House Tsugane

== House Tsugane ==
House Tsugane is one of the four great houses on the island of Kirijima. They are responsible for managing the finances of the empire, overseeing trade, and handling the budget. Their patron deity is Genbu, the serpent-turtle.
=== Wealth and Influence ===
The Tsugane family is extremely wealthy due to their control over the empire’s finances. This financial power enables them to exert significant influence across Kirijima. Members of the family are easily recognizable by their black kimonos adorned with yellow snake patterns and their unusual blonde hair.
=== Headquarters and Territory ===
Unlike the other great houses, House Tsugane does not control a geographical territory. Instead, they govern the island of Crystalbloom, where their main headquarters is located. Crystalbloom, a major city on the island, is unique in that it is accessible to outsiders, facilitating vibrant trade activities. The island lies outside the great mist wall that isolates Kirijima from the rest of the world.
=== Patron ===
Genbu, unlike the other Wild Gods, lacks a spiritual form. His physical form is the island of Crystalbloom itself, meaning the entire city and its inhabitants reside on the back of a giant turtle the size of an island. This fact is a closely guarded secret, known only to the leader of the Tsugane family.
=== Leadership and Responsibilities ===
Leadership within the Tsugane family is matriarchal, with only women eligible to become the head of the family. Male members are typically married off into other families. The family head oversees the empire’s finances and trade on Crystalbloom, while her children manage various aspects of the island, such as gambling or tax collection. Their soldiers are renowned for their skill with the naginata, and their armor is jet black with yellow snake ornaments. Additionally, the Tsugane family owns the largest fleet of ships among the great houses.
=== The Kokuja Mafia ===
Beneath their respectable facade, the Tsugane family also controls an underground mafia known as the Kokuja. The profits generated by this mafia are secretly funneled into the Tsugane family’s coffers, unbeknownst to the empire.
=== Alliances and Tensions ===
House Tsugane has an economic alliance with the Tajikara family but no military ties. Relations with the Kanzaki family are strained due to the Kanzaki's outpost in Crystalbloom, which grants travelers permission to enter the mainland. This outpost has allowed the Kanzaki to discover the connection between the Tsugane family and the Kokuja, leading to investigations that displease the Tsugane family.