Calls The Lightning Part 2 - A Clan Wars Era L5R Campaign
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 6:10 pm
This is the story-style writeup for the second half of our Calls the Lightening campaign (Here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=831). I decided to start a new thread since the other was getting a little long and I need something to try to encourage myself to do this. As previously, the intent of these writeups were to share with you one possible Clan Wars Campaign, something that should be able to be run with almost any mixed group of L5R samurai with just a little tweaking. The events that occur in this timeline are different than the official Clan Wars timelines, and, indeed, sometimes quite different in event than Clan Wars. In history, civil wars and foolishness and treason generally are covered up, and history lingers solely on the actions and stories of the greatest men and women. Sometimes that means that other stories are changed and lost. These events could, sufficiently mangled by history, ended up as the official Clan Wars storyline.
I'll beg a last time for feedback here, but, lacking that, survive purely on grim determination as a writer and a desire as a Crane Player to post /something/ on this board to make it worth coming back to read.
In any event....
Previous Games in this overall story arc are:
Storm Rising (12 years before the Scorpion Clan Coup): viewtopic.php?f=3&t=825
Storm Breaking (Scorpion Clan Coup to Test of the Emerald Championship): viewtopic.php?f=3&t=827
Calls the Lightening Part 1 (Test of the Emerald Championship through the Battle of Beidan Pass): viewtopic.php?f=3&t=831
The player characters are the same as were in the first half of this game, now unofficial magistrates reporting to Kakita Toshimoko, the Emerald Champion. They have just survived the Battle of Beidan Pass, and have mysteriously found themselves with possession of the Crane Clan Sword and a mission to return it to 'The Old Man' in Western Hub Village:
Player Characters
Hiruma Izuko - Hiruma bushi
Mirumoto Kenuchio - Mirumoto Bushi
Moto Koshi - Moto Bushi
Asahina Ayame - Asahina Shugenja
Relevant NPCs
Ikoma Neiji - Ikoma Spy who used to be a magistrate with them before he was sent to spy on Toturi's Army
Matsumoto Eiko - Minor Family samurai-ko sent by Toshimoko with them to investigate current events.
Mai - 15yo yakuza eta who seems to be quite the young crime lord
Moto Tsolmon - Koshi's father
Kuni Ren - Correspondent with Izuko, Lover of Hida Sukune, and one of the leaders of the Jade Crab.
Game Background: It was the year 1127. The Battle of Beidan Pass has been won, but at great cost. The forces of Hida Yakamo nearly crushed the rebels from the Crab who call themselves the Jade Crab. It was only the timely arrival of Mirumoto Hitomi, followed by Toturi and his army, and finally the spirits of Matsu Tsuko and her legion of the sacred dead, who were able to break the Crab army. But not before Hida Sukune, leader of the Jade Crab, was terribly injured and tainted by Kuni Yori on the terrible standard of Fu Leng, and not before Mirumoto Hitomi had her hand cut off by Yakamo's corrupted claw and was whisked away to be returned to the High House of Light.
Note: This chapter is a little different, because it was at this point that our characters first got to see what was going on in the rest of the Empire, so it seems like a good place to give the readers a chance to put the rest of the timeline together.
Flight of the Crane - Part 2
The advantage of taking significant wounds in battle is that, in that short moment of peace after a victory, there is no dishonor in resting for a time.
Asahina Ayame informed the other magistrates of the letter and "gift" she had received, though she ripped the letter in half to hide Mai's "price", too ashamed of the implications to let the others know. There was much speculation, but nothing certain, and the mystery of the sword continued.
Hida Sukune, Kuni Ren and the remaining Jade Crab left as soon as Sukune was able to be moved. A palanquin carried the son of the Crab Champion. The group was headed for the Asahina Temples as quickly as possible, though the journey would certainly be dangerous. Their hope was to reach the coast near Kuyden Doji and travel by ship the rest of the way. Ren and Hiruma Izuko made a fond farewell.
Ikoma Neiji, the Lion magistrate who had been sent to join Toturi's Army at the behest of the Emerald Champion, caught up with the group he fought beside during the Scorpion Clan Coup. He managed to find them in only two days...a testimony to his ability to gather information. They were delighted to see him, and eager to hear news from around the Empire from someone they trusted...and someone so skilled at being a " discrete observer," as Kakita Toshimoko had put it.
Neiji told them that, while they were heading towards Unicorn Lands, the Emperor had hired Mantis mercenaries to harry and delay the Crab fleet headed for Otosan Uchi. The leader of the minor clan, Yoritomo, had done as bid, but Neiji felt he was holding back, using the wealth from the contract to build power and influence while not making a major dent in the Crab's forces.
