[Day 5, Mid-Morning] Take me to your leader!

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

The Mantis strolled into the room with his head held high, blue eyes distant and expression oddly set in a look that was aloof if not outright arrogant. The simple cottons he had worn onboard the Half Moon have been traded in for a pair of gray silk trousers that cinched at the ankle and a sleeveless qipao of Mantis green silk stiff an embroidered depiction of the Thunder Dragon. A dagger in a metallic and bejeweled sheath hands off a white sash and the gold hoop in his ear completes the image of a Mantis lordling.

He stops at the proper distance and bows shallowly to the throne's occupant and his entourage.

[Akodo Jishaku]

Accompanying his Captain is the lean young Akodo Jishaku, looking much less of a Cub than he might aboard ship. Wearing a kimono of browns and oranges, cut in a slightly unusual style that enables maximum freedom of movement, he carries his wakizashi at his waist and wears a jade netsuke in the shape of the Akodo mon. Jishaku walks to his Captain's right side and a pace behind, copying his movements and remaining silent.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

The Captain's spiritual advisor also accompanies him into the Throne Room, to the Captain's left and a step behind. Dressed in his finest fire orange and flame red kimono bearing his clan and family mons proudly, Qian-Fan looks every inch the Rokugani priest. His wakizashi rests in his obi, but his scroll satchel is noticeably absent. His hair is unbound and hangs straight to his waist. His usual distant expression is banished, instead he is focused intently on his role here. His bow matches that of his fellow advisors.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Behind the captain, is one Bayushi Nobuyoshi. He wears a simple black and red kimono with the mons of the Bayushi family and the Bayushi Bushi school proudly displayed. His mask covers his full face, and appears to be ceramic, painted black with red lines drawn at the corners of the eyes and mouth. His wakizashi is on his hip, though his posture makes it seem more like a badge of office, rather than a weapon. He forsakes any other jewelry, or accouterments, highlighting the importance of the Captain, and trying to draw away importance from himself. When bows are made to the throne and those of the gaijin court, his bows are much deeper than the Captain's, highlighting the Captain's much greater station. He does, however, do his best to keep watching people, and gauging their reactions to what the Captain says and does. A shallow bow might set a few gaijin teeth to grinding, and it'd be important to note which ones those were.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

(sorry, just got home. Blood drives are hell.)

Toritaka Punchiru is arrayed in his best finery, the mons of Crab and Falcon embroidered on fine dark blue silk. He is poised in a open, friendly way, ready to deflect any difficulty from gaijin suspicion.

[Sanjaya]

As the entourage steps into the court, they note that the floor has already been cleared for them and that the wings of the room have dozens of people dressed in immaculate clothing. More of interest however is that a little less than half are guardsmen. If he looked, Uminushi wouldn't see Mahavira among them.

Sitting on the wooden throne of the Ivory Kingdoms is a young boy, not even into his teens by the look of him. He is dressed in golds and silvers and every fanciful jewel that can be found in the world. He watches the Rokugani silently as they approach. On either side are a man and a woman who are obviously bodyguards, and on their side stand two older men. Behind all of them are a mixed contingent of guards and what look like possible advisers.

"Welcome to our court, Uminushi of House Yoritomo. We understand that you have come far to see our presence and come bearing both questions and answers."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"A thousand blessings upon your court O' Shining Star Among Men," he replies with another bow and an easy, charming smile, "We are pleased to attend your court. After all a summons from the Maharaja is treated with all the reverence and respect it is due. These are my advisors, I wish to include them in our meeting however some are unfamiliar with Rhumaal."

Uminushi lifts his hand to indicate the other men with him.

[Akodo Jishaku]

Jishaku keeps his eyes slightly below the level of those in the court, a basic piece of Rokugani court etiquette he could still remember. He remains still as the Captain gestures towards him and his fellow samurai.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

Punchiru awaits translation, but offers the appropriate bow to the lord of a foreign people.

[Sanjaya]

The Maharaja glances to one of his advisers, a kindly looking man with a long beard who gives him a barely perceptible nod before the boy looks back to the foreign diplomats.

