Toturi III

Toturi Naseru, the third child of Toturi and Toturi Kaede, was born shortly after the beginning of the War of Spirits. Naseru was easily the most intellectual and serious of the Emperor's children, earning the reputation as the most skilled player of Go in Rokugan Naseru was a pipe smoker, and a talented musician who liked to play the samisen in private.

The Steel Chrysanthemum
The Fourth child of Toturi I, Toturi Naseru was used as a bargaining chip to end the War of Spirits in 1150. One of the conditions set by Hantei XVI to end the war was that one of Toturi's children would be tutored by the Hantei. Naseru officially changed his name to Hantei Naseru, to honor his teacher. This had been another condition of the treaty as well, because the Steel Chrysanthemum planned to restore the Hantei Dynasty through Naseru.



In 1155, in his fifth year of tutelage under the Steel Chrysanthemum, Naseru returned from one of his weeks of study missing his right eye. When confronted by his mother and father about this he deflected the questions, but revealed that Hantei XVI was now dead. He would still not explain the circumstances of the death and the loss of his eye.

In truth, it was the fiance of Hantei XVI, Otomo Hoketuhime, who had come to Naseru's rescue during a particularily severe beating. The two had become close, and during the last beating Hoketuhime stabbed Hantei XVI in the back. The event was covered up however, making sure that it was clear Naseru had not killed the former Emperor.

Naseru earned the nickname The Anvil, which accurately described both his resolve and the role he often fulfilled in the conflicts of the era.

Brokering a Lion-Phoenix Alliance
Naseru had brokered an alliance between Lion and the Phoenix, his plan was for Lion might and Isawa magic to smash the Shadowlands once and for all. When the alliance was used in the Dragon-Phoenix War instead in the Naseru's plan, the Anvil used his spy network against the Lion. Much later Naseru told Mirumoto Junnosuke where was the weakness point of the Lion.

Plotting against Kaneka
Naseru ordered the assassination of his half-brother, Akodo Kaneka to Kakita Marui and Doji Eloka. When Kaneka was travelling along the Great Crater Road to met with Toturi I, he was ambushed and challenged by the two Crane duelists, who died under the Bastard's blade. The Dark Oracle of Air had seen all the plot and informed Daigotsu.

Toturi Kaede
After the death of Toturi I in 1158, Kaede took the throne in the Month of the Boar. After ascending to the Throne Kaede realized that she had overstepped her bounds as the Oracle of void. She had tipped the balance of the elements.

Disappearance of Kaede
Kaede gathered the Four Winds, including the revealed bastard, and told that they should decide what would be the best for the Empire. She disappeared into the Void leaving the Throne empty.

Winter Court at Kyuden Miya
In 1158 Naseru and the Four Winds held Winter court at Kyuden Miya. Each clan had to vie the favor of an heir, and with these advisors the Winds could decide the place where the Court would spent the Winter. The Clan who owned the location would get a favor from them.

The court was a complete disaster, as the Winds had a heated discussion moments before a Pekkle no Oni was unmasked at Court. The murder of the Oni, and it's tainted blood staining the Steel Throne resulted in the end of the court without conclusion.

After the court Naseru ordered to his spirit yojimbo, Seppun Isei, to make a cut in the left arm of every man and woman at Court. If the blood run black he should kill them, because it was a signal of being a Pekkle.

New Jade Champion
Tsudao convinced the rest of the Winds that Rokugan need a new Jade Champion. Hantei Naseru summoned the Test and it was held in 1158 in Kyuden Nio. Asahina Sekawa became the new Jade Champion. Hakai appeared in the contest courtyard and started to kill the presents. Naseru was pushed by Seppun Isei to take him out of a dark spell energy's path. The Anvil ordered to destroy Kyuden Nio by magical fire, hoping it will destroy the Onisu of Death. The fire and destruction harmed Hakai, but it was alive and powerful. Naka Tokei arrived guided by the magical fire and he was able to defeat the Onisu, and it vanished.

