Letters II
by Shawn Carman
Master,
I would never presume to be of such
importance to you that I would be aware of
the true scope and breadth of your plans.
However, I have been of some meager use to
you in the past, and have been honored
beyond words to be made aware of many
long-term plans that you have enacted, many
of which are still in the process of
bearing fruit. It is for that reason and
that reason alone that I am forced to
assume that the events unfolding in the
northernmost reaches of the Empire are not
of your making.
As you have doubtless heard through your
network of contacts, the Winter Court of
the Empress was interrupted by the arrival
of an ambassador from the Badger Clan. This
individual reported sightings of a massive
army of Yobanjin, many of whom appeared to
be wielding some unknown form of fire
magic, massing just outside the
Empire's northern border. After a short
period of contemplation, the Empress
ordered the full withdrawal of the
Shogun's forces from his hunt for our
kinsmen and commanded him to reinforce the
Empire's northern border. Moving the
full force of the Shogunate is no
insignificant undertaking, however, and
before the Shogun and his men could reach
the border, word reached the court of an
assault on the Dragon border by a massive
army, and word that the Northern Towers of
Flame had been overrun.
At first, I believed that this was perhaps
some clever ruse to draw the Shogun's
attention away from our forces, but my
correspondence with Susumu leads me to
believe otherwise. The Advisor continues
his inexplicable ability to get messages
out of the Winter Court, apparently without
detection, although I cannot fathom how.
His letters indicate he believes that the
Empress is aware of his efforts to keep us
informed, but that for whatever reason she
has not yet taken steps to prevent it. I
assume each message will be his last.
Regardless of my correspondence, Susumu has
convinced me that the threat in the north
is not of our manufacture. He believes, and
I have come to agree, that Chosai has
betrayed us for some agenda of his own. I
am loathe to admit my line of thinking in
this matter, my lord, because I fear that
it will displease you, but it is my duty to
present all options to you, regardless of
the controversy they may incite: have we
considered the possibility that this is the
means by which those among our ranks who do
not possess the Taint can gain the amnesty
of the Empress? Having Spider accepted into
the ranks of the Empire could expand our
ability to gather resources and
information.
Whatever your decision, my lord, we must
act quickly. Susumu informs me that the
Great Clan Champions have begun petitioning
for the right to intercede in the north,
and already the Empress is rumored to have
granted the Crab and Lion permission to
send forces to support the Shogun. Our
window of opportunity may be quite
narrow.
Yours eternally,
Daigotsu Usharo
Quote:
Daigotsu Usharo, the False Otomo
Air: 3 Earth: 3 Fire: 3 Water: 2 Void:
3
Awareness 4 Strength 3
School/Rank: Otomo Courtier 2 /
Daigotsu's Legion 1
Honor: 0.5 (2.5 perceived)
Glory: 4.0
Status: 2.5
Advantages: Multiple Schools, Perceived
Honor (2 ranks), Voice
Disadvantage: Indifferent, Overconfident,
Shadowlands Taint (0.1)
Skills: Acting 3, Calligraphy 2, Courtier
(Manipulation) 5, Deceit (Intimidation)
5, Defense 3, Etiquette (Bureaucracy) 3,
Hunting 1, Investigation 3, Jiujutsu 2,
Kenjutsu (Katana) 4, Kyujutsu 1, Lore:
Law 2, Lore: Shadowlands 3, Meditation
2(
Somewhat unique among the Lost, Usharo
was not a samurai or a shugenja before
his fall into darkness; rather, he was a
courtier. Born into the Otomo family,
Usharo realized at a young age that few
samurai were willing to willing to
chastise a member of an Imperial family,
and as such managed to engage in a number
of illicit and decadent activities that
most proper samurai would have
shunned.
Usharo's interests turned darker as
he aged, and by the time he underwent his
gempukku ceremony he had already murdered
more than a dozen women. While he was not
particularly skilled at covering up his
crimes, Usharo was careful to draw his
victims exclusively from the heimin and
eta classes, ensuring that his crimes
could be washed away with a feigned
apology and a handful of koku.
When Otosan Uchi was attacked by
Daigotsu's forces, Usharo did what
any courtier more concerned with his own
life than the wellbeing of the Empire
did; he hid in a ruined temple, emerging
only when the battle was ending.
