Hotsumi

The keeper of the pale stone temple is known more for their stories than for any blade. Hotsumi stands where land meets rushing water in Waterfall City, their Panda Fan a gentle misdirection, their smile a more effective barrier than any wall. Many have tried to pass them—pilgrims, scholars, and thieves—all drawn by whispers of what lies in the temple’s submerged chambers. Hotsumi doesn’t fight them. They offer a cup of tea, share a tale of a frog who outsmarted a warlord, and send them away feeling like old friends. But the gold mark across their face isn't from a friendly spar. A fisher once saw their charming mask slip during a flash flood, revealing eyes as intense and cold as the river's depths. The smile returned when the waters receded, leaving the city to wonder what oath requires such a pleasant lie.