Isawa Tomo
From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings
| Isawa Tomo | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born: | Unknown |
| Died: | 1128 |
| Parents: | Isawa Ujina, Isawa Ieku |
| Siblings: | Isawa Kaede (half), Isawa Tadaka |
| Spouse: | None |
| Children | None |
| Titles: | Master of Water |
| People | |
Isawa Tomo was a gifted young shugenja who became Master of Water at a very early age. Tomo had spent most of his life mesmerized by the waters near his home and across Rokugan, and coupled with the power of his abilities, his appointment to the Council of Five was inevitable. Tomo was a Master during the Clan War, and as a result died Tainted at the hands of Isawa Tsuke, like his fellow Masters.
Contents |
[edit] Childhood
As a child, Tomo grew up with his family near the banks of the Seikihi River. The River mystified the young Tomo, as he imagined the course of the waters from the mountains far above to the sea far below. Tomo was enthralled by the power and greatness of the waters, as well as their omnipresence and magnitude. He made his decision very early to follow the path of Water.
[edit] Journey "to the Shadowlands"
As children often do, Tomo and his older brother, Isawa Tadaka, once decided to run away from home and to the Shadowlands. Because of Tomo's influence, they did so by way of the Seikihi. The two managed to slip away from their sister, Isawa Kaede, and successfully avoided discovery for nearly two months. Throughout their trip, Tomo realized that his brother spent the journey watching the southern horizon, while he contemplated the waters upon which they rode.
[edit] Scorpion Lands
The boys' adventures came to an abrupt end in the lands of the Scorpion Clan when they were captured by a group of bandits. The rogues intended to sell Tadaka and Tomo as slaves to a foreign merchant caravan. They were rescued only by the timely intervention of a young Yogo Shidachi, who helped the boys escape. Shidachi then took the pair with him into the civilized lands of his family. The Yogo contacted their father to return the wayward children. Ujina, who had been beside himself with worry for the two months of their absence, was very relieved to have his sons back. Tadaka quicly forgot their savior, but Tomo remembered, and always felt a debt to Yogo Shidachi.
[edit] Early Dedication
Tomo felt guily for his part in the worries and pain that he and Tadaka had caused their father. In an attempt to return to Ujina's favor, Tomo decided to go ahead and declare his path, years before he was required to do so. Unsurprisingly, Tomo chose the path of Water. Ujina was very pleased with Tomo's display of dedication, and the boy easily found himself back in his father's graces.
[edit] Master of Water
Isawa Tomo became Master of Water upon the retirement of Isawa Kaiyoko. Kaiyoko had long been amazed at the ease with which Tomo was able to commune with the kami. Despite his inexperience at the time, she was quite confident in his ability to properly execute the duties of the position.
[edit] Yogo Shidachi
Sometime prior to the Scorpion Coup, during his tenure as Master of Water, Tomo taught Yogo Shidachi.[1]
[edit] Death
Tomo died in 1128 on the Second Day of Thunder, battling with Isawa Tsuke. Like the rest of the Council of Five, except his sister, he died Tainted as a result of the Council's dabbling with the Black Scrolls.
[edit] Oblivion's Gate
[edit] The Race to Volturnum
During the fighting leading up to the Battle of Oblivion's Gate in Volturnum, the incomplete Council of Five planned to magically transport entire legions of armies directly to Volturnum, without having to first fight through the ranks of Goju and oni that stood in their way. The spell required five Masters, and even with the inclusion of ten-year-old Shiba Ningen as Master of Void, the council had no one to stand for Water. The Council decided to attempt the ritual anyway, but it did not work as planned. With the elemental imbalance in the ritual, the strands of magic threatened to spin out of control and destroy the Council and their escort.
At the last moment, a fifth figure stepped into the circle, completing the ritual as he added the necessary Water to the balance. The fifth was Isawa Tomo, purified in death and returned through Oblivion's Gate. With Tomo's help, the completed Council finished the ritual and whisked themselves to Volturnum to prepare the assault for the arrival of the other armies of Rokugan. ([1])
[edit] Personality
Isawa Tomo was always a man that loved life. He never fully lost his childlike exuberence or persepctive. During his time on the Council of Five, he was known for devising creative -- some would say outlandish -- solutions for problems facing the council. Nevertheless, Tomo had a very keen intellect, and solved problems slowly and methodically, much as water wears on stone. His wisdom was always as welcome as his demeanor.
| Preceded by: Isawa Kaiyoko | Master of Water (c. 1120) - 1128, 1133 | Succeeded by: Isawa Riake |
[edit] Major References
- Way of the Phoenix Pages 76-78.
[edit] External Links
- From L5RSearch.com: Isawa Tomo, Isawa Tomo Exp, Isawa Tomo Exp2
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