"Easy...Easy, you're safe here." An old man's weathered voice says
You look down at the knife...
You look down at the knife...
Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)
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Prologue: Waking Up
"Easy...Easy, you're safe here." An old man's weathered voice says
You look down at the knife in your hands. Then back at the old monk standing in front of
you, a face of gnarled oak and weathered sap. His black eyes meet yours as you search for
him for a lie. Slowly your arm puts down the knife as you relax. Letting out a breath you
didn't even know you were holding.
"Hello stranger, welcome to Goemon's Temple. I'm Brother Jubei"
A nod from you, your throat feels too dry to speak just yet. The throbbing pain in your head
was not helping. Like a migraine only if someone decided migraines were not painful enough
and needed to be dripped in acid.
Looking around you see dry stone temple around you, small, but comfortable enough with
architecture that feels vaguely foreign, all curving lines and limestone.
"Here, take this." Jubei hands over a water skin which you drink down gratefully.
"Careful you were pretty bad when we found you. Fixed you up as best we could, but we aren't
exactly Asahina. You remember your name?" he asks.
You narrow your eyes in concentration, your name, your name...the head ache gets worse and
you decide not to think about that any more. You shake your head.
Jubei gives a little sigh.
"Suppose that ain't too surprising. Sister Ayako says that with your injuries some short
term memory loss is to be expected. It'll come back pretty quick though."
Well that's reassuring you decide.
"Anyways we found you out in the dunes during the pilgrimage to the Oasis. Suppose Fate
still has plans for you."
You nod finishing off the last of the water. With a bow of thanks you hand it back.
"So we found a few things on you, do you feel up to looking at them?"
"Yes" you whisper finally.
The old monk brings out a daisho and a:
[] Simple old child's toy. (Crab Clan Origin)
[] Tired old fan (Crane Clan Origin)
[] Weathered old book (Dragon Clan Origin)
[] Dull old mempo (Lion Clan Origin)
[] Worn out old map (Mantis Clan Origin)
[] Faded old quill (Phoenix Clan Origin)
[] Torn old cloth mask (Scorpion Clan Origin)
[] Strange old thing (Unicorn Origin)
[] Thin old straw hat (No Clan Origin)
[] Write in
(Write in guideline, it has to be old look it and tie somehow to something that clan is
known for)
Along with some old clothes.
"Well Samurai-sama thats what we found on you. Looks like they took your coin purse, chop,
and everything else. Guess they decided that a daisho would be too much trouble from the
magistrates. These jog your memories at all?" Brother Jubei asks.
They do, enough for you to remember your name...
[] Write in
You look down at the knife in your hands. Then back at the old monk standing in front of
you, a face of gnarled oak and weathered sap. His black eyes meet yours as you search for
him for a lie. Slowly your arm puts down the knife as you relax. Letting out a breath you
didn't even know you were holding.
"Hello stranger, welcome to Goemon's Temple. I'm Brother Jubei"
A nod from you, your throat feels too dry to speak just yet. The throbbing pain in your head
was not helping. Like a migraine only if someone decided migraines were not painful enough
and needed to be dripped in acid.
Looking around you see dry stone temple around you, small, but comfortable enough with
architecture that feels vaguely foreign, all curving lines and limestone.
"Here, take this." Jubei hands over a water skin which you drink down gratefully.
"Careful you were pretty bad when we found you. Fixed you up as best we could, but we aren't
exactly Asahina. You remember your name?" he asks.
You narrow your eyes in concentration, your name, your name...the head ache gets worse and
you decide not to think about that any more. You shake your head.
Jubei gives a little sigh.
"Suppose that ain't too surprising. Sister Ayako says that with your injuries some short
term memory loss is to be expected. It'll come back pretty quick though."
Well that's reassuring you decide.
"Anyways we found you out in the dunes during the pilgrimage to the Oasis. Suppose Fate
still has plans for you."
You nod finishing off the last of the water. With a bow of thanks you hand it back.
"So we found a few things on you, do you feel up to looking at them?"
"Yes" you whisper finally.
The old monk brings out a daisho and a:
[] Tired old fan (Crane Clan Origin)
[] Dull old mempo (Lion Clan Origin)
[] Worn out old map (Mantis Clan Origin)
[] Faded old quill (Phoenix Clan Origin)
[] Torn old cloth mask (Scorpion Clan Origin)
[] Strange old thing (Unicorn Origin)
[] Thin old straw hat (No Clan Origin)
[] Write in
(Write in guideline, it has to be old look it and tie somehow to something that clan is
known for)
Along with some old clothes.
"Well Samurai-sama thats what we found on you. Looks like they took your coin purse, chop,
and everything else. Guess they decided that a daisho would be too much trouble from the
magistrates. These jog your memories at all?" Brother Jubei asks.
They do, enough for you to remember your name...
[] Write in
Last edited:
Character and World Info
Name: Megumi
Clan: None (former Crane)
Family: Kakita [+1 Agility]
School: Kakita Bushi 1 [+1 Reflexes]
Megumi-Ryu 4
Insight: 246 Honour: 5.6
Insight Rank: 5 Glory: 4.0
Experience: 0 Infamy: 1.5
Experience Spent: 52
Initiative: 10k5+10 ATN: 30 (+8 from Kaiu Armor, Reduction 8)
Rings and Traits
Wound Track
Weapon Attack rolls and Damage rolls
Clan: None (former Crane)
Family: Kakita [+1 Agility]
School: Kakita Bushi 1 [+1 Reflexes]
Megumi-Ryu 4
Insight: 246 Honour: 5.6
Insight Rank: 5 Glory: 4.0
Experience: 0 Infamy: 1.5
Experience Spent: 52
Initiative: 10k5+10 ATN: 30 (+8 from Kaiu Armor, Reduction 8)
Rings and Traits
| RING | Mental Trait | Physical Trait |
| Air 5 | Awareness 5 | Reflexes 5 |
| Earth 4 | Willpower 4 | Stamina 4 |
| Fire 2 | Intelligence 2 | Agility 6 |
| Water 2 | Perception 2 | Strength 3 |
| Void 7 | NA | NA |
| Healthy | Nicked (-3 to rolls) | Grazed (-5 to rolls) | Hurt (-10 to rolls) | Injured (-15 to rolls) | Crippled (-20 to rolls) | Down (-40 to rolls) | Out |
| 20 | 32 | 44 | 56 | 68 | 80 | 92 | 104 |
| Weapon Skill | Damage Rolls |
| Kenjutsu (10k5) | 7k2/6k2 (Katana/Wakizashi) |
| Spear (7k5) | 5k2 (Yari spear) |
| Kyujutsu (6k4) | 4k2 (Normal arrow) |
School Skills
High:
Courtier 5
Etiquette 5
Sincerity 5
Tea Ceremony 1
Bugei:
Iaijutsu 5
Kenjutsu 5
Kyujutsu 1
Other Skills
High:
Investigation 5
Lore: Rakasha 1
Bugei:
Athletics 1
Hunting 1
Spears 2
Horse Riding 1
Merchant:
Commerce 1
Low:
Temptation 1
High:
Courtier 5
Etiquette 5
Sincerity 5
Tea Ceremony 1
Bugei:
Iaijutsu 5
Kenjutsu 5
Kyujutsu 1
Other Skills
High:
Investigation 5
Lore: Rakasha 1
Bugei:
Athletics 1
Hunting 1
Spears 2
Horse Riding 1
Merchant:
Commerce 1
Low:
Temptation 1
Advantages
Luck
Fortune favours the mortal man, once an arc Megumi may reroll any one dice. (Arcs are defined by the numbers on the side)
Seven Fortunes' Blessing: Benten's Blessing
Benten no kami has been kind to Megumi and showere the woman with her blessings. Whenever Megumi attempts to persuade someone, regardless of the circumstances, she gains a bonus of +0k1 to the total of the Social Skill Roll in question. This bonus only applies to persuasion, not coercion.
Sakiyarumei
Megumi's reforged blade has been given the finest care by it's maker and in turn the user. The use of a strange steel in the reforging process, combined with Megumi herself cultivating the divine essence within has led to a blade beyond anything anyone could have expected. Sakiyarumei seems to, at times, come alive by exhibiting properties in battle with no apparent pattern.
Allies: Hida Isano (Devotion 2 Influence 4) A member of the hidden Kichi's Guard Conspiracy and head of the Crab Delegation in Shiro Enishi. Hida Isano has reluctantly inducted you into that conspiracy, he'll do his best to protect you with his network.
Allies: Brother Jubei (Devotion 3 Influence 2) Another member of the hidden Kichi's Guard Conspiracy, and master assassin/Monk. Jubei cannot do so much to help you politically, but when it comes to someone at your back, there are few better.
Kaiu Light Armour: As a reward for saving her. Kaiu Tanako has forged this unique set of Light armour almost as strong as other clan's heavy armour. It has a stylized motif of a Heron on it, as a nod to Megumi's obvious heritage.
Disadvantages
Lechery
Physical pleasure is a weakness of Megumi's, and she spends considerable time going about achieving it. When somone tempts her with the sins of the flesh they gain a 1k1 bonus against her.
Social Disadvantage (Ronin)
Megumi is a ronin, and thus has slipped from the heights of a clan samurai to that of a masterless and some say honourless dog. She will get no respect for having a daisho from other Samurai or most people really.
Wrath of the Kami: Fire [Spiritual]
Whether by ill luck or simple lack of balance. Megumi is especially hated by the kami of fire, thus when fire spells are cast against her, they are especially eager to act. (All fire spells against Megumi gain a free raise.)
Infamous: Due to the affair that got her made ronin.
Megumi is known by some that she slept with Kakita no Hida Katsuie, the daimyo's husband. Most consider this a major faux pas when they know of it. Fortunately it's not well known outside the Crane...
Sworn Enemy: She slept with the wrong person?
Someone is coming for Megumi, it doesn't matter that she's a ronin. Her enemy does not care and wants her dead. Hida Tachimiko never liked her older brother marrying out of the clan. That you seduced him...she didn't take it well and swore vengeance upon Megumi for debauching her brother. His protests that he debauched Megumi only made her angrier.
With the death of Hida Tachimiko, this grudge is now ended.
Dark Secret: The truth of Princess Ayeko.
You know who Sister Aya is, the somewhat amnesiac, Imperial Heir.
Luck
Fortune favours the mortal man, once an arc Megumi may reroll any one dice. (Arcs are defined by the numbers on the side)
Seven Fortunes' Blessing: Benten's Blessing
Benten no kami has been kind to Megumi and showere the woman with her blessings. Whenever Megumi attempts to persuade someone, regardless of the circumstances, she gains a bonus of +0k1 to the total of the Social Skill Roll in question. This bonus only applies to persuasion, not coercion.
Sakiyarumei
Megumi's reforged blade has been given the finest care by it's maker and in turn the user. The use of a strange steel in the reforging process, combined with Megumi herself cultivating the divine essence within has led to a blade beyond anything anyone could have expected. Sakiyarumei seems to, at times, come alive by exhibiting properties in battle with no apparent pattern.
Allies: Hida Isano (Devotion 2 Influence 4) A member of the hidden Kichi's Guard Conspiracy and head of the Crab Delegation in Shiro Enishi. Hida Isano has reluctantly inducted you into that conspiracy, he'll do his best to protect you with his network.
Allies: Brother Jubei (Devotion 3 Influence 2) Another member of the hidden Kichi's Guard Conspiracy, and master assassin/Monk. Jubei cannot do so much to help you politically, but when it comes to someone at your back, there are few better.
Kaiu Light Armour: As a reward for saving her. Kaiu Tanako has forged this unique set of Light armour almost as strong as other clan's heavy armour. It has a stylized motif of a Heron on it, as a nod to Megumi's obvious heritage.
Disadvantages
Lechery
Physical pleasure is a weakness of Megumi's, and she spends considerable time going about achieving it. When somone tempts her with the sins of the flesh they gain a 1k1 bonus against her.
Social Disadvantage (Ronin)
Megumi is a ronin, and thus has slipped from the heights of a clan samurai to that of a masterless and some say honourless dog. She will get no respect for having a daisho from other Samurai or most people really.
Wrath of the Kami: Fire [Spiritual]
Whether by ill luck or simple lack of balance. Megumi is especially hated by the kami of fire, thus when fire spells are cast against her, they are especially eager to act. (All fire spells against Megumi gain a free raise.)
Infamous: Due to the affair that got her made ronin.
Megumi is known by some that she slept with Kakita no Hida Katsuie, the daimyo's husband. Most consider this a major faux pas when they know of it. Fortunately it's not well known outside the Crane...
Someone is coming for Megumi, it doesn't matter that she's a ronin. Her enemy does not care and wants her dead. Hida Tachimiko never liked her older brother marrying out of the clan. That you seduced him...she didn't take it well and swore vengeance upon Megumi for debauching her brother. His protests that he debauched Megumi only made her angrier.
With the death of Hida Tachimiko, this grudge is now ended.
Dark Secret: The truth of Princess Ayeko.
You know who Sister Aya is, the somewhat amnesiac, Imperial Heir.
Rank 1: The Way of the Crane
The study of the sword demonstrates the many ways in which the art of Kakita's technique can be applied. You add twice your Iaijutsu Skill to all Initiative rolls. You gain a bonus of +1k1 plus your School Rank to the total of all attack and Focus rolls while assuming the Center Stance. This bonus also applies during the Combat Round following one in which you assume the Center Stance.
Rank 2: Unity of the World
To touch the void is to touch the divine spark within, to understand the spark is to understand the dance of the elements, those who do so gain a preternatural ability to see the world as it is.
Megumi may now use Void in place of Perception when rolling investigation and is immune to ambushes.
Rank 3: The Wind Bites
The Sword teaches that to strike twice is unnecessary, that a single strike should begin and end a fight. It is with some consternation then, when a Kakita Bushi learns to strike swiftly enough to attack twice in place of one blow. Unburdened by this. Megumi's own sword play has taken on the bitter edge of the north wind, and she may now use any blade to strike swifter than the ken of those who are not Samurai. (Gain Simple Attack Actions with all Sword Weapons)
Rank 4: The World is Empty
A legendary kata within the Empire. Megumi has only heard of it's effects, of how the user follows a specific set of movements to hypnotize themselves into a state of Munshin. While she has never formally learned the kata. Her own mastery of the sword and deep connection to the Void, has given her insight in how to perform it. While not quite up to the standards of masters. This bastardized version is still reasonably effective. She adds half her void ring as unkept dice (rounded down) to all attack rolls, so long as she has a single point of void left.
Rank 5: The Lesson of Kaze no Kami
The God of Wind, holds no secrets but that of his existence. Long thought dead, he leaves behind this treasure of understanding. How to cut the wind and make it your servant at least in part. Megumi learned this technique supposedly from a dead man...although many do not take her seriously on that.
