Podcast of the Five Rings

Yoshi, Tomo, Buro, and their retinue of Crab samurai stood face to face with an oni in the former daimyo’s quarters of Daylight Castle. The oni wore a pale kimono of woven human eyes, and where normally there would be eyes on the face of the monster, there were only two giant gaping mouths. After discovering the beast was afraid of fire, Buro and Yoshi attempted to draw the beast out from its hiding place in the darkness of the ruined castle. Seeing Buro put in harm’s way, Kuni Akari abandoned her position with the other Crab samurai and ran to protect Buro. Lashing out in defense, the oni attacked Akari, latching its mouths to her face and sucking her eyes right from their sockets. Her eyes became yet another pair in the oni’s collection. With their combined abilities, the party eventually defeated the oni and reclaimed the ancestral blade of the Hiruma from the daimyo’s quarters, the third and final key described by Hiruma Masami.The party then returned the ancestral wakizashi to the Hiruma daimyo, Hiruma Tomoharu, caged in obsidian on the floor beneath them. As his final wish, he asked that the party return this precious heirloom to the Hiruma family, so it may be with its rightful owners. With this blade, Tomoharu then committed seppuku, allowing his soul to move on to the afterlife, and releasing his body of its hideous cage.Shortly after his death, a large tremor shook the castle like an earthquake. Investigating its source, the party discovered that one of the towers which had previously been completely destroyed had now been resurrected as a ghostly visage of its former self. Upon entering this tower, they found it crawling with the resurrected dead, intent on killing them as they made their way up the tower. At the top, the party found the maho-tsukai, Kitsu Sokori performing some kind of dark ritual with the revived corpse of her loyal bodyguard, Gaku.Wading through a horde of the undead, the party were not able to reach Sokori before she completed her ritual. Upon its completion, the souls of the fallen Hiruma returned to Daylight Castle and the Plain of Last Stand, tearing them from their sleep in Yume-do. With the ritual complete, a shadow stirred in the corner of the tower, revealing itself to be the ancient demon, Atsumari no Oni. Looking over the castle and the distant plain, Atsumari used his demonic powers to return the fallen samurai to life, creating an army of undead warriors.Yoshi, Tomo, Buro and what remains of their Crab retinue now stand in the ghostly remains of the destroyed tower, being overwhelmed by an onslaught of skeletal minions. Opposite them, are the evil sorceress, Kitsu Sokori, and her dark lord, Atsumari no Oni, the soul rending demon responsible for the fall of Daylight Castle. Before them, the newly resurrected remains of the fallen Hiruma, an unholy horde of profane warriors hungry for one thing… the death of all life. Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Togashi Yoshi, Soshi no Burezu, Kaiu Tomo, Hida Nagahide, Hiruma Yuto, and Kaiu Daisoto stood face to face against the centuries-old demon, Atsumari, the wicked maho-tsukai, Kitsu Sokori, and her retinue of undead warriors. Sprawling out beneath them from atop the ghostly castle tower were the fallen Hiruma, an army of unholy samurai, newly resurrected by Atsumari’s vile power.Atsumari thanked Sokori for her help in acquiring this army, an arrangement made between an unspeakably powerful lord and his faithful servant. Sokori agreed to help undo the ritual which bound the souls of the Hiruma to Yume-do, bringing them back to the realm of mortals where Atsumari could enslave them and tether them to their decrepit remains, creating an army of zombies with unwavering loyalty. In exchange, Sokori would be awarded land and a position of power within Atsumari’s newly forged kingdom—the conquered empire of Rokugan.Without wasting any time, Atsumari immediately slayed the sorceress, crushing her head like a grape in his massive claw-like hands. He then reanimated the decapitated corpse like a marionette pulling on the strings of his puppet. The 20-foot tall demon then turned his attention to the weak and wounded samurai, now the only thing standing between him and his plans for domination. The party fought for their lives against the oni and his corpse abomination, but it was soon clear that they were no match for this unholy duo of dark magic. Recalling the words of Hiruma Masami and reflecting on how she defeated the beast 400 years ago, Togashi Yoshi came to terms with what must be done. Summoning an invocation taught to him by the sacred monks of his order, Yoshi focused his mind, body, and soul into one final attack. His eyes shone with a brilliant light and his hands glowed with a magnificent green energy. Attempting to distract Atsumari, Kaiu Daisoto threw himself at the monster, becoming instantly disemboweled with one stroke of the beast’s claw. With the demon’s attention now turned on the eviscerated Crab, Yoshi struck at the nightmare creature in a fit of maniacal laughter, rending its soul and banishing the both of them to the realm of Jigoku—a land of eternal torment and misery. Yoshi paid the ultimate price, sacrificing himself in order save the lives of countless innocents and delaying a full-scale assault from the Shadowlands for perhaps another few centuries.As the tower began to collapse around the remaining samurai, Kaiu Tomo swiftly investigated Kitsu Sokori’s body, revealing his uncle’s stolen map. Once outside, the samurai were greeted with the image of countless Crab souls exiting the mortal realm and moving on toward the afterlife. A final vision of Hiruma Masami graced their senses, as she said goodbye and thanked them for all they have done. As a token of their gratitude, the departing souls swept the vile taint from the lost valley, clearing a path to the River of Last Stand where the samurai could return to the Spear of Dawn Watchtower.Atsumari was slain, Kitsu Sokori was brought to justice, the stolen map were recovered, and the souls of the Hiruma were finally allowed to rest, however, all was still not well. Haunted by messages from evil kansen, Soshi Buro convinced his companions that they should investigate the caverns beneath the castle. Following the subterranean