Just now, Suzume Tomonori said:

I don't know what it is, but I feel like all of these fiction threads somehow eventually all go into Phoenix discussions at some point.

Phoenix or "the Lion Fiction was crap" tirades.

Just now, Suzume Tomonori said:

I don't know what it is, but I feel like all of these fiction threads somehow eventually all go into Phoenix discussions at some point.

It's fairly understandable,they have the most room for improvement over the previous storylines

1 minute ago, RandomJC said:

...You're a monster. I shant have a bad word spoken about a good grilled chicken.

You actually find me some I might change my mind

Just now, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

You actually find me some I might change my mind

I'm a southern boy, I could find you twenty good places that will grill you up a good BBQ chicken.

Just now, RandomJC said:

I'm a southern boy, I could find you twenty good places that will grill you up a good BBQ chicken.

Your in luck I happen to love barbecue ??

Just now, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

Your in luck I happen to love barbecue ??

...

*resists the urge to say that good BBQ is made on grills*

Just now, RandomJC said:

...*resists the urge that good BBQ is made on grills...*

As long as it isn't dry.

Only the English seem to like dry food

Just now, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

As long as it isn't dry.

Only the English seem to like dry food

You've had some *** grilled chicken if you've only had it dry...

3 minutes ago, RandomJC said:

You've had some *** grilled chicken if you've only had it dry...

Unfortunately there are many many people in the world who claim they can cook....who can't

obligatory L5R comment ;

I really didn't mind the Lion fic myself.

Just now, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

Unfortunately the a many many people in the world who claim they can cook....who can't

obligatory L5R comment ;

I really didn't mind the Lion fic myself.

I claim to cook food I like/can eat. Just know a lot of good restaurants. If you're ever in south Florida, I'll give you some of the best redneck/hick/southern places you can find in an decidedly un-southern place in the south.

obligatory L5R comment;

I'm pleased with them all so far, but admit that I'm easy to please and as long as I enjoy them I'm not looking for high art.

Just now, RandomJC said:

I claim to cook food I like/can eat. Just know a lot of good restaurants. If you're ever in south Florida, I'll give you some of the best redneck/hick/southern places you can find in an decidedly un-southern place in the south.

obligatory L5R comment;

I'm pleased with them all so far, but admit that I'm easy to please and as long as I enjoy them I'm not looking for high art.

I don't look at short game fiction with a critical eye. Especially not L5R, which I love.

It would have be absolute trash before I would even dislike it.

Just now, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

I don't look at short game fiction with a critical eye. Especially not L5R, which I love.

It would have be absolute trash before I would even dislike it.

*like*

It also helps I have no idea who any of these characters are, so it's real easy for me to not have to worry about preconceived notions.

3 minutes ago, RandomJC said:

*like*

It also helps I have no idea who any of these characters are, so it's real easy for me to not have to worry about preconceived notions.

I'm in the opposite situation.

These are characters (some anyway) I know well . I'm excited to see new stories with old favorites .

*like*

11 minutes ago, RandomJC said:

I claim to cook food I like/can eat. Just know a lot of good restaurants. If you're ever in south Florida, I'll give you some of the best redneck/hick/southern places you can find in an decidedly un-southern place in the south.

obligatory L5R comment;

I'm pleased with them all so far, but admit that I'm easy to please and as long as I enjoy them I'm not looking for high art.

South Florida....now I want a Cuban sammich

Someone has curved the topic until it has gone in a different direction.

3 minutes ago, Wintersong said:

Someone has curved the topic until it has gone in a different direction.

Does intentionally misspelling it count??

I take it Alsdiner (or whatever) means Golden Rose?

3 minutes ago, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

Does intentionally misspelling it count??

I take it Alsdiner (or whatever) means Golden Rose?

According to internet sources, it does mean Golden Rose in mongolian.

2 minutes ago, Wintersong said:

According to internet sources, it does mean Golden Rose in mongolian.

That's pretty cool actually.

(though I'm still going to deliberately misspell it...I gotta be me)??

still no likes. So *like*

1 hour ago, RandomJC said:

I'm a southern boy, I could find you twenty good places that will grill you up a good BBQ chicken.

You can't grill up a good BBQ chicken. That's like saying you're going to fry up a good grilled chicken. Barbecue and grilling are two different cooking techniques.

47 minutes ago, Daramere said:

You can't grill up a good BBQ chicken. That's like saying you're going to fry up a good grilled chicken. Barbecue and grilling are two different cooking techniques.

The difference is so minute. It's not the same as frying a grilled chicken.

1 hour ago, Wintersong said:

According to internet sources, it does mean Golden Rose in mongolian.

That is fantastic. This only further fuels my intent to build up Shinjo Altarleaver's reputation as the curvy mama of the Unicorn Clan. Strong enough to be a champion, curvy and beautiful enough that every man wants her, proud enough to give zero **** what anyone thinks of her as a single mom. Is it any wonder that Lion wanted her, even at the cost of divorcing his first wife?

22 hours ago, jcharpjr71 said:

MAHO

Backstory:

In the time before the fall of the Kami, the Tribe of Isawa were the first men to discover and practiced a form of magic. It relied in the worshipping of the Seven Fortunes with blood offerings to obtain their blessing (magic effect). It was primarily a ritualistic practice with many spellcasters joining together and contributing their blood in the effort. If the sacrifice was accepted, the Fortunes ordered the kami to perform the requested task.

The Seven Fortunes, in return, protected the Tribe and kept the practice of blood magic, known as maho, safe and free from corruption. This was a necessity since with the coming of Fu Leng, corruption spilled into the world and blood shed as part of the maho casting drew the attention of kansen. Kansen were elemental kami that had become corrupted by the power of Jigoku when Fu Leng punched a hole into Rokugan (the Festering Pit).

When the Kami Shiba saw the Seven were not wicked gods, he begged Hantei to beseech their mother Amaterasu to accept the Seven Fortunes among their pantheon and greet the Isawa as allies. She agreed, but only as long as the Seven Fortunes always watched over her mortal children of Rokugan. In spreading themselves over so wide a populace, the Fortunes could no longer keep the blood magic free of Jigoku's touch as they once had.

To compensate for the loss of magic, the Kami instructed the Tribe of Isawa in the practice of Elemental Magic, where humanity would interact directly with the kami instead of through a mediator. Unfortunately where maho could be practiced by anyone who knew the incantations and willing made the blood sacrifice, only those with a special gift to hear and speak with the kami could utilize this new method of magic. This greatly upset those who could no longer use magic, and many continued to practice maho heedless of the warnings (they had been using maho for years without problems). When caught, those practicing maho were cast out of the tribe, so maho sorcery became a secret hidden from society.

Kansen raced to the lands of the Isawa, eager to partake of the blood sacrifices. Soon, those who practiced maho began to notice changes. They no longer needed to sacrifice their own blood. Any human blood would do, and their spells were more powerful than they were prior to the birth of elemental magic as the kansen were eager to keep the blood flowing and overperformed the tasks asked of them (at least initially). In time, the kansen grew stronger on the blood sacrifices and were able to communicate directly with humans. Teaching them both new incantations (the Maho spells in the RPG guides), and instructing new tsukai in practice and incantations for the "normal" spells that the elemental kami provide.

In time, the connection between using maho and the taint was discovered. Unlike active taint (which you get by being in the shadowlands without jade), the taint aquired by maho is simply a side effect of dealing with the corrupted kansen. Following the death and dishonor of Kuni Nakanu, maho was finally declared illegal and its use was to be punishable by death.

This view also brings helps to outline the Phoenix distrust of Meishodo. They see all none elemental magic as maho, or a version of it. They have no understanding of magic (historically or currently) that does not included bargaining with either a Fortune or a kami. They cannot even perceive of name magic (as they have never been exposed to it). The Phoenix probably believe that the Iuchi have trapped a kami within their trinkets, and are forcing it to perform (like a master-slave relationship).

Not sure were this is from. only info I could find is

Maho

Maho is blood magic. It is fueled by the power of fresh blood and sacrifice, and draws from the sixth element: corruption. The use of maho Taints the users forever linking them to Fu Leng and Jigoku. It calls upon kansen, evil spirits of corruption.

History and Use

Maho was not originally a creation of Fu Leng, but of the Tribe of Isawa. Before the Dark Lord fell, the Isawa practiced blood magic that was clean, voluntary and pure.

When Isawa's followers realized maho would no longer be free of Jigoku's influence once they allied with the Kami Shiba, they foreswore its use.

It was centuries before the research of Kuni Nakanu elevated maho from a primitive arcane art to an evil, destructive force.

Maho-tsukai generally believed that they bent the forces of the Shadowlands to their will, but they were mistaken. The use of maho served Fu Leng, regardless of the user's intent. Tsukai were generally greedy and impatient shugenja, hoping to find a quick, easy way to immense power. Many believed that they could use maho only when necessary, completely unaware of its addictive nature.

Iuchiban

Centuries more passed after Nakanu's researches, when the sorcerer that would come to be known as Iuchiban unearthed the dark Kuni's notes. Iuchiban founded the Bloodspeakers, an organization of maho-tsukai and began making plans to raise an army of the undead to help him conquer Rokugan.

His immediate plans were foiled, but Iuchiban had also learned the secrets of immortality from the heartless Khadi. He was imprisoned only because he could not be killed, but he escaped centuries later and tried again. Once again, his plans did not bear fruit and once again he was contained, presumably for all time. Recently, he managed to escape once more, and the Bloodspeakers marched to battle throughout Rokugan and the Shadowlands, fighting for control of both until the Heartless was destroyed.

Casting Maho

To cast a maho spell the sorcerer would invoke a prayer to the Dark God Fu Leng and, in order to gain his favour they would also have to spill blood. It did not however always have to be their own but the more blood spilled the better. Any who would call upon this power would became corrupted immediately, with the severity of the taint dependent upon the complexity of the spell.

3 hours ago, tenchi2a said:

Not sure were this is from. only info I could find is

This was a backstory I whipped up for an RPG Adventure I was running. I never liked the way Maho was portrayed.

Maho

Maho is blood magic. It is fueled by the power of fresh blood and sacrifice, and draws from the sixth element: corruption. The use of maho Taints the users forever linking them to Fu Leng and Jigoku. It calls upon kansen, evil spirits of corruption. 1*

History and Use

Maho was not originally a creation of Fu Leng, but of the Tribe of Isawa. Before the Dark Lord fell, the Isawa practiced blood magic that was clean, voluntary and pure.

1* - Then how did maho work before the the Dark Lord Fell? How / why was it clean, voluntary and pure one day and driven by corruption the next?

When Isawa's followers realized maho would no longer be free of Jigoku's influence once they allied with the Kami Shiba, they foreswore its use.

Maho was usable by everybody - not just shukenja. Human nature being what it is, non-shugenja would not want to just give up their magic - so I added that to the story.

It was centuries before the research of Kuni Nakanu elevated maho from a primitive arcane art to an evil, destructive force.

Maho-tsukai generally believed that they bent the forces of the Shadowlands to their will, but they were mistaken. The use of maho served Fu Leng, regardless of the user's intent. Tsukai were generally greedy and impatient shugenja, hoping to find a quick, easy way to immense power. Many believed that they could use maho only when necessary, completely unaware of its addictive nature.

Iuchiban

Centuries more passed after Nakanu's researches, when the sorcerer that would come to be known as Iuchiban unearthed the dark Kuni's notes. Iuchiban founded the Bloodspeakers, an organization of maho-tsukai and began making plans to raise an army of the undead to help him conquer Rokugan.

His immediate plans were foiled, but Iuchiban had also learned the secrets of immortality from the heartless Khadi. He was imprisoned only because he could not be killed, but he escaped centuries later and tried again. Once again, his plans did not bear fruit and once again he was contained, presumably for all time. Recently, he managed to escape once more, and the Bloodspeakers marched to battle throughout Rokugan and the Shadowlands, fighting for control of both until the Heartless was destroyed.

Casting Maho

To cast a maho spell the sorcerer would invoke a prayer to the Dark God Fu Leng *1 and, in order to gain his favour they would also have to spill blood. It did not however always have to be their own but the more blood spilled the better. Any who would call upon this power would became corrupted immediately, with the severity of the taint dependent upon the complexity of the spell.

*1 - Again, how did it work before Fu-Leng? Logic dictates that this cannot be true.

12 hours ago, Kinzen said:

Except it has never once felt to me like a quicker path to power -- just another path to power that happens to corrupt you and make you an imperial criminal. I would like to believe in a story where maho is really a temptation, but for the most part it seems like a bad deal all around. In part because it keeps being attached to characters who, with a tiny bit more effort, could accomplish basically all the same ends without corrupting their minds and bodies and putting themselves at risk for execution. I would at least believe it more if the people selling their souls for those abilities were people who don't have access to them by safer means.

This is admittedly an RPG-influenced opinion: by the mechanics there, if you strip away the exterior trappings of maho, then fundamentally speaking almost everything it does is identical to stuff you can do with elemental magic, just with a different paint job. Cause damage, impose penalties, defend yourself, etc. I would pay good money to see rules that take several things away from elemental magic -- like mind-reading and messing with people's memories -- and make those what maho can do, because then I would actually buy the idea that someone would listen to the promises of the kansen in exchange for such power.

Agree with all your points. One idea I had was making maho more like pacts with demons from our western legends. You cast them to make yourself filthy rich, to indulge in perverse pleasures and vice or to send horrible curses to utterly ruin your enemies bloodlines. The important part is that you always have to make a deal with some sort of demon or connected with some sort of Cardinal Sin or Vice and you can't use it as "Cast Bloodier Fireball".

12 hours ago, Kitsu Seinosuke said:

I've always liked the interpretation that maho was banned for the same reason gaijin pepper was banned: it threatens to break the samurai caste's dominance.

Except maho corrupt your very soul and **** you to ****. So not a very apt comparison.

...and I like guns in my samurai-fantasy.

9 hours ago, Zesu Shadaban said:

Whatever it takes to keep this thread going off the rails. We already burned through curved swords vs straight swords, and maho is played out until other folks chime back in.

HEY GUYS, LET ME TELL YOU ALL ABOUT MY BLOODLETTING GREATSWORD!!!!1!!!ELEVEN

3 minutes ago, Mirumoto Saito said:

Agree with all your points. One idea I had was making maho more like pacts with demons from our western legends. You cast them to make yourself filthy rich, to indulge in perverse pleasures and vice or to send horrible curses to utterly ruin your enemies bloodlines. The important part is that you always have to make a deal with some sort of demon or connected with some sort of Cardinal Sin or Vice and you can't use it as "Cast Bloodier Fireball".

Except maho corrupt your very soul and **** you to ****. So not a very apt comparison.

...and I like guns in my samurai-fantasy.

HEY GUYS, LET ME TELL YOU ALL ABOUT MY BLOODLETTING GREATSWORD!!!!1!!!ELEVEN

......Not the gun thing again...??