Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan

The Ryu-Mizumitsu is a minor noble Yamataian Clan that hails from the planet Yamatai but became partially nomadic before the formation of the Yamatai Star Empire. Through their corporation, Ryu Keiretsu, the Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan has its hands in everything from shipping to manufacturing military equipment.

They are a part of the Yamatai Star Empire and was formed decades before YE 01. The current head of the clan is Ryu-Mizumitsu Yuki.

Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan (劉水光一族)
Largest Presence	Yamatai (Planet)
Leadership	Ryu-Mizumitsu Yuki
Government Type	Minor House within the Yamatai Star Empire
Parent Government	Yamatai Star Empire
Connections	None
Formation	Pre-YE 01
Current Year	YE 45
Currency	Bellflower Note(KS)
Custodians	Demibear

Despite being a minor Yamataian house within the Yamatai Star Empire, the heritage of the Ryu far predates its formation like most others. Fifty years before the formation of the YSE, the houses Ryu and Mizumitsu merged as a political union to defend themselves against the threat of absorption by more prominent clans. The Ryu were cunning merchants with access to resources others desired, and the Mizumitsu was a warrior clan that occasionally produced masters of swordsmanship. However, the political union was indeed a cover-up for their crown heirs. Being close friends, the two decided to elope instead of marrying their intended spouses.

For reasons that remain within the clan, the Ryu-Mizumitsu decided to uproot from most of their planetary holdings on Yamatai and spend their lives among the stars as merchants; their samurai become wandering warrior-philosophers. They believe it was a decision that spared them from much of the destruction of the Great Plague of YE 08, despite most of the clan transferring over into the Geshrin body.

But the clan did suffer significantly during the Second Mishhuvurthyar War when a sizeable portion of their ships was caught in the surprise attack on Nataria. The clan's core survived, returning to Yamatai, and has allowed the clan to limp their way back to something resembling a return to normal as of YE 40 by turning into landlords within the Yamatai Star Empire. Many clan members have joined the Star Army of Yamatai over the years to pay off a blood debt they believe in having with the SAoY.

With the acquisition of Port Orchid (a NH-H1 Hibiscus-Class Mobile Space Station) in YE 43, the Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan transferred their flag to it. While Port Dongfeng is assigned to the Tange System as part of the Ryu Keiretsu 's mining efforts, the Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan decided to move from the Tatiana System to Fujiko in YE 44. With Port Orchid, the Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan helped evacuate Norian refugees later in the year.

In YE 45, to address their small central family size, Ryu-Mizumitsu Yuki commissioned 5 Lily Type Artificial Nepleslian and adopted them into the family.

In the past, the clan did not have a standard beyond the mon of their clan. But as they expand into the universe as a whole, they are currently in the process of looking the part of a Yamataian House.

The Kamon (symbol) of the clan is a Futatsudomoe. The clan's colors are crimson (representing the Ryu Family) and blue (representing the Mizumitsu Clan). The clan has a patron kami named Shizuru, who is associated closely with honor and warfare. The clan totem is the Yamatai Red-Crowned Crane, commonly tattooed on the clan's samurai.

This is the clan's leadership structure as of YE 45:

¹⁾

Being a minor clan, the Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan is tiny compared to their component clans due to natural reproduction rates. However, the introduction of the Lily Type Artificial Nepleslian has changed this with the addition of 5 adopted Lily Artificial Nepleslian ²⁾. Intermarriage with Nekovalkyrja clans could also change this for the clan.

厚德载物 (“to be of strong moral character” in Lianjia Speech).

Another Lianjia proverb is frequently used as a very long motto:

• If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person.
• If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house.
• If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation.
• If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

The Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan is influenced by Yamataian Culture, with Yamataian spoken within the clan. But the overall culture of the clan is based on the Lianjia.

The Ryu-Mizumitsu observe the holidays in the Yamatai Star Empire. In addition to that, they have their own ceremonies that they observe internally.

Ryu-Mizumitsu is not united in its philosophies and politics. While the central family has some influence, the two halves of the clan have different beliefs. They are further influenced by how close each sub-faction wishes to be to the ideals of the Yamatai Star Empire.

As the head family, they have learned that a balanced approach is best in most cases to maintaining peace. This approach applies to how they interact without individuals and factions outside the clan.

The Ryu Clan is a merchant/banking family of Lianjia and Korean heritage that got swept up into the Yamataian culture much later. While moderated by the Ryu-Mizumitsu and Mizumitsu Clans, the Ryu family values earning profit above all else. They do not give to charity unless they have to (or the action makes them look good) and tend to cut costs in areas that hopefully don't ruin the product. They are kept away from the design process as much as possible due to this, creating some animosity towards the head clan.

The Ryu Family is split into three main sub-factions.

The Old Guard of the Ryu Family. The Mercantilism Faction is the dominant voice within the Ryu Family. Though with a growing amount of liberalism in Yamataian politics, their voice has gradually diminished.

A faction influenced by the Mizumitsu Clan, the Ryu liberals tend to be the most opened minded individuals within the clan. They are often “tasked” with more benevolent activities such as charities (usually unwittingly) to cover some of the shady business done by those within the old guard of the family. This sub-faction is very diplomatic in nature.

A mixture of the Mercantilists and outside Imperialists, they are a small minority within the Ryu Family power structure. They believe the Yamatai Star Empire should expand and exploit the greater Galaxy. Especially within Kuvexian space as payback for attempting to conquer the Kikyo Sector.

The other half of the Ryu-Mizumitsu, the Mizumitsu, is a samurai clan of Lianjia caught in the budding culture that would become Yamataians. The Mizumitsu, with a slowly growing minority, value merit, honorable combat, and dishing out vengeance for the commoner when legally able to. When their samurai choose to join government organizations, they often decide to join the Star Army of Yamatai or the National Police.

