02 Bloody Dawn Before The War

The first rays of the sun were beginning to appear on the horizon, and already the Shiro Daidoji was in full swing, due to the preparations for the day's fighting.

Reiko, still injured in the side, Hidekatsu, Suzume, still injured in the leg, and Sakura had just arrived there, escorted by the patrol that had stormed into the village. With them, the few peasants / attackers who had survived, shackled and taken prisoner. The authority of the Emerald magistrate was manifest over this small troop, being the expression of the authority of the Emperor himself, and it was evident, from her decided and severe step, that the emissary of the imperial palace was determined to get this whole story straight, as soon as possible.

To the four Samurai who had lived through the night's clashes, a number of questions remained unanswered for the moment:

- When asked why the village elders did not alert the authorities, the explanation was that they were afraid of reprisals and of losing their children. It was, in any case, what KAWANABI had been able to draw from the terrified peasants in their houses.

- "If these attackers were the sons and daughters of the older peasants, who had welcomed the two monks, how could they have been so corrupted? And more importantly, by whom?"

- "Who was this shadow spying on the night's clashes from a distance?"

- "What was the implication in this affair of the two clans clashing?"Itsumi had just come out of the last meeting with his peers, officers of the Crane army, to take stock both of the night that had passed, but also to review the day's strategies. It was time to move on to his squad, and practice the ambush tactics they had devised.
However, ASAHINA Yukiyo had participated in this meeting, and the revelations of the Shugenja weighed heavily in the mind of the young commander. Could it be possible that both the Crane Clan and the Lion Clan were both manipulated?
Walking through the yard, he had a front row seat to witness the return of the patrol he had sent out that night to investigate the strange noises that had been reported to him. With, at their head and recognizable by her uniform, a magistrate of Jade.

Inara, as for her, and in spite of a trying night, awoke well before dawn, and it was feverish that she came to observe the ambient agitation in the place, at the entrance of the fortress.
Out of the corner of her eye, she recognized, half hidden in the shadows, the silhouette of the Scorpion Ambassador who, too, was watching the preparations underway.

Inara woke as the first light of predawn broke through the inky darkness. The young mage smiled, alert and aware all at once, and stood, closing her eyes and listening. She was not the first to rise this day.

She didn't linger long over the morning's necessities, changing her robes and arranging her hair into something elegant but still comfortable. Gingerly, she unwrapped the cloth from her hands, examining them closely; though still a little sore, they had mostly healed during the night. She would have to thank Yukiyo for that, if she was lucky enough to see her again.

Inara ventured into the hall, surprised by how active the castle already was, and everyone was in such a HURRY. She made her way toward the castle gates, hoping to slip outside and walk alone before the sunrise, but the ambient activity only seemed to increase as she drew closer. The courtyard was buzzing with activity - Crane soldiers, escorting a small group of shackled prisoners, two samurai whose families were unknown to her but seemed to be of the Dragon clan, and........ an Emerald Magistrate?

Well, that's different...

Abandoning the thought of her morning walk, Inara scoured the area for a familiar face. Specifically, she was looking for Itsumi, but she didn't see him; most likely, he was with his troops, busy with the work of the military. But she did take note of a shadow among shadows, watching the unfolding drama intently, and from a much better vantage point than she could claim. She was suspicious at first, and a little worried, until she recognized the cold yet fiery gaze of Akami, the Scorpion ambassador. Enigmatic, aloof, cunning, quite possibly dangerous in the wrong circumstances... and the only familiar face in the crowd, which made her the closest thing to a friend Inara could find. She walked over, making sure Akami saw her approach, and bowed. "Good morning, Bayushi-san. I hope the day finds you well." She couldn't hide a slight smile, despite her best efforts to keep her face impassive. "What's happening here?"

Reiko was troubled.
She had a wealth of experience to draw from, dealing with rabble rousers, petty criminals, political conspiracies and even, on one memorable occasion, with some pacifists that wanted to effect change through love.
She knew peasants. She knew soldiers. She knew officers. She knew lords -and quite well. but she didn't know -she frowned as the thought entered her mind- Shugenjas.
She had realized that she faced at least one of them, maybe even a maho tsukai, after examining the small patch of grass where an unknown observer had stood while she, Kawanabi, the monk who had introduced himself as Togashi Suzume and his charge Sakura had fought the villagers. He had probably controlled them, and fled as the Crane patrol appeared.
Now, as she was arriving to Shiro Daidoji, she finished leaving instructions to the officer in charge of the patrol.
"And of course, while I see this doctor, I need you to find the Duty officer in charge here, and any and all shugenja that might be in residence. I'll see them as soon as I'm able. Kawanabi, draft a message ordering a ceasefire in the name of the emperor, to be sent with my authority to Last Breath Castle." She said, turning towards her aide.
"At once Matsu-dono"
She knew he was up to the task, and considered if she should send him along with the messenger to make sure the Lion officers complied with the ceasefire. She resolved to talk to the representative of the Crane first, and decide later.
"You can have someone escort me to the castle's doctor now." She told the officer, and allowed herself to show some of the pain she felt, now that the important business was taken care of.

Possessed? Itsumi thought, listening to the brief on the nights occurrences. He told his leadership about Inara and the Shujenga and the vision given to him by the Kami but he was steadfast in his determination to end this conflict between Crane and Lion with a decisive two front, pre-dawn attack.

He bowed and left to find his Sergeant, "The main force will initiate the attack at first light. We will hit them in the rear at dawn."

Itsumi thought of the glory he could achieve in this battle and resolved himself to challenging a Lion commander in a duel. A wry smile crossed his lips as he led his troops to position.

After the magistrate was done with him, Suzume had gathered his gear from Obaa-san's ruined house, before heading to Shiro Daidoji. "I am in your debt Matsu-sama. Had you and your entourage not arrived when you did, me and my pupil would surely have been overrun.. Suzume struck polite conversation with the magistrate as the group was marching through the night to Shiro Daidoji. "Those imprints were very odd, and the way the grass and bark were affected. Very strange. In all the sights I've seen in my travels, this is a first." Suzume turned to check on his pupil, Sakura was keeping her distance, the Unicorn in her still not wanting to hang around a Lion... This made Suzume smile, his pupil still had much to learn.

Same road through the gate, two different directions, one group entering the fortress, the other getting out to take on their own duty. The two groups crossed paths as the magistrate gave her orders to DAIDOJI Nobunaka.


As planned for the rotation of the command of the Crane forces, the management of the fortress fell back to his Daimyo, while the KAKITA officers positioned themselves on the battlefield.
And so, having to show up to report on the night's activities to DAIDOJI Uji, the lieutenant gave orders to his troup to take care of the magistrate and the elder monk, and to put the prisoners in detention. At the same time, KAWANABI Hidekatsu and TOGASHI Sakura mingled with the crowd present, to fulfill their respective obligations.
Establish a ceasefire for the first, learn about the current situation of the castle for the second.

In a few minutes, the 2 guests were taken to an austere room, suitable for conducting battalion meetings.
The Daimyo of the DAIDOJI family was the first to invest the place after the 2 foreigners, and if his mere presence ensured silence when he entered a room, he did not fail to notice the presence of a magistrate of the Emperor, recognizable by her uniform. However, and all the more so because a war was in progress, his posture was severe and firm, and he himself hardly seemed in the mood to listen to nonsense.


"What does all this mean? Why is there a ceasefire order when the enemy is at our gates?"

It was in the silence that followed that a female voice was heard. The door left open revealed ASAHINA Yukiyo, in reverence in front of her lord, and awaiting his permission to enter.

"DAIDOJI-Dono, our guests have requested care. May I come in and provide it?"

The Daimyo, his eyes still on Reiko and Suzume, only waved his hand to invite her to do her work.

Focused on his task and duty, KAKITA Itsumi was driving his nearly 200 warriors squad to the area planned for the pincer ambush. There was that fierce feeling, before a battle. It seemed to Itsumi that even nature and the kamis were silent to become spectators of the clashes to come. He could almost already smell the scent of iron in anticipation.
Once in position, his squad camouflaged itself, and the first movements of the Lion army were not long in coming.
From his location, the young KAKITA could observe how the Lion troops positioned themselves to face, in the distance, the Shiro Daidoji, while he and his fighters found themselves masked by the trees, on the side of the approaching army.
The plan was simple on paper: under Itsumi's command, they were supposed to attack first, once the rest of the Crane forces faced the Lion's army, taking advantage of the surprise effect to rush in and create a diversion. Surprise helping, and the Lions, assaulted on two sides, would miss a reaction time and would, in the end, be forced to divide themselves to face the double charge.

