The Crane Raid: Part 1

[Kakita Mitsouko]

This thread takes place several days after the end of the Winter Court. It’s semi open, please PM before join, if you were not already invited.
Players so far:

Kakita Mitsouko
Usaji Izutsu (Saiko)
Kakita Hitoshi
Daidoji Ryumon
Kakita Hiroshi
Kakita Kodachi (Naetaru)
Kakita Battou
Kitsune Yumi (Poxo)
Ashidaka Kaemon (Sojiro)

(waiting some other names to join)

Have fun!


It's merely the thread to gather our brave party to ...The Crane Raid, seeking for Alesha into the depths of Shadowlands.

After the important decisions concerning Crane Strategies for war, a small group of Crane and few trustful allies had been exchanging letters of confidential content, and is came the day when they will finally gather to accomplish their word given to the Kakita daimyo. Words given by duty, loyalty; by friendship, by sense of justice. Different reasons in those samurai hearts, though, none of them did it unaware of the possible consequences of this oath.
The meeting takes place in one of the eerie nights of winter covering the Manor of Crysanthemun Bride, Kakita’s Mitsouko’s ancestor home. Every of the men and women coming were taken to a huge meeting room where braziers could drive off the cold of their bones. Servants make it perfect and comfortable, though a serious tone made the air thick in anticipation.

[The Blue Ronin]

Daidoji Ryumon arrived with a small party of Daidoji samurai to accompany him - even far from the frontlines, the Crane were still at war, and he had no intention of being ambushed again as he had been outside Kyuden Otomo.

He had no doubt that the Castle would seem beautiful in a more positive light and were he in a more positive frame of mind. But in winter, in a land ravaged by war, and with his own mindset grim and turned towards darker things, it was hard to appreciate beauty. Perhaps that meant he was not yet a true Crane, he thought. It was clear that the teachings of Lady Doji obliged her servants to find beauty wherever it was. Well, so be it. He had never expected nor had Fitsu demanded that his journey to becoming a true Crane was an easy one.

He dismissed his retinue piecemeal - four to stand at the castle gates, another two at the door, another two at the doorway to the inner sanctum, a few more to patrol and one last, his personal yojimbo, to stand at the doorway of the inner sanctum where he was to meet with Mitsouko and the others. He chose to keep his armour on, heavy and awkward as it was, but in concession to the trust that he had in the Kakita Daimyo, he unbuckled the gorget of his chestpiece and removed his kabuto. Even that made him feel uncomfortable. He guessed, if he was to travel to the Shadowlands, he would have to learn to live with that vulnerability.

It seemed he was the first to arrive. A servant brought him a cup of Iron Princess tea, as he requested. He sat, cross-legged, staring glumly at a wall and sipping at the pleasantly bitter tasting drink.

[Doji Naetaru]

((OOC Info: The model of this character is inspired by the Japanese actress Chiaki Kuriyama. Thinking it adds more to the flavor of the character))


Kakita Kodachi would never believe the contrasts that life imposed unto a single soul and for the last week she would experience this herself. A month before she dreamed her life as a promising samurai, honoring her lady, living her life with dignity and beauty.
And a week before she had fallen into the deepest of scandals.
Days before, she had received a letter of summon, a perfect chance for salvation.

Thus she found herself inside. She was a beautiful tall woman with slender dark hair left loose, cascading over her shoulders. She was wearing a fine silken kimono of silver and teal. She paced steadily and confidently. The room's vastness only made her feel more lonely, until she saw Ryumon.

[The Blue Ronin]

Ryumon nodded as the woman wearing a Kakita mon on her kimono entered. He was silent for a few moments, allowing her the chance to greet him as it was her home turf, but when she looked somewhat surprised to see him - he should have foreseen that, the hall was vast - he gave her what he hoped was a reassuring nod, perhaps forgetting he was still wearing battlefield armour.

