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This is an era of sudden change and upheaval in Rokugan, where the Emerald Empire has ruled for over a thousand
years. Mortal schemes, natural calamities, and celestial turmoil alike have disrupted the political, military, and
spiritual equilibrium of the land. Long-simmering rivalries and fresh betrayals ripple through the courts and on the
battlefield. The Chrysanthemum Throne is beset by threats from without and within, and the honor of the seven
Great Clans—the families descended from the heroes of legend and sworn to rule their lands in the Emperor's
name—shall be put to the test.

READY TO START?
If you're already familiar with Rokugan, the clans of the Emerald Empire, and the other cultural aspects of the
Legend of the Five Rings setting, then you can skip the remainder of this page and jump straight to the next
page to learn about roleplaying and more about your character.

(Jouf C\m: Cmne Hfc Code

"There is a proper technique for all things." The Way of the Warrior, or Bushido, elevates samurai
We are the Left Hand of the Emperor, in service as the from the rest of society while also chaining us to near-
political aides to the throne. As the descendants of the unattainable ideals. When you become a samurai,
Kami Doji, the Crane have embodied the high arts and you must embody Righteousness and Honor, Loyalty
refined culture of the Empire since its dawn. We are the and Duty, and Courtesy and Compassion, as well as
masters of court, with the wealth and status to prove it. Courage in the face of death. You will be expected to
Our clan is concerned foremost with preserving uphold these virtues in your every word and deed, even
Rokugani culture and ensuring civility in the courts. Our when these ideals conflict with one another. The tenets
political and cultural achievements are unparalleled, of Bushido would not be ideals to strive toward, after all,
and so refinement, grace, and delicacy are not only the if they were easy to achieve...
defining features of the Crane Clan, but chief among The tenet of Courtesy is of deep importance to you, as
our weapons. Those who fail in achieving excellence Crane political power rests upon propriety and the idea
rightly fall to obscurity and silent shame. of others respecting their proper place—and your own.

your Sc'tjool: Poj7P(ploin4

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Schools in Rokugan train and prepare us for our role as Honor and glory are everything to a samurai. Honor
samurai, such as bushi (warriors), shugenja (priests who reflects your inward opinion of how well you adhere
can call on the spirits for aid), courtiers (those skilled in to the tenets of Bushido, while glory reflects how well
political matters), and monks (seekers of enlightenment). known your name is throughout the Empire. In a perfect
The Crane Clan's reputation as being the masters of world, you could bring glory to yourself and the Crane
diplomacy is well-deserved, due to the Doji Diplomat while maintaining your moral integrity, but in Rokugan,
School at the remote stronghold of Shizuka Toshi. Doji we are frequently tested to see which one we value
diplomats are known across Rokugan for the subtlety more highly.
with which we speak and act, and no other courtier Know that your life as a samurai will often feature
school can express such depths from a single gesture. much turmoil over competing desires—especially over
Our access to news and rumors ensures we keep ahead what you personally want (your ninjo) and what society,
of our rivals as much as our mastery of etiquette and art your clan, and your lord expects of you (your giri).
does. The battles of diplomats are fought with words
and politics, but they are no less deadly that those
fought with steel.
 Ljoaf travel to Turn Jrom Tos\\L.
You are part of a roleplaying game (RPG), an exciting You think about your arranged fiancee, Bayushi Umiko
cooperative storytelling experience. Like many games, of the Scorpion Clan. You have never met her, but worry
it has rules, components, and dice to help describe and that she must be quite unsightly—why else would she
resolve the action. Unlike most games, an RPG has no always wear a mask?
winner or loser and no opposing teams. If everyone has You both respect and fear your family matriarch, the
fun, then everyone wins! formidable Grandmother Doji. Not living up to her ex­
The other players (like you) are hero players. Each of pectations (such as failing your gempuku!) would bring
you controls one playe^r character (PC)—your character you great shame.
is Doji Ren. Hero players make decisions for their PCs, You hear talk about the Mantis, a Minor Clan seeking
describing what they want their characters to do and greater recognition. Bah! No more than a bunch of up-
how they react to the plot and setting created by the jumped pirates who threaten your family and clan with
game master (GM) who runs the game. Whenever you their thieving ways.
want your character to do something, simply tell the
GM what that is; the GM will then tell you the result.
Sometimes, the GM may say a check is needed to see if
you succeed in your request, like if you wanted to leap
over a chasm or attack a foe. You'll learn how to make
checks on the next page.

