Blood and Steel (L5R 4e Quest)

[Kiriel]

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One year ago, the children of Toturi I, the Four Winds, led their armies against the Dark Lord of the Shadowlands. The Four Winds managed to defeat the Master of Jigoku in his temple, though at the cost of Toturi Tsudao's life. After their return to the imperial capital, Akodo Kaneka and Toturi Sezaru abdicated their claims to the Imperial Throne, leaving Hantei Naseru to become Toturi III, Emperor of Rokugan.

It is now the year 1161 of the Isawa Calendar. Peace has settled in the land in the wake of the Emperor's ascension. Extant conflicts were summarily put on hold, with the battlefields shifting to the courts. Rokugan has once again begun rebuilding. Yet in the middle of it all, the enemies of the Empire stalk in the shadow, waiting for the time to strike.
In this uncertain times, will you rise to prominence, earning honor and glory? Will you remain as you are, content in your place in the celestial order? Or perhaps, will your story prematurely end with an ignoble death?

GM Notes
Hallo everyone. Running an L5R campaign in real life as well as participation/reading/reminiscing of L5R quests here on the forum gave me the urge to run a quest. After waffling about for some time, I decided to run my first quest here on SV. I will state right now that I'm doing my thesis, intend to graduate in a few months, and enroll in law school. My schedule may suddenly change, and this quest my priority.

That being said, I intend for this quest to last from 1161 up until 1165 in quest time. I have no problems with people utilizing knowledge of the setting and of the metaplot, but I will throw curveballs. Expect changes, both short-term and long-term, due to character actions, voter choices, NPC agendas, and GM influences.

I'm also using this quest as a testbed for some of the houserules I will be implementing for my future L5R games. If changes are necessary in the midst of the quest, I will inform the thread beforehand. If any of my changes does something really, really bad, please inform me so it can be addressed. Which reminds me, if I make any mistakes, please inform me. This is my first quest, I'm bound to make errors.

Lastly, I'd like to credit @Hello, @Maugan Ra, @Winged Knight, and @storybookknight for their L5R quests which has served as my inspiration for doing this.

Now, on to voting.

Which Clan do you hail from?


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[] Crab: We fight and bleed and die every day so that the Empire might live. Never forget that it is the Crab who holds the line atop the Kaiu Wall against the Shadowland hordes! The very forces of Hell itself quail before our blades! All of you are nothing but children, playing at war as if you understood true sacrifice. You would all be dead, save that we are here!


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[] Crane: Elegance and grace is the measure of worth in all things, and all know the Crane are the most graceful of all. In courtly politics and in duels, the Crane always stands supreme. Let others scream and rage how they will; it will not change that fact. But if you desire to challenge us, then we will happily dance past your corpses along the battlefield.


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[] Dragon: Where others can only perceive the leaves upon a single tree, the Dragon observe the entire forest. We stand apart so that we may see all. Through this we have gained wisdom, and we share it freely. Others may take our isolation as weakness, but if you push us we will quickly show you the error of your ways. Pray that we are never taken so far.


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[] Lion: Only the Lion uphold all tenets of Bushido in equal measure, and thus do we have the moral purity to match our martial supremacy. We roar loudest, for in our hearts we hold the greatest virtue! All know and fear the might of the Lion, for they know that none can oppose us should we take the field of battle. Respect that strength, lest we come for you!



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[] Mantis: We became a Great Clan by our own strength, and we will be acknowledged! None know the seas like the Mantis, and none know the world beyond Rokugan as we do. From our hands come treasures unheard of, and with our ships we will defend the Empire from all who would threaten it. And if others call us arrogant, we laugh! To the bold go the greatest rewards!


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[] Phoenix: It is not the sword, but knowledge that is the path to true power. And who can claim greater knowledge than the Phoenix? None! Our spells and teachings turned the tide during the Day of Thunder, and they will protect the Empire for a thousand years! Through us the power of the kami is made manifest! Tremble before their might!