streams which cut through the castle grounds, the party found a cavern where a pair of tainted creatures called The Sisters were conducting a ritual using a stone cauldron filled with a dark, oozing liquid. Upon killing The Sisters, the evil spirits haunting Buro became even louder, enticing him to look into the cauldron. “Join us,” they said, “uncover a secret to shatter an empire.” But following the advice of the Crab samurai and with some help from his friends, Buro resisted the temptation of these dark spirits. Tomo then destroyed the cauldron with a single shot from his sacred crossbow, immediately ending the dark voices plaguing Buro.With the spirits of Daylight Castle resolved, the remaining samurai crossed the now at-peace Plain of Last Stand toward the river which would take them home. After drifting on the River of Last Stand for an unknown period of time, the samurai were eventually discovered by a Crab ranging party and promptly taken to Spear of Dawn Watchtower. There, they had an audience with Hida Hachiro where they relayed every detail of their grim story…During a moment of respite at the Spear of Dawn Watchtower, after their meeting with Hida Hachiro, Kuni Akari found Soshi Burezu praying to the armor of Togashi Yoshi. “Come with me,” she said, “study with my family. We may have a way to bring your friend back...” In the weeks following, news spread throughout Rokugan of their mission. In some places, especially among the Crab lands, the survivors came to be known as folk heroes, and Togashi Yoshi’s selfless act will be remembered for generations, catapulting him to the status of religious martyr. In other places, however, many Rokugani do not believe the farcical story the survivors relayed, passing it off as a tall tale and nothing more. Some believing their story was exaggerated, others going so far as to claim the thing was made up entirely. For returning the ancestral wakizashi to the Hiruma, the reigning daimyo indebted his family to the lives of the survivors. He proclaimed that the Hiruma family will forever be the vigilant eyes watching over them, protecting them from the horrors of the night. Hida Hachiro was eternally grateful for the notes found in Daylight Castle chronicling its slow defeat to Shadowlands forces. He said these journals will prove invaluable in future sieges against the demonic forces. “My castle and all of its might are yours to command if you ever are in need.”Buro’s journal detailing the place of shadows, including its lands, its monsters, and the effects of its foul taint was published and distributed throughout the empire. Among many circles, it became a must-read for anyone studying the lands beyond the wall. For undergoing an extremely dangerous mission into the heart of evil and bringing the sorceress Kitsu Sokori to justice, Buro was promoted to the rank of Captain among the Emerald Magistrates.Tomo brought the blueprints of the Defender found at Daylight Castle to the engineers of the Kaiu School. The technology was thought to have been lost along with the castle, so the engineers were overjoyed to have the schematics returned to them. Tomo’s uncle, Yasuki Keiji, was proud of his nephew for returning the family map. As a gift for proving himself a worthy samurai, Keiji pulled some strings, to allow Tomo to become the new governor of Clear Water Village. “A worthy position for a worthy samurai.”Hida Nagahide was promoted to the position of personal bodyguard to Hida Hachiro for her part in the mission. At her coronation ceremony, she presented Kaiu Tomo with the sacred naginata found on the Defender in Daylight Castle. “For exemplifying courage beyond measure, and inspiring a new generation of young samurai to continue the fight against the forces of evil.”Finally, during the festivities celebrating Nagahide’s promotion and the successful completion of their mission, Soshi Buro was approached by Bayushi Tsubasa. Tsubasa was expecting Buro to follow up on his end of the deal by finding him a new position away from the Carpenter Wall. Buro named Tsubasa one of his personal retainers and invited him to join the magistrate in the castle of the Emerald Champion where Buro was already plotting his next assignment. Since returning from their mission, Togashi Yoshi had quickly become a symbol of selflessness and courage against the evils that threaten to consume Rokugan. Some came to see him as a hero of the empire, others a testament to the ascetic life of a monk, others still seeing him as a religious figure, a man sent by the kami to defend the righteous. Political factions across Rokugan were quickly mounting pressure to claim Yoshi’s armor which had come to be known as the spiritual embodiment of the Martyr Monk. Buro, seeing himself as the executor of the armor, knew he was going to need help sorting through the mountain of bureaucracy that lie before him, and in help determining where the armor should call its final resting place. “At your command, my lord,” Tsubasa said, a razor-edged smirk on his lips, “I may already have plans for the armor myself…”                --Thus concludes season 1 of Podcast of the Five Rings-- Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Kaiu Tomo, Soshi no Burezu, and Kuni Akari have spent the past month recuperating in Clear Water Village from their adventure into the Shadowlands. Along with them is Bayushi Tsubasa, who has been recruited to help the party—a favor owed to him for helping them prepare for their previous mission.While there, Soshi Buro spent his time helping Kuni Akari with the wound she sustained at Daylight Castle as well as forging a mask—a rite of passage for all Scorpion samurai. Kaiu Tomo started his duties as governor of Clear Water Village and crafted himself a yumi made of an enigmatic dark wood that his uncle had begun selling at port.One late summer day, the party received a letter inviting them all to the Emperor’s winter court in the capital city, Otosan Uchi. Their purpose at court is threefold: first, to tell their story so the emperor may hear it firsthand; second, to show Togashi Yoshi’s armor to the emperor; and third, to head a council which will determine the final resting place of the armor.Upon hearing this invitation, Kuni Akari suggested they seek out her father, Kuni Chiyagi, who lives in the Kuni