[center][h2]The Story So Far[/h2][/center]
The Baji Isles are in turmoil, the large scale peace that many hoped Naji would bring turned out to be little more than a foolish dream.  Nakaki encroaches on one of the borders, their skirmishes resulting in massacred villages and hundreds of uninvolved parties left homeless in the aftermath.   It won't be long until it leads to large scale warfare, the fear of it already causing smaller clans to flee the area or pledge loyalty to Nakaki.  On the other end of the islands Hojo has been popping up all around, villages and towns suddenly putting up his banner. While he brings prosperity, his leadership style means that the fancy streets of his towns are filled with gangs and mercenaries fighting over control and for his favor and often attacking any non Hojo villages around them. Many small clans have experienced issues of their own, with strange occurrences going on and many Lords suddenly vanishing or behaving out of character.  Fear of the growing Ka-Tu runs throughout all of the islands, and rumors feel the air of foreign witches causing calamity where ever they go.  Baji has always been a violent chaotic place, but signs point to something big happening soon.  

The Shima Clan had done their best to stay out of the problems, even with their current military strength.  It has close ties with the Naji clan but tensions have been mounted in the past few years due to Shima being unwilling to join their fight against Nakaki, with many local towns wondering if Shima is planning to join the young clan.  The worst event in Shima history occurred only a few days ago when a strange group of outsides took advantage of their hospitalities and stole the Clans's sacred relics before using strange magic to distract the warriors and make their escape.  As their mystics work on holding up their ancient protections, Lord Shima came up with a plan.  The group couldn't have gotten too far and it would be hard for them to leave Hisiano this time of year, someone would have to go after them.  The bulk of the military and their greatest warriors were too busy holding off demons and preparing for Ina attacks to go, and thus a rag tag group was chosen. 

A recent immigrant to the clan hoping to repay its gratitude, Jiang Baji. A young half-Oni enforcer and fledgling Youkai expert, Yuudai Wakahisa. The friendly Lord Oja helping by sending his trusted vassal, Kenji Takeda. The ever loyal Gin, a half-oni blacksmith always looking to help out. A neko samurai, standing in for his father to help the clan, Tarou Sasaki. And an elder Tengu to help keep them in line with her wisdom, Metou Toribaba.  The unusual group was made the official representatives of the Shima Clan and sent out on their journey for the Relics and to gain allies for a bigger plot they fear the thieves were a part of.  

Moving ahead of them was the Neko Guard, Tetsuya Ueno who was trying to speak with the leader of Ru when he stumbled across a new development involving the Naji clan. 

[hr]

 [h2]Clan Reputation/Relations[/h2]
[u]Shima Clan's current status with other clans:[/u]
[hider=Naji][b]Naji:[/b] They are friends of one another, as they share a long history with the Naji leaders often looking up to Shima as spiritual leaders. Even today Ryuu Naji wants Shima to be the religious leaders of the new nation he wants to create.  Their relationship is slightly strained thanks to Shima refusing to go to war for them, but Ryyu Naji still greatly respects them so they are expected to stay friends for at least his lifetime even if some of his followers are less pleased. [/hider]

[hider=Hojo][b]Hojo:[/b] They have engaged in brief skirmishes aiding other allies of theirs, or as a result of Hojo mercenaries aiding bandits and such, but neither has declared real war on the other or has attacked settlements belonging to them.  Shima is on guard and very wary of the nearby Hojo villages but so far they only engage via their ventures with other clans often being at odds with each other. Hojo doesn't find directly fighting Shima profitable and Shima finds fighting a clan with that much outside backing too risky. [/hider]

[hider=Nakaki][b]Nakaki:[/b] They have not encountered one another yet. [/hider]

[hider=Ka-Tu][b]Ka-Tu Tribe:[/b]They don't interact much, but coexist peacefully. Shima is glad that the Oni King mostly keeps Oni though they want him to take it farther and start the race on a path of peace instead of just more selective violence.  Oni King finds them weak but has a degree of respect for them due to the fact that they have historically been accepting of their half-Oni clanmates instead of abusing or abandoning them like many others. The Ka-Tu find no reason to bother Shima settlements but also don't give them any special treatment or consideration. [/hider]

[hider=Ina][b]Ina:[/b] They are at war with one another, with Ina holding an extreme hatred towards Shima.  Shima finds them a clan composed of savages and has given up all hopes of peace as the Ina Clan has attacked every representative they sent who has tried to negotiate with them. [/hider]

[hider=Sinkara][b]Sinkara:[/b] They are friends and allies. They trade often and their citizens freely marry one another with no stigma or drama from either sides family.  Shima has sworn to help defend them, as they have a larger military and they are one of the few clans that Shima will go to war for.[/hider] 

[hider=Ru][b]Ru:[/b] Shima respects Ru for managing to stay itself for so long, and be untainted by the shadow of the much larger clans all around it.  Ru is indifferent towards Shima, they are glad that the clan isn't aggressive but beyond that don't really care. [/hider]

[h3]Group Reputation/Relations[/h3]
[u]The Player Character group's current status with various factions:[/u]

Will update once the group begins to meet people.