#Scenario Episode 1 — Regional Qualifiers

Contents

"Even a nameless swordsman is the same as anyone else on the very first step."

#§ Meta Card

#§ Background

The referee council that came from Kyoto holds the Sakihara regional qualifiers. This region is rich in school population — one Hokushin Itto-ryu dojo, one Nito-ryu dojo, and many local Self-Taught Style swordsmen. Of the 10-odd participants, the top 2 advance to the Kanto semifinals.

The PCs are participants. Their motives are free — promoting a school, personal achievement, restoring family honor, the will of a retired master, political motives, and so on.

#§ Act 1 — Registration, Exploration, First Bout (Session 1)

#Scene 1: Registration and First Meeting

The qualifier office in central Sakihara. The PCs arrive → registration procedure (confirming 3 witnesses). While waiting to register, they first encounter the rival NPCs.

Meetings:

• Sano Keijiro (佐野 慶次郎, Hokushin Itto-ryu 3-dan): kind but self-assured. "Our school is the best in this region."
• Yamada Tomo (山田 とも, Self-Taught Style, female swordsman, 3-dan): taciturn. Proud of having no school.
• Nio (仁王, a ronin of huge build, 4-dan): the boss of the Sakihara area. Talks while drunk.

#Scene 2: Exploration, Information Gathering

The PCs can explore information about the other participants and the atmosphere of the local dojos. On a Perception/intelligence-network check, reveal one strategic clue for each rival NPC (GM discretion).

Hook: the local vigilante captain approaches a PC — information that "suspicious outsiders have appeared in the back alleys of the region." (links to Act 2)

#Scene 3: First Bout

The PCs face their first drawn opponent. Recommended: match each PC with a different rival, 1 each. A single-bout-system duel. Each bout is expected to take 5-8 rounds.

#§ Act 2 — A Suspicious Deal in the Back Alley (Session 2)

#Scene 4: Pursuit of the Outsiders

The vigilante captain's information — 3 suspicious outsiders who came to Sakihara (fiend suspicion). In reality: the reconnaissance party of the Shadow Tournament. The PCs either chase them or meet them directly.

Meeting: one of the 3 candidates is a fiend (Tengushi(28)) — in a state of concealed identity. The other 2 are its guards.

#Scene 5: Clash or Conversation

PC choice:

• Attack: combat against the Tengushi + 2 guards. The Tengushi is Elite-grade(4~5-dan), the guards Minion-grade.
• Information deal: the Tengushi mentions the existence of the "Shadow Tournament." The PCs are invited to approach covertly.
• Report: report to the referee council. Thereafter, approaching the Shadow Tournament becomes difficult (an outsider's viewpoint in Episode 4).

#Scene 6: Entry into the Semifinals

After handling the incident, the qualifier semifinals are held the next day. Place the PCs in the upper bracket. 2 of the rivals also pass (both Sano and Yamada, or Nio as a substitute).

#§ Act 3 — Qualifier Final (Session 3)

#Scene 7: Night Meeting Before the Final

Preparation time. A strategy meeting among the PCs. The rival NPCs press actively — Yamada Tomo asks a PC "why do you fight," a philosophical conversation. (eliciting character narrative)

#Scene 8: Qualifier Final

Brackets:

• Bracket A: PC 1 vs Sano Keijiro (Hokushin Itto-ryu)
• Bracket B: PC 2 vs Yamada Tomo (Self-Taught Style)
• The remaining PCs face the NPC swordsmen of the Sakihara area

Final combat traits:

• Directly overseen by the referee council
• A large crowd (locals + retainers and merchants)
• Best 2 of 3 system introduced (limited to the upper bouts of the regional qualifiers, this episode's special rule)

#Scene 9: Yoma Intrusion (optional)

During or right after the final, 1 kind of local yokai (region-specific — a squad of 5 Mob-grade or 2 Minion-grade) intrudes. Cooperative combat between Sano, Yamada, and the PCs is possible. On a successful cooperation, gain the respect of the school NPCs (reward bonus).

#§ Act 4 — Award, Advancement (Session 4, short)

The top 2 among the PCs have their advancement to the Kanto semifinals confirmed. Award ceremony. The referee council's thanks. Sano Keijiro shakes hands and says "Let's meet again in Kanto" — links to Episode 2.

Connecting Hooks:

• The loser between Sano and Yamada connects with the PCs in friendship.
• A Shadow Tournament associate (the Tengushi or a guard) disappears.
• The local daimyo offers the PCs "advancement support" — a chance for a retainer post (the core 04-05 Renown Title path).

#§ Major NPC Sheets (brief)

Sano Keijiro (3-dan, samurai, Hokushin Itto-ryu)
Courage +2 / Finesse +2 / Physique +1 / Wisdom 0 / Presence 0 / Fate -1 (1-dan +3 + 2-dan +1 = total +4)
Energy 12 (10+Finesse 2) / Wounds 4 (3+Physique 1) / Defense 11 (10+light armor 1)
1-dan auto: Swordsmanship(Trained) + Scouting/Negotiation/Arts(Novice)
School: Hokushin Itto-ryu (Licensed "Kata of the Thousand")
Technique: [Kata] One-Blade Strike (Energy 3, secret-art replacement variant)
Narrative: a sense of honor for the region. Pursuit of the martial way. Friendship to the PCs on defeat.

Yamada Tomo (3-dan, ronin Self-Taught Style female swordsman)
Courage +1 / Finesse +2 / Physique 0 / Wisdom +1 / Presence 0 / Fate 0 (total +4)
Energy 12 (10+Finesse 2) / Wounds 3 (3+Physique 0) / Defense 10 (10+no armor)
1-dan auto: Swordsmanship(Trained) + Evasion/Perception/concealment(Novice)
School: none (Self-Taught Style)
Technique: [Kata] Irregular Counter (counter after evasion, similar to a ronin replacement feat)
Narrative: taciturn. A philosophy about the blade. Depth in conversation with the PCs.

Nio (4-dan, ronin of huge build)
Courage +3 / Finesse +1 / Physique +3 / Wisdom -1 / Presence 0 / Fate -1 (1-dan +3 + 2nd/4th-dan +2 = total +5)
Energy 11 (10+Finesse 1) / Wounds 6 (3+Physique 3) / Defense 12 (10+heavy armor 2)
1-dan auto: Unarmed Combat(Trained) + Swordsmanship/Hardiness/Intimidation(Novice)
School: Takenouchi-ryu (core)
Technique: [Kata] Joint Lock
Narrative: arrogant but worthy of respect. Many blunders when drunk.

#§ Yoma (Intrusion)

Local oni Minion-grade (村鬼)
Wounds 3 / Energy 6 / Defense 5
Courage +2 / Finesse +1 / Physique +2
Technique: melee attack (check +4), Fear [aptitude]
Quantity: 2~5 bodies (based on PC party size)

#§ Rewards

• The 2 winners (the top 2 among the PCs): a pass to the Kanto semifinals + 10 kan + fame +1
• All participants: 2 kan + a local witness oath
• Yoma cooperative-combat bonus: additional fame +1, Sano/Yamada favor +1
• Rival NPC ties: build a relationship with 1 or more

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"Not everyone passes the qualifiers. Only the one who passes earns a name."