The following document is a found piece of paper from Lady Tsuru Iwamoto's diary that was released to the public and taught in history classes of Karakura High School and College. The knowledge in this document may be known ICly by your character. This document was worked on by the lore team as a whole.The diary had been translated by Professor Hashirama Takagi in an extension of one of his other historical books.
At the time of writing, Lady Tsuru Iwamoto had written all her entries in the third person.
ENTRY 1
Rain poured into the lush Fushigi Courtyard on a bitter winter night, the only light source being the luminescent full moon above and the lanterns adorning the lavish palace. After stitching the last thread onto the newly made navy dragon kimono, Tsuru Iwamoto settled her embroidery tools and folded the clothing appropriately before endeavouring to the lord wing. Despite all the other servants already retiring for the night, Tsuru was determined to have her lady’s garments prepared and ready for tomorrow, dazzling the eyes of all who attend court with the regal woman. Tomorrow’s court attendance came with a momentous announcement: the news of Lady Tsugumi Takagi being with child. It was a day filled with excitement and anticipation, marking the beginning of numerous changes across Karakura.
Tsuru had only been in the Takagi household for a few months, as she had joined the lines of servants the day her lady, Tsugumi, married into the family. Before then, Tsuru had been serving Tsugumi while she was a daughter of the Kaseya Clan in the household of Kazenotome Kaseya, her grandmother. Tsuru had been Tsugumi’s maid and nanny since she was five years of age and was a close confidant of hers, essentially raising her. Their bond was not just that of a servant and a lady but of a mother and a daughter.
As Tsuru sauntered across the marvellous hallways of the manor, past verdant courtyards with excessive pouring and illustrious wings housing various noble Takagis, she recalled a particular memory, one of letters and promises.
Kazenotome Kaseya sat in the drawing room of the second manor of the Kaseya Household, where she sought an audience with Hanabi Takagi, the supreme wife of the Takagi Clan’s head. After Hanabi’s departure, Kazenotome was questioned about the motive behind the Takagi wife’s visit by her youngest, unwed son, Kosuke and explained that she accepted the Takagi clan’s proposal to wed Tsugumi to their eldest son. Kosuke mentioned that the emperor had already sent for a summoning of Tsugumi and that she was off-limits by an imperial decree. The threat of the emperor did not stop Kazenotome from proceeding with the marriage.
After word had escaped to the Tenoshisons, the earth began to unravel right before Tsuru Iwamoto’s eyes. The air was thick with whispers of a curse; a curse that the Tenoshison Clan had supposedly cast upon Tsugumi and her descendants for daring to defy the emperor’s words. The truth of the curse remained a mystery, shrouded in the fog of uncertainty and fear.
The memory faded from Tsuru’s eyes as she stood before her lady’s chambers, worried that the storm pouring on Karakura may have to do something with the so-called curse of the Tenoshison family. Could the descendants of the gods unleash their rage on the island for having a marriage that defied the emperor? Tsuru exhaled with fear, taking a breath before knocking against the chamber’s doors and calling to Tsugumi that her kimono was ready.
ENTRY 2
It has been four years since Lady Tsugumi was appointed Regent of Hokuseibu. Beforehand, Lady Tsugumi had only been the Matron of Shinboshi. But ever since a month after her marriage to the Takagi heir, she had been titled as the Regent of Hokuseibu, and took over the court from the hands of its clans. Many in Seikatsu, Motokawa, Kampo, Ochiba, and Kaigan feared this sudden change of power. It was heard that the Tenoshisons of Shizukanamichi are livid, for three years ago, the Lady's grandmother and herself defied the word of the emperor. Yet, no retaliation has hit Karakura and the Izu islands from the Imperial Capital. Karakura prays it does not stand before his Imperial Majesty's judgement.
But Tsuru does not. Tsuru does not fear His Imperial Majesty. The eye of her Lady is far superior to that of the emperor, dare she say. The Lady Kazenotome knows better than to send her granddaughter away. If anything, this servant fears the Tenoshisons. Their puppeteering over the last five courts, over the numerous decades and centuries, must come to an end. And to be defied by their own daughters is unheard of, and yet I support them. Prayers to Lady Kazenotome; may Chiharu be merciful to her during these final days of her.
Today visited a man from Hokuseibu, delivering a parcel intended for Lady Tsugumi. Lady Hanabi had ordered to forbid the infants of Lady Tsugumi: Lord Hiraku, Hidekazu, and Lady Megumi, from being spotted in the palace's courtyard. Tsuru Iwamoto took the liberty of the children's safety whilst certain discussions occurred in the courtyard. The other servants said the man had Mizukawa features; others said he looked more like a Hishison. The parcel was medium-sized, hidden under luxurious silk. Facing him were Lady Takagi, Lady Hanabi, Lord Hachiro, and Lady Hanabi's ladies-in-waiting, with Lady Rina Hishison at the frontlines.
Lord Hachiro never uttered a word when his wife and mother were present. In fact, I never heard him speak much. It was as if these two women were deities of sorts. Even Lady Hanabi's relationship with her daughter-in-law was considered strange by everyone. Could a woman truly amass such respect from the matriarch of the Takagi family? Lord Kiyomasa Takagi, per usual, was bedridden. He had been ever since a month after his son's wedding. Strange, that the Lord Takagi falls bedridden and immediately takes his place, his daughter-in-law in Hokuseibu. Per tradition, it should have been his son. And yet it is the lady with the most imperial, most pure, most regal discernment.
The parcel was uncovered, and in it was a wooden box. Upon opening it, it revealed keys, or so do the other attendants say. The man states that per Lady Tsugumi's request, the Gininkan Vault is now under her ownership. The other servants whispered about how many vaults this woman can hold, but Tsuru does not dare speak ill of the woman she raised. She remains silent, looking after the three children, while the family's seniors discuss outside.
At the end of the discussion, all Tsuru heard after shoving her ear against the room's window was "Take the mirror from the vault to the gong hall in Hokuseibu."
May this be the end of Karakura's stormy days. The very one that befell us since the day of my Lady's marriage.
SCROLL FOUND
A scroll recording a particular speech was suddenly found alongside the diary. It may have been misplaced initially.
The scroll states as follows:
Hark, Karakura, for I have descended from my hut to bestow on you all my conviction and have you bask under my radiant light. I, Tsugumi Takagi, the regent of the Hokuseibu Court, Matron of Shinboshi, Mother of Karakura, at my age of ten nines, have declared that the clans in which I unified shall rule Karakura till the end of time and are to form a new court in Itsbyoshi instead of Hokuseibu. This declaration of mine is final and has been made after careful planning. The clans that bear my seal are aware of themselves and shall rise upon my decease to seize the rule of Izu. I have left the instructions for the clans clear, and they are to follow my strict orders and teachings, or Karakura and its islands will fall into the hands of another storm. But do not fret, for I am overlooking still. And will continue to do so.
A seal is found at the end of the scroll with a Kanji for “Mother of Karakura” embedded in ink.
The writing didn't match Tsuru Iwamoto's and appeared much neater than a mere attendant's.
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