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Iweko II 
Iweko II 
Born: Month of the Serpent [1] 
Died:
Parents: Iweko I,
Iweko Setai 
Siblings: Iweko Shibatsu,
Iweko Miaka 
Children: Iweko Ryokichi,
un-named daughter 
Titles: Imperial Heir (apparent)
Emperor (as of 1200)
People

Iweko Seiken was the first-born son of Empress Iweko I and her heir apparent. His father was the Imperial Consort Iweko Setai. His younger brother was Iweko Shibatsu [2] and his only sister was Iweko Miaka. [3] As Iweko II he became the second Emperor of the Iweko Dynasty.

Upbringing[]

Iweko Seiken

Iweko Seiken

His younger brother, Iweko Shibatsu, was raised by the Spider Clan, which is why Seiken's upbringing resulted in him being well-acquainted with various clans. [4] But he prefered the company of his father's kinsmen, the Lion Clan and trained at Kyuden Ikoma under the sight of the Ikoma Daimyo Ikoma Hakige. In 1198 he had training with the Scorpion Clan, and some time among the Crane following that. [2] Previously he had been trained in archery at Kyuden Ashinagabachi. [5] Seiken was also martially powerful, which was another reflex to the Spider Clan's raising of his brother as a ward in the Colonies. These were precautions against him being overthrown, possibly by Shibatsu. According to Moru, the Imperial Advisor, the Empress wanted to prevent that a corrupted scion would succeed her, which is why she didn't give the heir apparent to Daigotsu's clan, but her second child. [4]

Demeanor[]

Seiken was well regarded by the various clans, and many courted his favor. He developed a reputation for some degree of arrogance, and as extremely dismissive toward those he did not consider worthy of his attentions, as his brother Shibatsu. [6] Seiken disliked the Spider and didn't consider them a true Great Clan. [2]

Emerald Championship[]

Seiken took part in the Emerald Championship and during its final faced Utaku Ji-Yun, the eventual winner. He wounded the Battle Maiden slightly, but suffered a more serious wound to his shoulder from her. He recovered after several weeks, but from the duel he also kept a scar on his cheek, albeit one which did not disfigure his face.[7]

In the Colonies[]

Banishing the Mad Dragon[]

Seiken arrives to the Ivory Court

Seiken arrives to the Ivory Court

Seiken and the Master of Air Isawa Mitsuko moved to the Second City. In the Ivory Court they announced that the mad dragon P'an Ku would be summoned in the Imperial District, to be banished from the mortal realm. The Master of Water Asako Chukage and the Master of Void Isawa Kimi would stay with the Spider forces in order to judge what was happening there from afar. [8] Once the district was evacuated, Seiken broke the Heart of Fudo to summon P'an Ku, and the mad dragon was forced to appear in the mortal realm. The Ivory Champion, Shinjo Tselu, who had been alongside Seiken and Mitsuko, attacked the dragon's avatar, [9] but he was wounded and easily defeated. Somehow Seiken managed to parley through the creature's madness, and P'an Ku willingly banished. Seiken left the Colonies, leaving his mother's order to restore the former Imperial Governor of the Colonies, the disgraced Suikihime, with her family name and station. [10]

Returning Rokugan[]

Seiken returned to mainland Rokugan, and arrived to Shiro Shiba, where he met the newly appointed Master of Air Isawa Tsumaro, who had been instrumental in the research which led to the banishing of the mad dragon. They played a game of shogi while pondering the recent events. Tsumaro appointed a unit of Shiba samurai as honor guard to the Imperial Heir when Seiken went back to the Colonies, with the Ritual Master Shiba Eraki among them. [11]

Race for an Imperial Heir[]

Iweko Seiken 2

Seiken, traditionalist

The more traditionalist samurai supported Seiken as Imperial Heir. [12] The Scorpion Clan Champion Bayushi Nitoshi met Seiken to request any information he had gathered in the Second City about the Spider Clan. This was an overture to show his support for Seiken as Imperial Heir, because the Scorpion had an underhanded war against the Spider, the Clan who had raised his brother and competitor as possible heir. [13] The Lion had already rallied to his banner while the Mantis Clan supported his brother. [14] At Imperial winter court Shibatsu's supporters formed a Progressive alliance, with the Spider, Crane, Mantis, and Unicorn Clans. [15]

Restoring Order[]

