Quick history question. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Quick history question. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TheOinodaemon
05-16-07, 12:45 PM OK, my character is a knight from my DM's version of Germany, currently adventuring in my DM's mishmash version of China/Japan. The game has been going on for two weeks and Ulrich has already been involved in 5 iajutsu duels (four to the death, one to first strike). When - said that seemed like a lot, my DM, who has a thing for samurai, said that iajutsu duels were used all the time. Ulrich (and myself) is getting tired of killing samurai (frankly, Ulrich bumped into one guy and had to kill him on the street), how common was this duelling in real life?
narukagami
05-16-07, 03:10 PM OK, my character is a knight from my DM's version of Germany, currently adventuring in my DM's mishmash version of China/Japan. The game has been going on for two weeks and Ulrich has already been involved in 5 iajutsu duels (four to the death, one to first strike). When - said that seemed like a lot, my DM, who has a thing for samurai, said that iajutsu duels were used all the time. Ulrich (and myself) is getting tired of killing samurai (frankly, Ulrich bumped into one guy and had to kill him on the street), how common was this duelling in real life? How common? Not common at all, almost to the point where you can say it was practically unheard of. Real world iaijutsu is not a dueling form, only in Rokugan (thus why it is written as such, consequently, in OA) is it considered so.
yellowdingo
05-17-07, 02:20 AM OK, my character is a knight from my DM's version of Germany, currently adventuring in my DM's mishmash version of China/Japan. The game has been going on for two weeks and Ulrich has already been involved in 5 iajutsu duels (four to the death, one to first strike). When - said that seemed like a lot, my DM, who has a thing for samurai, said that iajutsu duels were used all the time. Ulrich (and myself) is getting tired of killing samurai (frankly, Ulrich bumped into one guy and had to kill him on the street), how common was this duelling in real life?

As a Foreign Devil you are going to draw a lot of hostility. Honor is also a big thing in a caste system. If you bump into some samuari who picks you as bottom of the ladder trash, expect swords.

Try going about in disguise...Not visiting communities during the peakhours when crowds will notice you.

Based on the number of Duels, I'd suggest your DM has some adversary tipping of Samuari that you are in town or traveling along a region. Try a few spot checks during your trip to see if you can see any spies on the trip.

If your Knight speaks the language, try diving down an alley and snatching and torturing any following parties for info.
Ranger REG
05-17-07, 02:49 AM As a Foreign Devil you are going to draw a lot of hostility. Honor is also a big thing in a caste system. If you bump into some samuari who picks you as bottom of the ladder trash, expect swords.
Actually touching their swords without permission would give them legitimate excuse to cut you down. You can tell one's personal space by the "horizontal" position of his katana and scabbard tucked in his obi.
unundindur
05-17-07, 09:12 AM Actually touching their swords without permission would give them legitimate excuse to cut you down. You can tell one's personal space by the "horizontal" position of his katana and scabbard tucked in his obi.

But as with any legitimate claim, there is a huge difference between theory and practice.

Even though a Samurai could cut someone down still doesn't mean it was a common practice.
TheOinodaemon
05-17-07, 09:55 AM Thanks everybody. I'll try some spot checks to see what's going on. Use a little torture if I have to. I'll try to avoid touching somebodies sword, but Ulrich has been keeping the katanas of the samurai he kills (as trophies and gifts for friends when he gets back), I'm guessing that an issue if the samurai are this touchy.
narukagami
05-17-07, 08:48 PM but Ulrich has been keeping the katanas of the samurai he kills (as trophies and gifts for friends when he gets back), I'm guessing that an issue if the samurai are this touchy. If your DM is into the whole samurai sword cult deal of the Edo period, that would explain why everyone is after your head.
Darth Sephiroth
05-17-07, 09:31 PM One way to get them to stop is to stop killing them and cripple them. Remove their sword arm and inform them that you are sick and tired of idiots trying to kill you and leave the guy laying in the street. You could also make an example out of one by disarming them and breaking their sword over your knee before handing them the pieces and walking off.

While not exactly the nicest things to do, it should send the message that you aren't going to play their little games anymore.
narukagami
05-17-07, 09:45 PM One way to get them to stop is to stop killing them and cripple them. Remove their sword arm and inform them that you are sick and tired of idiots trying to kill you and leave the guy laying in the street. You could also make an example out of one by disarming them and breaking their sword over your knee before handing them the pieces and walking off.

While not exactly the nicest things to do, it should send the message that you aren't going to play their little games anymore. But that would just make the constant attacks even worse.

To be honest, I wonder if this is all just the DM's subtle nudge at trying to get you to make a new character. A character that "fits in", by emphasizing how much your current one doesn't.
TheOinodaemon
05-18-07, 11:06 AM The game was last night, so between you guys and some quick research on my own I learned some things.

There is a class of people called the Eta (both in real life and the campaign) that are treated like dirt. For some decent food and clothes they become a well spring of information. Apparantly the samurai that are after Ulrich are all from the same clan, and all up in arms about the katana trophy thing. So I'm looking into giving them back.

After that I think it may be time to send Ulrich home and make a more eastern character. Wu jen look like fun.
Ranger REG
05-18-07, 08:59 PM But as with any legitimate claim, there is a huge difference between theory and practice.

Even though a Samurai could cut someone down still doesn't mean it was a common practice.True. But not all commoners are going to test whether this samurai or that samurai would act on that infraction.
Ranger REG
05-18-07, 09:06 PM One way to get them to stop is to stop killing them and cripple them. Remove their sword arm and inform them that you are sick and tired of idiots trying to kill you and leave the guy laying in the street. You could also make an example out of one by disarming them and breaking their sword over your knee before handing them the pieces and walking off.

While not exactly the nicest things to do, it should send the message that you aren't going to play their little games anymore.
Only that would entice them more. :evillaugh

What you need to do is get yourself under the protective order of the clan's daimyo. Though you may be gaijin, you could try to offer something about you that they may appeal, other than your swordfighting.

IOW, you have to play politics.
Darth Sephiroth
05-22-07, 12:19 PM It's nicer than what I ended up doing in a similar situation. My character ended up nailing several of them to walls while still alive before they got the hint that I'd destroy them all if they annoyed me enough.
yellowdingo
05-27-07, 04:59 AM The game was last night, so between you guys and some quick research on my own I learned some things.

There is a class of people called the Eta (both in real life and the campaign) that are treated like dirt. For some decent food and clothes they become a well spring of information. Apparantly the samurai that are after Ulrich are all from the same clan, and all up in arms about the katana trophy thing. So I'm looking into giving them back.

After that I think it may be time to send Ulrich home and make a more eastern character. Wu jen look like fun.

Squid that, just go native...

