Hida Rakkarouzeki Ouchi

Ouchi's 22 Questions

1.  What clan does Ouchi belong to?

Ouchi belongs to the Crab Clan, Hida family (actually a subfamily of the Hidas).

Physically, Ouchi is pretty much a classic Crab - that is, huge.  Unlike many Crabs, he pays careful attention to his physical appearance, and keeps himself clean-shaven and neat.  His dress is notable in several regards:  first, he will (given any choice in the matter) wear his heavy armor all the time.  The first thing he does in the morning is put it on, and the last thing he does at night is take it off and make any necessary repairs.   He will take off the armor in absolutely required social situations (i.e. to take a bath, to visit the daimyo, to sleep, etc.) but markedly prefers to wear it when given the choice.  This should be considered more of a mild mental abberation than a fashion statement.  Second, his daisho does not match, being composed of his father's katana and his mother's wakazashi.  This gives him a somewhat roninish appearance, though he does wear the family mon conspicuously on his armor.  Third, he almost always wears a huge (7") no-dachi which he acquired from an oni.  The item is believed to be somehow magical, but Ouchi has no idea what it does.  Ouchi calls his katana "Father", his wakizashi "Mother" and the no-dachi "Nothing", usually in an offhand manner ("that?  Oh, it is nothing.")  The word he uses for "nothing" can also mean "Void".

Mentally, Ouchi is pretty much as close to being a basket case as you can get in Rokugan and still be allowed to walk around armed.  His claims to be other than himself stem from the horror and trauma of watching his family get killed by Shadowlands creatures coupled with the great shame and humiliation that he felt when it appeared that 1) the Shadowland horde would defeat him and 2) he apparently failed in his great destiny and would shame both his family name and his clan.  Ouchi is not, in fact, possessed in any way, shape, or form (so exorcism won't do anything to him).  This alteration in his personality is entirely a defense mechanism.  He is, however, haunted.

A final note concerns Ouchi's appearance and actions in combat.  Ouchi's berserker fighting style appears to stem not from rage, but from some profound mystical/religious experience that Ouchi undergoes under the stress of combat.  Although his eyes take on the typical berserker "dead eyes" quality, in battle Ouchi will laugh uproariously, as though the death and bloodshed were all a profound joke.  Not only that, but his laughter is somewhat infectious, and those nearby frequently laugh as well.  This is even true of his opponents.  [This is just a special effect - it has no direct effect on combat.  Ouchi gets no advantage from it, and his opponents suffer no disadvantage.  Not all of Ouchi's opponents laugh - anyone who would lose Honor or Glory by so doing simply doesn't.]

Ouchi is a Bushi.

The most important thing to note about them is that THEY'RE ALL DEAD!  DEAD DEAD DEAD! Virtually every one of Ouchi's immediate family was killed in battle against Shadowlands creatures during Ouchi's wedding.

 Ouchi is torn between redemption and destruction.  Part of him strives to understand what he has become, to channel his rage, frustration, and humiliation through the power of his Bushido code, and to continue to serve within the celestial hierarchy as best he can.  Another part believes that only by attaining a glorious death, with enemies heaped at his feet and his hands around a foeman's throat, can he achieve any sort of redemption.

His wife.  She was the one who stood at his back during his very first berserker rage, and she is the one he prefers to have at his side to protect him when he goes into battle.  In truth, Ouchi fell in love with her during the battle at their wedding, finding her skill in battling the Shadowlands creatures admirable, her determination to fight until the very last breath stirring, and her beauty compelling.

Ouchi has a very high Void score, which is unusual for a Crab and even more unusual for a Berserker.  His berserk fighting style comes from his anger and humiliation, channeled through the Void.

At present, despite his struggles to rediscover himself, Ouchi only really feels alive when he is fighting.  He holds himself together by strict adherence to the code of Bushido, but inside that ethical framework he is a broken man, struggling to put the pieces of himself back together before he dooms himself forever.  It is also obvious to him that his current fighting style is likely to get him killed in short order, and he worries that he will die with duties unperformed.

Bushido is, almost literally, Ouchi's life.  As much of his waking time as he can devote to it are spent in trying to understand Bushido and live according to its ways.  He has only shown an interest over the last month since his first berzerker rage, so he is not particularly adept at Bushido, nor does he know much about it's more esoteric aspects (he doesn't have "Bushido Lore" yet.)

Unlike some followers of Bushido, Ouchi does not attempt to hold others to any sort of high standard of behavior, feeling that he must concentrate on his own path, not the paths of others.

