Ichisake Clan

The Ichisake's clan crest. It was a symbol of pride for their people but once used to be a clear sign of danger for their victims, for the Ichisake ships once caused much chaos and damage in the neighbouring waters.

### Amount of Influence

A Noble Clan

> *"Many skills, many virtues." - The motto of Clan Ichisake.*
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A noble clan located in the realm of the Jirou Authority, the Ichisake clan, are one of the many clans that dot the political landscape of the Jirou Authority's archipelago. The Ichisake are known for their expertise in producing competent navigators, sailors and possessing a prominent shipwright.

## Traits

* Hardy sailors

The Ichisake clan produces competent and tough sailors ready to do their duty to the clan and country. The Ichisake sailors are renowned by many for not quickly being intimidated - often requiring a seasoned captain to keep them under control. This requirement accounts for both on deck and off-board.

* Water Release Experts

The Ichisake isn't a shinobi-orientated clan but has produced some very capable shinobi with expertise in water release. Scholars have tried to delve into and research this, and these scholars debate if this isn't an effect of the lifestyle of many Ichisake with their affinity for the blue waves.

* A people formed by guile and cunning

Trade with the Ichisake is a risky investment. They are people known to be cunning and willing to be deceitful to gain more. This dishonourable attitude has created many more enemies than allies and brought wealth and prestige to the clan.

## History

The Ichisake clan's origins are shrouded in mysteries and legends. According to the origin stories of the Ichisake, their first people originate from the sea itself. Regardless if this is the truth or not, the Ichisake's affinity for maritime activities is quite undeniable. From their port city of Janran, the Ichisake clan has launched expeditions of both peaceful trade and violent acts of piracy.

During the Warring Clans era, the Ichisake clan accumulated wealth and prestige by amassing a strong fleet. Conducting both trade and piracy, the Ichisake clan generated an abundance of bitter enemies. Various expeditions and coalitions have been launched, but only a few very considered 'successful' in culling the Ichisake piracy. Each time, however, the Ichisake clan would recover and continue their ways. This development caused many clans to adopt various ways to combat the nasty Ichisake. But due to their location and refusal to bend the knee, together with their wealth, the Ichisake has constantly been able to recover from various punitive conflicts aimed at them. Any trade embargo would be bypassed with smugglers aiding them for a sweet deal.

Even with the rise of the Water country and the Hidden Mist, the Ichisake clan saw little reason to halt their acts. Instead of aiming at neighbouring rivals, the Ichisake launched raids and attacks on foreign ships and convoys. Or they were offering their service to anyone with enough coin and gut to convince them to work for them as privateers. Decrees from the dynasty and Mizukage did little to hamper the activities as the Ichisake would deny these horrid acts. Several times investigations would be held within the Ichisake clans' lands but to little avail, as the Ichisake have ways to deal with them.

These days the Ichisake clan enjoys the state of the realm as the rise of the Jirou Authority has yet to impact them. And as long as the regime doesn't attempt to put their ways to a grinding halt, the Ichisake clan sees little reason to rear their head up in a rebellious tone.

## Members

The Ichisake clan is organised in various connected families but don't pose as a cohesive, unified clan as many others do. These families tend to vie for power and influence in their large port city. This situation has caused several covert wars to rise and various families to rise and fall. However, these clandestine affairs are handled with a morbid sense of honour and rules - that prevent the Ichisake clan from entirely collapsing from the inside. This unorthodox leadership approach has left many wondering how the Ichisake clan managed to accomplish feats, but the Ichisake like to boast that this system works fine.

## Techniques

The Ichisake clan isn't a shinobi orientated or dominated clan, and they don't even possess a shinobi corps of their own. Instead, many of the Ichisake's shinobi on duty tend to be local or foreign mercenaries, strengthening both the police as the military force of the Ichisake. The Ichisake natives and subjects that follow the shinobi path tend to be often recruited by the nation's military. However, it isn't entirely rare for them to also become mercenaries.

The thought of hiring and deploying mercenaries that may be double agents hasn't gone unnoticed. There has yet to occur that one of these mercenaries successfully double-cross the intricate web of rules and affairs that govern the Ichisake clan.

## Traditions

Many traditions that are known and present with the Ichisake's subjects are orientated on maritime activities. This reason isn't strange due to most of their revenue originating from seafaring enterprises. However, the Ichisake's subjects lacked ceremonies and rites that would provide unity and cohesion. Instead, the less known and actual glue that keeps the Ichisake clan's population under control is the complex maze of rules and affairs run covertly. Many of the Ichisake's subjects often don't know more than a few unless they form a joint in the complicated body that is the Ichisake's form of 'traditions'.

## Relations

### Allied

* The Meiji Clan

The Meiji clan is considered an ally of the Ichisake clan. This alliance has its roots in the various cooperative deals that have been made. While both clans have betrayed and deceived each other, those acts have done little to hamper ongoing cooperation with each other. Experts like to point out that the mutual respect and collaboration between these two clans are also because of economic reasons, for both clans economy relies on each other.

Friendly

* The Akiyama Clan

The Ichisake clan holds a friendly and respectable attitude towards the Akiyama. This stance is likely the reason for both clans affinity with the sea, a good reason for the Ichisake's clan to keep the other clan as a friend and potential ally.

* The Jirou Authority

The Ichisake's clan is friendly towards the current regime. Their stance is most likely the product of their approval of the shrewd and bloody way how the Republic was overthrown - the chaos allowing attention to be diverted from the Ichisake's affairs. However, this may also be because the Ichisake clan believe that might make right.

### Neutral

* The Ina Clan

The Ichisake clan don't perceive the Ina clan as allies or rivals. Whereas the Ina clan of old may have some influence and could be an intriguing target of various actions from a duplicity nature, that isn't the case now. The Ichisake clan considers the Ina clan as a collapsed and pitiful clan. A clan unworthy of being truly targetted unless it is to provide experience for new captains and smugglers.

* The Kyndõ Clan

The Ichisake are far from afraid of the Kyndõ Clan. Despite their various conflicts in the past and even the present, the Ichisake see these struggles as a merchant would inspect his wares; worth it as long as it delivers profits. This stance has only angered the Kyndõ Clan even more, but not that the Ichisake would care.

* The Nazuno Clan

The Ichisake clan views the Nazuno as competitors but with a modicum of amusement and respect. The secrecy that the Nazuno clan upholds towards outsiders is one that the Ichisake feel is similar to their intricate web of affairs.

### Wary / Hostile

* The Akechi Clan

The Ichisake is quite wary and even afraid of the Akechi clan. With the Akechi being a powerhouse within the region and realm, the Ichisake have avoided angering the Akechi clan. While the Ichisake's leadership won't say it, their actions have spoken loud enough that any Akechi banner can act as an effective deterrent for an Ichisake raid.

* The Hayashi Clan

The Ichisake clan is quite afraid of the Hayashi clan. The Ichisake view the Hayashi as dangerous for how they conduct their affairs - the cold and pragmatic approach earning applaud, but their discipline is a source of fear for the Ichisake. As such, the Ichisake have tried to limit their dealings around Hayashi waters and heartlands - being most careful around the Great Clan's activities.

* The Mizuno Clan

The Mizuno is considered a threat to the Ichisake's clan. The Mizuno clan could easily overpower the Ichisake, as they are a Great clan in name and resources. As such the Ichisake clan constantly strives to avoid upsetting the Mizuno clan and are ready to grovel if it means to keep the Mizuno's wrath at bay.