Koseru Maseko (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=283917), from a vassal family of the Soshi specializing in providing a kinder public face than the Soshi can typically be bothered to offer, traveled with her father to Mantis lands, where he was to serve as a Scorpion ambassador, and was permitted to attend Mantis schooling as both a hostage and to pay homage to one of the few clans that respects the Scorpion perspective (even if they scoff at the Scorpion for being so obvious about it).  Unusually, as she had the gift of being able to speak to spirits, she was allowed to attend the Yoritomo Shugenja school. This was, naturally, precisely what the Scorpion had desired, so that she might be able to provide insight on the Mantis traders- and raiders.<br/><br/>While there she learned a great deal about the Mantis perspective, and has returned with a lackadaisical attitude towards traditional values of propriety and a fine appreciation for self-interest... though she still views matters through the Scorpion lens of "in benefit of the Empire."  She was betrothed to one Kuni Tora as part of a deal to improve ties between the Kuroiban and the Kuni witchhunters, and was dispatched to Crab lands to travel with her betrothed, policing the farmlands shielded by the Wall for a time.  During this time, Maseko notably improved crop yields by ensuring near-ideal weather conditions.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, Jigoku's reach is long. A cell of Fu Leng worshipers succeeded in summoning an Oni into a township while the bulk of the Crab were distracted by the Spirt War.  The Oni was banished and the cell annihilated with the assistance of additional Kuni reinforcements and a contingent of Bushi and ashigaru from the Wall, but Kuni Tora gave his life in the process- he bound the Oni to himself, then sacrificed himself to banish the Oni.<br/><br/>Inspired by her betrothed's sacrifice for the good of all and ashamed by her failure to keep her betrothed alive, Maseko returned to Scorpion lands with a desire to find some other way to serve her clan.  She did not expect to be sent away from the Scorpion yet again, her Daimyo citing her experience in Crab lands and her multicultural background as reasons to be dispatched as a part of Emperor Toturi's tithe.  Unsaid, they were just as happy to be rid of a disruptive element in the family- though certain elements of the Scorpion watch her, and the clan to which she is to join, with great interest.  The Soshi and Yogo families both hope that the new Owl Clan will be a useful ally in the eradication of blasphemous elements and whatever tainted beings they are able to summon.  The Bayushi have little to say on the matter, embroiled in their own plots and leaving the Shugenja families to their own devices, and they<em>seem</em>content to allow the other families to court the Owl.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">20 Questions</div><div class="spoiler_body">1. Yeah, I'm a Scorpion and no, I don't act like it.  But I guess I'm about to become an... Owl?  Is that what we are?  I need to get used to that.  I guess that's breaking my previous trend of "things with shells."  You know, being Scorpion, traveling with Mantis and Crab... sorry, lame joke.<br/>2. Does this clan even have any families?  Who's in charge around here anyway?  Am I still a Koseru?  Could someone explain this to me, I wasn't paying attention.<br/>3. Well, I ain't no courtier.  Seriously though, spirits may not be the best conversationalists, but if you give 'em a chance they aren't so bad.<br/>4. Describe me?  I dunno.  Lean and mean?  Naw, I try not to be mean, but lean and friendly don't come off the tongue so well. (Average height, slender and compactly built, but whipcord muscles suggest surprising strength)<br/>5. "Primary motivator?"  We're using big words today, huh?  Look, I just like to understand things and people and such.<br/>6. Who do I trust most in the world?  Captain Kobe- a big Yoritomo Bushi running one of their ships.  I crewed for him awhile, kept the wind at our backs and the rain off us.  He was big and mean as piss, but he had his crew's back.  I haven't seen him in... damn, three, four years now?<br/>7. Look, I'm <em>Shugenja.</em> Spirits don't think like you an' I, an' I try to pick up a little bit of that from them.  