I've had a couple of players ask about it, so I'm including a community OOC thread for everyone to say hello to one another and be social, or not, as the case may be.

My plan is to run this as a one shot but if things progress well...we'll see what happens.  If you want a clan name ect. put it into your backstory and maybe it will become a thing.

So... everyone ready then?

Will get introduction post up today

Hello people :)

I've just joined, but have no clear idea of what to play. I would normally work out what is missing from people's descriptions... but we don't seem to have any.

Could I request people add descriptions? Even if it's just a picture. And what are people playing? What is missing? Do we have a healer? a tank? a person good with locks and traps?

Looking forwards to playing with you all

Welcome Okimi.
Except for Yamada Goro, we are all servants of the Scorpion Clan. A Healer would be great! A healer with Disable Device, even better! If you want to join our happy "The Expandables" Scorpion team, let's just say that our mommies and daddies didn't think much of us because we developed psionic powers, sending us far away to train with other cultures and come back with their secrets. Now we are called back and will work the Scorpion Clan. And the Empire, of course.
Ryu is a Soshi, Akira is a Shosuro, Sakura is a Bayushi. If you can belong to the Yogo family, great! That way, all the great families of the Scorpion clan would be represented.

If you want to try a psionic healer, you can try:

Wis based healer
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/alter...power-list-vitalist/

Int based not so healer, but healer nonetheless
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/alter...ashed/classes/psion/
(Egoist, yes, the best healer is en egoist one)

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/alter...d/classes/tactician/
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/alter...d-Press/battle-medic

Cha based not so healer, but healer nonetheless
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/alter...shed/classes/wilder/
(Healing Surge)

Also, ways to get Disable Device as class skill:
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/trait...aits/vagabond-child/
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/trait...ial-traits/criminal/
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/trait...ptitude-magic-trait/
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Sat 12 Feb 2022.

Scorpion clan sounds great. My suggestion is that I am actually with you right now, but the camera just hasn't settled on me.

I haven't looked at psionics in pathfinder, although I like them in d20. I don't think I'll go down the psionic path for this character (I would spend far too long getting distracted). I can always have been sent away for different reasons.

Could you translate the following? 'Ryu is a Soshi, Akira is a Shosuro, Sakura is a Bayushi'. Is there some game supplement that isn't mentioned in the character creation that you are all using. Are those classes?  I thought it was 'base/hybrid/unchained...'

Tell me more about the Yogo clan. (I go back to that question 'is there a whole body of background material that I should have read but haven't')

I'll seriously contemplate disable device. I was going to do healer or trap person. It's hard to do both because healers tend not to have a lot of skills.

I take it that melee combat is 'sorted'.

I've just read the rules on spell casters

Are psioncs as modified as spell casters?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:30, Sat 12 Feb 2022.

They are families from the Scorpion Clan. The head family are the Bayushis. The Soshi, the Soshuro and the Yojo are the other major families into the Scorpions.



Psionics are unmodified. :)

Oh, new blood! Great!

I will work on a description if that is your fancy. In the meantime, Akira is a big man.

As Ryu said, we all belong to the Scorpion clan. Those are just families. Every family has its... advantages and disadvantages but I think I am the only one who really has a Clan feat.

Spellcasting looks much like psionics now, so there is practically no difference between the subsystems.

If it help, I have ranks in Acrobatics, Autohypnosis, Craft Poison, Perception, Sense Motive, and Stealth.

And don't forget! Scorpions use masks!

All in all, just play what you want to play. I have Vigor, so I will try to get Temp HP in the fights. I am the "muscle".

I ... only play heros.

I would be delighted to play in a game where the Yogo were the bad guys and we had to crush them. I couldn't possibly play one.

OK thanks for inviting me. It's been interesting thinking about a character, but I can't play a character that wears a mask and has a description 'The Yogo themselves are best described as “disturbing.” They tend to be thin to the point of emaciation, their masks clinging to bony frames and frail skin. Their priests speak in low, raspy tones, and have a mind that a torturer or even an oni could appreciate.'

I hope you all enjoy the game. The nice thing about RPOL is that we can all play the things we want. They aren't the same and it would be a dull world if they were

Please remove me from the game

Hello Okimi.
The Yogos are not bad guys because they are Yogos. They are bad guys because they are Scorpions.
That said, we are the bad guys because we get our hands dirty when other, honorable people, could never sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

If you want, you can play a Lion. They are the heroes of the songs :D

There is no need for you to play anything you don't want to. And I am sure this game will give us plenty of opportunities to play as we all want to play.

If everyone else is a bad guy, and I'm a good guy, then the name of the game is pvp

Thabk you, but you have all chosen to play badguys. That's a choice I don't understand but I still respect it. I genuinely hope you have fund playing the evil villains .

I have tried before playing a good guy when there's is even one irredeemably evil character in the party and its not fun. now all the rest of you are playing evil characters..

So once again I thank you for the chance to look at the game but I don't do pvp and I don't play evil characters. Thus this game is a bad match for me

Actually, the greatest story in Legend of the 5 Rings is when all the clans, scorpions included, join forces to face a greater evil.


The scorpions are not really villains! LOL
They are just evil, it is often to save the others. The Yogo is the best example. They are not villains. They do not want to take over and control everything. They just want respect, silence, and help to endure their curse.

