Verdicts (Day 1, Early AM)

[Isawa O-Washi]

Pensively, O-washi ran large fingers over his scrolls. "I don't make much of it because it means little to me and less to my service on this ship but I can trace my lineage back to Isawa on my mother's side. I know from my education, both at home and at the temples of my Clan, what power my Ancestor possessed. The tale of the Thunders, after all, is very well known. All Phoenix know the story of how Shiba-no-Kami bent his knee to gain Isawa's participation in the salvation of the Empire and yet very few think of what that means."

He took a breath, collecting how to put into words something he had always believed, what had always driven him to rail against his parents' control, the expectations that he would do exactly as those trained as he was had done for centuries without question, and yet which he had never tried to put into words. It would have been easy to simply use the Mantis maxim but he felt that would be cheapening the lesson Dageki had asked him for.

"If my Ancestor, faced with one such son of heaven, could argue that He was wrong in an action until the Little Teacher, another mortal, taught otherwise, clearly the Kami were not perfect, otherwise Shiba-no-Kami would not have needed to rely on another to turn Isawa's mind. They were powerful and inn that power they forced mankind to be more than they were but they were not infallible. To assume that those who follow them are is folly. One can respect their parents, their grandparents, without obeying them and blindly doing things the same as their family always did. Change is vital, questioning is vital, or how else will we reach enlightenment?"

[Volsung]

Dageki nodded some. "Makes sense ta me. I mean, we didn' even know about places like the Iv'ry Kingdoms back in the day. So how c'n we look back 'n see how ta deal wit' em?"

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Exactly so." The Phoenix nodded his agreement. "So much changes over time. While the Kami gave us the priceless gift of order, of a structure upon which an Empire could be built, they should not be considered the be all and end all of all knowledge. Even they knew it, too...look at what Togashi-no-Kami made of his Clan. Traditionalists are just those who find it too easy to follow a set path instead of doing the hard work of breaking a new one, when all is said and done."

[Volsung]

"Well I wouldn' look to the Dragon fer inspiration. Most o' them just hide in the mountains and don't come out. They're all recluse 'n quiet." Dageki shrugged. "Still. Better 'n most I guess."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"I meant only that their Kami dictated they would retreat and seek wisdom, thereby admitting that he and his kin were no omniscient." A small smile appeared on O-washi's face. "Though I doubt that you've much interest in a long debate on this matter without opening that bottle, eh? Fortunes' know it's peculiar enough for me to be going on about them sober, I should probably stop before I give myself a headache. Goodness knows the hohei are likely to do that for me soon enough, this being the first day of duties and all."

Rising, the smile fell. "Let me know about the gathering when you can, but I've my berth to find...nightwatches take it right out of me."

[Volsung]

Dageki chuckled. "Hai, well. I don' know a damn thing 'bout most o' that stuff Isawa-gunso. So I can't much debate it, sober or drunk."

Dageki stood up again and bowed to O-Washi. "Of course, Isawa-gunso. I'll probably let you know tomorrow."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"As you like. Don't worry about your sister, either...Captain's going to talk to her. If anyone can keep her from falling apart, it's him."

With one more unhappy look, O-washi inclined his head and left...he couldn't bring himself to use the usual hopeful platitudes for a man doomed to die.

/exit

[Volsung]

Dageki nodded slowly, then plopped back down in his seat, getting out a brush and beginning to write farewell letters to those back in Rokugan who should know of his death.

/scene