Jin Mitsurugi

Jin Mitsurugi
Jin of the Flashing Blade
Gender	Male
Race	Au Ra
Clan	Raen
Citizenship	Hingashi
Place of Birth	Bukyo
Guardian	Oschon, the Wanderer
Nameday	17th Sun of the 3rd Astral Moon (Age: 27)
Occupation	Adventurer
Pronunciation	"ˈdʒɛn mitsuɹuɡi"

Hailing from the Far East, this wandering samurai possesses a compassionate soul but no sense of direction.

Born under the name Ryunosuke, the samurai Mitsurugi no Jin (or Jin Mitsurugi) was born to a prestigious samurai family in Bukyo, the bakufu capital of Hingashi. As a youth, he studied the arts of language, etiquette, and swordplay, and stood to inherit much.

However, Jin misliked the political games played within his clan, as well as the shackles of nobility. He took to heart the edicts of bushido—the way of the warrior—and found that other samurai in his nation wanted for compassion.

One day, Jin experienced a vision that would lead him to leave his homeland and, eventually, come to the distant western shores of Eorzea. These days, he wanders the land as an adventurer and ronin, helping those he meets as he travels.

Appearance

A man of the Auri Raen, Jin stands shorter than most of his kind at a mere six shaku and six sun (six fulms and seven ilms in Eorzean measurements). A fair-skinned, young-looking man, his stern expression and serious demeanor belie his warm and curious nature. His sharp, yellow eyes resemble that of a hawk, accented with black markings that almost seem to meld into his thin, black eyebrows. Like all Au Ra, his flesh bears white scales and two, large aural horns on either side of his head. The scales are prominent upon his cheeks, chin, neck, back, arms, thighs, and feet. A thin, reptilian tail protrudes from his rear, bony spikes near its base. Jin's hair is a mess of straight, black spikes, unkempt and sticking out on all sides.

Jin's hands are calloused from years of gripping his sword, and a very large, prominent scar is drawn across his chest from right shoulder to left hip. The scar is seldom-seen, but was clearly caused by a sword's blade. No other permanent scars mar his body, however. Despite his status as a wanderer and ofttimes a vagrant, Jin seems to bathe regularly and knows to file his nails down. He takes excellent care of his horns, which lack so much as a chip or crack, no small feat for an Auri man of his occupation. Jin walks with his head held high and his shoulders straight, often with his hands to his sides. While his posture is almost never threatening, he tries to remain on guard and ready to draw his katana from his hip.

Outfits Jin favors a finely-crafted set of Myochin attire for travel. Myochin Attire and Kiku-ichimonji: Crafted in the haori-and-hakama style by armorers of the longstanding Myochin clan, this set of armor is common garb for present-day samurai. Whilst it appears little more than a decorative kimono, the cloth is woven in such a way as to promote the flow of aether. A kimono of this style was long favored by Jin's master, Shigeyoshi Sakamoto, during his days as a ronin. Jin commissioned a similar one for himself before leaving Bukyo to become a wandering samurai himself. He seems rather fond of its jingasa, which serves to keep his head dry in the rain, and provides him shade from the sun. Kiku-ichimonji was forged by a legendary Hingan swordsmith, the proof of which can be found in the engraved signature—the character for "ichi" or "one." The sword features a broad point, and an elegant, undulating temper pattern along the length of the blade, whilst the sheathe's serpentine ornamentation amplifies the wielder's energies when performing iaijutsu. This one was a parting gift from Jin's father, Ryuken Mitsurugi, and was originally given to his grandfather by his great-grandfather, a former shogun of Hingashi, in recognition of his tenth son's skill with the blade. Fuga Attire: This stylish raiment from the Far East includes a formal haori punctuated by an elegant wave pattern accented with embroidery of flowers and folding fans, and traditional formal hakama with deep pleats in the front and back. Whenever there's an opportunity to wear casual attire, Jin will wear this outfit, which shows off the ivory scales on his neck. Far Eastern Patriarch's Attire: A traditional garment worn by the heads of households in the Far East. The set includes red-and-black robes and leather longboots. The breastplate covering the torso offers moderate protection, while the light fabrics ensure ease of movement. Jin often wore this outfit while wandering the grounds of Bukyo Castle. Bakufu Samurai Uniform: The uniform of samurai in service to the Mitsurugi Bakufu consists of an ankle-length black togi with an armored waistguard, tekko that provide a sure grip on one's sword, a white hakama worn beneath the robe, and close-toed kyahan. This uniform appears to have been sewn back together at some point, and Jin never wears it anymore. Lord's Suikan Set: Another set of formal attire akin to that worn by the Raen of Sui-no-Sato. The front of the white suikan is adorned with a simple design of tree branches with flowers done in red and white stitching. Including a pair of shin-length pants and matching clogs, this outfit is both simple and elegant. Lord's Yukata: A stylish men's yukata crafted to commemorate the Moonfire Faire. The subdued black of this ensemble is accented with vivid red Bombards. A fashionable way to stay cool during the summer festivities. An equally-stylish pair of drawers and clogs complete the set. Jin received this yukata during the Moonfire Faire, surprised and delighted to see such a faithful rendition of Far Eastern summer apparel so far from home. He often wears this on visits to Costa del Sol.

