Empire of the Emerald Stars (Legend of the Five Rings)

[Maugan Ra]

Empire of the Emerald Stars

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It is a time of miracles.

The year is 3121 by the Isawa Calendar, and the glorious Empire of Rokugan has spread to the stars. Using a unique blend of science and mysticism, the samurai of the Great Clans have developed tools and techniques unimaginable to their revered ancestors, and with them they have left behind their earthly cradle and walked among the heavens themselves. Guided by the immortal wisdom of their ancestors and three thousand years of unbroken tradition they have carried their art and civilization to even the most distant star.

No less than fifty seven star systems now lie under the aegis of the Divine Emperor, Hantei CXII, ritually purified and accepted into the ever-growing Star Empire of Rokugan. Twice as many again are in the process of being claimed and colonized by his most dutiful servants among the Eight Great Clans, and with each passing year new discoveries and new conquests are reported back to the Imperial Court by exultant samurai, each one eager to earn glory among the stars and bring honour to their lords. Power and influence shifts by the day, each Clan driven to outdo their peers in a relentless contest of skill and daring, and every year the star-lanes and space-ports seem to explode in a tangled mess of violent conflict as ambitious rivals make war upon their peers.

Now, all eyes turn to one Clan in particular, where a change in leadership has just occurred. An old Champion has fallen and a new one has risen, prompting friend and foe alike to examine the situation with the utmost care. In a society as bound by tradition and obligation as Rokugan, the every word and deed of a Clan Champion can cause ripples that affect the lives of billions of lesser mortals. It is a heavy weight to bear, and how well this new hero copes with their burden will go a long way towards deciding the fate of all Rokugan in years to come.

This is their story...

What is this madness?

This, gentle reader, is another quest for Legend of the Five Rings. The last one I ran recently terminated in the unfortunate demise of the primary protagonist, but I still haven't quite got my fill of magical samurai and their varying struggles and successes in a massively dangerous world. So, I decided that I would take one of the more unusual ideas that I've had buzzing around in the back of my mind for a fair few weeks, and actually try and turn it into a proper Quest.

The setting, as you might have guessed, is the Empire of Emerald Stars alternate timeline from the L5R sourcebook 'Imperial Histories 2'. Don't worry if you don't have access to it, as I'll be doing my best to help explain what exactly is going on as we progress through the storyline. Sufficed to say that it takes the default fantasy-Japan setting of canon L5R and accelerates it forwards two thousand years, until we reach a delightfully weird crossroads between High Fantasy and Science Fiction that appeals to me in a surprisingly fundamental way. A lot of the serious character drama of the original setting has been preserved, but it's presented in a context that is almost delightfully ridiculous in how ambitious and over-the-top it gets.

Your main character has a magical neutronium power-katana, for example, and may be able to unleash orbital death rays of purifying jade light upon your enemies from your fleet of Tetsubo-class battleships.

The quest is going to be a blend of character drama and empire management, where you assume leadership of one of the Great Clans of Rokugan and lead your armies of samurai into a glorious future among the stars. Or perhaps an ignominious defeat. There won't be a lot of number-crunching involved, as most conflict resolution will instead be handled by a relatively abstract system that I have cudgeled together out of the core rules and various pieces of inspiration lifted from other large-scale quests being run on this site. Your main decisions each turn will involve directing the efforts of your various subordinate daimyos and generals in order to best accomplish your intended goals, coupled with a number of unique 'events' which demand some form of response from you and your Clan.

I will then take these decisions, and weave from them a story about cyborg samurai invading an asteroid-base filled with demons, or whatever other madness you decide to implement.

The mechanics are explained in more detail below, while the overall plot is likely going to be highly dependent on what you the players want out of it. There will be individual plot lines and events, of course - the other Great Clans each have their own agendas, and that's without taking into account orders handed down from the Emperor himself - but in any given year you could potentially decide to up and invade another Clan for reasons of your own devising, and I would shape the ongoing story around that.

So, with that said...

 

[Maugan Ra]

Character Roster​

These are the most notable samurai currently pledged to your service, out of the millions who are pledged to your Clan. They are divided up according to their family and role, and currently have only a brief summary of their personality and skills available. More details will be added over time.

The Shiba Family
A family of warriors in a clan of pacifists, descendants of the god who knelt before a mortal man, the Shiba are the largest family in the Phoenix Clan and hold the bulk of their territory. In addition to their powerful and highly advanced military forces, the Shiba are also renowned for being artists and philosophers.

Provinces Held: Six
Bushi: 4
Courtiers: 4
Daimyo: 5
Magistrates: 5
Sages: 5

Family Traits:
- Air 4
- Earth 5
- Fire 5
- Water 4
- Void 5

Clan Champion: Shiba Izumi
Originally a minor daimyo, Izumi has been forced into a much more prominent role of late. Though not a shugenja, she often receives brief glimpses of the future in her dreams, and her understanding of Bushido is second to none.
Glory: 3
Aspects: Clan Champion, Daimyo, Paragon of Bushido, Prophet, Soul of Shiba.

The Isawa Family
The largest and most powerful Shugenja family in the Empire, the Isawa are the traditional rulers of the Phoenix Clan, and widely recognized as being the foremost experts on magic and divinely-empowered technology in the Empire.

Provinces Held: Four
Bushi: 4
Courtiers: 4
Daimyo: 5
Magistrates: 5
Sages: 5

Family Traits:
- Air 4
- Earth 5
- Fire 5
- Water 4
- Void 5

Spoiler: Magistrates

Isawa Aiko, Master of Fire - An aggressive and passionate young woman, Aiko is known for being one of the more forceful members of the Elemental Council. She constantly pushes for the Phoenix to act rather than react, to seek new advantages and use those they currently possess to best effect.
Glory: 4
Aspects: Aggressive, Genius, Innovative, Master of Fire, Shugenja (Fire).

Isawa Genji, Master of Air - A consummate politician, Genji most often calls upon the spirits of the air in courtly settings, lending him uncanny insight into the minds and moods of those around him.
Glory: 4
Aspects: Absolute Pacifist, Empathetic, Master of Air, Shugenja (Air)

Isawa Hisana, Master of Void - Quiet and intense, Hisana is feared across the Empire for her immense power and her willingness to use it. Unusually militant for a Phoenix, Hisana has been known to argue that peace is best achieved through victory.
Glory: 5
Aspects: Master of Void, Militant, Peace through Power, Prodigy, Shugenja (Void)

Isawa Tetsuo, Master of Earth - As steady as the mountains and almost as large in the eyes of those he deals with, Tetsuo is the unshakeable foundation of the council, and his words are treated with great respect by all samurai of the Empire.
Glory: 4
Aspects: Patient, Master of Earth, Shugenja (Earth), Wise Council

Isawa Ujiko, Master of Water - New to her position, Ujiko often stays silent during council meetings, only offering her input when it is specifically asked for or when the time comes to make a final decision.
Glory: 3
Aspects: Insightful, Master of Water, Shugenja (Water), Reserved.

The Asako Family
Famed as the creators of the enlightenment techniques now taught in just about every Dojo in the Empire, the Asako family are largely a line of peaceful scholars and diplomats. They believe that knowledge is power, and go to great lengths to study and apply just about every kind of information available to them.

Provinces Controlled: 3
Bushi: 4
Courtiers: 5
Daimyo: 4
Magistrates: 5
Sages: 5

Family traits:
Air - 5
Earth - 4
Fire - 5
Water - 4
Void - 5

 

[Maugan Ra]

Lands of the Phoenix Clan​

The Phoenix Clan is the smallest of the eight Great Clans of Rokugan, and controls only a relative handful of territories across the Empire. They once held more, but in the recent war with the Unicorn all but their core systems were lost to massive attack fleets and claimed by their victorious opponents.

