The Book of Air - Flip eBook Pages 1-50 (2023)

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The Matsu Koritome Ronin/Scorpion Air Table Book:
White Deer content. . . . . . . . . . . 28 Silk promises . . . . . 56
INDEX
Introduction................................................. ............6 Shinjo Tarajin Ronin: Master of Games ......... ...... ............... ....57
in Shiro no Soshi. . . . . . . . . 28 airfields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
What's in this book? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Games on the topic of air: improv. . . . 8 The Foundation of Kyuden Doji. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
the clan of wasps. . . . . . . . . . 29 Shiro no Shōsur60
Responsive and adaptable layout. . . . . 8 Pale Oak Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Accepting player input. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 A Discussion of Kyuden Komori . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Rokugani bow and arrow.
Chapter One: The Eight Steps of Archery. 30 The gamemaster's toolbox:
war winds. . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The tools of archery. . . . . . . 31 cut scenarios. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
court and not player
The air and the forms of war. . . . . . . . . . . 12 uses of the bow and arrow in the empire. . . . 32
The Crane Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 archery fans from Rokugan. . . . 32 Characters (NPC) . . . . . . . . . . . 68
The Scorpion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 mannerisms in
The other clans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Tsuruchi family
the praying mantis. . . . . . . . . . . . 32 and out of court. . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Iaijutsu: The ultimate intrigue and indirect goals. . . . . 69
aerial martial arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 vassals of Koritome
The History of Iaijutsu. . . . . . . . . . 15 Matsu Family . . . . . 33 Third chapter:
Famous duels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Winds of Magic. . . . . . . . . . 70
Iaijutsu training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The Asahina Archers. . . . . . . 33
Crab: Unyielding The dragon's flame. . . . . . . . 34 The Ways of Air Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Blade Doj19 The Hiruma The Asahina des Crane-Clans. . . . 72
Crane: Der Kakita El Moshi des Mantis-Clans. . . . . 73
Duel Academy. . . . . . . . 20 crab family. . . . . . . 34 The Isawa and Shiba
Dragon: Shinjo Archers. . . .34 of the Phoenix Clan. . . . . . . . . . . 73
The Dojo Mirror. . . 20 The Falcon Attack. . . . . . . . . 35 The Soshi of the Scorpion Clan. . . . 74
Leon: Heart of the katana. . 21 The Order of Mercy of the Wind The Iuchi Travelers
Praying mantis: from the unicorn clan. . . . . . . . . . . 74
The Green Blade Doj21 and the Taoist Archers. . . 35 The Komori of the Bat Clan. . . . . . . 75
Phoenix: Air and the Way of Yarijutsu. . . . . . . . 35
Shiba Bushi School. . 21 air and the
Scorpion: Tale of the Spear in Rokugan. . . 35 Art of Illusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Bayushi Bushi School. . . . 21 types of spears. . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 The artisans of Asahina. . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Unicorn: Illusionists of Shiba. . . . . . . . . . . . 76
The Single Strike Dojo. . . 21 The Art of Yari-Jutsu. . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 The Legion of Mist
Ronin: Nanashi Mura - Follower of the Path of the Spear. . . . 38 (unleashed hurricane). . . . . . . . . 77
the eye dojo. . . . . . 22 Soshi Imposters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Imperial Families: The Boar Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Notable Uses of Illusion Spells. . . . 78
Das Saphirklingen-Dojo. 22 Der Vasall Tsume
The Art of the Duel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Mystical Communication
When a duel is justified, and Crane Family. . . . . . 39 air groups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
how to hire one. 23 Regular Daidoji. . . . . . . 39 The Ghost Legion Kitsu. . . . . . . . . . 81
mourning protocol. . . . . . . . . . . 24 Leon Elite Spearmen. . . . 39 Notable Uses of
The art of Shiba Bushi and Utaku battling communication spells. . . . . . . . . 83
Iaijutsu em Aktion... 25
Its consequences. . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Girls: The Naginata. . . 40 Revealing Mysticism
Ashigaru and the spear. . . . . . . . . 40 groups of air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Air and the Way of Kyujutsu. . . . . . . 27 Air and Unarmed Combat: The Sisters of Holy Light. . . . . . . 84
The Story of the Way of Kaze-d42 Asahina Cartographer of the Heart. . . . 85
Archery in Rokugan. . . . . . . . . . . 27 The Story of Kaze-d43 Notable Uses of
Notable Cases of What is the Art of Kaze Do? . . . . . 44 Enhancement Spells . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Archery in Rokugani history. . . 28 air and free form
Action RPG. . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 secrets in the wind:
A Natureza do Ar Kami. . . . . . 88
Chapter Two:
judgment winds. . . . . . . 46 Elemental and Air Imbalances . . . . . . 90
Air imbalances in living beings. . . . . . 90
The philosophy of air in dishes. . . . 48 air imbalances in objects. . . . . . . . 91
political organizations
do ar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 O Kami do Ar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Crane Clan: Communion with Air Kami. . . . . . 92
The Innocent Doji. . . . . . . 50 Kami of Seductive Air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Crane Clan: The Daidoji Air Kami and other spirits. . . . . . 92
commercial advice. . . . . . . . . . 51
Skorpion-Clã:
Los Corruptores Shosuro. . . . 52
Einhorn-Clan:
The Hand of Peace. . . . . . 54
Spider Clan:
The dark whisper. . . . . . . 55

Chapter Four: Emma-O no Shinden. . . . . . . . . . . 148 The Ghost Legion Kitsu. . . . 180 The Book of Air
lighting winds. . . . . 94 Friends and Enemies: Denizens of the Legion of the Mist. . . . . . . . . . . 180
The Illusionists of Shiba. . . . . . 181 INDEX
Monastic air and traditions. . . . . 96 Kyuden Kurogane Hana. . . . . . . . 149 imposters from Soshi. . . . . . . . 182
The Order of the Wind Yasuki Jin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 The sisters of
(Kaze-no-kami)......96 Doji Ronshouk150
The monks of the four temples. . . . . . . . . 98 Daidoji Ninku. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 the Holy Light. . . . . . . . 182
The Order of Mercy of the Wind. . . . 99 Kitsuki Rinjin. . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Eyes of Fukurokujin 100 Ikoma Kazue 153 New Air Spells 153 ... 182
Yoritomo Gendou.. 154 Bendición de Air Kami.. 182
The Guardian of Air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Asako Nishi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 arrow flight. . . . . . . . . . . . 182
The Book of Air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Shiba Akik156 Air Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Shosuro Miek157 Defender of the Afterlife. . . . . 183
Chapter Five: Bayushi Kyogi. . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Elementary Figure. . . . . . . . . 184
The World of Air. . . . . . . 104 Go Bujun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 pigeon flight. . . . . . . . . . . 184
Chuda Natsuk160 freedom from the air. . . . . . . . 184
The air in nature. . . . . . . . . . 106 Suzume hin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Funeral Rites . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Air as the "breath of life". . . . . . . . 106 Toku Irui. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Facing Your Demons. . . . . . . . 185
Air as an agent of the weather. . . . . . 107 Otomo Hiroshi. . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Gathering Whirlpools . . . . . . . . . . 185
Environment Hisa163 Distorted language. . . . . . . . . . . 185
climate effects. . . . . . . . . . . 108 Howl of Isora. . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Heat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Tales of Kyuden Kurogane-Hana. . . 164 Look into the soul. . . . . . . . 186
Cold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Penetrating the sky. . . . . . 187
wind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Appendix: quietude no ar . . . . . . . . . 187
precipitation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 New mechanics. . . . . . . . . 171 Inquiry into Hato-no-Kami. . 187
storms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Finding the Path . . . . . . . . . 187
Mist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Chapter One: Tides of War. . . . . . . . 171 Soul of Kaze-no-Kami. . . . . 188
Crane Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Tenjin's ear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Air as a human tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 The Asahina Archers. . . . . . . 171 touch of air grace . . . . . . 188
Navigation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 crab clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 The voice of the wind. . . . . . . . . 188
casting and forging. . . . . . . . . . 112 Crab Defender. . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Whispers of the Forgotten . . 188
Dragon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Hiruma Snipers . . . . . . . 172 moon wind. . . . . . . . . 189
paper constructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Crab Clan/Hawk Clan. . . . . . . . . . 172 Dreams Born of the Wind . . . . . . 190
Falcon Strike. . . . . . . 172 Wisdom of the Kami. . . . . . . 190
Music: The Voice of the Air. . . . . . . . . 115 Praying Mantis Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
types of musical instruments. . . . 115 Master Archers of Tsuruchi. . 173 Fourth Chapter:
Play instruments. . . . . . . . . . . 117 Scorpion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Saigo's blades. . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 winds of enlightenment. . . . . . . . .190
Clan and otherworldly unicorn creatures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
air beings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Unicorn Yomanri Archer. . . 173 New inner air Kih190
Air-related assets. . . . 118 Brotherhood of Shinsei/Ronin. . . . 174 Eye of the Eagle. . . . . . . . . . 190
Other supernatural Taoist archers. . . . . . . . 174 The vision of the wind. . . . . . . . . 190
Beings associated with air. . . 119 Kaze-do Fighters . . . . . . . . . . 174
Mundane creatures of the air. . . . . . . 121 new aerial kata. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 New Air Combat Kih191
North Wind Style. . . . . . . . . 175 Calling the east wind. . . . . . 191
Nemurai from the air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 South Wind Style. . . . . . . . . 175 Thunder's Guilt . . . . . . . . 191
Winds of Creation: Air and New Game New Rules Options: Hurricane Palm. . . . . . . . . . . 192
bow and arrow shots. . . . . . . 175 Touch of the Storm. . . . . . . . 192
Mechanics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
air magic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Chapter Two: Biting Winds . . . . . . 177 New Mystical Air Kih192
Nemuranai Air........130 Kranich-Clan....177 Inaris Wut.
air katas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 The Innocent Doji. . . . . . . . 177 Beats of the Wind . . 192
Schools and aerial techniques. . . . . . 131 The Daidoji Business Council. . 177 Word of Thunder. . . . . . . . . . . 192
There is Scorpion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Chapter Six: The Shosuro Corruptors. . . . . . 178 New schools for monks. . . . . . . . . . . . 193
adventure winds. . . . . . 136 The Unicorn Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Order of the Wind. . . . . . . . . 193
The Hand of Peace. . . . . . . . 178 Order of Mercy of the Wind. . . . . . . . 194
A setting for adventure. . . . . . . . . . . 134 Shadowlands/Spider Clan. . . . . . . 178 eyes of Fukurokujin. . . . . . . . 194
The Story of the Dark Whisper. . . . . . . . 178
Ronin/No Alignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 new flight themes
Kyuden Kurogane-Hana.
Origins of a Palace: The Iron Promises of the Geisha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 tattoos by Ise Zumi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
The game master. . . . . . 180 cloud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
The flower changes its tone. . . . 137 whisper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Kyuden Kurogane-Hana today. . . 139 Chapter Three: Winds of Magic. . . . . 180
Notable locations in the Shugenja New Ways. . . . . . . . . . . 180 Mechanical option:
Kyuden Kurogane-Hana 140 Os artesãos de Asahina 180
Outside. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 fused tattoos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
The main cemetery, Seto Palace. . . . . . 146
Chapter Five:

The World of Air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Kazekein Oni......196
Yosuchi no Oni......196
do not . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Tsuru, Spirit of Chikushud1
Wyrms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

Book of Air Kakita Saburashi is in classic Dueling Crane stance, sword hand resting on the hilt of his katana as he
he watches his opponent with steely concentration. His white hair is tied up in a high bun with a few loose strands.
whip in the icy wind. In front of him is Mirumoto Kanjo in a frank and almost casual pose, his swords
already pulled and secured loosely at the sides. His gaze seems distant... possibly even disinterested.

The two duelists clash for an immeasurable moment. Is it a minute or an hour? occasionally one of them
easily changes posture, moves a foot, raises or lowers a shoulder.

Someone in the audience mutters under their breath, wondering when the duel will begin. Saburashi's student leader responds
high-pitched whisper: "It's already begun."

Eventually, Saburashi slides one foot forward slightly, and the sand crunches under his sandal.

Then he moves, his sword breaking free of his saya in a slick of silver. Kanjo runs to meet him, both
Swords are raised and there is a loud crash and a shower of sparks. A blink of an eye later, the two men face each other.
field, back to back. Bright sparks still hover in the air between them where their swords slowly met.
disappear as they approach Earth.

Mirumoto Kanjo slowly gets up and puts his swords away.

Kakita Saburashi lowers his own sword and stares in disbelief at the cut staining the left sleeve of his kimono red.
"The perfect hit," he whispers in disbelief. "How…how did you…?"

6 Welcome to The Book of Air, the ultimate reference book
para o RPG The Legend of the Five Rings, 4.
Introduction The chapters in this manual cover the following:

Edition! This book represents a new concept for 4th Chapter One: Tides of War
Edition, and is the first in a planned series of five
Books that explore the emerald realm of Rokugan. This chapter deals with the martial arts that are
through the perspective of the five elements associated with air. Obviously, the most notable of these
The Rokugani believe that they make up all of Reality: Air, Earth, Fire is Dueling Iaijutsu, and a significant amount is devoted to the chapter
water and vacuum. Each book will add depth to the discussion of history, lore, etiquette and physics.
World of Rokugan and new mechanical options for its dueling nature. Other air-related combat issues
Campaign L5R 4th Edition. They are also discussed, including archery, spear fighting, and
the famous dragon martial art known as kaze-do – “the

way of air.”

What's in this book? Chapter Two: The Winds of the Court

The Elemental series of which The Book of Air is the first, The World of Court and Politics is heavily Air oriented;
You will explore Rokugan: its culture, its people, and most importantly, it would be fair to say that Rokugan politics is
Their samurai traditions, from the perspective of the five He, were dominated by air far more than any other element.
ment. Each book will see the Empire through the prism. This chapter looks at the methods of these political clans.
of this element, examines how it affects everything, and the groups that rely most on the ways of air - un-
from fighting styles to social interaction, magic and understanding the feelings and needs of others and how to use them
Mysticism. these for their own purposes. He also discusses some notable
political groups whose philosophies like air
oriented, as well as a number of prominent castles in the
Empire whose courts are ruled by air.

Chapter Three: Winds of Magic

There is no part of Rokugan that is more dominated by nature.
nature and properties of the various elements that
the study and practice of Shugenja magic. this chapter
discuss these groups of Shugenja in Rokugan that pay

the air book

7

introduction

pays special attention to the element of air and also includes Chapter Six: Kyuden Kurogane-Hana
a comprehensive review of prime air use and value
Spells Finally, the chapter provides a detailed discussion of The final chapter of this book provides a complete campaign
the kami of the heavens themselves, their nature and behavior, and centered on court intrigues and social interactions.
their interactions with the other elements. Action: the affairs of the air. Kyuden Kurogane-Hana comes from-
signed as a "generic" lock that can be placed anywhere
Chapter Four: The Windlands of the Lighting Clan, allowing the GM to easily adapt it for use in
any campaign or L5R era.
Samurai aren't the only people in Rokugan who study
the elements up close. This chapter provides an overview of Appendix: New Monastic Mechanics
Orders (famous and obscure) whose traditions are revealed
a strong focus on the air paths. He also looks to the US. The appendix has a variety of new mechanics based on it.
The age and social impact of the great Air Kiho, I miss him from the previous six chapters, including a variety of new
mystical powers that are a special province of the ways of the broth, two new orders of monks, a variety of new air spells
Shinsei district. and Air Kiho and several new air-oriented creatures.

Chapter Five: The World of Air

This chapter deals with several different aspects of air
in the life of Rokugani, which ranges from the mundane –
weather, fly a kite, sail, the supernatural, for-
Melodies, creatures and magical artifacts.

Games on the topic of air: reactive and
Improvisationelles adaptives Tracing

If the GM decides to make an impromptu game,
One aspect is the willingness to "let go"
portion control. The GM must be willing to change plots

Delete arguments and start new anytime, go back to

Act on the actions and decisions of the players. It means that

Most roleplaying games follow a traditional structure. Sometimes the GM really needs to drop a story
where the GM prepares an adventure in advance and then chooses to continue or pursue a story he finds
Pass through the player characters. The GM will look less interesting.

perhaps a concrete plan for how the adventure will unfold. This can be frustrating even for the most innovative.

with some contingencies to cover the most obvious change, but there's another side to this issue: just like that
the native paths that PCs can follow. Some execs will plan that GM might be forced to drop a planned story, hey
his adventures in great detail, trying to anticipate everyone to introduce new elements into the story
possible choices the PCs can make, identify, and describe at any time, and this can be a good way to remap ideas
this didn't work before. A creative GM can let players
any NPC, and so on.
Change the graphic to solve the original problem, but later
There is absolutely nothing wrong with designing a new problem created from unused ones.
detailed and complete adventures, and indeed part of the first ones.
Many successful RPG campaigns followed
Assuming the player characters are working.
Model. Pre-generated adventures and organized congresses.
Action-based campaigns like Heroes of Rokugan also tend like the yoriki of a magistrate in a big city. strange news
The Book of Air follows this pattern as in your adventures a monk arrives in town preaching a heretical branch.
read and performed by many different GMs and many different Shinsei philosophies condemning the samurai caste
player groups. Likewise, certain types of scenarios are considered unfair. Soon, many of the common people embrace
Mysteries, for example - require much more detailed planning, the monk's strange ideals and are increasing
You must ensure that the various clues and plot elements fit together uncomfortably. The PCs face a dilemma. If they don't
perfectly together. Let's take a look at this type of detailed monk who is quite capable of causing a riot. But the Lord of your
Planning 8 adventures in the next city from Books of Earths is very pious and will not listen to your suggestions

Introduction and Fire. that a holy man should be executed for sedition. Furthermore, if

However, it's not the elaborate and detailed planning that kills the monk, it could very well trigger the same thing.
only way to start an RPG. GMs who feel rebellious want to avoid.

Relying on their creative powers, they can choose to follow the path. Players, however, are creative: they

the air and be more open and free when it comes to some mutual allies kidnapping and offloading the monk.
his campaigns using only loose plot outlines and a list of him on a merchant barge heading to another city. The
of NPCs. The GM tweaks the plot on the fly, adding the appearance of monks to take the wind out of the rebellion.
Trace elements and NPCs in response to candles (or give up) and things quickly settle down. The GM who had
Player actions and decisions. This allows the adventure to plan a full set of challenges that build on it.
It constantly grows and changes in response to the growing restlessness of commoners, who silently curse the crest.
creative approach... but a few months later the PCs discover
Interaction and new ideas from GM.
of merchant ships going up the river. looks like the monk
Of course, this option is not for everyone. Some GMs started a real peasant revolt in the countryside, and
They'd rather have the "safety net" of an advent - their army is heading in that direction...
Nature's design to support you. To run free-

form of play, the GM must be prepared to relinquish this certainty

Extensive player input network. In return, the GM gains significantly more flexibility and

can always adapt his adventures to those of the players

actions and decisions. This approach can work particularly well. A creative DJ should always look for opportunities to
Well, in a campaign that follows the open world, Relationship: Integrate players' actions, ideas and decisions in the
Map character-based ships or models (as described in your campaign history, but this is particularly important
pages 294-296 of the L5R 4th Edition Core Rulebook). Within an air-type improvisation game. In an improvisation-
On the other hand, an improv game doesn't work as well, the GM must be actively looking for ideas.
whether in an epic campaign or a location-based campaign, by the players and freely adding to the story, where-
both tend to require more careful planning. As always possible. In a properly run game of this type
Epic, the GM must have a strong, overarching storyline that players will often contribute as much as they can.
The PCs can follow their predestined destiny while being immersed in a local story like the GM himself.
Action based game, GM must plan the location

and its inhabitants in detail before starting to play. One of the temptations the DJ must avoid

An improvisation game is the impetus to protect the key action

Lines or NPCs "cheat" through an adaptation of the classic L5R adventure The Book of Air
on your behalf in several ways: Night of a Thousand Screams, originally published by AEG
Inflict additional wounds on a villain in 1998. During a cutscene, player characters (Hunting for 9
or reject an action that the trail of an angry oni) find a small NPC, a half-
he would be defeated, for example, by a senile old man who is the retired father of a prominent figure
Ple, or Creating an act like Noble Crane. The old man asks the PCs for a game
will go where the GM goes and reveal an important clue as the game progresses
he will, no matter what the PC clue is, which he seems to have found by accident. it is
could do. In a planned chamber, I wondered if he really is senile or if he is really cunning.
Paign, which focuses on an ancient and insightful samurai.
I shoot mercilessly and carefully
Dramatic Confrontation Developed In the original adventure, this is the end: the PCs
gen, such tricks can work and the old man, a "disposable character", is
be forgotten to some extent. But we made another jam
to ensure that the entire campaign and players kept coming back and visiting
GM's hard work doesn't make the old man play go with him over and over again,
degenerate. (Although, when trying to figure out how he found this clue himself, this possibly
scheduled game, by order of the GM, so that everyone else would lose. They were soon convinced of this.
Rescuing NPCs and saving stories, he was actually much more than he appeared, maybe a retiree
it must be done with care and Harrier, who kept his old ninja equipment hidden in his room.
In moderation, if not the game- So I finally decided that was it
The old man quickly becomes frustrated and comes up with new arguments.
with a game where they come back to haunt their hidden past. One all
little more than a bystander.) The story grew out of this NPC just because of the game
ers were interested in it and wanted to deepen it
But in an improvisation of her personality and backstory.
game, this type of manipulation should be avoided
as much as humanly possible. The focus of an experienced Air-A-GM is on these contributions. Even in
The nature of the game is that players can change the plot as easily as a highly planned game that the GM shouldn't be afraid of.
Like the GM, a GM who wraps his NPCs in "plot armor" lets in some air to play with, so players and creatives alike
you violate it. This means the GM can't always be trusted to spontaneously take the game in new and exciting directions.
some of the conventional story development methods. Your campaign will be better for it.
Player development and motivation as a recurring villain
Mastermind that constantly thwarts the PCs' plans. At the
an improvised game that pcs can pick up and take
Defeat the villain in your first plot! But the counterpoint to this
This problem is the big advantage that players get
They invested in the game themselves when they saw your ideas
and decisions become part of the game world.

