You will note that Monkey were not a listed option, and that there isn't a 'Write in' option given. I accept and even encourage player suggestions at different points in a Quest, but there's not much point offering them in a situation like this.
I mean, you can still vote for it, I'll just disregard the vote when I come to total them all up.
Side note! Does anyone know if there is a way to get an auto-counter for votes that works on a mobile device? This is drawing rather more interest than I was expecting (which I am very happy about, don't get me wrong), and I access the Internet on my pad for the most part, so a way to easily total up votes that works in those circumstances would be appreciated.
If not, oh well, I'll just have to do it manually. Not a serious problem.
I don't believe there is but I'd poke @Firnagzen about that. Failing that you could just ask the thread to run the program for you if you aren't on a computer with it, I suppose.
e- Shosuro'd
Some part of me yearns to go Crab, because the Yasuki are awesome... but we already have a Crab quest, and two quests might - *might* be too much Crab. Anyway, we get the Yasuki thing at one remove, so that's cool. Given that...
So, it looks like Scorpion is all but a lock. For looking forward, if this quest is using the same links/ruleset as Glory of the Emerald Empire is, I'd suggest for consideration... Shosuro for family, and either Soshi Shugenja or Bayushi Courtier for school. Both schools do some nice/interesting things as far as social combat, and starting a courtier-heavy game with Awareness 4 has got to be a good thing.
Vague character concept ideas...
- Shosuro shugenja pretending to be a Shosuro actor. The trademark effect of the Soshi shugenja school is the ability to fire off spells without having appeared to fire off spells. If we buy enough skill in the appropriate performance skills, we can say with all honesty that we're a member of an acting troupe. Stuff just... happens around us, sometimes.
Vague character concept ideas...
- Shosuro shugenja pretending to be a Shosuro actor. The trademark effect of the Soshi shugenja school is the ability to fire off spells without having appeared to fire off spells. If we buy enough skill in the appropriate performance skills, we can say with all honesty that we're a member of an acting troupe. Stuff just... happens around us, sometimes.
Well, if there's going to be a divergence from the main timeline, then it means no exile. Good, better is so we can figure out what we gonna do. I was gonna go for Crane since FAVORS and be all suave and persuasive, but at this point... Yeah.
Looking forward for this. L5R needs a lot more love.
We'd be playing the part of a scorpion actor with 4 starting awareness and limited per-day uses of intrigue-applicable superpowers. It's pretty heavily diplomacy/intrigue-specced already. Still, I'm not saying that there aren't plenty of other good builds out there. It was mostly for the part of a Shosuro who looked from the outside like he was totally playing to type, but in reality was only pretending to be a part of the school that has as its core schtick the art of pretending to be people they are not - and one who could and would lie glibly about what school he was a part of without telling any lies at all. He (or she, I suppose) is, after all, a Shosuro actor.
Still, if you don't like it, I welcome other proposals for character seeds. Have you any interesting ideas?
Let's see... after Day of Thunder, the Scorpion are basically rebuilding, with their only real power player being Bayushi Kachiko (seductress, empress, and Thunder, who blinded Fu Leng with the chopsticks from her hair). We should probably avoid playing a seductress ourselves - this isn't QQ. Still, our courtiers are acting from a position fo weakness in many ways, which means that we're going to be in "build influence" mode, rather than "crush our enemies" mode. At a basic level, that means accumulating as much in the way of secrets and blackmail as we can, spending that coin to get influence. We should only strike at those who have already set themselves as implacable enemies, or when the gain we can get for doing so clearly outweighs their ability to strike back. Cultivating a wary respect in the courts would also be worthwhile - making it clear that the foot that seeks to crush us *will* get stung.
So, given SV's decisions and luck in Winged Knight's quest, we are obviously going to frequently act like a bushi (no, autocorrect, not a sushi) and prove surprisingly good at it.
Back on topic though, on going with Scorpion: I'm of two minds about it. On one hand, they are awesome. On the others I have severe doubts about the feasibility of trying to play even one of the most straightforward Scorpions by committee.
So, it looks like Scorpion is all but a lock. For looking forward, if this quest is using the same links/ruleset as Glory of the Emerald Empire is, I'd suggest for consideration... Shosuro for family, and either Soshi Shugenja or Bayushi Courtier for school. Both schools do some nice/interesting things as far as social combat, and starting a courtier-heavy game with Awareness 4 has got to be a good thing.
Vague character concept ideas...
- Shosuro shugenja pretending to be a Shosuro actor. The trademark effect of the Soshi shugenja school is the ability to fire off spells without having appeared to fire off spells. If we buy enough skill in the appropriate performance skills, we can say with all honesty that we're a member of an acting troupe. Stuff just... happens around us, sometimes.
I quite like this; and I do happen to have a concept of my own that's flitted about in my brain for some time, for a Bayushi-trained Bushi, but I'm not sure how fitting it would be for this quest. I'll articulate it (or not) here when we know more.
So, given SV's decisions and luck in Winged Knight's quest, we are obviously going to frequently act like a bushi (no, autocorrect, not a sushi) and prove surprisingly good at it.
Back on topic though, on going with Scorpion: I'm of two minds about it. On one hand, they are awesome. On the others I have severe doubts about the feasibility of trying to play even one of the most straightforward Scorpions by committee.
Honestly I wouldn't worry too much. This kind of quest tends to attract invested voters, and as it so happens this particular quest has people that have, time and again, demonstrated nuance and understanding of realpolitik and socializing in Rokugan. I will grant you that this is SV, but I feel we'll be just fine
Honestly I wouldn't worry too much. This kind of quest tends to attract invested voters, and as it so happens this particular quest has people that have, time and again, demonstrated nuance and understanding of realpolitik and socializing in Rokugan. I will grant you that this is SV, but I feel we'll be just fine
It's not only about trying to not go derp with the votes but also the issue that even then committees tend to play in the moment, long term plans being generally hard of being followed, specially if it involves short term loss.
Well, I think that's enough votes for me to move forwards. I have to go out for a couple of hours this morning, so I'll get to work on writing the next part up when I get back.
If someone could please count up the votes (or run that fancy program which does it for you) by the time I get back, it would be appreciated.
You are a Scorpion, a member of one of the most feared and mistrusted Clans in all of Rokugan. You walk in the shadows, willing to do what others cannot, willing to say what they will not, sacrificing your honour for the good of the Empire. Seven years ago, your Clan turned on the Emperor himself, seeking to extinguish the Hantei line rather than risk the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy that might well bring down all of humanity.
You failed. The Last Hantei survived, and the Scorpion were stripped of their Clan status, named criminals and outcasts in the eyes of the Empire. Though you were just a child when this occurred, it has marked you indelibly, and you spent your early years without family or name to call your own. At least, not officially. In truth, the Scorpion were prepared for this, and sent their children into hiding to wait and continue their education until the time was right. It might have been illegal for you and your companions to call yourself Scorpions, but that was who and what you were, and it was a thought that kept you warm through even the coldest night.
Two years ago, you were proven correct. Fu Leng returned, possessing the body of the last of the Hantei emperors and seeking to spread his darkness over all of Rokugan. When the time came for the Great Clans to oppose him, your hidden brethren cast off their disguises and joined the fight with pride, while Bayushi Kachiko took her place as one of the Seven Thunders who opposed the enemy directly. Now you work to capitalize on that great victory, to regain your place in history and prove to the new Emperor that his decision to pardon and trust you was the correct one.
Just remember - Loyalty in all things.
But there are many kinds of Scorpion, and many paths they walk. Before we begin our story, we must first examine the details, that we might better know our lead performer.
Among the Samurai, there is relative equality between men and women. Both can be warriors or courtiers, and the Clan has been ruled by both before. There are no gender restrictions on your schools among the Scorpion. That said, there are still certain expectations that will depend on your gender, and certain NPCs may react differently to you based on such things.
What gender are you?
- [ ] Male
- [ ] Female
After your Gempukku, where a child becomes an adult, it is often traditional for a Samurai to choose their own name. Many imbue this event with some significance - a samurai who takes the name of a glorious ancestor is signaling their intent to mimic or learn from that example, and many will take note of it... including the ancestor themselves.
