Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)
- Status
- Location
- Leeds
I don't know what Megumis preferred technique would be so I'll default to
[X] The Lesson of Musubi no Kami
To fill gaps in our group.
[X] The Lesson of Musubi no Kami
To fill gaps in our group.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
So, on further thought, I'm going to advocate a different position.
[x]The Lesson of Kaze no Kami
Musubi no Kami is great for what it is. It makes it much easier to navigate through a court full of people who outrank you without offending anyone, and without getting killed for it. On the flip side, most of the time, not offending people is a pretty low bar, and we have and etiquette+awareness of 10k5 (10k6+2 after void). At that level, the only time you need to worry about not *offending* people is when you're doing something really dicey to begin with, and we have an honor rank of 5 that would be applicable in almost all pertinent cases if we roll low. Even with all that, I'd absolutely go for Musubi if we were in charge of this little group, but we're not. We have a fairly high-ranking Scorpion in the lead, and the Glory and Status difference there are significant enough that by default, we won't be the ones doing the talking. By default I'd see us using it maybe once or twice over the remaining span of campaign, and then retiring to a life that involved much less of it. There's also a definite use case for guerrilla manipulation-from-below. If we were ninja, and had large amounts of information but low status, then having someone who could go to various high-ranking individuals, grovel, tell them things and escape without dying would be a significant exploitable resource, but we don't have that sort of information, and, again, we have some reasonably high-ranking people currently in the party. I agree that social is where we as a party are weakest right now, and this is a potentially potent social tool, but I don't think it's the social that we need.
Yama no Kami is also great for what it is. It's the sort of ability that would really thrive in the kind of fight that Hida Crazy wants to drag us into where we just whale on each other until one of us falls over, and it leverages our Void ring rather nicely. It's an art of attrition battles, and having real healing on tap could be useful in a number of situations. On the other hand, we have not one but two shugenja along for this trip, and I don't really see us heading to the Wall once this is done, just like I don't see us trying to live out "tiny fish in a large pond" games in the imperial court (the sort of place where Musubi no Kami would pay off again and again).
Kaze no Kami gives us a few useful things. It gives us a powerful simple-action ranged attack that is available instantly at pretty much all times. It gives it to us in a badass package that we can use to impress or intimidate. It gives us a real option to deal with opponents who have a lot of DR. If we want to be welcomed back into the Kakita, this is the kind of lesson that will get us back into the Kakita. It also seems the most useful or suitable for the kind of life I see us actually leading once we're done here.
debate welcome.
[x]The Lesson of Kaze no Kami
Musubi no Kami is great for what it is. It makes it much easier to navigate through a court full of people who outrank you without offending anyone, and without getting killed for it. On the flip side, most of the time, not offending people is a pretty low bar, and we have and etiquette+awareness of 10k5 (10k6+2 after void). At that level, the only time you need to worry about not *offending* people is when you're doing something really dicey to begin with, and we have an honor rank of 5 that would be applicable in almost all pertinent cases if we roll low. Even with all that, I'd absolutely go for Musubi if we were in charge of this little group, but we're not. We have a fairly high-ranking Scorpion in the lead, and the Glory and Status difference there are significant enough that by default, we won't be the ones doing the talking. By default I'd see us using it maybe once or twice over the remaining span of campaign, and then retiring to a life that involved much less of it. There's also a definite use case for guerrilla manipulation-from-below. If we were ninja, and had large amounts of information but low status, then having someone who could go to various high-ranking individuals, grovel, tell them things and escape without dying would be a significant exploitable resource, but we don't have that sort of information, and, again, we have some reasonably high-ranking people currently in the party. I agree that social is where we as a party are weakest right now, and this is a potentially potent social tool, but I don't think it's the social that we need.
Yama no Kami is also great for what it is. It's the sort of ability that would really thrive in the kind of fight that Hida Crazy wants to drag us into where we just whale on each other until one of us falls over, and it leverages our Void ring rather nicely. It's an art of attrition battles, and having real healing on tap could be useful in a number of situations. On the other hand, we have not one but two shugenja along for this trip, and I don't really see us heading to the Wall once this is done, just like I don't see us trying to live out "tiny fish in a large pond" games in the imperial court (the sort of place where Musubi no Kami would pay off again and again).
Kaze no Kami gives us a few useful things. It gives us a powerful simple-action ranged attack that is available instantly at pretty much all times. It gives it to us in a badass package that we can use to impress or intimidate. It gives us a real option to deal with opponents who have a lot of DR. If we want to be welcomed back into the Kakita, this is the kind of lesson that will get us back into the Kakita. It also seems the most useful or suitable for the kind of life I see us actually leading once we're done here.
debate welcome.