Let me write something from Secrets of the Scorpions:


It is a setting where Order vs Chaos is more relevant than Good vs Evil. And lions and scorpions can grow into respecting each other.


If all what I have wrote can't change your mind, then I wish you good luck in your future games :)

Some people believe that the ends justify the means. They reason that the murder of a few hundred thousand people can be a 'lesser evil'. I am on the other hand a person that plays hero's. I want to play captain America or the batman in the comics.

Hero's believe that the means justify the ends.

We are talking ulilitarianism vs deontology. There is a superb book on the topic 'why batman doesn't kill the joker'

I understand many people don't understand the concept of wanting to play a good guy. In the same way that I find it imcomprehsible you want to devote your valuable time to being evil. Even if just pretending.

Some people like drow games as well. Which is what this is. Some people love role-playing being the kind of character that would murder people casually.

I think you can probably tell from this, that I am telling you your argument doesn't work on me.

It is based on the moral code held by many evil people. Read the book or the wiki pages on the two approaches. I have a different moral code to you. And no desire to rp being with other people rping being murderers, liars rapists and torturers. (that's the scorpion clan of the books)

The wiki pages on ethics will also tell you that one ethical code is not in absolute terms better than another. That's OK... I can't control the rest of the world. But I can control my characters actions and choose to play in games that are about good guys beating up on baddies. Or morally neutral beating up on baddies. But not 'we are the baddies'

If we were a group of goodies working together to bring down the clan because we were good guys in a terrible place... That's different. But if I did that alone it would lead to pvp and I don't do pvp

In games a wide alignment drift causes problems. I am playing good. You are playing evil. There is no reasonable solution to this problem

I do wish you the very best with your game. But as you can see it's not credible that I would be taking part in it
This message was last edited by the player at 16:10, Sun 13 Feb 2022.

Because otherwise DC would have to create a bad guy for every magazine! LOL

Yes, we seem to have a different concepts of what a true hero is. I will research all what you said, maybe it will help me to add more depth into my characters.

Best of luck with your games too!

My take: Let's wait a few days for Yamada Goro. Perhaps he shows up and feels the same way like Okimi. If that is so, the GM may think of making a parallel adventure for the two of them, without any connections with our adventure.

Also, Batman sucks since Injustice.
Happy gaming for us all.

That is also a possibility.

In either case, it is for Okimi to accept the deal and the GM to accept another adventure. Goro hasn't showed up for some time. Nothing against noone, but I am playing a hero. If I am evil it is because I need more freedom than those who think higher of their virtues than to the life of innocent people.

In either case, it is a great character concept. LOL

The Yogos are the least evil people of the Scorpions. To the point that a portion of them are neutral. And unlike the other families, they don't want to get more power, or lands or anything. I can totally see a good Yogo part of this Expendables team because all the opposite reasons our characters are. The most cherished daughter of a daimyo, a man that wants to protect his innocent daughter at all costs... only to betray her, fulfilling his curse and send her with us and be exposed to the same peril we will be.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:23, Mon 14 Feb 2022.

In either case, let's not talk to someone new that want to blend in about becoming a Yogo. There is a reason I play a Shosuro, Ryu plays a Soshi and Sakura plays a Bayushi. That reason is that neither one of use wanted to play a Yogo. Because we all read the Yogo description you quoted.

The only ones I can expect to play a Yogo are goth emos with multiple scars in their wrists.

If someone new shows up, let's talk him or her about becoming a cousin of any of us.

That is right. Yogos are great NPCs.
Ryu's idea is a princess. We are the heroes.

I assume my blame for talking her about playing Yogos.

I see she is not erased, so maybe Okimi is negotiating with the GM. I hope that is the case.

Hey, we have a new player! Welcome John!

Hi hi.

John, are you an alchemist? :D
Welcome to the game!

Alchemist gun chemist. I need to find a way to cast silence on myself. X.X

That right there partly informed my choice of profession.

Sir, you are not the hero we deserve, but the one we need.

I shall remind you of that when I pull an alakablam and hose some poor monster with a rifle.

LOL

When are you planning to show up?

In reply to Shosuro (msg # 31):

Once master has given dobby a glock. *ka-chak*

I am content to wait till the gm gives me a green light.

Great. I always wanted to roleplay my reaction as a viking to the sound of a gun.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Thu 17 Feb 2022.

Now give the viking a gun. Then profit!

Smith you should have seen a private message to you.

Nothing in recent posts that I can see. Even using the find word feature looking for my name.

Welcome John. Nice to see you with us. Now to unveil the mystery why you are here in this part of the world! LOL

Indeed... perhaps this will be a west vs east war?

Nah. He is here all by his lonesome.

Seems I can't roll anything other than a 10...

Well, at least you are not ugly.

Average, yes. Though one failed roll of a fire arm and that could change. XD

Now I know why you also need to be a healer. :D

Yup. At some point I can even cure ugly!

Though keep in mind I've got only 2 infusions or so. Rest will still be part of our recovery process.

We have vigor. If we can prepare, the idea is to "pump" our hp first. IF we can prepare.
As Akira had the most contact with europeans I think I should had to meet you first. No problem, I will be shortly to break the ice!

That said, I never liked gunpowder in fantasy games... unless it was some kind of epic weapon. But let's see how far can we go. Maybe you will be like Tom Cruise in the Last Samurai?