Sometimes this approach can add quite unexpected things.
Depths of the GM campaign. NPCs in particular can
unfold in unusual and exciting ways when the GM wants them to.
Accept player contributions. Support for example
Suppose the GM has a small NPC in his cutscene, a
quirky artist whose only intended role is to add flavor
to the game. In one scene, the GM lets this NPC speak
another more prominent NPC who opposes the player
Characters. Suddenly players are convinced of this
This little artist is actually the mastermind villain that
is responsible for all your problems. In a normal game it is
The GM would ignore this distraction and the players
Finally, forget the little artist and haunt him
real villain the GM wants them to fight.
But in an impromptu game, the GM might assume that
Players create and reassign their seemingly innocuous artists as
the author of all pc problems.

To give another example, consider something that happened
written in one of my own campaigns. the players ran

Chapter One Tides of War

10

Chapter One

Chapter One

11

Daidoji Kirasi entered the clearing with his arms. Kirasi bowed slightly like a samurai would bow to one from Tides of War.
outstretched, it shows empty hands and the peaceful valley station. "Thank you for your consideration Hojaro-
Intentions Young Crane's dyed white hair was San. I came to stop you so you can
visibly disheveled as dirt and dust smeared his pale face, accused of banditry and murder of Clan samurai. I
armor, but the simple daisho on his belt was clean, it's preferable to do it peacefully, but if he has to come to a competition
impeccable grip wraps. Kirasi stopped a few meters behind the arms, I'm ready to face him."
clearing and called in a clear, calm voice, "I am
Daidoji Kirasi, Honorable Emerald Magistrate's Yoriki "Did you hear she wants me to go with her?"
Shinjo Kobara. I am here to speak peacefully with the summoned ronin." Hojaro grinned widely, displaying a rich yellow.
Hojaro who was once known as Kakita Hojaro." Teeth set low. "As if that girl could make me come
By another way. The other thugs continued to look down.
The clearing seemed to come to life as two ronin stepped forward, their eyes darting between their leader and the crane.
bleeding around an almost extinguished fire. One grabbed Samurai-ko at the edges of the clearing. Hojaro snorted
He pointed a spear menacingly at the young Yoriki, glared at her, then turned to Kirasi. "Well, take off your clothes -
while the other quickly drew his saya's sword. pouty lips You want me to accompany you and I don't want to
Her eyes darted between her and the small stall nearby…obviously. How about we fix this the old-fashioned way?
the fire. way, the way of the crane? You and me, a tie, winner
lives, the loser goes to his ancestors.
After a few moments, the shop door opened and an old man
A man in a dirty blue kimono came out. He looked at Kirasi and nodded slightly, his face serious and tense, and
well into her fourth decade, but her long hair was still styled in a flat bow. "As you say. A duel, therefore. she
black except for the old white paint strokes on the last one. He took a step back and placed his right hand on the hilt of his
six inches or more. Her face was smudged with dirt and grime, Tana, she widened her posture slightly, her eyes narrowed as if
and disdain twisted his face as he looked at Kirasi. she knocked out everything but her opponent.
Finally he laughed. "I think I can talk to you before
kill you girl The other two ronin looked at each other. The older man sneered as he stepped in front of him.
uneasy, but he backed away and raised his weapons. her, her own hand on the hilt of her sword. "Very good attitude.
Did you learn that at the dojo last week? It won't save you.
His thumb pressed against the tsuba, releasing his sword.

Tides of war is saya. "When I killed the last magistrate they sent the Man in Black, he nodded to Kirasi." I said
I thought I was safe from then on. Perhaps it was stupid for them to enter the clearing alone.
Stop wasting lives after your body is healed.”
Daidoji Kirasi tore a strip of cloth from his kimono.
Young Yoriki said in a low voice: "And when my predecessor began to bandage his injured leg,
Ser killed all of his men before they ambushed him and stopped the bleeding. "Perhaps, but he wouldn't have you-
For a long time I thought you were going to fall. I think he deleted me if he hadn't. I would have run away again, and this time we
We were both disappointed." He might not have been able to track it down.

The two duelists faced each other for a long time. A young man came out of the trees holding a bow.
At an almost imperceptible signal, they both withdrew, painted yellow and black. "I don't think so, Kira-san.
Blades that gleamed silver in the afternoon sun. In an accident, I would have killed him before he could get away.
The moment they crossed paths, their swords were still firmly in their hands.
the last pose of his attacks. "Anyway, it worked," the young Crane shrugged. Is it over there
He turned to the only ronin alive. "As far as I know, you
Hojaro's smile lasted a second. Then her face went sagging and she did nothing but choose the wrong man to serve. We
as it fell to the leaf-covered ground of the clearing. Kirasi knows that Hojaro hasn't committed any banditry since then.
he staggered for a moment, then fell to his knees; long recruit. You can go, Ronin. To run. And remember, yeah
A wound has shriveled your left leg, blood has soaked your blue, you follow your master into a life of banditry and murder,
hakama As she fell, the other two ronin stepped forward; You will suffer the same fate as him. you can't escape
Ward, the one who raises his spear to attack. Justice."

A whistle cut through the air and an arrow flew from the trees. The ronin nodded and gulped as the bushi scorpion
in a flash of yellow and green. The shaft bit into itself and he backed away, sheathing the knife. the ex bandit
the ronin's throat The bandit dropped to the ground and fled the clearing as if the wolves were close behind him.
wildly, gargling the last with bloody lips. His comrade stopped long enough to pick up a bundle of clothes.
He looked around fearfully and waved his sword as if he wanted to.
ward off the spirits Then he froze as a knife touched his back. As he made his way through the trees, the young archer
A man in a simple black kimono and mask stood behind him and called out to him with a laugh in his voice. "You can not
him and put the end of his tanto into the bandit's kidney. Run faster than my arrows!

12

Chapter one Air and the time has come, calmly and subtly holding on
Forms of war that affect the perception of people around you, friends and
equal enemy. So when it's time to act decisively,
The air element is volatile and unpredictable. You can cross the battlefield in a storm of violence,
soft and subtle like a whispered child's prayer, or so loud and thunderous that it pushes aside all who stand in its path with ferocity and fury
violent as the roar of a hurricane engulfing a shore.
village. Normally, when you think of samurai, what better way
exemplify the philosophy of air, which is more reminiscent of Crane duelists and stealth warriors
of courtiers. Those who serve on the court best embody the Air in Scorpio philosophy.
the ways of the air and their methods and approaches on the battlefield, but there are factions within each clan that follow
they are discussed in Chapter 2 of this book. However, when going down the air paths one way or another.
The way of air can be the way of subtlety and stealth, yeah
it can also be quick and decisive and sometimes irresistible. The Crane Clan
word destruction. Therefore, the warriors of these clans are
closely follow the philosophy of Air are often dismissed as "One man, one sword, one stroke. All other styles
and underrated. They tend to show reluctance until they are fake."

– Kakita Furagami

The philosophy of Garça do Ar owes its origins to one of the
Founder of the clan, the man named Kakita. when he got married
Lady Doji and joined the young crane clan
with him a unique philosophy of life and struggle, a philosophy
Philosophy he refined and perfected throughout his long life.
He articulated most of his views in his treatise The Sword,
and the Crane warriors followed their philosophies
methods since then.

The modern Crane are the recognized The Scorpion Clan Chapter One
Great masters of the art of Iaijutsu,
the samurai style of dueling "Don't look at my sword, fool. The blade you make 13
Employing the Empire to solve unseen problems is the deadliest.”
non-salaried. dueling Iaijutsu is on many winds of war
Sages the epitome of phi-martial - Bayushi Akusai
Air's philosophy, but not the only one
The Scorpion clan closely follows the air philosophy taught to the Crane-Bushi.
under the air path. Even as a kid, mainly because it goes so well with directing
Crane Samurai is taught by his brother Hantei to look after their founder, Bayushi.
not just what they realize, but that the Scorpion clan had to do what others cannot,
also how they feel about the things that protect the Empire. Bayushi himself said:
Come and listen They are instructed to use "Historians will one day write great stories about the life of Akodo".
Perception and feeling for Doji's bravery and charm as we who lurk in the shadows
Create a complete picture of the events that will be the villains in your stories. Liar and Liar:
around them. This union with yours will be our role. Lurking in the shadows, silent
Feelings mean that many cranes fly invisibly around the world, illustrates Scor-
Rivers are also artists. They channel the pioneering approach of the Air philosophy. while the crane
The intensities they feel on the battlefield illustrate an immaterial awareness and sudden violence.
In other activities, when the struggle does not come from an unexpected wind, Scorpio personifies stillness.
in sight There was a lot of light and stillness, which are also essential parts of air. Such as
Crane warriors who were so well known that it's impossible for the Rokugans to build a container for them
for his poetry or painting as if it were his craft is totally hermetic, so it is impossible to maintain that
On the battlefield. Scorpio to learn any secret that might put theirs
Thoughts to be Discovered These are the indisputable thoughts of the Empire.
Of course, this type of training can be a double-edged master of stealth and subterfuge, and this isn't just reflected
Sword. Excessive awareness of what they think and feel about their courtly activities, but also about the way they wage their wars.
All this sometimes pushes the young crane samurai to learn to fight. Where other Rokugani samurai can do
they indulge in whatever makes them feel more intense, lashing out at their foes with the unbridled fury of a
An obsession with art or music, for example, or a series of
passionate romances (which even include non-Rokugani
idea of ​​falling in love), etc. there is a reason
why Crane has a more prominent role in rock plays
Power and loss, and it's not just more playwrights
they are Crane himself. Inevitably those of lesser strength and
honorable characters sometimes follow their impulses
unhealthy and shameful acts such as drinking, opium
abuse or gambling.

Fortunately, such excesses are rare. Most Crane Samurai
use the skills they learned in childhood to become active
to the empire and its clan. Your meditation study.
and iaijutsu focuses and disciplines the feelings, allows
and exhorts them to maintain their intense consciousness of their survival.
spinning and reacting with almost inhuman speed. It is
Sensitivity isn't just limited to duelists, of course; The
It also helps make daidoji one of the best yojimbo in the world.
Empire and help doji courtiers feel the flow of court.
and trades faster than its peers. crane
Archers are also known for their dedication to perfection.
Awareness that goes hand in hand with an intense dedication to the air. you guys-
However, Eling remains the most essential and basic form
in which the crane follows the path of the air.

An excerpt from The Sword

To observe without moving the eyes, to sharpen the mind and body, the empowerment of the sixth sense must be practiced and refined.
to gain full control over one's mental attitude. In time of peace as in time of war, the attitude must be the same: refined, noble and disciplined.
Determine the truth from the outside in: look into the distance and sharpen your mind until you find the truth in all things. even if the body
is at rest, the mind must be controlled and in a state of concentration. Walk the path of different arts and skills, expand your knowledge of the world and
Don't be fooled. If your mind is strong, your mind will never be impaired by your physical condition, even when you are exhausted or in pain.

is closer to the Scorpion clan.
While the warriors of
The Crane clan uses its incredible
Hurry up to try to knock her down
enemies with perfect soil
strike, prefer Hiruma
meets your enemies many times,
take her to the street
the wind and water slow but
inevitably wear away into stone
until it collapses inside
The Beginnings of the Empire
The Hiruma were sometimes named
(somewhat disdainfully) Um-
cos Mingbird-Krieger
They never appeared on
same place or from where it can be attacked
the same place in battle,
instead of constantly moving
and get it right every time
saw an opening no matter how
klein.

moderne hiruma waren

War winds forced even the air to embrace

closer because of the loss

from their original school for more than

Forest fires, the inevitable threat of a tsunami, or even three centuries and development

unstoppable force of a falling avalanche, the scorpion of its successor, the Hiruma Scouts. the discoverer
follow the Air philosophy even more closely than your
14 approaches combat with the quiet subtlety of a gentle breeze.
Predecessor. They flow like a stillness over the lands of shadows
Chapter One Philosophers say that a single movement of a breeze, little disturbing, but of great influence
The butterfly's wings can cause a breeze that will gather and fight against Fu Leng's forces. Hiruma's Scouts
build until it becomes a typhoon. It's that subtle manipulation: it also hits fast and unpredictably, but unlike hum-
The accumulation of minor events turns Scorpio's courtiers into small warring birds who also try to blend in.
effective, but Scorpion Bushi also follows this philosophy. each strike without giving your enemies a target to attack. What
If they can calmly organize death from a headwind, they try to escape the clutches of their enemies and
General, before they have to openly confront him, tell him to keep coming back to fight them.
as victory, although there was no struggle. if a scorpion

Bushi apparently misses a step while moving towards an enemy,

is probably the first of many subtle actions designed to do just that.

T M Outsmart your enemy and ultimately lead him to total victory. Your
el antis lan

Clinging to the finer philosophies of the air is what leads an archer to trust the air enough to drop his weapon.
Bushi-Scorpio is so unpredictable in battle that he hovers over her to be aided, or sometimes hindered, by her power.
very dangerous. Like the wind they mimic, it's impossible. Also, archers don't just rely on their projectiles.
to know in advance in which direction they will blow.
wind, but the true art of archery in Rokugan is largely a

A Matter of Instinct A Rokugani archer does not aim his

The other clans shoot like a gaijin but pull and release the gaijin
Rope in an almost continuous movement, instinctively

know when to release the arrow to hit

While the crane and scorpion are the main clans that are targeted.

Most exemplify the Air philosophy, there are families. No family in the Empire follows the path of the bow

and schools among many of the other clans more closely knit than the Tsuruchi. The Archer Masters
The understanding of the air path is almost as complete.
The Tsuruchi family has its own instinctive reflexes,

Awareness of how the wind blows, how far

The Crab Clan's arrow will land at a certain distance, that and countless
Other factors that can affect an arrow's flight are

The Crab Clan's Hiruma schools combine a fight that everyone immediately feels and reacts to without having to
ultrafast philosophy, which some might consider for conscious thinking. In its own way, this illustrates the
more characteristic of the Crane clan warriors, with an aerial philosophy as perfect as an iaijutsu punch.

an understanding of the practical need for secrecy that

Iaijutsu: The Ultimate War, sometimes these tribes adopted a more peaceful and
Fighting Art of Air coded method to resolve their differences, such as
Tests of skill or one-on-one fights to the death. for 15
"Some men will tell you of their duels as if the fights in all tribes were often very much alike, in each of them.
They counted stones on the beach. i cant do this Tribe I had its own individual rules and traditions and some Tides of War
I don't know how many duels I fought and completely refused these competitions.
I can't tell you how many breaths I took. AN
Count them, dishonor the mighty who fell. When the kami fell, they too chose a way out.
Stands before the sword and instinctively settles their differences without war and celebrates the tournament
in some planned duels it is a kami's natural art to determine who would lead and guide them.
The one that must be practiced before anything else comes from the first emperor of Rokugan. historians are not clear
and one whose reward for perfection has nothing to do with the rules of this tournament, though everything
more than life itself. Wielding a sword should be like agreeing it was a fight. No one is sure how
natural as being alive. The sword must live within what was officiated, what weapons were allowed, what battles—
Is it over there. The stalls are your march, and the pace of styles was allowed, or as judged, but that
Swing is the talk of a warrior. Honor is the cultural impact on the hearts of countless successive generations, each of them
of dueling: the breath and blood of the sword.” offer their own plays, poetry and art to commemorate
the great tournament, took many modern Rokugani
- Believing from the introduction that this was actually the first Empire Empire contest.
to the Iaijutsu of The Sword of Kakita. This may be taken as evidence of how deep
The concept and ideals of Iaijutsu permeated Roku.
To most in the Empire, Iaijutsu is nothing more than the Gani culture, as it is in fact the first recorded master of the
traditional ritual for resolving honor disputes without recourse – iaijutsu, kakita, did not appear until many years later
to start the war. In truth, however, Iaijutsu is a very strong Tournament of the Kami.
little more than a Rokugani version of rapiers at dawn or
a gunfight in the Wild West at noon. It is an art and hundreds of kakita are credited with truly introducing Iaijutsu.
the samurai come to see iaijutsu masters compete against rokugan during the tournament to choose first
Mutual. For fans, see a perfect punch from Emerald Champion. All accounts agree that Kakita was a
It's like listening to a great artist's last poem or eating a little man from an obscure northern tribe, but the prize is won.
the best meal a chef has ever made - it's tournament time and he's finally married Lady Doji. while you are
perfection that can only be experienced once, and so efforts to embrace the concept of "one man, one sword,
He's gone forever. For those who really try to master the art, a "hit" was instrumental in bringing practice
by iaijutsu, it's a way of life, something iaijutsu represents at the height of rokugani consciousness, hey
surrendering his entire being, knowing that he was probably not the only warrior practicing this style
never really control. the beginning of the empire, simply its most skillful
have The people of northern Rokugani
The history of iaijutsu tended to be smaller and more mobile than other
Parts of the future empire and developed as such
While the "one man, one sword, one punch" philosophy is a fighting style that relies more on speed and agility
it was practiced by the people of northern Rokugan who apply it. Many of them would go into battle with a
since the founding of the Empire, it has been used like a drawn sword to lure its opponents in the wrong direction.
official method of dispute resolution and apportionment of blame by complacency, as opponents would be closing in
it only came into wide use under the control of an iaijutsu fighter with a much less carefully sheathed sword.
for Hantei II than they would do to a man with a drawn sword, ax or spear.
Northern tribes also held ritualized duels to resolve conflicts.
Before the fall of the kami, each of the individual tribes fought, both among individuals and among tribes. it is
in the lands that became Rokugan had their own ways of being seen as religious rituals that demanded fate.
dispute resolution. Often these were martial competitions to judge the truth of the matter, and therefore the result.
in one way or another and generally corresponded to what was accepted as binding on both parties, an early form of
Traditions and tendencies of the tribes involved. A tribe of customs around which the Empire later grew
Great warriors who fought with axes could be tried in iaijutsu duel.
Fight with the same axes as a tribe of sailors
and the fishermen managed to settle the dispute with a race. When venturing south to join the Emerald Tour
fraudulent bank. In some regions, many tribes lived near Nament, nineteen-year-old Kakita was already a master at it.
with each other, and though their bickering often resulted in this open fighting style far superior to others in their tribe.
He was a child prodigy from his youth and studied
Martial arts with more intensity than many warriors do
they were twice or even three times his age. so when he arrived
in the Emerald Tournament, his Iaijutsu
the fight was incredibly practiced, fluid and efficient, and
easily defeating anyone he faced in battle, including
Lady Matsu, who was expected to win.

place, and many warriors would challenge
lead others to duels for the thinnest
offenses or just to test your powers
or eliminate a rival. Some samurai travels
led the empire and challenged others where-
was or acted as such
Champions The new laws have significantly reduced
this type of abuse and amplifies the
social conventions that the heron clan was
try to build the pain.

