>>44794797
Might be a tick before I can post, I just wanted to start the thread.

>>44794797
>former Topaz Champion
Oh man, we're a former child star. Are we ever going to get past the fact that we peaked at 15?

>>44794866
It was sixteen for him, and he's actually more famous right now then he was then; Topaz Champions come and go every year after all, but Jubei's been earning his fame the hard way.

>>44794797
HAHA, time to meet our Scorpion fiance!

Apologies on the delay.

Wait a minute, don't Topaz Champions get an invitation to Winter Court by default? Or is Jubei just whining about having to do it again?

After spending days in the freezing snow and cold air of the swifter-then-usual winter, the hot bath feels amazing.
You're a samurai, and samurai must be well-groomed. You do you best to fit the image, but a mendicant shugeyosha has fewer opportunities to bathe then you'd honestly like.

"I'll just think of it as building character and endurance training," you say as you begin to dry off, finding a fine silk kimono in your clan colors waiting for you.
"Do you ALWAYS talk to yourself in the bath?" Shinzo asks from the one stall over, the two separated by a wooden wall that cuts off near the ceiling.

>WDYS?
>"Force of habit." [Honest]
>"Whenever I have the opportunity." [Flippant]
>"You didn't receive any injuries from those assassins did you?" [Concern]

>>44795444
>"You didn't receive any injuries from those assassins did you?" [Concern]

>>44795444
>>"Force of habit." [Honest]

>>44795362
>Wait a minute, don't Topaz Champions get an invitation to Winter Court by default?
This is correct, but it's been seven years since then; more have come and gone.
>Or is Jubei just whining about having to do it again?
He actually tried avoiding going the first time in fact.

"Force of habit." [Honest]

>>44795444
>>"Force of habit." [Honest]

>>44795444
>"Force of habit." [Honest]

>>44795444
>>"Force of habit." [Honest]

Oh, and could someone throw up to link to my Twitter on here?
My phone never wants to do it; it just pastes the Twitter site, not the page itself. My apologies.

>>44795607
WulinSage's twitter- https://twitter.com/Braylock100

Someone archive before the mis-archiver does

>>44795927
The mis-archievdr seems to have deleted it last I checked.

>>44795964
He's still around, albeit slower

"Sorry, it's a force of habit. Mendicant wanderers like myself rarely have anyone to speak to for long," you explain.
"Plenty of people to fight though, ne?," Shinzo replies. "From the stories I hear you dueled half of the Lion and Crane lands on your way to nowhere, and killed more bandits then any one man should really ever get the chance to. For a man who wanders everywhere like a ronin you're more active then most Imperial Legionnares and Magistrates are."

You shrug as you towel yourself off.
"Just stories, Aniue," you say dismissively. "Such things always take on a life of their own that causes the tale to grow out of proportion."
"Aaaah, but my rumors are especially reliable, Otouto," he says slyly. "I happen to know your sword has had it's fair share of blood and tested itself against a fair few duelists. If you traveled the Empire to get into fights, you got your wish."

>WDYS?
>"I don't TRY to get into fights." [Defensive]
>"It's my karma my suppose. Battle finds those who train for it." [Thoughful]
>"Meh. I didn't kill anyone who didn't have it coming." [Flippant]

>>44796010
>"I don't TRY to get into fights." [Defensive]
I don't wanna no truble

>>44796010
>"It's my karma my suppose. Battle finds those who train for it." [Thoughful]

>>44796010
>"I don't TRY to get into fights." [Defensive]
>"It's my karma my suppose. Battle finds those who train for it." [Thoughful]

>>44796010
>>"I don't TRY to get into fights." [Defensive]
I think I'm cursed bro

>>44796010
>"I don't TRY to get into fights." [Defensive]
>"It's my karma my suppose. Battle finds those who train for it." [Thoughful]

I really couldn't choose.

>>44796010
>"It's my karma my suppose. Battle finds those who train for it." [Thoughful]

>>44796010
>"I don't TRY to get into fights." [Defensive]

>"It's my karma my suppose. Battle finds those who train for it." [Thoughful]

>>44796010
>"It's my karma my suppose. Battle finds those who train for it." [Thoughful]

>>44796010
>>"I don't TRY to get into fights." [Defensive]

Since i wanted to read the first thread, and im sure others are lurking who want to as well:
>>44713223
Should work.

"It's probably karma," you reply in thought, tying in your waraji sandles. "I spent my entire life training in the ways of war. First with my father in my home lands, then at the Hundred Stances Dojo, then I test myself at the Topaz Championship and during duels. When you train for war, war finds you. Or you make wars of your I suppose."
"An oddly introspective statement. Isn't that the way of Bushido?" Shinzo asks, and his tone on the subject says he doesn't think much of it. He never did, you suppose; it's his Clan's way.
"Yes, but I can still regret the loss of life. Seeking fair duels is one thing, but I never seek out the others. Bandits, yakuza, gamblers, criminals, tsujigiri, I don't really look for fights with them; they just happen and I kill them in self-defense."
"You meddle though, don't you! I know you. You see something that goes against Bushido or your sense of justice and you stick your nose it. Otouto, that sort of thing is why people die. Maybe you always ensure that it's not you, but everything has a price and sometimes the price for justice is death," he says, and it sounds rather like a warning.
"I know. All samurai must be prepared for it," you agree.
"No, I meant that....," he begins, and then sighs as you both walk out of the baths now in coral silks and clothing. "Never mind. Let's go my sister, I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you," he suggests.

>WDYD?
>"Sure. Seriously though, is she mad at me or not?" [Ryoko]
>"How have you been, Aniue?" [Shinzo]
>"How's the mood in court? Who all is here?" [Winter Court]

>>44796427
Ah shit, I KNEW I forgot something.

>>44796494
>"How's the mood in court? Who all is here?" [Winter Court]

>>44796494
>>"Sure. Seriously though, is she mad at me or not?" [Ryoko]

>>44796494
>"How have you been, Aniue?" [Shinzo]

>>44796494
>>"Sure. Seriously though, is she mad at me or not?" [Ryoko]

>>44796494
>"Sure. Seriously though, is she mad at me or not?" [Ryoko]

>>44796494
>"Sure. Seriously though, is she mad at me or not?" [Ryoko]

>>44796494
>"Sure. Seriously though, is she mad at me or not?"

>>44796513
Seconding, we courtier now.

>>44796494
>"Sure. Seriously though, is she mad at me or not?" [Ryoko]

>>44796494
>>"Sure. Seriously though, is she mad at me or not?" [Ryoko]

File: image.jpg (80 KB, 900x563)

80 KB JPG

"Of course. Is she upset at me?" you ask, a bit hesitant.
"Why would she be?" Shinzo shrugs.
"I don't know. Maybe it's never dawned upon you but the workings of Ryoko-san's mind have never been exactly plain to me," you comment dryly.
"I've been conversing with her via letters, mostly," Shinzo says. "She seems in good health, though she misses you I think. I think she might be a bit bored whenever she stay last in Monkey Clan lands."
"Why? She's being treated right, isn't she?" you ask, concerned. Mitsuyoshi would never treat a guest, especially not your fiancé, improperly.
"No, it's more of an entertainment thing. Your family prefers simple fare. Ryoko is a cunning and intelligent woman and often grows bored if not challenged. I'm told she frequently involves herself in court matters for your family," he explains.
You shrug; you certainly never got bored at Toku Torid-e, so you can't easily relate.

You move into a private room, missing the weight of your swords at your side; they were handed to a polisher when you bathed, and you're waiting for them to come back.
After a moment Ryoko walks in with a few servants following her; she's wearing mostly red and black, with red flower designs with yellow centers on a black field being the primary theme of her clothing. Her hair is pinned up with elegantly made hairpins that you notice have delicately jeweled ends but appear to be otherwise made of solid steel. You suspect they meant to be subtle weapons. Her fine-features face have a golden mask over it that really only seems to frame her beauty rather then hide them like Shinzo's mempo does. Her elegant dress (with a somewhat less then appropriate neckline) and bearing all takes the eyes away from the kodachi she has scabbarded behind her hips. Her dress and looks deceive one into thinking she's a harmless courtier, but you know that Ryoko is in fact a warrior like Shinzo, and with a short blade is quite skilled in combat, though she downplays her skills.

File: image.jpg (463 KB, 1800x2552)

463 KB JPG

>>44797034
She delicately sits down and bows, ushering the servants out with a silent wave.
"Aniue," she says, bowing to Shinzo first before turning to you. "Anata," she calls you, making you blush a little. She's kind of forward sometimes, even though you aren't married yet.
"It is good to see you in health, Ryoko-chan," Shinzo says with a smile, removing his mempo so his handsome face shows better, letter her see his smile.
"And you, Aniue," she says delicately. "May I speak with my fiancée in private?" she asks sweetly and you start to sweat a little.
"Ah, of course Ryoko-chan, how rude of me," he says, placing his mempo back on, and you give him a panicked look as he stands up. "I'll be outside." He gives you a pointed "on your own buddy" look.
"Thank you," she says sweetly.

There's a pause as the door slides shut.
"Anataaa~?" she sings at you sweetly, scooting closer, and you begin to remind yourself that Courage is a tenant of Bushido.

"H-hai, Ryoko-san?" you ask, smiling back, wondering how fast you can get outside.

She's VERY close to you now and takes off her mask, grabs your hair roughly and SLAMS her forehead into yours, glaring furiously into your eyes.
"AN-NA-TAAAAA~!!" she growls like a Hannya, not even bothering to conceal her emotions anymore.

"WHERE. HAVE. YOU. BEEN. AN-NA-TAAAA~?!?"

>WDYS?
>"Just...around?" [Honest]
>"I uh...meant to write?" [Apologetic]
>"Ryoko-chan, you're being inappropriate...." [Admonishing]

>>44797403
>>"Just...around?" [Honest]
fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck

>>44797403
>>"I uh...meant to write?" [Apologetic]

>>44797403
Start listing off places, in order.

>>44797403
>"Just...around?" [Honest]

I wouldn't be surprised if Shinzo keeps better track of all the fights we've gotten into than we do.