Right now Ouchi doesn't really think about the Crab Clan that much.  He is loyal and faithful, and is proud to be a Crab, but the Crab Clan has always been the backdrop for his entire life.  He looks upon the other clans as being rather like the Crab Clan, except not quite able to keep up or "do it right".  Doubtless an extended sojourn into the territory of other clans will give him a keener understanding of what makes the Crab Clan unique.  Such experience will likely only make him more loyal and devoted.

Ouchi adheres to the standard Crab prejudices regarding other clans for the most part.  Having lived his entire life within the domain of the Crabs, he has had little experience with other clans, and his prejudices are for the most part based on what he has heard rather than what he has experienced for himself.

The exception to this is the Crane Clan.  Ouchi HATES them, blaming them for the death of much of his family and his current mental anguish.  While Ouchi is usually outwardly relaxed and even fairly jolly (for a samurai) when the Cranes show up he will become stiff and formal as he struggles to hold his hatred in check and conform to the code of Bushido.  If and when he encounters any of the Crane samurai who retreated from the Kaiu Wall during his wedding, he will be as openly contemptuous of them as only a Crab can be.  Should he ever meet Dijo Tsuyoshi, only the most extreme requirements of Bushido will stay his hand from killing the man instantly.

Not only is Ouchi married, but it is during his wedding ceremony that his family was decimated.  Furthermore, horror of horrors, he actually LOVES his wife.

The Crab Clan.  In Ouchi's case this takes the form of his Lord and Daimyo, Hida Kisada, to whom Ouchi is sworn as a vassal retainer.

A well-performed tea ceremony, well-warmed sake, rock gardens at sunset and sunrise, and that little mewling sound bakemono make right after you've shoved a no-daishi  through them.

Enemies who run faster than he does (all Cranes, for example)

Ouchi has three.  First, as previously mentioned, he tends to wear his heavy armor everywhere he possibly can, and will spend a good deal of time making sure that it is in tip-top condition at all times.  Second, he will occasionally speak to his katana or wakazashi (or both) [this is a function of his disadvantage "Haunted"].  Third, while he answers to Ouchi just fine, he does not believe himself to BE Ouchi, but rather some spirit of the Void or embodiment of Bushido which has largely replaced Ouchi.  In conversation with those who he thinks may not know this, he will mention the fact, as well as the fact that he is striving to become Ouchi once again.

By modern standards Ouchi is, well, nutso, around the bend, a few cards short of a deck, loony, crazy as a bedbug, etc.  However, his insanity does not currently manifest itself in ways that the Crab Clan considers severe (the Phoenix would probably feel otherwise) and he strives to be polite and loyal.  He is absolutely fearless in combat.

 Let the wife deal with it. Given the fact that any sort of violent confrontation will likely leave said servant dead and Ouchi jumping up and down on the corpse, hacking it repeatedly with a katana and laughing hysterically, he tends to shy away from confrontations of this type.

Given that Ouchi personally dispatched them after their return from death as Shadowlands creatures, is doubtful that they regard him as showing proper filial piety.  Their ghosts certainly appear to bother him on occasion.  Were they alive they would certainly be horrified by what he has become, and shamed that he has apparently rejected his family and lineage.  Of course, were they alive it is doubtful that Ouchi would have snapped.

  To become Ouchi once again.  In order to do this, he must atone in his own mind for his past sins.

Surprisingly, he is quite religious, not out of any deep conviction, but rather because of a vague belief that only some higher power can save him.  Again, this is not a subject that he was particularly interested in until a month ago, so he is not learned in the area of religion, but he enthusiastically participates in the obvious elements that are known to everybody (praying at temples, making offerings to spirits, etc.).

 I would never presume to offer advice to a guy with a seven-foot magical no-Daishi and a touchy temper.

Ouchi'sTale

"Yes, it is lovely, is it not?  The rocks so perfectly rakedÖ  the bonsai so beautifully trimmed.  Pardon?  No, it is not my work.  The daimyo hires a Crane ronin to do it, as I understand.  Still, it is beautiful.

"My wounds are indeed healing well.  Thank you for asking.  The moxa have helped a great deal.  Just yesterday the masseuse mentioned to me that he could no longer easily find my injured places save by feeling the scars themselves, that the muscles beneath had healed completely.  He is quite skilled at what he does, but I fear he is blind in more ways than one.  He feels with his hands, and so knows only what he can touch."

"Hai!  I was informed that you would be visiting me today, and I understand why you are here.  My daimyo has need of an explanation for my recent behavior, and has asked you to speak to me about it.  He wonders why I have asked him to place my daisho under his care until I need it once again.  He doubtless wonders at my faithfulness and, perhaps, my sanity.  Perhaps what I tell you will satisfy him.  I pray that it is so."

"Would you care for tea?  I would be happy have some brought for you.  No?  Then let us begin."