Effect: You may now sheathe your sword as free action. With sheathed sword you may make an Iaijutsu attack on an enemy at any range up to your Void ring*20ft. You may also spend a void point to ignore all reduction on this attack. Damage is calculated as normal katana damage.
--------------------------------------
Etiquette 3: The character gains an additional +3 Insight above the total normally indicated by her Rings and Skill Ranks.
Rank 5: The character gains a bonus of +1k0 to the total of all Contested Rolls made using Etiquette
Iaijutsu 3: Readying a katana is a Free Action rather than a Simple Action
Iaijutsu 5: During the Assessment Phase, gain one free raise on the 'Focus/Assessment stage'
Kenjutsu 3: You add +1k0 to all damage rolls
Kenjutsu 5: You may draw all sword weapons as a free action
Investigation 3: You may make a second search check with no increase in the TN
Rank 5: The character gains a bonus of +5 to the total of any Contested Roll made using Investigation
Courtier 3: The character gains an additional +3 Insight above the total normally dictated by her Rings and Skill Ranks
Rank 5: The character gains a bonus of +1k0 to the total of all Contested Rolls made using Courtier.
Sincerity 5: The character gains a bonus of +5 to the total of all Contested Rolls made using Sincerity.
The study of the sword demonstrates the many ways in which the art of Kakita's technique can be applied. You add twice your Iaijutsu Skill to all Initiative rolls. You gain a bonus of +1k1 plus your School Rank to the total of all attack and Focus rolls while assuming the Center Stance. This bonus also applies during the Combat Round following one in which you assume the Center Stance.
Rank 2: Unity of the World
To touch the void is to touch the divine spark within, to understand the spark is to understand the dance of the elements, those who do so gain a preternatural ability to see the world as it is.
Megumi may now use Void in place of Perception when rolling investigation and is immune to ambushes.
Rank 3: The Wind Bites
The Sword teaches that to strike twice is unnecessary, that a single strike should begin and end a fight. It is with some consternation then, when a Kakita Bushi learns to strike swiftly enough to attack twice in place of one blow. Unburdened by this. Megumi's own sword play has taken on the bitter edge of the north wind, and she may now use any blade to strike swifter than the ken of those who are not Samurai. (Gain Simple Attack Actions with all Sword Weapons)
Rank 4: The World is Empty
A legendary kata within the Empire. Megumi has only heard of it's effects, of how the user follows a specific set of movements to hypnotize themselves into a state of Munshin. While she has never formally learned the kata. Her own mastery of the sword and deep connection to the Void, has given her insight in how to perform it. While not quite up to the standards of masters. This bastardized version is still reasonably effective. She adds half her void ring as unkept dice (rounded down) to all attack rolls, so long as she has a single point of void left.
Rank 5: The Lesson of Kaze no Kami
The God of Wind, holds no secrets but that of his existence. Long thought dead, he leaves behind this treasure of understanding. How to cut the wind and make it your servant at least in part. Megumi learned this technique supposedly from a dead man...although many do not take her seriously on that.
Effect: You may now sheathe your sword as free action. With sheathed sword you may make an Iaijutsu attack on an enemy at any range up to your Void ring*20ft. You may also spend a void point to ignore all reduction on this attack. Damage is calculated as normal katana damage.
--------------------------------------
Etiquette 3: The character gains an additional +3 Insight above the total normally indicated by her Rings and Skill Ranks.
Rank 5: The character gains a bonus of +1k0 to the total of all Contested Rolls made using Etiquette
Iaijutsu 3: Readying a katana is a Free Action rather than a Simple Action
Iaijutsu 5: During the Assessment Phase, gain one free raise on the 'Focus/Assessment stage'
Kenjutsu 3: You add +1k0 to all damage rolls
Kenjutsu 5: You may draw all sword weapons as a free action
Investigation 3: You may make a second search check with no increase in the TN
Rank 5: The character gains a bonus of +5 to the total of any Contested Roll made using Investigation
Courtier 3: The character gains an additional +3 Insight above the total normally dictated by her Rings and Skill Ranks
Rank 5: The character gains a bonus of +1k0 to the total of all Contested Rolls made using Courtier.
Sincerity 5: The character gains a bonus of +5 to the total of all Contested Rolls made using Sincerity.
WORLD INFORMATION
The Sword Emperor.
Iweko VII, was born as Iweko Akio, the fourth son of his father Iweko VI and mother Iweko no Mirumoto Hajiko. A healthy boy he always was somewhat more focused than his siblings. As a measure of favour for his beloved wife, Iweko VI sent his son to learn at the famed Iron Mountain Dojo without the usual political jockeying that accompanied training the Imperial Heirs.
Akio proved gifted if somewhat socially awkward student, who none the less seemed set to become a great swordsman and duellist in the service of his elder siblings, a fate that was as good as he could expect.
Fate had other plans, as Akio returned home from Shiro Mirumoto to Toshi Ranbo disaster struck his family. In a single night of blood and violence, the Iweko dynasty was reduced to just two people. The young untried Akio and the even younger Shin who was safely off the main land in Mantis lands.
Holding back his tears and grief, Akio dutifully ascended the throne and became Iweko VII. Once there he began a witch hunt to find out who had killed his family, many nascent corruptions were found and dispatched in this hunt, but only a single scrap of black cloth with a silver wolf on it was ever found of the assassins.
Then the Yodotai struck from the west. Under their Emperor Justinius, they had conquered everything west of the Khol wall and north of the Spine of the World. Rokugan was then their natural expansion point. The Army of the Western Eagle marched with 500,000 men against the Khol wall and the Unicorn.
The results were predictable, the Unicorn armies sent reeling north, south and east as the Yodotai barrelled through their cavalry with military grit and precision.
Iweko VII forced himself from his hunt, and directed his empire to fight the Yodotai step by bloody step if they had to. He in the meanwhile went to the Imperial Legions who had decayed from the mighty Legions of the Toturi into little more than a political show pony, Iweko VII would have none of that.
As the Lion roared and died in countless thousands against the Yodotai
The Imperial Legions trained.
As the Dragon and Phoenix revealed mystic power and secrets against the Yodotai
The Imperial Legions trained.
As the Crane and Scorpion revealed their mastery of guerilla tactics against the Yodotai
The Imperial Legions trained.
As the Crab and Mantis desperately sent every ship and tetsubo they could spare against they Yodotai
The Imperial Legions trained.
Yet none of it was enough. The Lion fell like their old rivals under the powerful discipline of the Yodotai. The Phoenix and Dragon found their mystic secrets stymied by the ancestral protection of the Yodotai. The Crane and Scorpion found that they were matched in guile by the Umbra Lupurum the Shadow Wolves, who had already entered the land and assassinated the last Emperor.
None of it was enough.
So untested and unready, Iweko VII took the Imperial daisho and led his legions into battle, coining his personal motto.
"For the future, I will cut my way forward."
Justinius had never prepared for the fury of Iweko VII nor the divine spark that flowed through his veins not seen since Iweko I. Shining like the sun and the moon Iweko VII led his army into the Yodotai lines just outside of Toshi Ranbo.
Seeing his chance to dispatch the Rokugani once and for all, Justinius rode to meet Iweko VII on the field of battle. Justinius did not ride back, his fall signalling the turning of the tide. The Yodotai broke and ran as Iweko VII tore into their upper leadership and his soldiers tore into theirs with a fanatical devotion.
It would take six more battles from the Battle of the Emperor's Grace to drive the Yodotai out of Rokugan. Yet, by the end of it the Yodotai had been shattered as an empire, their greatest force all but destroyed, their emperor dead, and revolts everywhere.
Yet all this did not please Iweko VII.
Turning his eyes outward he saw a world leaving the Emerald Empire behind, and was determined to not let it be so.
Through sheer will he would wrench the Empire into the future and make it greater than the other realms again.
His first act was to found the Seven Shield Cities, one of which Shiro Enishi would prove to be very important as a certain ronin by the name of Megumi prepares to make her mark.
Iweko VII, was born as Iweko Akio, the fourth son of his father Iweko VI and mother Iweko no Mirumoto Hajiko. A healthy boy he always was somewhat more focused than his siblings. As a measure of favour for his beloved wife, Iweko VI sent his son to learn at the famed Iron Mountain Dojo without the usual political jockeying that accompanied training the Imperial Heirs.
Akio proved gifted if somewhat socially awkward student, who none the less seemed set to become a great swordsman and duellist in the service of his elder siblings, a fate that was as good as he could expect.
Fate had other plans, as Akio returned home from Shiro Mirumoto to Toshi Ranbo disaster struck his family. In a single night of blood and violence, the Iweko dynasty was reduced to just two people. The young untried Akio and the even younger Shin who was safely off the main land in Mantis lands.
Holding back his tears and grief, Akio dutifully ascended the throne and became Iweko VII. Once there he began a witch hunt to find out who had killed his family, many nascent corruptions were found and dispatched in this hunt, but only a single scrap of black cloth with a silver wolf on it was ever found of the assassins.
Then the Yodotai struck from the west. Under their Emperor Justinius, they had conquered everything west of the Khol wall and north of the Spine of the World. Rokugan was then their natural expansion point. The Army of the Western Eagle marched with 500,000 men against the Khol wall and the Unicorn.
The results were predictable, the Unicorn armies sent reeling north, south and east as the Yodotai barrelled through their cavalry with military grit and precision.
Iweko VII forced himself from his hunt, and directed his empire to fight the Yodotai step by bloody step if they had to. He in the meanwhile went to the Imperial Legions who had decayed from the mighty Legions of the Toturi into little more than a political show pony, Iweko VII would have none of that.
As the Lion roared and died in countless thousands against the Yodotai
The Imperial Legions trained.
As the Dragon and Phoenix revealed mystic power and secrets against the Yodotai
The Imperial Legions trained.
As the Crane and Scorpion revealed their mastery of guerilla tactics against the Yodotai
The Imperial Legions trained.
As the Crab and Mantis desperately sent every ship and tetsubo they could spare against they Yodotai
The Imperial Legions trained.
Yet none of it was enough. The Lion fell like their old rivals under the powerful discipline of the Yodotai. The Phoenix and Dragon found their mystic secrets stymied by the ancestral protection of the Yodotai. The Crane and Scorpion found that they were matched in guile by the Umbra Lupurum the Shadow Wolves, who had already entered the land and assassinated the last Emperor.
None of it was enough.
So untested and unready, Iweko VII took the Imperial daisho and led his legions into battle, coining his personal motto.
"For the future, I will cut my way forward."
Justinius had never prepared for the fury of Iweko VII nor the divine spark that flowed through his veins not seen since Iweko I. Shining like the sun and the moon Iweko VII led his army into the Yodotai lines just outside of Toshi Ranbo.
Seeing his chance to dispatch the Rokugani once and for all, Justinius rode to meet Iweko VII on the field of battle. Justinius did not ride back, his fall signalling the turning of the tide. The Yodotai broke and ran as Iweko VII tore into their upper leadership and his soldiers tore into theirs with a fanatical devotion.
It would take six more battles from the Battle of the Emperor's Grace to drive the Yodotai out of Rokugan. Yet, by the end of it the Yodotai had been shattered as an empire, their greatest force all but destroyed, their emperor dead, and revolts everywhere.
Yet all this did not please Iweko VII.
Turning his eyes outward he saw a world leaving the Emerald Empire behind, and was determined to not let it be so.
Through sheer will he would wrench the Empire into the future and make it greater than the other realms again.
His first act was to found the Seven Shield Cities, one of which Shiro Enishi would prove to be very important as a certain ronin by the name of Megumi prepares to make her mark.
Shiro Enishi or 'The Watch Tower' is the southern most of the seven Shield Cities, and arguably, the most important one. Placed in a small valley just north of the massive mountain range that divides most of the continent. The watch tower was expected to be a quiet outpost and trip wire in case the resurgent Ivory Kingdoms got ideas. The land seemed dry and not really suited for anything for all it's strategic positioning made it valuable. Far from a river or anything to support it, most considered the Emperor mad for ordering a castle built there.
Then Inari's Gift was found. This massive underground lake fed by the mountain snows, it was fresh it was pure and it was the foundation of the city. With the help of the Isawa and Kaiu, a complicated irrigation system was set up to draw water from Inari's gift to the land around Shiro Enishi, leading to a staggering amount of arable land for rice being cultivated. With this massive food supply, the city grew quickly to become the largest of the seven shield cities. With men, women, and children from all over coming to make it home.
Due to it's position as the last stop within the Emerald Empire before the long road over the mountains to the northern Ivory Kingdoms, Shiro Enishi sees a surprising amount of trade as merchants attempt to evade the Mantis monopoly. This has led to the city growing a substantial merchant district and having more than the normal number of Invida living in it's walls. Some say that a few ronin have taken them as wives and husbands no doubt prompting a crisis for those of a more traditionalist bent.
The city itself is divided into five districts, each with it's own groups and peoples that Megumi can interact with, but this is meant to be a short overview.
The Imperial Citadel sits at the center of the districts and is the location of the first castle built. It's strong walls and connection to the rest of the districts make it key to controlling the city. Entirely given over to the Imperial Legion that defends this place, it is the home of political and military power in the city.
Toriyama Ward: Straggling as one long line up the mountain peak. Toriyama ward is both the youngest ward and is still expanding to it's full ability. The spiritual heart of the city, it contains temples to nearly every fortune in the Empire and several monasteries as well. Megumi finds herself waking up in this ward. The long walks up an down the mountain will no doubt do her much good.
Mori Ward: Set towards the south of the city, it contains the massive merchant district and as such never sleeps. Countless men and women work through out the night to make or break their fortunes. Filled with bazaars, merchant warehouses, and even the occasional home. It's one of the original expansion districts and the most successful of them.
Senbonzakura Ward: Originally intended to be the home of the cities burgeoning heimin population, this westward expansion towards the fields was founded at nearly the same time as Mori ward but has acquired a far different reputation. With the residences of the ward forming a protective barrier around its' heart. Senbonzakura is the home of the city's vice, entertainment and everything else. It's here someone goes to have a good time no matter how legal or illegal it might be.
Eiyuu Ward: The main residence district, it was originally meant to provide approved entertainment and a place for artisans of all stripes to ply their trade. While many have moved to Senbonzakura, Eiyuu remains important as a concentration of where the Samurai live and high culture thrives. Making it one of the largest areas of green space in the city because of it.
Then Inari's Gift was found. This massive underground lake fed by the mountain snows, it was fresh it was pure and it was the foundation of the city. With the help of the Isawa and Kaiu, a complicated irrigation system was set up to draw water from Inari's gift to the land around Shiro Enishi, leading to a staggering amount of arable land for rice being cultivated. With this massive food supply, the city grew quickly to become the largest of the seven shield cities. With men, women, and children from all over coming to make it home.
Due to it's position as the last stop within the Emerald Empire before the long road over the mountains to the northern Ivory Kingdoms, Shiro Enishi sees a surprising amount of trade as merchants attempt to evade the Mantis monopoly. This has led to the city growing a substantial merchant district and having more than the normal number of Invida living in it's walls. Some say that a few ronin have taken them as wives and husbands no doubt prompting a crisis for those of a more traditionalist bent.
The city itself is divided into five districts, each with it's own groups and peoples that Megumi can interact with, but this is meant to be a short overview.
The Imperial Citadel sits at the center of the districts and is the location of the first castle built. It's strong walls and connection to the rest of the districts make it key to controlling the city. Entirely given over to the Imperial Legion that defends this place, it is the home of political and military power in the city.
Toriyama Ward: Straggling as one long line up the mountain peak. Toriyama ward is both the youngest ward and is still expanding to it's full ability. The spiritual heart of the city, it contains temples to nearly every fortune in the Empire and several monasteries as well. Megumi finds herself waking up in this ward. The long walks up an down the mountain will no doubt do her much good.
Mori Ward: Set towards the south of the city, it contains the massive merchant district and as such never sleeps. Countless men and women work through out the night to make or break their fortunes. Filled with bazaars, merchant warehouses, and even the occasional home. It's one of the original expansion districts and the most successful of them.
Senbonzakura Ward: Originally intended to be the home of the cities burgeoning heimin population, this westward expansion towards the fields was founded at nearly the same time as Mori ward but has acquired a far different reputation. With the residences of the ward forming a protective barrier around its' heart. Senbonzakura is the home of the city's vice, entertainment and everything else. It's here someone goes to have a good time no matter how legal or illegal it might be.
Eiyuu Ward: The main residence district, it was originally meant to provide approved entertainment and a place for artisans of all stripes to ply their trade. While many have moved to Senbonzakura, Eiyuu remains important as a concentration of where the Samurai live and high culture thrives. Making it one of the largest areas of green space in the city because of it.
The Wards
The Toriyama Ward is dominated by two things, the mountain and it's eclectic collection of shrines and temples.
The Mountain is affectionately named Tanata's Last Step after a local legend that this where the Weaver Star was brought up to the sky.
Making one long line to the peak of the mountain where the Temple to the Jade Sun sits. it has but one main, steep thoroughfare that winds its way up the mountain. Off this thoroughfare are small branches of roads leading to major temples, there is an odd balance between lower ground and higher ground. Temples lower down on the mountain gain more traffic and influence, but the higher you go the more purity there seems to be. Within the complicated Thousand Order's politics that brings a power of its own.
At the bottom of the mountain sit two large temple complexes sitting across from each other. These two are the most popular temples in the city.
The first the Temple to Inari is a more traditionalist temple headed by a young Soju (Head Monk) by the name Sayako. Born in the she serves the people as best she can while taking a somewhat sceptical view of the new innovations in the Empire
The second is the Temple to Daikoku, which has become an innovative place trying to invent new ways of finance It is led by an older retired merchant who took the name Tashimi when he became a monk. Quickly rising to the rank of Soju himself, he is usually at odds with Sayako in terms of the spiritual direction of the city.
At the midway point between the Temples and the Order of Thousand Fortunes Monastery, the Monastery of Musbui remains an odd place within the district. With Musubi being the Fortune of Marriage, many well to do women, retire here for a few months to become excellent wives, some say that their families send them but that has never been confirmed. Run by Abbess Taimi, the Monastery is popular if somewhat strange to more conservative orders. Particularly now that there is talk of training husbands as well...
Half way up the mountain is the Order of the Thousand Fortunes monastery. Led by Dai-Soju Chie, this older woman came nearly twenty years ago to serve the spiritual needs of the people. The skill with which she moves in politics and esoteric matters has granted her the somewhat unenviable position of Head Monk for the city. When not advising the governor she is usually calming down fights between the monks of Inari and monks of Daikoku.
Further up the mountain, the Shrine of Goemon sits, just high enough to be a serious work out to climb to. It is mostly an ignored shrine for its master Brother Jubei is notoriously reluctant to play the game of politics although his integrity sees him having a mighty voice in spite of that.
Shortly past the Shrine of Goemon, the small temples of Ebisu and Bishamon form an odd symbiotic relationship, being in the same building, but retaining much of their ethics and separateness from each other. There is little to suggest that the two heads
Soju Kaoru and Soju Masanate are anything but good friends but rumours persist.
The last notable temple in this district is of course that of the Jade Sun, a new temple that is still being built, construction has been halted for several months now, for reasons that only the Soju and Dai-Soju know.
The Mountain is affectionately named Tanata's Last Step after a local legend that this where the Weaver Star was brought up to the sky.
Making one long line to the peak of the mountain where the Temple to the Jade Sun sits. it has but one main, steep thoroughfare that winds its way up the mountain. Off this thoroughfare are small branches of roads leading to major temples, there is an odd balance between lower ground and higher ground. Temples lower down on the mountain gain more traffic and influence, but the higher you go the more purity there seems to be. Within the complicated Thousand Order's politics that brings a power of its own.
At the bottom of the mountain sit two large temple complexes sitting across from each other. These two are the most popular temples in the city.
The first the Temple to Inari is a more traditionalist temple headed by a young Soju (Head Monk) by the name Sayako. Born in the she serves the people as best she can while taking a somewhat sceptical view of the new innovations in the Empire
The second is the Temple to Daikoku, which has become an innovative place trying to invent new ways of finance It is led by an older retired merchant who took the name Tashimi when he became a monk. Quickly rising to the rank of Soju himself, he is usually at odds with Sayako in terms of the spiritual direction of the city.
At the midway point between the Temples and the Order of Thousand Fortunes Monastery, the Monastery of Musbui remains an odd place within the district. With Musubi being the Fortune of Marriage, many well to do women, retire here for a few months to become excellent wives, some say that their families send them but that has never been confirmed. Run by Abbess Taimi, the Monastery is popular if somewhat strange to more conservative orders. Particularly now that there is talk of training husbands as well...
Half way up the mountain is the Order of the Thousand Fortunes monastery. Led by Dai-Soju Chie, this older woman came nearly twenty years ago to serve the spiritual needs of the people. The skill with which she moves in politics and esoteric matters has granted her the somewhat unenviable position of Head Monk for the city. When not advising the governor she is usually calming down fights between the monks of Inari and monks of Daikoku.
Further up the mountain, the Shrine of Goemon sits, just high enough to be a serious work out to climb to. It is mostly an ignored shrine for its master Brother Jubei is notoriously reluctant to play the game of politics although his integrity sees him having a mighty voice in spite of that.
Shortly past the Shrine of Goemon, the small temples of Ebisu and Bishamon form an odd symbiotic relationship, being in the same building, but retaining much of their ethics and separateness from each other. There is little to suggest that the two heads
Soju Kaoru and Soju Masanate are anything but good friends but rumours persist.
The last notable temple in this district is of course that of the Jade Sun, a new temple that is still being built, construction has been halted for several months now, for reasons that only the Soju and Dai-Soju know.
It is the year 1423 of the Isawa Calender and the Crane are in crisis.
Oh to all outward appearances they are as strong as they have ever been. The venerable Kakita Yukimaru still stands as the Emperor's right hand, and Iweko no Doji Masako has hopefully begun the old tradition of the Emperor marrying a Crane Bride once again. Their wealth has mostly recovered from the chaotic war against the gaijin, and although their numbers are not what they were, they still remain potent in court. They alone of the Clans were permitted to claim a single one of the Shield Cities as their own personal fief. The vassal family of the Tsunatji of the Daidoji coming into existence to help govern it. To the outside eye the Crane have not been this strong since the heady days of the Hantei during the thousand years of peace.
Yet this superficial strength masks an inherent weakness. The Crane have cast themselves irrevocably against the Imperial Reforms. Which in turn means every day is a careful balancing act between keeping Iweko VII at bay from tearing down more beloved traditions and not being cast out. To this end Empress Masako is valuable, but even her hand is weakened as her beloved and only daughter, the Imperial Heir disappeared five years ago. It is only the true love that Emperor and Empress have for each other that holds him back from discarding her for another more fertile bride. A love tested every time the Crane subtly attempt to check the Emperor's will.
Why would they oppose the Son of Heaven? Because they genuinely see his actions as harmful to the Empire. They cannot stop him or over throw him, but they can check him. Keep the castes alive, keep the traditional art of duelling and testimony alive. But for every tradition protected another is lost. The Gaijin proclaimed to have souls and thus treated as people, samurai being assaulted in the night and killed only for the people to say nothing happened. The Crane have long protected the heart of Rokugan, and now they work tirelessly still to do so. To prevent the merchants from buying great amounts of weapons and forming revolts against the Emperor's high taxes. To stop the Lion from losing their mind and revolting against the throne to save their place. All of it for the Empire.
Doji Nagamasa, the new Crane Champion watches with worried eyes as he struggles to keep the plates spinning just a little longer, before the forces of history devour the Crane like a hungry wolf.
Kakita Yukimaru with heavy heart steps forward every day to serve his Emperor as he must, while knowing that he agrees with nothing that his old friend says.
Iweko Masako quietly looks over the gardens and wonders if this is the end of the Crane.
However, to the Crane on the ground while there are problems as always life has never been better.
Or perhaps, they too wish to ignore a future that they have no idea how to prepare for.
Oh to all outward appearances they are as strong as they have ever been. The venerable Kakita Yukimaru still stands as the Emperor's right hand, and Iweko no Doji Masako has hopefully begun the old tradition of the Emperor marrying a Crane Bride once again. Their wealth has mostly recovered from the chaotic war against the gaijin, and although their numbers are not what they were, they still remain potent in court. They alone of the Clans were permitted to claim a single one of the Shield Cities as their own personal fief. The vassal family of the Tsunatji of the Daidoji coming into existence to help govern it. To the outside eye the Crane have not been this strong since the heady days of the Hantei during the thousand years of peace.
Yet this superficial strength masks an inherent weakness. The Crane have cast themselves irrevocably against the Imperial Reforms. Which in turn means every day is a careful balancing act between keeping Iweko VII at bay from tearing down more beloved traditions and not being cast out. To this end Empress Masako is valuable, but even her hand is weakened as her beloved and only daughter, the Imperial Heir disappeared five years ago. It is only the true love that Emperor and Empress have for each other that holds him back from discarding her for another more fertile bride. A love tested every time the Crane subtly attempt to check the Emperor's will.
Why would they oppose the Son of Heaven? Because they genuinely see his actions as harmful to the Empire. They cannot stop him or over throw him, but they can check him. Keep the castes alive, keep the traditional art of duelling and testimony alive. But for every tradition protected another is lost. The Gaijin proclaimed to have souls and thus treated as people, samurai being assaulted in the night and killed only for the people to say nothing happened. The Crane have long protected the heart of Rokugan, and now they work tirelessly still to do so. To prevent the merchants from buying great amounts of weapons and forming revolts against the Emperor's high taxes. To stop the Lion from losing their mind and revolting against the throne to save their place. All of it for the Empire.
Doji Nagamasa, the new Crane Champion watches with worried eyes as he struggles to keep the plates spinning just a little longer, before the forces of history devour the Crane like a hungry wolf.
Kakita Yukimaru with heavy heart steps forward every day to serve his Emperor as he must, while knowing that he agrees with nothing that his old friend says.
Iweko Masako quietly looks over the gardens and wonders if this is the end of the Crane.
However, to the Crane on the ground while there are problems as always life has never been better.
Or perhaps, they too wish to ignore a future that they have no idea how to prepare for.
In the aftermath of the War of the Eagles, the Scorpion with the possible exception of the Phoenix came out of the war the best. They hadn't been nearly destroyed as the Lion and Unicorn had. Their coffers hadn't been plundered to pay for the war as the Crane Mantis had. They didn't find themselves pushed to their limits holding the line while the other clans rebuild as the Dragon were. The Crab of course were exactly where they started, trapped in an endless war that they could not begin to figure out how to end.
No, in most respects the Scorpion on the surface seemed poised to dominate Rokugan by dint of still having relatively intact armies and supplies. However, underneath the surface was a far different situation. Where the Dragon were tasked with holding the line while the shattered Unicorn and Lion rebuilt. The Scorpion were given the task of destroying the Yodotai, by sword and stealth they were to assassinate and destroy the Yodotai leadership and prevent them from ever coming back as a united Empire.
Due to the immense logistical problems of fighting a covert war on the other side of the world. The Scorpion found themselves unable to take advantage of the fact that no one back home could really fight them. Instead becoming bitter and hateful enemies of the Yodotai as it seemed that these people refused to die. No matter how many times Scorpion agents assassinated senators and emperors, or how many times they engineered a sack of Ocatvion the capital, the Yodotai Empire remained hardy, if racked by civil wars. Their one great success was in assisting in the Senpet revolt and gaining a powerful regional ally for the Emerald Empire.
Naturally no one in Rokugan outside of the Scorpion or the Emperor is aware of this. The Empire needs peace, and if the Scorpion are still fighting, honour would demand the rest of the clans petition to join them. Thus the Scorpion remain the underhand doing what needs to be done, without thanks or praise.
This secret war informs much of what they do and is in the mind of their Champion, Bayushi Sokani their greatest weakness. Hence while he finds the reforms of the Emperor distasteful at best, he finds himself forced into working for these reforms. Only if the Scorpion can acknowledge their war, can they make use of it. To that end the Scorpion Clan as a whole typically finds itself serving as a devil's advocate within the Owl Faction. Trusted to be loyal above all else, but still expected to be the gadfly in a conversation it is a roll they enjoy. In secret more than once have Scorpion Shinobi provided critical intelligence to the Hawk faction just in time to prevent the appointment of Owl faction members to key positions. While some in the Crane suspect the Scorpion, so far there is no proof.
Sokani himself dreams of Scorpion supremacy, and there are rumors that he can trace his lineage however distantly to the infamous Bayushi Atsuki, leader of the Gozoku conspiracy centuries ago. Already he manoeuvres to have one of his clansmen appointed as Shogun. It is uncertain whether he will see his Clan rise the greatness they briefly achieved in the 12th century or not.
No, in most respects the Scorpion on the surface seemed poised to dominate Rokugan by dint of still having relatively intact armies and supplies. However, underneath the surface was a far different situation. Where the Dragon were tasked with holding the line while the shattered Unicorn and Lion rebuilt. The Scorpion were given the task of destroying the Yodotai, by sword and stealth they were to assassinate and destroy the Yodotai leadership and prevent them from ever coming back as a united Empire.
