The Kuran Chi

The Kuran Chi are a strigoic faction within the novel Dark Blaze. They are led by Grandmaster Mitsurugi Sōjōbō, who disputes the right to rule the Far East with the Jiangshi leader, Cao Li.

The Kuran Chi may be condensed to smaller areas on a global scale, but they more than made up for that in aggression, military genius, isolationism and imperial cunning.

Background:
The Kuran Chi were formed as a plot by Vlad Drăculești to infiltrate the isolated island of Japan, as he saw great potential in the feudal island. Diaochan aided Vlad greatly in his infiltration of the Far East, however, the Kuran Chi and Jiangshi found solace in the cultures they were infiltrating and were destined to clash.

After the fall of Vlad, the Kuran Chi's leader, Mitsurugi, kept in the shadows until the arrival of more European traders. Mitsurugi played a pivotal part in the Warring States Era, fighting with and against humans and oni, the daemons of Japan.

With the unification of Japan and Mitsurugi siring Oda Nobunaga, a man he found remarkable, Mitsurugi focused his efforts on expanding the Kuran Chi's territory and did so at the cost of the Jiangshi, Oceanic Tribes and other smaller factions. Mitsurugi's goal was to locate Diaochan, their brood-mother, and in that endeavour, create enough breathing space for the Kuran Chi to survive until Vlad's resurrection.

Before the Great War, the Kuran Chi were involved in a war against the Klyki, which saw the Klyki and the Russian Empire humiliated in defeat by both the Kuran Chi and Imperial Japan. Mircea Voivode attempted to use this war as a plaform for the Kuran Chi to rejoin the Great War and renew the rivalry, however, Mitsurugi desired to honour the peace terms, which he states in the 1915 Marele Consiliu.

Society:
The Kuran Chi's society is based heavily on that of feudal Japan's. Mitsurugi Sōjōbō is seen as a god to the other members of the Kuran Chi, however, Mitsurugi has made it abundantly clear that he is but the son of a god, being Vlad.

The Kuran Chi is unique in the fact that regardless of your strigoic status, you can become a vital member of the faction. A clear example of this is the fact that a sired strigoi, Oda Nobunaga, is the chief advisor to the entire faction.

Structure:
There are four levels within the Kuran Chi. The top, which has Mitsurugi, Nobunaga and other vital members. The third, which has lower-ranked commanders and experienced warriors. The second, which are strigoic warriors. And the bottom, which is occupied by the druggans and ghouls.

The druggans employed usually have connections to either the Japanese police, military or the Yakuza families.

Territory:
Below is a list of countries which the Kuran Chi hold territory:
 * Japan- headquarters located in Tokyo.
 * Russia.
 * Korea.
 * China.
 * The Philippines.
 * The Dutch East Indies.
 * Indochina.
 * Malaysia.
 * Singapore.
 * Brazil.
 * United States Of America.

Minor:
As of yet, there are no known minor strigoii within the Kuran Chi.

Affiliates:
As of yet, there are no known affiliates to the Kuran Chi.

Equipment:
Below is a list of weaponry that has been seen used by the Kuran Chi:
 * Various silver bladed weaponry.
 * Meiji Type-26 - pistol.
 * Arisaka Type-30 - bolt-action rifle.
 * Gunto Officer's Sword.

Sub-Factions:
As of yet, there are no known sub-factions within the Kuran Chi.

Appearances:
The Kuran Chi appear in Hadrian Voivode's 1915-1916 Marele Consiliu chapters, and are mentioned by Mircea Voivode within Hadrian's 1918-1920 storyline as being at war with the Jiangshi.

Trivia:

 * The Kuran Chi roughly translates from Japanese to English as "the Blood Clan" or "Clan Blood". Kuran means "blood" and chi can mean "blood", "gore", or "consanguinity".
 * Diaochan, the brood-strigoi of the faction, was named after Diaochan from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
 * The Jiangshi-Kuran Chi rivalry mirrors that of China and Japan, and the Sino-Chinese Wars.
 * The Kuran Chi are the only known faction with a non-supreme-strigoi as their chief advisor.
 * Oda Nobunaga was a real person, who during the Warring States Era almost united all of Japan. His unification fell short when he was betrayed by one of his retainers named Akechi Mitsuhide.
 * The Kuran Chi have connections with the Yakuza, this greatly broadens their sphere of influence and has given them a foothold in America.
 * The Kuran Chi and the Thule, and more specifically - Mitsurugi and Mircea - seem to be the two leaders of strigoic factions that are actively seeking ways to locate Vlad's remains and revive him.