Character Creation

Backstory:
Utu Tere, known to most simply as "Hai", walks the dusty roads of the world with a gambler’s smile and a warrior’s presence. Once a proud samurai in the service of a now-fallen daimyo, Utu has long since traded honour-bound duels for the roll of dice and the crack of gunfire. When his lord was betrayed and his clan scattered, Utu chose not to die in vain like many of his kin. Instead, he turned to the only other things he’d ever been good at—shooting fast and reading people.

Wielding a sleek firearm forged from eastern craftsmanship and arcane innovation, Ash honed his skill with ruthless precision. He never fires twice if once will do. His blade remains at his side, though rarely drawn—more a memory of who he was than a tool he uses.

Utu makes his coin at tavern tables and saloons, gambling his way across towns, kingdoms, and frontiers. But wherever he goes, children seem to gather around him—drawn by his stoic presence and soft heart. He always keeps a deck of cards in his pocket, not just for poker, but for the intricate sleight-of-hand tricks he’s mastered over the years. He’ll never take a coin from a child, but he’ll take their awe, their laughter, and the brief peace it brings him.

Despite his calm demeanour, Utu is a storm waiting behind the clouds. He’s slow to anger—he’ll offer a drink before a threat—but if a fight starts, he ends it with ruthless, efficient force. His enemies rarely see the second shot.

Some say he’s chasing vengeance. Others say he’s searching for redemption. But Ash doesn’t talk about the past—he just walks the road ahead, letting fate deal the cards one hand at a time.

Personality Traits:
May speak to often, and his wisdom lost in words.

I never cheat at cards. I don't need to.

Ideals:
Honor in the Shadows: Even without a master, I live by a code—protect the innocent, punish the wicked, never strike first in anger.

Freedom: No man commands me. My path is mine alone.

Bonds:
The sword at my hip. I’ll raise it in honour again . . . one day.

There’s a small carved charm given to me by a child I once saved. It reminds me who I really am.

Flaws:
I don’t forgive betrayal. Ever.

I gamble to forget, and sometimes I forget to stop gambling.

No worries. May just buy a pack mule to carry all the metalware.

"The Beautiful Sword
Rivers of blood flow from it
Blooming scarlet buds"

Born to a feudal lords retainers, Cloud was trained as soon as he could walk in the arts of war and social craft.

He completed his primary schooling under the tutelage of Shugenja from the nothern mountains.

His first assignment was as a bodyguard to the Shogun.

After five years of service he distinguished himself by slaying a would be assassin.

He was promoted to the Shinsengumi, and developed his "Most Beautiful Swordstyle."

After one hundred successful duels Cloud was given the epithet "One Hundred Man Slayer" and promoted to be the Shogun's executioner.

After one thousand executions, Cloud was Sainted and granted the Epithet "Yama's Messenger."

Courtly politics shifted, the Muramasa clan was outlawed. Cloud's parents, siblings, and wife were killed by the Shogun's secret police. A plot he discovered to usurp the power of the Shogunate by unbalancing the clans and fomenting civil war.

Cloud now a ronin was stripped of titles and land. He was offered a chance to regain his honor by committing seppuku. He survived by wearing the symbol of the Shogunate declaring any who would dare strike him was declaring war upon the Shogun. Combined with his legendary reputation as a warrior no one stopped him as he fled Edo.

The Ronin Cloud wandered upon the aimless path of "The Dragon in Darkness" his heart set upon killing those responsible for the unjust murder of his clan.

Cloud found himself frequenting the village of Kibamura, working with a widow who was caring for the orphans of the village. Initially he had helped out of a need for forgiveness of his guilty conscience. But soon he developed feelings for the widow and came to view her and the orphans as his family.

While he often roamed the wildnerness, he found himself unable to part from Kibamura for long. Returning with the seasons to care for his beloved and their adopted children. When the call for help came, he cleaned his armor and sword, preparing to defend his new family from the threat.

Personality:
Quiet, brooding, with immense sadness and anger
I carry an immense weight and obligation on my honor.

Ideals:
I live as virtuos, peaceful, and gentle life as possible off the battlefield; for when I draw my sword it brings such ruin that even the Buddha would weep at the sight.

"The existence of a Swordsaint, implies the existence of a Swordsinner."

Bonds:
There are no limits to the length I will go to restore my honor and avenge my family. I would commit every crime, kill every person, and burn the whole of Nippon to the ground to accomplish this.

Flaw:
In my pursuit of justice, I see no difference between right or wrong. Only vengeance remains.

Going a different direction . . .

Since we are 10th level and presumably have had a ton of downtime, how would you feel about using some of our cash for an extra skill proficiency. 5e says 250 GP and must find a teacher and take the time to learn tool proficiency or language (skill not mentioned); p. 231 in DMG says DM may allow learning skill proficiencies, etc. in downtime.

I could see spending to get a new skill proficiency or new tool proficiencies. Thinking of adding survival if skills allowed and/or a tool proficiency related to my carpentering skills like woodcarving. Doubt either will come up but having 10+ healing potions feels clunky.