L5R - Jade Legacy OOC thread

[Rain Yupa]

Keith Valken Lionheart

Raganui Minamoto

OA also uses DnD rules.

Yea.

So... I wonder what clan I will be... hmm... hey, are any of them really good at Iaijutsu and being fast strikers?

I think that role falls on the Crane, not sure though. If it IS a Crane... you and I will not get along if I play a Lion.

Crane have the potential to be the best at it, but ANYONE could be good at iaijutsu. Even Courtiers and Shugenja.

And how well any two members of a Clan get along, is up to the players. Unless they were Kakita and Matsu. wink

6 more Great Clans to go! Then a bunch of minor clans and imperial house families. Ronin will come after, then finally, monks smile  

[Mongooseh]

Legend of the 5 rings thread?
LEGEND OF THE 5 RINGS THREAD! I'm interested depending on how the system works.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

Think I'll be a Kakita... so... if you're going Matsu... this is going to be hilarious.  

[Keith Valken Lionheart]

You disgusting pile of filth Crane. How does it feel looking like a lady?

/CRANE HAET  

[Rain Yupa]

More clan stuff coming tonight. I ended up falling asleep at 8 last night, which nixed my whole evening ._.' Wide awake today though, due to the extra sleep!  

[Raganui Minamoto]

5 gold says I'd cut you down before you even made a move. XD

Now... let's see... going to read up on character creation and all.  

[Keith Valken Lionheart]

Here's hoping you break a nail and have to pray to the God of Nails and Beauty for forgiveness.  

[Rain Yupa]

The DRAGON Clan

The Dragon are a relatively unknown clan, despite the fact that they had been part of Rokugan as long as any nearly all Major Clans. Due to the wishes of their founder, the Kami Togashi, the Dragon had made every attempt to minimize their influence over the path of Rokugan throughout history.

The Dragon are by no means a cowardly lot. They spend their entire lives perfecting their mystical arts, and working towards enlightenment. The Dragon are wizened and knowledgeable in their ways, and are not to be taken lightly, in any battlefield. To be a member of the Dragon Clan is to be Enigmatic.

The Families

The Kitsuki family is the courtiers of the Dragon by trade, though that is a bit of a misnomer. They are more like magistrates and detectives, fervently tracking down the guilty using deduction and facts, and bringing them to justice. So passionate are they at their cause, that most criminals who know the name Kitsuki fear their very presence and lay low until they leave.

The Mirumoto family is the largest in the clan by far, but are the most 'traditional'. Their founder was the creator of the daisho style of combat, which involves wielding both katana and wakazashi at once. They are usually extremely calm and collected by nature, but by no means unwilling to defend their honor if it is ever called into question.

The Tamori family is the shugenja family of the Dragon Clan. Formally the Agasha family, most of their ranks recently left to join the Phoenix Clan to avoid extermination at the hands of their leader at the time. Formed only years ago out of the few remaining shugenja, their numbers are only starting to return. In the meantime, the Tamori are the most martial shugenja family, and enjoy their reputation as being apart from their Agasha counterparts.

The Order of Togashi, The Eternal Dragon, makes up the remainder of the Dragon. They are an order of tattooed monks, renowned for their devotion to the well-being of all individuals, regardless of their station. Their mystical tattoos is the source of much of their power, something truly to behold.

The Schools

The Mirumoto Bushi School are the proud owners of the daisho style of combat, known as Niten, the two-sword technique. The Mirumoto and Kakita styles strongly oppose one another, forming a sort of strong rivalry between the two schools. They focus on quick, light strikes without giving up on defense.

The Tamori Shugenja School is one that had lost all its old traditions, but has created something new from the ashes. Unlike most other Shugenja, you are not opposed to getting your hands dirty, and most from this school train to be as much of a warrior or philosopher as they are mystic.

The Kitsuki Courtier School train hard to sharpen their memory finer than the edge of any blade. Trained as investigators and magistrates, they search for evidence to solve their crimes, often traveling abroad to put their talents to good use. A Kitsuki Courtier is often welcomed in any court situation by those who have nothing to hide.

