Arcane Tower

I'll be there. Try to get there early, but, don't know what will be happening that day, yet.
 

I still have some material to run. (the end of the current adventure, some homebrew stuff, then the gm's kit adventure thanks to Dwight.) I believe I said 4 experience for last session, but there's only 2 more quick scenes before that adventure would end and you'd get another dose of xp anyway, so characters might as well just go into the next session with a total of 28 experience.

I know people don't really feel that comfortable with the setting yet so I'm trying not to ask you to come up with any actual stories yet, but I'd like to throw something in to give you some extra xp oppurtunities. for now..

+6 xp for a short blurb on your character's lord and Giri. At this point Agasha Sumiko (the Ruby Champion) has made the necessary arrangements for your characters to become Emerald Magistrates, but is this what your (original) lord had originally intended for you? Was your lord happy to pawn you off on someone else, or upset that their most promising young samurai was being taken from them? What might your lord have asked Sumiko for in exchange for your services, and what might she actually give? (keeping in mind that she could just demand your services, but prefers not to offend people) Did Sumiko interrupt your character's rise to greatness, or is she giving you a chance you might not have had otherwise?
 

Interesting questions! My original lord (head of house Kakita, I’m assuming Kakita Ikura) wanted my character to go out into the lands, hone his skills, and be an emissary for the house’s beliefs and mindsets. My character showed promise at a young age in this area and an eagerness to prove himself and go out into the world. So, Ikura figured he’d be useful in that regard. So, my Giri is not just to serve my house, but to strive to be an exemplar of the house’s beliefs out in the world, particularly in the concept of dueling and artistry that goes with it.

That said, a problem arose, of course. Ikura is wise, and noted a few troubling aspects to my character – a ruthlessness that is not needed, and a fondness of worldly goods. Seeds of potential trouble in the future, so part of his plan is to have the role of Emerald Magistrate discourage those tendencies – at least he hopes; he appeared very generous in pawning me off on the Ruby Champion, knowing that if I do prove myself, he can step back in and claim credit as needed. If things fail, on the other hand, my level of disassociation with my house at that point – “hey, he’s an Emerald Magistrate now; we didn’t train him that way!” – protects the Kikata from some level of dishonor, or such is the hope. In short, Ikura has high hopes for my character, but he knows there’s room for improvement. My role as Emerald Magistrate could either be something of which my family could be proud, or a way to disown me on some level if I fail.

As for what he asked of the Ruby Champion, he probably dropped polite, vague hints – as is the Rogakan way – that he has high expectations for my character, but he’ll need some sense drilled him in a few areas. In turn, she’d get a useful tool of the Empire’s Law, since there’s no doubt my character is capable on some level; it’s just not yet sure if he measures up to what Ikura expects.

 

Isawa Akai is happy to serve the Ruby Champion, at least until he can claim the title of Jade Champion... after somehow restoring honor to the office.

Akai's original master and mentor was Isawa Juriko, falsely believed by many to be in the running for the next Master of Fire. As a void specialist, however, that was never going to happen... not that her mastery of fire wasn't good enough. Juriko, however, is dead now. She died when her personal library burned down a few years ago.

With the potential to wield the void, but no master to teach him, Isawa Akai (then Isawa Aki) was left without a mentor and no master willing to take him on after Juriko's husband publicly blamed Akai's recklessness for the fire and his wife's death. As a talented shugenja, the decision of the Isawa Patriarch to simply leave the void-wards on Akai in tact and let him continue his studies on his own was an easy one; and in hindsight was wise given his success at the Topaz Championship.

Turning him over to the service of the Emerald Champion is also an easy decision seeing as he has no other master or mentor. It brings honor to the family while he lives, and allows the cross-training Akai desperately wants as well, without dishonoring his previous training. It also distances him from a clan he doesn't really see eye-to-eye with.*

Akai is mostly happy with the leadership of the Ruby Champion, and has youthful optimism that he may be able to influence who will be chosen to hold the office of the Emerald Champion in the future.

*Akai believes that Righteousness is the most important tenant if bushido, but doesn't believe that pacifism or obliteration are the only two ways to exemplify it.
 

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Probably bell pepper soup for dinner.