Tides of War In modern Rokugan it's iaijutsu duels
accepted everywhere as true, correct,
and honorable method of resolving disputes

Conflicts between samurai. Despite
Some clans still maintain their own
internal traditions - the crab-something-
Solve fights with wrestling
Combine that tsuruchi with a bow and arrow
competitions for the empire as a whole,
Iaijutsu reigns supreme. Due,
nearly every bushi in the empire has
learned at least the beginning of iaijut-
their duel so they can defend their honor when
called to it, and almost every clan can boast of it.
by at least some Iaijutsu masters who have dedicated themselves
art all your life.

As news of Kakita's great victory spread across the country
Empire, the Iaijutsu style caught everyone's attention. ev

The famous ambitious warrior Duelsery wanted to learn it. Some

16 just wanted to become more powerful or defeat a

Chapter A rival who had already learned Iaijutsu, but many - especially - "A duelist learns the limits of his mind and body,

Younger warriors especially, he himself admired Kakita too much to pass for a perfect moment."

and tried to imitate their skills and artistry. The Giant - Kakita Toshimoko, Kakita Dueling Master
He gained influence through his two positions as Em-

the master of achievement and his marriage to Lady Doji

Kakita to refine and spread your fighting style. There have been thousands since the foundation of the Empire
A few years after the first Emerald Tournament, many arenas were held for iaijutsu duels. Many of them were more trivial
of courts in the lands around Otusan Uchi were having cases, although they seemed to be at the time
they adopted iaijutsu as an official method for solving problems of great importance. But there were some who shook it off
Agreements and conflicts of honor. Of course, all cranes are the very foundation of the empire. the next section
likewise the courts and the new imperial court. However, Tion lists some of the most famous and important Iaijutsu.
It was during this early phase that most outlying farms and strongholds in Rokugan's history were dueled.
still did not accept Iaijutsu, mainly in the countries of

The Cancer and the Lion, where the warriors clung to their -

often more brutal – conflict resolution methods. Kakita vs. Matsu:
The first Emerald Tournament
Over time, however, the cultural influence of cranes increased.
and the dissemination of the first works such as those by Kakita

2nd Century Sword and Roman by Kakita Takamitsu Although this fight was not a traditional iaijutsu

The one-hit journey led to constant dueling, it was combat that first spawned the art of iaijutsu.

of Iaijutsu throughout the Empire and the growing attention of the Empire in general. Emperor Hantei

Art as an adequate means to resolve disagreements. announced a contest to choose a mortal warrior

When Soshi Saibankan and Doji Hatsuo codified the laws, their personal champion and bodyguard. absolutely samurai

of Rokugan in 153, Iaijutsu was officially adopted throughout the new Rokugan, which entered the competition unchanged.

as part of the legal system. In situations where there are many samurai who haven't followed any of the kami yet. kakita

the guilt was unclear, or where his honor lay, and reputation was one of the last. Your quick and unexpected fight

question, could he demand a combat testing style that would easily get him into the tournament,

with Iaijutsu. Laws also codified the rules for officials, although he showed respect for each of his opponents and

Duel (and therefore legal) that required the samurai to gain the complement of his skills. partially equal

permission from their masters before engaging in a deadly duel. He advised younger opponents.

Until then, duels of all kinds were the order of the day.

In contrast, Lady Matsu, a follower of Akodo, was looked down upon too much. Although Niten fans are still considering Chapter One
and teased his opponents while using his great strength and fighting method to be the best overall, they reluctantly-
and strength of personality to intimidate and overcome them. recognize the supremacy of the Kakita style in 17
Kakita was upset by his behavior and when he found himself in an iaijutsu duel.
Matsu decided in the end to teach him a lesson. Your tides of war
The fight was a clash of opposites. Matsu was a flurry of Ac- Hantei Yugozuhime vs. Hantei
Movement, Anger, and Attempts to Intimidate Kakita Soujiro: Duel for the Empire
then you could be wrong. On the contrary, Kakita was
an island of calm - and won the fight in a single flash. At the beginning of the 5th century, a duel decided no less than
Movement. Instead of bowing to the fallen lion as he bowed to the future of all Rokugan. For two generations, Go
to all his other opponents, Kakita turned his back on the Zoku conspiracy that eclipsed the Hantei Emperors.
her and left. Matsu was angry and vowed to control the Empire from behind the scenes.
geance, the beginning of the great feud of the lion and the crane, doing their bidding as two successive puppet emperors.
lasted a thousand years. When Hantei VI died in 435, the Gozoku was
ready to name his eldest son Soujiro as his successor. I eat-
Although this duel is best remembered for the blood as usual when Soujiro arrived in the capital of Otosan Uchi.
Hostility he generated, he is also famous for ascending the throne for the first time before his
the effectiveness of Kakita's one-hit style. Kakita, Yugozuhime's sister. Princess Yugozuhime has grown up
Imprisoned as the emperor's champion, he soon married Lady Doji among lions, who taught him the ways of honor and
and his fighting technique spread throughout the Empire. the true role of the Hantei as the undisputed emperors of
Rokugan. With the support of the lion and the dragon,
Kakita vs. Mirumoto Yugozuhime challenged her brother and called him a traitor.
Hojatsu: Two duels for his family and challenged him to face his sword in hand.
As Soujiro had not yet been crowned, he lacked that
This famous pair of duels from the first century consolidated the rank of iaijut to simply fend off Yugozuhime's challenge, with
its place as a prominent form of combat, but it also could not refuse the entire presence of the imperial court
He demonstrated that the Two Swords style Niten he created could pass without a catastrophic loss of face.
The samurai dragon Mirumoto was a powerful rival to Kakita.
Unique Sword Style. Yugozuhime and Soujiro mainly faced each other
The courtroom of Otosan Uchi with all the services of the empire
In the early years of the Empire, discussion was overseen by minor officials. Yugozuhime's sword hit quickly
The sword fighting style was more effective: Mirumoto's ni-y is true, and his brother dropped dead at his feet. she is-
Ten or Kakita single sword style - was an intense theme, indirectly claiming the throne as Hantei VII, and with the
both on the courts and in the dojo. Warriors often came after her with the lion strength that was the Gozoku Alliance.
Attacks whose sensei taught the superior martial art. dropped within a few weeks.
At the end of Kakita's tenure as Emerald Champion, the
The Emperor asked him to duel Togashi Nyoko's acknowledged master against Hida Raiden:
Niten style, son of Mirumoto, Hojatsu once determines the moment's edge duel
and to all which style was superior. the two swordsmen
The players faced each other on the field of honor without moving. During the reign of Hantei XVI, a Cancer warrior was named
It is unclear how long they fought; According to some legends, Hida Raiden emerged as one of the few crabs to actually appear.
They say they only lasted a few moments, others take hours or master the ways of Iaijutsu. That's how impressive his skills were
even a whole day. All accounts agree, however, that at the time his master gave him open permission to receive
In the end, the two men bowed to each other and walked away, nei-piring and challenging each duelist to a deadly contest and bringing them
another who dares to hit the other. to bring glory to cancer and intimidate those who can
oppose the plans of the Hida clan. in the dark kingdom
A few years later, Kakita and Mirumoto Hojatsu confronted Hantei XVI, such an act generated little censure, said Raiden.
last faced each other during a small skirmish that spread across Rokugan, fighting numerous duels and
between the heron and the lion. Hojatsu knew this could win them all. Over time, many duelists grew afraid
it would be his last chance to face the aging Kakita and he joined him, avoiding his attention, knowing he accepted it.
the lion as an advisor to face his old rival in the field of his challenges must seal his own fate.
Battle. As the battle raged around them, the two men
They collided and in an unspoken signal he crashed, all of that eventually changed when Raiden arrived in town.
but at the same time. Hojatsu died instantly, but Kakita Ryoko Owari Toshi to challenge Togashi Nyoko, a woman
he was mortally wounded. He called his son to warn him that he, too, was following the paths of the dead.
Hojatsu's sword said: "Finish the work your master started", Gashi's order, the art of forging swords and the path
and fell on the sheet. duelist. Raiden mocked their lifestyle, claiming it was impossible.
all three possible. Nyoko answered yes.
Though the second duel showed that a sword's style proved that all of its ways could work harmoniously, he found raid-
was marginally superior to Niten, both Masens' deaths on one of the city's bridges at dawn.
Ters showed that the difference was very small, and honorably
or that both men appeared in both games
He assured that his supporters would not allow the rivalry to

The duel started and ended instantly, Raiden fell Yakamo approached the duel circle, everyone could see him
with a deep cut in the abdomen. "Impossible," he panted, "he didn't bring his tetsubo, the club's favorite spike."
A live is so fast! Crab. When the duel began, Yakamo simply squashed Sat-
knock them down with the tetsubo and ended the match with a punch
Nyoko replied: “I live and I am dead; dead to the dragon's skull past. It was an unprecedented and carefree action.
and dead to the future for living in the moment respecting all traditions and dishonoring the cancer warrior.
Edge." Seeing the understanding in Raiden's eyes, he cut him off.
his head and ended his life before his pain could take him. As Yakamo was the son of the Crab Clan champion,
dishonor yourself. suffered little direct repercussion for his disdain for
honorable conduct. However, his actions caused a
Commemorating this legendary clash, the bridge was a bloody rivalry with Mirumoto Satsu's younger sister, Hitomi,
named the Edge of Moment Bridge, a name that would endure decades later. Even this enmity...
carries over to modern times, and the story of Hida Raiden's struggle will ultimately be responsible for the death of thousands and death.
with Nyoko is still remembered in Ryoko Owari Toshi. Ascension of mortals to the positions of the sun and moon.

Mirumoto Satsu vs. Hida Some scholars claim that Satsu lost the duel on purpose that a
Yakamo: Sword Against Tetsubo, a skilled swordsman and duelist, could never have lost his legitimacy.
friendly to a brute like Yakamo in a formal duel. After
The duel between Mirumoto Satsu and Hida Yakamo lives up to that claim, ordered clan champion Togashi Yokuni
he didn't remember because it was an honorable duel or satsu to lose for Yakamo to live and become the crab.
of art and beauty, but of the shameless Donner clan. The Crab Clan, of course, denies this claim.
Yakamo's disdain was shown for Rokugan's dueling tradition. completely. Whatever the reason for Satsu's loss, this incident
Dent remains one of the most egregious examples of cotton swabs.

Early 12th-century Hida Yakamo, son of the keeper of etiquette and dueling traditions in Rokugan.

Tides of War Crab Clan Champion, was accused of making inappropriate comments

the wife of Mirumoto Satsu, son of the Mirumoto family

AK Y H : daimyo and one of the best duelists of his generation. What
kodo aneka gegen asuki achi
T W N If it is customary in such situations, Satsu Yakamo offers
Opportunity to apologize for his actions, but the victory of the crab warrior without a tricycle

He refused, insisting that Satsu's wife was a liar. Consequently, not all of the Empire's famous and memorable duels
Satsu challenged Yakamo to a life-and-death duel to prove that they had dueled to the death. Some were the easiest.
18 the honor of his wife. Yakamo had no choice but to accept (some would say the purest) of the duel: a comparison of

Chapter One and the next morning the two faced each other in positions. So it was in 1159 when Yasuki
Ehrenfeld, with hundreds of witnesses in attendance. But like Hachi the Emerald Champion and Daimyo the Yasuki
family, alongside Akodo Kaneka, bastard son of Emperor To-

turi I, em Traveler Friendly Town in der Provinz

Yasuki.

The Empire was in the midst of a family crisis
than the Four Winds Era, as Kaneka denied

with his three legitimate half-brothers
to control the throne. proof
had arisen, which seemed to give
Kaneka a closer family bond
Connection with Yasuki's previous daimyo
(maternal)
Yasuki Hachi, dessen eigene Publication
as a daimyo he was a formidable source
already controversial. Kaneka had built
raised an army and won the support of
some of the clans, but unfortunately theirs
Mother was known to be a simple
sha, and much of the Empire laughed
in their claims. When Kaneka arrived
Yasuki territory to take control of that
lands he believed rightfully belonged to him,
Yasuki Hachi e todos os outros
The Fifth Imperial Legion rode to meet
for the. Kaneka and Hachi exchanged ideas
first praise and then insults,
each try one
Duel. Finally, Kaneka uttered an insult.
that made Hachi touch his sword -

Grip, an obvious challenge that Kaneka accepted immediately. Sensei nodded slightly as if addressing him. Chapter One
accepted. In truth, Hachi didn't want a duel, he wanted himself. Maybe he let out a little sigh, although that
He couldn't dodge the challenge without losing face, and the students couldn't be sure. "Iaijutsu is about more than 19
dishonors his office, himself, and his clan. He knew swords, my apprentice. It is the domain of
If he won the duel, he would kill one of his children body, mind and soul. Without this championship, Winds of War
The emperor, who would cause serious political damage, would never be able to understand iaijutsu, would never be more
to the crane clan and will likely turn the lion and crane into a brute fighter no matter how many hours
War. But if he lost, it would mean Emer's death. You practice with your sword. This year you start
As a Champion, you will relearn how to control yourself in a time of great political conflict. Next year, most students
causing immense political damage to the Crane clan. he can play bokken, and in third year
it's possible that... maybe... you can draw a sword. from
Hachi solved the problem following Crane's course, some students took longer
Clan is better - gave up minor issue to gain advantage and dominate self and can't use bokken
in the future. Kaneka expected the two warriors to make it to their third year and the swords to their fourth."
pull and one of them would die. Kaneka was one of them. The student gulped and the sensei let him.
one of the most feared duelists in the Empire at the time and a slight smile. "Are we going to focus on our breathing now?
had defeated dozens of enemies, including the previous Kakita, or do you want to wait four years before touching one
daimyo. Was Hachi an extremely skilled duelist with his own katana?
Well after overcoming everything he had faced in the Emerald Championship.
on the ship. Instead of drawing, Hachi asked Kaneka to show all the Rokugani clans how to teach their students the basics of iai.
it's your attitude. Kaneka was confused, but Hachi reminded him of the jutsu during their first training session. However, since then-
He shouldn't be all dueling to the death. Kaneka took on such an important role in Rokugani society with her jutsu games,
He got up and drank it with a liquid that Hachi knew he could make. There are several schools and dojos that teach the former art.
it doesn't match at all. Hachi then assumed his own pose, but just drew. Although these are more prominent in countries
with the awkward clumsiness of a first-year samurai, crane and dragon impersonator, small dojo teaching iaijutsu
the simplest of the Akodo kata. Subtly offended duels can be found in almost every clan. Naturally,
Kaneka with her drawing, Hachi bowing to Tojo's son - these dojos vary greatly in size, curriculum and prestige.
turi and withdrew from the field. Some are simply places where samurai train intensively.
basic iaijutsu skills, so they are not complete
Hachi's willingness to duel Kaneka without bloodshed is incapable of dueling if necessary. From others
Allowing both to faithfully serve the Empire for years, there are specialized schools that cater to specific groups.
come over. Nobody knows what would have happened if the samurai had taught his students enough about iaijutsu.
The Duel was different, but Defeat Dent should have a superior chance in a Duel. Of course
One or both men would have faced dire consequences, as there is Kakita Duel Academy, an entire school in
the Empire. that students live the art of Iaijutsu every day.

Iaijutsu Training The following section describes the most renowned
Dojo that teaches Iaijutsu duels. Of course "renowned"
Two dozen children waiting in orderly lines could mean something more to a clan like the Crab,
the polished wooden floor of the dojo. A middle ground where pain is seen as a necessary evil at best
An old man in a simple blue kimono stood in front of the crane or dragon where it looks like the peak
from them. "Today we learn to control our breathing," he says of The Art of the Warrior.
he told the assembled children. "Get ready my
Studenten." Crab: Unbreakable Blade Dojo

Smothered from somewhere near the back of the room. Few crab samurai are interested in learning.
Laughter came from some of the boys. Sensei has a lot to do with Iaijutsu. Disputes between crabs are common
The face didn't change, but he came running back and started a simple fistfight or drinking contest. serial
from the room, his eyes on the students. Conflicts or issues of honor can be resolved with a
like a hunter looking for prey. "Someone is having fun. Wrestling or semi-formal combat in full armor,
Please share this conversation with others with the weapon each fighter prefers. Nonetheless,
Great." Even within Cancer, there are people who understand that
the empire is something more than the wall and when
After a moment, one of the boys spoke. He was on the lands of other clans who had to adapt to them
immaculately groomed, dressed in clothing in keeping with the traditions of the rest of the Empire. This samurai founded
Despite the sobriety of the training suit, the Unyielding Blade dojo was infallible.
Apparently very high quality. His voice remained precise
With just the right amount of respect, nothing more and nothing less, The Unbreakable Blade is the only place the Crab can live.
"Sensei, we are here to learn how to duel. All you need to do is learn the art of Iaijutsu. There are very few students
has been teaching us how to breathe for the last week. If they are in the dojo at any given time, and most of them are samurai.
Can we use swords? The young man's eyes were made to serve as yojimbo for crab diplomats. Perhaps
she brightened anxiously as she said the last word. she pointed out, however, that there are even among crabs

who follow the path of dueling for themselves and many other clans. This is a great addition to
Every Crab Clan Champion spends at least part of the Crane, as it costs a lot to enter the Academy.
Time in dojo reward. But with so many visitors, it is often difficult for
the academy to protect all your secret techniques, and
Despite the crab clan's general reputation over the centuries, many aspects of these techniques survive.
By rejecting iaijutsu, Unbreakable Blade instructors appeared in other schools' training.
are surprisingly skilled and have spawned more than one
Notable Duelist, most famously Hida Raiden, whose last since being accepted into Kakita Duel Academy
Duel on Ryoko Owari is still in Emy's twelfth memory is one of the highest honors a samurai child can receive
Century. However, Sensei from Unbreakable Blade does not receive the competition to gain a spot within the school.
He understands that the crab's true strength is not in its intensity. Those who are successful must accomplish great things.
speed, but on its stamina. As a result, they teach their stuff in life. And the greatest of all honors is to be, again
Students who, while serving best first in a duel, are admitted to the academy later in life to train under the
Times when it's better for a duelist to throw the second punch. The Elite Kenshinzen, an award that distinguishes a samurai as a
Instructors make sure their students are kept alive by the best duelists in the Empire.
the first blow to strike the last.
The list of famous graduates of the Kakita Duel
Crane: Kakita Academy is very long and includes almost every Hantei.
Emperor of Dueling Academy and many of the Empire's greatest heroes, such as
as Doji Hoturi e Kakita Toshimoko.

"A skilled swordsman can defeat an enemy. A dragon:
A skilled master can defeat thousands.” The Mirror Dojo

Tides of War - Doji Hoturi, champion of the Crane clan, a sensei among the kitsuki, once asked his students, "What
12th century What do you see when you look in the mirror? everyone answered

"I see myself, sensei." The sensei said, "It's not true

Will the art of Iaijutsu and Kakita Duel Academy be seen in the rest of the world? Are you vain to think that?
inextricably linked. Did Kakita himself create the academy that sets him apart from the rest of creation? This lesson is
and most Rokugani believe anyone who truly wants to corroborate the Mirror Dojo's teachings.
20
to master iaijutsu you have to train there. However, the arc in the centuries since the duel between Kakita and Mi-

Chapter One Most Rokugan come with the Hojatsu Rumoto Duel Academy, which those who have studied Niten use
it has good and bad sides. Every year, thousands of two-sword techniques are used in duels in place of the crane.
Visit the academy and expect to catch a glimpse of the inside swing of a sword. In its own way, the dragon is still studying
He runs the greatest Iaijutsu school in the Empire, Iaijutsu as passionate as any other samurai, but his training-
true temple dedicated to art. The Academy's learning methods are also radically different from others.
receives thousands of requests to train clans every year. However, traditional iaijutsu dueling is a sword

he also taught in the clan, particularly among the kitsuki. Is it over there

I think it's important to know all this

It can be about those outside the countries of

Dragon to see the whole empire instead

just themselves. These students train

the dojo mirror.

No Dojo del Espejo the instructors
teach his students the art of Iaijutsu, and its
The most famous alumni are the Kitsuki Justicars
who use duels to aid in their quest for truth and
Justice. Sensei teaches them to recognize others
the duelists' stances and the patterns of their blows,
teach them to recognize what schools can do
attended and what weaknesses each school has
Believe in your students. Its graduates include
o preeminente duelista e magistrado Kitsuki Kaagi e o
famous duelist Togashi Nyoko who defeated Hida
Raiden em Moment's Edge-Duell.

It should be noted that the Mirror Dojo is
is not just dedicated to iaijutsu - according to his
philosophies, also teaches other unconventional
Weapons and combat techniques such as B. Heavy weapons
Sumai weapons and fights.

Lion: Heart of the Katana Isawa leads, duelists among them rarely reach a great Chapter One
fame, and when they become famous, they are usually not
Almost all Lion Bushi learn at least the basics of iaijut - to win duels. Shiba Toriiko, the Clan Champion, the 21st
So they could defend their honor if need be, they just put the lion and crane to shame in the battle for peace.
Few follow the art with true devotion, by Broken Daisho's career she was quite a skilled duelist, but she has returned from the war.
A soldier rarely allows such a personal commitment. Member for refusing to draw his sword when confronted
Those who can take the Kakita-Gosano forms of Iaijutsu in this area.
Normally the katana of the Akodo family trains in the heart
Dojo where the Akodo also train their famous scorpion: Bayushi Bushi School
Kensai Swordsman. While the heart of the katana is not
As only an iaijutsu school, amazingly all of Scorpion's instructors and students practice iaijutsu and its traditions.
take the art of mourning very seriously. Student training very seriously. After the crane, scorpions are the most
In Iaijutsu, of course, it's not as comprehensive as the conventional clan when it comes to dueling traditions, for example.
as they can have at Kakita Duel Academy, the power of a Duel can override any number of political decisions.
Despite this, many skilled duelists emerged from the attacks. If a Scorpio scheme or a Scorpio
the heart of the katana. Matsu Ketsui, the 12th century courtier, is humble, a scorpion duelist is always ready
Daimyo of the Matsu family who fought many victorious duels to step forward and repel the threat with the sharp blade.
was a graduate of the Heart of the Katana. your sheet

Mantis: The Green Blade Dojo All Scorpion Bushi learn the fundamentals of Iaijutsu
Anyone with true talent receives additional training as a
Of all the Great Clans, the Mantid are the least interconnected. You must also learn the traditions of other clans.
valued in the art of Iaijutsu, which is not surprising given the story that ensues when they duel, so they are never caught off guard.
of the Minor Clans who banded together to create them. find themselves in a situation where a duel could ensue. Some of
The Yoritomo have lived as sailors and pirates for centuries, the most talented students are also taught to make it look like
they fight with peasant weapons and rarely touch a ka - so they are more (or less) talented duelists than they are
tan in everything. The Tsuruchi have traded the sword for the bow, as if to intimidate or deceive their enemies.
and while some in their ranks took up the sword by faith. Currently Known Specialized Duelists
For generations, it is still a weak second to archery in its era, as Saigo's Blades are masters of intimidation.
Kitsune were inevitably swordsmen, but they lived that way and cheated to gain the upper hand in their duels, and are
isolated from the rest of Rokugan, as they are rarely, if ever, skilled warriors who normally defend the clan when defeated.
faced a duel. It was the Moshi family that desperately needed more traditional conservatives.
in their social attitudes, if not in their other mores, also
realized that there was a Great Clan without experienced duelists. However, Scorpion also performs a unique variation.
a serious handicap in Rokugani politics. That was Iaijutsu training: you learn to duel without losing
Founded the Green Blade Dojo, a collection-assisted process that lets others realize they lost on purpose. while the score
in some favors with the Crane clan. Clan Pion likes to win when they can, they know that too
There are many benefits to having your
The Green Blade lacks the long history of other iaijutsu foes finding them weak or defeated. No other clan com-
Dojo, as it created an acceptable result for a duel only after the Mantis clan, close to defeat, but in the middle
A large clan arose in the early 12th century. Your CV - Scorpio, the only thing that matters is the bottom line
lum is simple and straightforward, and there is rarely a clan.
More than two dozen students train at the school in
Any time. As of now, there are no graduates of Green Blade Unicorn: The Single Strike Dojo
undoubtedly gained lasting fame in Rokugan
this will change over time. When the unicorn returned to the Empire, they discovered it.
a country that has developed many different traditions
Phoenix: The Shiba Bushi School has been around for eight hundred years. Custom
of the iaijutsu duel had just begun to develop when
The Phoenix are a traditionalist clan and fully understand Shinjo's departure from Rokugan and the general acceptance of the
and respecting the importance of aijutsu in Rokugani society as the proper way to resolve disputes did not come
ety, but iaijutsu training was never a major focus until much later. During the unicorn clan
his warrior teachings. Instead, it's a secondary but lengthy journey through Burning Sands and other games.
An important aspect of his more general training to serve the Jin lands, Iaijutsu forms and skills were complete.
as protector and personal yojimbo to the Shugenja of the Forgotten, and when the clan finally returned to the ways of the past
I saw a. Therefore, in Shiba Bushi's duel, there are only a few sensei that had to be relearned.
School that teaches Iaijutsu, but all are recognized.
Masters of the arts, and those who can train with them, have happily earned the unicorn's precocious friendship.
Expect to become skilled and skilled duelists. Because the Crane Clan that helped Sensei teach the ways
So humble in their duties, the Shiba always let their new allies duel. Within a few decades the
Ide, in recognition of the importance of Iaijutsu in matters of

Duel in the Shadowlands

For most of history, the Shadowlands have ig- In the 12th century, dragons sponsor a
learned the art of mourning. The beasts of Jigoku and the ronin settled in the city called Nanashi Mura. Him
Lost Assassins have no respect for the Rokugani Ronin Brotherhood known as the Eyes of Nanashi, who are accused
social traditions, duels with each other. This changed with the protection of the village, they founded their own dojo to promote it.
something after Daigotsu founded the City of the Lost, his training: the Eye Dojo. It's your job to ensure
and began to organize the lost into a pseudo-samurai that Nanashi Mura's ronin can always defend
Society, a black mirror of Rokugan. That led to the town of Crehis - and that means Iaijutsu training and more.
from the Dojo of the Cursed Blade, a vicious mockery of conventional warfare scholarship. However, the dojo is the
a true rokugani dojo where the lost learned that the eye never produced a famous duelist under its eyes
Forms of Rokugani swordsmanship, including artistic areas. Most truly famous ronin duelists like men
von Iaijutsu. Dairya aus der Ära der Clankriege sind Individuen im Singular
talent, relying on your natural gifts rather than secrecy
The Cursed Blade Dojo was burned to the ground. Techniques to defeat your enemies.
when Daigotsu left the City of the Lost
He brought most of his followers to the Empire to form imperial families:
the spider clan. Spider Bushi normally relied on Indi- The Sapphire Blade Dojo
individual instructors to teach them Iaijutsu, often learning
immaculate bushi ing who joined the im clan
Misconception that they served a noble cause.

Tides of War The Seppun are ready to defend the person and the honorable.
or the Emperor at any time. For that, they must be
trained in all forms of combat, including the art of iaijutsu.
O Sapphire Dojo em Seppun Training
Land in Otosan Uchi (later moved to Toshi Ranbo)
having Otosan Uchi was burned) teaches all Seppun youth
Bushi how to fight on behalf of the emperor.

Iaijutsu is an important part of Sapphire Blade Do-

jos curriculum, for every Seppun warrior is taught that he

he might have to defend the Emperor's honor at any time.

or in a duel. Where a lion, crab or unicorn could learn

22 iaijutsu in the unlikely chance of facing a challenge one day,

Seppun know that their duties require their use

Chapter One skill, and treat your training as seriously as life or death.

Diplomacy, he opened a dojo to teach Iaijutsu specifically: the number of true yet dedicated
Single strike dojo. famous Seppun duelists in the history of the Empire is quite
in short: their duties to the Emperor leave them little time
These days, any unicorn wanting to learn more seeks glory elsewhere. In fact, Seppun herself
that just the beginning of iaijutsu, typically those who believe that their duties should always come first
Must serve as Yojimbo: Travel to the Ide lands for personal glory. Probably the most notable exception in
Train at the Single Strike Dojo. Single Strike has a familiar history was Seppun Toshiken, an impressive duel
sensei's truly eclectic collection, accepting anyone who became champion during Esmeralda's reign
Individuals who consider themselves worthy of teaching Iaijutsu. On one occasion, Emperor Toturi I.
For a few years the dojo even had a ronin as head sensei. alabama-

While the dojo's teachings are effective, so far they have been

The art of the duel has not produced great duelists; the way
Duelist doesn't seem attracted to unicorn samurai

just like the others. "The secret of fencing is not quick defeat,

no more strike and no blocking. A pure line will be

Ronin: Nanashi Mura, the master of all techniques.
the Dojo of the Eyes – by The Sword of Kakita

Ronin has as much reason to learn Iaijutsu as other Iaijutsu dueling is the traditional method of solving problems.
make bushi; in fact, as they have no lord to use Rokugan and is involved in a wide variety
Protect them from frivolous challenges, they often need traditions, customs and rules. The next section of-
Iaijutsu is more skilled than any clan samurai simply to provide detailed explanations of when and where duels take place.
protect your lives. For the most part, these are the legitimate ronin dueling techniques and how they should be performed and combined.
(such as Sun Tao's Gauze) are personally delivered. As an example, we will follow these
from one warrior to another, although the most skilful discussions with the story of a confrontation between two honorable
Wavemen sometimes open a private dojo to teach their men Matsu Yoshi and Kakita Hiro.
skills for a fee.

when is a duel
guaranteed and how is it
a responsible one?

"Only a fool starts a duel he cannot
Win."

-Doji Kishio

It must always be remembered that the wishes of the samurai, although many warriors of the clan accept such chapters one by one.
The Rokugani never coded specific challenges, calling them "Duel Drills".
Rules about what kind of offenses are worthy 23
of a duel Each offense is scored individually. It should be noted that insult repair is not the only
Allies, and often any clan, family, or local occasion where a duel might be called. All Mages - Tides of War
Daimyo will have a different idea of ​​what is allowed to authorize a duel when blaming a samurai
Insult types require reparation with a duel. wants to prove by a combat check that he or she is
innocent of a crime; As expected, these duels
For the most part, a duel is always required to the death. Duels can sometimes also
when one samurai is insulted by another. (Formally serves to resolve petty disputes between equal samurai
Needless to say, only samurai have social status. Suppose a lion and a unicorn
can be challenged or challenged: The common judge pursues a criminal into unclaimed territory
ers can never duel.) and they corner him in an inn. Both judges have the same
A samurai may dispute another samurai's claim to the criminal, and neither samurai is willing to relinquish it.
whether he was offended personally or in relation to the other. In these circumstances, the two judges
to respond to an insult against your family, your lord, or your clan. You can duel first blood to decide who will take them
They also highlight a challenge on behalf of the next of kin who have the criminal in custody.
they lack the ability to challenge themselves (like
as a spouse or child). Duels can also take place on the battlefield. many times these
are nothing more than simple one-on-one battles between
On the other hand, a samurai cannot challenge another for a samurai who stands out from the rest, but on some occasions he can
personal insult to another samurai. The Offended Samurai features two samurai who can actually take the Iaijutsu stance.
You have to defend yourself. For example, when Matsu Yoshi and Matsu formally face each other amidst the chaos of battle.
Kakita calls Hiro a cowardly geisha who can challenge Hiro. When that happens, other fighters will come out of it.
Yoshi stops a duel, but when Yoshi offers the same insult to Hi-way for not getting in the way of the duel, and when the match-
The friend of the river, Ide Taro, Kakita Hiro cannot challenge the Matsu ants, they are of great fame or stature, the battle can
Yoshi on behalf of Taro. However, one samurai can be used to stop (at least nearby) while the other
Another samurai champion who issued a soldier's challenge sees the result. The result of such a duel.
but does not carry his own sword (for example, a Shugenja can have a significant impact on morale and course
or Courtier): In this case, the champion fights, especially when it comes to high-ranking or prominent officials.
the defiant samurai who shares his fate when he loses. heroes are involved; practiced by the Crane Clan
Continuing with the previous example, suppose Ide Taro uses such duels to paralyze and transform enemy leadership.
a courtier who carries no sword. Taro faces the tide of invincible battles. must go without
Matsu Yoshi for insulting him, and Kakita Hiro agrees to serve, saying battlefield duels do not require authorization.
as Champion of Taros. If Hiro loses the Duel, Taro will have Zation, this is implied when the fight begins.
to commit seppuku and share in their champion's death.

It should be noted that a challenged samurai usually
Leave a duel and sincerely apologize for the insult.
or misconduct that gave rise to the dispute in the first place. from
Of course, such an apology implies a loss of face (and
hence a loss of fame), many samurai prefer to fight a
regret instead of admitting mistakes.

There are some situations where challenges may arise
discarded or ignored. If the challenger is significant
lowest social position (two or more status levels) is he
acting beyond its reach, and the challenged may choose to do so
just shrug and deny their accusations. (At the
However, in some cases, a higher status samurai may choose to do so.
accept the duel anyway to defeat and humiliate
ate the one who dared to defy him.) For the same
Because of this, a challenge can be easily ignored by a ronin when a

a duel can be postponed for a long time
considered cowardice, unless circumstances exist
Postures beyond everyone's control, such as
a protracted war. Most Duels on First Blood
takes place on the same day as the challenge,
and even deadly duels can happen
quickly when higher posts become available
authorize them promptly (as in Win-
to the Court).

The choice of location is often calculated

make the challenger feel so uncomfortable-

possible, as in the challenge

long castle home to the samurai, where

you can count on a great and understanding

audience to get psychological publicity.

Advantage. Really skilled Duelists like-

never, do not demand such tricks and

Choose a location that reflects this

Beauty of the art of Iaijutsu, like a

beautiful clearing in the woods or an elegant garden.

Cave. Cowardly duelists might try to challenge

dangerous or unreasonable places (like

Tides of War Duel Protocol on top of the Kaiu Wall), but if they make those decisions too
far will be ashamed of their arrogance and

Once the challenge is issued, the two duelists must play frivolously for the enemy to emerge victorious.
Once both duelists arrive at the appointed time and
decide on the form of the duel. It will be firstblood, a
acceptable response to a minor insult or to death, as several preparatory rituals take place here, ranging from
necessary for a serious crime? Depending on the clans involved, it is also possible for both. Each clan has its own set.
The parties agree on a duel to be fought in a manner other than the traditions to be followed if a duel is to be fought.
24 as Iaijutsu, although this is uncommon. Iaijutsu is the tra- For example, when the lion duel usually passes

Chapter A traditional form of mourning, accepted throughout the kingdom, time (sometimes up to half an hour) of its recitation
Therefore, other forms of dueling are only used when both parties inherit from their ancestors and commit deeds. The crab often
accepted; Otherwise, it will be an iaijutsu duel by default. Duel in heavy armor, complete with lavish ceremony and
For example, when Matsu Yoshi and Kakita Hiro duel every symbolism. The phoenix makes the Shugenja bless the duel
On the other hand, Yoshi might want to make it a simple dueling circle of reconnaissance and lead the assembled audience to prayer. Him
jutsu over iaijutsu, but if Hiro disagrees (unlikely), Crane will announce his school and Sensei, a popular custom.
enough for many other samurai to imitate him. the praying mantis
the duel would have to be iaijutsu.
require that the really important duels take place on deck
After the form of the duel is decided, one fights from a ship at sea, and so on.
Official death registration requires both parties to submit an application
Every formal duel has three participants: the challenger,
your direct superior with permission, a samurai after all
he cannot waste his life without his master's orders. In litigation and an impartial judge to oversee
In most cases approval is routine, but in rare cases procedures. It is the judge's responsibility to ensure this
A lord refuses permission, usually forfeiting proper dueling protocol and the duel
Subordinate who duels for trivial or childish reasons. he is honorable and just. Sometimes judges are experienced
The duelists themselves, but likely to be the lord of
Once accepted the challenge and (if necessary) the castle or court where the duel is taking place. in cases
authorized, the contested party may choose the time and place of the action, and the President
Place of Grief Anytime within a year, theoretically

and anywhere within the Empire is acceptable. In practice,

bear the shame

A samurai always has the right to challenge an insult committed by someone of equal or lower social status. However, if a samurai is insulted
It is expected that your superiors - your lord or military commander, your clan champion, emperor, etc. - save face and receive insults
Would. The more honorable a samurai is, the more stoic and calm he will endure humiliation and abuse at the hands of his master. Similar
Samurai will be remembered for their honorable conduct long after their abusive and disgraceful superiors are forgotten.

Sometimes abuse from a superior becomes so severe that even the most honorable samurai can't take it anymore. When this happens, the correct
The samurai will respond by committing kanshi (seppuku protest) to embarrass the superior with this honorable act. In some rare cases, the samurai
They have gone so far as to defy their own masters, though such acts usually result in the instant execution of the samurai giving the order.
Challenge.

Istrate will act as the referee for the duel. Anyway, Judge Champions Chapter One
is responsible for inspecting the area where the duel will take place
Make sure it's appropriate and observe - In almost all cases, a samurai wielding a katana
the party itself to ensure it is fought properly and must defend itself in a duel. however some
no interference There is no official size for a proper samurai, including the vast majority of courtiers and
Duel circle, but the area should be big enough that the Shugenja don't carry katanas. If these are samurai-
Duelists have freedom of movement and spectators will not request or receive a challenge, they can request a challenge.
be in danger. In a formal duel, with proper preparation, Pion will fight for them. If they have a Yojimbo assigned,
The dueling circle will always be free of obstacles, it will be the champion by default, but under different circumstances
and is usually blessed by a shugenja or monk (although champion stance may be assigned by or by its master
this ritual is much more extensive with the Phoenix). it could just be another samurai who has a personal interest or
family ties with them and is ready to defend them
Each duel begins with the judge announcing the names of the duels. Champions can possibly come from another
and titles of challenger and challenged, after which he belongs to the clan, especially an allied clan; You can even be ronin,
lists the crime they are fighting. The challenge, although this is unusual.
then you have one last chance to apologize or
Deal with his attack (sometimes this happens, but when a samurai's champion is defeated in a duel against the
this is strange). The judge then announces death to the assembled, the samurai must share his fate by binding himself
(most formal duels have spotters) than the results of seppuku.
Duels are mandatory and the matter will be resolved once
Completely. The challenger may, on rare occasions, choose a katana-wielding samurai.
position in the dueling circle, and the challenged Take-One can still name a champion. the obvious
opposite position. At this point, the judge usually asks about the emperor, for example, who is always defended by the
when one of the duelists has something to say before the Emerald Champion decides whether or not to bring
Mentions in some parts of the Empire (such as among them a katana for herself. Other instances may include
unicorn worshiping the lords of death), testaments of duelists or semi-retired samurai wielding the katana as a mark
reciting a death poem as if about to commemorate his stand, or samurai who have been physically injured.
puku or enter into a desperate fight, as this will be their last oath preventing the duel for them -
opportunity to do so. More often though, they say they are small even when they still wield a sword. such examples
or nothing. however, they are rare and in the vast majority of cases a
Samurai wielding a sword have no choice but to fight
Once both Duelists have taken their positions, the Judge will move alone.
between them and raises a hand or a fan. Then he drops
with the word: "Start!" 25

The Art of Iaijutsu in Action Tides of War

“Those experienced in dueling won't see each other if they keep their bodies and minds still. The duelist expands his senses
upset; those who are adept at victory are not externally directed as they measure and control every breath
come in fear This is how the sage wins the fight with every movement of his muscles and gives his opponent no chance
while the ignorant fight for victory." the slightest sign that he is about to attack. At the same time,
the duelist focuses his senses on his opponent and seeks
– Kakita Shimazu, sec. XII any sign of the enemy's intentions. silence and stillness
reign as long as the wind calms down and dies just before a storm
At the start of an Iaijutsu duel, the opponent's face sweeps the ground.
each other within a short distance, usually about ten
With their feet wide apart so they can close the gap when they score. So they usually act on an instinct that has been honed for years.
Sometimes the distance decreases or increases depending on training, the duelist suddenly knows it's time to attack. At the
circumstances, but about ten feet is typical. In traditional Kakita forms, your right hand (formerly
traditional iaijutsu method developed by Kakita and copied onto the hilt of the sword) suddenly turns into grappling
over the centuries by most of the other clans and families that own it. At the same time, she pulls her saya back with her left hand.
The sword stays in the scabbard and the duelist raises it with his hand, making the draw even faster. the katana
The right hand rests on the handle, ready to draw. Some du-free feathers and up and down bows, a single
The game's traditions deviate from this common posture, meaning that most movement is as natural to the duelist as breathing.
especially followers of Mirumoto's techniques. The
Niten's Dents usually start their duels with both swords. A traditionalist Mirumoto doesn't draw his swords.
already undressed and tied to the side of the body, although already freed from their saya. Instead, it suddenly flows
Some use a single Kakita sword draw and others use it forward, both blades rising with the speed of the wind.
They even practice drawing with two swords. hit and block at the same time. will usually attack

An iaijutsu strike is really an example of the philosophy
air in action. It starts with silence, like the art of Iaijutsu.

winds of war

26

with the katana in his right hand while blocking with the

Chapter One T Awakizashi to his left, though the more experienced Miru-

Motorcycle Swordmasters can use any sword in any role.
he follows

Regardless of the form, if the duelist has the mo- Officially, once a duel is decided, that's also the problem.
right, he achieved the true unity of the body, he caused it. Insults are withdrawn, witness statements are proved
Mind and soul that are at the heart of the duel, his lies (or the truth, depending on the case) and the criminals are put to the test.
The blade will cut your opponent first. If not, you have innocent or guilty. Honor and custom dictate that the
to try to perfect the art in his next life. The results of a Duel are final and cannot be disputed. Nonetheless,
not all Rokuganis can accept an embarrassing outcome or
Once a duel ends, it can result in defeat for you or your family anywhere. Those who create a duel
from a few seconds to several hours, depending on whether he was mistreated or the other side forced an
Combatants - it is also up to the judge to declare the result dishonorable of victory, they often swear a blood feud
do not. It's usually obvious who won, but in some situations you just stay calm. So, far from always fixing things,
Both duelists attacked almost simultaneously or forever, a duel can also trigger long-term feuds
both perished in a karmic attack, the situation could last for generations, just like Kakita and Matsu.
more complex. Especially in situations where both fight at the beginning of the empire.
Elites are killed, the judge decides if this is the case

one died before the other.

left-handed duelists

Rokugan does not share the Western worldview of the left hand as a threatening "sinister hand". However, the Rokugan train to fight them.
the sword in the right hand. This is because they see the right hand as the hand of war (thus the Lion Clan is the emperor's right hand).
while the left hand is the hand of peace (hence the heron is the emperor's left hand). These views also explain the extensive protocol and
Symbolism associated with placement of swords: swords carried or held in the left hand can be easily drawn with the right hand, meaning that
one is violent, while the right side swords are harder to draw, meaning one is peaceful.

Because of these traditions, aijutsu training always assumes that the bushi will pull and punch with the right hand, regardless of which hand is dominant.
Occasionally, however, a duelist will train to draw with his left hand, either because his left hand is so dominant that he cannot draw.
effectively with the forehand, or because he realizes that his opponents will have a harder time countering a left-footed draw. some of the emperor
The notoriously more pragmatic duelists, especially among the Wavemen, fought left-handed. The Scorpion Clan also has the custom of
He trains his duelists to fight left-handed to give them an extra advantage over their opponents.

The air and the way of the first chapter
Horse Path and Kyujutsu Bow:
Rokugan Gegen Japan 27
Taro was the best of his team, his instructors
she always told him. He hit the spot in the history of the Japanese samurai
heart every time he threw his yari, and for a long time was considered the ultimate bow
He surpassed all of his classmates, even some of their martial arts, and most samurai served him.
instructors when they trained. For a dominant ashigaru like a mounted archer, with the sword as
it was something to brag about. Maybe there could be more. just a secondary weapon for the time they were
Perhaps if he was good enough in this war, he would be forced into hand-to-hand combat. the way
to be made a samurai, to be able to swear allegiance to a samurai, was considered synonymous with
of lower vassal families. It was the best - the way of the horse and the bow; single farmer
Ant soldier could fight, could dream. The soldiers had to fight hand in hand.

Taro knew he would survive this day, he would survive this.” Later in Japanese history, hand-to-hand combat became popular.
Battle. He was the best, and everyone he met would be more dominant in the war, and that
die at the tip of his spear. He waited with the others. The bow's role has diminished a little more than that.
his colleague Ashigaru at the head of the army, the sword's prestige increased. However, the
put your straw hat down to shield your eyes from the true cultural mastery of the sword does not mean
bright midday sun. Signal flags raised, a breakthrough leading to Tokugawa's long peace
The cry arose from the army and troops started the shogunate when the swordsmen were free
walking across the field the enemy army was waiting to follow their art without worrying about pragmatism.
across the wide valley, their ranks clearly represent the realities of war.
Thinner. Taro felt a grim smile on his lips.
His side would be victorious that day, and he would. In Rokugan, the role and duties of the Sam-
stand out. Urai are portrayed more idealized
than in real-life Japan, and the sword - and
In the middle of the field he found his close cousins, the naginata, who are treated like
as the midday sun was veiled and the world the most honorable and prestigious weapons.
turned like twilight. Taro sought and met an end, however, a GM who wants to give Rokugan
Surprise moment when little shards of death fell from a more historically authentic feel than one could wish for
the sky by the thousands. Let the bow take a place of equal honor,
and portray the Rokugani War
In Rokugan, great emphasis is placed on long-range and more effective archery. That
capable of combat between samurai, especially with the sword. option is chosen, the arcs must be considered
Much less prestige is given to archery, the art of kyu - it has the hallmark of a samurai.
However, the archery jutsu is one of the most important
linked to the philosophy of the Air and Winds of War families
and the schools that follow the path of the bow do so
with the same devotion that duelists give to their swords -
Masculinity The agile grace of the train, the sudden softness
Violence when the arrow is shot and tender grace
of the flying arrow cutting the wind in its path
the goal: all these things make up the art of Kyujutsu
to Rokugan's most graceful martial arts, such as
as well as one of the most underrated.

The history of
Archery in Rokugan

Using a bow and arrow in Rokugan precedes arrival
the Kamis. Human tribes used bows of various types
Decades, perhaps centuries, before the kami fell from the earth
Paradise. Most of these tribes used bows mainly for
hunting, because in those ancient times the prejudice against
red meat had not yet appeared and many Rokugani tribes

notable cases of
Archery in Rokugani History

it ate deer, wild boar, rabbits and other wild animals. Ar- Though the sword did more to make Rokugan
Chery was an immediately practical hunting art that fate allowed than any other weapon, however, there are several
a hunter who stalks and kills his prey from a safe distance. Points in the Empire's long history of playing kyujutsu
Tribal entrepreneurs soon realized that they could play an extremely important role.

Fangs from afar can also kill your enemies,

and archery became a tool of warfare and survival.

M K W S The original Rokugani bows were rudimentary and simple in design.
atsu oritome em Hite-Tag

signs, and required no extraordinary skill to make them. One year after the death of Empress Hantei Yugozohime
The accompanying arrows were also quite simple, made by Gaijin, his successor Hantei Muhaki.
with stone points or later bronze or iron. While seeking an end to hostilities with the remnants that remained
The art of war developed in the years before foreign invaders arrived. when are you going to stay gay
With the fall of the kami came archery technology. Fletcher's Jin has offered to negotiate with the Emperor.
and gunsmiths experimented with different forms of surrender and withdrawal from Rokugan, Hantei
Wood and different methods of making the bows - Muhaki immediately agreed. However, the meeting was only
They combine horn, strips of wood, and sinew in various tricks to ambush and thus decapitate the emperor.
These combinations made it possible to create bows that the Rokugan Empire.
They were much stronger and more reliable than manufactured ones.
Tides of War made from a single piece of wood. Arrows were also developed: Like the Emperor and a contingent of Seppun and
The tips have been narrowed and sharpened for better penetration. The lion guards encountered the gaijin, the treacherous aliens.
Animal skins and the basic armor of enemy warriors. they opened fire on them with their blasphemous blasts.
Some tribes even accidentally discovered the art of weapon making. They quickly killed almost everyone
flying flare darts, hollow horns forming an emperor's guard. When the smoke started to clear, like...
Loud whistle when fired. There was still a samurai lion on the field: Matsu
corytomas. He raised his yumi and continued shooting,
When the kami fell, they chose to treat me with honor and kill gaijin after gaijin. Although the Gaijin weapons
28 Fighting the wind as a martial art of choice, a choice that injured him multiple times, he used his fire to locate them
confused many of the tribes who were skilled in archery. their positions and eventually killed them all. in your last
They believed, correctly, that the kami were trying. Moments later, he returned to the wounded emperor's side.
Chapter One made all the tribes of Rokugan act and think alike, planting its weight in the treacherous Gaijin's heart.
his combat training was one aspect of that crusade. Emissary who led them into the ambush.
Many of these tribes resisted the new customs, and even more
stubborn among themselves were eventually exterminated. In honor of the honorable deaths of Matsu Koritome and his
While the others learned to balance their archery traditions with excellent kyujutsu skills, the Emperor organized a tournament.
Fighting styles favored by the Kami. and invited the most experienced archers among the lions
After days of competition, the top two hundred participate
Of course, not all kami were equally fond of experienced archers being given positions in the newly formed formation.
Do melee dominant. Shinjo was open to the entire Koritome family, vassals of the Matsu, with Koritome's support.
the ways of his people, and his followers included many of his own older brothers, who were appointed as the family's new daimyo.
Equestrian tribes who preferred the bow to the sword
Spear. These people have recently developed predecessors-Koritome and his brother come from a long lineage.
Sor to modern Rokugani dai-kyu: an asymmetrical bow of archers and the Koritome vassal family continued this
that could be filmed on horseback. It allowed this tradition; in modern Rokugan, koritomes are known as
mounted warriors to shoot arrows at their enemies while leading some of the most honorable and courageous warriors
greater mobility than those who walk. These made up the lion clan, and the lion likes to claim that they are
Archery traditions were later continued by the best archers in the Empire, although the Tsuruchi
Generations of Shinjo followers will certainly dispute this.

fundamental to unicorn warfare tactics.

Unter den anderen sechs Clans, die Wege des Bogenschießens no Shinjo Tarajin em Shiro no Soshi
gain such wide acceptance, but the practical value of
Bows on the battlefield meant that archery was never abandoned. In the 10th century, the Empire was still adapting
also not done. In modern Rokugan, the path curves towards the presence of the newly returned Unicorn Clan. Him
is taught by almost all bushi dojos, but in most cases the Scorpion clan in particular seemed to struggle
It's just another martial art being taught along with others to interact with these strange newcomers throughout the year.
Combat skills like Yarijutsu, Jujutsu and Iaijutsu. Only in 935 did the Soshi daimyo, Soshi Arashi, bitterly insult that
some families and technical schools, mainly the farm unicorn. In response, an army of unicorns led by
the famous Tsuruchi, gave archery a dominant role in his General Shinjo Tarajin swept north Scorpion
Teachings of the country to announce its intention to punish the outrage

His Arashi Clan's own forces were small and secretly made their way to the castle and enlisted the Emerald Champion Chapter One
Scorpion's strength was still some way off, so to be fair, leading him to become the Daimyo of
He retired behind the walls of Shiro no Soshi to support the newly formed Wasp clan. 29
He knew that the Einhorn had no siege engines and
so he had no real chance of taking the castle by storm; The small Wasp clan was dedicated to the study and Tides of War
Reinforcements from the rest of the Scorpions would arrive, perfecting the kyujutsu and recruiting new members.
lands long before his castle starved to death for an annual archery tournament
The best participants were allowed to join the clan. all were
forced to break his own katana upon joining the clan.
A week after the siege, Soshi Arashi received word that although these extreme policies had lessened
indeed, the promised reinforcements were on the way. Wasp has joined the Mantis clan, the family is heavily nurtured
appeared on the walls of his family's castle, mocking him for dedicating himself to the study of archery and making advancements in archery
the unicorn forces and urged them to flee before they could make a bow and arrow.
be defeated. In response, Shinjo Tarajin rode alone
at the head of his army and raised his bow and withdrew to his A Discussion of
Ear. To the scorpion's confusion, he didn't understand - Rokugani Archery
fired immediately, but kept the bow almost cocked
one minute. Just as Arashi began to wonder if the unicorn "All I need is the time of a single breath."
Krieger freaked out, Tarajin fired his shot and the
The arrow flew through the middle of a quarter mile to cut the – Tsuruchi
The scorpion daimyo's neck. Arashi fell dead and the unicorn
The army immediately returned satisfied to its own country. Rokugani archery follows a slightly different tradition.
that his clan's insult was avenged. tion than western archery. Rokugani do
don't carefully line up a single shot
Shinjo Tarajin's famous shot was Robin Hood's first Rokugan way, his professional
strike back with the art of yomanri, the alien style of the sneaky arrow. Instead, they shoot quickly.
Chery taking the unicorn out of the fire and instinctively allowing the arrow
Beach. Though the rest of the Empire was never easy to find their target. It is
Yomanri himself continued to study the unicorn, the style is learned and performed in sequence
and practitioners can still be found in their ranks in a variety of ways.
modern times.

The Founding of the Vespa Clan

"Never again will I wield the samurai's weapon.
Because I'm not a samurai anymore.

– Tsuruchi

Like, in a society based on bushido and the path of
Sword, is a small clan that was founded with a philosophy that
Will you see Kyujutsu mostly? The answer is in the story.
behind Tsuruchi, considered by some to be the best archer
that Rokugan has ever seen.

Tsuruchi's complete story is told in L5R 4th Edition Support.
Complete Emerald Empire, page 103. In short, the story began
that his father, a Scorpion daimyo who had a strategy
Magic Castle he fell in love with his mother, daughter of
an influential Akodo Daimyo, who very well may have been
a descendant of the Koritome line. Both
They got married and had a child despite both clans.
This son was Tsuruchi ("Little Wasp") and he lived up to it.
see your parents betrayed by the lion and the scorpion
similar. Tsuruchi escaped with the collapsing castle.
a group of his most loyal followers.

After his betrayal by the lion, Tsuruchi turned his
back to bushido and the katana he saw how that
Symbol of those who follow him. He broke his own katana.
on a rock and swore never to touch one again. your follower
the basses did the same. finally managed to recover

First of all, archers are taught to focus on their own body and practice archery that way to purify their mind and soul.
before thinking about your goal. When the archer's arrows fly accurately.
The body is not in harmony, how can the arrow find its way?
to the goal? Indeed young samurai learning the eight steps of archery
Art of Kyujutsu is not allowed to shoot with a real bow
considerable time after starting your training. They “You don't have to see the target to know it's there.
First, they are taught to stand correctly so that their body is in order. So why do you need to see the target to hit it?
correctly directed towards your goal. They are taught how
Regulate your breathing so it doesn't interfere with Gahei the Ronin's flight
your arrow. They are taught to visualize their shot, to imagine
Making the arrow hit the target you want to hit. When the sensei who teaches the art of kyujutsu refined it
They can do this with complete clarity, standing up and breathing the arrow-throwing ritual eight separate steps at a time.
That's right, they can start using a bow... without which one has to continue for the archer to succeed.
mushrooms; arrows

The second step of kyujutsu training is learning the first step is planting the feet, a process known as

correct way to draw the arc. In contrast to western archery, the archer is left-sided in ashibumi
where the bow is drawn in kyu at or below waist level and pointed at the target. Point the toes of the left foot towards you
Jutsu The bow rises over the archer's head and then over the target, then extends his stance leaving the space between
When you push the hoop down and pull back, your feet are the same distance apart as when you pulled the hoop: normally
on the Y string, where a western archer would draw half his height. Then visualize a line drawn by
A kyujutsu practitioner arched backwards towards the cheekbone and arched the back fingers through the front fingers and through the forehead.
Pull the bow behind the ear. This obvious goal. This is the line the arrow follows when the
ly does not provide the same view as the arrow and the archer correctly performs the rest of the steps. Finally,
which has a western archer. Kyujutsu student practices after imagining his line, archer wiggles his toes
The tides of war always come together with a steady foot, they are at an angle of about sixty degrees to each other.
align yourself correctly, making sure the breath is on the other side to gain stability in the pose.

sync with your offer. Once you've mastered all of this, the second step is to align the body, called dozukuri.

things together, you are allowed to shoot an arrow. The archer makes sure that his shoulders are parallel.

30 students advanced enough to reach the invisible line you've already predicted and that
Shooting darts often fire up to a thousand darts when perfectly balanced. Then arch and straighten your
per day, repeat the movements several times until the ritual returns. This will ensure that the rope cannot catch you.
Chapter one on kicking, serving and dropping becomes automatic. Hakama strings when shooting and won't hit you in the face
For many it can even become a form of meditation, using the bowstring as it is released.

Some monks of the Shinsei Brotherhood took the third step to prepare the bow, Yugamae. During

In this step, the archer places his left hand on the

hold the bowbar correctly, then

Place the arrow and take the

bowstring with your right hand.

Finally he turns his head

face the goal.

during the fourth
step, preparation for drawing
(o uchiokoshi), el ar-
Cher took that book
over your head
place from where
draw it.

The real attraction is
completed in the next two
Steps. in the fifth stage
separar (ou hiki-
Wake up), the archer pushes
bow with me
the left hand and pull the
arrow and rope back
up to the eyebrow After
in the sixth stage the complete
draw (or kai) the archer
pull back the bowstring

the rest of the way to anchor just below the ear at foot level, but they are correspondingly more wearable and Chapter One
corner of your jaw. less annoying. Magistrates usually carry these bows
Traveling in investigations... and they are also popular 31
The penultimate step is Liberation or Hanare. The Archer with Shinobi.
ensures your breathing is correct, then unleashes the Tides of War
arrow, put him to flight. When all other steps are completed. Some families bow differently than before.
correctly completed, the arrow follows the line it found in the rest of the Empire. Some of the Tsuruchi,
Cher performed on the first step... and nailed it. For example, she builds bigger and stronger bows.
fuller than standard yumi, with thicker, heavier staves
Finally, there is the continuation of filming, or Zanshin. There are also some among the unicorns who still do
in which the archer maintains his position while regaining use of the foreign-style bows he brought from abroad.
Mindset he had before release to ensure he could side with the Empire. These Gaijin arcs are very distinctive,
shoot your next arrow the same way as the previous one and shorter and more symmetrical than Rokugani bows
lower your bow. recurved staves ending in hook points. (With reference to
Game mechanics, these bows are statistically identical
Although this process looks complex from the outside, Ex-Yumi must be shot with the alien bow and arrow technique.
Experienced kyujutsu artists can perform these eight steps, known as yomanri.)
extremely fast, almost instinctively. from
Of course, they still remember every step, and Rokugani arrows are made from bamboo and are used
sometimes it crosses them very slowly, like a kind of feathered medallion with falcon or eagle feathers, although in
itation In times of war, other types of springs can be used. When one
the arrow is made, it is considered male or female, and
Archery tools are made with feathers from opposite sides of the bird. arkansas-
Lines considered male rotate clockwise when released
Rokugan samurai use different types of bows, while arrows are considered female counterattacks.
of bows, each with its specific use. More Roku: Clockwise. Archers usually alternate their shots
Gani bows are made of bamboo and backed with wood between male and female arrows and rarely fire.
and clean horn, hide and sinew. As much as two others of the same type in a row. It even happens to him.
The use of animal products, horn, leather and sinew is where the archer accurately executes the eight steps of kyujutsu.
Blessed in advance not to bring identical impurities with each shot, the two arrows will not collide
their wielders... though the Unicorn Clan archers meet.
forget this step
The standard Rokugani arrow type is known as a ya
The most common Rokugani bows are the Yumi and the Willow Blade. It is crowned with a broad, pointed head.
Daikyu, has an asymmetrical design, with a handle, and is the normal arrow used in combat
the bottom third of the bow stick. This makes targeting Roku easier.
Get an archery flair and let those bows be still
long and powerful; it also makes it easier for the Daikyu Rokugani to also make piercing arrows with a lot of
be shot on horseback. Due to the greater strength, narrower spikes are intended for piercing heavy armor.
Rokugani bows tend to wear out their strings (or thick-skinned crossbows) and their corresponding meat cutter a lot.
fast and each Rokugani archer carries many additional arrows (Watakusi) with very broad and sharp tips or
because when your rope inevitably breaks. sharp edges designed to tear flesh; although easy
stopped by armor, they are very effective against disproportionate attacks
The Yumi is the default minion bow used by most shield opponents and is also popular with hunters.
Archers in the Empire. Yumi are usually four to five feet tall.
large, sometimes up to six feet; the exact height of the bell bulb arrows are almost blunt, with gaps
The bow is determined by examining the length of each end, which hisses and groans as it flies through the air.
the archer's double shot, which is usually about half the size of the archer. They are used to signal troops or sound the alarm when
height and draw an arc of the appropriate size. to be attacked.

The dai-kyu, the standard horse bow, is important. Finally, the Rokugani also possess a special type of arrow.
slightly larger than a yumi, usually larger than two meters. They were developed to cut rope: the karimata. these were original
They are also balanced for easy shooting while being carried by mounted sailors and have a wide crescent shape.
a horse, although this combined with its size results in a pronounced curve to the head. Are heavier than normal
They are difficult to handle on the ground. The specific height of an arrow is incorrect and therefore it will not fly as far, but towards its intended
Daikyu, like that of a yumi, is determined by paper examination and generally does not require great distances.
the length of the archer's shot.

The other type of bow commonly used in Rokugan is
the han-kyu, a small, simple bow used in situations
where the size of yumi and dai-kyu will be an issue
Attic han-kyu are usually made from a single piece.
wood rather than a laminate design and are generally not
designed to suit individual shooters. are too short
compared to the other two arches, usually as small as three

Archery uses Ned for counterattacks. Archery on a unicorn horse is still a
in the Empire a very characteristic aspect of its approach to war; climate
Some clans developed some elite units of mounted archers,
“First the arrows eat, then the blacks come
Birds that find the gaps between armor.” Rokugani bow and arrow
Lover

– Pray, Poet Ronin While Rokugani tradition reveres fighting with a katana as
the culmination of martial conquest, there are a series
Like many other martial arts practiced by Rokugani, they are part of groups within Rokugan samurai culture that are
In practice, kyujutsu has a place in and out of the realm of those who are deeply committed to the study and advancement of kyujutsu.
Battle. Although archery is mainly a way to kill them.
Enemy, it is also practiced by some as an artistic act or as an act of the Tsuruchi Family.
form of meditation. the praying mantis

Many Rokugan daimyo regularly organize kyujutsu tournaments. Nowadays it is almost impossible to talk about kyujutsu.
Events like the Koritome Rokugan vassal family's annual festivals, not to mention Tsuruchi. Despite
anniversary of the death of its founder Matsu Koritome. The biggest ones only came out at the end
Tournaments like Topaz Championship Lore: The 11th Century no other clan or family has ever been able to do
There is also an archery competition. Most of them claim to be dedicated to the way of the bow as they were.
Tournaments follow a standard format: every archer shoots. In their early history as the Vespa Clan, the boys had
War gives four arrows, after which some of the competitors put their elbows in their hands as soon as they could walk,
Inated and the rest moved on to another round of adults refusing to carry swords and kyujutsu was a
Tournament and shoot four arrows again. Usually any lifestyle for everyone in the clan. Tsuruchi's fight
The line fires at a separate target using various stalemate techniques developed and perfected by the Wasp Clan.
away from the line of fire. A goal will be very close, the founder quickly gained widespread respect as the best
Archers can focus on their shooting technique.
32 nique, while others are increasingly distant, the long history of the empire.
with the farthest target usually around sixty yards.
Chapter One Those who participate in these tournaments become famous and after the Tsuruchi are absorbed by the Mantid, they
Given the ratings against kyujutsu, they were forced to compromise their stance slightly. a little
Artists, similar to the ratings they give Go masters. A small clan can get away with being a little eccentric.
(especially if you want the protection of the Emerald Chamber
pion), but representatives of an important clan, one in particular
Hunting is another popular use of archery. Samurai, recently elevated to their status, must at least pay lip service to
the Buke nobility, in particular, often converses with imperial lore. The wasp has given up its former tradition.
Hunt wild boar, deer and other similar animals. Bows are what break your katana, and most of them are adopted as well.
preferred weapons for such hunting and can be fired with ei-Bushido instead of the previous Wasp Code. Young
also on foot or on horseback. In fact most samurai had to learn kenjutsu and this from Tsuruchi
For traditionalist clans, this is often the only instance where forms of bushido appear alongside their own traditions in redemption.
Tilts when mounted.
Kyujutsu, and a significant divide was formed between them.

Of course, archery is most often used by those who have adopted this training, and those who have considered it

battle field. In battle, Rokugani archers are just an inconvenient necessity.

a single line and fire their arrows across the field Despite these changes, the Tsuruchi family is still at home.
against advancing infantry; when the enemy closes range, to the greatest number of experienced archers from each family
Archers pull back or drop their bows and transition to Empire and their training in the ways of the bow
for spears or swords. Archery units can also operate from impassable debris. Clans that have a con-
behind the lines to place long-range fire on enemy units associated with Clan Mantis, often talented foster children
or harass their flanks. Archery to train with Tsuruchi.

When the unicorn returned to the Empire in the 8th century, the modern Mantis army is heavily dependent on Tsuruchi's army.
The 19th century brought with it several new battlefield chers to wear down your enemies and create openings for them.
Tactics, tactics that gave them considerable Yoritomo to exploit for a while. Any Praying Mantis Legion, usually
Advantages over other Rokugan armies. This includes at least one Tsuruchi squad they are tasked with.
A new tactic was the use of the mounted bow and arrow. While the Tradition serves primarily as archers, only then do they draw their swords.
Traditional Rokugani archers fight on foot, unicorn preparation is absolutely necessary. Although that sometimes
offered for shooting from horseback, the combination of traditional archery weakens coordination between the
National reach benefits from cavalry mobility. This remnant of the Mantis troops is a testament to the absolute skill of the archers.
it allowed them to wear down their enemies with one unrelenting blow; the tsuruchi usually makes up for it.
Fury of arrows retreating whenever the enemy threatens -

Chapter One

33

Koritome Vassal of warrior clans like the crab, the lion or the unicorn. Then the winds of war
The Matsu Crane family has always tried to find a way for each family.
defend the clan. In the case of the patient
The origins of the Koritome vassal family of the Lion Clan are the boxer Asahina, but this proved to be quite a challenge.
described earlier in this section. Ko- warriors there has always been a small minority within the family that
Ritome are considered the most courageous, lacking both the ability to communicate with kami and kami.
and honored in the Lion Clan, and are endowed with the contemplative philosophy necessary to live in Shinden Wing.
more respect than many vassal families enjoy. After all, the monastic surroundings of Hina. Determined to find a way
Starting with a man who sacrificed his life to save and serve his clan, these iconoclasts have embraced the path
the Emperor himself. As such, both Clan and Archer champions see this as a way to defend the Crane without
Mighty daimyos trained at the Koritome Dojo to face the fierce brutalities of hand-to-hand combat.
Centuries ago, the clan's leadership regularly tried to develop these samurai into formal archer units.
Lawyer for the Daimyo of the Koritome family. it was a natural combination of their combined sensibilities
with the needs of the clan armies. Your education and technology
The Lion Armies' primary use of ranged attacks stemmed from the family's natural affinity for air.
On the battlefield are his elite spearmen, who fire their arrows with the same accuracy and lethality as he does.
Heal with a thrown Yari, as many of the Tsuruchi are used by a Duelist on hit.
with an arrow. However, chorytomes are an essential element –
little beit, is also part of these armies. The Koritome Archer Asahina archers are being trained in a small castle nearby.
Units fire at strategically important targets, such as enemies on the border between Asahina and Daidoji countries, and
reserves or commanders. In addition, its use goes beyond bringing together the experience of both families in the development of their family.
your archery skills; Lion generals know what to...teach. Though their numbers were never large,
any task entrusted to the honorable Koritome, no matter how useful they have been in the crane armies for centuries.
dangerous, it will certainly be achieved. turis During the war against darkness in the 12th century
In the early 20th century, however, the Kranich clan was briefly shaken.
The Asahina Archers started a civil war in which the Asahina Archers killed many
your own clanmates. Shocked by this incident, the archers
Great as the Crane Clan is, they have sworn never to shoot a crane again.
Clans and when forced into open warfare, and during the subsequent War of the Spirits, many of their sensei
compared to what is most often at a disadvantage

The unicorn is known as a clan that forges its own enigmatic path.
no matter what others might think.

Archery Gaijin The Crab Hiruma Family

During the eight centuries that passed

Rokugan, the Unicorn Clan met the Alien The Hiruma have always focused on their fighting style

Cities that used a very different form of speed, dodge, and lethality in archery instead of stamina

like the Rokugani. In Rokugani, archery and brute strength are favored by Crab Clan rule.
The pull and the throw are almost the same movement and hid family, so it's not surprising that this is always the case as well.
The archer does not take as much aim as he suspects, where he prefers archery to hida bushi. I eat-
Arrow go, archery Gaijin that the unicorn always calls, this trend increased a lot after Hiruma lost
yomanri - instead takes the approach of hitting your original school first during the Oni Lord's attack
the arrow and then shoot. A Yomanri Archer draws, known as a Maw. They were forced to develop a new
his arrow in the cheek and looks at the Well, then the school, the Hiruma Scouts, built around discretion and kindness.
he lets it go once he is sure of his objective. Bush, and this school even emphasized archery
stronger than its predecessor. with the passage of
Although many unicorns continued to practice for years, the best archers among the Hiruma honed their skills.
Archery Rokugani during their travels abroad, a Sig skill until they become an elite Chapter within the clan
A significant number of them chose to learn the Gaijin style called Hiruma Snipers.
Archery When they returned to the Empire,
maintain practice, and Yomanri archers remain specially trained marksmen for combat
A significant factor in Unicorn armies, even in the Kaiu Wall area where the skill is found
modern times.
Keeping calm and shooting accurately can make all the difference.
A distinctly unicorn style, Winds of War Yomanri makes the difference between success and failure, not just for the archer, but for everyone.
some controversy. Everyone outside everyone with him. Marksman training focuses on hitting
of the unicorn clan that uses it will certainly look closely at their targets' weakest points to dodge
strangely, to say the least, and the use of yomanri
Create the thick hides and hard shells of the shadowlands
it might as well be considered a minor skill for non-unicorns.
Such training has value on the conventional battlefield.

Field too, of course, as precision shots can deflect

34 the protection of samurai armor.

In modern times, after the Hiruma family, their

Chapter One Techniques of the Lost School, Hiruma Snipers are trained

in the family dojo with others of his lineage. Is it over there

and senior officers who committed seppuku instead of shooting also sometimes visit the Toritaka family dojo.
Steel chrysanthemum maintenance crane. Hawkeye and exchange knowledge with those of the crab clan
younger family.

Shinjo's Dragon Flame Archers

The mountains of the Dragon Clan are inhospitable, and a sizable portion of the Unicorn's army consists of cavalry and
dangerous locations, rarely dealing with enemy footprints, while clan training particularly emphasizes hand-to-hand combat
But the Dragon Clan is still a war clan for the fierce warriors of the Moto and Utaku families.
Your country's rivers and reputation depend so much on your lies that unicorns also have a long tradition of riding.
Skills like the obstacle represented by mountains, archery, one with roots in the clan's origin as a ki-
The Dragonflame Archers are an elite unit of the Rin Clan in the early Empire. The Shinjo Family in
Dragon warriors tasked with defending their homelands have long dabbled in archery and archery forms
when attacked; Team up with Drag-Sword and Spear and join the clan's legions of mounted archers
The flame of On is considered a great honor among the Miru; They are often colloquially referred to as the Shinjo Horsebow.
moto as it proves that the samurai is reliable enough for men. Mounted archery is a confusing tactic for other clans
defend your home. armies, as they have no real answer. unicorn
Archers sweep the battlefield and change frequently
Due to the nature of its mission, the Dragonflame floats through the heights seemingly randomly like a breeze.
Archers spend a lot of time practicing shots in the grass. They cut down the enemy ranks with arrows, but then
Bows of different heights, in different types of pro- they remove instantly, bleeding your enemies but never fully
off-balance or against moving targets. Her training forced her closer. Standard Unicorn Battle Tactics
He emphasizes that he uses his country's rugged terrain to rely on his mounted archers to cut down enemy forces.
Own advantage, maneuver around rocks and cliffs for defense before sending a cavalry charge to break through.
Get effective shots and endanger your opponents.
These tactics often infuriate their more traditional opponents. As mentioned earlier, unicorn archers are primarily trained
nten, like the lion clan, but the dragon has always been in the Shinjo Bushi school, which teaches its students
He fights equally well with a bow or sword when mounted. alabama-

although Moto and Utaku schools teach the basics of Air and Path Chapter One
archery, do not constitute an important part of his yarijutsu
Education. 35
Since the dawn of the Empire, the spear has been one of the
The Hawk Strike, the simplest and most effective of all weapons. A single Ka-Tides of War
A tana can take months to make, and a yumi can take days or days.
Since its inception, the small Falcon clan has trained for weeks, but a spear can be crafted in minutes. Almost
Bushi are so aware of their surroundings that anyone can sharpen a stick into a usable spear. spears can
few others can match. This is mainly because the clan is used as a melee and ranged weapon.
focus on ghost hunting, but this clarity of the senses can have the same effect. Thanks to the efficiency and
They also have other advantages, and in a century of weapon flexibility, the spear has survived.
The Falcon's creation developed a talent for archery. This modern martial art of rokugan and yarijutsu can be
Falcon's Strike Dojo was born, which he chose for his surprising elegance. As in all martial arts, true mastery
Leading students to heightened vision and senses and teaching them to use the spear can take years or even a lifetime. More than
They rely on their focused senses rather than mechanics, which a bushi school continues to teach the forms of yarijutsu.
drag and shoot to hit the target. In fact, students and some families choose to specialize in this type of weapon.
The Falcon's Strike are famous for their tracking ability and, of course, the simplicity and effectiveness of the
and hitting its targets regardless of obscuration or scattering means it remains the pawns' primary weapon.
traction. Ashigaru soldiers across the Empire.

For much of its history, Falcon's Strike was a short history of the
group consisting of a few dozen students at best. Spear in Rokugan
However, after the hawk was absorbed by the crab
In the 12th century the dojo begins to attract students long before the first craftsman hammers -
from the rest of the Crab Clan who greatly increase their steel size in the form of a sword, or
and glory to iron in an axe, someone sharpened-
had a rod and created a spear. Time
The Order of Mercy of the Wind has the design and materials of the spears
and the Taoist archers advanced far beyond the center
The basic concept has remained the same for centuries.
There are dozens of differences within the Shinsei Brotherhood: place the pointed end on the
various paths to enlightenment, including those on the enemy.
Return to mediation in one form or another of the martial arts.
Kyujutsu is no exception, and in the ranks of The Spear, like The Bow, se-
The Brotherhood consists of a few noble souls who made their living mainly from hunting.
achieve a state of perfect harmony with the bow
Archery with the same dedication as others
mediation or fasting. Many of them in modern times
the monks belong to the order known as Grace of the Wind,
which is discussed in detail in the fourth chapter.

The tradition of Taoist archers who strive for perfection
There was harmony through the study of kyujutsu
within the Brotherhood for centuries, but it has not yet begun
spread throughout the rest of the Empire until the
It was through coup that a ronin named Gahei learned their ways.
Although not a monk, Gahei was an as-
skeptical, devoted to the way of the bow, and
Taoist archers saw him as a kindred spirit.
Gahei mastered his technique and in his
Years later, he began teaching
few selected students. In this way
the unique style of kyujutsu
Taoist archers invaded
Congregation Ronin of Rokugan, al-
although it was still quite rare and
dark there too.

Weapon in the tribes that later became the Demons and Ogres. Akodo One-Eye, always alert for news

by Rokugan. Later, as intertribal conflicts evolved into more tactical opportunities, elite units of spearmen began to be deployed.

Together, javelins became the main weapon of war as in their armies, and they appeared in others soon after.

We will. Initially, most spears were also simple clan armies made from wooden poles.

with pointed ends, sometimes hardened by fire. Later Generation In the thousand years since that time, the path of the yari-
The ages have added separate ends to the spear: stone, bronze, jutsu continue to thrive in Rokugan, not like most.
iron and finally steel. preeminent of the martial arts, but certainly the most

By the time kami reached what later became September, it was widespread and practical. While samurai are still being taught

Pun Hill, many of the tribes in what would later become Roku that kenjutsu and iaijutsu are the purest and most honorable.

Gan already had a rich tradition of spear fighting. The martial arts saying, the recruited peasants

The kami viewed spears as weapons smaller than swords or bows, suited to serve as the vanguard of most Rokugani.

but he realized that they were useful for armies composed of pri armies taught yarijutsu. There are also some groups

Marily of the common people. Instead of forcing the samurai tribes to use yarijutsu as one of the most

They used spears to completely transform their forms, the kami the martial art, right after the sword. As a result,

encouraged them to teach their commoners to cast, there are probably more men in modern Rokugan than there actually are.

Soldiers, while your strongest warriors learned kenjutsu, practiced the basics of yarijutsu like no other.

the Kami and their strongest followers. the shape of the weapon. Many ashigaru and samurai take extreme measures.

Tides of War Though many Rokugani accepted this solution, some prided themselves on their spears almost as much as they did on their swords. Is it over there
as if the kami were interfering with their traditions. For example, handles are drawn with tassels or streamers.
In some tribal cultures, materials for a man's spear are used both to give an ornamental appearance and to give an ornamental appearance.
and ornaments were signs of social status. luring the enemy Some yarijutsu artists will take art
Give all the soldiers spears and treat the yarijutsu like a sword on the blades of their polearms, while the other domestics
An art lesser than kenjutsu went against everything they believed in. Knitted designs on handle and blades are protected
Usually these tribes left the empire and went abroad with scabbards, so as not to fall prey to rust or dirt.

Breeds like Yobanjin, but some stayed and fought.

T S Their spears gave them no advantage over the Kamis-

aligned forces, and for the most part were tribes
types of pears

one man wiped out, although some eventually became. There is a considerable variety of polearms used by
allowed to bow and submit to the superior might of Rokugani warriors, varying in both length and depth.
36 knots.
the shape of the head. Although the L5R game engine

Chapter One Ultimately, the kami's will and favoritism differentiate between "spears" and "pole weapons."

towards swordsmanship meant the yari would never do it again in terms of broad military rank they are all very

They retain the position they enjoyed among similar pre-Imperial weapons and are used in a similar way. reckless

Nor is it the spear form of the various RPG mechanics, all these weapons fall under it.

out of use, especially when Fu Leng and the martial art Yarijutsu appeared in Rokugani eyes.

the First War began. Spears can be swift The most common spear used by Rokugani warriors is
made to complete the ranks of Em - the lowly Yari. This basic spear is usually six to seven
Foot-long pirate armies against the shadow lands, with a straight, narrow, double-edged edge.
invasion and the longest blade between eight and twenty-four inches long
They were often better for fighting (blade length varies by clan,
against big enemies like the craft weapon with the Crane Clan Daidoji

generally prefer longer leaves). Most yari heads are

made of medium quality steel instead of best quality

Metal used for katana (although still way ahead of metal

used for kitchen knives and other daily use utensils).

Samurai yari handles are made from well-seasoned wood.

hard wood like ash, but of inferior quality

Yari uses bamboo handles instead.

