Dark Edge Village

((Everyone participating can assume to have been here from the start of the lesson to listen to everything! Just posting it all now to make it easier for myself and everyone else ))


"Minna-sama," the Usagi spoke up. "I am Usagi Tomoe, historian of the Hare Clan. I am looking forward to spending time with all of you, especially to share tales and histories between the clans... there is much to learn about the Unicorn's travels, and there is much we can in return teach the Unicorn of all that has happened in the Empire since Shinjo-no-Kami began their long travel outside the Empire's borders."

"It is my hope that I can assist in this, as a historian trained by the Asako loremasters, if I may have a moment of your time."

With tortoise in one hand, the rabbit cleared her throat and waited for people to settle in before she would begin the first lesson. The one that had probably had the most effect on the more recent history in the Empire, even if the subject was perhaps controversial. Still, she would honorably leave out parts that could cast shame on any clans.

"In the year 510, the Empire was struck by a great catastrophe that would change aspects of spiritual worship of our honored dead, and would unite the clans together to fight a greater evil as the clans had once united like the Seven Thunders."

"A pair of brave samurai, Soshi Takasho and Akodo Minobe, uncovered a plot to overthrow the Emperor, devised by the foul enemy Iuchiban. In these days of old, our honored dead's remains were buried in sanctified burial chambers, as had been the practice since before the founding of the Emerald Empire. The evil Iuchiban would use forbidden magic to bring the dead to life under his command... and he succeeded in his magic, causing the Battle of Stolen Graves that took place in Otosan Uchi."

"With an army under his control, the criminal sent them against the Imperial Palace. Akodo Minobe, having known of this, stood ready with the vanguard of Imperial Guardsmen to stop their advance, and with his skill and leadership, they successfully pushed the enemy forces back to the temple where the criminal had fortified himself. The brave Akodo Minobe was the first one to breach the defenses and with his spear brought Iuchiban down, while Soshi Takasho had uncovered the hidden escape route to be used by his accomplices and with aid from the kami he was able to capture the accomplices of the enemy, so they could be brought to justice. With the defeat of their master, the dead no longer moved under his command and were returned to their rest."

"However, Akodo Minobe's spear was not enough to bring down someone who used such forbidden and unnatural magic, and the Emperor commanded the Kaiu Family of the Crab Clan to construct a tomb to forever trap the dangerous man. All of his accomplices were righteously executed for their blasphemous crimes."

"The concern that someone else could perhaps use such evil powers to disturb the honored dead, caused the Emperor in his wisdom to issue an Imperial Edict that from now on, we would protect those who had passed on by sacred cremation instead, so their remains could no longer be sullied again or serve as vessels of evil magic."

"Over 100 years passed since the Battle of Stolen Graves, and the threat of such evil became a memory, and then a page in history. Until Iuchiban returned in the year 750 to seek revenge for his loss at the Battle of Stolen Graves. Unfortunately, he still had followers who waited for his return and aided him by raising the bodies of the dead, stolen away before the Imperial Edict had been enforced throughout the Empire properly, in preparation for such a day."

"His new army marched upon the Scorpion city of Ryoko Owari. It's civilians fled and the city ravaged it and marched south to the pass of Beiden. The armies of the Scorpion Clan heroicly fought backwards non-stop for nearly 5 days in the Battle of Bloody Retreat, knowing they had to buy time for their people to flee and for the other Clans to assemble their armies. On the fifth day, they suddenly could her the proud cheers of the Lion reinforcements who rushed forth to engage with the enemy. However, the Scorpion were reduced to the last of their legion, exhausted and wounded, and even with the reinforcement of thousands of Lion soldiers, the enemy managed to push through the Lion army, heading north along the Way of Vengeance Road and onto the Plains of Sleeping River."

"The enemy tried to flee across the Plains of Sleeping River as they had pushed past the Lion, for even they were taking heavy losses. But their escape was cut short by the full force of the Phoenix military that stood ready. Trapped between the Phoenix and the Lion, the enemy threw everything they had into one final battle; the Battle of Sleeping River. Such was the might of Iuchiban that his hordes might yet have won the day against the Phoenix and the Lion, but victory would not go to someone who had blasphemed so. The fresh and prepared armies of the Crane Clan and the Dragon Clan joined the battle, and the ensuing conflict lasted a full week."

"The Battle of Sleeping River was won by the combined might of the Empire's forces, when a tattooed monk of the Dragon Clan captured the Bloodspeaker, at the cost of his own life, and sealed away Iuchiban. The enemy no longer had a commander, and the dead no longer had anyone to control them, and the Empire's forces cut down the remaining enemy forces. The battle was won, the enemy defeated, and the threat of the blasphemer ended."

"We learn from history that the Empire must ever be vigilant against those who forsake honor for the sake of blinded ambition and unholy power. As well as that when united in a common cause, like the Seven Thunders had once been, the Empire is stronger than any enemy."

After establishing himself in his tent in the Northern Yurt section, Bantu was heading out to see exactly what he could expect in the area when he heard a speech, a speech from an Asako Loremaster no less and he couldn't help but be drawn in to the exhibition.

He sat down quietly and listened intently, as a student of a great many subjects he always found such discourses intriguing and fascinating - as long as the one delivering them was well educated and knowledgeable on the subject. And this Hare seemed exactly that.