Wastes. She says that he may know a way to open a permanent link between themselves, and Togashi Yoshi. Their time is short though, as Yoshi’s armor will be a necessary component in her father’s work, and they may never have access to it again. While preparing to leave and enjoying their last night in town, they met a boisterous Lion bard named, Ikoma Kenshi. He had heard the tale of the party’s journey beyond the wall, and wished to meet the folk heroes for himself. Kenshi, recognizing Tomo, Buro, and Akari’s fame as a stepping stone for his own personal glory, asked to join them on the road in exchange for music and entertainment.That same night, Buro received a letter from his father, daimyo Soshi Bantaro. In his letter, Bantaro dismissed his son’s accomplishments and demanded that Buro return home for his own winter court. Conflicted and angry, Buro wrote a letter back to his father, ignoring the daimyo’s request and insulting his honor.Kaiu Tomo, Soshi no Burezu, Kuni Akari, Bayushi Tsubasa, and the newly recruited Ikoma Kenshi now travel deeper into the Crab lands, to the Kuni Wastes, in search of a way to bring the Martyr Monk, Togashi Yoshi, back to the realm of the living… unsure of whatever that may entail.CreditsAlbum Art by Dylon MunozMusic:"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"Timpani" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Tsubasa's Theme" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Sake House" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Background Harp" by Podcast of the Five Rings  Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Soshi No Burezu, Kaiu Tomo, Kuni Akari, Bayushi Tsubasa, and the newly recruited bard, Ikoma Kenshi, traveled north west toward the Kuni Wastes, in search of Akari’s father, Kuni Chiyagi. While traveling across the Crab lands, the party encountered the peasants Riku and Sho at a sake house in a small farming community. The peasants, drunk on sake and filled with songs of our heroes’ greatest deeds, graciously invited the samurai to stay with them in their lowly hovel. There, the peasants asked Kenshi to tell them all he knows about the escalating conflict between the Lion and the Crane. The peasants, as well as the rest of the party, learned that the Lion and Crane have been competing with each other for generations over the thriving market city of Toshi Ranbo. Tensions escalated into a bloody conflict when the Crane broke an armistice, seizing the city and claiming it as their own. The Lion launched a counter-attack, but were unable to take the city. The two clans are now in open war against each other, growing into numerous battles, and claiming many lives as the fighting escalates into the bloodiest conflict in recent memory.Upon setting off the next day, the party encountered a high-ranking samurai leading a small host of ashigaru toward the Kaiu Wall. Speaking with him, the party learned that the Crab clan are mustering their own forces and planning a lengthy campaign into the Shadowlands, hoping to reclaim Shiro Hiruma and redeem their lost honor.After traveling for three days across the heart of the Crab lands, the party reached the Kuni Wastes— a bleak, barren landscape devoid of all life and untouched by the blessings of the kami. Disturbed by the desolate landscape, Buro asked Akari how they could hope to find Yoshi in a place such as this. To which she explained that the Kuni shugenja are masters of Binding Magic, and she believes that her father will know of a way to permanently bind the spirit of the Martyr Monk to his armor… though a ritual of this scale has never been accomplished before, and she is not sure if it can be done.Deep in the wastes, the party found Bright Spring Fort—the ancestral home of Akari’s family. Here, multiple generations work together to harvest vast gardens of fruits and vegetables, protected from bandits and raiders by tall stone walls and a watchtower. Inside the fort, the party was met with a warm welcome from Akari’s mother, Mariko, who thanked the samurai for all they had done to protect Rokugan from the forces of the Shadowlands, and for protecting her daughter from danger.Mariko lead them into the fort’s central keep, into a dark, candlelit study filled with racks of leatherbound tomes and musty scrolls. Sitting at a table in the dim light was the colossal man himself, Kuni Chiyagai… Credits:Album Art by Dylon MunozMusic"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"Sleepy Little Fishing Town" by Podcast of the Five Rings  "Sake House" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Conniving and Mysterious" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Dark & Airy" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Crab Theme" by Brandon Spain"Dreamlike" by Kevin McLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Tomo, Buro, Kenshi, and their traveling companions met face to face with Akari’s father, Kuni Chiyagi. Akari told her father that she had hoped he could help bring back the spirit of Togashi Yoshi using his armor in a binding ritual. Considering everything that the heroes had done to save Rokugan and protect his daughter, Chiyagi agreed to help them, however, the secrets of his order cannot be given away freely, and he would need something from each of them in exchange for this knowledge. He went on to explain that the only people who could complete this ritual would be those who knew Yoshi in life. These brave individuals would have to project themselves into Jigoku, find Yoshi, and bring him back to his armor where he could be bound.Tomo offered food and supplies from Clear Water Village to aid Bright Spring Fort in exchange for these lessons, which Chiyagi graciously accepted.Unable to think of a way to pay for his training, Chiyagi reminded Buro that the Kuni Purifiers and the Yogo Wardmasters have long traded secrets together. He explained that binding magic and warding magic were two sides of the same coin. Buro, being a student of the Wardmasters, agreed to share the knowledge of his school in order to find Yoshi.Not wanting to appear as ungracious guests, Kenshi and Tsubasa both offered gifts as thanks for being allowed to stay at Bright Spring Fort. Kenshi agreed to give music lessons to Chiyagi and his family, while Tsubasa presented the man with