Kolat

Kolat was an ancient word from the barbarian languages that meant “to question”, and was used as the name for a secret society originally dedicated to the downfall of the Hantei family. The founders of the Kolat believed that mankind should rule itself, and that a god declaring himself ruler over humans was unacceptable. For over a thousand years, the Kolat plotted the downfall of the Hantei line.

Kolat Objective

The ultimate goal of the Kolat was to have mankind rule itself, free of the rulership of the Kami. This had been the overarching goal since the beginning of their conspiracy. They would first need to control every aspect of Rokugan, the world beyond it, and even the Celestial Heavens themselves if possible. Secondly, the Final Emperor, the last true leader of humanity, must be prepared to emerge as ruler.

Fall of the Hantei Line

In later times, some Kolat felt that their goal had been achieved, as a Hantei no longer sat on the throne, there existed a major clan with no direct link to the Kami (the Mantis Clan), and the Sun and Moon had been replaced by mortals. These Kolat considered that maintaining the Kolat organization's power was therefore the only concern of the organization. The masters of the Steel, Coin, Silken, and Chrysanthemum sects adhered to this philosophy, whereas the masters of the Tiger, Cloud, Lotus and Dream sects had a more "traditional" view.

The masters of the Jade and Roc sects were not interested in the debate and were too concerned with their own responsibilities to be involved.

Kolat Organization

Before the Clan War

Before the Clan War, the Kolat were led by the council of the Ten Masters, all working in unison, meeting at the Hidden Temple.

• Akodo Kage, the Teacher
• Shinjo Yokatsu, the Daimyo
• Kaouta, the Geisha
• Chinoko, the Trigger
• Isawa Korekado, the Magician
• Kuni Shimura, the Mind Breaker
• Doji Akae, the Moneylender
• al-Hazaad, the Qolat
• Shosuro Emon, the Shadow's Bane
• Ikoma Soko, the Guard

The ten masters all knew the others' identities. This was an obvious danger to the conspiracy. After the Kolat purge, the Kolat reorganized into secret insular cells to avoid such dangers.

New Structure

The Kolat were organized in ten different sects: Steel, Coin, Silken, Chrysanthemum, Tiger, Cloud, Lotus, Dream, Jade and Roc. All sects were independent and had their own purpose. Each sect was led by a Kolat Master.

Sect	Goal	Masters	Pre-Clan War Equivalent
Chrysanthemum Sect	Monitor Imperial City	Master Chrysanthemum: Ikoma Tsai	Ikoma Soko
Cloud Sect	Preserve Kolat Knowledge	Master Cloud: Unknown	Isawa Korekado
Coin Sect	Gather Wealth	Master Coin: Yasuki Jinn-Kuen	Doji Akae
Dream Sect	Use the mind as a weapon	Master Dream: Unknown	Kuni Shimura
Jade Sect	Destroy the Lying Darkness and the Shadowlands	Master Jade: Unknown	Shosuro Emon
Lotus Sect	Assassinate the Kolat enemies	Master Lotus: Shosuro Nyoko	Chinoko
Roc Sect	Protect the Kolat's interests in foreign lands	Master Roc: Akodo Kobi	al-Hazaad
Silken Sect	Gather information	Master Silk: Unknown	Kaouta
Steel Sect	Protect the Hidden Temple	Master Steel: Hida Suteru	Shinjo Yokatsu
Tiger Sect	Maintain the secrecy of the order	Master Tiger: Unknown	Akodo Kage

The members of the sects were not aware of the identity of other members of their own sect, let alone of other sects. Each Kolat operative worked for an Oyabun, who in turn worked for his own Oyabun, or for the master of his sect. This scheme was to help maintain secrecy and also minimized the damage a captured Kolat agent could cause to the organization if pressed for information.

