Nine brothers and sisters of the Sun and the Moon, the Kami, fell to the earth 1,000 years ago. Eight swore to protect and teach the Rokugani. One become corrupted and swore vengence on his siblings. A simple peasant and seven samurai defeated the corrupt Kami at the dawn of history to make Rokugan safe. Sitting on the Emerald Throne, contemplating the massed warriors surrounding the Imperial Palace, Shoju takes heart when he hears that at last Kisada is on the move. Shoju's doom is at hand. He will either be the greatest of the Scorpion Diamyos, or the last of the Scorpion line.