a small vial of kyro-kei. This fine grey powder is often used in embalming and preserving human flesh—a doubtlessly useful thing for Chiyagi—but in large doses is known to be used as a poison which can cause a slow, agonizing death.Tomo and Buro studied day and night with Kuni Chiyagi for a month, learning the subtleties and intricacies of Binding Magic while also becoming ingratiated into daily life in the fort. During their time at Bright Spring Fort, Tomo, Buro, and Kenshi each heard suspicious rumors about Kuni Yori, the Kuni family daimyo, making frequent trips into the Shadowlands by himself. When confronted with these rumors, Chiyagi did not deny them, but admitted that he does not know his leader’s true intentions. Worried about how these rumors could affect his family’s reputation and political standing, Chiyagi asked the samurai to endorse the Kuni name at court, so his family may prosper.At the end of their month of training, Chiyagi declared that Tomo and Buro were ready… That night, Chiyagi lead the samurai into the wastes. By the dim light encircling them in their ring of candles, Tomo and Buro recited the incantations which they had memorized over the past month, the armor of Togashi Yoshi shimmering faintly before them. The two samurai projected their spirits into the realm of darkness, but were unharmed by its foul taint thanks to their instructor’s thorough preparation. Like a moth guided to a flame, or like a river flowing to the sea, Tomo and Buro instinctively found the spirit of their departed friend. Grabbing him and pulling him with all their might, the two suddenly found themselves back in the Kuni Wastes, wreathed in candlelight, with the spirit of the Martyr Monk bound to his hollow armor.CreditsAlbum Art by Dylon MunozMusic"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"Ethereal Presence" by Brandon Spain"Tsubasa's Theme" by Podcast of the Rings"Wind Down" by Brandon Spain"Dark and Airy" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Gives You Anxiety" by Podcast of the Five Rings Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Buro, Tomo, Kenshi, and their tutor, Kuni Chiyagi, sat in front of the spirit of Togashi Yoshi, now bound to his Topaz Armor. The Martyr Monk recounted the horrible darkness of Jigoku, the endless torment and misery, the boundless strife and turmoil, and a pain so deep no mortal could bear to imagine. Yoshi tried to stand, but quickly found that he had not the strength to move his limbs. He remarked that he had simply been removed from one prison and placed in another.Overwhelmed with curiosity, Chiyagi immediately had the party help him move the animated spirit into his study. While helping to load Yoshi into a cart, Buro noticed that his newly forged mask grew warmer the closer he moved to Yoshi’s armor.Once inside his study, Chiyagi asked for as much time as possible with Yoshi and the armor. This was an unprecedented ritual that had just been completed and he wanted time to ask Yoshi questions, conduct experiments, and take notes. The party agreed to spend another three days at Bright Spring Fort, but decided they could not offer any more time than that, as they have an appointment to make for the imperial winter court. Chiyagi was deeply offended by this proposal and stormed out of the room, complaining that the emperor always finds a way to steal the glory of his clan.On the last day before departing, Kenshi decided to try and make amends with Chiyagi. This only worked to enrage him further. While being berated by Chiyagi, Kenshi noticed that the man’s work table was covered in letters and intuited that he was writing to the other shugenja of his order—breaking part of the agreement the party had made with Chiyagi.Alarmed by the unwanted attention this might bring them, the party decided to enlist the help of Bayushi Tsubasa. That night, they ordered Tsubasa to sneak into Chiyagi’s study to steal the letters so they could not be sent off. After Tsubasa missed the rendezvous time with the party, they got worried. Kenshi investigated the study and found it empty of any letters. Yoshi explained that Chiyagi had already sent them off long before Tusbasa arrived to take them.While investigating the perimeter of the fort, Buro found two tracks of footprints leading away from the fort and toward the main road across the Kuni Wastes. One trail he identified as Tsubasa’s, the other most likely belonging to the courier tasked with distributing the letters.The next morning while preparing to depart Bright Spring Fort, the party was encountered by a worried mother. They then discovered that a 10 year old boy who likes to deliver mail to nearby settlements did not return home last night.Credits:Album Art by Dylon MunozMusic"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"Sultry Silence" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Tsubasa's Theme" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Nighttime Antics" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Conniving & Mysterious" by Podcast of the Five Rings Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Tomo, Buro, and Kenshi were brought in to see Kuni Chiyagi as they were preparing to depart Bright Spring Fort. The air in his study was thick and uncomfortable as the colossal man searched for the correct words to express his complicated emotions. It was clear he had many things to say to the party before they left.He started by apologizing for his earlier outburst, saying that his show of disrespect was not befitting of a samurai. He then begrudgingly promised Yoshi that he would undo the binding ritual after their mission was over— a display of courtesy to the monk who sacrificed his very soul for the protection of Rokugan.Next, he asked if Tomo could promise Clear Water Village’s support through the winter. Winters are harsh in Rokugan, and places like Bright Spring Fort struggle for resources even in the tamest of weather. Tomo pledged his honor on it, both men looking for a prosperous future between their families.Finally, Chiygagi confronted Buro about his Yogo heritage. Buro admitted that he has the blood of the Yogo within him, and is haunted by the curse of that family—a curse which dooms Buro to betray the person he most loves. This was the news Chiyagi most feared. Worrying