Broken Words

A One-Round Mid/High Rank Adventure for Heroes of Rokugan (Champions of the Sapphire Throne)

By Rebecca and Robert Hobart

War will come and go, but drama is forever.

LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS is a registered trademark of Alderac Entertainment Group. Scenario detail copyright 2008 by the author and Alderac Entertainment Group. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This scenario is intended for tournament use only and may not be reproduced without permission.

A four-hour time block has been allocated for playing this game. The actual playing time should be about three and a half hours. It is a good idea to ask each player to put a name tag in front of him or her. The tag should have the player's name at the bottom, and the character's name, race, and gender at the top. This makes it easier for the players to keep track of who is playing which character. The players are free to use the game rules to learn about equipment and weapons their characters are carrying. Some of the text in this scenario is written so that you may present it as written to the players, while other text is for your eyes only. Text for the players will be in bold italics. It is strongly recommended that you paraphrase the player text, instead of reading it aloud, as some of the text is general and must be adapted to the specific situation or to actions of the player characters.

presented herein. However, at times the players may take extra actions which the GM judges worthy of additional reward or punishment. The following may be considered as guidelines: Performing an act of selfless, sacrificial loyalty to ones daimyo or clan: +1 point of Honor. Abiding by the tenets of bushido when there is no gain in doing so and one could gain an obvious advantage by breaking them: +1 point of Honor. Betraying or disobeying your duty, Clan, or family: lose 1-10 points of Honor and Glory, and possibly Status, depending on the severity of the failure. Gain the same amount of Infamy. Crying out in pain when injured: lose one point each of Honor and Glory. Using sneaky, underhanded, or treacherous methods when at an Honor rank higher than zero: lose 1-5 points of Honor. If caught, also gain 1-5 points of Infamy. Using Low skills: lose a number of points of Honor equal to the Rank of the skill. Note that there are exceptions to this rule, and the GM can lower the penalty for members of inherently dishonorable Clans such as Scorpions. Performing a socially acceptable public act of extreme courage and skill: +1 point of Glory. Drunk, insulting, or otherwise ill-mannered in public: lose 1-5 points of Glory. For extreme abuses, also gain an equivalent amount of Infamy. Playing entire adventure without doing anything of note: lose 1 point of Glory. Made ronin: Status removed.

GM's Information
THIS SCENARIO SHOULD NOT BE RUN COLD! Please read the scenario thoroughly before attempting to run it. This adventure is a Mid/High Rank adventure, and is intended for characters of Insight Rank 3 through 5. Characters of Insight Rank 1 or 2 are likely to be too weak for some of the challenges presented here, and should not play this adventure. Characters of Insight Rank 6 or higher will be too strong for this adventure and cannot play it. All bulleted information is just that, pure information. Feed it to the players through an NPC when appropriate. Sometimes, reading it straight just doesnt sound right. Remember that family names come before personal names. Akodo Toturi is from the Akodo family and his personal name is Toturi. A note on commerce in Rokugan: Samurai are not supposed to care about worldly possessions, especially money. A samurai pays a commoner as if the money is meaningless, a concession to the commoners silly needs. Between samurai, the exchange of money and merchandise is an exchange of gifts.

Adjusting for Party Strength

This is a Mid/High-Rank adventure, and thus can involve parties of widely varying capabilities. The encounters have been optimized for a party of average Rank Four. Although most of the challenges here are role-play oriented and thus not terribly dependent on party strength, a few changes can be made to adjust the adventure difficulty for low-end and high-end parties, as follows: Low End Party (most/all characters Rank Three): The GM may discretionally reduce Skill Roll TNs by 5. Doji Isamu has Agility 3 and Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu of 4.

Glory and Honor Awards and Penalties

This adventure contains suggested Glory and Honor awards (and penalties) for dealing with the challenges

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High End Party (most/all characters Rank Five): Doji Isamu has Iaijutsu 6 and Void 5.

Adventure Summary and Background

Due to events at the Setsuban Festival, a marriage has been arranged between a Crane courtier, Daidoji Miyui, and a famous but low-ranking Crab warrior, Hida Junzo. The marriage will take place in the Crane settlement of Musume Mura, and to celebrate this political victory over the Crab, the Crane Clan has called in many favors to arrange for the famed Kyozou Theatre Troupe, including the Imperial princess Toturi Hisako, to perform as part of the festivities. Two of Hisakos suitors have followed her here in hopes of garnering her affection, or at least attention. Meanwhile treachery is afoot at the local Governors home. Doji Hideyoshi and his wife Kokoro (formerly of the Asako). Hideyoshi and Kokoro have been married for six months now, in relative harmony and happiness. However, Doji Isamu, Hideyoshis younger brother, was instantly smitten with the young Asako when they first met last winter, and the two began a passionate affair. When her marriage was announced, Kokoro immediately called off the affair in order to become a proper and honorable wife. Since then, Isamu has become desperate to the point of madness, consumed by his Desire for Kokoro. He has come up with a nefarious scheme to get her back. Isamu has hired the skilled ronin Kagekaze to assassinate Hideyoshi, thus allowing him to inherit the governorship, and leaving Kokoro free to marry him. The assassination will take place during the Kyozou troupes performance, when Hideyoshi will be outdoors. It will be up to the PCs to detect this terrible crime and, perhaps, avert it although this will mean facing one of the deadliest men in Rokugan.

shot, distracting him long enough for him to miss his opportunity, or disposing of his patron before he can complete his contract. The GM should make clear to the PCs that they are not forced to fight Kagekaze doing so is there choice. For his part, the assassin has no particular interest in killing off a group of random samurai, especially honorable ones. Ultimately, this is not intended to be Kagekazes final appearance in the campaign, nor is it intended to be an adventure that wipes out a large number of PCs. The GM should keep these facts in mind when running this adventure.

Players Introduction
The scenario begins with PCs arriving in Musume Mura (Daughter Village) on the 2nd of the month of Y (October to gaijin). They are among the dozens of samurai invited from all across the Empire to celebrate the marriage of Daidoji Miyui and Hida Junzo. Although the marriage was forced on them by the machinations of Otomo Kazuma, the Imperial Chancellor, the Crane Clan is doing its best to exploit this political opportunity. The Crane Clans diplomacy has been in disarray ever since the Clan broke its nonaggression pact with the Crab during the Battle of Shiro Usagi, and the Clans senior leadership hopes to use this marriage as an opportunity to repair some of the damage. All Clan and Imperial PCs are attending the wedding as guests of the Crane, assigned by their daimyo to answer the Crane invitation. Ronin PCs were not invited, and are here on their own recognizance, hoping for work (or to enjoy the celebration in the town that will accompany the wedding) or possibly as a yojimbo to a PC friend/ally. Exception: Ronin PCs who are lucky enough to have won an appointment as an Emerald, Jade, or Sapphire Magistrate will have been invited to the wedding.

Important Note for GMs

This module centers on a potential confrontation with Kagekaze, a coldly efficient assassin and one of the deadliest men in the Empire. However, it is not intended that this module should force the PCs into an unavoidable lethal confrontation with him. He is entirely capable of killing entire tables, but this should not be an automatic result. There are several possible ways to solve the module without fighting Kagekaze, including intercepting his

Arrival in Musume Mura

The town known as Musume Mura bustles with life on this crisp autumn morning. Standing on the road called Hoturis Hope, you have a fine view of the bustling port town built on the hills of Rokugans central coast. To the west, the hills rise in jagged, forested peaks, becoming the Spine of the World Mountains. To the east, the hills descend to a bay and the coast of the sea, and you can glimpse the small forested island in that bay where it is said Hantei I

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met his bride. Fishing boats dot the waves around the island, and the town piers are crowded with ships. The PCs are greeted at the gates by two very polite Daidoji bushi. They will check the travel papers of Clan and Imperial samurai, then direct the PCs to one of the estates on the west side of the town. Ah yes, visitors for the wedding? Doji Hideyoshi-sama has provided lodging for you. Ronin PCs who are not working as yojimbo are treated with more caution. Your reason for being here, ronin-kun? This is a peaceful town, we do not wish too much trouble. The PC will have to supply a reasonable purpose for visiting Musume Mura (most likely, looking for work) and roll Awareness/Etiquette (Sincerity) at TN 15 to be allowed into the town. If they fail this roll, they may try again late in the evening after the guards at the gate rotate. Ronin who are not Magistrates and are not working for a PC will be effectively at loose ends during this adventure. The murder sub-plot in Part Five can potentially provide a hook to get these PCs involved in the larger adventure.

If any of the PCs are Status 4.0 or higher, the servants politely convey a request from the Governor: Lord Doji Hideyoshi-sama asks a small favor, samurai-sama. He requests that you compose a poem for this evenings dinner, if it is not too great an imposition. Please deliver it to us an hour before the meal.

Part One: Musume Mura

Musume Mura is a sizable town, with almost 4,000 inhabitants. The PCs can explore the place easily enough like all Crane settlements it is well-off and the streets are kept clean and well-repaired. If the PCs wish to know more about the history and role of the town, they can roll Intelligence/Lore: History at TN 20 or Intelligence/Lore: Crane at TN 15 to recall the following information: Musume Mura started as a small fishing village, but over the years has become far larger and more prosperous. It is home to the finest marriage arrangers of the Crane Clan. Also, it is known as the place where the First Hantei found his bride. A shrine has been built upon the island in the bay where Hantei first saw her, and most visitors to the town pay respects there. Women who are to be married often pray at the shrine, and the local peasants believe this ensures their first child will be a boy. The nakodo (marriage arrangers) of Musume Mura have a reputation for being caring and compassionate about their charges, taking the feelings and desires of those about to be wed into consideration before settling on a match. Of course, as loyal Cranes they also understand the need for political marriages, but they have a knack for making sure even the most forced of matches turn out well. Musume Mura has a disreputable aspect the east side of the town is known as a vice district which appeals to men of base passions. If the PC made TN 25 or better, s/he will recall that this happened because early in its history, Musume Mura suffered from persistent rumors that unmarried women wandered its streets looking for husbands. Although these tales had no real basis in fact, they attracted many insolent and lecherous bachelors to the city, and eventually a portion

Aside from such unfortunate ronin, all of the PCs should wind up at the estate of Doji Hideyoshi, the governor of Musume Mura. It is a magnificent estate, one of several located high up one hill, giving a splendid view of the town and bay. A winding path ascends the hill to the estate in three switchback turns, the uphill side lined with a beautiful stone wall to hold back the hillside. The estate mansion proper is surrounded by a huge elegant terraced garden, including several waterfalls and a pair of large koi ponds. The PCs will be met at the gates of the estate by the household servants, who lead them to one of the other samurai residences on the hilltop. These houses are normally used by Clan nakodo (marriage arrangers) when staying in Musume Mura, but lord Hideyoshisama has appropriated them to house his guests for the wedding, they explain. The PCs will all be assigned to the same house, a fine residence with a bath-house, a stable, and a half-dozen servants posted to look after their needs. The servants inform the PCs that Governor Doji Hideyoshi is very busy today, but invites them to share in a fine dinner which he is preparing for the wedding party that evening. Until then, their time is their own. The PCs have the rest of the day to explore the town.

