You play Samurai.

Man or woman.

In Rokugan, duty is central to every samurai’s life.

Samurai fulfill many different positions for their lords.

Bushi are warriors, guards, and instructors by trade.

Courtiers are politicians, emissaries, and civil servants.

Artisans are creators, advisors, engineers, and scholars of art.

Shugenja are priests of the samurai caste who share a special bond with the kami. This bond and the secrets of their ancient schools let them invoke miraculous powers that more common religious leaders cannot wield. They are few in number, but substantial in their influence.

Monks nominally stand aside from society, but many samurai enter a monastic order. Most commonly, they do this in their old age, but some become monks much earlier. At various points in history, monks have been known to wield considerable political influence, even if they are supposed to be above such earthly concerns.

Finally, some samurai serve their lords as shinobi— though none admit to it openly, for the work of these assassins and spies is incompatible with adherence to the Code of Bushidō. Shinobi are often deniable assets, and many were never samurai; however, some members of the samurai caste are trained in these arts, especially among the Scorpion Clan. While shinobi are quite rare, their influence over the course of history has been as substantial as it has been difficult to prove

Many Rokugani plays have been written chronicling the impossible choices facing a samurai as their human feelings, or ninjō, conflict with their obligations to society, or giri.

Those things that would get in the way of Bushidō are real and meaningful forces in a samurai’s life, and it is the rare soul who can resist their call completely.

The stories and the drama of the Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game revolve around the tension between these two conflicting forces. One of the fundamental choices a player must make during character creation is to select ninjō and giri, the opposing forces of a samurai’s inner desire and the external demands placed upon them by their lord and by fate.

Whether a samurai chooses happiness or duty in a given moment has narrative and mechanical consequences not only for themselves, but for all of the Emerald Empire. 

Rokugani society is based on a clan structure, with seven families descended from the Kami ruling over other families descended from those who swore fealty. Over the centuries, each family has gravitated toward a certain role or duty within the clan, although it’s common for families to trade promising students who show talent in an area that differs from that of their ancestors. The Great Clans of Rokugan are diverse and powerful, dividing huge swaths of the Empire between them and commanding many thousands of samurai from families great and small.

“Courage. Duty. Sacrifice.”

The Crab stand out in any gathering of samurai, given a wide berth both for their stature and for their gruff, brusque manners. The defenders of the Empire have little time or inclination to practice social niceties; they stand guard upon the Kaiu Wall, an enduring symbol of tenacity against the horrors of the Shadowlands. Often, the members of this clan grumble that their duty is taken for granted, that their fine and honorable samurai succumb to the horrifying Taint while the effete and the careless play at games in an Empire kept safe by the spilled blood of the Crab. 

“Find your own path.”

For a thousand years, the Dragon Clan has watched over the others, recording the history of Rokugan. Aloof and enigmatic, the armies of the Dragon march only rarely, intervening in the clashes of the Great Clans for seemingly inscrutable reasons. From the strange and powerful Tattooed Monks of Togashi to the investigators who challenge the system of justice in the Empire, the Dragon seek to ensure the Empire does not become too self-focused and solipsistic. It falls to them to ensure that the future of the Empire transpires in an orderly and elegant manner.

“There is a proper technique for all things.”

The Crane are the Left Hand of the Emperor, in service as the political aides to the throne. It’s traditional for the Hantei to choose a samurai from the Doji family as their spouse, more Emerald Champions have been Kakita more than any other family, and the samurai of the Daidoji family serve as some of the finest shock troops in the Emerald Empire. Yet the Crane make their greatest contributions in culture: many of the finest poets and craftspeople hail from their academies, and their duelists have few rivals. The Crane are the masters of court, with the wealth and status to prove it.

“For my ancestors!”

To be a samurai is to live and breathe Bushidō, but to be a Lion is to exemplify it to all others. The Lion’s roar heralds the call to battle and honor. For centuries, the Lion have dominated the military tactics and strategy of the Empire, pioneering new techniques and battle methods that other clans take years to adopt. Now, this clan’s samurai seek to apply the wisdom of their ancestors to the trials of the modern era.

“Master the elements and be reborn.”

