The Pride of Lions

An L5R Adventure
By Scott Gearin
This adventure has the characters searching for one or
more murderers after a party at a Lion daimyo's fortress.
The adventure is well suited to both magistrate type
campaigns and "fealty" campaigns. The adventure should
take two to three sessions and has distinct breaks to
increase the tension. The Adventure is set in the castle of
Ikoma Yakumo, however the adventure is easily relocated
to any Clan's lands. Being a mystery style adventure, there
is of course a huge number of clues, lists of suspects, red
herrings, and other tools available to the GM to aid in the
execution of the story. The use of lighting and pacing is an
important aspect to setting the mood for this adventure.
There is only combat on the final day. By adjusting the
power of the three enemies, the difficulty of that fight may
be adapted to the abilities of the PCs.

Settings
Main Garden. This is the larger garden of the castle, a
wide open space of walkways and small fountains. The
castle walls surround it on two sides while the Main
structure encloses a third. There is a small stage here used
for the various contests during parties.
Tao Garden. A smaller garden off og the main area, it is
restful and quiet. Raked gravel and steppingstones make up
most of this small courtyard, with guards passing by above
from time to time.
Yakumo's Audience hall. A typical Daimyo's Audience
chamber. Yakumo will be holding court here several times
as he meets with the various visiting lords.
Kuno's chambers. Which ever character is framed for the
second murder will likely be spending a lot of time here.
Lady Kitsu Akimiko's Rooms
< be to have may castle the around locations>

Cast List

Castle Residents
o
o

Toturi's Entourage
o

Ikoma Yakumo. The Lord of the castle and

the PC's liege.
ThePCs. The lucky buggers.
Akodo Toturi. The Champion of the Lion
Clan is enroute from the capital to the home
of the Matsu daimyo to confer with her on
the recent indications that war with the
Crane Clan my prove unavoidable.
Ikoma Kimura. Respected as the Lion
Clan's foremost living master of bushido, he
is a powerful Lion Magistrate and one of
Toturi's most trusted advisors. It his honor
and privilege to oversee the details of this
excursion.
Matsu Yojo. Considers Lord Haoyori an
indolent coward.
Aid Y "Matsu Eiji" (Hates Aid B)
Daidoji Tsumerai-Yari Master. He has
information that Lord Haoyori was
involved with the opium trade.

The Other Lords

o

Akodo Haoyori (Lord A). A wealthy lord,

he despises Lord B. Innuendo suggests he
may be into bad stuff. He is well known for
his dislike of poetry.
Kitsu Akimiko (Lady B ). A shugenja who
publicly despises Lord Haoyori and has a
blood feud with Akodo Yokuhisa
Goseki Hitomi (Aid B). A devout
servant, she has honed he skills as a
yojimbo to a keen edge. She is also
vengeful to a fault, suspicious, and
occasionally rude.
Akodo Yokuhisa (Lord S). A poet and a
murderer he has a blood feud with Lady
Akimiko. He burns with jealousy over a
geisha shared with Lord Haoyori.
Matsu Tsushiko (Aide S). A
powerful shugenja, and
unbeknownst to her lord a mahotsukai of rare skill.
Akodo Tamosei (Lady C). Stands to gain
some of Lord Haoyori's lands if he is
discredited.

Kitsu Yoshi (Aide C). A shugenja.

Genjuro (Aid C2). Born a ronin, he
has no family name, but has earned
his place through loyalty to his lady.
He hates the opium trade
passionately.
Kitsu Idagawa (Lord D). A shugenja, she
seems quite innocent. She is one of the
Lords housed outside the castle and is a
longtime rival of Lady Amiko
Akodo Uona (Aide D). A shugenja,
her little sister died in Lord
Haoyori's house.
Goseki Tamamiku (Lord E). A patriarch
of a strong vassal family, he is the lowest
ranking of the daimyo present and has also
been housed outside the castle proper.
Quietly ambitious, he is likely to receive
some of Lady Akimiko's holdings. He has
private business and information to share
with Ikoma Yakumo that may affect the
PCs' future
Goseki Igajo (Aide E). He knows
Lord Yokuhisa has brought a geisha
along with him.