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of the town individuals.

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find servants and Scorpions alike working to transform the inns gardens into an outdoor theater. Finally, the inn is where the two would-be suitors of Toturi Hisako are staying: Shosuro Natsu and Doji Tekku. The PCs will probably not notice these two until they begin sparring with each other on the second day. The most affordable inn, where unattached ronin PCs will be staying, is a sprawling and pleasantly run-down establishment called the Pleasant Rest. It is run by an extended family that includes an old man and his wife, their son and his wife, their unmarried daughter, and two grandchildren. The food served is decent and filling, if not especially fancy, and the inn offers small, simple rooms with clean tatami mats. This is the most likely place for unattached ronin PCs to be staying. The single geisha house in town is the House of the Jade Tear. The Governor has arranged a standing invitation for his guests should they wish to visit the Jade Tear while they are here.

The Western District

The western and most inland portion of Musume Mura is located outside the city walls, and is made up of gentle hills dotted with large mansions and the estates of wealthy samurai families. The Governors residence and the house where the PCs are staying are both located here. As the servants explained, many of these buildings are used as temporary residences for nakodo who are visiting the town to arrange marriages. Currently, several of these unoccupied buildings are being used to house the guests for the wedding, while the rest are vacant.

The Central District

The central part of Musume Mura is the normal part of the town, located inside walls and patrolled by guards from the local magistrates office. This part of town will be familiar to any PC who has visited other Rokugani cities and towns. It contains the bulk of the housing for the local commoners and lower-ranking samurai, as well as a medium-sized marketplace, several inns, restaurants, and tea-houses, and a single geisha house. The marketplace is modest in size but as prosperous as one would expect in Crane lands, and stays busy throughout the day and into the early evening. Any normal items can be found here, although foreign goods are unavailable. The best inn in town is the House of the Gilded Blossom, an elegant establishment run by an aged retainer of the governor, a well-dressed commoner named Junichiro. This is where Kagekaze is staying when the PCs first arrive in the town (before the murder described in Part Five), and any PCs who come here during the first afternoon/evening and who have met Kagekaze before can roll Perception/Investigation (Notice) at TN 30 to notice him sitting quietly in a corner, having just returned from his meeting with Isamu at the Shrine. There are also several Scorpions staying at the Inn, escorts and lesser members of the Kyozou Theater Troupe the three top actors, including Hisako, are staying in one of the residences in the Western District. (One of these Scorpions will fall afoul of Kagekaze on the first night of the adventure, as described in Part Five.) The actors are coordinating with the innkeeper to put on their play tomorrow night, and the PCs will

The East District

The eastern side of the town, above the wharfs, is somewhat dingy and disreputable, with an assortment of sake houses, gambling houses, and houses of ill repute. Most of these places are closed during the day. There are a few merchant shop here as well, dubious establishments which offer under-the-counter sales of dubious merchandise. After dark, these streets light up and fill with barkers that work at these establishments, as well as dishonorable young male samurai who will behave disrespectfully toward any unaccompanied young woman who passes them. On the northern edge of this district, outside the city walls, is the eta district of Musume Mura. It is accessed by a small gate known locally as Necessity guarding this gate is considered a hardship posting for the local bushi, and the soldiers here tend to be bored, inattentive, and resentful.

Part Two: The Shrine

Most PCs, especially pious ones, should feel at least an interest in visiting the famous shrine in Musume Mura. The shrine is located on a small offshore island, easily visible from the town the very island where Hantei first met his bride. The monks on the island maintain a ferry service, a rowboat manned by an old, shriveled monk, Kokaku, who wears only a simple tan robe and a broad-brimmed straw hat. He will humbly request a

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donation of one zeni each to the Brotherhood in exchange for poling the boat out to the island. He cannot be swayed in this, and will also politely refuse anyone who offers more than the one zeni he asks. As a humble and pious monk, he cannot be bullied or threatened into taking the PCs without a donation. Although there are many fishermen in Musume Mura, they are all pious men and women, and will not insult the monks by taking PCs to the island. PCs who decide to get to the island on their own power, such as through magic or by swimming, are disrespecting the Brotherhood of Shinsei. They will lose 1 point of Honor and gain 1 point of Infamy.

On the Island
The island is composed primarily of a steep, jagged peak of rock, covered with pine trees that cling to every nook and cranny. A white sandy beach surrounds the island, and the monks have built a pier on the inland side to accommodate their visitors. From the pier, a staircase winds its way up the peak, passing beneath several torii arches as it ascends. The shrine itself, a simple two-story pagoda, is visible between the trees at the top of the hill. When the PCs ascend the stairs, they will pass a few small clearings where the monks are growing yams and vegetables, and two humble barracks buildings, tucked in beneath trees, where the monks live. Finally they come to the shrine itself. The Shrine: The shrine proper is a two story pagoda with outer walls of wooden panels that can be slid open during good weather (such as this pleasantly crisp autumn day). The corners of the building are supported by thick wooden pillars carved with the Imperial chrysanthemum. The pagoda is constructed on the highest point of the island and right next to a steep drop-off two of the back walls open onto balconies which afford beautiful views of the town of Musume Mura and the Spine of the World Mountains rising beyond. These provide locations for prayer or contemplation, or for taking tea while resting from the strenuous climb to the shrine. When the PCs visit, two monks will be meditating on one balcony, while Doji Yuki will be seated on the other balcony, holding up a parasol to protect her delicate skin while she sips from a teacup. Inside the shrine, there is only one main floor the vaulted ceiling ascends two stories overheard. In the center of the shrine, in the place where a statue or plaque would normally be placed, is a carved wooden stand with a large single jade tear-drop, the size of a mans fist, placed atop it. The jade tear sparkles and glistens even in the dimmest light, and is engraved with a carving of a crane in flight, small but intricate. This item has no special properties, though as an artwork of pure jade it is obviously quite valuable. The monks will not permit anyone to actually touch or handle the tear, since this would be a breach of propriety. In front of the stand with the jade tear is a low wooden table where visitors can leave donations to the shrine or to the memory of the first Hantei. There are several items there when the PCs arrive.

Barring any bad behavior by the PCs, Kokaku the monk is more than willing to chat amiably about any topic. He is actually fairly opinionated, but has a calm, enlightened viewpoint on the world. He believes Rokugan is suffering from an epidemic of selfishness and greed the Sin of Desire and suspects that bad times lie in store. The Empires kharma will have to be purified if it is to remain on the proper path, he observes. Otherwise, Rokugan may forget what it means to be Rokugani, and become no better than the gaijin barbarians. After the PCs learn about the strange goings-on at the island, they may decide to ask Kokaku about other recent passengers on his boat. He can confirm that an elegant Crane, a man in his mid-twenties with undyed hair and bloodshot eyes, has visited the shrine several times in the last few days (Doji Isamu). A Crane maiden with very pale skin and pinkish eyes visited the shrine today, and is still there (Doji Yuki). He can also confirm that a middle-aged ronin visited the shrine today. A dangerous man, that one, he observes. He had a killers eyes. If the PCs ask about any other Clans, he will say that a Crab with long hair and heavy face paint visited (Kuni Kubota), as did a pretty young Scorpion maiden accompanied by two bushi (Toturi Hisako).

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The Monks: There are always a few monks in the shrine to welcome visitors and offer hospitality. They will greet the PCs with smiles and bows, offering tea for them to refresh themselves after the climb. If any PCs ask for more information about the shrine, or about the unusual jade carving, they will be happy to share more information: Ah yes. Long ago when the Kami Hantei, the first samurai, was looking for a bride he found his wife in this town, on this very island where her father had hidden her. It is said that when she agreed to marry him, the Hantei shed tears of joy made of the purest jade. These are now the precious heirloom of the Crane Clan, passed from one Clan Matron to the next, and by repute they have the power to bring hope and release those Tainted by the Shadowlands. This tear is a replica crafted years ago by a most skilled Kakita Artisan, Kakita Ayame, so that all may pay their respects to this precious moment without endangering the artifacts themselves. The monks will not usually volunteer information about other visitors to the shrine (except for a single talkative young acolyte, see below). If the PCs specifically ask about other visitors, however, the monks can confirm that a middle-aged ronin did come to the shrine, stay for a time, and speak with a noble Crane visitor. They do not know the name of the Crane, but they have seen him before he is a local resident, and has visited the shrine daily for the last week. The ronin was a stranger none of them recognized him. The monks can also describe the visits of Kuni Kubota (a grim, silent Crab with a painted face) and Toturi Hisako (a pretty young woman of the Scorpion, accompanied by guards who waited outside). The Talkative Acolyte: One of the monks who will attend the PCs is Komo, a boy of twelve, and something of a chatterbox. If any of the PCs seem friendly or outgoing, he will talk with them, sharing stream-of-consciousness chatter about the weather, the guests at the shrine, and so forth. In particular, he is excited by having so many strange samurai visiting the shrine, and will babble about this if he is given the chance: Weve been getting many visitors the last few days, do you know why that is? Ive heard theres supposed to be some important wedding in the town. They have lots of weddings there, of course, samurai women often come here to pay their respects. But now theres all sorts of samurai coming here, the Crane lord, even Crab and ronin! Some of them have been really strange, like that scary Crab who came

with the paint all over his face, or that ronin who came this morning to meet with the Crane lord. If the PCs seem irritated or annoyed with Komo, eventually one of the older monks will scold him for his lack of manners and piety, ordering him to go sweep leaves outside the shrine. If you cannot still your tongue, young one, perhaps your energy may be put to better use. The monk apologizes for the youngsters lack of propriety. However, if the PCs do not seem bothered by Komo, or talk with him, the other monks will not interfere, pleased to see samurai behaving with such kindness. Smart PCs may well pick up on Komos reference to a scary ronin and a scary Crab and ask him for more information on either of them: The boy will describe the scary Crab as an older man who was wearing white and red face-paint in a terrifying pattern. He left the pebble on the donation table, which Komo thought was very strange. He prayed for quite a while, mumbling to himself. He was here for quite a while, until the Crane lord came in, and then left. If the PCs ask about the Crane lord, the boy says it was a noble Crane in his twenties who came from the town. The boy assumed from his magnificent dress that he was a lord, perhaps the lord of Musume Mura (he has never seen the Governor). If the PCs ask for a description, he says the man had samurai hair rather than Crane hair, and his eyes were bloodshot. Maybe he didnt sleep well. The scary ronin, by the boys description, was an older man who carried a daisho. He was very quiet and polite, but his eyes were so cold. He left a donation and then went and sat on the balcony until the Crane lord came a few hours later. They talked together for a while, then the Crane lord left. The ronin stayed another hour, drinking tea, before he left.