Due to the immense logistical problems of fighting a covert war on the other side of the world. The Scorpion found themselves unable to take advantage of the fact that no one back home could really fight them. Instead becoming bitter and hateful enemies of the Yodotai as it seemed that these people refused to die. No matter how many times Scorpion agents assassinated senators and emperors, or how many times they engineered a sack of Ocatvion the capital, the Yodotai Empire remained hardy, if racked by civil wars. Their one great success was in assisting in the Senpet revolt and gaining a powerful regional ally for the Emerald Empire.
Naturally no one in Rokugan outside of the Scorpion or the Emperor is aware of this. The Empire needs peace, and if the Scorpion are still fighting, honour would demand the rest of the clans petition to join them. Thus the Scorpion remain the underhand doing what needs to be done, without thanks or praise.
This secret war informs much of what they do and is in the mind of their Champion, Bayushi Sokani their greatest weakness. Hence while he finds the reforms of the Emperor distasteful at best, he finds himself forced into working for these reforms. Only if the Scorpion can acknowledge their war, can they make use of it. To that end the Scorpion Clan as a whole typically finds itself serving as a devil's advocate within the Owl Faction. Trusted to be loyal above all else, but still expected to be the gadfly in a conversation it is a roll they enjoy. In secret more than once have Scorpion Shinobi provided critical intelligence to the Hawk faction just in time to prevent the appointment of Owl faction members to key positions. While some in the Crane suspect the Scorpion, so far there is no proof.
Sokani himself dreams of Scorpion supremacy, and there are rumors that he can trace his lineage however distantly to the infamous Bayushi Atsuki, leader of the Gozoku conspiracy centuries ago. Already he manoeuvres to have one of his clansmen appointed as Shogun. It is uncertain whether he will see his Clan rise the greatness they briefly achieved in the 12th century or not.
The Unicorn Clan, was the first to face the Yodotai in battle. It is unsurprising then that even above that of the Lion they took the most losses of any Great Clan, for not only do they have to train a new generation of warriors, their fantastical steeds have also been seriously depleted to the point where there is some talk that Shinjo no kami will return a third time to revitalize the herds as Moto Naleesh did in the dying days of Iweko I.
Moto Kublai; Khan of the Unicorn, descendent of Shinjo and Moto Gaheris, considers those people, quitters. Taking the reins of a shattered clan after his beloved mother died of war wounds fifteen years ago, he has poured a seemingly relentless amount of energy into rebuilding the Unicorn, revitalizing it by brazenly absorbing the Yobanjin of the North into his ranks. While this caused some tension with the Lion. Iweko VII's proclamation that they have souls, and the spectacular triumph of Moto Sen-toa in the Topaz championship (A Yobanjin born but Unicorn raised samurai) Has left the Lion and the Crane with little choice but to accept it. The Unicorn have yet to fully recover, but many agree that it will recover, something in doubt a mere generation ago.
In spite of Kublai's enthusiastic support of the Throne and drive, not all is well with the Unicorn, while his grandmother and grandfather united the Shinjo and Moto ruling lines ending that long argument. The Utaku have seemingly taken the Shinjo's place in challenging the authority of the Moto. The only family to categorically refuse to accept Yobanjin into their ranks, while paradoxically also the one who needs it moth. The Utaku along with the the Battue family (Who earned their way to their own land two centuries ago) look with some askance at the grand reformation taking place all along them. While the Ide and the Iuchi are willing to stay out of this argument, they too wonder about Kublai's actions. Dark whispers of 'Chagatai reborn' float through the plains.
Thus the Unicorn Clan stands divided as it always has between that of outsider and Rokugani, even if the lines have changed. Kublai hopes that betrothing his son to Utaku Ninami, heir to Utaku Tomoe, daimyo of the Utaku, will sooth the restless warrior women, but even he is unsure if his boundless optimism has finally seen him push too far in these matters.
In spite of Kublai's enthusiastic support of the Throne and drive, not all is well with the Unicorn, while his grandmother and grandfather united the Shinjo and Moto ruling lines ending that long argument. The Utaku have seemingly taken the Shinjo's place in challenging the authority of the Moto. The only family to categorically refuse to accept Yobanjin into their ranks, while paradoxically also the one who needs it moth. The Utaku along with the the Battue family (Who earned their way to their own land two centuries ago) look with some askance at the grand reformation taking place all along them. While the Ide and the Iuchi are willing to stay out of this argument, they too wonder about Kublai's actions. Dark whispers of 'Chagatai reborn' float through the plains.
Thus the Unicorn Clan stands divided as it always has between that of outsider and Rokugani, even if the lines have changed. Kublai hopes that betrothing his son to Utaku Ninami, heir to Utaku Tomoe, daimyo of the Utaku, will sooth the restless warrior women, but even he is unsure if his boundless optimism has finally seen him push too far in these matters.
Recent History
In the aftermath of the War of Eagles, the Imperial Legions found themselves the only real military power left in Rokugan. But their strength was severely diminished, as the War had cost entire Legions in blood and treasure. Indeed, it was uncertain if the Legions could be maintained at all. Iweko VII, however, had better plans for his armies. He launched an extremely ambitious series of reforms meant to streamline and improve both morale and tactics. Legions were combined, trained, and diverted to various hotspots around the Empire while the Emerald Legion was expanded to twice it's number and given the traditional duty of patrolling the roads. In the end it proved enough. The position of Shogun was retired, invested instead into Iweko VII himself. The practice of political appointments to the Imperial Legions ended and ten legions each numbering 10,000 men were set to defend the Empire.
During this time the 10th Legion found itself in crisis. Traditionally the Legion of the Dragon and Phoenix, both clans were far too weak to support a legion's worth of soldiers. It was very real question whether the 10th would be maintained at all instead being folded into a more illustrious Legion. This debate raged for months politically as the leaders of the various Legions tried every trick in the book to try and maintain their post.
Iweko VII soon tired of this and gathered the assembled Rikugunshokans of the various legions into a courtyard.
There he decreed that the Legions would be consolidated into just ten and that if they wanted to keep their position they would have to fight for it. A day long tournament ensued where short of death, everything as permitted.
At the end of it ten samurai stood, among them Mirumoto Shin, Rikugunshokan of the Tenth Legion. Having personally defeated the leaders of the 8th, 15th, 21st and 30th, Mirumoto Shin was tasked with absorbing these units and forcing them into a cohesive whole.
The end result was that the 10th Legion was an eclectic army that took the best and brightest from all over the Empire. They also had quite a collection of oddballs, but...the legion was no less effective for it. Due to its tendency to unorthodox styles, Iweko VII ordered them and the 2nd to defend the newly formed Shield Cities. Unfortunately Mirumoto Shin passed away at young age, handing the position to his even younger subordinate Otomo Daichi. But Shin, in his last official act, had chosen the city of Shiro Enishi as the home base for his beloved 10th Legion.
Today, it has been nearly 15 years since the Legion as a whole has seen action, but individual squadrons have fought everything from disaffected Yodotai, bandits and mad cultists to the rumoured shadow warriors of the Ivory Emperor to the south. Otomo Daichi, like his mentor, is
an unorthodox but stern military man who has been forced recently to take the governorship of the city.
Time will tell if the 10th Imperial Legion will again march as one body against a foe. But for now, it watches and defends Shiro Enishi to its last breath.
In the aftermath of the War of Eagles, the Imperial Legions found themselves the only real military power left in Rokugan. But their strength was severely diminished, as the War had cost entire Legions in blood and treasure. Indeed, it was uncertain if the Legions could be maintained at all. Iweko VII, however, had better plans for his armies. He launched an extremely ambitious series of reforms meant to streamline and improve both morale and tactics. Legions were combined, trained, and diverted to various hotspots around the Empire while the Emerald Legion was expanded to twice it's number and given the traditional duty of patrolling the roads. In the end it proved enough. The position of Shogun was retired, invested instead into Iweko VII himself. The practice of political appointments to the Imperial Legions ended and ten legions each numbering 10,000 men were set to defend the Empire.
During this time the 10th Legion found itself in crisis. Traditionally the Legion of the Dragon and Phoenix, both clans were far too weak to support a legion's worth of soldiers. It was very real question whether the 10th would be maintained at all instead being folded into a more illustrious Legion. This debate raged for months politically as the leaders of the various Legions tried every trick in the book to try and maintain their post.
Iweko VII soon tired of this and gathered the assembled Rikugunshokans of the various legions into a courtyard.
There he decreed that the Legions would be consolidated into just ten and that if they wanted to keep their position they would have to fight for it. A day long tournament ensued where short of death, everything as permitted.
At the end of it ten samurai stood, among them Mirumoto Shin, Rikugunshokan of the Tenth Legion. Having personally defeated the leaders of the 8th, 15th, 21st and 30th, Mirumoto Shin was tasked with absorbing these units and forcing them into a cohesive whole.
The end result was that the 10th Legion was an eclectic army that took the best and brightest from all over the Empire. They also had quite a collection of oddballs, but...the legion was no less effective for it. Due to its tendency to unorthodox styles, Iweko VII ordered them and the 2nd to defend the newly formed Shield Cities. Unfortunately Mirumoto Shin passed away at young age, handing the position to his even younger subordinate Otomo Daichi. But Shin, in his last official act, had chosen the city of Shiro Enishi as the home base for his beloved 10th Legion.
Today, it has been nearly 15 years since the Legion as a whole has seen action, but individual squadrons have fought everything from disaffected Yodotai, bandits and mad cultists to the rumoured shadow warriors of the Ivory Emperor to the south. Otomo Daichi, like his mentor, is
an unorthodox but stern military man who has been forced recently to take the governorship of the city.
Time will tell if the 10th Imperial Legion will again march as one body against a foe. But for now, it watches and defends Shiro Enishi to its last breath.
Otomo Daichi is a career military man who has served as the Rikugunshokan for the 10th Legion, and thus defender of the three southern Shield Cities (Shiro Enishi, Shiro sano Hauringo Okami, and Shiro Ishi Kuma), for over twenty years. Co-ordinating with the civilian governors of these cities has proven a challenge, but a combination of deft diplomacy and willingness to let his Legion do the talking has left Daichi uncontested as the supreme authority in the South.
Despite that, he never pushed for a civilian governorship. Content to be the iron fist and shield for the Emperor, Otomo Daichi engaged in the battles of Court because he had to, never because he wanted to. Indeed, he originally escaped into the Imperial Legions out of a desire to get away from all that.
Thus it is with no small amount of surprise that the new governor for Shiro Enishi after the unfortunate passing of Miya Sayuri was Daichi instead of another Miya, as was traditional. When asked why, Daichi would only say that the Imperial Bureaucracy had seen fit to 'reward him' as he was nearing the traditional bushi retirement age.
The truth is more complicated. Shiro Enishi controls the fate of the Shield Cities due to it providing the local agriculture needed to feed those cities. As such, its governor has to be able to handle that responsibility in addition to being the primary representative of the Emerald Empire to the Ivory Empire. This requirement, combined with the need for political reliability and the general fact that few actually want to be so far from Toshi Ranbo where the great Courts wage their wars of perfume and smoke, makes finding a governor hard. In the end, in spite of Otomo Daichi's political leanings making him utterly unsuitable by the views of his own family, Daichi was a compromise candidate, as there were none who wanted to go, could be trusted not to ruin everything and weren't even more politically unpalatable to the Otomo.
Daichi has mostly elected to delegate the civilian aspects of the city, aware that he is out of his depth and that his political opponents back in the Empire would be delighted to have an excuse to sack him.
Thus as the seasons turn and the threats of the Cult of Sagon and others begin to mount, Daichi finds himself just managing to hold on.
Despite that, he never pushed for a civilian governorship. Content to be the iron fist and shield for the Emperor, Otomo Daichi engaged in the battles of Court because he had to, never because he wanted to. Indeed, he originally escaped into the Imperial Legions out of a desire to get away from all that.
Thus it is with no small amount of surprise that the new governor for Shiro Enishi after the unfortunate passing of Miya Sayuri was Daichi instead of another Miya, as was traditional. When asked why, Daichi would only say that the Imperial Bureaucracy had seen fit to 'reward him' as he was nearing the traditional bushi retirement age.
The truth is more complicated. Shiro Enishi controls the fate of the Shield Cities due to it providing the local agriculture needed to feed those cities. As such, its governor has to be able to handle that responsibility in addition to being the primary representative of the Emerald Empire to the Ivory Empire. This requirement, combined with the need for political reliability and the general fact that few actually want to be so far from Toshi Ranbo where the great Courts wage their wars of perfume and smoke, makes finding a governor hard. In the end, in spite of Otomo Daichi's political leanings making him utterly unsuitable by the views of his own family, Daichi was a compromise candidate, as there were none who wanted to go, could be trusted not to ruin everything and weren't even more politically unpalatable to the Otomo.
Daichi has mostly elected to delegate the civilian aspects of the city, aware that he is out of his depth and that his political opponents back in the Empire would be delighted to have an excuse to sack him.
Thus as the seasons turn and the threats of the Cult of Sagon and others begin to mount, Daichi finds himself just managing to hold on.
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.
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.
In order to combat the drive for just traits, traits traits and insight boost. Gaining techniques requires skills.
Each Insight Rank requires the following number of skills in order to unlock a technique:
Level I: 2 rank 3 skills or one rank 5 skills
Level II: 4 rank 3 skills or two rank 5 skills
Level III: 6 rank 3 skills or three rank 5 skills
Level IV: 8 rank 3 skills, or four rank 5 skills or 1 rank 7 skill
Level V: 6 rank 5 skills, 2 rank 7 skills or 1 rank 10 skill
Each Insight Rank requires the following number of skills in order to unlock a technique:
Level I: 2 rank 3 skills or one rank 5 skills
Level II: 4 rank 3 skills or two rank 5 skills
Level III: 6 rank 3 skills or three rank 5 skills
Level IV: 8 rank 3 skills, or four rank 5 skills or 1 rank 7 skill
Level V: 6 rank 5 skills, 2 rank 7 skills or 1 rank 10 skill
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Prologue: Getting Up
"My name is..."
You take the tired old fan, opening it up to reveal the brilliant blue crane in flight and you remember.
Your mother giving this to you, of how she actually smiled, because you had been such a good student.
It was one of the only time you can remember those blue eyes showing actual warmth.
Images float by as more comes back to you. Long hours in the dojo practising over and over until every motion, every step was perfect. Your sensei praising you for your skills...
You look down at your wrist and see
[] Nothing (Kakita Bushi Origin)
[] A small blue crane tattooed there (Daidoji Bushi Origin)
[] A small black crane tattooed there (Daidoji Scout Origin)
Yes, you were good; you had to be, you were...Crane. Not anymore though, you were cast out.
Familiar feelings burn in you as you remember why.
[] A duel gone wrong; your daimyo cast you out rather than give you permission to seppukku. It was the only way to show how much that you were being punished. The guilt of cutting down your friend in his prime weighs at your soul.
[] You didn't mean to sleep with the daimyo's spouse, okay you did, but you didn't mean to get caught. But that's always been the way, your wants leading you into trouble. As punishment for your sins you were banished from the Crane and stripped of your name. But even now you aren't sure if it wasn't worth it. The familiar ardour grows within you.
[] For any samurai ,to stand in battle is supposed to be a great honour, glory, but for you...you ran, the charge of the Matsu broke you--- when you had loudly sworn that you would not break. But their roars, and your weakness led to you being forced to make good your words and give up your name. Painful shame still stabs at your heart from within.
That...yeah that was--- an experience you admit. Which lead to you leaving the Crane lands and heading west past the Unicorn into the Hinterlands and the Shield Cities.
"Samurai-san?" Jubei asks.
"My name is..."
Your face grimaces as your head pounds, you thought you had it. K something? no it was an H...augh.
"Sorry I don't remember yet" you finish lamely.
Jubei gives a tired smile.
"It'll come back to you. You feel up to moving?"
"Hai, hai" you say standing up.
Your bones creak, with disuse. How, long have you been in bed?
"Good. Sister Chou and Aya have been waiting for you." Jubei says rising.
As you watch him leave, you find yourself realizing that he was intentionally making himself smaller. He looks like he could bench press a horse if he wanted to, now that he isn't crouching down.
Putting on your clothes and putting the fan near your heart, and daisho at your waist, you walk out of the room into the courtyard.
The too bright sun burns your eyes and you hold up a hand to block it. Looking around you see that the courtyard is rather small a cross shaped walkway leading from the quarters you were in towards three other buildings. One looks like the Shrine to Goemon-no-kami, fortune of Heroes. The other seems to be the quarters for the monks in attendance, which leaves the last one as the entrance hall where most people pray to the fortune.
In the middle of the courtyard is brother Jubei, and two women.
One is a rather plump woman in miko robes but extremely dark skin...an Ivinda you realize, one of the people of the Ivory Kingdoms. Where are you that a gaijin can be a priestess?
The other woman is a slim athletic woman with dark hair cut short in a bob and a face that reminds you of the Kitsuki.
Well that is more normal at least.
You walk towards them and while it still hurts to bow, you bow politely to
[] All of them
[] Jubei and the normal woman but not the gaijin
Well you've shown what you think of Ivinda.
The other two women bow back along with Jubei, although you aren't sure what either are thinking. The Ivinda nods.
"Hello Samurai-san I am Sister Chou servant of Juroijin. Brother Jubei says you still don't remember your name is that right?"
"Hai" you say after a moment.
"Well hopefully it'll come back to you Samurai-san. Do you remember anything else?"
"Hai, I remember my past, just my name doesn't seem to be coming to me."
Chou brings up a hand to her chin and rubs it while thinking.
"Hmm I'm not sure why that would be, perhaps it is you trying to resolve between your first name and second name?"
"Maybe..." you say with a shrug.
"Will you consent to let me examine you Samurai-san? I am trained in medicine and may be able to help, and I want to be sure your wounds are healed."
[] Yes
[] No
[] Name?
(Currently by my count we are in a four way tie)
You take the tired old fan, opening it up to reveal the brilliant blue crane in flight and you remember.
Your mother giving this to you, of how she actually smiled, because you had been such a good student.
It was one of the only time you can remember those blue eyes showing actual warmth.
Images float by as more comes back to you. Long hours in the dojo practising over and over until every motion, every step was perfect. Your sensei praising you for your skills...
You look down at your wrist and see
[] Nothing (Kakita Bushi Origin)
[] A small black crane tattooed there (Daidoji Scout Origin)
Yes, you were good; you had to be, you were...Crane. Not anymore though, you were cast out.
Familiar feelings burn in you as you remember why.
[] You didn't mean to sleep with the daimyo's spouse, okay you did, but you didn't mean to get caught. But that's always been the way, your wants leading you into trouble. As punishment for your sins you were banished from the Crane and stripped of your name. But even now you aren't sure if it wasn't worth it. The familiar ardour grows within you.
That...yeah that was--- an experience you admit. Which lead to you leaving the Crane lands and heading west past the Unicorn into the Hinterlands and the Shield Cities.
"Samurai-san?" Jubei asks.
"My name is..."
Your face grimaces as your head pounds, you thought you had it. K something? no it was an H...augh.
"Sorry I don't remember yet" you finish lamely.
Jubei gives a tired smile.
"It'll come back to you. You feel up to moving?"
"Hai, hai" you say standing up.
Your bones creak, with disuse. How, long have you been in bed?
"Good. Sister Chou and Aya have been waiting for you." Jubei says rising.
As you watch him leave, you find yourself realizing that he was intentionally making himself smaller. He looks like he could bench press a horse if he wanted to, now that he isn't crouching down.
Putting on your clothes and putting the fan near your heart, and daisho at your waist, you walk out of the room into the courtyard.
The too bright sun burns your eyes and you hold up a hand to block it. Looking around you see that the courtyard is rather small a cross shaped walkway leading from the quarters you were in towards three other buildings. One looks like the Shrine to Goemon-no-kami, fortune of Heroes. The other seems to be the quarters for the monks in attendance, which leaves the last one as the entrance hall where most people pray to the fortune.
In the middle of the courtyard is brother Jubei, and two women.
One is a rather plump woman in miko robes but extremely dark skin...an Ivinda you realize, one of the people of the Ivory Kingdoms. Where are you that a gaijin can be a priestess?
The other woman is a slim athletic woman with dark hair cut short in a bob and a face that reminds you of the Kitsuki.
Well that is more normal at least.
You walk towards them and while it still hurts to bow, you bow politely to
[] All of them
Well you've shown what you think of Ivinda.
The other two women bow back along with Jubei, although you aren't sure what either are thinking. The Ivinda nods.
"Hello Samurai-san I am Sister Chou servant of Juroijin. Brother Jubei says you still don't remember your name is that right?"
"Hai" you say after a moment.
"Well hopefully it'll come back to you Samurai-san. Do you remember anything else?"
"Hai, I remember my past, just my name doesn't seem to be coming to me."
Chou brings up a hand to her chin and rubs it while thinking.
"Hmm I'm not sure why that would be, perhaps it is you trying to resolve between your first name and second name?"
"Maybe..." you say with a shrug.
"Will you consent to let me examine you Samurai-san? I am trained in medicine and may be able to help, and I want to be sure your wounds are healed."
[] Yes
[] No
[] Name?
(Currently by my count we are in a four way tie)
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Canon Omake by Ria: Last First Embrace
Tonight is the night. The culmination of months of anticipation. My hands tremble with barely suppressed excitement as they smooth soft silks over freshly washed skin. The light catches a glimmer of gold at my ears as I lean forward to dab vermillion on my lips.
My name is Kakita Sakura and tonight, for the first time since I was assigned to this court, I am taking a lover.
I study my image critically in the mirror as I debate hairstyles, piling on top of my head and letting it down several times. In the end I decide to leave it unbound - he's written poetry about the loveliness of my hair so hopefully he will like it.
The last few months have been like a dream. At first, it was secret, hidden glances in court. Then it was chance encounters and private letters. The fact that he would choose a young girl like me for a lover rather than a more experienced woman was
exciting. The fact that it was a secret, forbidden romance at court made it even more exciting.
A discreet mist of jasmine perfume and I'm ready. I take one last look at myself in the mirror. I have never looked so beautiful before. He will be pleased.
*********
He's unbelievably handsome, this man who is to be my lover. For all that he was born to the Hida, he's everything I could dream of in a man. My eyes take him in greedily as we approach each other finally alone behind closed doors together for the first time. Adrenaline spikes and a shiver runs down my spine as we look at one another and I see my desire mirrored in his eyes.
My body burns for his touch. When we finally embrace, I feel sure that I've burst into flame. His kisses take my breath away. Soft sighs turn to muffled, ecstatic cries.
I'm still laying in his arms, languid with love, when the door is flung open. Harsh voices are talking and rough hands grab me and push me out into the hall. My clothes are flung at me and I try to cover myself as best as I can as I'm shoved into the presence of Kakita-dono.
My name is Kakita Sakura and I've just been caught in bed with the Daimyo's husband.
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Prologue: Remembering Yourself
Chou looks at you expectantly, her brown eyes are kind and you sense no malice.
It doesn't take long for you to decide that yes, yes, you should accept medical attention after waking up from an apparently brutal fight.
"Hai, I'd appreciate that Sister Chou" you say, your voice still dry.
The nun approaches you and carefully runs her hands along your chi pathways, listening, feeling the flow of your body. As she listens she frowns in thought. You feel a slight push of something from her fingertips...chi you realize. One of the mystical kiho of the Brotherhood. The Sword Emperor was right, that these gaijin...are people too. You don't feel uncomfortable about that thought as you might if you were a Lion or a Phoenix. Still, it was nice to see proof, no one without a soul could use a kiho right?
Stepping back she bows.
"Ah, I saved your body, but your cultivation, I'm sorrowful to say, is not what it was."
"Huh?"
Chou looks at the other two monks.
"All people are balanced by the five elements within them: Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Void. As the Tao says, it is in growing into these elements and understanding the dance that you become enlightened. Throughout our lives we grow and cultivate our ability to new heights. However, whatever they did to you...it sapped your cultivation. You're weaker than you were, for lack of a better term."
Oh, you don't know what to make of that precisely. On the one hand you're an angry Megumi...
wait Megumi?
Megumi, that's your name.
How the fuck did you think it was K or H something. Those aren't even the same kanji let alone the same sound.
That's just embarrassing.
Focus Megumi, you tell yourself. How do you feel about this? Angry, about losing your hard earned skill, but on the other hand you're alive to get it back and you really didn't have to be.
"Thank you Sister Chou"
"Did the Kiho help with your memory at all?" She asks trying to find some good in the situation.
You nod.
"Hai my name is Megumi."
Jubei and Ayako raise an eyebrow.
"Funny, we were just thinking we should work on a shrine to Megumi-no-kami the fortune of Heroic Guidance." Ayako says in a lilting tone.
"Oh?" You say.
"Hai, we are already honouring the Fortune of Heroes, so why not his advisor?" she asks.
You don't really have an answer to that.
Megumi-no-kami was a popular fortune that young samurai prayed to before their gempukku. No one was too sure when samurai-ko started naming themselves after him, but most blame the Dragon.
"I don't know, Sister Ayako." You say after a moment.
"Hai, well, you should be on the mend. Just please for my sake don't get injured again Megumi-sama." Chou says with a bow.
"I don't think I intended to get injured in the first place." You mutter.
"You'd be surprised" Chou says, her tone darkening at some memory.
Jubei nods gruffly.
"Indeed. Still, before you go Sister Chou, we should see how much Megumi-sama remembers of her skill and training."
Chou's eyes go wide, in... not fear exactly, but dismay.
"Brother Jubei please don't tell me you mean the Gauntlet"
Wait, Gauntlet? What?
"I do, Ayako!" Jubei says his voice booming out.
Ayako raises her fist up in salute.
"Hai!'
With that the other female monk runs off to where you thought the sleeping quarters were.
Chou looks downcast as if she's preparing to see a baby kitten get a bucket of water dropped on it.
"....or you could just ask her? I mean..."
Jubei takes one massive hand to give her a comforting pat on the back. Pat, slap same thing right?
"Well that's up to her, but she should go through it anyway to get her strength back up."
You see the dark skinned woman has formidable glare.
"I want to argue with that but I don't know how."
Jubei laughs boisterously.
"So what do you think Megumi-sama? Ready for the gauntlet?" He says smiling.
[] Yes
[] No, you'll just do what Sister Chou suggested and talk.
--------------------------------------
Now it's time for character creation. Whichever you chose will work, but it's more character building than anything else.
Rules for Creation are as follows:
52 XP to spend.
You must have at least one weapon skill besides kenjutsu.
You must take the Ronin Disadvantage for no points.
You must take either the 'Lost Love' or the 'Lechery' disadvantage for no points.
Earth wounds are set at Earth*3 instead of the usual Earth*2.
Please vote for whole sheets rather than parts.
In addition to this vote for one of the following options in terms of character portrait
[] Option 1
[] Option 2
\
[] Option 3
You may of course, put in your own picture and have people vote for it. Just number it for me in sequence.
(So the first write in picture would be Option 4 and so on)
It doesn't take long for you to decide that yes, yes, you should accept medical attention after waking up from an apparently brutal fight.
"Hai, I'd appreciate that Sister Chou" you say, your voice still dry.
The nun approaches you and carefully runs her hands along your chi pathways, listening, feeling the flow of your body. As she listens she frowns in thought. You feel a slight push of something from her fingertips...chi you realize. One of the mystical kiho of the Brotherhood. The Sword Emperor was right, that these gaijin...are people too. You don't feel uncomfortable about that thought as you might if you were a Lion or a Phoenix. Still, it was nice to see proof, no one without a soul could use a kiho right?
Stepping back she bows.
"Ah, I saved your body, but your cultivation, I'm sorrowful to say, is not what it was."
"Huh?"
Chou looks at the other two monks.
"All people are balanced by the five elements within them: Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Void. As the Tao says, it is in growing into these elements and understanding the dance that you become enlightened. Throughout our lives we grow and cultivate our ability to new heights. However, whatever they did to you...it sapped your cultivation. You're weaker than you were, for lack of a better term."
Oh, you don't know what to make of that precisely. On the one hand you're an angry Megumi...
wait Megumi?
Megumi, that's your name.
How the fuck did you think it was K or H something. Those aren't even the same kanji let alone the same sound.
That's just embarrassing.
Focus Megumi, you tell yourself. How do you feel about this? Angry, about losing your hard earned skill, but on the other hand you're alive to get it back and you really didn't have to be.
"Thank you Sister Chou"
"Did the Kiho help with your memory at all?" She asks trying to find some good in the situation.
You nod.
"Hai my name is Megumi."
Jubei and Ayako raise an eyebrow.
"Funny, we were just thinking we should work on a shrine to Megumi-no-kami the fortune of Heroic Guidance." Ayako says in a lilting tone.
"Oh?" You say.
"Hai, we are already honouring the Fortune of Heroes, so why not his advisor?" she asks.
You don't really have an answer to that.
Megumi-no-kami was a popular fortune that young samurai prayed to before their gempukku. No one was too sure when samurai-ko started naming themselves after him, but most blame the Dragon.
"I don't know, Sister Ayako." You say after a moment.
"Hai, well, you should be on the mend. Just please for my sake don't get injured again Megumi-sama." Chou says with a bow.
"I don't think I intended to get injured in the first place." You mutter.
"You'd be surprised" Chou says, her tone darkening at some memory.
Jubei nods gruffly.
"Indeed. Still, before you go Sister Chou, we should see how much Megumi-sama remembers of her skill and training."
Chou's eyes go wide, in... not fear exactly, but dismay.
"Brother Jubei please don't tell me you mean the Gauntlet"
Wait, Gauntlet? What?
"I do, Ayako!" Jubei says his voice booming out.
Ayako raises her fist up in salute.
"Hai!'
With that the other female monk runs off to where you thought the sleeping quarters were.
Chou looks downcast as if she's preparing to see a baby kitten get a bucket of water dropped on it.
"....or you could just ask her? I mean..."
Jubei takes one massive hand to give her a comforting pat on the back. Pat, slap same thing right?
"Well that's up to her, but she should go through it anyway to get her strength back up."
You see the dark skinned woman has formidable glare.
"I want to argue with that but I don't know how."
Jubei laughs boisterously.
"So what do you think Megumi-sama? Ready for the gauntlet?" He says smiling.
[] Yes
[] No, you'll just do what Sister Chou suggested and talk.
--------------------------------------
Now it's time for character creation. Whichever you chose will work, but it's more character building than anything else.
Rules for Creation are as follows:
52 XP to spend.
You must have at least one weapon skill besides kenjutsu.
You must take the Ronin Disadvantage for no points.
You must take either the 'Lost Love' or the 'Lechery' disadvantage for no points.
Earth wounds are set at Earth*3 instead of the usual Earth*2.
Please vote for whole sheets rather than parts.
In addition to this vote for one of the following options in terms of character portrait
[] Option 1
[] Option 2
\[] Option 3
You may of course, put in your own picture and have people vote for it. Just number it for me in sequence.
(So the first write in picture would be Option 4 and so on)
Prologue: Hello Grandmother
--No you'll just do what Sister Chou suggested and talk.
---Lecherous Courtly Bushi Build
-----looks not chosen (Will put this up as a vote yet again)
As Brother Jubei faintly...vibrates in a way that you might find well, attractive, if not for the fact he was old enough to be your grandfather, you decide that you'll take the nice Sister Chou's advice.
"Forgive me Brother Jubei...I'm just going to talk to Sister Chou instead."
Jubei shakes his head. "Your loss, Megumi-sama!"
He walks over to where the Gauntlet is.
The sound of traps and athletic exertions courses through your ears as Jubei has a grand old time.
Well, now you know how he stays in shape.
Sister Chou smiles at you in some relief.
"Alright, just tell me what you remember your abilities are..."
With a nod you begin to talk about yourself, at least what you can remember. Which oddly, doesn't include your face, you should probably look at a mirror at some point.
Over all you're not really good at anything except Iaijutsu, although you're getting there with your normal swordplay and spear use. Oh and Etiquette can't forget that, you made sure to get better at that after the um...night of passion.
You know a little of how to convince people you're honest, or just convincing people in general really. Also you can serve tea, hunt and do a little merchant work in about equal skill levels. Which is to say you know just enough to know when you suck.
And that's why--
"SAKURA!"
"What?" you say at the sudden new voice.
Chou looks at you strangely.
"What?"
"SAKURA!"
"....I hear a voice, Sister Chou" You say, feeling more than a little embarrassed.
Chou looks down at her fingers and pokes them together.
"...um well, talk to it?"
Well, you don't have any better ideas.
"I...I guess?"
"Hello?" You say to the mysterious voice that oddly sounds like your mother.
"YOU CAN TALK TO ME IN YOUR MIND, SAKURA!"
Ooookay...
"SAKURA, YOU WORTHLESS GIRL, YOU HAVE INSULTED ME BEYOND ALL TOLERANCE!"
'Who...who are you?' You ask in your mind.
"I AM YOUR GRANDMOTHER, KAKITA MISAKI!"
"Oh...wait this is coming back. You're my ancestor who is absolutely pissed at me for well... everything right?"
"A BRILLIANT DEDUCTION, MY HALFWIT OF A GRANDDAUGHTER. SOMEONE HAS TO GUIDE YOU AND IT ISN'T YOUR CLAN ANYMORE, NOW IS IT?"
"What...what did I do this time?"
"YOUR SWORD, MY SWORD! YOU DAMAGED IT, YOU WORTHLESS RONIN!"
"Damaged?"
"FIX IT!"
"Yes, Grandmother..."
The sound of an old woman going back to sleep, mercifully leaves you alone.
Kakita Misaki-Shiryo, your grandmother and personal hatamoto to the Kakita daimyo...is a pain in your ass and has been since you became a ronin. But still, she is your grandmother, and thus knows how to make you act.
What happened last time you ignored her...doesn't really make you happy to think about.
"So what did the voice say?" Sister Chou asks you. Her big brown eyes reminding you that this woman has patiently waited for you to sort yourself out. You should like, give her a cake or something.
"Ah, it seems...an ancestor of mine is haunting me until...I don't know when she'll stop, she never actually told me. Still, she seems to think my sword is damaged."
"Well...check?"
With a shrug, you pull out the katana that has served you so well.
Your heart sinks with the feeling that someone punched you in the chest repeatedly.
The pure steel is rotted, black looking as rusted acid spots line along the edge. It's like someone tried to eat your katana or something....you can't use this in battle at all.
"Oh my..." Chou says, her face falling at the sight of the blade.
"...yeah..." you say softly.
You are only samurai still because of this blade, only samurai by dint of your skill with it. To lose your grandmother's soul...is to lose a part of you.
No wonder she was pissed.
"Er...um...I think brother Jubei can give you a spear to fight with for now..." Chou says.
She clearly has no idea how to deal with this.
"Thank you." You mumble.
"Hmm, that sword looks terrible" The loud voice of Brother Jubei makes you jump.
"AHH, BROTHER JUBEI, WHY?!" Chou says, jumping higher.
"Easy, good Sister, just a bit of fun. Still, that katana is no good for fighting."
"I know," you say.
You don't need him to tell you that, but what can you do about it?
"It looks to me like you're going to need to get it reforged," Jubei says.
You feel uncomfortably poor. This isn't new by any means, but it hurts now.
"Is there anyone in this city who can do that?"
"Hai," He says simply.
Looking around you notice that Sister Aya has returned as well. How the heck are monks so quiet?
"Sister Aya, if you please," Jubei prompts.
"Sure thing Master. There are three smiths that I know of that have sufficient skill to do so. They all have their own issues, but if you can get them to do it, you should get a fine sword back," Aya says, her voice taking on a lilting 'teacher' voice.
"In the Toriyama Ward, which is where we are, we have Kaiu Tanako-sama, she's mostly retired now, and infamous for never making weapons anymore. But, she is a fully trained Kaiu, so if you can convince her, she'll probably make a fantastic blade for you."
She takes a breath before continuing. "In the Mori Ward, Tsi Masahiro-sama plies his trade. He's good, says he's the best in the city...but he is um..."
"A money grubbing bastard, a cross of the worst Yasuki and Yoritomo traits." Jubei supplies.
"Right, that," Aya says, grateful to have someone else say it.
"And finally, in the Eiyuu Ward, there's a young new Samurai from the Kakita Artisan academy by the name of Kakita Reika-sama, they say she's quite gifted but that she doesn't like to do weapon-smithing or armor-smithing, no one knows why. Still, a Kakita blade is probably the best blade after a Kaiu or Tsi blade."
You rankle a little at your former family being insulted, but decide to ignore it for now. There's no way anyone knows about you out here...
"Megumi-sama, in light of everything, we're willing to let you sleep here and help out while you get back on your feet. That work for you?" Jubei asks.
[] Stay
[] Find your own place
"Keep in touch with me Megumi-sama if you need more treatment, but I'll let you have some privacy to think." Chou says.
With a bow, she leaves.
Jubei and Aya follow suit, going into the shrine to tend to it, leaving you alone to decide your next plan of action.
[] Seek out Kaiu Tanako
[] Seek out Tsi Masahiro
[] Seek out Kakita Reika
What does Megumi look like round 2 (Please vote with [] Option {Roman Numeral} votes without the word option and the Roman numeral will not count)
---Lecherous Courtly Bushi Build
-----looks not chosen (Will put this up as a vote yet again)
As Brother Jubei faintly...vibrates in a way that you might find well, attractive, if not for the fact he was old enough to be your grandfather, you decide that you'll take the nice Sister Chou's advice.
"Forgive me Brother Jubei...I'm just going to talk to Sister Chou instead."
Jubei shakes his head. "Your loss, Megumi-sama!"
He walks over to where the Gauntlet is.
The sound of traps and athletic exertions courses through your ears as Jubei has a grand old time.
Well, now you know how he stays in shape.
Sister Chou smiles at you in some relief.
"Alright, just tell me what you remember your abilities are..."
With a nod you begin to talk about yourself, at least what you can remember. Which oddly, doesn't include your face, you should probably look at a mirror at some point.
Over all you're not really good at anything except Iaijutsu, although you're getting there with your normal swordplay and spear use. Oh and Etiquette can't forget that, you made sure to get better at that after the um...night of passion.
You know a little of how to convince people you're honest, or just convincing people in general really. Also you can serve tea, hunt and do a little merchant work in about equal skill levels. Which is to say you know just enough to know when you suck.
And that's why--
"SAKURA!"
"What?" you say at the sudden new voice.
Chou looks at you strangely.
"What?"
"SAKURA!"
"....I hear a voice, Sister Chou" You say, feeling more than a little embarrassed.
Chou looks down at her fingers and pokes them together.
"...um well, talk to it?"
Well, you don't have any better ideas.
"I...I guess?"
"Hello?" You say to the mysterious voice that oddly sounds like your mother.
"YOU CAN TALK TO ME IN YOUR MIND, SAKURA!"
Ooookay...
"SAKURA, YOU WORTHLESS GIRL, YOU HAVE INSULTED ME BEYOND ALL TOLERANCE!"
'Who...who are you?' You ask in your mind.
"I AM YOUR GRANDMOTHER, KAKITA MISAKI!"
"Oh...wait this is coming back. You're my ancestor who is absolutely pissed at me for well... everything right?"
"A BRILLIANT DEDUCTION, MY HALFWIT OF A GRANDDAUGHTER. SOMEONE HAS TO GUIDE YOU AND IT ISN'T YOUR CLAN ANYMORE, NOW IS IT?"
"What...what did I do this time?"
"YOUR SWORD, MY SWORD! YOU DAMAGED IT, YOU WORTHLESS RONIN!"
"Damaged?"
"FIX IT!"
"Yes, Grandmother..."
The sound of an old woman going back to sleep, mercifully leaves you alone.
Kakita Misaki-Shiryo, your grandmother and personal hatamoto to the Kakita daimyo...is a pain in your ass and has been since you became a ronin. But still, she is your grandmother, and thus knows how to make you act.
What happened last time you ignored her...doesn't really make you happy to think about.
"So what did the voice say?" Sister Chou asks you. Her big brown eyes reminding you that this woman has patiently waited for you to sort yourself out. You should like, give her a cake or something.
"Ah, it seems...an ancestor of mine is haunting me until...I don't know when she'll stop, she never actually told me. Still, she seems to think my sword is damaged."
"Well...check?"
With a shrug, you pull out the katana that has served you so well.
Your heart sinks with the feeling that someone punched you in the chest repeatedly.
The pure steel is rotted, black looking as rusted acid spots line along the edge. It's like someone tried to eat your katana or something....you can't use this in battle at all.
"Oh my..." Chou says, her face falling at the sight of the blade.
"...yeah..." you say softly.
You are only samurai still because of this blade, only samurai by dint of your skill with it. To lose your grandmother's soul...is to lose a part of you.
No wonder she was pissed.
"Er...um...I think brother Jubei can give you a spear to fight with for now..." Chou says.
She clearly has no idea how to deal with this.
"Thank you." You mumble.
"Hmm, that sword looks terrible" The loud voice of Brother Jubei makes you jump.
"AHH, BROTHER JUBEI, WHY?!" Chou says, jumping higher.
"Easy, good Sister, just a bit of fun. Still, that katana is no good for fighting."
"I know," you say.
You don't need him to tell you that, but what can you do about it?
"It looks to me like you're going to need to get it reforged," Jubei says.
You feel uncomfortably poor. This isn't new by any means, but it hurts now.
"Is there anyone in this city who can do that?"
"Hai," He says simply.
Looking around you notice that Sister Aya has returned as well. How the heck are monks so quiet?
"Sister Aya, if you please," Jubei prompts.
"Sure thing Master. There are three smiths that I know of that have sufficient skill to do so. They all have their own issues, but if you can get them to do it, you should get a fine sword back," Aya says, her voice taking on a lilting 'teacher' voice.
"In the Toriyama Ward, which is where we are, we have Kaiu Tanako-sama, she's mostly retired now, and infamous for never making weapons anymore. But, she is a fully trained Kaiu, so if you can convince her, she'll probably make a fantastic blade for you."
She takes a breath before continuing. "In the Mori Ward, Tsi Masahiro-sama plies his trade. He's good, says he's the best in the city...but he is um..."
"A money grubbing bastard, a cross of the worst Yasuki and Yoritomo traits." Jubei supplies.
"Right, that," Aya says, grateful to have someone else say it.
"And finally, in the Eiyuu Ward, there's a young new Samurai from the Kakita Artisan academy by the name of Kakita Reika-sama, they say she's quite gifted but that she doesn't like to do weapon-smithing or armor-smithing, no one knows why. Still, a Kakita blade is probably the best blade after a Kaiu or Tsi blade."
You rankle a little at your former family being insulted, but decide to ignore it for now. There's no way anyone knows about you out here...
"Megumi-sama, in light of everything, we're willing to let you sleep here and help out while you get back on your feet. That work for you?" Jubei asks.
[] Stay
[] Find your own place
"Keep in touch with me Megumi-sama if you need more treatment, but I'll let you have some privacy to think." Chou says.
With a bow, she leaves.
Jubei and Aya follow suit, going into the shrine to tend to it, leaving you alone to decide your next plan of action.
[] Seek out Kaiu Tanako
[] Seek out Tsi Masahiro
[] Seek out Kakita Reika
What does Megumi look like round 2 (Please vote with [] Option {Roman Numeral} votes without the word option and the Roman numeral will not count)
OPTION I
OPTION II
OPTION III
OPTION IV
OPTION II
OPTION III
OPTION IV
Arc I: The Sword Maker in Sorrow
While some ronin value their independence, you value a warm roof over your head a lot more than that.
"Brother Jubei, I thank you for your generosity and will of course help with the shrine."
Jubei nods.
"Alright then...you mind sharing a room?"
"No?" You venture.
"Sister Aya has some space for you to sleep then." Jubei says.
"Oh a room-mate, always wanted a room-mate." Aya says clapping her hands and running off.
"That girl..." Jubei mutters under his breath.
"So what are you going to do about your sword?" He asks.
You shrug. "She said that Kaiu Tanako-san was in this district right? I guess I'll go find her and see if she can help."
A frown crosses the old monk's face. "Got your work cut out for you. Crab are stubborn, as well you know."
