Fantasy Celestial Twilight CSes

[Cosmo]

Name

Nicknames/Alias

Gender

Age

Height

Weight

Appearance

Clan

Location Of Clan Tattoo
(Every member of a clan has a tattoo of their kami spirit [Dragon, Fox, Crane, Scorpion, Phoenix] on their body. The higher ranked, the more elaborate a tattoo)

Occupation

Skills/Powers

Weapon(s)/Armor

Miscellaneous Equipment

Personality

Likes

Dislikes

Habits

Fears

Goals

Family

History
(You may write as little or as much as you desire)​

Celestial Twilight Main Page
Celestial Twilight OOC
Celestial Twilight Lore
Celestial Twilight Interest Check

Note: Remember, no western characters, so no lost knights and no clan leaders. Bunneh is playing the dragon leader and that is the only leader that will really be taking part in this (The other leaders being smart enough to not endanger themselves, and so their clan, by taking a suicide mission [Just added this in to annoy Bunneh].)

 

[KhalZhavvorsa]

Name:
Hageshi Saika

Nicknames/Alias:
Lady Saika {Everyone}
Mistress Hageshi {Everyone}
Sai {Close Friends}
Burning Dragon {Rumored Title/Outsiders}

Age:
35

Gender:
Female

Height:
5'7"

Weight:
185lbs

Clan:
Ryu Clan

Location Of Clan Tattoo:
(Easier to depict in picture)

Occupation:
Clan Leader

Skills/Powers:
Dragon Flame: The dragon clan's most notable trait and defining element is perhaps what lies in their Shugenja. These mages have incredible control over fire, but the ones who are able to bond with the Dragon clan's spirit are the ones who unlock a much more fierce and powerful fire like none have ever seen before. Many starting Shugenja are unable to control this fire, for it is wild and untamed. For Saika, it took her many years, but she was able to tame the flame. A feat only future leaders of the Dragon clan can accomplish.

Healing: Saika is a properly trained medic and healer. She is very well versed in the arts of healing and curing aliments. Even in a pinch, she is able to heal even the fatalist of wounds. (Though it might take some time.)

Wind Element: Saika's second magic, she uses this as mainly a buff for speed, stealthy kills, and majority of the time ti further boost her flame.

Dragon Clan Spirit: Saika is able to call upon the ancestral spirit of the Dragon clan. This is a very powerful and ancient fire spirit that has long stayed among those in the Dragon clan, helping each new Shugenja learn the way of the fire as well as earn their own Will of Fire.

Blade Mastery: Along with her exceptional magic prowess, Saika has learned to master the blade she carries strapped to her hip. Together, the blade and her, create a dance unlike many have ever seen, leaving many to wonder just who trained her.

Aggressive Fighting Style: Another common trait among the Ryu clan, is their relentless barrage of attacks. They are not the kind of people to back down in battle, as such they tend to stay on the offensive side of the battle, causing their opponent to be defensive the entire time.

Weapon(s)/Armor
Anguish

Ryu Clan Leader Armor

Miscellaneous Equipment:
Various herbs for healing
Suture kit (a few needles and some thread)
Golden crest (Has an Oni mask embossed into it)
Ink, quill, and parchment

Personality:
Stoic & Aloof ~ Proud & Confident ~ Virtuous & Unsympathetic~ Regal & Tenacious

Saika has never been one to let emotions get in her way or keep her from completing anything in her life. She has always been one to focus at the task at hand then worry about emotions, which is why she makes a fantastic clan leader. Never allowing herself to get attracted to anyone, feel emotions, or even remotely show them. She might come off as prude and heartless, but this is how she keeps herself in check. Only when she is alone will Saika truly let herself feel. Only when the eyes of her dying clan are turned will she allow herself to crumble. Many may think she is heartless, but she feels the pain of each and every death, she hears the cries of families that have lost another member to the terrible war..she feels all of this..but only in privacy..when no one is looking or listening, for she must never waver in the eyes of her clan.

Saika is a proud woman, no only of herself and her skills, but of her clan. For years they have held the front lines and have yet to fall to the Ascendancy. She is glad to call herself Daimyo of the Ryu Clan., she is happy to fight among several men and women who are brilliant warriors, and she is most proud of the future of her clan. She has seen greatness in her ranks and she continues to hope that they will carry on her will should she fall.

Saika tends to be very standoffish toward the other clans, as she has zero tolerance for their failures and hardships. She looks especially down on the Crane who see nothing but vanity. She is not thrilled to be working with the other clans on this mission, but part of her hopes that they will not run this time..that they will come to the Dragon's aid, not that they need it, but cushion is always nice. Saika is very unsympathetic to the others who run from the front lines, as she, herself, is up there along with her men holding off the Ascendancy. If anyone is looking for pity, it is best to avoid Saika.

Do not let her rough side get you down, as she also has a small side of playfulness, and an unrivaled temper, but these things are not shown very often, as she doesn't have time for anyone to truly get to know her outside of her Leader personality. Perhaps someday someone can get her to show some kind of emotion other than being a 'prude' as many have put it.

Likes:
~Dragons
~Her clan
~Swords
~Order
~Peace
~Music
~Sakura trees
~Thunder storms

Dislikes:
~Bloodshed
~Violance
~Hatred
~Spies
~Weaklings
~Losing
~Chaos

Habits:
~Rambling to herself
~Twirling her hair
~Biting her nails
~Cursing

Fears:
~Her clan being wiped out in the war
~Failing the mission

Goals:
~Restore the Ryu Clan to it's former ways
~Destroy the Celestial Emperor

Family:
All dead.*
I am WAYYY too lazy to write this out.

History:
A Gentle Start
Saika was born to a woman she never met, in a family where she did not belong. Saika had never known her family to begin with, and at first she questioned who her birth family was..but usual those thoughts she tried desperately to tuck away. Saika's first memories are of a homey little house by a lake that smelled like jasmine and other earthy smells, and of an old man with a gentle smile. The man presented himself to her as her 'grandfather' and Saika never questioned it, instead she would often ask about her mother and father, only to get guarded answers or him just outright ignoring the question and tasking the girl with other things to keep her busy.

At a young age, it was obvious that Saika had gained the skills her mother had, and was destined to become a great warrior like her. When her magic first awoken, Saika had nearly burnt the house to the ground, but her grandfather only laughed and mumbled something about her resembling her mother, which in turn made the young Saika even more curious. Over the next few years, Saika would continue to grow in strength and power, it was becoming more evident that her grandfather would have to find her a trainer, one who did not know of her linage, one whom he could trust. That man was none other than a Ronin from a village far away, an ex member from the Crane Clan.

