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Post by the0gekko0state on May 14, 2015 13:03:24 GMT -8
A while ago on the boards there was a post with a picture of a Darth Vader like samurai with some ashigaru. Can't find it now, probably taken down for copyright or something. But it inspired to start planning a campaign around it. As my first post on the forums I'd like to share with you guys first. Also I'm only on season 3 of the podcast and haven't listened to any of the actual plays yet..... Don't judge me.
The Iron Daimyo, a man that wears an iron mempo to hide his hideous face. Wants to rule the empire. He is creating an army to help take over. Mostly ronin with some clan samurai. After the next winter he will strike. Promises of a better life and more power to the people who follow him. A lot of heimin are coming over to fight for him. He may be a kolat agent gone crazy.
-a small city near or by the capital is where he is set up. Possibly even in a forest nearby. Must be large enough that an army can set up shop with out being noticed. People sent to that area could go missing or end up joining up with them. Emperor has sent people to investigate but no one comes back to report. Possible hook for PCs. -possibly has gotten hands on gaijin pepper or something like it. -he is arming peasants in hope of changing the whole caste system. Or so he says, secretly he is going to use them of shock troops. Being the first ones to attack and kill as many of the enemy as possible before they die or the samurai have to enter combat. -wields a nemuranai. -possibly a scorpion magistrate or past ninja, using the channels to secure weapons and people. Knowing where other magistrates will be. -possibly has sub generals set up all over the empire working with him to build a giant army. -possibly linked to Kitsuki Nobuo case. Could be where they got the power from. -plans to take over a winter court, possibly with the emperor or empress in attendance. His sub generals would all be there.
-sub general 1, could be a Lion Daimyo (Akodo) who is fed up with the way the clan is being ruled and plans to over take it. Has started massing arms, armour, and ronin in a backwoods village. Has stopped paying taxes and reporting to the clan daimyo and clan champion. Has the ronin in the village play roles to look to normal upon inspection, not close mind you. Some imperial and clan investigations were carried out but inspectors were either bribed, killed, or didn't look close enough.
-sub general 2, a crab Daimyo (maybe Kaiu) is creating arms and armours worthy of the emperor. Secretly been taking crab resources and using them to arm troops for the Iron Daimyo. He is stationed on the outskirts of the wall where no one is looking. His area is where troublesome troops are sent and is secretly using the new recruits and secretly sending them to the Iron Daimyo. Saying that they have died on the wall. Has some Kuni who are possibly dabbling in the dark arts and then passing it on the lower ranked people in the Iron Daimyo's army to play with. Sometimes with self destruction. Possibly Nezumi as well.
-sub general 3, a Kolat unicorn (Shinjo) Daimyo is using their gaijin contacts to mass an army on the outside the borders. Using mainly the Yobanjin, with promises of allowing them back into Rokugan. These are false promises and they will be used as nothing but cannon fodder. Has secretly learnt how to breed and groom unicorn steeds. Plans on making sure that there will be plenty of them for when the Iron Daimyo needs them. Has been stock piling things needed for the steeds. Could be playing both sides the Kolat and the Iron Daimyo.
-PCs could be enlisted by the Scorpion Clan Champion to combat the new threat. Or threat they seem to think they know. They have a faint idea that one of their agents has gone rogue and needs to be put down. Will start to give small tips and have them locate lesser threats. They will deal with them and they will point to other bigger threats. Like the sub generals. -track down shipment of weapons and personnel. -locate missing nemuranai. -find why some cities aren't paying taxes. -possibly the Scorpion Clan Champion has come to the Emerald Magistrates. Looking for help to deal with the threats in their lands. And those that have now creeped into others. Maybe some of the other Clan Champions have some idea that something is going on and want to help (secretly). -Unicorn Clan Champion (A Moto or Shinjo) maybe still reeling from the Kolat conspiracy. Seeks help with some stubborn Kolat agents that may have ties to Sub General 3. The Champion could know where a sect of the Kolat is hiding out and want someone to investigate into it and deal with them.
This is what I have so far. Let me know what you think.
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
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Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
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Post by D.T. Pints on May 14, 2015 17:26:14 GMT -8
This sounds really interesting.
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Post by the0gekko0state on May 14, 2015 20:03:44 GMT -8
Thank you! This is all my rough work. Still plotting away. I'm going to try and keep it updated.