Core Worlds Region
The Core Worlds is the name given to the area of space containing Rokugan proper and the first handful of star systems colonized by the Great Clans in their initial wave of expansion. Worlds here tend to be highly developed and extremely prosperous.

Spoiler: Rokugan

The Homeworld. The Imperial Throne. The Land of Our Ancestors. Rokugan is known by many names across the length and breadth of the Empire, and the majority of samurai make a point of visiting at least once during their lives if at all possible. Every last Great Clan maintains holdings here, and it would be unusual indeed for the Emperor to permit any of them to be lost to any kind of conflict.

Spoiler: Ancestral Territories (Asako Capital)

The ancestral lands of the Phoenix consist of their original Clan territories, and extend up to encompass much of the land once held by the nations of the Yobanjin.

Culture: 5, Law: 4, Learning: 5, Piety: 5, Prosperity: 4

Aspects: Ancestral Homeland, Blessed by the Fortunes, Land of a Thousand Temples, Sacrosanct.

The Dreaming Sea Region
One of the first regions colonized in the second wave of expansion, the Dreaming Sea is named for the spectacular multicolored nebula that dominates its central regions. The region is currently shared between many different clans, primarily the Phoenix and the Scorpion.

Spoiler: Bayushi's Eye/The World of Dreams

This system is dominated by the ruddy glow of it's ancient star, and is a major holding of the Scorpion Clan. In a particularly unusual step, the children of Bayushi opened up one of the larger worlds in this system to colonization by other Clans, attracting settlers and investors alike with low taxes and other incentives. Heavily populated and extremely urbanized, the World of Dreams now has a solid claim on being the 'true' capital of the Empire.

Spoiler: Shujin Province (Shiba)

A planet as massively populated as the World of Dreams demands a mind-boggling amount of food and water on a daily basis, and Shujin province is there to meet that need. Consisting of a long trail of extremely fertile islands, much of the province is given over to vertical towers of rice paddies carefully tended to by Phoenix priests and technicians.

Culture: 3, Law: 4, Learning: 4, Piety: 5, Prosperity: 5

Aspects: Agricultural Hub, Commercial Hub, Inari Seido.

Spoiler: Tadaka System

The core holding of the Phoenix Clan, this system is a masterpiece of elemental magic and stands as eternal testament to the glory and wonder of the Heavens. It holds four worlds and three moons, and each and every one is spiritually significant in some way.

Spoiler: Tsuke's Anvil (Planet, Province, Isawa)

The innermost world of the Tadaka system, Tsuke's Anvil is a world of extremes. Tidally locked with one side always facing the burning wrath of the star, it is only in the eternal shadows on the far side of the world that life can survive. The Phoenix have many dojos dedicated to the study of fire here.

Culture 2, Law 3, Learning 4, Piety 5, Prosperity 4

Aspects: Extensive Mines, World of Fire

Spoiler: Gennai's Lesson (Planet)

A small world just on the edge of the system's habitable zone, Gennai's Lesson is a rough and storm-wracked world frequently pummeled by furious storms.

Spoiler: Cold Peak Province (Asako)

Established in the foothills of a major mountain range, this province is primarily famous as the home of the Asako Inquisitors, who maintain a large number of dojos and facilities for their elite operatives in the area.

Culture 3, Law 5, Learning 5, Piety 5, Prosperity 4

Aspects: Asako Inquisitors.

Spoiler: Tamon's Breath Province (Shiba)

Frequently lashed by cold winds coming down from the northern pole, this province is known as the home of the Hurricane Legion, and is frequently used as a place for the Phoenix to train their Bushi how to resist hardship and elemental exposure.

Culture 4, Law 3, Learning 5, Piety 4, Prosperity 4

Aspects: Hurricane Legion Headquarters, Infertile, Rich in Minerals

Spoiler: Tengen's Archive (Moon, Province, Asako)

This moon plays host to the Phoenix Clan's primary library - a collection of scrolls, data files and other mediums large enough to cover a significant percentage of the moon in question.

Culture 4, Law 5, Learning 5, Piety 5, Prosperity 2

Aspects: Asako Loremasters, Universal Archive

Spoiler: Ujimitsu (Planet)

The single richest source of magical materials in all of the Emerald Empire, Ujitmitsu is a world of glittering mountains, rolling plains and extreme elemental activity. It is most commonly associated with the Element of Earth.

Spoiler: Jade Mountain Province (Isawa Capital)

Named for it's most spectacular feature, this province extends across much of Ujimitsu and is the seat of the Isawa family, and thus much of the power in the Phoenix Clan.

Culture 4, Law 5, Learning 5, Piety 5, Prosperity 4

Aspects: Blessed by the Fortunes, Mountains of Jade, Sacrosanct.

Spoiler: Golden Plains Province (Shiba)

Rolling plains cover much of Ujimitsu's mainland regions, interspaced with thick forests beloved of a wide variety of animal spirits and minor fortunes. The Golden Plains are amazingly fertile, and the Phoenix often benefit from a significant surplus each year.

Culture 3, Law 3, Learning 4, Piety 4, Prosperity 5

Aspects: Agricultural Hub, Extremely fertile.

Spoiler: Burning Shore Province (Shiba)

Bordering the edges of Ujimitsu's main ocean, this province is long and consists mainly of broken coastlines frequently pockmarked with violent geysers. It holds many shrines to the fortunes of sea and steam.

Culture: 3, Law 3, Learning 5, Piety 5, Prosperity 4

Aspects: Abundant Fishing, Coastal Region

Spoiler: Amaterasu's Tears (Moon, Province, Isawa)

This small moon in orbit around Ujimitsu is composed almost entirely of sacred crystal, and in the light of day often seems to shine like a second sun. The substance actually seems to regenerate slowly after being harvested.

Culture 3, Law 4, Learning 5, Piety 5, Prosperity 5

Aspects: Crystal Moon, Defense Lasers

Spoiler: Suitengu's Mercy (Planet)

Somewhat ironically named, for the Fortune of the Sea is infamously merciless, this world on the outer edges of the system is covered in deep oceans.

Spoiler: Ice Wind Province (Shiba)

Based around the one major chain of islands that this planet possesses, Ice Wind Province is actually famous for it's high concentration of artists. Something about the endless rolling seascapes and numerous shrines seems to inspire artists on a regular basis.

Culture 5, Law 4, Learning 5, Piety 4, Prosperity 4

Aspects: Exceptional Artists, Abundant Sealife

Spoiler: Storm's Abyss Province (Isawa)

The Phoenix have exploited their elemental magic to found numerous settlements on the sea floor of this world, where they can be forever surrounded by the dangerous majesty of the element. This is also where their Shugenja practice their more... disastrous techniques, far away from other settlements.

Culture 4, Law 5, Learning 5, Piety 5, Prosperity 3

Aspects: Aquatic Settlements, Hazardous Testing Facilities.

Spoiler: Shiba's Oath (Shiba Family Capital, Space Station, Province)

This moon was chosen by the Shiba as an excellent place to site their primary defensive fortifications for the Tadaka System, for it is almost always between incoming travelers and the more vulnerable inner planets. Over time, it evolved into their effective capital.

Culture 4, Law 5, Learning 5, Piety 4, Prosperity 4

Aspects: Extensive Shipyards, Heavily Defended, Moon-Fortress, Multiple Dojos.