>>44797403
>>"I uh...meant to write?" [Apologetic]

>>44797403
>>"Just...around?" [Honest]
>>"I uh...meant to write?" [Apologetic]

>>44797403
>>"I uh...meant to write?" [Apologetic]

>>44795444
>Admitting you heard anything through Rogukan's crappy walls
Definitely a Scorpion.

>>44797403
>>"I uh...meant to write?" [Apologetic]

>>44797403
>>"Just...around?" [Honest]
>>"I uh...meant to write?" [Apologetic]
OH HAY, THOSE HAIRPINS LOOK REALLY NICE, DEAR, PLEASE DON'T STICK THEM UNDER MY FINGERNAILS

>>44797525
This.

Start with >>44797525, end with >>44797749's closing comment.

>>44794918
>gempukku at 16
That's almost embarrassing.

"RusashiKaeruToshiKazayama-hiMuraMizuMuraRyokoOwariZakyoToshiBeiden-" you stay, reciting off cities and villages as fast as you can remember being to them.
"URUSAI!" she commands, letting your go and grabbing your kimono.

"S-sumimasen Ryoko-chan!" you apologize as she straddles you and grabs onto you like she's about to put you into a jiujutsu hold.
"Don't YOU 'Ryoko-chan' ME you Monkey-Faced sorry-excuse for a bushi! Saitei! Yatsume! KUSOTTARE! BAKAYARO!" she swears at you like a Yoritomo loosing at dice.
"I meant to write!!" you say, trying to extract yourself from her hold, but her fingers are like Hannya talons and she won't let go!

Ryoko was aways a pretty atypical Scorpion; she was temperamental and always seems to be irritated with you, probably because she was sent to live with you just like Shinzo and was alerted of her being married to you before even YOU knew. She didn't like you as much as Shinso did at first and was constantly short-tempered and manipulative when it came to you.
You suppose that's to be expected; before her gempukku her name was still Ryoko, 亮子, for "Bright Child".
After her gempukku she kept the name but used a completely unusual character spelling, 魎呼.

"Demon Child."

"Oh, so you MEANT to write? Oh okay, well that makes it all better! I'm supposed to marry a man who INTENDS to be literate, think of what I'll tell all my friends back home? They'll be so jealous of my husbands EVENTUAL literacy!"

>WDYS?
>"Stuff always happened!" [Apologetic]
>"You look pretty good though!" [Complimentory]
>"Hey, that's uncalled for!" [Defensive]

>>44798417
>>"Hey, that's uncalled for!" [Defensive]

Time to dig the hole, tell our parents we love them

>>44798417
>>"You look pretty good though!" [Complimentory]
I love her already

>>44798417
>>"You look pretty good though!" [Complimentory]

>>44798417
>"You look pretty good though!" [Complimentory]

>>44798417
>"You know, making your friends jealous shouldn't be your reason for getting married."

>>44798417
>"You look pretty good though!" [Complimentory]

>>44798417
>>"Stuff always happened!" [Apologetic]
Besides
>>"You look pretty good though!" [Complimentory]

>>44798417
Well it would mean you are responsible for me improving myself....

>>44798417
>"Stuff always happened!" [Apologetic]

>>44798417
>>"You look pretty good though!" [Complimentory]

>>44798417
>She didn't like you as much as Shinso did at first and was constantly short-tempered and manipulative when it came to you.

Ah, story of every married man ever.

>>44798417
>>"Stuff always happened!" [Apologetic]
>>"You look pretty good though!" [Complimentory]

File: image.jpg (132 KB, 900x636)

132 KB JPG

"Y-you look pretty good, Ryoko-chan!" you compliment, desperately feeling like you're trying to put out a teppo well after the fuse has been lit.
"Oh, you think so~?" she says, her tone and mood immediately switching.
"Y-yeah! I mean, here I am all scruffy and unkept all the time and you're more and more radiant then ever!" you say, unsure if you're getting somewhere. You aren't dumb or unaware, but Ryoko and Shinzo are VERY good at lying to you.

"Thank you, Anata~," she sings at you before her mood switches back
"BUT YOU CAN'T SWEET-TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS, BAKEMONO-DA!"

She looks like she's about to throttle you when she puts her hands around your throat, and for a second you'd afraid you'll have to throw her off with jiujutsu, but then she surprises you by dragging your head forward and kissing you full on the lips without bothering to be reserved about it!

You don't know when it is exactly that Ryoko started to genuinely fancy you and not treat you like the unwanted brother her own age she was saddled with.
You remember this one day after training with your uncle by the falls near the fortress when you were fifteen, you coming back soaking wet and without a shirt like a peasant working the fields after trying your damndest to beat Mitsuyoshi and failing when she saw you and was about to chew you out over something or other and then stopped.
She kinda acted different after that.

"Idiot! Fool! Why can't you be a responsible bushi and just stay at home and do your duties for the Clan? I haven't seen you in three years! Am I just supposed to wait until you get too old to fight before you marry me?!"

>WDYS?
>"Sorry...." [Apologetic. Still.]
>"If it makes you feel better, I've been thinking about you a lot?" [Cheer Up]
>"Even if I DID I'd probably spend more time away from the Clan lands. My whole family does, remember?" [Apologetic Reasoning]

>>44798966
>>"If it makes you feel better, I've been thinking about you a lot?" [Cheer Up]
Change it to more of a statement than a question

>>44798966
>"If it makes you feel better, I've been thinking about you a lot"
Statement, question mark makes it sound like were being dishonest (and i doubt we would be).

>>44798966
>>"If it makes you feel better, I've been thinking about you a lot?" [Cheer Up]
>>"Even if I DID I'd probably spend more time away from the Clan lands. My whole family does, remember?" [Apologetic Reasoning]

>>44798966
>"If it makes you feel better, I've been thinking about you a lot?" [Cheer Up]
>"Even if I DID I'd probably spend more time away from the Clan lands. My whole family does, remember?" [Apologetic Reasoning]

>>44798966
>>"Sorry...." [Apologetic. Still.]
Though
>>"If it makes you feel better, I've been thinking about you a lot?" [Cheer Up]
But
>>"Even if I DID I'd probably spend more time away from the Clan lands. My whole family does, remember?" [Apologetic Reasoning]

>>44798966
>"Even if I DID I'd probably spend more time away from the Clan lands. My whole family does, remember?" [Apologetic Reasoning]

Tsundere Scorpion is best waifu.

>>44798966
>"If it makes you feel better, I've been thinking about you a lot?" [Cheer Up]
>"Even if I DID I'd probably spend more time away from the Clan lands. My whole family does, remember?" [Apologetic Reasoning]

>>44798966
>>"If it makes you feel better, I've been thinking about you a lot?" [Cheer Up]
>>"Even if I DID I'd probably spend more time away from the Clan lands. My whole family does, remember?" [Apologetic Reasoning]

>>44799177
Honestly, Ryoko's not very tsundere.
She's just known Jubei since they were ten and fourteen years old respectively, so Jubei really pushes her buttons the wrong way and she doesn't bother to be reserved and quiet around him.

>>44799177
>>44799256
I get the feeling Ryoko is more: "commanding woman that gets frustrated at her fiance's shit when he leaves her alone" than tsundere

>>44798966
>>"Even if I DID I'd probably spend more time away from the Clan lands. My whole family does, remember?" [Apologetic Reasoning]

>>44799312
Pretty much.
Jubei drives her crazy especially because the things he considers important she mostly dismisses as stupid or irrelevant nonsense.

>>44799367
She probably wouldn't love him half as much if those things didn't matter to him.

"I've been thinking about you a lot?" you point out, trying to cheer her up.

"Oh yeah? Well, all's forgiven then, idiot! I don't want you THINKING about me, I want you to be with me, marry me, and stop goofing off all over the Empire!" she points out.
"It's NOT goofing off!" you say defensively. "I'm a shugeyosha, and my studies in Bushido and the sword have improved my skill immensely since you last saw me!"

"So what?" she dismisses. "There's hundreds of skilled samurai and warriors across the Empire, and they're all equally good for nothing if they don't use it! Skill in bugyo isn't worth anything if it's not applied properly,
"You're a warrior too, you should understand!" you argue. "I even invited you to come along!"
"Hah! Don't compare my skills to yours! I don't place such overdue importance on martial arts that I go galivanting across Rokugan and completely abandon my duties! Besides, what have you accomplished since you left?" she asks pointedly.
"I've saved tons of people! I've helped catch bandits, apprehended criminals, stopped yakuza, win duels, and I did all this without even needing to be tied to an official posting, AND I've gotten a damn sight stronger then before!" you point out.

"Hmm...," she says, putting a hand to her chin and looking off in thought. "I suppose you have at that....you've done SOME good so far in your wanderings with all the fame you've gained. That stage play really showed how widespread your game got, and there's something useful in that....,"

>WDYS?
>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]
>"Do we HAVE to talk about politics?" [Annoyed]
>"See? No harm done." [Conciliatory]

>>44799686
>>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]

>>44799686
>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]

>>44799686
>>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]

>>44799686
>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]

File: 1427728712248.gif (988 KB, 500x281)

988 KB GIF

>>44799686
>>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]

I wonder how poorly they misrepresented Jubei.

>hfw reading the script

>>44799686
>>"See? No harm done." [Conciliatory]
Then
>>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]

>>44799686
>>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]

>>44799412
No, she really wouldn't.
Like most Toku he won her over by his sheer ernest desire to help people and be a decent person and to study Bushido. He lacks political aims or ambitions, doesn't use Bushido as an excuse for hypocritical actions, and genuinely is willing to stand up for people who need it with no ulterior motives.

>>44799811
Ah so she's found herself an Idealistic Idiot to love. I feel her pain

>>44799686
>"See? No harm done." [Conciliatory]
.....
>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]

>>44799686
>>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]

>>44799811
Good to know we're the same kind of hero Sky was. Good to catch you back, Sage.

>>44799686
>"Wait, WHAT stage play?" [Confusion]
Oh gods...

I am determined to keep our relationship with Ryoko as anime as possible. All fire and scolding from her, while we try to make nice. Only when things are important or private will she admit she genuinely cares about us, or we stand up and show we have iron for a spine.

