My cousin,
I send you these words now to assure you that all is not as it may seem in the Empire. Yes, we have taken significant losses at Kakita Castle and at Beiden Pass, but do not misunderstand our tactics. Our losses have been minimal compared to the other Clans. One only needs to look at the burning husk that was once Kakita Castle to know that the entire western region of the Crane Clan has no western fortifications, leaving them vulnerable to an attack from the Shadowlands, or from an army advancing from our Provinces. You have probably heard of the Test of the Emerald Champion that was held in the Imperial Palace, and you have also probably heard of the Iaijutsu Master, Kakita Toshimoko, winning the tournament. This has little meaning to our plans. The man is old and vulnerable to a chilly wind or perhaps even a poisoned sip of sake. It is of no significance, my cousin.
Our allies in the Imperial Palace shall take care of the Gray Crane. And lastly, let us speak words of the ronin Toturi. He and his army of Dragons have proven to be quite troublesome. Again, this is no worry to us. As we speak, his army is poised just north of our lands, preparing to starve us out of Yasuki Castle. Little does he know of our army that is moving up from the south or our allies who move in from the north under the cover of night. Imagine his surprise when he faces his childhood friend, Doji Hoturi, leading an army of Shadowlands madmen. I only wish I could see the surprise on his face. The Great Bear awaits to the south to catch the Fallen Lion between the two armies, and then, when he tries to retreat back to Beiden Pass, our lovely ally in the Imperial Palace has made certain that he will find his allies the Unicorn less than willing to give him passage. He will be forced to move north into Lion territory, and there, he will find his Clansmen waiting for him.
All is ready. We have dealt with the samurai who provided us with defeats at Kakita Castle and Beiden Pass. Our alliances have provided us with the force we will need to gain the Emerald Throne within the year. My cousin, prepare for victory!
I send you these words now to assure you that all is not as it may seem in the Empire. Yes, we have taken significant losses at Kakita Castle and at Beiden Pass, but do not misunderstand our tactics. Our losses have been minimal compared to the other Clans. One only needs to look at the burning husk that was once Kakita Castle to know that the entire western region of the Crane Clan has no western fortifications, leaving them vulnerable to an attack from the Shadowlands, or from an army advancing from our Provinces. You have probably heard of the Test of the Emerald Champion that was held in the Imperial Palace, and you have also probably heard of the Iaijutsu Master, Kakita Toshimoko, winning the tournament. This has little meaning to our plans. The man is old and vulnerable to a chilly wind or perhaps even a poisoned sip of sake. It is of no significance, my cousin.
Our allies in the Imperial Palace shall take care of the Gray Crane. And lastly, let us speak words of the ronin Toturi. He and his army of Dragons have proven to be quite troublesome. Again, this is no worry to us. As we speak, his army is poised just north of our lands, preparing to starve us out of Yasuki Castle. Little does he know of our army that is moving up from the south or our allies who move in from the north under the cover of night. Imagine his surprise when he faces his childhood friend, Doji Hoturi, leading an army of Shadowlands madmen. I only wish I could see the surprise on his face. The Great Bear awaits to the south to catch the Fallen Lion between the two armies, and then, when he tries to retreat back to Beiden Pass, our lovely ally in the Imperial Palace has made certain that he will find his allies the Unicorn less than willing to give him passage. He will be forced to move north into Lion territory, and there, he will find his Clansmen waiting for him.
All is ready. We have dealt with the samurai who provided us with defeats at Kakita Castle and Beiden Pass. Our alliances have provided us with the force we will need to gain the Emerald Throne within the year. My cousin, prepare for victory!
Kuni Yori
Dearest ally,
It has only been a month since we faced imminent doom at the hands of the Crab. Luckily for us, the ronin Toturi arrived with his army of Dragons and the Phoenix Shiba Tsukune to assist us in our darkest hour. Toturi left to face the Crab at Beiden Pass, leaving the Phoenix samurai-maiden here at Doji Castle in case the he failed at Beiden. He did not fail and has proceeded to chase the Crab army all the way back to their provinces. Unfortunately, a threat that we had been expecting since the beginning of the war has come to pass. The Lion have invaded from the North, and Tsukune has found her tactical talents put to the test against the Lion Champion, Matsu Tsuko. Only with the use of the most talented shugenja in Rokugan has she been able to keep Tsuko at bay. She is slowly being pushed back, however, and we fear that we may soon lose Doji Castle. We have sent for allies from the Unicorn Clan, but we have not heard any response. Hopefully, our new ally in the Imperial Palace shall assist us in this struggle. Kakita Toshimoko "the Grey Crane" has won the Test of the Emerald Champion, defeating thirteen samurai to become the Emperor's personal champion. It has been two weeks since the tournament, and we have not heard from Lord Kakita as of yet. We suspect the villainous Kachiko has sabotaged our correspondence, but we have no proof.
We have received word from the Palace, however, and it did not come from any official messenger. The masked ronin who arrived just after the Battle at Kakita Palace delivered to the ronin Toturi our Champion, Doji Hoturi. He was thin, sickly and barely clinging to life. The ronin told us that it was the Lady Scorpion who created the impostor with an ancient and magical egg. Lord Doji insisted in his drugged and delusional state that he had killed the Lady Scorpion just before his escape, but we cannot be sure. Have faith, my ally. Soon, the Unicorns will arrive and we will be delivered from the fury of the Lion. We have sent messengers to Toturi to ask for his assistance as well. Since the Unicorn control Beiden Pass, he will not have to go north to ride about the Lion lands, thus cutting his travel time by weeks. In the meantime, Doji Yosai stands with Shiba Tsukune, and together with shugenja and samurai, they will hold off the Lion until assistance arrives.
It has only been a month since we faced imminent doom at the hands of the Crab. Luckily for us, the ronin Toturi arrived with his army of Dragons and the Phoenix Shiba Tsukune to assist us in our darkest hour. Toturi left to face the Crab at Beiden Pass, leaving the Phoenix samurai-maiden here at Doji Castle in case the he failed at Beiden. He did not fail and has proceeded to chase the Crab army all the way back to their provinces. Unfortunately, a threat that we had been expecting since the beginning of the war has come to pass. The Lion have invaded from the North, and Tsukune has found her tactical talents put to the test against the Lion Champion, Matsu Tsuko. Only with the use of the most talented shugenja in Rokugan has she been able to keep Tsuko at bay. She is slowly being pushed back, however, and we fear that we may soon lose Doji Castle. We have sent for allies from the Unicorn Clan, but we have not heard any response. Hopefully, our new ally in the Imperial Palace shall assist us in this struggle. Kakita Toshimoko "the Grey Crane" has won the Test of the Emerald Champion, defeating thirteen samurai to become the Emperor's personal champion. It has been two weeks since the tournament, and we have not heard from Lord Kakita as of yet. We suspect the villainous Kachiko has sabotaged our correspondence, but we have no proof.
We have received word from the Palace, however, and it did not come from any official messenger. The masked ronin who arrived just after the Battle at Kakita Palace delivered to the ronin Toturi our Champion, Doji Hoturi. He was thin, sickly and barely clinging to life. The ronin told us that it was the Lady Scorpion who created the impostor with an ancient and magical egg. Lord Doji insisted in his drugged and delusional state that he had killed the Lady Scorpion just before his escape, but we cannot be sure. Have faith, my ally. Soon, the Unicorns will arrive and we will be delivered from the fury of the Lion. We have sent messengers to Toturi to ask for his assistance as well. Since the Unicorn control Beiden Pass, he will not have to go north to ride about the Lion lands, thus cutting his travel time by weeks. In the meantime, Doji Yosai stands with Shiba Tsukune, and together with shugenja and samurai, they will hold off the Lion until assistance arrives.
Kakita Yuri
Brother,
The wind brings news from all corners of the Empire. To the west, our brother Daini returns with ancient allies. From the east, we hear news of the Test of the Emerald Champion. To the north, the Phoenix tell of the Black Scrolls and to the south, our scouts bring news of the actions of our army and the ronin Toturi.
With instruction from the Fallen Lion, our brother Daini has returned with the Naga. His messengers tell us that he does battle with the Shadowlands and their shugenja-general, the twisted and corrupted Yogo Junzo. Daini tells us he has learned much of the Shadowlands in his battles, and his knowledge will prove to be invaluable.
As for the east, we have learned of the Lady Scorpion's attempt to put our own Mirumoto Hitomi into the Emerald Armor. Our battle-sister has fallen under the Lady Scorpion's sway, her poisoned tongue has darkened young Hitomi's heart and filled it with dreams of revenge. However, it was not Hitomi who won the tournament, but the Gray Crane, Kakita Toshimoko. Even with the ancient power of the Obsidian Hand, Hitomi was unable to defeat the Iaijutsu Master, and only the magic of the Hand was able to save her life.
With the finding of the Obsidion Hand also comes the finding of the Black Scrolls. You know now that it was the shugenja Yogo Juzno who opened the First Scroll, and the prophecy speaks, "When the First is opened, so shall follow the others." The Phoenix Elemental Masters have taken to studying the power of the scrolls, but they have found themselves being corrupted by their power. We must not hear the Scrolls' siren song and find ourselves tempted by their power as the Phoenix have done. They will find the secrets the Empire must know, but we must remain pure from their influence, for only purity may save us now.
And do not forget Toturi in the south. Our Champion gave to him the Fan of Command and chose him to lead our armies. We have much to learn from his knowledge of tactics and strategy. He has taken Togashi Mitsu as his advisor, and with his knowledge, they shall make our army into a deadly force.
