Words Cut Like Steel

[Evil_Bob]

Recipient: Shosuro Anzu

Morning Day 7

Two small children run around the gardens and hot springs till the find the Scorpioness that has been described to them as Shosuro Anzu. In their hands is a delicate and scented scroll. They will giggle and hand her the scroll before running off to continue playing. The scroll reads.

I picked an azalea
And brought it home.
Now when I contemplate it,
In its crimson dye
I see the color
Of my lover's robe.
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Ronin Gamemaster * El gato está en mis pantalones con queso

[Evil_Bob]

Visitors to the library of the Onsen will find out on a desk the treasured scroll "Spheres of Longing" authored by Hantei the 24th, a legendarily devout individual who deeply treasured his studies under Asahina, Isawa, and Seppun tutors. Alone among the Emperors he actively sought justification to abdicate, retire to a monastery, and live a contemplative life. Denied this release until his heir came of age, he wrote extensively on the qualifications for religious leadership.

It is open to a passage considering the compatibility of each Clan's lifestyle with the Celestial Order, the Tao, and the Kami.

"The Isawa teach that a Clan's faithfulness to the Celestial Order and worthiness in the eyes of the Kami is demonstrated by the number and strength of the Shugenja it produces. They are correct. It is therefore no wonder the largest clan in the Empire boasts so few shugenja. In their daily lives the Lion reject the Celestial Order and the Tao exclusively in favor of their precious Leadership, and almost exclusively worship their human ancestors in preference to the kami. However, their uncouth and primitive bloodthirstiness untempered by civilized faith serves a definite purpose as the Sword of the Throne. One that is wholly unsuited to monastic or religious life. In contrast the Crab, however uncouth at a court or dinner function, can never be questioned in the devoutness of their faith and worship. Yet weakening the Wall by sending Crabs into monastic life is a folly. We sacrifice their piety for our continued survival."
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Ronin Gamemaster * El gato está en mis pantalones con queso

[Evil_Bob]

Day 8
Early in the morning, just after breakfast, a servant circulates the main building of the Onsen and then sits just inside the courtroom and will remain there for the entirty of the court. In his hands, he holds a single, perfect blossom surrounded by pearly white tree branches in a simple vase as if it were the most important thing in the world. Attached to the vase via a green ribbon is a small note card. The paper is cream in color and gold embossed along the edges. The ink is a standard black ink, but the lettering is painstakingly perfect.

It reads:

A gift of beauty
For the man of Perfection
Nothing comes closer

(OOC note: the flowers are so perfect that they give it's recipiant a mechnical benifit.)
_________________
Ronin Gamemaster * El gato está en mis pantalones con queso

[Evil_Bob]

Morning Day 8.

Outside the window to the room of Doji Sakurako servants and other passers-by (until she removes it) will see a stack of scrolls and pillow books tastefully placed on a square of Crane Blue silk topped by a single winter orchid... and a bottle of sake.

The readily visible titles are:

Only the Ring Finger Knows
Behind the Dragon's Green Pagoda
Women of the Kakita Duelling Academy
Matsus Gone Wild.
The Oni and Madame Kuni
Deep Kobune
Magic Sexx Ishi
Shinobi Academy of Love
Candystriper BattleMaidens

Not that any samurai would admit to owning such blue literature, but if any did some of their titles might be missing.
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Ronin Gamemaster * El gato está en mis pantalones con queso

[Evil_Bob]

Day 6

A servant walks the halls with a single pebble worn smooth by the waterfall.

It rests on a single sheet of paper the brush work utilitarian and carefully formed.

It reads simply,


Tsuruchi Rekai.
_________________
Ronin Gamemaster * El gato está en mis pantalones con queso

[Evil_Bob]

Afternoon of Day 10

A servants walks the halls of the Onsen searching for the Crab that the message she bears is destined for. If asked she only knows that one of the Crab is the recipient but she does not know which.

On a sheet of excellent quality paper, the words are clear yet embellished in a calligraphy style reminiscent of that taught in the south of the Empire.


"To one who speaks of peace.

Think first on whom started the war

before you accuse others of seeking bloodshed."
_________________
Ronin Gamemaster * El gato está en mis pantalones con queso

[Evil_Bob]

Positioned rather obviously near the entry to court on day 10 is a familiar silver tray, yet again topped by a piece of poetry written in well practised flowing brushstrokes on the thinnest of rice paper.


Smiling, Laughing, Joy -

Under leaves of burning red

My heart she has stole.
_________________
Ronin Gamemaster * El gato está en mis pantalones con queso

[Evil_Bob]

Day 10

Two pieces of careful black strokes on impeccably white paper of reasonably quality are left affixed one at the door of each of the Crane and Crab's embassies. The carefully done brushwork is that of a learned one, but not impressively artful.



The beauty and the mall

As one, incredibly strong

As now, weak'ning call
_________________
Ronin Gamemaster * El gato está en mis pantalones con queso

[Evil_Bob]

Day 12

To: The Scorpion Clan
From: The Masked Duelist

A Note passed from servant to servant... some hiding the thing, as they do not wish to be caught with such a thing, and finally discarded in the garden as one just wished to be rid of the taboo thing. Then picked up by the guards until it was delivered to Bayushi Seigi, but not before anyone could see the thing in the garden.

It is written in black charcoal on a white piece of cloth.

"Scorpion of honor and grace, it is with regret that I broke the pact. For my actions I hold no excuse other than I follow a greater mandate. I fear that the trust broken makes us enemies other than rivals, and for that I am saddened. Trust is something that is earned and not given, and while you may not trust me any longer, know that there are those you should trust even less."
_________________
Ronin Gamemaster * El gato está en mis pantalones con queso

[Kuni_Kaibara]

Day 15

The recent heavy snowfall at the onsen has left a wide field of white near the burnt-out shell of Bungalow Juni, and a perceptive eye may note that the ash from the fire still settles on the snow... forming patterns that might, with a modicum of imagination, be taken for kanji.

"... I shall come back without fanfaronade
of wailing wind and graveyard panoply;
but, trembling, slip from cool Eternity --
a mild and most bewildered little shade.
I shall not make sepulchral midnight raid,
But softly come where I had longed to be
In April twilight's unsung melody;
And I, not you, shall be the one afraid.

Strange, that from lovely dreamings of the dead,
I shall come back to you, who hurt me most.
You may not feel my hand upon your head,
I'll be so new and inexpert a ghost.
Perhaps you will not know that I am near --
And that will break my ghostly heart, my dear."

((OOC: with all apologies to Dorothy Parker.))
_________________
Crab Bushi^H^H^H^H^HCorpse

"И нож в него! Но счастлив он висеть на острие,
Зарезанный за то, что был опасен!"