Naka Tokei

Naka Tokei had led a very interesting life. He was born into the Otaku family of the Unicorn Clan, but left when his brother, Otaku Morito, was cast from the clan. He spent the years of the Clan War following his brother and learning from none other than Grand Master of the Elements Naka Kuro. For years, he was cast from Ningen-do and wandered through the Spirit Realms, until he finally returned to Rokugan.

Family
Otaku Tokei was the younger son of Imperial Magistrate Otaku Tetsuko, brother of Otaku Morito, and had a younger sister.

Exile from the Unicorn
Tokei grew up with his older brother Morito, who was fascinated with the Shiotome and the Otaku steeds. Eventually, Morito snuck into the Otaku stables and attempted to ride one of the great battle steeds. The steed did not recognize its rider and attempted quickly to throw Morito, fighting with the young man and breaking its leg in the process. Morito was immediately cast out of the Otaku family and Tokei, who felt guilty about his brother's fate, decided to share his punishment. Taking the name Morito Tokei, he joined his brother in his exile from their clan. The pair wandered Rokugan for many years as ronin, vowing to never return to the Otaku and looking for a daimyo who would have them in his service.

Life as a ronin
For years they lived the lives of mercenaries, knowing no loyalty but to the koku and to one another. Tokei was a friend of another famous ronin, Dairya.

The Grand Master
During the Clan War, Tokei attracted the attention of Naka Kuro, who took him as an apprentice. Tokei begged Morito to join him, but Morito only laughed, because there was no profit in enlightenment. Suddenly and without warning Kuro dismissed Tokei, saying he would teach him no more. Soon thereafter Kuro left the ranks of Toturi's Army.

Disappearence


Tokei later fought for Toturi's Army against Yogo Junzo's horde, defending the village of Nanashi Mura against The Maw and an army of oni. Solely by his powerful magic was the village saved, but the energies he released apparently consumed him, as he disappeared without a trace.

The Grand Master of the Elements
In truth, both he and The Maw were thrown into Jigoku by the spell's energy. Matsu Hiroru, the White Ninja, who had becoming a gaki after he trespassed a gate to Gaki-do in the Amaterasu's Furnace in his search of Doji Shizue's soul, sensed the presence of Tokei, his former comrade in Toturi's Army, being tortured by The Maw in the depths of Jigoku. Hiroru ventured into Jigoku to rescue his old friend. Tokei could escape the Maw's torture untainted. After traveling all the spirit realms, he became the Grand Master of Elements upon his return to Ningen-do and was renamed Naka Tokei.



The journey took thirty one years.

Toturi Miyako
Tokei believed to have been killed during the battle at Nanashi Mura, but his return to the mortal realm near the Vigilant Keep of the Monkey was witnessed by Toturi Miyako. Tokei took Miyako as his student.

Test of Emerald Championship
In 1158 Tokei were in Kyuden Seppun watching the contest, and the defeat of his pupil Miyako.

Test of the Jade Champion
In 1159 Tokei came to the preparations of the contest just to meet Yasuki Hachi. In a village in the vicinity of Otosan Uchi Tokei sensed a Elemental Terror of Void. He quickly traveled and killed it. Tokei realized he was lured to a distraction.

Forewarning to the Dragon Clan
Tokei met the Dragon Clan Champion's son, Togashi Satsu, and told him a dark forewarning of the Dragon's downfall.

""The Dragon Clan in ruins, destroyed by a foe beyond redemption, a darkness from Dragon deepest past set to dominate the future. This foe came not from outside the Empire, but from deep within. The more the Dragon struggled against it, the more powerful it became, until ultimately its dark web of power spread across the entire Empire.""

- Naka Tokei

This danger was prevented by Satsu.

Son of Naka Tokei
Three months after the Jade Tournament Asahina Sekawa met in a temple with Naka Tokei, and a three years old child, called Nizomi. This child was the result of Naka Tokei's travel in other Realms; either Nizomi or Tokei held all the pain, agony, and darkness the Grand Master experienced through this journey. Tokei put Nizomi under the protection of the Jade Champion.

Aid of the Grand Master


Tokei discovered the Tsuno had used connections between the Realm of Slaughter, where they dwelling, and the Mortal Realm to attack by surprise and quickly retreat. Toturi Tsudao was pursuing the Tsuno in the Shinomen Forest when the Grand Master went to her basecamp to advise her about their capabilities. Tokei created a magical portal with visions showing the Tsuno were torturing the sleeping Naga, and using their pain to transport themselves across Rokugan.

Fall of Otosan Uchi
In 1159, during the Fall of Otosan Uchi, Tokei aided the defense of the city. When Daigotsu barricaded himself in the Imperial Palace, activating the ancient wards that protected the Forbidden Palace from any without Hantei blood. The palace was surrounded by Lion forces, led by Matsu Nimuro. They could do nothing but wait until one of the Four Winds arrived, as the wards had been modified to include those of Toturi blood. When Toturi Tsudao arrived through a portal provided by the naga Ghedai, Tokei explained to her that she had to enter alone.