Be faithful. Be true. A dark time is coming, and we must be strong. And when the darkness of midnight fall upon us, remember that you are Dragon. You are never alone.
The wind brings news from all corners of the Empire. To the west, our brother Daini returns with ancient allies. From the east, we hear news of the Test of the Emerald Champion. To the north, the Phoenix tell of the Black Scrolls and to the south, our scouts bring news of the actions of our army and the ronin Toturi.
With instruction from the Fallen Lion, our brother Daini has returned with the Naga. His messengers tell us that he does battle with the Shadowlands and their shugenja-general, the twisted and corrupted Yogo Junzo. Daini tells us he has learned much of the Shadowlands in his battles, and his knowledge will prove to be invaluable.
As for the east, we have learned of the Lady Scorpion's attempt to put our own Mirumoto Hitomi into the Emerald Armor. Our battle-sister has fallen under the Lady Scorpion's sway, her poisoned tongue has darkened young Hitomi's heart and filled it with dreams of revenge. However, it was not Hitomi who won the tournament, but the Gray Crane, Kakita Toshimoko. Even with the ancient power of the Obsidian Hand, Hitomi was unable to defeat the Iaijutsu Master, and only the magic of the Hand was able to save her life.
With the finding of the Obsidion Hand also comes the finding of the Black Scrolls. You know now that it was the shugenja Yogo Juzno who opened the First Scroll, and the prophecy speaks, "When the First is opened, so shall follow the others." The Phoenix Elemental Masters have taken to studying the power of the scrolls, but they have found themselves being corrupted by their power. We must not hear the Scrolls' siren song and find ourselves tempted by their power as the Phoenix have done. They will find the secrets the Empire must know, but we must remain pure from their influence, for only purity may save us now.
And do not forget Toturi in the south. Our Champion gave to him the Fan of Command and chose him to lead our armies. We have much to learn from his knowledge of tactics and strategy. He has taken Togashi Mitsu as his advisor, and with his knowledge, they shall make our army into a deadly force.
Be faithful. Be true. A dark time is coming, and we must be strong. And when the darkness of midnight fall upon us, remember that you are Dragon. You are never alone.
Togashi Yoshi
Brother-in-arms, There is much to speak of, and not enough time. I shall be succinct.
The ronin Toturi has evaded our wrath for two years, but no longer. You know that he has come out of hiding from the Dragon Keeps and now leads their army against the Crab. He defeated them at Beiden Pass and now hopes to starve them out of Yasuki Palace on the fringes of their provinces. But what is waiting for Toturi in the lands of the Crab is a trap. He thinks that he must only face Yakamo, but he is wrong. Hida Kisada, the Great Bear himself, is also waiting for him, along with armies of dark legions from the west. While we do not publicly approve of such actions, we know that the Shadowlands army will cause Toturi to retreat to Beiden Pass, and when he does, he will find the Unicorn army he left there to guard it not as friendly as when he left it. We have made a pact with the Unicorn: If they assist us in destroying Toturi, we shall give them half the Crane lands we shall capture. Also, a hidden Scorpion army led by Toturi's childhood friend, the Crane Champion Doji Hoturi, is waiting in the north for his retreat. Toturi is trapped on all sides.
In the meantime, our Champion is laying waste to the Crane armies. With the help of the Crab, we managed to destroy Kakita Castle, and now she lays siege to Doji Castle. Only the pathetic armies of the Crane are there to protect their lands. An upstart army of Phoenix is also there, led by the samurai-maiden Shiba Tsukune. Of course, I need not tell you of her crimes against our Clan. Soon, both she and the Crane will be finished and we shall divide their lands with the Unicorn for their trust and alliance. As for the rumors that it was the Lady Scorpion who "created a false Hoturi" we can only say that the Crane have been driven to great lengths if they expect the Empire to believe such a lie. Lady Kachiko has spoken with our Champion, and assured her that the Crane have lost favor with the Emperor and that we are his most favored. It was also Lady Kachiko who suggested the alliance with the Unicorn, and she has urged Lady Matsu to take quick action against the Crane before they are able to re-establish communication with the rest of the Clans; we have done so. The war is nearly finished. The Crab and Dragon will destroy each other and the naive Unicorn will be at our beck and call as the Phoenix drive themselves to darkness with their "Black Scrolls." The Throne is safe and we shall be sitting on both sides of the Emerald Throne, as it should have been since the beginning.
The ronin Toturi has evaded our wrath for two years, but no longer. You know that he has come out of hiding from the Dragon Keeps and now leads their army against the Crab. He defeated them at Beiden Pass and now hopes to starve them out of Yasuki Palace on the fringes of their provinces. But what is waiting for Toturi in the lands of the Crab is a trap. He thinks that he must only face Yakamo, but he is wrong. Hida Kisada, the Great Bear himself, is also waiting for him, along with armies of dark legions from the west. While we do not publicly approve of such actions, we know that the Shadowlands army will cause Toturi to retreat to Beiden Pass, and when he does, he will find the Unicorn army he left there to guard it not as friendly as when he left it. We have made a pact with the Unicorn: If they assist us in destroying Toturi, we shall give them half the Crane lands we shall capture. Also, a hidden Scorpion army led by Toturi's childhood friend, the Crane Champion Doji Hoturi, is waiting in the north for his retreat. Toturi is trapped on all sides.