for his daughter’s life—he forbade Akari from continuing her journey with the party.At that moment, one of the women from the fort interrupted the samurai’s meeting with the shugenja. She informed Chiyagi that the boy-courier, Tadashi, did not return home last night—and the letters he was carrying unaccounted for.Chiyagi turned his suspicion to the party, interrogating them, while the woman demanded they be imprisoned until Tadashi was found. Fed up with the baseless allegations and fearing potential imprisonment, Tomo pointed out that there was no evidence connecting them to the disappearance of the boy, and reminding Chiyagi that a boy of ten could have easily gotten lost in the wastes or delayed on his route without their interference. Coming to his senses and remembering the heroes he was speaking to, Chiyagi allowed the party to leave—but promised that if Tadashi was found injured, they would surely pay for it.Before departing, Buro sought out Akari, finding her locked away in her room with guards preventing him from seeing her.The party left Bright Spring Fort with no fanfare and no affection. Suspicious eyes and dirty looks were their only farewell. A couple miles down the road from the fort, the party heard hooves approaching them from behind. They turned to see Akari on a galloping steed, warning them that they needed to hurry.Credits:Album Art by Dylon MunozMusic"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"Dragon Theme" by Brandon Spain"Burezu's Theme" by Brandon Spain"In the Dojo" by Brandon Spain"Sultry Silence" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Battle Storm" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Conniving and Mysterious" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Kuni Waste Jam" by Podcast of the Five Rings Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Tomo, Buro, and Kenshi had just departed Bright Spring Fort when Akari came galloping up the road behind them. “Hurry”, she said, “we have to go!” A couple miles down the road, the party spotted six figures on horses charging toward them.They turned to run from their pursuers, but soon realized that escape was futile while carrying the additional weight of all their equipment. The party decided to face their opponents head on—no tricks, no gimmicks.Kuni Chiyagi raced forward to meet them, along with five other samurai from his fort. The two parties dismounted and confronted each other. Chiyagi explained that he had no qualms with Buro, Tomo, or Kenshi—he said they were free to leave his fort and he meant it—but he would not go home without Akari.Akari defied her father, telling him that she wants to be a free woman, capable of choosing her own life, and deciding her own fate. Chiyagi would not back down though, telling his daughter that everything he does, he does to protect her and their family. He could not allow her to run off with a man who would betray her.Standing up for the honor of Akari, and realizing that there was no other way to settle this dispute, Buro challenged Chiyagi to an iaijutsu duel— katanas to first blood. Chiyagi accepted his challenge. The two would let the kami—and their blades—decide Akari’s fate.The duel began with the two competitors staring each other down, focusing their minds, and anticipating when and where their foe would strike. Buro suddenly broke the silence, rushing like the wind toward his enemy, drawing his sword and feinting left, while landing a strike to Chiyagi’s right side. The aging shugneja was caught off guard by Buro’s swift movements, but parried the attack. Moving like the katana was an extension of his very soul, Chiyagi countered with an overhead strike to Buro’s shoulder. Buro parried the attack, and in that instant was overcome with a wave of emotion. His temper rising, the young Scorpion suddenly remembered his own father: the way he constantly undermines Buro’s wishes, the way he refuses to acknowledge Buro’s achievements, the way he tries to control Buro’s life. His face hot and his head filled with rage, Buro counter-attacked. He struck low, outpacing the Crab, and cutting deep into his ankle. A hot streak of bright red blood fell across the grey wasteland. Buro had won.Chiyagi was hurriedly taken back to Bright Spring Fort by the samurai of his retinue. The battle had ended, but the war was just beginning…Bright Spring Fort was now behind them, and the road to Otosan Uchi now lay ahead, however, a crucial decision was to be made: which route should they take? With winter coming, a war on the horizon, and enemies slowly growing around them, no path was safe. The party decided to travel north toward Beiden Pass and The Spine of the World, hoping the lands of the Scorpion and Lion would protect them on their journey.Credits:Album Art by Dylon MunozMusic"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"Battle Storm" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Interloper" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"In the Dojo" by Brandon Spain"Kuni Waste Jam" by Podcast of the Five Rings Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Tomo, Buro, Kenshi, and Akari rode north toward Beiden Pass, and away from the Crab lands. One night while camping out on the Kuni Wastes, Akari confessed that she was feeling conflicted about the events which transpired with her father. She relented that the life of a samurai was full of contradictions, that a life of servitude to her family, her clan, and her emperor was wrought with complications and hypocrisies. After being comforted by the party, she vowed that she would follow her own path—not one ordained by a higher authority. She now wants to be free to decide her own fate.A couple days later, the party arrived in the town of Kuda Mura, which they found had been attacked multiple times by angry spirits from the north inhabiting the bodies of living stone and wood. When they attack, these spirits only repeat the same phrase, “you have broken the oath, now you must suffer.” After speaking with the kami for guidance, the party learned that these spirits are most likely referring to some oath made between the Hare Clan—a minor clan tasked with protecting a portion of the mystical Shinomen Forest—and the spirits of the forest.With this information, the party sought out the town governess, Kaiu