- Location
- Leeds
Is this order looking for Tetsubos by any chance?
Burden of the Emerald Empire (A Legend of the Five Rings Tale)
- Thread starter gman391
- Start date
- Fantasy
Is this order looking for Tetsubos by any chance?
Should Hisao order it sure.
- Location
- Canada
[x] Plan Squid
Year 3: Prowling Lions
-Summary of Imperial Arbitration
Year 3 of your reign. 16th day of the Month of the Hare
While not everyone was truly happy over the outcome of your arbitration, in general, it was something everyone could live with. Which you suppose meant that it was a success after a fashion.
The early spring wind is still bitterly cold as you make the long ride towards the capital again. You opted to ride your horse today instead of being carried by a palanquin, whether your legs will be cursing you for that, remains yet to be seen.
However, you wanted to make sure you were able to see the rest of your party. Horiuchi Shem-Zhe was pensive as he rode beside you. Obviously the Great Ride of Vengeance, as it was becoming known weighed heavily on him. While there was indeed a deep infiltration of Goju in the Utaku lands, an infiltration that Moto Chagatai had burned out root and branch, the devastation left behind had scarred the land. The Utaku themselves were only barely restrained from the homicidal fury that had marked the Moto, if not for your will, you suspect that you would be hearing that they had assaulted Medinat al Salaam all by themselves. Shem-Zhe had done his part and then some. But you suspect that the burning of so many had marked him in a way that he had never looked for.
Still, your champion managed to put on a brave face, you've made a note to have him have a good vacation when you can. Although perhaps this slow ride back home will manage it? At the very least it's been pleasant riding through the lands and seeing all the new things that you had ordered built...
Huh?
You're snapped from your reverie as a small contingent of riders bearing the mons of the Lion and the Ikoma. You'd pass by Kyuden Ikoma days ago. Admittedly the Ikoma daimyo wasn't in residence, but you hadn't really paid that any mind at the time. Ikoma Korin was known for being somewhat eccentric and preferring the City of Rich Frog. (Which you had studiously avoided on advice from Akane and Kotaro)
You hold a hand up to stop the Seppun from charging forth to protect you. Their shame over your near death had filled them with a seemingly fanatical desire to die for you. However, that wasn't what you needed from them.
The Ikoma party comes to a stop and kow tows to you. One of them holds a tessen in his hand...wait is that the badge of the Daimyo?
"Rise" You call.
They do and the man holding a tessen reveals himself to you
Ikoma Korin, daimyo of the Ikoma, governor of Kyuden Ikoma and the city of Rich Frog. What on earth is he doing here.
"My Emperor, please forgive us for interrupting your journey." he says.
You don't think he's slept in days.
"Ikoma-san, I was given to understand that you were in your favoured city?"
Korin looks uncomfortable.
"I was last that I sent word to Kyuden Ikoma, I have been on the move since the message birds and spells began to fly. With word of Ikoma-ue's death."
You frown, the aftermath of that, did bother you. Most of Ikoma Otemi's nominal guards had opted for seppukku rather than live with the shame of failing their lord. With only the senior most Samurai along with the priests and a few courtiers living to journey home.
"I see...Otomo-san is there word of a new regent?" You ask to your side.
Kotaro shakes his head.
"No my Emperor, although the expectation is that Matsu Kenji will take over in stead of her former commander"
The Ikoma Daimyo looks away.
"In a good world that would be what happened...but Matsu Kenji has refused, she believes her place is at the front line of the next war. Indeed she has stepped down as Champion, her daughter Matsu Chizuki-san is to take over in a few years. Leaving Matsu Michi, her father, as regent for now."
Matsu Kenji, Paragon of Bushido, had made a choice not to serve. It was an honourable choice, to not feel that she was worthy to lead, and indeed accept that she had done all she could in her station and move on, that was beyond question. It was however still not what you expected.
Akane's eyes narrow as she seems to work out something in her head.
"Then who is currently leading the Lion for me Ikoma-san."
"...My Emperor, no one."
Distantly a part of you wonders if there will ever be a day when someone comes to see you for good things. That part is reminded of Kaname and shuts up.
"Explain?"
