Name: Oroshi Kyo
Species: Hokkaido Wolf
Age: 24
Date of Birth: 23rd moonfall, Second season, Year of the Ox, 1841
Element: Metal
Weapon: Daisho katanas
Employment: Samurai by birth, Novelist
Element: Light
Bio: Oroshi Kyo never really knew his parents. Born the son of noble yet compassionate samurai, they had died mysteriously while he was still very young. He was never told the full details behind the incident, even 23 years after the fact. What he did know, was that life without a solid family was hell; he had moved from home to home, trying so desperately to fit in, but never being able to. Eventually, he found himself in the care of a kindly elder who taught him the art of Bushido, the legendary code of honor and conduct among the noble Samurai, though he was himself not a member of the esteemed group, having had his title stripped away long ago and now lived as a farmer. Slowly, steadily, his confidence grew, and he found himself fitting in better into society than he ever had, all the while under the careful eye of the loving elder. The old man seemed unflappable, the young wolf never being able to disappoint or anger him, even after he learned about his homosexuality. Even then, the old man stood by his side, helping him through to the end, all with a sincere and proud smile on his lips.
However, the old man held a dark secret of his own, or at least, that's what the neighbors thought. As a former samurai, the old man never spoke much about how or why his titles and privileges were revoked, and rumors started circulating, rumors that put the old man into a very bad light. His interest in training the young Oroshi, as well as keeping company with the youth of the village instead of his fellow elders, lead to one rumor stating he had been involved with a former charge, possibly a son of the last lord, and possibly against the boy's will. It didn't matter if the rumors were true or not; their speculation caused distrust and strife among the other villagers against the old man, and neither he nor Oroshi could even enter town without hearing venomous murmurings against them. Unfortunately, their bitterness would cause the old man's downfall.
Late one night, while the old man was coming home from visiting an old friend of his, a small mob of people jumped him, shouting obscenities and hurling rocks and sticks at him. Though skilled in the ways of martial arts, the old man was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer force of numbers of the group, and soon succumbed to the lynching. When Oroshi found him, he was already at Death's door, hanging on the precipice of eternal rest. The old man's last words to him was words of his love for the wolf as a father would love a son, and a plea for him not to seek vengeance against the instigators of his demise, for they allowed their fear and ignorance blind them and control their thoughts and deeds. Oroshi found it hard to live up to the old man's last request, even more so after he learned of his inheritance of the old man's estate and funds, but that legal problems spawned from protests from the same neighbors who condemned him was preventing him from claiming any of it. Oroshi had just come into his 18th year when the lynching happened, and it would be two more years before he could claim what was rightfully his. By that time, however, he had grown embittered by his surroundings.
Praying for forgiveness from the old man and his ancestors, he took his inheritance and moved to Nagasaki, where he took odd jobs as a ronin before catching the eye of the local lord, who requested the wolf join his court. Although hesitant, Oroshi eventually accepted the lord's offer. As it turned out, the old man who had adopted him was an old friend of the lord's family, and thus, he had kept up on the wolf's progress and especially his talent for storytelling. The lord had offered him a place in his court less as a paid samurai, but more as his muse. Though surprised at this sudden interest in his hobby, Oroshi was nevertheless intrigued at the opportunity to expand on his works. Little did he know that he would play a small part in the greatest shake-up in Japan's long history, or that he would fall in love with a foreigner...
Name: T'ai Tsung Long
Species: Siberian Tiger
Sex: Male
Age: 28
Date of Birth: 15th moonfall, Ninth season, Year of the Horse, 1846
Place of Birth: Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Element: Earth
Weapon: Bo staff
Employment: Artisan
Element: Earth
Bio: A Chinese immigrant stranded in Japan, T'ai fled from his country after a terrible incident with his father forced him to leave. Born of a family of minorly noted painters, he had learned the trade at a young age, but was put under considerable pressure to do well for his emperor by his drunk and abusive father. When his son's taste in subjects changed from the contemporary to the more...risque (inspired by the local tales of the Rabbit God Tu Er Shen, who safeguarded the love of homosexual men and whose stories fascinated the secretly gay T'ai), T'ai's father went ballistic, resulting in a father-son fight that would result in T'ai being severely wounded and his father murdered. This act, as well as the fact that his 'hedonistic' art style would never be accepted in the increasingly-seclusive and prejudiced Chinese society, necessitated his leave of the country and to the only semi-safe haven he could find: Nagasaki, where he managed to talk his way into setting up an art shop in the city.
Unfortunately for him, the seclusion and paranoia of his country had spread to Japan, as well, and it was not long before he was found out and accosted as a foreigner. Thankfully, his unique art style had gained the attention of the local lord, who had somehow managed to sweet-talk the shogunate into allowing him to stay, so long as he was kept under the lord's personal employ at all times. Forced to accept the terms, T'ai was pleasantly surprised to find a lax and comfortable environ inside the lord's palace, and even more so when he found a kindred spirit in a young samurai-turned-scholar...
Name: Xiang Komatsu
Species: Japanese Kitsune
Sex: Male
Age: 16
Date of Birth: 13th moonfall, fourth season, Year of the Rooster, 1849
Element: Fire
Weapon: Tai Chi Chain Whip
Employment: Craftsman turned Prostitute
Element: Fire
Bio: The son of a metalworker, Xiang never had much of a privileged life. His earnings were modest at best, but his craftsmanship was superb, and he had many samurai interested in his wares. However, disaster struck when one particular samurai - unhappy with the quality of the sword his father made for him - threatened to dismember the elderly fox for his transgression. Foolishly, Xiang attempted to stop the angered samurai, and he paid the price for his lapse in judgment: the samurai turned his vengeance on HIM, slicing off both of his legs at the hip, his arm at the shoulder, and severely damaged his right eye. If it wasn't for the region's lord, who had been passing by their shop at the time, the rogue samurai would've murdered them both. Although unable to convince the previous lord to punish the samurai for his actions, Kiyoshi, who was traveling with his father back then, had convinced him to give the elderly fox some gold to give his son a proper burial. Instead, Xiang's father used the money to get his son to the best doctors it could buy, barely saving his son but leaving him horribly disfigured.
In a stroke of genius, Xiang's father called upon a technique that his father had taught him as an apprentice, and constructed a series of clockwork prostheses to replace his son's missing and mutilated limbs. However, although the new limbs restored Xiang to nearly normal, the unnatural appearance that they gave him, combined with the fact that the lord had ordered him buried and, thus, was supposed to be dead, forced Xiang to quit his apprenticeship and remain in the shadows. Unfortunately, without his help, his father couldn't garner enough money to keep the shop or his family alive, and without his father's knowledge or consent, he had started sneaking out at night to become a male prostitute, to help raise the money they needed. Initially, he met with little success; however, eventually, he started gaining some good money and some valuable customers, one of which seemed oddly familiar. It was, in fact, Kiyoshi, who had inherited the lord from his father, and was pleasantly surprised to see the young boy he had helped rescue grow up to become a handsome man. Eventually Kiyoshi offered him a place among his harem, so he could keep off the streets and still make more than enough money to provide for his family. Indebted to the young dragon, Xiang accepted, and moved into the Tanaka castle, but only if Kiyoshi agreed to accept another into his harem, as well...
Name: Shigeru Izumi
Species: Japanese Rat
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 24th moonfall, seventh season, Year of the Rabbit, 1843
Element: Water
Weapon: Nunchaku
Employment: Former ninja turned Prostitute
Element: Water
Bio: One of many sons to a noble line of ninja under the employ of the late Nagasaki lord, Shigeru was only 13 when he grew tired of the harsh Shogunate rule and especially the lecherous and unscrupulous people whom he was forced to call family and ran away, repealing his heritage in the process. For a time, he survived on the streets through petty pickpocketing, using the already-advanced ninpo skills he was taught to steal from whatever rich samurai or nobleman he could bump into without getting caught. Eventually, however, he was drawn into the world of prostitution by another young man, Xiang. Although at first put-off by the fox's unusual appearance, he quickly grew fond of the young lad, and became fast friends and partners with him, occasionally using his thieving abilities to swipe a few more gold for themselves from any rich tricks they pleased. That all changed, however, when an old acquaintance of Xiang's turned out for a trick or two...
Initially suspicious of the new lord, Kiyoshi's intentions, he agreed to go with Xiang to the palace and into Kiyoshi's harem at Xiang's request, if only to keep an eye on Kiyoshi, and make sure he didn't take advantage of Xiang like his father usually did with the lesser peasants. His attitude changed, however, once he realized just how different Kiyoshi was from the rest of his family; his own brethren were banished from Nagasaki with the rest of the Tanaka clan, and the whole air of the palace was much more relaxed and pure than it had been when the last lord was in charge. True to his word, Kiyoshi made Shigeru one of his harem, although he would later employ the young rat for another role, one that he wished he would never have to return to: regain his title as a Tanaka ninja, and use his skills to spy on and glean information from the rest of the Tanaka clan and the shogunate, to prepare for any political uprising against him from his superiors. Change was in the wind, he was told, and he would help play a big part in ensuring that change comes to pass, as well as ensuring a better future for them all...
Name: Kiyoshi Tanaka
Species: Japanese Dragon
Sex: Male
Age: 18
Date of Birth: 9th moonfall, seventh season, Year of the Goat, 1847
Weapon: Twin Marohoshis
Employment: Nagasaki Bugyo
Element: Wind
Bio: Born the youngest in the family to a minor but influential bugyo in Nagasaki, Kiyoshi was ruthlessly picked on by his many sisters and brothers, but stuck firmly to his kind spirit and unprejudiced mind, and slowly built himself up to be a strong and powerful individual, himself. When his father, the last bugyo, passed away, his brothers and sisters argued amongst themselves over who should rule in their father's place, as many of them had their own parties to deal with. In a shocking display of bravado, Kiyoshi suggested a contest of both cunning and martial strength; whoever won the contest would become the next lord. His siblings naturally sneered at his suggestion, believing him to be stupid enough not to be listened to, but they humored him and, with the shogunate's approval, agreed to the terms of the challenge; they were all soundly trounced by him, and were forced to acknowledge his birthright. As his first act as lord, he forbade his own family from visiting Nagasaki.
Once situated in his new position, Kiyoshi built himself up to be a feared bugyo not to be trifled with, though the reality was quite the contrary; his spirit and thoughts were unblemished, and he showed great compassion to those who he knew were innocent, be they peasant, samurai, or one of the lower classes. His practice of giving troubled lower classmen and even foreigners sanctuary under his draconic wing, as well as his not-so-secret hatred for the shogunate and its laws, put him at odds not only with his family, but with the shogun, as well. It wouldn't be long before he would have a squad of elite soldiers after his head, but with the kind of charismatic attitude and seductive words Kiyoshi had, even the shogunate's most trusted assassins may not be immune to his charms...
Name: Kori Mizushima
Species: Japanese Hare
Sex: Male
Age: 23
Date of Birth: 4th moonfall, ninth season, Year of the Tiger, 1842
Weapon: Bladed Tessen War Fan
Employment: Oniwabanshu
Element: Ice
Bio: Kori's family had always been at odds with that of Shigeru's, so when he was assigned the task to join in an assassination attempt against Shigeru's new master, Kiyoshi, Kori jumped at the chance to sneak in a little vengeance against Shigeru and his clan, as well. Although he hates working with the others in Kiyoshi's family (as they were the ones who held direct control over Shigeru's family), learning that there was a traitor of both families on the throne in Nagasaki was all but enough incentive to begrudgingly work with his hated enemies against a common foe. Little does he know, however, that on this assignment, the betrayers and the betrayed are not as clear-cut as he thought they would be, and before the assignment's done, he will have to make a tough decision about his loyalties if he hopes to survive...
Name: Chirasu “Silas” Hayashi
Species: Asiatic Black Bear
Sex: Male
Age 20
Date of Birth: 12th moonfall, first season, Year of the Snake, 1845
Weapon: Kanabo
Employment: Oniwabanshu
Element: Wood
Young and brutish, Silas had never met anyone he didn't dislike, and his list of prejudices could rival the Art of War itself. The only person who had ever garnered his respect was Cole, and even then, they had their spats. Among his chief concerns was his hatred towards foreigners, and so, when he learned from his companion that their target was notoriously sympathetic towards gaijin outsiders, Silas couldn't help but jump at the chance to teach the renegade lord the error of his ways before they slew him. However, deep down, all Silas wants is peace of mind and soul, and surprisingly, it may just be that same gaijin that Kiyoshi harbors that helps him find his inner balance...
Name: Kane Tetsuzai
Species: Karasu Tengu
Sex: Male
Age: 24
Date of Birth: 26th moonfall, fifth season, Year of the Ox, 1841
Weapon: Kusarigama
Employment: Oniwabanshu
Element: Metal
Bio: Long ago, Kane's father threatened an old craftsman with death for making him a shoddy wakasashi, and in the process, accidentally dismembered the old man's son, instead. Kane, his father, and their lord, the previous lord of Nagasaki, saw no harm in his father's actions, but the lord's youngest son, Kiyoshi, did. Although unable to convince the lord to punish the samurai for his actions, the bastard dragon did manage to guilt his father into paying restitution for the young boy's funeral. Later, when the old lord perished and Kiyoshi somehow managed to ascend to the throne, his father was tricked into performing a disreputable act by the bastard dragon and cast out of his court, although both he and his father knew the real reason why he was exiled: punishment long overdue for cutting up that innocent child. Kane's father was ruined from that point on, drinking himself into a stupor and putting his entire family to shame. Kane burned for revenge, and the chance to restore his family's honor.
In his quest, he managed to join his fellow assassin Cory's ninja clan, and became fast friends with the frosty rabbit, feeling his thirst for vengeance against a family that had so plagued his own. Unlike his clansman, he reveled in the prospect of working with his former lord's family once again, especially when it was against the bastard dragon who had shamed his father's honor. Unfortunately for him, the true shame of his father will come back to haunt him during his mission, and how he will confront his father's past will alter his future forever...
Name: Raiden "Ray" Ikazuchi
Species: Ban'ei Horse
Sex: Male
Age: 19
Date of Birth: 8th moonfall, twelfth season, Year of the Horse, 1846
Weapon: Tonfa
Employment: Oniwabanshu
Element: Thunder
Bio: In a world of uncertainty and strife, Ray is among the most conflicted members of the Tokugawa samurai. Loyal to the shogunate, but empathic at heart, he grows more weary of his brutal tasks among the shogunate's personal task force, and more sympathetic to the plight of the common man. So, when he was assigned with the rest of his sentai to take out a particularly outspoken and charismatic lord in Nagasaki, you can imagine how much his morals clashed with his duty. He had heard biased stories about the lord and his humanitarian sympathies, and although he knew the lord posed a threat to his lord's rule, he also couldn't help but admire the dragon's compassion and respect for all life, no matter who it was. His empathy had never gone over well with the rest of his group, and during this dangerous assignment, may jeopardize all their lives...or finally bring them to enlightenment.
Name: Kuro “Cole” Tsukianei
Species: Tanuki
Sex: Male
Age: 25
Date of Birth: 30th moonfall, tenth season, Year of the Rat, 1840
Weapon: Fuuma Shuriken (Kobori Ryu roppogata style), smaller Shuriken (same style)
Employment: Oniwabanshu
Element: Darkness
Bio: Dedicated, loyal, cold as ice and hard as nails. That pretty much sums up Cole. His first and only allegiance is to the shogunate; he never questions his orders, and he always gets the job done, thus making him the perfect leader for the assassination squad sent to take out Kiyoshi. So great was his loyalty to the Shogunate, in fact, that he modeled his personal weapon after the shurikens that Tokugawa Yoshinobu – the successor to Tokugawa Iemochi and commander of the palace's defenses until then – so loved, as a sign of respect for the Shogunate and the bakufu. He cared little about the fact that his target's family was the ones sending him and his companions to murder one of his own, just that this assignment was approved by the shogun himself, and that was enough for him. However, he doesn't yet realize just how treacherous and weak-willed his employers, or how influential his mark, can be, and once he does so, there is little telling how his honor and loyalty would be affected.
Name: Izanagi Tanaka
Species: Japanese Dragon
Sex: Male
Age: 33
Date of Birth: 1st moonfall, fourth season, Year of the Dragon, 1832
Weapon: Naginata
Employment: Noble under the Shogunate.
Bio: The eldest of Kiyoshi's brothers and originally next in line for the lordship after their father passed away, Izanagi was - like his siblings - too preoccupied with his own schemes under the shogunate to seek the throne of what they considered a filthy and unflattering city, especially after U.S. Commodore Perry forced it to become a free port right before their father's death. With the port city in need of a new lord, but no one willing to take the offer, Kiyoshi stepped in and suggested a challenge to see who would be forced to take up the responsibility. Izanagi, along with the rest of the Tanaka clan, believed him a fool, but decided to humor him and, with the permission of the shogunate, accepted the challenge...only to immediately regret their decision when Kiyoshi won the challenge and took control of Nagasaki.
This insult belied a deeper fear within Izanagi; recently, Kiyoshi had been displaying some minor but distinguishable signs of sympathy for those who would reject the Shogunate and reinstall the emperor, and with his new position as Nagasaki bugyo, he was in a perfect position to undermine the Shogunate's hopes, should those signs of dissent come to fruition. Unfortunately for him, Izanagi had to wait until two weeks before the dawning of the English new year, in 1865, before he could put his brother to the test. Dissent against the Shogunate was growing, at that time, and the Choshu domain, already known to be thoroughly against the Shogunate and his bakufu, were already seeking weapons to arm themselves for another assault on the bakufu...weapons that Nagasaki had in abundance. Though the strict supervision of trade in the port made any smuggling attempts foolish, he knew Kiyoshi could likely jump at the chance, if it meant gaining an ally in Choshu. As such, he sent a team of samurai down to Nagasaki to keep an eye on his brother's activities and strengthen the Shogunate's hold on the trade industry there. What he doesn't suspect, though, is how deeply Kiyoshi's plans for Choshu really go, or how they will affect the history of Japan...
Name: Godai Tomoatsu
Species: Japanese weasel
Sex: Male
Age: 20
Date of Birth: 12th moonfall, 1st Season, Year of the Monkey, 1836
Weapon: Dai-Sho Katanas
Employment: Samurai of the Satsuma Domain
Bio:
