鋼のＦＲＥＥＤＯＭ: Ashina Aya

鋼のＦＲＥＥＤＯＭ (Hagane no Freedom - Freedom of Steel) is a Tenra Bansho Zero scenario for 4 to 6 players, including the Game Master. This series of posts introduces pregenerated player characters and their stories. Note: since the names are Japanese, they're written with family name first, unless noted otherwise. 

Two years ago, you were one of the few children most important for the domain of Torigoe. Born Mitsuko in a noble Ishikawa family, you were prepared from early childhood to control a terrifying steel frame of Yoroi Armour that could single-handedly turn the tide of battle.

The magical Meikyo mirror, contained in only the most powerful Armours, not only provides an interface for control, but absorbs all memories and experiences of the rider during battle, making the Armour grow ever more powerful. However, the price for that is little space left for the personal growth of the rider herself. Eventually, there will not be enough room inside the Armour for both personalities - the rider, and the one contained inside the mirror. When that happens, the Armour shuts down and the rider has to seek other avenues of self-fulfilment.

It all turned into a somewhat theoretical matter for you as in the battle of Hisano's Gate, where the armies of Torigoe were crushed, your personal duel with a Hakusen rider ended in destruction of your both Armours. Unconscious, you were pulled from the wreckage by an officer of the fleeing army, who, having lost his own family, nursed you to health and gave you home as well as a new, less conspicuous name. As you have heard, your real family now lives in Hakusen as hostages, never having had the chance to find out you're alive.

So now you're trying to live your teenage life as best as you can, but something is missing. Losing your Armour felt like losing a close family member, but more so, and you dream of the time when again you will be able to rampage across battlefields of Tenra in an invincible body of an iron giant. This desire makes you seek success and attention in other fields - despite being somewhat frail of body, you never back down from a challenge and have a reputation as a bit of a troublemaker.

Kitan Kagetora, your friend at school, is aware of your true identity, and he has obtained a worn out, mass produced Armour for you to train in, so that your skills don't deteriorate entirely. However, hereditary artifacts that are Meikyo Armours are impossible to purchase and it will require a small miracle for the independence movement to obtain even one.

But when that day comes, you will show them all.

SYSTEM NOTES

Archetypes: Yoroi Armour Rider, Kabukimono/Punk
Fates: Emotion: Must be the center of attention, Misfortune: Loss of your Yoroi Armour

Note: this is a modified Yoroi Armour Rider archetype. It has a custom fate and the character will get access to their Armour in play (they have a temporary mass produced Kimen Armour at the start of the game). 

鋼のＦＲＥＥＤＯＭ: Kitan Kagetora

鋼のＦＲＥＥＤＯＭ (Hagane no Freedom - Freedom of Steel) is a Tenra Bansho Zero scenario for 4 to 6 players, including the Game Master. This series of posts introduces pregenerated player characters and their stories. Note: since the names are Japanese, they're written with family name first, unless noted otherwise.

You are Kitan Kagetora, the last living member of the Kitan clan. In another time you would have been the Lord of Torigoe domain, as your father was. However, independent Torigoe doesn't exist anymore: it was conquered by Lord Buren of Hakusen in a short and decisive war two years ago.

Your father and younger sister died during the chaos as the capital city of Tengaishi fell, while you were separately captured and spared by the troops of Hakusen. As a member of former ruling family you have been afforded a state pension. You now spend your days in a boarding school for young nobles such as yourself, living a content but ultimately pointless existence.

Or so everyone thinks. In truth, you have never stopped making plots to take back Torigoe from Hakusen, whether it's for the sake of your countrymen or just yourself. You have established secret contacts with the underground resistance movements and are planning to one day lead them to victory. Even though they are all just tools to you, you have a lot to offer them - your strategic abilities are supreme, honed over years of studying shogi (the Japanese chess), where you are nigh undefeatable.

Another important talent of yours is Onmyojutsu, the Taoist sorcerous art of distilling background life energy of the land and giving it the shape of monstrous creatures called Shikigami or simply shiki, which you can then direct at your enemies or use for more mundane tasks. While it is not something you want to showcase to the people watching you, it is a powerful asset which you have become quite good at manipulating.

However, you sneer at the outdated traditional ways of sorcery, carefully drawing summoning glyphs in a beautiful display of calligraphy. You're one of the new generation of Onmyoji, emphasizing substance over style - using an abacus and a mechanical kimenkyo calculating device to quickly produce calculations required to create Shikigami as fast as possible. Older Onmyoji would say that this method is too dangerous, as any error made in haste can produce terrifying and uncontrollable Chimera, and derisively call your ilk shiki-slingers. But you don't care. You know better than them.

Will you oust the invaders who have conquered your homeland, and give its people the freedom they deserve? Or will your own reign you promise be even more terrible?

SYSTEM NOTES

Archetypes: Aristocrat/Princess, Shiki Slinger, Tactician
Fates: Emotion: Hostility towards classical Onmyoji, Emotion: Loyalty to Torigoe domain