The Encroachment [Not an RP Topic]

[Sand Council]

Saiga​

Saiga awoke, his ankle shackled to the floor. The room was small and dimly lit through a small, single opening through a skylight. He wondered how he got there for a moment as he half-blindly reached about the cell and ran his fingertips along the walls. No other doors, no other windows. The room was made of stone, there was no runic markings on these walls or on the floors that he could feel but his body felt drained of chakra. It was perhaps due to the injuries he had suffered, that would make the most sense but his body appeared intact. He was not a Medic and his medical training was remedial at best but a broken bone was a broken bone, an open would was an open wound. He was battered and bruised, but he was far from critical. He ran his hands through a series of hand-seals, but he could not even feel his own chakra flow and upon completion, nothing happened. "Strange," Saiga commented as he tried again with no avail.

He could see shadows pass over the skylight. Was someone there? "Hello?" He called, his voice echoed back at him.

"Told you he was awake," a faceless man announced "pay up."

"Fucking bullshit," a second faceless man muttered and from the sounds of it slapped some yen into his associate's hand.

"He is not going to kill this son of a bitch," the first faceless man replied.

"Don't see any reason to keep him alive, seven broke him anyways," the second man complained.

"The poor bastard already lost his family, the immortal's bastard got to them months ago."

Months ago? But... how? WHEN! Everything he did was for his family and they were already gone. His success or his failure or even his compliance was never a concern. Saiga's hand was balled up into a fist and he shook with anger. He was a fool to trust a man such as the Diamyo. A man who had everything - all the power, the authority, the property. What did he have, his honor? What did that do for him? People only suffer for doing the right thing, for being 'good' and playing by the rules. It did not seem like the Diamyo was even fazed by everything that happened, his army was still amassing and his Soverign were only getting stronger. He was going to kill him.

---

Daimyō Ishii Shirō​

Meanwhile...

Since the storm has ceased and the daimyō had already gotten the Merchant Lords of Soon's attention, a transition of sorts was now underway.

"And I present the immortal Daimyō Ishii Shirō," a baritone voice boomed. A pair of massive oak doors opened and a man entered. He was a man of slender build, beneath billowing autumnal hued robes. His face was stern and the lines of his face were etched deeply. A man older than his body would suggest still, his eyes were like pools of tar that held nothing but death. He had no expression on his face as every man and woman in the room wordlessly rose upon his entrance and remained in this stoic pose until he reached the head of a great table. "Be seated," he commanded. In unison everyone in the room took a seat. "Tell me of the affairs of Sora," the Daimyō stated as he folded his hands on the table.

Commander Mimasuya has readied the Soverign, a middle-aged man announced as he rustled through a small stack of papers nervously. "They arrived at Soon's Haven last night and have taken up residence in the outer rind of the the Bazaar,"</B><i></i> he added as a sheet of paper fell from his hand.

"How many?" The Daimyō boomed.

"O-over one-hundred, Daimyō s-sir," the man stammered.

The Daimyō raised a brow at this statement. "You mean to tell me that we have over one-hundred readied Sovereign?"

"N-no... N-no. That is not what I mean sir. P-please, I-I meant in the militia. T-Ten. T-ten Soverign!" The man hysterically pleaded as he stood upright. The Daimyō snapped his fingers and the man was engulfed in flames. There were screams, the kind that would pierce the night and keep most men awake at night but they did not last long. Within moment the middle-aged man fell to the floor in a smoking husk.

"I have no time for this, give me a new adviser," the Daimyō demanded. The papers shifted down the table to a second person, younger than the first who wore spectacles. His dark hair was slicked back, but it did not appear to be the way that his hair was normally styled as it appeared to be in active revolt of the styling product chosen. He pulled a pen from his breast pocked and stuck it in his mouth while he leafed through the pages of the late adviser.

"Of Soons," the Daimyō continued.

"Sunagakure has encroached on Soons more than once over the past few weeks. There was an incident involving a nameless man who broke past the gate and defeated members of Soons personal military force, reports of a small group of shinobis who have infiltrated Soons Haven. In addition, there is a Mister Aburabuta Hirotomi who via his lawyer has made some strident accusations against the Merchant Lords, citing that Lord Fukui was responsible for his kidnapping and was possibly behind the Cabal incursion." The young man slid the letter across the desk in the direction of the Daimyō.
[legend="[b]The Letter[/b]"]<B>Dear Senior Editor;

I am writing this letter to you as a concerned member of Wind Country. As a professional lawyer for the past ten years I have encountered a great many degenerates and hooligans in all walks of life. I have seen those who I would consider innocent, convicted for crimes they did not commit where the aristocrats of our community are the true malefactors and their actions and omissions of integrity threaten the safety and security of our community and their crimes go unanswered.