(Joiif Story So far*...

The recent untimely and mysterious death of the Emerald
Champion, Doji Satsume of the Crane Clan, has thrown
the Emerald Empire into turmoil. Each of the Great
Clans suspiciously eyes the others and wonders whether
the death was no tragic accident, but a dishonorable act
of murder.
In these times of strife, a group of youths approaches
the village of Tsuma for the Topaz Championship and
their gempuku, the coming-of-age ceremony that will
mark them as fully fledged samurai. Each contestant
has come from a different clan and dreams of being the
highest-scoring contestant in the tournament, earning
the title of Topaz Champion. Despite being pitted
against one another, they are all united in their desire to
succeed and bring honor to their clan and family.
Not everyone in Tsuma has honorable motives for
the contest, however. Personal vendettas, supernatural
visitations, and deadly sabotage may undermine the
following days—unless the new arrivals stay true to the
Code of Bushido and act as the honorable samurai they
seek to become.
CHARACTER NAME RINGS AND RING VALUES

APPROACHES AND DICE THEY ADD

Air Ring; 3
Graceful, cunning, and precise

® Earth Ring: 1 /
Steady, grounded, and thorough

Fire Ring; 2 /
Direct, ferocious, and inventive

Water Ring. 2 / |
Balanced, flexible, and perceptive

® Void Ring; 2 / ■!
Enlightened, centered, and mystical

CONFLICT STANCES

Air: Enemies add +1 to the target

number (TN) of their checks against you

Earth: Foes can't spend to injure you

Fire: You may count your Co results in a

successful check as bonus successes

Water: You can perform an additional,

different action that doesn't need a check

Void: You ignore strife from Co results in

your check

Explosive Success. This counts as a O

result, and for each kept die with you
can roll 1 extra die of the same type and
then choose whether to keep it or not.
You can keep doing this each time you
get a result on a kept die.
 YOUR character's
HOW TO PERFORM A CHECK IN YOUR TURN:
HEALTH AND
Describe to the GM what you want to At the start of your turn, you should set STANDING IN THE
do, and they will determine the check your Stance if you're in a skirmish. This CHAMPIONSHIP
you need to make, the skill to use, and determines which Ring you'll fight with.
the target number (TN) to succeed. Then you can move 1 range band, and n Endurance represents your
Refer to the Skill to be used for the can perform one of the following Actions: stamina and willingness to fight,
check, and select the associated while fatigue indicates damage
® Attack by using the Strike action. you have taken. When you suffer
number of O dice.
You'll probably use this frequently fatigue, mark it here. If this goes
Select the Approach (based on the Ring in skirmishes. above your Endurance value, you
you're going to use) and the associated
fall unconscious!
number of H dice. m Move up to 1 extra range band.
Roll the combined dice pool.
Keep a number of dice (of either type) ® Use a skill in a check, such as Medi­ o Critical strikes represent serious
injuries to your character. If you
equal to or less than the Ring used in cine to remove fatigue or Fitness to
suffer one, mark it here. Erase the
the check. move a fallen tree out of your way. mark if the critical strike is healed.
If you have at least as many Success­ You can also use your School Ability as
If your character suffers any health
es (O) on the kept dice as the TN,
you succeed!
part of making a check. This doesn't count
as a separate action. o conditions such as becoming un­
conscious, indicate them here.

