Kimura Kei

He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.

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Kimura Kei (木村厳斎, died 1582) was a Japanese daimyō and a member of the Japanese Rite of the Templar Order during the 16th century. Recruited by the Portuguese Templar Nuno Caro, Kei aided the cause by training and recruiting members for a secret army of the Templar Order in Japan. Although wanting his own domain of power, his plans were cut short in 1582 by Yasuke, who assassinated Kei as a means to locate and enact revenge on Caro.

Biography[]

Life as a Templar[]

By 1582, Kimura Kei had joined the Templar Order and made contact with the Portuguese Templars Nuno Caro and Duarte de Melo. Throughout his lordship, he began to realize that his command was losing its influence, especially when Lord Oda Nobunaga instigated his mission to unify all of Japan. Thus, he began to create his own army in the name of Templars, from any lost rōnin or foreign soldiers needing purpose. Although faithful to the Templar cause, he secretly planned a coup against Caro, his foreign commander, as he believed that his vision was truer to the Order's goals.^[1]

Recruiting in Kii and death[]

Corresponding with de Melo, Kei informed him about how his recruitment was going and how his training of secret warriors for Caro was progressing.^[2] However, the message was soon recovered by the Kakushiba ikki member Yasuke,^[3] who killed de Melo and, with the help of Father Luís Fróis, discovered a clue as to where Kei may be.^[2]

At the Okunoin Cemetery in Kii, Kei sent his advocate Kumabe Ujiie to find any wayward warrior wanting to fight for the Templar cause. Yet, Yasuke found his way into the recruitment and followed the next clue, which was the training grounds at Hibuse Fudo Temple. Arriving at the temple in the morning, Yasuke and the other recruits made their way to see Kei addressing all of his potential conscripts.^[1]

During his speech, Kei noticed Yasuke and condemned him as the enemy. Before leaving for his quarters, he ordered all of the recruits to kill the samurai. However, Yasuke quickly dispatched the recruits, as well as Kei's own Saisesha rōnin, then confronted the Templar. As Kei donned his helmet, Yasuke denounced him as a traitor for siding with the Templars over his own people. The daimyō explained that the Order's cause had given him purpose but Yasuke stated that he had traded his life to tyranny. Fed up, Kei kicked over a fire and lit the room aflame before engaging Yasuke in a duel.^[1]

However, Yasuke proved himself the better fighter and mortally wounded Kei. Outside in the rain, the Templar promised that his people would enact vengeance, to which Yasuke stated that he would be waiting. To Yasuke's surprise, Kei then offered his armor to the samurai as a reward and admitted that he wanted to better the world, yet he knew the Templars' fight would never end. Accepting his fate, Kei was ultimately executed by Yasuke. Among his personal effects, Yasuke discovered a letter from another Templar operative, the "Silver Queen."^[1]

Personality and traits[]

Kimura Kei showcased a strong belief in the Templar cause, despite his disdain of having to work alongside fellow Templars Nuno Caro and Duarte de Melo. Believing he possessed a greater understanding of the Templars' true vision than Caro, Kei secretly plotted against him, yet did not betray his whereabouts to Yasuke in his final moments out of loyalty to the Order.^[1]

Kei possessed a ruthless side, having sacrificed one of his daughters to gain victory in one of his past battles. However, he was equally capable of being reasonable and even admiring his enemies, as he gifted his armor to Yasuke after the samurai bested him.^[1]

Skills and equipment[]

In combat, Kei dual-wielded a katana and an ōdachi. He also wore a personalized set of golden armor proudly depicting the Templar cross across his chestplate.^[1]