Yasuki Jinn-Kuen
Born:	Unknown
Died:	-
Titles:	Leader of Scales of the Carp, Yasuki Daimyo, Master Coin
People

Yasuki Jinn-Kuen was a Crab Clan courtier and Kolat. He was present at the Battle of the Tomb in 1168. It was he who brought the Tao of Fu Leng to the Crab.

Contents 1 Early Years 2 Scales of the Carp 2.1 Trading with the Mantis 2.2 Loyalties 2.3 Hiruma Castle Besieged 2.4 Jade Shortage 2.5 Imperial Scrutiny 3 Master Coin 3.1 Aftermath of the Yasuki War 3.2 Devising his Master's Fall 4 The Wanderer 4.1 To Defend the Emperor 4.2 Battle of the Tomb 4.3 Tao of Fu Leng 4.4 Crab-Scorpion War 4.5 Kyofu rejoined the Crab 4.6 Emerald Championship - 1169 4.7 Yasuki Daimyo's Heir 5 Race for the Throne 5.1 Winter Court - 1169 5.2 Kidnapped 6 Third Yasuki War 6.1 Treaty of Peace 7 Yasuki Daimyo 7.1 War of Dark Fire 7.2 End of the War of Dark Fire 7.3 Shadow Court 8 Retirement 9 See also 10 External Links 11 References

Early Years Edit

Jinn-Kuen was extremely manipulative, tactful, and devious. However, he was also quite charismatic. Jinn-Kuen distinguished himself as a shrewd businessman at a very young age. His skills attracted the attention of several important people, and within five years of his gempukku he had been earmarked by the Yasuki family as a potential head of the Scales of the Carp, and by the Coin Sect of the Kolat as a possible member. Less than two years later, he was a member of both organizations. ^[1]

Scales of the Carp Edit

Jinn-Kuen was the leader of the Scales of the Carp, an Otokodate of ronin smugglers who traded with the Crane to benefit the Crab. ^[2]

Trading with the Mantis Edit

Jinn-Kuen made trades with Yoritomo Leshanu, ^[3] who had been embezzling resources from the Mantis Clan Champion [Yoritomo Aramasu]] and selling them to the Yasuki. Yoritomo Kitao, who was seeking revenge against her former captain, had stumbled onto a private deal between Yoritomo Leshanu's agents and Jinn-Kuen. Jinn-Kuen accepted Kitao's offer of hiring her own mercenaries at a discounted rate and reported his dealings to Aramasu. Leshanu discovered Kitao's plot and attempted to stop her by attacking Jinn-Kuen's ship in transit, but Leshanu was himself ambushed by the Bitter Flower. Kitao slew Leshanu and sank his vessel. ^[4]

Loyalties Edit

Jinn-Kuen was a double and triple agent with shifting loyalties. When the Second Yasuki War began, he was one of the first Crab Yasuki to swear fealty to the Crane Clan, and secretly helped the Crane take Friendly Traveler Village during the war. ^[5] At the same time he assured Hida Shara, commander of the Crab forces, his allegiance to the Crab. By manipulating the Yasuki in both clans, he made both the Crab and the Crane more dependent upon the Scales for their trading needs. ^[6]

Hiruma Castle Besieged Edit

Iuchi Hari brought a message to Jinn-Kuen revealing Hida Kuon's order to gather reinforcements to aid Shiro Hiruma, which was besieged by Shikibu no Oni. The only forces available in the province was a Crane unit led by Daidoji Rekai. ^[7] Rekai was willing to offer aid, and were magically aided by Iuchi magic to travel to the castle. ^[8]

Jade Shortage Edit

Hida Kuon promised a great reward to Jinn-Kuen if he could find new sources of jade. ^[9]

Imperial Scrutiny Edit

The famous historian Miya Hatori and his aides Otomo Taneji and Fuzake Sekkou visited the contested Yasuki lands in 1160, during a long journey across all Rokugan. The group had visited many lords of the Great Clans, so Jinn-Kuen tryed to bait the Miya into saying or even implying the Yasuki didn't have a daimyo for him to meet with, but the aged historian was careful enough to leave the Yasuki lands deeply indebted to Jinn-Kuen. ^[10]

Master Coin Edit

Aftermath of the Yasuki War Edit

After Yasuki Hachi swore fealty to Hida Kuon during the battle to save Shinsei's Last Hope, Jinn-Kuen quickly followed suit, ^[11] and became one of the leaders of the Crab Yasuki. For the first time in his life, Jinn-Kuen suspected his ambitions might have exceeded his capabilities, because he did not know if he wished the Kolat to rule the Yasuki family through him. The Kolat refused to not interfere with his rule over the Yasuki, so Jin-Kuenn decided to replace his lord in the Kolat, Master Coin. ^[12]

