Designed by Grant Howitt (lookrobot.co.uk) Cover art by Daunt (dauntingfire.deviantart.com) Copyright 2014 Grant Howitt -WARRIOR-POETIn the final days of the ancient and crumbling Empire of the Moon, Shinshi-Shijin – Warrior-Poets of peerless beauty – roam the land. They are inspirational leaders, shrewd diplomats, fearsome fighters, and passionate lovers. They can break free of the bonds of space and time. They can move the stars in the heavens, if it pleases them. Their passion creates lush valleys and orchards of cherry blossom; their anger, great wastelands; their sadness, monsoon rains; and their betrayal, vicious blizzards. All beauty fades. Come the end the year, Shinshi-Shijin lose their power. They will die – at their own hand, or at the hands of another – or they will fade away to nothing. You are a Warrior-Poet. Your sword is sharp enough to cut dreams. Your pistol is so precise as to shoot a single petal from a flower and leave the rest undisturbed. Your robes are a perfect, beautiful extension of your self. You will burn bright, and you must leave your mark on the world, lest you are forgotten. He is transported to his youth. taste blood in his mouth. he cares only for haiku.-BATTLE-HAIKUA battle haiku is both the battle and the description of the battle. he can feel. he can hear the clash of steel. But. and the hand that wields it. for he has ruled over the Empire of the Moon since time immemorial. feel silk gripped tight between fingers and smell the scent of blossom as cascades down from cherry-tree. The mastery. and to lead the people. . most of all. he appoints them to create haiku: tales of love and loss. of fire and blood and death. and to solve the problems that threaten to tear it apart from within. see the beauty in a drift of snow. The Immortal Ghost Emperor is weary. It is the sword. When he reads them. The Immortal Ghost Emperor appoints Warrior-Poets every year:to defend the Empire. and the product. of great beauty and betrayal. and yet. The land is dying and the people are restless. index cards are great for this. or fewer. However. you will need one player to be the Facilitator. one player will need to stand aside and take on the role of the Emperor – it is up to them to judge the haiku and award dice. Also. they can take on the role of Emperor and Facilitator permanently. the fiction is controlled and created by the players. If there are more people. reminding the other players how and when they can act. If you're reading this book. unlike other roleplaying games. If you have five players and one of them is not confident in their haiku-writing abilities. You'll also need plenty of paper and pens. in every duel. too. the game can be adapted to take that into consideration – there are some notes on that later. the main element of conflict in this game involves writing competitive haiku. If you are not at all interested in writing haiku. Like other roleplaying games. For the first couple of games. for four players total. The Gamesmaster WARRIOR-POET does not have a gamesmaster. you're probably the Facilitator. To play. you take on the role of a character and roll dice to determine conflict resolution – unlike other roleplaying games. It's their job to learn the rules and conduct play. this is not the game for you. . all your conflicts will be against other players. you'll need lots of six-sided dice – between fifteen and twenty should suffice – and three friends.What is WARRIOR-POET? WARRIOR-POET is a one-shot roleplaying game designed to be played from beginning to end in a single session. individually. the others provide alternative backgrounds and different styles of play. Read through the different Visions of the Empire and decide as a group which one you are going to play. The “base” setting for WARRIOR-POET is The Elemental Courts. It is best if all players choose a different group. The first thing all players will do is decide what the Empire of the Moon is like by selecting one of the Visions of the Empire on the following pages that you wish to use. so it is presented first. many visions WARRIOR-POET takes place in the Empire of the Moon. an ancient and crumbling society in far-away lands. Then. . choose which of the four factions presented you will be allied to.One empire. advisers and spies from the murky depths of the river-city Fathom. architects and engineers from the walking bastion Footfall. gifted with great stability and resilience. gifted with great cunning and adaptability. sorcery and blood. favoured in spring. favoured in autumn. gifted with great aggression and zeal. favoured in summer. loss. gifted with great wisdom and kindness. The court of Water.