La Voix De Rokugan

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Hida Isamu, Son of the Stone Crab
There are few men in Rokugan who exemplify all that it means to be Crab so much as Hida Isamu. During his short life he has seen the greatest and worst that life has to offer, and though he came close to losing everything, he has begun to become an even greater man than his legendary father.
Isamu’s father was Hida Tsuneo, the man history remembers as the Stone Crab. Tsuneo was legendary in his own time for a number of reasons, including his tremendous sense of honor and his incredible prowess on the battlefield. Unfortunately, what history remembers most is that Tsuneo was unfailingly loyal to his Emperor, the maniacal Hantei XVI, also known as the Steel Chrysanthemum. Under the Chrysanthemum’s direction, Tsuneo committed terrible atrocities that filled his soul with shame, but his honor would not allow him to disobey his Emperor. When the Chrysanthemum’s son and his loyal Imperial supporters overthrew the Hantei, Tsuneo followed his lord in death after killing many of his assassins.
Death was not an escape, however. Tsuneo followed his Emperor to Toshigoku and later through Oblivion’s Gate to plague the Empire once more. During the War of Spirits, he found comfort in the arms of a peasant woman, much in the same manner as his ancestor Osano-Wo once had. By the time Isamu was born, Tsuneo had perished in the collapse of Beiden Pass. Isamu grew up hearing tales of his father, and upon reaching the proper age his mother gave him all that she had of his father: a stone crest of two crab claws holding an emerald.
Isamu took up life as a ronin for years, quickly earning several loyal followers with his determination. When a 20 Goblin Winter was declared in Crab lands, Isamu and his men ventured into the Shadowlands and recovered one of the greatest bounties any such contest had ever seen: enough goblin heads for Isamu’s entire band of twenty men to gain fealty to the Crab. It was only once Hida Kuon had accepted their loyalty did Isamu reveal his heritage, much to the surprise of those assembled. Isamu’s brash nature did little to endear him to the Crab Champion, however, and Kuon instantly recognized the young man’s impulsive nature as dangerous.
It was not long before Isamu’s worth would be tested. When the tattooed madman Kokujin offered the Crab the location of Tsuburu no Oni, one of the legendary Oni Lords, Isamu volunteered to hunt the beast. Isamu insisted that Kuon was too valuable to risk, and that if it were a trap, the loss of a young warrior like himself would not hurt the clan. Kuon reluctantly agreed, sending his trusted advisor Hida Rohiteki to watch over Isamu. The young man was victorious, and slew the Oni Lord, but lost all his men save for Rohiteki in the process. Moments later, the Rain of Blood caught both Crab in open ground, with no shelter to be had. The burning rain brought out all of Isamu’s arrogance and ambition, and Rohiteki realized that he was on the brink of corruption. Unwilling to allow such a man to become an enemy, the elderly shugenja shielded Isamu from the harshest effects of the Rain, but in doing so left her soul bare, and was claimed by the dark magic held within the storm.
Isamu returned to his Champion in disgrace, but was surprised to find Kuon placed no blame upon him. For the first time, Isamu understood the pain, rage, and strength of will Kuon possessed, having seen so many of his loved ones fall. Bowing to the greater man, Isamu pledged his life and loyalty to Kuon as surely has his father had done, although to a lord truly worth of such fealty. Since that time, Isamu has abandoned the notion of achieving the glory his father failed to gather during his lifetime, and instead focuses on serving the Crab and his Champion to the best of his ability. Ironically, it is only now that many see in Isamu the same traits that were squandered in his father, sullied and disgraced by the despot Hantei XVI. As great as Hida Tsuneo could have been, many now believe that Hida Isamu will be even greater.
Hida Isamu, Son of the Stone Crab
Air: 2
Reflexes 3
Earth: 4
Fire: 2
Agility 3
Water: 3
Strength 4
Void: 3
School/Rank: Hida Bushi 2, Ronin Warrior 1
Glory: 3.2
Status: 1.8
Honor: 2.1
Advantages: Inheritance (Tsuneo’s Crest, Lore: Heraldry, Free Raise on all Awareness rolls made with other Crab), Multiple Schools (Accepted into Hida Bushi after training as a ronin), Strength of the Earth (4 points)
Disadvantages: Brash, Overconfident
Kata: Shell of Stone, Stance on the Wall, Striking as Earth
Skills: Athletics 2, Battle (Enemy: Shadowlands) 4, Deceit (Intimidation) 3, Defense 4, Heavy Weapons (Dai Tsuchi, Tetsubo) 5, Horsemanship 2, Hunting 3, Investigation (Notice) 4, Jiujutsu 3, Kenjutsu (Katana) 3, Kyujutsu 2, Lore: Heraldry 2, Lore: Shadowlands 4, Stealth (Sneaking) 3