My employer, the magnanimous Aburabuta Hirotomi, heir to the Aburabuta fortune, spoke out against a Merchant Lord. Mister Aburabuta using the liberty of his voice and his status as a model citizen to encourage reason and to inspire peace. Murder can never be legitimized, despite past transgressions. Soon's Haven Merchant Lord Fukui Shino's ire towards the shinobi community of Sunagakure has been largely undocumented and his part in hiring a team of Mercenaries dubbed 'The Cabal' has devastated this subterranean community, killing hundreds of innocents along with a great number of the same shinobi forces that should be used protecting this community. Not only has he committed an unforgivable crime by commissioning these fiends but he also threatens the security of this city. It is a tremendous fear of mine that Sunagakure will seek retribution for the trespasses committed against them and that we might be collateral damage. I now also fear for my proprietor's safety as he was taken by Lord Shino's men in what I can only assume is an act of retaliation for Aburabuta's criticisms.

It is my hope that this plea for peace does not fall on deaf ears.

Sincerely;

Nakamura Kazuhiro<i></i>[/legend]

A bare hand pressed down on the letter and slid it to the table's edge before he skimmed the contents wordlessly. "No matter, he was going to be dealt with soon enough anyways."

"He did not have anything to do with..." a woman started to protest before she remembered her own precarious situation and silenced herself with nothing more to add than a wide-eyed stare.

"No, I could care less who that failed militant community blames, he... and his family did not have long for this world in any case. His virtue was my inconvenience," the Daimyō replied at the moment not caring enough to respond further. Perhaps for the moment his blood-lust was sated. The woman who spoke out of turn let out a breath she had held in since she spoke those dangerous words. "In fact, I will remind you all of this once. I will not be denied. I will not be debated. Some were born lucky and others are lucky to be alive, please... all of you, consider yourselves among the later." He looked about the room at the faces who stared back at them, each undeserving. None understood the glory or the power. How could they? Soon, there would be nothing but blood and rejoicing. Soon. "And what of Sunagakure?"

The perhaps bravest man in the room leafed through the papers he had in hand in silence for only a moment before he had the answer. "Ishii Shoki is believed dead, it says he was swallowed by a toad." The young man announced with a furrowed brow, what a strange way to die. The Daimyō seemed unfazed by this. "Some of the former Cabal unit remain in Sunagakure as allies. Inuzuka Urufu was locked away in the Asylum, he has escaped but has not been seen since. There have been no reports to his most recent whereabouts. The slave Naganisa has allied herself with Sunagakure and has been released by a Sunahoshi from the Asylum, there is a rumor that he might have taken her as his lover in fact." The young man let out a cough and continued. "Magnetica is dead. Akio's whereabouts are unknown. Kaito has allied himself with Sunagakure. Fuu is still providing intelligence and is the source of a majority of our intelligence. Saiga has been captured." The young man concluded.

The Daimyō seemed almost amused by the report. Traitors or defeated, they were useless to him now. "Send an executioner to finish off those who remain," the Daimyō commanded.

"All of them, even the Oracle?" the young man confirmed, his words laced with shock and a desire to say something more but he stopped himself.

"She can handle herself, and... if she cannot, that would have been her fate all the same," the Daimyō replied dispassionately. "What of the hierarchy within Sunagakure?"

"Hmmm... it would appear that despite the appearance of a Sunahoshi heir, the throne was forfeited to the Steward Takahashi line. That the Steward has been in the midst of a family dispute, apparently a member of his extended family was claiming herself to be 'Mother Suna' and has declared war on Sunagakure. While her actual identity cannot be proven, Fuu claims that she was able to validate that the 'woman' was an Ancient. His Main Branch Sennin has had a few recent additions to his family, weddings between the women of the demon Toraono Clan and outsider men. There continues to be no medical branch Sennin. The ANBU Sennin is a known Ancient, Mikaboshi who appears to only be under the control of Sousuke by force but we cannot determine the source of this alliance." The young man concluded, providing a plethora of important political information with that short passage. "I also have a pair of reports from Fuu as well as a blank parcel." Again the young man slid a pair of notes towards the Daimyō. Both written by Fuu.

