The Grand Empire has ruled Tsukishima for thousands of years, maintaining the Bakuhatsu dynasty for generations. Their current ruler, Emperor Kaoru Bakuhatsu, has recently brought the empire to new heights by accepting the trade agreements of a foreign baron, focusing newfound imperial funds on developing technology such as the steam drill, gatling gun, and zeppelin. This is believed to have extended man's domain and power further than it had been intended to be by the gods, which has caused a recent uprising of demons taking corporeal forms and killing villagers in scores.

Though this supernatural insurrection has been all but denied by shoguns and other government officials, the Grand Imperial Military has been stationed in many villages for seemingly no reason, though many suspect Emperor Kaoru has begun to take notice. Although areas occupied by the Grand Imperial Military are kept safe from demons and spirits, the soldiers and samurai employed by the government are essentially immune to most laws, and are known for their wanton cruelty, stealing goods and women alike from villages with impunity. This lack of transparency on the empire's part and anger towards the occupying army has caused a rift in Tsukishima's society, with more and more citizens fed up with the empire and turning to bandit groups to protect them. However, as the bandit groups usually require extortion payments and are oftentimes as bad as the occupying soldiers, the lives of peasants are currently much harder than they ever have been.

Our characters have all recently been imprisoned, and have nothing in common but the fact that they have all recently escaped -- The details of this will be gradually revealed through flashback filler, of course -- and their uneasy trust in one another.

Our story takes place in Tsukishima, a crescent-shaped continent about the size of Europe, ruled by The Grand Empire, which is as faceless and evil as it sounds. As is the case with many anime settings, the country is ambiguously Japanese without actually being set in Japan -- Characters and locations have Japanese names, spirituality is divided by nameless Buddhist and Shinto religions, and concepts like honor and filial piety have a place in everyday life. The setting will be split between rural and urban villages, with smaller villages having hand-pumped water and traditional architecture (Rice paper walls, tatami mats, squat toilets) while more urban villages have _some electricity, plumbing, and western-style beds.

Though one of the themes of the RP is the world's rapid industrialization, keep in mind that there aren't any crazy cyberpunk neon cities. At most, the level of the tech in our world is the same as that of the Naruto universe; In the most urban areas, Electricity, pre-packaged food, plastic, gunpowder, and steam-powered machinery are commonplace. Gatling guns and cannons exist, though only the highest order of the Grand Imperial Army, the Royal Guard, have access to them. Aside from the setting's vaguely steampunk technology, Tsukishima has a few other anachronisms -- Borrowing from inspirations like Samurai Champloo and Afro Samurai, hip hop exists in our world, although it is rudimentary and played with the setting's available instruments. Graffiti is common in urban districts, though it is done with calligraphy brushes and paint brushes alike, and big cities usually have a few warrior-poets reciting lyrics into the butt of their katana at sake houses and brothels, if you know where to find them. Otherwise, culture in Tsukishima is a more or less that of Edo era Japan.

In terms of realism, try to consider our world low-fantasy -- Onis, Kappas, Yokai, and all other mythical creatures are still mythical, and dragons are only ever seen in papery forms at parades. Only recently have supernatural occurrences started happening, and that's limited to demons and other vengeful spirits like that. Magic is performed by the highest-ranking priests and monks, and is usually limited to healing wounds, ki strikes, and that cool levitating meditation trick. Otherwise, if you want to kill somebody, you're going to use a sword and not a magic missile.

Our RP will be about as dark as the average 90's anime, and will borrow from a few (Most notably, Ninja Scroll). Graphic, if unrealistic violence will be the norm, whereas other dark themes will mostly take the side stage, or be balanced out to make the world less of a complete crapsack. A member of the group is an alcoholic, but he's the goofy kind. Soldiers are said to rape peasants, but it is never shown in the RP. The group encounters a drug-addicted prostitute, but she turns out to be a man in drag with a deep voice, and so on.

Additionally, though the RP will have realistic occurrences and consequences, I'll admit that the main group will have a level of plot armor. Feel free to be a bit more brave or outspoken in your actions, as I guarantee you won't die. I won't guarantee nobody's getting maimed or psychologically damaged if they take unnecessary risks, but know from here on out that your character won't die, which seems a good segway to mention all the lighter elements of the RP -- As with the thematic sources, comedic relief will be fairly frequent, so don't worry about the world getting too depressing. Anime themes like the The Power of Friendship® and defiance against an evil authority will be invoked, and we may pick up a cute animal sidekick or two on the way.

