A Taste of Pioneer Hospitality

Civil action

On the beaches of Oriab, Princess-Daimyō Hashinara Yoshitakatomo stepped back to admire her* handiwork. She* and Ashiya Dōman had been putting their many hands to work for the better part of the morning. Now, as shards of complex metal glinted in the rising sunlight, it seemed well worth it. Those books on engineering from the Baharnan library were proving well worth it.   As for the rest of the growing camp, they steered well clear of the beach where Yoshitakatomo was conducting her* Gug-based experiments. Instead, a small but busy temporary settlement had sprouted up on the camp above. That missive sent out by Tōdaisen Nobuhara had produced its desired effect. Now, a small but steady trickle of brave pioneers from Japan flowed through the portal to Oriab on this side. By their effort, Queen's Landing was slowly but steadily developing into a community.

The two occultist's satisfied regard of their creation was interrupted, then. With a curious sound, a colorful ball bounced down from the bluff above and rolled to a halt near Yoshitakatomo's foot. Following not long after the ball was its owner. The Princess-Daimyō and companions watched in silence as a small, mouse-eared girl clambered with graceless energy down the sandy hill and came up to them. The ball was hers, a toy used for playing kemari, and she'd lost hold of it when coming through the portal not but a few minutes ago.   Many things could be said about Hashinara Yoshitakatomo, but that she* was inhospitable was not one of them. The Princess-Daimyō wasted no time in engaging this Kyūso in a lively dialogue. Her name was Minamoto no Yoshitaka, a family title which she wore with pride. Indeed, Yoshitakatomo herself* had met at least one other Minamoto by this point, but it didn't seem appropriate to the conversation at hand.   An apparent hedonist at heart, Yoshitaka had come through the portal to the Dreamlands in search of wealth and luxury. So far, she'd seen neither, and was honestly a bit disappointed at how mundane this shore on Oriab seemed. The mousey girl's spirit intrigued Yoshitakatomo, however, and that was not the only thing. Cast upon the other was a spell, the likes of which even the learned Hashinara Katamoto had no ken. It was close to Creation magic; a transformational spell which was rendering the ordinarily Human Yoshitaka into a Kyūso in every way, including essence. Such magic was powerful indeed.   In pursuit of this new knowledge, and perhaps by her* own whims, Yoshitakatomo decided to humor this visitor. They first spoke of having a game of kemari. After all, with Ashiya Dōman and his encircled Deep Wraiths, they would have enough players. The notorious onmyōji, rival of great Abe no Seimei, however, would not so easily lower himself to playing frivolous games. Instead, Yoshitakatomo conjured a team of magical homunculi. The creatures, cute and lively, managed to provide a bit of diversion while they continued their conversation. Yoshitakatomo, too, showed off a bit of her* abilities. The Daimyō's godlike handling of the ball, however, fell to pieces the moment Yoshitaka countered any of her* plays. It seemed that auspice truly was not a match for genuine skill.   Not long thereafter, Yoshitaka expressed that she wasn't sure she'd stay. After all, a lady such as her, daughter of the great Minamoto family, was accustomed to a certain amount of luxury in her living space. There, Yoshitakatomo was happy to oblige. With a wave of her hand and a tsunami of magical force, the Princess-Daimyō mimicked great Dreamers of old and imposed her* own imagination upon the dreams before her*. The result was a small but serviceable Japanese castle. Seated on the bluff above the beach where they stood, its inviting windows showed hints of luxurious decor within. Yoshitaka was overjoyed.   With these accommodations, the mousey Minamoto was absolutely willing to stay in Queen's Landing. What's more, she would pay her way by teaching her host a bit of the old Rat Magic that Raigō had imparted to her long ago. The idea was not, entirely, of her own devising. Without speaking a word so direct, it seemed that Yoshitakatomo would get what she was after in the end.   There was cause for celebration, then. The Princess-Daimyō called upon her conjured homunculi and ordered them to aid the colonists who were even then investigating the castle. Although not sprawling like Wakigami or Ōtsu, there would yet be plenty of room for all. In particular, Yoshitakatomo ordered the creatures to help the cooks and quartermasters. They would have a feast, a great festival.   Then, the great and powerful Princess-Daimyō meant to take her entourage to Baharna.