Skylar

Heir of the Mitsumine Clan

Hana let out a curt smile. This lord cared for numbers and did not gloss over little details, that was something worth reporting and appreciated. Few lords designed to think about their clan's finances themselves. "Your latter question first my lord: it is true I was sent here on the basis of Tenzen-sama's order to greet and inform the new heir to the Mitsumine, as well as educate you on the finer affairs of governance and the ways of the capital court if necessary, but I had few qualms of following such an order. It is an honor to be in your family's service and meet you. And I welcomed the opportunity when Master Tenzen bid me to travel here."

"As to what and how I have learned....I must note this is hardly the time nor place to speak openly about the matters of the family records or the inner matters of the capital family." Hana gestured around to call attention to the murmuring of the other envoys in the other rooms nearby. "But I would be happy to give you a lesson in a more private location my lord. Although there is barely a story to tell, especially in comparison to the story fate has begun to weave for your own life. As for what is to be of me, I am your loyal servant. As indicated in my master's letter, I am to be put to your direct service to free you from the early burdens of bookkeeping so you may focus more upon the larger affairs. Such as that of the young heir to the Boar clan here to greet you, but does not seem to be a warrior. Would you accept my service in your council my lord?"

Heir of the Mitsumine Clan

RedSavant said
Honestly, it just strikes me as odd that he was able to tell both what was traded and how much it was worth given that the notebook is ciphered. I know nothing about accounting or bookkeeping, so I'm not going to pick at details, but that at least was noticeable.

Nah, thats the point of a summary ledger, to clearly definite what is traded and how much.

The trick is how its organized and calculated. Theres a major difference between single-entry and double-entry accounting, and lets leave it at that. Medieval bookkeeping was a horrendous affair.

EDIT: But to make things simple, lets just have our lord just read the (surprisingly easy to understand) cover summary to the ledger booklet and return to talking with Hana shall we? And why she is really here.

Heir of the Mitsumine Clan

Heyitsjiwon said
Honestly, Skylar, which way would you prefer? You are the resident expert on this topic.

In that case:

I'd say he'd be able to tell there is SOMETHING majorly different about how Hana compiled her part of the ledger. While the cover summary page of the Mitsumine holdings and Tenzen's writing are what he's used to, Hana's sections are a mix of single and double-entry accounting which she purposefully slipped in to gauge how her lord would react. But the fact he's paying attention to what is written in the first place has Hana coming to like the guy.

At first glance, he'd think the double-entry accounting is just a brand new cipher she made up. But its enough to arouse some curiosity in why Tenzen sent her when she is so able in numbers by conventional standards. Perhaps enough to warrant keeping the lady around to wrangle some answers out of later as to what she's really writing.

Heir of the Mitsumine Clan

Alternatively, Hana left it plain in his face unciphered to see if he could even tell the difference between single-entry and double-entry accounting.

Not that the journal entries themselves relay the mechanics behind the calculations, which she did not write down for a summary ledger. Ergo leading to it at first look ciphered, when it really just works on a different system entirely.

Whichever way this goes, I'm open to interpretation.

Heir of the Mitsumine Clan

"TIs but the opposite my lord." Replied Hana, looking up to the heir of the Mitsumine with a keen eye. "I am here to serve you, and you may ask of me what you will. Master Tenzen sent me to ease you into the duties of being a lord, particularly the matters of finance and trade so you may focus more on more martial affairs. He understands you have been raised and taught apart from the world at large, and ordered me to....fill in any gaps in your learning should you wish it so. I am a most able tutor in the ways of the capital courts and records should you request, and knowledgable of the ways of traders of your lands."

Hana removed a small ledger book from her bag, gently treating the well-worn paper as she placed it as well in front of her lord. "Here is a summary of the holdings of the Mitsumine as recorded by the bureaucrats of the central branch, including my own assessments. In short, your land has its share of both wealth and debt like any other, but through the efforts of my master and my own contributions the holdings of the Mitsumine possess some strength in trade and commerce, and the treasury is in good standing. The details are mostly within there."

And here was the moment of truth, how would her lord treat this ledger? Hana kept her eagerness to see how he would respond to the affairs of numbers and trade behind her calm composure. While she had only just met the new lord, he was good looking and had the bearing of a warrior. But did he have a mind to go with it? That was the question Tenzen demanded an answer of her for.

Heir of the Mitsumine Clan

Hana lifted her head from her record book when she heard the maid walking to the guest room door to signal it was time for her audience with the new lord. Blowing softly on the ink to dry it, she closed her books and set her ink and quill back within her satchel, and took out Master Tenzen's letter.