Other clans guard the Empire’s borders, even the Empire’s future, but the Phoenix guard the Empire’s soul. It is the duty of the Phoenix to keep safe the myriad religious paths of the Empire, defining them and arbitrating their differences. Scholars of the Tao and servants of the spirits are found among the Phoenix’s ranks more than in any other clan; the wisdom the Phoenix have gleaned from both traditions has led them to foster peace and understanding among the other clans, even if it means sacrificing themselves in the process.

“I will be your villain, Hantei.”

From behind their masks and veils, the Scorpion smile grimly at the performance of their duty, for it is their sacrifice to be hated even as they execute it perfectly. What other clan could perform the role of loyal villain? It was the Scorpion Kami’s contention that enemies need not be external to the Empire, and thus, the Scorpion fight fire with fire. They keep all clans united in hatred against them, yet divided so that no one clan can challenge the line to whom they owe undying loyalty: the Hantei. 

“One cannot capture the wind.”

The Clan of the Wind spent hundreds of years outside the Empire, returning in a glorious cavalry charge that shook the other clans to their core. The barbaric ways they adopted in their exile continue to shock and disgust the other clans, yet the Unicorn remain fierce in their duty and unwavering in their honor. Of all the clans, they are best suited to uncovering foreign manipulation and infiltration, for they faced innumerable horrors and traitors in their wandering years.

To protect these lands and their way of life, the samurai servants of great lords follow Bushidō. This Way of the Warrior elevates samurai from the rest of society while also chaining them to near-unattainable ideals. They must embody righteousness and honor, loyalty and duty, and courtesy and compassion, as well as courage in the face of death. A samurai is expected to uphold these virtues in their every word and deed, even when these ideals conflict with one another. A samurai’s reputation for adhering to the Code of Bushidō reflects not only on the individual, but upon that samurai’s household, family, and clan. Should they prove unable to live up to these expectations, only ritualized suicide, or seppuku, can wash away the stain on their honor.

According to Bushidō, there is no room in a samurai’s life for anything that would get in the way of these ideals. Love and ambition, pride and greed—even happiness—are to be sacrificed for the sake of Bushidō. Yet, samurai are still human, made from the mingling of Lady Sun and Lord Moon, order and chaos. The tenets of Bushidō would not be ideals to strive toward if they were easy to realize in daily life.

Characters in Rokugan are measured by their own faith in, and devotion to, the Code of Bushidō through their honor value. 

You must choose how your character secretly feels about the Bushidō.

At the dawn of civilization, when humanity looked to understand the surrounding creation, the greatest philosophers determined that the world was composed of the five elements: Air, Earth, Fire, Water, and the Void that holds the other elements together.

These elements, also called rings, were represented in the sacred spirits of the land and the natural world, but also in society and the human psyche.

Air is the weather and the wind, the invisible and the innuendo, and the swiftness of a bird of prey.

Earth is stone, wood, and metal, as well as a donkey’s stubbornness and a tortoise’s patience.

Fire is the gentle warmth of the sun or the rage of a wildfire, but also the spark of innovation, the passion of devotion, and the ferocity of a wildcat.

Water is an octopus’s adaptability and flexibility; it takes the shape of its container, be it a puddle, river, or endless sea.

Void is the emptiness of the night sky or nirvana, at once present and transcendent.

Sensei across Rokugan teach samurai-in-training to observe and express these different elements in all that they do. In the Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game, characters are defined by their strength in different elements. This strength is represented mechanically with a numeric value on a scale of one to five, called a character’s ring value. In every task they undertake, they must choose an elemental approach, and the suitability of one approach over another can give them the edge they need or diminish their chance of succeeding.

As you are surely aware, your predecessor in Ryoko Owari was the magistrate Ashidaka Naritoki. Before Naritoki, the magistrate was a woman named Matsu Shigeko, who resigned her office due to a self-perceived inability to effectively police the City of Lies.

Before retiring from her office, she prepared a dossier for her successor (Naritoki) including information on various individuals and locations throughout the city. Due to the honorable Naritoki's unforeseen demise, he was unable to provide the same service to you; therefore, her dossier has been included. Keep in mind that Shigeko's comments are three years old; observations in them may no longer be completely current.

Shigeko-san was first and foremost a warrior- a samurai-ko whose code of behavior was particularly strict. Naritoki had nothing but respect for her, but (on occasion) expressed an opinion that she had been unable to adapt to Ryoko Owari because she lacked "flexibility': When regarding her entries, keep in mind that she saw all things in highly charged terms - either good and virtuous or evil and corrupt. There is little room for ambiguity in Shigeko's view of the city.

