Another Day of Duty (Early Morning 3-Open)

[Isawa Junpei]

Feeling a general end to their prior discussion, Junpei decided to return to a previous one, "I was wondering, Yoritomo-san, since we're headed into the Ivory Kingdoms, I know that the Mantis have sailed nearly every sea, do your cousins often come here braving the Sea of Sorrows?"

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"In general yes Isawa-san, though not every one of my cousins have been. Really it depends a lot on the duties and ship you are assigned to. I for one have never been though I know many a mantis who has" He replied after a few moments though "Honestly I really wouldn't be surprised to see a few mantis in the city when we get there though really it's a bit early in the year for most mantis vessels to arrive."

[Isawa Junpei]

"Why do you say that?" Junpei turned his attention away from the sea and back to his companion. Resting casually on the rail of the ship, he first took care not to rip his sleeves before setting down his arms.

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Storm season really isn't over, most of the mantis vessels will wait a bit before taking a journey this long. Of course some will anyways but generally speaking it can be a somewhat risky venture."

After a few moments he added almost as a after thought. "It means most pirates won't really be out either at least not in Rokugani waters."

[Isawa Junpei]

"Hai, here it is anyone's guess. Still, the thought that Osano-Wo's fury has not subsided, as much as it ever does, for the year, is somewhat disturbing news to hear. I suppose, I should be glad we're making landfall tomorrow." He thought to himself, as he often did before he spoke again, "I know you said you had never been here yourself, but do you know anything about these foreign waters and the gaijin who dwell in the Ivory Kingdoms?"

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Not much other then stories. Things like you might want to be careful of what ya eat sometimes as they are fond of spicy foods and sometimes they serve unclean creatures. That they eat with their hands but only their right because its impolite to eat with your left or something." He stops to think a few moments on other things he might of heard.

"Oh that some of them seem to have sticky fingers if ya know my meaning so watch your belongings, you know things like that in general. As for the waters haven't heard much of them at all really. Was that the stuff you were wanting to know?"

[Isawa Junpei]

"More or less, anything really. Anything that might save me from making an unfortunate faux pas, or that would help to know what we're going into. The lands of the gaijin are strange places with mysteries to spare and I don't much feel like being the victim of one."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Kaito nods his mind going over things he's heard and been told over the years. "I'd like to be of more help Isawa-san but can't say there is too much more I do know. Other then the general be cautious and its better to be courteous and careful then risk insulting someone. You'll likely also want to stay away from the markets if you don't have someone you trust that speaks the tongue could be the merchants will try to cheat ya."

[Isawa Junpei]

The young man nods, taking mental notes. Though much of it seemed common sense, he made sure to emphasize each of the points the Yoritomo had mentioned. At present he wasn't even sure he was going ashore, but being prepared was better than...well...not. "What an odd thing life is. I've read poets waxing in colorful stanzas on it, but somehow its sheer strangeness had not fully grabbed me until now, thousands of miles from home."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Oh life will send you surprises that's for sure Isawa-san. Weather you are 100o miles from home or just a 10 minute walk away if you have the mind to look for it you can almost always find a bit of something surprising, strange or new."

His hand reaches up to idly scratch at his jaw. "I just figure most people are too busy to look for it most days."

[Isawa Junpei]

"It's possible, though, I more meant the randomness of life. I certainly don't think that a year ago I would have ever thought I would be here in any capacity. I can hardly comprehend my being here now. It's quite sad really. The sea looks just the same, the world is the same, we could be off the coast of the Empire and I would never know it save for seeing each night the unfamiliar constellations in the sky. Not all of them mind you, but there are a few along the horizon that are new to me."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Land samurai sure seemed to talk a lot. "I figure that's a little bit because most of it's connected to the rest of it though. The ocean is all one big ocean really would be kinda weird of it were to change kinda like a tree that turned purple half way up."

"There are difference though they are just kinda subtle I figure. I hear that some of the native plants and animals and the like are strange. Like this large pack animal I heard they use here must be 4 times the size of an ox with a nose near as long as a man."

[Isawa Junpei]

There was a moment's hesitation as the tensai tried to picture such a creature. Turning to the Mantis he offered a quizzical look, unable to picture anything more than an odd chimera with the body of an ox and the nose of a snake.

[Yoritomo Kaito]

The Mantis shrugged at the mans confusion. "Can't say I've seen to myself though perhaps we'll have a chance to see one in the city. I figure they would be kinda hard to miss if they have any."

[Isawa Junpei]

"No doubt," Junpei eyed the sea, his brow raised as he continued to ponder the dimensions of the beast. "I wonder what they do about this large animal." His eyes flashed wide, "Oh Fortunes, it isn't a predator is it?!"

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"I don't know really Isawa-san, though I don't think they would keep a predator in the city." He replied after a few moments thought. "So I would go with if ya see one in the city it likely won't eat ya."

[Isawa Junpei]

"They're in the cities? Why are they in the city? Are the pets or something?"

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Well beasts of burden I think. As large as they are they could certainly carry a lot of things and likely drag even more." He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "The may not be in the cities though I can ask about it at the embassy when we arrive if ya like."

[Isawa Junpei]

"That would certainly be something worth hearing about. Who know's maybe I'll get a bird's eye view even if I don't go ashore. I'm sure I'll see them if they're as large as you say they are."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"If ya spot one mind telling me about it? I'm Kinda curious about them myself. Can't say I've ever seen a creature that large before out of the water at least." The mantis asks a hint of excitement coming into his voice at the prospect.