's name is powerful and tied to Tengoku it can counter the effects of the portal, and losing that name will only bring his mortality? It seems simplistic, Nanzi's only concern is what it could do Fu Leng. What if he loses more than just his divine nature what if he loses something of his self. Name's have power and we gladly just give it up and he will be the one living with the consequences no matter the outcome," he said thoughtfully.

[Shinjo]

Shinjo takes a deep breath, and says, "I admit, I don't know the full details. I know that... our parents, the sun and moon... From what understand from the description, it sounds very much like what they used to define the world. It deals with identity so fundamental that changing it has power over the thing."

"If anyone knows about it in detail, it would be Fu Leng himself." She looked to Reiko. "I imagine if you told him what we discussed here, he could likely explain and give his own assessment. He might even have suggestions on how to do it to minimize side effects on him. If he wants to do it, and if he knows it the way I suspect. If he doesn't wish to, we won't."

[Seidou Satone]

"I don't understand much of anything that is going on here, but something to consider is there are still many, though certainly not a majority, who have had doubts such as I about the role the Kami have in our world. If one were to make a sacrifice and give up their powers completely, it would show everyone that they are on the side of humanity and wish to do nothing more than they say, uplift, guide, and protect us all."

[Nanzi]

"I don't understand much of anything that is going on here, but something to consider is there are still many, though certainly not a majority, who have had doubts such as I about the role the Kami have in our world. If one were to make a sacrifice and give up their powers completely, it would show everyone that they are on the side of humanity and wish to do nothing more than they say, uplift, guide, and protect us all."

"The kami have nothing to prove to man, any more than anyone else, and this is a meeting of the Clans last Nanzi checked, so your input on what a leader of the Clans should do is received, but poorly received," he said looking at the woman.

OOC: Courtier: 4d10o10k3 17 Why are you here?

[Seidou Satone]

Satone raises her hands

"I only wish to give a voice to those who may yet still be hesitant to join your empire, and offer what may help show them you all have their best interest at heart and are not just conquerors. I mean no offense at the suggestion. It is appropriate for me to be here to see how things work in this new world that is being offered."

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Eti/Awa 18