Rokugan End of the 12th Century The Emerald Empire faces difficult challenges as Emperor Iweko II ascends the throne, struck by a terrible famine that cripples the production of rice all across the lands of the Great Clans. The golden koku, once meant to provide enough rice for a single man to live for a year, has inflated into fifteen koku for a one-year supply of food. Only a few provinces of the Empire continue to produce rice, and with imperial taxation taking more than half of what is produced, many old alliances are shaken among the Great Clans as former trading partners become unable to meet their obligations. Buds of evil flower in the darkness as hungry mouths cause once upright men to abandon their honor and turn to banditry, while corruption among the higher levels of imperial administration and a crippling backlog of demands make the Emerald Empire's stores of rice all but inaccessible. As total starvation looms in the coming months for great multitudes of people all across the Emerald Empire, the Great Clans look to their neighbors to contemplate new alliances and trade agreements in order to secure a new influx of rice. Our story begins in the province of Kougen, deep within the heart of Crane Clan territory, a land that still produces a great abundance of food despite the shortage which wracks the rest of the empire. Emissaries from several of the Great Clans depart to treat with Lord Doji Gohda, the provincial daimyo of Kougen, in order to secure a trade agreement on behalf of their clan to stave off the specter of famine. The hungry beast cannot be slain at the edge of a sword, and as untold thousands cry out for rice, samurai all across Rokugan are forced to confront the grim reality of their position. The code of Bushido forbids underhanded methods even when dealing with a rival...and yet honor alone cannot quiet an empty belly. Out of Character Blood & Honor is a Legend of the Five Rings 4th Edition game. We are currently seeking one additional player to round out our group. Interested parties are free to follow the link to our group listing below for more information. Legend of the Five Rings: Blood & Honor
