Koto: Legends Arise/History

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The Great Civil War

In the year 47 M.S., the tenno of that time passed away. That left Koto with a great issue. There was no heir to the throne, no new tenno to be crowned. And so it came that each of the 17 daimyo claimed that it would be their right to rule. When no solution could be found, the daimyo decided to settle matters by force. A war broke out, each daimyo being their own faction, fighting to take over their comptetitors for the rank of the tenno. The war raged for a long time, with many casualties in its early phases. Of the 17 daimyo that entered the comptetition, soon only 8 remained, but found themselves at a stalemate. Still, none of them would allow themselves to settle for peace, as they each believed in their right to inherit the throne and rule over all of Koto. This left the people of the land in misery from constant fighting, trading embargos and food shortages for years to come.

No heir next in line The daimyo break into war Peace nowhere in sight

The New Era

With the civil war between the daimyo raging for decades, the question of a ruler remained unclear, until what can only be described as a miracle was brought to the monastaries of Koto. Spirituals of all regions alike had the same vision of a child descendet of the divine blood, sent by the gods to unite Koto once more and rule it. And indeed, the Kagoro temple had found the child of their visions. The daimyo counciled, discussing the matters that had transpired and all came to agree that they were not to interfere with the will of the gods. A sign had been given, that none of them would be fit to rule Koto. Together, they instated the new Tenno, a young boy of only 12. They swore to assist him as he grew up, to be advisors at his side and guide Koto into a new era of peace. With this reformation, Koto finally left its perilous state of war behind and the regions as they are now were formed with set borders. Each daimyo was granted his own region to rule, though they would all be subject to the tenno. The year of the new tenno marks a turning point in Koto's history and is therefore the focus of its time measurement, being referred to as Year 1 S.

They stand together A child given by the gods A new era calls

Hisoka Temple Massacre

The tragedy known today as the Hisoka Temple Massacre is a story known across the entirety of Koto. Shortly after the reunion of the daimyo, in the year 24 S., stories leaked out of Hisoka about frequent interferences of the supernatural. Hisoka, being known as the region most connected the the spirit realm, was home to the greatest temple that Koto had. But as the reports racked up in numbers, peope became tense. Voices grew loud about the spirits being upset, about the ghosts of those that died in the civil war seeking revenge against the living. These rumors culminated when the monks and guards of Hisoka temple were found fleeing towards the nearby towns. Only a couple made it there, those that arrived covered in blood. They reported about a the ghost of a woman in a white yukata manifesting in the temple, then slaying anything in her way, slaughtering any that did not flee the temple. When the daimyo's forces were sent to investigate, they found a bloodbath. Countless corpses, massacred within the temple walls and in its gardens. The snow around the templegrounds was stained red in the blood that had leaked out. This was the final straw, leading the the abandonment of the entire Hisoka region, labeling it as cursed. In 35 S., the great wall was finished. To this day, the occurances in the Hisoka region instill fear among the people of Koto and reminds them, that the spirits shall never be angered.

A ghost white as snow There was no chance to escape Leaves behind blood

The Bandit Plague

The civil war left Koto shaken and in great peril. Even after the new tenno had been found, many citizens struggled to survive, their livelyhood destroyed by the horrors of war. Facing famine and homelessness, many turned to crime, robbing and stealing what they could get to survive the harsh period of recuperation. Entire clans of bandits formed, keeping villages in their greedy grasp with the threat of death and destruction. For the simple folk, the scourge of war had been replaced by a new one just as grim. A vicious cycle, as this hopeless situation forced even more people to crime. Especially the rural regions of Fyushin, Kesseki and Osawagi were suffering under this never ending plague. It was in the year 47 S. that the daimyo of Osawagi by the name of Jin Sakari took the extermination of the bandits into his hands. In what he called a fight for the greater good, he declared war on the bandit clans. Mercilessly, Lord Sakari and his troops sought out the clans, raiding them with brutal efficency. Those that were not killed were forced into hiding. While many were shocked by the cruelty that the daimyo acted with, the lifted scourge gave the people a chance to breathe freely for the first time in what felt like forever. Today, bandits still exist, but are individual cells without greater organisation.

With icecold steel The bandits are forced to flee For the greater good

The Legendary Duel

After the extermination of the bandit clans, Lord Sakari was held in high regards by many people. At the same time, his ruthless and cruel efficency had put fear in the hearts of many. The daimyo continued his rule with an iron fist, yet was respected for his efforts to help many regions. However, as time went on, rumors surfaced. It was claimed that Lord Sakari had not only killed bandits, but even allowed his soldiers to raid villages within the regions that were not his own, claiming them to be collaborators. These rumors caused an uproar in the public, however, the recently formed peace seemed too fragile to disturb with open accusations. In the year 68 S., the daimyo of the Shihon region on behalf of the tenno challenged Sakari to a duel for his honor. Should he win, he would be free of any accusations. Should he lose, he would take the truth to the grave with him. But should he decline, he would admit to the rumors and be imprisoned. And so came to be the legendary duel between Hamaro Isakage and Jin Sakari. It is said that the two samurai fought with strokes so quick, only the flashes that their blades caused could be seen. In the end, Hamaro prevailed. The reign of Jin Sakari ended, but in death, he kept his honor and was remembered as the savior from the bandit plague.

The cold gazes meet Two worthy opponents bow A flash of bright steel