Knight takes out local samuari and sets self up as new Daimyo...put an end to the cast system (pay that underclass to be your spies and assassins, teach them reading and writing in your foreign language). Build watch towers and signal towers across the estate, reduce tax on farmers, Stuff like that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheOinodaemon 05-16-07, 12:45 PM	OK, my character is a knight from my DM's version of Germany, currently adventuring in my DM's mishmash version of China/Japan. The game has been going on for two weeks and Ulrich has already been involved in 5 iajutsu duels (four to the death, one to first strike). When - said that seemed like a lot, my DM, who has a thing for samurai, said that iajutsu duels were used all the time. Ulrich (and myself) is getting tired of killing samurai (frankly, Ulrich bumped into one guy and had to kill him on the street), how common was this duelling in real life?
narukagami 05-16-07, 03:10 PM	OK, my character is a knight from my DM's version of Germany, currently adventuring in my DM's mishmash version of China/Japan. The game has been going on for two weeks and Ulrich has already been involved in 5 iajutsu duels (four to the death, one to first strike). When - said that seemed like a lot, my DM, who has a thing for samurai, said that iajutsu duels were used all the time. Ulrich (and myself) is getting tired of killing samurai (frankly, Ulrich bumped into one guy and had to kill him on the street), how common was this duelling in real life? How common? Not common at all, almost to the point where you can say it was practically unheard of. Real world iaijutsu is not a dueling form, only in Rokugan (thus why it is written as such, consequently, in OA) is it considered so.
yellowdingo 05-17-07, 02:20 AM	OK, my character is a knight from my DM's version of Germany, currently adventuring in my DM's mishmash version of China/Japan. The game has been going on for two weeks and Ulrich has already been involved in 5 iajutsu duels (four to the death, one to first strike). When - said that seemed like a lot, my DM, who has a thing for samurai, said that iajutsu duels were used all the time. Ulrich (and myself) is getting tired of killing samurai (frankly, Ulrich bumped into one guy and had to kill him on the street), how common was this duelling in real life? As a Foreign Devil you are going to draw a lot of hostility. Honor is also a big thing in a caste system. If you bump into some samuari who picks you as bottom of the ladder trash, expect swords. Try going about in disguise...Not visiting communities during the peakhours when crowds will notice you. Based on the number of Duels, I'd suggest your DM has some adversary tipping of Samuari that you are in town or traveling along a region. Try a few spot checks during your trip to see if you can see any spies on the trip. If your Knight speaks the language, try diving down an alley and snatching and torturing any following parties for info.
Ranger REG 05-17-07, 02:49 AM	As a Foreign Devil you are going to draw a lot of hostility. Honor is also a big thing in a caste system. If you bump into some samuari who picks you as bottom of the ladder trash, expect swords. Actually touching their swords without permission would give them legitimate excuse to cut you down. You can tell one's personal space by the "horizontal" position of his katana and scabbard tucked in his obi.
unundindur 05-17-07, 09:12 AM	Actually touching their swords without permission would give them legitimate excuse to cut you down. You can tell one's personal space by the "horizontal" position of his katana and scabbard tucked in his obi. But as with any legitimate claim, there is a huge difference between theory and practice. Even though a Samurai could cut someone down still doesn't mean it was a common practice.
TheOinodaemon 05-17-07, 09:55 AM	Thanks everybody. I'll try some spot checks to see what's going on. Use a little torture if I have to. I'll try to avoid touching somebodies sword, but Ulrich has been keeping the katanas of the samurai he kills (as trophies and gifts for friends when he gets back), I'm guessing that an issue if the samurai are this touchy.
narukagami 05-17-07, 08:48 PM	but Ulrich has been keeping the katanas of the samurai he kills (as trophies and gifts for friends when he gets back), I'm guessing that an issue if the samurai are this touchy. If your DM is into the whole samurai sword cult deal of the Edo period, that would explain why everyone is after your head.
Darth Sephiroth 05-17-07, 09:31 PM	One way to get them to stop is to stop killing them and cripple them. Remove their sword arm and inform them that you are sick and tired of idiots trying to kill you and leave the guy laying in the street. You could also make an example out of one by disarming them and breaking their sword over your knee before handing them the pieces and walking off. While not exactly the nicest things to do, it should send the message that you aren't going to play their little games anymore.
narukagami 05-17-07, 09:45 PM	One way to get them to stop is to stop killing them and cripple them. Remove their sword arm and inform them that you are sick and tired of idiots trying to kill you and leave the guy laying in the street. You could also make an example out of one by disarming them and breaking their sword over your knee before handing them the pieces and walking off. While not exactly the nicest things to do, it should send the message that you aren't going to play their little games anymore. But that would just make the constant attacks even worse. To be honest, I wonder if this is all just the DM's subtle nudge at trying to get you to make a new character. A character that "fits in", by emphasizing how much your current one doesn't.
TheOinodaemon 05-18-07, 11:06 AM	The game was last night, so between you guys and some quick research on my own I learned some things. There is a class of people called the Eta (both in real life and the campaign) that are treated like dirt. For some decent food and clothes they become a well spring of information. Apparantly the samurai that are after Ulrich are all from the same clan, and all up in arms about the katana trophy thing. So I'm looking into giving them back. After that I think it may be time to send Ulrich home and make a more eastern character. Wu jen look like fun.
Ranger REG 05-18-07, 08:59 PM	But as with any legitimate claim, there is a huge difference between theory and practice. Even though a Samurai could cut someone down still doesn't mean it was a common practice.True. But not all commoners are going to test whether this samurai or that samurai would act on that infraction.
Ranger REG 05-18-07, 09:06 PM	One way to get them to stop is to stop killing them and cripple them. Remove their sword arm and inform them that you are sick and tired of idiots trying to kill you and leave the guy laying in the street. You could also make an example out of one by disarming them and breaking their sword over your knee before handing them the pieces and walking off. While not exactly the nicest things to do, it should send the message that you aren't going to play their little games anymore. Only that would entice them more. :evillaugh What you need to do is get yourself under the protective order of the clan's daimyo. Though you may be gaijin, you could try to offer something about you that they may appeal, other than your swordfighting. IOW, you have to play politics.
Darth Sephiroth 05-22-07, 12:19 PM	It's nicer than what I ended up doing in a similar situation. My character ended up nailing several of them to walls while still alive before they got the hint that I'd destroy them all if they annoyed me enough.
yellowdingo 05-27-07, 04:59 AM	The game was last night, so between you guys and some quick research on my own I learned some things. There is a class of people called the Eta (both in real life and the campaign) that are treated like dirt. For some decent food and clothes they become a well spring of information. Apparantly the samurai that are after Ulrich are all from the same clan, and all up in arms about the katana trophy thing. So I'm looking into giving them back. After that I think it may be time to send Ulrich home and make a more eastern character. Wu jen look like fun. Squid that, just go native... Knight takes out local samuari and sets self up as new Daimyo...put an end to the cast system (pay that underclass to be your spies and assassins, teach them reading and writing in your foreign language). Build watch towers and signal towers across the estate, reduce tax on farmers, Stuff like that.