Kitsu Somalia, a skilled shugenja of the Lion Clan Clan, stands as a pivotal figure in the ongoing conflict against the Unicorn Clan. Renowned for her mastery of elemental magic, she serves as a vital advisor during the war council, drawing insights from the spirits to inform her clan's strategies. As the council convenes, Kitsu reveals that the spirits have warned her of the Unicorn Clan's meticulous preparations for the battlefield, indicating they await the Lion Clan Clan's advance. In an effort to minimize bloodshed, she proposes a contest of champions, a suggestion dismissed by Matsu Sakura, who insists that the assembled forces are meant for battle rather than a duel. Kitsu further advocates for a day's delay in the attack, emphasizing the importance of understanding the terrain and the enemy's strategies before engaging in combat. Her strategic thinking earns her command of one of the Lion Clan Clan units in the impending battle.
During the battle at the Snow Plain, Kitsu takes her position over the right cohort, strategically located near the eastern river, where she can call upon the water kami to bolster her forces. Initially, she leads a successful assault against the opposing cohort, inflicting attrition on the enemy and gaining momentum. However, as the battle intensifies, her forces face a fierce counterattack from the Unicorn Clan, resulting in significant casualties. In response to the mounting pressure, Kitsu adapts her tactics by entering a Void stance in the second round of combat, allowing her to achieve further successes and impose heavy attrition on the enemy while maintaining morale among her troops.
As the Unicorn Clan retaliates with explosive firebombs, creating chaos and inflicting additional losses, Kitsu identifies an enemy commander as a potential target for a challenge, showcasing her keen awareness of the battlefield dynamics. Amidst the turmoil, she casts Wall of Fire along the Unicorn Clan line, disrupting their advance and causing substantial panic among their ranks, providing her troops a momentary reprieve. Later, she supports a flanking maneuver proposed by Matsumura Zane, agreeing to join his detachment for a surprise attack against the Unicorn Clan position.
Commanding a unit of mountain-born Ashigaru archers, Kitsu leads her troops through challenging terrain during the flanking maneuver against the Unicorn Clan. In a critical battle phase, she guides her archers across a Frozen River, where ice breaks, causing one casualty and four archers to panic before they reform. She directs her forces down forested slopes toward the Unicorn Clan flank, encountering resistance from multiple Unicorn Clan samurai cohorts. Kitsu orders a focused assault on a shugenja's cohort, though the forest cover limits her archers' effectiveness. As the battle progresses, she transitions her unit's tactics from ranged attacks to melee, inflicting damage on the enemy while managing her troops' morale. Her leadership proves crucial for the Lion Clan Clan forces as they aim to seize the Central Hill, with her unit playing a vital role in the engagement.
After the skirmishes, Kitsu invokes Inara's Blessing to conjure a fortifying meal for her cohort, aiding their recovery from fatigue and losses. She also participates in a council to discuss strategies, assessing the potential threats from the Unicorn Clan and the implications of their tactics. Throughout the conflict, Kitsu Somalia's actions underscore her integral role in the Lion Clan Clan's military strategy, reflecting her commitment to her clan's success and her deep connection to the elemental forces she commands.
In a recent battle, Kitsu collaborated with Matsu Morozane, another Lion Clan Clan leader, to formulate strategies aimed at consolidating their forces against the enemy. She successfully gained the initiative against a Unicorn Clan commander, allowing her forces to act first. Kitsu invoked Fire From Within, targeting an enemy cohort led by a shugenja, engulfing them in flames and causing significant panic. This resulted in the Lion Clan Clan effectively pursuing their objective of attrition.
During the conflict, Kitsu faced criticism from a Unicorn Clan bushi who labeled her a coward for using fire magic instead of engaging directly in combat. In response, her bodyguard, Kitsu Yui, requested permission to accept the challenge on Kitsu's behalf, which she granted. Yui defeated the challenger, further instilling panic within the enemy ranks. Kitsu chose to adhere to her attrition strategy rather than propose surrender terms, maintaining pressure on the Unicorn Clan forces.
Kitsu Somalia also endeavored to assist Matsu Morozane after he was gravely injured and set ablaze by a Unicorn Clan shugenja. She attempted to extinguish the flames with the spell Extinguish but failed. Subsequently, she used Path to Inner Peace to stabilize him. After successfully extinguishing the flames, Kitsu managed to preserve Matsu Morozane's life, though he remained severely injured. The engagement concluded with an avalanche that split the forces, leading to considerable losses for the Unicorn Clan and securing a tactical victory for the Lion Clan Clan, with Kitsu Somalia's leadership playing a pivotal role in maintaining their hold on the Central Hill.
Worn after returning from a night at the Central Hill with Akodo Toronoko, Kitsu was considered a potential healer for the severely injured Matsu Morozane in the chaotic Healer’s Tent. Her magical abilities were acknowledged as crucial in council meetings for holding positions against the enemy. Despite challenging weather and enemy actions, she remained committed to supporting the Lion Clan Clan forces, demonstrating her determination to defend their position. Her magical prowess garnered recognition from her peers, who relied on her capabilities during critical moments in the conflict.
On a cold morning, Kitsu Somalia summoned warmth from Tengoku, helping to comfort and calm the Lion Clan Clan. As the Unicorn Clan advanced, she consulted the kami to detect enemy shugenja and their protective talismans, confirming the advantages held by the enemy. When the Unicorn Clan attempted to flank the Lion Clan Clan, Somalia argued for decisive action rather than waiting for reinforcements.
During the battle, Kitsu Somalia aimed to create a wall of fire to disrupt enemy movement but instead instilled panic among the Unicorn Clan forces. She cast "Fires from Within" at enemy commanders, successfully burning Shinjo Kamo, while her attack on Iuchi Gero was less effective due to the latter's talismans. At a critical moment, she supported Kitsu Yui, who was surrounded, by using her fire spells to clear a path and protect her comrade.
After the confrontation, Somalia communed with ancestor spirits to understand their motivations for intervening in the conflict. She articulated their assistance as a shared honor between the living and the dead, easing concerns about Kitsu Yui's newfound abilities. Later, she invoked Tengoku again to boost the morale of the Lion Clan Clan, calming the spirits and reducing panic in the camp. Kitsu Somalia also obtained a black talisman from Iuchi Gero, sensing a bound spirit within it, which she planned to study for further intelligence on the Unicorn Clan.
Severely wounded but alive during a critical battle, Kitsu Somalia nearly succumbed to his injuries after being rescued from the snow by Kitsu Yui, who dragged him to safety. Despite his injuries, he recognized a female voice linked to his would-be killer, indicating prior knowledge of her, as she had patched him up before. He possessed vital information about a spy, claiming to be the only one who knew this individual's identity.
The objective of the battle was to seize the banner of the enemy commander, Shinjo Kamo, attached to his horse. While Kitsu Somalia's specific involvement is not detailed, the context suggests he is part of a strategic effort against the opposing forces. As the battle unfolds, Doji Setsuna successfully captures the banner using soldiers and tactics, which leads to a potential rout of the enemy due to their low morale and panic.
The arrival of imperial heralds signals the end of the fighting, confirming that Kitsu Somalia survives the attack despite the severity of his wounds. His situation reflects the high stakes of the battle and the interconnection of personal and military objectives.
Kitsu Somalia is also a Lion Clan Clan ancestor known for discovering the technique to summon Lion Clan Clan ancestors in battle and for founding Kitsu teaching. Historical records about Kitsu Somalia mention a difficult mountain trek and secrets found, omitting details of the Battle of the Snow Plain and any Diamond Mines. In discussions about the Battle of the Snow Plain, Kitsu Somalia's contributions are noted, though fragmented historical accounts from other Lion Clan Clan figures tend to overshadow them. The limited records regarding the battle and Diamond Mines raise questions about the attribution of the ancestor-summoning technique to Somalia instead of Kitsu Yui, who is also recognized for significant spiritual discoveries. This omission reflects the complexities surrounding the historical documentation of the Lion Clan Clan's past and the dynamics of honor and legacy among its members.
Kitsu Somalia's writings and discussions on ancestral summoning attract significant interest within the clan, as they offer insights into Kitsu practices. His work is referenced in discussions about potential forgeries that could implicate Scorpion Clan intervention in historical events. Soshi Imako, a Scorpion Clan forger, seeks samples of Kitsu Somalia's handwriting, indicating that their knowledge and style could be utilized for deception. This interaction underscores Kitsu Somalia's role as a vital source of knowledge influencing the political dynamics between clans and shaping discussions on clan relations and historical truths.