[hider=Hakayama Kusai] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/dad94ae3-cb66-420f-8d6e-1b7c49ad1640.jpg[/img] [u][b]Hakayama Kusai: The Steel Crane[/b][/u] [sub]Disgraced Magistrate and Duelist[/sub] [u][b]Age: Twenty one winters.[/b][/u] [u][b]Totem: Crane[/b][/u] [u][b]Appearance[/b][/u] The young woman that calls herself Hakayama Kusai would appear as nothing more than an average woman of unremarkable looks were it not for her intense pride over her name. The Steel Crane served as a magistrate for five years, straight out of her coming of age ceremony. She refused to live the life of a quiet courtier, destined to marry and have children for someone else's family. In her five years, her natural talent with a katana and supreme focus for traditional duels earned her a wicked reputation as a law bringer. In her career she's only lost two duels. One gave her the scar on her face, the other was the penultimate act that removed her from the Magistrates. Since her disgrace, and her escape from custody, she's traveled the country looking for the group who cost her everything she worked to build. She wears a sky blue kimono - similar to the one she wore in court when she failed her lord. Her flair for the dramatic extends to her clothing with her chosen kimono decorated with cherry blossoms and swooping cranes. Her arms are protected by kode - armored sleeves and bracers that tie across her chest to each other. The rest of her armor has long since been discarded in favor of the more mobile kimono that she wears. [u][b]Personality[/b][/u] Originally a very brash girl, time in the Magistrates has tempered her angry outlook at her expected destiny into a cool determination to prove the stars wrong. She is polite, and observes all forms of etiquette when in polite company. In public she as a very short, curt attitude to the lower classes that bears them no ill will but acknowledges her station as a samurai. With enemies, she is ice cold. Her reputation is built upon this, and it's where the origin of her name comes from. She has a healthy respect for the law of the land, even in exile, but now without the strictures of propriety, her hunt for those who wrong her and the people can be pursued without restraint. [u][b]History[/b][/u] Born to a well to do family, the girl that would become Hakayama Kusai was a very free, very rebellious spirit. Her father, never wishing his daughter ill, regularly spoiled her and indulged her flights of fancy. Where some girls were learning painting and poetry, he would teach her the process of cleaning and maintaining his katana. As she grew, she expressed distaste that her mother insisted on her learning to be a lady in court, and to prepare to impress a husband. Her father helped banish those lessons to a lower importance, while the dreams of her following in his footsteps as a swordsman danced in his head. Upon her coming of age, she quickly applied to be an Imperial Magistrate. For five years, she brought honor to the Hakayama name with her blade and her wit. Aside from her obvious talent with a katana, she was a skilled investigator and a relentless pursuer of justice. More criminals met their end on her blade than any four of her comrades combined. Perhaps she was too efficient, as it didn't take long for her to have rivals and enemies in most courts. After being taken off the 'streets' and brought to court, she adapted well and found the strength of polite conversation. When it failed, of course, she stuck to her tried and true methods. Law was on her side, of course, with duels being a perfectly valid method for solving problems with said rivals and enemies. Until she fought one she could not beat. Not for lack of talent, however, but honor. She was outmaneuvered. Forced into a corner that allowed her only one way out - fight and win a duel, and cause the death of an heir to an important family, or lose the duel and give up her station, status, and claim to Imperial Law. In the days before the duel, the family of the young man who challenged her begged her to concede the duel. Begged her to leave their only heir alive, so that their house could finally recover from the very unjust treatments she had helped put an end to. Her enemies arranged it perfectly. The fostered a hatred for her in the young heir, and goaded him into challenging her to a duel to the death. If she won the duel, they would win the long game and have control of court. She chose to support justice and fled. She swore to the Kami that she would see the crooked, criminal politicians that tried to abuse the system eliminated. She has been wandering since, on the trail of her enemies. [u][b]Strengths[/b][/u] As a Magistrate, she's familiar with Imperial Law. More-so than most, she was obsessive about finicky details, and can conjure technicalities quite easily if need be. She knows the value of etiquette, and respects the fact that most anywhere she stays, she will be a guest. As her reputation commands, she is a very skilled swordswoman - in particular in one on one fights. She can hold her own in a group fight, but the chaos of a large battle may overwhelm her. Her particular style, known as the Haku Tsuru, emphasizes swift, single motions. It focuses on the iai strike, teaching a philosophy of 'One Sword, One Soul, One Strike'. It lacks the more brutal qualities of a generic fighting style, emphasizing grace in motion and confidence in one's own victory. [u][b]Weaknesses[/b][/u] She's been called heartless, cold, and ruthless - all of those descriptions are unfair. She has severe trust issues, and is very long to trust anyone beyond politeness. In addition, once her mind is set on an outcome, she will pursue it. Her stubbornness comes through in almost every aspect of her life. She is not afraid to punish insolence with pain. She refuses to start a fight or hinder law enforcement. The only exception is if they try to kill her, and even then, she will do her best to spare their lives. She chose the life of a wandering ronin. Unless corruption is present, she expects various magistrates and law-keepers to give her trouble and she willingly endures it as a penance for her failure. [u][b]Likes[/b][/u] For all her gruff exterior, she has a soft spot for comforts. She loves a well made kimono and enjoys the idea of being pretty when appropriate. It's rare, but she will occasionally spoil herself and find well made formal wear for a festival. The precision and patience of a duelist pays off when applying makeup. [u][b]Dislikes[/b][/u] Aside from the obvious choice of lawlessness, spiders absolutely make her skin crawl. She will go out of her way to dispatch them if seen. [u][b]Theme[/b][/u] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Oo9XXXc9eU]A bit of flavor for her![/url] [/hider]