URUSAI SUZUME
Set up a 5e Sparrow Clan The Sparrow Clan Ring Increase: +1 Air Skill Increase: +1 Performance Status: 25 During the Yasuki War, The Crane's most trusted advisors gathered to discuss a peace offering to the Crab. As the clan champion, Doji Minobu, initiated the discussion of the clan's claim on the peninsula’s shipping rights, Doji Suzume spoke up. A flippant remark innocently meant to break the tense silence would cement the Sparrow into the history of the Emerald Empire.
“Maybe the world would be a better place if samurai gave their wealth to the peasants and let them rule.’ Suzume Quipped.
Mizobu, still suffering from the rebellion of the Yasuki, was determined to forestall yet another challenge to his power. Some had claimed that Suzume’s father Onegano had his son make the remark as a brilliant political ploy to take over the clan. Others still believed that Onegano and his son had gained enlightenment and had begun to spread the word of humble poverty.
Mizobu’s immense political power forced the Emperor to settle the rebellious matters by brokering peace between Crab and Crane. Both would give up lands of equal size to a new Clan, the Sparrow. Charged with guarding the Golden Sun Plains from banditry and illegal farming, Doji Onegano was named Clan Champion. The Sparrow were formed by those who agreed with the joke his son made. Horrified at the circumstances, Onegano immediately retired to brotherhood and left the hapless Suzume in charge. With the aid of his aunt Masako, Suzume and his followers began a life of humble poverty and survived the saltmarsh and barren hills that are the Suzume Hills.
Suzume Family Ring Increases: +1 Earth or +1 Void Skill Increases: +1 Theology, +1 Labor Glory: 34 Starting Wealth: 3 Koku Seven hundred years of subsistence farming has done nothing to dull the love of the arts the Sparrow share with their Crane forebears. The harsh weather of the Suzume Hills destroys most tangible forms of artwork leaving spoken word as a Sparrow’s source of aesthetic pursuit. This leads to their reputation as a clan of garrulous gibbering gabbers. Sparrows have been known to talk at great length about any subject that comes to mind much to the horror of the listener. Their theological devotion to humble poverty garners disdain from the great clans who view them as barely different from the farmers they marry. The wise however do not disparage a Sparrow openly as they are as formidable with the blade as any Crane. Forsaking perfection for pragmatism, a Suzume duelist epitomizes patience and timing.
Suzume Storyteller +1 fire/ +1 water
Bushi Courtier Artisan
Sparrow, Three Man Alliance, Yoritomo’s Alliance, Minor Clan Alliance, and Crane.
To the Sparrow clan a good story is all the wealth one needs in the world. With blade, sickle, sling, and spade the Suzume Storyteller defends and feeds his people. Storytellers still have the natural charm and wit of their Crane cousins paired with patient and formidable sword technique.
Starting Skills pick 5
Scholar Skills Courtesy Labor Martial Arts Melee Meditation Performance Sentiment
Staring Honor: 50
Techniques Available: Kata, Rituals, Shuji
Starting Techniques Iaijutsu Cut Raising Blade All in Jest
Starting Outfit: Traveling Clothes, Daisho, Sling, and Traveling pack
Suzume’s Modest Jest. When making a Performance or Courtesy check you may keep additional ring dice for each rolled opportunity. However the GM may also roll a skill die on an opportunity the audience receives the approach of the opposite element[Earth and Air Fire and Water Void is GMs choice.
Curriculum Rank 1 Martial Skills Courtesy Labor Theology Rank 1 Kata Iajutsu Cut: Crossing Cut Striking as fire Rank 2 Artisan Skills Courtesy Labor Martial Arts Ranged Rank 1-2 Kata Tea Ceremony Iajutsu Cut:Sword and Sheath Rank3 Martial Skills Games Labor Sentiment Rank1-3 Earth Shuji Eb and Flow Ritual : Ash for the Farm Rank 4 Social Skills Labor Performance Tactics Rank 1-4 kata Iajustu Cut: Reverse Draw Pillar of Calm Rank 5 Scholar Skills Composition Meditation Performance Rank 1-5 Void Shuji Void Embrace Style Rouse the Soul
Mastery Technique: Mukashino The true way of the Sparrow is to go to where the audience awaits. Once per scene make Performance/Roll against your target’s vigilance if successful you immediately enter close range to begin a conversation with the target increasing their social TNs by 1.
Ritual: Ash for the Farm The early years of the Sparrow would have been vastly different if it were not for Suzume’s aunt, Doji Masako, having grown disillusioned with the Crane’s pursuit of wealth and power she joined her nephew to start anew. Her wisdom and Suzume’s enthusiastic charm helped form the philosophy of the clan. Most Importantly she brought agricultural knowledge and the use of coal and ash to stabilize the Hills’ poor soil conditions. This ritual takes the arts too fragile to survive the Hill’s weather turning it into life saving ash
As a downtime activity you may make a Theology/Fire check. Opportunity: The next Labor/Medicine check adds a kept die. Opportunity 2x: You may remove a strife