[X] Save up your points.
It has been a year and a half since the Battle of Skulking Shadows. The tunnel system the armies of the Shadowlands used to get so close to both Shiro Hiruma and Shinsei's Last Hope have been collapsed, Shugenja wielding the might of the kami closing them up under tons of rubble. New tunnels may be built, but never again would these passages threaten the Crab Clan.
The monstrous hordes of Jigoku have come at the Shiro Hiruma three times during these months, and twice at Shinsei's Last Hope. But none of these attacks were as coordinated as that first assault, and were rebuffed handily. Even still, many Samurai have lost their lives, and more have been wounded. After so many years of relative quiet, it is obvious that the Shadowlands stir.
You have been busy during this time, and the renown you have gained for your part in the Battle of Skulking Shadows ha not lessened. You fought as fiercely as any of your comrades during the three assaults on Shiro Hiruma, your tetsubo spilling blood and breaking bones as the goblins and Lost attempted to defile your home. They learned the foolishness of their actions with their lives.
You have noticed that your actions during your Gempukku have gained notice and attention from your fellows. Some of your comrades whisper to each other when they see you, and some of the older Samurai clap you on the back congenially as you pass. You are only seventeen years old, but you've apparently gathered some measure of fame and prestige.
Which is the only reason you can think of for why you are here in Kyuden Hida, waiting for your Clan Champion, Hida Tanaka, to bid you enter his offices. You sit uncomfortably on the small cushion provided in the sitting room, your tea untouched. You are not thirsty. In truth, you are too nervous to take in anything resembling food or drink.
Hida Tanaka is a hero of great renown. The man has served as Clan Champion of the Crab for over thirty years, a brilliant tactician and formidable warrior. Stories have been told of his prowess in battle, and even more of the armies he has led to victory.
It was Hida Tanaka that led the armies of the Crab in repulsing the huge influx of Lost who assaulted the Wall with the failure of the First and Third Imperial Legions' invasion of the Shadowlands after the Death of the Empress. It was Hida Tanaka who led the vanguard that destroyed the City of Bone while the Heroes of Otosan-Uchi slew Daigotsu. And when the combined forces of Rokugan assaulted the City of White Clouds to combat the Shadow Dragon, it was Hida Tanaka who took control of the Army after Kakita Zhuge led his fellow heroes in combat against the avatar of the Nothing.
So what does he want with you, of all people?
"Come in," he calls from his room, taking you from your musings.
You hastily rise from your feet and enter your Clan Champion's chambers. You bow deeply, but even as you do so you can see that the room is full of papers, all tightly organized. There is a large table in the center of the room, and atop that table is a multitude of maps all strewn about.
"You may rise," Hida Tanaka says, his voice gravelly. You do so, and take in the man who leads the Crab.
He is a giant of a man with a full head of gray hair, standing a few inches taller than you. Even more apparent, he is absolutely covered in muscle. Hida Tanaka's armor is so thick it looks like it could provide enough coverage for two men, but seems just barely enough to cover him. His face is covered in scars, but the thing that most catches your attention is his eyes. They are hard like stone, and they are measuring you.
"I'm sure you're no doubt curious why I have summoned you and your parents," The Crab Champion says. "I'll be talking with them later. For now, you and I must speak."
"Whatever you need, Hida Tanaka-sama, I will do my best to provide," you say, managing not to sweat under the larger man's gaze.
Hida Tanaka smiles. "Such enthusiasm. Good. You're going to need it."
The Champion moves to a chair and sits down, the wood creaking under his weight. He steeples his hands before him and looks at you.
"I will be blunt," he says. "The Battle of Skulking Shadows worries me. More precisely, this Kyosuke who perpetrated it worries me. He has not led any further assaults since then, which makes me feel he is gathering his strength."
You frown. "But my Lord, there have been five attacks since then. Do you not believe this foul creature has been the one orchestrating them?"
"I do not," he responds. "The Battle of Skulking Shadows was a brilliant piece of strategy. For all that this Kyosuke is a monster deserving of death, he cannot be dismissed as incompetent. These last several assaults, while large, have no true intelligence behind them. I am concerned that this means Kyosuke is conserving his energies, and will strike us when we are least prepared."
The thought makes you pale. You had hoped that perhaps the Dark Lord had simply forgone subtlety after his failure and was throwing his power fruitlessly against the Crab these last several months, but if your Champion's words are true this is not the case. That means darker times are coming.
"My Lord," you say, being careful to not meet your Champion's eyes and thinking over your words. "If I may be so bold, why are you telling me this? Do you have some task for me?"
"I do," Hida Tanaka says. "The signs we've been seeing worry me, and I want the Crab to be prepared. As such, I have taken steps to increase our presence in the Courts of Rokugan. During the last two decades of silence we have not been as proactive as we could have been, and I feel this has been something of a mistake."
You blink. "You want me to speak for the Crab in the other Courts, my Lord?"
"No, boy," Hida Tanaka says with a chuckle. "Not alone, at any rate. I want you to accompany some of our Courtiers. Specifically, I am sending contingents to both Crane and Dragon territories." He frowns. "The Crane may be a Clan of mostly weak fools, but they hold economic influence all over the Empire. Their aid could give us many resources we need." He leans back, and the chair protests. "As for the Dragon, they have recently discovered very large deposits of Jade in their mines. They are still recovering from Moto Shinichiro's rampage twenty years ago, and are giving only the bare minimum amount of Jade required by Imperial Decree. If my suspicions are right, we will need more than that."
"And you desire I should travel to these places, my Lord?"
"Yes," he says. "You have renown to your name, Hiruma Sosuke, and that is a useful tool. Either the Dragon or the Crane, I care not which. But I want you to go and be what help you can to our Courtiers. The Crab needs resources. By any means necessary, we must have them."
[] Choose to go to Dragon Lands.
[] Choose to go to Crane Lands.
[] Try to convince Hida Tanaka you should remain at the Wall.
[] Write in.
