Mon of Toturi's Army
Toturi's Army was the band of samurai put together by the the former Lion Champion-turned-ronin Toturi during the early days of the Clan War. Though the group was composed mostly of ronin like their leader, many clan samurai also flocked to the banner of the Black Lion, especially those from the Unicorn and Dragon Clans.
Initial Organization[]
A discussion of Bushido and the role of the samurai between Toku and Toturi the Black inspired the two to gather followers and confront the bandit lord Yugoro with a ragtag army which would later be known as Toturi's Army. [1] The army was in essence a Ronin Brotherhood [2] which was formally created in 1125 with its original mission being to protect the Empire from bandits and other threats. [3]
In the southern reaches of the Dragon lands a large number of samurai followed Toturi's banner, [4] which was a surprise to Toturi as much as anyone else. At first there were only three followers, Otomo Yayu, Dairya, and Mikio. Hoping to gather samurai to combat the rampant banditry and lawlessness that had grown in the wake of the Scorpion Clan Coup, Toturi sent Yayu to the Toshi sano Kanemochi Kaeru. Yayu posted the following message:
- A Call to Arms:
- For warriors whose duty it is to preserve the Empire and restrain lawlessness, What purpose do we serve in fostering chaos? Let all men and women who have the honor to call themselves samurai rally behind the Black Lion, in the shadows of the Great Climb. [5]
Dozens of ronin arrived within the first week. Some openly mocked Toturi, but this did not occur in Dairya's presence after the first "incident" wherein the offending individual was quickly and permanently silenced by Dairya's sword. Among the first to join Toturi's Army was Ginawa, a former Akodo turned vagabond. By the end of the first week, only 12 men stood with Toturi. This was the origin of the Twelve Ronin. [6] They were recognizable by their use of the wolf-shaped mon, which would become the trademark of Toturi's Army. [7]
Growth[]
After their first victory over Kyomeru of the Mountain Goblin juzimai, Toturi sent Yayu again to deliver the "Call to Arms" recruitment posting to cities with large ronin populations. Two months later, he had 100 men, including 10 shugenja, and notable individuals such as Kamoto, Akiyoshi, Morito Tokei, and Naka Kuro had come to offer their swords and magic in support of Toturi's cause. Even peasant ashigaru came to join his army. But Toturi didn't want a large army, and at the time could not afford to pay for one. He expected 40 men to show up, not 100. But Togashi Yokuni knew the time would come when Toturi would be needed, so he made certain that Toturi didn't run short on supplies or resources. [6] Toturi’s ronin army would number in the tens of thousands at its peak. [8]
Clan War[]
First Battle of Beiden Pass[]
In Autumn of 1126 Toturi held Beiden Pass against a larger Crab and Shadowlands army led by Hida Sukune, son of the Crab daimyo, Hida Kisada. Sukune was outmaneuvered by Toturi and ultimately forced to retreat to the southern portion of the pass. [9] Toturi sent Mirumoto Daini as an emissary to the awakening Naga. They agreed to aid Toturi against the Crab Clan and their foul Shadowlands allies. [10]
New Allies[]
In the last days of 1126 Yokuni conferred command of a large Dragon army to Toturi, which was bolstered in the first month of 1127 with Shinjo Yasamura's cavalry and the Eyes of Nanashi. [11]
Battle of Beiden Pass[]
In Spring of 1127 Toturi's Army, with the help of allies from the Unicorn and Dragon, fought in the Battle of Beiden Pass against the Crab Clan and their Shadowlands allies. The Crab were eventually defeated [12] and Toturi left the Unicorn Clan to guard Beiden Pass, leading his army north. [13]
Naga Allies[]
Mirumoto Daini came to the recently awakened Naga, asking them for assistance in defeating the Crab Clan army and their Shadowlands allies. [14] The Naga agreed to aid Toturi on the condition that he promise not to take the Emerald Throne for himself. [10]
Fighting in Crane Lands[]
After hearing the tale of the False Hoturi from the recently freed Doji Hoturi, the Black Lion led a large portion of his forces into Crane lands to stop the marauders. Yasamura was left in control of the pass, and shortly after was commanded to block all access to the pass to anyone, including Toturi. [15] The Emperor's wife, Bayushi Kachiko, had brokered a Lion-Unicorn alliance in which the Lion would get Beiden Pass blocked in order to help catch Toturi, while the Unicorn were promised territories. [16]
Trapped in Lion Lands[]
A large Lion army led by Matsu Gohei attacked Toturi's smaller force, which retreated back to Beiden pass. When Yasamura denied his forces free passage, Toturi was forced to enter Lion territory, where he and his men would be chased for the next few months. [15]
