Toku

Please note: This article is about the Monkey Clan Founder. For other uses of the term, please see Toku (disambiguation).

Toku
Born:	Unknown
Died:	1165, Month of the Dog
Spouse:	Toku Inao
Children:	Toku Miyako, Toku Kyoji, Toku Koto, Toku Kiyuko
Titles:	Monkey Clan Champion, Captain of the Imperial Guard, Fortune of Virtue
People

Toku was born the son of a simple Heimin farmer. He dreamt of becoming a samurai, impersonating one for years and working his way up through the ranks of Toturi's Army. Once found out, due to his exemplary courage, bravery, and loyalty, his crime was forgiven by Emperor Toturi I and his samurai status was made official. After his death, Toku was named Fortune of Virtue by Toturi III.

Beginnings as a Samurai

Toku

The peasant village of Toku was attacked by bandits. Seven samurai gathered to defend it - Ikoma Hidemasa, a ronin formerly of the Lion Clan, an Otaku family magistrate, and five other ronin. They trained the peasants, and were impressed by the heroic spirit of one of the heimin boys, whom Hidemasa nicknamed "Toku," which means "virtue." During the fighting, all the samurai were killed, but Toku slew the bandit chieftain and thus saved his village. Following the battle, he left the village to take up the life of a ronin to honor the courage shown by Hidemasa. He took a number of things with him when he left to seek his fortune: a suit of piecemeal armor too large for him that he had cobbled together from twelve different bodies; the Otaku's stallion, though he was completely untrained in horsemanship; and Hidemasa's copy of Akodo's Leadership--even though, being illiterate, he had to have others read it to him; and finally, the daisho of the bandit leader.

Life as a Ronin

Toku wandered the empire, experiencing life as a samurai. Much of his knowledge was gained in Dragon lands where a Mirumoto samurai, impressed by the young man's enthusiasm and natural talent, taught him the essential skills of warfare and culture that a samurai needed to possess. This training was accidentally spotted by a Crane courtier, who facetiously goaded the Mirumoto into sending Toku to the prestigious Topaz Championship in Tsuma Village of 1118. Much to the Crane's horror, the Dragon did indeed sponsor Toku for the tournament, where Toku performed with great honor - winning no events outright, but placing in second or third repeatedly. This was a seminal moment for Toku, when he realized that it was the actions of a man, not birth or status, that determined his destiny. It was also here that he met Akodo Toturi, then Clan Champion of the Lion, and Doji Kuwanan.

Murder

The 1118 Topaz Championship was infamous because during the event the Badger Clan Champion Ichiro Akitomo was found assassinated.

The Clan War

Ronin Toku

Following the Scorpion Coup, Toku sought the now-ronin Toturi. When he found Toturi in Dragon lands, the two discussed the state of the empire for some time. It was implied that it was Toku's questions that inspired Toturi to follow the course of action that he had been planning - to forge his own army of ronin to fight against the darkness that threatened Rokugan. It was likely that Toku became a member of the Twelve Ronin, Toturi's elite bodyguard. He fought at the Battle of Beiden Pass in 1127, where he slew an oni. ^{[citation needed]} During the war, Toku was entrusted with a piece of Iuchiban's heart by Naka Kuro. He hid it in a Shrine dedicated to his idol, Ikoma Hidamasa, in the Lion Clan's Hall of Ancestors. During the last days of the war, while Toturi led his forces on the Second Day of Thunder, ^{[citation needed]} Toku was left behind to guard Nanashi Mura. When Nanashi Mura was attacked by Fu Leng's armies, Toku rode for reinforcements and lifted the siege of the village after the sacrifice of Morito Tokei had banished The Maw and most of its minions.

Toturi's Reign

Thinking Like a Monkey

Toku was an aide of Emperor Toturi I, and he was at his side when they saw the Ki-Rin. He wished to touch the mythical creature and was chided by Toturi, with this being the first time Toku was linked to a monkey.

"You think like a monkey, Toku, always wanting to grab what is just out of your reach." -Toturi

Shortly after Toku rallied his forces against a bandit gang who were slaughtering captive peasants in a village nearby after killing all the local resident samurai. The enemy leader, Nikotsu, managed to directly confront Toku, leaving behind several injured and dead Imperials, including a wounded Tzurui.