File: Spoiler Image (36 KB, 300x262)

36 KB PNG

>>44799848
Idealistic, yes. He's even got the Disadvantage.
Idiot, no. He's got an Intelligence score of 3. He's just unambiguous in his goals and motives and genuinely thinks politics should be secondary to Bushido and doing the right thing.
Pic related was the major inspiration, along with actual tales and folklore of the historical Yagyu Jubei.

>>44800150
Idiot in her mind sage, translates to the same thing as Idealistic to scorpions

>>44800073
He's about as straightforward as Sky, but he's considerably less socially moronic; he just has zero political ambitions and considers being born a daimyo's son an unhappy accident, much like Futaro Yamada's Yagyu Jubei seems to.
You WILL meet a literal analogue for Sky at some point.

>>44800233
who is this sky?
Consider me willing to learn new things

>>44800233
>You WILL meet a literal analogue for Sky at some point.
Man, he's probably going to kick the shit out of us.

>>44800299
Wulin hero quest mc.

>>44800299
The hero of Wulin Hero Quest, the quest that brought Wulin Sage his popularity, before life got in the way and forced him to abandon it.

Let's just say that after that manic, idiotic, hilarious, epic story (to say nothing of Sky's harem), I'm looking forward to this one.

>>44800339
Probably. That or he'll teach us how to separate yin and yang. You thought the Kakita were fast? You've seen NOTHING.

>>44800351
>>44800356
Ah, feeling more than a bit stupid right now, especially as this quest has gotten me to start wanting to have a look at wulin quest.
Well, looking forward to a good read on a day off.

>>44800339
or be our best bud

"See? You dismiss bugyo too swift....," you begin, then pause and blink.
"Wait, WHAT stage play?"

"Oh, you didn't hear about it?" she asks. "The Fiend of Akagi? The Doji love it, it's getting rave reviews. 'A thrilling tale of vengeance, heroism, love, and a Minor Clan samurai who rises above his lineage to become a great hero', it's supposed to be."
"Oh, they made a PLAY about that thing in Akagi Mori? And what's this crap
about 'rising above my lineage'?" you say, offended at the patronizing tone.
"They take certain liberties with your character and personality. I'm told you are more 'folksy' and 'charming'," she explains.

You sigh.
Shinzo was right; never do a Crane a favor, they'll just take it for granted.

"Ryoko?" you say after a second.
"Hai?" she says, still thinking, presumably about the shitty play.
"You're still sitting on me."


Ten minutes later Shinzo is back in the room and you are all sipping tea like nothing ever happened.

>WDYS?
>"So, who all's here right now anyway?" [Winter Court Personages]
>"Did you hear about the assassins?" [Tsujigiri]
>"What's the atmosphere like around here right now?" [Winter Court Politics]

>>44800356
>the quest that brought Wulin Sage his popularity

"Popularity" something of an exaggeration isn't it?

>>44800544
>>"What's the atmosphere like around here right now?" [Winter Court Politics]

>>44800544
>"Did you hear about the assassins?" [Tsujigiri]

>>44800544
>"Did you hear about the assassins?" [Tsujigiri]

>>44800544
>>"What's the atmosphere like around here right now?" [Winter Court Politics]

>>44800544
>>"So, who all's here right now anyway?" [Winter Court Personages]

>"So, who all's here right now anyway?" [Winter Court Personages]

>>44800544
>"What's the atmosphere like around here right now?" [Winter Court Politics]

Let's get the important info, I suppose. Those gaijin have to be causing one hell of a stir... Hey Sage, are we using the same ones from the official setting, or combining L5R with 7th Sea or something? My GM did that once. Was pretty neat.

also
>Never do the Crane a favour
No no no! DO! They might have a very weird idea of how to show their appreciation, but they are Rokugan's most potent courtiers and socialites for a REASON! They are very, VERY useful to have as allies and since they literally wrote the book on etiquette, they will always make good on a favour they owe you (it only makes sense, when they expect others to do the same for them).

>>44800569
Considering how excited everyone was at the beginning of last thread and the fact that I'm going to go out of my way to read the old quest? Probably not.

>>44800544
>>"So, who all's here right now anyway?" [Winter Court Personages]

>>44800730
Uuhhh...fair enough.
I DO feel bad about dropping it but had no idea where to take it. I outta just right that damn book already.

This quest is something of a spiritual successor to it, by design.

>>44800728
>Hey Sage, are we using the same ones from the official setting, or combining L5R with 7th Sea or something? My GM did that once. Was pretty neat.

The official gaijin nations.
Too many of the 7th Sea ones would overshadow the ones nearby Rokugan, especially the Yodotai who play an extremely important part of the history of this campaign setting.

>>44800954
Right, so to refresh...
>Merenae - Spaniards who believe a flintlock musket is the 'perfect' weapon and forbid innovation on it.
>Thrane - Roundheads circa English Civil War who are a smaller and weaker than Merenae and their enemies. Slightly more technologically though. Filthy backstabbers. Destroyed by a plague?
>Yodotai - Goddamn late western/Holy Roman Empire. Could give the Lion a run for their money in discipline and hand-to-hand fighting. Use spirit magic and occasionally have tested Rokugan's borders
>Yobanjin - Cut-price Rokugan. More Chinese, less samurai. Trade with the Phoenix.

Have I missed any?

File: image.jpg (382 KB, 1353x1367)

382 KB JPG

"So who's arrived so far?" you asked.
"The Lion and the Crane of course; their lands are closest. The Phoenix will be arriving soon as well, and the Unicorn are already here. I'm told the Mantis will arrive...and bring the gaijin with them," she says, sounding disapproving.
Shinzo shrugs it off.
"Does it matter? Gaijin aren't anything special. The Clan remembers it's lessons, right Ryoko-chan?" he points out. You assume he's speaking of the Scorpion Exile in the Burning Sands. You guess that might have taught them much of the lands outside Rokugan.

"It's not THEM I'm worried about, it's the Mantis. They're easy to manipulate, but quick to take offense and protect their assets like a bear her cubs. They control most of the Gaijin Trade, and they'll protect that investment quite a bit. It's an economic stranglehold that can't go on," she says, clearly plotting how to fix it.
You don't particularly care either way.

"I meant...WHO'S in court, not 'what agendas are on the table'," you correct.

Shinzo laughs a bit and Ryoko frowns but answers you.
"The Lion Clan notables are Ikoma Akinari, a diplomat and warrior and something of a politician, Akodo Retsudo the famous swordsman and ex-Topaz Champion, and Matsu Masuyo, a rising member of the Lion's Pride," she begins.

THAT sounds interesting to you.
Shimazu Retsudo no Akodo is supposed to be one of the best fencers in his family, maybe even the whole Clan. You'd like to see his stance sometime.

"Masyo is the niece of the Matsu Daimyo, Matsu Moriko. She's supposed to be quite fearsome and honorable, but I think she'll politically be irrelevant here; she's here to look impressive and pretty, not contribute in any way."

>>44801323
>flintlock musket is the 'perfect' weapon
An entire nation of Fudds. Image the panic a man with a Mosin Nagant would cause.

>>44801323
>Senpet Empire: Egypt with more necromancy! Been at satrapy of the Yodotai Empire since 3e rolled around.
>Ivory Kingdoms: India while still using the old caste-system. Very wealthy, very powerful.
>Medinaat al-Salaam: The Jewel of the Desert, the Greatest City on Earth."
There's also cults like the Jackals and the Ebonites, the Hashashin, as well as the Ashalan.

>>44801614
Oh FUCK ME, I forgot about the goddamn Ivory Kingdoms. I think all the bullshit in the Destroyer War made me block it from my mind. Anything we need to know about deviations from the cannon here? Like maybe fucking Kali-ma hasn't somehow replaced Fu Leng as the lord of Jigoku?

I swear, worst story fuckup since the Fox joined the Mantis...

File: image.png (202 KB, 1040x818)

202 KB PNG

"The Crane delegates are Doji Kotagama Yukiko, a duelist and poet of the Doji family. She's a court darling, but not as smart OR as pretty as she thinks she is," Ryoko says dismissively.

Shinzo's eyes smile and you try not to smile at all; jealous much?

"They also brought Kakita Kenshin of course, duelist and son of Kakita Akio, the Emerald Champion. Likely in case their honor is threatened somehow so Kenshin can dispatch said dishonor in a single duel.

Kakita Kenshin is known to you as well, though you never met him; he's supposedly the greatest duelist in the Empire, but you also hear on the down-low that he's sort of lazy and unmotivated. He only duels when he really has to and seems disinterested in it. His fame comes from how quickly and effortlessly he's dispatched every challenger, regardless of fame or skill.


"They also brough some Daidoji I've never heard of; Daidoji Daisuke. Presumably a reward for exceptional loyalty or skill."

"Wait," you interrupt. "Daidoji HIRAMORI Daisuke, you mean?"
"Yes, I think so," Ryoko says, clearly surprised you know someone who's court-worthy.

"Huh," you say, not commenting on it.
And Ryoko doesn't know him, despite that play? You guess that must be how the Crane wanted to play it or something.

"What?" Shinzo asks, noticing it.

"Nothing," you say with a shrug. "I met him awhile back in the Daidoji Provinces. He was a pretty good fighter, but wasn't really notable behind that; very dutiful Bushido-type. I'm just surprised to see him up here, he doesn't seem the courtly type," you explain...sort of.

You can see Shinzo and Ryoko want to hear more, but they seem willing to leave it at that.

>>44801722
The entire Destroyer War never happened. Everything past the Hidden Emperor Arc is non-canon.

File: Spoiler Image (488 KB, 1361x1000)

488 KB JPG

>>44800233
>>44800299
>>44800339
I hope this analogue to Sky is based on Miyamoto Musashi

>>44801959
Not even close.
Musashi's more like Feng Renshu anyway,

>>44801836
It's always a good thing to surprise the spies with how much you know.

And I like Kakita's style. The best way to avoid getting killed is not to get into a situation where you can be killed. The second best is to end it quickly.

>>44800544
Is this stage play the one where Jubei has the eyepatch?

>>44801979
But Renshu wasn't the most handsome son of a bitch in his country.

>>44801979
But is there a not!Musashi in setting?

