Variant RPGaDay - 28, 29, and 30

It's a day late, but lets finish off this run of posts.  

Batch 10 (L5R)

I love the Legend of the Five Rings setting, as it was one of the first fleshed out fantasy settings I had encountered which wasn't based on a pseudo-Europe. It has a rich combination of elements from various "oriental" mythologies, and it was pretty well thought out. I lost touch with it over the years, especially after the group of friends who shared a love for the CCG drifted apart, and when the game itseld seemed to fade away.

(It's probably not surprisong that the clan which I feel the strongest affinity for is the oldest of the minor clans in the setting, the Fox Clan, but none of the prompts really spoke to me as a match for them...)

Emotion – Devotion – Fair of Face (Doji Crane)

Hanako is a courtier of the Crane Clan, and she was raised to be a diplomat and courtesan who would continue to bring honour and influence to her family and the empire. She is a painter and poet, and knows her place in society but is starting to wonder if there is more to life.

"Doji Hanako"

Goal: Hanako knows that an arranged marriage is being devised, and the connections forged by that marriage will be beneficial to family and clan, but she wants to do something with her life before this happens.

Obstacle: Everything she has attempted so far has been thwarted by minders in her family who have claimed that her intended actions would risk dishonour to the clan. She doesn't have much time left to make her mark before settling down as a loyal wife.

Strength: Hanako has a reputation for the beautiful artwork she paints, and the poetry she composes. This has given her a number of potential suitors who desire her for her abilities at leaast as much as her familial connections.

Weakness: Hanako cannot do anything by herself, she is always observed by minders and bodyguards.

Emotion – Labour – Full of Grace (Kaiu Crab)

The Kaiu family are known for their construction and maintenance of the great wall that defends the southern part of the Empire from the Shadowlands. Warriors defend the wall, engineers rebuild it... Genji falls into the latter camp. Working the wall is a noble sacrifice, but through teamwork it can be more than kjust a burden. Kaiu Genji has hundreds of labourers under his control, as he commands teams that maintain a hundred miles of wall, and twelve watchtowers. Every labourer is treated like family, and given more than their expected share of rations and supplies.

"Kaiu Genji"

Goal: Genji's main goal is to ensure the wall remains intact and secure. After a tour of conscription, he could have left the wall years ago, but he loves knowing that he is doing a duty for the empire and fears that anyone else in the position would not treat the labourers as well, and this might lead to security issues or maintenance problems. He feels it is his duty and obligation to do the right thing here.

Obstacle: In recent months, there has been a number of wall breaches and Genji's men have been called away. He is also getting less supplies to distribute to the teams under his command.

Strength: Genji has the loyalty of his labourers, and a reputation as someone who is fair and honourable. He is not afraid of getting dirty, or doing some of the heavy lifting himself.

Weakness: He is unable to transfer responsibility and feels the obligation to make sure everything is working for himself. He is gradually wearing himself out with too much work, and it feels like a matter of time before something will go wrong.

Emotion – Pride – Full of Woe (Kitsu Lion)

The Lion are the warriors and master strategists of the empire. Within their clan, the Kitsu family are the historians and mystics. As keepers of strategic secrets and masters of magic relating to glorious battle, elements of the family have fallen to darkness in their desire to maintain a facade of power and strength. Kitsu Shuko wanted to prove her family proud, studying ancient texts and finding forgotten magic that would bring glory. What she found was something else... 

"Kitsu Shuko"

Goal: Shuko has found some dark magic that magnifies the strength of those it enchants, but it is dangerously close to the blood magic known as maho, which led to the downfall of the mystics of the Ikoma family. She is looking to purify the magic she has found.

Obstacle: Every time she experiments with the magic, dark spirits get closer and her soul gets a little more corrupted. So far she has avoided the worst, but this luck can't last forever,

Strength: Shuko has developed a reputation as someone who can grant luck and strength in battle. She is developing a reputation among warriors of the clan, and many are willing to do whatever it takes to confirm their rise to glory in the empire.

Weakness: Some of those she has "blessed" have fallen to savagery and bloodlust. It hasn't been completely linked to her, but suspicions are rising, and investigations have begun. She needs to be careful, and ensures she purifies herself daily.