Gathering the Investigators
In 1159 Naseru sent a letter to Miya Shoin under the pseudonym Otomo Kakasu. The letter was an order to gather together certain individuals and have them meet in Otosan Uchi as soon as possible. Shoin delivered the message to the other five, Utaku Yu-Pan, Agasha Chieh, Kijuro, Toritaka Akemi and Moshi Kakau. When all six were finally gathered Naseru revealed that it was he who had gathered the six there.

The Mission
Naseru revealed to the group that their mission was to investigate the murders of several returned spirits from Oblivion's Gate. The murders included Mirumoto Tokeru, Isawa Ijime and Gusai. Kakau revealed that he had met Gusai in 1158 in Ryoko Owari Toshi. When Kakau met Gusai in the House of Plum Blossom, Gusai was assassinated by a murderer who blended in and out of shadows. Miya Shoin was put in charge of the group, which Chieh objected to.

Kaneka's Lineage
In 1159 Naseru joined the magistrate Kitsuki Remata to investigate the lineage of Akodo Kaneka. Remata revealed that Kaneka was more closely related to the Yasuki family line than Yasuki Hachi, and with the support of the Scorpion Kaneka led an army to seize the Yasuki lands himself. The Crab were allowed to draw upon the resources of the land, while the Crane Yasuki were ordered to leave. Both Hachi and Remata suspected foul play regarding the discovery of Kaneka's lineage.

Naseru Machination
Agents of Hantei Naseru forced a Miya archivist, Miya Ippei, to forge the Yasuki family records to make it seem as if Kaneka was the true Yasuki heir. Naseru used the connection between Ippei and Shosuro Higatsuku, Kaneka's Scorpion advisor, to slander his brother's claim on Yasuki lineage. The aim of the ploy was for Kaneka's false claim to be annulled, Higatsuku exposed as the forgery's master, and the Bastard's claim to the throne would be ruined.

Crane Capture Toshi Ranbo
In 1159, when the Lion Clan were distracted by the conflict with the Tsuno and troubled by Shiba Aikune's assault, the Crane Clan engineered coup for the control of Toshi Ranbo. They provoked several riots with the secretive Daidoji Harrier units, then Kakita Nakazo marched his army into Toshi Ranbo as it's protector. Hantei Naseru intervened to arbitrate a diplomatic solution, deciding in favor of the Crane Clan because of the Lion Clan's inability to protect it.

Naseru's Emerald Champion
Many clans reviled the Emerald Champion, Yasuki Hachi, as a simple pawn of Hantei Naseru.

Yasuki Lands Gambit
Hachi's right hand, Bayushi Norachai played a gambit with the Anvil after the events that had taken place regarding the Yasuki lands. Akodo Kaneka claim, recently discovered as illegal, had resulted in a non-lethal duel between Kaneka and Hchi. Norachai asked the Imperial Court for Naseru's support, beating the Anvil at his own game and manipulating the perception of others. By speaking in Hachi's favor, Naseru would seem to be supporting a shamed and incompetent Emerald Champion, but by speaking against him he would no longer appear to be controlling Hachi. Naseru decided for the latter, increasing Hachi's shame but dispelling the common perception of Hachi as Naseru's pawn.

Kolat Conspiracy against Naseru's Life
The Emerald Champion returned to the Court upon Naseru's request, at which point he was informed that the Emerald Magistrates had destroyed a kolat cell. With the information gathered by Doji Nagori, a Sleeper Agent with a deep-set unsconscious instructions to kill Hantei Naseru had been uncovered. After that event Naseru chose to forget how Hachi had resolved the Yasuki lineage issue.

Aftermath
Bayushi Norachai and Yasuki Hachi forced Naseru to distance himself from the Emerald Champion by publicly shaming Hachi's name and then redeeming the Emerald Champion before the consequences of that shame could come to call. These actions broke any perceptions of Hachi as Naseru's lap-dog.

Fall of Otosan Uchi
Shortly after Seppun Isei informed Naseru of the approaching Shadowlands forces attacking the Imperial City fromt the sea, Naseru ordered the Emerald Champion to delay the enemy while the Imperial Court members were allowed to escape to safety.