In the meantime, our Champion is laying waste to the Crane armies. With the help of the Crab, we managed to destroy Kakita Castle, and now she lays siege to Doji Castle. Only the pathetic armies of the Crane are there to protect their lands. An upstart army of Phoenix is also there, led by the samurai-maiden Shiba Tsukune. Of course, I need not tell you of her crimes against our Clan. Soon, both she and the Crane will be finished and we shall divide their lands with the Unicorn for their trust and alliance. As for the rumors that it was the Lady Scorpion who "created a false Hoturi" we can only say that the Crane have been driven to great lengths if they expect the Empire to believe such a lie. Lady Kachiko has spoken with our Champion, and assured her that the Crane have lost favor with the Emperor and that we are his most favored. It was also Lady Kachiko who suggested the alliance with the Unicorn, and she has urged Lady Matsu to take quick action against the Crane before they are able to re-establish communication with the rest of the Clans; we have done so. The war is nearly finished. The Crab and Dragon will destroy each other and the naive Unicorn will be at our beck and call as the Phoenix drive themselves to darkness with their "Black Scrolls." The Throne is safe and we shall be sitting on both sides of the Emerald Throne, as it should have been since the beginning.
Matsu Hirotu
Dearest Cousin,
It has been a long journey, but we finally arrived in the capital of Rokugan. Our guide, the young Mirumoto Daini, has never visited here either, and so I find my own enthusiasm reflected in his eyes. But something disturbs me greatly, for I see my own hesitation there as well. When we first arrived, we were not greeted by the Emperor, but by his bride, the Lady Bayushi. She was quite charming, although evasive. She explained that the Emperor was very ill, and could not be seen, for the illness could be passed on to others. I expressed my deepest sympathies to her, and I think I saw her grin, but I cannot be certain.
There is much news of the Empire that I must impart to you, cousin. Everything is as we feared. Instead of acknowledging the imminent danger of the darklands, they have decided to fight amongst each other, thus allowing the creatures of that place to organize. Because I cannot speak to the Emperor (who seems to be incapable of assissting us, anyway), I shall address each of these family patriarchs individually, expressing to them our concerns. These "Clans" must listen to reason. If they do not, both of our civilizations will be lost.
We spent only a few days in the palace before we acted upon my decision to meet with the other Clans. Daini has told me that he is uncertain whether we shall be able to meet up with his Lord Akodo Toturi. Since the Crab Clan has attacked and destroyed Kakita Palace, their army has been forced back to Beiden Pass, the crossroads of the Empire. The battle there is desperate, with nearly all of the Clans struggling to gain access to the all-important crossroads.Whoever gains the territory will gain a significant tactical advantage. Currently, it is Hida Yakamo and his brother Sukune who control the pass, but I understand the Phoenix samurai-maiden Shiba Tsukune has proven to be a mighty opponent.
There is more news, my cousin. One of the Champions has proven to be a traitor. The Crane Clan Champion, Doji Hoturi has been seen leading an army of dead men across the Empire, striking down temples and villages wherever he goes. It is obvious that he has been corrupted by the power of the darkland, and he must be stopped at all costs.
So much to say, and so little time. Already, we are overlooking the palace of the Matsu family. Daini tells me their champion, Matsu Tsuko, is a mighty warrior. I only hope that he also has a wise heart in his chest.
It has been a long journey, but we finally arrived in the capital of Rokugan. Our guide, the young Mirumoto Daini, has never visited here either, and so I find my own enthusiasm reflected in his eyes. But something disturbs me greatly, for I see my own hesitation there as well. When we first arrived, we were not greeted by the Emperor, but by his bride, the Lady Bayushi. She was quite charming, although evasive. She explained that the Emperor was very ill, and could not be seen, for the illness could be passed on to others. I expressed my deepest sympathies to her, and I think I saw her grin, but I cannot be certain.
There is much news of the Empire that I must impart to you, cousin. Everything is as we feared. Instead of acknowledging the imminent danger of the darklands, they have decided to fight amongst each other, thus allowing the creatures of that place to organize. Because I cannot speak to the Emperor (who seems to be incapable of assissting us, anyway), I shall address each of these family patriarchs individually, expressing to them our concerns. These "Clans" must listen to reason. If they do not, both of our civilizations will be lost.
