Kaneyoshi - The Rookie

Insight: 148
IR: 1
Honor: 3.5
Glory: 1.0
Status: 0

Rings/Traits:
Water 3
Earth 3
Air 2 (Reflexes 3)
Fire 2 (Agility 3)
Void 3

Skills:
Athletics 1
Defense 1
Jiujutsu 1
Kenjutsu 5
Perform: Shamisen 2
Lore:Theology 1
Calligraphy 1
Etiquette 1
Spears 1
Kyujutsu 1
Hunting 1
Investigation 1
Meditation 1

Advantages/Disadvantages:
Inhereitence (Shamisen)
Social Disadvantage - Ronin
Idealistic
Secret Love - Doji Tsubasa
Unknown Enemy - Doji Tsubasa's Father (LB Edit: Doji Okita)

Light Armor
Tattered Clothing
Daisho
Shamisen (Inheritance)
*Coin Purse
*Daisho Stand
*Small knife
*Small Folding Stool
*Small statue of Ebisu
*Straw Cloak
*Wide Brimmed Straw Hat
*Whetstone
*Spare Kimono and Sandles
*Spare Kimono and Sandles

An unlikely parentage for a samurai, even for a ronin. His mother Aya was a nun of the Fortune Ebisu of quite high stature for one so young. She traveled between the various Temples of their Order passing messages between the various Abbots. Her discretion and dedication were absolute and beyond that the various Temples, shrines, and monasteries received her with open arms for her wonderous talent with the shamisen. The industrious monks and nuns who praised the Fortune of Honest Work found her skill brought out great contentment and the desire to work even harder. It was on one of her journeyings that her traveling party was attacked by bandits in the end only Aya would survive rescued by the ronin Kenzen who came upon the attack in progress.

Kenzen escorted the nun to her destination and along the way Aya tended to his wounds. The nun felt great admiration for the waveman who risked his own meager existence to help travelers, so much so that she fell in love as their journey came to a close. Kenzen was invited to stay within the Temple to fully recover from his wounds and as he did he worked at various tasks assisting the monks. Aya spoke to the Abbot about her feelings and the wise old man told her, 'There is no greater honest work to perform than that of a wife and mother. It is often thankless and frustrating beyond measure, yet rewarding beyond imagination. Go and Ebisu no-Fortune will bless you all.'

Released from her vows Aya married Kenzen and she bore a son, who would one day take the name Kaneyoshi. As the boy grew Kenzen dedicated himself to gaining fealty and though many times he came close, he never quite made the mark. With his son only ten and his wife deathly ill in desperation he participated in a twenty goblin winter. While out on the hunt he had managed to fell eighteen of the foul beast. Searching for two more bakemeno he spied a large oni, far more fearsome that anything his party was able to handle. Returning to their camp he informed the Hiruma and showed him the beast. The creature was aware of their approach and attacked seriously wounding the Crab escort and killing several of his fellow ronin. Rather than waste his life he carried the Hiruma back to the Kaiu Kabe and explained what happened. The Crab were not impressed with his tale, despite the Hiruma's words. The Crab never found the oni and Kenzen had failed to slay enough beasts for fealty. As he recovered from his own injuries word reached him that his beloved wife had died, leaving the twenty goblin winter incomplete he mourned his wife and took to teaching his son.

Kenzen was not the beneficiary of any school and lacked a refined technique. Even so his skill with the blade was only matched by his determination for victory, even if his kenjutsu was rough around the edges. Having been taught manners, writing, religion, and music by his departed Mother, the young ronin now turned to martial persuits. Where Aya had enlightened the mind, Kenzen now hardened the body. The boy matched his father's determination and grew strong and quick, gaining a capable hand with a blade. They traveled together as Kenzen took jobs and it was during one of these Kenzen met his fate defending a caravan. Outnumbered by bandits he fought with unbridled ferocity to defend his son and his employer, in the end it was not enough as the last bandit slew him before Kaneyoshi could come to his father's aid. Even so Kaneyoshi ran the murderer through with a yari from behind. When the dust settled Kaneyoshi took up his father's daisho and claimed his name along with completing his father's contract seeing the merchant train to its destination.

Within this city near the Lion border within the lands of the Crane, Kaneyoshi saw to his Father's cremation. He lingered a while mourning the loss of the last of his family. Taking up his Mother's shamisen he played a mournful tune and as he played he remembered both his parents. As he did he recalled the good times and the music changed becoming peaceful and then joyful and as he did he attracted many onlookers. Among them was the Doji Tsubasa, daughter of the governor. So beautiful and sincere were the notes that she was smitten by the impromptu concert, unknown to Kaneyoshi. As he finished he returned to his lodging and slept peacefully into the evening and night.

Doji Tsubasa extatic over what she had seen and heard could speak of nothing else. Her emotions on her kimono sleeve, laid bare, were such a sight that a shugenja was called to ensure all was well. When her noble Father finally heard that night he made arrangements to ensure his daughter's safety. By the morning come Kaneyoshi was greated by two magistrates and without explination was told to leave the province immediately. Confused, but heart lifted of grief he did so. Within the governor's estate Doji Tsubasa's heart was rended by her Father's actions. For now within the Governor's house a state of war existed between Father and Daughter, even if the old man had yet to realize it.