For reasons of simplicity, we will not use the full out RPG rules, with skills and so forth ; this will be primarily a PM based on interaction, not on lucky flukes with dices and mechanical rules. The GM will use reason rather than maths to adjudicate action if the players cannot agree on their own.

With that in mind, all YOU have to do is to create a name for your character, and chose a clan (or ronin), then write a short backstory for him and post it in this thread

Based on that backstory, an insight rank, and notable advantages/disadvantages and skills will be assigned to your character by the GM (me). A list of those will be made in another thread.

You can reuse your Winter Court character, but the character creation rules are as above, with the exception that you will be assigned a school rank of your school rank at the start of Winter Court, +1.

Needless to say, tainted characters are not allowed to join the Jade Hand. While they can be present and stirring trouble for us, they will be forever stuck as outsiders and trouble-makers.

NOTE : If you wish to create a spy (Shosuro actor, Daidoji Harrier), then post your FAKE personna in this thread, not your real persona. Just inform me of your intention)

When he was brought to the Castle of the Swift Sword to begin training for his gempukku, the boy that would become Akodo Nakama was awed by it. He had never seen such a thing, nor been around others who expected not only a keen sword hand, but a keen mind as well. He vowed that one day he would stand among those defending the castle, or die in the attempt. His single-minded devotion to this goal, combined with his gregarious and compassionate nature, earned him many allies among the Akodo even before he experienced his gempukku.
As a youth, Nakama served several tours of duty with the Imperial Legions. He learned patience, and witnessed firsthand the usefulness of political as well as martial abilities. He served with the Emerald Magistrates as well, and gained much glory for helping crush several Bloodspeaker cells. In time, he rose in rank and was appointed the Daimyo of Hayai Province, the province that contained his beloved Castle of the Swift Sword. The years since have been difficult, but he has never shirked his duty, and never wished for any other life.
Nakama’s participating in Winter Court was initially what he thought would be somewhat bittersweet. He was honored by the faith his comrades had in him, and hoped to honor them by serving with distinction. It turned out far better than he had hoped!
The marriage of an Akodo to the Monkey and seeing the Jade Hand become a reality were more than enough to make Nakama glad he had come. As he was on the road to returning home, Nakama recieved orders from the Akodo daimyo, Shigetoshi, to send most of his troops ahead and take a small detachment to Oni Mura, to see in the establishment of the Jade Hand.

Kikaku Age 25 Male

Edit** changed the back ground of the character slightly droped the silly pesant part.


Kikaku started life as Isawa Kikaku at a young age Kikaku showed a deep understanding for the water kami.Kikaku was sent to train with the Tensai at age 13. Kikaku threw himself into his studies and by the time he reached his gempukku, had a command over water that is rarley seen in one of 19 years. Kikaku stayed in Kyuden Isawa after his gempukku, were he met a young Shiba Yasu. every moment that Kikaku could, he spent with her were he learned what he could of the martial nature of the samurai. during this time Kikaku fell in love. But love was not to be between the two. Yasu was promised to Shiba Norichi. expected. Norichi learned of Kikaku's infatuation with Yasu and seeked to goad the young Kikaku into either dishonoring himself or forcing him into a duel. things did not go as anybody could have prodicted. during Norichi's confrentation of Kikaku, a heated argument sprung up and Norichi started to draw his blade. wether or not he intended to use that blade shall never be know as Kikaku stuck first and used his magic to slaughter the young bushi. after realizing what he had done Kikaku fled. he left phoenix lands and headed to the land of the Lion were he wandered the land, strenghing his connection with the kami and healing those who he could with his magic, trying to atone for his actions. in 1165 Kikaku found himself in Kaeru Toshi as the Unicorn launched there assult. Kikaku thought this a chance to redeem himself for the murder of the young Shiba Norichi. he served with the Lion defenders of the city threw out the seige. during the last battle Kikaku's unit found themselves cut off by a brutal charge of the Unicorns White Guard. during this fight Kikaku recived a wound that shreaded his face and left his right eye useless, he was luckly to leave the field at all. After the conflict between the Unicorn and the Lion hand ended, Kikaku was offred a chance to join the Kaeru, but Kikaku left before awnsering. Kikaku then travelled to Crane Lands were he has been living, helping the peseants in the north during the recient conflict between the Dragon and Crane. shortly after the arrivle of Himoto and the rest from Winter Court Kikaku makes his way to Oni Mura to seek to join the Jade Hand......

Shosuro Masanobu (M)
Age: around 30

Born to a Shosuro magistrate and a Yogo shugenja, Masanobu is the youngest of five children. Unlike the rest of his siblings, he was trained among the bushi of the Bayushi family. His mother noted that while he had the talent to train in one of the Shosuro schools, he perhaps lacked the stomach. He took to training well, becoming proficient in the dance-like maneuvers of the Bayushi school. He also showed a keen interest in law. Shortly after his gempukku, he was assigned as a yoriki to a Soshi Ieyori, a Scorpion clan magistrate.

Masanobu proved to be an effective yoriki and a valuable asset in the realm of Imperial law. It was often commented that his knowledge of the subject was vast and thorough. He and his master were quite busy ridding the lands of various criminals. During the rise of Daigotsu, they often found themselves unearthing cults of maho-tsukai and Bloodspeakers.

Soshi Ieyori and his yoriki were moving to arrest a band of arms smugglers when the Rain of Blood began. Notably only Masanobu survived the encounter and ensuing chaos. He testimony indicated that he resisted the maddening call of the Rain and was forced to slay the remaining bandits and now tainted Scorpion. While details we omitted from the testimony, the event was soon forgotten as the conflict with the Bloodspeakers came to the forefront. He was quickly promoted to a clan magistrate. Masanobu has served the Soshi family ever since. It is also noted that most of his investigations have focused on those who bear the taint or are associated with maho-tsukai. During the course of his career he was married to Soshi Tsukiko, daughter of his former master and distant relative to the current Soshi family daimyo, Soshi Uidori.

Shortly before Winter Court’s end he received a missive from the Uidori. He was told that the Legion of the Jade had been formed by the Chancellor and Seppun Kiharu. He was also told that she was interested in the Legion and wishes to promote their efforts and ensure their success. Given his service to the Soshi family, he shall be among the first Scorpion to join their numbers. Therefore, he was to immediately travel to Oni Mura by any means necessary and offer his services on behalf of the Scorpion Clan and the Soshi daimyo herself. He bears a letter of introduction by Uidori, marked with her chop, as well as his badge of office.

All three of you, and Kakita Shimazu, have been enlisted.

Kakita Shimazu was born from Kakita Akira and Doji Yashiko when the Crab and the Horde destroyed Shiro sano Kakita back in the days of the Clan Wars, in 1128 of Isawa calendar. In his younger days a single purpose guided his life - Perfection in the way of the sword. Nothing else mattered to him, only the time he'll be the best duelist in the Academy, in Rokugan. Excellence in all things, that's what meant to be a Crane. Overconfident and vain.

His skill with the blade and the spirit of his Kakita ancestor grant him at last after years of training and prowess in the field of battle the position the Kenshinzen in Kakita Dueling Academy (but this obsession didn't let him marry and is alone without a heir).

The day that Otosan Uchi fell to the minions of darkness something broke inside him. The beauty of the place, the serenity of its gardens was lost, forever tainted. He found a new purpose fighting against the followers of the Dark Lord when he met Keitko, Himoto, Soshei and the other members of the Legion when Otosan Uchi fall. One day saved his general's daughter from a bloodspeaker and his cultists and became a Jade Hand Hero (Bitter Refelection - http://www.jadehand.com/fiction.shtml#Keitko). Recently he recovered a powerful weapon against the taint that was stolen from a group of Lost samurai from Shiro Kuni (Steel and Jade - http://www.jadehand.com/fiction.shtml#Shosei).

Physically is of medium size, slim and fast (despite his age he looks much younger and is still a handsome man) but he stopped dye his hair white a long time ago. He's dressed usually in a pale blue kimono with Kakita mon in the back and he has a Kakita Blade in his possesion ("Nobuki").

Gempukkued at age 13, Yagimaki was a small boy but very tenacious. Known throughout Kyuden Hida as the little fellow who drug home the Ogre head. He never said how he did it, but the speculation was that his mother's ancestry being Kaiu and Yasuki, there was probably a trap involved. The ogre did have a large dent in the back of its head that matched the shape of Yagimaki's tetsubo.

By age 17, Yagimaki had grown up quite a bit and was now starting toshow his father's characteristics and tendencies. His temper was some what volcanic but the Hida Bushi school taught him to control it. His constant journeys into the Shadowlands were monitored and spied upon by both the Kuni and the Hiruma. It was found that Yagimaki was using his spare time, leading a large pack of Ratlings about in the shadowlands slaying any evil he could find and was quite proficient at speaking with and commanding Ratling warriors. This lead to his appointment to Hiruma Osuno's Legion for the march to Volturnum. During the march, he became close friends with the famous Ratling tacticians, Rik'tik'tichek and
Ropp'tch'tch. Because he managed several excellent ambushes of Shadowlands forces and could think quickly, Osuno-sama promoted him to Hatamoto.

At the Battle of Oblivion's gate, Yagimaki again distinguished himself in battle by trouncing every ninja he encountered.

At age 50, Yagimaki spent the interim years lecturing on Ratling Lore and tactics at the Hida War college between stints as a Rikugunshokan on a section of the Wall. O-Ushi's death at the hands of the evil Kurihito -Kun so enflamed and re-invigorated him that he volunteered his generalship to Kuroda-sama. Hida Kuroda appointed Yagimaki to General-Defender of the Yasuki Estates. Until the day the Wall fell, Yagimaki was having great success in pounding Daidoji Iron Warriors and any other crane that got in his way into the ground.

Upon the fall of the Wall and the receipt of the letter by Hida Hisui-Okami, Yagimaki gathered up his army and force marched to the Wall to launch an immediate counterattack.

After the Wall was secured, Yagimaki spent some time hunting down some of the many denizens of the shadowlands that were runnning loose in the Crab Provinces. When things stabilized, Hid Kuon dispatched Yagimaki to Otosan-Uchi to lead the Crab Embassy Guard. While in Otosan-Uchi, Yagimaki made many acquaintances with the samurai, shugenja and courtiers fo the Empire.

On the day of the Fall of Otosan-Uchi, Yagimaki was at a party with Hida Hisui-Okami, Hida Keitko, Hida Okami, Hiruma Teri and Hida Togeriso. The Bolssom Flower Sake House was the only sake house in the capitol that served the infamous Triple Fist brand of sake. This sake was highly favored by the defenders of the Wall fro both is strong flavor and it's potentcy.

I'll get a write up done when I can.

Well, if anyone wants someone to personify the Dragon Clan in this, beep me.

BEEP

You know you're welcome.

Dragon? you said Dragon? Where is Shosei?

... you're welcome!

I'll think about something.

He's busy being a busy person.

Masao-san

I loved the way you portrayed Sasuke in WC. You are, indeed, welcome!!

Mirumoto Yotogi (Male)
Age: 30
Status: Unmarried

The son of a famous Mirumoto duelist, the child whom would be named Mirumoto Yotogi was born under a full moon in 1138, shortly after the beginning of the Spirit Wars, on the outskirts of the village Heibeisu. From an early age, he felt as if he was chosen by Lady Hitomi, but that his place was with te Mirumoto and not as a monk. On his left shoulder is tattooed a large full moon, a symbol of his devotion to Lady Moon.

Trained at the Iron Mountain dojo, the youth excelled in the Niten style of combat that his clan is known for, but also showed a high level of skill in Iaijutsu. Equally proficient with both hands, Yotogi finished top of his class and represented his clan in and winning the Topaz Championship of 1155.

Yotogi served with distinction through the war with the Phoenix, but after the Fall of Otosan Uchi he realized the futility of in-fighting among the clans while Rokugan's greatest enemy was allowed to grow in strength. He volunteered for a tour of duty along the Kaiu Wall, but that opportunity disappeared when Sozen joined the Hida family.

Unfazed, Yotogi began in-depth study of the Shadowlands, its creatures, and his history. After the Rain of Blood, Yotogi led a small unit of Dragon in the destruction of several Bloodspeaker cells. Passing thru Ryoko Owari in pursuit of a maho-user, Yotogi was reunited with another former student of Iron Mountain, an exchanged student from the Scorpion. Their affair, brief yet passionate, opened a part of Yotogi he had long ignored.

After her betrothal to a Seppun, he left Ryoko Owari and tried to forget her. But he could not, especially after meeting her again at last year's Tournament of Thunder. Yotogi moves on, his heart lost to another. He comes to Oni Mura to put his skills to use for the protection of the Empire, and to mend his soul.