Chaos Reigns Part III Previews Week:
Day Two

Hello, all, and welcome to day two of CRIII previews. Let's not waste any more time, and ger right into it.

Tensions rise as the Qamar wishes to finally openly join the ongoing war in Rokugan, while the isolationists following the Ijathilu and the Binasa oppose participating in the "human" war. The ancient Naga stand at a precipice of unprecedented violence, all while the new Hantei promises independence and sovereignty in exchange for non-interference.  Special thanks to frequent Naga artist jay Longfellow for another Ijathilu piece.

The Crab's still-depleted forces are stretched thin between supporting Kano's troops as they move to intercept the so-called 'Shogun', and their naval forces move to check Ichido's push to take Broken Wave City again. Spread so thin, those left to maintain their homelands find themselves against a Crane hungry for revenge and willing to employ tactics no walls can defend against. With the Yasuki already distrustful of Toranosuke and his disdain for them well-known, all that might be needed is a simple push.

As the Harriers under Daidoji Akeha strike against both the forces of Doji Meiji and his Imperial allies, hidden allies in the courts offer their own contributions to the rebels. But after Meiji discovers that Akeha's greatest supporter is the Kakita daimyo Ikura, he kills him, having his wife adopt Ikura's face to uncover any and all courtly co-conspirators. However, one last piece of information is smuggled out to Iweko Miaka by Ikura's greatest ally Kakita Kae and her yojimbo Doji Maya: Meiji's secret custody of Iweko Shibatsu.

Presumed weakened by the defection of Noboru and his followers that now fight for Iweko Miaka, the Dragon remain sequestered in their mountains, seemingly disregarded as irrelevant by the warring factions of the Empire. However, the real reason for their forced seclusion is shortly to come to light, with ramifications for the Empire and the war few can imagine. The instructions Shikei passed to Higaru before departing were not from him, but from a more ancient power, whose return now appears to be imminent. 

Akodo Kano has avoided drawing swords against his own people, prefering to withdraw rather than face the 'Imperial Shogun' Ikoma Satoru. But when Satoru's Imperial legions begin to systematically consolidate the Hantei's hold on Lion lands, Kano no longer has a choice, and gathers his forces to check him at the City of the Rich Frog. In the bloody and destructive aftermath, a decision is made, and Kano passes the mantle of Lion leadership to another, thought lost during the war. Special thanks to Jonny Le Streghe for the art for Ikoma Kunisada and Koukei!

Across the Empire, echoes of the past make themselves known once more. The Otomo jockey for position in the new Hantei bureaucracy, but meet an unexpected challenger to their presumed position. New leaders rise to seize their destiny, while the last vestiges of the old Rokugan go to meet their final fates.

We hope to see you back here tomorrow to wrap up CRIII Personalities with the Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion, Spider, Unicorn, and the rest of the Unaligned Personalities. Thank you all for your support!