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MINOR CLANS
An Unofficial Collection of Homebrew Minor Clans for the 4th Edition of the Legends of the Five Rings Role Playing Game
Within these pages youll find more than 30 new minor clans with their full stories and techniques, new
ancestors, spells, kiho, kata, disadvantages, advantages, ancestral items and many other things
Feel free to use it or not, to adapt it for your needs or not, the best way to play L5R is always your way.
Written By: Kurokuma Takeo (Dog Clan), Dagonz (Swan Clan, Lark Clan), Alphast (Otter Clan, Camel
Clan), SkinnyD (Camel Clan Desert Warrior Shool), Asahina Akinori (Moth Clan, Wolf Clan), Shiba 3
Gunichi (Eel Clan), Zeron Hitaro (Obake Clan, Roach Clan), Arawn (Grasshopper Clan),
Atropos/Huitzil37 (Beetle Clan, Hummingbird Clan), Fenroku (Wolf Clan), Otomo Nobunaga (Crocodile
Clan), Billy_Whisper (Rat Clan), Jason C Marshall and Anne Gegg(Cat Clan), Droidscotty (Seahorse Clan,
Elephant Clan, Tern Clan), 1d4Chan (Butterlfy Clan, Cormorant Clan, Echidna Clan, Octopus Clan,
Salmon Clan, Squirrel Clan), Comrade Gorbash (Swordfish Clan), Alien Rope Burn (Abatross Clan
Techniques), The Lovable Plutonis (Drake Clan), Shiono (Nightingale Clan), Daigotsu Masanori (Lynx
Clan), LucaCherstich (Hedgehog Clan), Samurai Fox (Hironoda Lancer techniques), AEG Development
Team (The Lost Clan Techniques and families)
Playtesting and Rule Balance by: Okuma (Seahorse Clan Technique)
Edited By: Droidscotty
Artists: Angel David (Yokubo Tensei), Droidscotty, Evan B. Walters Design
Layout: Angel Torres, Droidscotty based on the L5R 4th Edition RPG Layout
Legend of the Five Rings and all related marks and logos are and Alderac Entertainment
Group and Flight Fantasy Games
The Albatross Clan ..................... 5 Naomi Factotum ......................56 The Seahorse Clan .....................99
Kohaku Bushi School ................6 Naomi Advisor.........................57 Toshigo Monk School ...........101
The Butterfly Clan ...................... 8 Useful Yari ................................57 The Squirrel Clan .................... 102
Ageha Bushi School ............... 10 The Lark Clan ........................... 58 Itachi Tracker ........................103
The Camel Clan ........................ 12 Fushii Courtier School ............59 The Swan Clan ........................ 105
Rakuda Caravaneer School .... 15 The Three Schools .................... 61 Shimanashi Bushi School .....107
Rakuda Desert Warrior Shrine of the Stone Sutra .......61 Shimanashi Magistrate ..........108
School ...................................... 16 Temple of the Silent Blessings61 Swan Kimono.........................108
Selma'ya's veil ......................... 17 Order of the High Path ...........61 Ancestral Sword of the Swan
The Cat Clan ............................ 18 The Lynx Clan .......................... 62 Clan ........................................108
Neko Sensualist School.......... 20 Hajime Bushi School...............65 The Swordfish Clan ................. 109
Nekos Fan ............................... 20 Hajime Ninja ...........................65 Marumaru Bushi School........111
The Cormorant Clan ................. 22 Senkensha and Keikai .............66 The Tern Clan ......................... 112
Umiu Bushi School................. 23 Amulet of The Lynx ................66 Satsuei Shugenja School .......114
The Crocodile Clan................... 24 Lynxs Ward .............................66 The Wolf Clan......................... 115
Shayu Berserker School.......... 26 Tsukiko's Legacy ......................66 Fenroku Ranger School .........120
Crocodile Armor..................... 27 The Moth clan .......................... 67 Wolf Advanced School:
4 The Dog Clan............................ 28 Ga Shugenja School ................69 Great Wolf .............................122
Hokori Bushi School .............. 30 Key to the Library ....................70 Animal Spirit .........................123
Inubuki Wardog ...................... 31 The Nightingale Clan ............... 71 Wolf's Fang.............................124
The Drake Clan......................... 32 Shiono Bushi School ...............74 kami's Tear ..........................124
Seiryu Bushi School................ 33 Ikaso Seer School.....................75 The Lost Minors Clans
The Echidna Clan ..................... 34 The Obake Clan ....................... 77 Techniques and Families .......... 126
Harinezumi Bushi School....... 35 Konpaku Monk School ...........79 The Bee Clan........................... 126
The Eel Clan ............................. 36 The Octopus Clan ..................... 80 Hachi Courtier School ..........126
Anago Librarian School ......... 37 Tako Artisan School ...............82 The Raven Clan ...................... 127
Anago Shugenja School......... 38 The Otter Clan ......................... 83 Karasu Bushi School ..............127
The Elephant Clan .................... 39 Kawauso Shugenja School ......85 The Shark Clan ....................... 128
Kudos Sadhu School ............... 40 The mortar and pestle of the Jirozame Bushi School ...........128
Kudos Purist School................ 41 Otter .........................................85 The Salamander Clan .............. 129
Kudos Mahout ......................... 41 The Rat Clan ............................ 86 Hitokage Shugenja School....129
Kudos Avenger ........................ 41 Takahiro Nakodo School ........87 The Firefly Clan ....................... 130
The Grasshopper Clan............... 42 The Roach Clan ........................ 89 Hotaru Bushi School .............130
Inago Bushi School ................. 45 Aburamushi Bushi School ......91 The Tanuki Clan ..................... 131
Ikasama .................................... 46 The Salmon Clan ...................... 92 Tanuki Sake Master School..132
The Hedgehog Clan .................. 47 Samon Bushi School ...............94 Tanuki Ambassador ...............132
Hironoda Spearman School ... 51 Salmon Infiltrator ....................95 The Peacock Clan .................... 133
Hironoda Rider ....................... 51 Salmon Taster ..........................95 Kujaku Bushi School .............134
Hironoda Lancer ..................... 52 The Scarab Clan ....................... 96 Kujaku Provocateur ...............135
The Hummingbird Clan ............ 53 Order of the Scarab .................98
"You have to smile to death, because she smiles at
us all one day ..."
