As a show of Lion support for Hantei Jama's First Voyage, the younger sister of the current Lion Champion, Akodo Meikuko, has arrived in the Dragon's Guard City. She is still unwed at the very eligible age of eighteen. Due to her brother Ikuo's astounding choice it is now on her to give birth to an Akodo heir, so she is looking for a husband. However, she can neither be swayed toward considering prolonged courtship nor to give special consideration to political convenience. She wants a strong and honourable warrior leader who will sire strong and honourable warrior leaders, and the expeditious nature of the miai the Imperial Matchmaker has arranged for the unwed departing Imperial Explorers suits her just fine, even if her chosen would sail away for months right after. But before she even considers one of them, she has to see for herself what potential suitors are made of in a series of tests she's thought up.

However, Meikuko is not dismissive of claims of male inferiority her Matsu sisters often make, so she lets women take part alongside men to have a comparison. If they prevail against their male counterparts, they can expect to be favoured by the future Lion Champion. However, raised in relative distrust toward shugenja, she is not appreciative of their tricks. Either way, she expects a turnout. If the Imperial Explorers don't prove themselves worthy to her in general, either by weak performance or by cowering from participation, she is likely to re-evaluate Lion support for the corps.