Lynvarr stretched, wincing a bit as the wound in his side stretched. He needed to be careful or it would start bleeding again, however he found it difficult to rest. He was going for a light patrol, strolling around the borders of the Shrine while he thought on Sparrows words. He had no idea what she meant by a 'god fart'. Hadn't the foggiest. But he knew about incest. It was deeply frowned upon in his own culture to the point that any pups born from such unions were promptly killed and the father castrated. Strong warrior stock was key in his homeland and anything that jeopardized that was treated very severely. He doubted if he could be part of a pack that tolerated such wicked practices and so he sought out Hattori in the hopes of finding some answers to the questions that had been tumbling out in his brain. Arriving at the horned man's den he called out for an audience.

p.s this thread really takes place in the archipelago. it really do.

Though Hattori had not sustained any injuries in the raid he knew the same could not be said for all. There was still much to be done within Ashen but the Shogun knew better than to push too hard too soon, and thus had made arrangements for those who had not been present to take up more duties for the time being. Just until all had returned to how it ought to be. Pondering over his notes, Hattori raised his head as a call summoned him from outside the palace depths. He nudged his parchment aside as he rose to his paws and made his way down the meandering tunnel till he stepped out into the daylight, Inu sand beneath his paws.

Before him stood Lynvarr and though Hattori was not the best at reading people he sensed there was something troubling him.

"Lynvarr." He greeted the samurai with an aloof yet still polite tone, befitting of his well earned station. He did not nudge the man into speaking his mind, knowing full well he would say his piece in due time.

ooc: indeed it does, I done f'ed up

Hattori soon greeted him and Lynvarr instinctively knew the floor was his to voice his mind. Where to start? "During the raid I fought with a young woman I have met before. She made some rather unusual accusations against Ashen. She said that Ashen is the home of 'god farts' and incestuals. I have no idea what the first is but the second is of particular concern to me. Such practices in my culture were heinous and swiftly dealt with. Naturally, I wanted to hear your thoughts. I wouldn't put it past this woman to lie but seemed quite sincere and distraught." Perhaps Hattori could shine some light on what was said and if it was true that incest was allowed in Ashen then maybe Lynvarr could try and convince him of the evils of such a practice. While it was not his place to try and cox a culture to fall more in line with his own in this case he would make an exception.

Hattori stood and listened as the samurai got to the point, with only a hint of hesitation. During the raid Hattori had been too focused on his own battles to eavesdrop on whatever conversations took place, but he wouldn't put it past Fireside to attempt to spread dissent in Ashen's ranks. It was a technique he'd seen at play before but that didn't seem to be Lynvarr's agenda here, he had concerns and he wanted them justly addressed. Something Hattori would not deny him, after all he'd been fed outdated information and he deserved to know better.

"I understand your concern and I will not lie to you. There is some truth to what this woman said." He stepped forward and with a flick of his tail gestured for the samurai to follow. This was not a conversation to be had in front of the palace and thus he led him into the jungle, where their conversation would be muted by birdsong and the creaking of insects. "The Empress' mother, so I was told had...relations with her own brother during her reign. I agree with you, such...acts are not acceptable in any situation. It shall not happen here ever again, of that you have my word." He said, his disgust evident with the slight wrinkle in his muzzle. It was left unsaid, Hattori was not a man for making idle threats, but he would take it upon himself to end any and all spoiled bloodlines that arose within Ashen.

As for the God farts...well that was a little more complex. It was a religion he didn't care to understand but he did his best to explain.

"As for her first comment I assume that was aimed at those of Abraxas blood." He glanced up briefly, hearing the faint beating of his eagles wings. Barely any light managed to pierce the jungle canopy, leaving them in the shade. "I believe the Shrine is of religious significance to them. It is not a religion I follow nor is it forced on anyone, believe what you may."

Lynvarr felt his stomach sink at first as Hattori said there was some truth in what Sparrow had said to him. His concern grew as Hattori gestured for him to follow. What was it that couldn't be said out in the open? Lynvarr dutifully followed his Shogun until Hattori came to a stop in the jungle and continued the conversation by explaining that the former Empress had slept with her brother. His muzzle wrinkled in disgust automatically before he could stop himself. However, to his relief, Hattori felt similarly and swore such acts would not be sanctioned in Ashen now. Lynvarr sighed. "I am glad to hear it. You have assuaged my chief concern."

Hattori went on to explain that there was apparently some odd religious cult in Ashen but that members didn't need to get involved. "I am pleased to hear that as well. I have my own beliefs that I would not abandon under any circumstances and of course I would never seek to push my beliefs on anyone here. Thank you, Hattori, for your time. It is greatly appreciated."

The past was in the past and thus there was nothing they could do about it but look back in disgust and vow that it would never happen here again. He knew of course that some of Venom's siblings were the fruit of such a distasteful union but if the Empress was content to leave them be on their little island then Hattori wouldn't complain. Besides, Chimera had answered the raid call just like everyone else, the Shogun might not care for the man personally but he had pulled his weight that day. That could not be denied.

Though Hattori and his Iga kin were Nihonjin he did not expect everyone in Ashen to follow suit. His culture was his own and as long as everyone could get along in relative harmony he didn't really care what they believed in or where they came from. That being said Lynvarr seemed to hold his native values close to his chest, making Hattori idly wonder just where the man came from. The name Lynvarr of itself showed that he was foreign and most likely from a culture Hattori had never heard of before, he didn't tend to stick his nose in where it didn't belong but it felt like a fitting time to ask.

