Sydenham Campaign

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Sydenham Campaign

What follows is a detailing of the Sydenham's campaign as we play our way through all 8 clans. It will tell the stories of our characters, giving them a small piece of immortality

"The Tale of Two Bastards" Sydenham Lion Campaign (d20)

Setting

The Tale of Two Bastards was set vaguely in the north of traditional Lion lands. The prefecture of Two Roots was our home location. The prefecture's main feature is its large Shinsei monastary also known as Two Roots. Two Roots prefecture, it must be emphasized, is a poor prefecture, centered around one main village. Though it lay in Ikoma lands, Two Roots had traditionally been governed by an Akodo family, which had, for political reasons been intermarrying with the Dragon for some time.

It was on the frontier with the Dragon clan, though the prefecture itself had not seen battle for several generations. Two Roots was established as being three days ride from the City of Honour's Sacrifice, and a full two week's ride from the Kitsu lands Daisuke's family originated in.

A modest village, Two Roots was understood to have two tea houses, several farms and fields, supported a nearby copper-mine. There is an administrative building that the Daimyo held a rough court in, and a guest house for important visitors. The monastary was the main source of economy for the village.

History

The Distant Past

In the long lost past--perhaps even the imaginary past--Akodo and Shinsei walked together. While walking, Shinsei tripped on a tree root sticking up out of the ground. He fell to the ground and laughed. Akodo did not understand this, but helped Shinsei to his feet. Akodo himself then tripped over another tree root, and when he fell to the ground, he too laughed. This little koan is the basis of Two Roots monastary, which claims to be built at the original location of the Two Roots.

Some twenty years before the campaign begins our story truly begins. At this time, Two Roots was governed by Akodo Yong-nui, and his young Dragon wife, Akodo Daima. Akodo Yong-nui was an accomplished General of the Lion army, and his family traditionally protected the monastary and the lands of Two Roots. His family lived in a modest house between the monastary and the main village. Technically Akodo Yong-nui governed three prefectures, collectively known as Two Roots. By this time Akodo Yong-nui had five children.

Akodo Yong-nui's liege-Daimyo was Ikoma Ishinara. It was 20 years before our tale began that the Ikoma Ishinara's family was attacked, and both of his young daughter's separated from their father. Ikoma Ishinara and his wife both perished in the attack. Ikoma Ishinara's young bushi, Ikoma Toshiro, prepared to commit sepukku for failing to protect the family, but was prevented from an honourable end by the dying request of Daimyo Ikoma Ishinara himself. Ikoma Ishinara asked Toshiro to hold off on sepukku until he knew of the fate of Ikoma Kumi and Ikoma Tanto, Ishinara's two infant daughters. Toshiro did as his Daimyo requested, and so began a twenty year quest and descent into the Ronin lifestyle as he searched first for the two girls, and then for the two young women.

Without heirs to take his place, the Ikoma family passed the holdings of Daimyo Ishinara onto another, Ikoma Enara, an equally worthy man by all accounts. Daimyo Enara divided up what significant personal items remained of Ishinara's estate on to vassal family's. This distribution included giving Daimyo Ishinara's helmet to Akodo Yong-nui.

It was at this time that Akodo Yong-nui brought home a young country girl as his mistress. Her origins are uncertain, but she bore for Yong-Nui two children, Shing-shing and his younger Brother Xiao-biao. The young girl died with the birth of Xiao-biao. With her death, Akodo returned to his wedding bed, and bore two more children with Daima, his wife.

Also about this time, Kitsu Daisuke's mother, a Geisha, slept with his father, a Shugenja of nearly legendary ability. His father went on to marry a Hida woman of the Crab Clan.

The Recent Past

Ikoma Toshiro spent twenty long years searching for the heirs to Ishinara, in order to join his Daimyo in glorious death, and his pursuit bore him no fruit. Separated by time and distance from his lion roots, he took up the ronin way of life, and left behind his Ikoma name. He became fond of Sake, and abandoned honour.

Daisuke, or Kitsu Daisuke as he would come to be known, was raised in a poor, distant village. He served as the bouncer for the local Sake house, and knew nothing of his shugenja and samurai heritage, and didn't much care for the fact that his mother was known to be a Geisha.

Matsu Jiro and Ikoma Hatsuo, Matsu Jiro's omoidaesu, were nakema and practically inseparable from their shared infancy deep in Matsu lands.

Ikoma Hatsuo was the last of his line, and seemed determined to make the most of his young charge, recording his noble history, and manipulating events, when necessary to enhance it. Jiro, on the other hand was raised to be a Samurai, and frequently picked on by his much more skilled sisters. Of particular note, and of particular meanness was his second-oldest sister, Matsu Tayama.

Akodo Yong-niu raised both of his illegitimate children within his family, but always understood that they would not be destined for the greatness of his legitimate heirs. Shing-shing, the older son, recieved his father's favour, and became quite skilled at the bow. He was older and well-behaved, and ultimately his father entrusted him to Master Shan the Abbot of Two Roots Monastary to raise his son as a monk. Xiao-biao was more troublesome, and had a habit of disappearing into the countryside for weeks at a time, and simply could not be corralled into living a more sedate and becoming lifestyle.

The Story

It's worth noting that this story was uncovered by all five of us as we went along. It is a very good story, but appreciate that the setting information just discussed was unknown to us at the beginning.

First Episode

• In Two Roots Monastary--early spring

Akodo Shing-shing's story begins when he is presented, by Master Shan, with five Daisho's, belonging to his father, and four of his brothers, three older two younger. The family had all perished in a horrible fire of unknown origin at the family estate. Only three members of the family, not including those who had been married off to other clans, are known to have survived. Akodo Daima, travelling home from the Dragon Winter Court, and Akodo Shing-shing and Xiao-biao, both now in the room with Master Shan. "You are the heir; there are things we must discuss" said Master Shan to Shing-shing and left the room.

Xiao-biao turned to his brother, once they were alone and said "Why not give me little brother's sword; surely I should get one of them."

"Not until you prove yourself worthy of them." said Akodo Shing-shing and gathered up the swords and went to speak to Master Shan.

Master Shan revealed to Shing-shing his fear that the Dragon resented control of Two Roots being in Lion hands, and with his father dead might invade this summer. Akodo Shing Shing swore, that as he was now Daimyo he would always keep Two Roots in Lion hands.

• On the road to Two Roots Prefecture

Matsu Jiro and his nakema and omoidaesu, Ikoma Hatsuo were travelling together to this distant rural outpost of a prefecture. Matsu Jiro, a fierce albeit young samurai had delivered a terrible and vicious beating to a fellow student at his dojo, and it was generally agreed that he was as skilled as he would ever be, and needed to be deployed in the world.

Ikoma Hatsuo explained to Jiro that he was expected to train the troops at this remote out post, in case of an invasion, and that this would be the first step of a promising and glorious career for him.

When they arrived in Two Roots Village they were dismayed to find only three heimin present at the camp, all apparently unskilled. The most notable was a twelve year-old girl who seemed determined to prove that she too could be a great warrior.

Characters

PC Cast

• Akodo Niu-shing / Akodo Shing-Shing;
• Ikoma Toshiro;
• Kitsu Daisuke;
• Matsu Jiro.

NPC Cast

• Akodo Daima;
• Akodo Xiao-biao;
• Ikoma Hatsuo;
• Ikoma Kumi;
• Matsu Shoichi (Later revealed to be Ikoma Nanto);
• Matsu Tayama;
• Tsuruchi Toshi;
• The 12-year old Girl. (Later revealed to be Shosuro Miyako)
• Master Shan, Abbot of Two Roots Monastary

"The Long Road" Sydenham Mantis Campaign (3e)

Characters

PC Cast

• Moshi Akiyama;
• Tsuruchi Kenta;
• Yoritomo Keiji;
• Yoritomo Sanzo.