The Founding of the Monkey

Creating the Monkey Clan

In 1129 the position of Captain of the Imperial Guard was offered to Toku by Emperor Toturi I as a reward for his actions during the Clan War. Toku declined the offer and finally revealed to Toturi how he acquired his katana - that he was, in fact a humble heimin who had only pretended to be an actual samurai. Toku requested permission to repent for this great crime by committing seppuku, as his one last honorable act as a samurai. However, Toturi pardoned Toku for his crime and offered the position a second time, as well as conferring minor clan status upon Toku and his followers. In this way the Monkey Clan was founded. Toku chose the Monkey as his symbol, an animal as cheerful and resourceful as he was. Initially their holdings were within the Imperial City of Otosan Uchi, but after the exile of the Scorpion Clan to the Burning Sands, they would have their home in the Scorpion lands, as Toturi decreed, funded by Crane koku. ^{[citation needed]}

Defending Kyuden Hitomi

Monkey Clan Champion Toku

When Takuan pledged aid to the Dragon Clan in defense of Kyuden Hitomi, it fell to Toku as the Captain of the Imperial Guard to help defend the castle against the attacks of the Naga and Brotherhood of Shinsei. The mad Ise Zumi Kokujin took one of his guards and threw him to the Chamber of Crystal, where the Shadow was contained. After the return of the kidnapped Toturi, he enacted an Imperial Edict which declared peace between Naga and the Empire dissolved, and commanded Toku and the Monkey Clan to lead the Imperial Legions to aid the Dragon Clan against the Naga. The Monkey army marched and fought the Naga, who retreated from Dragon lands, but Toku remained, searching for the reason behind the Emperor's brutal command.

The Emperor's Law

After the slaughter of the Ikoma at Unicorn hands, it was deemed necessary to maintain a house of magistrates who answered only to the Emperor. Toku volunteered for the position of Chief Magistrate, and Toturi's Army tried to maintain order within the Empire.

War Against the Shadows

Hidden Heart of Iuchiban

In 1132 Naka Kuro gave a small shining sphere to Toku. Toku placed the piece inside the shrine he arranged for Ikoma Hidemasa in the Hall of Ancestors in the Lion Clan lands. This piece was part of the Hidden Heart of Iuchiban, which Toku was unaware of at the time; it would later be instrumental in the defeat of the next rise of Iuchiban.

The Shadows Manifested

In 1132 the Great Sea Spider allied itself with the Lying Darkness and Onnotangu, and wove a web of Shadows over Otosan Uchi. Onnotangu summoned an avatar inside the city, the Champion of the Moon, who struck down any who could challenge the maddened Emperor. Minions of the Darkness infested the city, slaughtering any rokugani they met. The avatar rose to claim Toturi to drive the Shadow into him and claim him forever. Hasame turned from his place at his master's side and stepped between Toturi and the avatar of the Moon. He took the blow intended for Toturi, perishing instantly while saving the Emperor's soul. Toku carried the body of his comrade away. After the death of Onnotangu and the Shadow's flight to the south, Toku proclaimed in the Halls of the High Histories of the Lion the tale of the Shadows' defeat that day .

Targeted by the Shadow

The Monkey Clan was targeted for destruction by the Shadow, as the Monkey were seen as a symbol of hope and virtue. The clan survived the assault, but their fortress was destroyed.

Battle of Oblivion's Gate

In 1133 Toku was beside the Oracle of Void Toturi Kaede, who was the new Empress of Rokugan. Kaede gathered her Champions, unleashing the armies of the Great Clans upon the city of Volturnum deep within the Shadowlands. The general Saigorei and Toku pondered their chances before they fought in the Battle of Oblivion's Gate.

War of Spirits

In 1138 the Monkey Clan sided Toturi when the War of Spirits broke. On those occasions when Toturi himself took the field, Toku was always nearby with a contingent of Monkey samurai. The returned spirits serving Hantei XVI did not care for a Minor Clan which had not existed in their leader's original time, and the fortress of the Monkey was destroyed once again.

Family

Shortly after the return of the Scorpion Clan from their exile in the Burning Lands Toku married Shosuro Inao, sister of the Shosuro Daimyo, Shosuro Yudoka. Toku offered to return the lands given the Monkey, but the Scorpion refused and instead entered into an alliance with the tiny clan. Toku and Inao had four children: Toturi Miyako, Toku Kyoji, Toku Koto and Toku Kiyuko. Toku was fondly known throughout the empire as "The General".

Kyoji's Gempukku

Toku engineered an unconventional gempukku for Kyoji. He gave him and Koto a box to be delivered to Aoki, the elderly sensei of Little Tower. The gempukku was complicated when Lord Hayato and his bandits ambushed Toku's sons. However, the boys successfully made their way to the Tower where Toku and some Monkey samurai had defeated the rest of the gang.

Retirement

Toku Attempting Retirement

Toku preemptively retired in 1155 and he contemplated making that retirement permanent for a time, but those plans were promptly abandoned. His daughter Miyako was not yet old enough to lead the Monkey Clan, and following the death of Toturi I in 1158 the throne was left empty; Toku remained vigilant.

Kaede's Return

In 1160 the Empress and Oracle of Void, Toturi Kaede, returned to the Mortal Realm at Kyuden Seppun. She commanded that the Four Winds be gathered at the city 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. Toku was present as one of the most prominent and powerful samurai in the Empire when the Winds were gathered, and prepared the Four Winds March. Miya Hatori asked him who was the chosen, but Toku kept silent on the matter.

Toturi III

Toku retired again when the throne was once again occupied.

