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 Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:25 am
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The Players
Crab Clan
Kaiu Kagae, Kaiu Engineer (Mongooseh)
Higher Purpose; Anti-social x2
Crane Clan
Kakita Zanzen, Kakita Bushi (Raganui Minamoto) (Alternate copy)
Bad Fortune (Mismatched eyes); Brash
Lion Clan
Kitsu Kyumi, Kitsu Shugenja (Agent Sinistra)
Personal Attendant; Friendly Kami; Gullible; Haunted x2; Idealistic; Spoiled
Matsu Seichiro, Akodo Bushi (Keith Valken Lionheart)
Death Trance; Heartless; Large; Can't Lie; Idealistic; Missing Eye; Soft-Hearted
Mantis Clan
Yoritomo Hisashi (Sutiiven)
Scorpion Clan
Bayushi Kojiro, Bayushi Bushi (Plainsfox)
Bland; Dangerous Beauty; Bitter Betrothal; Driven; Lost Love; Obligation; Phobia (Ocean); Wrath of the Kami (Water)
Shosuro Miyako, Shosuro Actor (Tei Kae)
Dangerous Beauty; Bland; Voice
Hare Clan
Ujina Denbe, (Psychofish)
Clear Thinker; Bad Fortune (Allergy); Sworn Enemy; Unlucky x2
Notable NPCs
Toritaka Tokugawa, Crab Jr, Magistrate of Kuda Mura
Magistrate Machiko, Magistrate of the Yoake Province
Kufu, Ashigaru of Kuda Mura
Jotaro, Ashigaru of Kuda Mura
Kaiu Hana, Wife of the resident Kaiu engineer and former Kuni Witch Hunter
Kaiu Ieyasu, resident Kaiu engineer |
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 10:12 am
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Year 1151, 26th Day of the Month of the Serpent
The summer solstice had come and gone, and in southern Rokugan, things were beginning to heat up. Oh, your empire for a horse! You were far enough inland to avoid the humidity that the coastal Clans are no doubt dealing with, but it was still unseasonably hot for so early in the summer season.
Around early afternoon, the group would arrive on foot at the gates of Kuda Mura. It's a very sizable village, but a village all the same. As such, it gets a formal description:
Kuda Mura is a quiet village, one of the few in Crab lands that has plentiful arable land. This village is highly prized by the Hida, who often keep their magistrates nearby in the event of a northern attack. If the village of Kuda Mura were ever destroyed, Crab food production would be halved.
At first, there was surprise from the villagers when a bunch of disgruntled looking samurai came in. However, a member of the Crab was with them, and it soon became apparent that the disgruntled feelings were about the heat - something they were used to down here. Soon, a junior magistrate would be dispatched to investigate... I mean, to greet all of you. Yeah, greet. That's what I meant.
"In the name of the Crab, I demand - oh. Kaiu Kagae? Ha, it IS you. Ieyasu's son, right?" the magistrate would ask. It would be someone that Kagae would know as a loose acquaintance at best. Kagae gains a Free Raise on his Lore: Heraldry roll to recognize/know of this person. "Whether these are friends of yours or not, I'm going to have to ask to see your traveling papers," the man would say, addressing the entire group.
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MECHANICAL NOTES:
How are you coping with the heat? Everyone roll me a Raw Earth Roll vs TN 10. On a success, you are coping adequately. Failure means that you're probably drenched in sweat and miserable, and probably low on rations. One raise will make you coping well enough where you're only slightly inconvenienced. Two raises will make you able to cope just fine, aka "You call THIS heat?" Additional raises may be called to aid others cope, granting them a free raise on a one-for-one basis.
Kaiu Kagae gains a Free Raise on this roll, because it's his home.
Yoritomo Hisashi gains a Free Raise on this roll, because it's the same latitude as his home. And a lot less humid.
Kitsu Kyumi gains a Free Raise from Blessing of Water, but her Spoiled gobbles the Free Raise right up. Kyumi MAY get a free raise for Omi, but Omi will then have to roll as well.
Kitsu Kyumi, your Water Kami is getting really ticked off at these conditions.
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In addition, if Kaiu Kagae reaches Insight Rank 2, either at the beginning or end of Act II, he may use the opportunity to excuse himself to go learn his School Rank 2 technique with his Sensei. Everyone else, you will need to wait for a better opportunity.
