#Seasonal Events — Five Nights of the Domain

Contents

What this document is. New Year, Tanabata, Obon, Harvest, Winter Solstice — five seasonal events. For each event: resident RP + mini-scenario 1 + the lord's formal role + morale chain. 2d10 check.

Core references

- Required: Three Ways and Six Hearts · Non-Combat Checks · Domain Management

- Reference: Lands of the Sengoku

- In this supplement: Open World Index · Morale and Fear · NPC Index · Dreams

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#Scent — Time Named Seasonal Events

The Domain has five seasonal events.

The first bell of the new year, the Tanabata wind beneath a moon split in two, the Obon night when the underworld thins, the harvest evening when the rice is half short, and the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year.

Even in the Spirit Realm, the seasonal events come. If anything, they come more intensely. The seasons of the Spirit Realm imitate Japan's seasons, but distort them. Spring may come three times, or autumn may not come at all. Yet seasonal events are the rhythm the residents of the Domain must keep. If they do not keep it, the heart collapses first.

For Akihisa, seasonal events are a test.

The young lord stands before the residents, inheriting his grandfather's rites. If he performs well, the residents feel that "there is still a lord." If he misses the moment, morale sinks.

For Hoshino, seasonal events are a crisis.

Around seasonal events, the Spirit Realm's thinning grows stronger. The Barrier is less stable than usual. Yet these are also days when the greatest flow of power passes through. Align with it well, and the Barrier grows stronger. Miss it, and there is a great loss.

This table turns those five nights from a schedule into an event table.

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#Law — Seasonal Event Rolling Protocol

#Basics

• Dice: 2d10 (some sub-events use d100)
• Automatic trigger: During a seasonal-event week, do not roll. It occurs automatically. This document applies to that entire week.
• Relation to other tables: During a seasonal-event week, do not roll on the 20-01 Domain Weekly Events table. This document replaces it.

#Seasonal Event Schedule

#Lord Check

Each seasonal event has a formal role for the lord. Akihisa performs it, and the PCs can assist.

• Basic check: 2d10 + Akihisa leadership
• Target number: varies by seasonal event (11~15)
• PC assistance: accompanying +2, RP together +3
• Success/failure criteria:
• Success: morale +2, Barrier HP +3.
• Partial success (within Target Number -2): morale +1.
• Failure: morale -2, Barrier HP -2.

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#1. New Year (新年) — The First Bell of the New Year

#Overview

1st day of the 1st lunar month. The first New Year after coming to the Spirit Realm. The whole Domain has waited for this day.

Tone: Solemn. Calm. Prayer.

Background:

• Preparation begins on the night before New Year.
• A great bell rings at the shrine. 108 times.
• Residents gather before the shrine.

#Resident RP

New Year is a day of gratitude and resolve. Residents approach the PCs like this:

• Blacksmith Motoy: "This year, I will forge swords better."
• Physician Asa: "This year, I will care for one more child."
• Squad leader Shinjiro: "This year, I will not lose even one person."
• Old woman Kikue: "This year... I do not know whether I will still be alive."

The PCs may respond to each. On response, Affinity +1.

#Formal Role of the Lord

108 bell strikes + the first formal address.

• Check: 2d10 + leadership vs Target Number 13.
• Description: Akihisa stands before the shrine. White ceremonial robes. A ritual craftsperson strikes the bell 108 times. When the 108th bell rings, Akihisa reads the formal address.

Contents of the address (written by a PC or the GM):

• Acknowledge the drift.
• Give thanks that the Domain has been defended.
• Declare the resolve of the new year.

#Mini-Scenario: "The First New Year Worshipper"

At New Year dawn, one old man who is not a resident of the Domain inside the Barrier stands before the shrine.

Situation:

• He is dressed poorly. An unseen face.
• Residents are confused. Where did he come from?
• The old man bows. Quietly. For a long time.

Choices:

• Drive him out rudely: morale -1. The old man leaves while crying.
• Question him politely: Target Number 11 conversation. On success, the old man reveals that he is a drifter. From another Domain. Story clue.
• Bring him to the shrine and worship together: morale +2. Hoshino is startled. The old man leaves one line: "May your Domain last as long as I have."

Follow-up:

• If treated politely: chance to contact another drifter Domain in spring.
• If driven out: next week's 20-05 dream table warning range chance +25%.

#Morale Chain

• Lord check success → morale +2, Barrier HP +3, 20-01 positive event chance +10% for 2 weeks.
• Lord check failure → morale -2, Barrier HP -2, 20-01 negative event chance +10% for 2 weeks.
• If the old man is welcomed in the mini-scenario → additional morale +2.

#The Domain After New Year

The week after New Year is a special peace. As a seasonal-event exception, it is recommended to skip the 20-01 table for one week and treat it as "one quiet week."

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#2. Tanabata (七夕) — Beneath the Split Moon

#Overview

7th day of the 7th lunar month. The middle of summer. The meeting of the Cowherd and Weaver.

Tone: Melancholy. Lovers. Parting.

Background:

• The two stars exist even in the Spirit Realm's sky. However, the moon is split in two.
• Legend says lovers meet beneath the split moon.
• Residents write wishes on bamboo and hang them.

#Resident RP

Tanabata is a day of longing. Residents write wishes.

• Blacksmith Motoy: "I want to fish once in the river back home." His wife tears up beside him.
• Physician Asa: "May my dead son be happy."
• Young Orin: "May Grandpa Hoshino live a long life."
• Squad member Kojiro: "May I meet my older brother again."

Scene where PCs write wishes. One line per PC. Connect it directly to each player's character arc.

#Formal Role of the Lord

Reading the lord's wish aloud.

• Check: 2d10 + leadership vs Target Number 11.
• Description: Akihisa stands before the largest bamboo. He reads his own wish in a loud voice.

Wish candidates:

• May everyone meet the next Tanabata safely.
• May the Domain protected by the previous lord survive this year.
• May my insufficiency be forgiven.

Assistance: PC reads aloud beside Akihisa → check +2.

#Mini-Scenario: "Two Lovers Beneath the Split Moon"

Tanabata night. Two lovers in the Domain, Dojiro, the blacksmith's son, and Omaki, the farmer's daughter, have fought.

Situation:

• They wrote wishes on different bamboo. The wishes contradict each other.
• Dojiro's wish: "May I forge swords well." Omaki's name is absent.
• Omaki's wish: "May we marry." Dojiro's name is present.
• Rumors circulate in the village. (Links with the 20-04 table)

Choices:

• Ignore it: morale ±0. However, next week's 20-01 negative event chance +10%.
• Mediate (PC): Target Number 13 Negotiation. On success, the lovers reconcile. Morale +2. On failure, the situation worsens.
• The lord intervenes directly: Akihisa leadership check, Target Number 13. On success, morale +3, lord Affinity +2.

Follow-up:

• On success: wedding in spring. Symbol of the Domain's hope.
• On failure: Dojiro volunteers for dangerous patrol. 20-02 lethal segment chance +15%.

#Morale Chain

• Lord check success → morale +2, Fear decrease -1 for 1 week.
• During Tanabata week, there is no Barrier HP impact (period of spiritual balance).
• Mini-scenario mediation success → Domain love and marriage events active for the next 6 months.

#Tanabata Special Event: Tempter Frequency ↑

Tanabata night is a day when the underworld gate opens a little. Temptation range chance +30% on the 20-05 dream table.

Especially 77, "Voice of Dead Family," appears often. If one PC has this dream, develop the story.

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#3. Obon (お盆) — Gate of the Underworld

#Overview

15th day of the 7th lunar month. The week right after Tanabata. The night when the underworld gate is thinnest in the year.

Tone: Spiritual. Heavy. Ancestors.

Background:

• For a Domain already in the Spirit Realm, this gate is even thinner.
• Hoshino fears this night most.
• Residents perform rites to welcome the dead: mukaebi and okuribi.

#Resident RP

Obon is the night when the dead return. Residents hang lanterns before their houses.

• Hoshino: "Tonight I must stand before the Barrier. Longer than in any year."
• Physician Asa: "Will my dead son come... perhaps he will."
• Old woman Kikue: "If my husband comes, what should I say?"
• Squad member Kojiro: "I hope my older brother has forgiven me."

PCs can also perform personal rites. They can float one lantern for their own ancestors.

#Formal Role of the Lord

The lord's rite for the previous generation + presiding over the Obon rite.

• Check: 2d10 + leadership vs Target Number 13.
• Description: Akihisa performs a rite at the previous lord's grave. Then he floats lanterns on the water in the plaza.

Special conditions:

• If Hoshino weakening is 5 or higher, Target Number for Akihisa checks +2 (Hoshino cannot help).
• If a PC onmyoji assists, Target Number -2.

#Mini-Scenario: "The One Who Returned"

On Obon night, one figure appears inside the Barrier.

Situation:

• Late night. One translucent silhouette in the Domain plaza.
• Seeing the face, it is the dead husband of one resident.
• He says, "Only this one night."

Choices (three branches):

A. Welcome (tell the family)

• The wife comes running. They embrace each other (can pass through).
• For one hour, the family is together.
• Before dawn, he disappears.
• Result: morale +3, Fear -1. Major change in the wife's life (more lively from the next chapter).

B. Suspect (tell Hoshino)

• Hoshino comes. He determines whether this figure is real.
• Target Number 15 (Hoshino automatically succeeds). Result: confirms the soul of a true dead person.
• Then proceed as in A.
• Result: same as A + Hoshino trust +1.

C. Guard against it (try to banish it)

• Drive out the soul. Hoshino objects.
• The soul disappears sadly.
• Result: morale -2, Fear +1, Hoshino trust -1.

D. Variant: false soul

• 10% chance that the soul is actually a Spirit Realm being's imitation.
• Discernment Target Number 15 (automatic with Hoshino's help).
• On failure: PC Exposure +2 or combat.

#Morale Chain

• Lord check success → morale +2, Barrier HP +2.
• Lord check failure → morale -2, Barrier HP -5 (Obon's thinning worsens the weakness).
• Mini-scenario A or B resolved → additional morale +3.
• Mini-scenario C resolved → additional morale -2.

#Obon's Special Danger

On Obon night, the Barrier is weaker than usual. For this week's 20-03 Barrier table:

• Weakening Segment chance +15%.
• Anomaly Segment chance +20%.
• Especially 100, "Threshold of Avici," chance ×2.

The GM should place the Barrier event of this night as a story, not roll it like homework.

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#4. Harvest (秋收) — Gratitude for the Harvest

#Overview

Mid 9th lunar month. Autumn. Rice harvest season.

Tone: Gratitude. Regret. Reality.

Background:

• Because the Domain has come to the Spirit Realm, farmland output is 60% of an ordinary year.
• Even so, a harvest is a harvest. Every resident goes out to the fields.
• After the harvest, a thanksgiving rite.

#Resident RP

Harvest is a day to learn the value of one grain of rice. Residents face reality.

• Farmer Nobuko: "We worked twice as much as last year and harvested half as much. Still, we have some."
• Blacksmith Motoy: "I will try cutting rice too. The forge can rest for a day."
• Physician Asa: "Let the children cut rice as well. They must learn."
• Akihisa: (No words. He stands alone.)

PC participation. A scene where PCs cut rice themselves is possible. Physique check, Target Number 11. On success, resident Affinity +1 for all.

#Formal Role of the Lord

Harvesting the first ear of rice + presiding over the thanksgiving rite.

• Check: 2d10 + leadership vs Target Number 13.
• Description: Akihisa cuts the first ear of rice by hand. Then the thanksgiving rite before the shrine.

Contents of the thanksgiving rite:

• Gratitude for surviving the year safely.
• Humble acceptance of the harvest amount.
• Resolve until the next spring.

#Mini-Scenario: "The Harvest Thief"

During the harvest, one sack of rice disappears. Who stole it?

Situation:

• One sack is lost while rice is moved to the storehouse.
• Retainer Kobayashi begins an investigation.

Candidates:

1. One starving mother (two children are sick).
2. A squad member cornered by gambling debt (connected to 20-01 event 92).
3. A person affected by the Spirit Realm (a contaminated person acting on instinct).
4. It was not actually lost (Kobayashi's calculation error).

Choices:

• Thorough investigation (Target Number 13 Wisdom): on success, culprit identified. Choose punishment.
• Pardon order (Target Number 11 leadership): punish no one. Morale +1 (generosity). However, it may happen again.
• Ignore it: morale -1.

Punishment decision (if the culprit is found):

#Morale Chain

• Lord check success → morale +2, food +1 week.
• Lord check failure → morale -2, food -1 week.
• Mini-scenario lenient decision → additional morale +1, long-term resident Affinity +1.

#Harvest's Year-End Foreshadowing

When harvest ends, winter truly begins. Pressure of food management. Calculate whether food can last until the next Winter Solstice.

GM Tip: In the harvest-week meeting, have retainer Kobayashi report "winter food calculations." Tension appears when numbers are placed before the players.

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#5. Winter Solstice (冬至) — The Longest Night

#Overview

Late 11th lunar month. The longest night of the year. The longest darkness.

Tone: Trial. Decision. Endurance.

Background:

• The Barrier is tested for the longest time.
• The moment when Hoshino's strength is most exhausted.
• A night when every resident stays awake.

#Resident RP

Winter Solstice is a day of endurance. Everyone gathers and passes the long night.

• Hoshino: "Tonight, we must not doze even once."
• Akihisa: (No words. He sits beside Hoshino.)
• Old woman Kikue: tells stories to the children. All night.
• Blacksmith Motoy: lights a great bonfire in the plaza.
• Physician Asa: passes warm medicinal broth to everyone.

PC choices:

• Sit beside Hoshino: Barrier HP +2, Hoshino trust +1.
• Stay among the residents: morale +1.
• Sit beside Akihisa: leadership +1, lord Affinity +1.
• Guard the castle gate: guard Target Number -2, Fear -1.

#Formal Role of the Lord

Long-night guardian rite + greeting the first dawn sun.

• Check: 2d10 + leadership vs Target Number 15 (highest).
• Description: Akihisa stays awake all night. With Hoshino before the Barrier. At dawn, when the first sun rises, he rings the bell.

Special conditions:

• If all PCs greet the dawn together, Target Number -3.
• If Hoshino weakening is 7 or higher, trigger the special scenario (see below).

#Mini-Scenario: "Hoshino's Choice"

At midnight on Winter Solstice night, Hoshino coughs blood. His strength is exhausted.

Situation:

• The Barrier trembles at the same time.
• Hoshino says: "I can burn my life and strengthen the Barrier one more time. But after that... I may not return."

Choices:

A. Accept Hoshino's sacrifice

• Hoshino weakening rises to 9. Barrier HP +40 (temporary). Hoshino enters a coma.
• 50% chance to wake within one month. Otherwise death.
• Domain morale -3 (grief) or +3 (heroic acceptance), depending on the PC speech.

B. Stop Hoshino's sacrifice

• A PC tries to infuse instead. Target Number 15 (Target Number 18 if not an onmyoji).
• On success, Barrier HP +20. PC Wounds -3 (life-force transfer, cannot recover in this scene).
• On failure, Barrier HP -5, Hoshino continues weakening.

C. Another method

• The PC presents a "lord-grade core" (if they have one). Automatic Barrier HP +60. Hoshino protected.
• If there is no "lord-grade core," this choice is closed.

#Morale Chain

• Lord check success → morale +3, Barrier HP +5, Domain positive event chance +15% until next year's 1st month 1st day (New Year).
• Lord check failure → morale -3, Barrier HP -10, Hoshino weakening +1 additional.
• Mini-scenario A choice (Hoshino sacrifice) → the tone of the whole chapter changes. Fear +2, but long-term morale +2 (memory of a hero).

#Special Meaning of Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice is the year's reckoning. After this day, the campaign arc changes greatly.

2 weeks after Winter Solstice:

• Morale check week gains additional ±1 (according to Winter Solstice result).
• Target Number for Barrier maintenance checks -2 (on success) or +2 (on failure).
• Hoshino's condition determines the tone of the whole next 1 chapter.

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#Seasonal Event Chain — The Breath of a Year

#Normal Scenario (Continuous Success)

New Year success → Tanabata success → Obon success → Harvest success → Winter Solstice success.

Result:

• Domain morale +10 accumulated (within manageable range).
• Annual Barrier HP +13.
• Hoshino weakening maintained at 2 or lower.
• Hope that the next year can also be seen.

#Crisis Scenario (Continuous Failure)

New Year failure → Tanabata failure → Obon failure → Harvest failure → Winter Solstice failure.

Result:

• Domain morale -10. Rebellion risk.
• Annual Barrier HP -19.
• Hoshino weakening worsens to 8~9.
• Domain collapse imminent.

#Mixed Scenario (Most Common)

New Year success → Tanabata failure → Obon success → Harvest partial success → Winter Solstice success.

Result:

• Domain morale ±0 ~ +3.
• Annual Barrier HP ±0.
• Hoshino weakening stays around 5.
• The most human route. Most campaigns fall here.

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#Example — Complete Presentation of One Obon Night Scene

Middle of Chapter 3. Obon day.

GM setup: Hoshino weakening 4. Domain morale 5. Barrier HP 58.

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Seven in the evening. Plaza before the shrine. Every resident of the Domain is gathered. Hundreds of small lanterns.

Akihisa finishes the rite before the previous lord's grave. White clothes, old sword. His hands tremble slightly.

Lord check: 2d10 + leadership 2 → roll 8 + 2 = 10. Target Number 13 failure. However, PC Hanaru assists beside him. +2. 12. Partial success.

Akihisa's voice shakes. But he does not stop. He reads the final line.

"Ancestors. Today, this land is one sheet away from the underworld. Please come."

The residents bow their heads.

Then, in one corner of the plaza, a figure appears. Translucent. White kimono. A face someone knows.

Physician Asa says in a trembling voice. "... Shinnosuke?" It is her dead son.

Mini-scenario B triggers. The PC tells Hoshino. Hoshino discerns contamination. True soul confirmed. Asa runs over and embraces her son. One hour allowed by time.

Apply results:

• Lord partial success: morale +1, Barrier HP ±0.
• Obon presentation: Barrier HP -5 (underworld-thinning effect).
• Mini-scenario success: morale +3, Fear -1.
• Final: morale +4, Barrier HP -5.

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#GM Operating Principles

#Present Seasonal Events; Do Not Roll Them

The 20-01 weekly event table is rolled, but seasonal events are not rolled. Prepare them in advance and present them as story.

#Keep the Lord at the Center

At each seasonal event, Akihisa is the protagonist. The PCs are assistants or observers. This is the opportunity for the lord's growth.

#Bring Out Residents' Faces One by One

Seasonal events are the days when NPCs have the most lines. Even residents who usually say nothing get one line during a seasonal event. That one line becomes campaign memory.

#Do Not Fear Seasonal Event Failure

A failed seasonal-event check is not a tragedy. Failure is also memorable story. Akihisa's failure can lead to the lord's growth.

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#Related Documents

• Morale and Fear — numerical impact of seasonal events.
• NPC Index — protagonists of the seasonal events.
• Barrier Edge — seasonal events and Barrier links.
• Dreams and Nightmares — Tanabata and Obon dreams.
• Campaign Loop — rhythm of seasonal events.

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#Appendix — Seasonal Event Preparation Checklist (For GMs)

Seasonal event: ___
Week of occurrence: ___

□ Prepare one resident RP line per person
□ Confirm formal lord-role Target Number
□ Set mini-scenario details (NPC names, place, choice results)
□ Reflect current Domain state (morale, Barrier HP, Hoshino weakening)
□ Note expected morale chain
□ Plan the 1~2 weeks of story that follow this seasonal event
□ Confirm adjustments to other tables (20-01~20-05)

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#Appendix B — Auxiliary Rites (Outside Seasonal Events)

Small rites other than the main 5 seasonal events. Good to include in the setting, but they have no formal check.

• Setsubun (節分) — early 2nd lunar month: scatter beans to drive out oni. "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi." Resident morale +1.
• Hinamatsuri (雛祭り) — 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month: girls' day. Doll decorations. Morale +1 for households with children.
• Tango no Sekku (端午の節句) — 5th day of the 5th lunar month: boys' day. Carp banners. Squad member morale +1.
• Shichigosan (七五三) — 15th day of the 11th lunar month: prayer for children's long life. Physician visit. Morale +1.

These can be presented naturally as neutral events like 20-01 table 41, fruit delivery.

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"Seasonal events are knots in time. Without knots, the thread comes undone." — Hoshino Gensho, teaching Akihisa the meaning of seasonal events.

"A lord's name is made during seasonal events. It is not built on ordinary days." — Retainer Kobayashi Iwao, New Year morning.

"Even in the Spirit Realm, we keep the seasonal events. If we do not, we forget who we are." — Old woman Kikue by the well.