ON THE JUST EXECUTION OF SCRISA ANARION
In the course of events whereby the conflict of wills pushes against one another without any further recourse, there exists a state of War. War - a nasty word, for it implies the totality of a population - its citizens - and brings about nothing but terrible suffering at the expense of another. It is in this way that War is a most negative path, and with it the shadow of suffering. Yet, we remind the Lurinite Government:
The suffering that now befalls your people, though entangled with the wrath of the Oyashi, was your own doing. Every negative ripple that has ever been projected from your population and your government now collides at this critical point in time. And so it is that the Village of Sakuragakure shall explain, in detail, how the acts which are levied now does NOT constitute baseless harassment, but rather the inevitable result of years of constant transgression.
It is ignorant for a government to preach Balance and expect there to be no Evil within its body.
DECLASSIFIED: THE AIZUMI CASE
It was many moons ago that Aizumi of the Hajime clan, and wife to the Lumia Anarion, had been BUTCHERED by the villainous Gashadokuro. Their head had been severed from their vessel and left before the gates of Saki-Gaki, accompanied by a most gruesome message which threatened the life of every villager. Most peculiarly, however, was that this murder did NOT take place within the confines of the village, but elsewhere.
Aizumi was not one to aimlessly wander the woods. In fact, it had been revealed to me that Aizumi had spent a considerable chunk of her time in the city of LURIN, for her Princess-Consort accepted her with open arms. We Oyashi value this - for love is a hurricane. Such a narrative is also a popular trope with the poets of Yamatai. We digress.
Two of the Legendary Sanbushi, Ugokoyama Atsuko and Danzen, thus engaged in an investigation within the city of Lurin. Posing as morally-depraved Homunculi salesmen, it was the hope that characters of questionable ethics would be drawn to them as a moth to flame. Upon donning the mask and emanating a brooding aura, the first of the moths appeared: The Princess Scrisa Anarion.
In the course of the conversation, Ugokoyama Danzen boasted about how their product was far superior to any “Cravenly Necromancer”, to which Scrisa grew considerably uncomfortable and distrusting. Utilizing the arcane, she had requested to Atsuko that Danzen be ordered to leave, for he was too biased to be permitted unto the neutral-grounds. Atsuko was thus taken to the Black Market, dubbed the “Catacombs” (a highly dubious name given the suspected involvement of necromancers), whereby Atsuko collected notes pertaining to the many products and participants on display. Scrisa departed and swore Atsuko to secrecy, and Atsuko immediately filled Danzen in, going so far as to provide him a tour of the Catacombs.
Atsuko engaged in a follow up mission in the following months. Venturing to Scrisa again, Atsuko sought to determine the real nature of the alleged “neutral” black market. She requested from the Princess a cadaver under the guise it would be used in an experiment. Not only was Atsuko given an entire corpse in exchange for a Katana, but Princess Scrisa had made it clear that, should Atsuko require it, there were many more corpses that she could procure.
And so ended the immediate investigation. Though no clear thread between Scrisa and Gashadokuro had been discovered, the Sanbushi did NOT forget.
In the years following, many more transgressions had been levied unto the Oyashi people. From rogue Atronach attacks to the ignoble trade of opium, Lurin had delivered such blows upon the Oyashi spirit that it would have been without BUDO to turn the cheek further. It is not expected for the Lurinite to understand the tenets of Budo, for if they did, they would already understand why these attacks are not “baseless”. It was in the consequential punitive campaign that Princess Scrisa had been detained and brought back to Sakuragakure for negotiation.
It was in these talks that the Princess Scrisa revealed her relations to and contact with the Necromantic cabal. Whilst embraced by my mercy, she had expressed that she was “unknowingly” in contact with Necromancers despite the evidence to the contrary, as already explained. When pushed upon by Ugokoyama Danzen, her story had changed from being in unknowing contact with Necromancers to having been BETRAYED by these Necromancers, and that she had been foolish for thinking she could use their power for herself. The Necromancer she lamented: Gashadokuro. The very same Lich that took credit for Hajime Aizumi’s murder.
Too did Princess Scrisa voluntarily take full responsibility for her actions, and pleaded that the state of Lurin not be held accountable for her failings. After all, to drag the good King of Lurin into such a scandal would undercut his efforts to purge the Dark from the city of Lurin. With respect to the BUDO tenet of MEIYO (Honor), the Village of Sakuragakure was in agreement. Meiyo acknowledges that only oneself is responsible for what they have done, and that any repercussions that may arise is their own burden to bear. And so it was that the Scrisa Anarion was executed, as an individual rather than a representative of Lurin.
CONCLUSION
Given all that has been recorded, the most recent proclamation issued by the Princesses Juniper Aurelia Rose and Lumia Anarion would undermine the still-empowered Scrisa Anarion. This has caused my council to scratch their heads. We ask the question:
Does Lurin wish to be held accountable for the dealing with and harboring the Arch-Lich Gashadokuro, as well as the murder of Hajime Aizumi, or would the government prefer to shift blame upon Princess Scrisa Anarion?
In any case we, the Samurai of Sakuragakure, would find it most worrisome for the Princess Lumia to abide and tolerate a partner of the Gashadokuro, for he had taken the life of her ex-Wife. After all, the passion of Lurin’s missive plumbs from the pain experienced by Scrisa’s own lover.
Too does the Village of Sakuragakure find the desire to open the Heaven-Gate admirable, and we have prepared a draft for an Official Treaty in the event future negotiations are held. We welcome further discourse, so that the Nether-Gate shall close. Though some of our desires are fluid as water, the non-negotiable terms of Sakuragakure are thus:
The delivery of 30 Barrels of Salt to act as weregild to the Kato and Ugokoyama clans.
The complete and total dismantling of the Opium Trade. No poppy shall be grown upon Lurinite soil.
The arrest and extradition of the Barrowlord Astark, harbored by the local populace.
The arrest and extradition of Elliphas the necromancer, harbored by the local populace.
And now it is time for ME to be clear. A Samurai never raises his weapon unless he intends to use it, nor does a Samurai ever act without full readiness to die in the pursuit of his honor. Your threats are meaningless, for we have already accepted total retribution as a possibility. In the event these incidents escalate into full WAR, we shall fight with the totality of our spirit, and we shall make it our mission to ensure that every inch of land lost will be soaked in the blood of the opposition.
KATO OIJIN, Shugo of Sakuragakure; Legendary Sanbushi.
UGOKOYAMA DANZEN, Legendary Sanbushi.
UGOKOYAMA ATSUKO; Legendary Sanbushi.