OYASHIMA: FUKUKAZE 吹風

[Islamadon 4563]

FUKUKAZE 吹風

 

 

Fukukaze is one of the eight great islands of Oyashima and is located due west of Yamatai. Acting as the literal and metaphorical barrier between the more sociable western edge of Oyashima and the xenophobic east, those of Fukukaze emphasize a belief in the Four Elemental Kami and later that of Nokumi, the Kami of Passion, Shadow and Poisons. It is an island of great geographic diversity, be it the molten volcanic peak of Hinoyama to the tranquil, rolling meadows of the Kazenomori. In modern times, it has been given the colloquial name of “Kojima no Shinobi'' as it now finds itself hosting the clandestine Shinobi Clans of Oyashima.

 

When the Empire of the Golden Sun laid claim to the isle during the Rentai period, the locals of Fukukaze found themselves woefully outmatched as foreign garrisons took control of its isolated harbors and villages. Cathant soon realized the untapped potential of the diverse terrain and began to extract its ores and till its plains. Seeking to reduce costs and increase profit, the occupiers colonized and enforced the isolation of the island, issuing high tariffs upon neighboring Oyashiman Islands and lowering them upon Cathant-made products. In essence, the isolated villages of the island were forced to labor for and engage in transactions solely with the Cathantese. This caused unrest, and the more recalcitrant villagers would sneak from their homes to spread news and smuggle goods to their fellow Oyashi.

 

When the word of rebellion and resistance sprouted throughout Oyashima, those of Fukukaze too felt the fervor and sought to reclaim their land from the hands of foreign beastmen. However, due to the isolated nature of its population, a traditional bushi resistance was unable to ferment. Instead, the commoners of the heimin class began to resist through means available to them, adopting the mantle of “Shinobi”. Wielding farm tools as weapons and bearing the darkness of night as their armor, the rebels of Fukukaze began to engage in espionage, assassination and sabotage. 

 

Cathant trade-masters were found bloodied in their shops, and merchant vessels were sunk. Hou-zi officers and appointed Governors found themselves sipping poison or, if less discreet, impaled with steel. Even the mission critical supply routes of the islands found no peace as the Shinobi established unlawful checkpoints for the seizure of armaments and valuables. As a result, a cult of Nokumi began to flourish and many across the island attributed their victory to the lady spider.

 

 

With the successful restoration of the Imperial Clan of Oyashima, the Hou invaders were forced to retreat back into the depths of their humid province. For a time, Fukukaze was liberated, but before long the Kawato War between Ishikawa and Sato would rage in the east. Wary of what would become an eventual reckoning, the villages of the Fukukaze began to prepare. At the request of the Ikedo Earth Clan and the Saganaka Fire Clan, the Shinobi of the Isle agreed to disperse themselves into four distinct strongholds, each paying homage to their preferred elemental Kami; the hidden strongholds of Tsuchikutsu (Ikedo), Hinoyama (Saganaka), Kazenomori (Imeda) and Mizunotani (Ujagawa) were thusly erected. In time, the fears of Fukukaze were justified as the Li Dynasty returned with a vengeance.

 

The Li Dynasty, fearful of a repetition of their prior failed occupation, decided to engage in a full military occupation of the Island. The Li Ren would engage in punitive campaigns in search of the hidden Shinobi strongholds, but found themselves outmaneuvered and unable to meet any distinct army in battle. The Shinobi once again used the night to their advantage and harassed the Li Ren as they had done during the original occupation. This resulted in violent reprisal by Li Ren upon the more accessible villages of Fukukaze. As a result, an asymmetric conflict of attrition arose as the Li Dynasty was unable to uproot the Shinobi while the Shinobi were unable to repel the invaders from the island. Only through the decisive Ishikawa victory at Yamomoto were the Li Ren finally forced upon the back foot.

 

While the shinobi clans celebrated this victory, jaded extremists of the Nokumi cult were not satisfied. It was during this current occupation that a band of sullen-robed and clanless Shinobi arose to great fame due to their willingness to inflict as much pain as possible unto the invader. They were the Shinohasu 死の蓮, or the Death Lotus. Taking advantage of the evacuation’s chaos, the Shinohasu descended upon the Li Colony of Huisheng-Ya. With great malice, the Shinohasu went about butchering fleeing soldiers and slaying any Li Ren that showed their face, regardless of role, age or gender. Legends even say that these shinobi had mastered Nature itself as they stepped upon water and ran across the trunks of trees. In the end, their once dark robes had now been coated in a deep red ichor; and though a victory, it was a solemn reminder that wrath could lead to dishonor and the perpetuation of the cycle of hatred. 

 

 

As a result of the dishonorable atrocity, the great Shinobi Clans of Fukukaze deemed the Shinohasu to be exiled lest they be exterminated in a great ninja war. Though initially resistant, the Saganaka clan with their ferocious Fire Style forced the Shinohasu into hiding and exile. This said, these exiles were not forlorn for long as they soon found service in an ever more militant Shogunate. Now acting as the primary secret police of the Shogun, the Shinohasu enforce the will of Shogun Yorinobu and engage in subterfuge abroad. Their newfound legend has inspired many shinobi to turn from their traditional clans and instead to forge a destiny of their own as Rogue Ninjas.

 

In the modern day, the fabled rebel shinobi are considered folk heroes and the true nobility amongst those of Fukukaze. Children and nobles of the Isle care little for the samurai way of life, for the mystique and legends of the Shinobi class inspires them to master the arts of stealth and the harnessing of one’s mental and physical fortitude. A Shinobi need not have noble blood to become the hero of the village; they simply must never go back on their word nor must they ever give up, no matter the odds.