We spent only a few days in the palace before we acted upon my decision to meet with the other Clans. Daini has told me that he is uncertain whether we shall be able to meet up with his Lord Akodo Toturi. Since the Crab Clan has attacked and destroyed Kakita Palace, their army has been forced back to Beiden Pass, the crossroads of the Empire. The battle there is desperate, with nearly all of the Clans struggling to gain access to the all-important crossroads.Whoever gains the territory will gain a significant tactical advantage. Currently, it is Hida Yakamo and his brother Sukune who control the pass, but I understand the Phoenix samurai-maiden Shiba Tsukune has proven to be a mighty opponent.
There is more news, my cousin. One of the Champions has proven to be a traitor. The Crane Clan Champion, Doji Hoturi has been seen leading an army of dead men across the Empire, striking down temples and villages wherever he goes. It is obvious that he has been corrupted by the power of the darkland, and he must be stopped at all costs.
So much to say, and so little time. Already, we are overlooking the palace of the Matsu family. Daini tells me their champion, Matsu Tsuko, is a mighty warrior. I only hope that he also has a wise heart in his chest.
Until Peace Reigns
Dashmar
Greetings and good fortune to you in this dark time. We have so much to tell and with the Empire in flames, there is no time to speak of it.
Firstly, we must tell you of our army in the Crane lands. Shiba Tsukune has done well. Her training with Akodo Kage in the arts of warfare and Kakita Toshimoko in the art of kenjutsu have proven to be invaluable. With the shugenja we provided her, her samurai have been able to stifle the attacks of Matsu Tsuko in the Crane territories. She cannot hold out forever, but she can hold out long enough for us to ask the Unicorn for assistance. The messengers we sent to the Unicorn Clan have not returned, and we are beginning to worry. Perhaps they have been intercepted by the Shadowlands army we hear is marching upon them. We have sent Isawa Uona, the Master of Air, to investigate.
The Master of Fire was at the tournament held by the Emperor's bride to determine the new Emerald Champion. At the beginning of the tournament, it seemed as if the Dragon samurai-maiden Mirumoto Hitomi would win the contest. That was when Isawa Tsuke noticed that Lady Hitomi was wearing the Obsidian Hand of the Scorpion Clan, and Lady Kachiko's plan became clear to him. He knew no samurai present could defeat a Dragon with the Obsidian Hand. But before he could take any action, another samurai appeared at the tournament, an uninvited samurai who none could deny entrance: Kakita Toshimoko, the Crane Iaijutsu Master. He was able to defeat Mirumoto Hitomi and only the magic of the Obsidian Hand saved her life. Now a Crane wears the Emerald Armor of the Emperor's Champion, and he guards the life of the Emperor against all harm.
We must now speak of the Black Scrolls. No doubt you have heard of them, and it is true the first of them has been opened by the Scorpion shugenja Yogo Junzo. It was the Scorpions' duty to guard the Scrolls, and it seems they have failed in that duty. Our Master of Earth has recently returned from the Shadowlands with three of the Scrolls and he has been diligent in deciphering their power. Unfortunately, we fear that he may also have acquired the Shadowlands sickness as well. Every day, his face becomes more drawn. His skin has become ashen and his eyes dark. We have forbid him from touching the Scrolls further, but he has gained such knowledge of the Shadowlands creatures and he insists that he must learn more. We fear for him and the rest of our Shugenja. Be warned, my friend. Dark power has a darker price.
Firstly, we must tell you of our army in the Crane lands. Shiba Tsukune has done well. Her training with Akodo Kage in the arts of warfare and Kakita Toshimoko in the art of kenjutsu have proven to be invaluable. With the shugenja we provided her, her samurai have been able to stifle the attacks of Matsu Tsuko in the Crane territories. She cannot hold out forever, but she can hold out long enough for us to ask the Unicorn for assistance. The messengers we sent to the Unicorn Clan have not returned, and we are beginning to worry. Perhaps they have been intercepted by the Shadowlands army we hear is marching upon them. We have sent Isawa Uona, the Master of Air, to investigate.
The Master of Fire was at the tournament held by the Emperor's bride to determine the new Emerald Champion. At the beginning of the tournament, it seemed as if the Dragon samurai-maiden Mirumoto Hitomi would win the contest. That was when Isawa Tsuke noticed that Lady Hitomi was wearing the Obsidian Hand of the Scorpion Clan, and Lady Kachiko's plan became clear to him. He knew no samurai present could defeat a Dragon with the Obsidian Hand. But before he could take any action, another samurai appeared at the tournament, an uninvited samurai who none could deny entrance: Kakita Toshimoko, the Crane Iaijutsu Master. He was able to defeat Mirumoto Hitomi and only the magic of the Obsidian Hand saved her life. Now a Crane wears the Emerald Armor of the Emperor's Champion, and he guards the life of the Emperor against all harm.
