[D3, LM] How much wood (Open)

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"I'm not sure, a race of discovery I suppose, first person to discover evidence of prior inhabitants or maybe the first person to find the missing explorers? Anything strike you as a challenge?"

[Hiruma Heiko]

"First to find evidence of the missing explorers, I think. That has a better chance of being fulfilled. We know the explorers have been on this island, but we know nothing of whether there were previous inhabitants.
And then what? Bragging rights? I can think of nothing you might have that I would need..."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Bragging rights I think, anything I have if yours if you need it and there is likely little I could teach you that you don't already know unless you have a interest in puppetry and I would gladly teach you that or anything I know. Perhaps a bottle of our clans best sake if you really want to make it worthwhile, the sake here is terrible."

[Hiruma Heiko]

"What would anyone do with puppets, anyway?
I could probably try to get some decent sake, but I can't guarantee how long it would take to get here..."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Oh it would take an age to get anything here I think, the next boat is already delayed and now a storm is approaching but none of us are likely to be finding anything soon."

He whipped his sleeves in a dramatic flourish and when his hands came back there were a pair of hand puppets on them, one a beefy Hida and the other a determined looking Utaku.

"I use them the entertain children mostly but there aren't any of those here so I we had a bit of a talent show at the bar last night and I managed a few chuckles. I may have to come up with some new stories for a more adult audience."

[Hiruma Heiko]

Heiko walks up and studies the puppets intently for a while, before pronouncing an opinion
"They do seem to be reasonably accurate depictions."
She pauses for a bit.
"If you are looking for something to do on a boring night, have you ever heard of pot-luck plays?"

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Are those like draw-lot plays because I love those and I've done a few, they are great fun. Are you a fan? I think it would be a lot of fun if enough people here were interested."

[Hiruma Heiko]

"I've heard them called that as well. To be honest, I find them more amusing then any 'proper' performances I have seen."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Oh they are a lot of fun you should try it some time. Last one I was in I was Lady Shinjo of all people and I beat am ogre to death with my horse." He laughed remembering it.

"How about you, what's your leisure activity of choice?"

[Hiruma Heiko]

"Hm, you have already found me at it - enjoying the natural world and contemplating the elements."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Fair enough, each of us seems to have a different take on the outdoors."

He stood up and went back over to his axe, picking it up.

"For me it's a challenge, every step, not because I hate it or lack skill and training but because I understand how it can change in an instant. Most bushi in most clans lead boring and regimented lives; eat ,train, sleep and wait for the next battle. But out here..." He gestured around them. "...out here every step could be your last. I have never even seen The Wall let alone stood upon it or ranged beyond it but I like to think I have the most meager of ideas of what it could be like and I have tried to keep that in mind on every mission into enemy lands I was given. It focuses the mind, I love it, and being in this place is the greatest test and thrill I will likely see in my lifetime. I can't wait to get in there, I love a challenge."

He began to swing the axe again, harder this time having pumped himself up.

[Hiruma Heiko]

"Yes, I get what you mean. Even patrolling the borders of the Shinomen became samey and repetitive after a time. It's why I liked long trips further in."
She watches a couple of strokes of the axe.
"Do you need a hand with that? I don't have an axe, but I'm sure we could get another one, or a heimin or two..."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"You're certainly welcome to help but I honestly don't know if I'm allowed to be doing this so I don't want to get you in trouble, I'm going with plausible deniability as my armor for this. That storm is going to hit us and tear the bar to pieces yet people seem to think building a shrine out of driftwood is a good idea.

I won't have it, we need real wood and lots of it; I understand that people are wary of cutting down the forest for many reasons but we can't cook or build or grow without real lumber.

Beyond the shrine there are a lot of things we don't have yet and I'm the future i would like to establish a series of semi-permenant shelters as we push into the island, for anyone who gets separated or just a safe place for our artisans to observe nature from."

[Hiruma Heiko]

"Hmm, I seem to remember the Kaiu had to do something with wood that was cut down before it could be used..."
she pauses, a look of concentration on her face.