 

[Maugan Ra]

[Unit List goes here]

 

[Maugan Ra]

[Miscellaneous Notes go here]

 

[Maugan Ra]

Mechanics

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As previously mentioned, a lot of the mechanical underpinnings of this Quest are designed to be fairly abstract. This makes it easy for players to see at a glance what it going on and what they can expect to happen, and it also makes it easier for me as the QM to keep track of everything. Well, that's the theory anyway.

(Credit to @Omicron, whose Exalted quest mechanics formed the main foundation for this set of rules)

The Core Mechanics

Just like in the basic L5R game, this quest will rely on dice rolls in order to decide the outcome of contested events, specifically the roll and keep system - a certain number of d10 dice are rolled, and of those a certain number are kept, with the results on those individual kept dice added up to produce a total number.

This total is then compared to a particular Target Number (TN) to determine whether the attempted action has succeeded or not. A TN of 5 is an almost trivially easy task, a TN of 20 represents a fairly challenging one, while a TN of 60 represents something that is technically possible but generally considered to be beyond the grasp of any save the divine.

Please note that I will not be rolling for individual attacks or anything of that nature. Rather, a roll will generally represent a 'scene' of effort. In a fleet engagement, one roll might represent positioning your forces or the success of a particular tactic.

In the base RPG you would derive your dice pool from your attributes and skills. Here, it is made up of your traits and aspects.

Traits

Traits are the basic, wide-ranging abilities of your forces and territories. Every unit or province has five of them, each rated from one to five, and they provide your 'kept' dice - the basic dice pool for any action taken in that province or by that unit. They are fairly broadly applicable, and the general intent here is that anything you want a unit or province to do would come under one of them in some way.

The kind of traits that something possesses depends on whether or not it is a unit or a province (more on what those terms mean later).

A province has the following traits:

• Culture represents the social and political elements that bind a province together with its neighbors and its own populace. It is used for most diplomatic efforts, and also comes into play whenever you want to establish, alter or exploit a cultural trend in some way. (Air)
• Law is how disciplined and orderly your province is, and is generally a fairly reactive trait, only rolled when actively combating some kind of illegal enterprise... or in avoiding a rebellion. (Earth)
• Learning represents your province's educational and technological development. This is the trait rolled for all kinds of research and development, but it also plays a role in raising military units, who naturally have to be properly trained before they can be deployed. (Fire)
• Piety is your reverence for and connection with the Celestial Heavens. It is only rarely rolled directly, but instead plays a supporting roll, being added directly to all other rolls undertaken by a province which do not conflict with the Celestial Hierarchy. (Void)
• Prosperity is the basic economic climate of your province, taking into account production, development, income and trading routes. You use it for just about any kind of mercantile action, and it also plays a large role in your ability to sustain military forces. (Water)

For a military unit, the traits are as follows:

• Endurance represents the unit's ability to take punishment and keep on fighting, whether through resisting incoming attacks or pressing on in spite of them. It is generally rolled whenever your unit is found to be on the defense. (Earth)
• Espionage is a combination of battlefield scouting, long-range scanners and, yes, covert elements among the enemy forces. It is used whenever you are scouting or standing watch in a particular area. (Air)
• Honour is the unusual strength and determination that comes from a pure heart and adherence to Bushido. Much like Piety, it is added directly onto most other combat rolls, though only some forms of combat are acceptable to the honourable soul. (Void)
• Mobility is how quickly and easily the unit can navigate the battlefield. It is used for positioning your forces effectively before an engagement, as well as breaking them off and retreating in good order where required. (Fire)
• Power is raw offensive strength, and represents courage, firepower and the tactical education to make best use of both. It is rolled whenever your unit engages in a primarily offensive action. (Water)

Aspects

Aspects represent particular skills, specialities and circumstances, and pretty much exist to describe anything unique or interesting about a character, place or situation. For every aspect relevant to an attempted test, the character in question gains one extra rolled dice (not kept).

Aspects might be anything from 'Masterful Poet' to 'Extensive supplies' to 'Surrounded by the enemy', and are the quickest and easiest way for me to represent any factor that might influence a particular roll. Negative aspects also exist, such as 'Blackmailed' or 'Short Temper', and where appropriate they instead subtract one rolled dice from the relevant pool.

Article:

You wish to attack an enemy outpost on the borders of your territory, perhaps as a show of strength to counter-act losses taken elsewhere. For this you employ the 1st Matsu Legion under the command of Matsu Itagi.

This is a relatively straightforward roll of Unit Power against a TN of 20 - the base is reasonably well defended, but ultimately still designed for border security than resisting a fully fledged assault.

The First Matsu Legion has a Power stat of 4, as they are specialized in offensive operations. The Legion also has the Aspect of 'Elite Shock Troops'. Their general, Matsu Itagi, has the Aspects 'Inspiring Leader', 'Siege Specialist' and 'Matsu Berzerker'. Thus you would roll 8k4, and if you succeed in passing the TN, would capture or destroy the outpost as you saw fit.

Source: Example of PC action

Characters

This is a large-scale empire game in a science fantasy setting. As a result, I will be avoiding minutia and micro-managing as much as possible. You will only directly control a relative handful of characters - the heroes of your Clan, the legends who will shape the course of history.

Characters are divided up into five 'roles':

• Bushi are your warriors, your generals and your military champions. They are the ones responsible for any martial action, such as leading a fleet or defending your territory from attack. (Water)
• Courtiers are your politicians, diplomats and spies. They handle everything related to social influence and intrigue with other factions or characters in the quest. (Air)
• Daimyo are your governors, engineers and merchants. Broadly speaking, these are the characters in charge of some discrete place or task, be it management of a province or overseeing the Clan's trade networks. They are used for just about any administrative action, such as building new dojo to improve a province's Learning. (Earth)
• Magistrates are the personal agents of the Clan Champion or other suitably important individual. Untethered to a specific role, they can generally be relied to go anywhere and do anything as best suits the needs of the moment. (Void)
• Sages are your priests, researchers, scientists and sorcerers - the overlap is due to the unusual way in which Rokugani approach their advanced technology. They are used for any action that involves creating new units, technologies or magical techniques. (Fire)

Characters can be transferred from one role to another, but that generally requires a full turn action dedicated to that and typically represents a major shift in their own lifestyle and story. The only trait that a particular character has is Glory, which is rated from 1-5 and is applied as a flat bonus to any roll that the character makes, representing the ability of important samurai to do damn near anything reasonably well. Beyond that, a character's main advantage is the easiest source of beneficial Aspects.

The number of characters at your disposal is sharply limited. Each Family contributes a number of characters of each role equal to the associated family trait. If the Matsu family has a Water score of four, then they contribute four Bushi to your character roster.

Families

Rokugan is a feudal setting, and while certain social factors have forced a degree of alteration in how the Celestial Hierarchy is applied in practice, the ancient system of daimyo ruling their provinces is an ancient and well-respected one.

Your Clan Families will have their own trait scores, which are derived from the corresponding scores of the province which holds their Family Capital. Consulting the above list will indicate that each trait is associated with a particular element - power and prosperity are both linked to the element of Water, for example, reflecting the raw economic and military might of the division in question. These trait scores are used for any action undertaken by a character from that family when they are acting independently of a province or unit.

Each Family is also in charge of a number of provinces and units, and may have it's own special bonuses which apply to those territories or military forces under its command.

Provinces

Rokugan is a feudal society. All land belongs to the Emperor, and he assigns it to his Clans to manage and protect in his stead. Each of those Clans then assigns the lands to their families and vassals, who assign it to their individual daimyo and so on. As a result, all territory for the purposes of this quest is divided up into 'Provinces', each of which generally represents an area approximately the size of a continent, a moon or a particular large space station.

