Sample file THE PATH OF HONOR

BY STEPHEN DEDMAN

COVER AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY YAD MUI MAPS BY SCOTT BIZAR, LAYOUT BY DAVID HARMER & SCOTT BIZAR Sample file 6803B

1 US COPYRIGHT NOTICE Copyright 2019 by Stephen Dedman. Contents All rights to this book are reserved. No part of this book INITIAL INFORMATION ...... 3 may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsover ...... 5 without permission, except in the case of brief quotations THE KITAMURA CLAN ...... 5 embodied in critical articles or reviews. THE HIRAI CLAN ...... 5 Cover art and interior illustrations are copyright 2019 by THE KAWATA CLAN ...... 6 Yad Mui. YAKUZA IN CHIKUGO PROVINCE ...... 6 Bushido is a trademark of Fantasy Games Unlimited. For KITANO ...... 7 information contact Fantasy Games Unlimited, PO Box SHRINES IN AND NEAR KITANO ...... 7 1082, Gilbert, AZ 85299 or at fantasygamesunlimited.net. TEMPLES IN AND NEAR KITANO ...... 8 THE SCHOOLS OF KITANO ...... 8 ISBN: 9781097462629 KITANO CITY MAP KEY/DESCRIPTION ...... 10 TWO HOUSEHOLDS, BOTH ALIKE IN DIGNITY .....13 EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION THE KILLING BOX: ROLEPLAYING THE ASSAULT .13 This is the second set of adventures forming a campaign AIR SUPPORT ...... 15 from Stephen Dedman. Though he lives in Australia, EXIT STRATEGY ...... 17 Stephen has lived in and made extended visits to a variety THE DESCENT ...... 18 of countries, allowing him to add a genuine “flavor” to his GET THEE TO A NUNNERY ...... 20 work which is very apparent in this campaign. GETTING OUT OF TOWN ...... 22 I have taken the liberty of using these introductions to ON THE ROAD ...... 23 recommend fiction about Nippon/ that is set in DAZAIFU ...... 24 roughly the time period of our mythical Nippon in Bushido. RETURN OF THE KIN ...... 25 Though set a bit later (the time of Portugese contact), CAST OF CHARACTERS ...... 25 a relatively new series of mysteries featuring a ninja YOU BET YOUR LIFE ...... 32 and Portugese missionary priest by Susan Spann is the DIVINE INSPIRATION ...... 33 latest set of books that I’d like to bring to your attention. ON THE ROAD AGAIN ...... 33 All well researched historical novels help fully cement an INN LIKE A BANDIT ...... 34 image of medieval Japan (or, for us, Nippon) and can give AFTERMATH ...... 34 gamemasters inspiration in creating their own adventure CAST OF CHARACTERS ...... 35 campaigns. INN PERIL ...... 37 Scott B. Bizar, Editor THE HUNT FOR RED HERRINGS ...... 40 SILENT NIGHT ...... 40 THE ROAD WARRIORS ...... 40 THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK ...... 41 AFTERMATH ...... 41 CAST OF CHARACTERS ...... 41 Sample file

