The Story of Osano-Wo
After Hida’s first son was lost to the Shadowlands, he swore he would never have another child. This passionate oath would only last three years.
One day, while wandering the lands of the Crab, Togashi-kami saw his brother Hida prowling the walls of his castle, his head hung low with sorrow. The Dragon flew off to Dragon Lands and told of Hida’s sorrow. The tale was so moving, the Dragon of Thunder took a human form.
The scene has been told in many Crane plays as a romantic and dramatic event, but the actual “wooing” was far from poetic, and – quite honestly – the only way she could seduce the Great Crab. She showed up on his balcony during a terrible storm, dressed only in mist and rain. As the thunder shook the towers, and lighting flashed her shadow across the room, she spoke in a voice that made the world shake.
“I am the Queen of Storms,” she said to him. “And I love you.”
A year later, she arrived on his balcony. This time, she carried a son in her arms.
Having born a human son, she had lost her own immortality. She promised to spend the rest of her life with the Crab, and they were quietly married.
At last, Hida had lost his sorrow, washed away in the stormy embrace of his new wife. His son grew quickly and grew up strong. While he was mortal, he was also the child of a kami and a Dragon. He stood beside his father, young, powerful, and never-aging. When Hida finally left his position to his son, Osano-Wo was ready to lead the Clan. And his first action was an attack on the Kingdom of the Trolls, which lay just south of Hiruma castle.
His war against the trolls was so complete and terrible, the entire race – what was left of it – was forced to abandon their cities and live in the dark moors and swamps of the Shadowlands, where Osano-Wo could not find them.
Osano-Wo’s passionate war on the Shadowlands cost the Crab Clan mightily. Thousands died, more were injured and could not fight. Slowly, Osano-Wo began to realize that he had a choice: either slow down his assault on the Shadowlands, or find more resources on which to draw. There was no way he was going to cease his war on the Shadowlands, so he would need to marry into a wealthy family.
He did not trust the Scorpions (“I’m not leaving a Scorpion alone in my house while I’m at battle”), the Phoenix were too pacifistic, the Crane did not have the military might he wanted, the Unicorn had gone north, and the Dragon…there was no response from the Dragon.
His choice was simple: he needed a Matsu bride. He sent a messenger to the Matsu castle, informing them that they had the honor of sending him a wife. The messenger came back two weeks later. Only five of his bones weren’t broken.
He sent another with the message. “When will my new wife arrive?”
This time, the Matsu were more thorough.
Finally, he decided to go himself – to expedite the process. He presented himself at the gates of Matsu castle, crying out, “I am Osano-Wo! Where is my bride?”
A moment passed, and the gates opened. Standing in the opening was a High Lady of the Matsu family. She was beautiful. She was tall, strong, and surrounded by a thousand warriors, and when he looked into their eyes, he knew they would all die in a heartbeat for their lady.
“You want a bride?” she asked. “Then marry me.”
Osano-Wo’s cheer was heard across the world. A shugenja from a nearby village was summoned to perform the ceremony. Unfortunately, however, they did not live happily ever after. Osano-Wo thought he would enjoy having a “feisty, spunky and firey” Matsu wife. Unfortunately, she was not exactly what he wanted. She pointed out strategic errors in his commands and troop structure. She complained about his inhospitable palace and threw out anyone in his court who had the slightest hint of the Shadowlands taint. All Osano-Wo could do was hope for a son. Soon.
On the day she announced her pregnancy, he went into the Crab villages where a great celebration was taking place. He drank much sake. Too much sake. The next morning, he awoke in a little peasant hut with a little peasant girl who handed him his tetsubo with a smile.
Nine months later, two children were born…on the same day. No one knew which was born first, and Osano-Wo acknowledged both as his sons. The peasant child was brought to the castle to be raised alongside his brother.
As the boys grew, they were encouraged to compete against each other by their father and his Matsu bride. The samurai child won nearly every contest – but not by much. As the two boys’ came closer to their gempukku, the court began to ask the inevitable question: “Which boy will hold Chakara in his obi?”
Finally, the day arrived. Osano-Wo took the ancestral sword in his hands and turned to his peasant son. With a proud smile, he offered it to the boy who bowed and accepted. As Osano-Wo turned to leave, his bride stepped in front of him, blocking the door.
“Why?” she shouted. “Why do you insult my family in this way?”
“Because your son won every contest he has ever entered. He is a fine warrior. A fine Lion. He knows what it means to win. But he does not know how to lose…and keep trying.”
Osano-Wo’s wife was infuriated. The net morning, she and her servants gathered up all their belongings and left the Crab territories forever. She couldn’t return to the Lion, nor could she go to the other Great Clans. Instead, she shaved her head and left for the islands off the coast of Crane lands. There, her son and those who followed him killed the creatures who inhabited the islands and established the family line that would one day be called the Mantis.
