Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

What if Tomoe becomes a ronin What look the story different with her

I just am curious.

Hmm, if Tomoe becomes a rônin, it means that :

1. Lord Noriyuki gets killed, 2. Lord Noriyuki fires her. I don't think that either of these plates are on the menu right now.

(3. Also, Lord Noriyuki could be stripped of his fief by the shôgun, but it would be a real coup. This remains the most credible hypothesis, but it depends of the position of the Geishu clan in the daimyô hierarchy.)

Cosmo wrote:Hmm, if Tomoe becomes a rônin, it means that :

1. Lord Noriyuki gets killed, 2. Lord Noriyuki fires her. I don't think that either of these plates are on the menu right now.

I'd say #2 could easily happen if Tomoe refuses to marry the man Noriyuki has positioned to be her husband. Even if Noriyuki understands Tomoe's actions, he might feel the need to maintain the appearance of a strong lord that will not be defied by a female underling.

That's right. In such a case, it will be hard for Usagi to maintain strong ties with both Tomoe and the Geishu clan. Awkward position !

But could Noriyuki fire her without loosing face? I mean, Tomoe would have defied her Lord, a grave offence against bushido...

I think he would be pressed to order her commit sepuku; she could then, of course, refuse to do that, deciding to flee (in shame; another offence and another act of defying her Lord's will!).

Then, as a fugitive rather than a ronin, she would be hunted by Noriyuki loyalists and/or those who want to appear loyal to Noriyuki (even maybe by Noriyuki himself; he would have lost face and would want to regain the trust of his henchmen).

What a sad and tragic story arc that would bring...

Thomas Froehling wrote:But could Noriyuki fire her without loosing face? I mean, Tomoe would have defied her Lord, a grave offence against bushido...

I think he would be pressed to order her commit sepuku; she could then, of course, refuse to do that, deciding to flee (in shame; another offence and another act of defying her Lord's will!).

Then, as a fugitive rather than a ronin, she would be hunted by Noriyuki loyalists and/or those who want to appear loyal to Noriyuki (even maybe by Noriyuki himself; he would have lost face and would want to regain the trust of his henchmen).

What a sad and tragic story arc that would bring...

NICE scenerio but, as much as Noriyuki is maturing, he is still a sensitive and caring young man beneath it all. I don't think he'd require Tomoe to commit sepuku, even if her actions called for it. I think a banishment would be more likely, though this would inevitably cause Noriyuki to lose face in the eyes of some.