Yoritomo Raiden
Mantis Clan Mod
Mantis Clan - Shugenja - Water - Thunder - Damiyo - Not Kolat
Posts: 437
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Post by Yoritomo Raiden on Aug 17, 2011 23:15:12 GMT -5
Name: Toku Sanjuro / Yoritomo Masamoto
Age: 21
Height: 6'0'
Weight: 230 lbs
Hair: Black
Eyes: Green
Appearance: Standing at 6'0' Masamoto is well muscled and has the build of a man that grew up working in fields. Black hair with a full beard. He is seen wearing Mantis colors, with the sash of a captain. He now wears light armor laquered in dark green and grey. He has
Family: Toku Kyoji (Father Deceased), Doji Umeko (Mother Deceased), Doji Ryobi (Uncle 42), Doji Yuna (Aunt 40), Doji Senzo (Cousin 22), Doji Youko (Cousin 20), Toturi Miyako (Aunt Deceased), Toku Koto (Uncle Deceased), Toku Kiyuko (Aunt 37), Toku Inao (Grandmother 61), Yoritomo Eshio (Wife)
School: Toku Bushi School 5, Yoritomo Courtier School 1
History/Personality: The only son to the previous Monkey Champion had privileges, but it was instilled in Sanjuro to be grateful for his position and know and understand the plight of the people. Sanjuro as soon as he could worked in the fields with the people. Gaining a good standing with them as well as respecting everyones position in life. Sanjuro would enjoy the evenings when the workers would sing and dance to celebrate the days work. Sanjuro also enjoyed the times when his mothers family would visit with his cousins. His father was married to Doji Umeko politically to block a scorpion bid, and since Sanjuros grandmother was a former Soshi the crane wanted to block any further possible scorpion influence. The two actually fell deeply in love. So much so that it was said when Sanjuro was born that Benten smiled upon the birth. Sanjuro's mother had told him this story and from that point Sanjuro said he would only meet people suggested to marry politically but unless he felt for them he would never marry. When his parents died it was abrupt during the crane - lion war Sanjuros father died trying to protect the people of his lands from the overspill of aggressions of the three sides river. Sanjuro's mother soon passed after from depression. The only surviving member left in Sanjuros family was his grandmother and aunt whom were both governing Kudo, and had no intention of running the clan. Sanjuro took over soon after his gempuku. Sanjuro was taught by a master investigator Toku Fuju. Overall Sanjuro has managed to keep good relations with all his neighbors seeing all their purposes, and utilizing all his fathers morals and Fuju's teachings Sanjuro has become a good friend and leader. Sanjuro has supported the Shogun in his march and is a vetran of the recent yobanjin wars in the unicorn lands. Even in tough times Sanjuro will try to crank a joke or two to break tension. He also can be stubborn when he sets his mind to something. If there is one weakness of his is when he is dealing with his own clansmen or the members of the Crane clan. He holds all in such high standing he would protect them or try to help even if it ment his life. Sanjuro also has always been drawn towards crane women.
After a oni attack on a quest to save his love Kakita Mitsouko, Toku Sanjuro had agreed to aid his saviors from drowning. Yoritomo Eshio. He beat a djinn sealed away in a cursed object in a riddle contest freeing Eshio's companions from the mental lock on them. In return the Djinn bound itself to Sanjuro / Masamoto. After returning them safely home. The Mantis gave him information on his love being promised to a Phoenix. Anger and Rage consumed Sanjuro and he swore his name away. That the man died in the oni attack. He has taken the role of Yoritomo Masamoto. He eventually married Eshio promising to do help and good in the Mantis Islands. He quickly advanced in the ranks assuming the role of Captain.
Advantages: Large 4pts, Magic Resistance 6pts
Disadvantages: Can't Lie 2pts, Compulsion (Read People) 2pts, Lost Love 3pts, True Love 3pts
Allies: Toku Kenpachi, Toku Fuju, Kakita Mitsouko, Tsuruchi Kimo, Yoritomo Eshio
Deceased Allies: Toku Kawada & Komori Warai
Enemies: Sahir
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Kitsune Poxo
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan | Shugenja | Earth | Thunder | Kitsune Blooded | Naval | Daimyo | Unique
Posts: 225
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Post by Kitsune Poxo on Aug 18, 2011 22:20:38 GMT -5
Name: Kitsune Daichi
Clan/family: Mantis/Kitsune
Gender: Male
Age: 23 (Apparent)
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 240 lb
Hair: Reddish Orange
Eyes: Left Brown, Right Emerald
Appearance: Daichi is a tower of a man and solidly built. His hair tends to be tied back in a knot and keeps his face cleanly shaven. His skin is tanned and leathery from countless days standing in the weather and elements. He generally wears the loose garb of a monk and Ashigaru but of the colors of his clan and family. He tends not to wear weapons being a well practiced user of jiujutsu, in particular a drunken monkey style he has named 'Thundering Monkey.'