>>44802109
Yes, but he's been dead for 1400 years at this point; the original founder of the Mirumoto family.

>>44801979
>>44802109
If you haven't already, I'd recommend reading Yoshikawa Eiji's Musashi novel, The manga Vagabond is partly based on it too.

>>44802177
Poop.

I wanted to get our ass kicked so bad our ancestors cringed in pain.

>>44801877
Oh thank fuck for that... Never heard a bigger pile of ass until the End Times and Age of Sigmar came out.

>>44802109
>>44802177
>>44802218

Implying the Japanese equivalent to Dugu Qiubai is subject to the same limitations mortals are and didn't become MADE OF SWORDS

File: image.gif (12 KB, 200x207)

12 KB GIF

Ryoko continues after the pause.

"The Unicorn are bringing three of serious political note; Shinjo Soramaru, Ide Atsushi, and Utaku Akane. Utaku Tomoe is a highly decorated shiotome, and is rumored to be one of the most talented of their order in an age. I don't know much about her except that she's supposed to be very quiet, much like the rest of her family. Ide Atsushi is a skille diplomat with experience in dealing with gaijin from the Burning Sands. He's also a duelist on the sly, but I don't know how good of one," she says with a shrug.

"Shinjo Soramaru is one to watch if only because nobody has any idea what he'll do next; he's a progidy in swordsmanship in the Unicorn (which is rare) but also completely unreliable and uncontrollable. He does whatever he wants, whenever he wants at all times. He's also the son of the family Daimyo, Shinjo Shogo. I hear Soramaru is something of a playboy too, which means he might get into a lot of trouble here," she warns you.

"How good is he?" you ask.
You've only heard a little heard of Shinjo Soramaru, never been or seen the man.
"Pardon?" Ryoko says, thrown off.
"How good is he in a fight?" you clarify.
"I have no idea. Not even sure what passes for a 'master swordsman among the Unicorn with their emphasis on cavalry and strange ways. I simply dislike that he's an unpredictable man from an unpredictable family with an apparent tendency to kill men who annoy him."

Hm. You'll just have to fight him yourself.

>>44802344
>Can he kick my ass?
>"I dunno"
>Better see if he can kick my ass to find out if he can kick my ass.

And this is how you get your ass kicked. I love it.

>>44802409
>Implying we don't kick his ass

"Anyone else?" you ask, curious.
"I haven't heard of anyone," Ryoko says. "But I'll let you both know as soon as I do."
You and Shinzo both nod and stand up.

>WDYD?
>[Go check out the Dojo here. Could be impressive.]
>[Go to the sword-polisher and pick up your blades, you're starting to miss them.]
>[Check out the gardens here.]

>>44802504
>[Go to the sword-polisher and pick up your blades, you're starting to miss them.]

>>44802504
>>[Go to the sword-polisher and pick up your blades, you're starting to miss them.]

>>44802504
>>[Go to the sword-polisher and pick up your blades, you're starting to miss them.]
Minimizing the time we spend unarmed is probably a good idea when there are at least a handful of assassins out there gunning for us.

>>44802504
>[Go to the sword-polisher and pick up your blades, you're starting to miss them.]

>>44802504
>>[Go to the sword-polisher and pick up your blades, you're starting to miss them.]

>>44802504
>>[Go to the sword-polisher and pick up your blades, you're starting to miss them.]

>>44802344
Heh. This dude sounds like the concept I went with for my PC in my current game.

Except for the prodigy in swordsmanship part. I was a Mantis bushi with token combat skills and a flair for storytelling.
>>44802504
>[Go check out the Dojo here. Could be impressive.]
We don't seem to be much for politics, so best to avoid the gardens for now, until we can get a better reading of the atmosphere at court.

Also, glad I caught at least the tail end of the thread, good to see you running this again.

>>44802504
>[Go to the sword-polisher and pick up your blades, you're starting to miss them.]
[insert rant about how the sword is the soul of a samurai here]

>>44802852
Nah it's more like "I LIEK SWORDS"

File: image.jpg (49 KB, 640x498)

49 KB JPG

"I'm going to go pick up my swords," you say, straightening your kimono.
"Could you pick up mine too, Otouto? I've got some other drudgery to attend to and don't have the time," Shinzo says.
"You mean you're unarmed?" you ask in surprise.
"No, I just don't have my sword," he says with a smile.
You nod and smile back as you walk away; you aren't exactly helpless either.

The palace is beautiful as well as full of functionaries and courtiers. They mutter occasionally as you walk past, which you guess means they recognize you.
You suppose you ARE the only Toku in the palace right now.
After asking for directions you head into a building across the snow-covered courtyard, where a few Imperial Legionnares are still training or going through drills or just patrolling the area, so a side-building where the forge is supposed to be.
Inside you see a heavily muscled shirtless man with a bird tattoo on his back working on an elegant long piece of steel, coating it with polish and working on it like it was a temple shrine to his ancestors.

"Toku Jubei-san," he says without looking up, focusing on the blade he is polishing and sighting along it's edge.

>WDYS?
>"Yeah, that's me. Do I know you?" [Smith]
>"That's a pretty fine sword." [Sword]
>"Yup. Here to pick up some swords." [Retrieval]

>>44803119
>"Yeah, that's me. Do I know you?" [Smith]

File: I like swords.jpg (13 KB, 195x196)

13 KB JPG

>>44803119
>"That's a pretty fine sword." [Sword]

>>44803119
>>"That's a pretty fine sword." [Sword]

>>44803119
>"That's a pretty fine sword." [Sword]

Swords!

>>44803119
>>"That's a pretty fine sword." [Sword]
>>44803154
I LIEK SWORDS

>>44803119
>"Yeah, that's me. Do I know you?" [Smith]

>>44803119
>"That's a pretty fine sword." [Sword]
>be Toku samurai
>Scorpion fiancee at home
>always off doing sword stuff
>Fiancee unable to pique our interest, definately not sword, not interested
>Scorpion fiancee dresses as sword to trick us into marriage.

>>44803444
Scorpion kunoichi waifu best waifu

>>44803444
Trips confirm, honeymoon night she'll be bodypainted steel and hold her arms out to look like a sword, with panties like a guard and leggings like that whatever the fuck cloth they use to wrap around the handle

I forgot the fucking words, okay

>>44803540
It's okay, even among weebs knowing that is rare.

>>44803741
I know Tsuba is one of them (can't remember which), but I can't remember the others for the life of me.

File: image.jpg (75 KB, 551x432)

75 KB JPG

"Uh, yeah, that's me," you confirm, staring at the blade. "Who's is that?"

"Seventy-five centimeters, one-point-one kilograms, slight curve, flexible, Orekaeshi Sanmai structure, saiken-pattern blade; 'Ashitaka Goisagi', not one of mine," he answers instantly and without pausing.
The name means "Night Heron"; when you name a katana you usually include the smith's name in front of it. He also recited the type of folding pattern and the blade pattern, a saiken, a longer, thinner type of sword.
"A Kakita Blade. Belongs to Kakita Kenshin. He dropped it off here some time ago," he explains.

You nod, checking out the tatoo on his back; a oriole. You get it now?
"They have a Tsi family smith doing the sword-polishing here? Isn't that a little beneath you?"

The Oriole Clan of the Tsi Smiths are, without exception, geniuses of the weapon. Their weapons aren't as famous or as elegant as the Kakita Blades or as completely indestructible as Kaiu Blades, but they mix both properties with almost absurd ease.
The Celestial Swords of each Great Clan was made by their ancestor, who like your own ancestor Toku ascended to godhood based on his skills, becoming the Fortune of Steel.

"No. I reforge and sharpen too, when I must. I do maintenance work on the Legionnaire's blades and the Shogun's men," he explains. His voice is heavy and deep, but distant. It's like he's always focusing on something other then the conversation.
"It's beautiful," you say, and he nods.
"A sword of beauty; strong, light, and flexible. It's spilled some blood, but it is not a bloodthirsty sword."

"Yours," he says, reaching onto the stand without looking and handing it to you. "Seventy centimeters, one-point-two kilograms, slight curve, flexible but sturdy, sharp but not brittle, uchi-pattern; 'Kotetsu Amatsubaki'. One of mine."
Sword name; 'Rain Camellia'.

>WDYS?
>"You can tell who a person is just by their sword?" [Impressed]
>"YOU made Amatsubaki?" [Smith]

>>44803813
tsuka i think

>>44803848
>>"You can tell who a person is just by their sword?" [Impressed]
>>"YOU made Amatsubaki?" [Smith]

>>44803848
>>"YOU made Amatsubaki?" [Smith]

>>44803813
Tsuba are the guards.
Tsuka are the grip.
>>44803741
Weebs don't know dick.
That's why they're weebs instead of people who genuinely know stuff.

>>44803848
Now I feel bad because I haven't named my swords. Looks like I've some homework to do before session.
>"YOU made Amatsubaki?" [Smith]
>jealous Scorpion waifu intensifies

>>44803848
>>"You can tell who a person is just by their sword?" [Impressed]
And thank the smith for making the sword

>>44803848
>"YOU made Amatsubaki?" [Smith]

>>44803962
Actually a great number of katana are named, though just as many weren't.
Contrary to AEG's info, some katana were cheap pieces of shit churned out for footmen (especially during wars), while others were very good pieces of steel made by experts for specific individuals.
The ones made by experts tended to have names the same reason DaVinci and Van Gough works have names; they were as much pieces of art as they were weaponry.
It's just that the names of the swords aren't usually very famous because the name of the smith kind overrides it historically.

>>44804104
See, this is why I like you, Sage. You give us story, sweet action, likable characters AND cool information!

>>44803848
>"YOU made Amatsubaki?" [Smith]
Proper respect is due, I think! That blade's saved our life more times than we can count!

>>44803848
>>"YOU made Amatsubaki?" [Smith]

>>44803848
>>"You can tell who a person is just by their sword?" [Impressed]
>>"YOU made Amatsubaki?" [Smith]

"Wait, YOU'RE the Tsi smith who made Amatsubaki?" you ask, your eyebrows rising into your hairline.
Your wakizashi was from the Toku armories, a very fine but unremarkable blade made in your home province, but you gained your katana after your gempukku at the Topaz Championship as one of your prizes for winning.
"Tsi Kotetsu," he says with a nod.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasone_Kotetsu
"Pleased to meet the samurai who won Amatsubaki. And pleased to see you're taking good care of it too," he says with a smile as he takes the katana and examines it's newly polished edge and body.