Devising his Master's Fall Edit

In 1159 he became the new Master Coin of the Kolat, after having manipulated the discovery and eventual downfall of the previous holder of the title, Moshi Shanegon. He was able to feed information about Shanegon to Moto Chen and Yoritomo Kumiko, who used this to destroy Shanegon's secret stronghold and expose the members of the Coin Sect who were loyal to him and not to Jinn-Kuen. ^[13]

The Wanderer Edit

In 1168 the Imperial Court had received testimony from the Nezumi ambassador indicating the Emperor Toturi III had entered the Shadowlands. The Empress Toturi Kurako exposed Naseru had left the Imperial City Toshi Ranbo months ago as a wanderer seeking enlightenment. The Emerald Champion Yasuki Hachi would lead a rescue party with assembled forces from every Clan in the Crab lands. Jinn-kuen met Hida Benjiro and Toritaka Tatsune and gave them a large jade piece, enough for the safe travel in the Shadowlands of the Crab party. In return he would be let to accompany them. The shortest way from the capital would be through the Shamate Pass entering Scorpion territory, which were at odds with the Crab with the Kisada affair. Jinn-Kuen offered to arrange the transport through Scorpion lands with no fear of discovery. ^[14] Jinn-Kuen also arranged with the Mantis party led by Yoritomo Katoa their travel papers. In exchange Jinn-Kuen and others would be disguised and hidden with the Mantis. His kolat fellow, Tsuruchi Etsui was his contact with Katoa. ^[15]

To Defend the Emperor Edit

Jinn-Kuen was already at the Kaiu Wall when Hachi arrived with the Imperial Legions. He requested the Emerald Champion to solve the issue with the Scorpion party, not be allowed to barrack anywhere in the Crab lands, and Hachi solved it. When the army began the march these Scorpions had left behind their armor and Scorpion colors. ^[16]

Battle of the Tomb Edit

When they reached the Tomb an army of oni raced across the plain toward it, and another army, of the Lost, passed away the Rokugani and headed toward the beasts of Jigoku. Hachi ordered to join them against the demons in the Battle of the Tomb. After the armies engaged the officers decided to enter into the Tomb. They found the Emperor in a chamber filled with strange, ancient artifacts. There was no time to escape and Naseru believed the items would be instrumental to Rokugan's very survival. The Emperor decided to sacrifice himself to buy the time needed for the rest to take these items back to the Empire. ^[16]

Tao of Fu Leng Edit

Jinn-Kuen safely returned to Kyuden Hida ^[17] with a book. The Oracle of Jade Omen sensed the presence of the book when it was retrieved from the Tomb, and made his way to Crab lands to advise Hida Kuon on what to do with it. Omen revealed it was the Tao of Fu Leng, an evil book written by the hand of the Dark Kami himself. The book was deemed too dangerous to study as it would corrupt its reader, and too dangerous to destroy as it would unfailingly re-create itself and possibly fall into the hands of the Shadowlands. Hida Benjiro and [Jinn-Kuen, the only two Crab who had carried the artifact, were found by Omen without the book's mark on either of both men. The Tao was entrusted to Omen to safeguard it. ^[18]

Crab-Scorpion War Edit

Jinn-Kuen tempted Kuon reminding him that the Throne was vacant, but the Crab Champion had another pressing matter in mind, the retaliation against the Scorpion for the attempts on Kisada's life. He ordered Benjiro to start the Crab-Scorpion War. ^[18]

Kyofu rejoined the Crab Edit

Kyofu came to his former clan and requested an audience with Hida Kuon. He no longer looked like the Onisu, he was handsome, though his flesh was strangely discolored. Kyofu asked to be given command of the Damned so that he could lead a force against the oni. After his intentions were verified by Omen, the Oracle of Jade, he would command the tainted crab in the Kyofu's Last March. Kyofu was given Kettei to wield in the battles. Kuni Daigo pledged to bring the sword back to the Crab upon Kuroda's death. ^[19] Kuroda was killed by Kyoso no Oni in the Battle at the Wall of Bones. ^[20]

Emerald Championship - 1169 Edit

During the Emerald Champion Jinn-Kuen made several tea trade agreements and the the Crab were currently the primary supplier of tea to all of Rokugan. He enjoyed a meeting with Yoritomo Sachina, a Mantis courtier who used all her female weapons in her advantage when trading, but Jinn-Kuen was not prey of her allure. ^[21]

Yasuki Daimyo's Heir Edit

Jinn-Kuen was selected by the Crab to succeed Yasuki Hachi as the daimyo of the Crab Yasuki family. The Crane did not supported this claim, and without and Emperor to clarify it, he was not considered the true Yasuki Daimyo. ^[22]