1. Aside from just being an RP, I want this to be a long term group of homies we can all get to know and talk to about character development, plot arcs, and just general shit-shooting. In other words, don't join this RP if you're not looking for some cool pals to talk to on the internet, or if you're gonna be rude. I tried this twice before, and as they say, I'm hoping the third time is the charm.

2. Try to not use a well-known anime character as your character's image. In the same vein, try not to go with tropes other characters hit, or having a similar backstory to the other characters. I guess rule two is just "Be original".

3. Be cool like the Fonz. There's only three or fourof us, so it's unlikely there'll be any in-fighting, but in the event that there is, try to be mature and respectful to one another. I created this RP with having a tight-knit group of friends, so always assume the best of one another, try to give criticism in a polite fashion, etc. Don't be a dick.

4. This RP is about character development first and foremost, while the other half is plot advancement. Your character should slowly change over time, for better or worse. This can include cool new abilities, but should also be psychological in nature. Delve deep into personalities and experiences.

5. Last but not least, have fun!

Most countries date their founding on the arrival of foreign invaders -- Not Tsukishima. For thousands upon thousands of years, the Tsukihito have met every invading force with the same swords that they pass down through generations. The island nation has had their ruling family, the Bakuhatsu family, for as long as they have recorded their history through paintings and the written word -- which they had developed sooner than other cultures -- and most likely longer than even that. In the same vein, Tsukishima has only ever had two religions, which have both simply been called The Sacred Path and The Holy Path for as long as anyone remembers. The Sacred Path is originally from Seung Yua, and follows the teachings of The Enlightened One, who is also a spiritual figure in its predecessor, The Divine Path, whereas The Holy Path is a polytheistic animist religion native to Tsukishima.

Although the Bakuhatsu family rules by way of divine right, daimyō and shoguns are technically elected positions, though it is common knowledge that they are systematically kept in place through filial ties, bribery, and self-serving laws. Before every election, the victor is already common knowledge. There are many shoguns, with the title being about equivalent to a lord, though there are only four daimyō and obviously, one emperor. Each shogun has control of a few thousand, sometimes up to ten thousand, citizens. Each daimyō controls a few hundred thousand citizens, whereas the emperor controls the country, which has approximately one million citizens. Shogun and daimyō occasionally involve themselves in disputes over their land, taxation, borders, and other squabbles. These disputes have given birth to Tsukishima's samurai and shinobi castes.

Tsukishima has two neighboring countries -- Goristan and Seung Yua. Goristan is the larger of the two, spanning further than Tsukishima's fleet has sailed. Goristan has a generally cold relationship with Tsukishima -- they have no trade or immigration with Tsukishima, having a mountainous coast, though there are very rare immigrants who are mostly fleeing persecution for various crimes. They are called Goristi, and have appearances ranging from European to Eurasian. Aside from this, little is known about their country other than that they are seen as inferior to the Tsukihito, having tried to invade unsuccessfully three times. They are thought to be loud, rude, and greedy. It is the setting's equivalent to China, Russia, and The West.

Seung Yua is a small island nation near Tsukishima's southeastern coast. It is largely comprised of its own ethnic group, the Seungyo, though its eastern coast has a thriving population of immigrants from Tsukishima. It is a relatively poor country, and its people are generally seen as dirty, smelly, unintelligent, and clearly inferior to Tsukishima. Though it carries a great number of negative stereotypes, it is also seen as mystical, exotic, and spiritual, due to it being the birthplace of The Sacred Path and its predecessor, the Divine Path -- Buddhism and Hinduism, respectively -- It is believed that the founder of The Sacred Path was born in Seung Yua and came by way of raft because he's Siddhartha. It is the setting's equivalent to India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Are you still accepting?
Yes! My character's a martial artist, so I'm calling dibs there. Other than that, I'd like to have 2-3 more players. Ninjas, shrine maidens, former guards, swordsmen, priests, monks, archers, other stuff I can't think of, all fair game.

What are the thematic inspirations?
Thank you for asking, italicized text! Samurai Champloo is the biggest inspiration, as most of the RP planning revolved around the episodic adventures of a small group of outlaws. Afro Samurai's unrealistically skilled eccentric swordsmen also play a big part in Hagakure, and so does Naruto's identity-based-on-fighting-style aspect. Hagakure will hopefully evolve past its inspirations and into its own thing depending on which way everybody wants to take it.