2 THE PATH OF HONOR

INITIAL INFORMATION Clan D (the Venomous Hand) is well-established in When the player characters begin this adventure, neighboring and periodically sends in the city of Kitano in August (Haochizuki, ‘month of spies disguised as pilgrims or travelling entertainers falling leaves’), they should have some knowledge of into Chikugo. the situation in Chikugo province. Bushi will know that the daimyo of the province, When the player-characters reach Kitamura Castle, Kitamura Kenzo, died without an adult male heir last they will learn that Hirai Akira has taken most of his winter, and the province is divided into two fiefdoms samurai to Chikuzen to help his brother put down a ruled by his two sons-in-law. Kitano and his castle, rebellion, leaving his wife Yoshiko and his jodai karo he gave to Hirai Akira, the husband of his younger (castellan), Hasegawa Kenji, in charge. Before the daughter Yoshiko and father of his oldest grandson, player-characters can leave, Kawata Jiro’s forces be- Kentaro; the south, with its fishing villages and har- siege the castle, trapping them inside. bor, he gave to Kawata Jiro. Hirai Masao, Akira’s old- er brother, is daimyo of neighboring Chikuzen prov- General rumors (roll percentile dice): ince; Kawata Jiro’s father Kawata Montaro is daimyo Shugenja: -10. Gakusho: -5. Yakuza: +5. Ninja: +10. of neighboring . The Kitamura clan was famed for breeding and 01-10: Kawata Jiro’s war council includes a cunning training warhorses, as the Kawatas are for training shugenja known as Koken (the stage-hand). falcons. Merchants will know that Chikugo province 11-20: The island on which Kitamura Castle sits was also produces fine porcelain, tea, paper, lacquer, once the home of a shugenja who made powerful ar- sweet potatoes and shochu (sweet potato brandy) as tifacts. well as rice and fish. 21-30: The Chikugo river, that flows around Kitamura Castle, is home to many kappa. Gakusho will know the location of major shrines 31-40: Kitamura Castle is haunted by the ghosts of and temples in the province; budoka will know of its people buried in an earthquake many years ago. jujitsu and sumo schools. 41-50: The abbess of the Tennin-ji Temple is famed as an exorcist. Yakuza will know that the province is home to two 51-60: An imperial noble on a pilgrimage to the Ze- powerful gangs, nicknamed the Sharks and the Spi- ndo-ji temple was robbed of a holy relic, which has ders (recognizable by their irezumi). The Sharks run never been recovered. gambling and extortion rackets in all of Kyushu’s 61-75: Hirai Akira and Kawata Jiro dislike each other, ports, including southern Chikugo; the Spiders are and each has sent letters to the shogun, asking to more active inland, keeping banditry to a minimum be named daimyo of the province. The shogun has in exchange for demanding protection, and running not replied, possibly because he doesn’t want to risk the sumo school. The two gangs cooperate to fence alienating either clan. stolen goods, and territorial disputes between them 76-80: Hirai Akira is honorable, clever and has had are rare, but freelancers and interlopers from other good teachers, but has never seen a real battle. islands areSample dealt with harshly. Kawata Jiro is fearless infile combat, but easily influ- enced, while his brother Saburo is cunning and very Ninja will know that there has been little ninja ac- ambitious. tivity in the province recently, and no bases, though 81-90: Hirai Yoshiko fears that the Kawata clan will

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4 send ninja to assassinate her husband, and anyone hashi. caught with ninja gear in or near Kitamura Castle will Hostile clans: Hojo; Nambu; Toda. be arrested, interrogated and executed. Enemy clans: Asano; Ikeda; Suwa. 91-100: The police in Kawata Jiro’s fiefdom are cor- Notes: Kitamura Kenzo was able to hold together an rupt, and on good terms with the Same-Gumi (Shark alliance which included the Hirai and Kawata clans, syndicate). but this has weakened since his death. Kitamura sa- murai have a well-earned reputation as archers and CHIKUGO PROVINCE cavalry. Chikugo Province is the smallest province on Ky- ushu. To the north are Bungo and Buzen provinces; THE HIRAI CLAN to the west, Chikuzen; to the south, Hizen; to the south-east, the sea; to the east, Higo. The mountain- ous north of the province is home to the city of Kitano, seat of the former daimyo Kitamura Kenzo, now held by Hirai Akira, and to the province’s most important shrine, the Kora Taisha. The Kawata clan controls much of the south from the port city of Omuta.

THE KITAMURA CLAN

Status Factor: .8 Head: Hirai Masao, daimyo of . Principals: Hirai Akira, younger brother of Masao, lord of Kitamura Castle and northern Chikugo fief- dom; Takahashi Masahiro, senior advisor. Area controlled: Chikuzen province, northern Chiku- go province. Allied clans: Kitamura; Kira; Saito; Takahashi; nomi- nally allied with Kawata clan. Friendly clans: Akiyama; Okura; Honma; Ki; Tachiba- Status Factor: .7 na; smaller clans of Chikuzen and Hizen provinces. Head: nominally Hirai Kentaro, six-year-old grandson Hostile clans: Hojo; Nambu; Toda. of the late daimyo Kitamura Kenzo. Enemy clans: Asano; Ikeda; Suwa. Principals: Hirai Yoshiko, younger daughter of Kita- mura Kenzo; Kawata Reiko, elder daughter of Kita- mura Kenzo; Hasegawa Kenji, senior advisor; Hirai Akira, general and steward. Area controlled: Chikugo Province. Allied clans:Sample Akiyama; Hirai; Kira; Saito; nominally al- file lied with the Kawata clan. Friendly clans: Okura; Honma; Ki; Tachibana; Taka-

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