THE STORY SO FAR:

The foul Shadowland creatures returned to roam the land and the Lion Clan tried to take over the Empire. The Crabs joined by the Cranes and Scorpions were the only hope for the Empire.

The other clans had their own reason to stay away from the battles. The Dragons as always hiding in their mountains to search for ancient artifacts and weapons. The Phoenix had still problems with their magic, the Unicorns were shattered by the battles before.

There has been no real winners except that the evil from the Shadowlands was driven away but the creatures only disappeared to form again for the next assault - and who will stop them next time - in an Empire in turmoil and ruins?

The first half year has seen strange allies. The Lion allied with the Scorpions ( for the first time ever) and the Dragons, who finally came down from their mountain hideouts. Against them stand the new risen Empire of the Unicorn clan, the Crab Clan, freed of the burden to guard the border against the vile Shadowland creatures and the Nagas, who joined this alliance for purposes only they can understand.

There have been strange rumours:

The Lions are said to be nearly split up in different factions.

The Crane leaders are nowhere to find and

worst of all there are signs that the Dark Master himself - Fu Leng - is back to shatter the Empire once more.

Who dies and who lives to see yet another day?

Kachiko leads the Scorpion Clan once again, battling Aramoro in the Game of the Houses, as they call it. The Dragon Firbreathers nearly put an end to the new Unicorn Empire and the Nagas are caught between the Lion and the Scorpion army. The losses have been massive on both sides.The Crab are still healing their wounds from the last lost battle against the Scorpions.

Will Hitomi at last become the new Emperor?

2001 - Month of the Two Moons:

The battles still continue on the Ochi-plains. The Scorpions and the Lions gathered their armies to face the Nagas and the Cranes. The Cranes have left their fortress to unite with the Naga/Unicorn/Crab Alliance. "We will NOT let the empire be ruled by this madwoman "Hitomi" nor by the Scorpion betrayers or the Lions, who have foul Shadowland creatures in their own ranks.", spoke "Doji Hoturi" with his thunderous voice. But the will of the battle Gods was not with them. The Lions, still a bit weak from the fights within their clan, did as best as they could, but the Scorpions fought with a rage seldom seen. The Nagas nearly destroyed the Lion army, when the tide of battle turned. The Ninjas of the Scorpions used an item from the Dark Master to break the ranks of the Nagas and Cranes and defeated them both. Although not over, there is not much hope left for the defeated armies. If the Crab and the Unicorn do not come to their aid soon, all will be lost for them.

"Doji Shizue" the storyteller told about the battle:" It seemed as if the sky grew darker every minute as the battle turned. The dark luck of Fu-Leng must have been with our enemies. Using forbidden artifacts just shows how close they are to falling under His influence. But we will stand against them - even if we fail, because we are fighting with honor and die in honor. We do not use trickery and treachery like this Scorpion woman Kachiko. Our honor is our life and our life is our honor."

Kachiko responded to these words with accusations of her own:" They speak of honor when they use their reanimated dead champion to fight for them. Our armies are made of flesh and blood and HONOR, not of rotten zombies. The Shadowland creatures in our army are true allies and true to Rokugan not like this abominations from the woods - the Naga - or their Shadowland creatures. The Phoenix will join us soon, because they know our cause is rightous, and we will teach these would-be conquerors what the true meaning of POWER is."

THE YEAR 2002

Soon the Phoenix joined the alliance of Dragons/Lion/Scorpion and all hope was lost for the other clans. In an epic battle the Crane, the Crab and the Unicorn Clan were battered. "They fled like the ratlings they were" Hitomi said, spitting out the words like bad medicine. Hundreds of brave soldiers of the beaten and of the victorious Clans were lying on the battle fields as the evening sun covered the plains with a fiery red. Those of the enemy Clans, who were still alive, were gathered by the Scorpions and brought into the dark chambers of the prisons for reasons unknown. More than one eyebrow was raised by the other Clans.

When Kachiko crowned the new Emporess Hitomi only the Scorpions & Lions shouted loud. The Dragons and Phoenix warlords were exchanging glimpses, that only could mean ill will. No one knows how long this alliance will stand before the next clan wars will break out. Kachiko took place on the right side beside the emporess. Even more glimpses were exchanged. 

Many of the warlords who explained their doubts openly vanished misteriously. Rumors roam the empire. Rumors of Ninjas who assassin warriors and courtiers with too much new ideas and views. All those who wanted to allow the beaten clans to return from their exiles were executed or in some seldom cases allowed to do seppuku.

No one knows what the next year will bring - only one thing seems to be sure - this peace will not prevail! Some of the outer provinces have already fallen back to the exiled clans, others were attacked by Shadowland armies. The Phoenix have vanished again and the Dragons have always other more important problems to solve - so only the Scorpions & Lions are securing the boundaries. Some even say, that the Dragons are having secret meetings with the exiled clans......and in the distance the thunder rolls again and lightning fills the sky with unholy light.....

RETOUR