I decided to start my own play by post campaign for L5R to scratch the RPG itch in preparation for the LCG's release next year (and hopefully word of an RPG release at some point). I also saw a thread about what makes L5R cool. I thought I'd provide a campaign log of our game to: 1) show people what I think is cool in L5R and 2) to get any advice/feedback from other GMs/players about ways to keep the PC's lives interesting.

This campaign is structured around the Naishou Province supplement released at GenCon 2013.

I will try to not only include a summary of events, but also what I'm thinking as a GM to highlight how an L5R game may differ from a traditional fantasy game.

11 Akodo 1200 IC

Week 1: The last governor of the Naishou Province died leaving no heir. Further complicating the matter, the ruling clan at the time had neglected the province to some degree, which opened a window for the other great clans to claim that the province was not being properly cared for. Several clans have laid a claim to the province, and two, the Crane and Scorpion, are prepared to wage war on one another for the right to protect this land in the name of the Empress Iweko I.

The empress has dispatched one of her trusted advisors to oversee the province and to determine who shall be named stewards of Naishou. Governor Miya Ansho recently arrived in the Naishou Province, bringing with him his daughter Miya Iaimiko.

After several weeks of settling into the governor’s palace, Ansho hosted a welcome reception. He invited all the samurai in the province and all those delegates dispatched on behalf of their clans to lobby for stewardship.

Of note, the following samurai all appeared to present gifts to the governor.

First up, Seppun Midori, a shugenja (priest) who recently completed her gempukku (coming of age ceremony in Rokugan, where a child becomes an adult, typically chooses a new name, and is recognized as a samurai in their own right having mastered their school’s first technique). Midori, is favored by the Fortune Benten (the spirit of romantic love - dangerous concept in a feudalistic society where one’s lord is responsible for choosing one’s spouse) - (this is also our first PC with the concept of love/marriage in their advantages/disadvantages, we will see more of this soon.) Upon being presented to the governor, Midori offers him the gift of a diary by Seppun Hanako on proper government. After the three ceremonial refusals of the gift, the governor happily accepts the book, and Midori moves out of the welcoming line to mingle with the other samurai in the palace.

Next, a young samurai named Susumu Takashi presents himself before the governor. Takashi is a study in contrast. His family name, Susumu, marks him as one of the Spider clan, but his ascetic appearance and two-sword style suggest he studied niten with the Dragon clan. The simple man of two worlds offers the governor an amulet to the Fortune Jurojin (the spirit of longevity). The governor accepts the amulet saying, “ I hope your time here affords you many opportunities for reflection and self improvement.” Takashi is left to wonder if this is a dig at his Spider roots? An acknowledgement of his Dragon training? Both in one statement? Takashi then sees his cousin Susumu Oiji talking to a Scorpion samurai in a small room and moves to introduce himself.

Third, Hiruma Kenshin of the Crab clan presents himself to the governor. The Hiruma family have suffered much at the hands of the Shadowlands, from whence the Spider clan have arisen, and Kenshin is no different. He is: 1) the last of his immediate family, 2) commanded by his daimyo to marry and continue his family line, and 3) haunted by his grandmother to get married and have children. (Here again we have another PC with love/marriage in his background). Kenshin presents the governor with an exquisite jewelled fan. A wonderful gift that shows that not only are the Crab defenders of the Great Carpenter wall against the horrors of the shadowlands, but they are accomplished builders who can create magnificent things when given the opportunity - i.e. maybe the governor should let the Crab rule the Naishou Province.

After presenting his gift and stepping aside, Kenshin is stopped by a servant of the governor who tells him, “It truly is wonderful to have such an esteemed member of the Crab clan here in the province with us. The Governor once enjoyed the pleasure of meeting Kuni Shiyoda (another Crab samurai) soon after arriving in the province. Sadly he has not had the opportunity to see her since then. I am sure she is doing well.”

(This statement and the gift Kenshin presented the governor are meant to exemplify one of the most interesting things about society in L5R. Everything a samurai does sends a message and messages often have to be delivered obliquely. Most people can’t just walk up to the governor and demand their family be made stewards of the province at a formal welcome reception, and the governor can’t say that he is worried about Kuni Shiyoda without embarrassing her or the Crab. Instead, Kenshin gives a gift that shows the Crab would be great stewards, and the governor has a servant deliver a message that on its face conveys no worry or disparagement of Shiyoda, but clearly indicates to Kenshin that he should look into what is going on with her.)

After that, Shiba Souma, a Phoenix samurai apparently trained by Kenku (magical bird creatures who are expert swordsmen and clever tricksters) presents the gift of a shogi set (a chess-like game) to the governor. The governor happily accepts the set and hints that he would greatly enjoy meeting Souma’s master some day. Souma is particularly interesting because he is the only character who grew up in Naishou Province. The rest are all transplants here to represent their clan’s interests.

For Souma, this is not a coming out party as it is for the younger samurai seeking to make their mark, but more of a coming home party. It also means that he is more likely to run into someone from his past than the others, and that happens almost immediately. He hears a voice calling his name and turns to find a childhood acquaintance, Moshi Tsuko. (In L5R the standards expected of children and adults are similar, but different. By having two characters that knew each other as children, and then were separated by a period of time and now are getting to know each other again as adults, we can play with some of these things that would have been acceptable as kids, that they cannot do now as adults.)

Meanwhile, Midori, our young shugenja, has wandered through the governor’s palace looking for someone interesting to talk to, or hoping someone interesting would talk to her. She wonders why her clan would send her to Naishou as she is a shugenja and not a courtier. (Her Touched by Benten and Voice advantages tell me why, so I try to play that up at any opportunity. She is a naturally gifted diplomat, though untrained in courtly ways. What do we do? Match her up against the most trained of courtiers). Kakita Seisho, a Crane clan courtier trained in the Doji school, approaches Midori while she admires a statut in the garden. Midori and Seisho do a little bit of verbal sparring feeling each other out, when he acknowledges her potential and, again obliquely, offers to help her saying, "You appear to me to be a woman of great potential. I once knew a young woman such as yourself, but she doubted herself too much. She was young and curious and lacked only a teacher to show her the world. Sometimes I think of her, and wonder where she would be if she had taken my advice ..." (ok, this isn’t really that oblique.)

At that moment, Kasuga Hitsuko and her yojimbo (bodyguard) arrive on the scene. Hitsuko says, "If she had you for a teacher, I'm sure she would have attained the same level of notoriety as you have. I have heard it said that Kakita Seisho is known in every sake house in the province. I wonder if even our heavenly Empress is so well known." (Here we have the brash, somewhat offensive young courtier of a family associated with smuggling insulting in a backhanded way the polished courtier. This gives Midori a choice, who to side with?) Midori deftly defuses their conflict, but in doing so exposes herself as a player in the game and someone who could be a very useful ally or tool. (Seisho in particular has taken a keen interest in Midori and is already making plans to turn her to his cause.)

Meanwhile, cousins Susumu Takashi and Susumu Oiji are in a deep discussion with a Scorpion Taisa (military leader of a legion) named Bayushi Itaru. (I notice that Takashi has taken the Contrary disadvantage which requires him to make a willpower roll to avoid butting into any conversation with the opinions he holds.) Itaru politely asks Takashi who should rule in the province. Takashi fails his roll and begins to wax on about why the Spider should be placed as rulers in Naishou. He does this all the while Hiruma Kenshin has snuck in to overhear their conversation. (Kenshin and virtually all Crab hate the Spider and don’t think they should be allowed to live much less be a clan and have holdings. We now have a very interesting PC-PC conflict brewing.)

At that point, the PCs were summoned to dinner, and the first week of play by post ended.

Edited September 15, 2016 by cparadis