Daigotsu

Daigotsu was the second son of Hantei XXXVIII, by Hantei Hochiahime, and half brother of Hantei XXXIX. He was the Dark Lord of the Shadowlands and founder of the Spider Clan.

Appearance
The Dark Lord was a tall man with long white hair, braided exquisitely into a complex topknot. He wore a kimono of black and silver, padded here and there with the light battle armor of a shugenja. His handsome young face was tinged eternally with amusement.

Bloodspeaker Cultists
The Cult of the Blood-Red Moon, a cell of Bloodspeakers living near Otosan Uchi. discovered in 1111 an ancient prophecy hidden by the Scorpion Clan, it stated that Fu Leng would arise when a ruling Hantei became the last of his line in the Empire. The Bloodspeakers sought to quicken this apocalypse by kidnapping the Emperor's wife and children.

Hostages
While pregnant for the second time, Empress Hochiahime's caravan was attacked by the cultists, who took her hostage. They chose to slaughter the family ritually. While they prepared the ritual, a ronin named Yotsu snuck into their camp in the Treacherous Pass and exchanged his young son with Hantei Sotorii in order to save the heir. When the Bloodspeakers prepared to sacrifice the boy, he spat in their faces and laughed. He told the cultists their plan had been ruined, so the Bloodspeakers saw no purpose in slaughtering their prisoners. They saw their worth as hostages as they fled for Unicorn lands. The idea of raising an Imperial heir to as a Bloodspeaker was quite appealing. That child was Daigotsu.

Binding Ritual
During Daigotsu's birth, the Bloodspeakers performed an experimental ritual used only two times before, that would bind his body and soul to an unnamed oni. The spell would combine the strongest qualities of both demon and man. It made Daigotsu's maho potent, and it would allow him to possess other bodies.

Omoni
The first subject who underwent this ritual was a child named Omoni, and it was markedly unsuccessful. The summoning failed and instead of an oni, Omoni was bound to the unquiet spirit of a bakemono.

Goju Kyoden
A second attempt was performed upon the child of Yotsu, who eventually grew to become Goju Kyoden, the future yojimbo of Daigotsu.

Exiled in Jigoku
The cultists could not hide a child of Hantei for long. They performed another ritual whereby Omoni, Kyoden, and Daigotsu were all physically exiled into Jigoku. It left the last Hantei, Sotorii, and the prophecy was fulfilled on the Second Day of Thunder in 1128.

Returned to Ningen-do
Nearly two decades later the same cult of Bloodspeakers, now led by Iuchi Shahai, summoned them to Rokugan again.

Engineering the Return of Fu Leng
In 1150 Daigotsu came to Volturnum, together with Omoni, Kokujin and his bodyguard Kyoden. They travelled to Oblivion's Gate in the hope to find how to travel between Realms. Daigotsu wanted to return of Fu Leng to the mortal realm, Ningen-do, but the gate was completely out of magic for this purpose.

Instead they encountered the Oracle of Thunder Tonbo Toryu, who was guarding the Gate. Daigotsu took advantage on the obligation of the Oracles to answer one question from any mortal. Toryu told Kyoden that the Tsuno mastered travel between Realms.

City of the Lost
Daigotsu oversaw the foundation of the City of the Lost in 1150. He and Kokujin mused upon their future plans, and Daigotsu offered the mad ise zumi a place in his city. Kokujin refused however, claiming he had more pressing matters to attend to back in Rokugan.

""I have studied the Tsuno magic. All the Spirit Realms are one. All I need do is find the proper passages and Fu Leng will be restored to his proper place at the heart of Jigoku. We could even send him into the Celestial Heavens if we wished.""

- Daigotsu

Alliance with the Tsuno
In 1157 Daigotsu summoned Tsuno Nintai to his presence in the Temple of the Ninth Kami. Nintai explained that travel between Realms was easy, but safe travel was not. Links between Ningen-do, the Mortal Realm, and Tengoku, the Celestial Heavens, were in every place where the Oracles of Light worked their magic, as the Steel Throne. To link with Jigoku any tainted place was enough. One could also travel to Meido, the Realm of Waiting, from any place where anybody died.

Creating the Onisu
Daigotsu found Shokansuru, and with Tsuno Nintai and Omoni, the Onisu were created from the raw stuff of Yume-do, the Realm of Dreams.

Kitsu Okura's Journals
Nintai enlisted Daigotsu's aid to obtain Kitsu Okura's journals. The tainted Jade Champion had researched this form of travel, and he was able to plant the noble heart of a shiryo within an oni, which redeemed its dark spirit. Daigotsu agreed, but requested that the Tsuno attack against the Lion Clan should wait until the rest of the dark forces were prepared to attack together.

