Crab | Crane | Dragon | Lion | Monks | Phoenix | Naga | Scorpion | Shadowlands | Toturi | Unicorn | Yoritomo | ?
Other Clan Letters: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13
My lords,
I have a strange tale to tell you,
You have heard, I am sure, of the Ghost of the Twilight Mountains, the myth of the mountains to our north. It is a children's story of superstition and lies, a Scorpion's fable to frighten the courtiers in the winter night. My lord, it is a myth, as you have told me before. The bloodied footsteps I have seen at the passes to the north are no more than illusions. They are falsehoods - made by mountain lions, not angry spirits. Of course, you are right.
The children, their clothing and toys strewn in the shallow stream, are not missing. I am certain they have made it home to their families by now. There are no mothers weeping, no blood runs in the small pools by the riverside. The claw marks on the sides of the huts are caused by no more than the settling of the thatch - cracks in the mud are nothing more.
All is well in our northern villages, near the borders of the dead Clan of the Boar. All is well in the empty houses, in the unworked fields and the quiet fisheries. No peasant has asked for my aid. None of your guards, posted to the watchtowers that once overlooked Kyuden Heichi, has lit the watchfires to summon our troops.
It is silent, cold, and barren. There are no screams, my Lord. Whoever told you that must have been misinformed. Heichi Tekisetu's tales of the Saigoki Doku are, as you said, meaningless lies.
There are no dead bodies anymore, Hida-sama. I request to come home and be stationed on the Kaiu Wall. There is nothing left here to discover.
Hiruma Yugure
Sons of Doji, Daughters of Kakita, No more blood is to be shed on the fields of the Crane.
Though the war is not ended, the battles are to be stopped. Our noble champion, Doji Kuwanan, has agreed to meet with the betrayer, Uji, at captured Shiro no Yojin. Whatever the outcome of their discussion, the Crane will fight no more.
Now it is the duty of the courtiers to heal the wounds that was has brought, and then we must turn our attack against the mysterious Shadow, which has brought the moon itself to earth and destroyed the honor of our empire. Worse, numerous Crane villages have fallen, vanished completely, all across our border with the Crab and the southern edge of the Twilight Mountains. The Shadow is not a passive enemy, and if we do not cease our internal strife, it will destroy us. Bear that in mind as you sharpen your sword for war.
And there is news to the north, as well: Once each generation, the Kakita and Mirumoto schools hold a contest at The Valley of the Two Generals. In the tradition of these two great champions, we gather with our brethren in the Dragon Clan to determine the strength of our two honored schools. Each generation, as you know from your lessons at Kakita Academy, holds a duel on the anniversary of the Battle of the Two Generals, to determine which school's techniques are better taught. It is in reverence to the ancient duel performed by Kakita and Mirumoto long ago. Let it renew our ties to our fellow clans, even in this time of war and bloodshed. Let a duel of honor, as was done by the first Mirumoto and the first Kakita a thousand years ago, show our dedication to their ideal.
The finest student of each school, once in a generation, will stand on that day in single combat. Kaiten, whose voice has been loud in the cause of peace between our divided families, is our champion.
May Kakita smile upon us all,
Asahina Tomo: Master of the Asahina School
Brethren,
The Scorpion have returned, and with them, our alliance.
We have aided them in only retrieving what is rightfully theirs. In return, they have brought to us a golden sword, symbol of the sun and of our united house. Let no Togashi or Hitomi ever carry the sacred blade, let it be a symbol of our peace and of our fealty to one another.
It will forever be carried by the Mirumoto. Let their honor and steadfastness be our guide.
And there is news to the south: Once each generation, the Kakita and Mirumoto schools hold a contest at The Valley of the Two Generals. In the tradition of these two great champions, we gather with our brethren in the Dragon Clan to determine the strength of our two honored schools. Each generation, as you know from your lessons at Kakita Academy, holds a duel on the anniversary of the Battle of the Two Generals, to determine which school's techniques are better taught. It is in reverence to the ancient duel performed by Kakita and Mirumoto long ago. Let it renew our ties to our fellow clans, even in this time of war and bloodshed. Let a duel of honor, as was done by the first Mirumoto and the first Kakita a thousand years ago, show our dedication to their ideal.
The finest studen of each school, once in a generation, will stand on that day in single combat. Uso is our champion, and his sword will do us honor. May he show the strength of steel in the memory of his ancient ancestor.
Mirumoto Sukune (Daimyo of the Mirumoto)
Brethren,
Kyuden Ikoma is under siege from the Unicorn assault. Since the battle at Toshi sano Kanimochi Kaeru, they have not paused, nor ceased, nor rested in their labors to destroy us. Some few have gone to aid in their assault on the Emperor's lands, but the rest remain outside our lands. A legion of battle maidens lies dead on the fields to the north of our palace, dead by the hand of Okura and his cursed bease. That much, you know.