Where's the character sheet?

Appearance


Name
Nakano Norio (Farmer)
Saito Norio (Real Self)

Age
32

Totem
Fox

Appearance
Sullen, slouched and unassuming, Norio dresses plain; he looks like a typical rice farmer. Simple clothes, sedge shades, old ragged sandals; Norio's chosen colors are dull tans and dark browns. In fact, if you placed him among other farmers, he would disappear within the crowd. His face is thin and pale; as if he appears completely sickly. His body is a mixture of tan and white; his arms have become brown from his time working in the field. His eyes are consistently wide with terror or awe at the situation around him; and his hair remains messy regardless of his attempts at primping and preening. He's a loser.

Unless of course he draws his sword. The moment his personality changes, so does his appearance. Standing tall, strong and with a piercing gaze, it's amazing to see such a transformation in a man.

Personality: Meek, timid, terrified and ridiculous, Nanako Norio is constantly in a state of refusal. He should not have been arrested. He should not have been slated for execution. He should just be back on his farm living a simple, quiet life. He is irritable and fearful, and seems to distrust any and all around him.

Saito Norio is a man who has seen too much. The death of his lord. The death of his soldiers. The death of his wife and children. When he's finally trusted those enough to reveal his actual self; he's contemplative and not afraid to joke around with his compatriots.

History
Nakano Norio was a simple farmer claiming that he was a victim of mistaken identity. Arrested under the name Saito Norio, he swears that he was not the famous revolutionary soldier. It doesn't help that he has a similar face and is the same age as the man; as well as having the same name. Nakano Norio bought a farm three years ago, and has worked every day since; keeping his nose clean and his head down. Honestly, he's always been a model citizen, though he's always been aloof with his neighbors. Unmarried and keeping to himself, his fellow villagers did not try and fight or argue when he was taken away.

The truth is always deeper and bloodier than a simple case of mistaken identity. Born to the Saito Clan, Norio was born to be the chief retainer for his lord, Oshiro Akira. A large, imposing but big hearted man, Lord Oshiro was one of the few lesser lords that showed compassion to their people; and wanted to fight against the injustices of the Empire. Lord Oshiro led a failed military revolt against the empire, known as the Winter Rebellion. The rebellion failed; and during an attack on Oshiro's castle, Norio was thrown off a rampart and into the river below.

Norio lost everything. Anyone involved in the revolution was slaughtered without care. In his loss, Norio fell to despair and created a new life under a new name. Thus, Nakano Norio was born. Appearing in a small village, buying a farm and living the idyllic pastoral life, Norio thought he could escape his past and disappear into a false existence. With the sudden fears of demons, The Grant Imperial Military found a foothold in his village.

Within a week he was arrested and charged with capital offenses against the Empire, and slated to be executed the following morning.

Strengths
Expert Swordsman
A master of the Saito family sword style: Divine Soaring Sparrow Norio is capable of fast, graceful attacks. Most of his style involved drawing the blade and engaging in graceful slashes and spins, mixing footwork and using the terrain of combat to the user's advantage. It works best against groups of opponents, though it falls short in single combat against a well trained soldier focusing on a more brutish style.

Archery
Norio has been trained with multiple weapons, but has always excelled with a bow. Norio is by no means an expert marksman, but he is capable of aiming with a modicum of accuracy. Norio was raised on strict religious principles disallowing the hunting of red meat (with the exception of dire circumstances) and is more trained in aiming for weak spots in armor or for a slow moving human target than a fast moving animal.

Spear Combat
Skill with a sword was not the only weapon art Norio was expected to train in. Norio is capable of spear combat as well, but is by no means an expert at that. Norio is simply capable of the basic forms. He does enjoy using a wooden spear for fishing in water sources, however.

Lordly Tactician
Norio was the retainer for a lord, after all. He's a capable leader and is used to leading men into war. The fact that Norio is well read, has years of experience under his belt and is just plain smart helps everyone.

Weaknesses
Weak
The past three years have not been kind to Norio. Living as a peasant is never a promising life; and with a lack of motivation to actually live, Norio's body has degraded from the man he once was. While he still has his memories and knowledge, he is incapable of fighting for long stretches of time, is easily winded, and cannot do too much. How he persisted as a rice farmer for so long is almost humorous, if it wasn't so pathetic.

