With things looking so bright and cheery about the embassy this morning, Nobuyoshi decides that perhaps breakfast at the embassy might be a wise course of action. Perhaps he could even work in his promised meeting with the special Ivory Kingdoms envoy. He makes his desires for breakfast, both food and company, clear to the servants and then waits to see which gets there first.

Punchiru arrives, fresh from the baths in perfect uniform.

"Good morning, Bayushi-sama."

Nobuyoshi rises, and offers the Crab a polite bow.

"Good Morning, Toritaka-san." Nobuyoshi offers politely. "I hope you had a pleasant evening reflecting on the experiences we had yesterday."

"I did spend much time in reflection. I find that I am a much more open person than most in this gaijin land. It is becoming bothersome."

Punchiru sends the servant for tea and rice.

Nobuyoshi looks at the Crab curiously.

"The openness, the others, or the gaijin land, Toritaka-san? " Nobuyoshi asks, curious to what's got the Crab riled now.

"The others. To speak frankly, we are needed to act now against a threat which we had a stellar opportunity to act against directly to our advantage. Instead we play the underhand, which I am sure will work to our advantage in the short run, but which I fear will result in losing initiative."

Punchiru sighs.

"But I am not one for subterfuge. I am a Crab, after all."

Nobuyoshi has the tea served, though he does make certain a third cup is at the ready.

Nobuyoshi shrugs in reaction to the Crab's words.

"Sometimes a little direct Honesty and directness is what's needed, Toritaka-san." Nobuyoshi offers. "Ichiro-san has pledged one sandal for anyone who says she's unacceptable after her time here, and another for anyone who wishes to interfere with the crew."

Nobuyoshi takes a moment to savor the tea's aroma.

"Of course, now she's on her way back to the ship with her armor in a sack, because she's too offended by the bans to continue to stay here. Nobuyoshi says.

"Though I am a little curious as to what you felt should have been done. After all, we're on this trip to learn."

"I think the Captain should have made a request of the Maharaja. Etiquette suggests an offered boon should be accepted, to foster understanding and exchange. Then we should have discussed his difficulties. Not too openly, but information must be exchanged. Something is happening, and we must avert it soon."

Punchiru covers his face.

"But I do not have the wisdom of the Captain. I am certain his judgement is the best."

"Many things are happening." A deep voice, slightly in accented rokugani says. "The actions of some of your compatriots have certainly made things more difficult for us all however." When they turn, both men see Jayant Utpal, standing in rather good, if a bit gaudy clothing, and a bronze amulet around his neck.

He smiles to both men and offers them a namaste.

Punchiru attempts to return the gesture.

"I have seen the notice on the wall, but nothing else. Can you tell me, what has happened to cause this?"

Nobuyoshi bows to the envoy.

He certainly seems different, and he certainly seemed reliant on a translator before. Nobuyoshi thinks.

Nobuyoshi has a third cup of tea poured, and waits for the envoy to answer the Crab's question.

"The Maharaja is still determining the specifics. But one of yours, either knowingly or unknowingly, compromised the defenses of the city by summoning some dark spirits at the watchtower. After this, considering you had only been here two days, it was determined that we did not know enough about your magic to allow the risk that our defenses could be further compromised. This is a city on the verge of battle, unknown quantities are the death of nations in such times." The man frowns.

"As for the sanction upon armor. There is no reason to go about preparing for battle before the battle is here."

"I am most ashamed that one of ours damaged so your sacred sites. Is there anything we can do to reverse the effect?"

Punchiru bows deeply in appology.

"Watchtowers aren't sacred. If that'd happened at one of the temples..." Jayant actually shivered. "I don't think any of you would still be alive. Imagine if someone openly defiled a sacred temple of one of your gods and turned it to darkness." Jayant shakes his head. "Still. Thankfully that is not what happened. But the watchtower was our best defensive position outside of the walls. Its loss is painful though."

Nobuyoshi blinks.

"It's...lost to darkness? Nobuyoshi asks, hoping he's misunderstood the envoy.

Jayant shrugged helplessly. "Perhaps? It is a difficult thing to determine. But none of the signs are good and the people here have grown used to being pessimistic."

Hmmm, if it's not actually lost to darkness, and the Captain wanted to make amends.... Nobuyoshi wonders. Careful, lest the Toritaka volunteer for guard duty.

Nobuyoshi nods at the envoys words, then looks to change the topic.

"I take it that congratulations are in order for being named an envoy to us?" Nobuyoshi asks, wondering if it is or is not an honor.

"It seems to me that such places are often under siege by the darkness."

Punchiru's expression is dark.

Jayant doesn't look entirely certain whether it is an honor or not himself. "Yes, of course. Thank you for the thought. Perhaps a proper celebration can be made once this is over. If we have survived."

He looked over to Punchiro. "I can see why. Defeat brings pessimism. Constant defeat will break the spirit."

Something's definitely different about him Nobuyoshi thinks.

"There are differences between your people and ours, envoy." Nobuyoshi offers. "Not to steal the Crab's thunder, but Osano-Wo-kami has said that everyone fails, the important part it to know how to recover and try again."