Rain of Blood

Aged Toku

After the Rain of Blood covered the Empire in 1165 Toku returned from retirement yet again and began to hunt bloodspeakers. He was joined by Mirumoto Kenzo and Mirumoto Mareshi in the Phoenix lands, where cultists had been seen.

Hidden City

The enemies found were animated dead. Doji Midoru, who was part of the army, took an amulet that was in a small shrine. It was Emma-O's Amulet, and the Crane said it belonged to Akodo Tadenori, who had been tainted in the Rain. The army made their way north through the Mountains of the Phoenix. They received a dove with a message from the Master of Earth, Isawa Nakamuro. He requested their aid to protect the secret city of Gisei Toshi, unknown to the Empire until that moment. A Bloodspeaker army was marching to assault the City, led by Yajinden. The battle had fared badly for the Phoenix during three days until the arrival of Dragon. Imperial Legion and Wolf Legion forces. The enemy forces were concentrated on the southern gates, and the reinforcements circled the city and made a quick strike against the north, reaching the walls before the bloodspeakers and undead were able to maneuver and react. The defenders were able to open the gates to permit their entrance. Toku's son, Toturi Kyoji, had sent a messenger to Toshi Ranbo informing that Bloodspeakers marched on the Phoenix lands, but asked for no reinforcements. Toku and his forces were trapped, outnumbered, with little hope of aid in a city that did not officially exist.

Black Scrolls

In the City were kept two Black Scrolls that should be kept from Iuchiban at all costs. Nakamuro instructed to give them to Isawa Taeruko at Kyuden Isawa. Toku, Midoru and Kyoji decided to leave the city with the scrolls. When the Scrolls had been hidden among their saddlebags, Toku had requested that Nakamuro not place one in his own bags, but to put them in his son's.

Death

Toku's Grave

Toku had decided to lure Yajinden out of the army that sieged the City. Toku knew that the immortal smith would follow them after they left the city, and prepared a trap to stop him. When Yajinden pursued the trio, Toku rode away from Midoru and Kyoji. In a death reminiscent of the Kami Akodo, Toku's final act was to lure the Bloodspeaker Yajinden from the battle and collapse a mountain pass upon them both by throwing Tamori Tsukiro's potion bottle on the icy walls around them. As a result of his actions, only one of the two leaders of the Bloodspeakers was present for the majority of the battle. The place where he died was called Toku's Grave.

Legion of the Dead

In 1166 Toku joined the Legion of the Dead, stepping forward to answer Matsu Goemon's call. As the two forces initially battled for control over the newly forming realm in 1166, Isawa Tsuke released a massive explosion intended to stop the First Oni, but it also disrupted the dimensional fabric of the realm and knocked everyone in it into private memories of critical choices in their lives. The realm was testing each of them to see if they would embrace their destinies or reject them. The realm could become a place where those who failed their destinies could repeat their failures for eternity or could embrace their fates and find redemption. The soul of Naka Kuro set forth the idea of sending the soul of a powerful dead hero back to Rokugan to battle Iuchiban. Naka Kuro talked with Toku to find where the Monkey kept the Hidden Heart of Iuchiban, which would be necessary to defeat Iuchiban.

Fortune of Virtue

After his death, a temple in Ryoko Owari Toshi was erected and dedicated to his memory by Emperor Toturi III, who also proclaimed Toku to be the Fortune of Virtue.

The temple, Toku's Shrine, had a massive statue crafted by the finest Kakita sculptors. It depicted a young man in rough and ill-fitting armor. He held a ready sword in his right hand and had a thick, worn book clutched beneath his left arm. His keen eyes burned into the distant horizon, staring into the future without fear. On his back was mounted a sashimono, a banner depicting a black wolf – the symbol of Toturi’s Army. It was Toku as he had been in his youth, as he had been when the Emperor’s father first met him. At the bottom of the statue was inscribed “Toku, Fortune of Virtue – named by the Righteous Emperor, Toturi III.”

Shrine to Toku

Another shrine, and the largest to the Fortune of Virtue in Rokugan, was built at Toku Torid-e, manned by the Brotherhood order which followed the Fortune, the Order of Virtue.

Toku Family

Toturi III bestowed upon the Monkey Clan the family name of 'Toku' as well. His widow Toku Inao was the first to bear it.

See also

• Toku/Meta
• Toku/CW Meta
• Toku/Diskwars

External Links

• Toku (Imperial)
• Toku Exp (Time of the Void)
• Toku Exp2 (Dark Journey Home)
• Toku Exp2kyd (Thousand Years of Darkness)
• Toku Exp3 (Soul of the Empire)

Preceded by: None	Monkey Clan Champion 1129 - 1165	Succeeded by: Toku Inao
Preceded by: Vacant	Captain of the Imperial Guard 1129 - ?	Succeeded by: Unknown

References

This Ronin related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here.

This Monkey Clan related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here.

This magic or religion related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by expanding this article.