Anchor between the Realms
Nintai also revealed to Daigotsu that he would need an anchor, an item which focused the energies of the Realm being travelled to. It had to be something that once belonged to the person Daigotsu sought. The Dark Lord's sought to find the Porcelain Mask of Fu Leng for this purpose.

Return of Fu Leng: New Way
In the meetings with the Tsuno, Daigotsu realized he could potentially send Fu Leng to Tengoku, instead of once again possessing a human body revived from his failed return in 1128.

The Gaijin
Daigotsu recruited the undead gaijin captain Garen, releasing him and his vessel the Revenant from seven centuries of never-ending warfare on the Sea of Shadows. Garen gave to the Dark Lord the Porcelain Mask of Fu Leng, which had been unearthed from a collapsed shrine beneath a rice field in Crane lands near a village that was stormed.

Achieving the Dark Oracle of Earth
Daigotsu, wishing to bind Yasuki Nokatsu to his service, captured, imprisoned and tortured him for nearly twenty years until he finally submitted in 1158. Pledging his life and loyalty to Daigotsu, he became the Dark Oracle of Earth.

Kyoso no Oni Banished
Kyoso no Oni challenged Daigotsu as another contender to its supremacy of the Shadowlands. The powers of Daigotsu were so great that Kyoso became banished to Jigoku, out of the mortal realm. The Dark Lord wielding the power of Kyofu, Onisu of Fear, had slewed the Oni Lord.

Lord of the Shadowlands


Daigotsu proclamed himself as the Lord of the Shadowlands, and backed his claim with his achievements. In 1158 he began construction of the Wall of Bones using tainted Kaiu Engineers, and the Temple of the Ninth Kami was tended by dark monks gathered from Volturnum.

Death of Toturi I
Daigotsu sent the Onisu of Betrayal, Fushin, to kill Toturi I when he was travelling to Ryoko Owari. The killing blow was actually made by Daigotsu who possessed Fushin's body.

Shahai and the Dark Daughter
The Dark Daughter of Fu Leng had served as Daigotsu's second in command. Shahai was a member of Daigotsu's former order, the Bloodspeakers, who returned with Daigotsu from his exile in Jigoku many years ago. She joined him at the Temple of the Ninth Kami. Daigotsu offered Shahai to be his third in command, but Shahai would only accept being his equal. The Dark Daughter was killed by Shahai and she took the now vacant position.

An Oni's Fury
Daigotsu sent the Onisu of Desire, Yokubo to kill the strongest of the Winds. He considered that of the four, Hantei Naseru's heart was filled with betrayal, Toturi Tsudao's with regret and fear and Akodo Kaneka's ambitions drove him to destroy wantonly. That left Toturi Sezaru as the strongest Wind, who was attacked but survived and fled.

Carpenter Wall Falls
Daigotsu ordered an assault on the Kaiu Wall and he used unknown magic to transport a portion of his forces beyond the wall, storming it from both sides successfully. Hida Kuroda, the Crab Clan Champion, faced and was then killed by Kyofu, the Onisu of Fear, below the Carpenter Wall. The Sixth tower was occupied and renamed the Tower of Fear.

Meeting with Kuon
Daigotsu offered a meeting to the next Crab Clan Champion, Hida Kuon, in the fallen tower of the Kaiu Wall. The Dark Lord offered to return Hida Kuroda's corpse if the Crab surrendered their wall. Kuon raised his tetsubo against Daigotsu as his answer, and Kuni Kiyoshi was forced to help Kuon flee.

Fall of Otosan Uchi


To prove the power of the Shadowlands, Daigotsu engineered the Fall of Otosan Uchi, attacking the Imperial City from the sea. Knowing that the city would be impossible to hold, he sought only to leave it in ruins and watch the Great Clans blame one another for failing to defend it.

True Plans Unleashed
Once the Forbidden City was under his control he began a ritual using the Steel Throne, raising wards that only allowed the Hantei family to enter it. Daigotsu traveled to Meido, where he used the Porcelain Mask of Fu Leng to force Emma-O to release Fu Leng's spirit. Fu Leng then began an Invasion of the Celestial Heavens, while Daigotsu returned to Rokugan so that he could protect Fu Leng's temple in the City of the Lost. Arriving back in Otosan Uchi Daigotsu was forced to battle Toturi Tsudao, losing his right arm to him before fleeing through a portal back to the Shadowlands.

Temple of the Ninth Kami
The true purpose of the Temple of the Ninth Kami built by Daigotsu several years ago came to surface now. The power of Fu Leng was increased through worship at the Temple, which channelled every twisted prayer the minions of the Shadowlands uttered. Fu Leng gifted Daigotsu with the Obsidian Mempo of Fu Leng, a remind that he beared the favor of a Kami.

