Kyuden Shika

"I wouldn't know. The only artisans I really know are the ones I've met here... who aren't married yet."

The Kitsu paused.

He put a finger to his mouth to think, and opened his mouth to interject - but nothing came out. He closed his mouth, realizing he didn't have a solid counter to that.

"I wasn't cut out to be a yojimbo. I'm certainly not polished. But anyone doing a nakodo's research would know that about me. So again. I wonder as to the purpose."

The Kitsu pondered.

"These tasks - they sound like the stories of the Topaz championship we've been told about. The Topaz championships, if I recall, are about celebrating the virtues and strengths of our empire by highlighting their best. Behind them, I've been told, are some of the building blocks which make up the political landscape of the next generation - after all, the Topaz is supposed to be our brightest and bravest, so naturally others would follow their example or... something?"

"Yes, but let's look at who they have invited here... a Shiba soldier with fewer social graces than the stereotype of a Hida. A Crane artisan whose own Clan seems to want him gone. An Imperial with self-esteem issues. Scads of Minor Clan samurai trying to walk softly around the uptight sorts. A Moshi who spoke to me like a geisha- after speaking to me like a religious fanatic. Our virtues and strengths tend not to be all that mysterious to us by the time of our gempukku."

"I meant demonstrate it to the rest of Rokugan, not to ourselves. But then, what purpose do you think there is? Are the Deer looking for recruits of their own?"

"If I knew what they were thinking I'd probably be less troubled. Or given my thoroughly average performance thus far, perhaps I'd be more troubled."

The Kitsu pondered.

"Well whatever the purpose, I doubt it's solved by those missing the events entirely."

"Dunno. Maybe their resignation to whatever comes along is being registered. A declaration that they'll take whatever, with zero interest in the outcome."

The Kitsu chuckled.

"I just have this mental image of this booby trap miai where they sign your 'take whatever contract' and the Crane look to show off, sending their finest and best but only the Scorpion show up and it's just burakumiihihihihihihi...."