If the PCs ask whether there were any other visitors to the shrine today, the boy will mention a pretty Scorpion girl who came in mid-morning, accompanied by two other Scorpions who waited outside the shrine. He will also point out DojiYuki if the PCs have not spoken with her yet.

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The Donation Table: If any PCs decide to make donations to the shrine, they will notice the other items already lying on the low wooden table. These include an assortment of coins (about three kokus worth altogether), a beautiful fan in Crane white and blue, a precisely folded origami in the form of a scorpion, a small and very sharp knife with kanji carved into the blade, and a small gray pebble. These items were all left by recent visitors, and while most of them are mundane and of little outward interest (except for dishonorable thieves, of course), the PCs may find useful clues from several of them. The knife in particular may draw their attention. The kanji on the blade are the symbols for shadow (Kage) and wind (Kaze). PCs who have played the adventure Corrupt Officials will doubtless recognize the name of the fearsome ronin assassin they encountered there. A shugenja who casts Commune (Earth) on the knife can learn that it was left here by an older man who carried swords. Asking the correct questions can ascertain that this man traveled often and killed many people. The coins are of Crane mint, and Commune (Earth) can learn they were left here by two people: a man with blue clothing, dark hair, and red eyes (Doji Isamu) and a pale woman with white hair, who also had reddish eyes (Doji Yuki). Yuki also left the Crane fan. The origami was left by Toturi Hisako, who visited this morning when the Kyozou Theater Troupe arrived. Casting Commune (Earth) on it can learn that it was made and left by a beautiful young woman in black clothing and a mask. The pebble was left by Kuni Kubota. It is actually a pebble used for the spell Blessing of Koishi-no-Kami, and while it no longer has any magical power, it contains an exceptionally active Earth spirit. A shugenja who Communes with this spirit can learn almost everything that has happened in the Shrine for the last few hours (since Kubota left it here), including some limited information on what Doji Isamu and Kagekaze discussed: They spoke of death, a death to happen on

the next day at nightfall, and of rewards and promises. Magical Investigations: Shugenja PCs may decide to Commune in order to try to learn more about the people who visited the shrine. The only spirits available for this purpose are Earth and Air kami. In general, they cannot offer a description more detailed than the monks themselves. (With the exception of the spirit in the pebble, as described above.) However, the Air spirits will describe the Crane as troubled in spirit and the ronin as calm and serene. Doji Yuki: PCs who have played the adventure Compassion will recognize this gentle maiden, who is quite pretty but suffers from mild albinism, giving her red-tinged eyes and an unnaturally pale complexion (even for a courtly Crane). Yuki has been here for a couple of hours, sipping tea and watching the scene. She is in a pensive mood. The impending wedding has made her conscious of her own poor marital prospects (as a minor samurai of no note, with an affliction that renders her unattractive in the eyes of most Rokugani), and the recent eruption of war in the Empire makes her fear for the future. Although Yuki understands her Clans decision to stand up for the Hare against the aggression of the Crab, she fears breaking their non-aggression pact with the Crab will have many dire consequences. I cannot bring myself to believe that this wedding, or any number of weddings, will avert the wrath of the Crab Champion. And what of the Lion, and the Dragon, so eager to be at each others throats? We have a treaty with the Dragon, if they do not forsake us as untrustworthy. We may find ourselves fighting the Lion and Crab alike come spring. Yuki is aware that the Kyozou Theater Troupe is attending the wedding, and takes this as further evidence of how desperate the Crane are to achieve the impossible with this wedding. Of course, this does mean the Scorpion have allowed Toturi Hisako out of their lands for a short time. I shouldnt wonder that all manner of would-be suitors will descend on us tomorrow to try to catch a glimpse of her. She is clearly a bit jealous of such attention, though she will not admit it.

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Yuki noticed the presence of Kagekaze and Doji Isamu, although she did not pry into their meeting. I am sure there are many reasons why the Governors brother would meet with a wave-man. In these dire times, every sword-arm has value. If the PCs ask her to think carefully as to whether she remembers anything at all about their conversation, she will confess she remembers them talking about the play to be performed tomorrow night. Perhaps he was hiring the waveman to be security during the play. She can, regardless, identify Kagekaze from description or by sight, if the PCs seek to do so.

Part Three: Dinner with the Governor

That evening, the PCs are among the many guests invited to the Governors residence for a dinner celebrating the impending nuptials. Colored lanterns in blue and red, symbolizing the Crane and Crab, are hung all around the residence and gardens, and servants wait at the entrance to hand small gifts (wrapped in delicate blue paper) to each guest as they arrive. Other servants escort the guests into the center of the gardens, where a set of individual tables have been placed next to a winding stream. The guests spend some time circulating and meeting the others here under the light of the paper lanterns before they take their seats.

Doji Isamu, the Governors Brother: Doji Isamu is two years younger than Hideyoshi. He shares his older siblings good looks, but wears his hair in an undyed traditional topknot in a deliberate attempt to set himself apart. His eyes are bloodshot, a symptom of excessive drinking. He is somewhat over-emotional for a samurai, especially a Crane samurai, and also frequently over-indulges in sake, despite knowing that drink makes him bad-tempered. His social position as the Governors brother has largely protected him from the consequences of his behavior so far, and this has given him a dangerous sense of immortality. He is currently rather anxious and distracted, for he is awaiting word from Kagekaze as to whether the ronin will take the commission to assassinate Hideyoshi. Daidoji Miyui, betrothed Crane: The bride-to-be is a pretty young courtier, although not notably beautiful compared to the finest ladies of the Crane. She has the classic Crane gray eyes, and her hair is worn long and unbound, dyed the traditional white. She is a highly honorable and mannered young lady, and makes a careful point of never saying or doing anything remotely improper. Miyui had a twin sister, Eriko, a rambunctious young woman of dubious reputation who trained with the Crab Clan. However, Eriko died in the Battle of Shiro Usagi three months ago. Miyui is wearing a white armband in token of mourning, but she was not close to her sister and is generally putting the loss behind her in order to best serve her Clan. In public, Miyui will express only optimism and good cheer at the prospect of taking a brave and noble Hida for her husband. However, she does have private doubts which she will express in her poem at the Water Dinner (see below). Hida Junzo, betrothed Crab: Junzo is a young man, about twenty, muscular and tough in the Crab style. He wears his hair in a traditional samurai topknot, but his most notable features are a scar which traverses the right side of his face vertically (passing over but missing the eye) and a crooked nose which has clearly been broken more than once. (On the other hand, he has all his teeth.) He dresses in a simple gray kimono, and is uncomfortable without his tetsubo, which he has been forced to leave in his room for these social events. Junzo has a sarcastic sense of humor, but lacks the common Crab belief that the rest of the Empire owes him something. He is fascinated by Iaijutsu and is actually rather pleased to be marrying into the Crane, even though he recognizes they are potential enemies of his Clan. Perceptive PCs may notice he does not

The Dinner Party

Doji Hideyoshi, Governor of Musume Mura: The twenty-something daimyo of Musume Mura is very much the typical Crane a handsome man with long, flowing hair that is dyed pure white and tied in a ponytail at the base of his neck. He is eloquent in both speech and action, true to Crane tradition. He is also very reserved and self-controlled, having a deep seated belief that loosing face is public for any reason is the worst kind of sin. This is due in part, of course, to the example of his younger brother Isamu. Doji (Asako) Kokoro, Wife to Hideyoshi: Doji Hideyoshis wife embodies everything the Lady Asako personified: understanding, patience, and skilled problem-solving. She is well versed in the role of the courtier and of the dutiful wife, and performs both with skill, making her a good match to Hideyoshi. She is disturbed by Isamus continued infatuation, but does her best to ignore it in the hope that Isamu will learn from her example and behave like an honorable samurai.

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drink anything at dinner he has frequently overindulged in sake in the past, and is trying to break the habit. Doji Yuki: Some PCs may already have spoken with Yuki at the shrine. If not, she will speak in the same manner here, on the same topics. She will recognize Toturi Hisako among the Kyozou players (see below). The Players: Three senior members of the Kyozou Theater Troupe are attending the garden party. Since this is a Scorpion troupe, all three are dressed in concealing robes of red and black, and wear masks which conceal their upper faces. It will be difficult on first sight for the PCs to tell these three apart, or even to tell which gender they are, since all three have slim dancers builds and wear long hair and rouge on their lips. However, careful examination and a roll of Perception/Investigation (Notice) at TN 20 will ascertain that two of them are male and the third is female. In point of fact, the female actor is none other than Toturi Hisako, the Lovely Serpent, the Emperors third daughter. She will not publicly admit her identity the Scorpion have allowed her to travel in this relatively open way only on condition that she keeps herself anonymous, so that no assassins can target her. PCs who have met other members of the Toturi family (the Emperor, the twins Hatsu and Kobashi, Toturi Maihime, or Toturi Chisa) can roll Intelligence/Lore: Heraldry at TN 20, or Intelligence/Investigation (Notice) at TN 30, to recognize the family resemblance between Hisako and her relatives. If a PC says or does something obvious or overt to show they know Hisakos identity, she will be disgusted and will make a point of ignoring them. On the other hand, if a PC subtly or cleverly acknowledges her identity, she will be flattered and smiles warmly.

complete that any of them can take on any role. If any PC mentions the other prominent theater troupes in Rokugan (the Korede Gokko and Mayakashi) they will all sneer in an identical manner. These flashy newcomers are not true masters of Rokugani theater. Someday we hope to have the opportunity to force them to admit their limitations. Kuni Kubota: PCs who have played the adventures Wrath of the Kami or Strength From Weakness have encountered this sour, middle-aged provincial daimyo of the Kuni family. He is a cousin to the current family daimyo, Kuni Yuriko, and she has recently designated him as her heir. Perhaps in consequence, he has taken to wearing the full Kuni face-paint in public, an intimidating sight. Kubota is a man disgusted with most of the Empire, regarding it as weak and decadent, and recent events have done little to change his opinions. His opinion of the current Crab Champion, Hida Gojiro, is little better, but he will not speak ill of Gojiro where others might hear. As the senior Crab in attendance, Kubota is an honored guest of the Crane, and he will not directly attack his hosts or otherwise violate normal etiquette with respect to the Crane, despite the high level of political and military tension between the two Clans since the Battle of Shiro Usagi. However, he is openly hostile to Scorpions of lower Status, since he believes the Scorpion Clan provoked the recent Hare war in order to damage the Crab Clans reputation. Kubota visited the Shrine on the island earlier in the day, to pay his respects to the ancient Hantei dynasty and pray for the Empire to regain its honor and dignity. He saw Doji Isamu visit the shrine and meet with a ronin, although he did not pay attention enough to identify the ronin again. A wave-man is a wave-man. I suppose he was cleaner than some I have seen. Otomo Hiroshi: PCs may have met this young Imperial historian in several other adventures, including Winter Court: Shiro Hanagensai and A Champions Heart. He is here to record this wedding for posterity, as well as to take the opportunity to see a performance of the elite Kyozou Theater Troupe. He is a friendly and charming young man, and will speak readily with anyone who has not offended him in the past. Given the chance he will discuss what a privilege it is to see Kyozou perform. They normally only perform in Shiro no Shosuro or Kyuden Bayushi, especially since the Emperors daughter joined them four years ago. He will recognize Toturi Hisako but will not draw attention to her.

The three players will name themselves as Shosuro Ichi, Shosuro Nii, and Shosuro San (One, Two, and Three), with Hisako calling herself San. They identify Ichi as the head of their troupe, and once the PCs identify his gender they will be able to tell he is also somewhat older than the other two. They will all speak in a similar manner, polite and remote, deliberately blurring their identities. This is part of Kyozous public image they portray themselves as a group of interchangeable figures, their skills so

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Hiroshi is accompanied by his bride, a lovely young woman who is one of the daughters of the Hanagensai daimyo. She clearly finds his fascination with the Kyozou Troup a bit tiresome, but remains polite and attentive in public.

Honor and courage Joined by Imperial will How does the wind blow? This poem was composed by Daidoji Miyui in tribute to her wedding. A roll of Intelligence/Storytelling (Poetry) at TN 20 can identify the most likely author. A PC who beats the roll by 5 or more will suspect that Miyui, while resigned to the marriage, is expressing apprehension and uncertainty about whether it will turn out well or not. The strike of an arrow Clean and precise as the wind Answer and solution This poem should be picked up and read by a PC. It is clearly a bit out of theme for a wedding celebration, and a roll of Intelligence/Storytelling (Poetry) at TN 20 will suggest it could be taken to symbolize death (by an arrow, perhaps), or possibly even murder. It will be clear that some of the other guests see it that way, and find the poem distasteful, which they register by immediately moving the conversation on to something else. However, the GM should allow all the PCs to roll Perception/Investigation (Notice) at TN 20. With a success, they see a pleased and slightly relieved expression cross the face of Doji Isamu, after which he darts a quick look at the head tables where Hideyoshi and his wife are seated. If the PCs decide to investigate this poem further, they will have plenty of opportunity to do so see Tracing the Poem in Part Four. They can keep the paper on which the poem is written if they wish.

Poems at Dinner
Governor Hideyoshi will greet each of his guests, with full etiquette. He will also introduce his family and his most prominent guests: the prospective bride and groom, Kuni Kubota, and the representatives of the Kyozou Theater Troupe. Once he has made introductions, he will place himself at one end of the Water Banquet layout. Honored guests. I invite you to participate in a Water Banquet, a unique custom of our house. Before this evening, we asked each of our senior guests to either compose a poem or choose one by one of the famous artisans of the Empire. As the servants bring us our meal, wooden plates will float down this stream. Each of these will have a letter with one of these poems written on it. You should each pick up one of these poems and read it aloud. It is our hope that this may provide you all with entertainment, fruitful discussion, and perhaps a small measure of enlightenment. With that he seats himself and gestures to the house servants to begin serving the meal. The poems will for the most part be classical works, mixed with a few submissions by senior guests such as Miyui and the Kyozou actors. Each guest attempts to read the poems they pick up in a suitably dramatic and memorable style. In addition to any PC poems, the following poems will stand out during the dinner: Secrets gather in dark places Hiding from Honors light A spider knows its web This poem was written by Toturi Hisako, who is beginning to suspect the true intentions of certain members of the Scorpion Clan. Although she does not have enough information to act on, and does not wish to jeopardize her position, she is still hoping to subtly convey warnings to those elsewhere in the Empire. She will watch the guests to see if anyone finds special significance in this poem. A roll of Intelligence/Storytelling (Poetry) at TN 20 will suggest that, while the poem has an obvious meaning extolling Honor, it may have a hidden second meaning as well, impossible to ascertain without context. PCs who make this roll gain the Advantage Noticed by Toturi Hisako.

Gossip and Social Interaction

It is a pleasant meal, offering rich and varied food, and the conversation is for the most part light. Doji Hideyoshi and his wife Kokoro will engage all the guests in polite conversation, but will stay away from any hot button topics such as Crane-Crab tensions or the Hare war. The Scorpion actors will chat about current events in the world of theater. The Shosuro Butei School is preparing a new play for this winter season, and they speak happily of its excellence. If any PCs have mentioned the rival troupes, they will express confidence that the new play will prove superior to anything the Korede Gokko or Mayakashi can offer.

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There is talk among the Crane of a notable event happening this winter. It seems that one of the top-ranked Dragon duelists has issued a challenge to Kakita Saburashi, the Kakita daimyo and master sensei of the Dueling Academy. The duel is to take place in Dragon lands, and rumor has it that Saburashi has actually been invited to spend the winter in the High House of Light itself, a notable honor. The Crane are, of course, fully confident that Saburashi will win the duel, although they are too polite to rub this in the face of any Dragon PCs who might be present. The PCs can roll Awareness/Courtier at TN 20 to pick up on a certain tension between Doji Isamu and Doji Kokoro. If the PC rolls again (more makes TN 30 on the initial roll), s/he can tell this is some kind of emotional connection or conflict between the two of them, although most of the real tension is on Isamus side. The PC can also tell Hideyoshi is not cognizant of the full intensity of this vibe between his wife and his brother. If any PCs try to draw out Doji Isamu on the assassination poem, he will deny any knowledge of the poem, and will quickly become insulted and blustering if the PCs press him on the matter.

Part Four: The Second Day

The next day the PCs will be free to travel around the town and enjoy themselves until the theatrical performance at the House of the Gilded Blossom that evening. The PCs will soon hear reports of the murder (see Part Five below for details), and may decide to look into that matter. Other PCs may decide to investigate the mysterious poem at the dinner, try to track down the ronin who met with a Crane on the shrine island, learn more about the Governor and his family, meet the other would-be suitors of Toturi Hisako, or even try to meet with Toturi Hisako themselves.

Learning About the Governor and Family

After the events of the dinner, some of the PCs may wish to learn more about Governor Doji Hideyoshi, his wife, and his brother Isamu. This can be done by asking around and rolling Awareness/Courtier (Gossip) or Awareness/Investigation at TN 20. Different information will be gained depending on which skill the PC uses: A Courtier (Gossip) roll will learn that Hideyoshi is known as a self-controlled man, while his younger brother Isamu has a reputation for being emotional and sometimes losing face. Hideyoshis wife Kokoro is a former Asako Phoenix, and they married six months ago. She is known as an honorable woman, but a PC who makes TN 30 or better on the Courtier roll will catch some very subtle rumors that she had an affair with someone before she married Hideyoshi. Her behavior since the marriage has been impeccable, of course. An Investigation roll will learn that Hideyoshis marriage to Asako Kokoro was arranged while she spent Winter Court here last year. They were wed in the spring. The PC will also hear of an incident two years ago in which Doji Isamu lost his temper and shouted at a rival courtier in public. He was forced to publicly apologize for the breach of etiquette.

At the conclusion of the dinner, Doji Hideyoshi will thank all his guests for attending, and invites Daidoji Miyui to say a few words. Miyui bows and speaks in a clear, pleasant voice. I must offer my sincere thanks to all who have come to honor my wedding with their presence. She will make a point of singling out any PCs who offered poems or made other notable gestures. Tomorrow evening the honorable and prestigious Kyozou Theater Troupe will present the play, Duty, by the esteemed playwright Yogo Amasare, in the gardens of the Inn of the Gilded Blossom. I trust you will all honor us with your presence. On the following day I will be wed, and I trust my betrothed and I can rely on your presence for that honorable ceremony. With that, the evening concludes, and servants with paper lanterns on long poles escort the guests back to their residences.

Some PCs may decide to speak with the servants at the Governors residence (most likely during or after dinner, while they are still at the house) about

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Hideyoshi, his brother, or his wife. This will only be successful if the PC is someone who has a knack for communicating with commoners (most likely a Sparrow, Tortoise, or ronin, although other PCs might qualify if the GM judges their personal background, Advantages, or personalities to be appropriate). Such PCs can roll Awareness/Courtier (Gossip) at TN 25 to get the servants to open up. If so, they can admit some or all of the following scandalous information (depending on what questions the PCs ask): Doji Isamu and Asako Kokoro had an affair during the last Winter Court, prior to her marriage to Doji Hideyoshi. However, since her marriage she has been completely faithful to Hideyoshi. Doji Hideyoshi does not think well of his younger brother Isamu, whose lack of selfcontrol he regards as shameful. He has openly told Isamu that as soon as his wife bears him a child, Isamu will be removed from the line of inheritance.

he is conspiring with Kagekaze. Isamu will be angry and fearful that the PCs know too much, and will struggle to try to conceal his emotions. In any meeting the PCs will clearly be able to see that Isamus eyes are somewhat bloodshot, and up close they can also roll Perception/Investigation (Notice) at TN 15 to see fine red lines in his nose symptoms of excessive drinking. PCs may well be able to find a way of tricking some additional information out of Isamu, especially if they make creative use of the spell Whispering Wind. Such information will not be legally usable, but can potentially help the PCs figure out where the threat will be coming from, and who it will target.

