Daily History Lessons IX, The Last Lesson (D10, EE)

[Usagi Tomoe]

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"Minna-sama," Usagi Tomoe stepped forward. "I am Usagi Tomoe, historian of the Hare Clan. For the duration of this miai, I have shared with you many events of the Empire's history. From terrible tales of blasphemers, to heroic triumphs, and even love. I have spoken of the tournaments and offices that leave their mark upon history in our beloved Emerald Empire. Today, the final day of this miai, I will speak of the most important history we all learn as Rokugani; the history of the Kami."

"We are all familiar with the tale; the Kami, children of Lady Sun and Lord Moon, fell from the Heavens to our world. With no way to return to where they once were, Hantei-Kami saw that the people in this world could be taught the wisdom required to flourish, and as the other Kami agreed that they should lead the humans here, they hosted a tournament between themselves to determine the ruler of this new Empire, where Hantei-Kami would prove to be the victor. It is a story told many times, so I will instead speak of the Kami's time in the Empire and some of the many things contributed to them in history."

"Hida-Kami, the first to lose in the Tournament of the Kami, was considered to be the strongest of his siblings, and after his defeat, he also learned to temper that strength with strategy as she watched the actions of Akodo and Togashi and their respective followers. By the time of War Against the Ninth, Hida was the most feared warrior in Rokugan, leading his Crab Clan as the vanguard in the battles. It is said that he once wrestled an oni to the ground with his bare hands, ripping it apart with his fingers and teeth. He could slay as many enemies as any other twenty warriors combined, and was even capable of crushing the life out of an ogre with his bare hands."

"It is known that Hida had two sons, the Thunder Atarasi, and Osano-Wo - the Fortune of Fire and Thunder. Atarasi was the son of Hida's first wife, a woman known in histoies as Masiko, though that name is merely a commonly accepted pseudonym, as Lord Hida ordered her name to never be spoken again after her death. She became Hida's bride after he saved her and her family's rose-marble palace from a hungry beast called the Yamata-no-Orochi that had taken over the palace and forced the local tribes to sacrifice young girls to appease it. Hatching a plan to take out the fearsome Orochi, Hida-Kami recalled a rice wine that had been used by his parents, a potion that intoxicated the mind and befuddled the senses. And so when the day came for another sacrifice, the orochi plunged its head into a barrel of this brew planted by Hida. At that moment, Hida severed Yamata-no-Orochi's heads before its idled senses could detect him. Taking Masiko as his wife, the two of them made the rose-marbled palace their home, and Hida named it Kyuden Masiko in honor of the woman who had captured his heart. Her death came at the Day of Thunder, while her son and the Thunders battled, and her husband was leading his armies at the front. Kyuden Masiko was attacked by armies of the Ninth, and while a hundred of Hida's strongest bushi protected the Kyuden and Masiko, it was too much for them to withstand. Masiko in her final act took her own life so that the enemy could not turn her against her husband and she set the palace ablaze. It was a grief that weighed heavily on the first Lord of the Crab, one that could not be eased until the Dragon of Thunder descended from the Heavens to comfort him in his grief, and later giving him his son Osano-Wo."

"However the unknown fate of Atarasi would always weight heavily on Lord Hida. He stepped down as Clan Champion and began preparations to discover his son's fate, and in the year 210 he announced that he was going to find his lost son, took up his tetsubo and went into the southern lands, never to be seen again. Though many legends of his last journey still remain today; some who have travelled deeply into the corrupted lands have claimed to have seen two great men battling eachother, locked in an eternal stalemate, while some have heard stories of a sacred tomb erected by Hida-Kami's own hands that houses the remains of the Seven Thunders, its sanctity warding off those who would wish to destroy it."

---

"Doji-Kami, who laid the foundations of our culture and civilzation, also created the written words of our language, introduced commerce and economics, established the rules of the Celestial Order that defines our daily lives today, and in the Tournament of the Kami, she defeated Shiba in combat but in turn was bested by Akodo who had studied her techniques closely. And so it is understandable that the woman who would go on to establish so much of the Empire we know today would have high requirements when her brother Hantei wished for her to marry the first Emerald Champion, Kakita. Doji agreed, on the condition that Kakita would complete three challenges, so that she would know his worth; the first challenge was to bring the dead to life, the second was to measure the width of the world, and the third was to show her a vision of absolute beauty. At first, Kakita was crestfallen at being presented with such seemingly impossible tasks, but he did not give up. After consulting with the wise woman, Yasuki, Kakita found the inspiration to complete the challenges. And so, when he returned to Lady Doji, he presented her first with a biwa which he had crafted from a piece of dead driftwood and when he played its strings it was as if the instrument itself came to life. For his second challenge, Kakita explained that the world was only as wide, and would take as long to cross, as the company you had while crossing it, and that if Amaterasu were your companion, you could cross it in a single day. And for the final and third challenge, Kakita presented Lady Doji with a mirror, bidding her to look into it, and said that the vision of absolute beauty had always been infront of him: Doji herself, and when she saw her own reflection, she had to acknowledge that he had passed the tests, and they were wed immediately after."

"Lady Doji and Lord Kakita had five children together; the twins Yasurugi and Konishiko, whose shared soul allowed Konishiko to take Yasurugi's place as the Crane Thunder after his sudden death; Doji Hayaku, the first Daidoji and founder of the Daidoji Family; Shimizu who would be known as Kakita Shimizu and is revered as the first daimyo of the Kakita; and lastly Doji Nio, considered to be the first daimyo of the Doji Family, who worked closely with his mother in assisting Hantei-Kami in shaping the Empire."

"When the time came that Lady Shinjo had decided to begin the Ki-Rin's Exodus, Lady Doji sadly had to accept that it might be a long time before she could see her sister again, as the two of them were said to be very close to eachother. She gave Shinjo several gifts to take with her on her journey; a small fan made of sandalwood that would remind Shinjo that Rokugan was also with them during her journey, a mirror that she could look into to see the home and family waiting for her in Rokugan, and a netsuke that Lady Shinjo promised to always carry with her to remind her of her beloved sister. But as Shinjo left, so did loneliness come to Lady Doji. For the Kami, while mortal, were gifted with a lengthy lifespan. She had lost two of her beloved children in the War against the Fallen Kami, as well as her dear brother Hantei, and she would later outlive her husband. She often travelled to visit the lands of her brothers, but her trips became short and shorter as they each either died or disappeared. The last sibling she travelled to visit was Lord Togashi. As she approached Kyuden Togashi, she was informed that he had passed away, and Lady Doji returned home, never to travel again to the lands of her siblings. She and Hida were the only ones remaining, and while they were family, the two of them were never close and Hida's interests were focused on the fate of his son. So one day, when Lady Doji was walking along the beach by Kyuden Doji, she stopped to watch the sun set, standing on a high rock that let her gaze out at the ocean. The tide rose at her feet, and the waves crashed against the surrounding rocks. The waves towered over her and crashed on the rocks on which she was standing. And when the water receded, the Lady Doji was gone, said to have become part of the ocean itself. Today, the rocks on which she stood for the last time are a holy place for the Crane Clan. When a new samurai becomes the Crane Champion, they spend the night alone on these rocks to pray for Lady Doji's wisdom and guidance. The largest of these rocks, called Lady's Rest, is decorated each year during the Chrysanthemum Festival by maidens from all of the clans, and it is said that unmarried maidens who perform this rite will be blessed by Doji and find good fortune in love."

---

"Lord Akodo, second to Hantei in the Tournament of the Kami, was said to be not only unparalleled in physical power and dauntless courage, but also unflinching in his belief and honor, and it is from Akodo-Kami that we have the virtues of Bushido that all samurai strive to adhere. He fought against Hantei-Kami in the final battle of the Tournament, and nearly killed his brother - when suddenly the light of Lady Sun reflected of off Hantei's sword and shone in Akodo's eyes. In this moment of vulnerability, Akodo realised how close he had come to killing his beloved brother, a grievous sin, as well as the fact that Hantei could have easily killed him or defeated him in return whilst he was blinded by the holy light, but had stayed his hand because he did not wish to shed his brother's blood. Lord Akodo conceded the fight by kneeling to Hantei, and was the first among them to swear to serve the Emperor. Lord Togashi, who had been watching the battles on the sidelines, spoke the words: When the last Akodo falls, so falls the last Hantei."

