Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)
- Status
Sirrocco
Pedantic
We might yet get there. After all, we're just calling out the witnesses. You can bet that we won't be dueling any of the *magistrate's* warriors. Asako-sama isn't dumb like that.
Arc 1: Your Soul on the Line
[x] OBJECTION
You feel your anger burning. You're not one to get on a high horse or anything, you're a ronin now, you've had to do things you aren't proud of.
But this is a travesty of justice and you know it.
To come this far and be turned back by a corrupt magistrate? No, you will not have it.
Not when you know the truth.
You step forward.
"Asako-sama, I saw the men who kidnapped his wife carry her out of their house wrapped in a bag. Anyone who said she left willingly has perjured themselves and befouled their own names. I will gladly answer the challenge of any of them who can gather together the tatters of their honour enough to offer me one."
"My, my, my....how bold, I don't think you have any room to talk ronin-san, after all...you..."
"No, she gets to have a duel, Asako-sama, even you can't deny her that." Toshiro says stepping forward.
"Do you think so? It's a simple fact that I decree her testimony as invalid, after all she is a ronin no doubt she misunderstood things being new to our fair city."
"I may be new, but I am samurai. If you question my honour and honesty that I demand a duel to prove myself."
"Hmmm...no"
Toshiro takes a dangerous step forward.
"...careful Kakita-san...if I think you're threatening me..."
"MASAKOTO, I ACCUSE YOU OF BEING A TRAITOR TO THE EMPIRE. IF YOU WISH TO FACE MY CHAMPION IN COMBAT TO PROVE ME FALSE YOU MAY. SHOULD I BE WRONG THEN I WILL TAKE THE THREE CUTS"
Everyone stares at Toshiro, he...he just put himself on the line, normally a duel is to first blood, even in criminal matters where execution isn't the punishment. But this, this required a death duel.
"You can't be seriou---"
"I AM SERIOUS!"
"...Fine, then the ronin is your champion."
"FINE, WE DUEL NOW!"
"...Don't I get a say in this?"
"Megumi-san, you already challenged me to a duel, I thought you wanted this?"
"Hai."
You hadn't quite intended it to be a death duel though.
"Then let us begin. Shiro-san?"
A small, lithe looking man steps in front of Masakoto.
"Hai, Asako-sama."
"Deal with this please?"
"With pleasure, Asako-sama."
He takes a strange looking stance and shouts out.
"SHOW ME YOUR STANCE!"
"I am Megumi, the ronin of no house and no sensei, I honour you with this match," You snarl taking your own stance.
You weren't a barbarian with no consideration for the proper etiquette of a duel after all.
The world seems to slow down as the air feels your skin. The sounds of people stop as all watch, you study him, and try to divine his weakness...but all you can find is that he is as good as you are at Iaijutsu.
Damn...
You let yourself sink into the void into the mystical moment between moments where all is one and one is all. The perfect moment of the cut.
There you can see the line to kill him in one blow. You draw. The ugly acid burned sword that is your soul sings in the sunlight as it cleaves through his defences slamming into his shoulder and side. It would be a one hit, one kill...if not for your sword shattering into a dozen pieces as it gets lodged into his side.
Shiro looks at you with no small amount of amazement. He's hurt, but this is a duel to the death, and that means it's not over yet. He draws his own katana to take attack you.
You drop the hilt of your beloved katana and draw your wakizashi. As much as you hate it, you have to give this round to him.
His hands tremble as with wordless rage Shiro charges.
A slight twisting of your feet and you dodge his strike by miles.
You swing at his open midsection but fall short, the reach of the wakizashi is just not...what you're used to.
Shiro attacks again. You step backwards letting his fearsome blow slam into the ground. Taking a running charge forward you swing at him in a hit and run attack, nicking his face in what should have been a killing blow.
Yet, somehow he dodges it.
The two of you circle around each other. The duelling circle just formed was getting rowdy with Masakoto's thugs urging Shiro on to kill you. But the sound of Toshiro shouting for you to win helps a little.
Three blows Shiro throws at you, his knuckles white from the grip he keeps. You dodge each time easily, but you can't get a good hit on him again either, another hit and run sees him blocking you entirely.
This isn't working, the blood dripping down your arm reminds you that you are on a timer as well.
Flicking the blood off your wakizashi, you re-sheathe your honour, taking an iaijutsu stance.
'Your honour must never be tarnished Sakura-chan, but in the event that you have no other option, this is how you draw it.'
Arigato, sensei.
You muse as Shiro charges at you, his swing goes wide. You bring out your weapon in a brutal strike, cutting the man's head off, blood flies away from you as he crumples.