Unfortunately, the battle was not
completely over, and Usharo was struck in
the leg by a stray arrow.((His hopes of
returning to his comfortable life in the
capital were shattered not once, but
twice; first when he realized the extent
of the damage Daigotsu's army had
inflicted upon Otosan Uchi, and once
again when he noticed the discoloration
seeping out from the obsidian
arrowhead.
With his future as a courtier almost
certainly at an end, Usharo weighed his
options; the discoloration could either
be the result of an infected wound or a
symptom of the shadowlands taint. Ever
the pessimist, Usharo assumed the worst
and joined the Lost as they began the
retreat.
My Lady Ochiai,
I wish to inform you of an action that I
have taken. After some due consideration,
I have a concern that I may have violated
proper protocol, and if that is the case,
then I wish to extend to you my sincerest
apologies as well as my offer to step
down from my recently appointed position
as Master of Air. I believe now, after
the fact, that I should have consulted
the Council of Masters before acting, but
I fear I am accustomed to a considerable
degree of autonomy in my position as one
of the ranking members of the Asako
Inquisitors; in the past, both Asako
Toshi and his successor Asako Bushiken
have given me virtual free reign to
fulfill my duties in whatever manner I
saw fit, and I fear that has led me to
this breach of decorum.
As you are of course aware, my lady,
Masters Nigen and Bairei have worked
together with one of my senior
colleagues, Asako Juro, in an attempt to
exploit what they believe is a celestial
imbalance that can be corrected by mortal
hands. It is an ambitious notion, to be
sure, but one that I personally find of
tremendous interest; I believe that the
potential to remove the influence of the
Dark Oracles is worth the dangers we must
face. And now we have the opportunity to
enact such a thing ourselves. It is too
intriguing to pass up, I feel, and so I
have supported the course of action in
the debates that have raged among the
leadership of the Inquisitors. Our
clan's success against the Dark
Oracle of Earth, and the strong
possibility that no successor of that
sinister position has been created,
should in and of itself be more than
adequate reason to continue. I admit that
I have grave reservations about the
continued use of Isawa Mizuhiko as a
vassal in this plan, but I bow to the
opinion of my fellow Masters in
this.
The action for which you may choose to
censure me, my lady, is that I have
formally requested supplemental troops
from the Lion Clan in our efforts to
combat the next Dark Oracle, whomever
that may be. This news from the northern
border has resulted in an large-scale
mobilization of the Shiba military to the
north, leaving precious little in the way
of support for our efforts. I do not feel
that we can or should rely upon Mizuhiko
and his extraordinarily suspicious blade
to snatch victory from defeat as he did
against Nokatsu.
Regardless of your decision, my lady, I
believe that my course of action was the
correct one. Not only will involving the
Lion allow them the opportunity to avenge
a considerable insult to their own honor,
in the form of the Dark Oracle of Water,
but it will strengthen the relationship
between our two clans and allow a strict
measure of control to supervise our
agents; I can scarcely imagine any Lion
allowing even the chance of corruption to
survive if one of our vassals became
compromised.
Isawa Mitsuko
Master of Air
Quote:
Isawa Mitsuko, Master of Air
Air: 5 Earth: 3 Fire: 3 Water: 2 Void:
4
Intelligence 4 Perception 4
School/Rank: Isawa Shugenja 4 (Air) /
Asako Inquisitor 1
Honor: 3.8
Glory: 6.1
Status: 7.2
Advantages: Higher Purpose,
Irreproachable
Disadvantage: Haunted, Lost Love
Skills: Artisan: Bonsai 3, Calligraphy 4,
Courtier 3, Defense 2, Divination 4,
Etiqutte 4, Investigation 6, Lore: Law 5,
Meditation 5, Spears 2, Spellcraft
(Elemental Knowledge - Air) 7, Theology
(Fortunes, Shintao) 5
The newest appointee to the Council of
Elemental Masters is a relative unknown
among the Phoenix Clan. Perhaps
ironically, she is more well known to
many among other clans than among her own
people, and for good reason: she has
spent the last decade of her life
scouring the lands of others in search of
those who have violated Imperial law and,
more importantly, the Celestial Order
itself. She has many allies, mostly those
whom she has saved from death or disgrace
through the actions of another. However,
she has just as many enemies, those she
has shamed be exposing the sinister
secrets of their kinsmen.