Toturi II
After Toturi Tsudao proclamated herself as Empress Toturi II with capital in Kyuden Seppun in 1159, the rest of the heirs planned to declare their own claim upon the throne, but in different cities. Naseru selected Ryoko Owari as his headquarters, and many clans had begun relocating their most skilled and influential courtiers and ambassadors to the city.

City of Night
In 1159 Hantei Naseru was compelled to visit the city by strange dreams, as well as the mysterious disappearance of his cartographer Asako Misao. Naseru was accompanied by Bayushi Sunetra, Seppun Isei and Shinjo Shono. Yotsu Irie also secretly followed Naseru. During their journey the group was attacked by Tsuno. Upon reaching the city Naseru met Moto Vordu, a shugenja who guarded the city at the behest of Moto Chagatai. Vordu had been driven insane by his discoveries and had a sinister purpose for Naseru. The city housed a powerful nemuranai: a sphere made of crystal.

The sphere was constructed by Soli Izumo, an ancient Kitsu. Only those of Izumo's line were able to open the sphere. Because Naseru was descended from the original Kitsu through his Akodo lineage, Vordu believed that Naseru would be able to open the sphere. Vordu was right, and Naseru was forced to open the sphere by a tsuno named Kishenku, who was an ally of Vordu's.

Naseru's will was strong enough to realize that he could destroy the world with the sphere, or even destroy Fu Leng. Despite the temptation to abuse this power from the Onisu Fushin, who had been hounding Naseru on this journey, Naseru saw through Fushin's plot and decided to destroy the device although he first used it to kill all Tsuno in the city. Irie, who had followed Naseru to kill him, was impressed by Naseru's will and became his yojimbo after Isei perished. ,

A Dark Bargain
Daigotsu sent an emissary to Naseru in Ryoko Owari. He believed that the Anvil was the most reasonable of the four Winds. The emissary gifted a jagged shard of crystal, as a message that the Anvil journey to the City of night was known by Daigotsu. The Dark Lord offered a truce, a non-agression pact. Naseru looked it as acceptable, but asked where to send messages to Daigotsu if needed. The dark emissary magically showed Naseru the location of the City of the Lost and the Anvil killed him with the gifted dagger. Naseru clearly had rejected the offer.

Yamainu
From the shadows appeared the Assassin Yamainu, who had been hired by Naseru to undertake two missions.

Advise to Kaneka
Naseru used the assassin to stage an assasination attempt on the Shogun. Akodo Kaneka was attacked in his chambers by three assassins, two died upon Shogun's blade and the leader, the concealed Yamainu, fled. Kaneka guessed the attack was not a real attempt to take his life, it would be only a message instead, and he was able to trace back the message from his half-brother, Naseru. The real intention of the plot was privately to force the Shogun to overreact, and when they would retaliate the Anvil, Kaneka would been shown publicy as the starter of the hostilities.

City of the Lost
Naseru showed Yamainu how to reach to the City of the Lost, and sent the assassin to scout the way. From the Shadowlands Yamainu sent a map to Naseru concealed inside a sake bottle which shown the way to the City of the Lost.

Ryoko Owari Besieged
During the Four Winds struggle for the Throne, Naseru sent many assassins after Kaneka, though it was more to remind Kaneka that Naseru was leading the game than to actually kill him. Eventually, after the Fall of Otosan Uchi, Kaneka lead his Shogun army against Ryoko Owari Toshi, where Naseru had his seat of power.

Lost Faith
Naseru had lost the faith in his destiny as Emperor. He had come to accept that the Empire viewed him as a villain and a manipulator. The Anvil no longer desired the throne, for him no longer felt he could obtain it. Naseru hoped that Kaneka would come to destroy him, discredited the Shogun so greatly that their sister Tsudao would gain the throne. He began to write his will to allocate all his belongings for Tsudao's use upon his death, but his yojimbo Isie gave her counsel: to bring peace among his siblings and end the conflict, to forge a new Empire to do Toturi's spirit proud. Naseru teared in two the papers he wrote, and raised his heart.

