Lord Sato Kenshin
The supreme ruler of the land and all the people. No one is above you and there is no person more powerful than you in all the province. Still, life is not simple. While it is true that you are omnipotent, you remain daimyo only so long as the other samurai houses remain your allies. Should a rival ever unit a majority of the families against you, you could be overthrown and lose your seat of power. So, you must endeavor to keep the samurai beneath you content and loyal. You take pains to consult them on major decisions. You grant them special privileges over the commoners. You permit them to gather taxes and to reserve part of the money for themselves. You work with them constantly to maintain the fragile harmony.However, you are scarcely a fool. Your spies and informers are everywhere, in every village, in every clan. The secrete conspiracies of your erstwhile allies are reported to you directly. From these clandestine reports, you assess the strengths and intentions of possible enemies. You decide what action is necessary. Should a family grow too powerful, you move to crush it, stripping it of titles and possessions.
You were not always daimyo, though. Once there was a time when you were but the trusted advisor of the previous daimyo, your half-brother. Indeed, it may be that he was too trusting for his own good. A mysterious fall from a horse precipitated his death, and he passed the mantle of leadership on to you with his dying breath - or so it is said. His only apparent heir was his thirteen-year old son. Voicing concern for his safety and well-being, you sent the lad to a province far, far away. That was more than just prudence, for it removed the only legitimate thread to your rise to power.
That was 7 years ago - twelve long years during which you have ruled firmly and wisely. Your family has prospered, and there has been no significant threat to your status. But now, this fresh report you are reading is disturbing. Prince Yotaro, son of your half-brother, has returned to Tsuke and is stirring up a rebellion! This cannot be so! But the communique in your hands is from your most reliable spy. He has seen the young Prince on the road back to the province, and learned of his intentions! The Prince is back, and your title is in jeopardy! He must be found and made to pay the price for his treachery!