The Winter Garden Of The Kakita
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          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
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          • Chapter 9
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          • Chapter 11
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        • Ditched >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
          • Chapter 7
          • Chapter 8
          • Chapter 9
          • Chapter 10
          • Chapter 11
          • Chapter 12
          • Chapter 13
          • Chapter 14
          • Chapter 15
          • Chapter 16
          • Chapter 17
          • Chapter 18
          • Chapter 19
          • Chapter 20
          • Chapter 21
          • Chapter 22
          • Chapter 23
          • Chapter 24
          • Chapter 25
          • Chapter 26
        • Duty of War >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
          • Chapter 7
          • Chapter 8
          • Chapter 9
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          • Chapter 12
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          • Chapter 14
          • Chapter 15
          • Chapter 16
          • Chapter 17
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    • FFG Timeline >
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        • The Fires of Otosan Uchi
        • The Iron Citadel
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        • A Flash of Lightening
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  • Home
  • BLOG
  • RPG Tools
    • One-Sheet Primer to L5R by Katrina Ostrander
    • 5th Edition Opportunity Table
    • Of Dojos and Study >
      • The Kakita Academy
      • Other Clan Traditions
    • Rokugan Local Governance >
      • The Samurai Family >
        • Servants
        • The Samurai House
      • Of Koku: Samurai Economics >
        • Demographics
      • The Structure of a Village >
        • A Typical Village
        • Ashigaru and Levies
      • The Development of Cities >
        • The Layout of the City
      • The Transition to War
      • Courtiers with no Court
      • Clan Variations >
        • Crab Clan
        • Crane Clan
        • Dragon Clan
        • Lion Clan
        • Phoenix Clan
        • Scorpion Clan
        • Unicorn Clan
    • The Influence Game >
      • Creating a Court
      • What is Influence
      • Court Sequences and Events
      • Earning Influence
      • Spending Influence >
        • Rendezvous
        • Favors
      • Sample Courts
    • The Game of Letters
    • Rokugani Clothing
    • Rokugani Food and Feasts
    • The Tea Ceremony >
      • An Index of Teas
    • The Language of the Fan
    • Superstitions of the Clans
  • Fiction from the RPG
    • Stories of the Crab from the RPG >
      • Hida's Gift
      • What Does Not Kill Me
      • Letter Addressed to Akodo Hirano
      • Research of Kuni Mokuna
      • Hida and Shinsei
      • The Beginning of Meaning
      • The Story of Osano-Wo
      • Battle of the Cresting Wave
      • Lion and Crab
    • Stories of the Crane from the RPG >
      • Kakita's The Sword
      • The Lady Doji
      • The Marriage of Doji and Kakita
      • The First Crane Thunder
      • The Legend of Daidoji Hayaku
      • The Origins of the Asahina
      • The Silver Kirin
      • A Soldier's Report
      • To Win a Heart
      • The First Hantei's Bride
    • Stories of the Dragon from the RPG >
      • Mirumoto Hojatsu's Niten
      • The Sword Path
      • The Mysterious Nature
      • Journals of Matsu Chinojo
      • From the Novel Winter
      • Togashi's Secret
    • Stories of the Lion from the RPG >
      • From the Journals of Shinjo Gaemon
      • A Treatise on the Heart of the Lion Clan
      • On a Pedestal
      • A Letter by Akodo Rujo
      • Akodo and Matsu
      • Akodo and Ikoma
      • Akodo and Kitsu
      • Akodo and Shinsei
      • The Death of Akodo
    • Stories of the Phoenix from the RPG >
      • The Measure of Mortality
      • The Journal of Ide Amu
      • Regarding the Death of Matsu Kaiki
      • Observations of Agasha Tamori
      • A Kami on his Knees
      • Shiba's Wife
      • The Lady Asako
      • Battle at Fate Gate
    • Stories of the Scorpion from the RPG >
      • The Honest Scorpion
      • From the Journal of Matsu Sanuro
      • Letters from Daidoji Kukojin to Doji Yari
      • From Kakita Ryoku’s Famous Novel Winter
      • Bayushi's Promise
      • Frog and Scorpion
      • The Betrayer
      • Scorpion Fables
      • Bayushi's Thunder
    • Stories of the Unicorn from the RPG >
      • Unicorn Travel Poetry
      • The Lady's Heir
      • Regarding Shosuro Kenjo
      • Letters from Akodo Toturi to Matsu Kojike