Awakening
Years later, Saika had learned all that she could from the wandering Ronin, and even later claimed to call him a dear friend, but that was all in the past. now that Saika could fight, and hold her own in battle, she was drafted into the Dragon's military and placed on the front lines with a General named Kazuuchi, though many called him Kazu. Kazu was an altruistic man and cared for his entire battalion, which in the end..got him brutally killed. Saika would never forget that day, as it was the one where she learned of her lineage and lost the only person she felt close to since the death of her grandfather. On Kazu's death bed, he revealed to her that she was of royal blood and was destined to become the next Daimyo of the Ryu Clan, and that he was her elder brother.

Theme Song:

 

[wendy]

Name: Junko Watanabe

Nicknames/Alias: Juno (close friends)

Age: 20

Gender: Female

Height: 5’4

Weight: 120lbs

Sexual Orientation: Pansexual

Appearance:

Clan: Ryu Clan

Location Of Clan Tattoo:
On Juno’s back situated between her shoulder blades flowing down to her mid-back:




Occupation: Shinobi of the Ryu Clan

Skills/Powers:
Dragon eye: A gift that allows user to detect the slightest movement with a 10 metre distance. It’s mainly a gift that is inherited and normally presents itself in the user by the age of 10. When in use the eye itself changes as the iris enlarges and the pupil becomes skinny and stretches from the top of the iris to the bottom in a single black line. The colour of the iris also changes with Juno’s eyes changing from a chocolate brown to an emerald green.

Walk of the dead: This skill is one all Dragon Shinobi have as it’s essential. It’s normally taught as soon as someone starts training and it’s where the person walks without creating a single sound and later on then also learns to run without a sound.

Dual wielding: (pretty self explanatory)


Weapon(s)/Armor:


(For weapons it’s the two swords in the Apperance photo.)


Miscellaneous Equipment:

Spoiler: Mother’s bracelet

Silver hair pins.
Pair of black gloves with a silver trim



Personality: ‘Look like a flower but be the serpent under it’ This was the first thing Junko’s Teacher said to her and she’s lived by it ever since. Junko is a quick tempered young women who will lash out at anyone who rubs her the wrong, it doesn’t matter if you’re an important general or a little kid on the street if you anger the sleeping dragon within Junko you are going to feel it’s wrath.

Besides having a quick temper Junko also has a lot of trouble when it comes to making friends her age. For the last 10 years of her life she has been surrounded by people older than her and so that’s who she only knows how to interact with. This has caused Junko to miss out on a lot of precious milestones she could of made if she had had a normal childhood.

Junko has a strong mind but a sensitive heart. Even though the young women could insult you at the drop of a hat she is quite easily hurt because of her many insecurities.

The last thing to know about Junko is that she is quite a possessive person. She doesn’t like people touching what she thinks belongs to her.

Likes:
Floral hair clips (she’s hides her extensive collection under her bed)
Warm baths
Starry nights
Dragons
Her teacher
Books
Her swords
All foods


Dislikes:
Loud people
Rude people
Weak people
Berries
Daily chores
Scorpion Clan


Habits:
Smelling her hair.
Biting the inside of her cheek and lip.


Fears: Junko’s main fear is that she is never going to accomplish anything.

Goals:
Find her sister Misaki.
See her teacher get married and have a family.

Family:
Father (Hisashi Watanabe) deceased
Mother (Hama Watanbe) Deceased
Sister (Misaki Watanabe) Missing
Twin Brother (Jun Watanabe) born a stillborn.
Yamamoto Kurasagi (Junko’s Teacher) Alive.

History: Junko doesn’t really remember a time before she came to the Ryu Clan Shinobi. It’s more of a she doesn’t want to remember then a she can’t remember.

At the age of 10 Junko Watanabe was an orphan with no family left except for an older sister who had gone missing before Junko was even born. She was sent to live in the local orphanage but the stubborn 10 year old refused and this was when her teacher felt a soft spot for the girl who had nothing left and so he gave her a home with the Shinobi.

Junko took to the art of being a shinobi like a duck takes to water as even her teacher was slightly surprised by how much potential just a 10 year old girl had. For the next few years she studied as much as she not realising that she was missing out on huge childhood milestones.

At the age of 14 Junko fell ill having intense pains in her eyes that would cause her to be bed ridden for weeks. Every doctor in the local viscinity came to see what was wrong with the girl and it took 3 doctors for Junko to be told that she was gaining her dragon eyes.

The Shinobi rejoiced this gift as they hadn’t had a member with Dragon eyes for 38 years and so a historical party was thrown by the shinobi which ended with quite a bit of damage to the building.

Junko experienced her first love at the age of 17. Junko’s first love was a fierce female shinobi who is 5 years her senior but even though the women seemed to have no interest in the young girl Junko still looked at her through rose tinted eyes. However everyone knows first loves never work out as the beautiful women was killed by a shinobi from the scorpion clan. This left Junko heartbroken as it took her a couple of months to get over the death of her first love.

By the time Junko turned 20 she had become a shinobi that her teacher was proud to call his student. But the young women is still yet to carry out her first contract.
​

 

[Cosmo]

Name
Hisoka Yori

Gender
Female

Age
27

Height
5'2

Weight
118 lbs

Appearance
Yori is an interesting figure among the clan, interesting in that she never reveals her face. She keeps it obscured either by her menpo mask or a cowl, always keeping the bottom portion of her face hidden regardless of circumstance and has become a master of eating without revealing. Her long black hair is silky and luxuriously, descending in waves to just past her shoulders. Her skin, outside of that on her hands which are calloused despite efforts to use ointment to keep it from being so, is soft and there is not a visible mar upon it. Her eyes are a deep brown that seems to draw people in, her eyes have a certain light of innocence, but also, savagery to them. Her eyebrows are thing but sit aggressively upon her face, if she was anything but the famous warrior she was, it would detract, however, her eyebrows only add to her appearance as that of a warrior.

She is the ideal height for a Nagazawa woman, she is not tall, she is of smaller frame, but not demure. Her curves are pleasant, but not overwhelming. Her feet are small and delicate and she is said to have the body of a feral great cat and moves with the fluid movements of a dancer. While no one has seen her face outside of her father and a few trusted servants, she is considered to be one of the great beauties of the Crane as while no one has seen her, her father is a handsome man, her mother was beautiful and her younger sister was the toast of the court known for her beauty and refinement, so the belief of the ethereal beauty Yori who hides behind her mask until someone worth comes.

It is a lie. Yori is not beautiful. Her mouth and jaw is disfigured, her overly thing lips horribly twisted on the left side leaving her mouth unable to ever truly rest closed. The bones of her shoulders do not sit correctly making her left arm slightly longer then the rest and makes her shoulders contort like that of a sickly child, her ribs bulge out far from the perfect figure people believe she has. She is constantly in pain from her body, a pain that she has grown used to but always sits in the back of her mind, and she must take medication when she awakes else she will be writhing in pain unable to even grip her blade. This is the reason she wears kimono's of too large a size and never reveals her face for in the lands of the Crane, beauty, or the illusion of such, is everything.

