Hatano Seigen

A photo of Seigen taken sometime after arriving at Eldham in the age of 28

**Hatano Seigen** (IGN: OverSavior) was a nomad artisan who once lived in Umakwa, Yaszuma. He was the third son of Hatano Daizen, a farmer from a distant unmapped land that once was a vassal, but was demoted in the rank for cowardice during the times of war.

## Appearance and Personality

In appearance, Seigen stands around 165cm (5'4 feet) in height, has an average body complexion, slightly rounded face and a long dark blonde/olive hair tucked into a man bun behind. His normal outfit consists of a regular kimono, a pleated hakama and a haori jacket. While his facial features suggest a somewhat unwelcoming character, in nature Seigen is kind and possesses a great deal of devotion.

His nomadic lifestyle is explained by his general lack of care for religious and political matters. In his words, Seigen’s main pursuit in life is mastery and expression of arts.

## Biography

#### **Early Life**

The exact place of origin of Hatano Seigen is unknown as the place isn't charted on any known maps. However, it is certain that it is located somewhere to the south of Eldham. His father, Hatano Daizen, was once a vassal of the local clan and served its lord for 8 years before being demoted for disobeying orders on the battlefield. Although Seigen was the third son in the family, both of his brothers and his mother died in a local conflict for territory when he was 6 years old. It is believed that his father, knowing that he had only one son left and desiring his family line to continue, intentionally disobeyed his master during battle so that he could move out from the province and find a safer place to raise his single remaining son in.

In his childhood, Seigen wasn't a particularly social kid and, unlike his siblings who played games outside, spent most of his free time reading literature and wandering around town watching different artisans at their work. Seigen grew to enjoy appreciating all sorts of arts and decided back then that mastery of creating things was something he wanted to invest his life into. Aside from arts Seigen was also trained in swordsmanship. Although his father wasn't particularly wealthy due to his background, he firmly believed that his previous two sons lost their lives because he thought they would never have to fight on the battlefield, until they were forced to and never returned, so he invested what he could into Seigen's ability to defend himself.

#### **Decisive Trip**

When Seigen reached adulthood he set off on a trip around the country and beyond to study from well known masters of traditional and martial arts. One of such trips was headed to a neighbouring nation through the sea. Halfway during the travel, in an unexpected and somewhat mysterious turn of events, the ship Seigen was traveling on was caught by an unnatural current of water and carried away from the designated path into the ocean. The ship had been drifting for multiple weeks, and as hard as the ship's crew tried they couldn't find where the current had carried them. From the story Seigen told, the ship's navigator, largely relying on the night sky, kept mentioning how "stars didn't look right" until he eventually succumbed to sickness and the shortage of water, and the last grains of hope were lost.

Two more days have passed until eventually land could be seen far away. As it turned out, the ship had been carried by the current all the way to the southern shores of Eldham, where Seigen had arrived at the age of 28. Although injured by the experience both physically and mentally, being one of the few survivors aboard the ship Seigen saw in this an opportunity to expand his knowledge even further while exploring the new land. That however could not be done without any funds in the pockets. Seigen had to get established somewhere and find a lord to serve. After gaining some basic knowledge of the land the fate had brought him to, his choice fell on Yaszuma.

## Life in the Kingdom of Yaszuma

#### **Beginnings**

Although by the time Seigen decided to settle in Yaszuma he had a lot of foreign interaction experience, to the people of Eldham he was still an outsider, and some time had to pass before he became aware of all of the locals' customs. The similarity of Yaszumatti culture to that of his native land was the primary reason why that nation ended up becoming his new home. Umakwa, the capital of the nation, was a place where Seigen built himself a residence shortly after gaining citizenship and allowance from the government to participate in the capital's expansion.

Later, after Seigen's skill of an architect was recognized, he was also permitted to construct a pagoda and a new storage house for the town, which was a great step towards gaining the locals' trust.

#### **Brewing career**

Back in his native country, Seigen had also studied brewery from a certain Kenzen Magobe, who tought him the essentials of the common recipes. And while common in Seigen's native country, to the peoples of Eldham these drinks were a pleasant discovery, which helped Seigen build a business on their making. Around the age of 30, Seigen opened a Sake den in Umakwa which also doubled as a gambling hall. However, despite the sorts of drinks he made selling well abroad, in the town his sake den saw little customers. Most likely that was the reason why a year later a full-fledged brewery was constructed on the edge of Umakwa, which on the entrance sign had the familiar family name of Hatano.

The brewery performed orders both for clients from afar as well as local government. Its specialty was a drink known as Imo Shōchū, a beverage that granted its consumer a temporary feather falling effect, which made it exceedingly popular among Umakwa residents, being considered one of the safest drinks due to the feather falling negating the danger of dying from falling off the islands.

> Imo Shōchū: An amber tinted drink with a strong, yet exquisite caramel flavor, believed to have been designed specifically to complement the beauty of Yaszumatti floating islands. Makes one feel relaxed and light inside. Can be served both with ice or warm.
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Unfortunately, following Seigen's death, the knowledge of this drink's recipe was forever lost. The rumor is that the knowledge was protected by powerful spells, for both of Seigen's apprentices who knew how the drink was created have shortly forgotten how it was made. To this day, the recipe could not be recreated.

#### **Death**

Shortly after a Nether safe zone was installed and a square constructed around it, citizens of Eldham tried their luck in installing shops in an area free of law. To their regret, none survived, and bandits thrived. Seigen was one of those who pushed for the introduction of market areas at Nether spawn, a small area regulated by law. His appeals were not heard. Desperate, Seigen turned to pillaging, relentlessly hunting down and destroying every shop that could be found at Nether spawn area in an attempt to change people's minds by showing them the horrors of anarchy. These acts were performed openly.

One of the victims was a man who went by the name of Buoyo. Of all of Seigen's victims, he was the only one to conceive a revenge plan. In the same year that his shop was destroyed, Buoyo traveled to Yaszumatti land, wishing to participate in the upcoming Kinnomachi town anniversary. According to witnesses' statements, Seigen was asked to follow Buoyo to an inn for a private conversation. There, while in the room, Seigen was slain with an axe, passing away at the age of 48.