-THE ELEMENTAL COURTSIn the heartbreakingly beautiful and decadent Empire of the Moon. military leaders and orators from the shimmering desert Bone Temple. The court of Earth. The court of Fire. diplomats and academics from the flying Skyward Peaks. Choose your court: The court of Air. . four courts vie for superiority through love. favoured in winter. great hunters and archers. determined and implacable. favoured in summer. strong and fearsome. mountainous Empire of the Moon. The Owl Clan. The Bear Clan. brutality. the Great Clans vie for superiority through cunning. The Iron Clan. great scholars and diplomats. favoured in spring. favoured in autumn. great guardians and warriors. Choose your clan: The Wolf Clan. favoured in winter. . great smiths and builders. tenacity and war. wise and true. bold and vigorous.-THE GREAT CLANSIn the wooded. The Crimson Dragon. . The Golden Lion. shadowy spymasters. The Ebon Spider. charming and manipulative. bureaucratic and cunning. violent and headstrong.-THE BLOODED SOCIETIESIn the twisting streets of the sprawling city at the heart of the Empire of the Moon. pretty and cruel. wielding lies like blades. favoured in autumn. bearing a terrible momentum. Choose your society: The Jade Serpent. favoured in summer. betrayal. and political gambits. clever and precise. favoured in winter. favoured in spring. the Blooded Societies vie for superiority through lies. a motley collection of outcasts in ships that draw power from stolen souls. The Bloody Crescent. favoured in winter. four alliances of privateers vie for superiority through brutal strength of arms. favoured in summer. favoured in spring. . bearing armies without number in creaking wooden ships rowed by thousands. torrid passion. The Ironclads. necromancers and beast-masters.-THE PRIVATEER ALLIANCESUpon the rolling ocean waves of the island Empire of the Moon. mage-wrights and genius sorcerers on ships powered by arcane devices that skim across the waves. bringers of unstoppable wrath on great armoured steam-ships. powerful warlords and leaders of men. and daring escapades. The Damned. favoured in autumn. Choose your alliance: The Weavers. destructive and bitter. favoured in winter. the Dragon Cults whisper prayers to slumbering behemoths and vie for superiority through ritual. a stoic force of endurance and denial. The Great Wyrm. chthonic and serpentine. noble and proud. The Last Wyvern. The World-Eater. sacrifice. bestial and warlike. a well-spring of vicious life and creation. Choose the ancient dragon to which your family gives sacrifice: The Mother of Monsters. an underdog hungry for superiority. a nightmare creature of terrifying change. strained alliances and gruesome betrayals. favoured in spring.-THE DRAGON CULTSIn the distant and strange Empire of the Moon. favoured in autumn. . favoured in summer. and they will slay him come winter if they are allowed to do so unchallenged. and why they are antagonistic Creating problems Facilitator: read the following phrases aloud and pause after each. . A struggle for control over [PERSON] is causing conflict between [PLAYER FACTION] and [PLAYER FACTION]. Each player reads out the relevant features they have created when you pause. Feel free to use them to your own ends. or determine allocation of the factions randomly. but they are not contested. and one will fall come winter if this continues unabated. [CULT] will strike at the Immortal Ghost Emperor. write down the results and put them somewhere where every player can refer to them. On the back of your character sheet. As a group. they still exist in the Empire. Facilitator. decide which elements you want to use as problems. write down one of each of the following with regards to the vision of the Empire you have chosen: An influential and important person within the Empire A sacred or valuable place within the Empire A malicious and foreign cult within the Empire An antagonistic power that shares a border with the Empire.PROBLEMS IN THE EMPIRE OF THE MOON The Empire is coming apart. and one will fall come winter if this continues unabated. The ownership of [PLACE] is causing conflict between [PLAYER FACTION] and [PLAYER FACTION]. Where the text reads [PLAYER FACTION]. ask the players to suggest factions that might be interested. The neighbouring [ANTAGONISTIC POWER] is making preparations to invade us because [REASON] and we will come to catastrophic war come winter unless a solution is provided. If your elements aren't used. what effect will this have – are the People angry.Like sand through their fingers The Warrior-Poets have been appointed to keep the Empire safe and stable – which of these problems will they solve? Will they be able to agree on the methods they use to deal with the problems? Can they