L5R: Two Dead Emperors (Slight AU)

[kckolbe]

The War of Spirits has just ended.  Hantei XVI, also known as the Steel Chrysanthemum, has surrendered, and Toturi I once again rules unopposed.  The circumstances of this changed slightly, with Hantei forces being slightly stronger at the time of negotiation, leading to a slightly different treaty.

The details are many, but here are the highlights:

- Hantei XVI is now simply Hantei Ochukeo, and renounces all claims to the throne. 
- A new Great Clan, the Stag, has been formed, with Hantei Ochukeo at the head
- All spirits will undergo a Phoenix ritual that severs their connection to the Spirit Realms or commit seppuku.

Shortly after the treaty was signed, Winter Court was held in Mantis lands, and Toturi decreed the founding of a new Minor Clan, the Owl.  The purpose of this Clan would be to hunt down Shadowlands creatures within the Empire.  There were, however, two details of this decree that raised eyebrows.  The daimyo of this clan would be a hero from the Spirit Wars, and the sensei of the Clan school a member of the Toritaka family.

Your characters will be part of this new Minor Clan, denoted by the blue outline between Crab and Crane.  The Stag Clan, for reference, is outlined in silver.



This game, which will make use of a couple of modules, will focus on the struggle of a new, small Minor Clan with few resources, bordered by two Great Clans.  There will be a focus on adventure, followed by political implications of the setting, and eventually decisions regarding your clan, as your characters will all have opportunities to shape its development as well as the lives and careers of the less significant samurai that make up the bulk of your clan.

The expected posting is one IC post per week, with OOC questions and rolls every 24 hours.  In addition, I expect a lot of participation in this thread from those who are interested.  This game is not first come/first serve, and players will be chosen on what they bring to the game as much as their characters.

[Annaamarth]

Yes.  Yes please.

I just caught up on the six pages of the prior thread you have, and I know you hate the Scorpion, so get ready to hate me.

I would like to play a Scorpion- a Shosuro by preference but a Bayushi might be even more interesting- who was sent to another clan's school as part of a political maneuver.  My first inclination is the Kakita Bushi school, but I would also be willing to go with the Mirumoto Taoist Swordsman or the Tsuruchi Archer school (each of which would influence the character differently).

Rather than being the classic designated-villain Scorpion, who is villainous and dishonorable because that is what Kami Bayushi requires, Shosuro... Maseko serves the Scorpion and the Bayushi (as the Shosuro have ever done) loyally and obediently... but honorably and in accordance with Bushido whenever possible.  Courteous and unusually cheerful, Maseko completed her gempukku at the age of fourteen (early, but not especially or unusually so) and has spent a few years performing tasks for the Scorpion.  Whilst not Junshin, her behaviour was just barely odd and unpredictable enough that they said "screw it" and sent her to join the Owl with instructions to keep an eye on them.

In any event, the characters perspective will be a mash of several different clans- because Scorpion, whichever clan she studied with, and whoever in that school was willing to associate with her (which probably means another student from a third clan who had been accepted- they would bond over being outsiders).  For example, if a Kakita duelist (which would mean two duelists in the party, which might allow for interesting conflict and either a prior rivalry or friendship), she would have befriended a Dragon, let's say, and therefore have a small amount of exposure to those odd thoughts and ideas common to the Dragon (Kitsuki method? What do you mean look for evidence rather than testimony?  That's absurd!).

If we currently suffer from a dearth of Shugenja and such a thing would be necessary, I'd be up for adjusting as required, but I typically like the idea of Bushi that try very, very hard to pretend they are Courtiers or Monks.

[Muse]

  Oooh.  :)   A new player?  Nice. 

  I'm playing a Unicorn clan shugenja.   Will be interesting to find out if I wind up being the only one in the group. 

[HopeFox]

I'm definitely keen, and would love to play my Matsu bushi. What would you like to see from us at this point? Concepts, backgrounds, sheets?

[kckolbe]

Annaamarth - I actually have no problem with Scorpion characters.  In a system game there is far more accountability, after all.  I am, admittedly, not too keen on chars with Different Schools.  The way I see it, that is something of an investment for a Clan, especially the Scorpion, to acquire, meaning that they would be loath to give up a person with that experience and insight into another clan's training.  I'm not saying no...just convince me.  You started on a description of her being viewed as a wasted investment, so you may already have something.  And I am a big fan of playing one class like another as well. 

A couple of minor notes as well.  We currently don't have a duelist or one in the works.  I do have an NPC duelist, but that is more for flavor, not a significant character.  So no competition there yet.  Also, the Kitsuki method has been around for over 3 centuries.  For context, they were founded just 7 years after the Unicorn returned.  It just isn't weird any more.  The courtier school for it, kind of is, but all the courtier schools suck royal ass (genuinely my only "problem" with this system), so there you go.

HopeFox - At this point, still in the concept phase.  There are some rules decisions that I didn't want to set in stone until players in this thread had a chance to weigh in.

[Chulanowa]

I'm interested - I do prefer "early period" stuff, but hey, I'm down with emperor Toturi, at least i know who he is :D

So is this like a clan grab-bag, where your characters are from assorted clans, and have all joined the Owl?

[kckolbe]

Hey there, was wondering what happened to you.  And yes, all characters would have belonged to another Clan, gotten that initial training, then been sent to the Owl Clan.

[Ephiral]

I am, of course, interested. Not sure just what concept I want to run with at the moment - need to get access to my books again - but should have a build together before long.

[kckolbe]

A full build isn't needed, just a school, rough age, and any interesting details, mechanical or flavor.

[hellrazoromega]

Still going with a Hiruma scout in her 20s, I can repost the 20 questions here if needed.

[Empyrean]

How would you feel about a Kitsune or Phoenix shugenja, 18-21, and male. Nice kid, never been far from home. He has a naive and idealized view of the samurai life and their obligations to the lower classes.

Or if the shujenga angle is already covered I could try making a Crane duelist with the same basic character traits as above. In both cases, he'd have a secret love he was unaware of and that could be a NPC run by the GM to cause complications. I was thinking that he attracted the attention of a beautiful young woman, possibly Scorpion, Spider (if they exist in this era; I'm away from my books), a Shadowlands spy, or ronin. And even though he doesn't know of her, she's determined to have him. Leaving open all sorts of possible in-game hijinks. What do you think?

[kckolbe]

Not crazy about the obsessive love angle, especially for someone who hasn't really accomplished anything.   

[Empyrean]

So taking out the obsessive love angle, does he work as either a Shujenga or a Duelist?

[kckolbe]

Would like to know a little more first.  Not sold on him yet. 

[Muse]

  I've been saying I'd enjoy not being the only shugenja anymore.  Though I was hoping for one who wasn't defecient in water? 

[Annaamarth]

Alright, (one of the) short version(s) on the Scorpion weirdo.  I'm revising the character a bit after reading the thread- you want a Water Shugenja?  Done.

***
Kosaru Maseko, from a vassal family of the Soshi, was sent to Mantis lands for schooling as a hostage and to pay homage to the Mantis (one of the few clans that respects the Scorpion perspective, even if they scoff at the Scorpion for being so obvious about it- which is intentional, but I think that's still mostly unknown by Rokugan at large?).  Unusually, it was determined that she had the gift of being able to speak to spirits, and was allowed to attend the Yoritomo Shugenja school. This was, naturally, precisely what the Scorpion had desired, so that she might be able to provide insight on the Mantis traders- and raiders.

While there she learned a great deal about the Mantis perspective, and has returned with a lackadaisical attitude towards the bulk of Bushido and a fine appreciation for self-interest... though through the Scorpion lens of "in benefit for the Empire."  She was betrothed to one Kuni Tora as part of a deal to improve ties between the Kuroiban and the Kuni witchhunters, and was dispatched to Crab lands to travel with her betrothed, policing the farmlands shielded by the Wall for a time.  During this time, Maseko notably improved fields by ensuring near-ideal weather conditions.

Unfortunately, Jigoku's reach is long. A cell of Fu Leng worshipers (notably NOT Bloodspeakers) succeeded in summoning an Oni into a township while the bulk of the Crab were distracted by the Spirt War.  The Oni was banished and the cell annihilated with the assistance of additional Kuni reinforcements and a contingent of Bushi and ashigaru from the Wall, but Kuni Tora gave his life in the process- he bound the Oni to himself, then sacrificed himself to banish the Oni.

Inspired by her betrothed's sacrifice for the good of all and ashamed by her failure to keep her betrothed alive (and therefore failure to be used as a political pawn), Maseko petitioned the Kosaru daimyo (and through him, the Soshi daimyo) to allow her to join them, citing her experience in Crab lands and her multicultural background as reasons to be dispatched as a part of Emperor Toturi's tithe.  They agreed- though the Scorpion still watches closes, considering whether to induct her into the secretive Blackwatch.  The Soshi and Yogo families both hope that the new Owl Clan will be a useful ally in the eradication of subversive elements and whatever tainted beings they are able to summon.  The Bayushi have little to say on the matter, embroiled in their own plots and leaving the Shugenja families to their own devices.
***

Yeah, that's the short version.  Any thoughts?  I might have a common background with our Hiruma scout.

Also, while the Kitsuki Method has been around a long time, I (and the groups I usually play with) always assumed that it was still mostly limited to the Dragon (and to a lesser degree the Scorpion, because it works so well against them, so why not study it) due to the conservative nature of Rokugan and the fact that it flies in the face of the Celestial Order.  Because normally if a Samurai says a thing and a bunch of Heimin say a different thing, you believe the Heimin first.  Unless, perhaps, you're Dragon, Scorpion, Mantis or Unicorn.

[kckolbe]

Muse wanted a Water shugenja, but I don't really have a preference. 

As I mentioned, I'm not crazy about the thought of any clan sending someone off to train with another clan and then sending that person away.  It's a complete waste of an investment.  Also, was she part of the Kuroiban?  Nothing about it was mentioned.  How long was she back in Scorpion lands before being betrothed?  You mentioned a few years in an earlier post.  Also, I'd like to know more about her as a person...beliefs, ambitions, political stances, etc. 

Whilst not Junshin, her behaviour was just barely odd and unpredictable enough that they said "screw it" and sent her to join the Owl with instructions to keep an eye on them.

This is really what intrigued me.  Not a seventeen year-old girl who trained with another clan and then was betrothed to an antagonistic clan, then petitioned the family daimyo to be moved closer to said clan afterward...to me that sounds like someone spoiled and of fickle loyalty.  Incidentally, if you do want to play up that angle, I am ALL for it, but I don't think that's what you were going for.

I get that samurai stories are generally over the top, but that's because they are normally about the well-connected.  Try to imagine your char as one of the 1.4 million nobodies, living in a land where only about 15% get to attend one of the noteworthy schools. 
***

Regarding the importance of the Celestial Order, let's look at the past 25 years.  One emperor was assassinated by a mortal.  A different mortal became the new emperor.  THAT emperor gets kidnapped and becomes tainted, killing himself.  He returns, along with ANOTHER emperor, this one the direct descendant of Hantei, both claiming the throne.  The emperor orders them to sever their ties or kill themselves, and pretty much ALL OF THEM say no...to the emperor.  As if that act of defiance isn't enough, outright rebellion is declared, and most of Rokugan sides with the mortal not of Kami descent.  The non-descendant's forces win, and NO ONE is executed for defying the emperor or raising arms against him.

Does this sound like a land where place in the Celestial Order trumps everything?  People adapt.  No matter how weird something is, we are talking about something that was formally sanctioned over three hundred years ago.  It wasn't even (according to the writing) that big a deal when it was new. 

[Annaamarth]

Regarding the importance of the Celestial Order, let's look at the past 25 years.  One emperor was assassinated by a mortal.  A different mortal became the new emperor.  THAT emperor gets kidnapped and becomes tainted, killing himself.  He returns, along with ANOTHER emperor, this one the direct descendant of Hantei, both claiming the throne.  The emperor orders them to sever their ties or kill themselves, and pretty much ALL OF THEM say no...to the emperor.  As if that act of defiance isn't enough, outright rebellion is declared, and most of Rokugan sides with the mortal not of Kami descent.  The non-descendant's forces win, and NO ONE is executed for defying the emperor or raising arms against him.

Does this sound like a land where place in the Celestial Order trumps everything?  People adapt.  No matter how weird something is, we are talking about something that was formally sanctioned over three hundred years ago.  It wasn't even (according to the writing) that big a deal when it was new. 

That... makes a lot of sense.  In my defense, I'm used to the pre-coup era, and my impression is that the rate of upheaval increased at a damn-near exponential rate from there.  Bear with me, please, I'm readjusting my perspective on the fly- and as a person who forms strong opinions this is not a simple process.  If you're familiar with confirmation bias, you probably get that.

Muse wanted a Water shugenja, but I don't really have a preference. 

As I mentioned, I'm not crazy about the thought of any clan sending someone off to train with another clan and then sending that person away.  It's a complete waste of an investment.  Also, was she part of the Kuroiban?  Nothing about it was mentioned.  How long was she back in Scorpion lands before being betrothed?  You mentioned a few years in an earlier post.  Also, I'd like to know more about her as a person...beliefs, ambitions, political stances, etc. 

This is really what intrigued me.  Not a seventeen year-old girl who trained with another clan and then was betrothed to an antagonistic clan, then petitioned the family daimyo to be moved closer to said clan afterward...to me that sounds like someone spoiled and of fickle loyalty.  Incidentally, if you do want to play up that angle, I am ALL for it, but I don't think that's what you were going for.

I get that samurai stories are generally over the top, but that's because they are normally about the well-connected.  Try to imagine your char as one of the 1.4 million nobodies, living in a land where only about 15% get to attend one of the noteworthy schools. 
***

As mentioned, the previous post was the short version.  Let me try to take these things in order, and let's see if we can cooperate to build a better story.

1) Was she a member of the Kuroiban?  Oh Heavens no.  She probably doesn't even know it exists (again though, that comes from my perspective where the Scorpion KEEP their secret societies secret, but I don't know the official lore there, or your stance), and it's a Shugenja rank 4 entry requirement anyway.  She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and got exposure to some bad juju (bad maho?), which means now the Kuroiban have a dossier on her- just in case.  Whether it's just in case she needs to be recruited or just in case she needs to be eliminated after being corrupted by that exposure is up to you, the GM, and circumstances that transpire.

2) She was betrothed as part of a political maneuver to try to get Scorpion ties to the Kuni as part of an effort to improve the clan's ability to conduct spiritual warfare.  As a political betrothal, it was probably made almost simultaneously to her gempukku, with political overtures made in that direction while she was still with the Mantis.  The Crab, being Crab, would actually appreciate that she was taught in Mantis lands, because they kind of like the Mantis, which makes her a useful pawn in that move.  Sending her there was not about fickle loyalty- it was about her doing her duty to the Scorpion and following orders.  This betrothal, and the manner of it being broken through the Kuni's death, was only really heartbreaking as a failure of duty- it wasn't a Blissful Betrothal and I'm not taking Lost Love or anything.  That said, a Scorpion (who prize Loyalty) trained by Mantis (who prize Loyalty) losing value to the clan hurts, and a broken betrothal means that any new betrothal will have less political pull- because the new party will know that they were the second choice, not the first choice.

3) She's 19, not 17.

4) She didn't petition her Daimyo to be moved closer to the Crab, she saw the creation of a new minor Clan as an opportunity for the Scorpion to use her to get their hooks in early, for the same sort of purpose that the Scorpion had originally intended to use her vis-a-vis the Kuni.  This is an attempt to recover her (real or perceived) lost value to the Scorpion as a political tool.

5) Slightly out of order here, but on the nature of Maseko-as-an-investment- An investment is only worth what you can get out of it.  In this case, Maseko was used as a pawn in a minor political move for improving certain ties to the Mantis (check), an opportunity to learn about the Yoritomo Shugenja tradition and see what value it might have to Scorpion operations (check), and insight into Mantis raiding practices (that last one?  A little bit wobbley, because it takes more than a few years at sea to really learn what the Mantis know about that sort of thing.  However, that's not her fault and knowing that is still useful data.  Also, got some intelligence back on certain trade routes, more than likely).  Now, once she comes back from Mantis lands... what do you do with her?  She's not useful to the Shosuro network except as a way of ensuring favourable weather conditions or possibly advising on smuggling techniques, she's not a social-fu political weapon the way a Kakita-trained duelist would have been (which is part of why I didn't go the duelist route- a Kakita bushi would have been too valuable to willingly let go), so either you leave her to tend a shrine somewhere (which might have been a waste of such an investment) or you find political value in this oddball you've got.

That was the point about her mentality being odd and unpredictable- it's odd and unpredictable in a way that is not immediately, obviously useful to the Scorpion.

So, who likes that blunt, Mantis perspective?  Well, the Crab and the Unicorn.  Who has something the Soshi want?  Well, the Soshi might like to be on better terms with the Kuni, but the Kuni won't trust most Soshi.  Well, we have this one here- she's almost a Mantis!  She can't lie for shit, and she can ensure favourable weather for your farmlands OR call down the thunder as required!

The long game here is getting her exposure to the world so that she gains insight rank so that she might train more Scorpion in the Yoritomo Shugenja school- IF that's what the Scorpion decides they need.  Just another tool in the toolbox.  If the Owl can be made to be friendly to the Scorpion, that's fantastic too- who doesn't like having a Taint-hunting minor clan in their pocket, right?

It's important to recognize that most of the reasons why Maseko has been used as she has been are not clear to her- she just follows orders like a good Scorpion, or a good Mantis for that matter.  Petitioning to be a part of the tithe to the Owl?  That's the big departure for her.

Now, this was all put together pretty slap-dash and I've been fleshing out the concept a very little bit, but I think it hangs together.  Also, it will be weird for me playing a Shugenja because I've never done that before, but I like the idea of trying it out.  A Kuni shugenja would be more powerful for the whole tainthunting schtick, but I bring healing, weather control, and lightning bolts, so I think I'll manage.  Also, considering being trained in Kyujutsu.  Specifically NOT Kenjutsu, because not bushi- but Kyujutsu is a perfectly respectable Samurai art and not even a Lion could look askance upon me for practicing it.

Edit:  Hm.  It occurs to me that I haven't really looked at it through the lens of being one of the 85% (we are the 85%?  Nah, doesn't have the same ring to it).  I'm not sure whether that really affects my background all that much or not.  Free-thought brain-to-text follows, so forgive any disjointedness please.

Hailing from a minor vassal family (I even made the name up), I figure most of the political shenanigans they've been up to have been emphasized on supporting the Soshi- and indirectly, possibly the Shosuro.  But they need to have a specific purpose, because that seems to be the common thread in vassal families.  If they were making overtures toward the Kuni then either they focus on hunting tainted people and things already OR they perform a function similar to the Dragonfly for the Dragon- they are a public face providing diplomatic support.