Vigor will be a massive help. I had to give up potion brewing but I will pick it back up asap. If John is kept flush with coin he will keep the group flush with healing potions.

I'm currently digging for nonmagical alchemical healing.

You won't have to worry about black powder until we have a "use everything or we all die" moment. Then its the ending of tchaikovsky 1812 overture.

John is more of a support rather than a damage dealer. 1d4 and no bangs until someone tells him to step it up.

After a chat I am going to try and join. I would ask you all to be a little helpful and not do things like 'torture the witness in front of the healer'. If we can avoid those blatent evil acts we can probably make something happen.

</quote>
YES. FUCK YEAH.

Johnny, my bro, do you have any problem in heroes torturing the very evil bad guys for information?

John is a shipwrecked man far from home in a land alien to him... what ever customs you have are your own. Just let him known so he can put ear plugs in.

Steal money from John, however, and then its on.

All that aside if your doing in service to your lord he doesn't care. If your doing it to get your kicks then you won't be getting Christmas cards any more. Torture a kid and he will step in to stop you.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Fri 18 Feb 2022.

Allrighty!


We are evil, Johnny. Not stupid. :D


That is the good thing about D&D! Noone is Christian here!


And if I invite you to a tavern to get some drinks while Sakura and Ryu interrogate a family? What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over?

What happens in game happens in game. The more drama the better.

Okimi, we don't torture just "witness". We torture those who we must. The rest, if there is no other choice (like the security guard that protects the big bad lord) we just kill.

Johnny, I prefer to enjoy life. So, if something bad must happen to a child, can we trust that you only need to be far from the site?

Just about. Though dont make special exceptions on my account. Play the game, it will be fun. =)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Sat 19 Feb 2022.

Of course it will be fun!

Glad you will finally join us, Okimi. Do you have a background in mind already?
Don't worry, I will not push the Yogo idea any further.

I think a shugenja of the Phoenix Clan sounds pretty much like me :)

I'm planning on doing the character creation over the next couple of days (weekend are less busy). Mostly I will be a healer I think. I know that is suboptimal in Pathfinder, but we'll see how it works out :)

I agree!

Let's pump up our will saves, people, we don't want to get possesed. We all know how spell happy phoenixes are.

How deep is this in Rokugan? Full on Fu Leng causing trouble or are we just using clans and ideas?

I think this is the GM's setting, but he incorporated Rokugani things.

That said, when he accepted the clans I guess he accepted their packages. Their history may be different, but what can they do and what they are willing to do not.


Have you considered the Cranes, Okimi?

Ah. Ill hold off on jade arrows for now then.

Sakura, surely you won't believe that such a pure and good heroine will possibly go Five Nights of Shame on fellow party members at the first opportunity?

Can I request the character sheet be made available for editing

I've sorted Okimi out well enough (still need to spend cash) but would be happy to start IC if that's possible

Yeah :)

For character sheet just copy and paste it into your character details section.

I'd like it in the character sheet please.

It's easy to enable: you just edit it and at the bottom there is a button marked 'user editable' at the moment I can't edit it

Thanks

Edit: basically the 'character details' place needs to be enabled by you
This message was last edited by the player at 21:02, Sun 20 Feb 2022.

Thank you!

First draft of character sheet ready. Looking forwards to seeing how this works out

I'm good to go!

Hi people. The GM has kindly allowed me to post :) Hurrah! I'm just doing some info gathering before the first post.

Welcome back.

Thank you



You have discovered what I have asked the GM... why am I here alone? Without bodyguards?

Roleplay reason: Perhaps you are expendable like the rest of us?
Real Life reason: The GM doesn't want to add NPCs to the party, so he doesn't have to manage a lot of NPCs every encounter?

The essence of Rokugan (or similar) is clan membership (for me anyway).

So I've suggesting 'my bodyguards were killed en route and I'm here to complete the mission'.

I share the NPC issue by the way, no problems with it... I just want to capture the feeling of the society.

or we can just 'look the other way' and not bother about the society... just treat it as USA 2020s... most games do that.

I think it is very important too. For characters that are linked to the clans, at least.

Few people would dare to harm someone who has the Phoenix mon inside the Empire. Someone really didn't want you to arrive.

Indeed so. All good starting material :)

One of the nice things about this kind of game is that you are not divorced from society but are part of it. In lots of game adventurers just 'watch society'. I like this quite a lot
This message was last edited by the player at 14:38, Wed 23 Feb 2022.

Just FYI




The GM has moved us out of the baths and into an Inn

I disagree... Every seeting can offer you to be more than just a poor adventurer. But of course, the "poor adventurer" option is always a great way to play most concepts.

John, for example, has no connections to the Rokugani society.
A character who belong to one of the dragonmarked houses, would have several ways to blend in society in Eberron.
A mage that has taken a mantle in the Tower of High Sorcery in Dragonlance will have some duties that will incorporate him into the society.

And so on.

We could have made poor peasants with special capabilities that has to defend themselves before the Lion samurais arrive, with no relation to any clan, except bondage.


About the baths, maybe the GM forgot Ryu was already walking to it? If I am there, Bayushi had to go and get clean. I will wait for a clarification from the GM.

So... is anyone against hiring John or make the lord hire him? I can't think of any way to attract him to put his skin in danger.

He sounds funny and staggering handsome. I vote we let him join.