"Nope, can't remember. You'll need to ask Kaiu-sama.

For your shelters, though, we could get some sort of marker worked out. I don't think we could teach all the artisans how to read trail signs, but maybe something obvious that they'd know how to spot in need?
Not that I doubt our esteemed leader, but why exactly do we have artisans before an established village?"

[Daidoji Kenzo]

"Several of them are plant experts to one degree or another. Doji Hanatsuko-san has a particular affinity for plants and is here to catalog what grows here natively, Shiba Yukari-san, apart from being a shugenja, has brought some seeds from the mainland to see what will grow here and is planning a garden for the village so we can start growing staples, and while not exactly an artisan per say Komyo is a skilled Herbalist who works in the medical tent. She actually has been living out here in the woods despite my attempts to convince her otherwise."

[Hiruma Heiko]

"Ah, I think I've seen Komyo-san around. Is there something wrong with living out here? It's kind of what I've been doing too."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

He stopped chopping and turned to face the Hiruma. His words were serious but a warm smile never left his face.

"Not particularly but in your case I imagine that you KNOW that you could come to the inn whenever you want, she is either unwilling or feels unwelcome. I say either because I don't really know which it is as she is mute, so communicating with her is difficult for now. My concern is the fact that this is an unknown and potentially dangerous forest. I mean, if the boar I fought yesterday happened to charge her in her sleep...it wouldn't go well. The think only clipped me and it almost broke my leg."

He lightly pat his right knee.

"Who knows what else is out there. That storm is my second point of concern." He pointed in the direction of the storm on the horizon despite the trees obscuring it. "If it really is her choice then fine but as she's a Ronin I can only imagine how she has been treated over the years. Call me overprotective."

[Hiruma Heiko]

"Mute, you say? Do you know whether she, uh, knows hand talk? It's something many Hiruma use in the field and would make conversations with her easier... well, the general terminology would, the secret bits less so."

Heiko follows his indicationto the horizon and nods, "I'd be happier in a cave or building tonight and since I've not found any suitable caves yet, I expect to head into the village. Ah, this may seem an odd question, but who else is actually in the village? I've not spent much time there..."

[Daidoji Kenzo]

She defiantly knows some form of hand-talk but I don't know who elaborate it is. I actually plan to ask her as soon as I am done here, she offered to take a look at my knee. I would love to learn it whatever it is, would make communicating with her much easier. I've heard you Hiruma have have a very elaborate form of communicating, all I know are the rather basic gesture that I imagine most of the empire use, things like Stop, Go and numbers."

He leaned back on the tree again.

"As far as people in the village..well aside from the unit of Lion posted here I imagine you are at least aware of the command staff here; Miya Hiruka-sama, Moto Mura, Asako Qi, Daidoji Kasai and of course Kaiu Kyo. I think there are a few others but I have not met them.

Then there are the scouts, Shosuro Yingzi who has been strangely absent yesterday and today; probably sick.

There is Kitsune Asashi, a nice guy who I'm surprised you have run into yet as he is usually out here somewhere; he's also a talented musician I must say.

There's me of course, hello." He waved and laughed.

There is an Agasha here who I haven't seen since we left the boat so I'm pretty sure she is sick.

Doji Hanatusko is a wonderful artist and botanist with a special affinity for plants like I have never seen.

Shiba Yukari is a special new kind of shugenja/entertainer called a Tejina. She can coax the kami to make very elaborate illusions based solely on her thoughts OR the thoughts of someone else. She is also a botanist.

Miya Akari is Hiruka-sama's yojimbo, if you want to ask someone a bunch of questions about this place she's been here longer than the rest of us grunts.

There are others of course for example the Mantis I saw this morning but never got the name of. Oh, don't be confused when you start visiting places in town you aren't seeing things. The Inn, Sake Bar and Forge are all operated by identical triplet heimin. Hoshi runs the bar, Toshi runs the Inn and Yoshi works at the forge. Yoshi is a little nervous around me for some reason."

[Hiruma Heiko]

"Well, thank you for that information. Do you think I should go and find them, so that you can get on with your work?"