"What, I...I don't know what you're talking about." you say after a moment.
Jubei gives you a look, and all of sudden you feel like you're back before your sensei. When she knew what you had done and was only forcing you to tell her so that you would learn honesty. It's a hard look that makes you feel very small...what was Jubei before became a monk? A distant part of you wonders.
"I'm an old man, but I still have a few friends back East. I don't really care what you do with yourself. But this is a temple to the Fortune Goemon, not Benten-no-kami, take my meaning?" He says.
You nod. Its all you can do. You know he can break you like a twig with those muscles, and honestly, not being allowed to have company of a romantic nature over is no real hardship.
It wasn't like...okay so you did enjoy handsome men and all the various things you could do with them. But, you aren't like going out of your way to be seduced or seduce in turn. Stuff just happens.
The hard gaze that made you answer truthfully fades away.
"Alright, rumor has it that Kaiu-san can usually be found in Tsukune's Temple this time of day. So if you want to catch her, now is the time."
You look down at your unusable daisho. Having no weapon is...not an experience you enjoy.
"Sister Chou mentioned a spear?"
Jubei shrugs.
"Shouldn't need it here. If you head down into Mori then I'll give you one."
Well, you can't argue with that, now can you?
With a bow, you make your way out of the temple, your hands pushing the thick oaken doors open.
Is everything in this temple meant for stronger people?
As the gate swings shut behind you, yhe feeling of cold wind blows down across your skin as you look outside the small temple that is your new home.
Below you see a vast city sprawling out from a central citadel. Thousands upon thousands of lives making their own way through this life. The faint sense of power, and living radiates even up this slope, which is the second thing you notice.
You are on a very steep hill, behind you a mountain shines in the mid-day sun, fog covering the snow topped peak. To the side you see a sort avenue of numerous temples and shrines.
In retrospect, you should have asked where Tsukune's shrine even is.
Still, nothing for it, you'll look around here for now.
Heavy footsteps lead you across the plaza, and you can spot several prominent temples, particularly those to Fukurokujin and Daikoku. The latter makes sense for Shiro Enishi, but the former surprises you.
Shaking off the curiosity - because what were you? A Dragon?- You get back to looking for Tsukune's Shrine.
(Investigation 4k2=7)
It takes you several hours, but finally you manage to find a small shrine nestled way up the mountain. As the heavy fog begins to hang, you see the well made torii arch and Tsukune's own symbol, a simple caterpillar. Finally.
You're about to go in when you see an older woman walk out of the shrine. Her black eyes are red with...tears you think. Even as her broad frame, carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. It's almost heart breaking at how she moves.
A thin line across the woman's face almost distracts you from the mons on her shoulders.
Kaiu, Crab, Engineer.
Careful not to give offense you bow to the woman.
"Samurai-sama, I am Megumi, a humble ronin. I have heard that Kaiu Tanako-sama was at this shrine, have you seen her?"
A low voice echoes from the woman. A voice stretched and cracked by too much sochu, too much grief.
"I am she, and what does a humble ronin wish with me?"
"I---"
"You want me to make you a daisho for your lover? Your child? Broke yours? I don't care, I don't do that any more. And that's the only reason a ronin would seek me out."
"...my apologies Kaiu-sama."
"Save it, apologies change nothing."
"Hai, I um..."
[] What do?
"Brother Jubei, I thank you for your generosity and will of course help with the shrine."
Jubei nods.
"Alright then...you mind sharing a room?"
"No?" You venture.
"Sister Aya has some space for you to sleep then." Jubei says.
"Oh a room-mate, always wanted a room-mate." Aya says clapping her hands and running off.
"That girl..." Jubei mutters under his breath.
"So what are you going to do about your sword?" He asks.
You shrug. "She said that Kaiu Tanako-san was in this district right? I guess I'll go find her and see if she can help."
A frown crosses the old monk's face. "Got your work cut out for you. Crab are stubborn, as well you know."
"What, I...I don't know what you're talking about." you say after a moment.
Jubei gives you a look, and all of sudden you feel like you're back before your sensei. When she knew what you had done and was only forcing you to tell her so that you would learn honesty. It's a hard look that makes you feel very small...what was Jubei before became a monk? A distant part of you wonders.
"I'm an old man, but I still have a few friends back East. I don't really care what you do with yourself. But this is a temple to the Fortune Goemon, not Benten-no-kami, take my meaning?" He says.
You nod. Its all you can do. You know he can break you like a twig with those muscles, and honestly, not being allowed to have company of a romantic nature over is no real hardship.
It wasn't like...okay so you did enjoy handsome men and all the various things you could do with them. But, you aren't like going out of your way to be seduced or seduce in turn. Stuff just happens.
The hard gaze that made you answer truthfully fades away.
"Alright, rumor has it that Kaiu-san can usually be found in Tsukune's Temple this time of day. So if you want to catch her, now is the time."
You look down at your unusable daisho. Having no weapon is...not an experience you enjoy.
"Sister Chou mentioned a spear?"
Jubei shrugs.
"Shouldn't need it here. If you head down into Mori then I'll give you one."
Well, you can't argue with that, now can you?
With a bow, you make your way out of the temple, your hands pushing the thick oaken doors open.
Is everything in this temple meant for stronger people?
As the gate swings shut behind you, yhe feeling of cold wind blows down across your skin as you look outside the small temple that is your new home.
Below you see a vast city sprawling out from a central citadel. Thousands upon thousands of lives making their own way through this life. The faint sense of power, and living radiates even up this slope, which is the second thing you notice.
You are on a very steep hill, behind you a mountain shines in the mid-day sun, fog covering the snow topped peak. To the side you see a sort avenue of numerous temples and shrines.
In retrospect, you should have asked where Tsukune's shrine even is.
Still, nothing for it, you'll look around here for now.
Heavy footsteps lead you across the plaza, and you can spot several prominent temples, particularly those to Fukurokujin and Daikoku. The latter makes sense for Shiro Enishi, but the former surprises you.
Shaking off the curiosity - because what were you? A Dragon?- You get back to looking for Tsukune's Shrine.
(Investigation 4k2=7)
It takes you several hours, but finally you manage to find a small shrine nestled way up the mountain. As the heavy fog begins to hang, you see the well made torii arch and Tsukune's own symbol, a simple caterpillar. Finally.
You're about to go in when you see an older woman walk out of the shrine. Her black eyes are red with...tears you think. Even as her broad frame, carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. It's almost heart breaking at how she moves.
A thin line across the woman's face almost distracts you from the mons on her shoulders.
Kaiu, Crab, Engineer.
Careful not to give offense you bow to the woman.
"Samurai-sama, I am Megumi, a humble ronin. I have heard that Kaiu Tanako-sama was at this shrine, have you seen her?"
A low voice echoes from the woman. A voice stretched and cracked by too much sochu, too much grief.
"I am she, and what does a humble ronin wish with me?"
"I---"
"You want me to make you a daisho for your lover? Your child? Broke yours? I don't care, I don't do that any more. And that's the only reason a ronin would seek me out."
"...my apologies Kaiu-sama."
"Save it, apologies change nothing."
"Hai, I um..."
[] What do?
Canon Omake by Ria: Grandmotherly Advice
And Courtesy of Ria once again
It's a beautiful spring day. The breeze is scented with the flowers from my mother's garden and the sweet sound of birds singing fills the day with joy. It's an idyllic scene, one I have seen and enjoyed countless times. But today, as the door shuts behind me for the last time, I can't take any of it in.
My name was Kakita Sakura, but I no longer have a Clan, a family or a name.
I aimlessly wander through the Kakita lands, not sure of what to do or where to go. I feel...strangely removed from the situation, numb as it were. The realization hasn't really hit me yet that I have nothing. No Clan, no Lord, no family, no duty… Nothing. I've lost everything because Hida Takamona was jealous of the attention her adored older brother gave another woman. Of course Takamona had to accept Kakita-dono. Marriage is duty. But being interested enough in another woman to take her as a lover? No, that she couldn't bear.
A flash of desire courses through my body as I remember him. Kakita no Hida Katsuie, my handsome, virile lover. I can see his face in my mind's eye, see his smile, the smoulder of desire in his eyes. I can feel his kiss, his hands on my body, his flesh against mine. Even now a rush of heat engulfs me as I think of him. And despite everything that's happened...I can't say with certainty that I regret a single moment.
I stop to sit under a tree to rest and eat. I lay my daisho across my lap reverently. I remember the day that I received it, at my gempukku.
"To you, my daughter, I give the daisho of your grandmother Kakita Misaki-shiryo, she who was the personal hatamoto to the Kakita Daimyo. Wear it with pride and humility both, Sakura-chan, and may her example ever be an inspiration to you."
As I finish eating, my fingers gently trace over the tsuba. It's all I have left now to remind me of who I was. My eyelids feel heavy as the balmy afternoon calm lulls me into sleep.
"SAKURA!"
My eyes fly open as my hand tightens around the hilt of my katana. I look around, searching for who could possibly be calling me by my former name. But I see no one. That's strange, I thought for sure I heard it. I must be imagining things.
"SAKURA, YOU WORTHLESS GIRL! HAVE YOU NO PRIDE? NO SHAME?"
Again...I still don't see anyone. Why does that voice sound so familiar?
"YOU AREN'T EVEN WORTHY TO LOOK UPON MY DAISHO, NEVERMIND WIELD IT. HOW CAN YOU BRING SUCH DISHONOUR ON MY NAME?!"
"G..g...grand...mother…??" Did I really just hear my grandmother's voice? But she's dead! Am I going mad?
"It wouldn't surprise me one bit if you were stark raving mad, given how you've been behaving, you lecherous little fool!"
It's a stupid question I know, but...I just have to ask, just to be sure.
"What...how, really...are you...talking to me?? Is it...your spirit talking to me?" I'm embarrassed asking but...I can hear her in my head...and she seems to be able to hear my thoughts too...
A rude noise echoes in my ears. "Well at least you've only lost HALF your wits.You didn't think that I could let this kind of thing just slide did you? Well, Sakura? Have you nothing to say for yourself?"
My name is no longer Sakura...I have no name… is the first and probably inadvisable thing that comes to mind.
"Well if you don't remember who you were, how will you ever find a way back to being worthy of MY daisho," is the immediate, snarky reply.
Whaaaaaaaat?
"Did you think that I would leave my daisho, my honour and my soul, in the unworthy hands of SOME HONOURLESS RONIN? Even you can't be that stupid. I don't care what it takes Sakura, but you will find your way back to honour and you will ensure that you leave my legacy unbesmirched!!"
Well there's not much I can say to that. Grandmother always did have a sharp tongue and a very stubborn w…
"At least my stubborn will, as you call it, made sure that I had the good sense not to do something as colossally idiotic as get caught sleeping with the Daimyo's husband!"
I let out a sigh. "Yes, Grandmother."
I have no name, no clan, but I have a duty now. One laid by my revered Grandmother, even if she is a mean old bat.
"I HEARD THAT!"
She's still my grandmother...and it's a goal...
I will earn myself a name back...they say ronin have more luck in the Hinterlands…and I always did want to travel.
It's a beautiful spring day. The breeze is scented with the flowers from my mother's garden and the sweet sound of birds singing fills the day with joy. It's an idyllic scene, one I have seen and enjoyed countless times. But today, as the door shuts behind me for the last time, I can't take any of it in.
My name was Kakita Sakura, but I no longer have a Clan, a family or a name.
I aimlessly wander through the Kakita lands, not sure of what to do or where to go. I feel...strangely removed from the situation, numb as it were. The realization hasn't really hit me yet that I have nothing. No Clan, no Lord, no family, no duty… Nothing. I've lost everything because Hida Takamona was jealous of the attention her adored older brother gave another woman. Of course Takamona had to accept Kakita-dono. Marriage is duty. But being interested enough in another woman to take her as a lover? No, that she couldn't bear.
A flash of desire courses through my body as I remember him. Kakita no Hida Katsuie, my handsome, virile lover. I can see his face in my mind's eye, see his smile, the smoulder of desire in his eyes. I can feel his kiss, his hands on my body, his flesh against mine. Even now a rush of heat engulfs me as I think of him. And despite everything that's happened...I can't say with certainty that I regret a single moment.
I stop to sit under a tree to rest and eat. I lay my daisho across my lap reverently. I remember the day that I received it, at my gempukku.
"To you, my daughter, I give the daisho of your grandmother Kakita Misaki-shiryo, she who was the personal hatamoto to the Kakita Daimyo. Wear it with pride and humility both, Sakura-chan, and may her example ever be an inspiration to you."
As I finish eating, my fingers gently trace over the tsuba. It's all I have left now to remind me of who I was. My eyelids feel heavy as the balmy afternoon calm lulls me into sleep.
"SAKURA!"
My eyes fly open as my hand tightens around the hilt of my katana. I look around, searching for who could possibly be calling me by my former name. But I see no one. That's strange, I thought for sure I heard it. I must be imagining things.
"SAKURA, YOU WORTHLESS GIRL! HAVE YOU NO PRIDE? NO SHAME?"
Again...I still don't see anyone. Why does that voice sound so familiar?
"YOU AREN'T EVEN WORTHY TO LOOK UPON MY DAISHO, NEVERMIND WIELD IT. HOW CAN YOU BRING SUCH DISHONOUR ON MY NAME?!"
"G..g...grand...mother…??" Did I really just hear my grandmother's voice? But she's dead! Am I going mad?
"It wouldn't surprise me one bit if you were stark raving mad, given how you've been behaving, you lecherous little fool!"
It's a stupid question I know, but...I just have to ask, just to be sure.
"What...how, really...are you...talking to me?? Is it...your spirit talking to me?" I'm embarrassed asking but...I can hear her in my head...and she seems to be able to hear my thoughts too...
A rude noise echoes in my ears. "Well at least you've only lost HALF your wits.You didn't think that I could let this kind of thing just slide did you? Well, Sakura? Have you nothing to say for yourself?"
My name is no longer Sakura...I have no name… is the first and probably inadvisable thing that comes to mind.
"Well if you don't remember who you were, how will you ever find a way back to being worthy of MY daisho," is the immediate, snarky reply.
Whaaaaaaaat?
"Did you think that I would leave my daisho, my honour and my soul, in the unworthy hands of SOME HONOURLESS RONIN? Even you can't be that stupid. I don't care what it takes Sakura, but you will find your way back to honour and you will ensure that you leave my legacy unbesmirched!!"
Well there's not much I can say to that. Grandmother always did have a sharp tongue and a very stubborn w…
"At least my stubborn will, as you call it, made sure that I had the good sense not to do something as colossally idiotic as get caught sleeping with the Daimyo's husband!"
I let out a sigh. "Yes, Grandmother."
I have no name, no clan, but I have a duty now. One laid by my revered Grandmother, even if she is a mean old bat.
