Tea with the Empress

Gathering / Conference

Knight Commander Maxim still had questions for his meeting partner, but he also understood Tōdaisen Nobuhara to be a very busy man. After agreeing to meet with Empress Genmei in regards to his prospective letter of recommendation, Maxim offered to walk and talk on their way to the legendary figure's chambers. Nobuhara was pleased to oblige.

First, Maxim didn't quite yet understand why a letter signed by Empress Genmei might seem so unbelievable to someone like Nagasone Kotetsu. Seeing that he'd missed a beat in his own explanation, Nobuhara filled in the gaps. Genmei was a figure from history, not a present-day Empress. Indeed, her reign had been centuries ago. For Maxim to suddenly show up waving a letter signed by a nearly thousand-year-dead ruler would most likely be difficult for anyone to swallow. As for anything else that might aid Maxim, Nobuhara could only say that the Empress seemed to be bored, the passing of years having weathered the variety of the world in her eyes. If the Knight Commander could interest her in some way, he would have a much better chance of earning the Empress' respect. The fact that Maxim was an exotic foreigner would indeed be a good start.   With that, the two arrived at the Daimyō's quarters near the center of Wakigami Castle. Nobuhara took his leave there without attempting an introduction. As Maxim watched him go, he caught a glimpse of a smile around the stern onmyōji's face mask. Was he enjoying this?   Cautiously, Maxim reached up and knocked on the heavy wooden door. There was a sound beyond, like something huge slithering and sliding about the interior. The visitor was not left long to wonder what that noise might be, as an enormous snake, fully fifteen feet in length, slid the portal to the side and regarded Maxim with cold citrine eyes.   The two stared at each other for a time, each sizing the opposite up. As the snake made no effort to speak, it seemed that the obligation lay with Maxim instead. He voiced his intentions without guile, stating that he was here to see Empress Genmei. With an air of reluctance, the snake wound its huge body backwards, allowing Maxim access to the door. Stepping inside, his first impression was of a bedroom not often used for sleeping. It contained sparse but luxurious furniture, some exotic-looking fur hangings, and a girl with very old eyes. On her shoulder, a little creature like something between a monkey, a tiger, and a snake watched Maxim with dull interest.   Trying not to allow himself to be distracted by the menagerie within, Maxim fell to one knee. Kneeling in the custom of his people, he placed Hokkuken's sheathed point on the ground before him, offering the hilt forward as a sign of respect. As he introduced himself, Maxim nearly choked when Empress Genmei walked casually up and took the blade out of its sheathe. Apparently, she thought it a gift, and a fairly fine one at that.   The foreign knight was now faced with two immediate choices. He could pretend that offering the sword had been his intention all along and risk losing Hokkuken, or he could put voice to the misunderstanding and risk offending the Empress. Neither option was particularly appealing, but for Maxim, it was not really a choice at all. Fortunately, when he stated that the sword was not meant as a gift, Genmei did not immediately fly into a rage or order his decapitation, as had happened to him in the past. She also did not, however, give Hokkuken back. First, Genmei demanded that he fetch some tea, then they would speak on whatever had brought Maxim here.   Fetching tea was the job of a page, not a knight. Maxim could have sent Evaine on the errand, but she might not have taken to it well either. For the moment, he swallowed his pride and exited the room. One short trip down to the kitchens later and he returned with a tea set. This seemed to have been the right choice. Maxim's humility impressed the ancient Empress and she offered Hokkuken back as a gesture of her favor.   As they sat on the fur-lined floor and partook of the tea, Maxim asked Genmei whether she had felt anything while holding the weapon. When she said she had not, he went on to explain that the blade contained the soul of a Kamui within its edge. Indeed, as someone so ancient and wise, Maxim wondered if Genmei herself knew anything of the Kamui and their ways. Her answer was disappointing. Apparently the aged Empress had met Paseguru Kamui, goddess of the hunt, many centuries ago. Beyond that meeting, her experience was not broad.   Feeling as though it might be expected of him, Maxim gave reason to his previous question. He'd met Paseguru as well, along with a smattering of other Kamui, and was seeking clues to their lore and why he seemed to have been tied up in it. At this revelation, Genmei quickly backtracked. She had misspoken before. Obviously, she had met no fewer than five Kamui during her time, although the others' names escaped her at the moment. A lifetime of clandestine work had given Maxim an eye for lies, and this was one more blatant than usual. Wisely, he kept his mouth shut.   