My L5R Campaign is set pre Clan War and This is Rob's Character's Journal Written as a series of letters to his lord and sensei Kakita Toshimoko.
Greetings Toshimoko-sama,
I hope that this missive finds you well. The honour you do me and my family with a position at the Topaz Championship cannot yet be repaid. I will do all that I can to bring honour to you and your teachings.
I understand that Shino-san has also been chosen to attend. His skill is an equal to my own and a credit to your tutelage. I hope the steel of his ability is not engulfed by the flame of his ambition.
I remain your most humble of servants.
Daidoji Hoshi
Toshimoko-sama,
I am pleased to report the first two days of competition went well, despite a few disturbing events. My cousin Sezume Daijiro-chan of the Sparrow was also chosen to attend the championship, sponsored by our clan. I am sure that you must have had a hand in his selection and I thank you for extending this opportunity to my noble cousin. I am once more in your debt.
In the sumei I drew Hiruma Do of the Crab, a most worthy if exuberant opponent. I was able to direct him from the circle but I fear if he had caught hold of me he would have over powered me.
I fear I did not do you as much honour as you deserve in the test of my knowledge of heraldry. I must devote more time to my studies of the coats of arms of our celestial emperor’s honoured servants.
The following next event was the race. I drew against Shiba Takako of the Phoenix and Agasha Gojinka of the Dragon. Takako-san was more than my equal in swiftness and easily took the lead. Despite a hard fought pursuit I was finally able to see of Gojinka-san and took a worthy second place.
Honoured sensei, I must report that I believe someone is trying to sabotage the competition and cause harm to its worthy competitors. I do not wish to speak it out loud to Miya Shoin-sama or the other arbiters as I am sure this will drive the cowardly saboteurs further into their dark burrows. If you command it I will of course tell them everything but I would beg your indulgence in conducting my own exploration of the events.
During the Kenjitsu competition, I was drawn against the most praiseworthy Yuriko of the Mantis. She fought ferociously and struck me a tremendous blow but in doing so left herself over extended and exposed. I could have struck and ended the fight but I noticed that the padding on her Yumi had come loose and the gleam of metal was clearly seen below. I paused and called for the arbiters who called an end to our bout and ordered the other weapons checked.
That very evening, Kakita Shino-san was arguing with Mirumoto Otakan of the Dragon. I thought Shino-san was acting foolishly and trying to goad Otakan into a duel in order to shame him, but now I think he may have known something I did not.
Either way, the Dragon did not rise to his challenge and both retired to bed shortly after.
I dreamt that night of a great dragon of shadow clad in gleaming Topaz armour, coiled around Tsuma. Where ever The Dragon’s body touched, scorpions could be seen scurrying into the darkest shadows. I have spoken to no Shugenga of this but this omen cannot be good for this competition or our clan.
I composed myself as best as I could for the Haiku challenge. I earned a point form the arbiter but I do not believe mine to be the best effort. I must spend more time at court.
Myself and Daijori-san were drawn together for the tests of our knowledge of Bushido. My cousin did well and told a...detailed story to prove his knowledge of our guiding principals but I was able to argue a subtle point of honour to emerge victorious. Perhaps my lack of court attendance will not be as much of a hinderance as I had first thought.
Our task for the hunt was to retrieve eggs from a fish that is found in the forest lakes around Tsuma. Myself and my cousin were again selected together, along with Kuni Shinichi of the Crab, Togashi Nagasaki of the Dragon, and Shosuro Sakura of the Scorpion.
We travelled into the forest and kuni-san proved her worth. She clearly has a strong connection to The Ring of Earth as she summoned an earth spirit which easily allowed us to collect the eggs we required. Mere minutes after starting our search we were heading back to claim our victory when we heard sounds of battle from deep into the woods.
We ran quickly and came upon another band of competitors, including Shino-san, under attack from 3 dishonourable Ronin. Their leader wore a crude mempo and was fighting with great skill and a feeling of familiarity nagged at me. As we drew closer, the leader drew back his blade and cut Kakita Shino-san down in one slice, and with a back swing carved into Xuren of the Unicorn, dropping him to the ground. As our tattoed companion from the Dragon unleashed a blast of flame at him, I charged into to challenge him.