Now, in either case, why would they be involved with the Mantis?  Why would they care?  If their role is primarily diplomatic in nature, then trading hostages makes sense, in which case there may have been several Scorpion children that went along- she may have just been the one who happened to be gifted as a Shugenja, and the rest went either to "support," administrative study or went to the Yoritomo Bushi or Courtier schools.  In any event, those students would be more useful to the Scorpion in the long run, because it would give them a corps they could draw upon for smuggling work or supporting coastal Shosuro operations.  If this is the case, then there might be an actual Bayushi or Shosuro (or whatever) who got the Mantis training and did particularly well aboard ship.  To the Scorpion, he would be the golden boy of this information gathering campaign, while Maseko would just be a side-note.

On the other hand, if their role is primarily oriented towards hunting the taint, it could be that the initial overture towards the Mantis was the start of an effort to hunt down Garen's fleet  hanging out in the Sea of Shadows- the lore I've seen seems to suggest that while he has not been excessively active these past seven-hundred years, nor has he been making any real effort to lay low.  Again, in this case there may have been several Koseru, and again there may be some who finished the Yoritomo Bushi school who have been prized as the successes of that program.

In either way, Maseko's primary purpose in being sent to Mantis lands would have been fulfilled and/or overshadowed upon her gempukku, and hence political marriages.  I think that all still tracks.

2nd Edit: It's also possible, or even more likely, that Maseko didn't petition to be tithed to the Owl, but the Scorpion leadership decided that this would be a good use of her politically- which could mean that Maseko herself might be loyally going along with it, while at the same time harbouring some negative feelings about being shoved all over the freaking empire instead of being allowed to help with Scorpion things!

[kckolbe]

Well, since you read the initial thread you know how I feel about post-coup history.  This game is largely an attempt to "fix" it, taking the most ridiculous event in Rokugan history and showing something slightly more believable and engaging.  Yes, the lore as written as though certain values and beliefs are sacrosanct, but the actions don't line up with that.  It makes more sense if you read the history as though it were written with strongly political agenda, and with the Imperial Families proofreading it first.

We can talk about Kuroiban in PM, just in case we make up some secrets.

As for her value, she was both insight into the Mantis (philosophically as well as tactically) and an ambassador to them.  With her joining the Owl Clan, that is now gone.  She can no longer teach a Yoritomo shugenja school, nor can the Scorpion order her to visit the Mantis on their behalf. 

so either you leave her to tend a shrine somewhere (which might have been a waste of such an investment) or you find political value in this oddball you've got.

Again, this is what I want to hear more of.  Why would they consider her an oddball?

So, was joining Owl still her idea?  If so, given the reason you mentioned, is she still Scorpion at heart.  If it wasn't her idea, are the Scorpion expecting her to be loyal to them first?

[Annaamarth]

[snip]

Again, this is what I want to hear more of.  Why would they consider her an oddball?

So, was joining Owl still her idea?  If so, given the reason you mentioned, is she still Scorpion at heart.  If it wasn't her idea, are the Scorpion expecting her to be loyal to them first?

Re: Oddball- This may have been borne out of a flawed perspective on my end, because I previously understood attending the initial school as a thing that was done before gempukku, and it seems that I may have been mistaken in this- I just checked the wiki's article on "ryu" to see what it said, and it says that joining such schools happened after gempukku.  Hm.  Well, the hostage angle works out.

If Maseko spent a decade or so living amongst the Mantis, then attended a Mantis school, then she thinks more like a Mantis than a Scorpion, but is still more Scorpion than a Mantis, if that makes any sense.  It's like nurture vs nature.  She doesn't have the subtle political instincts that the Scorpion usually prefer, she never picked up a talent for deceit or any more than the most basic schooling in etiquette and court.  As far as most Scorpion would be concerned, she would be nearly useless in a plot- hence while she may not be Junshin, she still can't be trusted with any of the real work.

Re: still her idea and is she Scorpion at heart- still her idea is in the air right now- I'm not sure if you caught the edits.  As to whether she is still Scorpion at heart... well.  That's a trickier thing to answer.  Being raised among the Mantis, some would argue that she has always been a Mantis at heart, serving and loyal to the Scorpion.  Some would argue that she is Scorpion underneath a veneer of Mantis behavior and culture.  This is, in the end, irrelevant.

The Scorpion and the Mantis both value Loyalty very highly.  In the Scorpion, it's because of the harsh compartmentalization they use for plots and the people who actually know what the hell is going on, and for the Mantis it's because aboard ship you obey or everyone dies.  Well, at least potentially.  Ships have a very rigid hierarchy, and that's necessary to the environment.

Maseko views the Empire through a naval analogy- the empire is a flotilla of ships, and each clan is a ship unto itself.  Each ship needs to function, which requires obedience and discipline, and each ship needs to be able to work together for the flotilla to survive a war- or even to keep from getting lost at sea.

This means that she would view the Owl clan as a new ship, with her serving a new captain, and therefore the Owl would hold her primary loyalty- this is necessary.  However, she would also feel loyalty and a duty to serve the interests of the Scorpion, if for no other reason than to improve the inter-ship communication within the flotilla.  In this extended metaphor.

Does that make sense?

Edit: Also, I hope you like text.

[kckolbe]

No, your char can be part of the minority, but I mentioned it to show how most Rokugani samurai aren't mentioned or given second thoughts.  Your char has potential, clearly, and the Scorpion appear to be wasting it.

Minor vassal families, like Minor Clans, are often created as a reward rather than for a purpose. 

It is possible that multiple samurai were sent, and that she received no credit and was deemed worthless as a Mantis liaison.  Perhaps she simply failed to gain the confidence of any noteworthy samurai.  Still, her knowledge isn't nothing, and I would want a reason why the move was ordered.  Here are a couple of suggestions.  Despite not impressing any important Mantis, she *did* get the chance to meet a minor official expected to be appointed a position of moderate importance.  An Ally (advantage) in the Owl Clan might make the Scorpion think she had value there.  This might also come with Obligation (disadvantage) to funnel certain information or enact certain influence.  Additionally, she could have simply been deemed a failure.  Black Sheep, maybe?

If Maseko spent a decade or so living amongst the Mantis, then attended a Mantis school, then she thinks more like a Mantis than a Scorpion, but is still more Scorpion than a Mantis, if that makes any sense.

It makes sense, but is not only not enough of a reason to send her away, but rather a reason to keep her close.  Also, there's nothing odd about coming back from another Clan having been influenced by them.  That is kind of standard.  If they think she's odd, I want an oddness that wouldn't be expected.  Also, as you pointed out, the Mantis aren't worlds apart from the Scorpion in mentality. 

[kckolbe]

So, I am considering a lot of House rules, the most noteworthy of which involves Taint.  Mainly, I don't like how predictable it is.  I want every encounter with Taint to be a gamble.  For example, here is what I am considering for maho spells.  The normal rule is 1 point of taint per mastery level of the spell, minus 1 (minimum of 1).  Here is what I am considering.

Taint: Roll 1d8.  Roll Ring used to cast the spell against the TN of spell-5.  For every successful raise, take 1 point from the 1d8 roll.  Whatever is left is how much taint your character accrues from the spell.  It is not possible to have negative taint.  Advantages that grant bonuses against taint do not apply to this roll.

The average Taint accrual would be about 3.5 per spell, though a powerful samurai casting a rank 1 spell could very easily end up with 0.  That makes it easy for overconfident types to risk it.

[HopeFox]

Matsu Keitaro

Background

Matsu Sakurako was born under auspicious omens and raised to be a great warrior. She was the most brilliant student among her peers in the Matsu Bushi School, and after her gempukku she quickly rose to be the leader of a squad of the Lion's Eyes, a Matsu scouting regiment that was commonly seen as a stepping stone towards the elite Lion's Pride. She took a year out of her meteoric rise to marry Matsu Keitaro, a bushi from another branch of the Matsu family, to honour an agreement that had been made when she was very young. They were soon blessed with a daughter, and then she was back in the field, fighting in the War of Spirits for the honour of the Lion Clan and the safety of the Empire. Perhaps she would have become a great general and an important figure in the Lion's military might, if she had not died to ensure her squad's escape from a deadly spirit ambush.

Matsu Keitaro was not born under any particularly significant omens, and was an average student of kenjutsu (by Lion standards). He was a passionate young man, and took his duty to his parents and to his Clan seriously, never backing down from a challenge to prove his loyalty or uphold his family's good name. His family was fairly wealthy as Lion samurai go, and they secured a betrothal for him to Matsu Sakurako, trading gold for prestige. When he was old enough to understand the terms of his betrothal, he became fiercely devoted to his future wife as well, sending her poems and performing daring feats in her name even before he had met her. His gempukku showed him to be an adequate swordsman with a knack for military organisation, and he was considered to have a decent future ahead of him as an officer of modest rank one day.

His marriage to Matsu Sakurako was to be the happiest day of his life, but then surpassed only by the birth of their daughter, Kiriko. Keitaro served in some campaigns while Sakurako was pregnant, and then took on the responsibility of raising her and managing their household while Sakurako fought in the War of Spirits. Every week, letters would arrive telling him of the great victories the Lion armies achieved, and the role that his wife played in them, and he read these letters to their daughter with great pride.

One day, Sakurako's friend Matsu Shiori, a soldier in her squad, arrived at the manor, bearing not a letter, but Sakurako's daisho, and the tale of her noble sacrifice. That was the day Matsu Keitaro's world ended.

Keitaro did his best to continue to serve his clan in spite of his grief. Certainly he needed no prompting to take the field against the spirit armies, and he slew many foes, embracing the Matsu rage and taking his revenge against the creatures that had slain his wife. But once the war was won and there was no more fighting to be done, his life was empty. Honour, glory and talent had granted his wife nothing more than an early death, and no matter what honours were heaped upon her grave, they could not give her one more day of life.

He sank into a deep depression, and his performance as a samurai suffered for it. His kenjutsu became lackluster and joyless, merely a repetition of learned motions. His tactical talent faded, and bushi who had once come to him for advice soon learnt that he had none to give. Finally, his wife's family came to take Kiriko to be raised by her aunts, and he knew in his heart that they were right to do so. He petitioned his liege for permission either to retire to a monastery or to commit seppuku, as he was no longer of any value to the Clan as a bushi.

Instead, his liege sent him as his tithe to the fledgling Owl Clan, believing that a new start under a new family would give him a chance to move on, make new connections to the world, and become an asset to his new clan and the Empire once more.

Twenty Questions

WHAT CLAN DOES YOUR CHARACTER BELONG TO?
Owl (former Lion)

HOW WOULD OTHERS DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTER’S APPEARANCE?
He has a soft, almost feminine face, but certainly has the body of a warrior. I guess he's sort of pretty? Dresses very rigidly along clan and family lines, not much ornamentation.

IS YOUR CHARACTER A BUSHI, SHUGENJA, MONK, OR COURTIER?
Bushi, now and forever.

WHAT FAMILY DOES YOUR CHARACTER BELONG TO?
Reijiro now. He may be a Matsu at heart, but that life is behind him.

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S MAIN MOTIVATION?
Duty: to the Empire, to his new Clan (as soon as he can understand exactly what they are and what they represent), and to his wife's memory.

WHO IS THE PERSON YOUR CHARACTER TRUSTS MOST?
Matsu Koniriko, his former liege in the Lion Clan. She guided him in his military career and in his marriage, and sent him to the Owl Clan when it was what he needed.

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S GREATEST STRENGTH? GREATEST WEAKNESS?
Keitaro's greatest strength is his passion. He is fiercely devoted to the ideal of bushido and to serving the Empire, and to the people who hold important places in his life. This is also his greatest weakness.

WHAT DOES YOUR CHARACTER THINK OF BUSHIDO?
Bushido is the reason samurai exist. If a samurai loses sight of bushido, he should fall upon his sword rather than consume a single grain of rice that could be used to feed a pig or an eta.

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S OPINION OF HER OWN CLAN?
The Lion are the Emperor's glorious right hand. They protect the Empire and mete out Imperial will. In their own time, they capture land that other clans are too weak or incompetent to deserve to keep.

The Owl? Uh... well, the Emperor saw fit to create them, so it was definitely a good idea, and I am their vassal now, so I will serve them faithfully. Wthether this turns out to be a waste of everyone's time is yet to be seen, but I have high hopes.

IS YOUR CHARACTER MARRIED?
*muffled sobbing*

DOES YOUR CHARACTER HAVE ANY PREJUDICES?
Shugenja and courtiers should probably try harder to be useful in combat, but everyone has their proper place, I guess. It's not their fault.

TO WHOM DOES YOUR CHARACTER OWE THE MOST LOYALTY?
The Emperor. All honour and right descends, ultimately, from the Crysanthemum Throne.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTER’S FAVORITE AND LEAST FAVORITE THINGS?
Favourite: The opportunity to prove himself in battle and achieve important victories in the Emperor's name. Off-duty, he is fond of poetry.
Least favourite: Taking orders from samurai who have never seen battle.

DOES YOUR CHARACTER HAVE ANY RECURRING MANNERISMS?
He has an unfortunate habit of daydreaming, and can sometimes be spotted staring at nothing in the middle of training.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER’S EMOTIONS?
Keitaro is a very passionate man, and when either joy or anger takes hold of him, will speak - and act - a great deal in defence of what he holds dear.

HOW WOULD YOUR CHARACTER HANDLE A SUBORDINATE’S IMPROPER BEHAVIOR?
Fists are an appropriate disciplinary measure for insubordination off the battlefield. Particularly harsh offenses may be met with the threat of making their dishonour public. Disobedience on the battlefield is punished by death.

HOW WOULD YOUR CHARACTER’S PARENTS DESCRIBE HIM?
He wears his heart on his sleeve, and is so delicate.

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S HIGHEST AMBITION?
I DON'T CARE ANYMORE, ALRIGHT? WHAT'S THE POINT? I'LL FIGHT AND THEN I'LL DIE, AND THAT'S ALL THAT ANY OF US CAN HOPE FOR!
I mean, I hope one day to lead an army of my new clan in battle for the glory of the Emperor.

HOW RELIGIOUS IS YOUR CHARACTER?
Religious enough. The Fortunes watch over us and give us strength, and our ancestors guide us with their wisdom. But deep contemplation is for monks, and my ultimate loyalty is to the Emperor.

IF YOU COULD, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR CHARACTER?
It's not the end of the world.

[hellrazoromega]

So, I am considering a lot of House rules, the most noteworthy of which involves Taint.  Mainly, I don't like how predictable it is.  I want every encounter with Taint to be a gamble.  For example, here is what I am considering for maho spells.  The normal rule is 1 point of taint per mastery level of the spell, minus 1 (minimum of 1).  Here is what I am considering.

Taint: Roll 1d8.  Roll Ring used to cast the spell against the TN of spell-5.  For every successful raise, take 1 point from the 1d8 roll.  Whatever is left is how much taint your character accrues from the spell.  It is not possible to have negative taint.  Advantages that grant bonuses against taint do not apply to this roll.

The average Taint accrual would be about 3.5 per spell, though a powerful samurai casting a rank 1 spell could very easily end up with 0.  That makes it easy for overconfident types to risk it.

My main question is if the House Rules would change how exposure to the Shadowlands or other Taint sources works, if it does this is very harsh. L5R is already a deadly enough game for bushi but if being exposed to taint is going to get worse as well... nasty in would be a gross understatement, IMO. That said, in conjunction with the TNs getting more difficult as one's taint level increases those involved with taint would become Lost very quickly. If all Taint is going to be worse, and this is just my two Kiho, but due to the rapid way in will get ugly I would suggest the Shadowlands Taint Disadvantage be worth another point or two.

[kckolbe]

Well, I did mess up in that it was supposed to be 1d4 and not 1d8, which kinda makes a difference.  Bear in mind that this rule (with the right die type) significantly reduces the average amount of taint gained on higher level maho spells.  For example, right now EVERY 5th level maho spell grants 4 taint.   And exposure rules will change as well, but nowhere near as significantly. 

[Flying Tengu]

No real opinion on that; I would be very, very surprised if maho use was ever a thing that my character did.

From a very minor aesthetics angle... perhaps 1d10/2, or 1d5?  I know we'll be doing our rolling online, but currently l5r only uses d10s, as far as I can remember.  Again, just a minor aesthetics thing.

[hellrazoromega]

Well, I did mess up in that it was supposed to be 1d4 and not 1d8, which kinda makes a difference.  Bear in mind that this rule (with the right die type) significantly reduces the average amount of taint gained on higher level maho spells.  For example, right now EVERY 5th level maho spell grants 4 taint.   And exposure rules will change as well, but nowhere near as significantly.

1d4 is far better than 1d8. I would be interested to see what the exposure rate increase will be, since that is far more likely for our characters to encounter (given the mission of the Owl). Just so long as it does not end up being as bad being a Paladin in Ravenloft, or in other words a game where the PCs are doomed from the get go. Personally, the only setting I really care for where the PCs are ultimately doomed is CoC (individuals is fine, just not the whole party).

I suppose that if in the case of exposure things are going to be randomized there should be some stat, bought or derived, which offers some--but not complete resistance. It could even be based on Insight Rank (which I assume is what you were referring to when you said powerful samurai in the maho example), or Void divided by 'X'.

[Annaamarth]

He said roll Ring- assuming it's the standard "maho" roll, insight rank already figures in as unkept dice.  To that end, an Insight 4 samurai with ring 3 would be rolling 7k3 versus a TN 5 to soak the taint from a rank 1 maho... and assuming the raises are applied retroactively in this case (not normally the case, but I read that as the intent here), would have a 60% chance of rolling 25 or better, and soaking all of the taint from the casting roll.  An insight rank 2 samurai with ring 4 is doing even better at 77%.  Assuming I haven't gone math-dumb in my dotage and sleep-deprived state, the first samurai has a 87% chance of walking out taint-free after the casting, while the second samurai has a 92+ percent chance of the same.

I don't see any reason you couldn't spend Void to boost this roll, but that's a GM call.  Of course, that's a good way to burn through your Void awfully quickly.

[HopeFox]

I do like the idea of maho being an actual worthwhile temptation, rather than a completely dumb decision. It's unlikely to be on the cards for Keitaro, though, unless and until things change a lot.

[kckolbe]

HopeFox, haven't forgotten you, will respond to your character more later.  I do like him, though.

1d10/5 isn't a bad idea at all. 

Yeah, sorry about that Omega.  I was thinking 9 levels of spells (what major system does that...right?) instead of 5.  The exposure rules aren't bad at all, just slightly less predictable and adjusted by situation.  Taint shouldn't be predictable.  When you do encounter creatures, I don't want players safe in the knowledge that they can beat the DC with X on the roll.  I want you guessing, and a little scared.  Also, I want it to make sense.  Take 1 point of damage from an goblin?  Negligible chance.  Get injured by an oni to near fatal wounds?  Good luck, you'll need it.  Note that there are spells and advantages that help guard against it, not to mention high earth ring and void points.  I might even allow multiple void points to be spent on taint resistance.  My goal isn't to corrupt.  It is to make risk of corruption real, and the fear of it felt.  I feel the second goal is already accomplished.

Insight does not directly factor into it at all, though high insight generally means higher rings.  I want it to be easier to cast maho than to avoid the effects, because that does make sense.  And no, raises will have to be declared, adding to the risk vs reward factor.  Remember that EVERY maho spell, under the original rules grants taint.  I don't want it easy to avoid, just possible, just enough to say "I think I can get away with that."  Basically, it's to create the opposite effect as the exposure rule changes.  Feel that confidence creeping in?  That temptation becoming a bit stronger?  Good.  Why not give it a chance?  After all, nothing happens until a full rank of taint is acquired anyways. 

