Ikoma Tsanuri
From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings
| Ikoma Tsanuri | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born: | 1105 |
| Died: | 1133 |
| Titles: | Lion Clan Champion |
| People | |
Ikoma Tsanuri became the Lion Clan Champion after the Second Day of Thunder. Tsanuri did not gain the position through right of birth, as is standard with most Clan Champions, but through the strength of her history as a reknowned general of the Lion Clan.
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[edit] Childhood
Ikoma Tsanuri was born under highly auspicious circumstances - she was born on New Year's Day, and a crow landed on her crib and cawed when she took her first breath. Later, her family learnt of a leper who had been cured of his disease, and they rejoiced, for she was surely destined to become great.[citation needed]
Even at an early age, shugenja watched and waited for some sign from the child, and they marvelled at how quickly she learned. Kitsu Agunori suggested that she be allowed to choose her own destiny, so on her fourth birthday, she was placed before three objects - a fan, representing the courtier, a mempo, representing the samurai, and a scroll, representing the shugenja, and whichever item she chose would be the path she followed. Tsanuri spent some time looking at all three items, then she looked to the throne of the Lion, then to the daimyo of the Lion Clan. Finally, she stood up, and walked past the three items, past the throne, and past the daimyo, to stand before the man standing in the shadows - Akodo Toturi. She took his hand and turned to face her parents with a smile on her face.[citation needed]
Her mother and father were outraged, even going as far as accusing Kitsu Agunori to be a spy from the Scorpion Clan, sent to dishonor the family. Agunori responded with "If I had a sword, I would make you pay for those words," leading Tsanuri's father to toss him his own katana. It was then that Tsanuri stepped forward, still clutching Toturi's hand, and returned her father's blade to him. Her father in turn, gave Tsanuri over to Toturi's care, saying that he was her father now, for "her true father has failed her". That night, he fell upon his own sword.[citation needed]
Tsanuri left the Lion lands with Toturi and went to live with him in the monastery for ten years. Whilst there, Akodo Kage taught her kenjutsu and kyujutsu.[citation needed]
At the age of 15, some of the monks in the temple began to question Tsanuri's presence among them, but, by conincedence, Akodo Arasou was killed at that time, leading to Akodo Toturi being called back to the Lion Clan lands to serve as the Akodo daimyo.[citation needed]
[edit] Tsanuri and the Matsu
A few years after Toturi became Daimyo of the Akodo and Champion of the Lion, Tsanuri began to notice a disturbance among the Lion bushi, especially those of the Matsu family. Many of the bushi began to question Toturi's authority, and to head off any difficulties, Tsanuri begun to spend time with the Matsu samurai, and Matsu Tsuko in particular. She quickly began to learn at Tsuko's feet, and became her favored student.[citation needed]
[edit] Defending the Empire
By the climax of the Clan War, Tsanuri became one of the most vocal supporters of the Fu Leng-possessed Emperor. As she had once been Toturi's student, she was chosen to lead the front lines of the Lion in defense of Otosan Uchi on the Day of Thunder. At first, her Imperial armies clashed with Kitsu Motso's Lion, and Lion slaughtered Lion with abandon. When Toturi's Army arrived, he united the Lion with five simple words: "For Tsuko and for Rokugan !" Shown the error of her ways, Tsanuri turned her forces around to attack the city.[citation needed]
[edit] New Champion
Tsanuri was chosen to be the new Lion Clan Champion after Matsu Tsuko's death and Toturi's ascension to the throne, over the more popular Kitsu Motso.[citation needed]
[edit] The Unexplained March
In 1131, without preamble or explanation, Tsanuri gathered a legion and marches south in Lion Clan lands, presumably to the lands of the Crab Clan. Matsu Daimyo Matsu Ketsui and Jade Champion Kitsu Okura had no inkling of her purpose.[citation needed]
In response, the Unicorn Clan moved to attempt to prevent what they perceived as the prelude to an attack on the weakened Crab Clan. The assistance of the Unicorn, however, eventually proved to be unnecessary, as Tsanuri's march was eventually shown to be aid the Crab for their fight against the Shadowlands and to increase the forces marching to the Battle of Oblivion's Gate. (3E p. 22)
[edit] Death
Tsanuri died a few days before the actual Battle of Oblivion's Gate, en route to Volturnum, in a heroic fight against the Shadowlands forces, in order to distract them from Volturnum. The place of her death is kept pure, blessed with a torii and worshipped by the Lion Clan samurai. [citation needed]
| Preceded by: Matsu Tsuko | Lion Clan Champion 1128 - 1133 | Succeeded by: Kitsu Motso |
[edit] Major References
Way of the Lion pages 67 & 68
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