"I think it might be more accurate to say that IT takes care of ME," you say with a smile, and he gives a laugh that sounds like a gruff "harrumph!" but you can see the smile that shows it's humor.

He scratches his thin beard through burly fingers as he examines it.
"This sword has seen much bloodshed," he says.
"Counting the nicks?"
"There are none. Amatsubaki won't nick," he says with a certainty that makes you believe it. "But I smell it on the steel. Human blood, guts, organ tissue."
He takes a long whiff of it.

"Is your sword a bloodthirsty one, Toku Jubei?" he asks with curiosity.

>WDYS?
>"Blood seems to find it, not the other way around."
>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."

>>44804395
>>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."

>>44804395
>>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."

>>44804395
>>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."

>>44804395
>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."

>>44804395
>>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."

>>44804395
>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."
I'm just perpetually unlucky in avoiding fights, assassin bandits an d the like.

>>44804395
>blood seems to find it

>>44804395
>>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."
It's owner is just unlucky enough to make it spill blood often.

>>44804395
>"Blood seems to find it, not the other way around."
We're a good samurai, but we're also a bit of a wise-ass. This strikes me as the good, honest answer.

>>44804395
>"Blood seems to find it, not the other way around."

>>44804395
>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."

>>44804395
>"No. I was taught to not seek bloodshed."
>>44804104
Thanks for the rundown. I know at least one of my swords is "unique" although I have no idea what it is/does. Sounds more like they were named by the smith, so maybe that one's got a name lurking somewhere already, and I'll just have to root it out.

File: image.jpg (85 KB, 400x296)

85 KB JPG

>>44804488
"No," you say firmly with a shake of your head. "My School is taught the Way of Katsujinken."
He nods in understanding. "The Life-Preserving Sword."
This is not a term made up by Metal Gear; it's a philosophical component of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, and since I'm basically basing the "modern" Toku family after the Yagyu....
"A contradiction in terms, isn't it?" he asks. He doesn't sound disapproving; he just wants to know your thoughts on the subject.

You ponder before answering.
"I suppose it's possible; it depends on how you measure the value of a life. I was taught to draw my sword only in three instances; in defense of my lord, in defense of myself, and in defense of the innocent. I don't take life for glory or battle, I take life to stop life from being taken. Maybe that makes me a hypocrite, but most of the men that Amatsubaki has tasted the blood of were not good men; bandits, criminals, and other sources of misery that refused to change and continued to share their misery, often for profit. I caused some pain to remove other sources of pain, like a doctor when he sets a bone."

"Hmmph," he says, thinking about it.
"That is a hard way to choose to live, Toku-san. A lot of death comes to someone who seeks to fix the world."

You shake your head again.
"I don't want to fix the world or change it; just help those I see and make it less painful as I pass through life. I won't pretend to try and change everything myself; I'm not nearly arrogant enough for that."

>>44804928
>"I don't want to fix the world or change it; just help those I see and make it less painful as I pass through life. I won't pretend to try and change everything myself; I'm not nearly arrogant enough for that."

That's a fucking good line.

>>44804928
>This is not a term made up by Metal Gear
I legit pity people that actually think this

File: image.jpg (42 KB, 340x230)

42 KB JPG

"I also came here for another sword, Shosuro Shinzo's?" you ask, and Kotetsu takes Shinzo's sword off the rack, examining it.

"Seventy centimeters, one-point-two kilograms, slight curve, uchi-pattern, Gomai cross-section, sharp and sturdy. This weapon also has a had it's fill," he says. "No markings; but five indentations in the tsuba. Name under the tsuki, but no smith marking; 'Izayoi'."
"Full Moon"
"Remarkable for being completely unremarkable. It's a sturdy katana if excellent quality that's not particularly out of the ordinary for any other quality katana. Curious, isn't it?" he says, with a raised black eyebrow, sheathing the blade with a *click* in it's red saya and handing it to you.
"I think sometimes the trick of the Scorpion Clan is there is no secret weapon, no special trick; they just use what everyone else already has in ways nobody else ever bothers to use them,"

Kotetsu scratches his chin.
"You seem to know something about it," he notes as he turns back to the Kakita Blade.

"I oughtta; I'm engaged to one after all," you say, turning to leave.
"Ouch. My sympathies," he says in the same way someone would say "looks like rain today."

"You get used to it," you confide as you head outside into the snow.

>To Be Continued

>>44805444
Thanks for running


Wish it was longer.

>>44805444
Thanks for running!

>Next Time
>Politics as Usual in Winter Court!
>Cute samurai-ko that legitimately hate you forever!
>Fencing and martial arts demonstrations!
>All this and fresh unagi on Rokugan Quest 3!

As always I will stick around and try to answer questions.

>>44805339
>they just use what everyone else already has in ways nobody else ever bothers to use them,"

Studying/stealing Shinzo's technique when?

>>44805568
Quick question because I'm a total nerd about this kind of thing: how do you make the names for the swords?

>>44805568
>>Cute samurai-ko that legitimately hate you forever!
Good thing we're married then
Unless polygamy is a thing in Rokugan
>>44805568
>>All this and fresh unagi on Rokugan Quest 3!
Delicious.

>>44805748
>polygamy

That's a good way to get murdered by your betrothed anon.

>>44805700
Not really that sort of genre; in most genres techniques and styles are more about the philosophy of combat employed rather then specific maneuvers, or if specific maneuvers are used then they're fairly rare and unusual.
Kenjutsu is very different philosophically from Western fencing and Chinese fencing; while Chinese and Western fencing use different methods to achieve different results and argue over which is better in which situations, kenjutsu schools nearly always teach the exact same techniques while arguing over little details, since as a curved two-handed foot footman's sword that was developed originally from a cavalry sword there's realistically not that many effective ways to use it.
Kenjutsu also is very heavy on philosophy itself rather then just the philosophy of combat.

>>44805797
Scorpion kunoichi waifu KNOWS.

SHE ALWAYS KNOWS.

Question, you mention that only shugenja/onmyoji can use supernatural techniques. Are the Scorpion Clan also rumored to be capable of doing near similar stuff, like in Basilisk?

>>44805807
b-but muh not final form!

>>44805797
Hey, if you go through all of the proper channels, you can get a concubine. But they're supposed to be so you can have more spares for your heir, not for extra smoochy times. And you can't really justify it unless you're powerful enough that you might need multiple spares as soon as possible.

>>44805729
I actually just make them up and write down ones I like. I have a few more in reserve for different characters.
Amatsubaki's name comes from Japanese camellia flowers; red camellia's on Japan's "language of flowers" stands either for love, or for dying gracefully.
Also, Japanese swords are named after flowers a lot I notice, and I like the sounds of both "Amatsubaki" and "Rain Camellia".
Goisagi's name is kind of a joke; they don't actually HAVE the animals called cranes in Japan natively, but they have herons, which are similar enough.

>>44805905
Wrong anime anon, think Rurouni Kenshin

>>44805976
>Cranes
>similar to herons

luaghingornithologist.jpg

Just kidding

>>44805977
Technically we won't even be hitting that level of crazy (no paralyzing people's lungs with a high enough Intimidate check in THIS quest).

>>44805976
Well, they also don't have hummingbirds, but the Hiruma still have a massive boner for using them as their collective spirit animal.
It helps that Rokugan is over 3 times as large as Japan, is on a mainland, and doesn't exist in real Asia.

>>44806015
true enough

File: 1443444076616.gif (1.71 MB, 389x185)

1.71 MB GIF

>>44805977
"Form" can be used interchangeably with "stance" in some instances.

So no, it is indeed still relevant.

Also, depending on how you label your specific techniques, "Form" could be used to refer to, well, a technique, like in Wulin Hero quest, actually, as a good ready example.

>>44806032
I thought you were using it as joke, like dbz

>>44806047
I was using it as a joke like in DBZ, but it is still relevant here as the same joke just with different meaning.

>>44805748
>Unless polygamy is a thing in Rokugan

I actually don't know; L5R rarely brings it up, and I can't always use historical Japan as a direct reference because Rokugan's original setting was badly fucked up in terms of what "era" of the samurai it was placed in.

During the Heian Period polygamy was legal (if you could afford that many wives) as in many ways Heian Japan was sort of like a slightly transplanted and changed Chinese Tang Dynasty culture. In fact, some Heian and Tang Emporer's were actually sort of pen pals.
Later in the Muromachi through Edo Periods polygamy wasn't legal, but concubines and mistresses were semi-common among higher-ranked samurai; there's an entire section of Edo Castle (the Shogun's Palace) that was for the Shogun's harem, and it was a source of much intrigue since anyone who was admitted to be a scion of your blood could in theory inherit and use your family name.
>Delicious
Yes. Yes it is.

>>44806102
Nice double entendre

>>44806121
Please don't encourage that line of thinking, it only leads to toxicity.

And dead monkey clan members who were killed by their fiance

>>44806121
Rokugan is closer to the Edo version. There's one wife, but you can have concubines if you're powerful enough.
And any given samurai is as likely to have a lover on the side as not, because arranged marriages are loveless and mechanical most of the time. As long as it doesn't end up out in the open or your spouse is jealous or possessive, nobody cares.

>>44805976
I should probablly read up on some Japanese language of flowers stuff for my own names in my own quest. I typically do the same though in regards to making things up, although it's usually just abstract words and ideas rather than flowers and animals (I should probablly do what you do though)

>>44806216
>you can have concubines if you're powerful enough
And if your wife won't arrange for you to meet with a terrible fate.

>>44806233
Well, it's legally acceptable and any kids they have count fully as your kids.
But yeah, not a smart idea if your waifu is the kind who doesn't want to share.

>>44806233
>implying Japanese women had that sort of power at the Edo court

>>44806271
Not there, but here they do apparently, at least some.

