Isawa Kasuma

Isawa Kasuma
Isawa Shugenja
Clan:	Phoenix Clan
Daimyo:	Isawa Toichi
Glory:	8.2
Honor:	8
Status:	2
Rank:	4
Player:	Maryrita Steinhour

Background

“True Harmony.” “Kasuma.” One and the same, or so the shugenja would say.

In 1115, a young but powerful Air shugenja of the Isawa Shugenja school, Isawa Naruto (“powerful whirlwind”), was introduced to an equally young and talented Bushi of the Shiba Bushi school, Shiba Azami (“thistle flower”) when she was assigned as his yojimbo for the first of their many assignments for the Phoenix Clan. Despite – or perhaps because of – his rather absentminded but kind ways, Azami began to show to Naruto the flower hidden behind the sting of the thistle she presented to the world. In 1118 they wed with their Daimyos’ blessings, and settled down only long enough to produce a daughter, Isawa Kasuma, in 1120.

When her parents were sent out on yet another assignment, Kasuma was left with her redoubtable grandmother, Isawa Isamu (“powerful / robust”). The small girl adored her grandmother, and Isamu in turn loved and was exceedingly proud of her precocious granddaughter. Even as a toddler, Kasuma showed her affinity for the kami, particularly those of Fire. She loved to wear reds and golds, and would spend hours simply sitting in front of a fire, staring into the flames. When, at the age of 5, she unthinkingly walked through a bed of hot coals – unharmed – Isamu decided that it was time for her formal schooling to begin.

They traveled to Kyuden Isawa in Maryoku Province, and it was as if Kasuma had found an oasis in a dry desert. She soaked up learning – not just that of the Kami and the Way of the Shugenja, but scholarship and lore and courtly graces. But her first love was for the kami and their ways.

The Masters saw within her the ability to be Ishiken, and wield the magic of the Void Dragon as well as the four Elements. But, the Void frightened the small child even as it beckoned, and she shied away from that learning as she did no other. Still, the Void Dragon sang in her soul and her blood, and if there was a shadow over her studies, it was this: that she was both fascinated and repelled by the Void, and did not know which Path was hers to follow.

Isawa Isamu stayed at Kyuden Isawa to see her granddaughter settled, then began the journey back to her own lands, several days’ travel across the Province. But on the way a storm arose, and the party was caught in the path of a flash flood. Only one Bushi survived, and he brought word to Kasuma before committing seppaku for his failure to protect his Lady. That day was to see more sorrow, as Kasuma in her grief Summoned the Water kami to take them to task for their role in the death of her beloved grandmother. She so angered them with her accusations that they swore unfriendship with her – and so the first note of disharmony was sung.

As she grew older, Kasuma understood more of Fate, and Destiny, and tried to make peace with the Kami of the Water, but they would not completely forgive nor forget. Thus her control of Water is not as strong as she would wish, and given the opportunity, the kami of Water will lash her with their wrath in preference to others around her.

Even so, Kasuma’s power, mastery, and knowledge grew. She was soon challenging the older students, always polite but always pushing to learn more, to do more. Her confidence in her abilities caused her to challenge one too many of the students of superior skill, but even the thrashing she took at his hands did not blunt her confidence.

That night, however, as she lay on her mat unable to sleep for the bruises to body and soul, a familiar voice rang in her head. “Are you trying to get yourself killed before you are fully trained, Granddaughter? Is the honor of your line as dust to you, that you are willing to throw it away for your own pride?” Shamed, Kasuma learned – with the oft-acerbic voice reminding her – to at least sometimes think before she acts.

In time, Kasuma grew in Knowledge and Wisdom and finally, at 17, earned her first assignment for the Phoenix – to escort Isawa Ume to the Topaz <> for her gempukku ceremony. Her experience with the Void during that assignment solidified her desire to learn more, and to study the magic of the Void Dragon. However, honor demanded that she go where the Phoenix willed before being able to return to study that which she had, in her fear, spurned so long ago.

She earned Honor and Glory in successfully completing those assignments, as well as the friendship of several companions – and a nickname. In one small village she became the “Flower Phoenix” because of the flowers she bestowed on the poor and needy villagers when she, in her inexperience, gifted a merchant for an entire shops’ worth of flowers in her efforts to obtain a few for an ikebana gift for a wedding.

But if her travels were perilous to her body – and Grandmother Isamu had to remind her sharply once that she was the last of her direct line and to pay attention so as not to fall off a cliff – she successfully avoided those perils. The blow to her soul was far greater, and embraced if not eagerly, at least willingly.

For, you see, for the Good of the Empire, she lay down her dream of ever taming the Void Dragon within her, and concentrated on the Kami of Fire.

Modules Played

• SoB00-SoB11
• SoB13-SoB25
• SoB28-SoB35
• SoB39
• INT01

Courts Attended

Todo