Shiba Kaigen

Shiba Kaigen was one of the most outstanding samurai in the history of the Phoenix Clan. His knowledge of spellcraft was unmatched among bushi, and it allowed him to hold a pass against a Lion Clan army with a small and vastly outmatched unit.

Kaigen and Strategy
Growing among the shugenja of the Phoenix, as all Phoenix Bushi do, Kaigen learned much of the way of the shugenja and their worth in combat. More so than many of his contemporaries, however, he took the lessons learned form the shugenja to heart. This led him to be an intriguing leader, as his strategies were unorthodox and he was very apt at combining magical and military force.

Treacherous Pass
In his final assignment, Kaigen was placed in charge of the garrison of men guarding Treacherous Pass, a remote mountain pass on the southern borders of the Phoenix Clan's lands, just north of Otosan Uchi. During his command there, his men found themselves facing an invading army of Lion Clan samurai. They were vastly outnumbered, but Kaigen knew that they must hold the pass long enough for word to reach the Isawa family, else the Lion could win an easy victory by taking their clansmen completely unaware.

Kaigen used his unorthodox strategies, counterspells, and the power of the kami to bolster their defenses. He and his men fought valiantly and managed to hold the pass, though at the cost of their own lives.

Remembrance
In the ancestral records of the Phoenix Clan, Kaigen has become known as One Man Alone in honor of his achievement and sacrifice. His descendants are proud of his death, and are always ready to do the same, should the need arise. Because of their ancestor's sacrifice, these descendants are allowed to spend a year in the schools of the Isawa Shugenja studying spellcraft from their sensei, allowing them a much greater understanding of the abilities of shugenja, and a greater capacity for using those capabilities in battle, as well as a greater understanding of how to successfully oppose the magical forces of their enemies.

There is no specific day set aside for a festival to honor Kaigen. Instead, all Phoenix, when crossing the Treacherous Pass, stop at the most narrow point to shout Kaigen's oath: "My breath I give to the Phoenix!"

Major References

 * Way of the Phoenix Pages 82-83.