Stick it to them!

slaps self for that one

That brought on a smile, "Thank you Doji-san...an offer I may take you up on," Her eyes shift back to the gardens, "After the winter I am going to see about getting a longer appointment to the capital. I think the road project has enough momentum to begin...and I want to be here to help push it forw...

"I understand...but you were not taught the art by a demon." Ayano squeezed her hands tight, "I don't know if I can take up the brush without remembering that." "The creature Tsubaki also served me tea...I offered to speak to mother about expanding her holdings into my own lands." She sighs and look...

Ayano's eyes go wide for a second as she recognizes a Crane...for but a moment as she realizes which one. "Doji-san." She dipped into a return bow from her seated position. "I was just...thinking." Her eyes move about the garden, "The creature Hadananzi brought me here, showed me the joys of paintin...

Ayano smiled at that, "Those lords and ladies of others have a responsibility. It is not just a matter of exercising power for one's whims. I disagree with my mother on a few things but...we both understand that our lives will ultimately be for Lord Akodo and the people we are trusted with leading. ...

Ayano was breathing heavily, she waited for her heart to slow before responding. "I have thought about it...but I lack the natural talent for it..." She staggers a little, feeling unsteady she turned her wooden sword into a makeshift cane. "Perhaps the spear." Her voice was unsure. "...but regardles...

I believe it was a Discord thing...from like way back.

I might also be making it up and my brain is just telling me it was a discussion. But I think someone floated it at one point and it was at least acknowledged as an idea.

IMO, River Guardian as a path shared between the clans in the River Alliance makes a lot of sense to me. And from there can build towards a whole School or Family. :) That's actually a good question - can we build a full school later starting from a Path? I think that's a good question for GM quest...

The war wound down...a lot faster then it began. One of the children spotted a fox lurking on the edges and realized the true folly that had befallen them. Cease fires were called, truces made, and frantic work begun to hide what had happened. But it was all too late...the fox had seen everything. -...

He was not alone, seated in the midst of the garden was a familiar Lioness. Ayano's green eyes were fixed off into the distance. Her expression was a mixture of sadness and anger. Betrayal and melancholy.

"Best to have your return plans in place before even heading out then." Ayano nodded, then shook her head, "...so that is what some of the coastal dwellers meant by a ship in port. I guess for most of the peddlers it was a great time to trade when a bunch of bored sailors visit their town."

"All to aware." Ayano looks down at her cup of tea, "People often forgot how hard it is to just get things where they need to be. A lot of the most essential items can be made in a village but for more complicated projects." "One of my hopes is the efforts of building the road will teach the clans c...

Ayano's grin grew a fractions. "Even if it is just laying stones...to stand with your children and point at something that stretches from horizon to horizon, spanning the great Empire and say 'we built this'. They will meet people they would never have before, merchants and couriers from one end of ...

"My apologies for leaving your side, Makime-san," a bow. She expected Ayano to understand of course. "We were talking about the instrument, yes? As for me... it took me a couple of years to get the proper hang of it, playing something more than just the most basic melodies. My instrument was a gift...

"Oh...I know my talents will be needed, not just those for war..." Ayano's frown deepened as she raised the bokken again, "But I can't afford to be an easy target anymore." She made several stiff strikes, her breathing was heavier then it should be for the effort she had made so far. "If these...cre...

"...it is almost a certainty that those two were not the only ones." Ayano frowned at that, then she waved it off. "But we know now, we can be prepared for the next time. We just have to be careful not to descend into paranoia." Her smile returns, weary but present, "I hope such a project would yes....

"The question is...do we have the time to learn it?" Ayano replied solemnly, "And spread what we know." "Well, the Libraries already serve as centers of education. We get your roads built and we have a chance." "I guess we will have to take it stone by stone, brick by brick, and book by book...and ...

Will catch up to threads in a bit...brain is fried from work @_@

"That is precisely what my mother wishes to convey actually..." Ayano went on a short tangent, "If we had combined the strengths of everyone at the wargame it would have yielded at higher score then separate. Letting some handle the logistics, others the clearing of obstacles, others the politics, a...

"There will be a need for such..." Ayano smiled, inching just a little closer, "I only know the basics of engineering but I suppose I will be learning more. My real hope is to help make sure the supplies for the project are secured and sent where they are needed. That is something I am much more ski...