[Story] Bio de persos

[Goju Kaze]

Isawa Ochiai, Master of Fire

The Phoenix Masters of Fire have a checkered past in recent decades. The previous two Masters, Isawa Tsuke and his nephew Isawa Hochiu, both suffered from madness that led them to shame themselves, their family, and their clan. Fortunately, the dark fate of Isawa Tsuke came during a time when many great heroes fell to darkness, and thus the clan’s shame was mitigated. Hochiu’s descent into madness remains largely private, known only to a handful of Phoenix and Dragon. When the other Elemental Masters sought Hochiu’s replacement, however, it is no surprise that they sought someone who would not repeat the mistakes of history.
Isawa Ochiai is the younger sister of Isawa Nakamuro, the current Master of Air. Both siblings were gifted with the kami, although neither was considered particularly powerful during their youth. Nakamuro managed to acquire a position studying with Agasha Gennai, but Ochiai had no interest in such things. She pursued the path of an artisan, delighting in painting, dancing, and all manner of creative endeavors. Her youth and beauty seemed timeless, bringing her a great deal of attention from suitors. With their parents deceased, however, Ochiai’s brother preferred to allow his sister to choose her marriage, rather than attempt to better their station by forcing her into a loveless marriage. Hers was a free spirit, and Nakamuro could not bear to see her shackled.
Ironically, it was Ochiai’s pursuit of the arts that eventually led to her ascension to the position of Master of Fire. In focusing on her art, Ochiai found that she had a gift for incredible precision. While her magic was not as powerful as others, she tempered her power with precision. When others could reduce a tree to ash in a heartbeat, she could target and incinerate individual leaves without so much as scorching those next to them. Even the Isawa’s greatest sensei, Isawa Sachi, could not help to be impressed with her abilities. When the time came to find a new Master of Fire, it was Shiba Ningen who suggested Ochiai, much to Nakamuro’s surprise. There was some deliberation, but in the end not even Isawa Taeruko could deny her worth. With her gift for fire magic so well tempered by her skill, the Council believed, there would be no further shame heaped upon the Master of Fire’s position.
Ochiai’s tenure as Master of Fire has been an unusual one. She accepted the position shortly after a Crane was made the Council’s leader, a fact that some Isawa find upalatable, even if Doji Akiko is the daughter of Isawa. Isawa Taeruko’s death was a tremendous blow to the Council, but the appointment of Isawa Sachi brought new hope to the family, beloved as the old sensei was by hundreds of former students. Akiko and Sachi quickly formed a bond based on their similar political philosophies, and while Nakamuro and Ningen do not necessarily oppose the others, they often find themselves led down a different path. Thus, Ochiai frequently finds herself in a position to serve as the swing vote for the Council, a position that she finds simultaneously enjoyable and uncomfortable. A devout pacifist, Ochiai sided with her brother in an attempt to forestall violence with the Mantis, but Ningen sided with Akiko and Sachi, and war was the result.
The Mantis war has placed Ochiai in a difficult position. She gladly uses her magic to protect and defend her people, but she will not harm others, even in war. As the conflict escalates, Ochiai has ventured to the City of Remembrance in hopes of finding some common ground with the dragon spirits that dwell there. Perhaps with their aid, the war can be ended without further loss of life.

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By Shawn Carman

[Goju Kaze]

Bayushi Muhito, Champion of Rei

Bayushi Muhito is one of the most competent students to graduate from the Shosuro Shinobi School in recent memory. He skillfully serves Shosuro Maru’s every need as her yojimbo and personal assistant. He never shirks from his duties, no matter how dishonorable they seem. He is the paragon of a Shosuro warrior, the quiet bodyguard, the swift assassin.
Muhito was born the second son of two loyal but unremarkable Bayushi samurai. He was an outgoing, vivacious child. Things came easily to him, and he absorbed knowledge quicker than all his peers. With this ease he enjoyed all parts of life — the morning kata, the hours spent reading a play, and freeing his mind to create poetry. He outperformed his peers and slowly became the arrogant center of a gang of adoring Scorpion children.
During a festival at Kyuden Bayushi shortly after his gempukku, Muhito became embroiled in an unpleasant conflict with a young Lion shugenja. The shugenja’s traditional mannerisms and reverence for magic were laughable to Muhito, who had spent little time around shugenja during his young life. The argument came to a head when Muhito publicly berated the Kitsu, claiming that shugenja like him were revered only because fools could not comprehend their magic. In the moments after his boasting, Muhito suddenly realized he had offended his own kinsmen as well as his opponent. When a friend arrived and whispered to Muhito that his opponent was the son of the Lion ambassador, he realized the true enormity of his folly.
The Lion ambassador demanded some sort of restitution from Muhito’s family. The Lion exerted considerable pressure, and it seemed that no Scorpion were willing to come to the arrogant young man’s aid, until an old Scorpion courtier smiled to Muhito’s parents and told them that he would fix the situation. All he desired in return was Muhito’s oath of service to serve his niece Shosuro Maru, a young and gifted courtier who could benefit from the aid of someone with Muhito’s natural gifts. The crisis was averted, and Muhito was sworn to Maru’s service.
Muhito swore to himself that he would never be so foolish again. He dropped his arrogance and his cheerfulness, and a shield of cold courtesy replaced them. He vowed he would never be manipulated again through his feelings. He vowed he would respond with courtesy to any provocation. The young samurai drew his blade and swore to use it in service to Shosuro Maru until such time as he was dead, or until his lord ordered him to serve another.
Maru and Muhito traveled the courts and Muhito did as he swore. He protected Maru as her yojimbo and as her hand in the vast underworld of Rokugan. Two years ago, he followed her bidding and traveled to the court of Moshi Amika alone. When he arrived he began to stalk Yoritomo Katsu. Katsu had made the mistake of threatening Maru, and Muhito was there to make sure that he would regret that decision.
When his target stopped to watch an iaijutsu demonstration, Muhito suddenly became aware of the dark haired young Crane duelist performing for the court. She exuded grace from her every movement and her kata resembled a dove taking to the wind. Muhito watched her, distracted from his duty, and for a moment forgot where he was. When a Yoritomo guardsman noticed him, Muhito realized his mistake and fled the scene. It was the first time he had ever failed his duty. Though filled with condemnation at his failure, he could not resist learning the name of the duelist, Kakita Korihime.
A year later, Muhito and Maru traveled to Crossroads Village, a small town near the Lion-Dragon border, There, they and five others fought a pitched battle to save the village from a large force of bandits that threatened to overwhelm it. Among those gathered was Kakita Korihime, and Muhito was sorely wounded in the battle protecting her from harm. In the aftermath, he expected death. Instead, he found the will to live because of Korihime’s command. For her, he lived.
Since that time, Muhito has returned to his duties without fail. He does not hesitate, no matter the gruesome nature of his task. Instead, he has a renewed sense of duty. He has fallen to darkness, perhaps, but there are those in the Empire who are worthy of such a sacrifice. If his actions can make the world safer for pure souls like Korihime, then the sacrifice is worth it.

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Bayushi Muhito's bio is courtesy of Brian Yoon. Thanks Brian!

[Bayushi Re]

Mon champion !!! Je t'aime !!

[Okuma]

Ils ont poste Katoa depuis.

[Goju Kaze]

Mon champion !!! Je t'aime !!

Je me disais bien...