An Army Of Ronin - Samurai Fantasy

[OiHarkin]

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. There is magic, which is carried out by priests called shugenja; their spells work by praying to elemental spirits called kami.

[Rinn]

Definately interested :-)

[Zombehs]

Well I'd be interested in this.

[Rinn]

Sooo where exactly does it take place?

[pyrak]

intrested

[Dharc]

Sounds pretty cool. So our ronin characters do nt have to only use katanas? We can use lances or broadswords?

[OiHarkin]

soo where exactly does this take place

An empire known as Rokugan. The samurai make up the noble caste of Rokugani society and are divided into Great Clans (Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Mantis, Scoprion, Unicorn) and the less powerful Minor Clans (Sparrow, Bat... well, there's lots of them but a lot of them have been destroyed) - as well as an Imperial dynasty of course. It is based off of feudal japan to an extent, but not hugely accuracy and it does draw on other sources. So as long as you've watched a couple of samurai action flicks and know your -sans from your -samas you should be fine.

Sounds pretty cool. So our ronin characters do nt have to only use katanas? We can use lances or broadswords?

You will HAVE katanas because they mark you out as members of the samurai social caste, but they don't have to be your primary weapon. They will have to be Japanese weapons though - no Western-style zweihanders etc. Or at least Eastern weapons - the Unicorn clan does have a strong Mongolian vibe to them and use scimitars and lances as well as katanas.

[Rinn]

Care to give us a CS skeleton so we can be ready to post our characters in the ooc?

[KnightsTemplar]

Interested

[Dharc]

Alright, I'm cool with this.