What is your personal name?
- [ ] Write in
Aside from a samurai's Clan, perhaps the most important thing is their family. It shapes their upbringing, their expectations, and how the world outside their estate reacts to them.
What is your family?
- [ ] Bayushi. The lords of the Clan, the Bayushi have made themselves the iconic Scorpion family in the eyes of many. They deliberately act to draw the attention of others, being both charming and deceptive, hiding their intricate schemes and sinister agenda behind a sincere smile.
- [ ] Shosuro. Descended from the first of Bayushi's servants, the Shosuro embody all that is subtle and covert about the Scorpion. They train their children to move without notice, be it in the wilderness or the courts, and to carry out the commands of their lords with quiet efficiency and murderous precision.
- [ ] Soshi. The first of the Scorpion Shugenja families, the Soshi family specialize in providing magical and spiritual assistance to their lords. They are calm and quiet, the very best at accomplishing their goals without giving the slightest hint that they have done anything at all.
- [ ] Yogo. Sinister and feared even compared to the other Scorpion, the Yogo are morbid and reserved. Their line has been cursed by Fu Leng, such that every true born member will one day betray the thing they love the most, and this has shaped their outlook and behavior throughout all of history.
Most Samurai attend one of the schools that bears their family name, but this is by no means guaranteed. The Scorpion have little regard for mere tradition when it comes to this moment - a child can only attend one school, and if their talents and attitude indicate that they will best serve the Clan in a particular function then that is what they will be trained to do.
Which school did you attend?
- [ ] The Bayushi Courtier. The Scorpion have a skill and presence in the courts second only to that of the Crane, and their reputation is certainly more fearsome. Courtiers are trained to read the weaknesses of others, to exploit their secrets and ensnare them in a web of lies and intrigue.
- [ ] The Bayushi Bushi. All samurai are warriors, and the court is a battlefield like any other. The Scorpion recognize this, and as such train their Bushi to serve here as well as in the field. They are duelists and Yojimbo, able to comport themselves in a civilized fashion while serving as the murderous instruments of their lords.
- [ ] The Soshi Shugenja. The Soshi understand as few others do that the Kami are, above all else, fundamentally inhuman. They can and will do almost anything if properly entreated. The Shugenja of this school focus on Air magic, specializing in illusions and deceptions, and can invoke the Kami without any giving any indication that they are casting spells at all.
- [ ] The Soshi Magistrates. The Scorpion have a strong tradition of law enforcement, and indeed it was Soshi Saibankan who first helped codify the laws of the Empire and established the Magistrate tradition. Students of this school learn how to keep the peace through fear and carefully applied violence, disabling and interrogating their targets before metting out the appropriate punishment... or, perhaps, recruiting them.
- [ ] The Shosuro Actors. The Scorpion are famous for their actors, and graduates of this school are acknowledged masters in the field, sought out by other Clans and important personages of all kinds. They practice an extreme form of method acting, subsuming their own identities and taking on the roles of those they would portray until they alter their very thoughts. Of course, as the Scorpion have long since learned, there are many more covert uses for someone able to flawlessly adopt a false identity at will...
- [ ] The Shosuro Infiltrators. Very few beyond the borders of the Scorpion Clan know that this school exists, and those who do know to stay silent or meet an unfortunate end, for this is where the Scorpion train their covert operatives. Spies, assassins and saboteurs, the Shosuro carry out their work with grim efficiency and absolute discretion. After all, as everyone knows, there is no such thing as a ninja.
- [ ] The Yogo Wardmasters. The Yogo are the unquestioned masters of Ward magic in Rokugan - spells that protect or influence areas rather than specific targets. They keep the secrets of the Scorpion safe behind magical walls, and have even mastered the art of imbuing spells into specially prepared pieces of parchment for rapid deployment in the field.
[X] Shosuro. Descended from the first of Bayushi's servants, the Shosuro embody all that is subtle and covert about the Scorpion. They train their children to move without notice, be it in the wilderness or the courts, and to carry out the commands of their lords with quiet efficiency and murderous precision.