What you do not know is this: The evening after the battle, the Unicorn were routed, their spirits crushed. Yet, as the mist of twilight began to clear, I saw their horses rise from the ground. Fearing the curse of the Shadowlands, I called my retainer and went to the gates of Kyuden Ikoma to crush them before they could gather their strength.
But the strangest thing of all was this: Their bodies lay on the ground, dead and cold. Only their spirits moved on the plain, and the ghosts of a hundred Unicorn turned their sightless eyes to me. they moved across the plain on ghostly horses, with steps as light as the wind. No malice hung in their eyes, only a strange confusion.
I am no Kitsu, no ancestral-speaker. I have no magic of my own. It was not my lace to speak with them, but neither sword nor courage could drive them from that field. "Where...?" they whispered, their wounds open and raw.
"Where...," they said, and they could not hear me reply.
I cannot imagine that they sought their Kami, even now besieging the Emperor's city. Nor can I believe that they wished to renew their battle against our walls.
I can only conclude that it was Jigoku they sought, somehow denied them through foul magic. Their eyes were haunted and blameless, and their steeds seemed confused and pale. then, from the south, I heard the echoing cry of a thunderous horn, seemingly from the farthest wastes of the Shadowlands. The maidens turned as one, readying their weapons and spurring their steeds. They vanished into the mists around us, galloping through the walls of Kyuden Ikoma as if they could not see the stone. As silent as their ancestor, they wavered, hooves churning spectral ground and banners flapping in a wind we could not feel. When we raced to the southern wall to follow them, they were gone.
Ikoma Gunjin,
Tai-sa of the Ikoma Elite Guard
It is done.
The Moon, Lord Onnotangu, has been defeated, his body shattered, his spirit condemned to death. And we, the children of Shinsei, have fulfilled the final prophecy in his ancient text. Takao’s battle was fierce, and before the purity an strength of our Brotherhood, Onnotangu had no choice but to falter. Yet, unlike others, we did not fight among ourselves for the right to face him, nor did we draw arms against one another in order to prove our superiority. In the last moments of our challenge, we stood, side by side, and gave strength to our brethren. When the Moon shattered, the sky turned red and the Sun fled from the sky.
Yet, as one, we rise.
Now Takao stands as the true Master of the Five Elements, successor to Tetsuya’s grace. Our temples still stand with glory, and we have at last shown ourselves as strong as we are wise.
Yet still ther are troubles. The Grey Crane-do not speak his name, lest his enemies hear you-rests in our halls, wounded from his battle with the Kolat lord. He calls only one samurai to his side-a girl, a mere stripling-but when she heard his commands, she leaps upon her steed to fulfill them. In his delirium, the Crane whispers of the True Tao and of the Kolat who have hidden it. I fear for his life, but our brethren do all that they can to save him. Yet I fear that if we heal his wound, he will only go once more to finish the battle that started on the day the Emperor vanished. Watch for the Kolat, my brethren. They are not our friends-but I am not convinced they are our enemies. There is more to this puzzle, and we must turn our wisdom to discerning its purpose.
And in the far south a strange star shines, as black as pitch against the scarlet sky.
We do not yet know its meaning.
Yodin
My friend,
In the far northern mountains of the Shinomen, outside the bounds of the forest today, a great discovery has been made. The Naga call it "Kalpa", the city of rebirth.
But the news is grave.
Through the strength of the Malekish, whose never-wavering studies have guided the People's quest to uncover the devastation of that region, their holy temples have been unburied. The Naga spoke as if Kalpa's tall towers would once more rise above the sweeping glen and the Akasha would make whole all that has been destroyed.
They were wrong.
Long ago, say the Naga, the Shinomen forest covered far greater tracts of land than it does today. Somewhere to the far north, the city of rebirth lies buries beneath the rubble of earthquakes and the passage of time. They have been searching for it since the day they turned from the Crab and their spears turned on the Dragon.
Now, they have found something.
I've heard them call Kalpa "the wonder of the land," but now it is little more than three bricks joined by mortar. The one building that stands, partly buried beneath rock and mud, is the Temple of the Bright Eye. Here, the Naga concentrate all of their efforts. I have asked them to tell me the stories of the place, but even I cannot make out their language well enough to catch the full tale.
I have grasped that it is the burial place of the "Qatol." That is also the name they give to the dead body of the man who lies deep within the forests to the south. I have not been allowed to see his face, but I believe I know who rests within the Cobra's spell. He sleeps, I am told, and they mean to bring him here.
These ruins hold something of critical importance. I can feel it.
The Daini
Samurai of the Phoenix!
Strong words and heavy prices, and there is much to tell of our lands to the north.
On the fields before our besieged palace, a lone Mantis stepped foreward. He was bold and brash, and his words were an affront to the honor of our noble clan. Isawa himself frowned from the high Halls of Heaven and demanded that this filthy bushi be contained, taught a lesson. The Mantis spoke of "cowardice" and of dark magics, and threatened the slaughter of innocent souls. His was a face of unreasoning hatred - a wound opened , never to heal. He claimed that we hid behind peasants who sought shelter within the walls of Kyuden Isawa. They swore that we would not fight them as true samurai, blade to blade.
One Phoenix stepped out in front of the palace and challenged the Mantis in return. His price was this: Should the Mantis win, the Phoenix Shugenja would leave the palace to be attended only by bushi, and a bloody war would certianly begin. If the Phoenix won, however, then all of the women and children of the Phoenix would be allowed to leave, unharmed by Mantis arrows or cowardly hostage attempts.
The deal was struck , and Yoritomo's people withdrew to allow the dual. In single challenge, Phoenix faced Mantis; in single combat, the duel was struck. The fight was long, and the Mantis struggled to show his worth, but in the end he was forced to admid defeat- and the glory of the Phoenix Clan! Our children and our families are safe, defended by one man and one strong blade. Surely Shiba himself smiled upon that day.
But remember, brethren, the name of the Mantis who lost the duel. He was called Yoritomo Denyaku, and his sword bears the tsuba of a bear tearing its claws against an iron tree. The scorn of his companions was so great that the Alliance threatened to take up arms against him themselves, but he left the battlefield cursing and swearing revenge. He will return to seek his lost honor, and this time, we must be ready to take his life
Shiba Tetsu
On this day, cousins, we have taken the first steps to regaining Ryoko Owari.
The Unicorn are too foolish to keep our rightful city from us, no matter what the Emperor commands. We can see through Toturi's madness; Shinjo's children cannot. And like children, once given a toy, they are loathe to give it up.
But we will show them that children who disrespect their elders should be punished.
My status as an Emerald Magistrate has been reinstated, and the Emperor's champion has made me Magistrate of the City. Soon, the Unicorn will help us take back the City of Green Walls.
Bayushi Aramoro has retaken the Scorpion lands with a single, decisive blow. What would have taken many months and the deaths of countless samurai to retake and to hold has now been given to us. It is a tale that will be retold by the Scorpion for generations. No army dares supplant our hold on the lands south of Beiden Pass, and even now, we del with the Naga to discover a way to drive out the Shadow that has infested Kyuden Shosuro in our absence.
The Crane give us back our children, whimpering of alliance and good will. We shall let them believe that we are grateful, better that our children are tainted by Crane politics than torn from us with Mantis lies.
Aramasu must be dealt with ....
The sword of the Scorpion is in the hands of Aramoro, the Lady's protector. Let it remain forever apart from our champion, as it has always been. Aramoro is the daimyo of the Bayushi, lord of the Shonin provinces. It is the role of another to rule.
We turn our eyes to our Lady, who prepares to name a champion. By her will, not the petty mewling of the Emperor on his Jade Throne, will our champion be chosen. " Then shall I make my last sacrifice for my clan," she whispered. I know not of what she spoke, nor did I have the courage to ask.
Bayushi Yojiro
Listen to the tale....
In battle, one warrior is very like another. When the tainted wind blows, who is to say which one belong to us, and which to the Lady Sun?
The Shadow has proved a valuable ally. It gives us the twisted corpses it leaves behind and adds to our armies with each victory it takes. We can use it as a tool, until a better weapon is found.
The Moon is dead--our father, who loved us. Mourn his death with blood.
But that is not all.
The Sun is gone. She weeps bitter tears, and hot pools grow in our homelands. Strange creatures leap from them, ready to destroy the murderers of Onnotangu. Another tool. And at Otosan Uchi, while the others were fighting to slay Onnotangu, a dark Lion lord bowed to the minions of the Horde. Not all of the Kitsu have come to us, but from those few who bargain with their souls, we have gained much.
We have claimed a victory at Otosan Uchi, and now the West Wall of the palace is ours. Beneath the surface of the slick stone, the enchantment is crumbling and tainted, no longer a defense for the Emperor's palace. One day we shall attack that wall, and it will bow to our might. It is a hidden Taint within Otosan Uchi's deepest heart, a mark upon the city itself.
And soon, the Moto say, they will march to the north to meet with their brethren. I do not trust their new "general", but they claim the prophecy will come true. She will lead them to the north, to battle and to victory.
I can still hear Shahai's laughter, even so very far away...
