Yamamoto Tanto, Sword for Hire
Statistics
Template: Big Bruiser
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- Unique Schtick: Tough
Weapons
- No-dachi, tanto, daikyu
Wealth level: Poor
Image
Tanto is a big, ugly, battle-scarred individual. He wears worn samurai clothing with no insignia, a no-dachi and daikyu slung across his back.Background
Tanto was a lad of 14 when his father took the family (self-made) bushi to battle, as part of some larger campaign that meant little to Tanto. Although he was in training to be a samurai, young Tanto remained home with his mother when the men went on campaign. News arrived that Tanto's father had led the family to complete annihilation. Tanto saw the enemy bushi coming towards his village and fled to the forrest, only to see the remains of his family all killed.Tanto survived for a while, hiding in the coutryside and on the run from his family's enemies. Once far enough away, he started hiring out as another mercenary ronin. Years passed and Tanto developed into a hard, dangerous but uncouth character. Of necessity, his brute skills developed but without any finesse or culture. When times were tough and work scarce, in desperation Tanto resorted to other means of surviving, like stealing.
Now Tanto is a hard, potentially violent character, willing to do almost anything to survive. Tanto isn't especially smart but he can be devious. He respects the law only when concerned about retribution from the powers that be. Tanto remembers the Code of Bushido from his youth but it seems one he cannot afford to always adhere to. At the same time, more than anything, Tanto wants to recapture the idealic youth he has lost, including his family's honour and his samurai status.
Tanto is ever on the lookout for a good job, one where he can shine in front of some daimyo perhaps or at least get paid well. Equally, he is wary of getting in over his head, having developed a strong survival instinct.
Tanto has a reputation as a dangerous character and one who will keep trying. He is secretly jealous of wealthy young samurai but willing to work beside them if necessary. Otherwise, he views all bushi as potential comrades, competitors and opponents, depending on what day of the week it is.
Note:
The picture of Tanto is clipped from a larger original by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka entitled "Hundreds of Human Heads Appear to Kiyomori at Fukuhara", from his 36 Ghosts & Apparitions. Picture obtained from the Ukiyo-e Museum Nagoya TV Server page.
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