3ed_city of oshinokoda

8/8/2019 3Ed_City of Oshinokoda

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Foreword

This document is an unofficial sourcebook for the Legend of the Five Rings RPG, 3rd Edition.It describes a small Lion clan city for use in your campaigns. Some canon characters from the CCG havebeen used, but their background story is my own unofficial creation. The idea of Oshi no Koda came fromWind of Honor, the unofficial book about Toturi Tsudao.

Mathieu Okuma Brebouillet

Written by Okuma

Proofread by Kakita Tsuyanoshi and Kakita SeigiEdited by Mikael Brodu and Wendell Katerenchuk

Layout design, maps and character portraits* by Mikael Otaku Mike Brodu* except Matsu Fujiwe (April Lee), Kuso (Mike Raabe), and Tsuno Ketedore (Malcolm McClinton)

Foreword


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T

ableofContents

The Lower District .........................................16The Bottle Quarter ..........................................16

The Snake Pit ...............................................16 Happy Cricket Sake House ...........................17

The Eta Quarter ..............................................17The Nazuna Quarter ......................................17The Shichimi Togarashi Quarter ....................18

The Inn and Teahouse of the Retired Scorpion .19

Outside the City.........................................20The Standing Stones ......................................20The Forgotten Shrine.....................................20The Lake of Foul Tears..................................21

The Region ..................................................22The Kitsu Tombs ............................................22Shiro Matsu, the Castle of the Last Breath ...22Kyakuchu Mura, Footnote Village ..............22

Map of Oshi no Koda.............................23

Foreword .........................................................2

History..............................................................4

Map of the Region ......................................5

The City..........................................................6The Upper District ...........................................7

The Temple Quarter .........................................7 The Temple of the Fu Lions .............................7

The Temple of the Lotus ..................................8The Shrine of Discussion.................................9

The Yellow Blossom Quarter .........................10The Red Vine Quarter ....................................10

Inn of the Kind Lioness .................................10 Inn of the Tired Cat ......................................10

The Purple Rose Quarter ................................10 The Shrine of the Evening Star .....................11 The Governors Residence .............................11 The Garrison ................................................13

The Mikan Quarter .........................................14 The Armory..................................................14 The Dojo of the Golden Claw........................15

Table of Contents

The Citys Mechanics ..........................................6Kitsu Sanako ....................................................... 7Kitsu Noroko Taikyo ........................................... 8

Ashida .................................................................9Matsu Metigaru ................................................10Kitsune Akinitsu ................................................11Kitsu Samatsu ...................................................12Kitsu Ise Torasu ............................................... 12Ikoma Renshi ....................................................13Matsu Fujiwe .....................................................13Ide Tanoshiko ...................................................14

Toritaka Tokonishu ...........................................14Akodo Takuni ....................................................15Rumaru ..............................................................15

Yellow Snake .....................................................16Kuso ..................................................................16Yoritomo Hoji Yukihira .....................................17Bayushi Osaku ..................................................18Hoshi Kokori .....................................................18Tsuno Ketedore .................................................21Tsuno House Guard ..........................................21

Boxed Inserts


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History

recognized his error before it was too late and madepeace with the last Kitsu. The five remaining Kitsuturned into humans and married the daughters ofthe Lion champion. The Kitsu family was founded.

The place where Amaterasu arranged the firstmeeting between Akodo and the newly-human Kitsuwas chosen as the location of the the Kitsu Tombs(L19), built to hold the ashes of the transformedKitsu. This is why the small village of Oshi no Kodais so important to the Kitsu family, even though it isin the Matsu family territory. The young Kitsu familyobtained permission from the Matsu to keep controlof this village, as it is very close to the Kitsu Tombs

and provides a place for the shugenja to stopon their way to and from the secret site.

Oshi no Koda slowly grew up from asmall village to a small town.

Centuries passed. The smalltown kept expanding, becomingthe training place for the Kitsu thatdidnt choose the path of the SodanSenzo, and would later be sent to

Last Breath Castle (Shiro Matsu).Due to the convenient location on the

road of the ancestral castle, inns and sakehouses catering to the travelers going to and

from the ancestral house of the Matsu family startedto appear. Thanks to constant Lion troop movementand exercises in the province, Oshi found a way togrow to the size of a prosperous small town.

The town started to suffer when Kyakuchu Mura(Footnote Village) was created during the reign ofHantei XXXVIII to spy on movement within the

Bayushi provinces, and later as a relay point forthe Imperial Legions that were patrolling the emptyScorpion clan provinces during the destruction andexile of the clan. People no longer stopped in Oshino Koda, but instead went to Kyakuchu.

When Kitsu Okura, the first Jade Champion ofthe modern era (Kuni Tokiaji being the first JadeChampion ever), started his maho cult to Akumano oni in an attempt to protect the Lion during thewar against the Shadow, he quickly noticed Oshi no

The old Kitsu town of Oshi no Koda, the city ofthe blazing lion (after the mon of the Kitsu family),was founded more than a thousand years ago as asmall village when the Kitsu Tombs (L19) were builta couple of days of travel to the south. It is a minortown on the Road of the Ancestral Castle that linksShiro Matsu (L18) and Kyakuchu Mura (L16), in themiddle of the Matsu province of Yama.

At the dawn of the Empire, a small tribe of humanschose to settle here, south of the Heigen no Otaku,the Plains of Battle (EE), and near the Flowing ManeRiver, a small tributary to Kawa Mitsu Kishi, ThreeSides River (X). It was a good place to create anew village because of the warm climate,fertile land, and the long distance fromthe growing empire of Hantei. Thetribe settled here and quickly createda busy village. When the tribeof Matsu started to grow up andconquer the neighboring lands, thetribe of Oshi bowed to them instead

of fighting. They were a peaceful lot,and already had too much to worryabout with what they had discoveredhidden in the nearby hills.

Living in those hills was a group of greatintelligent felines, later known as the Kitsu, thatlived in buildings and showed great skill with magic.The Kitsu built a series of standing stones next to aroad that goes west into the mountains, where theylived. The peasants of Oshi preferred to leave thefelines alone as long as they did not interfere. The

creatures did not care about humanity either. Thetwo races lived near each other without contact.

However, the empire of the Kami had grownand finally the inhabitants of Oshi no Koda foundthemselves integrated in the Lion clans growingterritory. They and the Matsu tribe bowed to Akodoand some of them were selected to be samurai. Then,the war with the Kitsu started. Akodo-Kami believedthe reclusive Kitsu to be dangerous creatures andtried to eradicate them all. However, Akodo

History


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History

until the rise of the Tsuno. Tsunoravagers on their way to the KitsuTombs attacked Oshi no Koda and thetown suffered great damage. The cityis still rebuilding, but slowly, becausemost resources allocated to the area were

diverted from Oshi no Koda to KyakuchuMura after the latters rise and fall. Footnotevillage has fallen out of use since the destruction ofBeiden pass, though it began growing again whenToturi Tsudao installed a small command post forthe Imperial legions and her fight against the Tsunoduring the troubled period of the Four Winds.Nevertheless, in the end, Oshi no Koda is becomingmore and more forgotten as just a minor stop on theroad.