Clan

Location Of Clan Tattoo
High upon her back, centered between her shoulder blades, it is a simple tattoo.

Occupation
Onna-bugeisha of Clan Kurēn

Skills/Powers
Practitioner of the Yari style Moriagaru burēdo 'Soaring Blade'
Master Kyūdō Practitioner (Yumi Archer)
Adept Yabusame Practitioner (Horse Archery)
Expert Horsemanship
Reading/Writing/Basic Mathematics

Mastery of three of the seventeen divine sword styles of the crane
Hane no dansu 'Dance of Feathers'
The dance of feathers is a very aggressive form of kenjutsu and is considered to be the most beautiful to watch of the crane styles which is telling. The samurai appearing as more of a 'dancer' then that of a warrior as they move with a fluidity and lethal grace, it emphasis the idea of 'death by a thousand cuts' prioritizing maiming and doing small lacerations and stabs to non-vital areas to bring down the foe. Due to the aggressive nature, graceful movements and priory on bleeding the foe, it is one of the hardest to defend against but fairly easy to guard major organs and arteries against.

Isshun no uchi 'In An Instant'
The Isshun no uchi is almost the complete opposite of the Hane no dansu. Where Hane no dansu is beautiful and graceful, Isshun no uchi is effective and intense. As its name states, it is a fighting style set out to settle a fight 'in an instant'. It is designed to create openings however one can even in less then honorable means and capitalizing on that single moment and ending the fight with a quick, lethal blow. This fighting style is incredibly high risk, high reward for it creates just as much openings as it reveals and tends to mean the quicker or more focused swordsmen is likely to prevail.

Kanja hantā 'Patient Hunter'
The Kanja hantā, or the Patient Hunter, is said to be one of the greatest dueling styles in all of Nagazawa and it is, for a fact, the greatest in the crane. The Patient Hunter is not something one can just 'learn' it is something they must be born with. A master of the Patient Hunter must have an impeccable will, lightning reflexes, decisive soul, yet, a patient mind. Despite what others think, the Patient Hunter is not about fighting defensively until the opponent reveals an opening, the hunter creates the opening. By studying their foes movements, their thoughts, their style, they lure them into a false sense of comfort, tricking them into a rhythm of their choosing even as they believe they control the tempo then when the foe is at the exact tempo the hunter wants, they move in for the kill. Some wait for when the foe believes they are on the urge of victory, some wait for the despair to sink in, but it is important to note that this style's use in massed warfare is nonexistent, it requires too much observant, too much time and too much concentration to be of use in the chaos of battle.

Weapon(s)/Armor
She carries two katana at her waist, one is her sword presented to her on her 14th birthday, the second is the sword of the Hisoka line, passed from head to heir on their 21st name day.
A worn Yari
A Yumi
Quiver of 14 arrows
A Tantō
Okegawa-do gusoku armor with Menpo mask

Miscellaneous Equipment
Chiyoko, her horse.
1 Wine Skin
1 Water Skin
3 Saddle Bags containing a mixture of oats, dried rice and dried fruits/meats
1 piece of flint and box of tinder
1 replacement pair of sandals
1 kimono, 2 heavy kimonos
1 black head cowl
1 horse blanket
1 Saddle
1 bed pad
3 coin pouches spread around her body, one tied around her left wrist, one tied at her waist, and one strapped to the mid section of her left sandal.

Personality
Disciplined || Insecure || Determined || Obedient || Judgmental

Discipline is not only a core part of her person, it is her life. She is an Onna-bugeisha of Clan Kurēn, she has been raised in a life of responsibility, expectation and martial training, beaten and forged into a blade over the long years. Her thoughts are her own, and she rarely, if ever, shows her true feelings, and when she does, it is indecipherable anyways thanks to half her face being obscured. She is precise in her movements and words which make her seem aloof and reserved, which is correct. She is not the most open or warm person that has ever lived, preferring the comfort and safety distance gives her. That distance proves vital to her because she doesn't like when people attempt to close that distance as she is incredibly insecure about her appearance, not able to show people what lays under her mask because, as a Crane, she knows, better then anyone, what will happen. After years of her father telling her to hide her face, for the fear to constantly build and see her fears validated in the way her clan treats others like her, she simply doesn't no how to lower the walls any longer. It has become ingrained to who she is and she accepts that. When she is complimented, it tends to leave her baffled and embarrassed even as she revels in it.

Despite her insecurities, Yori is a determined woman. She knows what she wants out of her life, she knows who she wants to be and where she wants to end up and there is very little she won't do to reach her goals so long as they do not endanger her honor. There is little that can be done to her that she can't overcome, after all, she is a famous disfigured warrior in a nation that considers disfigurement to be among the greatest of crimes. This determination does lead to stubbornness but not full obstinacy. She is very obedient to her superiors, after all, she is a samurai and her role in life is to serve, it does go beyond this however, as she has always lived under the rule and shadow of her father, even now the little girl inside of her jumps when he commands out of fear and habit. It makes her somewhat glad that a Daimyo is going as it is easier to simply serve a better then attempt to overcome this deficiency. But it is not her only lack, Yori is a very judgmental person. It isn't fair, she knows that, she knows better then anyone how harshly she, herself, would be judged and found wanting if her people found out the truth about her, yet she cannot help but measure everyone she meets by the same unreasonable standards of the Crane. Just like her people would do to her, those that do not meet those standards are dismissed with a life of her nose and a turn of her heel and even as she storms away from the unworthy, she is ashamed because a voice mocks her as she does it, 'hypocrite.'

Likes
Horse Riding
Martial Practice
Reading
Star Gazing
Seeing New Marital Styles
Dueling/Sparing
Birds/Dogs
Music
Rain
Watching Dances/Plays
Sister/Nephew/Niece

Dislikes
Crowds
Vulnerability
Deep Water
Insects
Her Father
Her Brother-in-Law
The Crane Daimyo
Her Medication
Snow
Harsh Light/Heat

Habits
Plays with her mask
Rubs her shoulder when uncomfortable
Tends her equipment when stressed

Fears
People seeing her face
Her Father
Intimacy
Failure
Social Gatherings
Deep Water

Goals
To become the first female Champion of the Crane, and therefor, the first female Shogun's Champion.

Family
Hisoka Atsuya | Father (53) - Alive
Hisoka Kazumi | Mother (43) - Deceased
Hisoka Genjiro | Brother (15) - Deceased
Fujio Mi | Sister (23) - Alive
Fujio Eiji | Brother-In-Law (29) - Alive
Fujio Michiko | Niece (6) - Alive
Fujio Hokuto| Nephew (3) - Alive

History
(You may write as little or as much as you desire)​

 

[Midnight Paragon]

Name
Saizo Kur'Fay

Nicknames/Alias
Saizo (For Everyone)

The Maroon Marauder
(Ronin Alias)

Gender
Male

Age
30

Height
6'6

Weight
217 lbs.

