New Traditions
As the Lion and Dragon continued their plan for the duel to see how far Donoha sama had grown in their time apart. Their conversation had turned to the Iron Fans and the Emperor’s Edict. The imperial decree issued by Hantei XXXVIII called for several strict edicts, that the Empire was to comply with immediately. The Miya family responsible as the heralds and messengers of the Emperor, delivered these announcements to all corners of Rokugan. Feigned ignorance would not be an available defense against a challenge of non-compliance.
Minor Clans
The Minor Clans were to be dissolved, and their families must join a major clan. They are encouraged, however, to retain their mons in honor of their ancestors and promotions. They may instead gather together in an Alliance to form a Major clan under a new shared banner; this will require a majority of Minor Clans in agreement. Even extinct minor clans have been reinstated; as they must follow the above edict.
Ronin
All denizens of ronin status but holding samurai blood must seek to join a clan by way of their own conditions. The Crab Clan is welcoming all with proof of heritage to serve on the wall for a time to earn sponsorship. Any unaffiliated ronin are to be executed on sight if refusing. Donoha sama had made that exact offer to three ronin when he first met and saved me. There were even rewards offered to minor lords and even lower classes to report any suspected sightings.
Emperor’s Roads
The network of roads reserved for the Emperor exclusively has been opened for high-ranking officials and their entourage, jade magistrates, and bearers of the imperial seal (messengers on high-level emergencies, etc). Should this book ever make it out of Rokugan. All major roads in the empire are actually two roads side by side. One is dirt and the other is paved with cut stone, wood, or even cobblestones. That is the road reserved for the Emperor and those they deem worthy. Using it without permission is considered a crime.
Emperor’s Gift
An open caravan of aid & entertainment has been issued, with their passage also given permission to use the Emperor’s Roads. They will be visiting each clan in reverse compass order as follows: Phoenix, Dragon, Unicorn, Lion, Scorpion, Crab, and Crane. We have had amazing things happen so far.
A Dark Kami’s head appearing in the sky,
stopping a slaving operation,
freeing a city from an Oni hunting within it for over a century,
freeing a castle from a curse laid centuries ago,
stopping a corrupt noble after an assassination made their schemes public,
saving the Phoenix clan shugenja from a curse of another Oni,
saving a mine and miners in the Dragon lands,
solving a murder of a lord in Shiro Mountain’s Anvil,
and saving Tall Pine Village from a raid of nine yeti!
It was hard to imagine what the Unicorn lands would bring.
With the process about making the ronin becoming samurai either by promotion or returning them to that station being vague. Donoha sama mentioned to Asahi sama that all of the Emerald Ambassadors were also Emerald Magistrates, or in the Lion’s case, the actual family daimyo of a great clan. Perhaps he should confer with 
Kitsu Tsuguri sama about his intention to officially pull them into his service, or even creating a vassal family to the Akodo.
Tessen seemed like the perfect name to Donoha as it means War-Fan or Fan of Iron in High Rokugani. Tetsu is the High Rokugani word for iron and Gunsen is the name for the folding signaling fans used in battle. The art of Tessenjutsu had developed from its use as either a side arm to a primary weapon or a tool used to aid in jujutsu grappling. The Ronin Otokodate of the Iron Fans had perfected the art of using it as a primary weapon in the city of Toshi Ranbo wo Shien Shite Reigisaho, Violence Behind Courtliness City. There, samurai were not permitted to carry katana unless they served the lord of the city, which was a Crane lord.
The benefit of rising in rank is that when you need to see your commander as the Lion Clan sees it or your daimyo as most others might view it. They are likely to listen and be available because they know you will not try to waste their time. Akodo Asahi sama and Kitsu Tsuguri sama talked about making the three Iron Fans sworn to Asahi sama either Akodo samurai or a vassal family. The Lion Emerald Ambassador was pleased they were sought out for permission and guidance. Temporary approval to pursue the issue with the Iron Fans was granted while they sent word to the Akodo family to see about their input and preferences.
While that was happening Isawa Tamaki sama found Agasha Re san outside of the wagon Donoha had set aside for women of his group to travel in. He was currently inside updating me about their travels in the Dragon lands. It would shortly after this my notes about the visit to the High House of Light would be purchased for a later release by the Dragon Clan Champion. The books and items they provided in exchange were nothing short of amazing!
Re san had been using this wagon ever since Donoha sama’s group kept her safe from bandits at Shiro Shiba. Asako Eiko sama was her former mentor and person she was training under to succeed them at the Temple of Eternal Flame. Tamaki sama offered Re san wonderful, chrysanthemum tea (Kiku-cha). Known for its floral scent, refreshing taste, and soothing properties. Her other companion in the wagon for a short time was the female member of the three Iron Fans, Kana “Ginzan” Kiyoshi san. They stopped using the wagon due to fear and/or embarrassment of living the same way as a member of the samurai caste. While the offer was never rescinded they have not taken the wagon invitation in some time. During their conversations Re san joked about us “catching up” as we might be more than friends. Tamaki sama laughed, treating it like the ridiculous joke it was.
That night, at dusk had just set, the orange haze is the sky before night’s blue and violet hues would pave the way for the dark void, did the Lion and Dragon meet. Hanzo sama and Tamaki sama present. They talked about whom would win, and Donoha sama mentioned if they were using real weapons and it was an official duel then he would. A protracted duel would very quickly lean into his cousin winning. The mock-battle was to three strikes and while Donoha performed well. Nearly knocking his cousin out with a head strike using his pale oak bokken. He still could not match him blow for blow without his sword. The bout went as he predicted it would when a subsequent disarming technique failed to remove the other pale oak bokken out of their grip.
The Lion and Dragon cousins discussed the match and things each could could do to improve in a duel or a skirmish. Gunba sama had slipped away to show people caring for the horse the wonders of a saddle! While Hanzo sama drifted into the night and locations unknown. A bit after the duel Tamaki sama and Donoha sama talked about their views on the Iron Fans and the Emperor’s Edict. Both decided they should seek out answers with their respective Emerald Ambassadors.
While Shiba Sono sama and Tamaki sama did talk about the Emperor’s Edict more of it was finding a stand in mentor for when Tamaki had to leave the Emperor’s Gift caravan with the others. For he had decided that while his affinity was for Void and her’s Air. He would do what he could to help her find a path forward once again. A mentor, sensei, a guide is sometimes overlooked as people struggle when their lives are at a crossroads.
Mirumoto Tanetsu sama and Donoha sama talked about how what looks vague from a certain point of view. Can in fact be liberating empowerment in one’s vassals to handle their issues the way they see fit. The Ambassadors mentioned that the idea assigning the Iron Fans to Agasha Re may be a brilliant idea and he and give her the push she needed.
