Character Study:

A young woman, wise beyond her years, Hayabusa has a calm disposition in nearly all matters. She is often subject to the roused tempers of her peers, but has rarely succumbed to anger in response. As a warrior, she is known to be quite able in Aozora-no-Ryu, but prefers iaijutsu (fast draw), rather than the practice of tendon cutting.

 

Historical Synopsis:

Hayabusa was an orphan of war, both her parents murdered by Fubuki troops during the border skirmish in 438 TY. Although she escaped enemy forces with some of her fellow villagers, she was subject to two years of begging and hard labour. Two years later, she was in a fubuki prison awaiting sentence, jailed for having stolen from a merchant. Thinking she was going to die or be horribly tortured for her crime, it came as a shock then when the prison was ransacked by Setsuzoku samurai.

Hidoshi, shogun of Setsuzoku, had begun his unification war in 440 TY and was well on his way to conquering Fubuki when he came across Hayabusa. He had come to the jail to recruit prisoners into his army, but Hayabusa was in no state to fight. Thin, malnourished, and burdened with numerous injuries, she pleaded and won Hidoshi's sympathy and was taken back to his camp to be treated.

Hidoshi remained in Fubuki for the next two weeks, in the course of which he had many opportunities to talk with Hayabusa. He learned of her past, the atrocities the Fubuki had committed to her village, and eventually the two became quite close. However, their relationship was not at all like good friends or lovers, but rather like father and daughter. Hayabusa went to Hidoshi for advice as she had often done her father, and through this mutual exchange, it was soon decided that Hidoshi would adopt her.

When Hidoshi broke camp two weeks later, Hayabusa carried the name Nobunaga and was taken with the first and second divisions back to Setsuzoku. The third through fifth meanwhile, would continue to secure the territory and set up Otsuma fortress, the name of which would later become famous at the battle of Hieizan.

Upon arriving in Setsuzoku, Hayabusa was educated in the arts, both martial and cultural, and showed a keen interest in history, economy, and statesmanship. She quickly became a prominent voice in the government and was given a seat in the waka-doshiyori (lesser nobles). Much like her adoptive father, her charisma and strength of character won her great respect, and established her as an authority amongst her peers. In 442 TY, she was appointed ambassador to the Nordelands, and began a long adventure which would take her through Agea, Latvannon, Edea, Arslan, and even to the harsh region of Sigurd.

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Regarding Weapons/Proficiencies:

Henji · Tsurugi

The Henji is a straight, double-edged sword about two and a half feet in length. The blade is particularly useful in iaijutsu techniques due to its ability to cut with either edge. No time is wasted reversing one's grip on the sword, and a backwards cut while resheathing can be made instantaneously.

The Henji has only one special quality besides its own inherent versatility. When drawn, it emits a vibration which tends to scare off animals and irritates ganas and henge. This is particularly useful in detecting such creatures when in the wild, either for the purpose of hunting or to drive off an attacker.

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Aozora-no-Ryu

Aozora-no-Ryu is a style which finds its origins in traditional Nobunaga doctrine, but with greater importance stressed on brevity in execution. Fast, deliberate movements are the essence of the style, with emphasis placed on attacking the tendons and joints in order to cripple one's opponent. None of the moves are performed in an underhanded way however, and the practitioner is instructed to adhere to the code of Bushidai-ou at all times. Genjutsu is also included as part of Aozora-no-Ryu, dealing largely with the projection of the fire element through one's weapon.

Iaijutsu

Iaijutsu is the art of the quick-draw. Its purpose is to slay an opponent in the same stroke that the sword is drawn and sheathed. The style has been perfected over many centuries, and remains one of the most effective arts of the buké. Its primary weakness however, is the necessary recovery time should the strike miss. Due to the exertion of force in the initial blow, it may take a moment for one's arm muscles to recover, thereby creating an opening for an opponent to strike.