"Greetings Kakita-san. I take it you are in the service of Lady Mitsouko? Do you know when she will be joining us? I admit that I am not enjoying her hospitality as much as courtesy demands. I apologise for this, but it has been a long cold journey and I impatient to begin our plans"

[Kakita Mitsouko]

Mitsouko turned to Battou, raising an eyebrow: Can you stop spilling ink in my grandma’s table please? She earned it as wedding gift from the khan of her times, and I’d appreciate if you could stop trying to stain my kimono as well. Both were sitting near the window; Mitsouko was re-reading some reports, and Battou offered himself to take notes.
It was the last chance of doing that in this year. Soon she would be too heavy to perform her duty, and she wasn’t willing to give Alesha all this spare time to grow more powerful and inflict further harm to Rokugan.
Her resolve grew stronger in the last days, when the Kakita daimyo could see the maho influence embedding a lot of events around her; around everyone. Many in Rokugan weren’t so aware, and if she could start by applying Crane justice over that ignoble and Fallen Alesha, it could be the start. It could be an action to show all those fool blood sorcerers Crane wasn’t as weak as they thought at first.
Alesha had gone to south, after performing his masterpiece of horror against his former clan, and some reports were precise in telling he had been seen fighting alongside Spider forces against Shiro Hiruma.
Then, she saw reason in convoke her truthful allies to this incursion, into Shadowlands, to bring his head severed from his corpse to wash the honor of Many Crane and Mantis deaths in that macabre day. And she cannot help remembering how he would be delighted with the idea of such violence, by their last in person conversation, on the battlefields of Seawatch castle.
Of course, Mitsouko was aware of the absurd risk of this mission. And that’s why she and her allies were raising the most complete resources, both material and data related, which the Crane could get in order to plan and prepare their raid. Like she always said (and of course thats something she learned from Fitsu): preparedness is essential.
Then, a servant came to announce the arrival of both the Daidoji hatamoto and Kakita Kodachi. Mitsouko raised, aligned her two pieces kimono in black and blue, glad the ink stains Battou provided to it were concealed. That’s good. We can start some discussion with Ryumon-san and the warrior woman… some previous inputs can be valuable.
Both headed to the chamber, followed by their attendants, but all of them were dismissed before the pair entered. She opened a smile. Though she hadn’t ever met either Daidoji Ryumon or Kakita Kodachi before, their names were well known to her.
“Welcome to my house, friends. It’s an honor that you gave me your time and attention. Also, I am happy I can finally meet you in person.”

[Zeure]

"It is really not my fault that you don't have a proper tall ink pot to leave the brush in. If you did, the brush would not have fallen out and I would not have spilled any. And you are the one trying to stain your kimono dragging it through the ink trying to wipe off the table when I'm clearly taking care of it."

He sounded serious and logical, but the grin on his face could not be taken that way. The time they had spent together since 'that night' had all been them trying to get to know each other better. And seemingly, for Battou to learn how stressful her duties could be. He was wiping up the ink already, and she was only making it worse, so he was pushing her hand away. But he would not stop smiling.

When the news of the arrived guests reached them, he stoppered the bottle and put away the caligraphy tools. He stood and looked at her. "My obi still straight?" With her nod of assent, he followed her out into the room where they could meet the others.

As they entered, he bowed to the other two. And then Mitsouko gave her welcome to them and Battou's posture became calm. "Greetings. I am Kakita Battou." He did not feel that he needed to say any more. He was on this mission for the sole purpose of murdering Alesha, given even half a chance.

[Doji Naetaru]

Kodachi turned to Ryumon's side as he addressed her. She looked over to his mon, noticing the ranked insignia. The man wasn't a nobody, he was the Daidoji hatamoto.

"Daidoji-sama, I am certain it will not be long before lady Kakita summons us to her services. She is a perfect host and I doubt that we will be waiting long. If only the weather wasn't that rainy."
Of course the weather didn't bother but then again how could she fill the void of the first chance meeting?

"I am Kakita Kodachi, samurai of Shiro Sano Kakita. It is an honor to meet you." she bowed in respect.