As she let people mull over the lesson, Tomoe gave a nod to the Scorpion she noticed in the gathering. His clan had fought bravely against Iuchiban, after all, beside Reichin-no-kami.

"Soshi-sama," she bowed a little. "I hope you felt I did satisfactory speaking of your Family and Clan's efforts against the enemy."

Sitting unobtrusively off to the side, Suki listened to the historical account. Though the monk wouldn't call herself an expert, the details seemed accurate. Furthermore, the Hare recounted the events in a manner that brought to mind the scholars from the temple, speaking on matters of lore and philosophy.

Unwilling to intrude on a burgeoning conversation, she watches the Usagi open a discussion with the Scorpion. She waited for the Soshi's reply, curious as to how he'd react given the subject matter.

Bantu offered the lecturer as friendly a smile as he was capable of, with the middle third of his face covered by his mask. "It was an accurate recounting of the events Usagi-san." He answered simply.

"Collaborating all that my research has led me to understand of that difficult time. In certain situations, one may not be enamoured of the truth, but one must accept it. Your account was true, and shined a light on all the Great Clans, even if I must confess a small disappointment that you glossed over the contributions of your own Clan's founders in all this."

Noting the interest of the monk, Bantu made a small adjustment in body language, opening up his stance to non-verbally invite her into the conversation.

The Hare smiled proudly. "I fully intend to cover the exploits of the great Hare hero in my next lesson, Soshi-sama. I have a great admiration for his deeds and felt it only proper to expand upon it fully on its own."

At least he didn't complain about her leaving out the details of the Phoenix attempting to negotiate with Iuchiban.

"Besides, many find this topic distasteful, sadly. Some simply do not appriciate the nescessity of speaking of these events... it's such ignorance that leads to opportunities for such evil to take root." Tomoe tutted disapprovingly over willful ignorance.

Bantu's smile blossomed from beneath his mask.

"I believe that ever since Bayushi accepted Hantei's edict to serve him, there are few who understand the necessity of unsavory matters more than the Scorpion. There is a marked difference between villainy and evil after all." He added as he referenced Bayushi's acceptance of Hantei's request to 'be his villain'.

"Such is why all should take some time to sit beside the river," Suki offered softly, welcomed by the Scorpion but still not wishing to intrude. "It is in its nature that the truth of your lessons can be found." Her superiors in the Order's hierarchy had imparted similar lessons upon her many, many times. It seemed only fitting to share them.

At the Bayushi's comments, Suki nodded slightly. She would have to ponder the nature of villainy a bit more before speaking on such things.

"Shinsei taught us that there is wisom found in contemplating the world around us," the Hare nodded in agreement with the monk's comment and gave a respectful bow to Suki.

Of course the Hare was schooled well enough in theology!

"I'm not certain what Soshi-sama's comparison between villainy and evil is, though. Are not the villains presented in theater and stories evil?"

Khulun just stared blankly at all this talk. What the hell did any of that mean? Who were these people. Thankfully she stopped listening and was spared any actual learning.

“Why does any of this matter?” she blurts out.

"Alas it seems we are lacking so simple a luxury as a river in the vicinity of this village, but a little deep contemplation is necessary I agree." Bantu replies, in support of Suki before turning to Tomoe with that entirely genuine, but still somehow creepy, trademarked Scorpion smile.

"All who commit evil are villainous, I will concede but not all who are villainous are evil. I would propose that the difference is intent. If I told you I butchered three children barely of age to work the fields and their father because they didn't bow low enough when I passed, you would call me an evil bastard -and rightly so. But if I told you their father was a dissident and was raising a rebellion and that he was killed for his crimes and the children killed in an effort to dissuade others from similar actions?"

"A villain may commit evil, but there is always a justification, a reason, a greater depth behind his actions."

Tomoe gave Bantu a rather disapproving stare. Killing children who had done nothing wrong apart from having a shitty father was not a popular choice with the bunny.

Luckily for Bantu, she took the distraction of the Moto woman's outburst to avoid having to deal with the nature of villainy.

"History matters," she said with a small bow to the Unicorn. "It teaches us to beware of such dangers, and for the Unicorn, I imagine it's nice to know why the Empire is the way it currently is, due to past events, no?"

Suki listened to the exchange, nodding at the Hare's reply to the Moto "Because the lessons of this life are like the river," she added, politely emphasizing her previous point. "No beginning. No ending. Until we reach the grave, of course. But prior to that point, there is no limit to what can be learned from the study of history."

As for the Scorpion's talk of villainy, she would perhaps comment on that eventually.

She shrugs and says, "I guess... we have history. So who is.. Puchibono? Kuchiman? Whatever?"

"Iuchiban," the Hare replied patiently, having prepared herself for difficult students. But damnit, she would get some history into the thick skulls of some of these Unicorn, even if she would have to beat it into them with her turtle.

"He was a powerful practicioner of forbidden magic, the most foul kind. There are no records of who he was before he claimed such a name and attacked the Imperial City, but there are many scholars have hypotheses of his origins." Tomoe shrugged slightly. "He was perhaps the greatest danger to Rokugan in history, after the Ninth Kami that the Seven Thunders defeated."