Opium War

The Opium War in 1122 started when the three major opium cartels in Ryoko Owari Toshi, the City of Lies, turned on each other after manipulation by outside forces. For several weeks entire rows of warehouses were burned down and many deaths were reported under mysterious circumstances. The violence continued until the Emerald Magistrates of the city hunted down the responsible parties and brought the war to an abrupt end. Legend of the Five Rings; Third Edition, p. 17
== Engineering ==
The war was engineered by Ide Baranato, head of the city's Unicorn Clan, after the loss of his son, Ide Michikane, who had died from a opium overdose. City of Lies: GM's Guide, p. 31
=== Plan within plans ===
The real engineers were the Dajan's Kolat, a splinter sect of the true Kolat. Bells of the Dead, p. 9 After six years of careful planning they had the leader of the opium Shosuro cartel, Soshi Seiryoku, as their obliged accomplice, and they were who killed Michikane forcing him to drink Liquid Void. A kolat agent masqueraded Baranato's most rusted advisor and together, Baranato and this master of lies, crafted a plan to destroy the opium trade in Rokugan. City of Lies: GM's Guide, p. 80
== War ==
Baranato's plan was to use the inherent mistrust of the Scorpion cartels to begin a war between gangs. A serie of attacks were made on the three opium cartels, the Bayushi cartel, the Shosuro cartel, and the Soshi cartel. In each of them the assailants disguised or set tracks that would lead to another of the cartels. All of them saw as if the rest were attacking them, and began the retaliation. All the three cartels were hampered, many warehouses were burned, and some of the most prominent of their figures died or were disgraced. The Unicorn conspiracy was uncovered as well. City of Lies: GM's Guide, pp. 80-94
== Aftermath ==
Prices on everything go up which created civil unrest and riots. Nobles instead peaceful opium doze they got really drunk and sometimes violent. Without easy opium money, lots of former smugglers turn to piracy or robbery. It was unclear if the opium trade in Rokugan was really affected after the order was restored. City of Lies: GM's Guide, p. 94
== Known deaths ==
* Ago - Assassin hired by Shosuro cartel
* Bayushi Korechika - Leader Bayushi cartel
* Bayushi Otado - Korechika's son, Bayushi cartel
* Ide Michikane - Original victim of Kolat conspiracy
* Ide Nakatada - Michikane's cousin
* Jittu - Frontman of Soshi cartel
* Uma - Merchant of Bayushi cartel
Ryoko Owari Toshi 1122