Refusal of Self
Norio doesn't want to admit who is is. As Nakano Norio he lives a simple life without having to admit the pain of loss. He doesn't have to open his eyes and look at the world he left behind, and see how horrible things have become. It's easier for him to be a rice farmer, and he would prefer to stay like that as long as he can.

Rusty
Norio hasn't engaged in combat in years. While one never truly forgets something they practiced nearly all their lives, Norio understands that he will not be able to keep up with trained soldiers right now; and is fearful of engaging in a duel. He knows his chances of winning are incredibly low.

Likes
Poetry
Oolong Tea
Sweets
Fish

Dislikes
The Grand Empire
Corruption
Rice

Theme
"Gone Are The Days"-Nujabes

_{N A M E}

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_{A G E}

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_{T O T E M}

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_{A P P E A R A N C E}

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_{P E R S O N A L I T Y}

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_{H I S T O R Y}

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_{S T R E N G T H S & W E A K N E S S E S}

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_{L I K E S & D I S L I K E S}

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_{T H E M E}

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Name
Marasaru Hisao, The Drunken Monkey
_{Mara is a Buddhist demon who personifies unwholesome impulses, and Saru means monkey. Hisao means Life story.
His name means, very loosely, "The story of a monkey's life of unwholesome temptation".
Mah-ruh-sah-roo Hee-sow}

Age
28

Totem
Monkey

Appearance
For a drunkard, Hisao isn't too bad to look at. He's certainly not handsome, though he gets a lot of attention from those interested in his "bara" physique, which, unfortunately for him, happen to mostly be other guys. Aside from his pointed eyebrows and ears that have been described as 'chimplike', he has fairly masculine features -- Tanned skin, a pointed jawline, hair swept up and back, a frame packed with thick muscle, and hands as callused as the day is long. He's only an inch or two taller than the average man, but his brawny frame usually earn him "The Big One" when picking him out of a crowd, only a few instances less than "The Smelly One".

Like most vagrant winos, Hisao carries the smell of sake with him wherever he goes, which is uncoincidentally paired with a hollowed gourd he keeps strapped to his side, a relaxed stance, and an empty coin-purse. He does little in the ways of masking his lifestyle, and rarely bathes anywhere but streams. He typically dresses in earth tones with a rope for a belt in lieu of a sash, foregoing any footwear for increased agility. He somehow constantly has five o'clock shadow, which his full-blooded Tsukishimite genes keep from growing into an actual beard.

Personality
Outwardly, Hisao is a jovial, drunken party animal, if something of a slovenly vagrant. He isn't especially slow or quick to violence but will solve a problem with words or his fists depending on whether his opponent is more numerous, bigger, or stronger than him, and has very little problem with running away and living to fight (and drink) another day. Talking to Hisao, you either get the impression that he's pretending to be dumber than he is, or that he's an idiot with rare moments of brilliance. It's a little of both. Hisao will typically try to get out of a situation by sweet-talking or outright lying, and relies on his agility and brute force when that fails.

Aside from drinking, Hisao has a deep appreciation for poetry, and would probably fancy himself a wandering bard if he knew what bard meant. Though he does not write his poems down, he has written several haikus and ballads in his mind, and easily memorizes songs, stories, and just about any information set to a rhythm. Aside from begging and stealing, Hisao funds his drinking habit reciting his poems on the streets and in amateur "Poetry Battles" at taverns and festivals.

In his most personal, private moments, Hisao is decidedly less jolly. While he is a loner who enjoys his lifestyle, he is aware of his social standing as an addict and outcast, and is quite lonely. He blames himself for sabotaging the opportunities for sobriety he has been met with, and has a very low opinion of himself as a whole, believing (arguably rightfully so) that he is a worthless drunk. Rare moments shine through during Hisao's sobriety that offer a portrait of his depression, though it is largely suppressed by his frat boy demeanor and his practically never being sober.

History
Hisao is a good example of a decent person dealt a bad hand at birth. Hisao was born into the lowest of castes, the hamlet-dwelling handlers of the dead, Burakumin. The son of a slaughterhouse worker and a leather tanner, Hisao had little in the ways of opportunities growing up. His teenage years mostly involved working as an underling for the local crime boss and later as a member of The Blue Obi Gang, spending his earnings on liquor and little else. This continued throughout most of his life until his mid-twenties, with Hisao having developed into an alcoholic too unreliable to employ for robberies and other nefarious schemes -- After a highway robbery was foiled by Hisao being disarmed by the gang's victim, who then used Hisao's sword to kill another member, Hisao was beaten within an inch of his life by his fellow Blue Obis and left for dead under a bridge.

