It was late evening in early spring on the Island of Storms as Ping composed a
letter. After returning home from his most recent mission, Yoritomo Ping
had made his report to his family Daimyo, concerning the Shiba held secluded
village, and it's three sibling villages, all of which had been so scarred
by the drought that had plagued their lands, following the slaughter of a
shugenja, in the midst of her conversations with the great water spirit of the
mountain lake.
Yoritomo Ping did not regret finding, and causing the death of the 4 ronin, it was necessary. Ping did, however, regret that it was a necessity, especially since two of their number had become honorable protectors of those four villages since, one of whom had become a monk, and another of whom had become a husband and father. This regret was lightened, however, by the fact that an honorable bushi of their group, Bayushi Nasui, had been asked, and agreed, to look over that child, and see him through his gembuku.
Still, ever since he had left the villages behind, he had been ill at ease. Something else bothered him, to the point that morning meditations; his daily swims in the fierce, chill, but pure waters around the island; and the routine of study and prayer could not dispel his unease. This unease was like a poison in his breast, paining his heart, so that not even the serenity of the tea ceremony could not fully envelop him, nor could he escape his unease in the void that lay between the elements, which he daily invited within himself during meditation.
Introspection, prayer, and meditation had lead him to his answer. The unease that plagued him had it's origins in the village of Tsukuro. His unease began on the first sight of this town, and had not yet released him. The river of the village still flowed, making it one of the few who's vegetation had not withered or died. Far from it, the cherry blossoms were magnificent... in the height of summer.
It was in this village that they found the fourth, and final of the Ronin his company had been hunting, . The cursed Ronin had shaved his head, and become a Monk. It was this monk that had ensured the water supply of the village, but had done so by making a terrible mistake. He had accepted a pearl, protected in a Jade box, from a beautiful woman who he had found in the woods nearbye. At her instruction, he had dropped the pearl into the water, which caused it to flow again. However, the entire village was tainted as a result.
Ping had immediately known that the pearl needed to be removed, unfortunately, there was disagreement among the group of Samurai that the monk Janken had gathered at the Matsu shrine to courtesy. Miya Yukari, a fellow Shugenja who definitely outranked him, stated that she thought it more likely that the pearl was restraining the taint from further harming the village.
Since Ping could not convince her otherwise, he agreed with trepidation to cast spells of communion upon the river water, with her aid. Unfortunately for all involved, neither had any direct experience with Kansen, nor had either heard of any tails of them existing outside of the Shadowlands. With each casting, an failure of the scrying spell, their unease grew greater. Finally, Ping suggested that they at least have someone remove the pearl, as it could be replaced if necessary. When Mia Yukari agreed, they had the mad Ronin Zu, who now believed himself to be a peasant, retrieve the pearl, and they sealed it in a pouch with 2 fingers of Jade.
There were two explanations for this unease, both of which Ping recognized, now, were possible. The first, which he knew to be true, and at least a part of his unease was the fate of the village and it's peasants, and the possibility of something similar occurring again in the future. Not only did he feel compassion for the villagers that demanded that he act. Ping was concerned for the future of his clan, and even that of the empire.
Before this event, he had been content with leading a studious life in service to his Daimyo, having no particular ambitions beyond amassing enough wealth to allow himself, and what he hoped to be a beautiful and caring wife to live in comfort beyond what most of his station enjoyed. When he realized, however, that the taint would continue to spread, without dilution, without stop, he saw two paths for the empire. In the first, the empire would fight the slow decay, but eventually be destroyed by the slow, but inexorable progress of the taint into the emerald empire, and then beyond.
Down the second road, he saw the possibility that someone would find a way to purify people and lands that had been tainted, destroying the taint outright, rather than absorbing or diluting it. Even then, there was the possibility of eventual defeat unless a way was found to plug the breach through which the taint was spilling, sealing apart Ningen-Do and Jigoku.
Ping could no longer sit, and contemplate gentle truths, money, and an unending line of children to spring from his wife... for if the world ended, none of his knowledge and scrolls would continue; any wealth he amassed would eventually be turned to slag, and his descendants... would either be dead, or worse than dead.
He was moved to act. Compassion demanded that he act as Samurai and Shugenja, to protect others beneath his station, peasant, samurai, even eta and ronin, even his enemies deserved better. Duty compelled him to seek the safety of his clan, and the empire. This path would be difficult, but courage would sustain him.
It was to this end that he had used his connections among other Shugenja, and the brotherhood of shinsei to seek out any lore of whether or not others had done similar research. The first rule of any quest of research is to find out if anyone has already done even some of your work for you. He already had a few rough ideas for how it might be done. Jade and Crystal were obviously potential elements, as they were used often for fighting against the taint, and tainted crystals. Other elements of purification or preservation were also simple. Bathing likely would not be an option, but more likely were incense, tea, and salt. It was through these contacts that he learned of the Jade petal tea which is produced by the monks of the Jade Lotus, and of their effects.
Unfortunately, now he had come to a standstill. While Compassion, Courage, Duty, and Honor bade him to move, to act - Honesty, Courtesy, and again Duty and Honor bade him first take one more crucial step.
Honesty bade him consider the second of the possibilities for his unease, his new interests, and his urgent call to act. His research had revealed that interest in the taint was often a sign of taint it's self. And he could not deny that, although his body showed no sign of it, he had been exposed to the taint, and it was not beyond the pale to think that he might have succumbed to the first and most subtle stage of those who were tainted.
Courtesy demanded that he consult his lord before his actions might bring suspicion, or embarrassing circumstances upon him, and by extension his liege lord. This was also his duty, and it would be dishonorable to shirk it. Ping considered that this next act may be one of the ones along his journey that would require the most courage.
The problem was how much, and what to say. This was a delicate subject about which he could not write in entirely open language, especially since the message might be intercepted, or read by those for whom it was not intended. Further, open language on the second possibility would be entirely inappropriate and uncomfortable for all involved. He was not the best linguist, nor a courtier in his understanding of courtesy and etiquette, but he knew this much at least. Finally, he decided that due to his Daimyo's wisdom and understanding of many matters, his master would understand this possibility without Ping even having to mention it.
This would not strain his honesty, or his duty not to conceal his taint, if he did indeed have it, for how could his lack of statement conceal something he did not know if he possed or not? Especially from one with as much understanding as a Daimyo. Especially since he had related what had occurred in his formal report, and that could be used if his Daimyo had any doubt as to his message. He was merely being cautious with truths that did not need to be spread.
Yoritomo Ping spent some time considering how to actually compose the message, and created a few rough drafts, before he burned them, and began the process of writing the actual letter with his best ink and rice paper, glad that his training had included caligraphy, and that he had developed his skills in etiquette and story telling to some meager degree.
To my lord and master Yoritomo Naizen.
Your humble servant Yoritomo Ping bids you greetings and well wishes from the temple on the Isle of Storms. May your line live on forever, and may you be blessed for gracing this rough scroll with your reading, which your servant feels bound by bushido to write to you.
Some time ago, I returned from a mission given to me by the monk Janken, and made my report to you. I have since looked further into the matter, and write to you now concerning the village Tsukuro, and the sad fate that befell their cherry trees in the midst of that horrible drought. The thought that such a fate may befall trees in other lands within the empire sickens me, as do the errors I committed when trying to remove the blight.
I have, in the time you have graciously allotted me to pursue my studies, come better understand the nature of this blight, and through my connections, ways to forestall the spread of this disease, perhaps even reverse it given time. One such concoction is a tea that is held by the monks of the Jade Lotus.
Unfortunately, due to the normal use of such tea, I feel it would bring suspicion on our house were I to seek to acquire it to aid in my studies, not being one as graced in the arts of diplomacy as you and members of your court are.
If it pleases you, as a part of my duties as a Shugenja, I would devote myself to studying the properties of this tea, and other purported cures and charms. By doing so I may find a way to duplicate the production of this tea, and perhaps over time even improve upon it so that we might produce a stronger brew, or one that is not as costly to create.
This would of course be of great service to all who love Cherry trees, which may describe anyone in the empire. Many would trade great favors or wealth for such protections. I trust that you can see the benefits that this line of studying may bring to the Mantis.
Enough of this tea monthly to brew for two or more people would allow me to proceed with the research at a greater pace, but enough for one would serve the barest needs of my research. I am sure that others among your servants would be better suited to it's acquisition than I.
Great and wise lord Yoritomo Naizen, your humble servant Yoritomo Ping awaits your response at your leisure, eagerly anticipating the day that he may deliver to you the rewards of his research.
Ping looked the letter over one final time, before rolling the rice paper scroll in a decorated scroll backing, sealing it with his mon. He then placed it within a scroll tube well sealed against the storms of the region, and sealing this case with his mon as well, before attaching a simple note addressing the message to his lord.
Once the large boat that ferries messages and supplies to and from the island was on it's way, Ping climbed from the dock back to the shrine. When he reached the top he turned, and gazed out over the sun setting over Rokugan - hope burning in him that he can at least forestall the final setting of the sun over the Emperor, and his Emerald Kingdom - before heading inside for evening prayers.