Doji Nagori, Reformed Playboy
Air: 4
Awareness: 5
Earth: 2
Fire: 3
Intelligence: 5
Water: 3
Perception: 4
Void: 4
School/Rank: Doji Courtier 3
Glory: 3.8
Status: 4.3
Honor: 2.1
Advantages: Benten’s Blessing, Dangerous Beauty, Major Ally (Yasuki Hachi, Doji Yasuyo), Voice
Disadvantages: Lechery (2 points), Soft-Hearted
Kata: None
Skills: Acting (Mimicry) 3, Artisan: Origami 3, Calligraphy 2, Courtier (Political Maneuvering) 5, Defense 3, Deceit (Lying, Seduction) 4, Etiquette (Conversation, Sincerity) 4, Kenjutsu 2, Storytelling 6, Tea Ceremony 3
Doji Nagori was born in the lap of luxury, surrounded by beauty and pleasure. As the cousin of the Crane Clan Champion, Nagori never wanted for anything. Servants waited at his beck and call. He grew to love life with all its beauties, and he was determined to enjoy all the fun it could offer. He was a gregarious child and he quickly made many friends. Nagori and his friends loved to run wild throughout the town, doing whatever came to their minds. An affable smile and an abashed look on his face excused Nagori from most of the punishment of his pranks. He adored his older sister Yasuyo, who was beautiful, kind, and dedicated to her duty as a bushi. While she did not join in on his antics, Yasuyo condoned the pranks and encouraged his high-spiritedness.
At an early age, he attended Winter Court with his sister Yasuyo and his cousin Kurohito. Nagori enjoyed his stay at the Winter Court immensely, making new friends and conversing with some of the greatest minds in the Empire. Many Crane veteran courtiers noted his curiosity and friendliness, and marked him in their minds as a potential rival in the future. Nagori and his sister left the court that year having learned two very separate lessons. Whereas the exposure to the court inspired Yasuyo to work harder to become a great samurai, Nagori learned that he could have fun telling stories, with beautiful women hanging on his every word.
Nagori attended the Doji Courtier School at Kyuden Doji and quickly learned the lessons presented to him by his instructors. It seemed that Nagori was a natural courtier, able to manipulate others with ease. His teachers were ecstatic at his rapid progress. However, Nagori never reached the expectations of his teachers. Nagori never felt the drive to become a great courtier; he only wished to have fun. His teachers were greatly disappointed with his squandered potential. Instead of proving his brilliance, Nagori passed his gempukku with mediocrity.
Rather than being assigned to a post worthy of his status, he requested to be given a very minor role in Kyuden Doji. As he was one of many courtiers who worked in the city, few eyes noted him. When the few courtiers watching him realized that Nagori was not going to be an important factor in the politics of the city, they turned their attention away from the cousin of the Crane Champion and wrote him off as a philanderer. This reaction was perfect for Nagori, who was then free to do whatever he wished. He fulfilled his job with the minimum energy required. With the rest of his time, he was free to create poetry, tell his stories, and woo all the beautiful women he could.
Nagori’s life was upturned in the year 1158 with two events that would change the path his life would take. Early in the year, his sister Yasuyo woke Nagori in the middle of the night to tell him that she was leaving to fulfill a quest. As he adored his older sister, Nagori felt her disappearance deep within his heart. Soon after Yasuyo’s disappearance, his friend Yasuki Hachi won the Emerald Championship. Though Nagori had not kept up with the political climate of the empire, he instinctively realized that his friend was in over his head. His loyalty to his friend caused him to decide to do all that he could to help Hachi gain the prestige and power that the Emerald Champion should have.
For the first time in his life, he had a goal to devote his skills. He set aside his cavalier attitude about his duties and began a long, arduous journey to further Hachi’s standing. He joined the retinue of the Emerald Champion alongside Bayushi Norachai, following Hachi as he traveled across the empire. He spread word of Hachi’s deeds and passed along stories of Hachi’s greatest adventures. He appeared in courts on Hachi’s behalf and worked tirelessly until Hachi was viewed as a competent Emerald Champion.
As he helped his friend, Nagori grew up and became a respectable samurai who knows how to fulfill his duties to his clan. On her return, Yasuyo was surprised by the drastic change in her younger brother. He is still the friendly young man she remembers, but he accepts his duties and meets them with the same cheerful enthusiasm he places into seducing women. Though he still enjoys his time with women, it no longer dominates his life. He has become a competent courtier that people view as having a sharp mind and biting wit.
Recently, Nagori has nearly finished writing a play based on what he believes is one of the most interesting tales to develop in recent years: the tale of the Four Winds. Though he began writing the play simply to show his own view of the conflict, he realizes now that it would serve as the perfect wedding gift for his sister’s impending marriage to the Shogun Kaneka. The play has proven to be an interesting and fun venture. Though he has supported Emperor Toturi the Third from the beginning, he has attempted to portray all the strengths of the one they called the Bastard. He has held back nothing, and his play shows the weaknesses of both the Emperor and the Shogun. He has no doubt his play will cause much controversy and earn him enmity from those who support either Emperor or Shogun. Nagori looks forward to the controversy, and he cannot wait to see what complications will arise in his life as a result of the new play.
Akodo Shigetoshi, Daimyo of the Akodo
Akodo Shigetoshi first came to the notice of Akodo Ginawa when he was a classmate alongside a talented young warrior who would one day take the name Akodo Ijiasu. The two young Lion were among the finest in their class, and Shigetoshi, who was several years younger, constantly competed with the older and more gifted Ijiasu. Despite that he never surpassed Ijiasu, Shigetoshi never grew bitter and never allowed his competitive spirit to be diminished. Indeed, the two young warriors shared a bond in that both were the sons of former Akodo who had returned to the family once it was reformed under Akodo Ginawa’s rule. Shigetoshi was the son of legendary sensei Akodo Quehao, who returned through Oblivion’s Gate to defend the Empire once more.
Following his gempukku, Shigetoshi received a prestigious appointment serving at Toshi Ranbo. There, he was involved in many years’ worth of constant border skirmishes between the Lion and Crane, rising through the ranks to become a seasoned young officer with more battle experience than many twice his age. By the time Doji Kurohito surrendered the city willingly to Matsu Nimuro, Shigetoshi was already well known to the Lion Champion and his daimyo. Soon afterwards, Shigetoshi joined the ranks of an elite few Lion serving as tactical advisors to Akodo Ginawa, and often to the Lion Champion as well.
Despite his many successes, Shigetoshi was completely unprepared when Ginawa, who had never married or had children, chose him as his heir. The young officer protested, insisting that he was not worthy of such an appointment, but Ginawa would hear none of it. Among the ranks of Ginawa’s most trusted advisors, he claimed, Ijiasu was too brash, Tadenori too reserved, and Kaneka too politically complicated. Shigetoshi, however, was the perfect embodiment of all that the Akodo valued. His prestigious lineage was the final factor. In the face of Ginawa’s insistence and unwavering confidence in him, Shigetoshi accepted the honor and ascended to the position of Akodo family daimyo when Ginawa chose to retire.
In recent months, Shigetoshi has become more and more concerned with the lingering effects of his family’s possession by the Lying Darkness decades ago. With so much of Lion philosophy surrounding history and tradition, the fact that many elder Akodo have no recollection of their past has created a rift that separates the Akodo from the other families. An entire generation of Akodo has been born and raised with their parents unable to share with them the tales of their ancestors, or even without any knowledge of who their true ancestors are. Shigetoshi fears that this emptiness may lead to further manipulation of his family in the future from entities such as the Shadow Dragon or other sinister forces.
Akodo Shigetoshi, Daimyo of the Akodo
Air: 3
Reflexes 4
Earth: 4
Fire: 3
Agility 4
Water: 5
Void: 4
School/Rank: Akodo Bushi 5/Akodo War College 1
Glory: 6.9
Status: 7.6
Honor: 3.7
Advantages: Bland, Leadership, Social Position, Tactician
Disadvantages: Antisocial (2 points), Driven (discover the Akodo’s link to the Lying Darkness)
Kata: Gentle Blade of Winter, Matsu’s Vengeance, The Soul’s Roar
Skills: Athletics 3, Battle (Mass Combat) 7, Defense 4, Etiquette (Sincerity) 3, Games: Go 5, Games: Shogi 4, Horsemanship 3, Hunting 4, Iaijutsu 4, Instruction 3, Know the School: Kakita Bushi 4, Jiujitsu 4, Kenjutsu (Katana, No-dachi) 6, Kyujutsu 4, Lore: History 5, Spears 3, Storytelling (Bragging) 3, War Fan 4

