Aoshima was an independent village within the Hinokagura capital, flourishing on its own without the involvement of the Hoshigami clan. Its main trade was fishing and sake brewing. Known throughout Hinokagura as a haven for lovers of fine sake, Aoshima thrived on its abundant sea life, exquisite cuisine, and rich varieties of rice wine. For years, it stood as one of the region's proudest villages—until the beasts came.
At first the samurai of Aoshima could handle the beasts as they were only basic and intermediate tier but as months progressed the onslaught of attacks intensified and the beats grew stronger. An advanced tier beast led a horse to the village and although the samurai of Aoshima managed to subdue the beasts, many lives were lost.
Senzo Aoshima, the lord of the village, wasted no time. With ink still wet from the blood-soaked night, he sent a letter to the Hoshigami clan in the capital, requesting an urgent council meeting. His plea was simple — aid us before Aoshima falls to ruin.
Harunobu Hoshigami was pleased when he received the letter, for he had tried in the past to bring Aoshima under the Hoshigami banner but Senzo refused to comply. Now with the beast horde attacking and Aoshima pleading for help, Harunobu sent Raizen, next in line to become Daimyo, to the village of Aoshima to broker the deal between Senzo Aoshima and the Hoshigami. That was sixteen years ago, and that was the catalyst to Wasuren's birth. There in Aoshima, Raizen eloped with Sayaka and from that forbidden union, Wasuren was born.
Wasuren was distraught, he possessed deep hatred for anything related to his mother. He avoided speaking her name, he hated it when the topic of his birth is brought up and he hated it when his half brother Kaito Hoshigami, bannerman of the Hoshigami clan brought the message that the Wardens were to head to Aoshima and assist with the horde. After prayers to Okuchi no magami, he thought his shoulders would be a little lighter, but even as they marched through the streets of Kajuraro Castle town he felt the weight on his shoulders increase, coupled with this unsettling feeling in his gut. But he had no say in the matter, as he marched with the Wardens he laid his eyes on his father and heard his speech, then he thought to himself, 'is this all there is to my life, am I to continually serve a man I despise until my last breath?' then his mind drifted towards Daiki Hoshigami's words,
There's a storm coming my dear nephew, and and I'm merely seeking your assistance in making sure we're not on the bad side of it.
He frowned and turned away. He did not need any more distractions. He would focus on the mission, finish it, and return to Kajuraro
The sea breeze was the first thing that hit him.
It carried with it the scent of salt and rice—the scent of Aoshima.
From the distance, the village looked almost peaceful. Rows of tiled rooftops curved along the gentle slope of the hills, and beyond them, the sea shimmered under the afternoon sun. White gulls wheeled above, their cries echoing faintly across the docks. Fishermen hauled in their catch, the sound of laughter mixing with the rhythmic thud of wooden casks being sealed. Barrels of sake gleamed like gold in the light, stacked neatly near the breweries that lined the eastern streets.
To anyone else, it might have seemed like a scene from a painting.
To Wasuren, it was unfamiliar, suffocating.
He had imagined this place countless times but never wished to see it. His mother's village—his mother's scent in the air, her name whispered by the waves. Even now, after all these years, it felt like the land itself mocked him for existing. 'How could a man with fate as unfortunate as yours come from a place so beautiful?'
As they descended the hill road leading to the gates, the Wolf Wardens marched in disciplined silence. Their armor caught the light, black and silver like a storm tide rolling toward shore. The village guards stood waiting, their expressions tight and weary.
"Halt!" one of the guards called. "State your banner!"
Masaki Taisho stepped forward, his voice calm yet commanding.
"Wolf Wardens of the Hoshigami clan. We come under orders of the Daimyo to assist in the defense of Aoshima." He stretched forth his hand, a letter in it, presenting it to the guard.
There was a brief exchange of murmurs among the guards before the gates creaked open. It appears the Okami no Banshi are famous even in Aoshima.
The smell of sea and smoke grew stronger as they entered. Wasuren's eyes swept across the narrow streets—faded banners fluttering above, villagers glancing up from their work with a mix of hope and wariness.
The wolf wardens were led to the village hall of Aoshima, where they would meet with Lord Senzo Aoshima. The best way to describe the hall was plain—almost austere. Built to accommodate the village folk rather than impress guests, it bore no extravagant decorations. Only the tiled floors and a wallpaper of a blooming sakura tree broke the emptiness.
Seated on a stool at the furthest end of the hall was a man who looked to be in his mind forties, he had long black hair tied into a ponytail. His face was pale like milk and was without any facial hair, on his left eye he wore an eye patch, wether he was blind in that eye was a mystery to those that visit him, for he never takes it off. This is Senzo Aoshima Lord of Aoshima village.
Masaki Taisho and Wasuren led the wardens through the hall and when they came to Senzo, they bowed. For even though they do not serve Lord Senzo, he still is a man of royalty and deserves to be respected.
Senzo Aoshima raised his head and when his eyes met the wardens his face shone great radiance, "OKAMI NO BANSHI, welcome to Aoshima"