The barely rising sun shrouded the hustle and bustle of the fortress courtyard, in its final preparations for the main part of the day. An agitation that two women observed, a little apart, the youngest waiting for her eldest to respond. The first one, ASAKO Inara, was curious about this entirely military effervescence, her own clan being of a very pacifist nature.
BAYUSHI Akami, meanwhile, was neutral with respect to this swarm, unimpressed by the deployment of the Iron Cranes.

"Good morning, Damsel of the Phoenix. The day finds us, as you can see. Well or not will be its decision."
While she had spoken her first words without looking away from the courtyard, now she was observing Inara, and pointed to the scene with a discreet gesture.
"We suspect you are still unwilling to tell us what brings you, in these troubled times, to the heart of a Crane's fortress. So maybe you can tell us what you think of all this?"

Suzume bowed low to Uji, remaining politely silent, remembering his place as a monk. This whole ceasefire was probably the Emperor's doing, and as such, it was probably wiser to let Matsu Reiko explain things.

Only when Yukiyo took care of their wounds did Suzume finally talked, bowing and thanking the shugenja for her work. "Thank you so much for your care Asahina-sama. I was getting embarrassed of staining such a beautiful palace with my blood."

Reiko bowed to the Daymio, not as low as an underling would, but not quite as an equal would either.
"What does all this mean? Why is there a ceasefire order when the enemy is at our gates?"
She was taken aback by his rudeness. That was when the healer arrived. Her timing impeccable, it gave time to everyone to stop and compose themselves.
Reiko frowned and decided to give Uji a chance to save face.
"I don't understand Daidoji-sama, how could there be a ceasefire and you not know about it? I thought you were the ranking military commander here... unless... Could it be that DAIDOJI Nobunaka overheard my private orders to my aide?
She paused, and let that sink in.
I'm sure that can't be right of course, but if that is indeed the case my lord, I have to explain to you that I have only ordered for a message to be drafted for the Lion clan. There is no ceasefire for now.
She frowned again with the emphasis on 'for now', reminding everyone present that, as a representative of the emperor, it was well within her rights to order one, and, indeed, enforce it. It would have been rude to say it though.
As for the enemy at your gates, the Lion army encamped it front of your gates is ideally positioned to intercept it, as soon as peace is struck, but I did not think you knew about the Maho-tsukai that is plaguing this region yet."
That last phrase visibly shocked the Daymio twice. When Reiko intimated that the lion wasn't the enemy, he was visibly angered, because as subjects of the emperor, the worst they were supposed to call each other was 'rivals', and he knew that by noticing the discrepancy, she had put him in a delicate situation. But it was the mention of a maho-tsukai (however premature on Reiko's part) had shocked him to his core.

"We suspect you are still unwilling to tell us what brings you, in these troubled times, to the heart of a Crane's fortress. So maybe you can tell us what you think of all this?"

Again with the "Us" nonsense, Inara thought to herself. It made her uneasy, but in the category of things that had transpired since sundown yesterday, it hardly made the list of her chief worries, and the possibility of possession seemed more like a paranoid fantasy than anything close to reality, now that the sun was shining again. She would have to find time to ask someone about that, though... but until then, she turned her attention to what Akami had asked.

She frowned, unable to hide her distaste. Violence and conflict were somewhat inevitable in the world, but the Phoenix rarely involved themselves in such matters. And when they did... for just cause, always... the Phoenix war machine moved with deadly efficiency. She herself was no fighter, though she understood and could even accept that conflicts between the clans happened. What she could not understand was the pomp and circumstance, the posturing, the threats, the shows of force and the dance of advance and retreat. And she most certainly did not understand the thrill, or the appeal, that could bring someone to believe that war, when it happened, was anything less than tragic.

She chuckled dryly and glanced back to Akami. "If I may be honest, my Lady, to me all of this seems about as trivial and childish as I most likely seem to you." She sighed, a moment of anger flashing behind her eyes. "The Lion and Crane will distract each other with their war, accomplishing nothing, while the people suffer and the land cries out in pain." She stopped short, remembering her place. "Too honest, perhaps. I pray you will forgive my rudeness. I just... fear that all of THIS-" she said as she gestured toward the Iron Cranes, marching about aimlessly in their elegant cobalt uniforms, "-will not be enough to stop what I was shown in my visions."

Smiling affably at the monk, the Shugenja applied strips of cloth to the wounds of the two guests of Shiro Daidoji. She just whispered a brief response so as not to disturb her Daimyo.
"You should see the garden of Shiro Tsuma, they are exquisite."

From these same bands sprang a sensation of freshness, and, in the rising heat of a day in the heart of summer, which almost bordered on coldness.

While Reiko was obviously unresponsive to what was going on in front of their eyes, Suzume noticed that the fabrics gave off a slight sheen as soon as they came in contact with water from a nearby cup. Upon closer inspection, the water itself seemed to move, precisely as if something was swimming within it. Additionally, while the tissues were soaked in blood, the water remained clear and did not appear to tint scarlet.

As the Shugenja worked, the two wounds healed little by little, imperceptibly. That healing was much faster, however, than they would have with simple rest. It was so gentle that, apart from the receding pain, neither Reiko nor Suzume noticed this miracle healing.

Especially since the conversation with the Daimyo easily monopolized all the attention.
"Lady Magistrate, if your orders were private, as you say, perhaps you should have expressed them in private rather than expressed them publicly in front of my soldiers."

That was not a question, and the tension was palpable, it was not the habit of the Crane Clan to be so abrupt. The Lioness in the heart of the magistrate roared with indignation, ready to respond with her blade.
But Reiko had not risen thus in the hierarchy of the Emerald Magistrates by indulging in anger, and she did not fail to understand that these words of DAIDOJI Uji, more than bravado, were especially there to regain aplomb after the revelations she made one instant ago.
"Maho-Tsukai you say? Legends. Tales to frighten children in the kingdom. Stories the empire hasn't heard from in decades. And that doesn't change the fact that the Lion's troops are preparing on our border, and being at war with us, you'll forgive me for calling them, in fact, enemies."

Crossing his arms, his gaze plunging directly into Reiko's eyes, the Daimyo however chose to open the discussion and the possibilities.
"Your words are serious accusations, and if they turn out to be true, it would, of course, require our full cooperation to resolve such a problem.
Do you have proof of your allegations ?"

The Scorpion ambassador no longer expressed the slightest interest in the coming and going of the military. On the contrary, she was giving her full attention to the young Phoenix, with such intensity that Inara felt herself exposed by this woman.
"You are correct on one point. This is all child's play, they are waging war but have no idea why. This creates chaos in the harmony of the Empire, and only serves the interests of the enemies lurking there. What do you know about the current conflict ?"
In a gesture inviting the Phoenix' Shugenja to walk a little in her company, Akami did not let the opening of young ASAKO get lost, and continued her questions.
"You were talking about a vision, would you like to accompany us in our Taishikan, and tell us more about it ? We would be curious to know what your wise Elders of the Phoenix urge."The inducement seemed, if not friendly, at least polite and cordial, but was Inara ready to approach the claws and dart of Rokugan's most secretive clan like that?

The young commander's small troop had dispersed among the trees to benefit from the surprise effect, the sentries in position to monitor the enemy army. They had had to prepare earlier, and all enjoyed the moment of calm before the clashes. Everyone took the opportunity to rest a little, calm their minds and their fears, knowing that this day would perhaps be their last.

It was only for the sake of rigor and safety that Itsumi had placed a few sentries at the rear of their position, more to make sure the Lions would not attack them from behind.

So the alert became known from several factors. A pungent smell at first, carried by the wind. A second clue took the form of forest animals rushing at a gallop through the ambushed troop, in the direction of the plain. Sentries running up, breathless. And before they could even start their report, Itsumi had picked up something.
If this was not an aspect that he had chosen to develop, preferring the ways of art and saber, the fact remained that the commander had a certain sensitivity to the presence of the Kamis, and what he heard left no doubt in his mind.
He had heard this strange song before, on winter evenings when warm flames burned wood to fight the cold.
He heard the same song now, in the forest, but much more voracious and ferocious.
Much more unleashed and out of control. And coming straight to his men.
"DAIDOJI-Sama ... A fire is raging in the heart of the trees, and it is heading straight for us. At the rate it is moving, in 10 minutes we will all be surrounded by flames! "

Suzume bows low again. "Pardon my sudden interruption Uji-dono, I was in the town that was attacked. The peasants who attacked us fought like people possessed, little more than madmen working on instinct alone. As I was fighting for my life and the one of my student, I noticed a figure by a tree observing the scene, and though it was far away, I could sense vile intentions emanating from this being. Though it was gone by the end, when the peasants all fell to the ground, like puppets who's strings got cut, the earth and bark where the figure stood had been strangely altered... almost as if it was in process of being turned to ash... Reiko-sama here failed to notice the figure, but she witnessed everything else I just described, and though I would never dare to correct you on matter of legislature Uji-dono, I must remind you that as a samurai, an Emerald Magistrate at that, her word should be proof enough..."

