Maho

Maho is blood magic. It is fueled by the power of fresh blood and sacrifice, and draws from the sixth element: corruption. The use of maho Taints the users, forever linking them to Fu Leng and Jigoku.

Maho was not originally a creation of Fu Leng, but of the Tribe of Isawa. After Isawa's followers learned of the dark nature of the art, they foreswore its use. It was centuries more before the research of Kuni Nakanu elevated maho from a primitive arcane art to an evil, destructive force.

Maho-tsukai generally believe that they bend the forces of the Shadowlands to their will, but they are mistaken. The use of maho serves Fu Leng, and it can be no other way. Tsukai are generally greedy and impatient shugenja, hoping to find a quick, easy way to immense power. Many believe that they can use maho only when necessary, completely unaware of its addictive nature. (Phoenix, pp. 25-27)

Iuchiban
Centuries more passed after Nakanu, and the sorcerer that would come to be known as Iuchiban found the dark Kuni's notes. Iuchiban founded the Bloodspeakers, an organization of maho-tsukai, and began making plans to raise an army of the undead to help him 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.