Dawn of the Empire (fiction)

{{Fiction | writer=Rich Wulf|editor=Unknown| released=SeptUnknown| link=[http://www.kazenoshiro.com/kazenoshiro/1/dawn.html

Dawn of the Empire is a fiction written by Rich Wulf for the Dawn of the Empire promotional ccg set. 

Annotated Story


Somewhere on the Islands of Spice and Silk, Kaimetsu-Uo is cutting his way through the dense jungle using a parangu. He has not brough his armor or swords with him, and of his followers only Kindari has held up this deep into the jungle. The others have been sent back to the ships. Kindari attempts to convince Kaimetsu-Uo to turn back but he thinks they are too close to give up. Kindari is not convinced the person they seek even exists, but when Kaimetsu-Uo implies Kindari is calling his grandfather a liar Kindari stops talking in fear. Kaimetsu-Uo apologizes for the threat, and Kindari says he will go where his lord does. Kaimetsu-Uo is willing to die to find his destiny but will not ask others to do the same, and sends Kindari back to the ships to tell his mother they will leave tomorrow. Kaimetsu-Uo intents to spend one last night here. As Kaimetsu-Uo waits alone he contemplates why he has come here. He is about to give up when a voice announces another present, naming Kaimetsu-Uo a child of the gods. Kaimetsu-Uo readies his weapon to attack but only sees a tiny old man, and asks if the man is the storyteller Unmei. Unmei thinks Kaimetsu-Uo is the son of Hida, but Kaimtesu-Uo corrects him that he is his grandson. When he asks how Unmei knew, Unmei reveals he is a koumori spirit. Unmei had been shown mercy by Hida when Hantei's armies were washing over the lands, because Hida saw Unmei was not one of Fu Leng's minions. Hida allowed Unmei and his kin to flee to the Islands, and Unmei asks if Kaimetsu-Uo has come to collect that which Hida entrusted to him. Kaimetsu-Uo nods, and Unmei asks what he wishes to know. Kaimetsu Uo asks to hear about the dawn of the Empire.



Some years earlier, not at the beginning or the end. The story tells of a man and his wife. They were unique, but not the first. Before them were three whose names cannot be spoken, and even they were not first. Before them was Nothing, which was everything, and even that was not the beginning. The man, Onnotangu, and his wife, Amaterasu, were a perfect match. Their duty was to name the formless earth, and give all things within it purpose. Everything was named by the two except Nothing. Nothing had lost it's power when the naming began, and hid away to plot it's vengeance. After completing the world Lord Moon and Lady Sun returned to Tengoku and began their eternal chase across the sky. Deep within the shadows that followed Lord Moon hid Nothing, and it whispere in his ear sowing doubt. Over time the two had ten children, the Kami. Doji the most beautiful, Akodo the bravest, Hida the strongest, Shinjo the quickest. Shiba and Bayushi the twins and most cunning, Togashi the wisest and Ryoshun the most patient. Hantei was most beloved by his mother, and Fu Leng who was named something else then had almost all the virtues of his siblings. Almost all, but excelled at nothing, and he lacked the courage of Akodo and patience of Ryoshun. Fu Leng's heart burned with jealousy. Onnotangu feared his children, believing they would destroy him. Shiba and Bayushi feared their father might harm them, and turned to Fu Leng and Hantei to plot against Onnotangu. Hantei was outraged, and commanded them to stop their planning. Shiba and Bayushi agreed, and Hantei promised not to tell Onnotangu. Fu Leng however went immediately and told his father, hoping to become the favourite son. Onnotangu hunted the heavens for all his children, and ate them one by one. Amaterasu played the dutiful wife and gave her husband sake each time he ate a child, with a drop of poison in each. When he finally found Hantei he was so drunk he mistakenly ate a stone. Hantei fled and hid in the Realm of Dream. Amaterasu would visit Hantei there, and teach him to be noble, pure and brave. She taught him the ways of the warrior, and stories of his once noble and virtous father. When he was ready Hantei confronted his father in a mighty duel. Onnotangu fought fiercely, trying to kill his son. Hantei could not do the same however, and all seemed lost. Suddenly Hantei heard the voices of his siblings and, spurred on by the thought they might still be alive, he cut open his father's belly. Onnotangu fried out and struck down, tearing a hole in the sky. Through the hole fell his blood, entrails and the nine children. The last to fall through was Fu Leng who grasped at the edge of the hole, terrified of the mortal realm below. Onnotangu caught Fu Leng's hand but crushed it. Hantei saw Fu Leng's pain, and cut of his father's hand. Hantei and Fu Leng fell through the hole to the mortal realm.



Fu Leng fell the farthest, to a place that had been waiting for someone like him. Ryoshun seemed to never reach the earth, but quietly passed to the Realm of the Dead. The remaining eight landed on the place that would be known as Seppun Hill. Hantei quickly realised the world had changed them, made them mortal. He saw the world was not perfect and was determined to find out what would become of gods trapped in an imperfect world. He asked his sister Doji what they should do, and Doji replied they should follow the example of their parents and create order from Chaos. The question arose of who would lead them, and a grand tournament was held to determine their first Emperor of Rokugan. Hida fell first, overcome by Shinjo's speed. Shinjo was tricked by Bayushi who in turn lost to his twin Shiba who was too wise and patient to fall for his brother's tricks. Doji outmaneuvered Shiba but was defeated by Akodo who had studied her techniques well. The final duel was between Hantei and Akodo, which was a furious battle. Akodo thought the battle won and in the heat of the battle he lifted his sword to end his brother's life. Hantei angled his blade to reflect the light from the sun into Akodo's eyes, and as the light of the heavens flooded Akodo's soul he realised his mistake and stayed his hand. Akodo declared Hantei the winner, believing Hantei could have defeated him at any time. Hantei was crowned Emperor before anyone even notices Togashi had not participated.

Doji approached the human leaders and promised them they would lead and protect them. Many humans swore fealty to the kami, out of dread or astonishment. Some like Akodo and Bayushi had already started gathering followers. Before long the Kami had many followers, but there were some who did not wish to be led and other who were simply afraid. Some of them drew weapons against the Kami and Akodo's armies were set to purge those who resisted from the land. The renegades who survived fled to the north, becoming the Yobanjin, or southwest to the former home of the Nezumi never to be seen again. It was not an easy time, but each of the Kami came to serve a clan, and each clan swore fealty to the Emperor Hantei. Doji founded the Crane Clan, teaching art and culture. Akodo led the Lion Clan, a clan of warriors and the staunchest supporters of Hantei. Shiba and Bayushi founded the Phoenix and Bayushi Clans respectively, seeiking knowledge and secrets. Shinjo led the Ki-Rin Clan, guarding the northwest border of the Empire while Hida led the Crab Clan in the south. Togashi took no duty from his brother, and did not seek followers. Instead he retreated into the mountains where those who sought his wisdom inevitably found him and joined him. So ends the first part of the tale.

To Be Continued In: The Daughter

Characters

 * Kaimetsu-uo
 * Kindari
 * Unmei
 * Hida
 * Hantei
 * Fu-Leng
 * Nothing
 * Onnotangu
 * Amaterasu
 * Akodo
 * Doji
 * Ryoshun
 * Togashi
 * Shiba
 * Bayushi
 * Shinjo

Not Present, But Mentioned
n/a