Isawa
From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings
| Isawa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born: | Pre-calendar |
| Died: | 42 |
| Siblings: | Isawa Ouno, Isawa Ariminhime |
| Children | Isawa Akiko |
| Titles: | Elemental Master of Void, Phoenix Clan Thunder, Isawa family founder |
| People | |
Isawa was a talented Void shugenja and the founder of the Isawa family of the Phoenix Clan (then the Tribe of Isawa) and the Council of Five. Isawa was the first Phoenix Thunder and died in 42 on the first Day of Thunder, offering to serve as Thunder only if Shiba would kneel before him and promise to protect his family.
Contents |
[edit] Isawa's Views
Isawa's attitude toward life and the Kami is perhaps best summed up in his own words to his daughter, Akiko: "Power does not come from the heavens, my daughter. It comes from our minds, our hands, and our hearts. Never doubt that, for it is the greatest secret of the universe -- we are not the servants of destiny, but the makers of the future."[1]
[edit] Isawa and Shiba
When the Kami began gathering followers to their respective clans, the kami Shiba was given the north-eastern lands by his brother. In those lands live Isawa and his people, the Tribe of Isawa. Isawa had no intention of being ruled by Hantei, but allowed Shiba to say his tribe was a part of the Phoenix Clan to avoid the wrath of Hantei and his armies. Shiba repeatedly asked for Isawa's assistance in the War Against Fu Leng, but Isawa thought the conflict too far away to be of any consequence for his people. In the end it was an attack on, and the destruction of Toshi Tetsuharu that convinced Isawa that his people would not remain safe from this threat forever. Isawa committed his finest students, led by Asako Sagoten, to aid Shiba in the war. Shiba refused the aid of Sagoten, as Sagoten's father Asako Yogo was already fighting in the war and he could not ask such sacrifice of their mother and wife Asako. Isawa agreed, but still would not commit himself to the war.[2]
[edit] Shiba's Promise
As the Day of Thunder grew nearer, Shiba begged Shinsei to be allowed to accompany the monk into his battle with Fu Leng. Shinsei refused, explaining to Shiba that mortal men must be the ones to defeat the Dark Kami. Shiba then approached Isawa, bidding him to go with Shinsei. Isawa refused, claiming he could not abandon his family to fight the Kami's war. The Kami Shiba knelt before the mortal Isawa and promised to protect his people in exchange for Isawa becoming the Phoenix Thunder. Isawa promptly agreed and joined the Phoenix Clan in deed, not only in word, and his family began their aid in the War Against Fu Leng. Isawa left with Shinsei that day. Shiba and Isawa are often depicted with Shiba kneeling, not out of disrespect for the Kami, but because the act is considered to be one of the most important and heroic in Phoenix history. Stubborn Phoenix children are often scolded, "Are you so tall that you cannot bend your knee as Shiba did?" [3][4]
[edit] The Thunders and Fu Leng
As the Seven Thunders journied deeper into the Shadowlands to find and defeat Fu Leng, Isawa poured over his scrolls in an attempt to find a way to win the day. He would read scrolls used to bind the souls of the dead, that reminded him of his sister Isawa Ariminhime, but it did not seem to help. It was the Ki-Rin Thunder Otaku who finally opened his eyes, to the fact that they did not need to kill Fu Leng, merely defeat him. The two continued the research together, devising a way of sealing Fu Leng within the scrolls. As they reached Fu Leng's keep they were chased inside and Isawa was mortally wounded by Mutsuhito. Rather than attempt to save himself he began the ritual while the remaining Thunders bought him time. Isawa created the Twelve Black Scrolls, sealing Fu Leng within. He warned Hida Atarasi and Shosuro, the two surviving thunders, that the scroll must not be opened or Fu Leng would escape. And with that he died.[5]
[edit] External Links
From L5RSearch.com: Isawa
| Preceded by: None | Master of Void Pre-calendar - 42 | Succeeded by: Unknown |
[edit] References
- ↑ Way of the Phoenix Page 21.
- ↑ Fires of the Phoenix, by Shawn Carman
- ↑ Way of the Phoenix Page 20.
- ↑ A Gathering of Thunders
- ↑ Day of Thunder
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