"As the Kami searched for followers to help them found their clans, Akodo stood alone, saying: I do not look for men to follow me, I look for men worthy to stand by my side. And for nearly three years Akodo wandered the newborn Empire, challenging each mortal who came to him hoping to join his cause, yet none were worthy in his eyes. Then in the year 12, Akodo met Ikoma-shiryo. It is said in the Ikoma records that the two of them encountered eachother in a geisha house, and that Akodo-kami was quickly angered by the old man, who boasted he had never been bested, and even called Akodo 'boy'. Ikoma proceeded to explain how he had gained many scars, battling ogres, monsters, lost an eye to a duelist, and so many more. And wich each scar, the man told Akodo another story. Eventually, Akodo-kami's anger receeded and he became impressed, and he declined to fight Ikoma-shiryo, so that the old man could retain his self-imposed title as 'the strongest man in the world'. Lord Ikoma rose to the position of Lord Akodo's advisor, karo, historian, judge, and his closest friend, and the Kami nicknamed him 'Migite' (Right Hand). But there was also another warrior that interested Lord Akodo like none other; the fierce Lady Matsu, perhaps the greatest mortal warrior in Rokugan. And it was a great source of frustration for him that Matsu had not yet sought him out to be tested by his blade. Eventually, in the year 15, it was Akodo who sought her out and challenged her, but she refused him at first. When she finally agreed to his challenge, their battle was said to have shaken the earth and sky; and Lord Akodo was smitten by this woman's strength and skill. He asked her for her hand in marriage several times, but every time Matsu rejected him, and she stated that if she were to become his wife, she would forever be known as Akodo's wife - but if she married any other man, that man would forever be known as Matsu's husband. It is said that the two of them loved eachother dearly, but their respect for eachother was too great to press it further after Matsu had refused him a final time."

"Akodo-Kami had five daughters and a son with his wife Nisiko. His line was continued through his son and heir, while it is through his daughters that the Kitsu Family was founded. The place of his son's birth is today known as Shinden Shorai, the Temple of the Future, and is a sacred place favoured by women of the Lion who often embark on pilgrimages there to give birth to their children in the same place where Akodo's heir was born."

"But even the greatest warriors eventually meet their end, and like a true samurai, Akodo's end came on the battlefield. As the Halls of the Ancestors were buing built, the Lion Clan was unexpectedly attacked by a savage monstrous enemy. Akodo personally led the few soldiers that had been stationed nearby to confront the enemy at the Seikitsu Pass, and engaged in battle. Understanding that his forces were outnumbered and were suffering heavy casualties, Akodo saw no other solution than to take it upon himself to put an end to the fight, even at the cost of his own life. He ordered his soldiers to retreat as he held off the enemy at the pass, and as his people cleared out, Akodo-Kami called out to his mother Lady Sun. His roar was so mighty that it shook the foundations of the mountain and he collapsed the pass on himself and the enemy. His honor and legacy still lives on today for us all in the words of Leadership and the virtues of Bushido."


---

"Lord Bayushi, twin of the Kami Shiba, faced his sister Shinjo in the Tournament of the Kami, and through clever tricks bested the swiftness of the Ki-Rin. As he prepared himself to face his twin, the Little Teacher Shinsei took Bayushi aside to share his wisdom with him, telling him the tale of the Scorpion and the Frog: a scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream. The scorpion asks the frog to carry him across the stream on its back. The frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion says, "because if I sting you while you cross the stream, surely I shall drown too." The frog is satisfied, and they set out. But in midstream, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, but has just enough time to gasp. "Why? Why would you do this to me?" The scorpion replies: [i]But little frog, I can swim." Hearing this version of the story told to him by Shinsei, Bayushi smiled and picked up a piece of cloth to serve as a mask and hide his face. And as he set to face his twin brother, he used none of the tricks he had used against Shinjo and lost the match. As Hantei became the first Emperor of Rokugan, he set a task to each of his siblings in this new Empire. Of Bayushi, Hantei asked him to assume the role as his shadow, to watch for dangers their siblings would not or could not counter. Knowing that it was not a glorious or particularly honorable task, Lord Bayushi hesitated at first, but as Hantei explained to him that he was the only one suitable for the duty, Bayushi accepted. But as he accepted, Bayushi reminded Hantei that should he or his line ever betray Bayushi or his children, he should remember that they never faced eachother in the Tournament."

"Unlike his siblings, Bayushi did not seek great warriors or powerful shugenja to serve him. His first follower, the Thunder Shosuro, was a mysterious woman who no one had heard about before she joined the founder of the Scorpion Clan, but became very dear to Bayushi-Kami over the years. And Yogo, a man who was cursed by the Ninth Kami to betray the one he loved, was approached by Bayushi-Kami when he was about to commit seppuku to stop the curse from manifesting. Bayushi offered him instead a place in his Clan, and the promise of revenge, and when Yogo tried to warn Lord Bayushi of his curse, the Kami countered his argument with a smile and said: But Yogo, you do not love me. This was enough to persuade Yogo to leave the Phoenix Clan and his life there, and join the Scorpion Clan where he founded the Yogo Family. And Bayushi-Kami cared greatly for all his followers, and as the War Against the Ninth waged, it is said that he grieved heavily over the loss of every life of his followers. So when Shinsei appeared before the Kami again, calling upon a Thunder from each of the Clans to join him to stop the Fallen One, Bayushi refused to allow any more Scorpion to die in this war, and forbade his followers to die in this quest. Shosuro, however, joined the group before they set out for the southern lands, pointing out that Bayushi had merely forbidden any Scorpion from dying, not participating. And when Bayushi watched Shosuro march into the Shadowlands with the Thunders, he wept openly for the first and last time in his life."

