The Clan Wars


Two Years After the Scorpion Coup – Second Year of the 39th Hantei Emperor:

After the destruction of the Scorpion Clan, a purge was created to hunt them all down and kill them. The new Empress Kachiko begged mercy upon her former clan, and eventually earned them all the title of Ronin. Before she could deter her husband, a great thing happened. While defending the last of the Black Scrolls, Yogo Junzo, diamyo of the Yogo family, used one of the scrolls to gain his vengeance. Junzo’s heart was as black as the magic he performed, bending his soul to Fu Leng. Junzo vanished but left his revenge, the plague.

Junzo’s plague swept over the lands, killing many a person, including nearly the entire Imperial house. The 39th Hantei Emperor, the only surviving Hantei, fell ill and began to slowly die. None of the Emperor’s healers could help him, and the only person brave enough to be near him was his wife, Kachiko.

As the Emperor lay on his deathbed, the Great Clans realized that the Hantei family was doomed. Thus the Clan Wars began, as each clan began to fight for control of the Emerald Throne.

The first major conflict was the Battle of Beiden Pass. The Beiden Pass is a mountain pass in the middle of Rokugan. To go around these mountains takes many weeks at least, so control of the Pass meant the Clan had a major tactical advantage.

The Crab were the first to gain control of it, sending young Hida Sukune to hold the pass until reinforcements could arrive. However, a combined forced of Unicorn, Dragon, and Ronin drove the Crab out before they could entrench their position. Many things came from this battle.

First, it was discovered that the former Lion Daimyo, Akodo Toturi now Toturi the Black, was leading the joint army and brought the Ronin faction. This soon came to the attention and anger of Matsu Tsuke.

Second, a major duel occurred between Mirumoto Hitomi, a Dragon samurai-ko, and Hida Yakamo, Hero of the Crab and the killer of her brother. Hitomi succeeded in removing Yakamo’s hand, but could not finish him off.

Finally, after the battle Hida Sukune returned to the Crab Clan with news of defeat. For his failure Hida Kisada gave his son to Kuni Yori, head of the Kuni Witch Hunters, to do with as he pleases. After this, Sukune is not seen again.


Three months after the Battle of Beiden Pass:

In the provinces of the Phoenix, the Nameless One – former Master of the Void, Isawa Ujina – reports of Junzo’s growing Shadowlands’ army. The Phoenix send the Master of the Earth, Isawa Tadaka, to investigate while the remaining Elemental Masters search for their Black Scrolls.

Tadaka returned with the fourth scroll, though his body was horrible tainted from the Shadowlands. Still, he found knowledge that would help them face Junzo. Additionally, the other Masters retrieved their Scrolls as well.

In another area of Rokugan, two samurai met for another duel. Mirumoto Hitomi sneaked into the camps of the Crab to attack Hida Yakamo. However, Yakamo had recovered surprisingly well after losing his hand. Kuni Yori bound Hida Yakamo’s name to an oni in order for Yakamo to gain a magical claw to replace his hand. With his dark artifact Yakamo almost killed Hitomi, and managed to crush he right hand in the process. Hitomi escaped and goes into study.

Back at the palace, Empress Kachiko begins her own plans of revenge. She calls out members of the Scorpion, and with their access to ninja and the Kolat, who begin to strike out at the other clans.

The Crane are the first to suffer, as Kachiko kidnaps Doji Hoturi and uses the Egg of Pan Ku to make an evil doppelganger of him. The False Hoturi is sent out to gather a Shadowlands army, which is used to attack Rokugan, his fellow Crane most of all. The Lion, seeing that the Crane have gone mad, decide to wipe them out and destroy Kyuden Kakita.


Six to Eight Months after Beiden Pass:

The False Hoturi continues his mad war, and the Crane lose the Doji and Daidoji provinces. However, while the Crane begin to despair, good news reaches them. A sick, real Doji Hoturi is delivered into the hands of Toturi’s army by a mysterious samurai.

The False Hoturi’s army attacks the final Crane province, the peaceful Asahina. Though boosted by the assistance of Toturi’s army, the real Hoturi, and Asahina magic the Shadowlands army is defeated. In a single duel, the true one kills the False Hoturi.


One Year since Beiden Pass:

The Phoenix Masters gather to contemplate what to do with the four Black Scrolls they possess. After much study, they plan to summon an oni to test their power.

The Unicorn begin to ride across the Empire, fighting the armies of the Shadowlands. With all the other Clans in turmoil, the Unicorn quickly become the force of justice in the Empire.

Junzo still searches the countryside for the remaining Black Scrolls, ignoring those being held by the Phoenix. He creates the Makuro Hiko (Children of the Black Sun) a faction of Shadowlands shugenja that use the darkest spells ever known to further Junzo’s plans.

The Lion and Crane still are at war. The Dragon and Crab viscously battle. And the Scorpion are slowly starting to return to the mainstream.

Mirumoto Hitomi is seen again with a black stone hand, a magical gift from Kachiko. She is first seen in a contest to determine the new Emerald Champion, chief magistrate of the Empire. She loses in the end to Kakita Toshimoto, sensei of the Kakita Kenshinzo Academy. The Crane once again take the honor of Emerald Champion.

Finally, a large army is gathering in the Crane lands. It appears to be a collection of minor clans, lead by Yoritomo of the Mantis. This alliance appears to be in the employ of the Crane.


Fourteen Months after the Battle of Beiden Pass – Third Year of the 39th Hantei Emperor:

The Campaign Begins.