1124 - Year of the Horse

Reign of Hantei 38th, Year 21
Reign of Hantei 39th, Year 1

You may read the imperial histories in order below or jump to any month of the year using the calendar to the right. You may also download the 1124 MSWord file.

The seasons of the imperial year:

Winter: Rat, Ox, Tiger

Spring: Hare, Dragon, Snake

Summer: Horse, Ram, Monkey

Fall: Rooster, Dog, Boar

Month of the Rat: Winter Court (Kyuden Otomo) seethes with resentment between the Lion, Crane, and Scorpion. The aging Hantei the 38 th works in favor of peace. Yasuki Taka publicly renounces his testimony against the Hare clan, claiming that he was blackmailed by a Crane lord, Daidoji Dajan, who has been discovered to be a bloodspeaker. Taka apologizes formally to Usagi Fujiro and Usagi Yarusen and pledges substantial sums to pay for the rebuilding of Shiro no Usagi. At the same time, Asako Moharu delivers a report that clears Usagi Takeshi of any wrongdoing (he is restored to samurai status) and indicates the Ide Genkuro, Toritaka Bonugi, and Kitsune Hamato were all pawns of Daidoji Dajan. Dajan’s name is stricken from the imperial rolls and his family humbled.

Kakita Toshimoko dies in the month of the Rat and a competition is held on the Plains of Thunder for a new Emerald Champion. In the final duel, Doji Satsume defeats Shinjo Yokatsu, the Unicorn Champion—Yokatsu will not acknowledge defeat at the first blow and demands mortal combat and dies for his foolishness. Doji Satsume is given control of the Emerald Champion’s lands. Tensions between the Crane and Unicorn grow greater.

Month of the Ox: At New Year, Satorii, the Emperor’s son, reaches gempukku and the dance of houses begins as a suitable wife is sought. In a surprise move, the emperor announces that Satorii will wed a noble Fox maiden, Kitsune Juko, niece of the Fox clan daimyo, a rare beauty. The Unicorn are greatly pleased to see the Doji humbled and the Crane are furious. The imperial wedding takes place in the month of the Tiger. On the wedding day, the Son of Heaven grants a boon to Juko, who requests that the northern Lion forests be declared a “grove of peace”—no weapons may be carried there. Hantei 38 th grants her request, forbidding fighting in the area. The possession of Kenson Gakka is not resolved.

Month of the Tiger: The emperor announces that the tournament for the Jade Champion will be held in the Month of the Hare on the Fields of Thunder, which the Asako, Yogo, and Kuni families all begin anticipating.Yoritomo, the Mantis Daimyo, loses influence at court after the wedding of Satorii. The Mantis and Yasuki form a new trade alliance against the Crane. The phoenix elemental masters begin selecting their candidate for Jade Champion. Bayushi Tomoe sharpens her courtly skills at Winter Court, she remains without child. The Fox clan becomes more aggressive in their public stances when dealing with the Hare and Bayushi Tomaru; they reinforce their ties with the Wasp and the Sparrow. Ronin raid out of the Twilight Mountains and into the Hiruma lands north of Face of the East castle, provoking the Hiruma to ask Toritaka Dokurin to investigate. The attackers are defeated.

Month of the Hare: Jade Championship is fought. The emperor declares that all who attempt the championship must enter imperial service for three years under the new Champion, which restricts the number entering and deters many nobles. The Phoenix still contribute many participants, as do the Kitsu, Moto, Yogo, and Kuni. Every clan has some participants and minor clan participants include shugenja from the Fox, Centipede, and in one case, a ronin, wearing the yellow robes with the symbol of a large oak tree on them. In the semifinals, Kuni Yori defeats (but is weakened by) Yogo Ichihime, and Agasha Kozo defeats a Phoenix Inquisitor, Asako Megumi. In the finals, Yori loses to Agasha Kozo. The two gain respect for each other and Yori gives up being clan daimyo to become second in command to Kozo.

The New Jade Champion, Agasha Kozo takes over running the Inquisitors but the emperor allows all of them to choose service or to return to the Phoenix clan; however, many Asako choose to join anyway. Many of the Isawa-trained Inquisitors refuse to give up their loyalty to the Elemental Masters—and they rejoin the Phoenix clan. The newly named Jade Inquisitors are given a version of magistrate powers, but they are few and elite group. One is attached to each legion, several are added to the imperial court, and others are given roving mandates to patrol the empire in circuits (roughly by clan and major city). Asako Moharu decides to enter imperial service and she is assigned to Ryoko Owari.

Battle of Kenson Gakka, in which Tsumado and Gondo save Shikken Bosado from being squashed between the lines of the Lion and Scorpion armies. Akodo Keiji distinguishes himself in battle, slaying a Scorpion general. The battle, however, turns out to be a Scorpion feint, and a huge army under the command of Bayushi Shoju seizes Shiro Matsu from the Lion. The Scorpion gain control of all of Beiden Pass and begin reaping the profits of its tolls. Akodo Toturi assumes command of Lion forces battling the Scorpion, relegating Matsu Tsuko to second in command.

