Legend of the Five Rings: Masks and Lies

[Squishy Cheeks]

Lesson 3: Rule of Law.
The word of the emperor is law. It is treason to defy the empire. However certain small treasons prevent larger treasons. Sometimes it is necessary to be a traitor to serve the empire. This was the lesson of Bayushi Shoju. Bayushi Shoju was the last Daimyo of the line of Bayushi. Since his death the title has gone to the most worthy of the Bayushi. Shoju discovered a prophecy that stated the Last Hantei emporer would be the doom of the empire. So Shoju set into motion the infamous period known as the Scorpion Clan Coup. The began when Shoju asked the emperor if it was within his rights as the emeperor's underhand to do whatever means necessary to save the empire from destruction. The emperor agreed, and Shoju then slew his lord, and proclaimed himself emperor. In the confusion the emperor's son escaped. The son upon claiming the throne took Shoju's wife Kachiko as his own, and left Shoju's corpse to rot, a grave insult. Kachiko poisoned the emperor, but never enough to kill him. Thus starting the Clan War, and setting the stage for the Second Day of Thunder. For the dark god Fu Leng came to possess the body of the sickened emperor. The Thunders assembled and fought the dark god, killing him. It was the newly formed Toturi dynasty that restored the Scorpion Clan, since without the aid of the Scorpion the Day of Thunder would have been lost.

The Current Emperor, Toturi III before taking the throne was an ally of the Scorpion. He understands the necessity of their duties, and their secrecy. he also understands that he has no servants more loyal to the empire.

Beneath the Emperor in terms of power are the Emerald Champion, the Jade Champion, the Shogun, the Voice of the Emperor, and the Clan Daimyos.

The Emerald Champion is the chief Magistrate of the Empire, and is responsible for the enforcement of Imperial Law. Beneath him are the Emerald Magistrates, the enforcers of imperial law. The other clans also have their own magistrates, for the enforcement of their lord's laws as well as those of the emperor, but only in the lands of their family. The Current Emerald Champion is Yasuki Hachi.

The Jade Champion is the Enforcer of Magical Law. He and his Jade Magistrates are tasked to prevent the illegal use of magics, and to hunt down magical enemies of the state. The current Jade Champion, is Asahina Sekawa, the keeper of the five elements.

The Shogun is the Supreme military commander of the Imperial Legions. This is a new position occupied by Kaneka, the bastard son of Toturi I.

The Voice of the Emperor is a new position and has not been well defined. Isawa Sezaru, the emperor's brother uses his title to pass summary judgement on those he believes to be guilty of the use of dark magics.

The daimyo manage the imperial lands, and pay their clans portions of the imperial taxes. It is their responsibility to supply the rule of law, a supply of troops, and their share of imperial taxes to the emperor. They serve at his pleasure. Beneathe the clan daimyo are family daimyo. The family daimyo are granted land to manage in a similar, albeit smaller scale, to the the clan daimyo. The family daimyo then divide their lands further into the hands of vassal daimyo, and governor's of important cities. It is the governor's and minor daimyo who are really responsible for the ground work that keeps the empire running.

Lesson 4: Punishment
Robbery, forgery, murder, rape, and kidnapping are all capital crimes, if you are caught. To salvage their honor, if not their life, a samurai can offer to commit seppuku. though particularly vile criminals are denied this opportunity. Imperial law also grants a magistrate the right to punish a criminals spouse and children in the case of serious crimes.

Lesser crimes, such as vandalism, trespassing, etc. Will merit a fine, and/or house arrest.

Peasants if found guilty of crimes will often be publically executed or beaten.

Eta, technically not considered human, are not subject to any laws, and can be killed for any reason without repurcusion.

Testimony is the strongest form of evidence in Rokugani court. Though physical evidence may be insurmountable, it means nothing if a reliable witness testifies that the accused is not guilty, or vice versa. However this is not the case if a member of the Kitsuki family is involved. A kitsuki trained magistrate is skilled enough at reading the evidence, that his testimony is given more weight than an eye witness. This matters not, since no punishment can be given without a confession. If the testimony and evidence is strong enough, an eta torturer will be brought in to either get a confession or kill the accused. If the samurai is of a high rank then the accused will be placed in indefinate house arrest until they confess their crime.