"Bayushi's refusal to send a Scorpion Thunder increased the rift between him and his siblings. Shosuro had participated in the Day of Thunder against his wishes, and when she returned as the only survivor with Shinsei, at the cost of the life of Bayushi's twin, carrying the scrolls that had been used to defeat the Fallen Kami, Bayushi petitioned Hantei to allow his clan to become the guardians of these scrolls. The first Emperor agreed to grant Bayushi's clan that duty. However, Shosuro did not live much longer after her return, as the battle had taken its toll on her as well. The shugenja who assisted Bayushi with giving his beloved Shosuro a proper funeral was the last of the Scorpion founders; Soshi. But the grief remained with Bayushi for a long time, and one day in the year 83, he was simply gone from his home in Kyuden Bayushi, having left behind his sword and mask to his heir. Some say that he began to wander the Empire to serve the Emperor hidden in the shadows, others say that he could no longer exist without Shosuro and after grieving for her for so long, his spirit eventually gave out."

---

"Lord Shiba, twin brother of Bayushi, was said to be the wisest of the Kami, with a boundless curiosity for the world of Rokugan. It is from him we have the Tao of Shinsei, as it was he who recorded the conversation between Hantei and the Little Teacher. While Bayushi was often closed off to those around him, Shiba was approachable, and it is said that even Bayushi-Kami removed his mask when he was alone with his twin, as the two of them would frequently meet to discuss stories they had about humans throughout the land. Shiba-Kami defeated his twin in the Tournament of the Kami, but he was unable to defeat their sister Lady Doji."

"When Shiba began his search for followers, he encountered the Tribe of Isawa in the year 25. Shiba managed to persuade Isawa to join the fledgling Empire and his beginning clan, and Isawa reluctantly agreed to do so. But there was much friction between the new Isawa family and the Shiba, which frustrated the Kami. They were happy and healthy, but they had no form, no unity, no sense of common identity. That night a phoenix appeared to him in dreams, and the mytical bird claimed he was the universe entire, in the form of Fire, hatched from an egg, so born from Water, soaring through the skies alongside the Air, it reborn from its ashes, which were on Earth, and finally it was all these things, and none of them too, so the Phoenix was truly from Void. It also told Shiba that it and he were the same, saying "You are not separate, but one and the same. I am the reflection of your soul just as you are the manifestation of mine. We are death reborn, immortality through a thousand lifetimes. We are the cycle of the cosmos, spinning in patterns as old as time. We will die in flames, only to rise again and again until the sky itself collapses. We are the Phoenix -- the Eye of Eternity." The next morning Shiba founded the Phoenix Clan. Having founded his clan with a basis of wisdom and focus on the spiritual, Shiba-Kami was joined by Asako-shiryo in the year 30, who laid the foundation for the Asako family."

"But his brother Hida and his sister Doji worried for Shiba, for he had not yet married. Doji romantically insisted to Shiba the necessity of a beautiful, talented wife who could capture his heart. Hida, much more pragmatic than their sister, extolled to Shiba the virtues of a wife capable of continuing the family line as well as defending the family's lands and fighting by her husband's side. Shiba eventually tired of his siblings' imploring and declared that he would marry the first woman they could find that embodied all of the qualities they were describing. Not that Hida and Doji needed to find this woman for him, for not long after, a woman arrived at the gates of Otosan Uchi, asking for the Kami's help to save her home from an evil force that had invaded it. She was fair as a summer's day, and her eyes shone with a fire that bespoke her bravery. Shiba's heart was stolen by the strange woman as soon as he saw her. Shiba asked her name, and the woman replied that it was Tsamaru. Shiba left with her to defend her home. While he never spoke of where her home was, the two of them returned triumphantly to Otosan Uchi, bearing the teeth of the creatures they had defeated as trophies of their victory. Shortly after, Shiba-Kami asked for Tsamaru's hand in marriage, and she accepted. The two of them had one son, Tsuzaki, and on the day of his birth, Tsamaru gifted the sword Ofushikai to her lord husband, and Shiba promised that he would always return to protect his children."

