Scorpion in 1178

[Dapper Dog]

The Scorpion

The Scorpion have had a hard time of things well up until the 1150 they had a hard time but were redeemed after Bayushi Kachiko successfully lobbied for their return at the cost of her life. They were responsible for the Coup which sparked the Clan War and brought them into exile in 1123, now officially the whole clan left Rokugan but that was… as all things Scorpion complicated.

As the lies came tumbling down the coup failed spectacularly Bayushi Kachiko hatched a plan to preserve the clan, pulling strings with her lover in the Crane she was able to successfully get the next generation fostered by the Crane who would control their lands until such time that the Scorpion could be trusted to manage them. Meanwhile she sent word for volunteers to make the journey into Exile and those remained were those that could live off the grid as it were as ronin or members of the other clans.

This was made into a big show as many Scorpion committed suicide by throwing themselves from cliffs or in ritual seppuku to protest the decision but most of these were ruses. The Scorpion went into exile, the rest remained hidden in isolated cells with Kachiko as the consort of the Emperor biding her time. Those in exile learned many new things and although tradition mattered, they took what was useful and retained such hidden knowledge hoping for return.

Decades past a whole generation raised without the guidance of their betters, Kachiko had done what she could but Empress Oturi was leery of trusting the Scorpion, they had used her and played her the fool in her youth. In the end Kachiko had to swear on her life that they would serve the Oturi and never falter, and publicly she committed seppuku in her court to seal the words. The Scorpion could return in 1149, most did though some remain having more ties to the outside then they did to their homeland.

Gaijin blood is not uncommon among the Scorpion now, coming in more shades than is typical for Rokugan, a clash with the more proper Scorpion raised by the Crane… and then those that were in hiding… the clan is adjusting to the new reality of these clashing of cultures and supplanting the Crane as the masters of Court.

The current champion is Bayushi Takao, a duelist whose parents were raised by the Crane. His wife is from the Soshi but carries exotic gaijin features, Bayushi Akilah, eschewing the typical kimono for the clothing of her roots in the burning sands.