Month of the Dragon: Miya Sakai announces “emperor’s blessing” has been sent to Hare lands, renewing the roads, bridges, and houses devastated by war. He promotes peace between the Hare and their neighbors (the Falcon and the Fox). Hida Goshiri, Gondo, and Nodojo travel to Nigatani (Early Lights) Village to visit Hida Goshiri’s sister and her family. They find an arrow of river stones pointing out into the Red Plains. Soon, battle is joined between the village forces, a quick response team of Falcon Clan troops and Usagi Fujiro, his honor guard, Akodo Tsumado, and Shinjo Ratha, and the newest army of the evil Oni-no-Jigabachi. During the battle, Hida Shiroi arrives with a Crab force including Hida Goshiri’s cousin Hida Mugami. During the battle, Miya Sakai is permanently blinded. At the apex of the battle, strange forces arrive from the forest, unleashing massive volley of arrows and magical spells into the Shadowlands forces; some arrows strike in the Crab ranks, killing bushi harboring the taint. Soon after the battle discoveries are made in the Twilight Mountains.

Month of the Snake: In Ryoko Owari, Akodo Tsumado destroys the main opium processing plant in Necessary Village. Mirumoto Dochu visits Hirenko, sees Gondo, and takes Hirenko home with him.

The assembled forces of the Lion Clan come to the end of a long siege of Matsu Castle . The final assault is a three-day battle with Bayushi Shoju and Akodo Toturi in command of their respective forces. The 18th Emerald Legion aids the Lion forces, with Tsumado, Goshiri, Gondo, Ratha, among other magistrates, serving in the Legion. Hare clan allies foil a Scorpion feint. On the third day, the Lion storm the castle, led by Matsu Tsuko, who beheads Bayushi Shoju in battle. The victory is bittersweet as a large portion of Shiro Matsu had been undermined by the Scorpion and crumbles to the ground at the conclusion of the battle.

At Ronin Chiki, Tsumado seconds an emerald magistrate, a Kitsuki, in committing seppuku after he failed to find the killer of the Badger clan daimyo. A bounty on the killer of 50 koku is announced by the Wasp clan daimyo.

A massive surprise attack occurs in Otosan Uchi, as a league of Bloodspeaker shugenja lead the Tortoise clan in a revolt against the Emperor. Launching a surprise attack from the Tortoise peninsula near Otosan Uchi, the dishonorable Tortoise slay many members of the Imperial Guard and manage to assassinate Hantei 38th. Fortunately, the new Jade Champion, Agasha Kozo and his assistant Kuni Yori, manage to save the heir, Satorii and his wife, spiriting them to safety in Kyuden Seppun. The new Jade Inquisitors combined with Seppun and Otomo forces crush the Bloodspeaker revolt. The new Emperor abolishes the Tortoise clan, which is surrounded by 3 emerald legions and destroyed completely. The land is then granted to the Jade Champion, who begins to fortify it to prevent further attacks on the capitol. The mystical defenses of the capitol are reinforced and the districts reorganized. Hantei 39th begins his reign. Some Tortoise try to escape by sea, and they are hunted down by the combined navies of the Mantis, Crane, Crab, and Phoenix.

Month of the Horse: During the Bon Festival, ancestors roam the land at night, disturbing the dreams of many. Several members of the Falcon Clan are found dead in their beds in morning. A keeper of the Ancestral Hall of Kitsu falls into a feverish sleep and does not awaken. Several Jade Inquisitors claim to have seen a ghost gai-jin ship in the waters off the shore of Otosan Uchi. The Hare Clan holds its traditional solemn dances to honor the ancestors; Usagi Tomoe attends with Fujiro and Yarusen. A red ring around the moon, visible only in Hare lands, portends trouble for the Hare.

Month of the Ram: Kuni Mojo travels to Ryoko Owari to work with Jade Inquisitor, Asako Moharu. Mojo, Gondo, and Goshiri investigate and destroy a cell of bloodspeakers in town. Clues from the lair of the Bloodspeakers indicate that some of their number may be in possession of the lost Fox clan sword, Hyako, and to team up with Fox clan members. They find the sword and go to Fox lands where they are rewarded by the Fox clan Daimyo, Gohei.

Month of the Monkey: Tsumado and Goshiri aid Emerald Magistrate Yamagata in capturing the notorious river bandit, the Eel—who was smuggling arms to Fox lands, in return for passage to Ryoko Owari. Tsumado, Gondo, and Mojo, discover a secret underground cache in Ryoko Owari’s fisherman’s quarter, linked to smuggling and possibly Moon Cultist activity. Fox troops move covertly through Ryoko Owari.

Month of Rooster: Hare and Fox forces gather near the village of Kuda. Eventually, a massive siege of Kuda begins. Kitsune Gohei leads the seiging force, the main Fox army, aided by a large ronin force and a small elite contingent of Crane bushi sent by the family of Kakita Toshimoko. Inside the fortress, the forces of Kuda are aided by a contingent of Lion archers, led by Akodo Keiji, a large Hare force and some ronin raised by Usagi Yarusen, another Hare force led by Usagi Fujiro, accompanied by a Kaiu engineer unit, (and Tsumado, Gondo, Mojo, and Goshiri). After three days, a final pitched battle begins. The sudden arrival of Rosanji (Usagi Oda) with the Hare ancestral sword, Kennô, rallies the valiant Hare forces. Akodo Keiji is killed in battle, as is Kitsu Moriko. All the remaining forces engage in a pitched battle in front of the gates of Kuda. Tsumado reluctantly duels Daidoji Shiko, who is guarding the Kakita commander, Shinchiro. Ratha defeats Shinichiro in combat. Takeshi is slain facing Gohei’s Yojimbo, Mogumoto. Oda and Gohei engage in a duel to the death. When Hyako and Kennô are crossed, both swords shatter. Drawing his wakazashi, Gohei mortally wounds Oda, who manages to tear open Gohei’s throat. As Gohei expires, Mogomoto arrives, but chooses to order a retreat because he can see that Tomaru’s forces have turned the tide against the Fox, rather than slay the wounded Oda.

Dawn leaves many dead on the field and the “neutral” great clan representatives, Tomaru and Shinichiro, meet to discuss the disposition of a peace. It is agreed that the Fox and Hare dispute needs to be ended once and for all. A hasty marriage between Usagi Fujiro’s son, Tanaka and Kitsune Ryosei unites the two clans in peace. Kuda becomes Tanaka’s fief and jointly held territory. Usagi Yarusen’s daughter marries into the Scorpion clan, by prior arrangement. This clears the path, apparently, for Tomaru to make his claim over Hare lands, especially as it is revealed that Tomoe is pregnant. But at this point 5 Kitsu shugenja appear, led by the clan Daimyo, Kitsu Toju. He insists that Tomoe is now the heir to the “eye of Kitsu” and must take her place as one of the two keepers of the Ancestral Hall of Kitsu. Tomaru is filled with rage, but powerless to contradict Toju. At this point, freed from their oaths, Goshiri and the monk Masao are able to reveal the identity of Kinotu, the grandson of Aoki, the true “heir of the Hare.” Usagi Fujiro and Usagi Yarusen swear to defend the new heir after Toju consults the spirits and announces that Kinotu is the true heir. Bayushi Tomaru, knowing that his claims to Hare lands are now come to naught, renounces Tomoe and her child publicly, freeing himself to remarry. The Hare and Fox celebrate the marriage of their families, peace reigns in the southland. The Hare rally to their true prince. Ikoma Kagata composes an appropriate ballad for the consumption of the Imperial Court.

Month of the Dog: A strange reddish haze hangs over the Moon for seven days. Thick and red as blood, it darkened the moon and all the stars around it. Some bloodspeakers captured by the Jade Inquisitors claim that this moon is a sign of Iuchiban’s return and that deep in the Shadowlands a great force is rising. During one night at the height of the Blood Moon, three villages were slaughtered—men, women, children, and animals—in the southern Phoenix lands, near the old Snake Clan stronghold. The Phoenix were unable to hide this event from the eyes of the empire and the Jade Inquisitor went to investigate personally, spending a considerable amount of effort on discovering how this event came to pass. The 13th Legion is assigned to the area. The Phoenix, less than pleased with this intervention in their affairs, remain aloof from the investigation.

In Ryoko Owari, Gondo performs well in the Governor’s tournament marking the visit of Bayushi Aramoro, honoring his dojo. The visiting Bayushi Tomaru wins the tournament. Pressure mounts for Kohashi to solve the murder of the previous magistrate.

Month of the Boar: Three Hiruma scouts sent into the lands of the Twilight Mountains mysteriously meet their deaths by being hurled from the highest clifftops near the ancestral Boar lands. The Crab scorn rumors of a ghost as “useless superstition.” Lion and Crane skirmishes take place between Matsu Tsuko and Doji Satsume in northern part of Lion lands, these become increasingly violent as the fall ends and a temporary truce for Winter Court ensues.

In Ryoko Owari, Shiba Kohashi is assassinated. Gondo manages to capture the leader of the attackers, who turns out to be the ronin “Eyebrows.” Eyebrows also confesses to the murder of Naritoki. A new emerald magistrate, Kakita Ichi, arrives in Ryoko Owari.