Perhaps the single most formidable defensive fortress in all of Rokugan, the mighty seat of the Hida family serves as the central command post for the entire Kaiu Wall and is home to a permanent garrison of over 3,000 veteran Crab bushi. The castle is a brutally practical-looking structure, wholly free of any sort of art, decoration, or beauty. Its main gatehouse stands over 60 feet high, and the castle’s walls are built to withstand siege from any conceivable opponent. It is located atop a high stone escarpment that offers an excellent view of the surrounding territory, and the castle’s masonry blends seamlessly with the rugged landscape, almost as though the fortress sprouted whole from the ground. After the tumultuous eighth century, the castle does acquire one notable adornment – the skull of the Maw, cleansed of Taint and hung over the main gate as a gesture of defiance against the Shadowlands.
