The following text is taken from the Kolat Informer (the website itself claimed to have "taken" the report from Dr. Zen Faulkes' Steel and Iron website). It claims to be a report from Salman Barakat, the Crab player.
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Legion of the Dead
2004 Legend of the Five Rings Story Event
“Of all the Spirit Realms, few are so highly honored as Yomi. It is the Realm of the Blessed Ancestors, the place where great heroes pass after a life well lived. It is this place where the great heroes dwell. It is here that they continue their battle against evil and dishonor as members of the Blessed Guard.
“Once before, the Blessed Guard rode forth into the mortal realm. At Ryoshun’s call they passed through Oblivion’s Gate and became mortal. With Toturi himself at their head, they struck down the minions of the Lying Darkness and helped restore the Empire to order. Sadly, the return of so many caused great chaos and strife in the Empire, as the Spirit Wars shook Rokugan to its core.
“Now the return of Iuchiban has thrown the Spirit Realms into disharmony. The soldiers of the Blessed Guard know that they cannot stand idle, but neither do they wish to harm the Empire as they once did. Even if they had the desire to return, Oblivion’s Gate is broken – the dead can no longer walk as the living.
“But the spirits of heroes are not without power. The Blessed Guard have selected the greatest among their number to form the Legion of the Dead. These mighty heroes will return to Rokugan to guide their descendants, to help them find the courage and strength to fight the Bloodspeakers.”
Kotei
“Each player who wins a Kotei during the 2004 Kotei season will gain the opportunity to select a hero to join the Legion of the Dead. Each winner can select any personality who died as a member of their faction. This person will become a member of the Legion of the Dead.
“Any winning Shadowlands player will be given the right to choose a dead member of their faction to join the Legion of Blood, an army of wicked spirits set to prevent the Legion of the Dead from coming to Rokugan’s aid. These two forces will confront one another across the fields of the Spirit Realms, vying for the souls of the Rokugani people.
“At the end of the Kotei season a series of fictions will describe the battle between these chosen souls, and detail their fates.
“If the number of corrupted and Shadowlands Kotei wins is greater than the number of pure and Tainted Kotei wins, the Legion of the Dead will be forced back into Yomi, and Iuchiban’s power will increase dramatically. If the number of pure wins are greater, the Legion of the Dead’s guidance will help the Great Clans in rooting out many hidden Bloodspeaker agents and strike a powerful blow against the Heartless.”
Hida Kisada was nominated to join the Legion of the Dead by William Czyzewski, who won the Alaska Kotei (Region 15 that year) with a corrupt Crab deck.
Salman Barakat won the Irish Kotei, where he nominated Kuni Utagu to the Legion of the Dead. He wrote in a post to The Crab Clan Catatrophe forum, “I admit my favorite choice would have been Kisada but he was already picked.”
GenCon
“Whatever may occur in the Kotei season, the battle between the Legion of the Dead and the Legion of Blood will reveal one truth – Oblivion’s Gate still has some small shred of power within it. One dead soul will be allowed to pass through this gate, and be restored to mortal life. This personality will be chosen from the list of ALL personalities chosen during the Kotei season. Further, this personality will gain the faction trait of the player who wins GenCon (possibly losing former faction traits if keeping both would be inappropriate).”
From a post made to the Crab Clan forum and the Kobune Port (24 August 2004; slightly edited for typos):
Thanks everybody for all the congratulations!
...
But some important points:
Challenge Booth:
Dragon didn’t really win. I was one finalist of the Challenge Booth, but didn’t have the time to play. So I conceded the win to the Dragon if he chose the Tortoise as a gift to Kristy Mack. Also Rich Wulf incorporated the events in the story. So if you read something like “the Crab representative isn’t here because he has more important things to do” you will know what that means.
Personality Choice:
Kisada: My favourite character and the reason I started playing Crab
Corrupt/Pure/Tainted???
Daigotsu? Yes…. Shadowlands, Maho or Bloodspeaker cards? No… Omen? YES!!!!