After his expulsion from the gang, Hisao was taken in by a temple of The Divine Path, a fringe religion in Tsukishima, though the second largest in Seung Yua. Hisao stayed at their temple, which they called an ashram, for three years, learning their ways of nonviolence, reflective meditation, and the system they called "Karma", welcoming Hisao into their faith with open arms. He stayed at the temple partly out of respect for those who had saved his life, but in sincerity, his stay at the ashram was mostly an attempt to wean himself off of the drink. Eventually, Hisao was driven half-mad from withdrawal and left in the night, stealing and selling one of the temple's golden statues to buy himself a barrel of wine. Since then, he has lived as a wanderer and a beggar, living mostly off of panhandling and stealing when safe opportunities arise. His most recent robbery ended with his drunkenly tripping over a hole in the road's brickwork during his escape and knocking himself out. Seeing as his victim was the son of a local shogun, things have certainly looked brighter for Hisao.

Strengths

Divine Drunkard
Hisao has unintentionally become extremely proficient in his own style of martial arts, which he has dubbed Yotta kami no ken -- Drunken Divine Fist. His style is one of confusion and redirection, mixing the fighting style known as Kalaripayattu taught to him by gurus and his own variations on the traditional Drunken Fist style, frequently changing direction mid-swing, pausing to drink, and rolling on the ground to evade attacks. His sloshing and tumbling serve as very fluid motions to lull his enemies into false senses of security, hiding his powerful, grounded strikes. This leaves Hisao as an incredibly hard-to-hit target, which is made even harder considering how dirty he fights -- The Drunken Monkey is no stranger to spitting high-proof alcohol into the eyes of enemies, bone-shattering kicks to the groin, and other "techniques" any true martial artist would consider dishonorable.

As a result of having trained in his binge-drinking filled youth, Hisao becomes increasingly skilled as he drinks, fighting in a downright sloppy and slow-moving manner when sober, and becoming a one-man gang as he becomes more and more intoxicated. When he is completely blind drunk, Hisao can perform feats that border on supernatural -- Running on walls, disarming trained imperial swordsmen, and kicking dents into trees. Aside from his fists, Hisao has been known to frequently use improvised weapons such as broken bottles, rocks, his vomit, the sheathes of swords, and just about anything that is within reach.

Hanumanly
Hisao is the biggest, strongest member of the group -- say what you will about skill and experience, Hisao is pound for pound a heavier hitter, capable of tanking hits that would kill lesser men. Some attribute his constitution to drunken numbness, other attribute it to his muscular frame, while others assume it was one of those weird meditative yoga skills he picked up at the ashram. Whatever the case may be, Hisao has pretty high strength and constitution scores.

Acrofatic
Though he's more musclefat than fat, Hisao is surprisingly agile for his large frame and unhealthy lifestyle. Owing this attribute to being lanky in his youth and not gaining his broad frame until a late growth spurt, Hisao has agility you'd expect from a trained spider monkey. He knuckle-walks when he is tired, leaps into trees when he is hiding, and can practically flip on his heels when he's being chased. Aside from his strength and constitution, Hisao also rolled a pretty high dexterity.

Weaknesses

Look out for Number One
Hisao has a bad track record for team playing. He was kicked out of a gang for his drunken mistake making him responsible for the death of a member, and stayed with the gurus who had nursed him back to health until he was strong enough to steal and sell one of their priceless artifacts. Whether Hisao is loyal to himself or to drinking, Hisao has always been on Hisao's side. Whether this holds true for our group will remain to be seen.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Heineken
In the plainest of terms, Hisao is too much of a drunk to reliably do things functional people can. While his martial ability increases with his drinking, his social graces plummet. Sober Hisao knows when to run from a fight, when to bow, and when to place a well-timed joke, while Drunk Hisao lacks all of this knowledge. When he is drinking, which is pretty often, Hisao runs the risk of starting fights, falling flat on his face, getting caught stealing, giving away secret information, getting kidnapped, and other easily avoidable mistakes. His constant goal while he's awake is to get drunker, and he gets drunk enough to throw up way earlier than he gets drunk enough to pass out, and that's never fun.

