神河当時 - 『神河救済』のストーリー冒頭

When a world’s best, maybe only, hope for survival is a ronin samurai with few morals who wouldn’t care a whit about Kamigawa were he not living on it, you know the situation’s grim. Yet the very name of the final chapter of the block, Saviors of Kamigawa, suggests that there is hope. But does it lie with Toshiro Umezawa, one of the most popular Magic protagonists of all time, or elsewhere, perhaps with Michiko Konda? Either way, Kamigawa had better hope that it lies somewhere.

When we last left this besieged world, it had become even more troubled, if that were possible. The Minamo, School at Water’s Edge was sacked by Heartless Hidetsugu and his oni. The soratami started even deeper plotting, hoping to take some advantage from the chaos. Worst of all, O-Kagachi, mightiest of the kami, has come to the material world. But his arrival has deeper consequences than mere death and destruction, though it has certainly wrought that. So powerful is his essence that his travel between the kakuriyo (spirit world) and the utushiyo (material world) has weakened the barrier between the two. What does this mean? It means that kami have a much easier time traveling from their home to Kamigawa proper, and when they do, they are much more powerful.

Many new types of kami have taken advantage of this new path between worlds to join their fellows in the war against mortals. The kirin are among the most powerful. Part horse, part sea creature, the kirin are generally thought of as benevolent spirits, signs of good fortune and plenty. However, as one piece of flavor text from the set tells us, “even the most benevolent and life-giving of kami joined the war against the mortal world, but only with heavy and sorrowful hearts.” But no matter what their personal feelings, they must avenge O-Kagachi’s loss, and that they do, with a vengeance. Their special brand of spiritcraft has not been seen on Kamigawa in ages, and they will use it against the humans, and anyone else who stands in the way. Similarly, the spirits of great figures from Kamigawa’s past have also emerged. Their infinite wisdom is being brought to bear in the Kami War, but it’s probably a safe bet that their descendants probably won’t be on the receiving end of that power.

But we can’t forget the onna. Ghosts that take the vague form of human women, these spirits were once rare, with few sightings among the wild places they called home. This was fortunate, since their beauty and power could bring any mortal to his knees. But with the coming of O-Kagachi they have manifested, and their treachery has been the doom of many a mortal warrior. Shinen, spirits composed of a kind ectoplasmic energy (shinen means “spirit fire” in Japanese), also wander Kamigawa in droves, along with lantern-carrying kami. These spirits, powerful on their own, can give up their own lives to add their essences, and their abilities, to their allies. Thus, mortals are in danger from kami both living and deceased.

In the middle of all of this, That Which Was Taken has been… well, taken. Again. This time, Toshi is the one who possesses the powerful artifact. He has made a deal with the Myojin of Night’s Reach for both power and protection, though it’s safe to assume that neither values the alliance very highly. He’ll need all the help he can get, though, because many of his past actions, most of which include some sort of betrayal and double-dealing, are starting to catch up to him at the worst possible time. With his theft of the young kami, he has a very large bullseye painted on his head, and a very hot potato in his hands. While he tries to figure out what to do with his new prize, and how to use it to save Kamigawa (and his own skin), Princess Michiko is also on the move. With her kitsune allies, she struggles with recent revelations about her role in the Kami War. She’ll have to overcome many forces, including her own guilt, to succeed. In fact, with both O-Kagachi and her father searching for That Which Was Taken, it’ll be a sticky web to negotiate indeed.

In the background of all this is the Smiling Kami of the Crescent Moon, "Mochi," who’s been running around behind the scenes this entire time. We’ve watched him plot, scheme, and assist Toshi when it suits his purposes. He’s probably the most mysterious figure in this whole conflict: a kami whose loyalties and schemes aren’t clear. How will he reveal himself? What ties does he have to the Kami War as a whole? We’ll find out, but only when he feels it safe to do so. By then, will it be too late?

Of course, as the last set in a block, with this sort of trouble brewing, there will be plenty of casualties, many of whom will be very familiar to storyline fanatics and casual fans alike. Action will come from unexpected sources. Matters will be resolved, but probably not in the way you may think. One thing is for certain, though: whatever happens, Toshi will be there, ready and willing to turn it to his advantage.

引用元
SAVING GRACE - TAKING A LAST LOOK AT KAMIGAWA? Posted in Feature on May 9, 2005
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/saving-grace-taking-last-look-kamigawa-2005-05-09

『神河救済』のプレビュー記事です。ただし、カードの紹介に入る前に、ストーリーが開設されていますので、そこから取り上げます。

起こった事を箇条書きでまとめます。
・水辺の学舎、水面院は、無情の碑出告と鬼たちに襲撃されました。
・空民たちは、この機に乗じて利益を得ようと、悪巧みをしています。
・復讐の神、大口縄が隠り世から現し世に来たことで、世界の障壁が弱まり、他の神々が現し世に出現しやすくなりました。その例が、麒麟、女、思念です。
・麒麟 - 本来は慈悲深い神ですが、大口縄の復讐に加勢しなければなりません。
・女 - ほとんど目撃例のない珍しい存在で、美貌と力で定命のものを屈服させます。
・思念 - エクトプラズムのようなエネルギー体で、自分の命を捨てて、その能力を味方に与えることができます（まだプレビューでは出ていませんが、魂力のことでしょう）。
・梅澤俊郎は奪われし御物を入手しており、夜陰明神と助力と庇護を契約しているものの、彼自身の背信行為のせいで状況は悪くなっています。
・今田魅知子は仲間の狐とともに神の乱を止めようとしていますが、父や大口縄との交渉は難航しそうです。
・こうした神の乱の一連の動きの裏には、望/Mochiこと三日月の神がおり、彼自身の目的のために梅澤俊郎を助けることもありました。

また、「神河の過去の偉人の霊も現れているが、その知恵と力を末裔が受け取ることはない」、とあります。
「知恵」や「末裔」とあることから、おそらくこれは、麻呂サイクルとその名を冠したカードサイクル（その一部が、〜の末裔）でしょう。
《初めて生きたもの、増麻呂/Masumaro, First to Live》のフレイバーテキストには「人類の最も古い先祖」とありますし、アートもスピリットにしては人間に近い造形をしているものがありますし。