An Army of Ronin - Samurai Fantasy Game

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Life is not easy for ronin in the Empire of Rokugan. Though they are samurai, they lack the money and support of the Clans. They are forced to either sell their blades as mercenaries or turn to banditry. A lucky few might find service with the Minor Clans, or find honor by serving on the Kaiu Wall. Truly, they are wave-men, lacking a lord, lacking direction, some say lacking honor. Some ronin might form military bands or even settle into villages, but by and large they live poor lives, hand-to-mouth, by honorable means or otherwise.

But that might not always be so.

You are ronin.

Perhaps you were once a proud member of the Great Clans who lost their lord, but did not commit seppuku. Or perhaps you were born ronin, to a ronin father, and never knew any life other than this. You might be noble warrior or little better than a bandit. You might be a clever merchant, or perhaps a shugenja, a priest of the kami. But you have been approached.

A representative of a group calling themselves the Spider Clan has made themselves known to you. The Spider are gathering ronin together under one banner, with tales of great deeds that will be won. They say that in doing so, they will accomplish great deeds and become recognised as one of the Empire's official Clans, like the Mantis did before them.

You have accepted. But shall you regret this decision?


Quick note: this is a samurai game in that it involves katanas, samurai etc but it's not actually taking place in Japan. Knowledge of feudal Japan won't be necessary and historical accuracy is not a concern. If you know the game Legend of the Five Rings, that would help though, as it will be using that as a setting.

Tech level is feudal Japan but without gunpowder weaponry - ranged weapons are either longbows or thrown weapons. Blackpowder does exist in the world, it's just illegal in Rokugan. There is magic, which is carried out by priests called shugenja; their spells work by praying to elemental spirits called kami.

Interested!

Can I be a female undercover ronin? A feudal lord has sent her to seek out and join the Spider Clan. His intention is to bring the clan down from the inside and gain fame for ridding Rokugan of ronins. But what if her naive nature means that she becomes fascinated by the world of ronin and becomes true to them instead? Or worse still, she falls for someone in the ronin clan?

And if this is a realistic RP, and no females are allowed... oh, what if my girl character pretends to be a guy?

Or if that is too troublesome, I can downright just play a guy.

Can I join too?

It appears that everyone is converging on a sister-thread here. I've copied my post to that thread.