Kaneka stayed his Blade
During the siege, Kaneka came to understand that Naseru's plan was to be killed by the Shogun, in order to made him appear as a violent opportunist, and not as a son of Toturi. Naseru had dismished Sunetra, after he commanded that if Kaneka killed him, the Shogun's army would leave the city unharmed. Kaneka met his brother and stayed his blade, letting Naseru live, to show the Empire the mercy he had bestowed upon his treacherous, manipulative brother. Naseru threatened Kaneka to have himself put to death by a Scorpion samurai, casting the blame on Kaneka. At an impasse Kaneka and Naseru agreed to work together, and the Anvil swore that if he would gain the throne he guaranteed Kaneka the same as Shogun of all Rokugan.

Kaede's return
The Empress and Oracle of Void, Toturi Kaede had returned to the Mortal Realm at Kyuden Seppun when Naseru was besieged. She comanded to gather the Four Winds because each wind would apport a key piece to defeat Daigotsu and to destroy the City of the Lost with its Temple of the Ninth Kami, channel of the Shadowlands worship to Fu Leng.

The Four Winds gathered
At Kyuden Seppun Sezaru gave to each Wind a Lady Doji's Tears, enought to march deep in the Shadowlands without became tainted. Asahina Sekawa, the Jade Champion, had an army immune to the taint, the Tadaka's Children. Tsudao had the aid of Akasha, who would contact with the sleeping Naga to trap and fight the Tsuno, wihdrawing an important Daigotsu's ally. The Shogun had maps from the Hiruma showing the swiftest, safest way through the Shadowlands, if the location were known. Naseru offered the location of the City, allowing the Four Winds March.

Four Winds March
The Four Winds made their way to the City, being watched out by the nezumi, sent by the Crab. The Tadaka's Children attacked from the North, while the Winds slipped into the City and the Temple of the Ninth Kami 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. Sezaru teleported the surviving Winds back to Kyuden Seppun.

The Righteous Emperor
After the return of the remaining Winds, Kaede was attonished because she did not see her daughter's death, her powers as an Oracle had failed her. Sezaru first, followed by Kaneka who could remain as the Shogun, relinquished their claims to the Throne. Kaede returned to the Celestial Heavens, and Naseru was declared Emperor. After his ascension to the Steel Throne, he renounced his ties to the Hantei dynasty, giving himself the name Toturi III. He thereby honored his sister Tsudao, announcing that she had been the second emperor to bear that name. Sezaru swore fealty to his mother's clan, the Phoenix and the clan was declared the Voice of the Emperor, and Sezaru was the first representative of that title. Kaneka, the Shogun, in an attempt to curtail his ambitions, was ordered by Naseru to abandon his current army and all ties to former allies and swear fealty to the Phoenix. Kaneka grudgingly agreed.

End of Mantis Civil War
Yoritomo Kitao came to Toshi Ranbo to seek the aid of the Emperor against Yoritomo Kumiko. She only heard that Naseru would not aid her or Kumiko, the strongest Mantis would triumph. Naseru secretely sent a Crystal Arrow, an Unicorn trinket, to Kumiko's supporter Tsuruchi Okame. Naseru would not aid directly to Kumiko as promised, but he saw Kitao as a mad dog, to be treated with utmost caution. The arrow was instrumental in the destruction of the onisu Settozai, who appeared in the middle of the personal combat between Kumiko and Kitao. Kumiko became the Mantis Clan Champion, letting Kitao to live, and the Mantis Civil War ended.

Fires of Toshi Ranbo
In 1165 a fire ravaged the Imperial City, Toshi Ranbo. Crane and Lion blamed each other, and the arsonist was sought. The Lion claimed the gaijin ambassador Rama Singh was suspicious to command the fires, and Naseru had to keep it safe at the House of the White Jade Fan, a tea house as well as a special Imperial prison. In order to maintain the spirit high Naseru ordered Ikoma Sume to find a true hero, who acted with courage and selflessness during the Fire of Toshi Ranbo. He would be appointed as the governor of the damaged district and as their first act the district shall be renamed to commemorate their valor. Sume presented Akodo Ieshige who named the district as Okura district.

War of Rich Frog
When in 1165 the Unicorn attacked the Lion City of the Rich Frog he requested for Shinjo Shono advice on how to end the War of the Rich Frog with as little bloodshed as possible. Naseru summoned Kaneka at Toshi Ranbo and forbade him to march toward the City. The Shogun had planned to restore the orden. Instead, he was commanded to join the Crab Clan in the defence of the Kaiu Wall.

Rain of Blood
The Daidoji Daimyo, Daidoji Kikaze, had got sensible information upon torture on Chunigo, a imprisoned bloodspeaker. Kikaze came to see Naseru to warn about an incoming ritual that Iuchiban would enact to cover the Empire in a Rain of Blood. Naseru went to Shiro Mirumoto and demanded to know why Togashi Satsu did not foresee the Rain. The power of Iuchiban came from sources not related to the Celestial Order, and Satsu could not predict these events. Naseru commanded Isawa Sezaru to gather a force of shugenja to root out the Bloodspeakers' hidden cells across the Empire. Crab scouts believed Iuchiban had established a base in the City of the Lost.

Challenges of Enlightenment
Iuchiban's presence was so great a threat that the descendant of Shinsei, Rosoku, would risk stepping forth from his solitude. He came to Toshi Ranbo and met Naseru. Rosoku laid down the Challenges of Enlightenment to pass on the legacy of Shinsei. Naseru commanded Miya Shoin to spread the challenges to the Empire.

Iuchiban challenged
Naseru challenged Iuchiban and his forces to face the Empire outside Toshi Ranbo. Hida Kuon would deny this battle, fighting any army the Heartless rallied against the Imperial City. The Gozoku saw it as an opportunity to drew Kaneka back to the Imperial City. The Shogun's armies arrived to Toshi Ranbo in force. Naseru was outraged at Kaneka's defiance of his edict to guard the wall, but the Shogun replied that he had commanded to defend the Empire against the Bloodspeakers, it would be foolish to leave his Emperor undefended. Naseru could not argue further.

Tsudao is returned
In 1165 the spirit of Tsudao was summoned by Yoritomo Komori, under the command of Naseru. The Emperor sought the forgiveness of her sister, which Tsudao gave. In return for his service, Naseru rewarded Komori with the creation of a new Minor Clan, the Bat Clan, and Komori as his founder and Clan Champion.

A Time of Retribution
Isawa Sezaru returned to Toshi Ranbo and told Naseru the bad news respect the Bloodspeakers: the Siege of Gisei Toshi, the attack of the Kusatte Iru at Kyuden Isawa, and the dead of the hero of the Empire, Toku. Naseru was also informed about every important city of Rokugan had a hidden cultist cell. The Emperor decided to unleash the Asako Inquisitors and Kuni Witch Hunters to reveal them, and he would use the spy network of the Scorpion Clan Champion, Bayushi Sunetra, to watch from the shadows. Sezaru warned about innocents would be harmed, and as natural consequence the enemies of Naseru would try to strike him. Sezaru promised his brother that if he was assassinated would not let Kaneka become Emperor.

Imperial Bride
Naseru tasked Miya Shoin to find a suitable Lion bride for him. Shoin send Otomo Taneji to interview Akodo Kurako, Miya Gensaiken to met Matsu Aoiko, Miya Hatori to see Matsu Kenji and Shoin spoke with Kitsu Dejiko. All the courtiers were impressed by their counterparts, and instead of weeding out the unworthy candidates, they were merely able to find four more than acceptable choices.

Bride and Empress' Guard
The selected bride was Akodo Kurako. The Crane Clan gifted her with the recovered Empress' Seal, which had been lost decades ago, and Naseru in return appointed the Crane to train the new Empress' Guard. His leader was Doji Reju.

Marriage
In 1166 he married Akodo Kurako in a secret ceremony at the spur of the moment before the unveiling of the Toku's Shrine, in honor of the Fortune of Virtue.

The Lost
At Imperial Court in Toshi Ranbo, Daigotsu Soetsu, an emissary of the Lost, was brought to court to approach Toturi III. Soetsu put forth Daigotsu's demand to form a Great Clan from his followers in the City of the Lost to fulfill ultimate destiny of Fu Leng: to be just as his brothers and sisters and have a clan of his own. He also claimed that Fu Leng's centuries of aggression towards Rokugan was the result of brainwashing by the forces of Jigoku, and that the honor of Daigotsu was beginning to overcome that and would allow the Empire and the Lost to co-exist as peacefully as any of the other clans.

Soetsu was made a guest of the Scorpion Clan, and the Emperor retired to his private chambers, to meditate upon the mysteries of Enlightenment and cast a final judgment over Soetsu's petition. Empress Toturi Kurako oversaw the court in his absence.

Enlightenment and Death
Toturi III decided that he must seek Enlightenment, as it had become apparent that many others have found it. He became a nameless wanderer, The Wanderer, anonymously seeking the wisdom of those who had become enlightened throughout the Empire. Naseru's travels finally brought him to the Shadowlands. While there, Naseru wore the Porcelain Mask of Fu Leng, which Daigotsu Soetsu had promised would not corrupt its wearer as a protection from the Taint. As a wise caution against deceit, however, Togashi Satsu gave Naseru a tattoo, a false eye over his wound to serve as a protection from the mask as well as a further disguise. In the Shadowlands Naseru found the Tomb of the Seven Thunders, the pure final resting place of the original seven heroes who sealed Fu Leng away on the First Day of Thunder, built by Hida after he defeated his fallen son, Atarasi.



When the Great Clans learned that the Emperor had entered the Shadowlands they began massing a small army to go and protect him. The army arrived at the tomb, and were shortly after attacked by an army of oni sent by Kyoso no Oni. Naseru died outside the Tomb in the Shadowlands during the Battle of the Tomb in 1168. He used the Porcelain Mask of Fu Leng to melt all the Shadowlands creatures into a liquid and burn all the remains of the humans that had fought there so they could not be returned as zombies.

Allies
Despite his reputation as a malicious villain, Naseru had had some very loyal allies, most of whom joined his side before he ascended the throne and used to be his fierce enemies. His wife, Kurako, was an excellent match, as she was cool and objective as well as a skilled tactician, formed both by the Ikoma and the Akodo families.

Kakita Atoshi, son of Seppun Toshiken, helped Naseru in the Test of the Emerald Champion hold in Kyuden Seppun.

His ronin bodyguard, Yotsu Irie, at first wanted to kill Naseru, but after assisting him in thwarting Moto Vordu's plans in the Path of the Night, she became a lifelong friend. Irie was present with Naseru in the battle at the Tomb of the Seven Thunders and died protecting him.

Bayushi Sunetra, Naseru's Underhand, joined his staff initially as a Scorpion agent, but her fascination with him lead her to transfer her loyalties to him. Thankfully, Naseru's and the Scorpion Clan's interests have remained mostly aligned. She even gave up the Clan Championship in order to serve him and the Empire better.

The Emerald Champion Yasuki Hachi secured the position thanks to Naseru's manipulations, but Hachi detested this as it resulted in his allegiances and capability being questioned. However, the two were forced to cooperate during the Fall of Otosan Uchi, and their grudging respect for one another's abilities later turned into a real friendship. Hachi gave his life in defense of his Emperor at the Tomb of the Seven Thunders.

Shinjo Shono, daimyo of the Shinjo family, has a lot in common with Naseru and was also a long-time friend. He, along with Sunetra and Irie, helped Naseru survive the Path of Night. Their careers had also experienced similar trajectories, went from maligned sons obligated by their father's deeds to leaders of their people.

Otomo Hoketuhime, daimyo of the Otomo family, was fiercely loyal to him and was rumored to still harbor feelings for him. However, she was married to a husband her father selected for her, so that was a moot point.

Seppun Kiharu, the daimyo of the Seppun family and Keeper of the Ten Thousand Temples, was also Naseru's loyal friend and his confident for spiritual matters.

Yamainu was a violent ronin who served him since long before his rise to the throne as a scout, spy, and assassin. Naseru sent him into the Shadowlands to find the City of the Lost in order to prepare for the Four Winds March. Naseru used Yamainu for the dirty work; Sunetra and Irie despised Yamainu, but Naseru saw him as a "useful tool, readied to kill, if not to die, for me".