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Please note: This article is about the shugenja. For other uses of the term, please see Chieko (disambiguation).
Tamori Chieko 
Tamori Chieko 
Born: Unknown 
Died: 1159
People

Tamori Chieko was a shugenja of the Dragon Clan.

Healer[]

Chieko was a notable student of the Mountain Home Dojo. She was favored by the water kami and was very talented in healing. [1] She drew the attention of the Togashi order, which gifted her with a mystic tattoo to enhance her power. [2]

Musical Talent[]

Chieko was an able singer and knew how to play the biwa. [3]

Dragon-Phoenix War[]

Chieko was stationed on Nanashi Mura when plague struck the village. She was aided in alleviating the plague's effects and spread by a ronin shugenja, Satoshi, and they became good friends. [4]

Chieko tending a plague contaminated

Chieko tending a plague contaminated

Chieko was later transferred to Mikoto Mura during the Dragon-Phoenix War. The village had been severely afflicted by a plague, brought on by the death caused by the war. Togashi Satsu, the son of the Dragon Clan Champion, visited the village with the intentions of aiding in any way he could. Chieko was not impressed, and imparted upon him her views of the war and that Togashi Hoshi should be able to end it. [5]

"This war is a war of pride. Your father has the power of a god. Why does he allow this misery? Is the pride of the Dragon Clan so valuable?"
-Chieko

Chieko was later visited here by Togashi Mitsu and Togashi Matsuo, who had been sent by Satsu to aid in the village in whatever way they could. Chieko again vented her frustration at the war, this time to Matsuo. Matsuo agreed that the Dragon Clan as a whole should have done more to prevent the tragedy befalling the village and the war in general. [3]

"Lord Satsu has already accused me of being too prideful, and I think he is right. I was wrong to blame you for what has happened here, Togashi Matsuo, and I am sorry."
-Chieko

Kokujin's Challenge[]

Chieko was the Tamori chosen to accompany Togashi Satsu as a part of Kokujin's Challenge in 1159. The group went to the Twilight Mountains to defeat Kokujin, but were ambushed by dozens of tattooed bakemono led by Kokujin Kobai. [6] Chieko and Hitomi Hogai were captured in the ensuing fight, and Togashi Satsu surrendered so they would not all be killed. The three were taken to Shiro Heichi where they witnessed Kokujin chaining Hitomi Akuai to the Anvil of Despair, torturing and bleeding him dry to forge a shamesword. [7]

Anvil of Despair and Kokujin

Chieko captured by Kokujin

After the death of Akuai, who had only lived long enough for Kokujin to create a wakizashi, Kokujin demanded that Togashi Satsu choose between Chieko and Hogai. Hogai told Satsu to select him, but initially Satsu refused to make the choice. Eventually, he realized the futility in resisting Kokujin's plans and made his choice. [8]

"So you believe you are better than them? Togashi and Hitomi reside in the Celestial Heavens. You hide in a cave with goblins and lunatics."
-Chieko

Satsu chose Hogai, but Kokujin laughed and chained Chieko to the anvil instead, explaining that Satsu had been condemning the person who was to live.[5] Chieko lasted considerably longer on the Anvil than Akuai had. Chieko commented on how Kokujin appeared to be a servant of pain and darkness because he feared the light, an observation that angered the mad Dragon. A dark ise zumi informed Kokujin that the Shakoki Dogu were beginning to attack the landscape around the ruins of Shiro Heichi; as a result Kokujin was forced to speed up his work. [3]

"You. . . say that you know no master. You lie. Pain and darkness are your masters. . . You serve them because you fear the light. . . Love burdens you and hope always betrays you."
-Chieko

Remarkably, Chieko survived the creation of the blade. Kokujin still intended on killing her on the Anvil, but was interrupted by the arrival of Togashi Mitsu, Togashi Matsuo and Kaelung. In the confusion that followed, Chieko was whisked away by Matsuo. [9] They met Heichi Jianzhen, and the Boar instructed the Shakoki Dogu to heal the Tamori. Chieko expected she could return the favor, bringing some peace to the souls sacrificed in the Shameswords. [10]

Death[]

Though the ritual was interrupted, Chieko's spirit was already so closely bound to the blade that she could not remain alive. Honoring her legendary compassion, Chieko swore to remain a pawn of the corrupted sword in an attempt to redeem the tortured soul of Kokujin. [2]

Spirit Trapped[]

The Blade of the Meek was crafted on the Anvil of Despair by Kokujin using the soul of Chieko; however, Kokujin had made a major error. Chieko's sins were far less that he had imagined, and the purity of her soul allowed a shade of her goodness to remain. Although Chieko could no longer fully interact with mortals, she could appear to the Dragon on occasion and offer them advice and insights. [11] Chieko was taken in by the Shakoki Dogu, and was able to cross the boundaries of the Spirit Realms much like a shiryo. Due to the foul ritual that ended her mortal life, however, she could not be far from Kokujin's sword for very long. [2]

Released[]

Rumours were heard that the spirit of Chieko appeared to members of her clan. In 1198 one of these sightings was reported in the Colonies. Tamori Muzu [12] and Bayushi Shibata saw Chieko's shade near a fishing village named A Welcome Reprieve on two occasions. [13]

External Links[]

References



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