Koda, and turned it into an important place for hiscult. His cult recruited first among the shugenja ofthe Kitsu Tombs, with the help of the bloodspeakerKitsu Gongsun, but soon needed to hire bushi. Asa result, warriors like Ikoma Ryozo and MatsuDaoqan started to flock to Oshi no Koda, the place

nearest to the Kitsu Tombs where legions of bushicould gather. The small towns growth resumed withthis influx of corrupted Lion soldiers.

After the Battle of the Valley of Storms (a smallvalley southeast of Oshi no Koda) where thecorrupted legions of Kitsu Okura summoned onito defeat the Otaku battle maidens army, Oshi noKoda lost its status as the dark Lions meeting placeand dwindled again. The town went back to being afootnote among the Lions holdings for many years,


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TheCity

horizontally cut in two in the middle and adornedwith carvings. A carved arch spans over the fourpanels on both sides, acting as a frame for twodifferent scenes. On the side visible from within thecity, the lower pair of panels shows a road startingfrom the bottom of the arch going to the top. Thereit continues on the upper pair of panels, where itdisappears in the distance among grey plains. Onthe other side, visible to visitors coming to Oshi noKoda, the lower half of the door shows a battlefieldcovered with hundreds of broken weapons and setsof armor, and the upper half depicts a distant city inthe background, showered by light rays from a risingsun placed at the top of the arch. These carvings arethe living symbols of the Spirit realms.

The primary resources of the city are the harvestsfrom the surrounding rice and barley fields. Southof the town, there are some small iron miningoperations and a small wood that provide justenough for the needs of the community. The second-most important sources of income for the city arethe inns and the teahouses. Even though Kyakuchu

Mura (Footnote village) has attracted most of thetravelers of the region for a long time, since its fallthey have begun to visit Oshi no Koda in steadynumbers, increasing the modest resources of thetowns governor. All this allows the town to get by,but the lack of funds normally allocated by the Yamaprovinces governor to the town considerably slowsdown the reconstruction effort.

This small city is rebuilding, having beenseverely damaged by small packs of wanderingTsuno on their way to the Kitsu Tombs. Lackingresources, Oshi no Koda still shows the scars of thebattles. Like many other cities in the Lion lands,Oshi no Koda is enclosed within a thick wall. Theland immediately outside the walls is scorched,but slowly recovering. Many of the buildingsconstructed in the area surrounding the city duringthe time of Kitsu Okura, to host his followers, weredestroyed during the Tsunos attack. The ruins ofthese settlements have now been mostly cleared andnature is reasserting its right over them.

The city itself is shaped like a long oval, centeredupon the ancestral castle road, which cuts Oshi noKoda in two: the upper and the lower districts. Thelower district is west of the road, closer to the river.Its where all the cheapest places are and the lowercastes live. The upper district is on the other sideof the road, built around the governors house andthe temples. The southern entrance to the city is theMaw of the Lion, a large gate that has been modeled

after the mon of the Ikoma family, a gift of IkomaKomori, son of Ikoma the first daimyo of the family.He built this gate to honor the legends of the Kitsurace. It is quite an impressive sight as sometimes thewind blowing through gives the impression that thedoor is roaring like a lion through its stone fangs.Damaged by the Tsuno attacks, the gate has sincebeen restored.

The northern gate is called the Doorway to Two Worlds. The panels of the gates double door are

The City's Mechanics

Oshi no Koda (Small town, 20 points)Location: Accessible Location, Simple Terrain (3 points)Waterway: Normal (3 points)Craft Holdings: Average Mine (2 points); Average Sake Works (2 points)Military Holdings: NoneSpiritual Holdings: Sacred Site: the Standing Stones (5 points), Temple: Temple of the Fu Lions (4 points)

The City


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heUpperDistrict

a small garden with tall trees that arenearly all centuries old, blocking thesunlight and making the place evenshadier.

The main entrance of the temple isa small room with five doors, four each

adorned with the mon of a different Lionfamily, and the fifth with the symbol of Okurano oni. Each door with a family mon leads to a smallfamily shrine filled with incense and candle smoke,with a small altar where visitors can pray to theirancestors. Monks can access each shrine through asmall inconspicuous door at the back of each roomthat leads to their accommodations. These are small,plain cells, accommodating only six monks and theelder shugenja leading them. The door with Okura noonis symbol remains closed at all times, as it leadsto the extinct Shimizu familys shrine, a dishonoredfamily the mention of which is forbidden.

There are three other shrines on the templegrounds. One is an altar dedicated to the spirits ofthe Lion clan, and another to the families followingthe spirit of Akodo-kami. Unassumingly nestled inthe roots of the gardens oldest tree is a small altardedicated to Okura no oni, the keeper of Tengokusgates. The altar is a simple block of pristine whitestone engraved with the onis name.

Monks of the Order of Heroes tend to the temple.This order is a small splinter group of the Order of

Bishamon, recently founded when Matsu Goemonbecame the Fortune of Heroes. Until Goemons

The Upper District

The upper district is where samurai live andprosper. It is located on the higher ground of thetown, away from the river. Water here is providedmostly by numerous wells. The upper district is

divided into many smaller quarters, all packed withplaces of interest.

The Temple Quarter

As befits a town controlled by the Kitsu, the templequarter is one of the most important and beautifulquarters of Oshi no Koda. Only the shugenja andthe monks are permitted to live in the few dwellingsnestled between the three main temples.

The Temple of the Fu Lions

The first, and oldest, temple is the Temple ofthe Fu Lions, a large temple built on a small hill.Visitors can access it by climbing up a flight of stairsflanked by two big Fu lion statues that symbolizethe temples spirit guardians. Its a simple temple,made of stone, darkened by the years. All theexterior walls are decorated with depictions of actsof courage by the Lion families founders: Akodosdeath in the Seikitsu Pass, Matsus departure tothe Shadowlands, Ikomas brawl with a group ofbandits, and Kitsu leading his four brothers in a

ritual to transform themselves into humans underthe light of Lady Sun. The temple is surrounded by

Kitsu Sanako, Headmistress of the Temple of the Fu Lions

Kitsu Sodan-Senzo 4 / Master Keeper 2Kitsu Sanako was once the apprentice of Kitsu Osuji, the sodan-senzo tending to

the imperial familys shrines (Unexpected Allies, p. 66), and she quickly made useof her senseis reputation and influence to move up in the Lion courts and build herown web of influence. She rapidly became a talented courtier, using rumors andsmiles to obtain what she wanted. She also quickly learned to use her ability to talk

with ancestors to discover the weaknesses of her opponents. After the death of hersensei during the Scorpion Clan coup, she secured her place in the Lion courts, whereshe stayed until she eventually grew too old and lost her edge. She is now a retiredold woman; the dangerous beauty of her red hair and painted face are long gone andnow turned into the mask of a mannered but bitter old woman. Shunning the temple

cells austerity, she resides in a small but comfortable house nearby. She lives in the memories of her past gloryat the courts, and keeps pestering the poor monks and the members of the Kitsu family sent to the temple toassist her. She was sent here by Kitsu Juri because he thought she had outlived her usefulness to the Lion clan,and had become likely to be an embarrassment at court.