align their Desires with solving these problems? If they neglect one problem. or killed? Does one court hold a distinct advantage over another? How does the world change? It is impossible to maintain stability. The Warrior-Poets must choose what is important to them. . do they rise up? Is the Immortal Ghost Emperor weakened. ties and belts. Describe your rank in your chosen faction. Thundercloud. . Describe your Warrior-Poet's style and background. Your warrior poet is a champion of their chosen faction.CREATING YOUR WARRIOR-POET Facilitator. She is perpetually surrounded by incense smoke. Robes are the traditional garb of the Warrior-Poets. In these examples. I'm using the Elemental Courts variant of the Empire of the Moon. Drifting Ember's most beautiful feature is her unmatched passion and intensity. The colours pulse in time with her heartbeat. My Warrior-Poet is allied to the court of Fire and has the rank of Grand Phoenix. Sandstorm. Soaring Eagle. Name your Warrior-Poet. My Warrior-Poet's name is Drifting Ember. Falling Blossom. High-Mountain. Scattering Leaves. read the following section aloud as you and the other players create their characters. Drifting Ember's robes are black with red and orange sashes. Names in the Empire of the Moon draw inspiration from the landscape and the animals around the people: Hunting Hawk. Describe the most beautiful thing about your Warrior-Poet. or do they have non-human or supernatural features? Drifting Ember was a great musician before she came to power. Drifting Snow. What was their previous profession? Is your Warrior-Poet entirely human. Describe your Warrior-Poet's robes. Does it possess unique powers? If you do not carry a sword. Note down which character you love. Now. You will hate one other character. or forgive hatred.Swords are the traditional weapons of the Warrior-Poets. work out the following - What do I love or hate about this person? What complicates this emotion? . you can fall out of love. You will love one other character. you will want to defeat and undermine them. Describe your Warrior-Poet's sword. Note down which character you hate. Describe your Warrior-Poet's pistol. Does it possess unique powers? If you do not carry a pistol. Love and Hate are not final. Inform the players in question as to your feelings for them. it is hot enough to burn the very air around it. In her hands. or as you play the game. why not? What do you carry instead? Drifting Ember's pistol is a revolver: a red-enamel heavy-bore three-shooter with a thunderous retort and bullets the size of her thumb. Pistols are the traditional sidearms of the Warrior-Poets.and write it down on your character sheet. you will want to please and honour them. single-handed weapon made of blackened steel. why not? What do you carry instead? Drifting Ember's sword is a broad. . Bonds The lives of the Warrior-Poets are intermingled with one another in the form of bonds. if the situation warrants it. ” It is best if these conflict with those of the other characters. You are now ready to begin play in the season of spring. .Desires You have two Desires. etc – then discuss it with the other players and include it if that's something you're all interested in exploring. Do you wish to marry? To rule? To create? To destroy? Desire: I will avenge my father's death. society in the Empire of the Moon does not discriminate on terms of gender or sexuality and Warrior-Poets are free to pursue whatever relationships they choose. Desire: I will take a lover and marry him in the rain. work out your Desires and describe as phrases beginning with “I will. discrimination against same-sex couples. As the other players describe their characters and the Empire. If you feel it's more interesting to work within the bounds of a restrictive society – no sex before marriage. A note on sex and gender By default. Once your bonds and your desires are complete. read them aloud. then summer.SEASONS Facilitator: read aloud or paraphrase the following section as you begin the game. A Warrior-Poet can duel more than once per season.” Actions It is then the leader's responsibility to describe their action for the season. Each WarriorPoet must make one action per season. Once every Warrior-Poet has been involved in at least one duel or successfully acted unopposed.” Examples: “And now it is spring. Each player will be favoured in a particular season. but at least one of the participants in every duel must not have duelled yet this season. The year is four seasons long. Players are encouraged to make actions that will lead other characters into conflict with them and forge interesting alliances. for the new year is come. starting with the dominant season and moving around