(IRR) The Rokugan IR (Turn 1)

[Serpenteye]

"Toshiro-san, with your consent, the Firestorm Legion will remain in the Etsu Province to aid in the investigations and, should the need to do so arise, to aid you against further attacks by the gaijin."


"It appears that the Mantis do not deem us worthy of their attention. They have not reacted to our request to send a delegation into their lands, nor have they said if they are willing to accept our judgement of the Scorpion clan. We cannot wait much longer to determine the truth in this matter."


Agasha Hamanari, along with his yojimbo, will attempt to meet Moshi Juiko.

"We gratefully accept your gracious assistance in the Etsu province, Isawa Akahita-San. It has been most welcome. I agree with you on the matter of the Scorpion Clan's attack on the Hare, it should be judged wisely and carefully and the Phoenix are well suited to that task. I urge you, though, to not judge them too hard, the Empire needs peace, not more bloodshed.
The Mantis have always held themselves apart from the rest of the Empire. I sence no malice in this, however. Maybe they simply wish to preserve their own stability in these instabile times. I am confident that they will come to the aid of the Empire if it ever should find itself in true danger, but until then they will wisely build their strength in peace, preparing for war."

 

[Serpenteye]

"I do not know how I can prove that I have not attacked you, maybe you can use Divinations to tell if I am speaking the truth, maybe you will allow us to help you search for the true attackers. Remember that looks can be decieving..."

"True, appearances can be decieving, but so can words. Until this matter has been resolved I will hold you under suspicion, it would be folly not to. Even so, I cannot believe that you would be so foolhardy as to attack a foe so superior to you in power and the way the attack was carried out... You would have nothing to gain, and indeed the attacker conquered nothing, and everything to loose.
It is far more likely that the attack was a clumsy attempt to incite the Empire and the Burning sands to war against each other and until further notice I will assume that you are in fact innocent. However, since you are a suspect, I cannot allow you to participate in the investigations, I do not trust so easily."


_

Cream: I will devote 5 PLs into assisting the scrying for the truth about the attack. We will coordinate our efforts with the other clans.

 

[Creamsteak]

Rokugan, be ready... I warn you...

In Chronological order, I describe the events that have recently come to light. Your reactions to these events will be interesting, I hope...

Does everyone remember a certain surge of "water elemental energy" that was brought up much earlier in the thread? It faded away for a while, and since then some things have changed... but it has come back. It's quite a bit stronger now, and there is something odd about it. The location is now much more obvious, and anyone with a little preparation could try and see the development in person.

A few mages did attempt to see this particular location, and they all disappeared. A few vague reports hint that more than one naval fleet (apparently Mantis and Crab vessels) have been combing the area for survivors. Apparently some vessels belonging to each fleet disappeared.

Meanwhile, the heavy dedication of Shugenja has managed to finally pierce the shielding on the invaders into the Lion Territory. It took them long enough, but finally they have succeeded. The result doesn't sound true at first, but the dedication of shugenja assure that it is...

The Fox clan has apparently launched a small skirmish group against the lion territories, well disguised to appear as citizens of the burning sands. Their victory was swift, and their retreat swifter. Apparently they had no intention of killing anyone, or of keeping any land, but they did bring their troops into the Lion Clan's territory and then leave.

Meanwhile, a blight of taint has apparently seeped into the crab, crane, lion, and dragon clans through a food source. Apparently corrupt vegetation has allowed the Shadowlands to poison the tea grown in the northern crab lands, and it has gradually seeped out into the hands of the citizens. This horrible blight has caused almost every village, town, and city under control by these clans to increase in taint score by 1 full point. It doesn't bode well...

But in good news, the luck of many researchers has revealed a simple non-magical cure for taint. It isn't a prevention method, or a permanent restoration, but it does manage to remove the mental affects that taint can have. This elixir is apparently very expensive. Currently the rarity of the substances required in order to make enough is a major problem. It requires a certain type of vegetation that grows in the small areas of completely taintless land inside the shadowlands. The plant apparently contains a high concentration of broken down (non-poisonous) jade, and it's quite expensive.

There is enough to treat the children of the emperor, and that will be done as long as the clans housing those individuals allow it. More of it could be bought from the shadowlands... if both parties agree. More of it could be taken from the shadowlands, if someone could manage to do that.

But there is more bad news... apparently some foreign power (who has not yet been named) has launched a naval fleet at the South Western shore of the continent against the smaller coastal regions there. Apparently they use Name Magic, and apparantly they want to extend their empire onto the continent.

I think that's the whole of the update...

 

[Janos Audron]

[You've been a bad boy Kalanyr...I think you are now occupying the Number two position on my To Kill list...don't worry though, I'll never get finished with number one before someone wipes my power from the face of Rokugan...]

 

[Knight Otu]

The shugenja of the Isawa family will try to scry on the elementak surge, but will not yet start investigations up close. (I did not forget that one)

"The Fox are the initiators of the attack? I hope they have a good reason for it!"

The Hurricane Initiates will leave Otosan Uchi without starting a battle. If asked to leave, the Firestorm Lrgion will leave Lion territory.

The Phoenix will try to cultivate the Jade Plant, if there are enough to get some without endangering the cure of the heirs.

We will also attempt to scry on the southwestern invaders.

 

[The Forsaken One]

Mantis will investigate the south western invaders through magical and mundane means.

[Cream, I already had my almost my full fleet at the site of the elemental surge so I presume I controll and cover it? Especially since my NPC and PC nature who are present And the shugenja I dispatched.]

We'll also try and cover the site up with magical means...

 

[Festy_Dog]

Naigotsu Akira's face becomes vacant and expressionless as he reads the message from his dearest Mishica. His hands start trembling to such a degree that the letter falls from his hands and spirals slowly towards the earth, not so much different from his hopes, which travel at a similiar speed into a nothingness within the depths of his being. As the messenger stoops to retrieve the paper from the ground, Akira turns to Kakita Kaiten, who is forced to take a step back when he sees the gaunt look etched upon Akira's face.

"Akira-san, what is wrong?" Kaiten asks, an edge of panic to his voice.

"You must stay," Akira says slowly, "I can no longer compete, our people need me."

As Akira turns and starts to pack his basic belongings Kaiten snatches the note from the startled messenger and reads it aloud.

"Akira-san! I must return home as well! Surely there will be no competition under these circumstances!" Kaiten exclames.

"Nonetheless, if the Tests are continued we need a representative here. I will not let any honourless foe rob us of our oppurtunity to place a member of the Crane into the position of Emerald Champion," Akira says as he skrawls something on a piece of paper and thrusts it into the messengers hand, "Messenger, take this to the Test of the Jade Champion! NOW!"

Kaiten watches the messenger flee from the tent more than run to deliver his message. Akira slings a backpack onto his shoulder and his dog silently appears at his side.

"Win for us Kaiten," is all Akira says as he paces out of the tent and away from the competition grounds, giving Kaiten next to no opportunity to bow.

As the flags are swallowed by the blue sky of the Unicorn plains a silent tear is quickly concealed by an ornate mask, and the plains carry the feint sounds of a dog's whimpers.

* * * * *

The mesenger makes good pace away from the Daimyo's tent until he is snatched into an area of shadow behind a tent.

"You have a message for me as well. Give it to me," a female voice demands.

A split second later the messenger is ejected from the space behind the tent, and he is running again at twice the previous pace before he even hits the ground.

Geitana silently reads the message and smiles, finally something interesting to do, she thinks before disappearing again.

* * * * *

Akira is withdrawing from the Tournament of the Emerald Champion.

Kakita Kaiten is staying to compete.

Kainakata Getsu is returning to Crane territory.

Isawan Mahatra is remaining in the Test of the Jade Champion.

 

[Creamsteak]

[Cream, I already had my almost my full fleet at the site of the elemental surge so I presume I controll and cover it? Especially since my NPC and PC nature who are present And the shugenja I dispatched.]

We'll also try and cover the site up with magical means...

Well TFO, just go out and spoil it for yourself...

I said that you "appeared" to have moved into the area to study, but in reality you do have your whole fleet at the location. Your fleet has kept all mages that have seen the sight from speaking about it, through whatever reasonable means you could muster, and yes... you control the item.

I'll send you an email on the matter.

 

[Tordek]

oops

 

[The Forsaken One]

/me smacks his head relentlessly on the table until it's all blood and messy and then some more.

[Cream, sorry if I scared you again with replying to your mails within the minute of getting them myself]