As soon as they were escorted to meet Mitsouko and Battou she followed suit.
She heard the people present speaking as she paced forward and bowed solemnly.

"Konban-wa Kakita Mitsouko-sama, Kakita Battou-sama. I am Kakita Kodachi, I apologize if I arrived late." the woman was serious

[Kakita Mitsouko]

Kodachi-san, you are not late. Let’s please, take seats. She snapped her fingers and more tea was served. Ryumon-sama, I am glad you can find time to attend my calling. I have some ideas in mind, and they depend on your wise scrutiny, and support, of course.


After a sip of comforting tea, Mitsouko turned to the woman of her own family. Kodachi-san… your name was whispered in my ears for someone of my utmost trust. You surely receive my letter. Are you aware of what is being demanded this evening? Maybe you can explain by yourself your interest in joining us in this incursion. Mitsouko keep her eyes locked to Kakita Kodachi’s in both serious and reassuring manner, asking for a sincere explanation.

[Kakita Hitoshi]

Hitoshi arrived alone. He was greeted at the gates and passed his horse into the care of the manor's servants, before being taken to an anteroom where he stripped off the light armour he was wearing. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind, but he was clear in his mind about the purpose of this meeting. He had left his new wife in charge of his household and come as soon as the missive had arrived.

After he had made himself respectable, he was led through to a room containing the Crane who had arrived so far, one of whom he didn't recognise. He bowed to Mitsouko. "Konnichiwa, Mitsouko-sama. I came as soon as I could." He then bowed to the two others he new in turn. "Ryumon-san, Battou-san, it is good to see you both again." Finally he turned to the other Crane. "And I do not believe I have had the pleasure, Kakita-san?" His tone was grave, but calm. He was a little surprised to see Battou at the gathering, given his reputation, but after a moment's reflection on his connections with both Mitsouko and Sojiro possibly it was not such a strange thing after all.

Hitoshi took the seat offered, accepted a cup of Golden Mountain tea, and waited.

[Kitsune Poxo]

A pair of figures appeared before the gate. Both were smaller than the average samurai. Both wore the more traditional colors of the Kitsune. Both were wrapped tightly in heavy clothing to keep from the icy grips of winter.

The male of the pair was best described as average. Black hair, dark eyes, and nothing that really made himself stand out. He wore light armor and bore his diasho opening marking as the more martially inclined of the two.

The woman on the other hand be easily spotted in a crowd if she wasn’t smaller than most. She was of a petite frame and had silver hair that seemed to have a mind of its own even though she had it tied back. Her eyes were dark for the most part but if you caught them just right they would seem more amber colored. She bore no open weapons and seemed to spring lightly with her steps.

After exchange of the standard pleasantries, they were led into the holding and to where the meeting was being held. It was the woman who spoke while her yojimbo remained quiet. “Greetings,” she said with a bow and her hair falling out of place. “I am Kitsune Yumi, sister of Kitsune Daichi, and sister of Moshi Hiroko. This is Kitsune Shun, my Yojimbo. It is nice being able to meet you even under this omen.”

[Doji Naetaru]

Kodachi looked at the Kakita daimyo and moved to speak.
She had already received the summoning letter.
However the petition had been made by her cousin. Mitsouko had only proven kind to listen to her summons with the proper seriousness.
She didn't know Kakita Alesha in person and she had only heard of his infamous deeds.
The truth was otherwise though.

"Kakita-sama" she said as she kept looking to her daimyo in the eyes, a rather unusual phenomenon.

"I have asked to accompany you as a plea to my lady's and our family's honor. I grew in the Kakita family and got tutored by the best teachers that the Empire can provide. Amidst the slanderous events that transpired couple of months before, everything I loved and cared for were put at stake...by a Kakita." she didn't let her sorrow cloud her eyes.

"How could I not pledge my honor to such a cause?" she put a rhetorical question.

"With my participation I wishfully express the concern and the feeling of duty of the students of my age. According to our Kakita teachings I am not afraid of what I am stepping into."