V\ [ \Pi»\S AND GEAR

o Composure is your capacity to
endure mental and emotional
pressure, while strife represents
RANGE DAMAGE GEAR strong emotions that can over­
Martial Arts Elegant Robes Only the finest for a Crane! come your inner control. When
Fists 0 1
[Unarmed] you suffer strife, mark it here.
Useful items when on the road,
Traveling Pack When the strife you've suffered
Blunted or Martial Arts like bedmat and traveling clothes
1 2
wooden sword [Melee] exceeds your Composure value,
Calligraphy Kit Ink, brush, and paper for writing
you become Unmasked!
2 koku (enough money to sustain
Money
You deal damage to the target equal to the weapon's you for two months) Focus represents how fast you re­
base damage plus your bonus successes. You may also
spend from the check to inflict a critical strike! o act to threats. It helps determine
the order in combat!

o Vigilance is your wariness and

overall ability to notice things that
could be a threat.

o Void points will be available for

you to use after the Interlude on
the next page.

Honor represents your belief that

o you are upholding the values of

Bushido. Record any changes to
it here.

Glory reflects your social standing

o in Rokugan. Record any changes

to it here.

ij Track the contest points you

achieve here. Your goal is to reach
8 points, and thus show your read­
iness to become a samurai!

Opportunity. This represents a Strife. This reflects your emotional STOP!

positive, incidental effect of your
action. Your GIVI will indicate what
benefits this result will give you for
@ reaction to the task. It can represent
things like frustration or fear, or the
thrill of a challenge or joy. Too much
Don't turn the
page until the GM
this check. strife, though, can make you lose
your Composure and Unmask! instructs you to.
CHARACTER NAME RINGS AND RING VALUES
Py'(

CLAN

Ci'am

GLORY
—1^

STARTING ■ CURRENT
47/
STARTING
CTADTIMC. ■ CURRENT ^

SKILLS AND DICE THEY ADD APPROACHES AND DICE THEY ADD

® Air Ring.
Aesthetics: Create visual works of art
Graceful, cunning, and precise
Composition: Compose literature

Design: Fashion and select clothing ® Earth Ring;

Smithing: Craft weapons and armor Steady, grounded, and thorough

® Fire Ring;
Fitness: Perform feats of physical prowess Direct, ferocious, and inventive
Martial Arts [Melee]: Use close combat weapon

Martial Arts [Ranged]: Use ranged weapon 0 Water Ring;

Martial Arts [Unarmed]: Use fists in combat Balanced, flexible, and perceptive^
Meditation: Process and control emotions
@> Void Ring;
Tactics: Command and control in a battle
Enlightened, centered, and mystical

Culture: Know Rokugani traditions and trends

Government: Know how the Empire operates

Medicine: Know the body and how to heal it CONFLICT STANCES i

Sentiment: Understand emotions of others
® Air: Enemies add +1 to the target
Theology: Understand religions and the spirits
number (TN) of their checks against you
SOCIAL
® Earth: Foes can't spend to injure you
Command: Issue orders to others

Courtesy: Control conversations and arguments

® Fire: You may count your Co results in a
Games: Play and understand games successful check as bonus successes
Performance: Entertain and impress others
© Water: You can perform an additional,
different action that doesn't need a check
Commerce: Buy and sell goods for profit

Labor: Conduct manual tasks such as farming ® Void: You ignore strife from Co results in I

Seafaring: Operate boats and subsist at sea your check

Skulduggery: Steal and spy on others 'a.......... ........................................... ig
Survival: Travel and endure in wilderness areas

Explosive

II
Die #
Ring
Die □
Success
© Success
Opportunity
II ^

interlude: spending experience points (xp) You can now use Void points,
which allow you to call on your
During the Interlude, you gain 4 XP! You can spend XP to... inner strength and overcome im­
® Increase one or more Rings: Increasing a Ring value costs XP equal to twice the possible odds. While making a
new value. So advancing from 1 to 2 costs 6 XP, from 2 to 3 costs 9 XP, and so check, when assembling the dice
on. Each upgrade must be done separately, so increasing a Ring value from 1 to pool you may spend 1 Void point
3 would cost 15 XP (6 XP + 9 XP). You can never increase a Ring value greater to Seize the Moment! This allows
than your lowest Rings value + your Void Ring value. Mark the new value in the you to roll 1 additional ■ ring
entry space for that ring. die and then keep 1 additional
die (of any type) when resolving
® Increase one or more Skills: Buying +1 rank in a skill costs twice the new rank
the check.
value. So going from 0 ranks to 1 rank costs 2 XP, from 1 to 2 costs 4 XP, etc.
Each upgrade must be done separately, so going from 1 rank to 3 ranks would
Techniques represent advanced
cost 10 XP (4 XP + 6 XP). Mark the new value in the rank entry for that skill.
training that let you act in unex­
® Purchase a Technique—Lady Doji's Decree (2XP) This technique allows you to pected ways or exploit openings
use your social skills to keep an enemy from attacking you for at least one round. that others would overlook. You
If chosen, see the rules below on this page and place a check next to its title. have two techniques available to
m Purchase a Technique—Shallow Waters (2XP) You can use this technique while purchase during the interlude.
talking with someone to learn what that person desires, and thus gain leverage over
them! If chosen, see the rules below on this page and place a check next to its title.