Family: Kitsune Tomi (Grandfather Deceased), Moshi Yoko (Grandmother, Deceased,) Kitsune Shino (Father, Deceased), Unknown Fox Bride (Mother, Unknown), Kitsune Yumi (Sister, 23(Apparent)) Moshi Modori (Sister 23(Apparent)), Moshi Momoko (Niece 10),
School: Kitsune Shugenja 2, Yoritomo Shugenja 1, Storm Rider 2
History/Personality: Born as part of triplets Kitsune Daichi was the aggressive one. Growing up it only amplified. It made his training at the temples difficult to the point he had to leave specially the ones that housed him were peaceful ones. It took a Musha Shugo that lead to a time spent at Shinden Osano-Wo to finally control his anger but not before becoming a near black sheep of his family.
Advantages: Child of Chikushudo, Blood of Osano-Wo Elemental Blessing (Water) , Friend of the Brotherhood, Large
Disadvantages: Bad Fortune(Evil Eye), Black Sheep Disturbing Countenance, Driven
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Post by Isawa Kaida on Aug 23, 2011 14:57:36 GMT -5
Name: Isawa Kaida Profession: Shugenja Gender: Female Age: 20 Height: Tiny Weight: Slim Eyes: Brown Hair: White Married: No
Description: Kaida is short, even for a Phoenix. Standing barely above waist-high to most Rokugani, the shugenja is sometimes mistaken for a child. It doesn't help that she keeps her waist-length hair in a long plait down her back, only tucking it up for formal ocassions. She dresses in firey colors, which makes her short stature stand out that much more. Demure and soft-spoken, Kaida is viewed by most as rather shy and "bookish." Nevertheless, the shugenja has a bright and cheery outlook on life.
Background: Kaida was born just south of Kyuden Isawa, near a small but prominent shrine to Koshin. Her early childhood was quiet, even with an older sister and younger brother to contend with.
When she was six, Kaida was sent to train with the Isawa, forever leaving behind the name "Shiba." At eight, she began her training with the tensai, becoming an acolyte of water and overall, her training was unremarkable. Upon her gempukku, the young priestess was sent to a small library near Nikesake.
Her duties have been almost as unremarkable as her training. In addition to her usual tasks in the library itself, Kaida has overseen the construction of a handful of shrines to various kami and Fortunes. She is well-liked in the village and graciously attends the villagers as dutifully as she does the library.
Family: - Father: Shiba Tsutomu (bushi) - Mother: Shiba Isae (Moshi, ret. shugenja) - Sister: Shiba Akahana (bushi) - Brother: Shiba Seiya (courtier)
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Post by Yasuki Kanosei on Aug 25, 2011 6:54:33 GMT -5
Name: Yasuki Kanosei, provincial daimyo of the Golden Cup province School: Yasuki Courtier 3 Age: 24
Yasuki Kanosei is the charming daimyo of the Golden Cup province, found in the northern Yasuki territory. Affable and engaging, he is known to laugh easily, and joke even more. Married to a former Kuni shugenja and with several children, he spends most of his time content to rule his province as best as he can, while supporting his Clan to the best of his abilities.
While he is talented as a courtier, his true skills lie in the world of finance. Kanosei is known to be a very sharp dealer, though reliable, and there are many who have prospered from working with him. Those that have acted against him economically, however, find that their business suffer, and that their operating costs are higher. Accidents happen, and shipments get waylaid. While there is no proof that he has had anything to do with it, those closer to him know that he has no qualms in using underhanded tactics for the good of his Family and Clan.
If there is one fault within Kanosei, it is his feelings towards the Crane. Where once there was laughter, there is anger. Where there was friendliness, hate. He despises the Crane just as much as he despises the Shadowlands, arguably more so, since they are very much a real and frequent danger compared to the distant threat to the south. In his heart, there is no pity, nor mercy, nor kindness to be wasted on the children of Doji, and woe betide any who stand in his way.
