Clan Saionji

Clan Saionji (西園寺) is one of the oldest, and most mysterious, clans of Basho.

History
Much of the Saionji history is steeped in mystery and shrouded in secrets. As such, little is known by outsiders.

There have been few external accounts of the Saionji existing. The only legend of note chronicles the life and times of Saionji Arimori, a young man of the Saionji towards the early half of the 3rd Era. He notably assassinated King Sho Po but was unable to escape Shihon, leading to his capture. He was thoroughly tortured and interrogated, although he refused to give any information about himself, his mission, or his clan. He was eventually executed without trial. King Sho Pu, son of the late Po, ordered that Arimori's naked, battered corpse to be strung up over the outermost layer of the Forty Walls of Shihon as a warning. The horrific sight quickly backfired against Pu, inciting pity and disgust rather than fear. Before the body was eventually taken down, there was a notable poem about it penned by the famed Xuyanese poet, Gao Cao, slighting Sho Pu for the cruel punishment.

Written by Gao Cao
"'He whom doth dare slight tyrants""ye must sacrifice not only thy""honour but thy sacred temple.""Let birds peck thine eyes""yet ye never doth be blind""to see the crimes laid before thee.""Let they sun-bleached bones""guard over thine children of Hito""and spectre their fate unto ye.""Let he who hath none find ye,""for ye who hath all in Death.""Gather in thy tired arms,""ever beaten and broken,""the weight of the world""and lift the heavy crown""from upon the heads of""madmen.'"Arimori was pitied as a man without clan and with great courage, romanticized as a rebel and martyr for freedom by the loyalists of the recently abolished Red Shogunate. The poem was banned by Sho Pu, an act seen as desperate and cowardly. Pu also briefly outlawed speaking against the monarchy, which was met with harsh resistance by the Shogunate loyalists and supporters of the crown alike. Many feared a repeat incident of Shogun Hojo Mitsuhisa abusing the civil and legal rights of Basho's people. Pu finally gave in to the vocal opposition and rescinded the laws against free speech but keep the poem Mourn for Arimori banned for the duration of his reign. It is still banned to this day, as undoing the legislation was never a priority for his descendants.

Legacy
There have only been a few Saionji of note, as they are a very secretive and private clan.

Notable Saionji

 * Sato Asaki (??? - ???)
 * Saionji Arimori (??? 3E - 15th River, 3E)
 * Saionji Atsuma (14th Dragon, 3E - 16th Mountain, 4E)
 * Saionji Atsushi (18th Mountain, 4E - ??? 4E)

Relations
There is a clear relation to Clan Konishi but what is it?