ENEMIES OF THE EMPIRE

LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS RPG, 4TH EDITION: ENEMIES OF THE EMPIRE

WRITTEN BY: Shawn Carman, Robert Hobart, PRODUCTION MANAGER: David Lepore Brian Yoon; Kevin Blake, Mikael Brodu, Patrick Duke, SENIOR BRAND MANAGER: Todd Rowland Dave Laderoute, Maxime Lemaire, Jacob Ross, Ray Rupp, Rich Wulf, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: John Zinser Ryan Reese HEAD PLAYTESTER: Brian Bates EDITED BY: Robert Hobart, Todd Rowland PLAYTESTERS: Team 1 (Dave Smith, Patrick Chen, Aien Elmi, Jason kang, Ki Chang Kim, PROOFREADERS: Dace, Ryan Reese, Roger Liang, Arthur Nguyen), and Richard Whitney Team 2 (Lucas Twyman, Lee Masheter, Amanda Martyn, Chad Kirby, Andrew Flynn, ART DIRECTOR: Todd Rowland Lauren Murray), Team 3 (Kit LaHaise, Catherine Pickett, Bret David Hewes, Francois Martineau), COVER DESIGN: David Ardila Team 4 (Becca Hobart, Todd Stites, Will Stampley, GRAPHIC DESIGN: David Ardila Kevin Blake, Lewis Fleak, Daniel Briscoe), Team 6 (Dace, Erykah Fasset, Tracy Pinkelton, Daniel Walters, LAYOUT: Edge Studio Laura Harvey), Team 7 (Jason Shafer, Nathan Shafer, Matt Strout, Liza Strout, Joe White, Terry “Dingo” Moore,

Eric Newlin), Team 8 (Robert Knight, Brebouillet Mathieu, Credits ARTISTS: Aaron Acevedo, Christopher Appel, Aaron Rubman, David Whitney, Richard Whitney, Steve Argyle, Drew Baker, beet, Heather Bruton, Stuart Biggs, Edward Reynolds, Ryan Gossens, Ron Chironna, Miguel Coimbra, Conceptopolis, Ed Cox, Jean-Phillipe Lanfond), Team 10 (Luke Fleman, Joseph Schuster, Edwin David, Thomas Denmark, John Donahue, Andrew Snow, Christopher Myers, Michael Neer, Paul Siebuhr, Chris Doranus, Randy Elliott, Jason Engle, Anthony Francisco, Ryan Flynn), Team 11 (Cory Mills, Caitlin Mills, Molly Poole, 1 Thomas Gianni, Paul Prof Herbert, Rob Hinds, Jon Hodgson, Darren Walters, Lynne Ahlgren, Jeremy Bullens, Albert Koenig), Jon Hunt, IFS, Hugh Jamieson, Veronica V. Jones, Team 12 (Don Eisele, Kate Adams, Matt Ussary, Janet Bozarth, ENEMIES OF THE EMPIRE Janine Johnston, Michael Kaluta, Heather Kreiter, Nate Hedrick, Mike Shimek, Chester Decker), Team 13 Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, April Lee, Monika Livingstone, (Howard Hooven, Jen Oney-Hooven, David Farmer, Eric Lofgren, Anson Maddocks, Craig Maher, Slawomir Maniak, Scott Smith, William Hart, Gentry Trimble, Kevin Witt), Thomas Manning, Britt Martin, Malcolm McClinton, Team 14 (Stephanie Dane, Mike Brodu, Greg Krywusha, William O’Connor, Jim Pavelec, Ramon Perez, Bob Martin, Reginald Garth, Ryan Reese, Elliot Smorodinsky, Michael Phillippi, Joseph Phillips, Eric Polak, Mike Raabe, SampleRandy Schneider), file Team 15 (Mason Crawford, Allen Cantrell, Angga Satriohadi, Chris Seaman, Douglas Shuler, Julien Vallette, Kristof Parker, April Hamilton, Mark Butler, Ron Spencer, Charles Urbach, Luis Vasquez, Eric Wasden, Luis Fernando de Vasconcelos), Team 17 (Tom Lewis, LA Williams, Matt Wilson Jamie Kipp, Gavin O’Hearn, Shawn MacLean, John Taylor)

LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS AND ALL RELATED MARKS ARE © AND ™ ALDERAC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ™ WWW.L5R.COM Steel Sect ...... 41 Naga Specific Disadvantages . . . . . 82 Table Tiger Sect ...... 42 New Naga Schools ...... 83 Resources and Methods ...... 42 New Equipment ...... 86 of Contents Enemies and Weaknesses ...... 42 Cobra Jakla and Pearl Magic . . . . . 86 The Kolat as Adversaries ...... 44 Special Pearls ...... 86 Kolat Player Characters ...... 44 Sample Naga Characters ...... 87 Kolat of the Empire ...... 46 Notable Naga ...... 88 Introduction ...... 5 Kolat Assassins ...... 46 Naga Archetypes ...... 90 Wily Trader ...... 46 Gauging the Threat ...... 7 Hand of the Masters ...... 47 Chapter 6: The Nezumi . . . . . 95 A Sample Kolat Master: ...... 48 Chapter 1: Bestiary ...... 9 Ne w Mech a ni cs ...... 49 Yesterday and Tomorrow New Spells ...... 51 – A Nezumi’s View of Time ...... 95 Ne w Mech a ni cs ...... 10 Nezumi Physiology ...... 96 Beasts of Rokugan ...... 10 Chapter 4: The Lost ...... 53 Nezumi Communication and Psychology ...... 97 Chapter 2: The Bloodspeakers . . 19 The Long Peace ...... 54 The Before Time The Origins of Iuchiban ...... 19 The Early Champions ...... 55 (Rokugani Pre-History) ...... 97 Iuchiban’s Early Plots ...... 20 The Akutenshi ...... 55 The Race Against Tomorrow The Battle of Stolen Graves ...... 21 The Fall of the Moto...... 55 (After the Fall of the Kami) . . . . . 98 The Second Rise of Iuchiban . . . . . 21 Emergence of Daigotsu ...... 56 The Alliance with the Crab ...... 99 The Bloodspeaker The “Code” of Shourido ...... 57 The Restoration of the One Tribe . 100 Cult Without Its Master ...... 22 The Rise of the Spider ...... 58 Facing Tomorrow ...... 100 The Death of Iuchiban ...... 23 The Minds of the Lost ...... 58 The After Time ...... 100 The Bloodspeaker Cult Using the Lost in a Game ...... 59 Major Nezumi Tribes ...... 101 in Modern Times ...... 23 The Lost as Adversaries: Third Whisker ...... 105 Bloodspeaker Philosophy ...... 24 Brutal Power ...... 59 Campaign Options: Cult Organization ...... 25 The Lost as Adversaries: Seducers . 59 The Nezumi as Allies ...... 105 The Bloodspeakers as Adversaries . . . 25 The Lost as Adversaries: Campaign Options: Nezumi as PCs A Sample Cult Cell: The Black Wind 26 Grand Guignol Horror ...... 60 (or, Can I Play A Ratling?) . . . . .105 Ne w Mech a ni cs ...... 27 Ne w Mech a ni cs ...... 60 Campaign Options: ENEMIES OF THE EMPIRE New Maho Spells ...... 27 Notable Lost Villains ...... 64 The Nezumi as Adversaries . . . . . 106 New Mechanics: Creating 2 Mastery Rank One ...... 27 Mastery Rank Two ...... 28 Chapter 5: The Naga ...... 69 Nezumi Characters and NPCs . . . . . 108 Mastery Level 3 ...... 29 Naga Physiology...... 70 Step 1: Pick Your Tribe ...... 108 Mastery Level 4 ...... 29 Naga Religion: Step 2: Pick Your School ...... 108 Mastery Level 5 ...... 30 The Atman and the Akasha ...... 70 Step 3: Customize Your Character . 108 Mastery Level 6 ...... 30 Naga Culture and Customs ...... 70 Step 4: Derived Attributes ...... 108 Noteworthy Bloodspeakers ...... 30 A Brief History ...... 72 Nezumi Physical Abilities ...... 109 Table of Contents Table SampleThe Bloodlines file of the Naga ...... 73 Nezumi-Only Advantages ...... 110 Chapter 3: The Kolat ...... 35 Th e Asp ...... 73 Nezumi-Only Disadvantages: . . . .111 Nezumi Schools ...... 111 The Early Centuries ...... 36 Chameleon ...... 74 Rememberers and Memory Sticks . 113 Centuries of Plotting ...... 36 Cob ra ...... 74 Mastery Level 1 Memory Sticks . . .114 The Age of Man ...... 