Iweko Seiken returned to the Second City, seizing control of the capital of the Colonies. [16] In presence of the Governor Suikihime, the Imperial Heir forced to have command upon half of the Ivory Legion and half of the Second City Guardsmen as well. [17] Shiba Eraki accompanied him as his personal yojimbo. Seiken met in his camp the Lion Clan Champion Akodo Dairuko, who objected about his actions. Dairuko thought Seiken was moving too quickly, too boldly. [18] Seiken requested the crab to restore the city to a status worthy of a Rokugani city. Kaiu Engineers directed works to tear down every single trace of gaijin influence in the city, such as Fuan-Ti's Tower. [19]

Meeting with his Brother[]

Seiken and Shibatsu at Court

Seiken and his brother Shibatsu at Court

Seiken met his brother in his estate at the Second City, and they pondered the outgoing conflicts, such as the fight in the Colonis between their own supporters, the Lion-Scorpion war. Shibatsu advised his brother to let himself neutral respect the retribution of the Unicorn against the Phoenix Clan after their research on the Moto Curse, as he had nothing to gain by getting involved. [20]

Planning to dismantle the Imperial Bureaucracy[]

Seiken believed that the Imperial Bureaucracy proved itself a hindrance to Imperial rule, not an asset. In front of several of his advisors, he announced that after his appointment as Emperor all samurai would be required to live for one year in a rural village, if they wished to hold any significant imperial office. This policy would clear out most of the Imperial Bureaucracy. There would be virtually no bureaucracy left. [20]

Devastating Betrayal[]

The Progressive forces led by the Mantis Clan Champion Yoritomo Hiromi routed the army moving toward the rebels sent by Seiken. The ambush had been devised with a great knowledge of what the Progressit forces had planned. Seiken knew that the possibility that the Scorpion had done something duplicitous was real. [21]

Emperor[]

Coronation Festival

Coronation Festival

Eventually, his mother the Empress went in seclusion to decide her official heir. Iweko I decided there was no reason not to adhere to the tradition of primogeniture, proclaiming Seiken as the new Emperor. [22] All Imperials were required in the capital for the coronation [23] of Seiken as Iweko II, [24] which was held at the end of the winter. [25]

War on the Empire[]

During the festivals predating Iweko Seiken's coronation, he publicly humiliated Daigotsu Kanpeki by announcing that he will remove him as Spider Clan Champion. Seiken's brother would join the Susumu family as their daimyo and become Lord Spider. Kanpeki considered this as betrayal of the deal between his father and Iweko I and declared war on the Empire. [26] Most of his clan followed him, but for the Susumu family and some others, who numbered less than one hundred, loyal to the Iweko Dynasty. [27]

Imperial Bride[]

The Great Clans began to lobby for the selection of the Imperial Bride, pushing forward candidates such as Hida Ayameko and Kakita Kae. The Crane Clan also sent Kakita Shinichi, his brother Kakita Daitsu, along with Kakita Takara, to provide examples of the grand Kakita style during the Twenty Festivals, expecting their show of skills would impress Seiken. [28] Eventually, the Emperor decided that his yet unborn child should be trained in the Kakita Dueling Academy, [29] and Kakita Kae surrendered her chances to become Imperial Bride through her public support of Hida Ayameko. [30]

Coronation[]

A Gift of the Emperor tournament was held shortly after Seiken became Iweko II, to celebrate his birthday. The winner was Daidoji Yurei. The Emperor granted his petition to allow the Daidoji family to study the use of gaijin pepper. In turn, Yurei was permitted to commit seppuku. [31] Seiken told Otomo Demiyah reported that the Ancestral Sword of the Hantei had been stolen by the Mantis Clan, and warned him that where the Great Clans were truly united, they threatened the Imperial Throne. Iweko Seiken retorted to Demiyah, and that he would begin the dismantling of the Imperial Bureaucracy as his first act as Emperor. [32]

Rise of Jigoku[]

Shortly before his coronation Seiken had been visited by P'an Ku. The mad Dragon bestowed him with a warning of the coming darkness. [33] The fall of the First Seal after the Battle of the First Seal caused a surge of massive beasts from the Sea of Shadows. The Mantis were placed on the defensive. [34] The Imperial Advisor Yasuki Makoto reported to Iweko II that she had drafted a decree calling for the mobilization of the Imperial Legions. [35]

Fall of Toshi Ranbo[]

