[Day 1 – Late afternoon, open] Watchful.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Even to tell him you are fine and in good health?" the Iuchi asked the larger man, puzzled. "A Phoenix wishing to join Mantis?" That was indeed a strange, consireding that the two Clans had a history that reminded him of the 12th century Crane/Lion relationship.

[Isawa O-Washi]

"I've never really fit my own Clan. It started as a lad, rebelling against my family, and just got worse as I grew up. I actually relish combat, for one thing, and while I would never kill for unjust reasons I have no qualms about it when the time comes. For a Phoenix, that's considered bloodthirsty."

He shook his head, smirking a little.

"I also lack the proper 'dignity' of the Isawa, by which I mean I don't see the point of lording it over everyone that a distant ancestor made a Kami bend a knee. I insisted on my own path as soon as I took my name and that path is now one more in fitting with adventure than my staid Clan encourages."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Right... blasphemer... I wonder if the captain is a mad man too. Rebelling against once family was not something a proper samurai did. Openly admitting such a thing... was an abhorrence. Classical case of kettle calling pot black.

"Hee, despite the fact that Shiba are considered among the finest bushi in the land?" And they definitely had no qualms killing my kin at the capitol.

"I see..." he nodded. "That could be awkward then. But, as the little teacher tells us, there is a place for each of us. One just has to find it. "

[Isawa O-Washi]

"My Shiba kindred are loathe to kill, do not think it otherwise. They simply accept, as many of the others do not, that the way of the samurai is the way of war." O-washi shrugged. "Had I been born without the gifts of the kami, I would have likely trained with them, have wed into their ranks and been content. As a tensai, however, that path is beyond me. I will be bred to a powerful priest to build further power, it is the way of things...but I am hopeful to have some choice in that breeding."

Turning again to the water, he waved on large hand. "This duty has served admirably for balancing my dreams with the ambitions of my superiors back home. I bring honor to my Clan, protect my Empire, and improve my understanding of the kami of water."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Hee, seems that you have found your place in the world then, Isawa-gunso." he nodded to him. "You should thank the Fortunes."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"I do." The big man smiled a little wistfully. "Though I tell you, it can be quite hard on a ship. Few proper shrines and all that, neh? I try to make up for it when I go ashore by making large donations to relevant temples and spending much of my first few days on my knees at every temple I can find."

Chuckling, he added, "Last time I went to the City of Lightning, I very nearly couldn't get off of them the last few times without help...there are a great many temples there, the Mantis being very superstitious folk."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I doubt that the Fortunes mind overtly." he chuckled. "Man can only give what he has, neh. A pauper kneels to a shrine by the roadside, the Otomo visit Four Temples, each to his capabilities. "

"I have never been there." the man admitted. "But I have heard some wild stories from drunken sailors about the Shrine to Osano-Wo there. " Little did the man know, the Mantis were actually somewhat crazy, and those stories mostly true.

[Isawa O-Washi]

"It's a glorious temple. It gets hit by lightning more often than any other structure in Rokugan." O-washi grinned. "I know what that's like and so I have a natural liking for the place."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Really, I thought that was just a load of *******." he chuckled. "Seems that there were some truth to the stories, after all. Even if the man claimed the lighting struck the temple daily."

"You know how it feels to be hit by a lighting?" Iuchi was puzzled.

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Hai, I do."

One corner of the Isawa's mouth quirked up.

"It's like what it feels like the first time you actually channel the fire kami only moreso."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

*cough*

"I don't work that often with fire-kami. Family traditions.." he mumbled. "Wouldn't know."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Not at all?"

The big Isawa seemed truly bewildered.

"I understand not wanting the prayers of battle, my own kin are much the same, but there are no few ways to make them serve outside of the taking of lives. On ships in particular the ability to convince the fire kami to leave without a Banishment is incredibly useful."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Not much. And it's not that using the kami to.. harm people would be the problem, must of just are strongly attuned to water.. and have weaker connection with fire." he tried to explain.

"Hee, that definitely sounds useful. " he nodded. "Though, you could always summon water as well, no?"

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Oh, hai, one can...but the water kami are best reserved to heal. Convincing the fire kami to go directly is far more useful and conserves power for saving others." He shrugged. "I recommend it for any sailor who can utilize the first circle of prayers. Something to think on next time you speak to your sensei, at least."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Hmm, yes, I can see that, though I do have a prayer that restores some of my powers. At least once a day." he chuckled. "So as long as I am careful how I use my prayers, I can ask the kami to replenish them."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Replenishment is all well and good but it isn't enough. There are forty people on this ship, Iuchi-san." All at once, the gunso was deadly serious. "There are twenty-five on the Bounty, none of whom are priests. There are a few healers upon the Wake, also a ship of forty, but none of them use the kami for it. There are several battle priests on the Ray but none of them is capable of anything beyond the most basic of healing prayers, not nearly enough for the thirty or so they support. Replenishing one's power is well and good but there are, by my count, fifteen potential patients for every healer on this ship should something go wrong."

A muscle in the big man's jaw jumped, once, before he added, "Of course, that's before casualties reduce the numbers to something more manageable."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I really do hope that we never run to a situation where everyone needs medical attention." the man muttered.

[Isawa O-Washi]

'So do I, but I've seen it happen." The big man sighed. "Especially if an enemy uses fire. Virtually everyone will sport burns, a fair few will suffer from too much smoke in their lungs, and with all the falling debris there's always cuts and broken bones. And that's if the ships don't close...if they do, it's worse."