It is a sad day for my family. I took a journey from my home in an effort to seek out the Taint in our lands, to do my part to rid our lands of it's foul stench. I saw many horrors. I battled Oni side by side with my friends, a brave Phoenix bushi, Shiba Kendisa, and a former Scorpion, Ryuka, who has turned his back on his clan's less than honourable ways. But as the battle wore on, I grew weary. I decided to return home to my family to refresh my spirit and re-affirm my faith in the strength of our clan. Alas, this was not to be.

In the last week since returning home, I have had little time to ponder what went so terribly wrong. I have felt grief over what I have done. Anger over what my loved ones forced me to do. And relief that I had the courage, the will, and the honour to resist what was offered me and do what was best for the Phoenix and the Empire. But I get ahead of myself.

Just under two weeks ago, I returned home from my journies to the place I lived until going off with my Master to learn the ways of Air. Mother and father greeted me along with my younger brother who was born while I was away training. It was a relief to return home, but something was wrong, though I could not tell what. I simply brushed it off as my being road weary and went into our home for a good meal and conversation to catch up on family affairs. That was almost my downfall.

I was informed of the death of Isawa Osugi at the hands of Toturi the First and of the mysterious new word spreading through the courts before all contact with Otosan Uchi was cut off - "Kolat". I do not know the meaning of this word, but I'm sure the Emperor will make all clear soon enough. We discussed family business, clan business, and how my little brother, Tamo-san, was now a full Tensai of Water. With that he brought great honour to our family. Would that it were enough to erase the dishonour that was brought as well.

A week ago, my father came to me. He said, "Mitaka, my son. I have a new family legacy to pass on to you. Come with me." I rose from a letter I was writing to my friend Ryuka and we set off into the woods around our home. As we approached a clearing I knew well, I began to feel that evil eyes were watching us. We came to the clearing and there stood my mother, Tamo-san, and two others I did not know standing in a circle around a stone altar.

"Come, my son," my mother said. "Feel the power of the true path of magic. The path our ancestors took, The path of the true Isawa!"

It was then that I saw the child on the altar. A girl of no more that 7 or 8 years. "Come, Mitaka," one of the strangers said. "We need your help. We need your name!" At that point, thought left me. Only instincts honed over a years worth of battles remained.

I was barely conscious of the fight itself. Only now do I recall certain details. I remember summoning my Yari of Air. I remember the spirits talking - no, SINGING - to me as I moved into the circle. My father was the first to die, his head removed before he could react. One of the maho-tsukai moved forward to sacrifice the girl to whatever foul Oni they were attempting to conjure. A sweep, and his arm sailed across the clearing. I thrust my Yari forward, but my mother moved before me and died when it punctured her heart. I pulled my Yari free, but by that time the one-armed maho-tsukai had fled into the night. I spun, slashing downward with my Yari to cleave the other maho-tsukai in two. Then, I faced my brother. Or the thing that I thought was my brother.

It (I'm not sure if he or she applied to this thing) had grown to almost 9' in height. It had four arms, legs like a spider, and a face that was some combination of human and serpent. It's skin was black, and it's eyes glowed a firey orange. When it spoke, it's voice was that of a dozen different souls. "If you do not wish to join us, Mitaka-san," It spit out the -san as though it were poison, "then you will feed us!"

We fought for what seemed like hours. I took many wounds, and inflicted many more. Finally, I dispatched the beast by removing it's head. The next thing I remember is waking at mid-day. The girl had freed herself somehow (she claims I slashed the ropse before collapsing. I do not remember) and taking my father's katana, watched over me all night. I know I should have taken the heimin girl's life for touching my family blade, but she did not know, so I let her be.The bodies of my family and the one maho-tsukai lay still in the blood-stained grass. The thing seemed to have evaporated with the mrning light. But of the other maho-tsukai, the only sign was the severed arm, still holding a tanto with evil runes carved into the blade. I have since healed from my battle, thanks to Ryuka and his magic. The wounds still have to close, but otherwise I am whole. And now I prepare to leave my family home for the last time. I will burn the house where I was born, as I did the bodies of my family. And I now go forth to find this maho-tsukai. And when I do, he will pay for making me the last of my family.

By my own hand...

Isawa Mitaka