Scroll 1

Assessment of Strength and Willingness to Fight During Aggressive
Encounters

Theory predicts that at least some of the behavior patterns displayed during aggressive encounters are used to assess asymmetries in variables that indicate fighting ability and resource value. According to the sequential assessment game theoretical model, assessment is a major activity during a fight. However, while these models acknowledge the existence of physical and motivational assessment parameters, there are only a few examples where a mechanism for the assessment of fighting readiness has been shown. In staged encounters between the Cabal and Sunagakurian forces, fighting behavior followed a stereotyped escalation cascade with ritualized displays in the beginning and physical combat towards the end. Despite their larger size, Sunahakure initially lost the encounter despite the large asymmetry in resources. In an attempt to examine whether the contestants provided assessment cues that might explain this surprising result, I analysed two stereotyped displays in detail: the perceived security of the two groups inner circles and the loyalty or comradity of those involved in both sides of the combat. Alliances in the Cabal ultimately caused their defeat as the group fractured from within because Sunagakure appears to be extremely open and trusting to even strangers which has made them a viable target of attack.

I conclude that high willingness to fight may help either faction to overcome inferior fighting ability and be victorious. Sunagakure has recently had an internal struggle as well, their lack of structure and their delayed attempts to rebuild leave them vulnerable to attack, the only variable that might change the tides of battle would be Sunagakure's determination to succeed.

Scroll 2

Probability of Success Against Sunagakure on a Gradual Decline

The war of attrition as well as the hawk–dove game are the two models that have provided the basis for understanding how nonstrategic factors like fighting ability can shape the evolution of fighting behavior. As previously proposed, the experiment regarding ‘conventional fighting’ for assessment of ‘resource holding power’ has supported my hypothesis. A number of important predictions have been made from early models, and now that I had the opportunity to base these assumptions on realistic behavioral mechanisms that take into account the existence of escalating sequences of behavior as a result of external and internal signals. These steotypical signs of battle prowess and power I feel have been assessed honestly due to the life-or-death manner that the Cabal attacked Sunagakure, which makes me curious as to why this has been a battle of attrition for so long as you have demonstrated superior resource holding power and have ensure the village's continued isolationism for over three decades.

Due to this slow and dangerous decline in Sunagakure, some of the shinobi have shown promising skill and battle prowess that my files would have suggested that they lack. These continued assessments and now with the absence of the storm, Sunagakure will soon flourish and these tribulations will only make the survivors stronger. Similar to virus mutation theory and evolutionary theory, only the durable and the clever remain and if you continue to only partially inoculate then I foresee a loss for the Dimayo. It is my assessment that a prompt strike will be your only opportunity for success.

Again the Daimyō skimmed the articles, for the most part appearing again unimpressed with what the oracle had to say or her ultimate assessment of the matter. "The blank one as well," he commanded as he extended his hand. The young man with a quizzical expression lobbed the scroll over to the Daimyō with a smooth underhanded motion. "Like all things of worth, it only needs to be tempered." He announced as the scroll burst into flames but did not burn away. Beneath the seemingly paper-white facade was in fact a note. It was brief and only one sentence: The war will not be won until there is no chains. The Daimyō frowned and crumbled the paper in his hand and tossed it aside. The crevices in his forehead seemed more pronounced as he scowled at what some could perceive was his misfortune. "Son, tell me of Sound and Tea," the Daimyō concluded as he gazed directly at this same 'young man.'

 

[Sand Council]

Tea Country​

A central trading hub for the south-western portion of the world, Tea Country has become synonymous with the term "trade" mostly due to the positioning and success of its capital Kurosawa City. Most of Tea, despite the imagine that comes to mind for most people when they think about the country, is in fact rural farming communities which-- surprise, surprise --grow tea and much of Tea Country's wealth is responsible for it. The particular type of tea which is farmed and exported out of Tea Country is a native species of oolong tea which, for reasons which have been as of yet been uncovered by any interested parties, will only grow in the particular conditions found in the strangely schizophrenic climate of Tea Country.