The Togashi Tattooed Men are a school of monks that developed from the teachings of the First Dragon. These Ise Zumi follow one of three different Orders: of the Eternal Dragon (serving as Togashi's mortal eyes and ears in the Empire while seeking enlightenment), of Hitomi (servants of Lady Moon who receive their gifts from her spontaneously), and of Hoshi (servants of the Celestial Wanderer, who quest for justice and enforcement of law).  

[Rain Yupa]

The LION Clan

The Lion Clan are, without a doubt, the clan with the strongest military in all of Rokugan. The Lion are the Emperor's Right Hand, the Hand of War. Despite their elevated position concerning the Emperor, they have had more than their fair share of hardships. Despite all of them, they have come out of each one, stronger than they were before.

To be of the Lion, is to be Militaristic. They are extremely honorable, despite their straightforwardness and tendency towards violence. Every major thing they do, they do with honor and justice in mind.

Strength. Determination. Passion. Order. Courage. All these traits define a Lion Samurai, and they define you.

The Families

The Akodo family is disciplined and intelligent. A family of tacticians that have ruled the Clan for most of the past 1100-plus years, they are a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. They had gone through a bit of trouble recently, disbanded by the previous emperor as he had begun to go mad, but were reformed not long thereafter. Traditional and honorable, they lead the Lion Clan proudly.

The Ikoma family are a family that is half historian, half tactician, but all of their number follow the code of bushido utterly and to the letter. Those who choose the path of tactician serve faithfully in the military, but those who become historians serve as passionate storytellers, known as the voice of the Lion Clan.

The Kitsu family, the shugenja of the Lion Clan, are told to have descended from mystical lion creatures that share the same name. An innate mystical ability follows the descendants of this family, with some even having the ability to breach the barriers between the spirit realms, and to interact with ancestral spirits with ease.

The Matsu family has a majority of women in it, but whereas the Akodo are tactical in nature, the Matsu are furious. Their wrath and destruction, when earned, is both terrifying and breathtaking to behold, as long as you aren't on the business end of it. The Matsu have an outstanding feud with the Kakita which they have yet to reconcile.

The Schools

The Akodo Bushi School is the primary military school for the Lion Clan. They learn to fight as well as individuals as they do as warriors in massive armies, from commanders to frontline soldiers, from from warriors to legends. Their attacks are devastating, and few opponents walk away from an encounter against an Akodo.

The Kitsu Shugenja School are trained to handle the matter of spirits more than that of war. They are seldom welcoming of outsiders, since their magic is more of a spiritual, innate variety than the other Clans. However, when one outside the Kitsu family demonstrates the abilities to communicate with spirits, they are quickly sought after by this School.

The Ikoma Omoidasu School is a courtier school for the Lion. Trained to be always at the left hand of the Akodo. They are advisors, diplomats, and historians by trade; however, they are also encouraged to solve their own disputes and never back down from a challenge.

The Matsu Berserker School is a Bushi school taught to the women of the Matsu clan. Sometimes to the men, but they tend not to last very long. Rather than resort to tactics and planning like their fellow Lion, the Matsu are taught to flourish in the heat of the moment, and in the chaos of battle. They are by no means honorless or savage despite their reputation; they are just brutally efficient at what they do.  

[Plainsfox]

Any use for Scorpions in this campaign? Especially a Bayushi Bushi type? Nothing's more honorable or upfront than that.  

[Rain Yupa]

As a heads up, I'm heading to bed now. When I wake up in the morning, I'm going to pump out as much clan and setting info as I can!  

[Fiend The Bunny]

I came with a BOOK!

I'd probably end up wanting to be a Ashigaru from some clan.

Not sure which yet.  

[Plainsfox]

You absolutely sure about that? Samurai is the default social level for a Rokugan campaign. Just imagine all the mean vile nasty things the other PCs will make you do!  

[Rain Yupa]

Dyrlingur of Winter

I came with a BOOK!

I'd probably end up wanting to be a Ashigaru from some clan.

Not sure which yet.

You could have been an Ashigaru that has been promoted to the rank of samurai with years of exemplary service. If you wanted to be older than the rest, it would explain your lack of "samurai" experience.