LOL, that is not what she is talking about. But thanks for bringing it up.

Situation:
Nor Ryu, Akira or Sakura will ever tell John their mission. They don't know him! LOL
The lord will likely not trust an european dude.
Does Johnny really want to get into a near civil war?

So... if everything goes well, the lord asks for help to the scorpions. And the scorpions hire John. The lord will pay the Scorpions... and the scorpions will pay John. Of course, at the end everyone will receive equal shares.

Would you be OK with that?

I can't think of any other solution either, except if the lord is really needy for help and the GM makes a NPC come to the tavern and make an announcement that all foreigners that want money can get an audience and a mission.

Gun enthusiasts and civil war. Name a more iconic duo. Ill wait.

=)

Great then! We will not push you forward and will wait for you to join the civil war... or announcement to try to stop it.

Push Ryu! To war we ride!

I think our mission is "make the war not happen". LOL
This message was last edited by the player at 15:52, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

I'm a little stumped on how to get talking with you.

My food arrived, so I'm presumably eating. The only reason I can think is as part of my 'hey do you know what is going on'.

Is there any chance you can add descriptions? I have no idea what you look like, whether you are a boy or a girl other than picture which is awkward. I don't know if you are wearing a mask or a clan mon or anything. Those basics would be really helpful

Me too...
As you said, we must live by the norms of society. Okimi as a lady of her standing, will have some motive to approach three scorpions and an european guy. Or maybe all the contrary. Our characters are evil guys after all.

Okimi is here to see the magistrate. We are going to meet Tsuyokaze. Perhaps it is the same guy. What a wonderful surprise it would be!

Who is Tsuyokaze by the way?

Alternatively we might choose to leave the inn at the same time and get in a brawl. Or even better a fight break out in the Inn... Bar room brawls are extremely traditional at the start of a campaign!

We don't know. We want to.

Ah, yes... the peaceful Phoenix wants a brawl.
I begun to make a description based in the character portrait. I abandoned it because you was out of the game. I will work on it again.

The player of the peaceful Phoenix wants a brawl... Okimi would be outraged!

Sakura, you better start doing that description.

It would be nice. Because I have no clue who is a boy, who is a girl, who is in what clan, what weapons you are carrying, whether you look pretty or ugly, who is wearing a mask, ... the list continues


I edited to girl
This message was last edited by the player at 06:07, Fri 25 Feb 2022.

My pic shows a cleavage that no man can have outside sex change operations! LOL

I look at descriptions... And I didn't really look at your picture because I gave up after the description wasn't there

But... don't you see my pic under my name in every post I make?

It's a request. Can we have descriptions. Just the basics. That would be great. Thanks

A image is worth a thousand words. So it is there. I am no lady.

I will do it later then.

Thank you

@Shosuro
Firstly: cool picture!

• Are you wearing a mask Shosuro? The picture isn't
• And where are you wearing your Mon? Or are you wearing one? (the picture isn't clear unless you are a Ronin)

Sorry for being a pain. It's only a handful of lines. Maybe only one

• Clan Mon: (what it is and where it is)
• Mask : (only bother if you are)
• Gender would be nice, but a picture is nicer

Okimi, Akira is wearing a helmet that covers half his face. That really counts as a mask for me. A helmet-mask. He also said that he is wearing the Scorpion in the belt.

A mask covers your mouth: the section between nose and mouth especially. The Scorpions use it because that part of the face is the one that our brains are especially geared to detect and process. Hiding it gives an enormous boost to our ability to lie... of obvious interest to the Scorpions.

That helmet wouldn't be a mask for purposes of scorpion clan membership I would have strongly thought: it's a helmet. A normal helmet.

It's not important. If you don't want to take the trouble to write a description don't bother.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:36, Sat 26 Feb 2022.

All these dudes disagree with you:







Bleh, I know when I am being trolled. Nevermind.

Okimi, did you play a character named Tilaleria in a lord of the rings game? Your color choice and style strike me as very familiar.

None of the images, official or not, had a Bayushi woman covering her mouth. And quite frankly I wouldn't choose it.
The pic of my character suit her well.

If I did it was years ago: I have no memory of it sorry. I don't think I have played in a Lord of the Rings game on RPOL.

The character pictures are from 'Return of the Condor Heroes'. It's the same actress that plays Mulan, so if you like martial art movies it's a good choice.


I am amazed it is felt to be so outrageous to request people to write three lines about their description. But I guess it's unreasonable. I withdraw the request.

Let's put this behind. We all know our feeling, the efforts we did and how much we appreciate it and the others appreciate it. There is no need to dig deeper.

Any movie suggestions that are in line with the game feel?

47 Ronin and The Last Samurai for what you will feel?

Just any movie you think fits your view. I need to get last samurai.

I feel like house of the flying daggers is up there too.

I just rewatched that. Very nice.

I hope it will be a mix of The Godfather, The Sum of all Fears and Without Remorse.

Yes, I don't watch many asian movies.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:56, Thu 03 Mar 2022.

Well I have no idea how I join the party now *shrug* perhaps the GM will think of something

I bet the guy you are going to see and the guy we are going to see is the same.

I think that was what the GM intended all along.

I don't have anyone to see... the GM hasn't given me any names... I said I wanted to go to the magistrate on a 'just because' basis.

