Takasho

Takasho was a tainted air shugenja and ninja. Born as a Scorpion he joined Daigotsu and became his Onyx Champion.
== Scorpion ==
Takasho when still was a Scorpion he worked at Ryoko Owari Toshi. He hated to deal with the Kajinin, the firemen gangs of the city. Challenges, by Nancy Sauer
== Disguised as a Ronin ==
Like many members of the then still outlawed Spider Clan, Takasho disguised himself as a ronin to travel the land. In 1172 he used travel papers, provided by Daigotsu Usharo, who still used his Otomo name. Moreover, Usharo helped with Takasho's disguise by having told him a story about the Celestial Tournament. This story with some small changes added authenticity to Takasho's lies and helped to explain why a ronin would carry a Scorpion mask and why a Scorpion would become a ronin.
In truth he was on a mission to bring news about the Spider's southern stronghold, the secretly infiltrated and taken over Kyuden Suzume, Kyuden Suzume (The Dead of Winter Boxtext) beyond the borders of Rokugan, to the Fingers of Bone, where Daigotsu's court was located.
There he encountered Isawa Fosuta and Katsu, and his desire arose to become Onyx Champion himself. 
== Becoming Onyx Champion ==
Among the Lost and the Spider Clan it was customary for the Obsidian Champion and the Onyx Champion to defend their titles against potential successors at least once a year with an often lethal duel. When the Onyx Championship was relatively new and the first ever Onyx Champion, Isawa Fosuta, still in office, he intimidated his fellow shugenja and maho-tsukai, so that none would dare challenge him. Katsu worried about this, and after confering with his lord Daigotsu, he set a plan in motion that would lead to Fosuta's downfall. He kept an eye on the Onyx Champion and thus the rumour spread, he wanted the office for himself. This kept Fosuta preoccupied and allowed Takasho to prepare.
Takasho challenged Fosuta and they entered a duel of maho. When the former Scorpion was ready to kill Fosuta and had started an incantation to summon dark magic, the current Onyx Champion cheated by setting his baboon on his enemy. Katsu warned Takasho telepathically of the attack. He could react, but instead of Fosuta, the spell killed only the animal. Isawa Fosuta had used the opportunity and fled the stronghold. Daigotsu thereupon declared Takasho his new Onyx Champion. 
== Destroyer War ==
=== Battle of Ashio===
In 1173 during the Destroyer War, Takasho had found a way to defeat the Destroyers of Kali-Ma by means of maho. He was very enthusiastic about his discovery and made us of it during the Battle of Ashio, where he encountered Doji Yasuyo. The Crane woman was disgusted by Takasho's demonstration, because his foul magic, while defeated the Destroyers, tainted the earth of the land. The two parted as enemies. The Destroyer War, Part 10, by Shawn Carman
=== Fingers of Bone ===
When Empress Iweko sent a delegation of young samurai and the monk Furumaro beyond the northern borders of Rokugan, to the Dark Lord Daigotsu, who resided in his stronghold within the Fingers of Bone, Takasho was present during the audience. After his lord read a scroll from the Empress, the Onyx Champion was ordered to fetch the original Tao of Fu Leng and hand it over to the delegation. It was meant as an answer to the letter and would play an essential role in the defeat of Kali-Ma. The Hinge of Destiny, by Nancy Sauer
== Baboon ==
Isawa Fosuta used to keep a baboon who followed him wherever he went. After the baboon died during a magical duel, the new Onyx Champion also kept a baboon around, but his was created from dark magic and resembled a monstrous ape, according to Doji Yasuyo, who encountered the duo at the battle of Ashio. 
Takasho's baboon was a manifestation of dark sorcery, some sort of an independent familiar. It had become a badge of office for the Onyx Champion. Author's Comment, by Shawn Carman
== Spider membership ==
Even though Takasho was a Spider, he did not bear their mark during the Destroyer War as the clan was outlawed at the time. The Destroyer War, Part 11, by Shawn Carman
== Death ==
Takasho was killed by Kuni Shinoda. Kuni Shinoda (Torn Asunder flavor)
== External Links ==
* Takasho (Second City)
Category:Onyx Champions
Category:Shadowlands Personalities
Category:Scorpion Clan Members
Category:Spider Clan Members