Togashi Yokuni | |
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Born: | Unknown |
Died: | 1128 |
Titles: | Dragon Clan Champion |
People |
Togashi Yokuni was the last of the personas of the Kami Togashi, and at the time of his death had been alive for over a thousand years. [1]
Tamashii[]
Yokuni was one of the tamashii that held Togashi's soul, and as such his blood could be used to create the tattoos of the ise zumi.[citation needed] He appeared as a huge muscular man dressed in Dragon Clan armor carrying the Togashi's Daisho. His eyes glowed yellow behind the slits [2] of the Togashi's Mask, [3] and he had never been seen without it. Yokuni spent most of his time in isolation, and no one had ever seen him eat or sleep. Only a few had heard him speak, and they only remembered impressions, and not complete sentences or phrases. [4]
Enemy of the Kolat[]
Yokuni was a noted enemy of the Kolat. He could infallibly spot kolat infiltration in the Dragon Clan. Any Kolat agents were either slain by him or turned to his own purpose. Eventually the Masters learned to stop trying. [5]
Dragon[]
Yokuni was rumored to have destroyed the Dragon Helm, [6] most likely because of it's ability to control dragons, as himself. As dragon his form represented the wisdom of the world, and the enormous potential that such wisdom represents. He communed with other dragons on occasion, as his debates with Osano-Wo, but he was no longer one of their number and was subject to different laws than they were. [1]
White Woman[]
The only time any outside the Dragon Clan saw Yokuni prior to the Second Day of Thunder was when Yokuni had a chance encounter with the White Woman ghost that haunted the halls of Kyuden Togashi. An old monk who was visiting Kyuden Togashi was meditating in the gardens when he was disturbed by the entrance of the White Woman. As he watched her walk throught the garden he noticed Yokuni enter and spot the woman. Yokuni walked over to the White Woman and as he drew close he removed his helmet. And that was the last thing the monk ever saw, as he was blind ever since. [7]
Togashi Mitsu[]
Yokuni visited Fukurokujin Seido in 1114, and spoke to a young acolyte named Soh. The 14 year old acolyte was offered a place among the Dragon Clan, to become a Togashi ise zumi and gain tattoos. Soh accepted, and decided he would take the name Togashi Mitsu. [8]
"You will be allowed to pass gempukku as a true Dragon, as a Togashi, and take a name of your choosing. I will share with you the secrets of our tattoo magic, and you may join the brotherhood of the ise zumi if you choose."
-Yokuni
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Intervening at Kaiu Kabe[]
In 1118 [9] Yokuni foresaw Shiro Kuni and all the lands in the surrounding would be doomed. The Crab general there, Hiruma Makasu, had seen too many horrors which led him into madness. If the fortress was lost, the Kaiu Wall could fall shortly after. To directly confront the Crab would be a breach of honor, so he sent a group of samurai there, who would fight in the Battle of Twilight's Honor. [10]
Scorpion Coup[]
In 1122, shortly before the winter court, the Scorpion Clan Champion Bayushi Shoju was visited by Yokuni in an attempt to gain insight in the path he must take. [11] Shoju enacted the Scorpion Coup shortly after.
“If you do this, a bloodline will end. If you succeed, the Empire will be saved.”
-Togashi Yokuni [12]
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During the coup, Yokuni sat by merely watching the events unfold. Shoju took this to mean that the Dragon Clan Champion, whose true secret he knew, approved of his actions. [13]
Clan War and the Thunders[]
Yokuni, as Togashi, knew that his brother, Fu Leng, was being released from Jigoku after the first Black Scroll was opened. [14]
Yokuni knew that the great cycle was nearly complete and the events he had waited a thousand years to witness were about to unfold. The Shinsei's descendant had arrived to end the menace of Fu Leng once and for all. Yokuni might save an Empire, but if he did, he would kill his own brother. [15]
Toturi the Black[]
After the coup Yokuni recalled all his ambassadors for the space of one year, and when they returned, alliances were sought among the ronin. Yokuni sent out tattooed men to find Toturi the Black, the ronin general, to be brought to his presence. [16] During the Clan War Yokuni supported Toturi's Army, knowing that one day he would be needed. He gave Toturi rations and weapons, as well as sending members of his clan to aid the army against the Crab at the ensuing Battle of Beiden Pass. [17] In 1126 Yokuni conferred command to Toturi of a large Dragon army, and disappeared. [18]
"For the coward, there is no life. For the hero, there is no death."