The Albatross Clan content to keep out a powerful oni lord while the
rest of the gang had to retreat. He keeps their
humor intact even when the Crabs had to admit
Founding
their defeat. Rumor says that he even managed to
make the oni himself laugh before they killed each
The Albatross Clan comes from the Yasuki family other in a flood blades and claws.
of the Crab Clan. Yasuki Kohaku was renowned
for always had a keen sense of humor. Even in the Back to the wall, the survivors shared
deepest trouble he always kept his good mood. He their strange epic story to their commander who
was often sent away from the main holdings of the made a report to his daimyo. He decided to send it
family as the rumor said that his corrosive humor to the Emperor so he judged the thing incongruous
earned them many disappointments with the trade but also worthwhile. The emperor consulted the
relations. He doesnt care of this as he liked to Brotherhood and together they admitted they had
travel. But his jokes even finally led almost to war there a being who had found his own path to
with the Crane Clan. They take offense at a enlightenment.
remark by Kohaku, and it took great effort on the 5
part of the Yasuki family to remedy the problem. Yasuki Kohaku then accesses Yomi as the
minor Fortune of Joy and the Emperor asked those
The daimio of the Yasuki however who had known to come together under the name
chooses to dismiss the young man some time by of Kohaku. As their founder had a great pleasure
sending the Kaiu wall in hopes of giving him a for journeys and like to laugh they choose the
good lesson. But even with this punishment, Albatross as their symbol for the clan. Their sacred
overused on the Wall, Yasuki Kohaku stood hard mission was simple: to study how Kohaku had
as iron his some corrosive and amusing remarks, up reached enlightenment, understand it and spread
to make fun of the onis themselves when they it. The Emperor also asked them secretly watching
rubbed against the wall. The commander over the Crab so they never forget the enjoyment
wondered how he could keep such derision in of life.
adversity and made him call. Yasuki Kohaku
remained serious throughout the interview but did Geography & Economy
not fail to drag some allusion. So he was sent on a
mission in the Shadowlands hoping he acquires a
little more maturity.
The Albatross Clan has a modest house south of
the Crab Clan territory, north of Kyuden Hida,
And it is precisely where he proved to be
near the shore. They called it Shiro Kohasku, more
of great wisdom. Yasuki Kohaku fully embraced the
as a joke than a reality, as the estate himself is too
fate that the celestial wheel reserved for him
small to quality as a shiro.
without worrying about it. Even later in this cursed
country, he strengthened the morale of the troops
The clan is not very rich and most of its
and prayed every morning many Fortunes in the
revenues come from a renowned hostel. Many
hope that they enlighten others as he was himself.
members of the Crab clan come here on leave
because it is both quiet and full of good humor.
Yasuki Kohaku never returns from his
patrol, as he sacrificed himself in a great laugh,
The Albatross Clan service many small entertainment. But when the time for combat
altars dedicated to many fortunes but specially to comes, the Kohahu fights until the death, with the
their ancestor and to Natsu-togumara, the Fortune blessing of the Fortunes and the determination
of Travel and Experience. They hope from the that the victory is already won.
Fortunes they give them the way to enlightenment
just as Kahaku did. So theyre happy and Schools, Paths & Dojos
encouraged to visit many temples and to share
their experience with others.
KOHAKU BUSHI SCHOOL
The small clan is sufficient to itself in Benefit: +1 Reflexes
terms of food as heimins abound because they Honor: 5.5
know they will be well received and generally Skills: Athletics , Kenjutsu, Kuyjutsu,
treated with more compassion than within the Lore: Theology, Meditation, Sincerity,
other clans. and any one Games or Perform skill
Outfit: Light Armor, Sturdy Clothing,
Demography Daisho, any 1 weapon, Traveling Pack, a
Pillow Book, 5 koku
Kata: Spinning Blades Style
Kohaku Shiro is inhabited only by a handful of
samurai, taking their classes, others browsing the TECHNIQUES
Empire. Even well maintained, the clan as not
many people to defend by itself. Their daimyo RANK 1: JOY IN ADVERSITY
himself admitted they often count on the near The Albatross learn to laugh off failure, confident
Crab capital to supply them for raw materials and that the rise and fall of fate will ultimately fall in
to protect them from Shadowlands incursions and their favor. When you miss an attack or take
pirates. They are nearly a branch clan of and damage, you gain a free raise to be used on your
within the Crab clan but they enjoy maintaining next roll. If you have the Luck advantage and
their independence. The Crab Clan considers reroll a failed roll, the raise may then be applied to
them peacefully. that roll. Additionally, they gain +1k0 on rolls
when participating in a contest or duel, or +1k1
Customs when a life is at stake.
6
RANK 2: S HOWING THE P ATTERN
The Albatross are bushi fortunists who are mostly Albatross bushi have a flashy, distinctive
known for their unique tradition: after gempukku, swordsmanship style that distracts and confuses
each Albatross samurai must travel abroad and foes. For each raise you make on an attack, you
make a name for themselves with only marginal may raise your Armor TN by 3 until your next
clan assistance. Many never stop exploring, while action. This bonus does not stack if you make
those who return often get involved in the multiple attacks in a turn; simply take the highest
Imperial bureaucracy or the Exploration Corps. number instead.
Though they're traditional fortunists and their role
is often politically conservative, Albatross samurai RANK 3: THE FORTUNES' FAVOR
tend to be less reserved, more plain-spoken and One can wait for luck, or one can politely request
more fashionable than most samurai. The it. By meditating, you may gain any one Seven
Albatross Clan is allied with his neighbor, the Fortunes' Blessing advantage until you rest, even if
Seahorse Clan and has good relations with the you already have a Seven Fortunes' Blessing
Sparrow Clan with their share a taste for advantage (though one cannot double up on a
simplicity. given blessing). You may only gain one additional
Seven Fortunes' Blessing at a time in this fashion.
KOHAKU FAMILY: +1 AWARENESS The GM may rule you cannot take a given
The Kohaku Family is still a humble one but also advantage if your behavior has angered the
one of the most famous at least among the Crab fortune's will in some way.
Clan. Having a Kohaku for a court is always
synonym for good amusement and an exotic way of
RANK 4: THE RAGING WATERFALL
You may make attacks unarmed or with samurai
weapons as a Simple Action instead of a Complex
Action.
New Ancestor
KOHAKU [5 points]
The Butterfly Clan father and then mother, and many others in the
small family, led her to investigate the Kindly
Monk in his quarters where she found him
Founding
practicing maho. Enraged and distraught, realizing
that those she had loved had been murdered
The Butterfly clan traces its history back to the without her being able to do anything, she sought
actions of its founder, Tomomori Ageha, who was her daimyo. Apologizing profusely, she warn him
the retainer of a minor family that lived on the of the maho in the midst of his court, and beg to
edge of Crane lands. It consists only a small estate be allowed to commit seppuku after the maho was
and shrine complex near a grave of trees the dealt with. To atone for her failure to see the
shrine simply being known as the Tomomori threat before it was too late.
Shrine. Its original name has been lost to the
mists of time, though it was referred to generally as However, the situation was grimmer than
the Shrine of Lost Souls. she realized. As the Kindly Monk approached and
spoke with the daimyo, she realized her master was
Tomomori Ageha was a, plainly speaking, under the blood sorcerers sway, and would not
remarkably samurai-ko. Though she had great believe her, even as the maho openly mocked her.
reverence for the kami and spirits, and most of her Eventually, in a desperate rage, she left to fetch
8 time was spent in keeping up the shrine for the her katana and returned, trying to cut down the
Tomomori daimyo. The shrine complex is nearly maho only for him to outdraw her with her
as large as the estate and filled with many graves, daimyos own blade and wound her-. Taking sick
necessitating much respect. Ageha more than once pleasure in watching the spirit of this samurai be
considered becoming a nun, feeling it was a better crushed, the maho advised her daimyo to forbid
suit for her, but continued to serve her daimyo out her from committing seppuku, and banish her for
of loyalty. her insolent actions. But not before he have the
rest of her family summoned, including the man
All this would change with the arrival of who was to be her husband, and executed them
a traveling monk who became a close adviser to like common criminals before her eyes, as
her lord and began to spend much of his time in accomplishes to her attempted assassination of a
the shrine complex. Ageha was uneasy with this valuable retainer.
man from the first while he was polite in front of
her daimyo, he adopted a crude and arrogant And so Tomomori Ageha was cast out
manner elsewhere-. The butterflies of the and made ronin. She struggled with her new
Tomomori shrine, which flocked in great numbers existence, and the knowledge of her failure, and
and were said to be the spirits of the dead, fled soon found herself contemplating seppuku in the
from the monk and would never alight upon or room of the lowly inn she was staying at. As she
even near him. prepared herself, a butterfly flew into the room and
fluttered near her face. Enraged at the distraction
At night Ageha would find the Kindly and reminder of the home she had lost, she struck
Monk, as he wished to be referred to, alone in the at it with her hand. But it easily fluttered around
shrine gardens. The suspicious death of Agehas her clumsy blow, and came to rest on the hilt of
her wakizashi. Ageha was ashamed at her story, saying in the end that she could not let a
momentary anger, and decided not to disturb the member of the Imperial family be corrupted. She
little creature. Eventually, a multitude of knows that the Empire might be threatened, and
butterflies flew through her window, unafraid and offered to commit seppuku. Instead, she was
alighting upon her. In a moment of epiphany, she requested to come to the Capital and demonstrate
realized that these must be the souls of her family, her techniques. And as they left, in the gloom, the
come to comfort her and remind her of her dignitary saw from the shrine a swarm of butterflies
purpose. And so Ageha was humbled. circle into the twilight sky.
Tomomori Ageha began to work hard to Ageha demonstrated her technique for
improve her lax skills, traveling from monastery to the Emperor and, at his prompting, told her story
monastery, up into the lands of the Dragon to to an enraptured court. The Emperor was
learn from Taoist swordsmen. She sought calm and impressed by both her skill and heroism. He
enlightenment, and used her sword as a method to ordered the Tomomori family extinguished and
contemplate the void, only drawing it to shed replaced with the new Ageha Family. He
blood when necessary. She became as a butterfly, a permitted her to form a minor clan, so that the
lost soul wandering the Empire, swept along in the swordsmanship of Ageha would not be lost, and
void. Fate was not finished with Ageha, however. that the Shrine could be protected from Maho.
Ageha agreed, on the condition that the Shrine
For her travels eventually brought her retained the Tomomori name. Soon Ageha
back close to her home, where she saw a attracted a following of interested students,
procession with the Imperial seal passing. A including one whom she would go on to marry,
member of the Otomo family was on a sojourn and the Butterfly Clan was formed.
visiting shrines, and wished to see the humble
Tomomori shrine. This Otomo found himself well Geography & Economy
received at the estate of the daimyo, though the
daimyo did not talk as much as the Kindly Monk 9
who served him. The lands of the Butterfly clan are rather small,
located in the southern foothills of the Mountains
The pleasant dinner was interrupted, of Regret. Their main holdings include the village
however, by the arrival of a ronin who made the and Shrine of Tomomori, both named after the
shocking claim that the hosts of this place were all small nearby wood. The small forest is known for
slaves of a maho sorcerer. It was an outrageous its flowers, butterflies and ancient ruins from some
claim, but the ronin spoke with elegance and forgotten war. Also included is the Ahega estate, a
sincerity, and challenged the Kindly Monk as a fortified manor somewhere between a house and a
maho sorcerer, letting him pick someone to duel castle, and the Ahega dojo. Aside from substance
her if he disputed her accusation. The Kindly agriculture, Tomomori Village is only noted for
Monk mocked her as insane and said he would the quality of its handcrafted and decorated
happily thrash a madwoman ronin himself. This pottery.
angered the Kindly Monk, who prided himself on
his powers of manipulation, and he began to The Tomomori Shrine gardens are quite
openly slander Ageha and her family. He try to extensive and are believed by many to be haunted
confusion the Otomo dignitary watching the or to have some connection to the spirit realms - it
drama unfold. Ageha simply turned away and is known that without proper respect and rituals,
suggested they walk out into the gardens. Now gaki have arisen here. This made the area, and still
enraged, the maho once again took the sword of makes it, a place of interest for monks, shugenja
his daimyo and attempted to strike Ageha down as and maho, and the Ageha tend to be circumspect
her back was turned. But in one fluid motion she regarding it, rarely letting any venture among the
drew her katana from within the folds of her cloak, ruins, shrines and foliage without good reason.
and beheaded the maho with a clean blow. She
then bowed before the dignitary and apologized for
bringing a katana into his presence. However, the
dignitary wished to understand what had happened
here. Ageho told him, long into the night, her
Demography THE AGEHA FAMILY: +1 AWARENESS
When Ageha allowed her first recruits into her
The small Ageha clan spends most of their days clan, she showed little interest in those who came
devoted to studying the Kenjutsu style of their to her seeking the secret of the Swallowtail Cut.
founder, and her teachings, with much time spent She seemed more interested in those with respect
meditating to further a samurai's connection with for the spirits, or who wished to use her techniques
the Void. Theyre rarely more than an hundred for meditation, and investigated the artistic skill of
people in their estate to keep it calm. Its voluntary the applicants as much as their swordsmanship.
even if the dojo and shrine are often visited by The current clan is descended from her initial
those curious in either of them. The Ageha do followers and those who married into her family.
their best to become polite hosts.
Schools, Paths & Dojos
The Ageha, despite having a tight knit
community, are often taken to travel, and their They often have to turn down those they
daimyo are historically encouraging towards feel seek the secret of the Swallowtail cut for the
warrior pilgrimages. Most Ageha desire to, at least wrong reasons, which occasionally include violent
once, travel in the Dragon Mountains and to visit ronin.
the monastic orders and shrines of Rokugan to
increase their understanding of the Void. Ageha AGEHA BUSHI SCHOOL
samurai are always interested in helping to restore Benefit: +1 Void
and protect shrines and holy sites, and take Skills: Any Artisan skill, Etiquette,
interest in rumours of blood sorcery or displeased Kenjutsu (Katana), Kyujutsu, Iajutsu,
spirits. Sometimes on their travels they will meet a Meditation, any other High skill
ronin or samurai with promise, and invite them to Honor: 5.5
visit the Ageha estate, or even to join with the Outfit: Light Armor, Sturdy
Clan. Clothing, Daisho, Kumi with 20
arrows, traveling pack, 5 koku.