Once again, you complete the ritual of flicking off the blood from your weapon.
"...Urk..."
A strong female voice emerges out of the crowd.
"...Well well Masakoto, it seems our little ronin friend has won the death duel. You do know what happens now."
Masakoto turns, sweat dripping down his face.
"Her katana broke, it wasn't an official duel."
Towering over you, over everyone, a woman stands up, her muscles ripple with tightly controlled power. Her clothing is simple and her face more handsome than beautiful, but you don't doubt that wherever she goes, people pay attention. On the side, you note that her mons are that of the Akodo.
"A coward to the end eh?" She asks.
Faster than you can see, the Akodo woman draws her katana and kills Masakoto in a single blow. Still holding out her sword she gestures to the remaining thugs.
"The rest of you lot disperse, unless you want Akodo steel."
They sensibly run away from the giant Akodo woman.
"Well Kakita-san, still need me to bail you out of trouble."
"Akodo-sama." Toshiro bows to the ground.
You hastily bow to the ground too. That seems wise...
The feel of steel on the back of your neck.
"I should kill your ronin friend too, her soul broke after all...but on the other hand, she won the duel, so the Heavens smile on her...I suppose she needs to work off her kharma..."
"Akodo-sama?" Toshiro ventures cautiously.
"Rise, Kakita-san, and introduce me to your friend."
Toshiro scrambles to his feet, you can hear him more than see him.
"Megumi-san, this is Akodo Tsukiko-sama, chui of the 10th Imperial Legion and Captain of Otomo Hairyu's Special Missions Team."
The sensation you get is that she's smiling like a satisfied cat.
"Hai, and in exchange for getting your lovely wife back, you're both about to volunteer."
"Akodo-sama?"
"You have three weeks to get you and her up to par Kakita-san, then you both need to report to the Barracks in Eiyuu, understood?"
What could you say to that?
"HAI!"
...was about all you could say about it.
"Now, go home while your dear Taisa takes care of business."
You are sure of a few things in life. The fact that Akodo Tsukiko scares you is one of them.
Toshiro nods, and gestures for you to gather the shards of your sword.
-------------
Kakita Reika sits before you, cuddled into her husband's side.
Ordinarily you can tell that she wouldn't be violating decorum, but as her short white hair rests against his chest, you can also tell she's too scared to not do it right now.
Definitely not a fighter, her blue eyes are wide and she seems to be almost perpetually jumpy.
"Ano...I um...I don't...make good swords Megumi-san."
"You make fantastic swords."
"...But that one..."
"Mistakes happen, and she did break the sword for you."
"Um...I...no, I will help...ano...Megumi-san. Do you have a name in mind for your sword?"
"Eh?"
"The katana is an extension of your soul Megumi-san, a part of you. If I am to properly make a weapon for you, I need to know it's name...ano, if you don't mind telling me that is."
[] Write in
(For a write in to be valid it must be the following:
-Elementally themed [Water, Fire, Earth, Air, Void ect]
-In Japanese (With translation)
-consisting of no more than three words
--------
You feel your anger burning. You're not one to get on a high horse or anything, you're a ronin now, you've had to do things you aren't proud of.
But this is a travesty of justice and you know it.
To come this far and be turned back by a corrupt magistrate? No, you will not have it.
Not when you know the truth.
You step forward.
"Asako-sama, I saw the men who kidnapped his wife carry her out of their house wrapped in a bag. Anyone who said she left willingly has perjured themselves and befouled their own names. I will gladly answer the challenge of any of them who can gather together the tatters of their honour enough to offer me one."
"My, my, my....how bold, I don't think you have any room to talk ronin-san, after all...you..."
"No, she gets to have a duel, Asako-sama, even you can't deny her that." Toshiro says stepping forward.
"Do you think so? It's a simple fact that I decree her testimony as invalid, after all she is a ronin no doubt she misunderstood things being new to our fair city."
"I may be new, but I am samurai. If you question my honour and honesty that I demand a duel to prove myself."
"Hmmm...no"
Toshiro takes a dangerous step forward.
"...careful Kakita-san...if I think you're threatening me..."
"MASAKOTO, I ACCUSE YOU OF BEING A TRAITOR TO THE EMPIRE. IF YOU WISH TO FACE MY CHAMPION IN COMBAT TO PROVE ME FALSE YOU MAY. SHOULD I BE WRONG THEN I WILL TAKE THE THREE CUTS"
Everyone stares at Toshiro, he...he just put himself on the line, normally a duel is to first blood, even in criminal matters where execution isn't the punishment. But this, this required a death duel.
"You can't be seriou---"
"I AM SERIOUS!"
"...Fine, then the ronin is your champion."
"FINE, WE DUEL NOW!"
"...Don't I get a say in this?"
"Megumi-san, you already challenged me to a duel, I thought you wanted this?"
"Hai."
You hadn't quite intended it to be a death duel though.
"Then let us begin. Shiro-san?"
A small, lithe looking man steps in front of Masakoto.
"Hai, Asako-sama."
"Deal with this please?"
"With pleasure, Asako-sama."
He takes a strange looking stance and shouts out.
"SHOW ME YOUR STANCE!"
"I am Megumi, the ronin of no house and no sensei, I honour you with this match," You snarl taking your own stance.
You weren't a barbarian with no consideration for the proper etiquette of a duel after all.
The world seems to slow down as the air feels your skin. The sounds of people stop as all watch, you study him, and try to divine his weakness...but all you can find is that he is as good as you are at Iaijutsu.
Damn...
You let yourself sink into the void into the mystical moment between moments where all is one and one is all. The perfect moment of the cut.
There you can see the line to kill him in one blow. You draw. The ugly acid burned sword that is your soul sings in the sunlight as it cleaves through his defences slamming into his shoulder and side. It would be a one hit, one kill...if not for your sword shattering into a dozen pieces as it gets lodged into his side.
Shiro looks at you with no small amount of amazement. He's hurt, but this is a duel to the death, and that means it's not over yet. He draws his own katana to take attack you.
You drop the hilt of your beloved katana and draw your wakizashi. As much as you hate it, you have to give this round to him.
His hands tremble as with wordless rage Shiro charges.
A slight twisting of your feet and you dodge his strike by miles.
You swing at his open midsection but fall short, the reach of the wakizashi is just not...what you're used to.
Shiro attacks again. You step backwards letting his fearsome blow slam into the ground. Taking a running charge forward you swing at him in a hit and run attack, nicking his face in what should have been a killing blow.
Yet, somehow he dodges it.
The two of you circle around each other. The duelling circle just formed was getting rowdy with Masakoto's thugs urging Shiro on to kill you. But the sound of Toshiro shouting for you to win helps a little.
Three blows Shiro throws at you, his knuckles white from the grip he keeps. You dodge each time easily, but you can't get a good hit on him again either, another hit and run sees him blocking you entirely.
This isn't working, the blood dripping down your arm reminds you that you are on a timer as well.
Flicking the blood off your wakizashi, you re-sheathe your honour, taking an iaijutsu stance.
'Your honour must never be tarnished Sakura-chan, but in the event that you have no other option, this is how you draw it.'
Arigato, sensei.
You muse as Shiro charges at you, his swing goes wide. You bring out your weapon in a brutal strike, cutting the man's head off, blood flies away from you as he crumples.
Once again, you complete the ritual of flicking off the blood from your weapon.
"...Urk..."
A strong female voice emerges out of the crowd.
"...Well well Masakoto, it seems our little ronin friend has won the death duel. You do know what happens now."
Masakoto turns, sweat dripping down his face.
"Her katana broke, it wasn't an official duel."
Towering over you, over everyone, a woman stands up, her muscles ripple with tightly controlled power. Her clothing is simple and her face more handsome than beautiful, but you don't doubt that wherever she goes, people pay attention. On the side, you note that her mons are that of the Akodo.
"A coward to the end eh?" She asks.
Faster than you can see, the Akodo woman draws her katana and kills Masakoto in a single blow. Still holding out her sword she gestures to the remaining thugs.
"The rest of you lot disperse, unless you want Akodo steel."
They sensibly run away from the giant Akodo woman.
"Well Kakita-san, still need me to bail you out of trouble."
"Akodo-sama." Toshiro bows to the ground.
You hastily bow to the ground too. That seems wise...
The feel of steel on the back of your neck.
"I should kill your ronin friend too, her soul broke after all...but on the other hand, she won the duel, so the Heavens smile on her...I suppose she needs to work off her kharma..."
"Akodo-sama?" Toshiro ventures cautiously.
"Rise, Kakita-san, and introduce me to your friend."
Toshiro scrambles to his feet, you can hear him more than see him.
"Megumi-san, this is Akodo Tsukiko-sama, chui of the 10th Imperial Legion and Captain of Otomo Hairyu's Special Missions Team."
The sensation you get is that she's smiling like a satisfied cat.
"Hai, and in exchange for getting your lovely wife back, you're both about to volunteer."
"Akodo-sama?"
