The Clan Wars Era

Prelude to ‘The Black Screen of Noh’:

Recent History of Rokugan

1123 AFK – The Scorpion Clan Coup

Plagued by nightmares, the Scorpion Clan Daimyo discovers, in the catacombs of
Kyuden Bayushi, a scroll written by the Serene Prophet, revealing a prophesy that the
last Hantei will bring the Empire down with him. Bayushi Shoju and his wife,
Bayushi Kashiko, secretly move their clan towards the assassination of the Hantei
line, in a desperate attempt to prevent the prophesy from coming true. Shoju takes up
‘Ambition’, the bloodsword, to kill the emperor. The reason for this twofold: Shoju
refuses to soil his ancestral sword with the blood of the emperor and Ambition is no
more than a shimmer until drawn, thus allowing shoju to easily bring it into court.
However, Ambition is still a tool of corruption and slowly it takes hold of the
Scorpion Clan Daimyo, coercing him into believing that he should hold the throne, if
not as a reward for what he and his clan have done without recognition for ages, on
behalf of the Empire… Then at the very least because he has the best intentions for
the Empire…!
During the Festival of Fire (Rokugani New Year) Shoju addresses court with news of
the new danger threatening Rokugan and requests permission to the Emperor to deal
with the new threat. Hantei XXXVIII gives him His blessing, at which time Shoju
strikes the Emperor down. The Court is shocked, but before they can act, concealed
weapons are drawn by Scorpions all over the room; those with ties to the Hantei
bloodline (in other words, those present with direct claims to the throne) and all who
refuse to listen to reason are slain. At the same time Scorpion troops and assassins,
who had infiltrated the city as peasants and eta, take over Otosan Uchi and kill of the
Seppun Guard. Miya, Otomo and Seppun families are killed, often in their sleep.
Those who do not resist are escorted to the Imperial Palace and treated as guests.
The Unicorn Clan Daimyo had been watching the movements of peasants throughout
the Empire with suspicion. Recognizing the movement as a Scorpion machination, he
takes his army to battle; arriving at a Scorpion controlled Otosan Uchi, unable to
defend the city, nor to attack it. Soon the Crane and Lion armies arrive and though
they now have sufficient force to attack the city they squabble amongst each other.
Soon the Phoenix army arrives too, but they return to their homeland the next day.
What truly happens is that Prince Hantei Sotorii was saved, during the initial attack by
The Master of the Void, Isawa Kaede, and the Captain of the Imperial Guard. The
body of the prince’s assassin is dressed in the royal outfit and the young courtesan
whom accompanied the prince is sacrificed to lend the decoy more credibility. They
lead the boy into the safety of the Phoenix army as soon as it arrives and march
away…
Akodo Toturi, the Lion Clan Daimyo and a brilliant tactician, found himself poisoned
by his own favorite geisha, several days before the actual coup. However the woman
did this out of love (it is impossible for them to truly stay together, unless in death),
manipulated by the scorpions for their own purpose. But the young girl lacked the
heart to kill her beloved. Instead she slips him only enough poison to sedate him for a
couple of weeks. When the Lion wakes he realizes what she has done and leaves her
in anger. The girl is found later in the pool that Toturi once named after her, fallen to
her death from the top of the waterfall… Toturi rides night and day to arrive at the
Battle of Otosan Uchi, where Lion, Crane and Unicorn fight each other as much as the
Scorpion. A small force of Dragon and Phoenix are stationed around the site, paying
lip-service to the siege. And then word comes down that the Crab have left the wall
and are heading towards the Imperial City… Uncertain of which side the discontented
Hida Kisada would choose, the clans agreed to obey the command of Toturi. Seeing
the doubt of his enemies, Shoju dispatched an envoy to the Crab; a fatal mistake as it
turned out. For it was exactly this call for aid that changed Kisada’s view: rather than
seeing Shoju as a worthy and strong emperor, he now considered him a weakling. A
sting to the Scorpion that was soured even more by the expensive offer… To get the
envoy out undetected by the not-yet-allied forces, Shoju declared a full attack on his
enemies (using the imperial steeds). During the fights both sides took many losses,
but more notably: the Crane Clan Daimyo died and was succeeded by his son Doji
Kurohito, who then became both Clan Champion and Clan Daimyo.
After the Crab declared they would support Toturi’s Alliance, Toturi devised his
battle plan. A frontal assault led by the Crab, on one side. Meanwhile the Phoenix,
Lion, Crane and Unicorn shugenjas worked their magic to gain control over the gates
on the other side. When the shugenja gained control, small portions of the army
secretly moved towards the other gate and took the scorpion by surprise…
During the following skirmishes, Kurohito killed Shoju’s son, to avenge his father’s
death and Toturi found himself locked in the throne room facing Shoju. Shoju proved
to be the better swordsman but after disarming Toturi he regains his former self for a
moment and breaks Ambition on the Steel Throne. Declaring that his assassination of
the Emperor was for the good of Rokugan, and not to usurp his power, Shoju offered
the Scroll of The Serene Prophet to Toturi and signaled his men to surrender. Toturi
declares himself Regent until a New Emperor has been chosen from amongst the
Clans, to avoid a succession war to erupt and ordered for the city to be rebuilt.
Several weeks later, the Phoenix army arrived, bearing the Imperial Standard. A little
surprised to see Hantei Sotorii alive and in the presence of his arranged wife, Toturi
offers the prince his father’s throne. Once crowned Emperor Hantei XXXIX, he
demands the death of Shoju and the Ronin declaration of all of the Scorpion Clan. It
becomes clear to all that Sotorii is to be a cruel emperor and Toturi speaks out against
the Emperor, claiming that Shoju was a worthy foe, who fought for what he believed
to be the good of the empire. Hantei XXXIX responds to this by declaring Toturi
ronin and striking the Akodo name from history. Shoju looks up from his bowed
position for the first time since the beginning of his trial, throwing a dagger concealed
within his robes at the heart of a stunned emperor. Somewhere in the crowd a dragon
is heard quoting Kami Togashi: “When the last Akodo falls, so falls the last Hantei”
With this Shoju apologizes for disturbing the Emperor’s guests and explains his setup,
declaring that now that his duty to the empire is forfilled, he will gladly subject to the
New Emperor’s will. With the Akodo still striken from the records, all eyes turn to
Doji Hoturi, who eagerly accepts. Emperor Hoturi I restores both the Scorpion Clan
and the Akodo name and re-honors Toturi. However he has Shoju executed for crimes
committed against the other clans, Kashiko asks permission for her husband to
commit seppuku. The Emperor grants this last favor to Shoju...
Soon after Hoturi I marries Lady Kashiko. The new Empress Kashiko grants Toturi
the position of Shogun Toturi I, during the gift giving ceremony that follows the
marriage, claiming that during the siege of Otosan Uchi he has proven himself worthy
of the title.