Mitsuko's youth was idyllic. Her
family commanded significant wealth and
influence within the Isawa family, owing
largely to her Asako mother's
brilliant management of her husband's
inheritance. Even as a child, Mitsuko was
especially insightful, and asked her
parents to arrange a marriage with a
childhood friend, a young boy of whom she
was particularly fond, and whose family
had little influence within the Isawa.
Her parents, ever doting, agreed, and an
arrangement was forged that would benefit
the boy's family greatly while
costing Mitsuko's family relatively
little. It was the first of many
charitable acts that the young girl would
convince her parents to perform
throughout her childhood, gaining great
honor for them in the process.
Regrettably, Mitsuko's outlook on
life could not remain as idealistic as it
began. Her betrothed was killed only
three months after the two of them
underwent their gempukku ceremony. The
subsequent investigation discovered that
he had been murdered by a maho-tsukai
that mistakenly believed his relatively
poor status would mean he wouldn't be
missed. Mitsuko requested permission to
join the magistrate who was tasked with
bringing the murderer to justice, but was
denied. She immediately applied to study
with the inquisitors of her mother's
family, and was denied again. She applied
again and again each season until her
zeal finally impressed the Asako lord
enough that she was accepted.
Since becoming an inquisitor, Mitsuko has
hunted all who would violate the laws of
both the gods and man, and destroyed
countless threats. She remains calm and
serene at all times, something that has
broken the resolve of more than one
enemy. She was surprised to discover her
name had been among those chosen by
Tamori Nakamuro to replace him, but she
accepted the appointment all the same,
primarily because it would permit her
greater leeway in selecting the enemies
she would face.
Yoritomo Naizen, Master of the Mantis and
Lord of the Seas
Lord Naizen-sama, it is with great
excitement that I write to you. The words
I lay to paper can only bring joy to you,
and I can think of nothing better than to
be the bearer of such tidings. I wish I
could give you this news in person, but
since you are away at Tempest Island and
I neither feel that the news can wait nor
feel that I can leave this place until my
task is completed. But I am getting ahead
of myself. My apologies.
As you may not be aware, Naizen-sama, I
was among those tasked with the
construction of a new temple at
Tokigogachu. This is to be the first
temple erected in honor of the new Jade
Sun. I know that other clans wanted to be
the ones to erect the first of the type
but it was the Mantis who had the means
to step forward immediately.
It is a great honor and privilege to be
chosen to undertake this task for the
clan, Naizen-sama. I had thought that
this would be the single most important
duty I would be given in my lifetime. If
the name Tsuruchi Akinobu would be
remembered at all, it would be for this.
I thank Yoritomo every day for the
opportunity you have given me, Lord
Naizen. You have given me the chance to
be more than a ronin, serving no greater
purpose than his own selfish existence.
Serving you and the Mantis has given me a
reason to exist. I will never forget that
and I will never give you reason to
question your faith in me.
Now, if I may be so bold, I think that my
prayers of thanks to Yoritomo and the
Jade Sun have been answered in a way
beyond my most feverish imaginings. The
Dragon of Jade has sent a gift, using our
hands as intermediaries. I was overseeing
the construction of the first Temple to
the Jade Sun. The construction was
constantly faced with small failures,
such as ground instability and shifting
weather, but we persevered, refusing to
let such mundane things interfere. As the
last stone was laid I looked ahead to the
opportunity to show you what we had
built. I naively thought you would be
impressed. I had no idea what was to come
and what it would truly mean to be awed
by something.
When the last stone was laid, I called
all of the workers together so that we
could look at what we had achieved when
we felt a presence. It may be
presumptuous of me to say that I think
that the Jade Sun came to visit the first
temple dedicated to its august being, but
I cannot claim anything else.
I am proud to say that the Sun approved
of what we had built. I know this because
the temple felt the touch and before our
eyes every stone in the temple changed.
The dark grey stone changed, slowly, to
green, like the copper that the Lion use.
