A Mantis' Concern

From on the floor of Doji Oharu’s office, bundled with several official tax reports.

Doji Oharu-sama,

I know that you will find this letter, and I apologize for the less than honorable method of its delivery. If my suspicions are correct, I am not sure whom I can trust.

I have noticed in my travels throughout the empire a certain… pattern among the less than lawful community. It is difficult to associate with men of such low reputation, but I have persevered and discovered that large amounts of koku have been moving through illegal channels. I have been unable to uncover testimony or evidence tying these activities to any known organization. I had thought it simply odd, until court last summer after the invasion of the Ivory Kingdoms.

I attended court as part of the Mantis delegation. Tsuruchi Munenori was our delegation’s leader, but the man known as Yoritomo O-Kawaru acted as his second. During the court I was approached by several samurai asking about something called a “Kolat Fish Sauce.” I thought it strange, and brought it to the attention of O-Kawaru-san who instructed me to send all such inquiries to him. Several Imperials, including a returned spirit of the Seppun family and one of the leaders of the Imperial delegation to that court, then spoke with O-Kawaru. For a time, I even held an object marked with a label that named it “Kolat Fish Sauce.” When I brought it to O-Kawaru, he hurriedly hid it from sight.

I saw many samurai speaking with O-Kawaru throughout the court, and the nature of the conversations troubled me. It has been my great fortune that many samurai in the empire think little of my abilities, and it is for that reason that I believe I was able to observe as much as I did. They spoke of shipments, the movement of agents…

Based on these observations, I can only draw one conclusion. There is a movement, or perhaps conspiracy, that crosses the boundaries of clans and even status. There is an organized effort to manipulate events beyond the sight of the Empress’ servants.

I have served as your yoriki on several investigations Oharu-sama, and I know of no other I could entrust this information to. It would seem that the best efforts of the kami and the Splendid Emperor Toturi the First were not successful.

I believe the Kolat are still alive and active within Rokugan.

If true, we must work to eliminate them or, failing that, ensure that their influence is lessened. I sense that they are building towards a larger objective, and I fear for all the Empress’ subjects should they achieve it.

Your servant, Yoritomo Mifune