I don't really have a mission from my clan either... just a vague thing that I've already done

Maybe Okimi will have a "The Martian" feel?

I don't actually understand the reference. I know it was a book and a movie, but it's a genre I actively dislike so I've not watched/read it

But I don't want a 'you are in a party of one' feel if that's the reference. *shrug* we'll see what happens

But you have all that. Or have I read wrong?

Mission


Someone you must see


I also thought that Tsuyokaze was the magistrate Okimi was looking for.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:02, Thu 03 Mar 2022.

I have investigated the rumours. I can investigate some more. However I know enough already to return and say *yes they are true, and these are the people involved*. Still a bit more will be good. I'm not here to stop the war or to ride into the battlefield and watch it or anything {I have to return and report in time for the clan to do something with the info)

The magistrate (I said above) was my idea. As it happened the Gm cancelled my idea in a pm, so I don't need to see him. It is s probably polite to see him.

Well hopefully the Gm will have an ide on how to get together. Talking to the scorpion clan was exactly as productive as you would expect. Getting info out of them is like getting blood out of a stone... Which is good rp by the way... That's what they are like in the clan description. It is just never doing to be successful

Enjoying all the group discussions. Will move the story along tomorrow since it seems to be about that time.

Does anyone know what time of day it is? I feel it is 'evening time' and we've just had our evening meal, but that's just 'what it feels like'.

There are a few notes about it being morning.

My group has just woke up, bathed, had breakfast and went to meet Tzuyokaze. I think this is morning, before noon.

Ater some videos I watched I was wondering what would be your music theme in The Daisho and the Ninja Sountrack?

I've worked out why I thought it was night

You must have been the only people in the bath house: Japanese people on the whole bath before going to bed.

And wow my dedication to the Daimyo's business cannot be doubted as we rode through the night arriving at dawn in the new town. I will be claiming extra added 'goodness'!

OK cool early morning it is... no wonder my character feels tired.

So, during the worst time of my life music was the one thing that really helped me out. So I tend to fall off the deep end when someone asks about music.

1: main theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqdyyxdZ4cQ

2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ1pCyFK_kY

3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F1d0gW3V30

4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaXKf0JEzEA

5: Hitting the firewall -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TOzkCIaXjI

6: Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_tCnxAjEWA

7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBjCPYgYrrg

From John's point of view
8: Bayushi Sakura - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEYOPGlXaQM

9: Okimi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0AAFhx3RmA

10: Shosuro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgIU9e1W0uU

11: Soshi Ryu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV0Y9R568W0

Final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2W1Wi2U9sQ

edit: deleted...thanks John.I posted this in wrong post
This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

In reply to Okimi (msg # 122):

Wrong thread

John, will you talk with your gun like Sledge Hammer?

Also, I was thinking more in this for Shosuro Akira.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08i9D876Gt0

But yours is a good one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O31s6T0SJ5Q

this guy?

Yes Johnny! Talk to Nymph! Remember! Nymph is the only one you can trust! She has never let you down.

Because you know what you are doing!

XD

Nymph is beautiful to be sure but she is also very noisy when she wants to be. Count John talks to the firearm just as he does his tools. Though it's all in thick brittish.

It would please John to no end to first have the weapon blessed by a highly magical creature then enchanted. Enough enchantment and Nymph will speak back!
This message was last edited by the player at 01:01, Sun 06 Mar 2022.

Okimi, John needs help here!

I really like your choice for Ryu. I didn't expect it to exist. LOL
The options I found for Ryu:
Action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7xBEsLmklc

Meditation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXWrOuQIygw

I can make wonderous items and magical potions John, but I've not branched out to magical arms and armor... I am considering whether to: feats are few and far between and 'nerf' you elsewhere if you spend them on non combat stuff. I think it depends if we get to level 5 (the first level I could learn it)

I can bless it though in a few ways, but not permanently.

@Help
Just missed on what for? Theme tune? I'm not very good at those.

I like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdoFVQfrEoc

And I quite like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnIGShKnrkk but I suspect you have to have seen the series to appreciate it.

Maybe in the far future then... when we will be 20th level characters.

Nice selection of music. I had one but it feels too modern. I may even end with the one you proposed, John.

In reply to Bayushi Sakura (msg # 131):

=) happy I could add some musical flavor. Sakura just seems to know more than she is letting on. And it seems like a "more for your own good I don't say" kinda deal.

Well. I know my next discovery  will be chameleon. X.x

My next 'choice' is at level 5. What feat do I get...

I think it depends on how much cash we get. If we get cash then there is a point in getting 'make arms and armour'.

By the way do we start with any magic items or anything? I haven't checked that on my character sheet

We are at 3rd level and this is RPOL. Let's not think too ahead. LOL

Digging a bit to plan ahead as I have the writing bug. Any of you going to be using poisons, if so what kinds?

I can see me perhaps once in a blue moon using a mickey finn.

Just cultural info: In Rokugan and China poisons are the big 'hell no'. Utterly dishonourable and only ninja's would use them. Note that the oriental culture despises Ninjas. For example 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' had to be rebranded. In the west we have a different image of them: glamorised.

Yea, but Im a dirty Englishman. And there are both the Shosuro and Aotora poison master schools. So may as well take full advantage if someone in the group wants to use poison. =)

I think you are saying that because the Scorpions (on the whole) have no sense of honour some of them may want your services :) I think that's probably true.