Forgive me Toshimoko-sama, but I do not fully understand what happened next. The leader called out to refuse my challenge but the voice that came from his lips was that of my father. He attacked me with great energy and skill and I was barley able to fend him off. He cut into my side with a flick of his Katana but I was able to counter attack. His blade flew to stop mine but fuelled by my rage I was able to move past his defence and cut him down. Fearing the taint of the Shadowlands I used a finger of jade on the corpse before Shinichi-san turned her powerful abilities on his body to remove any chance of the taint. The blast caught me as well and I am pleased to report that it revealed no taint on either me or the corpse.
Whatever dark force allowed the voice of my father to issue from the lips of this despicable ronin must be sought out and destroyed. I humbly ask that I be allowed to pursue this course.
Tomorrow sees a new dawn and the Iajitsu competition, which I have high hopes of doing well in. I will ensure that I do not shame you and will do my best to bring glory to you and your school.
I will entrust this letter to a trusted servant and I trust it reaches you swiftly.
May the blessings of the Kami fall upon you.
Daidojo Hoshi
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
2008 and L5R
Well This year has got off to a good start. Not for Blogging, but for other stuff it is going really well.
I have started a L5R Roleplaying Campaign and I expect this one to last longer than Deadlands.
Several of the Players are Writing IC journals so I will post them up here along with session write ups from me.
I have started a L5R Roleplaying Campaign and I expect this one to last longer than Deadlands.
Several of the Players are Writing IC journals so I will post them up here along with session write ups from me.
Thursday, 8 November 2007
Episode 2 The Journal of Dr Wilder
We picked up a preacher in Tombstone, fingers doesn’t like him, just before we got chased out of town thanks to Tobias. He is Irish but has excellent bone structure.
Our Hasty departure prevented us from catching the Train we had booked, very frustrating, that combined with Sara’s insistence that we do something about Helstromme has us travelling north toward Utah and Colorado, I don’t want to go anywhere near Helstromme but I still think I am safer with these brave folks than on my own. Fingers Agrees.
We have been Travelling for almost a week now, most of us riding in miss McGanne’s so called Wagon, most uncomfortable. Perhaps some manner of suspension system using reanimated horses legs…hmmmmm, Ahhhhh a spider!
We are being attacked by Arachnids of unusual size, I am hidden under the running boards of the Wagon. Tobias seems to be shooting at us! Fingers was right! It was just a matter of time before he turned on us, we’ll show him, we’ll show them all!
It was a misunderstanding he was shooting at spiders, We might show him anyway. Reggie was quite badly bitten but I have patched him up, he really does have lovely hands, they would be perfect for… no, no The Arachnids seemed to be able to leap great distances and they bury themselves to facilitate Ambush. Fascinating, no one else seems to think so, they are all leaving… Wait for me.
This town is empty, what a hole, no rail station. Very well dressed Black man waved at me from by the church as we rode in though. Sheriff is boring also runs a store Failure of a man.
People have been going missing. How thrilling perhaps we will get to see more examples of the “Terrorantulas” as Tobias keeps calling them. A little girls family has been taken apparently pulled into the ground, fascinating perhaps their tunnelling abilities are for more than just ambushes!
A local group of Rascals may also be responsible for the missing people Tobias seems sure that his “Snake Oil Salesman” is responsible but that seems preposterous. We are going to see these Ruffians they are much more likely to be the cause of the local unrest.
HOLY MOTHERLOAD! That was the biggest Spider I have ever seen! If we could hcapture it then Helstromme could never stop us NEVER! Drat, upon its demise at the hands of a large quantity of TNT Wielded by Miss MCGanne it dissolved into thousands of smaller specimens. Perhaps I can Breed another gigantic one, I must try to get a sample.
Our Hasty departure prevented us from catching the Train we had booked, very frustrating, that combined with Sara’s insistence that we do something about Helstromme has us travelling north toward Utah and Colorado, I don’t want to go anywhere near Helstromme but I still think I am safer with these brave folks than on my own. Fingers Agrees.
We have been Travelling for almost a week now, most of us riding in miss McGanne’s so called Wagon, most uncomfortable. Perhaps some manner of suspension system using reanimated horses legs…hmmmmm, Ahhhhh a spider!
We are being attacked by Arachnids of unusual size, I am hidden under the running boards of the Wagon. Tobias seems to be shooting at us! Fingers was right! It was just a matter of time before he turned on us, we’ll show him, we’ll show them all!
It was a misunderstanding he was shooting at spiders, We might show him anyway. Reggie was quite badly bitten but I have patched him up, he really does have lovely hands, they would be perfect for… no, no The Arachnids seemed to be able to leap great distances and they bury themselves to facilitate Ambush. Fascinating, no one else seems to think so, they are all leaving… Wait for me.