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Post by lowkeyoh on May 14, 2015 20:03:47 GMT -8
Seriously though, it sounds awesome. The level of intrigue and danger I've come to love about L5R
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Post by the0gekko0state on May 15, 2015 9:29:16 GMT -8
Thank you! I am struggling with how players would enter. Would they be Emerald Magistrates or of one of the clans invovled? Would they be all of one clan or different ones? Also not sure what the first session would look like. So I've got some work to do
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2015 12:27:32 GMT -8
If the Daimyo is building up their force in secret then presumably the entire city isn't involved so for the first session you could have the PCs show up in the city for some other reason, such as hunting down a criminal. That gives an excuse for a short combat plus they could find evidence of the bigger conspiracy then stay to investigate. I'd also suggest having a look at the Naishou Province supplement which gives a nice overview of an outlying province where I could see a rebel Daiymo secretly building up their forces.
As for the party make up I personally prefer single Clan games as I think it provides more narrative options to explain the party being together while avoiding the issue of mixed loyalties. The advantages of Emerald Magistrates though is that it gives the group a level of authority to interfere with all the Clans plus allows players the pick of pretty much all the classes should they have something specific in mind.
Typically having written all that I now feel the need to run or play L5R again, has been too long since I last did.
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Post by the0gekko0state on May 15, 2015 13:37:03 GMT -8
If the Daimyo is building up their force in secret then presumably the entire city isn't involved so for the first session you could have the PCs show up in the city for some other reason, such as hunting down a criminal. That gives an excuse for a short combat plus they could find evidence of the bigger conspiracy then stay to investigate. I'd also suggest having a look at the Naishou Province supplement which gives a nice overview of an outlying province where I could see a rebel Daiymo secretly building up their forces. As for the party make up I personally prefer single Clan games as I think it provides more narrative options to explain the party being together while avoiding the issue of mixed loyalties. The advantages of Emerald Magistrates though is that it gives the group a level of authority to interfere with all the Clans plus allows players the pick of pretty much all the classes should they have something specific in mind. Typically having written all that I now feel the need to run or play L5R again, has been too long since I last did. That's funny that you mention Naishou because I finished a while ago but completely forgot about it. I'll have to look into it again thanks! That's where I'm torn. I'd like to run a single clan game but Emerald Magistrates have the authority like you said. But I suppose you can mix the two.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2015 7:42:11 GMT -8
They could always be magistrates for their clan, that way they can have some authority by being able to investigate their own people while also having to negotiate the politics of Rokugan when it becomes clear the conspiracy is widespread.
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Post by the0gekko0state on May 19, 2015 12:28:49 GMT -8
They could always be magistrates for their clan, that way they can have some authority by being able to investigate their own people while also having to negotiate the politics of Rokugan when it becomes clear the conspiracy is widespread. That is very true! And it's something my players want to do is explore the culture and no better way than politics! I also had the thought that the Iron Daimyo would need some special guards. Say in Crimson red armor.
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Post by joecrak on May 20, 2015 5:15:32 GMT -8
Its funny that i see so many that favor single clans because of avoiding mixed loyalties, when i think mixed loyalties are some of the most fun aspects of the game. They add such good drama and an air of mystery to each characters true motivations.
Plus all of the politicking that can go on!
Also it is super rare that you will find that players will all agree to a specific clan to play. People just each have their own favorite clan, and generally a least favorite clan, and theze two are often enemies in the fiction of the world.
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grimm
Initiate Douchebag
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Post by grimm on May 20, 2015 12:21:52 GMT -8
I agree. Picking one Clan to play seems like a needless restriction, especially if you are going to be playing a "Magistrate" style game. It's rare to find Magistrates a the Imperial (Emerald) level who don't see the advantage of a mixed group.
Here's another idea to toss around: what if the PC aren't magistrates themselves, but rather the Yoriki (deputies) of a high-ranking Emerald Magistrate. They don't have very much authority or influence in and of themselves, but they can use his name in official matters to force co-operation from those they are investigating.
And, being an important Magistrate, their boss doesn't have time to go around doing their own investigations into minor matters like unpaid taxes or reports of heimen abandoning their duty. He has these subordinates to do that.
So the subordinates go off to investigate in his place, and find out that many of these minor matters they've been sent to investigate have ties to this "Iron Daimyo", and they discover that it is all part of one large Conspiracy.
