Togashi Mitsu

From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings

Togashi Mitsu
Born:	1100
Died:	-
Titles:	Oracle of Thunder
People

Togashi Mitsu was a legendary Ise Zumi of the Dragon Clan. Born a Tamashii, Mitsu prepared himself to one day offer his body to host the soul of the Kami Togashi. The death of Togashi on the Second Day of Thunder left Mitsu free to pursue his own interests.

Contents 1 Youth 2 Appearance 3 Tales of Mitsu 3.1 Thrill seeker 4 Clan War 5 Tamashii 6 War Against the Darkness 7 Kokujin 8 Retirement 8.1 Matsuo 9 Dragon-Phoenix War 10 Tattoos 11 Kokujin, Once Again 11.1 Kaelung 11.2 More Allies 11.3 Apparent Death 12 Continuing the Legend 13 See Also 14 References

[edit] Youth

Soh raised in Fukurokujin Seido, having been left there as a child. He was an acolyte in 1114 at age 14, when he was approached by the Dragon Clan Champion Togashi Yokuni. Yokuni offered Soh the opportunity to join the Togashi family, gain magical tattoos and become an ise zumi. Soh immediatley took to the idea, and decided that he would take the name Togashi Mitsu^[1]

"Why should I regret? I have no life but this one. All I can do is to live it." -Soh [1]

Some of his teachers at the temple were outraged at this apparent disregard for their traditions, but one wise sensei said; "Do not expect the crow to swim just because you tell him he is a goldfish."^[2]

[edit] Appearance

Almost all of Mitsu's body was covered in tattoos, and he would show off these tattoos by only wearing leggings and sandals. He was quite tall, standing almost six feet, completely bald and heavily scarred on his face from years of close calls. He never carried any weapons, favoring the powers of his tattoos should it come to a fight. He could almost always be seen with a smile on his face. He could talk to anyone about anything, be it peasants about rice crops or an Utaku about her saddle. The only matter he was ever shy about was himself.^[3]

[edit] Tales of Mitsu

Mitsu was a fun-loving and carefree monk who frequently wandered Rokugan helping those in need and dispensing justice as needed. There are many tales of Mitsu's exploits, including defending villages from ogres, catching Scorpion attempting to blackmail honest daimyo and leaping off a mountain to impress a Phoenix shugenja. He traveled the Empire for over ten years, appearing in small villages or the courts of nobles, acting the tattooed jester. He would make friends with those who displayed a noble nature, regardless of status. In his prime, Mitsu was one of the most recognizable Ize Zumi to ever live, as he did not choose the standard path of seclusion and meditation.^[2]

[edit] Thrill seeker

Some would go as far as to say that Mitsu was just another thrill seeker. In truth he never undertook any course of action without having carefully weighed the outcome first. He saw the mountain jumps near Kyuden Togashi as a way of relaxation. He could occasionally be seen flirting with geisha, going hungry at great feasts and drinking sour tea during sake festivals. When asked why he would torture himself so he would merely say that he found it as exhilarating as jumping off a cliff.^[4]

[edit] Clan War

During the Clan War, Mitsu was a staunch ally of the ronin Toturi. Mitsu, along with many other members of the Dragon Clan, joined Toturi's Army before the Battle of Beiden Pass and fought with the Black Lion throughout the war. He never held any rank in the army, and came and went as he pleased. His service to Toturi however was invaluable.^[5]

[edit] Tamashii

Mitsu was one of the tamashii, the rare ise zumi capable of serving as a host to the soul of the Kami Togashi himself. Mitsu had known that he would one day be called upon to become the next Dragon Clan Champion, and hold the soul of Togashi, but when Togashi Yokuni was killed on the Second Day of Thunder Mitsu doubted his purpose in life.^[5]

"Togashi died before I could fultill my destiny. Hitomi killed him." -Mitsu [6]

[edit] War Against the Darkness

Following the Second Day of Thunder, Mitsu was one of the many Togashi who refused to take the Hitomi family name. His once eternal optimistic demeanor vanished, and he retreated from the public eye. Many assumed that he was disgusted with the civil war that consumed his brethren, but the truth was more complicated. His true concern was that of his destiny as a tamashii.^[5]

[edit] Kokujin

Mitsu was sought out by Hitomi Kobai in 1133 following the Battle of Oblivion's Gate. Kobai wished for Mitsu to aid him in exacting vengeance upon Kokujin, who had betrayed Hitomi and stolen Togashi's Daisho. Mitsu would have no part in the petty quest for vengeance.^[7]

"For vengeance and trinkets. You have learned nothing, Kobai." -Mitsu [7]

