[D4 LM, open] Green light, red light

[Agasha Sorato]

Sorato notices the samurai woman and would certainly remember her face later, but although he bows politely he doesn't recognize her at the moment.

D4 LM--Lore:Crab TN20 (Sage) | 4k3 ⇒ 17 (TN: 20)

Something about her serious manner reminds him slightly of the Kaiu officer he'd met in Tenjin Town yesterday, but perhaps that's just Resting Crab Face at work.

"That is... a unique theology, Yasuki-san." He rubs his cheek, thinking, feeling a bit awkward. Haruto certainly seems very sincere.

It's not completely crazy. The Sun as a primordial deity isn't even all that unorthodox; Lady Sun is supposed to be half responsible for naming all creation. And there are songs of three ancient gods that preceded Lady Sun and Lord Moon, although the sense Sorato remembers picking up from the terribly archaic language of those hymns is that the three nameless gods weren't really around anymore after the birth of Sun and Moon. In an Empire with room for the Dark Fortunes in its syncretic pantheon, this seems pretty tame.

Heterodox or not--that depends on what honoring the Trinity requires, Sorato supposes. So, like any other devotional group.

"Does this mean you don't reverence the Fortunes and other heavenly beings, only this Trinity? Or do they have a place in your philosophy too?"

[Tamori Kanna]

Kanna had no idea who this person could be. But she did offer the unknown woman a friendly smile anyway and bowed!

From the Yasuki's words, she did consider maybe actually asking what she could do to help, because the nice thing to do was to offer help, but Sorato's question did make her hesitate. What if this was something too strange to help? Was there such a thing?

----

D4 LM, GM permitted roll. Untrained Lore: Crab/Intelligence. Come on, double tens! XD | 2k2 ⇒ 12 (TN: 20)

[Boogiepop]

It was less of a question of who was the Crab woman but rather what was the Crab woman. At the very least, going back to Sorato's interaction with the Kaiu, the Crab bushi didn't exactly share a uniform with the local defence force. The branches and units of the Crab weren't very clear to non-Crab visitors.


Yasuki Haruto

Haruto would reach for the tall tea cups and take a sip from them before he answered the inquiry. "The worship of The Way, the Trinity, doesn't see great popularity in this world. Even with a few chapters found on the Green Carp and even on other worlds. We do not turn away anyone who wishes to adopt our beliefs into their lives, no matter how small. Actually, a few of our followers might believe in a worship in having them side by side, putting some elements of both parallel to each other."

"There are those who see the Sun represented by Lady Sun and the Sea as a representation of Lord Moon," he said in acknowledgment of traditional religion. "Of course, there are some details that don't hold up to scrutiny, but it is a compromise; some of our followers have found themselves and this temple is accepting of that. However, as a leader of this temple, an elder librarian, I am wholly devout and view this path as the right path. It is my hope that my small group of followers here will eventually make peace with that and cement their place under this roof."

There was conviction about him, while not outright zealous with this gentle demeanour, he seemed wholly sure that this religion was the true order of things.

[Tamori Kanna]

Now Kanna was fairly chill about folks finding their different ways in life (that was the Dragon way, right?), but even this made her feel a bit unease.

"Well..." she swallowed slightly and maintained her smile, "I'm glad folks are able to find spiritual guidance here. With your help. It must help them a lot in their duties!" Cheerful. Always be cheerful. Even when a little spooked. She wasn't the brightest but even she could tell something was off.

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto smiled at Kanna, seemingly pleased by her enthusiasm. Then again, it seemed the Yasuki was almost eternally content, which either by some sort of achieved enlightenment or potentially just some unfaltering blind devotion to his religion.

"Thank you for your kind words, Tamori-san. Actually, we do our best to help the community in any way we can. Many of my fellow believers are low in standing but we do have able bodies at the very least. Even as for myself, I'm just a mere low-ranking civil servant, and I am not capable of much in the ways of influence. However, together, we are able to attend to Tenjin Town in many ways, like when it comes to repairs, when helpful labour is needed, providing extra food in times when some find themselves less fortunate, and overall giving them hope in life."

He took another sip of his tea. "Needless to say, the Way is not impeded by the same sort of borders that might prevent some samurai from reaching out."

[Agasha Sorato]

"That sounds very charitable." Sorato nods. "Is that how people come to join your, er, sect? Through these public-spirited activities? Or is it more of an ancestral practice? I apologize for asking so many questions," he adds, with a slightly sheepish smile. "Phoenix, you know. Sorry. Next thing I'll be asking if you have any books I could look up."

It does all sound very charitable, although also, he's starting to wonder if the island's governor knows about this. Private good works can have a different valence depending on whether they're officially sanctioned versus unsanctioned.

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"As Elder Librarian of this temple, it is my duty to enlighten others about our ways. I am happy to answer all questions. And of course, I would be happy to give you a translated copy of our way's codex, Agasha-san. You as well, Tamori-san," he gave a deep nod before returning to the previous question.

"We offer our services to any who requests it. This charity is offered because we understand that we live in a place where there are many who don't share our beliefs, and some are understandably fearful of us. It gives a niche and a means to integrate with others by intention and deed, if they would have us. Admittedly, we often end up tending to our own more than others."

[Agasha Sorato]

"Oh, yes, I'm very interested to read your--uh, translated from what?" That detail sneaks up from behind Sorato and belatedly derails his train of thought from its otherwise well-polished tracks heading toward Yes, please, of course I can't wait to see your latest manuscript. "Old Rokugani? I'm somewhat proficient. I can probably manage the original, if it's not too archaic."

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto smiled apologetically and gave a small bow at the request. "Not quite Rokugani or Old Rokugani, I'm afraid. Rather, the codex is said to be translated originally from a foreign, now dead, language. There might have been some details I haven't gotten around to. You see, the Way is a religion that finds its origin in the old homeworld, but from a gaijin nation called Galant. Our codex is a translation of a restoration of the original codex text. The Way has been understandably lost to time until the last century. Before that, the Way was formerly practiced on Rokugan in a time when the Empire had opened its seas to trade, joining the rest of the world from its seclusion."

[Tamori Kanna]

"Oh, that does sound interesting. I would very much like to read it," Kanna nodded with some enthusiasm. Maybe if she just read about it, it would dispel the sense of unease.

What was gaijin anyway.

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto was happy to provide a copy of the religion's codex to them, and he would request one of the attendants to fetch it. What they returned wasn't exactly impressive, perhaps because they didn't exactly have a particularly high budget to spend on items that were given away without any payment asked. The codex of the Trinity was a stack of paper and bound with metal staples, rather than a published book. As the Yasuki said, the texts in it were in Rokugani, supposedly translated from a dead gaijin script. The book itself would detail the creation of the world, particularly small stories in its mythos, as well as particular tenets to live by.

"I hope these will enlighten you in our ways, Tamori-san and Agasha-san." Haruto said after they were offered.

[Agasha Sorato]

"Thank you, Yasuki-san." Sorato flips through the stapled pamphlet for a look before putting it carefully away alongside his holoslates. "Is this how you were, er, enlightened? Through this codex? Or is this a family practice for you?"

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"This was the introduction, admittedly. I was assigned here as an administrator of Tenjin Town with my move to Shiawase Island. The endless work, lack of resources, and the seemingly dead-end position did admittedly give me something of a bleak outlook on life, without much of a future to look forward to. It was then that I was approached by the then-Elder of this Temple. At first, I've merely joined the community as a means of making friends, but seeing this collective as more than just a community but almost a family, persuaded me to look into the teachings of the Trinity further."

He would pause to take another sip of his tea and glance at the possibly unattended tea sitting on the table. "From there, I've begun to untie myself from the conventional acceptance of the Fortunes, the Kami, and even the Celestial Order. I found peace and contentment. I've focused on myself, how I could better myself and in turn, better the lives of the other souls in our shared realm under the great Sky. It was only recently that I earned the title of Elder Librarian and now serve in this Temple as one of the leading figureheads. "

[Tamori Kanna]

Kanna was in fact sipping the offered tea, having found herself leafing through the 'book' given to her. Simplicity was fine to her, many Dragon opted for that, but she missed seeing any nice pictures like there often would be in pamphlets and flyers.

Half-listening to the conversation, she took a moment to carefully swallow the tea. It seemed Sorato was handling this more as someone very curious, but to her, this sounded very ominous if people no longer accepted the Fortunes, Kami, or Celestial Order. Quietly she shifted in her seat, unsure of what to say or if she should say anything.

"I'm glad to hear that it's been so welcoming for you," she managed to say with a smile. Something nice to say, it was something nice to say. "Many don't find such community as you've been lucky to have found."

[Agasha Sorato]

Presented with new and unexpected information of various kinds, Sorato had indeed forgotten all about the tea in its slightly forlorn plastic cup. Haruto's glance reminds him, and he picks it up and sips without much noticing the flavor. Untie from the Celestial Order drags his attention back, though. That sounds a bit... spicy.

He clears his throat and sets the cup down again. "And, uhm... what about the spirits of the four material elements? How does your codex consider them?" He really wants to ask Does the Governor know about your thing here? Really know about it? but he is still curious and vaguely surmises that once he asks that question the conversation might be over.

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"Of course, I find myself very blessed to cross paths with the followers of the Way here, Tamori-san," he said on the matter. "It is my wish that others find this path as well, especially when it comes to their contentment in life. I can only keep my doors open and hope that others are willing to walk through the threshold."

"The codex does not..." he said with a bit of reluctance on the matter, perhaps a bit of an uncomfortable roadbump in his ideology. "I'm afraid that's a bit of a grey area that the greater elders are trying to sort out. The ancient founders and worshipers of the Way didn't have these particular gifts of yours. And those who did were suspected to be heretical in many ways...It is vaguely understood that these gifts are potentially tied to the mystical realm of the Sea. But I find myself unsure if they are tied to the spirits of the dead or the great underworld beneath us."

[Agasha Sorato]

"Underworld? The spirits of the dead?" Sorato's forehead creases with a frown. "No one who's communed with the elemental kami could believe that. They are quite un-human, and they're totally in and of this world." Somehow it's this, rather than any of the other borderline-heretical tenets of Haruto's beliefs, that he can't quite just listen to with noncommittal deference. "It's all right to believe what you want about the sea and the sun, but you can't go telling people shugenja and spirit machinery are all" he winces, "some kind of necromancy."

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto was quick to bow deeply in an attempt to defuse the situation. "My apologies, Agasha-san. I have little idea of your mastery of the kami, but you are right to mention it might be foolish to deny their source. I mean no offence, just stating some possible opinions. The founders came from an ocean away from the Empire, were very unlike ours, and are not here with us today. I believe the records show that the people of Galant merely tolerated shugenja during their working relationship with the Empire at the time. Either way, as the present-day worshipper, we should likely forge our own path."

[Agasha Sorato]

Sorato nods, holding up his hands placatingly. "You'd have to do that, yes. The only way humans could travel to this planet in the first place is because of spirit machinery. Our relationships with the kami are probably part of why we Rokugani survived the great ancient plague when these... Galant? didn't, too." His tone is reassuring--Haruto seems like a fairly sensible fellow, not someone who rejects modern conveniences, after all... right? "They can't have gotten everything right, or they would still be around."

[Tamori Kanna]

Kanna made sure to drink her tea to avoid saying anything dumb, though her eyes flicked between the two men nervously. Maybe she should bring this up to Umiko, or someone else? It seemed like it could be dangerous thoughts going through their heads.

"Ah... Agasha-san, maybe we should head back soon? We wouldn't want to keep Yasuki-san from his important work, neh?"