any loopholes for cowardice? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

any loopholes for cowardice?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
1337DnDMTCn3rd
Jan 22, 2011 21:01:28 Ok here's the as DM I am running a samurai adventure but the thing is that my tarkatan samurai is a bit of a coward. Since birth he was raised in the art of self preservation. Now one of my players is higher then me in rank and is the dimyo. He is telling me that I have made the ultimate dishonor in battle by
1. Disappearing when the clan was called to battle.
And 2. killing the enemy leader with a back stab.

He wants me to commit seppuku to regain that honor. But I don't want to die.

Do I have to do this or are there any loopholes in the bushido code or honor system?
#2
Kensan_Oni
Jan 23, 2011 17:23:40 Well... my gut says you are screwed. However there are a few ways maybe out of it.

1) If you killed the enemy while in battle, then the backstab is not a dishonorable act, as long as that enemy was not involved in a personal duel at the time.

2) If you appeared during the battle in which you were supposedly 'disappeared' in, then that also isn't true.

More importantly, however, if the Daimyo is not YOUR Daimyo, then he can not demand your direct suppuku. He must demand it of your Daimyo, and it is up to your Daimyo to demand that execution. There are many stories that are told about that samurai that was ordered to commit seppuku after returning home, and how they clear their honor before returning home.

However, a lot of it is symmatics and knowing how to play the system.
#3
salla
Jan 28, 2011 15:42:09 Just ... don't. You've already demonstrated that you don't think bushido is all that. Why worry about the seppuku rule if you didn't care about the honor in battle rule?
#4
Kensan_Oni
Feb 04, 2011 18:27:36 Now hold on. Honor in battle? He didn't do anything un-honorable. It has proven that he didn't retreat from battle. He appeared in battle and delivered THE devestating blow. This isn't a duel, it's war.
#5
1337DnDMTCn3rd
Jul 30, 2011 11:37:07 Does using an anonymous agent to carry out the enemy kill while luring him into a trap count as honorable? You see that is what I did, I set up a little ruse saying that he would meet in a remote area on the battlefield for a duel, where no one can see a thing. I had that area under observation using classified technology to see when he would arrive. When he did I gave the signal to my agent to put the drop on him, but to do it in a way so that it would look like he was killed in a duel. (That is what I did and I "disappeared" for that very reason otherwise this little black op would have been impossible.) the only reason I got caught was because someone leaked the hit file out to my Daimyo after the battle was won. That's why I need loop holes.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 1337DnDMTCn3rd Jan 22, 2011 21:01:28	Ok here's the as DM I am running a samurai adventure but the thing is that my tarkatan samurai is a bit of a coward. Since birth he was raised in the art of self preservation. Now one of my players is higher then me in rank and is the dimyo. He is telling me that I have made the ultimate dishonor in battle by 1. Disappearing when the clan was called to battle. And 2. killing the enemy leader with a back stab. He wants me to commit seppuku to regain that honor. But I don't want to die. Do I have to do this or are there any loopholes in the bushido code or honor system?
#2 Kensan_Oni Jan 23, 2011 17:23:40	Well... my gut says you are screwed. However there are a few ways maybe out of it. 1) If you killed the enemy while in battle, then the backstab is not a dishonorable act, as long as that enemy was not involved in a personal duel at the time. 2) If you appeared during the battle in which you were supposedly 'disappeared' in, then that also isn't true. More importantly, however, if the Daimyo is not YOUR Daimyo, then he can not demand your direct suppuku. He must demand it of your Daimyo, and it is up to your Daimyo to demand that execution. There are many stories that are told about that samurai that was ordered to commit seppuku after returning home, and how they clear their honor before returning home. However, a lot of it is symmatics and knowing how to play the system.
#3 salla Jan 28, 2011 15:42:09	Just ... don't. You've already demonstrated that you don't think bushido is all that. Why worry about the seppuku rule if you didn't care about the honor in battle rule?
#4 Kensan_Oni Feb 04, 2011 18:27:36	Now hold on. Honor in battle? He didn't do anything un-honorable. It has proven that he didn't retreat from battle. He appeared in battle and delivered THE devestating blow. This isn't a duel, it's war.
#5 1337DnDMTCn3rd Jul 30, 2011 11:37:07	Does using an anonymous agent to carry out the enemy kill while luring him into a trap count as honorable? You see that is what I did, I set up a little ruse saying that he would meet in a remote area on the battlefield for a duel, where no one can see a thing. I had that area under observation using classified technology to see when he would arrive. When he did I gave the signal to my agent to put the drop on him, but to do it in a way so that it would look like he was killed in a duel. (That is what I did and I "disappeared" for that very reason otherwise this little black op would have been impossible.) the only reason I got caught was because someone leaked the hit file out to my Daimyo after the battle was won. That's why I need loop holes.