- Location
- Leeds
God, believe me I'm trying to debate but at the moment this point is stumping me. I suppose she's not actually high status as long as she's part of the legion at least her rank in that would take priority over her family connections, or at least thats how our opponents would try and argue. I suspect that we'll still be doing a large amount of talking, just because Gman isn't going to want to take control away from us. Its a bit of a meta argument but this is a fully meta vote.
I'm wondering to what extent we can cover for our allies by saying 'I believe that what Bayushi sama is trying to say is that...' because while that might work a response of 'Thats reasonable however you said it in an insulting way so now we duel' is rather Rokugani.
We should just confirm this, @gman391 in order to use the Void aspect of Kaze no Kami do we need to launch the ranged attack or can we just use it whenever we use an Iajutsu roll?
There's two separate questions in here masquerading as one, so I'll address both separately.
The first question is whether or not you can use Iaijutsu as a melee attack outside of a duel. The answer is yes, but as a rule, kenjutsu gets you more due to the extra damage dice that your skill masteries give. So unless specified by the vote, if Megumi engages someone in melee, I'll use Kenjutsu. Without adding Kaze no Kami into the mix, Iaijutsu doesn't offer any benefit over kenjutsu except when using the active part of Kaze no Kami.
Which brings us to the second question. Can you use the Lesson of Kaze no Kami on any Iaijutsu roll? Yes. However, duels are by tradition usually at ranges where doing the ranged attack is impractical. So typically I won't use it, unless a vote specifies to use the active on the damage roll.
-----
With regards to Bayushi Sora's question of Status. This is complicated question that makes Rokugan so lovely. Technically she has two status ranks. One as the heir of the local Scorpion lord, (which is about 3.5) And one as a Nikutai in the Imperial Legion. (2.0) Which one comes into play largely depends on the social context. Scorpion status only really compels any one who is a Scorpion to follow her orders. While the Imperial Legion rank applies to everyone. However, her Scorpion status does play a factor in how people interact with her when she isn't in Imperial Legion mons. After all while no-one from another clan technically has to obey her. It's rarely if ever worth the trouble to tell someone of a higher status no, even if they're not in your clan. The game doesn't really model this all that well, even if it implies it exists, preferring instead to just give a universal status rank. Which means for my purposes on her character sheet, I wrote down 3.5 but it's important to note that it's complex.
It is perhaps worth noting that Sora consciously chooses to use her Imperial legion status in most things.
- Location
- Austrlia
Effective Status of 3.5 is pretty good. It'll cover most social stuff on the road, but not so much in the Imperial City.
So. Social, Tanky, Killy. That's the question.
Good point about being not the lead of the party, @Sirrocco
Still......
Oh, and @Dark as Silver? Megumi would most likely, go for Wind slash, as the most Kakita of the techniques. Social is great, but not long term. Long term, we live, and finish the Quest we've been given, and we'll end up with rank again. Tanky? A really good Crab style technique. Seriously, they'd love it, as would all the most combative clans.
Ok.
I've been helped into re-thinking.
[x]The Lesson of Kaze no Kami
So. Social, Tanky, Killy. That's the question.
Good point about being not the lead of the party, @Sirrocco
Still......
Oh, and @Dark as Silver? Megumi would most likely, go for Wind slash, as the most Kakita of the techniques. Social is great, but not long term. Long term, we live, and finish the Quest we've been given, and we'll end up with rank again. Tanky? A really good Crab style technique. Seriously, they'd love it, as would all the most combative clans.
Ok.
I've been helped into re-thinking.
[x]The Lesson of Kaze no Kami
- Location
- Leeds
Also we have higher agility than reflexes so we're rolling better to hit.
Enough said.
Thats more or less what I expected, however the fact she chooses the lower status normally is worth remembering.
And besides to properly model status you'd need a matrix of each great clan, families within the clan, any students or teachers you might have, and possibly particular courts or castles where you're afforded greater privileged due to past deeds.
Megumi is not being given the choice, at worst this is entirely abstract, at best we are now playing as the Dead Man and deciding which technique we will teach her in the limited time.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Interesting thought. Assuming it were that, would he listen to Grandmother? What would *she* say?
- Location
- Leeds
- Location
- Leeds
Surprised?