37 Constrictor ...... 74 Mastery Level 2 Memory Sticks . . .115 Reorganization and Defeat ...... 37 Greensnake ...... 75 Mastery Level 3 Memory Sticks . . .115 Organization of a Conspiracy: Abomination ...... 75 Mastery Level 4 Memory Sticks . . .116 The Masters and the Sects ...... 38 The Naga as Adversaries ...... 76 Mastery Level 5 Memory Sticks . . .116 Chrysanthemum Sect ...... 38 Threat One: Menacing Sacred Land 76 Shamans and Name Magic ...... 117 Cloud Sect ...... 39 Threat Two: The Foul ...... 77 Learning Name Magic Spells . . . . 117 Coin Sect ...... 39 Threat Three: Ancient Enemies . . . 78 Casting Name Magic Spells . . . . .118 Dream Sect ...... 39 Naga Tactics ...... 78 Nezumi Shaman Spells ...... 118 Jade Sect ...... 40 Campaign Options: The Naga as PCs Mastery Level 1 ...... 118 Lotus Sect ...... 40 (or, Can I Play a Naga?) ...... 78 Mastery Level 2 ...... 121 Roc Sect ...... 40 Snakes in Some Plains: Mastery Level 3 ...... 123 Silk Sect ...... 41 A Naga Campaign ...... 79 A Naga Diplomat in a Daimyo’s Mastery Level 4 ...... 124 Court: One Naga...... 79 Mastery Level 5 ...... 125 Character Mechanics: Creating a Naga 79 Mastery Level 6 ...... 126 Bloodlines ...... 80 Sample Nezumi ...... 127 Character Option Differences . . . . . 80 Caste Ranks, and How to Gain Caste . . 81 Chapter 7: The Nothing . . . . 129 Naga Specific Advantages ...... 81 In The Beginning ...... 129 The Lying Darkness and the First Day of Thunder ...... 131 The Goju ...... 132 The Ninube ...... 132 The Darkness and the Scorpion . . .132 The Obsidian Hand ...... 133 Utogu no Oni, the Endless Hunger .1 70 New Game Mechanics: A Shadow Deepens Uzaki no Oni, Creatures of the Shadowlands ...... 216 Across Rokugan ...... 133 the Demon Commander ...... 1 71 Goblin (Bakemono) ...... 220 The Battle of Oblivion’s Gate . . . . .134 Wakeru no Oni, Monstrous Plants ...... 226 The Naming of the Lying Darkness .134 the Demon of the Endless Horde . .1 72 Ogres ...... 229 After Oblivion’s Gate ...... 134 Wanizame no Oni, Tr o l l s ...... 233 The Nothing As An Adversary . . . . .135 the Finned Maw ...... 1 72 The Nothing As Subtle Manipulator . . 136 Yuhmi no Oni, Chapter 12: Spirits ...... 239 The Nothing As Feral Killer . . . . 137 Flesh of the Dark Lord ...... 1 73 Vulnerabilities of the Shadow . . . . 137 The Different Spirit Realms ...... 239 The Nothing In A Campaign ...... 137 Chapter 9: Chikushudo, The Realm of Animals . . 24 0 Shadow Mechanics ...... 139 The Five Ancient Races . . . . 1 75 Gaki-do, The Realm Shadow Ranks ...... 139 of the Hungry Dead...... 241 History of the Five Races: The Scorpion Shadow Brands . . . .142 Jigoku, The Realm of Evil ...... 241 The Beginning ...... 1 75 Shadow Bolts ...... 142 Maigo no Musha, The Powers of Shadow ...... 143 The Rise of Jigoku ...... 1 76 the Realm of Thwarted Destiny . . . 241 Creatures of Shadow ...... 145 The Kenku ...... 1 76 Meido, The Realm of Waiting . . . .242 Kenku Sensei ...... 177 Ningen-do, The Realm of Mortals .242 Chapter 8: Oni ...... 151 The Kenku and Shinseism ...... 178 The Kenku Swordsmen ...... 178 Sakkaku, The Realm of Mischief . .242 Oni as Adversaries ...... 150 Sample Kenku ...... 179 Tengoku, The Celestial Heavens . . .242 Creating a New Oni ...... 150 New Mechanics: Toshigoku, The Realm of Slaughter . 243 Rings and Traits ...... 150 The Kenku Swordsman School . . . .180 Yomi, The Realm Shadowlands Taint Rank ...... 151 The Ningyo ...... 181 of Blessed Ancestors ...... 243 Reduction ...... 152 The Orochi Alliance ...... 181 Yume-do, The Realm of Dreams . . . 243 Derived Values: Attacks, Damage,