"You have three weeks to get you and her up to par Kakita-san, then you both need to report to the Barracks in Eiyuu, understood?"
What could you say to that?
"HAI!"
...was about all you could say about it.
"Now, go home while your dear Taisa takes care of business."
You are sure of a few things in life. The fact that Akodo Tsukiko scares you is one of them.
Toshiro nods, and gestures for you to gather the shards of your sword.
-------------
Kakita Reika sits before you, cuddled into her husband's side.
Ordinarily you can tell that she wouldn't be violating decorum, but as her short white hair rests against his chest, you can also tell she's too scared to not do it right now.
Definitely not a fighter, her blue eyes are wide and she seems to be almost perpetually jumpy.
"Ano...I um...I don't...make good swords Megumi-san."
"You make fantastic swords."
"...But that one..."
"Mistakes happen, and she did break the sword for you."
"Um...I...no, I will help...ano...Megumi-san. Do you have a name in mind for your sword?"
"Eh?"
"The katana is an extension of your soul Megumi-san, a part of you. If I am to properly make a weapon for you, I need to know it's name...ano, if you don't mind telling me that is."
[] Write in
(For a write in to be valid it must be the following:
-Elementally themed [Water, Fire, Earth, Air, Void ect]
-In Japanese (With translation)
-consisting of no more than three words
--------
With that our first introductory arc draws to a close. Megumi has over all conducted herself with honour and dignity. So she gains .4 honour.
(Over all 1.4 but you lost a whole point for breaking your katana, bad juju that. It actually wasn't going to break on a 20 or lower damage roll but then Megumi out of the gate got a 35 damage roll)
Megumi has rather pointedly made her début and has acquired both glory for helping end Masakoto's terrible ways, but infamy for having her katana broken.
Rather than give a blanket xp amount. This Quest is going to have down time during the arcs that you can use to upgrade your skills or traits by training with people. Training with people costs a number of actions. How fruitful this action is depends on the trainer and their general skill levels.
You get a number of actions equal to your Insight Rank+2
To reach a new rank in a skill you must train with someone who is more skilled than that rank. (Ex to have someone train you to kyujutsu 3 you would need a trainer who had kyujutsu 4 or above and so on. This does not mean that kyujutsu 3 the previous trainer could not train you to kyujutsu 4. It does mean you need a new trainer for kyujutsu 5)
To reach a new rank in a trait you must spend time using that trait and growing it with a trainer. This costs two actions to do and is subject to the same restriction as above (ex. To learn Agility 4 you need to train with someone who has agility 5. This does not mean that they cannot teach you Agility 5. This does not mean that your agility trainer could not then train you to agility 5. It does mean you would need a new trainer for agility 6.)
You may opt to self train but the action cost is doubled.
-------
Currently Megumi has 3 actions
She loses 1 action for general daily work at the monastery.
She can train with the following people for skills. (You may only train one skill with a person at at time)
Brother Jubei: Athletics, Jiujutsu, Heavy Weapons, Etiquette
Sister Aya: Lore Theology, Investigation, Spears, Sincerity
Sister Cho Medicine, Divination, Lore Ivory Kingdoms, Staves
Kaiu Tanako: Craft Armor, Craft: Tools, Lore: Clans, Intimidation
Kakita Toshiro: Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu, Courtier, Lore: Law
Kakita Reika: Craft: Weapons, Artisan: Poetry, Perform: Biwa, Lore: History
Megumi may train the following people for traits. (You may only train one trait with a person at one time)
Brother Jubei: Stamina, Strength
Sister Aya: Intelligence, Perception
Sister Cho: Void, Willpower
Kakita Toshirio: Agility, Reflexes
Kakita Reika: Awareness
(As always vote what you want with [] and x in the square bracket)
(Over all 1.4 but you lost a whole point for breaking your katana, bad juju that. It actually wasn't going to break on a 20 or lower damage roll but then Megumi out of the gate got a 35 damage roll)
Megumi has rather pointedly made her début and has acquired both glory for helping end Masakoto's terrible ways, but infamy for having her katana broken.
Rather than give a blanket xp amount. This Quest is going to have down time during the arcs that you can use to upgrade your skills or traits by training with people. Training with people costs a number of actions. How fruitful this action is depends on the trainer and their general skill levels.
You get a number of actions equal to your Insight Rank+2
To reach a new rank in a skill you must train with someone who is more skilled than that rank. (Ex to have someone train you to kyujutsu 3 you would need a trainer who had kyujutsu 4 or above and so on. This does not mean that kyujutsu 3 the previous trainer could not train you to kyujutsu 4. It does mean you need a new trainer for kyujutsu 5)
To reach a new rank in a trait you must spend time using that trait and growing it with a trainer. This costs two actions to do and is subject to the same restriction as above (ex. To learn Agility 4 you need to train with someone who has agility 5. This does not mean that they cannot teach you Agility 5. This does not mean that your agility trainer could not then train you to agility 5. It does mean you would need a new trainer for agility 6.)
You may opt to self train but the action cost is doubled.
-------
Currently Megumi has 3 actions
She loses 1 action for general daily work at the monastery.
She can train with the following people for skills. (You may only train one skill with a person at at time)
Brother Jubei: Athletics, Jiujutsu, Heavy Weapons, Etiquette
Sister Aya: Lore Theology, Investigation, Spears, Sincerity
Sister Cho Medicine, Divination, Lore Ivory Kingdoms, Staves
Kaiu Tanako: Craft Armor, Craft: Tools, Lore: Clans, Intimidation
Kakita Toshiro: Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu, Courtier, Lore: Law
Kakita Reika: Craft: Weapons, Artisan: Poetry, Perform: Biwa, Lore: History
Megumi may train the following people for traits. (You may only train one trait with a person at one time)
Brother Jubei: Stamina, Strength
Sister Aya: Intelligence, Perception
Sister Cho: Void, Willpower
Kakita Toshirio: Agility, Reflexes
Kakita Reika: Awareness
(As always vote what you want with [] and x in the square bracket)
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I was seeing it as the former but if enough people want it to be the latter I can roll with that.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I'm actually thinking about something related to the Void. We're broken, our old life was broken, but hopefully we will be able to become not only empty but full, to go from encompassing nothing to containing everything.
My first thought would be something like Wind's Echo (Kaze no Hibiki) but I'm open to other suggestions.
My first thought would be something like Wind's Echo (Kaze no Hibiki) but I'm open to other suggestions.
barenhart
Gender-sensitive. Female. Trans.
- Location
- Seattle, WA (Alki)
[] "Hogo-fū" (Protecting Wind)
-[] Along with a hanging scroll "Kaze konagona o kyōju / Kaze taeru hogo" (Reaping wind shatters / Protecting wind endures)
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Hanging Scroll? I don't get it.
barenhart
Gender-sensitive. Female. Trans.
- Location
- Seattle, WA (Alki)
Last edited:
barenhart
Gender-sensitive. Female. Trans.
- Location
- Seattle, WA (Alki)
Kakita Reika is a Crane and an artisan. Hanging scrolls with brief aspirational images and warnings are a staple of tea ceremony and cultural artwork. I figured that Sakura and Reika would talk and this addition might serve as a reminder to the ronin and a push away from bloodthirstiness... she saw where THAT landed her own husband.
I still don't understand? Do you want to put the scroll in the sword?
Just have a scroll? It's a very nice sentiment, and indeed if you wanted to pair name your daisho that way, I'm fine with it. However, I'm somewhat at a loss as to what the scroll is for or how it would be included in a sword.
Lovely, do you actually have something to share with the class or are you just complaining because I decided to employ different mechanics to the other l5r quests?
Warning For Marginal Behavior - Rule 3 - Let's leave off with the juvenile silliness
the concept that no one can 'get good' without someone better being there to hold their hand is both retarded and offensive also you smell bad.
- Location
- North Carolina
If you don't like it, well, no one's forcing you to play. If you don't like the system, that's ok. It's not ok to be rude.
- Location
- North Carolina
It's possible to express the same sentiment without being rude.
That's not actually what it says or intended to imply.
I'm playing with the level up system because I find XP while a useful mechanic also a limiting one, and thus use actions to represent the concept of training yourself up. In turn a mix of formalized skills and traits are provided in the form of sensei to learn from. While not explicitly included if the people participating in this quest wanted to vote for Megumi to train on her own with her actions I' d allow it .
It's not included because its honestly a bad idea at Megumi's skill level, she gets more out of having a sensei at this point in her development. I'm not a fan of including trap options.
I'm also somewhat baffled at this idea that going to people to help learn how to do the formal stuff. (the various lores, courtly skills, and so on) wouldn't require a sensei as they're entirely tied to the culture of the setting.
That's ignoring the fact that the system is still in refinement and in fact will evolve as Megumi does.
And finally, regardless what you think of the system. Calling me smelly immediately causes your complaint to be seen as less than valid because you resorted to a personal attack.
But, hey, why let the opportunity to provide constructive meaningful criticism that would help me improve the game get in the way of slinging about insults because that's what we're here for, insults.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
- Status