New clan: Otter

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Information can be found here.

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Background by MegurineLuka

Name: Usogawa Chiitan
Clan: Otter
Gender: Male
Status: Married
Age: 40
Occupation: Clan champion and daimyo of the Usogawa
Height: 6’1
Build: Athletic
Hair colour: Black
Eye colour: Brown

To some of the Otter, Chiitan has led the new clan since birth – his mother gave birth to him on the exact day that Himari was bestowed the title of the first Otter champion as the Emperor formed the clan. Back then the numbers of the Otter were less than 30. With Himari unable to have children, the Otter were unsure of what to do with their newfound status and future. They needn’t have worried. Chiitan, even from a young age, showed leadership and intelligence far beyond his young years, and Himari soon had the young man travelling with him to gatherings to learn the ways of the other clans with the intent to take over from her when she was too old.

This day, sadly, came far too soon. Himari died in her sleep at the age of 29, leaving a 15 year old Chiitan to take over the reigns and lead the clan. There were some critics of this, however with the assistance of Shin he thrived in this position. The Otter were able to arrange some prominent deals with the Crane – unsurprising as the Crane had a lot of rivers and the Otter were able to provide quick trade through them. In time the Otter were known for being the fastest river trademen in the Empire, although more of this was credited to Chiitan than was deserved and he freely admits that without Shins guidance they wouldn’t have thrived.

It was at a gathering at Shinden Asahina though that his life changed. He met a woman called Umihime that literally took his breath away. It was love at first sight, on both sides, and a marriage was swiftly arranged. 9 months after this day, their one and only child was born (she was conceived a few days before the actual marriage, but the days are close enough that it’s impossible to confirm).

The birth of his child, as well as the support of a loving home, has helped him put any worries at ease. This has allowed him to improve relations with almost every clan – at least the ones that can be accessed from a river. The relationship between the Crane and the Otter is still the strongest though. In the last few years he has even managed to arrange trade with a group of travellers from outside the Empire, who have agreed to a meet on the same day every year to trade. Any more than this risks upsetting their friends in the Mantis and Tortoise, and the Otter know they are too small to want to make enemies.

Chiitan is a man of slightly above average height, with a strong athletic build. Even though he has the position of champion, he still actively gets involved in the day to day running of the Otter and even assists with preparing the yakatabune. While he isn’t much of a musician or artist himself, he has a good eye for talent, which is why he is quite exicted to see how his daughter Emiko will grow as she’s showing a very natural talent for singing, music and dance.

Name: Usogawa (previously Asahina) Umihime
Clan: Otter
Gender: Female
Status: Married
Age: 37
Occupation: Wife of the clan champion, head sensei
Height: 5’3
Build: Lithe
Hair colour: Black (often dyed white)
Eye colour: Blue

Umihime was considered a relatively unremarkable priest of the Asahina. She was beautiful but not compared to her Doji cousins, and her connection to the kami wasn’t as strong as others within the Asahina. What she had though was a strong connection to the sea, so much so her parents ended up calling her Umihime – princess of the sea – a name she kept even after gempukku. She was a natural diviner, and had a knack of knowing the way even in areas she had never been to. The intention before going to a gathering with her mother was to begin a life serving aboard the Crane fleet.

The night before the gathering, she had a vision in a dream of an Otter that lead her to a better life. An exciting life. The next day, she met Chiitan. Immediately, she knew her vision was of him. The two hit it off well despite being from very different walks of life, and her mother knew this would be a great opportunity for the Crane to get an in with a clan that had the Emperors favour. The marriage was swiftly arranged with a deal that while seemed good to Chiitan, heavily favoured the Crane.

The years following were not exactly how Umihime imagined it. Instead of long voyages at sea, instead they travelled the rivers, only stopping in the little piece of home they called “Ehime Toshi” where she raised Emiko until she was old enough to start going with her father more. However, the life started to grow on her. It was a hard but rewarding life, and the people all cared for each other. She has taken to teaching the performing arts, and was awared the position of head sensei for her efforts.

Umihime still looks very young – she could still easily be mistaken for early to mid 20s rather than the late 30s she is now. She still dyes her hair white in respect to her previous clan, and often returns back to the clan she was born in (usually with the latest Otter troupe to ensure they were well treated by her often jugemental former kin).


Name: Susaki (Kaiu) Shin
Clan: Otter
Gender: Male
Status: Married
Age: 55
Occupation: Daimyo of the Susaki, head sensei, head shipbuilder….
Height: 6’7
Build: Big, muscley, scarred
Hair colour: Was once brown, is now grey
Eye colour: Brown

The Otter are widely considered to be very energetic, often happy and excited group. Therefore meeting Shin can be a confusing experience. The large man is the opposite of all these things; he’s focused, he’s serious. He has the look of a man that has seen things others could not imagine.

In his life as a Crab, he did.

Shin was born to the Crab and quickly earned a reputation as a talented builder and general. He worked mainly in the shipyards, preparing vessels to face the horrors the Shadowlands would throw at them from the sea. He has seen monsters others couldn’t imagine; huge creatures that can pick up and rip ships in half, beings that lure men and women to jump from their vessel and to their death. However, he faced all his challenges with the same determination until one day, when a ship he prepared with his sister leading was sunk from a Shadowlands attack.

He never recovered from this, blaming himself for the loss. Certain he had done something wrong. His daimyo, realising the man had lost his edge, was contemplating his options until a way out was presented. The new founded Otter clan, which had the Emperors favour at this point, was reaching outwards. Shihobu saw a small spark in the man again as he talked with a young woman about the vessels they sailed in, suggesting improvements in his own gruff way. A few years later a union was arranged between Shin and the woman – Akiko.

In the years after this Shin struck up a friendship with the champion Shiitan, advising him on the best ways to improve effeciency and safety within the yakatabune and in the routes they take. Shiitan was so impressed he named Shin the daimyo of a new family within the Otter, and between them they created the basework for the Susaki family and school.

While Shin can be a terrifying sight, the years have softened him slightly – as did the birth of triplets 14 years ago with his wife. Although he is much older, and there is many grey hairs, he still has the energy of a man 20 years younger and a passion for his clan.

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Otter relations with other clans:

Good
- Imperials
- Crane
- Scorpion
- Unicorn

Decent
- Crab
- Mantis
- Tortoise

Less good
- Dragon
- Lion

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Errata: Starting outfit: 2 koku

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Otter clan colors: Brown and Blue