The Peony Chronicles:Main Page

The Peony Chronicles

This is the main page for the Peony Chronicles, a Legend of the Five Rings PBP game. The Peony is a short-lived flower, which matches the episodic nature of this campaign, and one that is associated with prosperity and the upper classes, which symbolizes the samurai rank of the characters in this game.

Relevant Threads

Recruitment Thread: [Recruitment]

In Character Thread:

Out of Character Thread:

Background Information

The campaign starts in the year 1499. A whole new century is about to start. Will it be seen by future historians as a time of peace, of war, or something between these two states?

The 40 year old Toturi XII is about to enter the 19th year of his reign, which has been marked by stability and peace. His wife, the Scorpion Shosuro Amika, died in childbirth 7 years ago, leaving him with 9 children. He has never remarried, and it is rumored that he has no concubines. Certainly, according to all gossip, he doted on his wife. The most public face of his Empire is the Imperial Herald, Miya Shikan, a fanatical devotee to the process of peace, and the reason why Toturi's reign so far has seen little warfare.

It is almost 100 years since the last daimyo of the City of the Lost in the Shadowlands died at the hands of Hiruma bushi, causing those dark forces to splinter into a myriad of different sects and groups, each fighting with the other to achieve a dominance that has never arisen. With the Shadowlands forces squabbling amongst themselves, the Empire has seen little activity from that quarter, and so far the Crab have quickly and easily dealt with any threats to the Wall.

About 75 years ago, the gaijin Thrane returned, apologizing for their previous behavior and offering recompense. An ambassador from these foreign lands has been made welcome at the court (alongside ones from the Ivory Kingdoms and Senpet), and a small part of the cleansed ruins of Otosan Uchi has been put aside for their use under the watchful eye of the Tortoise clan and the Monkey clan.

Almost 50 years ago saw the last true battle in Rokugan's fair land, the War of the Bleeding Flowers, when the Lion attacked and razed Shiro Kyotei in revenge for the deeds of the Tsume back in the 10th Century. Their land was annexed, and the Tsume family disbanded, though a few survivors still wander as ronin. The Dragon, appalled by the ferocity of the Lion attack, intervened, but were driven back by the Lion multitudes, who went on to capture part of the ancestral Tonbo lands, who were forced to become a vassal to the Dragon clan lest they face a similar fate to the Tsume. The war might have escalated, putting further Dragon lands at risk, except for the threat of the emergence of a Unicorn and Crane alliance with the Dragon which led to peace.

Around 30 years ago, plague swept Rokugan, killing many, including the Crane Clan Champion, whose widow acted as regent until their son came of age. She remains a powerful figure within the Crane Clan.

Just after the onset of plague, the Hare Clan's main castle was attacked by Maho-Tsukai, and while it was unsuccessful, it killed many Hare Maho hunters. The Phoenix Clan agreed to help the Hare rebuild, offering money and brides to the survivors, and they have rebounded somewhat thanks to this patronage from the major clan.

About 25 years ago, Miya Shikan ascended to the post of Imperial Herald. No wars have been fought since he did so, as he strenuously works to ensure that peace is kept.

Just over 20 years ago, the Crown Prince Toturi Kenji married Shosuro Amika, niece to the Shosuro family daimyo, shocking the Imperial Court and leading to a resurgence on Scorpion political power. Two years later, she gave birth to twin boys, Hatsu and Kobashi, the former being brought up at a Kakita dojo, the latter at an Akodo dojo. They are followed by 7 other children over the next 13 years.

A year later, Toturi XI retires, departing on a quest to find the Shrine of Shinsei. His son, Toturi Kenji, becomes Emperor Toturi XII, and Shosuro Amika his Empress. Scorpion political power rises further.

12 years ago, one of the most epic duels ever seen in Rokugan's history is fought, when Kakita Saburashi, the Kakita daimyo and Master Sensei of the Kakita Dueling Academy defeats Mirumoto Jinzaki, the Mirumoto Family daimyo. Two tears later, the Tournament of the Emerald Champion is won by Kakita Saburashi, but he refuses the title, claiming his performance was not worthy enough of the office despite his victory. He offers to commit seppuku for this slight, but the Emperor refuses to accept it, and he returns to his dojo to continue training. The Emperor appoints Matsu Hoketsaku, the Lion Clan Champion as his new Emerald Champion.

7 years ago, the land was shrouded in mourning as the Empress Amika died in childbirth. The Emperor orders that his throne be inlaid with 9000 sapphires (Amika's favorite gemstone), a thousand for each of the children she provided him with, in honor of her memory, and becomes known as the Sapphire Emperor.

6 years ago, Toturi Hisako, the third daughter of the Emperor, announces she will train with the Scorpion to honor her mother's memory, despite agreements that she was to be fostered by the Mantis. On the cusp of war between the Scorpion and the Mantis, Miya Shikan negotiates a peace treaty, which sees Hisako train with the Scorpion while her younger brother Hizatoru is fostered by the Mantis instead.

In the last 5 years, peace has reigned throughout Rokugan, and many hope and pray that this peace is a harbinger of a pacific century to come.

Character Creation

Characters from all the Great Clans (Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion, Unicorn) and Minor Clans (Badger, Bat, Dragonfly, Falcon, Fox, Hare, Monkey, Sparrow and Tortoise) will be welcomed, be they Bushi, Shugenja or Courtiers.**

• I have the Core Book, Emerald Empire, Enemies of the Empire, and Great Clans books, so any characters (with the exceptions mentioned below) from those are ok. I don't have Imperial Histories yet, so if you want something from that book, you may have to do a lot of typing to show everything about the character you want. Create characters as standard beginning characters with 40 points.

• • No monks (including Ise Zumi and Henshin), ronin, Imperials families, spider clan, ninja or artisans, and no non-humans (such as Nezumi or Naga) please. On minor clans, treat the Badger and Falcon as vassal families of the Crab, Dragonfly as a vassal family of the Dragon, Fox as a vassal family of the Mantis, Bat, Hare and Sparrow as the Minor Clan Alliance, and Monkey and Tortoise as Imperial vassals (you can't play Toturi (who is still on the throne), Seppun, Miya or Otomo, but you can play Monkey or Tortoise if you wish). Minor Clan schools can be used, even where those minor clans are vassals of major clans. If you have a truly desperate need to play one of the banned roles listed above, let me know, and we may be able to work something out. I won't ban any advantages or disadvantages, but I reserve the right to change my mind if / when I read up on them when you create your characters (in other words, nothing springs to mind immediately that you shouldn't choose, but I'd have to look over them properly in case something seems too bad).