Letters from the Yobanjin Front

[vegandeathmachine]

[OOC: This intended to be an RP between Yoritomo Akihiko and the rest of the Mantis Clan, in the form of letters. This is public, because a) I don't intend to share secrets or discuss policy b) it is conceivable someone could intercept and read these letters c) they might amuse or entertain others. If you wish to jump in, simply write a letter. All clans welcome.]

My fellow clansmen and clanswomen,

I am currently at Mountain Watch Keep. Thus far, the food is dreadful, but the fighting has been spectacular. My fervent hope is to return home with at least 50 trophies.

Oh, I almost forgot: I started the war as a gunso, and I am currently a taisa. This war is not nearly as hard as I've been lead to believe.

On the way, I made sure to make my appearances at the wedding celebrations of Bayushi Senshi-sama and Bayushi Haruka-sama. They are quite delightful, and I suspect they will have many years of happiness ahead of them.

Kitano-san, irrepressible killjoy that he is, informs me that we are already out of pomegranates. Absurd! I know full well I ordered an entire crate brought with us. He blathers on about some excuse or another, but...

Ah! There is movement on the lines; perhaps I may drape myself in yet more of Bishamon's radiance...

Yoritomo Akihiko,
Yoritomo Daimyo, Magistrate, Taisa, etc.

[vegandeathmachine]

PS: Send more pomegranates, and something to hit Kitano-san with.

[Kitsune Keshi]

Yoritomo Akihiko,
Fellow Daimyo and Clansbrother.

I'm afraid that while I have sent you more pomegranates, I neglected to remember to send you something to hit Kitano-san with. My most sincere apologies.

We could always make a trade of Courtiers; Jinu could annoy you with his blunt and sometimes misplaced comments and I could be annoyed with Kitano's reminders that I should get married.

You cannot see it, but I am smiling at the thought.


I pray for your safety. If nothing else, for all your limbs to be intact when you return to the Islands. I know how some of you regard scars.

Kitsune Keshi,
Daimyo and Flee-er from Our Clan's Matchmaker.

[vegandeathmachine]

Kitsune Keshi-sama,

I have dealt in a suitably violent fashion with the pirates that haunt Earthquake Fish Bay. I have attempted to make embassy with the Crab at Yasuki Yashiki; thus far only Soshi Kiso-sama, Soshi Daimyo, has visited my temporary quarters at the luxurious Yasuki palace. I do regret not having met with the Crab yet; in the future, I shall have to send advance notice before making any diplomatic forays.

I have dispatched letters of support to all of the Minor Clans. I will then return to the Yobanjin front; I intend to fight alongside the Minor Clan Alliance. Hopefully, I shall return with a number of trophies suitable for a daimyo and warlord.

Kitano-san is not that much a bother; though he does ceaselessly remind me of bachelor status. This is one hope of my embassy among the clans: to catch the eye of some desirable maiden.

Keshi-san, you needn't fear for my limbs; this magnificent suit of armor from the Mantis ancestral vaults is truly superb. Beautifully crafted, the plates seem to guide the blades away from me. And the detail! The bulk is sparse laced, but the sode have exquisite close-lacing, worked in a delightfully frightful skull design. And who says bushi don't appreciate art?

Besides, I'm far too vain too tolerate any facial scarring.

The Insufferable Yoritomo Akihiko,
Daimyo

[Kitsune Keshi]

Yoritomo Akihiko
Clansbrother and Champion

Allow me to offer you congratulations on the new position, however temporary or permanent the position will be be. Personally I do not envy you the responsibility.

I mourn not catching you at Kyuden Hida, I've been taking the land bound route. It's beautiful this time of year, I didn't want to miss it.

I think honestly that Bushi appreciate the are of battle over traditional art. You wouldn't understand the beauty that I revere in nature. Likewise I do not understand the reverence you have for fighting.

Though considering where I am now I might learn reverence for fighting. You never know.

Kitsune Keshi,
Daimyo, Traveler and Artist

*included in this message is a helm with chain link masking. The message included says. 'To preserve your Vanity' It is obviously a Teasing gift.

[vegandeathmachine]

Kitsune Keshi-san,
Clansister and Daimyo

Many thanks for the fine helm; though the Crab mock such protection, the mail has stopped many a slashing sword. (Though it is now quite rent, perhaps beyond repair; I may have to obtain a solid mempo if I am to retain my dashing looks).