The Naga and Pearl Magic ...... 182 Unique Mechanics of the Spirit Realms . . 244 Table of Contents Initiative, Wounds ...... 152 Sample Ningyo ...... 183 New Advantage: Attacks ...... 152 The Trolls ...... 184 Child of Chikushudo ...... 244 Simple or Complex Attacks ...... 152 The Kitsu and the Tsuno ...... 185 Damage ...... 152 The Shapeshifter ...... 244 The Fall of the Kitsu ...... 185 Initiative ...... 152 Shapeshifter Abilities: Minor . . . . .244 Kitsu Mechanics ...... 185 Wo u n d s ...... 152 Shapeshifter Abilities: Major . . . . . 245 T h e Ts u n o ...... 186 Skills/ School Ranks ...... 153 Shapeshifter Penalties: Minor . . . . 245 Tsuno as Adversaries ...... 186 Special Abilities ...... 153 Shapeshifter Penalties: Major . . . . 245 3 New Mechanics: Tsuno Abilities,

Oni of the Shadowlands ...... 153 Sample Spirits and Characters ...... 246 ENEMIES OF THE EMPIRE Schools, and Spells ...... 187 Akaru no Oni, the Web Lord . . . . .154 Spirits of Chikushudo ...... 246 Soultwister Magic ...... 188 Arugai no Oni, Soultwister Spells ...... 188 Spirits of Gaki-do ...... 246 Immortal Engine of Destruction . .154 Sample Villain ...... 192 Spirits of Jigoku ...... 24 8 Byoki no Oni, Th e Zokujin ...... 193 Spirits of Meido ...... 249 Harbinger of Pestilence ...... 155 Modern Zokujin . .Sample ...... 194 fileSpirits of Sakkaku ...... 250 Daku no Oni, Spirits of Tengoku ...... 253 Scourge of the Forest ...... 155 Spirits of Yomi ...... 255 Furu no Oni, Serpent of Flames . . 156 Chapter 10: Ronin ...... 197 Spirits of Yume-do ...... 256 Gagoze no Oni, Plague of the Forest . . 157 Ronin as Opponents ...... 198 Genso no Oni, Dark Warrior . . . . 158 Ronin Brotherhoods (Otokodate) . .198 Ianwa no Oni, Dark Bargainer . . 158 Ronin as Player Characters ...... 199 Chapter 13: The Undead . . . . 259 Kamu no Oni, the Killing Maw . . .159 Ne w Mech a ni cs ...... 199 Death and the Rokugani ...... 259 Kommei no Oni, Rank 2 Ronin Paths ...... 200 The Rokugani and Undeath...... 260 Demon of Confusion ...... 159 Rank 3 Ronin Paths...... 201 Where Undeath Lurks ...... 260 Manesuru no Oni, Rank 4 Ronin Paths ...... 203 The Nature of the Undead ...... 262 the Demon of the Dark Mirror . . . 160 Rank 5 Ronin Paths ...... 204 The Known Types of Undead ...... 265 Morei no Oni, the Grain Demon. . 160 Ronin Shugenja ...... 205 A Sinister Offer ...... 266 Muduro no Oni, Ronin of the Empire ...... 206 The Undead as Adversaries: the Corrupted Mountain ...... 161 Bandits ...... 206 Horror in a Campaign ...... 267 Nairu no Oni, Disavowed Assassins ...... 207 Mech anics ...... 268 Scourge of the Skies ...... 162 Disgraced Yojimbo ...... 207 Nosloc no Oni, Dutiful Retainer ...... 208 Physical Undead ...... 268 Vassals of the Demon Lords . . . . .162 Heroes of the People ...... 209 Undead Spirits ...... 2 74 Pekkle no Oni, the Pretender . . . . .163 Pirates ...... 209 Notable Undead Villains ...... 277 Quiet Death ...... 163 Priests of the Kami ...... 210 Oni Lords and Spawn ...... 164 Wandering Swordsmen ...... 211 Chapter 14: Appendix . . . . . 280 Ryokaku no Oni, Ronin Encounter Table ...... 280 the Demon of Purity ...... 166 Chapter 11: Shadowlands Encounter Table...... 281 Shikage no Oni, Shadowlands Beasts ...... 213 Many-Armed Death...... 167 Spirit Encounter Table ...... 282 Shokansuru’s Brood ...... 168 The Birth of the Corrupted Lands . . . .213 Wildlife Encounter Table ...... 282 Sodatsu no Oni, Shugenja’s Bane . .1 70 The Nature of the Realm of Evil . . .214 Tasu no Oni, Plague of Flesh . . . . .1 70 Shadowlands Creatures as Adversaries . . .214 In dex ...... 283 Sample file INTRODUCTION

ENEMIES

OF THE Introduction

oji Kitaro could not keep the grin from his face as he Falconry was Kitaro’s passion. He devoted every possible 5

regarded the vast expanse of forest before him. His horse moment to it when he could do so without forsaking his duties ENEMIES OF THE EMPIRE Dnickered anxiously, but he clucked his tongue and patted as a magistrate in the Imperial City. It was an interest he had it along the fl ank, soothing its anxiety. It had dwelt in the wild inherited from his late father, and the private aviary he main- as a foal and, while completely domesticated, still showed a fear tained within the city was in his father’s memory. It brought his of predators from time to time. Perhaps when Kitaro returned Samplemother great joy to visitfile it and remember. to the Imperial City he would speak to the stable master about “My lord,” a voice came from behind them, “I must please trying to cure such behavior, but for now it was a minor an- repeat my request. Do not do this. The forest is not safe.” noyance at most. This was too momentous a day to allow such Kitaro rolled his eyes, drawing a slight snicker from the boy petty concerns to trouble him. at his side. To Ito’s credit, he stifl ed the noise at once and Riding next to him on a young pony, Kitaro’s valet-in-train- resumed a calm expression. The boy was learning, the Crane ing whistled under his breath. “Fortunes!” the boy whispered. thought. “We have discussed this already, Hikaru,” he said “It goes on forever!” loudly. “What can there be in the forest to threaten experienced hunters like ourselves?” Normally Kitaro would chide the boy for speaking out of “If your question is a legitimate one, Kitaro-sama,” Shinjo turn, but today he could only grin wider. “Is it not impressive, Hikaru replied, “then there are any number of accurate an- Ito?” he asked. swers. Foremost among them, in my opinion, are the Naga.” “It is amazing, my lord!” Ito answered. “I have never seen “The serpent men?” Kitaru scoffed. “What do we have to fear anything like it!” from myth and superstition? Really, Hikaru, I thought you were “There is nothing like it,” the Crane magistrate answered more practical than that.” with a nod. “This is the Shinomen Mori, the greatest forest in “My father laid eyes upon the ruins himself,” Hikaru said, the world.” a hint of defensiveness in his voice. “The Naga were a warrior Ito nodded eagerly, stopping in mid-nod to settle the falcon culture, and there may be sentries remaining who will defend on his wrist, which stirred lightly at the motion. The boy whis- the ruins. This is their domain, not ours.” pered something to it, stroking the feathers of its neck to calm “It is the Emperor’s domain,” Kitaro corrected. “And I do not it. Kitaro had seen many masters before that could not so eas- fear anything as ridiculous as whisperings of serpent-men.” ily quiet the restless spirit of a raptor. That was the principle “As you