We must now speak of the Black Scrolls. No doubt you have heard of them, and it is true the first of them has been opened by the Scorpion shugenja Yogo Junzo. It was the Scorpions' duty to guard the Scrolls, and it seems they have failed in that duty. Our Master of Earth has recently returned from the Shadowlands with three of the Scrolls and he has been diligent in deciphering their power. Unfortunately, we fear that he may also have acquired the Shadowlands sickness as well. Every day, his face becomes more drawn. His skin has become ashen and his eyes dark. We have forbid him from touching the Scrolls further, but he has gained such knowledge of the Shadowlands creatures and he insists that he must learn more. We fear for him and the rest of our Shugenja. Be warned, my friend. Dark power has a darker price.
Isawa Tomo
My best beloved one,
I am writing you from my home-I mean, my husband's home-here in the Imperial Palace. There is much work to do and I do not have the time to express to you all the concern I have for the direction of the events in the Empire. My greatest concern, of course, is for Lord Doji and his present condition. I must admit to to having contributed to his madness.. If only I had not allowed him to see my husband, perhaps the plague would not have affected his senses the way it did. So far, the fortunes have seen fit to keep my person safe from the vengeful touch of the plague, but Lord Doji was not so fortunate.
Of course, I am also concerned about the activities of the ronin Toturi. I have spoken with Hida Kisada about his actions, and have arranged for the Fallen Lion's influence to be removed from the picture.
Toturi has been quite troublesome. He has spread a rumor that I was responsible for Lord Doji's madness, and that I have manipulated the Unicorn to serve my wishes. Nothing could be further from the truth. When the Unicorn ambassador Lord Tadaji arrived for the Test of the Emerald Champion, we spoke extensively on the subject of Lord Toturi and the treachery that the Crane have spread across the Empire. He agreed that the Crane have been less than honest in the past and could not be trusted in such a time as this. He agreed to keep his cavalry from assisting the Crane in their present dilemma, and to keep Toturi from aiding them by protecting Beiden Pass.
Of course, the Lion have also been very agreeable. Once they saw the damage the Crab inflicted, they agreed that it would be child's play to destroy Doji Castle, thus putting an end to the Crane threat to the Throne. Every man, woman and child in Rokugan knows that the Crane wish nothing more than to have a Doji sitting on the Emerald Throne, and I only made certain that such a thing would never come to pass. As I write these words, Lady Matsu is laying siege to the Crane lands, hampered only by the Phoenix samurai-maiden Lady Tsukune and her army of shugenja. I must find a way to convince the Phoenix to remove her from the Crane lands. Perhaps if Lord Ujimitsu paid me a visit, I could convince him of the validity of such actions.
Everything is going as planned, my beloved. Toturi is marching his army into a trap, the Unicorn have promised to protect the Pass and Hida Kisada is even now marching his army toward the Palace. The strength of the Great Bear has impressed me, more so, dare I say, than the strength of Lord Doji. And since Kisada's lovely wife was recently found to be the victim of a ninja's poison, he will certainly be looking for warm company on the cold winter nights that will be arriving soon.
I am writing you from my home-I mean, my husband's home-here in the Imperial Palace. There is much work to do and I do not have the time to express to you all the concern I have for the direction of the events in the Empire. My greatest concern, of course, is for Lord Doji and his present condition. I must admit to to having contributed to his madness.. If only I had not allowed him to see my husband, perhaps the plague would not have affected his senses the way it did. So far, the fortunes have seen fit to keep my person safe from the vengeful touch of the plague, but Lord Doji was not so fortunate.
Of course, I am also concerned about the activities of the ronin Toturi. I have spoken with Hida Kisada about his actions, and have arranged for the Fallen Lion's influence to be removed from the picture.
Toturi has been quite troublesome. He has spread a rumor that I was responsible for Lord Doji's madness, and that I have manipulated the Unicorn to serve my wishes. Nothing could be further from the truth. When the Unicorn ambassador Lord Tadaji arrived for the Test of the Emerald Champion, we spoke extensively on the subject of Lord Toturi and the treachery that the Crane have spread across the Empire. He agreed that the Crane have been less than honest in the past and could not be trusted in such a time as this. He agreed to keep his cavalry from assisting the Crane in their present dilemma, and to keep Toturi from aiding them by protecting Beiden Pass.
Of course, the Lion have also been very agreeable. Once they saw the damage the Crab inflicted, they agreed that it would be child's play to destroy Doji Castle, thus putting an end to the Crane threat to the Throne. Every man, woman and child in Rokugan knows that the Crane wish nothing more than to have a Doji sitting on the Emerald Throne, and I only made certain that such a thing would never come to pass. As I write these words, Lady Matsu is laying siege to the Crane lands, hampered only by the Phoenix samurai-maiden Lady Tsukune and her army of shugenja. I must find a way to convince the Phoenix to remove her from the Crane lands. Perhaps if Lord Ujimitsu paid me a visit, I could convince him of the validity of such actions.