One day, while wandering the lands of the Crab, Togashi-kami saw his brother Hida prowling the walls of his castle, his head hung low with sorrow. The Dragon flew off to Dragon Lands and told of Hida’s sorrow. The tale was so moving, the Dragon of Thunder took a human form.
The scene has been told in many Crane plays as a romantic and dramatic event, but the actual “wooing” was far from poetic, and – quite honestly – the only way she could seduce the Great Crab. She showed up on his balcony during a terrible storm, dressed only in mist and rain. As the thunder shook the towers, and lighting flashed her shadow across the room, she spoke in a voice that made the world shake.
“I am the Queen of Storms,” she said to him. “And I love you.”
A year later, she arrived on his balcony. This time, she carried a son in her arms.
Having born a human son, she had lost her own immortality. She promised to spend the rest of her life with the Crab, and they were quietly married.
At last, Hida had lost his sorrow, washed away in the stormy embrace of his new wife. His son grew quickly and grew up strong. While he was mortal, he was also the child of a kami and a Dragon. He stood beside his father, young, powerful, and never-aging. When Hida finally left his position to his son, Osano-Wo was ready to lead the Clan. And his first action was an attack on the Kingdom of the Trolls, which lay just south of Hiruma castle.
His war against the trolls was so complete and terrible, the entire race – what was left of it – was forced to abandon their cities and live in the dark moors and swamps of the Shadowlands, where Osano-Wo could not find them.
Osano-Wo’s passionate war on the Shadowlands cost the Crab Clan mightily. Thousands died, more were injured and could not fight. Slowly, Osano-Wo began to realize that he had a choice: either slow down his assault on the Shadowlands, or find more resources on which to draw. There was no way he was going to cease his war on the Shadowlands, so he would need to marry into a wealthy family.
He did not trust the Scorpions (“I’m not leaving a Scorpion alone in my house while I’m at battle”), the Phoenix were too pacifistic, the Crane did not have the military might he wanted, the Unicorn had gone north, and the Dragon…there was no response from the Dragon.
His choice was simple: he needed a Matsu bride. He sent a messenger to the Matsu castle, informing them that they had the honor of sending him a wife. The messenger came back two weeks later. Only five of his bones weren’t broken.
He sent another with the message. “When will my new wife arrive?”
This time, the Matsu were more thorough.
Finally, he decided to go himself – to expedite the process. He presented himself at the gates of Matsu castle, crying out, “I am Osano-Wo! Where is my bride?”
A moment passed, and the gates opened. Standing in the opening was a High Lady of the Matsu family. She was beautiful. She was tall, strong, and surrounded by a thousand warriors, and when he looked into their eyes, he knew they would all die in a heartbeat for their lady.
“You want a bride?” she asked. “Then marry me.”
Osano-Wo’s cheer was heard across the world. A shugenja from a nearby village was summoned to perform the ceremony. Unfortunately, however, they did not live happily ever after. Osano-Wo thought he would enjoy having a “feisty, spunky and firey” Matsu wife. Unfortunately, she was not exactly what he wanted. She pointed out strategic errors in his commands and troop structure. She complained about his inhospitable palace and threw out anyone in his court who had the slightest hint of the Shadowlands taint. All Osano-Wo could do was hope for a son. Soon.
On the day she announced her pregnancy, he went into the Crab villages where a great celebration was taking place. He drank much sake. Too much sake. The next morning, he awoke in a little peasant hut with a little peasant girl who handed him his tetsubo with a smile.
Nine months later, two children were born…on the same day. No one knew which was born first, and Osano-Wo acknowledged both as his sons. The peasant child was brought to the castle to be raised alongside his brother.
As the boys grew, they were encouraged to compete against each other by their father and his Matsu bride. The samurai child won nearly every contest – but not by much. As the two boys’ came closer to their gempukku, the court began to ask the inevitable question: “Which boy will hold Chakara in his obi?”
Finally, the day arrived. Osano-Wo took the ancestral sword in his hands and turned to his peasant son. With a proud smile, he offered it to the boy who bowed and accepted. As Osano-Wo turned to leave, his bride stepped in front of him, blocking the door.
“Why?” she shouted. “Why do you insult my family in this way?”
“Because your son won every contest he has ever entered. He is a fine warrior. A fine Lion. He knows what it means to win. But he does not know how to lose…and keep trying.”
Osano-Wo’s wife was infuriated. The net morning, she and her servants gathered up all their belongings and left the Crab territories forever. She couldn’t return to the Lion, nor could she go to the other Great Clans. Instead, she shaved her head and left for the islands off the coast of Crane lands. There, her son and those who followed him killed the creatures who inhabited the islands and established the family line that would one day be called the Mantis.