Mirumoto Ryosaki, the Hero’s Daughter
Doji Reju does not understand why the Empire considers him a hero. In his mind, he is nothing more than a failure. He lost not one but two charges under his care and lived to tell the tale, and he lost an arm in a failed attempt to defend Kakita Toshiken from the corrupted duelist Megumi. Despite the old samurai’s reservations, the Crane have never doubted him. The Dragon have never doubted him. His wife never doubted him. And his daughter, Mirumoto Ryosaki, has never doubted him.
Ryosaki was born late in life, and came as a tremendous surprise to her parents, who believed they had been incapable of having children. By the time Ryosaki was old enough to understand the world around her, her father had returned to the Crane Clan after his servitude to Lady Hitomi, and her mother had accompanied him. The stark, mountain lifestyle that Ryosaki had known was suddenly replaced with opulence and comfort. Her childhood was not pleasant, however, as she was mocked ruthlessly by the Crane children for her accent, her style of dress (which her mother maintained out of Dragon tradition), and a dozen other reasons that changed from day to day. Ryosaki was upset, but even as a child she saw the terrible burden of guilt that her father bore and chose to ignore lesser troubles. How could she burden him further?
When the time came for young Ryosaki to choose where to study, she and her parents both agreed that the Dragon would be the best fit. Ryosaki wished to return to the mountains and find acceptance where there had been none among the Crane, and Reju wished for her to be distanced from him, still convinced as he was of his own failures.
Ryosaki proved to be an excellent student. She had learned to endure hardship, and no task the Dragon set before her was too difficult to deter her. She pushed herself to the limits of her ability, seeking to prove her worth not to the Dragon, who accepted her without reservation, but to herself and to her father. She hoped that one day, her father would see himself through her eyes, not as a failure but as a hero.
After her gempukku, Ryosaki soon earned a position as magistrate for the Mirumoto family. Her duties were not particularly stressful, and the young warrior longed to test her mettle against a worthy foe. That day came with the Rain of Blood. The night before, Ryosaki dreamt of the Lady Hitomi, who showed her a vision of blood and fire consuming a village that was under her care. Upon awakening, Ryosaki traveled there at once, but found nothing amiss. Undaunted, she scoured the village for any sign of something unusual, and discovered a secret cell of Bloodspeakers conducting their foul rituals. Ryosaki immediately intervened and easily held the upper hand until the Rain began.
With the chaos of the Rain, the Bloodspeakers and the fallen villagers grossly outnumbered Ryosaki. On the brink of being overwhelmed, she fled and gathered the other villagers together, inspiring them to fight alongside her in Hitomi’s name. The Bloodspeakers were defeated, and the villagers purged the fallen from their ranks at Ryosaki’s command.
Since that day, Ryosaki has become a devout follower of Lady Moon. She bears numerous tattoos, although none are mystical, and attends temple services alongside the Hitomi order. Many Hitomi believe that she is blessed by their Lady, just as her father was before her, but what fate lies before her, none can say.
Mirumoto Ryosaki, the Hero’s Daughter
Air: 3
Earth: 2
Stamina 3
Fire: 3
Water: 2
Perception 3
Void: 3
School/Rank: Mirumoto Bushi 2
Glory: 3.1
Status: 2.7
Honor: 2.4
Advantages: Allies (Crane, 2/2 points), Great Destiny, Quick
Disadvantages: Unlucky (3 points)
Kata: The Empire Rests on Its Edge, Striking as Fire, Victory of the Wind
Skills: Athletics 3, Defense 3, Etiquette 3, Iaijutsu 3, Jiujitsu 3, Kenjutsu (Katana) 4, Kyujutsu 2, Lore: Shugenja 2, Meditation 3, Staves (Bo) 3, Theology 2
Yoritomo Katoa, Displaced Opportunist
Most samurai in the Empire would consider an appointment to the Imperial Court to be an honor of incredible proportions. If one were to ask him, Yoritomo Katoa would likely admit that he considers himself extremely unlucky to have arrived in his current circumstances, and would give a great deal to be free of them. Those few who know him believe he has brought his hardship upon himself.
Great things were never expected of Katoa. As a young student at the dojo where he was trained, he was easily distracted and prone to causing trouble among the other students. In a Mantis dojo, truly impressive amounts of poor behavior were required to gain the attention of the sensei, yet each sensei learned to keep an eye on young Katoa. His mother died when he was a child, and his father was often away at sea, so Katoa’s formative years were spent among the sailors at the busiest ports on the Islands of Silk and Spice. By the time he began studies for his gempukku, Katoa was an experienced gambler and had acquired a taste for sake.
For years after his gempukku, Katoa served aboard one ship after another, never remaining on any one crew for any length of time. Mantis captains were not interested in having the troublemaker on board, and he was more interested in drinking and gambling in port than the long, boring days at sea. It seemed obvious to those who knew him that Katoa would drift through life as a failure until he drank himself into an early grave. That might well have been his fate, if he had not happened to meet Yoritomo Kitao, captain of the Bitter Flower.
Kitao saw potential in Katoa, and introduced him to a far more exciting life at sea than the mundane shipping and patrol runs he had previously experienced. Piracy was Kitao’s trade, and she found a willing and eager student in Katoa. The thrill of it was intoxicating, and Katoa soon became one of Kitao’s chief lieutenants. When she orchestrated the assassination of Yoritomo Aramasu, Katoa was one of the few who knew the truth. Following the revelation of Yoritomo Kumiko as the Daughter of Storms, and the subsequent schism it caused among the Mantis, Katoa remained a loyal supporter of Kitao. For a time, he commanded a ship she granted him, but eventually he came to serve her as a representative at the Empire’s busiest ports, moving up and down the coast and maintaining her alliances with all manner of unsavory sorts. It was not a duty he relished, but he was at least afforded the chance to enjoy gambling once again.
When the Miya reconvened the Imperial Court, Katoa intercepted a herald bearing a message for the Mantis Champion. He read the invitation to court and chose to attend as Kitao’s representative. Unfortunately for the former pirate, upon his arrival he learned that Kitao had been defeated and Kumiko was now the Mantis Champion, recognized by the new Emperor, Toturi III. Katoa was both furious and fearful, expecting each day to be hauled out of the court and returned home for punishment. Instead, he was informed by Yoritomo Yoyonagi that Kumiko had permanently assigned him to the Imperial Court.
The past seven years have been the most miserably of Katoa’s life. He knows that outright betrayal of Kumiko will result in a fate far worse than death, and so he puts forth a token effort to represent the clan. To most, he is the worst possible Mantis stereotype, and no one fully understands why Kumiko permits him to remain. In time, Katoa has come to realize that even if he were to return to the Mantis islands for good, the piracy he once enjoyed is no more, co-opted completely by Kumiko and those loyal to her. Without the thrill of hunting his prey across the seas, Katoa believes, he may as well remain in Toshi Ranbo. There are, after all, many wonderful gambling houses, and he has the opportunity to serve as a constant foil for those samurai who believe they are his superior. It is not a happy existence, but as long as others are more miserable than he is, Katoa does not need to be happy.
Yoritomo Katoa, Displaced Opportunist
Air: 2
Reflexes 4
Earth: 3
Fire: 3
Water: 4
Void: 3
School/Rank: Yoritomo Bushi 4
Glory: -2.4 (Infamy)
Status: 3.3
Honor: 1.4
Advantages: Crafty, Heartless, Wary
Disadvantages: Bad Reputation (Pirate), Greedy
Kata: Strength of Waves, Strike of the Cliff’s Edge, Howl of the Son of Storms
Skills: Athletics 5, Battle 4, Chain Weapons 3, Commerce 3, Courtier 3, Craft: Sailing 5, Deceit (Intimidation, Lying) 4, Defense 3, Etiquette 2, Jiujutsu 3, Kenjutsu 4, Games: Fortunes & Winds 5, Games: Sadane 1, Lore: Imperial Court 3, Peasant Weapons (Kama) 6, Underworld 4
Bayushi Muhito, Champion of Rei
Bayushi Muhito is one of the most competent students to graduate from the Shosuro Shinobi School in recent memory. He skillfully serves Shosuro Maru’s every need as her yojimbo and personal assistant. He never shirks from his duties, no matter how dishonorable they seem. He is the paragon of a Shosuro warrior, the quiet bodyguard, the swift assassin.
Muhito was born the second son of two loyal but unremarkable Bayushi samurai. He was an outgoing, vivacious child. Things came easily to him, and he absorbed knowledge quicker than all his peers. With this ease he enjoyed all parts of life — the morning kata, the hours spent reading a play, and freeing his mind to create poetry. He outperformed his peers and slowly became the arrogant center of a gang of adoring Scorpion children.
During a festival at Kyuden Bayushi shortly after his gempukku, Muhito became embroiled in an unpleasant conflict with a young Lion shugenja. The shugenja’s traditional mannerisms and reverence for magic were laughable to Muhito, who had spent little time around shugenja during his young life. The argument came to a head when Muhito publicly berated the Kitsu, claiming that shugenja like him were revered only because fools could not comprehend their magic. In the moments after his boasting, Muhito suddenly realized he had offended his own kinsmen as well as his opponent. When a friend arrived and whispered to Muhito that his opponent was the son of the Lion ambassador, he realized the true enormity of his folly.
The Lion ambassador demanded some sort of restitution from Muhito’s family. The Lion exerted considerable pressure, and it seemed that no Scorpion were willing to come to the arrogant young man’s aid, until an old Scorpion courtier smiled to Muhito’s parents and told them that he would fix the situation. All he desired in return was Muhito’s oath of service to serve his niece Shosuro Maru, a young and gifted courtier who could benefit from the aid of someone with Muhito’s natural gifts. The crisis was averted, and Muhito was sworn to Maru’s service.
Muhito swore to himself that he would never be so foolish again. He dropped his arrogance and his cheerfulness, and a shield of cold courtesy replaced them. He vowed he would never be manipulated again through his feelings. He vowed he would respond with courtesy to any provocation. The young samurai drew his blade and swore to use it in service to Shosuro Maru until such time as he was dead, or until his lord ordered him to serve another.
Maru and Muhito traveled the courts and Muhito did as he swore. He protected Maru as her yojimbo and as her hand in the vast underworld of Rokugan. Two years ago, he followed her bidding and traveled to the court of Moshi Amika alone. When he arrived he began to stalk Yoritomo Katsu. Katsu had made the mistake of threatening Maru, and Muhito was there to make sure that he would regret that decision.
When his target stopped to watch an iaijutsu demonstration, Muhito suddenly became aware of the dark haired young Crane duelist performing for the court. She exuded grace from her every movement and her kata resembled a dove taking to the wind. Muhito watched her, distracted from his duty, and for a moment forgot where he was. When a Yoritomo guardsman noticed him, Muhito realized his mistake and fled the scene. It was the first time he had ever failed his duty. Though filled with condemnation at his failure, he could not resist learning the name of the duelist, Kakita Korihime.
A year later, Muhito and Maru traveled to Crossroads Village, a small town near the Lion-Dragon border, There, they and five others fought a pitched battle to save the village from a large force of bandits that threatened to overwhelm it. Among those gathered was Kakita Korihime, and Muhito was sorely wounded in the battle protecting her from harm. In the aftermath, he expected death. Instead, he found the will to live because of Korihime’s command. For her, he lived.
Since that time, Muhito has returned to his duties without fail. He does not hesitate, no matter the gruesome nature of his task. Instead, he has a renewed sense of duty. He has fallen to darkness, perhaps, but there are those in the Empire who are worthy of such a sacrifice. If his actions can make the world safer for pure souls like Korihime, then the sacrifice is worth it.
Bayushi Muhito, Champion of Rei
Air: 2
Awareness: 4
Earth: 3
Fire: 3
Agility: 4
Water: 3
Void: 3
School/Rank: Shosuro Shinobi 2/Shosuro Yojimbo
Glory: 1.8
Status: 1.1 (-10)
Honor: 1.6
Advantages: Precise Memory
Disadvantages: Obligation (Shosuro Maru: 4 Points), True Love (Kakita Korihime)
Kata: Cut Under the Mountain, The Tail’s Reach
Skills: Athletics 2, Courtier 3, Deceit 3, Defense 4, Etiquette (Sincerity) 5, Iaijutsu 2, Investigation (Notice) 3, Kenjutsu 4, Meditation 2, Ninja Ranged Weapons 2, Poison 2, Sleight of Hand 2, Stealth (Ambush, Shadowing, Sneaking) 6, Storytelling 1, Underworld 3

