The Imperial Throne Stands Empty

With the knowledge that the Emperor has left the capitol on a quest for Enlightenment, the Empire is in turmoil. The Shogun moves to seize power, though he claims only to protect the throne for his brother. Many are doubtful, and see this as the resurgence of Kaneka’s long dormant ambition. The Empress stands against the Shogun, but his actions have seriously weakened her influence in court.

The Scorpion Clan sees their allegiance to the Emperor as a sacred duty to keep the throne empty in his absence. Bayushi Paneki will move his forces if necessary to keep the Shogun from taking the throne out from under his absent brother. The Unicorn Clan’s Khan cares nothing for who is in charge, Emperor or Shogun, as either is little more than an obstacle in his rise to power.

Even darker news comes from the south. Hiruma scouts report that both Ratling allies and wandering samurai of the Lost report the Emperor has gone deep into the Shadowlands on his quest for understanding. The Lost believe his quest will end at the fabled Tomb of the Seven Thunders, and the Ratlings believe it will only end at Tomorrow.

The War of Fire and Thunder has ended, and the Mantis stands victorious. The loss of their champion weighs heavily upon them, and the specter of doubt still hangs above them in the courts, but for now, the sons and daughters of Yoritomo know victory. With the islands they have seized off the Phoenix coast, they have begun to construct a new port city that will make them the dominant economic force in Rokugan, but their new Champion cannot know peace while the Dark Wave still exist.

The War of Fire and Thunder has ended, and though the phoenix stand defeated, they are a clan united once more. The Elemental Council is whole again, and the rifts between the Isawa and the other families have been healed at long last. The Council now recognizes a cancerous evil within the Phoenix, one that brought war, suffering and loss of self. Now the Phoenix must cleanse themselves once more or risk not only their destruction, but the corruption of the true path.

The Scorpion Clan have often fought the battles no one else sees, from the Lying Darkness to the machinations of the Gozoku, the scorpion are there. Now an unexpected new threat rises in the land. Those of the samurai caste often overlook the peasants. The occasional peasant who rebels is quickly eliminated. However, uprisings are occurring across the Empire with disturbing frequency and involving larger groups of peasants. The force behind these rebellions must be found, and only the Scorpion can hope to do so. Not even the clan of secrets suspects an agent of that force among their own ranks….