Post by Obsidian on Dec 11, 2017 13:26:23 GMT -5
The year is 2218, eighteen years after the Third Day of Thunder. The Dark Kami Fu Leng, taking advantage of Daigotsu's destruction and his "grandson" Kanpeki's desire to sit the throne, took rule of Jigoku once more. The former Spider Clan daimyo and would be conqueror willingly opened up his body and soul to Fu Leng in an effort to defeat the forces of Emperor Iweko Seiken and truly take control of the country. However, the combined efforts of the various Thunders - one representing each of the then Great Clans - were able to put aside their differences for one final battle and fulfill their destines, once more thwarting the attempts of the Jealous Realm. For the third time in the Empire's history, their efforts lead to peace in Rokugan.
However, history repeats itself and peace is always as impermanent as the snows of late winter...
Hello everyone! I'm the Head GM of RHS 4, Obsidian, an AU setting for L5R. The current political state of the country is heavily influenced by the events by the events of the past two L5R PbP games I have ran - RHS3 and Third Day of Thunder. The status of many of the clans, and the Emerald Empire itself, were heavily shaken up during this time. Here is a small amount of details about each of the Clans that will give you an understanding of what is going on with them during this game's time - their leader, their closest allies, and their strongest enemies.
Crab Clan
Champion: Hida Kisada
The Little Bear is a man approaching the age of retirement. He has grown increasingly more wary as the peace between the Clans has extended, his eyes able to look more north with the relative docility of the Shadowlands to potential conflicts with the Clans.
Allies: Unicorn, Crane
Secured in the previous winter when Kisada's eldest son Yorimichi married the Iuchi daimyo's second daughter, Hori. The Crab have assisted the Unicorn in securing the land routes to and from the Colonies. As a reflection of friendship between the Crane and Crab Thunders, the Crane and Crab have assisted each other in hunting down stray oni in the Empire for the past near 2 decades (it also helped that the current Master of Water saved the Emperor's life).
Enemies: Scorpion
The Scorpion made an enemy of the Crab when their Champion Bayushi Kaiko "politely" suggested to the Emperor's court that the Scorpion could guard the Second Pit all on their own, driving a large wedge between the Pincer Alliance. Tensions were not relieved when the heir to the Crab defeated Kaiko's betrothed, Shosuro Hanzin, in a duel to the death over the matter of honor.
Crane Clan
Champion: Doji Makoto
With his previous family killed by Kanpeki, Makoto holds the title of Champion until his thirteen year old daughter Marihime is of an age to assume his responsibilities.
Allies: Lion, Phoenix, Crab
Many find it odd that the Lion and Crane have remained cautious allies for so long, even various members among both of the respective clans are somewhat befuddled. The Crane have maintained this alliance, as well as the one with their long time friends in the Phoenix, via many key political marriages. Kakita Meta and Hida Tetsuo's friendship is the basis of this loose alliance between the two clans.
Enemies: Dragon
The rivalry between the Crane and the Dragon, via the families of the Kakita and Mirumoto, has risen to an all time high. Their two respective Thunders, Kakita Meta and Mirumoto Aiko, are openly known to not be fond of each other. Tensions and challenges between the Clans are threatening to spill over into the political realm, unless something is done to quell them.
Dragon Clan
Champion: Mirumoto Shikei
Shikei is a much more vibrant and active member of the courts than his contemporaries who have yet to retire. The Laughing Dragon isn't anywhere close to thinking about retiring, enjoying his life as a samurai just too much.
Allies: Phoenix, Scorpion
Despite any tensions that have ran between the two clans in the past, the Phoenix are the Dragon's closest ally in the courts. Both are relying on each other's understanding of the nature of the universe to help prevent future calamities like the Onyx War. The Scorpion have also shown and odd appreciation for the Dragon, the latter showing a wary thankfulness for the Scorpion's cooperation in court.
Enemies: Crane
When a brash young Mirumoto named Okoro caught wind of the insult the Kakita had potentially given to the Mirumoto, he hurled great insults at any Kakita he came across, resulting in many duels to the death. After killing his fifth Kakita, he was finally felled by a promising young Kenshinzen and shown no honor or respect in his death. A growing amount of both Crane and Dragon seem discontent to let the matter simply end there, escalating tensions between the two clans - Okoro's swords remain unreturned to his family.