"Lord Shiba would sadly be the first of the founding Kami to die. As the Day of Thunder drew near, Shiba begged Shinsei to be allowed to accompany the monk into battle against the Fallen Kami. Shinsei refused, explaining to Shiba that it could only be mortal men who could defeat the Dark Kami. Seeing no other option, Shiba approached Isawa, bidding him to go with Shinsei on his quest. Isawa refused, claiming he could not abandon his family to fight the Kami's war. It was in this moment that Shiba, a Kami, knelt before the mortal Isawa and swore to protect his people in exchange for Isawa becoming the Phoenix Thunder. Touched by this gesture, Isawa agreed and left with Shinsei that day. Sometime after the Seven Thunders departed to face the Dark One, Shiba felt uneasy, and sought the Isawa shugenja's to see what the kami could tell them. The Isawa determined from the kami's answers that of the eight that had set out, only two were living, and one of those barely. They could not determine which two were still alive, but it did not matter to Shiba, he was determined to see the two survivors safely back in Rokugan and he marched into the Shadowlands to come to their rescue. He found Shinsei, and the grievely wounded Shosuro, about to be overwhelmed by an army of monstrosities, led by the fearsome creature known only as the First Oni. Unwilling to let them die, Shiba drew Ofushikai and charged to their rescue. The Phoenix Kami slew the terrible oni, but not before it dealt Shiba a mortal blow as well. Shiba, Shinsei and Shosuro hurried to Otosan Uchi, but Shiba-Kami died of his wounds on the journey; the oni had infected him with a poison he could not survive. When Ofushikai was passed to his son Tsuzaki, Shiba's heir pronounced: my father is dead, but he will live forever in his descendants."

"Today, Shiba and Isawa when depicted together, often feature Shiba kneeling before Isawa; not out of disrespect for Shiba-Kami, but because this act is considered to be one of the most important and heroic in the history of the clan. And from there, they also have the saying: [/i]Are you so tall that you cannot bend your knee as Shiba did?[/i]"

---

"Togashi-kami, said to have been the oldest of the Kami and among the most powerful, chose not to participate in the Tournament of the Kami as he declared he already knew the outcome. And while his brothers and sisters travelled the Empire and gathered followers, Togashi did not seek them or accept any. After his first meeting with the Little Teacher, Lord Togashi retreated to the bleak mountains in the north, seeking solitude... this turned out to be impossible as two humans, Mirumoto and Agasha, had trailed him into the vastness of the north, and eventually the Kami accepted the two of them as his followers as no matter what he did, he could not dissuade them to leave."

"While Togashi-Kami was wise and powerful, there was much he was still learning about this new world he and his siblings had arrived in, and especially Shinsei's wisdom was one that struck a deep chord within him. Togashi did not eat or drink and stood on meditation, convinced he had to not move until he could understand Shinsei's teachings. Mirumoto and Agasha each day brought him food and sake, but Togashi did not move. In the ninth day they begged to Shinsei, but the little prophet did not act this day. In the tenth day, Togashi was near death, and saw Shinsei moving to him. Togashi told he would not move until he could undesrtand, and Shinsei sat alongside him, and said, 'Neither will I.' Togashi smiled and realized the task of seeking enlightenment could not be found in that way. He began to eat, and Shinsei followed. While Togashi was starving himself, he was also starving those who followed him; a very selfish act in Shinsei's eyes. By sitting down next to him and saying, "Neither will I," Shinsei showed Togashi the consequences of his actions. And realising the devotion of Mirumoto and Agasha, he came to fully accept them as his followers and promised to protect them. Together the three of them built a temple to Amaterasu and a castle around the temple to protect it. They remained there for many years and word of their temple grew, drawing more followers to the elusive Dragon Clan. Those who showed promise with the sword were trained by Lord Mirumoto, and those who showed talent with the kami were trained by Lady Agasha. But the remaining few were accepted by Togashi himself, and were pushed to their limits, mentally and physically. Akodo Kaiteru was the first to earn the right to bear the name Togashi, after he endured several harsh trials that would've killed a lesser man. Togashi never took a wife nor had any children. The Togashi Family are bound by the name from their devotion to Togashi's wisdom and teachings, rather than by blood."

"It is said that Togashi knew the Thunders would not return from their confrontation with the Ninth Kami, even when Mirumoto stepped forward to be the Dragon Thunder. And after the Day of Thunder was won, Togashi-Kami withdrew himself even more from the Empire, remaining in seclusion in his temple apart from the few times where his sister Doji would come to visit him. Some say that he recorded much of his wisdom and thoughts in a great library in Kyuden Togashi, which he worked on until his death in the year 101. It is not known what was the cause of Togashi-Kami's death."

---

"Lady Shinjo, Master of the Four Winds, Champion of the Ki-Rin and the Unicorn. Her honor and compassion compelled the Thunder Otaku and her husband Ide to join the Kami's banner and to found the Ki-Rin Clan. And while her swiftness earned her victory against Lord Hida in the Tournament of the Kami, the underhanded tactics of Bayushi eliminated her from the competition."

"As the War Against the Fallen Kami began, Shinjo's compassion extended outside of her own Clan and people. She sent Ide and his student Shinjo Bairezu to speak with the Yobanjin, those who had refused to join the Empire of the Kami, to offer them protection from the War. The Yobanjin chieftain Battul refused the offer and warned Bairezu to tell Shinjo-Kami to never send messages again, and out of respect for their decision, Shinjo sent no more emissaries. But her compassion also went out to the Fallen Kami, and Shinjo told Hantei that she wished to know why their Fallen Brother had begun the war. Hantei was enraged that Shinjo would seek him out, but in the end relented and allowed the journey. And so Lady Shinjo travelled into the depths of the south, all the way to his citadel, out of love, love for everything that suffered, even her lost brother. She met with the Fallen Kami, the only one of her siblings to come and try to reconcile with him, but her efforts were rebuffed. What was said between the two siblings is not known, but Shinjo was allowed to return to the Empire, with a strengthened resolve to stand against the Dark Kami alongside her siblings to fight by their side. And when the call came for the Thunders to be gathered by Shinsei, there was no one else Lady Shinjo could trust more in this task than the honorable Lady Otaku."

"After the War was over, Hantei gave Shinjo and her clan the task of ensuring there were no threats to Rokugan from outside its borders. And Lady Shinjo assembled the Ki-Rin Clan and released her followers from their obligation to serve her, saying that it would be a dangerous journey and she would not order any of them to follow her on this quest. The Families of the Ide, Iuchi, and Otaku all chose to follow her, out of devotion to the Lady. A small group remained behind, not out of cowardice, but because they promised Shinjo to look after the Empire for her and to record all that would happen in the Empire until her return... this group would later become known as the Fox Clan."

"After months of travel through the desert known as the Burning Sands, one of the first groups the Ki-Rin encountered were the Ujik-Hai, a fierce warrior people who lived on the harsh steppes. The Ujik-Hai had seen the scouts of the Ki-Rin, and they wished to take their equipment and horses, and they decided to use cunning to outsmart the larger group; so they approached under a banner of peace, luring out Shinjo-Kami and the Daimyo of the Ki-rin to come out and meet with them. The Ujik-Hai surrounded Shinjo and her retinue, and launched their attack. However, they were not prepared to face a Kami in battle, and alongside her Daimyo, they slew dozens of the Ujik-Hai, causing their attack to falter. Their chieftain was beheaded by Shinjo and the rest fled. After realising the strength of the Kami and her followers, the Ujik-Hai approached the Ki-Rin again, and stated their wish to follow such a powerful leader as Lady Shinjo, and after a night's discussion, she agreed to let them join the Ki-Rin. With the Ujik-Hai joining her side, her clan grew steadily, and the new members taught her and her clan much about survival in the harsah environment of the Burning Sands."

"Shinjo once promised her followers that she would never leave them. Her promise was put to the test when she one day suddenly disappeared, only to reappear seven days later with a halo shining about her. For having broken her promise, Shinjo-Kami offered her life to Otako Shiko, the daughter of the Thunder, but only after her children had been born - for in the time she had been gone, Shinjo had become pregnant. The Ki-Rin, who had waited faithfully for Shinjo to return, were troubled, for Lady Shinjo had broken her vow never to leave her Clan. Shinjo apologized and created another vow, promising that although she might leave her people, she would always return. And after several months, Lady Shinjo gave birth to five children; Hachiman, Takakan, Umakorn, Aranat, and lastly Kemuri, who would carry on her lineage as Shinjo Martera."

"The Ki-Rin eventually spread out to travel their separate ways, until an image of of Shinjo being assaulted by darkness called them to her side. They rushed to her aid, where she fought against a terrible darkness that had captured most of the Shinjo. The Iuchi, Otaku and Moto fought to free their trapped kin, and the Ide tended to their wounds. And when her family was safe, Shinjo ordered her clan to leave without her, for only she could stop the darkness from swallowing them all. The Ki-rin with a heavy heart followed her last orders, and fled, all but Martera who stood by his mother's side as the darkness overwhelmed them."


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"The First Emperor, Hantei-Kami, Son of Heaven and winner of the Tournament of the Kami, did not found his own Clan. His first followers was the tribe of Lady Seppun, whose people first encountered the Kami on Seppun Hill. It is from Seppun Hill, where the Tournament of the Kami was held, that Hantei remained to organize his Empire, and where he would found Otosan Uchi. The hill still stands untouched today, a sacred place within the large Imperial City."