I think sideways, I look for new answers, and I think that's my strength.  Unfortunately, most Rokugani don't really go for creativity, you know?<br/>8. Bushido- the way to enlightenment, right?  Well, <em>a</em> way anyway.  Seems like a good way to at least keep everybody from making things <em>worse.</em><br/>9. The Scorpion?  Yeah, we come from a Kami, so we have a divine right to exist, assholes.  It don't matter that you don't like us.  *Sticks out tongue.*  Oh, you think we spend too much time plotting?  Yeah, pay attention to the Daidoji.  Or Hida Kisada.  Or the Unicorn.  Or Toturi- sorry, <em>Emperor </em>Toturi.  Welcome to Rokugan, plots happen.  Deal with it.<br/>10. Married?  Naw.  I was betrothed to Kuni Tora a bunch o' years back- even spent some time with him down in Crab lands.  Oh you never heard of him?  That's 'cause an Oni <em>ate</em> him <em>while I watched,</em> so thanks so much for bringing it up.<br/><br/>...Anyway, I guess the Clan decided that tithing me off was more politically expedient than trying to arrange a new engagement, so here I am.  Woo.<br/>11. Look, you can hate the Scorpion for plotting and keeping secrets, but you know who you really ought to watch?  The Crane and the Phoenix.  The Crane, they control a lot of Jade, right?  So rather than giving it to the Crab so they can do their thing on the Wall, they make fucking statues.  <em>Statues.</em>  Then they sell whatever's left to the Crab at absurd prices.  And the Phoenix, well... they know things, alright?  They study things they really ought to stay away from, then they don't tell people what they figured out.  That's like, the worst sort of secret-keeping.<br/><br/>But, man... Statues.<br/>12.  I guess I serve the Owl Daimyo?  Maybe the local Magistrate?  I dunno, who's in charge around here?<br/>13. Look, if I'm not learning something, I wanna be doing something.  I like exploring, meeting new people, meeting new spirits, sake, parties, opium, archery...  What, Shugenja can't use a bow?  Now, court's just boring.  Politics?  Boring, except for when it's all going wrong- and that's never a good thing.<br/>14. Sometimes I notice I bite my lip.  I've also noticed that I like to be under things or over things- I climb around a lot.<br/>15. Yeah, I get that "proper" samurai are unfeeling statues, but that's like, not me.  Not Mantis either.  Not really Scorpion, I guess, but I don't hide it like most of them do.  I just like people, I guess, an' I like being happy?  Yeah, sure, some things get me mad- like that Crane greed.  Look, maybe it's weird hearing a Scorpion taught by Mantis complain about greediness, but if that's all you know about the Scorpion or the Mantis, then you ought to pay closer attention.  Or, you know what? Don't.<br/>16. Look, my subordinate blows me off? Tie a rope 'round his ankle and throw him over the front of the ship, if I'm feeling nice.  We ain't aboard ship?  Fuckin' gut 'im like a fish.  Now, I ain't gonna hold it against 'im if it's an honest mistake- that's how we learn, right?  But you best be followin' orders.<br/>17. Yeah, the parents.  They think I'm weird.  Not courtly enough, not subtle enough, too obvious.  I think they don't think I'm a good spy either.  I won't say they're disappointed, but I think they'd've rather I was sent to the Soshi rather than the Yoritomo.  Whatever.<br/>18. What do I want?  To live well, have fun, and learn everything I can about everything I can.<br/>19. Yeah, I say my prayers- that's kind of the point, yeah?  I stop at the shrines I pass, I honor my ancestors.<br/>20. Hopefully, I die trying to turn an Oni inside-out.  Or in bed, surrounded by several virile and attractive companions, and maybe loving family.  Either-or.</div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Bonus Questions</div><div class="spoiler_body">Which tenets of Bushido are most important to your character?  Which tenets are least important? <br/>-Loyalty is the most important tenet of Bushido.  You gotta follow orders, so that the people who can see the big picture can handle the big picture stuff.  We can worry about the little picture stuff down here at the bottom, yeah?  Just remember- loyalty goes both ways.<br/><br/>Sincerity though- well, what's the point?  If you're being honest about what you're doing and honest with yourself, isn't that being sincere too?  Seems to me that sincerity is all about controlling the truth.  I don't know, it just feels redundant to me, like it falls under honesty and duty and all that.<br/><br/>Does your character know of Shourido?  What does your character think of it?  <br/>-... Yeah, okay, I know about it.  It's interesting, a different way of looking at things, right?  I mean, Bushido's important, but doesn't Strength help you back up having that Courage?  Doesn't Will help you resolve your Duty?  Won't Knowledge and Insight help you understand your Duty, so you can... I don't know, do it <em>better?</em>  I mean, some of those monks seem a little crazy, but they make some good points.<br/><br/>Was your character involved in the war of spirits?  <br/>-Not directly, no.  I was down in Crab lands, dealing with droughts and spiritual matters and a fuckin' oni.<br/><br/>What did your character think of each side on the war of spirits?<br/>-Look, the dead are supposed to be <em>dead.</em>  Moved on, right?  Coming back at Oblivion's Gate was good and all, but then they needed to go back <em>home.</em>  That's what this kharmic wheel is all about, right?  So, who the fuck thought a civil war between a long-dead Hantei and the current Emperor was a good idea?  Oh yeah, a batshit crazy Hantei.  Yeah, how many Samurai died because he forgot that his line had ended?  How many burnt fields, and how many dead heimin, hinin- even eta?  Yeah, screw that guy.  Oh, I'm sorry, he's supposed to be an honored ancestor?  Well, he waived that right when he started a war.<br/><br/>What did your character think of the treaty?<br/>-Well, at least the fighting's stopped.  Mostly.<br/><br/>If given the chance what would your character change about Rokugan?<br/>-Starvation and disease suck- those should stop being a thing, and everyone could die in battle or of old age.  Or everybody could be just a little less uptight about everything?  That'd be good too.</div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Other stuff</div><div class="spoiler_body">Primary Motivator- Understanding, to pursue knowledge and experience<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Core traits</div><div class="spoiler_body">Emotional disposition- Joyful<br/>Emotional stability- Labile<br/>Outlook- Optimistic<br/>Integrity- Pragmatic, but perhaps unreliable<br/>Impulsiveness- Spontaneous<br/>Boldness- Daring<br/>Flexibility- Adaptable and open-minded.<br/>Comportment- Agreeable, but perhaps crude.  Not terribly cultured.<br/>Interactivity- Engaging<br/>Disclosure- Cagy<br/>Conformity- Freethinking<br/></div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Sexuality</div><div class="spoiler_body">Orientation- Bisexual<br/>Libido- Healthy, leaning towards lascivious<br/>Expressiveness- Flirtatious<br/>Style- Crude<br/>Openness to experience- Moderate<br/>Promiscuousness- Generally low, but noncommital.</div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Religion</div><div class="spoiler_body">Shugenja and adherent to Rokugani faith.<br/>Tolerant and curious when faced with alternative beliefs.<br/>Occasionally expresses beliefs.<br/>Never attempts to convert others- the idea of a nonbeliever would be mostly confusing to her.<br/>Attitude towards spirits summoned- humble.<br/></div></div></div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Description</div><div class="spoiler_body">Height- 155cm/5'1"<br/>Weight- 50kg/110lbs<br/>Hair- Black<br/>Eyes- Black with red flecks<br/>Small of frame and compactly built, Koseru Maseko typically eschews the kimono worn by most of Rokugan.<br/>Instead, she wears a light, loose vest in the mantis style, cut high to bare significant midriff and with sleeves<br/>to cover the elbows, but nothing that might restrict movement.  The vest is held closed only by a sash,<br/>knotted at the side in a seafarers knot, and while her breasts aren't as... impressive as many other<br/>samurai-ko, she makes no attempt to hide her ample cleavage.  Her pants similarly fly in the face of<br/>tradition, as she wears harem pants instead, as they are typically better for shipboard use anyway.  Her<br/>garb is inexpensive, dyed in Scorpion black with red trim.</div></div><hr/>Disclaimer- This may be edited, based on input from others, especially the GM.  Particularly the history.