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TheTempleQuarter

show nearly no decorations, just sample kanji andrepresentation of Hamanri, with the recent additionof a lotus. The entrance leads to a small room withdouble doors and a stand where visitors can takemantras, candles and incense sticks. The doors leadinto the main room of the temple, an immense dark

room where the only lights are those of the numerouscandles and the lamp that stands just over the statueof Hamanri. The statue once held a chrysanthemum,but now holds a lotus. The walls are covered withextracts from the True and the New Tao, along withquotes from the Elemental Keepers.

Behind the temple, the second building housesthe monks of the Order of the Thousand Fortunes(formerly the Order of the Seven Fortunes) and theKitsu shugenja who serve at the temple.

Before the death of Rosoku, the temple was aplace to pray for the stability of the Empire. However,after the end of Shinseis line, Kitsu Noroko Taikyodecided to change the temples dogma in an attemptto understand the new enlightenment the Empire wasforced to follow with the emergence of the Keepers.Despite the lack of respect the Lion clan generallyhas for most of the Keepers, due to their ties with theCrane clan, Taikyo really hopes the Empire of Toturi

ascension, this temple was devotedto Bishamon. It was rededicated toMatsu Goemon, with Bishamons

blessing, to honor the former ClanWars hero. The leader of the temple is

always a Kitsu shugenja, currently elderly

Kitsu Sanako.

The Temple of the Lotus

The second-most important temple of the city isthe Temple of the Lotus, built by Kitsu Agunori, afamous shugenja who taught Ikoma Tsanuri duringher youth. He was a powerful sodan-senzo with someskills in divination. Agunori ordered the constructionof the temple not long before his death, which wasnearly ten years before the Scorpion Clan coup. Thesmall structure was built a short distance from theTemple of the Fu Lions, and was originally devotedto Hamanri, fortune of regency and stability. It wasquickly extended, and the temple now consists oftwo buildings, each of them nearly as big as theTemple of the Fu Lions, encircled by a wall.

A stone path leads visitors to a circular gate inthe temples wall. Placed just beyond the gate, theolder building is the temple itself. The exterior walls

Kitsu Noroko Taikyo, Headmaster of the Temple of the Lotus

Kitsu Shugenja 4Since the fall of Kitsu Okura, the Noroko vassal family has maintained

a presence in Oshi no Koda. This vassal familys duty is to hunt down thecorruption that could grow in the houses of the Kitsu, and since Oshi noKoda was once used by the forces of the Dark Lions, the Noroko always hadone of their own assigned here.

Taikyo was sent here with his parents to investigate any possibility thatOkuras cult had survived. His parents died during the Tsuno attack, neverhaving found any trace of maho activity, and Taikyo made their duty hisown. When the previous head of the temple died, with still nothing toshow for his investigations, Taikyo decided that moving in and leading thetemple would be a better use of his time. He dutifully prayed for Hamanris

protection over the new imperial line all his life, until Rosokus death. At this time, the old shugenja started towonder. How could the Empire survive the end of Shinseis line? Then the Elemental Keepers appeared in theEmpire, and Taikyo had a vision in which he saw Honzo and a possible new way to enlightenment. Spurred intoaction by this vision, he rededicated the temple to the search for a new path to enlightenment. He thinks theKeepers are here to be the beacons on the way to this new path, and that a new Shinsei will rise up for AsahinaSekawa cannot be the new Shinsei.

Taikyo shows his old age. He is nearly bald, with only wisps of white hair on the sides of his head, and thesmiling face of a grandfather. He has brown eyes, and his body is old, thin and always trembling. He can barelywalk, using a cane to help him. He wears a yellow kimono showing lotus motifs.


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TheY

ellowBlossomQuarter

beastmasters lioness that protected a child duringa bandit attack. Its a warm place, decorated withpaintings of its namesake lioness, where Matsusamurai and travelers can usually be found drinkingand listening to tales told by Kanos wife, Miko. Thebeds and drinks are of good quality at good prices.

The Inn of the Tired Cat

This inn of good quality belongs to an old ashigaruofficer who was lucky enough to retire from the Lionarmies after many years of valiant service. He liveshere with his second wife and the eight children ofhis two marriages. The inn is small, and so are thebedrooms, but its comfortable and, because itsless crowded than the Inn of the Kind Lioness, morerelaxing. The drivers of the nobles wagons havea habit of stopping here for short breaks; a driverwill light some incense on a small altar dedicated toKoshin, the Fortune of roads, chat with other driversexchanging news, and leave when his incense stickis completely burned down.

The Purple Rose Quarter

The largest quarter of the upper district, thePurple Rose quarter is also one of the oldest. Itswhere the most important inhabitants of the townlive, in the oldest and most beautiful samuraihouses, which naturally include the residence of

Kitsu Samatsu, Oshi no Kodas governor. It is a verypleasant quarter to live in, with many gardens andtrees. Its paved streets are heavily patrolled by thecitys Matsu guards and intruders of any kind areswiftly dealt with.

The Yellow Blossom Quarter

The Yellow Blossom quarter is thepart of Oshi no Koda where most of

the ruling class lives, and thus mostlyconsists of average samurai dwellings. The

vast majority of the residents are samuraiof the Lion clan, and nearly all from the Matsufamily. Aside from the rare illegal duel, this place isusually very quiet, as it is heavily patrolled. At nightdrunken samurai can occasionally be seen returningfrom the Red Vine quarter.

The Red Vine Quarter

This quarter runs along the main road, thus facingthe lower district. It is where most of the towns inns,sake houses and tea houses are, and where travelersusually stay. It doesnt look very different from apleasure district, although it doesnt harbor thatmany illegal or dishonorable establishments. Thisis where samurai come to relax and take a breakfrom their difficult lives. Geisha are uncommon, butthose available are skilled in massage, poetry, musicand discussion, and they will never stoop to morecarnal activities. The magistrates of the town patrolthe quarter frequently to deter drunkard fights. Theheimin installed here often have a samurai patron,and all dutifully pay their taxes to the governor.