Undecided on Void for maho taint resistance rolls.  Have to do some math first.

[Flying Tengu]

Oh!  Actually, I just thought of one very important question.

What are the Owl clan colors?

[kckolbe]

As long as that is where your focus is, we'll never advance as a culture.  ~grins~

If you look on the map, I went with my first idea for the outline, a somewhat light blue, metallic.  Seemed kind of a blend between Crab and Crane colors, which seemed fitting.  Open to something different.

[Flying Tengu]

Here's the character I've been working on: Reijiro (Matsu) Shiori!

Character Background

The traditions of the Lion go back for hundreds of years, back to the founding of the Empire.  Generation after generation followed them, and in doing so, honored those who came before.  How, then is a Lion supposed to behave, when those honored ancestors return, and bring war with them.

Matsu Shiori is just old enough to have experienced and to remember life before the War of the Spirits.  Her mother and father were both strict traditionalists, and taught Shiori well.  She was serious and studious, even as a child, and took her duties very serious.  A good Lion.  While she had some of the hot temper of her mother, it was tempered somewhat by the cool reserve of her Akodo father, giving her some foresight.  And, of course, she was taught to honor her ancestors.  This briefly became easier in the wake of tales of the Battle of Oblivion's Gate, in which the living and the honored dead fought side by side.  Little Shiori's imagination surged.  Would it be possible to ask ancient Akodo tacticians to expand on some of their treatises?  Could Ikoma bards tell tales from ancient battles that they had personally seen?  The possibilities were immense.

But then the Emperor issued his decree, ordering the ancestors to commit suicide.  And then they defied him.  And the War of Spirits began.

Most Lion supported the Emperor; Toturi, that is, not the returned Hantei.  Some did not.  This created quite a schism in the Lion, and in Shiori.  It was different to honor an ancestor that you knew was up and walking around.  It was strange to hear tactics lessons, where the teachings came from someone currently fighting the Emperor.  Shiori responded by clinging to tradition all the harder, doing her best to ignore the reports of traitorous spirits.

When encouraged to improvise, however, Shiori showed that she had a good deal of potential.  The needs of the war caused many Lion in training to take their Gempukku as early as possible.  At age fourteen, long of limb and having matured early, Shiori was attached to a patrol unit, far from the front.  As well as being fast, and as eager to serve as any Lion, her patrol leader found her to be impressively perceptive, and a good tactical thinker.  He reported such to her sensei.

With most of the unit as inexperienced as her, they were kept off the front lines for most of the war.  She only saw fighting at the end.  It was the most frightened Shiori had ever been in her life.  How did one stand up against legends?  But, of course, she did her duty.  Despite misgivings.  As always.

One of the more notable events for her personally, if not in the grand scheme of things, occurred on the eve of one of these large final battles.  Her patrol had traveled beyond enemy lines to gather vital information about the enemies' numbers and positioning.  But they were caught before they could make their way back to friendly territory, and had to undertake a fighting retreat.  When it became clear that they would be overrun, her friend and gunso, Matsu Sakurako, held a narrow pass alone, fighting against overwhelming odds to allow the rest of the unit to return with the information.  Shiori was deeply touched by the sacrifice.  After the battle, when Sakurako's remains were recovered, Shiori requested that she be allowed to return her daisho to her family.  The request was granted.  And so it was that Shiori presented her fallen friend's daisho to her husband, Matsu Keitaro.  Although she maintained her composure, it was difficult, especially when she saw Keitaro's reaction.  A samurai was supposed to maintain composure in the face of tragedy, but Shiori found that she really could not fault him.

After the war, she returned home.  Her sensei, meeting with her, asked him to demonstrate all she had learned.  When she was finished, he nodded.  "I am putting in a recommendation for you to join the newly created Reijiro family.  You will be accepted.  When the honor comes to you, I strongly suggest you take it."  All of Shiori's objections would not change his mind, nor would he offer explanation, merely saying that she would understand in time.

And so she joined the Reijiro.  But she does not yet understand.

Personality and Apperance

Personality:

Shiori is born of both Akodo and Matsu, and it clearly shows.  Her Matsu side has given her strength and fierceness; she will not hesitate to respond to what she perceives as an attack, on or off the battlefield.  Her Akodo side has given her the ability to think and give measured response, however; her tactical mind is often active, even when not fighting.  She still clings to traditions and formality as best she can, and someone meeting her for the first time will find her stiff, even prickly.  Those who get to know her a bit better may be surprised to find a sense of humor, perhaps even some softness.  But not much; the Matsu strength runs deep, after all, hiding secret passions.  Still, she will be true and loyal to those who earn her friendship.

Appearance:

Shiori is, in short lean and leggy, build much like the great cats from which her original clan takes its name.  She is a bit taller than the average Rokugani samurai-ko.  She is slender, her body just a little too muscular, and her feminine curves just a bit too developed to be called lithe.  Her face is surprisingly delicate, with defined cheekbones, cute nose, and tiny mouth, often lightly frowning.  Her hair is long, hanging to her waist, often in a long ponytail, mostly black, but with streaks of dark brown.  Her eyes, similarly, are deep brown, but with amber specks, visible in the right light.

Of special note is her manner of dress.  It is quite unusual for most of Rokugan, but can sometimes be seen among Matsu samurai-ko, combining their respect for tradition with their sometimes slightly aggressive disregard for propriety.  She dresses in a distinctly older style, from a less modest time.  The neck of her kimono is wider than most.  It hangs off of Shiori's shoulders, rather than her collarbone, exposing some of the pale golden skin of her neck and collar, and just begins to display the tops of her generous breasts.  Furthermore, it is slit in one side, to allow the Matsu warrior easier motion, but one can see the occasional flash of her shapely, well-toned leg.  This occasionally draws attention from both prudish and lecherous eyes.  Shiori has time for neither.

Character Sheet

Reijiro (Matsu) Shiori

School/Rank: Akodo Bushi 1
Insight: 129
XP:
Age: 19

Status:
Honor: 6.5
Glory: 1

Rings
Earth 2
-Stamina 2
-Willpower 2

Water 3
-Strength 3 (+1 from family)
-Perception 3 (+1 from School)

Fire 2
-Agility 3 (12)
-Intelligence 2

Air 2
-Reflexes 3 (12)
- Awareness 2

Void 2


Skills (* are school skills/emphasis)
*Battle (*Mass Combat) 2
*Defense: 1
*Kenjustu 3
*Kyujutsu 1
*Lore - History 1
*Sincerity 2
*Iaijutsu 1
Investigation 2
Hunting  1
Etiquette 1
Athletics 1
Games (go) - 1


Advantages:

Benten's Blessing (4)
Strength of the Earth (2)

Disadvantages:

Idealistic (-3)



Techniques

    Rank 1: The Way of The Lion
    - You may either ignore an opponent's TN bonus from armor or gain a Free Raise when attacking. You gain a +1k0 bonus on your first melee attack against an opponent in a skirmish, or against any opponent who has declared a Raise on an attack against you since your last turn.

----

Inventory:
Light Armour
Sturdy Clothing
Daisho
No-dachi
Fine courtly kimono

Travelling Pack:
Fan
Spare Kimono and sandals
Sake cup
Flint and tinder
Small tent
Miniature go set
Chopsticks
Cooking pot
Straw Cloak
Week's rations

Money:
4 koku
----

Initiative roll: 4k3

Primary Weapon: Nodachi

Armor: Light
TN bonus: +5
Reduction: 3
TN to be hit: 25 --> 20 (Ref) + 5 (Armour)

20 Questions

WHAT CLAN DOES YOUR CHARACTER BELONG TO?
Lion.  Wait, Owl now.

HOW WOULD OTHERS DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTERfS APPEARANCE?
Beautiful, but fierce.  Much like a lion.  Both tend to be immediately evident upon seeing her.  She typically dresses in practical garments, but she was gifted one nice court kimono in her new clan colors by her old sensei.  It is in an older style, one which Shiori favors, not so much out of fashion, but distinctly from an earlier time.  The major difference between it and more modern kimonos is that fashion from the time favored a wider cut in the neck. 

IS YOUR CHARACTER A BUSHI, SHUGENJA, MONK, OR COURTIER?
Bushi.  It is, after all, the most vital duty a samurai can have.

WHAT FAMILY DOES YOUR CHARACTER BELONG TO?
Matsu.  Wait, Reijiro now.  She's still not used to that.

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTERfS MAIN MOTIVATION?
Duty.  A Lion (even a former one) always does what is expected of her.  No matter how little it makes sense, or how many idiots she is surrounded by!  She clings to the iddea that doing her duty will eventually lead to everything sorting out.

WHO IS THE PERSON YOUR CHARACTER TRUSTS MOST?
Akodo Toshio, her sensei.  Even more than her parents, he taught her everything she knows, and made her into the woman she is now.  Her mother is a close second.  Third would be herself; by trusting in the tenents of Bushido, she believes that she will make the right decision.

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTERfS GREATEST STRENGTH? GREATEST WEAKNESS?
Shiori's greatest strength is her conviction.  Her strong beliefs guide her in difficult times, and allow her to be decisive in confusing ones.  Her greatest weakness is that she is traditional to the point of being hidebound.  Unless forced to do otherwise, she is perfectly content to do things the way that they have always been done.

WHAT DOES YOUR CHARACTER THINK OF BUSHIDO?
Bushido is a light in the darkness, created by our glorious ancestors to guide our way.  If ever a decision is unclear, one should look to the tenents of Bushido for the proper course.

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTERfS OPINION OF HER OWN CLAN?
Every clan has its purpose.  Well, except maybe the Scorpion; Shiori doesn't really think they do.  But the Lion best fulfill the most important duty of the samurai: to fight and die for the Empire.  And none display the traditional virtues of the samurai better than the Lion, either.  Truly, the Lion are the greatest clan.

The Lion have a tradition going back for generation after generation.  The Owl do not.  The other clans have gotten by without an Owl clan for more than a thousand years.  Shiori will serve them, but really, do they have a purpose?

IS YOUR CHARACTER MARRIED?
No.  If an advantageous marriage were proposed, Shiori would duitifully go along with it, of course.  For anything else... well, that's just not done, is it?!?!

DOES YOUR CHARACTER HAVE ANY PREJUDICES?
Haha.  Yeah she does!

Shugenja and courtiers should out of the battle.  Or at least behind a solid screen of bushi.  They can do little to help, and may distract a bushi who feels obligated to protect them.
The Scorpion clan serves no purpose.  The samurai of the Empire find the right decision through honor.  How can taking dishonorable action be the purpose of a samurai clan?
The Celestial Order is as it is for a reason.  The lower classes should be treated with kindness, but ultimately it is their duty to serve, just as it is the duty of samurai to serve those above them.  By the same logic, Ronin cannot be trusted, as they are not in their proper place.

TO WHOM DOES YOUR CHARACTER OWE THE MOST LOYALTY?
The obvious answer is Emperor, Clan, Family, in that order.  In truth, Shiori does recognize that personal loyalties are important, too.  She mostly feels that towards her aforementioned sensei and mother, but also towards her friends, especially those that she actively serves with.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTERfS FAVORITE AND LEAST FAVORITE THINGS?
Shiori really enjoys studying tactics, even if she doesn't have the most scholarly mind for it.  She also enjoys playing go, as she feels that it helps hone her tactics.  She'll barely admit to it, but she also enjoys some more leisurely activities; she likes to relax and watch the heavens, whether sun, moon, or stars from time to time.  She also won't admit to having a sense of humor, and enjoying a good joke, but she secretly does.

DOES YOUR CHARACTER HAVE ANY RECURRING MANNERISMS?
A disapproving frown.  Being judgemental.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERfS EMOTIONS?
Although Shiori has the potential to have a bit of a temper, she really only suffers from surges of irritation, released in a cutting remark.  She does sometimes feel warmth towards her friends.  Other emotions she does her best to repress; they aren't really appropriate for samurai.

HOW WOULD YOUR CHARACTER HANDLE A SUBORDINATEfS IMPROPER BEHAVIOR?
Disipline to exactly the amount prescribed in the Akodo leadership manuals she's read.  Perhaps a little on the light side for minor breaches, though; she has no issue with verbally correcting any behavior she objects to.

HOW WOULD YOUR CHARACTERfS PARENTS DESCRIBE HER?
"A good and dutiful daughter."  They weren't really that expressive, and really, that's pretty high praise from a Lion.

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTERfS HIGHEST AMBITION?
Previously, it was to be a grand general for the Lion armies.  Now, in a minor clan, this has shifted somewhat.  She still hopes to eventually be a general, and, as long as she's dreaming, that the Owl army be a feared fighting force for its size.

HOW RELIGIOUS IS YOUR CHARACTER?
Eh, sorta.  She does her best, but she doesn't really know that much about religion; she just does what is expected of her.  Besides which, honoring one's ancestors definitely feels unusual now.

IF YOU COULD, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR CHARACTER?
Times change!  The old ways aren't always the best.  Also, it's ok to loosen up a bit.  You don't need to be on duty all the time.

OPINIONS ON THE OTHER CLANS"
Shiori's opinions on other clans generally focuses on the ways in which they diverge from the ideals of Bushido.  Or, rather, the ways in which they diverge from the Lion.  The Phoenix and the Dragon she both sees as focusing too much on matters besides warfare, the primary duty of the samurai.  The Unicorn and Crab are both respected for their strong military, but lack either the virtue or the strong ties to Rokugani tradition that make the best samurai.  Strangely, she admires the Crane the most.  They have both virtue and tradition, and they are powerful in every arena, which she admires tactically.  It is only their focus on artistry that she feels makes them fall behind.  The Mantis, lacking in the divine heritage of the great clans, also cause Shiori to think poorly of them.  At least, unlike the Scorpion, they have a purpose that she can understand, even if she doesn't entirely respect it.

Bonus Questions!

-Which tenets of Bushido are most important to your character?  Which tenets are least important?
Duty is by far the most important.  It is the reason for samurai.  Courage and honor are important as well, with sincerity just below those.  Shiori has some difficulties with courtesy sometimes, and she is rather utilitarian regarding compassion, which is probably missing the point.  She sees compassion more as a means to instill loyalty than as a virtue in itself.

-Does your character know of Shourido?  What does your character think of it?
Shiori is still in the process of improving her scholarly knowledge of Bushido, so she only knows of Shourido as a name, and as something bad.  If she learned some more details about it, she might find that some of the principles are hard to disagree with, namely perfection, determination, and will.  However, the lack of anything relating to duty will cause her to be inherently suspicious of Shourido, as she does feel that this is the most important virtue a samurai can possess.

-Was your character involved in the war of spirits?
Very much so!

-What did your character think of each side on the war of spirits?
Speaking about the other side, they had refused an explicit order from the Emperor.  This already speaks of a failure on their part.  However, Shiori had been raised from birth to revere her ancestors, a habit that she maintained even in the face of their hostility.  Even as they fought against the empire, she still admired them.

As for her own side, Shiori will only say that they supported the Emperor, and were therefore in the right.  Secretly, however, she wonders if the initial order that led to the war may have been a mistake.  How much could they have learned from working together with the returned spirits, if they had honored them instead of fighting them?  Now, she worries that the war has created too great a gap between the two sides.

-What did your character think of the treaty?
Shiori has decidedly mixed feelings about the recent treaty.  For the large part, she thinks it is a bad idea.  The spirits resisted an order from the Emperor, and fought a war against the rest of Rokugan, a war which ended up being the longest in Rokugan's history.  It is good that lives were saved by the end of the war, but it is a samurai's duty to fight and die, after all, and she was still alive.  Placing the defeated Hantei Ochukeo as the head of a new clan, a great clan no less, with all of the power that accompanies that, seems as though it could easily lead to new problems down the road, as he gathers influence, and builds up his armies again.  After all, his skill as a politician could not be understated.  Besides, he was supposed to be dead, his ordained time long passed.  It goes against the natural order, in which a generation passes its knowledge and responsibility to the next.

On the other hand, despite how firmly Shiori believes it to be a bad idea, she really wants it to work out.  She has never had the opportunity to converse with one of the returned ancestor spirits, and secretly hopes that she someday will have the chance to.  But... surely it's not worth thinking about; it's impossible.

-If given the chance what would your character change about Rokugan?
Unsurprisingly, Shiori longs for the days of old, the days that she has only studied in histories.  She feels that the Empire has changed too much since it's inception, and has gotten too far from its roots.  She would like to see the last few hundred years of history rolled back, although she does still feel that the defeat of Fu Leng and the Darkness are both good.  She would like to see, politically at least, things returned to back before the time of the Clan Wars.

She does also wonder if the Empire, if it lacked both internal conflict and existential threats, might be able to become more expansionistic.  Conquering a new land is a faraway dream of hers, but a dream nonetheless.

[kckolbe]

HopeFox: Sorry for the delay, but there wasn't anything that immediately stood out to me as an issue or as an inconsistency.  How long ago did his wife die?  Did his behavior while grieving cause him any loss of honor or glory?  Were the Lion glad to be rid of him?  I'd like to see what kind of advantages/disadvantages you are planning on.

Tengu: Did most of yours by Skype.  Would like to know more about her mentor and their relationship.

All: I did some more math.  So, I'll start by saying that my goal pertaining to maho was to slightly lower the average amount of taint per spell, but also make it more of a gamble.  Below you'll see the expected chance of hitting all the relevant DCs with each Ring.

Roll  10    15     20    25      30       35       40       45       50
3k3  91.6 66.5 36.6 18.1   8.3      3.5       1.5     0.6       0.2
4k4  98.7 90.2 69.1 43.5   24.2   12.4      5.9     2.7       1.2
5k5  99.9 98.0 89.6  71.5  48.9   29.9    16.7      8.7      4.3
6k6  100  99.7 97.4  89.4   73.5   53.4    35.0   21.0     11.8
7k7  100  100  99.5  97.0   89.4   75.3    57.2   39.6     25.2
8k8  100  100  99.9  99.3   96.7   89.6    77.0   60.5     43.7

A roll of 10 would be enough for a rank 1 maho spell to reduce the taint to 0 if the d10 came up as a 1 or 2.  A roll of 50 would be enough for a rank 5 maho spell to reduce the taint to 0 if the d10 came up as a 9 or 10.  You'll notice that a character casting a spell with a Ring of 8k8 will effectively receive 0 Taint from any Rank 1 or 2 spell, and is damn unlikely to receive any from Rank 4, and still under a 50% chance to receive any from Rank 5.  This is a bit more protected than I wished. 

So, here is the new proposal.  To determine Taint, roll a d10 and cut the result in half, rounding up.  Add twice the level of the maho spell.  Roll the Ring you used to cast the spell with a TN of 0.  For every successful Raise, subtract 1 from the result.  Raises must be declared prior to rolling. 