"You are correct on one point. This is all child's play, they are waging war but have no idea why. This creates chaos in the harmony of the Empire, and only serves the interests of the enemies lurking there. What do you know about the current conflict ?"

Inara froze as though pierced by the Scorpion's gaze, but returned it steadily, turning Akami's words over in her mind. Chaos in the harmony of the Empire. Those words rang true, making the hair on the back of the young Phoenix's neck stand on end. She gathered her thoughts for a moment, accepting the invitation to walk with the other woman, and spoke when they had left the Iron Cranes behind.

"I know little of these enemies of which you speak, not much more than dark rumors. But... 'chaos in the harmony of the Empire...' I could not have described it more clearly. The kami of these lands are... troubled. Either they lie in silence, or they cry out in pain. It is a nearly constant feeling here, though it has begun to reach even into Phoenix lands. To find the source of that chaos, and thus a way to restore the kami to their rightful harmony, is why I chose to come."

Akami was silent for a long moment, lost in her own mysterious thoughts. Finally, she continued. "You were talking about a vision, would you like to accompany us in our Taishikan, and tell us more about it ? We would be curious to know what your wise Elders of the Phoenix urge."

Inara trembled a little, remembering, and feeling a bit vulnerable. She couldn't decide which she preferred... the feeling of the kami pulling the memories from her mind, or the way Akami's words seemed just as capable of cutting to the heart of the truth. Neither was particularly comforting. "The Council of Five knows far more than they have told me, Bayushi-san, but as I said, there are dark rumors spreading through the lands. And, given what I've been shown, I am inclined to believe them, or at least consider that they may be inspired by reality." She looked up to meet the Scorpion's gaze once more, deciding all at once that the elder ambassador could be trusted. "It is not wise to speak of such things here, I think," she said. "I will go with you, and I will tell you what I know."

A look of consternation crosses Kakita's face as the feint scent of smoke greets his senses. He looks around sharply at the animals fleeing, concerned they might give away his position. He turns to greet his sentry as if by sixth sense, Kami... he says beneath his breath.

As he is briefed he measures the distance between his Platoon and the treeline. They were deep enough to conceal their movements and on the other side of a small hill. He noticed a commotion began to rise through the ambush party and he knew that he had to act decidedly to quell any panic.

I had planned for such an unexpected turn of events he thought to himself.

He marches past the sentries to the center of the camp towards a bag where two long leather bags held 4 red fireworks, "Gather your arms! Keep a level head! This fire is a sign from the Kami that we are to take the initiative! Take only what you need for battle! What you leave behind will serve as sacrifice to the Gods! We will each be made wealthy from the fat of the Lion!"

Katika tosses a firework, one each to three nearby Soldiers, and marches to the treeline with his sword on his hip, determination in his eyes. Brazenly he steps out from the tree line. Giving himself ample birth from the edge that his firework signal not get lost. He slams into the ground and strikes his flint on his dagger, sparking the fuse.

The device explodes in the air a brilliant ruby color, signalling to the main force that the battle was about to begin. His Soldiers quickly followed suit. He waited for his Platoon to exit the tree line. He expected chaos but they were disciplined and ready to fight. He walked down their line and back twice, looking each in their eyes before taking position in the center and began to march, front to the enemies back.

Reiko's frown was deepening. She was seething with anger. She had given the daimyo the opportunity to recover his composure, and save face, and in response he had dared doubt her word. Togashi Suzume was talking to the Daimyo in a reasonable voice, and Reiko focused on what he was saying when she heard her name.

Reiko-sama here failed to notice the figure, but she witnessed everything else I just described, and though I would never dare to correct you on matter of legislature Uji-dono, I must remind you that as a samurai, an Emerald Magistrate at that, her word should be proof enough...
His interjection had saved her from being too aggressive with the Daimyo. She got back to what she had wanted to see the daimyo for:
Uji-dono, this is a grave matter. The involvement of a third party, be it really a maho wielder or merely a scheming manipulator concerns me greatly. It would go some way to explain the length of the present conflict, and pose the question of motive. I therefore... request... that you enter a ceasefire with the Lion clan.
No one missed the hesitation at the word request, and Reiko could have sworn she saw the beginning of a smile fleetingly appear on the lips of Suzume.
As previously discussed, my aide is currently drafting orders for the Lion clan to abide to a ceasefire. Furthermore, I will require the services of a shugenja to aid me in investigating, as I myself am completely blind to supernatural manifestations.

The Daimyo took his time. Long, silent breaths, a heavy, meaningful look. He reflected on the words of the monk and the magistrate, and above all on what that might imply. It was obvious that this whole story seemed impossible to him to conceive, and that the link between this attack on a village and the ongoing war was by no means irrefutable.
But at the same time, if the threat of a Maho-Tsukai in the region was real, it was something that couldn't be taken lightly, either by the Cranes or the Lions.
And the Ise-Zumi raised an important point: the words of the magistrate were marked with the seal of authority.
A few minutes elapsed without one or the other of the parties present breaking the ambient silence. Which ended when the Daimyo uncrossed his arms, and finally decided to answer, his hoarse voice echoing through the room.
"Both of you, monk and magistrate, you pose a problem for me. Blunt and rude as it is, it's the truth, and you know it. I hear you speak of an attack in a village not far from here, and my soldiers seem to corroborate your statements, on this point anyway.
I have no reason to doubt what you have just gone through, nor what you testify to have seen. On the other hand, I find it difficult to understand what would be the link between this isolated attack, perhaps set up by brigands, and the ongoing war with the Lion Clan."
He raised a hand to interrupt the objections he sensed coming, and continued in his speech.
"But you're right, TOGASHI-San. The Emerald Magistrates, representatives of the Emperor, therefore also represent his authority. As such, your words here are direct orders MATSU-San, and we will do as you say. A cease-fire will be transmitted. I am afraid, however, that without your direct intervention, this call for a truce will not be heard by the Lion clan, as they may suspect a trap on our part. Your direct intervention, therefore, and also urgent, since our two armies are about to clash again.
Moreover, it's up to you to shed light on these suspicions of blood magic, and it stands to reason that you will have the full cooperation of the Clan.
You asked to meet our Shugenjas. ASAHINA Yukiyo, here present, is the representative of our priests, and will know how to answer your questions, or at least, guide you in order to find the beginnings of answers.
That being said, I have to wonder now about the presence here, and in these times of war, of the presence of an envoy from the distant mountains of the Dragon clan. Would you like to enlighten me on this subject?"
Throughout his statement, his gaze kept alternating between the two guests, pausing to indicate to whom his sentences were addressed.
"It is all the more curious that an emissary of the Phoenix clan joined us yesterday, at the very beginning of the evening."

---

A young Phoenix, indeed, who found herself in the company of the ambassador of the Scorpion, and evolving in the heart of Shiro Daidoji, in the direction of the mentioned Taishikan. In doing so, she had the opportunity to discover the decorations inside the fortress, between the weapon rooms and the residential quarters, the children who took refuge in their houses when they passed around, when the parents watched them with suspicion.
As she advanced, she did not fail to notice that the decor darkened, or more exactly, that the sunlight was deliberately subdued to favor the surrounding shadows.

BAYUSHI Akami waited until she walked in the midst of these artificial shadows to bounce back from what Inara was saying.
"Dark rumors you said? Either you said too much, or not enough. But you can't decently leave us hanging around like this. Speak freely, Damzel of the Phoenix, you need not fear prying ears in these places."

A strange choice of words from the Scorpio, as they both walked among the surrounding population. Strange choice of words especially, while Inara had the impression that the surrounding shadows were very slightly moving.

---

Outside the castle, History was on the move, it seemed, and its first steps were those of a small troop of ambushing soldiers, whose commander had taken the initiative to change the plans of an entire clan.
It was unthinkable, in terms of military strategy, that a group of soldiers face the front, a few hundred against thousands. It was a sure defeat. But was it really?
Whatever his chances, a young Crane officer was determined to defy the certainties.
Despite the fire that had precipitated his decision to act, luck smiled on him in that the Lion army had yet to notice the soldiers charging them from the flank.

Quick to react and to obey orders, they had rushed into the attack even before the fireworks had been fired, and had already reached the plain, halfway in the distance between them and the enemy soldiers, when the 4 red arrows exploded in the sky with a thunderous sound.

This was the signal that informed the Lions that they were being attacked from an unforeseen angle. But this was the most formidable military army in the entire empire. After the first seconds of chaos and surprise, information circulated in the heart of this organization, and a detachment ended up splitting up to come and face the new threat.

And although the Lion warriors were still a little disorganized, they clearly outnumbered the troop of 200 Crane fighters led by KAKITA Itsumi.