"Although he is but a year out from his gempukku most feel that Matsu Yoshino is not yet ready to lead. That said, there is no one of sufficient rank and will to become his regent. Both the Kitsu and Akodo daimyo argue that it is time for the Championship of the Lion to return to the Akodo once again. The Matsu disagree for obvious reasons. However, lacking a strong regent of their own, it has become something of a show down. The Matsu are unwilling to accept the Akodo and Kitsu candidates for regency, and so are they."
"And the Ikoma?"
"My Emperor the Ikoma wish to keep this from erupting into war. Thus we have positioned ourselves as neutral, but will come to the aid of whoever is attacked."
"It doesn't make sense, the Kitsu and Matsu have been closer than kin for generations." Kotaro mutters to himself.
Korin nods before shrugging a little.
"Hai, Otomo-sama, I do not know for sure what set Kitsu Katsuko against Yoshino, but something did."
"What would you have me do Ikoma-san?"
"I know we have no right to ask this of you Emperor, but I would ask you to choose a side and lend your support." Korin says.
On some level you expected that. It did not make it any easier to deal with, the Lion were perhaps your strongest force, that they would be now in disarray would make everything you meant to do to strengthen the realm even harder.
However, you do have a dearth of information....although granted you could probably badger more out of Korin, he himself doesn't seem to know more.
With that in mind you will
[] Support Akodo Shigetoshi in taking the championship
[] Arrange for a regent for Matsu Yoshino to take the Championship
[] Summon the leaders of both factions to Toshi Ranbo and hash this out in person
[] Write in
The Crab have gained virtually everything they wanted, but have been forced to pay a heavy price in manpower and resources because of this. The loss of Kisada to you is ill liked, but accepted as your due.
Opinion change: +15-5-5=+5
(+15 for Yasuki lands)
(-5 for increased tithes of men and material)
(-5 for Kisada leaving their lands)
The Crane have lost their claim and with it the war. However, granting Domotai the rare honour of being permitted to carry her blade in your presence, along with a jewelled champions ship (Amethyst as it happens) Have combined with marrying several prominent Crane Courtiers to the Otomo and granting them prestigious posts in the Imperial Bureaucracy to mitigate the worst of the damage.
Opinion Change: -15+5+5=-5, no Daidoji revolt
(-15 for Yasuki lands)
(+5 for Domotai praise)
(+5 for Position)
The Scorpion have not gained anything, but they have lost comparatively little for that and gained what they went to war for in the first place. They are currently pondering their next move.
Opinion Change: +10-5-5=0
(+10 for Kisada removal)
(-5 for guilt admission)
(-5 for medicinal tribute)
Opinion change: +15-5-5=+5
(+15 for Yasuki lands)
(-5 for increased tithes of men and material)
(-5 for Kisada leaving their lands)
The Crane have lost their claim and with it the war. However, granting Domotai the rare honour of being permitted to carry her blade in your presence, along with a jewelled champions ship (Amethyst as it happens) Have combined with marrying several prominent Crane Courtiers to the Otomo and granting them prestigious posts in the Imperial Bureaucracy to mitigate the worst of the damage.
Opinion Change: -15+5+5=-5, no Daidoji revolt
(-15 for Yasuki lands)
(+5 for Domotai praise)
(+5 for Position)
The Scorpion have not gained anything, but they have lost comparatively little for that and gained what they went to war for in the first place. They are currently pondering their next move.
Opinion Change: +10-5-5=0
(+10 for Kisada removal)
(-5 for guilt admission)
(-5 for medicinal tribute)
While not everyone was truly happy over the outcome of your arbitration, in general, it was something everyone could live with. Which you suppose meant that it was a success after a fashion.
The early spring wind is still bitterly cold as you make the long ride towards the capital again. You opted to ride your horse today instead of being carried by a palanquin, whether your legs will be cursing you for that, remains yet to be seen.
However, you wanted to make sure you were able to see the rest of your party. Horiuchi Shem-Zhe was pensive as he rode beside you. Obviously the Great Ride of Vengeance, as it was becoming known weighed heavily on him. While there was indeed a deep infiltration of Goju in the Utaku lands, an infiltration that Moto Chagatai had burned out root and branch, the devastation left behind had scarred the land. The Utaku themselves were only barely restrained from the homicidal fury that had marked the Moto, if not for your will, you suspect that you would be hearing that they had assaulted Medinat al Salaam all by themselves. Shem-Zhe had done his part and then some. But you suspect that the burning of so many had marked him in a way that he had never looked for.
Still, your champion managed to put on a brave face, you've made a note to have him have a good vacation when you can. Although perhaps this slow ride back home will manage it? At the very least it's been pleasant riding through the lands and seeing all the new things that you had ordered built...
Huh?
You're snapped from your reverie as a small contingent of riders bearing the mons of the Lion and the Ikoma. You'd pass by Kyuden Ikoma days ago. Admittedly the Ikoma daimyo wasn't in residence, but you hadn't really paid that any mind at the time. Ikoma Korin was known for being somewhat eccentric and preferring the City of Rich Frog. (Which you had studiously avoided on advice from Akane and Kotaro)
You hold a hand up to stop the Seppun from charging forth to protect you. Their shame over your near death had filled them with a seemingly fanatical desire to die for you. However, that wasn't what you needed from them.
The Ikoma party comes to a stop and kow tows to you. One of them holds a tessen in his hand...wait is that the badge of the Daimyo?
"Rise" You call.
They do and the man holding a tessen reveals himself to you
Ikoma Korin, daimyo of the Ikoma, governor of Kyuden Ikoma and the city of Rich Frog. What on earth is he doing here.
"My Emperor, please forgive us for interrupting your journey." he says.
You don't think he's slept in days.
"Ikoma-san, I was given to understand that you were in your favoured city?"
Korin looks uncomfortable.
"I was last that I sent word to Kyuden Ikoma, I have been on the move since the message birds and spells began to fly. With word of Ikoma-ue's death."
You frown, the aftermath of that, did bother you. Most of Ikoma Otemi's nominal guards had opted for seppukku rather than live with the shame of failing their lord. With only the senior most Samurai along with the priests and a few courtiers living to journey home.
"I see...Otomo-san is there word of a new regent?" You ask to your side.
Kotaro shakes his head.
"No my Emperor, although the expectation is that Matsu Kenji will take over in stead of her former commander"
The Ikoma Daimyo looks away.
"In a good world that would be what happened...but Matsu Kenji has refused, she believes her place is at the front line of the next war. Indeed she has stepped down as Champion, her daughter Matsu Chizuki-san is to take over in a few years. Leaving Matsu Michi, her father, as regent for now."
Matsu Kenji, Paragon of Bushido, had made a choice not to serve. It was an honourable choice, to not feel that she was worthy to lead, and indeed accept that she had done all she could in her station and move on, that was beyond question. It was however still not what you expected.
Akane's eyes narrow as she seems to work out something in her head.
"Then who is currently leading the Lion for me Ikoma-san."
"...My Emperor, no one."
Distantly a part of you wonders if there will ever be a day when someone comes to see you for good things. That part is reminded of Kaname and shuts up.
"Explain?"
"Although he is but a year out from his gempukku most feel that Matsu Yoshino is not yet ready to lead. That said, there is no one of sufficient rank and will to become his regent. Both the Kitsu and Akodo daimyo argue that it is time for the Championship of the Lion to return to the Akodo once again. The Matsu disagree for obvious reasons. However, lacking a strong regent of their own, it has become something of a show down. The Matsu are unwilling to accept the Akodo and Kitsu candidates for regency, and so are they."
"And the Ikoma?"
"My Emperor the Ikoma wish to keep this from erupting into war. Thus we have positioned ourselves as neutral, but will come to the aid of whoever is attacked."
"It doesn't make sense, the Kitsu and Matsu have been closer than kin for generations." Kotaro mutters to himself.
Korin nods before shrugging a little.
"Hai, Otomo-sama, I do not know for sure what set Kitsu Katsuko against Yoshino, but something did."
"What would you have me do Ikoma-san?"
"I know we have no right to ask this of you Emperor, but I would ask you to choose a side and lend your support." Korin says.
On some level you expected that. It did not make it any easier to deal with, the Lion were perhaps your strongest force, that they would be now in disarray would make everything you meant to do to strengthen the realm even harder.
