Author's Games: Samurai

Clan 13: Ren Sanada

This was written by music1or1books. 

Name: Sanada Ren (sa-na-da ren)

Age: 22

Gender: Female

Appearance: Ren is fairly average looking, with long black hair and fair skin. She has almond-shaped eyes, but one is disfigured slightly by a small scar that starts above her eyebrow and barely passes her eye. She is fairly short with a light build, although Ren is strong after training by herself for many years.

Weapon of Choice: Ren loves her katana and would carry it with her everywhere she went if she could. However, she always has several metal fans with her as a weapon.

Personality: Ren is fairly sociable with other people in her clan, but it is because she enjoys observing them. She is incredibly intelligent and strategic, which helps her in her daily life. Rarely does she do anything that wasn't thought out or calculated, however this habit causes her to be unable to handle any sort of emotion very well. Any strain on emotions causes an internal battle between doing what she knows she should and what she wants, so rather than deal with that Ren tries to immerse herself in military tactics.

Background: Ren grew up in the palace where her father Sanada Masayuki lived and she has a brother named Yukimara who is 2 years younger than her. She grew up playing war games with him and his friends until he reached the age where he began training to be a samurai and she had to learn to be a lady. However, when Yukimara was showing her his new katana, he accidentally swung it towards her face and caused the scar that crosses her eye.

The scar on her face made her an unfavorable wife, so instead of being raised to be a wife of an important samurai Ren learned about military tactics. At the age of 18 Ren's father died in battle and Yukimara, being the eldest son, became the clan leader. He was unprepared and less strategic than Ren, but instead of admitting it and making the clan appear weak he came to her for military advice. Ever since then, Ren has been secretly leading the clan and creating military strategies to make the Sanada clan influential and powerful.

Important Side Characters: Masayuki is her father that died four years before and was the head of the Sanada clan. Yukimara is her younger brother and current leader of the Sanada clan. Takara is Ren's closest friend and the only person besides her brother that she trusts.

What Influences Their Decisions in Battle: Ren's decisions are influenced primarily through strategy. If it is beneficial for her clan, she will do it and make sure that there is minimal casualties. She has only been in a real battle once, but she hates killing and will only kill if it is absolutely necessary. Ren thinks that her ideas are the best and will always follow through with her own strategies instead of consulting a more experienced fighter.

Belief: Ren considers herself a samurai, although she never received formal training, so she follows the samurai code. However, she is very loyal to her younger brother and believes in family and friends over anything else.

Additional Information About Their Clan: The Sanada clan's emblem is called the Rokumonsen. It is two rows of three circles, each with a square in the center.

Nobunaga Oda: "A woman is secretly the head behind the Sanada clan? Perhaps that explains why they are so weak."

Mitsuhide Akechi: "You must be cunning and intelligent to have lead the Sanada clan for so long without anyone knowing the truth. I applaud you. We shall see what becomes of them due to your decisions."

Hideyoshi Hashiba: "Your beliefs are the most important thing in life, Sanada-chan. Don't let anyone discourage you, or tell you that you can't be a true warrior. Anyone can, if they hold true to what they believe."

Magoichi Saika: "A woman who leads and strategies? Gorgeous too. Whattya say about spending some extra time with me?It'll be well worth your time."

Ishida Mitsunari: "It's admirable that a woman has risen to your station. It's extremely deceptive of you to lead the clan while using your brother as a figurehead.  I'll give you one important piece of advice: you cannot rely on your own ideas all the time. Even the most well trained warrior could learn from one better than he is."