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Keith Valken Lionheart rolled 2 10-sided dice:
3, 10
Total: 13 (2-20)
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 1:42 pm
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Agent Sinistra rolled 2 10-sided dice:
5, 5
Total: 10 (2-20)
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 2:20 pm
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Mongooseh rolled 4 10-sided dice:
6, 1, 8, 6
Total: 21 (4-40)
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 2:57 pm
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Psychofish rolled 5 10-sided dice:
4, 10, 8, 1, 3
Total: 26 (5-50)
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:09 pm
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:11 pm
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Mongooseh rolled 2 10-sided dice:
9, 9
Total: 18 (2-20)
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:12 pm
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Plainsfox rolled 2 10-sided dice:
10, 8
Total: 18 (2-20)
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:45 pm
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Tei Kae rolled 7 10-sided dice:
8, 3, 1, 5, 7, 5, 4
Total: 33 (7-70)
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:56 pm
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{Storytelling 5k4 =23 plus Free Raise}
As Miyako sat at the table in the Inn near the gates, she paid little mind to the going ons outside and instead kept her attention on the gentlemen in front of her, her jade green eyes watching carefully all within the room even as her lips curled into an attractive smile.
"I see that your father has taught you well the stories of the Scorpion, young Crab Lord. But has he told you why the green eyed girl can not lie?" She tapped the side of her face, the black lace that lightly held to her face even while bringing out the startling green of the purest jade within them.
"Ah....no. I thought that was just a children's story."
Miyako's smile only deepened. "Then let me enlighten you, young lords." Taking care not to favor one over the other. She was here with purpose, not to court. No matter how much fun those games could be. :A young woman, Naiu Misaru by name, was married to one Naiu Mori. They were a young couple, believed to be very much in love. But as you know, most Crabs must do a turn of duty upon the wall. Mori was no different. Like a dutiful wife, Misaru would come visit him once a week, bring a basket so that they might share a lunch together. But shortly into his tour of duty, Misaru came to visit him, but he was not at his normal post, having been sent elsewhere for a change."
She took a sip of her tea, letting the two lords absorb the information and possibly try to figure out where she was going with the story. Replacing the cup, she continued. "But she must see him, for she had glad tidings to bring him. Of a marriage contract for their yet unborn child should she be female as the wise women had foreseen. Following the directions of his clan mates, she eventually came upon him, undressing another fellow wall mate, a female, although it was in innocence, to dress a wound she had received. Insecure, she fled going to the wrong side of the wall and becoming lost."
"Inconsolable and distraught, Mori searched for her, until months later, he found her...tainted by the shadowlands and still pregnant. He knew his duty. Even as she attacked him, He pinned her to the ground and pressed the jade he'd taken with him, the jade he'd sold every worldly possession for, He drove it into her body, slaying her, then driving his axe into her torso, cutting the child from within her very body as she laid there writhing, calling his name." It was not a story for weak stomachs, but these lords had asked for real stories, not fairy tales.
Of course, by this point, anyone would have been confused as to what this had to do with a green eyed girl. But Miyako was patient. "The child seemed unharmed by the Shadowland taint and when her eyes opened, they were of the purest jade he had ever seen. Thinking that he had been blessed even in his sorrow by doing his duty, he raised the girl. She grew strong and lovely, the very image of his beloved."
"She loved her father well, but one day when the girl was young, a Scorpion Magistrate and a Crane Lordling came to their village, inquiring as to why her mother's family had not heard from her in many years and to see if she had a child yet so that the pre arranged marriage could take place. When the Crane saw the child, he knew her for her mother's child and looked for her parent. But the girl explained that he was to be her husband, he became even more confused. Looking at the masked man, the girl replied matter of factly that her father had killed her mother. Even though Mori had not told her the story, nor had he told anyone else, simply claiming that his wife had died in childbirth."
"The Crane was furious, but before he could foolishly strike a blow, the magistrate stopped him and asked the girl a few more questions, including ones of her own crimes. With his wisdom, he concluded that the girl, due to the influence of the jade could not tell a lie for her heart was as pure in its innocence as that precious stone itself. It was both a treasure and a curse. For she could not protect her family or clan nor even herself. But she was also as anyone would wish the rest of the world to be. She was a danger to everything if she were to rise up. And her husband to be was a Crane of quite the influence. Taking her father into custody, he recommended that the Crane lord do the same with his daughter, marrying her as he aught, knowing that if the Crane did not protect her, the rest of the world would use her."
She lifted the cup again, sipping lightly at the tea, likely watching the confused Crab Lordlings faces. "But he took the lesson of the girl quite to heart, passing her story down in his family for many many generations." Whether the story was true or not, it was an interesting way to pass the time, and perhaps to see how the Crabs reacted to it.
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Raganui Minamoto rolled 4 10-sided dice:
5, 2, 1, 4
Total: 12 (4-40)
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Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 12:45 am
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 6:47 pm
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I will have Hisashi make his roll as soon as he logs on (he's been offline for several days). Anyone (besides Miyako) has to choose from the following list:
One koku spent on traveling supplies/lodging.
One koku spent on traveling supplies/lodging.
One koku spent on traveling supplies/lodging.
One koku spent on traveling supplies/lodging.
One week's worth of rations spent and 1 bu spent on lodging.
One week's worth of rations spent and 1 bu spent on lodging.
One week's worth of rations spent and 1 bu spent on lodging.