-Yokuni
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Mirumoto Hitomi[]
Mirumoto Hitomi, after being given the Obsidian Hand by Bayushi Kachiko, met with Yokuni in secret. Afterwards she returned to Mirumoto lands and raised and equipped a new army. Yokuni vanished shortly after their meeting. [20] [21]
Bayushi Kachiko[]
After Hantei XXXIX was possesed by Fu Leng in 1128, Bayushi Kachiko had the hope of seeing him defeated by the Great Bear, Hida Kisada. Instead she saw Kisada mortally wounded in the throne room, so she panicked and tried to flee from Otosan Uchi. Yokuni intercepted her and explained that she should remain behind to face her destiny. [22] Kachiko remained while Yokuni finally returned to Dragon lands. [23] [24]
"You must return to the palace. The Emperor's body is weakened from your poisons. You must continue to keep it so. If you do not, all will be lost. You are needed, Lady. And you are wise enough to know not to try to deny destiny."
- Togashi Yokuni [22]
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Part of the words Yokuni said was not understand by Kachiko until years later, related to her connection with Shosuro. [25]
"You are Shosuro, it is in your blood. We are all bound by the blood. One day, you will understand."
- Togashi Yokuni [25]
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Hida Yakamo[]
Following the failed Crab assault on Otosan Uchi, Yokuni approached Yakamo in the cave where he and his mortally wounded father, Hida Kisada, lay. He told Yakamo there was still a purpose for him, and gave him the Jade Hand, which he placed upon the stump of his arm after tearing off the Oni's Claw. [26] The Jade Hand was connected to a prophecy, and now that someone had claimed the Hand, the prophecy began to unfold. The prophecy of the Jade Hand was at last complete, as Hida Yakamo was revealed to be one of the Seven Thunders. [27]
"You must cast off old fetters to forge new ones"
-Togashi Yokuni [26]
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The Hooded Ronin[]
Yogo Junzo had begun to destroy the monastaries of the Brotherhood of Shinsei, seeking the descendant of Shinsei to kill him before he could reunite the Seven Thunders. [28] Yokuni reappeared at Dragon lands and sent the Mirumoto and Togashi to conceal the Brotherhood from Junzo's hunters, sacrificing their lives to preserve as many of their brothers as they could. [29]
Clans United Against the Hantei[]
After the failed assault on Otosan Uchi against Hantei XXXIX in the Month of the Hare of 1128, the surviving Crab forces laid a camp near the ruins of Kyuden Doji. In winter this year the possesed Emperor announced the cancellation Winter Court. Hida Tsuru, Hida Kisada's brother, sent invitations to hold a mock Winter Court outside the city, which was soon attended by the leaders of the clans and their military advisors. Now united, the clans began uniting their forces against the Shadowlands. [30]
Second Day of the Thunder[]
Seven Thunders[]
Yokuni warned the Seven Thunders before they entered the Throne room.
"You all know your destiny. Deny it at your own risk."
- Togashi Yokuni [31]
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To Mirumoto Hitomi he made another warning.
"Yours is the darkest path. Walk it with care. More rests on your shoulders than you know."
- Togashi Yokuni [31]
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Death[]
When the Second Day of Thunder came, Togashi entered the throne room with the Seven Thunders. He attacked Fu Leng, who broke Togashi's back and left him crippled. [32] Yokuni revealed himself as the Kami Togashi, and died while fighting in dragon shape against his brother Fu Leng. It allowed Hitomi to retrieve the 12th Black Scroll from Yokuni's heart, which made Fu Leng mortal once more and gave the Seven Thunders their chance for victory. [31] [33] Yokuni was burned on pyre. [34]
Legion of the Dead[]
In 1166 Yokuni joined the Legion of the Dead. He had stepped forward to answer Matsu Goemon's call to fight the Legion of Blood. [35] As the two forces initially battled for control over the newly forming realm in 1166, Isawa Tsuke released a massive explosion intending to stop the First Oni, but it also disrupted the realm and knocked everyone in it into private memories of critical choices in their lives. The Realm of Thwarted Destiny was testing each of them, to see if they would embrace their destines or reject them. The realm could become a place where those who failed their destinies could repeat their failures for eternity or a place where those who failed could embrace their fates and find redemption. [36]
Giving counsel to Satsu[]
The Yokuni that joined the Legion was the soul of the Tamashii, not the Kami Togashi. He relived the most important decision he made, the day that Yokuni told his mother he was leaving home to join the Order of Togashi. He met Mirumoto satsu, and Yokuni pondered the decision changed by Satsu, offering him counsel. The decision itself was not a failure, what the Shadow Dragon sought was to seed doubts in the heroes of the Legion. Satsu rose to join their brethren among the Legion. [37]
See also[]
External Links[]
- Togashi Yokuni (Imperial)
- Togashi Yokuni Exp (Anvil of Despair)
- Togashi Yokuni Exp2 (Time of the Void)
- Togashi Yokuni, Kami (Siege: Clan War)
- Yokuni Sensei (Honor Bound)
Preceded by: Togashi Nariako |
Togashi Daimyo ? - 1128 |
Succeeded by: Togashi Hoshi |
Preceded by: Togashi Nariako |
Dragon Clan Champion ? - 1128 |
Succeeded by: Hitomi |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Way of the Dragon, p. 57
- ↑ Way of the Dragon, p. 58
- ↑ Corrupted Ground (Fire and Shadow Foil Chase Cards flavor)
- ↑ Roleplaying in the Emerald Empire, p. 176
- ↑ Broken Tiger, by Shawn Carman and Rich Wulf
- ↑ Dragon Helm (Obsidian)
- ↑ Way of the Dragon, pp. 94-95
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Enlightened Madness, Part Three, by Rich Wulf
- ↑ Imperial Histories, p. 128
- ↑ Twilight Honor, pp. 5-6
- ↑ Winter Court: Kyuden Seppun, p. 84
- ↑ Imperial Histories, p. 131
- ↑ Clan Letter to the Scorpion Clan (Imperial Herald v2 #4)
- ↑ Stance of the Mountain (Honor Bound Foil Chase Cards flavor)
- ↑ L5R History, Crimson and Jade (Imperial Herald #15)
- ↑ Winter Court: Kyuden Kakita, p. 76
- ↑ The Battle at Beiden Pass - Letters to the Generals
- ↑ Time of the Void, p. 9
- ↑ The Battle at Beiden Pass - Letters to the Generals
- ↑ Ryan Dancey's Timeline (Anvil of Despair)
- ↑ The Gaijin's Guide to Rokugan - Part 4: Distant Thunder
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Kachiko's Tale (Anvil of Despair Rulebook Story)
- ↑ Clan Letter to the Dragon #4 (Imperial Herald v1 #4)
- ↑ Time of the Void, p. 55
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 No Regrets (The Last Kachiko Story), by John Wick
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Firelight, by Rob Vaux
- ↑ Hitomi and Yakamo
- ↑ Ryan Dancey's Timeline (Anvil of Despair)
- ↑ Time of the Void, p. 75
- ↑ Time of the Void, p. 100
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Hitomi's Last Test (Time of the Void story Cards)
- ↑ The Dragon Clan, by Edward Bolme and Ree Soesbee (Imperial Herald #15)
- ↑ The Mountain Keep of the Dragon (Time of the Void, story back)
- ↑ The Celestial Pattern (Fire and Shadow Foil Chase Cards flavor)
- ↑ The Legion of the Dead: The Dragon's Host
- ↑ Legions, Part III, by Shawn Carman and Rich Wulf
- ↑ Legions, Part X
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