We will have to catch up when we both return to Kyuden Gotei; I have a tree to give you. It would be quite damaged were I to enclose it in this letter, and the messenger I was about to instruct to deliver it appeared ready to duel me over the matter. As we can use every ready sword at Mountain Watch Keep, I opted to not press the matter.

The bushi's appreciation of the art of war is not one of reverence; that way leads to Toshigoku. Rather, it is in the flashes of beauty found amidst the carnage and terror. It is akin to the lotus blossom: amidst the muck, something beautiful can be seen. The contrast is what produces the art.

My, listen to me wax poetic! I really should return to the battle; I have not quite achieved my target of trophies.

Yoritomo Akihiko,
Meager Poet at Best

(included with the letter is a lotus blossom, with a smaller note "Til I can return with that tree.")

[Kitsune Keshi]

Yoritomo Akihiko,
Clansbrother and Champion

To be quite honest a rent in the chain mail only means that my gift is doing what it is meant to. Broken chain mail is easier to repair or replace than a broken face or skull.

I write you now from Kyuden Hida, I found in coming here that I missed you by a week or so travel. If I had traveled over sea we probably would have seen each other in passing at least.

Hindsight is perfect it seems. If one could go back to do everything over our lives would be much different. I'm sure the same applies to you. Though I obviously wont question you with letters. I'll save that conversation for in person. We have to meet on the Islands or in Kitsune lands sometime. We spend too much time conversing in this method not to.

Thank you for the tree, I'm sure it's beautiful. The flower you sent me was a little worse for the wear by travel. But it smells wonderful.

Tell Kitano-san I send you both my blessings. I pray you get your trophies and come back to Mantis Territories in good health and Faith.

Kitsune Keshi,
At peace in life.

PS. Jinu says your poetry nauseates him and that you'd better refrain from using it again lest he come for your blood.

[vegandeathmachine]

Kitsune Keshi-san,

Yes, I suspected the flower would not quite survive the journey. I assure you, the tree will be in much better condition when I return home.

The helm has survived, the mail has not. I found a delightfully skille d Tsi to hammer out the dents, and construct a mempo to match. Perhaps the dents in my kabuto had something do with the philsophical bent of my last letter...

Yes, we really must have a formal council of state. By which I mean a series of informal conversations in Kitsune lands. I suspect that in my haste to battle, I may have missed some of the beauty the Kitsune Mori has to offer. We should really discuss our respective diplomatic efforts. Mine have been meager at best.

I have accumulated quite a pile of grisly trophies; frankly, I would rather collect helms of my enemies than their heads, but any attempt to change that custom would likely result in an interminable series of duels with a certain feline clan... That aside, I feel a truly impressive victory has still alluded me.

Akihiko,
Meager Courtier, and Worse Poet

PS Please inform Jinu that as Champion of the Mantis, it is my prerogative, nay duty, to write appallingly bad poetry.

[Kitsune Keshi]

Yoritomo Akihiko,
Clansbrother

Jinu implored me to send you a bloodied Wakizashi in threat of your 'duty' of badly written poetry. I'm afraid that I have denied his request and will only inform you of his opinions and threats.

As for your collecting trophies, I also think collecting helms would be less.... disturbing. But Not all your enemies wear helmets, what would you take then? His hair? That's not any batter than taking his head. Or her Head. I'm not sure, have you seen any female Yobanjin? I've never heard of such a thing. Maybe they don't allow their women to fight.

Now I have to see if anyone has a book that pertains to their culture. One probably does not exist with as much as they're at war with us. They must breed like rodents to continue to have so many warriors.

Idle thoughts aside, we do need to meet again. Whether that be at Kitsune Mori, which I admit is usually where I might be found. Or at the islands, I haven't been there since the Iris Festival. I've been. Busy.

I pray this continues to find you in good health.

Kitsune Keshi
Wandering a Path

[vegandeathmachine]

Kitsune Keshi,

I have been too busy cutting down Yobanjin to inquire into their cultural habits. I'm not sure if their women fight, though some of my trophies have less facial hair...

True, not all wear helms. But it would be much less revolting.

Please inform Jinu-sama that if he is THAT offended with my poetry, I would humbly consent to lessons. I suspect that sending a bloody wakizashi might arouse the suspicions of the magistrates and inquisitors.

I would imagine none of your thoughts are idle, Keshi-san. We should meet at some point, you are correct. As Jinu-sama has already called my aesthetic sensibilities into question, I will defer to your judgement on the matter.