While the regular yari is Game Mechanics' weapon of choice for Chapter One
Ashigaru, many samurai foot soldiers prefer to wield Variant Polearms.
shorter weapon known as nage-yari. Nage Yari is 37 years old
only five feet long with a rather short head, in an L5R campaign with many PCs wielding spears,
and are designed to be well balanced for pouring. The GM might want to introduce some additional battlegrounds.
Small size allows a single samurai to carry a mechanic variation that reflects the many samurai subtypes
some of them in a bandolier or quiver and their shorter spears and polearms found in Rokugan. in general-
The length makes it easy to use in close combat. Eral, weapons like the Sankaku Yari or the Tsukinari.
than a regular yari. Lion Spearmen are particularly good - yari will be mechanically similar to a normal yari, it-
known to use nage-yari. particularly in relation to your damage assessment (DR) and
applicable skills. However, a DJ may wish
There are also numerous different Yari sub-layouts, allowing a PC to worry about a specific one.
each with a different type of head. For example, subtype sankaku yari for modest mechanical advantage
Yari have triangular heads instead of flat ones, reflecting the weapon's design. a sankaku yari
making them better at piercing armor in exchange for ignoring 1 or 2 points of armor reduction,
lose your edge. For example, the maga yari has three blades, or a maga yari might allow for a small mouth.
Two of them are curved and perpendicular to the central node for disarming attempts. The GM has to be careful there
blade, which allows you to hook and catch enemy swords; However, don't let these benefits get too big.
Tsukinari Yari, on the other hand, has a more rounded character defined more by her weapon than her.
Blade for slashing and as a hook for throwing skills and techniques.
an enemy off his feet. These two variants are popular with
Ashigaru, who needs every advantage he can get to get the fleeing offenders off the horses. To have
best-trained and best-equipped samurai. If not a seven foot long rod topped with a T-shaped head
Peasants serving in war also sometimes use grappling hooks and spikes, making them easy to catch on rokugani.
Kumade, a simple peasant weapon consisting of four-legged robes, kimono and hakama.
wooden shaft with a pointed metal spike at one end and a
rake from the other. the art of yari jutsu

Unlike the more commonly used yari, spears are extremely versatile weapons. can be used
Used by ashigaru rather than samurai, the naginata is used for much longer reach than a sword, hitting enemies before they can.
exclusively samurai and with so much enthusiasm that it can hit the user; They can stab, they can cut, they
almost as iconic of Rokugani bushi as the katana itself. can stop or fire, stopping an attached charge
Naginatas are essentially full-length katana blades on all heads. However, the same versatility means a
Long boom cables. The naginata can make a samurai a true master of yarijutsu, it's a scary idea.
decisive advantage in reach and leverage over an opponent
with a sword and is therefore popular on and off the battlefield. There are three stages of yarijutsu training. Most
and between Yojimbo. Most naginata blades are made of ashigaru and receive only basic training, but samurai understand
Steel, being somewhat inferior to that used to make katana, requires more advanced training and true masters are happy to spend it.
but in some families where the tradition of yarijutsu has long resided in a spear like a kakita, he spends practicing iai-
The strongest naginata blades are made with jutsu of the same quality. Only at this highest level of training
Steel and the same artistic care as the blades of a katana. Shiba-Jutsu ceases to be a mere martial practice and evolves into
The Phoenix family is particularly known for their love of an art form.
a naginata.
However, basic javelin training is the foundation for this
The nagimaki is a naginata with just one meter of footprint, all forms of the most advanced yarijutsu. beginner learners
Essentially a katana with an elongated wooden handle, and a few simple forms are learned, usually a jab, a lock and a jab.
It is used much less frequently than the regular naginata. Enter the bar. The main focus of ashigaru training is the
More militant orders of the Shinsei Brotherhood, means forming these simple kata into groups to produce a
While there is a big favor for Bisento, the slightly shorter and predictable performance on the battlefield during the main draw
Naginata, with a much wider and heavier blade, made it difficult for early samurai to focus on training using the spear to hold.
use because it's too heavy. a distant enemy.

Not all yarijutsu applications are found in combat.
field, and some unusual types of polearms are used
especially non-military roles. The Sasumata or "Human
Catcher is a two-meter wooden handle topped with a
crescent-shaped steel head with spikes along the inside
Curve. Judges and their executioners use the weapon.
Keeping offenders immovable because once is the crescent moon
pushed over an opponent's head, he must stop.
bile or be ripped out by the cruel barbs. The Sodegarami or
Police officers also use the "case catcher" to capture
criminals' clothes and tear them apart; its special

Tides of War The second stage of training is when you start with an endless dance where the movements are similar but never
see Notes on the Great Art of Yarijutsu. Students expand the duplicates. At this level, the student of yarijutsu becomes absolute.
in basic spear kata, learn to stab anyone within reach of your spear in several deadly levels,
Heights and distances to take down enemies that are too close, and these men and women are easy to spot in the field
To take advantage of the yari's extra length and fight, there is always a clear ring around it, the
uses the blunt end of the yari as a weapon in its own right. length of your yari. Within such rings only the Yari-
When a student gains confidence in these forms of yarijutsu, the jutsu masters the dead and dying.
they begin to flow together in one smooth, continuous movement.
like a summer wind sweeping across a yarijutsu field, art can become for advanced students of yarijutsu
mature grain. The advanced student of yarijutsu also begins a form of meditation, as in other Rokugani markets.
learn to form a "dead space" around yourself, an art space. The flow of shapes helps to focus the mind and
where no enemy can enter without being killed, as well as releasing the spirit, even though it is a really impressive sight
the deadly bow within reach of a swordsman. to each witness.

In more advanced yarijutsu training, dedicated students become masters.
Discover that previous kata are just the basis for a spear form
a lifetime of future learning, for changes in basic kata
You can transform them into completely different shapes. As well as military, although they are not very numerous
a subtle gust of wind can herald the death of thousands of Cher units, families, and even entire Minor Clans that worship them.
ry blooms so they can make small changes in direction and accelerate using the spear as their primary weapon. Around the twelfth century
brings about dramatic differences in the way a spear moves. Some of these groups have died out, but others still serve the
A subtle flick of the wrist can set the point of an empire in motion in the best way they know how: through the exercise of the art.
Attack Yari from a completely different direction. A touch of yarijutsu.
Wrist can cause Yaris axle to stop turning
the head leaps forward like a violent viper. watching a
Masters of Yarijutsu, checking your forms is like looking

Cinematic Spear Fight The Boar Clan

“When the world is against you and you believe

38 Many martial arts movies show warriors using spears that you've already lost, it's at this point
have to get up again. In this action you will feel that

Chapter one at its most extravagant and dramatic, the boar's courage."

very different from —Heichi Mariako's direct description

Yarijutsu in a semi-realistic combat system like L5R

4th edition. Especially Chinese movies like Hero,

Three Kingdoms, or Red Cliff, tends to feature a former The Boar Clan that has only officially existed for a relatively short time.
Extremely impressive cinematic style of spear fighting. short period of Rokugan's history, though its roots
They were considerably older. During the fourth century
Even though the "normal" L5R doesn't really fit, a large group of Crab Clan Samurai
kind of action, the GMs, who take a more cinematic form, felt like they were dead in an earthquake while watching Twi-
or heroic style for your game, you might want to enable a light mountain. Nearly a century later, in 447,
Yarijutsu form, similar to the dazzling displays of various samurai emerging from the mountains
the athleticism and reflexes used in these films. a gm
could allow players to promote Otosan Uchi to some sort of sect and present chariots to the Emperor

secondary move that accompanies your attack and then fills with iron and jade. The samurai declared that they did

an Athletics skill check (along with your normal javelin

or polearm attack roll) to achieve this. For example: "I managed to get into the mountain passes and valleys

Take my yari at the end and spin me around in leys until they can reopen the routes for the rest

an unpredictable pattern that creates a revolving empire wall. The wealth they offered were the taxes they offered

Steel cannot penetrate my enemies.” The GM could reward Meow for living on the Emperor's land for more than a year.
mechanical perks for successful rolls, such as B. a centenary bonus. The emperor was so impressed with his
the character's TN armor, or simply reflecting it on the cunning and toughness of the game that gave them their
by the actions (or lack thereof) of the enemy. mountainous lands as their own and proclaim them as the

GMs who want to make this kind of contact, the Heichi family and the Boar Clan.
further and extend it beyond the domain
of spear fighting, you can refer to the discussion in year 501, all members of the boar clan
"RPG Freeform and Air Action" ended up mysteriously disappearing and abandoned in its own country
this chapter behind only pools of blood. In fact, they were victims
to the machinations of the Bloodspeaker Cult, which had

began sacrificing them on a terrible relic called an anvil

of despair. A group of ancient spirits called the Shakoki.

Dogu who lived deep in the mountains absorbed

the remaining boar to save her from the bloodspeakers,

leave nothing behind It would be for her. Every young Tsume who trains as a bushi learns Chapter One
more than six hundred years before the techniques of the pikemen Tsume and family
the rest of Rokugan would learn that it held out thanks to the strength of those 39 repeated attacks from the lions.
the secret behind the training of the boar clan.
mysterious fate. winds of war
The Tsume technique focuses on defensive actions
Through the centuries since the impulse to attack the attackers against them. chop-
With the decline of the Boar Clan, the men are learning to be reactionary fighters, watching their enemies
Several ronin claimed the Boar for weaknesses in its defenses and then used range.
bloodline and occasionally even the yari to exploit these weaknesses.
Demonstrated knowledge of clan losses
Yarijutsu techniques. However, the Daidoji regulars
The clan was declared extinct by Im-
Expert decree, such were these ronin. Although the Tsume are the best known masters of yari
never being able to claim the boar jutsu within the Crane clan has the entire Daidoji family
Country or clan name. also stood out with this martial art, mainly through
on the fighting skills of your iron warriors. in part due
Boars were known to be tough and played to their tradition of defensive warfare, in part because of their
silent samurai, which is not surprising given the frequent deployments like Yojimbo, Iron Warrior Platoon
who were born from the lineage of crabs, and strict in the use of yari and good use. many daidoji
He lived in a remote mountain fortress. Kata are built around polearms, especially spears.
Their home has always been infested with bandits, the Shadow family is also known for training their most experienced ashigaru.
Land creatures and sometimes wild wild beasts. more tense than in the armies of other clans. Have some daidoji
The boar samurai developed a fighting style that even turned the way of yarijutsu into a show-off art.
He used his defensive skills: Tenacity, Resilience, the so-called Resplendent Crane Yarijutsu.
and the unrivaled skill of its blacksmiths. Your
Techniques that revolve around a finely crafted spear she
Named Mai Chong. She was about eight feet long and
topped with a very unusual point: a 1-foot main blade During the First War at the dawn of the Empire, the Kami
long, with two other leaves of equal length protruding. Akodo formed an elite unit of spearmen within the lion.
perpendicular to the main sheet. Also the main army of Blades, and that unit still exists in modern Rokugan - al-
It was pierced by two large spikes protruding from it, although some lion commanders consider it old-fashioned.
ing the beam to cut with as well as to push. However, these elite spearmen serve as one of the most important
Mary organized units into armies of lions. exist
The Mai Chong's versatility has made it extremely effective in many stories to explain why it is the most capable army of all.
effective when used correctly, but difficult to learn with Rokugan, these are the most used units
make the best of it. A statement by the Mai Master is said to be that Akodo supposedly did not think that the
Chong could cut an opponent's armor laces. Ten bows was a weapon appropriate for the battlefield, believed to be the best
Meters apart, but few elites even within the boar clan
Samurai have already reached such a level of technology. After
The wild boar went extinct, the knowledge of how to do it
The Mai Chong died with them, and only a handful of
Guns exist in modern times and circulate around the world.
Ronin Community.

Der Tsume-Vasalle
crane family

The Tsume are a small Crane family, vassals of
the doji. They lived for most of their history
Kintani Valley, a geographically isolated neighboring valley
To the lands of the lion and the phoenix. It has been
scene of countless battles between the lion and the
Crane, especially in the late 11th and early 12th centuries.
Centuries when the Tsume emerged from the valley to conquer them
build the castle of Shiro Kyotei and the city of Toshi Ranbo,
trigger a series of bitter wars against the lion.

Faced with the lion's repeated attacks, Tsume develops.
defense techniques served around spear fighting,
ended up earning the title of Tsume Pikeman for his
Pole Weapon Skills. His technique allows the use of infantry
ing yari to turn his opponent's aggression against him

used for hunting. Other stories say that when Akodo lost the quick weapon; combined with a superior range, that's what sets it apart
his eye on the First War, the warriors he fought, an almost perfect weapon for any yojimbo. Shiba catches
stopped using his bows because he couldn't use his own, took great pride in his skill with the naginata, and held it frequently
instead of switching to javelin throwing. Whatever the real informal duels where the fighters show their fight
Reason for the existence of elite lion spearmen, their skill with the naginata in the most dazzling and elegant forms
They have a long and distinguished history of service in every possible way.
the lion clan.
However, the Utaku Battle Maidens also use Naginata.
The Lion Elite Guard is unusual in that it works for different reasons than the Shiba. naginata allowed
as a hybrid between a ranged unit and an infantry unit. Battle Maidens to engage spear-armed infantry or
They are masters of the nage-yari, a shorter type of yari, other similar polearms that deny foot troops.
which is usually only three or three feet long. Each spearman gains a range advantage as he gains range over them.
He carries a quiver of eight to ten nage-yari into battle, armed with a katana. It's rare to see an Utaku Battlemaiden
Field. They charge their foes and hurl their spears as on the field of battle without naginata, and indeed those
They do and draw their swords or wear their naginata, which has become a symbol of their order.
They throw them like melee weapons when they get close.
Although archers are effective at a much higher level than ashigaru and spear
The range, ferocity, and courage of elite lion spearmen
allows them to continue to be a significant force in the
modern battlefield.

“What we do is art. What peasants do is merely

Shiba Bushi e Utaku Battle Son Adequados“.
Maidens: The Naginata
Vientos de Guerra – Tsuruchi Nobumoto, Daimyo de
the Tsuruchi, century XII
Tanto el Shiba Bushi mit el Utaku Shiotome (Batalla

virgins) are valued as recognized teachers

the naginata. These two groups of warriors train with the , although it is not uncommon for a samurai to fight
edged polearm for different reasons but both use it with a yari that most of the Empire use
with grace and style... and with big impact.
Spears in battle are ashigaru, peasant troops. samurai

Chapter One 40 A Shiba Bushi's only job in life is to make sure they are valuable: they are relatively few in number.
Isawa and with him the Phoenix clan are protected. and protecting the country takes years of training to master
On a basic philosophical level, every Shiba is a Yojimbo, their abilities. By the simple fact of their existence, they are instruments of
Power, political alliance and social order. peasants, in
Regardless of any special training. This is one of the most important, on the other hand they are numerous and unnecessary, so
Reasons why Shiba train extensively with Naginata. They are ideal as recruiting troops.
In a battle where most warriors sway

Katana, a naginata can have a significant advantage al- If the Kami organized Rokugan at the beginning of the year

By allowing a single warrior to equal multiple empires, they found only a minority of mortals.
many opponents. Despite its size, a naginata is surprisingly worthy of the rank of a samurai. Gene-

Usually only the best warriors and the most skilled leaders

he impressed the kami enough to be sworn into his service.

The rest of the people became peasants and did their duty.

in heavenly order, completing the day to day

household chores that are under the supervision of a sam-

Urai. However, when war comes, some peasants

Ants can share the main task

samurai and fight alongside them. each clan

in the empire sometimes has a standing army

several armies, and each of these armies has

a core of ashigaru foot soldiers. to university

Most uses ashigaru to be part of the infantry

"Base" of your army, which secures enemy forces

Space for samurai cavalry to attack.

Ashigaru has two purposes. first professional
represent a large part of the general purpose of the army
Ground forces, often attacking in large numbers
clash with the equally large masses of opposition
Ashigaru of Nent. Second, they provide an army
Labor to cut down the trees needed for the enclosure
Engines, excavation and slope stabilization, construction
camps and dig latrines and a thousand

O conto de Daidoji Yari

It is said that the daimyo of the Daidoji family was traveling through their lands in the 10th century when a sudden storm arose and forced him and his family
Yojimbo staff accommodating me in a small town. The next morning, the daimyo awoke to the sounds of battle outside the simple hut where
I slept through the night The village had been attacked by a herd of Ronin cavalry. The only defense was a group of five doshin, four youths and
an older one, all without armor and dressed only in their yari. The doshin moved as a unit, more fluid and agile than most samurai.
He displayed a skill in the art of yarijutsu the likes of which the daimyo had never seen before. When his yojimbo stepped forward to join the fight, the daimyo stood his ground.
He held out a hand, preventing him from joining the fight.

As far as the Daimyo could see, there was never a moment when the outcome of the battle was in the slightest doubt. Despite being at a disadvantage
like two to one, with no armor and no swords, the doshin easily prevailed, defeating seven of the ronin before the others fled and taking down another
with a thrown yari while trying to escape. The doshin's only wound was a single cut on a man's cheek.

When the battle ended and the wound was bandaged, the daimyo called the leader of the doshin to stand before him. "Who are you and how
Do you make your yari dance like that? Old Doshin bowed deeply and replied, "Me, Samurai-sama? I am an ashigaru, son of an ashigaru,
Grandson of an ashigaru, and my children after me are ashigaru." He indicated the other four doshin, who bowed in unison. "My father named me
Yari, and I called my oldest Yari. I won't let the spear dance, samurai-sama. The spear knows where to go if you listen to it. I only help the air
take it there

The Daimyo pondered old Doshin's simple wisdom for a while, then smiled. "Daidoji Yari, how would you like to share your wisdom?
with others?" The daimyo is said to have raised the doshin and his family to the rank of samurai on the same day and year as the daidoji yari
He became a sensei at the Daidoji Training Grounds and taught the young Daidoji bushi to listen to their spears and help the air carry them where they wanted.
I had to go

other menial duties required of an army, but beyond the training experienced men confer on Chapter One
below the dignity of samurai (even crab samurai). new recruits
41
A good percentage of ashigaru come from families with. As expected, the ashigaru suffer heavy casualties.
a history of such a service, sometimes able to trace your involvement in some important engagement. Despite such losses, there are Tides of War
it goes back centuries or even the establishment of the ashigaru still plentiful when war comes.
Rich. These families are very proud of their lineage and run out, and most of these "leftover" men are rejected.
and the honor they received from helping defend their villages to resume their lives as farmers or artisans
Terras do Senhor Some of these families are even on leave (at least until the next war). However, it is always a minority
forced to keep their spears and armor and pass them on to remain in the ranks to ensure there is always a
from generation to generation, though her core of males were more often trained for any sudden outbreak of conflict.
the equipment is guarded by its master in peacetime. Also, experienced ashigaru are selected more often.
by their masters to serve as doshin (law enforcement pawns), or
In times of open war, a clan dispatches samurai as budoka (armed personal servants of the samurai).
in their villages and recruit ashigaru for service. Some
of these samurai recruiters march to villages and des- Not uncommon for an experienced ashigaru-
Order a certain number of men to come with them, provided they are particularly skilled with their spears, especially these.
others send messages to the village chief or to the ashigaru person who managed to survive many battles, or
Allies choose their soldiers. In any case, people in cities worried about the ban have no one to serve as their doshin.
no choice but to offer the number of soldiers needed. Cadits, or marauding creatures of the Shadowlands. this ashi-
Reer Ashigaru usually volunteers for the duty, of course Garu can sometimes go beyond the mere slash, thrust,
But most peasants have little interest in fighting and are taught in training, they get to the point
selected by the boss, by lottery or in an equally comprehensive yarijutsu as a martial art in the same way as
unintentional fashion. their samurai teachers. Although such an advanced ashigaru
rarely equals the true art of a Daidoji or Shiba,
Newly recruited ashigaru are generally aware of their abilities and are not overwhelmed by formed habits.
Disdain for veterans, many of whom serve in clan armies and learn other martial arts without the restrictions of essence.
for years on end. Typically, some of these established rules and traditions restrict the samurai's experience. Similar
Ashigaru is used as Sergeant and the Supermans are really awesome because they throw everything they have
Mentoring new recruits, teaching them the basics to use in their art, utilizing every ounce of creativity and artistry.
Yari and fight together as a group. Ashigaru loves the tistic spirit they possess; after all, they have nothing left.
they say that unlike samurai, it is not done by force
by dominant individuals, but rather by their own, very rarely experienced or courageous
Ability to Collaborate: A daimyo can perceive a group acting as a single ashigaru and elevate them to the status of
legal entity. Experienced Ashigaru use this philosophy to great effect, samurai level. These extraordinary achievements are
and many samurai attacks were stopped, rarely enough of course, and most of these peasants
by a large crowd of ashigaru performing in concert. Soldiers who have mastered the art of yarijutsu live and die like
Peasants defending their villages or perishing unknown
Ashigaru is always equipped with yari; something and without dueling on a distant battlefield, your deeds and
more rarely, curtsies may also be shown to them. His skill with armor was never noticed by his samurai masters.
it's simple, usually little more than filler and usually
wear a simple metal jingasa as a helmet. are self-evident
They are expected to look after their own equipment and that is part of

The spearman stumbled and fell into the nearby stream.

The bandit with the mace moved more cautiously next.

completely than the spearmen. He waved his cane

Aerial and Unarmed Combat: An Old Man's Head Strong Enough to Break a Rock
Kaze-do's road to dust, but the old man just bent his knees, slipped -
He ran his hand over his cane. his ankle
involved the bandit and sent the youngest
Man lying face down on the soft earth below
a gingko tree.

Finally the bandit with the sword approached.

The old man got to his feet, his joints creaking.

Once, long ago, during the dawn of an Au-ing, and bursting as it expanded to its full height.
In the afternoon, an old man was walking through the hills. The swordsman cautiously approached, then circled

He walked slowly, leaning on a crooked stick, and lunged forward to attack. The old man took a step to the side.

stopping frequently for fresh air, and then reaching out and wringing the hand. Him

watch the leaves turn. Days passed during which the swordsman fell to the ground in a daze. if your

Hills with only themselves and nature for company. Clear view, he was face down, dirt on him

One morning, as he passed a stream, his mouth fell open, his arm painfully pinned behind his back.

the boys came out from behind the trees and the old man... just pushing
got in your way. To the swordsman's index finger, they were clearly bandits. old lady's ass

they wore ragged and tattered armor, and each wagoner's staff, meanwhile, was pressed against them.