Appearance
Saizo is a very large, muscular man. Despite who he is and what he does, he is very well kept, with well groomed long brown hair that stretches down to his back, which he usually keeps in a singular braid. His eyes, which seem to be always narrowed, are a soft shade of amber, and mix well with his handsome, defined face, but his pale skin somewhat betrays the ensemble. His favorite attire is a long, loose fitting maroon yukata, which hides most of his armor.

Clan
Ryu
(Technically)

Location Of Clan Tattoo

His tattoo is wrapped around his right arm. It's hard to see, since he keeps it hidden with his yukata.

Occupation
Wandering Ronin/Marauder

Skills/Powers
Possesses extreme amounts of strength, but lacks finesse.

He is an avid practitioner of the blade; Uchigatana in particular. There are few who can match him in raw power.

Saizo is perhaps best with his tetsubo, as it let's him tap into his raw amounts of strength without having to be as precise as with his blade. He can proudly say that he has never lost a fight while using this.

Saizo is uniquely tough, with a large amount of endurance as well. He may not be able to move as fast as some, but he can go twice as long.

Weapon(s)/Armor

Onyx Dream, the only heirloom of his lost family.


Cerberus, a tetsubo he crafted when he first began his wandering.

His armor is a set if hardened lacquer, which consists of a chestpiece, half hidden by his yukata, a left arm guard, and two leg bracers. They are colored black with gold and red tints.

Miscellaneous Equipment
Saizo keeps an old bottle of sake on his hip, which he uses to carry a variety of liquids. Water for long distances, sake for short.

Personality
Saizo is, or was, a model warrior. As a child, he was honest, straightforward, and serious. But as the years went on, his tone became more and more....cynical, or sarcastic, as some would say. Nowadats, he speaks very little, and most of the stuff he does say is jabs at other people, threats, or telling the barmaid to fetch another round. Some would say he's got a certain charm to him, and that is what draws so many people to him, much to his annoyance. When he's not working, he just wants to be alone.

Though he probably is one as well, he hates smartasses, and doesn't like dealing with stupid people, or just people in general. He much prefers the lone wolf style of life; He doesn't play well with others. He strongly believes that a person can only succeed through their own strength and ideals, and those who rely on others for power are not worthy of being called mighty.

His temper is legendary as well; though it is extremely hard to piss him off, if you do, he will not stop until your body is but a paste on the ground, completely unrecognizable. Rage is something he has tried throughout his life to conquer, and he doesn't want anything like what happened to his master happen again.

Saizo also harbors a distaste towards authority, people of power, and just rules in general. He does what he wants when he wants, and he could care less about procedures and manners and whatnot, much to the dismay of his wealthier clients, and only adds to his rebellious personality.

Likes
Food
Sake
Weapons
The moon
Watching fights
Starting fights
Finishing fights
Nighttime

Dislikes
Idiots
Bandits
Goody-two-shoes
Hot days
Snakes
Authority

Habits
When Saizo remembers the past, he rubs his right arm, where his tattoo resides.
Saizo will never eat the same thing twice in a row.

Fears
Snakes of any and all kinds.
Anything with wings will also make him turn tail.

Goals
Saizo only has one goal: collect enough money to finally be able to live in solitude, somewhere far away in the world where he cannot be bothered by anyone. There, he will live out the rest of his days in peace, perfecting his sword skills.

Family
Keitso Suji - Foster Father, Deceased

History
Saizo was an orphan in Clan Ryu for a very long time. His mother died giving birth to him, and his father disappeared shortly after handing Saizo over to his brother in law, leaving nothing but his blade, Onyx Dream, to remember him by. Keitso Suji reluctantly took Saizo in; he had no wife or children to speak of, for he had dedicated his life to the mastery of the blade. He raised Saizo to carry on the legacy, though he was perhaps more distant than a parent should be, which of course took a tool on Saizo. He could never really form any real connections with people, so it was hard to keep friends.

Though Saizo grew up mastering the blade, he was very reclusive. He rarely left the house, spending almost every minute indoors....smashing things. Anything. Small rocks, twigs, bugs, pieces of wood....it was an odd hobby, but for Saizo...it felt right. It was his favorite past time, much to his foster father's dismay, but Keitso used this hobby to introduce Saizo to different weapons, ones if the blunt variety, which he showed a natural aptitude for.

Eventually, Keitso took on Saizo as his official student. For years, he had Saizo perform tasks that took him outside the village many times, which was a brand experience for Saizo. These tasks ranged from small things, like deliverimg a package to an old friend, to unbelievable requests, such as getting rid of a batch of bandits on his own. At first, these tasks made him nervous, but as the years went on and he grew more confident in his abilities and in himself, he was performing them with ease, no matter the task, and his abilities and skill grew with each task. He was growing into a model student; but there was still one fatal weakness his master had yet to teach him to deal with. Saizo's emotions almost entirely fueled his decisions, and without taking the time to look at things logically, he would continue to make rash decisions. Saizo's temper as a young man was particularly hard to control, and while he did his best to train and try to please his father, his anger would be his downfall.

The day Saizo turned 24, he and Keitso got into a major argument, more heated than they had ever gotten over the years. Keitso was scolding Saizo for letting his emotions get the better of him during a 'negotiation' with a group of bandits who were holding a young girl hostage. Saizo refused to listen to their demands and tried to rescue her in a heroic display, but his actions caused the girl to lose her life. Saizo would push his master away; he could not come to terms with his failure. But Keitso woulf not let up, and continued to scream and yell at him. Though Saizo tried to ignore them, the words stung his pride, as if each syllable was a brand on his mind. He grew angrier and angrier, and suddenly,in a blind fury, Saizo drew his blade on his master. Keitso was forced to draw his own in self defense, and though his master was definitely more skilled than the pupil, Saizo was infinitely stronger. His blows were so powerful that Keitso could barely deflect them.

It was only a matter if time before Saizo swatted the blade out of his master's hand, and without a second thought, struck his foster father down. It was shortly after that Saizo came to his senses, and sorrow filled his heart. His only family was dead, murdered by his hand. Disgraced, and not knowing what else to do, Saizo fled, both his clan and his old life. He found solace in living as a wandering ronin, selling his sword to the highest bidder, but only for causes he deemed was just. His favorite jobs were the ones were he would track down thieves, bandits, or highwaymen. His favorite contract of these was when he was hired to capture a group of skilled thieves who surprisingly only stole fancy clothes. They were good thieves, but Saizo was a better tracker. He found their camp, snuck in at night, knocked them all out, and tied them all naked to wooden posts to await their capture by the shinesengumi, or constables, or whoever was close by. But not before he looked a stylish red yukata from their horde, which he quickly gree attached to.
As the years went by, he became known for dispelling groups of rogues and stealing all they stole for himself. People began to call him the Maroon Marauder, for the maroon yukata he always wore. Six years after the death of his master, he still wanders from place to place, looking for work, money, and a cause worthy of his strength...and just such a cause may have arrived. He received a letter, an urgent once, from the Daimyo of the Scorpion Clan. It said little, besides that they had a job for him and it would pay very well, which was all Saizo needed to read to get interested. He was sure this had something to do with the current state of things in the world, but he never really cared about those things; all he wanted was money in his pocket and a secluded villa he could retire to. This job from the Scorpion Daimyo could be just what he's been waiting for...

