The Trials of Bushido
A Storyline Event Series

 

by Shawn Carman


Every morning, the true samurai rises with the knowledge that today may well be the day he is honored with death in service to his lord. This is not a matter of fear or regret, but one of joy, for there is no greater destiny for any samurai to achieve than to prove his unwavering devotion to his lord through death. Every day, thousands of samurai face trials of every conceivable manner. Many prove their worth and continue their lives of honorable service. Some die and wait to be reborn and seek their destiny anew. And a very fortunate few have the opportunity to demonstrate, to themselves and to their lord, that the code of bushido lives within their soul.

 

Bushido is the code of the samurai, not only warriors but shugenja, artisans, and courtiers as well. It is a philosophy of life that, when embraced, allows a samurai to achieve his destiny through strength of will and purity of purpose. On occasion, ordinary samurai placed in extraordinary circumstances can exhibit the true soul of a samurai. The so-called Champions of Bushido, seven samurai honored by the Emperor for their valor against treacherous bandits, were such individuals, but many more exist that rarely achieve such acclaim. For them, the true reward is in the certainty of their life.

 

The Trials of Bushido is a seven-part series of tournaments that will allow the winner to benefit their faction. The winning faction of each tournament will see one personality of that faction as the central figure in a fiction detailing their struggle with an obstacle that must be overcome in the name of their clan. Whether the individual succeeds or fails, the faction in question will benefit from their perseverance. Regardless of the individual’s fate, the Brotherhood shall recognize their achievements or sacrifice by erecting a shrine to the specified tenet of bushido within the lands of the winning faction.