Iuchiban

Iuchiban's original name was Hantei Jama. At his gempukku, as all children of the Emperor except the eldest son do, he changed his name to Otomo Jama and abdicated his claim to the Emerald Throne in favor of his older brother. When his brother fell seriously ill, it appeared to the empire that Jama was to be the next emperor, but once his brother recovered from his illness the empire's favor returned to the Hantei, and once again they began greatly ignoring Otomo Jama.

It was during this time that Jama found the noted of the corrupted sorcerer Kuni Nakanu. Otomo Jama studied the notes, learning the secrets of maho. As his dark power grew, so did his ambition. Jama took the name Iuchiban, founded the Bloodspeakers, an organization of maho-tsukai, and began making plans to raise an army of the undead to help him overthrow his brother and conquer Rokugan.

His plans were foiled, but Iuchiban had learned the secrets of immortality from the heartless Khadi. He was imprisoned because he could not be killed, but he escaped centuries later and tried again. Once again, his plans were foiled and once again he was imprisoned, presumably for all time. Recently, he managed to escape once more, and now the Bloodspeakers are marching to battle throughout Rokugan and the Shadowlands, fighting for control of both.