A cold wind blows outside, stirring the Three Swords Hall to creak in protest of the harsh weather. The students have gathered inside for the evening meal, a simple one of leeks, bread, and water. A thin soup accompanies the dish, and most students have already finished their bowl, having built up their appetites during the day’s rigorous training. The hall is fairly silent, the only conversation coming from Alix and Arlorn, who are discussing (and Alix quite loudly) their recent excursion to Dryreach.

Grandfather Arashikage sits close to the fire, barely listening, a warm wool blanket draped over his shoulders. In his hands he holds a steaming cup of tea that the monk Ananda was good enough to bring him. “I pray that they do not see my weakness,” Arashikage thinks to himself, “but the cold is in my bones…and the pain is great.” He is still recovering from the sickness that washed over him only a couple days ago, forcing him to leave the two students in the hands of another.

“Kiyo-Jima is a good man though, and he has my thanks. He brought them both safely back from Dryreach. I must find time to thank him.”

The quiet is broken by the Lady Akemi, who has been sitting in the corner, sharing eveningfeast and speaking in low tones with her visiting aunt, Otsu. “Grandfather,” Akemi says, drawing his attention, “I have been speaking with my good aunt…who tells me I have much to learn.” Saying this, Akemi looks down, whether through anger or embarrassment it is not known. “We began to discuss the Kage…and I am told that most of what I have heard is merely conjecture and falsehood. Could you tell us of the Kage…of the Shadow Clan?”

Grandfather remains quiet for several moments, lost in thought. Would it be appropriate to share such long held secrets so openly in this hall? What of his own mortality though? Is the knowledge of the Kage something he should take to his death? What does it matter, if he has decided to let the Kage come to rest? He pulls his thoughts together, and rises slowly from his chair to face his new audience. He gives a look to Basho Sensei, seeking permission to share his tale, and Basho returns a nod of approval.

“First, I will start with my own story. From there I will weave the tale of the Kage and their history as it interweaves with my own. When I am done, I hope that the tapestry you are left with is different than that which has been formed by prejudice and ignorance.”

“I have been Kage for as long as I can remember. Mind you, that is over 55 years, and hard ones at that. I have never known a mother or father, sister or brother. Only Karanikage, my instructor and lord. It was he who raised me as his own, teaching me the Way of the Kage…the Shadow Clan.”

Seeing the look of fear and concern that washes over the faces of many of the younger members, Arashikage quickly continues. “Do not tremble at the name. The Shadow Clan is not the same group of murderers and assassins that it was hundreds of years ago, when it was last known to exist. The Kage turned to Detachment and Discipline, two stones you all know well, and vowed to reclaim the honor that they lost.”

“The Shadow Clan never had any honor,” snorts Alix, from the rear of the room. Many faces turn toward him, some in anger, most in agreement. Shinjin glares across the room at his student, who falls silent while Grandfather continues his tale.

“Oh, but they have Alix…but they have.” Ananda grins at Alix after saying this and motions for Grandfather to continue. Grandfather looks at him curiously, and once again takes up his story.

“Hundreds of years ago, the Shadow Clan was one of the martial arms of the Brothers of the Dawn. I see from some of your faces that you know of the Brothers. They were a collection of martial warriors and philosophers who believed that only those trained in both war and philosophy were fit to rule. And so they trained the children of rulers, and gained much power in the land of Ispar.”

“But knowledge can be double-edged. The Robed Ones, the ruling council of the Brothers, knew that there were two sides to every pyreal. While training through peace and assistance the future leaders of the land, they also realized the other road to power was gained through force of arms. Of course as soldiers from birth, the Brothers had one of the mightiest armies in the land, not in size, but in ability. But open threats were never as influential as disguised intentions. And so the Shadow Clan was born.”

“Rising from the elite ranks of the martial arms of the Brothers, the Shadow Clan served in secrecy for the Brothers dark purposes. Things which could only be whispered of in the night. They started with simple espionage. Stealing correspondence from leaders on spying on every ruler in the land. But their activities took a turn towards evil.”

“We tell a sad story, of a good merchant who spoke out against the Brothers. It seems his daughter was rejected by the Brothers for instruction. He deemed that the Brothers, with all their knowledge and dedication to learning, were not wise enough to see the value of a woman was equal to that of a man. If he were not so influential, and if his daughter were not the marry the son of a Daimyo, then his slight may have gone unnoticed. But he gained support, and the Robed Ones decreed that this…’distraction’ should not continue. The Shadow Clan slew an innocent man that night.”

The doors spring open suddenly. A poorly dressed beggar comes running into the Hall, shouting about a ‘yemca’ and furiously waving his arms. Two of the students leap up, grabbing him about the arms. They prepare to throw him back into the snow when Basho Genji clears his throat loudly. The students look back at him and he shakes his head, then points up the stairs to the sleeping places in the loft. The beggar collapses in exhaustion, and the students carry him up to a warm bed for the night.

Arashikage has recovered from his shakes, and retrieved his blanket from where it lay by the fire. Asoka sits close, having been drawn from the corner where he was composing poems. He is now writing furiously, dipping his brush into ink and drawing the letters as swiftly as he can. Upon noticing Grandfather’s discomfort he leaps up and fetches another warm cup of tea. Arashikage nods thankfully, savoring the hot tea, not quite trusting his voice to speak yet. Finally he feels better again, and continues with his tale.

“After that night the atrocities only grew worse. These atrocities are the basis for much of the rumor that exists about the Clan today. They did not drink blood, but were often covered in it. They felled single men where they stood, and slew armies in their sleep. The Clan became legend, the invisible killers. The Clan lost its way.”

“Within the Clan there arose a great leader. A young man, by the name of Yaga Xiang. He was recently promoted from his position as Daishan in the army of the Brothers. After his entrance into the Clan he quickly learned of their dark mission, and railed against it. Many who had similar feelings rallied around him. Before long he arose to lead the Clan, and they rebelled against the Brothers, threatening to spread word of the atrocities the Brothers gave them to commit.”

“The Brothers knew that this would be their downfall, the end to their power. In the dead of night, the Brothers gathered their army, declared the Shadow Clan a force of evil, and slaughtered them where they slept. But the Brothers, in all their wisdom, forgot one thing. The night belongs to the Shadow. Before the night was over, six of the eleven Robed Ones had been slain. Almost every member of the Shadow Clan had been killed that night, but a few escaped, including Yaga Xiang.”

“The remaining members formed up, determined to destroy the Brothers that would turn on them. But Yaga Xiang would not join them. He had had enough of killing, and death. The horrors he had witnessed lay heavy upon him. He had seen good men do terrible things, and knew their souls would never be quiet.”

“Yaga Xiang vowed at that time to recover the lost honor of the Shadow Clan. He renamed them the Kage, or Shadow. He changed his name to Yagarikage, and went into hiding, and so begins the history of the Kage.”

“What happened to the surviving members?” asks Arlorn.

“Of the remaining members, there were only eight, and the five surviving Robed Ones had surrounded themselves with their armies. Within a week, three of the surviving Robed Ones were slain, and all remaining members of the Shadow Clan were…destroyed.”

Suddenly, fits of coughing take over Arashikage’s body. He feels the sickness welling up inside him. Afraid to show weakness he quickly speaks while he still has breath.

“I will tell you of the Kage later. For now…I need to rest. The night is long, and I am not so young anymore. Ananda, could you help me to my pallet?”

Ananda leaps forward, taking Grandfather Arashikage gently by the arm. They head upstairs, and Grandfather curls up next to the unconscious beggar, sharing his warmth with his own, and fearing for the first time his own mortality.