ACT 1 (The First Day)

Scene 1 (noon)
PCs who have demonstrated a fine sense of etiquette are
dispatched to greet Ikoma Kimura, the famed master of
bushido. He is passing through on his way to winter at
Matsu Tsuko's castle. With him are several minor daimyo
of the northern reaches of the Lion Clan. Yakumo-sama has
taken this opportunity to gather his hatamoto in from the
countryside and hold a large, formal reception for the Lion
dignitaries. In addition to his entourage, Kimura is
traveling with a Daidoji bushi. Skillful speakers may gain
Kimura's approval and some hints of the trouble to come.

Scene 2 (afternoon)
At the castle there is near chaos. Yakumo does not
normally hold court with so many guests at once. Several
of the lower ranking ones will have to lodge outside the
castle. Receiving all of daimyos (and soothing ruffled

feathers) introduces the PCs to the main cast and acquaints

them with the location of each group within the castle.
With so many VIPs present, protocol calls for the samurai
to go armed only with the wakizashi (the sign of their
status). Katanas and other such weapons are to be put up in
the owner's rooms.

Scene 3 (dusk)
After a private meeting with lord Yakumo, Kimura along
with the rest of the nobles move into the gardens. The Lady
Kitsu Akimiko (the second most powerful of the visitors),
bows out, claiming illness. Music and gossip abound. A
heated argument between the Daidoji and one of the Lions
threatens to turn ugly when Kimura suggests a kata
competition to settle the matter. Players have a chance to
participate to uphold the honor of their clan. After the kata
contest the mood is more lively and a poetry contest
begins. Akodo Haoyori, strongest of the daimyos voices
his disdain for poetry and moves away. Lord Yokuhisa (a
noted poet) declines to compete, claiming illness as well.
During the contest screams erupt from the neighboring
meditation gardens.

Scene 4 (evening)
The PCs arrive on the murder scene. As magistrates or as
Yakumo's vassals they must act quickly to preserve the
scene and find the murderer. Haoyori lies in a pool of
blood. Swift reactions may capture his dying words. A
bloody knife lies near by. The daimyos return to their
rooms as the party ends abruptly. Several aids are
scurrying about. As the investigation begins, Ikoma
Kimura, in his capacity as ranking Lion Magistrate, warns
the PCs that a murderer must be found before the daimyos
depart for Shiro no Matsu in two days. He uses his
authority to ensure that the PCs may question the daimyos
and their staff, "as long as decorum is maintained" He
will invite PC members of other clans to join in the
investigation to provide a sense of objectivity. The list of
daimyos who may have wanted Lord Haoyori dead is so
long that any Lion could be compromised.

Scene 5 (night)
The investigation may take many forms. As the PCs search
and question evidence begins to mount that a female
shugenja may have wielded the knife. A number of clues
seem to lead nowhere. As suspicion falls on Akimiko (the

daimyo not present) she is found to not be in her chambers.

Scene 6 (midnight)
The search for Akimiko yields bitter fruit. Her body is
found. She appears to have been cut down from behind.
The sword of one of the Player Characters (Scorpions, bad
reputations, and the unlucky all volunteer for this role) lies
close at hand, covered in Akimiko's blood. Kimura arrives
on the scene (perhaps too swiftly) and detains the owner of
the weapon. With great sadness he informs them that the
murderer will be tried the following afternoon, and will die
at sunset. (Note: when this adventure was first run, the PC
Bayushi Kuno was the luck recipient of this role in the
story. The timeline and setting sections refer to Kuno.
Substitute your own PC victim for Kuno in these
references)

End ACT 1

ACT 2 (The Second Day)

Scene 1 (dawn)
(Note: PC's may continue with some lines of inquiry
through the night. Questioning daimyos isn't one of them.)
At dawn Kimura comes to the accused's rooms. Yakumo
has interceded on the character's behalf. The character is to
be given the run of the castle to "prepare" his case. Kimura
is frankly stunned that Yakumo-sama would extend such
trust. The character will of course die if they flee.

