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, welcome to [L5R 3ed] the Price of Peace

14:07, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

OOC.

Posted by Kaze no KageFor group 0
Kedo
player, 202 posts
Would you stand
upon the mountain?
Mon 29 Dec 2008
at 21:31
  • msg #722

Re: OOC


 Blimey... congratulations. ^_^
Daidoji Sakura
player, 333 posts
Crane Clan Shugenja
Beautiful and Seductive
Sat 3 Jan 2009
at 03:33
  • msg #723

Re: OOC

*chuckles*

Now I've got to go back and read the old posts!
Kaze no Kage
GM, 386 posts
Tue 13 Jan 2009
at 04:29
  • msg #724

Re: OOC

hi all, I'm back ^_^

the wedding went off without a hitch and DisneyWorld was great ^_^
Lin Ru-Fang
player, 6 posts
Traveling Merchant
I'll buy and sell you!
Fri 16 Jan 2009
at 06:29
  • msg #725

Re: OOC

I apologize for my taking so long to reply towards the post. After I was sort of removed from the scene, I sort of forgot about this game for a while. ^o^;
Kedo
player, 205 posts
Would you stand
upon the mountain?
Fri 23 Jan 2009
at 02:36
  • msg #726

Re: OOC


 So folks, why's it all gone quiet?

 What do we need to do to get things back on track?
Kaze no Kage
GM, 387 posts
Fri 23 Jan 2009
at 03:59
  • msg #727

Re: OOC

well, I was under the impression that you guys were doing internal consultation--between Ru-Fang and Sakura, though Gyatso, Akibeiden, and Kedo could certainly do their own thing too ^_^

Satoru was on his own investigative track...but he hasn't posted in a while

what do you guys want to be doing?
Daidoji Sakura
player, 335 posts
Crane Clan Shugenja
Beautiful and Seductive
Fri 23 Jan 2009
at 04:34
  • msg #728

Re: OOC

Well, actually Sakura needs to get going -- and she plans on taking Kedo and Lin Ru-Fang with her. I was sorta waiting on the GM ... but now that I think about it I suppose I should post a "going to ..." huh ... mOm
Moto Gyatso
player, 53 posts
Fri 23 Jan 2009
at 09:03
  • msg #729

Re: OOC

Unfortunaely I've not really got any leads to hunt down myself. I was just poor innocent type doing a bit of diplomacy and now I'm assigned to the mob:). I am still here, don't worry on that, just vewy vewy quiet.
Kaze no Kage
GM, 390 posts
Sun 25 Jan 2009
at 22:34
  • msg #730

Re: OOC

please welcome Kakita Ichiro, a young--just past gemppuku--but extremely talented Kakita Bushi who has just been assigned to be Moto Gyatso's yojimbo by Doji Kasarugi
Lin Ru-Fang
player, 8 posts
Traveling Merchant
I'll buy and sell you!
Sun 25 Jan 2009
at 22:39
  • msg #731

Re: OOC

A Moto who needs a Kakita as a Yojimbo?

I think Gyatso just got kicked out of the Unicorn clan.
Kaze no Kage
GM, 392 posts
Sun 25 Jan 2009
at 22:48
  • msg #732

Re: OOC

Moto Gyatso is a shugenja who just got appropriated by the Crane to do some detective work for them, if he happened to die while doing this duty it would be bad news for Crane/Unicorn relations.  They're not taking any chances, after all a Lion/Unicorn alliance would be extremely uncomfortable for the Crane, and not just at Toshi Ranbo ^_^
Lin Ru-Fang
player, 9 posts
Traveling Merchant
I'll buy and sell you!
Sun 25 Jan 2009
at 22:53
  • msg #733

Re: OOC

I'm just picturing a 6'5" wild Mongolian horserider who just got assigned a 5'2" Japanese painter as a bodyguard.
Kakita Ichiro
player, 1 post
Mon 26 Jan 2009
at 07:42
  • msg #734

Re: OOC

I don't paint, my skill with a brush is a bit lacking....I do play Shogi a lot though.
Moto Gyatso
player, 54 posts
Mon 26 Jan 2009
at 18:55
  • msg #735

Re: OOC

It's a what?
*Looks at nice shiney new Crane*
Who did you upset to get this job? All right then let's narrow down the pecking order. Should I be incapacitated turn to my horse for any and all instructions.

And welcome to the game
Kakita Ichiro
player, 3 posts
Mon 26 Jan 2009
at 19:04
  • msg #736

Re: OOC

its not so much that I upset anyone as they don't want to give you someone with actual experience and skills they might need else where.  Thats why you get a 15 year old samurai fresh from his Gempukku.

and thanks for the welcome.
Moto Gyatso
player, 56 posts
Tue 27 Jan 2009
at 09:42
  • msg #737

Re: OOC

Perfectly logical. It's the old Crane "appearance" trick. As long as you look like you're doing the right thing it's at least as good:).
Daidoji Sakura
player, 340 posts
Crane Clan Shugenja
Beautiful and Seductive
Wed 28 Jan 2009
at 23:59
  • msg #738

Re: OOC

First, a warm welcome to the newcomer!
Kakita Ichiro
player, 5 posts
Thats most interesting,
do you play Shogi?
Thu 29 Jan 2009
at 03:20
  • msg #739

Re: OOC

well thanks for that.
Daidoji Sakura
player, 343 posts
Crane Clan Shugenja
Beautiful and Seductive
Fri 30 Jan 2009
at 05:02
  • msg #740

Re: OOC

Ah, yes ... I keep forgetting that not everyone here has seen Sakura's history. I discovered in a "previous incarnation" that Sakura wasn't as fun to play unless I put some of her "Scorpion thoughts" in the open. Also, a bit of trivia, Kedo and I are the only "original players" left in this game.

So, for those new to the game, a little "light reading" (it's a re-post of a couple Feb 2007 posting in this same thread):

Overview:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm just putting the finishing touches on Sakura right now. I think she'll be a fun part of this campaign ...

Out of curiosity ... these characters know each other, right?

Sakura's public history: she was once the daughter of a minor Daidoji vassal family, however her family was destroyed in a raid on the outlying village. The sole survivor of that bandit raid, she was adopted into the main line, ostensibly because of her "fierce bravery" but in reality because of her "fierce beauty". Anyone who knows her well will realize that she takes the Daidoji motto, "we do what must be done", very seriously. Anyone who knows her very well will probably have heard her reveal knowledge of an "unsavory sort" on rare occasions.

Sakura is a self-taught Shugenja who communes with the Kami through song. Her adopted family was so busy trying to arrange a "suitable match" that they almost missed her talents.

Sakura is an incredibly talented musician, and while not quite as good as a Courtier she's also a very good orator.

Sakura's private history: Really Shosuro Kasumi, she was trained in the Soshi Shugenja schools specifically for her role -- that of a "Deep Cover" Scorpion agent. She is an idealistic Scorpion who takes her job seriously: protect the Honorable from that which they cannot see.

Everyone considers her a Daidoji (the small tattoo on her wrist helps) at this point and she does her best to make sure no one questions her allegiances.

Fiction:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daidoji Sakura (Shosuro Kasumi)
Part I

Daidoji Shinkenichi stopped his steed at the crest of the hill. The small village ahead of them was nestled in the mountains and seemed to be of little value. The Daidoji family had given this village to a lesser vassal to govern because it was considered to be too insignificant to be governed by a "true samurai".

So why were bandits attacking.

Shinkenichi cautiously peered into the horrible sight. The village burned brightly into the night, the stench of flesh rising to meet the patrol. Those bodies that were not consumed by the fire littered the street, Samurai and Eta lying together in a gruesome quilt of death. The bandits roamed the streets, pillaging and plundering, but a small group concentrated itself on the stream side by the city's center. The bandits were laughing and chattering, taking turns jabbing their sticks at something in the center. Shinkenichi's eyes widened at the spectacle -- the "something" in the center was a very attractive Crane Samurai-Ko. Though drastically outnumbered, she was doing her best to fend them off with her Naginata. It was clear to Shinkenichi that she was alive because they found her amusing. When the bandits tired of their little game they would undoubtedly find a more dishonorable way to bide their time ...

Shinkenichi called on the wind spirits to aid in their silent charge and the small band of Daidoji crashed into the Bandits with all the fury of a hurricane. The bandits were soon routed and Shinkenichi's troops pursued them with vengeance. Now at the center of the town, Shinkenichi got his first look at the young girl who was moments ago being so brave. Her chestnut eyes peered out from under her grime-covered face.

"Doumo Arigatou Gozaimashita" she said bowing low.

Shinkenichi didn't have to ask about her family. As the sole survivor, he knew that her family was dead. He wasn't entirely sure what to do with her, but he instinctively knew that her beauty would come to good use for the clan. Perhaps they could arrange to have her married to a minor Imperial ...

"Think nothing of it" he replied sympathetically. "What is your name?"

"Sakura" the girl replied quietly.

"Well, Sakura-Chan, take what you need. We'll be departing shortly. When the small group finally departed, no one noticed the shadowy figure steal off toward Scorpion lands ...

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Shosuro Kaze walked into Kyuden Shosuro and bowed low to his lord. The mission had gone well -- no one had ever suspected that the "bandits" were actually Scorpion samurai. "My Lord" he began, "Kasumi has been inserted with the Daidoji."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Daidoji Sakura
Part II

Sakura sat in the garden listening to her adoptive family argue her fate as her younger brother practiced his Kata. Such things were normally quite interesting to the children being affected, but Sakura had long ago lost interest in the ritual arguments. Her uncle, the eldest of that generation, and her father had been playing court games trying to get her to follow the path that they had chosen for a couple years now, and the game had grown boring for Sakura. She was now far behind in her studies and no matter what they chose for her she would be too busy studying to be of any real use. While others her age were already assisting the professionals, Sakura was being kept too busy showing off for prospective husbands. It seemed that marriage was the only thing the brothers agreed on. Both wanted to use her beauty to make her part of the Imperial Family.

It would give them better connections.

Sakura sighed softly as the ritual argument began afresh. "She will be a Courtier!" her father boomed. "Nonsense!" her uncle retorted, "with her voice she must be with the artisans!" This year, once again, her training would suffer as she was shuttled back and forth between the Academy and Courtiers in between the many meetings with powerful prospective husbands.

"Good Morning!"

The voice of her uncle, Daidoji Yamanoke, the youngest of his generation, cut through the garden like a bell. Of all the brothers he was the most likable and the most respected. He had attended the Asahina Shugenja school and, unlike the others, had taken their pacifistic spirit as a position of strengh.

"Yamanoke!" her father demanded, "what is your opinion of the matter? Which will provide a better husband for Sakura -- courtier training or artisan training?" Yamanoke chuckled at the question and sat down on the grass with them.

"It seems to me" said Yamanoko watching Sakura, "that her skills will be secondary to her beauty." The two older brothers grunted their disaproval at the suggestion.

"Every advantage counts!"

'Look at that' Sakura thought to herself, 'something else they agree on.'

A servant came running up to Sakura, a large pouch in her hand. Bowing low, the servant gave the pouch to Sakura and scampered away. A slow smile crossed Sakura's lips as she regarded the pouch. 'the debate ends today' she thought to herself as she drew a scroll from the pouch. Sakura stretched the scroll out so that she could easily read it and then she began to sing softly, communing with the kami of air. Air spells were easy for her. She almost didn't need the scrolls, but she had yet to completely memorize the spells.

'soon. I'll have them memorized soon ...'

Visibly perplexed, Yamanoke looked over at his niece as she sang. The air kami seemed to dance and sway before her as she sang, hanging on her every breath. Yamanoke concentrated on her, attempting to drown out the arguments of his brothers. Yes, she was indeed communing with that kami ...

"She is a Shugenja" Yamanoke interrupted calmly.

"What!?!" The surprise that his brothers shared was obvious and genuine. "There is no way that I can allow her to train with the Kami!" Sakura's father shouted. "What good would that do us in the courts!?!" retorted his oldest brother.

"You both misunderstand me" Yamanoke replied still staring at Sakura. "I did not say she should be a shugenja. I said that she is a shugenja." It was then that the older brothers noticed what he was staring at. The wind appeared to be dancing with her soft voice, carrying leaves and dust upwards and dropping them in time with the music. The elder brothers' jaws dropped.

"I have never seen this kind of magic" Yamanoke continued, "she seems to come by it naturally." Yamanoke then turned towards his brothers. "I assure you, brothers, this will come in quite useful. A girl of this talent may even interest the Seppun Shugenja Academy."

The older brothers stared after Sakura a bit longer. The Seppun Shugenja Academy. The sole magical protectors of the Emperor himself. The only ones that were able to wield magic freely in the presence of the Son of Heaven. Such power had been considered unattainable and undreamable in this little corner of the family.

Until now.

Sakura's smile widened to one of joy. They had never asked her what she was good at, they had all assumed that she was untrained. It was true that she had a natural affinity with the air kami, they understood each other very well, but she was not, as they believed, "untrained".

'So much the better' she though to herself, 'it makes my cover that much more believable. But there is one downside to all of this.'

A bit sad, Sakura looked upward as she sang, focusing on the hawk soaring above her. It had always given her a sense of freedom when she worked with the falcons. Now that the family had come to a decision, they would no longer be arguing. That meant she could no longer sneak off and help train the falcons ...

"Yamanoke, why don't you tutor her?" her father asked politely. "Maybe she can catch up and then attend the Asahina School with you."

"Sure. I'll start right away."

There was silence from the oldest brother. The air was thick as the two stared at their oldest brother. Finally Yamanoke broke the tension. "What did you do, brother?"

"I kind of promised to send her on a small errand in a couple weeks ..."