the table until all the characters have acted. spring is the first. A player may “hold” their action until later on in the season if they want to see how others will act. as well as achieving their Desires and furthering the agendas of their allied faction. so do not be afraid to tackle great challenges. they may interrupt it with the following phrase . and heavy rains turn the frost to grey slush. If another player is unhappy with their action. roll off to see who leads the game). go through the Duel section below with the other players. . Facilitator – when play moves to a duel. and bright flowers push out of the snowy ground. Think big. detailed below. and the people rejoice in a hundred festivals. the season is over. then winter. Actions are monumental endeavours and show the most important part of the character's season.” The action then becomes a duel. and [SET THE SCENE].” “And now it is spring. and it is their responsibility to lead the game during their season. They begin the season by stating: “And now it is [season]. then autumn.” “And now it is spring.“This cannot stand. (If more than one player is favoured during a season. Actions take place in the order of seasons. and with it the power of the Warrior-Poets will fade and the game will end.Unopposed actions If no other player interrupts a character's action. Bonus dice If you are allied to the court that is favoured in the current season. it continues unopposed. A Warrior-Poet cannot die unless they do so as part of a duel. winter winter is the final season. . and been loved and hated in return? Have they been beautiful? A Warrior-Poet cannot die until the season of winter. The player narrates the consequences of the action and gains a glory for their effort as though they had won a duel. Have they achieved their Desires? Have they left their mark on the world? Have they loved and hated. killing yourself to do so is an even greater one. add a die to your pool when you resolve a duel. Denying another Warrior-Poet a glorious death and damning them to fade away into the mundane world is a severe insult. then states: “Will anyone help me succeed?” Any other Warrior-Poet may declare that they are on the defender's side. cheat and steal. the attacker. A duel is resolved. Declaring a duel Warrior-Poets will come into conflict. say the following phrase: “This cannot stand. and command powerful magics. If. . or stand alone against five thousand. It is possible to earn more dice. lie. then states: “Will anyone help me stop them?” Any other Warrior-Poets may declare that they are joining the attacker's side. We will duel. by each player rolling three six-sided dice. they can take on the form of falling autumn leaves or a crashing wave or a great beast of the forests. The player who issued the duel. they can persuade. through artful use of the Battle-Haiku. they can fight at the head of a great army. They can leap through the air. however.DUELS When the Warrior-Poets duel they shape the world around them. when you are playing the game. and the player with the most matching dice wins the duel. another character performs an action that you feel your character would disagree with. and fight with lightning reflexes and terrifying strength.” Their opponent. there is no limit to what a Warrior-Poet can achieve. in its most simple form. the defender. not all are. I will learn the dance of the Ten Thousand Phantoms. Goals Once the sides involved have been determined. her husband. Do you wish to create an argument at court? A dancing contest? Ghost-summoning? Horse-riding? Flower-arranging? So long as it is beautiful. Not all duels are equal challenges. If you want to set up a particular scene. it is an apt scene. it is their job to judge the haiku that will be written and award bonus dice.” What type of duel is taking place? Though many disputes are settled through strength at arms. Framing the duel Beginning with the attacker.” “If I win. Take turns making statements back and forth between the sides taking part in the duel. if they win. and pulls the night around himself like a cloak to hide from sight. I will forever remove the dance of the Ten Thousand Phantoms from the face of the earth. specific events within it. and the actions of non-player characters within the scene. You can define the broad nature of the scene. Do not feel limited to combat alone. alternate between speakers on one side if it outnumbers the other. Example: “If I win. each participant makes a statement about the duel. nor can you directly harm them. your own emotions and actions. ask your opponent if you can briefly narrate their .The Emperor One player who is not participating in the duel must declare themselves Emperor. this is what shall come to pass. the attacker and the defender must state their goals for the duel. You can't define your opponent's emotions or their actions. It is still considered a Duel when one Warrior-Poet is attempting to sneak past another's keen eye to be with his lover. or if they lose. . Once any participant has decided the duel has been sufficiently defined. A: … as thunder and lightning crack through the sky . the Warrior-Poets are crafting reality and bringing it under their control to establish dominance over one another.. is it okay if your character follows me inside?” “I'd like to turn this fight into a test of our skill at dancing. D: … I begin to write. I begin to write. Great and rapid changes of scene and tone are expected and indeed encouraged. A: … I am leaping miles between snowy peaks. they end the framing with the phrase “. Your opponent is always allowed to refuse or suggest an alternative action. Examples: “I'd like to have a fight in the ruins of this temple as they slide down the side of the mountain. dodging your shots as they kick up snow. D: … I swoop on on a great eagle.” Once the framing is over.. Both players take out their pens and begin to write the first line of their haiku. letting off shots with my pistol . participants will begin to write their battle-haiku. Defender: … and amongst the clouds themselves.actions. is that okay with you?”' “Can you open fire on me?” During this stage....... . Example: Attacker: We are fighting on a mountaintop . so long as they do not negate previous statements... or a prediction of the future. The lines of a haiku are vague and open to interpretation. they are fighting on many levels. . The Emperor believes that the attacker's line was better. so feel free to be creative in your wordplay. and that they win this round. their artistry. and it is not possible for a line in a haiku to win or lose you the duel before the resolution phase. In this game. The Emperor determines which line is superior. all participants write down the first line of a haiku that they feel describes the scene that's taking place on a scrap of paper. there are no absolutes. Example: The attacker writes: Snow-clouds blur horizons. The Warrior-Poet that wrote it gets one extra die in the resolution phase. though a duel may happen through any or all of these methods simultaneously. The first line of a haiku is five syllables long. and their strength. They are displaying their honour and their kindness. a sudden change in events. we will represent it using a communal Battle-Haiku. their zeal and their fighting prowess. their grace. and breadth of knowledge. their oratory and charisma. The defender writes: Swords borne by hawk-wing. What do the lines mean? The lines can be a description of the scene.BATTLE-HAIKU When Warrior-Poets duel. their command over the occult and the powers of Heaven. The winning line is the first line of the haiku that will define the duel. The first line Once a participant in the duel has used the phrase “I begin to write” during the framing. . .. and then all participants must write the second line of a haiku that follows on from the winning line in the previous round. and that they win this round. The Warrior-Poet that wrote it gets two extra dice in the resolution phase. Again.The second line Hand back the scraps of paper to the participants in the duel. Defender: I parry your strike with a flash of steel. The second line of a haiku has seven syllables. Attacker: So I strike down at you as lightning splits the sky... Example: Attacker: I leap high into the air.. Defender: But I swoop underneath you on my great hawk.. my sword raised above my head. Attacker: I begin to write.. Any player may state “I begin to write” at any point. Before the second line is written. The player that won the previous round becomes the attacker.. the players describe the scene in the same way as they did during the framing phase. the Emperor decides which pair of lines are best. The attacker writes: Snow-clouds blur horizons/We come together like thunder The defender writes: Snow-clouds blur horizons/ Sword-cut flakes fill the open sky The Emperor believes that the defender's line was better. Players who did not win should strike out their line and replace it with the winning line before continuing.. Example: Defender: I glide down to the snowy peak beneath. Attacker: I tumble to the ground but push my sword into a cloud and glide down it as it tears.. Attacker: I draw my revolver as I fall to earth like a comet and fire round after round at you. Once the third line has been chosen. The attacker writes: Snow-clouds blur horizons/ Sword-cut flakes fill the open sky/Spirits claim the air The defender writes: Snow-clouds blur horizons/ Sword-cut flakes fill the open sky/Bullets thunder down The Emperor decides that the defender's haiku was better and that they win this round. They move onto the resolution phase. and the winning player gets three extra dice in the resolution phase.. hand back the scraps of paper to the participants in the duel and update them with the winning line.. and. ..The third line As before. The final line of a haiku has five syllables.. move on to the resolution phase. Defender: I begin to write... Attacker: They hiss as they melt the snow around you. For a final time.. Defender: I channel the spirits of Air to disperse the cloud. Defender: I deflect them with my sword.” and both participants write the final line of the haiku. These are judged.... as before.. the players take turns describing the scene until one of them says “I begin to write. to say “The Crow Prince is left scarred by the duel” or “I steal a magic ring from the Crow Prince. It is possible to establish some potent truths with this system. feel free to disallow it. They add an extra dice if they are in the season that favours their court. It would be possible. and so on. . separate. and if the table as a whole – or the Emperor.“The Crow Prince is entirely unharmed in the duel. Each Warrior-Poet rolls three dice plus any they earned during the duel.RESOLUTION Dice pool To resolve a duel. If another player in the duel wishes to oppose a conflicting truth . and the original player can outspend them to establish it. However. until one party runs out of dice or chooses not to escalate the bid. they can establish truths as detailed below. though.” to continue the example – then they can spend their own dice to negate that truth. Helping out Warrior-Poets that aided another in a battle can only achieve the goals of the character that they were helping – they cannot achieve their own. if you have one – feels that a particular truth will unbalance the game or make it less enjoyable. goals. once the ink has dried. Establishing truths Before rolling. a player may spend their dice to establish a truth about what has happened in the scene. so it could not be established. These truths cannot be related to the conflict over which the duel was fought – so if the purpose of the duel was to determine who has the heart of the Crow Prince. dice are rolled.” The truth must be somehow relevant to the scene that just took place. “I am now the Emperor” does not relate to the above scene. then it's not possible to establish “The Crow Prince loves me” by spending a dice. write it down in the form of a haiku and move on to the next scene. 5. on the palace balcony during his annual address to the people. the player with the highest value on their matched dice is the winner. The winner rolls 5. If the value matches. 2. Example: Two Warrior-Poets duel as one attempts to protect the Emperor and one to attack him. If the winner of the duel had a width of 2 or fewer than the loser of the duel. Determine results If the winner of the duel had a width of 3 or higher than the loser of the duel. The loser gets to describe the consequences of the duel – they cry out for aid but. the Winner rolls 5. compare any lower sets of matched dice. 4. if there is a tie. 5.Roll and compare Once you have established truths. The player with the highest number (or width) of matched dice is the winner. and assassinate the Emperor with a phantom dagger. or the highest unmatched dice if you have no more sets. 4. the winner's width exceeds theirs by four. The winner gets to describe the consequences of the duel – they shame and imprison the loser. 1. Once you have described the victory (and loss). Alternatively. The loser rolls 6. 3. so three 4's beat three 2's. 2. The loser rolls 4. 3. 5. the winner's width exceeds theirs by one. 3. roll any remaining dice and look for matching dice in your pool. they describe the events following the duel and their victory. 5. 2. 5. the loser describes the events following the duel and their opponent's victory. . the Emperor is mortally wounded by the winner in full view of the crowd. In future duels. A Warrior-Poet may benefit from all relevant Glories they possess in any future duels.glory At the end of the battle. a Warrior-Poet who uses their glory to their advantage may roll an extra die in the Resolution phase. Example Glories: This sword has cut the words away from the tongue of a Warrior-Poet I am favoured by the Water court even though I am their rival I have the love of the Duke of Bones I am friend to the eagles of the Great Sky Kingdom I have taken the legendary Ship of Gold as a prize I have mastery of the element of fire . assign a glory to each character on the winning side – a phrase that describes what benefit they earned from winning the duel. to gain this benefit. or in their haiku. they must mention the glory as they frame the scene. The game is over.THE YEAR ENDS Once winter passes. Facilitator. go around each player in turn and ask them: Have you loved? Have they hated? Have you protected the Empire from threats within and without? Have you achieved your desires? When songs are sung of you years from now. the year ends. and the game is over. what will the songs be about? . if straight-up fighting isn't really your thing. Alternatively. but ensure that the players who share a faction between them are opposed to one another. They may frame scenes in the manner of a player. a still room bisected by lines of evening sunlight. Encourages more variety. Here are some ideas: Three players: Duels must be one-on-one. that's you done with gunplay for the rest of the game. This requires a bit more admin so people can remember who loves who. What are you jealous of. so if you have a gunfight in spring. instead of determining who your character loves and hates. The changing Empire: Begin the year with two Problems. Remove one of the Problems from the list at the start of the game. you are Jealous of something about a third. My heart in your hands: During the character creation stage. or whatever you please. but may only describe the actions of non-player characters and the changing environment. falling snow. Cut-away shot: Phrases used in framing a duel don't have to relate directly to the action in the duel. determine which characters love and hate your character. and why? Beauty is a flowing stream: Rule that no Warrior-Poet can engage in the same sort of duel more than once. but it provides an interesting roleplaying challenge. frantic penmanship. you might want to modify your experience by tweaking some of the rules for later sessions. . then introduce the third and fourth at the beginning of summer and autumn as edicts from the Emperor. The story of the year: Whoever takes on the role of Emperor – or whoever has the best handwriting – writes all finished duel haiku and resolution haiku in order in a single document.ALTERNATIVE RULES Once you've played your first game of WARRIOR-POET. play as normal. you could describe crashing waves. Five players: Persuade one player to become a permanent Emperor. Green-eyed Samurai: In addition to Loving and Hating two other characters. which forms a permanent record of the game. maybe they take place in a school for witchcraft and wizardry. Go mad from the stress. then the second two. Maybe your houses are factions in a travelling circus troupe the likes of which the world has never seen. then the fifth line. Fighter. or maybe they're aligned towards the traditional roles of Cleric.ALTERNATIVE SETTINGS Your own houses: Make up your own vision of the Empire of the Moon. Sestina Seppuku: Take on the role of glamorous Italian Dukes and Duchesses allied to great noble houses. Write sestinas every round. Brawling Bards: Keep most of the rules as they are. or what's important in it. but take on the role of drunken Irish poets with connections to ancient elemental Sidhe courts. Create limericks instead of Haiku: write the first two lines. Thief and Mage. . each armed with a katana and a gun. Vincent D Baker. Falling Snow is definitely a Warrior-Poet. Zhang Yimou. quasi-supernatural beings in a crumbling mythical kingdom and has a big focus on seasons and ritual phrasings. Some similarities. Much more colourful and characterful than the 2005 reboot. tragic. Beau Blyth. THANKS TO Daunt. 1993 A game about twisting reality to your own ends. Mage: The Ascension. 2013 A lightning-fast arena fighter where opponents take on the role of legendary Samurai. Samurai Gunn. Mary and Leigh . 2004 Powerful agents traverse a West that never was and solve problems with righteous justice. Not similar in tone. implacable.INSPIRATIONS Hero. for the incredible art Mary Hamilton. but the character creation – especially the Coat creation section – has directly influenced WARRIOR-POET. 2005 Deals with powerful. for inspiration and advice My playtesters – Kurtis. 2002 Probably the most beautiful film ever made. Dogs in the Vineyard. she is beautiful. Four assassins plot to kill a brutal warlord. Ben Lehman. White Wolf. and the “truth” is manipulated through a number of re-tellings separated by different colour palettes. and chillingly proficient. Polaris. -WARRIOR-POET CHARACTER SHEETCHARACTER RANK CHARACTER FACTION AND FAVOURED season CHARACTER NAME STYLE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING ROBES SWORD PISTOL BONDS I love: I hate: Because: Because: But: But: DESIRES I will: I will: GLORIES: .