S2E25: Songs for the Dead

Tomo, Buro, Kenshi, and Akari attended a party celebrating the betrothal of Lion Champion, Akodo Toturi, and Isawa Kaede. The party was full of samurai from across Rokugan wishing to pay their respects to the Lion and Pheonix clans.

Before arriving, Ikoma Ujiaki spoke with Kenshi in private. He reminded Kenshi of the task put before him. Ujiaki wanted Kenshi to highlight the destruction and devastation which the Crane brought to Rokugan at the Battle of Stepping Stone Village. The Crane had brought Gaijin Pepper weapons to battle: muskets armed with blackpowder. These weapons are forbidden in Rokugan, and are said to destroy the kami. Ujiaki wanted to use Kenshi’s account of the battle as propaganda against the Crane, and rally support for the Lion cause.

When it was Kenshi’s time to perform, he took the stage and sang a heart-wrenching ballad about the battle, condemning the Crane, and bringing light to their misdeeds. It was a moving piece, and many attending the party were swayed by its emotional lyrics.

Afterwards, Ujiaki seemed very pleased with Kenshi’s performance. So pleased, that Ujiaki told Kenshi that he could consider his crime against the Lion clan repaid… But that he should be weary, for Matsu Tsuko will not let his transgression slide so easily.

Meanwhile, Buro took the betrothal party as an opportunity to learn more about the death of Doji Satsume, and what role Agasha Sumiko may have played in it. He spoke with Kitsuki Yaruma, ambassador of the Dragon Clan. Yaruma said that if someone murdered Satsume, there would be no short supply of suspects. Satsume was a cruel man, and made enemies everywhere he went. Yaruma himself had even come into conflict with the late Emerald Champion on multiple occasions. Satsume had so many enemies, Yaruma explained, that even his own family barely seemed upset when he passed-- all except for Doji Shizue, Satsume’s daughter. She was heartbroken when her father died. Luckily for Shizue, her lifelong best friend took over as interim Emerald Champion after Satsume’s passing-- Agasha Sumiko. Shizue made frequent trips to the Emerald Champion’s palace to manage her late father’s estate, and Sumiko was there to make that process smooth, and offer moral support. Come to think of it, Yaruma said, he still sees Shizue and Sumiko talking frequently in the capital.

After finishing speaking to Yaruma, Buro was approached by a courtier of the Pheonix Clan, Asako Yurameshi. He gifted Buro with a leatherbound tome of Shinsei’s teachings and told Buro that he came representing a museum in the Pheonix lands. His organization are part temple priests, part museum curators, whose mission is to preserve the cultural, historical, and religious artifacts of Rokugan, and make them available to be seen by the public. Yurameshi told Buro that he has been sent to court to claim Yoshi’s armor on behalf of this museum. Buro graciously accepted his gift, but did not seem interested in his proposal.

While at the betrothal party, Tomo made an effort to speak with Toturi one on one. Seeing how young Toturi was, Tomo was hoping to relate to the Lion Champion on a personal level. Toturi found Tomo’s youth and lack of experience at court somewhat endearing, despite the boy-governor’s rough edges. The two began talking potential trade deals between The Lion Clan and Clear Water Village. Kuni Fujiko looked pleased as Tomo built relations between the two clans. 

As Tomo stood to leave Toturi’s company, he felt a cold touch upon his shoulder. A shiver went down his spine as a rasping voice filled his ear with these words: “A coal stone with veins of fire sits in a wall of cerulean steel. Find the false stone, and pluck it out, or the whole wall shall fall.” Tomo turned to see an elderly man wearing robes of the Pheonix clan standing right behind him. Half his body was withered and covered in dark scars, as if he had been severely burned. This was Kaede’s father, Isawa Ujina, Elemental Master of the Void.

Credits

Album Art by Dylon Munoz

Music

"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain

"The Royal Baths" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"The Emperor's March" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"Kachiko's Waltz" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"Dark & Airy" by Podcast of the Five Rings

Artwork by Dylon Munoz

Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings