Name: Shosuro Yingzi ( 影子 )
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Bushi and scout
Age: 22
Height: 5'10
Weight: Healthy
Hair: Black
Eyes: Green
Build: Lithe and limber

The light-footed Yingzi is a stereotypical Scorpion. Serious, seemingly deadly, and impossibly silent. His role on the island is of a scout and warrior, yet he is not here under Hiruka's command. The Scorpion has instead been 'loaned' to the service of Moto Mura in order to scout ahead for the Explorers. Perhaps it was a snub by the Scorpion to the failure of a Miya, but no one is bold enough to question their reasons in public. Anything more about him is shrouded in that ever present Scorpion mystery as getting him to talk about himself and his talents is more difficult than trying to get a Hida off of the Wall in the middle of their shift.

His attire is plain. A typical red and blank kimono with the proper mons of the Shosuro family, Scorpion clan, and Bayushi Bushi school adorning it in golden thread is worn when relaxing in town, but during his shifts or just getting off, he is dressed in ashigaru armor with the proper mons. At his side always is a gorgeous and immaculate daisho. The katana is kept in a highly ornate black saya depicting the story of the Frog and the Scorpion, with a tsuba that has an odd design of different masks instead of something more traditional like Scorpions. The wakizashi is surprisingly far behind in decoration. It's oddly simple, but that's what gives it its own beauty as it sits in a saya made of the same rich, black wood as his katana's.

His hair is often tied in a loose ponytail, but when not on duty he allows the silken locks to fly freely in the wind. Yet no matter how much the wind blows there never seems to be a single hair out of place on his head. Anything else about his physical features is hidden, as the only skin he shows is above his mask. His hands are always within crimson gloves, and even his neck is covered. This has led a few to muttering about how he must be scarred underneath all of the armor and fabric and so to save his clan's reputation as beautiful he must hide it.

Name: Daidoji Kenzō
Marital Status: Married (Bitterly and he isn't afraid to say it)
Occupation: Bushi/Scout
Age: 29
Height: 5'8
Weight: 141lbs
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Build: Well defined


Daidoji Kenzō is always in a good mood and doesn’t understand why other people here aren’t. Having spent ten years hunting and being hunted by Lion patrols and losing an eye in an ambush he never expected to be rewarded with the chance to explore an entirely new land. Now he stands on the shores of a mystery and gets to be one of the first to see it. He has quickly adapted to island life and when he isn’t out stalking through the brush he can be found enjoying the beaches and coves.

His only disappointment comes from the lack of children among the heimin that he can entertain with his puppetry and funny voices or being reminded that he is married. While this isn’t a vacation for anyone here at times it seems like it is to him and he isn’t afraid to show his enjoyment. All the while he keeps his remaining eye on the Lion because he knows they are watch him and a confrontation is bound to happen at some point; if he had hoped his past would remain on the mainland it certainly hasn’t.

Name: Shiba Yukari
Marital Status: Single and ready to mingle... on a godforsaken island where everyone has serious work to do. Dammit!
Occupation: Tejina (we're NEW!), Gardener, Performer, and all-around artisan
Age: 20
Height: 5'4"
Weight: Lightweight enough that her mother always tells her to eat more when they meet up.
Hair: Black
Eyes: One violet, one brown
Build: Slender

A lovely young woman with an enchanting voice, devastating good looks, intense artistic accomplishments, and training in a promising new technique that will doubtless be of use in court, Shiba Yukari is not entirely sure why she's been sent to this island, and she's not entirely sure anyone else knows why either, but she's determined to make the best of it.

A cheerful and outgoing young woman, she is one of the very first Tejina in Rokugan, and personally studied at the feet of Shiba Tsuna... but while most of his other students have formed a sort of troupe around him, she got packed off on a Phoenix supply ship to some island she'd never heard of.

Things have gone... moderately well since then. A dedicated gardener and ikebana afficionado, she's been trying to give the rough and ready village a bit of culture, since she cannot fathom why else she would have been sent so far away from anything even beginning to approximate a court.

Back on the mainland, there's some rumbling that the arts of the Tejina are a disrespectful use of the power of the kami. That said, Yukari finds that nobody on Furihumu Island minds much, since her aptitude for illusions and entertainment fills something of a void in what passes for the social scene.



Hooks and Lines
- Why isn't she at some court where her good looks, charm, and cheerful nature can score political points for the Phoenix? Or at the very least being set up to charm someone into an advantageous marriage... she hardly seems cut out for wilderness exploration on some friggin' island.
- A Shiba shugenja isn't unheard of, but it is unusual
- About that... these "Tejina" are hardly proper shugenja! All they seem to do is ask the kami to do parlor tricks to entertain people!
- Do you like flowers? Yukari loves flowers.
- Wanna help keep everyone's morale up? Yukari would love a hand with that.

Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Yojimbo
Age: 24
Height: 5'2"
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Build: Fit

Akari is struggling. Struggling with where Hikura's bad fortune or ineptitude has brought her. The young woman was assigned after her predecessor arranged to be transferred to some distant court somewhere, to distance herself from Hikura's failures, but Miya Akari has stuck it out. She does what she can to assist the cartographer and explorer, but fortune never seems to be with her efforts to do so. Almost as though her boss had some sort of karma that made it impossible to truly help.

Besides her concerns with her boss, Akari is also a bit argumentative. She doe not often intend to do so, but a natural desire to be correct often takes hold and she may end up arguing a point into exhaustion. So as long as you don't have a conflicting opinion on something she cares about she is a perfectly pleasant woman. In fact, she enjoys sitting around in the company of others, sharing sake or tea, and just talking about any topic, even if she knows nothing about it and is just learning.

She is certainly not imposing in build, having a somewhat slight frame, but it carries a swordsman's physique. She always maintains exceptional posture and moves with a smooth grace. Her eyes are always watchful and keen, though what threats exist on this island are yet to be seen.

Agasha Chika
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Shugenja-ish? Scribe.
Age: 22
Height: 5'6"
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Build: Very medium

The outdoorsy, smiley girl from Shiro Mirumoto is perhaps an obvious example of the 'worldly Dragon' that members of other clans might expect would be drawn to travel the empire - especially strange parts like Furihumu Island. Except there's much more to the story of Agasha Chika, not all of it known, and some of it seemingly contradictory.

The woman who's spent almost four years in Otosan Uchi with the imperial scribes might just be in the mood for a change of scenery, and she does smile widely when she goes exploring the island. But her appearance in the second wave of arrivals seemed to surprise Miya Haruka and Moto Mura, who are both familiar with the otherwise little-known Dragon samurai-ko via their imperial connections. Neither seemed happy to see Chika, who unashamedly carries writing supplies with her everywhere, even out into the wilds. And isn't shy about stopping to quietly write notes to herself.

[More to come]

I suppose I should, too...

Ikoma Matisutou
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Bushi
Age: Mid-twenties
Height: Average
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Build: Lithe

Ikoma Matisutou is a prodigy of his School, one who early on distinguished himself in courtly affairs and who has had the pleasure of attending several Imperial functions. It's probably because of that that he's been dispatched to Furihumu and the Miya efforts thereupon; he's gotten on well with the mighty ones in the past, so he can expect to do so again now.

More later, maybe? Maybe.

Relationship status: Single
Occupation: Scout
Age: 21
Build: lean and athletic

Asashi is a more rare member of the Fox Clan in that he can't heat the call of the spirits. But despite that he is no less attuned to nature. The young man spent sometime with the Wasp learning their ways with the bow and then was trained in woodcraft and survival by his home clan.

When the expedition was put together the Miya, who are long friends of the Fox, knew they needed to bring someone along with an unparalleled understanding of surviving in harsh wilderness conditions.

Asashi is a pleasant and friendly man though he clearly feels more at ease among the forest and with animals. He is often considered very attractive but his aforementioned awkwardness can make courting difficult for the Fox. Regardless he is here to help the expedition brave the wilds and maybe increase ties with great clans while he's at it.

Name: Doji Hanatsuko
Profession: Flower girl
Age: 25
Marital status: Single
Hair: bleached white
Eyes: Blue
Build: Light

Doji Hanatsuko has trained as an artisan of the Kakita. Her passion for flowers make her smell quite like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers. She has come to Furihumu to study the local flora and get inspired in this island. She had had some failures lately an needs a new perspective.

Hooks:
You like flowers? I do
Need a gift for someone special? Let me paint it for you

Name: Komyo
Marital Status: Pfffh, ronin
Occupation: Herbalist and physician
Age: 26
Height: 4'9
Weight: Underweight
Hair: Black
Eyes: Black

Just a small ronin who prides herself on her work. For now, she's been employed as one of the medics on the island, under the watch of the clan medics. The only noticeable thing about her is her short stature and the fact that she's a mute. She spends most of her time gathering what herbs they need.

Name: Hiromoto
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Sailor/Bushi
Age: 34
Height: 5' 6"
Weight: Thickset
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Build: Muscular



Hiromoto is a Mantis through and through, a sailor at the core, and giddily opportunistic. The fact that he is now nearing retirement age means that he no longer can be at the forefront of the clan's military endeavors, however his long service and great artifice have convinced them to allow Hiromoto to seek out the isle of the mists and promote the interests of his clan in a more direct fashion.

He has a habit of gambling but it's a pastime not a problem for him. He also enjoys fine sake but doesn't drink to excess, nor does he smoke opium. Hiromoto has 5 children, an aging wife and a younger concubine. The concubine was actually at the insistence of his wife after the birth of their 3rd child. They have a very normal marriage for Rokugan and though lacking in love, it is also lacking in hate.

Hiromoto is well established and sees this position as not just a way to serve his clan but also to determine if the island they seek after is even worth pursuing. While a base so near the Northern end of Rokugan was invaluable for staging raids and as a port of call, the strange rumors and long disappearance nagged at Hiromoto and so before he could fully devote himself to securing possession of the island he felt that he had to see it with his own eyes. Only time will tell if his suspicions are correct, but he is dedicated to finding out once and for all whether they are or not.

Name: Hiruma Heiko
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Bushi, Scout
Age: 20
Height: 4'10"
Weight: 8st 3
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Build: Lithe

During her gempukku, Heiko spent over a week wandering the near Shadowlands, unable to find a suitable creature to take the head of. Eventually, she returned with a trophy from a corrupted deer. After such a long trip, it was insisted that she be checked for taint. The Kuni said that Heiko was clean, the Hiruma agreed that she had technically passed her test and she was assigned to a role at a quiet fort up in the north-west near the Shinomen.

This experience led the young Hiruma to the conclusion that the Shadowlands had been defeated. There has not been a serious attack on the wall in her lifetime and longer- the Crab have succeeded in their duty and spending time on the Wall was now a waste. This sort of opinion was not well received by the other members of the Clan and Heiko became something of a loner in the garrison, preferring time off in the wilderness.

When the Crab were called upon to provide resources to investigate this strange new island, a cunning Yasuki realised that this might be a good place to palm off the unpopular but competent scout. In the time since arriving, Heiko has mostly kept to herself, but eventually has had to interact with other Samurai.

Name: Ide Mokoro
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Unicorn Courtier (Ide Trader School)
Age: 34
Height: 5'8"
Weight: Healthy
Hair: Black (Dyed, Naturally Black & Greying in Streaks)
Eyes: Brown
Build: Athletic & Refined



Ambitious, charismatic, and carrying himself with a boldness that only comes with experience, Ide Mokoro is a strange man in a strange place, and certainly fits the stereotype of a Unicorn. He cuts a fairly dashing figure despite being in his mid-thirties, dying his silvering hair to hide his age and keeping up with the courtly fashions that're all the rage these days. Typically well-dressed by Unicorn standards, silks and finery accented by foreign and absurdly expensive accoutrements are part and parcel for the Ide Trader, though he insists on wearing reliable leather boots and more than a little fur with every outfit in lieu of the more traditional Rokugani attire, granting him an oddly exotic (some might even say barbaric) appearance. Despite bearing the moniker of "courtier," the middle-aged Unicorn is remarkably fit; he may not be graceful, but otherwise he's in the prime of his life, his physique honed from a lifetime of horsemanship and travel across the Empire.

He may be somewhat strange in his gaijin influenced mannerisms and dress, but Mokoro remains an approachable and reputable man, though his proclivities for more casually breaking his On may take some getting used to. He's quick with a laugh, and isn't afraid to smile openly and show his teeth despite its taboo nature in more traditional courts, nor is he perturbed by the concept of physical contact with fellow samurai nor heimin. Similarly, he's open and honest on his views about the value of wealth and commodities as tools, and isn't afraid to deal directly with such unsavory topics. After all, his reputation often precedes him; blessed with a gift for logistics and trade, Mokoro is well-known along the ports and borders of the realm for his ability to acquire even the rarest of goods.

Investing himself in the Imperial expedition, Mokoro's sojourn to Furihumu Island is as a consultant and advisor, tasked with building up the island's infrastructure and the opening of supply lines back to the mainland through his innumerable contacts in order to bring in much needed goods, tradesmen, and other necessities to the fledgling town. When not directing heimin on projects or pouring over trade routes in his room, he spends the remainder of his time working closely with Miya Hiruka and Kaiu Kyo, frittering his time away playing dice and drinking, or doing seemingly uncourtier-like things like trekking out into the wilds with his fellow explorers in search of new or valuable resources to bolster the potential economic value of the island.

-------------

Five Easy Plot Hooks:

• Mokoro is known to be able to acquire virtually anything. Anything.

• Rumor has it that Ide Mokoro is seeking a suitable wife, and has turned down a number of impressive suitors. Curious.

• Want to learn more about what lies beyond the Emerald Empire, or how the Unicorn do things? Ask Mokoro. Careful, though -- he might not shut up about it.

• People say that once Mokoro gives his word, he's iron-bound to it whether he likes it or not.

• Do you fancy games of chance? Mokoro does. Grab those dice, and play for some stakes... if you dare!