- Location
- Austrlia
Honestly, now I think through that Wind technique, the more I like it, in a lot of ways. It's a brilliant technique, that works really well, in fine, if eccentric Kakita style. The Crab would love it, once they realised that you could kill Shadowland things without much Taint risks, and even just never needing to learn the bow to be good at range is nice.
Good stuff. I can see a bit of a fight over us, when/if we complete the quest. Might even found our own minor Clan.
Good stuff. I can see a bit of a fight over us, when/if we complete the quest. Might even found our own minor Clan.
Yes I am I thought Musubi was winning.
- Location
- Leeds
As usual Sirroco's vote counts triple.
Seriously though, he made arguments that I couldn't properly refute and it changed Simonbobs mind swinging the vote from a tie to a win for Kaze.
So you might be wondering where the new update is. Well, I have good news and bad news about that.
Good news, I wrote something I think is going to be really fun and unique, bad news is that it wasn't for Legend of the Ronin. That update is delayed to Wednesday or Thursday.
Still if you want to go to the opposite end of the spectrum, where instead of starting as a relatively unimpressive ronin, you start as a young Emperor charged with holding a fractious Empire together, then please consider checking out my new quest Burden of the Emerald Empire
Again sorry about the delay.
Good news, I wrote something I think is going to be really fun and unique, bad news is that it wasn't for Legend of the Ronin. That update is delayed to Wednesday or Thursday.
Still if you want to go to the opposite end of the spectrum, where instead of starting as a relatively unimpressive ronin, you start as a young Emperor charged with holding a fractious Empire together, then please consider checking out my new quest Burden of the Emerald Empire
Again sorry about the delay.
- Location
- Leeds
Alright I'll vote.
But no names, I don't care.
Arc V:Month Six: Awaken Sleeper
-Lesson of Kaze no Kami
In the end you decide to take the stone with the small symbol of wind on it. For a moment you feel as if you could hear the wind blowing through the sky as the storm came and destroyed all. However, it was only a moment and when it passes your mind surges with new information of how to transcend the limits of your own body to make the air itself your sword.
You look back at Oji-san. He gives a half grin and turns away, your grandmother steps forward.
"You were...an acceptable grand daughter in the end. Remember what I taught you. You are Kakita Sakura and no one can take that from you, but you."
That's as close as she can get to saying that she loves you in her own way. You will take that for all its worth. For all the harsh words and oft insulting statements, she had driven you forward and kept you from falling into an abyss.
You bow.
"Thank you grandmother for everything. I wish I had been able to spend time with you while you were living."
She bows back to you.
"Hai...pay attention to your sword, this is last piece of advice I can give to you."
"I will grandmother."
You stand there for a moment, before you reach out and squeeze her hand for the briefest of moments. A hug that is not a hug...a sign that you cared.
She squeezes back.
The old man coughs, and your grand mother steps back.
"Time for you to return to the land of the living my dear...kneel down and embrace the girl." He says.
You look at the strange girl, she looks up at you with something that looks like regret.
"Hello?" You ask quietly.
She says something but you don't hear it. The girl frowns before motioning you to kneel down. You kneel in front of her, feeling like your leg is more ice than anything else. Why is that? The thought distracts you as the girl walks over and embraces you.
"I'm sorry" you hear.
And then all is pain, metal surges through your body as what seems like a thousand swords cut through you. You try to endure it...but its too much, and your find yourself passing out.
-----------------------------------
"Its been two weeks Isawa-san, we don't have any longer to wait for her." Sora, she's angry.
Kyoko is just as angry.
"She is recovering steadily...that sword it was more than I thought, if I had known its origins..."
"Enough both of you. Choices were made, and now we have to live with it." Jubei says.
You open your eyes to the noise, you're in your room. Standing over you are the three people who spoke. A dry throat makes your voice crack as you call out to them.
They turn in surprise at you waking up. Kyoko kneels down and begins fussing over. Sora's stance relaxes slightly.
Brother Jubei smiles.
"Well, welcome back to the living Megumi-san. Did you have a nice rest?"
You mumble out a mostly.
Kyoko's voice is thick with regret.
"Forgive me Megumi-san, I did not know that your sword had star-iron in it...did not account for it in the ritual, caused backlash...you are whole now, safe, so long as the sword is safe."
You find yourself awkwardly patting Kyoko's head.
"Its alright Isawa-sama, I'm just glad I woke up."
"And none too soon, we're planning to leave before too long." Jubei said.
You blink at him confused.
"Leave? I heard two weeks...but I thought we weren't leaving until the end of the month?"
"Well that was the plan until things changed...for one thing we got the Princess back." Jubei says.