Lower Levels

The active agents were a Kolat Master's direct servants, and were conditioned from a very early age to embrace the Kolat philosophy. They were grouped into cliques called Hambatsu, forming an interconnected network. They only knew their own Kolat Master, and after the master ordered a mission they executed it, and returned to normal life.

The unknowing accomplices were people the Kolat used for their plans, without the accomplice's knowing for whom or why they were doing the work. They usually believed they were serving their own clan or another noble purpose, and were manipulated through lies or orders from Masters whose loyalty lay elsewhere. They did the most dangerous work and were the most likely to be caught.

A special kind of unknowing accomplice was a Sleeper Agent, a brainwashed individual that would perform specific duties when activated. Sleepers were usually kidnapped during lengthy trips when their families would not be suspicious of an extended absence. They were manipulated through magic, torture and brainwashing, and when fully programmed had a deeply-ingrained set of subconscious instructions that could be activated at a Master's discretion, normally with a specific keyword or phrase. After the programming was completed, the subject was returned to their normal life with false memories, and without any evidence of the programming process. Sleepers were only activated for very important missions.

The Dupes were the lower level people who gave information, provided logistical support, effected transport, or other various basic elements of a Kolat mission. They normally were only used once.

Kolat History

Dawn of the Empire

When the Kami fell from the heavens not all humans wished to obey their command. Some fled to the Burning Sands, others went into hiding, all of them planning for a time when they might return and unmake the Kami-controlled society.

Ten of the more philosophical rebels, former sons and brothers of slain chieftains, agreed that these so-called gods had no right to rule them. The Kolat were the descendants of this group. They had a secretive organization with the goal of undermining the samurai caste and the concept of Celestial Order. The first leader was the charismatic genius and philosopher Tora. Kolat believed all men were equal and the idea of samurai being above others was revolting.

Hidden Temple

In the year 20 the original founders of the Kolat traded with the tribes which would be known as the Yobanjin in return for the construction of a vast temple deep in the mountains. Originally this was a place where the Kolat would meet to discuss their heretical philosophies. Further, this temple allowed the Kolat to keep ties with the other tribes who fled from the Kami's rule without drawing the Emperor's wrath.

Infiltration of the Ujik-Hai

In the year 30 the Kolat exiles met the Ujik-Hai, a fierce tribe of desert nomads. The Ujik-Hai demanded that the exiles either bow down before their gods of death or perish. They feigned obeisance so the Ujlk-Hai could be infiltrated and brought under control.

The Tao of Shinsei is Written

In the year 42 the Tao of Shinsei was recorded by Shiba. Shinsei's writings suggested that any mortal could be the equal of the gods if he sought the path of Enlightenment, and that all things were impermanent, part of an endless kharmic cycle. The Kolat felt the Tao endorsed their own philosophies, and that the imperfect Kami would be eventually cast down. The Kolat conspiracy began infiltrating mercantile organizations and the Imperial Bureaucracy so as to be closest to those in power in order to manipulate the Empire from within.

However, certain Kolat philosophers experienced an existential crisis. If the imperfect Kami can be overthrown, then the imperfect Kolat too will be overthrown in time. Tora managed to eventually convince the rest of the Kolat that even the kharmic cycle may end, and that it will one day create a "final meaning". It would behoove the Kolat to take over the Empire so that they can ultimately guide this "final meaning". If the Kolat can successfully guide the "final meaning", then they can permanently rule over the universe, without fear of being overthrown.

The Infiltration of the Ki-Rin

In the year 45 the Ki-Rin Clan encountered the Ujik-Hai during the Ki-Rin's Exodus. The nomadic tribe was thoroughly infiltrated and influenced by Kolat agents, who prompted the Ujik-Hai into what they knew would be a hopeless battle. Afterward, Kolat agents assumed the position of the perished chieftain and suggested that the Ujik-Hai might benefit by swearing fealty to Shinjo. They became the Moto family. In this manner Kolat agents were adopted into a Great Clan without suspicion.

It was also the Kolat that made sure the Unicorn learned Meishodo, a form of gaijin magic which did not use the Kami, but rather the Elements themselves.

Death of Hida Osano-Wo

In the year 97 a descendant of one of the original Ten Masters attempted to utilize blackmail for personal gain. Osano-Wo was threatened with shaming by the revealing of dishonorable actions taken by his most favored general. The Crab Clan Champion laughed at this feeble attempt at blackmail and openly attacked the Kolat, who defended himself using a blade coated with a virulent poison and subsequently struck down Osano-Wo. Horrified by this action, his fellow Kolat barred him from the Hidden Temple for his foolish behavior. At Shiro Shiba, Kaimetsu-Uo found the assassin and took his vengeance, killing the Kolat.

Ten Masters Reformed

Following the near-debacle that was the death of Osano-Wo, the Ten Masters re-evaluated the hereditary system. Instead a system of apprenticeship was instituted, whereby each of the Ten Masters selected a promising agent from outside his bloodline and groomed them to be his replacement.

Oni's Eye

In 129 the Oni's Eye was discovered in the Twilight Mountains. It was taken by the Kolat conspiracy who, using it, began expanding their influence immediately.

Invention of Koku

In the year 243 the koku was invented by Yasuki Tanaka, a Kolat Master.

The First War

In order to increase their power, the Kolat wanted to increase the power of money and economics in the Empire. In the year 387 this led to them being instrumental in the Crane-Crab War, which eventually led to the Yasuki breaking away from the Crane and the ongoing underground economic war between the Daidoji and the Yasuki.

This was the first period in Rokugani history where the Kolat had been noticed, and they were nearly destroyed when the Yasuki family discovered their existence. The Kolat would subsequently do their best to wipe out all memory and records of their folly.

Gozoku

The Kolat had absolutely nothing to do with the Gozoku's rise in 391. When the Gozoku attacked the Brotherhood of Shinsei for aiding the Hantei, the Kolat knew their days were numbered. A Kolat agent visited one of the Gozoku's leaders, Bayushi Atsuki, offering to help him secure his rule if he joined their ranks. Atsuki refused, and the Kolat withdrew to watch the Gozoku crumble.

Ban of Maho

The first rise of Iuchiban in 510 was seen as an act of chaos and wanton destruction, so the Kolat Masters declared maho forbidden. Any practitioner of this forbidden magic found among the Kolat would be immediately executed.

Return of the Ki-Rin

By the time the Unicorn came back to Rokugan in 815, the clan was under complete Kolat control. Even though less than 5% of the Unicorn were Kolat operatives, these few occupied key positions of power and influence within the clan. ^{[citation needed]}

The Moto Ride to the Shadowlands

The Kolat feared the ascendancy of the Moto family under the command of Moto Tsume. Their agents warned him to move against the Shadowlands. Tsume led the Moto into the Shadowlands in 825 in an attempt show their strength and aid the Crab Clan. The Moto were destroyed and corrupted, becoming the Dark Moto. The Kolat-controlled Shinjo remained in power.

Togashi

When Togashi ruled in his many guises, he could infallibly spot Kolat infiltration in the Dragon Clan. Any Kolat agents were either slain by him or turned to his own purposes. Eventually the Kolat Masters learned to stop trying to infiltrate the Dragon.

Lost Texts

When the Ki-Rin returned to the Empire they had written of their journey and the dangers they faced, such as the Shadows. They also described stories of infiltration and of the engineering of the death of the Shinjo family. These scrolls were lost, and in the 12th century were found by an Ide and his son, Ide Hasame. They did not reveal this evidence of the Kolat's existence and influence, but chose to become ronin, knowing they would be targets of the Kolat, who thereafter hunted them diligently.

Dajan's Kolat

The Opium War devastated the opium trade in the Empire, and was fought at Ryoko Owari Toshi between the three opium cartels, the Bayushi, Shosuro, and Soshi cartels. The war was engineered by the Kolat. In this war the Unicorn Clan were the Kolat's pawns. A splinter sect of the Kolat, the Dajan's Kolat, claimed to be the true masterminds of the conflict. They used maho to reach their ends. They also engineered the doom of the Hare Clan. The Kolat in 1125 retaliated against the heretical sect, killing several of their members. Somehow the Dajan's Kolat had found a means to avoid the scrying of the Oni's Eye, so their destruction took some time.

Uncovered by the Scorpion

In 1126 Bayushi Tomaru, the hero of the Siege of Shiro Usagi, revealed the existence of the Kolat to his Lady, Bayushi Kachiko. He had learned of their existence while investigating the disappearance of his beloved Usagi Tomoe near Morikage Toshi. Kachiko contacted the Kolat in the hope of forging an alliance with them, but the Kolat were skeptical. Some Shinjo Bushi knew of the Kolat, bore them a deep hatred, and swore vengeance against them and, as the Vigilants, set out to hunt Kolat agents.

Feigned Death of Master Tiger

Bayushi Kachiko had learned the true affiliation of Akodo Kage, Master Tiger. In 1127 Kage was forced to fake his own death, having become tired of Kachiko's blackmail over his position within the Kolat.

Kolat Purges

After the Clan War in the year 1129 the former student of Kage, Toturi, was made Emperor. Kage hoped that he might be the perfect leader the Kolat had sought to groom for so long. In 1130 Toturi was kidnapped and thereafter possessed by the Lying Darkness. After Toturi I returned to the Throne he made extensive efforts to purge Rokugan of Kolat influence.

In the War Against Shadow the Kolat aided the Empire, as the Lying Darkness was a common threat to both. When the Shadows were uncovered and the Empire was united against them, the Kolat emerged from hiding bearing crystal weapons and gave these to the Imperial armies.

In addition, the Kami Shinjo purged the Unicorn Clan of Kolat influence, leaving her family in shambles and placing the Moto family in charge of the Clan.

After Oblivion's Gate

After the crippling attacks of the Lying Darkness and Shinjo's purge, the Kolat were disorganized, and many critical agents had been killed; others were isolated and cut off from their Masters and sects. Master Coin Doji Akae used his fortune to reassign endangered agents to less hostile areas, and accumulated resources which allowed the operatives to continue, albeit on a smaller scale than before.

The Ten Masters did not necessarily know the identity of the other Masters, but proved their identity through the possession of special nemuranai masks, attuned to their owner in the presence of the Oni's Eye. These masks glowed in the presence of the Eye or one of its Tears, and horribly scarred any wearer who was not one of the true Ten Masters.

The foreign sister group of the Kolat within the Burning Sands, known as the Qolat, was largely unaffected by the purges in Rokugan and continue to operate as normal. The Qolat sect which was in contact with their counterparts became known as the Roc Sect.

The Kolat sought a new focus, torn between their desire to remake the Celestial Order and the more pragmatic need to ensure the organization's existence. The Tiger, Cloud, Lotus, and Dream Masters were traditional Kolat, with Master Cloud the most vocal member of the group. The Steel, Coin, Silk, and Chrysanthemum Masters all adhered to the modern philosophy. Neither Master Jade nor Master Roc seemed interested in this ongoing debate. The latter philosophy was championed by Morito and it seemed to be winning out.

Second Yasuki War

Yasuki Oguri, Yasuki Daimyo and Master Coin, saw an opportunity to change the entire nature of the Kolat. He drew upon his resources to begin a quiet war within the Kolat. Those who did not agree with his philosophies were denied the Coin Sect's considerable resources. He even went so far as to name his son, Yasuki Kamoru, as heir to his position. In the dead of winter in 1157, Oguri died of a mysterious illness and the following spring, Kamoru died of the same illness. With no direct heirs, the Yasuki scrambled to determine the closest relation. This led to the Emerald Champion Yasuki Hachi as the new daimyo, the return of the Yasuki to the Crane, and the ensuing Second Yasuki War. The Kolat used the war as an excuse to exterminate Kamoru's remaining sympathizers, and the Kolat Yasuki Jinn-Kuen rose to a position of influence among the Yasuki.

