Pigeons

Pigeons are commonly used in Rokugan as couriers for messages from a retainer to their daimyo. It can contain anything from battle plans to letters from secret distant lovers. The Crane Clan began the training of pigeons for this purpose in 525, in order to carry messages more rapidly. Since then their use has spread to all the clans. Pigeons are delicate creatures, and are treated with great care. The secret to their use is to never feed them on a journey, as pigeons will retun to the place where they have been fed. The pigeon will grow hungry during travels, and then return home to where it has been fed before in hopes of getting food. The leg band which holds the message to the pigeons leg is sometimes marked with the symbol of the clan sending the message. This is done to ensure that if the pigeon is wounded or killed the message might still find it's way. (Crane pp. 44-45)