Marihime Ingansu

**Mari Ingansu**, in official parlance **Marihime Ingansu** (Princess Mari of the Ingansu-Family), is the current Princess of Takayoden. She is the daughter of Yashadaishugo Ingansu and his wife Tamanadeshiko Ingansu. She has a total of sixteen siblings, both adopted and related to her by blood.

Mari is also the caretaker of the Gardens of Aijinoseki.

## Biography

### Childhood (1455-1650)

Mari was born into a family of influence during a period known as the Period of the Warring States. Born in Tetshiro to Yashakenin Ingansu near Misho, she had her way set out before herself for the forseeable future before she drew her first breath. As daughter of a *kenin*, an honourable liegeman, she was to become a *nadeshiko*, following an ideal of becoming a poised, graceful, virtuous, honest and strong woman in her own right.

In the days of her birth, the strength as a warrior was the most important part, seeing that the Kyuka-Campaign was in full swing. With her parents away often to fight, the majority of her training was in the hands of Yusaku Kariken, a liegeman of her father and the father of Hisa Kariken. He trained her in using all sorts of weapons, while his wife taught the two girls (and half a dozen other ones) how to use the ones, which were not of steel: Their minds and their allure.

Her first brush with death came in 1453, when she was training with Hisa outside: Several shadow warriors stormed out of the underbush and attacked the two, who mounted a desperate defense. In the nick of time, Hisa's father and several other men of her father came to their aid, forcing the attackers into retreat.

Shortly after, in 1471, Mari joined her mother on a trip to a friendly *kenin*. Joining forces with him, the two ladies led a part of his army in the Battle of Seno of 1471, in particular Mari led a detachment of the light cavalry. With that test of her skills done, Mari and her mother returned home.

Many battles would follow until 1648, when Mari fought as the Captain of the Red Cavalry in the Battle of Shoriba.

After the Period of the Warring States came to its climactic end, Mari was restless - having fought for nearly two centuries, on and off as the Period of the Warring States was, she was restless, easily agitated and downright aggressive. In 1649, her parents offered her to take Hisa as a bodyguard and to become a *shungyosha*, a roaming warrior in search for enlightenment.

#### Warrior-Princess Abroad (1650-1713)

* fought in the Fenchu-Rebellion (1655-1660), as a Cavalry-Captain of Aurelia-Ilkhana
	+ Met Ellaha II.
* 1710-1713: Sailed aboard the *Saor*, jumped ship in 1713 in Tiefbucht, returned home

#### Home for a short while (1713-1723)

* brought home much knowledge from Kyrenaia, including Heliocentrism

#### Living in Alto Mare (1760-1780)

* Lived in Alto Mare from 1760 to 1780 - became a sort-of Merchant, organized (and profited from) the limited trade between Okunaratsuru and Lutetii
* lived in the Palazzo di Bolpa from 1773 to 1780

### Princess at peace (1839-today)

* 1860: Aided in the foundation of the University of Kawahashi
* 1903: Opens the Gardens of Aijinoseki
* 2021 Broodeheim Harbour Festival with her sister

## Character

Mari is a graceful and poised woman, honest in word and deed, even to her detriment from time to time. While she can be gentle, especially with children, she is not gentle in general. While she has a charitable side, she also has a mean streak, especially when it comes to her pitch-black humour.

Mari is an expert with all sorts of polearms and is more then capable of fighting with swords, but she is not a good shot, no matter which weapon is concerned. She loves riding horses, "the closest as one will ever be to flying", and while she has a driver's license, it is outdated (made in 1910 in Wahlerhaven in Auwalt) and she hasn't owned a motor vehicle in over a century (and she isn't in a hurry to acquire one again).

She is a fan of Simai and has, in the last century and a half, found a hobby in gardening. The gardens of Aijinoseki near Misho are her doing and known internationally.

## Personal Relations

### Hisa Kariken

Hisa and Mari are old friends, having fought together for nearly six centuries.

### Emihime Ingansu and Yuna Yarata

Emi is Mari's younger sister by several centuries,

### Fei Hayang

Mari fought Fei as the Battle of Seno in 1471 and at the Battle of Shoriba in 1648, as well as in quite a few skirmishes inbetween.