I approached to find out what had
happened, only to discover something
incredible. The temple every stone had
been transformed into jade.
Can anything be clearer? The Jade Sun has
passed a personal blessing to what we
have built for its own reverence. I now
know the truth behind my existence. I
have lived only for this, my Lord. I live
only to serve.
Tsuruchi Akinobu
Quote:
Tsuruchi Akinobu, Former Ronin
Air: 2 Earth: 4 Fire: 2 Water: 3 Void:
3
Reflexes 3 Agility 3
School/Rank: Ronin Warrior 2 / Yoritomo
Bushi 1
Honor: 2.2
Glory: 1.6
Status: 1.3
Advantages: Hotei's Blessing,
Multiple Schools
Disadvantage:Bad Reputation (former
ronin), Idealistic
Skills: Athletics 2, Battle 1, Commerce
1, Craft: Sailing 1, Defense 3, Hunting
5, Kenjutsu (Katana) 3, Kyujutsu 1,
Peasant Weapons (Kama) 2, Polearms 3,
Spears 5, Stealth 3, Underworld 3
The tale of the former ronin called
Akinobu is not a complicated one. His
birth was to a geisha in one of the least
expensive houses in all of Zakyo Toshi.
When he was close to the age that a
normal child of samurai birth would begin
his training, a stranger came in the
night and left a battered, rusted blade
with his mother, along with a letter
apologizing that his father could not
leave more for his only son. It was the
one and only time that Akinobu ever heard
from his father, or that his mother ever
spoke of him. Despite the possibility
that he could have had a comfortable
existence within Zakyo Toshi, Akinobu
chose instead to venture forth into the
Empire and seek his destiny.
Destiny was not kind to the young ronin.
His entrance into the larger Empire came
at the end of the succession war between
the four heirs of Emperor Toturi I, and
the rampant paranoia and suspicion that
existed between the various clans at that
time meant that every wave man was
suspected of being a spy. Akinobu barely
escaped being put to death in both the
Unicorn and Crane lands, both times for
crimes that he had not committed but that
desperately required a convenient
scapegoat. While fleeing from Doji
magistrates, Akinobu had the tremendous
misfortune to encounter a Tsuruchi bounty
hunter familiar with his case.
Rather than fight, Akinobu surrendered to
the bounty hunter and requested the
opportunity to explain. Bemused, the
Tsuruchi permitted it, and was soon
convinced by the ronin's sincerity
that he was in fact innocent, although
the hunter's own bias against the
Crane did a great deal to make this
decision more palatable. Akinobu was
reported killed to the Crane, and instead
came to earn a meager but honest living
working as a vassal of the Tsuruchi
family. Years later, when the Mantis Clan
Champion gave the command that deserving
ronin were to be offered fealty in order
to swell the clan's flagging ranks,
Akinobu was among those who received such
an offer. Sadly, his almost overwhelming
ineptitude at archery resulted in his
banishment from the Tsuruchi dojo, and he
was trained among the Yoritomo residing
at Kyuden Ashinagabachi instead.
Akinobu is thrilled about his new
existence. He has been on a sailing
vessel only once, during his trip to his
current duty post, but he loves
everything about his life at a Mantis,
and will gladly sacrifice himself for his
new lords if that should ever become
necessary.
Sister,
You and Uncle manage to flourish under
these conditions, Kenji-san, but I am not
too proud to admit that this is pure
torture. How can you keep your balance or
your lunch when the boat rocks and shakes
every second? It takes all my
concentration just to maintain my
composure in front of the others. The
constant swaying doesn't seem to
bother the Mantis sailors, of course, who
watch me with sympathy in their eyes. I
never thought I would see the day that I
would be pitied because I cannot walk
without falling down. It is beyond my
control, yet I cannot help but feel
shamed by my inability to move without
incurring ridicule. But you chose me for
this (rather dubious) honor, and I walk
that path with the dedication this role
deserves. A few stumbles getting used to
the situation, but I haven't incurred
any blood feuds. Yet.
I have been assigned to a ship on the
Mantis fleet. Your father's name is
well remembered, and they treat his niece
with honor and respect. It's not the
biggest kobune in the fleet, but the
captain is well respected by his crew and
every man on board seems to be competent.