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Kasuga Shinobu
Tortoise Clan
Tortoise Clan ? Courtier ? Smuggler ? (S)he ? Taihan Boss
Posts: 250
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Post by Kasuga Shinobu on Aug 28, 2011 14:33:17 GMT -5
(( Note: Since Shinobu's gender is hard to tell, and no one is telling, I will just be using male terms, for sake of ease. If anything Shinobu seems more a female, but there are many small hints each way. )) Name: Kasuga Shinobu Age: 20 Height: 5'4" Weight: Hair: Black, wavy, fine School: Some Tortoise one Family: Kasuga Nanako (Mother) Kasuga Koji (Father, formerly Tonbo Koji) No siblings Reputation: Minorly glorious, low but notable honor Appearance and Attitude: Shinobu always has his hair up in a lovely bun, finely combed so it all stays inside. His face is mellow and demure, showing emotion even less than your average samurai with a strong sense of propriety. His voice is soft, gentle, barely above a whisper, shy and gentle. In winter, he is given to wearing a heavy, black kimono, many layered and fine, lovely but very simple, looking almost like a ronin or merchant's kimono rather than a court kimono. In summer he wears almost the same, though with less beneath. The over kimono is still thick though, even in the heat of summer, so that his body is well concealed and hard to tell. History: Shinobu grew up his entire life in the Tortoise lands, and he had no notable history growing up there. His father had no history of note within the Tonbo before marrying Nanako, and Nanako herself was a minor diplomat that worked with merchants that came into port in Kasuga lands. Shinobu was skilled at diplomacy even from a young age, and it was apparent growing up that he had his mothers skill working with merchants. He also had skill working with samurai though, and his shy, earnest methods of going about negotiating won many over. After his gempukku, and his getting done with his schooling, Shinobu took to traveling the empire, working for the Tortoise and the minor clan in her own way. Her shy nature did not gain her a lot of glory or honor over all, but gained her a lot of allies. Her connections did not work for gaining her a lot of recognition, but perhaps that's how he wanted it. Instead, his connections gained many favors, allies, and words in the ear of many people around the empire.
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Sept 1, 2011 3:53:02 GMT -5
Kakita Sojiro: Male, age 21 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. Sojiro spent equal amounts of time in the Crane and Dragon lands growing up. When he was young, he met a girl from the Phoenix clan on the border between Phoenix and Dragon lands while his father was at court, and they played together often - meaning that Sojiro teased her mercilessly, even setting her hair on fire at one point. Then puberty kicked in, and suddenly he wasn't teasing her anymore At 16, his parents arranged their marriage and he traveled to the Phoenix lands to learn to become her Yojimbo, as she was Shugenja. During his time there, something happened that he refuses to discuss. All most people outside his immediate family know is that his betrothed was killed and he was badly injured. He recovered in the Dragon lands, both mentally and physically, and eventually returned to his homeland wiser, with a bitter hatred of all things tainted or related to Maho, 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. He intends to one day open a dojo that teaches his new style, which he has named Ha No Arashi (storm of blades). He moved out of his family's estate and claims residence in Tsuma city, very close to the Kakita Academy. 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. Although he can function well in court, after his return home he has lost patience with many of the courtisans and their games, and occasionally his attitude in court is closer to that of a Crab or Unicorn than a Crane. 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. He never answer these questions, and many rumors swirl about his unique appearance, his refusal to dye his hair white, and the death of his betrothed. 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.
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Post by Kasuga Kanreida on Sept 4, 2011 11:22:53 GMT -5
Name: Kasuga Kanreida Age: 33 Height: 5'1" Hair: Salt and Pepper School: Kasuga Smuggler Family: Kasuga Ippei (Father) Kasuga Ran (Mother) Kasuga Tomoe (Sister)
Reputation: A dishonourable swine who is inexplicably tolerated by some otherwise sane Samurai
Appearance and Attitude: Kanreida is a small and wiry man who looks like he would make an excellent carpenter or ropemaker if he should ever be disgraced and cast out from the Samurai caste. He walks with an exagerrated bow legged gait that belies a certain nimbleness. His skin is weathered, making him look older than he is, something not helped by his prematurely balding hair, high forehead, narrow chin and greying hair. He usually wears an unusually wide-shouldered kimono with a strange style that has a deep cleft exposing his broad chest which is thick with chest hair. He could be a comic gesture in some low-rent kabuki play, but instead he is a Samurai of the Tortoise and in fact a respected one.