The same chaos spread through the heart of the Crane army, forced to react to the signal sent by Itsumi's scouts, and the latter also launched an assault on the main Lion force.

Suzume bowed low once again.

"Yes Uji-dono. I suppose my presence here would seem strange. I was sent here on order of my lord, Nobusuke-dono. An ancient prophecy was recently unearthed, and my lord is worried it might explain the current conflict. If I may..."

He then turns to the servant who was carrying his belongings, motioning him (or her) to bring them to him. Suzume then opens his travelling bag, making sure his katana is in plain view, denoting his noble birth, before producing a scroll.

"Ah, here it is..."

He then turns around and humbly offers it to Daidoji Uji, holding the scroll in front of him in both hands, bowing low while waiting for Uji the read the words inscribed inside...

"When both hands of the Hantei fight.
Darkness will fester in the heart.
Amid the home of honor's might.
Will seek to tear Rokugan apart.
Blades will be drawn at night.
Souls from this land will depart.
When both hands of the Hantei fight.
In this the tenth one will take part."

Inara followed Akami through the streets, smiling serenely and enjoying the touch of the morning air. Barely an hour after first light and already the heat and humidity had begun to rise. She found herself thinking fondly of her mountainous homeland, and the promise of cooler climes when she returned. But that only made her wonder again what was driving the Lion and Crane to the utter madness of waging war in the sweltering heat of summer... and could it have any connection to the darkness and fear she had been sensing?

She shook herself free of the memories, turning her attention to her surroundings. More often than not, that helped to take the edge off of her racing thoughts, but what she found was the passing faces of adults and children alike watching the two ambassadors with suspicion as they walked. Inara hid a pang of sadness behind what she hoped was a comforting smile. Though she did not have any desire to bear children of her own, the young Phoenix nonetheless adored them, and rare was the day that had passed before she set out for Shiro Daidoji that she did not have some young Asako or Shiba seeking her company for a song or a story or to share in a walk or adventure in the forests. The trepidation she found on their small faces was uncanny, and sadness flashed to a moment of impotent anger that they grew up in the shadow of war. No wonder they were frightened.

As they continued on, Inara noticed first a drop in the ambient light surrounding her, then a drop in the temperature as they passed into an area of deepened shadows. "Fascinating," she said aloud, distracted for a moment by the architecture.

Akami interrupted her musings right before she wandered off to explore the shifting shadows. "Dark rumors you said? Either you said too much, or not enough. But you can't decently leave us hanging around like this. Speak freely, Damsel of the Phoenix, you need not fear prying ears in these places."

Inara glanced around at the people milling around nearby. None of them seemed particularly interested in her, which she had to admit was better than being treated with suspicion and fear. She chose a place to settle down, far enough away from them that she could be relatively sure of a bit of privacy, yet close enough to make it clear that she didn't mistrust Akami's assessment of their safety.

She started from the beginning, telling the Scorpion lady how the kami had become more distant, and how rumors of war and darkness had reached Phoenix lands. She told of her journey south to Shiro Daidoji, her meeting with Itsumi, and the terrible vision she had seen. She told Akami how she had asked the water kami to show Itsumi what was happening around the castle, the battle with the peasants and the strange emptiness in their eyes. She told of meeting with Yukiyo and the ritual to allow the kami to show her all of what she had seen.

"I don't know what any of this means," she admitted. "The clans are all acting in their own best interests. They ignore the fact that the best outcome for all can only come if we work together. And... in whatever this darkness is... I sense a threat that seeks to drive us apart, that will take advantage of the infighting, and it will be for the ruin of all." She finally looked up to meet Akami's eyes; the Scorpion was watching her in silence, measuring her words. Inara dropped her defenses. "Let me speak plainly, my Lady. I am here on behalf of the Council, to speak to the Crane and find a way through this crisis. But I care nothing for war, or politics, or that tradition says you and I should have so little in common that speaking of such things should be dangerous. I may be here to treat with the Crane, but I have nothing but respect for the Scorpion clan. You protect your own, and I admire that." She paused, speaking carefully, praying her next words would not be mistaken for a threat. "The Lion/Crane conflict has begun to affect my home, and I want more than anything to protect my land, my family, my friends. But there is no promise that this will not spread into the realm of the Scorpion, Bayushi-san, and though I do not doubt your ability to protect your borders, it would grieve me to know your people came to harm if I could have given you warning, and I did not."

Reiko frowned, and pondered for a while. This prophecy was troubling. First, blood magic, and now a prophecy... She really hoped that she would find flesh and blood culprits, as Onis and Kamis were far outside her expertise... At length, she looked at Suzume.
I imagine there are several possible interpretations for this prophecy, but for you to come now, the council probably favours one, would you like to share it? And doesn't it strike you as odd that you and a phoenix would come here at the same time? Are we going to learn that a scorpion, a crab and a unicorn have approached the lion clan?
She turned to address the daimyo.
I would talk to that phoenix emissary if at all possible, and then I will go to the lion's officers and tell them about the truce. I will get to the bottom of this.
Would you like to join me Suzume-san?

Suzume turned and bowed to the Emerald Magistrate.

"Perhaps, who can truly say... From what I know of prophecies is that they are vague because they tell of a future which may come to pass instead of a future which is certain to come to pass. The actions of mortals can always change the course of history. All that I know is that my Champion, Nobosuke-dono, who is skilled at seeing the future, as all Dragon Clan champions have been since Togashi-kami himself saw that trouble coming, and finding this old prophesy greatly troubled him."

Suzume stops and thinks for a moment.

"My Lord did told me a cycle had to be continued in order to stop the meddling of a tenth kami. I guess you could consider that the Lion Clan, also known as the Emperor's Right Hand, and the Crane Clan, also known as the Emperor's Left Hand, are meant to be fighting as they do so every year. It is a sort of cycle after all... So is the peace which ends up being commanded by the Emperor every time they fight. The question now is, which of those two cycles does the maho-tsukai seek to break? And are we helping his plans in putting a stop to the fighting?

The revealed katana did not fail to attract the attention of the Daimyo, the latter recognized a work of quality, although far from the artistic standards of the Crane clan. Thus, this young monk was born into one of the noble families of the Empire, and was therefore not a vulgar peasant elevated to the rank of monk. Which also explained, in part, why he was sent by the Dragon. As for this prophecy ...

And it seemed Reiko was troubled too. However, she said something, about the different clans that came here, that caught Uji's attention. There was no news, as of yet, from the Crab and Unicorn clans, at least regarding the ongoing war. The Scorpion, on the other hand ... What was this decimated convoy, a few days before the start of the fighting between Crane and Lion ?

There were too many questions in the air since the monk and magistrate had started talking. And far too many unanswered questions. Maybe it was time to start looking for them, especially if the threat of a Maho-Tsukai in the vicinity became more and more real.

And so he bowed politely to his hosts.
"You should get ready to go now, both of you, if you don't want the day to turn scarlet again. I will notify this Phoenix emissary to accompany you, and I will make the same request to the Scorpion's Embassy, you will probably have questions for them too. Hoping that you will end up revealing the whole truth about what is going on right now.
Obviously, a detachment of Iron Cranes will also accompany you, for your safety, and to guarantee you access to the High Command of our army."

And while he took the leave, his orders to do so did not take long to be implemented.

---

Akami stopped, not far from a window through which the pale light of the early morning passed, and took the opportunity to examine Inara again. She had planned to lead the young Phoenix to the heart of the embassy, to be more ceremonious, to flatter a little the sense of customs and traditions of this child. And now this same child was giving her a speech that was at the same time touching, naive, and despite everything full of hope. More surprisingly, she didn't seem to be lying, when it was more common for people to keep secrets. Amazing, really.

She had no time to respond, however, as a guard wearing a Scorpion mon, younger than Inara, approached running, scroll in hand, and apparently urgent.
He only stopped his course for a few moments, while the ambassador allowed him to approach, before he handed the scroll to Akami and informed her of the latest events in the fortress with an inaudible whisper.
The forty-something gave a few moments to the scroll that had just been delivered to her, before turning her eyes back to the young Asako.
"We are afraid, Damzel of the Phoenix, that you will have to wait to tell us the end of your story. By order of the Emperor, through the intermediary of an Emerald Magistrate, you are expected in the courtyard to join the battlefield, and will, for this, be accompanied by one of our followers. When it comes to imperial authority, this takes precedence over everything, including our little friendly conversation. We pray that we can resume this exchange soon."

Without even looking in the direction of the figure that had just revealed her existence in the hallway, a few steps behind the Scorpion ambassador, she sent him a new mission, placing the roll of parchment at his disposal.
"Tohi-San, accompany our young friend, will you? And see what this Magistrate wants, since your presence, it seems, is also required."

