Otomo Seiyaku School: Otomo Seiyaku

Reprinted w/out permission from Kyuden Kakita

Benefit: +1 Intelligence

Beginning Honor: 3 + 7 boxes

Outfit

 

(All items are of fine quality, 1 excellent)

katana, wakizashi, light armor, kimono, badge of office, traveling pack, steed, 20 koku

Skills

Calligraphy, Courtier, Etiquette, Kenjutsu, Law, Manipulation, Obiesaseru

Techniques

Rank 1

 

Otomo courtiers get their information from a variety of sources - both inside and out of the court. Because the Otomo are in charge of trade into and out of Otosan Uchi, as well as serving as the Emperor's eyes in any negotiations between clans, they are privy to a great wealth of information - and they share it with the other courtiers of this school. Once per week per rank, an Otomo courtier may "speak to their contacts" in any city, court, or province, and may learn one critical fact about the adventure, determined by the GM.

Rank 2

 

Peasants, infiltrators, and even loyal guards instinctively trust the seiyaku. Because of their position in the court, even if the character has a flaw such as Benten's Curse, a seiyaku may visit and listen to the delicate negotiations of other clans (after all, they are the Emperor's eyes and ears).
Any time someone actively disagrees with the seiyaku, or accuses him in public of twisting the truth, the accuser automatically loses a number of boxes of honor equal to the seiyaku's School Rank. If the disagreement occurs in private, the courtier may choose to spend one day spreading rumor through any public forum (court, a city, a major port). If the seiyaku succeeds in an Intelligence+Courtier roll versus their target's Honor x5, their target will lose a number of boxes of honor equal to the seiyaku's School Rank.
The Otomo cannot use this skill if their is no basis - no "false premise" will withstand the critical investigations it must withstand to reduce someone's honor. A false accusation will not make an individual feel that they have "dishonored" themselves to the Emperor's ambassador, and therefore, no amount of rumormongering will be taken seriously.

Rank 3

 

If an Otomo courtier spends as little as ten minutes speaking with someone, they can "slant the facts" to imply the most horrible outcome possible. In this way, an Otomo who simply mentions that a Lion might be hot-tempered will cause others to recognize him as a brash, rude, and violent individual. Therefore, those individuals will be sure to have many guards around when dealing with that lion. If the seiyaku mentions a Crane militia has been called in the Daidoji lands, a Crab might suddenly realize that a nearby village is unprotected and decide that the Crane are going to attack. At that point, of course, the seiyaku will tell the Crane that the Crab - who are now sending troops to the border village - are preparing for an invasion.
It is possible for an Otomo courtier to cause individual disputes, conflicts, or even (with prolonged activity) minor battles and wars. If an Otomo wishes to cause someone to believe the worst about something, they must make a successful Intelligence+School Rank roll against a TN determined by the complexity of the action, and the amount of truth in their suggested perception. If the Otomo uses their Rank 1 Technique three times in order to gather information about the matter they wish to misrepresent before they attempt this, they will receive a free raise to their action.
The difficulty depends on the particular circumstances of the action. Causing a Crane to mistrust a Lion, when the two personalities already dislike each other might have a TN of 5. Creating border conflicts between two already edgy opponents could be as high as a 15, while convincing someone that their best friend (or mother) is trying to start a war with them is probably closer to a 35.
A seiyaku should be warned, however: their successful divisions often become true. If a Crane begins treating the Lion with distrust, the Lion will most likely begin to respond with dislike, and shortly, with violence. If the Crane and the Crab were not about to begin a war, moving their troops to the border on the suggestion of the Otomo will almost certainly cause one, if the situation is not defused.

Rank 4

 

At this rank, an Otomo courtier has been noticed by the members of the Hantei family themselves, and given a commendation for their devoted and dedicated service. The Empire knows that this seiyaku, by blood and association, is under the direct protection of the Hantei, and further, that any physical harm which befalls him or her will be investigated by the highest authorities in the land.
No one will challenge a seiyaku to a duel, nor attack them, or otherwise injure them unless the individual attempting to assault the courter has one of the following: A Glory of 7 or higher, the permission of the Otomo courtier's daimyo, the Emerald Champion, or the permission of a member of the Hantei family.
If someone is foolish enough to choose to assault the seiyaku, they will be horribly reprimanded: executed immediately (no trial) without honor or seppuku; their family name removed from the rolls of the clan, or the offender's hands and feet are cut off, their honor permanently removed, and their family sword broken.
Indeed, it is considered unwise.

Rank 5

 

At this point, the seiyaku is considered the voice of the Emperor in all political negotiations. If they spend a Void point, they may order a member of the samurai class to obey their wishes. If the person does not obey them, and their honor is less than the seiyaku's they will be forced to either become ronin or commit seppuku. In effect, the samurai has refused or failed an Imperial Command.
If the seiyaku's command contradicts or dishonors the samurai's daimyo, the samurai may spend 2 Void points to successfully (and carefully) refuse the command with honor. If a PC samurai agrees to a seiyaku's command, and dies attempting to fulfill it, the player may make his next character according to the Kharma rule, with an additional rank free of cost to one of the following: a Trait, their Honor, or their Glory.