History: Kasuga Kanreida's family details are obscure. His parents lived all their life in Kyuden Kasuga. His sister, Kasuga Tomoe, is an inkan painter of only local repute. He is said to have a relative who owns a sake house because of the gifts of fine if crudely packaged sake he hands out.
What is known of Kanreida is his recent history which is of low repute. He is known to socialise frequently with peasants and is often seen in all the wrong places, including low rent sake shops and gambling dens. He always carries a wakizashi but seems to prefer fighting with a crude iron-sheathed club that it would be a diservice to the mighty weapons of the Crab to call a tetsubo. He is a good sailor but doesn't own a ship, often bargaining with sailors for passage. He is rumoured to prefer offering himself as a skilled hand than paying. It is rumoured that he was very sick as a child which accounts for his strange, almost stunted body. He can move pretty fast when he needs to but, despite his fondness for brandishing his club, which he calls "Big Brother", he seems to prefer racing away from fights than towards them.
Unlike many other Tortoise he gets on quite well with members of the Mantis Clan and is a pretty frequent visitor to Kyuden Gohei.
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Toku Hirotomo
Monkey Clan
Bushi Paragon of Compassion Clan Champion Toturi's Army
Posts: 793
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Post by Toku Hirotomo on Sept 4, 2011 22:58:24 GMT -5
Welcome, Kasuga Kanreida-san. More Minor Clansman is a good sight. The Tortoise have had quite the boom, I'm a little jealous.
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Post by Doji Banshu on Sept 6, 2011 0:04:59 GMT -5
Name: Doji Banshu Profession: Samurai Gender: Male Age: 21 Height: Tall Weight: Average Eyes: Brown Hair: White Married: No School: Doji Magistrate
Description: A handsome if somewhat unformed young man. He has the smooth skin of a courtier and the hands of one who has never handled a blade in anger. His movements are graceful but hesitant and his expression is often showing uncertainty. He tends to wear formal armour even when other Samurai usually would not.
Background: A talented martial artists and swordsman Banshu is the son of the governor of Seawatch Castle and grew up by the sea. He is a talented sailor and hopes some day to command a vessel. But for now he is a magistrate in the Crane provinces. He longs to be sent to the battle front but his father has asked that he remain at the home front and do what he can to keep the provinces administered well. He knows it is important work and he accepts it but a part of him longs for deeds of glory even as another part worries that he might be found wanting in his first battle.
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Post by Morito Asuka on Sept 23, 2011 0:01:54 GMT -5
Name: Morito Asuka Birthright: Samurai Gender: Female Age: 17 Height: 6 Shaku (about 5' 9") build: muscular, thick boned Eyes: Green Hair: reddish Black married: no Parents, Morito Masago (mom name meaning "sand"), Morito Katsutoshi (dad name meaning "to win cleverly") School: Morito bushi
Description: Asuka's eyes, height and hair tell the story of her ancestors' dalliance with Gaijin. Her favored weapon is the lance on horseback, which she masterfully wields astride her stallion named Toru, much to the raised eyebrows of more traditional Rokugani. On foot, she prefers the ono. She is a fierce hunter, but a bit short on patience, and possessed of a large amount of wanderlust.
My gempuku was in 1162, at the age of 15. I was the first in my family to have a clan name at such a ceremony other than my mother, but that ceremony was in a whole other life for her.
Asuka is written with the characters that mean "The smell of tomorrow." and this is a nezumi language reference made in our own language. Mom was the youngest daughter of a Yasuki merchant who traded with the nezumi and she learned to talk their strange language, though never in front of us. When I made my gempuku two years ago, mom suggested the name, and I liked it very much.
My family is not glorious. Dad never had a clan. He was born Ronin, as was his father. Dad was one of Morito's ronin followers and took his clan name when the clan was founded in 1158. That was only 6 years ago! Dad has a very questionable lineage with some gaijin mixed in.
long ago, in about 1119, He rescued mom's caravan from a goblin raiding party while trying to gather trophies and favor with the Crab, and they fell in love, but these things happen. She was already betrothed, but she foreswore her clan to marry dad, and as a result both were booted from crab lands for this indiscretion. Apparently a ronin with the single hand of a favored Yasuki daughter is unwelcome no matter how many heads of goblins are in his pack.