Everything is going as planned, my beloved. Toturi is marching his army into a trap, the Unicorn have promised to protect the Pass and Hida Kisada is even now marching his army toward the Palace. The strength of the Great Bear has impressed me, more so, dare I say, than the strength of Lord Doji. And since Kisada's lovely wife was recently found to be the victim of a ninja's poison, he will certainly be looking for warm company on the cold winter nights that will be arriving soon.
Bayushi Kachiko
May the winds bring good fortune to you.
At last, we have found allies in this war! The Lion Clan has stepped forward and offered us much land in exchange for an alliance and we have accepted. The agreement is simple. We are to prevent any army from moving through Beiden Pass, and in exchange, we shall be given lands in the south for our services. The ronin Toturi has been a valuable ally; however, as the Lady Kachiko has told us, associating with a dishonored ronin will not improve our position in the Empire. We have left Shinjo Yasamura at Beiden to prevent any movement into the Pass.
You may also have heard of the Test of the Emerald Champion. That is where we met the Lady Kachiko for the first time. She was a generous hostess and impressed our diplomats greatly. We have heard tales of her bravery in protecting the Emperor from assassination, but imagine our surprise when her bodyguard, Bayushi Aramoro, saved Ide Tadaji from a ninja assassination attempt! We were unable to identify the assassin because he destroyed his own features with his climbing gear before Lord Aramoro could catch him, but we are in debt to the Lady Kachiko and her brave bodyguard. We then witnessed the Crane Iaijutsu Master's daring victory over the Dragon samurai-maiden for the position of Emerald Champion, a brilliant duel that put a Crane in the position of the Emperor's personal champion. Ide said he thought the Lady Scorpion was a bit disappointed by this surprise victory, but we also understand how the long rivalry between the Scorpion Clan and the Crane Clan could still hold resentment in Lady Kachiko's heart. It must be said that we, too have some animosity for the Crane. Their Champion has gone mad and is now leading Shadowlands armies against our own fortifications in the southern regions of our provinces. Kakita Yoshi assured Ide Tadaji that it was not Lord Hoturi, but that is difficult to believe when Otaku Kamoko says she saw him with her own eyes. We have been warned by the Lion and the Crab about the treacherous ways of the Crane, and when Lady Kachiko reluctantly agreed that she has found reason to doubt the word of Cranes in the past, we knew that we should not trust them. They have sent us messengers asking us for assistance, but we have refused to answer them. The Lion have promised us that they will be merciful with the Crane, and that we shall inherit half their lands when the war is over. In the meantime, we have much to worry about in the south. Lord Doji and his army of ghouls must be stopped, and we are the only army capable of doing so. Keep well, and we shall speak more later.
At last, we have found allies in this war! The Lion Clan has stepped forward and offered us much land in exchange for an alliance and we have accepted. The agreement is simple. We are to prevent any army from moving through Beiden Pass, and in exchange, we shall be given lands in the south for our services. The ronin Toturi has been a valuable ally; however, as the Lady Kachiko has told us, associating with a dishonored ronin will not improve our position in the Empire. We have left Shinjo Yasamura at Beiden to prevent any movement into the Pass.
You may also have heard of the Test of the Emerald Champion. That is where we met the Lady Kachiko for the first time. She was a generous hostess and impressed our diplomats greatly. We have heard tales of her bravery in protecting the Emperor from assassination, but imagine our surprise when her bodyguard, Bayushi Aramoro, saved Ide Tadaji from a ninja assassination attempt! We were unable to identify the assassin because he destroyed his own features with his climbing gear before Lord Aramoro could catch him, but we are in debt to the Lady Kachiko and her brave bodyguard. We then witnessed the Crane Iaijutsu Master's daring victory over the Dragon samurai-maiden for the position of Emerald Champion, a brilliant duel that put a Crane in the position of the Emperor's personal champion. Ide said he thought the Lady Scorpion was a bit disappointed by this surprise victory, but we also understand how the long rivalry between the Scorpion Clan and the Crane Clan could still hold resentment in Lady Kachiko's heart. It must be said that we, too have some animosity for the Crane. Their Champion has gone mad and is now leading Shadowlands armies against our own fortifications in the southern regions of our provinces. Kakita Yoshi assured Ide Tadaji that it was not Lord Hoturi, but that is difficult to believe when Otaku Kamoko says she saw him with her own eyes. We have been warned by the Lion and the Crab about the treacherous ways of the Crane, and when Lady Kachiko reluctantly agreed that she has found reason to doubt the word of Cranes in the past, we knew that we should not trust them. They have sent us messengers asking us for assistance, but we have refused to answer them. The Lion have promised us that they will be merciful with the Crane, and that we shall inherit half their lands when the war is over. In the meantime, we have much to worry about in the south. Lord Doji and his army of ghouls must be stopped, and we are the only army capable of doing so. Keep well, and we shall speak more later.