More that their sense of honor is better refined to allow them to use any and all tools to better to their duty.

The scorps, after all, are the real mvps.

There's a definition of honour in Rokugan and Japan and that isn't the definition. You can invent your own personal definition of course, it's just that it's not the definition of the genre that we are playing in. It's an absolute.

Another part of the culture though is the difference between shame and guilt. Shame is a feeling that you have because other people know you've done wrong. Guilt is a feeling you have because you did wrong. In the West we are taught to feel guilt when we do bad, in the East we are taught shame when we are found out. The Scorpions are exemplars of this.

My hands are dirty, so yours are clean.

That's the motto of the Underhand of the Emperor. As the Left hand of the Emperor we think something different :) Or maybe we just don't get caught at it as often (* evil cackle *)

But you are not the left hand.
Or have you changed to Crane?

The review I read was that the lions were the right hand and the phoenix the left. Perhaps there is more than one interpretation. Being a loyal phoenix I'll stick with this one :)

I found a link to the crane being the left. Interesting. In all the games we played, that never came up. I guess it's all a consequence of who was GMing the games you played and the stories he wanted to tell

The Phoenix is the Voice of the Emperor... unless the emperor decides to choose another one. But since Toturi III, they are the Voice by default.

So yes...

SING FOR US.

As it happens Okimi is well trained (+8) at singing before exotic modifiers. At at diplomacy (although I need to get more) Hmm.. OK Voice of the Emperor it is

Going to allow two traits per character. Keep in mind, only 1 from each category. ie - not two from the Combat list... So go ahead and add them to your character sheets.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:10, Sun 13 Mar 2022.

D:

I thought that they were given by default?
My apologies then, because I already built Sakura with them.

I did too. But it's nice to be reminded that we can :)

I did too. Johnny? Ryu?

I had not

I misunderstood the posted thread (I missed the 'all' bit as I thought it referenced you) I've deleted and will post again tonight

If you really like poison don't forget about Poisonous Slayer, Johnny!

I took unstable mutagen and Alchemical Adept so I can't ruin materials. Gotta pinch coppers. The up side is the better I get at alchemy the less time I have to take making things.

To make used of Poisonous slayer I would have to also make pitted bullets. Far better to make a fog trap and use that if I have to poison the hell out of someone.

just hose em down!

Doesn't matter the outcome of this, I hope everyone is enjoying it as much as I do.

I'm glad you said that :) I was a little worried. I am sort of enjoying it too... but always conscious there is a person behind that vile evil scorpion facard

Not a problem, we are roleplaying. But Ryu is not vile! He is just evil! :D

*Eats popcorn and passes it to Johnny*

In reply to Shosuro (msg # 160):

*om nom nom nom.*

Er.. vile/evil... both are effectively synonynms... or perhaps vile is an emphasis word.

 *shrug* I am quite enjoying it, so if you are that's OK. I prefer cooperation. If we don't get some cooperation... well we will see what happens

Nop... vile is a stronger evil. The book of vile deeds has even vile feats.

With all honesty... Okimi didn't seem to cooperate much. The fact that she isn't very willing to help with the mission is what made Ryu jump.

I'm sorry I'm not enjoying this game

I'm surrounded by aggressive none cooperative evil people.

If the situation improves I will stay otherwise I am leaving

Being more clear:

I started in this current scene in a cooperative mode




I received this accusation

This is extremely aggressive in front of someone who currently has life and death powers. I was actually shocked.

And then it escalates. OK I help escalate. Because I won't put up with shit

The GM steps in. Cool. I attempt to de-escalate. Perhaps I could have tried harder.




And I get a fuck you answer




That in plain english says 'no.'

--------


I've mostly had enough of this. Either you will be polite and reasonable or I will be gone
This message was last edited by the player at 01:26, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

This is meant to be a coperative game among a group of players just like any other RPG.  Since things are not going that way we are going to do two things.  First no more CLANS.  I was hesitant to allow them in the first place because of this exact thing.  Second, You are all now independent magistrates.  You have been specially called in to deal with the situation.  Magistrates are expected to enforce the edicts of the emperor's law and maintain discretion above all else.  You can still keep your characters the same or if you want to rearrange them feel free.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:22, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

If you feel that you cannot continue with the game after these changes please tell me and I'll look for others to fill out the game.  I just ask that you show us respect and don't ghost the group.

End of rant.

You was shocked? Imagine my face when I read that you said you have a mission already and practically you don't have time to do the task ahead to someone who has life and death powers.
Again. Someone who has life and death powers has just informed us that he is in big problems and he needs our help. And he needs secrecy. At least, I tried to bargain with him. You practically said no.

What did you expect from Ryu? That he would say "Ok, she has the right to go and continue doing her job elsewhere?" This guy with life and death powers needs a sword to try to mantain morale of the army in the face of an invasion. I thought you was trolling the GM. If you was a NPC, I would be rolling attacks and damage with surprise attacks. I made time to sort this out by reading the scroll. I would not do anything else except killing you to protect the secret.


Ryu accused you instead. We are roleplaying Scorpions. But the easyness of how he could accuse you shows how easily the guy with life and death powers could have just said "Kill her" to protect the secret.



Also you said this:
"Perhaps we should attempt to be polite to each other."
This is an invitation to everyone to make an effort to work together. Ok. Let's go with it.

And then you said this:
"If you try to be pleasant and polite then I will try and be nice to you"
This is putting all the efforts on mantaining peace on us. There is a condition "If you try to be pleasant and polite" and then a result if that condition meets: "then I will try and be nice to you". All the efforts are on me, Ryu and Akira.

Akira put in a simpler and much more elegant way how we feel. We don't like it. Just as you don't like Akira's reply. You would have hated mine.



I want to stress too that clans are just ways to play characters. We can play all the Bayushi Clan with the Bayushi family at the head and won't change a thing. If our families have a knack for secrecy and what not, it would be expected from us to do wet work.

After further consideration we can go back to the original idea.  You can have clans back and if you all decide not to work together that it fine.  I can split the group up and have separate adventures.  Not ideal but it will work.

I would rather work together if that is even remotely possible. If not... it's OK I will bow out of the game

I think that at this point we need to vote.

My vote is to work together. But to work together we must calmly seat at an OOC table (this thread) and sort certain things out.

I appreciate that the GM allows us to continue having our clans. Thanks for that.

GM, is there a possibility to reimagine this as Ryu, Akira and Sakura knowing Okimi for a long time if all parties agreed?

I'm happy to wave hands, pretend history didn't happen, all sorts of things.

*sighs*
Ok, let's try this.

Nymph is getting restless. Let us ride so that we may advert war through the use of cunning and loud noises!

How about the following

We don't change anything.

But we try in the future being at least a little bit cooperative and nice to each other instead of trying to get each other killed by insinuating they are a threat in front of people with life and death. And accept an olive leaf instead of rejecting it. I am not saying that to be snippy, just explaining how I feel about it, and why I am upset about it

Perhaps I could have offered a nicer Olive leaf. I take 'the bad' for that. Going forwards let's not try and get each other killed and perhaps even help each other

Anyway that's enough of this. Let's see how it works out IC. If it works out OK that will be nice.

And if we become a group, we will not do provoke or give excuses to anyone with life and death powers to kill us all. Unless we have a very good reason.

At this point, I think expressing your feelings is important.

Okimi, you feel in danger as Ryu accused your character of working for the enemy in front of a guy who can order to kill you just like that. Ryu did that.

We are afraid that if we become a single group you will do something that will displease a powerful guy and will want to kill not only you but all of us. Okimi did that.

We really don't like ultimatums either. We take them from our GMs. From other players my usual reply is "fuck you".

I am in the middle, because I practically invited you to the game. And I have known Akira and Sakura for a long time now.

I feel a responsability to you because I actively invited you to the game and you are not enjoying the interactions with the group. I feel a responsability to them because I told them "She is cool, she is great" and they don't see it.

You have made it clear that you don't like our evil playstyle. We don't like your goody one. You fear that you will not enjoy victory with us as our evil deeds will not make it a happy ending. We fear that you may put us in unnecessary danger and we will not reach the happy ending.

As a show of good will, Ryu will read the scroll aloud. No secrets.
If you accept it, read the scroll of the Phoenix. No secrets.

Ah I think I'll take the 'fuck you'

This isn't going anywhere

You have already PVPed me. You tried to get me killed, and just admitted it. Wow... what a welcome. If I was to summarise what happened: you nvited me to the game so that you could get me killed in a pvp... Great welcome for a player

I respond by making it so that we either both/all die, or neither. There were very few other options open to me. That's the danger of being evil of course: you initiate things like this, and then you get hit by the consequences. You are of course (and did) blame Okimi for me rather than realise that it's the inevitable consequence of your choice to initiate pvp

As we go forwards you will just do it again. Because as you say you are unwilling to play in a way that is compatible with a person who isn't evil.

I joined against my better judgement. Evil games usual end up with players trying to kill each other... and look ... in the very first encounter that already has happened.

The 'ultimatum' was me expressing that I can't play in a game like this. I should have quit instead of issuing it.  I was rather hoping that ... ah well... I should have known better.

Please remove me from the game. I'll go play in games where there isn't pvp and people can be nice to each other

Then I take all the blame.

Thanks for your efforts and good will. I am sorry it ended this way and I hope you can find another game soon. You are a great roleplayer.  I only played one evil game where I had a bad experience. Our styles just are not compatible. Perhaps if the other game where we met would have lasted longer we would arrive to the same conclusion years ago.

Good luck in your future games.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Sat 19 Mar 2022.

Did get a 20 on sense motive. any chance he is hiding something?

I rolled a 23.

What would Tsuyokaze gain with the disgrace of his Lord? If he is working for the other guy, he is just trading masters.

It depends... perhaps raising his status? in exchange of swearing fealty to him?

I am a little lost.

Did Hanahashi live in the same room where the Daimsho was? Was he in charge of keeping the Daimsho?
If not, are we in the Daimsho's room? Or in the historian's room? Because there is a Daimsho stand and the GM made a point in noticing there is no nightingale floor.

Yes, it would help me clarify things in my head too.

I though Hanashi was just an historian, not a Samurai too. LOL

Sorry for the delay, busy week at work will post update tomorrow.

Don't worry, happens to everyone :)

Hello?

Hello there

The GM is probably having another bad week. Hope he will return soon.

Just got back from fire assignment.  Posting now.

Welcome back boss.