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[] Scorpion: The truth is that Bushido is nothing but pretty words, useful only for manipulation. The Scorpion walk in the shadows, defending the Empire from threats unseen even while the rest of Rokugan reviles us. There is no act too horrible, no tradition too sacred, that will keep us from our duty. Remember there is but one truth. Loyalty is all that matters.


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[] Unicorn: We traveled beyond the lands of the Emerald Empire for seven hundred years so that we might see what enemies lie beyond our gates. But now the Unicorn have returned, and we will have our birthright! We know what others call us. Gaijin, and even worse. But we are as Rokugani as the rest of you, and we will have the respect we are due!

 

[Kiriel]

Name:
Schools: Ide Emissary
Insight Rank: 1
Insight: 134
Honour: 5.5
Glory: 1.0
Status: 1.0

Void Points: 2/2
Luck Points: 2/2

Current XP:

Rings

Air 2	Water 2	Earth 2	Fire 2	Void 2
Awareness 3	Perception 2	Willpower 2	Intelligence 3
Reflexes 2	Strength 2	Stamina 2	Agility 2

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Skills
High Skills

Spoiler

Name	Rank	Emphases	Mastery
Calligraphy	1
Courtier	3		Rank 3: The character gains an additional +3 Insight above the total normally indicated by his Rings and Skill Ranks.
Etiquette	3	Conversation	Rank 3: The characters gain an additional +3 Insight above the total normally indicated by his Rings and Skill Ranks.
Games: Go	1
Games: Kemari	1
Games: Letters	1
Investigation	3		Rank 3: A second attempt to use the Search Emphasis may be made without an increase in the original TN.
Lore: Bushido	1
Lore: Heraldry	1
Lore: Unicorn Clan	1
Perform: Poetry	1
Sincerity	1	Honesty

Bugei Skills

Spoiler

Name	Rank	Emphases	Mastery
Athletics	1
Defense	2
Horsemanship	1
Iaijutsu	3		Rank 3: Readying a katana is a Free Action rather than a Simple Action.
Hunting	1
Kenjutsu	2

Merchant Skills

Spoiler

Name	Rank	Emphases	Mastery
Commerce	1

Low Skills

Spoiler

N/A

School Techniques and Katas

Spoiler

Rank 1: The Heart Speaks
The Ide are taught to adapt instantly to new customs and social nuances, allowing them to avoid giving offense in even the most dangerous and hostile of courts. Also, since they must often deal with foreigners who might react poorly to lies or manipulation, they are taught to employ honesty and direct speech whenever possible. In any situation in which you might inadvertently give offense, whether through accident or ignorance (such as being unware of a daimyo's hostility to a particular subject of conversation), you may roll Etiquette (Courtesy) / Awareness at TN 20 to avoid doing so. You gain a Free Raise when rolling Sincerity (Honest), but any time you roll Sincerity (Deceit), your TN is increased by +5.

Advantages

Spoiler

Absolute Direction [Mental]
You possess an almost supernatural sense of direction, and you always know what direction is north, no matter the circumstances. This ability does not function if you are more than one day's travel inside the Shadowlands.

Benten's Blessing [Spiritual]
One of the Seven Fortunes, the most powerful of all the Fortunes, have taken notice of you and showered you with his or her blessings. These can be powerful bonuses, but sometimes come with expectations. The Fortunes are both fickle and wrathful, after all.
The Fortune of Romantic Love has showered you with her blessings. Whenever you are attempting to persuade someone, regardless of the circumstances, you gain a bonus of +0k1 to the total of the Social Skill Roll in question. This bonus only applies to persuasion, not coercion.

Luck [Spiritual]
Fortune favors the mortal man. You have two Luck Points which can be used to re-roll any one roll. The Luck Points are refreshed after every ten story posts.

Sage [Mental]
You have a love of learning, and have accumulated a staggering amount of information during the course of your lifetime. Whenever you would be forced to make an Unskilled Roll when using a Lore Skill, you instead are considered to have 1 rank in that Skill.

Disadvantages

Spoiler

???

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Combat Stats

Initiative:
Attack:
Armour TN:

Wounds

Rank	Wounds	Taken
Healthy (+0)	10
Nicked (+3)	4
Grazed (+5)	4
Hurt (+10)	4
Injured (+15)	4
Crippled (+20)	4
Down (+40)	4
Out (Dying)	10

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Inventory

Travel Papers

 

[Kiriel]

Reserved for NPCs

 

[Kiriel]

Timeline and History

1160

Spoiler: 1160

Month of the Horse

• The Four Winds march on the City of the Lost. Daigotsu and Toturi Tsudao kill each other in combat.
• Dowager Empress Toturi Kaede names Hantei Naseru Emperor after Akodo Kaneka and Toturi Sezaru abandon their claims to the throne. Naseru becomes Toturi III.

Month of the Goat

• Akodo Kaneka joined the Lion Clan in honor of his father.
• Toturi Sezaru has sworn himself to the Phoenix Clan, taking the name of Isawa.

Month of the Monkey

• Conversion of Toshi Ranbo wo Shien Shite Reigisaho to the Imperial City is completed.
• The Tortoise Clan are given the custody of the Ruins of Otosan Uchi by Imperial Decree.
• The Mantis Civil War ends with Yoritomo Kumiko's victory over Yoritomo Kitao. Kumiko is acknowledged by the Emperor as Mantis Clan Champion.

Month of the Rat

• The Imperial Winter Court is held in Toshi Ranbo
• The Last Ki-rin was seen in the Great Wall of the North.
• Agents of the Bloodspeaker Cult have been seen in Phoenix Lands.
• Former Daimyo Iuchi Yue was last seen in Phoenix Lands.

Month of the Tiger

• The War of Fire and Snow ended with the revelation of the Dark Oracle of Fire in conjunction with the Emperor's proclamation for peace. Settlements for peace were conducted in Pale Oak Castle.
• Disciples of the Mad Monk Kokujin infiltrated Suigeki Toshi, intent on stealing the Water Anvil. The attack was repelled, but the founder of the city and head monk Haru, is killed. The Mantis have sworn vengeance against Kokujin.

House Rules
Refer to this google docs for summary of mechanics changes to the system.

 

[Kanata.EXE]

[x] Crane: Elegance and grace is the measure of worth in all things, and all know the Crane are the most graceful of all. In courtly politics and in duels, the Crane always stands supreme. Let others scream and rage how they will; it will not change that fact. But if you desire to challenge us, then we will happily dance past your corpses along the battlefield.

 

[gman391]

You hurt me Kirel, but I will always support new L5R quests.

[x] Crane: Elegance and grace is the measure of worth in all things, and all know the Crane are the most graceful of all. In courtly politics and in duels, the Crane always stands supreme. Let others scream and rage how they will; it will not change that fact. But if you desire to challenge us, then we will happily dance past your corpses along the battlefield.

I'd like to do an actual Crane protagonist for once. Instead of a ronin crane or something like that.

 

[Vanguard_D]

[x] Crane: Elegance and grace is the measure of worth in all things, and all know the Crane are the most graceful of all. In courtly politics and in duels, the Crane always stands supreme. Let others scream and rage how they will; it will not change that fact. But if you desire to challenge us, then we will happily dance past your corpses along the battlefield.

 

[Birthday]

[x] Crane: Elegance and grace is the measure of worth in all things, and all know the Crane are the most graceful of all. In courtly politics and in duels, the Crane always stands supreme. Let others scream and rage how they will; it will not change that fact. But if you desire to challenge us, then we will happily dance past your corpses along the battlefield.
I think this protagonist matches the general quest audience.

 

[Kiriel]

Edited in a link to the house rules and mechanical changes to the system. Also added in information on changes to the timeline and important events.

 

[A Nation's Virtue]

[X] Unicorn: We traveled beyond the lands of the Emerald Empire for seven hundred years so that we might see what enemies lie beyond our gates. But now the Unicorn have returned, and we will have our birthright! We know what others call us. Gaijin, and even worse. But we are as Rokugani as the rest of you, and we will have the respect we are due!

I dunno about you guys, but I find the idea of running our foes down on horseback to be pretty badass.

Also the fact that we've already had a Dragon, Crane, Scorpion, and Crav PC already on SV.

 

[Kingofbooks]

[x] Crane: Elegance and grace is the measure of worth in all things, and all know the Crane are the most graceful of all. In courtly politics and in duels, the Crane always stands supreme. Let others scream and rage how they will; it will not change that fact. But if you desire to challenge us, then we will happily dance past your corpses along the battlefield.

 

[gman391]

So did you just make every weapon skill worse with the new masteries?
WHHHHY?

 

[Kiriel]

So did you just make every weapon skill worse with the new masteries?
WHHHHY?

Click to shrink...

Wait what? Can you point out where, and explain? Those Macro-skills with the +3 and +7 only applies to Lore, Artisan, Craft, Games.

 

[Void Stalker]

[X] Unicorn: We traveled beyond the lands of the Emerald Empire for seven hundred years so that we might see what enemies lie beyond our gates. But now the Unicorn have returned, and we will have our birthright! We know what others call us. Gaijin, and even worse. But we are as Rokugani as the rest of you, and we will have the respect we are due!

It is time for a Unicorn campaign, trample them into the ground!

 

[gman391]

Wait what? Can you point out where, and explain? Those Macro-skills with the +3 and +7 only applies to Lore, Artisan, Craft, Games.

Click to shrink...

It doesn't say that.
Weapons Skill is a macro skill too. Albeit one we don't usually think of as one, but as per the Core book it is. (This is why Crab Hands is worded the way it is)
So by saying all macro skills have this change, weapon skills are included too.

Also you've further incentivized rings over skills, as now it's a lot more valuable to just void for a skill and then rely on your ring when you have a roll, rather than try to do it as an unskilled roll.

And I don't really understand the reason for the katana nerf. If anything the nodachi needed a nerf.

 

[storybookknight]

Thanks for the shout-out, @Kiriel! For anybody who is curious, Minor Clan Quest is *not* dead - I'm hoping to bring it back soonish.

I'd actually like to see a Lion quest, personally - as much as an actual Crane quest would be cool, playing the upright Bushido-before-all-else samurai would be pretty neat!

[X] Lion: Only the Lion uphold all tenets of Bushido in equal measure, and thus do we have the moral purity to match our martial supremacy. We roar loudest, for in our hearts we hold the greatest virtue! All know and fear the might of the Lion, for they know that none can oppose us should we take the field of battle. Respect that strength, lest we come for you!

 

[Kiriel]

It doesn't say that.
Weapons Skill is a macro skill too. Albeit one we don't usually think of as one, but as per the Core book it is. (This is why Crab Hands is worded the way it is)
So by saying all macro skills have this change, weapon skills are included too.

Also you've further incentivized rings over skills, as now it's a lot more valuable to just void for a skill and then rely on your ring when you have a roll, rather than try to do it as an unskilled roll.

And I don't really understand the reason for the katana nerf. If anything the nodachi needed a nerf.

Click to shrink...

I'll specify that Weapons don't fall under the change later. Currently in school.

I'm still debating on the changes to unskilled rolls. I didn't like the fact that Unskilled Rolls don't benefit from 10 again, since sheer dumb luck should actually possible. Maybe increase the penalty so people are actually incentivized to buy skill ranks to avoid the malus. Still need to tinker with this.

I removed the Katana Void Ability since I didn't like the katana fetishization and exceptionism. The fact a Katana is one of the few weapons allowed to be openly carried in polite society without any undertones of warmongering should be enough of a bonus. I've also never seen anyone using the Katana Void /ability, since most of the Void Points end up being used for either Skill Rolls or Wounds.

 

[veekie]

[X] Unicorn: We traveled beyond the lands of the Emerald Empire for seven hundred years so that we might see what enemies lie beyond our gates. But now the Unicorn have returned, and we will have our birthright! We know what others call us. Gaijin, and even worse. But we are as Rokugani as the rest of you, and we will have the respect we are due!

 

[gman391]

I'll specify that Weapons don't fall under the change later. Currently in school.

I'm still debating on the changes to unskilled rolls. I didn't like the fact that Unskilled Rolls don't benefit from 10 again, since sheer dumb luck should actually possible. Maybe increase the penalty so people are actually incentivized to buy skill ranks to avoid the malus. Still need to tinker with this.

I removed the Katana Void Ability since I didn't like the katana fetishization and exceptionism. The fact a Katana is one of the few weapons allowed to be openly carried in polite society without any undertones of warmongering should be enough of a bonus. I've also never seen anyone using the Katana Void /ability, since most of the Void Points end up being used for either Skill Rolls or Wounds.

Click to shrink...

Most one off use of skills are better served with void points, skills that see regular use will see people buying it. There doesn't really need to be more incentivization imo.

The game is all about magic samurai based on tropes, the katana being amazing is part of the setting. (In any event, the katana is out performed in actual combat by most heavy weapons) And voidpoint spending for damage is especially potent on Kakita which I've seen it used more than once.

 

[RandomMan01]

[X] Unicorn: We traveled beyond the lands of the Emerald Empire for seven hundred years so that we might see what enemies lie beyond our gates. But now the Unicorn have returned, and we will have our birthright! We know what others call us. Gaijin, and even worse. But we are as Rokugani as the rest of you, and we will have the respect we are due!

 

[useofstrike32]

[X] Scorpion: The truth is that Bushido is nothing but pretty words, useful only for manipulation. The Scorpion walk in the shadows, defending the Empire from threats unseen even while the rest of Rokugan reviles us. There is no act too horrible, no tradition too sacred, that will keep us from our duty. Remember there is but one truth. Loyalty is all that matters.

 

[Siual]

[X] Scorpion: The truth is that Bushido is nothing but pretty words, useful only for manipulation. The Scorpion walk in the shadows, defending the Empire from threats unseen even while the rest of Rokugan reviles us. There is no act too horrible, no tradition too sacred, that will keep us from our duty. Remember there is but one truth. Loyalty is all that matters.

 

[Random Member]

[X] Scorpion: The truth is that Bushido is nothing but pretty words, useful only for manipulation. The Scorpion walk in the shadows, defending the Empire from threats unseen even while the rest of Rokugan reviles us. There is no act too horrible, no tradition too sacred, that will keep us from our duty. Remember there is but one truth. Loyalty is all that matters.

 

[Kiriel]

Final edits on the Timeline. Edited the Artisan, Craft, Lore, Games, and Perform Ability Masteries. Edited the Spears and Polearms Ability Masteries to not suck. Made Kata similar to Kiho.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, as well some laboratory tests. Won't be able to post tomorrow. I'll close the vote on Wednesday, 10 a.m. GMT+8

Most one off use of skills are better served with void points, skills that see regular use will see people buying it. There doesn't really need to be more incentivization imo.

The game is all about magic samurai based on tropes, the katana being amazing is part of the setting. (In any event, the katana is out performed in actual combat by most heavy weapons) And voidpoint spending for damage is especially potent on Kakita which I've seen it used more than once.

Click to shrink...

You have points. Except for the Katana VP use, though I'll attribute that to my gaming group's preference since we've never done Crane before. I've also had a talk with one of me fellow L5R GMs irl, and he pretty much said the same thing. I've removed the changes.

 

[Dovahsith]

[X] Unicorn: We traveled beyond the lands of the Emerald Empire for seven hundred years so that we might see what enemies lie beyond our gates. But now the Unicorn have returned, and we will have our birthright! We know what others call us. Gaijin, and even worse. But we are as Rokugani as the rest of you, and we will have the respect we are due!

Barbarian Horseman Time!