More history of Rokugan as seen from the Dragon Clan prospective
. . . .
During the year of the Hidden
Emperor, Emperor Toturi the First was kidnapped just prior
to the second anniversary of his reign. The Scorpion Clan was
blamed because they were the most dispised and misunderstood
in Rokugan. Except for a Dragon Justicar (Kitsuki Yasu), the
Scorpions had no defenders in the Imperial court and were condemmed
to death.
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Kakita Tashimoko (Emerald Champion) felt that
this was unjust and instead exiled the Scorpion Clan to the Burning
Sands. His act of mercy dishonored himself and the Office of
the Emerald Champion. To maintain his personal and family honor,
Tashimoko was said to have committed seppuku. In reality he became
ronin to search for both Emperor Toturi and the New Tao.
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At the Siege of Sleeping Mountain, the Naga
destroyed Kyuden Kitsuki and then Kyuden Mirumoto. The Naga then
turned to Kyuden Togashi (Hitomi) to attempt the same. Fortunately
we were able to obtain assistance from Imperial Reagent Takuan
in exchange for food (Koku).
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 Lord Toku and his troops
combined with the remaining Dragon army to defeat the Naga at
Kyuden Hitomi.
It wasn't until almost 1 year later that the
real reason for the Naga's attacks became known. They wanted
to destroy the Shadow tainted Scorpion Clan thunder Shoshuro,
who was imprisoned in a crystal vault under Kyuden Hitomi. The
Naga wanted to prevent Shoshuro from rejoining the Shadow, whom
they called "The Foul". It didn't work. During the
siege, Hitomi's concentration was broken and Shoshuro escaped.
When the Naga realized this, they ended their siege and returned
home looking for "... another way." The Dragon armies were substantially weakened
by the defection of many Agasha shugenja, the most prominent
being Agasha Gennai (the current Master of Air). When the Shadow's
involvement became known, it answered a number of questions that
came up during the year of the Hidden Emperor. The Shadow is
famous for its shapeshifting Ninja. The Agasha were probably
deceived by Ninja shapeshifters into thinking that their new
Champion Hitomi was evil. Hitomi's own legitimate actions to
strengthen her authority didn't help, namely asking her subjects
to swear fealty to her or leave.
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What Price Honor?
The Tale of The Daini
During the Siege of Sleeping Mountain, the
traitor Mirumoto Daini gave the Naga crucial information on our
defenses and this resulted in much greater casualties. Why
did he do it? Torn between his clan and what he thought was right,
he chose to side with the invading Naga, thinking that he was
fighting Hitomi's "evil". In hindsight, he was tragically
wrong, but he did not foresee the consequences of his "honorable"
choice. Due to careful planning and the heroic sacrifices
of the Mirumoto and the Kitsuki, many people managed to escape
the carnage in the Agasha Tunnels. Daini was stripped of his
family name and exiled after Magistrate Mirumoto Ieyasu successfully
challenged his Shadow-tainted defender to a Test of Honor. See
his account of the duel. The
current whereabouts of Mirumoto Daini, now known as Daini the
Black, are unknown though there are rumours that he was seen
in the company of Mara, a Naga bushi.
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After Emperor Toturi's return, a Gift
of the Emperor tournament was held to find the samurai with
the best fighting technique. This prize is given once in an Emperor's
lifetime and consists of anything that He wishes to grant. Bayushi
Aramoro won the tournament and was made daimyo of the Scorpion
lands. Aramoro utilized multiple fighting styles to acheiving
his victory. Mirumoto Uso came in second. He used a mysterious
golden sword called the Sword of the Sun, said to be a gift from
the Scorpions ....
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 War in the Heavens
The military Monks of Shinsei won the War
in the Heavens, closely edging out the enlightenment Monks.
See Bret Swanson's winning deck here.
This was reflected in the story by having the Monk's Master of
Fire Takao defeat Lord Moon's Avatar in Otasan Uchi with a Void
Strike. The subsequent shock distracted Lord Moon enough for
Hitomi to vanquish Lord Moon's other Avatar at the Refuge of
the Three Sisters.
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 Ambition's
Debt continues the L5R story, taking place in the 27 days
of darkness following the death of Onnotangu / Lord Moon. Hoshi
is now the current daimyo of the Dragon Clan. The Togashi monks
have returned with him - including Yoshi. Before she left, Hitomi
commanded the clan to follow Hoshi as they would have followed
her. There will be no more Hitomi's and no more Hoshi's - all
subsequent tattooed personalities will be Togashi as a sign of
new unity. Those with the Hoshi or Hitomi name will keep them
as a badge of honor.
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In Strike at Midnight (February 18 - 20, 2000),
Hitomi prepares to depart this life and needs a second to protect
her from dishonor. The Strike at Midnight Tournament has
been completed and the final results are pending. Unofficial
word is that she did ascend honorably. Still no word on the person
who was her second. He or she will become a minor star to accompany
the new moon (Hitomi) on her travels.
