The Arrival of the Ambassador of the Crab
from Hiruma Kani, August 1999
For a lovely bowl
Let us arrange these flowers...
Since there is no rice
-- Basho
This letter, or, more correctly, story, was received after the release of Honor Bound, shortly before Gencon, 1999. It is from Ambassador Kani, the chosen representative of the Crab listserver to the Crane listserver.
Oblivious to the fear and chaos ingrained in the Crane village, the covered wagon progressed slowly under the watchful eye of its veteran guards. Adorned with the simple banners of the Crab and Hiruma, it lacked the artistic posture and ornate decorations that graced the surrounding buildings. The creaks and clangs it emitted drew the uncomfortable glances of the adjacent merchants and passers-by. By the time the wagon had reached the guard station, a large portion of the village had gathered to inspect the curiously unexpected guest.
Unarmed and with a powerful gait, a single samurai wearing deep blue armor approached the guard station and bowed deeply. He was greeted by an equally strong guard, whose strength did not reflect the concern of the surrounding vilagers, stricken by civil war.
Guard: "Greetings, traveler. What is your business here?"
Crab: "On behalf of the Crab Clan and in the service of Hida O-Ushi, I offer several gifts and my services to the will of the Crane. We seek an audience in the Crane courts to offer a formal presentation."
Guard: "With the most sincere apologies, we cannot grant you audience to the courts without written approval. We are sensitive to the distance you have traveled, but cannot grant such a request casually in these difficult times."
After a brief delay for contemplation, the Crab continued:
Crab: "I understand your predicament, but must insist upon an audience with the Crane. Your selfless assistance with our fallen warrior, Amoro, has revealed an embarrassing lack of compensatory support of our services to the Crane provinces. To compensate for our previous shortcomings, we have brought the following gifts:
-- A Tetsubo and Katana forged by the Kaiu with their strongest steel. They lack the balance and accuracy of the Kakita blades, but the particular quenching and annealing technique used may interest your swordmakers.
-- Detailed maps of the Shadowlands and surrounding areas. If your council does choose to assist our fallen warrior, their information will prove invaluable. To facilitate their interpretation, I can also offer my assistance as a cartographer and a Hiruma Scout, if you choose to accept it.
-- Accurate and Precise knowledge of Shadowlands creatures, both near and far. Armed with ageless knowledge of the Kuni, I can provide valuable information to your armies when battling these horrific abominations.
-- A commission to assist the crane as an official ambassador to the Crane. If you choose to accept, I will act as a permanent ambassador to the Crane to foster future beneficial relations. While acting in this capacities, I will also offer my services as a field engineer to hasten the recovery of your Clan from its internal conflict.
Please accept these gifts and allow my passage to the Crane courts. We Crab are indebted to the Crane and wish to repay your generosity."
The Crane Response (from Kakita Kaori)
"Go. Tell them we have a guest." The guard gestures at a boy, who quickly gives a deep bow, and ran towards the finest buildings of the village, his wiry frame slipping through the people who are stopping to look at the unusually clanking wagon.
After a short time, under the burning light of Ameterasu, a young woman emerges from amongst the farmers and merchants, coming before the Crab wagon and bowing deeply to powerful Hiruma. Her face is unscarred and a true beauty, but seem gaunt with the hunger that marks the faces of most in this small village. With storm blue eyes and flowing white hair that falls to her waist, she is a beauty of the kind that bushi joked about along the Kaiu wall. Her fine kimono is of blue silk, embroidered with the faintest tracery of pattern, but at her obi hangs the daisho of her status. She lifts her eyes.
"Domo yoroshiku, honorable Hiruma-sama. My name is Kaori, and I have been sent to welcome you to our lands. You are the first ambassador of the Crab to come to this village since before the Shadowlands." she trails off, her eyes darkening, but her small smile quickly returns. "Please, I beg you, take no insult that our Daimyos are not here to greet your embassage.They are not in this place at present. I do welcome you, though, for my small part, and invite you to come take refreshment in my uncle's house. Surely you have traveled a long way, and are hungry."
Her uncle's house is quiet and comfortable, and another young man, Kaori's equal and twin in appearance, if less solemn in manner, performs the tea ceremony for the visitor. Kaori brings out a plate of finest sushi, delicately prepared and presented as though each piece was a precious gem, though the twins refuse to eat for they have not traveled so far. Their eyes follow the tray, though, as it is laid before the Hiruma.
Finally, once food and tea has been presented and eaten, and all are given freedom to relax, Kaori speaks again of the matters of the Clan. "I cannot speak, Kani-sama, for all of the Crane, and definitely not for our daimyo, but you are welcome to stay with my family as long as you wish, as an honored guest. I hope that you will enjoy your stay with us. We have little to offer now, but we give it freely. Daidoji Taishi-sama has brought word from time to time from your lands, and we are glad that you have seen fit to be interested in these affairs. The gifts you have brought are magnificent, if unnecessary," she gives a small bow, the customary first rejection of a gift. "To act against the Shadows is an honor."