This is the most recent source available for this travelogue. Sadly, it has become available only with the death of its author. As you may be aware, "Memoirs of an Opium Eater" is currently being read with much interest throughout Rokugan, having been published anonymously. The popular version names no names; we have been fortunate enough to acquire an intact edition, which attaches actual names to individuals and events. While Shonagon paints a vivid picture oflife in Ryoko Owari, I would caution any reader about jumping to conclusions. The unfortunate young lady, by her own admission, drank copiously and partook often in the opium which eventually claimed herlife. Her opinionsofcertainindividuals fluctuate wildly in herjournal, and this inconsistency casts shadows of doubt on her factual accounts. Nonetheless, her account has value - if only because it gives a glimpse of theFloating World in which she lived and died.

Charter Of The Emerald Magistrate

Wherein is delineated: those matters which concern you the Emerald Magistrates; those duties which the Emerald Magistrate shall at all times labour to discharge; those restrictions placed upon the Magistrate to ensure honorable justice within his or her jurisdiction; and those rights and privileges give to the Magistrate to aid in the pursuit of justice and social order.

Part One: Jurisdiction

Wherein is delineated those crimes which are specifically the concern of the Emerald Magistrate and which require diligent pursuit.

Section One: Crimes Against The Emperor

Any attempt to harm, insult, endanger, steal from or otherwise inconvenience the Son of Heaven is a crime deserving of the utmost attention from all Emerald Magistrates. Any similar action taken against a member of the Emperor’s family shall be constituted as a gesture against the Emperor himself and as such merits the attention of the Emerald Magistrate. Similarly, any action against a direct servant of the Emperor or the Imperial Family shall also be a matter of concern for the Emerald Magistrate.

Section Two: National Crimes Crimes

(including theft, murder, treason, robbery, murder, forgery, armed uprising, tax fraud and other transgression of local law) which are national in scope, either in planning or execution, are a concern for all Emerald Magistrates.

Section Three: Shadowlands Incursions

Any entry into Rokugan by denizens of the Shadowlands or by those who have been corrupted by the influence of the Shadowlands, or by those who have made pacts with the sinister forces of the Shadowlands, are forbidden by law. The enforcement of this law is the duty of the Emerald Magistrates. Crimes committed within Rokugan by violators of this law also fall withing the enforcement charter of the Emerald Magistrates.

Section Four: Fugitives

The capture of any criminal who has fled across city or clan territorial boundaries is a matter of concern for all Emerald Magistrates, regardless of the scope of the crime or the location of its commission. Similarly, any criminal who flees the location of his or her crime, or attempts to, falls within the operational purview of Emerald Magistrates.

Section Five: Organised Blasphemy

Any meeting of more than two individuals for the express purpose of participating in blasphemous or obscene rituals is forbidden, and is a matter of concern for the Emerald Magistrates.

Section Six: Civil Disorder and General Lawlessness

Any crimes or actions with result in widespread civil disorder and/or general disrespect for the law and its enforcers is within the jurisdiction of the Emerald Magistrates.

Part Two: Duties

Wherein are delineated those tasks that the Emerald Magistrate is honour-bound to perform in addition to enforcing Imperial Law.

Section One: Tax and Tariff Collection

It is the duty of the office of the Emerald Magistrate to oversee the collection of the yearly Imperial Tax and to enforce tariffs upon goods being transported across clan boundaries. In the case of larger cities this duty may be delegated to tax officials operating under official charger from the Emerald Champion. In such cases, it is still the duty of the local Emerald Magistrate(s) to audit the collections, ensure their accuracy and protect the tax collectors and the gathered taxes.

Section Two: Authorising Travel Papers

It is the duty of the Emerald Magistrate to make him- or herself available at least one day a week to sign Imperial travel documents. Such documents are required only in the following instances: for persons who intend to travel across two different clan boundaries; for persons who require an open pass to all points within the Emerald Empire; for persons whose travel papers are to remain valid for longer than one year but not more than five years; or for residents who are not native to Rokugan.

Section Three: Protection of Visiting Dignitaries

Dignitaries from outside Clan boundaries may, if they wish, request that the local Emerald Magistrate provide protection against threats mundane, military and supernatural. The Emerald Champion is bound to provide protection appropriate to the threat and to the visitor’s social station.

