IMPERIAL EDITION

AN OVERVIEW ARTICLE ON THE BASIC SCHOOLS, ADVANCED SCHOOLS AND NEW PATHS AVAILABLE AS PLAYER CHARACTERS UNDER THE PRE-SCORPION COUP ERA-OF-PLAY.

Released for immediate publication on Friday, the twentieth of April, year two-thousand and twelve.

RULES OF THE CAMPAIGN
Pursuant to statements from RITSURYO ISSATSU, in order to participate in a Legend of the Five Rings game, one needs a character. Players may have characters belonging from any of the Schools found in recently published L5R products, except as limited by the following campaign stipulations found herein.

The following is a partial list of the Schools available for characters. Further entries may be added accordingly in later Articles updating this document.

CHOOSING A SCHOOL
A starting character may choose to attend any of the following Schools. Any Schools which are not on this list are currently prohibited in the campaign.
Note that your family does not necessarily dictate your destiny; a character for instance, be a bushi was born in the Isawa family. However, characters almost always attend a School within their own Clan. If players choose to have a character attend a School from a different Clan, characters must purchase the Different School Advantage (5 Experience Points).
Also, non-Imperial characters who wish to attend Imperial Schools must also spend 6 Experience Points on the Social Position Advantage.

Crab: Hida Bushi, Hiruma Scout, Kaiu Engineering (updated as the Kaiu Engineer), Kuni Shugenja, Kuni Witch-Hunter, Yasuki Merchant (updated as the Yasuki Courtier)

Mechanical Considerations: After the fall of Hiruma Castle, the Hiruma family had no sensei and was unable to to preserve the knowledge of its ancient bushi school (the school listed in the L5R 4th Edition Core Rulebook as “Hiruma Bushi”). Most of the samurai who actually knew its advanced techniques had perished in battle with the Maw, and those who knew its more basic methods were too focused on fighting and surviving to pass on their wisdom. By the time the family realized their school was in danger of perishing it was too late. It was the Unicorn Clan which offered a solution, opening its scout dojo to the Hiruma. Thus, in this era-of-play, the lost Hiruma Bushi school is not available for character access.

Crane: Asahina Shugenja, Daidoji Yojimbo (updated as the Daidoji Iron Warrior), Doji Courtier, Doji Magistrate, Kakita Artisan, Kakita Bushi, Yasuki Courtier

Dragon: Agasha Shugenja, Kitsuki Magistrate (updated as the Kitsuki Investigator), Togashi Ise Zumi, Mirumoto Bushi

Mechanical Considerations: The Agasha is a Dragon Clan family in this era, and by consequence so was the school of the family. And that the Tamori family of the Dragon (including the School of the same name) has yet to exist after the Agasha defected to the Phoenix.

Lion: Akodo Bushi, Akodo War College/Akodo Tactician(updated as the Akodo Tactical Master), Ikoma Omoidasu (updated as the Ikoma Bard), Ikoma Spymaster (updated as the Ikoma Lion’s Shadow), Kitsu Shugenja, Matsu Bushi (updated as the Matsu Berserker)

Phoenix: Asako Henshin, Asako Courtier (updated as the Asako Loremaster), Isawa Shugenja, Shiba Bushi

Scorpion: Bayushi Bushi, Bayushi Courtier, Shosuro Shinobi (updated as the Shosuro Infiltrator), Soshi Shugenja, Yogo Shugenja

Unicorn: Ide Emissary, Iuchi Shugenja, Moto Vindicator, Otaku Battle Maiden (updated as the Utaku Battle Maiden), Shinjo Bushi, Ujik-Hai (Moto) Bushi

Minor Clans: Falcon Bushi (updated as the Toritaka Bushi), Ichiro Bushi (Badger), Kitsune Shugenja (Fox), Mantis Bushi (treat the same as Yoritomo Bushi), Mantis Courtier (treat the same as Yoritomo Courtier), Moshi Shugenja (Centipede), Suzume Bushi (Sparrow), Tortoise Smuggler (treat the same as Kasuga Smuggler), Wasp Archer (treat the same as Tsuruchi Archer), Wasp Bounty Hunter (treat the same as Tsuruchi Bounty Hunter)

Imperial: Miya Shisha (updated as the Miya Herald), Seppun Miharu (updated as the Seppun Guardsman), Seppun Shugenja

Brotherhood of Shinsei: Shrine of the Seven Thunders, Temple of the Thousand Fortunes

Ronin: Forest Killers, Tessen (otokodate), The Gaze of Sun Tao (updated as the Disciples of Sun Tao), Yotsu Bushi

Mechanical Considerations: The Yotsu in the Pre-Scorpion coup era was a ronin family. Characters taking up the Yotsu Bushi School have only the Rank 4 “Shelter the Blameless” Technique available to them. Reference “Sword of Yotsu” below.

Belonging to a School grants a character an additional Trait bonus, several free skills, and a Rank 1 School Technique. Record these information on the character sheet under the appropriate sections (Traits, Skills, and Techniques).
Schools generally must conform to their most recent printed version in any L5R product or canon. There are certain exceptions to this, as follows:
 The Badger, Centipede, Dragonfly, Falcon, Fox, Sparrow and Wasp Schools are limited to their three Ranks (as they did in Way of the Minor Clans).
 The Mantis Bushi School is limited to its four School Ranks. The Mantis Courtier School is limited to its three School Ranks.

TAKING A PATH
A character may choose to take any of the following Paths. Any Paths which are not on this list, which may have been missed-out during this attempt at compilation, may be submitted for review and thereafter included in a later update.

Crab: Hida Berserker (updated as the Crab Berserker)

Crane: Tsume Pikemen (updated as a New Ronin Path)

Mechanical Considerations: During the era, the Tsume is an active vassal family to the Doji, and hence not a ronin path. The path is legal for play as a Rank 3 Crane Alternate Path, available to members of the Tsume vassal family and to other Doji family samurai with connections or alliances with the Tsume. Subject to that restriction, the Pikeman Technique may be learned by a bushi from any of the Crane bushi schools.

Dragon: Kitsuki Justicar, Mirumoto Mountaineer

Scorpion: Scorpion Loyalist

Unicorn: Shinjo Scout

Minor Clans: Falcon Shugenja (updated as the Toritaka Exorcist), Tortoise Guard

Imperial: Kenburo’s Way

Brotherhood of Shinsei: Brotherhood Spy

Ronin: Eyes of Nanashi, Forest Killers, Kenburo’s Way, Sword of Yotsu, People’s Legionnaire

Not Otherwise Specified: Agent of the Gozoku, Emerald Magistrate, The Topaz Champion

Mechanical Considerations: The Path: The Topaz Champion may only be taken by players who “won” in the Topaz Championship annual introductory game.

Mechanical Considerations: Kenburo’s Way is normally only available to Emerald and Jade Magistrates, as it is preserved within the confines of the Ruby Dojo. However, given that it was originally devised by Kenburo while he was a ronin, the technique maybe made available to ronin characters as it may have been passed down in the generations of certain ronin “families.” The GM will require a good character background for this access, and shall limit the number of player character who have access to the same.

Mechanical Considerations: Unsurprisingly, in Rokugan canon history, the technique of the People’s Legionnaire Path did not survive alongside the ultimate defeat of the People’s Legion (circa 667). The technique may be made available to ronin characters as it may have possibly been passed down in the generations of certain ronin “families.” The GM will require a good character background supporting access, and shall limit the number of player characters who have access to the same.

ENTERING AN ADVANCED SCHOOL
A character may choose to attend any of the following Advanced Schools. Any Schools which are not on this list, which may have been missed-out during this attempt at compilation, may be submitted for review and thereafter included in a later update.

Crab: Defender of the Wall

Crane: Daidoji Harriers, Kenshinzen

Dragon: Mirumoto Swordmaster (updated as the Dragon Advanced School: Swordmaster)

Lion: Kitsu Sodan-Senzo, Lion’s Pride

Phoenix: Isawa Tensai

Scorpion: Bayushi Saboteurs (updated as the Scorpion Saboteurs)

Not Otherwise Specified: Emerald Magistrate

RULES-AS-WRITTEN
All other terms and conditions in generating and/or managing a character shall remain the same as prescribed and detailed in the core rulebook, and by officially recognized publications.

UPDATE POLICY
Analogous to the campaign(s) under the banner of IMPERIAL HISTORIES-L5R RPG, this Article and future releases just like it designated as RITSURYO Articles, are Living Documents. RITSURYO Articles, such as this one, shall be made up-to-date to remain current with changes in Legend of the Five Ring Living Campaigns and with the introduction of new rules and publication from which it derives from. Each update shall be a succeeding numbered RITSURYO Article, adding to the rules applicable to the running campaign, or amending previously released Articles.

SEPARABILITY CLAUSE
If any provisions of this Article shall at any time be found to be invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such declaration shall remain in full force and effect.

REPEALING CLAUSE
All conditions, terms, regulations and/or rules inconsistent with the provisions of this Article are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

RELEASED FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION this 20th day of April 2012.