Toturi's Army Letter - #4
My friend, you must take care. There are dark forces moving in the empire. Darker than ever before. The Shadowlands army we fought against at Beiden Pass is nothing compared to the might of the army led by the insane Scorpion Shugenja, Yogo Junzo. It has crushed villages and homesteads all across Rokugan, and now, it moves with steady speed toward the home of our Emperor.
As I said, it moves toward the home of our Emperor. The last Hantei no longer resides in the palace of his ancestors. The soul of the last Hantei no longer resides in the body that Lady Kachiko has poisoned for the last year. That soul is no more. An ancient evil now resides in his body, an evil whose name I dare not speak lest I draw his attention to the men who follow me. It is the same evil that was banished a thousand years ago by Shinsei and his seven thunders. The same evil whose essence was trapped in twelve scrolls that were never to be opened again. Now they have been opened, and he has escaped into the weakened body of our emperor. All is lost. There will never again be a Hantei. The line to the Sun Goddess is broken and Rokugan must stand alone against the greatest evil Heaven and Earth has ever known.
Far to the East, the Crane clan has achieved a victory against the deceiver Hoturi with the aid of the Naga and the Phoenix. In the light of the news from the palace, it is a small victory, but it is one we must look to for inspiration. Binding together, they defeated the Shadowlands army. We must do the same. Only together will we be able to stand against the awful power the dark one can muster. Spread the word to all you see. Tell them to abandon this foolish quest for a throne that no longer exists and band together in the face of a common enemy. If we do not, I fear that Rokugan is doomed.
And yes, I have heard the rumors regarding my sensei, Kage-sama. I cannot believe such rumors. They must come from the Scorpion in the palace. I have known Akodo Kage for all my life, and I assure you, he would never betray us to the Scorpion Lady. Trust me in this my friend. If you have never trusted me in any other matter, trust me in this one.
This may be the last time I speak to you. As I write this, we are preparing to ride against Yogo Junzo's army, in the hopes that we can cut him off before he reaches the imperial city. If I fall to his forces, you must carry on in my stead. This is a harsh duty I place upon your shoulders, but I know that you are worthy of it. Take courage in these dark days, for courage it seems, is all we have left.
Toturi