Shahai

Shahai
Born:	Unknown
Died:	1173, month of the Goat
Parents:	Iuchi Daiyu
Siblings:	Un-named brother
Spouse:	Daigotsu
Children:	Daigotsu Kanpeki
Titles:	Dark Daughter of Fu Leng, Dark Fortune of Blood
People

Shahai was formerly Iuchi Shahai of the Unicorn Clan. Primarily due to her manipulations, Rokugan saw the third return of the dreaded maho-tsukai Iuchiban to his full power. Her high ranking within the Bloodspeakers led her to also become a important lieutenant under the Dark Lord of the Shadowlands, Daigotsu. She was also called the Lady of Blood.

Appearance

Iuchi Shahai

Shahai was an attractive woman. Her hair was drawn back in a fashionable style, held with an elaborate network of pins and strings of black pearls. A long braid spilled down her back, looping about her throat twice. Her skin was pale and smooth; her powerful blood magic seemed to arrest aging. She wore pale lavender robes with a silver tanto tucked beneath her obi. A blood-red ruby was set upon the hilt, a symbol of her command of the Order of Bloodspeakers. A necklace of jade Witch Hunter amulets hung about her neck, both a trophy of her conquests as well as a protection against the Taint.

Family

Iuchi Shahai was the youngest child and only daughter of the daimyo of the Iuchi family, Iuchi Daiyu. She bore such a striking resemblance to her late mother that Daiyu could refuse her nothing. Her cousin was Iuchi Katta.

Nightmares

Since childhood, Shahai's sleep had been plagued with restlessness and nightmares. As a child Shahai chafed at the boring traditional lifestyle her father imposed upon her. She was neglected by her father, so she often acted out in an attempt to gain his attention. By the time of her gempukku, she had long since stopped caring about her distant father and had grown bored with life in the Unicorn lands. After her gempukku the spoiled girl investigated maho with morbid curiosity.

Rise to Power

Iuchi Shahai

Shahai began to hear a voice that promised her great power. She listened to the voice and it led her to the forbidden Forest of Dreamers where she found a ruined house. It was the house of Fujio, the mad ronin who in the 11th century laid a curse on the forest. Inside the house, she found a battered skeleton and a collection of scrolls. Painting a kanji on the skull's forehead with her own blood, she animated it, and the skull introduced itself as "Grandfather". Grandfather told Shahai how to become a Bloodspeaker. Under the instruction of Grandfather, she would ascend quickly through the bloodspeaker ranks.

Grandfather

Shahai in a Blood ritual

The spirit who spoke to Shahai was the yokai of Yogo Junzo, who had died twenty years before Shahai animated the skull. The ivory skull, with the kanji symbol of Void scrawled in blood upon its forehead, had a jagged crack that split the skull down the center, a bitter reminder of an encounter with the Unicorn Thunder two decades earlier.

Bloodspeaker Leader

After the leader of the Bloodspeakers, Asahina Yajinden, had disappeared and Shinko Kamiko died, Shahai saw her opportunity to seize the place of the late Fushiki in the Council of Five and became the new leader of the Bloodspeakers. In 1128 after the Second Day of Thunder Kitsu Norinaga and Doji Adoka joined the Circle.

Filled with Koku

In 1132 Seppun Kossori came to Shiro Iuchi with chests of Phoenix koku. She had been paid by Shiba Tsukune to hire ronin to reinforce the depopulated Phoenix Clan's ranks. Kossori gifted the koku to Shahai in order to curry favor from the Unicorn as part of her aspirations to become the new Empress after Toturi disappeared. Kossori was unaware that Shahai was a bloodspeaker and that she would use the koku to further the aspirations of the evil cult.

Manipulation of the Crane

Shahai commanded Doji Adoka to kill Kakita Ariteko. The bloodspeakers had given a box filled with Phoenix koku to Adoka. Ariteko's nephews, Daidoji Sembi and Daidoji Uji, mistakenly believed that the Phoenix had paid Adoka for his treachery. As a result, the Crane Clan did not support their former Phoenix allies during the Mantis Invasion of the Phoenix lands.

Suru Meets Shahai

Suru met Shahai

Jama Suru, who was in command of Kuni Yori, met Shahai, then a rising star in the bloodspeaker cult. Advised by Grandfather, Shahai began to seek the Four Masks of Iuchiban, the nemuranai which could free Iuchiban from his imprisonment. She promised great reward to whoever got them for her. Rodrigo, a bandit leader, sought the masks, raiding Crab and Phoenix caravans. The Third Mask was the first found by Rodrigo, and Shahai gave him an emperor's ransom in gold for the mask.