Toturi's Chase Ends[]
During the winter of 1127, the Lion forces were ordered to stand down twice by Imperial Edict. The Lion allowed the Fall of Kyuden Doji to the forces of the False Hoturi and also permitted the forces of Hida Kisada to land undisturbed near Otosan Uchi. The Unicorn lost faith in the Lion pact and in the first month of 1128 Yasamura was ordered to leave Beiden Pass. Toturi's ronin army was able to move south and escape the Lion's ire. [17] Toturi's lieutenant Takuan was left in charge of Beiden pass while the bulk of the army headed toward the Crane lands to stop the False Hoturi. [18]
False Hoturi Destroyed[]
In the Battle of Bloodied Honor a combined force of Crane, Naga and Toturi's Army forces fought against an army of oni and Shadowlands Madmen led by the False Hoturi. The real Doji Hoturi confronted and defeated his evil duplicate, decapitating him with a single stroke. [19] [18]
Toturi's Army Rallies[]
In summer of 1128 Toturi left the Crane lands and rallied his army near Beiden Pass. The majority of the Dragon forces had returned to their homelands at the command of their Champion Togashi Yokuni, who sent them to protect the Brotherhood of Shinsei against the marauding and destruction of Yogo Junzo's Army, who were searching for the descendant of Shinsei. After a visit from the mysterious Hooded Ronin, Toturi's commands became ever more sharp and sure. At Beiden pass he and his forces awaited the arrival of a Crab army, this time as an ally. [20]
Ichiro Join Toturi[]
A group of Badger samurai arrived in the City of the Rich Frog and joined Toturi's Army. The nearly defunct Ichiro family felt they would be best suited throwing their lot in with Toturi. [21]
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 of this year the possessed Emperor announced the cancellation of the Winter Court. Hida Tsuru, 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 massing their forces against the Shadowlands. [22]
Hidden Emperor[]
After Toturi's ascension to Emperor after the Second Day of Thunder, his followers became courtiers, guards and defenders in Otosan Uchi. [23] [24] After Toturi's disappearance two of Toturi's followers, Ginawa and the ninja Matsu Hiroru set out on a quest to find Toturi and return him to the throne. [25]
Oblivion's Gate[]
After Toturi committed Seppuku to avoid corruption by the Lying Darkness, his General Saigorei led the forces of the empire to Volturnum to battle the minions of the Lying Darkness. [26] With so many members of Toturi's Army now dead, Saigorei realized that the time of Toturi's Army was over. What once was Toturi's Army became the Legion of the Wolf, an army of noble ronin who served in the Emperor's name. [27]
Decline[]
During the War of Spirits many of Toturi's followers left to rejoin their clans. Some became magistrates of the Monkey Clan, led by the peasant-born samurai Toku. Some of those who had become ronin when the Akodo family was banished rejoined the Lion behind their new daimyo, Akodo Ginawa.[citation needed]
Known Technique[]
Membership[]
See Members of Toturi's Army for a list of those associated with the group
See Twelve Ronin for a list of the original twelve followers of Toturi
See Monkey Clan for a list of those who became the Monkey
The sources relating to this article are in conflict with each other. |
| Winter Court:Kyuden Asako page 55 claims Toturi's army was formed in 1124. Oni no Pikachu 06:44, August 18, 2012 (UTC) |
External Links[]
- Toturi's Army (Anvil of Despair)
References
- ↑ Imperial Histories, p. 177
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Time of the Void, p. 57
- ↑ Imperial Histories, p. 153
- ↑ Way of the Wolf, p. 33
- ↑ Way of the Wolf, pp. 106-107
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Way of the Wolf, p. 107
- ↑ Secrets of the Empire, p. 136
- ↑ Fealty and Freedom, p. 138
- ↑ Imperial Histories, p. 154
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Naga, Imperial Herald #2
- ↑ Time of the Void, pp. 9-10
- ↑ Time of the Void, p. 32
- ↑ Light Cavalry (Emerald flavor)
- ↑ Time of the Void, p. 33
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Time of the Void, p. 35
- ↑ Clan Letter to the Unicorn #2 (Imperial Herald v1 #2)
- ↑ Time of the Void, pp. 53-55
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Time of the Void, p. 74
- ↑ Clan Letter to the Crane #4 (Imperial Herald v1 #4)
- ↑ Time of the Void, pp. 75-77
- ↑ Time of the Void, p. 99
- ↑ Time of the Void, p. 100
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings History: Jade Edition (Imperial Herald #15)
- ↑ Time of the Void, p. 121
- ↑ Hidden Emperor, p. 11
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings; Third Edition, p. 24
- ↑ Hidden Emperor, p. 94
|
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. |