Climate
The important thing to note about Tea when discussing its' climate is whether or not the discussion is about Northern Tea or Southern Tea. Northern Tea, being closer to the Fire Country and its' more lush environs is a much more tropical climate. Warm weather nearly all year-round but with the cooler winds of the sea, the strange climate seems perfect for growing their particular and strange brand of tea plants. Northern Tea Country sports most of it's farmland and has the sparsest population as the people of the country have slowly migrated south to be closer to the boom of industry and civilization taking place in the surrounding territory of Kurosawa City. Many older Northerner families find a certain level of distrust towards Southern families; mostly due to paranoia that the denizens of Kurosawa and the south may decide in the future to forget their roots and declare themselves their own country rather than continuing to bear the ancestral name of Tea Country. Typically more traditional in nature, Northern families tend to be what you would expect of an older and more family-centric people.

The Southern provinces of Tea are significantly different. Similar to the harsher climates of Wind though with a great deal more fresh water and without the other various deadly facets of Wind, the people of Southern Wind Country have grown into a collective people of experienced merchants and power-brokers which control most (read: nearly all) of Tea Country's wealth even though they owe a great deal of their success to the unique tea which is grown in the north and then traded to the south for export and sale to lands abroad. Even though the Southern Provinces do not suffer things like sandworm attacks or the vicious mineral storms that plague central Wind Country, they have their own share of problems-- namely criminals and pirate bands which rove the less policed parts of the state. The Southern Provinces have, for that reason, become quite notorious for their cutthroat criminals given the nature of how much trade and money goes in and out of places such as Kurosawa City on a regular basis. It's commonly said that if a Tea Southerner isn't trying to take your money by sale then he's likely trying to take it by force.

Economics
The northern regions of Tea Country is mostly hills and plains, they enjoy rather temperate climates (as previously mentioned) year-round so have a bountiful crop most seasons. While most of the land is dedicated to farmland and long twisting dirt paths, small villages can be found throughout the country. Highly traditional Asian-style homes dot narrow dirt roads, most people travel by horse-cart or bicycle. Most of the power in these northern tea villages is held by the village chief, often an elder of the village that belongs to an honored house in the small community. Honored houses in Tea Country are old family lines that often claim divine right or special powers bestowed upon their blood and seed during ancient times. For the most part these village leaders make decisions for their small communities in terms of what to farm, how much to produce, what soil would yield the best crop and what they would sell to adjacent or even distant communities. Some great craftsmen also come from northern Tea Country, known for their fine hand-blown glass made from fine white sand crystals through trade with Wind Country that has a lovely rose to amber hue, often referred to as "Teaglass." Other aspects of trade to note include their cultivation of grains such as wheat, rye and barley that are used in both baking as well as beer production, potatoes and citrus trees such as oranges. While there has been moderate success with other vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and beans as well as fruits such as grapes, apples, and plums, they are not considered to be cash crops due to their variable success due to various indigenous blights. There is little game hunting in the north, livestock is a choice food source, most commonly beef,l sheep and chicken.

Southern Tea Country is a hub of commerce, their focal point being the city of Kurosawa. Located on the shore, Kurosawa as well as many other shoreline cities rely heavily on trade from their docks. Fishing is a local resource as is man-power due to the dense population in the southern portion of Tea Country. There is a noticeable difference between the upper class and the lower class, being a region that embraces the concept of capitalism families or elder do not make the decisions of this portion of the country, rather it is the person or people who are the most successful or ambitious. Hotsume Rika is presently considered to be the leader and face of Tea Country, her ambitious rise to power is as awe-inspiring as her uncanny ability to maintain her seat of power in Kurosawa. While there are shining buildings that pierce the heavens that act as the resting area for the southern elite, there are also dim shanty-like structures clustered in the disadvantaged zones that the poorest citizens dwell in.

Tea Country Leadership</SIZE><i></i>
Tea has no king, queen or ruling family. Much of the northern leadership lies in the oldest households of Tea Country. While leadership roles in both North and South Tea Country are not hereditary but rather by the virtue of their vast estate and holdings, many of these assets are passed down from one generation to another and wealth in the form of farmland in the north and monetary capital or trade partners in the south is jealously guarded by these powerful families.