I explained to Rich Wulf, my choice of wind represents the peace between Crab and Daigtosu at the moment.
Top Crab Choice:
Ally with Daigotsu
Why?
1. Iuchiban MUST be dealt with
2. Daigotsu has mentioned more than once, that he isnt interested in destroying or conquering the Empire, he has his own, once he is back in power… So why should the Crab at least try if there is a chance to live in peaceful coexistence with a Daigotsu controlled Shadowlands Empire? Even if the whole thing is only temporary, less Crab will die in that time, and Daigotsu is known to be a man to keep his word…
3. He doesnt even have the taint anymore:)
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The following text is from the L5R Wiki:
Kyofu was the Onisu of Fear and the Nightmare of the Crab Clan. ...
When Daigotsu summoned Kyofu he used a physical host to place the demon's spirit within, the body of Kuroda. Omoni built the carapace of Kyofu onto the body of resurrected Crab Clan Champion and current Shadowlands general Hida Kuroda. Its resurrection from Yume-do made Kyofu unique compared to the other Onisu. Kyofu was stronger, more brutal, and more cunning than ever. ...
In 1159 Emma-O, the Fortune of Death and ruler of Meido, wanted more power to avoid more intruders or threats to its rulership. He came to the Mortal Realm and met Kyofu in a Crab village that the onisu was devastating. Since the undead Crab Champion had been combined with the Onisu of Fear, it was Kyofu who held dominion over their shared corporeal form, frequently succumbed to rage and violence. The Fortune used his power to alter the balance of power within the Crab's soul, and Hida Kuroda retook the control of his corpse over the onisu's will. None, not even Daigotsu, would tell what had been done unless Kuroda revealed himself. ...
When in 1165 Daigotsu was defeated by Iuchiban in the City of the Lost, Kyofu rescued him saving his life, and escaped flying on an onikage. The Ogres joined Iuchiban, but the mad tattooed Kokujin joined Kyofu.
When Daigotsu knew Shiro Hiruma would fall upon Iuchiban's forces, he ordered Kyofu to aid the defenders. The Onisu and Kokujin attacked the bloodspeaker army that was besieging the Hiruma Castle, saving the day for the Crab Clan. Kyofu let it be known that Daigotsu offered a truce with the Crab so that they could focus on Iuchiban.
Kyofu gifted Hiruma Todori with a map to the current hiding place of Tsuburu no Oni. The Oni Lord had changed his loyalty towards Iuchiban and the Onisu actively worked against the bloodspeaker. ...
In 1168 during the Time of Demons an oni attack to the Wall put in risk the life of Kuon's son, Ichiro. Kyofu arrived on time to save the life of his nephew. Kyofu no longer looked like the Onisu, he was handsome, though his flesh was strangely discolored. Since his will overcame the demon's, his body had come to look more as it did before his death. He was taken prisoner and requested an audience with Kuon. Kyofu asked to be given command of the Damned so that he could lead a force against the oni. After his intentions were verified by Omen, the Oracle of Jade, Kyofu would command the tainted crab in the Kyofu's Last March.
Kyofu was given Kettei to wield in the battles. Kuni Daigo pledged to bring the sword back to the Crab upon Kuroda's death. ...
In 1169 Kyofu was killed by Kyoso no Oni during the assault upon the oni's army which was fighting the Lost, the Battle at the Wall of Bones. Daigo was one of three survivors to return to Crab lands, bearing the blade he had pledged to return.
Tsuburu no Oni became a follower of Iuchiban after the Heartless defeated Daigotsu. Kyofu actively worked against the bloodspeaker and gifted to the Crab Clan the map with the location of the Oni Lord. In 1165 a Crab party went to his lair, and all died except Hida Isamu and Hida Rohiteki that finally killed Tsuburu no Oni. His skull was purified by Kuni Shugenja and hung next to the skull of The Maw over the entrance to Kyuden Hida. However, the rituals needed to forever banish the Oni Lord were disrupted by the Rain of Blood and Tsuburu no Oni might yet return to the Shadowlands.