It was getting towards dusk when Gami-Gami entered the common room of the Inn. She had a big grin on her face and some mud. But what mattered to me was that she was here, before curfew. She ambled over to our table. “It is a big city, is it not, Mir’Itus, sir?” She bowed to him. “You are looking well, Mistress Rat.” She bowed to me and thumped down in a chair, pulling a plate of food towards her.

We had taken a table in the middle of the common room. While there were a few Nezumi and Hengeyokai staying at the Inn, we were only a handful of a crowded room. The Princess sat at a table near the fire, as is right. Princess sat at the head and Neiki, Tatsuoh and Shasuki sat with her. Nya stood near the stairs going up to the rooms. Her eyes roaming over the crowd.

I tried to relax. After all, we were safely at the Inn and no one made a big fuss about having non-humans mingling in the common room. For once the smell of the food overwhelmed the smell of unwashed humans. It was good food, though hotter than I generally care to have. I sat with the plate in front of me, waiting for the meat to cool. I must have been in just the right spot because I could hear the Princess’ table quite well.

They discussed the cavern map they’d gotten from the garrison commander. Mir’Itus had gotten one for us to study. He likes maps and such. I find them interesting, but not as good as books. He pulled it out. Gami-Gami and I leaned closer. Gami picked it up and held it close to her face. “There is no smell upon the map.” I raised my whiskers, in question and Mir’Itus nodded politely. Silence. “You having point, yes?” I asked. “Nezumi, you use your smell like sight. A Nezumi map should smell.” Mir’Itus laughed. “That is true! Very true.” He chuckled and lowered his head to the map again. I was not surprised to see Grandpa’s spirit leaning over examining the map, too. “Honorable shaman of the Third Whisker tribe, hear my words: I do not like this narrow passage where only one may walk at a time. Please ensure that my granddaughter has a healing potion with her. She should never be alone but in this cavern pass, she will be alone at times.” I nodded and sighed.

“What?” Mir’Itus looked up. I spoke in Nezumi. “Grandpa. He’s got an opinion about the map.”
“Of course he does! He has an opinion about everything concerning his granddaughter. What does he say?” I flicked a piece of pepper off the table. The smell of humans was getting stronger. New people in the room, perhaps.
“He’s worried about this area.”  I pointed to the cave-in areas where only one person could travel at a time. “He wants me to make sure everyone has healing potions.” A voice at my elbow spoke. “We should take extra bags, in case we found the fabled treasure of Kurasawa Yoki.” The smell was the first thing I noticed, even before registering that the child spoke almost flawless Nezumi. “Who you be, small human child-creature?” I covered the map with one hand.

“I am called Hekari, honored shaman of the Third Whisker tribe.” The child bowed low, sweeping its unusual knife behind its back. “You are a smart…..” (“girl,” supplied Mir’Itus who is better at this sort of thing.) “Yes. Smart-smart human. Go away.” I turned away from her.

“I am not going anywhere! Or, rather, I am going somewhere with you! I am your guide for the caverns.” I heard Tatsuoh’s voice — “Hekari! Here!” The child bowed to our table. “I have to go.”

I stood as well. I needed to deliver Grandpa’s pronouncement and better done sooner and be away from the gaze of Nya and the others. Whenever I approach the Princess, Nya stiffens – ready for battle. The Princess is warm and kind but these around her… Suspicion hangs on them like a smell. Not so with the Princess — she even touched my arm there in the midst of the battle with the yeti.
I took a deep breath. Be bold, I told myself. No fear.  At the foot of the table I thumped my staff on the floor. “Te’Ka’Mok would speak!” I tried not to think about how quiet the common room had become. “Princess,” I bowed lowed. “Honored Grandpa. He have message for you.” She nodded. “Please speak, honored shaman.”
“You Grandpa, he say that cavern map worry him. Me, um, I agree with he. Spot in cavern where only one may walk, that dangerous. Must have the potion of heal. Te’Ka’Mok cannot be in all places. And place where one may walk especial.” Neiki spoke up. “I can offer healing, too.”

I nodded. “Yes-yes. Of course, honored one.” I bowed to her. “I not know — but can spirit folk be in space with human?” Neiki looked puzzled. “Ah, not saying right. One person space, yes? Princess one person and you one person — yes? Or no?” I waited, proud of how well I’d used my bad English to convey a difficult concept. There were confused looks all around the table. “Um…. I am not sure that I understand…” Neiki began to speak when Hekari interrupted: “I speak good Nezumi! Hold on.” And she turned to me and asked what I meant. Ha! Perfect. Let this one speak for me. No more playing at English. She turned to the group. “What the honored shaman asks is can the spirit woman (she bowed to Neiki) move through solid objects. Like, can Neiki (again Hekari bowed for using the spirit woman’s name so casually) pass through the Princess and then heal her in a space that only really fits one person.”

Neiki laughed. “No, it doesn’t work that way. Unfortunately. And I agree with our revered shaman — we should all have healing potions. Caverns or no.” Tatusoh frowned. “The marketplace won’t open until the hour of the open petal. There goes our early start.”

“We should still retire to our beds now,” said the Princess. “And you (she pointed at Hekari) need to take a bath. Upstairs you go!”

The year is 1158 in the Empire of Rokugan.  After years of unity and prosperity, the seven clans of the empire are threatening to splinter again.

While traveling through Scorpion lands, Emperor Toturi I and his wife, the Empress, were slain in a combat against Shadowlands creatures.  They died leaving four children, but no designated heir. Their four children — the “Four Winds” — have begun a struggle for the throne.  The Clans of the Empire argue amongst themselves as they decide which to follow.

Meanwhile, across the Empire, tensions are strained between the Clans.  Without an Emperor to settle disputes, these scuffles are escalating to wars.

In the north, the great Sleeping Thunder Mountain erupts sending Dragon refugees fleeing into Phoenix lands.  The Dragon Clan has used this opportunity to seize the land it formerly held under the Agasha family – land that became Phoenix land when the Agasha family defected from Dragon to Phoenix.  This threatens war between these two most peaceful clans of the Empire.  Worse, because of the recent treaty signed between the Phoenix and Lion Clans, now the Lion Clan may be drawn into war as well.

In the south, tension has always been high between the Crab and Crane Clans.  The Crab master builders and seasoned fighters have always had misunderstandings with the Crane fine artists and talented poets.  Now, the Daimyo of the Crab Clan’s Yasuki family has died and the heir is of the Crane Clan’s Yasuki family.   Crane soldiers have been seen entering into Minor Clan territory and making forays to claim the land for the Crane.

In the center, the Scorpion Clan’s diplomats have suggested a way to balance all the forces and create stability.  They have proposed a marriage between the Lion Clan’s Matsu family and the Crab Clan’s Kaiu family.  Both of these families are well respected in their clans, but not the ruling family.  This means it will create a strong alliance, but not an obligatory one.  Thus, it will not force one clan to go to war if the other is attacked.  However, no clan would risk attacking either the Lion or Crab Clans for fear of retaliation from the other.  After the Great Clan Wars (1123-1126), much is known about the might of the combined force of Lion and Crab.  After all, it was their alliance that ended those wars and brought peace to the land.

So it has been decided.  A Scorpion Embassador, Nya, will travel with Lion Clan Mastu Tatsuo, younger brother to the betrothed. After first thaw, they will travel to Crab Clan lands bringing gifts of treaty.  Then, they will escort Crab Clan Kaiu Kaede, betrothed princess to Lion lands.  Kaiu Kaede will be joined in matrimony with Matsu Takeo in midsummer.

Thus begins the story of their travels.

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