Ayumu took his sweet time consulting his notes and memory before answering to the Crane princess' dismissal. Time enough for another conversation to start and die apprently.
"There are many ways to tell this story indeed.
The focus can be on the love between the two brothers, with all characters but Hantei and Hisomu in the background or not even appearing at all.
It can a tale about the importance of ties: family, symbolized once again by the two Kami, love with Reiko, Shinjo and Koyama, comrades in arms with Taochusu and Satone. I'm using these names as examples, and one could easily replace them with others in that expedition that shared a similar relationship, a true-to-life bond that would translate seemingly into fiction.
The story is so dense it can be fictionalized to fit any theme really. For example, how important the fine art of diplomacy is even in the heart of darkness, with Saruko, Nanzi and Ch’chit T’kkiri as the main characters this time.
And yes, merging the accomplishments of a few people is acceptable artistic license as long as there is a natural resonance between their actions and nature. Sora can steal some of the exploits of Yamadono and the other way around. Haka can play the role of all powerful shugenja at once.
A simplification, with the deliberate choice of a certain focus, but still a good glimpse at what really happened, in essence if not in details.
This play does not do that. It tears events off their context, cut them from the virtues that gave birth to them, and deprive them of all meanings.
It chose to present how the expedition came to be, yet write off Reiko, Hisomu's wife to be, who was the very origin of it all. It replaces the power of love with a prideful discourse on power of arms.
By making the discovery of jade a quasi act of chance, it completely disregards both the work of the spiritually inclined people that understood its importance, and of the Nezumi that provided it to us. Luck, providence, inherent brilliance, instead of understanding between people and the world, between people and people.
And while it does not shy away to showing fights, it deliberately ignores that the bulk of people that stood on the line were not from any clan at the time, that it was the courage of those that had no personal stake in this conflict, and yet faced death together with us, that inspired us to give the best of ourselves. By refusing to grant the role of the spearhead to any unaligned person, it forgets that it was selflessness first and foremost that saved the day.
The play has some good moments mind you, notably in acts 3 and 4. But I disagree that it teaches anyone how to face the Shadowlands, or any menace really, better, as it takes all the elements that were instrumental to our victory and simply set them aside."
