Tsuruhara Nagayoshi

Name: Tsuruhara Nagayoshi (Chokei) (鶴原長慶)
(Both readings of his name are correct. Tsuruhara is his family name.)
Home/Location: n/a
Birthplace: Kozakura, Kara-Tur
Age: 21
Race: Human (Kozakuran)
Gender: Male
Deity: None (Eight Million Gods)
Alignment:

History
Despite all his pomp and taste for beauty, Nagayoshi came from humble backgrounds. He was born in a small, nameless village in Kozakura, and it was frequently raided by bandits. Year after year, bandits would return to prey on their defenceless village; and the local government was either too busy or too greased with gold to care. Nagayoshi grew up in such a state, surviving in a village with little humanity and where killing is all too common. He, along with several friends, strove to be different, and they each made a pact to slay the bandits - or die trying.

Since the pact, Nagayoshi trained long and hard in the way of the sword. One day, in his teens, a noble lord came past the village along with his daughter, fleeing from the destruction of his castle. The young girl was beautiful; the way her silky eyes looked at the world encaptured Nagayoshi, who immediately presented himself to the lord as an excuse to see more of her. The lord recognized the lad's intelligence and ambition, and offered to take him under his wing. Nagayoshi agreed, and in the following winter, before the bandits attacked, he left the village, given a new family name of Tsuruhara.

The three of them made for an ally of the lord, one Lord Matsunaga, and there Nagayoshi trained in the way of art and calligraphy. As the day passed, his swordsmanship and love for the young girl (whose name was Take) grew stronger. These were the happiest days of his life.

Soon, remembering his childhood oath, he felt confident to challenge the bandits that had once preyed upon his village. Writing a letter to the others, they gathered, seven of them, and defended it in the cover of night. Valiantly they fought with skill and strategy; and by morning all the bandits lay dead. However, they, too, suffered losses, and only three of them survived the battle. Battered, sad, and weary, Nagayoshi returned to his home.

But on his return, he found that his old lord had died, and Nagayoshi now serve under Lord Matsunaga by default. Worst yet, Take had married another. When he ran up to their home demanding a reason, Take looked at him. "I never loved you, Nagayoshi, it was your foolish childish dreams that believed so."

Shattered, Nagayoshi took to drinking, and it was only with the aid of his friends that he recovered. Now, in his early twenties, he has a much more cheery demeanor, apparently untroubled by the miseries of his past. He is reunited with his friends again recently, brought together by the arrival of a mysterious Westerner - of whom Nagayoshi has naught but contempt. This stranger seemed to prove his skill, however, and Nagayoshi has a slight respect for him - though just barely. Through conversations, the intelligent Nagayoshi quickly picked on on his language. As the Westerner nears return, Lord Matsunaga ordered Nagayoshi to accompany him, and aid the Westerner with whatever he needs - and also, to explore this new and distant land, "Sundren" - and attempt to bring back whatever magical goods he can find.

Bowing his head in reply, Nagayoshi took his swords, and stepped slowly on the boat that will take him on a voyage across the world.

Personality
Nagayoshi is extremly arrogant, a fact boosted only by youth, and believes stubbornly that Western civilization as a whole is unthinkably barbarian and backwards. He knows how to speak the Western tongue, but more often than not he prefers to use Kozakuran instead. He has a love for both women and wine, though obviously not the strong, putrid horse-piss they call "wine" in Sundren.

Though apparently quite free-spirited and whimsical, Nagayoshi's loyalty and honour is unquestionable. For him, it is not something that requires thought, it simply is. He has an appreciation for all things beautiful, and believes there to be something beautiful in battle and warfare - which will only be ruined by improper modes of combat. His dress and mannerisms are highly flamboyant, and at times, slightly effeminate.