According to Genmei, her mystical adviser, Isonokami no Maro would know more about the Kamui than her. Such occult trivia was below the concern of a mighty Empress. If Maro had survived the passing of years, however, that great adviser still kept her presence hidden in this age. Maxim offered his condolences in turn and expressed that perhaps this ineffable "Maro" would one day return just as the Empress had.   Finally, Maxim came around to the ultimate reason for his visit. He required a letter of recommendation from someone in a position of prestige in order to lure a skilled blacksmith to his cause. There were few in history, according to Nobuhara, more prestigious than the great Empress Genmei. Although the young knight had presented himself well up to this point, however, Genmei was not keen on associating her name with someone so unknown. Maxim argued that he'd participated in many engagements for the Empress' descendant, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo, but could not ask the Daimyō herself* for a letter due to factors beyond his control. Eventually, Genmei seemed to relent a little. If Maxim would tell a compelling-enough tale about one of these missions, she would consider signing his recommendation.   Maxim took a moment to collect his thoughts, to choose the right exploit to detail. As their tea grew cold and the afternoon wore on, he began to speak.   ...Then stopped. A few feet away, poking up from beneath one of the rugs which littered the floor, a pair of yellow eyes glowed impassively at him from the darkness. Now on guard, Maxim demanded that the interloper show themselves. Genmei, however, chastised him. The creature beneath the rug was none other than Usutsuki, a Sheele of Wakigami Castle itself. She was apparently curious, and the Empress appeared to be tolerant of the little lurker's presence. With that in mind, Maxim cleared his head and began again.   To start his tale, Maxim offered Empress Genmei a question: had she ever known someone to give up their humanity for reasons beyond their control? With her usual haughtiness, the Empress answered that she herself had given up her humanity. Or did Maxim think she was merely wearing the last thousand years with natural grace? Hozumi, too, had not always been a snake.   Maxim took the point, then began his story in earnest. It began when he'd been called upon by the clan Daimyō to assist in an assault on the Palace of the Firebird. As newcomers to the clan, the Knight Commander's Wolfpack would be distractions.   He told then of how they'd engaged in brutal battle. When Maxim reached the part of the tale where the Hand of Mammon burst from the ground, Genmei seemed to become more interested. Apparently, she had little knowledge of these things called "Demons," save how they related to the more traditionally Japanese Oni. She was delighted to learn that Maxim had met the Great King Enma, and wondered if that ruler of Jigoku had mentioned her. Of course, Maxim could see this was a lie. Genmei had never met a Demon, nor the King of Hell, but he humored her all the same.   Once he arrived at the battle between dragons, Genmei was fully hooked. She bragged about how her retainer, Fujiwara no Fuhito had wrestled a great dragon into submission with his bare hands. To Maxim's surprise, this did not appear to be a lie.   Although the final piece of the story was not something to be told lightly, Maxim did not hesitate. He explained how he'd given into a dark voice which offered him power; power to save those who were even now being overrun by demonic forces of the Tokugawa. The Empress went cold then, but Maxim was able to convince her that he posed no threat to the Hashinara, despite his "corruption" if that was what she wanted to call it. He'd attained great heights for a moment, before being smashed down by Bishamonten and ultimately killed. Genmei was suitably impressed that he'd clawed his way back up from hell, although of course she claimed she'd been to more planes than just that. Another lie, but this time Maxim sensed a certain sense of longing behind it. Perhaps it was at that point that the Knight Commander felt an unexpected attachment growing toward this ancient empress who had shut herself away from the world.   For better or worse, Maxim brought his tale to a close. Genmei appeared suitably impressed, perhaps a bit pleased that she'd been able to get some boasting in as well, and she agreed to provide his letter of recommendation on one condition. Maxim must visit her every few days with a new tale; the first might be how he came to meet Great King Enma. He found that easy to agree to. Indeed, the Empress had caught his attention as well. As politely as he might, Maxim ventured to ask why Genmei was shut away in here, locked within the Daimyō's chambers rather than experiencing the world herself.   Her answer was simple: Genmei's time was over. She did not wish to steal attention away from her descendant, as would surely happen if she made her presence known. Now was the age for Hashinara Yoshiyuki to put her* mark on history, and Genmei would not allow herself to stand in the way.