Re: OOC
Ah, yes ... I keep forgetting that not everyone here has seen Sakura's history. I discovered in a "previous incarnation" that Sakura wasn't as fun to play unless I put some of her "Scorpion thoughts" in the open. Also, a bit of trivia, Kedo and I are the only "original players" left in this game.
So, for those new to the game, a little "light reading" (it's a re-post of a couple Feb 2007 posting in this same thread):
Overview:
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I'm just putting the finishing touches on Sakura right now. I think she'll be a fun part of this campaign ...
Out of curiosity ... these characters know each other, right?
Sakura's public history: she was once the daughter of a minor Daidoji vassal family, however her family was destroyed in a raid on the outlying village. The sole survivor of that bandit raid, she was adopted into the main line, ostensibly because of her "fierce bravery" but in reality because of her "fierce beauty". Anyone who knows her well will realize that she takes the Daidoji motto, "we do what must be done", very seriously. Anyone who knows her very well will probably have heard her reveal knowledge of an "unsavory sort" on rare occasions.
Sakura is a self-taught Shugenja who communes with the Kami through song. Her adopted family was so busy trying to arrange a "suitable match" that they almost missed her talents.
Sakura is an incredibly talented musician, and while not quite as good as a Courtier she's also a very good orator.
Sakura's private history: Really Shosuro Kasumi, she was trained in the Soshi Shugenja schools specifically for her role -- that of a "Deep Cover" Scorpion agent. She is an idealistic Scorpion who takes her job seriously: protect the Honorable from that which they cannot see.
Everyone considers her a Daidoji (the small tattoo on her wrist helps) at this point and she does her best to make sure no one questions her allegiances.
Fiction:
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Daidoji Sakura (Shosuro Kasumi)
Part I
Daidoji Shinkenichi stopped his steed at the crest of the hill. The small village ahead of them was nestled in the mountains and seemed to be of little value. The Daidoji family had given this village to a lesser vassal to govern because it was considered to be too insignificant to be governed by a "true samurai".
So why were bandits attacking.
Shinkenichi cautiously peered into the horrible sight. The village burned brightly into the night, the stench of flesh rising to meet the patrol. Those bodies that were not consumed by the fire littered the street, Samurai and Eta lying together in a gruesome quilt of death. The bandits roamed the streets, pillaging and plundering, but a small group concentrated itself on the stream side by the city's center. The bandits were laughing and chattering, taking turns jabbing their sticks at something in the center. Shinkenichi's eyes widened at the spectacle -- the "something" in the center was a very attractive Crane Samurai-Ko. Though drastically outnumbered, she was doing her best to fend them off with her Naginata. It was clear to Shinkenichi that she was alive because they found her amusing. When the bandits tired of their little game they would undoubtedly find a more dishonorable way to bide their time ...
Shinkenichi called on the wind spirits to aid in their silent charge and the small band of Daidoji crashed into the Bandits with all the fury of a hurricane. The bandits were soon routed and Shinkenichi's troops pursued them with vengeance. Now at the center of the town, Shinkenichi got his first look at the young girl who was moments ago being so brave. Her chestnut eyes peered out from under her grime-covered face.
"Doumo Arigatou Gozaimashita" she said bowing low.
Shinkenichi didn't have to ask about her family. As the sole survivor, he knew that her family was dead. He wasn't entirely sure what to do with her, but he instinctively knew that her beauty would come to good use for the clan. Perhaps they could arrange to have her married to a minor Imperial ...
"Think nothing of it" he replied sympathetically. "What is your name?"
"Sakura" the girl replied quietly.
"Well, Sakura-Chan, take what you need. We'll be departing shortly. When the small group finally departed, no one noticed the shadowy figure steal off toward Scorpion lands ...
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Shosuro Kaze walked into Kyuden Shosuro and bowed low to his lord. The mission had gone well -- no one had ever suspected that the "bandits" were actually Scorpion samurai. "My Lord" he began, "Kasumi has been inserted with the Daidoji."