---

It was evident that the Lion army knew how to adapt and react to the unexpected, as they organized themselves to face the load of the 200 Crane soldiers, by seconding a contingent of warriors for this purpose.

But even they could not be fully prepared for the brutal assault within seconds of Itsumi's troop climbing the last hundred yards.

And so it was in an imperfect formation that these blue warriors interfered with their enemy, taking advantage of the holes to further advance their attack.

Very quickly, Itsumi and his men found themselves in the heart of the battle, exchanging swords and spears with their opponents, and very quickly, each of them lost all notion of what was happening beyond a few meters around them.

For Itsumi, amid the cries and sounds of confrontation, it was no longer really a question of commanding now, surrounded as he was by 5 opposing soldiers.
He easily realized that each of these warriors, fought one by one, would be no match for him. In the fray of a war, alone against the number, on the other hand, it mobilized all his art and his training so as not to find himself put in difficulty.

He was going to have to react and be creative if he was to succeed in gaining the advantage.

Itsumi found himself in a precarious position and out numbered. His arrogance distanced himself too far ahead of his formation and he found himself surrounded. But this was an opportunity to rally his Soldiers. To show them that there was nothing to fear in a Lion, a creature constantly on the brink of starvation, a creature whose women hunt for him, "What a pathetic creature." he says, taunting his foes.

He quickly takes a measure of them as they close in on him before quickly unleashing with violent alacrity. His blade striking swift and true, cutting down his opponents, the spray of blood and bits of viscera clouding the air for a moment. As the last falls his Soldiers had caught up to him and continued on against the enemy ranks.

Inara blinked, and so she almost missed it. Surprise, and what seemed almost like respect, flashed through Akami's eyes for a moment, only to be subsumed into her normal mask of steely tranquility as quickly as they had appeared. Inara smiled a little, fairly certain of what she had seen, and both relieved and pleased that she had found it.

She looked up as a young Scorpion came running to meet them. She watched closely as he approached, and studied Akami for a sign of what was happening with such urgency. She didn't have to wait long for an answer.

"We are afraid, Damsel of the Phoenix, that you will have to wait to tell us the end of your story. By order of the Emperor, through the intermediary of an Emerald Magistrate, you are expected in the courtyard to join the battlefield, and will, for this, be accompanied by one of our followers. When it comes to imperial authority, this takes precedence over everything, including our little friendly conversation. We pray that we can resume this exchange soon."

An Emerald Magistrate...? Inara wondered for a moment if it could possibly be the same Lady Lion she had glimpsed in the courtyard earlier in the morning, and why she would be so urgently ordering to see her. She had not even given a report to the Daimyo... perhaps Itsumi, for all his seeming disinterest in the news she bore, had passed that information on himself.

Too many unanswered questions. With luck, today will bring a bit more clarity to this crisis... and we can end this with a minimum of bloodshed.

Inara bowed in understanding, and gratitude. "I look forward to that, Bayushi-san. I will find you when this is resolved, I would welcome your company."

The young Phoenix looked up in time to see a bit of shadow separate itself from the dim light behind Akami, taking the shape of a man not much older than herself. Another Scorpion -another Bayushi, Inara guessed, glancing at the newcomer's family crest - appeared at her shoulder. Akami addressed him directly; Inara was left to wonder how long he had been standing there, and how much he had heard.

"Toshi-San, accompany our young friend, will you? And see what this Magistrate wants, since your presence, it seems, is also required."

Inara gave a bow to Toshi, and smiled. "Well met," she said, turning to offer him a place to walk beside her. "It is probably best if we do not keep this Magistrate waiting. Shall we go?"

Very well, let us go to the courtyard, and end this battle before it takes too much of a tithe of blood.
Reiko got up, bowed respectfully to the daimyo -who didn't fail to notice the increase in respect- and to both the shugenja and the monk. She then hurried to the courtyard, where she found her secretary waiting beside a couple of horses a few meters away from a token force of escorting iron cranes.
We are going to need the official banner this time Kawanabi. Unpack it and shake some of the dust off.
She frowned. She didn't often take the emerald banner out, but when she did, it usually meant high stakes.

As a monk, a magistrate's duty wasn't his business, so he politely bowed out and was about to excuse himself. He wanted to see if Sakura had the time to speak to the palace's servants, and was also curious about meeting this Phoenix Clan deleguate. He turned to the Asahina shugenja who had tended to his and Reiko's wounds.

"Sorry to bother you again Asahina-san..."

Suzume now had dropped the -sama prefix as his noble birth had now been established.

"...but I heard there was a Phoenic Clan envoy in this castle. If the problem is indeed of a supernatural nature, I highly suspect she was sent here by the Council of Five to investigate it. As a witness of the events which just happened at the village, she might be interested in my testimony. Do you have any idea as to where I could find this Pheonix Clan envoy?"

Tohi steps forwards and gives a bow to the ambassador "Of course Akami-sama" he says before turning to the Phoenix. He regards her for a long moment, made almost uncomfortable given the mask that sits accross the top half of his face obscuring his eyes before he bows to her also, albeit a more shallow one than to Akami. "A pleasure Asako-san. Yes, let us head to this meeting now" whether he is pleased, angry, or feeling anything at all about his current assignment his tone does not betray any indication as to his true feelings and he turns on his heel and begins to lead the way out of the Taishikan.

A quick glance at the parchment told Tohi that the letter in his hands was a report on the events of that early morning. He thus discovered the arrival of two new foreigners within the Shiro Daidoji, a monk and a magistrate. And both, when they arrived together, accompanied by a plethora of prisoners, peasants it seemed. There was also mention of an interview between these strange guests and the Daimyo of the fortress, but this one having taken place behind closed doors, impossible to know what had been said.
Finally, the scroll specified that servants had orders to seek the envoy of the Phoenix, the presence of the latter being required by the magistrate.

Young BAYUSHI immediately understood what his superior was asking him. Make the link with recent events, the clashes of course, but above all this Scorpion convoy which had been attacked a few weeks ago now, and whose precious cargo had mysteriously disappeared. It was up to him to dig into this investigation, and a new opportunity had just been presented to the Scorpion clan. The gravity of the situation demanded the greatest haste, while preserving the dark secrets of the Clan.

And if this brief information could disturb him, Tohi did not let it show. And while in his turn, he observed the young Phoenix, it was thus that she made the acquaintance of a new member of the Scorpion clan: masked, unfazed, most certainly dangerous.

Deep inside, she felt very small, having to face military and political events which obviously exceeded her a little. She felt a little short of breath as she thought back to the speed at which things had rushed since she had arrived at Shiro Daidoji, she who was used to the studious calm of the Phoenix Clan libraries. But another part of her knew that she had been swept away by a spiritual cause like no other. A small voice in her heart whispered to her that she would have to unite the clans for this quest to succeed, for that was the key. And it was while hoping that she was not alone in this adventure that she had decided to trust the Kamis, and what they had planned for her, and for all others.

Getting to the court took only a few minutes for the two young people, and when they arrived, new and urgent preparations were underway.

It didn't take long for them to recognize the Emissary of the Empire, the banner of the Magistrates just raised, while in the distance one could hear the echo of the fighting.

Horses of medium size, Ban'Ei, were prepared nearby, and were a sign of an imminent departure. It seemed there were more horses than people present though.


As Inara was about to introduce herself to Reiko, a young woman, wearing the Mon of the DAIDOJI family, preceded her and presented herself before the magistrate, her finely crafted spear stowed behind her back, indicating without the slightest possible error that she was devoting her life to martial arts.


"Magistrate-Dono, my name is DAIDOJI Akeha, I am the daughter of the DAIDOJI's Daimyo, who you have just met. My father sends me to accompany you, to introduce you to the High Command of our army. Did you have time to talk to Lady ASAKO who arrived last night?"

A few steps away, Suzume was talking with his pupil, after the latter had made a little tour of the place, and had discussed with some of the servants of the palace.

Less inclined to military discourse, the servants had revealed to Sakura the climate of fear in which they had all been living for a few weeks. The youngster had also discovered that this fear was not so much due to the ongoing war, but more in connection with the attacks suffered by the clan patrols in the surroundings, just like the less well-born people who had to make their own work outside the palace. It was moreover all these attacks that had provoked the current war, with so few diplomatic openings, the two clans accusing each other of the respective attacks.

---

"Attacks?" Thought Suzume. "Now this is interesting..."

"Sakuran-chan, did you managed to get more details about those attacks? Were they perpetrated by brigands, or wild beasts perhaps? Were there survivors?"

Then he caught himself as he realize he was basically bombarding his pupils with questions.

"Sumimasen Sakura-chan. You did great work. Those attacks definitely hold the answers to what is going on here, but I need more information. I have a feeling my presence will be required somewhere soon, so I doubt I'll be able to talk the the servants myself. And I'd also like to have a word with the Phoenix Clan envoy... I would greatly appreciate if you could try to learn more about those attacks."

