Sumire's father is an aged samurai who has a small fief of his own, which he is in the process of increasing and fortifying. However, he has only daughters, no sons. He chose not to let this stop him, and taught them his skills -- so that when his lord called for the required term of service it was one of his daughters he sent. This daughter, Sumire, rides the warhorse she trained with her father's guidance, and uses the dai-kyu, or Japanese long bow.
However, as a female (horse archer or no) Sumire was assigned to guarding the lord's lady, not to the army. The two women became friends [mental picture of the Lady admiring Sumire's martial skill, and Sumire sighing and saying, "I wish I was as good as my sisters..." ;-]. Despite the lady's friendship, Sumire ended up unutterably bored, to the extent that the lady took pity on the young woman, and prevailed upon her husband to release Sumire from her oaths of service for an indefinite length of time. Being a clever lady, she convinced her lord this particular servitor needed to attend to family business... probably for at least a year, maybe more? She then told Sumire to go have some adventures and gain a name for herself. Once that had happened, surely the lord would allow Sumire into his actual fighting forces.
Sumire headed out for adventure, but decided to stop by the village of her childhood sweetheart first. She knew her family believed she'd either grow out of this relationship, or just marry the guy... she wasn't sure herself yet, so she figured she'd see how she felt about him before heading out for a year of 'walkabout.' On the way there she met Jion on the road. They decided to travel together for a while... he's a nice, polite samurai, and she likes company. Unfortunately, when they reached the village they found it in the process of being razed by bandits. Sumire, in grief and horror, attacked and killed the killers. Jion also went off Kurosawa-style, cutting the killers down mercilessly.
Some time later, eventually, there was no one else left to kill... and poor Sumire graphically realized killing killers does not bring back the murdered. She searched the burnt and partially razed village, seeking through the bodies for her dead sweetheart. When she found him she buried him, with many tears and with Jion's help. Jion told her how sorry he was that he couldn't offer more for her friend, but... no one should go to the next world without good sake on his lips. Jion poured out some of his sake on the stone for Sumire's former sweetie, a gesture she still deeply appreciates.
Sumire finished her ceremonial ritual for the dead, then headed for her family's home, accompanied by Jion, to report both what happened, and that she was on the Japanese equivalent of walkabout, with the lord's permission. Her family welcomed her and Jion, heard her news, took steps to prevent banditry in the fiefdom, gave her some food and money for the road, and wished her the best of fortune. Her father, being a practical man, also had a spear man accompany her on her journeys... a little extra fighting ability never hurt anyone. Finally, it was time to go... the threesome left Sumire's family's fiefdom and headed out into the wide world.
Some time has passed since then, and they are a more tempered group of warriors now -- but they still seek adventure.
BESM One-Shot Character Sheet Name: Fukinagashi Sumire (Windswept Violet) Player: Collie Role: Horse archer Human Height: 5'01" Mass: 100 lbs. Age: 18 yrs. Sex: Female Shock Value: 13 War pony: Toukon (fighting spirit) STATS: Cost ================================================== Body 1 4 Mind 1 6 Soul 1 9 ACV [(B+M+S)/3] 6 DCV [ACV-2] 4 Health [(B+S)x5] 65 Energy [(M+S)x5] 75 Total: 19 ATTRIBUTES =================================================== Normal Cost: 6 Levels ====== Aura of Command 1 1 Gun Bunny 1 2 Steady Hand Lightning Draw Heightened Awareness 1 1 Highly Skilled 1 1 10 more pts in skills Personal Gear 1 1 1 major item: war horse 4 minor items: dai-kyu (Japanese long bow), light regular armor, light anti-magic armor, & ??? Special Cost: 4 Levels Specialties ======= Light Armor 1 2 All damage reduced by 5 pts Regular armor Light Armor 1 2 All magical damage reduced by 5 pts Optimized: anti-magic Total: 29 SKILLS Cost Levels Specialties =================================================== Acrobatics 3 1 Balance Animal Training 2 1 War horse Medical 4 1 Emergency Military Sciences 3 1 Strategy/Tactics Performing Arts 2 1 Tea Ceremony Riding 3 2 War horse Combat Skills: Archery 5 2 dai-kyu (Japanese long bow) does 5 damage Ranged Defense 4 1 Horseback Total: 34 DEFECTS Points =================================================== Attack Restriction -1 Will not attack clan she owes fealty to Marked -1 Female samurai "Owned" by Clan -1 Owes fealty to clan