About Shunsen DaigoshiShunsen Daigoshi
Appearance:
Shunsen is a curious amalgam of her orc and Tien heritages. Her skin is a dusky green and she has small tusks, but the other features that would otherwise shout 'orc' are tempered by her refined Tianese features: smooth skin, almond eyes, long , flexible limbs. The power and brutality of her orcish muscles is contained within a beautifully toned and supple Tianese body. She is tall 6'1'', and lithe. Broad of shoulder, she is still very feminine in appearance, a wild mane of dark hair adds to her attractiveness. She is meticulous in taking care of her gear, but once in the thrall of combat, she acts with wild abandon. Height: 6'1''
Personality:
Shunsen is always dealing with an internal war between her impulsive ( and sometimes violently so) orcish mind, and her refined, meditative Tian mind. Her orcish features have always been of concern to her, a point of embarrassment and some anxiety. This has abated somewhat as she's grown older and more competent. She is cheerful and talkative among friends and family, but the issue is getting to that point. Strangers often are confronted with her intimidating scowl as she tries to determine their intent. Meditation helps her curb her more ferocious tendencies, but they rise up from time to time; sometimes at the most embarrassing times. Background:
30 years ago the Daigoshi family travelled over the Roof of the World from Minkai to Avistan. Shunsen's mother was only 3 years old at the time, her father and mother and grandmother making the journey due to a pogrom that ousted their family from their traditional home. Pragmatic and carrying with them a secret legacy, the Daigoshi's endured many travails on their journey to safety, arriving in Varisia after 3 years of travel. Skilled artisans all, they found employment In Korvosa and Magnimmar and Kaer Masa...but finally found their place in the employ of the Kaijitsu family in Sandpoint. The father was a skilled potter and glazier, invaluable for the Kaijitsu glass factory. Mother was an artist, specifically in the Dance and Calligraphy traditions of Minkai. She instructed both Kaijitsu children and Shunsen in their proper application. She taught her daughter all that she knew, and in turn Shunsen's mother taught her that and more. Shunsen was conceived under less that ideal circumstances. A caravan to Brinewall. An attack by bandits. A short kidnapping. A not quick enough rescue. A reputation ruined. Nine months after the caravan attack, Shunsen was born. Despite her origins, her mother loved her dearly, as did her grandparents while they still lived. Both died a few years after Shunsen's birth. The Kaijitsu patriarch wasn't too happy with the addition to his extended family especially given his son's illicit heritage, but honor forbade any precipitous action, as Shunsen's mother was a dear family friend. Shunsen grew up in relative privilege, her family retainers for one of the wealthiest families in Sandpoint. But despite her Tian heritage of reticence and honor , her more ferocious heritage constantly reared it's angry head. Altercations with the Kaijitsu children were common enough that talk was had of sending her to a boarding school in Korvosa. To avoid such a fate, Shunsen , who had already befriended some of the Szarni in town, ran away , at the age of 15, with a few of them to Riddleport. There she let her orcish heritage loose, learning to revel in the ferocity it lent her in combat and in relationships with others. There she ran with Szarni gang that collected debts owed by other small time criminals. (Urban Vagabond Trait) It was only when they were assigned to start collecting from civilians that Shunsen's conscience started to bother her. Her breaking point came when her and two others were tasked with collecting a debt from a woman. Arriving at her hovel, Shunsen found the woman a mother of 3 small , starving children , of course, didn't have the money. In a fit of anger, Shunsen knocked out her two companions and gave the woman all of their money and most of hers, and bade her flee the town! Then she followed suit, knowing that that life wasn't for her! Arriving back in Sandpoint after being gone for a year and a half, she was expecting to be drawn and quartered by her mother....but it was only tears of joy that welcomed her. And some pointed stares at her newly muscled frame, numerous earrings and occasional tattoo. She reunited with Ameiko, heard the tale of the hero's of Sandpoint's victory over the Runelord and settled back into life in Sandpoint. Occasionally she'd venture out into the wilderness with Shalelu, but mostly she accompanied Sandru on his caravans, giving the local Szarni a wide berth. When in town she spent time with her mother, re-learning what she'd forgotten about her Tian heritage, embracing the ideals and lessons of that faraway land. It was now that her mother began to teach her things beyond what she had learned in her childhood. That was until, after a number of years, she saw one of her old companions from Riddleport walk off a recently docked ship in the harbor. Knowing it was only a matter of time before they discovered she was here, she knew she had to get out of town soon. She didn't want to bring trouble to her mother's doorstep, so she went to her mother for advice. Without looking up from a beautiful piece of calligraphic art, her mother told her that fate may again take her away from her home, she just needs to wait for it to reveal itself. Then she offered Shunsen the brush and motioned her daughter to finish the piece. Closing her eyes, stilling her mind, Shunsen meditated on her mother's words then re-opened her eyes and slowly, carefully began to complete the piece, knowing her mother's words to be true. |
