Oh? I'm not surprised. Aizu is rather remote, no? [And in the mountains. Matoba lifts a hand to his chin.] I'm not well acquainted with the Honshu clans, besides the typical Kanto and Kansai bigshots... Ah, that's too bad. I wonder if I would have recognized the name.
[Sometimes, clans from different regions crossed paths- if there were major meetings, the rare festival at a major central shrine that was important enough for the largest clans from around the country to attend- and as the former heir (now head), he had represented the Matoba on more than one occasion.]
[Oh well. Not much to do about it, here.]
Yes. Well, the Matoba have been a major power in Kyushu for many centuries. [He won't toot his horn too hard here- what was exorcist history to an outsider?- but the Matoba had been the ones to unite the 12 great clans in antiquity, and continued even now as the major power. Despite all their detractors and enemies over the years, they persisted- that was why Matoba would not be shaken by the judgments or beliefs of others, when it came to how they conducted themselves.] The Matoba clan of archers span back to the days when ayakashi still openly raided villages, and with their strong spiritual power raised their bows for those who would pay, to defend them.
As you say- the era of the gods' divine protection and open warfare with youkai may have ended, but our traditions are still needed... However changed it may be.
[The city around them, and its population, was proof enough of that. If this sort of clan warfare spilled out of the ayakashi realm and into the human one... Well. It was no wonder if the Enma sought to bring his fist down upon them, and bring them back under control.]
...A kodoku, huh.... Mizumori-san, have you ever witnessed one, yourself? They can be quite formidable. [He smiles. It's hard to tell if he's joking or not, again.]
no subject
[Sometimes, clans from different regions crossed paths- if there were major meetings, the rare festival at a major central shrine that was important enough for the largest clans from around the country to attend- and as the former heir (now head), he had represented the Matoba on more than one occasion.]
[Oh well. Not much to do about it, here.]
Yes. Well, the Matoba have been a major power in Kyushu for many centuries. [He won't toot his horn too hard here- what was exorcist history to an outsider?- but the Matoba had been the ones to unite the 12 great clans in antiquity, and continued even now as the major power. Despite all their detractors and enemies over the years, they persisted- that was why Matoba would not be shaken by the judgments or beliefs of others, when it came to how they conducted themselves.] The Matoba clan of archers span back to the days when ayakashi still openly raided villages, and with their strong spiritual power raised their bows for those who would pay, to defend them.
As you say- the era of the gods' divine protection and open warfare with youkai may have ended, but our traditions are still needed... However changed it may be.
[The city around them, and its population, was proof enough of that. If this sort of clan warfare spilled out of the ayakashi realm and into the human one... Well. It was no wonder if the Enma sought to bring his fist down upon them, and bring them back under control.]
...A kodoku, huh.... Mizumori-san, have you ever witnessed one, yourself? They can be quite formidable. [He smiles. It's hard to tell if he's joking or not, again.]