"It is said that Hantei searched the entire lands of his Empire for a woman who could be his wife. When he visited the lands of his sister Doji, the samurai of the Crane Clan searched everywhere they could for the most beautiful woman that would be suitable for an Emperor. They searched a small village called Ikieto, but found only old women. What the samurai didn't know was that a fisherman had heard of their impending arrival and hidden his daughter, Mioko, on a small island far from the village. Meanwhile, Hantei was shown beautiful and honorable women, but none stirred his heart. One day he was riding through the lands of the Crane, seeking sport and amusement, and got separated from his entourage. Finding himself on the ocean shore, he suddenly heard a haunting melody on the wind. He told the Crane of this voice, and they took him to the nearby village of Ikieto and commanded the fishermen there to take the Emperor to the island from where he had heard the song. The Emperor found nothing on the island, and returned to the palace empty-handed. Mioko had been hiding in a cave on the island, and asked her father about the young man he had taken out to the island. He lied, saying it was a beggar, but that night she penned a haiku, and attached it to the leg of her pet bird and sent it in hopes of reaching the "beggar". The same night the Emperor heard a disturbance in the bushes and found a white dove entangled in the branches. He read the poem and decided then and there that the girl who had written the poem was the one he would marry. The fisherman attempted to pass off a simple maiden of his village as the girl who had written the poem, but the Emperor saw through the farce when he asked the girl to compose a new poem. Demanding that the fisherman tell him who the girl who wrote the poem really was, the fisherman told him about his daughter. The Emperor was again taken out to the island, and when he finally saw Mioko he cried Jade Tears. The pair were wed, and the island was named after the fisherman's lost daughter. Their wedding took place in the year 26, and Mioko bore Hantei several children, of whom the eldest was Hantei Genji, the Shining Prince, who would succeed his father as Emperor."

"Some time after the foundation of the Emerald Empire, the Dark Kami appeared in Hantei's court. Unlike his siblings, the Fallen Brother had maintained his divinity, for he had fallen into the Realm of Evil, Jigoku, rather than the Mortal Realm. The Dark Kami demanded a chance to best Hantei for control of Rokugan, because he had not been asked to attend the first Tournament of the Kami. The assembled Kami refused him the chance, saying that they had now sworn to protect the life of Hantei. The Kami Shiba suggested instead that he choose another to fight as Hantei's champion. The Fallen Kami chose his brother Togashi, and told the Dragon Clan's Kami to choose his weapon. Togashi chose "all that lives in Rokugan." The Dark Kami agreed. And with that, the War Against the Ninth Kami began. The Rokugani fought with unswerving fervor, but they were outmatched, and not even the superior tactics of Akodo or the raw strength of Hida could save them. There were simply too many of the terrible Shadowlands creatures. Hantei himself was grievously wounded in battle in the year 42. At the height of the war, the dark armies were pushing the defending forces of the Crab Clan back slowly. None of the Kami were willing to confront their mad brother and take his life, and defeat seemed inevitable when a wise man named Shinsei, appeared in the Imperial court. He promised the Emperor that he could defeat the armies of the Shadowlands, but the Emperor was unimpressed. He commanded that the peasant be removed, but Shinsei, completely unarmed, defeated all twenty of the Emperor's finest guards. Hantei noticed the black crow emblazoned upon the back of the Robes of Shinsei, symbol of the ancient kenku. Even the Kami respected the kenku's wisdom, thus Hantei offered Shinsei an opportunity to speak his piece. The two talked through the night, Hantei questioning the Little Teacher, while the Little Teacher answered. As morning broke, Hantei was convinced that Shinsei was the only one who could save the Empire, by gathering a group of seven mortals from each clan to infiltrate the Dark Kami's citadel in the Shadowlands and defeat him. When Shosuro and Shinsei returned from the Day of Thunder, Hantei acknowledged the sacrifice of all the Thunders and elevated them to the greatest heroes the Empire would ever know."

"Only a few years after the end of the First War, Hantei-Kami ended his short reign as he gave up on his mortal body and and his soul ascended back to the Celestial Heavens of Tengoku."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

Kemuri listened attentively, barely moving as he took in every word the Hare said.

[Usagi Tomoe]

Tomoe took a long drink from a bottle of water as she finished.

Spotting Kemuri, she gave a nod to the Shinjo, and smiled. "I hope I did right by Lady Shinjo, Shinjo-san. It took some work to piece together all the stories and tidbits I have heard during my time here."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"You did quite well, Usagi-sama." he nodded. "Thank you, for your attention to detail."