Ambiguous Heathen
Ever since being nursed to health by an isolated temple of gurus, Hisao has followed The Divine Path. Normally this presents little challenges in day-to-day interactions, though his abstinence from meat and hundreds of oddly specific gods draw unwanted attention from the more religious citizens of Tsukishima. Monks and Priests can usually put aside their differences for long enough to hate a third party, which is usually either The Heavenly Path of Goristan, or The Divine Path of Seung Yua. Hisao just happens to be a member of the one with even less of a presence in Tsukishima.

Stoopid Munky
In the plainest of terms, years of blunt force trauma to the head and hard, hard drinking layered on top of a school-free upbringing and adoption of strange religious philosophies have made Hisao's dumpstats Intelligence and Wisdom. He isn't necessarily gullible or naive, moreso uneducated and willfully ignorant. Hisao doesn't know why the sun rises, it just rises. He could read a book and find out (He couldn't, actually), but he wouldn't want to, because to do so would spoil the wonder he sees in the world. In the same vein, Hisao does not know where honey comes from, where the moon goes during the day, or how fish breathe underwater. Honey just is, the moon just goes, and fish just do, and that's fine with Hisao.

Crazy Hobo
There are dirty people who are just disheveled and sweaty, and then there are dirty people who can get cold enough that they'll pee on themselves to get warm. Want to guess where Hisao is on that spectrum? For the past decade, Hisao has lived under wagons, in stables, and on rocks in the forest he finds to be especially smooth and bedlike. He has lost a fair degree of his civilized nature, which was arguably not the strongest to begin with, to the choices one must make as a beggar -- Eating trash, stealing from the needy, killing at the drop of a hat, and other unpleasant truths have all become facets of Hisao's personality.

Likes

• Meditation
• Salted plums
• Curry
• Incense

Dislikes

• Kabuki Actors
• Tea
• The Grand Empire
• Losing sleep

Theme
My Guru

Name

Madanami Hyōryū - Disciple of the Wind

Age

30

Totem

Snake

Appearance

Hyōryū embodies the tall and thin archetype. He has never met a man shorter than him, and rarely anyone of equal height. Still though, in spite of his shear vertical size the man looks as if a strong breeze could blow him over. The life of a philosopher does not demand great strength, nor can always supply adequate nutrition every day. He wears plain clothes, and aside from his coin purse the only thing he seems to carry with him is a staff as tall as he is. Scars quite clearly made by blades adorn his face, hinting that he has been through one or more violent encounters in his day. This though is the only hint at all at first glance that the man would be anywhere near a fight should one break out.

Personality

Like the wind, Hyōryū's personality embodies his teachings. He is free with his emotions, most of the time going around adversity like a gentle breeze, unbothered and uncaring about the current situation. When that breeze turns into a storm however he lets his anger blow freely over those around him. He follows his own pursuits, the embodiment of a free spirit. Often times this is knowledge, spending the little time he has between traveling and hunting for students to read up on local lore and history. This could also be a curiosity of the taste of the local brandy, or interest in how the local fishermen catch the local breeds of fish. Whatever he has an interest in at the time will inevitably drag him into a new adventure for the day.

History

As a child, Hyōryū had always been the willful sort, quicker to ask forgiveness than permission. His parents were merchants with no small amount of wealth, and tried to groom him all his life to either take over their business or find a position even greater. He was an intelligent child, and they dreamed of him becoming a minister for one of the Shoguns, or even one of the daimyō. Having no interest in either of these things, he took every chance he could to escape from his tutors and wander the town until he was caught- and of course punished once again.

One day however he met a new face on one of his excursions, an old man reeking of booze who had quite literally been thrown out of a bar right in front of him. For a moment they sized each other up, before the older one finally spoke:

"You look like a smart kid, would you like to be my student?"

Hyōryū was surprised, but as impulsive and willful as ever. His current studies would lead to a life of boredom, and a change would certainly be welcome. With some hesitation, he answered the man with a nod.

"Ah good, now how much money do you have on you?"

Money? On him? Absolutely none. Sneaking out earned him punishment enough, let alone adding theft on top of it. The man, his eyes glistening with hope, slowly turned sour as realization came over him that he would not be getting anything out of Hyōryū. With a sigh, he picked himself off the ground and dusted off his clothing, ruffling the boy's hair as he began to pass by.