Section Four: Briefing the Emerald Champion

Once per month, the Emerald Magistrate shall meet with the Emerald Champion to provide a briefing on his or her current and ongoing activities and investigations. The Emerald Champion shall also be informed about any matters of national concern.

Section Five: Notification of Non-Jurisdictional Crimes

When any Emerald Magistrate becomes aware of a crime that is outside his or her jurisdiction, that Magistrate is honor bound to give a thorough briefing on the matter to whatever authority has jurisdiction over the crime in question.

Section Six: Briefing the Governor

The city or regional Governor of the province in which an Emerald Magistrate is stationed may, at any time, demand an accounting of the Magistrate’s current and ongoing investigations. The Emerald Magistrate is to provide a detailed accounting in no less than three days. The Governor may not demand such an accounting more than once per month.

Section Seven: Notification of Accusations

If a person of samurai class, living or dead, has been accused of or implicated in a crime being investigated by the Emerald Magistrates, it is the duty of said Magistrates to inform the local family and/or clan leader of the accusation.

Part Three: Restrictions

Wherein are delineated those tasks, investigations and duties which are excluded from the obligations of the Emerald Magistrate

Section One: Incidental Law Enforcement

It is not the duty of the Emerald Magistrate to provide street patrols or random policing.

Section Two: Problems of Limited Scope

It is not the duty of the Emerald Magistrates to investigate crimes which are strictly a local concern

Section Three: Authorisation of Blood Feuds

Emerald Magistrates have no authority over the matter of blood feuds. They can neither authorise such a feud nor declare one invalid.

Section Four: Levying of Troops

Emerald Magistrates have no authority to command the service of troops except as noted below in Part Four: Sections Five and Six

Section Five: Acceptance of Gifts and Monies

No Emerald Magistrate shall accept gifts, favours, monies, services or special considerations in exchange for any aspect of his or her duties as magistrate.

Part Four: Rights

Wherein are delineated those special privileges, powers and rights which are given to Emerald Magistrates to enable them to better pursue their goals and duties

Section One: Right of Questioning

In the case of persons of inferior social class, station or worth, an Emerald Magistrate may arrest and restrain the individual for questioning about criminal matters. The right of arrest, restraint and inquisition also applies to individuals of superior social class, worth or station who are apprehended in a criminal act by an Emerald Magistrate. Persons of higher social rank, station or value may be apprehended, imprisoned and questioned if the Emerald Magistrate has obtained a valid Order of Appearance (cf. Part, Section Three)

Section Two: Right of Sentencing

If a signed confession has been notarised by an Emerald Magistrate, that Magistrate may opt to sentence the confessed criminal. This right of sentencing may be passed on to a different Emerald Magistrate, at the option of the notarising Magistrate. Transcribed confessions are legitimate only in the case of illiterate criminals. Sentences are to be appropriate for the crime and its circumstances. Possible sentences include, but are not limited to the following: execution by beheading for samurai criminals; execution by hanging from the neck for criminals of lower class; class-appropriate executions for spouses, parents or children of criminals, cuffing for periods not to exceed three months; public beatings with rods, sticks or whips; house arrest; or fines, the sum of which is to be remitted to the office of the Emerald Champion.

Section Three: Orders of Appearance

An Emerald Magistrate may exercise rights of arrest, imprisonment and inquisition upon persons of higher social worth only upon the presentation of a valid Order of Appearance. An Order of Appearance must describe in detail the crime of which the samurai is accused, it must be dated within one month of its presentation and it must be signed by the presenting Magistrate or Magistrates. In addition to this signature, it must also have the signature of one of the following: the Emerald Champion; the city or province Governor; or the local chief magistrate. The date of an Order of Appearance must be listed as the date on which the last individual signed it.

Section Four: Right to Prior Information

It is the duty of local Governors and daimyo to inform Emerald Magistrates of large scale military or police actions within that Emerald Magistrate’s jurisdiction at least one day before the action occurs.

Section Five: Right to Commandeer Troops

Emerald Magistrates have the right to amass groups of troops for necessary operations, provided that they inform the local daimyo of Governor of their intentions. They may commandeer troops from local leaders if they can show demonstrable need and provide reasonable financial compensation for the troops services.

Section Six: Right of Imperial Levy

Emerald Magistrates may, at any time, petition the Emerald Champion for the command of Emerald Legions. The assignment of those Legions is entirely at the discretion of the Emerald Champion. Emerald Legions have rights of actions and armament in any and all places within the Emerald Empire.

