Guórén

Face-up artist(s):

Me

Date of acquisition:

Head: September 2021, Body: March 2022

Provenance:

Head ordered through a Taobao go-between, body ordered direct from Granado

Reason for choice:

While I loved his previous shell (a Granado Michael), his head is a touch too petite compared to my other guys. Noah on the 75Adagio, however, is of the right height to give the character the imposing presence he previously lacked.

Best Points:

A Granado sculpt that is closer to the "standard" head measurements for his size; quite easy to find clothes for, if you know where to look.

Worst Points:

No thigh swivels, hip sockets are very frustrating to work with and could easily make simple sitting poses a pain. Some parts of the resin appear to yellow faster than the others. Also, you must get jointed hands if you want your doll to wear rings (default hands have several fingers fused).

Eyes:

The Secret Art Studio

Wig:

Hand-ventilated by yours truly

Favourite colours:

Yellows and earth tones, touched with black

Fashion style(s):

East Asian traditional (hybrid of Japanese and Chinese), mixed with more modern styles

Key fashion accessory:

A belt accessory that is the pair to what his S.O. has, plus a scarf that secretly conceals his shinobi cowl

Name story:

Guórén is actually his personal name, hardly ever used except by those who are close to him. It is written as 國仁 -- the character for "country" followed by "benevolence". His formal name, Jinsuke, is written as 仁助, "benevolent assistance."

Character age:

Mid-twenties, 23 at the start of the L5R timeline

Character gender:

Initially identified as a straight male, but eventually exhibited bisexual tendencies where his more genderfluid partner is concerned

Offsite roleplay:

This doll's character is not available for offsite roleplay.

EDO PERIOD TIMELINE
Relationship tree here.

Born Zhèng Guórén, Takashima Jinsuke was the adopted son of the eccentric Takashima Tarōzaemon, a childless samurai who taught him everything he knew about being in the Nagasaki police force. His birth mother was a Han Chinese native abandoned in Japan, while his birth father was an unknown Portuguese merchant who passed down his "barbaric" appearance to his son. Notably, he had grey hair streaked with white by the age of twenty, which made him appear older than he really was.

Despite not always seeing eye-to-eye with the elusive Ozaki Kaguya (also known as Adhara), matriarch of a criminal syndicate in the same city, Guórén's fate and heart became intertwined with hers. Although he entered an arranged marriage to a samurai lady, Arima Hanako, out of duty, husband and wife loved each other more like brother and sister than as lovers (with both of them engaging in separate extramarital affairs that either party happily ignored). Despite their persistent efforts, Guórén and Hanako's marriage did not produce any children. Instead, the mother of his children, Kokiden (Takashima Koyuri), Kokichi (Takashima Koremitsu), and Aijiro, was Adhara. Later on, he also welcomed a foster child, Maiya.

When Adhara later reunited with a manifestation of her long-lost lover Okuni, they included Guórén in their relationship. The three of them had an unspoken promise to stay together through thick and thin, in the name of the love they held for one another.

L5R RPG TIMELINE
Relationship tree here.

Ikoma Jinsuke was born into the Lion Clan as the illegitimate son of Ikoma Tsubame and Moto Gelejian of the Unicorn Clan. After Tsubame's banishment to a monastery, her son was adopted by Ikoma Tarōzaemon, a minor historian. Although distrustful of Scorpion Clan samurai (like most of Rokugan), he fell in love with one: the unconventional Bayushi Kaguya, a rather unpopular courtier derided for her bluntness and lack of charm. Despite being quite open in her disapproval of the Lion Clan's militaristic view of things, she always treated Jinsuke fairly, even defending him from slurs that targeted his foreign appearance.

Jinsuke's quiet persistence and lack of arrogance eventually impressed Kaguya, and they began a love affair. Their bond was such, that when given the option by her first husband to be released from her preexisting marriage vows, she chose Jinsuke. With the aid of his adoptive father, Jinsuke made true on his promise to take her as his wife, and she joined his family as Ikoma Kaguya. Understandably, not everyone approved of their relationship. In particular, his old flame from the Matsu Berserker school took it upon herself to dole out unsanctioned punishment during a training match, irreparably injuring his right leg in her unbridled fury.

His maiming by a clanmate who ought to have been a comrade, and the surprising loyalty exhibited by Kaguya and other Scorpion allies (including Kaguya's best friend, who would complete their romantic trio), gradually changed Jinsuke's erstwhile black-and-white morals. Finally understanding the Scorpion creed of dirtying one's own hands so others will remain pure, and that innocence alone was not a sufficient shield against evil temptations, Jinsuke willingly took on the mantle of a shinobi of the Ikoma Shadows, joining his father Tarōzaemon in the ranks of the spies and saboteurs of the Lion Clan.

Sharp Bastard 01 by Yela Gatchalian-David, on Flickr


Guórén Revamped Scars by Yela Gatchalian-David, on Flickr


In Praise of Shadows 01 by Yela Gatchalian-David, on Flickr​