Day 6, Mid-Morning, Breakfast with the envoy?

[Jayant Utpal]

Jayant shakes his head. "There are differences. But my people do not believe that death is the end. Myself, as long as when I die it is with Rafiq blood on my hands, I will pass on to the wheel with satisfaction."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi looks at the envoy curiously.

"If it's not your death that is worrying you, envoy, what is it that is troubling you?" Nobuyoshi asks. "You may be unafraid, but you certainly are not tranquil."

[Jayant Utpal]

"I..." He looks as though he will not continue for a moment, but he starts speaking again. "I am worried for the kingdom. For my home. Empires are not reborn as we are, and when we are reborn, I wonder what world it will be that we will be reborn into."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Well you see, since you're outside the Celestial Order you don't actually get reborn. Your Heathen Empire will fall, and later we'll come along and build a garden over it's remains......Yup, I think that's pretty much what NOT to say to the man. Nobuyoshi considers over his tea.

There's a considerable pause while Nobuyoshi weights the pros and cons...that is respectfully considers the envoy's worries.

Nobuyoshi shrugs.

"I can only offer our own Empire as an example. Twice in it's history, it has almost fallen, as the forces of evil nearly won. Each time, seven heroes stepped forward guided by a wise man. The price they and the Empire paid was always high, but they prevailed. "

Nobuyoshi shrugs.

"All one can do is put their faith in the Heavens, and put themselves into what they do. Worries will not change what is meant to happen."

[Jayant Utpal]

"No Avatar has shown himself to lead us. If one did, we would follow him into battle without fear. But the Brahmin says the time is not right. This age must end first, and then the Avatars will appear."

Jayant chuckled darkly. "Faith in the Heavens is difficult in such times. Man is always left to wonder, the heavens are meant to Know."

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Indeed, that is why faith is needed. Otherwise, it would not be faith at all."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods at the Crab's words, nothing more seems to need to be added.

He turns his attention to breakfast, though is curious to see what the envoy shall do now.

[Jayant Utpal]

Jayant turns his attention to the bowl in front of him and considers it for a moment. Seeing only chopsticks, and having learned that Rokugani do not eat with their hands, he has little to do but stare at the food for a moment before looking back to the two samurai.

"What were these times in your history, Nobuyoshi of House Bayushi? Few here have heard much of Rokugan."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Ok, so how to tell a gaijin about the days of thunder that doesn't reveal too much, and doesn't convince the Crab to flail at me. Nobuyoshi ponders, ignoring the gaijin's inability or unwillingness to eat.

"I'm no great storyteller or historian, envoy, but I can tell you a little bit. The full story of the Days of Thunder would take a very long time to tell."

Nobuyoshi pauses a moment to gather his thoughts.

"When the eight Kami fell to earth, they had a brother who fell further and farther outside the Empire, landing in Jigoku, and becoming utterly corrupted by that foul realm. While Hantei-kami organized his brothers and sisters to build an Empire, the Ninth Kami organized monsters and oni to destroy it. The Crab Clan..."

A small nod towards the Toritaka.

"[size=85]Were charged with defending the Empire against such, and much have they lost to do so. However, the balance required a confrontation between the Ninth Kami, representing Jigoku, and seven mortal champions, representing the Heavens as to whether there would be a thousand years of peace, or a thousand years of darkness. This was foreseen by a mysterious monk, Shinsei, who informed the Kami of this, and chose the seven who would be known as their clan's Thunders. "

Nobuyoshi takes sips some tea before continuing.

"Hida Atarasi, the son of Hida-kami, Doji Konishiko, daughter of Doji-kami and Kakita, Mirumoto, master of the Ninten style and Togashi-kami's yojimbo, Matsu, Akodo's greatest student, Isawa, the most powerful shugenja to have ever lived, Shosuro, Bayushi-kami's lover, and Otaku, Shinjo's most loyal vassal.".

"Shinsei led the Seven Thunders into the Shadowlands, and they confronted the Ninth Kami in his very stronghold. The battle would have been a sight to behold, but it was decided by Isawa. Using his knowledge of magic, he bound the Ninth Kami into twelve black scrolls. All of the Thunders, save Shosuro, gave their lives in this effort. She and Shinsei would not have even made it out of the Shadowlands with the Scrolls, had Shiba-kami heeded Shinsei's warning that any of the kami who entered the Shadowlands were destined to die there. His sacrifice allowed the pair to escape, and the Scrolls were hidden away ushering in the promised thousand years of peace."

"As I said, I'm sure others can tell the tale much better than I, but that is the rough outline of the First Day of Thunder." Nobuyoshi offers.

[Jayant Utpal]

Jayant actually listened rather close attention to the Bayushi's story, despite the lackluster performance. "That is quite a tale. and I am certain such an epic must be told over and over again. It reminds me some of the story of Arun and Revan. Revan was a Rakshasa who ruled over the kingdoms until Arun, an Avatar of Vishnu, formed an army and defeated him. Scattering the Rakshasa and giving rise to the modern Ivory Kingdoms."

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"What is a rakshasa?"

Punchiru is blunt. He picks up his chopsticks slowly, carefully displaying the proper way to hold them in order to eat and very slowly pecking out single grains of rice.

[Jayant Utpal]

Jayant pauses. Taking the chopsticks in hand awkwardly. "A rakshasa is a powerful demon. They are all but extinct. But they are an immortal evil. Shapeshifters, some have powerful magic as well."

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Ah. It is good that you have defeated such adversaries before this current horror came upon you."

Punchiru encouragingly continues to demonstrate proper technique, all without saying a word.

[Jayant Utpal]

"With the help of Avatars, usually. Such creatures are not to be taken lightly however. Each is worth 100 men. Luckily, we believe the remaining Rakshasa scattered, but with the Kingdom in the state it is..." Jayant trails off on that thought, thinking it rather obvious what the Rakshasa would do once the only thing keeping them at bay was gone.

Jayant continues to poke at the rice with the chopsticks, but rice is not an easy way to start learning how to use chopsticks and mostly he manages to pick up a few kernels here and there and spill others on the table.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

Punchiru, always one for a good story, leans forward.

"Tell me of these Avatars who slew the tsukai-shapeshifters."

[Jayant Utpal]

"Tsukai?" Jayant was obviously unfamiliar with the term. "Arun was the avatar of Vishnu. Vishnu saw that the reign of the Rakshasa was a blight upon his people and so he came down to earth. There, he rallied the people and led them against the Rakshasa, teaching them the Rakshasa weaknesses, teaching them how to fight. Eventually, Arun faced the leader of the Rakshasa in single combat and slew him with his mighty bow. after that, the Rakshasa scattered to the four winds."

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Most magnificent. My people highly prize and are known for archery. Sadly, I am not personally adept."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

The Crab's comments certainly earn a questioning look from Nobuyoshi. There even may be a raised eyebrow or two if one could see under his mask. Saying the Crab are known for their archery is like saying the Crane and Lion are known for their stealth. Still, it was a comment better saved for a discussion with other Rokugani, not the envoy.

Nobuyoshi turns his attention back to the envoy.

"Are there many tales of Avatars among your people, or is there appearance more rare? he asks.

[Jayant Utpal]

"That would depend upon what you call rare. Amun was not the only Avatar to rise against Revan and his Rakshasa armies. And there have been Avatars who have come down since then, when we are in great need. But they are not a constant fixture." Jayant shrugged. "I'm no scholar on the matter though, I couldn't really say when the last one appeared to us."

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Are they easily identified? I know that when the Thunders are chosen, it is always an heir of Shinsei who reveals them."