Isawa Ochiai, Master of Fire
The Phoenix Masters of Fire have a checkered past in recent decades. The previous two Masters, Isawa Tsuke and his son Isawa Hochiu, both suffered from madness that led them to shame themselves, their family, and their clan. Fortunately, the dark fate of Isawa Tsuke came during a time when many great heroes fell to darkness, and thus the clan’s shame was mitigated. Hochiu’s descent into madness remains largely private, known only to a handful of Phoenix and Dragon. When the other Elemental Masters sought Hochiu’s replacement, however, it is no surprise that they sought someone who would not repeat the mistakes of history.
Isawa Ochiai is the younger sister of Isawa Nakamuro, the current Master of Air. Both siblings were gifted with the kami, although neither was considered particularly powerful during their youth. Nakamuro managed to acquire a position studying with Agasha Gennai, but Ochiai had no interest in such things. She pursued the path of an artisan, delighting in painting, dancing, and all manner of creative endeavors. Her youth and beauty seemed timeless, bringing her a great deal of attention from suitors. With their parents deceased, however, Ochiai’s brother preferred to allow his sister to choose her marriage, rather than attempt to better their station by forcing her into a loveless union. Hers was a free spirit, and Nakamuro could not bear to see her shackled.
Ironically, it was Ochiai’s pursuit of the arts that eventually led to her ascension to the position of Master of Fire. In focusing on her art, Ochiai found that she had a gift for incredible detail. While her magic was not as powerful as others, she tempered her power with precision. When others could reduce a tree to ash in a heartbeat, she could target and incinerate individual leaves without so much as scorching those next to them. Even the Isawa’s greatest sensei, Isawa Sachi, could not help to be impressed with her abilities. When the time came to find a new Master of Fire, it was Shiba Ningen who suggested Ochiai, much to Nakamuro’s surprise. There was some deliberation, but in the end not even Isawa Taeruko could deny her worth. With her gift for fire magic so well tempered by her skill, the Council believed, there would be no further shame heaped upon the Master of Fire’s position.
Ochiai’s tenure as Master of Fire has been an unusual one. She accepted the position shortly after a Crane was made the Council’s leader, a fact that some Isawa find upalatable, even if Doji Akiko is the daughter of Isawa. Isawa Taeruko’s death was a tremendous blow to the Council, but the appointment of Isawa Sachi brought new hope to the family, beloved as the old sensei was by hundreds of former students. Akiko and Sachi quickly formed a bond based on their similar political philosophies, and while Nakamuro and Ningen do not necessarily oppose the others, they often find themselves led down a different path. Thus, Ochiai frequently finds herself in a position to serve as the swing vote for the Council, a position that she finds simultaneously enjoyable and uncomfortable. A devout pacifist, Ochiai sided with her brother in an attempt to forestall violence with the Mantis, but Ningen sided with Akiko and Sachi, and war was the result.
The Mantis war has placed Ochiai in a difficult position. She gladly uses her magic to protect and defend her people, but she will not harm others, even in war. As the conflict escalates, Ochiai has ventured to the City of Remembrance in hopes of finding some common ground with the dragon spirits that dwell there. Perhaps with their aid, the war can be ended without further loss of life.
Isawa Ochiai, Master of Fire
Air: 3
Earth: 3
Willpower 5
Fire: 5
Intelligence 6
Water: 3
Void: 4
School/Rank: Isawa Tensai (Fire) 5
Glory: 6.6
Status: 7.2
Honor: 2.8
Advantages: Blessing of the Elements (Fire), Friend of the Elements (Fire), Fukurokujin’s Blessing, Quick
Disadvantages: Meddler, Soft-hearted, Small
Spells: As Master of Fire, Ochiai has access to the Phoenix Clan’s vast libraries of spell scrolls. She may be assumed to have any elemental spells found within the core rulebook (those she is capable of casting, at least), and many other Fire spells beyond that.
Kiho: Channel the Fire Dragon, Purity of Shinsei
Skills: Artisan: Painting 4, Athletics 3, Calligraphy 4, Courtier 5, Defense 3, Etiquette (Sincerity) 6, Lore: History 4, Horsemanship 3, Meditation 5, Performance: Dance 4, Spellcraft (Fire) 6, Staves 2, Tea Ceremony 3, Theology (Fortunes, Shintao) 5
Utaku Tarako, Khol Ambusher
As a youth, Utaku Tarako expected nothing more grandiose than a soldier’s life serving among the Utaku Battle Maidens. She never expected to become well known and respected among the Unicorn. She never expected that she would be recognized by samurai she had never met, or that she would attend strategy councils with the Unicorn Clan Champion. Most of all, she never expected that whispers of her exploits in battle all across Rokugan, whispers tinged with fear.

Tarako was the only daughter of Utaku Sannosuke, a scout and member of Rojin’s Wanderers, a group of Unicorn that explored the Empire. Tarako’s mother died during childbirth, so Sannosuke was left to raise his daughter alone. Without a clue as to how to raise a daughter, he decided to simply care for her without changing his habits. He brought Tarako along on his many journeys across Rokugan and taught her his ways. He instilled in his daughter his wanderlust, his love for nature and an insight into how to survive in the wilderness. As a result, Tarako grew up with the mindset of a Shinjo rather than an Utaku. Tarako loved her time traveling alone with her father and was very disappointed when she had to return to the Unicorn lands to begin studying at the Utaku dojo.

Tarako did not enjoy school. Her life there was completely different from the nomadic lifestyle she had previously enjoyed. She was diligent in her studies, although she kept largely to herself and did not make many friends. After she became a Battle Maiden, she was assigned to an outpost along the Unicorn-Lion border. There she spent many years watching over a small trading town that connected to the City of the Rich Frog, where she remained until the war between the Lion and the Unicorn began. Many refugees from Kaeru Toshi entered her town, causing a dramatic increase in tension and crime. Tarako had her hands full with her increased duties and had little contact with anyone from the front, Unicorn or Lion.

That changed a few months into the Lion-Unicorn war. A group of exhausted Unicorn soldiers rode into the town, wounded from a recent skirmish. They told Tarako that a unit of Lion soldiers was on its way to destroy the town and deny the Unicorn the resources that had been traveling through the village. Tarako decided that the best way to defend the city would be to destroy the Lion before they would arrived. As a child, she had spent three weeks in the area surrounding Kaeru Toshi and remembered all the hidden paths. She led the battered troops into the hills and waited for the Lion’s arrival. The Unicorn troops listened to all her commands and advice. Though the Lion force outnumbered the Unicorn more than two to one, Tarako’s unit decimated the pursuing soldiers.

The Khan heard of Tarako’s victory and added her to the Khol, his personal army. He gave her command of her own unit and decided to test her abilities. He gave her orders to eliminate a Lion commander and scout reports as to where the officer might be located. Tarako performed beyond anyone’s expectations. She led her unit past the Lion defenses, defeated the Lion commander, and returned to camp within two days, all based on her superior knowledge of the local terrain. Impressed by her skills, the Khan promoted her immediately. Tarako served admirably during the war, using her knowledge of the terrain as a weapon against the unsuspecting Lion. She was promoted repeatedly, and eventually joined the highest ranking officers of the Khol.

Tarako has learned much from her experiences in the war. As a child, she saw nature’s beauty with an innocent eye. As a samurai charged with destroying her enemies, she surveys the land in search of secluded archery positions, or where would be the best place to ready a charge against an unsuspecting enemy.

Tales of Tarako’s exploits have grown to such an extent that they border upon folklore. Some say that the Khan has placed under her command a unit of savage Moto who assassinate those who oppose the Unicorn Clan. Her knowledge of the regions of Rokugan, they say, allows her to move her unit anywhere in Rokugan and ambush them. Such outlandish rumors amuse Tarako, though she sometimes wonders if her actions are perverting the spirit of her father’s teachings. All she can do is believe that her actions benefit her lord, and believe in the righteousness of the Khan’s actions.

Utaku Tarako, Khol Ambusher
Air: 4
Earth: 3
Fire: 3
Water: 4
Strength: 5
Void: 3
School/Rank: Utaku Battle Maiden 4
Glory: 5.2
Status: 5.7
Honor: 2.6
Advantages: Absolute Direction, Way of the Land (All of the Unicorn lands, parts of the Lion lands, parts of the Scorpion lands)
Disadvantages: Antisocial
Kata: Striking as Fire, Thundering the Sky
Skills: Athletics 4, Battle (Skirmish) 6, Etiquette 2, Horsemanship 4, Hunting 4, Investigation (Search) 4, Kenjutsu 5, Kyujutsu (Horse Archery) 4, Meditation 4, Stealth (Ambush) 7

Shokansuru, Master of Demons
Centuries ago, a time that the creature called Shokansuru barely remembers, there was a man named Isawa Shokan. Shokan was a devout shugenja and a rigid adherent to the Emperor’s laws. He was among the most promising shugenja of his generation, and was one of only a handful to ever claim victory at the Topaz Championship, a gempukku ceremony normally dominated by bushi. As his reward, Shokan became an Emerald Magistrate, a champion of law and order throughout the Empire. It was the greatest gift he had ever received, and he quickly gathered others to serve alongside him. Some were other contestants at the Championship, while others were youths he had met during his studies at the temple. Together, they formed a team that could turn even the Emperor’s head with the tales of their successes.

