The twentieth year of the reign of the Divine Emperor Hantei the 38th has passed through the bitterness and beauty of winter. Spring flowers have begun to bloom even though tendrils of sparkling snow still cling to the landscape, each soft mound glistening as the sun melts tiny rivulets across each mound. The morning still has the chill of a winter breath, but the sun above promises warmth and beauty for the day. Through the air comes the sound of the Tangu river flowing not even a stone’s throw away from a simply roadway that winds its way through the lands of the Crane. Those waters flowing freely now that the ice has melted and the world has come to life.<br/><br/>A group of magistrates has now found themselves on this path. Each drawn together by the leadership of Yasuki Yun and a mandate from the Emerald Champion. New to their duties they had each been summoned with little fan fare or concern for their daily business. The Emperor had commanded the Topaz Championship commence and so much as winter now obeyed so too did the mighty bureaucracy he commanded. Concern had grown during the winter months that there might be dissent among the people and perhaps even among the samurai. As one of the first gatherings after the Winter Court, the Topaz Championship was considered an appropriate time to show unity and control. For that reason the magistrates were being dispatched to ensure that nothing worrisome occurred beneath the Emperor’s words.<br/><br/>So now each were made to move toward the village of Tsuma. Typically a sleepy fishing village, the landscape swells each year with the tournament as samurai from all across the landscape brave this first journey of the Spring to make their gempukku and prove themselves to the world. Much like young cubs stumbling into sun they are each eager for what is to come and fearful of the future. This has proven a glorious and dangerous mixture in the past, something that cannot be allowed to grow out of hand this year with the recent death of Doji Satsume; the former Emerald Champion.<br/><br/>Each magistrate had been summoned to a sake house two days ride outside of Tsuma. Each promised that Yasuki Yun would meet them once the Championship began, but also warned to be on guard for mischief. There were to be no interruption of the festivities and no tolerance showed for poor behavior. Though vague the wording and tone of the letter provided showed concern by the writer.<br/>