Taoreta Sangaku, the Fallen Mountains L5R campaign
Mar 1, 2017 6:56:23 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2017 6:56:23 GMT -8
WARNING: In the off chance any members of the High Wycombe Gaming group find / frequent the boards please stay out of this thread. Here there be spoilers!
So it seems that HJ listeners are back on the L5R campaign wagon at the moment as in addition to the others that have been posted about I'm just about to start a short one (~8-12 weeks estimated length). We're due to do character generation next week then dive into events. I've provided the players with a brief outline of the region they'll be in and have a rough idea of what's going on. The first couple of sessions should provide them an introduction to the complexities of the setting - After the apparent maho sacrifice of his heir a despondent samurai has slaughtered a nearby Monastery which he believes to be at the centre of the corruption. When members of another Clan show up (the game is set around a disputed border area) and disputed the claims of maho the PCs (who are yoriki to the local magistrate) will be forced to resolve the situation before it triggers retaliation. Complicating matters is a fanatical monk who is causing issues for the local Governor and the fact that the group will include members from both sides of the border, leading them to balance their duties to the Empire, the Clan and their Imperial appointed Scorpion Daimyo. From there the aim is then to throw them into a larger conspiracy centred around the history of the region and disappearance of an Imperial Legion during the earlier days of the Empire.
Initial campaign outline:
Taoreta Sangaku, the Fallen Mountains, stretches almost 80km end to end and forms one of the many disputed borders between provinces of the Great Clans. Despite it’s treacherous terrain and limited number of crossing points the mountain range is claimed almost in its entirety by two Clans due to the rich metal deposits scattered across it, with active and abandoned mines dotted across it’s lengths. The peasants that inhabit the temporary hamlets of the mines share the peaks with friends and foe, with both the Brotherhood of Shinsei and countless bandits attracted by the isolation of the peaks. Only the southern most portion lays uncontested, controlled by the Dragon Clan and Brotherhood of Shinsei. Together they guard and maintain the temple complex honouring Otomo Kei, the younger brother of Hantei XIV who, alongside an entire Imperial Legion, gave his life in defence of the region.
To the north of the mountains lies the great Lake Ishi, fed by the numerous streams coming off of the mountains and named after Miya Ishi, senior herald of Otomo Kei’s legion. Local legend tells that a month after the legion disappeared into the mountains Ishi alone walked out along one of the rivers leading to the lake. Instructing the peasants to gather the nearest samurai she proceeded to the lake, where she began the ritual cleaning of her armour and daisho in preparation for her final duty. When a small group of ronin residing in the village approached Ishi charged them with delivering a single scroll to the nearest Imperial representative before requesting a second so that she could commit seppuku on the shores of the lake. Looking back towards the mountains she spoke one last time before plunging the blade into her stomach.
“We acted for the good of the Empire. May the heavens be merciful in their justice, for I bear the sins of a thousand upon one soul.”
Shirayama Toshi, the White Mountain City, sits upon the northern banks of Lake Ishi and is as disputed as the Fallen Mountains themselves. A hub of activity that has grown up around the port it is the centre of traffic in the region and co-ordinates the shipping of ore down from the mines and out to the empire at large along the Tamu River to the north. Over the years its ready access to high quality metals and quasi-unaligned status the city has attracted craftsmen, blacksmiths and merchants eager to obtain the patronage of Clan samurai and as a result the city has sprawled far beyond the original city walls, which now forms the Samurai quarter. Following repeated clashes between the Great Clans over ownership of the city control was granted to the Scorpion Clan under an Imperial mandate. With no provinces of their own nearby the Scorpion have gained a valuable foothold in the region while their reputation and limited military options ensures their opponents remain weary without being overtly threatened. The Scorpion, currently led by Governor Bayushi Saburo, have sunk countless koku into the development of the city, cementing its position as the political and economic hub of the Fallen Mountains while ensuring its success is reliant upon their continual presence.
Seeking to maintain the delicate balance of the region the Governor has recently appointed a group of samurai to serve as his Emerald Magistrates. Drawing together samurai from across the Empire they are tasked with maintaining the peace, beginning with the hunt for a monk who has taken up arms in order to enforce his interpretation of the Celestial Order.
So it seems that HJ listeners are back on the L5R campaign wagon at the moment as in addition to the others that have been posted about I'm just about to start a short one (~8-12 weeks estimated length). We're due to do character generation next week then dive into events. I've provided the players with a brief outline of the region they'll be in and have a rough idea of what's going on. The first couple of sessions should provide them an introduction to the complexities of the setting - After the apparent maho sacrifice of his heir a despondent samurai has slaughtered a nearby Monastery which he believes to be at the centre of the corruption. When members of another Clan show up (the game is set around a disputed border area) and disputed the claims of maho the PCs (who are yoriki to the local magistrate) will be forced to resolve the situation before it triggers retaliation. Complicating matters is a fanatical monk who is causing issues for the local Governor and the fact that the group will include members from both sides of the border, leading them to balance their duties to the Empire, the Clan and their Imperial appointed Scorpion Daimyo. From there the aim is then to throw them into a larger conspiracy centred around the history of the region and disappearance of an Imperial Legion during the earlier days of the Empire.
Initial campaign outline:
Taoreta Sangaku, the Fallen Mountains, stretches almost 80km end to end and forms one of the many disputed borders between provinces of the Great Clans. Despite it’s treacherous terrain and limited number of crossing points the mountain range is claimed almost in its entirety by two Clans due to the rich metal deposits scattered across it, with active and abandoned mines dotted across it’s lengths. The peasants that inhabit the temporary hamlets of the mines share the peaks with friends and foe, with both the Brotherhood of Shinsei and countless bandits attracted by the isolation of the peaks. Only the southern most portion lays uncontested, controlled by the Dragon Clan and Brotherhood of Shinsei. Together they guard and maintain the temple complex honouring Otomo Kei, the younger brother of Hantei XIV who, alongside an entire Imperial Legion, gave his life in defence of the region.
To the north of the mountains lies the great Lake Ishi, fed by the numerous streams coming off of the mountains and named after Miya Ishi, senior herald of Otomo Kei’s legion. Local legend tells that a month after the legion disappeared into the mountains Ishi alone walked out along one of the rivers leading to the lake. Instructing the peasants to gather the nearest samurai she proceeded to the lake, where she began the ritual cleaning of her armour and daisho in preparation for her final duty. When a small group of ronin residing in the village approached Ishi charged them with delivering a single scroll to the nearest Imperial representative before requesting a second so that she could commit seppuku on the shores of the lake. Looking back towards the mountains she spoke one last time before plunging the blade into her stomach.
“We acted for the good of the Empire. May the heavens be merciful in their justice, for I bear the sins of a thousand upon one soul.”
Shirayama Toshi, the White Mountain City, sits upon the northern banks of Lake Ishi and is as disputed as the Fallen Mountains themselves. A hub of activity that has grown up around the port it is the centre of traffic in the region and co-ordinates the shipping of ore down from the mines and out to the empire at large along the Tamu River to the north. Over the years its ready access to high quality metals and quasi-unaligned status the city has attracted craftsmen, blacksmiths and merchants eager to obtain the patronage of Clan samurai and as a result the city has sprawled far beyond the original city walls, which now forms the Samurai quarter. Following repeated clashes between the Great Clans over ownership of the city control was granted to the Scorpion Clan under an Imperial mandate. With no provinces of their own nearby the Scorpion have gained a valuable foothold in the region while their reputation and limited military options ensures their opponents remain weary without being overtly threatened. The Scorpion, currently led by Governor Bayushi Saburo, have sunk countless koku into the development of the city, cementing its position as the political and economic hub of the Fallen Mountains while ensuring its success is reliant upon their continual presence.
Seeking to maintain the delicate balance of the region the Governor has recently appointed a group of samurai to serve as his Emerald Magistrates. Drawing together samurai from across the Empire they are tasked with maintaining the peace, beginning with the hunt for a monk who has taken up arms in order to enforce his interpretation of the Celestial Order.