After years of work against the Bloodspeakers, Shokan and his men discovered the trail of Jama Suru, one of Iuchiban’s deadliest lieutenants. They tracked him to a tower deep in the Shadowlands, and there they killed him. Two of Shokan’s friends died that day, and Suru used a terrible ritual that nearly rote Shokan’s soul asunder, but in the end, evil was vanquished, or so it seemed.

Shokan died that day in every way that mattered. Suru’s ritual twisted his soul and set him on the path that Suru had once traveled. Shokan stole some maho scrolls from the tower before it was burned, and within a year, he was using maho. His own gift for magic, combined with his extensive knowledge of Bloodspeakers allowed him access to many dark texts, and he quickly mastered several complex rituals designed to summon demons to the mortal realm. He was preparing for his first attempt to do so when his friends discovered his betrayal and attempted to kill him. Wounded, he fled into the Shadowlands.

In the Shadowlands, Shokan found the prison of Nikoma no Oni, the ancient oni lord known later as the Maw. He brokered a deal with the beast and offered it a portion of his soul, granting both considerable power in the process. The Maw was freed, and Shokan destroyed the former friend who chased him, absorbing their souls for later use. In a matter of years, he was a legend in the Shadowlands, a master of demons who remained apart from Fu Leng’s other minions. He remained alone until Daigotsu approached him and sought his aid in creating the Onisu.

The Onisu were a brilliant innovation that sparked many ideas in Shokan, who now called himself Shokansuru after his hated spiritual father, Jama Suru. He crafted new rituals in the City of the Lost until Iuchiban arrived, when he fled to the south and inadvertently discovered the Forgotten Tomb of Fu Leng. There, he could touch the realm of Jigoku and craft oni more powerful than any that had existed. His former friends’ souls were finally put to good use as he crafted Sentei no Oni, Yojireru no Oni, Munemitsu no Oni, and other monstrous creations. Daigotsu eventually reappeared, and was much pleased with Shokansuru’s work. The oni master returned to the City of the Lost and resumed his place among the Dark Lord’s court.

All is not well within the Shadowlands. Shokansuru knows more of oni than any living soul, and he senses the discontent brewing within Jigoku. Demons are the true children of Fu Leng, and they grow weary of the presumption displayed by the Lost in usurping the rightful place of demonkind. Shokansuru watches as that simpering fool Omoni is trusted above all others in Daigotsu’s court. The oni summoner knows that such prestige should be his, and despises the goblin-man even as he recognizes the great similarities between the two twisted beast-men.

A reign of demons is fast approaching, and when it arrives, it will be Shokansuru who opens the gates of the City of the Lost and allows the chaos to wash over it.

Shokansuru, Master of Demons
Air: 3
Awareness 5
Earth: 4
Fire: 4
Intelligence 6
Water: 3
Void: 0
School/Rank: Isawa Shugenja (Earth) 2 / Maho-tsukai 2
Glory: -5.3 (Infamous)
Status: N/A
Honor: 0.0
Shadowlands Taint: 7.5
Advantages: Forbidden Knowledge (Oni summoning, 7 points), Voice
Disadvantages: Benten’s Curse, Fascination (Oni), Jealousy (Omoni)
Spells: Blood Rite, Corruption of the Elements, Curse of Stone, Darkness Rising, Drain Soul, Earth’s Stagnation, Fear, The Fires from Within, Force of Will, Grasp of Earth, Reduce, Reversal of Fortunes
Shadowlands Powers: Blood Domination, Child of Darkness, Jade Sense, Master of Blood, Master of Demons (Special), Unearthly Regeneration
Skills: Anatomy (Torture) 6, Animal Handling 4, Artisan: Fleshcrafting 7, Calligraphy 2, Deceit 6, Defense 3, Hunting (Wilderness Lore) 3, Lore: Bloodspeakers 2, Knives 4, Lore: History 4, Lore: Oni 9, Lore: Shadowlands 7, Meditation 4, Spellcraft (Earth Knowledge, Maho) 7, Stealth (Spellcasting) 5, Theology 4

*Master of Demons (Unique Greater Shadowlands Power)
This powerful ability is unique to Shokansuru, and comes as a result of his shared soul with an Oni Lord. Shokansuru is able to cast the maho spell Summon Oni as if he were a Rank 6 Maho-tsukai. He gains a number of Free Raises on this spell equal to his Insight Rank. Shokansuru has the ability to steal and store the souls of others he kills and use them to grant names to oni summoned by use of Summon Oni. This does not create independent Oni Lords, but rather oni with increased physical or mental abilities. Each oni that Shokansuru creates is unique, and when summoning an oni he may choose to reassign Traits or Skills as he sees fit.

Otomo Taneji, Imperial Court Representative
Otomo Taneji does not fit the stereotype of a courtier from the imperial families. His upbringing and beliefs reflect his odd lineage, and his teachers have instilled in him a broad range of ideals and thoughts that go beyond that of the average Otomo.
Taneji’s grandfather Mokihara was a member of the Mantis Clan and a follower of Yoritomo during the Clan Wars. Though Mokihara loved his clan and loved the freedom of the seas, he was reviled by Great Clan samurai and viewed as no better than a ronin or a common criminal. Mokihara was a proud and ambitious man and longed to be placed higher than those around him. He was determined to become a Great Clan samurai, or even a member of the Imperial families.
Mokihara’s chance came when a few of his acquaintances included him in a plot to extort money from the Otomo family. They were cutthroat ronin that he occasionally traveled with and he held no deep attachment to them. He agreed to help them with their plot and watched for reinforcements as they kidnapped Otomo Daimesu. When the conspirators relaxed and discussed how best to act next, Mokihara coolly walked in and killed them all. Daimesu was grateful for Mokihara’s rescue, and he gave the young Mantis his daughter’s hand in marriage. Mokihara left the Mantis Clan and joined the Otomo family. Years later Mokihara was overjoyed to watch his son Shikan attended the Otomo courtier school. Finally, he had gained the prestige for his family he had always dreamed of for himself.
Shikan’s training was orthodox but he vowed to raise all his sons to embrace their heritage. Shikan’s first son Taneji was raised to respect both his Imperial lineage and his Mantis history. Taneji was raised with the Otomo and trained in their techniques, but he spent every summer with the Mantis in the Islands of Spice and Silk. In school he learned order and restraint, to conduct himself as a member of an Imperial Family would in the world. On the islands he learned joy and freedom, to never allow restrictive rules to bar him from having a mind of his own.
Perhaps as a direct result of his unique upbringing, Taneji grew to be an inquisitive and smart young lad. He scored at the top of his class at many subjects, and his easygoing nature made sure he never lacked for friends. When Taneji passed his gempukku, his father told him of an opportunity to serve his old friend Miya Hatori, a hero of the years following the Day of Thunder. Hatori was one of the most famous samurai of the Imperial families, and Taneji gladly accepted.
Taneji spent many years in Hatori’s household as the elder statesman’s assistant. He learned from several Otomo teachers that resided there and from Hatori himself. His many teachers encouraged him to hold unique perspectives on the world, and several taught him ideas that were counter to traditional Otomo lessons. Hatori taught him about the real world, about the disparity between clan samurai and what drives made them so different from each other. Taneji learned about the Miya duties and how to manage himself in the empire away from the courts.
During the chaotic Four Winds era, Taneji followed his master Miya Hatori across the empire as he attempted to gather information from the libraries of the Great Clans to the Miya Libraries. However, as they traveled through the different territories, it soon became evident that they were involved in machinations that encompassed the entire empire. Though the schemes grew more sinister as they traveled, Taneji was a great asset to his master when he kept his cool and performed his duties without fail.
As Taneji has grown his impact on Rokugani politics has also grown. While acting as Hatori’s assistant, Taneji met many of the important personages of Rokugan. Many daimyo noticed his ability to adapt to his surroundings and learn from his experiences. Despite his young age, Taneji impressed those he met with his intelligence and composure, even in the presence of some of the most powerful men in the empire.
With Miya Hatori’s recommendation, Taneji has been appointed as an official representative for the Imperial Court. In this duty he once again travels around all of Rokugan on the orders of the Imperial Court. His previous duties while serving Hatori has helped him cope to this lifestyle of never staying in one place for too long.
Tanitsu and Kaukatsu carefully watch the young courtier’s progress, waiting for Taneji to become a powerful rival in the Imperial Court. That eventuality, they both know, is rapidly becoming the truth.

Otomo Taneji, Imperial Court Representative
Air: 3
Awareness: 5
Earth: 3
Fire: 3
Intelligence: 4
Water: 2
Void: 4
School/Rank: Otomo Courtier 3
Glory: 4.1
Status: 5.4
Honor: 2.8
Advantages: Allies (Miya Hatori, 4/2 points), Clear Thinker
Disadvantages: None.
Kata: None.
Skills: Calligraphy 3, Courtier (Manipulation, Political Maneuvering) 5, Deceit (Intimidation) 4, Defense 3, Etiquette (Bureaucracy, Conversation) 3, Games: Go 3, Investigation 4, Kenjutsu 3, Lore (Law) 3, Sailing 2, Storytelling (Oratory) 3, Tea Ceremony 4, Underworld 2.

Kuni Yaruko, Jade Magistrate
Kuni Yaruko was born to stand against the darkness. Her father was a bushi who served atop the Great Carpenter Wall for over a decade, slaying hundreds of the Crab’s enemies and never relinquishing so much as an inch of his charged territory to the Shadowlands. Her mother was a tsukai-tsagusau, a Witch Hunter, and one that was hailed by the entire Kuni family as a scourge of evil everywhere. Yaruko was raised by her father, as her mother was of higher rank and was frequently performing investigations for the clan, and he taught their daughter to revere Kuni Yae every bit as much as he did. Yaruko dreamed of joining her mother, but her gift for speaking to the kami exceeded even Yae’s, and she was instead sent to study as a shugenja.
Although initially disappointed, Yaruko came to enjoy her training as a shugenja. Although they were not witch hunters in the strictest sense of the word, many Kuni shugenja studied alongside the hunters and aided them in their task, performing the same duties with ultimately the same results. Yaruko worked tirelessly toward her goal, and graduated near the top of her class. Unfortunately, not just anyone could be assigned to work with the great Kuni Yae, not even if that person was her daughter, and Yaruko had many duties to fulfill before she could live her dream. This was understandable, and in truth almost a relief to Yaruko, for in many ways she had always feared she would not be able to live up to her mother’s example.
It was while Yaruko was serving as an attendant to a senior Kuni shugenja when the news reached her that her mother had been lost. Accounts were confused at first, and for a short time it seemed that Yae had been defeated by the Shadowlands, presumably killed in the process. Unfortunately, as the lone survivor of the incident was treated for his wounds and recovered, he presented testimony that was far more horrible: Yae had betrayed her family and her oaths, and had fallen to darkness. Yaruko was devastated. She immediately left for her family home only to discover that her father had committed seppuku in order to cleanse their family’s honor, freeing Yaruko from dishonor by her mother’s actions. Horrified, Yaruko returned to the Kuni elders and requested the right to bring her mother to justice. Though many doubted her ability, none doubted her determination. Yaruko was granted permission.
The Shadowlands were far more horrible than even the most gruesome tales Yaruko had been told, but she did not falter. Several days’ travel into that twisted realm, she came upon a vast field of blasted rock and obsidian, a sea of jagged stone, and there she finally faced her mother. Corruption had granted Yae a terrible beauty that she had lacked in life, and Yaruko felt her heart ache with love even as she recoiled in horror. The two fought, and despite Yae’s superior skill and experience, her corruption made her weak against her daughter’s pure magic. When the final moment came, though, Yaruko could not kill her mother, and Yae escaped. Distraught, Yaruko returned home and lied, telling her sensei that she could not find Yae.
After her failure, Yaruko went into a self-imposed exile, wandering the Twilight Mountains alone. Ostensibly she was searching for the Shadowlands spirits that infected that area, but truthfully she was seeking atonement. She found it when she encountered a young Dragon magistrate named Mirumoto Narumi, and together the two freed the tortured soul Hitomi Kobai from his imprisonment by the Bloodspeakers. The two were awarded positions as magistrates for this feat, Narumi as an Emerald Magistrate and Yaruko as a Jade Magistrate. Together the two faced the Bloodspeakers yet again, destroying two traitors in the ruins of Shiro Chuda and uncovering clues to the location of some insidious cell at work within the Phoenix lands.
Although their investigation into the Phoenix lands has yet to bear fruit, Yaruko feels some measure of peace for the first time in years. Narumi knows of her secret shame, and has accepted her nonetheless. She is in many ways the sister that Yaruko never had, and her regard is of tremendous importance to Yaruko. The Kuni have long since forgiven the young woman for her failure, but she has yet to forgive herself.

Kuni Yaruko, Jade Magistrate
Air: 2
Reflexes 3
Earth: 3
Fire: 3
Water: 2
Perception 4
Void: 3
School/Rank: Kuni Shugenja 2
Glory: 3.1
Status: 4.4
Honor: 2.8
Advantages: Blessing of the Elements (Earth), Social Position (Jade Magistrate)
Disadvantages: Antisocial (2 points), Sworn Enemy (Kuni Yae; 3 points)
Spells: Commune, Counterspell, Sense, Summon; Armor of Earth, Benevolent Protection of Shinsei, Earth’s Stagnation, Fires from the Forge, Fury of Osano-Wo, Heart of Mortality, Hurried Steps, Ignite, Jade Strike, Path to Inner Peace, Slash of the Lion
Skills: Athletics (Climbing) 2, Calligraphy 2, Defense 3, Hunting 4, Investigation 3, Jiujitsu 2, Kenjutsu 3, Lore: Shadowlands 4, Meditation 1, Spellcraft (Maho) 3, Stealth 3, Theology (Fortunes) 1
Note: Yaruko has used the Heart of Mortality spell to forge a close bond with her partner, Emerald Magistrate Mirumoto Narumi.

Doji Saori, Blade of the Courts
Doji Saori is a well-known figure among the less prominent courts of Rokugan. Among the Emperor’s court and the court of Clan Champions, she is merely one of many powerful courtiers and advisors. Among lesser courts, however, she is known as a great mediator and officiator, and is always in high demand.

In her youth, Saori displayed aptitude for both the blade and in court. After some deliberation by her parents, it was requested that she be given leave to study with the Kakita. Saori acquitted herself well there, and achieved her gempukku with honor. Only a year after her gempukku, however, Saori was involved in a dueling accident during practice, wherein a reckless opponent wounded her sword arm. The injury would require nearly two years to fully heal, and in the interim Saori was granted leave to attend the Doji Courtier School so that she might still serve her clan. Fortunately, her skill there was equal to her skill with the blade, although she did not enjoy it as much as she did the weight of steel in her hands. To overcome her disappointment, she began studying the laws surrounding duels as well as the reputations of prominent duelists throughout the Empire.

One year ago, Saori was an attendant in the court of Doji Kurohito. Lord Kurohito was often absent on matters important to the clan, and his closest advisors oversaw the Crane’s many guests in his stead. On a particularly cool spring morning, a group of guests enjoying the Doji gardens were disrupted by an unpleasant argument between one of the Kakita in attendance and an especially belligerent guest from the Dragon Clan. For a moment, it seemed as though the Dragon’s tempestuous nature would explode into violence, but Saori stepped forward and used her knowledge of dueling protocols to defuse the situation and arrange for a proper test of skill to settle the dispute without bloodshed. Saori hastily composed correspondence to the Kakita’s daimyo as well as his Dragon counterpart apologizing for conducting the test without their express permission, but resolved the matter to the satisfaction of everyone involved.

Shortly after the Crane court came to an end, Saori was summoned before Kurohito. She expected to be reprimanded, but instead learned that Kurohito had received a letter of gratitude from the Dragon daimyo regarding her intervention. Kurohito praised her cool head and informed her of a request by another court for the Crane to officiate over a dueling tournament. The court was largely insignificant, Kurohito explained, but he could not pass over their request without risking loss of an ally, even if a minor one. Saori immediately offered to deal with the matter for her Champion, who smiled and signaled for an attendant to hand her the papers he had already prepared.

Since that time, Saori has become a common sight in the courts of more martially inclined daimyo throughout the Empire. She is among the most knowledgeable dueling officiators in her family, and often arranges tournaments and demonstrations of skill between aspiring young duelists. She is an excellent judge of skill, and always arranges for opponents to face someone of an equivalent level, ensuring that all matches are fair and interesting to observers. Her track record is not without difficulty, however, as there is a particularly hot-tempered Matsu duelist who blames her for his failure against an opponent, and goes to great lengths to dishonor her in court. For the most part, however, Saori is a well-known and greatly respected official in the dueling subculture so popular throughout Rokugan.

Doji Saori, Blade of the Courts
Air: 4
Earth: 2
Fire: 3
Water: 2
Perception 4
Void: 3
School/Rank: Doji Courtier 2/Kakita Bushi 1
Glory: 2.4
Status: 2.1
Honor: 3.2
Advantages: Allies (2 points/2 points), Multiple Schools, Social Position (Iaijutsu Officiator)
Disadvantages: Meddler, Sworn Enemy (2 points)
Kata: Kakita’s First Stance, Watchful Falcon
Skills: Artisan: Ikebana 3, Calligraphy 2, Courtier (Manipulation) 5, Defense 2, Etiquette (Conversation) 5, Iaijutsu 4, Kenjutsu (Katana) 2, Lore: Dueling 6, Lore: Law 5, Meditation 3, Storytelling (Poetry) 2, Tea Ceremony 2



Hitomi Suguhara, Commander of the Tenth Legion
Like most members of his order, Hitomi Suguhara was once something else. Strangely, he can remember very little of that time. He remembers that he was lost, desperate and morose over his station in life, and that the first true moment of clarity he ever experienced was when the tattoo signifying Lady Moon’s blessing first appeared. On that day, a dismal, unhappy, weakling of a man departed for the High House of Light. By the time Hitomi Suguhara arrived at the palace, there was nothing of that man left, not even a memory. Where that man had been weak and uncertain, Suguhara was strong and resolute. He was the very model of a loyal Hitomi, and was accepted with open arms.

In the months that followed his acceptance, Suguhara quickly developed a reputation as a relentless warrior. He adapted quickly to the martial arts practiced by the tattooed men, and advanced through their ranks rapidly. His precision and strength were such that few could oppose him. In short order, he became a sensei of sorts, teaching other members of the Hitomi order to call upon Lady Moon for inspiration, seeking strength from within to seek enlightenment by overcoming adversity. It is likely that Suguhara would have continued in this manner indefinitely if not for the untimely arrival of an honored guest of the Dragon, the man the Emperor Toturi had once named Defender of the Empire, Bayushi Paneki.

Paneki held a position as a ranking officer in the First Legion, an advisor to the Emperor’s daughter Toturi Tsudao. Paneki sought the counsel of Togashi Satsu in a matter relevant to the Legion, and seemed surprised to see Suguhara. He called the monk by a different name, a name that Suguhara had chosen to forget. For the first time since his arrival, he felt a wave of doubt. In a moment of panic, the monk leapt over the balcony where he had been practicing his kata and disappeared into the foothills below, fleeing from a memory.

Suguhara remained hidden for days, his mind racing. His abandonment of his previous life had been so utterly complete that he could no longer remember it, even if he wished to do so. Why did the idea of confronting it frighten him so? Suguhara was overcome with self-loathing at his weakness, for it was the antithesis of everything he had come to value during his time among the Dragon. Finally, he rose from his place of hiding and returned to the High House of Light, determined to overcome this obstacle as he had all others.

Paneki was waiting for him. The Scorpion apologized with a genuine smile, explaining that he had clearly mistaken Suguhara for someone else, someone that had died a number of years before. The resemblance, he explained, was quite remarkable, but he had not intended to cause his honored ally among the Dragon discomfort by succumbing to a moment of melodramatic weakness. He asked Suguhara’s forgiveness, and the monk readily gave it. It was only then that Paneki informed the monk that Hitomi Kagetora had granted his request to have Suguhara come and teach unarmed combat to his soldiers in the Legion.

Suguhara’s students among the Legions were far less adaptable than the monks he had previously instructed. They were unwilling to forego their previous knowledge to embrace his teachings, but he found their reluctance exhilarating. Suguhara’s leadership qualities blossomed under the challenge of teaching such men. During his instruction to key members of the Tenth Legion, Suguhara and the others came under attack by a vicious cell of Bloodspeakers flush with power in the wake of Iuchiban’s return to the Empire. The Legion’s commander and most of his command staff were killed, and Suguhara took command out of sheer necessity. When the other commanders learned of what had happened, the personal recommendation of Bayushi Paneki was sufficient for Suguhara to be awarded command of the Legion. The appointment of a monk to such a position was unheard of, but Suguhara quickly proved that the decision was well-made. His Legion is among the most disciplined, adaptable in the Emperor’s service, and is frequently called upon by First Legion commander Toturi Miyako when she had a difficult duty that must be performed quickly and precisely.

Hitomi Suguhara, Commander of the Tenth Legion
Air: 4
Earth: 3
Stamina 6
Fire: 3
Agility 5
Water: 3
Void: 4
School/Rank: Tattooed Man (Kikage Zumi) 4
Glory: 6.1
Status: N/A (6.3)
Honor: 2.7
Advantages: Bishamon’s Blessing, Death Trance
Disadvantages: Overconfident
Tattoos: Bat, Blaze, Carp, Scarab, Snake
Kiho: Self No Self, Way of the Willow
Skills: Artisan: Sculpting 3, Athletics 6, Battle 4, Instruction 5, Jiujutsu 7, Kenjutsu 4, Kyujutsu 3, Meditation (Void Recovery) 4, Tea Ceremony 3, Theology (Fortunes, Shintao) 4
Note: Suguhara is exempt from the normal rules regarding monks and Status. Despite that he is technically a monk, his position as commander of the Tenth Imperial Legion supercedes normal social conventions and causes others to treat him with the same Status afforded to others of such rank.

New Tattoos
Hitomi Suguhara has many tattoos, both mystical and mundane. He has a number of tattoos that are not described in the Third Edition rulebook, including the following:

Carp
The carp is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, and those tattooed men who bear its tattoo embody those traits. This tattoo is always on. A number of times per day equal to your Insight Rank, you may immediately re-roll any roll.

Scarab
The scarab is an insect found across the Burning Sands, although a handful were brought back by the Scorpion after that clan’s banishment there. In the Burning Sands, the scarab is seen as a symbol of the ruthless sun, a sinister entity there but a revered deity in Rokugan. You may spend a Void Point to activate the Scarab tattoo, which remains active for a number of rounds equal to your Insight Rank. While the tattoo is active, you are immune to damage from any non-magical fire or heat, and any fire spell targeting you has its TN increased by your Insight Rank x5.

Snake
The Snake tattoo is among the most dangerous and sinister of all ise zumi tattoos, and usually only manifests on those who have the strength of will to keep such power in check. After making a successful unarmed attack that strikes bare flesh, you may choose not to roll damage and spend a Void Point. Doing so immediately afflicts your target as if he had been afflicted with snake venom (see Third Edition, page 162). Rolls to resist or heal this affliction have their TN increased by twice your Insight Rank. You may spend a second Void Point to immediately end the effects of this poison in a victim. Allowing a victim of this attack to die is grounds for being cast out of the tattooed orders.

The Zamalash, Ally of the Tattered Ear
A lifetime ago, the Zamalash was a hunter. He was one of an honored few given the task of supplying the needs of those Naga who called Kalpa, the City of Rebirth, their home. Unlike other Naga cities, Kalpa was hidden in the mountains to the distant north, far beyond the borders of the vast Shinomen Mori. Game was sparse in the northern mountains, but the Zamalash was a gifted hunter, and even in his youth he was a testament to the skill of the Naga hunters. When the Great Sleep came, Zamalash took his place alongside his fellow hunters, preparing to sleep through the ages and rise again to defend Kalpa from the Foul and its many manifestations.

Zamalash’s sleep was filled with terrible visions, nightmares of Kalpa’s destruction that drifted through the Akasha as earthquakes ravaged the city and human exiles looted the ruins, slaughtering every Naga they could find. Zamalash and his comrades were in a cavern deep beneath the largest temple, however, and they remained undiscovered for centuries, even as the spirits of their fellow Naga tore themselves from the Akasha to wreak bloody vengeance on the humans who had murdered them. In time, the visions faded, and Zamalash’s slumber was peaceful again.

When the webs of sleep fell away, Zamalash awakened to find himself face to face with Nezumi, strange creatures that he recognized as livestock and wild prey he had once hunted. These creatures were different, however. They were taller, larger, walked more erect, and burning in their eyes was the light of intelligence. Most recoiled in horror from Zamalash, their primitive instincts demanding that they flee before a predator. One stood his ground, however, and met Zamalash’s eyes without fear. The beast pointed to a human, a creature recognized from his hazy dreams, lying dead on the floor. A crude spear was embedded in the man’s chest, just as his blade was buried in the coils of a sleeping Naga. The creature had found the sleeping chamber, and had intended to slaughter the Naga. The Nezumi had stopped him. The Nezumi looked into Zamalash’s eyes and uttered a crude, hissing sound. It was a butchered Naga word, but one that recognized nonetheless.

“Life.”

The months since his awakening have not been kind to Zamalash. The few survivors he has discovered in Kalpa’s ruins will not awaken despite his best efforts. Some sinister aspect of the Great Sleep keeps them tightly in its grasp. The Nezumi fear him, but thanks to their Rememberer, a sort of philosopher or historian, they have accepted Zamalash among their number. He, in turn, is learning of their culture and their language. The Tattered Ear Tribe is what the creatures call themselves, and they discovered Kalpa purely by accident while seeking another tribe called the Broken Shinbone. Regardless of what quirk of fate brought them to Kalpa, the Tattered Ear saved Zamalash’s life, and the lives of those that yet sleep beneath the city. So long as he lives, he will aid the Nezumi, though he can never truly repay the enormity of the debt he owes them.