Race for the Throne Edit

Jinn-kuen summoned Etsui and they met Kakita Kyruko. She told, for Etsui's surprise, that the Mantis clan was already planning to present him as a candidate in the Race for the Throne. The Mantis thought they could control Etsui, so once they approached him, Etsui made sure that they continue to think that. At the same time the Kolat were trying to convince the people of Rokugan that any daimyo would not be able to sever ties with their original clan and that the conflict of interest would be too deep, favoring a non-Champion candidate. ^[23]

Winter Court - 1169 Edit

Jinn-Kuen attended the Winter Court in the winter 1169-1170 in Kyuden Ikoma. While there he attempted to bait Daidoji Daimyo Daidoji Kikaze, but with little success. ^[24] Kikaze was aided by Ikoma Yasuko, probably the largest reason for the Daimyo's success. ^[22]

Kidnapped Edit

In 1170 Jinn-kuen was kidnapped in the Iuchi Pass, when crossing the Spine of the World Mountains, by bandits. ^[25] His three Seppun escorts were killed, and Jinn-Kuen imprisoned in a rickety little cabin perched precariously high amid the peaks. The bandits were tracked down and destroyed by Moto Jin-sahn's unit. In gratitude, Jinn-Kuen gave Jin-Sahn some scrolls that he had found in a lost room of a minor Crab Clan embassy, wich told about a long-lost Minor Clan, ^[26] later found as the Tanuki Clan. ^[27]

Third Yasuki War Edit

The economic activities of the Crane had given them the upperhand economically in the Third Yasuki War, but the trading activities of Jinn-Kuen allowed the Crab to use their lock on last year's tea crop ruthlessly. Jinn-Kuen managed to negotiate several large multi-year contracts last year, and they would serve to keep the cost of tea high. The tea were scarce in Crane territory as consequence. ^[28]

Treaty of Peace Edit

Jinn-Kuen realized the Third Yasuki War would come to an end. The Crab had exhausted the finances to support the army in the Yasuki provinces, while the profit form his tea trades came to fund the Wall. He exposed it to Kuon who ordered him to ask for terms to the Crane. In a meeting with the crane Clan Champion Doji Domotai he agreed to restore Doji Kurohito's honor in the Court, and to take marriage with a Crane bride selected by Domotai. The treaty was signed but it was not shown until the Empress Iweko I made her first Imperial Edict, asking the Clans to end warrying. ^[29]

Yasuki Daimyo Edit

For her dowry, Domotai assigned control of the Yasuki lands to Jinn-Kuen, returning the provinces to the Crab, and making Jinn-Kuen the true Yasuki Daimyo. ^[29]

War of Dark Fire Edit

Jinn-Kuen was attending winter court at Kyuden Bayushi when the War of Dark Fire broke. He spoke with Shiba Yoma about Bayushi Iyona's presence in Phoenix Clan lands. ^[30] Winter court extended to the next year and more news on the War arrived. ^[31] Jinn-Kuen expanded the Crab into the market of peddling vices, an activity closely scrutinied by the Scorpion Clan. ^[32]

End of the War of Dark Fire Edit

In 1171 Jinn-Kuen alongside several members of the Court planned a trap to protect the Empress after she decided to return to Toshi Ranbo. ^[33] During the subsequent battle, the Son of Fire, field commander of Chosai's army, was lured into the clever trap prepared by the courtiers, and he was killed by Hida Benjiro, Akodo Setai, and Shosuro Naname. At the same time the Army of Fire was defeated in the Battle of Dragon Heart Plain, ending the war. ^[34]

Shadow Court Edit

After the gaijin ruhmalist attack to the Empress in the opening of the winter court in 1172, the Emerald Champion Shosuro Jimen cancelled it. Doji Domotai invited the Clans to conduct the so-called Shadow Court in the Embassy of the Crane. He was counseled by Shiba Yoma to attend it. ^[35]

Retirement Edit

Jinn-Kuen became a sensei to pass his knowledge, and taught smart samurai even from other clans. Upon retirement Jinn-Kuen joined the Brotherhood of Shinsei. ^[36]

See also Edit

• Yasuki Jinn-Kuen/Meta

External Links Edit

• Yasuki Jinn-Kuen (Broken Blades)
• Yasuki Jinn-Kuen Exp (Khan's Defiance)
• Yasuki Jinn-Kuen Exp2 (Second City)

Preceded by: Yasuki Hachi	Yasuki Daimyo 1170 - (c. 1198)	Succeeded by: Unknown
Preceded by: Moshi Shanegon	Master Coin 1159 - Present	Succeeded by: -

References

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