Discussion Thread

TWENTY QUESTIONS

Part i: Core Identity

What clan does your character belong to?
Unicorn (+1 Water, +1 Survival, Status 30) (but no longer loyal to the Unicorn, q5, q7)

What family does your family belong to?
Moto (+1 Earth, +1 Survival, Glory 40, Starting Wealth 6 koku)

Part II: Role and School

What is your character’s school, and what roles does that school fall into?
Shinseist Monk Order [Monk] (pEE238)
(+1 Earth, +1 Void; +1 Meditation, +1 Theology, +1 Martial Arts [Unarmed], +1 Composition; Honor 40; Techniques Available: Kata, Kihou, Rituals; Starting Techniques: Kata: Striking As Earth, Kihou: Cleansing Spirit, Earth Needs No Eyes; School Ability: Embrace the Void; Starting Outfit: Common clothes, bou, knife, travelling pack)

How does your character stand out within their school?
I am quick to learn, and can readily adjust to new situations or challenges. At times it is unclear whether I have shifted to fit my surroundings, or whether my surroundings have shifted to accommodate me.
Adaptability (+1 Water)

Part III: Honor and Glory

Who is your Lord and what is your character’s duty to them?
A mid-ranking monk who persuaded me to leave the Unicorn and dedicate myself to Shinseism. I am indifferent to the hierarchy of the order, and my loyalty to this monk is deeply personal.
(Giri: To raise funds for the temple and its order.)

What does your character long for, and how might this impede their duty?
Travel — to let go of worldly things that tie me to a specific location, to visit new places and meet new people, and through this to develop an understanding of the universality of existence.
(Ninjou: discuss with GM)

What is your character’s relationship with their clan?
Diverges from the Unicorn
While many aspects of Unicorn culture were formative to me (commitment to Compassion, acceptance of "foreign" customs and people, rejection of polite manners), I believe they have compromised those important values in an attempt to be accepted by the other Great Clans. In particular, I cannot abide the hierarchical structure of clan life, and the demand of complete loyalty to the clan. Exposure to foreign cultures led me to devote time to learning about the cultures of different regions inside and outside Rokugan, and I am convinced that there is value in the ways of all manner of people.
(Culture +1)

What does your character think of Bushidou?
Some aspects I agree with:
— Compassion (reflecting Unicorn upbringing, but believing the Unicorn do not go far enough in prioritising this aspect of Bushidou)
— Courage (but not necessarily martial courage)
— Honour
— Righteousness
— Sincerity
Some aspects I disagree with:
— Courtesy (important in broad principle, but the hierarchical courtesy of Rokugan is repulsive)
— Dury and Loyalty (loyalty to a worthy cause or to an individual who has earned respect is OK, but blind loyalty to a lord or clan can only bring calamity)

(Medicine +1)

Part IV: Strengths and Weaknesses

What is your character’s greatest accomplishment so far?
Renouncing my status within the Clan, forfeiting my worldly possessions, and working to rebuild a village after a devastating landslide.
(Distinction: Ebisu’s Blessing (Earth) p104)

What holds your character back the most in life?
Having taken a vow of poverty — distaste at displays of wealth, reluctance to accumulate even useful resources, etc.
(Adversity: Whispers of Poverty (Water) p130)

What activity most makes your character feel at peace?
Meeting the common people of Rokugan and learning about their lives and customs.
(Passion: Travel (Water) p115)

What concern, fear or foible troubles your character the most?
Disdain for manners causing trouble that prevents more important goals from being achieved.
(Anxiety: Painful Honesty (Air) p135)

Who was your character learned the most from during their life?
A mid-ranking Shinseist monk, who introduced me to the tenets of the sect and persuaded me to leave my family and clan.
(Advantage: Light Sleeper (Water) pSh96; Disadvantage: Disdain for Duty and Loyalty (Earth) p120; Labor +1)

What do people notice first upon encountering your character?
People first notice: Rough hands; hesitant bow.
Distinctive clothing: crisp white hood

How does your character respond to stressful situations?
Physical response to stress: cracking knuckles and neck

What are your character’s preexisting relationships with other clans, families, organizations, and traditions?
As a child, I was brought by my parents to a summit between all of the clans, where the children played together. This was a formative experience in my rejecting the separatism of the clan structure. I kept a ball as a souvenir, almost a talisman, although I have no aptitude for games.
(Item: Mari (ball) (cost 5 zeni, rarity 3))

How would your character’s parents describe them?
My father will staunchly defend me against any criticism, even at the cost of his standing within the Unicorn; however, in personal moments I can see that this has taken a toll on him — he resents my choices but feels guilty about that resentment. My mother would disown me if it wouldn’t break my father’s heart; she sees my new life as a personal betrayal and a repudiation of the life she has built for herself. While I am interested in Rokugani legal systems in order to challenge injustice, my mother hopes this reflects an underlying respect for the proper order and that I will one day return to the Unicorn.
(Skill: Government +1)

Who was your character named to honour?
Dice rolls… 10 = Unusual Name Origin (no)… 4 = Dynasty Builder (yes)
Social skill dice roll… 1 = Command
My Unicorn name, Moto Chisami, was in honour of my great great grandmother. She was instrumental in the rise of a powerful lord, using cunning stratagems and shrewd advice to secure their ascension. I have heard this story many times and understand the importance of power subtly wielded.
(Glory -3; Command +1)

What is your character’s personal name?
The name I took upon committing myself to Shinseism was Asako ("morning child", signifying my fresh start in life), and I go by this alone having renounced my clan and family.

How should your character die?
Among the common people.

Character sheet calculations

Rings (1 in each, max 3)
— Air: 1
— Water: 3 (q1, q4)
— Earth: 3 (q2, q3)
— Fire: 1
— Void: 2 (q3)

Skills (0 in each, max 3)
— Survival: 2 (q1, q2)
— Meditation: 1 (q3)
— Theology: 1 (q3)
— Martial Arts [Unarmed] 1 (q3)
— Composition: 1 (q3)
— Labor: 1 (q13)
— Government: 1 (q17)
— Command: 1 (q18)
— Medicine: 1 (q8)
— Culture: 1 (q7)

Available Techniques (q3)
— Kata
— Kihou
— Rituals

Starting Techniques (q3)
— Striking as Earth (Kata) p178
— Cleansing Spirit (Kihou) p182
— Earth Needs No Eyes (Kihou) p182

School Ability
— Embrace the Void pEE238 (q3)

Advantages
— Distinction: Ebisu’s Blessing (Earth) p104 (q9)
— Passion: Travel (Water) p115 (q11)
— Distinction: Light Sleeper (Water) pSh96 (q13)

Disadvantages
— Adversity: Whispers of Poverty (Water) p130 (q10)
— Anxiety: Painful Honesty (Air) p135 (q12)
— Adversity: Disdain for Duty and Loyalty (Earth) p120 (q13)

Honor: 40 (q3)
Glory: 37 (q2, q18)
Status: 30 (q1)

Starting Wealth: 6 koku (q2)

Possessions (q3)
— Common clothes (with crisp white hood) (q14)
— Bou
— Knife
— Travelling pack
— Mari (ball) (cost 5 zeni, rarity 3) (q16)

Relationships
— [mid-ranking Shinseist monk], mentor

Personality, Habits, and Quirks
— People first notice: Rough hands; hesitant bow, polite speech to subordinates (q14)
— Physical response to stress: cracking knuckles and neck (q15)

Endurance: (Earth + Fire) x2
Composure: (Earth + Water) x2
Focus: Fire + Air
Vigilance: (Air + Water) /2