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Ryoko Owari Toshi

Ryoko Owari Toshi

Ryoko Owari Toshi (S3), or Journey's End City was possibly the second largest city in Rokugan after the capital. [1] It was located in the Ryoko province. [2]

Other Names[]

City of Lies

City of Lies

The city was alternately called City of Lies [1], City of Stories, [3] City of Green Walls, [4] City That Dung Built, [5] or the popular shortened form, Ryoko Owari. In the Crab Clan only it was called Reeking Scorpion Cesspool [3] or Rotting Scorpion Cesspool. [6]

Criminal Hotbed[]

Control of the city changed hands several times over the years, but Ryoko Owari always retained its reputation for being a hotbed of criminal activity, having many gambling dens, geisha houses and opium parlors. The city maintained a mask of legitimacy as Rokugan's center for medicinal opium trade. [1] Poppies were grown in vast fields that surround the city, and it's involvement in the opium trade (both legal and illegal) made the city very profitable for its rulers. [7]

History[]

Ryoko Owari 3

Ryoko Owari Toshi (S3)

Founding[]

The city was founded by Shosuro Kaneie in the 5th century under the rule of Hantei IX. It was a simple fort which stood against the expansionistic ambitions of the Crab Clan, with a nearby small town north of the fort named the "Journey's End" in hopes of attracting settlers. The city would be known as the "City of Green Walls" because the original city walls were quarried from local limestone. [8]

Growing in size[]

The city was still a small fort under the rule of the Sixth Governor, Shosuro Kurodo. His ground-breaking policies led to the prosperity of the city, that would lead Ryoko Owari to became the second biggest city of the Empire. It was also under his reign when the kajinin firemen appeared. [9] The river that neatly bisected the village soon became an attraction for merchants from other clans, and the village soon became a city. The fertile fields surrounding the city were home to vast crops of opium, harvested, processed, and distributed for medicinal purposes. [10]

The Garbage Rebellion[]

The Garbage Rebellion was begun when the Twelfth Governor, Shosuro Atsusuke, taxed collecting refuse, breaking a Kurodo's promise. Atsasuke eventually was forced to revert his decision. Since that time the eta community at Ryoko Owari were known as the Leatherworkers. [11]

The Crab Invasion[]

Early in the seventh century, Crab forces seized Ryoko Owari during the Crab Invasion of Scorpion lands, and held it for a little more than a year. The Liberation Day Festival was a local holiday held every year to honor the return of Shosuro Sanekata, the governor of Ryoko Owari at the time, who had predicted that the Crab could never hold his city. [12]

The Lion Invasion[]

During the rule of Hantei XX Scorpion, Crab, and Lion Clans battled for the lands around the city. The Lion had the upper hand and easily breached the weak limestone city walls. They held the city for only a week before they recalled their forces to other war scenery. New city walls were built eight feet thick and fifteen feet high with black granite from the Spine of the World Mountains. [8]

Second Rise of Iuchiban[]

In 750, during the second rising of Iuchiban the city was ravaged by the bloodspeaker's undead army. [13] The majority of the citizenry had been evacuated to Yogo Shiro. [14]

Opium War[]

Ryoko Owari 4

Ryoko Owari streets

In 1122, Ryoko Owari was the place of the Opium War, [15] devised by the Dajan's Kolat, a splinter sect of the true kolat. [16]

Moon Cultists[]

This same year, a Moon cult rose an undead army. They entered unnoticed in the city mixed with the population during the Parade of the Dead, when the citizens bore death masks similar to the Porcelain Masks used to animate the zombies. [17] The ritual was eventually disrupted by Crane magistrates. [18]

Scorpion Clan Coup[]

After the failure of the Scorpion Coup in 1123, the city was occupied in 1125 by the Imperial Legions, and its governor Shosuro Hyobu and other Scorpion residents were forced into hiding. [19] The Unicorn members of the city's ruling council took over administrative functions after the Coup. [20]

Clan War[]

In 1127, in the month of the Dog, on their way to Beiden Pass, Crab forces seized and pillaged Ryoko Owari Toshi after defeating two of the Imperial Legions guarding the city. The commander choose not to destroy the city, but instead pillaged as many supplies as possible and returned to the main Crab army. [21] Sanru no Oni had descended into the city and began killing armed resisters. [22]

Unicorn Assume Control[]

In 1128, after the Second Day of Thunder, the Emperor Toturi I order to return order to the city. [23] In 1130, in the month of the Serpent, [24] with the Scorpion Clan sent into exile, the Unicorn seized control of the city. [25] [26] The city remained under Unicorn rule even when the rest of Scorpion lands were returned to their original holders by Toturi I in 1132 as the boon of the tournament The Gift of the Emperor. The Emperor would not have his right hand cheated of their conquest. [27]

Scorpion Struggle[]

In 1132 the Scorpion Clan had returned to Rokugan and Toturi I named Bayushi Yojiro magistrate of the City. The Scorpion began his fight to retake the city from the Unicorn control. [4]

War of Spirits[]

In 1150 the spirit's legions threatened the City of Lies. Bayushi Paneki reported the Crab Clan Champion's husband, Hida Yasamura, the Scorpion could not stand against the Hida Tsuneo's armies. Hida O-Ushi, who had been supporting Hantei XVI since the beginning of the war, decided to send Yasamura leading the Crab cavalry to fight her own kinsmen. [28] The Crab and the Scorpion won the day in the Battle of Drowned Honor, but Yasamura died by an arrow in his throat. [29]

Kaneka[]

Ryoko Owari was the place where Kaneka announced to the Empire that he was the son of the Emperor Toturi I in 1155. Three years later, in 1158, the Emperor was supposedly on his way to Ryoko Owari Toshi when he was ambushed and killed by a shadowlands force led by an oni. [30]

Bloodspeaker Cell[]

For many years a cult originally devoted to the moon deity, Onnotangu, operated with stealth and secrecy in the docks and heimin areas of the city. It had grown in the years of the Unicorn occupation, and a kikage zumi dedicated to Hitomi, the current Lady Moon, controlled the cult. [31]

Shinjo Governor[]

In 1159 Ryoko Owari was restored to order by Shinjo Magistrates. As the city holdings were nearly equally divided between the Unicorn and Scorpion clan, both clans turned for arbitration. Until a new Emperor was chosen, the Miya placed a Shinjo to succeed the murdered Shosuro governor, while the Scorpion would continue to be allowed to place their magistrates in the city and help maintain the peace. [32]

Hantei Naseru[]

After Toturi Tsudao proclamated herself as Empress Toturi II with capital in Kyuden Seppun, the rest of the heirs planned to declare their own claim upon the throne, but in different cities. Hantei Naseru elected Ryoko Owari as his headquarters, and many clans had begun relocating their most skilled and influential courtiers and ambassadors to the city. [33]

Besieged by Kaneka[]

In 1160, in the month of the Dragon, Akodo Kaneka attacked Toturi Naseru's power base in Ryoko Owari Toshi, in the Siege of Ryoko Owari. [34] [35] [36]

Stained Paw Plot[]

In 1160 during the days before Naseru took his throne the Stained Paw shamans prepared a terrible curse. They fashioned a satchel of plagued skulls that would be hurled into the Bay of Drowned Honor. The skulls would spread sickness and disease throughout Ryoko Owari, leaving the city empty of life. The Tattered Ear Tribe discovered the Stained Paw ritual and their warriors attacked the saboteurs, fouling the plot. [37]

Scorpion Regain Control[]

In 1166 the Scorpion managed to negotiate the return of control from the Unicorn, part as a result of the War of the Rich Frog, and the rest due to remain secret the existence of the Khan's lover. [38] The Scorpion were unsurprised to discover the Unicorn had little luck reducing the crime in the city. [1] Bayushi Tsimaru was appointed as new governor [39] aided by Shosuro Maru. [40] As a renewal of the Dragon-Scorpion Alliance the three Dragon monk Orders dispatched a large contingent of their monks to reconsecrate the city's temples in the name of the Scorpion. [41]

Peasant Uprising[]

