Togashi Matsuo
From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings
Togashi Matsuo was an apprentice of Togashi Mitsu, and like Mitsu is a tamashii.
Contents |
[edit] Family
Matsuo was orphaned during the War of Spirits, and joined the Togashi family.[1]
[edit] Tamashii
Mitsu was surprised to learn of the existance of Matsuo, as he believed that with Togashi dead, there would be no more tamashii. Matsuo was very much like Mitsu, and several veterans of the Clan War had commented on how he was exactly like a young Mitsu. He was a vigorous and pleasant man who preferred the simple to the complicated and the mundane to the glamorous.[2]
Dragon Clan Champion Togashi Hoshi took Matsuo with him to the Seikitsu Mountains in 1156, where they found the legendary Togashi Mitsu hiding from the world. Hoshi revealed that Matsuo was a tamashii, and Mitsu agreed to train the boy.[1]
| "With all due respect, Hoshi-sama, if this concerns my fate, I would hear it. I will not go."
-Matsuo
|
[edit] Tattoos
Under Mitsu's tutelage, Matsuo's powers grew steadily. At one point he had obtained a total of seven tattoos, including that of a Wolf, a Centipede and a Frost Dragon. Even Mitsu was impressed with Matsuo's progress.[3] Matsuo also has an Eagle tattoo as well as a tattoo of a twisting vine, which grants him some recuperative powers. The latter of the two activated itself automatically when Matsuo was caught in a landslide saving his life, something he was not aware that the tattoo could do.[4]
[edit] Dragon-Phoenix War
Matsuo and Togashi Mitsu were sent to Mikoto Mura by Togashi Satsu in 1158, during the Dragon-Phoenix War, to aid in whatever way they could. It was here that Matsuo first met Tamori Chieko, whom he shared the belief that the Dragon Clan as a whole should have done more to prevent the tradgedies resulting from the war.[1]
| "We are responsible. We did not cause this. We cannot undo it, but we are responsible nonetheless. The Dragon Clan protects its people. Any harm that befalls them is our responsibility."
-Matsuo
|
[edit] Kokujin's Challenge
Matsuo was one of the seven Dragon Clan samurai who answered Kokujin's Challenge in 1159. He journied alongside the other seven to the Twilight Mountains where they were ambushed by dozens of tattooed bakemono led by Kokujin Kobai.[3]
| "It sounded like a drum. . . except that it was like metal. Steel on steel. . . More like a blacksmith's hammer. it is gone now."
-Matsuo
|
The initial fight was being won by the seven Dragon until the pass was collapsed upon them by six shugenja. Matsuo awoke alone some time later to find most of his companions missing and Kokujin's minions searching the rubble for him and two of his companions. When Kobai and the bakemono discovered the wounded Hoshi Wayan, Matsuo confronted them. At the same time, Mirumoto Rosanjin appeared, firing arrows. Between the two of them they defeated what remained of the bakemono and corrupted ise zumi, and began planning how they could rescue their allies held captive in Shiro Heichi.[4]
| "I would die as a Dragon before I would live as what you have become, Kobai."
-Matsuo
|
Matsuo used his knowledge of herbalism to partially heal Wayan, but without the aid of a shugenja Wayan would most likely not survive. Matsuo and Rosanjin began scouting the area when they came across Heichi Jianzhen, a lone shugenja wandering the Twilight Mountains apparently under the protection of the Shakoki Dogu.[5] Matsuo convinced Jianzhen not to kill him, Rosanjin and Wayan. Instead he suggested the four of them work together to remove Kokujin from Shiro Heichi. The four met at a ruined temple where Jianzhen did her best to heal Wayan. While he would no longer die, he was still severely wounded. Jianzhen explained to Matsuo and Rosanjin the true story of what happened to the Boar Clan, and the three realised that Kokujin must be using the Anvil of Despair.[6]
| "Is it not customary when entering another samurai's territory to bring a gift? It would be impolite to kill me before you accepted mine, Jianzhen-sama."
-Matsuo
|
Once Hoshi Wayan was sufficiently healed, he was sent to the Crab Clan with a message informing them of the events transpiring in the mountains. Jianzhen then revealed that the Shakoki Dogu had sensed the arrival of two other tattooed men in the Twilight Mountains, and they were not of Kokujin's dark order. The three of them remaining decided to seek out the two newcomers, hoping to find more allies. The two turned out to be Togashi Mitsu and Kaelung, the latter's appearance causing tension with Rosanjin. Rosanjin, Kaelung and Jianzhen bickered until Tamori Chieko's scream echoing through the mountains brought the more pressing matter back to their attention.[1]
Jianzhen and Rosanjin created distraction outside Shiro Heichi, allowing Matsuo, Mitsu and Kaelung to enter Kokujin's lair. In the ensuing fight Kokujin Kobai revealed himself to have survived his apparent death earlier. Matsuo came face to face with Kokujin, and picked up Togashi's Daisho to fight the mad monk. Kokujin easily beat him, so Matsuo released Togashi Satsu and Hitomi Hogai from their restraints. In the ensuing confusion Matsuo escaped the castle with the critically wounded Tamori Chieko.[7]
[edit] Kokujin
Matsuo later faced Kokujin again in 1169. Knowing he was no match for the Mad Dragon, Matsuo still fought. His actions brought Kokujin's apprentice Bayushi Shinzo to realize the error of his ways, and Shinzo killed Kokujin. At that moment the new Shosuro Daimyo Shosuro Toson caught up with Shinzo. Matsuo pleaded for Shinzo's life, but Shinzo was resigned to his fate.[8]
References
 | This Dragon Clan related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here. |