>>44806261
>But yeah, not a smart idea if your waifu is the kind who doesn't want to share.
And, not really necessary if (as in our case) there's genuine love there.
>>44806271
Anon, you're forgetting something. Rokugan may be not!Japan, but it is also NOT Japan.
If you think Ryoko couldn't arrange for us to meet with an unfortunate demise if we were to betray her feelings, you're a fucking retard.

>>44806271
Rokugan is pretty egalitarian. The only reason women can't have male concubines is biology and the fact that concubines are supposed to be for efficient heir-getting, which doesn't work when you're the one with the womb.

>>44805897
>Question, you mention that only shugenja/onmyoji can use supernatural techniques. Are the Scorpion Clan also rumored to be capable of doing near similar stuff, like in Basilisk?

No, not really.
And in fact, even in Futaro Yamada, the novelist who wrote the book Basilisk is based off of, and the source of roughly 99% of any ninja lore you know weather you know it or not, even clarifies that the abilities the Koga and Iga use have nothing to do with bugyo (warrior's arts and skills) or training; rather the Koga and Iga are basically freaks of nature and mutants created by selective breeding which is why so many of them are so fucking weird looking.
A recurring theme of Yamada's novels us that Ninpocho (ninja arts) are often result of horrific breeding programs that come at a staggering cost to the families involved, but also that these strange powers aren't NEEDED to be a badass.
Yagyu Jubei (a REALLY common recurring protagonist for him) is portrayed as being that kind of guy.

Example; in Ninja Scroll, Jubei (who is obviously inspired by Yagyu Jubei, just as the whole film was inspired by Yamada's novels) is really just a normal guy, and he STILL fights his way through the Kimon Devils even though they all have bizarre supernatural powers...albeit not without using a lot of wits and a lot of luck.
Ninja Scroll's Kibagami Jubei is a good start for figuring out how Toku Jubei acts, BTW.

>>44806296
>>44806310
I'm not saying it doesn't happen in Rokugan. Only it barely happened in actual Japan.

>>44806121
>>44806166
Yes, please discourage hareming and the waifuing, it leads to quest derails.

Demon Girl is already BEST GIRL anyway.

>>Doji Kotagama Yukiko, a duelist and poet of the Doji family. She's a court darling, but not as smart OR as pretty as she thinks she is," Ryoko says dismissively.

Oh ho, warfare between sisters-in-law (or even prospective ones) are the ugliest of all.

File: 1431986255930.jpg (50 KB, 658x930)

50 KB JPG

Sage love the quest so far
I was a big fan of WHQ and was wondering what your opinion on the Xianxia genre is

>>44806271
>>44806296
Rokugan lacks any sort of gender disparity in it's culture compared to Japan; women are equals and treated as such since many of it's greatest and earliest heroes as well as the Amatsukami (the Great Kami descended from Amaterasu herself) were women.

Some Clans, such as the Matsu and Utaku, are actually semi-matriarchal in nature, though this is less true of the Matsu (who favor women in high positions but also don't care if you have enough HOT BLOOD and MEGAVIOLENCE with you) then the Utaku (who in a Clan known for it's cavalry only allow it's family's women to join the shiotome, the best heavy cavalry unit in the Empire).

>>44806380
So when are we going to meet the "OVERMAXIMUM MURDERBONER MUST HAVE ULTIMATE TALENT" guy?

>>44806032
Most techniques are fairly rare in this setting, and family schools tend to be infamous for them (the infamous Scorpion Feint, or the Shinjo Parry), and most schools teach the same basic junk.
What differs is the tactical approach and philosophy to combat, which you can't really change as they drill it into you VERY hard in Rokugan.

>>44806166
I was merely clarifying the question.

>>44806366
>Oh ho, warfare between sisters-in-law (or even prospective ones) are the ugliest of all.

The Scorpion and Crane are natural enemies at court because out of all the Clans they best know how to use it.

>>44806452
Don't worry about it, Just my paranoia speaking. Seen too many quests dragged down.

>>44806428
IT'S

A

JOKE

MANG

Wulin, pls, I was justifying my joke, stop it! WULIN!

>>44806368
You mean like high-fantasy wuxia?
It's alright, but the real appeal of wuxia to me is the focus on the human conflict; the more magic and demons and shit you add the farther away it tends to get from it.

>>44806410
I don't understand the question?

>>44806500
Like the 1983 movie "Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain" right?

I lost it when they unleashed their lightsabers.

>>44806548
That or Xuan Yuan Sword.

>>44806527
The dude who is super obsessed with being the best, in fact, the most obsessed with being the best, who sleeps only an hour a day and runs on PURE WILLPOWER to TRAIN TRAINTRATINRATIRAY until he becomes the single best swordsman alive, guy and the only way he can prove he is the best is to kill every other swordsman.

When will we meet him?

So, I finally bumped Basilisk up on my backlog because of this quest. Started watching it just now.
Why does Tokugawa Ieyasu's chin look like an infected scrotum?
I'm honestly not sure I can get past that. I was trying to eat my dinner, and then I saw that chin.

>>44806580
Tsubamegaeshi-ing everything he sees, right?

File: 1442057426615.jpg (119 KB, 664x662)

119 KB JPG

>>44806500
>You mean like high-fantasy wuxia?
Basically most characters in addition to being skilled martial artists are practicing some sort of chi cultivation in order to become some type of immortal or god or immortal god
It's usually filled with magic and monsters and just as much inter-school, you killed my father, drama as Wuxia. At least the better stories do

>>44806558
Xuan-Yuan Sword is being aired on TV where I live as part of the "Cecilia Liu block" I guess, damn it's awful.

>>44804104
>Contrary to AEG's info, some katana were cheap pieces of shit churned out
Not as contrary as you'd think. I'm not going to dig through however much material to find it now, but the info is out there.

>>44806580
Oh yeaaaah. I follow now.
That character archetype is usually portrayed in a different light in this genre; in most anime it's usually a very specific type of character, usually of the antagonistic sort.
In Jidaigeki the character archetype can be good OR bad or even in-between (Toku Jubei is an example of the good version), and his obsession with martial perfection can either be noble or perverse depending on the character itself, but is almost always portrayed as being semi-noble because of the sheer dedication he has to it, a very samurai sort of virtue.
This is because the culture that produces anime (a capitalistic pacifist culture) is fundamentally at odds with it's former self (a theoretically frugal warrior's culture where commerce is looked down upon and war is the highest virtue).

Also because anime is increasingly creatively stagnant due to cultural and fiscal reasons and thus relies more on popular character "archetypes" rather then fleshing out complex nuanced characters most of the time.

I will say that you will see several characters of that sort, but the most extreme examples won't be found here.

>>44806775
We still need our annoying monk character.

So when will we meet not!Takuan???

>>44806624
Tsubamaegaeshi is in fact a thing in-universe; it's an upper-range technique taught by the Kakita Dueling Academy.
It's not the flashier magical version of course, but the quick one-two high-low combination swing as shown in most pictures of what the (theoretical) maneuver looked like based on the descripton.

This admittedly is something of an extrapolation on my part, but seeing as the guy who created the school's greatest rival was the setting's Musashi, it's not really an exaggeration to say it's highly possible.

>>44806775
>>44806848
As a huge fan of both Jidaigeki and Japanese history (especially fedual Japanese history) I love the historical facts you give.
>rather then fleshing out complex nuanced characters most of the time.
Well also because anime is for the most part a kids/young adults market that isn't worried about making detailed, complex, or dynamic characters. I personally blame it's popularity in the West but that's just me.

Question: If the Monkey Clan is based off of a Hideyoshi-type character, is there a Nobunaga or Ieyasu-type character in Rokugani history as well?

>>44806806
You'll meet a monk, but he's not that type of character archetype; monks can be several different things in Rokugan (with many, many, many varieties being basically harmless normal people).
Also, Chen/Zen Buddhism doesn't exist here, though some vague-as-fuck variety of it does kinda sorta depending on the writer.

>>44806998
will he be a dragon clan monk?

>>44806973
>I personally blame it's popularity in the West but that's just me.
It has more to do with the economic downward spiral the industry in, largely as an extension of Japan itself and the declining birthdate; no kids means no kids shows means no money for new kid's shows and so on.

>Question: If the Monkey Clan is based off of a Hideyoshi-type character, is there a Nobunaga or Ieyasu-type character in Rokugani history as well?

In a word; no.
Toku is KIND of inspired by Hideyoshi, but it might just be a joke; he was originally a shitty foot soldier card usable by any faction that was cheap as shit to get out and totally not very good, but he kept getting more experienced version over time until he became a legendary hero.
He's mostly based off of Toshiro Mifune's character in Seven Samurai, the goofy peasant turned samurai who ends up being a remarkably skilled fighter.

In fact, I'd be willing to bet that AEG had never even HEARD of the Ieyasu Tokugawa and Oda Nobunaga; it espouse a level of idealism in Bushido that is accepted as "setting standard" that is SIGNIFICANTLY higher then real life samurai did, and as both men did things like betray (and in Ieyasu's case murder) their lords or hold them hostage so they could be effective rulers and generally engaged in effective realistic politics (which the setting couldn't do if it tried) generally did not fit in in Rokugan
However, this takes place almost 300 years after that time period of the "canon" setting, and time has moved on as well as the culture itself and it's currently experiencing something of an existential crisis.

>>44807073
No, just a regular one.
The Genshu-like character actually IS a Dragon samurai however. Though he is considerably less powerful then Genshu simply because of the genre differences.

>>44807145
Well, real samurai didn't have objective supernatural forces pushing for more Bushido. Rokugan has to deal with their ancestors provably breathing down their necks if they fuck up too hard, and the little kami causing disasters if they get upset.

>>44807187
yes! my favorite character is from my favorite clan. i can't wait to see him introduced

File: Himura Kenshin Oro.jpg (73 KB, 800x600)

73 KB JPG

Will Kakita Kenshin at any time in the quest say "Oro"?

>>44807198
You can just say "storyteam bullshit".
We can analyze it any way you want, but the only even remotely consistent thing about Rokugan's metaphysics is that they do exactly what the storyteam needed them to do, and never bothered laying down hard rules as to why things worked the way they did; there's lots of fuckery about "balance" with no real explanation about what that means except that it's always remarkably relevant to whatever's going on no matter how contrived or nonsensical.