'Of course' Sakura thought to herself as she watched her brother. 'That's so typical of him ...'
Bayushi Kenshin
player, 2 posts
Scorpion Junshin
Kakita Bushi Academy
Fri 30 Jan 2009
at 05:10
  • msg #741

Re: OOC

And, since we're posting stories ...

Bayushi Kenshin is a former Hostage to the Crane. He is Jun Shin -- a truly honorable Scorpion -- and in incredibly gifted duelist. He's also been in this city for a very long time. Anyone who has been here for a while would probably know him pretty well.

------------------------------------------------------

Bayushi Kenshin

Nobody insults the Scorpion Clan when Kenshin is around.

The youngest son of his family, he was nowhere near his Gempukku when the Coup happened. In the aftermath of the coup, he was “taken in” by the Crane, forced to live in an environment where his clan and family were insulted daily. He understood all too well the hypocrisy of the “honorable”.  His anger simmered inside of him – his Scorpion Mask would not let his anger show.

He showed great promise with the Sword, and especially with the Iaijutsu of a formal duel. So it was that, against the advice of many Kakita, Kenshin was allowed to enter the Kakita Bushi school and study dueling. While he was there, something very odd happened.

His anger disappeared.

The perfect form of the perfect focus for the perfect strike was the ideal meditation for him. His anger gradually disappeared, until one day there was only the perfect focus left. And it was then that he understood his duty: to be an exemplar of Honor. He did everything he could to show what an honorable Samurai was like – and what holes a Dishonorable Samurai could exploit. When the Clan was reinstated and he finally took his Gempukku with the Scorpion, he had a mask specially created for him. It was of exquisite design, and a Samurai who looked carefully could see a word etched carefully into the mask.

“Honor.”

Kenshin realized something in his meditations – that Honor was a mask, carefully worn to conceal flaws. When he first donned the mask, it was to remind him self of that fact – that true honor comes from behind the mask. And that those that cannot know True Honor must follow the honor of the world.

It wasn't long after that that Kenshin found himself in a duel, protecting a young Imperial's honor from  a Lion bushi that had shamed her. After that, after everyone in the court had seen his stance, no one ever questioned his honor again. Not long after that the Seppun family showed its gratitude by wedding Kenshin to the young woman, Shinobu, and she became Bayushi Shinobu.

But there is a price for all decisions, and there was one for Kenshin's decision. Being a “truly honorable” Samurai – Jun Shin – means that the Scorpion cannot trust him with the less honorable missions.

And that would be most of them.

Still, they keep him around. Having a truly honorable Scorpion has proven itself to be ... useful ... and the fact that his wife is a Seppun Shugenja makes things even more useful. Unfortunately for both of them, Shinobu is both honorable and naive about the real world. Still, they take it in stride. Because, unlike many Rokugani couples, they are in love.
Daidoji Sakura
player, 356 posts
Crane Clan Shugenja
Beautiful and Seductive
Fri 6 Mar 2009
at 03:44
  • msg #742

Re: OOC

So, Kedo-kun ... shall we play some card while waiting for the bad guys to show? ;p
Kedo
player, 216 posts
Would you stand
upon the mountain?
Fri 6 Mar 2009
at 04:02
  • msg #743

Re: OOC


 "Hmmm?"

 Kedo looks up from reading the manual to 'Empire: Total War'

 "Sorry, I was plotting world domination, what was that?"
Kaze no Kage
GM, 419 posts
Fri 6 Mar 2009
at 04:12
  • msg #744

Re: OOC

sorry about the long wait, thanks to Kedo I actually had to build some enemies instead of just using basic mook stats (see the Loose Threads thread for details ^_^)

plus I was waiting on some of the others to post, but in vain ^_^
Kedo
player, 217 posts
Would you stand
upon the mountain?
Fri 6 Mar 2009
at 04:14
  • msg #745

Re: OOC


 Well, bear in mind that if I'd missed a single roll, I was down to a TN to be hit of next to nothing 'cause of my not having any armour on and not being able to dodge if I'm to protect Sakura... so I'm not about to be unhappy about my luck with the dice.

 Besides, I'm gradually working on one hell of an act for the next poor bloody Ronin to follow. And generally reminding people why Dragons stay on their mountains. It's allllll good.

 Anyhow, for other people to post - I think maybe the odd OOC or PM prod is a good idea. And hey, you could have used default stats. I'd not have minded. ^_^
Lin Ru-Fang
player, 16 posts
Traveling Merchant
I'll buy and sell you!
Fri 6 Mar 2009
at 06:08
  • msg #746

Re: OOC

Not... really certain what you expect me to do. o_o

As for my character's personal history... well, I'll let you the players figure that ought. I do enough internal monologues in my posts that one ought to be able to assemble the pieces and come up with something.
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