The Way of Honor, a Legend of the Five Rings campaign

Game Master EltonJ

"Here we are, remember don't introduce yourselves as Emerald Magistrates," she says.

What does the place look like?

It's a simple, five room cottage. Mostly it's long, and the roof was thatched. There is a front door made of rice paper. You can sense that there is a fire inside. The yellow orange of the fire can be seen against the rice paper. The door slides open, and there is the person you came to see.

He has black hair, but is balding. He has beady eyes, sunken cheeks, and a gaunt body. He's wearing a green kimono with red flowers on it. He is also wearing sandals. He looks to be about fifty years of age, his hair has a few grey hairs in it.

"Asako, who are these people you brought?" he asks.

Matsu Niko waits to see how she is introduced by Asako as she bows to the old guy.

Matsu Niko waits to see how she is introduced by Asako as she bows to the old guy.

Asako said, "They are here to help us. It's about the river."

Matsu Niko bows to the old man and says, "My name is Matsu Niko. My colleague and I are here to respond to your summons. What would you like to tell us about your river proposal?"

"Fishing the river has been a past time for us for generations," the old man explained. "It has not only have been Crab territory, it used to be Scorpion territory. We won the right to fish on the river in the last five hundred years. Now some Emerald Magistrates gave the river back to the Scorpions. When we found out that this was the case, we sent a Kuni Shugenja to plead our case."

Matsu Niko smiles and says, "Well, your Kuni Shugenja did not do that. He attempted capture the Daimyo and all of his guests including the Emerald Magistrates and well lost his head for it. What I can see is this territory has a goblin problem and more specifically a lack of communication problem. I am a lioness first and all of this chicanery and subterfuge is for the birds. As I have said to your follower, Asako, earlier, information giving us more details about your request or complaints would have been better served to your Daimyo or to us before a deal was made. Had your Shugenja spoke to us instead of trying to bewitch us, we would have listened and amended the deal but that was not the case. Old Man, I am Matsu Niko, current Topaz Champion and we, myself and Miramuto Dai, are, in fact, the Emerald Magistrates who brokered the deal to swap the river for the mine. So I suggest you speak quickly and concisely."

Her thumb softly clicks her Odachi a mite up out of its scabbard, in case this goes sideways or Dai wants to kill this man outright.

Ettiquette 5k2+3 5d10 ⇒ (4, 8, 2, 3, 5) = 22 13+3 =16

I'm going to wait on Dai's response before posting his response. You maybe right, Dai might not hesitate to take his head.

I am not sure why we are talking. Maho Tsukai is a death sentence. Since he has admitted it I kill him and anyone working with him knowingly.

Dai will strike down the evil man.

Iaijitsu+Reflexes 4k3: 4d10 ⇒ (3, 3, 7, 8) = 21 18.

Katana Damage 5K2: 5d10 ⇒ (5, 9, 1, 5, 3) = 23 14 damage

The blood speaker is cut down, but still alive. He's on the floor of his cottage, bleeding out.

Matsu Niko attacks Asako, lion's roar Kenjutsu 7k4 7d10 ⇒ (8, 5, 4, 2, 10, 4, 7) = 40 exploding 1d10 ⇒ 2 = 32 doing 4k4+ 4d10 ⇒ (8, 7, 7, 5) = 27 +16.5 = 43.5

I was talking to get him to admit what he did plus to see if there were anyone else there.

Matsu Niko attacks Asako, lion's roar Kenjutsu 7k4 7d10 ⇒ (8, 5, 4, 2, 10, 4, 7) = 40 exploding 1d10 ⇒ 2 = 32 doing 4k4+ 4d10 ⇒ (8, 7, 7, 5) = 27 +16.5 = 43.5

I was talking to get him to admit what he did plus to see if there were anyone else there.

Well, Dai attacked before he could admit what he did. You're attack was enough to cut off her head.

He said he waited until he admitted it.

He said he sent the shugenja who used blood magic. I see that as an admittance of guilt.

I concur

Well, what do you do now? Go back to the next of kin and tell them the news?

Take the head of both of them to daimyo. I guess.

"We should look around and see if there are any tainted items here. It would be bad for the eta sent to deal with the bodies to find something and restart the cult." Dai says as he starts looking for any signs of dark tomes or other blood cult items.

Investigate + Perception 3K2: 3d10 ⇒ (8, 2, 9) = 19 17 total.

"We should look around and see if there are any tainted items here. It would be bad for the eta sent to deal with the bodies to find something and restart the cult." Dai says as he starts looking for any signs of dark tomes or other blood cult items.

[dice=Investigate + Perception 3K2]3d10 17 total.

Might as well burn the house down.

You find three dark tomes. Their titles are encoded.

After removing the heads from their bodies, Matsu Niko says, "We should dispose of these books, shall we burn them?"

Intelligence 2k2: 2d10 ⇒ (4, 9) = 13 13 Total

I do not have Law, I am not sure if we would turn this over to the local lord or the Emerald Magistrate as evidence of the cult or if we would burn it, but I am checking to see if I ever heard anything about how to handle this. I am not sure if that roll tells me anything though.

[dice=Intelligence 2k2]2d10 13 Total

I do not have Law, I am not sure if we would turn this over to the local lord or the Emerald Magistrate as evidence of the cult or if we would burn it, but I am checking to see if I ever heard anything about how to handle this. I am not sure if that roll tells me anything though.

You cannot recall what to do in this instance.

Maybe you should try lore shugenja? That could give you some cultural reference to the law in this case or how "contagious" these evil artifacts are or something.

Lore Shugenja+ Intelligence -Fukurokujin’s Curse +5 to TNs on Lores 3k2: 3d10 ⇒ (2, 3, 10) = 15 Explosion: 1d10 ⇒ 5 So that gives me a 18 but my Disadvantage will add 5 to the TN.

Lore Shugenja+ Intelligence -Fukurokujin’s Curse +5 to TNs on Lores 3k2: 3d10 ⇒ (2, 3, 10) = 15 Explosion: 1d10 ⇒ 5 So that gives me a 18 but my Disadvantage will add 5 to the TN.

Total TN of 19.

So you almost recall what to do in this situation. Instinct tells you to burn the books.

Niko sets them ablaze and then she puts their heads in sacks to bring back to the daimyo. She then says, "Let's go back to the daimyo."

Dai nods and takes one more look around to see if there is anyone lurking around and then follows after the Matsu.

Investigate+Perception 3K2: 3d10 ⇒ (7, 3, 2) = 12 Eh...10. Its unlikely, but if there are more cult lurking I take a moment to see if they are there.

Dai nods and takes one more look around to see if there is anyone lurking around and then follows after the Matsu.

[dice=Investigate+Perception 3K2]3d10 Eh...10. Its unlikely, but if there are more cult lurking I take a moment to see if they are there.

You don't see anyone else, except a dirty eta.

I figure we should hand the heads over and tell the daimyo and then afterwards we would meet the mother and I would send them to my aunt if they want a fresh start, knowing that if the we lion do not tolerate this kind of foolishness.

That works for me. Let's go.

Dai ignores the eta and continues on his way.

That works for me. Let's go.

Dai ignores the eta and continues on his way.

You are back at where you started. The villagers look at you carrying heads and marvel. They know by now that you are Emerald Magistrates, representing the honor and justice of the Emperor. The family you saw before did not expect you coming back.

Matsu Niko walks up to the mother briefly and says, "My offer still stands, I will send you a letter that you can take to our lands and can contact my Aunt. You daughter's master was a blasphemous lunatic and both got the Emperor's justice. I am sorry for your loss, it is sad that she had been manipulated in that way." She nods and continues towards the Daimyo's palace.

The mother cries for the loss of her daughter.

Workmen are clearing away the earth that the Kuni Shugenja had conjured. It would take days, certainly. The Daimyo is waiting for you in his palace. He wants news if you managed to take care of the bloodspeaker cult in his domain.

"We believe we have found the source of the corruption and destroyed him and his foul knowledge with the followers we could find. It is possible that such scum who would follow one such as he may have gone to ground though. You should be vigilant in case it springs up once more." Dai says.

"We believe we have found the source of the corruption and destroyed him and his foul knowledge with the followers we could find. It is possible that such scum who would follow one such as he may have gone to ground though. You should be vigilant in case it springs up once more." Dai says.

"I'll petition the Hida about sending some clan magistrates to look into it further," says the Daimyo. "Although to be sure, the Crab are mostly defending the Kaiu Wall."

You gain 1000 glory for this.

What does that equal in Adventure Points?

What does that equal in Adventure Points?

4th Edition doesn't mention Adventure Points. So I say roughly 500 Adventure Points.

Matsu Niko says, "We would like to send another missive to the capitol. But other than that, I think we will make our way back to capitol soon."

Matsu Niko says, "We would like to send another missive to the capitol. But other than that, I think we will make our way back to capitol soon."

"Of course," says the Daimyo. "Would you like an escort to Scorpion lands, none the less?"

Matsu Niko say, "We would not like to inconvenience you if it is not necessary."

"I work hard to keep the roads clear," says the Yasuki Daimyo. "I know you are capable Samurai. But I feel better if there was an escort."

Matsu Niko says, "It will be an honor to ride with your men."

Matsu Niko says, "It will be an honor to ride with your men."

"They can take you as far as Scorpion lands," says the Daimyo.

"Thank you for your kind offer. I am sure we will appreciate their company." Dai says.

"Thank you for your kind offer. I am sure we will appreciate their company." Dai says.

The Yasuki Daimyo smiles and claps his hands. Two other crab samurai appear. "Take these two as far as Scorpion lands," he says. "You are also to help protect them from bandits."

Matsu Niko dons her armor and follows the Crabs as far as the Scorpion territory.

Make a perception test/roll. This is check to see if there is bandit activity in the region.

Perception 3k3 3d10 ⇒ (6, 2, 9) = 17