Thrilled to see Spooky back writing l5r fictions. One of my favorite names from the old game, for pretty obvious reasons here. Excited by some of the hints in this fiction. Very curious to see whats causing this spiritual imbalance, and how it might relate to Darth Dragonhat's wave prophecy.

2 minutes ago, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

You should be careful what you wish for, She could get Tsuruchi too

The Phoenix already have the most varied fashion in Rokugan. It might be hard to tell new from old

Hotaru "get" Tsuruchi?! Impossible! For Tsuruchi's end is already told! I'll share the story with you sometime...after I think it up.

1 minute ago, JJ48 said:

Hotaru "get" Tsuruchi?! Impossible! For Tsuruchi's end is already told! I'll share the story with you sometime...after I think it up.

But this is a new story, and I hear Hotaru is a great shot... idk if this Tsuruchi guy can keep up... lol

I love the level of descriptive detail provided in this story. It's likely that the writer is able to focus more on the visual ambience of the setting because most of the story presents Tsukune observing her surroundings, taking in the sights and sounds around the shrine and the ceremony. I think I'll have to look up some more stories from this writer, if they're written like this (and I would assume they are, at least to some extent) I have a feeling I'll enjoy them very much.

Can't wait for next week's card reveals. Might be having a change of mon...

1 minute ago, JJ48 said:

Hotaru "get" Tsuruchi?! Impossible! For Tsuruchi's end is already told! I'll share the story with you sometime...after I think it up.

Actually I thought Tsuruchi's previous death was exceptionally written.

The masters were holding their ceremony... deciding who would be the successor to the Shiba Champion...

Then the Fire Nation attacked!!!

Great story. I loved the suspense built from the inaction so that something you might consider a paltry display of power can be turned into a believable incident.

Just now, shosuko said:

The masters were holding their ceremony... deciding who would be the successor to the Shiba Champion...

Then the Fire Nation attacked!!!

You gotta feel sorry for that apprentice, I mean he's clearly well favored to be selected for the ceremony, and now all of a sudden he has to take the fall for the Fire Nation's shenanigans so the masters can save face and prevent a panic.

This was great. The Omen was pretty fun to experience. You had ONE job fire apprentice... ONE JOB!

The "chosen one who does not feel ready" plot line now seems to be shared by both Hotaru and Tsukune, as evidenced by her NOT dying by arrow to the face. I like her "Chosen by the sword" idea as well.

And Tadaka is pretty swell... 10/10 would open black scrolls with him.

5 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:

5 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:

I love the level of descriptive detail provided in this story. It's likely that the writer is able to focus more on the visual ambience of the setting because most of the story presents Tsukune observing her surroundings, taking in the sights and sounds around the shrine and the ceremony. I think I'll have to look up some more stories from this writer, if they're written like this (and I would assume they are, at least to some extent) I have a feeling I'll enjoy them very much.

Can't wait for next week's card reveals. Might be having a change of mon...

read the Sins of Father serial on Kazenoshiro.com

It's groovy

4 minutes ago, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

read the Sins of Father serial on Kazenoshiro.com

It's groovy

Sins of the Father was what made me love the OG Spider, that plot was so freaking complicated and awesome. Probably one of the best fiction series.

1 minute ago, shosuko said:

The masters were holding their ceremony... deciding who would be the successor to the Shiba Champion...

Then the Fire Nation attacked!!!

If only Nerishma had been there to warn them...

4 minutes ago, shosuko said:

But this is a new story, and I hear Hotaru is a great shot... idk if this Tsuruchi guy can keep up... lol

Yeah. Two arrows to kill a Champion at close range. Very impressive. <yawn>

When she can take out a bandit a mile away by firing an arrow that goes clean through his heart, bounces against a rock, snags his bag of money, and carries it back to the people he stole it from; then she may be ready for Tsuruchi to take her on as a pupil.

7 minutes ago, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

Actually I thought Tsuruchi's previous death was exceptionally written.

Oh, I have nothing against existing fiction. However, such a legendary figure should have many legends about him! If this leads to multiple legends of his ending, so much the better!

Just now, TheItsyBitsySpider said:

Sins of the Father was what made me love the OG Spider, that plot was so freaking complicated and awesome. Probably one of the best fiction series.

agreed

I hope to see more serial fictions in the future....or better yet NOVELS

So we have 3 new champions (Toturi, Hotaru, and Tsukune), 2 old timers (Kisada and Yokuni) and 2 still unknown.

1 minute ago, TheItsyBitsySpider said:

The "chosen one who does not feel ready" plot line now seems to be shared by both Hotaru and Tsukune, as evidenced by her NOT dying by arrow to the face. I like her "Chosen by the sword" idea as well.

Toturi also falls in that group of unworthy champions. This actually gives the 3 an interesting parallel. Hotaru became champion because of politics, Toturi became champion because of warfare and Tsukune became champion due to spiritual matters.

Also just tacking on, I REALLY like the way the FFG Phoenix mon looks. It's so beautiful...

1 minute ago, Ultimatecalibur said:

So we have 3 new champions (Toturi, Hotaru, and Tsukune), 2 old timers (Kisada and Yokuni) and 2 still unknown.

Toturi also falls in that group of unworthy champions. This actually gives the 3 an interesting parallel. Hotaru became champion because of politics, Toturi became champion because of warfare and Tsukune became champion due to spiritual matters.

Then we have 3 (presumably) experienced Champions...Kisada who is unreadable physically, Yokuni who is unreadable spiritually, and (assuming) Shoju who is unreadable emotionally. Interesting.

...and then there's the Unicorn. Weirdos.

Hands down my favorite fiction so far! Hell, between this and the Ring Manipulation playstyle that we've seen... I'm kinda considering maining as a Phoenix come the LCG - which was *definitely* not on my radar!

Also, I REALLY enjoyed the portrayal of the Isawa! It's probably my favorite portrayal of them, in general, in all of L5R fiction over the years. o_o

Seeing Spooky (my personal favorite L5R author) make a return to the game made me happy. Seeing how the Phoenix Clan chooses its new champion? Made me even happier.

Not quite enough to get me to play Phoenix, but still happy.

12 minutes ago, JJ48 said:

If only Nerishma had been there to warn them...

Yeah. Two arrows to kill a Champion at close range. Very impressive. <yawn>

When she can take out a bandit a mile away by firing an arrow that goes clean through his heart, bounces against a rock, snags his bag of money, and carries it back to the people he stole it from; then she may be ready for Tsuruchi to take her on as a pupil.

Oh, I have nothing against existing fiction. However, such a legendary figure should have many legends about him! If this leads to multiple legends of his ending, so much the better!

Including the 'legend' where Tsuruchi dies of dysentery in a whorehouse?

Just now, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

Icluding the 'legend' where Tsuruchi dies of dysentery in a whorehouse?

ESPECIALLY that one

5 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:

Then we have 3 (presumably) experienced Champions...Kisada who is unreadable physically, Yokuni who is unreadable spiritually, and (assuming) Shoju who is unreadable emotionally. Interesting.

...and then there's the Unicorn. Weirdos.

What do you mean by "unreadable physically" vs "unreadable emotionally"? I would have thought the former simply another way of stating the latter.

Unreadable is unreadable.

2 minutes ago, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

Including the 'legend' where Tsuruchi dies of dysentery in a whorehouse?

Oh, the Wasp love that one in particular. It gives them an excuse to do target practice on anyone foolish enough to tell it within their earshot.

Nice fiction, but now I'm really curious to know why the Elemental Masters wanted the shrine to partially burn enough to sacrifice a promising fire apprentice.

1 minute ago, JJ48 said:

What do you mean by "unreadable physically" vs "unreadable emotionally"? I would have thought the former simply another way of stating the latter.

Well we haven't had an official presentation of Shoju in the new fiction yet, aside from his knowing he wears that full mask and I've heard a little of his reputation. Kisada really gives nothing away though, I mean if you read the Crab story, the guy grunts and barely gestures and expects everyone to understand what he wants. The people closest to him seem to have learned to interpret him, but I would imagine he's far less understandable to those less acquainted with him.

Perhaps "inaccessible" is a better word for it, at least for Kisada and Yokuni. Obviously the jury's still out on Shoju, and who knows, maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.

2 minutes ago, JJ48 said:

Oh, the Wasp love that one in particular. It gives them an excuse to do target practice on anyone foolish enough to tell it within their earshot.

Note to Self

Borrow Kisada's armor

What about the story of Tsuruchi and the 'amorous bear'