Tatsu Yomokai, the esteemed shopkeeper of the Warrior's Willow store in the Jade Market district of Hojo, is a retired and disavowed Shogunate Samurai. Once a formidable warrior, Tatsu has since dedicated his life to crafting and selling high-quality armor and weapons. To promote his latest masterpiece, Tatsu devises a plan to showcase the armor's unique craftsmanship and superior performance. Tatsu enlists the aid of the party to don his newly-crafted armor and engage in duels across the City of Hojo. The objective is to demonstrate the armor's unparalleled durability, comfort, and style, garnering attention and acclaim for the Warriors Willow store. The party is tasked with taking on the city's most skilled fighters in a series of duels, testing the limits of the armor and proving its worth in the heat of battle.
Tatsu Yomokai is a battle-hardened warrior whose path from disgrace to redemption has forged him into one of the Y’azi Empire's most formidable and respected figures. Once cast from the Order of the Jade Dragon, he regained his honor through relentless dedication, proving his worth on the battlefield and in the sacred halls of the empire. Now, as Captain of the Imperial Y'azi Guntai, he stands as a living testament to resilience, discipline, and the unyielding strength of the Y’azi warrior spirit.
Appearance
Tatsu is a tall and imposing figure, his once-proud posture now carrying the weight of countless battles. His long black hair, tied in a topknot, has begun to show streaks of silver—a mark of both wisdom and hardship. His once piercing dark eyes now reflect a hard-earned intensity, though only one remains unclouded; his right eye was blinded by a brutal sword cut sustained in the Battle of the Inconnu.
His most defining wound, however, is the loss of his left arm, severed in the chaos of war against The Tides of Khaos. Despite this, Tatsu has adapted, wielding his katana with deadly precision in one-handed combat, proving that even at a disadvantage, he remains one of the finest swordsmen in the empire.
Tatsu wears the ornate battle armor of the Y’azi Guntai, bearing the black and gold sigil of the Imperial Army. The armor is reinforced with dragon-forged plates and marked with the scars of countless battles, a testament to the wars he has survived and the enemies he has felled.
Personality and Philosophy
Tatsu is a man of discipline and principle, embodying the samurai code. Once known for a quick temper, his fall from grace tempered him, turning his once brash nature into a measured and strategic mind. He believes that redemption lies in duty, and he carries out his responsibilities with unwavering loyalty.
Despite his stern and disciplined nature, Tatsu is deeply loyal to his comrades and protective of his men, ensuring that every warrior under his command is trained to the highest standard. Though he rarely speaks of his past, those who know him understand that his every action is a step toward atonement.
History
Once a proud warrior of the Order of the Jade Dragon, Tatsu’s honor was stripped away after an intense quarrel with Tatsujiro Kazuo, the legendary "Dragon of the East." His exile from the order led him to the City of Hojo, where he turned to blacksmithing and mercenary work, opening the Warriors Willow, a renowned weaponsmith shop in the Jade Market District.
Tatsu’s redemption came when he challenged fate itself, forging an alliance with Kairus the Brass, a warrior of The Sunsations. He entrusted his ancestral blade, Yomokai, to Kairus, who wielded it in an honor duel against Tatsujiro Kazuo in the sacred Kenjutsu Dojo of the Palace of the Celestial Dragon. Their duel—a legendary clash of destiny and skill—ended in a draw, and through the wisdom of Kanzo Tatsugami, Tatsu’s honor was restored.
With his ancestral blade returned to the armory of the Order, Tatsu was given a second chance, once again walking the path of a warrior of the Y'azi Empire.
Battle of the Tani Mountains
Tatsu’s true proving ground came during the war against the Tides of Khaos, when the northern front of the Y'azi Empire faced invasion from Inconnu marauders, Khaos spawn, and daemonic horrors.
Tatsu fought on the frontlines in the Tani Mountains, leading a desperate stand against the overwhelming enemy forces. Though he fought valiantly, he lost his left arm in combat, severed by the wicked claws of a Khaos daemon. Even blinded in one eye by a jagged sword cut, he refused to retreat, cutting down marauder after marauder with only his remaining arm.
His unwavering courage and leadership rallied the Y'azi forces, allowing them to hold the line until reinforcements arrived. For his unmatched bravery, he was personally appointed by Emperor Ryujin Hattori as the Captain of the Imperial Y'azi Guntai.
Legacy
Now, as Captain of the Imperial Y'azi Guntai, Tatsu leads one of the most disciplined and battle-hardened armies in the empire. Despite his injuries, he continues to train new generations of warriors, refining his one-armed swordsmanship to an artform that many now strive to emulate.
Though his past is marred by mistakes, his present is one of honor, duty, and redemption. He remains a pillar of the Y’azi military, a renowned master blacksmith, and a warrior whose legend continues to be written in blood and steel.