And a shadow passed over the courtyard, blocking out the light of the moon and stars, stopping the rain. A massive roar filled the sky and a great wind blew into the city, a wind blown by jet engines of incredible size.

"What the hell is THAT?" Ishihn remarked, eyes wide and staring at the sky. "Looks like my clan finally got here," Yasu said.

The shadow pivoted on its axis, framing itself against the light of the moon. It was a tremendous floating island, mounted by a grey steel war fortress built in the style of the Crab, and ringed about by enormous cannons. As buildings went, it was nowhere near the size of the Palace or Dojicorp, but what it lacked in size it made up for in sheer intimidation.

"THIS IS HIDA TENGYU, CHAMPION OF THE CRAB AND COMMANDER OF KYUDEN HIDA!" thundered a voice from above, "THE EMPEROR AND THE PALACE OF OTOSAN UCHI ARE UNDER OUR PROTECTION! LEAVE IMMEDIATELY OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!"

EARTH: 4 (Willpower: 5)
WATER: 4 (Perception: 6)
FIRE: 5 (Intelligence: 7)
AIR: 3
VOID: 4

SCHOOL/RANK: Kaiu Engineer 5

Skills: Siege 3, Engineering 5**, Traps 4, History 2, Armorer 5*, Battle 3, Weaponsmith 5**, Computer 5, Athletics 2, Cipher 3, Driving 3, Pilot (Kyuden Hida) 4, Defense 2, Explosives 3, Chemistry 4, Biology 3, Electronics 4, Marksmanship (Pistol) 1, Marksmanship (Rifle) 1, Marksmanship (Vehicular Weapon Systems) 3, Shintao 4, Origami 2

HONOR: 2.8
GLORY: 7

ADVANTAGES: Technophile (to say the least), Allies (Hida Yasu, countless other grateful Crab Seekers, Ratling Allies (Fuzake tribe), True Friend (Hida Tengyu, maximum dedication), Clear Thinker, Kaiu Sword, Great Destiny
DISADVANTAGES: Driven (to create the best weapons), Compulsion (tinkering), Idealistic

Kaiu Toshimo was a poor student. He had terrible grades at math, seemed to have an awful memory for history, and could barely speak until he was three years old. His family was poor, so they sent him to a harsh and unrelenting boarding school, where his grades continued to suffer. It seemed there was little future for the boy, born to an unexceptional family and not blessed with any great talent. When Toshimo's family fell into further financial ruin, Toshimo took the excuse to withdraw from the school. He moved to a small village in the shadow of Kyuden Hida and founded an electronics shop at the age of 15. He married a lovely young woman by the name of Mariko at the age of 18, and though they were happy it seemed that the two of them would live out their lives in inconsequence.

Destiny had taken a sour and unfair turn for the young Toshimo. Though he had done poorly at school, Toshimo was privately very fond of reading. The teachers, however, punished any variation from the school curriculum. He had memorized Akodo's Leadership and could quote from Kaiu's Comprehensive Journal of Engineering by the age of twelve, but because these books were not part of the curriculum, they determined that he was "lazy" and "unfocused." By 12, Toshimo had taught himself principles of advanced geometry, principles far beyond those being developed by the most educated Isawa mathematicians. Toshimo's teachers judged that he must be a fool, and treated him thusly.

Then came the moment that would forever change the young inventor's life. He chanced to come upon an advertisement in a local technical journal. An independent research facility, funded by the Seekers, was looking for new and revolutionary vehicles that could be used to transport troops long distances. It was only a simple contest, but the winner would win a large research grant and a three year scholarship to the Kaiu Institute of Engineering.

Toshimo laughed it off, believing there was no chance he could win, but Mariko encouraged him. "You're a bright man," she said. "Surely you can think of something."

"All the good ideas have already been had," he replied. "There is nothing else left."

Mariko chuckled in reply. "As soon as you begin thinking that way, you'll be right. Will you promise to at least try? Try to think of something?"

Toshimo could deny his wife nothing. He promised Mariko that yes, he would try.

Later that day, Toshimo was walking to the local grocery store to buy a loaf of bread. His thoughts were a whirl. He had been trying all night to think of something to enter into the contest, but could devise nothing original. He was tired and distracted and hardly paying attention as he stepped out into the street.

And was struck by a motorcycle.

The driver skidded to the street but quickly stood up again, terrified that he had killed Toshimo. When he ran to the man's side, Toshimo was staring into the distance, toward Kyuden Hida.

Later, when Toshimo was asked what he was looking at, he replied. "I saw only two things, Kyuden Hida, and the sky. And I thought, why not? And then everything came together. I saw the engines, the turbines, the ring of cannons. every last detail came together in my head at that moment. Everything was perfect. Never since then have I ever had such a perfect vision, and I don't think I shall ever have one again.

Toshimo ran home, pushing aside the young motorcyclist's apologies and returning to his drawing table as quickly as he could. Over the course of the next eight days, he feverishly scribbled out the plans that would allow Kyuden Hida to take to the sky. Mariko was always at his side, looking over his plans, helping him along, pointing out what he had missed. He was no shugenja, but she was. They knew what tetsukami were capable of, and with a mix of cutting edge magic and a bit of hard science, it was possible. He mailed off the plans at the end of the eight days and waited nervously for reply. He expected to be told that he was foolish, or a dreamer, or simply didn't know what he was talking about.

Instead, he received a visit from the young motorcyclist. He introduced himself as Hida Tengyu, the son of the Crab daimyo. His father had looked over Toshimo's plans and had sent Tengyu to speak to him personally.

When Toshimo arrived at Kyuden Hida, he was surprised to meet the aged daimyo, Hida Mitsu, on the road before the mighty palace. The daimyo was with three of his advisors, two of them Kuni shugenja. Real Kuni shugenja! Toshimo had never even seen one, let alone two! They were looking up at the castle and discussing something. One of them held a copy of Toshimo's plans. A group of Nezumi in shabby clothing gathered on the side of the road. They seemed to be waiting for something.

Mitsu turned to Toshimo, squinting. The old Crab's eyes were weak, but his gaze was still piercing. "You are the one who did these?" he asked, gesturing at the plans.

"Yes," Toshimo said.

"There was an outbreak of zombies in Ryoko Owari earlier today," Mitsu said without prologue. "My Seekers did not arrive in time. When they did, thirty of our own died before they were able to contain the catastrophe. The Seekers are too few in number. We are not mobile enough. We need an edge."

"I can give you that edge," Toshimo replied, nodding at the plans.

"At the risk of the Crab's ancestral home," Mitsu asked. "Will it work?"

"Of course it will work," Toshimo replied.

"You seem rather confident," Mitsu answered.

"It isn't a matter of confidence," Toshimo replied. "It's science. Either it will work, or it will not. I have reviewed the plans thoroughly, and they work. Kyuden Hida will fly.".

The old Crab chuckled. "That I would like to see," he said. "You have two years." He gestured around him, at the Kuni, the Nezumi, and Tengyu. "This is your team. Make it work, on that castle over there." He pointed at a medium sized fort, stationed near the Carpenter Wall. "If it works, then we shall see about Kyuden Hida."

Toshimo was meant to fail. Tengyu, Mitsu's son, had been increasingly vocal about the Crab Clan's need to become more mobile of late, of the Seekers' need to stop reacting and begin acting. Mitsu was incensed. In reply, he turned to his scientific advisors and demanded a project to take Tengyu out of his hair, to remove him on some impossible task that would occupy him for as long as possible. The castle they had been given was a shoddy piece of workmanship named Kyuden Kudaranai ("Worthless"). It had been built near the end of the Shadow Wars as a buffer against the oni hordes. The Kaiu had expected the oni to destroy it, but the oni never bothered, so it remained still.

In reply, his advisors presented Kaiu Toshimo's plans for Kyuden Hida. Hida Mitsu laughed for an hour and a half.

Tengyu knew why his father had given him the assignment, and told Toshimo as much. Toshimo was not disheartened. He continued work regardless. The Kuni who worked at his side were capable and willing workers, skilled in the art of tetsukami. Mariko soon joined the team as well, learning much from the Kuni and teaching much in turn. The Fuzake Nezumi were sharp and clever, learning quickly everything that Toshimo taught them. Hida Tengyu was angry and resentful at first because of the impossible assignment. Over time, however, he began to respect Toshimo's genius. The two became very good friends during the time they spent constructing Kudaranai.

Tengyu's brash behavior and overbearing attitude even came in handy from time to time. Once, when the project's steel supplier lagged a week behind deadline. Tengyu visited the foundry personally. Learning that the foreman had put "Project Worthless" on a low priority, he became outraged and hurled the foreman's desk into a smelting vat. After that episode, all deliveries to the project were right on time. Over the course of the two years, they built great engines into the base of Kyuden Kudaranai. They summoned up the kami of the hillside into which the castle had been built. They constructed controls which would allow the castle to be maneuvered as a massive vehicle.

It didn't work. Something was missing. It seemed as if Toshimo was destined to fail, after all. The night before they were to demonstrate the Kyuden, he retired to his study to sleep, wrapped in despair.

Toshimo still remembers the dream. He remembers being visited by a figure sculpted of shadows. Only its eyes were visible, deep glowing pools that held an ancient and unknowable wisdom.

"You are a brilliant scientist, Kaiu Toshimo," the creature said, "but science can only travel so far without a legend to guide it. I will show you. I will grant you the power of that legend."

"Who are you?" Toshimo asked.

"You would not understand if I told you," the creature answered. "But you may call me Void. Tomorrow morning, go to your shugenja and tell them to call out to the spirits of the sky. One will be waiting there, one that has been watching over your people for a long, long time. Her name is Thunder, and she will make your castle fly."

Toshimo didn't understand the message, for he was no shugenja, but he memorized it dutifully. When he passed the message on to Mokuna, the senior of the two Kuni, the man's eyes opened wide with sudden wonder. He immediately ran to his partner and the two began hurrying about the Kyuden, casting all varieties of last minute spells and enchantments. Toshimo did not know what had changed, but the overall attitude of the crew had changed. For the first time since he had begun work on Kyuden Kudaranai, he began to feel as if it could succeed. Soon, the daimyo's entourage arrived. Most of them were smirking veteran Seekers, ready to see this bizarre project explode in Toshimo's face and humble Mitsu's arrogant young son. Hida Mitsu was among them.

But when Hida Mitsu arrived, Castle Worthless took to the sky.

Hida Mitsu did not express any surprise or disappointment whatsoever, though many offered their apologies and congratulations to Tengyu. As the castle landed safely once more, the daimyo approached Toshimo and asked him one question.

"Kaiu," he said. "How long will it take you to build such engines for Kyuden Hida?"

"Three years," Toshimo replied.

"Do it," Mitsu replied. "The Crab will give you whatever you need."

And when Kyuden Hida was complete, so began Kaiu Toshimo's illustrious career. Since that great accomplishment, he has had virtually unlimited license to work upon whatever weapons, experiments, or new inventions he wishes. He has risen through the ranks of the Kaiu to become their daimyo. He is a personal advisor to Hida Tengyu himself, and after Tengyu met Toshimo's sister they became brothers-in-law as well. Toshimo's close friendship and bond of trust with Tengyu has been passed on to Tengyu's son, Yasu, who reminds Toshimo very much of Tengyu when he was younger. Yasu has been of invaluable help to Toshimo, for the hardy young Seeker has been more than willing to personally field test even the most dangerous and experimental of Toshimo's weapons.

A few of Kaiu Toshimo's more illustrious creations follow. It should be noted that while each of the following are tetsukami, and thus "magical" items, they are wonders of science as well. Toshimo and Mariko both work closely with their Kuni and Isawa colleagues through every step of the design process, and his innovations in mechanical and electronic engineering are at least as impressive as those of his shugenja brethren, if not more so.