Customs
TECHNIQUES
The clan's duties see them tending and guarding
the Tomomori shrine and forest. An interesting RANK 1: P ERFECTION IN ALL THINGS
10 development is the growing tradition of Ageha The Ageha Bushi chases the moment of perfection
samurai becoming renowned bonsai gardeners, in all things. A number of times per day equal to
with many seeing the methodological art as a your Void Ring, you can add your highest Bugei
connection to void just as strong as meditation. Skill level to an Artisan roll of your choice, or add
your Artisan Skill level in a Bugei Skill roll of your
The placid appearance of the gardens and choice. In a skirmish, you may only use this
their tenders, however, considers hidden steel: the technique on an attack made after spending a turn
Ageha clan produces some of the most deadly in the Center Stance.
duelists in the Emerald Empire. Secluded among
the multitudes of butterfly and bonsai gardens that RANK 2: E MPTY, AND BECOME WIND
dot the Ageha lands, the Butterfly Clan dojo is The Ageha Bushi can sense the flow and intent in
always busy with clan samurai learning Kenjutsu, all things, if they but find peace and listen. While
Kyujutsu, and Iajutsu. The Ageha clan tend to in the Center Stance, increase your TN by your
dress simply, if elegantly. Void Ring. Additionally, you gain +2k0 to all
Meditation rolls.
Their clan colors usually tend towards
black and orange, with white highlights being RANK 3: READ THE UNWRITTEN
common, white being the color of the dead. Many An Ageha Bushi can easily read the world, for all
Ageha do their best to try and appear humble and things have the same emptiness. Whenever you
unobtrusive, with many in the family tending to be enter the Center Stance you may select any one
slender and plain looking. opponent you can see, and make an Iaijutsu
(Assessment)/Awareness roll against the Target's
Void Ring x 5. If you succeed, any maneuvers that
target makes against you require an additional raise.
For every raise you make on the Iajutsu roll, their
maneuvers require an additional one raise. As well,
you gain +2k0 to all Iaijutsu (Assessment) rolls,
including duels and this technique.
11
"On the roads and beyond" (official).
"Let the dogs bark, the caravan goes on"
(unofficial, but widely accepted).
The Camel Clan first, but their reputation was tarnished by all the
bargaining that had occurred and it was at first
difficult for them to be accepted by the Rokugani.
Founding
They were already nicknamed "the camel couple",
which was not particularly pleasant. At the same
The origins of the Camel Clan are ancient and
time, the Ki-Rin Clan was going through very
unclear, to say the least. There are various rumors
rough times and needed resources and supplies
about it and all probably have some truth to them,
very badly. The family daimyo of the time solved
although it is hard to tell. Camel Clan members
the issue by asking them to found their own vassal
would have it no other way, of course, as it suits
family and take care of the supply aspect of things
their sense of identity, as well as their purpose.
for the Clan. At first the daimyo wanted to use
One thing is sure, however, and that is the Camel
Hiroshi name as family name, but an Ide present at
was originally an obscure vassal family of the
the discussion tried to ridicule them by suggesting
Unicorn. When the Clan of the Ki-Rin came back
"Rakuda" (camels). Selma'ya wittingly answered:
from the Burning Sands, the Rakuda (). No "Why not: they are what you need so badly, after
less obvious, at least at the time, was that the all? The name, originally a disparaging joke,
Rakuda had even more gaijin influences (both stuck as a matter of pride.
culturally and from an ethnic point of view) than
12 the rest of the Unicorn, Moto excepted. Every After the Unicorn came back from the
Rakuda had sworn fealty to the Shinjo daimyo. As Burning Sands, each of the Clan families got a
a vassal, their purpose was to handle the complex piece of land, but the Rakuda got a special
and heavy logistics of the Clan, a task which was assignment. They would continue their duty as
seen uncouth by most samurai and not as exciting normal, being caravanners and suppliers, but they
as it seems. would also be used to discretely keep contact with
the Burning Sands and the Ra'Shari especially.
The family founder was not a Rokugani The Ide at the time had realized that this kind of
but an influent Ra'Shari woman who had fallen in low honor task would be better served by a vassal,
love with a Shinjo samurai, Hiroshi, while the rather than proper Clan Family samurai. Instead of
Clan was in the Burning Sands. The event created being assigned lands, the Rakuda kept their
some tensions between both nomadic groups, but nomadic ways, wandering the Unicorn Clan
it was resolved when the Ra'Shari accepted the territory and the Burning Sands, buying what was
marriage. They asked 20 camels as part of the necessary for the Clan and selling their surplus.
bargain, plus an important amount of various Everything changed for them when Shinjo came
merchandises, but agreed to let several junior back and began purging the Clan from the Kolat
members of their Caravan join the newly wed with Toturi. The Ra'Shari had warned the Rakuda
family. Finding the camels and merchandise against the Burning Sand Qolat and the Rakuda
should have been nearly impossible for the young had kept away from the organization which had
Shinjo at the time, but his shroud Ra'Shari then infiltrated the rest of the Clan. Instead, they
fiance, Selma'ya, used all her influence and had kept tabs on whoever they suspected of
bargaining power with other caravans to help him belonging to the subversive group. When the
gather them all. The couple joined the Shinjo at purge came, they supported it and actually gave
Toturi and Shinjo several agent networks. Toturi The Camel Clan is not very rich, by
was so pleased that he decided to give the Rakuda Rokugani standards, but it is wealthy enough,
their freedom and Minor Clan status. By Imperial although for security reasons it tends to hide it.
charter, they would be a landless Clan, always on More importantly, the Clan is often able to
the move, protected against the other Clans by the provide exotic goods and rare items. What they
Miya Family and exempt of merchandise taxes. don't have immediately, they can often get for
The daimyo usually would follow one of the you... at the next season. Because the Clan has no
biggest caravans, but no one outside of the Clan lands, though, most of the revenues of this trade
would know which one. This suited everyone, simply are used in supporting the caravans. The
because the Rakuda had gathered a lot of bad bulk of goods, while travelling North-West to the
feelings during the purge and many Unicorns saw Burning Sands are made of silk, precious wood,
them as villains. For the Imperials, it was a great tea, paper, dried tropical fruits and alcohol. On the
way of getting insight and contacts within the way back, the caravans carry gems and rare metals
Burning Sands without having to go through the (such as the tin which can come from as far as the
Unicorns. For the new Moto leaders of the Yodotai Empire), salts and other minerals, wool,
Unicorn, it was a great way of taking control back aloe, oil, amber and dates. Manufactured goods are
on the Clan supplies. less common, because of the Rokugani aversion for
anything gaijin.
