The following letter is sent on very fine stationery with an elegant ink of an unusual deep green hue. The calligraphy is precisely rendered, in a feminine hand. There is enclosed a sprig of fresh white anemone.


To the most honorable Shiba Ryusei of House Shigi,

I am told by colleagues at the Izaku library here in Heibeisu that you will be one of the representatives for the Phoenix at court this winter. The library has always been a joint Dragon-Phoenix venture. A sign of what we can achieve when we work together.

I wanted to write to introduce myself. I am Agasha Yuna of House Ageki, a librarian here and advisor to Lord Izaku Shiriko. I will be a representative at winter court for the Dragon.

I attended the Asasko Loremaster school, so I have spent some time in Phoenix lands though not I think near your family's lands, and your training was likely elsewhere. But it is possible we have acquaintances in common? Or topics of conversation we might both enjoy?

I hope we may have the chance to discover if that is so.

May each day bring you good fortune, prosperity, and the chance to learn something new.

Sincerely,
Agasha Yuna of House Ageki

The reply is on finely-made but... fairly old paper. Like someone got it out of storage- a nicely antique golden yellow. The calligraphy is not particularly refined, but it has a certain elegance to it- very legible, clearly defined, and definitive in its brush-strokes.

To the most esteemed Agasha Yuna of House Igeki,

I was pleasantly surprised to receive your cordial letter, as my own preparations for Court have had me focused very much on matters at home. I fear I have been withdrawing into my own business to a lamentable extent, and for shaking me out of it a bit, you have my thanks.

I am, alas, no Loremaster, but as the son of a Shiba and one who was born an Ikoma, I have made heavy use of the libraries available to me- Thus, i can confidently say that if we don't have any mutual acquaintances, we might well have read some of the same books.
If we haven't, so much the better, because I always enjoy a chance to broaden my reading list. In truth, I have yet to find a topic that is wholly without interest to learn about and discuss, although I admit some interest me more than others.

Do you play Go, by any chance? I find it can be a useful icebreaker if one is too swamped with topics to select simply one.

I look forward to Court just that little bit more, and for that, you have my thanks.

Carry the Fortunes, Agasha-ke no kashin Ageki Yuna

Shiba-ke no kashin Shigi Ryusei