Ki-rin

Please note: This article is about the magical creature. For the Great Clan of the same name, please see Ki-Rin Clan.
The Ki-rin, or the Unicorn, was a mystical creature, incomprehensible to the mortal mind. Its rare appearances in the Empire had always foreshadowed monumental events, such as the Return of the Unicorn and the Rain of Blood. It was also the namesake of the Ki-Rin Clan, and the true form of its founder Shinjo. Way of the Unicorn, pp. 33, 37 
It was said that the Ki-rin and the Phoenix, the two fabled creatures, were brothers. Way of the Scorpion, p. 26 It also had been linked to the Elemental Dragons. Game Master's Guide; 2nd Ed, p. 38
== Appearance ==
They had a silken fur, with a single horn of pearl white extended from its forehead. Its staring eyes shone a brilliant jade, Ki-Rin's Redemption, by Shawn Carman and Rich Wulf and its gaze crippled the corrupt and stroke awe in the honorable. Sacrifice, by Rich Wulf It was a symbol of swiftness and good fortune. Way of the Dragon, p. 48
== Shrine ==
The Reihaido sano Ki-Rin was a shrine dedicated to the Ki-rin, located in Phoenix Clan lands, Legend of the Five Rings; Third Edition, p. 296 where Shinjo saw the Ki-Rin for the first time, Ki-Rin (Obsidian flavor)
== Legends ==
=== Inhabitants of the Dragonlands ===
It was said the Ki-rin were also spirits from the Dragonlands. They cast out or choosing to live among mortal kind. Way of the Phoenix, p. 106
=== The tale of Ki-Rin and the Scorpion ===
A tale told a Ki-rin had been warned by her sister the Phoenix against the treacherous scorpion, but the mytical unicorn did not know the scorpion's appearance. The Ki-rin was amazed by all the things over the world, things called "Flower", "Tree", "Horse", when she saw another creature. It was a scorpion, which told he was called "Truth", and invited the Ki-rin to put him on the unicorn's back to find "Scorpion". The scorpion began to explain the Ki-rin how identify a scorpion, and the Ki-rin quickly realized the creature on his back resembled as a "Scorpion". The Ki-rin joyed she had find "Truth" before she would have found "Scorpion". And the Ki-rin had nothing further to say, Way of the Scorpion, pp. 26-27 Sidebar tricked because of her ignorance, Way of the Scorpion, p. 56 dying upon the poisoning sting.
== History ==
=== Ki-Rin Clan ===
In 153 the Kami Shinjo was lured to the Oasis of Spirits Secrets of the Unicorn, p. 8 from where she returned pregnant. She spoke little of it, but she had five shapeshifting children, who used to feel most comfortable in the figure of their father, a shimmering white steed with fiery halo, a Ki-rin. Way of the Unicorn, pp. 33-34
=== Corrupted Masters ===
In the first month of 1128 a Ki-rin was sighted above Kyuden Isawa, but that when the already tainted Elemental Masters came forth to greet her, she turned her face away. Time of the Void, p. 55
=== Death of the Ki-rin ===
The tainted Crab hunted the Ki-rin after the Second Day of Thunder, encouraged by Jama Suru. Years later a dead Ki-rin was found by Crab scouts searching for their men at lost Hiruma Castle. The lone foal of the Ki-Rin had survived, but oni was seeking it to destroy the last of its kind. Death of the Ki-Rin (Storyline tournament)
=== Baby Ki-rin ===
In 1132 Hitomi released a Ki-rin colt at the Ki-Rin's Shrine, in the third of the Twenty-Seven Days of Darkness. The baby Ki-rin looked for more of its kin in the Celestial Heavens, to bring them home. Strike At Midnight: The Twenty-seven Days of Darkness Baby Ki-Rin (Ambition's Debt flavor) One by one, each star in the Celestial Heavens awakened, following the light of the golden colt. Return of Myth (Fire and Shadow flavor)
=== Fall of the Age of Man ===
Hitomi sent the child of the Ki-Rin to seek the Dragons and bring their power back to the Empire. As they returned, the Age of Man began to fall, restoring to the Age of Myth. Restoring the Age of Myth (Soul of the Empire flavor) In 1133 the seven dragons involved themselves in the War Against Shadow carrying the last of Rokugan's greatest heroes toward Volturnum's gates. Temples of the Crow Seven Dragons (Soul of the Empire storyback)
=== Last of the Ki-rin ===
It was not widely known that the last of the Ki-rin, that dwelled in the northern mountains, was captured by the bloodspeakers Yajinden and Mohai to be sacrificed in a ritual by Iuchiban creating the Rain of Blood. It was reborn thanks to the efforts of Daidoji Kumi to safeguard its body against Shadowlands beasts. Afterward it blessed Kumi by attaching a lock of its own mane to Kumi's sword. 
=== The Ki-rin appears in Rokugan again ===
In 1171 a Ki-rin appeared to Utaku Reyo. She sacrificed herself to defend the Ki-Rin's Shrine from a yobanjin patrol of the Army of Fire during the War of Dark Fire. Isawa Nomi also saw a Ki-rin, and she depicted the shrine with a Ki-rin wich had the superimposed image of Reyo. The War of Dark Fire, Part 9, by Shawn Carman
== See Also ==
* Ki-rin Clan
* Unicorn Clan
* Unicorn tattoo
== External Links ==
* Ki-Rin (Imperial)
* Baby Ki-Rin (Ambition's Debt)
Category:Creatures of Rokugan
Category:Articles with Pictures
Category:Rokugani Language