One week's worth of rations spent and 1 bu spent on lodging.
Exhausted: -1k0 and dice cannot explode for all earth-based rolls until you spend a full day resting (cumulative)*.
Weary: -1k0 and dice cannot explode for all fire-based rolls until you spend a full day resting (cumulative)*.
Grumpy: -1k0 and dice cannot explode for all air-based rolls until you spend a full day resting (cumulative)*.
Sluggish: -1k0 and dice cannot explode for all water-based rolls until you spend a full day resting (cumulative)*.
Unfocused: -1k0 and dice cannot explode for all void-based rolls until you spend a full day resting (cumulative)*.
*Just the time needed to recover is cumulative, not the dice roll penalty (which applies ONLY to rolls based on that element).
Characters that failed the roll must choose 6 from this table. At least three must be from the red category.
Characters that passed the roll must choose 4 from this table. At least two must be from the red category.
Characters that passed and made one raise must choose 3 from this table. At least one must be from the red category.
Characters that passed and made two raises must choose 2 from this table. At least one must be from the red category.
Make sure to post what your choices are!
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@ Kuda Mura:
Denbe would be uncertain as to the man's identity, and he didn't really "look like a Crab", whatever that means. But it was not difficult for him to realize the man's profession and station. On the other hand, Kagae would recognize the man's face, but couldn't place a name to go with it. He was definitely a Toritaka, a man of the former Falcon Clan, and has done magistratey work for years in this area. Kagae saw him all the time, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember the name!
Takahiro? Tekkan? Teika? It definitely began with a T...
"Not only have you left your workshop, Kagae-san, but you even brought back friends. That's so unlike you, I'm tempted to brand you a bog hag now and call it a day." The young man, not much older than any of you, let out a short laugh at his... unsophisticated joke. Must be a Crab thing.
"..." He looked at Kagae attempting to study his face and confessed to not knowing his name, and let out a sigh accordingly. "Toritaka Tokugawa," he reminded Kagae/introduced himself. He didn't bother checking Kagae's information, but did make it a point to check the traveling papers of the other samurai.
Or rather, checked to see if they even had them. He didn't actually seem too keen on actually checking them. As far as modern Rokugani civilization goes, this place is a bit backwater, so excitement and trouble must not happen very often for him to be too concerned with it.
"Your parents? Fine, I imagine. Trust be told, I didn't even realize you were gone, because they had carried on like you were still holed up in your 'workshop'. They're still in good health to the best of my knowledge. Your best bet is to just pay them a visit yourself." Tokugawa finished checking the last of the papers offered to him, giving quick, polite smiles in response.
"Welcome, strangers, to Kuda Mura. A whole lotta nothing happens around these parts of Crab Lands, so if you're looking for excitement, you've come to the wrong place. If not, then relax. A lot of you look a bit... beleaguered, so I suggest stopping by the Husk & Shell, the local inn. Get a bite to eat, rest a spell. Or several spells."
Tokugawa would wait to see if anyone had anything to ask or say, but otherwise would not impede anyone from being on their way.
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@ Husk & Shell Inn:
The two young Crab samurai - or rather, samurai's children, as they were not quite of age for their gempukku yet - did listen intently. One boy was more rugged and brutish, while the other seemed a bit better dressed, but they were still Crab through and through. They seemed a bit bored at first, but the bigger lad definitely caught major interest after the middle part. The better dressed lad seemed to be only interested because his friend was.
In the end, they did clap their hands in applauds to the story. "Wow, that was intense at the end there!" the larger one would say.
"Definitely not where I thought you were going with that," commented the other.
Most of the other adults, nearly all peasantry, were going about their business normally, and didn't seem to be paying Miyako much mind. But she did manage to captivate her current audience of two. Until...
"Hey! There you two are! ... who's the chick?" a third boy, thinner and more wiry than the rest would say as he appeared in the inn's open doorway. "No matter; a bunch of other clan samurai just walked into town! Wanna check them out?"
"DO WE!" they both called out, instantly getting up from their seats and seemingly abandoning Miyako as they ran for the doorway.
Oh well. You win some, you lose some.
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 7:09 pm
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 7:15 pm
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Miyako's own interest was now peaked. Letting the smile upon her lips curl into a more neutral state, she stood, shaking out her simple kimono to make sure no unwanted crinkle remained. The tiny doll woman shrugged off the deserters, storytelling had simply been a way to pass the time while she waited. And it seemed as if her wait was at an end.
Leaving the building at a more leisurely pace, she brought up the decorated fan to her face, snapping it open gracefully before she began to fan herself, to remove the sweat from her body before it chanced to do anything untoward. Her mask firmly in place, all of them that needed to be so, she made her way outside, but not to the gate, but to go about her rounds of talking to the people as she'd done most every day. If she ran into the new group, so be it. If not, information was information.
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 7:41 pm
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