Fantasy Core RPG: Jianghu Setting-Kinsai Village

Fantasy Core RPG

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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Jianghu Setting

Kinsai Village

 There is nothing of interest going on here.

This is a perfectly nondescript peasant farming village, happy, prosperous, and lacking any criminal activity.  They are always accommodating to the tax collectors.  The Brotherhood is paid a nominal protection fee, but never called upon for service.  Indeed, Kinsai is often held up by the Governor himself, as a model village. 

  

What the Governor and others in the know are aware of, is that it is also a ninja clan training school (a Ryu).  In addition to a large number of highly trained assassins living there, the villagers are all vaguely related and are absolutely loyal to one another.  There is a precarious, informal relationship between the Kinsai clan and the government.  Neither side dare overly antagonize the other.

While Kinsai village could not stand against a full military assault, but certainly the military rues the thought of attempting it.  It is a virtual fortress.  Oh, it looks unassuming, but any building is a potential stronghold.  There are underground training warrens of unknown depths beneath the village that would be a deathtrap to invaders.  If the village was lost, it would only accomplish scattering a clan of vengeful assassins around the province.  So long as their activities are discreet, the government pretends they aren’t there.  Thus the clan carefully considers any job offer in Shang-tu province.

Though the Kinsai clan is not allied with the government, their relationship keeps the Triads from courting them.  The White Lotus respects their arrangement, but still hires them for various espionage activities, as well as for rescue operations and even abductions.  Given their profitable long-standing relationship, the ninjas and the White Lotus could have a more intimate relationship if things change in the province.  A few wealthy, powerful individuals who have heard of the ninjas and are able to contact them professionally, might offer a contract for an assassination, but the ninjas are very selective about such things locally.  Mostly, their ninjas are “exported” for hits in other parts of the Empire.

Ninjas are more deadly with age, as their skills have peaked and they welcome death.

Jonin leader Ren-Su Kinsai “Grandfather”

Ever calm, gracious, soft-spoken, never demanding, Grandfather is always a perfect gentleman.  And why not?  He is in a position of unquestioned power in the province, surrounded by fiercely loyal, skilled warriors, and he is nearly death itself in combat.  However, he is of a mind to only subtly influence events, never to force his will.  He will only give martial sanction within Shang-tu province, if there is no other option.

10^th level Ninja, Hp 42, AC 14* (None, but has Shadowy ability) Enhanced initiative +4

Fort +4, Ref +11, Will +8

Melee: +1 Wakizashi (Shock) +12 to hit 1d8+2 + Shock DC 18 Fort Sv or paralyze 1 turn.  

Shadowy: DC 12 Ref Sv to avoid first hit in rd, DC 18 afterward

Vanish ability

+8 Detection (Traps, ambushes), Detection (Trapped items)

+9 Stealth (Hiding, sneaking), Escape Artist

+8 Acrobatics (Balancing, jumping), Climb

There are four other members of the Jonin ruling council, all 9^th level, and for the most part, much more aggressive and assertive.  Grandfather doesn’t consider any of them ready to take leadership, and keeps them on a short leash.  The village is full of lower level ninjas: male (mostly trained as assassins, Genin, or for espionage, Chunin) and female (Kunoichi, mostly trained in espionage, infiltration, and psyops).