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Daidoji Sakura
Part II
Sakura sat in the garden listening to her adoptive family argue her fate as her younger brother practiced his Kata. Such things were normally quite interesting to the children being affected, but Sakura had long ago lost interest in the ritual arguments. Her uncle, the eldest of that generation, and her father had been playing court games trying to get her to follow the path that they had chosen for a couple years now, and the game had grown boring for Sakura. She was now far behind in her studies and no matter what they chose for her she would be too busy studying to be of any real use. While others her age were already assisting the professionals, Sakura was being kept too busy showing off for prospective husbands. It seemed that marriage was the only thing the brothers agreed on. Both wanted to use her beauty to make her part of the Imperial Family.
It would give them better connections.
Sakura sighed softly as the ritual argument began afresh. "She will be a Courtier!" her father boomed. "Nonsense!" her uncle retorted, "with her voice she must be with the artisans!" This year, once again, her training would suffer as she was shuttled back and forth between the Academy and Courtiers in between the many meetings with powerful prospective husbands.
"Good Morning!"
The voice of her uncle, Daidoji Yamanoke, the youngest of his generation, cut through the garden like a bell. Of all the brothers he was the most likable and the most respected. He had attended the Asahina Shugenja school and, unlike the others, had taken their pacifistic spirit as a position of strengh.
"Yamanoke!" her father demanded, "what is your opinion of the matter? Which will provide a better husband for Sakura -- courtier training or artisan training?" Yamanoke chuckled at the question and sat down on the grass with them.
"It seems to me" said Yamanoko watching Sakura, "that her skills will be secondary to her beauty." The two older brothers grunted their disaproval at the suggestion.
"Every advantage counts!"
'Look at that' Sakura thought to herself, 'something else they agree on.'
A servant came running up to Sakura, a large pouch in her hand. Bowing low, the servant gave the pouch to Sakura and scampered away. A slow smile crossed Sakura's lips as she regarded the pouch. 'the debate ends today' she thought to herself as she drew a scroll from the pouch. Sakura stretched the scroll out so that she could easily read it and then she began to sing softly, communing with the kami of air. Air spells were easy for her. She almost didn't need the scrolls, but she had yet to completely memorize the spells.
'soon. I'll have them memorized soon ...'
Visibly perplexed, Yamanoke looked over at his niece as she sang. The air kami seemed to dance and sway before her as she sang, hanging on her every breath. Yamanoke concentrated on her, attempting to drown out the arguments of his brothers. Yes, she was indeed communing with that kami ...
"She is a Shugenja" Yamanoke interrupted calmly.
"What!?!" The surprise that his brothers shared was obvious and genuine. "There is no way that I can allow her to train with the Kami!" Sakura's father shouted. "What good would that do us in the courts!?!" retorted his oldest brother.
"You both misunderstand me" Yamanoke replied still staring at Sakura. "I did not say she should be a shugenja. I said that she is a shugenja." It was then that the older brothers noticed what he was staring at. The wind appeared to be dancing with her soft voice, carrying leaves and dust upwards and dropping them in time with the music. The elder brothers' jaws dropped.
"I have never seen this kind of magic" Yamanoke continued, "she seems to come by it naturally." Yamanoke then turned towards his brothers. "I assure you, brothers, this will come in quite useful. A girl of this talent may even interest the Seppun Shugenja Academy."
The older brothers stared after Sakura a bit longer. The Seppun Shugenja Academy. The sole magical protectors of the Emperor himself. The only ones that were able to wield magic freely in the presence of the Son of Heaven. Such power had been considered unattainable and undreamable in this little corner of the family.
Until now.
Sakura's smile widened to one of joy. They had never asked her what she was good at, they had all assumed that she was untrained. It was true that she had a natural affinity with the air kami, they understood each other very well, but she was not, as they believed, "untrained".
'So much the better' she though to herself, 'it makes my cover that much more believable. But there is one downside to all of this.'
A bit sad, Sakura looked upward as she sang, focusing on the hawk soaring above her. It had always given her a sense of freedom when she worked with the falcons. Now that the family had come to a decision, they would no longer be arguing. That meant she could no longer sneak off and help train the falcons ...
"Yamanoke, why don't you tutor her?" her father asked politely. "Maybe she can catch up and then attend the Asahina School with you."
"Sure. I'll start right away."
There was silence from the oldest brother. The air was thick as the two stared at their oldest brother. Finally Yamanoke broke the tension. "What did you do, brother?"
"I kind of promised to send her on a small errand in a couple weeks ..."
'Of course' Sakura thought to herself as she watched her brother. 'That's so typical of him ...'