Vanifae
First Post
I started running this campaign this week and I hope to continue it, I currently only have two characters and may get a third but not sure. Both are relatively new to gaming and all three of us are new to Legend of the Five Rings, I am the most experienced and this is my first time running the game since I tried the D20 version probably 4-5 years ago. I am running the 4th Edition and I am very impressed with it so far, very lightweight and easy to run thus far. I do need to encourage raises though, but that will come with time. Our first adventure was purely role playing and social with no combat, I ran the Tournament of Samurai, a fun little adventure I rather enjoyed with some modifications to fit it into my larger campaign framework.
There are spoilers for the adventure, you are warned.
Important Characters
Bayushi Shiatari (PC): A young Scorpion bushi, 19 years of age, she is considered something of a failure to her family thanks to the Crane clan, Doji Aiko in particular, and a financial deal gone bad that cost her family much of their fortune. She got personal vengeance by having Aiko's young son murdered but it did little to reverse the fortunes of her family. Her father has decided to rectify that by sending her to the Phoenix lands to pay back a debt to an old friend and hopefully give his daughter a chance to prove her loyalty and worth to the family. She is a deadly warrior and an accomplished duelist her seductive beauty rivals her skills.
Agasha Mayako (PC): Daughter, age 18, of an influential Phoenix daimyo, Agasha Kosuke, she has both Agasha and Seppun blood, from her mother and great things are expected of her. Trained as a shugenja in the Isawa Shugenja school, she is a very mischievous and perhaps dangerous individual who received some training in low skills that would possibly dishonor her family if known. She constantly seeks the approval of her mother and has two younger siblings; Sukime age 8 and Keiko age 11, both being trained to be Shiba bushi like their father.
Asahina Hana (PC): A young Crane shugenja she has been charged by her parents to fulfill a debt to the Phoenix and Agasha Kosuke in the specific. She is a sweet young woman who seems not overly fond of violence but willing to do what she must. Hana seems to be the voice of reason in the group and tends to refrain from the more low and shameful behavior that Shiatari and Mayako display. Nobutada has taken a great interest in her.
Agasha Yoko: Daughter of a Hida bushi and an Agasha courtier, her parents married for love but the story did not end well for them. Her father died in battle shortly after her birth and her mother died while she was away being trained in the Hida Bushi school. She was raised by Agasha Kosuke and is very much a Phoenix samurai, but her Hida blood is strong, granting her massive size and strength. She is a calm and reserved individual and is fairly close to Mayako, they are more like sisters than friends. She has recently been reassigned as the magistrate and lady of North Border Village in light of the loss of Lady Shion's family recently. Doji Jin a Crane duelist is her lover, and the two plan to wed if able.
Agasha Ayame: Born into the Seppun Imperial family, she is a woman of privilege, grace, and beauty. She was married off to Agasha Kosuke shortly after her coming of age, and has given him three children. Trained as an Otomo courtier, she is very difficult to outwit or trick and seems to notice everything around her in the court. She is a formidable of stoic presence and rarely shows affection, even her own children. She is distant but caring in her own way. She is a dutiful wife and an honored member of the family. Her daughters are her pride and joy but she also expects great things and gives them no chance for mediocrity.
Suzume Takeshi: A young poet warrior of the Sparrow clan, he is currently traveling the empire to gather research for his book of poems. He intends to write poetry that captures the essence of all the known clans, Great and Minor and publish them. His lord has given him leave to do so and it has allowed Takeshi to see much of the world. He is an accomplished warrior but he prefers tea and poetry to bloodshed. Takeshi prides himself as something of a playboy and enjoys taking great pleasure in the world around him. His most distinguishing feature is his shocking yellow-blonde hair, dyed of course, and handsome features. He is easy going and very cordial, and tends to avoid being too formal unless he has no choice. He is the heir to the Sparrow Clan Champion and seems to resent the attention it brings.
Doji Aiko: An influential courtier, trained in the Yasuki tradition family had some old favors that the Crab had to honor, she is outwardly an honorable and dutiful woman. Truly thought she is a greedy and ambitious woman who keeps her buffoon of a husband happy by smiling politely and playing the role of good little wife. She has amassed a great fortune through shrewd deals, deceit, and seduction often while attributing her success to the skill of her husband who is oblivious to her many lovers, back room dealings, and merchant connections. She gave birth to a son, Yamaji, but he was murdered by the Scorpion. To avoid the shame, and unable to prove who his murderer was she lied and said her son died of illness. But since then she has turned her ire to rooting out his murderer and making sure the Scorpion suffer. She and Bayushi Shiatari are bitter enemies and she suspects the young Scorpion may have played a role in her son's murder.
