Sho Roleplaying Guide
by Shinjin Myoken

The Sho "culture group" of Dereth provides unique opportunities for roleplaying, with a tremendous variety and depth of potential motivations and behaviors. What follows are some insights that may help you roleplay your Sho character, especially if it is a member of Jojii's Sword.

In presenting these, I freely use (and distort) real-world cultural material from Asia in general, but specifically from Japan and China - the two cultures upon which the Sho seem obviously to be based. In particular, motivational and behavioral guidelines which inspire are drawn from the samurai tradition of Japan, and from the general reigi, or etiquette, used by that class, which is itself founded upon two major themes: Confucian conceptions of relationship, and the realities of general warfare and personal combat in that period.

For the all-important influence of the Sho philosopher Jojii, I turn to Buddhist motifs and concepts. Not wishing to raise any warning flags for players with strong, exclusivist religions beliefs, it should be noted that Buddhist training and teaching is, in the strict Western sense of the word, not "religious". That in itself is a detailed discussion, but suffice it to say that no one need be scared off by any -isms cited here as sources. Remember, this is a fantasy world we are discussing.

Finally, while many of the names, and particularly place names, in the Sho areas are actually of Chinese origin or flavor, I am favoring Japanese sources in this roleplaying guide. This simply reflects my own experience, and in no way is meant to downplay any non-Japanese cultural influence in the game. Again - it's a fantasy world.

These guideposts on the Path were recorded by Shinjin Myoken to benefit the members of Jojii's Sword. Wherever possible, I have cited the original source texts. Any translation errors are also my own.

May it be virtuous!
(Seal, "Myoken")