Category Archives: 1000 Years of Peace
A Dark Past (Clan War Fiction)
A Dark Past By Ken Carpenter Born the only child of Mirumoto Sukune, Miyoki’s future was assured — she would be a samurai bushi of the Dragon Clan. Her father’s brother, Kuojin, was the family daimyo of the Mirumoto family, … Continue reading
A Dark Path’s Beginnings, Part II (Clan War Fiction)
A Dark Path’s Beginnings, Part II by Ree Soesbee Dawn came, three days later, with brilliant flame, drenching the young Akodo samurai in sweat and dust. Lessons at the Akodo dojo were not for children, or for youths, but for … Continue reading
A Dark Path’s Beginnings, Part I (Clan War Fiction)
A Dark Path’s Beginnings, Part I by Ree Soesbee It is one man’s duty to serve his lord. One man’s duty to give his life that his lord may live. One man’s duty to avenge, if his lord fall before … Continue reading
Dawn of Storms
by Ree Soesbee “A man makes his own destiny. Each wave that tears its mark upon the shore can show you that.” – Kitsune Diro The earth shook with each rumbling wave, and the tall towers of Kyuden Mantis stood … Continue reading
The King of the Trolls, Part I
Rokugan, the year 958 Rocks and loose dirt skittered down the mountainside with every step that Otaku Zonoko took up the incline. She heard her companion, Shinjo Naru, curse suddenly below her as the debris she dislodged poured over him. … Continue reading
War of the Dead
The story of the lost family of Goju is unknown to the Empire; even the Ikoma cannot tell the tale. Goju’s lost work on the Living Darkness, the Celestial Agonies, was never shared with the clans. The Scorpion have no … Continue reading
The Steadfast Samurai
The Rokugani believe that, during childbirth, the mother is in close contact with the spirit world, and so it is the father’s duty to distract evil spirits while she is giving birth. He wanders about the house, crying out, with … Continue reading
The Lost Secret of the Tao
When the great teacher, Shinsei, left the Empire, he walked for many days to the south. On the road, he met several travelers, each begging for some great secret to preserve them from the time of war to come. Shinsei … Continue reading
The Land of the Dead
More than a physical path, the road to Jigoku is a spiritual journey. Every man and woman in Rokugan, from the lowest eta to the greatest Emperor, makes the trip to the land of the dead. Each person’s path to … Continue reading
The First Oni
“Shiba trudged onward through the blasted landscape, eyes level with the horizon. He couldn’t afford for them to shift, or the dark influence of this place would seize them and never let go. He walked in the same stance he … Continue reading
The First Battle Maiden
When the original Otaku left to fight by Shinsei’s side, she left behind a small daughter, Otaku Shiko. Raised by her wise father, Ide, Shiko grew into a fine, strong young woman. Her mother’s fiery spirit burned in her veins, … Continue reading
The Finest Poet
The Cherry Blossom Festival is the celebration of beauty and elegance, and all of the finest ladies of the Empire come to the Emperor’s garden to see the many li of cherry trees that shed their white blossoms like snow. … Continue reading
The Final Sword
Matsu Hitomi was the most famous samurai-ko of the early Empire. Though trained for other duties, she broke with tradition and donned her brother’s armor to avenge his death, unwittingly blazing a trail for women for centuries to come. Her … Continue reading
The Dragon and the Nezumi
Stories tell that the Celestial Dragons saw the creation of the Children of the Earth and were fascinated. They offered gifts to those they thought worthy, and even brought mortal souls to live among them in the Celestial Heavens. Lady … Continue reading
The Bright Warrior
One of the first great generals of the Naga race was known as the Qatol. His stories are told beneath the harsh glare of the Bright Eye, for he was known to be the soul most favored by its celestial … Continue reading
Steel and Words
Gusai was the first great daimyo of the Mantis Clan, the clan of sailors and merchants who live off the coast of our great Empire. Gusai was a powerful daimyo and a great lord, and he was called into the … Continue reading
Revealing the Ancient Wisdom
Once, it is said, there was a land known as the Jade Empire, which rested by the shores of a deep blue ocean. A powerful emperor ruled this land, known to those who lived there as “Rokugan,” and kept it … Continue reading
One Man’s Courage
The first Hida had two wives, and each gave him a son. The first son, Atarasi, gave his life in battle against the Shadowlands, the ancient enemy of the Empire. The second, born of a kami and a Dragon, was … Continue reading
Iuchiban’s Legacy
The Scorpion Clan records present three different versions of the sorcerer Iuchiban’s origin; any or none of them may be correct. Acting in secret, even from his own followers, Iuchiban forged a quartet of swords, their blades christened in blood … Continue reading
Innocence and Trust
The tale of Yasuki Kaneko should serve to remind us that even the most innocent faces can hide treachery. Kaneko was a young girl, the smallest of her peers, but her mind was as agile as any in the Empire. … Continue reading