Burning Words

Kuni Yori sensed the power of Shahai and met her in Unicorn lands. In 1132 Yori gave Shahai the Burning Words, a written account of a bargain between Fu Leng and the Shi-Tien Yen-Wang, gaijin Lords of the Dead. Inside the written account was a prophecy, which told of a True Moto who would strike down his brethren. Shahai willingly accepted the quest to find the Unicorn hero. This meeting was clandestinely observed by a hidden Kyoso no Oni.

Shahai Revealed

Shahai told her father the dark path she had willingly taken, and escaped after killing him in 1132.

Thunder

Shahai tempting Kamoko

Otaku Kamoko carried out the purge Shinjo had demanded after her return, cleansing the clan of kolat. Shahai sensed the deed and wished to offer her the Burning Words. Shahai approached her and informed Kamoko about the souls of the dead that were being slaughtered in the Spirit Realms. Kamoko, fearing for the destiny of her mother's soul, rode with Shahai deep into the Shadowlands to Volturnum. There Kamoko passed unharmed between the ranks of the Dark Moto and saw her mother's spirit beside Adorai's Gate. Shahai offered the Burning Words but Kamoko initially refused. Then the Thunder heard the voice of Kyoso no Oni in her mind promising to protect her against the taint. In return Kyoso no Oni would be hidden inside Kamoko's soul, to have the opportunity to ambush her mutual enemy Moto Tsume.

Kamoko struck down Shahai

Kamoko accepted the bargain, becoming the Dark Moto leader, and immediately struck down Shahai; if she must give her life for the Unicorn, then so would Shahai. However, the bloodspeaker had anticipated this situation, and raised herself fully healed thanks to a ritual she had performed before the meeting.

Fu Leng follower

The Bloodspeakers used the dark gifts of Fu Leng, but their founder, Iuchiban, always sought his own agena and did not care for the Ninth Kami. His followers were corrupted but would only seek to meet the goals of their imprisoned leader. Shahai willingly decided to worship Fu Leng over her heartless Master, but remained within the bloodspeakers.

Bloodspeaker Leader

Maho-tsukai Shahai

Shahai rose in the Bloodspeaker ranks and became the leader of a cultist cell, the Cult of the Blood-Red Moon. She knew that the cell many years ago had exiled several individuals to Jigoku after an experimental ritual. Shahai brought them back to Ningen-do in 1132. They were Omoni, Goju Kyoden and the last Hantei over Rokugan, Daigotsu. Daigotsu and Shahai were instantly attracted to one another, but Daigotsu disappeared before their relationship developed. The trio left in 1150, but when Shahai remembered rumors of a Bloodspeaker heir to the throne, she began to seek Daigotsu, but without success.

Death of Toturi

Shahai questioned by Kyoso

Kyoso no Oni suspected who was behind Toturi's death and the arrival of the Tsuno , recognizing the rising shadow of a new menace to her leadership of the Shadowlands. She asked Shahai for information, but the bloodspeaker said she had not been involved.

Preparations of Winter Court

When the Four Winds issued invitations to the Emperor's Winter Court, the location of the court was given in the hands of representatives of the Great Clans.

Shahai killed a Miya Herald who carried a message intended for Usagi Ozaki, daimyo of the Hare Clan. A Pekkle no Oni was summoned by the death and torture of the unfortunate herald, and Shahai sent the oni to Winter Court to kill one of the Winds, disguised as the Hare courtier, Usagi Fuyuko. Shahai already had another Pekkle in the court, Miya Gensaiken, who had orders to corrupt Toturi Sezaru. To achieve Shahai's orders, he unmasked Fuyuko, and the Wolf in return took him as his follower. Shahai continued to monitor Gensaiken and saw his lack of progress.

Dark Daughter of Fu Leng

Shahai, the Dark Daughter

Finding Daigotsu

Shahai had been seeking Daigotsu for years. In 1158 she was in the Teeth of the Serpent beside the Black Finger River. She met the Dark Daughter of Fu Leng, the second-in-command of Daigotsu, who took Shahai to the Dark Lord. Shahai met her cousin Iuchi Katta and Moto Yesugai, both of whom had been lost to the Shadowlands, and entered the Temple of the Ninth Kami. The dark monk Hanoshi introduced her to Daigotsu, who was accompanied by his yojimbo, Goju Kyoden.

Shahai refused to be anything but equal to the Dark Lord, and fought the Dark Daughter for her station. After a quick magic duel, Shahai subdued the Dark Daughter, absorbing her soul and power. Shahai received the name of Dark Daughter of Fu Leng from Daigotsu, and claimed to be his equal.

The Tsuno and Domotai

Following the capture of Matsu Domotai by the Tsuno in 1158, Domotai was given to Shahai to torture. He was held and tormented for months until his rescue by Toturi Tsudao, who led an attack on Shinomen Mori.

Fall of the Carpenter Wall

Shahai fought in the Shadowlands assault on the Kaiu Wall. During the attack she used her magic to cripple Kuni Kiyoshi, who had attempted to save the life of his Lord, Hida Kuroda.

Fall of Otosan Uchi

To prove the power of the Shadowlands, Daigotsu engineered the Fall of Otosan Uchi by invading the Imperial City from the sea. Daigotsu easily managed to take the Imperial Throne Room, escorted by Shahai and Goju Kyoden. Shahai was supposed to participate in the Fall of Otosan Uchi, but she had to magically depart to Shinomen Mori to deal with Toturi Tsudao's legions fighting the Tsuno in the Month of the Dog. Shahai personally fought Toturi Tsudao in the depths of Shinomen Mori. Shahai and her pawn, the corrupted ronin Junnosuke, were supposedly slain in that confrontation, but Shahai had magically escaped. Daigotsu gifted her a fan as a reward.

Preparing Defense

Shahai, Dark Daughter

In 1160 Daigotsu knew the Four Winds were gathering at Kyuden Seppun at the behest of the Oracle of the Void to march against the City of the Lost, an event foreseen by the Dark Oracle of Void and related to the Dark Lord. In preparation, Kyoden and Chuda Mishime were sent to increase the defenses of Toguchi Shinden, the temple of the Tsuno, which was unknown to the Empire. It was a maneuver designed to take Kyoden away from the City, as he would be instrumental in the resurrection of Daigotsu after his death in the upcoming battle, which had been foreseen by the Dark Oracle. Daigotsu only revealed his plan to Shahai, and he thought they had come to love one another.

Death and Resurrection of the Dark Lord

Shortly after Daigotsu's death, Omoni mended the fatal wounds Toturi Tsudao had inflicted and repaired the Dark Lord's vessel. Goju Kyoden, Shahai, Omoni and Chuda Mishime came to the House of Goju, and the yojimbo 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 and left him unable to call upon Fu Leng's blessing. Other men would have leapt at the 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 resumed leadership of The Lost. Shahai set out to seek how to restore the full power of Daigotsu, leaving the City of the Lost. Daigotsu was concerned as he was unaware of her quest, and doubted that she could still fulfill her other commitments.

Releasing Iuchiban

Shahai

Masquerade

Shahai joined a Bloodspeaker cell in Unicorn lands, the Demon's Breath Acolytes. She believed Iuchiban would be a worthy ally of the Dark Lord, and sought out the Bloodspeaker. In 1165 Shahai engineered a masquerade, disguising herself as an Asako Inquisitor, Asako Genjiko. She allowed Iuchi Katamari, Kaiu Kuma, Kaiu Sui, and Seppun Saito, Emerald Magistrates of Kakita Bogu that were on the trail of a bandit gang for months, to save her from the bandits. Sui, who had been trained in the Kitsu Tombs and therefore was able to sense and commune with any ancestor spirit, was told by the soul of one of the dead bandits that they had found the Fourth Mask of Iuchiban and had delivered it to his master, Mohai.

Luring Gineza's Descendant

Kuma was the descendant of Kaiu Gineza, the legendary engineer who constructed the Tomb of Iuchiban. The location was well-hidden, forgotten by all save a few - but Gineza remembered, even beyond the veil of death. When Sui called to Gineza's spirit and told him how serious the threat to the Empire was, Gineza joined both their memories and Kuma knew where the Tomb was located.

