Spider

The Spider Clan is the Youngest of the great clans and hosts an origin fraught with loss. Daigotsu's Legion spent dozens of years at war with the Empire, and he was a known worshipper of the fallen Kami Fu Leng, the dark lord of Jigoku. The Dark Empire under Daigotsu mirrored the Emerald Empire at the edge of the Shadowlands, but it hosted many Lost Samurai--those who had fallen under the sway of the Taint so thoughly that their souls were forfeit to the jealous Punishment realm.   Daigotsu found himself cursed--by his own measure--and separated from the taint and therefore the love of his Kami, but his loyalty carried on. Fu Leng rewarded him with portents into the future to save his people. Daigotsu, for all his madness, was a benevolent ruler who wished the best for his men, and knew that in order to save those of them he could, he would have to drive them into the Empire, by any means necessary.   ... Such began the incursion of the Ronin known as the Spider.   Lead by his son, Kanpeki, the ronin took to the Emerald Empire in white and began heroic missions to curry favor, and while they were happy to find towns and peoples in need organically, they were also happy to orchestrate threats to further their cause. While they performed heroic deeds, Daigotsu revealed himself to the empire under a new name: Hantei.   At a time when the Empire was without Imperial rule, a man claiming Imperial blood was not to be ignored. He proceeded to try to win his run against the Toturi heir and found many people backing him, although he knew he would not succeed. Daigotsu knew he would die in this endeavor, but he also knew this was the only way to accomplish his goal of saving his people.   Near the end of his campaign, he was discovered by his competition. The Toturi heir, Soshuro Izamiya, opted to make a deal to prevent further destabilization. Daigotsu remained unknown to the greater public, and committed Seppuku for a separate failure, giving up his claim to the throne. In return, his son was given a Great clan to rule, and land heretofore unlivable because of blight, as the men and women beneath him bore the marks of Jigoku.   This began an uneasy time in the Empire, with the previous Imperial line sitting behind the new Imperial line and those who would have previously been considered unmentionable allowed to take up refuge in its borders. All eyes were on Empress Toturi IV, and whether she had let the wolves in the front door.