Tracing the Poem

PCs who have realized something is suspicious about the assassination poem at the Water Dinner may wish to look into how that particular piece of paper got onto that wooden plate. Some PCs may also be intrigued by who wrote Toturi Hisakos poem. Again, this investigation will have to take place that night after the dinner, unless the PCs can come up with an excuse to visit the Governors residence the next day. Asking a few questions (or Communing with the local spirits) can ascertain that all the poems were placed on the plates in the kitchen, by the servants. The servants will initially claim all the poems were brought to them before the dinner. The governor and senior guests composed all the poems, they say. The poems arrived in the last hour before the meal. A PC who rolls Perception/Investigation (Interrogation) at TN 20 can tell that one of the servants, a teenaged maid, looks uncomfortable when this topic is raised. If she is pressed on the topic, she will at first deny everything while her eyes dart left and right, looking for an escape. If the PCs keep the pressure on, she will eventually admit, with much handwringing, that a ronin paid her a koku to put an extra poem into the dinner. (She can identify the assassination poem if the PCs show it to her.) She describes the ronin as a lean, middle-aged swordsman in a clean kimono, who stopped her on the street in late afternoon as she was bringing back a food delivery to the house. PCs who check the timing can ascertain this happened after the mysterious meeting at the shrine. If a PC examines the koku coin (she still has it), it is of Crane mint. A shugenja PC who Communes with the Earth spirit in the coin can confirm the servant girls

If the PCs try to meet with Hideyoshi or Kokoro directly to discuss these matters, they will generally be put off with excuses about the wedding preparations. Doji Hideyoshi will make time to meet briefly with PCs of Status 4.0 or better, but he will not admit to any kind of trouble within his family, and will be coldly insulted by the PCs raising such inappropriate topics. Unless the PC immediately offers a fulsome apology and rolls Awareness/Etiquette (Sincerity) at TN 20, s/he will lose 3 points of Glory due to the Governors criticism in court.

Meeting Doji Isamu

If the PCs request a meeting with Isamu, he will grant them one after a lengthy wait (one hour for PCs of Status 4.0 or better, two hours for lesser PCs). He will not meet with ronin or Minor Clan PCs at all unless they are Magistrates. Isamu will attempt to play the role of a cultured, elegant courtier, completely honorable and loyal to his brother. However, he is clearly a temperamental man, and if the PCs ask any difficult questions, or seem to know too much, he will quickly lose his temper and throw them out, ending the interview. PCs can see through his denials if they make an Opposed Roll of their Perception/Investigation (Interrogation) against his Awareness/Deceit (Lying). However, they will not have enough evidence to directly arrest him, even if they are Magistrates there is no actual proof of what

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story. Furthermore, by making Raises for clarity, the PCs can ascertain some useful information: With at least one Raise for clarity, the PC can learn who gave the coin to the ronin. The coin originally came from a man in blue clothing, with dark hair and reddish eyes, who gave it to the ronin along with many other coins. This was done in a strong place (the shrine) which was surrounded by water. The Crane came from a house high up on a hillside. Likewise, the PCs can learn where the ronin was before he delivered the coin to the girl. The spirit describes a large building with two floors, where many people come and go, a fairly obvious description of an inn.

bloodshot as a result, although he is careful never to do anything in public to betray his weakness. Although both of these men are wealthy provincial daimyo, neither is completely reputable there is a reason why they are both anxious to better their social standing by marrying an Imperial daughter. Tekku suffers from drug addiction and is a recent widower, having arranged the death of his first wife when she betrayed him with a handsome Unicorn. Natsu is not only a daimyo but also a merchant patron and crimelord, with associations in several yakuza groups. His business rivals have a knack for dying from strange accidents. By the second day, both men will have learned the PCs are among the guests at the wedding. Given the chance, they will begin approaching the PCs with offers of political and personal favors if they can arrange for a meeting with Toturi Hisako or at least the opportunity to attend the play. Each of them will also attempt to cut off their rival, spreading slanderous rumors about their opponent and trying to persuade the PCs that the rival is a dangerous and dishonorable person. The GM is encouraged to improvise a variety of clever and ruthless political maneuvers by each of these nobles, but a few specific examples are offered here: Bayushi Natsu will spread stories about Doji Tekkus drug addiction, and will pointedly mention that Tekku is a recent widower. He has already married once, to a prominent Crane nobles daughter, and now that wife is dead, just in time for him to seek the attentions of Toturi Hisako-sama. Convenient, dont you think? Tekku will make a point of mentioning Natsus unsavory business connections, and mentions that rival merchants have tended to wind up dead. Not that I would suggest Shosuro Natsu-sama would ever kill someone! Not at all! But it does seem strange that so many of his rivals meet with bad ends, does it not?

If a PC examines the poem itself, it is written with good ink on high-quality paper, and in crisp, clean calligraphy. A PC who rolls Intelligence/Calligraphy at TN 20 can tell this was written by an intelligent and literate man, but probably not someone trained by a samurai teacher, since the style lacks any of the flourishes associated with samurai writing. A shugenja who Communes with the letter (it contains a weak Earth spirit) can ascertain it was written by a not-young man who carried swords. A PC who casts Reflections of Pan Ku on the letter can get an image of Kagekaze seated in an interior room (the House of the Golden Blossom) composing the letter.

The Other Suitors

Two wealthy nobles, Shosuro Natsu and Doji Tekku, are staying at the House of the Gilded Blossom. They have picked up rumors that Toturi Hisako is accompanying the Kyozou Troupe to Musume Mura, and they hope to wrangle a chance meeting with her during the performance tonight. Both of them will spend much of the day harassing the Scorpion players, bribing servants, and otherwise trying to find information and gain access to the performance or arrange a private meeting with Hisako. Both men are clearly wealthy, dressed in fine clothing and accompanied by attentive servants. They are clearly sedentary types, smooth and slightly plump in appearance, and are uneasy around brutal or thuggish samurai. They wear traditional samurai topknots, perfectly styled and arranged, and multi-layered kimono of the finest silk. Doji Tekku is also, unfortunately, a Red Flower addict, and his eyes are

It will be up to the PCs how they respond to this mixture of bribery and slander. Natsu and Tekku can both offer financial bribes to PCs who seem exceptionally dishonorable, although they will prefer to offer political favors. PCs who allow themselves to be bribed could potentially lose Honor, depending on how high their Honor Rank is and what sort of inducement the nobles offer.

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If the PCs are looking into the murder of Bayushi Kenno (see below), each suitor will try to drop implications that his rival might be involved in the crime somehow. Neither of these men know anything about an assassination plot in Musume Mura. However, Natsu does know who Kagekaze is, and is aware that the assassin is in the city. If the PCs say or do anything to suggest the presence of an assassin, or mention Kagekaze by name, he will become uneasy and change the subject. A PC who rolls Perception/Investigation (Interrogation) at TN 25 will realize he knows something about Kagekaze. He will not normally admit to knowing anything, but if a fellow Scorpion speaks to him in private, he will admit to noticing Kagekaze in the town. I dont know why the man is here, since Ive certainly not hired him myself. PCs who speak with Doji Tekku can see his eyes are deeply bloodshot, more so than could be caused by mere drinking. PCs who have played the adventures Corrupt Officials or Corrupted Region may have previously encountered addicts of the drug called Crimson Flower or Red Flower, and will recognize the symptoms. If not, they can roll Intelligence/Lore: Law at TN 20 to know that addicts eyes are characteristically bloodshot if they have taken the drug more than a few times. Addicts are known to become violent and crazed if denied their fix for more than a couple of days.

for me to return the second nights fee when he left. Perhaps he will be returning? If the PCs ask to see the coins with which Kagekaze paid for his room, they are a mixture of Crane, Scorpion, and Lion mint. If the PCs ask about what gear Kagekaze had, Junichiro remembers that he had a bow and arrows in addition to his swords. However, he very politely kept the bow in his room. He did wear both his swords in the common room, which Junichiro found a little disturbing, but he was so polite and retiring that the innkeeper did not protest. If the PCs ask all of the Inn servants (not just Junichiro) whether they remember anything Kagekaze did while he stayed here, they can roll Awareness/Investigation (Interrogation) at TN 20 to find a couple of Inn servants who recall that he seemed interested by the preparations for the play.

Looking for Kagekaze

If the PCs visited the House of the Golden Blossom the night before, they may have noticed Kagekaze there. They may also start searching for him once they realize he is being hired by someone in the city, or once they start looking into the murder of Bayushi Kenno. The PCs can ascertain fairly easily that Kagekaze was staying at the House of the Golden Blossom he arrived the day before they did, and left late last night. Careful study of the timing will determine that he left shortly after the murder. No-one actually saw Kagekaze leave in fact, the PCs will notice that he seemed to draw very little attention in general. If the PCs speak with the innkeeper Junichiro, he will have only good things to say about the well-dressed and well-mannered wave-man who stayed at his inn. He paid in coin, in advance and without hesitation very unusual for wave-men, he says. In fact, he paid for an additional night I am surprised he did not ask

If the PCs want to search the room where Kagekaze stayed, they will have to either be Magistrates, intimidate or smooth-talk Junichiro (appropriate Social Skill roll at TN 20), or simply use their social status as samurai to bully him (the latter approach might cause a 1-point Honor loss for lack of Compassion and Courtesy). The room is empty Kagekaze took all his gear but is does contain a washbowl with a towel and some water and soap. A shugenja PC who Communes with the Water spirits in this bowl can get a visual image of Kagekaze, which may be useful for PCs trying to be sure that they are indeed dealing with the legendary assassin. This image will also show that Kagekaze has a bow and arrows, which he took with him when he left the room last night. Searching the city for Kagekaze will be an impossible task he is quite adept at hiding in an urban environment. At best, a PC who asks around the lower classes in the Eastern District can roll Awareness/Underworld at TN 25 to catch rumors that the deadly assassin Windshadow is in the city. Noone knows who his target might be, but the favored choice is Toturi Hisako, since she is the most prominent person in Musume Mura right now.

Anomalous Action: An Early Confrontation

It is possible that some PCs may encounter Kagekaze before he leaves the Inn either due to a ronin PC

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staying at the Golden Blossom, or due to other PCs visiting the Inn earlier in the day (before the dinner at the Governors residence) and making the Perception/Investigation roll to notice him. If the PCs leave Kagekaze alone, he will do likewise he has no enmity toward them. If the PCs approach him without immediate violence, he will be polite and noncommittal, and will not admit he is here on business. He has no particular desire to kill anyone without need, and indeed he has a certain respect for samurai of honor (a breed he finds to be rare in the modern Empire). See Appendix #2, Dealing With Kagekaze, for further details of his beliefs and behavior. However, Kagekaze will not allow the PCs to interfere in his mission, and if they insist on a violent confrontation he will reluctantly oblige them. In this case, he will always try to finish things as quickly as possible, killing only those he must, and leaving the scene immediately thereafter. If a PC issues a formal challenge, Kagekaze will reluctantly accept, but tries to arrange to hold the duel on the morning after the scheduled assassination. If the PC insists on an immediate duel, Kagekaze try to slip away if possible, promising to meet the PC in a back street near the Inn, so as not to disturb the other guests. If he cannot manage to slip away, he will fight the duel, again doing so as efficiently as possible. It is possible, though unlikely, that the PCs will confront and kill Kagekaze before the play. In this case the adventure has effectively ended in success, although the conclusion will be somewhat anticlimactic.

behind the Inn, when he is returning from relieving himself in the outhouse. Kagekaze immediately kills the Scorpion, then calmly goes back to his room, collects his gear, and leaves he knows he cannot risk staying at the Inn after a murder is discovered. Kagekaze will spend the night in a dive on the eastern side of Musume Mura, and lurks in that part of town until the following evening when he can carry out his assassination.

Getting Involved
News of the murder at the Golden Blossom will spread rapidly through the town on the second day. Since the play is scheduled to be performed at the Inn that evening, the local Crane authorities will descend on the Inn in force, searching the area and then posting sentries all around the Inn in case the mystery killer returns. The PCs may decide to involve themselves in this matter, out of curiosity or in the belief that it is connected to the other clues they have been finding. In general, the PCs do not have jurisdiction over a crime committed in Crane lands the local Crane magistrate, Doji Sanzo, is in charge of the case. However, PCs who are Emerald or Sapphire Magistrates can claim the right to at least look into the case, on the grounds that the killing of a Scorpion samurai in Crane lands could potentially be an inter-Clan incident Sanzo will reluctantly give permission for this if they ask. He will also permit Scorpion PCs to look into the matter on behalf of their Clan. Other PCs cannot get official permission to look into the murder, but can choose to meddle in the case without permission if they wish. (PCs who do this after being refused official permission should lose 1 or 2 points of Honor.)

Part Five: The Murder

Kagekaze is a professional assassin, and makes an art form of being a non-intrusive, unmemorable man. Unfortunately, he does not go wholly unnoticed in Musume Mura. A visiting Scorpion, a bushi escorting the Kyozou Troupe, is staying at the house of the Gilded Blossom. This man, Bayushi Kenno, is a former city guard from Toshi Aitate, and recognizes Kagekaze from the violent incident which took place there last year. Kenno will meet his fate that night, while the PCs are at the dinner at Governor Hideyoshis residence. Thus, it will be impossible for any PCs to notice or interfere unless they are ronin who happen to be staying at the Gilded Blossom. Bayushi Kenno confronts Kagekaze

Investigations at the Inn

The PCs will find several Crane bushi posted around the House of the Golden Blossom. They will not say much to outsiders (especially Crab) other than to admit that a crime took place at the Inn last night. To Crane, Imperial, and Magistrate PCs they will admit that a Scorpion samurais body was found on the Inns back walkway last night. They do not know anything else except that the victim was apparently killed with a sword. If the PCs speak with the guests or servants at the Inn, they can quickly learn the identity of the victim, Bayushi Kenno. He disappeared last night after dinner, but at the time, no-one thought much of this they were in a city, and many of them were going out at

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night to visit the various attractions. Kenno was from Toshi Aitate, so they assumed he went to the vice district on the eastern side of the town. The body was discovered about an hour later when one of the servants went to the outhouse. They summoned the city magistrate at once.

The Victim
If the PCs ask the other Scorpions at the Inn for details about Bayushi Kenno, they can learn he was a bushi from the city of Toshi Aitate, and was assigned as an escort to the Kyozou Troupe this spring. He is described as a quiet and dutiful samurai. A Scorpion PCs, or another PC who has an Ally in the Scorpion Clan or who cashes in a Favor with the Scorpion, can learn more: Kenno used to serve in the Governors household guard in Toshi Aitate, but was reassigned after some kind of violent incident there last year. He did not talk about what had happened, but sometimes (especially when drinking) he would speak of the need for vengeance against those who betrayed their patrons. If the PCs ask whether Kenno did or said anything unusual on the night of the murder, they can roll Awareness/Investigation at TN 20 to find a fellow Scorpion guard, Bayushi Nanjuro, who recalled that Kenno seemed a bit agitated throughout the day, although he never said why.

If the PCs speak with the servant (a middle-aged man, still a bit shaken and trembly the next day), he describes the scene with remembered horror. The samurai was dead, cut open like a fish at the market, shoulder to hip. He had his hand on the hilt of his katana, but it was only a few inches out of the saya his enemy must have been dreadfully fast. Such a terrible sight, I hope I never see anything like it again. The murder scene is a narrow path leading from the Inn to its outhouse, passing between the stables and a vegetable garden behind the kitchens. It is clearly a place which would be dimly lit at night. The eta remove the body within an hour, but the blood is not cleansed until the next morning, when the servants wash it away and call in a monk to bless and purify the area. There is no physical evidence left behind, but if the PCs look at the scene before the blood is cleaned, they can roll Perception/Battle (Skirmish) at TN 20 to make some deductions from the pattern of blood spray. There was one attacker, and Kenno was killed by a single blow. If a shugenja Communes with spirits in the area, there are plenty of Earth and Air spirits who can describe what happened. As they tell the tale, a middle-aged man in plain, colorless clothing was returning to the Inn from the outhouse when Kenno confronted him. They spoke for a few moments, then Kenno reached for his sword. The other man immediately drew and cut him down with a single blow. Then he cleaned his sword on Kennos clothing, sheathed it, and went inside.

The Body
The body of Bayushi Kenno is removed by eta within an hour of its discovery. However, if the PCs act before the evening of the play, they will be able to see the body at the local crematorium. (After the play is over, the body will have been cremated.) The crematorium is located in the eta neighborhood on the northern edge of the towns Eastern District, outside the walls of Musume Mura. The guards at the Necessity gate will give fish-eyed stares to any PCs who pass through, and gossip about them afterward such PCs lose 1 point of Glory unless they are Irreproachable. The eta will cooperate completely with any PC who visits the crematorium they are too lowly in the social order to refuse anyone, regardless of whether the PCs are Magistrates or not. Bayushi Kennos body is stripped down to its loincloth and the eta are washing it before wrapping it in funeral cloths and cremating it. (The ashes will be returned to the Scorpion Clan.) A PC who examines the body can see that he was killed by a single massive, precise sword-stroke that cut him open from hip to shoulder. A roll of Perception/Medicine at TN 20, or Perception/Kenjutsu at TN 30, notes from the angle of the blow that it was made right-handed, shoulder down to hip, and probably in the same motion as the draw.

PCs who question other spirits in the Inn can, with stubbornness and persistence, ascertain that Kagekaze collected his gear and left immediately after the killing. However, they will not be able to trace him more than a block from the Inn there are simply too many people in the city to track a single one by questioning spirits.

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Whoever delivered it was extremely quick, strong, and skilled.

Warning of an Assassination
It is possible that PCs who realize Kagekaze is in town may try to warn Governor Doji Hideyoshi or the city magistrate, Doji Sanzo, about a possible threat whether to Toturi Hisako or someone else. Sanzo will meet with the PCs with only an hours wait. Hideyoshi will only meet with PCs of Status 4.5 or better he is too busy preparing for the wedding to spare time for anyone of lesser rank. Although both men will listen to the PCs story, neither will be willing to act more than they already have. Troops have been posted at the House of the Golden Blossom in response to the unfortunate murder of Bayushi Kenno, and they see no need for further precautions. If the PCs are meeting Sanzo and are all of Status less than 3.0, he will be less polite, and indeed scoff at the idea of an assassin threatening anyone in Musume Mura.

Part Six: A Night at the Play

That evening, servants fill the gardens of the House of the Golden Blossom with colored lanterns, and guests begin arriving in a steady stream. A wooden stage has been built against the exterior wall of the Inn, facing into the garden, and benches are placed in the garden for the guests to sit without dirtying their kimono on the ground. Doji Hideyoshi, his wife, and his brother are seated at the front, naturally, while Daidoji Miyui and Hida Junzo sit farther back with the other guests (including the PCs, unless they are acting as security for the event). PCs who choose to act as overt security without permission from the Governor and/or the Magistrate are committing a minor breach of etiquette, and suffer a loss of 1 points of Glory. PCs who are carrying battlefield weapons (bows, polearms, heavy weapons, etc) or wearing armor are also committing a breach of etiquette, a significant one if they do not have permission to act in a security role. Such PCs lose 2 points of Glory, plus they gain a point of Infamy if they are acting without sanction from the daimyo or magistrate.

If the PCs specifically mention Kagekaze, the Crane will initially regard this as equivalent to mentioning an urban legend. I have heard many tales of this supposed master assassin, but none that seemed in the slightest way believable. If the PCs speak of their own personal knowledge of Kagekazes existence and behavior, the Crane will be somewhat more respectful (Well, perhaps such a man exists, samurai-san, but I doubt he poses a threat here). However, they will still be confident that their defensive measures are sufficient. If any of the PCs are Emerald or Sapphire Magistrates, or Imperial PCs with Status of 5.0 or better, the Crane will be more cooperative and will, if nothing else, certainly allow the PCs to act as extra security at the play. Otherwise, the PCs will have to roll Awareness/Etiquette (Bureaucracy) at TN 25 to convince the Crane to let them act as security at the play. The PCs can, of course, try to watch over the play without permission. So long as they are not overt about it, this will not be a violation of etiquette. See Part Six below for more details.

The Scorpion players (including Toturi Hisako) wait inside an enclosure of red silk, along with the musicians who will accompany the play with biwa, samisen, flute, and drum.

The Play
The play is called Duty, and is written by Yogo Amasare, one of the most prominent playwrights in the modern Empire. It is a Noh play, with lines delivered in ritualized verse, and takes place during an unnamed war between the Scorpion and the Lion. A Scorpion actress (played by Hisako) working for a ninja is sent out to kill an important Lion general. She disguises herself as a Matsu officer, and manages to seduce him but he already knows her plan, and allows the seduction in order to kill her. Their plans go awry when the two fall in love for real. On the same day, each receives orders to kill the other. They fall into an embrace for the last time, then he throws her off and picks up his sword. She begins to weep, explaining that she has really fallen in love with him, and pleading for them to run away together and forsake their Clans war. Duty,

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not words, he replies, and cuts her down amid a crescendo of wailing flutes and pounding drums.

Kagekazes Plan and PC Responses

PCs who paid close attention to Kagekazes poem will realize he is planning to use an archery attack to dispatch his target (who is, of course, Doji Hideyoshi). He plans to shoot from a rooftop across the street from the garden, two hundred feet away. The roof is sloped very mildly and is easily accessible from a balcony on the second floor, making an Athletics roll unnecessary. He will use the crescendo of the play to cover the killing, buying him time to slip off the roof and leave the area. How the PCs are able to deal with this threat will depend, in large part, on what approach they take and how they choose to defend the play. If the PCs try to examine the surrounding area for signs of danger, or for probable areas of attack, they can roll Perception/Battle (Ambush) at TN 25 to recognize that the most probable threat from an archery attack would be from the nearby rooftops, while the most probable area of attack from ground level would be from within the audience. If the PCs specify they are watching the surrounding area for suspicious activity, they can roll Perception/Hunting at TN 25 or Perception/Investigation (Notice) at TN 30 to notice someone moving on the rooftop across the street as the play is approaching its climax. If they specify they are watching the rooftops, lower the TNs by 5. Placing PCs on other rooftops will also reduce the TNs by 5. Some PCs may decide to actually place themselves on one or more rooftops around the House of the Golden Blossom (or perhaps on the roof of the Golden Blossom itself). If the PCs specifically place someone on the rooftop across from the garden, Kagekaze will either switch to a more distant rooftop (if there are multiple PCs in his preferred location) or sneak up and try to dispatch the PC (if only one PC is on the rooftop) see Kagekaze Strikes at PCs below for details of this. If the PCs are watching the potential targets (the Doji Governor and Toturi Hisako) instead of the surrounding area, their only chance will

be to react when the arrow is fired. The roll to be able to react is Perception/Defense at TN 35. A PC who is specifically watching Doji Hideyoshi rolls at TN 25. With a successful roll, the PC can try to react to the arrow shot (see Intercepting the Shot below).

Kagekaze Strikes at PCs

If a lone PC stands watch on the rooftop across from the play, Kagekaze will attempt to sneak up and dispose of that PC. This will involve an Opposed Roll of the assassins Agility/Stealth (Sneaking) against the PCs Perception/Investigation (Notice). If Kagekaze wins this roll, he will be able to strike at the PC by surprise - the PCs TN will be reduced by 15 and he will not gain the benefit of his Defense Skill to his TN. Kagekaze will strike for maximum damage with the goal of dropping the PC in one hit (before the alarm can be sounded). If the PC wins the roll, s/he will spot Kagekaze when he is still approaching across the rooftop, about twenty feet away. There will be time for the PC to ready a weapon, shout an alarm, or even flee. If Kagekaze is blown by the PC raising the alarm, he will retreat he has no interest in fighting the PCs once he loses the opportunity to complete his mission.

Confronting Kagekaze
If the PCs spot Kagekaze before the end of the play, they can try to confront and stop him. There are a number of different ways in which this might play out, depending on the PCs capabilities and choices. PCs who decide to fire their own arrows at Kagekaze will find it a very difficult shot not to mention he is atop a rooftop 200 feet away. In addition to the standard range penalties, they will suffer a +20 TN penalty due to the environmental conditions (night, partial concealment). If Kagekaze is hit, he will either immediately take a shot at Doji Hideyoshi (if he is at +15 or less in Wound penalties), or retreat (if he is at +20 or worse). Spells launched at Kagekaze will have to be within range, and will suffer a +5 TN penalty to the spellcasting roll, due to the difficulty of targeting it accurately.

Some PCs may decide to try to sneak up on Kagekaze in hope of ambushing him. This will require an Opposed Roll of their Agility/Stealth (Sneaking) against his Perception/Investigation (Notice).

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Alternatively, the PCs can simply go up to the roof openly and confront the assassin. If the PCs surprise Kagekaze, he will fight to defend himself to the best of his ability. He is not suicidal and will try to retreat or call a truce if a fight seems hopeless. If the PCs make a large amount of noise (shouting, etc) or unleash visually impressive spells, Kagekaze will realize his mission is blown, and will try to retreat. He is not cruel or vindictive he will not make a point of killing PCs who are Down or Out, for example. If the PCs confront Kagekaze in a group but do not immediately attack, he will react cautiously, trying to avoid a fight. The PCs will have the opportunity to speak with Kagekaze and perhaps try to understand him. He cannot be talked out of his mission, nor will he reveal his patron, but he will firmly deny that his target is Toturi Hisako. Kagekaze will show a certain respect for PCs who seem honorable and are trying sincerely to carry out their duty, and if they ask what can prevent him from finishing his mission, he will point out that if his patron dies, he will no longer be able to carry out the killing. I have been paid only half in advance. If my remaining payment is no longer available, there will be no reason for me to conclude the contract, will there? Clever PCs may simply try to keep Kagekaze talking long enough for the play to end and the targets to get out of sight. If they manage to maintain a role-played conversation with Kagekaze for a few minutes, this gambit will succeed the assassin suddenly pauses, notices the situation, then smiles, bows, and unstrings his bow. It seems I must try again later, samuraisans. Other, exceptionally clever and ruthless, PCs may decide to try to hire Kagekaze to kill whoever gave him this mission. He will be quite willing to accept such a contract, but insists he must finish his first assassination before he can undertake another one. (To do otherwise would violate his own peculiar code of honor.) He will ask 100 koku to kill Doji Isamu. See Appendix #2, Dealing with Kagekaze, for more details of his personality and beliefs.

Perception/Defense roll to notice the shot itself), they can try to intercept the arrow shot itself, cutting or knocking it out of the air. This will require a roll of Reflexes/(Weapon Skill) at TN 40. Alternatively, a PC can leap in front and take the shot this will require a roll of Reflexes/Defense at TN 30. The PC will take full damage from the shot it is a normal arrow, and Kagekaze called four Raises for damage.

Assassination Successful?
If Kagekaze successfully shoots Doji Hideyoshi, the damage is fatal Hideyoshi has an Earth of 2. However, a shugenja PC might still be able to save him by immediately casting Force of Will and then healing him up before the spell expires. If Hideyoshi dies, the aftermath of the play is chaotic, as Crane and Scorpion guards hurry around securing the remaining dignitaries (Kokoro, Isamu, Toturi Hisako, Miyui, and Junzo). Kagekaze will immediately leave the scene, although PCs who react quickly might be able to intercept him. Conversely, PCs who look at the others on the scene can roll Perception/Investigation (Notice) at TN 25 to spot a quick flash of glee and triumph on Doji Isamus face before he schools himself into an expression of more appropriate shock and grief.

Assassination Failed!
If the PCs managed to actually kill Kagekaze, the plot is completely defeated. If they merely distracted him, drove him off, or intercepted the shot, they will know that he is still out there, planning to come after Doji Hideyoshi again. The only way to end the threat in that case is to expose Doji Isamu. Under strict Rokugani law, this is impossible the PCs do not have enough evidence to have Isamu arrested, a fact they can ascertain by rolling Intelligence/Lore: Law at TN 15. However, they do have two other options: Request an audience with Doji Kokoro, either after the play or the next day. She will grant it after an hour wait. If the PCs reveal their suspicion that she had an affair with Isamu, reveal that Isamu probably hired Kagekaze, and role-play an effective and sincere appeal, they can roll Awareness/Etiquette (Sincerity) at TN 25, they can convince her to act. She will speak to her husband, condemning Isamu, who will break down and confess once he realizes his true love has turned on him.

Intercepting the Shot

If any PCs are at ground level, watching over Doji Hideyoshi or his wife, and are aware of Kagekazes shot (either by spotting him on the roof, being warned of his presence by other PCs, or making the

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A PC of Status 4.0 or better can publicly accuse Isamu of hiring the assassin, based on the limited evidence the PCs can find. This can be done before or after the attack, although once the attack has taken place there will be much more justification for such a claim. If a PC of such Status makes this accusation, it will force Isamu to challenge the PC for this slander. In this case, a duel to the death will take place immediately, sanctioned by Doji Hideyoshi an insult of such gravity cannot wait for the normal procedures.

Rewards for Completing the Adventure

At the end of the scenario, any PCs with Shadowlands Taint must make a Simple Earth roll with a TN of 5 + (5 x Taint Rank). If the roll is failed, the PC acquires one additional point of Taint.

Experience Points
Playing through the adventure: Good role-playing: Doji Hideyoshi lives: Doji Isamu is condemned: Kagekaze is killed: Total Possible Experience: 1 XP +1 XP +1 XP +1 XP +1 XP 4 XP

If Isamu is condemned due to Kokoros action, he will request (and be granted) permission to commit seppuku. This takes place the next morning, so that it can be dealt with quickly before the wedding takes place. Isamus death-haiku is as follows: Chill breeze blows, bearing Broken words and promises. Cherry blossom falls, wilted

Other Awards/Penalties
If Doji Hideyoshi lives, all PCs who helped save his life will gain 1 point of Glory. PCs of Honor Rank 2.4 or less will also gain 1 point of Honor. PCs who actually manage to kill Kagekaze gain 5 points of Glory. PCs who present a notable gift or artistic performance at the wedding also gain 1 point of Glory. If Doji Hideyoshi dies, any Crane PCs who knew about the assassination plot and failed to prevent it will lose 2 points of Honor. Other PCs of Honor Rank 3.0 or better who failed will lose 1 point of Honor. PCs could potentially take Blackmail: Doji Kokoro if they learned about her affair but kept it secret. Taking this option costs them 1 point of Honor. PCs who correctly interpreted Toturi Hisakos poem gain the Advantage Noticed by Toturi Hisako.

Conclusion: A Wedding to Remember

Regardless of whether or not the assassination is stopped, the wedding will take place the following evening, in a Shintao shrine at the Governors residence. Only the immediate family members attend, but afterward a splendid reception is held in the gardens, with all of the guests attending. Daidoji Miyui and the new-made Daidoji Junzo will be presented to the guests after the ceremony, with Miyui dressed in red to celebrate her rebirth as a married woman. The guests offer various, mostly symbolic, gifts to the couple, intended to represent prosperity, fertility, and so forth. (PCs who come up with a clever and appropriate gift should gain 1 point of Glory.) A splendid meal follows, accompanied by various speeches, poetry, and song (performed by artisans brought in for the purpose, although PCs may offer performances if they wish). At the conclusion of the reception, a new guest arrives Daidoji Kowaru, the daimyo of the Daidoji family. (Traditionally, in the Crane Clan the family daimyo attends any notable wedding.) He offers the new couple a gift of his own two beautiful origami, a matching pair of birds which flutter and hover as though alive.

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Appendix #1: NPCs

Doji Hideyoshi, Governor of Musume Mura
FIRE 2 Intelligence 3 EARTH 2 Willpower 3 AIR 2 Awareness 4 WATER 2 Perception 3 VOID 3 TN to be Hit: 10 School/Rank: Doji Courtier 3 Rank One: Adds twice Honor to all Courtier, Etiquette, Heraldry, Oratory, and Sincerity rolls. May call on Favor Table (L5R Revised Rulebook, page 126) 5 times a day. Rank Two: Observe an opponent for one round, spend a Void point, and make an Opposed Awareness roll. If successful, the opponent must reveal one of their Advantages. Any time in the next day that the opponent uses this Advantage in a social situation, gains 3 Free Raises on any Contested Social rolls against him. (If already knew he possessed the Advantage, gets an additional Free Raise.) Rank Three: Adds twice Honor to all Awareness rolls. When another person takes an action in his presence, may spend a Void point and make an Awareness/Etiquette roll (at 10 times the targets Insight Rank) to force the opponent to instead make the action a Test of Honor (but without any Honor gains or losses). Honor/Status/Glory: 2.3/6.0/3.7 Skills: Calligraphy 4, Courtier (Gossip, Political Maneuvering) 5, Deceit (Lying) 2, Etiquette (Conversation, Sincerity) 6, Horsemanship 2, Investigation 1, Lore: Heraldry 4, Lore: History 4, Meditation 2, Storytelling (Oratory, Poetry) 5, Theology (Shintao) 3. Mastery Abilities: Adds 5 to the total of any Social Skill Roll. Free Raise with all Skills at Rank 5 or higher. Advantages/Disadvantages: Allies (many, including his wife Kokoro), Social Position (governor), Wealth Equipment: Fine kimono, fine court dress, fan, 15 koku.

Doji Isamu, Corrupt Brother of Hideyoshi

FIRE 3 Agility 4 EARTH 3 AIR 3 Reflexes 4 WATER 2 Perception 3

VOID 4 TN to be Hit: 29 School/Rank: Kakita Bushi 3 Rank One: Add twice his Iaijutsu skill to all initiative rolls. May use Iaijutsu skill in place of Kenjutsu, and may Focus one additional time in an Iaijutsu duel. Rank Two: For every 10 points by which his Initiative score exceeds an opponents, he gains a Free Raise to attacks rolls on that opponent. In an Iaijutsu duel, if he has a higher Honor Rank, may add the difference in Honor Ranks to total number of times he can Focus. Add Fire to total of all attack rolls. Rank Three: When in an iaijutsu duel, gains additional Void points equal to Honor Rank that last only for remainder of duel. In a skirmish, if strikes an opponent with lower initiative, that opponent is +10 to hit him on his next attack roll that round.

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Honor/Status/Glory/Infamy: 1.2/4.0/2.4/1.5 Skills: Athletics 2, Calligraphy 2, Courtier (Political Maneuvering) 3, Deceit (Lying) 4, Defense 4, Etiquette (Sincerity) 4, Horsemanship 2, Iaijutsu (Assessment) 5, Investigation 2, Kenjutsu (Katana) 5, Kyujutsu 1, Lore: Heraldry 2, Lore: Law 2, Meditation 1, Storytelling (Poetry) 1, Underworld 2. Mastery Abilities: Add 5 to total of his Social Skill rolls. May Focus an additional time in an Iaijutsu duel. May declare Full Defense when Initiative is rolled. Wound penalties to attack rolls with Kenjutsu are reduced by Kenjutsu skill rank, and may spend an additional Void point on damage with a sword. Free Raise with Kenjutsu and Iaijutsu. Kata: Striking as Fire, Striking as Air. Advantages/Disadvantages: Social Position (governors brother), Wealth/Bad Reputation (emotional), Compulsion (sake), Dark Secrets (several), Driven (win Kokoro for himself), True Love (Doji Kokoro). Equipment: Kimono, daisho set, fan, 12 koku.

Kagekaze, Honorable Assassin

FIRE 4 Agility 6 EARTH 6 AIR 4 Reflexes 7 WATER 5

VOID 5 TN to be Hit: 60 School/Rank: Ronin Duelist 5/Kagekazes Path 3 Duelist Rank One: Adds twice Agility to the total of all Initiative rolls. Duelist Rank Two: May choose to take a Complex Action to study an opponent. (This may be done while in Full Defense.) This allows him to roll an additional die per School Rank on attacks against that opponent. This may target multiple opponents but total dice gained cannot exceed School Rank. Duelist Rank Three: Gains an additional attack per round. When an opponent lowers his Focus Pool to gain a Free Raise on a Focus roll, he may lower his Focus Pool by one to negate the Free Raise. Duelist Rank Four: The benefit from Rank Two is now kept dice. Duelist Rank Five: At the beginning of a duel, spend a Void Point to prevent anyone in the duel (including yourself) from using the effects of any Techniques or Kata. Kagekazes Path Rank One: The Way of the Assassin. Kagekaze conforms to his own path of Honor, which involves faithfully carrying out all contracts to their completion, and always killing his targets with weapons rather than with cowardly methods such as poison or deceit. While performing a contract, he adds twice his Honor rank to the total of his Attack and Damage rolls. Kagekazes Path Rank Two: One Against the World. Gains an additional attack per round. When outnumbered by five-to-one or more, gains an additional attack per round beyond that one. Kagekazes Path Rank Three: Riding the Wind and Waves. Adds the total of his Air and Water Rings to his TN to be Hit at all times (unless unaware or immobilized), adds his Air Ring to the total of all his Attack rolls, and adds his Water ring the total of all his Damage rolls. Honor/Glory/Status/Infamy: 4.1/3.0/na/2.9 Skills: Athletics 4, Battle 2, Calligraphy 4, Commerce 3, Courtier 3, Deceit (Intimidation) 4, Defense 8, Etiquette 6, Games (Go) 3, Horsemanship 4, Hunting 5, Iaijutsu 8, Investigation (Interrogation, Notice) 5, Jiujutsu 4, Kenjutsu 10, Knives 4, Kyujutsu 6, Lore: Heraldry 5, Lore: History 3, Lore: Law 2, Meditation 3, Spears 3, Stealth 5, Tea Ceremony 2, Theology 4, Underworld 5. Mastery Abilities: Add 5 to the total of his Social Skill rolls. May declare Full Defense when Initiative is rolled, and adds 2 x Defense to his TN to be Hit even when in Full Attack. When using Kenjutsu or Kyujutsu, wound penalties are reduced by Skill Rank. May spend an additional Void on damage with

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Kenjutsu. 9s explode when rolling with Kenjutsu. May Focus an additional time and may roll an additional die when focusing in an Iaijutsu duel. Free Raise with all skills at Rank 5 or higher (Defense, Etiquette, Hunting, Iaijutsu, Investigation, Kenjutsu, Kyujutsu, Lore: Heraldry, Stealth, Underworld). Kata: Kagekaze knows all five of the basic Elemental kata and also has his own, Kagekazes Wind. Prep time 20 minutes. May sacrifice all extra attacks to make one single deadly attack. If this attack hits, roll additional unkept damage dice equal to Reflexes. Advantages/Disadvantages: Bishamons Blessing, Bland, Combat Reflexes, Higher Purpose (fulfill his assassins creed), Quick, Strength of the Earth (rank one)/Bad Reputation (ronin assassin), Social Disadvantage (ronin). Equipment: Kimono, daisho set, tanto, traveling pack, 18 koku, light armor (usually not worn), bow and 20 arrows.

Kagekaze Combat Cheat Sheet

Kagekazes statistics and mechanical capabilities are very complex. For the help of GMs, the following is a simplified version of his key die-rolls in combat. Initiative Roll: 10k10+12 (plus Combat Reflexes) Attack Roll (Kenjutsu): 10k9+12 +Free Raise. Kagekaze normally attacks three times per round (with any weapon), and if he is outnumbered five-to-one or more, he gains a fourth attack. Attack Roll (Kyujutsu): 10k8+12 +Free Raise. Base Damage (Katana) before Raises: 8k2+13 Base Damage (Arrow) before Raises: 6k2+13

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Appendix #2: Dealing with Kagekaze

Kagekaze is clean-shaven and well-kept, and wears his hair in a traditional topknot. His kimono is of good quality, in neutral shades of light gray, dark blue, and tan. His swords are currently stored in his room, and with or without them he behaves always with great restraint and decorum, speaking in a soft voice. Physically, he appears to be in his early forties, with a thin, narrow frame and long, lean arms and legs he gives the general impression of being somewhat worn down by the rigors of life. Kagekaze does not believe in Bushido. He regards it as a myth which was effective only when all Rokugani believed in it now that the Empire has become corrupt, it no longer has any power, and he sees no reason for it to have any control over his own life. However, he does have a certain wry respect for those samurai who still believe in Bushido and try to live their lives honorably. Although what they believe in is ridiculous, in his view, their courage and faith in it are admirable. Kagekaze does have his own peculiar code of Honor which governs his actions in a variety of ways. A few examples: Kagekaze only takes contracts to kill people he considers morally flawed. However, he believes most of humanity falls into that category. He will not take a contract to kill a child, and if he believes someone to be genuinely honorable and an innocent (such as a truly pious and enlightened Shinseist monk, or a samurai who is genuinely honorable and above reproach), he will refuse a contract on them. In general, he only agrees to kill people he considers to be morally deficient however, that comprises most of the modern Empire in his eyes. Once he takes a contract, he will carry it out regardless, unless something makes it impossible for the contract to be completed (such as the patron dying before payment can be completed). Even if he learns he has been duped into an improper contract, he will still keep his word and carry it out. Kagekaze always kills his opponents with weapons. He never uses poison, deception, or other such cowardly tactics, and the use of such methods by others disgusts him. If Kagekaze learns he has been duped or manipulated, he will remorselessly hunt down and kill the patron who did so.

It should be noted that while Kagekaze is an extremely capable and emotionally self-controlled killer, he is not a sociopath and does not enjoy death for its own sake. He will not kill without need, and prefers to avoid unnecessary confrontations or deaths. If he is confronted or threatened, he will usually try to defuse the situation, and will only kill when it is unavoidable. On the other hand, if he does have to kill, he does so without hesitation or remorse, and as efficiently as possible.

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