Shattered Empire

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Shattered Empire

Most people know Rokugan as an empire ruled by Bushido.

An empire where Duty and Honesty are more important than death.

An empire where Courage and Compassion are limitless.

An empire where Courtesy and Sincerity are known by all.

An empire of Honor.

Those who know this could not be more right.

Or more wrong.

In the year 1128, the Hooded Ronin- Shinsei's Heir- gathered seven heroes to face the Ninth Kami just as the Little Teacher had almost a thousand years before. One Hero for Each of the Great Clans:

Hida Yakamo, the Crab; Doji Hoturi, the Crane; Mirumoto Hitomi, the Dragon; The Ronin General Toturi, the Lion; Isawa Tadaka, the Phoenix; Bayushi Kachiko, the Scorpion; Otaku Komoko, the Unicorn.

These seven held the hope of a nation fraught with war. They were all that stood between the Dark God and his plans of destruction and degredation. All knew that they would not, could not, fail. For if they did, all of Rokugan would suffer under the coruption of the vile taint of the Shadowlands.

They faced Fu Leng in the Throne Room of Otsan Uchi on the day known as the Second Day of Thunder.

They Lost.

It has been almost 500 years since that fateful battle.

The Ninth Kami still rules; his grip on the land like iron. His will more so.

Decite. Hate. Greed. Creulty. Betrayal. Fear. Murder.

These are the new tenents of Bushido in Fu Leng's Obsidian Empire.

Love. Compassion. Pity.

These are the new sins.

And yet there is still hope.

A tiny, flicker of light in an overwhelming darkness. The Mantis Isles grow crowded with souls who are born to fight and die in a land their ancestors once called home. Many have never, and will never, tread upon that soil.

Those that do find their hearts, their honor, streched and torn beyond measure. It is to these brave samurai that the people place their trust; their small candles of hope for a better tomarrow.

This is Rokugan.

This is the Shattered Empire.

The Basics

The year is SE1562/OE434.

434 years after the Second Day of Thunder.

434 years of Fu Leng's rule over his Obsidian Empire.

The Mainland belongs to Fu Leng almost entirely. Only the Pheonix Lands and the Shinomin Mori hold out against the Ninth Kami. And even that looks to be shrinking as the Pheonix have reacently signed a peace treaty with the Obsidian Empire.

What is left of the rest of Great Clans were now exists only on the Mantis Isles. In their place, in thier homes and dojos, live the Dark Clans: perverted, twisted reflections of the decendants of the Kami.

The Minor Clans are nearly wiped out.

The peasents are ruled by terror, the Oni Lords, and the Lost Samurai who happily serve their Dark God.

Taint runs rampant through the land, save only for the fields of rice and wheat. And, of course, the forests that Lady Shinjo gave her life to make safe for her children.

• • • More will be forthcoming

Timeline

This can be found on the main Shattered Empire Site: http://www.scarletskies.com/rm/kyd/