Basic Info Date of Birth: 17th Sun of the 3rd Astral Moon, Year 1550, Sixth Astral Era Height: Short (79 ilms) Weight: Slender (170 ponzes) Complexion: Fair-skinned Hair: Dark, spiky, unkempt. Eyes: Yellow Particular Traits: Scar across the chest. Voice: Tenor Clothing Style: Far Eastern silks and cloths. Laterality: Right-Handed

Preferences

Likes ■ Long walks. ■ Horseback riding. ■ Swordsmanship training. ■ Fishing. ■ Sleeping on grassy fields under the sunlight. ■ Tall, snowy mountains. ■ Swimming at the beach. ■ Hot springs. ■ Helping others in need.

Dislikes ■ Teleportation. ■ Travel by air and sea. ■ Machina. ■ Wickedness and villainy. ■ Dishonesty and cowardice. ■ Exploitation and slavery.

Favorites ■ Food: Hanami Dango ■ Drink: Green Tea ■ Colors: Red and Gold ■ Places: Kugane, Hermit's Hovel, ■ Festival: Moonfire Faire

Other ■ Alignment: Neutral Good ■ Religion: Way of the Kami ■ Goal: To travel the world, striking down evil.

Personality

Flaws ■ Stubborn ■ Inflexible ■ Strict ■ Judgmental ■ Reserved ■ Proud

Fears ■ Bringing dishonor upon himself. ■ Failing to protect a charge. ■ Intimacy and romance. ■ Seppuku.

Talents ■ Swordsmanship ■ Tea Ceremonies ■ Flower Arranging ■ Haiku and Tanka Poetry ■ Origami

Intelligence

Quirks

Abilities and Skills

Personal ■

Weapons ■

Magic ■

Crafting ■

Biography

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The Wanderer and the Lordling

Jin was born in Bukyo, capital of Hingashi and seat of the Mitsurugi Bakufu.

The man who would be known as Jin Mitsurugi was born in Bukyo Castle as a branch family member of the Mitsurugi Clan, a great-grandson of a previous Hingan shogun. From a young age, Ryunosuke—as Jin was referred to as a child—was educated in literature, history, art, and swordplay, as is customary of a samurai lord. Ryunosuke misliked the restrictions placed on him, as he was forbidden to venture beyond his family's castle grounds and doted over by a retinue of retainers.

One day, when he was twelve-years-old, Ryunosuke managed to escape the castle and wandered into the streets of Bukyo. However, his innately poor sense of direction caused him to become lost in the city and, as night fell, he found himself in one of the more dangerous districts. Though lost and afraid, when he heard a shriek piercing the night, he decided to investigate and witnessed a knife-wielding man dragging a struggling woman into an alleyway. Ryunosuke pursued the man and attempted to defend the woman using only a wooden sword, but his youth and inexperience almost got him killed.

However, before the assailant could deal the boy a fatal blow, a lone samurai appeared in a flash of light and cut him down with a single stroke of his sword. After seeing the woman to safety, the samurai, having deduced the Auri youth was of noble blood by his attire and weapon, asked Ryunosuke why he would risk his life for the sake of a stranger of a lower class. Ryunosuke replied that a Hingan samurai cannot ignore a person's suffering. The samurai liked his answer, and escorted him home to Bukyo Castle, asking for nothing in return.

The shocked retainers identified the samurai as Shigeyoshi Sakamoto, a former samurai of the bakufu who left his position behind to become a ronin following the tragic murder of his family by a jealous rival. Ryunosuke, filled with admiration for Sakamoto both for saving his and the woman's life, as well as for his skill with the sword, begged his father to offer him a position as his teacher. He even declared he would accept thrice the punishment for leaving the castle grounds without permission. Ultimately, his pleas convinced his sire to extend the offer, which Sakamoto accepted in exchange for no small amount of koban and a steady supply of sake.