Fumiko. Fumiko admitted that she hadn’t heard anything from the Hare Clan in nearly a month, but she didn’t know how that would have anything to do with the Crab Clan or why these spirits are now attacking Kuda Mura. The party insisted that they would need aid uncovering this mystery, and convinced Fumiko to send a few samurai with them to investigate Hare territory and the Shinomen Forest to the north.At that moment, the town was attacked by another one of these angry forest spirits, destroying a watchtower and an inn, and injuring numerous bystanders. While taking aim at the creature, Kaiu Tomo’s yumi snapped completely straight, breaking his bowstring, and refusing to bend against the marauding spirit. When this happened, Tomo noticed that the wood of his yumi and the bark skin of the creature appeared to be one in the same…With help from the samurai now guarding the town, the party eventually defeated the angry spirit, its stone and wood body returning to the earth. However, questions of how this supernatural wood came to port in Clear Water Village, what happened to the Hare Clan protecting the forest, and what does Tomo’s family have to do with it all still lingered...Credits:Album Art by Dylon MunozMusicRokugan Theme by Brandon SpainSultry silence by Podcast of the Five RingsDragon theme by Brandon SpainGives you anxiety by Podcast of the Five RingsSleepy little fishing town by Podcast of the Five RingsConniving and mysterious by Podcast of the Five RingsShadowlands 1 by Brandon SpainShadowlands 2 by Brandon SpainBattle storm by Podcast of the Five RingsKuni waste jam by Podcast of the Five RingsFight_dojo 1 by Brandon SpainDrum music by Podcast of the Five Rings  Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Tomo, Buro, Kenshi, and Akari set out from Kuda Mura with an entourage of Crab samurai to investigate the angry spirits which were attacking the town. On the road, the samurai had numerous questions about the party’s expedition to Shiro Hiruma, Togashi Yoshi, and the Lion-Crane War which now rages in northern Rokugan. Apparently, these are the only things which anyone seems to talk about lately.After passing through the wall which guards the border between the Crab lands and the unaligned lands to the north, the party soon came to Maemikake, a small city on a lake near the southern edge of Shinomen Forest. Here, they learned that ever since the Yasuki Lumber Company started logging up river, vengeful spirits from the forest would occasionally raid the city, damaging its buildings and injuring its residents.The party also learned that the Yasuki Lumber Company has set up their basecamp near the ruins of a destroyed castle—Shiro Usagi—the Hare Clan’s seat of power. Rumor has it that the Usagi family of the Hare Clan were found to be conducting forbidden maho rituals, and by decree of the Emperor himself, ordered the eternally loyal Scorpion clan to eradicate the Hare Clan for their blasphemy—once again earning their reputation as the underhand of the emperor.The party, especially the samurai from Kuda Mura, were utterly shocked to hear this. An entire clan, their castle, and their lands had been wiped out without a single word of it reaching the outside world.Upon reaching the logging company’s basecamp, the party was met with a terrible sight. Where Shiro Usagi and its accompanying town once stood, only blackened and burned husks remained, and at the foot of the castle, the Shinomen Forest lay clear cut, devastated. Spiritual malignance radiated from the forest like heat from a roaring fire.Kaiu Tomo spoke with Boss Kazuya, the man in charge of the logging company. Tomo revealed to him the damage he was causing, and the lives he was risking by continuing the operation. As governor of Clear Water Village, he commanded Kazuya to immediately halt all shipments to his ports. The man only laughed at Tomo, and explained that he takes orders directly from Yasuki Taka, the Yasuki family daimyo, and that he would never cross Taka unless he had a death wish. In order to settle the dispute, it seemed that Tomo would have to speak with Yasuki Taka directly at his residence in Otosan Uchi.Meanwhile, Ikoma Kenshi ingratiated himself with the workers of the camp, learning that these men were unskilled laborers belonging to the unaligned lands, and despite the danger, were more than happy to have their jobs as the Yasuki family paid them handsomely for their work. These workers also warned Kenshi to stay far away from the ruins of Shiro Usagi. Multiple workers have claimed to see ghosts haunting the burned remains…Unaware of this counsel, Soshi Buro and Kuni Akari decided to investigate the castle ruins. While communing with the fallen spirits, the two were presented with a terrible vision. They were suddenly surrounded by the charred and mutilated Hare Clan. Before them was a woman seated in front of an empty sword stand. “Blood is the price of ambition,” is all she said before blood poured from the eyes and mouths of the departed, and they vanished in a brilliant flame.CreditsAlbum Art by Dylon MunozMusicRokugan Theme by Brandon SpainSultry Silence by Podcast of the Five RingsShadowlands 4 by Brandon SpainTsubasa's Theme by Podcast of the Five RingsDark & Airy by Podcast of the Five RingsDreamlike by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Interloper by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Crab Wrestling Song by Brandon SpainBackground Harp by Podcast of the Five RingsShadowlands 3 by Brandon SpainEthereal Presence by Brandon Spain Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Buro and Akari recounted the vision they had just had in the ruins of Shiro Usagi to Kenshi, Buro, and their samurai retinue from Kuda Mura. While discussing what it may have meant and what should be done about it, a terrible sound broke out across the logging encampment—the sound of snapping wood, grinding stones, and human cries. Rushing to meet this threat, the party was hit with the sight of numerous forest kami attacking the loggers’ camp. Pandemonium spread as the woodcutters and their samurai protectors put up a meager resistance to defend the camp.Deciding that time was short, Buro and Akari chose to investigate the castle grounds, searching it for answers to their questions about the Hare Clan and their