S2E35: The Second Son

Podcast of the Five Rings

Kenshi, Tomo, and Akari broke free of their imprisonment with the help of Tsuruchi and his Wasp samurai. As they escaped through the tunnels beneath Otosan Uchi, they found that the recent tremor had closed off several key passages. In their confusion and haste to find the surface, the samurai ventured into an unknown cave, following a strange noise. Curled up in the fetal position, they discovered Buro sleeping in the cold, wet cave, the sound of his snores reverberating off the cavern walls.

With the party reunited and Kenshi’s map to help guide the way, the samurai found their way out of the caves, and once again breathed in the cold autumn air, just in time to see the sun begin to set over the Bay of Amaterasu. They revealed to each other everything they knew. Tsuruchi listened to every word— a grim expression playing across his face.

When they were finished, Tsuruchi told them they had people they urgently needed to meet with. He lead them to a large estate located in Otosan Uchi’s outer city. After a few words with the guards, they were quickly brought into a sprawling courtyard, where samurai of different clans could be seen hurrying to and fro. “Welcome to Hollow Hill,” Tsuruchi said.

The samurai were brought up to a seating room and told to wait as Tsuruchi made preperations for an audience of some sort. As he was leaving, Tsuruchi noticed a birthmark on Tomo’s shoulder which had previously been covered. “A sign of luck,” he told Tomo. “The mark of one who has been kissed by the kami.”

As they waited, they found the estate’s infirmary and were treated for the wounds they had accumulated over the past 24 hours. Here, Buro noticed a scroll tucked away in his robe. It was an invitation to the House of Many Faces—a performance venue where artisits of the lower classes were given space to practice their craft.

After a time, Tomo, Buro, Kenshi, and Akari were brought into a large audience chamber. Seated before them were Tsuruchi, Kitsune Ryosei, and Suzume Yugoki—the heads of the Wasp, Fox, and Sparrow clans. The party repeated everything they knew about the Scorpion clan, Kachiko, Shoju and Yoshi’s armor... but included one important detail which they had guarded closely up to this point: they revealed the truth that Yoshi’s armor was tainted, and that they knowingly brought it to Otosan Uchi to be taken to the emperor.

A look of horror spread across the room as the magnitude of the situation began to set in. The heads of the clans whispered amongst themselves for a moment until Ryosei spoke up. “You have done a terrible deed,” she said, “but we understand you were put into a difficult situation. We have bigger problems now. How do we know you are not agents of the Scorpion sent to infiltrate us?” she asked.

Tsuruchi spoke first, vouching for Tomo’s honor. He told the court of Tomo’s valor at the Tournament of Four Winds, of his refusal to do business which he knew would injure innocent people, of the good reputation which he held among prominment members of his clan. He felt Tomo was someone he could trust, and someone he could be a powerful ally.

Ryosei spoke up on Kenshi’s behalf, telling the court that he was, by blood, a true Fox. She told them about how he provided valuable intelligence on the Lion clan, and about he trains now in the ancient techniques of the Fox. She knows where his loyalties lie, and it was not with the Scorpion.

Yugoki revealed how Akari came to him with questions about the Hare clan, and their use of maho. At first, he thought she may have been a Scorpion agent trying to lure him into a trap, but he realizes now that she was actually a potential ally all along.

Finally, Buro talked about his confrontation with Kachiko and how it resulted in his loss of status by the emperor. He explained that he has lost his very name trying to stop the Scorpion and their wicked machinations. He, least of all, was someone they should worry about.

The three daimyos were convinced, and with that, Ryosei announced the alliance of their three clans. As a response to the increased aggression of the major clans, the Fox, Wasp, and Sparrow clans had banded together to create the Three-Headed Alliance.

Ryosei rescinded that their biggest concern was the Lion clan. But after Kenshi infiltrated the clan’s leadership and revealed their plans, she decided that they were fractured, and wouldn’t pose a true threat for more many months. The Crane had been extremely aggressive in their war with the Lion, but did not seem to be plotting against them in any way.

The Scorpion, too, had raised some eyebrows, but it wasn’t until that moment that they realized they should have been paying closer attention to them all along. After the Scorpion eradicated the Hare, Ryosei did some investigation. With the help of Niao, she had procured books from the Imperial Library on the histories and lineages of the clans.

The Hare had allegedly been guilty of conducting maho, but she knew that sounded odd. Through her investigation, she confirmed that the Hare clan were created to combat Bloodspeaker cults throughout Rokugan. Why would a clan sworn to fight the minions of Iuchiban practice maho themselves?

Digging further, she found that some time in the 750s, the Scorpion gifted the Hare something called “The Gift of Otomo Jama,” after the Hare defeated an army of Bloodspeakers. Ryosei could not find any record of an Otomo Jama existing in the imperial lineages. The name had been wiped from history… except in one other location.

In the forbidden section of the Imperial Library, Niao found a book entitled, “Otomo Jama: The Second Son.” The black, leatherbound tome, however, had been locked shut and was unable to be opened. An enscription on the back read, “I only open for blood.”

The three heads of the alliance and their four new allies discussed what this all meant, and speculated their best course of action for combating the Scorpion. Frustrated and feeling powerless, Akari boldly stood up and tried to rip open the black book, but her anger was useless. The book would not open.

Curious, Tomo picked up the book. It unlatched.

The audience chamber froze as everyone stared in disbelief. The pages within told the story of Otomo Jama, born the second son to Hantei X. Growing up, Jama was envious of his older brother’s inheritance. He felt he was the more deserving brother, and as he grew older, this envy turned to hate. Jama became fascinated with the experiments of Kuni Nakanu. In particular, his work on reanimating dead flesh.

Jama traveled outside of Rokugan and studied with gaijin sorcerers, trading secrets, and learning their arts. Through his travels, Jama learned the secret of imortality. The dark sorceres began calling him by a new name: Iuchiban.

He returned to Rokugan, and began to plot against his brother’s throne. At this time he created four swords, and gifted them to the heads of four clans-- The Crane, the Lion, The Crab, and The Scorpion. Each sword was crafted with maho and imbued with a portion of Iuchiban’s soul, designed to sow unrest across the empire. These swords drove their wielder’s mad as they began to take on parts of Iuchiban’s personality. The Crane were given his passion, The Lion his vengance, The Crab his judgement, and The Scorpion his ambition.Only the Scorpion were wise enough to not use the sword, which lead to Iuchiban’s defeat.

These swords were scattered, and their locations kept secret. Today, they are lost, save for those who have sworn to procect them and prevent them from ever falling into the hands of the Bloodspeakers.

As Tomo read the book, a grave silence broke out across the hall. It slowly dawned on everyone in attendance that they were now fighting in a war for Rokugan.

Credits

Album Art by Dylon Munoz

Music

"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain

"Veiled Contempt" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"Silk Kimono" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"The Royal Baths" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"Squee's Lullaby" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"Dark & Airy" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"Blessings of the Water Kami" by Podcast of the Five Rings

Artwork by Dylon Munoz

Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings