L5R: The Spirit of Bushido (Inactive)

Game Master R0B0GEISHA

Dramatis Personae

Imperials:

Toturi I - The Emperor is a pale samurai with classically handsome features and a lean physique. He keeps his hair in a proper samurai topknot, and dresses as befits a symbol of the Empire. Since taking the throne, he has devoted himself to restoring the Empire; first from the devastation of the Clan War, and then from the chaos of the War Against the Shadow. These cares and worries have weighed on him, but finally, the Empire is returning to its former prosperity. Toturi is one of the best generals in the history of Rokugan, and keeps himself in good physical condition, but despite his undeniable charisma and intimidating intellect, he is not a particularly political thinker. Since the death of his wife, rumors that he has lost the Mandate of Heaven have spread across the Empire.

Toturi Kaede (DECEASED) - Former Master of the Void, then Oracle of the Void, Kaede wed the Emperor as part of a gambit to help save the Empire. This dual devotion to the good of Rokugan and the Dragon of the Void was difficult for her, but it appeared that she has been able to serve the Empire well with her power. She was a small, dark woman with a somewhat abstracted air. The powers of an Oracle are vast, but not without limitations: actions of spirits, as they stand outside of destiny, were very difficult for her to fathom. Her murder at the hands of a returned Seppun spirit threw the Topaz Championship into chaos and the Empire feels her loss acutely.

Kakita Toshiken - Once a bitter, angry young man, Toshiken has matured into a thoughtful and judicious samurai since making peace with his legendary father, Kakita Toshimoko. One of the greatest duelists in the Empire, he remains somewhat uncomfortable with still being one of the few Emerald Champions in the history of Rokugan to be appointed instead of passing the Test. However, his devotion to the Emperor is unquestionable, and he is dedicated to being the best Emerald Champion he can possibly be. Having recently joined the Kakita family, with the blessing of his uncle Kakita Yoshi, he continues to make up his lack of political prowess with his strong ties to the Crane.

The night before the Topaz Championship, Toshiken was witnessed to hastily leave Tsuma after some kind of argument in the Duelling Academy. The following morning, right before the death of Kaede, he returned to the Opening Ceremonies, covered in mud and pointing his sword at Toturi I. This was witnessed by several PCs. His current fate is unknown.

Miya Yumi - Miya Yumi is the Miya family daimyo and the Imperial Herald, but despite her high station, remains a cheerful and easy-going young woman. Having spent the Clan War gathering proof of her cousin’s treachery, she is no stranger to hardship and has something of a soft spot for adventurous young samurai, as she was one herself not too long ago.

After the death of Toturi Kaede, Yumi was trapped in the Spirit Realms and rescued by the PCs. She believes that she owes the PCs a favor and has requested their aid in future peace-keeping tasks.

Toku - The Captain of the Imperial Guard was born a peasant, but granted both samurai status and a Minor Clan by the Emperor as a reward for his devotion and honor. He is a pleasant and humble man, and utterly devoted to the Toturi dynasty. There is nothing that Toku would not do for the Emperor, because he knows that the Emperor would never ask anything dishonorable.

Crab:

Hida Takumi - The son of a Hida gunso and a Kaiu engineer, Takumi is rather more clever than he appears. He has the typical Hida build, and even at sixteen, he towers over most Rokugani. He has a broken nose that never healed straight from a training “incident”, and is trying valiantly to grow moustaches, giving him a slightly scruffy air. He is a voracious reader and has a piercing intellect. He gained some notoriety among his Clan by bringing back the head of an ogre at his gempukku, having led it into a trap. This early success, combined with his natural ability, has made him slightly more confident than is perhaps warranted.

The PCs rescued him from the Spirit Realms after the death of Toturi Kaede.

Crane:

Kakita Kaiten (DECEASED) - The son of Imperial Advisor Kakita Yoshi, Kaiten became Kakita daimyo when his father died during the War Against the Shadow, and retained that position even after Yoshi returned through Oblivion’s Gate. Kaiten served with distinction during the war, and no one questioned his retaining the leadership of the family, nor when he was chosen to serve as regent for the fallen Crane Champion Doji Kuwanan’s son. Despite a bit of tension with his cousin Toshiken, Kaiten maintains strong contacts with the Imperial bureaucracy, and was instrumental in the return of the Topaz Championship. He is a serious and dedicated leader, a master swordsman, and is known as one of the greatest heroes of the Crane Clan.

Kaiten's own blade, the legendary Dragon's Claw katana, was used to murder Toturi Kaede when he moved to protect the Emperor. After his return from the Spirit Realms, he committed sepukku for this drastic failure. In his place, Kakita Yoshi and Daidoji Uji have stepped in to lead the Crane until Doji Kuwanen's young son comes of age.

Doji Meihu - A returned spirit who has offered his sword to the Crane Regent, Meihu chose to remain in Ningen-do in order to serve the Clan in this unexpected second life (and perhaps to rectify some of his unfinished business). Kaiten is slightly uncertain what exactly to do with Meihu, as the Crane are not currently in serious need of a general of his distinction, but for now Meihu has been tasked with assisting Daidoji Uji in rebuilding the Crane
military. Meihu is a highly honorable samurai, with a great deal of practical experience as a commander, and while he treats his enemies with respect, he never forgets that the Crane Clan has many enemies.

During the Topaz Championship, Meihu made it a point to offer advice and congratulations to all the contestants, except Hida Takumi, who he acted icily neutral.

Daidoji Rekai (PRESUMED DEAD) - Heir to Daidoji Uji and hero of the War against the Shadow, Rekai is a consummate warrior and tactician. Prior to the events of the Topaz Championship, she was responsible for rebuilding the Crane military.

Her current whereabouts are unknown. Presumably, she was lost within the void of the Spirit Realms.

Doji Arata - Doji Aroshi was a skilled duelist who died in a kharmic strike with a Lion general during the Clan War. His son, Arata, has a significant amount of talent with the blade, and bears a burden of expectation from his family as a result. However, Arata wishes to be a poet far more than a duelist. He is not afraid of combat, he simply enjoys writing more (and has a great deal of talent for it). The two different paths before him leave him torn: his soul yearns to hold a pen, but his honor demands he follow the dictates of his Clan. He is a
handome youth with black hair and a nearly-perpetual worried expression.

He was saved by the PCs in the Spirit Realm and convinced to pursue poetry and battle equally.

Dragon:

Mirumoto Ukira - Ukira has been a noted prodigy of the Mirumoto dojo since he was a child. His undeniable talent with the sword is refreshing for the Dragon, who suffered great losses during the War Against the Shadow. He is a serious young man who takes quiet pride in his abilit but is concerned that he will not be able to live up to his sensei’s hopes. Ukira was originally fated to win the Topaz Championship, however, the actions of a returned spirit will thwart that destiny. At 14, Ukira was one of the younger contestants at the Topaz Championship, and he is not all that tall for his age, which makes his serious demeanor somewhat unsettling.

He was saved by the PCs in the Spirit Realm.

Lion:

Kitsu Shisou - There are few sodan-senzo in the Empire, and Shisou is the current sensei of his family’s most prestigious School. He takes great pride in being a teacher, and is constantly looking for more information on the lore of the Spirit Realms to pass on to his students. While he is generally polite and pleasant, when discussing the
things he knows about, he does have a habit of speaking in an almost lecturing tone - a habit developed simply from his duties. Shisou’s distinctive appearance is a result of his Kitsu ancestry, and he takes nearly as much pride in it as he does in his abilities.

Shisou's unusual abilities proved essential in recovering many of the samurai lost in the Spirit Realms after the death of Toturi Kaede.