1103 - Hantei XXXVIII takes the throne

At the age of 25, Hantei Jodan is crowned the 38th Emperor of Rokugan. A daring and spirited young man, Hantei XXXVIII finds his vitality slowly crushed over the years by the endless conflicts between the Great Clans.

1107 - Hantei Sotorii is born

After the death of his third wife, Hantei XXXVIII takes up the company of a Crane concubine. As soon as a boy is born and survives (infant mortality an everpresent danger in Rokugan), the Emperor marries his mother, making her the Empress and Sotorii the heir to the throne. Unfortunately, Sotorii’s mother dies to a mysterious fever only three years after his birth.

1109 - The Wasp Clan is founded

Born of a Scorpion father and a Lion mother, the young man named Tsuruchi survives both clans’ treachery, losing both his parents and the castle that is his birthright. With cunning and stealth, he reclaims his home and kills the Lion who took it, his uncle. Tsuruchi presents his dilemma to the Emerald Champion, a Crane who shares his distaste for the Lion and Scorpion, and is given leave to create his own clan. The Wasp Clan is born, and are sworn to serve the cause of the Emerald Champion.

1110 - Imperial Winter Court in Kyuden Seppun

During the winter, the Mantis clan takes Kyuden suru Kokai from the Doji, only to have the Crane re-capture the fortress in the Battle of Ice and Snow, a brilliant winter attack and the first led by Doji Hoturi. Also, Phoenix Champion Shiba Burisagi is caught attempting to force himself upon then-Shosuro Kachiko and is immediately executed by Doji Hoturi, at the Emperor's command.

1111 - The Yotsu family name granted

A mountain-dwelling ronin, the warrior Yotsu discovers that the caravan of Empress Hochiahime (Hantei XXXVIII’s fifth wife) has been attacked by a large Bloodspeaker cult. The cultists kill the Empress’ infant children and all the Seppun guardsmen attached to the caravan. The Empress Hochiahime and the young heir Sotorii are taken captive, intended for a sacrifice in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Yotsu creeps into the camp with the blade of a fallen guardsman. Though he knows he cannot possibly defeat the Bloodspeakers alone, he asks the Empress for permission to die in the Empress’ name. The Empress forbids it, instead insisting the ronin rescue the heir Sotorii, passing Yotsu a message for the Hantei to mourn her and the child she would have borne.

With no other options, Yotsu leaves his youngest son in Sotorii’s place and leaves. Weeks later, the young heir is reunited with his father, the Emperor. In recognition of Yotsu’s sacrifice, the Emperor gives him given the name Yotsu Yatoshin (the name of the Emperor’s father) and a small fiefdom in the Mountains of Regret as well as authority over a district in Otosan Uchi. Later explorations by the Imperial Legions find the Bloodspeaker Cult gone, and it is presumed that Empress Hochiahime was sacrificed to their blasphemous rituals.

1116 - Sword of Yotsu otokodate formed

Yotsu Yatoshin begins swearing ronin outside his family to the Yotsu name and training them in the techniques he devised while living deep in the mountains.

1117 - Yoritomo becomes the daimyo of the Mantis Clan

Widely known for his anger over the Mantis’ station as a Minor Clan, many in the Mantis feel that Yoritomo will lead them to greatness, perhaps paving the way for them to play a greater role in Rokugan.

1118 - The Badger Clan daimyo is killed while visiting the Crane lands

Although the Badger are a very minor influence in Rokugan, the dishonor of his assassination while in their lands is a great embarrassment to the Crane. There are whispers in court that the assassination is a result of the increasing tension between the Lion and the Crane, but the killer is never caught.

1119 - Murder and treachery in Shiro Gisu

In an exceptionally eventful winter in the Asako lands, Hiruma Ryuden, daimyo of Kamisori sano Yoake Shiro commits seppukku after confessing to the murder of Shiba Himitsu, prodigy of Shiba Ujimitsu, Phoenix Clan Champion. Also, the Emperor's neice, Otomo Yoroshiku, is kidnapped by a mad ronin and then rescued by a valiant band of samurai. The Princess, commanded to choose a husband by spring, names Otomo Jin, one of her rescuers, as her choice.

1120 - Kenson Gakka Falls

The Lion general Akodo Ikare becomes maddened and attacks the monks of the small Yaruki Jukko temple, slaughtering them to a man. The Scorpion Clan, whose former clansmen were the monks at the temple, retaliates by laying seige to Kenson Gakka. After a very brief siege, the city falls. Crane and Scorpion courtiers gain acceptance for the attack in the courts, and the city remains in Scorpion hands. Its captors return the city to its original name: The Lion's Shadow.