[Otomo Tenzo]

Once the history lesson was over, the Otomo gave a deep nod of his head in agreement with Kemuri. "Indeed, Usagi-san, very well thorough and very well done. While all know the glory of the Kami and their many deeds in the early years of the Emerald Empire that continue to forge and shape our land to this day, few, I think, would know it to the depth of which you have shared with us today. Fewer still, I also believe, would be able to weave it so fluidly and vibrantly: when I closed my eyes while listening to each of their stories, I could imagine those early years very well in my head."

"Thank you for this series of history lessons you have been giving here at the miai, Usagi-san. Though I know it was put on for the benefit of the Unicorn to learn that which they have missed in our history since their departure, it has especially been most enlightening and entertaining to this one and quite wonderful to be able to meet another whom shares such a passion for the past and what lessons we might learn from it today," he stated warmly before offering the Hare a good and respectful bow.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Thank you, Otomo-sama," the Hare bowed deeply. "... It really is an honor to recieve such praise from an esteemed person like yourself."

Rising from her bow, she heaved a wistful sigh. "I think I will miss giving these lessons. It has taken some work to prepare myself for them, but it was all very enjoyable."

[Otomo Tenzo]

"With the level of breadth and depth to which you have presented these topics, I have no doubt it, Usagi-san, and it is very much appreciated," Tenzo offered with another nod. "If I may inquire, Usagi-san: from where did you develop your fondness and knowledge of such subjects? Was there a particular tutor you had in historical matters? Given the founding of the Hare still being in recent memory to some, I am unaware to the extent to which your clan has been able to build out their archives and collections of texts, hence my curiosity," he asked politely.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"I was trained by the Asako, Otomo-sama, as my mother was a Phoenix before her marriage to my father, though I suppose I could say that I always had a love of learning and reading even before I began my schooling. My sensei, Asako Moro of the Asako Loremasters, at least once gave some praise to my humble talent with being a fast learner," she replied with a calm smile.

"The Hare's library and archives aren't much to speak of yet, as Shiro Usagi was only recently finished, but with what my sensei taught me, I have done a lot of work to expand upon what we have available."

[Moto Baatar]

Moto Baatar was also there; he sat quietly listening to Tomoe speaking, intent on understanding the lessons that were being shared.

[Iuchi Batul]

Batul listened carefully to the lesson. She had attended to not enough of them, but the ones she had, she had learned much from. She sat near Baatar and grinned to him at the end of the lesson, with a nod to the samurai-ko, in acknowledgement of the Usagi's history knowledge.

[Otomo Tenzo]

"Ah, so you know the traditions of the esteemed loremasters among the Asako then? Much makes sense indeed," Tenzo responded with a knowing nod. "Please do continue your work on expanding upon that, Usagi-san, for I do believe you have a gift for it. And if there is anything in which the Imperial Archives might be of assistance, whether it is in preserving the Hare histories for future generations or in other related matters, by all means please feel free to reach out to me. Though I have but only just started within the year in my own work on such things, I will certainly lend an ear, a hand, whatever might be needed for a fellow student of history," he added with a smile.

[Moto Baatar]

After the Otomo finished speaking, Baatar stood up and approached Tomoe and bowed.

"Usagi-san, I ... uh... I wanted to offer my thanks for the lessons you've been giving us all this week," he said, fidgeting awkwardly as he spoke. "I'm... sor.. that is, I...." Baatar paused a moment to compose himself. "I mean, I wish I had been a better student. You've been very patient. Thanks for that."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"I'd be honored to continue my work, and to correspond with you on such matters, Otomo-sama. Thank you, for having such faith in my abilities," the Hare bowed once more, showing the sincerity of her words.

As Baatar approached, the Hare prepared herself for some new and strange questions, but instead she found herself pleasantly surprised by his words. "It's been my pleasure to offer them, Moto-san," she smiled warmly and bowed her head respectfully to the younger man. "It must have been difficult for you and your kin to adjust to everything here, so I hope I have been of some help. You have also taught me to be patient and considerate of your unique situation."

[Moto Baatar]

"It's been difficult," Baatar admitted. "But I've learned a lot. So thanks for that. Now that we're here to stay in Rokugan, I figure we better learn how to fit in."

[Otomo Tenzo]

"I appreciated your inquisitiveness and your questions, Moto-san, for it showed me that you were eager to learn, and one of the better ways I have found to learn and memorize history is from back and forth discussions such as the ones we had. If my additions upon Usagi-san's lectures and in response to your questions were ever unclear, I do apologize for it: while I am strong in documenting and researching historical items of note, my own lecturing, perhaps, still needs a bit of work," the Imperial said to Baatar as he offered a nod.