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Please note: This article is about the Master of Five. For other uses of the term, please see Takao (disambiguation).
Takao 
Takao 
Born: Unknown 
Died: Unknown 
Titles: Head of the Brotherhood,
Master of Five
People

Takao was a gifted boy who was a student of the Master of Air Isawa Eju, hatamoto of the Ochiyo district of Otosan Uchi, and later reached enlightenment while facing the Champion of the Moon to become the Master of Five. He was well known for wearing his trademark jingasa. [1]

Youth[]

Asako Ochiyo with Takao

Asako Ochiyo with young Takao

Takao was abandoned in a temple in the lands of the Phoenix Clan, and the monks there adopted him because they saw a crow sitting on the branch of an old tree nearby. Takao began to read from an early age, and was very anxious to read the Tao of Shinsei. [2]

Isawa Eju[]

Some years later, the Master of Air, Isawa Eju, was visiting the temple and Takao met him. The two spent many hours talking, and the Master was surprised at the questions that Takao asked. Eju took the young boy to the Council of Five and started to teach him about the Fortunes and the kami, especially spirits of air. They traveled across the Phoenix lands, and even other lands until Master Eju's presence was requested in Otosan Uchi. Eju answered the request, and Takao travelled with him to the capital. While there, Eju was stricken with illness and eventually succumbed to it and died. [3]

Ochiyo district[]

Following the serious illness of Eju, Takao was alone until he entered under the guidance and protection of Asako Ochiyo, a monk and the governor of the Ochiyo district of Otosan Uchi. Only one year later Takao had risen to the rank of hatamoto of the the Ochiyo district, and the youngest hatamoto throughout the capital at that. [4] Takao held this position until the Scorpion Coup in 1123 when he valiantly attempted to prevent the slaughter of the monks in the city, but his efforts were futile. Following the coup he remained the hatamoto of that district for five more years until the Second Day of Thunder. [5]

Scorpion Coup[]

Prior to the Scorpion Coup Ochiyo sequestered himself within a warehouse he acquired, secretely working on a statue of Lady Amaterasu. During the Coup Takao did his best to put an end to the fighting, but after the fight was over, Ochiyo was deposed by the new Emperor Hantei XXXIX. Takao, disregarded as a young child, was passed over by Seppun Mojiki, who was appointed as governor of the newly named Mojiki district. Takao remained as the district hatamoto. His former Lord Ochiyou emerged in 1124 from his workshop, his masterpiete complete, which was placed in the Temple of the Sun Goddess. [6]

Clan War[]

Takao 4

Takao

Takao worked alongside Suana in training the Unicorn's army of farmers who fought on the Second Day of Thunder. [7] Takao was the Brotherhood's undisputed master of the duel. He never behaved as predicted, as if he knew his opponent's thoughts and deviated from any expectations. Though the sword was swift, Takao's hands and feet were far more dangerous. [8]

Leader of the Brotherhood[]

After the death of Tetsuya in the second Day of Thunder in 1128 [9] Takao became the new leader of the Brotherhood. [10]

Dealing wiht the Sohei[]

After the Clan Wars, there were many monks who could not return to quiet meditation and introspection as they had before, but took solace in violence. He found a solution alongside Asahina Hideki, and those troubled brothers were sent to study the art of Kyujutsu, a source of focus and serenity. The Order of Wind's Grace was founded. [11]

Hidden Emperor[]

The Emerald Champion, Kakita Toshimoko, spoke with Takao of falsehoods too great to bear, and if the sacrifice of life for knowledge. The day after Toshimoko vanished over the cliffs of Otosan Uchi. [12]

Hitomi[]

Takao 2

Takao with his jingasa

Siege of Sleeping Mountain[]

In 1132 Takao was alongside Hoshi when the Brotherhood joined the Naga army in the Siege of Sleeping Mountain. Takao sent Ikudaiu as messenger to Kyuden Hitomi. [13]

Naga Storm Mirumoto Mountain[]

Hitomi twisted by the Obsidian Hand tried to use the knowledge of Shosuro, trapped in the Chamber of Crystal, but the result was the freedom of the Scorpion Thunder and the Lying Darkness began to expand. The Naga cut all the paths to Kyuden Hitomi but their final attack was halted by the Imperial Legions. [14]

Madness of Toturi[]

New Tao[]

Takao 3

Takao, Acolyte of Fire

Several events had concerned Takao about the truth within the New Tao. The writer, Isawa Osugi, had been executed by the Emperor for her supposed kolat membership, and the man who talked with the Hooded Ronin, the Emperor Toturi I, had been looked as a madmen. The New Tao fell under suspicion. [12]

War against the Shadow[]

Champion of the Moon[]

The same year Takao faced the Champion of the Moon in Otosan Uchi at the same time as Hitomi faced Onnotangu. Just as all seemed hopeless Takao reached enlightenment during the battle. [15] Takao flooded Onnotangu's Champion with the power of Void [16] With a single, final, martial strike, Takao unleashed all the hidden powers of the Void upon the Moon. Onnotangu screamed in anguish, and the Celestial Heavens froze in their place. And at the end, the Moon, destroyer of the Kami and slaughterer of mortal humankind, shattered with the force of destiny. [17] Defeating the champion Takao broke the shadow's control over the city, and leading him to become the Master of Five. [15] [18]

Recovering the True Tao[]

Takao commanded the Brotherhood to search the Empire. One half of the true Tao had been recovered, but half had been stolen, taken by the Darkness. [18]

Naming the Shadows[]

Takao aiding Rekai

Takao aiding Rekai

In 1133 Takao was in the Shrine of the Seven Thunders when he was enlightened by Hitomi as to how to defeat the Lying Darkness. The Shadows had to be named to give it form, and when it was defined it could be destroyed. The temple was attacked by the Shadows shortly after. [19] He explained to Daidoji Rekai that mortals must do what gods would not. [20]

Disappearance[]

In 1153 Takao disappeared, and all attempts to discover his whereabouts were fruitless. The Brotherhood decreed that the Master had gone in search of some pivotal aspect of his enlightenment and made no move to fill the position. [21]

See also[]

External Links[]


Preceded by:
Unknown
Hatamoto of the Ochiyo district
1121 - 1128
Succeeded by:
Unknown
Preceded by:
Tetsuya
Head of the Brotherhood
1128 - 1153
Succeeded by:
Vacant


Sources Conflict
The sources relating to this article are in conflict with each other.
Way of Shinsei says that Takao was with Eju until he died, then one year passed before he was made hatamoto. Then two years passed and the Scorpion Coup occurred. This would place Eju's death in 1120, not 1123 as stated in Way of the Phoenix. It could be assumed that Eju fell ill, but did not die until 1123, but Takao did not stay with him during this time. It would seem strange however that Takao would not stay with his master during the illness.

References

  1. Takao's Jingasa (Hidden Emperor 3)
  2. Way of Shinsei, p. 75
  3. Way of Shinsei, pp. 75-76
  4. Otosan Uchi:Book 1, pp. 61-62
  5. Way of Shinsei, p. 76
  6. Winter Court: Kyuden Kakita, p. 120
  7. Clan Letter to the Brotherhood #2 (Imperial Herald v2 #2)
  8. Clan War: Thunder's Challenge, p. 45
  9. Clan Letter to the Brotherhood #3 (Imperial Herald v2 #3)
  10. Hidden Emperor, p. 54
  11. Book of Air, pp. 99-100
  12. 12.0 12.1 Clan Letter to the Brotherhood #7 (Imperial Herald v3 #3)
  13. Rulebook Story (Siege of Sleeping Mountain)
  14. Starter Quotes (Siege of Sleeping Mountain)
  15. 15.0 15.1 Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game, Third Edition, p. 23
  16. War in the Heavens (GenCon 99 Storyline Tournament Results)
  17. War in the Heavens, by Ree Soesbee (Imperial Herald #12)
  18. 18.0 18.1 Starter Quotes (Fire and Shadow)
  19. Temples of the Crow Seven Dragons, by Ree Soesbee (Soul of the Empire storyback)
  20. Maintain Balance (Fire and Shadow flavor)
  21. Way of the Open Hand, p. 11


Mon monk This Brotherhood of Shinsei related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here.
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