Mitsu was again approached in 1151, this time by Hoshi Kaelung, and asked to aid in the defeat of Kokujin. Again Mitsu refused.^[8]

"You ask for truth, Kaelung, but I do not think that there is any. I have made enough sacrifices for the Dragon Clan. Go and hunt Kokujin if you must. I wish you good fortune." -Mitsu [8]

[edit] Retirement

After a time Mitsu's age was catching up with him, and he began to doubt his destiny. At this time he happened to be nearby when a patrol led by Mirumoto Rosanjin was attacked by a Lion patrol led by Matsu Tejin. The Lion were winning until the timely arrival of Mitsu, who disarmed Tejin. Tejin and his men fled, but not before Tejin swore he would have his revenge. The dead and wounded around him reminded Mitsu that he still had to remove the greatest threat to the Dragon, Kokujin.^[9] Mitsu secretely took up residence in Seikitsu Pass following the re-opening of the pass in 1150, living off of the fresh water and blind fish there for six years.^[6]

[edit] Matsuo

Mitsu's depression lasted until Dragon Clan Champion Togashi Hoshi introduced him to another young Ise Zumi, Togashi Matsuo, in 1156. Matsuo was also a tamashii, a fact which raised too many questions for both Hoshi and Mitsu. Mitsu agreed to take Matsuo as his student, to teach and to study so he could find Matsuo's purpose as well as if he himself had one once more.^[5][6]

"How is that possible? Togashi is dead. There is no more need for the tamashii." -Mitsu [6]

[edit] Dragon-Phoenix War

Mitsu and Matsuo were sent to the village of Mikoto Mura by Togashi Satsu in 1158 during the Dragon-Phoenix War, to aid in any way they could.^[6]

[edit] Tattoos

Mitsu was known to have a Dragon tattoo, as well as a Centipede tattoo.^[8]

[edit] Kokujin, Once Again

In 1159, Mitsu again become involved in the quest to end the shame of Kokujin. While training with his student Togashi Matsuo, he encountered Togashi Satsu. Satsu revealed that he knew the location of Kokujin, but again Mitsu did not become involved. His student Matsuo joined the seven Dragon samurai who travelled to the Twilight Mountains to confront Kokujin.^[7]

[edit] Kaelung

Eventually, Mitsu decided that he would have to take part in the conflict with Kokujin and sought out Kaelung, the former Hoshi sohei. He tracked him down to the Lion city of Foshi where the two fought. After fleeing the city following the trouble they caused, Mitsu explained why he had come seeking Kaelung. Togashi Satsu and six other Dragon had accepted Kokujin's Challenge, and Mitsu needed Kaelung's aid in helping them defeat Kokujin. Kaelung accepted and the pair began their journey south.^[8]

The two arrived in the Twilight Mountains exhausted from their use of their Centipede tattoos. Mitsu suggested they start looking in the ruins of Shiro Heichi, as he suspected Kokujin would think them a good place to hide. Kaelung made it clear to Mitsu that he was only here to defeate Kokujin, and warned the ise zumi not to get in his way. Mitsu in turn explained that he was only there to rescue Satsu and the others, and warned Kaelung not to get in his way either.^[10]

[edit] More Allies

The two became lost in the mountains until they encountered Togashi Matsuo, Mirumoto Rosanjin and Heichi Jianzhen, who had been led to the two monks by the Shakoki Dogu. Rosanjin, Kaelung and Jianzhen began bickering until Tamori Chieko's scream echoing through the mountains brought the pressing matter back to their attention.^[6]

Jianzhen and Rosanjin created distraction outside Shiro Heichi, allowing Mitsu, Matsuo and Kaelung to enter Kokujin's lair. Mitsu and Kaelung confronted Kokujin while Matsuo freed Togashi Satsu and Hitomi Hogai. Matsuo escaped with the severely wounded Chieko, and when it appeared that the gathered Dragon had the upper hand Kokujin sacrificed his vassal Kokuijn Kobai upon the Anvil of Despair, releasing the First Oni from it's prison beneath Shiro Heichi. This revealed Kokujin's true plan all along, to release the First Oni in exchange for Fu Leng's true name.^[11]

[edit] Apparent Death

Mitsu and the Mad Dragon became locked in single combat. Using the Anvil of Despair as a weapon, Mitsu knocked Kokujin, himself, and the Anvil into a lava-filled pit, presumably to their demise and the Anvil's loss. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Continuing the Legend

Despite his apparent death, many had since claimed to have seen the Ise Zumi helping wounded escape from battles. Recently, Mitsu has returned to Rokugan as the Oracle of Thunder. Around the same time, Kokujin has returned as well. Few see this as a coincidence. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See Also

• Togashi Mitsu/Meta

[edit] References

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