Got the...princess back? Did that mean she was no longer split into two people? How why? what?
And if that wasn't the only reason to change, what were the other reasons? You look at Jubei and open your mouth to ask.
Jubei continues.
"Before you ask, the other thing is that we've had adherents Otomo Nobutasa-dono and Toturi Keika-dono engage in all out battle on the Plains of Thunder. They've been quelled for now, but that spark is going to ignite the flames again. The sooner we get past them, the better our chances for succeeding."
You close your mouth in thought. The twin hopes of the factions. The Owl favouring the aggressive Toturi Keika to continue her uncle's reforms...and the Hawk favouring the diplomatic Otomo Nobutasa for concessions. It was in a civil war in the making, no wonder they wanted to leave sooner, and more impressive that they waited for you.
"You said the Princess was whole too?"
Jubei nods
"Aye...and that's a tale in of itself. Suffice to say it was quite something to see..."
[] Jubei tells you of a great underground temple that Soju Sayako had discovered and mapped. Within it she discovered a mystical talisman from the era when the Ashlan ruled this area. With it she was able to reunite the two Princesses into one. However, this came with the caveat that she was sending her own nuns to help in the journey back.
[] Jubei tells you of Naomh Roberts, the Thrane woman from when you went to jail, sneaking into the shrine and proceeding to throw herself on his mercy. Explaining that she was originally here for help before being framed by an angry Hida Takano, she agreed to help fix the Princess in exchange for help leaving the city.
(This is a meta option that helps set the end game events. After this Arc 6 will kick off.)
In the end you decide to take the stone with the small symbol of wind on it. For a moment you feel as if you could hear the wind blowing through the sky as the storm came and destroyed all. However, it was only a moment and when it passes your mind surges with new information of how to transcend the limits of your own body to make the air itself your sword.
You look back at Oji-san. He gives a half grin and turns away, your grandmother steps forward.
"You were...an acceptable grand daughter in the end. Remember what I taught you. You are Kakita Sakura and no one can take that from you, but you."
That's as close as she can get to saying that she loves you in her own way. You will take that for all its worth. For all the harsh words and oft insulting statements, she had driven you forward and kept you from falling into an abyss.
You bow.
"Thank you grandmother for everything. I wish I had been able to spend time with you while you were living."
She bows back to you.
"Hai...pay attention to your sword, this is last piece of advice I can give to you."
"I will grandmother."
You stand there for a moment, before you reach out and squeeze her hand for the briefest of moments. A hug that is not a hug...a sign that you cared.
She squeezes back.
The old man coughs, and your grand mother steps back.
"Time for you to return to the land of the living my dear...kneel down and embrace the girl." He says.
You look at the strange girl, she looks up at you with something that looks like regret.
"Hello?" You ask quietly.
She says something but you don't hear it. The girl frowns before motioning you to kneel down. You kneel in front of her, feeling like your leg is more ice than anything else. Why is that? The thought distracts you as the girl walks over and embraces you.
"I'm sorry" you hear.
And then all is pain, metal surges through your body as what seems like a thousand swords cut through you. You try to endure it...but its too much, and your find yourself passing out.
-----------------------------------
"Its been two weeks Isawa-san, we don't have any longer to wait for her." Sora, she's angry.
Kyoko is just as angry.
"She is recovering steadily...that sword it was more than I thought, if I had known its origins..."
"Enough both of you. Choices were made, and now we have to live with it." Jubei says.
You open your eyes to the noise, you're in your room. Standing over you are the three people who spoke. A dry throat makes your voice crack as you call out to them.
They turn in surprise at you waking up. Kyoko kneels down and begins fussing over. Sora's stance relaxes slightly.
Brother Jubei smiles.
"Well, welcome back to the living Megumi-san. Did you have a nice rest?"
You mumble out a mostly.
Kyoko's voice is thick with regret.
"Forgive me Megumi-san, I did not know that your sword had star-iron in it...did not account for it in the ritual, caused backlash...you are whole now, safe, so long as the sword is safe."
You find yourself awkwardly patting Kyoko's head.
"Its alright Isawa-sama, I'm just glad I woke up."
"And none too soon, we're planning to leave before too long." Jubei said.
You blink at him confused.
"Leave? I heard two weeks...but I thought we weren't leaving until the end of the month?"
"Well that was the plan until things changed...for one thing we got the Princess back." Jubei says.
Got the...princess back? Did that mean she was no longer split into two people? How why? what?