-Theme-
​

 

[Mekuto]

Name Guan Tain

Styled Name Guan JiZong

Gender Male

Age 42

Height 6'10"

Weight 230 lbs

Appearance

Clan
Kitsune

Location Of Clan Tattoo

Occupation
Warrior/Bodyguard

Skills/Powers
Master Horseman- Once a member of the famed Xi Liang calvary Guan is an expert at mounted combat and archery.

Martial Prowess- Guan was raised to be a warrior and has dedicated his life to the mastery of his trade, he is extremely skilled in several forms of combat.

Indomitable Strength- His great stature and size afford him incredible strength which allows him to over power most opponents.

Weapon(s)/Armor
Guan Dao (pictured)
Jian
Recurve bow
Lamellar armor

Miscellaneous Equipment
Red Hare (horse)
Drinking gourd

Personality Loyal, virtuous, honorable, and stoic.

Likes
Music
Plum wine
Horses

Dislikes
Xi Feng
Arrogance
Pettiness

Habits
Strokes his beard when thinking.

Fears

Goals
To return home

Family Deceased

History For generations the Guan family had served in the once famed Xi Liang calvary and Guan JiZong was no exception. When he was young his schooling focused mainly on martial skills and by the time he was 15 he was serving in the army. Due to his young age he served as a messenger and courier. During an expedition into the northern frontier he was dispatched to inform the commander of the army, Ma Teng, of enemy movements, along the way he encountered an enemy patrol. With no hope of out running enemy pursuit he attacked, in the ensuing battle he was thrown from his horse, breaking his leg. Despite his injuries he was able to reach general Ma and alert him to an enemy ambush. For his bravery and dedication JiZong was made into a swordbearer for the general. Though Guan's position was largely ceremonial he took to this role with utter devotion and it wasn't long before he showed his valor once again.

During a hunting trip Ma Teng's party was ambushed and the general's horse was shot out from under him. Without hesitation Guan dimounted and gave his steed to the general, allowing him to escape while Guan JiZong prevented the enemy from pursuing. The next morning as general Ma was preparing to launch an expedition to punish the rebellious northern tribes, Guan returned bearing the head of the enemy leader and his famed guan dao, Blue Dragon. Having slain the famed tribal warlord in a duel Guan JiZong had broken the enemy's will and their forces scattered. His heroism earned him the respectful and friendship of general Ma who took Guan into his household and gave him his styled name JiZong. As a member of the commander's house Guan was tutored by scholars and strategist his learning covered court etiquette, governance, and the essential readings of Chinese cultures. It was also at this time that he met the Lady Ma, general Ma's daughter.

When it came time for the lady Ma to be betrothed she stated that she would marry one who could best her in combat. Many officers and warriors sought her hand, but they treated the duel as if it were a game and the Lady Ma defeated them with contemptuous ease. JiZong had been smitten with the Lady Ma from the first time he laid eyes on her and though he desperately wished to seek her hand he felt it would dishonor his mentor general Ma. However the general was no fool, one night he invited Guan for drinks, and when he arrived the general shamed Guan for his lack of courage in the matter of seeking love. Though the general never expressly named his daughter his meaning was clear, the next day Guan challenged the lady Ma for her hand in marriage. From the moment the duel began neither held back, the two fought one hundred bouts to a draw. Finally the strain of combat and the intense heat of the day had taken its toll on the lady Ma, she collapsed from exhaustion as she fell Guan JiZong caught her in his arms and the general Ma proclaimed him the winner. Despite this the lady Ma refused to accept Guan as her husband.

Guan JiZong did not force the issue instead he began to send her wedding gifts. He did not send the traditional gifts of silk and jewels, but instead sent her armor, weapons, and a horse that he had caught and trained himself. Eventually the lady Ma confronted Guan telling him that he should find another wife as she would never consent. Upon hearing this Guan gave her his sword and asked her to strike him down saying, "a life without the lady's love would be lived in vain." She slashed the blade towards his neck, but he never took his gaze away from her eyes, in this moment the lady relented and the two where married. Guan JiZong was given control of a small county on the northern border and he and his wife settled there.

As with all things JiZong approached his new responsibilities dutifully and sought to better the people with his every action. Over the next five years Guan implemented a series of projects to fortify the borders, improve crops, securing trade routes, and encouraging culture in his county. He also proved to be a valiant war leader, pacifying agressive northern tribes and personally bringing outlaws to justice. His reforms and bravery brought prosperity to the province of Xi Liang, increasing revenue and stockpiling grain as a bulwark against famine. Despite the increase in wealth Guan continued to live a simple life, he and the Lady Ma spent much of their time riding and hunting along the frontier. It was during this time that he began to build peaceful relations with some of the northern tribes, exchanging gifts of horses and wine as well as giving peaceful tribes aid when they were in need. The news of the good fortune of the province began to spread throughout the empire.

It was during his 24th year that his wife gave birth to their first child a daughter, Guan LuXiao, to him his world was complete and if he could live the rest of his life as such he would die content. Years later when rumors of a new tribal warlord on the frontier reached JiZong sent his wife and four year old daughter to Ma Teng's city and led an expedition to quell the unrest. After the first battle it became clear to Guan that someone had supplied the tribes with weapons and grain, someone was fostering a border war. Summoning reinforcements from Xi Liang he prepared for a showdown between his army and the warring tribes. His army along with allied tribes met the attacking forces in a pitched battle, outnumbered he engaged the enemy after drawing their reserves into the battle he launched a counterattack using the light calvary of his tribal allies to sweep the flanks and through the enemy into chaos. Thus Guan JiZong decimated his enemies and ensured that the Ascendancy would not be threatened by them for a generation. Though the war had cost the lives of many brave warriors, it was only after the battle that he learned the true price of his victory.