Megumi
Tokei guided Miyako in 1160 when she faced Daidoji Megumi. Megumi had been possessed by the vengeful spirit of Dairya and assassinated Seppun Toshiken. Kakita Daimyo Kakita Noritoshi faced off against Megumi but lost, loosing his left eye. Miyako saved Noritoshi's life by using one of Lady Doji's Tears to drive away Megumi. It became apparent after an attack on Kyuden Kakita that Tokei had been aware of the imminent attack and had also advised Emerald Champion Yasuki Hachi to bring an addition legion of Emerald Magistrates to protect the palace.

Assassination Plot
In 1165 a sicked Naka Tokei visited Toku Torid-e, seeking Koto's fathers, but they had been called to attend the Imperial Court. Tokei decided to see Toturi Miyako to tell her a great danger at Court. Koto's sister was stationed at Toshi Ranbo with the First Legion to keep the order after the fire that had consumed part of the city. Koto came to the stables to give Tokei a horse for his travel, when a woman assassin appeared and stabbed him in the belly. Tokei arrived killing the intruder and healed Koto. They did not know who had sent the assassin.

Iuchiban
The killer was a bloodspeaker, Asahina Kikui, who under Iuchiban's command tried to kill all the family of the Monkey Champion. The heartless knew Toku had received many years ago a piece of his heart from Naka Kuro, and sought to destroy any who could bear to it. The failure was instrumental in the fall of Iuchiban.

Kusatte Iru
Tokei was resting in a lake near Vigilant Keep of the Monkey, when Satsu reached him, asking guidance. The Kusatte Iru marched toward Kyuden Isawa, as Iuchiban's distraction while the Bloodspeaker carried out his true plans. They decided to fight the menace that drew the Isawa castle, and let the defenders of the Phoenix lands to face alone Iuchiban. The four available members of the Council and Tokei began a ritual in the Grove of the Five Masters, while Satsu and Isawa Sezaru fought the immense oni gaving time for the ritual. Isawa Taeruko completed the spell with her sacrifice, and the monster was sent to its slumber again.

Facing Hakai
In 1167 Naka Tokei went to Shiro Morito to see the unsouled corpse of Asahina Nizomi and met his brother, Morito. It had been forty years since the brothers had last seen each other. Nizomi and Asahina Keitaro had been chasing a group of Bloodspeakers when they faced Hakai, the Onisu of Death. They barely escaped, but the Onisu kept Nizomi's soul with it. Morito helped Tokei dressing as the Grand Master and going into a cave to face Hakai without weapons and magic. The soul of Nizomi was within a white sphere. Hakai had the aid of Akuma no Oni, that was able to reach the mortal realm only in that cave. Akuma easily subdued disguised Morito. Tokei was near his brother, and when Hakai discovered the trap, attacked the Onisu from the back and retrieved the soul of his son. A powerful bloodied Nizomi raised and with Tokei made a ritual that destroyed the Onisu. Akuma retreated from the cave, fleeing to the safety of Jigoku rather than face their combined power. After the battle, Morito offered a good steed to Tokei and told him that sometimes he thought that maybe it would have been a good idea to follow Tokei when he went with Naka Kuro and joined the ronin army led by Toturi.

Demon's Time
Hakai had betrayed Daigotsu, turned against the Tsuno, and refused to aid Iuchiban, but failed in his personal bid for power. The Onisu claimed that the time of demons serving mortals was at an end, following The Maw example, and allying Akuma to reach his goal. Hakai had wished to bind Nizomi and Tokei to its will, adding their power to its own. A subtle war in the Shadowlands between human Losts and demonic Oni Lords was ongoing, and Tokei realized it.

Nizomi's True
During several years Tokei had a shadow in his soul, he was afraid that Nizomi or him could be the dark part of Morito Tokei's soul. He gave Nizomi to the Asahina Sekawa to be trained, distancing himself so that, if the need arose, Nizomi could stop him. From Hakai he learned that the Elemental Dragons splitted his soul into two beings, for shared pain divided. Like all mortals, both were evil, and both were good. From that day the spirit of Tokei was free of this shadow.

City of Remembrance
This year Tokei went with his son Nizomi to the City of Remembrance, a place favored by the Dragons. The Grand Master did not know the reason behind it. They entered the Temple of the Seven Dragons and met Agasha Miyoshi, who briefly explained its history. The Master of Fire, Isawa Ochiai and Kitsu Katsuko also talked with them. Inside the temple Tokei was able to summon Ryoken, the emissary of the Elemental Dragons. The Dragon did not answered Tokei about the link shared between Dragons and the City. Tokei did not know that Ryoken sent words to five mortals in this place after the Kami fell, and the humans became the first Oracles to walk a land that would be known as Rokugan.

Morito's death
In 1170 his brother Morito died, supposedly from a bandit attack. Tokei never knew that in his last words Morito regreted his chosen way, and asked Tokei's forgiveness.