Provinces have their own traits, as detailed above, and will almost certainly have their own Aspects which modify all appropriate aspects taken in or involving them. These traits contribute to your characters, your units and the traits of nearby provinces.

Provincial traits can be improved by assigning either a Daimyo or a Magistrate to the province, and having them make a roll using the trait you wish to see improved. The TN for this action is provisionally set at (10 + (Desired trait x5)), and takes a number of years of continuous effort by that character equal to the desired rating of the trait. Please note that the roll is only made at the end of the requisite period.

Article:

The Akodo wish to improve Gold River Province, bringing it's prosperity from 2 to 3, so that they can add another Bushi to their character roll. They assign the Daimyo 'Akodo Dairyu' to the task, as he has three relevant aspects and a Glory score of 5. He needs to remain assigned to the province for three years, at the end of which time he makes a roll of 5k2+5. If he manages to beat a TN of 25, then the trait will increase appropriately.

Units

When the Great Clans go to war with one another, they fight on an apocalyptic scale. Entire fleets of battleships clash in the cold void between the stars, while on the worlds below endless millions of samurai lock themselves in bloody combat.

To better represent this, the smallest military unit you will command in this Quest is equivalent to a Legion of ground troops or a Squadron of void ships. Each Unit has it's own traits, as mentioned above, as well as a number of aspects that serve to distinguish them from any other unit with the same basic traits.

Broadly speaking, a unit falls into one of four 'Tiers'.

• Tier One forces are the rank and file, the Ashigaru. Formed of well trained but unaugmented peasants, these units are typically reliant upon massed numbers and discipline to win their battles. They might have a few samurai squad leaders scattered through their ranks, but none of high standing in their Clan.
• Tier Two forces are the standard against which all others are measured. These units are exclusively formed of samurai, and will have been trained and equipped as best suits their Clan's basic martial philosophy.
• Tier Three forces are the specialists, those trained and experienced at accomplishing one particular role, such as the Hida Heavy Siege Units or the Tsuruchi Carrier Wings. They are generally the equal to the lower tiers in most areas, but utterly crush them within their particular specialities.
• Tier Four forces are the true elites, the very pinnacle of martial skill. The Matsu Lion's Pride, the Hida Defenders, and the Imperial Legions all fall under this banner.

The number of units that your Clan can support is determined by your Families and the Provinces under their control. Each Family can contribute a number of Units equal to their (Capital Prosperity +number of secondary provinces). However, a family can only maintain a number of units of a given Tier equal to the number of their provinces with a learning trait of at least (Tier+1).

Article:

The Shiba family have five provinces under their control, one of which is their family capital and has a prosperity of four. Thus, they can maintain eight units.

However, those provinces have learning traits of five, four, four, three, and one respectively. Thus, the Shiba can only maintain a maximum of one T4 unit, three T3s, four T2s and four T1s. They simply don't have enough Dojos to make their entire army out of elite troops.

Source: Raising units example

Raising a new unit requires sending a Bushi, Artisan or Monk to a given province and keeping them there for a number of years equal to the Tier of the unit in question. At that point they roll against the Learning of the province with a TN of (10+(5 x Tier)) in order to successfully recruit the Unit in question.

 

[Maugan Ra]

Choose your Clan

The Great Clans of Rokugan are ancient institutions, each boasting millennia of history and tens of millions of loyal samurai at the least. Each has their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of which one this Quest focuses on will greatly influence the nature of the story being told.

Which Clan do you command?

Spoiler: [ ] The Crab Clan

After the Festering Pit of Fu Leng was closed, the Crab Clan endured a spiritual crisis of sorts, having lost the primary focus of its existence. Soon, however, the children of Hida proved as pragmatic as ever, reorganizing around two areas of focus. First, with the growing importance of science and technology, the Kaiu family became an important part of Rokugan's development, and much greater resources were allocated to them in order to expand their operations, in mining and engineering particularly. Secondly, the opening of space exploration revealed many planets inhabited by strange and often hostile life-forms influenced by the more dangerous Spirit Realms, occasionally including Jigoku.

This gave renewed purpose to the Crab, who took to the stars to fight against the most dangerous and inhuman species, as well as establishing gigantic mining and construction operations for weapons and defense development. Long used to hardship and difficult conditions, the Crab adapted very well to exploring strange new environments, and became a force to be reckoned with in the Empire of Emerald Stars.

+ Strong engineering and mercantile focus, leading to high Prosperity.
+ The best, bar none, at defensive warfare and fortifications.
+ Particularly good at overcoming supernatural challenges through martial might.

- Low mobility forces, will frequently be outmaneuvered.
- Boorish demeanor makes courtly goals difficult to achieve.
- Territory tends to be horrifically dangerous in some fashion.

Spoiler: [ ] The Crane Clan

The sons and daughters of Doji have taken to the stars, but not in the same numbers as their rivals. Of all the clans, the Crane probably retain the greatest influence on Rokugan proper, staying close to the seat of power and letting other clans get the larger share of new land
and new worlds while the Crane fill the void they are gradually leaving behind. This is not to say they have not explored space at all; they simply have done so more carefully and to a more modest extant. The Crane are also the first to develop a real tourism industry, a natural outgrowth of their splendid palaces and beautiful lands; they have seized some of the
most beautiful (and safe) worlds in the galaxy, where they build extensive resorts. While more warlike clans like the Crab and the Lion still mock the Crane for their 'softer' ways, the truth is everybody appreciates a beautiful sunset on a tropical beach, a concert from a popular band, or a delicious exotic drink, so the Crane still command a lot of power – albeit of a subtle kind.

Those who believe the Crane are truly weak can be in for a surprise, since the Daidoji still provide the Crane with their military defenses and have become quite skilled in precision ship-to-ship boarding actions.

+ Starting Provinces are highly developed and well protected
+ Very strong social influence, leading to easier and more effective court-based rolls
+ Exceptionally wealthy

- Limited 'overt' power, Units tend to be smaller and more specialized.
- Limited room for expansion due to nearby territories already being claimed.
- Heavily bound by tradition and Imperial command.

Spoiler: [ ] The Dragon Clan

Having long lost the guidance of the Kami Togashi, the Dragon in the Empire of the Emerald Stars have managed to prosper, unshaken by the developments of technology and content in their faith in both the Tao and the Hantei dynasty. They still maintain a close relationship with the Throne and are the favored vassals when a dangerous duty can be trusted to no one else. The strangest and most mysterious of the early planets were often conquered by the Dragon or even directly allocated to them by Imperial order. Many of these worlds are off-limits to the other clans, leading to many discussions of what secrets they may hold; however, the fleets of the Mirumoto are powerful and well armed. These worlds certainly do not hold many resources, since the Dragon remain one of the poorest clans of the Empire, heavily depending on Imperial subsidies.

+ Favored servants of the Throne, protected from many negative consequences by Imperial patronage.
+ Long term relationship with the Brotherhood of Shinsei gives you great spiritual influence.
+ Characters tend to be more well-rounded, and can perform tasks outside of their set roles.

- Starting provinces hold limited resources, leading to low Prosperity and negative Aspects.
- Find it difficult to exert non-spiritual influence due to unconventional attitudes.
- Officially appointed duties are less flexible than those of many other Clans.

Spoiler: [ ] The Lion Clan

Expanding the reach of Rokugan to the stars also expanded the need for military protection of its assets and citizens. The Empire of the Emerald Stars is far from safe, given clan rivalries, pirates, and innumerable strange creatures on alien worlds. For the Lion this has often meant war on a heretofore unknown scale, and they would not have it any other way. More than any other clan, the Lion have had difficulty adapting over the centuries to the changes in society and technology, their traditional warrior mindset chafing at every new idea or disruptive invention. But the exploration of the galaxy has given them renewed purpose, and the other clans were surprised at how aggressively the Lion took to settling on new planets.