This means that a Rank 1 spell could bestow anywhere from 3-7 points of Taint before rolling.  It also means that you are all but guaranteed to remove two of them, with a 66.5% chance of removing 3.  Even a weaker character can walk away unscathed.  A Rank 5 spell bestows between 11-15 points of Taint before rolling, but there is a 60.5% of removing 9 of them.  Operating under the assumption that characters will look for spells featuring their highest Ring and that a Void Point will be spent, 1 point will be the average Taint from a Rank 1 spell cast by a Rank 1 character. 

The risk becomes much greater for those who take on more than they can handle, but the appeal of potentially casting a maho spell with no consequences should outweigh it.  Bear in mind that over half the samurai of Rokugan *could* cast a Rank 1 spell with no Taint and you see why maho use is so prominent among even the most knowledgeable (Crab and Phoenix).  You'll notice that for Rank 5 spells, there is no chance of such an outcome, but by that point most are too obsessed with the power to care (and those spells are fucking amazing).

[Annaamarth]

[Snip]
All: I did some more math.  So, I'll start by saying that my goal pertaining to maho was to slightly lower the average amount of taint per spell, but also make it more of a gamble.  Below you'll see the expected chance of hitting all the relevant DCs with each Ring.
[Snip math]
A roll of 10 would be enough for a rank 1 maho spell to reduce the taint to 0 if the d10 came up as a 1 or 2.  A roll of 50 would be enough for a rank 5 maho spell to reduce the taint to 0 if the d10 came up as a 9 or 10.  You'll notice that a character casting a spell with a Ring of 8k8 will effectively receive 0 Taint from any Rank 1 or 2 spell, and is damn unlikely to receive any from Rank 4, and still under a 50% chance to receive any from Rank 5.  This is a bit more protected than I wished.

[And more snip]

... So your concern is that when we get to Ring 8, we're more protected than you'd prefer.  For reference, it takes 240 exp to increase a non-void ring from 3 to 8, and I think would result in a horribly specialized character.  For reference, Iuchiban's highest ring is Earth 7.  A quick glance through Great Clans suggests that most famous characters of insight rank 5-7 have rings that peak in the 5-6 range, with some as low as fours (and Hida Kisada an... anomalous Earth 9).

Most samurai who delve into Maho do so out of a desire for quick, easy power, believing that they can avoid the Taint.  A rank 1 or 2 Maho provides only a single point of taint, and you cast several of these before ever showing as tainted- this is "the first one's always free" method of temptation.  This makes sense to me.

A rank 1 samurai casting a rank 2 spell at ring 3 under your method is now almost certain to only try to negate two points of taint (why try for three when there's a one-in-three chance of failing to mitigate anything?) now walks away with an average of 5 points of taint every time rather than 1.  This is going to result in a rapid rate of becoming Lost, which should discourage folks from being interested in such things to begin with.

What would make more sense to me would be 1d5-3+2x(Rank).  This would mean that a rank 1 Maho would cause 0-4 taint, and a Ring 3 would be able to reliably reduce that... but if the reduction roll happens before the given roll, then that ring 3 guy mitigates two each time, then 40% of the time they walk away with a point or two.  It takes ring 5 or 6 to reliably walk away from a Rank 1 Maho taint-free.

Contrast at the Rank 5 level, where taint will be 1d5+7, or 8-12 points each time (as opposed to book standard 4).  In order to be able to mitigate that down to book-standard, you have to soak 6 points (for a roll of 2-6, average 4).  It takes ring 7-8 to be able to reliably soak it down just to a book-standard rate- and again, even Thunders typically don't have that.

Personally, I think if you were to through the randomization in there you'd make it more tempting by weighting it toward leniency... because eventually the Random Number Gods will get their pound of flesh with bad rolls.  It's only a matter of time.

[Summer]

Tentative Tonbo Yuu, a duelist that apparently holds prejudice against most of the people already mentioned. xD

History

Born to the minor clan of the Dragonfly, Tonbo Tsubame was a fairly bright child, filled with a love for her clan and family even from a young age, most of her free time spent reading and listening to historical tales of both. Still, not only did Tsubame's interest lie amongst her family, but it extended also towards the Dragon Clan which they indirectly served, each visitor seeking an audience leaving her filled with yet further curiosities; nobody was particularly surprised when Tsubame began vocally expressing an interest in entering Dragon lands, herself. Not at all discontent with their daughter's newfound focus – and further swayed by Tsubame's growing persuasive talents amidst the almost court-like environment – it was soon arranged for her to not only visit the Dragon lands, but to even reside there on the basis of training in one of their schools. Enamored by a particularly flashy demonstration of swordplay she hadn't seen before from visiting dignitaries, it was rather quickly determined that Tsubame would enter the Mirumoto Bushi school.

In the foreign land her family “guarded” from others, amidst people that were relatively free of thought yet often brimming with self-confidence and ability, Tsubame took to her studies in the sword with the same determination she had held for her own clan. Dilligent and capable, the girl flourished under the strict, enlightened tutelage of both teacher and peers, her life held to hard work that was punctuated with the fulfillment of progress.

That there was a war going on in the rest of the world while she was busy enjoying herself amidst the Dragon was lost on her for the longest time. Tsubame had been sent to the Dragon shortly before the war began and was thus spared the news; whilst dignitaries of all kinds were forced to stop within Dragonfly lands, Tsubame was blissfully swinging a sword at her leisure. As the war continued onward and more dignitaries were allowed through, as the atmosphere of even those within the Dragon grew more active, Tsubame eventually came across the information and yet showed little concern; that the Dragon was not moving meant that all would be fine, and the affairs that occurred beyond the boundary of the mountains did not hold her interest nearly as much as those within.

Still, though, Tsubame's life was not entirely without discord; as those around her aged and grew stronger for their efforts, her own stature seemed to have reached its peak several years too soon, and her diminutive size began to interfere in her capabilities for combat. Those she had bested before through both talent and hard work were now able to keep up with her simply through stature, and her own discinlinations towards violence further tempered the recognition and progress she made within the school. It was a period of frustration for Tsubame as others went on to succeed in their Gempukku whereas she was left behind. Discontentment led into yet more, and the dilligence and conviction she had demonstrated in her years since coming to the Dragon began to wane and falter.

It was during this time that Tsubame began to grow lax, using her free time not for self-improvement as she had once been driven, but in more leisurely activities to relieve herself of accumulated stress and tension. Though not prone to actively reserving religious affairs for the sake of other activities, her childhood among the Dragonfly did instill in her an appreciation all the same. Tsubame began to seek out and visit the monasteries, and occasionally she even managed to meet some of the elders of the Dragon clan, those who had long since retired. The initial few encounters had been a jarring experience for the self-assured Tsubame, their words and actions speaking of avenues she hadn't yet touched, demonstrating her self-afflicted folly and mollifying the touch of her talent-induced pride.

It was an enlightening experience for Tsubame, and her personality – which had grown subtly rigid and self-centered in her time of success – grew better for it. Able to admit to her own failings, the flaws that had prevented her continued advancement in her school began to ebb away, and it was not long after that she completed competency over the first teachings of her school at the age of fifteen. The Gempukku following her advancement was without difficulty, and – seeking to demonstrate and put to form the shedding of her conceit – she took on the name of “Yuu”, emphasizing its simplicity and unassuming meaning.

Since then, Yuu had advanced at a rather leisurely pace, greatly unhurried in purpose and destination, relatively content with her place and station. Practice of the sword – with slow, steady progress – was accompanied by visits to the monasteries and temples for reflection and meditation. It was here – as had been in the past – that she found herself challenged. In her self-contained interests in the Dragon and Dragonfly Clans – in cutting her attention off from the rest of Rokugan – it was mentioned that she was unable to understand what it was the Dragon actually represented, its underlying meaning and purpose.

It was not an inaccurate assessment, and so Yuu took a more active interest in the affairs of Rokugan, though she was soon made aware of a pressing issue; the relative isolation afforded by the mountains had allowed her to distance herself from the affairs of Rokugan as a whole, but it made it similarly difficult even when she sought otherwise. Woefully lacking in both connections and experience in learning of Rokugan affairs, Yuu sought permission for a musha shugyo, intending to finally leave the mountain to see the land for herself.

To Yuu's confusion, the musha shugyo was denied, and a counter-decision was made; if Yuu held such a desire to see the world and the aftereffects of the War of Spirits firsthand, her presence would be better served amongst The Owl, not only for the sake of her own growth but as a means to assist in its development.

Personality

Owing to her heritage, Yuu holds firm to her belief that open combat is meant to be a last resort and is not fond of unrestrained or meaningless violence but – owing to her training and the latter upbringing amongst the Dragon – she does not hesitate to put into action what she deems necessary, experiencing a lack of guilt or remorse in even killing if events lead her irrevocably to that path.

Yuu has come to be relatively relaxed and easygoing in most affairs, typically taking to things at a leisurely pace, both for the sake of her own preferences and to minimize the chance for mistakes. Cautious often to a fault, Yuu is slow to act when her hand is not deliberately forced, preferring instead to ponderously weigh options and potential consequences than to go with the first one presented as correct. It is rare that she does not have a smile upon her face, though it is as often a reflexive front as it is genuine.

Appearance

Yuu has managed to settle in at a height that is small even compared to the average Rokugani woman, nevermind the average samurai. Having focused her efforts more on speed and precision than unrelenting force, Yuu's body is lacking in overt definition, mildly toned and firmed but lacking in expressed musculature. Well-suited for her small frame, Yuu's bust is modest at best, though the rest of her body is well-curved to compensate, delicate-seeming shoulders leading into thinned waist and pronounced hips, serving to signify the maturity of her body despite her stature. Darkly black hair trail down to her rear, the tip of her ponytail lengthy enough to brush against the back of her thighs in walking. A pair of downturned eyes present themselves on her face, each holding to it a solid, dark brown coloration while the rest of her visage settles on the unassuming; a simple pair of lips settle near her rounded jaw while her low cheekbones are only subtly visible.

Clothing-wise, Yuu favors the simplistic, and her standard, knee-length kimono keeps itself reserved with a dark green coloration and a lack of ornamentation. A dark brown hakama covers the legs from view, while a similarly colored kataginu displays her mon, a large dragonfly encircled in gold on her back with the Tonbo and Mirumoto mon more reservedly on her front left and right, respectively.

Twenty Questions

=What clan does your character belong to?
Currently, The Dragonfly Clan and the Dragon Clan, in order of her own feelings on the matter.

=What family does your character belong to?
The Tonbo family.

=Is your character a bushi, a shugenja, or a courtier?
She's a Bushi with mild Courtier inclinations... a Courtushi? :p

=How would others describe your character's appearance?
Short of height and lacking much in build; likely not very well suited for the sword or combat. More than just a touch on the plain side.

=What is your character's primary motivation?
Sincerity, both to others and most importantly to the self. This manifests itself as a great deal of interest and duty in the affairs of her clan, the Dragonfly.

=Who is the person your character trusts the most in the world?
Herself. Though some may lie and yet more may be misled, one should always be able to count upon oneself when it comes to trust and honesty.

Other than herself, Yuu trusts the elders of the Dragon Clan for their insight and wisdom.

=What is your character's greatest strength and greatest weakness?
Yuu holds a great measure of flexibility, freely admitting (at least to herself) the mistakes she has made and making efforts to improve upon herself and change her mind when confronted with newfound truths. This lack of rigidity also serves to impede her, however; not only is it common for her to appear to lack commitment, but in many cases it is actually true.

=What does your character think of Bushido?
Bushido is a code that improves upon the growth of the self as well as those around you. Bushido is not only a code suitable for samurai, but the tenets are applicable and beneficial for humanity as a whole, but as a journey and as an end.

=What is your character's opinion of her clan?
Yuu views highly of the Dragonfly Clan and shares many of her ideologies with it. Though she is a martial class amidst pacifists, she views her training in the sword an extension of this belief; through mastery of the blade, while one can cause injury, one can also prevent it, both for oneself and for others without regard for affiliation.

=Is your character married?
No, and despite the gentle prodding and efforts of her family to remedy this, none seems imminent.

=Does your character have any prejudices?
Through her study of history – especially involving her clan – Yuu has a mild prejudice against those of the Lion Clan; though she rarely allows it to impact her dealings with them, she has yet to have her prejudices tested and it is often at the back of her mind. They seem to characterize most of what is wrong with the world.

Furthermore, those who intentionally seek out bloodshed and loss of life when other avenues are laid open for them are lacking in understanding and compassion. Those inclined to draw the sword first and words far later are a danger to themselves, others, and progress.

=To whom does your character owe the most loyalty?
Herself. While the Emperor, sensei, or family members may change and go as the tide of life dictates, her own presence is the only assured constant and so she is loyal and sincere, honest with herself above others.

Beyond that, she places the most loyalty in the Dragon Clan Elders – owing to her great trust in them – followed by her Dragonfly Clan, followed by the Emperor.

=What are your character's favorite and least favorite things?
Leisurely activity – the opportunity to allow the thoughts to wander, or to pursue goals without hurry – is incredibly enjoyable, though Yuu often spends her time practicing her swordplay and – occasionally – gardening, cooking, or other such mild pursuits. She also enjoys cleaning and taking care of her daisho.

Hostile, open combat or bloodshed between Rokugani is disturbing both to take part in and to observe, and Yuu tries to refrain from it as she is able.

=Does your character have any recurring mannerisms?
When Yuu's attention is not fully engaged, she has the tendency to allow her mind to wander, head tilting with gaze turning slightly off to the side. Circumstances permitting, she'll also occasionally run her fingers along the tsuka of her katana or wakizashi.

=What about your character's emotions?
Yuu typically operates on various levels of contentment, often describing herself on a scale ranging from “very content” to “very discontent”, of which she is inclined to settled closer to the former. Yuu tends to keep at least a mild smile to her face regardless, though those who intentionally disregard reason for the sake of violence can cause her to lose composure.

=How would your character handle a subordinate's improper behavior?
Though it greatly depends on the nature of the improper behavior, Yuu tends to settle for “discipline” over “punishment”, often of a mixed physical and mental nature.

The most likely form of discipline would be in forcing a subordinate to spend several hours in seiza with a weighty object on their legs under the command that they think about what occurred, why, and how to prevent it in the future. This is to provide a source of discomfort while also enforcing and stimulating deeper thought as to their actions and the consequences that may arise from them. Very minor infractions will likely involve Yuu discussing things with them through the process itself (perhaps even without the weight, depending on if there had been any consequences), while greater infractions will force solitude on the other person.

For matters of great consequence – specifically if it involves the status or well-being of another – Yuu will often demand reparations be made to the offended party, typically through service of some kind or through the transferrence of punishment rights.

=How would your character's parents describe her?
A lovely and devoted child, though she likely would have been better-suited to taking the spiritual or diplomatic path as opposed to the martial one with her nature. A bit free-spirited and individualistic, which may get her in trouble with the rest of the world, but she seems to have a good head on her shoulders through and through; sending her to the Dragon was likely a good thing.

=What is your character's highest ambition?
To become so skilled beyond measure in the art of Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu that she'll never have to actually use it. That the prospect of her potentially getting involved in a clash of blows would push the situation more towards the realm of discussion than steel.

=How religious is your character?
Moderately religious. Yuu may often present thanks and prayers, though typically only when alone. During periods of leisure, it is also not unheard of for her to try to visit temples or ascetic orders to meditate and seek wisdom. Still, Yuu does not make it a large portion of her life and instead primarily observes it passively.

=How will your character die?
Likely at the end of a blade, unable to refuse a duel for something she firmly believes in despite knowing the other person is superior in combat. Even though her beliefs are malleable, the few she holds firm to and cherishes – such as the well-being of the Dragonfly Clan – will drive her to act, even knowingly in the face of death.

Character Sheet

Tonbo Yuu

School: Mirumoto Bushi 1
Insight: 135
XP: 0
Age: 19

=Status
Honor: 4.5
Glory: 1

Initiative roll: 4k3

Armor: Light
TN bonus: +5
Reduction: 3
TN to be hit: 25(27) --> 20 (Ref) + 5 (Armour) (+2 while dual wielding katana+wakizashi)

Primary Weapon: Katana and Wakizashi

=Rings
Earth 3
-Stamina 3 (+1 from school)
-Willpower 3 (12)

Water 2
-Strength 2
-Perception 2

Fire 2
-Agility 2
-Intelligence 2

Air 3
-Reflexes 3 (12)
-Awareness 3 (+1 from family)

Void 2


=Skills (* are school skills/emphasis)
*Defense 2
*Iaijutsu 3
*Kenjutsu (*Katana) 1
*Lore: Shugenja 1
*Lore: Theology 1
*Meditation 1
*Sincerity 1
Etiquette 2
Craft: Cooking 1
Lore: History 1
Courtier 1

=Advantages
-Benten's Blessing (4)
-Clear Thinker (2)
-Different School (5)
-Strength of the Earth (2)

=Disadvantages
-Ascetic (-3)
-Idealistic (-2)
-Small (-3)

=Techniques
Rank 1: Way of the Dragon
When wielding a katana in your main hand and a wakizashi in your off hand, you suffer no penalties of any kind for dual wielding, and you gain a bonus of your School Rank to your Armor TN (this is cumulative with the normal bonus for wielding two weapons). Additionally, when you are targeted with a spell, you may raise or lower the TN of that spell’s Spellcasting Roll by 5.

=Inventory
-Light Armour
-Daisho
-Sturdy Clothing
-Tanto

[hellrazoromega]

HopeFox: Sorry for the delay, but there wasn't anything that immediately stood out to me as an issue or as an inconsistency.  How long ago did his wife die?  Did his behavior while grieving cause him any loss of honor or glory?  Were the Lion glad to be rid of him?  I'd like to see what kind of advantages/disadvantages you are planning on.

Tengu: Did most of yours by Skype.  Would like to know more about her mentor and their relationship.

All: I did some more math.  So, I'll start by saying that my goal pertaining to maho was to slightly lower the average amount of taint per spell, but also make it more of a gamble.  Below you'll see the expected chance of hitting all the relevant DCs with each Ring.

Roll  10    15     20    25      30       35       40       45       50
3k3  91.6 66.5 36.6 18.1   8.3      3.5       1.5     0.6       0.2
4k4  98.7 90.2 69.1 43.5   24.2   12.4      5.9     2.7       1.2
5k5  99.9 98.0 89.6  71.5  48.9   29.9    16.7      8.7      4.3
6k6  100  99.7 97.4  89.4   73.5   53.4    35.0   21.0     11.8
7k7  100  100  99.5  97.0   89.4   75.3    57.2   39.6     25.2
8k8  100  100  99.9  99.3   96.7   89.6    77.0   60.5     43.7

A roll of 10 would be enough for a rank 1 maho spell to reduce the taint to 0 if the d10 came up as a 1 or 2.  A roll of 50 would be enough for a rank 5 maho spell to reduce the taint to 0 if the d10 came up as a 9 or 10.  You'll notice that a character casting a spell with a Ring of 8k8 will effectively receive 0 Taint from any Rank 1 or 2 spell, and is damn unlikely to receive any from Rank 4, and still under a 50% chance to receive any from Rank 5.  This is a bit more protected than I wished. 

So, here is the new proposal.  To determine Taint, roll a d10 and cut the result in half, rounding up.  Add twice the level of the maho spell.  Roll the Ring you used to cast the spell with a TN of 0.  For every successful Raise, subtract 1 from the result.  Raises must be declared prior to rolling. 

This means that a Rank 1 spell could bestow anywhere from 3-7 points of Taint before rolling.  It also means that you are all but guaranteed to remove two of them, with a 66.5% chance of removing 3.  Even a weaker character can walk away unscathed.  A Rank 5 spell bestows between 11-15 points of Taint before rolling, but there is a 60.5% of removing 9 of them.  Operating under the assumption that characters will look for spells featuring their highest Ring and that a Void Point will be spent, 1 point will be the average Taint from a Rank 1 spell cast by a Rank 1 character. 

The risk becomes much greater for those who take on more than they can handle, but the appeal of potentially casting a maho spell with no consequences should outweigh it.  Bear in mind that over half the samurai of Rokugan *could* cast a Rank 1 spell with no Taint and you see why maho use is so prominent among even the most knowledgeable (Crab and Phoenix).  You'll notice that for Rank 5 spells, there is no chance of such an outcome, but by that point most are too obsessed with the power to care (and those spells are fucking amazing).

I'm not planning on casting spells so I am not worried about that. I may have comments on house rules for exposure---depending on how they look.

Anyway here is a tentative sheet at 45 xp

Character Sheet

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uxha0ugb9vl9fgx/Hiruma%20Fumiko.pdf?dl=0

[Flying Tengu]

Tentative Tonbo Yuu, a duelist that apparently holds prejudice against most of the people already mentioned. xD

Yeah... Shiori is totally going to reinforce those prejudices!

[Annaamarth]

Hellrazoromega: It's not that it's likely to matter much to me, or anyone at all necessarily, it's that I like things to appear consistent in my (totally biased and judgement) perspective.

The Contrary drawback?  I have that.  Me, the player, Annaamarth.  Opinions everywhere- but I do try to recognize biases and correct opinions as required.  For example, [statement of political perspective previously held, then changed, here].

... What, you didn't really think I was going to start talking politics?

Sorry about my silence re: character n stuff here, we're doing the PM dance right now.

[HopeFox]

HopeFox: Sorry for the delay, but there wasn't anything that immediately stood out to me as an issue or as an inconsistency.  How long ago did his wife die?  Did his behavior while grieving cause him any loss of honor or glory?  Were the Lion glad to be rid of him?  I'd like to see what kind of advantages/disadvantages you are planning on.

I figure she died about a year ago. Aside from a rather shameful loss of face when he first got the news (which, fortunately, only one other adult witnessed), he hasn't done anything especially shameful in his grief - the problem is more that he wasn't doing anything at all beyond the base expectations of duty, after the war ended. Any Glory he gained during the war would have been whittled away by his apathy afterwards, so he'd have the Glory of one of those do-nothing samurai we were talking about earlier. Honour would be standard Matsu bushi average - he's still driven by bushido, but what he lacks is hope.

The Lion didn't want to get rid of him as such - they wanted the old him back. They realised they weren't going to get it while he was surrounded by other Matsu, so sending him to join the Owl meant a net gain for the Empire and no real loss for them.

I'm considering Paragon of Bushido (Duty), because devotion to his friends and his lieges is a big deal for him, and maybe something to reflect aptitude in mass combat. I'll take a look at my books when I get home and see what fits.

Edit: Probably Tactician, and, of course, Lost Love goes without saying...

[kckolbe]

... So your concern is that when we get to Ring 8, we're more protected than you'd prefer.  For reference, it takes 240 exp to increase a non-void ring from 3 to 8, and I think would result in a horribly specialized character.  For reference, Iuchiban's highest ring is Earth 7.  A quick glance through Great Clans suggests that most famous characters of insight rank 5-7 have rings that peak in the 5-6 range, with some as low as fours (and Hida Kisada an... anomalous Earth 9).

The 8k8 includes a Void Point that can be spent on the roll, so only a ring of 7, which is doable.

A rank 1 samurai casting a rank 2 spell at ring 3 under your method is now almost certain to only try to negate two points of taint (why try for three when there's a one-in-three chance of failing to mitigate anything?) now walks away with an average of 5 points of taint every time rather than 1.  This is going to result in a rapid rate of becoming Lost, which should discourage folks from being interested in such things to begin with.

Yes, a rank 1 samurai casting a more powerful spell (remember, a rank 2 maho is as powerful as rank 3 normal) without bothering to spend a void point to protect himself is going to be consumed.  And he should be.  He is a fool.  Also, casting a spell like that at rank 1 would have major effects considering what type of opponents he'd have at that level.  A big cost for a big reward. 

However, you didn't consider the other way around, a Rank 2 character casting a rank 1 maho spell.  Ring of 4, plus a Void point.  That char has a 71% chance of gaining 0 taint, which isn't bad.  Playing it safe, still just looking at 1 point.  Rank 3-4, and a rank 1 maho spell has no taint cost almost every time!  I see your point, but given that you didn't account for stronger chars casting lower spells (which was part of the point) or Void Points (which means 1 point less of Taint per spell), I'm just not convinced.

[kckolbe]

All right, everyone, last 12 hour shift this week is tonight.  I want to thank everyone for their 20 Question answers thus far.  I will be giving you all a small list of additional questions as well.  Thus far, the most common flaws are Small, Idealistic, and Contrary.  I'll give small a pass, as I feel that's more an aesthetic choice.  Idealistic does, at least, offer a straightforward mechanical drawback.  That leaves Contrary.  It's a flaw that I don't feel the characters possessing it really embrace.  I could be wrong, but the combination of popularity, a lack of mechanical penalty, and a seeming inconsistency as to what it means has me concerned that it's being a little abused.

[Summer]

Yay. \o/

Small also has a very large mechanical penalty on my character, as well, since she's a Bushi that's dealing 1k1 less damage and already doesn't have a lot of strength; it's cutting out a large chunk of her damage. It's interesting on a mechanics-meets-roleplay level, too, since by story she's talented, but by both story and mechanics she has a flaw that renders those talents less than meaningful.

In regards to Idealistic, I'll admit that it's less core to my character than it probably should be and I should toss it out. Could go Touch of the Void if you'd like for it to be less popular; it can mechanically represent the source of her "talent" and be explained by the highly spiritual nature of her original Clan / the emphasis placed on meditation within the Dragon.

Alternatively, I could just age my character two years... though now I'm leaning towards Touch of the Void, if it's not opposed. Seems better suited, though with my inexperience I'm unfamiliar with exactly how much of a drawback it is in practice.

[Chulanowa]

oof, did I slack off and miss out? ><

[Flying Tengu]

Yay. \o/

Small also has a very large mechanical penalty on my character, as well, since she's a Bushi that's dealing 1k1 less damage and already doesn't have a lot of strength; it's cutting out a large chunk of her damage. It's interesting on a mechanics-meets-roleplay level, too, since by story she's talented, but by both story and mechanics she has a flaw that renders those talents less than meaningful.

In regards to Idealistic, I'll admit that it's less core to my character than it probably should be and I should toss it out. Could go Touch of the Void if you'd like for it to be less popular; it can mechanically represent the source of her "talent" and be explained by the highly spiritual nature of her original Clan / the emphasis placed on meditation within the Dragon.

Alternatively, I could just age my character two years... though now I'm leaning towards Touch of the Void, if it's not opposed. Seems better suited, though with my inexperience I'm unfamiliar with exactly how much of a drawback it is in practice.

You're only going to be losing 1k0 from those damage rolls, since your weapon will add to your rolled dice.  On the other hand, depending on how much distance tracking will be done in combat, the movement penalty is actually pretty nasty.  It's always depressing to realize that it'll take three turns just to reach the jerks shooting arrows at you.  At least you have the 3 earth to soak a few of those arrows while you're slowly closing in!

Touch of the Void... well, a lot of the time it works out to not really be a penalty, since you can spend the void when you're not doing anything anyway.  On the other hand, in my experience, the most common usage for void is defensively in combat, usually the -10 damage, when you unexpectedly take a hit that would give you wound penalties.  It's pretty nasty, there.

...

For myself, eh, if you're not feeling the Contrary, I'll just cut it and shave 3 points; should be easy enough.  I couldn't really find anything else I wanted to take.  At least this way, Shiori will be able to hold her tongue in front of higher status people.

[kckolbe]

oof, did I slack off and miss out? ><

It isn't closed for recruiting yet, but you are behind and I am looking for active participation from players.

[kckolbe]

Some more questions for everyone.

Which tenets of Bushido are most important to your character?  Which tenets are least important?

Does your character know of Shourido?  What does your character think of it? 

Was your character involved in the war of spirits? 

What did your character think of each side on the war of spirits?

What did your character think of the treaty?

If given the chance what would your character change about Rokugan?

[Annaamarth]

Meaningless rambling regarding Taint mechanics

I'm not sure where the 71% comes from, but I will examine this direction- because you're right, I didn't really account for strong characters using weaker maho, though part of the draw is also supposed to be weaker characters using stronger maho- a quick path to power, as it were.

So, I'll use a specific example, using the (1d5-3+2xRank) taint gain idea I put forward- I have a School Rank 4 character with highest ring 4.  I cast a rank 2 spell, and I spend a void point to soak the taint.  I'm now rolling 5k5 to soak 1d5+1 taint- so TN30 (at a 49% chance of success) to be guaranteed to be taint free- I won't take those odds, or even the 71% chance to soak 5 points, so I'll aim to soak four.  That still means that 40% of the time I walk away with a point or two of taint- and there's still a 10% chance of failing to soak four, which means that I'm likely to eat the whole 1d5+1 at some point, if I use Maho too often.

Same example, using your 1d5+2xRank- that same character is now rolling 5k5 to soak 1d5+3 taint.  If I want to be guaranteed to soak it all, I have to roll TN 40- a 17% chance of that, so no.  Even if I soak 4 points of taint as in the previous example, I'm leaving with an average of 2 points of taint every time.  That's a rank 4 character suffering a higher-than-book-standard rate of taint gain from a spell two ranks lower.

If I have a specialist character with Ring 5 at rank 4, then yeah, the odds improve- but not a great deal.  The ~90% threshhold that I'd want to aim for now soaks 5 points of taint instead of 4, which mean that I'll occasionally get a point of taint from that rank 2 spell in my setup (except for that 10% of the time that I fail the soak roll), or I'll usually get 1-3 points of taint from a rank 2 spell, except for that ten percent of the time that the taint of Jigoku invades my body.

Now let's look at a rank 1 character casting a rank 5 maho spell.  This is a thing that can happen, which is (again) part of why Maho is supposed to be seductive.  Let's say it's a favoured ring at rank 3, so rolling 4k4 (with Void) to soak either 1d5+7 or 1d5+10.  Core would have him take four points of taint and call it good.  With my system, he walks away with 5-9 points- that's a lot- and with your system he walks away with 8-12 points.  An average of an entire taint rank at a single go.

I understand not wanting to make Maho safe- even the weaker Maho for high powered characters.  This is probably why the game just throws out flat values.

So, here's a different idea (just brainstorming here)- use the soak mechanic you have, each Maho spell causes Taint at a rate of (Maho rank) rolled d5s, keeping one die.  5's explode.  This means that a rank 1 Maho spell has an 80% chance of being 4 or less points of taint (not too hard to soak), but a 20% chance of being 6-11+ or more points of taint (equal odds 6, 7,8,9,11+, which values are much harder to soak).  A rank 5 Maho spell will probably be seven points (unsoaked) or less- but there's a 18.5% chance of it being 11 points or more (interestingly, the odds here are weighted slightly towards the higher values, with a 3.9% chance of seeing a 16+, descending to a 3.5% chance of seeing 11).  This, to me, exemplifies the seductive nature of Maho- no matter what rank Maho, you're only soaking one (exploding) d5.  The odds of the Taint being manageable are really good... except for when you roll those four 5's in a row.  Then you're screwed. Low risk, but very high stakes.

For informational purposes, have some links and a thing to copy.

I used the Troll dice roller to examine the odds, along with the Lynks L5R probability site.  If you want to examine the (Rank)k1 in d5's method of Taint calcs, go to the Troll site and copy the following into the dialog box- then click on "calculate probabilities."  That will show you the calcs for 5k1 in d5s- if you want to change the number of unkept dice, just change the 5 next to the # sign to however many dice you want to do- I looked at 1 die, 2 dice and 5 dice, mostly.

\ Taint roll

sum (largest 1 5#(sum accumulate x := d5 while x=5))

Koseru Maseko

20 Questions

1. Yeah, I'm an... Owl?  Is that what we are?  I need to get used to that.  I guess that's breaking my previous trend of "things with shells."  You know, Scorpion, Mantis, Crab... sorry, bad joke.
2. Does this clan even have any families?  Who's in charge around here anyway?  Am I still a Koseru?  Could someone explain this to me, I wasn't paying attention.
3. Well, I ain't no courtier.  Seriously though, spirits may not be the best conversationalists, but if you give 'em a chance they aren't so bad.
4. Describe me?  I dunno.  Lean and mean?  Naw, I try not to be mean, but lean and friendly don't come off the tongue so well. (Average height, slender and compactly built, but whipcord muscles suggest surprising strength)
5. "Primary motivator?"  We're using big words today, huh?  Look, I just like to understand things and people and such.
6. Who do I trust most in the world?  Captain Kobe- a big Yoritomo Bushi running one of their ships.  I crewed for him awhile, kept the wind at our backs and the rain off us.  He was big and mean as piss, but he had his crew's back.  I haven't seen him in... damn, three, four years now?
7. Look, I'm Shugenja. Spirits don't think like you an' I, an' I try to pick up a little bit of that from them.  I think sideways, I look for new answers, and I think that's my strength.  Unfortunately, most Rokugani don't really go for creativity, you know?
8. Bushido- the way to enlightenment, right?  Well, a way anyway.  Seems like a good way to at least keep everybody from making things worse.
9. The Scorpion?  Yeah, we come from a Kami, so we have a divine right to exist, assholes.  It don't matter that you don't like us.  *Sticks out tongue.*  Oh, you think we spend too much time plotting?  Yeah, pay attention to the Daidoji.  Or Hida Kisada.  Or the Unicorn.  Or Toturi- sorry, Emperor Toturi.  Welcome to Rokugan, plots happen.  Deal with it.
10. Married?  Naw.  I was betrothed to Kuni Batouno a bunch o' years back- even spent some time with him down in Crab lands.  Oh you never heard of him?  That's 'cause an Oni ate him while I watched, so thanks so much for bringing it up.

...Anyway, I guess the Clan decided that tithing me off was more politically expedient than trying to arrange a new engagement, so here I am.  Woo.
11. Look, you can hate the Scorpion for plotting and keeping secrets, but you know who you really ought to watch?  The Crane and the Phoenix.  The Crane, they control a lot of Jade, right?  So rather than giving it to the Crab so they can do their thing on the Wall, they make fucking statues.  Statues.  Then they sell whatever's left to the Crab at absurd prices.  And the Phoenix, well... they know things, alright?  They study things they really ought to stay away from, then they don't tell people what they figured out.  That's like, the worst sort of secret-keeping.

But, man... Statues.
12.  I guess I serve the Owl Daimyo?  Maybe the local Magistrate?  I dunno, who's in charge around here?
13. Look, if I'm not learning something, I wanna be doing something.  I like exploring, meeting new people, meeting new spirits, sake, parties, opium, archery...  What, Shugenja can't use a bow?  Now, court's just boring.  Politics?  Boring, except for when it's all going wrong.
14. Sometimes I notice I bite my lip.  I've also noticed that I like to be under things or over things- I climb around a lot.
15. Yeah, I get that "proper" samurai are unfeeling statues, but that's like, not me.  Not Mantis either.  Not really Scorpion, I guess, but I don't hide it like most of them do.  I just like people, I guess, an' I like being happy?  Yeah, sure, some things get me mad- like that Crane greed.  Look, maybe it's weird hearing a Scorpion taught by Mantis complain about greediness, but if that's all you know about the Scorpion or the Mantis, then you ought to pay closer attention.  Or, you know what, don't.
16. Look, my subordinate blows me off? Tie a rope 'round his ankle and throw him over the front of the ship, if I'm feeling nice.  We ain't aboard ship?  Fuckin' gut 'im like a fish.  Now, I ain't gonna hold it against 'im if it's an honest mistake- that's how we learn, right?  But you best be followin' orders.
17. Yeah, the parents.  They think I'm weird.  Not courtly enough, not subtle enough, too obvious.  I think they don't think I'm a good spy either.  I won't say they're disappointed, but I think they'd've rather I was sent to the Soshi rather than the Yoritomo.  Whatever.
18. What do I want?  To live well, have fun, and learn everything I can about everything I can.
19. Yeah, I say my prayers- that's kind of the point, yeah?  I stop at the shrines I pass, I honor my ancestors.
20. Hopefully, I die trying to turn an Oni inside-out.  Or in bed, surrounded by several virile and attractive companions, and maybe loving family.  Either-or.

Bonus Questions

Which tenets of Bushido are most important to your character?  Which tenets are least important?
-Loyalty is the most important tenet of Bushido.  You gotta follow orders, so that the people who can see the big picture can handle the big picture stuff.  We can worry about the little picture stuff down here at the bottom, yeah?  Just remember- loyalty goes both ways.

Sincerity though- well, what's the point?  If you're being honest about what you're doing and honest with yourself, isn't that being sincere too?  Seems to me that sincerity is all about controlling the truth.  I don't know, it just feels redundant to me, like it falls under honesty and duty and all that.

Does your character know of Shourido?  What does your character think of it? 
-... Yeah, okay, I know about it.  It's interesting, a different way of looking at things, right?  I mean, Bushido's important, but doesn't Strength help you back up having that Courage?  Doesn't Will help you resolve your Duty?  Won't Knowledge and Insight help you understand your Duty, so you can... I don't know, do it better?  I mean, some of those monks seem a little crazy, but they make some good points.

Was your character involved in the war of spirits? 
-Not directly, no.  I was down in Crab lands, dealing with... stuff.

What did your character think of each side on the war of spirits?
-Look, the dead are supposed to be dead.  Moved on, right?  Coming back at Oblivion's Gate was good and all, but then they needed to go back home.  That's what this kharmic wheel is all about, right?  So, who the fuck thought a civil war between a long-dead Hantei and the current Emperor was a good idea?  Oh yeah, a batshit crazy Hantei.  Yeah, how many Samurai died because he forgot that his line had ended?  How many burnt fields, and how many dead heimin, hinin- even eta?  Yeah, screw that guy.  Oh, I'm sorry, he's supposed to be an honored ancestor?  Well, he waived that right when he started a war.

What did your character think of the treaty?
-Well, at least the fighting's stopped.  Mostly.

If given the chance what would your character change about Rokugan?
-Starvation and disease suck- those should stop being a thing, and everyone could die in battle or of old age.  Or everybody could be just a little less uptight about everything?  That'd be good too.

Other stuff

Primary Motivator- Understanding, to pursue knowledge and experience

Core traits

Emotional disposition- Joyful
Emotional stability- Labile
Outlook- Optimistic
Integrity- Pragmatic, but perhaps unreliable
Impulsiveness- Spontaneous
Boldness- Daring
Flexibility- Adaptable and open-minded.
Comportment- Agreeable, but perhaps crude.  Not terribly cultured.
Interactivity- Engaging
Disclosure- Cagy
Conformity- Freethinking

Sexuality

Orientation- Bisexual
Libido- Healthy, leaning towards lascivious
Expressiveness- Flirtatious
Style- Crude
Openness to experience- Moderate
Promiscuousness- Generally low, but noncommital.

Religion

Shugenja and adherent to Rokugani faith.
Tolerant and curious when faced with alternative beliefs.
Occasionally expresses beliefs.
Never attempts to convert others- the idea of a nonbeliever would be mostly confusing to her.
Attitude towards spirits summoned- humble.

Character Sheet

As a habit, I only make this public if the GM tells me to-
or players dislike the fact that I'm keeping secrets.  I
also won't ask "what ring are you" or "what's your
insight rank?"

I'm not including a comprehensive history yet, because A) It's late and I don't feel like typing more, B) I'm still hashing it out and I want to make sure it's consistent to the character, C) I don't feel like typing more, it's late.

[HopeFox]

Which tenets of Bushido are most important to your character?  Which tenets are least important?

Duty above all! That is the purpose of a samurai's existence.

Courtesy is only important to my liege, sensei, family, wife, Emperor, and the others to whom I owe loyalty and service. That is not to say that I will go out of my way to be rude to others, but what have they done for me, that I must bide my tongue to preserve their feelings?

Does your character know of Shourido?  What does your character think of it?

(I didn't think Shourido was known yet, before the spread of the Spider Clan, but if Keitaro had heard of it...)

As a means of self-improvement, supposing one ignores its origins? It is well enough. Strength and Knowledge and Perfection are useful things. But they are only tools, in the same way that skill with the sword is a tool. What matters is a samurai's behaviour, the choices he makes. Shourido does not tell you what is right, only what is useful. The only true guide to a samurai's behaviour is Bushido.

Was your character involved in the war of spirits? 

Indeed - the war was already in full fury when Keitaro finished his gempukku, and he went to fight early and often. He spent more time away from the front lines once he was married and caring for a daughter and an estate, though, leaving his wife to be the full-time warrior. After she died, he fought the spirits without pause or mercy.

What did your character think of each side on the war of spirits?

One side was the side of the Emperor. The other was not.

Of course, one cannot blame Ochukeo's soldiers for following the commands of their liege. They did their duty (for a traitor to the Empire), as I did mine (for the Son of Heaven).

What did your character think of the treaty?

It is beyond shameful that anyone who dares to call himself "samurai" would dictate terms to the Emperor, but the might of the traitor's armies forced the Emperor's hand. It is our duty to abide by the Emperor's agreement. The Stag Clan will be shown the respect and courtesy that their new status affords them, and not a single grain more.

If given the chance what would your character change about Rokugan?

No Stag Clan. More land in the hands of those who understand their value and how to defend them (i.e. the Lion).

[Summer]

You're only going to be losing 1k0 from those damage rolls, since your weapon will add to your rolled dice.  On the other hand, depending on how much distance tracking will be done in combat, the movement penalty is actually pretty nasty.  It's always depressing to realize that it'll take three turns just to reach the jerks shooting arrows at you.  At least you have the 3 earth to soak a few of those arrows while you're slowly closing in!

Oh, you're right on the 1k0. I didn't even have the 1k1 on my character sheet, so I'm not entirely sure how I was under the impression it was 1k1. Still, I plan to keep Yuu's strength quite low unless, story-wise, she would be pushed into training it into something manageable (and even then, likely minimal); she's just naturally ill-suited towards power.

Really, though, it seems like Short is just a more restrictive version of Bishamon's curse (with the movement penalties on top of reduced damage roll) unless I'm missing something. I had considered getting Bishamon's curse on top of being small, but felt that likely didn't fit thematically and was too mechanically indulgent.

Touch of the Void... well, a lot of the time it works out to not really be a penalty, since you can spend the void when you're not doing anything anyway.  On the other hand, in my experience, the most common usage for void is defensively in combat, usually the -10 damage, when you unexpectedly take a hit that would give you wound penalties.  It's pretty nasty, there.

That's why I was hesitant to take it. It definitely seemed like it was more of a benefit then a penalty, but it makes sense story-wise and seems like it can actually be *quite* dangerous, so I'll go ahead and pick it up if there's no qualms with it and drop idealistic. Will put an extra point in Meditation and increase my age by one, to twenty (which is slightly better suited to the timeline of the war and being sent to the Dragon before it started).

Bonus Questions

=Which tenets of Bushido are most important to your character?  Which tenets are least important?
The tenets of Bushido, in order of importance as it relates to Yuu:

Sincerity | Honesty: Be truthful in words and be truthful in action, not only to yourself but to those around you. Deception is absolutely a last resort; what good is a future borne from the back of unstable falsehoods?

Honor: The measure of adherence to Bushido itself, the code is only as strong and unshakeable as the honor of the one maintaining it.

Courtesy | Compassion: Those of power should be gracious to those without, be it of the mind or of the body. One should not provoke hostilities with words any more than with swords, and what good is strength if utilized solely for the self?

Courage (Conviction): The ability to adhere to one's beliefs and purpose no matter the hardships that come to challenge them and to face them without faltering.

Duty (Loyalty): While duty can be important, it can be maligned against those who adhere to it too strongly. If one allows another to determine their path without question, without falter, so, too, can the other principles of Bushido and all that is good be undermined.

Conventional Courage and Duty are seen as the "least important", with Duty actually being seen as problematic.

=Does your character know of Shourido?  What does your character think of it?

Perhaps vaguely. She could theoretically understand its appeal to a very slight degree, but would find it unnerving and cannot imagine a person that follows it.

Incidentally, if she knew more of it, it's not entirely unlikely that she might take it up. Even in her current code of Bushido, "Courage" is twisted into something closer to Determination, and "Duty" is seen largely disfavorable, leaving her weak to such concepts as Will. Though she more or less behaves in a largely selfless manner, her thoughts and interests are actually on the self-focused side.

Exposure to Shourido -- depending on the circumstances -- might be dangerous.

=Was your character involved in the war of spirits?

Not at all. She lived a relatively sheltered life in the mountains where the war did not really touch, especially as the Dragon Clan itself did not participate too actively in the war itself.

=What did your character think of each side on the war of spirits?

It is war, and war is rarely good. It was a failure to reconcile for both sides, so much so that blood had to be shed. Considering one side of the war was made up largely of people that were supposed to have passed on, it's also a war that should have never occurred in the first place.

=What did your character think of the treaty?

Largely indifferent but optimistic, as she doesn't fully understand its ramifications but is pleased that the fighting finally came to an end. Still, though, to give the formation of a Major Clan to someone who so willingly exposed its fangs is... concerning. There seems to be a lot of changes to take place and it remains to be seen if those changes are for the better instead of a result of misplaced impetus.

=If given the chance what would your character change about Rokugan?

The more aggressive, combat-oriented ideologies should be soothed and settled into something more productive. The Shadowlands being rendered inert would go a long way towards that -- as the Crab are combat-focused at the present out of necessity, and it likely spills from there -- but there are deep-seated problems elsewhere, such as seen in the Lion.

[HopeFox]

Reijiro Keitaro, draft sheet

Reijiro Keitaro

Age: 22

Family bonus: Matsu (+1 Strength)
School: Matsu Bushi 1 (+1 Strength)

Glory: 1.0
Status: 1.0
Honour: 6.5

Fire 2
Agility 3 (12 XP)
Intelligence 2

Air 2
Reflexes 2
Awareness 2

Water 3
Strength 4
Perception 3 (12 XP)

Earth 2
Stamina 2
Willpower 2

Void 2

Skills

Battle 2 (2 XP)
Jiujutsu 1
Kenjutsu (Katana) 2 (2 XP)
Kyujutsu 1
Lore: History 1
Athletics 1
War Fan 2 (2 XP)
Tea Ceremony 2 (3 XP)
Poetry 1 (1 XP)
Etiquette 1 (1 XP)
Iaijutsu 1 (1 XP)

Advantages/Disadvantages:

Paragon (Duty) (6 XP)
Tactician (2 XP)
Inheritance (Matsu tessen) (5 XP)

Lost Love (-3 XP)


Equipment:

Light armour
Sturdy clothing
Daisho
(Weapon)
Travelling pack
5 koku

[kckolbe]

Hey folks, sorry for the delay.  I've been kinda busy becoming a PUBLISHED FUCKING SPORTSWRITER!  http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2015/quarterbacks-and-salary
Please check it out, the more views the better chances for me getting accepted to write more.

Anna:

So, here's a different idea (just brainstorming here)- use the soak mechanic you have, each Maho spell causes Taint at a rate of (Maho rank) rolled d5s, keeping one die.  5's explode.  This means that a rank 1 Maho spell has an 80% chance of being 4 or less points of taint (not too hard to soak), but a 20% chance of being 6-11+ or more points of taint (equal odds 6, 7,8,9,11+, which values are much harder to soak).  A rank 5 Maho spell will probably be seven points (unsoaked) or less- but there's a 18.5% chance of it being 11 points or more (interestingly, the odds here are weighted slightly towards the higher values, with a 3.9% chance of seeing a 16+, descending to a 3.5% chance of seeing 11).  This, to me, exemplifies the seductive nature of Maho- no matter what rank Maho, you're only soaking one (exploding) d5.  The odds of the Taint being manageable are really good... except for when you roll those four 5's in a row.  Then you're screwed. Low risk, but very high stakes.

I actually really like this.  The site is pretty awesome, too.  I would like to go with 1k1+1k0 per maho level, making a rank 5 about 9 points pre-soak, but this is the kind of risk I was looking for.  You're never completely safe, but most of the time you can get away with it if you are strong enough.

Maseko is *such* a Mantis.  Go ahead and post your sheet.  I kinda like secrets, but given that everything has been posted, go ahead and join in, especially since I am going to talk about some of it here.  So, the following are disadvantages you don't have that you might want to look at. 
Contrary - (yeah I know, fuckin hypocrite, but this is what I was looking for with it...strong opinions, quick judgement, and a desire to express both)
Failure of Bushido: Courtesy -   Probably pretty dangerous to have alongside Contrary, so maybe more an either/or kinda thing.  In truth, I actually like this more than Contrary, as Failure of Bushido just makes sense to go along with Consumed by Knowledge.  Also, I see her having trouble convincing someone she regrets something she just said/did.
Can't Lie - It's a Willpower roll, and since I see her as the type to not think before she speaks, I can see her having to focus to lie.  It doesn't make her worse at it, just takes a deliberate effort to remember to do.
Also, give yourself a point for Haunted, which you currently have at 0.

For stuff you have...I'm not crazy about Daikoku's Curse combined with Ascetic, as I feel that is semi double-dipping, since both affect starting outfit.  If you are willing to start without a "necessary" item or knock a point off the "price" I am okay with it.

Lastly...fucking statues.

HopeFox: I decided to edit history a bit.  Shourido was first introduced during the Clan War (through Crab/Shadowlands talks).  This means that Crab were first exposed to it and, understandably, a bit more receptive to it, but it is becoming known, though regarded as just shy of blasphemy by the Crane.  Char looks fine so far, not going to count points on anyone until closer to starting.

Summer:  Good point on Small vs Bishamon's blessing.  I would make the latter -1k0 on all Strength rolls, including damage.  20 looks good, though.

hellrazoromega: Only 40 points for char creation in 4th.

All: I think I mentioned this on skype, but add 5 points to the limit on Disadvantages from the books.

[zombiemun]

just found this thread and was wondering if it was to late to join in the fun?

[kckolbe]

There is no guarantee, but it isn't too late.  I'm looking for 5-8 player characters, and am already above the minimum with submitted chars.  This isn't first come, first serve though.  If the effort is there and I like the concept, it's very possible.

[Summer]

Hey folks, sorry for the delay.  I've been kinda busy becoming a PUBLISHED FUCKING SPORTSWRITER!  http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2015/quarterbacks-and-salary
Please check it out, the more views the better chances for me getting accepted to write more.

I checked! The math was understandable but the sports was not. :p

Summer:  Good point on Small vs Bishamon's blessing.  I would make the latter -1k0 on all Strength rolls, including damage.  20 looks good, though.

That's an interesting way to change it, especially since it becomes a more accurate inverse of his blessing. It also comes *close* but isn't quite the same as Weakness (Strength) which... speaking of...

All: I think I mentioned this on skype, but add 5 points to the limit on Disadvantages from the books.

Was not aware of this. I think I'll actually pick up Weakness (Strength), then. Bishomon's Curse felt like double-dipping since it was so limited in effect and it didn't feel right for Yuu to be spiritual and have a blessing and a curse... it seemed like it would just be tacked on. I enjoyed the concept, just not the avenue, but with the increased disadvantage max I can take Weakness without compunctions (I definitely wanted Small and Ascetic, which would've wasted two points from Weakness). I'll drop the six points into Defense 3, Kenjutsu 2, and Gardening 1, while keeping the same age.

Any thoughts / input?

[kckolbe]

Question for anyone: Does Weakness affect Insight or Ring Rolls?

[Chulanowa]

It isn't closed for recruiting yet, but you are behind and I am looking for active participation from players.

I think I'mma sit it out, KC. Not from lack of interest, just lack of time :)

[kckolbe]

Completely understandable.

[Flying Tengu]

Question for anyone: Does Weakness affect Insight or Ring Rolls?

I don't think so; I think it only affects rolls for that particular trait, not the associated ring.  Nor insight.

Not 100% on that, but more like 90%.

[Summer]

You have a significant weakness of some sort, either physical
or mental, that is difficult to overcome even under ideal cir-
cumstances. Select one Trait. That Trait is treated as if it were
one rank lower for the purposes of all rolls and Trait-based
mechanical effects.

Quoted for posterity.

That is a very good question. I was going to say "likely only for rolls", but it says "trait-based mechanical effects". I suppose it's up to GM decision in this case.

That being said... if it turns rank 3 with trait is equivalent in all ways to rank 2 without -- even factoring in ring and insight -- then it's a very, very debilitating drawback and isn't at all worth its price. In the most immediate sense, in order to "undo" the damage would cost 12 experience (going from 2 to 3), and its immediate impact is an effective -8 experience (going down from 2 to 1). Six experience doesn't cover its "debt".

When it says "trait-based mechanical effects", I believe it is referring to thinks like natural armor -- which would build off of your reflexes -- and other such things. But if it reduces the ring as well, I don't think I can actually take it owing to Small's reduction of the water ring by 1 for movement purposes... I wouldn't really be able to move at all, would I? >.>

[kckolbe]

I would imagine that Insight would be untouched for the reasons you state, but that the ring would be affected, so her movement would be hosed. 

[Summer]

As much as I'm enjoying the mental image of a dueling Bushi having to be carted around from place to place, I'm going to have to retract that drawback. :p

The moment I place my foot on the field of battle, I shall not budge an inch.

... In either direction.

I have become a statue.

[zombiemun]

did some poking around on the l5r forums and the most I could find that really made any sense was this...hope it might help some

The thing about it is there is a distinction between a Ring and a Trait.

Weakness doesn't actually lower the value of your trait. What it does is tells you to "pretend" that the value of your trait is one lower for any/all rolls and trait-based mechanics. Wounds don't check the trait's value - they check the Ring's value, which remains 2 (or whatever value it's been raised to).
Just like when you go to raise your "Weakness" Trait, you have to pay the XP value that it would require as if you had the full value (in example - If you have a Stamina of 2 and the Disadvantage 'Weakness: Stamina,' it will still cost you 12xp to raise your Stamina, because it is still a 2, and not actually a 1).

[kckolbe]

VERY relevant

https://youtu.be/E-qKc1ahlgo?t=59s

[hellrazoromega]

Some more questions for everyone.

Which tenets of Bushido are most important to your character?  Which tenets are least important? All of the tenets are important and to shirk any of them is to loose face as a samurai, that said Fumiko firmly believes Bushido is a two way street, those who forsake Bushido don't deserve it's tenets in return. She would find it difficult to chose one to place above or below the others in general as she sees things a situational. The circumstances would dictate which was more important at the time.

Does your character know of Shourido?  What does your character think of it?  As a scout Fumiko finds Insight and Will interesting, the rest is heretical nonsense.

Was your character involved in the war of spirits? What did your character think of each side on the war of spirits? No she was still assigned to scout beyond the Wall. The conflict was confusing the Spirits violated the natural order of things and should have remained where they were. But they were honored ancestors and heroes. Fumiko was not sure what to think, but in the end she believe Toturi was in the right.

What did your character think of the treaty? It was for the good of the Empire. There had been to many wars in recent decades, that combined with the length of the war made things worse. The Empire time to heal was needed.

If given the chance what would your character change about Rokugan? Tradition is good, but perhaps the Mantis and Unicorn show some wisdom in trying new ideas. The same ideas over and over only seem to lead to the same mistakes.

hellrazoromega: Only 40 points for char creation in 4th.

Completely aware of that, however I was basing that one this>

XP is as normal plus 1xp per year above 16.

and making her 21 for 45xp. Has that changed? Or did I misinterpret? If so I'll recalculate.

[Annaamarth]

Hey folks, sorry for the delay.  I've been kinda busy becoming a PUBLISHED FUCKING SPORTSWRITER!  http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2015/quarterbacks-and-salary
Please check it out, the more views the better chances for me getting accepted to write more.

Anna:
[Snip]

Congrats on getting published!  That's awesome!

... So, I'm already above the 15 point limit, even if I yank Daikoku's curse.  You need to stop making me take points for my drawbacks :P (Unless you really, really like the way everything hangs together, in which case yeah I'll take the points!)

The way I read "can't lie," you can't lie- period.  It's a willpower roll to allow some else to lie without blurting out a correction.  Yeah, no.

Contrary?  PFFFTFTT Yeah, too easy.  Of course I could take that, but I won't.  I've got so many other cool drawbacks, I don't really want to swap out for that.

Failure of courtesy I could see.  She thinks courtesy is important, but she isn't very good at it.  I'd be willing to throw that in.

Re: Daikoku's curse- I took it mostly for the penalty to Commerce and to show a part of why she was ascetic without being a monk.  She just can't hold on to money- and between the way she wastes coin and being an Insensitive, Lecherous Mantis-minded Scorpion, I figure her Glory isn't going to go up quickly- mechanically, Ascetic shows that.  So, I yanked Daikoku's curse from the character sheet, but I'd still be willing to throw it in there for 1 point (or full points, and make ascetic a "free," zero point drawback, since the mechanics fit so well).  Question though- my school kit starts me with "any weapon."  If I start with a bow, how many arrows (if any) does it come with?

Edit: Also, Meet Maseko.

Also also, can I use a wakizashi with Knives skill, or is that a Kenjutsu thing specifically?  I hope I can use Knives with a wakizashi.  Then again, more skills to put xp into means higher insight, so whatever.

My updated sheet includes failure of Courtesy.  To be clear, I currently have 23 points of drawbacks- if I'm benefiting from all of those (at even a single point, as is the case for Haunted), then I'll roll with it, but, um... well, let me know if you want me to pare her down a bit.

