The Left Hand's Path - Crane Story Paths
Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 8:56 am
http://www.l5r.com/2015/05/10/left-hands-path/
Honor is my strength.
–Doji Domotai
Doji Domotai’s words echo through every pursuit of the Crane, from art and culture, to political maneuvering, to the art of Iaijutusu, to the field of battle. But with darkness threatening to roll across Rokugan, will the Crane be able to maintain such an adherence to Honor? Or will compromises have to be made, to preserve the Empire?
Crane players will have three paths to consider as we move from Twenty Festivals to Onyx Edition. Additionally, If Crane players want to develop up another choice for us to consider adding, we’ll be open to doing that, too.
To Do What We Must
As loyal subjects to the line of Heaven, the Iweko Dynasty, your choice is clear–if dark powers sit upon the Throne, they will breed corruption and infect all they touch. There comes a time, as painful as it is to admit, when words must be set aside in favor of weapons. This is a choice that many of your Clan’s greatest heroes, such as Doji Hoturi and Daidoji Uji, have made before. Like them, you cannot bow to a corrupted tyrant, no matter what other bloodlines he might claim. Few know better than you how to overcome superior strength and numbers with unconventional tactics. The disparate clans will need a unifying force, and your skill at making alliances is unparalleled.
If you choose to follow this path, it means setting aside your words, and joining those who still fight to dethrone the “New Hantei.” It is not a path of glory or affluence, but one of honor and necessity. Your Clan will lose much in blood and resources, and with your absence, it’s unclear who will preserve the arts and culture of the Empire. Once the false Emperor is unseated, however, there will be time to rebuild.
In the CCG, this path will favor more militaristic aspects of the Crane, at the expense of their more political ones.
The Left Hand of the Emperor
For most of its history, the Crane have been the Clan closest to the Imperial Line. The political clout and authority afforded by generations of Hantei Emperors calling a Crane “mother” placed your clan in an unchallenged position envied by all. However, it has been many years since a Hantei last sat the throne and your Imperial influence has waned. Soon, though, it would appear that a new Hantei Emperor will sit upon the Throne. This new Emperor will require administrative skills and knowledge both political and economic, and your Clan combines all these like no other.
If you choose to follow this Path, you will serve a new Emperor as his Left Hand once more. You will function as the primary political force in the new Empire, working directly with the Imperial family. You will not only be in a position to ensure a just and honorable Empire endures, you’ll have the power to protect and preserve the arts and culture of Rokugan. It’s likely that any who continue to oppose this new regime will almost certainly brand you traitors, though. Moreover, this closeness may also open your clan to corrupting influences. Of course, what you ultimately do with this power and influence will be up to you to decide with future Path Choices…
In the CCG, this path favors the more political aspects of the clan, with a particular emphasis on exerting Imperial authority.
Salvation
In his wisdom, the Crane Champion has been surreptitiously moving Crane political figures and valued objects of Rokugani arts and heritage across the sea to the Colonies. Should Rokugan fall, the Imperial Colonies may be the Empire’s last, best hope for preserving its essential identity.
Choosing this Path means that you will focus much of your effort on continuing to move people, assets, objects of art and culture, and so on, to the Imperial Colonies. You would need to wheel and deal with other clans, obtaining political favors from them in return for your assistance in evacuating these things from Rokugan. As a side effect, you would potentially be establishing your clan as a major power in the Colonies (although much of this will happen “off screen”, at least initially.) Other clans may, however, see your actions as opportunistic, defeatist or even cowardly. You may also attract particular attention from the dark forces moving against the Empire, as they try to stop you from helping this exodus. Powerful attacks on both land and sea will test not only your skill in opposing them, but also your resolve!
In CCG terms, this path favors Political elements, which may further favor tactics that aren’t quite as honorable as you’re accustomed to.
Another Way
Perhaps there is another way, another path your Clan could follow. It could be something derived from the three above, or something else altogether. It is up to you, the players, to design such a path, rally support around it, and propose to us that it should be offered to the Crane players for a vote.