Kurosawa, in the absence of abundant farmland but the presence of bountiful opportunities for trade became the unofficial capital of Tea Country over a century ago. Due to the dependence of the Northern countryside for trade, the merchants of Kurosawa slowly began to gain power over the farmers of the north-country. Rules tariffs and taxes have created tensions between the north and the south over the years but they maintain a tense relationship. Kurosawa's leader, also an unofficial position of power presently belongs to the wealthiest and most powerful woman in Tea Country, Hotsume Rika. This is often a sort-lived position of power because a bad trade choice can devastate a leader's resources. Over the years her assets have grown rather than diminish and her influence over the country has grown powerful. Under her authority, the once feudal country setting has become a unified country, much to the ire of many of the great lords and ladies of other honored homes.

[legend="[b][color=darkgreen]Countess of Tea Country[/color][/b]"][col]

Hotsume Rika
Crime and politics... the situation is always fluid.​

Biography
Hotsume Rika emerged from obscurity 30 years ago. The middle daughter of a longshoreman, her family was working class poor. Without formal education, she noticed an unexplored business opportunity with Soons Haven. Soons haven was the gateway to Wind Country, a vast near uninhabitable expanse of countryside with a surprisingly large population considering the dangerous and inhospitable setting. While the obvious need for Water was already being satisfied as was Carmot trade, Wind Country also housed a hidden village and trace with Sunagakure was limited by the Diamond Maelstrom. Trade with Sunagakure would not only be a source of revenue but it would also grant her a powerful ally in her ascension to power. She focused on trade with Sunagakure, initially using Soon's Haven as a middle man until she was able to deal with Sunagakure on her own merit. Her endeavors were profitable and investments made in shinobi guards have protected not only her life but also her assets. Over the years her life has been in peril several times, often by rival entrepreneurs or jealous rivals. Today, she has a monopoly of the ships necessary for overseas trade and it is through shipping that she maintains her seat of power.

Presently she is looking to achieve two things: find a suitable mate and eventual heir and to consolidate her power over Tea Country. Rumor has it she is also looking to expand her influence in a more direct manner in Wind Country.|Name: Hotsume Rika
Age: 46
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Countess of Tea Country

Physical Description
Coming in at an impression six feet and two inches, Rika is commonly considered to be an imposing presence to stand near and even though she is blessed with youthful features which are enduring into her middle years she is rarely caught not wearing a smile. With unblemished porcelain skin and a pair of bright yellow eyes, many who frequent the courts of Tea Country are led to wonder if perhaps their leader's lasting youth and more unusual features are the result of some well-kept secret supernatural stain on her family's bloodline but none have ever been able to claim such a thing with any evidence and those that do are quickly brought to ruin by the Countess' many supports and suitors. Typically worn up or at least bound, her hair has a color and tone slightly reminiscent of un-ground coffee though it undeniably has more shine to it than any coffee beans ever have. Despite what one might expect of a woman who spends a great deal of her time dealing with political and mercantile business, Rika has a fit and well-muscled body that she does well to hide using voluminous clothing and apparel.

Mental Description
Charming and polite, Hotsume Rika is perhaps the furthest thing from what one might expect from a cunning industry mogul that is said to indisputably rule the Tea County. Her delicate appearance and affable demeanor would suit a court princess much more closely than a strong and independent mind which is capable of out-thinking some of the most savvy criminals and merchants in both the Wind and Tea Countries but that assessment is one of Rika's greatest weapons against the world that she runs. Loyal to herself and her country first and foremost, the Lady of Tea has made a career out of gutting those foolish enough to try and take advantage of the guise that she wears at court. The truth of the Countess however is a person who cares very deeply for her nation and for her people... and is for that reason willing to perpetrate any evil to ensure their prosperity even though such acts disgust her. Time and time again she has buried friends, lovers and even family to safeguard her position as the protector of Tea and by extension the nation itself.[/col][/legend]

<SIZE size="150">Tea Country Foreign Relations:
Tea has a trade agreement with Sunagakure. Located east of Wind Country, it takes a ship 2 days to cross the bay from Soons Haven to Kurosawa City when traveling at 6 knots. The distance being about 270 miles, slightly longer than the width diameter of tea Country itself. Travel by water is preferred to travel by land due to the roving bandits that traverse the countryside. North of Tea Country is Fire Counted, another vaunted powerhouse that Tea Country never achieved trade relations with because of the dangerous countryside necessary to traverse to reach the country borders. Overall, Tea is willing to trade with anyone and would likely break agreements. Many of the merchants are happy to trade with shinobis in particular because Hidden Villages offer a wealth of resources and they do not discriminate against nukenins but their prices tend to climb when performing sales, many call it a confidentiality tax that most actually honor.