"I HEARD THAT!"
She's still my grandmother...and it's a goal...
I will earn myself a name back...they say ronin have more luck in the Hinterlands…and I always did want to travel.
Arc I: Drunken Questions
--"Is there nothing I can do to ease your burden, Kaiu-sama? Regardless of my soul, my honor remains intact. It will not sit easy without offering aid to one who should be respected."
----------------------------------
As Tanako turns away from you, you feel a pang of guilt. You saw how heavy her burden is, how much pain she is in, and you came with a selfish request. Kaiu make blades for lords, for heroes, not for ronin, but you were going to ask anyways...no, you have to do the right thing. To be the samurai that your mother, and grandmother wanted you to be.
"Is there nothing I can do to ease your burden Kaiu-sama? Regardless of my soul, my honour remains intact. It will not sit easy without offering aid to--"
"Shut up" she barks.
"Kaiu-sama..."
"You want to help?" She asks looking you up and down with suspicious eye.
"Hai." You say quietly, the fog of the evening cloaking both of you.
"Why?"
"I..." you struggle for words for a moment.
"Kaiu-sama, you have every right to turn away from me, but, I...am no stranger to pain, and compassion is a virtue too. I have nothing to offer but myself, but if that can help in some small way, I offer it, because it is the right thing to do."
"...I suppose. There's nothing you can do to help Megumi-san. Whatever pain you've felt, it is not the pain I've felt. But, if you want to join an old woman drinking her sorrows away, I won't stop you." Tanako says.
With that, the Kaiu begins to make her way through the fog down the mountain. There's a heavy silence that falls between you and her. A silence born of two people who have nothing in common, but still want to talk. Well...you want to talk...she just wants to drink.
With the steady miles eating stride of someone who marched in formations way too often, Tanako leads you to a small building at the border of this ward and the Mori Ward.
Looking up at the leering wolf sign, and the words underneath, you realize that this is a sake house in a temple district.
'Mercy of the Wolf Sake House'
Not what you would have chosen for a name, but no one asked you.
Tanako, steps inside, striding towards a booth with that odd mix of quiet confidence and sadness you associate with someone who spends most of their time drinking. Sitting down the old Crab doesn't even say anything, as a large bottle of what looks like shochu is put before her. Taking out a worn old cup carved with a frog motif, Tanako begins drinking.
Looking around you see that there is a sort of unintended melancholy aesthetic from the bare rocks and paintings of empty tundra. A few other monks, including one old woman who seems to be an abbess going by the robes, are also drinking.
Well you can see this place is going to be a wild party. Still, this isn't about you right now, but about the woman drinking alone.
So you follow after Tanako, and sit down in the booth. A Waiter primly asks if you have any money, but Tanako waves him off.
You end up ordering
[] Shochu
[] Sake
[] Tea
Tanako raises an eyebrow slightly, but continues her own quest to drain the bottle.
As you wait for the waiter to come back, you study Tanako a bit more, trying to search for a topic of conversation.
"Never fails though." Tanako says randomly.
"Kaiu-sama?" You respond surprised.
"Never fails that some asshole samurai hears about me and comes wandering by to ask me about making a sword or why I don't make swords anymore."
"My apologies…."
"Should just retire, but then I'd have to give this baby up," Tanako says as she gestures to her bottle of Shochu, at least you think it's Shochu
"Right"
"And that ain't happening, not after everything. Fuck, in the middle of nowhere while the Empire gets ready to burn, no family, no friends, just a random ass ronin and my soju"
You realize that Tanako isn't really talking to you.
"Of course, that's basically the best I can expect, after everything. But fuck it, I don't care if they make me a ronin. I ain't doing that shit anymore, I'm not taking sons and daughters away anymore."
What the hell was in that shochu?
As Tanako throws the empty bottle to the ground, and the waiter comes back with another and your beverage. The old woman stares at you.
"So the fuck you think you using a sword for eh? Going to kill a few people, protect a few fat merchant bastards? Maybe fight for justice? The fuck do you think you are?" She spits.
You think if your sword wasn't already half melted, the amount of acid in Tanako's voice would do it anyways.
[] What say?
----------------------------------
As Tanako turns away from you, you feel a pang of guilt. You saw how heavy her burden is, how much pain she is in, and you came with a selfish request. Kaiu make blades for lords, for heroes, not for ronin, but you were going to ask anyways...no, you have to do the right thing. To be the samurai that your mother, and grandmother wanted you to be.
"Is there nothing I can do to ease your burden Kaiu-sama? Regardless of my soul, my honour remains intact. It will not sit easy without offering aid to--"
"Shut up" she barks.
"Kaiu-sama..."
"You want to help?" She asks looking you up and down with suspicious eye.
"Hai." You say quietly, the fog of the evening cloaking both of you.
"Why?"
"I..." you struggle for words for a moment.
"Kaiu-sama, you have every right to turn away from me, but, I...am no stranger to pain, and compassion is a virtue too. I have nothing to offer but myself, but if that can help in some small way, I offer it, because it is the right thing to do."
"...I suppose. There's nothing you can do to help Megumi-san. Whatever pain you've felt, it is not the pain I've felt. But, if you want to join an old woman drinking her sorrows away, I won't stop you." Tanako says.
With that, the Kaiu begins to make her way through the fog down the mountain. There's a heavy silence that falls between you and her. A silence born of two people who have nothing in common, but still want to talk. Well...you want to talk...she just wants to drink.
With the steady miles eating stride of someone who marched in formations way too often, Tanako leads you to a small building at the border of this ward and the Mori Ward.
Looking up at the leering wolf sign, and the words underneath, you realize that this is a sake house in a temple district.
'Mercy of the Wolf Sake House'
Not what you would have chosen for a name, but no one asked you.
Tanako, steps inside, striding towards a booth with that odd mix of quiet confidence and sadness you associate with someone who spends most of their time drinking. Sitting down the old Crab doesn't even say anything, as a large bottle of what looks like shochu is put before her. Taking out a worn old cup carved with a frog motif, Tanako begins drinking.
Looking around you see that there is a sort of unintended melancholy aesthetic from the bare rocks and paintings of empty tundra. A few other monks, including one old woman who seems to be an abbess going by the robes, are also drinking.
Well you can see this place is going to be a wild party. Still, this isn't about you right now, but about the woman drinking alone.
So you follow after Tanako, and sit down in the booth. A Waiter primly asks if you have any money, but Tanako waves him off.
You end up ordering
[] Shochu
[] Sake
[] Tea
Tanako raises an eyebrow slightly, but continues her own quest to drain the bottle.
As you wait for the waiter to come back, you study Tanako a bit more, trying to search for a topic of conversation.
"Never fails though." Tanako says randomly.
"Kaiu-sama?" You respond surprised.
"Never fails that some asshole samurai hears about me and comes wandering by to ask me about making a sword or why I don't make swords anymore."
"My apologies…."
"Should just retire, but then I'd have to give this baby up," Tanako says as she gestures to her bottle of Shochu, at least you think it's Shochu
"Right"
"And that ain't happening, not after everything. Fuck, in the middle of nowhere while the Empire gets ready to burn, no family, no friends, just a random ass ronin and my soju"
You realize that Tanako isn't really talking to you.
"Of course, that's basically the best I can expect, after everything. But fuck it, I don't care if they make me a ronin. I ain't doing that shit anymore, I'm not taking sons and daughters away anymore."
What the hell was in that shochu?
As Tanako throws the empty bottle to the ground, and the waiter comes back with another and your beverage. The old woman stares at you.
"So the fuck you think you using a sword for eh? Going to kill a few people, protect a few fat merchant bastards? Maybe fight for justice? The fuck do you think you are?" She spits.
You think if your sword wasn't already half melted, the amount of acid in Tanako's voice would do it anyways.
[] What say?
Arc I: Oaths of Regret
AN: Unbetaed so sorry for mistakes and stuff
Effect: Holding your own for now
As the sake comes, you take a moment to drink and---wow this is strong stuff, but you're okay, probably.
Where were you? Right Kaiu-sama was giving you this angry glare and asking what you were.
Swallowing down the burning liquid, you consider the question and answer for a moment.
You begin:
"Kaiu-sama, I was born and raised a swordswoman. As you said the Empire is---"
The sound of Tanako's bottle hitting the table, stops you.
"Don't give me that bullcrap, you ain't out to save the Empire, you out for yourself." She says.
Then takes another swig of whatever that stuff is.
You suppress a twitch of anger at her calling you out.
Damn you old woman...
"If Kaiu-sama will let me finish?" You ask, irritation creeping into your voice.
Tanako lowers the bottle from her lips.
"Fine, I'm telling ya it ain't going to work."
"I'm not proud of what I've done, or anything, but my grandmother's sword deserves better, and I want to make it up to her and my ancestors....but the real reason I'm here, is because I don't want to die." You say quietly.
"Eh?" Tanako's eyes widen in surprise.
A shrug from you as you reflect on lessons you learned coming out here.
"A ronin is only as good as their ability to fight or talk, I'm not all that great at either right now. I'm worse without my sword. If I'm going to survive in this place, I need to be able to fight, to duel if the magistrates get an idea in their heads."
Tanako puts the bottle down, looking at it's half-empty contents.
"Hmmph, well I'll give you honesty, but that ain't a good reason to break my oath."
"Oath?" You ask in spite of yourself.
Tanako takes another long chug before dropping the empty bottle on the table.
"I'll never make another damned blade, I swore on my dead son."
You almost spit out your sake at that. Son? Well she is old enough for that...but dead? What happened?
"...If it's not too....no, if you want to tell me what happened, I'd appreciate it." You say after a moment.
Fortunes, of course talking about how your son died is going to be way too personal. While you are curious, you know that you can't just ask her. She'd probably smash your face in with that shochu bottle.
*Success*
".....pfft, you've got a way about you don't you?" Tanako says her voice laced with contempt.
"Sometimes." You answer.
It's true, people seem to be more willing to talk to you than others. It doesn't always work or anything, like you can't force a cat not to bring you dead rats, let alone people.
Didn't help with Kakita-dono at all...this way of yours.
"I shouldn't even tell you this, but you want to know why I swore on my dead son? Because it was one of my swords that killed him."
You don't really know what if anything you can say to that.
"Oh..."
Giving a start as if she hadn't quite intended to say that much. Tanako shakes her head.
"Have a good night Megumi-san, the air here is starting to get to me."
Digging out a few bu for the evening, she leaves the coins on the table and staggers off.
A part of you wants to follow after her, but what would you say? What could you say?
You have loved yes, been loved, enjoyed things...but you've never been a mother.
And you've never had a family member die because of something you did.
"Leave it be Sakura" your grandmother says. Sounding oddly troubled, for some reason.
"Hai Grandmother" you say in your head. Maybe that's best for now, plan a new strategy later.
Finishing your sake, you stagger back to the Shrine of Goemon and flop onto the prepared futon pretty quickly. You can hold your liquor but that's strong stuff. Before you head to Yume-do, you spot Aya praying to...Muzaka? Fuck you don't know and today has been a very long day.
[] Pass out
[] Talk to Aya (Warning you are drunk your speechifying skills are taking a -1k0 penalty against Aya because she is not drunk like Tanako was)
| 2016-04-06 03:21:38 | Megumi | Drinking | 7, 9 | 7, 9 | 7, 9 | 2k2+0 | 16 | no |
As the sake comes, you take a moment to drink and---wow this is strong stuff, but you're okay, probably.
Where were you? Right Kaiu-sama was giving you this angry glare and asking what you were.
Swallowing down the burning liquid, you consider the question and answer for a moment.
You begin:
"Kaiu-sama, I was born and raised a swordswoman. As you said the Empire is---"
The sound of Tanako's bottle hitting the table, stops you.
"Don't give me that bullcrap, you ain't out to save the Empire, you out for yourself." She says.
Then takes another swig of whatever that stuff is.
You suppress a twitch of anger at her calling you out.
Damn you old woman...
"If Kaiu-sama will let me finish?" You ask, irritation creeping into your voice.
Tanako lowers the bottle from her lips.
"Fine, I'm telling ya it ain't going to work."
"I'm not proud of what I've done, or anything, but my grandmother's sword deserves better, and I want to make it up to her and my ancestors....but the real reason I'm here, is because I don't want to die." You say quietly.
"Eh?" Tanako's eyes widen in surprise.
A shrug from you as you reflect on lessons you learned coming out here.
"A ronin is only as good as their ability to fight or talk, I'm not all that great at either right now. I'm worse without my sword. If I'm going to survive in this place, I need to be able to fight, to duel if the magistrates get an idea in their heads."
Tanako puts the bottle down, looking at it's half-empty contents.
"Hmmph, well I'll give you honesty, but that ain't a good reason to break my oath."
"Oath?" You ask in spite of yourself.
Tanako takes another long chug before dropping the empty bottle on the table.
"I'll never make another damned blade, I swore on my dead son."
You almost spit out your sake at that. Son? Well she is old enough for that...but dead? What happened?
"...If it's not too....no, if you want to tell me what happened, I'd appreciate it." You say after a moment.
Fortunes, of course talking about how your son died is going to be way too personal. While you are curious, you know that you can't just ask her. She'd probably smash your face in with that shochu bottle.
| 2016-04-06 03:29:22 | Megumi | Courtier | 5, 5, 7, 9 | 5, 5, 7, 9 | 5, 5, 7, 9 | 4k4+0 | 26 | no |
".....pfft, you've got a way about you don't you?" Tanako says her voice laced with contempt.
"Sometimes." You answer.
It's true, people seem to be more willing to talk to you than others. It doesn't always work or anything, like you can't force a cat not to bring you dead rats, let alone people.
Didn't help with Kakita-dono at all...this way of yours.
"I shouldn't even tell you this, but you want to know why I swore on my dead son? Because it was one of my swords that killed him."
You don't really know what if anything you can say to that.
"Oh..."
Giving a start as if she hadn't quite intended to say that much. Tanako shakes her head.
"Have a good night Megumi-san, the air here is starting to get to me."
Digging out a few bu for the evening, she leaves the coins on the table and staggers off.
A part of you wants to follow after her, but what would you say? What could you say?
You have loved yes, been loved, enjoyed things...but you've never been a mother.
And you've never had a family member die because of something you did.
"Leave it be Sakura" your grandmother says. Sounding oddly troubled, for some reason.
"Hai Grandmother" you say in your head. Maybe that's best for now, plan a new strategy later.
Finishing your sake, you stagger back to the Shrine of Goemon and flop onto the prepared futon pretty quickly. You can hold your liquor but that's strong stuff. Before you head to Yume-do, you spot Aya praying to...Muzaka? Fuck you don't know and today has been a very long day.
[] Pass out
[] Talk to Aya (Warning you are drunk your speechifying skills are taking a -1k0 penalty against Aya because she is not drunk like Tanako was)
- Status