Shinjo Yokatsu
I have no time for pleasantries as we are readying ourselves for movement as I write, but I will try to tell you all I have learned. You last letter was very enlightening, and I will try to complement the information you sent to me. And please, I must ask that you no longer speak my family name. I am Akodo no longer.
I have encountered the Crab army on three occasions, and on all three, I have managed to force their retreat. I must admit that I cannot take complete responsibility for our army's victory. These Dragons have taught me much since I joined their ranks. Under the tutelage of Sensei Kage, I learned all the traditional methods of warfare, but these Dragons (especially the tattooed man Togashi Mitsu) have shown me the virtue of unorthodox tactics. I have always regarded the use of shugenja to be over valued by the armies of the Phoenix and Dragon, and now I understand why they are so prevalent.
I have heard that the Gray Crane has won the Emerald Armor. That has an ironic poetry to it. Now, with Lord Kakita guarding the Emperor, I wonder how much influence the Lady Scorpion will have with our beloved Hantei-sama. I also heard Mirumoto Hitomi was there. She disappeared from my ranks after the Battle at Beiden Pass when she severed the hand from Kisada's son, Yakamo. The Crab samurai was lucky he escaped with his life. I must also briefly mention the condition of Lord Doji. You must trust me, my friend, the man who is waiting for me in the north is not the Crane Champion. He is an impostor, and I know this because I have seen my old friend and heard the tale from his own lips. He was delivered to me on a moonless night by a masked ronin who disappeared as quickly as he appeared. Lord Doji said that she used some kind of magical egg, and when Mitsu heard the tale, he told me he knew the thing's name. He called it the 'Egg of Pan Ku' and shuddered when he mentioned it. I have often admired the courage of Togashi Mitsu and have never seen him shudder before. I did not like the look of it.
When I speak of this next thing, I must tell you that I am trusting you more than any other I have ever trusted, my friend, but there is something that you must know. A secret ally I have in the Matsu house has told me that they await us to retreat north to Beiden Pass where an ambush has been prepared. The false Hoturi waits in the north, another Shadowlands army waits in the east and the Unicorns will not let us pass through Beiden. We will be forced to march to the North into Lion lands where Lady Matsu waits with her finest samurai. I do not know how I will survive through this trap alone. I have sent Daini to the west to seek out allies. He has not yet returned. I am hoping that the false Hoturi's army has not caught him; I will need the strength I sent him for soon. All my hope goes with this letter. May the Seven Fortunes deliver it safely to your hands. Have faith, and I will speak to you again as soon as I can. Long live the Emperor!
I have encountered the Crab army on three occasions, and on all three, I have managed to force their retreat. I must admit that I cannot take complete responsibility for our army's victory. These Dragons have taught me much since I joined their ranks. Under the tutelage of Sensei Kage, I learned all the traditional methods of warfare, but these Dragons (especially the tattooed man Togashi Mitsu) have shown me the virtue of unorthodox tactics. I have always regarded the use of shugenja to be over valued by the armies of the Phoenix and Dragon, and now I understand why they are so prevalent.
I have heard that the Gray Crane has won the Emerald Armor. That has an ironic poetry to it. Now, with Lord Kakita guarding the Emperor, I wonder how much influence the Lady Scorpion will have with our beloved Hantei-sama. I also heard Mirumoto Hitomi was there. She disappeared from my ranks after the Battle at Beiden Pass when she severed the hand from Kisada's son, Yakamo. The Crab samurai was lucky he escaped with his life. I must also briefly mention the condition of Lord Doji. You must trust me, my friend, the man who is waiting for me in the north is not the Crane Champion. He is an impostor, and I know this because I have seen my old friend and heard the tale from his own lips. He was delivered to me on a moonless night by a masked ronin who disappeared as quickly as he appeared. Lord Doji said that she used some kind of magical egg, and when Mitsu heard the tale, he told me he knew the thing's name. He called it the 'Egg of Pan Ku' and shuddered when he mentioned it. I have often admired the courage of Togashi Mitsu and have never seen him shudder before. I did not like the look of it.
When I speak of this next thing, I must tell you that I am trusting you more than any other I have ever trusted, my friend, but there is something that you must know. A secret ally I have in the Matsu house has told me that they await us to retreat north to Beiden Pass where an ambush has been prepared. The false Hoturi waits in the north, another Shadowlands army waits in the east and the Unicorns will not let us pass through Beiden. We will be forced to march to the North into Lion lands where Lady Matsu waits with her finest samurai. I do not know how I will survive through this trap alone. I have sent Daini to the west to seek out allies. He has not yet returned. I am hoping that the false Hoturi's army has not caught him; I will need the strength I sent him for soon. All my hope goes with this letter. May the Seven Fortunes deliver it safely to your hands. Have faith, and I will speak to you again as soon as I can. Long live the Emperor!
Toturi
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