Oyama Shimakaze

Oyama Shimakaze is a young shugenja of the Oyama school. She was born in IC 574 to Oyama Shisei and Oyama Shigeru, descended from Oyama Kitau's branch of the family. Her younger brother is Oyama Shironobu.

Parents
Shisei was a respected and talented courtier, representing the family's interests at courts throughout the south of Rokugan. It was on one of these trips that she caught the eye of the Crab bushi Hiruma Shigeru. A younger son with no chance of an inheritance, he had won great honour and glory scouting the Shadowlands with his fellow Hiruma, but had been laid low with a debilitating injury. Stricken with Shisei's beauty and her quick tongue, he spoke to his lord of a marriage. Eager to be rid of the burden, the lord agreed to look into it. An arrangement was struck, and Shigeru was married into the Oyama family, and he took over the running of Shisei's household.

Childhood
Shimakaze was firstborn to Shigeru and Shisei, after several years of attempts. She was born blind, her eyes clouded by blackness. When she began to walk, her parents found a local peasant's child, Junko, to be her servant and eyes. They became fast friends, which Shigeru frowned upon, but was not so out of place in Mantis culture. Before too long, Shimakaze began to show a strong affinity for kami of all elements, listening to their whispers, especially the jokes and whims of the Air kami. They helped her see without seeing, and she became more active and lively, becoming an avid climber and swimmer.

Schooling
Shimakaze was swiftly chosen to enter the Oyama shugenja school, as it was great honour to do so, and the school was excited about her abilities. She excelled in her studies, though much like her noble ancestor Yoritomo Oyama she was prone to flights on fancy, climbing the walls or convincing kami to play tricks on her teachers or classmates. Despite her scholarly success, it was a hard time for her, for Junko was not permitted within the school, and they spent very little time together over the next 4 years.

It was nearing the end of her schooling that Shimakaze first discovered her powers of perception extended to the Void. This was a great surprise to all, as this was very rare. Unfortunately there were no practitioners of ishiken-do at the school, so she went untrained in the art, but she fumbled her way through it, feeling her way blindly as with real life.

Her gempukku was a small and simple affair, attended by her parents and Junko under special permission.

Post-school to Present
Shimakaze entered into the service of the Oyama daimyo as shugenja. Junko had learned to read and write while Shimakaze was in school, and continued to act as Shimakaze's servant, scribe, maid and of course close friend. They always travel together, performing Shimakaze's duty throughout the lands.