"Fine then, a free lesson; Go where the wind takes you."

A breeze followed the man as he passed by, and with very little hesitation Hyōryū followed after him. Go where the wind takes him? Even a boy as young as he knew how useless that advice was to anyone, far too general and applicable to anything. It was like telling a warrior "Don't die" before going into battle. Still though, there was a... resonance within him. He already did what he wanted in life, if this man could teach him more, maybe how to truly achieve that, then perhaps he would be a more worthwhile teacher than his parents could hire.

They walked with each other until they reached the edge of town, when the man finally turned to regard him once more.

"Look, you don't have any money right? Stop following me, I only take on students with cash."

"I'm not following you, I'm going where the wind takes me."

With a laugh as his only reply, the two began their journey across the continent. For nearly two decades Hyōryū has wandered the land, traveling to wherever fancy strikes him. He gets by on taking in students of his own now- though often times he finds his teachings get him thrown out of bars much like when he had first met his master- and passing his philosophy across the continent. The wind had taken the two in separate directions years ago, and neither knew where the other had gone off to.

He lived a comfortable, if often bruised, existence this way, until his most recent student turned out to be the son of the local Shogun. Very displeased upon learning what the rumored "Way of the Wind" was like, he was labeled a conman and thrown in prison to rot away.

Fortunately for him though, the wind blew away from his jail cell, and he chose to follow it to freedom.

Strengths

The Wind Flows Freely - In most combat situations Hyōryū moves fluidly around the battle, his staff affording him great versatility and even greater reach when combined with his already substantial height. When calm he prefers to disarm and disable his opponents, or pass by them and avoid a battle altogether.

The Hurricane - When angered, any pretense of the above fades, and fluid motions are replaced with an unrelenting offense. A flurry of attacks from all directions with his staff that carry enough force to shatter bones. Once the Hurricane is unleashed, what Hyōryū wants is for you to die, and he will do everything in his power to achieve that.

Tsukishima Travel Guide - Hyōryū has been all over the continent, and though he never stays in one place for long he always tries to learn as much as he can about the area before leaving. It has given him a staggering level of knowledge about the land, and ironically he could probably become one of the best tutors available if he taught anything other than the Way of the Wind

Weaknesses

Where the Wind Goes - Getting Hyōryū to go where you want him to, or need him to, or stopping him from going where you don't want to is nearly an impossible task. Once he has decided to leave for another place it takes the wind itself changing to stop him.

Fickle Breeze - To go along with the above, he is notoriously unreliable. Come up with the perfect plan to take down the bad guys? He could easily change his role halfway through if he feels like it. Or perhaps even follow you halfway across the continent despite totally not being your student just because he feels like it.

Heathen Beliefs - While he considers himself a philosopher, there are many who consider him to follow a religion, one that isn't any of the established beliefs. Pious people following any of the well established faiths can and have taken offense to him. On the flip side, others have sought him out solely because they wanted to learn from him as a man of faith. It certainly can complicate things.

Violent Disinterest - He has no desire to kill most people, so in most cases does not. A wounded and shamed enemy can be a very dangerous one indeed, and he has numerous scars to show for why leaving someone alive is a bad idea.

Likes

Sugary Foods
Local Festivals
Small Talk
Storms

Dislikes

Being Indoors
Loud Noise
Self Righteousness
Being Broke

As far as a mention of his thin frame and then shattering bones- quarterstaves generate a lot of force, especially one as large as his. Just seemed out of place putting both of those together, so I figured I'd add an explanation.

Hakayama Kusai: The Steel Crane
_{Disgraced Magistrate and Duelist}
Age: Twenty one winters.
Totem: Crane

Appearance
The young woman that calls herself Hakayama Kusai would appear as nothing more than an average woman of unremarkable looks were it not for her intense pride over her name. The Steel Crane served as a magistrate for five years, straight out of her coming of age ceremony. She refused to live the life of a quiet courtier, destined to marry and have children for someone else's family. In her five years, her natural talent with a katana and supreme focus for traditional duels earned her a wicked reputation as a law bringer. In her career she's only lost two duels. One gave her the scar on her face, the other was the penultimate act that removed her from the Magistrates. Since her disgrace, and her escape from custody, she's traveled the country looking for the group who cost her everything she worked to build. She wears a sky blue kimono - similar to the one she wore in court when she failed her lord. Her flair for the dramatic extends to her clothing with her chosen kimono decorated with cherry blossoms and swooping cranes. Her arms are protected by kode - armored sleeves and bracers that tie across her chest to each other. The rest of her armor has long since been discarded in favor of the more mobile kimono that she wears.