[X] The Soshi Shugenja. The Soshi understand as few others do that the Kami are, above all else, fundamentally inhuman. They can and will do almost anything if properly entreated. The Shugenja of this school focus on Air magic, specializing in illusions and deceptions, and can invoke the Kami without any giving any indication that they are casting spells at all.
Going with @Sirrocco's suggestion from earlier. No preference for name or gender.
[X] Male
[X] Naoto
[X] Shosuro. Descended from the first of Bayushi's servants, the Shosuro embody all that is subtle and covert about the Scorpion. They train their children to move without notice, be it in the wilderness or the courts, and to carry out the commands of their lords with quiet efficiency and murderous precision.
[X] The Soshi Shugenja. The Soshi understand as few others do that the Kami are, above all else, fundamentally inhuman. They can and will do almost anything if properly entreated. The Shugenja of this school focus on Air magic, specializing in illusions and deceptions, and can invoke the Kami without any giving any indication that they are casting spells at all.
Naoto can mean honest person in Japanese it depends on how it is written in kanji. I just find that funny as a Scorpion Clan name.
Man I really wanted to go Mantis a Tsuruchi Archer would of been so cool but Scorpion can be neat too.
[X] Male
[X] Naoto
[X] Shosuro. Descended from the first of Bayushi's servants, the Shosuro embody all that is subtle and covert about the Scorpion. They train their children to move without notice, be it in the wilderness or the courts, and to carry out the commands of their lords with quiet efficiency and murderous precision.
[X] The Soshi Shugenja. The Soshi understand as few others do that the Kami are, above all else, fundamentally inhuman. They can and will do almost anything if properly entreated. The Shugenja of this school focus on Air magic, specializing in illusions and deceptions, and can invoke the Kami without any giving any indication that they are casting spells at all.
- [X] Soshi. The first of the Scorpion Shugenja families, the Soshi family specialize in providing magical and spiritual assistance to their lords. They are calm and quiet, the very best at accomplishing their goals without giving the slightest hint that they have done anything at all.
- [X] The Bayushi Bushi. All samurai are warriors, and the court is a battlefield like any other. The Scorpion recognize this, and as such train their Bushi to serve here as well as in the field. They are duelists and Yojimbo, able to comport themselves in a civilized fashion while serving as the murderous instruments of their lords.
So. This is a bit of an oddball choice, I will freely admit, and as the more knowledgeable among us can clearly see. That's okay, though; we wouldn't be getting all these options if we weren't intended to come up with votes, now would we? My idea is straightforward.
Soshi are quiet and centered. They are serene, insightful and dutiful. They are also rather intelligent.
Bayushi Bushi are suave and charismatic. They are as able with a word as with a blade - and they are very able with a blade. They are warriors, as the vote says, and they can do their work just as well in a court. They are also, ostensibly, rather intelligent.
If I were to, oh, not metagame per se, but recall the inherited attributes of the Soshi, and the impressed-upon by education attributes of the Bayushi Bushi, I would recall that they both increase, mechanically, Intelligence by 1 each. Which equals Intelligence 4.
4 is about where you reach 'peak human capability', as it so happens.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I quite like the idea of being a stoic, solemn, ingenious swordsperson of indeterminate gender - as we've the position of a Bushi and Yojimbo, there is no pressing need to be exceptional at socializing out of the initial, starting arc. I would say that we could, if this vote wins, develop those skills over time, exploiting what opportunities we find along the way with our above-average social skills (and huge brain).
Sword-courtier. Swordier?
Regardless, that's my pitch and I'm sticking with it, although I will happily admit I just adore the Soshi/Shosuro concept. Anyway, what does everyone think?
- [x] Yogo. Sinister and feared even compared to the other Scorpion, the Yogo are morbid and reserved. Their line has been cursed by Fu Leng, such that every true born member will one day betray the thing they love the most, and this has shaped their outlook and behavior throughout all of history.
