Contested Crane/Lion Lands - Kyotei Castle

[Vutall]

The Bloody History of Kyotei Castle
Twenty years ago, the Damasu family of the Lion Clan ruled the Golden Valley from their stronghold at Kyotei Castle, which lies along a merchant’s road between Otosan Uchi and Toshi Ranbo. The castle and the nearby town of Chikuzen are strategically located between Lion, Crane, and Phoenix lands, making the castle one of many witnesses to blood-shed over the last several centuries

Tsume Retsu, a vassal to the Doji family of the Crane Clan, conquered Kyotei Castle by force of arms. Lord Damasu Kojima and the entirety of the Damasu family (a vassal family sworn to the Akodo family of the Lion Clan) fell in battle. After the dust had settled, the Doji family allowed Retsu to hold the castle as its new lord. However, the Doji had not ordered Retsu to take such drastic action, and so the Doji’s diplomatic arm found itself busy trying to hold back the furious vengeance of the Lion Clan and assuage fears of further aggression on the part of Lord Tsume toward the Phoenix.

Rumors have always swirled that the castle is haunted by the Lions who fell there. Perhaps it is cursed, for after seventeen years of ruling the Gold-en Valley from Kyotei Castle, Lord Retsu was discovered dead in his very chambers, apparently a victim of murder. A search went out for the culprit, and after weeks of fruitless investigation, a castle guard was charged with the lord’s murder and executed.

Restless Spirits
The ghosts of the Damasu haunt the castle to this day, crying out for revenge. They are bound to this castle until the Damasu family is restored—until the last remaining Damasu heir takes her rightful place as lord of the castle. That heir was smuggled out of the castle to safety and sold to a local geisha house to keep her identity hidden