Kurosawa City - Capital of Tea CountryWhen people in other countries speak at length about "Tea Country" it is often a safe assumption that they are speaking in particular about Kurosawa City as it is indisputably the beating heart of the country's bustling industry and strong trade economy. Built at the very southern tip of the country into a natural bay area, Kurosawa City was founded in 85 BE shortly following a massive boom in economy from Water Country several years before that and the founding of Soon's Haven two decades prior. Even though Soon's Haven had the advantage of being founded first, Kurosawa City saw success that their rival city would never see simply due to the country that they were built in. Where as life in the Wind Country was a hard existence that required it's people to battle the very land itself on a daily basis to survive, Tea Country possessed a great deal more fertile land and a great deal more abundant fresh water. It was because of this that Kurosawa City rapidly overtook Soon's Haven as the primary trading hub on that side of the main continent (though Soon's Haven would inevitably rise to join together with them to form the Trade Alliance at the end of the Early Modern Era). It was not until the past few decades that specific trade interests through Hotsume Rika focused on Sunagakure, not that trade between Soons was absent prior to her intervention but the wares were focused on the needs and perceived wants of a shinobi where there was no attempt to fill that market before and the wares were significantly more utilitarian.

• • The Shipyards - "Old Kurosawa"
    The Shipyards, or alternatively referred to by some as simply "the docks", are by far the oldest buildings in the city as the residential and more land-based mercantile districts slowly sprang up around those bustling docks as time went on. Sometimes referred to as "Old Kurosawa" or "Old Town", the Shipyards primarily dominate the western half of the city even though their docks extend over the entirety of the city which faces the natural bay that Kurosawa was built on. The Shipyards are perhaps the one part of the city that never rests. During the day career dockworkers and indentured workmen alike can be seen loading and off-loading various boxes and shipments which are being transferred in the ports. Referred to as Labor Houses, these clans of career workmen pride themselves on their quick, efficient and most of all trustworthy handling of goods and go to great lengths to compete with each other for contracts to work with various shipping companies which have goods which pass through the city. While work on unloading shipment can continue into the night hours for crews which are slower at their work than others, it is typically the taverns and brothels which are most busy during the wee hours. Full to the brim of sailors and workmen who are looking to relax or find a good time after long days of work, the owners of some of the busier taverns in the Shipyard are amongst the wealthiest men in the city-- although you might not know it from the look of their establishments which are almost always in constant disrepair from drunken fighting and constant parties. Sadly the Shipyards are also home to one of the saddest aspects of the city; the homeless and the jobless. Pitiable men and women who for one reason or another have lost their occupation and any fortune they might have had, these "dock bums" as they're referred to are often a source of cheap but unreliable labor for ship captains too poor or too foolish to hire one of the more well-established Labor Houses.

• • The Countryside - "Farming Area"
    Located in Northern Tea Country, a majority of the northern portion of this country is either rough, rugged terrain that some farmers have turned into great pastures or rolling hills that have been cleared to make way for farmland. The population in this region is sparse but for the most part life is peaceful here, not due to the absence of 'bad people' but rather the relative proximity to a hidden village (Sound). The 'shinobi' of Sound protect the villagers of these agrarian communities for a price, but their presence is also a source of unease for some. Rumored to be demons and monsters, many of these villagers are superstitious and fearful.

• • Tsuwano - "A Rival Lord's Property"
    Tsuwano Masahiko, a rich landowner in Northern Tear Country. He is not associated with Kurosawa and claims sovereignty and domain over Northern Tea Country. Both the Countess and the Lord have private armies as well as the funds to pay for outside assistance in the form of shinobis and have done so. This continual rivalry has maintained tensions throughout the country but has resulted in a minimal loss of life. Rumors exist that Lord Tsuwano has attempted to seek the Countess' hand several times in the past but that he has been rejected each and every time. It has been said that she does not feel he is a suitable suitor and has went as far as to mention that his reign would be short-lived.

• • The Docks
    The gateway to the rest of the word, over that narrow expanse of sea Tea is connected to Soons Haven as well as the rest of the world. This is an area of great importance for Tea Country in terms of trade, commerce and travel.

• • The Black Tower: Center for the Tea 'government'
    All of Kurosawa's government is consolidated into a single building known as the Black Tower. Outsiders are not permitted inside, only the Council of Tea, the Countess and her advisers are allowed inside. The bottom floor has a small waiting area where one could submit a requisition, but even in this small waiting space people are shooed away after submitting their query or request.