Shortly after that they joined with Morito's band of Ronin. The rest of that story is the subject of either a tragedy or an epic love story as long as you are some Ikoma bard or Suzume storyteller. They're still alive, and so are my two older sisters, the oldest of which was born in 1132, and her son, my 4 year old nephew, who was the first in our family to be birthed with a clan name.
As for myself, tall, muscular, heavy of bone, with hair that is not quite the right color of black, and eyes the color of summer leaves. That's gaijin ancestry. I am the "ugly" daughter. The boyish one. Also the first one in the family to beat Dad in at a horserace, AND the daughter who brought back the biggest pheasant the last time we went hunting as a family.
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Tamori Manji
Dragon Clan Mod
Demon Fox (妖狐)
?Dragon Clan ?Hatamoto ?Fire ?Void ?Yamabushi ?Tattoed ?Nonhuman
Posts: 922
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Post by Tamori Manji on Sept 23, 2011 17:38:33 GMT -5
Since my previous description got too big, I've decided to delete it. Now I'll simply summarize the most important things about Manji.
Name: Tamori Manji (a.k.a. Kitsune Manji or "that damned fox") Age: 18 Height: 5'9" Weight: around 146 lb. Hair: Originally black but turned white during his training with the White Fox. Stubbornly shaggy, Manji’s hair cascades down to his waist. He also has a few wisps of beard growing in his chin and above his upper lip but he usually shaves them. Eyes: Green Path: White Fox of Inari Affinity (Water) / Deficiency (Fire)
Notable family members Dragon Grandfather: Tamori Moriya, 91 years old, a renowned alchemist and former yamabushi. Uncle: Tamori Tatsuzou, a disgraced shugenja and a bloodspeaker. Died for the first time 18 years ago, at age 43, while fighting against his brother in a village near Kitsune Mori. Father: Tamori Ryuuji, a former magistrate of the Dragon Clan, trained in the Kitsuki method and specialized in hunting maho-tsukai. He disappeared seven years ago, when he was 37 years old, while investigating bloodspeaker activities near the ruins of Otosan Uchi.
Hengeyokai Great, great, great... Grandfather: Simply known as The White Fox or Kyuubi, he is a very old, wise and sly nine tailed white fox in service of Inari. Lives in Chikushudo. Grandmother: Maya, great granddaughter of the White Fox, former foxwife of Kitsune Katsuya. Spent three years with Katsuya in Kitsune Mori, at the end of which she gave him a daughter and departed on a quest. Travels Chikushudo, and sometimes Ningendo, as a messenger of Inari.
Mantis Grandfather: Kitsune Katsuya, a wandering shugenja who tended to the needs of many small villages and communities throughout the Kitsune countryside. Had a daughter with a fox wife at age 41, whom he named Maya after her mysterious mother. Died peacefully at age 72. Mother: Kitsune Maya, 40 years old and a shugenja that lives nearby Kitsune Mori. Loves to travel and ministers to the same communities her father once did. Sister: Kitsune Chizuru, 10 years old. Currently being trained as a shugenja by her mother.
Kitsune Taboos *The kitsune are creatures of the land and of the woods. The shugenja must care for the needs of the common heimin, protecting woodlands and commoners alike, and in exchange, he will be warmly greeted and well-cared for whenever he visits a village. *As with many spirits, kitsune become ill if they are not able to keep their promises, and follow their word of honor. A shugenja who accepts this taboo will commit seppuku before he breaks a promise (even one given in haste), and if someone else breaks a promise to them, they will rapidly become deadly enemies.
Appearance: Fair of face, slender and with deep green eyes, Manji moves with dexterity and grace, especially among the wilds. He usually wears simple olive green shugenja robes over plain green dyed travel clothes and likes to leave his long white shaggy hair unbound. On the courts, he’s known to use jade green silk shugenja robes and, when performing a ceremony as a priest of Inari, he wears a white silk shugenja vest. For both occasions, he usually grooms his hair, binding it in long braid or a loose ponytail.
Background: Manji spent his childhood wandering alongside his mother across many small villages and hamlets near Kitsune Mori. When the time for his genpuku came, he was 11 years old by then, his father disappeared and Manji ventured alone inside Kitsune Mori in a desperate attempt to find answers with the Kami. Instead, he ended up in Chikushudo.
There he met the White Fox by the first time and, after passing a trial, offering an important sacrifice (an old nemuranai gifted to him by Ryuuji, his most prized possession at the time) and accepting the Kyuubi's proposal, Manji spent the next three years being trained in Chikushudo. There he learned how to manipulate and control the void, how to change shape, how to "wear the skin" of other animals and a very peculiar set of courtier skills, for there Manji met many hengeyokai and nature kami. When his training was complete and after Manji took his vows as a shugenja dedicated to Inari, the White Fox marked him as one of them by turning his hair white.