W I -WM IN YOUR turn:

WEAPON SKILL RANGE DAMAGE GEAR At the start of your turn, set your
Martial Arts Elegant Robes Only the finest for a Crane! Stance if in a skirmish.
Fists 0 1
[Unarmed] Then you can move 1 range
Useful items when on the road,
Traveling Pack
Martial Arts like bedmat and traveling clothes band, and can perform one of the
Katana 1 4
[Melee] following Actions:
Calligraphy Kit Ink, brush, and paper for writing

2 koku (enough money to sustain ® Attack using Strike

Money
You deal damage to the target equal to the weapon's you for two months)
base damage plus your bonus successes. You may also ® Move 1 extra range band
spend ij! from the check to inflict a critical strike!
® Use a skill

® Use one of your new

Techniques, if it is described
as an action
I YOUR SCHOOL ABILITY: You can also use your School
I SPEAKING IN SILENCE Ability as part of making a check.
I Once per scene when making a check to This doesn't count as a sepa­
I persuade or influence someone, you may rate action. You may also use a
I add 1 kept ■ dice showing a result. Technique if it isn't described as
___ _-_____________ __________________ i8 an action.

NEW TECHNIQUES

LADY DOJI'S DECREE

Once per game session as an action,
make a Courtesy (Void) check against an
enemy, with TN equal to their vigilance. If
you succeed, the enemy cannot perform
Attack actions targeting you. This lasts for
one round, plus additional rounds equal
to your bonus successes, or until you
perform an Attack action.

' : SHALLOW WATERS I

When you make a Social skill (Water)
check targeting a character, you may i
spend iji to learn one material item or
worldly experience the target desires
i—— ---------------------------------------------
 €tnemf4 €mp(>e

You would be wise to select this character if you want to:

® Be an expert at diplomacy and courtly etiquette

® Belong to a clan that focuses on politics and culture

® Solve your problems with eloquence and cunning

It would be unwise, however, to chose Doji Ren if you desire a play a character who
excels at the use of weapons, uses the inner power of ki to empower their martial arts, or
wields the power of the elements.

Ppjf 'Ren's Story

Ren's household is neither rich nor powerful, by the standards of the Doji family. Some
considered his father, who oversaw shipping in and out of the port town of Morning Mist
City, little more than a merchant. Perhaps this is why Ren has an abiding love of fanciful
stories and books, tales of being greater and more magnificent than any mortal could be.
Certainly, he has always wanted to be seen as what he knows he truly is: a member of the
most powerful and prestigious family in the Empire, as far above a merchant as a crane is
above an ant.
Ren's outlook on life changed dramatically three years ago, when the tsunami hit the
Crane coast and almost completely destroyed Morning Mist City. Ren's father died in
the flood, and his mother, who was at sea at the time, was missing for weeks. Her boat
was later "recovered" by pirates belonging to the Mantis Clan, and she was returned
unharmed but without her cargo.
From then on, Ren has remained sincerely devoted to his studies. So much so, that
he has been selected to represent the Doji Diplomat School in the Topaz Tournament in
Tsuma. If Ren can both achieve his gempuku—his ceremonial transition to adulthood and
becoming a full samurai—and also become Topaz Champion, then perhaps his dreams of
adventure are not as far off as he feared.