Continuing with my "Rolling Thunder" program...
(Warning: You may have to be a profound L5R geek to get that.)
My Lord Shiba Yoma,
I could both regale and bore you to tears with petty rumors, quiet trysts, and unheralded titters from this year’s Winter Court here in White Oak. But as I feel it would do my lord unjust harm in reciting it all, I shall keep only to what I feel is relevant facts. Should my lord have need of these other matters, he has but to ask.
It seems that Lord Kaneka is, unhappy with his post and his presence here at White Oak. From rumor and observation it appears that the Council politely asked him to move his encampment to another area. This seems to account for his lateness to the dinner. However, he could have easily delegated it to a retainer, thus assuring his presence. It is believed that his lateness was a not quite subtle slight against the Council. Dangerous times, dangerous times indeed. I have been unable to gather any more information on this current situation.
There was also an impromptu performance by the Shiba performers after the dinner out near the gate. From what I hear, under the direction of the shugenja directing it a kami in the shape of a dragon of water in to a gallant dance, ending in a small, harmless thundercloud. Dramatic, wondrous, and from what I hear beautiful. I have begun talking with the performers and find them to be most pleasant company.
I have continues to talk at great length with the Crane, so far I have found them most pleasant conversation companions, especially Lady Kakita Sukune. Our conversations have been highly entertaining, and I can only watch in awe when she turns her sharpened tongue against someone. So far she has been, lenient with me. Given her demeanor, it is unlikely that she would either be so without reason, or do so behind my back. But this is of little use to you.
The Unicorn’s contingent is understandably small given the unique nature of the relationship between Lord Kaneka and Lord Moto Chagatai. This has left Ida Kunyo, who appears to be here on his own rather than official business, and Moto Bataar, a samurai of so far little reputation, apparently a storyteller as well as bushi.
We had a short conversation with Lady Kuni Tansho. Our audience was brief and informative. In the way of her clan she seeks kansen across Rokugan. She seeks to spread the ways to defend the Empire from the Shadowland’s twisted influence. I have offered, with your leave, to help her in what I feel is a noble goal in anyway I can. The Council and the Seppun work closely already with the Kuni Witch Hunters, so I do not feel that this will cause problems.
The Dragon have been quiet.
It appears that the Lion had a much large contingent, but imperial forces stopped them, some problem with their travel papers. I will have to look into this. I wonder what happened.
The Scorpion have also been quiet, apparently practicing their paya, from what I hear, it will be a farce of some kind. I do look forward to it.
It seems that Lord Isawa Nodotai met with Lord Tamori Shaitung covertly a few nights ago, and this has caused some slight murmurs among the court. Few have heard this and I have been appropriately quiet on the matte. But I believe I know the reason for the meeting now. It seems that a relatively minor Dragon was killed in a duel by a ronin duelist in his lands the day I arrived at White Oak. From what I understand, Lord Isawa Nodotai approached Lord Tamori Shaitung with appropriate discreetness to both deliver the message of the poor Dragon’s passing, and to ask to which lord he need send his respects. Apparently he was rebuffed in this simple gesture of courtesy. But I only know what I have been told. What I do know however is that Lord Isawa Nodotai has requested that my fellow retainers and I assist in the investigation. He wishes to know the Dragon’s business in his lands, the reason for the duel, and to which lord he should send his respects.
I feel that his retainer, Isawa Kenjiro, has done his Lord a discourtesy in his manner, especially with the manner by which he requested our assistence. Not so much a request as it was a statement of fact. I had by missive offered my services to Lord Isawa Nodotai in anyway that he felt I could assist him, so I was happy to be of value to the good Lord. However, I feel slightly rebuffed by his retainer. But enough of this.
Assisting in our investigation Lord Isawa Nodotai has enlisted Moto Bataar. How the Unicorn was assigned to this investigation I do not know, but he has so far seemed quite civilized, despite his dress. It seems he was witness to the duel itself, so he may be invaluable to the investigation.
We leave in the morning; I hope to not be away from court long.
May the Fortunes guide your way.
- The Shiba performers mentioned are the Shiba Tejina (found in Winter Court: Kyuden Asako), now simply known as the Shiba Illusionists in the current edition.
- Kakita Sukune may have been just a footnote in Secrets of the Crane, and the jester school of the Kakita Artisan Academy may have been eliminated in the new edition, but I still got a lot out of her. It's always fun to fill in the blanks of such a barely-defined "canon" NPC.
- Oh, and for the record, I just used the jester ability from Secrets of the Crane, with the 3e update being that the roll is Awareness / Performance rather than Jester / Awareness.
- Isawa Kenjiro was a new PC, an Isawa shugenja of air with a surprising bluntness.
Some observations in retrospect:
And that's it for the moment... notes are a bit shorter, I suppose because the plot starts to swing at about this point. Lots more to cover in the days to come.
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