      • A Ride into Darkness
      • Exodus
  • Fan Fiction
    • AEG Timeline >
      • Kaori's Stories >
        • A Ghost Story from Otosan Uchi
        • A Rokugani Fairy Tale
        • A Thousand Wishes
        • Broken Wings
        • Bushido
        • For Today
        • Gekidan Boukire - The Search for Doji Shizue
        • Ill Omens
        • Little Truths
        • Reflections of Honor
        • Shadow Stolen
        • Sunset at the Sake House
        • The Victory Tribute of Daidoji Uji
        • Watching the Heavens
        • War of the Heavens
      • The Stories of Other Writers >
        • Paper Folding
        • Arrival of the Crab Clan Ambassador
        • Forbidden Knowledge
        • The Journey of the Tear
        • A Song of Infinite Sadness
        • A Letter from the Scorpion - And Response
    • Children of Kashiwa Arc >
      • Beginnings
      • A Letter to the Fox Clan & Makoto - Complete Sincerity
      • March of the Kitsune
      • Words Against the Shadow
      • A Fox in the Works >
        • Chapter 1 - A Fox in the Works
        • Chapter 2 - The Way of Things
        • Chapter 3 - Maiden's Hand
        • Chapter 4 - Three Little Riddles
        • Chapter 5 - What Dreams are These
      • I Have Known Fireflies
    • Onyx and Ivory Arc >
      • Background for the Onyx Empire >
        • The Events of Winter Court 5
        • Between Winter Court and Empire Reborn
      • Who is Doji Arami
      • Light in the Leaves
      • A Hard Road
      • Kyoumi's Stories >
        • Jealousy (A Beginnings Retelling)
        • Snowflakes
        • A Piece of Truth (A Retelling of A Fairy Tale for the Scorpion Children)
        • The Crane Wife
        • A Horror Story
        • Bright and Precious
      • Kibo's Stories >
        • A Life Offered
        • A Life Taken
        • A Life Given
        • Mirror's Edge
      • Empire Reborn Arc >
        • Birds in their Nests >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
        • The Banner of the Shogun
        • School Days >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
        • Chasing the Wind >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
          • Chapter 7
          • Chapter 8
          • Chapter 9
          • Chapter 10
          • Chapter 11
          • Chapter 12
        • Ditched >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
          • Chapter 7
          • Chapter 8
          • Chapter 9
          • Chapter 10
          • Chapter 11
          • Chapter 12
          • Chapter 13
          • Chapter 14
          • Chapter 15
          • Chapter 16
          • Chapter 17
          • Chapter 18
          • Chapter 19
          • Chapter 20
          • Chapter 21
          • Chapter 22
          • Chapter 23
          • Chapter 24
          • Chapter 25
          • Chapter 26
        • Duty of War >
          • Chapter 1
          • Chapter 2
          • Chapter 3
          • Chapter 4
          • Chapter 5
          • Chapter 6
          • Chapter 7
          • Chapter 8
          • Chapter 9
          • Chapter 10
          • Chapter 11
          • Chapter 12
          • Chapter 13
          • Chapter 14
          • Chapter 15
          • Chapter 16
          • Chapter 17
          • Chapter 18
    • FFG Timeline >
      • The Lady's Last Journey
      • Tales of Golden Petal Village >
        • The Story Begins
        • The Emperor's Road
        • A Summer Squall
    • Clan Wars: The Storm >
      • Storm Rising
      • Storm Breaking
      • Calls the Lightening >
        • The Fires of Otosan Uchi
        • The Iron Citadel
        • The Battle of Beiden Pass
        • Flight of the Crane
        • A Higher Cause
        • Fire and Smoke
        • Lost Souls
        • The Battle of Asahina Fields
        • A Flash of Lightening
        • The Day of Thunder
    • Stories from the Jesters >
      • Winter Warfare
      • Toturi and Mikio
      • Reju's Return
      • Careful Planning
      • A Political Water Conflict
    • 1000 Years of Darkness >
      • 1000 Years of Darkness - Go Not Gently
    • Empire of the Emerald Stars >
      • Shinwa - Space Ronin >
        • Benjiro's End
        • The Field of Dreams
        • Catching Dragonflies
        • The Lantern Arc >
          • A Plea from the Lantern
          • The Shinjo Shipyards: Recruiting
          • Flyby the Lantern
          • Gennai's Garden: The Aftermath
          • Gennai's Garden: Late Night at the Hotel
      • Called Away
      • Hope is a Butterfly
  • Rokugan Mixology
    • Crab Mixology
    • Crane Mixology
    • Dragon Mixology
    • Lion Mixology
    • Phoenix Mixology
    • Scorpion Mixology
    • Unicorn Mixology
    • Others Mixology
The Winter Garden Of The Kakita

The Emperor's Road

The Emperor’s Road, naturally, passed the outskirts of Golden Petal Village. Who could deny the mighty the opportunity to see the cassia in summer?  Frequent caravans traveled from the south, from Kosaten Shiro and the richly productive rice paddies around it, north to Kuyden Kakita.  From there, the road continued west to Western Hub Village and Otosan Uchi beyond it.  The Emperor’s Road, however, was far enough from the village the heimen or those who wished to truly meditate upon the trees were not disturbed, and most travelers hurried on to the more luxurious welcome that awaited them under the hospitality of the Kakita Daimyo and his people.


A large caravan of wagons slowly rumbled along that same road northwards towards the keep, swaying with the lumbering steps of the oxen that pulled it.  It was heavily guarded.  The farmers in the nearby fields, knee-deep in the flooded rice paddies to either side of the road, did not look up from their planting.  But Doji Ienobu, the village assistant magistrate, stood dutifully to the side of the road as he watched it pass. 
Four years ago, a caravan such at this would need barely a handful of guards.  But that was before the tsunami had devastated much of the Crane coastline, taking more lives than he could imagine and devastating the fertile lowlands.  The specter of famine haunted the peasants now, even in regions far inland untouched by the tsunami such as Golden Petal Village.  The Crane and the Crab had pleaded with the Emperor for a temporary reprieve on the taxes due, but no mercy had been granted either clan.  Honor demanded that the Crane obey.  Now Takuetsu and Kosaten provinces bore the weight of providing the tax for the whole clan, while all faced hunger, or worse.   Golden Petal Villagers were proud of their heritage and the clan that protected them.  But Ienobu knew that at least a few villagers resented the sacks of grain they loaded for the Emperor’s tax levy. It was only late spring.  More would feel that anger by winter.
One of the guardsmen, a Daidoji carrying a triple-headed spear, nodded his head at the Doji magistrate, and called up to him.  “How fares Golden Petal?”
“Well.  We are halfway through planting and the seedlings are healthy.  If you return this way, the planting will be done and you can see the trees in full bloom.”
The Daidoji nodded, wiping his forehead with the side of his thumb.  “I will see if I get the chance.  Have there been any reports of bandits?”
Ienobu straightened.  “The sonchou of Golden Petal is of the line of Masarugi, a kenshinzen and instructor at the Academy.  I am not unskilled, and the guards at the Kuyden are nearby.  Bandits would have to be desperate indeed to dare show themselves in our bounds.  But, Hai.  There have been rumors of bandits on the edge of Imperial lands.  They grow bolder.”
“I will let the caravan master know.  Thank you…Doji-san?”
“Ienobu.  Who shall I look out for, should you return this way?”
“Nerishma.  Until then.”  With a salute, the Daidoji guardsman continued on his way, following the rumbling ox carts.”


The second to last wagon was rolling past when Ienobu heard a soft step behind him.  “It would take a bold bandit indeed to assault a caravan on the Imperial road.”
Doji Ienobu turned.  Standing nearby was a ronin, dressed in a long black cloak with a straw hat hiding her features.  She carried a bright naginata, and was turned away, watching the caravan moving northwards.  He could not see her face.
“Bold.  Or hungry.  We hope this planting leads to better harvests.”
The ronin nodded, her straw hat dipping in acknowledgement.  After a moment, she responded, “In either case, the caravan will need to be well-guarded.”  She deftly spun her naginata up onto her shoulder and walked away, moving quickly to catch up to the caravan master’s wagon, likely to seek employment.  Threats of bandits nearby meant good wages to traveling ronin.
When the last wagon passed, Ienobu turned away. He needed to patrol the town and make certain there were no other ronin hanging around.  He should have been warned before this one even had arrived, but with the peasants all in the fields, the village itself was mostly empty.
He would need to pay better attention in the future.  It was just a prickle on the back of his neck, maybe.  The tsunami had torn the Crane lands apart, but by now it should be beginning to get better.  But some buried instinct deep inside warned Ienobu that, for some reason, things would only be getting worse.
It was up to him to make sure Golden Petal Village was ready.



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