This year the rebellious Spider Clan had the upper hand in their goal to rule the Empire. The Mantis had fallen, and the Second Seal had been also destroyed. Bayushi Nitoshi offered his services to Daigotsu Kanpeki, and the services of half of his Clan. The Scorpion Champion had delivered to Kanpeki the heads of the Crane Clan Champion Doji Makoto and the Phoenix Clan Champion Shiba Tsukimi to prove his allegiance. The Lion Clan had withdrawn from Seikitsu Pass, allowing the Spider and their tainted forces to roam free through Rokugan. The Emperor, his bride Hida Ayameko, Shibatsu and Miaka were magically taken by the Phoenix to a secret location when the Spider stormed Toshi Ranbo. Nitoshi and his Clan were instrumental in securing the Iweko family, denying Kanpeki's real target, Iweko II. [36]

Evacuation to the Colonies[]

The Shadowlands hordes were endless, and Seiken told the Mantis Clan Champion Yoritomo Hiromi that he would evacuate as many people as possible to the Colonies, a place where their traditions- where Rokugan- might continue. The possibility that Jigoku might conquer the Empire had been anticipated by his mother, it was why Iweko I established the Colonies. The Mantis must marshal their fleet and attack the coastline of the lost Crane provinces, sacrificing themselves to distract the Shadowlands monsters from the evacuation. [37]

The Sacred Seals are Destroyed[]

Eventually the three Sacred Seals, the barrier between Ningen-do and Jigoku, were found and destroyed. With the breaking of the seals the forces of Rokugan suffered devastation on a scale not before seen. To try and stem the advance of Jigoku, Iweko II formed the remainder of his forces into two grand Imperial Legions. [38]

Empire In Exile[]

Iweko II founded the Empire In Exile and the Colonies were begun to be called the New Imperial Territories. His ambition to take back the Emerald Empire was halted for many decades, waiting for a moment when a coalition of all clans, united and led by him might defeat Kanpeki. Years later his son Prince Ryokichi was appointed as Imperial Chancellor, and his daughter as the Second City governor. [37]

External Links[]


Preceded by:
Iweko I
Emperor of Rokugan
1200 - Present
Succeeded by:
-


References

  1. The Twenty Festivals – 2015 Spring Kotei Weekend
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 State of the Clans, Part 1, by Shawn Carman
  3. Love Letter Flyer & Characters
  4. 4.0 4.1 Chosen of the Emperor, by Shawn Carman
  5. Ivory Edition Rulebook Fictions
  6. Embers of War, Part 3: The Spider, by Shawn Carman
  7. Jewels of the Empire, by Shawn Carman
  8. Face the Madness, Part 1, by Shawn Carman & Seth Mason
  9. Face the Madness, Part 2, by Shawn Carman & Seth Mason
  10. Face the Madness, Part 3, by Shawn Carman & Seth Mason
  11. Age of Ivory, Part 4, by Brian Yoon
  12. Traditionalist (A Line in the Sand Title and flavor)
  13. Scenes From the Empire 37, by Robert Denton, Nancy Sauer, and Seth Mason
  14. Strike First (A Line in the Sand flavor)
  15. Winter Court 4 - Nearing the End
  16. Public Letters from the Clan Champions
  17. The Coming Storm (Story rulebook)
  18. The Coming Storm, Part One, by Brian Yoon
  19. Letters to the Clans – November 2014
  20. 20.0 20.1 One Way or the Other, by Robert Denton
  21. The New Order, Part 2, by Shawn Carman
  22. The Ascendant Son, by Shawn Carman
  23. Hida Kurabi (Twenty Festivals flavor)
  24. Iron Defenders (Twenty Festivals flavor)
  25. Short Season (Twenty Festivals flavor)
  26. Thunderous Acclaim, Part 1, by Shawn Carman & Christopher Hand
  27. Embracing the Darkness, by Maxime Lemaire
  28. Twenty Festivals, Part 3: Letting Them Have Your Way, by C Thomas Hand
  29. Spring Kotei 2015 Fiction Act 1: Opening Moves, Day 2, by Chris Hand, Maxime Lemaire, Mari Murdock, Fred Wan, and Robert Denton
  30. Act 3: Complications – Part 1, by Chris Hand, Maxime Lemaire, Mari Murdock, Fred Wan, and Robert Denton
  31. Coronation, by Shawn Carman and Maxime Lemaire
  32. Act 3: Complications – Part 2, by Chris Hand, Maxime Lemaire, Mari Murdock, Fred Wan, and Robert Denton
  33. Heaven’s Steps Are Light, Part 1, by Robert Denton
  34. Primal Tempest (Evil Portents flavor)
  35. The Dawn of Onyx Edition: The Battle of the First Seal, by Shawn Carman
  36. The Dawn of Onyx Edition
  37. 37.0 37.1 Echoes of Thunder, by Robert Denton III, Shawn Carman and Fred Wan
  38. The Embrace of Oblivion



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