But it'd make little sense to have you adventuring, plus the first shady thing that you do and the other PCs might have to execute you. That's not to mention the skills I think you'd be forbidden to learn. I'd rather you be Samurai >_>' I'd be willing to accept Ronin (due to them having actual mechanics) at least neutral  

[Rain Yupa]

The MANTIS Clan

The Mantis are unique compared to the other Major Clans, is that they did not descend from a Kami, nor were they formed at the same time as the rest of the Clans. They were one of the first (arguably, the first) Minor Clan to be formed, they grew in power over time, absorbing many other Minor Clans into their ranks until they were powerful enough to be comparable to the other Great Clans. They co-exist with them, but barely, choosing to exist by the sea and coastline, rather than purely inland like the rest.

To be a member of the Mantis is to be Resourceful. Many Mantis make their living through piracy, but many others do manage a more honorable lifestyle. Often referred to as "Defenders of the People", the Mantis do not truly consider themselves so far above peasants that their welfare is of little concern. They are also willing to do what it takes to get things done, sometimes the consequences be damned.

This has given them a rather unsavory reputation, and aren't looked highly upon by any of the other Great Clans. But in terms of relationships with them, they actually get along somewhat well with everyone equally. Samurai, merchants, pirates, archers, protectors, and bounty hunters - all these are the professions of the Mantis Clan.

The Families

The Kitsune Family was once the Fox Clan, the other oldest Minor Clan besides the Mantis. Once members of the Unicorn Clan that stayed behind when they had journeyed across the Burning Sands, they were driven into a mysterious, spiritual forest known as Kitsune Mori, where they had surprisingly eked out a living. But when a supernatural force threatened to exterminate them, the Mantis aided them in exchange for an oath of fealty.

The Moshi Family was once the Centipede Clan, and is generally referred to as the only "traditional" Mantis family, having been originally descended from the Phoenix Clan. Matriarchal by nature, they supply most of the magical support for the Mantis Clan. Their original focus was the Sun as an inspiration for their art, recent celestial changes has forced them to turn to the Fortunes as their new focus.

The Tsuruchi Family was once the Wasp Clan, a family that was started when one man strove to take back his lands from the Lion and Scorpion Clans. Casting aside Bushido and the daisho, they have chosen their own code of honor and the way of the bow. They still wear a wakizashi in recent years to signify their status as samurai. They are extremely athletic, and have earned their reputations as bounty hunters with their skills, tracking criminals throughout the empire.

The Yoritomo Family is the Mantis Clan's ruling family, proud that they are not ruled by the descendents of the Kami. Originally an offshoot of the Crab, they maintain an identical physique, honed by their years of training upon Mantis sailing vessels known as kobune. As little interest as they have in the courts of Rokugan, they still train courtiers to represent them regardless.

The Schools

The Yoritomo Bushi School was actually only formed recently, upon the Mantis's formal designation as a Great Clan. Rather than focus purely on the Katana, they actually prefer to fight with peasant weapons, such as paired kama or tonfa. Due to their seafaring lifestyle, they prefer weapons that can be easily replaced, and keep their katana securely strapped to their backs instead. They are taught to exploit any advantage they can and are constantly on the move, but when a Yoritomo-trained Bushi brings his katana to bear, you know they means business.

The Moshi Shugenja School were originally trained to value the nature of the Sun in their style. Though that philosophy has changed somewhat, they retain identical tenets - Empathy, Harmony, and Resolve. First taught in the classroom, their studied eventually take them to study amidst violent swirling storms, to be able to retain a level of calmness amidst the most chaotic situations. Something Moshi Shugenja learn to revel in.

The Yoritomo Courtier School was created by necessity upon their acceptance as a Great Clan. The few Mantis that had trained themselves in the ways of the court were ordered to start this academy, which they improvised their teachings. Yoritomo-trained Courtiers are taught to use a variety of methods to accomplish their goals, one after another in rapid succession until they get what they want. This often leaves them with a reputation of being boorish thugs in court, that too is just another bargaining chip to the Mantis.

The Tsuruchi Bounter Hunter School is a bushi school that teaches the way of the bow to the exclusion of all else, including the sword. As the years passed, the bushi of this school were not forbidden to carry a katana any longer, though most still choose to do so. These bounty hunters are trained in the ways of tracking, stealth, and scouting. But most impressively is their skill with the bow, easily dwarfing the skills of other samurai from other clans. Their efforts to hunt down fugitives has helped pad the Mantis' coffers quite considerably too.