S2E26: The Dark Phoenix

Podcast of the Five Rings

Kaiu Tomo stood there shocked at the words he had just heard from Isawa Ujina: “A coal stone with veins of fire sits in a wall of cerulean steel. Find the false stone and pluck it out, or the whole wall shall fall.” Tomo tried to ask Ujina about this message, but he seemed to have no recollection of it. Tomo then turned to his daughter, Isawa Kaede, for answers. She explained that her father is a medium for the void kami, and is prone to visions. Some he remembers, others he does not. This prompted Tomo to try and gain a private audience with Isawa Kaede, so they could speak about this-- and other pressing issues-- more discreetly.

As Ujina took his place at the betrothal party, Ikoma Ujiaki swooped in on the master shugenja. The two spoke a long time with one another, Ujiaki treating with the Pheonix in his characteristic grandiose, evocative style. The Lion daimyo was clearing spinning his web, and with the help of Kenshi’s song, seemed to be gaining traction with Ujina.

When the two finished talking, Ujina stood up and made a toast to the betrothed couple. “Let it mark the beginning of a prosperous relationship between the two clans,” Ujina said, “and may they work together to bring peace to Rokugan.”

Sensing a strange presence from the aging shugenja, Buro decided to commune with the void kami to learn more about Ujina. When he did so, he was met with a terrible vision. He was in the water gardens of the Forbidden City. Snow was falling from a midnight sky, and screams could be heard from all around. Distant fires burned and the smell of smoke permeated the air. Buro knew he was witnessing something horrible.

Equally intrigued by The Dark Pheonix, Kuni Akari decided to speak with Ujina. She learned that Ujina has been having premonitions of death and destruction across Rokugan. He believes something truly terrible is coming, and that the Lion-Crane War is the source of this evil. He has come to court to try and end this conflict before it consumes the empire.

After the betrothal party, Kenshi, Buro, Tomo, and Akari decided to share what they’ve learned with each other at an unassuming tea house, far from the public eye. They dissected the words Ujina spoke to Tomo. They determined that the message was telling Tomo that there was an imposter in the Crab Clan, and that he must find them and reveal them, or the entire clan may fall. Who this may be, they were not sure, but they speculated it could either be the Merchant King, Yasuki Taka, or Kuni daimyo, Kuni Yori. The suggestion of Yori being a false Crab made Akari uncomfortable. “If it’s true, then what does that say of my family? And if he’s revealed, then what may become of us?” Akari asked.

Next, Buro and Akari shared what they learned about Ujina. Reflecting on Ujina’s mission at court, they wondered if Yoshi could somehow be the source of the Dark Pheonix’s visions. The four samurai began to hatch a plot which would allow Ujina to speak with Yoshi one-on-one.

After returning to the Scorpion embassy, Buro was taken to an urgent meeting with Bayushi Kachiko. She explained that she had a grave mission for Buro. One which she believed only he could fulfill. She needed him to have breakfast with an old acquaintance of hers...