Kyuden Shika

"There are spirits everywhere, though they don't always make themselves known even to those that can see them," he says. "With travelers, it is difficult to spot when one might be problematic when they move through I imagine. But when you stop to visit a place, it is a chance to learn about local spiritual concerns and help if there is a problem. I could see that as fulfilling if I found myself on the move in life," he says with a smile.

"So there might be some in here now, listening to you and planning how to stop you" Emiko said with a small laugh "I hadn't considered stops being a place to find spiritual concerns. Usually they're stops to trade or perform."

"I would have imagined that the stops along the way are the most interesting parts of travel. Someone had to stop somewhere to get your vilolin. When you stop you get to meet new people. And each stop can likely be it's own story," he says, in a curious tone that suggests it might be just as much a question.

His next move seemed more thought out but didn't take her strategy fully into account. He likely was missing something.

"It wasn't really a stop to get the vi-oh-lin. It was a uh...well, a trade and as part of it I traded instruments with one of the traders so that we would always be able to play together" Emiko said as she studied the board, before moving a piece still rather defensively "but hai, every journey is a story. A really fun story, with often has a part where some silly Otter samurai falls into the river."

"You know... I would probably be that Otter falling in the river if I joined your clan. I can have two left feet at times," he says with a chuckle.

He wondered a bit how she felt about that. Perhaps it was the wondering that results in a rather poor move. Or maybe it was genius and a well laid trap.

"Really? At least I won't be alone with that then" Emiko said with a chuckle "I usually fall in every trip."

"We can fall in together then," he grins at that. "Having a strong swimmer nearby might save me."