Shiba Mokuren

“In times of war, a samurai's devotion is to his lord, but he must not forsake his home. A home is essential, and it fuels a warrior's zest for victory.” -Akodo's Leadership

Background

It is impossible to describe the past of Shiba Mokuren without speaking of her wife, Isawa no Seira. Mokuren was born into the Shiba Family of the Phoenix with a stunted ability to sense the supernatural. For a clan so heavily traditioned in the mystical arts, this was not far removed from being born blind. She was accepted, to a point, but it was common knowledge that Mokuren could never truly reach the full potential of a Phoenix samurai. To live with this coddling every day nearly broke her, but Mokuren survived by encasing her heart in iron instead.
The iron melted when she met Isawa no Seira. Shiba Guardians are duty-bound to protect the Isawa Elementalists, and it is not uncommon for feelings of romance to spring from such a bond. Mokuren and Seira were closer even than that. For Mokuren, Seira was her eyes; a window into the world of the supernatural of which she had so often heard spoken but never truly glimpsed. In turn, Mokuren was Seira's strength; for she was strong, with broad shoulders and a solid core tempered by dedicated training. The two faced the world and politics of Rokugan together, unshakable allies, for many years into their middle age, and only seemed to become closer over time.
It was all the more stunning a blow, then, when Isawa no Seira suddenly vanished. At first, Mokuren could glean no answers. The local Daimyō, eminent in matters of the region's governance, would not speak of the matter. He instead only told Mokuren to remain at her family's manor and defend it until Seira returned: a lonely onna-bugeisha without even a true castle to guard. Only when speaking to the Shiba Artisans, an offshoot of her own family branch, did Mokuren learn the first hints of what may have happened.
Apparently, Isawa no Seira had been sent without explanation and under protest on an urgent mission to the Scorpion lands, just shy of Shinomen Mori. It had been weeks now with no word and no sign. This artisan had only heard of the matter through her work at the court of a Scorpion noblewoman named Wu Ing. Indeed, that was not the only gossip she'd heard. There were some secrets, whispered among the servants of that place, which might just provide Mokuren with some leverage should she and Lady Wu find themselves face to face.
Fortunately, Mokuren was not alone in her hunt. Another member of the Isawa, Seria's relative and therefore Mokuren's inlaw, was equally concerned for their shared love one's safety. Together, they fabricated a reason to travel to the Scorpion holdings of Wu Ing. A survey, or perhaps a political errand. It would be unheard of for an Isawa to undertake such a thing alone, and so Mokuren must accompany as a guard. She placed her manor under the protection of her most capable retainers as she left. This was not technically a failing of her duty. Not yet, unless something should happen while she was away; a risk Mokuren felt she had to take.

Description and Demeanor

Always a little on guard, Shiba Mokuren gives the impression of someone not used to relaxing. She normally stands ramrod-straight, without a hint of bow in her posture. Hey amber eyes are clear and focused, and dark brown hair falls in waves around a face that's beginning to show the creases and wear of age. Most who know Mokuren would describe her as stoic, quiet, and coldly courteous. Those who know her well would also tell of a fiery temper and drive to action that only comes to the fore in the face of stress. Despite her reserved demeanor, she has a reputation as a skilled and eager duelist among the Shiba Guardians.
Mokuren is tall for a woman, standing just shy of six feet, with broad shoulders and a solid core. Her hands are rough and calloused by many hours of training, but she diligently manicures and paints her nails in ascending shades of red every morning all the same. Her usual outfit is something similar to an armored shrine maiden's uniform: white robe and voluminous sleeves over a strikingly red hakama. The laquered plates along her shoulders and midsection mean it's not strictly appropriate wear for court, but such dress is expected for Guardians who appear alongside the Isawa Elementalists. Along with the standard daishō corded at her waist, Mokuren carries an enormous vermillion-shafted naginata—although she removes this last when appearing for social engagements.
Though she may strike many as staunch and humorless, Mokuren quite enjoys the company of others. Her greatest fascination is with stories, particularly those traded by the Shiba Artisans of her branch family. Although unskilled at coming up with them herself, a sharp memory and passion for retelling have allowed Mokuren to amass a respectable collection of tales. She sometimes spices these up by adding anecdotes or quotes from Akodo's Leadership, the premier text for samurai who command the battlefield. These skills make Mokuren popular in certain, scholarly or artisanal circles among those close to her own age. Younger samurai, however, tend to steer clear of the inflexible and critical eye she can't help but turn upon them.

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Social Standing

Honor: 55

Glory: 40

Status: 30

Species

Human

Ethnicity

Imperial

Age

41

Pronouns

She/Her

Sex

Female

Eyes

Amber

Hair

Dark brown, shoulder length, wavy

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Hale

Height

5'10

Notable Skills
Fitness, Martial Arts (Melee), Meditation, Tactics, Sentiment, Theology, Courtesy, Performance