The Inn of the Kind Lioness

The Inn of the Kind Lioness is one of thetowns most famous inns. It belongs to the Ikomafamily. Kano, the innkeeper, named it after a local

Matsu Metigaru, Chief Magistrate of Oshi no Koda

Matsu Berserker 3Matsu Metigarus job is not difficult. He is the chief magistrate of a quiet

little town, with little criminal activity. The few drunkards brawls are quickly

dealt with by a good jitte and a firm show of authority. He keeps the town cleanand he is proud of it. But Metigaru is not satisfied with that. He is yearning forsomething else. He wants to experience the thrill of battlethe blood, the whiteveil that covers the sight of the warrior lost in the fight. He is tired of this nicetown where nothing happens.

He has shoulder-long bleached blonde hair, and always wears the martialoutfit of a warrior. His light armor displays the Matsu family mon and his ShiroMatsu dojo mon. He has a pair of jitte conspicuously tucked next to his daisho,and his eyes burn with intensity every time he sees an occasion to fight.


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ThePurpleRoseQuarter

monk Tetsu, a retired expert weaponsmith, is in charge of the swordsmaintenance. Every time Tetsuremoves it from the shrine, a shugenjablesses it and renews the protectivespells placed on the old sword before

returning it to its place.

The Governors Residence

Without question the towns largest building, thelong house of the governor functions as both theresidence of the assigned governor, Kitsu Samatsu,and the court where she carries out her officialduties.

On the ground floor are the accommodationsfor the governors guards and advisors, thescribes offices where the secretarial work is done,the archives where taxes and harvest results are

The Shrine of the Evening Star

This small shrine is located in the most importantgarden of the Purple Rose quarter, under someapple trees. Its a simple shrine: a stone altar placedin front of a lion statue holding the ancient sword ofa fallen hero in its maw. The hero in question was

a Lion clan samurai who died protecting the youngKitsu family at the dawn of the Empire. He wrote afinal haiku before his death, and the shrines nameis a direct reference to this haiku.

I stand here looking,At this star in the evening,My duty is done.

The sword is a tachi made of poor quality steel,as this sword predates the Agashas katana forgingtechniques and the Tsis two steels technique. The

Kitsune Akinitsu, Troubled Soul

Woodland Tracker 1 (Special: Maho Tsukai 2)Kitsune Akinitsu is a young bushi who came to Oshi no Koda on his way

to the Seikitsu Sano Yama no Oi (the Spine of the World Mountains) whileretracing Kitsune Ryoseis footsteps. Kitsune Ryukan, daimyo of the Fox andcousin of Ryosei, had sent Akinitsu on a mission to confirm Ryoseis death.Fresh from his gempukku, the impatient Akinitsu had been hoping for a muchmore prestigious and challenging task. Grudgingly, he eventually determinedRyosei had left to the Shadowlands and never came back, and sent a message to

inform his daimyo of his findings. His clan barely acknowledged the message,only further increasing his bitterness. Its at this time that the Rain of Blood fellon the Empire.

Caught unprepared in the wilderness, Akinitsu was corrupted by the Rain as he was consumed by bitternessand anger. However, in a strange blessing of the fortunes, he didnt completely become a bloodspeaker. Instead,Akinitsu developed a double personality.

Unaware of his condition, Akinitsu continues to live in a small house in the quarter of the Red Vine, when heisnt busy studying the wildlife of the Seikitsu mountains in the name of the Fox clan. He hopes that one day hewill be called back. He has headaches and nightmares, but he just thinks its because he misses the woods andthe soothing effects of Kitsune Mori.

But sometimes, the bloodspeaker in him takes control. Stranded in this remote place that offers little of

interest to the other bloodspeaker cells, Akinitsus dark side is left to its own devices. He has taken upon himselfto learn the secrets of Okuras fallen bloodspeaker cult to increase his own power and one day take revengeagainst the Fox clan that has abandoned him. Sometimes, a traveler disappears in the wilderness, a victim ofAkinitsus experiments. Maybe one day his corrupted shadow will render the poor Fox too insane to hide hisproblem.

Kitsune Akinitsu walks around in a brown and green kimono, good clothes for trekking in the wilderness.He has short brown hair and the famous strange green eyes of the Fox clan, but this is the only indication of hisorigins as he doesnt wear any mon. He can often be seen playing his small flute, which has been covered withmother-of-pearl in the traditional fashion of the Kitsune family.


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comfortable by Lion standards and provide enoughrooms for a family of six. Kitsu Samatsu resides therewith her husband, Kitsu Torasu, and their two sons,Tagehiro and Unanoki. Unanoki, the elder, liveswith his wife Wachigai and their child Yabu. Theremaining apartments have been given to Samatsus

karo, Ikoma Renshi and his wife Ikoma Kaori.The court is simple. The rooms walls aredecorated with ink drawings on rice paper. Most

recorded, and, largest of all, thegovernors court room itself. In anadjacent small building are located

the kitchens, cellars, and small roomsfor the governors servants.

On the upper level are the governors

apartments. They arent small and spartanin the fashion most Akodo and Matsu bushiusually favor. The governors quarters are actually

Kitsu Samatsu, Governor of Oshi no Koda

Kitsu Shugenja 4/ Master Keeper 1Samatsu has always striven for excellence in everything she did, possibly a

result of the Kitsu blood running in her veins, and in many ways she has reachedher goal. She began with such outstanding results at the Topaz Championship,where she passed her gempukku, that despite her young age she secured herselfa prestigious assignment in the Temple of the Western Wind (Way of the Daimyo,p. 75), at the Lion-Unicorn border. She successfully trained many young shugenjawho in turn made their sensei proud with their aptitudes. When the War of the RichFrog began, she had much to do, but once again she carried out her duty withoutflinching, organizing efficient supply lines and tending to the many woundedsoldiers who were sent to her. Many samurai families are in her debt for a parent or a sibling she saved fromdeath. In recognition of her efforts and growing fame, she was given the position of governor of Oshi no Koda.Samatsu reluctantly gave up her duties in the temple and passed them on to her best student, Jimaru, as shewas apprehensive to be put in charge of a whole town. However, as she had always done before, she tackled hernew responsibilities and made things work. She is now proud of her accomplishment in Oshi no Koda, to be ina position where she can provide her people with what they need, even if much still remains to be done with themodest resources. Eventually, she will retire and return to a temple, a place where she still thinks she belongs.

Samatsu is a short woman, with long raven hair interwoven with white silk threads. She is always smiling,warm and kind with everybody, whatever their station.

Kitsu Ise Torasu, Guardian of the Standing Stones

Kitsu Shugenja 5As a member of the Ise vassal family, whose duty is to protect the secrets of

the Kitsu, Torasu knows perfectly why he is in Oshi no Koda. He is there to makesure no one tries to use the ancient Standing Stones. Those stones were created asan entrance to the Kitsu kingdom, a link to Yomi, and hold a lot of power. Thatswhy the Tsuno attacked here once before. When the previous Ise guardian died,

the Kitsu needed someone powerful but discreet to replace him. Torasus talentedwife was a suitable candidate to be the governor of this small Kitsu town far fromthe Kitsu province, so Torasu was a perfect choice for this assignment.