Tohi follows and stands slightly behind Inara, silently observing everything happening within the area. The tension he feels within is not shown on his features. He pays particular note as Daidoji Akeha introduces herself to the magistrate The Daymio's daughter? Interesting he thinks to himself. His eyes also catch sight of the monk in conversation with another figure A dragon too. Unusual to see one come down from their perch....

The walk to the courtyard passed mostly in silence, which, if she was honest with herself, Inara had expected. The young masked Scorpion led the way out of the Taishikan, and Inara followed closely until they reached the courtyard. She paused as they entered, scanning the scene, easily identifying the Emerald Magistrate by the Imperial Banner she bore, and catching a glimpse of the Crane Shugenja, Asahina Yukiyo. Several others - two monks of the Dragon clan among them - stood nearby, accompanied by a squad of Iron Cranes and more than a few sturdy warhorses.

Inara took a deep, steadying breath and stepped forward, taking the lead as Tohi fell in behind her shoulder. She walked toward the Magistrate, wishing for the most fleeting of moments for the gift of the Crane's silvered tongues, or even the Scorpion's mask. She felt exposed, emotionally naked, and struggled to find the words she wanted to say. So it came as a relief when a young Crane woman found her way to the Magistrate's side first, breaking the tension and immediacy of Inara's approach. She stopped, and bowed politely, listening carefully to the woman's introduction of herself.

"Magistrate-Dono, my name is DAIDOJI Akeha, I am the daughter of the DAIDOJI's Daimyo, who you have just met. My father sends me to accompany you, to introduce you to the High Command of our army. Did you have time to talk to Lady ASAKO who arrived last night?"

The sound of her name brought Inara's gaze up in surprise. Suddenly the warsteeds made perfect sense; they were being escorted to the battleground.

So they have chosen to investigate that darkness after all. Finally, a chance to begin solving this riddle. And how better, with representatives of so many of the clans working together, for the good of all?

Inara smiled, deeply, and genuinely. And even the stern gaze of the Magistrate only muted that expression of quiet joy enough to be socially acceptable. When the Magistrate had answered the young Daidoji, Inara bowed and presented herself. "Magistrate-Dono, my name is Asako Inara. I arrived in Shiro Daidoji last night, on behalf of the Council of Five. A great deal has happened in the hours since, my Lady. There is indeed much to discuss."

As Kawanabi unfurled the banner, Reiko glanced around the courtyard and was struck by the unusual fact of the presence of representatives of so many clans at once in a rather minor Castle. The iron cranes were to be expected, and herself and Kawanabi, although technically Lions were there as representatives of the emperor. The Dragon monks were more unusual, and as she was thinking about a phoenix shugenja being in the mix too, she saw her approach, accompanied by a masked scorpion, no less. She didn't have time to formulate a hypothesis as to the circumstances that had caused this pairing though, as a voice interrupted her reverie.
"Magistrate-Dono, my name is DAIDOJI Akeha, I am the daughter of the DAIDOJI's Daimyo, who you have just met. My father sends me to accompany you, to introduce you to the High Command of our army. Did you have time to talk to Lady ASAKO who arrived last night?"
A tall warrior with a beautiful spear had appeared at her side, and was bowing politely. She returned her bow and answered.
I am Matsu Reiko, Emerald Magistrate, it is an honour to make your acquaintance. I'm sure the escort would have been perfectly sufficient, she said waving vaguely in the direction of the soldiers, but your presence will certainly make things easier. I believe lady Asako is arriving presently, and I will talk with her on the way.
The shugenja took the few last steps separating them and introduced herself.
"Magistrate-Dono, my name is Asako Inara. I arrived in Shiro Daidoji last night, on behalf of the Council of Five. A great deal has happened in the hours since, my Lady. There is indeed much to discuss."
I agree, lady Asako, and I am as perplexed and disquieted by the events as you seem to be. My name is Matsu Reiko, I arrived here last night after an encounter with what I and Togashi Suzume, an envoy of the Dragon clan, at that, she waved at the monk and his charge to join their conversation believe to be Blood magic. I would like to discuss this in depth with you, and the reason you were sent here, but I have a battle to stop. Would you agree to accompany me to the front lines as we discuss it, so I can accomplish both? Of course your, ah... companion is welcome to come too, as are you Suzume-San.

Blood magic. Inara stared in shock and dismay, feeling her own blood chill at the thought. No wonder the kami were terrified and crying out in pain. Cold anger flared in her heart at the thought of what they were enduring, and why. Inara shook her head; she believed firmly that the exploration of magic and the sharing of hidden knowledge were among the world's highest pursuits, but... some secrets are best left hidden. She knew precious little about the practice, and the words of her teacher echoed in her mind, reminding her that she could not defend the ones she loved against what she did not understand. Steeling herself, she resolved to do what she could, and learn the rest, however deeply it was required of her. Idealism was no excuse for complacency.

"I will go with you, of course, Matsu-sama" she said, finally looking up to meet Reiko's eyes directly. "And you will have my full cooperation. My companion..." she stepped aside to allow the Scorpion envoy to face the Magistrate fully, "received the same summons as I did; a messenger with orders for us to rendezvous with you here met us in the Scorpion clan Taishikan." She paused, giving Tohi time to introduce himself; how much of his identity he chose to reveal was his business, and she knew enough of Scorpion culture to not reveal more about him than he himself offered freely, if she had any hope of securing his friendship. And, indeed, she did.

While the Scorpion and Lion talked, Inara turned to the Dragons, lowering her voice a little. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Togashi-sama, and you, young Lady Dragon." She bowed politely. "I am Asako Inara. Thank you for coming. Please, tell me, what do you know of this... darkness, which has come upon these lands?"

As he talks to his pupil, Suzume notices the Phoenix shugenja talking to Reiko. "Ah, this must be the Phoenix Clan envoy." He is then surprised to see her turn around and address him and his pupil.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Inara-san." Says Suzume as he politely bows to the newcomer. "I am Togashi Suzume, and my pupil here is Togashi Sakura. As for what I know of the darkness at work here, part or it is personal experience, and part of it is heresay. My pupil and I were staying in a village near by which came under attack by what I can only describe as possessed peasants. Those peasants fought more like animals, or madmen than actual peasant levies. During the fight, I noticed a dark figure in the distance observing us as we fought for our lives. Despite being only able to catch a glimpse, I could say that this mysterious stranger had ill intentions... Then, when the Crane troops arrived, those peasants all fell to the ground, like puppets whose strings were cut... Reiko-sama was here too, and though she did not saw the strange figure, a quick inspection of the place where it stood showed its mere presence had affected the ground and nearby tree... It would also seem that before this whole conflict started, people from the Lion and Crane Clans were attacked, and blame those attacks on each other. Seems someone wanted this conflict..."

Tohi bows to Reiko the perfect amount that her station demands, or was it a shade too shallow, hard to say. "Magistrate-Dono, I have been instructed by my mistress Bayushi Akami that my presence was required here. Hopefully I can provide some assistance during your investigations." as before his voice betrays no emotion.

Inara's memory flashed back to the vision given by the water kami the night before... glimpses of peasant fighters with hollow eyes. She shivered, listening closely, quiet anger deepening and taking the place of that flash of joy she had felt only moments earlier. She held that emotion tightly in check; it was not for the monk to feel.

"It seems,Togashi-san, that you share my thoughts on this matter. It does seem that something moves to drive the clans apart... and worse, I fear, given the degree to which the situation has already escalated." She turned to Reiko, meeting the Magistrate's eyes once more. "It is not my place to judge, but I agree with you, Matsu-sama. If your move is to end this battle, then we should not linger here longer than necessary. We can discuss this more... freely..." she glanced around at the people who had stopped and were milling nearby, trying to be discrete but still clearly intrigued by the sight of the delegation, "...from the trail. When you are ready, my Lady, we should be off."

Reiko stops to look at the young Scorpion. She frowns as she notices that he does not introduce himself, nor betray any hint of interest for what her mission might actually be, but most of all, she wonders where the scorpion clan's interests might lie in this situation. She resolves to keep an eye on him.
Well, mister no-face-and-no-name-san, I would very much like to know what you know about this case. Do you, or Akeha-San have any information on the attacks that have prompted this war?
As she talks, she climbs in the saddle of one of the horses
And Inara-san, I would like to know how you came to be here, and what you know about blood magic.
Reiko spurs on her horse, and leads the small party onwards.

Taking her cues from Reiko, Inara too chose one of the waiting horses and climbed into the saddle. She waited long enough to be sure the others had also mounted safely, then urged her mount to catch up with the Magistrate.