Since then, the Camel Clan and its
Rakuda family wander the roads of Rokugan (and Demography
discretely the Burning Sands) to exchange goods...
and stories. They are very similar to Ra'Shari and
their culture has major common points. Their art, The Camel Clan is not very diverse ethnically.
dances, music and customs are directly linked to Most members are directly or indirectly descending
the desert Caravans. Many of them can even speak from the original couple and their retainers. This
Mekhemite. They are very popular amongst has given a distinct ethnic type, a mix of the
Rokugani (particularly the children) because they Shinjo Oriental features and Ra'Shari sensual 13
are a major source of entertainment when they desert type. Camel Clan people have a dark skin,
arrive in a village or town. On the other hand, almond shaped eyes and black thin hair. Eyes vary
they are too "gaijin" both in appearance and from green to brown and the most common bright
customs and are thus very much despised for it. black. There are a couple hundred of them alive
The Imperial protection is usually good enough, and this population is stable.
but it is also true that if something wrong happens Because of their relatively low numbers,
in a place where they are camping for the night, the Camel Clan often try to improve their
the fault is all too often attributed to them. caravans defenses by either teaming up with
magistrates or heralds when possible, or hiring
Geography & Economy ronin for muscle. It has happened quite regularly
that such ronin eventually joined the Clan,
particularly after some years of hire or after an
The Camel has no lands, but they can be found extraordinary feat in the Clan's service.
just about everywhere. At any given time, they
have at least three major caravans on the move Customs
and three times that number of smaller ones,
linking them.
The caravans use of course camels (the The Camel Clan is typically matriarchal. Since
two hump type reflected on their mon, also called Selma'ya, every Clan daimyo has traditionally
Bactriane Camel), but also various types of animals been female and even when there was no female
such as donkeys, horse, ox, zebus and even goats. heir, the charge has been passed to the wife of the
They often have some cattle with them (mostly male heir. Some Rakuda say that there are
sheep and goats), for subsistence purpose, and of practical reasons for this, but the truth is that it is
course dogs to help with the cattle. a custom created by and for Selma'ya and kept as a
tradition.
Typical of people living on the road, War
Camel Clan caravanners have an absurd amount
of superstitions that they take more or less The Camel Clan is a peaceful one (as peace is very
seriously. Caravanners tend to avoid certain words much needed to continue its activities). However,
as they are seen as taboo. For instance, they will it has been actively involved in the conflict
never say the word "fire" which is too close to against the Kolat when Shinjo returned. Since
"tiger" in Rokugani for their liking. The same goes then, there has always been a low level of hostility,
for "small wood" which strangely resembles the with Kolat agents disrupting the caravans or their
word for "wolves". trade, and several assassination attempts against
prominent family members or daimyo. Although
The Khadi delight in capturing them and some where successful at times, it never impacted
penning them in the Jandaq slave caravans with the Camel Clan to the level expected; they would
the remnants of other cultures they have always reply in kind, and Camel bushi (often
subjugated. The house of Dahab offer bounties on informed by Ra'Shari) could be seen sometimes
their heads, and hire armies to protect their raiding Qolat or Kolat operations at the border of
merchant caravans, which turned even the most the Burning Sands.
pacifistic tribes of the Ivory Kingdoms against
them. Within their own homeland, the Clan of Recent Events
the Camel have no allies to call upon, and lose as
many of their children to hunger as to the knife.
The current daimio is a 19 years old only head
But adversity has been the Rakuda's caravanner, Rakuda Myriem. She received the
greatest teacher. Every child of the clan is taught leadership from her agonizing parents who had
from birth to survive in the harsh wastes, with or been assassinated by suspected Kolat operatives in
without tools of civilization. They are shown how 1169. Her first action was to hunt down the two
to train and ride the famed stallions of the desert, killers, interrogate them, hang them to the same
and how to use them in war. And they are taught tree, find the Yasuki Kolat who had sent them and
how to protect themselves from the predators that gut him in front of his retainers with her Ra'Shari
hunt them - both human and otherwise. knife. After two weeks, Myriem returned
Caravanners do absolutely everything on the unscathed and took command of the Clan. She is
move, from cooking to teaching, playing, eating yet to marry, but the suitors are quite numerous
14 and of course fighting, if necessary. Their and she will have to make a choice soon.
attachment to the animals they use is proverbial
and they treat both horses as well as beasts of The Camel Clan Caravans fled Kali-Mas
burden with great respect. When stopping advance during the War of the Destroyers. Their
anywhere for the night they will always ensure that agents had been desperately trying to gather any
their animals are fed, cared for and healed if intelligence they could about them, via their usual
necessary, then their children and then sources in the Burning Sands, but without results.
themselves. On the other hand, they did manage to get bits of
information about the human generals and the
Caravanners live in tents or, if they have Rakshasa in the Destroyer army.
reached a major city, in caravanserais. Their tents
are different in style from the round shaped used
by the Moto. Rakudas favor the wide, low and THE RAKUDA FAMILY: +1 STAMINA
angular shapes more common in the Burning
Sands. These are very effective against sand winds The Rakuda family is scattered all over Rokugan
and can be used to protect animals as well. Because and beyond. This has given them a unique aura
of these low tents, the typical dances of the and a strong identity. It favors subtlety over force
Rakudas women are done with the knees half and knowledge over aggressiveness. However,
bended. These dances are famous for their when defending what is important to them (their
sensuality and it is common for village and city caravans or the unique privileges of their Clan),
dwellers to come and watch them in the evening is the Rakuda are merciless and very able foes.
a caravan has stopped in their neighborhood. Rakuda are melancholic because they are outsiders
wherever they are. A small handful of Rakuda
settle down in fixed places as some are feeling too
crippled for travel; some have found a spouse who are smaller and less frequent than in Rokugan
can't consider a life on the roads; others because it proper. Myriem is now planning to open a new
was needed and this is their duty. The handful that caravanserai in the Colonies, but she hasnt
do settle down are all used as trading agents by the decided where to place it yet. She is balancing
Clan (and sometimes as information agents as between the Second City (the end of the road),
well). Twin Fork City (conveniently central but not as
interesting commercially) or Journeys End (nearer
Two of these agents have built the biggest to the Burning Sands but strongly under Unicorn
Caravanserai's of Rokugan. One is just outside the control).
Western Gate of Toshi Ranbo, and is by far the
richest and most comfortable. It is the domain of Rakuda have no proper dojo. However,
Rakuda Nureya, a very old woman (she used to be each Caravan has one person (usually an older
one of Selma'ya's aids). Her back is so hunched member of the family), responsible for training the
that she can't travel any more. Myriem's mother younger members of the Clan and act as a sensei.
asked her to take care of the Clan's interests in the Like most other Rakuda activities, much of the
capital and she has thrived in what she considers training is done on the move, alongside the
as a second chance in life. She is very fond of caravan. Some additional training is often given in
Myriem and fiercely loyal to the head caravanner. the Toshi Ranbo caravanserai and at Sabaku no
She made an arrangement with the Myia heralds Minato. It is traditional (although not mandatory)
when their own facilities were damaged in the for Rakuda to try and complete both "training
Khan attack: she invited them to use the Rakuda's visits" before their gempuku. Rakuda Soiko is
estates for free. Since then, mutual exchanges of known to train and test students on desert
services have been common, as long as it does not survival, while Rakuda Nureya usually gives a bit
become a conflict of interest. The Myia provide of extra training on trading with the Imperials.
military protection and she provides them supplies Camel has rare contacts with the scarab clan.
and an extra space when no caravan is present.
