Yoritomo Hiromi

Yoritomo Hiromi, the Growing Storm, was the Mantis Clan Champion in the late 12th century. He was blessed by the Thunder Dragon.

Family
Hiromi's father, Yoritomo Naizen, was married to an un-named Kitsune niece of the Kitsune Daimyo, Kitsune Ryukan. In 1172 she gave birth to twins, Hiromi and his sister Yoritomo Harumi.

Mantis Clan Champion
Naizen had been presumed dead at sea in 1178, ending a long-whistanding complaint of the Lion against the Mantis, for their involvement in the Battle of Toshi Ranbo during the Khan's Defiance. His twin sister Harumi, who had been born minutes ahead of Hiromi, forsook all claim to the championship to take up the duties of a priestess. Hiromi appointed Yoritomo Tomio as his hatamoto.

Demeanor
Hiromi was a ruthless man, to whom the words extortion, blackmail, or even piracy did not bother him. He believed the ends justified the means and anything that cemented the Mantis as the economic powerhouse of Rokugan was good in the Age of Conquest.

Lack of Manpower
In 1198 at least a quarter of the Fourth Storm remained unused due to lack of manpower. Hiromi felt that the Colonies were a more learning-friendly environment. So, rather than sending newly graduated samurai to the Empire, he decided they had to take over operations in the Colonies and to dispatch his more experienced crews back home to easy the burden upon the other Storms. He stayed in the Colonies for a time, visiting the Moshi Daimyo in the Second City, until Hiromi departed from Kalani's Landing back to the Empire.

Trade War
Tension increased between the Crane and Mantis regarding commerce interests in the Colonies. The Mantis were accused of widespread corruption and forgery of documents by Daidoji. After a duel that settled the Crane's accusations, the Mantis engaged in retaliation over this slight of honor. Incursions on Crane holdings along the rivers between the coast and the Second City began. The majority of the Mantis' seaborne forces began to mass on the southern coast of the Colonies, and began a movement inland up both rivers, towards Twin Forks City. The Crane were requested to surrender their ports or see them destroyed for their insult. The Emerald Champion Utaku Ji-Yun upholded the complaint of the Mantis and granted permission for war between these clans in the Colonies. Hiromi left the Empire towards Kalani's Landing, where he joined his former sensei Yoritomo Emoto and appointed him as the Mantis commander in the conflict.

Mantis Trade Blocked
After the accusations of the Crane the Tax Collectors increased their presence in the Mantis ports, slowing their traffic. Hiromi returned to the Empire to talk with the Imperial Treasurer Seppun Ritisharu. There was met by happenstance by the Crane Clan Champion Doji Makoto, who informed that the Crane would shut down their ports to the Mantis. These actions, combined with the fact that Crab ports were already heavily occupied shipping a great deal more resources back from the Colonies, provoked a blockade of the Mantis trade to mainland Rokugan. In return, Hiromi announced they would take Twin Forks City.