Tournament Story

Stories from Kozakura

‘The Tournament of Kami (Gods)’

Told by Hantei Aizen

At the dawn of the age of humanity, humans lived scattered across the world in tribes. These peoples lived in small villages, although in a few places there were towns. They made pottery without pottery wheels, and they forged crude tools and weapons from bronze. They clothed themselves in hides and woven grasses, and they hunted in and gathered their sustenance from the forest. A few tried their hand at cultivating small swaths of the wild grains and beans they found. Yet the crops were as delicate as petals on the wind, and the fury of the young gods of storm and sea could wipe them out in an instant. For all this, humanity’s heart had yet to be stirred to the creation of true art. Without letters to record their past, humans relied on stories passed down from one generation to the next. Without dyes or the cultivation of rice, their garb was crude and their harvests meager. The tribes danced and sang to the beat of drums, but they did so wildly, knowing neither melody nor harmony. Warfare, most commonly raiding, was conducted with little strategy and no honor.

The Kami took counsel among themselves and decided that they would each travel through the world and judge its worth. As they were all beautiful, strong, and wise, they attracted a great deal of attention from the tribes they visited. Soon, each of them had a retinue of humans who desired to learn more of the arts of Heaven from them. Writing and calligraphy, forging tools of iron and steel, stringing instruments, acquiring the strength that comes from honor and loyalty, and many other practices and ideas spread through the land as the Kami traveled. Finally, the Kami reunited at the place where they had landed. Once again they took counsel and it was Lady Doji who spoke first. "We must follow the example of our mother and father," she replied. "As the Sun and Moon gave shape to the formless, so must we create order from chaos. These mortals are not without worth, merely without direction. We must offer them that direction, We must lead them."

Hantei was touched by his sister's words, as were the others. Together they would create a harmony on Kozakura that matched the harmony their parents had created in the heavens. But who among them would lead? The Kami conspired to create a grand tournament, a competition of strength, skill, and wisdom that would determine the most fit among them. Each would stand until defeated, and the winner would be named Emperor of Kozakura.

Hida was the first to fall, his strength overcome by Shinjo's speed. She was in turn tricked by Bayushi, but Bayushi's twin, Shiba, was too wise and patient to succumb to his brother's tricks. Doji outmaneuvered Shiba, and was in turn defeated by Akodo who had studied her techniques well. In the end, Akodo faced Hantei; the duel that followed was as incredible a display of determination, power, and swordsmanship that the world has ever seen. Akodo became consumed with the fury of battle, lifting his sword to end his brother's life. When Akodo thought the battle won, Hantei angled his sword so that the light of the heaven's shone in his brother's eye. The light of the heavens flooded into Akodo's soul, and he realized the horrible deed that had almost been done. In the face of such strength, compassion, and honor Akodo realized he was a small man indeed. His sword fell to the earth and he bent his knee before his brother. Lord Togashi did not participate in the tournament, for it is said that in his great wisdom, he foresaw that Hantei would be the victor.

Each of the Kami came to serve a clan, and each of these clans swore its fealty to Hantei. Lady Doji became the founder of the Crane Clan, and her followers created art and culture. Lord Akodo became the founder of the Lion Clan; his followers were warriors and it became their first duty to purge all those who would not obey the Hantei's rule. The twins, Shiba and Bayushi, became the lords of the Phoenix and Scorpion clans respectively, one the master of knowledge and the other the master of secrets. Lady Shinjo, now leader of the Kirin Clan, guarded the Empire's northwest border, while Lord Hida and his newly founded Crab Clan guarded the south. Lord Togashi accepted no duty from his brother and was given none, nor did he seek followers. He merely retreated into the mountains, where inevitably those who sought his unmatched wisdom came to him. The Emperor chose as the site of his capital the hill where the Kami first fell to earth, and Otosan-Uchi (Father’s Home) was built.