Celestial Tournament
From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings
The Celestial Tournament was a tournament held on 1170 at Seppun Hill to decide the New Emperor.
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[edit] The Heavens’ Command
Shortly after the ascension of the Jade Dragon as the new Jade Sun and the Obsidian Dragon as the new Obsidian Moon, the Voice of the Jade Sun and the Voice of the Obsidian Moon appeared at the Imperial Court to announce a tournament to be held at Seppun Hill, to decide the new Emperor.[1]
[edit] The Most Worthy
The Voices invited all Great Clans to send their most worthy members to represent them. On the day of the Tournament, many Clan Champions decided to attend themselves, together with great daimyo, generals, and other renowned warriors.
[edit] The Spider Clan
Before the Tournament started, however, the Unicorn Clan Champion Moto Chen asked the Voices to allow the group of ronin known as the Spider Clan to participate by virtue of their conduct as samurai. After a private conversation between Daigotsu Usharo and the Voices, it was declared that the Spider will be allowed to participate, as they were the mortal champions of a divine entity, Fu Leng. However, the Voices allowed the Spider to keep their secret, as long as they did not fall that day.[2]
[edit] Known Participants
[edit] A clan of virtue and honor
The day after the Celestial Tournament, the Voices gathered all who participated and announced that among all the Clans, one had emerged above all others: The Dragon Clan. It was ruled that one of their representative would be chosen as the new Emperor. The Dragon Clan Champion requested the Voices to make the decision themselves, as they were they only ones capable of making such a decision.[3]
[edit] The Divine Empress
Agreeing with the Champion, the Voices called forth Kitsuki Iweko, daimyo of the Kitsuki family. When asked whether she was worthy of the position, Iweko replied that she was not, to which the Voices answered: None are, but she was the most worthy. Accepting the blessings of the Sun and Moon, the former daimyo was filled with a divine light, marking the beginning of a new dynasty.[3]
[edit] Imperial Positions
After the coronation of the new Emperor, the Divine One appointed several individuals to key Imperial positions that had remained empty since the fall of the previous dynasty.
[edit] Imperial Chancellor
The young Scorpion courtier, Bayushi Hisoka was appointed as Imperial Chancellor. On his first day as Chancellor, Hisoka made Kyuden Bayushi the location for this Emperor's first Winter Court and made enemies with Otomo Ouga, hatamoto of Otomo Taneji, calling him a buffoon and a fool. Hisoka had Ouga reassigned to Badger lands.[4]
[edit] Imperial Treasurer
The title of Imperial Treasurer was created to free the Emerald Champion from overseeing the management of taxes and the allocation of Imperial funds. Yoritomo Utemaro, a Mantis Clan bushi, was appointed as the first to hold the title. Utemaro saw this as an opportunity to "reinvent the glorious game" that he saw his life to be. His first act as Treasurer was to appoint Yoritomo Yashinko as his liason in court.[5]
[edit] Imperial Advisor
Coming as a surprise to many, the Divine One appointed Susumu, a ronin courtier from the Spider Clan, to be the Imperial Advisor. During his first day as Advisor, Susumu met with Ide Yusuke near a small stream south of Seppun Hill. Yusuke suspected the truth about the Spider's motivations, and so, the Advisor took this opportunity to "savor the sensation of taking the life of an enemy with his own hands", fearing he will never have the chance to do it again.[6]
[edit] Voice of the Emperor
The Divine One chose the enigmatic monk and Dragon Clan Champion Togashi Satsu to be the Voice of the Emperor. The day he was appointed, Satsu had a practice session with Mirumoto Kei, where she proved to be worthy of Satsu's trust. After the session, they discussed the ominous feeling of dark days to come that they both shared. Satsu then notified Kei of his decision to appoint her as his successor as Dragon Clan Champion.[7]
[edit] Shogun
In part because of his success in the Celestial Tournament, the Divine One chose the Unicorn Clan bushi and follower of the Lords of Death, Moto Jin-sahn for the position of shogun. His first mission was to take the Imperial Legions to the Shinomen Mori and the ruins of Otosan Uchi and purge the Spider Clan. His first decision as shogun was to assign Shiba Danjuro as his shireikan.[8]
[edit] The Purge of the Spider
After receiving the blessings of the Heavens, the Divine One gained knowledge of all that transpired in the Empire, including the true nature of the Spider Clan. Knowing that if the truth were to be known the Clans would be torn apart, it was decided that it would be kept secret for now. However, from that day forward, no one may bear the Spider symbol on pain of death. The Shogun was ordered to move upon their strongholds in the Shinomen Mori and the ruins of Otosan Uchi to undo all their work. Only those who are without the taint would be given the opportunity to earn the Empress’ forgiveness. [3]
[edit] References
- ↑ The Heavens’ Command, by Brian Yoon
- ↑ The Celestial Tournament, by Shawn Carman
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Conclusion, Part 6, by Shawn Carman
- ↑ The Conclusion, Part 1, by Shawn Carman
- ↑ The Conclusion, Part 2, by Shawn Carman
- ↑ The Conclusion, Part 3, by Shawn Carman
- ↑ The Conclusion, Part 4, by Shawn Carman
- ↑ The Conclusion, Part 5, by Shawn Carman
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