More insanity. A devious plot that's been thrown around by artimusdin and myself.


The court's sudden fascination with antiquity coinciding with the arrival of the new daimyo was not missed by anyone. A pet project was not going to make observation less evident for a court of shinobi. In full consciousness of their goal, writing boxes were unpacked and ink stones prepared. Softly shaded, gently scented, tightly folded slips of paper made their way through the grounds. The halls echoed with songs about the beauty of impermanence. Shinobi were supposed to be very good at laying snares. Perhaps the generations of life at court could explain the lack of success in these recently set.

In a tradition that had existed since the War of Thrones, the samurai knew that the shinobi were going about things all wrong. The newcomers were daimyo and therefore samurai, affectations to the contrary. They sparred almost incessantly and were obviously accomplished riders. Men accustomed to the courtly life did not act like that. In the name of this reasoning, naginata were polished and honed, bows strung and arrows prepared. Practice drills were performed where they could best be observed. Not even the greatest of their tacticians could figure out why the battle had not yet been victorious. They could not explain why the targets were not drawn out.

The married, the elders, and the prudent occasionally looked into the activity, the daimyo, and the crowd of lovesick ladies. It was all very much like a hunting trip. While all agreed that the prize was a very good one, the hunters could not agree in the best way to lure the quarry to them. It was unfortunate that this quarry was elusive. To the more observant, it would appear that the prey enjoyed the hunt. To the most observant, it would appear that the prey was already captured, tethered, and tamed.