"It is fine." He said, in regards to both his concerns and his own beliefs, wasting neither words nor breath. "Tell me, where are you from?"

There was a peace that seemed to settle over him at having his questions answered and the conversation moved into more relaxed territory. Lynvarr looked to Hattori as the horned man asked where he was from. "I'm from a land called Rhesia, far to the north of Boreas. I was born into the Skaldbjorn Tribe." Where he lived the pack was an unusual structure in that it was essentially formed of four families. Generally, the leader would be elected by the council consisting of a head from each of the families. He wondered what it was like in Hattori's homeland. He assumed that Hattori was also, originally, a stranger to these lands. "What of you?" He was happy to share more and eager to learn as well. His pack had been frequent traders and he'd always been interested in the cultures of others, even if that sometimes came with practices he found distasteful.

Hattori had never heard of Rhesia, but he wasn't exactly surprised by this. Nippon had always taken pride insolating itself, hiding away as though it was some secret corner of the world only available to those who were deemed worthy. Hattori didn't exactly buy into such rhetoric, it was a land like any other with it's own customs, cultures and people who were just trying to get by. Despite their shapes, sizes and features they were all wolves in the end. But he found himself wondering if life in a tribe was much different from a clan, the flavour of the word made it seem almost...barbaric. But even Hattori could sense that was his biases speaking and Lynvarr never came across as a heathen barbarian, or anything equally unpleasant.

"I am from Nippon, a land to the far east." His gaze wandered that way, as if he'd ever possibly be able to see it's distant shores through the thick of the jungle. The fact he'd never see his homeland ever again bothered him sometimes, more than he'd ever say. But it was neither here nor there, finding hints of his home within Ashen helped. "My clan was known as the noble clan of Iga. But I find it interesting how Boreas draws wolves from all cultures and lands, it is very varied."

Lynvarr listened with interest as Hattori spoke of his homeland, Nippon in the far east. An explorer at heart, Lyn was always interested in learning about new lands that he had yet to see with his own eyes. It sounded like there was a similar structure in Hattori's homeland as there was to Lynvarr's if he was interpreting the word 'clan' correctly to mean a family in the way that his was called a 'tribe'. He could see a little bit of that in Boreas with the Klein family but Hattori was right, it seemed Boreas was full of a variety of cultures and territories. He nodded. "Yes, I've often wondered about that myself. Naturally, I haven't explored everywhere but I wonder if Boreas, and to some extent Auster, are centrally located. I've heard of strange lands to the north, east and west of here. Perhaps that is why Boreas seems to be such a mix."

Lynvarr no doubt put more thought into this topic than Hattori had. It was an interesting theory and despite himself his head tipped a little to the side as he mulled it over. Getting here, whilst a long and arduous journey, hadn't been overly difficult or complicated. Even in the wounded and exhausted state he'd been in he'd managed to make his way to Boreas unassisted, constantly watching his back for pursuers. Though none of note had managed to catch his trail so far, it seemed. Hattori shifted his stance, his gaze idly roaming over the canopy above as he followed the line of Lynvarr would be interested in learning more about the world beyond Boreas.

"Would you want to take that interest further?" He asked, looking upon the Samurai once more.

A pair of chickadees were chattering in the tree nearby, catching Lynvarr's attention for a moment as snow was sent tumbling to the ground. The birds shuffled along the branch for a moment before taking off into the air. He turned his focus back to Hattori as the younger man spoke. Lynvarr inclined his head forward just slightly as he pondered what his alpha was suggesting. "How do you mean? If you refer to my interest in exploring, then yes. Exploration was expected of the warriors in my homeland and it is a talent I would happily lend to Ashen." As Lynvarr was from a rough and inhospitable terrain it was fairly common for warriors to go scouting to various lands, often in search of finding targets for raids.Though they also explored for resources as well.

Hattori's ear flicked in a rare show of frustration, he spoke the common tongue well enough and it was rarely an issue but sometimes he found his words didn't come out quite right. Or the in the way he meant. Shifting from more or less solely speaking one language to another in such a short period of time had been a task in and of itself, he'd handled it as he always did but it seemed as though mistakes or differences still slipped through the cracks. Lynvarr seemed agreeable enough and Hattori was quick to explain, or try to at least.

"Not so much exploration of places but...cultures. I thought it would be of interest to you, to learn of and document the different cultures of Boreas. Perhaps you could start with your own people, if you wish."

If not he would allow Lynvarr to follow his own line of thought, knowing where resources were was important in and of itself.

Lynvarr listened as Hattori clarified his intent, expressing his interest in cultures. He had to admit he struggled to follow the alpha's line of thinking. He was from a place north of Boreas and Boreas itself was a mix of cultures though he had only come across a few packs. It was possible some where more homogenous in their beliefs and practices. "Ah, I see. You are interested in some of the cultures that have converged on Boreas? If you wish to know more of mine I am happy to share. I can see what others exist within the packs here. Do you have a list of questions you wish me to ask? Perhaps you can ask them to me about my culture first as practice?" Lynvarr needed a bit of prompting as he hardly knew where to start or what would be of particular interest to Hattori.