In 1168 an uncontrolled riot at Ryoko Owari [42] larger than any in history wracked the City of Lies. Only the students at the Dojo of Bitter Lies saved the city from destruction. [43] Later it was found that Kokujin, the Prophet of the Dark Lotus, had been spread the revolution ideas on the villagers. The City of Lies was nearly put to the torch by the crazed minions of Kokujin, who fanned the flames of discontent to a fever pitch and unleashed his pawns upon the samurai of Rokugan. [44]

Destroyer War[]

In 1172 the Leatherworker's Quarter burned to the ground. The fire was began by the Scorpion, to destroy a threat to the Empire without any doubt. [45] Despite of it the city was quarantined and lost to the plague. [46] The survivors were evacuated when the God Beast of Kali-Ma approached the city. [47] The beast was killed, but an incursion by a group of demon spawn created by the god-beast, ran rampant through the nearly deserted streets. The city would need more than six months to recover. [48]

Notable Locations[]

City of Stories

City of Stories

Quarters[]

Ryoko Owari 5

Ryoko Owari

Other Locations[]

Dojo[]

Situated within the heart of Ryoko Owari sat the Scorpion courtier school, the Dojo of Lies, [49] and it was the original place of the Dojo of Bitter Lies, which eventually moved to the Fortress of Blackened Sight. [50]

Known governors[]

Ryoko Owari Toshi 2

Ryoko Owari Toshi (S3)

External Links[]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Legend of the Five Rings; Third Edition, p. 297
  2. Secrets of the Scorpion, p. 96
  3. 3.0 3.1 Penance, Part Two, by Shawn Carman and Rich Wulf
  4. 4.0 4.1 Clan Letter to the Scorpion #12 (Imperial Herald v3 #4)
  5. City of Lies: Player's Guide, p. 11
  6. The Atlas of Rokugan, p. 268
  7. City of Lies: Player's Guide, p. 27
  8. 8.0 8.1 City of Lies: Player's Guide, p. 30
  9. City of Lies: Player's Guide, pp. 23-24
  10. Way of the Thief, p. 62
  11. City of Lies: Player's Guide, p. 26
  12. City of Lies: Player's Guide, pp. 14-15
  13. Way of the Scorpion, p. 31
  14. Imperial Histories 2, p. 134
  15. Legend of the Five Rings : Third Edition, p. 17
  16. Bells of the Dead, p. 8
  17. Night of a Thousand Screams, pp. 42-43
  18. Unforgotten, by Shawn Carman
  19. Winter Court: Kyuden Kakita, p. 15
  20. Game Master's Guide; 2nd Ed, p. 40
  21. Time of the Void, p. 11
  22. Time of the Void, p. 18
  23. Time of the Void, p. 121
  24. Hidden Emperor, p. 12
  25. Smoke and Mirrors, by Shawn Carman
  26. Rulebook text (Hidden Emperor 4)
  27. The Gift of the Emperor
  28. Legions, Part VIII
  29. Battle of Drowned Honor (Celestial flavor)
  30. Legend of the Five RIngs : Third Edition, p. 25
  31. Oriental Adventures, p. 226
  32. Secrets of the Unicorn, p. 70
  33. Clan Letter to the Crab #16 (Imperial Herald v2 #1)
  34. Rulebook Story (Winds of Change), by Rich Wulf
  35. Four Winds, p. 55
  36. Patience (Dark Allies flavor)
  37. The Last Rememberer, Part Two, by Rich Wulf
  38. The War of the Rich Frog, Epilogue
  39. News of Rokugan (Imperial Herald v2#18)
  40. Blood Hunt (Region 2 - San Francisco, CA, USA)
  41. Report of Miya Shoin to the Righteous Emperor, Toturi III (Imperial Herald v2 #16)
  42. Seminars Fictions 3, by the Legend of the Five Rings Story Team
  43. Bayushi Shaiga (Rise of the Shogun flavor)
  44. The Anvil's Legacy: Hammer & Anvil 2 and A Hero's Tale: Hammer & Anvil 3, by Shawn Carman
  45. Beneath the City, Part 2, by Brian Yoon
  46. Rulebook Story (The Plague War)
  47. Wrath of the God-Beast, Part 1, by Shawn Carman
  48. Scenes from the Empire 11, by Shawn Carman & Nancy Sauer
  49. Way of Samurai, p. 63
  50. Great Clans, p. 221



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