Nagao

The bustling city of Nagao once housed Nobunaga's younger brother, Nobuhide, and would later be the seat of power for both of his younger brothers when they rebelled against Nobunaga in the Kasai civil war. Nagao holds one of the most defensive positions in Odawari, many even believing the city to be impenetrable at one time. The small peninsula on lake Nagao is walled off where it connects with the land, the large stone wall making an invasion by land nearly impossible. Getting war ships into the lake is another story entirely, as the sea is connected only by river and goes through miles upon miles of forts and towns.   The illusion of the invincible wall was broken when Nobunaga showed his younger brothers his ingenuity. Tanegashima(Rokugan Flintlock Rifles) would be introduced to Rokugan at the Siege of Nagao, along with great firebomb catapults that Nobunaga had engineered. Great holes were blast through the walls, and with the holes his soldiers would easily storm the city, forcing his brothers to surrender. Almost as soon as they relinquished their control over Nagao, Nobunaga would force his brothers to commit Seppuku. Many believe this event forever changed the man known as Nobunaga, making him view Rokugan much differently than others.   This city once belonged to one of Nobunaga's greatest generals, Sho Katsuya. With his guiding hand, the city has progressed in much the same fashion as Gefu has, only Nagao is renowned for a different discovery under his careful hand. Hihi'irokane(Orichalcum), a very rare reddish-bronze material found at the bottom of lake Nagao. Many believe the Hihi'irokane to be a gift from the Kami of Forges to the now prospering Nagao. While it is very hard to procure, Hihi'irokane abundant under lake Nagao. With the Kasai clans ingenuity, the city soon found it lacing their buildings with this firey metal, along with wealthy patrons figuring out how to forge it into accessories and armor. The metal is lovingly referred to as witchbane, as it is believed to protect the wearer from magical curses and spells as well as sealing their powers and lessening their effects. Because of its use in buildings, Nagao has recently been nicknamed the flaming city of Odawari.  

Post Calamity

  Gefu's Hihi'irokane infused walls kept the demons at bay much better than most cities in Rokugan. Coupled with Nobunaga's parting gift, the Tanegashima, Nagao was easily able to withstand the first demonic horde in Rokugan. Since then the people of Nagao have prospered, living in a city that was left almost entirely unaffected by the demons that now rule most of Asterra. Being so far away from the coast has worked in Nagao's favor, keeping it away from both the demonic attacks from the west as well as the floating Moran cities that line the Western coast. In truth, Gefu is far from most of Rokugan's problems and that reflects in the city's new perspective on outsiders.   Gefu has become so secluded and self-sufficient that it now operates independently of the rest of Rokugan. After the calamities struck, and with the fall of the Kasai Daimyo Nobunaga, the Sho clan declared their independence from any major clans of Rokugan. Openly rebelling from any who would eventually clam the title of Shogun. Now the city rarely lets anyone besides traders into the city, truly cutting themselves off from the rest of Rokugan. Few Daimyo have tried to recapture the city, and all have failed. The walls of Nagao once again hold the reputation of being impenetrable, now even more than ever.