His observation may have been fueled by personal anger. The Emperor had also set the Lion's primary army, in defense of Otosan Uchi, even while sending the Lion's secondary army, along with Matsu Tsuko, to Beidan Pass to 'observe' the Crab there. Without the Lion's greatest leaders, and with only half their full strength, the Lion were not able to overwhelm the Crab army led by Hida Kisada when he landed. The Emperor would also not permit the Lion army to use the fortifications of Otosan Uchi against the Crab...not allowing them in the city. Instead, the two armies were slowly chewing each other apart, and the attrition on both sides was horrendous. The Ikoma spoke his share of bitter words about it, but when he suggested that Hida Kisada would have to break the stalemate one way or another now that Beidan Pass was lost, he was more than angry. He was afraid.
On other fronts, Moto Koshi in particular was pleased to learn that Shinjo Yokatsu had finally decided to send the Unicorn armies, led by Otaku Kamoko and her battle maidens, out of Unicorn Lands to defend Beidan Pass and keep the peace in the northwestern Empire in the absence of the Lions. Toturi had begged for Unicorn help for months, but Yokatsu had refused, always citing imminent threat from the Dragon. But he had very recently responded positively and was sending his armies to reinforce Beidan Pass, allowing Toturi to move against the Shadowlands incursions more aggressively.
Mirumoto Kenuchio was eager to hear word of the Dragon. He knew of their recent interactions with Mirumoto Hitomi, but Neiji told them news of Mirumoto Daini, her brother. Daini had been travelling back from the capital, in truth, fleeing the imminent invasion, when he had been intercepted by a group of beings called the Naga. They were a strange race of half-man, half-snake beings, but surprisingly civilized. Daini was taking them to Kunden Mirumoto for further negotiations, but it seemed their goal was to fight the Shadowlands threat. Mirumoto Hitomi hadn't been seen after the battle, but Kenuchio still believed she was on her way to the High House of Light.
As to the Phoenix, Neiji knew that a small unit of Shiba, led by Shiba Tsukune, had been sent to defend Kuyden Kakita from the Crab. He assumed it was at the Emerald Champion's behest. The Crab had made well-known to the Lion that that Kuyden Kakita was their eventual target...that was why so many of the Lion were willing to stand by and watch the Jade Crab's suffering. Neiji's theory, based on rumors from Mai's allies and what information he could procure, was that somehow the Council of Elemental Masters had gotten ahold of the list of locations of the Black Scrolls the magistrates had given Seppun Ishikawa. The Phoenix Inquisitors were engaged in an Empire-wide sweep to secure the Black Scrolls, now that the Scorpion were gone. If the Masters had gotten the list, it was probably given them by Toshimoko, perhaps even in exchange for Tsukune's aid defending Crane lands. The Isawa were allowing no one to pass into their lands.
When Asahina Ayame inquired more about the situation in her own clan's homelands, Ikoma Neiji's face grew grim. "Not good. At first, when I heard that the rumors of Doji Hoturi, your Champion, leading the Shadowlands in the lands to the south were false, I was moderately...relieved...on your behalf, Ayame. But that was before we travelled here. We've received word, from very reliable scouts, that Hoturi is not to the south, but was travelling through Scorpion lands, and now he is here, in these northern Crane lands, and he is leading cast-off Scorpion samurai who have renounced their honor and allied themselves with the Shadowlands.
Ayame's face grew whiter than porcelain. "How can that be true?"
Neiji shook his head. "It doesn't make any sense. Not unless he's been ensorcelled in some fashion. I don't know. But the armor, the weapons...his appearance...they're impossible to miss. He doesn't seem to be concerned that the peasants who survive his passage see him and know him. They speak to our scouts. There can be no mistaking."
Ayame laid her hand on the blessed sword at her side. "It seems so impossible.
Hirumo Izuko scoffed softly. "Madness comes in many forms. You see it on the wall. Maybe he is one of the traitors that Koshi-san's father warned us about."
Koshi shook his head slowly, thinking. "He's too young."
"But...perhaps that explains the sword," Matsumoto Eiko offered. "Maybe Lord Toshimoko-sama sent Mai to steal it back from Doji Hoturi-sama, so he would not profane it further. He had her give it to us since we were the closest people he could trust with it, and he wants us to bring the sword back to him."
The other magistrates discussed the theory, and decided that that was the most likely meaning of Mai's mysterious letter
Neiji reported no further word of the whereabouts of Toshimoko, but speculated that it was possible that the Emerald Champion may have travelled to Kuyden Kakita to intercept the Crab. And if he didn't, maybe the Phoenix at Kuyden Kakita would know more about where he was.
We should go to Kuyden Kakita first," announced Kenuchio. "Perhaps we can get him the sword earlier, if he is also at Kuyden Kakita. He is the one who needs it. It's not safe with us. Ayame-san can't even use a blade, and none of the rest of us dare carry it. Besides, it's on the way to Western Hub Village."