For Max tragedy
[X] The Soshi Shugenja. The Soshi understand as few others do that the Kami are, above all else, fundamentally inhuman. They can and will do almost anything if properly entreated. The Shugenja of this school focus on Air magic, specializing in illusions and deceptions, and can invoke the Kami without any giving any indication that they are casting spells at all.
- [X] Soshi. The first of the Scorpion Shugenja families, the Soshi family specialize in providing magical and spiritual assistance to their lords. They are calm and quiet, the very best at accomplishing their goals without giving the slightest hint that they have done anything at all.
- [X] The Bayushi Bushi. All samurai are warriors, and the court is a battlefield like any other. The Scorpion recognize this, and as such train their Bushi to serve here as well as in the field. They are duelists and Yojimbo, able to comport themselves in a civilized fashion while serving as the murderous instruments of their lords.
So. This is a bit of an oddball choice, I will freely admit, and as the more knowledgeable among us can clearly see. That's okay, though; we wouldn't be getting all these options if we weren't intended to come up with votes, now would we? My idea is straightforward.
Soshi are quiet and centered. They are serene, insightful and dutiful. They are also rather intelligent.
Bayushi Bushi are suave and charismatic. They are as able with a word as with a blade - and they are very able with a blade. They are warriors, as the vote says, and they can do their work just as well in a court. They are also, ostensibly, rather intelligent.
If I were to, oh, not metagame per se, but recall the inherited attributes of the Soshi, and the impressed-upon by education attributes of the Bayushi Bushi, I would recall that they both increase, mechanically, Intelligence by 1 each. Which equals Intelligence 4.
4 is about where you reach 'peak human capability', as it so happens.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I quite like the idea of being a stoic, solemn, ingenious swordsperson of indeterminate gender - as we've the position of a Bushi and Yojimbo, there is no pressing need to be exceptional at socializing out of the initial, starting arc. I would say that we could, if this vote wins, develop those skills over time, exploiting what opportunities we find along the way with our above-average social skills (and huge brain).
Sword-courtier. Swordier?
Regardless, that's my pitch and I'm sticking with it, although I will happily admit I just adore the Soshi/Shosuro concept. Anyway, what does everyone think?
The obvious niche to fit in at that point is the information-gatherer - pick up some healthy investigation and lore skills, and just be they guy who Knows Stuff (with a nice, healthy ability to ask the QM for knowledge checks on a variety of things). Given that we're court-focused, we'd probably also want to build up some ability at duelling.
It's an interesting character concept in some ways, but... it's perhaps too much of a support character. Our most effective strategy would often be in the form of telling our courtier friends stuff for them to go off and exploit - which seems like it basically consists of "make a roll on an informational skill or few, then paraphrase". We'd likely get into a fair number of duels (particularly if dealing with crane) and they're better at it than we are. I like the character, but I'm not sure I like the playstyle as much. I'd much rather have someone like that as an NPC.
For the other immediately available double-stack, we have the Shosuro/Bayushi Courtier combo. Subtle and covert, moving without notice, and a master of opposed social rolls - especially against those with flaws. This is a courtier who seems to just blend in, so that you barely notice her... until she speaks up and devastates your carefully constructed position. She takes the approach of her family - moving unnoticed, striking without warning, and targeting weak points, but applies it to the social sphere instead of the physical. She's also extremely charismatic, and probably spends a lot of time speaking quietly with the help - turning them to her side, gaining their trust, even improving their lives in exchange for whatever little tidbits of information they might let flow through. After all, she's lived through hardship and deprivation, just as they have. Indeed, her life for much of the time growing up resembled theirs far more than it did those of her "fellow" samurai-caste... and if the foes she most devastates in the social arena are those who treat their servants the worst? Surely it is just that those are the ones easiest to gain information on via her preferred methods. What use has a Scorpion for Compassion?
[x] Female
[x] Shosuro
[x] Bayushi Courtier
Oh - and for vote-counting, could we link gender with name, and school with family?
- [x] Yogo. Sinister and feared even compared to the other Scorpion, the Yogo are morbid and reserved. Their line has been cursed by Fu Leng, such that every true born member will one day betray the thing they love the most, and this has shaped their outlook and behavior throughout all of history.
