Nakahama

"It's the hazards of Nightfall. Not just the terrain, which is already punishing, but also risks of spiritual interference. The race is a 24 hour race, with multiple drivers per team and different places along the long track on the island to have driver changes. The entire race is at night too, because night on the planet lasts weeks" Sumiko frowned "it's a risky race and it's never had a repeat winner."

"What kind of spiritual interference?" She asks excitedly.

"Well...I won't say too much more other than the walls between realms on Nightfall is very very small. And not just between our realm and one other, but our realm and multiple. So you never know what kind of spirit big or small could be around the course. The marshals do try to ensure nothing city destroying escapes of course" Sumiko chuckled "that would cause issues if one of the pit areas was attacked after all! I believe nobody outside the Spider has ever entered the race."

"Wow!" Her eyes spark with anticipation. "So when I do win one day, I'll be the first non Spider to have done so. How many other drivers do I need? Mechanics?" She pauses. "Priests? Do I need priests and jade?"

"I should have known a high chance of death wouldn't put you off" Sumiko chuckled "I believe it's minimum three drivers because maximum 8 hours per driver. Mechanics is often a whole team of them, I read that last years winner had four drivers, five mechanics and a priest. As for Jade...well, it's a Spider world. We in general always have Jade on us" she held her hand with the Jade tattoo up.

She seems pensive and falls into silence, but of course it doesn't last long. She's still Senshuken and the combination of stillness and silence, it's not something she can achieve.

"Challenge accepted!" She exclaims in the end. "As long as you promise to be there, as well. My personal guide in a world that I cannot even imagine."

"Of course! If you actually try to attempt this I'll not only be there but I'd be happy to assist with engineering. I'm growing quite fond of tinkering with machines" Sumiko said with a nod "cars are very different to drones though. I'm sure I wouldn't struggle, but I'd suggest finding a very talented engineer that would be allowed to join you."

"Oh perhaps, we could have a team with one samurai from each of the Great clans. Plus the Imperials. And one representative from the minor clans. An alliance of sorts. Not with the intention to beat your clanmates, but a way to show how the Empire can conquer every planet, no matter how harsh the enviromental variables can be."

"I don't think that would work, I'm pretty certain Crab are not invited to any Spider world but some are also even less open to others. You'd have better chance reaching out to Spider engineers or ones within your own clan than an alliance of different clans" Sumiko commented thoughtfully "some Spider worlds are very hostile outside the major cities. We suffer a lot to ensure other clans have more secure worlds."

"We all make our sacrifices for the Empire." She comments. "The Scorpion know this all too well. I come from a long line that leads to Bayushi Shoju shiryo. A Scorpion Clan Champion that sacrificed his clan, his reputation and even his soul for the Empire."

Sumiko considered making a comment on that but decided against it, instead just nodding.

"That's true. Many sacrifices are forgotten in time, and other...things are remembered no matter how much time passes. But who wants to waste such a wonderful onsen on such thoughts when there's much better things to enjoy! Do let me know if you actually want to attempt that race, I don't know what permissions are needed from both Scorpion and Spiders side to allow a Scorpion to risk everything for glory of the Nightfall champions trophy."

"Yes, I'll keep you posted about the race and you are right. Bad timing to talk about duty." She leans back and places her hands behind her head as a pillow. "Let's relax."

(do we wrap this up since it's way in the past?)

Sumiko smiled and closed her eyes, resting her head on the back of the onsen.

(happy to fade to relaxing and /scene! Thanks for the thread)

(I thank you as well!)