Ikoma Neiji had to take his leave. But the rest of the group decided. As soon as all were well enough to walk, they would leave for Kuyden Kakita. If Lord Toshimoko could not be found there, they would follow word of him. If there was no word, they would take the risk of getting closer to Otosan Uchi and Western Hub Village, to see if, there, they could find and carry the Crane Clan sword to him.
I'll beg a last time for feedback here, but, lacking that, survive purely on grim determination as a writer and a desire as a Crane Player to post /something/ on this board to make it worth coming back to read.
In any event....
Previous Games in this overall story arc are:
Storm Rising (12 years before the Scorpion Clan Coup): viewtopic.php?f=3&t=825
Storm Breaking (Scorpion Clan Coup to Test of the Emerald Championship): viewtopic.php?f=3&t=827
Calls the Lightening Part 1 (Test of the Emerald Championship through the Battle of Beidan Pass): viewtopic.php?f=3&t=831
The player characters are the same as were in the first half of this game, now unofficial magistrates reporting to Kakita Toshimoko, the Emerald Champion. They have just survived the Battle of Beidan Pass, and have mysteriously found themselves with possession of the Crane Clan Sword and a mission to return it to 'The Old Man' in Western Hub Village:
Player Characters
Hiruma Izuko - Hiruma bushi
Mirumoto Kenuchio - Mirumoto Bushi
Moto Koshi - Moto Bushi
Asahina Ayame - Asahina Shugenja
Relevant NPCs
Ikoma Neiji - Ikoma Spy who used to be a magistrate with them before he was sent to spy on Toturi's Army
Matsumoto Eiko - Minor Family samurai-ko sent by Toshimoko with them to investigate current events.
Mai - 15yo yakuza eta who seems to be quite the young crime lord
Moto Tsolmon - Koshi's father
Kuni Ren - Correspondent with Izuko, Lover of Hida Sukune, and one of the leaders of the Jade Crab.
Game Background: It was the year 1127. The Battle of Beidan Pass has been won, but at great cost. The forces of Hida Yakamo nearly crushed the rebels from the Crab who call themselves the Jade Crab. It was only the timely arrival of Mirumoto Hitomi, followed by Toturi and his army, and finally the spirits of Matsu Tsuko and her legion of the sacred dead, who were able to break the Crab army. But not before Hida Sukune, leader of the Jade Crab, was terribly injured and tainted by Kuni Yori on the terrible standard of Fu Leng, and not before Mirumoto Hitomi had her hand cut off by Yakamo's corrupted claw and was whisked away to be returned to the High House of Light.
Note: This chapter is a little different, because it was at this point that our characters first got to see what was going on in the rest of the Empire, so it seems like a good place to give the readers a chance to put the rest of the timeline together.
Flight of the Crane - Part 2
The advantage of taking significant wounds in battle is that, in that short moment of peace after a victory, there is no dishonor in resting for a time.
Asahina Ayame informed the other magistrates of the letter and "gift" she had received, though she ripped the letter in half to hide Mai's "price", too ashamed of the implications to let the others know. There was much speculation, but nothing certain, and the mystery of the sword continued.
Hida Sukune, Kuni Ren and the remaining Jade Crab left as soon as Sukune was able to be moved. A palanquin carried the son of the Crab Champion. The group was headed for the Asahina Temples as quickly as possible, though the journey would certainly be dangerous. Their hope was to reach the coast near Kuyden Doji and travel by ship the rest of the way. Ren and Hiruma Izuko made a fond farewell.
Ikoma Neiji, the Lion magistrate who had been sent to join Toturi's Army at the behest of the Emerald Champion, caught up with the group he fought beside during the Scorpion Clan Coup. He managed to find them in only two days...a testimony to his ability to gather information. They were delighted to see him, and eager to hear news from around the Empire from someone they trusted...and someone so skilled at being a " discrete observer," as Kakita Toshimoko had put it.
Neiji told them that, while they were heading towards Unicorn Lands, the Emperor had hired Mantis mercenaries to harry and delay the Crab fleet headed for Otosan Uchi. The leader of the minor clan, Yoritomo, had done as bid, but Neiji felt he was holding back, using the wealth from the contract to build power and influence while not making a major dent in the Crab's forces.
His observation may have been fueled by personal anger. The Emperor had also set the Lion's primary army, in defense of Otosan Uchi, even while sending the Lion's secondary army, along with Matsu Tsuko, to Beidan Pass to 'observe' the Crab there. Without the Lion's greatest leaders, and with only half their full strength, the Lion were not able to overwhelm the Crab army led by Hida Kisada when he landed. The Emperor would also not permit the Lion army to use the fortifications of Otosan Uchi against the Crab...not allowing them in the city. Instead, the two armies were slowly chewing each other apart, and the attrition on both sides was horrendous. The Ikoma spoke his share of bitter words about it, but when he suggested that Hida Kisada would have to break the stalemate one way or another now that Beidan Pass was lost, he was more than angry. He was afraid.
On other fronts, Moto Koshi in particular was pleased to learn that Shinjo Yokatsu had finally decided to send the Unicorn armies, led by Otaku Kamoko and her battle maidens, out of Unicorn Lands to defend Beidan Pass and keep the peace in the northwestern Empire in the absence of the Lions. Toturi had begged for Unicorn help for months, but Yokatsu had refused, always citing imminent threat from the Dragon. But he had very recently responded positively and was sending his armies to reinforce Beidan Pass, allowing Toturi to move against the Shadowlands incursions more aggressively.
Mirumoto Kenuchio was eager to hear word of the Dragon. He knew of their recent interactions with Mirumoto Hitomi, but Neiji told them news of Mirumoto Daini, her brother. Daini had been travelling back from the capital, in truth, fleeing the imminent invasion, when he had been intercepted by a group of beings called the Naga. They were a strange race of half-man, half-snake beings, but surprisingly civilized. Daini was taking them to Kunden Mirumoto for further negotiations, but it seemed their goal was to fight the Shadowlands threat. Mirumoto Hitomi hadn't been seen after the battle, but Kenuchio still believed she was on her way to the High House of Light.
As to the Phoenix, Neiji knew that a small unit of Shiba, led by Shiba Tsukune, had been sent to defend Kuyden Kakita from the Crab. He assumed it was at the Emerald Champion's behest. The Crab had made well-known to the Lion that that Kuyden Kakita was their eventual target...that was why so many of the Lion were willing to stand by and watch the Jade Crab's suffering. Neiji's theory, based on rumors from Mai's allies and what information he could procure, was that somehow the Council of Elemental Masters had gotten ahold of the list of locations of the Black Scrolls the magistrates had given Seppun Ishikawa. The Phoenix Inquisitors were engaged in an Empire-wide sweep to secure the Black Scrolls, now that the Scorpion were gone. If the Masters had gotten the list, it was probably given them by Toshimoko, perhaps even in exchange for Tsukune's aid defending Crane lands. The Isawa were allowing no one to pass into their lands.
When Asahina Ayame inquired more about the situation in her own clan's homelands, Ikoma Neiji's face grew grim. "Not good. At first, when I heard that the rumors of Doji Hoturi, your Champion, leading the Shadowlands in the lands to the south were false, I was moderately...relieved...on your behalf, Ayame. But that was before we travelled here. We've received word, from very reliable scouts, that Hoturi is not to the south, but was travelling through Scorpion lands, and now he is here, in these northern Crane lands, and he is leading cast-off Scorpion samurai who have renounced their honor and allied themselves with the Shadowlands.
Ayame's face grew whiter than porcelain. "How can that be true?"
Neiji shook his head. "It doesn't make any sense. Not unless he's been ensorcelled in some fashion. I don't know. But the armor, the weapons...his appearance...they're impossible to miss. He doesn't seem to be concerned that the peasants who survive his passage see him and know him. They speak to our scouts. There can be no mistaking."
Ayame laid her hand on the blessed sword at her side. "It seems so impossible.
Hirumo Izuko scoffed softly. "Madness comes in many forms. You see it on the wall. Maybe he is one of the traitors that Koshi-san's father warned us about."
Koshi shook his head slowly, thinking. "He's too young."
"But...perhaps that explains the sword," Matsumoto Eiko offered. "Maybe Lord Toshimoko-sama sent Mai to steal it back from Doji Hoturi-sama, so he would not profane it further. He had her give it to us since we were the closest people he could trust with it, and he wants us to bring the sword back to him."
The other magistrates discussed the theory, and decided that that was the most likely meaning of Mai's mysterious letter
Neiji reported no further word of the whereabouts of Toshimoko, but speculated that it was possible that the Emerald Champion may have travelled to Kuyden Kakita to intercept the Crab. And if he didn't, maybe the Phoenix at Kuyden Kakita would know more about where he was.
We should go to Kuyden Kakita first," announced Kenuchio. "Perhaps we can get him the sword earlier, if he is also at Kuyden Kakita. He is the one who needs it. It's not safe with us. Ayame-san can't even use a blade, and none of the rest of us dare carry it. Besides, it's on the way to Western Hub Village."
Ikoma Neiji had to take his leave. But the rest of the group decided. As soon as all were well enough to walk, they would leave for Kuyden Kakita. If Lord Toshimoko could not be found there, they would follow word of him. If there was no word, they would take the risk of getting closer to Otosan Uchi and Western Hub Village, to see if, there, they could find and carry the Crane Clan sword to him.