The High Road
By Jason Flowers Inspired by Stagecoach by John Ford Challenge The Player Characters have been hired or assigned to escort a small caravan making its way across contested border lands. Fear of bandits, warring clans, or some supernatural presence makes the journey potentially dangerous. Among the caravan is an odd assortment of samurai and peasants. Shiba Kagami, a magistrate, hopes to capture her old friend, the ronin outlaw Rengoki, who is rumored to be in the province. The shugenja, Daidoji Kazuhito, travels to a new remote posting as punishment, attained due to his addictive tendency to indulge in opium. Okimi, a young geisha, hopes to find a new life for herself at the end of the journey. The sake master, Kin, is exceedingly polite to all members of the caravan, providing their best sake for the lengthy march. Yasuki Chiyo, is a corrupt merchant, notorious for lining her own pockets at the expense of anyone she deals with. Akodo Michi, the pregnant wife of a famous Lion general, is traveling to be with her husband for the birth of their child. And lastly the guileful gambler, Kasuga Itachi, swears to protect Akodo Michi, likely to raise his own station. Shortly after the caravan sets out, they come upon Rengoki, the ronin outlaw. Shiba Kagami, despite their previous friendship, is forced to take him into custody. The PCs then learn that Rengoki is wanted for the murder of his father, but he vows that he is innocent. The ronin tells them the murder was committed by a bandit leader named Yama. Rengoki hopes to get vengeance before being executed for his crimes. Focus The caravan continues onward, quickly seeing evidence of the local threat. At one waystation along the road, they learn that Akodo Michi’s husband has been in a ferocious battle and was grievously wounded. The shock causes Michi to prematurely go into labor. Daidoji Kazuhito, will likely require the PCs assistance, if he is even sober enough to deliver a baby. During the chaos of the birth, Rengoki sees an opportunity to escape, and slips away. Some Player Characters will have to follow the ronin. After a short pursuit, they will find him, along with clear evidence of an inevitable attack by the ever-present threat. The caravan must continue to move or be caught in a raid. Strike As the caravan hurries on to its destination, they are stymied by a flooded ford slowing the last crossing before safety. Finally caught and surrounded by their pursuers they must stand and fight. The besieging force greatly outnumbers the defenders of the caravan and all hope looks lost. Whether because of a last-minute intervention by a friendly force or the sacrifice of a caravanner, the threat is eventually beaten back providing the time to get the last of the carts and wagons across the river to safety. Having reached safe harbor, the members of the caravan go their separate ways with promises of eternal friendship. Shiba Kagami, allows Rengoki the necessary time to hunt down the bandit, Yama. The Player Characters may choose to help him if they have been moved by his story. With their intercession Rengoki may even survive his encounter with the bandit and his men. If he does survive, does Shiba Kagami take him into custody again, or has she been convinced of his innocence? Dramatis Personae Shiba Kagami, Magistrate, coming along because of rumored presence of ronin “outlaw”, her former friend Daidoji Kazuhito, Shugenja healer with opium addiction, has been assigned to remote place as punishment Okimi, Geisha, traveling to new place for a new start Kin, Sake brewer, exceedingly polite Yasuki Chiyo, Corrupt merchant, has stolen funds from clan Akodo Michi, Pregnant samurai of high rank, traveling to be with her husband stationed at destination Kasuga Itachi, Disingenuous samurai, gambler, vows to protect pregnant samurai to raise his own position Rengoki, “Outlaw” ronin, hunting the men who caused him to become wanted, has friendly history with magistrate
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Another Year
By Jason Flowers Challenge Nestled deep in the Great Wall of the North Mountains is the small lumber village, Otsuma. This village is so remote, that the road to Otsuma is merely a game trail for most of its length. When the Player Characters arrive, the small village is in the thick of a local festival. Otsuma has no permanent samurai presence, so the PCs are welcomed warmly and invited to partake in the celebration by the residents. As the PCs tour the village, they learn of the festival and its cause. Each year the monk Kosai visits Otsuma to provide blessings. His efforts include blessing the children born in the last year, blessing newly married couples, prayers for the village’s dead, and even re-sanctifying the small shrine in Otsuma’s center. Those who have received the monk’s blessings report immediate feelings of joy and peace. In fact, Kosai’s mere presence is enough to provide a feeling of contentment. Because of the distance to other villages, this annual visit has become a holiday, something for those of Otsuma to look forward to each year. As the PCs take part in the festival games, dances, and banquets they learn from the villagers that Kosai has been visiting Otsuma every year for as long as anyone can remember. This information is surprising as Kosai appears to be no older than forty, and yet elderly heimin remember his visits from their childhood. Focus While the inhabitants of Otsuma throw themselves into the festival, the PCs begin to notice things that are slightly off-putting about Otuma. There are numerous small patches of dead and dying grass, wilted flowers, and shriveled shrubbery on the village’s edge. The faint and fleeting presence of obscure smells are sudden occurrences throughout Otsuma. Occasionally the sounds of the forest cease as if a predator is nearby. These things on their own mean nothing, but together they draw the attention of the PCs, especially those attuned to the Kami or their own Sixth Sense. The villagers reassure the samurai that while those things may be unusual there is always a mundane explanation for each occurrence. Eventually the festival comes to an end, and Kosai says his goodbyes accompanied by his usual promise to return in one year. After the itinerant monk has departed the PCs are encouraged to stay in Otsuma for a few days more, perhaps to conclude the business which brought them here in the first place. However long they stay, the PCs will overhear mention of a villager that has fallen ill. The PCs will likely be drawn to this illness due to the earlier oddities observed during the festival and if not, the village healer, Misaki, will approach them. Despite the small size of the village Misaki is a stranger to the samurai, having not been present at any festival celebrations. She will explain that she avoids the festival because it is allowed to occur every year, despite her protests. Each year as the festival concludes some, otherwise healthy, villager becomes ill and does not recover. She has pointed this fact out to the village headman repeatedly, but either they do not see it, or are willing to overlook the loss of one to ensure the prosperity of Otsuma for another year. Misaki begs the samurai to help her save the sick heimin’s life, but whatever sickness they have is beyond even a trained shugenja. Strike The Player Characters must set out into the surrounding mountains in pursuit of Kosai. The monk does not attempt to hide his passing, so the samurai eventually find him. They may find him further down the mountains near another village, or in a set of ruins deep in the forest surrounding Otsuma, or even closer to the peak of the highest nearby mountain. The monk could be a malevolent creature, a yokai, that feeds on the happiness of others, satiating its hunger in the remote villages of Rokugan. It might even be a creature that has no idea of the effect its presence has on those around it. While it could easily be that Kosai is a human practitioner of maho, it is also possible that he is an ancient Tengu that travels the mountains tending to the needs of the Rokugani, all the while unaware that he has been followed for years by the malign yokai that consumes joyous emotions. Once Kosai is found, the player characters must determine if there is a way to cure the illness that occurs each year. If the cause is malign, then it will likely be dealt with violently, either physically or spiritually. In the case of the Tengu, it may be that the samurai help rid Kosai of his wicked stalker, thus ensuring that he is able to continue his annual visits to Otsuma. Depending on the monk’s intent, it could be that Misaki’s patient can be cured, but it is likely that the best result achievable is to simply prevent more death in the years to come.
Virtuous Things Proceed
By Jason Flowers Inspired by All’s Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare Challenge For two years, the shugenja, Shiba Kosuke, has been the ward of Akodo Natsu, a powerful Lion Clan daimyo. Shiba Kosuke’s presence in the care of the Lion was meant to lessen tensions between the two clans, but Kosuke has had a difficult time gaining acceptance. His spiritual tendencies and lack of typical Lion martial prowess make him a target of ridicule in Akodo-sama’s court, despite his affinity with the kami. So far this has not truly bothered Kosuke, except in one case: that of Akodo Isamu, the niece of Akodo Natsu. Despite their differences, Kosuke has loved Akodo Isamu since his first day in Akodo Natsu’s castle. Sadly, the feeling is not mutual. Isamu barely knows that the Phoenix shugenja exists, and yet Kosuke pines for the lioness. Shortly before the Player Characters arrived at the castle, Lord Akodo became ill, and his healers have been unable to restore him to health. Shiba Kosuke approaches the PCs and asks them to help him. He believes that he has the power to alleviate the daimyo’s condition, but as a ward of the Clan, lacks the trust and influence in Akodo-sama’s court. He will even stake his own life, offering to commit seppuku if he fails. With the PCs assistance, and his vow, the daimyo and his court are convinced to allow the Phoenix to attempt to treat Akodo Natsu. Although the cause of the illness is unknown, Shiba Kosuke’s strength and connection to the kami is enough to revitalize the Lion lord, curing him of the deathly malady. Focus With Akodo Natsu’s remarkable recovery many in the court rethink their opinions of the young Phoenix. Lord Akodo is eternally grateful to the shugenja. In thanks he promises to arrange a marriage between Kosuke and a suitable Lion samurai. At this promise, Kosuke makes his preference of Akodo Isamu known. While Lord Natsu quickly approves of this match, his niece is less than thrilled. She disapproves of the idea of wedding a Phoenix, especially one with no strong sword arm. Akodo Natsu and Shiba Kosuke will implore the PCs to speak with her and convince her that this could be an advantageous match. But before the PCs speak with her, or perhaps during the conversation, they learn that Akodo Isamu, a taisa in the