Lion Clan
Champion: Matsu Tayuko
Tayuko has ruled the Lion Clan through 18 years of relative peace, an oddity seeing as she is a Matsu. Smaller pockets of Lion forces are still content to engage in the occasional border skirmish, though Tayuko is quick to recall any bloodthirsty Lion back to his or her station. Eighteen years without war is a long time for the sons and daughters of Akodo to cope with peace.
Allies: Crane, Unicorn
The Crane and the Lion remain allies in the sense that they are not fighting nor getting in each other's way. The Unicorn have also earned a deal of respect from the Lion, a reflection of the friendship once shared between their two respective Thunders.
Enemies: Minor Clans (Spider and Dragonfly)
The Minor Clans are almost at the point of having had enough of Lion mockery. Many bored and warless Lion have taken to insulting the ancestors of the Tonbo once more in court, the Dragonfly enduring with patient tranquility. The Spider are still treated with the barest modicum of respect at best, the Lion not forgetting the part they played in the Onyx War. It is the combined leadership of the other Minor Clans that are close to openly calling the Lion out for their aggression.
Phoenix Clan
Champion: Shiba Kentaro
Five Years ago the previous Phoenix Champion Shiba Tsukimi was claimed by an illness. The Soul of Shiba chose a man named Rentaro to follow in her footsteps. Rentaro has shown a degree of pluckiness in the aftermath of the rebuilding of Phoenix lands, forging allies in court without giving away too much ground nor owing too much political debt. The list of Elemental Masters is as follows: Air - Isawa Tsumaro; Earth - Kuni Renyu; Water - Kakita Hanashiro; Fire - Isawa Yae; Void - Isawa Shunryu.
Allies: Crane, Dragon
Were it not for the intervention of the Asako as mediators, it is likely the Crane and Dragon tensions would be much worse than they are now. The Phoenix are struggling, but succeeding for the time being, at convincing both clans that escalation will only cause things to get worse for Rokugan.
Enemies: None
True to their pacifistic nature, and after the horrors of their war with the Unicorn twenty years earlier, the Phoenix are spending time forging good relationships with the other clans and taking care not to give overt offense.
Scorpion Clan
Champion: Bayushi Kaiko
At twenty years of age, Kaiko is the youngest of the Great Clan Champions. Since the death of her betrothed at the hands of the Crab heir, she has garnered a reputation for being cold yet quick tempered - a strict contrast to her more youthful exuberance. Since she has abandoned the open mask that she wore as a child, now wearing the painted visage of a crimson demon that hides the entirety of her face.
Allies: Dragon, the Naga
When any Dragon asks why they Scorpion are so keen on helping them, the Scorpion reply that both seem in need of a helping hand. The Scorpion have kept close ties with the re-awakened Naga since the Onyx War, mostly thanks to the Regent and Scorpion Thunder who ruled the clan at the time. The snake-like race are only a small part of the reason why the Scorpion believe the Pincer Alliance is no longer a partnership of necessity.
Enemies: Crab
The Scorpion do not hesitate in cutting loose an ally that is no longer of use. Of all the Clans, they expected the Crab to handle such a thing with the most dignity, but such was not the case. It is ironic then that Kaiko wears the scars of the alliance's dissolution the deepest. If she can be convinced to turn her full attention to the Crab, things could become more dangerous than either of the Clans might imagine.
Unicorn Clan
Champion: Moto Naleesh
Moto Naleesh has been through much in her time; a marriage she did not want to dissolve and one she never truly agreed to. She has seen the deaths of many good and loyal samurai under her rule, and endured a near civil war that sought to remove her from her rightful place. Rather than bend under the pressure, the reincarnation of Shinjo still leads her clan with Courage as well as the Compassion the Unicorn are famous for.