awful fate. At the same time, Tomo and Kenshi leapt into action, trying their best to lead the woodcutters to safety and draw the rampaging spirits away from them. It was a noble, but utterly futile effort.Soon, the camp was completely overrun as men and women ran for their lives, fleeing across the river to the south and up the dark road to the north. As a last ditch effort, Tomo ordered the samurai of Kuda Mura to rescue the sick and injured workers of the infirmary and lead them to safety. Meanwhile, Buro and Akari reached out to the spirits of the castle once more. A voice lead them through the ruined keep and up to its highest floor, where Buro uncovered an empty sword stand hid behind a loose stone in the wall. It was the same stand that he saw in his vision with the Hare Clan. The stand was made in a simple, yet elegant design with red gemstones cut in the shape of teardrops embedded in its sides. Believing the stand had something to do with the marauding spirits, Buro cut his palm and spilled his blood over its wood. Nothing happened. In his stressed and fearful state, Buro smashed the stand out of pure frustration.As the forest spirits turned their attention toward Kenshi and Tomo, the two samurai fled to the burned remains of Shiro Usagi and its accompanying town, where they found the spirits refused to enter. While fleeing from a pursuing spirit, Kenshi suffered a staggering blow, knocking him from his horse and forcing him to the ground. With the help of Tomo, the two found shelter in the burnt remains of Shiro Usagi.Buro and Akari picked up the remains of the sword stand and exited the castle, just as the angry kami began to retreat back to the darkness of Shinomen Forest. In their wake laid an utterly devastated encampment. Mangled corpses littered the clearing, shining in the moonlight with fresh, dark blood. Tents were struck and laid in heaps, many burning from wayward torches. Ships were destroyed, the wood of their hulls and masts lapping up on the river shore. The party turned their backs to the massacre before them, and headed north toward Otosan Uchi where the emperor sits waiting for them.CreditsAlbum Art by Dylon MunozMusicRokugan Theme by Brandon SpainBlack Waste Theme by Brandon SpainSeppuku by Brandon SpainBackground Harp by Podcast of the Five RingsSake House  by Podcast of the Five RingsKuni Waste Jam by Podcast of the Five RingsBattlestorm by Podcast of the Five RingsIn the Dojo by Brandon Spain  Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Dark truths are uncovered by the samurai as they travel through the Scorpion lands on their way to Otosan Uchi. Support the show at patreon.com/pot5r to get access to the after-show and a bunch of other cool new content!---SHOW NOTES---Tomo, Buro, Kenshi, and Akari continued north on their journey to Otosan Uchi. The party noticed that Yoshi had been very sullen lately. Talking to him, he seemed to be unhappy that he is trapped in his armor in some kind of strange purgatory. One night, while camping on the side of the road, Buro decided to wear Yoshi’s armor and go for a walk in order to lift Yoshi’s spirits and keep him company.While walking with Yoshi, Buro felt a strange warmth emanating from his mask. After investigating his mask more thoroughly, Buro discovered something troubling. The heat from his mask was coming from the jade he had imbued it with while in Clear Water Village. The jade grew hot, almost burning his hands the closer it came to Yoshi’s armor. This could mean one thing… Yoshi’s armor was tainted. Speaking with Akari, the two samurai concluded that something must have gone wrong during the ritual to bind Yoshi’s spirit. Perhaps Akari’s father, Chiyagi, bound more than one spirit to the armor. Perhaps another foul spirit of Jigoku resided in the armor with Yoshi. Maybe this could have something to do with Yoshi’s melancholy. Regardless of what exactly the problem was, the two soon realized that it was extremely dangerous to bring Yoshi’s tainted armor to the emperor. Something must be done, so Buro and Akari broke the news to Tomo and Kenshi. No one having a clear idea of what to do, the party decided to bide their time.After a few days of traveling, the party soon found themselves passing into Scorpion territory, and before long, they were walking the streets of Ginasutra, a bustling city known for its many shrines and temples. Here, the samurai had an idea to meet with a priest in order to learn more about the curse afflicting Yoshi’s armor, and potentially gain insight into how they could fix it.Standing at the steps of the Temple of Shosuro, a familiar voice called out to them. Turning around to the dark streets behind them, the samurai were shocked to see the face of Bayushi Tsubasa staring back at them. Tomo demanded an explanation from him about his disappearance from Bright Spring Fort and the missing boy-courier, Tadashi, and about the fate of Kuni Chiyagi’s letters which he was sent to steal. Tsubasa recounted the night, explaining that he had intercepted the boy and tried to take the letters from him, but the boy was brave and quick. Tsubasa revealed his hand to the party, showing them where the boy’s knife cut into his palm. Nonetheless, Tsubasa overpowered the boy, took the letters, and destroyed them, leaving only minor wounds on the boy which would certainly heal in time.Relieved by this news, the party decided to move forward with their plan. Buro donned Yoshi’s armor and cloaked himself in a large robe and cowl, masking Yoshi’s armor underneath. Together, Buro, Kenshi, and Tsubasa ascended the stone steps to Shosuro’s temple. Inside, a priest offered the blessing of Shosuro to the three samurai which they sheepishly accepted. Tsubasa recognized this priest, and began speaking with him as if he were an old friend. Finally, Tsubasa asked this priest if they could have a private room for their blessing, which the priest obliged.Once inside their private room, the priest began giving his blessing to each samurai in turn. Tsubasa and Kenshi received the priest’s prayers without problem, but when it came to Buro and Yoshi’s turn, something horrible unfolded. The jade beads wrapped around the priest’s hand began to burn, searing the flesh of the holy man. He began to scream in agony as the beads grew hotter and hotter. Suddenly, as