Afterwards he returned to Ningendo to be reunited with his mother and younger sister for a short while. He told his mother everything that had happened and, a month after arriving, departed to Shiro Tamori in search of his grandfather Tamori Moriya. There he trained for another three years in order to refine his control over the void, learn the basics of alchemy and improve his martial techniques (it's where he learned how to use Kiho). After finishing most of his training, Moriya prepared for Manji to finally receive his genpuku, but the young shugenja was adamant about traveling to Kitsune Mori and inviting his mother personally, before joining his grandfather's family and starting the quest his father had left unfinished.
Unfortunately for Manji, during his travels, the Empire was assailed by many ill events, that prevented him from returning to the Dragon lands and ended up culminating in a civil war. Months ago he also lost contact with his grandfather. Now, amidst the escalating conflicts, he seeks to reclaim his Dragon heritage and do his duty as a messenger of Inari.
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Post by The Blue Ronin on Sept 28, 2011 9:55:51 GMT -5
THE RONIN RYUMON Age: 22 Height: 6'6" Weight: 225lbs Hair: Black, close-cropped School: Yoritomo Bushi / Daidoji Scout Family: Yoritomo Gen (Father) Yoritomo Imiko (Mother) Yoritomo Riishi (Uncle) Moshi Ando (Cousin) Daidoji Keiko (Ex-Wife) Daidoji Fitsu (Ex-Brother-in-Law) Daidoji Amaki (Unborn son)
Appearance: Ryumon is huge. He stands six and a half feet tall, as tall as any Hida. His forearms are large and strong and his hands weathered from exposure to salt air. In contrast to this his face is soft and child-like, something helped by his unusually large brown eyes. He wears his dark hair closely cropped in an attempt to look more mature. A small arrow-headed scar sits on his left temple. He usually wears extremely heavy armour to take advantage of his massive build. His favoured weapon is a Sasumata but he also carries a daikyu and a Kakita blade that was a wedding gift from his brother-in-law. He wears the same armour he wore as a Daidoji Taisa, but with the mon on his breastplate crudely defaced with a series of scratches so that the Crane motif is barely visible.
Background: Ryumon's birth was unexceptional. His parents were both Mantis Bushi of unremarkable rank. His father was a Gunso who was competent but fought in no glorious battles. His mother was a diplomat who spent most of her time as a low-ranking diplomatic aide in Kyuden Gotei. He was their only child and served alongside his father.
Ryumon served in the armies of the Mantis after his gempukku and was promoted to Chui. He was regarded as a loyal soldier and certainly a capable fighter and sailor but many of the other Yoritomo saw him as unimaginative and even naive. His Daimyo, alarmed by the collapse in Mantis Crane relations that led to the attack on Seawatch Castle, sought to repair relations by having Ryumon marry into the Daidoji family. At first he was intended to forge a tie with Daidoji Yuuka but the samurai-ko's inavailability due to warfare and her being courted by Bayushi Hiromitsu meant that the match fell through. During its course, however, he met with and impressed Daidoji Fitsu, regent of the Crane and Daimyo of the Daidoji, who offered Ryumon the hand of his sister, Daidoji Keiko. The match was one that would bring Ryumon close to the inner circles of the Crane so his Daimyo hastily accepted.
Ryumon eft his former home in Broken Wave City for good. He served in the armies of the Crane trainined with the Daidoji Scouts. During the Two Emperor's war he served as hatamoto to his brother-in-law, managing many of the day-to-day affairs of the Daidoji family. Although he was a slow learner, he was able to master the basics of the tea ceremony and turned out to have a surprising talent for poetry. Ryumon fought throughout the Empire, serving with the Crane and Imperial legions in Toshi Ranbo and Lonely Shore City. He took part in Kakita Mitsouko's journey into the Shadowlands where his friend and mentor, Asahina Isoroku, was slain by the Lost.
