Sol Pope Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) The Ishikawa Syndicate “There are no perfect men in the world; only perfect intentions” Region: Ame no Kuni Base(s) of Operation: Worldwide Status: Criminal Organization Goals: Protection of the lesser man, Their goal is to provide the protection that shinobi typically do not, by focusing on the common people instead of being mercenaries that work for the highest bidder. The syndicate does this free of charge. Organization Entry: Invitation only. (Players may join by request, details of how their PCs become invited can be worked out between the player and the organization curator.) Invitees may be subject to testing as they increase their rank within the syndicate. Organization History: Throughout history there have always been the strong and the weak, the capable and the inept, the beast of prey and the prey themselves. In a system of shinobi villages as premier military might and greedy Daimyo sitting atop the great cities of the world, the poor and the weak often find themselves crushed under the boots of their mightier fellows. In Ame no Kuni, Hara no Kuni, Kiba no Kuni, and Sekitan no Kuni the peoples have long seen their homelands become the blood soaked battlefields in the wars of other countries; wars fueled by the greater shinobi villages petty squabbles. In the time of the first four great shinobi wars, Ame no Kuni and her sister countries to the north, south, and west found themselves in the middle of the world spanning conflicts. Uprisings and radical leadership in these small countries rose from the blood and chaos of war and led to many of the people here living under the iron fists of shinobi like the mythical Hanzo. The infamous group that called themselves Akatsuki likewise rose from these countries of war refugees and bloodied civilians and caused even more pain and suffering. Such it was then that two forceful and righteous personalities decided, separately from each other, that something needed to be done. -- The First Beautiful Thief “There are women of such beauty, that they can possess a man’s mind so that he would be willing to die for them.” A mysterious and masked woman who simply referred to herself as Madame Ishikawa rose from the ashes of Sekitan no Kuni, making a name for herself as an illustrious thief able to access any castle and disappear with all the treasure in the place, leaving a single rose in its place. This wealth began to find itself distributed amongst even the poorest of the country, until the rich and powerful men from whom she stole decided that an example had to be made lest the lesser man rise up against them. As she continued her commanding tour of thievery, the legend of Madame Ishikawa continued to grow. Some whispered in the alleys and pubs of dirt covered villages that she was a reincarnation of a powerful Okami yokai due to the lupine mask she was witnessed to wear and the wealth she spread across the common man. A legendary guardian of travelers and farmers, the connection to the spirit Okami brought the people fast to the side of the graceful thief. Along with this rumors of her beauty became almost as legendary, as rumors about mysterious women often do. Madame Ishikawa was eventually captured and the wealthy nobles deemed a public execution so that those who she had enriched with her generosity would know the fate of those who took from those nobles and leaders. When she was unmasked in the prisons below Tokaisuzu, her identity was revealed to be Hashiri Fusei, the daughter of the magistrate. Her father, a cruel man who cared for little more than his own rise to power, disowned his kin to her fate. In a show of cruelty it was decided that the magistrate’s daughter, no older than 23, was to be boiled alive in Tokaisuzu proper in front of the largest crowd they could gather. This horrible event drew the attention of people from all around. On the day of the execution, Hashiri Fusei was held before the crowd, bound and dirtied from her time in the prisons and unmasked for the world to see. She stood defiant against the men who would have her head for her thievery and enrichment of the people. Before she was boiled to death her final words to the crowd of onlookers was “Madame Ishikawa shall never die!” -- The Order of the Mud Monks “In Vino Veritas” In Ame no Kuni, there was a monastery wherein the monks allowed travellers a roof overhead to rest and rejuvenate. The monks of this monastery were known as the Odei Inja, the Mud Monks. They used a crude form of ninjutsu to form and propagate their hot spring baths, create ceramics, and heal the afflicted. The monks of this monastery took in any traveller without question to their origins and healed men and women no matter their affiliation. One of these monks, Hogosha Saisho, was known especially for his fondness for brewing and was adept in the healing art of medicinal alcohol. He was known amongst even his brethren as being especially removed from the harshness of the politics of the land. When asked why he spent so much time in meditation atop the bath houses of the monastery, he was known to reply "The spring view is worth a thousand gold pieces, or so they say, but 'tis too little, too little. These eyes of Saisho rate it worth ten thousand!" Saisho placed the value of the moment above all else. On a particularly rainy night in the midst of a brutal war, the monks allowed four wounded men into the monastery. These men, soldiers of Konohagakure, were grievously wounded from battle. The monks went to work using their healing arts to the men and doing what they could to ease their pain. In the deep of the night, as the monastery slept, a force of Iwagakure ninja forced open the front gates and demanded the monks release the wounded Leaf ninja to them. The monks believed they had no choice but to do this as they were not warriors, trained only to heal. Hogosha Saisho, however, refused to turn the men over to the Iwagakure shinobi. Over his dead body, he proclaimed. “For any man who is granted asylum within the Odei Inja Monastery shall be protected until our dying breath.” Saisho brought the full mud arts to bear in the defense of the monastery, cloaking himself in ceramic armor and fighting like a drunken beast using the special monastic brews he had spent his life perfecting. The Iwagakure nin eventually permanently crippled Saisho in battle but not before the remaining monks realized their brother’s conviction and drove the shinobi off. From that moment forward, the Odei Inja Monastery was known as a defensive fortress for the downtrodden and wounded. Hogosha Saisho lived out his life teaching his brothers the arts of brewing and using their talents in battle. -- The Birth of the Syndicate A year after the death of Hashiri Fusei, the world saw the birth of the second Madame Ishikawa. A gregarious masked woman who claimed to be the spirit of Fusei herself. A vengeful ghost whose existence was meant to strike fear in the hearts of the nobles and wealthy from whom she stole from. Like her predecessor, she managed feats of stealth and thievery that amazed and angered the powerful men from who she stole. The ghost of Madama Ishikawa harried the wealthy and powerful for years before she was eventually injured in the process of a risky burglary. The woman escaped into the fields of Ame no Kuni with a contingent of trackers quick on her heels. She stumbled upon the monastery of the Odei Inja in her desperate attempt to escape. Like those before them, the monks of the monastery defended Madame Ishikawa despite her obvious criminal background. Her life saved, she supplicated herself before the Mud Monks. The men who had saved and healed her asked for nothing in return but Madame Ishikawa wouldn’t allow their humble motivations to stop her from thanking them. On the eve of the next moon, the monastery found a surprisingly large stack of gold and jewels upon their doorstep, with a note that begged them to use it for the betterment of the people. So it went, year after year, generation after generation. The multiple women who were known to the world as Madame Ishikawa counted on the monks of the Odei Inja Monastery to protect them and their own and in turn provided the monks with a way to fund the betterment and protection of the poor and needy who lived in their lands. Thus, over time was born the true Ishikawa Syndicate. An organization of like minded warriors and thieves whose true goal was the uplifting of the lesser man. Thus the organization lives on. A pure goal in their minds of helping those less fortunate and defending those who cannot defend themselves. Though they fund these actions through thievery and crime, the members of the Ishikawa Syndicate believe that the ends justify the means. All who claim membership in their hallowed halls do so with the conviction that they will lay down their lives defending those who cannot defend themselves against the harshness of the world. Edited March 20, 2021 by Sol Pope 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol Pope Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) The Two Branches Within the Ishikawa Syndicate there exist two distinct branches of operatives. The first branch are those who are strong of will, strong of body, with a fervor to defend their lesser man to their dying breath. Those who act in this fashion are welcomed into the halls of the Odei Inja, even if they themselves do not make use of the traditional ninjutsu of those that came before them. This branch’s work consists of defending villages from bandits, overtaxation, and other transgressions as well as using the money the Syndicate procures to feed the poor and destitute. The second branch consists of those who are crafty, single minded, and able to put their work before their own beliefs. These operatives are mostly women and work directly under the supervision of the current Madame Ishikawa. Known as the Beautiful Thieves, these women (and occasionally men) steal from the rich to fund the operations of the greater organization and eliminate those who would endanger the Syndicate. Within each of these branches, the members make up a number of ranks, denoting the sacrifices they have made to further the goals of the Syndicate. Shan Tōzoku | 佚盗賊 | The Beautiful Thieves .:Order of the Rosebud- Newcomers to the Syndicate who haven’t proven themselves. Not privy to secrets or clout, the initiates of the Shan Tōzoku do the jobs they are given in hopes that their work will earn them the right to move upward within the organization. .:Order of the White Rose - A fully fledged member of the Syndicate, the members of the Order of White Rose are career thieves, or at least able to uphold the organizations beliefs in such a way that they are considered a valuable part of the community as a whole. They knew very little about the intricate inner workings of the Syndicate. (Requirement to advance: 50 RP) .:Order of the Red Rose - Those who achieve the rank of the Red Rose are those who have gone above and beyond within the Syndicate. Master thieves and warriors for the downtrodden, those who have achieved this rank are valued members of the Syndicate and take on greater responsibilities in the climb to achieve equality. (Requirement to advance: 150 RP) .:Order of the Black Rose - Members of the Order of the Black Rose are the pinnacle members of the Syndicates first branch. The Black Rose typically work as personal guards to the living Madame Ishikawa or do the work that she cannot attend to personally. Members of the Black Rose are few and far between. (Requirement to advance: 300 RP) Odei Inja | 汚泥隠者 | The Mud Monks .:Order of the Flask - Newcomers to the Syndicate who haven’t proven themselves. Not privy to secrets or clout, the initiates of the Shan Tōzoku do the jobs they are given in hopes that their work will earn them the right to move upward within the organization. .:Order of the Tankard - An accepted member of the Odei Inja, the Order of the Tankard are considered solidly within the ranks of the association. They are allowed to learn the special mud jutsu of the Order and work tirelessly to become accepted by the Axolotl beasts who teach the many modern monks the strongest arts. (Requirement to advance: 50 RP) .:Order of the Stein - The Order of the Stein are the primary members of the Odei Inja Order. They have proven themselves as steadfast allies and stalwart defenders. Those who accept the teachings of the Deiyoku Clan Axolotl are also empowered by learning the techniques of Hogosha Seisho. (Requirement to advance: 150 RP) .:Order of the Keg - Few monks ever rise to the Order of the Keg. Those who do are capable of learning to erect impenetrable walls and hold off swarms of lesser men by themselves using the secret arts honed in the Monastery for hundreds of years. (Requirement to advance: 300 RP) Edited March 21, 2021 by Sol Pope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol Pope Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) Organization Missions: D Rank -A Market Sweep Description: One of the most common tests that the Beautiful Thieves give their initiates is a common market sweep. The objective is to steal wallets and jewelry off those market goers who are well to do. A prerequisite is getting away without being arrested. Word Requirement: 2000 Reward: 両350, 20 RP for The Ishikawa Syndicate Rank Requirement: Any -Lending a Helping Hand Description: The Odei Inja’s mission is to help the common man. This is not strictly limited to defending them from bandits. Your task is to travel to a local village and offer your skills. Farming, weaving, shepherding, nothing is out of question when you volunteer your time here. Word Requirement: 2000 Reward: 500 XP, 20 RP for The Ishikawa Syndicate Rank Requirement: Any C Rank -The Mansion Atop the Hill Description: Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow? Not when it will feed the starving and destitute. A minor noble has been hoarding his wealth, leaving those less fortunate from enjoying the bounty. Relieve him of his gold and jewels so that we may distribute the gains amongst the people. Word Requirement: 4000 Reward: 140 XP, 両600, 40 RP for the Ishikawa Syndicate Rank Requirement: Order of the White Rose/Order of the Tankard -A Fierce Defense Description: A village has been harried by bandits taking their rice and crops by force. You must go there and defend those men and women who cannot stand up to the threat of a blade. This is the nature of war. As the Odei Inja say: By protecting others, you save yourself. If you think only of yourself, you will destroy yourself. Word Requirement: 4000 Reward: 950 Xp, 両50, 40 RP for The Ishikawa Syndicate Rank Requirement: Order of the White Rose/Order of the Tankard B Rank -A Devilish Heist Description: Only great men can know what delights lie in the places Ishikawa targets. A juicy target lies just beyond the reaches of many. A vault filled with riches or a mansion swarming with guards defending its precious treasure. Let the cocksure men of riches know what it means to have the curtain pulled back and their insidious practices exposed to the world. Word Requirement: 6000 Reward: 100 XP, 両1000, 60 RP for The Ishikawa Syndicate Rank Requirement: Order of the Red Rose/Order of the Stein, Level 20 -Feed the Uprising Description: A common barrier between the hovels and the mansions is adequate access to food. The Syndicate has given you a caravan to protect on its way to a village that desperately needs food during its struggle with the bureaucracy. Once there your job is to erect a temporary soup kitchen and feed the populace. Spread the word of who sent this food and put down any rabble rousers who speak up for the bourgeoisie. Word Requirement: 6000 Reward: 1600 XP, 60 RP for The Ishikawa Syndicate Rank Requirement: Order of the Red Rose/Order of the Stein, Level 20 A Rank -The Most Dangerous Game Description: The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters. Tonight, our prey is another who would call themselves a wolf. A baron has been overtaxing and calling for strict tribute of the surrounding area. The villages surrounding him are falling deep into famine and our normal efforts have been thwarted. The only option left to a wolf is to take the baron by the throat. Word Requirement: 8000 Reward: 100 XP, 両1400, 100 RP for The Ishikawa Syndicate Rank Requirement: Order of the Red Rose/Order of the Stein, level 35 Stand of the Ceramic Guard Description: One of our houses has been given up to a furious leech of a man. He has sent his small army to burn and kill all who would take refuge here. The odds are against you and there is a real chance that you will die in duty to the Syndicate. Your job is to make the last stand at a chokepoint long enough for the rest of us to burn the evidence and the refugees to escape. Word Requirement: 8000 Reward: 2000 XP, 両100, 100 RP for The Ishikawa Syndicate Rank Requirement: Order of the Red Rose/Order of the Stein, level 35 Edited March 20, 2021 by Sol Pope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol Pope Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) Organization Head: Touma Yui (Madame Ishikawa) Important Members: - Kamado Namazu - Neishin Jagaimo Current Members: There are 4 slots for membership, once these slots are filled no other PC's may join the ranks of the Syndicate until a slot opens. *- Hanamajo Koji 1- Kuromatsu Kinasutski 2- 3- 4- Edited March 20, 2021 by Sol Pope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol Pope Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) Organization Skills: Odei Inja - Mud Hermit Armor - Drunken Hermit Style Shan Tōzoku - TBA Organization Jutsu: Odei Inja - Kojin Bosan Wall Shan Tōzoku - TBA Organization Items: Odei Inja - TBA Shan Tōzoku - Cloak of Roses Edited March 20, 2021 by Sol Pope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondsAndRain Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 You did a little bit of rounding up and down for cleanliness on your missions, but that isn't too much of an issue. Approved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azure Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Approved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