Tetsukami Armor This armored suit is now the standard among Crab Seekers and Shiba yojimbo. Even the Daidoji security of Dojicorp own several suits. The armor is enchanted with an Earth spirit to make the steel particularly durable, while still retaining mobility. The light version of the armor adds a +7 to the wearer's TN to be hit, and the heavy armor gives +12, but has the usual penalties associated with Heavy Armor. Note that these are the standard minimums for tetsukami armor. Fine or Excellent Quality armor will have a substantially larger bonus. Tetsukami armor also has a built in power supply and environmental system, that keeps the wearer cool and refreshed in warm climes via a water spirit that circulates just beneath the surface of the armor. In cold climes, a fire spirit keeps the wearer warm. There is also a standard short range radio built into all suits, allowing communication in up to a mile range. These functions are standard, but various other gimmicks and "extras" have been incorporated into suits, most notably by the often unorthodox Crab Seekers. Here are few of the more commonly seen variations:

Built in impact absorption (Earth roll vs TN 20 to take half damage from any explosions or falls)

Loudspeaker - speakers built into the armor can project the wearer's voice at volumes of up to 80 decibels. This can also be routed through a compact disc player or other audio system if there is one available. This has recently been used to great affect with recordings of taiko drums, causing Fear 6 in a 1000 foot radius to all oni or ghosts that hear the music.

Motion Detector - If the wearer stands still for one round, a crude radar system in the armor's left gauntlet will show him all sources of movement within a thirty foot radius, even in darkness.

Internal Oxygen/Air filtration system - A mask attached to the armor can filter impurities out of the air with 95% reliability. Alternately, the suit can be sealed off completely from the outside environment, providing the wearer with one hour of breathable air.

Sound dampening system - The armor can cause its joints to tighten and be buffered with sound resistant material, reducing the noise that the armor makes when moving. Though it is often surmised that this function works through the use of air spirits, in fact it is pure science and skilled construction that allows this to work. The sound dampening system provides three free Raises on all Stealth rolls (in the Heavy suit, this effectively more than negates the heavy armor penalty). Unfortunately, the reduced speed of movement means that the wearer sees the TN of all attack his rolls raise by 5. The system requires one full round to shut down, freeing the joints to easy movement once more.

Retractable weapon sheaths - The armor has placements on the back for pistols, swords, or the ever popular collapsing tetsubo. At the press of a button or a vocal command, the weapon pivots up over the shoulder for an easy draw. (In combat, the wearer of the armor never needs to spend a round drawing his weapon if this function is available.)

Retractable sashimono - at the simple push of a button on the belt or gauntlet, a pair of large back banners immediately extend from the back of the armor and unfurl. The banners also roll themselves back up and collapse once more at the push of another button. Some Crab even have small fans installed in their armor so that the sashimono can blow in the wind when there is none. There really is no practical purpose to the banners, but they can certainly be impressive. (See Hida Tengyu's picture in the gallery for an example of this.)

(Cost: Upwards to 50000 koku, depending upon the modifications on the armor)

(Cost: Yasu's vehicle is not for sale, but one just like it could be put together for 50000 koku, or 8 points of Inheritance. A Seeker who is on good terms with Toshimo may be able to get an "experimental" version for free.)

Kyuden Hida the full details on Kyuden Hida are more complex than can be fully detailed here. The Kyuden is an enormous flying castle, built from the original ancestral home of the Crab and the mountain that surrounds it. It is heavily plated in the latest armor, bears a variety of cutting edge sensors and weapons, and is perhaps the most feared weapon in Rokugan outside of the Fire Dragon. The Kyuden weighs many hundreds of tons and requires at least sixty Crab to even get it up and operational. The Fuzake family of Nezumi live in the bowels of the Kyuden, always keeping the castle repaired and capable of maximum performance. The kami that drives the Kyuden, an odd mix of the Thunder Dragon and the nature kami that inhabits the mountain, has become very fond of Kaiu Toshimo and Hida Tengyu. If one of the two are absent, the Kyuden operates at only seventy percent firepower, speed, and range. If both are not present, then the kyuden operates at forty-five percent. Note that neither Tengyu or Toshimo need to actually be manning any sorts of controls; they merely need to be on board. If both were aboard the Kyuden and unconscious in a storage locker, the Kyuden would still function at one hundred per cent.

Maximum Speed - 100 MPH, can travel for six hours, average, before stopping for an hour to let the engines cool off.
Engines - Kyuden Hida has redundant lift systems. Of the nine engines within the Kyuden, only 4 must be active at any time to keep the castle flying. The engines each have a TN of 20, 200 Wounds, and Armor of 7
Main Cannons - The twenty enormous tetsukannons that ring the Kyuden are specialized in taking down enemy aircraft and large groups of targets at once. They fire pure elemental Fire with a bit of Void thrown in for good measure, so even most oni are not invulnerable to them. They have a range of one mile and affect a 60 foot area, doing 10k10 damage to everything unfortunate enough to be caught in the path. The guns ignore all armor, including monster armor. Each gun can fire once every ten rounds. The average Kyuden Hida gunner rolls 6k3 to attack with the guns. Note that a single target less than fifteen feet tall has a +20 to his TN to be hit by the cannons, as they are simply not designed to be used against infantry.
(More details on the Kyuden will be added as I have time to develop them - Rich)

Ketsuen, the Crab War Machine is not the first War Machine (Akodo will be detailed soon) but it is indeed a formidable one. Ketsuen is much larger and tougher than Akodo, but it is also quite a bit slower and has the added drawback of requiring two pilots for its operation. Also, since Ketsuen is more of a vehicle than a suit of armor (like Akodo) it's physical Traits are independent of either of its pilots.

Pilot's duties: The pilot controls the physical movements of Ketsuen. He uses his own hand to hand and weapon skills, but Ketsuen's Traits.

Copilot's duties: The copilot has few duties besides operating the jade laser (uses the copilots Marksmanship and Ketsuen's Reflexes) and running communications. However, the kami that operates Ketsuen will not activate unless someone is sitting in the co-pilot's seat.

Other Features
Running speed - up to thirty-five miles an hour
Leaping - Ketsuen's maneuvering jets allow it to leap up to 30 feet long or 20 feet straight up after a short run. Jumping without a run will halve these distances.
Amphibious capability - Ketsuen can seal the pilot compartment and use its maneuvering jets for limited movement underwater (about 20 knots). Has an air supply of 8 hours for pilot and co-pilot
Jadesteel Claw - Ketsuen's right arm ends in an enormous serrated claw that can harm creatures only vulnerable to jade as well as mundane creatures. Attacks with pilot's Jujutsu skill and Ketsuen's Agility. Does 8k4 damage (this includes Ketsuen's Strength). Every time the Claw is used, there is a cumulative 10% chance per each 0 rolled that enough of the Jadesteel will crack off of the claw as to render it useless against creatures harmed only by jade.
Jade Laser - One of Toshimo's experimental Oni Stomper jade laser rifles, only larger and built directly into Ketsuen's left forearm. It does 7k5 damage to creatures with the Shadowlands Taint and no damage to other creatures (though it might blind them). The laser can fire up to four times before requiring an hour in direct sunlight to recharge. Toshimo and the Fuzake have taken to calling this weapon "The Jade Hand"
Armor of the Shadow Warrior - Ketsuen still protects itself and its pilots with all of the magic resistant abilities of the Armor of the Shadow Warrior used to manufacture it. Details on the Armor of the Shadow Warrior can be found in Way of the Crab.

Note: This section is not yet complete. Soshi Isawa's back story and Scorpion tetsukami are still to come, along with the story of Kitsu Ikimura and a little robot named Akodo.