Kitsune Kitao's page

Byako Kitao was born in Kyuden Kitsune in 1106 month of the Ox. The birth of Kitao brought both celebration and sadness, friends and family rejoiced in private, him and his twin sister would then be presented to the forest to meet their ‘cousins’ and a kitsune spirit would approach one of the two babies, marking the one that would join them when they came of age.

Once Kitao was 16 and his gempukku came in 1122, as descendent of the Byako family, his twin sister Inigiri was destined to travel into Kitsune Mori to never return to her family, but to travel and live with the kitsune spirits. This would leave Kitao as the one bushi of the Byako family to serve the Kitsune main family.

As a bushi his gempukku consisted of several martial abilities specially those that would make a good Yojimbo or a ranger to defend the lands of the Fox Clan. Good speed and stealth are highly sought after, but also stamina and endurance to move great distances. Then came the basic test of knowledge nature, hunting, and other common skills expected of a bushi, like the Fox Clan history and Byako Family history. Kitao performed well, but excelled at his swordplay and was sought after as a yojimbo, magistrate, and a duelist, a rather odd thing for a Kitsune to be good at duels and yoriki, but an asset that can come in handy.

The scond part of the test is a show of connection with the kitsune spirits, Kitao walked into Kitsune Mori to find proof of his comunication to the spirits. Kitao wondered for 2 days until he found a woman with a fox and his sister Inigiri, they both looked the same age, but the woman smiled and gave him a token of her hair to return with, Kitao said nothing but bowed and hugged his sister one last time and left. Once returned eh delivered the result in a small box to the gempukku judges, some had no idea, but the Byako judge nodded and the others followed demanding explanations once he was gone and before another one presented himself, the man asked for silence and told them to hear Kitao’s story. Kitao recounted his story to the judges of what he saw and did, the Byako judge nodded and the others understood, or thought they did, but Kitao wasn’t sure either, just that his gempukku had been successful.

Kitao was now a full ji-samurai and second to his elder brother and future daimyo of the Byako family. Yet Kitao is the one to receive the Byako blades, an inheritance give to the bushi that remained, to remind him always of his duty and were he comes from. Kitao accepted it gladly from his brother for which neither felt pride doing, but it was tradition and an obligation.

Kitao could never stomach the job of yojimbo for long, the reminder of his sister was to strong, so instead he was doing the work of yoriki through out the Kakusu Province, but quickly gre bored of the very few disturbances, but he enjoyed traveling and the view of Kitsune Mori, he could never tire of that, but a sadness will always creep back on him for his sister.

The Fox has Fangs

The Clan War broke out and the Fox Clan rallied with the Mantis Clan and other minor clans and marched to war, many skirmishes ensued were the combined might of the minor clans under the leadership of Yoritomo and the Fox Clan Daimyo Ryosei. Kitao participated as a hohei in the Battle at Benten Seido were he fought all manner of horros the shadowlands spat at them. The Crane Clan send a small army merely for precence but the opened the coffers to them instead. Kitao struggled facing the horros of the undead and goblins at first, but eventually the need to survive overcame his doubt, fighting fallen samurai, and other denizens of the shadowlands.

Yet the most important engagement was the Battle of Sokustel Forest were the Fox Clan commanded a crucial operation against Yogo Junzo gaki reinforcements. Kitao had find himself a place he liked, the battlefield. He was still no officer material he was nikutai by this time, with basic knowledge of strategy. The battle was a series of ambushes were the shadowlands horde could find no respite, whereever they went they felt the stng of the Tsuruchi archers, the fires of the Centipede, the fangs of the Fox, the claws of the Falcon in their flanks, and to end in the blades of the Mantis. Yoritomo did not ifnish the shadowland horde, but the damage was so extensive they most likely fled or made no difference should they join their brethren in Otosan Uchi. Yet Kitao felt something strange like the remaining gaki would look at him with increased vigor and even some of the pursued his group until they were out of sight or killed the stranglers.

Fox Clan created and embassy in Otosan Uchi next to the Unicorn embassy, an ally to the Fox Clan. Kitao was representing the Byako family within the retinue of the Fox embassador, a beautiful woman, for the Fox Clan standard which was a bit higher than most. Kitao found himself enjoying Chizu’s company, the only reason he would find to stay that long, but he never developed any feelings for her, she was like a sister, she reminded him of her with her attitude, flirtatious, and her mask of strength she had to wear so she could survive the courts. Kitao made himself at home as much as he could, but he missed the Kyuden Kitsune, and the familiar smells and feel of Kitsuni Mori. Kitao noticed the embassy had a strange way to operate, but he was always at the edge of the group, more an outsider within his own clan in the embassy, not in agreement with was happening, but not his place to speak against it and helping when ordered to do so.

Choosing a Better Path

The Fox Clan left the alliance, and were now allies with the Crane, so he spent time in the Crane embassy trying to make friends, but the call of Kitsune Mori is always strong and he travelled to visit for a few days, only to return to Kyuden Kitsune were he found the castle under attack by the Kumo, but he was to late and was only able to participate in chasing down what remained of them in Kakusu Province. A resentment against the Crane grew in the hearts of all, their aid never came and the alliance fell apart. Kitao didn’t took it as bad probably because he wasn’t there like the others, yet it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Kitao returned to Otosan Uchi to continue his duties there, were he befriended Kohuri, a young ronin, for someone like Kitao, but quick with the blade and not bad at dueling. Kitao would spend his time teaching what he could to Kohuri, but he was under the sponsorship of the imperial family to participate in the Topaz championship. Kitao sees this as a good opportunity to travel into Crane lands and find out why they didn’t help with the Kumo, but also to curry favor with Seppun Nakao, which might know of Kitao’s true work in the capital, but he knew of his loyalty was unquestionable to the Emperor if he did.

Kitao is part of the imperial retinue leaving to the village of Tsuma in Kakita Provinces, were he will certainly find his answers, and hopefully some recognition through Kohuri if he performs well, regardless of becoming the Topaz Champion. He would teach him how to hunt, archery, and swordsmanship. Some basics of etiquette and courtly manners as to at least be able to strike a point or not ridicule himself at worst. Then the trickier and easy points, he had the courtier teach him heraldry, bushido, and law. If he could manage to get 5 points he would be successful and can participate in the duels. The path is set and training and reharsing through the trip to Tsuma village, now it’s up to Kohuri to do his part.