Wearing a grey hamaka with black yukata, Mizumitsu Samurai spend much of their time either protecting clan assets (ships, factories, etc.) or wandering the Kikyo sector as warrior-monks. Unlike most other Samurai houses, outsiders and commoners are allowed to join as members of the Order of Mizumitsu. The only requirement for aspirants is to be able to keep up with the Minkan and Nekovalkyria body physically and mentally. As a sign of their affiliation, they are expected (but not demanded) to hyphenate their names (or attach it if alien) with Mizumitsu. Those that are born into the House simply carry the name Mizumitsu.

There is a strong emphasis on swordplay and modern warfare. Three styles are popular with the Mizumitsu samurai. The first (Mizumitsu-ryu) is an aggressive style that makes use of the nagamaki nodachi. The second (Mizu-ryu) is a derivative of Sora-Mai with a modern twist that combines the katana in one hand and an energy pistol in the other. A third art (Takashi-ryu) form emphasizes being able to defend themselves while also protecting their attackers from injury. It was developed from members seeking a more “enlightened” way of resolving conflicts and is taught outside of the clan.

Below is the base philosophy for the Mizumitsu:

Like the Ryu Family, three factions currently exist within the clan. Each is named after the martial arts style practiced or the overall political theme they follow.

The old guard of the clan, those of the Mizumitsu-ryu style are stewards of valor and beacons of furious resolve on the battlefield. They believe the guilty must always be punished in proportion to their crimes. They have very “Eye for an Eye” tendencies with particularly heinous crimes (capital punishment for capital crimes).

Naturally, this mindset only wins them a little support with more lenient and rehabilitation-minded individuals in the Empire. Nor do they gain any love from Neko purists for their belief that anyone can be strong (if they have the willpower supported by augmentations).

In regards to Shintoism, Mizumitsu-ryu honors all kami. Though they focus on a particular patron, Amenomahitotsu no Kami (kami of iron manufacture and blacksmiths), that they honor. For protectors of the people require strong arms and the support of agriculture to feed them.

While not pacifists, those that practice Tenmitsu-ryu advocate for the equal treatment of all beings (Rixxikor are avoided unless one wants to discover the limit of their patience) and seek peacefulness, harmony, and mutual understanding. While they understand the forces that created the United Outer Colonies turned out to be foul, the idea of an open society (and not one of a benevolent dictator) does appeal to them. Members are the most likely in the clan to join the Discourse Party.

Practitioners encourage introspection and activities that allow them to do so creatively, such as art. The calm veneer disappears when they witness injustice against an innocent or the practitioner is personally threatened by others. In such situations, they become just as determined to correct it as their Mizumitsu-ryu allies if peaceful methods fail.

Out of all the samurai, they honor no particular kami and go out of their way to respect shrines/places where they believe kami are likely to reside (nature-based).

In addition to the philosophies of the clan, the Tenmitsu-ryu Faction adds three additional virtues:

Mainly consisting of recently adopted Nekos and their offspring, Mizumitsu Imperialists are followers of the Shinto cult that deifies Yui and others within the Ketsurui Clan as living saints/kami. They also support the Imperial Way movement, believing the Yamatai Star Empire should be a military-minded “benevolent” totalitarian government. They are the clan members most likely to join the Bellflower Party.

Like the Takashi-ryu Faction, the Mizumitsu Imperialists add virtues to the core Mizumitsu-ryu philosophies. Even if they somehow practice Takeshi-ryu instead of Mizumitsu-ryu.

The clan has the following species within it so far:

• Nepleslian
• Genshrin
• Nekovalkyrja
• Lily Type Artificial Nepleslian

It is fully expected that Lily Type Artificial Nepleslians will become a dominant part of the clan over the years, especially with the adoption of five within the head Ryu-Mizumitsu family.

The Ryu-Mizumitsu own the Ryu Keiretsu. A tight business alliance of component corporations they have controlling shares in, the Ryu Keiretsu primarily operates in the Yamatai Star Empire 's Motoyoshi Colonial Sector. As of YE 45, they have been building a presence within the Fujiko Region (north of Virginia. Consisting of Fujiko, Rufusland, and Ukmirt, they are attempting to mirror their Motoyoshi Clan partners in developing a region largely ignored by the masses due to the presence of the Nepleslian Reds. Rich in resources, much like the MCS, the Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan, and the Ryu Keiretsu exert their influence on the region via the jointly-owned Fujiko Development Corporation.

Allies of the Ryu-Mizumitsu:

• Motoyoshi Clan - Business partners

Enemies of the Ryu-Mizumitsu include:

• N/A

Due to the events of YE 08, the Ryu-Mizumitsu is a “nomadic void” clan. Their holdings were a fleet of run-down ships before transferring to a NH-H1 Hibiscus-Class Mobile Space Station named Port Orchid in YE 43. The Mizumitsu Samurai maintain a complex on Yamatai (Planet), and the Ryu Family has a diminishing presence on Tatiana.

Port Orchid is currently in the Fujiko where it rents out its shipyard production to vetted local shipwrights. Rufusland and Ukmirt also have Ryu-Mizumitsu Clan presence as they jointly own the Fujiko Development Corporation with the Nepleslian Reds to develop the region.

New members are allowed with approval, as long as they:

• Are in the Yamatai Star Empire or allied nation.
• Are involved with the clan.
• Follow clan philosophies.

Contact Demibear if you have questions or need help.

Demibear created this article on 2022/12/20 03:45. Updated on 2022/04/13.

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