Oyama Hiroshi
gender: male
race: human
class: ninja spy
also known as: "the librarian" (Yukiko never mentions his name in her journals)
Hiroshi,
Its been so long and so many names ago, that even you may have forgotten your real name. Hiroshi is probably your name, at least that is what you think.
Orphaned on the streets of Edo, you were found by a black hand Assassin. She only let you call her by her street name of Willow. She raised you from the time you were five until you first joined the black hand. Your training was hard and quick, by 15 you were being sent on your missions. Usually standard missions helping with others, you had to fight sometimes but rarely. Your skill at research was greater than your skill as an assassin and you were soon transferred to the research part of your organization. Here you learned about the affiliation with Clan Scorpion and how they were the real power behind the Black Hand. You learned a bit about Clan Scorpion, its main purpose is to protect the empire in any way possible, through assassination and manipulation. The black hand is the resource in which they carry out their plans and keep their hands clean.
By 20, you were moving through the ranks of the Hand as was the woman you knew as Willow. She had become the 4th in the hand in the intervening time. The best way to move through the ranks is too prove the incompetence of the ones above you. The Hand doesn't like incompetence and deals with it accordingly. By 25, Willow was the first in the hand and she changed her name to Minaku. She named Takako her 2nd and Chikako her 3rd and you her 4th. Takako and Chikako are very similar to Minaku. Driven to do what they must by Clan Scorpion but also willing to find another way if the need arises.
Minaku sent you on many missions, most of them fact-finding but one you remember quite well. She had sent you to a remote village of monks. You were to find scrolls about the Dragon clan that were supposed to be hidden there. Instead you found a massacre. Hundreds of black hand and Scorpion clan members were there, turning spells on the village. Women, children, the monks all died, they slaughtered them to the last. The scrolls you were sent to find, never recovered. Minaku was put out to say the least. It was not your fault that the scrolls were not there but it was your mission to find them. She quickly reassigned you to Akechi, a minor warlord on the up and coming that might play a part in next few years to get you out of the way.
The rest you know as history.
A list for you of people you can trust in so much as you can trust any of them.
Tershi - Black Hand Researcher
Shonoku - Black Hand Researcher
Qui - Minor noble, Clan Scorpion
Planko - Bartender with an exit in his bar from the main headquarters of the Black hand in Edo.
Sherko - Geisha in the employ of Black hand. She is a spy on the Dragon clan nobles that she services. Sometimes your occasional lover.
Winter - Old black hand member. Only one you have ever known to retire from service. Generally feared yet by most of the black hand, including Minaku. He took a liking to you and taught you a few tricks.
People that you know, you can't trust.
Arenro-Wu jen. Akechi's wu-jen. Had a great many dealings with Clan Crane over the weeks before Akechi was to become Emperor. Akechi was told and seemed unconcerned.
Hideoyoshi- warrior. He was never your favorite person but he also lived by the code. He thought you weak and not worth attention.
Ryoto-Major noble of Clan lion. 3rd in line for clan leadership. If he becomes the lead of clan lion. Lion will fall.
Shiro-Warrior Crab clan and Shugenja. Hated member of the clan, arrogant and a bully, thinks that Crab should take over the remaining clans and lead japan into a war against some other perceived enemies. Who he never says.
Minaku-first in the hand under lord Soshi. She once raised you, but her ambition turned her cold and icy. Her demeanor to you has been bad for years and you think that soon she will test you as 4th and find you lacking. You are determined to show her you are not.