Tsuruchi Nobumoto

Tsuruchi Nobumoto was born a Mantis, a child of a new generation of Tsuruchi who were no longer a minor clan. He is a cheerful, optimistic samurai who for the bulk of his career patroled the Scorpion border. He has many friends and a good nature to all his dealings. He has a younger sister, Tsuruchi Fusako.

Mantis Civil War
In the early days of the Mantis Civil War he was a supporter of Yoritomo Kitao, seeing her as ruthless enough to end the Scorpion threat to the Tsuruchi lands.

During his time as Commander of the Gaurd at Gateway Villiage Nobumoto came to see the error of supporting Kitao when Tsurchi Yutaka was sent to kill Yoritomo Kumiko and threatened Nobumoto's sister Tsuruchi Fusako. The death of Yutaka at the hands of his cousin Tsuruchi Terao is considered the start of the Mantis Civil War in 1159. It also confirmed Nobumoto's shift in allegence from Kitao to Kumiko.

Rain of Blood
Then came the Rain of Blood, Nobumoto was on The Bitter Flower with his friend Tsuruchi Hiro when the rain began. In horror he watched as he saw his friend Hiro succumb to his darkest fears, and become lost to the taint. Nobumoto leaped from the ship off the coast of the Phoenix/Crane boarder, and endured the Rain.

Tsuruchi Daimyo
Three weeks after the rain Tsuruchi Ichiro, daimyo of the Tsuruchi family retired, (unable to bear the loss of his only son Hiro) and would name Nobumoto lord of the Tsuruchi. Nobumoto’s first act would be to dispatch hunters to bring in the lost Hiro to save his soul. Though he feels unworthy to leader, Nobumoto does his best to guide his family in the trying times they live in. He is fondly reffered to as the Emerald Wasp.

Major References

 * The Four Winds Page 53
 * Secrets of the Mantis Page 59
 * Blood Dawn 6