Like his wife, Torasu misses the calm and quiet Temple of the Western Wind,but he knows his duty. He patrols the standing stones frequently but discreetly to

detect any supernatural activity. He has discovered that something is wrong, but he doesnt know yet what is it.Taller than his wife, Torasu looks more like a bushi than a shugenja. He dyes his hair black, but it would

naturally be completely white and he is starting to go bald. He exercises every morning in the guards smalldojo.


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The Garrison

To the visitors eye, Oshi no Kodasgarrison may seem too large for such aminor city. However, the 100 ashigaruposted in the citys barracks know theirpurpose is not only the citys defense, but

also be able to quickly move to defend theKitsu Tombs, even if most are ignorant of theirexact location. The citys guarrison is maintained attop efficiency by Matsu Fujiwe, the Captain of theGuard. She keeps herself and her men always readyto mobilize and quickly protect one of her clansmost precious relics.

depict tales of great Lion heroes, particularly Kitsuand Matsu samurai. The elite Matsu guard, led byMatsu Fujiwe, maintains a visible presence hereat all times. Samatsu holds court two days perweek, and listens to the heimins pleas on a third.When holding court, Samatsu keeps things simple,

as nearly only members of the Lion clan attend it.Oshi no Koda is a small town, and official visitorsfrom other clans are rare. When they come, theyreusually only on their way to another more importantplace.

Matsu Fujiwe, Captain of the Guard

Matsu Berserker 3 / Lions Pride 1Matsu Fujiwe was sent directly from Shiro Matsu (Last Breaths castle), in the

wake of the Tsuno attacks, to lead the soldiers posted to Oshi no Koda. She is anaccomplished chui from the Lions Pride, who has honed her skills on many battlefields.Her task in Oshi no Koda was to make sure the bushi and ashigaru of the city wereready in case of other assaults. She has since carried out this duty brilliantly and was

instrumental in repelling the last Tsuno packs and the occasional bandit raids. Lately,she is troubled that the Tsuno she fought for years, even before her assignment to thiscity, are now nowhere to be seen. They vanished just as quickly and mysteriously asthey appeared. Fujiwe is aware of Kitsu Torasus mission, which is why she is keeping

an eye on him. She thinks he knows something about the Tsuno, and she wants to know too.Matsu Fujiwe is a woman in her mid-twenties, with long dark hair covering her shoulders. She usually wears

a martial kimono when resting and light armor when patrolling, both brown and adorned with the Matsu familymon. She is stern and direct when speaking; she is an experienced officer used to shouting orders and havingthem followed without question.

Ikoma Renshi, Gozoku Informant

Ikoma Courtier 3 / Hatamoto 1Ikoma Renshi is a bitter man; he always thought the town would be his after

the death of his uncle, Kitsu Rayumi, the previous governor. Everything was goingas planned; he had many powerfully allies in the Kitsu family, including evenKitsu Juri. Then the daimyo changed his mind and appointed Samatsu. Renshiwas horrified. He became the karo of the town, a post he has dutifully carriedout since, but that doesnt satisfy him. He doesnt hate Samatsu, and will neverdo anything to threaten her life or her family, but he wishes to see her sent away.Renshi joined the Gozoku, providing information about the Lion in Shiro Matsu.He hopes to be able to remove Kitsu Samatsu politically and secure her positionfor himself. His wife, Ikoma Kaori, is unaware of his plots and allegiance.

Renshi is a small man, often smiling, with dark brown eyes and heavy eyebrows. His hair is tied in a ponytail

that he likes to swing from one side to the other as he recounts grand tales and legends. He is a good storytellerand often puts in a short story during his discussions with other courtiers.


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TheMikanQuarter

of important visitors will typically reside at the innsof the Mikan quarter, in particular the Emerald Leaf.The Emerald Leaf currently accomodates a recentlyarrived Imperial Cartographer, Ide Tanoshiko, andher assistants.

The ArmoryThe citys garrison is in the north of the PurpleRose quarter. The main armory is on the oppositeside of the street, in the Mikan quarter. This buildingis not only the repository for most of the citysunused weapons, its also where the master smith,Kitsu Kashiru, and his two apprentices reside. Whenever samurais need new blades, pieces of

The Mikan Quarter

This quarter, named after theRokugani tangerine, consists in equal

parts of middle-class samurai residencesand merchant shops. It is a really vibrant

and nice place to live, one of the best inOshi no Koda, second only to the Purple Rosequarter. The quarter is less patrolled by the guards,so thieves are a bit more common here, but it is stilla safe and quiet place.

This quarter is also where some of the finest inns ofthe city are located. Though the Red Vine quarter hasa far greater number of inns to choose from, retinues

Toritaka Tokonishu, Assistant Cartographer

Hiruma Scout 3Trained at Far Runner Dojo, at the feet of the new Shiro Moto, this young

Toritaka has never seen much of the Crab lands, with the exception of TaniHitokage. He has no experience of the Shadowlands, and doesnt plan to have

any. He was happy to be chosen as an assistant to an imperial cartographer,mostly because sending him to the Hiruma lands would be more likely to bea death sentence. He is a nice fellow, always quick to make a joke and to takethe good side of any situation. He loves to drink and can often be found at theHappy Cricket Sake House.

His hairstyle is probably his most distinctive feature: he uses sap to shapehis black hair into two spread wings, one on each side of his head, makingit look like a soaring falcon silhouette from a distance. He usually wearspractical clothes made for traveling and hiking, in grey with falcon patterns.

Ide Tanoshiko, Imperial Cartographer

Ide Courtier 3The young Ide Tanoshiko is proud of her accomplishments. Five years ago,she obtained such a good score during the Topaz Championship that she wasappointed as an assistant to an imperial cartographer. Now she is an imperialcartographer herself and has her own assistants. She has been sent to Oshi noKoda to update maps of the Seikitsu Mountains, which have changed quite a bit,and maybe discover some new passes to be used by the trade caravans. She arrivedin town recently and is just starting to become acquainted with its inhabitants.Oshi no Koda is going to be her base of operations. Shes expecting the arrival of agroup of young samurais who will assist her. What she doesnt know is that one ofthem is a spy sent by the Scorpion, who are worried she could stumble upon somesecret mountain paths they use. And in case she discovers new ones, the Scorpion

will be able to move in quickly and claim them before anyone else.Tanoshiko is a charming young woman, with long chestnut-brown hair that she keeps in a braid. She is shy

and doesnt talk a lot, preferring to stay among her books.


