B L A D E S O F T H E S H O G U N
T H E I S L A N D O F
S C R E A M S
T H E I S L A N D O F
S C R E A M S
The old fish was a hermit of truth but nobody listened to his advice. Schools of fish would laugh and make fun of his every word, even when he warned them about the eel hiding in the reefs. One by one, the eel lured each fish into his cave and ate them whole! The old fish tried to warn them but nobody listened, so the eel continued eating them until all that was left was the old fish. Luckily, the eel was too slow to catch the old fish, its belly big and round from having eaten everyone else. So the old fish managed to escape, but the eel would find him again. Just like before, among schools of fish too stubborn to listen to his sage advice...
T H E S T O R Y
The fantastical land of Kujin is united under the Shogunate rule of Uesugi Mitsuhide. Great and Minor clans fought against each other for centuries, but the wise and powerful Lotus clan rallied against all, winning favoritism with The Blade Emperor and his royal court. This autumn marks the 5th year under Mitsuhide's rule. Peace is a fickle word but nothing else can best describe these prosperous years under Lotus Shogun rule. Bellies are filled from bountiful harvests, infrastructures are reinforced and built anew, and the economy thrives as trade is freely dispersed throughout a border less land.
However, rumors are spreading about the mysterious silence of Ezo Island, as well as the disappearance of one of The Blade Emperor's concubines, a native to those lands. While lantern festivals of joy and prosperity ignite the nation, Mitsuhide summons Kujin's best warriors in secret to discuss these pressing matters...
However, rumors are spreading about the mysterious silence of Ezo Island, as well as the disappearance of one of The Blade Emperor's concubines, a native to those lands. While lantern festivals of joy and prosperity ignite the nation, Mitsuhide summons Kujin's best warriors in secret to discuss these pressing matters...
T H E H I S T O R Y
The Blade Emperor was once a wise and venerable warrior, known for keeping the evil foreigners at bay with a thousand ships. While he succeeded in keeping outsiders from coming in, he failed to prevent the real battles from being fought on our own native soil. The Great Clans composed of three massive factions: The Lotus, The Asagao (Morning Glory), and The Tsubaki (Camilla). Originally, these three clans were subsidies of The Blade Emperor's royal family, and with his efforts occupied with Kujin's invaders, many questioned whether he was fit to rule.
In an effort to maintain tradition and reduce public abdication, The Emperor and his royal court were reduced to surface-level figureheads. Surprisingly enough, The Blade Emperor conceded with this rule. In his book, The Golden Truths, he prophesied the divisive conflict fast approaching the nation, wanting no part in "taming a restless wave meant for destruction". With The Blade Emperor and his court out of the way, the Great Clans quickly moved in. A century's worth of conflict would soon follow, dragging Kujin into hell and back.
The death of the Blade Emperor was a turning point during these warring times. The Lotus clan, though small in size compared to the other two, were huge supporters of the Emperor. This did not go unnoticed when his successor took over. It was rumored that the new Blade Emperor used his influence to rally the smaller clans under The Lotus banner. This strategically held Asagao and Tsubaki in disadvantageous positions, as these smaller clans bottle necked their main armies and overran their supply routes. Asagao eventually surrendered, negotiating a truce with The Lotus, leaving Tsubaki to fend for itself. After a series of failed coups and assassinations against the new Blade Emperor and the Lotus Daimyo Uesugi Mitsuhide, the Tsubaki surrendered. All who actively committed dissension performed Harikari or were publicly executed.
Gone were the tides of civil war. In its place stood Shogun Uesugi Mitsuhide, who would usher in a path to reignite Kujin as a powerful nation.
In an effort to maintain tradition and reduce public abdication, The Emperor and his royal court were reduced to surface-level figureheads. Surprisingly enough, The Blade Emperor conceded with this rule. In his book, The Golden Truths, he prophesied the divisive conflict fast approaching the nation, wanting no part in "taming a restless wave meant for destruction". With The Blade Emperor and his court out of the way, the Great Clans quickly moved in. A century's worth of conflict would soon follow, dragging Kujin into hell and back.
The death of the Blade Emperor was a turning point during these warring times. The Lotus clan, though small in size compared to the other two, were huge supporters of the Emperor. This did not go unnoticed when his successor took over. It was rumored that the new Blade Emperor used his influence to rally the smaller clans under The Lotus banner. This strategically held Asagao and Tsubaki in disadvantageous positions, as these smaller clans bottle necked their main armies and overran their supply routes. Asagao eventually surrendered, negotiating a truce with The Lotus, leaving Tsubaki to fend for itself. After a series of failed coups and assassinations against the new Blade Emperor and the Lotus Daimyo Uesugi Mitsuhide, the Tsubaki surrendered. All who actively committed dissension performed Harikari or were publicly executed.
Gone were the tides of civil war. In its place stood Shogun Uesugi Mitsuhide, who would usher in a path to reignite Kujin as a powerful nation.
T H E L O R E
T H E C L A S S E S
