Post by Kitsuki Haru on Jan 6, 2014 0:07:47 GMT
Haru looked at the scroll again as he pulled his cloak closer against the cold.
“Omens?” He asked the frigid winds.
Turning his horse down the trail he clucked his tongue nudging her into a cantor down the mountain road towards the next inn.
…
The inn was dark and smoky from the fire which sputtered weakly in the hearth.
Bad wood Haru thought to himself holding his tea close savoring it's warmth against the cold
“To know the beauty of a snowflake one must stand in the cold.” He said to no one in particular.
The innkeeper dozing in a corner woke sleepily
“Cold master samurai? I'll fetch more wood.”
“No need, I will retire for the evening.”
The innkeeper and Haru wended their way to the Haru's Chamber. Bowing the innkeeper departed and Haru prepared to sleep. Sniffing the air he sighed. He had neglected to bathe, not out of carelessness but out of concern for the innkeeper. He had seen the woodpile in the inn courtyard and it was apparent that the local wood cutter had not been making his rounds. It did not take much to deduce what was causing this problem. Rumors of easy money working to build Kyuden Meiyo for the Lion had drawn able bodied workers from many villages and those villages were suffering for it. Haru had heard that farther south fields were left unworked and harvests were spoiling as their keepers labored on what was sure to be an opulent palace for the Empresses winter court. He would have to do something about this. The already war weary Rokugan could not possibly endure a famine after how much it had suffered during the Four Winds power for struggle.
As he settled into sleep the thought ran through his mind. Who could help avert this catastrophe?
“Omens.” He mumbled falling to sleep.
…
Haru left the inn early that morning leaving behind sufficient coin that the innkeeper could buy the firewood he would need to survive the winter. He also left a letter behind to be sent to the Dragon lands informing them of the conditions among the peasants that he had observed. Down the mountain he road south towards the plains of Rokugan. Dark clouds billowed on the horizon sign of a coming winter storm as dark as the omens the sages predicted.
“Omens?” He asked the frigid winds.
Turning his horse down the trail he clucked his tongue nudging her into a cantor down the mountain road towards the next inn.
…
The inn was dark and smoky from the fire which sputtered weakly in the hearth.
Bad wood Haru thought to himself holding his tea close savoring it's warmth against the cold
“To know the beauty of a snowflake one must stand in the cold.” He said to no one in particular.
The innkeeper dozing in a corner woke sleepily
“Cold master samurai? I'll fetch more wood.”
“No need, I will retire for the evening.”
The innkeeper and Haru wended their way to the Haru's Chamber. Bowing the innkeeper departed and Haru prepared to sleep. Sniffing the air he sighed. He had neglected to bathe, not out of carelessness but out of concern for the innkeeper. He had seen the woodpile in the inn courtyard and it was apparent that the local wood cutter had not been making his rounds. It did not take much to deduce what was causing this problem. Rumors of easy money working to build Kyuden Meiyo for the Lion had drawn able bodied workers from many villages and those villages were suffering for it. Haru had heard that farther south fields were left unworked and harvests were spoiling as their keepers labored on what was sure to be an opulent palace for the Empresses winter court. He would have to do something about this. The already war weary Rokugan could not possibly endure a famine after how much it had suffered during the Four Winds power for struggle.
As he settled into sleep the thought ran through his mind. Who could help avert this catastrophe?
“Omens.” He mumbled falling to sleep.
…
Haru left the inn early that morning leaving behind sufficient coin that the innkeeper could buy the firewood he would need to survive the winter. He also left a letter behind to be sent to the Dragon lands informing them of the conditions among the peasants that he had observed. Down the mountain he road south towards the plains of Rokugan. Dark clouds billowed on the horizon sign of a coming winter storm as dark as the omens the sages predicted.