Tomb of Iuchiban

When they reached the Tomb, the Emerald Magistrates who guarded it were already dead, murdered by Mohai. Sui convinced the group to enter the Tomb to face Iuchiban with the aid of the spirits who dwelled there. Gineza's spirit guided them inside, helping the party to avoid all the traps he had built and set centuries ago. Inside the Tomb each of them were separated and tempted by the Bloodspeaker. When the images and voices disappeared they were all together.

Betrayal

Shahai revealed herself, ordering Mohai to kill Katamari, and the bloodspeaker appeared from the shadows and struck him down. Saito, who was Seppun Jin, cut the throat of Sui, and was healed by Shahai after Kuma made a bargain with her. Shahai, who had been a servant of Iuchiban before she joined Daigotsu, offered freedom to the Heartless if he accepted their terms. She would free Iuchiban, if the Heartless would help her make Daigotsu whole again.

Third Raising of Iuchiban

Lady of Blood

Iuchiban and Shahai played a game of deceit, a game won by the Heartless. Shahai saw the Ruby of Iuchiban and attempted to trap his soul there. She believed Iuchiban had entered the Ruby, sensing a new soul of grand power inside, and broke the wards of the Tomb. She realized her mistake when Mohai seized her, having been possessed by Iuchiban himself; it had in fact been the soul of Yajinden that had been put into the Ruby. Iuchiban, wishing to keep power for himself, obliged Shahai to serve him. Kuma, Katamari and Sui took advantage of Iuchiban's distraction with Shahai to escape. They found Iuchiban's prisoner, Adisabah, a Rakshasa who had been talking to Katamari, aiding him to overcome the powers of Iuchiban. Adisabah completely healed Sui of his injuries, and shortly after the Tomb began to collapse. Iuchiban faced the group, with Kuma's soul being out of his body, occupied now by Yajinden's soul. Yajinden seized Katamari, intending to kill him. Sui used Kuma's spirit to empower Katamari but died in the process. Katamari took Yajinden away, and with the magic of Iuchiban's prisoner Adisabah escaped through a portal.

Iuchiban defeats Daigotsu

Iuchiban made his way to the City of the Lost and took control of the armies of The Lost away from Daigotsu, who barely escaped with his life. Since then her will was bound to Iuchiban, and Grandfather did not speak to Shahai. The Heartless put Shahai under constant monitoring, waiting for the Daigotsu's return to meet his lover.

Rain of Blood

Iuchiban enacted a terrible ritual sacrificing the last Ki-rin in the Temple of the Ninth Kami, that covered the entire Empire in a Rain of Blood.

Iuchiban's Defeat

Shahai had nightmares that compelled her to betray Iuchiban, even when her will was bound to the Heartless. In 1166 Daigotsu returned to the city and met Shahai in the Temple of the Ninth Kami when Iuchiban was in the Ruined City. Iuchiban appeared wielding Akkuai-uo and fought Daigotsu breaking his no-dachi. The Dark Lord had come with Katsu, now a khadi as Iuchiban, and the will of the bloodspeaker not longer was bound to Iuchiban. Shahai took the ancestral Sword of the Hantei away from Iuchiban, freeing the will of Omoni who was bound to the blade's wielder. The half-goblin sent his bakemono against Iuchiban, and the Heartless seeing his armies withdrawing or turning on him, escaped the City to his Iron Fortress at Otosan Uchi. Just before Iuchiban departed, he cast a spell that set the City of the Lost ablaze.

Sons of Blood

Shahai went to the tiny village of Shutai, in the Scorpion lands. She met the leader of the cultist cell of Sons of Blood, supporters of Iuchiban. Shahai killed her leader Tsukihime, retrieving her followers who swore fealty to Daigotsu.

Gathering the Bloodspeakers

In 1167 the Shadow Dragon gathered the bloodspeakers that were without a leader after the death of Iuchiban. In the City of the Lost they saw how Katsu ordered to kill themselves to all who had followed Iuchiban for years. Only remained those who fell in the Rain of Blood, who were offered to join Daigotsu. Shahai pondered with Daigotsu the loyalty of the former followers of the Heartless, even her own.

Time of Demons

Problems

Her problems had not ended. Kyoso no Oni, an enemy of Daigotsu, decided to focus its attentions on destroying her. Kyoso no Oni had seen weakness in Daigotsu after his City of the Lost was ruined, and attacked Shahai to remove a supporter of her enemy during the Time of Demons, but Daigotsu arrived on time and she was saved.

