Prologue

Two Generals and a request

In the 19 th year of Hantei XXXVIII, a small contingent of bushi, led by a minor Crane daimyo launched an unexpected and ultimately successful attack on the Lion Clan stronghold of Toshi Ranbo. In the intervening year, the city has been in turmoil. The Emperor, at the behest of Doji Satsume, Emerald Champion and Champion of the Crane Clan, has legitimised occupation granting the occupiers the legal right to run the city much to the chagrin of the city's former owners in the Lion Clan.

However, despite moving the invading General, Doji Retsu?, to a more remote settlement and putting the experienced Daidoji Asato in charge of the city, maintaining order in Toshi Ranbo has been extremely difficult. Many, samurai? and heimin alike, have resented the change and the destruction caused by the invasion; opportunists and low-life have flourished as a result of the turmoil and the arrogance of the invaders and the wounded pride of the Lion have led to endless skirmishes and duels which have caused further unrest.

The city's magistrate, Doji Hideo, and his doshin -while dedicated and competent- have been unable to quell the unrest and effectively restore the Emperor's peace; too many see him as a puppet of the new Governor and resent or resist his interventions.

Governor Asato has therefore asked The Emerald Champion to establish an Emerald Magistrate position within the city thereby bringing the Emperor's authority directly to bear. Instead of the usual nomination of Emerald Magistrates, Asato has asked and been granted permission to hold a tournament, open to all samurai who can obtain their lord's permission, to decide who fills that esteemed position.

So, just before the winter snows made travelling all but impossible, Governor Asato sent an invitation, along with travel papers, to all the courts of Rokugan; the invitations simply said that there would be Tournament of Fukurokujin to be held on the festival of the Fortune of Wisdom and Mercy -the 12 th day of the Month of the Sun- in order to chose the next Emerald Magistrate to Toshi Ranbo. Offering such an exalted position meant that every young samurai with a desire to prove themselves or to achieve power and status or simply to leave their home lands and see the Empire have spent the winter petitioning their lords to be allowed to attend. Meanwhile, every lord and every courtier in the land has been thinking of ways to use this tournament to their advantage…

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