if by instinct, Tsubasa stood up, drew his katana, and decapitated the priest with a single blow. The Scorpion then immediately drew a knife from his robes and placed it in the hands of the dead priest. “Help! This priest tried to attack us!” he screamed, then turned quickly to Kenshi and Buro and whispered, “we need to get out of here.”CreditsArt:Album Art by Dylon MunozMusic"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"Dreamlike" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"Sepuku" by Brandon Spain"Kenshi's Lament" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Dark Reckoning" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Well Wishes" by Podcast of the Five Rings"The Return" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Staredown" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Yoshi's Lament" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Conniving & Mysterious" by Podcast of the Five Rings"male_Thijs_loud_scream" by thanvannispen by Attribution 3.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Join the Pot5R crew in discussing the crazy events of each new episode in the new Patreon exclusive after show, Behind the Shoji! Huge thanks to our Samurai and Damiyo listeners for your continued support and we hope you enjoy the new bonus content. Don't forget to post your questions in the #behind-the-shoji channel in the Pot5R Discord to have them answered in one of the next episodes of Behind the Shoji!*This episode is a free preview of Patreon content. Subscribe at patreon.com/pot5r for all new episodes as they release.* CreditsArt by Dylon MunozMusic by  Brandon Spain Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

Our samurai have to figure their way out of a sticky situation in Ginasutra. Details about their loyal retainer Tsubasa's past finally come to light. Support the show at patreon.com/pot5r to get access to the after-show and a bunch of other cool new content!---SHOW NOTES---Kenshi and Buro (wearing the armor of Togashi Yoshi) sat in the temple of Shosuro, where a priest lay decapitated, Tsubasa’s sword still dripping with blood. Stepping out of their private chamber, the samurai saw the temple full of confused bystanders speaking in frightened tones to one another, and a handful of priests rushing down the hall to investigate the incident.Tsubasa immediately claimed that the priest had tried to attack them, and pointed to the knife he had planted in the hands of the dead monk. Following the Scorpion’s lead, Buro and Kenshi stuck to the alibi which Tsubasa had crafted. With their stories straight, the three samurai convinced the commoners in the temple to leave, and allow them and the priests to work out what happened. Leveraging their status over the lowly monks, the party also managed to evade the ire of the angry priests living in the temple.Once outside the temple, the samurai told the story to Tomo and Akari, and explained that they needed to leave Ginasutra immediately, as their cover up will not protect them forever. On the road outside of town, Tsubasa revealed that he knew someone, or something, among them was tainted. Thinking quickly, he knew their best bet at escaping the temple without anyone finding out would be to swiftly execute the only person with testimony against them, and create an alibi to protect them. The party then decided to share the dark secret of Yoshi’s armor with Tsubasa.The samurai tried to think of a way to expel the Taint from the armor, but they came up short. Tsubasa finally resigned that he might know someone who could help them, and that this person was not out of their way.The party rode east to Kyuden Bayushi, the Scorpion clan seat of power. Here, Tsubasa spoke with the guards stationed at the wall protecting the castle town, and took the samurai to a nearby inn to await for their invitation to the palace. Along the way, the party noticed people recognizing Tsubasa. Some would see him and walk the other way, others would see him and begin laughing. Inside the inn, Tsubasa explained that he was raised in this castle and its adjoining town, and that he had an unsavory reputation from his youth. He partook in all manner of illicit activities when he was younger, but his father sent him away to the Kaiu wall to learn discipline and become a true Samurai. Tsubasa has spent the last five years trying to redeem himself in the eyes of his father. After waiting at the inn for a while, dignitaries from the castle invited them up to the palace. The party marveled at the splendor and mystery surrounding the castle, and were shook by its dichotomous nature: both unendingly hospitable, and deeply intimidating at the same time. Before long, the party was seated in an opulent audience chamber, face-to-face with the Lord Bayushi himself, champion of the Scorpion clan.CreditsArt by Dylon Munoz (@dylonmunoztattoo)MusicRokugan Theme by Brandon SpainConniving & Mysterious by Podcast of the Five RingsDark & Airy by Podcast of the Five RingsSleepy Little Fishing Town by Podcast of the Five RingsDark Reckoning by Podcast of the Five RingsKenshi's Lament by Podcast of the Five RingsYoshsi's Lament by Podcast of the Five RingsThe Staredown by Podcast of the Five RingsNighttime Antics by Podcast of the Five RingsSultry Silence by Podcast of the Five Rings Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

CreditsAlbum Art by Dylon MunozMusic"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"In the Dojo" by Brandon Spain"Sleepy Little Fishing Town" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Bardic Song" by Brandon Spain"The Staredown" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Kuni Waste Jam" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Background Harp" by Podcast of the Five Rings"In the Dojo" by Brandon Spain"New Hero in Town" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 /"Movement Proposition" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 /S"Dangerous" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 /"Full On" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 /"The Descent" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 /"Nighttime Antics" by Podcast of the Five RingsSound Effects:"musket-battle" by aaronsiler (freesound.org) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings