Isawa Angai
From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings
| Isawa Angai | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born: | Unknown |
| Died: | 1169 |
| Spouse: | Isawa Sezaru |
| People | |
Isawa Angai was the wife of Isawa Sezaru. She was born Soshi Angai to the Soshi family of the Scorpion Clan, and was trained in the Soshi Shugenja School.
Contents |
[edit] Suspicion of Maho
Soshi Angai came under observation just a few years after her gempukku. There had been allegations of maho use by someone in her lord's courts, and as one of the court's more promising young shugenja, Angai was a chief suspect. The kuroiban were seeking only the final proof they required before moving to arrest and interrogate her, a process she would likely not have survived.
Angai was innocent, however, and totally ignorant of the dark magic being performed. By happenstance, she discovered the true culprit, a Shosuro diplomat, while he was conducting his dark arts late one night in a guest´s chambers. Angai reacted instinctively and killed the man with a powerful spell. The kuroiban, aghast at their mistake and greatly impressed by Angai's abilities, began watching her as a potential recruit rather than a suspect. She was inducted into the kuroiban less than a year later.
[edit] Time with Sezaru
After several successful assignments on the kuroiban's behalf, Angai received a truly bizarre appointment. The Kuni family daimyo, Kuni Utagu, had made several comments denigrating the purity of Toturi Sezaru's magic, and had shortly thereafter been murdered. The Master of the Secrets, Bayushi Yojiro, assigned one Scorpion Clan member to follow and monitor each of the Four Winds, and Angai was chosen to monitor the emperor's eldest son. It took her some time, but she secured a position in Sezaru's retinue through sheer tenacity and her ability to manipulate social situations to his benefit. Ironically, by the time Angai was offered the position, it was quite obvious to her that Sezaru was not responsible for any murder, nor was he practicing blood sorcery.
As one of Sezaru's chief advisors, Soshi Angai found the Winds' conflict to be a unique experience. She believed that Sezaru was the most capable Wind and encouraged him to seek the throne. She helped the Wolf to rebuild the lands of the Dragonfly Clan and soothed those members of the Tonbo family who were offended at his presumption in doing so. When Hantei Naseru took the throne as Toturi III and Sezaru swore fealty to the Phoenix Clan, Angai reaffirmed her loyalty to him.
Soshi Angai became the wife of Isawa Sezaru after he joined the Phoenix Clan, and also took the Isawa family name. She also unmasked Miya Gensaiken, one of Sezaru's followers, as a Pekkle no Oni.
[edit] The Obsidian Dragon
Angai met the Obsidian Dragon, who was unknown until then. The Dragon wanted Angai to tell him a name of a person suitable to be his Oracle, as Angai herself did not posess the required virtues: propensity for vice and the capacity for greatness. Angai provided the Dragon with a suitable candidate, later revealed to be Shosuro Maru.
[edit] Death
Angai died in 1169 during the assault upon the capital Toshi Ranbo wo Shien Shite Reigisaho by the Khan Moto Chagatai. Following the appearance of her husband Sezaru in an apparent maddened state she distracted him long enough for her to get close and stab him with a remnant of Isawa's Last Wish. The ensuing explosion killed both Sezaru and Angai. ([1])
[edit] CCG Presence
- Soshi Angai Spirit Wars
- Isawa Angai Rise of the Shogun
[edit] Major References
- The Four Winds Pages 69-70.
