The Naga send an emissary, called Dashmar, to the Imperial Assembly to inform the Empire that the Naga have awakened from an ages-long slumber to fight the rising tide of evil they sense in the Shadowlands. As the Ambassadors of the Clans are consumed with the raging civil war, few take any serious heed to Dashmar's words. Rebuffed, he seeks to locate those individuals who will hear the wisdom of the Naga and act accordingly.
In the libraries of the Phoenix Clan, the Elemental Masters have detected the opening of the first black scroll, and perhaps more. They dispatch on of their number, Isawa Tadaka to seek out the black scrolls and recover them so that the Phoenix may learn what they truly are.
The Scorpion Clan begin to rebuild their forces in secret. They retake many of their ancient castles and fortifications. Kachiko is able to use her behind-the-scenes power in Otosan Uchi to end the Crane purge and to restore the Scorpion some measure of safety. At this time she also begins to secretly poison the Emperor, seeking to torture him greatly before killing him as punishment for killing her husband. Acting with all decorum, Kachiko becomes in some sense the unofficial regent of the Empire, wrapping the bureaucracy around her finger.