Section Seven: Right of Privy Investigation

If there is a conflict of jurisdiction between an Emerald Magistrate and a local magistrate, the jurisdiction of the Emerald Magistrate takes precedence. If the Emerald Magistrate presents the local magistrate with a signed and dated Order of Privy Investigation, that magistrate must immediately cease all new investigations into the matter of contention. An Order of Privy Investigation is valid only if it fulfils the following conditions: it is dated on the day it was completed; it is signed by the Emerald Magistrate; it contains a complete description of the crime in question; and it explains, completely and reasonably, why the two investigations cannot proceed in parallel fashion.

Section Eight: Right of Travel Authorisation

In addition to their power to pen Imperial travel documents (defined in Part Two, Section Two), Emerald Magistrates also have the right to provide valid travel documents of more limited scope. These documents cannot be confiscated or contradicted by local magistrates for more than two days.

The Emerald Lands, or “Rokugan” in the tongue of its people, comprise a vast, majestic countryside that stretches nine hundred miles from the pine valleys and snow-capped peaks of the Great Wall of the North mountains at one end, to the austere Carpenter Wall standing vigil along the country’s desolate southern border. Beyond the Wall lies the Shadowlands, a blighted land tainted by the influence of Hell itself, and dangerous for even the most legendary heroes to step foot within. At its widest point, Rokugan measures six hundred miles, from the Sea of the Sun Goddess in the east to the Burning Sands in the west. Within its borders, bountiful plains ripple gold in the sunlight, and primordial forests hide mysterious spirits and dangerous creatures. Hot springs straddle mountain ranges and hills laden with precious gems and minerals. Countless rivers, lakes, and streams wend their way toward the ocean, where fish, seaweed, and pearls are netted by divers and fishermen. Crimson torii mark the gateway to sacred spaces, which exist alongside the sprawling cities and huddled hamlets of human civilization. 

Each of the seven Great Clans presides over a different corner of the Empire, protecting the natural harmony of the land and the kami that dwell there. Shrines and temples dot the landscape, marking places of spiritual power and contemplation. Fortifications large and small protect roads, bridges, mountain passes, and the domains of great lords. In the shadows of these castles, towns and villages prosper from the efforts of craftspeople and artisans. Beyond the city limits, peasants toil over rice paddies and fields of grain, or hunt and gather the bounty of the forests. To travel the Empire on its few roads, samurai must obtain special papers and pay a tax toward their upkeep. Merchants’ carts and horses are banned from the Imperial highways altogether, forcing them to rely on special trade routes to carry goods between cities. Given the size of the Empire and the difficulty of journeying, few get to witness the variety of the Empire’s vistas in one lifetime. Instead, citizens are deeply in tune with the natural cycles of the provinces they call home. The Heavens bring four seasons to the Empire, which are celebrated by festivals and arts. In the spring, the delicate fragrance of cherry blossoms wafts from misty gardens. Summer heralds rains and oppressive heat, slowly giving way to autumn’s brilliant scarlet leaves, shrill cicada cries, and typhoons. Winter buries the lands in deep snow, closing mountain passes and driving the citizenry to the warmth and comfort of the hearth.

Control of the city changed hands several times over the years, but Ryoko Owari always retains its reputation for being a hotbed of criminal activity, having many gambling dens, geisha houses and opium parlors. The city maintains a mask of legitimacy as Rokugan's center for medicinal opium trade. Poppies are grown in vast fields that surround the city, and it's involvement in the opium trade (both legal and illegal) has made the city very profitable for its rulers.

As the Kami created the Empire of Rokugan, the fallen Kami Fu Leng created the Shadowlands. The Shadowlands was the wasteland that laid to the southwest of Rokugan, a twisted, nightmarish place corrupted by the power of Jigoku, the Realm of Evil.

This region was originally a tropical paradise of color and light, which changed when Fu Leng fell from heaven, and left a crater known as the Festering Pit deep within the Shadowlands. It was from here that the Taint spread out, blighted, and corrupted the land. This was also where demons and evil spirits could cross freely from Jigoku into Ningen-do. The Shadowlands was a constantly shifting and uninhabitable nightmare come to life. It was home to oni, ogres, trolls, goblins, the Lost and countless other vile creatures.