The Imperial had taken notice of the wealth of Xi Liang and had seen the alliances with the northern tribes as a prelude to rebellion. Had the Ma's not ruled Xi Liang as kings before submitting to the empire? Did they not treat the province as theirs by birthright rather than a gift? During the campaign, while most of the veteran soldiers of Xi Liang we deployed far to the north, the emperor had sent his hound to bring the proud Ma Clan to heel. Xi Feng laid siege to the capital of Xi Liang and soon had breached the gates, Ma Teng refused to surrender to this treachery and made a valiant last stand. In the end Xi Feng razed the city and slaughtered killed every member of the Ma clan. Guan JiZong wept as he was told of the destruction of the clan that had taken him in, and the death of his family. By the next day a large portion of his army had deserted seeking to make their way home to save their own families, Guan could not fault them and he knew that he would not beable to resist the imperial army so he disbanded his army and struck out north with his remaining tribal allies.

A bounty of 1000 taels of gold on his head and relentlessly hunted by the emperors assassins Guan made his way east, eventually joining with a group of merchants of the Kitsune clan. As the caravan made its way for Nagazawa it was beset by a bandit with a fearsome reputation who didn't have the time to finish boasting before JiZong cut him down. The bravery and skill of Guan JiZong earned him the respect of his traveling companions and upon entering Nagazawa lands he was invited to meet with the leader of the Kitsune clan. The two played Go and drank late into the night and slowly the clan leader got Zijong to relate the story in his own words. What impressed the clan leader the most was how calmly and clearly Guan told the story and how he admitted his error in not seeing the emperor's hand behind the rebellious tribes. After this the clan leader arranged a tournament within the clan to determine who would be their bodyguard, they expressly told Zijong to participate. Guan JiZong was a foreigner in this land and one from their bitter rivals he without the support of a clan he could not remain, and so he fought the tournament. His experience and tremendous skill allowed him to defeat anyone who tried to fight him, JiZong was named the personal bodyguard of the Kitsune clan leader and as in all of the duties he undertook before it he approached this task with dedication and devotion. When the summons for the Shogun's plans were sent out Guan JiZong volunteered and made his way to the land of the crane.​

 

[Orikanyo]

Name
Hayato Ukita

Nicknames/Alias
"The Dancing fox."
-Due to tattoo-


Gender
Male

Age
26 years old

Height
6' 2"

Weight
157 lbs

Appearance
Light and lithe much like the namesake of his clan, the man has a sly face and a smile that simply smells of trickery. The smile a constant wiry grin that makes you swear hes up to no good, or knows a secret little joke that he will never let you in on. His eyes are a dark hazel with a dark spot of green that darken them behind his fox-ish half closed eye lids. His hair is down to his neck, a brown crop of carefully tended hair that typically is kept up as seen above.

His clothes change like the seasons, seen above is the simple travelling fare he wore for most of the spring, but for true get together he tends to wear something more eye catching, or in the very least nice as to not seem out of place. His lean frame is strong yet light, while he cannot boast the strength of one who is all muscle clad, he is quite the quick fellow.

Upon his back, just inches away from where the heart is, is a deep scar of a stab wound, one that makes you question how he would have survived such a strike.

Clan
Kitsune

Location Of Clan Tattoo
Upon the back.

Occupation
Merchant/Diplomat

Skills/Powers
Diplomacy- As you might expect, the act of talking to others to get what you want, or for them to join your point of view, is QUITE the interesting task. it at times can be easy, at times near impossible, other times it's damn well like trying to explain the worth of money to a lemon. But, with a bit of a gift, kind words, friendly chatter, gates can be raised, doors opened, people pacified and friends to be had!

Disguise- all it takes it a couple of choice words, phrases and it can seem like you belong just about anywhere you are. paired with the correct clothing and equipment you could be just about anybody!

Connections- The friend of my friend is a friend of mine right? And when one tends to have a lot of friends, things get to be rather much easier to move along than one might think. Hell, one can get out of trouble easily, or explain away something sketchy, if somebody is more inclined to believe you.

Foreign intelligence- through the network of merchants and ears he has to the ground he has many ears to the ground in regards to the ongoing movements within the imperial lands and the ones he calls home. the flow of money brings talk, and one can easily read a country's intent by seeing where money flows.

Runs like the wind- As it says on the tin, hes one hell of a runner... Likely since hes not much of a fighter.

Weapon(s)/Armor

The two katana seen above, both expertly crafted and beloved swords,they are largely unused and typically just used as intimidation tools rather than actually being used to kill. It's easy to see from the pristine and kept blades that he still takes care of them, even if they have never tasted blood.

A Tanto- Hidden from sight the blade stays close on his body at all times. Presses against the skin now and then, a grim reminder to the man.

Miscellaneous Equipment

Money- With the right amount, anything is possible.

Journal- it's always good to keep logs of things.

Smoking pipe- as it says on the tin.

Personality
"A trickster? The symbol of our clan represents many things, trickery, mischief, but I can assure you I am no type of man who would do such things. A true, honest and honorable merchant, through and through, such is my calling! And my duty, is provide great merchandise for fair and reasonable costs." -Hideki Ukita-

A man of words, money and haze, his intent is not always easy to see, his goals are shrouded and veiled. But if there is one thing that is true, is that he will never tell somebody a lie, half truths will be plentiful but he will never bare faced lie to somebody. In business or pleasure, a lie is something that shall never be even considered.

But aside form the smoke and mirrors, the man comes across as a cunning, eloquent, and handsome rogue. in business he will remain polite and respectable, if abit flattering as he attempts to garner opportunities for trade deals and favors down the line. In pleasure, he is a man who spares little expense for friends and himself, preferring to show his generosity by sparring nothing save but the most precious of things.

But those who smile the most, tend to have the deepest fears in their hearts.

Likes
Alcohol of any variety, a connoisseur in a sense.
Expensive treasures.
Luxurious things.
Family and friends.

Dislikes
Things of poor quality.(Discounting his Donkey.)
Ill tempered folk.
Worthless combat.

Habits
A constant smile.
Always eats his food separately and one thing at a time.
Talks to self often.

Fears
Blood.
Fire.
Losing a family member due to his own foolishness.

Goals
To unite people by establishing a trade network the likes nobody has ever seen

Family/Servants
Father-Goro Ukita- An odd and sly man with a well renowned moustache, a capable merchant that owns many caravans moving throughout Nagazawa.

Mother-Aiko Ukita- A once bandit chief turned to a life of luxury, the tale of which the two became married is not largely known and is often the stuff of jokes and legend, out of her ear shot. She towers over most people, has a brash personality and even after years of living large she still can fight like the best. Mother of 9 children.

Sisters(In descending order of age, Hideki being the eldest.)​

1. Akane
2. Atsuko
3. Haruna
4. Futaba
5. Chou
6. Kazuko
7. Masami
8. Megumi

Servant-Momo- Child to a renowned pirate who may be related to Hideki's mother, due to wanting a better life for his child she was sent to live with the Ukita family. While accepted as another sister by the horde of young ladies in the family, she felt she was causing trouble due to her parentage. As such, Hideki brought her along in his travels to serve as his assistant, finding her good with her head, a dab hand at treating wounds and quite a good shot with a bow, if only she wasn't too afraid of combat to use one effectively; But no little bunny is safe from her wrath.

She is currently 13 years old, and is the sole reason Hideki's hair is cared for at all.


Servant(ish)- Tsutsuji- a Strong willed and horribly obstinate donkey that he often uses to pull his personal cart, is named Tsutsuji for irony's sake.

History

The dancing fox was the first born of a wealthy merchant of some renown, the first of a set of 9 siblings he had a great deal set upon him as the first born. Through training in arts of buying and selling goods and the art of words, the young man slowly started to bloom into the man he is today. Aside from the more boring parts of his childhood, he was a dotting older brother, he loved his little sisters more than anything in the world, and that love even persists now in his older years.

With him and his mother, many would be suitors found themselves sized up rather quickly, even if one is sneaky enough to try when Hideki is away he always seems to be able to make his way back faster than one could imagine possible. His father is less caring about such, rather his daughters to choose their paths... Though isn't about to stop either of them from such acts, since it gets quite a big laugh.

Regardless, the young man is one of the few who dared venture across the lands in search of opportunities, reaching out to folk in the imperial lands as well as his own, there was rarely a pie that he didn't have a paw in. From iron, to weapons, to produce to salt, he kept his options open and learned the ebb and flow of all such things. And as such, he slowly began to amass a fortune, if after a bit of competition.

The power of money goes beyond what one imagines, you can buy just about anything. Friends, hired blades, but one must always remember that many of these people are not true, if not all. For instance, one night's fling is never true, but the heart can be a fickle thing even when the mind knows what is true. And such things always end in heartbreak, and not always without bloodshed either.

That night haunts him, a face that he once trusted, a person he thought was beyond simply caring about his money. But once a larger purse came along with a deeper, and darker request.... She took it willingly.He did not know what hurt more, the dagger in his back, or the breaking of his heart, but he managed to survive through impossible odds. But his attacker was never seen from again, all but disappearing from the world. Eventually, he recovered, his family wouldn't leave him be throughout his time in bed. But he never stopped smiling, even after just waking up he never showed a hint of despair. But who knows what lurked within, the pain of betrayal and the ugliness of the realization. The dagger that was used was left with him, a thing of which he carries with him at all times henceforth.

A grim reminder.

​

 

[Pretzel Heart]

? ? ? ? ? ? 揚羽薫 ? ? ? ? ?

​

​

Butterflies

Name
Ageha Kaoru
揚羽薫

Alias
Suzaku
朱雀

Gender
Female (though say she's a male and she won't mind)

Age
23

Height
5' 8"

Weight
123 kg

Clan

Fushicho, The Phoenix
不死鳥

Location Of Clan Tattoo
Hers is an extremely simple design to be found on the back of her right hand.
Though she was offered a more elaborate replacement in accordance with her newfound rank, Kaoru politely declined, saying that she would prefer hers to remain "as a reminder." While the rebuff was an insult to the Daimyo she otherwise loyally served, the woman wouldn't budge, and despite the brief scandal at court, the issue was eventually diplomatically resolved.

​

Can't See

Occupation
Shugenja
修験者

Skills & Powers
Allure
魅力
Though her quick tongue may find better use among fair ladies, with the right makeup and dressings, she can make an equally delightful entertainer for the rougher sex.
You'd be surprised how many battles can be won through a carefully sweetened word and entrance into the right bed.

Wisdom
知識
Though never a student of the Veharis Spire, Kaoru possesses the Fushicho intellect that is as sharp as any blade. Her information database comprises an extremely varied network ranging from plant and animal life to military history to psychological and philosophical theories. She certainly doesn't know everything, but with the broad width of what she does know, she can usually make it look as if she does.

Kami's Beloved
神の最愛
Above all the knowledge at Kaoru's disposal is that she carries of the gods. Perhaps none of the Five Clans hold kami in the esteem that the Fushicho do, with it being a typical path of honor to follow in their unknowable footsteps, dedicating one's life to their worship and study. Kaoru is no different. While where she gained this ability remains a mystery, it is obvious that her connection to the spiritual plain is higher than the average Nagazawan. Waira often prevents her from calling upon other spirits' aid, though that is not to say she cannot still commune with them and have a higher understanding of their desires. Communing with the kami may allow the party good fortune in an upcoming skirmish or reveal information about a geographic location that the spirit protects. In the most extreme cases there could even be a prophecy delivered. However, in the same breath, not properly handled and communication could fail, backfiring on the mission. The danger is especially high given Waira's rather prideful and possessive nature.

Water Element
水
Water is Kaoru's Primary element, and one which she retains an incredibly strong connection to. In terms of more general abilities, she is able to perform such feats as moving waves, holding her breath for incredible amounts of time, and diving down to great depths. Most notably mastery over this magic has won her an extremely powerful spirit, however not without some cost.

Wind Element
風
Wind is Kaoru's secondary element, though these days, thanks to her spirit's constant intervention, she hardly gets the chance to use it. Most often she will be utilizing her time during a battle to call forth water from the air for herself and Waira to better use, or as a form of levitation.

Eternal Bond
永遠の絆

Arguably Kaoru's most important contribution to any conflict is her connection with the great water spirit Waira. They have been together for several years, and as such have developed a near-impenetrable sense of trust and teamwork that turns their combined efforts into a formidable foe. Truly Kaoru is happy to let Waira do most of the heavy lifting, and the spirit can be quite controlling. While one of water is naturally predisposed to chase away those of fire, Waira's possessiveness go beyond, and he may be thrown into a rage at even the slightest suggestion that he cannot handle all of his shugenja's needs. Indeed, with his speed and power, Kaoru is in good hands, and though she laments the days she could befriend a variety of spirits, she is truly fond of Waira and thinks of him as her closest friend. They are able to communicate through a mental bond, and as only those of equal or greater arcane ability can lays eyes on the kami, in battle it may appear as if an invisible wall shields the shugenja from attack.
Just know that Waira is never far away...always watching should the moment come when he is called.
As far as skillset goes, as a spirit of water he is most adept at controlling the element and grows stronger whenever it is near. His primary duty is deflecting violence against his contractor, whether through his corporeal presence or a watery shield, though he won't hesitate to get offensive should need be. Not only can he manifest powerful jets depending of the source present, but he can also freeze liquid at the touch of his breath, forming hard-hitting icicles and the like. His deadliest attack is also his least elaborate: simply summoning enough water to trap his victims until they drown.​

Weapons
None, disregarding her spirit. It used to be that she carried with her a tantou in cases of emergency, but Waira found the insinuation that he wouldn't be enough to protect her insulting.

Armor
Though she otherwise dresses rather plainly, Kaoru is rarely without her Cloak of the Phoenix, being that it was a personal gift from the Daimyo and she treasures it as a symbol of their relationship. The patterns woven into the fabric help her channel the arcane to even greater effect.
Otherwise no other armor is used.

Miscellaneous Equipment
Various scrolls held in a container slung across her back; these she will protect with her life. She won't reveal the nature of these mysterious artifacts to anyone, and it seems Waira is equally obsessed with protecting the secrecy of whatever they may be.​

Their Own

Personality
With strikingly androgynous features, Kaoru enjoys flitting in the space between man and womanhood, using bother to her advantage when the situation calls for it. She chooses to dress in male clothing for the most part, and before she earned her position evidently few cared to force her otherwise. And after finding the Daimyo's grace, few dared. Thus she can appear, on the surface, a rather dashing and gentlemanly young man...qualities she is sure to amplify whenever a beautiful woman is present. Though she has no trouble passing flirtations at either sex, clearly it is the feminine one that she prefers. However she seems to partake in such activities more for the rush of having people fall for her over any real romantic interest...though she also isn't one to complain if things go further every now and again.
Such actions have landed her in hot water many times over the years. She takes a very go-with-the-flow attitude towards life, and doesn't seem to sweat the scrapes she finds herself in...as long as there is a way out. Indeed she revels in the art of experience, and is keen on trying new things and meeting new people to expand her borders.
For Kaoru is also quite philosophical, seeming to live on different plain than the rest of the world. When not in the heat of conversation she is content to keep to herself, an almost glazed look overcoming her eyes as she drifts deep into far lands of thought. It can be quite hard to penetrate what she is feeling; her face often like a mask that only breaks for the occasional smile. Overall she tends to give off a calming presence. Even her pointed conversations moving in such a way that it is difficult not to get drawn in and engaged, even if the topics can sometimes be rambling and strange.
Though her quickness to come to the aid of any lady in need may paint her as a saint, indeed there seems to be something else lurking beneath this chivalric code. While she takes delight in encountering new faces, sometimes it seems as if she purposefully keeps them at arm's length, acting more as an observer. Many of her enemies in the Daimyo's court are quick to point out this perceived fakeness in her expression. Just what is she hiding behind that opaque face and dancing eyes? As interested in psychology and philosophy as she is, might she look upon others with the experimenter's cold eye? Nonsense, she would say. She truly does enjoy the company of others and just wants to have a good time. Though the sense of indifference, like the quiet presence of nature that so easily shrugs off the existence of man, remains.
Admittedly, she does have her own petty streak, and can be incredibly stubborn over seemingly innocuous things. But she is one to live by her own moral code...and while it might seem impenetrable to world at large, it is the only life she understands.

Likes
Beautiful Women
Intellectual Debates
Gazing at the sky
Kami and the spirit world
Dances, Song, and other performative forms of entertainment
Insects
The sea
The limelight

Dislikes
Being told what to do
Men who can't handle her flirting with their wives
Seeing women get demeaned or hurt
Physical combat
Art
Eating meat
Reading
Pretty Boys
Her hands

Habits
Master at masking her emotions
Learns best by experience
Scratches the back of her neck when hiding something
Somewhat obsessed with keeping her nails clean and trim
Asks random philosophical questions out of the blue

Fears
Losing Waira
The one slip-up that will get her arrested and killed
Failure (it's not an option)

Goals
To assassinate the Celestial Emperor, as is her Daimyo's wish.
However...this is not her only purpose. She is also determined to infiltrate the Emperor's harem. The reason? With a laugh she'll reply that even in Nagazawa the Jade Empress's beauty is well renowned. Though there seems to be something more to it...​

Wings

Family
Unknown. If they exist, she is not one to speak of it.

History
Kaoru keeps herself wrapped in a shroud of questions without answer, knowing any number of ways to cheerfully or slyly deflect queries leveled at her past. Of the information that is known is that, through one source or another, she was being held prisoner in the capital of the Fushicho lands when their Daimyo was stricken ill. Despite all their knowledge and dedication to the kami of nature, none could soothe the sickness, though it was heavily suspected that a water spirit was at cause. Kaoru, claiming she had grown up in the company of such spirits, asked if she might be allowed to give the exorcism a try. It was only as a last resort that the Daimyo consented to her being called in, and not only was the girl successful, but in coaxing the spirit away from the Daimyo she ended up forging an impenetrable bond between it and herself. And thus was the moment she met Waira and her life, whatever it had been up until that point, was inextricably changed.

Her crime was a petty one- accused of attempting to seduce a wealthy merchant's son in order to steal a scroll she insisted had been taken from her in the first place. So impressed was the Daimyo by the young woman's talent that they not only pardoned Kaoru but demanded that the scroll be returned to her person. They further awarded her the Cloak of the Phoenix and gave her the name Suzaku to show the great service she had done to the clan. From that moment on Kaoru became like a dog at the Daimyo's side, doing any number of missions for their sake, and though she was lavished with a new luxurious lifestyle her acclaim brought her no shortage of enemies. Many were suspicious of the girl...where she had come from...and what her purpose may be. Her cavalier attitude did little to help the impressions she left, though as long as she performed the Daimyo took little issue with it.

The suspicions surrounding her are many. For one there is the question of her name. There was no record of an Ageha family within the Fushicho for many years, the last of note having been killed off some generations before. Then there are the scrolls she keeps constantly at her side. The fact that they are so preciously guarded made people wonder what they might hold. Given the nature of the traitorous Ageha and the mysterious scrolls, rumors of dark practices such as curses and blood magic surround Kaoru. But if asked, she would simply smile and remind the questioner that there is no such thing.

Despite there being no record of such a girl having ever ascended the Veharis Spire nor attending any other of Fushicho's many illustrious academies, she seems to possess no lack of knowledge, accurately reciting off techniques and histories as they may be. Though the Daimyo considered offering her the chance to go to one of the schools, it seemed fruitless given that she already had such an impressive command of magic, and she would reject the offer, regardless.

Her bond with her lord remains a strong, if not somewhat strange, one. Other courtiers, advisors, and attendants believe that the Daimyo is too soft on Kaoru, too indulgent. The strength of her loyalty to them, despite otherwise showing little fervor for her nation or clan, is also odd. And yet there is something like trust between them. Perhaps Kaoru merely likes the wealth, attention, and protection the Daimyo affords her- the missions playing into her sense of adventure. And for their part...well, results are hard to deny.

From the few topics of her past she will loosen her tongue about, some answers can be gleamed. It is established, for one, that she grew up on the coast, and has no shortage of ocean-themed remembrances. She also says that Waira was not the first spirit to become her companion, though when pressed further upon this point, she will grow reticent...almost with the hint of regret.

For the past six years of her life she has done proud service to the Daimyo, often acting in their name to handle business that would otherwise be difficult to bring to light. So it was of little question that she would be sent in answer to the Shogun's call.

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