Crane Clan Letter - #17

To my fellow Crane -

It is not the nature of the Crane to stand alone. We are a gentle, peaceful people. We are a clan that thrives on friendship and social interaction, not war. There has not been a time in history when a great war struck our Empire that we did not suffer from it. I look into the eyes of my brothers and sisters and I see my own thirst for peace reflected there.

And yet we are at war.

And we stand alone.

We can do so no more. Our lord Kurohito has recognized the wisdom of withdrawing from the Yasuki conflict for now. The Crab cannot afford to be distracted and the Akodo would gladly seize upon the opportunity to exile us from those provinces at the point of a sword. Kaneka is a brash and violent man, one whom our lord knows better than to tempt into confrontation before we are well prepared.

So prepare we must. We shall rely upon our strengths - our extensive network of political favors and contacts throughout the clans. We shall seek allies among the Phoenix and the Mantis. We shall dispatch troops to assist the Crab in retaking the wall, if Lord Kuon will accept them. We shall send emissaries to the Minor Clans, most of which have been thus far silent in this war. We shall find our allies, reorganize our forces, and return to take what is ours.

Beware the Scorpion in this most of all. Our scouts have noted the presence of Bayushi bushi among the Lion ranks, and a Shosuro advisor at the side of Kaneka himself. It is their jealousy that is at the heart of this, their need to usurp the place in the courts that is rightfully ours.

We shall not stand for it.

Kakita Nanami
Hatamoto to Lord Doji Kurohito


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