Avenging Kyoden
Once safely back in the City of the Lost, Omoni created a new arm for Daigotsu. The loss of Goju Kyoden, who had been killed by Matsu Nimuro, enraged the Dark Lord and in vengeance he set Onisu upon the homes of the Four Winds. Daigotsu then planned to visit the Shadow Dragon to recover Kyoden's soul, so that it could be restored Daigotsu gave a fraction of his soul to the Shadow Dragon to restore his yojimbo and the Shadow Dragon later returned Kyoden to life.

Kuroda and Kyofu
After the death of all of the Onisu on their vengeful raids, Daigotsu decided not to recreate them because the ritual was long and extremely taxing. He made an exception in the case of Kyofu however, when he summoned the undead Hida Kuroda and Omoni. The half-goblin combined the undead Crab and the Onisu into a single body, Kyofu wa yet gain alive, but he never the same as he was before.

Restoration of the Chuda
Asako Mishime was able to infiltrate the Isawa Provinces and retrieved the Mukizo, the blade used to kill the Steel Chrysanthemum. He returned to the City of the Lost and gave the sword to Daigotsu, asking only the opportunity to restore the Chuda family and the Snake Clan, becoming Chuda Mishime, and it's first daimyo in centuries.

Visions
Chuda Mishime and Daigotsu journeyed to Volturnum, seeking the Oracle of Thunder this time to ask the question any mortal could make to an Oracle. When they reached Tonbo Toryu they found he was no longer the Oracle of Thunder. He had willingly become the Dark Oracle of Void to correct the instability created by Toturi Kaede, the Oracle of Void, when she was raised as Empress after the murder of Toturi I. Daigotsu wanted to know who and how he would be killed. Almost a year in advance of his death, Daigotsu learned from the Dark Oracle of Void the circumstances of his death. Knowing the Lost would not stay united without him, Daigotsu gave a portion of his soul to the Shadow Dragon for safekeeping.

A Dark Bargain
Daigotsu sent an emissary to Hantei Naseru in Ryoko Owari. He believed that the Anvil was the most reasonable of the Four Winds. The emissary gifted him a jagged shard of crystal, as a message that the Anvil's journey to the City of Night was known to Daigotsu. The Dark Lord offered him a truce, a non-aggression pact. Naseru looked at it as acceptable, but asked where to send messages to Daigotsu if needed. The dark emissary magically revealed to Naseru the location of the City of the Lost whereupon the Anvil instantly killed him with the gifted dagger. Naseru clearly had rejected the offer.

Ancestral Sword of the Hantei
When Fu Leng invaded the heavens, the Shadow Dragon followed, and for reasons known only to itself, the dragon took Akkuai-uo, the Ancestral Sword of the Hantei, and brought it back to the Shadowlands. It gave the blade to Omoni, as a gift to Daigotsu. The Dark Lord was gifted by Fu Leng with his blessings and the blade could only be drawn and wielded by members of the Hantei line.

Daigotsu Hoturi
Shahai found the Egg of P'an Ku and gave it to Daigotsu. When Daigotsu activated the Egg, it took the last shape it had known, that of Doji Hoturi. The False Hoturi then swore allegiance to Daigotsu and became Daigotsu Hoturi. The False Hoturi led forces in an attack on Kyuden Kakita in 1160 but he was defeated by Yasuki Hachi.

Preparing the Defence
Daigotsu knew the Four Winds were gathering at Kyuden Seppun by the Oracle of the Void, to march against the City of the Lost, as the Dark Oracle of Void foresaw to the Dark Lord. The generals were prepared for the battle. Kyoden and Mishime were sent to increase the defences of Toguchi Shinden, the temple of the Tsuno, which was in fact unknown to the Empire. It was a manoeuver to take Kyoden away the City, because he would be instrumental in the resurrection of Daigotsu after his death in the upcoming battle, which also had been foresawn by the Dark Oracle. Daigotsu only revealed his plan to Shahai, and the Dark Lord thought they had come to love one another.

Death
In 1160 the Four Winds made their way to the City. The Tadaka's Children attacked from the North, while the Winds slipped into the City and the Temple of Fu Leng from the South. Daigotsu was guarded by the most powerful Onisu, Kyofu, Yokubo, Hakai and Muchitsujo. While both sides were fighting Naseru rested aside, began to talk and fostered doubts on Fu Leng about Daigotsu saying that the Lost did not believe in Fu Leng, they believed in the Dark Lord instead. The doubts of Fu Leng cut the power he received from worshipping and was casted out from the Celestial Heavens, the Onisu faded except Kyofu who retreated and Daigotsu began a powerful spell which would destroy the Temple and all within it. Tsudao leap forward through the beginnings of the spell and struck down the Dark Lord, sacrificing herself. All that remained of Tsudao was her golden amulet, and her brothers were shocked.