[Summer]

Also also, can I use a wakizashi with Knives skill, or is that a Kenjutsu thing specifically?  I hope I can use Knives with a wakizashi.  Then again, more skills to put xp into means higher insight, so whatever.

My updated sheet includes failure of Courtesy.  To be clear, I currently have 23 points of drawbacks- if I'm benefiting from all of those (at even a single point, as is the case for Haunted), then I'll roll with it, but, um... well, let me know if you want me to pare her down a bit.

Wakizashi is pretty specifically Kenjutsu from what I know, though a tanto would likely be utilized in its stead if one has training in knives. That being said, you don't actually have a tanto at present, huh? :p

[kckolbe]

hellrazoromega: 1 pt per year is correct, just wanted to be sure since 3rd ed was 45 points.  Just coincidence.

So, tell me more about her fiance, and what kind of plot elements you hope to see there. 

Additionally, I'm not crazy about the Sacred Weapon.  If she was so highly valued, why was she given up?

Anna: The limit on doesn't concern me that much, really.  More concerned with whether or not they all make sense, and I am fairly aggressive about that. 

As for your school kit, it does start you with an extra weapon, though you don't get that due to Ascetic.  It would be 10 arrows, though.  Some schools start with 20, some with 0. 

How has lechery played a part in her life?  I don't think you've ever mentioned it.

Wakizashi is part of kenjutsu...sorry.

[Summer]

As for your school kit, it does start you with an extra weapon, though you don't get that due to Ascetic.

Actually, Ascetic specifically allows the weapons.

You have no taste for or interest in material things, and this
minimalist attitude has impacted how others view you. Your
School Outfit includes only weapons, armor, clothing, neces-
sary tools of the trade for your profession (such as a scroll
satchel for shugenja), and nothing else. Any time you would
be awarded Glory as a result of your actions, you receive only
half the normal amount. Coupled with the normal restriction
for Monks in gaining Glory, ascetic monk characters would
only gain one quarter the normal amount of Glory. This Dis-
advantage is worth 3 points to Dragon and monk characters.

Quoted for posterity, but there is no restriction on weapons, meaning that all mentioned weapons in a single school outfit would be included in it (which is why I currently have both a daisho and a tanto despite being Ascetic). It mainly removes the koku and the traveling pack.

[kckolbe]

I misread it as "Your School Outfit includes only weapons, armor, clothing necessary for your profession (such as a scroll satchel for shugenja), and nothing else."

[Summer]

I misread it as "Your School Outfit includes only weapons, armor, clothing necessary for your profession (such as a scroll satchel for shugenja), and nothing else."

Understandable, but if that was the intent it would read as "Your School Outfit includes only the weapons, armor, clothing, and necessary tools of the trade for your profession and nothing else."~ Without it, it doesn't place the items into one group {the weapons, armor, clothing, and necessary tools of the trade} (for your profession), but into individual groups {weapons}, {armor}, {clothing}, and {necessary tools of the trade for your profession}.

It's quite the interesting scenario and I'm not surprised it was read as it was. Given that the omission of a single word in this case could potentially change the specifics of its meaning, it's also not impossible that what you mentioned was "as intended" but it was lost in trying to make it fanciful.

[Annaamarth]

Bold is response.

[snip]

Anna: The limit on doesn't concern me that much, really.  More concerned with whether or not they all make sense, and I am fairly aggressive about that.  Okay, cool.  I make an effort for everything to make sense and hang together.

As for your school kit, it does start you with an extra weapon, though you don't get that due to Ascetic.  It would be 10 arrows, though.  Some schools start with 20, some with 0. 
... Schools starting with 0 arrows is weird.

How has lechery played a part in her life?  I don't think you've ever mentioned it.
I believe I said she enjoys the "pleasures of the flesh" at some point, but it was a minor point.  It's part of her "play hard, work hard when I have to" mentality.  Turns out many Mantis and many Crab don't place great store by chastity.  Some Scorpion do, and many do not.  Being the impulsive thing she is, at some point she decided she enjoyed such games, probably some time after her betrothed became an Oni's dinner.  She probably also enjoys opium, gambling, sake and other alcohols, which I believe largely fall under the same umbrella.  This is one of those things where she is vulnerable to a social weapon, which makes it that much more challenging to use her in most Scorpion plots.  Unless embarrassing the Scorpion was the point of the plot, in which case odds are good that "that bumpkin Maseko" would do quite handily. Perhaps she has already done so- you did mention the possibility of taking Black Sheep, all though starting at reduced honor might make more sense in that case-  Failing as expected is not exactly Black Sheep material.

Oh yeah, I also mentioned it last post as part of the set of 'background drawbacks' that lead to her carefree asceticism.

Anyway, if you don't feel it's appropriate I can yank it.

Wakizashi is part of kenjutsu...sorry.
Pft.  Don't be.  Just another skill for me to put xp into later, if I feel like it.  Another potential tool in the toolbox.

Hm.  So much new information to consider.  So, where did the GM land on the whole "ascetic removes the second weapon" thing?  How would you feel about me taking Daikoku's curse and losing that second weapon in place of the koku I don't have because I'm a wastrel?  That would seem like sacrificing the "necessary item" you mentioned previously.  Otherwise, the only items I could lose to Daikoku would be my Robes (walking into town naked?  I'd rather not), my Wakizashi (That's from my Gempukku!  I'm not going to wager that!), or my scroll case (which would make me a rather awful Shugenja).  I could always find a way to get a bow later.

Also, are we already here or are we starting as characters start filtering into Owl lands?

[kckolbe]

Lechery is fine, just wanted to get a better idea of it.  I would rather avoid the curse.  You aren't lacking for drawbacks, after all, and I don't feel it adds anything.

You would be beginning outside Owl lands, with your first adventure being on the way there, ish.

[hellrazoromega]

hellrazoromega: 1 pt per year is correct, just wanted to be sure since 3rd ed was 45 points.  Just coincidence.

So, tell me more about her fiance, and what kind of plot elements you hope to see there. 

Additionally, I'm not crazy about the Sacred Weapon.  If she was so highly valued, why was she given up?

Fumiko is not one for courtly life and would rather be in the outdoors and not one for formalities, so I had more envisioned her betrothed as a bushi  who would try to get her to be more "proper."  Deep down Fumiko is defiant and fears her betrothed may try to 'tame' her of her wild ways, whether or not that is true I an content to leave open to the GM.

I'll just switch out the blade and take the Wary and Lip Reading advantages instead which would make her one year older since that is one more XP. To the last question I would say that would depend on the though process of those you send to a new clan. If you send only 'average' Bushi is that an insult? Do you send some exemplary Bushi so as not to insult? I guess it goes back to the question of wheret or not the Crab want the Owl to succeed and be close allies or not. If the Crab see the Owl as allies guarding their backs then why not send them some of your up and comers.

Still a WIP but switched the advantages, added equipment and changed games for medicine. 

Character Summary

Clan: OWL
Insight Rank: 1
School: Hiruma Scout School
Rank: 1
Insight:
Hair: Black and wild
Eyes: Brown
Age: 22
Height: 5' 5"
Weight 120 lbs.

Status/Taint

Honor: 4
Glory: 1
Status: 1
Taint: 0

Rings and Skills

Earth 2, Stamina 2, Willpower 2
Air 2, Reflexes 3, Awareness 2
Water 2, Strength 2, Perception 3
Fire 2 Agility 3, Intelligence 2
Void 2

Hunting: 2----------------------Perception 5k3
Kyujutsu: 2---------------------Reflexes 5k3
Kenjutsu: 3 (Katana)--------Agility 6k3 1k0 to damage rolls

Stealth: 3 (Sneaking)---------Agility 6k3 Simple Move actions in stealth allow Water x5
Defense: 3-----------------------Reflexes 6k3 Keep a defense roll for subsequent rounds.
Athletics: 3---------------------Strength 5k2 No impediments from moderate terrain. Difficult terrain only reduces water ring by 1 rather than 2
Lore (Shadowlands) 1-----Intelligence 3k2
Medicine 1---------------------Intelligence 3k2
Artisan (Origami) 1 ---------Awareness 3k2

Advantages & Disadvantages

Wary 2
Read Lips 4
Quick Healer 3
Silent 3
Crab Hands 2

Antisocial 5 -1k1 to all social rolls
Contrary 3
Bitter Betrothal 2

Combat

Katana Attack 6k3, Defense 6k3, Damage 5K2
Tanto Attack 6k2
Han-Kyu--- Range 100' Str 1, Attack Roll 6k3, Damage 1k0
Willow leaf Arrows (20) 2k2
Flesh Cutter Arrows (5) 2k3 (Double Armor TN bonus from armor, 1/2 range
Armor Piercing Arrows (5) 1k1 (Ignore Armor TN bonus from Armor)
Ashigaru Armor: TN Bonus 3, Reduction Bonus 1

Initiative: 4k3+3
Base TN: 20
Current TN 23
Current Reduction 1
Wounds: 0=10,+3=14, +5=18,+10=22, +15=26, +20=30, +40=34 (Must spend void to attack), Out 38.
Healing: Quick Healer: (Stamina+2)x2+Insight=11

School
Rank 1
Dance the Razors Edge: Add Stealth Rank to initiative rolls, , Can make Food, Water and Jade last twice as long for a number of people equal to Hunting skill rank (3). Add 1k0 to stealth rolls when in the Shadowlands and always know the direction of the Empire and roughly how far away it is.

Equipment

4 Fingers of Jade
--Blanket
--Bottle of water
--Chopsticks
--Flint and Tinder
--Grapple Hook
--Miniature Go set
--Rope (50')
--Week's Rations
--Whetstone
--Small metal bowl/ cook pot
Traveling Pack
Metal Mirror
Medicine Kit
Tatami mat
Several strips of old cloth about 2' wide and 12"-18" long all in muted browns and grays
Traveling cloak.
3 large dark silk scarves.

[Annaamarth]

Lechery is fine, just wanted to get a better idea of it.  I would rather avoid the curse.  You aren't lacking for drawbacks, after all, and I don't feel it adds anything.

You would be beginning outside Owl lands, with your first adventure being on the way there, ish.

Alright, no curse.

It occurs to me that I've been narrowing my perspective focussing on the bow.  While in Crab lands, it seems just as likely that I'd have picked up some other combat skill.  How would you feel about Maseko waltzing around with a masakari or a tetsubo?  Alternatively, a Yari? After all, Mantis might spearfish.  Or throw boarding harpoons...

[kckolbe]

Well, if you want to go with a yari, then I would recommend the spell Yari of Air.  I think it makes sense, though.

[Flying Tengu]

All you shugenja getting into the thick of the melee are going to give Shiori stress headaches.

This is not saying that you shouldn't do so.  Just sayin'.

[kckolbe]

Deep down Fumiko is defiant and fears her betrothed may try to 'tame' her of her wild ways, whether or not that is true I an content to leave open to the GM.

I'd rather have a bit more direction.  I don't mind rolling up and playing NPCs to further a story, but if I have to come up with the whole concept then I am not giving you points for it.  I am just WAY too lazy for that. 

I'll just switch out the blade and take the Wary and Lip Reading advantages instead which would make her one year older since that is one more XP. To the last question I would say that would depend on the though process of those you send to a new clan. If you send only 'average' Bushi is that an insult? Do you send some exemplary Bushi so as not to insult? I guess it goes back to the question of wheret or not the Crab want the Owl to succeed and be close allies or not. If the Crab see the Owl as allies guarding their backs then why not send them some of your up and comers.

Honestly, I have no problem with you having the sword if you want to go the route of her being sent as a gesture of strength, or even goodwill.  Just own it.  Write that shit in her background, that the Crab wanted to show that the Shadowlands beasts will always be their duty, so they sent Crab to the Owl to help with it.  Hell, give her a bit of glory if you want as well.  I didn't challenge you on it to get rid of it, but to force you to decide a bit more on her past and flesh it out for me so I know what I can do with her.

[Muse]

  What on eaerth is shourido? 

  Getting to work on my 20 questions now. 

[kckolbe]

Shourido is a philosophy believed to have originated in the Shadowlands that received attention in the Clan War due to Crab diplomats who worked with Shadowlands forces.  The philosophy, which has yet to receive official acknowledgement, is something of a curiosity in Rokugan right now, especially among the Crab, though other clans have varying levels of support for it.  Oddly, the two clans most opposed to it are Crane and Lion, a rare philosophical alliance.

[Summer]

  What on eaerth is shourido? 

  Getting to work on my 20 questions now.

Shourido is Bushido's antithesis; while Bushido focuses on what you can do for others, Shourido places emphasis on the self.

Shourido's tenets:

Control is to manipulate the situation so that events may arrive to a single conclusion you desire.
Determination is to carry out what needs to be done regardless of what stands in your path.
Insight is the ability to understand and use knowledge, to see it for what it is so that it may be used.
Knowledge is the knowledge-stuffs; without knowledge, you lack understanding and the tools necessary to conduct yourself.
Perfection is self-explanatory, and involves growing stronger as a person in all things and measures.
Strength is having enough power to do what needs to be done.
Will is having the capability to think for yourself so as to prevent being led astray or manipulated.

This is a good little thing that might be useful -- http://www.lowfierce.com/kazenoshiro/7/h7e04p05.htm

Basically, Shourido *can* be construed in such a way as to be honorable and just -- those without strength cannot actually protect the weak, for example -- it was created to draw a rift of philosophies, if I'm not mistaken.

[Muse]

Thank you.  :) 

I have ten of kotone's 20 questions done so far.  They're at the bottom of she sheet, just above the effects of her spells: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pDiKxEC0U2ndYLtYCctV2CTnKtkmEDs-D6mROL-DpbA/edit

[hellrazoromega]

Honestly, I have no problem with you having the sword if you want to go the route of her being sent as a gesture of strength, or even goodwill.  Just own it.  Write that shit in her background, that the Crab wanted to show that the Shadowlands beasts will always be their duty, so they sent Crab to the Owl to help with it.  Hell, give her a bit of glory if you want as well.  I didn't challenge you on it to get rid of it, but to force you to decide a bit more on her past and flesh it out for me so I know what I can do with her.

Ah I see my mistake I took you saying that you were not crazy about it as a sign that you were against it, that was my error.

Speaking if which --- I have a partial background Background (WIP):

Hiruma Fumiko cannot recall a time when her mother was not a respected Scout. Though she was scout Hiruma Moriko brought great honor to the family blade and  was a terror to the denizens of the Shadowlands. Moriko was rumored to be able to slay such foul things with little warning. Growing up Fumiko only wished to emulate her mother and earn some measures of the glory her mother had. Fumiko trained hard  and followed every bit of her mother advice. Her trining included trips beyond the Wall and to a number of other places the crab directed. Fumiko Honored her father but never had much of a  relationship with him and she was less than thrilled when he used hi influence to betroth her to a man she had only seen from across a room. To escape what she saw as attempts to tie her down she spend as much time as she could scouting. So it was that she earn her name, slaying a Revenant which had slain all but one other of her squad. This feat earned her not only her mother respect but her blade as well. Moriko moved on to train others to stalk the Shadowlands. This also made her a candidate for the newly formed Owl Clan as the Crab wanted to honor their new brethren  in the fight against the darker things by sending them a a warrior who would bring honor to both Clans, the Owl through her service and the Crab through their 'gift,' of a warrior blooded against a foul creature. For her part Fumiko saw a chance to forge her own path a perhaps extend this attempt to tie her down. Moriko knew that no matter her daughters Clan she was still Hiruma and that Fumiko would bring honor to the blade she bore. Eager to make her place in the Owl Clan she set out to bring Glory and Honor to her new Clan.
Let me knw if I need to adjust.

Dropped Read Lips, picked up Sacred Blade--left the rest as is making her 24.

Character Summary

Clan: OWL
Insight Rank: 1
School: Hiruma Scout School
Rank: 1
Insight:
Hair: Black and wild
Eyes: Brown
Age: 22
Height: 5' 5"
Weight 120 lbs.

Status/Taint

Honor: 4
Glory: 1
Status: 1
Taint: 0

Rings and Skills

Earth 2, Stamina 2, Willpower 2
Air 2, Reflexes 3, Awareness 2
Water 2, Strength 2, Perception 3
Fire 2 Agility 3, Intelligence 2
Void 2

Hunting: 2----------------------Perception 5k3
Kyujutsu: 2---------------------Reflexes 5k3
Kenjutsu: 3 (Katana)--------Agility 6k3 1k0 to damage rolls

Stealth: 3 (Sneaking)---------Agility 6k3 Simple Move actions in stealth allow Water x5
Defense: 3-----------------------Reflexes 6k3 Keep a defense roll for subsequent rounds.
Athletics: 3---------------------Strength 5k2 No impediments from moderate terrain. Difficult terrain only reduces water ring by 1 rather than 2
Lore (Shadowlands) 1-----Intelligence 3k2
Medicine 1---------------------Intelligence 3k2
Artisan (Origami) 1 ---------Awareness 3k2

Advantages & Disadvantages

Wary 2
Sacred Weapon 6
Kaiu Blade
Quick Healer 3
Silent 3
Crab Hands 2

Antisocial 5 -1k1 to all social rolls
Contrary 3
Bitter Betrothal 2

Combat

Kaiu Blade Attack 6k3, Defense 6k3, Damage 6K3  -2 to reduction, unbreakable.
Tanto Attack 6k2
Han-Kyu--- Range 100' Str 1, Attack Roll 6k3, Damage 1k0
Willow leaf Arrows (20) 2k2
Flesh Cutter Arrows (5) 2k3 (Double Armor TN bonus from armor, 1/2 range
Armor Piercing Arrows (5) 1k1 (Ignore Armor TN bonus from Armor)
Ashigaru Armor: TN Bonus 3, Reduction Bonus 1

Initiative: 4k3+3
Base TN: 20
Current TN 23
Current Reduction 1
Wounds: 0=10,+3=14, +5=18,+10=22, +15=26, +20=30, +40=34 (Must spend void to attack), Out 38.
Healing: Quick Healer: (Stamina+2)x2+Insight=11

School
Rank 1
Dance the Razors Edge: Add Stealth Rank to initiative rolls, , Can make Food, Water and Jade last twice as long for a number of people equal to Hunting skill rank (3). Add 1k0 to stealth rolls when in the Shadowlands and always know the direction of the Empire and roughly how far away it is.

Equipment

4 Fingers of Jade
--Blanket
--Bottle of water
--Chopsticks
--Flint and Tinder
--Grapple Hook
--Miniature Go set
--Rope (50')
--Week's Rations
--Whetstone
--Small metal bowl/ cook pot
Traveling Pack
Metal Mirror
Medicine Kit
Tatami mat
Several strips of old cloth about 2' wide and 12"-18" long all in muted browns and grays
Traveling cloak.
3 large dark silk scarves.

[kckolbe]

Would like to see a point of glory added if you can spare 3 points.

Also, 4 fingers of jade?

[Annaamarth]

Hellrazoromega- might Fumiko have spent any of her time closer to the wall, either patrolling farmlands or merely travelling from one place to another?  Fumiko may have met Kuni Tora, or even Maseko herself, or may have heard about the oni and the maho-tsukai cell in crab lands.  If they haven't met, is there any reason Maseko might have heard of you?