"And I am pleased to have you. It has been too long since servants of the Emerald Empire have visited my court." The Maharaja turns his gaze on each of the samurai who have been brought before him and studies them, though he does not do so half as intently as his court does.

"If understanding is the concern, we shall have to see to that being resolved so I can hear their introductions from their own lips."

The Maharaja looks over at his other adviser, an old looking crazy eyed man, and gave him a single nod to go ahead.

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

Uminushi nods graciously and translates calmly for his people, "Brace yourselves, it looks like they're going to do something so you can speak and understand their language."

[Rixy]

With great pomp and ceremony, the old one stepped forward to the heart of the court. Robed in the finest of white silks, bedecked in ivory bangles and pendants, his every step made a soft jangle only further emphasized by the tapping of the cane he bore, seemingly carved from one large elephant's tusk. Though he appeared aged to nearly the point of infirmity, his voice, when it came, sang the sutra with the power and impact of a much younger man. Turning slowly in place and with many ornate gestures, the old one called upon Narada to grant the powers of understanding and many-tongues to the court.

When he at last fell silent, a moment of presence, of otherness, swept the court. When it was gone, the old one bowed his head to his lord and then shuffled back to his place.

[Sanjaya]

The boy Maharaja smiled slightly as the feeling left the room and looked at his Rokugani guests once again.

"There. I hope we can understand one another now." The voice was still young, but the boy was clearly speaking Rokugani to them, with only the faintest hint of an accent.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

The sensation is very unpleasant, but Punchiru is a courtier of the Yasuki. He has endured much worse, right? The gaijin sorcery was not tainted, the two jade pendants at his sleeves were unaffected.

"I thank you deeply for your wondrous hospitality, both in this glorious chamber and in the gift of speech between us. I will take tales of this back to the lands of my father, for I have never been offered such magnanimity in the past."

Punchiru finishes this with a bow, as best his courtly knowledge allows.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

How did he....FOCUS! Nobuyoshi thinks as he catches himself mentally.

Nobuyoshi bows deeply to boy in charge.

"I am Bayushi Nobuyoshi, Hohei of the Half Moon" he offers in second introduction. "Thank you for easing the difficulties in serving our lord Captain by helping us better advise him."

[Akodo Jishaku]

Once the Scorpion has finished the Lion takes his turn. Bowing respectfully to the boy on the throne he holds his head high as he speaks with pride. "I am Akodo Jishaku of the Lion Clan, Hohei of the Ninth Imperial Legion of the Divine Empress Iweko the first. It is a great honour to stand before you at my Captain's side."

He offers a second bow and returns to silence, watching the reactions of the Maharaja's court.

[Sanjaya]

The Maharaja looks to each adviser as he introduces himself. The court follows his suit. There is a sense of watchfulness within the room. These Rokugani are being examined, studied, prodded with eyes to see how they react.

Eventually, the boy smiles, though it is a small smile that quickly fades. "Uminushi of House Yoritomo, we are deeply honored to have you and your advisers as our guests this glorious morning, and I would like to thank you and your fleet for returning one of our servants to us."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

The Mantis' smile doesn't waver a millimeter beneath the scrutiny of the gaijin court. It was, however, a fox's smile with all its charm and danger. Uminushi bows once more with a flourish, though he never lowers his eyes, "A small thing, the Maharaja embarrasses us with the generosity of his thanks. I hope the man is... well?"

He straightens and cocks his head to the side, a brow arching in question.

[Sanjaya]

The Maharaja glances to his two advisors, who both nod to him. Then he looks back. "It was no small thing, Uminushi of House Yoritomo. That man carried vital information, and he also led you to us. Some would say that is a sign from the gods. You do not need to worry for the man's health though. He was tended to by our physicians and will make a full recovery from his experiences on the sea."

The Maharaja watched the Mantis' smile. "Jayant Utpal, Ward of House Pandavah, also says that your fleet has weathered the trip to Lanka with little to fret it."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

It did not change as he shrugs nonchalantly.

"Yes, it was a peaceful journey all things considered." he replies before asking, "I take it Jayant Uptal's reports of the fall of the other cities is accurate?"