Sentyclopedia: Sayuri (Patreon)

Right, where to start…I guess I should say I’m a Samurai, but you probably figured that, didn’t you?
Still, that can be something of a big deal where I’m from. Those of us who serve as Samurai are regaled with no small amount of accolades and prestige, and my family has quite the track record when it comes to Samurai pride.

I’m not about to deny my own talent with a sword or two! Were I not fond of what I do, I think I would’ve relinquished a long time ago. However, the pressure of growing up in a province where your social status speaks louder than words, raised by one of the most acclaimed noble lineages of Samurai…

It’s constantly in my mind, I guess you could say.

Hah, I wouldn’t blame you if you thought me ungrateful, honey! Truly, I wouldn’t say I don’t enjoy the formal tea parties or the lavish dinners, less still being treated with the respect a warrior deserves. But perhaps I’m just not built for the thick curtains of pretense and falsities that come with all of the pride in the position. And as if having to watch your words, expression and manners any time you’re out in public weren’t enough, you can never take any aristocrat’s words at face value, either. Don’t even get me started about all the things they can turn against you if said loosely.

Perhaps all that pales a little against the constant espionage and attempts on one another’s lives that seem to go on behind the scenes, doubtless because of how much each noble wishes to keep to themselves.

…A little bleak, wasn’t that? Ahahah; Please forgive me! I guess I had some venting to do after all.
It’s as I said, though; I am thankful for a lot in my life. Even when the stress manages to cross the line, there’s nothing a good cup of sake won’t fix, either! 

Speaking of, why don’t you join me for a drink?”

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Only Sayuri’s friends would know how free-spirited and easygoing she is under her graceful and elegant facade, and many can be surprised at the fierce strength and sharp senses once she’s out in the battlefield.

Sayuri is ambidextrous; An asset she greatly takes advantage of in her two-sword fighting style, although you probably won’t see her using both at once unless she’s serious!
Despite this, she only has a cursory understanding of weapons that aren’t katana, so while she can use a bow or polearm in a pinch, you won’t see her carrying them into battle very often. This isn’t to say a disarmed Sayuri is useless, nor that you should underestimate her raw strength; This Dewott has taken out foes thrice as large as her before, and her stature is only an advantage in the way she wields it!

Domestically, Sayuri capitalizes in the ease of understanding and preparing tea in order to impress others, as she isn’t a particularly proficient cook. Left to her own devices, she’d spent a whole week with nothing but rather plain rice beef and miso soup.

Compared to the average Dewott, Sayuri stands out due to her taller legs and strong build. A running trend in her family is their especially frequent tail wagging whenever they’re content.

Sayuri’s close relations include a younger brother who went missing when she was 17, as well as a second cousin by the name of Nikko, two years younger than her. Her closest confidant is her retainer Miyuki; A Glaceon Ninja masquerading as a maid in her estate, who serves as her personal spy and bodyguard.

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One of my favorite things about her character is the balance between her femininity and fierceness! I really wanted to portray a character that, despite masculine and physical, doesn’t forego her feminine side or her grace, which she values a lot despite using them mostly as part of her public facade. Even then, she doesn’t go all out either, and I find that she’s a character that can draw the best from both worlds!

Click here to listen to my headcanon voice for Sayuri!