So, I was reading through Mask of the Oni, preparing to update the Imperial Census, and there was a little tidbit in part of the backstory that potentially has far-reaching consequences.

The following sentence is from the module

(emphasis mine).

People who recognise that name might now be somewhat worried...

I'd like to think the same thing, but I'm thinking it's more of an Easter Egg and accurate descriptor rather than an actual indicator.

Though with Yori and Tadaka getting ready to hang out in the fiction, it probably is only a matter of time especially with the elemental imbalances the Phoenix have been noticing.

Although, page 8 of the Shadowlands book says

And what of the Black Scrolls? Some have been linked to great catastrophes in Rokugan's history, while the rest have vanished to the ages

which kind of implies that they might be somewhat more out there than previously.

1 hour ago, Tonbo Karasu said:

which kind of implies that they might be somewhat more out there than previously.

it also depends on how they're supposed to work now (i.e. if they're persistant or must be invoked for effect)

2 hours ago, NeoSamurai said:

it also depends on how they're supposed to work now (i.e. if they're persistant or must be invoked for effect)

I've just found something else. The Demon Bride, also known as Obsidian Flower, is a Lost. She specifically stole a Black Scroll from the Yogo, ran off to the Shadowlands with it. She then used the unspeakable knowledge within to transform herself. Sounds like at least one was opened centuries ago!

So I finally busted out my copy of Time of Void and reread about old editions of how the scrolls worked. I thought they were one use--but apparently some are multiple use. Wasting Disease was one of them. Whether new lore follows that remains to be seen. That said, it looks like 2 Black Scrolls might be opened--and it doesn't look like Junzo's involved.

On 4/30/2019 at 7:26 PM, NeoSamurai said:

So I finally busted out my copy of Time of Void and reread about old editions of how the scrolls worked. I thought they were one use--but apparently some are multiple use. Wasting Disease was one of them. Whether new lore follows that remains to be seen. That said, it looks like 2 Black Scrolls might be opened--and it doesn't look like Junzo's involved.

Depends on the DM and the setting. While D&D has typically used one use scrolls, I have heard of other campaigns having multi-use scrolls. One example was a power word: Death scroll that was multi-use. The command word was "Zaat". And if the user failed to make the die roll or the target succeeded on their saving throw, nothing happened.

Getting back to the Black Scrolls, I suspect that opening them releases a one time effect of strengthening Fu Leng's power and the accompanying shockwave causing a temporary disruption of the elements locally. The spell itself is Fu Leng's power being called on and manifesting when cast. Hence casting from the scroll or learning the invocation is multi-use as arguably the contents of the scroll is simply instructions on how to call on that power from the Dark Kami.

That is my rational. Take it with a grain of salt. Only the current writers for FFG know the truth of the matter.

most of them had an immediate effect the first time they were opened, and then continuing effects that could be invoked, as well as further forbidden knowledge that could be gained from continuing to read.