Shinjo Maku

Please note: This article is about the Master Sensei of the Shinjo Dojo. For other uses of the term, please see Maku (disambiguation).
Shinjo Maku was the Master Sensei of the Shinjo Dojo, and the nephew of the Unicorn Clan Champion Shinjo Yokatsu. Way of the Samurai, p. 69
== Appearance ==
Maku was a tall, lean and handsome man whose youthful appearance betrayed his actual age. Maku would awaken before sunrise every morning to practice extensive kata and take a two hour ride on his favored steed Mikoto. Maku would also eat a strict diet of nutritious foods he harevest from the wilderness and prepared himself. He was an extraordinarily strong, tough and self reliant person who was not accustomed to weakness and would accept none in his students. 
== Youth ==
Maku was a part of Shinjo Yokatsu's elite guard when the Unicorn Clan Champion, his uncle, was exposed as a Kolat Master. 
== Sensei ==
During instrucion Maku would rarely show emotion, and if a student failed he would not chastise him, but simply expose the student to harsher duties. This would be kept up until the student either triumphed or collapsed. Maku was not however completely without compassion, and would never work a student or their steed to injury or death. He simply wanted the next generation of Unicorn to become stronger than the last. Being Yokatsu's nephew he felt the sting of the family dishonor very strongly, and strives to redeem their family name. 
== Nightmares ==
At night Maku's dreams were filled with nightmares Shinjo Maku (Broken Blades flavor) of a dark future that could consume the Shinjo. The nightmares drove him to push his students harder, so that if his dreams came true his students would be strong enough to fight it. 
== Family ==
Maku was neither married nor had any children and the closest thing he had to a friend was his cousin Shinjo Shono. The two would often meet to share stories or simply relax. Even though he saw Shono as too foolhardy and irresponsible he would constantly encourage Shono to take up a position of instructor at the dojo. 
== Hida Kuroda ==
The Crab Clan Champion Hida Kuroda was trained at the Shinjo Dojo as a sign of goodwill between the Unicorn and Crab, and even though he was the son of a former Unicorn he was treated with the same disdain all outsiders recieve, but despite this he thrived and learned the lessons he was taught well. He even adopted many habits and beliefs, and the sensei of the dojo were so impressed that they were sad to see him go, and in truth many of them considered him one of their own. The news of Kuroda's disappearance shocked Shinjo Maku, and the normally unemotional man was torn with grief when recieving the news. Maku believed Kuroda was still alive however and used his political clout to make the Unicorn Clan Champion Moto Chagatai aid the Crab in retaking the Kaiu Wall. 
== New Shrine ==
Moto Chagatai commanded Maku to tend a new shrine built in the Shinjo lands. 
== External Links ==
* Shinjo Maku (Gold)
Category:Unicorn Clan Members