Honor is my strength.
–Doji Domotai
Doji Domotai’s words echo through every pursuit of the Crane, from art and culture, to political maneuvering, to the art of Iaijutusu, to the field of battle. But with darkness threatening to roll across Rokugan, will the Crane be able to maintain such an adherence to Honor? Or will compromises have to be made, to preserve the Empire?
Crane players will have three paths to consider as we move from Twenty Festivals to Onyx Edition. Additionally, If Crane players want to develop up another choice for us to consider adding, we’ll be open to doing that, too.
To Do What We Must
As loyal subjects to the line of Heaven, the Iweko Dynasty, your choice is clear–if dark powers sit upon the Throne, they will breed corruption and infect all they touch. There comes a time, as painful as it is to admit, when words must be set aside in favor of weapons. This is a choice that many of your Clan’s greatest heroes, such as Doji Hoturi and Daidoji Uji, have made before. Like them, you cannot bow to a corrupted tyrant, no matter what other bloodlines he might claim. Few know better than you how to overcome superior strength and numbers with unconventional tactics. The disparate clans will need a unifying force, and your skill at making alliances is unparalleled.
If you choose to follow this path, it means setting aside your words, and joining those who still fight to dethrone the “New Hantei.” It is not a path of glory or affluence, but one of honor and necessity. Your Clan will lose much in blood and resources, and with your absence, it’s unclear who will preserve the arts and culture of the Empire. Once the false Emperor is unseated, however, there will be time to rebuild.
In the CCG, this path will favor more militaristic aspects of the Crane, at the expense of their more political ones.
The Left Hand of the Emperor
For most of its history, the Crane have been the Clan closest to the Imperial Line. The political clout and authority afforded by generations of Hantei Emperors calling a Crane “mother” placed your clan in an unchallenged position envied by all. However, it has been many years since a Hantei last sat the throne and your Imperial influence has waned. Soon, though, it would appear that a new Hantei Emperor will sit upon the Throne. This new Emperor will require administrative skills and knowledge both political and economic, and your Clan combines all these like no other.
If you choose to follow this Path, you will serve a new Emperor as his Left Hand once more. You will function as the primary political force in the new Empire, working directly with the Imperial family. You will not only be in a position to ensure a just and honorable Empire endures, you’ll have the power to protect and preserve the arts and culture of Rokugan. It’s likely that any who continue to oppose this new regime will almost certainly brand you traitors, though. Moreover, this closeness may also open your clan to corrupting influences. Of course, what you ultimately do with this power and influence will be up to you to decide with future Path Choices…
In the CCG, this path favors the more political aspects of the clan, with a particular emphasis on exerting Imperial authority.
Salvation
In his wisdom, the Crane Champion has been surreptitiously moving Crane political figures and valued objects of Rokugani arts and heritage across the sea to the Colonies. Should Rokugan fall, the Imperial Colonies may be the Empire’s last, best hope for preserving its essential identity.
Choosing this Path means that you will focus much of your effort on continuing to move people, assets, objects of art and culture, and so on, to the Imperial Colonies. You would need to wheel and deal with other clans, obtaining political favors from them in return for your assistance in evacuating these things from Rokugan. As a side effect, you would potentially be establishing your clan as a major power in the Colonies (although much of this will happen “off screen”, at least initially.) Other clans may, however, see your actions as opportunistic, defeatist or even cowardly. You may also attract particular attention from the dark forces moving against the Empire, as they try to stop you from helping this exodus. Powerful attacks on both land and sea will test not only your skill in opposing them, but also your resolve!
In CCG terms, this path favors Political elements, which may further favor tactics that aren’t quite as honorable as you’re accustomed to.
Another Way
Perhaps there is another way, another path your Clan could follow. It could be something derived from the three above, or something else altogether. It is up to you, the players, to design such a path, rally support around it, and propose to us that it should be offered to the Crane players for a vote.