wish,” Hikaru observed. “There are also the Ne- reason he had taken Ito on as a vassal despite the boy’s manyzumi, rat-like creatures that I heard of and witnessed during other failings. He had caused some minor embarrassment heremy training with the Hiruma family of the Crab Clan. They are and there with his outbursts in social settings, but it was welllittle more than animals, but cunning warriors just the same. worth it for his amazing gift with the birds. The Hiruma think they have warrens within the forest as well.” “The Hiruma see specters in every shadow,” Kitaro said. Kitaro forced a smile. “As you like, then.” He turned to Ito. “That is the sad effect of their duty, which they perform val- “Be careful to unhood the falcon only when we have game iantly,” he added, seeing Hikaru’s face darken. “I fi nd the clearly in sight. Hunting in the forest is vastly more diffi cult likelihood of any such rat… things… fairly low.” than you are accustomed to, and this forest is, as Hikaru says, “There are dozens, perhaps hundreds of historical records quite unlike any other, and possibly dangerous.” indicating the emergence of spirits, unidentifi ed animals, or “I will be careful, Lord Kitaro.” even oni from the forest,” Hikaru said. “There are scholars The Crane smiled. “Very well, then. Let us begin.” among my clan who have made it their sole purpose to study and catalogue these incidents. I have among them a cousin.“If I may, my lord,” Ito said cautiously. “What of the tales He has spoken to me about the matter at length, givenof… ofthat doorways between worlds?” I have been assigned as a scout in this region in the past.” Kitaro chuckled. “Spirit portals? Such things are rare in- “And that, of course, is why I asked you to accompany me deed, little one. You have nothing to fear here.” to the forest,” Kitaro said with a smile. “I’m quite grateful you “Some believe that is the origin of the forest’s more unusual agreed, of course, but now that we’re here, if you would andfeel varied denizens,” Hikaru observed. “Impossible to prove, more comfortable elsewhere, you are of course free to go. Your of course.” colleagues are all on leave, and I would not deprive you of that if you wish to be elsewhere.” “Do not alarm the boy with superstition,” Kitaro cautioned, irritation in his voice for the fi rst time. “I came to hunt, and The young Unicorn samurai frowned. “I do not think that by the Fortunes that is what I am going to do. Now, are you would be wise, my lord. I would be greatly uncomfortable at that thought of you in such dangerous surroundings withoutwith me or not?” some manner of escort. If something were to happen to you,Kitaro rode into the Shinomen Mori, Ito and Hikaru fol- which I must confess is relatively likely, I would be unablelowing to behind. forgive myself for your death.” He shook his head. “No, my lord, this is a matter of honor.”

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