“Though many brave samurai rushed into the depths of the Shadowlands to save his life, Emperor Toturi the Third died during the year 1168. Toturi the Third chose to sacrifice his life to give his beloved empire a chance for survival. Still, he did not die alone. The Emperor’s personal champion Yasuki Hachi stood in front of the ravenous hordes, holding his ground to give his lord a chance for a dignified death. His behavior is a shining example of honor and duty that will be remembered forever. When the clans recovered from the tragic loss, they sent their worthiest samurai to select one to bring law into the land in the Emperor’s absence. Five days later, the Empire found its newest Emerald Champion.” – The Miya Histories

Month of the Goat, Year 1169
The breeze flowed over the Plains of Thunder and the vast, rolling fields of grass rippled in its wake. The lands were quiet and tranquil, free from the bustle of cities and the horrific cries of battle. Few lived in these plains that bordered the Scorpion lands and the great Shinomen Forest that marked the western border of the empire. By edict and custom, no armies trod upon this region and no one dared to tame the land with rice and other crops. This land was blessed by Osano-Wo, the Fortune of Fire and Thunder, and no one would dare draw his ire by showing disrespect to his will. The Order of Thunder, monks dedicated to his service, watched over the land and protected it from anything that might threaten its sanctity. The caretakers quietly tended to it with little interruption. They saw outsiders within its boundaries only a handful of times each generation, when the empire needed the strength of a new Emerald Champion.

Many years had passed since the last time the Great Clans gathered in those plains. More than one Emperor had passed into Tengoku. And quietly, without pomp or glory, the Brothers of Thunder steadily worked to prepare for the next Test of the Emerald Champion. The waves of golden grass separated to allow a handful of riders to cut through the unbroken land. Miya Shoin rode at the back of the procession, deftly maneuvering his horse to keep up with his escorts. Though the Imperial Herald was skilled at hiding his emotions, he could not erase the lines of worry that creased his face. The death of the Emperor had brought chaos upon the land. War had replaced the uneasy peace that had held the empire whole, and only the appearance of a Celestial Dragon had put a temporary end to the killing. Shoin had traveled through the land in recent months and seen pain and suffering in every part of the empire. Rokugan needed a strong, firm hand to guide it through these turbulent times.

Finally, the rider at the front of the group raised his hand and slowed his horse at the crest of a hill. Shoin broke out of his reverie and stopped with the rest of the men. He deftly dismounted and handed his reins to the monk companion that stood at his right. He moved through the group and toward the head rider. The head rider turned around and greeted Shoin with a kind smile. Shoin quickly reached his companion and smiled back. Now was no time for worries.

Though the rider was the master of the Order of Thunder, he did not look like a typical monk. Though he was an old man, the master’s body was built with muscle and his eyes sharply reflected the strength of the soul within. Except for his simple garb and his shaved head, he looked in every way a fierce warrior.

“We have prepared these grounds for the ceremony,” he said. Shoin glanced out at the horizon. A large field, clear of trees and other obstacles met his gaze. Little stood out to mark this place from the rest of the Plains of Thunder, yet Shoin knew that the land was made to host the Test. Shoin could feel peace settle into the depths of his soul as he stared out at the meadow. It was as if the kami of the land were attuned to his desire for serenity and accepted him as one of their own.

“This place is perfect,” Shoin said. He turned and bowed to his companion. “I must commend your order. You have succeeded beyond all expectations.”

“It is our duty and our pleasure to tend to the land so blessed by Osano-Wo,” the master replied. “I simply hope that we can find a man who is worthy enough to save the empire.”

“So do we all,” Shoin said quietly. “So do we all.”

The Emerald Championship was the most prestigious of honors. The Emerald Champion would earn glory beyond imagining, as he traveled the land as the personal champion of the Emperor. He would wield great power, as he could control taxes in many provinces and assign Emerald Magistrates as he saw fit. The position was sought after by many, whether they dreamed of serving the Empire, furthering their Clans, or personal aspirations. So the Imperial families and the Order of Thunder prepared the isolated ceremonial grounds and waited for the delegations from each clan to arrive. They were not alone for long. Within a few days, the first of many travelers arrived.

Two leaders, a man and a woman, quickly conversed between each other. With a nod, both turned toward Shoin and led the entire Unicorn party toward him. Shoin knew the woman only by reputation; Utaku Tama was an honorable woman that had quickly risen in the Khan’s military. Her skill with gaijin blades was renowned, and Shoin briefly wondered if she intended to use those strange skills in the iaijutsu contest that concluded the Test.

The identity of Tama’s companion brought a genuine smile to Shoin’s face. Moto Najmudin looked like a young man dressed in simple Rokugani style clothes. Anyone who had never met Najmudin would never guess that he was an Emerald Magistrate and hero of a hundred exploits all across the empire. Shoin had worked with the man before and found him to be a reliable and trustworthy man. Najmudin bowed deeply from his horse and Tama followed suit. Shoin returned the gesture, if not nearly as low.

“Najmudin-san. It is truly a pleasure,” Shoin said.

Najmudin lifted his hand and thrust it toward the Imperial Herald, who shook it in the Unicorn tradition without hesitation. “It is an honor to attend this Test, Shoin-sama,” Najmudin said. He gestured to Tama. “This is Utaku Tama, a fine warrior and a representative of the Unicorn Clan.”

Tama bowed stiffly. She spoke slowly, as if she were carefully marking everything she said. “Greetings, Shoin-sama. I bring congratulations and condolences from the Khan for having the foresight and the strength of will to bring together the Test. He is recovering from an illness and thought it unwise to travel in his ill health.”

Shoin hid his relief with a sympathetic frown. “Chagatai-sama’s health must be secured, before all else. I am sure that you will exceed expectations as the Unicorn representatives.” He gestured behind him, and several helping hands rushed to the front. “These men will guide you to your resting area. I hope you will be ready when the festivities begin.”

Najmudin laughed out loud. “Have no doubt in your mind, Shoin-sama. The Unicorn will be prepared.”

To Shiba Naoya, a noted officer from the Phoenix Clan, the chaos was unbearable. He had spent his entire life shutting everything out but his duty and his technique, and the constant currying for favor felt unctuous to him. After he had settled in with the other Phoenix samurai, he immediately made her excuses. Without looking back, he mounted his horse and left the commotion.

At first, he did not know his destination. He held no desire but to find a place to settle his mind and her soul. The endless fields did nothing to soothe the distaste that lingered on in his mood. With no place in mind, he traveled south of the plains for an answer to his disquiet. He held no expectations in mind when the large temple appeared on the horizon, but he headed in its direction for any sort of civilization.

The gates of Shinden Osano-Wo were already open, as if the Order of Thunder had expected many of the participants to seek solace within their home. No one paid any attention to Naoya as he stepped onto the premises. The monks of the temple did not seem interested in the samurai that had wandered into their home. He walked around, watching the Order of Thunder as they went on their duties.

Naoya slowly stepped inside the main hall of the temple, his eyes taking in every detail, every relic. His eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. He had prayed in countless shrines and temples that dotted the Phoenix provinces. He had considered it almost trivial, a tradition to appease his ancestors. Yet he had never felt such a powerful presence as he did standing in front of the altar. The likeness of the Fortune of Fire and Thunder stared down at him, its gaze piercing into his very mind. It was as if the Fortune himself had descended down into the room. He had never felt its like.

Naoya did not pray to his ancestors or beg for clarity from above. He simply knelt at the altar and closed his eyes. The room was silent save for the distant sound of the brotherhood hard at work through the open doors. The intangible, oppressive presence seemed to lift its strength from his shoulders. A look of calm returned to his face, and he rose to his feet. He bowed to the statue of Osano-Wo and immediately felt foolish. He turned and left the room. His steps felt light again.

Naoya stopped abruptly. The path out was empty but for a single man clad in the rough garb of a ronin, yet something about him made him falter in his steps. The man looked no different from the average ronin — modestly groomed, well built (if slightly underfed), and a slight aura of danger the wanderers seemed to cultivate, as if in self defense. Yet the man’s eyes seemed to hint at secrets that manacled his spirit.

“The shrine is well kept, friend,” Naoya said quietly. “If you seek solace, you will find it within.”

The ronin bowed slightly. “Thank you, Phoenix-san,” the man replied, his voice deep and rumbling. “I have prayed here several times, and each time I have felt the blessings of this land respond. I am glad events led me back to this place.”

Some distant memory tugged at the back of Naoya’s mind. The voice sounded somewhat familiar, but he could not make a relevant connection. He pushed the thought aside. “If the location were more convenient, I would not be able to keep away,” he said with a smile.

“Perhaps that is why the temple is so blessed. Only the truly devout find their way here.”

“Yet fate and the kami work to altar our courses to what must fit the Celestial Pattern. Perhaps it is not the devout who find this temple, but the temple who converts its visitors to the devout.” The ronin raised an eyebrow. “An interesting viewpoint.”

“The Emerald Championship brought us all to this place,” Naoya mused. “I wonder if the serenity of this temple was meant to bring me victory in the Test, or if the Test was meant to bring me to this serenity.”

The ronin raised an eyebrow. “What do you think is the answer, Shiba-san?”

He bowed deftly. “I feel I can finally understand things that had remained beyond my grasp. I am grateful the kami have brought me here to teach me this lesson.” He paused for a moment and studied the ronin. “I am Shiba Naoya, yojimbo of the Council of Elemental Masters. Forgive me. I cannot decipher your identity by your garb.”

“I am Tamago, ronin of the Legion of Two Thousand,” he replied. “Regardless of how the Test goes, Shiba Naoya, I will remember your words.”

Naoya smiled. “If that is so, Tamago-san, we have both already won.”

“Halt, ronin. Who are you and what is your purpose here?” Arata asked. The man in the mask tilted his head and slowly turned to look at Arata. Arata felt a chill run down his back; for no reason at all, he suddenly felt as if he were in mortal danger.

The large ronin spread out his hands palm up in front of him, to show he meant to ill intent. “I am Iemitsu,” the man said. “This is my companion Eiya. What purpose do we all have, here in this remote land?”

Arata frowned. “Only those who are worthy may enter the Test of the Emerald Champion, ronin. Men of your kind are not allowed to simply walk in and join on a whim. Leave this place now, before we force you out.”

Iemitsu smiled, though it did little to make him seem less threatening. “Ah, there lies the misunderstanding.” He reached in to his kimono and pulled out a scroll. He turned it over quickly and displayed the seal to Arata and his men. Arata managed to conceal his surprise. The scroll was sealed by the mon of the Otomo family, the prestigious Imperial family with influence spread across every part of the empire. Iemitsu handed it to Arata and waited with a patient smile on his face.

Arata opened the seal and quickly read the scroll. His eyes grew wide with surprise. It was a simple note, only two sentences long, but its message was clear.

“The man known as Iemitsu and the man known as Eiya are both worthy samurai and a testament to the honor of ronin. By my authority, the two men are welcome to the competition of their peers at the Test of the Emerald Champion. -Otomo Kotone”

Though Arata looked for any imperfections or signs of forgery, the scroll looked genuine. He scanned the message over and over, but the situation was clear. Otomo Kotone was a powerful courtier that traveled to many important courts all across the Empire. Her approval could open many doors for everyone. Arata would stand to lose everything if he did not grant these two ronin entry into the Test. He could not risk everything on a mere gut feeling.

“My apologies, Iemitsu-san, Eiya-san,” he said at last. “I did not know you were invited to the event. Your sponsor speaks highly of you.”

Iemitsu nodded. “She is too kind.”

“You are welcome to these grounds,” Arata continued. “My men will lead you to where you may rest while you are here.”

Iemitsu bowed deeply. He followed the pair of Seppun guards as they traveled past the tents of the Great Clans. Eiya followed him silently, his gaze fixed on the back of one of their escorts. His muscles tensed and relaxed, as if he were constantly on the edge of pouncing upon the two. The escorts walked on, blissfully unaware of Eiya’s actions, and led the pair of ronin to their designated resting area. With a short bow and a brief explanation of the rules of the Test, the Seppun left the ronin to go back to their duties. The pair were finally alone. Iemitsu turned to his companion.

“Be at ease, Eiya,” Daigotsu Iemitsu murmured. “If we are to enter and win this tournament, we must do nothing to draw undue attention to ourselves.”

Daigotsu Eiya shifted his muscles in response and growled deeply.

“Patience. If I become the Emerald Champion, the empire will tear itself apart in a sea of blood,” Iemitsu whispered. “Until then, do as our master ordered. Drink the tea and keep the necklace with you at all times. We will need them both, if we are to avoid detection and win this great prize for the Dark Lord.”

“Those among you honored to have been given the right to compete shall do so for that greatest of earthly joys, the rapture of serving the Emperor and the Empire in his absence as his personal Champion,” Shoin continued. Each delegation from the Great Clans sat isolated from the rest of the Clans. The recent fighting had left indelible marks upon the Empire. He knew the sacred traditions of the Test of the Emerald Champion would stop any outbursts of violence among contestants. Even still, the tension in the air was palpable.

Shoin only hoped that the Emerald Champion would be able to mend the relationships between the clans. He wondered if that thought revealed him as naive or simply a fool.

“Let those who have been selected step forth. The Test of the Emerald Champion shall begin now.”

“The one who becomes the Emerald Champion will assume an office of high authority, responsible for judging disputes between all the clans,” Shoin began without preamble. “The Emerald Champion cannot be simply a master of iaijutsu but also an arbiter. You will all be tested for your knowledge of law in the different regions of the land so that we may know you are ready for the responsibility.”

The contestants stared back at him solemnly. There were too many participants in the Test for him to officiate over each question; Miya heralds under his direction separated each samurai and asked him a series of questions ranging from the mundane questions every samurai knows to the esoteric clarification on tax customs in a specific city.

Shoin listened as his assistants meticulously moved through the group. No two samurai were asked the same question, and the responses were carefully noted. His heralds were well trained, and knew the matters of law as well as everybody else. Whenever a particular answer proved difficult to judge, Shoin acted as the final ruling over the situation.

Shoin had never presided over the Test of the Emerald Champion before, but the answers of the participants impressed him. Some, like the venerable magistrate Tsuruchi Kaya, served as magistrates and were able to answer all the questions with little effort. Even those samurai who were not officers of law knew the many tricky questions posed to them. Those who did not know admitted their ignorance and explained in a well thought out argument on the state of the decree.

Several hours passed by and the group dwindled into a handful of men. Only one man remained to be tested when Shoin stood up and walked toward the herald proctoring the test.

“Allow me,” Shoin said, and the herald bowed and stepped back. “Kaiu Hisayuki.”

The burly Crab bowed deeply. “You honor me,” he said.

“Allow me to present to you a series of simple questions. What are the three principal duties of the Emerald Champion?”

Hisayuki smiled at the easy question. “The Emerald Champion serves as the personal protector of the Emperor. The Emperor has other sources at his disposal, such as the Hidden Guard or other yojimbo, but the Emerald Champion must ensure the safety of the Emperor above all else. He must also enforce the laws of the empire and rule over the Emerald Magistrates.”

“Well said,” Shoin said. “If the Emerald Champion controls the Emerald Magistrates, under whose jurisdiction falls the Imperial armies?”

The Crab frowned. “By tradition,” he finally said, “the Right Hand of the Emperor assumes the role. The Lion Clan Champion would gain control over the Imperial armies. However, I believe such a choice places an impossible demand upon the Lion. What if the Imperial armies are called to stop a conflict in which the Lion are involved?”

“Who, then,” Shoin said, “should assume that duty?”

Hisayuki shook his head. “If the Shogun had survived, I would not hesitate to name him as the successor. His death presents a problem. To present the duty to any lesser man would offer grave insult to the Lion’s honor. There is no one else that fits the description. Perhaps an Imperial officer could perform the duty, yet I cannot think of any that would not cause a political disaster.”

Shoin nodded at the Crab. “Perhaps you are right, Hisayuki-san. I hope that if you become the Emerald Champion, you will perhaps find an answer to the conundrum.”

Hisayuki smiled. “Thank you, Shoin-sama.”

Shoin prepared to wait for the pair to finish their conversation. Shigekawa looked up at the Imperial Herald and smiled. He said a quick word to Shigetoshi, and they moved together toward Shoin.

Toturi Shigekawa, the Commander of the Seventh Legion, had come to his position early in life. Much like Shoin himself, Shigekawa had been thrust into the heart of troubles as soon as he began his work and had proven himself exemplary in front of his superiors. He had once been an Akodo but had sworn his service to the late Empress Toturi the Second. He was a happy and honest man, and Shoin had always enjoyed his company. His companion, Akodo Shigetoshi, was an honest man. The Akodo Family Daimyo was renowned for his tactical mastery and his cool, methodical nature, although he was not beyond occasional outbursts of temper.

“Shoin-sama,” Shigekawa said with a grin, “could you not resist the Go boards?”

Shoin chuckled. “Can you blame me? I am always looking for new strategies. After all, I could use any help that I can get against you.”

“I do not think these games will help you, Shoin-sama,” Shigetoshi interjected. “No normal game of Go would ever devolve into the situations that the participants now face.”

Shigekawa laughed at the puzzled expression on Shoin’s face. “The boards are made to present a challenge to one of the players. The Test of Leadership, my friend, is not meant to be a real match between equals.”

“Interesting,” Shoin responded. “What about you, Shigetoshi-sama? Have you no interest in the Go stones?”

“Shigetoshi has already finished his match,” Shigekawa said, smiling. “He managed to win against impossible odds. It was a magnificent game.”

“I wish I could have seen it,” Shoin said. “Perhaps those who are playing now can show me strategy of its like.”

He excused himself and moved back toward the Go tables. With closer inspection, Shoin could see that his friend was right; the pattern of the games was often odd and distorted. While some boards were set up normally, others were set up in a way that would never happen in a real game. The variation in starting positions made the event a spectacle to behold.

Shoin’s eyes were drawn to one particular game, where a Crane and Dragon had been in a close, even match for quite some time. Finally, the Crane managed to eke out a victory over his opponent. The Dragon, clearly disappointed, sat rigidly, staring at the board.

“You played well, Sasaki-san,” The Crane said. He began to clear his stones from the board.

“As did you, Kakita Hideo,” Sasaki replied. “You show much promise.”

“It is a pity that you had to face me, or perhaps you might have had a chance.”

The Dragon seemed immune to the young man’s taunts. He smiled and bowed to Hideo. The Crane ignored the gesture and stood up to leave.

Shoin frowned. Before he could speak, however, an angry shout cut through the air.

“How dare you say that? You have rigged this match to win, Scorpion! Do not think you will get away with this!”

Shoin turned around to see a Phoenix leap to his feet. He was a young man that Shoin had never met before. His face was colored with anger, and the patch covering his left eye was only more visible against his reddened face. His opponent seemed to be Shosuro Jimen, the young courtier that had recently began to attend the Imperial Court. Shoin moved past the other players toward the offending pair.

“How dare you remind me of that dastardly Scorpion! You and your friends have orchestrated these injustices! I cannot win when the stones are stacked against me—”

“No, Majushi-san, you cannot win,” Shigekawa interrupted. His solemn voice cut through the commotion, and everyone separated to let him through. “The purpose of the test was never to see if you could beat your opponent. It was to see if you could adapt to the scenario and attempt new strategies. It was to see your reactions in a hopeless situation. Your outburst, needless to say, is not an acceptable response.”

Realization dawned over the young Phoenix’s face and his face flushed with embarrassment. He bowed deeply to Shigekawa then to Shoin. “I allowed my emotions to color my decisions. I have behaved poorly in front of this august audience. I apologize for the display, Shigekawa-sama, Shoin-sama.”

Majushi left without further protest. Shoin turned toward Jimen, who had calmly remained sitting throughout the whole affair.

“Jimen-san,” Shoin said, “what did you say to your opponent?”

The courtier turned to look at the Imperial Herald. “I apologize if I somehow precipitated his response, Shoin-sama. The last thing I would want is to disrupt the proceedings. Through conversation over the Go board I realized that my opponent had met a friend of mine during the Topaz Championship, many years ago. I simply had asked about the nature of their meeting. I will be more careful with my words in the future, Shoin-sama.”

Jimen bowed. As Shoin walked away, he could not help wonder what machinations the Scorpion had put into place.