"I am afraid Hatamono-dono has decided to take a walk of the manor." Said Hana as she rose when the maid stepped in. "He bid me to meet with Mitsumine-dono before him, although I would hope he may be found before he walks too far."

Guided to reception room, Hana took her given seat in the room, placing Tenzen's sealed letter in front of her with the seal of the capital branch family shown. And thus she waited.

Strike Witches: The untold story of The 509th "Weary Witches"

appearance

]

Name: Rosa Winfield Powers

Age: 17

Appearance:\
Tall, busty, ragged blond hair with freckles. Often wears a helmet and goggles into battle to combat dust kicked up by her high-speed land striker.

Nation: Liberion

Rank: Sergeant

Striker Unit: M18 "Hellcat" tank destroyer striker

Weapon: Modified handheld 76mm cannon paired with MHVAP (Magical High-Velocity-Armor-Piercing) round along with standard AP and HE munitions. Has a pair of M1911 pistols as backup sidearms, and a trench knife she acquired by unknown means.

Magical Ability: Rune Shot
Powers can engrave magic-charged runes into her shells and bullets for extra firepower and velocity, which she often spends her time doing on-base. She can do it with other people's shells too, but it tends to damage the barrels on anything smaller than a tank cannon.

Animal Familiar: Lion

Personality:
Powers is flat out odd for a Liberion. Professional, composed, level-headed at all times even when under fire. She acts more like a Karlslander at points than a Liberion. She mostly keeps to herself, and definitely tries to avoid interacting with the rank and file troops, preferring the company of fellow witches if she has any choice. This is mostly born out of a desire to not let anyone else die for her sake, and not getting closer with soldiers likely to die.

Likes grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, preferably by the dozen. To the point of rigging one of her striker's radiators to also serve as a impromptu grill, and she's always able to hunt down ingredients to make her favored snack despite being in the middle of the desert (even if she needs to improvise sometimes). Her second-favorite pleasure is sleeping. A good sleep is a very precious and valuable thing to her. Conversely, she really doesn't like it when people wake her up.

Bio/History:

Rosa was born on the eastern seaboard of Liberion, where her witch powers manifested early but were slow to reach combat potency. Instead, when she was recruited she was drafted into the Tank Destroyer Striker development program, meant to build high-speed, high-firepower land strikers to combat large units of Neuroi. Powers developed a particular affinity for a in-development M18 Hellcat striker around the same time she reached combat power, which promptly resulted in her being forwarded to the African front to meet their high demand for witches.

Power's first battle in Africa was not pretty. Shortly after disembarking, the expeditionary force Powers was a part of was attacked by a Neuroi heavy bomber. With the bulk of their heavy equipment still on-ship, it was up to Powers and a small mixed squad of Liberion and Karlsland tanks to stop the Neuroi. Inexperienced, Powers nearly got herself killed several times over if it were not for a veteran Karlsland panzer officer that kept throwing the Neuroi off-balance with precision tank fire, before literally slapping some sense into the initially gung-ho witch. A desperate plan was hatched to lure the Neuroi away from the port using the tanks, then have Powers strike the Neuroi with some experimental MHVAP from behind. The plan worked, and the transports were safe to unload, but most of the tanks playing the bait were destroyed, taking the officer that conceived of the plan with them as well. What struck Powers the most was how readily the tank crews accepted their role in the plan, placing protecting her life over their own so readily. While she was called a hero, all she could think of was the names of those that died so she may live and fight another day. She has never forgotten a single one.

Since that battle, Powers changed from a bombastic gung-ho Liberion into a quiet and focused instrument of battle. She has had a largely supporting role in the war so far, a few skirmishes in support of larger tank groups. No kills, but dozens of assists, as benefitting the role of a fast moving tank destroyer meant to support other troops. Powers has largely operated on her own or with other witches, trying to avoid having to place more soldiers on the line for her sake. While it strongly contrasted with Patton's preferred combined-arms tactics, she fit in amongst the Karlsland panzer-witches in Rommel's army. While unusual, the need for anti-armor in the field outweighed any concerns.

With a track record of getting along with witches of other nationalities, Powers was quick to be transferred into the 509th Joint Strike Wing in the hopes she could smooth out any tensions. For Powers, its the perfect assignment. An all-witch unit for all-witch missions. And perhaps a chance to open up to others once again.

Heir of the Mitsumine Clan

Yeah, a list of what the capital branch family, and thus Master of Coin Tenzen, controls would be nice.

Heir of the Mitsumine Clan

Oho, this shall be interesting! I look forward to the interactions to come.

Strike Witches: The untold story of The 509th "Weary Witches"

YES YES YES

I love strike witches and I got a Liberion character all lined up. Two actually, a sky witch and a land witch. Don't know which to pick. Either way, I'm in!