Kitsu Sei's Research Scroll
Ikoma Kaoku rose from the writing-stand, carefully avoiding the ink pot as he moved to inspect his work in the sunlight. Satisfied with the flowing letters and their slow, stately progress down the vellum, he set the scroll out to dry, blocking it with elegantly-carved squares of plum wood. He then turned to find his apprentice standing behind him, her hair in disarray and her kimono-sleeves ink-stained."Ah, Sei-chan, have you completed your research yet? Kitsu-sama and Ikoma-sama will arrive soon, and it would not do for us to disgrace ourselves by failing in our appointed tasks." Of Toturi he said not a word, but the name, even unspoken, hung in the air between them.
Kitsu Sei bowed nervously, bending like a pine in the winter wind. "I am not finished yet, Ikoma-san. But when they come, I will be ready." She rose, and straightened the edge of her sleeve as the historian permitted her to leave.
Kaoku hid his smile until she had turned and left, thinking to himself, "You will be ready, young woman. I am certain of it."
My name is Kitsu Sei, and I am a healer of the Lion Clan and the student of Ikoma Kaoku, the Lion Clan historian. My teacher is old, and I but newly appointed to my duties supporting him. Nevertheless, this is a time of legends, and I must learn swiftly so that all may remember the sacrifice of the Seven Thunders, and so that all will be able to do their duty to heal our land Rokugan.
Below, I have collated the questions that my master has put to me. Please, gentle lords, if you know the answers to these questions, share them with me? When the histories are written, the proper credit will be given. We are the Lion, and our honor is the Emperor's.
These are my questions. Please send me any knowledge you may possess.
- The Fate of Gohei:
[Ryan Dancey writes:]
I'm looking at the new Gohei right now. Here's a sneak peek:0S/3K 1W, 7C, 0I
Lion Clan Butcher * Samurai * Unique * Unaligned * Tactician
Gohei gains 2S while attacking
"Commanded by his Clan to take the Scorpion from the Emerald Empire, Gohei has to trade his skills for a single drink of water. Alone and without allies, his ony goal now is to find a way home."
- The Lion army's condition after the Day of Thunder is a topic of some discussion. We know the following:
[David Williams writes:] Before the Clan Wars, the Lion Clan had the largest standing army by about 30-40% (a staggering advantage!). After the clan war, their armies have been reduced down to between 1/3 and 1/2 it's original size and is now approximately equal in size to the Crab army, or perhaps the Unicorn.- Matsu Tsuko. All know the story of our fallen champion, but what led her to take her own life? I wrote the following words in explanation of her actions:
As a scholar, I feel obliged to clarify a timeline misconception you appear to hold. When the Crab Clan attacked Otosan-Uchi, Bayushi Kachiko held Matsu Tsuko out of the battle, resulting in the death of many samurai of the Lion Clan. This inflicted a grievous spiritual wound upon Tsuko, a wound that appears to have been exacerbated by the actions of Akodo Kage (exactly how is unclear, but Tsuko, as she prepared herself, told Toturi not to trust Kage). It is not clear if Bayushi Kachiko did anything further to push Tsuko to suicide, and it is furthermore not truly relevant. Tsuko took her own life because continuing to serve the Emperor would have shamed her, and it was the only honorable way out of her clan's oath. Unfortunately, her intentions were obfuscated until Toturi showed up on the Plains of Otosan-Uchi to "explain" Tsuko's act to the Lions.My words were supported by an addition by David Williams:And to throw in two more pieces of information - 1. Tsuko did not know that the order to keep her off the field of battle did not actually come from the emperor himself. She was 'betrayed' by the emperor without cause or justification. Upon discovery of the fact that the emperor was actually Fu Leng, she disappeared in order to... 2. Her act was also an attempt to force Toturi to resume leadership of the Lion Clan against his wishes (unsuccessful as it was). Due to the betrayal by the emperor and the need for the strongest general to lead the clan against Fu Leng, she chose what she saw to be her best option.You may question the wisdom of her decision. NEVER should you question her honor.
- Akodo Godaigo -- a fallen spirit that returned to fight alongside Toturi against the Shadowlands. But is more of the history of this entity known? And what was its ultimate fate? I have heard a rumor that this ancestor of Toturi-sama was returned using the dread Black Scroll bearing Return of the Fallen Lord. I have heard a rumor that he simply returned on his own. Any information on the truth of these allegations is devoutly sought.
- I have learned from my contacts among Toturi's Army that the story of Akodo Godaigo is a closely-held secret among certain members of the Akodo family. Alas, with Akodo Kage's death at the hands of a ninja, and Toturi-sama's elevation, I fear it will be a long time before I glean this secret.
- The second Clan Letter is attributed to "Matsu Hirotu." I have searched the Clan records, and I find no evidence of this mysterious individual. The First Lion Clan Prophet attributed the letter to Hiroru (whom I do not consider a proper member of the honorable Matsu family), but I doubt very much that, even during the worst of the Clan Wars, our Clan looked to a ninja for guidance!
- I have heard from one of the Scorpion that perhaps Matsu Hiroru is performing some action that the Matsu family approves of, and thus they let him retain the name. Sifting the truth of this situation will be a challenge indeed...
- Further research indicates that Hiroru is the brother of the revered Matsu Tsuko, and that at some point he trained under Akodo Kage. There are rumors of a rivalry between Kage and Hiroru, but details are scarce. I have also heard that Hiroru once had a Crane lover, but I have been unable to recall the source of this rumor.
- I have concluded that "Matsu Hiroru" is still problably known as such because he is not honorable enough to discard the name of the Clan he has been expelled from. As an example, I look to the fallen Ise zume Togashi Kokujin, once of the Dragon Clan. Who would suggest that he was still a member of his Clan and entitled to his Clan name?
- The Lion Clan Zymurgist confirms that Hiroru had a Crane lover, and competed with Kage in some fashion, as well as Matsu Tsuko-sama. He possesses documents supporting this, but unfortunately those are as yet unavailable to me.
- Perhaps my earlier inquiries into the background of Matsu Hiroru led me to be overhasty in judging him. I have discovered evidence that, during the end of the war, he fought for Toturi and attempted to avenge the injustice done to his sister. While his profession itself is dishonorable, perhaps he will now be able to put that behind him and return to the Matsu family.
- A quick note on "Matsu Hirotu," from Bayushi Murai, the Scorpion Clan Poet-Historian. It appears in ancient Phoenix records that Matsu Hiroru was once mistakenly known as Matsu Hirotu. I would give a great deal to know more about his position in the Lion Clan when he wrote the second letter. Was he not known as a ninja then?
- The invaluable Mirumoto Shokan has again provided me with insight. He introduced me to the Crane clan storyteller, Doji Shizue. I learned of Shizue-san's capture by Lion forces during the Clan Wars, and of her escape with the assistance of Matsu Hiroru. It was a stirring tale indeed, and I value my converse with Shizue-san highly. I know no more about the source of Matsu Hiroru's ninja training than I did before, but I am resolute in my desire to track him down and speak with him.
- My master has not specifically asked me this, but I have been wondering myself: the samurai Akiyoshi was part of Toturi's Army before the end. Was Akiyoshi samurai or samurai-ko?
- Akiyoshi's identity as Toturi's geisha has been confirmed, and her dual loyalty to both the Lion Thunder and the Scorpion Thunder revealed. However, my research into her background is not. It is said that:
"Wearing her fallen brother's armor and disguised as a ronin, Kachiko's geisha has served both her mistress and Toturi in their darkest hours."I know little about the history of this woman (or her brother). What role did the geisha play in Toturi's disgrace and the fall of the previous Hantei Emperor? It is said that she allowed Shoju's assassins into the palace, but if this is true, the question becomes, "Why did Toturi protect her?"- I have gleaned more information into the activities of Akiyoshi, thanks to the assistance of the Crab Clan Medic. The partial history of the Scorpion Clan Coup reveals more of the activities of Toturi's geisha.
- Rumors to the contrary, I would like to here state my belief that, if Toturi-sama becomes the Emperor, he will take as his wife not Bayushi Kachiko but rather the geisha known both as Hatsuko and Akiyoshi. While unheard of, these are strange times, and who knows what the Celestial Pattern has written for our future?
- The following story comes from one of my contacts near the Imperial Palace, concerning Toturi and his geisha. It supports the story derived from the partial history of the Scorpion Clan Coup in the early parts, and the guesses made about the events afterwards.
Toturi's love was a geisha for the Scorpion Clan. She drugged Toturi, and let in ninja who killed the Emperor. After the Coup was settled, the new emperor ordered Toturi to kill his love for her actions. Toturi agreed she should die, but could not do the deed hiself due to his love for her. Toturi requested to commit seppuku. The Emperor, a young and willful boy, went beserk. He denied Toturi's request, stripped Toturi of his name and all family holdings, and banished him from the palace.My thanks go to Mirumoto Shokan of Toturi's Army for this information from a scholar of the Prophecies of Uikku. Incidentally, Akiyoshi/Hatsuko could probably be a geisha of the Scorpion Clan because geisha are, technically, not samurai and therefore not part of a samurai clan. The question that remains, though, is "Did the Scorpions want Toturi dead, or just incapacitated?"- As we glean the details of the Scorpion Clan Coup from the first scroll of the newly-rediscovered histories, we learn many things. Among them, we see that Hatsuko was a geisha with no formal affiliation with the Scorpion Clan, and that it appears that she was to kill Toturi through poison. She seems to have chosen instead to incapacitate him, allowing him to later become involved in ending the coup.
- Alas, my research was incorrect. Uikku has revealed the following:
Hatsuko and AkioshiAnother brilliant theory...Yes, many of you are correct. It would be wonderfully romantic if Akioshi were Hatsuko. I agree, that would be a very powerful and dramatic revelation.
But she's not. i
Hatsuko failed two people when she poisoned Toturi: Toturi and Kachiko. She failed her mistress and the man she loved. A bit too much for one soul to bear, I'm afraid. Her story will be told soon enough.
Akioshi, on the other hand, has another story to tell. One that I'm not at liberty to go into just yet, but again, you'll find out soon enough.
Sorry again for the delay. Hope this clears things up.
- ...
I barely dare write this, but for my wonder at the answer. Will the Fallen Lion become Emperor? He has slain Fu Leng, but does he truly wish to be the Emperor in the place of the Hantei? What of the Clan's Oath to the Hantei? Fu Leng's threat has ended, but the questions have only begun. Will Toturi accept the Emerald Throne? If he will not, what will happen? Someone must rebuild this shattered land, but I fear that, even now, I know not whom it will be.- Word from the Imperial Palace has reached me. One near to the Emperor has said, "The Akodo are finished. None will bear that name again." I mourn the passage of the foremost of our families.
- More has been revealed. Toturi did indeed ascend to the Emerald Throne, and the Akodo are no more. Unfortunately, there are rumors already from the palace that state that "The various factions in Rokugan do not sleep easily, and when word arrives from the Imperial Palace that Toturi has vanished, the fragile peace forged by the Seven Thunders is cast into serious doubt." How delicate peace seems, and how difficult the struggle of honor against forces determined to tear our world asunder!
Last updated by Neil Laughlin on July 20, 1998.