For a lovely bowl
Let us arrange these flowers...
Since there is no rice
-- Basho
This letter, or, more correctly, story, was received after the release of Honor Bound, shortly before Gencon, 1999. It is from Ambassador Kani, the chosen representative of the Crab listserver to the Crane listserver.
Oblivious to the fear and chaos ingrained in the Crane village, the covered wagon progressed slowly under the watchful eye of its veteran guards. Adorned with the simple banners of the Crab and Hiruma, it lacked the artistic posture and ornate decorations that graced the surrounding buildings. The creaks and clangs it emitted drew the uncomfortable glances of the adjacent merchants and passers-by. By the time the wagon had reached the guard station, a large portion of the village had gathered to inspect the curiously unexpected guest.
Unarmed and with a powerful gait, a single samurai wearing deep blue armor approached the guard station and bowed deeply. He was greeted by an equally strong guard, whose strength did not reflect the concern of the surrounding vilagers, stricken by civil war.
Guard: "Greetings, traveler. What is your business here?"
Crab: "On behalf of the Crab Clan and in the service of Hida O-Ushi, I offer several gifts and my services to the will of the Crane. We seek an audience in the Crane courts to offer a formal presentation."
Guard: "With the most sincere apologies, we cannot grant you audience to the courts without written approval. We are sensitive to the distance you have traveled, but cannot grant such a request casually in these difficult times."
After a brief delay for contemplation, the Crab continued:
Crab: "I understand your predicament, but must insist upon an audience with the Crane. Your selfless assistance with our fallen warrior, Amoro, has revealed an embarrassing lack of compensatory support of our services to the Crane provinces. To compensate for our previous shortcomings, we have brought the following gifts:
-- A Tetsubo and Katana forged by the Kaiu with their strongest steel. They lack the balance and accuracy of the Kakita blades, but the particular quenching and annealing technique used may interest your swordmakers.
-- Detailed maps of the Shadowlands and surrounding areas. If your council does choose to assist our fallen warrior, their information will prove invaluable. To facilitate their interpretation, I can also offer my assistance as a cartographer and a Hiruma Scout, if you choose to accept it.
-- Accurate and Precise knowledge of Shadowlands creatures, both near and far. Armed with ageless knowledge of the Kuni, I can provide valuable information to your armies when battling these horrific abominations.
-- A commission to assist the crane as an official ambassador to the Crane. If you choose to accept, I will act as a permanent ambassador to the Crane to foster future beneficial relations. While acting in this capacities, I will also offer my services as a field engineer to hasten the recovery of your Clan from its internal conflict.
Please accept these gifts and allow my passage to the Crane courts. We Crab are indebted to the Crane and wish to repay your generosity."
The Crane Response (from Kakita Kaori)
"Go. Tell them we have a guest." The guard gestures at a boy, who quickly gives a deep bow, and ran towards the finest buildings of the village, his wiry frame slipping through the people who are stopping to look at the unusually clanking wagon.
After a short time, under the burning light of Ameterasu, a young woman emerges from amongst the farmers and merchants, coming before the Crab wagon and bowing deeply to powerful Hiruma. Her face is unscarred and a true beauty, but seem gaunt with the hunger that marks the faces of most in this small village. With storm blue eyes and flowing white hair that falls to her waist, she is a beauty of the kind that bushi joked about along the Kaiu wall. Her fine kimono is of blue silk, embroidered with the faintest tracery of pattern, but at her obi hangs the daisho of her status. She lifts her eyes.
"Domo yoroshiku, honorable Hiruma-sama. My name is Kaori, and I have been sent to welcome you to our lands. You are the first ambassador of the Crab to come to this village since before the Shadowlands." she trails off, her eyes darkening, but her small smile quickly returns. "Please, I beg you, take no insult that our Daimyos are not here to greet your embassage.They are not in this place at present. I do welcome you, though, for my small part, and invite you to come take refreshment in my uncle's house. Surely you have traveled a long way, and are hungry."
Her uncle's house is quiet and comfortable, and another young man, Kaori's equal and twin in appearance, if less solemn in manner, performs the tea ceremony for the visitor. Kaori brings out a plate of finest sushi, delicately prepared and presented as though each piece was a precious gem, though the twins refuse to eat for they have not traveled so far. Their eyes follow the tray, though, as it is laid before the Hiruma.
Finally, once food and tea has been presented and eaten, and all are given freedom to relax, Kaori speaks again of the matters of the Clan. "I cannot speak, Kani-sama, for all of the Crane, and definitely not for our daimyo, but you are welcome to stay with my family as long as you wish, as an honored guest. I hope that you will enjoy your stay with us. We have little to offer now, but we give it freely. Daidoji Taishi-sama has brought word from time to time from your lands, and we are glad that you have seen fit to be interested in these affairs. The gifts you have brought are magnificent, if unnecessary," she gives a small bow, the customary first rejection of a gift. "To act against the Shadows is an honor."
