The Delegations

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Mirumoto-ke no kashin Ito Jinkan

Gender: Male.
Occupation: Bushi and land manager.
Age: Mid-twenties.
Marital Status: Unattached. Available.
Height: Tall.
Build: Uncomfortably thin.
Eyes: Black.
Hair: Black and tied up in a bun most of the time.

The heir to the Ito house is immediately noticeable by the huge scar across his face like he tried to catch a sword between his teeth and missed. The height, slightly darker skin, and deep circles under his eyes tend to draw attention next, followed by the nice silks, expensive hairpin, and jade netsuke. He doesn't strike a particularly imposing figure, looking rather more like a hanger for his clothes than a trained warrior. But those who studied with him can readily attest to his trailer park tweaker bursts of strength as well as an unsettling habit of talking to things that aren't seen.

Jinkan doesn't let such things bother him if he even notices them. He does his best to remain cordial with most everyone he meets, its is just his best is pretty bad. He is excessively rich and the next-in-line to an important jade producing family though so most everything is forgiven even if people talk behind his back. When he isn't wrangling his father and sister into eating actual food, or pretending to read memos, the young bushi likes stacking rocks next to the river or having staring contests with crows.

Hooks:
Likes nature, will talk to rocks and shrubs if there are not animals available.
Lives inside a mountain fortress where they mine for jade. Probably the closest thing to a dwarf that exists in Rokugan.
Sees things that others can't. Or is just nuts. Possibly both.
Can talk about literally anything, very well read.

[Jihen]

Name: Jihen (慈編)
Gender: Male
Occupation: Abbot Aide
Age: 20
Marital Status: Monk
Height: Average
Build: Average
Eyes: Brown
Hair: None

Born under a waning crescent moon, Jihen was given to the Four Temples Monastery as a small child by the Seppun family as the young Abbot Chou-sin began seeking the support of the Imperial families in earnest. Jihen's birth was seen as both a blessing and a test from the heavens by those in his family, for Jihen came into the world with only one arm. The Seppun believed his path lay in spiritual devotion. Despite his physical limitations, Jihen excelled in meditation, philosophy, artistry, and performance... adapting the temple's teachings to suit his body.

Recognizing his brilliance and to better ingratiate himself with the imperial families, the abbot, Chou-sin, took Jihen as his personal aide. Under Chou-sin’s mentorship, Jihen has blossomed into a prodigy of the school. He has mastered many of the sacred texts, developed innovative techniques for the temple’s unique esoteric arts, and became a guiding presence for his peers. Chou-sin and Jihen have developed a strong master-pupil relationship. While Jihen has attended court in the imperial capital, this Winter Court will be his first. Chou-sin has asked him to come and learn of the intricacies of these types of gatherings, and support the Four Temples in their pursuits.

Hooks:
-Resident of the capital and of noble stock.
-Works closely with Chou-sin
-Interested in debate and storytelling.
-An artsy, talky monk.

[Doji Arai]

Doji Arai

Gender: Female
Occupation: Bushi
Age: 21
Marital Status: Single
Height: 1.62
Build: Lithe
Eyes: Black.
Hair: Black

Doji Arai is the young Lady of the House Ishimoto. She only succeeded her mother, the most successful daimyo of the Ishimoto in their long history, a few months ago. The young bushi is trained in the Kakita Dueling Academy and she is considered somewhat of a scholar among her peers. She has a knack for commanding troops and taking the right decisions at the right time during a battle. Or so her training has shown as she hasn't so far been tested in a real battlefield. Arai is exceptionally polite and somewhat reserved, but when she opens up, she has a good sense of humor and a warm demeanor.

Hooks:

- Books!
- Unwed and unbetrothed Lady of House Ishimoto
- With unwed and unbetrothed siblings
- Swordswoman and commander
- Loves games
- Interested in art, of course
- The previous Lady Ishimoto, her mother, killed a few Matsu officers in the battle between the Crane and the Matsu not so long ago.

[Doji Aito]

Doji Aito

Gender: female
Occupation: Bushi
Age: 20
Marital Status: Single
Height: 1.68
Build: Athletic and slender
Eyes: Black
Hair: Black

Aito is the heiress of the House Ishimoto of the Doji. She is a very talented swordswoman and likes spending her time with her sword and her flute. She is overtalented, confident about her abilities, carefree and rather childish. She is timid and not too social but loyal and trustworthy to her close friends and relatives.

Hooks:
-Very much into arts and sports
-time to find a good marriage
-Likes expanding her horizons and learning new things

[Akodo Kenji]

Description
Age: 19
Sex: Male
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown with green flecks
Height: 5’8”
Build: Slim
Profession: Imperial Scribe
Marital Status: Available

Akodo Kenji is a pleasant young man with moderately good looks, long dark hair, and the slightly overly pale skin that suggests too much time spent indoors. Indeed it is rare to catch him without a stack of scrolls or papers, and all too often there is a stray spot of ink or paint gracing a finger or silken hem. Known to his family as “The Young Scholar” Kenji fills that role rather well having been sent to train with the Imperial Calligraphers after his gempukku. He can hold a conversation on most subjects without embarrassing himself, and has the sort of manners that suggest more time spent in the Capital around courtiers than on a battlefield.

Hooks

• "That which has interest is interesting." - Kenji knows a lot about many esoteric subjects and is always keen to learn more.
• "A game of Go, anyone?" - The Empire's premier strategy game is always a good way to pass the time.
• "The way of the brush and blade." - From one thing, know a thousand things. The Kami gave Kenji a gift, he writes well. Really well.
• "House full of heroes." - The Kusama are an Old house with a storied history. Perhaps you have heard of them? Perhaps you have a score to settle?

House
Kusama of the Akodo
Bishamon's Chosen
Guardians of the Western Plains
"The space between grasses."
Location: 041.028 and 042.029

Subordinates: House Harada (040.029)

[Shosuro Reiko]

Description
Age: 21
Sex: Female
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5’2”
Build: Athletic
Profession: Actress
Marital Status: Available

Shosuro Reiko, of House Kishida, is something of a newcomer to this league of courtly goings-on. An actress by training, she has performed at a number of lesser Winter Courts with a particular focus in her repertoire on the works of Crane playwrights. She maintains clippings of particularly favored reviews of her performances, a few of which are reproduced below:

On a one-woman theatrical production:

Shosuro Reiko's production of Doji Risae's Plum Blossoms Upon Golden Sun Bay was enthralling and well-acted, though the young Reiko should do more to stand out from the rest of the cast if she hopes to lead in the future.

On her versatility:

Absolutely one of the best at roles like 'serving girl' or kuroko - wait, is that even a role? By the kami, a play about stagehands. How wonderfully subversive!

Notable Roles:
Scared Villager - Kakita Tomoyuki's Five Winters of Longing
Woman in Background - Kakita Sakura's In the Court of the Crimson Sun
Uncredited Walk-on Cameo - Doji Tomomi's Experimental Untitled Production #4


Hook

- Theatre! Share with Reiko your love of plays of all sorts. Come, let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of daimyo.

- The nightlife! Reiko is no stranger to afterparties and late evenings. Pass the sake and speak of anything to give reason for another bottle. Have we not heard the chimes at midnight?

- Marriage and the future! To be a wife? Or not to be...? Not even really a question, for Reiko's time cometh soon. A good candidate, perhaps, for as she claims she is as constant as the northern star.

[Shiba Ryushi]

Description
Age: 20
Sex: Male
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Dark Brown
Height: 5’6”
Build: Athletic
Profession: Military Advisor
Marital Status: Available

Not much is known about this Shiba publicly.