He carried a weapon: one held a spear, another a sword at the back of his head.

and the third seized a beaten club. The three The other two thugs got to their feet, but remained cautious.

The bandits demanded that the old man give them everything he had from the old man and his fallen comrade. fi

Tides of War properties. He calmly replied, "Maybe one of them finally asked, 'How did you guys defeat us so badly?

I don't have all I have, but do I have enough tea? The old man smiled and said, "If you know

and food to share. I'm taking a lunch break on what you're looking for and I'll be patient.

noon, so that you can travel with me and share my victory over your opponent.” the two bandits

Eat when you are very hungry. he was thoughtful, and then the spearmen said:

The three youths laughed and said, "Please teach me." The man with the club added:

42 would not give them their possessions, they would take "and me". Finally, the swordsman spat out the dirt
Is it over there. The bandit with the spear came forward and his mouth and asked: "Please master, me too."

Chapter One He pushed the old man, but he only took a single step. The old man nodded and let the swordsman stand.

He leaned back and gently placed his hand on the shaft of the spear, "Of course, but first we have to enjoy the autumn air,

causing the tip to fall into the soft earth. That and maybe some tea. so you can go

learn."

-- from the stories of Ota, Kaze-Do
Master and his three disciples

Although Rokugani culture possibly
one might rightly say to adore those
sword, several unarmed
Fighting styles have evolved
through the centuries. Some
these techniques are just
should support your practice
ners in meditation, but most
of which are effective fights
art, although less considered
admiration than those who use
Weapons Although there are many
different styles and substyles
unarmed combat, almost all
of them can trace their roots
return to the style created by
Togashi Kaze I'm Drunk
century, the style he uses
its name today: Kaze-do.

The history of
kaze-do

“Winning is easy. be like him
wind and your opponent will win
the same."

–Togashi Kaze

Rokugan Origins first disarmed her and then humiliated her, leaving her unarmed and facing Chapter One.
Martial arts can be found dominating the street. Rumors about his activities spread over time.
Hantei Ningi, the third Hantei Emperor. even for the imperial capital, and the emperor demanded 43
It was Hantei Ningi who first declared that Togashi Kaze must be brought to him. what happened next
Peasants no longer needed to carry weapons; became a legend: Kaze refused to demo Winds of War
believed that the Empire had completely become his fighting style for the Emperor and the raging Hantei.
civilized during his father's long reign, had the Ise Zumi killed for his insolence. the emerald
Hantei Genji, the Shining Prince, and his champion, Doji Kuzume, committed seppuku.
Time for the common people to give up order forever, and the emperor immediately appointed the
what was left of the elder lion's warrior traditions at court to replace him. that second emerald
the days before the empire. His decree forbade any champion to carry out the orders of the Emperor and Togashis.
Citizens may carry weapons unless otherwise stated. Kaze was killed because he never taught his martial arts style.
empowered by a samurai. to another samurai.

While the decree was effective in separating many of Kaze's stylistic techniques
the peasants of the last of their tribal past, especially in the samurai world, but only the
In the more civilized areas of the Empire there were some peasants, the Brotherhood of Shinsei and the ise zumi or-
also seen episodes. Despite Hanteider's best efforts, he holds the secrets of all of Kaze's ancient techniques.
Genji, the Empire was not yet a completely safe place. Occasionally a traveler even in modern times
Mountain mining villages, in samurai farming villages you will find a ronin or even a farmer in the
on the edges of great forests, on farms, far from any remoter part of the Empire that knows it
Samurai outpost, imminent danger. Bandits, Shadow: The True Secrets of Kaze-do, Passed Down From Father to Son.
Land animals, and in some cases even wild animals, took children as their ancestor learned from Togashi Kaze.
Advantage of defenseless pawns in every possible way. being.

An Ise Zumi called Togashi Kaze was moved by the
the city's problems and decided to do something about it.
that. Drawing on a variety of inspirations, including a flow
Form of physical meditation that was common among the
Like the Ise Zumi at the time, Kaze developed a defensive form
martial arts, later called Kaze-do, "the way".
of the wind." Kaze traveled across the Empire, focusing on the
wildest and most remote regions, and taught Kaze-do
every farmer who wanted to learn. However, he refused
teach it to a samurai. "You have your weapons, Samu-
rai-san,” he said. "Why do you need more?"

Kaze-do has proven to be an extremely effective style.
fight and Kaze showed it at every opportunity.
In fact, he used to intentionally insult other samurai and

Kaze's Three Principles

Like many of the tattooed men, Togashi Kaze was a philosopher and taught his students how to live and fight. He spoke of esotericism.
They enjoy the harmony of the universe and the ebb and flow of the elements, but he also discussed ethics and proper behavior and insisted that his students
Learn three maxims to guide your Kaze-do practice:

Killing is for the cruel. Kaze believed her art was only for self-defense, not killing, and those who used it to inflict unnecessary pain and suffering shamed them both.
you and the art.

Avoidance is preferable to violence. This is the most controversial of Kaze's tenets, as he himself often sought battles with samurai.
show your skills.

Defeat is inevitable. Believing the idea of ​​an "invincible fighter" to be a fallacy, Kaze insisted that his students learn humility and accept their own
Weaknesses Of course, the downside of this was that even a seemingly invincible enemy could be defeated.

What is the art of Kaze Do? Most of these more advanced techniques are only found
Among the Tattooed Orders, few peasants had time to do so.
"If you're quick and wise, you'll always be able to learn all of Kaze's secrets, not to mention success.
to see what the enemy is doing before taking action. If they are preserved over the centuries.
You are fast and wise, you will always be able to win
for the. Killing is for the cruel. Kaze-do artists rarely kill their opponents because it flies
given Kaze's self-defense ethics. instead of her
– Togashi Kaze tries to stun, disable or grab his enemies until they do
submit or become unconscious. More than a brave bandit
or drunk ronin gave up after getting frustrated
shot down a dozen times.

Kaze-do, the way of the wind, is a largely defensive, free-form marine air
Martial arts. He occupies a special place in Rokugani martial arts and action RPGs.
because it was created by a samurai (tattoos are technologists).
only the samurai caste), but was intended for use
Peasants It is a defensive art whose only objective is to
allow the weak to defend themselves against the strong, and
It is fair to say that those who follow the path of
Wind really understands the Air philosophy.

Kaze-do is based on throws, dodges, leg sweeps and

Winds of War tries to do its job. There's very little nasty technology: Legend of the Five Rings is inherently an RPG.
Kaze-do's distinguishing features, and those that exist, are mainly those that place great emphasis on style, interpretation, and so on.
to facilitate catching or throwing. Practitioners are taught to include the "flavor" of the world of Rokugan
be like the wind The wind cannot be told where to go, its mechanics. However, it still uses pretty robust rules.
it cannot be caught, it blows wherever and whenever it is a system that regulates what action can be taken together
either It can be slow and smooth or fast and furious, brawlers, how techniques work, how attacks and damage are dealt.
and they must also be the movements of a kaze-do fighter. solved etc

44 Kaze-do students learn basic movements first. There is no requirement that all playgroups do this
of art. They practice these basic forms for hours, applying the L5R rules in their strictly written form. L5R has al-
Chapter Once, until they become as natural as breathing; Only then were forms a "story-driven" game, in which the dramatic was
Are they allowed to try to use them against others? According to the requirements to create a samurai drama action story
The design of kaze-do forms gives the student a deliberate priority over a legalistic interpretation of the rules.
The way your own body moves and the ability to do so despite the L5R 4th Edition ruleset allowing a tournament
Move it wherever you want without thinking. Students bring creativity and improvisation together in combat and
They should also watch their partners practice stunts, some GMs and players may prefer to drop
Tic, learning through observation as well as experience. the limitations of the Rules and Acceptance to
Observing others grants the student awareness in its most fluid, free, and (dare we say) airy form.
the way others are moving, so you can better predict where and how to approach the action.
an opponent will hit.
For example, consider an approach that removes
Kaze-do teaches that you cannot beat the wind; an at- with the complexity of school techniques and attitudes in
Emy can't hit someone who isn't there. Kaze-do stu- Please encourage players to describe what their PC is
The Teeth learn to dodge their enemies' blows, calibrating their combat each turn. If SC actions are thematic,
An opponent's range and angle of attack and the appropriate inclination for your school can be granted by the GM
or swipe not to hit them; As a last resort, they remove some free boosts or simply reduce the opponent's armor.
Hit an opponent with a block and deflect their TN weapon. A PC who fights defensively can receive bonuses to his
with a punch or blow to the enemy's arm or leg. own NA armor, but the bonuses can be changed depending on

Like the wind blows a blade where it wills, Kaze-do is based on describing the character's actions rather than simply
The student is taught how to lead his opponent to where he wants the outcome of a Defense/Reflexes save. This kind of approach
riding him using the enemy's own speed and momentum will encourage players to see their characters as such.
Against him. A kaze-do fighter will face his opponent as if he were in a dynamic action scene, rather than simply
He attacks and uses the enemy's own momentum to perform abstract manipulations of the dice pools.
him on the ground, or he dodges an opponent's punch
and his feet coming out from under him and exploding. It is worth noting that this type of approach is encouraging
the fact that most opponents lose their balance when their throws make players (and the GM) think about their techniques
Does not connect. These core abilities are also used as actual combat moves, and not just mechanics. What
Advanced maneuvers like disarming or equipping an enemy are one thing to simply say, "My Matsu uses his level 2
wait on a template. Of course, this technique must be taken into account.” It is quite another to describe how your raw material
Your warrior charges at his enemy and lets out a deafening kiai.

scream, his face twisting into a grimace of rage and

thirst of blood!

Chapter One

45

Another option to consider is a game that doesn't feature Winds of War.
initiative rolls. Instead, all players tell the GM what their peak style is. It can also be gritty and deadly. a gm
do for the round, and the GM determines who wants to encourage a more appropriate free-form style
how these actions interact with each other. This is combined with realistic samurai cinema (such as the works of Akira
naturally demands a lot from the DJ, so a Kurosawa variant or, more recently, Takashi Miike's gorgeous remake
the same idea would be a game where the PCs act in 13 assassins) which you might want to remove
the order in which players announce their actions – damage rolls. The additional roll after resolving the attack does not apply.
Encouraging players to chase the adrenaline slows things down and can sometimes lead to this
Action excitement and really act like your anomalous situations like triumphant blow
If this approach is adopted, it is recommended that the Armor TN only produce a far measurement.
In most cases, the GM should have enemy creatures and higher real damage. Instead, the GM can choose
NPCs will react to PCs instead of jumping in and taking action to deal a "normal" amount of normal damage.
Ahead of them, however, is a particularly powerful dodgy punch that makes for successful raises. (They did too
or a powerful opponent can emphasize that power by acting first. Advantage, both call raise and
Best of all, this approach eliminates the need for automated stock descriptions that can result in free raises.) OR
If he spends time rolling initiative and recording points, the GM can base the damage on the PC's level.
At the start of a fight, the GM can send deep blows to PCs in the opponent's TN armor, an option that encourages
straight to the action. Change dramatic fights and use of Void in attack
Roll Finally, and most dramatically, the GM can eliminate
These types of approaches can work particularly well when you successfully combine injury and damage.
The GM tries a cinematic style of action based on wounding, incapacitating, or killing the enemy, as the case may be.
Asian cinema, especially Chinese action films with its Fa weapon and attack role success. with
Dynamic fight scenes. Combining the rules and techniques of with a dramatic, free-form approach to self-fighting,
L5R may not lend itself well to portraying a warrior, which can lead to crisp, fast action scenes.
jumping forward while wrestling with it tensely and fatally, just like the action scenes at their best
Sword, or do a backflip to escape the enemy attack, but samurai cinema.
A free approach not only allows for this style of
action, but will actually encourage it, leading to fights
as fast, unpredictable and dramatic as the element to
What is the name of this book?

Chapter Two Winds of Judgment

46

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

47

Hiruma watched the performance, and in his case it cost time he could spend more on Court Winds.
in his mind he could see the great waste of it all. Your constructive nature in negotiations or at least silent meditation.
Life was spent among the horrors that actors unfortunately could experience. Unfortunately, participation in such events was expected.
never thought when they wrote their precious little. Keep an eye on the artists and keep them idle
to knock. The cost of the set could have been fed to men sane in other things, mainly what the score
Squadron for a month or more, he provided Pion with jade rations, which he hoped to achieve with this feat today.
weeks. The waste was disgusting, and although the actors briefly glanced at the leonine delegation,
and the actresses were skilled and their costumes without a doubt, and he allowed himself to relax a little after noticing hers.
Handsome, he sat in sullen silence, doing his best not to show impassive faces.
frown openly.
The chief of these lions, an old Matsu, very careful
The doji sighed wistfully to himself. She could feel it preventing a tear from forming in her eye. was not a samurai
the characters' emotional struggle in the perfect movements allowed frivolity as an emotion, and he didn't want
of the protagonist's body and the tones of the music, as he ascended he dared to lose face in the face of so many rivals and enemies. I eat-
when growing. His heart raced with the tragedy of the ever-romantic, he met young Akodo Hataki in life, and he
Love, knowing that if you could feel the pain of past losses, it would eventually come to nothing. he wanted to be
these things always happened, even when the couple were so mad at the play and its performers, but much to their frustration
You were in this story. While enjoying the thrills, he even showed sympathy for the two doomed lovers.
But in the back of her mind, provoked by the play, she is faced with the madness of her heart. made a note
he composed a carefully worded poem that he would share and later send the playwright a kind of thank you note -
Later at night, he found time with young Shiba to be together so as not to give the scorpion the impression that it was them.
walk with me in the gardens last night. Of course, his adventure worked against him. I still couldn't shake
It would be very discreet, unlike the victims, to feel that this job was for him and his family.
dramatic story. Perhaps some of the scorpions still remembered the meaning -
the honor.
Kitsuki barely contained a yawn that he should have
hinted at her feelings to the rest of the audience, masking the sullen, angry, quiet Tsuruchi maiden
moment with a flick of her fan. He had seen the same exhibit in its entirety. It was hard not just storm
Story better illustrated by another playwright. The tragedy of seeing the bloated lion sitting proudly across the aisle
Hataki and Shamate hardly interested him, and her everything as if they were somehow being praised for it.

Harassment. It was even harder to see the witch in red and full, but she was particular about teaching them their mistakes.

black, this insipid creature sitting beside the lion. The rebound while the play was still in progress. it's artistic

Ty Hunter could practically feel the mesmerizing spectacle of the beautifully rendered Scorpion, and he could feel it.

from here. It was evident, however, that by the slightest emotion in his heart he had cornered himself in favor of the lion in the tragic story.

to tell this story positively. Showing the self-mockery she wouldn't even admit to herself. a real samurai

His own failures to perform Shamate no ko had no time for such base thoughts and feelings.

trick her a little. She could see through everything, see everything. A samurai-ko only had time to serve and save face.

the manipulations, all the hypocrisy of the lion and her and the reputation so that no shame would fall on her master.

He really wanted to say something or just get sick. As everyone watched and watched, an actor waited
But she knew they were both death, so she kept her wings and watched them, each one. The mask
silently, with clenched teeth. and makeup were already applied to her traits: the

The Shiba didn't look at the piece. His action carved the face of the honorable cousin Scorpio, to later expose that

background in his mind, but other things interfered and ended up with the tragic empty case. I would soon step

His soul trembled as he looked up to the stage and joined in the performance, but for now

the room focused on the lovely doji, her face perfect - he could still watch. I could see all of them, all of their reactions.

tired of the game. It was so hard to concentrate on her thoughts, on every single one of her thoughts. they surrendered

in the same room. He tried to remember details of the story with slight movements in their seats, small changes in their faces.

Unfolding on stage but floating in the background Everyone felt what they thought were their own feelings

your mind like caged sparrows. He worried because he knew that they, but in reality, they only saw and experienced what he and

He would speak later, and she would hope he knew what his fellow actors were trying to convey to them. they were puppets

part of the game, be witty and charming. dancing in front of him, puppets pulled on strings

Horns of the Court The shosuro left no signs of triumph in your fingers and responded to the slightest pressure.

facial features or posture. It was not the time to rejoice. At Silken Smile, guests have always thought about it

He knew the praying mantis would pay attention and the actors on stage as performers. they were trained

she didn't want to satisfy the critical witch. believing that the only proof was what they saw behind it

However, the proposal to the playwright was inspired. in front of them, but the actual performance didn't take place on stage.

The play's opening was perfect, though old Shosuro Chihiro knew it and reveled in it.

Not only would Matsu side with him over this, but he would also side with all the other actors here today. It was the public

48 Certainly, being more receptive to your train of thought in the morning offered the real achievement. Their hearts danced to the rhythm

when they spoke again. melody that he and his companions played, and in the end it would be so

Chapter Two The utaku, on the other hand, saw everything as a dead end - the actors who loved acting the most. Only
siv So many inappropriate behaviors, so many who would see the truth behind the thousand masks worn
minor mistakes and violations of decency. It was a shame... tonight.

The philosophy of the main lesson that everyone learns: listen. it's a hard lesson
Air on the courts for those not used to following these paths
requires something most samurai can rarely do
It's probably fair to say that court forms are about as tightly regulated as you might think.
more influenced by the air element than by any other.
Politics and art flow through the courts like the wind, students of the land are patient, thoughtful and determined.
sometimes delicate and even playful, sometimes with the lute in the face of criticism or crises, but they cannot
the fury of a typhoon howl. A courtier who really wants to feel what's going on around him. the followers of
To succeed in Rokugan, he must master the way of the air, master the fire that burns with a thousand planes, and penetrate the clouds of
Ability to move and change your position from moment to mystery with the light of intellect, but only your flames
As the tenor of the court shifts around them, the Maestro lights up whatever they choose to make it shine. Those ones
their own emotions as they intuit and explore the feeling – whoever follows the path of the water is closer to the song of the water
Things hidden under the stern faces, and sublime fans of the world than anyone else, seeing the truth in the reflection
Your rivals are thrown into a pool, but they are so focused on their quest
that what passes them by may be lost. Neither of them
To understand courtiers, advisers and servants who simply listen and can hear the language of the heart.
Follow Air's philosophy that we need to recognize the most
Those who are trained in the ways of the air are always being instructed
the specific rituals, expectations and protocols of the
court because they know that such things govern emotions
that of each dish. Where other philosophies tend to go
be trained specifically in the areas most favorable to these
Courtiers who follow the Air generally take a broader approach and
a more comprehensive education without an open approach in

Chapter Two

specific fields. If they can be said to have a focus, it is the mind and spirit that are attuned to the occult language.
the nuances of courtroom and social interaction, the thousand languages ​​spoken by everyone even if they don't know 7
subtle differences of the human mind and heart. or understand what they say.

This obsessive teaching of courtly details, à la The Crane and the Scorpion, is the most prominent of those
Point where they are rooted below the level of thought whose courtiers follow the Path of Air, but there are others
It was designed to free the courtier's mind. A samurai whose families and customs also embrace this philosophy.
not fully familiar with the ways of the court
They have to think and worry constantly about what it's like to hear courtroom music, but how they are interpreting it.
happens and what you should do; Your mind becomes quiet and interacts with it.
quiet so you can hear those around you listen
the rhythms of the court flow like a whisper. It is for the descendants of Ide, the music is strange and
That freedom of spirit that allows court lords to do wonderful things, something they can often feel
Air, which seems almost effortless in its graces, is nearly impossible to maneuver, let alone manipulate. Travel
through the swirling patterns of politics and intrigue while living among so many different cultures over the centuries
give the impression that they aren't even really trying. learned to listen to the commonalities of all people,
the simple universals that underlie all human assembly
Crane courtiers sometimes speak of hearing the music. The Ide seeks above all means of preservation
from the court. It is a soft and delicate song that hides among many harmonious songs to smooth the flow of passions.
the breeze blowing through a shoji screen as it closes and hostilities roaring through the world around you. AN
or the touch of whispered conversation, and for them alone the philosophy of air leads them to inner peace.
who know how to listen, even know it's there. The Scor - all things.
Pion believes that every heart whispers to those who can
hear whether its owner knows about it or not. Hearts Always Lady Doji had a lot in common with Ide, but she
The pulsation with the feelings and thoughts that graced its owners was divine in nature and required almost no training.
Try to stay away from others. Anyway, to be able to ing. Hearing the music on the court horns was the second thing
Hearing such things is not a matter of the senses, but of the

Pedro Munuera (order number 3968235)