And if that wasn't the only reason to change, what were the other reasons? You look at Jubei and open your mouth to ask.
Jubei continues.
"Before you ask, the other thing is that we've had adherents Otomo Nobutasa-dono and Toturi Keika-dono engage in all out battle on the Plains of Thunder. They've been quelled for now, but that spark is going to ignite the flames again. The sooner we get past them, the better our chances for succeeding."
You close your mouth in thought. The twin hopes of the factions. The Owl favouring the aggressive Toturi Keika to continue her uncle's reforms...and the Hawk favouring the diplomatic Otomo Nobutasa for concessions. It was in a civil war in the making, no wonder they wanted to leave sooner, and more impressive that they waited for you.
"You said the Princess was whole too?"
Jubei nods
"Aye...and that's a tale in of itself. Suffice to say it was quite something to see..."
[] Jubei tells you of a great underground temple that Soju Sayako had discovered and mapped. Within it she discovered a mystical talisman from the era when the Ashlan ruled this area. With it she was able to reunite the two Princesses into one. However, this came with the caveat that she was sending her own nuns to help in the journey back.
[] Jubei tells you of Naomh Roberts, the Thrane woman from when you went to jail, sneaking into the shrine and proceeding to throw herself on his mercy. Explaining that she was originally here for help before being framed by an angry Hida Takano, she agreed to help fix the Princess in exchange for help leaving the city.
(This is a meta option that helps set the end game events. After this Arc 6 will kick off.)
- Location
- Leeds
Hmmmm.
If any one has any idea what the larger implications are tell me and I will change my vote as appropriate.
Until then I'm going to blame Hida-chan.
[X] Jubei tells you of Naomh Roberts, the Thrane woman from when you went to jail, sneaking into the shrine and proceeding to throw herself on his mercy. Explaining that she was originally here for help before being framed by an angry Hida Takano, she agreed to help fix the Princess in exchange for help leaving the city.
If any one has any idea what the larger implications are tell me and I will change my vote as appropriate.
Until then I'm going to blame Hida-chan.
[X] Jubei tells you of Naomh Roberts, the Thrane woman from when you went to jail, sneaking into the shrine and proceeding to throw herself on his mercy. Explaining that she was originally here for help before being framed by an angry Hida Takano, she agreed to help fix the Princess in exchange for help leaving the city.
[X] Jubei tells you of Naomh Roberts, the Thrane woman from when you went to jail, sneaking into the shrine and proceeding to throw herself on his mercy. Explaining that she was originally here for help before being framed by an angry Hida Takano, she agreed to help fix the Princess in exchange for help leaving the city.
- Location
- Moon-Station
[X] Jubei tells you of Naomh Roberts, the Thrane woman from when you went to jail, sneaking into the shrine and proceeding to throw herself on his mercy. Explaining that she was originally here for help before being framed by an angry Hida Takano, she agreed to help fix the Princess in exchange for help leaving the city.
- Location
- Austrlia
We're looking at internal/external saviours.
It's likely to have an affect on the opposition we face. Naomh Roberts, is an external mystic, that will lead to locals reacting badly, on the strength of that alone. Also, more mystic threats, I'd guess. (Remember, early in the quest, we thought she had a soul, well, not everybody will agree)
Soju Sayako is internal. More internal politics, more people in our group, with another agenda, but far less issues simply traveling. A group of samurai and nuns traveling is normal, a non-Rokogani is not. Some serious mystical stuff, as well, but pure Rokogani, I'd guess.
Any opinions? I'm leaning towards Naomh Roberts, myself, but I'd like people to comment.
It's likely to have an affect on the opposition we face. Naomh Roberts, is an external mystic, that will lead to locals reacting badly, on the strength of that alone. Also, more mystic threats, I'd guess. (Remember, early in the quest, we thought she had a soul, well, not everybody will agree)
Soju Sayako is internal. More internal politics, more people in our group, with another agenda, but far less issues simply traveling. A group of samurai and nuns traveling is normal, a non-Rokogani is not. Some serious mystical stuff, as well, but pure Rokogani, I'd guess.
Any opinions? I'm leaning towards Naomh Roberts, myself, but I'd like people to comment.
- Location
- Leeds
I don't think the Tranth lady is coming with us.
She did her bit by healing the Princess now she's leaving. @gman391 can you confirm?
Naomh needs your help getting out of the city, so she'd be the first challenge you have. But after that she goes off to do her own thing.
- Location
- Leeds
Can we paint her as a geisha to disguise her ethnicity or is more complex than that?
- Status