Resurrection
Shortly after his death, Omoni mended the fatal wounds Tsudao had inflicted and left the Dark Lord's vessel whole again. Goju Kyoden came to the House of Goju and committed seppuku to sacrifice his soul to the Shadow Dragon in order to resurrect Daigotsu. The vengeful Fortune of Death Emma-O still retained part of Daigotsu's soul, which purified Daigotsu of his Taint, severing Daigotsu's connection to Jigoku, and left him unable to call upon Fu Leng's blessing. Other men would have leapt at this chance to escape the Shadowlands taint but Daigotsu's faith in Fu Leng was not diminished. Daigotsu chose instead to hide his "weakness" to all but his closest followers and resume leadership of The Lost.

The Third Rise of Iuchiban
Seeking help in restoring her lover's powers, Shahai opened the Tomb of Iuchiban and released Iuchiban in the year 1165. Instead of assisting Shahai, he betrayed her and captured the City of the Lost, ousting Daigotsu after a ferocious battle. Daigotsu was only able to save his live when a timely arrived Kyofu took him to escape flying on an onikage. In one fell swoop, Iuchiban had gained control of Daigotsu's city, Daigotsu's armies of the Lost and even Daigotsu's sword, Akkuai-uo, which through a strange twist of fate gave Iuchiban control over Omoni and his goblins. The Goju stood back and decided not to interfere in the struggle, but the Chuda family immediately swore fealty to Iuchiban.



Burning Sands
In order to defeat Iuchiban, Daigotsu, Noekam and Katsu traveled across the fringes of the Empire to the Burning Sands, to met an ally, the master Khadi Ghiyath. They were guided by the ghul Th'lazz and reached the Crimson Stronghold of the Khadi deep in the desert. There the Jinn of the Dark Hour, servant of the Khadi, attacked them but was imprisoned in the Daigotsu's katana which had a Bronze Lantern as tsuba, a trick learned by the Dark Lord from their Lost Scorpion fellows. Katsu was obliged to undergo the same ritual that created Iuchiban and became a khadi, and Daigotsu truly saw how the ritual was.

Kolat Alliance
Before return to Rokugan Daigotsu came to see Ruqayah of the Houses of Dahab, a Qolat Master. Th'lazz had advised Daigotsu how to manage his visit there. The Dark Lord and the Kolat agreed in the proposal made, an alliance against Iuchiban, revealing what the Kolat knew about bloodspeaker's cells to him. Daigotsu had the strength to act, and the secrecy of the Kolat would not be compromised. Ikoma Tsai, the corrupted Kolat Master, was chosen as the liaison for the new alliance.

Restoring to full Power
Yajinden and the Shadow Dragon worked together to deceive the guardians of Meido, the Shi-Tien Yen-Wang and Emma-O. The Daigotsu's soul was retrieved from Emma-O's fortress by Daigotsu Hoturi, giving Daigotsu back his full power. Yajinden sought the destruction of his master, Iuchiban, and had aided the only man who could defeat him. Daigotsu then moved to retake the City of the Lost while Iuchiban was away, managing to regain control of much of his forces, his sword and his lover Shahai.

When Isawa Sezaru, Hida Kisada, Matsu Aoiko and their combined Crab and Lion forces besieged Iuchiban's citadel in Otosan Uchi, Daigotsu played an instrumental role in the Bloodspeaker's defeat by having Katsu sever Iuchiban's ties with his followers, giving Sezaru enough time to destroy the Hidden Heart of Iuchiban so the Bloodspeaker could be slain.

Post-Iuchiban Leadership
Daigotsu made many unusual moves in the time since Iuchiban's defeat, the most major and controversial of which was sending Daigotsu Soetsu to the court of Toturi III to petition for the right to become a Great Clan. The resulting political, philosophical, religious and moral issues involved with his petition caused a flurry of debate between the Clans and led Toturi III to travel the Empire in secret seeking enlightenment.

Daigotsu recently came into the possession of Rosoku's ashes, which Shadowlands agents stole during Rosoku's funeral.

Spider Clan
Sometime in 1168, Daigotsu and the Lost left the City of the Lost and infiltrated Rokugan. They named themselves the Spider Clan.

Mass Assassinations
In 1170, Daigotsu launched dozens of assassinations across the Empire. The assassinations caused the deaths of many important people including Moshi Amika, Tamori Shaitung, Ikoma Korin, Tamori Nakamuro and Kaiu Umasu.

Birth of the Heir
Recently his long time lover Shahai gave birth to Daigotsu's first child, a son, named Daigotsu Kanpeki.