For the first few years, Sakamoto instructed Ryunosuke in the basics of his style from within the castle grounds. He instilled in him the tenets of bushido and philosophy as a warrior, and frequently shared stories about his travels in Hingashi and in the lands of Othard west of their island home. His eager student was enamored with his teacher and his tales of heroism, and saw him as his hero.

Before long, he and Ryunosuke developed a close bond as master and student, but the young Raen soon hit a block in his progression as a swordsman. To overcome this, he tailored the training to Ryunosuke's desire to help others, and secured permission to accompany him outside of the castle walls. Presenting themselves as simple ronin, they visited the areas in and around Bukyo, aiding the smallfolk with various tasks ranging from household chores to slaying local monsters. It was at this time that Ryunosuke assumed the name "Jin" from the edict of bushido meaning "benevolence," to protect his true identity. Over the next few years, Jin grew stronger and more skilled as a swordsman, and Sakamoto came to care for him as a surrogate son.

The Tale of Sakamoto

Not long after Jin turned seventeen years old, he and Sakamoto were approached by a group of peasants. Their village had come under attack by a group of vicious bandits, and they wished to recruit samurai to protect their home. They could offer little, and while Jin had no need of money and was eager to accept, Sakamoto hesitated. With only two of them, they would likely lose the battle and their lives, and so Jin reached out to the samurai clans of Bukyo for aid. His father turned him away, refusing to risk his own retainers to defend commoners and chiding his son for his childishness. Many of the other clans had the same reaction. In the end only two of the smaller families spared one retainer each, sympathetic to the plight of the villagers but lacking the manpower to send more support. They found a fifth supporter in a ronin acquaintance of Sakamoto's. The five samurai met the bandits at the village, and armed the villagers with farming equipment and spears meant for fishing, as well as whatever armor they could find. This was Jin's first true battle with other people, but his master's teachings saw him through even as the battle became long and drawn out through much of the day and bodies from both sides littered the village.

The leader of the bandits took the field on horseback, and Jin raced into the fray to face him, dismounting him using iaijutsu. The bandit recognized the stance and introduced himself as Kuroda Kageyama before engaging Jin in battle. As they clashed, Jin began to feel a sense of nausea wash over him and lost consciousness. "Hear, feel, think..." he heard as he fell, and then witnessed a young Sakamoto sparring against a young Kageyama. Sakamoto won their duel, and Kageyama privately made his resentment clear. He then saw them again, older now, as Kageyama entered Sakamoto's home and murdered his wife and child, then tried to kill Sakamoto in his sleep. Sakamoto awoke and wounded his enemy, who fled into the night, leaving Sakamoto to grieve for his lost family. When Jin came to, the battle was over and he was in his bedchamber. He learned that Kageyama retreated and the battle was won, albeit at the cost of two of the samurai—one from the clans and the ronin—slain in the battle. He went to Sakamoto's home to speak with his master about his dream. Indeed, the vision he had was of his master's past, and the man responsible for his family's deaths was the traitorous Kageyama. After his student became a wanted murderer, their master, Senzaemon, was forced to commit seppuku to atone for teaching a criminal.

Because his fellow samurai failed to bring Kageyama to justice, he became a ronin in hopes of finding him and avenging both his family and his master. After a few years of wandering, however, the pursuit of vengeance grew tiresome, and he turned to heavy drinking throughout the journeys he'd embellished for Jin. During a temporary return to Bukyo on the anniversary of his family's murder, he was kicked out of the local izakaya, and heard a woman's shriek nearby. He admitted that he might have ignored it, had he not spotted a foolish, brave child rushing headlong into danger for the sake of a stranger, leading him to meet Jin for the first time. And in their time together, he found purpose and happiness he'd seldom felt since he left his life behind. And yet, with Kageyama returned to Bukyo and his forces weakened, he could not forego a chance to slay his nemesis. Switching the focus of the conversation, he declared Jin's training complete, commending him on his performance in the battle. Yet he also wished that Jin be free of any sense of obligation to help him in his battle against Kageyama. Jin, without a moment's hesitation, volunteered to aid his master in his fight, swearing to stand with him no matter what.

Departure

By tracing the path of the bandits' retreat, the two were able to find the villain's hideout. With most of his forces dead, and surprise on their side, they cut their way through the remaining bandits to face Kageyama within the hideout. Cornered, Kageyama challenged Sakamoto to a duel, thinking to improve his odds, and Sakamoto accepted, wanting to personally take his revenge. Despite resorting to trickery, he was outmatched and dealt a fatal blow. As he knelt, bleeding, the defiant fallen samurai taunted Sakamoto on his naivety. With nothing left to lose, he revealed the koban he was paid to carry out the attack on the village, baring the seal of a samurai named Akechi Fujiwara. Kageyama stated that this Fujiwara had been paying him and his bandits, having them perform tasks that would look bad for the government. Removing a village's stubborn inhabitants to clear it for redevelopment after they refused to relocate in exchange for money, for example. One of the first jobs he'd done for Fujiwara was a failure—the assassination of Shigeyoshi Sakamoto and his immediate family members.

With Kageyama's last words echoing in their ears, Jin began to feel nauseous again. He witnessed Akechi Fujiwara paying Kageyama, asking him to assassinate Sakamoto. When asked what he had against Sakamoto, he stated he was annoyed by his tendency to push for reforms in the bakufu government that favored the lower classes, with the last straw being when Sakamoto revealed several abuses of the commoners by his son and his friends, bringing disgrace to his clan's reputation. This time, Jin did not pass out, and he explained his vision to a bemused Sakamoto. The revelation shook Jin's master to his core, knowing that Fujiwara was a far less acceptable target than Kageyama. Even if they showed the koban he'd given to the bandits, he could simply claim that it was stolen, and Jin's premonition would be no evidence. Realizing this, he told Jin that his vengeance was satisfied.

Jin did not see his master for several days until the five-year anniversary of the night they first met arrived. That evening, Jin went to Sakamoto's home to check on his master, but found no one home. A letter addressed to Jin lay on his master's desk, and it expressed that he felt Jin should not join the bakufu. He feared he would either end up like him—unable to affect change and punished for seeking it—or succumb to corruption like Kageyama and Fujiwara. He thanked Jin for the years they spent together, and apologized for the shame he was about to bring to him, begging his forgiveness. The Echo activated yet again, this time showing him his master's actions in the past few days as he gathered arms and armor, as well as explosives, and departed to destroy the Fujiwara estate. At once, Jin gave chase and ran towards the Fujiwara Clan's holdings outside of Bukyo. The estate was already ablaze, and the guardsmen lay dead. Heading inside, he found the body of Akechi Fujiwara, as well as the heavily-wounded corpse of Sakamoto. Though Sakamoto's funerary rites were performed at Jin's urging, few attended the wake of a man now publicly considered a murderer as none but Jin understood Sakamoto's final actions. Gathering what items he could easily carry, Jin prepared to leave Bukyo for good. His father did not approve, but accepted his son's decision, granting him their Kiku-ichimonji katana in the hope that it would keep him safe.

The Ijin Geiko

For the next five years, Jin wandered Hingashi. He found his new life difficult at first, no longer having the wealth and shelter of his family home, nor the company of his master. His poor sense of direction led him to spend days wandering. Yet he never regretted leaving Bukyo, and soon came to find the life of a ronin fulfilling if not glamorous. He became known for his iaijutsu, earning him the epithet "Jin of the Flashing Blade."

Jin was twenty-two when his travels brought him to Kugane. Sakamoto had spoken of the city in high regard, and Jin found it every bit as breathtaking as he claimed. The ijin who visited included peoples he'd never seen such as Lalafells, Elezen, and Miqo'te. He also first encountered the Garlean Empire when he was rebuked and called a "savage" for staring at their consulate. Lacking koban, he slept on the streets for the first few nights. One day, in Kogane Dori, he saw a group of Garleans chasing a young geiko. Misliking this, and unable to ignore her, Jin gave chase and, using the same technique that saved his own life ten years prior, cut through the imperial soldiers in an instant. The geiko, Ayame Utada, claimed she had spurned a Garlean soldier's advances and begged Jin to protect her in case they returned. Jin wasn't sure why she would need a constant bodyguard, but she was willing to pay him and he felt responsible for having intervened. With some hesitation, he agreed to protect her. Though the Sekiseigumi came to investigate the deaths of the Garleans, one of the senior geiko composed a cover story for the two. Jin was granted a room in the okiya and gradually grew familiar with the city as he got to know his energetic young charge. He once asked about her accent and learned that she was an ijin from the continent of Othard, but now lived in Kugane.

About a month later, there was a disturbance in the Ijin District. An intruder infiltrated the Garlean Consulate and stole valuable intelligence about their Doman operatives. Jin awoke to the sound of an intruder in his room only to see that it was Ayame. She asked him to come with her and trust her, and he received a vision showing him her heist on the Garlean Consulate. Though he wanted an explanation, the Sekiseigumi were on their way. Taking what he could carry, he followed her to a small boat and fled toward the Ruby Sea.