The Zamalash, Ally of the Tattered Ear
Air: 2
Reflexes 3
Earth: 3
Fire: 3
Water: 3
Perception 4
Akasha: 2
School/Rank: Warrior 2
Glory: N/A
Status: N/A
Honor: N/A
Advantages: Allies (Tattered Ear Tribe, 1 point/4 points), Language (Nezumi), Venom (Venom Spray, 7 points), Way of the Land (Northern Wall Mountains, Shinomen Mori)
Disadvantages: Bad Reputation (Among Naga) (Associates with Nezumi), Obligation (Tattered Ear, 4 points)
Skills: Athletics 2, Battle 1, Defense 3, Dueling 2, Hunting 4, Jiujitsu 2, Kyujutsu 2, Lore: Nezumi Customs 3, Stealth 3, Swordsmanship 4, Theology (Moksha) 2


Creatures of Rokugan 2.0 [Working Title] Preview:
Naga Warrior School (Pre-editing version)

Rank 1: Drawing from the Deep
Naga warriors are trained to draw upon the vast experience within the Akasha and apply it to their training. You gain a number of Free Raises per day equal to your Akasha. These Free Raises may be used on any School Skill Roll. You may add your Akasha to the total of all attack rolls.

Rank 2: The Tides of War
The serpentine grace of the Naga people is put to great use in a warrior’s training, making it difficult for even the most skilled opponent to land a blow. When you are in the Full Defense posture, you have a second chance to avoid successful attacks. If an opponent successfully strikes you, you may make an Agility/Defense roll against a TN equal to his attack roll. If you are successful, the strike misses. You may add your Fire to the total of all Initiative rolls.

Kitsune Ryukan, Fox Clan Champion
Ten years ago, few among the Fox would ever have believed that Kitsune Ryukan would ever amount to more than a young troublemaker, although Ryukan would have surely said that he was destined for greatness. Now, the entire Fox Clan supports their Champion and honors him in all things, but Ryukan believes he is a failure because his of cousin’s death, and longs for nothing so much as the simple joys he knew in his youth.

Ryukan was born without the ability to speak to the kami. This was most unexpected, as he was born to parents that both shared a tremendous bond not only with the elements, but also with the kitsune spirits that dwelled within Kitsune Mori. Ryukan could not hear the spirits’ whispers, but he knew they were there. Even as a youth, he spent most of his time deep within Kitsune Mori, exploring the darkest shadows and communing in his own ways with the spirits there. Gradually, his family realized that Ryukan followed his own path, and among the Fox such things were not a reason for condemnation. In time, the young man was fostered to the Crab to study alongside the spiritual Toritaka, who found a willing and eager student in the young Ryukan.

Among the Toritaka, Ryukan discovered the truths behind many things he had previously understood only on an instinctual basis. He learned of the spirits that he had known since childhood, and the spirit realms from which they came. When he returned to Kitsune Mori, Ryukan disappeared into the forest and remained gone for days on end, returning to his home to speak to his family and to accept any new responsibilities that awaited him. When those were completed, however, he returned to the forest. In a short period of time, the young man became the Fox Clan’s greatest hunter and tracker, and the greatest expert on the mysteries within Kitsune Mori. Not even Ryukan’s cousin, the Fox Champion and the clan’s greatest shugenja, Kitsune Ryosei, could match his knowledge.

When Ryosei disappeared into the Shadowlands seeking her father a few months before Daigotsu attacked Otosan Uchi, she left explicit instructions that Ryukan was to assume her position in her absence. Though none would speak out against Ryosei’s choice, many doubted the Ryukan would be capable of such a responsibility. Many, including Ryukan, believed that her parting orders were nothing more than a means to prevent the young man from chasing her into the Shadowlands. A command from his Champion was the only thing that Ryukan would never dare ignore. When Ryosei returned a few months later, the Fox Clan breathed a collective sigh of relief. The relief was short lived, however, as Ryosei adjourned to a temple and instructed Ryukan to administrate the clan’s affairs in her name. She remained Champion, but the burden of her responsibility fell upon Ryukan.

Responsibility has transformed Ryukan. His duties are to oversee the Kitsune Mori in the Emperor’s name, and to ensure the continued welfare of his clan. Before Ryosei even returned from the Shadowlands, Ryukan realized that these duties and his love for the forest were one in the same. Everything that is sacred about his beloved Kitsune Mori stems from his people and their connection to the kitsune spirits that dwell within it. Did the fox spirits encourage Ryosei to choose him as her successor? Ryukan does not know, but he knows that he must protect them with his life, and if necessary with the lives of his people. The kitsune and the Fox Clan are one in the same, and he will die before he allows anyone or anything to disturb them.

Only one specter haunts Ryukan: the death of his cousin Ryosei. She was found dead in the temple, seemingly of old age, but Ryukan knows better. Ryosei was too full of life, to close to the spirits, to simply pass away in some edifice of cold stone. If her time had come naturally, she would have walked into Kitsune Mori and none would ever have heard from her again. At night, as the sun dips below the horizon, Ryukan stares into the deepening shadows that the mountains cast around Kitsune Mori and wonders.

If there is a threat that he cannot see, how can he protect the Fox Clan from it?

Kitsune Ryukan, Fox Clan Champion
Air: 3
Earth: 3
Stamina 5
Fire: 4
Water: 2
Perception 4
Void: 4
School/Rank: Toritaka Bushi 3 / Woodland Tracker 1
Glory: 4.1
Status: 7.6
Honor: 3.3
Advantages: Multiple Schools, Social Position (Fox Clan Champion), Way of the Land (Kitsune Mori)
Disadvantages: Brash, Obligation (Fox Clan, 4 points)
Kata: Striking as Earth, Striking as Water, Victory of the Wind
Skills: Animal Handing (Falcons) 3, Athletics 4, Battle 2, Courtier 3, Defense 3, Etiquette 4, Hunting (Survival, Tracking, Wilderness Lore) 7, Kenjutsu 4, Kyujutsu 2, Lore: Spirit Realms 3, Meditation 3, Spears 2, Stealth 4, Theology (Fortunes, Shintao) 2


The Toritaka Bushi School will be updated on the L5R RPG website as part of the School Update Project. The Woodland Tracker Path appears in the forthcoming sourcebook, The Four Winds: The Toturi Dynasty from Gold to Lotus Edition. To tide you over, here’s a preview of the Woodland Tracker Path.

Technique: The Hidden Path – Many among the Minor Clans are intimately familiar with the wilderness throughout the Empire, and their experience within the wilderness serves them well in many capacities. The tracker rolls additional die equal to his Insight Rank on all Hunting and Stealth rolls.

Et si vous ne voulez plus louper toutes ces biographies, voici le lien vers une mine d'info :

http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0

Je pense qu'elle est déjà archi-connue (forum AEG), mais pour les novices comme moi c'est bien utile

Ca fait plus d'un mois qu'il n;y a plus de biographie.

Pourquoi ? Rush de fin d'année et ils se concentrent sur la 2ème Aide de jeu en ligne (la suite de l'adaptation des écoles en 3ème ed) qu'ils nous promettent avant la fin de l'année ou ils ont décidé de passer à autre chose ?

Reduction des effectifs de AEG.

Du fait de cette réduction d'effectifs, il n'y a plus non plus de fiction hebdomadaire depuis un mois. A mon avis, pour la suite de l'adaptation des écoles, on peut toujours courir...

Hiryu, qui trouve dommage que ce soient d'autres que les décideurs qui payent pour une politique marketing de merde

Ben non Shawn Carman a bien dit que cela allait sortir.

Bayushi Ryumi a écrit :Ben non Shawn Carman a bien dit que cela allait sortir.

Il dit ça en continu pour la quinzaine suivante quasiment depuis juillet, donc ça manque un peu de crédibilité...

On rappelle qu'au départ, ils devaient en sortir un par semaine pendant un mois, et que là il y a déjà eu plus de 3 mois depuis le premier...

Hiryu, Scorpion qui n'aime pas les promesses de Gascon

Enfin, en même temps, c'est gratuit, donc un bonus...

Donc je vais pas trop râler si ce qu'il fournisse gratuitement ne suit pas le rythme prévu.

Rythme qui comme d'habitude a été un peu trop enthousiaste...


Personnellement, je préfère qu'ils s'investissent plus dans des produits que eux je paye. Et que là, je veux sans défauts.

Enfin là non plus c'est loin d'être garanti...

Honnetement, je pense qu'on aura les ecoles, mais pas le reste.