<div class="floatleft">(http://i60.tinypic.com/1c87q.jpg)</div>Name: Asahina Reiko<br/>Clan: Crane<br/>Age: 18<br/>Height: 5'3"<br/>Weight: 106 lbs<br/>Build: Slender but feminine<br/><br/>No one can say that Asahina Reiko is not a proper young Asahina shugenja, because she certainly is.  No one can say that she doesn't<em>want</em>to be a proper young Asahina shugenja, but that's only because no one knows the truth.  Well, except Reiko herself, of course, but she's not telling.<br/><br/>Reiko comes from a fairly prominent family within the Asahina. Both her mother and her father hold positions of importance.  Her gift was discovered at a young age, and, thanks to the wealth and connections of her parents, she began her education very early, with tutors.  The benefit to her education came with an equal cost to her liberty; it wasn't long before all of Reiko's time was spoken for.<br/><br/>In her classes, Reiko has always excelled, although she was perhaps not as scholarly as her family would have liked.  This was not so much due to aptitude, but rather a burning curiosity.  She wanted to learn more about the kami.  She was happy to learn the proper way to converse with her fellows, even if she eventually felt that the rules got in the way of really knowing people.  She was happy to study a multitude of topics.  This was good, as Asahina are expected to know much.<br/><br/>But it was not enough for Reiko.  She wanted to know more than just what was offered by the temple and her teachers.  She wanted to know how to do things, not just observe them, or study them.  As a child, her mother had told her of a Daidoji ancestor, who, during a battle, had defended her great great great grandmother for seven hours while she sought the aid of the kami.  The two were wed afterwards.  Reiko felt that she, too, could experience much more, if only given the chance.  But from her youth on into her teens, she was given no chance.<br/><br/>Little has changed since Reiko's gempukku as far as her life goes, although she blossomed from youthful prettiness into the full beauty of womanhood.  She still studies in the temple, seeking better understanding of the kami.  And she is still encouraged to study those things that it is felt Crane maidens should study: proper things, like the arts and high class socializing.  The assignment at the wedding was Reiko's first chance to leave not just her home province, but Crane lands.  She jumped at the chance.<br/><br/>...<br/><br/>Despite her curiosity, and her somewhat too witty tongue, Reiko can at least play the part of a demure Crane maiden.  A careful observer might note that her gaze is modestly lowered less often than that of her peers, and even when it is, her blue eyes often seem to sparkle with suppressed mischief.  She has a great deal of curiosity, which has driven her in her studies, but which will also drive her to investigate mysteries, take risks, and do any number of things that her parents and teachers would probably prefer that she not do.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">mechanics</div><div class="spoiler_body">Asahina Reiko<br/>School/Rank: Asahina Shugenja 1<br/>Insight: 161 (+3 each from courtier and etiquette rank 3)<br/><br/>Status: 1.0<br/>Honor: 6.5<br/>Glory: 2.0<br/><br/><br/>Rings<br/>Earth 2<br/>-Stamina 2<br/>-Willpower 2<br/><br/>Water 3<br/>-Strength 3 (12)<br/>-Perception 3 (12)<br/><br/>Fire 2<br/>-Agility 2<br/>-Intelligence 3 (Asahina family +1)<br/><br/>Air 3<br/>- Reflexes 3 (12)<br/>- Awareness 3 (Asahina school +1)<br/><br/>Void 3 (18)<br/><br/><br/><br/>Skills (* are school skills/emphasis)<br/>*Calligraphy (cipher) - 1<br/>*Etiquette - 3 (5)<br/>*Lore: Theology - 1<br/>*Meditation - 1<br/>*Spellcraft - 1<br/>*Artisan: Poetry - 1<br/>*Investigation - 3 (5)<br/>Courtier - 3 (6)<br/>Perform (biwa) 2 (3)<br/>Tea Ceremony 3 (6)<br/>Defense 3 (6)<br/>Athletics 1 (1)<br/>Sincerity 2 (3)<br/><br/>Advantages:<br/>Dangerous Beauty (3)<br/>Benten's Blessing (3)<br/><br/><br/>Disadvantages:<br/>Soft-Hearted (-2)<br/>Rumormonger (-4)<br/>Low Pain Threshold (-4)<br/><br/>Scrolls:<br/>Air:<br/>By the Light of the Moon<br/>Benten's Touch<br/>Tempest of Air<br/><br/>Earth:<br/>Armor of Earth<br/><br/>Fire:<br/><br/>Water:<br/>Path to Inner Peace<br/>Reversal of Fortunes</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Let's play 20 questions!</div><div class="spoiler_body">1. What Clan does your character belong to?<br/>Crane.<br/><br/>2. What family does your character belong to?<br/>Asahina.<br/><br/>3. Is your character a bushi, a shugenja, or a courtier?<br/>Shugenja.<br/><br/>4. How would you describe your character's appearance?<br/>Reiko has many of the features of a young Crane woman.  The pale skin, the white hair, the lovely, delicate features.  Even among a clan known for its beauty, though, she stands out.  Her eyes, Crane blue, are especially alive, with an inquisitive sparkle.  Her lips are both lovely and expressive, soft, tilting this way and that in response to an amusement or an irritation, as appropriate.  And, while she has the same slender build as her fellow clan members, her feminine curves are more developed, with long, shapely legs, curving hips, and full, firm bosom (if she were describing herself, she might leave these parts out).  Her hair is often elaborately pinned, and she often wears a fine kimono of powder blue.  <br/><br/><br/>5. What is your character's primary motivation?<br/>Curiosity.  Reiko has often wanted to learn more, and to experience more.  It is this that causes her to seek out new things, and new challenges.  Perhaps new pleasures.  We'll see.<br/><br/><br/>6. Who is the person your character trusts most in the world?<br/>Her sensei, but mostly as a default.  Reiko doesn't know all that many people.<br/><br/><br/>7. What is your character's greatest strength and weakness?<br/>Her greatest strength is, naturally, her curious mind.  Besides being what drives her, it often leads her to think of creative solutions, and to try new things.  This mixes poorly with her weakness of inexperience, where she often is unsure of the outcome of something until she actually tries it.<br/><br/>8. What does your character think of Bushido?<br/>It is very important, the basis of the samurai.  But it sometimes does seem awfully restrictive.  Surely there's enough wiggle room to allow for individuality even within the confines of Bushido?<br/><br/>9. What is your character's opinion of his Clan?<br/>It is difficult to compare, since she's had so little interaction with other clans.  But despite her curiosities, Reiko does quite enjoy life in the Crane; they are talented and social, both of which she appreciates.  She does also enjoy making her fellows blush and giggle when she shares a juicy bit of gossip, or makes a joke that skirts the edge of appropriate.<br/><br/>10. Is your character married?<br/>No.<br/><br/>11. Does your character have any prejudices?<br/>Surprisingly, not really.  She has certain expectations, but also an open mind.<br/><br/>12. To whom does your character owe the most loyalty?<br/>Her parents, but again, mostly by default.<br/><br/>13. What are your character's favorite and least favorite things?<br/><br/><br/>14. Does your character have any recurring mannerisms?<br/>Tilting her head, pursing her lips, intense stare.<br/><br/>15. What about your character's emotions?<br/><br/><br/>16. How would your character handle a subordinate's improper behavior?<br/><br/><br/>17. How would your character's parents describe her?<br/>Her parents are quite pleased to have a well-behaved, talented shugenja for a daughter, who is possibly pretty enough to catch the eye of some lord.<br/><br/>18. What is your character's highest ambition?<br/> <br/><br/>19. How religious is your character?<br/>As a shugenja, religion is more a fact of life than a belief for Reiko.  She's appropriately dutiful, because that is the reality of life, as she sees it.<br/><br/>20. How will your character die?<br/><br/></div></div><br/>UPDATE:  Spent 45 xp, still need rank 2 scroll selection, and 20 questions.