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TheMikanQuarter

Akodo Mirei, and a couple servants.He converted the residence to a dojowhen he retired, and this gives thedojo an odd cosy feel that is in starkcontrast with Takunis spartan trainingstyle.

armor or equipment, or simply for maintenance ofsuch items, they come to Kitsu Kashiru.

The Dojo of the Golden Claw

Akodo Takunis dojo is actually the mansionwhere he grew up, where he now lives with his wife,

Rumaru, Cast Out Duelist

Gaze of Sun Tao 1 / Ronin Duelist 1Rumaru is the son of Doji Sadako, a famous Crane duelist samurai-ko who

apparently died at the Battle of Oblivions Gate. Raised by his father, a prominentcourtier named Doji Tenkazu, Rumaru has always been a spoiled brat, neversatisfied and always needing more. He wants to be more famous than his motherever was, but his cocky attitude got him expelled from the Kakita Dueling Academy.To save his fathers face and to protect the Crane clan reputation from this recklessboy, his daimyo offered Rumaru the chance to go on a musha shugyo and live asa ronin. With no choice, he left, angry and bitter. On the roads, he learned a coupleof techniques until he heard of sensei Akodo Takuni. He made his way to Oshi noKoda, and ever since he has tried to be accepted in the Golden Claw dojo. His attitude, of course, does nothingto ingratiate him with the master sensei, who keeps telling Rumaru that he doesnt have what it takes to be hisstudent and that hes a disgrace to the samurai principles. That just makes Rumaru more bitter, and he can oftenbe found drinking in an angry mood at the Snake Pit. He frequently plays the dojo breaker at the Dojo of theGolden Claw, brazenly challenging its students to duels to prove his worth.

Akodo Takuni, Renowned Lion Sensei

Akodo Bushi 4 / Lion Kensai 2Akodo Takuni is a Lion sensei renowned among all the Lion clan for his

expert knowledge of many kata, his sword techniques and also his masteryof the art of the sword martial art (Way of the Open Hand, p. 71). He hasbecome too old, at fifty-three, to go into battle, so he retired to Oshi no Koda,his hometown, and created there the towns most famous dojo, the Dojo ofthe Golden Claw. He trains only a dozen of students per year, keeping hissecrets for only those who catch his eye. He has known the banishment of the

Akodo family by Hantei XXXIX and doesnt trust most of the new Akodo thatreturned, so he doesnt teach too many of them. Matsu bushi are rarely calmand focused enough to learn his secrets. For these reasons, the vast majority ofhis students come from the Ikoma family, mostly the Murame vassal family. He calmly waits for the Fortunesto call him to Yomi, but until that day he is going to do all he can to help his clan, teaching the Lion ancestraltechniques to the new generations.

Takuni admires the Shogun, who as Akodo Kaneka studied under Tanuki in Shiro Ken Hayai. He will readilygo into a lengthy discussion about what the book of Sun Tao says about the Shoguns function, or about themartial prowess and keen intellect of the Emperors half-brother.

Akodo Takuni has white hair. His face and body are covered by the scars of age and battle. He usually wearsa sleeveless short vest and a simple hakama (loose pants). His clothes sport the Akodo mon, the Shiro Ken Hayaidojo symbol and the mon of the Shogun (a glove breaking a sword). He usually carries only his wakizashi and

a bokken; his sword rests with his armor in his dojo.


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T

heLowerDistrict

the town. Drunks can be seen wandering the streetsat nearly every hour of the day or night, and brawlsare not uncommon. Many ronin and samurai oflesser houses dwell in the Bottle Quarter, or stopthere to rest while on their way to others towns. Theoccasional guards coming here to patrol are usually

quick to round up everyone on a scene and askquestions later.

The Snake Pit

The most infamous inn of the town, the Snake Pithas a small arena built in its center where, officially,dog and rooster fights take place, but more oftenthan not, its a brawl fight that goes on. The owner,Yellow Snake, is also the bookmaker running the betson this lucrative activity. The Snake Pit is alwayspacked, and a large part of its regulars is made of

The Lower District

The Lower District stands west ofthe road that cuts Oshi no Koda in two.

It is the poorer part of the city, wherethe heimin and eta quarters are located.

Most samurai prefer to avoid going there,and the town guards rarely show up in thosestreets. Unsurprisingly, most criminal activities takeplace there, but fortunately, as Oshi no Koda is asmall town, there is not much going on anyway.

The Bottle Quarter

This area takes its name from the many sakehouses and poor quality inns that are located inthis quarter. This is the most animated quarter of

Yellow Snake, Owner of the Snake Pit

Black Lotus Smuggler 1 / Ronin Warrior 2Yellow Snake has been a smuggler as long as he can remember, joining early

the Black Lotus organization. Hes known as a thug in one hundred different places,most of them Crane ports. He was very active around the Crane coasts, mostly aroundMura Sabishii Toshi, until the Doji magistrates started to close in on him and theDaidoji port officers became too expensive to bribe. Before things got too heated, hechose to move on and came to Oshi no Koda. He bought the Snake Pit and, becauseLion magistrates are more suspicious, he kept a low profile for nearly seven years

before restarting a small smuggling operation. Its only small scale trafficking, usinga grotto near the town for storage and dealings.Yellow Snake is a tall man built like a Hida sumai-brawler, with scars all over

his body. He is missing an eye and has a big yellow snake tattoo going from behind his left ear, under his dirty,short, brown hair, to his right shoulder. He speaks boorishly with a loud voice.

Kuso, Heartless Mercenary

Ronin Warrior 1 / the Weavers 1 / Cutting the Weave 1Kuso is a mercenary. Burning villages, killing innocents, assassinating samurai;

all these are part of his everyday life. He is always on the run, putting some distance

between his latest job and himself. He is the incarnation of all the worst aspects ofthe ronin; he knows that and he is proud of it. He has been trained by the Weavers,a ronin organization that serves as a curtain for kolat activities. The Ten Mastersalways prefer to use ronin instead of kolat agents for missions, whenever possible,to ensure the secretive sects safety. Kuso works for the Weavers whenever theyneed him, because the pay is good. The Snake Pit is one of the inns where he stops

to rest because there is no warrant for his arrest in Lion lands, and the local magistrates dont know him.Bald with a little moustache, missing teeth, lack of hygiene and dirty patched clothes, Kuso really is the evil

ronin of the classic drama stories.


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TheEtaQuarter&theNazunaQuarter

The Eta Quarter

The eta quarter is a located atthe extreme northwest of the city.Great wooden walls keep it out of thesamurais sight. The eta live here in poor

conditions, but they cant complain toomuch. The quarter is much cleaner than manyin the Empire and they arent too badly treated. Theleader of the eta quarter is Banasu. The leatherworksand others bad-smelling jobs are done outside of thetown.

