Kuni Utagu

The Shadowlands is a breeding ground for things born out of the darkest nightmares. These creatures fear few things, but the name Utagu still brings them terror.

Childhood
Utagu was an oddity among the creatures of darkness. His childhood had no tradgedies to drive him to seek revenge and when when Kuni Atsutane showed Utagu the Shadowlands and of the Witch Hunter's duty to face it alone, Utagu was asked how he felt. Even though he wasUtagu replied; “I cannot leave now. If I leave, the darkness will have won.”

The Wall
Utagu's career was shaped by his determination and stubborn tenacity. This led to him being known as The Wall, for wherever he walked the people of Rokugan felt they wree being protected as if the Kaiu Kabe was there. He was a pioner in the arts of the Witch Hunters, and the first to be successful incombining martil arts with the Kuni earth magic. He fought the Shadowlands with a cold, determined passion, not seeming to hate the Shadowlands, just born to destroy it.

Utagu and Sezaru
Utagu's undoing was ironically not the Shadowlands, but politics. When the Four Winds began their quests for the throne, Utagu was one of Toturi Sezaru's most outspoken opponents. Utagu's experience allowed him to sense the madness that dwelled within Sezaru and Utagu did not believe Sezaru had the strength to overcome that madness if he had the responsibilities of an Emperor on his shoulders. Utagu saw Sezaru as just another Junzo, Akuma or Iuchiban.

Death of The Wall
It was one of Sezaru's supporters, Asako Ryoma, who feared that Sezaru becoming Emperor would be impossible with the Jade Champion opposing him. Without the Sezaru's knowledge, Ryoma murdered Utagu in his sleep.

Major References
Kuni Utagu