[IMG]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i246/Bloodlut/Samurai.jpg[/IMG]

Name:
Asakura Yoshikage

Age:
42

Race: 
Huamn

Appearance:
Yoshikage is a man who has lived through the prime of his life and survived, his once jet black hair now grey with numerous white streaks, his skin beginning to wrinkle at the corners of his eyes and mouth. His face is generally covered by a slight scowl, his dark eyes boring into whatever or whoever he looks at. He is a serious man with a serious appearance, easily able to intimidate and strike fear into his enemies with little more than a sinister and unwavering gaze. 

He wears his lamellar armour at most times, always prepared and ready to protect his lord at short notice.

Equipment:
Yoshikcage wears a dark set of lamellar armour, passed to him by his father upon his coming of age. 

His weapons are daishō, one large tachi, his main blade (again passed to him by his father) and a ko-wakizashi (smaller sword), gifted to him by his lord Nakayuki Hattori upon his promotion to the Daimyo’s honour guard. 

Skills: 
Yoshikcage is an extremely skilled swordsman, having trained in their use for the majority of his life. He is an experienced veteran of many battles and has thus far been undefeated in direct honourable combat.

He has some skill with a yari or naginata (pole weapons), however he dislikes these weapons and will only use one if facing against an enemy cavalry charge, and even then he will look for the first opportunity to discard such weapons in favour of his blades.  

He has no skills with the yumi (longbow), feeling that to deal death from a distance is most dishonourable. He spits on those who use Tanegashima (matchlock rifles), feeling that those who do so are even more dishonourable and lack any personal skills. 

History: 
Yoshikcage was born to a samurai retainer of the Hattori family, his father a skilled and renowned samurai. His youth consisted of constant and harsh training, his father drilling the discipline and honour needed for bushido into him at every opportunity. It was not until Yoshikcage grew to be a young man that he began to appreciate this constant training, somewhat resenting his father before this. 

Upon coming of age Yoshikcage became one of the many samurai that were a part of the young Nakayuki Hattori’s forces, quickly distinguishing himself as a loyal and proficient warrior. 

As the years passed and he grew closer to Nakayuki, the two formed a strong lord-retainer bond and Yoshikcage eventually became a member of Nakayuki’s personal guard. 

Yoshikcage quickly grew to despise the southern daimyo Shimazuma Sadayu, due to his dishonourable and aggressive nature. He urged his master to dispose of the gift that was sent, however stood faithfully by as his master dismissed his urgings and accepted the gift with an open heart as he longed for a lasting peace finally. 

During the siege Nakayuki implored Yoshikcage to protect his weakened son, despite the man requesting that he remain with his lord to protect him, or at the very least be sent to strike against the numerous enemies that lay siege to the castle. His lord refused and commanded him to protect his son’s life at all costs. Yoshikcage stood faithfully, and as news reached him of his master’s death he assisted in rushing the young new lord away from the castle, despite his anger and desire to avenge his lord. 

Yoshikcage considers the failure to protect his lord as an utter defeat and personal failure. He would have ended his own life already if it were not for the survival of the young lord, he considers his master’s final instructions to be of utter importance. Yoshikcage intends to pledge his blade and his life to the young Hattori, if of course the young lord can forgive him for his failure and the death of his father – if not Yoshikcage will of course commit Seppuku.