"You have doubtless heard much of the story already, but I regret that my tale is like a river - it must begin at the source, and flow to the end.  You are doubtless familiar with Ouchi's lineage - those of the Rakkarouzeki family are as old as the Hida themselves, though not so prominent.  They have served the Crab clan as long as the Crab clan has existed, and have served the mighty Hida as well.  Ouchi's birth was considered greatly auspicious by the shugenja - they spoke of the strength of his bloodline, of his destiny - of the great things Ouchi would accomplish.  Much, apparently, was made of him in court while Ouchi was still an infant, and the elders of the clan, even the Great Bear himself, speculated as to what part he might play in the future of the Crab, and of Rokugan.

"There was another born under similar auspicious signs, though these were signs auspicious for a woman, rather than a man.  Her name was Shinobu, and she was of the Family of Kuni.  Two such births in such a short period of time could not be mere coincidence, said the shugenja.  Hence it was decided, before either had seen their second year, that the two would be married.  This would provide a fortuitous connection between Hida and Kuni, and it was believed that two of such great destiny could not help but accomplish legendary things if joined, and might even produce a powerful bloodline.

"Ouchi, of course, thought little of such things, even when he grew older and they were brought to his attention.  Ouchi was dutiful in his studies, and was inducted into the Hida School for his training.  In due time his gempakku ceremony came and went, and Ouchi took his place on the Kaiu Wall as a vassal of Lord Hida Kisada.  In the fullness of time the appointed day for the wedding ceremony drew near."

"Preparations for the ceremony were made.  It was decided that it would take place upon the Kaiu Wall itself.  It was to be a small affair, for the Crab have better things to do than engage in pointless pomp and ceremony, but because of the importance of the union, and, I believe, because the ceremony was held along an area of the wall that was guarded by a contingent of Crane troops, it was decided to be more formal than is usual for the clan.  Consequently, Ouchi was bathed, anointed, and dressed in fine ceremonial robes of silk.  He was brought together with Shinobu, who had also been anointed and dressed in finest ceremonial wedding robes, and the ceremony was begun.  In the midst of the wedding, however, a cry went up from the wall.  A host of the legions of Feu Leng had been sighted!

"All stood to their weapons, the ceremony forgotten.  Ouchi, still in his ceremonial silks, and Shinobu in her white wedding robes, stood to their stations and prepared to fight.  They were Crabs, they could do nothing else.  The battle commenced, with those of the Crab fighting side-by-side with those of the Crane against the horrors of Feu Leng.  All during the day they fought and on into the night and their foes piled high at the base of the Kaiu Wall.

"It was the Cranes who betrayed us.  Their leader, a young samurai named Doji Tsuyoshi looked upon the hosts of Feu Leng and determined that all was lost.  He called those who were with him together, announced that the wall could not be held, and ordered his men to march home the way that they came.  Then he congratulated them on their bravery (as though such behavior were actually courageous!) and said that he would not sacrifice them needlessly in a lost battle.  With a flurry of waving banners the Cranes left the wall and departed into the night.

"Had there been swords to spare  Tsuyoshi and every one of his soldiers would have died then, but the hosts of Feu Leng pressed the Crabs too closely for them to spare even a single warrior.  Indeed, the horrors of the Shadowlands took advantage of the Cranes departure to gain a lodgment on the battlements, and the Crabs were hard-pressed even to contain them, much less to drive them back.  In desperation, every sword which could be gathered was thrown at the enemy ranks, including those who had come for the wedding:  Ouchi's mother, his father, several aunts and uncles, even his grandmother dowager drew steel and stepped up to the line.  It was the same for Shinobu's family, for each alike was Crab.  All knew their duty.

And thenÖ  ah, and then they fought!  Fought as only Crabs can fight!  All that night and throughout the next day the minions of Feu Leng sought to expand their lodgment.  All that time the Crabs fought to contain them and drive them back.  Little aid could be sent them, for other portions of the wall were also assailed, but none spoke of retreat, none spoke of fear.  Ouchi saw his grandmother dowager fight until her heart burst in her chest, and dying leapt from the battlements, taking a bakemono with her.  He saw his parents killed in battle with a creature too horrible even to have a name, striking it mortal injuries even as it so struck them down.  Ouchi was cut a dozen times, a hundred, but still he fought on.  And beautiful Shinobu completed their wedding not by removing her ceremonial white robes, but by staining them red with her own blood and those of our enemies.

"But as the day wore on there were fewer and fewer to resist each new onslaught, and it seemed that the armies of Feu Leng were inexhaustible.  By early afternoon the Crab defenders had abandoned all thought of counterattack, and as sunset neared they were forced from the battlements at last and into one of the towers.  Ouchi looked out upon the enemies arrayed against them, and realized for the first time that he might fail in his duty, that despite his best efforts the creatures of the Shadowlands might break through.  And at that moment, Doctor, somethingÖ  something welled up from within and consumed the man Rakkarouzeki Ouchi, leaving me in his place."