The Nazuna Quarter

This large quarter takes its name from the Nazuna,a spring herb also known as Shepherds Purse. Thisheimin quarter occupies half of the lower district,and its streets are all named after herbs, cerealsand vegetables (such as daikon, gogyo, hakobe,hotokenoza, seri, suzuna, etc.). Most of these plantsare ingredients used for the traditional gruel made onthe seventh day of the year, during the New Yearscelebrations. Always practical, the Lion foundersreserved a small section of the Nazuna quarter forvegetable gardens. Located along the wall nearthe river, and irrigated via narrow canals passing

thugs and other seedy types. The inn offers manyshadowy corners, perfect for discreet meetings.

The Happy Cricket Sake House

The Happy Cricket Sake House is the townsfavorite gaming venue. It is always packed with

heimin and ronin playing Fortunes and Winds.This establishment belongs to a Mantis samurai, Yoritomo Yukihira, and takes its name from themany crickets, sold as lucky charms, that are keptin small cages all around the main room. It is one ofthe cleanest sake houses of the bottle quarter, andusually a colorful place with a lot of patrons playingand drinking. The sake house is pretty simple, withtables to play Fortunes and Winds all around. Twoanchors adorn the walls. They are from the shipsYukihira lost during a storm, and the reason he hasbeen forced to settle on the mainland. Many piecesof the houses furniture are made of bits saved fromthe shipwrecks. The sake sold here comes from theIslands of Silk and Spice, which greatly contributesto the popularity of this sake house. Troublemakersare not tolerated, and they are quickly thrown outby two burly heimin bouncers, sometimes with thehelp of hired ronin.

Yoritomo Hoji Yukihira, Owner of the Happy Cricket

Yoritomo Courtier 2 / Yoritomo Emissary 1Fourth son of Yoritomo Hoji Hartuisun-wo (Unexpected Allies, p. 116), the

current daimyo of the dying Hoji vassal family, Yukihira never had a great futureto hope for. His father put him in charge of a few ships, but they sank during astorm. Disheartened, the young courtier came to this small Lion town to set upa sake house. He didnt choose the place, his father did. His father owned a pieceof land there and said that it would be a good place to start business anew.

Two years later, Yukihiras father contacted him to explain that he wantedto use the sake house as a stopover place for his budding smuggling operations

between the Scorpion and the northern Crane provinces. Hartuisun-wo built hisfortune with smuggling, mostly from the Crane to the Crab provinces, but whenhe retired, he planned to expand his operations into Scorpion territory. He isnow giving his son a chance to prove his worth. This smuggling route is run by a few members of the RollingWave Mantis vassal family, without knowledge of the Scorpion or the Mantis. It is a small operationmostlytransporting opium to the Crane provincesbut the Hoji daimyo is using it to test his son before relocating himto a better place, should he succeed. Yukihira has discovered that the Black Lotus is also operating in Oshi noKoda. Both operations are small and really discreet, so he hasnt decided yet if starting a war between the twogangs is worth the trouble it could cause.


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TheShichimiTogarashiQuarter

houses are built on short stilts, so its not really aproblem.

The Shichimi Togarashi Quarter

The shichimi togarashi (seven-taste pepper), a

popular rokugani spice mix made of red pepper,brown pepper, poppy seeds, dried orange peel, rakeseeds and nori (dried seaweed) ground together,aptly gives its name to this small quarter. Born at thecrossroads of other quarters, this area is a strangemixture with a distinct flavor. Samurais from minorfamilies or other clans, heimin, and even someforeigners live here, talk together and cross eachothers paths everyday. Small garden patches can be

through small openings in the wall,these gardens are farmed by a fewheimin families and are kept inside

the city as a source of food in caseof attack or siege. In practice, a large

part of these gardens is used to grow the

plants the artisans use in Oshi no Kodastrademark seven-taste pepper, and one patch iseven reserved to grow vegetables for the governorstable. Aside from the gardens, which are only a smallpart of the Nazuna quarter, there are many smallshops, cheap food street vendors, children playing,and activity in general.

Flooding happens occasionally in some parts, asthis quarter is the closest one to the river, but most

Bayushi Osaku, Honorable Scorpion

Bayushi Bushi 2Bayushi Osaku smiles every time a magistrate shows up in his establishment,

and it has been like that for 15 years. Everybody assumes that the old man, becausehe is a Scorpion in Lion territory, must be here with some hidden purpose, somedark mission for the Clan of Secrets. Nothing could be further from the truth. Osakuhas been banished from the Bayushi provinces because he was a junshin and keptpestering his clansmates to change their ways. His clan didnt know what to do withsuch a burden, so they just cast him out with some koku and let him fend for himselfelsewhere. He retired and set up a perfectly legal small teahouse, where he doesnothing against anyone and doesnt break any law. Every time somebody investigates

his place in vain, he just keeps smiling serenely like a true Scorpion.Osaku is an old man with long peppered hair and peaceful grey eyes. He is tall and thin, yet doesnt look fraildespite his age. He doesnt wear a mask, which of course makes him even more suspicious to the townsfolk.

Hoshi Kokori, Haunted Monk

Mirumoto Bushi 2 / Tattooed Monk of the Three Orders 1Hoshi Kokori was once known as Mirumoto Kokori, a student in the first group

that was sent to be trained by Mirumoto Narumi in her own technique. But Kokorifailed to master the technique and went to Kyuden Togashi in an attempt to findhis place in this world as a monk. Kokori was one of the three Hoshi monks to be

granted tattoos last year, and his life has been going from bad to worse since. Thetattoos triggered some strange kind of enlightened madness. He is reliving some ofhis past lives, especially their failures, during schizophrenic fits. At least that is whathe thinks, as no one has been able to understand the visions haunting him, not eventhe Kitsu shugenja he came to see in Oshi no Koda for help. Among his multiplepast lives, the personality of Matsu Teruzumi has been asserting itself more strongly

since Kokori arrived in town. Teruzumi was a Lion bushi who committed seppuku to cleanse his shame in Oshino Koda a long time ago. Guided by his bad kharma-induced visions, the monk tries to atone for the errors ofhis past lives, hoping to be eventually free of their burden.


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TheShichimiTogarashiQuarter

class geisha, the songbirds kept inthe numerous suspended cages in themain room and excellent tea, it wouldbe more likely located in the upperdistrict. But both the owner, BayushiOsaku, and the Lion clan prefer it this

way. The teahouses owner is a Scorpion,so inevitably everyone in town suspects that heis hiding something. Nothing has ever been proven,but everybody believes it.

The inns most talented geisha is Shinju (Pearl).Her body is always painted entirely in white. Herpoetry is exquisite and she is a skilled biwa player.

found in some shops backyards, where the artisansgrow selected rare pepper plants themselves. Oshino Kodas shichimi togarashi is renowned in all Lionterritory and beyond, and the artisans take greatcare in the production of their valuable pepper mix.At one corner of this colorful quarter is located Oshi

no Kodas largest marketplace. Here, merchants andartisans meet with suppliers and buyers, and farmersfrom the surrounding villages come into town once aweek to sell their produce.