Sorry for delay will post tomorrow

Hey John, not that I am not grateful for the offering, but perhaps can we save it for later? I think this situation can be solved with a ladder IF they find one.

I get it, just moving things forward.

Just to verify. We have already searched this room correct?

And what room did we use to get into the ceiling?

We come from Hanashi's room. Now we are in the Lord's private chambers.

John is going to knock about in the attic and look for clues up there. There are others smarter than he to look about the singing floor room.

Sorry everyone, Ryu, Akira and me got caught in a major internet failure in the area. Damn phone companies. And damn electrical companies too because we got like two days without electricity.

Yeah, I just got my electricity back yesterday.

Ok, walk with them about what? Ask them about the secret passages above the rooms? Do we really want them to know we found something if they didn't knew yet?

Good point.
I vote no, just keep them out of the room.

Yup. I screwed up. Should have gone with you rather than the servant.

Don't worry! It only added to the fun :D

So... hello?

Hi, my guess is the DM is on fire team again.

Hope it is everything all right then :)

Damn, bad omen if the first blood we spill is the one belonging to some innocent guys that just asked us for help.

On the other side, thanks again Johnny! The pic is great! Guys, Johnny painted Shosuro Akira without the mask. It is great. See the pic in my description.

Bad juju indeed. But if they talk with someone else, everything is lost. Let's see if we can protect their families or help them with money AFTER everything is done.


And Johnny drawed Ryu too! Well... mostly his golden armor. But it is fantastic! Thanks Johnny! How could you put it in the description? How can you steal images from Instagram?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Mon 29 Aug 2022.

Well its not stealing. You've got my permission to do as you like so if you want I'll email the image to you and you can host it wherever you like. Insta isn't friendly to rpol so far as I know. X.x

I think that what Ryu meant, and I want to know too, is how can we put the image in our description like Akira did :)

Also, I add to the mourn for the three guys. We only can kill them as quick and painless as possible. Also, hope that they didn't tell anyone about the dissapearance of the Daisho.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:42, Mon 29 Aug 2022.

Let me see about getting them hosted off instagram

https://imageshack.com/i/pnbGpCuGp

https://imageshack.com/i/pmFdKdbop

The links should work now.

Thanks! I have put it in my description!

Johnny, you wouldn't have anything to make a person lose the memory, right?

Aye aye =)

Modify memory is not an alchemist spells. I'll dig deep once I get home but this is my current spell list.

Crafter’s Fortune - Subject gains +5 on next Craft check.
Cure Light Wounds - Cures 1d8 damage + 1/level (max +5).
Identify - Gives +10 bonus to identify magic items.
Polypurpose Panacea - Gain a relaxing or entertaining effect.
True Strike - +20 on your next attack roll.
Longshot - +10-foot to the range increment for any ranged weapon fired.
Monkey Fish - Gain a climb speed and a swim speed of 10 ft. for a time.
Youthful Appearance - Target appears younger.

Did a deep dive. Can confirm modify memory is not on my spell list ever unless I can make a extractor and we find a potion of it. Which is strange as memory suppressant seems to be something an alchemist could do. There is a archtype that can do it but I am a gun chemist. X.X

Well, it was worth the shot. But you will get a lot of money selling Youthful Appearances. LOL

That was exactly the idea. =)

Just finished one up for John, it took on a life of its own and feels like a better fit than what I had prior. Feels more like him in my head than Johnny depp with a gun.

Johnny is officially blonde!

I cant think of a color that speaks more to "I dont belong here."

But you belong to us!

Yea, all the chaos it will provide once I start using real bullets!

You look good, Johnny. I put Sakura's pic in my description too.

Are we rewriting prior tension or just moving forward? At this point John is about to make tea and sit back to enjoy the resulting violence and violence accessories.

Please prepare three more cups.

Woo! Go team!

I didn't understand... But thanks for the cheers!

I also want to thanks Johnny for naming the gun and talking to her. We have our very own Sledge Hammer, folks!

And now I shall roll a 1.

Side note. I got ahold of a new art AI so expect new pictures.

How many inspection checks do you want for the doors?

Let the saga of leftover turkey day begin

Boop

Not looking good John, no one has logged in since the Nov 18th

I'd like to keep going but in the end you are the Dm so it's your call. I have broad shoulders but John can only do so much solo. XD

Solo it is. It's easy to add npc

True, and if they come back, or if we have a revolving door. I am good with just about anything.

just in case I fall off the face of the earth my email is DesktopAdonis@Gmail.com My discord is DesktopAdonis#1636

After more than 2 weeks without electricity in half my city, we are back online! This body has survived days of 37ºC without fan or air conditioner!
I will post something after enjoy a good night of air conditioner, tomorrow.

Thanks for the update.  Hope things keep getting better for you.

Getting back electricity too.
It has been so hot... and we even had to endure a water shortage.

I have the power!
Now to read eveeything

Welcome back.

Welcome back

Sakura?

I am here! And my freezer is full of non-spoiled food!

I could not have rolled lower on that will save.

Thankfully you shouldn't be near her till she was secured. I think both Akira and Ryu are in problems, not us.

If she does something, she either has some psionic abilities or spell-like ones.

John, did you shoot at the floor or at the roof? Or did you shoot to the shrieking woman?

Door or roof. Which ever had a clear line of fire.