Personality
Originally a very brash girl, time in the Magistrates has tempered her angry outlook at her expected destiny into a cool determination to prove the stars wrong. She is polite, and observes all forms of etiquette when in polite company. In public she as a very short, curt attitude to the lower classes that bears them no ill will but acknowledges her station as a samurai. With enemies, she is ice cold. Her reputation is built upon this, and it's where the origin of her name comes from. She has a healthy respect for the law of the land, even in exile, but now without the strictures of propriety, her hunt for those who wrong her and the people can be pursued without restraint.

History
Born to a well to do family, the girl that would become Hakayama Kusai was a very free, very rebellious spirit. Her father, never wishing his daughter ill, regularly spoiled her and indulged her flights of fancy. Where some girls were learning painting and poetry, he would teach her the process of cleaning and maintaining his katana. As she grew, she expressed distaste that her mother insisted on her learning to be a lady in court, and to prepare to impress a husband. Her father helped banish those lessons to a lower importance, while the dreams of her following in his footsteps as a swordsman danced in his head. Upon her coming of age, she quickly applied to be an Imperial Magistrate. For five years, she brought honor to the Hakayama name with her blade and her wit. Aside from her obvious talent with a katana, she was a skilled investigator and a relentless pursuer of justice. More criminals met their end on her blade than any four of her comrades combined. Perhaps she was too efficient, as it didn't take long for her to have rivals and enemies in most courts. After being taken off the 'streets' and brought to court, she adapted well and found the strength of polite conversation. When it failed, of course, she stuck to her tried and true methods. Law was on her side, of course, with duels being a perfectly valid method for solving problems with said rivals and enemies.

Until she fought one she could not beat.

Not for lack of talent, however, but honor. She was outmaneuvered. Forced into a corner that allowed her only one way out - fight and win a duel, and cause the death of an heir to an important family, or lose the duel and give up her station, status, and claim to Imperial Law. In the days before the duel, the family of the young man who challenged her begged her to concede the duel. Begged her to leave their only heir alive, so that their house could finally recover from the very unjust treatments she had helped put an end to. Her enemies arranged it perfectly. The fostered a hatred for her in the young heir, and goaded him into challenging her to a duel to the death. If she won the duel, they would win the long game and have control of court.

She chose to support justice and fled. She swore to the Kami that she would see the crooked, criminal politicians that tried to abuse the system eliminated. She has been wandering since, on the trail of her enemies.

Strengths
As a Magistrate, she's familiar with Imperial Law. More-so than most, she was obsessive about finicky details, and can conjure technicalities quite easily if need be. She knows the value of etiquette, and respects the fact that most anywhere she stays, she will be a guest. As her reputation commands, she is a very skilled swordswoman - in particular in one on one fights. She can hold her own in a group fight, but the chaos of a large battle may overwhelm her.

Her particular style, known as the Haku Tsuru, emphasizes swift, single motions. It focuses on the iai strike, teaching a philosophy of 'One Sword, One Soul, One Strike'. It lacks the more brutal qualities of a generic fighting style, emphasizing grace in motion and confidence in one's own victory.

Weaknesses
She's been called heartless, cold, and ruthless - all of those descriptions are unfair. She has severe trust issues, and is very long to trust anyone beyond politeness. In addition, once her mind is set on an outcome, she will pursue it. Her stubbornness comes through in almost every aspect of her life. She is not afraid to punish insolence with pain. She refuses to start a fight or hinder law enforcement. The only exception is if they try to kill her, and even then, she will do her best to spare their lives. She chose the life of a wandering ronin. Unless corruption is present, she expects various magistrates and law-keepers to give her trouble and she willingly endures it as a penance for her failure.

Likes
For all her gruff exterior, she has a soft spot for comforts. She loves a well made kimono and enjoys the idea of being pretty when appropriate. It's rare, but she will occasionally spoil herself and find well made formal wear for a festival. The precision and patience of a duelist pays off when applying makeup.

Dislikes
Aside from the obvious choice of lawlessness, spiders absolutely make her skin crawl. She will go out of her way to dispatch them if seen.

Theme
A bit of flavor for her!