The Inn and Teahouse of the Retired Scorpion

This charming teahouse doesnt really fit in thelower district. With its beautiful gardens, its high


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21/23

Tsuno Ketedore, Stranded Tsuno Pack Leader

Tsuno Bushi 3 / Tsuno House Guard 1Ketedore is an experienced ravager pack leader. He was assigned to a

scout team during the attacks of the Kitsu Tombs. During his packs reconmissions to keep an eye on the Lion troop movements from Shiro Matsu, hefound the Standing Stones. When he reported his discovery to Tsuno Nintai,Nintai surprisingly ordered him to stay there with his pack. As a veteranof Nikushimi Shinden (Way of the Samurai, p. 88), he felt humiliated byhis assignment. When the rest of his race was banished, he was left alonein Ningen-do. Ketedore is bitter and full of hatred. He wants to destroy all humanity, but his survival instincts

restrain him. He knows he cant slaughter all humans around because he no longer has a soultwister to resurrectthe few soldiers he has left. So he makes sure one of his warriors is always spying on the shugenja that studiesthe Standing Stones, in hope theyll find some way to use their magic, either to regroup with their race or takeas many humans as they can with them in a final heroic sacrifice.

O

utsideoftheCity

insects found there.In this forsaken place lives a small

group of Tsuno bushi: three averageTsuno (The Four Winds, p. 75) andtwo ravagers (Creatures of Rokugan 3rdEdition, p. 177-179) set a camp there

under the command of Tsuno Ketedore, adangerous and power-hungry old pack leader.This group of Tsuno was stranded there, in

Ningen-do, after the death of their soultwister andthe banishing of the remaining of their race to thespirit realms by the Nezumi. Unable to cross throughthe spirit realms without a soultwister, they aredesperately searching for a possible way out, tryingto use the Standing Stones to open a passage. Theykeep a low profile for now, trapped as they are inenemy territory, with few resources.

(Creatures of Rokugan Third Edition, p. 105), a gakithat attacks humans.

If somebody were to take care of this shrineagain, he would be able to complete his sentenceand atone for his crime.

The Lake of Foul Tears

This swampy lake, located to the southwest ofOshi no Koda, was once a pleasant fishing lake on theFlowing Mane River, but after a landslide divertedthe river, it stopped receiving fresh water and turnedinto a fetid swamp that everybody avoids. It smellsbad and harbors terrible diseases (water imbalance,boiled mind or air imbalance, see L5R 3rd Edition,p. 162-163) due to the toxic gas and the swarms of

Tsuno House Guard (New Path)

Technique Rank: 4Path of Entry: Tsuno Bushi 3Path of Egress: Tsuno Bushi 4

Technique: the Dark Scourge

The Tsuno House Guard are the elite warriors of the ravagers, second in command to the pack leaders. Theyare ferocious bushi dedicated to breaking the lines and the morale of enemies, allowing the rest of the ravagersto slaughter the survivors. If a Tsuno House Guard, while in the Full Attack posture, kills his opponent, then allother Tsuno within X feet from him gain two Free Raises for their next attacks (X is the Tsuno House GuardsWater). The bonus only remains in effect for a number of rounds equal to the Tsuno House Guards Insight Rankand doesnt stack with itself or the bonus given by another Tsuno House Guard.


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TheRegion

Oshi no Koda hasnt decreased much, because theLion clan keeps the fortress fully manned and battle-ready as a show of respect for Matsu Nimurosson, Yoshino, but the resources allocated to ShiroMatsu have been cut down, consequently hinderingthe business it brought to Oshi no Koda. The twoshrines of Shiro Matsu, dedicated to the bushidovirtues Rei (courtesy) and Makoto (sincerity), are ofmore interest to the Kitsu lords and visitors of Oshino Koda, so they keep an eye on it.

Kyakuchu Mura

Once an important village, Footnote Village(Secrets of the Lion, p. 70) is nothing more than afootnote now. The governor of the village, MatsuMakuora, is planning to move some of the interestsof his village to Oshi no Koda, in an attempt toannex it for the Matsu family.

The three locations closest to Oshi no Kodaare the Kitsu Tombs, Shiro Matsu and FootnoteVillage. Heres a short description of their mutualinfluences.

The Kitsu Tombs

The Kitsu Tombs are one of the Lion clans bestkept secrets. Their existence is known by only fewhigh-ranking samurai, and their exact location byeven fewer. Revered by the entire Lion clan, and theKitsu Sodan-Senzo in particular, the Tombs are theKitsu familys most sacred holding, as it is where thefive last kitsu, the ones that swore fealty to Akodo,are interred. Even after death, their mortal remainsstill radiate power and maintain an open passage tosome spirit realms. During the Jade Champion KitsuOkuras time in power, the Tombs suffered fromthe corruption his Maho cult fostered. But after hisfall, they were quickly purified and restored as the

sanctified place of worship they were before for theKitsu family, and remain so today.

Oshi no Koda is crucial to the Tombs operations,as it is where all their supplies are stored. The citysgovernor knows Oshi no Koda is the Tombs first lineof defense, and its the first place the keepers of theTombs will go to ask for help if they are attacked.

Shiro Matsu

Once the most important castle of the Lion clan,the Castle of the Last Breath (Secrets of the Lion,p. 69) slowly lost its usefulness when Beiden Passwas destroyed. It still retained some of its prestigeas the home of Matsu Nimuro, but now that IkomaOtemi is the Lion champion, the ancestral homeof Lady Matsu is losing power. This situation hasweakened the Yama province governors position andadversely influenced the resources directed to Oshino Koda. The number of travelers passing through

The Region


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Map of Oshi no Koda

1 - Governors Residence2 - Temple of the Fu Lions3 - Temple of the Lotus4 - Shrine of Discussion5 - Inn of the Kind Lioness

6 - Inn of the Tired Cat7 - Shrine of the Evening Star8 - Garrison9 - Armory10 - Golden Claw Dojo

11 - Snake Pit12 - Happy Cricket Sake House13 - Inn and Teahouse

of the Retired Scorpion14 - Market Place

MapofOshinoKoda

Eta Quarter

MikanQuarter

Purple RoseQuarter

TempleQuarter

YellowBlossomQuarterNazuna

Quarter

Red VineQuarter

ShichimiTogarashiQuarter

BottleQuarter

Gardens

G

ardens

Flow

in

gMan

eRiver

EtaWorkshops

To Kyakuchu Mura andKenson Gakka

To the Kitsu Tombsand Shiro Matsu

Doorway to Two Worlds Gate

River Pier Gate

Eta Gate

Maw ofthe Lion

Gate

1

8

9

14

2

3

4

5

6

7

10

11

12

13

N

3ed_city of oshinokoda

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