Chapter Text
Hamato.
It seems so very long ago since the kingdom of hamato had been born, they often kept to the shadows and were nothing but whispers and rumors of the townsfolk. “I heard mistress Karai defeated the shredder with her bare hands” one would whisper, “what a kind soul” another would repeat.
“Where there is Hamato there is hope” seemed to be what they preached to others coming to find sanctuary in the town, and soon, they would find out that they were right.
The town isn't big, in fact it was pretty decently sized, with a winding river in the east giving free and easy water access for both the people and the crops, mountains in the north shielding them from icy winds blowing down, dense woods in the west and a dirt road in the south that leads to the town, the hamato was a loyal and noble clan, they did not need a giant castle to display their wealth, instead they settled with a home big enough for the townspeople to all gather for parties or in case of an emergency. with a pillar in the south west, a home garden on the riverside east of the home, and stables for the horses as well as a guard quarters in the west. The building did not take up much space on the land although the citizens were more than happy to give them more, the hamato did not need such things, only a place that they could rest their heads and be able to care for the townsfolk. All around the hamato town was a giant stone wall defending them from intruders, although the wall itself was rarely used for battle because the hamato’s ninpo had a stronger barrier. Hamato's magic could sense those coming and going through the land. The ninpo lived in the rich soil.
As for how this all began, it began as it always does, with a person and a choice.
Karai and her family were not big on publicity, they kept to the shadows, they were ninjas afterall.. But ninjas were not accepted nor were they treated fairly since many used those powers for evil. Karais' family was never one to start evil. But one to finish it. So when Karai heard of a powerful warlord reeking havoc on the innocent, Karai put an end to it.
And who knew the very soil she defeated the shredder on would be made into something more?
The citizens had been grateful for karai and her clan’s help, and so very generous. They wanted to give karai the land, let her rule them to an era of peace since their old king had died shortly before the shredder came. And with no one to carry the old king’s bloodline, it was the start of a new one. A new slate, away with the old and in with the new as they say.
Karai tried to refuse but she knew she couldn't leave the town. In fact, that was a secret she would carry to the grave. For when she killed the shredder, she was bound to the land. It was the price for taking his life. One that she would do so over and over for as long as her clan lived the citizens wouldn't have to fear. But her freedom hadn't been the only thing she sacrificed that day. And she would hate it every second of her life. Every time one of her own had to leave she knows why. They were doing it for the sake of keeping him dead. Only they know he can rise again. And only they can stop it.
So over time, generations passed and the Hamato clan grew. The town was at peace and never knew the shackles placed on their royalty. That was something karai hoped they would never know and was a secret she kept even in her death.