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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Serpenteye" data-source="post: 372817" data-attributes="member: 1492">Toshiro gazed out over the southern lands of the Lion clan from the mountainpeak fortress of Hidden Watch Keep. Miles of hills, rivers, forests and plains stretched out before him in the bright mid afternoon light. With his magically enhanced vision he could watch the ant-like toil of thousands of peasants. They were like insects beneath him, labouring in sweat and blood, free of his heavy burden of growing responsibilities. Free even in their servitude, for they were responsible only to him while he was responsible to all of them, them and millions of others. Their fates were tied, and that made master to slave, but not slave to master.  For minutes he gazed unseeing out over the heartlands of the Empire, brooding on his failures and duties. The Emperor was dead. Gaheris had blamed him, and though his accusations had been exaggerated he had been right, to an extent. But what could he have done? Seppuku was out of the question, the most honorable of all cowardly acts, it was still a recourse of the weak. Besides, it was eminently impractical, the realisation of his plans depended upon his survival. Without him the clan might fall apart once more and the Empire would be weakened. Duties and responsibilities superceded honour. He sneered and felt bile rising in his throat. The Emperor was dead and the Empire drifted on the stormy oceans of fate without guidance, without leadership. It would remain thus, he feared, even if the first son acended the throne. Akodo Kaneka had never been recognized as heir before now. He would owe his title to the great clans and be ineffectual as a ruler, if he would fail the Empire would fall. If the other heirs would be rescued or resurrected the consequences for the Empire might be worse still. The clans were too strong. The clans were to weak. His clan was too weak. He sighed.Sensing the ripples of a teleport spell he turned around to face the new arrival, a look of annoyance on his face. "You have important news?" "I have... unusual news Toshiro-sama." the young woman answered nervously. "A small fleet of gajin have arrived outside the southern coast, my lord. They have traveled far, from a city halfway across the world, to spread their faith in our lands. They have already been recieved by a Mantis representative of extremely high standing and the Daimyo of the Phoenix clan himself!" "Disturbing news," he thought, musing to himself. "Missionaries being recieved in such honour. Surely the Phoenix would never abandon the kami, but the Mantis? It's not impossible. If they gain converts here it would divide the Empire further, but if I move against them while they are supported by two of the great clans the damage would be as bad, or worse. Time will show wether their religion is a threat. I doubt it. How could a foreign religion be superior to our own? If it isn't they will make few converts, without military or economical blackmail to back them up. I have to learn more about them." "Send an envoy to the leader of the missionaries, tell him to be... inquisitive." ____ooc: Mr Draco, I'm pretty sure the conference is over.</blockquote>

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