Shangti.

You might not believe it was once the Imperial City. There are stories about what it was like in some fabled golden age. That sort of thing doesn't matter much to those of us who live there. What matters is finding a job, doing the job, and making a living. You need someone to find something for you? Come to me. I'm the best.

**

Problem is, it's never that easy. Maybe they're wrapped up in some plot to revive the lost Imperial Family. Maybe they're dealing with Oni out in the forest on the west coast of this little island. Maybe there's ninjas, steam boat chases, secret identities. Doesn't matter. I'll find 'em. It's what I do.

**

-Amura Hiroko, owner of Amura Investigations

Steampunk Musha: Riddle in Red

Amura Hiroko's uncommon height has led many to speculate that she is part gaijin. This may well be true, as not even Hiroko knows who her father is. Born and raised in one of the many brothels in Talu, Hiroko left at an early age to pursue her own fortune, toughing it out among thieves and scoundrels and learning to live by her gun. Gifted with natural speed and agility, Hiroko took naturally to firearms and is known for her keen eye and aim. Unfortunately, most employers never manage to look past her gender to see her true skill; a woman Shangti Cowboy is rarely taken seriously, and the competition for jobs is fierce. Her work as a bounty hunter ran her into some trouble with black-market groups in the Twin Cities, but landed her a steadfast ally: Delightful Sunrise (who goes by Del), a Rooster Juunishi-P'o and mechanist.

At first appearance, Hiroko's slim form stretches well beyond the height of most women, and many men native to Rosuto-Shima. Her face is not as delicate as is typical for a traditional beauty, but her crooked grin and expressive eyebrows have attracted an admirer from time to time. She tends to wear a long, gray, gaijin-style duster (color is negotiable) and a low-crown, wide brim hat of the same color.

At a distance, it is difficult to discern her gender, and many believe that she takes great pains to appear as masculine as she possibly can. Though many of the Shangti Cowboy profession are carefree guns-for-hire, Hiroko's struggle to prove herself to others has weighed her down. In an attempt to assert her independence and show her success, she has started her own private investigation firm in Shangti. The lack of clients to date has begun to make her worry that, in fact, her peers are right, and she will never be as successful as a male gunslinger.