"I cannot explain to you how the transformation came about Doctor, there are no words.  Perhaps a shugenja, or a member of the venerable Dragon Clan might be able to tell you more.  But it was as if a great, cold flame welled up from the void of Ouchi's soul, burning its way towards the surface of his flesh.  In an instant, most of Ouchi was consumed, and I stood in his place, and in that moment a profound sense of understanding came over me.  And I laughed."

"No Doctor, I cannot tell you why I laughed.  First, I remember little of it, though others remember it well.  Second, I think that even were I to remember it all, there would be no words to describe it.  But in that moment, I understood.  Not just one thing or many things - not a subject or a trade or a school of swordsmanship.  No Doctor, when I was born, much of my knowledge was lost, but in that moment my understanding was complete.

"I do not know the details of how the battle ended.  Perhaps you could speak to Shinobu about that.  I am told that my laughter struck the minions of the Shadowlands with terror, and that none could stand against me.  I am told that I leapt from the tower into the midst of the Shadowlands host.  I am told that I took the no-dachi from the hands of an oni as an adult takes an object from the hands of an infant, then struck him down with it.  I am told that I killed until I was bathed in blood and ichor, that in a single breath a dozen of the Shadowlands host would fall at my left hand, and that in the next breath a dozen more would fall at my right.  I am told that with Shinobu at my back and the few remaining Crab defenders at my side we cleared the battlements, and that when at last I collapsed I was preparing to leap from the Kaiu Wall in the hope of crushing yet more of the fleeing foe as I fell.  In truth I remember none of this.  I remember only the laughter."

"Pardon?  Oh, hai!  Hai!  Hai!  I shall!  I shall!  Hai!  Gomen nasai!  Hai!"

"Forgive me, Doctor, but Ouchi's honored mother wishes to be sure that I inform you of the final fate of his parents.  When I awoke after the battle, I insisted on standing watch over the bodies of Ouchi's mother and father and dispatching them when then once again rose from the dead.  But I was inadequate and failed in my duty to Ouchi's family.  Though I remembered Ouchi's parents, I forgot to care for the body of his grandmother dowager.  She rose and escaped.  Doubtless she roams the Shadowlands even now.  Ouchi's mother is most angry at me for this, for the grandmother dowager and she were very close."

"In light of this tale, please allow me to explain my recent actions.  The daisho of Rakkarouzeki Ouchi I have sent to Lord Kisada, for I am not Ouchi, though I wear his body at the moment.  My understanding is incomplete, but it is my hope that Rakkarouzeki Ouchi will one day return to this body and reclaim it, and it is for this reason that I act as I do.  Please take a moment to examine the daisho I now carry - undoubtedly Lord Kisada will want a firsthand account.  Very astute, Doctor, you are correct.  The swords do not match.  The katana was from the daisho of Ouchi's father, and the wakazashi from the daisho of his mother.  I carry them thus to remind myself of the filial piety that Ouchi owes to his parents, and that I must serve them in his place until his return."

"It is my hope, Doctor, that one day I may find Ouchi, wherever he has gone, and offer him this body once again.  This world is, of course, only Maya, illusion.  But if I act dishonorably while wearing the form of Ouchi, then I will being dishonor on him and his family name, and such a shameful act violates the code of bushido.  While I am clothed as Ouchi I will act to defend his honor, and uphold his commitments to his lord."

"I?  In truth, Doctor, I do not know who or what I am.  Perhaps I am a spirit of the Void made flesh.  Perhaps an embodiment of Bushido.  Perhaps something else completely.  I have pondered the question, but have no answer.  I hope one day to know."

"Have you any further questions, Doctor?  No?  Very well.  I hope that I have given you sufficient information to make your report to Kisada-sama.  Please inform him that I accept Ouchi's fealty to him as my own, and will uphold his vows and tend to his duties faithfully.  If Kisada-sama so wishes, I will renew those vows in any manner he sees fit to dictate to me.  For nowÖ "

"Ö I believe I shall meditate a bit longer.  Sayonara, Doctor-san."

Hida Rakkarouzeki Ouchi

Fire: 2 Air: 2 Earth: 3  Water: 2  (Strength=3)  Void: 4

Primary Weapon: No-Dachi  Primary Armour: Heavy  TN to be Hit:  10/20 Points per Wound:  6 "School": Berserker, Rank 1 Techniques: Maim and Laugh (1)  Roll and keep 1 extra dice of damage  Fall over after 6 rounds.  Insight:  149  Honour: 1  Glory:  1

Note: Ouchi's picture drawn by Sophie Lagacé.