Ryumon was one of the few Crane who openly advocated against peace with the Lion Clan, although once it was signed he obeyed his Regent. Although he delivered supplies to the Imperial armies doing battle in Lion lands, he did not take part in any of the fighting, although he did do battle with some bandits and deserters who attempted to raid the Crane caravans. For this service, he was promoted to the rank of Taisa by the Emerald Champion himself. Returning to the Crane lands where his position gave him a seat on the Clan Council, Ryumon was a prominent supporter of the Scorpion Clan despite their late entry into the war, urging his fellow Crane to support the Scorpion attack on the Crab and even taking a small group of Daidoji scouts to fight alongside the Scorpion troops in Clearwater Village.
Recently, seeing the Emerald Champion's renewed assault on the Shogun's forces at Drowned Merchant River and prevented from assisting due to his oaths to the Crane, Ryumon went into seclusion for nearly a week, praying to the kami and reading books on the philosophy of bushido. When he emerged, to the surprise of many, he asked and received from his Regent to be made a Ronin. Taking nearly one hundred elite Daidoji troops with him, he said farewell to his wife and their unborn son and rode for Drowned Merchant River, hoping to come to the aid of the Emerald Champion before the battle was done.
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Enishi
Dragon Clan
Ninja * shadow * tattooed * Mad prophet of Nothing
Posts: 254
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Post by Enishi on Sept 29, 2011 15:09:31 GMT -5
Ahem, sorry for the wall of text Master, Though I know the risks of sending this message out of our regular protocol, I feel I have information important enough that it cannot await the date set for my next report. I will have to hope that my messenger proves his worth again by getting this message to you quickly and safely, and if it comes to the worst, that our cypher will protect these words from outside discovery. The mission you had imparted on me has just taken an unexpected and worrying turn following events that, honestly, still leave me doubting I have completely grasped them and their significance. As I have reported before, I came here in Scorpion lands to settle for an unknown time after the unusual encounter I made in the ruins of Otosan Uchi while in the company of some ouf our Jade friends. What seemed at first to be an infiltration operation among the ronin otokodate of the Swords of Yotsu, with methods possibly similar to those we use - an hypothesis that prompted Jade to ask for the expertise of one of our own - turned out to be something far sinister. We were opposed by sinister shapeshifters whom Jade all too easily identified as old enemies of theirs - ninja. They were quick to blame it on the House of Goju and planned their next actions accordingly. As for myself, I had my doubts. Altgough the Goju minions of Daigotsu are fearsome killers, masters of silence and shadow whose skills rival those of the Scorpion and possibly those of our Lotus, there was a strange method to the present madness that seemed opposed to their bloody habits. So much pain had been taken to control, rather than eliminate, seemingly irrelevant bushi of the lowest station, that I got to thinking. Now, I am not in any way a specialist of tainted beasts and do not claim to know them better than our Jade companions. I dare however say that I am a specialist in matters of the human mind - how it can break, and how it can be subtly changed and twisted and pointed in certain directions. What I saw in Otosan Uchi reminded me of things I have not know myself, but that you once taught me about. Methods of a foe long distroyed, that once reigned near to supreme within the houses of scorpion fools who deluded themselves into believing they could get the better end of bargains with things far greater than themselves. Truth be told, at the peak of its glory, that foe had its claw dug into most of Rokugan, still, none knew it better than the Scorpion, and so I came to their lands to investigate I knew not what - perhaps, as it were, nothing. I remained there for long months, discovering little and content to do your bidding when you needed me, but still I kept looking for clues. And I did find some in the end: a strange series of disappearances among students of the Soshi and Shosuro schools, starting with the case of one Soshi Kuriname. At first all of this was very vague, and I had little more than an intuition to claim those disappearances were linked in any way; but I knew what I was looking for and certainly enough, all those scorpion could be linked in some way to our forgotten foe. I could not investigate too boldly, though, for fear of being discovered. Then chance set an unexpected solution on my path. I found out of another sould whose investigations were close to mine: a scorpion relative of one of those who had disappeared, that obviously did not buy the official story he had been given and badly wanted to know more. It did not take me long to see the opportunity in this. I arranged for a red herring to lead him into a trap and got to work on him. Though he proved resilient, I am not one to give up easily and within a week of toiling, he was back to his normal life with no memory of what had happened - and precise instructions on what to do should he stumble on something interesting. For several more months, I followed my unwitting agent's investigations and rejoiced at the burning tenacity I had given him to complement his keen mind and overall craftyness. From him I learned that several of the deaths I found suspicious had indeed been faked and that the "victims" were still present in some fashion in the lands of the Shosuro. At the same time, he provided