Twelfth Legion, plans to return to her troops fighting on the frontlines against the Unicorn. She has vowed that her Duty is to the Lion and she would rather die in battle than marry an unworthy suitor not of the Lion Clan. She will wed a warrior, or she will wed no one. Strike Shiba Kosuke, desperate to prove his worth, will beseech the PCs to accompany him to the frontlines. Arriving amid a massive battle, the group and Kosuke will need to locate Akodo Isamu in the clamor of combat. At a suitable lull in the conflict, the Lion Clan taisa will be found. Isamu is not pleased to see them in her Legion’s way, but as there is no other recourse assigns them to assist in defending against the coming Unicorn onslaught. The assault that follows is vicious. The intense Unicorn attack leaves high Lion casualties, but Shiba Kosuke stands in the midst of the fray, alongside the player characters, using his magic to heal injured Lion bushi. Kosuke’s esteem rises mightily, when he manages to call upon the kami to churn the earth, disrupting a Unicorn charge and saving the lives of an isolated group of Lion soldiers. During the tumult Akodo Isamu witnesses the actions of Shiba Kosuke and realizes that she has misjudged the Phoenix shugenja immensely. Kosuku has fought alongside the Lion with Honor and Courage, and while he may not be the finest swordsman, he is indeed OF the Lion Clan. In the happiest ending to this story, Akodo Isamu declares her devotion to Shiba Kosuke. The two are married immediately upon their safe return to Akodo Natsu’s castle, thus bringing the Lion and Phoenix Clans closer together. But in Rokugan, happy endings are not guaranteed. Perhaps Isamu is mortally wounded in the fighting and says her wedding vows with her final breath as Kosuke kneels over her fallen form. Isamu could witness Kosuke’s feats and swear to marry him when the battle is over only to see him struck down in front of her as she races to defend him. Or, in true Shakespearean form, the two could come together on the field and, recognizing their pending doom, swear their vows before sacrificing themselves to allow the bulk of the Lion army to survive. The player characters should have a hand in how this plays out, but remember, the End is the Renown.
Into the Woods
By Jason Flowers Challenge The small village of Murasha no Kura lies where Scorpion and Hare lands intersect with the enigmatic Shinomen Mori. This small and inconsequential Hare holding would be entirely forgotten if not for the small amount of taxes it contributes to the Clan each year. Whether the Player Characters are here to collect those taxes, are pursuing a criminal, or for some other reason, they find a village that is in poor condition. It seems as if the upkeep has completely been ignored. The peasants they pass in the street seem tired and apathetic, but a few look upon the PCs with anxious hope. The samurai family here is led by Usagi Kyucihi, an aging samurai with a lame right arm. He and his entire family seem slightly nervous at the visiting samurai’s presence. When questioned about the state of the village or their nervousness, he will explain that for the past few months members of the village have been mysteriously disappearing. Once every few weeks, a villager will go missing in the night. Screams can be heard from the nearby Mori, but no one knows whether it is that of those taken, or the thing that has been taking them. Until recently only peasants had been taken, but almost a week ago his son, Yasuhigo, disappeared. Usagi Kyuichi had already sent for help from the Clan, but as of yet no aid has arrived. Focus Usagi Kyuichi tasks the headman, Endo, with showing the Player Characters around the village while they investigate. As they search the village, they learn that there has been no rhyme or reason to the abductions; adults and children have all vanished. Those taken typically live closest to the forest. The night of Yasuhigo’s disappearance he was seen walking alone around the village. Masagaro, a woodcutter, will mention seeing overly large footprints and drag marks leading directly to the tree line after a recent abduction; Obviously from a troll or ogre or something more foul. The village is rife with rumors about what is happening. Some say a curse was placed upon Usagi Kyuichi by a maho-tsukai for some offense years ago. Others insist the screams they hear are those of the taken returning to perpetuate their fates. Many agree, if not openly to the samurai, that Usagi Kyuichi let the situation go on too long and only decided to act when his son was taken. Strike Eventually the Samurai will be forced to follow the story of Masagaro into the Shinomen Mori. The PCs will need to navigate the dark forest in search of those who are missing. Inside the Mori, the air is always still and scented with the musty odor of decay. Soon they will discover who, or what, is responsible and learn the fate of those taken. Is it a gang of Forest Killer bandits using the reputation of the Shinomen Mori to cover their slaving? Have the villagers been dragged into the forest to be consumed by a troll, as the footprints seemed to suggest? It may be that a creature more horrific has found its way to Murasha no Kura and is slowly wrenching the people away for its own diabolical plans.
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August 2020
Categories"Kibo wa eien ni wakidemasu (Hope springs eternal)" by Ronald Douglas Frazier is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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