Scene 2 (morning)
Another free form investigation sequence. With a second
murder the investigation expands. While the PCs have
several suspects, the key piece of evidence will be the
missing sheath for the knife. It is nowhere in the castle. It
will also come to light that Lord Yokuhisa had been
keeping a geisha in his quarters. She has been slipped out
of the castle. Kitsu Uona reveals her hate for Haoyori, after
he maimed her sister. Overall Haoyori proves to have been
a rather despicable creature, with evil passions, and a
streak of cruelty to women.

Scene 3 (day)
A search finds the missing geisha in an inn outside the
castle. She is about to leave "to go ahead of her lord to
Shiro no Matsu." A search of her belongings reveals the
missing sheath. She folds under questioning and will
testify against Yokuhisa. Her testimony will have to be
presented carefully, for it will not outweigh Yokuhisa's.
She can testify that Yokuhisa took her in after her sister
died at Haoyori's hands. She know Yokuhisa and her sister
were close. She knows nothing of the actual murders.

Scene 4 (dusk)
Ikoma Kimura convenes court in Yakumo's gardens. The
daimyos, their staff, and many of Yakumo's vassals have
gathered to observe. Kimura will begin questioning the
Investigating PCs and the accused PC. He will lead the
court for a reconstruction of the two murders, asking the
PCs to present witnesses, and testimony they have
gathered. It will become apparent that he is not building
towards the accused PC's confession. When the knife
sheath is presented, all hell breaks lose. Yokuhisa's aid
summons an Oni (calls to appear, not summon from
scratch) and screams for her lord to flee. As the Oni rises
from a gapping hole, Yokuhisa scrambles for the hole.
Give the PC's a round to react.

End ACT 2

ACT 3 (The Final Day)

Scene 1 (Sunset)
This Scene is a series of brief, bloody skirmishes. The
accused, whose sword is close at hand as evidence, has a
chance to snatch up his weapon. One character should have
a chance at Matsu Tsushiko, Yokuhisa's pet Maho-tsukai.
Another character will have a chance to battle Yokuhisa
himself for a round or two. The rest of the PCs should be
up to their necks in Oni no Tsushiko. It is imperative that
Yokuhisa reach the pit and jump in. Tsushiko and Oni no
Tsushiko will fight a rearguard action to buy her lord time.
If the PCs fight well or ignore Tsushiko to pursue
Yokuhisa, They will enter the pit as well. The PCs must

follow or allow Yokuhisa to escape.

Scene 2 (Timeless)
The Chase though the pit will be a frightening, nervewracking experience. The stone of the cave glows with a
sickly yellow light, and form shapes that threaten the
sanity. Both Tsushikos will fight a hit and fade battle
thought the unearthly tunnels. Once slain the chase after
Yokuhisa begins in earnest. The challenge of following the
trail, occasional tremors, and a cave-in or two keeps the
pressure on. The PCs realize their sense of time is quite
distorted in this evil place, whether minutes or days have
passed is uncertain. Just as they catch sight of Yokuhisa a
fierce tremor rock the cavern, stones fall from the ceiling, a
terrible grinding sound, and...

Scene 3 (dawn)
The rising sun disperses the caverns in to mist. Yokuhisa
and the PCs are in a small wood outside the castle. Now
the PCs are may face him. He has only his wakizashi. The
players may be better armed. The trick is to take him alive.
His testimony is the only thing that will completely remove
the shadow hanging over the accused PC. If that PC is
present, he should be VERY concerned with exoneration,
having left the castle in direct conflict with Kimura's
restrictions. If capture proves impossible, his body must be
returned to the castle.

Epilogue (Noon)
Ikoma Kimura concludes his inquiry. If Yokuhisa is taken
alive he will explain the events surrounding the two
murders. At the party Tsushiko disguised herself as him by
magic. While "he" declined to participate in the poetry
contest, he actually was lying in wait for Haoyori, dressed
as Akimiko. He killed that pig Haoyori with his own
hands, because Haoyori had killed a geisha for whom he
had cared deeply. Akimiko was an acknowledged enemy
by blood feud (a fact that the PCs will have discovered
earlier). Tsushiko was to kill her so she could take the
blame for Haoyori's death. He claims that he did not know
Tsushiko practiced maho, but accepts the blame willingly.
His confession will completely exonerate the accused PC,
and he dies well. Whether Yokuhisa did the clan a noble
service by removing the despicable Haoyori or was he an
equally evil lord devoured by maho and a burning blood
feud will be the stuff of court gossip throughout the

coming winter.
The PCs are lauded for their service to the Lion clan.
Various ends are wrapped up and the daimyos depart for
Shiro no Matsu. The shift in power in the north will take
some time to sort out. Several lords' power-bases will be
greatly increased, and they will remember the PCs role in
that rise. Others have lost their patrons. They will
remember as well...

A Rough Timeline of Events:

Events proceeded by a (( are not likely to come to the
players' attention until later if at all.

DAY 1
o
o
o

o
o

Noon Ride out to escort Toturi (just Lion

PCs)
1:30 Toturi arrives (All PCs)
2:00 Various lords housed in castle.
Place Lord A and Lord B far apart.
Lords D & E don't fit Clue.
1 Lord be has taken ill on the road
((Aid S kills Lady B
((Aid S makes Lady B appear to
disappear.
4:30 Kimura's private audience with
Yakumo
Sunset Public court and feast in the Gardens
Lord B's absence due to illness is
noted
Kata Contest
Poetry Contest
((Lord S, dressed as a Kitsu woman
kills Lord A
Screaming servants: Lord A's body
is found
Ikoma Kimura Demands a Murderer
be found before Toturi's departure
Ikoma Yakumo places the PC's on
the case "Impartiality + decorum"
Akodo Toturi grants the PC's leave
to question anyone in the castle with
impunity
Investigation
((Theft in Kuno's rooms

Clue 1. Aikuchi used to kill

Lord A
Clue 2. The Spirits have
been scattered an disturbed
(work of a Shugenja???)
Clue 3. Lady C will receive a
portion of Lord A's lands
Clue 4. Aid B will report
Lady B is missing
Clue 5. Lady C knows Lord
A had a geisha mistress
Clue 6. Aid S was not seen at
party
Clue 7. Servants may have
seen a woman wearing the
Kitsu mon rush from the
scene
Suspects in Lord A's death: Lord B,
Lady C, Aid D, Aid S, possibly
Akodo Toturi, Matsu Yojo and Aid
C2
Search for Lady B & more
investigation
Midnight Lady B's Body found. Clear signs
of foul play
Suspicion falls on Bayushi Kuno
Kimura places Kuno under house
arrest

Day 2
o

Dawn Kimura's offer of reprieve

Clue 1. Kuno's quarters have been
raided
Ide Arrives, Escort duty
Lords D & E are outside. Must be
approached more gently.
More investigation
Clue 1. Kitsu dress found
Clue 2. Evidence of fight in
Lady B's chambers
Clue 3. Same disturbed
spirits in Lady B's chambers
Clue 4. Lady B's body dead
before sword stroke
Clue 5. Lady B poisoned, but
not lethally
Suspects in Lady B's Death: Lord A,
Aid Y, Lord S, Lord E, Lord D
Aid E will offer info to move
suspicion away from his Lord E.

Sunset Bayushi's defense

If they work it out, Lord S flees. Aid
S dies covering the escape.
Midnight The Chase is on

Day 3
o
o

Dawn Capture of Lord S

Return to the castle
Noon PC present their case to Ikoma
Kimura
Lord S receives judgment
Recognition and Reward

Toturi departs for Shiro no Matsu