Crane in 1178

Post by **Dapper Dog** » Mon Oct 12, 2020 1:19 pm

The Crane

The Crane have ever been the genteel hand and voice of the Hantei, but in the reign of Oturi they have been sidelined and replaced by the Scorpion. The richest clan in the Empire with the Lion in their pocket, well the debts of the Lion, and they lack the power to flex their strength in the courts as invitations seem to get lost or their courtiers end up at the worst courts across the Empire. Still they persevere and are hoping their fortunes will reverse as the heir of the Oturi lineage is betrothed to the youngest child of the Crane champion, which could cement a powerful union and relationship. The wedding is all the rage for Crane and is set for later this Spring and anyone who is anyone is fighting for an invitation.

Allied to the Mantis and on modest terms with the Phoenix and Lion, though the latter is in near tatters as old grudges resurface, the Crane have opted to become the wealthiest clan in the Empire and use that temporal influence to basically buy their way into the good graces of the Imperial families, which explains the surge of Crane suddenly showing up at Otomo homes and parties.

The Crane suffered a vacuum of leadership after the War of the Last Hantei, when they sided with the Lion, due to the ambition of the now late champion. The end result did not end well for the Crane and their leadership was ordered to seppuku along with the leaders of the other clans that served the last Hantei and their heirs fostered in the Imperial city.

But even more than that was the March of Blood by the Unicorn and the Moto in the specific that brought death to thousands and burned down some of the most sacred places of the Crane for which few Crane have ever forgiven. This brought about the classic duel between Kakita Ijimatsu and Moto Jugren, a shii duel that ended with both in their graves during the Imperial Winter Court of 1175 and only served to bolster the flames between the two clans.

The current champion is Doji Hitomi, a Crane artisan without peer, a Master of several artistic disciplines, she is patient and ruthless but of course always honorable. For now the Crane bide their time, but they will have justice.