Foreign Samurai can only be tried for crimes by an Emerald Magistrate, or a magistrate of their clan. Ronin however, are free to be tried by local magistrates.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Lesson 5: Travel
To travel on the emperor's roads you need the appropriate travel papers. To be caught without the correct papers on the roads. The papers can be received from an appropriate official, and based on their jurisdiction allow you passage to your destination. An imperial magistrate can give you leave to travel the empire, a local magistrate can give you leave to travel in their lands, and so on. Leaving the roads increases your risk of attack, and if caught in another clan's provences without the correct papers off the roads, can lead to misunderstandings.

Lesson 6: On (face)
The appearance of truth, is more important than being truthful. your reputation is based on the appearance of honesty, more than honesty itself. An honorable man, who can not speak well will have less of a standing than a dishonorable man who does.

Lesson 7: Dishonor
A samurai's honor is more precious to them than their life. If disgraced a samurai has to options. If disgraced and someone else is to blame, duel them. If disgraced and you are to blame, redemption. But sometimes there is no redemption, in those cases Seppuku is necessary.

Lesson 8: Bushido
The virtues of bushido must be followed for a samurai.
Gi (honesty) - Adhiring to the truth defines the course of a samurai's existence. Misdirections are best crafted with half-truths and spins on the truth, more so than a lie.
Yu (courage) - Courage is the ability to continue onward regardless of peril.
Jin (compassion) - to spare the life of a defeated enemy proves you to be the better.
Rei (Courtesy) - Respect is what keeps the world from dissolving into chaos.
Meyo (honor) - Honor can not be defined, either you know what it is or you don't.
Makoto (sincerity) - A samurai's word is the cornerstone of his reputation.
Chugo (duty) - A samurai is a servant first and foremost. the must always perform their duty without fail. The scorpion exemplify this virtue more than any other. They will perform their duty, no matter the consequences, or unsavory ness of their order.

Lesson 8: bowing and kneeling
It is customary when greeting someone to bow to them as a gesture of respect. The deeper the bow the more respect, concordently a small bow or no bow at all is a sign of disrespect.

Kneeling is for when meeting someone of higher station. A samurai will kneel before any daimyo as they would their lord. Even if two clans are at war, they maintain this conduct as a sign of respect.

Lesson 9:
addressing a samurai can either be a sign of great respect or enormous insult. It is only appropriate to address someone only by their clan if you are not aware of their family name, if their family mon is visible then it is an insult. It is not appropriate to show undue familiarity, so unless you are familiar with someone it is not appopriate to use someone's personal name.

I.e. Bayushi Hanzo and Shosuro Renji were school mates, they address each other personaly. Hanzo has just met Shosuro Mikado, he will address her as Shosuro-sama.

honorifics:
-San: San should be added to someone's name if they are a samurai of slightly greater or lesser rank than you.
-Sama: sama should be added to someone's name if they are of greater rank than you. To use sama on an equal is a great compliment, but can bring shame if it causes embarassment.
O- : O is added infront of someone's name to denote great respect.
-chan: A female honorific for a female you are particularly close to. This can be used as an insult if used innappropriatly.
-Kun: male version of chan.

[Inbred Chocobo]

Name: Bayushi Ringo
Age: 19
School: Bayushi Bushi
Skills: Courtier, defense, etiquette, Iaijutsu (quickdraw), Kenjutsu, Kyujutsu (Bow), Medicine, Poisons, Musical (Shamisen), Stealth, Jutte
Equipment: 1 Katana, 1 Wakizashi ,1 Bow, 20 regular arrows, 1 jitte, Light Armor, Dark Red Kimono, Sandals, 7 koku, stealth suit, 20 flesh cutter arrows, 1 knife, Blanket, Bottle of Water, Grapple hook, Mortar and pestle, Shamisen, small tent, Week's supply of rations, Kubi Bukuro, Bottle of Shochu, accupuncture needles.
special techniques:Way of the Scorpion - You knwo to win a fight it is best to attack first, and attack last. You keep your enemies off balance by attacking when they are not ready, do to the ambush like nature of your style you are harder to hit.
Empire rests on it's edge - all things can be balanced on the edge of a sword. You gain the ability to inject your knowledge of another skill into your fighting style. Your attacks are more accurate because of the way this skill has trained your mind.
Apperance: Normally seen with his kimono on and two swords at his side, Ringo has some of his other stuff hidden away. His hair is black and short and a little while. He has a slight farmer's tan from wearing his kimono so much since he tends to hide his stuff for an extra edge. This also tends to give him a bit more of a muscular appearence than he has.
Mask appearance: A simple band that goes over the eyes. The band itself is black, and the area around the eyes is a deep red.
Advantages: Divine Blessings from Jurojin, Lucky
Disadvantages: Sworn Enemy
Bio: Ringo was trained to be a Bushi from an early age like many others. And a Bushi is what he became. He was unlike others in his class, since he learned skills that didn't help much in a fight. Many thought is was strange, but none questioned it after his encounter with a ronin. No one was sure of exactly where the ronin came from. He showed up in a bar that Ringo was drinking at, and after the ronin got a little wasted, he insulted Ringo's honor by telling him how useless of a skill his musical abilities were. After Ringo beat him with strikes that had a rhythm to it, the ronin ran in dishonor, losing a pinky finger on his left hand. Ringo hasn't seen him since, but has heard of news of the ronin sticking around in a nearby village.
Extra: Ringo has a different code of Bushido, which has only two parts.
Determination: No matter what happens, you can always win.
Loyalty: Without this, everything would be chaos.

[Squishy Cheeks]

I'll keep helping you with it. Anyway the thread is up and waiting for introductions.

[Squishy Cheeks]

If you want Lesson 11: poisons you need to have the poison skill and pm me.

Lesson 10: commerce
commerce is beneath a samurai, that is for the merchant class, however in a merchant city like Ryoko Owari, with an active Yakuza element, commerce is not a bad thing to learn, if only for one's safety. Technically A samurai does not have to pay for anything a peasant owns, however abusing this position may often end in a body fished out of the river, or punishment from one's superiors. Your lord is responsible for your stipend as well as your food, shelter, clothing, equipment, and other material needs.
20 zeni = 1 bu; 5 bu = 1 koku; 1 koku = a man's year worth of rice
Arrows:
Willow Leaf (basic) - 1 bu each
Armor Piercer - 2 bu ea.
Flesh Cutter - 3 bu ea.
Rope Cutter - 5 bu ea
Humming bulb - 5 bu ea

Bows:
Daikyu (cavalry long bow) - 20 koku
Hankyu (short bow) - 6 koku
Shinjo Horsebow - 9 koku
Tsuruchi Longbow - 30 koku
Yumi - 20 koku

Chain Weapons:
kusarigama (chain sickle) - 5 koku
Kyoketsu-shogi (grappling hook with weighted rope) - 9 bu
Manrikikusari (weighted chain) - 6 koku

Heavy weapons:
Dai tsuchi (warhammer) - 15 koku
Masakari (Axe) - 10 koku
Ono (Battle axe) - 20 koku
Tetsubo (Iron Rod) - 20 koku

Knives:
Tanto or aiguchi - 1 koku
Jitte - 5 bu
Sai - 5 bu

Ninja weapons
Blowgun - 8bu
Shuriken - 2 bu ea.
tsubute (shaped stones) - 1 bu

Peasant weapons:
Kunai (modified Trowel) - 3 bu
Kama - 3 bu
Kumade (modified Rake) - 1 koku
Parangu (Machette) - 10 bu

Pole arms:
Bisento (heavier naginata) - 12 koku
Lance - 20 koku
Nagamaki (long handled sword) - 8 koku
Nage-yari (javelin) - 3 koku
Naginata - 10 koku
Sasumata (man-catcher) - 8 koku
Sodegarami (Sleeve-catcher) - 4 koku
Yari (spear) - 5 koku

Staves:
Bo - 2 bu
Jo (short staff) - 1 bu
Nunchaku - 3 bu
Machi-kanshisha (smoking pipe) - 10 koku
San Kauw (4 foot staff with metal spikes on either end) - 10 koku
Tonfa - 5 bu

Swords:
Katana - 20 koku
ninja-to - 5 koku
No-Dachi - 30 koku
Scimitar - 20 koku
Wakizashi - 15 koku

Tessen, menhari-gata, or gunsen (War fans) - 5 koku

Miscellaneous items
Wicker backpack - 3 zeni
Ball - 5 zeni
Wicker Baskets - 1 zeni for small baskets, 5 for large
Blacksmith's hammer - 3 bu
Blanket - 1 bu
Bottle of bleach or dye - 1 bu
Bottle of Sake - 1 bu
bottle of Shochu - 2 bu
empty bottle - 1 zeni
Books and scrolls - 1-10 bu
Bowyer's kit - 2 bu
Brazier (vessel designed to hold burning liquids)- 1 bu
Bucket - 1 zeni
Candle - 1 bu
Chest - 2-8 bu
Chopsticks - 1 zeni
silk bolt - 2 koku
coin purse - 3 zeni
Daisho stand - 1 koku
Dice and Dice cup - 25 zeni
Divination kit - 1 bu
Finger of Jade - 1 koku
Fishing kit - 10 zeni
Flint and steel - 1 zeni
Kuroshiki sack - 1 zeni
Game set - 1 bu +
Grapple hook - 1 bu
Kiseru (smoking pipe) - 3 zeni
Kubi Bukuro - 2 zeni
Lantern - 1-4 bu
Lantern oil - 3 zeni
Lucky Cricket - 4 bu
Medicine kit - 1 bu +
Mirror - 3 bu +
Mortar and Pestle - 2 bu
Musical instruments - 1-5 bu
Palanquin - 10 koku; does not include servants.
Paper - 1 bu per 5 sheets
Parchment and charcoal - 3 zeni
Pet - 1 koku
Pillow book -3 zeni and up.
Iron pot - 15 zeni
Quiver - 20 zeni
rope - 5 zeni per foot
Sake cup - 1 bu
Kunai (trowel) - 5 zeni
Shovel - 5 zeni
Back Banner - 1 koku
Folding stool - 3 bu
small knife - 5 zeni
Small painting or sculpture - 3 bu
small statue of a fortune or ancestor - 1 koku
spices - 1 bu +
sumi-e box - 1 bu
Sweets - 1 bu
Tatami mat - 2 zeni
Tattoo needles - 1 bu per set
Tea Set - 1 koku
tent, chomchog (traveling Town house) - 20 koku
Tent, yurt (traveling house) - 10 koku
tent - 1 koku
Traveling rations - 5 zeni per meal
Umbrella - 2 bu
Walking stick - 1 zeni
Whetstone - 1 zeni

Clothing:
Courtier's cap - 2 bu
Courtier's Fan - 40 zeni +
Hakama (pants) - 75 zeni
Haori (jacket) - 25 zeni
Jewelry - 1 bu +
Kimono - 1 bu +
Makeup kit - 1 koku
Mask - 3 bu
Obi pouch - 25 zeni
Perfume - 2 bu
Sandals - 50 zeni
Snow shoes - 2 bu
Traveling cloak - 75 zeni
Wide-brimmed straw hat - 1 zeni
War paint - 3 bu
Wig - 1 bu

[Squishy Cheeks]

I'm adding an ornate porcelain Sake cup to everyon'es inventory.

I was re reading some of my books and noticed that it is a tradition in Ryoko Owari to carry your own cup everywhere, as cups are not without request, also it's faily practical thing to do.

[Akamaz]

sorry bout being missing, i've been knocked on my ass sick since thursday afternoon and didn't get out of bed much at all

[Squishy Cheeks]

I understand, i figured as much. I sent you your premonition, if you have further questions, and this goes for you all, feel free to contact me.

[PhoenixFlame]

No intimidate, but the "I have archers you can't see, bwahaha!" bluff might be deceit'able.

Either way, the peasants aren't being smart.

[Squishy Cheeks]

8 to 2 versus a pretty boy courtier, and a "samurai." Plus they have us more or less surrounded and their apparently in good physical shape. This is a tough situation.