Jama Suru
There is a story I was told by an old man, the day we went to attack the Moon. I spoke to him of my lord, and he sensed my cowardice. I am ashamed to admit that, but it is true. We cannot defeat a god. I listened to the war cries of the Unicorn and to the screams of the Crab who were braced to charge the gate, and I knew myself for a coward.
For nearly thirty years, I have been one.
Once there was, the old man told me, an Empire made entirely of frogs. They lived by the side of a massive pond, and they lived in peace. The only dangers were of accident and age, and death was rare.
Yet, in the woods to the north, there was a great pit, and two young frogs fell into that hole. Their companions looked down into the pit and shouted to them, "It is too deep! You will never jump out!"
But the two frogs jumped, and jumped, and leapt until their legs grew sore. Still they could not reach the lip of the hole.
"Stop jumping!" cried the others. "It is finished. Accept your fate with dignity, and let the Fortunes have your soul!"
Still they jumped and jumped, trying to escape. But the pit was too deep, and still the frogs failed.
"Enough!" cried the others, looking down. "Stop jumping! You have failed, and you are as good as dead."
And then, one of the two frogs in the pit stopped jumping, and he curled his legs beneath him. "They are right," he said. "We are doomed." With that, he died.
The other jumped, and leapt, and tried again. Each time, he jumped a bit higher, until at last, with a heroic effort, he reached the lip of the pit and was free.
"How did you do that?" The other frogs crowded around him. "It was an impossible task!"
"What?" said the escaped frog. "I cannot hear what you are saying. I am deaf, you see."
And it was true.
But this is more: when he saw the others yelling from above, he thought they were encouraging him.
-Saigorei
They are coming from the south, thorough the pass at the gate ofsorrow in the twilight mountains. Ten thousand cavalry; four thousandinfantry. They are weak to the left, and their skeletal archers cannot cutthrough shields held above your heads. Their lord, Moto Tsume,rides in the right flank behind a mass of demon warriors on Onikagesteeds with flaming eyes and burning hooves.
I ride at the front. When I shout Shinjo's name, you must follow me we will die together to cleanse our clan's Honor.Prepare.
K.
Samurai of the Mantis,
The battle goes well. Despite their constant attempts to destroy us, the Phoenix cannot throw us from their shores. Soon we will control their lands, and they will be given the position they deserve: that of a minor house in this noble Empire, deposed for their lack of strength. If they cannot protect their peasants and defend their palaces, they do not deserve a voice in the Emperor's ear. This much our charter tells us.
Even now, a Unicorn named Shinjo Morito carves his own palace from the hills near the shrine of the Ki-Rin,claiming that ancient place as the property of the Unicorn. Let him have it. When we hold Kyuden Isawa, we will not miss the ten li he dares to claim.
Yet we have suffered drawbacks, as well. Even as a band of noble Mantis warriors brought the burned and tattered flag of Kyuden Asako to our lord, a battle was taking place on the Isawa lands. A lone Mantis stepped forward, proud of his heritage, and dared the Isawa to forsake this petty battle. He spoke of the children within the keep, of the innocent that were being threatened by the Phoenix refusal to surrender the palace. They hid behind their weakness and expect us to show the mercy they are too cowardly to give themselves. He was noble, honorable enough to offer his life that they might go free, but the Phoenix spurned him and cursed the name of our lord. It was too much. We all know that these Phoenix will use any magic at their disposal; the bloodied spirits that haunt the walls of their palaces will show you that. They are tainted with maho and lost to Fu Leng. I would swear they are drawing their magic from his bloodied power, for only with his foul strength behind them could they have held us back for this long. He cursed them, holding aloft the flag of the Mantis.
And because there was no other way to defend their honor, they were forced to accept his charge. A single samurai--a Phoenix named Shiba Gensui--strutted from between their gates. He was filled with pomp and fat-bellied arrogance, and his pretty armor with the light of his lies. Even Aramasu agreed: it was proper that this leech die in pain, without the easy death of poison. Our champion stood on the field, his hand on his katana. In single challenge, Phoenix faced Mantis; in single combat, the duel was struck. The fight was long, and the Mantis struggled against the dark magic that surrounded the Phoenix, but in the end he was forced to admit defeat.
Even in glory, the Phoenix could not leave behind the Taint of their dark Master, for only with his evil magic could our champion have been defeated. They must be destroyed, before their evil is allowed to taint the Empire again. They are a blight on the fields of Rokugan, and we must eradicate them. It is not for our own gain, but for the Empire's sake.
Yoritomo Makashi
Thanks to Charles Pierson (http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dungeon/6999/l5rmain.htm) and all the other clan archivists for posting their letters for all to read.
Find the Emperor. He has escaped us.
Seal the gate.
I am with you...
Always. --
(no signature)