---

Ishii Susumu
Heir Apparent​

First born legitimate son of the Diamyo. He is considered quiet and bookish in comparison to his better known, older sibling. Susumu has a distaste for battle and prefers the life of a scholar, complicit in the dealings of his father he has never intervened nor expressed any interest either way. Educated in the best schools, taught to fight by the greatest of masters; he is presently in Tea Country studying in their libraries. His ambitions are not yet known.

---

The young man dropped his henge. His form now was much more recognizable, the heir apparent of Daimyō Ishii Shirō, Ishii Susumu. His long hair was left unbound and his pearly white eyes seemed to blend in with his ivory complexion. He seemed to possess more than his fair share of feminine features, both in his face and in his physical form. Slender with long, delicate fingers and limbs, a stark contrast to what his father and brother exhibited. "I have nothing to report sir," Susumu replied maintained the formal distance between them that he had previously.

"Nothing," the Diamyo rumbled, "what of the Countess?"

"She is well. For the most part her dealings have been in economics, but she has expressed interest in being escorted to Sora to view your Sovereign," Susumu replied, attempting to avoid the subject of conversation his father wished to direct.

"What of my proposal," the Diamyo queried, he seemed to breathe power and influence now and the rest of the room remained unmoving in a state of disquiet as they awaited the heir's response.

"She declined, stating that I would not be a viable prospect... too young I believe she said," Susumu replied. He was actually relieved, he could not stand the woman, she reminded him of his father in far too many ways. In addition, she might look young upon first glance but she was old enough to be his mother. If he wanted another mother, he would seek out Fuu. He would have made a more believable son for that pairing he felt, he actually wanted to be like her more than his father. His only love was not for a woman or a man for that matter but rather for knowledge. She had rejected his request to be her pupil, citing then that she would not survive the process. It was likely true, his father would have killed her like he did the rest of her order if she crossed him. It was likely that Diamyo Ishii was the only man she feared and part of hoim hated his father for that even more than his cold distant expression of family. "However, Kageoni has accepted," he added quickly to dull his father's wrath.

The Dimayo's face reddened with indignation at his son's first response, he was not a man who was used to hearing the word 'no.' But he released a breath and despite his now reddened complexion seemed somewhat calmed as he learned of his daughter's suitor. "Excellent, a union. A dowry will be sent, suitable for the erm... man's taste." A smile seemed to cross the Diamyo's face just then, it seemed to hold something terrible as he called out a series of orders.

"Send for the Countess, we will demonstrate what no means. Number three will do nicely.

Send Sango to meet Kageoni and tell her that his passion for her is an expectation. Have them come to Sora and we will celebrate the union before Jashin and Kageoni's god.

Actually no, send some Sunan shinobis for both. S Rank payments for all. Let their strongest vacate the community before we attack."

 

[Sand Council]

There were several silent nods throughout the room. War was imminent and each person there could only hope that they had chosen the 'right' or at the very least the 'winning' side in this impending fray. With that, the young man pulled a plume from his breast pocket and a well of ink from his pants pocket. There seemed to be hesitation in his motions but there was one thing that he learned in his youth, his father was not a man to be debated with. He was young when his mother died but he had always heard wonderful things about her - the woman's grace and beauty. She died in childbirth when he was a mere infant himself, his sister was younger by only a year and perhaps father wanted to ensure he had more than a single heir considering his dangerous and aggressive choices. His sister did not make for a good spare, she might have had a different life and experience if she did not kill the day she entered this world but he felt that his mother was likely not the woman that the stories described. "A temperate, charming vision" was the statement he had heard most commonly but if his father truly harbored such endearing sentiments then he would not have a bastard half-brother. Shouki was the favorite, it was something that did not need to be said but it had been and directly so. The woe his father expressed that his legitimate heir was such a 'weak willed' man lingered like the spiteful aura he could almost feel when his father saw Sango.

The feather bowed with Susumu's angered thoughts as the ink-filled tip touched the parchment.
[legend="The Letter"][col]Dearest Shinobi of Sunagakure;
On the eve of a momentous occasion, I have come to you with a plea.

New alliances will soon be made between Wind Country and Tea.
On the first of April there will be a union between Daimyō Ishii Shirō's daughter
The loved Ishii Sango, third born of the Daimyō.

