Crane Clan Player Character background

Kakita Kenshi

Current Role: Daimyo of the Kakita family

Background: Kenshi is an iaijutsu prodigy and would have never tried anything else, but his sensei the Grand Master of the Dueling Academy, Kakita Takeo, and also his father told him to learn many skills to become a person who is capable of many things. Bowing to this wisdom young Kenshi travelled the Empire after his gempukku for some time. He learned more about duelling (he got even lessons from a Kenku), and defeated quite a few other duelists. But of course he also learned things that are useful outside of duels.

It is said that he visited every shrine in the, but also every sake house. If asked he tells that he likes the beauty of the Scorpion provinces, but some claim he means just the ladies there. Every time he visits the Scorpion lands he seems much less concerned than many others who visits them.

During the Winter Court he became a darling of the court. Always a voice of peace there. A rumour says he was seen during the after hours there, but it is not known what he might have done there if anything at all.

Recently his father died and so he returned home. So Kenshi is now daimyo and as soon as the funeral was over he started to prepare to leave the Kakita provinces again, this time not for his wanderlust but to go to war with the Yobanjin...

Daidoji Shigeru

Born of a humble family FAR from the center of power Shigeru none- the- less showed great promise in all the warrior arts. Although a capable swordsman, where he excelled was leading men in skirmishes. After his Gempukku he spent some time training with the Hida, Akodo, and Matsu, so impressing the Sensei in the Lion clan that the Matsu taught him their ancient technique, and one student of the Akodo Bushi school requested permission to travel the empire with him.

Currently Shigeru has the rank of Gunso in the Daidoji Armies, responsible for a full ten man squad, a position he takes very seriously.

Shigeru feels like some few Daidoji that service to the Clan at times involves sacrifice, and that TO SOME EXTENT the ends justify the means... a tactic that has brought him under some scrutiny from the more virtuous members of the Clan's Military Chain of command.

Name: Kakita Mitsouko (She maintened her birth's name)

Mitsouko is daughter of a Kakita Duelist and a Phoenix Shugenja. In fact, as their parent’s marriage wasn’t peaceful or desired by the couple, her mother had spent most of her time in Phoenix Lands, away from her husband. Anyway, Mitsouko was raised between two parents different wishes for her future. When she finally decided for choose obbey her father´s will and steps, her mother warned her she has indeed a shugenja's heart. But Mitsouko just loves the way of the sword too much to be impressed by her mother’s fateful words. After finishing her studies at Kakita School, as well her Gempukku (at 17, as her father was just much perfectionist with her; she is also a Mizu-do praticcioner), Mitsouko travelled through Rokugan. During her travels she proven to be worth of her name: The mysterious beautiful woman has many talents, and some of her many allies could think she have a special connection with the kamis, even Mitsouko avoiding to talk about it. By her devoted search for justice and loyalty to her allies, she’s favored by her friends, and she’s now an Emerald Magistrate. Her heart s uneasy, shattered by her dual vocation, and her duty and her loyalty to her Daymio and The Emperor. She really tried to be “low profile”, dedicating this time in travels to know herself and in search of answers.
She was engaged once with a Lion, and was waiting for him accomplish the mission his Lord assigned to the Akodo samurai to perform hte wedding rituals, but unfortunately her fiancé perished at the one of the first skirmishes with the Yobanjin. It could be coincidence, but her mother advised her she would not marry him... As her mother is a tensai, and a bit controlling person, Mitsouko keeps a safe distance of her everytime she can.
She is more fond of her father's family, Kakita Shinoburo, a well known and respectable master in Kakita Academy.

Character description/personality: Mitsouko’s a bit shy and reserved, but can make her way with grace when she thinks it’s really necessary. She’s a bit impatient, and her mind is sharp and accurate as her sword. As she had problems with her spontaneity once, she tries not to share her real feelings. Mitsouko doesn’t like to talk about her parents problems: she really misses a harmonious family, despite the individual success of her parents. And special fact about her is that she owns a beautiful melodious voice, ideal for passionate speeches and telling tales…But it’s rarely listened. She does prefer to be laconic, and keep her thoughts to herself. But some had heard her tales, in the camp, after some sake… And they haven’t forgotten Mitsouko smooth and convincing voice…
Age: 20

Appearance: Kakita Mitsouko has well done features, and her green-golden eyes makes her gaze somewhat fiery and passionate. She wears her long hair dyed white. Standing at 5'9”, very tall for a woman, it seems to be a problem with the opposite sex sometimes. But Mitsouko is slender, and being a duelist, has a feminine but athletic body, and very flexible movements.

Spouse (if any): None, Mitsouko was much occupied since her gempukku traveling, and battling for the Emperor' honor. She just desires her own marriage would be more harmonious than the one her parents have, but she' not a romantic dreamer... Or doesn't want to be one. The decorum asks her to make chastity vow soon, so she will do that when 21.

