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Explorer’s Guide

What is Steampunk Musha?

Imagine an island, cut off from the rest of the world by a series of treacherous coral reefs. Imagine that the island was plagued by a war that lasted hundreds of years, only to be divided into provinces ruled by warlords. Imagine that as technology improved and advanced in the world outside, the island has remained much the same as it has always been. Now imagine that foreigners have brought the outside world to that island, and things have changed forever…This is the island of Rosuto-Shima, a place torn between honoring the old traditions and embracing new technology. The rulers of Rosuto-Shima’s eleven provinces have turned from open warfare to quiet competition, racing to develop improved technologies that will solidify and build the power of their province. It is a time of renais-sance in Rosuto-Shima, but also a time of darkness. As more and more people turn to the new ways, the old ways are forgotten, and the old gods are not pleased. Unlike traditional fantasy settings, Steampunk Musha draws on East Asian mythology and history and combines aspects of several cultural traditions along with Victorian-era technology. The traditional Oriental setting is thrown into a roaring industrial age, where incredible new inventions contrast with ancient mysteries and restless spirits. High fantasy and science fiction clash and combine in the middle of the conflict between old and new, father and son, mechanical and spiritual.

In this document you will learn more about the Steampunk Musha setting, it’s inhabitants and lands, and how you can get a copy of this upcoming Pathfinder Roleplaying Game

System compatible setting.

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The History Of Steampunk Musha

Steampunk Musha was created by professional illustrator Rick Hershey (Art Director for Adamant Entertainment’s Far West, Art Director for Fat Goblin Games, owner of Empty Room Studios) over 8 years ago as a collection of all the content he wanted in his “dream” adventure game. Knowing he needed someone who could actually turn his notes into readable content, Rick teamed up with the amazing Alana Joli Abbott (Serenity Adventures, Cow-boys & Aliens II, Chronicles of Ramlar) who took those notes and built the amazing, complex, exciting, and dan-gerous world of Steampunk Musha. Over the years many more writers would join the group and contribute their own material to the lands, peo-ple, places, and creatures of the island of Rosuto-Shima. And in those years many attempts were made to make that wonderful setting into a tabletop adventure game. but one thing held it back. . . Rick Hershey. With over 500 pages of content created describing the setting, classes, races, and it’s rich history, Rick wasn’t happy with the various rule systems available. He felt that the setting was being compromised to fit these systems, and it wasn’t the vision he had for the setting or it’s game play.

Steampunk Musha Now!Working closely with Fat Goblin Games co-owner and veteran game designer, Jason Stoffa, Steampunk Musha is ready to see completion and present it’s incredible setting to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Steampunk Musha will be in full color and design by the Fat Goblin Team. It will include full details on 8 playable races, 8 new classes, new feats and skills, new magic systems, tons of equipment (including magic and steampunk gear), details on the setting, and tons of variant rules. We will also be developing the Rosuto Shima Campaign Guide, which will give even more details on the 12 provinces, introduce numerous npcs, adventure hooks, and more variant rules for players. This is the ultimate guide to the setting. And last, the Steampunk Musha Bestiary. Cover-ing dozens of new creatures, spirits, oni, and mechanical creations roaming the world of Rosuto-Shima. And if we reach our goal we have a ton of amaz-ing milestone rewards to offer! Bonus material to show our gratitude for your support!

MilestonesTo show our appreciation for supporting the Steampunk Musha kickstarter, we are offering some great milestone rewards for once we complete funding for our project. What that means is, after we reach our initial goal, we’ll offer more incentives for each increment above the goal!

$4,000 (achieved) - If we reach 4k, we are going to throw in a poster size map of Rosuto-Shima. This map will be fully painted and details all the various regions and provinces of the island. This reward will be offered to all Ronin level backers and up in printed form! All backers will also receive a digital copy!

$5,000 - If we reach 5k, we’ll provide a copy in pdf form of 4 new classes playable in Steampunk Musha. This pdf will be full color and provide the same level of details on the new classes as the core book. This will be available to all backers. If you are a Celestial Dragon level backer and we reach this goal, the new classes will be included in your Steampunk Musha Master Edition hardback.

$6,000 - If we reach 6k, we’ll unlock the Juunishi-p’o player race! This race offers 12 variants and detailed history and description. This pdf will be full color and provide the same level of details on the new race as the core book. This will be available to all backers in digital form. If you are a Celestial Dragon level backer and we reach this goal, the new race will be included in your Steampunk Musha Master Edition hardback.