Yoritomo Akihiko,
Rokugan's Most Feared Poet

[Kitsune Keshi]

Yoritomo Akihiko,

Jinu claims to have better things to do than teach you poetry. But he seems flattered that you'd ask. Not that he will admit it if you ask.

While most my thoughts are not idle, I do find the thought of Yobanjin culture interesting. I will not plague you with the millions of questions I have thought of. Most of which you probably couldn't answer having only been on the opposite end of a battlefield from them.

Unfortunately they will have to remain unanswered questions for this life. I highly doubt I will ever be in a position to question a Yobanjin about his or her culture. I hope that for now I will remain far enough away from any of them, I fear my weapon skills are lacking and my skills with the kami are not strong enough to keep me safe for long. I am working on the latter. The former... Not so much.

Perhaps I should have you or someone else teach me swordsmanship. Another skill would not be a bad thing to have with as often as we travel lately. Though the messengers we hire travel admittedly more.

I have cleaned up the wakizashi Jinu wanted me to send you. I know little about swords, but it is rather a work of art. I am beginning to wonder where he obtained it. Though, I am hesitant to ask him. He is just as likely to lie to me as tell me the truth.

I continue to pray for your safety.

Kitsune Keshi,
I fear No Poet

[vegandeathmachine]

Kitsune Keshi,

I have no doubt that Jinu has better things to do than teach me poetry. I also suspect I would be a terrible pupil. Kitano-san has long since despaired of teaching me dignity and tact. Or so he claims. He certainly wouldn't find me so exasperating if he had truly given up all hope...

Luckily, this interminably long battle has ended. I did take more trophies than my goal (I was hoping for 50, and I tallied 82), but it still seems insufficient. Now, the almost as important work of bragging begins. I fear Jinu may have to come for my head after the atrocious poetry I will write. Frankly, I have always found war to be a tiresome subject for poetry, especially when compared to nature or love.

I would be honored to teach you swordsmanship. No, I would in fact be offended if I were to not do so. As to swords, I would seek out the Tsi. yes, the Kakita are more established, but the Tsi are less restrained by convention, and have made many new insights into sword design and aesthetics.

We really should attempt to meet in person; Kitano has informed me that my use of messengers for this correspondence is unseemly. I think he just enjoys being flustered and grumpy, and invents new reasons.

Yoritomo Akihiko,
Fool

[Kitsune Keshi]

Yoritomo Akihiko,

What does he suggest we use instead of messengers? I have a list of potential substitutes but I was wondering how his mind worked.

Jinu refuses to carry more than one set of messages. So having him courier these ones as well would be.... rude on my part. Though Kitano-san is free to try and ask. I would love to see how your advisor reacts to a Kitsune Spirit revenge.

I went to the Tsi as you suggested. I no longer fear that I hold a stolen blade, but I believe I hold the remains of some poor fool who tried to invade the Kyuden Kitsune. They tell me this blade is at least a hundred years old. It's design hasn't been used in that long. I wonder how long it's original owner wandered lost in the Chikushudo, and what punishments were wrought upon the family member who brought them there.

Idle thoughts, I truly wonder how long Jinu has been carrying this blade with him. Or whether he went back special to obtain it. I'll probably never know.

I congratulate you on your trophies, but kindly request to never see them.

Kitsune Keshi,
Content in the Islands.

[vegandeathmachine]

Kitsune Keshi,

Kitano's advice is to simply meet in person to converse, rather than attempt to hold council across the breadth of the Empire. I suspect he is right. As always.

Luckily, the tradition as to trophies deems that I display them for viewing before my leader. So, after showing them to the Shogun, they will be cremated and prayed for. Any interesting relics from among their war-gear, I will bring to decorate the hall of arms at Kyuden Gotei.

One wonders at the history of the bandit who lost the sword. But as you say, we will probably never know.

I shall be returning to Kyuden Gotei shortly; I suspect I have become homesick.

Yoritomo Akihiko,
Discontent at Large

[Tsuruchi Ishla]

{a lost letter}

Daimyo
&
Brethren and Sisters,

Much Glory and Honor I've earned for my Daimyo & Family. My Seppun Technique was flawless. My arrows were true. My blade was keen ,& My courage unfailing.
With out Ego I've collected a wagon load of trophies and three wagon loads of Banners . None got past my line.

Humble servant Chui Tsuruchi Maiku