Mirumoto Rai: Another warrior poet of the Dragon clan he is currently an unwitting pawn of the Hidden Lotus Alliance. He has no great love for the Phoenix but he does not actually want outright war either but he is a loyal and honorable member of his house and will do as instructed. He is also one of Doji Aiko-sama's many lovers; although he thinks she truly loves him as he does her. Rai is a skilled swordsman but not overly skilled in the court and as of the end of the adventure his anger towards the Phoenix has grown after his dalliance was exposed by a young Phoenix shugenja, Mayako-san. Thankfully Aiko-sama used her position to cover up the whole ordeal but the damage was done.
Natsuko: A ronin samurai bushi, she is a dangerous beauty who enjoys being somewhat scandalous and dark. Not much else is known about her besides her connection to the Dragon clan. She arrived with Mirumoto Rai and was often seen in his company in public.
Agasha Kosuke, Sweet Plum Province Daimyo: Father to Mayako and husband to Ayame, he has yet to be actually seen in the game. He is a gentle soul though not a pacifist. He is a veteran of many conflicts and earned his position through his efforts. He is respected by the people of his province and his samurai that serve him. Kosuke has no desire to go to war with the Dragon but he will do what he must to protect his clan and his Province. Unlike his wife, he is a very affectionate man and dotes after his daughters, including Agasha Yoko, constantly. He is known as the Great Strategist and the War Bird by his retainers.
Sukime: Mischievous young girl, age 8, who wants to grow up to be one of the strongest bushi in the empire. She has a natural talent for athleticism and getting into trouble and hates boring things like the court, poetry, and other dumb things. She loves play fighting, following her eldest sister around, and generally getting into places she has no business getting into.
Seppun Nobutada: An Imperial family bushi, cousin of Agasha Mayako and nephew to Agasha Ayame, he is an honorable young man who believes in the sanctity of the empire. He has no qualms making harsh decisions for the greater good and tends to be fairly rigid and conservative. He cares a great deal about his family and would die for them. He wants to prove himself in battle and feels slighted that his father will not let him join the Imperial Legions.
Keiko: The middle sister perfectly describes Keiko. She is quiet and unassuming, she tends to avoid the spotlight and prefers reading and writing to sword play. She loves history, warfare, and tactics and is very much her father’s daughter. Unlike Sukime she does not get into trouble and does what is expected of her. She loves her sisters but tends to show little emotion like her mother.
Shiba Yuuka: Lady Ayame's new yojimbo she comes from a respected Phoenix family and takes her duty seriously. She is well thought of by her superiors and is skilled in courtly manners nearly as well as her bushi training. She is ambitious and always thinking ahead, and is a clear thinker. She clashes with Mayako, who hates her for the favor her mother shows the young yojimbo. Yuuka is adept with just about any social situation and is rarely caught off guard.
There are spoilers for the adventure, you are warned.
Important Characters
Bayushi Shiatari (PC): A young Scorpion bushi, 19 years of age, she is considered something of a failure to her family thanks to the Crane clan, Doji Aiko in particular, and a financial deal gone bad that cost her family much of their fortune. She got personal vengeance by having Aiko's young son murdered but it did little to reverse the fortunes of her family. Her father has decided to rectify that by sending her to the Phoenix lands to pay back a debt to an old friend and hopefully give his daughter a chance to prove her loyalty and worth to the family. She is a deadly warrior and an accomplished duelist her seductive beauty rivals her skills.
Agasha Mayako (PC): Daughter, age 18, of an influential Phoenix daimyo, Agasha Kosuke, she has both Agasha and Seppun blood, from her mother and great things are expected of her. Trained as a shugenja in the Isawa Shugenja school, she is a very mischievous and perhaps dangerous individual who received some training in low skills that would possibly dishonor her family if known. She constantly seeks the approval of her mother and has two younger siblings; Sukime age 8 and Keiko age 11, both being trained to be Shiba bushi like their father.
Asahina Hana (PC): A young Crane shugenja she has been charged by her parents to fulfill a debt to the Phoenix and Agasha Kosuke in the specific. She is a sweet young woman who seems not overly fond of violence but willing to do what she must. Hana seems to be the voice of reason in the group and tends to refrain from the more low and shameful behavior that Shiatari and Mayako display. Nobutada has taken a great interest in her.
Agasha Yoko: Daughter of a Hida bushi and an Agasha courtier, her parents married for love but the story did not end well for them. Her father died in battle shortly after her birth and her mother died while she was away being trained in the Hida Bushi school. She was raised by Agasha Kosuke and is very much a Phoenix samurai, but her Hida blood is strong, granting her massive size and strength. She is a calm and reserved individual and is fairly close to Mayako, they are more like sisters than friends. She has recently been reassigned as the magistrate and lady of North Border Village in light of the loss of Lady Shion's family recently. Doji Jin a Crane duelist is her lover, and the two plan to wed if able.
Agasha Ayame: Born into the Seppun Imperial family, she is a woman of privilege, grace, and beauty. She was married off to Agasha Kosuke shortly after her coming of age, and has given him three children. Trained as an Otomo courtier, she is very difficult to outwit or trick and seems to notice everything around her in the court. She is a formidable of stoic presence and rarely shows affection, even her own children. She is distant but caring in her own way. She is a dutiful wife and an honored member of the family. Her daughters are her pride and joy but she also expects great things and gives them no chance for mediocrity.
Suzume Takeshi: A young poet warrior of the Sparrow clan, he is currently traveling the empire to gather research for his book of poems. He intends to write poetry that captures the essence of all the known clans, Great and Minor and publish them. His lord has given him leave to do so and it has allowed Takeshi to see much of the world. He is an accomplished warrior but he prefers tea and poetry to bloodshed. Takeshi prides himself as something of a playboy and enjoys taking great pleasure in the world around him. His most distinguishing feature is his shocking yellow-blonde hair, dyed of course, and handsome features. He is easy going and very cordial, and tends to avoid being too formal unless he has no choice. He is the heir to the Sparrow Clan Champion and seems to resent the attention it brings.
Doji Aiko: An influential courtier, trained in the Yasuki tradition family had some old favors that the Crab had to honor, she is outwardly an honorable and dutiful woman. Truly thought she is a greedy and ambitious woman who keeps her buffoon of a husband happy by smiling politely and playing the role of good little wife. She has amassed a great fortune through shrewd deals, deceit, and seduction often while attributing her success to the skill of her husband who is oblivious to her many lovers, back room dealings, and merchant connections. She gave birth to a son, Yamaji, but he was murdered by the Scorpion. To avoid the shame, and unable to prove who his murderer was she lied and said her son died of illness. But since then she has turned her ire to rooting out his murderer and making sure the Scorpion suffer. She and Bayushi Shiatari are bitter enemies and she suspects the young Scorpion may have played a role in her son's murder.
Mirumoto Rai: Another warrior poet of the Dragon clan he is currently an unwitting pawn of the Hidden Lotus Alliance. He has no great love for the Phoenix but he does not actually want outright war either but he is a loyal and honorable member of his house and will do as instructed. He is also one of Doji Aiko-sama's many lovers; although he thinks she truly loves him as he does her. Rai is a skilled swordsman but not overly skilled in the court and as of the end of the adventure his anger towards the Phoenix has grown after his dalliance was exposed by a young Phoenix shugenja, Mayako-san. Thankfully Aiko-sama used her position to cover up the whole ordeal but the damage was done.
Natsuko: A ronin samurai bushi, she is a dangerous beauty who enjoys being somewhat scandalous and dark. Not much else is known about her besides her connection to the Dragon clan. She arrived with Mirumoto Rai and was often seen in his company in public.
Agasha Kosuke, Sweet Plum Province Daimyo: Father to Mayako and husband to Ayame, he has yet to be actually seen in the game. He is a gentle soul though not a pacifist. He is a veteran of many conflicts and earned his position through his efforts. He is respected by the people of his province and his samurai that serve him. Kosuke has no desire to go to war with the Dragon but he will do what he must to protect his clan and his Province. Unlike his wife, he is a very affectionate man and dotes after his daughters, including Agasha Yoko, constantly. He is known as the Great Strategist and the War Bird by his retainers.
Sukime: Mischievous young girl, age 8, who wants to grow up to be one of the strongest bushi in the empire. She has a natural talent for athleticism and getting into trouble and hates boring things like the court, poetry, and other dumb things. She loves play fighting, following her eldest sister around, and generally getting into places she has no business getting into.
Seppun Nobutada: An Imperial family bushi, cousin of Agasha Mayako and nephew to Agasha Ayame, he is an honorable young man who believes in the sanctity of the empire. He has no qualms making harsh decisions for the greater good and tends to be fairly rigid and conservative. He cares a great deal about his family and would die for them. He wants to prove himself in battle and feels slighted that his father will not let him join the Imperial Legions.
Keiko: The middle sister perfectly describes Keiko. She is quiet and unassuming, she tends to avoid the spotlight and prefers reading and writing to sword play. She loves history, warfare, and tactics and is very much her father’s daughter. Unlike Sukime she does not get into trouble and does what is expected of her. She loves her sisters but tends to show little emotion like her mother.
Shiba Yuuka: Lady Ayame's new yojimbo she comes from a respected Phoenix family and takes her duty seriously. She is well thought of by her superiors and is skilled in courtly manners nearly as well as her bushi training. She is ambitious and always thinking ahead, and is a clear thinker. She clashes with Mayako, who hates her for the favor her mother shows the young yojimbo. Yuuka is adept with just about any social situation and is rarely caught off guard.
Last edited: