Legend of the Five Rings: Masks and Lies

[Squishy Cheeks]

Every bright star and Sun must cast a shadow somewhere. When Hantei brought the light of his rule to the people of Rokugan, he commanded Bayushi to stand in the shadows of his Empire and destroy those that would strike at the Emperor or Empire from the darkness. Bayushi’s duty was to protect the Empire, no matter the cost. He knew it would stain both himself and his followers to obey Hantei’s command, but he did not flinch. Since that day, the Scorpion have become aware of, or involved in every shadowy deal inside the borders of the Empire, and several outside. Some Scorpion samurai see the tasks they must perform as necessary duties for the good of the Empire. Others find the resources of their clan to be avenues to personal power. Some see no difference between the two.

Many Scorpion are among the most cheerful and inviting people in Rokugan. With their reputation as back-stabbers, thieves, liars, and slanderers preceding them, most Scorpion do not bother to intimidate each person they meet. Scorpion are intelligent and crafty, excellent friends and deadly enemies. A Scorpion’s loyalty can be counted on once earned — the clan has no need for a Scorpion who cannot remain true to those worthy of their trust. Once you can count one Scorpion among your true allies, it’s not a far stretch to say that the whole clan is your ally. Of course, knowing whether or not a Scorpion’s smile is true is another matter completely. Every Scorpion can turn just as menacing as they are welcoming, and a Scorpion’s anger can lead to the dishonorable deaths of entire families.

Every Scorpion worth his family name remembers Bayushi’s promise to Hantei, the first emperor: protect the Empire, no matter the cost to self, clan, or honor. Though all the clans claim that they would give their lives for the Empire, none but the Scorpion openly proclaim that they will throw away their honor at a moment’s notice should it benefit Rokugan. A Scorpion deals in secrets, lies, and truths, peddling the first two and keeping the last. No matter how well you believe your darkest secret kept, never doubt that some Scorpion has already learned it.

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The Families of the Scorpion
Bayushi -The Bayushi family was founded by the Kami Bayushi. The daimyo of this family are also the Scorpion Clan Champions. The Bayushi are probably the most well-rounded of the Scorpion, often possessing great wit as well as talent with fencing. It is for this reason that the Bayushi are often the public face and leaders of the Scorpion clan.

Shosuro - The Shosuro family was founded by Bayushi's first follower, Shosuro. Shosuro excelled in acting, drama, treachery, and the arts, as her followers do today. The Shosuro are excellent spies and courtiers, as well as assassins.

Soshi - The Soshi family was founded by Soshi, said alternately to be the son of Shosuro, Bayushi, the child of the two, or to be Shosuro herself. The Soshi family is the third largest family within the Scorpion Clan. They are led by shugenja, but most Soshi follow other professions. They are associated with the Tejina studies as well as Shadow magic.

Yogo - The Yogo family was founded by the shugenja Yogo, the husband of Asako who was cursed during the War Against Fu Leng and lured to the Scorpion Clan by Bayushi. His curse still manifests itself among his descendants. All Yogo are cursed to betray the one they love most.
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You have just passed your Gempukku, and are now an adult in service to the scorpion clan. Because you showed promise, you will be put to the test, to see if you are worth the investment the clan has put into your training.

Your unit is a mixed skills unit assigned to Shosuro Jiroko, Govenor of Ryoko Owari Toshi(Journey's end city),The largest city in the empire, also known as the City of Lies. Your Daimyo, Jiroko is one of Bayushi Kaukatsu's most talented students. With Kaukatsu, the Imperial Chancellor in Toshi Ranbo, Jiroko has been left to handle all his affairs in Ryoko Owari.

Jiroko is perhaps one of the empires most ruthless manipulators. She dominates the cities courts with the sheer weight of her presence and the quiet threat she often represent. Almost everyone fears her, yet no one can bear to bar her from their courth gatherings. There is very little that occurs in Ryoko Owari that she is not aware of.

While control of the city has changed hands several times, Ryoko Owari has retained its reputation for being a hotbed of criminal activity. Its involvement in the opium trade (both legal and illegal) makes the city very profitable for its rulers. Poppies are grown in vast fields that surround the city. The city maintains a mask of legitimacy as Rokugan's center of medicinal opium trade.
The Unicorn Clan retained control over the city for a number of years, but the Scorpion have in recent times managed to negotiate its return. The Scorpion were unsurprised to discover the Unicorn had little luck reducing the crime in the city.

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Character sheet:
Name: Select one of the four families above, and a japanese name. That is your character's name.
Age: between 16-20 would be appropriate.
School: Pick one of the following: Bayushi courtiers; Bayushi Bushi; Bayushi Saboteurs; Shosuro Actors; Shosuro Shinobi; Soshi Shugenja; Yogo shugenja
Skills: Once you pick a school, I will inform you what skills they teach. You may pick up to another 3 skills to be proficient at.
Equipment: I'll tell you your starting equipment based on your school, you will also get another item or two of your choosing
special techniques: these are dependant on your school, spells you knw for Shugenja, and kata you know for bushi.
Apperance: What do you look like, and how do you dress?
Mask appearance: All scorpions wear a mask, unless it serves them better not to. What does yours look like? Do you have multiple masks?
Advantages: Social connections, Divine blessings, physical strengths, blackmail, etc. No more than 3.
Disadvantages: Weaknesses, dark secrets, loves of your life, sworn enemies, curses, etc.
Bio: Where do you come from? where are you going? how do you define busido? what is your philosophy? who are you loyal to?
Extra: anything you want to add.

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My character
Name: Bayushi Hanzo
Age: 18
School:Bayushi courtier
Skills: Calligraphy, Courtier, Seduction, Ettiquette, Interrogation, Games, Sleight of hand, Tea Ceremony, Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu
Equipment: Katana, wakizashi, tanto, courtly dress, kimono, sandals, Tatami mat, Personal chop, 10 pieces of parchment, 10 sticks of charcoal, Sumi-e Kit, smoking pipe, courtiers fan, personal mask, coin purse, lantern, tea set, go set, sake cup, and 15 koku
special techniques: Weakness is my Strength - The bayushi courtier instinctively senses the failures and weakness of others and thrives upon it. When interacting with someone you quickly learn what buttons to push to manipulate them to your will, you learn their dark secrets, their hidden weaknesses, their nightmares.
Apperance: Hanzo usualy wears a fine Kamishimo, consisting of a red Kimono tucked into a black hakama, with a black surcoat over the top. He usualy carried his simple, but elegant black laquered Daisho in his Obi. Along the Say and hilt of the black laquered wood are a series of elegant green vines and cherry blossoms. The Tsubasa is laquered black and has a scorpion on it. Hanzo has his black hair tied into a top knot. He has an extremely handsome face, and he keeps himself in good condition, He is reedy in appearance.
Mask appearance: Hanzo wears a laquered wooden Noh mask, in the Chu-jyo style. He had the mask modeled on his own face. The mask looks very kind.
Advantages: Dangerous Beauty, Benten's blessing, and Heartless
Disadvantages: Overconfident, and addicted to opium
Bio: Hanzo's parents, a Bayushi bushi and a Shosuro courtier, were killed when he was young in front of him by agents of the Shadowed Tower. He was fostered to Kyuden Bayushi for training. Initialy trained to be a bushi like his father, he wanted revenge on his parents killers, but the Shadowed Tower fell, He kept with his training, but his sensei noticed that he also had a very keen mind for politics, and manipulation. when he was a teen he was sent to Ryoko Owari, and his new sensei began to teach him how to properly manipulate people. Hanzo became one of the finest students of the courtier school, a natural manipulator, using his looks and charm to win people to his side. However he suffered from anxiety, so he took to medicating himself one way he knew how, with opium. He passed his gempukku and was assigned to Ryoko Owari for the time being.

He is loyal to the Scorpion clan above all else, and will gladly sacrifice his name, honor, and life to benefit the clan.
Extra: