Please note: This article is about the Mantis Harbourmaster. For other uses of the term, please see Al-Zayan (disambiguation). |
Yoritomo Al-Zayan | |
---|---|
Born: | Unknown |
Died: | Unknown |
Parents: | Al-Zayan, Unnamed Rokugani mother |
People |
Yoritomo Al-Zayan of House Watanabe was the harbourmaster of Broken Wave City.
Family[]
Al-Zayan was the son of a Rokugani mother who met his father while visiting the Ivory Kingdoms. The half-breed boy was the result, and the Mantis allowed him to be fostered to the Watanabe family where he took his father's name Al-Zayan.[1]
Early Rise to Fame[]
When it came to matters of shipping and sailing, Al-Zayan possessed an almost preternatural affinity. Within a few years of his gempukku he had already designed several innovations in ship designs. Ships with keels laid by Al-Zayan quickly became the most sought-after, which eventually brought him to the attention of the Mantis Clan Champion Yoritomo Kumiko.[1]
Kumiko's Duties[]
Al-Zayan's principles were applied to warship, and he was given a position on Kumiko's personal staff. Kumiko also used Al-Zayan's innovations in hopes that they would prove an advantage against an inevitable confrontation with the Dark Wave fleet.[1]
Broken Wave City[]
Kumiko's successor, Yoritomo Naizen, retained Al-Zayan on his retinue after Kumiko's death, but quickly reassigned him to Broken Wave City. The growing need for his talents there were immediately apparent to Al-Zayan, who recognized that the nascent port was poorly designed and suggested changes to the Interim Governor Yoritomo Ninsei.[2]
Harbourmaster[]
Despite Al-Zayan's gaijin appearance and heritage, and membership of a vassal family, he became the Harbourmaster, one of the most powerful positions in Broken Wave City. In a clan of very skilled mariners, Al-Zayan was amongst the most capable.[1] Ninsei had immediately been impressed with the young shipwright's work that he named him harbourmaster and gave him leave to design the port facilities as he saw fit.[2]
Accomplishments[]
It was Al-Zayan's foresight that meant that when the docks in the Bay of Thunder required extending to accomodate the Third Storm, only a few months disruption were sufferent.[3] His expertise was also essential to the successful administration of the Fishers Quarters, which accomodated such a vast amount of small ships which provided the city with a daily source of fish.[4]
Enemies[]
Al-Zayan's heritage and rapid rise brought with it some who bore little love for the man. More than a few, including the commander of the Third Storm, would have liked to see the shipwright gone from the city.[2]
Appearence and Demeanor[]
Al-Zayan was an unassuming man most noted for his exotic gaijin features and a shipboard injury which left him lame. He would be more interested in solving practical problems than becoming embroiled in the cynical and manipulative world of politics.[2]
See Also[]
References
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