She took a moment to collect her thoughts; it was difficult enough to speak of such things, much less to admit she knew so little about it. "The truth, Matsu-sama, is that knowledge of the practice of blood magic is very carefully controlled. I know nothing of how it is practiced, all of what I know is completely based on what I know of the risks, not from proper study." She took a deep breath, clearly distressed and just as clearly trying to hide it. "I know that it frightens the kami, and causes them terrible pain. They flee in its presence, though whether it is only that or because the magic affects their bond to the land, I cannot say. Over the past few weeks, I have felt the kami grow distant, even within the borders of Phoenix lands. There were whispers of some darkness like this, but I could not believe them. I see now, that perhaps I was mistaken. The Council of Five sent me here to investigate, and to find some way to restore the kami to safety. We cannot afford to lose our connections with them, and... she hesitated, but settled on the full truth, and searched Reiko's eyes for some promise that there was more than idle hope here, ..."the kami are my friends, Matsu-sama. I have to help them, for their own sake as much as our own."

As Reiko turns to move to her mount a slight smile of satisfaction flickers on the scorpions face for a moment before his face returns to his neutral expression and he follows the short distance to where the mounts are located. "Forgive me magistrate-dono, I am Bayushi Tohi. I'm afraid I do not have much information to share, attacks on our trade caravans have been higher than normal of late but asides from that I am not aware of any information of significance to these matters. I am sure I can be of some small service regardless"

Suzume turns to Sakura before following the others. "Sakura-chan, see if you can find more information while we're gone. With the Phoenix and Scorpion Clans also interested in what's going on here, it confirms our own suspicions that something horrible is happening here. I have a feeling representatives of other Clans might also drop by Shiro Daidoji, so it might be best if you are here to discuss with them while I'm away."

Suzumen then hopped on one of the provided Rokugani ponies. "It's been a while since I rode one of those... Let's see if my training still holds up..." He spurs the pony forward, struggling a bit to maintain his balance on the back of the beast as he's a bit rusted, but after a few moments, his training kicks in and he manages to ride his pony well enough to catch up with the rest of the group.

Sakura bowed to her teacher, and quickly answered his last questions, she didn't want to disturb as he was about to leave for his own mission.
"Sumimasen Sensei, I don't really have more information about these attacks. Only ... People here seem to be saying that the attacks on the peasants were rather isolated incidents, which, according to rumors, is not the case regarding the patrols."

Out of the corner of her eye, she couldn't help but observe the horses ... rather the ponies, by her own standards.
For Suzume, who knew her well, it was obvious that the mounts reminded the young girl of her origins ... and what she had left behind. As for himself, He was sure she did not regret having answered the Dragon's call. But sometimes memories of the past could turn out to be nostalgic. Especially since he himself would be very curious to discover the thoroughbreds with which his young pupil had grown up.

Serious and diligent, she bowed again to greet the assembling company.
"I will continue to investigate the servants, as you wish."

Kawanabi bustled about to float the Magistrates' banner, and in silence prepared to lead the small troop, since that same banner was to be the first sight of their convoy.
Reiko easily took command, and dispatched orders and questions to continue the ongoing investigation of the two magistrates, whether with the daughter of the Daimyo, or with the Shugenja of the Phoenix.

ASAKO Inara who had just arrived, accompanied by a bushi from the Scorpion clan. If the presence of the latter was not necessarily a surprise, the Scorpion having Taishikans everywhere, the tension, palpable within the group, nevertheless rose a notch, and the assistant Magistrate decided to keep a close eye on this new arrival.

DAIDOJI Akeha quickly climbed on her mount, and it was only once in the saddle that she informed the magistrate of what she even knew about these attacks at the origin of the war against the Lion clan.
"We found the corpses of our soldiers for each usual patrol that we sent to the edge of the border with the Lion clan, and each time in areas sufficiently far from any human presence so that there were no witnesses to these murders."

Once the small troop assembled and ready to leave, the departure was not long in view of the urgency of the situation. There was still a good 10 minutes of journey to reach the battlefield by galloping, and Reiko took the opportunity to exchange with the different clans present.

So, it was the 2 Magistrate Lions, the Dragon Ise Zumi, the Shugenja of the Phoenix, and the enigmatic Scorpion who took the road, accompanied by the daughter of Daimyo DAIDOJI, and 3 of his soldiers as an escort.

9 people on the march to stop a bloody war, which had already lasted too long, 9 people on the march, following the silent murmur the fate of the Rings had set in motion, like an echo of legends from other worlds.

10 minutes of journey during which the clamor of the clashes only increased, until becoming deafening, and for some, slightly distressing.

What was happening below was not a duel, was not codified, and the howls of the warriors, with the groans of pain, and the screeching of arms against arms, was further proof of the absence of harmony which extended in this period within the Empire.

In a few moments, DAIDOJI Akeha guided them to the heart of the Crane army camp, where the high command of the troops met.
"Please wait Magistrate-Dono, I'll let our generals know you're coming."
She wasted no time and slipped away.

The surrounding camp was occupied by reserve troops, particularly in charge of site security. A few hundred people who were responsible for taking care of the makeshift barracks, busy transmitting information to the generals, and preparing the infirmaries that would receive the wounded, when it would be possible to recover them.

While below, everyone could observe the ambient chaos that depicted the battlefield.

It was true that the tension within the group had grown a bit deeper, and Inara didn't fail to notice, nor did she miss the meaning behind the delicate interplay of words exchanged between the young Scorpion bushi and the Lion magistrate. As if the whole scenario wasn't tense enough on its own; Inara's nerves felt like drawn bowstrings, poised but filled with quivering potential energy. She focused instead on the movement of her mount beneath her; it had been years since the last time she found herself in the saddle, and it took most of her concentration to maintain a secure seat once Reiko set the pace at a gallop across the plain.

The wind rushing in her ears effectively masked most of the sounds of war until the little company came to a halt. The transition between the rhythm and flow she had felt during the ride, and the chaotic din now that they had stopped, was jarring, and the young Phoenix decided then and there that she hated it, and she longed for the serenity of her mountains and forests and libraries.

...a home, she reminded herself, that was at risk if the darkness at the center of this conflict was not resolved. There was no Magistrate of Jade to be found... and no other shugenja had joined them. Protecting what she loved most settled on her shoulders like a mantle as the gravity of the situation became clear.

Reiko and Suzume would soon be busy, she guessed, so Inara moved a bit closer to Tohi. Partly, to secure any last pieces of this puzzle they had available to them... and admittedly, because doing nothing was intolerable at the moment. "Bayushi-san, in your travels and your time in Crane lands, have you heard reports of any other... events... like what happened here last night? Any way to determine where this maho tsukai may have originated?"

As they arrived, Suzume observed the carnage happening below.

"I'm afraid we're a bit late Reiko-sama. Both the Crane and Lion are engaged in combat. It will be difficult to have them listen to reason as they are now..."

Suzume then carefully scanned his surroundings, hoping to not see any more of this shadowed form...

Tohi stares at the scene before them, the chaos swirling about the fighting. So many opportunities, a nudge here or there could change matters significantly.... he thought to himself and out of the corner of his eye he saw Inara moving to his side. After she asked her question he simply shrugged slightly "I am sorry Asako-san, there is very little else I can tell you. Certainly some of our caravans that have been moving through these lands have been more....inconvenienced of late but I am not aware of anything that may be an indication of more unnatural origins."

Quite right, Suzume-san, but my duty is to try anyway.
Reiko looks around at the small band gathered with her.
The Crane high command will not dare refuse this, and they will try to control their troops. They are very disciplined, and most will obey. The Lions will try to pursue the retreating cranes, and that will be the most dangerous moment. I will need to ride towards a charging army to try and stop them. I cannot in good conscience order any of you to accompany me at that time. No, not even you Kawanabi.
She frowned as she said it. She looked at each of them in turn.
If I don't make it back, you all need to continue this investigation.

As he noticed Reiko was about to ride in the thick of things, Suzume spurred his horse to interpose Reiko's own. "Oh, the Lions' willingness to perform noble sacrifices..." mused Suzume... "Some things haven't changed much since I left..."

"Sumimasen Magistrate-sama, but before you charge boldly, perhaps we could ask our shugenja friend if she has a spell or two which might help in ensuring your return... It would be easier for you to fulfil your Imperial duties if you remained alive."

He then points at Inara currently talking to Tohi, the two of them discussing aside from the main group.

"I do not know much about prayers to the kami, but if an enchantment could enhance your aura of Imperial authority, this might help greatly in having both sides comply much more readily..."

5 minutes had barely passed before DAIDOJI Akeha came back to them, and everyone could realize that she was not alone, accompanied by two middle-aged men, with the white hair so characteristic of the Crane clan.

But all the same, it took all the foreigners in the clan a few seconds to recognize these two men. Known as the two Wings of the Crane, they were the two closest advisers to the DOJI family.
The first, KAKITA Yoshi, had the charge of Daimyo of the KAKITA family and representing the family on diplomatic matters, while his elder brother, KAKITA Toshimoko, was the Chief General of the clan armies.