Ruby Tides and Ruby Tithes

As they neared the edge of Hingan waters, Jin demanded the truth from Ayame, tired of her trickery. Feeling remorseful, she explained that she hailed from Doma and that she came to Kugane to gather intelligence on Garlemald. She slipped up both the day she left Jin and while stealing the documents from the Consulate. She begged Jin for forgiveness, and while he did not grant it, he put his anger aside as they were now stuck together. Because they escaped Hingashi with the barest necessities, they could not afford the Ruby Tithe. As they crossed the Rasen Kaikyo, the pirates stopped them and, when they couldn't pay, they boarded their vessel and stole the documents and Jin's Kiku-ichimonji before firing upon the boat and sending them into the waters below.

Jin awoke in Tamamizu, saved by the merchant Soroban, who explained that he noticed Jin's unusually fine Hingan attire and hoped to foster trade with his clan. Jin, unfortunately, had severed such ties, yet the good-natured merchant did not begrudge him. As he was injured, he spent the next two weeks helping the Kojin of the Blue. Once his wounds healed, he was granted the kami's blessing. The elder Bunchin recommended Jin search for Ayame in Sui-no-Sato. Escorted to the village by Soroban, he met with the high priest Shiosai who granted him leave to search so long as he did not disrupt their peaceful way of life. After some searching, he met a black-haired maiden who saw a Hyur in unusual garb wash ashore near Isari two weeks prior. With the woman's help, Jin traveled to the small Doman village, but the villagers were reluctant to answer his inquiries. While asking in the tavern, Garlean tax collectors came to harass the citizens. Jin wanted to intervene, but did not at the warning of the tavernkeep. After the imperials left, the tavernkeep, recognizing Jin's desire to help, revealed he had nursed Ayame to help and that she left towards Hells' Lid.

Fortunately, even Jin could not get lost looking for Hells' Lid, but not long after arriving he was attacked by the Kojin of the Red. The poor-quality katana he'd been using broke and he was knocked out and taken captive. The beastmen planned to offer him to Garlemald, or kill him, should he prove worthless. Unable to escape, nightfall came and Jin feared that he might be killed. Ayame appeared, having seen him fighting at Hells' Lid, and set him free. Together, the two made their escape from the Isle of Zekki. After regrouping at Isari, they planned to infiltrate Crick, where the Garlean documents and Jin's sword were located. Creating a distraction by setting several of the pirates' ships ablaze, Ayame used the confusion to steal their belongings. Setting a Confederacy ship free towards the south as a decoy, they fled west back to the safety of Isari.

Family and Relationships

Family ■

Friends and Acquaintances ■ Shigeyoshi Sakamoto (Mentor) In his youth, Shigeyoshi Sakamoto trained alongside Kuroda Kageyama under the swordsmaster Hatakeyama no Senzaemon. For years, Kageyama tried to best Sakamoto in swordsmanship only to fail time and again. This, as well as the favoritism he felt was shown to Sakamoto, created resentment that eventually turned to hatred for his rival. Years after leaving their master's dojo, Sakamoto became a member of the bakufu government and began a family, taking the unconventional move of marrying a woman far below his station. This convinced him to try and affect reform in Hingashi, and he only became more zealous in his pursuit after the birth of his son. These policies made him unpopular with many samurai families in Bukyo, and his strict and largely-unbiased belief in justice caused him to report many of the excesses he witnessed within the clans' members, even his own. As a result, Akechi Fujiwara, whose clan he personally disgraced, took action by hiring Kageyama to slay him and his family. Because he survived the assassination attempt, Kageyama's involvement became known, and their master was forced to commit seppuku as a form of recompense for teaching a murderer. Sakamoto was not immune to the fact that many in Bukyo whispered that he had brought his tragedy upon himself, that the "nail that sticks up gets hammered down." Out of disgust for the lack of compassion among the samurai clans not only to his family but to those of lower social status in general, he finally resigned and became a ronin, hoping to avenge his family by killing Kageyama. However, Fujiwara helped conceal the assassin that he might secure his services in the future. For years, Sakamoto searched for his enemy while performing tasks for the people he met in Hingashi and abroad. He even went as far as Doma before he realized that he no longer felt the fire of vengeance in his heart. This depressed him, and he soon began to drink in excess. By the time he met Jin, Sakamoto had wandered his way back to Bukyo in the vain hope that something might have turned up. He didn't expect to meet a boy who seemed so kindred in spirit, nor one who would help him find years of purpose and happiness until his ultimate demise.

Enemies

Rumors

Note: This section is editable by anyone. Just keep in mind that the rumors here may be both true or false.

Other Information

Name Etymology Jin: Taken from the Japanese word for "benevolence", one of the eight virtues of Bushidō. Mitsurugi: A Japanese surname roughly translating to "beautiful sword". Nicknames ■ Jin of the Flashing Blade Current Residence None Gallery