The Forgetting

The Forgetting is the one of the most powerful rituals known in Rokugan, and it is the most serious form of punishment the Isawa have. When a shugenja has completely disgraced himself or the clan, he is tracked down and brought forcibly to Phoenix lands. Once captured, he is bound, forbidden food or water for two days, and then brought before the Council of Five to answer for his crimes.

Shugenja are only found guilty upon the unanimous decision of all five Elemental Masters. As all five are required to perform the ritual, this is a necessity. The Forgetting is an elaborate ritual, lasting sixteen hours and demanding the full attention of all five Elemental Masters. Once the ritual has begun it cannot be stopped or delayed, nor can it be hurried along.

The result of The Forgetting is that a shugenja is stripped of all magical knowledge and ability. Their abilities and memorized spells are gone, as is even their ability to read their once-familiar ofuda, which will now look like gibberish to the former shugenja. The kami will not even speak to the individual, so they will enver again be able to learn magic anew.

Related Links

 * Dairya

Major References

 * Way of the Phoenix Page 29