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Next is Fire
and Shadow. "The Shadow begins to destroy Jigoku, the
land of the afterlife --destroying the Empire's past, and with
it, its future. As the clans realize their peril, they head to
the place where the Empire ends and Jigoku begins: Volturnum,
a troll city deep in Shadowlands territory." (from Fire
and Shadow advertisement)
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In Race
to Volturnum, each clan in the Jade Empire has sent a pre-emptive
strike force to prevent Goju and his minions from destroying
the spirit realm of Jigoku. Goju has been around as long as the
kami. He was originally a human but followed the shadow instead
of the kami when they first came to Rokugan. His power comes
from absorbing the form and the memories of his victims. If Jigoku
is absorbed by the Shadow, then the ancestral spirits will be
erased forever. Here's a quote from Wizard's of the Coasts promotional
advertisement:
"The armies of the Empire are on the
move. Their quest: to slaughter Goju and his minions before they
can control the passage to the spirit realm of Jigoku. If they
fail, the Shadow will destroy the Empire's future as well as
its past But between the armies of Rokugan and the
City of Shadows, a massive horde of Oni, goblins, ogre, and all
manner of foul Shadowlands creatures await. Assaulted from all
sides by terrible beasts of Fu Leng, the legions of the Empire
grind to a halt. While the armies fight, the Shadow works
to continue its mission. The Empire's only hope is to send small
groups through the Shadowlands, small pockets of samurai desperately
searching for the swiftest route to Volturnum. One group, and
one alone, will reach the city first. It is the last hope of
a dying Empire, the opening strike against the darkness, and
the first duty of all those who fight for honor, glory, and the
Jade Empire of Rokugan. Will you find the path to victory?
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 In Soul
of the Empire, Rokugan fights for its past, present and
future against the minions of Goju, a shugenja older than the
Kami.... The introductory story is told from Ginawa's
perspective at Oblivion's Gate in Jigoku. While the samurai
and shugenja fight in Jigoku, Kumo (a giant spider spirit) attacks
Rokugan. Fortunately the Fox clan is aware of this threat and
is able to drive Kumo away, thanks to Hitomi's information. The
Kolat defend their home in Rokugan against the Ninja, revealing
hidden crystal weapons and storehouses of Koku to finance the
uprising. Toturi commits seppuku to clear his soul from the taint
of the Ninja, with Matsu Horuru as his second. In this time of
troubles, the spirits of the dead arise to protect the past .
. . and the future. Notable spirits includes Doji Hoturi, Isawa
Tadaka and Toturi??? He returns from the dead to lead the spirit
armies in the fight against the Ninja.
The honor of being the first clan to Volturnum
belongs to the Dragon - see below for quote from the back of
Iron Mountain stronghold card:
Togashi Hoshi led the Dragon army toward
Volturnum's great stone gates. Darkness thundered around them,
the sound echoing from their marching feet. They were the first
to the city's gate, where they saw a hundred thousand more of
the Shadow, some bearing the faces of their ancestors - spirits
stolen from Jigoku and turned to Goju's will. "Let me drive them from the walls,"
growled Hitomi Iyojin. "This is the duty for which we were
born. This is the reason our lady left us behind. We will not
fail her - or you." Hoshi nodded, and the last of Hitomi's
chosen charged. A whisper of wind pushed aside the clouds,
and a momentary shaft of moonlight gleamed upon the arch. As
the light touched the ancient stone, the Dragon smashed the gate
open. Some mystic force, drawn from their hands and from the
moonlight, crushed the stone. The Darkness gathered its strength once
more. The ise zumi tore at it, falling one by one. As they fell,
their bodies flared into brilliant light, forcing the Shadow
to retreat. It was Hitomi's last gift, her clan's last weapon
against Goju and his servants. They were driving back the Shadow
at last. As the Empire's armies burst into cheers
and flooded into the city, the Dragon legions raised a mighty
war cry. With the Crab and Lion armies, they drove the Goju before
them, shattering the Shadow's hold. But as they neared the ancient
archway to Jigoku, Hoshi heard a bitter, echoing laugh. The Darkness
swarmed around Oblivion's Gate, whispering like the buzz of stinging
flies. "You may capture my city," the
First Goju smiled, "but you cannot rebuild what I have already
destroyed."
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The next expansion to come was Spirit Wars.
Hantei XVI has returned in Spirit form from Jigoku and attempts
to retake the Jade throne from Toturi I (the current Emperor
and a spirit himself). When Toturi refuses to relinquish the
throne, Hantei XVI wages war on Rokugan assisted by General Hida
Tsuneo, the old Crab Clan Champion. Protecting Rokugan are six
of the seven great clans - the Crab, the Crane, the Dragon, the
Lion, the Scorpion and the Unicorn. The Phoenix are forced to
fight against Toturi, for their children have been taken hostage
by Hantei XVI. Read the rulebook
story for more details.
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