However, you do have a dearth of information....although granted you could probably badger more out of Korin, he himself doesn't seem to know more.
With that in mind you will
[] Support Akodo Shigetoshi in taking the championship
[] Arrange for a regent for Matsu Yoshino to take the Championship
[] Summon the leaders of both factions to Toshi Ranbo and hash this out in person
[] Write in
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- Location
- USA
[X] Summon the leaders of both factions to Toshi Ranbo and hash this out in person
Though I do like Shigetoshi personally, he is a reasonable man and knows how to work well with others (he and Chen got along quite well as Clan Champions).
Though I do like Shigetoshi personally, he is a reasonable man and knows how to work well with others (he and Chen got along quite well as Clan Champions).
keenscythe
No longer NEET
- Location
- WA, USA
[X] Summon the leaders of both factions to Toshi Ranbo and hash this out in person
Can someone with a canon understanding of the claimants to the Lion Championship fill the rest of us in on their quirks and personalities?
@gman391 What does Hisao know about Akodo Shigetoshi and Matsu Yoshino? Any particular reason aside from politics and tribalism why the other side has such great beef with them (I.E Great feuds, screw-ups, used the wrong silverware in public?)
Can someone with a canon understanding of the claimants to the Lion Championship fill the rest of us in on their quirks and personalities?
@gman391 What does Hisao know about Akodo Shigetoshi and Matsu Yoshino? Any particular reason aside from politics and tribalism why the other side has such great beef with them (I.E Great feuds, screw-ups, used the wrong silverware in public?)
Akodo Shigetoshi is acclaimed as a skilled general and warrior. Perhaps the greatest of his year. He competed in the Emerald Championship and did well enough although he didn't make it that far. Considered almost a prototypical Akodo, Shigetoshi can be relied on to be calm, rational, and utterly dedicated to whatever duty he takes up.
Matsu Yoshino is as of yet an unknown on the field of battle, although his sensei and class mates all consider him something of a prodigy. In spite of that, or maybe because of it. He is known to be a bit impulsive, and temperamental. In short he is a Matsu's Matsu. Skilled warrior, proud, and honourable.
The two are not actually enemies but there is a distinct divide between the Akodo and Matsu visions of what the Lion Clan should be. The Akodo and their oft allies Ikoma tend to be more liberal in their outlooks while the Matsu and the Kitsu tend towards a more conservative view of things. They both love their Clan, and the Empire, they just happen to stridently disagree on how to show that love.
(Politically, this ties into the Akodo exile, and the general clusterfuck that has been the Lion Clan Championship for the last 60 years)
- Location
- Virginia
[X] Summon the leaders of both factions to Toshi Ranbo and hash this out in person
Sirrocco
Pedantic
As an add-on to that...
The political clusterfuck started out when the then-current Lion Clan Champion tried to restore order after the Scorpion Coup by taking the seemingly empty throne himself. Unfortunately for him (and, incidentally, everyone else) the dead emperor had a living heir who cam back, cast said champion from the throne, stripped him of all honors, and drove him out as a Ronin, then poured absurd amounts of salt in the wound by awarding the position of Clan Champion to the Matsu and declaring that the Akodo no longer existed as a family, breaking a chain of Akodo champions reaching back to the beginning of the Empire. (The remaining Akodo were largely absorbed by the Matsu)
The Emperor turned out to be Fu Leng come again, and the ex-Lion Champion regained his honor and drew together an army of ronin to oppose him, while the Lion themselves were pretty much running around settling old grudges and getting into a vicious little civil war once he Emperor's corruption was made clear, over whether they served Emperor or Empire. During the Day of Thunder, the Ronin in question managed to break the Lion out of their internal squabbles (shortly after the interim Lion Clan Champion chose to commit seppuku with him standing as second), redeem the lot of them, and lead them in glorious charge against the corrupted Emperor.
...and that would have been a *fantastic* time for him to step back in as Lion Clan Champion and bring it back to the Akodo except that that man was *Akodo Toturi*, ie Toturi the 1st, and got made Emperor instead. So it wandered back and forth a bit, going to an Ikoma, followed by a Kitsu, followed by a Matsu, followed by the egg-of-P'an-Ku clone fo that Matsu, followed by an ikoma regency of that Matsu's kid at the behest of the mother of that Matsu.
So... there was a whole bunch of churn, and Matsu-Mom is trying to turn that churn into a Matsu Dynasty, while the Akodo (who got their family recreated in the process of defeating the Nothing) woudl kind of like the Championship back. If the Matsu get it, they're likely to lock it down fairly effectively for the forseeable future. If the Akodo get it back... well, they're in a much stronger position for eventually reclaiming it themselves. The Matsu precedent is more recent, but the Akodo precedent has a *lot* more history behind it. Also, there are those who will expect us to be somewhat biased towards the Akodo, and, realistically, we might *prefer* the Akodo, all things considered. They're more General/Tactician and less Raging Berserker, and their Honor tends to have a bit more thought behind it. Matsu honor tends to be *very* fast-twitch.
Worth noting that the Kitsu shugenja family is all about bloodlines and calling up the honored ancestors for advice and assistance. There's a good chance that the whole "let's put things back in the hands of the Akodo" is part of that, even though the Matsu tendency to fall back on tradition sets them as allies more often.
That said....
[X] Summon the leaders of both factions to Toshi Ranbo and hash this out in person
We make it clear we're giving this our full attention (which it deserves), and we get some more info out of the deal.
The political clusterfuck started out when the then-current Lion Clan Champion tried to restore order after the Scorpion Coup by taking the seemingly empty throne himself. Unfortunately for him (and, incidentally, everyone else) the dead emperor had a living heir who cam back, cast said champion from the throne, stripped him of all honors, and drove him out as a Ronin, then poured absurd amounts of salt in the wound by awarding the position of Clan Champion to the Matsu and declaring that the Akodo no longer existed as a family, breaking a chain of Akodo champions reaching back to the beginning of the Empire. (The remaining Akodo were largely absorbed by the Matsu)
The Emperor turned out to be Fu Leng come again, and the ex-Lion Champion regained his honor and drew together an army of ronin to oppose him, while the Lion themselves were pretty much running around settling old grudges and getting into a vicious little civil war once he Emperor's corruption was made clear, over whether they served Emperor or Empire. During the Day of Thunder, the Ronin in question managed to break the Lion out of their internal squabbles (shortly after the interim Lion Clan Champion chose to commit seppuku with him standing as second), redeem the lot of them, and lead them in glorious charge against the corrupted Emperor.
...and that would have been a *fantastic* time for him to step back in as Lion Clan Champion and bring it back to the Akodo except that that man was *Akodo Toturi*, ie Toturi the 1st, and got made Emperor instead. So it wandered back and forth a bit, going to an Ikoma, followed by a Kitsu, followed by a Matsu, followed by the egg-of-P'an-Ku clone fo that Matsu, followed by an ikoma regency of that Matsu's kid at the behest of the mother of that Matsu.
So... there was a whole bunch of churn, and Matsu-Mom is trying to turn that churn into a Matsu Dynasty, while the Akodo (who got their family recreated in the process of defeating the Nothing) woudl kind of like the Championship back. If the Matsu get it, they're likely to lock it down fairly effectively for the forseeable future. If the Akodo get it back... well, they're in a much stronger position for eventually reclaiming it themselves. The Matsu precedent is more recent, but the Akodo precedent has a *lot* more history behind it. Also, there are those who will expect us to be somewhat biased towards the Akodo, and, realistically, we might *prefer* the Akodo, all things considered. They're more General/Tactician and less Raging Berserker, and their Honor tends to have a bit more thought behind it. Matsu honor tends to be *very* fast-twitch.
Worth noting that the Kitsu shugenja family is all about bloodlines and calling up the honored ancestors for advice and assistance. There's a good chance that the whole "let's put things back in the hands of the Akodo" is part of that, even though the Matsu tendency to fall back on tradition sets them as allies more often.
That said....
[X] Summon the leaders of both factions to Toshi Ranbo and hash this out in person
We make it clear we're giving this our full attention (which it deserves), and we get some more info out of the deal.
- Location
- USA
Also of note Akodo is the Lion Kami so there is that, and given that all other Clans except the Unicorn have the Champion be the Damiyo of the family named for the Kami and even the Unicorn is a recent thing from the Kami Shinjo returning and exposing many of the Shinjo as Kolat.
- Location
- Leeds
Well now we know how the situation was misread. It's better than I was afraid.
[?]Tell them to sort it out in a duel.
You can't just say things like that and not elaborate.
[?]Tell them to sort it out in a duel.
- Location
- Should be a bit higher
[X] Summon the leaders of both factions to Toshi Ranbo and hash this out in person
Dammit Lion Clan!
Dammit Lion Clan!
- Location
- Canada
[X] Summon the leaders of both factions to Toshi Ranbo and hash this out in person
Sirrocco
Pedantic
I can. I really, really can. I promise I can.
P'an Ku is a Dragon, obsessed with riddles and games - silly, funny, wise, and most assuredly crazy. Every once in a while, the creature becomes lucid enough to realize that it is crazy, and in those times, it seeks to *understand*, in the hopes of breaking out of its cycle of madness. Unfortunately(?), it tries to do this through the act of Creation, for in knowing Creation, one may know all things.
The things it creates are known as Eggs of P'an Ku - or "the Egg of P'an Ku" when they thought the bloody things were unique. If you use the egg on someone, it will turn into another person who is very much like them. Same appearance and physical abilities, but mentally twisted in some way - sometimes more, sometimes less. If that person is slain, the egg is done. A sufficiently powerful shugenja *can* turn the person back into an egg, however.
Matsu Nimuro (the Matsu in question) got ahold of the egg, and thought it would be a grand idea to try it out, creating a copy of *himself*. It did not go well. The copy managed to convince the other Lion nearby that he was the original and that the Egg had been a mistake, and that the real Nimuro should be secured and prevented from leaving, then ran off to play Lion Clan Champion for a while. It worked out... okay, for a while. The fake Nimuro eventually managed to die gloriously in battle by, essentially, running out ahead of his army far enough that he was taking on the entire enemy army by himself. By the time Nimuro managed to get out of his imprisonment, he concluded that he'd besmirched his honor entirely too much to be the Lion Clan Champion anymore, named himself Tamago (the name he'd given the Egg-clone) and went on to be a well-respected Ronin, gethering together a pretty large band of other honorable Ronin.
I can stop any time I like. I swear!
- Location
- Leeds
Ah L5R. Who thought using card game tournaments to decide the story was a good idea?
The original makers of the game: John Zinser, Dave Seay, Dave Williams, and John Wick. Or at least that'd be my guess.
- Location
- Leeds
Shut up smart arse.
- Location
- Quezon City, Philippines
No... please no...
...
*deep breaths*
The GMs can do no wrong. L5R Story team fucked up first. Canon can suck it.
Uh while the Lion Clan Championship is politically fucked up. I wasn't quite planning to use the whole 'I made a clone of myself in defiance of common sense and proceeded to have no plans for my clone replacing me' version of events for what happened to Nimuro. Overall, I try not to go all 'fix fic' for canon although at this point you can hardly do worse than Iweko did by now.No... please no...
...
*deep breaths*
The GMs can do no wrong. L5R Story team fucked up first. Canon can suck it.
That said, I do employ fairly liberal versions of the butterfly effect (As evidenced by Yoshino still being too young to inherit)
With Naseru being more competent and having an actual heir. The butteflies from that are that Naseru's canon wife is around to do more things in the Lion.
Meta. Nimuro didn't make a clone of himself, not intentionally. However Matsu Turi the Dark Oracle of Water did, and Nimuro and his clone confronted each other in the Kitsu Tombs, and no one in universe is too sure who walked out. However, Nimuro did step down as a Lion, becoming a ronin so he could hunt down Turi once and for all and kill him. Whether he succeeded or not? Well, the Legion of Two Thousand got very good, and Tamago refuses to explain what happened to his arm.
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al103
Grumpy Russian Bear (SV edition)
- Location
- Russia, Krasnoyarsk
It was. Then developers decided that, no, they grimderp overtures are better and fuck players that explicitely playing to NOT be so and winning.