This town is empty, what a hole, no rail station. Very well dressed Black man waved at me from by the church as we rode in though. Sheriff is boring also runs a store Failure of a man.
People have been going missing. How thrilling perhaps we will get to see more examples of the “Terrorantulas” as Tobias keeps calling them. A little girls family has been taken apparently pulled into the ground, fascinating perhaps their tunnelling abilities are for more than just ambushes!
A local group of Rascals may also be responsible for the missing people Tobias seems sure that his “Snake Oil Salesman” is responsible but that seems preposterous. We are going to see these Ruffians they are much more likely to be the cause of the local unrest.
HOLY MOTHERLOAD! That was the biggest Spider I have ever seen! If we could hcapture it then Helstromme could never stop us NEVER! Drat, upon its demise at the hands of a large quantity of TNT Wielded by Miss MCGanne it dissolved into thousands of smaller specimens. Perhaps I can Breed another gigantic one, I must try to get a sample.
Deadlands Reloaded
I have started a Deadlands Reloaded Campaign and in the interests of having the session logs online I am going to post them here.
Last Train Reloaded
On the last Train to Santa Cruse Our Heroes find themselves in interesting company, Two miners, a cowardly card sharp and a nervous doctor are all grilled by the friendly Lady on her way to meet her Husband in Tombstone. Jenny Lou’s enquiries meet similarly short responses when she starts to grill our Heroes.
Suddenly (power!) around midnight the chat (and the train) is brought to a screeching halt by the Barricade of some Brigands but when the party goes to investigate the Brigands are already Dead! Ripped apart by some seemingly unstoppable attackers! While they continue to investigate the nearby abandoned Railroad camp they hear shots from the passenger car.
Heading back to the rescue they find the carriage besieged by the walking dead tough and leathery like beef jerky the gruesome zombies still burn as Sara finds out after Zapping one that was trying to crawl through one of the windows breaking the nearby lamp and showering the capering cadaver with burning oil. Just as they seem to have saved the Day the wall is caved in and with an echoing cry of “BHAAAAB” The innocent Jenny is grabbed, pulled straight from the Train and absconded with into the darkness.
Fierce chase is given, as cries of “Bhab?” echo across the prairie, but the re-stitched creation knocks out Miss McGann and high-tails it into the night.
Returning to the Train for some much needed First Aid they find Dr Wilder’s Bag open on the floor of the Still burning Passenger car. The notes and Diagrams inside the Doctors bag reveal much:
Posing as the undertaker in the nearby town is the man Wilder was on his way visit. Professor Vinton Radcliffe. The Two had corresponded some years before
Before Radcliffe was chased out of the Maze, he met Edwin Wilder, another scientist interested in the reanimation of dead tissue. The two sometimes compared notes and even
collaborated on a few experiments. Wilder left the Great Maze a few years before Radcliffe to take a job with Hellstromme Industries—working in the company’s automaton division. Radcliffe corresponded with Wilder after his move to Salt Lake City. The two continued to share research information. Wilder occasionally sent Radcliffe secret Hellstromme Industries formulas and techniques—secrets that could cost him his job if it was discovered that he had divulged them.
Unfortunately for Wilder, a freak lab fire exposed his unwitting espionage. Investigators looking through the ruins of the lab discovered some of his letters from Radcliffe and called him in to answer some questions. Rather than show up for the interview, Wilder grabbed some lab samples and notes and headed out of town. Once he got inside the Confederacy, he sent Radcliffe a telegram informing him that he was on his way and boarded a Black River train to Little Rock. In Arkansas, he caught a boat down the Mississippi to New Orleans where he transferred to a Bayou Vermilion train to Santa Cruse.
Luckily for the Posse Tobias is a skilled Tracker and by the Ghost rock Lamps on the front of the McGann Mobile they manage to follow two sets of tracks into the night one of a horse and another of the love struck construct. After an hour of the slightly creepy feeling of being watched, Fingers the animate hand created by Wilder, reveals itself to the Posse and leads them to its master.
Finding a lathered horse drinking from a rock pool the posse follows the tracks to an old silver mine in the nearby hills. Heading into the darkness they overcome twisted mockeries of Coyotes with Huge slavering Mouths full of implanted Sharks Teeth.
Defeating the canine defenders they come across Radcliffe’s secret Lair. Miss Jenny Lou was chained to a Wall while Radcliffe glowered menacingly from under the brow of his ULM Device, Also chained but to a table rather than to the wall Dr Wilder was about to be implanted with one of the Shards of Ghost Rock found in the heads of all the desiccated Dead. Guarding this Tableau was the stitch work man Bahb! and another 6 of the beef jerky zombies.
Battle was joined and as Sara’s personality flipped back and forth like a light bulb Reggie’s hexes get the better of him time and time again as the Manitous he bargains with best him in their tests of will. The Battle Rages back and Forth and Professor Radcliffe is felled by a shotgun blast to the chest, With their controllers death the unliving Jerky turn on one another and the chained up Wilder who is defended by the plucky Fingers and the schizo Miss McGann. Bhaab enraged by the death of his creator takes a lot of effort to fell and is eventually felled by a lucky shot from Sara.
Last Train Reloaded
On the last Train to Santa Cruse Our Heroes find themselves in interesting company, Two miners, a cowardly card sharp and a nervous doctor are all grilled by the friendly Lady on her way to meet her Husband in Tombstone. Jenny Lou’s enquiries meet similarly short responses when she starts to grill our Heroes.
Suddenly (power!) around midnight the chat (and the train) is brought to a screeching halt by the Barricade of some Brigands but when the party goes to investigate the Brigands are already Dead! Ripped apart by some seemingly unstoppable attackers! While they continue to investigate the nearby abandoned Railroad camp they hear shots from the passenger car.
Heading back to the rescue they find the carriage besieged by the walking dead tough and leathery like beef jerky the gruesome zombies still burn as Sara finds out after Zapping one that was trying to crawl through one of the windows breaking the nearby lamp and showering the capering cadaver with burning oil. Just as they seem to have saved the Day the wall is caved in and with an echoing cry of “BHAAAAB” The innocent Jenny is grabbed, pulled straight from the Train and absconded with into the darkness.
Fierce chase is given, as cries of “Bhab?” echo across the prairie, but the re-stitched creation knocks out Miss McGann and high-tails it into the night.
Returning to the Train for some much needed First Aid they find Dr Wilder’s Bag open on the floor of the Still burning Passenger car. The notes and Diagrams inside the Doctors bag reveal much:
Posing as the undertaker in the nearby town is the man Wilder was on his way visit. Professor Vinton Radcliffe. The Two had corresponded some years before
Before Radcliffe was chased out of the Maze, he met Edwin Wilder, another scientist interested in the reanimation of dead tissue. The two sometimes compared notes and even
collaborated on a few experiments. Wilder left the Great Maze a few years before Radcliffe to take a job with Hellstromme Industries—working in the company’s automaton division. Radcliffe corresponded with Wilder after his move to Salt Lake City. The two continued to share research information. Wilder occasionally sent Radcliffe secret Hellstromme Industries formulas and techniques—secrets that could cost him his job if it was discovered that he had divulged them.
Unfortunately for Wilder, a freak lab fire exposed his unwitting espionage. Investigators looking through the ruins of the lab discovered some of his letters from Radcliffe and called him in to answer some questions. Rather than show up for the interview, Wilder grabbed some lab samples and notes and headed out of town. Once he got inside the Confederacy, he sent Radcliffe a telegram informing him that he was on his way and boarded a Black River train to Little Rock. In Arkansas, he caught a boat down the Mississippi to New Orleans where he transferred to a Bayou Vermilion train to Santa Cruse.
Luckily for the Posse Tobias is a skilled Tracker and by the Ghost rock Lamps on the front of the McGann Mobile they manage to follow two sets of tracks into the night one of a horse and another of the love struck construct. After an hour of the slightly creepy feeling of being watched, Fingers the animate hand created by Wilder, reveals itself to the Posse and leads them to its master.
Finding a lathered horse drinking from a rock pool the posse follows the tracks to an old silver mine in the nearby hills. Heading into the darkness they overcome twisted mockeries of Coyotes with Huge slavering Mouths full of implanted Sharks Teeth.
Defeating the canine defenders they come across Radcliffe’s secret Lair. Miss Jenny Lou was chained to a Wall while Radcliffe glowered menacingly from under the brow of his ULM Device, Also chained but to a table rather than to the wall Dr Wilder was about to be implanted with one of the Shards of Ghost Rock found in the heads of all the desiccated Dead. Guarding this Tableau was the stitch work man Bahb! and another 6 of the beef jerky zombies.
Battle was joined and as Sara’s personality flipped back and forth like a light bulb Reggie’s hexes get the better of him time and time again as the Manitous he bargains with best him in their tests of will. The Battle Rages back and Forth and Professor Radcliffe is felled by a shotgun blast to the chest, With their controllers death the unliving Jerky turn on one another and the chained up Wilder who is defended by the plucky Fingers and the schizo Miss McGann. Bhaab enraged by the death of his creator takes a lot of effort to fell and is eventually felled by a lucky shot from Sara.
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Mike Martello Seminars
A 4am start in Hampshire for me and a 5.10am start from Belgium for our instructor Sifu Mike Martello and still I get to Birmingham airport only about 10mins before he does! After a rather bleary but beautifully sunny day spent taking the mick out of our respective “languages” (those who attended the seminar will never forget the immortal words “Speak English Mothe…”well anyway very entertaining) we arrived in sunny Aldershot for a seminar on Quinna and throws.
Training began at 7pm at Connaught school gym with a floor full of mats. The “warm up” was one of the most painful parts of the session, with twisting internal body movements used to release shoulders, back and improve body alignment. The French have a saying that “pain is the craft entering the apprentice” by which yard stick we will all be super Gonfu masters after about a week of that carry on! Everyone was very warm and much more relaxed if a little aching by the end.
The Quinna seminar began with Mike throwing Dave around followed with us all partnering off and doing it to one another. We learnt about four different techniques including two excellent throws and variants on them.
Particular shining lights included Lewis one of our Monday new chaps who ended up throwing Nathaniel nearly clean off the mat whilst demonstrating great aptitude with “Soft power”. Pretty scary given that the Sword I was using on Sunday was taller than this kid! Matt Bedows and newbie Steve were also caught on camera with some very impressive mat clearing Sweva, large men flying through the air is always a sight to see! Special bravery awards should go to Chris who had never done any Gongfu before ever and Karen whose wrists are made out of glass and still managed to chuck me about like a rag doll.
By the end of nearly 4 hours we were knackered but happy to have trained and learnt some very cool things. Including a chat about Chi during which time without thinking about it all of us cast Chun side long looks in case (as the only Haan Chinese member there) he might be holding out on us for some weird mystic insight. Mike debunked a lot of the wrongly held ideas about Chi and impressed on us the fact that we all do Quigong by dint of simply breathing in and out! Brilliant!
Huge thanks to Mike for taking time out of a crazy country hopping schedule to come down to Hampshire and teach. Looking forward to more seminars in the future!
Training began at 7pm at Connaught school gym with a floor full of mats. The “warm up” was one of the most painful parts of the session, with twisting internal body movements used to release shoulders, back and improve body alignment. The French have a saying that “pain is the craft entering the apprentice” by which yard stick we will all be super Gonfu masters after about a week of that carry on! Everyone was very warm and much more relaxed if a little aching by the end.
The Quinna seminar began with Mike throwing Dave around followed with us all partnering off and doing it to one another. We learnt about four different techniques including two excellent throws and variants on them.
Particular shining lights included Lewis one of our Monday new chaps who ended up throwing Nathaniel nearly clean off the mat whilst demonstrating great aptitude with “Soft power”. Pretty scary given that the Sword I was using on Sunday was taller than this kid! Matt Bedows and newbie Steve were also caught on camera with some very impressive mat clearing Sweva, large men flying through the air is always a sight to see! Special bravery awards should go to Chris who had never done any Gongfu before ever and Karen whose wrists are made out of glass and still managed to chuck me about like a rag doll.
By the end of nearly 4 hours we were knackered but happy to have trained and learnt some very cool things. Including a chat about Chi during which time without thinking about it all of us cast Chun side long looks in case (as the only Haan Chinese member there) he might be holding out on us for some weird mystic insight. Mike debunked a lot of the wrongly held ideas about Chi and impressed on us the fact that we all do Quigong by dint of simply breathing in and out! Brilliant!
Huge thanks to Mike for taking time out of a crazy country hopping schedule to come down to Hampshire and teach. Looking forward to more seminars in the future!
Friday, 5 October 2007
Magica
Last Friday Kate and I started playing in Magics, Charles Ryans D20 Based Ars Magica Campaign. A retelling of our Daring Deeds has been started here:
http://www.europamagica.blogspot.com/
http://www.europamagica.blogspot.com/
Beijing DVD
A promo taster of the Beijing Camp DVD is available here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb7F20BZYU0
I will be getting the full hour long version to subject my friends and family too when Mike comes to visit for his Quinna and Miao dao Seminars in a couple of weeks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb7F20BZYU0
I will be getting the full hour long version to subject my friends and family too when Mike comes to visit for his Quinna and Miao dao Seminars in a couple of weeks.
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