Twist A: Does the party get involved in the conspiracy? After all, their boss is a symptom of exactly what the Iron Daimyo is fighting against - the upper classes who don't care about the plight of the common man. Perhaps the Conspiracy tries to recruit them, hoping they can use their influence to infiltrate the Emerald Magistrate's office. If the party goes double-agent, that would make for exciting political and social machinations.
Twist B: After all of their investigating (and maybe after refusing to join the Conspiracy), they have built a solid case to take to the Magistrate that they serve, who is powerful enough to (finally!) see military forces mobilized to deal with this secret but significant threat. However, when they approach the Magistrate he dismisses their case as absurd. "An over-estimation of an extremely limited problem." It is only later that they see / find out that their Boss has been meeting with someone they know to be in deep with the Conspiracy. Now the person whose authority they have been using has been turned, what can they do? Do they try to go over his head, and risk the ire of a powerful samurai? Or do they try to expose the Conspiracy publicly, and invite the wrath of the Conspiracy as a whole?
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Post by the0gekko0state on May 20, 2015 13:15:54 GMT -8
I agree. Picking one Clan to play seems like a needless restriction, especially if you are going to be playing a "Magistrate" style game. It's rare to find Magistrates a the Imperial (Emerald) level who don't see the advantage of a mixed group. Here's another idea to toss around: what if the PC aren't magistrates themselves, but rather the Yoriki (deputies) of a high-ranking Emerald Magistrate. They don't have very much authority or influence in and of themselves, but they can use his name in official matters to force co-operation from those they are investigating. And, being an important Magistrate, their boss doesn't have time to go around doing their own investigations into minor matters like unpaid taxes or reports of heimen abandoning their duty. He has these subordinates to do that. So the subordinates go off to investigate in his place, and find out that many of these minor matters they've been sent to investigate have ties to this "Iron Daimyo", and they discover that it is all part of one large Conspiracy. Twist A: Does the party get involved in the conspiracy? After all, their boss is a symptom of exactly what the Iron Daimyo is fighting against - the upper classes who don't care about the plight of the common man. Perhaps the Conspiracy tries to recruit them, hoping they can use their influence to infiltrate the Emerald Magistrate's office. If the party goes double-agent, that would make for exciting political and social machinations. Twist B: After all of their investigating (and maybe after refusing to join the Conspiracy), they have built a solid case to take to the Magistrate that they serve, who is powerful enough to (finally!) see military forces mobilized to deal with this secret but significant threat. However, when they approach the Magistrate he dismisses their case as absurd. "An over-estimation of an extremely limited problem." It is only later that they see / find out that their Boss has been meeting with someone they know to be in deep with the Conspiracy. Now the person whose authority they have been using has been turned, what can they do? Do they try to go over his head, and risk the ire of a powerful samurai? Or do they try to expose the Conspiracy publicly, and invite the wrath of the Conspiracy as a whole? I love it! I had thoughts of Yoriki for another game, not sure why I didn't think of it for this one. I like the twists you have come up with as well. The first would be really good if you had characters that are really power hungry. Or even if they thought they could try and take the conspiracy from the inside out or join the conspiracy to help overthrow the emperor. Possibly even then taking out the Iron Daimyo and taking the power for themselves. Trying to expose their boss and the Iron Daimyo would be really interesting as well. An idea but not a good one would have the magistrate they work for actually be the Iron Daimyo. Also whose military force would you have act. The emperor if persuaded would have a hard time justifying having the imperial legions entering a clans territory. But then how would you convince the clan champion that they have an internal threat that needs to mass their army and potentially leave their borders to attack. And if they try to publicly announce the conspiracy who'd believe them and how would the conspiracy act. Would they send ninja or start their own slander against the PCs. Or would it cause the conspiracy to come out and attack ahead of schedule. Like you said about going over the magistrate's head would it make the PCs less believable. Or would the emerald magistrates ask for the PCs resignation and then the PCs would have to go 47 ronin on the conspiracy. You've given me a lot to think about thanks!
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grimm
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 28
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Post by grimm on May 21, 2015 9:29:02 GMT -8
Actually, the Emperor can march an army where-ever and when-ever he wishes. He's the Emperor. But the bigger issue is that small-fry samurai don't get to TALK to the Emperor. They don't even get to talk to the person in command of the Legions (depending on the Era, that would either be the Shogun or the Emerald Champion, both of which are status 8+ positions). They will need to find someone important enough to get their ear who is willing to Champion their cause, and that's a whole other kettle of fish, especially if the Conspiracy knows what they're up to.
Also, consider the nature of Law in Rokugan. Evidence means nothing compared to the testimony of samurai. If their boss states publicly that their investigation was inconclusive or that there was no threat from these "rumors", then that is the LEGALLY BINDING TRUTH until such time as someone of equal or greater status presents an opposing viewpoint, at which time it will come down to a duel.
ANother possible twist - Magistrates are (generally) Status 4~5ish. So suppose this somewhat shiftless magistrate DOES decide to go along with their accusation. He takes it to court and someone of status 5-6ish offers a countermanding testimony. Suppose they are a Member of the Imperial Court, or a Family Daimyo of a Great Clan, or even a Minor Clan Champion. If they speak up to oppose a lowly magistrate, the magistrate will be shamed and the testimony he offers will be over-ruled.
Why would a higher-ranked samurai do such a thing? Perhaps a lust for greater power - a Courtier who wishes to be Imperial Chancellor or a Daimyo who wishes to be a Clan Champion after the coup. Or perhaps the lands of that Daimyo or Champion are being held ransom by the Iron Daimyo.
Or, in perhaps the most Rokugani of twists, the Daimyo was not aware that the Iron Daimyo was in his lands, and this accusation has come as a complete surprise. After all, his lands are patrolled by his own Samurai - men and women he trusts, and some of whom may even be members of his immediate family. Maybe his sons or daughters, even. If the Iron Daimyo is there, then they would have to be complicit, and his family would NEVER betray him like that. It does not even bear imagining. So this magistrate and these upstarts MUST be wrong. They must be lying, and insulting his honour in the process. And so he rises, politely explains that they are simply wrong or mistaken, and being a man of great honour in the eyes of the court his words are taken as the truth spoken by the ranking samurai.
Now the party has an even bigger problem - getting past Rokugani propriety, perhaps even breaking the bonds of family in the process. After all, what Daimyo wants to learn that a son or daughter has joined with a Conspiracy against the throne?
If the Investigation of these minor events to reveal the conspiracy is the first Arc, this conflict (from the discovery of a ranking opposition, to the investigation of why he's trying to cover it up, to the revelation of how high the Conspiracy goes) could form the second.
The third, of course, is the War between the Legions against the Iron Daimyo's forces. This conflict is inevitable, but the PCs actions will have had a huge effect as to who lines up on each side when the battle lines have been drawn. How many enemies were they able to reveal and see brough to justice before they could bring their influence to bear for the Iron Daimyo? How many allies did the PCs secure to oppose his forces, and how ready are they to fight a war? The campaign will have decided all of this, and the final Arc could range from basically being the Legions swooping in to crush the Iron Daimyo with the PCs in tow (to take their place of honour in the defeat of their long-time foe) to the PCs being one of the sole opponents who know the Iron Daimyo's march is beginning, and who have to marshal their allies to hold a losing fight against the Iron Legion to buy time for the scattered Imperial Legions to return to the Imperial City and face the coming battle.
The prior is a reward for playing smart, winning glory and being honourable samurai. The latter is the price of failure and infamy. It's all up to the players to decide, and when they see the battle lines get drawn near the end-game, they will see the over-arching results of all their choices arrayed on the field of battle. How's that for payoff?
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Post by the0gekko0state on May 24, 2015 14:15:48 GMT -8
That is too true, I forgot that trying to get audiences with people is harder than just showing up. Like in one book it says that you can say that the master will talk to you tomorrow and keep saying it till either they decide to let you in or you give up. Forgot that as well. Which could become a major plot hook is trying to find someone that'll listen and then overrule the other. I like that twist! A large scale conflict is sort of where I'm planning on heading too. With the PCs trying to mass a force would play a major part of the campaign. I love your ideas! Really given me something to think about and consider carefully. Have any more?
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Post by the0gekko0state on Jun 4, 2015 16:38:22 GMT -8
Now I'm wondering which clan would best be for PCs. I'm leaning towards the scorpion only becuase their spy network would actually have picked something up. But what are your thoughts?
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