Roleplaying game

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Chapter 2: Creating a Character
Chapter 2: Creating a Character
16. What are your character’s preexisting relationships 
with other clans, families, organizations, and traditions?
A character is exposed to many other groups during their life in numer-
ous ways; diplomacy, marriage alliances, trade, wars, and travel all may 
bring a person into contact with groups they do not belong to (at least 
initially). What other groups within the Emerald Empire has your char-
acter been exposed to, and what impression have these exposures left? Is 
your character betrothed or married to a member of another family or 
clan? Did they marry into that family or clan and suddenly need to ac-
climate to a very different set of expectations and social strictures? Are 
your character’s marriage prospects poor due to bad relationships or due 
to bad blood with neighboring families or clans? Has your character been 
too involved in battles or even all-out war against another clan? Did vic-
tory or defeat harden their heart against members of this clan, or did the 
pointlessness of war against other clans become obvious during the war? 
Does your character have a personal reason to feel sympathy for a par-
ticular group or to hate them, and if so, how did this develop?
Record any noteworthy history, quarrels, alliances, or grievances your 
character has with other groups in the Relationships section of your 
character sheet.
Part VI: Ancestry and Family
Now is the time to determine who your character’s parents and ancestors 
are, and how that has defined your character. 
17. How would your character’s parents describe them?
Parental devotion is an expected virtue in a land where the family, not the 
individual, is the repository of honor and reputation. However, despite 
this ideal, there are plenty of samurai who have a fractious relationship 
with their parents, or who offer outward veneration while concealing a 
lack of respect. Does your character have a proper relationship with their 
parents, or are they estranged? Was the character’s childhood a happy 
one, or were they a torment to their parents? Are their parents still alive?
Record the relationship between your character and their parents 
or immediate family members in the Relationships section of your 
character sheet.
18. Who was your character named to honor?
When receiving or choosing one’s name, it is common to use a name 
that honors a recent or particularly noteworthy ancestor. In the Emerald 
Empire, using a portion of an ancestral name combined with other syl-
lables to change its meaning is one common practice for many families. 
Whose name does your character share? What was meant by bestowing 
this name upon your character? What did this person accomplish during 
their life? How did they die, or do they still live? Did or does your charac-
ter have a personal relationship with this ancestor? Does your character 
feel pride in the name they carry, or do they fear failing to live up to the 
person it represents?
First, roll a ten-sided die twice. Choose either result, and then consult 
Table 2–1: Samurai Heritage to determine information about a famous 
relative from the last few generations whom your character is named for. 
Then, roll a ten-sided die again as specified by individual entries.
19. What is your character’s personal name?
Choose a personal name for your character to be known by in the family 
register. In the Rokugani style, the character will typically be addressed 
by their family name (chosen in Question with the appropriate honorific 
2), but close associates may refer to them simply by their given name. 
What does your character’s name mean? Does your character’s appear-
ance fit with their name, or are the two incongruous?
Below are some sample Rokugani names and meanings, otherwise you 
may choose or invent another name:
•  Aki, which means “autumn,” is a unisex name
•  Aoi, which means “blue,” is a unisex name
•  Daisuke, which means “great helper,” is a masculine name
•  Fumio, which means “scholarly child,” is a masculine name
•  Hikaru, which means “shining,” is a unisex name
•  Hana, which means “flower,” is a feminine name
•  Hitoshi, which means “even-tempered,” is a masculine name
•  Ichirō, which means “first son,” is a masculine name
•  Jun, which means “obedient,” is a unisex name
•  Kaguya, which means “radiant night,” is a feminine name
•  Kaoru, which means “fragrance,” is a unisex name
•  Kyoko, which typically means “respectful child,” is a feminine name
•  Makoto, which means “sincere,” is a unisex name
•  Mamoru, which means “protector,” is a masculine name
•  Masako, which means “political child,” is a feminine name
•  Michiko, which means “beautiful child” or “wise child,” is a feminine 
name
•  Murasaki, which means “purple,” is a feminine name
•  Nadeshiko, which means “pink flower,” is a feminine name
•  Nobu, which means “faith,” is a masculine name
•  Ren, which means “lotus,” is a unisex name
•  Ryū, which means “dragon,” is a masculine name
•  Sakura, which means “cherry blossom,” is a feminine name
•  Satoshi, which means “wise,” is a masculine name
•  Shizuka, which means “quiet,” is a feminine name
•  Sora, which means “sky,” is a unisex name
•  Takeshi, which means “warrior,” is a masculine name
•  Tomoe, which means “holy symbol,” is a feminine name
•  Tsubasa, which means “wings,” is a masculine name
•  Yoshi, which means “good luck,” is a unisex name
•  Yuki, which means “snow,” is a unisex name

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Chapter 2: Creating a Character
Part VII: Death
20. How should your character die?
All proper samurai fully expect to die in the service of their lord, and it is 
said that every samurai lives at all times three feet from death—the length 
of a katana blade. However, some deaths have more meaning than others, 
and there are plenty of samurai whose outward facade of courage hides a 
deep-seated fear of mortality. How would you like your character to end 
their life? Will they fulfill their destiny and join their ancestors in Yomi, 
or will their soul be forced to undertake another cycle on the Celestial 
Wheel of reincarnation?
This has no mechanical implications, but you should keep it in mind. 
Your GM certainly will…
Table 2–1: Samurai Heritage
Roll
Result
Modifiers
Other Effects
1 Famous Deed: One of your ancestors won a great 
victory for their clan or even the Emperor, and was 
rewarded with an item of incredible quality.
Increase your 
glory by 3.
Roll a ten-sided die again and add the resulting family heirloom 
to your starting items (1–3: a weapon, 4–6: a set of armor, 7–8: 
another item, 9: a horse or other animal, 10: a boat or estate). You 
choose one item quality and the GM chooses one item quality from 
the list of item qualities on page 145; these are applied to the item.
2 Glorious Sacrifice: One of your ancestors perished 
nobly in battle, and one of their signature items 
vanished with them or was lost in the subsequent 
years.
Increase your 
honor by 5 and 
your glory by 5.
Roll a ten-sided die again to determine your lost family heirloom (1–
3: a weapon, 4–6: a set of armor, 7–8: another item, 9: a horse or other 
animal, 10: a boat or estate), which exists somewhere in the world. You 
choose one item quality and the GM chooses one item quality; these 
are applied to the item. You do not know where the heirloom is, but 
you could later reclaim it during the campaign.
3 Wondrous Work: One of your ancestors crafted 
a piece of great beauty that won renown for your 
family, and others expect you to live up to that legacy.
Increase your 
glory by 5.
Roll a ten-sided die again to determine an Artisan skill (1–3 
Aesthetics, 4–6 Composition, 7–8 Design, 9–10 Smithing); gain +1 
rank in that skill.
4 Dynasty Builder: One of your ancestors was 
instrumental in the rise of a powerful lord, using 
cunning stratagems and shrewd advice to secure their 
ascension. You have heard this story many times and 
know the importance of power subtly wielded.
Decrease your 
glory by 3.
Roll a ten-sided die again to determine a Social skill (1–3: 
Command, 4–6: Courtesy, 7–8: Games, 9–10: Performance); gain 
+1 rank in that skill.
5 Discovery: One of your ancestors made an incredible 
discovery, invented something of great importance, 
or uncovered an ancient secret that served the realm. 
Thanks to family lore, you have at least a rudimentary 
understanding of the subject of their discovery.
Increase your 
glory by 3.
Roll a ten-sided die again to determine a Scholar skill (1–3: 
Culture, 4–5: Sentiment, 6–7: Government, 8–9: Medicine, 10: 
Theology); gain +1 rank in that skill.
6 Ruthless Victor: One of your ancestors claimed a 
bloody victory over a rival, smashing their forces with 
a cunning maneuver or seizing their domain after 
vanquishing them in battle. From this relative or their 
story, you learned well the importance of brute force.
Decrease your 
honor by 5.
Roll a ten-sided die again to determine a Martial skill (1–3: Fitness, 
4–5: Martial Arts [Melee], 5–6: Martial Arts [Ranged], 7–8: Martial 
Arts [Unarmed], 9: Tactics, 10: Meditation); gain +1 rank in that 
skill.
7 Elevated for Service: One of your ancestors was a 
ji-samurai or even a commoner who served with 
such distinction that their position was elevated 
to that of a Great Clan samurai by marriage or 
mandate of a daimyō. As a child, you learned the 
basics of the skills for which they won their esteem.
Decrease your 
glory by 3 and 
increase your 
honor by 3.
Roll a ten-sided die again to determine a Trade skill (1–2: 
Commerce, 3–4: Labor, 5–6: Medicine, 7–8: Seafaring, 9: 
Skulduggery, 10: Survival); gain +1 rank in that skill.
8 Stolen Knowledge: One of your ancestors learned 
a secret of another school and clandestinely passed 
it down through the ages; now, it has reached you.
Decrease your 
honor by 5.
You know one additional technique. Roll a ten-sided die again to 
determine the category (1–3 kata, 4–6 shūji, 7 ritual, 8 invocation, 
9 kihō, 10 mahō), and then select one technique with a prerequisite 
of school rank 1 and learn that technique. You can perform that 
technique even if it is not normally allowed by your school.
9 Imperial Heritage: You can trace your lineage 
back to the Imperial line.
Increase your 
status by 10.
You gain the Blessed Lineage advantage (this can be assigned in 
excess of the normal limitations on advantages at character creation).
10 Outsider: Your character was not named for an 
ancestor—perhaps your character was an adopted 
orphan with no knowledge of their blood relations, 
perhaps your character was named for an outsider 
who did a great service to the clan, or perhaps your 
character’s parents were trying to send a message.
Decrease your 
glory by 3.
Choose two of your character’s rings; you may reduce the value of 
one of these rings by 1 to increase the value of the other by 1 (this 
still cannot raise a ring above 3). If you do not do so, choose one 
item of rarity 6 or lower and assign it to your starting outfit.

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