HIBAKUSHA KASA

By Jenny Parr (j.l.parr@bradford.ac.uk) (17 May 1996)

Description

The Kasa bloodline, the most militaristic branch of the Hibakusha, is also the bloodline in the most decline. The controllers of the primitive warring tribes, then later the War-lords, the Kasa had a strong influence and following among the early Japanese. The constant wars made it easy for the Kasa to determine which warriors they should embrace to make the clan strong. The tenants of the Bushido code -- the Way of Civilized Warriors -- were written by a Kasa elder in the early days of the war-lords, more as a rule to judge potential Kasa by rather than a way of life. However the spread of the Bushido code throughout the warrior classes gave the Kasa an unprecedented amount of influence among the Japanese rulers. For centuries they were the greatest force in Japan and Eastern Asia -- the Gaki, the Onyudu, the Kyuketsuki and the Bushi could not stand against them in any way. Even if they had united (a very unlikely proposal) the Kasa would have destroyed them all without hesitation. Their stranglehold over the Emperor, the Samurai, the Shogun and eventually the Japanese army gave them total control over the Japanese population when -- in their desire to purge the Brujah from the U.S.A. -- they decided to enter the war on the side of the Germans. Their defeat in WWII came as an almost complete shock to them. They had believed themselves to be totally invulnerable for far too long. The subsequent disbanding of the army came as a harsh blow as the Onyudu rose up to take advantage of the power vacuum to create a new Japan. The Kasa still have not recovered from the great fall and many, in dishonour, committed Jisatsu by decapitation. As a result their numbers have fallen rapidly.

This clan is the antithesis of everything the Brujah believe in. The Blood Bond to the clan leader is seen as an insult to the freedom and anarchy enjoyed by the Brujah while their steadfast loyalty to each other is seen by the Brujah as possible evidence of a second, more subtle Blood Bond to ensure that the younger generations do not rise up against the Elders. However the contempt is mutual. The Kasa see the Brujah as little more than a group of bandits using their powers they received as Kindred to terrorise those weaker than themselves. They see the Brujah as having no honour. They also see the Brujah's tendency to frenzy as being an indication that they are closer to the Beast than other Kindred and should be treated as such. The Brujah and the Kasa have been at war for nearly twelve centuries and shall be for many more.

A secret internal order of the Kasa have started to take the battle to the enemy. The order, known as the 'Swords of Eternal Fuji' has been planning a journey to the stronghold of the Brujah, the Anarch Free States in order to strike a blow to the heart of their most hated enemy. They have made alliances with certain radical groups of the Kyuketsuki, Kuei and Bushi who have been more than willing to attack the Westerners on their own ground. Recently they have decided to strike at San Diego, one of the major cities of the Anarchs. So far there are six Kasa, two Kuei, a Bushi and a Kyuketsuki in San Diego scouting to determine the weaknesses of the Anarchs. A council has been called in Kyoto to determine whether or not to allow the Swords of Eternal Fuji to complete this offensive as it could undermine clan security since many younger Kasa agree with the Swords. The bloodline founder Ryu Fuginoshin is still in torpor and the Elders are still undecided...

Quote

"You dishonour your clan and your country. You deserve nothing better than to die by my hand."

Nickname

Samurai

Origins

Japan

Appearance

All members of the Kasa clan are of Japanese origin. They often shave the sides of their heads and have their family mon tattooed there while the top and back hair is very long.

Haven

When Kasa first visit a region they set up a safe house where any member of any family is welcome to stay. As time progresses a 'stronghold' will be set up by the most prominent families in the region.

Background

All Kasa are of a militant but honourable nature. Many have been members of the Japanese Defence Force or have been mercenaries in other East Asian countries. Also a great number of policemen have been recruited in the past century. No Kasa will be in league with the Yakuza.

Character Creation

The Kasa are usually of soldier or investigator concept with physical attributes and skills primary. No Kasa can be of criminal concept. They usually have at least two dots in etiquette and high scores in melee and dodge. Common backgrounds include status and clan prestige.

Clan Disciplines

Celerity, Potence, Bushido.

The Kasa are proud of their disciplines but the development of these takes second place to the accumulation of family honour.

Weaknesses

All Kasa are Blood Bound to their leader, Shogun Ryu Fuginoshin. They are also honour bound to go to each other's aid. (If another Kasa calls upon a character for aid he must make a conscience roll if he does not go. The difficulty depends on the circumstances.)

Geography

The Kasa have been accused of xenophobia by many of the other Hibakusha. Older Kasa prefer to call it nationalism. Many Kasa have a pride in their country and its history that could be described as obsessive. There have been no Kasa embraced who were not Japanese nationals of full Japanese origin. Most Kasa reside in their homeland; the major exceptions being the strike force in the American Anarch Free States and a few younger Kasa who travel through the Far East.

Structure

The Kasa are divided into 'families' depending on their sire's lineage. Each family ruled over the people of certain areas of Japan -- the Sakurambo ruled western Honshu, the Uzumaki ruled eastern Honshu, the Hyoga ruled Hokkaido, the Kazan ruled southern Honshu, the Yanagi ruled Shikoku, the Hita ruled Kyushu and the Rakurai ruled Sakhalin. Each Kasa is expected to defer to all elders but to support the elders of their family against the elders of other families. The head of a family is known as the Kizoku. His council of elders is known as the Kyuden.

Gaining Power

Gaining power among the Kasa is difficult. Elders are protective of their positions, and have a tendency to use their influence and status to stop younger Kasa of a different family from gaining power in order to promote their own clan. To gain power a Kasa must perform a great deed for the bloodline which can not be ignored by any family without a loss of honour.

Gathering Days

The Kasa of a family meet on the full moon of every month at a formal ceremony, at their family stronghold if possible. These meetings spread the latest information and serve to strengthen the bond between clan members.

Power Rumours

The struggle between the families is ongoing. For centuries the Sakurambo were the most powerful family only to have their power usurped by the Uzumaki in the 19th century. At the moment the Rakurai are gaining power as they move to Vladivostok and Pyongyang to fill the vacuum created by the destruction of the Ju.

Internal Orders

Each family can be classed as a separate internal order. The Sakurambo are highly militaristic, but are in decline. The Uzumaki are much more wily but lost many of their most powerful elders during WWII. The matriarchal Hyoga have closeted themselves away, concentrating on the development of their innate magical abilities. The Kazan are starting to encourage the development of high-tech industry in their provinces and have come into direct confrontation with the Onyudu and Zaibatsu Gaki. The Yanagi are waiting to reclaim parts of Manchuria they conquered in the early part of the century now the Ju have gone. The Hita are pushing for all-out war on the faithless and the Rakurai are patiently waiting for the best time to move into North Korea and Russia.

As well as the families, a separate faction has emerged from the ranks of Kasa who have renounced family honour. This faction is known as the 'Swords of Eternal Fuji.' Most Kasa deny the existence of this fanatical group whose sole purpose is to strike at the heart of the faithless -- the Antediluvians. Clan elders are undecided on what action to take against them.

Allies

The Kasa are not the most trusting of the Hibakusha, preferring to run their own affairs than trust a mortal, whom they consider to be only slightly better than lunch. Allies the Kasa do have tend to be Kasa members of their own family or their own descendants.

Contacts

Despite the convoluted webs of deceit the Kasa weave against other families, they do not have much time for developing mortal contacts, regarding these as too easily corruptible by other Kasa, Hibakusha or even Faithless.

Influence

Having lost most of their influence over the Japanese government, the Kasa are starting to develop influence at a more local level.

Military Force

The Kasa still have a stranglehold over the Japanese 'Self Defence Force' as well as many units of mercenaries left over from the World Wars and the many recent conflicts. Other Hibakusha often ask to lend these forces.

Resources

Much of the resources owned by the Kasa before WWII was taken by the occupying forces. Since then the Kasa have had a running battle with the Onyudu in order to keep their armies supplied and paid.

Status

The Kasa have lost much status among the Hibakusha because of the rise of the Onyudu. This has become a cause for concern among the elders.

Supernatural

It is not rare that a Kasa will ally himself with other creatures of the supernatural. Recently they have made moves towards an alliance with the Shadow Lord Hakken Lupines and the Kitsune werefoxes. These are the Kasa's most common supernatural allies.

Merits

Among the Kasa Natural Leader is a very common merit. Other common merits include Refined, Early Riser and Pain Tolerance.

Flaws

Special flaws that can be taken include Kizoku enemy, Kyuden enemy, Vulgar (which can seriously hamper a Kasa's clan prestige) and Rival (from another family). Disgraced can also be taken by a Kasa.

Skills

Clan Knowledge-Kasa

Stereotypes

Drukpa: They meddle in affairs not their own.

Hantu: A worthy sparring partner, but they place too much trust in their mortal families.

Hibakush: A bedtime story to scare the other Hibakusha into behaving.

Ju: Sayonara... and about time too.

Kuei: Little cubs with no refinement. However they are scouts without equal and our armies can benefit greatly from their help.

Kyuketsuki: If they would join our cause the whole of Asia would be at our feet. Why do they not see that this would further their causes as well?

Onyudu: Miserable merchants we should have wiped out centuries ago. They dishonour our homeland by their presence.

Sanatan: Honour demands that we must tolerate them.

Bushi: Their motives are not to be trusted.

Gaki: If they were true sons of Sasano-o they would not be cowards.

Sazan: Another bedtime story. (Looks over shoulder, shivers)

Shreh Ren: Honourable, but they should learn to stay away from our affairs. Their founder cannot help them now.

Faithless: The only thing they deserve is a slow and painful death. Their masters shall not survive our war against them.

Camarilla: Divisions among our enemies only make our task easier.

Sabbat: Dogs who shall die by our swords.

Brujah: Chop them into pieces and leave them for the sun; it is all the animals deserve.

Gangrel: Honourable opponents to be treated with respect until they are inevitably vanquished by our might.

Ventrue: With a bit of luck they will destroy the Brujah for us.

Assamites: As honourable an opponent as you could wish to test your skills against. Treat them with the respect you give your brothers and sisters.

Yei: Broken by the Faithless. They still have not recovered the strength to fight back. Maybe the ancients are watching them too.

Lupines: The Hakken have earned our respect by their actions; the others we watch carefully.

Mages: Amusing...

Wraiths: The hungry dead will never leave our lands so we must stay away from them.

Fae: Thieves in the night.

Gehenna: Mystic rubbish to scare children.