I doubt any of them could stand up to you
on the battlefield, but they are
impressive on the seas.
I spend five days of each week on the sea
on various patrols or missions and the
rest on the Mantis islands. Part of the
agreement specified that I would train
under the guidance of one of their sensei
and we began immediately upon my arrival.
Our introduction was rocky. Because of my
youth they did not expect me to be so far
along in my studies. They do not see the
world through the proper perspective, and
while I was respectful of their station
they were insistent on my needing to
change. I had to begin at the most basic
concepts once more. I think I'm
finally beginning to understand.
Because of my presence on this ship, we
only participate in simple maneuvers.
They don't want to give away all of
their secrets, yet occasionally I can
catch a glimpse into the very soul of the
Clan. A week ago, I returned to Kyuden
Gotei for a week of respite from the
treacherous, shaky waters. There I spoke
to several monks tending to a sand garden
a place of true beauty in midst of a sea
of gaudy gaijin architecture. They used
to be of the Tsuruchi family before their
retirement and they said that they had
finally found peace in the world. I made
some trite comment about relaxation
easing the mind and they smiled in
response.
The monks had set up an archery range
behind their monastery where they
practiced every day. I said that they had
returned to the warlike roots to attain
tranquility. They disagreed. They had no
intention of going back onto the
battlefield, yet the very act of
releasing the arrow allowed them to
practice a technique of no mind, where
they felt at one with their surroundings.
In that state, they said, one could find
enlightenment. Tsuba's teachings have
found a place within the Mantis heart and
have given me the opportunity to
understand the Mantis ideals. They follow
the ideals of the samurai in their own
way, no matter how different it may seem
to me.
This was rather more cathartic than I
thought. You can expect a steady
correspondence from me to keep from going
insane over my current situation. You
were right once again, Kenji-san. I
suppose the long years of service that
you possess give you an advantage over a
young girl like me.
Matsu Mikura
Quote:
Matsu Mikura, Confident Prodigy
Air: 2 Earth: 2 Fire: 3 Water: 3 Void:
3
Reflexes 3 Intelligence 3 Strength
4
School/Rank: Matsu Berserker 2
Honor: 3.3
Glory: 1.5
Status: 2.4
Advantages: Dangerous Beauty,
Daredevil
Disadvantage: Contrary
Skills: Athletics 3, Battle (Skirmish) 2,
Defense 3, Games: Fortunes and Winds 3,
Games: Go 2, Games: Kemari 2,
Investigation 1, Jiujutsu 2, Kenjutsu
(Katana) 5, Kyujutsu 1, Lore: History 2,
Lore: Mantis 3, Spears 3
Kata: Striking as Water, The Soul's
Roar
Matsu Mikura is a child barely past her
gempukku but a great responsibility
already weighs on her shoulders.
Relations between the Lion and the Mantis
have soured in previous years. Matsu
Kenji began negotiations to ameliorate
the situation. They decided on an
exchange of warriors; Kenji's cousin
Mikura would train with the Yoritomo to
uphold the Lion's side of the
bargain. Her behavior on the Mantis
islands will determine whether the
relations between the two Great Clans
will improve or worsen.
For all the liability on her shoulders,
Mikura is a normal young woman. While she
is sensitive of the role she must play,
she does not let that knowledge affect
her behavior. She is carefree, happy, and
playful, even when she should be more
deferential to status or blood. She knows
and revels in her youth, participating in
games self-conscious samurai would not
dream of playing.
She is also one of the brightest students
of her generation. She is the youngest to
ever master the advanced abilities of her
school. Her abilities have never been
disputed, but her irreverence has earned
her much censure in the past. Her new
sensei among the Yoritomo strictly punish
her despite her position as guest. Mikura
consciously struggles to curb her wayward
behavior but has made little
headway.
She is a gorgeous girl and will some day
soon grow to be a beautiful woman. She is
unaware of the effect her looks have on
others. Even if she did, she would not
wish to use it as a tool. Her greatest
desire is to fight and die for the Lion
Clan and engrave her deeds in the Ikoma
Histories. She will have her opportunity
in the turbulent times ahead.