me with much information on the life and interests of the late Soshi Kuriname. It seems the shugenja had been at the center of some form of network tasked by the scorpion leadership to cleanse their clan of the influence of our old foe. At that point, I could only guess that in the process, they had tried somehow to replicate some of its methods and I was eager to see if I could not find a use for what they had learned, in the service of our cause of course. A few weeks ago, my pawn achieved his master stroke: he managed to get his hands on what seemed to be fragments of the personal journals of Soshi Kuriname, somehow lost during the cover-up of his faked death. At that time, I received an assignment on your part and had to leave my current home for business. I trusted my agent to extract all the useful information from his readings and was confident I could take it from him when I returned. Alas, when I did return, I found out something strange had happened. From what I have gathered, the sleeper did get to read the journals and soon became fascinated by them. What was inside must indeed have been tremendous, for he seemed to grow more worried and excited at the same time. He also stopped obeying my conditionning that made him leave his own journal in a place where I could easily access it. When I discovered all of this, he had apparently remained within his chambers for three days on end and his servants were getting worried. I decided I needed to know what had happened and paid some eta I had a business agreement with to spy on him. To this day, I still do not know what happened to the man. Sensing something was definitely amiss, I fabricated a good excuse and went there myself. I was not unprepared, and although I was not prepared to what I saw, I think it is the only reason I am here today to write about it. My memories of that fateful night are hazy, but there is one thing I remember perfectly within that ocean of darkness: the smooth, featureless face of the... thing that attacked me. Thankfully, it seems the beast was taken aback when I put up all the resistance I could and chose to flee rather than push its advantage. At that point, I cursed myself, for I was certain that somehow the Goju had sensed the potential in my pawn too and had taken him from me. I then did something I know to be contrary to all our ways, but I then felt a quick response was the best solution there was and could help contain the threat. I contacted a member of the Jade group I had partenered with in Otosan Uchi and told him of my situation. Soon enough, a group of theirs joined me to track the beast. It proved quite gifted at deception, but I was with the best hunters there is. We caught up to it a few days later. The men that were with me were trained to kill things like the Goju. They had defeated more horrors from the Shadowlands that I have ever seen and will ever see. They came with jade and knowledge of their foe, and they went for the kill. All of them are dead now. I say dead, but I cannot be sure - some may have met an even worse fate. At some point, the thing replaced one of them, stealing its form, and then it played with them until all were defeated. I have seen some of their bodies, though not all of them. Jade did not help them one bit. I saw the beast once again that night and it laughed at me, in a strange, cold, hollow laugh. But it did not kill me. Though he did not show it, I think it was afraid of the crystal-coated blade I had taken from one of my dead companions. But how could he have shown fear, or any feeling for that matter? It had - it had no face at all! It disappeared again. I think it was headed towards the Dragon lands. I do not know why, for I know no one of importance over there. It might just be trying to get as far away from the Scorpion as it can. I have feverishly studied testimonies decade olds in the meanwhile, though, and a question has been plaguing me as of late. I wonder somehow if the things that I did to the mind of that scorpion did not create a peculiar disposition in it - peculiar enough that the reading of Kuriname's journal would have produced some corrupting effect on it, sowing chaos and madness and worse there. Certainly there are old tales of loyal samurai that were... changed... lost... after reading and learning things that had to do with deep shadows. This should not be possible anymore, and yet I wonder. If my hypothesis was right - or in any case, if the thing had followed the same train of thought, who knows - could it be chasing other blasphemous texts of possibly greater power? I have read about one, hidden by the Dragon clan a few years before the Clan war, that reportedly doomed many a good samurai and was sealed into a crystal chamber. I have tried to learn of its fate and have found nothing. It is not my place to decide for you, Master, but I must stronly advise you contact either the Lotus or, possibly better, the Tiger on that subject. I shudder at the though of what may be at hand.
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Post by kentaro on Sept 30, 2011 6:13:55 GMT -5
Ninube Enishi-san, I love your character descriptions. They are always amazing.
In fact, I believe I shall use the same technique of having a narration, rather than mere exposition.
Daigotsu Kenzo, Your Evil/Good Twin
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Enishi
Dragon Clan
Ninja * shadow * tattooed * Mad prophet of Nothing
Posts: 254
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Post by Enishi on Sept 30, 2011 9:26:49 GMT -5
You flatter me, Kenzo-san, thank you; I'm both happy and honored they were to your liking Can't wait for your presentation! As for our kharmic tie, I think with your new choice of identity you're back to being the, erm, more evil one of us
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