Vantages/disavantages:Voice, Wealthy, Friendly Kami (Air), Inner Gift, Allies
Momoku, Obligation, Bad Fortune (Unknown Enemy)



OCC: Sorry my bad English. I also posted Mitsouko's background in "Introductions" Forum. but I thought I should post it here as well.

Kakita Sojiro: Male, age 30

Physical description:

Slightly taller than average, with a lean, wiry frame from years spent training and teaching at the Kakita dueling academy. HIs hair is black with a white streak through it on the right side, and he wears it long and well kept, sometimes braided (particularly for combat). He bears scars from intense training and multiple duels with various opponents on his body, but they are rarely seen aside from those on his hands, which are difficult to hide. Carries himself with an air of quiet dignity and some arrogance, but is almost always polite in his speech. His eyes are mismatched - the left is blue like his fathers, his right is green like his mothers.

Born from the marriage of a Dragon clan Samurai (Mirumoto Oyumi) and a Crane clan Iaijitsu master (Kakita Imura), Sojiro has benefited from being the child of two warriors. He excels at Iaijitsu, but is also well versed in the Dragon's Niten style. His father was well known at court and as well versed in politics and diplomacy as he was with the katana, and his eldest son spent his childhood either at various Crane courts or in the Kakita Dojo. While his mother's tendency towards enigmatic answers and riddles frustrated his father on a regular basis, their marriage was nonetheless a good one, and Sojiro has managed to combine the two approaches well when mingling with the assorted courtiers of the various clans - a blend of razor sharp wit, keen intelligence, and a lifetime of watching court intrigue has honed his ability to both confound while charming, to flatter while concealing a barbed insult in the words. Often times his victims don't even realize the insult until much later, often to the amusement (or sometimes ire) of the Daimyo holding court. This is not to say that he is always enigmatic - Sojiro is quite capable of being startlingly blunt and direct at times, particularly when his honor is called into question or his clan is faced with a threat.

At the age of 16, the young Sojiro felt the call to see the rest of Rokugan, and he left the academy to see the land. He returned four years later after spending time in his mother's homeland training with the Mirumoto family as well as in the lands of the Phoenix clan, where he is known to have begun a relationship with a female Shugenga that continues to this day. He returned to his homeland wiser and trained properly in the Niten technique, although he has taken a vow to teach no one that knowledge aside from his own children or another who has Dragon blood in them. Niten training not only increased his understanding of combat in general, but it also revealed to him certain flaws in the Iaijitsu style he cherishes, and he returned to the academy to assist in the training of young Crane Bushi, imparting his new understanding of Iaijitsu's strengths and weaknesses to a new generation. His relationship with Agasha Renee continues, although he has not pursued marriage - despite their feelings toward each other, he feels that without a proper service done for the Phoenix clan, he has no place asking for marriage to one of their Shugenja. His experiences abroad have made him a regular at court much like his late father, and has also led him to be placed in command of a small group of Bushi during certain military actions as a Gunso. His ability to perceive the hidden meanings in the Dragon clan's famous riddles have earned him equal measures of respect, wariness, and affection from that clan, and his repeated verbal (and at times, physical) dueling with Scorpion emissaries at court have earned him a fair amount of animosity from them. He has a palpable disdain for the Unicorn clan, and while he respects the Crab clan for keeping the Shadowlands in check, he does not deal with such coarse individuals if he can help it - although when forced to, he is always polite unless provoked. He has a violent hatred of Maho practitioners and Oni, to the point of recklessness.

When he returned from his travels, Sojiro bore a white streak through the front of his jet black hair on the right side of his face, as well as new scars that looked to be caused more by burns than by blades. When questioned about it, he is uncharacteristically silent about the matter, and his demeanor takes on a sadness that is unusual for him. Rumor has it that during his time in the Phoenix lands, he and his beloved came across a dangerous Oni, and that she was badly injured in the ensuing battle. Although he neither confirms nor denies these rumors when asked about them, it is certain than a great deal of his personal wealth is spent on exotic herbs and medicines, and that he always takes a quantity of them with him when he visits the Phoenix lands. Perhaps the Phoenix clan knows more about this issue...

The recent hostilities between his clan and the Crab and Lion clans have concerned Sojiro greatly. While he feels that there is no option but for the Crane to support the emperor and declare war on the Lion clan (honor demands it), he can't help but feel that there is a bigger threat that has yet to reveal itself at work behind these conflicts. He has recently attained the rank of Magistrate for his services in these conflicts, and has been using his new-found authority to investigate behind the scenes as much as he can while being discrete.

His Daisho, obtained during his travels, is a custom creation designed to merge his training in Iaijitsu and the Niten style together. Forged from Aobuchi steel, the blades have a deep blue hue. The saya of the wakizashi is fused the the left side of the katana saya, and the tsuka of the wakizashi sits just below the tsuka of the katana. Neither sword has a tsuba - the main reason for the scarring on his hands. This unique design allows him to grip the saya in his left hand for proper Iaijitsu technique, but should his first strike miss or be blocked, he can immediately slide his left hand up the saya to the tsuka of the wakizashi and launch a second attack, a saka-te grip slash with the shorter blade.