Allies: Lion, Crab, the Naga
The Unicorn and the Lion have come to blows many times in the past, but now enjoy time as mutual allies- Naleesh and Tayuko both have developed a friendship and deep respect for one another. Iuchi Hori's marriage to Crab Clan heir Hida Yorimichi has secured the political aid of the Crab. Naleesh has also spent much time with the Naga, yearning to learn more about the more mysterious half of her bloodline.
Enemies: None
The Unicorn, much like the Phoenix, have spent time securing allies in the shadow of the memory of the past 20 years' wars. The Ide have been a large part of that, being their usual friendly selves in the Emperor's court.
****************
Now... you may have noticed some differences- there are once more only 7 Great Clans. Where are the Spider? What happened to the Mantis Clan? Here are some details concerning the changes to the Rokugani political structure as a result of the Onyx War.
The Mantis:
Just before Jigoku assaulted the Mantis Isles after Kanpeki opened one of the three seals to the Jealous Realm, Mantis Clan Champion Yoritomo Hiromo had recalled all Yoritomo in the Colonies and the Empire proper back to the Isles. As a result of the seal's opening, all but one of the Islands of Silk and Spice sank to the bottom of the sea. What Mantis did remain on the isles were corrupted by the Taint of Jigoku, and now all that remain who bear Yoritomo's name are too lost to Jigoku. This lead Emperor Iweko II to proclaiming with a heavy heart that the Mantis were disbanded, as no living Yoritomo was now worthy of that name. The Last Island (formerly Inazuma Island), was only recently abandoned by the Thranish to the Shadowlands.
The remaining families - the Tsuruchi, the Moshi, and the Kitsune - were allowed to reclaim their previous mantles as the Wasp, the Centipede, and the Fox respectively.
The Spider:
The Spider were reduced to Minor Clan status by Emperor Iweko II at the end of the Onyx War, a year and a half after the catalyst that started Kanpeki's rebellion - appointing Shibatsu as the de facto ruler of the Spider under the Susumu name giving Kanpeki great offense. After the Spider brought taint and ruin upon the land, there was little chance they would earn redemption in the eyes of the Emperor. However, as a result of the actions of their Thunder Mitsu - slayer of Fu Leng - the Spider were allowed to remain as samurai. The Daigotsu were renamed the Ryudo, the Susumu the Shibatsu, and the Gyushi remain unchanged. After Otosan Uchi was purified by the sacrifice of many samurai, the Spider were given the ruins as their home. During the Onyx War, the Order of the Spider defected to the Crab and now serve the Kuni family as the Order of the Claw.
However, history repeats itself and peace is always as impermanent as the snows of late winter...
Hello everyone! I'm the Head GM of RHS 4, Obsidian, an AU setting for L5R. The current political state of the country is heavily influenced by the events by the events of the past two L5R PbP games I have ran - RHS3 and Third Day of Thunder. The status of many of the clans, and the Emerald Empire itself, were heavily shaken up during this time. Here is a small amount of details about each of the Clans that will give you an understanding of what is going on with them during this game's time - their leader, their closest allies, and their strongest enemies.
Crab Clan
Champion: Hida Kisada
The Little Bear is a man approaching the age of retirement. He has grown increasingly more wary as the peace between the Clans has extended, his eyes able to look more north with the relative docility of the Shadowlands to potential conflicts with the Clans.
Allies: Unicorn, Crane
Secured in the previous winter when Kisada's eldest son Yorimichi married the Iuchi daimyo's second daughter, Hori. The Crab have assisted the Unicorn in securing the land routes to and from the Colonies. As a reflection of friendship between the Crane and Crab Thunders, the Crane and Crab have assisted each other in hunting down stray oni in the Empire for the past near 2 decades (it also helped that the current Master of Water saved the Emperor's life).
Enemies: Scorpion
The Scorpion made an enemy of the Crab when their Champion Bayushi Kaiko "politely" suggested to the Emperor's court that the Scorpion could guard the Second Pit all on their own, driving a large wedge between the Pincer Alliance. Tensions were not relieved when the heir to the Crab defeated Kaiko's betrothed, Shosuro Hanzin, in a duel to the death over the matter of honor.
Crane Clan
Champion: Doji Makoto
With his previous family killed by Kanpeki, Makoto holds the title of Champion until his thirteen year old daughter Marihime is of an age to assume his responsibilities.
Allies: Lion, Phoenix, Crab
Many find it odd that the Lion and Crane have remained cautious allies for so long, even various members among both of the respective clans are somewhat befuddled. The Crane have maintained this alliance, as well as the one with their long time friends in the Phoenix, via many key political marriages. Kakita Meta and Hida Tetsuo's friendship is the basis of this loose alliance between the two clans.
Enemies: Dragon
The rivalry between the Crane and the Dragon, via the families of the Kakita and Mirumoto, has risen to an all time high. Their two respective Thunders, Kakita Meta and Mirumoto Aiko, are openly known to not be fond of each other. Tensions and challenges between the Clans are threatening to spill over into the political realm, unless something is done to quell them.
Dragon Clan
Champion: Mirumoto Shikei
Shikei is a much more vibrant and active member of the courts than his contemporaries who have yet to retire. The Laughing Dragon isn't anywhere close to thinking about retiring, enjoying his life as a samurai just too much.
Allies: Phoenix, Scorpion
Despite any tensions that have ran between the two clans in the past, the Phoenix are the Dragon's closest ally in the courts. Both are relying on each other's understanding of the nature of the universe to help prevent future calamities like the Onyx War. The Scorpion have also shown and odd appreciation for the Dragon, the latter showing a wary thankfulness for the Scorpion's cooperation in court.
Enemies: Crane
When a brash young Mirumoto named Okoro caught wind of the insult the Kakita had potentially given to the Mirumoto, he hurled great insults at any Kakita he came across, resulting in many duels to the death. After killing his fifth Kakita, he was finally felled by a promising young Kenshinzen and shown no honor or respect in his death. A growing amount of both Crane and Dragon seem discontent to let the matter simply end there, escalating tensions between the two clans - Okoro's swords remain unreturned to his family.
Lion Clan
Champion: Matsu Tayuko
Tayuko has ruled the Lion Clan through 18 years of relative peace, an oddity seeing as she is a Matsu. Smaller pockets of Lion forces are still content to engage in the occasional border skirmish, though Tayuko is quick to recall any bloodthirsty Lion back to his or her station. Eighteen years without war is a long time for the sons and daughters of Akodo to cope with peace.
Allies: Crane, Unicorn
The Crane and the Lion remain allies in the sense that they are not fighting nor getting in each other's way. The Unicorn have also earned a deal of respect from the Lion, a reflection of the friendship once shared between their two respective Thunders.
Enemies: Minor Clans (Spider and Dragonfly)
The Minor Clans are almost at the point of having had enough of Lion mockery. Many bored and warless Lion have taken to insulting the ancestors of the Tonbo once more in court, the Dragonfly enduring with patient tranquility. The Spider are still treated with the barest modicum of respect at best, the Lion not forgetting the part they played in the Onyx War. It is the combined leadership of the other Minor Clans that are close to openly calling the Lion out for their aggression.
Phoenix Clan
Champion: Shiba Kentaro
Five Years ago the previous Phoenix Champion Shiba Tsukimi was claimed by an illness. The Soul of Shiba chose a man named Rentaro to follow in her footsteps. Rentaro has shown a degree of pluckiness in the aftermath of the rebuilding of Phoenix lands, forging allies in court without giving away too much ground nor owing too much political debt. The list of Elemental Masters is as follows: Air - Isawa Tsumaro; Earth - Kuni Renyu; Water - Kakita Hanashiro; Fire - Isawa Yae; Void - Isawa Shunryu.
Allies: Crane, Dragon
Were it not for the intervention of the Asako as mediators, it is likely the Crane and Dragon tensions would be much worse than they are now. The Phoenix are struggling, but succeeding for the time being, at convincing both clans that escalation will only cause things to get worse for Rokugan.
Enemies: None
True to their pacifistic nature, and after the horrors of their war with the Unicorn twenty years earlier, the Phoenix are spending time forging good relationships with the other clans and taking care not to give overt offense.
Scorpion Clan
Champion: Bayushi Kaiko
At twenty years of age, Kaiko is the youngest of the Great Clan Champions. Since the death of her betrothed at the hands of the Crab heir, she has garnered a reputation for being cold yet quick tempered - a strict contrast to her more youthful exuberance. Since she has abandoned the open mask that she wore as a child, now wearing the painted visage of a crimson demon that hides the entirety of her face.
Allies: Dragon, the Naga
When any Dragon asks why they Scorpion are so keen on helping them, the Scorpion reply that both seem in need of a helping hand. The Scorpion have kept close ties with the re-awakened Naga since the Onyx War, mostly thanks to the Regent and Scorpion Thunder who ruled the clan at the time. The snake-like race are only a small part of the reason why the Scorpion believe the Pincer Alliance is no longer a partnership of necessity.
Enemies: Crab
The Scorpion do not hesitate in cutting loose an ally that is no longer of use. Of all the Clans, they expected the Crab to handle such a thing with the most dignity, but such was not the case. It is ironic then that Kaiko wears the scars of the alliance's dissolution the deepest. If she can be convinced to turn her full attention to the Crab, things could become more dangerous than either of the Clans might imagine.
Unicorn Clan
Champion: Moto Naleesh
Moto Naleesh has been through much in her time; a marriage she did not want to dissolve and one she never truly agreed to. She has seen the deaths of many good and loyal samurai under her rule, and endured a near civil war that sought to remove her from her rightful place. Rather than bend under the pressure, the reincarnation of Shinjo still leads her clan with Courage as well as the Compassion the Unicorn are famous for.
Allies: Lion, Crab, the Naga
The Unicorn and the Lion have come to blows many times in the past, but now enjoy time as mutual allies- Naleesh and Tayuko both have developed a friendship and deep respect for one another. Iuchi Hori's marriage to Crab Clan heir Hida Yorimichi has secured the political aid of the Crab. Naleesh has also spent much time with the Naga, yearning to learn more about the more mysterious half of her bloodline.
Enemies: None
The Unicorn, much like the Phoenix, have spent time securing allies in the shadow of the memory of the past 20 years' wars. The Ide have been a large part of that, being their usual friendly selves in the Emperor's court.
****************
Now... you may have noticed some differences- there are once more only 7 Great Clans. Where are the Spider? What happened to the Mantis Clan? Here are some details concerning the changes to the Rokugani political structure as a result of the Onyx War.
The Mantis:
Just before Jigoku assaulted the Mantis Isles after Kanpeki opened one of the three seals to the Jealous Realm, Mantis Clan Champion Yoritomo Hiromo had recalled all Yoritomo in the Colonies and the Empire proper back to the Isles. As a result of the seal's opening, all but one of the Islands of Silk and Spice sank to the bottom of the sea. What Mantis did remain on the isles were corrupted by the Taint of Jigoku, and now all that remain who bear Yoritomo's name are too lost to Jigoku. This lead Emperor Iweko II to proclaiming with a heavy heart that the Mantis were disbanded, as no living Yoritomo was now worthy of that name. The Last Island (formerly Inazuma Island), was only recently abandoned by the Thranish to the Shadowlands.
The remaining families - the Tsuruchi, the Moshi, and the Kitsune - were allowed to reclaim their previous mantles as the Wasp, the Centipede, and the Fox respectively.
The Spider:
The Spider were reduced to Minor Clan status by Emperor Iweko II at the end of the Onyx War, a year and a half after the catalyst that started Kanpeki's rebellion - appointing Shibatsu as the de facto ruler of the Spider under the Susumu name giving Kanpeki great offense. After the Spider brought taint and ruin upon the land, there was little chance they would earn redemption in the eyes of the Emperor. However, as a result of the actions of their Thunder Mitsu - slayer of Fu Leng - the Spider were allowed to remain as samurai. The Daigotsu were renamed the Ryudo, the Susumu the Shibatsu, and the Gyushi remain unchanged. After Otosan Uchi was purified by the sacrifice of many samurai, the Spider were given the ruins as their home. During the Onyx War, the Order of the Spider defected to the Crab and now serve the Kuni family as the Order of the Claw.