Finishing she merely muttered the traditional Kakita adage
"For the coward there is no life, for the hero there is no death"

[Usagi Izutsu]

A pale crescent moon washed the snow-dusted courtyard of Mitsouko's estate in a gentle silver glow as three riders in fiery red attire rode in, the one in front quickly dismounting his horse and handing the reins off to a servant. His two compatriots remained behind amidst the bustle of other servants to make sure everything was taken care of; besides, only Usagi Izutsu himself was allowed in the private meeting that he was already a little late to.

The doors to the private sanctum swung open to reveal the small crowd already gathered, and Izutsu's dark eyes swept the room as he entered making a mental note of everyone in attendance. He was resplendent in his full battle gear and he had a long, cherry wood case tucked under his arm. Izutsu's personal armor was customized to his, the shining crimson plates assembled in a way to provide maximum mobility while maintaining full protection, and on the chest was painted the white mon of the Hare clan.

The box he placed on a side table, leaving it for later, and in the meantime approached Mitsouko, bowing low. "Greetings, Mitsouko-sama. I apologize for my tardiness, but my previous business took longer to tie up than I had originally anticipated." She would notice that he looked far more comfortable here, in his armor and a setting of action, than he had in the stuff courts of Kyuden Otomo, though his eyes had lost none of their wariness.

[Kakita Mitsouko]

Very well, Kodachi-san. Your talents may be put in use, and I appreciate every dedicate soul who wishes to risk herself for a noble cause. Please be comfortable to add your inputs to our plannings… that must be brief, in fact.

With a nod to her newly arrived guests the Kakita daimyo spoke:

Be welcome, everyone. Both Kitsune and Usaji aid in this matter means a lot for the Kakita house.
She started to name and introduced briefly every of the samurai present, for the sake of objectivity: Izutsu-sama is both the Hare Regent and a dedicated Jade Magistrate. Yomi-san, representing her brother the Kitsune daimyo, also brings the Fox help. We have already the presence of Kakita Hitoshi, shireikan of the proud 1rst Legion, Daidoji Ryumon, Hatamoto of the Daidoji family. Kakita Battou, Excellent Duelist and Guardian of Metal, responsible by the manufacture of the Kakita Blades. And Kakita Kodachi, another noble soul of my own house. I am still waiting for The Leader of the Kakita Elite Squad, and other friends but their delay is comprehensible in such bad weather.

Introductions made, and as soon as everyone was comfortably installed and served of either warm tea or sake, Mitosuko continued:

From my part, I not intend to turn this meeting in a long and fastidious night. Everyone here knows the reason of this gathering.


Our...raid, Mitsouko smiled at her choice of the word, must be precise. We cannot indulge any mistake, any delay in tainted territory. Knowing our deficiences is make a realistic planning. We do not have the same knowledge of Crab clan. Though some Daidoji veterans who fought in the wall or along the Hiruma in their incursions farther in the Shadowlands, fed us with useful data about routes and locations, is said it's not trustful after some time. Though, it's what we have. I am sure some of us here brought more information that can be shared and improve our planning.

But, one of the first questions can be: how to enter the Land of Darkness if our ways is barred by the war? The Kakita daimyo signaled and the servants brought a roll of silk, which after unfolded over the tatami floor showed to be in fact a huge map of Rokugan. Mitsouko pointed with a bamboo stick:

In fact, the fastest route to Shadowlands, right now, is by sea. Yes, it is bold. she smiled while tracing a route from Shinden Asahina, avoiding the conflict near Yasuki lands and crossing the region known as Candas till the rivermouth.
Opinions?

Check the map [url=http://images.wikia.com/l5r/images/9/91/Rokugan.jpg
]here[/url][/size]

[The Blue Ronin]

"It is good to meet you Kodachi-san. Every blade we bring with us on this journey will be greatly valued. I have never been to the Shadowlands but I am told it is a place of greater danger than even the most fierce battlefields of the Empire"

Ryumon nodded in greeting to Hitoshi-san, recognising him from Imperial Court, as well as the Hare and the Kitsune as they arrived. He had never met Battou, but had heard of him, and saw that he seemed to have a close relationship with Mitsouko. Perhaps there would be more to their party, but it was already getting interesting.

As Mitsouko-sama mentioned the possibility of sailing, he realised it was probably his turn to contribute.
"I agree that sailing to the Shadowlands is probably the most efficient route, Mitsouko-sama. It is certainly the fastest. But I think that it is my duty to all present to outline the dangers and problems, which sadly, remain significant"

"I have readied in the Asahina lands a vessel recently constructed according to my guidelines which we have christened, with your approval, I hope, Mitsouko-sama, the Lord Kakita in the hope that his blessing will follow us. It is as sturdy a kobune as sails on the seas of Rokugan. I have also prepared forty Daidoji scouts, many of whom have some experience with the Shadowlands, and twenty heimin sailors to man it. This will still leave enough room on deck for each of us to bring a single yojimbo or other attendant, although I fear it will be crowded, for which I apologise"

"Our first obstacle will be the Crab. Sadly the Crab's navy are superior to ours, both in number of vessels and seamanship. I don't know their naval dispositions at the moment - I know our scouts have seen many of their warships in the harbour of Lonely Shore Village, but I think we have to assume that they will also have many patrolling the Sea of Shadows. In order to minimise the chance of being intercepted I suggest we set out from Shinden Asahina on an easterly route, as if we were heading for the Mantis lands, and that once out of sight of land we tack west. This means we will likely come at any Crab patrol from an unexpected angle. Nonetheless we should expect to be boarded"

"But the Crab, formidable as they are, are not the greatest threat we face. The Sea of Shadows is the most dangerous Sea in all of Rokugan - when I was a Yoritomo I knew many a deckhand who would rather sail to and from the Ivory Kingdoms six times than into the Sea of Shadows once. There is a safe route through the Sea, the Osaku route, but I am sad to say that it runs north-south, and we need to journey east-west. We should find the Osaku route and keep to it as long as we can, but we will have to spend at least half a day sailing through the Sea of Shadows"

"Once we reach the coast of the Shadowlands we will be able to put ashore and that is where my expertise ends. But I need to sound one final warning. The Sea of Shadows is a dangerous place and, while with skill and discipline, we may be able to pass through it without danger, there is no way I can guarantee the safety of the Lord Kakita if it is to remain at anchor until we can return from the Shadowlands. My bushi could hold off the Shadowlands assaults it would inevitably attract for only a few days. I have two suggestions. Either I tell my crew to sail back through the Sea of Shadows and to the Osaku Route, where they will attempt to evade Crab patrols until an appointed date when they will return to shore to pick us up. If we are not there, I can instruct them to return two days later, but asking them to brave the Sea of Shadows three times is too much to expect - after then they will have to assume we have perished, and depart"

"Alternatively, I can instruct them to simply return to Crane lands, and we will have to find another way to depart the Shadowlands. We could attempt to exit via the Plains above Evil, although that would need a long journey through the Shadowlands and we would have to deal with Unicorn patrols. Or we could attempt to cross The Wall, either with or without Crab cooperation"

"Both these decisions are above my authority, Mitsouko-sama, but I hope I have done my duty in explaining the situation to you. Whatever your decision my men stand ready"

[Kitsune Poxo]

The small woman's eyes darted over the map as she pushed back her hair. Then she spoke. "That is a bold path. Is your ship of the koutetsuken design? My sister has had the displeasure of being stationed on a ship that entered that area. The taint does not stop at the land. The waters are quick to warp and rot a normal ship. Then there is the creatures..." The woman trailed off at just the thought of the descriptions she was given. Her normally playful look actually changed.

When she came back she offered a landing spot and pointed. "What of this spot? It is a small cove comparatively and has previously been used as points for others. I am told of it as an oddity in its nature versus the rest of the lands around it."