Her safety as well as that of her fiance is paramount in these dangerous times.
Use your considerable strength and
Resources to ensure that the Countess of Tea, Hotsume Rika is
Taken from her estate and brought to Sora.

Her offenses against Wind Country are vast but will not be detailed here.
Early signs of threat have been established
Rising armies have been mustered.

Please bring her to Sora intact
Leave no witness of the actions you perform to complete this mission
Else Wind Country might appear to be the aggressor.
Arrange this to occur prior to the Daimyō's daughter's wedding
S-Rank mission rewards will be
Earned|Name: Hotsume Rika
Age: 46
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Countess of Tea Country


Physical Description:
Coming in at an impressive six feet and two inches, Rika is commonly considered to be an imposing presence to stand near and even though she is blessed with youthful features which are enduring into her middle years she is rarely caught not wearing a smile. With unblemished porcelain skin and a pair of bright yellow eyes, many who frequent the courts of Tea Country are led to wonder if perhaps their leader's lasting youth and more unusual features are the result of some well-kept secret supernatural stain on her family's bloodline but none have ever been able to claim such a thing with any evidence and those that do are quickly brought to ruin by the Countess' many supports and suitors. Typically worn up or at least bound, her hair has a color and tone slightly reminiscent of un-ground coffee though it undeniably has more shine to it than any coffee beans ever have. Despite what one might expect of a woman who spends a great deal of her time dealing with political and mercantile business, Rika has a fit and well-muscled body that she does well to hide using voluminous clothing and apparel.[/col]
Mission: Escort the Countess of Tea to Sora.[/legend]

Wordlessly and with some apprehension Susumu slid the mission request he had written to his father. Would he see it? He prayed that he did not. "I am afraid that Kageoni Yami will not take kindly to an armed escort, will this do?

The Daimyō waved his hand, a hint of annoyance on his face. "Too long," he commented "send a messenger with word." He folded the parchment in half and returned it to Susumu. "Pleading is pathetic," he whispered as he stood up. It was loud enough for the teen to hear, it was also apparent that his attempt was not so clever but that his father was confident regardless. Why was that? Did the Oracle already know the outcome? Did she share it? His heart pounded beneath his breastbone. Where was she? What kind of game was she playing and how many people were about to die?

Letter in hand, this was a note to be delivered personally.

Topic Ended/Left by all parties​

OC: Yes, this was not a good thread, it was an info dump.

 

[Sand Council]

[legend="[color=darkgoldenrod][b]Invitation[/b][/color]"]How dreadful are the curses which isolationism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as haemophobia in a warrior, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of government, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist because we have kept ourselves separated for so long. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. Thousands become the brave and loyal shinobis: all know how to die but the influence of our ethnocentrism and isolationism paralyses the social development of those within these tired nations. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world but fear of our brothers. Far from being moribund, shinobism is a militant way of life and we all have our secrets to keep but we can also extend out hand in good faith and friendship and with these bonds grow stronger together. It is for this reason that I extend to you, fellow warriors an opportunity to demonstrate your valor and your strength as we celebrate the union of two powerful forces to the west and south of your great respective nations.</B></COLOR></I></FONTFACE>

Daimyō Ishii Shirō

requests the honor of your shinobi's presence
at the marriage of his daughter

Ishii Sango
to
Otokage Kageoni Yami

Saturday, the fourteenth of May
On the shores of the Tear-Drop Oasis
in Soons Haven

This event will be followed by a reception
but preceded by an inter-village examination
and demonstration of one's skills and valor.​

<FONTFACE fontface="sans"><I><COLOR color="darkgoldenrod"><B>

[/legend]

Yes, this is an inter-village examination and players from every village are invited to participate. The Administration has granted for the sake of this event eased travel restrictions on this cannon event meaning that you can travel to this event without leaving your village. In addition, the Administration has also allowed for the duration of this event the use of 2 Event threads. This way if your present village is in the midst of an event you wish to participate in, you may continue to do so there or you can use both threads to participate in this event where you are active in the exam in one thread and in the second thread you do something social with other players from other villages. You can still travel to the community if you desire, there is a constant story in progress and you may want to stay and see what happens but that is not required or expected as long as everyone has fun.

The letter was completed, written in golden letters that twisted and swirled in the most delicate and elegant of manners. The message would be disseminated to the world in short order. "Summon the Soverign," the Daimyō announced to a nameless servant. "It is time."