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With the recent imbalance in the elements and mounting tensions between clans, the wisdom of the Elemental Masters is needed now more than ever. However, the group is fractured.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose . It's not like the group isn't fractured when everybody's there, after all...

As for the choices... Isawa sounds dull as ****, Asako only sounds like good comedy fodder... "Yes, have you seen our Master of Earth? We seem to have misplaced him. Yes, muscular fellow, covers his face, really cool hat? Last seen in a rural village in the Kuni lands, Hida-ue, have you seen him?"

I love me some Shiba, and the Kaito angle sounds awesome-

Also, Tsukune continues to charm- where the Crane letter felt like whistling past the graveyard, the Dragon letter was fairly typical Dragon stuff, the Unicorn letter was somewhat... constrained, and the Lion one was all business, as befits the Akodo, this one combines a "here is exactly how screwed we are" forthrightness with some amusing personal touches (origami for security... on a letter THIS loaded? Hooboy).

On 10/19/2018 at 9:49 PM, Tonbo Karasu said:

I'll answer this once you've said you finished. And you're right, I should probably not have said anything this close to the book release.

I’ve finished.

Well... I’ll repeat that at least Toturi thinks he did a good job.

And I’ll add that Shoju does, too.

Although, thinking on it... all due love to the Kaito, but going into potentially hostile territory to round up an Isawa who's doing as he **** well pleases?

Yeah. That's a Shiba job if ever I heard one.

6 hours ago, Shiba Gunichi said:

Although, thinking on it... all due love to the Kaito, but going into potentially hostile territory to round up an Isawa who's doing as he **** well pleases?

Yeah. That's a Shiba job if ever I heard one.

I finally got my RPG book today.

In there I saw that the Shiba Babysitter School is both Bushi and Courtier.

So, yeah. I totally agree.

It is my hope that the shape of this letter, that of a singing cricket, provided you with some amusement.

Got it in pdf. Sorry.

The one known as Iuchi Shahai, who dwells in the same city as did Ujina-sama, has made her feelings toward us very clear.

So she isn't as good as looking compliant as she thinks she is. Bummer. Maybe she needs connections in... high places?

I like the Shiba because of the peasant angle.

An Asako in Kuni lands also allow for very interesting story paths.

I'm not sure about the Kaito. They were front and center in the novella, and their option is not very clear.

The Isawa is the least interesting option.

I don't know. "Oh, my arrow has gone over the unnecessarily tall wall of yours. Is there a gate or some small door I can use, or do I need a rope?"

"Oof. *panting* Hmm, it would seem my arrow has landed in that small unshapely creature, clearly I am meant to get down there and help him on his path."

In all honesty, I'd like it if a Kaito, or any Phoenix, ended up working with locals to help prevent salient into Crab lands.

22 hours ago, shineyorkboy said:

I was more struck by the notion that anyone willing to go to the trouble of intercepting her mail would probably just make an exact copy and origami it up rather than risk it being detected.

And if I was Maezawa and Tsukune, I'd deliberately put a tear in an inside fold, and use that comment as code to say "if this letter is pristine, someone has read it".

Just origami? *sigh* Not only are all my correspondences folded, the contents are written in waka using my personal stylized calligraphy and the chosen origami shape, paper selection, scent its doused in, and companion flower cutting all subtly provide context to the message in a system so complex no one but myself can decipher it, not even the recipient. Suck it Scorpion interceptors!

1 hour ago, Doji Hyōkin said:

Just origami? *sigh* Not only are all my correspondences folded, the contents are written in waka using my personal stylized calligraphy and the chosen origami shape, paper selection, scent its doused in, and companion flower cutting all subtly provide context to the message in a system so complex no one but myself can decipher it, not even the recipient. Suck it Scorpion interceptors!

But Doji-san, if the recipient can't decipher the message, what is the point in even sending it?

3 minutes ago, Mangod said:

But Doji-san, if the recipient can't decipher the message, what is the point in even sending it?

That they can receive it, be seen to receive it, and subsequently bask in the sublimity of the art I have created and personalized just for them. The medium is the message.

1 hour ago, Doji Hyōkin said:

That they can receive it, be seen to receive it, and subsequently bask in the sublimity of the art I have created and personalized just for them. The medium is the message.

So it’s all about the container, not the content.

So Crane.

Thank you! Totally need a doge meme signature..

Wow! So Crane Such Doji Very Kakita

15 hours ago, 987654321 said:

The one known as Iuchi Shahai, who dwells in the same city as did Ujina-sama, has made her feelings toward us very clear.

So she isn't as good as looking compliant as she thinks she is.

To the surprise of literally no one.

I do love how the Phoenix letter makes it plain that the "Seppun look into it" meishodo angle has left literally no one happy. The plot sickens!

31 minutes ago, Shiba Gunichi said:

The plot sickens!

Shouldn’t it be “The plot thickens”?

Genuinely asking here as a non-native speaker.

2 minutes ago, Tabris2k said:

Shouldn’t it be “The plot thickens”?

Genuinely asking here as a non-native speaker.

Yes, the phrase typically is 'thickens.' The substitute I guess is to indicate everything just getting worse.

1 hour ago, Tabris2k said:

Shouldn’t it be “The plot thickens”?

Genuinely asking here as a non-native speaker.

Ordinarily, yes.

23 hours ago, 987654321 said:

The one known as Iuchi Shahai, who dwells in the same city as did Ujina-sama, has made her feelings toward us very clear.

So she isn't as good as looking compliant as she thinks she is. Bummer. Maybe she needs connections in... high places?

She probably isn't overly concerned with concealing her disdain for the Phoenix. With the Imperials she at least needs to play lip service to the facade that she's a grateful guest even if she tries to make life difficult for them, but the Phoenix are a bunch of cultural purists determined to persecute her people and who take their marching orders from an entity intent on unmaking reality.

Crab letter is up here: https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2018/10/26/a-call-to-investigate/

My favorite part? Hida Kisada does not include the long list of titles. Just "Lord Hida Kisada / Defender of the Wall".

Heh

Tough decision! I'd like some Kaiu or Hiruma to be on the forefront, as we've seen little from them (especially Kaiu) BUT I do like the idea of the Yasuki. I feel Crab could use some more prominence for allies, even if Minor Clans. It would be cool if the Falcon or Hare would be the ones to support them, so Crab could be an interesting rallying point for minor clans

Hiruma would be the most entertaining in my opinion. Hiruma fiction is always great. It will probably take us back into the Shadowland, which we really haven't explored much of in the new story. Though I also would be very interested to see what the Yasuki managed to do given that summary. That would be my second choice.

Yasuki cause I want my Alliance starter set sooner rather that later

39 minutes ago, sndwurks said:

Crab letter is up here: https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2018/10/26/a-call-to-investigate/

My favorite part? Hida Kisada does not include the long list of titles. Just "Lord Hida Kisada / Defender of the Wall".

That's the same as the flavour text on the Seal of the Crab card. It made me LOL when it was spoilered.

I love how blunt this letter is. No flowery turns of phrase, no flattery, nothing. Just "I'm Hida Kisada. Here's what I want done. Do it."

I wonder how the Crane will react when they find out the leader of the Mantis is an "honored guest" of the Crab. Is there any hyperbole strong enough to describe their reaction?