In this version of Rokugan Bushido was a cultural thing, pure and simple, and it had it's ups and downs like everything.
A setting where people are semi-magically enforced to act a certain way because "reasons" inherently lessens the drama because it nearly removes any sense of responsibility from characters; they act out Bushido because if they don't the universe punishes them the same way gravity causes things to fall.
Removing responsibility for your choices and actions is NOT a good way to higher character drama, an important aspect of the Jidaigeki.

>>44807250
If he does, we should be utterly terrified of fighting him.
There hasn't been a large scale war, which means that whole thing with Tomoe probably hasn't happened, meaning he hasn't been soured on killing, meaning he could very likely fuck our shit up something fierce.

>>44807299
But will we see any kami shenanigans?

Or any ancestors frowning really hard at someone?

>>44807250
No, he is an educated and cultured man.
A bit foppish really.
Jubei very frequently will go
>"Ara?"
which is the same basic thing without an accent applied to it.

>>44807332
>But will we see any kami shenanigans?
Kinda? Kami are invisible all the time anyway unless you're an onmyoji.
If you mean Great Kami, then no; they dead.
>Or any ancestors frowning really hard at someone?
Metaphorically, yes.

>>44807299
It's no different from any other heavily religious society. You were born and raised to follow Bushido because your family was born and raised to follow Bushido because your ancestors were born and raised to follow Bushido because the entire society expects you all to follow Bushido and have since the dawn of the empire. It is reinforced by literally everyone around you, from your friends and family to religious authorities, because it was reinforced on them by their friends and family and by every positive supernatural interaction any of them have had.
There's a lot more supporting bushido in Rokugan than ever was in Japan. Metawise, it's because of the story team. In-setting, it's because of ancestors and kami and the massive weight of tradition.

>>44807310
Kakita Kenshin is a mix of potentially dangerous and completely harmless.
If he could get away with never fighting ever again and instead focusing on poetry, art, and calligraphy, he would.

And not because he's a pacifist but because he genuinely doesn't care.

>>44807415
In this setting tradition is falling apart because of the needs of realism; their culture no longer supports traditionalism for the sake of tradition simply because to many things have exposed it to new ideas and new problems that tradition has no answer to.
That said, it's mostly the Lion having problems; the issue is having problems with society and having a REALLY big army with VERY warlike tendencies is not a recipe for stability....

>>44807243
Interestingly, in Rokugan Genshu's name would STILL be Genshu.
Genshu was his Buddhist name (you give away your old band for your Buddhist one once you become a monk or nun), and they're basically identical in Japanese or Chinese.

>>44807590
no matter the world, Genshu will always be Genshu

>>44807709
A Genshu is a Genshu, until the day he dies.

>>44801836
>Kakita Kenshin is known to you as well, though you never met him; he's supposedly the greatest duelist in the Empire, but you also hear on the down-low that he's sort of lazy and unmotivated. He only duels when he really has to and seems disinterested in it. His fame comes from how quickly and effortlessly he's dispatched every challenger, regardless of fame or skill.
Is he the Sky of the setting?

>>44806452
Honestly, I'm an unashamed haremfag and I still think it might be better if we stayed loyal and monogamous here... If only for our own safety...

But I could easily be persuaded otherwise. The funny thing about Rokugan is that so long as the correct form us carried out, a lot will just be politely overlooked. If we were to have an affair, it's perfectly normal and acceptable, so long as it's done in the correct manner. Sure, Ryoko might kick our ass in private, but ultimately, as long as we don't flaunt our infidelity, she'd probably accept it... And continue to kick our ass in private, which honestly is one of the bits I already love about her!

>>44806580
Uhh, I think we ARE that guy, kinda? We did ditch our qt3.14 fiancee to go on a "MUST BE STRONGER!" swording quest across the empire, in which we kicked more ass than a one-legged kung-fu master in a butt transplant facility.

>>44807433
I like him already. Sounds like an ideal crane to me. They're all either artistic fops in love with the natural beauty of the world; or else cunning courtiers who love to gossip and enjoy high society; or upstanding, even uptight traditionalists who look down their nose a little at everyone who is even slightly impolite and insincere.

I mean, I'm an avowed Crane fanboy who's only played Kakita duelists and even I can admit that!

File: tumblr_m8gqqrgrpJ1r2yvruo(...).jpg (285 KB, 1280x960)

285 KB JPG

>>44810708

>>44810201
No.

>>44806366
The waifuing was so bad in Spitalian quest that it gave the QM cancer.

>>44810708
>Uhh, I think we ARE that guy, kinda? We did ditch our qt3.14 fiancee to go on a "MUST BE STRONGER!" swording quest across the empire, in which we kicked more ass than a one-legged kung-fu master in a butt transplant facility.

Yeah, pretty much.
Not too many samurai bail on their duties to go on a musha shugyo (warrior's pilgrimage) immediately after they become adults, especially not when they're offered prestigious positions in the Imperion Legions or Emerald Magistrates and are that year's Topaz Champion, but Jubei did.

>>44811966
Aaand then there's the Crane who defy all expectations and are just complete badasses. The thing with the Crane is that they'll always strive to be the absolute best (by their definition, which is all of Rokugan's, because they said what it should be). The best duelists and artists and wives and courtiers are one thing and what you expect from a clan that preaches refinement... But then there's the likes of the Daidoji, whom even the CRAB respect for being stalwart and ass-kicking badasses!

>>44812420
You know, given a story like that, I'd be amazed if the Crane DIDN'T make a play about him. That's the kind of material that becomes the romantic darling of every young woman in Rokugan!

>>44812703
Suddenly the possessiveness of our fiance makes a whole lot more sense

>>44812703
Definitely a rose-tinted fanboy's view of the Crane, there. Not to say it's always wrong, but it's pretty far from always right, too.

>>44812703
The Crane are alright.
The Daidoji are one of my favorite individual families (I have favorite families, not favorite Clans) because they're probably one of the most samurai-like families in the setting, and I don't mean in the "have sword have rank" sense most of the setting does but in the REAL LIFE "memorized the Hagakure from front to back" sense; they're stoic, excellent warriors (a key component to being a samurai; the "court" stuff is something that mostly the Kuge did, not the Buke), well-drilled, pragmatic (another important feature to being a real life samurai is doing what needed to be done, regardless of how you feel about it), frequently face ugly odds since their Clan has one of the smallest armies, die without complaint and generally protect the foppish people in their Clan who take them a bit for granted and NEVER whine about it because samurai are loyal.

>You know, given a story like that, I'd be amazed if the Crane DIDN'T make a play about him. That's the kind of material that becomes the romantic darling of every young woman in Rokugan!

Yagyu Jubei (Jubei's real-life inspiration) is probably the most romanticized samurai who ever lived, even more then Miyamoto Musashi.
Next to nothing is known about his life (less then can be gathered about Musashi) after he vanished from the Shogun's court after proving himself a martial prodigy in a family of already highly talented swordsmen, but more fairy and folk tales cropped up about him them most FICTIONAL characters.
Toku Jubei is the same way.

There's a whole story to the tale of "The Fiend of Akagi" play, one which will be related. The Crane made a play about it because it was a good story and it happened to take place entirely within Crane lands.

File: image.jpg (22 KB, 225x193)

22 KB JPG

>>44812858
Ryoko is pretty lucky Jubei's not very good with women; the Monkey Bushi's life has been training in martial skills (especially the sword) since he was nine, then going to a multi-clad kenjutsu dojo so he could learn MORE, and then going to a yearly multi-event gempukku tournament, then going around killing people and beating people up to get better.
He's not a ridiculously handsome Crane type of guy, but he's got the traditional "manly" samurai look; tall, broad shoulders, strong jawline, impressively manly sideburns, and expressive eyebrows.

>>44813399
Do we have an idea of when the wedding will actually happen?

File: image.jpg (162 KB, 680x960)

162 KB JPG

>>44813399
His father, Toku Munenori, is 38 years old and is generally considered one of the best swordsmen and most just men in Rokugan, seeing as the Ruby Champion's job is to teach kenjutsu and law to Emerald Magistrates, Imperial Legionnaire's, and the Shogun's bodyguards.

>>44812420
>>44813399
You really did base this guy really hard on Miyamoto Usagi.

>>44813429
Technically it should have ALREADY happened, but Jubei's musha shugyo makes him hard to find and nail down long enough to do the whole ceremony.
>>44813476
Why not? Usagi Yojimbo is as close to the samurai ideal as I've ever seen in fiction, with the added benefit of compassion and humility.

But actually his life story and personality is based around Yagyu Jubei's; the Yagyu Clan had a "heroes of the common man" reputation and Yagyu Jubei as the most legendary of the Yagyu Clan is even more so.
In fact that Yagyu were SO well regarded that after the Meiji Revolution and the abolishment of the samurai class the Yagyu were basically still allowed to keep their status and teach swordplay to new government's soldiers despite the Yagyu being in tight with the Tokugawa Shoguns since before Ieyasu BECAME the Shogun.

In fact the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu is STILL run by the Yagyu family TODAY.

>>44813590
can they get married during winter court or will they have to wait until they can get back to their families?

File: image.png (18 KB, 200x200)

18 KB PNG

And as a bonus to those of you who do not know it, the definitive story of the Scorpion Clan.

>THE TALE OF THE SCORPION AND THE FROG

>A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream. The scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion says, "because if I sting you while you cross the stream, surely I shall drown."
>The frog is satisfied, and they set out. But in midstream, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, but has just enough time to gasp "Why? Now you shall surely drown!"

>"But little frog, I can swim."

>>44813989
So the lesson is "never help a scorpion, because they'll stab you in the back (sometimes even literally)?"

>>44814581
The lesson is "not to take everything at face value".
The joke is that that story has a million variations (the Snake and the Hippo, the Spider and the Frog) in real-life, and all of them end with the swimming animal dying and the poisonous animal saying "because it is my nature to do so you silly [insert animal]", the lesson being not to trust something inherently dangerous.

The Scorpion one changes the ending to shift the meaning of the lesson; the Frog wasn't a fool to trust the Scorpion because the Scorpion was dangerous, it was a fool because it took the situation (namely that scorpions obviously can't swim) at face value and ONLY based on the Scorpion's word.
Never assume the first thing anyone tells you in a political situation is true just because they said it; people are liars.

File: k_elvensamurai.jpg (73 KB, 572x700)

73 KB JPG

>>44812703
>Aaand then there's the Elves who defy all expectations and are just complete badasses. The thing with the Elves is that they'll always strive to be the absolute best (by their definition, which is all of [insert realm here], because they said what it should be). The best duelists and artists and wives and courtiers are one thing and what you expect from a clan that preaches refinement... But then there's the likes of the [warrior subrace] Elves, whom even the DWARVES respect for being stalwart and ass-kicking badasses!

This is why I never liked the Crane

>>44815571
The Crane are shown to be just as flawed as anyone just as often; sometimes Crane are awesome, sometimes they're morons, and sometimes they do stupid shit because the plot requires them to do so.
If you want to get technical, in canon the Crane are flying dumbasses because they aren't the Spider Clan because that's how the story as gone for the last six years of plot or so.

Here's the thing in L5R; it's a game (fundamentally) about picking sides.
Anyone who picks a side cannot be expected to be objective about their side, so don't trust the opinion of anyone who actively picks a side.

>>44812020
I take it none of the characters mentioned ITT are Rokugan Quest's Sky, right?

>>44815701
Yeah, I get that >>44812703 is an extreme case fanboyism and I most definitely am guilty of the same.

I don't remember if it was here or the AEG forums, but when I was first getting interested in L5R, I heard so much "Crane are so culturally refined and the best warriors, imo!" Before I knew much about the lore, I already pegged the Crane as being the elves of the game. I've come to read about every other clan, and love them in their own rights, but I can't read Crane stories without rolling my eyes and thinking 'fucking weeb elves'.

Not exactly the most fair assessment, i know. But I do like your comment earlier about having favorite families instead of clans. That mindset would probably do the lore more justice

>>44816064
Didn't say that.
>>44816250
They'd be the Elves if they were definitively the best swordsmen (which is debatable; the Mirutomoto are always shown to be equals or near-equals, as well as better in actual combat) as well as a highly advanced and skilled army.
The Crane army is decent but tiny in canon, and most of their tactics are basically delaying ones until they can run to Daddy Hantei to make the fighting stop.
Also, their first major NPC (and the Second Crane Thunder), Doji Hoturi was a gifted fencer but a feckless playboy who caused tons of political problems with his antics and was generally considered something of a pain in ass for the clan.
Also, Kakita Toshimoko is probably one of the most capital S samurai in the early parts of the setting, which being a smug perfectionist or a foppish courtier is generally considered not very good behavior for a bushi.

>>44816548
So Sky is Shinjo Soramaru then?

>>44816570
The "Sora" component of his given name literally means "Sky". "Maru" is a frequent traditional suffix used for younger males in Japan.

>>44816548
I've not known elves in most settings to have a highly advanced and skilled army. Refined, elegant, dextrous dueling tends to be more of the elf thing. Kakita duelists are right in the same niche as most takes on elves.

>>44816728
Then the Crab would be dorfs?

>>44816765
That explains why I don't like the crab clan very much

>>44816728
The problem with talking about "elves" is that everyone just talks about D&D and it's derivatives (as in derivatives literally using D&D rules), rather then as a literary thing.
So I'm done talking about it since that's a boring fucking conversation for me to have yet again on this god-forgotten website.
>>44816765
If you like.
Though Crab are considerably less pleasant then dwarves, who are usually lawful and honorable, if a bit gruff. Crab are a lot more pragmatic about honor and law; they have to be.

Really, the factions of L5R aren't elves and dwarves, but instead are rather blatantly designed to appeal to gamers who are drawn to certain character archetypes; the skilled social perfectionist fencer, the MAN'S MAN huge smash the guy, the quiet but wise warrior, the roving free-spirit, the cunning and devious liar, the honorable and upright warrior, the peaceful but powerful wizard with a touch of arrogance.
The retarded thing is that most L5R fans I've talked to don't even seem to REALIZE they're being so obviously played and baited into that stuff.
Here's a fun experiment; look at your group who plays L5R, and then look at the type of characters they most enjoy playing in D&D.

In nearly all cases there's some pretty obvious parallels.

>>44816937
Huh interesting. Says a lot about player psyche that we get roped in that easy.

>>44816937
>>44816937
Yeah. It really does. We end up gravitating toward certain types of characters. Next game I will make a crane or crab instead of a dragon or mantis

>>44816973
I think it says more about how clever AEG was at marketing; they knew the best way to get dedicated players is to appeal directly to certain common archetypes that automatically certain gamers will glom onto, then put them against each other to see who's better.
It's a smart way to build a player base,
What's annoying is that this behavior often trickles down into the RPG and instead of going "Okay, so they aren't ALL like this, that's just a stereotype and they're as varied as human beings often are given their different circumstances", way too often the books say "Here's a list of the stereotypes they fit and here's why every single one of them fits every single one of these stereotypes".

When I GM L5R I tend to use Clans as loose guidelines and then actually, you know, bother with creating an actual character who isn't exactly like every other one. Apparently it works because my players have stopped assuming they know of how every Clan Samurai is going to react just because they saw his family Mon.

>>44816250
I fully admit the Crane can be absolutely INSUFFERABLE idiots. They look down their nose at everyone, believing the minor clans beneath their notice, the Mantis in particular are a source of ire for them. They also see the Crab as unrefined brutes, with only the Daidoji acknowledging the vital and thankless service the Crab perform for the empire.

The Crane are up their own asses in a HUGE way. The only clan they see as really equals to their superiority are the Phoenix. The Lion are amazing martial masters and their honour is above reproach, but the Crane look down on them as vainglorious brutes; The Unicorn are a storm wind that sweeps aside the old and decayed and brings in strange new ways, but the Crane see them as naive outlanders who can be manipulated with ease, so long as they appear honest about it... That's to say nothing of the arrogant rivalry between the Kakita and Mirumoto families and schools that honestly flies in the face of what Kakita himself wanted in the first place!

The Crane aren't perfect, but no-one in Rokugan is. And I like them regardless, or even BECAUSE of those flaws.

>>44817226
I think one of my favorite characters I ever played was a hugely overworked Daidoji yojimbo who spent most of his time fulfilling his master's comically grandiose requests and defending his honor with sword and spear while occasionally doing something ugly because he couldn't think of any other way to keep his charge safe.
When one of the other party members (a Crab who he was close friends with) asked him why he still worked for that jackass he just said;
>"Because I'm a good samurai you ass. I don't know how it works down in the Wall, but here when your boss says 'jump' you say 'how high', when he asks you to kill a guy you ask 'you want his family dead too'? And when he says 'cut your belly' you ask 'dull knife or sharp'?"

>>44817430
You are just full of great lines to steal.

What does it say about me that I like the Scorpion the most?

>>44817430
I play Kakita for the perfectionism and one-cut-one-kill stuff, but the Daidoji are by far and away the best Crane.

Daidoji yojimbo are prized by Crane courtiers for two reasons. First, they are both skilled and cunning warriors who know not to say anything in court. Secondly however, Daidoji are VERY good at watching and listening, sometimes even picking stuff up the Doji miss and later quietly informing them, "Akodo Benkei-san noticed when you mentioned your sister was unwed. It is possible he favors her." Next thing you know, Benkei has a hot new wife and the Crane are owed YET ANOTHER debt.

All this said, it's highly likely that the Daidoji KNOW what foppish, frivolous, pretentious assholes their clan largely is and yet they still serve with loyalty, piety, respect and skill. That devotion to duty is what the Crab admire, after a Daidoji lord and his hunting party swept in to save I believe a Crab daimyo, or possibly their champion, fighting in tidal flats against an overwhelming force of oni, until the water closed over their heads and drowned Daidoji and shadowlands creature alike. The Crab later recovered only the lord's helm and swore that ever after, they would respect and honour the Iron Crane, even in spite of their differences with the rest of the clan.

>>44817515
That you like to play Rogues and Assassins.
Or that you like witty one-liners, because admittedly the Scorpion have the some of the best in the setting.

>"Cut off the right arm and the left will be wholly occupied trying to stop the flow of blood."
>"Enemies you threaten make armies. Enemies you kill make graves."
>"Life isn't fair. That doesn't mean you can't win though."
>"Shinsei says, 'forgive and forget'. Why? So you can fool me again?"
>"Women learn to weep because their husbands always assume it was their actions that caused the tears."

>>44817698
I think I just admire their pragmatism. To accept social rejection and still manage to do their job well , I mean seriously they get shit on all the time.

>>44817695
I'm actually fairly certain that the reason Daidoji ARE called Iron Cranes is because of the Crab naming one of them "Tetsutsuru" after during a 20 Goblin Winter he went past he wall and instead of coming back with a bunch of goblin heads he walked back with the head of a fuckin' oni.
Though their family name still makes me laugh; "Big Doji", hahaha.

>>44817808
I thought it was after their daimyo crossed the landbridge to help the crab and held off an Oni long enough for the tide to come in and kill them both. Then the Crab set up a shrine for him on their side and started calling them the Iron Crane because that was badass.

>>44817763
Sometimes.
Other times they're pretty stupid.
It's not easy to write characters who are good at "JUST AS KEIKAKU" all the time, and way too often they take it too far in the fluff or emphasize it the wrong way.
I prefer to look at it this way; everyone looks at every Scorpion bushi and sees a ninja in disguise who uses dastardly tricks and politics. This isn't accurate; sometimes a Scorpion bushi is just like any other m bushi, and the real trick isn't that his sword is a gun or something.
It's that he's willing to put his sword to work on on things that you weren't willing to do because it involves compromising your moral high ground.

>>44817851
I can hardly keep the fluff straight anymore; they changed so much stuff retroactively at different points or contradicted themselves at others.

>>44817905
Heh, try being an Exalted fan, they add more convoluted bullshit that contradicts everything all the time.

>>44818002
I am an Exalted fan actually.
I just never play it because..well, look at it.

>>44818207
It's a damn shame, the setting is awesome