It heralded a new era for the Lion, a time of glorious battles between the stars and across the surfaces of whole planets. In fact, the Lion are so busy fighting enemies of the Empire on various systems that they are no longer as aggressive toward the other clans as they often were in the past. Still, friction happens, and when it does the vast, near-endless fleets of the Lion answer.

+ Largest, most skilled and adaptable military of all the Great Clans
+ At the forefront of any Imperially-mandated conquests, which is the easiest way to secure new territory.
+ Units tend to have very high Honour scores, and provinces benefit from increased Law as a result.

- Peaceful diplomatic efforts are difficult at best, sometimes nigh-impossible.
- Hidebound and traditional, making it much harder to introduce entirely new ways of doing things.
- Characters more likely to commit seppuku upon failure.

Spoiler: [ ] The Mantis Clan

The age of space exploration is, in many ways, the age of the Mantis. The clan's audacity, resourcefulness, and economic acumen ensured it was among the first to explore the galaxy and reap the profits of doing so. The Mantis Clan's initial strategy was simple: race to a new system, establish a base regardless of initial appeal, and then defend it tooth and nail. This proved effective, if costly – the Mantis control more systems than any other Great Clan, many of them of little value but others with numerous planets and resources to be exploited. The Mantis economy reaches into almost every market, but is most famous for rare and exotic materials and goods.

+ Extremely wealthy, with high prosperity.
+ Large territory with lots of room for expansion.
+ Most powerful and numerous fleet units of all the Great Clans.

- Existing territories are often under-developed
- Position on the frontier makes hostile encounters from non-human forces much more likely
- Legacy of piracy and 'mongrel blood' imposes diplomatic penalties.

Spoiler: [ ] The Phoenix Clan

Space exploration only became possible through the efforts of the Phoenix Clan, who not only pioneered the ritual which allows faster-than-light travel but also discovered radiant energy and many other forms of technology which combine esoteric knowledge with mundane aspects. While Phoenix Clan samurai are not the richest or the most numerous, their equipment is quite often the best, and this gives them an edge in many confrontations.

True to their nature, the Phoenix try to approach both alien animals and the far rarer sentient beings as peacefully as possible, assisted by the extensive use of magic. When peace fails, the Shiba step in with their small but powerful fleet and army, able to use radiant energy as a hammer or a scalpel depending on the need. The Phoenix seem content with exploring the galaxy and further advancing their technological and magical prowess for the good of their vassals.

+ Most technologically advanced of all the Great Clans
+ Greatest proportion of Shugenja in the empire, leading to vastly increased magical might.
+ Provinces tend to be very well developed, especially in Learning and Piety.

- Smallest of the Great Clans, in both population and territory.
- Pacifistic nature makes aggressive military ventures much harder.
- Champion has less direct authority than in other Clans.

Spoiler: [ ] The Scorpion Clan

Rokugan's great lights blaze brighter than ever before, but so too does its shadows lengthen. Crime and the underworld have expanded to levels unheard of in previous years, and the Scorpion have expanded with them. Wielding the power and influence of a Great Clan, the Scorpion have infiltrated, co-opted or outright absorbed a vast majority of Rokugan's underworld, and that gives them great power indeed.

Although apparently lacking in obvious strength, the Scorpion remain the masters of unconventional warfare, both on the battlefield and in the courts. Few are willing to be their friends, but fewer still are their enemies, and that is as it should be.

+ Exceptional underworld ties bring great wealth and covert influence
+ Unparalleled stealth technology expands all the way up to invisible battle-cruisers.
+ Highly skilled at assassinating or ruining the characters of other Clans.

- Dishonorable nature brings few friends
- Limited ability to leverage direct military force.
- Criminal influence is not entirely one way...

Spoiler: [ ] The Unicorn Clan

Exploration is what the Unicorn have always done, and after the Empire of Rokugan extended to cover the whole planet they were eagerly waiting for some new frontier to seek. The idea of exploring entire star systems could not help but attract them, especially coupled with their love for speed and travel, and the Unicorn were among the first in the race to the stars. At the dawn of the fourth millennium they maintain only a token presence on Rokugan itself, the vast majority of the clan having resettled on other planets or being permanently on the move.

The Unicorn are one of the few clans (along with the Phoenix) who first try communication with alien cultures, resorting to violence only when that fails. They sponsored the relocation of the last gaijin nations from Rokugan to their own worlds, and maintain extensive contact with them. Much like when they first returned to the Empire in the early ninth century, their culture in the fourth millennium is a mix of the domestic and the foreign; where once a traditionalist might have been disgusted at a Unicorn samurai wearing fur, now he must also wonder what kind of creatures the fur could have come from.

+ Finest pilots among all the Great Clans provides highly mobile armies.
+ Extensive contact with non-Rokugani elements provide unconventional resources and influence.
+ Possess mobile Provinces in the form of nomadic fleets

- Limited social influence within Rokugan, especially close to the centre of power
- Exploring the galaxy is a dangerous job...
- Highly disadvantaged in a defensive war.

 

[Maugan Ra]

​

The Phoenix are an old and noble Clan, one tied into the very fabric of Rokugan's society in a way that few others can match. Akodo might have defined bushido, and the Lady Doji helped lay the foundations upon which all of samurai society might be built, but it was Shiba who transcribed the Tao. Where once there were a multitude of conflicting faiths, Shiba wove together a common creed that all could accept, and in so doing bound together not just the samurai, but all the men and women of Rokugan.

When the Kami first descended from heaven to the mortal realm, most saw only land to rule and subjects to command. They carved for themselves an Empire and set about elevating their chosen servants to positions of authority, creating an aristocracy of warriors bound in service to them and their children. Shiba, however, was different. He saw the worth and quality in even the humblest of mortal souls, and so when the time came for him to establish his own Clan and take his place in his brother's empire, he chose a different path. He went before Isawa, first and mightiest among the mages of the varied tribes nominally aligned to his banner, and he knelt. With word and deed he pledged to always protect the tribe of Isawa from their enemies, and in return he asked only that the tribe accept membership in the great Empire that his siblings sought to build.

Stunned by the sight of a god upon his knees, Isawa accepted, and in so doing set the course of the Phoenix Clan for the next three thousand years. In every generation, the five wisest and most powerful Shugenja of the Isawa family are elected to the position of Elemental Master, and between them they determine the current and future policy of the Clan. These decisions are then passed to the head of the Shiba family, the Clan Champion of the Phoenix, to enact as best they may. It is a profoundly unusual system of governance and one that the other Clans have never fully understood, but it is one that the Phoenix have maintained for over three thousand years.

Nor is that the only way in which the leadership of the Phoenix Clan differs from the norm, for unlike every other Clan in Rokugan, the current Clan Champion only rarely finds themselves bound by blood to the previous one. Instead, the Champion is chosen by the Soul of Shiba - the collective wisdom of every Champion in the history of the Clan, going all the way back to the Kami himself, which makes itself known to the samurai best suited to lead the Phoenix in any given generation. This occasionally leads to some very strange promotions, such as when a castle guard is promoted to a position of authority over millions of older and more experienced samurai, but the Soul has never yet failed to choose the best leader for the challenges currently facing the Clan.

Three weeks ago, the previous Champion Shiba Daisuke fell in battle against the samurai of the Unicorn Clan. Two weeks ago, the Soul of Shiba selected you to be his replacement. One week ago, the Elemental Masters tracked you down and confirmed your appointment. And today... today you take up the reigns of power for the first time.

All the eyes of the Empire are upon you. What do they see?

In Rokugan, there is no real difference between men and women save for those biology imposes. Both genders may serve as warriors, diplomats or figures of authority, and aside from the oft-tangled and complicated matters surrounding childbirth and inheritance society sees little difference between the two.

Article:

Are you Male or Female?
[ ] Male
[ ] Female

While the name of your family and the deeds of your ancestors are by far the most important things about you, there is little denying the individual nature of one's own honour and glory. Having come of age, samurai are generally allowed to choose the name by which they will be known for the entirety of their adult life. Some choose to take the names of past heroes, others aim for something symbolic or thematically appropriate, and more than a few simply pick something that sounds good when spoken aloud.

Article:

What is your personal name?
[ ] Write in

The Soul of Shiba is not a particularly discriminating influence, and as far as anyone has been able to tell the only common factor in its previous selections for the position of Champion is that they have all been bushi of the Shiba family. The Phoenix are the smallest of the Great Clans by far, but even so this criteria encompasses tens of millions of samurai spread across a great many worlds, and such a population can give rise to a tremendous amount of variety.

Article:

How have you served your Clan to date?

[ ] The Order of Chikai. As a yojimbo to one of the Elemental Masters themselves, you enjoy a unique insight into how the Phoenix Clan is run. The Masters know and trust you, as do a great many of those who have dealt with them over the years. On the other hand, you are trained as a bodyguard, not an administrator or general.

[ ] The daimyo. Prior to your appointment you already served the Clan as a minor lord, in charge of the administration and defense of one of your Clan's provinces. Your new duties are greater in magnitude, perhaps, but they are familiar all the same, and your Clan will likely benefit from your steady hand at the helm. Of course, your perspective before this point has always been somewhat limited...

[ ] The Elemental Legions. The Phoenix do not often go to war, but when the need is great they hold at their disposal some of the mightiest Legions in all the Empire. You commanded one of these Legions, and as such you have an impeccable understanding of military tactics and the respect of many of the Empire's more martial Clans. The craft of peace, however, is not one that is overly familiar to you...

[ ] The Courtier. Although you were initially sent to court as a bodyguard for one of your Clan's true diplomats, you managed to distinguish yourself and were rewarded with independent assignments of increasing complexity. You have met just about every major daimyo and courtier in the Empire at one time or another, and many of them have a positive impression of you as a result. That said, your understanding of domestic issues might be somewhat lacking...

[ ] Write in.

Of course, name and duty cannot tell you everything about a samurai, not even one as dutiful and accomplished as you. There are always more details to find on the canvas of one's life, and given your new position you suspect your life will soon come under more scrutiny than most.

Article:

Choose up to two of the following:

[ ] Blessing of the Seven Fortunes. Something about you has drawn the attention and subsequent approval of one of the mightiest of all the fortunes, and they have showered you with their blessings.
- [ ] Write in which Fortune (optional)

[ ] Hero of the People. You are beloved by the lower classes, and find all of your dealings with them to be much easier and more productive. As a Champion you might only rarely find this coming into effect, but the worth of even the humblest soul should never be discarded outright.

[ ] Heart of Vengeance. Your heart burns with enmity towards one Clan in particular, and you cannot rest until you see justice done for the ways in which they have harmed you. You know their strengths and weaknesses like few others can, and will likely find welcome allies among their foes.
[ ] Write in which Clan

[ ] Imperial bonds. You are directly related to the Emperor himself, and he has been known to call upon your counsel from time to time. This gives you a potentially staggering amount of influence and the direct protection of the Son of Heaven, but you must exercise care when calling upon either, for the favour of the Hantei is swiftly withdrawn if abused.

[ ] Paragon of Bushido. Compassion. Courage. Courtesy. Duty. Honesty. Honour. Sincerity. To you, these are not merely words, but the pillars around which you have built your life. Such strength of character will serve you well in the days to come, and draws approval from many quarters of the Empire.

[ ] Prophet. You have dreams sometimes, strange and frightful dreams. In them you see the clues to the future, small glimpses of your own destiny and that of others. While interpreting such things in time to be of use is never certain, you have never known your dreams to be wrong in the past.

This is a heavy burden you must bear, and there will be many challenges ahead, not least of which is negotiating an end to your current conflict with the Unicorn Clan. At times you begin to doubt whether you are capable of such leadership as your Clan deserves... but each time you waver, the comforting glow of the Soul of Shiba is there to reassure and support you. It would not have chosen you if you could not rise to the challenge. Now it is up to you to prove it.

May the Fortunes smile upon you, samurai, and may you make your ancestors proud.

 

[Maugan Ra]

Spoiler: QM's note

All right, here we go. This is the first update for Empire of the Emerald Stars. Before I get to that, though, it's worth pointing out a couple of extra changes I've made to the rules surrounding characters.

So the first thing you'll notice is that the names have changed. This was mostly a result of me confusing myself when writing up some of my notes and then realizing that if I couldn't keep track of this, there was basically no way anyone else was going to be able to. The fire-based role is now called 'Sage', the Earth-based role is 'Daimyo' and the Void-based one is now 'Magistrate'. The change away from using Shugenja in particular I decided was necessary, since Shugenja are actual things in the game and can occupy just about all of the roles, while those who fulfilled the role of Shugenja weren't necessarily actual, well, Shugenja.

You can see where I was confusing myself.

The other major change is an alteration in how many characters each family generates, which is currently capped at the family's own relevant trait score. This came about after I calculated things out and realized that I'd have to generate over 50 unique NPCs for the Shiba family alone under the existing rules, which was going to be damn near impossible to do and even harder to keep track of.

Now, this does remove some of the incentive to develop your secondary provinces and acquire more, which is not particularly desirable. I'm thinking of counter-balancing that by upping the number of units that a province can support as it's stats increase. This will obviously lead to much larger armies and fleets, especially for Clans like the Lion who have massive sprawling territories, but I'm not inherently opposed to that sort of idea. Still, if anyone else has any suggestions of their own, feel free to make them - I'm modifying this as I go along, so thoughts and feedback are always welcome.

As the local star dips towards the horizon, it's warm rays strike the slopes and valleys of the Jade Mountains in a dazzling display of light and color. The effect is rather like that of an aurora brought to earth, a rippling curtain of vibrant green and cool blue energy that dances all across the peak of the miles-long range in a glorious halo of divine light.

It is easy to see why the Isawa would choose this land as the site of their new home.

Idly, you find yourself contemplating just what the Crab might be willing to say or do in exchange for access to such a place. It is a base and ugly thought, one that verges on the outright sacrilegious, but you cannot deny the potential relevance of it to one in your current position. Ofushikai, the ancestral sword of the Phoenix, rests heavy at your side, and even the comforting glow of the Soul of Shiba at the back of your mind cannot entirely quell the faint seeds of doubt gnawing at your soul.

Shiba Izumi, Champion of the Phoenix... it is a lofty title, one to command respect and awe from just about any quarter of society, but never before had you quite appreciated just how heavy such a name might be. Tens of millions of samurai now stand ready to fight and die at your command, and a hundred times as many peasants now look to you to guide and protect them from their enemies, and you have only the faintest idea to even start.

It would be a difficult enough question to answer at the best of times, but at present the Phoenix Clan find themselves in a particularly dire state of affairs. You spare a thought to once again curse the name of Isawa Kano, the young engineer who managed to get your Clan into this state. That he thought to steal revolutionary new ship components from the Unicorn Clan was bad enough, for that in and of itself would likely have served as prelude to war, but his decision to then replace them with sub-standard components and in so doing condemn the Unicorn's latest and most advanced void ship to destruction must rank among the worst examples of stupidity in the entire history of Rokugan.

You dearly hope that he was acting alone, for if you discover that some fool among the Isawa decided to put their own pride and scholarly interests above the health of the Clan as a whole your fury will be beyond measure. The Ide was the pride of the Unicorn and it's captain one of their very best, so of course they would respond to any hint of sabotage with outright war. You cannot even find itself in you to blame them for it, in truth, for even though the engineer committed seppuku immediately and your predecessor denied any involvement in the matter, an insult of such magnitude could never be allowed to stand. Your only hope now is that they will decide that the insult has been avenged and call off their war before winter's end and the resumption of hostilities.

After all, it can hardly be claimed they have not hurt your Clan greatly in recompense. Fleets destroyed, territory taken, agents slaughtered in duels and a Champion slain in battle... after two years of war, the Phoenix Clan is in a sorry state indeed. Outside of the Tadaka system, only their holdings on the World of Dreams and Rokugan proper remain under Phoenix control, and the former is only yours for as long as the planet's Scorpion overlords see fit to defend you. Perhaps if your predecessor had been permitted to commit the Elemental Legions and your greatest ships to battle things might have been different, but the Isawa forbade it, unwilling to escalate to such devastating extremes.

Gazing out over the magnificent slopes of jade that form the mountains around Kyuden Isawa, you cannot help but sigh faintly to yourself. Perhaps the Elemental Council will have an explanation for you, one which justifies their decision to force your family into a war with one hand tied behind their backs, but if they do not... well, such is their right. Shiba swore to defend the children of Isawa for all eternity, and no matter how much you might disagree with the current generation of those children, you have no intention of breaking that oath now.

(It is a profoundly strange experience, to think of something that Shiba did and find yourself able to remember how such things appeared through his eyes. You do not know if you will ever truly get used to it, and some small part of you hopes you never do. To become inured to the wonder and unimaginable honour of such shared memories would be a tragic thing indeed.)

There is a gentle cough from behind you, where some of your new Honour Guard stand vigil around the edges of the balcony.

"Shiba-dono." One of them says respectfully, and you curse yourself for not knowing his name even given the short time you have known each other. "The Elemental Council have sent word. They are assembled, and prepared to meet with you now."

Schooling your face into a dignified mask, you rise from your seat, the enchanted silk of your kimono rustling slightly as you turn to face your new subordinate. "Very well. Lead the way."

You can hardly be expected to know your way around Kyuden Isawa yourself, after all, and by his prompt compliance the guardsman understands and was prepared for such an order. Before two weeks ago you were just a minor Daimyo on the far side of the planet, after all, concerned with the affairs in your small corner of the Empire and only rarely moving beyond it. You have some understanding of politics and high society of course, as is expected for any member of the kuge, but you would be flattering yourself to claim the title of anything more than amateur in comparison to those who live and work in the very heart of the Clan's power.

Still, while you might yet harbor doubts as to your own suitability, such fears are clearly not shared by the samurai and peasants who pass you in the well lit halls of Kyuden Isawa. While only the latter are permitted to show any kind of emotion by the laws and dictates of civilized society, all who look upon you seem to take heart from your presence and apparent confidence, bowing with seemingly genuine reverence and respect as you pass by.

Most samurai to bear this burden stand insensate for a week or more until they adjust, Izumi-san, the voice of one of your ancestors murmurs softly to you as you walk. Your people see your current fortitude as being a sign of great strength and honour, and find it easy to trust in your judgement and ability as a result.

Oh. Well, that certainly explains a few things, and it is always nice to have a reminder of the wise counsel at your disposal. You could probably spend the rest of your life consulting with the voices and memories in your mind and still never reach the end of the wisdom that the Soul of Shiba holds, and while your duties would never allow for such irresponsibility you can already see the likely benefits of at least referencing it when and where you can.

With new confidence you follow the guard through the many halls and passageways of the castle, and then into the surprisingly small meeting room set aside for such things. Considering the resources available to the Isawa family they could easily have chosen to make the council chamber a monument to power and glory, or at least festooned it with comforts beyond the dreams of lesser men, but tradition and a respect for the ways of one's ancestors are perhaps the single unifying threat tying all of Rokugan together. As such, the council chamber is a relatively spartan affair, consisting of bare wooden walls and a floor of stone etched with the mon of the Isawa family. Positioned just beyond each of the five elemental kanji that make up their sigil stand a ring of comfortable looking seats, and on those the masters of the Phoenix Clan sit and discuss the business at hand.

Considering the sheer amount of power and authority invested in the men and women before you, both by virtue of their political positions and their unmatched connection to the elemental Kami, you have to admit you are somewhat surprised by just how normal they manage to look. Two men and three women, each clad in silken robes and shadowed by dangerous-looking bodyguards, but otherwise interchangeable with any number of scholars, priests and courtiers throughout the Empire. They study you as you make your way from the doorway to stand in front of them, and despite the sheer power they represent you find that you are somehow not intimidated in the slightest.

"Shiba-sama, thank you for attending so promptly." Isawa Tetsuo, the heavily muscled Master of Earth, says in a low voice. "I know you must have a great deal on your mind."

"It was no trouble at all, Isawa-sama." You reply politely, bowing deeply to him and the rest of the Elemental Council. "No samurai finds a summons by her lord to be troublesome."

Your words are respectful, but even so more than one set of eyes narrows at your choice of honorific. In times of peace the Isawa would rule supreme over the Clan and thus be addressed as 'dono', but in times of war the Shiba are considered to hold equal rank in the Clan's hierarchy, and your choice of 'sama' was chosen to remind them of just that.

The many and varied voices of the Soul are quite clear on the need to represent yourself with strength and pride in this initial meeting, after all, and you find yourself in complete agreement with them.

"No honorable samurai, perhaps, and I suppose we could hardly call you otherwise." Isawa Genji intercedes politely, the Master of Air playing the role of peacemaker as he is often known to do. "Even here we have heard stories of the honorable nature and fine character of Shiba Izumi. It seems clear to me why the ancestors have chosen you to be our protector and voice in years to come."

"You do me much credit, Isawa-sama." You reply humbly. "How might I serve you today?"

"By accepting the invitation of the Son of Heaven, Shiba-sama." Isawa Hisana replies is a calm and perfectly controlled voice. The Master of Void seems to study you for a short moment before continuing. "Winter is almost upon us, and the Imperial Court is convening once again. As always, the Emperor has invited all of his Champions to attend or send representative, and it is our will that you travel there in person."

A... potentially problematic request, you have to admit, but it would never do to voice such doubts directly. Instead, you opt for a simpler and less confrontational response. "Forgive my ignorance, Isawa-sama, but I was under the impression that I was to remain in Phoenix lands for the time being. There is much that I must do in order to properly fulfill my new duties, after all."

"True enough, Shiba-sama, and normally we would never send you to Winter Court so soon after your appointment." Isawa Akio, the Master of Fire, says in a strong and confident voice. "And yet it is your duties that require you to attend. The Unicorn Clan have, for reasons of their own, communicated with us a desire for peace. Their Champion will be attending Imperial Winter Court this year, and they have suggested that such might be the best place for such negotiations."

You cannot help but blink at that, your surprise and cautiously building joy causing your on to slip for the briefest of moments. "That is excellent news, Isawa-sama, if somewhat unexpected. I will of course arrange a settlement, though I must wonder why they desire one now."

You half expect the Master of Water to reply, completing the pattern established thus far, but instead it is Isawa Genji who answers you. "That is something of a mystery to us as well, Shiba-sama, but needless to say it is an opportunity that we cannot afford to surrender. If you can arrange to have our lands returned to us and their hostages released as well that would be of particular value, but peace in and of itself would be a valuable prize well worth pursuing."

Why not ask me for Amaterasu's own robes as well, for I am more likely to acquire those. You keep your doubts from your face however, and merely bow in acknowledgement. "Of course, Isawa-sama. If I may, such success will require gifts and concessions in turn."

"Naturally." Isawa Genji replies with a faint sigh. "You will of course have full authority to negotiate anything you deem appropriate. In addition, as a sign of our sincerity, feel free to pledge the aid of the Elemental Masters to the projects of the other Clans for the upcoming year."

You cannot help but raise an eyebrow at that one. "Your aid, Isawa-sama?"

"Yes, Shiba-sama, our aid. In their construction, in their development... in their wars, if needs be." Genji replies, though by his expression he seems to find the latter clause particularly distasteful. "The Shiba have protected and served the Isawa for three thousand years. If you find your duty is made easier by our aid in turn, especially when it comes to compensating for the mistakes of one of our bloodline, then our own honour demands no less. Now, select your fellow ambassadors and prepare yourself for departure. The Emperor's Court is not to be kept waiting."

Hiding your smile, you bow low to your lords in silent acceptance. It seems you will have a potent bargaining chip indeed, and there are few places more auspicious for the negotiation than the Imperial court with a fellow Champion of Rokugan. Perhaps things are not so dire as you first imagined after all.

The Phoenix shall rise from the ashes once more.

Article:

Who is hosting the Imperial Winter Court this year?

[ ] The Imperial Families. Emperor Hantei does not desire to leave Rokugan proper this year, and so prevails upon the hospitality of his own relatives for this court.

[ ] The Crane Clan. The world of Golden Mirror is a holiday resort without peer, and the Emperor desires luxurious comfort and quality entertainment this year.

[ ] The Lion Clan. The Emperor desires something traditional this year, where he might hold court as did his ancestors of old, and a visit to New Rokugan seems just the thing.

[ ] The Mantis Clan. If you are of an adventurous mind, there are few better places to enjoy yourself than the world of New Kalini, the this year the Emperor has a great desire for such adrenaline-fueled pastimes.

[ ] The Scorpion Clan. The World of Dreams is famed for its cosmopolitan nature, where one can acquire the goods and services of every Clan in existence, and it seems this year the Emperor is of a mind to indulge in such opportunities.

Article:

This is also your chance to come up with interesting and useful NPCs to fill the ranks of your character roster. I have 63 spots to fill, after all, and while I will be coming up with a fair number of my own it's always a good idea to encourage player investment. So if you can provide a name and two of three lines of background and character notes for a potential NPC from one of the Phoenix families, please do so! There's no need to vote on each-other's entries, though working together to come up with interesting and complimentary combinations is highly encouraged - I will pick the ones I like and fill in any and all gaps that remain afterwards with my own ideas.

Which characters does your Clan count among their most important and powerful samurai?
[ ] Write in

Spoiler: QM's note

I'll also be formalizing some of my notes on technology, setting elements and the state of the other Clans at various points before the next update, so if you have anything you're particularly interesting in, please feel free to ask.

 

[Maugan Ra]

I'm just curious, but what's the average/standard equipment for Bushi and Ashigaru in this verse?

Click to shrink...

This is an important question, and one that I figured deserves a more detailed post. I'll also thread-mark this as a reference that everyone can use. As an explanation, I'm going to give you a list and some details on the basic equipment possessed by an 'average' warrior of one of the Great Clans.

Personal Military Equipment​

In the Empire of the Emerald Stars, warfare is understood to consist primarily of ranged combat, with melee playing an important but undeniably supporting role. There are of course exceptions - the Tsuruchi continue to favour ranged combat nigh-exclusively, while the Matsu have developed entire tactical doctrines based around a rapid charge into close quarters with one's foes - but the basic paradigm holds across the length and breadth of space with surprisingly little variation.

All samurai wield weapons and technology based around what the Phoenix know as 'radiant energy'. This refers to a carefully developed process wherein the elemental spirits slumbering in every piece of metal and every thread of cloth are ritually awakened, much in the manner of the nemurani of old. In addition to the spiritual significance of this act, the process of awakening a material's spirit also imbues it with vastly greatly physical capabilities, which can in turn be manipulated and customized by skilled craftsmen. Awakened steel is harder, sharper and lighter than the base metal, for example, and can acquire mystical resonance and additional capabilities with much greater ease than before.

(Awakening an already-extant artifact is a dangerous but extremely effective technique. The Ancestral Swords of the Great Clans have all undergone this process, and are possessed of legendary capabilities in their own right. Ofushikai, the Phoenix Clan sword, is not only capable of stilling an entire battlefield to peace, it also makes the wielder nigh-invulnerable so long as he or she makes no aggressive moves.)

Awakened items are the sole purview of the samurai caste, and peasants caught using them are generally executed on sight with only a very few exceptions.

The Daisho
Every samurai still carries the paired swords of their station, although many consider them more ceremonial items than practical weapons of war. Infused with radiant energy, these blades never lose their edge, and are sharp and hard enough to slice through steel plate with relative ease (assuming the wielder would even be so crude as to use their heirloom items for such a base cause).

Akodo Arms 'Indomitable' X32 Energy Rifle
The favored weapon of the frontline bushi, energy rifles such as this exploit advances in ritual spell casting to produce a fearsome offensive weapon. Ritual prayers have been inscribed into the awakened steel and ceramic frame of the weapon, and when the trigger is pulled the movement of the internal mechanisms brings the prayer-fragments together in a specialized invocation to the kami. This causes the spirits to generate a sharpened sliver of metal within the barrel, after which powerful magnets launch the projectile toward's ones enemies with great speed and accuracy.

The primary advantage of this kind of weapon is the effectively-infinite ammunition - so long as the internal mechanisms are in good condition, the weapon will fire without any need for pause or reload. For an empire that wages war across star systems, such a logistical advantage is of nigh-critical importance.

There are however two major drawbacks - if the internal mechanisms become damaged or dirty, the prayers will not be completed and the weapon will not fire, and it is much more difficult to design a weapon capable of firing more than once per trigger pull. Since this encourages a samurai to take good care of their equipment and perfect their skill with the weapon (rather than just spraying fire wildly), traditional thought in Rokugan holds such flaws as virtues and generally refuses to address them.

There are of course multiple patterns and designs, each intended to fulfil a different role or offer a unique advantage. The Crab often rely on a larger, more rugged version capable of generating shards of jade with which to smite their enemies, for example, while the Tsuruchi possess sniper-rifles capable of striking foes from many miles away.

'Yoroi' pattern armour
Forged primarily from incredibly thin pieces of ceramic plate and awakened metal, this armour is light, flexible and highly resilient to physical trauma. Most suits weigh about as much as a silk kimono and are capable of turning aside a shot from all but the heaviest of ranged weapons, which goes some way towards explaining why melee combat is still possible in Rokugani warfare.

(Of course, getting shot with a rifle will still leave you heavily bruised and potentially suffering from a broken bone or two if you're unlucky, so don't feel too confident).

More advanced armour tends towards utility rather than superior protection, and there is some stigma surrounding anything which might increase survival at the cost of battlefield effectiveness. The Unicorn, for example, clad their elite infantry in speed-boosting armour that allows them to keep up with vehicular transports for short distances and allows them to run up walls, while the Phoenix Clan's Inferno Legion favors armour enchanted to allow survival in the heart of a raging firestorm.