Character Craetion Report: Isawa Tamotsu

By Nheko, in Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game Beta

Here is the first of the characters from our group (mine) basic version. I will post the rest as soon as I receive them. If I missed something please let me know.

Isawa Tamotsu (M), Phoenix Clan, Shiba Guardian, Fated Soul

Isawa Tamotsu is a jovial and promising yojimbo who’s driven to break the curse put on his family. Due the reckless behavior of his ancestor Isawa Takeshi, all of his male descendants are born without the ability to speak with the Kami.

Unbeknownst to the majority of people Tamotsu has attracted the spirit of Takeshi himself who apparently have suffered enough for his actions and wants to remove his curse from his descendants, albeit his own way, much to Tamotsu’s display.

Fortunately for Tamotsu, Takeshi wasn’t the only one who took interest on him, the powerful nemuranai Jyuzumaru awakened the day Tamotsu’s gempukku and selected him as his owner.

He is very social, quick to make friends and enjoy to share laughs and stories with a hot cup of tea. He is also devout, strait that he picked up from his great uncle, Tetsuo, and likes to visit every Fortune Major Temple he comes around, as long as it doesn’t interfere with his duty.

Recently he started to have recurrent dreams were he sees a samurai-ko wearing a blue kimono walking ahead of singing a tune he doesn’t recognize. The land is burned but wherever she walks it turns green and grass sprouts from the ashes. He calls for her but she continues to walk and sits on the ground near a brook with running blood stained water.

After she sits the ground around her comes back to life with grass, and flowers. After she touches the water it turns cristal crear. And is in this place that she turns but when she is about to show her face, Tamotsu wakes up.

Part I: Core Identity (Clan and Family)

1. What clan does your character belong to?

Phoenix

Ring Increase: +1 Void

Skill Increase: +1 Theology

Status: 30

2. What family does your character belong to?

Isawa

Ring Increase: Fire

Skill Increases: +1 Meditation, +1 Theology

Glory: 44

Part II: Role and School

3. What is your character’s role and school?

Shiba Guardian

Ring Increases: +1 Earth, +1 Water

Skill Increases: +1 Courtesy, +1 Fitness, +1 Martial Arts [Melee], +1 Meditation, +1 Tactics,

Techniques Available: Kata, Shūji, Rituals

Starting Techniques: Lord Shiba’s Selflessness, Striking as Water

Honor: 45

School Ability: Way of the Phoenix

Starting Outfit: Ashigaru armor, travel clothing, daishō (katana and wakizashi), naginata, traveling pack, 5 koku.

4. How does your character stand out within their school?

Empathy

Ring Increase: +1 Air Ring

Part III: Honor and Glory

5. What is your character’s duty to their lord?

Giri: Support the Crab and Scorpion against Shadowlands.

6. What does your character long for?

Ninjō: Break my family’s curse.

7. What is your character’s opinion of their clan?

Tamotsu firmly believes in the precepts of the Phoenix clan and has sought to uphold them whenever possible. He gains +5 Glory.

8. What does your character think of Bushidō?

Tamotsu staunch supporter of the Righteousness tenet of Bushido. He gains +10 Honor

Part IV: Strengths and Weaknesses

9. What is your character’s greatest accomplishment so far?

Distinction advantage: Karmic Tie (Void) - Kuni Akemi

10. What holds your character back the most in life?

Adversity disadvantage: Haunting (Void) by his ancestor Isawa Takeshi

11. What activity makes your character feel at peace?

Passion Advantage: Tea (Void)

12. What concern, fear, or foible troubles your character the most?

Anxiety disadvantage: Intolerance (Water) - Spirits

13. Who has your character learned the most from during their life?

Mentor: Isawa Tetsuo (henshin, great uncle). Tetsuo means wise man.

1 Mentor Advantage: Sixth Sense (Void)

14. What detail do others find most striking about your character?

His deep black eyes, and jovial demeanor.

15. How does your character react to stressful situations?

Start counting mantras using his prayer beads.

16. What are your character’s preexisting relationships with other clans, families, organizations, and traditions?

None. He just passed his gempukku with honors earning him a prestigious position to serve under an Imperial Magistrate.

Part VI: Ancestry and Family

17. How would your character’s parents describe them?

Jovial, witty, hardworking, social and tea connoisseur

18. Who was your character named to honor?

Named after Shiba Tamotsu, famous Yojimbo who sacrificed his life in order to prevent an assassination attempt on the Emperor’s cousin, the shugenja Seppun Masami.

Roll 2 d10 and check heritage table: Famous Deed

+3 Glory. Other Effects: Jyuzumaru, sacred, durable katana.

19. What is your character’s personal name?

Tamotsu, which means protector.

Part VII: Death

20. How should your character die?

There is no death, but eternal glory in Yomi.

Isawa Tamotsu (M), Phoenix Clan, Shiba Guardian, Fated Soul (out of gempukku)

Rings: Air 2, Earth 2, Fire 2, Water 2, Void 2

Skills: Courtesy 1, Fitness 1, Martial Arts (Melee) 1, Meditation 2, Tactician 1, Theology 2

Techniques available: Kata, Shūji, Rituals

Starting Techniques: Striking as Water, Lord Shiba’s Selflessness

School Ability: Way of the Phoenix

Glory: 52

Honor: 55

Status: 30

Equipment: Ashigaru armor, travel clothing, daishō (katana (Jyuzumaru) and wakizashi), naginata, traveling pack, 5 koku .

Distinction Advantage: Karmic Tie (Void) - Kuni Akemi

Passion Advantage: Tea (Void)

Adversity Disadvantage: Haunting (Void)

Anxiety Disadvantage: Intolerance (Water) - Spirits

Mentor Advantage: Sixth Sense (Void)

Derived Attributes:

Resilience (Water Ring + Earth Ring) x 2: 8

Focus (Fire Ring + Air Ring): 4

Composure (Earth Ring + Fire Ring) x 2: 8

Vigilance (Air Ring + Water Ring) / 2: 2

Void Points: 1

Giri: Support the Crab and Scorpion against Shadowlands.

Ninjō: Break my family’s curse.

Edited by Nheko

nice character and back-story. But why Sohei? Sohei are warrior monks attached to a temple.

Edited by Nitenman

Thanks Nitenman!

Well it was more a description of his behavior than his assignment. His “gruncle” Tetsuo influenced him so much that he sometimes acts like a monk. I will remove it to avoid confusion.

Edited by Nheko