Night of Falling Stars

The Night of Falling Stars or the Swordsman's Last Stand was the siege and fall of Shiro no Yojin to the Lion Clan.
== Marching Against the Crane ==
Frustrated from years of subtle manipulations by the courtiers of the Crane Clan, the Lion led by Matsu Aigito marched upon Shiro no Yojin. The Crane barricaded themselves within the city's walls, with a barrage of refuse and filth, a horrible insult for a samurai to endure. Way of the Wolf, p. 43
== Battle ==
The siege by the Akodo Legions lasted three weeks. They seemed destined to take the castle from the Daidoji defenders. The Crane were using a network of tunnels to ferry supplies into the city, allowing them to last as long as they did. Matsu Aigito dispatched ronin to find out how the Crane were getting supplied and halt them. They found the tunnels and smoked the Crane out, killing the supply runners. Preferring death over surrender, every man, woman and child leapt from the castle walls into the raging river below. The torches they carried traced fiery trails in the night sky, resembling falling stars. Way of the Crane, p. 41 Legend of the Five Rings; Third Edition, p. 16
== Daidoji Yurei ==
The great Crane general Daidoji Yurei was born on the field from which the Crane fled, and would try to retake the castle many times in his lifetime. The Lion held their ground however, and the castle was never retaken. Way of the Crane, p. 46
== Kakita Rensei ==
Kakita Rensei was one of the most famous duelists at the time of the battle, and offered his services to Daidoji Tenzo, a shireikan of the Crane Clan forces, and Daidoji Yuzan, the Daidoji Daimyo. His prowess was unparallelled, but he could not prevent the outcome. Two years later Rensei traveled to Shiro Matsu to avenge the loss of Shiro no Yojin, but his fate was unknown. Way of the Crane, pp. 82-83 Code of Bushido
Shiro no Yojin