$7,000 - We will add an additional 20 creatures to the Steampunk Musha Bestiary. This will be added to the bestiary book and available to all levels receiving the Steampunk Musha Bestiary. If you are a Ce-lestial Dragon level backer and we reach this goal, the new creatures will be included in your Steampunk Musha Master Edition hardback.

$8,500 - At this level we offer up a complete introductory adventure to all backers in pdf. This adventure will introduce you to the city of Shangti and have your players dealing with street urchins, nobility, clockwork children, insane inmates, shape-shifting birds, and a psy-chotic gaijin doctor! If you are a Celestial Dragon level backer and we reach this goal, the introductory adventure will be included in your Steampunk Musha Master Edition hardback.

$10,000 - Reaching this goal gives all backers a pdf copy of the Ste-ampunk Musha short story collection. This book will feature a variety of stories told by the many writers on the Steampunk Musha project. Expect stories from Alana Abbott, Rick Hershey, Joseph Wise, Mark Adams, and Jason Stoffa! If you are a Celestial Dragon level backer and we reach this goal, you will receive a limited edition printed ver-sion of the book.

Steampunk Musha Kickstarter

The Tale of Yu

All these things took place in a time before time was measured, before the gods knew their own names. The great Celestial Dragons, whose names man may not speak, existed in a place that had no form, a place so shapeless that no thoughts could contain it, and not even the Dragons considered its existence. It is said they went on for uncountable moments in their way, knowing things that the Dragons know, doing things that the Dragons do. Perhaps eons passed, but the truth of this is lost to men. What is known is this: the great Celes-tial Dragons decided that the formless place should have some form, that its lifelessness should be filled with breath. So they breathed in the shapeless place and breathed out the one called Yu.

The Celestial Dragons spoke their thoughts to Yu, and Yu acquiesced to their requests, taking upon himself the task of giving shape to that which had none, breathing life where there had been no breath. But as he watched the universe form, watched the stars begin to swirl, watched his patterns grow and begin to follow his own will without being restrained, he grew selfish. Why should he share the universe he had created? All the Celestial Dragons had given him was breath; he had given the universe his thoughts, given it the shape he would never himself have. And so, having no form himself, he surrounded the universe and hid it from the Celestial Drag-ons. He watched it grow and change, taking joy from the life that started inside of him, allowing it to shape him as he shaped it.

The Celestial Dragons remembered the task they had given Yu, and though perhaps ages passed before they thought of him, they eventually returned to ask him where he had placed the universe. As Yu watched the Ce-lestial Dragons and watched the universe inside of him, he realized he had done something dishonorable by keeping it a secret. He confessed his horrible act, and the Celestial Dragons explained that in order to regain his honor, he would have to cut the universe out of himself. Yu quickly sliced himself in half and the universe burst from him, and the Celestial Dragons were amazed at what he had created.

But Yu felt he had not done enough to regain his honor and continued to cut himself into pieces. As he cut, his pieces were given form. Where the universe had been now became his bowels, which he spilled onto a small world. His innards poured into an ocean, and his flesh covered them to create an island. His arms and legs be-came the island’s mountains, and his hair became trees and grass. As he watched his form become part of one of his worlds, he cried with joy, and these tears became the rivers which led to the sea. But the pain was great, and Yu could not hold back a scream of pain, and this scream, too, took form, and from it came the seven thun-der gods who still mimic his cry. And after he screamed, he retched blood, expelling the greed and dishonor that had made him hide the universe, and this became the oni. On his back came fleas and lice, which became our ancestors, and from his last thoughts, the gods were formed to rule over the land. With Yu’s last breath, the four great winds began to blow.

The Celestial Dragons were pleased with Yu’s sacrifice, and so they sent other spirits to experience the land, to which they gave the name Rosuto-Shima. They took Yu’s eyes and set them above the world, so that Yu might watch over what he had made. In this way, they explained, he would be able to prevent his children from com-mitting the dishonor that Yu himself had committed. And so it remains; the first eye, the sun, watches over the joy and happiness of mankind, seeing only the bright hours of celebration. The second eye, the moon, only sees the darkness of men, and is witness to the greed and selfishness that caused Yu such great dishonor. But though Yu’s second eye only sees darkness, it shines, hoping that its light will guide men toward lives of honor and away from his previous actions, the corruption of Rosuto-Shima.

And that is how all these things came to be.–Collected Writings of Quan Hong

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The WorldImagine an island, cut off from the rest of the world by a series of treacherous coral reefs. Imagine that the island was plagued by a war that lasted hundreds of years, only to be divided into provinces ruled by war-lords. Imagine that as technology improved and ad-vanced in the world outside, the island remained much the same as it has always been. Now imagine that for-eigners have brought the outside world to that island, and things have changed forever…

This is the island of Rosuto-Shima, a place torn be-tween honoring the old traditions and embracing new technology. The rulers of Rosuto-Shima’s eleven prov-inces have turned from open warfare to quiet competi-tion, racing to develop improved technologies that will solidify and build the power of their province. It is a time of renaissance in Rosuto-Shima, but also a time of darkness. As more and more people turn to the new ways, the old ways are forgotten, and the old gods are not pleased. Unlike traditional fantasy settings, Steampunk Musha draws on East Asian mythology and history and com-bines aspects of several cultural traditions along with Victorian-era technology. The traditional Oriental set-ting is thrown into a roaring industrial age, where in-credible new inventions contrast with ancient myster-ies and restless spirits. High fantasy and science fiction clash and combine in the middle of the conflict between old and new, father and son, mechanical and spiritual.

The Physical WorldDominated in the south by subtropical marshes, in the east by desert, and in the north by cool temperate for-ests, Rosuto-Shima encompasses several climates. A large mountain range runs up the center of the island, and the cities are spread throughout the island. Between the cities, regardless of the climate, are small villages where the country folk of Rosuto-Shima still strive to make a living, while losing most of their young and able-bodied workers to the lure of the cities. To the north of Rosuto-Shima is Jigoku, a volcanic island that belches flames that can be seen throughout the north-ern areas of Rosuto-Shima. The constellations and the zodiac that fill the night sky above Rosuto-Shima have significance to the old ways, but as the cities begin to create their own lights, it becomes harder and harder to see the stars...

Because of the coral reefs surrounding Rosuto-Shima, the waters are extremely dangerous to travel in large craft. The seas are nearly always rough, and rainstorms (or snow in the north) give very little warning before unleashing their fury on the water below. In spite of the dangers, much of Rosuto-Shima’s food comes from the sea, and fish that live the closest to the coral reefs are considered a delicacy because of the skill and risk required to catch them.

Visiting Rosuto-Shima: An In Character Guide

Twelve Months in Rosuto-Shima; or Notes for the Traveler and the Andersen Shipping Company

by Constance and Archibald Fortune

Introduction

Rosuto-Shima. Just the name conjures images of blos-soming peach trees, silk-clad dancers, and dashing war-riors with the hearts of poets. Until a short time ago, the land of Rosuto-Shima was unknown to the Civilized Nations of the world, kept in the shadow of supersti-tion and savagery by a coral reef that makes the waters surrounding it dangerous for even the bravest souls to traverse. But in the last several years, charts have been drawn, making it possible for the enlightened traveler to contribute to the continual civilizing influences now bringing Rosuto-Shima into the Modern Age.

An uneducated traveler would be hard pressed to be-lieve that in the recent past, the steam engine was viewed as a strange supernatural phenomenon by the people of this island! In our current day, the steam en-gine permeates every aspect of Rosuto-Shiman society, and its largest cities are lit night and day by gas lanterns on every street corner. Yet behind this garb of civiliza-tion, the land of Rosuto-Shima retains some of it sav-age elegance. The savvy traveler can easily find native entertainment to delight and bewilder, from the grace of dance and theatre performed in the hearts of the cities to the bewildering enormity of the mountains that rise above the countryside. To eat the native delicacies is to learn something of the culture itself: like much of the seafood served in restaurants, the land of Rosuto-Shima is raw, but despite its coarse texture, delicious.

ShangtiPerhaps the most civilized of the cities of Rosuto-Shi-ma is Shangti, quaintly referred to as the Imperial City. Here it is quite easy to find foods and places of business from the Civilized Nations beyond the small island, though the native temperament and stoicism permeates the atmosphere. Divided into four districts governed by separate rulers, Shangti is a city of business and enter-tainment that only barely fits into the ancient city walls. If one makes an effort, one can imagine the original state of the Imperial Palace, which was the home of an Emperor said to have ruled over the entirety of the island. Sadly, years of war marred the beauty of Rosuto-Shima, and much of the original architecture has fallen into a state of disarray. Here and there are remnants, mostly now inhabited by squatters. These bits and pieces reveal what the city of Shangti must have once been, in an age of darkness and superstition. Now, the buildings that flood Shangti’s narrow streets are a hodgepodge of native and foreign design. Many residences and places of business have paper walls, easily moveable to form new rooms, so that one might create a guest room to provide the hospitality the people of Shangti are known for. In a move away from the traditional architecture, many of the roofs are peaked or slanted, imitating the style well known in our own mountain nations. Engineers from the Civilized Nations have begun conversing with the engineers and scholars of the island with the hopes of building one of the skyscrapers now being developed in other parts of the world. The innovations seem endless!

Getting to ShangtiFrom beyond the island of Rosuto-Shima, the only way to reach Shangti is by boat. Ferries from nearby coasts are popular, and many ocean-liners now offer cruises with Shangti as the destination. From other cities on the island of Rosuto-Shi-ma, the best way to travel is by rail. The Rosuto-Shi-ma Steam Rail Authority is continually building better vehicles for passenger travel; many of their shipping trains have added passenger cars of high quality. Travel is very affordable for tourists, though sadly it seems that local currency has yet to catch up with the value of our own, and the trains are largely used by Rosuto-Shima’s upper class and foreigners.

Getting around ShangtiThe quickest and easiest way to get around Rosuto-Shima is hiring a steam rickshaw. Though these con-

traptions do not have the same elegance as a horse and carriage, their drivers reliably know their way around the city and can avoid taking travelers into treacherous areas. Walking around Shangti is inadvisable. Many areas that are perfectly safe butt up against areas where properly civilized travelers would never choose to ex-plore. The city is not laid out upon an intuitive design, and newcomers might easily lose their way and find themselves in one of the city’s less reputable neighbor-hoods.

Where to Stay and What to See“Shounin Square,” also known as “Merchant’s Square,” boasts some of the nicest and most prosperous inns in Shangti. Though the prices are higher than one might expect for the limited luxuries available, these inns provide a measure of security, and crime rarely befalls travelers during their stay in Shounin Square.A slightly less reputable area with lower pricing is the “Motenashi District,” or the “Entertainment District.” The Motenashi District offers proximity to the Haimam-ire Gekijou, the “covered with ashes theater,” which hosts the best performances of traditional and interna-tional plays in Rosuto-Shima. This district contains the most restaurants (though many also provide gambling entertainment and other such disreputable vices), and during the day the streets are lined with musicians and other performers, hoping to please the audiences that pass by. Should one choose to get one’s fortune read or experience other native superstitions, all of these are easily accessible in the Motenashi District. However, walking home at night may be dangerous for travelers, as the streets come alive with beggarly and opprobrious men during the late hours.Visitors intent on staying for any length of time should consider hiring a bodyguard and guide from Hiromu Sawa’s Ronin-for-Hire. These guards are reliable pro-tectors and tend to know more about the city than any foreigners, making them ideal guides to learn the best (and worst!) places to visit in the city.

ChinanKnown in Rosuto-Shima as the City of the Arts, Chinan is home to the most prestigious educational institutions of the island, some of which have a history as long as our own established universities. The entire city is built to heighten learning, and many artists and craftsmen come here to practice their trade, as they are certain to be appreciated by other likeminded individuals.

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Along with the native Rosuto-Shimans, two other races are commonplace in Chinan, the Juunishi-p’o, a child-like race with animalistic features, and the keshou, sav-age looking men, small of stature, who seem to have a knack for mechanics. Foreign travelers are less com-mon here than in Shangti, but the people of Chinan are eager to learn about the ways of the outside world, and foreigners are invited to speak about their home nations. Though not the most popular city in terms of foreign tourism, Chinan is a place that receives the most tourists from other areas of Rosuto-Shima. Many of the more forward-thinking families have sent their children to attend the growing educational institutions of Chinan and come on visits during festivals (which happen sev-eral times a year). Others come to see the galleries and museums that can be found on nearly every street corner.

Getting to ChinanChinan is easily accessible along the Rosuto-Shima Steam Rail Author-ity’s Coast Line, which connects Chi-nan to the ports of Shangti and Talu. People interested in slower travel may also choose to rent a long-range horse-drawn coach from either of those cities.

Getting around ChinanThough Chinan has steam-powered rickshaws, many in the city prefer to walk wher-ever they go. The streets are laid out intuitively, based on the cardinal directions, and once one orients oneself, it is nearly impossible to get lost. In the unlikely event that a traveler finds himself in unfa-miliar territory, the samurai of Lord Yuu, the ruler of Chinan, are typi-cally willing to help lost souls find their way. The people of Chi-nan tend to be friendly as well, though many of them have not yet learned one of the civilized tongues, and will be only too happy to offer directions to some-one out of place.

Where to Stay and What to SeeUnlike Shangti, Chinan is one of the safest cities in all of Rosuto-Shima (though tourists are encouraged to keep track of their belongings, as pickpockets are eager to make money through stealth and slippery fingers!). For those hoping to be located close to the are-nas, where the best martial competitions across Rosuto-Shima are held, the northern district of Chinan has a few select inns of quality and comfort: Plang House, run by the Srisati family, often houses athletes as well as tourists, while the Red Lion, run by Jacob Andrews from abroad, specializes in providing the comforts of home to foreign travelers. The games themselves are no mere fisticuffs; while the sportsmen certainly do not follow the rules of Duke Arlington’s Etiquette, their athleticism is unmatched, and the savage arts of their

combat combine martial skill, both in swordplay and unarmed, with the grace of dance.

The most popular inns in the city are found in the University District, near

the educational institutions. While these accommodations tend to be fairly

priced, they are often filled with not only tourists but also pro-

spective students, or young travelers seeking the experi-

ence of life at a university without responsibilities. Thus, the nightlife in this district tends to be very active for the young, and fairly noisy for the ears of the old. Dur-ing the day, however, it is nearly impossible to walk ten feet with-

out seeing the entrance to a museum or gallery, and street per-formers are plentiful. The Gakufu Sangyoukikai, a school of industry, is also located in this district, and many of the inventions of the students are placed on display,

some of these even challenging the in-genuity found in the Civilized Nations.

ChengtiIn the days of darkness and su-

perstition, many of the residents of Rosuto-Shima worshipped the spirits

of their ancestors, or strange, pagan gods. Though many have left those dark days behind, the city of Chengti is evidence that many of the traditional cults are still alive and well. While respectable men and women should be wary of these dark spiritual movements, the city of Chengti itself is well worth visiting. From music to architecture, much of Rosuto-Shima’s beauty can be found here in the gardens of the place the locals call the City of Heaven. Along with the rampant worship of strange gods, there are festivals or parades nearly every day in Chengti. If one takes these out of the context of pagan worship, the exquisite art that is displayed in these ceremonies and ritu-als is quite enjoyable. Those seeking inner solitude may, despite the hustle and bustle of the city, find one of the gar-dens of Chengti to be exactly the spot they need to visit in order to calm their spirits.

Getting to ChengtiChengti is connected to Shangti by the East Line of the Rosuto-Shima Steam Rail Authority. As Chengti is a holy place, there are several inns lining the road be-tween Shangti and Chengti, making it popular to take a pilgrimage on foot from one city to the other.

Getting around ChengtiSteam-powered rickshaws are plentiful in Chengti, as are horses and carriages. The streets, which are lined with statues and shrines, are extremely wide, making the city easily navigable by pedestrians, motorists, and equestrians alike.

Where to Stay and What to SeeThere are many inns throughout Chengti, many of them older than any of the buildings still standing in Shangti. Since far earlier times, Chengti has been a place of pilgrim-age as well as the center of superstition in Rosuto-Shima. Because of this, there are many hostels for those seeking to reduce their expenses, as well as inns that offer a more standard set of luxuries. The restaurants and shops of Chengti are filled with local delicacies and local art. Though artists are not as prevalent in Chengti as in Chinan, there are several local poets and artists who sell their wares here. But the finest place to visit in Chengti is the Garden of Heaven. Full of ponds and butterfly gardens, bonsai trees and orchids, the Garden of Heaven is a place both of quiet contemplation and of learning. Weekly debates are held in large seating areas throughout the gardens, and the local government meets to discuss grievances and city decisions here in public.

For devotees of theatre, the Hat Cheo, also known as the Peasant Theatre, is not to be missed. It is the only true opera house in all of Rosuto-Shima, and the musical performances held here are unparalleled. Traditional operas and folk-musicals are performed here, as well as the occasional foreign import.

Kuang-ChoThe novelty of Kuang-Cho is that much of the city is actually located underground. Local legends say that a once-great emperor built his barracks here, and that now the city has changed from a military atmosphere to a more urban one, bring in warehouses, factories, res-taurants, and inns. Though still lagging behind Shangti in its tech-nical resources, Kuang-Cho has made an effort to catch up over the last few years, and has even developed a factory for clockwork mechanisms. The train station at Kuang-Cho is a tribute to this local industry; the lobby of the station is filled with many large clocks that func-tion as timers, each showing approximately how much time is left before the next train arrives. This gives lo-cals the pleasure of complaining when their train is ei-ther behind or ahead of schedule.

Getting to Kuang-ChoKuang-Cho is located on the Imperial Line of the Ro-suto-Shima Steam Rail Authority between Shangti and the Twin Cities. Traveling to the city any other way is very time consuming and uncomfortable; though long-range coaches still make the trip, the roads travel through Huinin, a city extremely inhospitable to for-eign travelers.

Getting around Kuang-ChoAbove ground and below, steam-powered rickshaws are available for travelers. The drivers in Kuang-Cho, however, are less than trustworthy, often taking corners at inadvisable speeds and striking fear into the hearts of their passengers! For those with weak stomachs, walking is advisable in the city below, while horses and coaches are available for hire above ground.

Where to Stay and What to SeeBelow ground there are fewer inns than above, though these few below are closer to the action and the nightlife of Kuang-Cho. The Mandate of Heaven, which locals call the T’ien Ming, is a local restaurant that specializes in entertainment; not only do local musicians and per-formers frequent the restaurant, but it hosts lively de-

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bates featuring scholars and laymen from every corner of the island. One night a week, the restaurant also en-courages amateurs to perform, accompanied by an in-house band. All of these performances are augmented by a strange contraption developed by local mechanics and engineers to amplify the voice, so that singers and speakers can be heard from any part of the restaurant. Hostess Doi Ren is often a performer at these amateur nights, and anyone visiting Kuang-Cho without hear-ing her perform will certainly have missed one of the highlights of the underground city.

The Twin CitiesRuled by two princes, the cities Chieng-Mow and Yang-Mow are most commonly referred to as the Twin Cities, and taken to be a single metropolis. The two cit-ies are separated by a river two hundred feet wide and extremely deep, and where this river passes through, a docks district is the dominant feature. A long bridge spans the river, wide enough for both steam-powered rickshaws and horses and carriages to pass over with-out difficulty. The river itself is often filled with steam-powered boats, and the quickest way from one end of the cities to the other is often via boats-for-hire on the river.

Getting to The Twin CitiesThe Twin Cities are located on the Imperial Line of the Rosuto-Shima Steam Rail Authority, and also sport a river port, making the cities easily accessible by boat. Small boats traveling around the island between the coast and the coral reef are popular for sightseers, though they cancel their travel plans due to anything less than perfect weather.

Getting around The Twin CitiesAs mentioned above, steam-powered boats are eas-ily available for hire and are typically the fastest way to travel from one end of the city to the other. Many river tours are also available, taking travelers beyond the walls of the city and out toward the coast. Sports-men might enjoy the fishing to be found on these tours, while ladies will most certainly enjoy the rustic views. Inside the city, steam-powered rickshaws are readily available, though, as in Kuang-Cho, the drivers are notoriously dangerous. Near the palaces, walking is recommended, and horses and carriages are highly encouraged for those traveling from the docks district to or from the center of either city.

Where to Stay and What to SeeThe restaurants on both sides of the river are of superior quality and provide excellent service. These range from small counter services for pedestrians intent on enjoy-ing the lovely weather to larger establishments that host entertainers. Performances can be found in restaurants as well as the theatres and dance halls, though the side of the river often determines the style of entertainment. In Chieng-Mow, dramatic and comedic theatre is ex-tremely popular, while in Yang-Mow, musicians and dancers bring in the largest crowds. Along with these forms of entertainment, the palaces of each city are open to the public for several hours a day, much to the delight of museum-goers. Ad-mission for palace tours is minimal, and both palaces are home to fine eating establishments and wonderful souvenir shops. The galleries within feature art from across Rosuto-Shima, as well as pieces from around the world. Despite this pleasant atmosphere, which makes the city attractive to tourists, there are dangers in the Twin Cities. There is nearly always some form of vio-lence breaking out along the riverfront, and local au-thorities seem unable to stop such occurrences. Because of this, staying at a hotel or inn farther away from the river is recommended, even though this likely means spending more on transportation. The more expensive inns near the palaces are all highly recommended, as the exchange of money for safety will surely grant a more pleasant visit.

Other Places of Interest

Liaoyan, the forest city, is a delightful place to visit, though staying for any length of time is not recom-mended. A place dominated by traditional concepts of honor, Liaoyan has yet to move fully into the Modern Era. The city itself is built into the trees, and the architecture is very impressive, but there are few inns here and almost no entertainment available to travelers, making the sparse living conditions de-sirable only to see the architecture and then retreat to more hospitable climes.

Huinin, once known as the Summer City, is off lim-its to any travelers carrying machinery of any sort. The lack of hospitality to outsiders makes this a city to avoid at all costs, lest one leave the fair island of Rosuto-Shima with a foul taste in one’s mouth.

The farming city of Linan, called the Star of the South, is perhaps the best place to experience what Rosuto-Shima must have been like before the en-lightenment found in technology made its way to the island. The neighborhood pubs, called here sakedokoros, serve pleasant local vintages and fea-ture more rustic pleasures. Walking tours make this district popular for adventure-seekers and explor-ers; otherwise, the city and surrounding countryside hold little interest for travelers more interested in the comforts of home.

Kara Kora is a city located in the middle of a vast desert. If the climate were not harsh enough to keep travelers out, the residents of the city, a people called the keshou, are a strange race of savage creatures. These denizens are quite threatening to outsiders, and their only virtue is that they seem to have a way with machinery. The city is filled with the sounds of explosions all day long, and the threat of being blown up in an experiment gone awry feels very real.

Though no more hideous race has been seen in the entire world, the jinteki-oni look far fiercer than their true demeanor. Their small city in the moun-tains, known as Tendou, is a place of spiritual re-treats, and many are able to find solace there. Ten-dou is very small, but in spite of its size, there are several places open and inviting to travelers, and those seeking out a place for beautiful views and kind neighbors will surely find it in Tendou.

Talu, a city where pirates run amok and crime goes unchecked, is to be visited only by those with a pen-chant for adventure and danger. The city is built out onto the water, connected to the land by a series of floating barges. The most effective way to travel is by boat, and it is said that the sky over the water of-fers some of Rosuto-Shima’s most beautiful sunsets. Those enjoying the view, however, should pay close attention to their wallets and handbags as well, or they may find it difficult to afford passage home.

Races of Rosuto-Shima

As contact with the world beyond our island’s borders increases, new zoological and anatomical knowledge is introduced through newly revealed information about species from the barbarian lands. That the gaijin as-sume our sentient races to be monsters speaks of how unusual it must be for humankind to share our land and ways with other species, accepting them not as mon-sters, but as equals. It is no surprise that the barbarian invaders are backward thinking in this regard, but an investigation of this unique phenomenon, recognized as such by their skepticism at our own standing, is, in fact, a worthwhile pursuit.

In this dissertation, I endeavor to shed light upon the intelligent races of Rosuto-Shima, as well as the gaijin, in an effort to see which of these races is most related to mankind.

–From The Biological Implications of the Indigenous Races of Rosuto-Shima, with Notes on Gaijin: A Dis-

sertation by Uotani Hijiki of Chinan University

Humans - Although humans have shorter life spans than other races indigenous to Rosuto- Shima, they are one of the oldest of the races present on the is-land, younger only than the oni, the demons who once roamed the land freely. From a culture steeped in tra-dition, many humans keep to the old ways, following very traditional patterns of life and honoring their an-cestors. Others have turned to the new technologies to guide their lives, adapting quickly to the changes on Rosuto-Shima. Still others exist in the middle, follow-ing newer philosophies without betraying the old ways.

Although the humans of Rosuto-Shima appear to be much the same as the foreigner’s visiting their lands, they are not the humans of Pathfinder, and have some options you are going to enjoy.

Clockwork Ronin - The clockwork ronin is a living, breathing, and thinking assemblage of gears, springs, and metal. But without being inhabited by the spirit of a bushi, or warrior, summoned by the clockwork ronin creators, the body of the Ronin would be only a ma-chine, incapable of acting independently. The bushi spirit remembers its old skills, enabling the clockwork ronin to perform feats thought possible only in history

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and legend. However, the bushi spirit is unable to re-member his ancestors, his hometown, or his family. De-prived of his own identity, the Clockwork Ronin strives either to develop a new life for himself or to seek out the past of the bushi spirit, hoping to regain memories of his former life.

So, you’ve seen living constructs in setting before. . . well, not like this. These warriors have bodies made for adaptability, and actually have a variety of military themed builds.

Jinteki-Oni - The jinteki-oni are born of both human and oni ancestry. In spite of their demon ancestry, the large, powerful jinteki-oni seek to live in solitude and harmony. Despite their friendly and peaceful outlook, they are often shunned by the humans of Rosuto-Shima due to their frightening appearance and their heritage. The origin of the jinteki-oni is, in fact, often left out of history books in an effort to avoid the spread of preju-dice against these gentle creatures.

This is one of the races that the setting material was sac-rificed, because the rules couldn’t do (easily) what we wanted. The Jinteki-Oni come in a wide variety. Some have claws, lots of horns, prehensile tails, a third-eye, armored skin, etc. The use of Alternate Racial Traits is going to allow us to offer up these variety of traits and features to be built on the same basic racial frame.

Kappa - For hundreds of years, long before the first gaijin traveled to Rosuto-Shima, some say before men were given the earth by the gods, the kappa inhabited the waters of the island. With the hard shell of a tortoise and the beaked face of a sea turtle, the kappa has elon-gated limbs that allow it to walk either on all fours or upright.

These are not the kappa you are thinking of. The kappa of Rosuto-Shima are fierce tribal warriors with a mean disposition. These little fierce warriors are armored plated, clawed, and kind of creepy.

Keshou - Though most closely related to goblins, ke-shou barely resemble their foreign relatives; they stand upright to a height of around four feet and are built ex-tremely broadly across the chest and face. Their thick limbs and stocky build make them heavier than a hu-man of their height would be.

