Turn 0: Sleeping Dragons - Mumei's Aside
The genro known as Mumei deigns to act, uncovering secrets within the domain.
Uncover secrets about the Kensei's powers and motivations
The power of the kensei is derived from their status as a shintai; a repository for the incorporeal gods and spirits of the world called kami. Shintai are usually physical objects like mirrors or swords and oft found in temples. In all of Yamato, there are very few people who are themselves, shintai. Whilst spirit possession occurs from time to time -and it is said that the gods themselves may rarely do the same -the status of a shintai is vastly different from possession. Those who are living shintai do not lose their minds and bodies to the spirit, being instead in complete control of themselves. They gain the channelled power and blessing of the kami within them, making use of their senses and powers as second nature. By pleasing the kami within them, the living shintai is able to excel to degrees far higher than any mortal being.
In Yamato, the only regularly occurring living shintais are the yokozuna - champion sumo wrestlers- and the kensei. The former gain their power by successive victory and grace in tournaments and become filled with the spirits of valour and honour. The kensei gains it similarly by victory, but also by causing incredible amounts of death. Rather than being filled with spirits of valour and honour, the kensei is filled by fragments of the warrior kami. These kami do not care from whence (or how) the blood flows, only that it does. For this reason, both heroes and villains have been kensei. Some say (mainly the believers of some Meditationist sects) that the kami that inhabit the kensei are demons, but this has rarely troubled the bearers of the revered title. Whilst in previous ages there were multiple kensei, there has only been one at any given time for the last few centuries.
The current kensei, Charuke Sakura, gained her title on the fields of Yabakjae, slaying hundreds of the enemy without end. She gave herself to the pursuit of death, dancing through volleys of flame, arrow and cannon as if it was but rain. Straining herself beyond the limits of what was expected, she won many a battle and dealt doom to many Celestial and Imjan champions sent to fight her. The moment the previous kensei -Akira Ieyesu- died fighting atop a Celestial dragon, Charuke Sakura felt an immense surge of power within her and soon recognised that she had been appointed kensei by the kami. [All of the above is general information that Mumei is able to easily learn about]
The presence of the kami within her made the learning of magics possible to the warrior, and she soon delved into the sage-paths of the Yabakjae, but was never able to master their arts. She sought to observe the volcano cult of the Outer Ino Domains, but found herself unable to channel the emotions required to make use of their cthonic spells. She made pilgrimage to the palace of Ryujin and was soon frustrated by the personality that the watery spheres needed of her. Exhausted, she returned home and discovered an art most had overlooked; oni spellcraft. As a child, Charuke Sakura had oft been reminded about the danger that the oni represented, why it was so necessary to perform the spring rituals and establish divine wards. Now old and wizened, she wondered why it mattered so much; the oni were warriors but simpleminded. They were not difficult deal with if prepared. Thinking on that, she made journey into the abodes of the oni - the deep woods and the forsaken caves - and made communion with their shamans. Proving herself worthy of their respect (having slaughtered her way through many of their kin), the oni enlightened her in the entropic magics of her people- of miasma, poison, fire and beasts. Much to her surprise, Charuke Sakura found that she could channel them easily. According to the shamans of the oni, she exemplified the virtues required of the path: Brutality, Hate, Determination, Stubbornness, Recklessness, Profound Memory and Impatience. Much pleased, the kensei then slaughtered her teachers - all of whom were understanding of her decision to strengthen herself. In frantic battle, they gave their final challenge to the kensei, attempting to enact the bleeding plague upon her. They were no match for the kensei and fell before the chants were completed and the gestures made. Before falling, the last of them bestowed the name of "Demonic Drunken Monkey" upon her. This was a name of extreme respect amongst onis.
Having gained the power she had sought, the kensei chose to retire from the daimyoship, establishing herself on the slopes of Mount Yashin. Whilst nominally teaching students in the sword-styles expected of a samurai, she has chosen to tutor privately those she sees with potential. These she teaches a new style, one based on the manner of the oni. It is these students who form her secretive bodyguard. Mumei believes that some of these have even gained the ability to perform oni magics.
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The motivations of the kensei, it seems to Mumei, are simple: the upholding of her bloodline and the survival of Kanogawa Domain. For now, this is best served by loyalty to the Shogunate due to the vast difference in resources that she possesses compared to the Kamon Clan. However, she is very much a woman of ego. She finds it an embarrassment that she, the kensei and once-hegemon of Middle Yamato, serves a lowlander worshipper of the Goddess of Mercy. In her opinion, the goddess represents a virtue of the weak and menial. Indeed, she finds the whole matter completely at odds with the expectation of her class and role in society, believing Mercy to be something beyond the scope of warrior-rulers.
As such, she secretly plans to weaken the Shogunate. She finds it unlikely that she can defeat the Shogunate now and does not even think its possible with herself amongst the living. Instead, has quietly been stockpiling armaments and treasures throughout Kanogawa- although that is very much a secret. Whilst wise in these decisions, she very much detests the fact that she must skulk in the dark and wait - something which is most at odds with her own personality. If given the chance, the kensei would very much like to march on Edokawa and slaughter the whole of the Clan, razing the silly temple of Kammon as well.
Still, she cannot find herself raising the banner of rebellion at all until her Clan's safety is ensured. Her oaf of a son Charuke Aijin and his family remains free, nominally ruling in Kanogawa City. The rest of her clan - including her wiser, smarter, tougher and overall competent children, siblings and cousins - has been sent as hostages to Edokawa as part of the Kamon's Clan's "Ensuring Peace By Hospitality" edict. She knows that the moment she calls for the Shogun's head that the heads of her own clan will be cut loose. Not by honourable suicide, but by the slow garroting of the butcher's blade. Worse, she fears that no funerary rites will be spoken for them and that their bodies will be fed to the pigs. For these reasons, Charuke Sakura refuses to show even an ounce of overt disloyalty to the Shogunate.
Uncover secrets about the Primeval Forest
There are many tales and stories about the virgin and ancient forests of northern Kanogawa, some more known than others. Mumei has researched and compiled many a tale and by making use of more occult or esoteric methods, has discovered many secrets of the Primeval Forest.
-The mythical koro-pok-guru still inhabit the Primeval Forest in glades hidden from the eyes of men. Ancient minuscule people who inhabited Yamato prior to even the Emshin, the koro-pok-guru were known for their generosity and good hearts. They control the winding paths of the forest, which makes men and beast lost within the Forest.
-There is a wise oni inhabiting the a hovel by a stream within the Forest who has apparently lived a thousand years.
-A cache of old texts has been discovered by a bandit local to the area; it is said that they pertain to Celestial philosophy and early Yamato histories.
-The lights that are visible above the centre of the Forest gather above a kofun, one of the old manmade mounds used as a tomb for ancient nobility and notables. It is said that the kofun's doors are open on the nights where the lights appear and that conversation in a crude and non-intelligible tongue emanates from the tomb. Warriors dressed in archaic armour and emaciated hores have been seen around the kofun during those nights.
-A group of what seem to be ronin have been sited in the forest, playing flutes and drums, followed by wolves and dogs.
-An ancient shintai has been uncovered by a group of children. It is a large boulder. Its shrine is untended and has not been visited in centuries; much of the children involved have become lethargic and have entered a deep sleep.
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Topic: Citizens of the Empire Unite! All Power to the Kurultai! (IC) (Read 4063 times)