And if the aura of DAIDOJI Uji was overwhelming, that of the two KAKITA brothers gave the impression of being a perfectly sharp blade, ready to use.




Strange as it sounded, every member of the ride knew these two brothers.

Reiko and her second had most likely already seen them at the Imperial Palace from time to time.

Inara, too, seemed to have met them before, in previous exchanges between the Phoenix and the Crane, a child at that time.

For Tohi, without ever having the opportunity to meet them directly, the charisma that the two brothers exuded when they were together, including the day before at Shiro Daidoji, when the Crane forces were regrouping in the fortress, made him remember without difficulty having watched the two leaders by order of the Scorpion clan, without ever being detected.

Finally, Suzume, from the time when the two brothers did not yet have their present responsibilities, recognized them easily, despite the many years that had passed.

And the reverse was true, as the two officers identified those people with a single glance.
Akeha did not have time to make the introductions as KAKITA Yoshi took the lead and showed the extent and finesse of the Crane clan's diplomacy.

He first addressed the magistrate, displaying a pleasant and engaging smile.
"Esteemed Magistrate, it is an honor to welcome you among us, even if the present situation does not lend itself to it. From the words of the young Akeha, it seems that you have solid reasons for wanting to put an end to the fights. Rest assured of our support."
"Toshimoko, if you will take care of it now and order the retreat of our troops?" he asked his brother, as they exchanged a quick glance.
He dismissed then the young DAIDOJI, while placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you for leading our guests to me. I'm not holding you back, I know you still have a lot to do. My best regards to your father."

Used to the pretenses of different people, Tohi did not fail to notice the hand resting on the warrior's shoulder, noticeably tense for those who knew how to observe these micro details. Something to do for sure, but maybe not to go back to Shiro Daidoji immediately. And perceiving the state of emotional tension that Akeha contained somehow inside of herself, Tohi's intuition was easily confirmed.

And as she left the scene, accompanied by the troop of Crane soldiers who had escorted them, the Daimyo turned his glance to the Phoenix Shugenja, who was talking with a Scorpion.
"We haven't been introduce yet, but I bet Lady BAYUSHI Akami is sending you to help us with this whole affair? Rest assured of the gratitude of the Crane clan for your help, Scorpion-San. "

"Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but aren't you ASAKO Inara-San? We met about fifteen years ago, a little more I believe. I hope your parents are doing well. I remember being warmly greeted by your father at the Palace of Morning Glory, he would pity me to learn that your presence in our lands is the mark of your predecessor's decline."

He only took a moment to dwell on the presence of the Dragon monk, faded smile and ice in his eyes and voice.
"So Cousin ... There you are again ..."

Obviously very skillful at handling several conversations at the same time, he returned to Reiko to ask her one last question, once again finding his diplomatic smile.
"How can we help you, esteemed Magistrate?"

Tohi takes in the interplay between the Crane but files it all away for the time being. He bows in response to the Daymio addressing him directly "I am Bayushi Tohi and it is a pleasure to serve in whatever small manner I can Kakita-sama. Your assumption is indeed correct that Akami-sama has tasked me with this duty, she is keenly aware of how matters like these can escalate needlessly if not dealt with in a timely manner."

"I am sorry Asako-san, there is very little else I can tell you. Certainly some of our caravans that have been moving through these lands have been more....inconvenienced of late but I am not aware of anything that may be an indication of more unnatural origins."

Inara did not allow her disappointment to show on her face... at least, she hoped it was not evident. Patience, she reminded herself. you know better than to expect the trust of the claws and dart before it is earned.

With her back to the rest of the group, she might have missed the appearance of the Crane brothers if it was not for the young Scorpion's gaze shifting to a spot over her shoulder as he finished speaking to her. Inara turned, and stared for a moment, trying to distinguish their faces in the glare of the morning sun. More than their appearance, the presence of these men felt familiar to her. She observed the other introductions in silence, trying to work out from whence the familiarity came. She did not have to wait long for the answer.

"Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but aren't you ASAKO Inara-San? We met about fifteen years ago, a little more I believe. I hope your parents are doing well. I remember being warmly greeted by your father at the Palace of Morning Glory, it would pity me to learn that your presence in our lands is the mark of your predecessor's decline."

Inara smiled, caught off guard by the warmth of his welcome and the memory of the visit he spoke of. She had indeed been very young at the time, far too young to have given even the smallest care to political discourse, but she remembered the rapport the Crane ambassador had shared with her father, and that put her mind at ease. Her worry began to fade... and in its place, the flame of hope began to rise.

She bowed, carefully not too low; she was not a child anymore, after all. Still, her respect, and even the edges of her hope and relief, were obvious in the gesture. "It is good to see you again, Kakita-sama. My mother and father are well, and I am sure they would be pleased to know you are as well. I pray when this is over, you might find yourself in the halls of Kyuden Asako once again. For now... there is much work to do, and in whatever way I can, I am here to serve."

Suzume was surprised at first to see his cousin here, though he should have anticipated it, it was his men, after all, who were fighting down there... It was obvious that his cousin was not happy to see him here... Suzume decided it would be more prudent to say nothing and let the others do the talking. At the very least, he'd be able to convince Reiko to not foolishly throw her life away...

I'm... sorry sir, I'm a bit surprised. I didn't expect to find someone of your exalted rank here...
As a matter of fact, I believe you can be of great help to me. I'm fairly certain your presence alongside my official standard can grant me access to the Lion High Command.
She frowned as she realized she had just suggested the two wings surrender themselves to their enemies.
Of course I don(t mean for you to actually accompany me to their camp, but to facilitate my passage.
The bitter irony of needing help to be certain to have access to her own kinsmen was not lost on Reiko, but she was pragmatic enough to recognize the truth of battle and war.
I wish I had time to explain the circumstances fully, but I believe time is of the essence for now.

A few steps in the company of the Daimyo of the KAKITA family offered the team members the opportunity to glimpse the beginnings of the military communication of the Crane clan.

A new excitement stirred the camp, as Toshimoko conveyed his orders to the shugenjas present. The latter, a good twenty seated in a circle, and equipped with light colors Shamisen, began to play in chorus, a bluish glow misting the stringed instruments. The orders of the military commander were clear, the Crane army had to withdraw and return, in its entirety, to the base camp.If the 3 men did not know how to perceive more, Inara was surprised to notice that small Kamis, affiliated with the element of the air, danced in the center of the circle of her peers.

From these Kamis arose a wind, at first turning, hesitating, seeking its direction, and which then turned into a determined breath, strong enough to shake the fabric of the clothes of anyone in the vicinity, the whole team included.

For who could pay attention, the same bluish glow, very light, clouded the uniforms of the combatants in the plain, and in a few minutes, we could see that the army was getting organized to set up their retreat.
Seasoned eyes had no difficulty in guessing that the various officers had at heart to protect their troops during this delicate maneuver, and thus easily distinguished the excess of prudence which accompanied the diffusion of the order of withdrawal.


As the Shamisen melody continued to ring in everyone's ears, KAKITA Yoshi, who had advanced to the edge of the encampment to observe the movements of the troops, turned, and immediately addressed Reiko.
"Esteemed Magistrate, as you can see, my brother Toshimoko is already in charge of warning our soldiers to stop fighting. Unfortunately, I don't have the authority to ask so much of our fierce adversaries."

There were old memories going back to Suzume's mind, of clan traditions, of how the clan handled crisis situations, and the Daimyo's obsequiousness seemed strange to him. Admittedly, the Cranes wielded politeness and diplomacy like no other, but that sounded false to the ears of the monk. He knew the Crane clan, and knew that he and his companions were not in danger. Which seemed to mean that both Crane's Wings were knowingly hiding information. But which ones? Like Tohi for a moment, he became aware of the tense and precipitous departure of DAIDOJI Akeha and her troop.

But the actions to be taken in the near future depended on the imperial authority, it was now up to Reiko to make decisions. And to enforce them.

The sound of music rising in counterpoint to the chaotic din of battle surprised Inara, and she found herself overcome by interest and curiosity. It was out of place, cool and inviting and laced with delicate magics, and it drew the young shugenja's attention like a moth to a flame. She followed the sound to the working circle of Crane mages, watching as they played and the kami danced among them. She didn't quite understand what they were doing, what the purpose of all this was, but the spreading blue mist and the withdrawal of the Crane troops soon after let her believe that they were somehow a part of that process.

Fascinating.

She didn't want to impose, and certainly there were far more important things to worry about than sating her curiosity. But she stayed to watch, enjoying the song and the dance of the little air spirits, and promised herself that when she was back in her beloved library she would learn all she could about the technique.