The keshou are my favorite race. Visually, they look like a cross between goblin and dwarf, but their per-sonalities are relatively pleasant. This former slave race excelled beyond anyone’s expectations, becoming both skilled craftsman, machinists, merchants, and warriors.

Kijo - There has been some speculation in recent years that the kijo provide the link between apes and men. Certainly, there is similarity between the kijo and the large mountain apes found on the mainland to our west, and the similarity between the kijo and humans cannot be denied. But it is also worth noting that the kijo show remarkable similarities to the jintenki-oni, whose direct relation back to the creatures considered “supernatural” by our ancestors is well documented. So is the kijo a true primate and sibling of man? Or is he a monster, as our ancestors would have put it—a creature with “su-pernatural” abilities? Certainly, one might attribute his strength to a source beyond nature. But such is folly. Any small amount of study reveals that the kijo are, in fact, the most natural of all sentient species living on Rosuto-Shima.

Kijo are sort of this yeti/ogre like race. They have very primate looking bodies and faces, but also bluish-pur-ple skin and horns. They are the largest of the races, and once nomadic, have begun to explore what the other societies have to offer.

Sarpa - The sarpa clearly have greater resemblance to the Celestial Dragons, from which they are said to have been born, than the Imperial Family, but this should be no cause for concern among devoted loyalists. If it is true that, like the First Emperor, the sarpa are directly descended from Celestial Dragons, then we must think of them as the cousins to men—distant cousins, per-haps, but directly related by lineage (if oneassumes that all Celestial Dragons are related!).

The sarpa were originally conceived as a snake like race. You know, the serpent body, human torso type. I hated that. So, I redesigned the entire look of the sarpa to be more draconic. But I didn’t want the dragon hu-manoids typical in a lot of modern fantasy rpg’s. The sarpa are the combination of eastern dragons and hu-mans. Their anatomy reflecting both, but also being very original and almost alien like. This was my favor-ite race to conceptualize.

Tanuki - Tanuki describes two species on Rosuto- Shima: the raccoon dog, a harmless animal no more intelligent than its canine counterparts, and the tanuki, shape-shifters who often take the form of a human-oid version of a badger crossed with a raccoon. In this child-like guise, they worm their wayinto the hearts of shopkeepers and restaurant owners in order to procure free sake, free food, and occasionally, a free tumble with the shopkeeper’s wife.

The tanuki are charming little shape-shifters, known for their powers of seduction. They need this charm, as tanuki tend to indulge in everything, often wearing out their welcome, and causing mayhem in the process.

Classes of Rosuto-Shima

Presented below are the 8 classes of Steampunk Mu-sha. Each class will have a full detail of their history and their place in the lands of Rosuto-Shima. In addi-tion, these classes will present to Archetypes express-ing specific areas of expertise found amongst those who choose these classes.

Shangti Cowboy- The tradition of the Shangti Cow-boy began in the gritty slave city of Shangti, where the cowboys were considered a freelance militant police force. They patrolled the city and investigated homi-cides, found missing persons, tracked down known criminals, and worked as bodyguards or private detec-tives. The organization in Shangti lowered the crime rate significantly, and soon, other cities were clamor-ing for the services of men trained among the Shangti Cowboys. With an open market for their services, the core force in Shangti began to crumble, and soon all the Shangti Cowboys were working on their own, looking out for their own profit. The rivalry was fierce, and soon public opinion turned to the belief that the vigilantes were actually causing more problems than the crimi-nals.

Nikobo- Although the modernized people of the cities may try to ignore it, Rosuto-Shima is plagued by de-mons and evil spirits: in the mountains, in the temples, in the forests, and most commonly in the hearts of men. In every generation, people are called by the spirits who oppose these demons and evil entities and are given the knowledge and strength to fight them. These people leave their homes, follow the path of righteousness, and

face down the horrors of the spirit realms. These people are called the nikobo. They are demon hunters, exor-cists who have dedicated their lives to the teachings of enlightenment and the vanquishing of the dark forces plaguing the land.

Kabukika- The world of theater is considered to be a magical place, where nothing is real but the story. On Rosuto-Shima, the kabuki theaters, called kabuki-za, have combined real magic into their performances, enhancing the illusion of the tale further than props or backdrops would allow. Through dance and extrava-gant costumes, the kabukika, or actors in the theater, practice the arts of the thespian, as well as the arts of the sorcerer.

Machinist- Though few admit to the belief, there is a common superstition, even among the “enlightened” of Rosuto-Shima, that some people are born with an innate understanding of the inner workings of new technology.

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