Legend of the Five Rings: The Shadowland Invasion

[Meyo-san]

Based off the Legend of the Five Rings CCG, and RPG.

The story is about the creatures of the Shadowlands begin their invasion in the year 1184 with the fall of Hiruma Castle (Again), and the wall that keeps the creatures out of Rokugan.

Army units:
Infantry (swords, spears, naginatas)
Archers (bow and arrows)
Ninjas (Ninja gear)
Battering Ram crews

[Meyo-san]

Characters:
Characters of the Great Clans should have the family names of the clan.

The Crab
The Crab are the defenders of the Kaiu Wall, the bulwark that stands between the bulk of the empire and the Shadowlands. They are the work horses and have been trained to fight the forces of evil -- especially those seeking to breach the wall. They take on this duty with no complaint, solemnly swearing their lives to protecting the empire from the forces of the tainted Shadowlands. Consequently, they have little time for anything other than training and fighting. The Crab are constantly at war.

Other clans see the Crab as slow and brutish, and the Crab Clan does little to discourage this thinking. In truth, few would take on the role the Crab have so willingly accepted, and though there aren't many who would admit it, most are secretly grateful for the Crab Clan's undying loyalty to protecting the empire

Hidas: The Hidas are the leaders of the clan. (Hida O-Ushi is the current clan champion.) They lead by example, standing side by side with the other defenders on the wall.

Kaius: The Kaius are the engineers who keep the wall itself from collapsing or giving way. They build new sections as necessary and maintain the integrity of the current structure to keep out the evil.

Hirumas: The Hirumas are the brave and cunning scouts and information gatherers. They enter the Shadowlands, leaving the relative security of the wall, to discover what new plans the Oni and Ogres have in store.

Kuni: The Kuni are powerful shugenjas who seek out taint. They study evil magic so that they may better combat it, but simply learning about the taint can have ill effects on an unsuspecting magic user.

Yasuki: Once part of the Crane clan, the Yasuki are merchants. They are known for their keen negotiating skills and sometimes less than desirable ethical practices.

Toritaka: The Toritaka were once known as the Falcon minor clan. They were absorbed into the Crab a long time ago, and now they fulfill their duty of protecting the empire from the Shadowlands just as every other Crab family.

The Crane
The Crane are a noble clan. They have been advisors to every emperor in the history of Rokugan. Until just recently, they provided the bride of every emperor as well. They excel at the intrigue and politics surrounding the Imperial court, and they hold favor with nearly every other clan (and family for that matter) in the empire.

Doji: The ruling family of the clan, the Doji are natural diplomats and courtiers. (Doji Kurohito is the current clan champion.) Every bride to every emperor (until the last Hantei) was from the Doji family.

Daidoji: The Daidoji are the martially trained, military arm of the clan. Sometimes referred to as the "Iron Crane," members of this family frequently become the bodyguards of important nobles.

Kakitas: The artisans of the clan, the Kakitas are also well known for their mastery of the katana. Their iaijutsu masters are so accomplished that their dueling prowess is spoken of frequently as an art form -- rather than the deadly martial skill that it is.

Asahinas: The Asahinas are the magic users of the clan. Their shugenjas have created some of the most powerful magic bobbles and weapons in the empire.

The Dragon

The Dragon are the most mysterious of the clans, often choosing silence over words or explanations. The tattooed monks of the ise zumi order are fond of protracted silences. When they do speak, it is often in riddles, and then only to confuse a listener. The Dragon live mostly in seclusion, staying tucked away in the high mountains of the Great Wall to the north. This mystery perhaps adds to the perception that the members of the clan are very wise. And the unusual fighting style of the Mirumoto school -- in which a samurai fights with a katana in one hand and a wakizashi in the other -- is wondered at far and wide.

Mirumoto: The Mirumoto are the samurai of the Dragon clan. Their odd style of fighting makes them easily recognizable on the battlefield.

Togashi: The Togashi are a monastic family. Their members make up the fabled ise zumi order. Each of these monks sports a series of intricate, visible tattoos all over his or her arms, legs, head, face, and chest. (Togashi Hoshi is the current clan champion.)

Tamori: The Tamori family are the shugenjas of the clan. These are the members of the Agasha family who did not leave the Dragon to join the Phoenix clan. The Tamori are knowledge keepers, collecting vast libraries where they store all the clan's history and valuable texts.

Kitsuki: The clan's diplomats and courtiers, the Kitsuki are very good at getting to the truth of matters. Their skills at seeing through the politics and lies in the court are quite valuable to the clan's leaders.

The Lion

The Lion are the warriors of the empire. Their samurai fully embrace and dedicate their lives to the bushido -- the idealistic moral code of the warrior. Lion generals are known for their strategic cunning and tactical savvy. It is said that an army lead by a Lion has never lost a battle in the history of Rokugan. Their shugenjas spend much time communicating with the ancestors of the empire, keeping in touch with the wisdom and knowledge of those who have already passed from this world. Also, the Lion historians keep the past alive, meticulously recording the events for future generations and beyond.

Akodo: A very proud and fiercely loyal family, the Akodo are the noble house of the clan. Their adherence to the bushido is known and respected all across the land.

Ikoma: The Ikoma family maintains the records for the Lion. They are the historians and storytellers of this proud clan.

Kitsu: The Kitsu family is one of the most unusual. Unlike any other shugenja family, the Kitsu are the only ones in the empire who bar entry to their school of magic for members of other clans.

Matsus: The Matsus are at heart fierce warriors. They prefer larger weapons, like the greatsword or the nagamaki. (Matsu Nimuro is the Lion clan champion.)

The Phoenix

The Phoenix clan is to magic as the Lion clan is to armed combat. The Phoenix are superior magic users. Their shugenja are more devoted to the kami and to the spirit of magic than any other in the empire. They rigorously adhere to the doctrines of their patron spirits, and they are rewarded for their dedication through much enhanced magical power. Phoenix samurai exist primarily to protect the shugenja on the battlefield.

Isawas: Arguably the best shugenjas in the empire, the Isawas have the arrogant attitude that goes along with such a talent. The Isawa school of magic is not limited by any one element, instead teaching all of them equally -- including the Void, a very difficult and specialized element that only a very few have mastered.

Agashas: The Agashas left the Dragon clan to come to the Phoenix. Their skills in magic rival those of the Phoenix masters, and so they are well suited to be within this clan.

Shibas: The Shibas are the warriors of the Phoenix clan. They protect the other families with their blades as the shugenjas do with their magic. (Shiba Tsukune is the current clan champion.)

Asako: On the outside, this family appears to be nothing more than healers, historians, and librarians. But the Asako are the keepers of a great clan secret -- one involving their aspirations of becoming gods

The Scorpion

The Scorpion are the keepers of the empire's secrets. They are the assassins and spies who do the dirty work. They are easily recognized among members of the other clans since each of them wears a mask -- symbols of their role in Rokugan. Scorpions are perhaps the most loyal members of the empire and are willing to sacrifice personal honor for the good of the emperor. Because of the work they do, Scorpions are often seen as the bad guys. They are despised by some, feared by others, and they like it that way since they often use their reputation to help them in their work.

Bayushi: The Bayushi are the ultimate deceivers and spies. They have done unspeakable deeds -- things other samurais would rather die than do themselves -- all in the name of loyalty to the empire. (Bayushi Yojiro is the current clan champion.)

Shosuro: The Shosuro family are the assassins of Rokugan. It's not unusual for its members to become ninjas.

Soshi: The Soshi shugenjas practice mainly air magic. Their school of magic has its influences in the Shadow.

Yogo: The shugenja of the Yogo family are focused on unraveling the secrets of the taint. They specialize in casting wards and protections from evil.

The Unicorn

The Unicorn have been part of Rokugan history for only three hundred years. Before that, they were nomadic and traveled the wastes outside the empire. Seen by some as barbarians, the Unicorn have had their troubles fitting in with the other clans. But their horses are undeniably the best, and the Unicorn warriors are such proficient riders that their cavalry is feared on the battlefield far and wide.

Moto: Known to be the best cavalry in all the land, the Moto focus their energies on fighting the denizens of the Shadowland. (Moto Gaheris is the clan's current champion.)

Shinjo: The Shinjo shugenja are very restless and often lean toward their ancestors' nomadic lifestyle.

Utakus: This family is known for its determination and single-mindedness in battle. They, like other Unicorn families, are very dependent on their mounts.

Iuchi: The Iuchi are the Unicorn's shugenja family. They use every means at their disposal to cast spells, and their school of magic includes many spells that are unknown to other shugenjas.

Ide: The aristocrats of the Unicorn clan, the Ide are the peacekeepers. They act as the diplomats between their clan and the rest of the Rokugani, who often don't understand the unique customs of the Unicorn.

[Meyo-san]

My character

Name: Akodo Kenji
Height: 5'6''
Weapon(s) of choice: Daisho (Katana/Wakizashi combination)
Eye color: Brown
Hair color: Black
Age: 32
Affiliation: Wandering Lion Clan Samurai
Character Bio: Born in the year of the Spirit War, Akodo Kenji has been raised as the traditional Akodo samurai. However, he has left Shiro Akodo as a ronin because he is unsure if being a samurai for a Clan is what is best for those he wishes to protect.

[Meyo-san]

Legend of the Five Rings Archive at Wizards of the Coast
www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/l5r
Legend of the Five Rings Website
www.legendofthefiverings.com/introduction.html

[Wag - Now And Forever]

I would have gotten into LR5 alot more back when I played Magic:TG extensively if I had actually been interested in anime back then. Of course, that was some time ago, and for some reason, I always thought all the names of the characters looked the same...

[Meyo-san]

Putting up a preview of the Special classes for characters.

Lion Clan:
Akodo Champion
Matsu Deathseeker (These guys will be the toughest to kill)
Ikoma Historian

Crab Clan:
Hida Defender
Kaiu Engineer
Kuni Witch Hunter
Yasuki Merchant (Can be used with the Crane as well.)
Hiruma Scout

Scorpion Clan:
Bayushi Deceiver
Shosuro Ninja
Yogo Guardian

Crane Clan:
Daidoji Bodyguard
Doji Diplomat
Kakita Iaijutsu Master
Asahina Weaponsmith

Phoenix Clan:
Shiba Protector
Isawa Elemental Master
Asako Alchemist

Dragon Clan:
Togashi Warrior Monk
Mirumoto Niten Master (A two sword skill)
Kitsuki Deception Seer

Unicorn Clan:
Moto Avenger
Utaku Battle Maiden
Shinjo Nomad
Ide Aristocrat

I know it's not all the families, but they will be up...or not, I've got a feeling that the Shosuro Ninja will be the most popular one.