Boss- I mean GM (KC?  Kolbe?), I kind of like the idea of a Shugenja who acts mostly like a Mantis, thinks kind of like a Scorpion, and fights like a Crab.  The Yoritomo school emphasizes knife-fighting, because that's all the fighting that's expected of a Yoritomo Shugenja, so she'd have exposure to yarijutsu and chain weapons but may not have learned either.  Going toe-to-toe with an Oni alongside a pack of Crab would have taught her that everybody fights and a Shugenja better have a backup plan- spells take time that you may not have.

So now I'm picturing this girl sauntering into town, straw hat on her head, piece of straw in her mouth, loose linen kimono in a Mantis cut but in Scorpion red and black, with a tetsubo slung over one shoulder.  Reaction of anyone seeing this- "What the fuck am I looking at?"

No Katana though, which would mean that she carries a tetsubo without considering herself bushi.  Or she just doesn't like the idea of carrying a katana next to Crane lands where all those Kakita Duelists can take offense to that- or anything else.

[hellrazoromega]

Would like to see a point of glory added if you can spare 3 points.

Also, 4 fingers of jade?

Yeah the fingers of Jade are a hold over from the last game  played her in. Let me know how many would be available in your game.

Hellrazoromega- might Fumiko have spent any of her time closer to the wall, either patrolling farmlands or merely travelling from one place to another?  Fumiko may have met Kuni Tora, or even Maseko herself, or may have heard about the oni and the maho-tsukai cell in crab lands.  If they haven't met, is there any reason Maseko might have heard of you?

Boss- I mean GM (KC?  Kolbe?), I kind of like the idea of a Shugenja who acts mostly like a Mantis, thinks kind of like a Scorpion, and fights like a Crab.  The Yoritomo school emphasizes knife-fighting, because that's all the fighting that's expected of a Yoritomo Shugenja, so she'd have exposure to yarijutsu and chain weapons but may not have learned either.  Going toe-to-toe with an Oni alongside a pack of Crab would have taught her that everybody fights and a Shugenja better have a backup plan- spells take time that you may not have.

So now I'm picturing this girl sauntering into town, straw hat on her head, piece of straw in her mouth, loose linen kimono in a Mantis cut but in Scorpion red and black, with a tetsubo slung over one shoulder.  Reaction of anyone seeing this- "What the fuck am I looking at?"

No Katana though, which would mean that she carries a tetsubo without considering herself bushi.  Or she just doesn't like the idea of carrying a katana next to Crane lands where all those Kakita Duelists can take offense to that- or anything else.

Fumiko has a reputation for being a 'wild child' who spends too much time out scouting (And yes I see time in the farmlands on the Rokugan side of the Wall would have been part of her duties), so Maseko could have heard of her that way. Their common link of having slain a Shadowlands creature would have caused Fumiko to seek Maseko out, they could have meet that way. The fact that Crab were invilved would have made this all the more likely.

[kckolbe]

I would like for everyone to broad stroke a minimum of one NPC that your character has met that is now in the Owl Clan.  I don't want skill levels, just family, role (as in bushi, courtier, etc), and a few details about them.  As a heads up, the Lion will make up the li-plurality of the Clan.

[HopeFox]

Well, Keitaro and Shiori obviously already know each other, but for another...

Bayushi Kanzen was a Scorpion bushi, alongside whom Keitaro fought in several skirmishes in the War of Spirits. While Keitaro could not fault Kanzen's courage on the battlefield, he always suspected that Kanzen was pursuing some kind of secret mission for the Scorpion at the same time, mostly because Kanzen kept bragging about being on a secret mission for the Scorpion. Keitaro briefly tried to figure out what was going on beneath Kanzen's layer(s) of misdirection (if any) and eventually concluded that unravelling Scorpion plots wasn't something he was trained for. Throughout the campaign, he learned that he could trust Kanzen with his life in battle, but probably with nothing else.

Finding Kanzen in the Owl Clan will strike Keitaro as highly suspicious.

[kckolbe]

Great deduction by Keitaro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL895peZpqY

Mind adding a random Lion as well?  I plan on a lot of Lion NPCs.  The daimyo will be a Lion, as a reward for their loyalty.

[Flying Tengu]

Every Lion unit of a certain size has an Ikoma bard.  They're good for morale for a number of reasons: they cheer up the troops by verbally recognize those who perform well, and every Lion performs a little bit better knowing that their deeds will be chronicled.  Shiori's scout unit was too small, but they reported back to their company command.  That's where she met Ikoma Saburo.  He was a member of the Ikoma Bard school, although you would hardly know it if you encountered him off duty.  He is large, tan, and weathered, with the appearance more of a veteran soldier than a courtier.  Furthermore, in private conversation, he is a man of few words, communicating with grunts, gestures, or words of as few syllables as possible.  It is only when speaking in an official capacity that he grows verbose.

Ikoma Saburo, now serving the Owl, has been tasked with leading the chronicling of their history.  It is also his responsibility, when visiting other courts, to make sure that other clans are properly aware of the Owl, and their place in Rokugan.  Perhaps owing to all this new duty, he has begun using even fewer words in private conversations, as though saving them up for the long speeches he gives to the delegates of other clans.

[Annaamarth]

The coastal city in the proposed clan territory is Oni Mura.  In case it's not clear, that used to be a Crane city.

The battle at Oblivion's Gate cost Rokugan (and the Crab) the bulk of their jade stores.  As a jade shortage has continued since then, a few years ago a significant amount of jade mysteriously disappeared from temples and estates at Mura Sabiishi Toshi, about 200 miles along the coast to the North of Oni Mura.  As it happens, Maseko was in the city at the time, serving under her sensei aboard Yoritomo Kobe's vessel, which had been moored there for three days.

Naturally, Kakita Musune, the city magistrate, inquired amongst the Mantis as to whether they had seen any unusual jade traffic lately.  They had not, of course- if they had, they would have told the city magistrate and his enforcers right away, naturally!

Kakita Musune was not a sailing man and did not employ sailing men (being new to the position at the time) and never noticed that Kobe's ship was missing some crew... and one of it's small boats, which might be suitable for travelling the rivers or coasts of Rokugan.

A few days later, Maseko (along with Kobe's ship) left Mura Sabiishi Toshi and travelled south, where they... replaced a missing launch at Oni Mura.  A striking coincidence, that such a vessel, so similar to the one that had been missing, should have been found there, no?  The ship then departed for Crab lands.

Kakita Musune, being a magistrate local to the area, may well have been selected as part of the Crane's tithe.  He may or may not recognize Maseko- and if he does, he may not be happy to see her.

Maps

Distances and names found here.
Compared to original map, here.
Did I mention that Maseko doesn't like the Crane?

[kckolbe]

Oni Mura is more village than city, largely due to the "oni" part of the name.  Not sure why a Mantis ship would be sailing there.

I'm just not comfortable with this one.  Admittedly, the goal is to get you guys to create some of the nobodies that your char might know that are invisible in Rokugan. 

[Muse]

  Oh.  I was about to start building someone who might be a bit of a thron in my side.  A lecherous glorious bastard of a Lion clan bushi who's experience as a battlefield leader makes him valuable, but who was sent far from lion lands (to owl lands) after molesting someone important. 

  Is that something you'd like to see more of?  Or shall I focus on someone less formidable? 

[kckolbe]

Definitely less formidable, and prefer a neutral-ish relationship, more a "hey I know that guy"

[Summer]

I think this is a good time to supply my own NPC, thus.

Born into a peasant family in a farming village, Nakano Haru felt the call of the ascetic life and he chose to answer it shortly after the age of twenty, when his village and family were stable enough to no longer need him. Shortly thereafter, the War of Spirits began, and Haru -- making use of his firm build and endurance built up from labor -- took on the path of a komosu, offering aid to those who were in need of it, especially in the areas most heavily affected by recent battles.

Once the war had seemed to be nearing its conclusion, Haru -- as many other people had -- traveled to Dragon lands to speak of spiritual matters amongst the monks that more permanently resided there. It was during his stay that he met Yuu, and he regaled the interested girl with talks of the many years he spent helping others and what he had learned from it. The stay hadn't been long -- little more than a week, perhaps -- before he left Dragon to travel once more. With the war completed and his own age starting to catch up with his activities, Haru decided to bring his journey as a wandering monk to an end when he came across a small, inornate shrine that was in moderate disrepair, seeing it as an opportunity and calling to help take up the responsibility himself.

Said shrine is coincidentally in Owl lands, and he was not aware this his stories had helped to push Yuu into wanting to take a mushu shugyuu that had prompted her daimyo to assign her to the Owl. Were they to come into contact with each other -- if Yuu were to visit some of the outlying shrines, most likely, or he were to receive word of her deeds nearby -- it would likely be a pleasant affair.

[Annaamarth]

Oni Mura is more village than city, largely due to the "oni" part of the name.  Not sure why a Mantis ship would be sailing there.

I'm just not comfortable with this one.  Admittedly, the goal is to get you guys to create some of the nobodies that your char might know that are invisible in Rokugan.

I can change it.

Oni Mura being a village is why a Mantis village could pick up a "missing" boat along with some "missing" crew who fled another location with "missing" jade.  In other words, my ship stole jade from the crane, a couple of guys smuggled it either down the coast, or, more likely, upriver (avoiding the Daidoji training grounds, because Mantis are not dumb) to portage the whole mess from near the bridge to Nishiyama Mura to Oni Mura, so that those crew members could be picked back up by the ship and take the whole mess back to Crab lands to sell it for a tidy profit.  I was going towards a "just on the suspicious side of neutral" relationship.

But I can change it.  Thinking.

[kckolbe]

Hey everyone!  Here's your one stop shop for all War of Spirits history (let me know if there are any questions)

1136:
The Phoenix devise a ritual which will render a spirit mortal. Toturi issues an edict that all returned spirits must either submit to this ritual or commit honorable suicide and return to the afterlife. Many spirits obey, but many more do not.

1138:
The Crab and Crane battle on the Yasuki border.  Following a rejected demand from Yasuki Masashi, a brief but bloody clash erupts between the Crab and the Crane.

Hantei XVI seizes the Phoenix Children. A spirit force led by Hida Tsuneo and assisted by the disgruntled Dragon daimyo, Agasha Tamori, seizes Kyuden Isawa in a bold raid. The children there, including those of the Elemental Masters, are taken hostage.

Hantei XVI Demands the Throne. Hantei Okucheo arrives in Otosan Uchi and demands Toturi surrender the Throne to him. Toturi refuses. The Hantei is infuriated when Shiba Tsukune, the Phoenix
Champion, refuses to turn on Toturi in spite of his holding her clan’s children hostage. Hantei declares war on Toturi and the War of Spirits begins.

1139:
Battle of Fallen Ground. The first major battle of the War of Spirits, fought near the Lion-Phoenix border, pits a spirit army under Hida Tsuneo against a mainly Lion army under the general (and former Akodo ronin) Akodo Ijiasu. It is a mortal victory, albeit a costly one. Tsuneo is prevented from attacking Otosan Uchi and falls back on Kyuden Isawa.

The Phoenix children are freed. Hantei XVI’s murder of the Master of Earth’s daughter causes the Phoenix to rebel and drive the spirits from Kyuden Isawa.

1142:
The Battle of Shallow Waters. A mortal army comprised predominantly of Lion troops is attacked by a much larger spirit army in a river valley on the edge of the Golden Sun Plain. The Lion fall back on a fortified camp; the camp is eventually overrun, but its sacrifice allows most of the mortal army to withdraw intact.

1145:
Battle of Shiro Iuchi.  Spirit forces manage to capture the seat of the Iuchi family after a hard-fought battle. The sometime-ronin Shinjo Morito plays a key role in the defense.  In recognition of his valor at Shiro Iuchi, Shinjo Morito’s claim to the land he and his followers have occupied near the Phoenix border is recognized by Emperor Toturi. This eventually leads to the creation of the Ox Clan in 1158.

1146:
The Second Battle of White Shore Plain.  A mortal army of Unicorn, Scorpion, and Phoenix troops engages and defeats a spirit army at White Shore Plain, then moves to retake Shiro Iuchi. A young Scorpion bushi named Bayushi Paneki reputedly infiltrates a spirit camp and poisons their food supply, swinging the following day’s battle in favor of the mortal army and allowing Shiro Iuchi to be retaken.

1147:
The Mantis sail to the Ivory Kingdoms.  After actively participating in the War of Spirits during the first few years, the Mantis Clan seems to all but disappear from the Empire from this time forward.  Many think the Clan Champion, Yoritomo Aramasu, is showing disinterest in the Empire’s woes, but in reality Aramasu and the Mantis are obeying an order from Toturi to sail to the gaijin lands known as the Ivory Kingdoms and assist the ruling maharajah against an aggressive rebellion by the Cult of the Destroyer. The Mantis are largely successful, and Rokugan avoids a new threat from overseas…at least for a time.

Yasuki Oguri and Yasuki Kamoru executed for membership in the Kolat.  Whether investigators happened to stumble onto the identity on their own or the Kolat exposed someone with conflicting loyalties is unknown, but Yasuki Oguri, the Master of Coin, and his son Kamoru, who had been appointed heir to the position, were caught by Seppun Toshiken and eventually allowed to commit seppuku.  Before dying, Oguri named many other semi-important positions within the Kolat, thus averting what would have been an execution.  This move had the ironic effect of weakening the Empire, as the Kolat had been firmly aligned with Toturi against Hantei XVI, and the blow significantly weakened their ability to support, though not their resolve. In addition, Toshiken sustained significant wounds due to an ambush while investigating.  (inserted)

1148:
With the Yasuki family daimyo and his only child dead, battles between Crane and Crab resume, each trying to claim control of the leaderless family once more. (inserted)

1149:
The Battle of Drowned Honor.  Hida Tsuneo moves to take control of the key Scorpion city of Ryoko Owari. A combined mortal force of Crab and Scorpion troops engage his force, marking one of the first major commitments of Crab troops to the war and the first time they have stood against Tsuneo.  The mortals win, pushing Tsuneo away from the city, but the victory is costly: Hida Yasamura, the husband of Crab Champion Hida O-Ushi, dies with an arrow in his throat, fired from the bow of a spirit Crab.

Battle of Kiken and Roka Toshi.  With the Mantis diverted and the Crab focused on Ryoko Owari, spirit forces were able to sail up to the coastal palace without hindrance, successfully taking the city.  Supplies in the city were scarce, and despite the short distance from the capital, reinforcements could not arrive before the city was taken and reinforced.  This was a huge blow for morale of Toturi forces. (inserted)

1150:
Month of the Goat: The Battle of Quiet Winds.  Determined to end the suffering caused by the ongoing war, Toturi marches the bulk of his army south through Beiden Pass to join a large waiting Scorpion force. He finally achieves the decisive engagement he seeks at the Battle of Quiet Winds, so-named because the day of battle is still and sultry. However, at a crucial moment the Scorpion appear to change sides and join the spirits. Toturi’s army is forced to withdraw, with only a valiant and sacrificial rearguard action by the Lion preventing a total rout.

Month of the Goat: The Fall of Beiden Pass.  Driven from the field at the Battle of Quiet Winds, Toturi’s army retreats northward through Beiden Pass, seeking to regroup and prevent the Steel Chrysanthemum from threatening Otosan Uchi. At the urging of Bayushi Baku, Hantei XVI orders Hida Tsuneo to send the spirit army in pursuit. However, this is actually a trap of Scorpion design. When most of the spirit army is in the Pass, Phoenix shugenja collapse it, burying and destroying the spirit army.

Month of the Monkey: Hantei sends a messenger to Toturi to negotiate the terms of surrender.

Month of the Rooster: Lord Sun creates the Great Crater.  The destruction of Beiden Pass leaves the Empire without a major direct route through the Spine of the World Mountains. In answer, Lord Sun hurls fire into the mountains near the ancient Seikitsu Pass, creating the Great Crater and reopening a route through the peaks.

Month of the Rooster: Treaty with the Spirits.  With the bulk of his army lost, Hantei XVI finally agrees to negotiate with Toturi. In exchange for peace, the Stag Clan is created, headed by Hantei Ochukeo. In return, Hantei Ochukeo renounces his claim to the Throne of Rokugan, bringing the War of Spirits to an end.

Month of the Boar: Winter Court begins at Kyuden Gotei, the Mantis Clan Palace.  The new Great Clan, championed by Hantei Ochukeo, is announced as the Stag Clan, with Hantei Masashi (formerly Yasuki) founding the Masashi family, vassal to the Hantei.  The Crab Clan is given 1 month to name a new daimyo to the Yasuki family, the previous daimyo and only heir having committed seppuku during the Spirit War.

Month of the Rat: Akodo Reijiro is named the daimyo of a new Minor Clan, the Owl, which will carry his name.  Toritaka Reju is named the sensei of the Owl bushi school.  Crab name Yasuki Mayako daimyo of the Yasuki family.

Month of the Ox: Territory for the two clans is finalized.  In addition, Toturi decrees that not only must all Clans send "two tenths of one percent" of their samurai, but that "all families will be represented."  Locations in Rokugan are designated as points for those to declare their change of fealty, the majority in Lion lands.  Imperial ambassadors would be sent to both the Crab and Crane to determine which of their samurai would be tithed.

Month of the Hare, 1151: All "tithed" samurai report to the various locations across Rokugan to announce their new fealty and travel to Owl lands.

[Annaamarth]

NPC stuff!

Koritome Tsukasa of the Koritome, vassalized to the Matsu, was not the finest Koritome archer to ever live... but certainly a match for most Tsuruchi.  The Tsuruchi claim that the Lion father of their forbear was himself a Koritome, and in honor of that a handful of Koritome are allowed to visit Mantis lands to practice with the Tsuruchi, or even serve with the Tsuruchi bounty hunters.  Tsukasa was one such Samurai, and while Maseko was sailing with the Mantis her ship transported him, Tsuruchi Fuki, Tsuruchi Jun and Tsuruchi Tatsuya (a group of Tsuruchi bounty hunters and archers) from the Mantis islands to the mainland.  Tsukasa was a handsome young man and Maseko flirted with him a bit during the voyage... largely to make the straightlaced Lion squirm.

In such ways do Mantis pass the time aboard ship.

[kckolbe]

All right folks, I'm back.  Tomorrow I am going to go over character sheets.  If your character isn't finished by the end of the day tomorrow, I am going to move forward without you.  The first IC post will be up this week, taking place outside Owl lands.  Am thinking nonconsensual human system groups for the section.

[Muse]

*Smiles* I'd like to voice my aproval on that section.  :) 

[kckolbe]

Got the chance to go through them early, feel free to doublecheck my math.  I'm showing Yuu as having one point remaining (or being 18 instead of 19) and Maseko as being 1 point over (or being 20 instead of 19)

[Annaamarth]

I'm down with NC-Human.

PM inbound with XP calcs- not sure how it'll come out, so I'm basically doublechecking the math from the ground up.

[kckolbe]

https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=234223.0

OOC/Character Thread posted

[Flying Tengu]

Make sure to post your character sheets in the OOC thread!