Daidoji Harrier

Daidoji Harriers

The Daidoji Harriers were a highly secretive, small group of elite warriors of the Crane Clan. Families outside of the Crane were only vaguely aware of the Harriers' existence, and even few within the Crane knew exactly what they did.

Training

Harriers were trained in a secret dojo at Shiro Giji. The students took to calling themselves ‘Harriers’ to distinguish their methods from those of the more honorable Daidoji Scouts. The Harriers had a secret language of hand signals and body movements that they used to communicate with one another in the field.

Purpose

The Harriers mainly served as scouts, saboteurs, and surveillance experts and were expected to be able to negate the advantage of fifty or more enemy soldiers. They were also used as spies and bodyguards outside the battle field. They were sometimes thought of as "the ninja of the Crane", although they were more honorable, disdaining the use poison, for instance, and targeting only military objectives or intruders. Their techniques were utilized only in battle, and they did not target innocents or bystanders. That said, an armed and armored enemy was fair game to a Harrier, even if the enemy didn't see the attack coming. The Harriers willingly sacrificed their honor and their lives in order to protect the Crane. ^{[citation needed]} While their tactics rarely reduced enemy numbers significantly, they were highly effective at reducing enemy morale.

Gaijin Pepper

The Daidoji family's close relationship with the gaijin Garen Hawthorne allowed them to gain access to gaijin pepper, one of the most infamous techniques they used, which was first seen on the battlefield during the Lion defeat in the Battle at Osari Plains. After the death of Hantei Yugozohime in 442 its use was forbidden by Imperial edict, but the Harriers secretly still produced, stored, and used it. It led to the disbanding order issued by the Crane Clan Champion Doji Domotai in 1168 and the Harriers' disbanding and total destruction in 1169.

Famous Harrier

Arguably the most famous Harrier was Daidoji Uji, former daimyo of the Daidoji family. As with many of the Daidoji and their Harriers, the full impact of what Uji had done to protect and preserve the Crane would never be known. So it was with all Daidoji Harriers.

Another notable Harrier is Daidoji Takihiro, also known as the Kolat Harrier due to his recruitment into the Kolat conspiracy. He was one of the most fanatically dedicated members of the Harriers and did not shy away from employing dishonorable or illegal methods to not only defend the Crane Clan but also to advance his family's status.

Disbanded

The most dishonorable thing ever practiced by the Harriers was the use of gaijin pepper, a substance forbidden by Imperial edict. This was discovered by Dragon samurai. The information led Togashi Satsu to wage a war against the Crane. Doji Domotai, young daimyo of the Crane Clan, learned about it too and ended the war by disbanding the Harriers in 1168 once and for all. Domotai was aware that not all Harrier activities had ceased, and sent Daidoji Fumisato to put a stop to them . He also journeyed to Shiro Giji personally to end the illegal practices there, killing any who resisted.

The Last Harrier

The last Harrier, Daidoji Shihei, Hatamoto of the Daidoji Daimyo, Daidoji Kikaze, was hunted down and killed by his lord.

Known Daidoji Harrier Techniques

• Iron Feather
• Silent Talon
• Unforgiving Steel
• Twin Strikes in Darkness
• Move Like Shadows
• Vengeful Ghost

See also

• Daidoji Harrier/Meta
• Daidoji Harrier/CW Meta

External Links

• Silent Warriors (Web of Lies)

References

This Crane Clan related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here.