Marrow-Gnawer

Marrow-Gnawer was a leader of a large gang of nezumi in the city of Numai. He was strong, cunning, and overall exceptional for a nezumi. It is told that he slew three leaders of three separate gangs in one night and united them into one.

Marrow-Gnawer was contacted by soratami, who wanted to infiltrate the Numai's underground society. The parley was, however, disrupted by Toshiro Umezawa, and the nezumi fled wounded.

After Toshi's return, Marrow-Gnawer was brought in front of Uramon beaten and tortured, in order to give a testimony about his dealing with soratami. When Toshi escaped with the help of the Myojin of Night's Reach's blessings, Marrow-Gnawer and Kiku were sent to bring him back. However, Toshi tricked Kiku and Marrow-Gnawer into joining the Hyozan Reckoners gang by exposing them to a lethal danger in the form of the yuki-onna. Bound by the hyozan oath, neither Marrow-Gnawer nor Kiku could hurt Toshi and were compelled to help him. They did so when they helped Toshi to neutralize Uramon and steal her Shadow Gate by faking his capture and then turning against Uramon when unexpected.

Toshi then left to pursue his own goals, and when he returned once more he demanded the hyozan help for the last time. He collected Marrow-Gnawer and Kiku and brought them to Minamo. Mistakenly assuming the hyozan oath was broken, he launched himself at the attacking Hidetsugu and stabbed one of his eyes. By doing that, he saved Kiku and Toshi, but invoked the hyozan curse upon himself. Grieved, Toshi granted Marrow-Gnawer a last mercy of ending his suffering with his sword.