Charlie Lane - Spectre Information/Background/Journal

Linked from here:
https://legends-of-rokugan.obsidianportal.com/characters/spectre

I would dearly love people to use this as a place to take notes for their games so that I can see anything relevant that I may use for future progression.

At minimum, please do me a favor and repost your Background, Familial information, and any obvious goals you may have. Also, if you are willing to do so/are interested, go to the back of the L5R Core Rulebook in the Book of Void and look at the 36 Plots. If one or two fit your idea for your character, please provide the information here along with some details.

Thank you.

Background story....

Everyone has a past, a story rather not shared with anyone, a tarnish on otherwise polished social images. Least that’s the one true constant that has been proved over my travels of Rokugan thus far. That’s where I step in.

The name’s Spectre. It’s one I chose for myself when I left my home in the Twilight Mountains back in the Crab lands.. I’m from somewhere between Hope and Despair and I’m known as what’s called a ronin, I have no allegiances to any particular Lord or Clan. This causes a bit of confrontation from time to time, but the life suites me. In fact about the only thing I consistently follow is in the footsteps of my ancestor Sun Tao, constantly on the move to the next Great Clans’ area to to see if they have any work in the local militia and hopefully to get to study the locals art of war, that‘s their tactics and such.

It’s through these travels that I have learned two things that always hold up. The first I’ve mentioned about everyone having a past, and the second? Well people do not seem to appreciate my appearances. That’s not saying I’m allergic to personal hygiene, or that I’m horribly disfigured, i have two eyes like everyone else. It’s just that mine couldn’t decide on the same color. Yup.... One beautiful baby blue one, and one wicked looking red one. I keep an eye patch over that one most of the time. A little disorienting, but helps when I’m talking with the ladies in the local tea houses and such.

I got that eye patch, and this nifty Kaiu Blade while serving time with e Crab clan during the last 20 Goblin Winter. They didn’t like me much so I was immediately placed on the front lines. They didn’t expect me to last long and they were absolutely not afraid to show it either. It took a little work but I did eventually win them over, saved a Kaiu tactician’s son, and still brought back 25 gobi heads to boot. They gave me the blade, told me to keep my eye covered, and offered me fealty into one of the Crab clan families. As I thought about what life would be like as a crab one of the Kuni approached me and that’s how I found out about my Sun Tao ancestory. Everyone seems to know who Sun Tao was, and this revelation prompted my declination to the Crab and me making my way further inland.

While traveling further inland I became privy to a Disciples of Sun Tao encampment in the lands of the Crane. I made a bee line there, only stopping for an occasional duel or hired on as a merc for some income here and there between. Becoming a disciple has been made me feel like I finally have a real purpose than to merely survive and prove that some ronin can be just as fearsome as “clannies” can be and not to be underestimated. Some, like myself, are even capable of being respected (and feared, or at least looked at but not directly in the eyes if one forgets to wear an eye patch or it comes loose during an encounter with the female kind).

Now I find myself in the Crane lands, seeking to learn their art of warfare while I make a living solving other peoples disagreements. When one of the, shall we say, otherwise polished socialites have to uphold their social images against accusations, duels usually arent that far behind. After all reputation and personal honor are at stake. For the right price, I step in on behalf of the falsely accused and prove through the precision of steel that their honor should not be questioned. When all else fails, there are always small skirmishes, militias forces clearing out forests, roads, mines, and sometimes even other militias. Seems for as much as these major clannies love to say that us ronin are lower than dogs, they sure are quick to place a monetary value on our lives (and in our hands) in persuasion for fighting for some of theirs. It’s even better when you win a duel for falsely accused artisan or courtier. They sometimes even like to give free room and board for a few days.

So far the Crane lands aren’t so bad, I've been with some of the hunting parties here or there although that is definitely not my strong suit. I’ve helped clear some of the local bandits out of the usual small town hovels and such. The tea is good, the alcohol is better, but Crane women might just be the best.

Things about the character that are not covered in this story, or described vaguely

Spectre's family is really only his mother and his father. His father Hiretsuna Batsuda was a scout for the area between the mountains of Hope and Despair known as the Lair. While out in the field he happened to stray a bit further out from the Lair than he had initially intended but did so to follow a girl he had been watching, Spectre's mother Sasayaku Sotto.
Sasayaku is from a village established by the one time minor clan Falcon, now known as the Toritaka family in the Crab, in the side of mountain of Hope. Every time the opportunity presented itself for Hiretsuna and Sasayaku to meet they did and eventually Sasayaku became pregnant.

Hiretsuna loved Sasayaku and his unborn child, but loving them meant he had to protect them. Hiretsuna told Sasayaku to get out of the twilight mountains and go to the main Crab territories, even farther than that if possible. When Sasayaku protested this idea, Hiretsuna explained that the area known as The Lair was a harsh and miserable place, and despite popular belief does still exist. Once there you are never allowed to leave, never allowed to have a life more than what can fit inside the Lair's stronghold.
Understanding that this was no place for a child to have higher hopes or dreams, she took Hiretsuna's advice and went to the main crab stronghold, promising to return with every season so that the two lovers could see each other, and eventually when the child was capable, he would be brought along as well. Before the child was capable, Sasayaku went on one of these trips during the winter and was never seen again. This was when Spectre was around 3 years old.

As Spectre grew older, he learned more about his mother, then eventually found out about his father. One spring he even when to the designated meeting place of his parents to see what he could find, but he found only despair. Fighting hard against his desire to find out if his parents were still alive, he decided to do as his mother had done and heed the advice once given by his father. Now a ronin, he decided to start by heading back to the main crab territories and then continue on mainland.

Now for the 36 plots....

Deliverance I could see being a sort of fit. With Spectre being kinda of a duelist/merc for hire I can see where this plot line may affect him with a "bitten off more than he wanted" kind of idea. but morally I don't think it would bother him terribly so long as the money is good enough. He's more about makinga name for his skills than for his moral compass. Which leads us to another fit, Ambition.

Ambition looks good in the aspect of Spectre seeking to be famous, and through fame comes power. Now as far as the crimes and track covering go, I could see it happening, but would have to be dire circumstances. while he doesn't care what others think of his choices so much, he's not a bad guy at heart.

Disaster is a bland one, but honestly works with any PC type.

Falling Prey to Cruelty or Misfortune would be something I could see in his chosen line of work coming up every so often. He does take on duels for pretty much anyone with enough coin, and also hires in as a merc for militias.

Supplication fits the sword for hire theme to a "T" so I won't go any further explaining this one.

Excellent work. I will consider these and they will help me flesh out the character fully.

You've already spent all the XP, yes? Even the bonus Xp for background?

80 + 7 I think.

You should also add the Disciple of Sun Tao to your character sheet and any other disadvantages you are going to take. I see that you now only have Ronin and Evil Eye for 6pts.

Let me know if you take the additional 4 points of disadvantages and, if so, what they are.

I would consider:
- Obligation 3 (Governor of Juramashi District - he will be a Kaiu)
- Fascination 1 (Different Techniques and styles)
- Trials of the Imperial City (from Strongholds of the Empire) which functions exactly like Sworn Enemy, but gives one extra point and the enemy can switch over time. Basically, your reputation draws ire from people in the Capitol because there are so many people SOMEONE will always hate you because of your background.

Yea I started playing with them earlier and haven't found replacements after you had pointed out the Disadvantages evil eye and disturbing were basically the same. Also your are right, I've kinda played lechery out a bit. I like the suggested replacements. I'll admit I'm hesitant to take Obligation, but if it works well for the story idea you have I'll take it. I'll definitely take fascination as it fits, I like the idea of Trails of the Imperial city as well. Obligation is such a scary word lol

Up to you man I'm just here to ruin your day.

Session 1 breakdown for my character:

Governor of Juramashi District is Kaiu Metsumoto

When Spectre entered in the city he entered in through the Asaemon (Toyotomi) district : The Prison (Palace of Remorse) and Moon district. Was placed in jail for “false papers”.

Untethered Goat kept harassing Spectre. He fought the biggest one in their group. Crimson Mountain Oni lost and now the whole lot of them are sworn Enemies of Spectre. Disadvantaged gained Sworn Enemy: Untethered Goats (ranging from 1-3 depending on which one). They are a group of 5.

Kaiu Metsumoto is assigning Spectre to Yasuki Eiriasu, gokenin, oversees the collection of taxes and dissemination of money in the Juramashi; gambling problems; loyal to the Kaiu

Spectre has also been assigned a minor run down house in the Craftsman Quarter of the Southern Juramashi District.