Daigotsu's Child

After the birth of Daigotsu Kanpeki

In 1168 Shahai and Daigotsu had a child together named Daigotsu Kanpeki. The infant was born during an attack of the demons of Jigoku led by Munemitsu no Oni, which entered the Temple of the Ninth Kami just beside the room where Shahai was. The ogre Kayomasa and the Lost Daigotsu Eiya arrived on time to destroy the oni, and Kanpeki was safe. Kayomasa was appointed as his yojimbo.

Enlightened Gift

The urn with the ashes of Rosoku, the descendant of Shinsei, was gifted to Shahai. She saw it as a touching gift for the heir she had given to Daigotsu.

Spider Clan

In 1169 Daigotsu formed the Spider Clan after he had moved his followers out of the Shadowlands. The Spider's Lair was built in the Shadowlands Marshes of Shinomen, and Shahai lived there with Kanpeki. The new Clan would be the starting point of her son future empire.

From that day, Shahai was at the side of her love and Clan Champion, Daigotsu, taking care of her child.

Celestial Tournament

When news of the Celestial Tournament reached to the Black Silk Castle, Daigotsu's court, he decided the Spider Clan had to be represented there. He expected the patronage of Fu Leng, the Dark Kami, met the conditions imposed to be there. Daigotsu explained to Shahai the future of their son would be decided in the tournament.

Burning the Shinomen Mori

The new from the Tournament gave word of Kitsuki Iweko as the winner, and she had trascended to Divine, getting knowledge of the Spider Clan true nature. Troops of the Shogun were marching to chase them in the Shinomen. Daigotsu ordered to set to fire the forest.

Destroyer War

In 1171 Kali-Ma had overrun the Kaiu Wall, the plague which stroke the Empire could not be managed by the Chuda, and the Fingers of Bone castle was nearly to be ready. Daigotsu was concerned with the last news and Shahai placed her faith within him to find the Spider salvation.

New Champion of Jigoku

Kali-Ma was in fact the new Champion of Jigoku, being Fu Leng now a mortal man. Those Spider who bore taint were being affected by the will of their new Champion. Shahai obtained new supply of Tea of Jade Petals to be used with the children of the Spider including Kanpeki.

Jackals

In the Fingers of Bone were two Jackals, Master Saleh and Fatina. Saleh later had disappeared, propably changing his allegiances. Shahai visited Fatina and after a talk the Jackal living chambers were improved.

Furumaro's group

In the month of the Horse of 1173, a multi clan group, which included the monk Furumaro, arrived to Daigotsu's presence in the Fingers of Bone. They passed a message from the Empress Iweko I and the Dark Lord gave Doji Ayano the Tao of Fu Leng as requested by Iweko. Daigotsu set out to Shinden Gyokei, a small temple in the Scorpion lands, to a planned rendezvous with the Empress Iweko I.

Daigotsu's death

Daigotsu died in the month of the Goat of 1173 after he had bargained with the Empress Iweko I that his child Kanpeki could lead the Spider Clan as a part of the Celestial Order and the Empire, as a Great Clan. All the non tainted Spider members would be granted amnesty and the right to bear the mon of the Spider. The blessings of the Heavens would be granted to Daigotsu's heir, and his connection to Jigoku severed. Kanpeki would become a noble of Rokugan, trained in the Imperial house. The cost of these terms was the death of the Dark Lord, so Daigotsu took a wakizashi from Iweko's hands and plunged it in his own heart. In this way Daigotsu aided to fulfil his son's prophecy.

Death

Recreation of Shahai's Death

At the end of the Destroyer War, Shahai played a key role on the defeat of the Champion of Jigoku, Kali-Ma, manipulating a group of samurai of the great clans. After the death of Daigotsu she made a ritual involving the Tao of Fu Leng which stole the power of the gaijin demon. She suceeded in sacrificing Akodo Shunori and Yoritomo Saburo, but Hiruma Akio crushed her head, killing the Dark Daughter in the act. Daigotsu had become the Master of Jigoku, and elevated Shahai as the Dark Fortune of Blood.

See also

• Shahai/Meta

External Links

Shahai, Dark Fortune of Blood

• Iuchi Shahai (Hidden Emperor 2)
• Iuchi Shahai Exp (Honor Bound)
• Shahai (Gold)
• Shahai Exp (Web of Lies)
• Blood of Shahai (Gates of Chaos)

References

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