Ishimura Clan
The Ishimura Clan is a gargoyle clan living in Ishimura, Japan.
History
The Ishimura Clan is probably one of the most ancient clans still in existence in 1996. Throughout the centuries, the Ishimuran gargoyles fought alongside Japanese samurai. During the Feudal Period (mid-19th century), a Timedancing Brooklyn and Fu-Dog spent some time with the Clan. Katana, a member of the Ishimura Clan, left with them. After peace came over the islands, the Clan settled in Ishimura with the human villagers, helping to protect their village from criminals. The humans are on good terms with the gargoyles, and keep them secret from the outside world so that they can go unmolested.
The gargoyles of Ishimura live in an old temple in the village, perching on its roof in the daytime. They face inwards in their stone sleep, as a gesture of trust towards the humans with whom they live. From time to time, they teach the local humans bushido, the code of honor that they themselves practice.
One such pupil was Taro, but he was a poor student. When he grew up and became a wealthy businessman, he decided to exploit the gargoyles for his own benefit; duping Yama, a dissatisfied member of the clan, into helping him, he abducted the entire clan (alongside Goliath, Angela, and Bronx, who were visiting Ishimura with Elisa on the Avalon World Tour) and took them away to a nearby theme park that he had just built to be put on display there. Fortunately, Elisa and Hiroshi, the police constable at Ishimura, rescued the Clan. Afterwards, the humans of Ishimura decided to strengthen their covenant with the gargoyles all the more, and to take regular bushido lessons from them. ("Bushido")
By 2198, the Ishimura Clan will have truly become a clan of teachers. Many gargoyles will go to Ishimura to learn bushido - among them Samson, Delilah, and Zafiro. Humans, including Nick Maza, will also come to Ishimura to study and join the Order of the Guardian. Though the world will be aware of the Ishimura Clan in 2198, it seems that the secret of Ishimura will remain so for some time and that the Ishimura Clan may be one of the last, if not the last, clans revealed to the world at large.
The Ishimura Clan is one of the original clans of the Gargoyle Nation, and its leader and eggs will be kidnapped by the Space-Spawn on Queen Florence Island on March 21st, 2198.
Characteristics
It is notable that gargoyles of Ishimura sometimes have fewer digits on their feet or hands, or have more digits on their wings. Beside that, many of the clan's members have brow ridges, horns, and spikes. Many have spikes, blades, or forked features on the ends of their tails. Some members have beaks, but that appears to be a minority. So far, none of the observed members are hairless or light-haired, none have feather-like wing coverings, and none have their wings attached to their arms and legs.
Known Members
- Katana - Leaves to join Brooklyn, and ultimately, the Manhattan Clan.
- Kai - Leader in 1996.
- Yama - Second-In-Command until mid-1996.
- Sora - Second-In-Command from mid-1996 on.
Real World Background
The nature of the gargoyles of Ishimura is of particular interest, in light of the fact that, in Japanese legends, there is said to be a race of winged beings named tengu. Tengu are winged humanoids who sometimes teach humans bushido; this evokes the gargoyles of Ishimura enough to suggest that the legend originated with them. (Admittedly, the tengu also are described at times as being dangerous tricksters, but this could be nothing more than distortion of the tales, assisted by anti-gargoyle attitudes).
In a recent interview with COMICON.com (http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006756) about the upcoming "Bad Guys" mini-series comic, Greg Weisman used the term "tengu" for the Ishimura gargoyles, confirming this connection. The connection became canon at the end of the first issue of "Bad Guys", when Robyn Canmore called Yama a tengu.