Four Winds

The Kolat were believed to have sacrificed themselves in the War Against Shadow, however evidence of their existence persists as recently as 1159, when a Sleeper Agent was exposed before Hantei Naseru and the entire Imperial Court by Yasuki Hachi.

The Shadowed Tower

It was distressing that the existence of the Shadowed Tower had escaped Kolat scrutiny for such a long period. The Kolat found the Tower's use of maho and the Taint unconscionable. In 1159 the Kolat offered aid to the Scorpion Clan against a common enemy, the Shadowed Tower.  At the same time they gained a contact within the organization, using it to broker an alliance. 

The Exposure of Master Coin

The same year, after the Junghar Army commander Moto Chen became the victim of a slandering campaign which resulted in the loss of his position, he began a quest to exact vengeance on those responsible, with the implicit blessings of his lord Unicorn Clan Champion Moto Chagatai. He learned that not only was his brother, Moto Chaozhu, the person who set things in motion, but that he had been able to do so with the assistance of the Kolat in a failed attempt to usurp his brother's position. Chen then received information about a Kolat cell operating within Mantis lands. He took this information to Mantis Clan Champion-contender Yoritomo Kumiko, who personally assisted him in attacking the cell, which turned out to be Master Coin Moshi Shanegon's secret stronghold and treasury. The two, with the help of Kumiko's forces, fatally wounded Shanegon's operation, and caused him to flee into the Ivory Kingdoms. Through this, Chen was able to redeem himself in the eyes of the public, and Kumiko gained more legitimacy and support in her battle for the Championship. And unbeknown to the two, Yasuki Jinn-Kuen, their secret sponsor and source of information, managed to use the ensuing chaos within the Coin Sect to take over as the new Master Coin. Shanegon was already held in low esteem by his fellow Masters thanks to his decadence and the sloppiness of his way of running things, and this blatant exposure convinced them that it was time for him to be replaced. Jinn-Kuen was more than happy to oblige his fellow Masters.

Black Chrysanthemum

In 1165 the Kolat once again returned to their more subtle ways after the fiasco with Moshi Shanegon. However, their next move was, once again, an apparent failure - they never forgot Chen's attack on them, and Chaozhu's failure. The Kolat attempted to finish both off in one fell swoop by setting up an ambush in Toshi Ranbo on the two. However, the brothers suspected an ambush, and were nearly able to escape Ikoma Tsai's assassins, which he personally led. However, things went awry both for the attackers and the two Moto brothers when the Rain of Blood fell on all of them - Tsai and his people succumbed to corruption, as well as Chaozhu, and only Chen survived unscathed. All was not lost for Ikoma Tsai, however - Shadowlands Dark Lord Daigotsu negotiated with Master Roc Ruqayah on building an alliance, or at least a truce, between the Shadowlands and the Kolat, as they had greater enemies in the Empire, namely Iuchiban's Bloodspeakers, and the secret political conspiracy known as the Gozoku. The Kolat agreed and created the position of Master Black Chrysanthemum to serve as liaison between the Shadowlands and the Kolat. ^{[citation needed]} They selected Ikoma Tsai for this position after having freed him from the mind-altering effects of both the Taint and the Bloodspeakers. ^{[citation needed]}

Secret Gozoku War

The Kolat had become painfully aware of the Gozoku's machinations and the way it had undermined Toturi III's rule - this, to the Kolat, was unacceptable, since they considered the continuing rule of the Toturi Dynasty as one of their major successes. Finally, the Kolat took action against their bitter enemies - Master Silk Kakita Kyruko talked with Doji Yasuyo in 1166, and through innuendo and logic, alarmed her about her fiance Kaneka's ambitions, then gave her information about Kaneka holding a very important Crane hostage. Yasuyo confronted Kaneka and his officers about Doji Takeji, and Kaneka not only admitted his membership in the Gozoku, but also gave Yasuyo all the information he had so far about the conspiracy. They then set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to the exposure and eventual death of the Gozoku leaders, Bayushi Atsuki, Doji Akiko, and Seppun Toshiaki. ^{[citation needed]}

Togashi Satsu

In 1166 the Kolat realized the Dragon Champion was again a nuisance to their goals. When Togashi Satsu became champion he was only a man, without any special ability to detect the Kolat, and the Dragon Clan was quickly infiltrated with Kolat agents. But the power of Satsu and his foreseeing abilities had grown over the years, and the Kolat infiltration was in jeopardy. An assassination plot against Satsu was made but it was foiled by a Jade agent, Kaelung.

Battle at the Tomb

Once again, the Kolat took an active role in assisting the Toturi Dynasty - they deployed both Yasuki Jinn-kuen and Tsuruchi Etsui in the failed rescue mission of Toturi Naseru from the Shadowlands. The two were given full reign to use Kolat resources in facilitating the transportation of the rescuers, which benefited the Crab and Mantis squads to great effect. Jinn-kuen and Etsui also both managed to enter the Tomb with the Emperor himself, and were among the 8 Great Clan Representatives, along with the Nezumi and Daigotsu Rekai, who were commanded by Naseru to bring back a relic from the Tomb back to the Empire immediately--even at the cost of Naseru's life. Jinn-kuen brought to the Crab the Tao of Fu Leng, while Etsui brought back not only a candle and a magical sword, but also a powerful secret - how to find the true heir of Toturi Naseru. The former he gave to the Mantis, the latter to the Kolat.

Fall of the Hidden Temple

Shortly before the dawn of the Iweko Dynasty, a traitor to the Kolat named Kaelung revealed the location of the Hidden Temple to the Scorpion Clan. They assaulted the Temple and its Ox Clan defenders, the Oni's Eye was captured, and the majority of the Kolat perished, including all but three of the Ten Masters. The conspiracy's influence was also purged from the Ox Clan.

Holdings

Unknown to most of the Empire, the Kolat maintained their ancient stronghold, the Hidden Temple, deep within what used to be Phoenix Clan lands. The area around the temple was originally controlled by the Ox Clan, whose champion, Morito, served as Master Steel.

War Amid Shadows

In 1170, Togashi Kaelung took it upon himself to deliver the information he had gathered on the Jade Sect during his time with the Kolat to Bayushi Paneki. Kaelung had formerly given it to Togashi Satsu, but when Satsu lost his divinity and omniscience Kaelung realized that the Dragon would be vulnerable to Kolat infiltration. Kaelung discovered that Satsu had added notes to his own, including information on the location of the Hidden Temple and the Oni's Eye.

Paneki immediately planned an assault on Ox lands. The Scorpion assassins successfully captured the Hidden Temple from the Kolat and killed Kolat Masters Isawa Korekado, Morito, Ujina Heiji and Yasuki Taka. The Scorpion now controlled the Temple and the Oni's Eye.

Age of Conquest

For more than a generation, the Kolat had been believed dead by the Empire, as Master Coin desired. In the late 12th century the Kolat were ready to expand their operations once more. Master Coin and Master Tiger, tentative allies for decades, had chosen to fill one of the vacant positions, a new Master Roq to assume control of the Kolat's operations within the Colonies, ensuring the balance of power remained. The conspiracy also filled other vacant positions, such as Master Chrysanthemum.

Members

See Members of The Kolat for a list of those associated with the group.

References

• Way of the Ninja, pp. 41-49.
• Merchant's Guide to Rokugan, pp. 84-99.

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