Schools, Paths & Dojos 15
The other major Rakuda fixed facility is
called Sabaku no Minato ( , Desert
Harbor) and is situated about a half a mile east of RAKUDA CARAVANEER SCHOOL
the Khol Wall. Far less comfortable than its [COURTIER]
equivalent near the capital; it is nevertheless a Benefit: +1 Awareness
very important place for all caravans coming back Skills: Knives (Ra'Shari). Orientation.
from the Burning Sands. It is the first place where Either two of Storytelling, Performing
they can find safe water and supplies. Nearly all (Ra'Shari dance) or Seduction. Animal
Rakuda have fond memories of seeing it for the Handling. Commerce. Etiquette.
first time after a daunting trip in the desert. The Honor: 3.5
place is managed by Rakuda Soiko, a man who lost Outfit: Sturdy cloths (Ra'Shari styled for
his leg in a fight to protect the caravan. The women, Shinjo style for men, with some
shugenja tended to his wounds, but they could do exceptions), Travelling pack, Ra' Shari
nothing for his missing limb. Since then, he has knife, Yari, Rough map of Rokugan's
been welcoming his fellow Clan men every year, in main roads. 5 Koku.
Desert Harbor, his wooden leg clicking on the flat
stones of the caravanserai's pavement. It is TECHNIQUES
important to know that, because the Camel Clan
doesn't own any land, these two caravanserai's are RANK 1: THE WAYS OF THE LAND
technically built on land leased from the Otomo The traveling merchants of the Rakuda are known
family in Toshi Ranbo and from the Unicorn at to always find their way. So long as you can see a
Desert Harbor. clear night sky (thus dense fog and stormy weather
negate this benefit), you can never get lost when
Since the opening of the Colonies to traveling on land or river while in Rokugan.
exploration, the Camel Clan has operated on the Additionally, if you have trained at Sabaku no
Unicorn route to the Second City. However, due Minato, you gain a +1k1 on all orientation rolls
to a lack of resources after the War, these caravans while in the Burning Sands.
roll, you begin the Skirmish with a +20 bonus to
your Initiative and gain a +3k0 bonus to all of your
attack and damage rolls for the duration of the
Skirmish.
Ancestral Item
SELMA'YA'S VEIL
Selma'ya's veil is a simple light blue cotton veil. It
was worn by the Clan founder when she met her
fianc for the first time and they both fell in love.
It is not particularly magical, but its exquisite
design gives a free raise for any seduction attempt
to its female wearer. Its usually passed from
mother to daughter (or stepdaughter).
17
We live to serve.
This is almost a matriarchal clan but the Schools, Paths & Dojos
true identity of the daimyo is known only by few 19
members as the clan function primordially cell by
cell, only receiving their orders from a mother cell Sensualists are sought after by high nobles and
and always by the back door. lords for not only their skills of pleasure, but for
their discerning wit, intelligence and ability to
All sensualists receive a daisho just before almost see into anyones very soul to determine
their gempuku. The true challenge of their their loyalties. But also often for their loss
ceremony is to manage to hide it well from their
sensei and to act in a convincing manner, hiding Only a few ever attain the last level of skill within
their true identity, in another cell official gempuku this hided school, perhaps less than 30 in all of
ceremony. Simple peasants, ronins, heimin people, Rokugan. Nobody knows really the number or
and even etas are always invited to assist at this where to find the dojo that teaches these
second and official celebration to make the thing techniques. It is rumored that Bayushi Kachiko
even harder. Thus, the wakizashi is more a symbol herself was in fact a grand mistress of the
of their status as samurais than a useful weapon. Sensualist School and a daimyo of the Cat Clan.
Because theyre often acting as simple hinins or
heimins, theyre rather nearly always specialists of
unarmed combat.
War
TECHNIQUES
The Phoenix do not enjoy the truth of
the Clan's origins, something most are not aware RANK 1: THROW THE BONES
to the full truth of. The use of bones from a slain Once per day you may make a Divination/Void
criminal as a vaunted artifact leads easily to roll against a TN of 20. If you succeed this roll, you
accusations of Maho. Compounding the issue is may reroll any one roll until dusk.
the habit of Cormorant Clan samurai finding
themselves in the middle of Maho-Tsukai RANK 2: FICKLE FORTUNE
incidents, following where Fate takes them of Prior to rolling for an attack you may ignore
course, which leads to easy accusations. The Exploding Dice. If you do so and still hit the
Cormorant being present where disaster might fall enemy, you may count any 10 you've rolled as a
is far more damning than being present where free Called Raise for the purpose of maneuvers.
blessings might occur, and bad press by the Great These Raises cant exceed your Void Ring.
Clans easily leads to them being slandered; losing
station and falling into even further obscure RANK 3: PULL THE STRINGS
history. If an enemy attacks you and misses, you may 23
choose to impose a penalty to the total of their
They do research mystical knowledge and attack rolls equal to your Divination Skill for the
esoteric traditions, and they do a good job and are remainder of the battle. This ability may affect a
responsible for making sure peasants are able to number of enemies equal to your Void Ring.
observe many of their rituals in peace. But their
origins are meager, borderline insulting, and their RANK 4: SLIP BENEATH
mystical sword style comes entirely out of luck and You may attack with Samurai weapons as a simple
being able to roll with the wheel of karma rather action. If your enemy has the Disbeliever
than remaining steadfast and trying to ride it. But Disadvantage or is Cursed by a Fortune, Increased
for a Cormorant, this is enough. They maintain Damage maneuvers grant +1k1 on the initial
strong ties with the Lynx Clan. called raise.
Now while the Jigokuten Style can be found being RANK 4: FIRE EFFICIENCY
used by many warriors of Rokugan, only the Drake By increasing the efficiency of his shots and
can boast knowing the true intricacies of its slashes, the Drake Bushi can completely
fighting style. overwhelm an enemy with a flurry of attacks.
When in Full Attack Stance, the Bushi gains two
SEIRYU BUSHI SCHOOL free raises when making an Extra Attack maneuver
Benefit: +1 Reflexes with his Main and Off-Hand attacks.
Skills: Craft: Firearms, Defense, Iaijutsu,
Firearms, Lore: Bushido, Lore: Gaijin RANK 5: MAXIMUM KILL Z ONE
Culture (Merenae), Kenjutsu At this point the Drake Bushi becomes an efficient
Honor: 6.0 killing machine able to mow down multiple
Outfit: Light Armor, Sturdy Clothing, opponents. Once per skirmish, spend a Void point
Daisho, Standard Sidearm, Traveling to make an attack with your main-hand weapon to
Pack, 5 koku. every enemy in melee range and an attack with
your off-hand weapon to every enemy in half
sidearm weapon's range. You may not make Raises
on these attacks.
The sun shines on the entire world
Dutiful servants
Rise and hunt through the dark grass
Founding
The Echidna Clan owns a small village on the
edge of the southern Shinomen Mori, just within
the trees, near their friendly neighbors of the Dog
The Echidna Clan was established due to the long
and Hedgehog Clans. The holdings are quite small
and loyal service of the Harinezumi family. The
and easy to miss. The Harinezumi have barely
original Harinezumi lineage was a ronin family of
enough subsidence farms to feed themselves and
little note, founded by a member of an unknown
must rely on the forest to sustain them. The forest
clan, exiled in shame. The Harinezumi lived as the
does support some trade - particularly to the
humblest of ronin, little better than peasants until
Unicorn clan who has less compunction about
one day; the scion of the family was saved from
purchasing animal hides and products.
bandits himself by an Emerald magistrate. The
Harinezumi, perhaps a little overawed due to his
bumpkin nature, swore himself and his entire
Demography
family in service to the Emerald Magistrate and his
organization. The Magistrate amused, agreed, but The Echidna Clan lives quite humbly for a clan,
was surprised when indeed, the ronins son due mostly to their lack of wealth though they
34 also try to remain close to nature and avoid
followed him, and then his grandson.
unnecessary frivolity.
Over multiple centuries the Harinezumi
continued to serve the Emerald Magistrates with Customs
constant loyalty, being dogged pursuers of bandits,
and contributing their experience at woodcraft. They see themselves as the protectors and helpers
of the lower order of Rokugan, which their minor
After a particular Harinezumi was being status helps remind them of. At home, Echidna
rewarded in the Imperial City for his service, the lives simply and close to nature, trying to foster
extent and length of his familys contribution was diligence in their students. Many Echidna samurai
revealed. Impressed, the Emperor offered the man serve in various capacities to members of other
to name a reward of his choice. To the surprise of clans they excel at tracking which makes them
everyone, the embarrassed samurai answered that popular as hunting guides and as assistants to
there was no reward as fulfilling as the honor of Emerald Magistrates.
service. Pleased with this humility and loyalty, the
Emperor called for the creation of the Echidna Though not particularly sociable, they
Clan named for a humble beast that hunted also tend to have more contacts among the
snakes and insects that would otherwise trouble peasant class than other samurai might have. The
the people of the Empire loyalty of an Echidna is widely noted, which is
another reason they make such good law enforcers
they are very difficult to bribe, since there is not
much they want aside from helping others.
As fighters the Echidna are solid and Schools, Paths & Dojos
uncomplaining, often fighting cautiously but rarely
giving ground their training also emphasizes HARINEZUMI BUSHI SCHOOL
toughness. Echidna Samurai are expected to be Benefit: +1 Agility
able to travel long and hard without complaint, Honor: 4.5
and are often noted by their employers to seem Skills: Spears OR Polearms, Defense,
little troubled by disease or exhaustion. Hunting, Investigation, Kyujutsu, Lore
(Nature), Any 2 Bugei Skills
Many Echidna find formal courts very Outfit: Sturdy Clothing, Ashigaru Armor,
disorienting, and the clan does not get much Yari OR Sasumata, Han-Kyu and 20
exposure, relying on other minor clans to help Arrows, Daisho, Traveling Pack, 3 Koku
them train courtiers. They invariably tend to come
off as rustic and simple in these settings the RANK 1: THE WAY OF THE E CHIDNA
Echidna are most comfortable in the village, farms The Echidna makes skilled assistants to
and forests of Rokugan. magistrates working in the field. You gain +1k0 on
attacks with Spear and Polearm weapons, and to
Though they do not have the innate social skill rolls made with Peasants. As well, you
spiritual connection to nature of the Kitsune, they may add your Ranks in your Hunting skill to any
have a deep respect for it and are often Investigation skill roll.
uncomfortable around cruelty towards animals -
many Echidna find it difficult not to speak up if RANK 2: MAINTAIN THE DISTANCE
they see a dog or horse being beaten. Some see Harinezumi Bushis learn to keep dishonorable
their direct and humble natures somewhat enemies at a distance. When wielding a weapon
dishonorable, but others approve of such firm with the Large Keyword you gain a bonus TN
loyalty and duty. against melee attacks from weapons with the Small
and/or Peasant Keywords, and Unarmed Attacks
THE HARINEZUMI FAMILY: +1 STAMINA (including those with Improvised Weapons), equal 35
to your School Rank x 2.
The Harinezumi would be, without their daisho
and samurai accoutrements, difficult to recognize RANK 3: PURITY OF INTENTION
as members of the noble caste. They tend to be The Harinezumi expose themselves to poisonous
short and sturdy in stature, and do not ornament materials in anticipation of those using such
themselves much, tending towards traditional hair dishonorable substances against them, and train
styles or short ones. with lengthy marches. You may add your School
Rank in Unkept Dice to Earth Ring, Stamina and
They are known to be quiet and Willpower rolls. You also do not suffer movement
hardworking people, and good foragers. Though penalties from traveling through thick forest or
many assume them to be foolish bumpkins, they woodlands.
can produce methodical and careful thinkers. They
are also known for their benevolent nature, to the RANK 4: ONE HUNDRED P OINTS
point that some have accused them of being too Righteousness always finds ways to punish the
soft hearted to be good samurai, or too idealistic to deserving. You may make attacks with weapons
succeed in clan politics. They tend to emphasize with Spear and Polearm weapons, and all weapons
loyalty and duty, at the cost of being somewhat of with the Samurai Keyword, as Simple Actions.
a "follower" clan with little ambition and many of
the Harinezumi find themselves adrift in courtly RANK 5: SPINES OF THE ECHIDNA
settings, being easy targets for mockery by those When an enemy makes a melee attack against you
more used to courtly ways - the Harinezumi are while you are in the Full Defense Stance and fails
therefore always grateful to find allies who can to hit, you may immediately spend a Void Point to
help them navigate the courts, or who are willing deal Xk1 damage to them, where X is your Earth
to train younger Harinizeumi in courtier schools. Ring. This damage also ignores Reduction.
"Coils within Coils"
The Eel Clan
Founding the river, the Eel do make heavy use of it in their
travels.
In the latter half of the 10th century, Kakita Inago outlandish and insulting tasks, or games that were
was one of the most influential men in all of almost impossible to beat.
Rokugan. As brother-in-law of Hantei XXXIII, he
was the closest advisor to the Emperor himself. The weird affectations of the Kakita
found their peak one day, when the young trainees
With a mind as sharp as his blade, Inago entered their training grounds and suddenly found
was also frequently assigned as a consulting sensei themselves surrounded by a buzzing swarm of
in the dojos of the Seppun. However, as the years grasshoppers, covering the walls, clothes and hair.
passed, Hantei XXXIII became a paranoid and Their sensei closed the gate shut behind them and
distrustful man and grew suspicious of the power explained with a grin: three of their fellow
and influence of his personal advisor. He devised a students had been turned into insects, whoever
plan to test the Kakita's loyalty to his lord, as the managed to catch the right ones was allowed to
task he was given was nothing short of impossible. leave again.
Kakita Inago was commanded to find a way into
Sakkaku, the Spirit Realm of Mischief, and bring Chaos broke out as students stumbled
back a token as proof of his journey. He had ten over one another, fingers and boots mixing with
42 days to finish this task, otherwise he would be insect wings, until one man raised his voice.
stripped of all his titles. There, in the middle of the scene, stood another
Kakita Inago, identical to their sensei. He
Being a man of honor and duty, Kakita explained calmly that he knew the solution to the
Inago left the capital immediately. Hantei XXXIII puzzle. When asked by the sensei what it was, the
was so sure of the success to let the upstart Crane new Inago drew his katana and challenged the old
disappear, that his face turned white as porcelain one to a duel. A minute of silence followed. Then
when only three days after his departure, Inago the grinning Kakita sensei suddenly vanished and
once again knelt in front of the throne. From his a small cat with red fur emerged from underneath
bag, he produced a patch of glowing red fur, taken his empty kimono, quickly fleeing the scene.
from a Bakeneko trickster spirit. Bound by his own
word, the Emperor had no choice but to accept the The real Kakita Inago explained the
Kakita back into his service. situation. He had indeed found a way to Sakkaku,
however it had taken him several years to find a
Several years had passed and Inago once way out again. In the meantime, a malicious
again worked beside the Emperor, but something trickster spirit must have taken his place. When he
had changed. Suddenly, all that seemed to interest was able to return to the capital, he was able to
him was the training with the Seppun, a task that sense the trickery at work. In truth, no students
filled him with an unusual delight. However, more had been transformed into insects, they were
and more days ended in utter frustration and surrounded by normal grasshoppers. The only false
resignation from the students, ridiculed even more creature that day had been the shapeshifter
by the joy of their teacher. He would pose overly himself.
complicated riddles to the young Seppun, or
Inago was once again offered to retake his stories of supernatural trickery and magic in other
position in the palace, but this time he refused. He parts of Rokugan, it is almost certain that at least a
did not accomplish the task in ten days, he few Grasshopper samurai make their way there to
reasoned, so he had no right to claim his title. investigate. This is especially true for those places
Emperor Hantei XXXIII saw the sincerity where the borders between Ningen-do and
in the Crane's words. Instead of inviting him back Sakkaku are thin and penetrable.
into his service, Inago was given the right to create
his own Clan, training new students with the Being a Clan with strong ties to the Imperial
knowledge he gained from his journey to Sakkaku. Families and the Crane alike, the Grasshoppers
Inago humbly accepted and chose the grasshopper never really had any economic problems. As long
as his mon, to always remember the trick that gave as they were doing their jobs as hunters of
birth to his new family. malicious trickster spirits and experts on all things
concerning Sakkaku, they usually found
Geography & Economy themselves well fed, financially secure and
politically stable.
46
"Here I stand, me and my brothers".
The Hedgehog Clan needed. They strengthened their ranks quite often
through marriages with Moto vassals, offering
occasions of collaboration with the Unicorn clan
Founding
when these were needed by the Hida lords. More
than one Harinezumi has traces of Unicorn blood
in his veins.
Unknown to most people the plague of
the Dark Moto started long before the 12th
The strong will required to keep a
century. Already in the 9th century, not long after
spearwall formation facing a cavalry charge
Moto Tsume's demise, the first Dark Moto
became a distinctive trait of the Harinezumi,
appeared harassing the Crab lands. Their army did
making their hard wills proverbial. The
not have the dimensions and the organization
Harinezumi remained a minor but efficient vassal
displayed in the 12th century but a few times when
family serving the Hida with their spears and
they managed overcoming the Kaiu Kabe or the
stubborn demeanor through time.
Twighlight Mountains. 47
All of this changed in 1126, with the
Almost automatically a group of Crab
Battle of the Beiden Pass. Harinezumi Nobuo, the
warriors started developing special anti-cavalry
Daimyo of the Harinezumi family, stood on the
techniques. The warriors started perfecting the use
side of the Crab line, waiting for his warriors to
of long Yari to display in tight formation for
stop the charge of the Sons of Shinjo.
resisting cavalry charge. Hida Hironoda, a Hida
sensei who lived in the late 10th century, is usually
Nobuo has endured his lord's order of
credited for the creation of this technique but, to
leaving the wall to march against the empire; he
be true, his rudiments appeared on the battlefields
has obeyed Hida Kisada even when he noticed
already in the 9th century. Nevertheless Hironoda
that they were allying with the older enemy, the
became famous for perfecting the technique and
Shadowlands. He did not display his anger when
for his efforts in strengthening the brotherhood
he saw no Crab complaining about this foolish
spirit inside the spearmen units. He used to say
pact.
that a spearwall can stand only as far as his weaker
member remembers strong and care for his
Nevertheless, on that fatal day on the
brothers. His actions were noticed by the Crab
Beiden Pass everything changed. The Harinezumi
Champion who wanted to make him the head of a
spearmen were deployed on a flank of the
vassal family. Hironoda gladly accepted but he
formation, ready to stop the charge of Unicorn
refused to use his own name prefering the word
cavalry. Nobuo waited until the riders were half
"Harinezumi" or "Hedgehog" since this was the
way in thri charge the, at the last minute, he said:
word used to call the spearwall formation. He
the hedgehog stands only by his brothers. As he
wanted his family to be identified with the strong
said so all of his men retired from the battlefield
units spearmen uniterd by bonds of brotherhood,
allowing the cavalry of Shinjo Yasamura to strike
not to bring glory to his own name.
deeply into Crab flanks. With this single action
the whole Harinezumi family became a Ronin
Given their hatred for the Dark Moto the
group.
Harinezumi became also an excellent mean of
collaboration with the Unicorn clan, when
Somebody accused Nobuo that he Unexpected Hero, between the western side of the
preferred his Unicorn cousins over his Crab Shinomen forest and the southernmost Unicorn
brothers but the Harinezumi always reply that a border. Here the Hironoda family stands as a
Crab cannot consider a brother those who mix bastion against possible Shadowlands armies who,
with Shadowlands spawn. crossing the Twighlight Mountains could attack
the Unicorn lands from the south. It already
Kisada swore revenge against his former happened in the past, with the Dark Moto
vassals and order was given to slay all Harinezumi ravaging of those provinces, and it could still
families in Crab lands. The revenge was dire, even happen in the future. When the Desert Moto
women and children were killed. Suddenly the settled in the Enkaku province the Hedgehog
Harinezumi warriors found themselves cut off from accepted them happily as friendly neighbors,
their roots, cast away from their clan and having offering gift exchanges and coordinating the
lost all their relatives. But Toturi remembered the defense on the western side of the Shinomen forest
actions of Nobuo and accepted them in his army. with the Dog and Echidna Clans.
The Harinezumi spearmen followed The Hironoda lands are not particularly
Toturi throughout the war, acting with fealty and rich, so the Hedgehog collects what they can from
courage. With the raise of Toturi to the Imperial multiple small sources. They trade with the Ide
Throne a general will of setting the matter was provinces but, since not many Gaijin nomads pass
fealt. The Crab could not openly admit their error through their lands, they cannot benefit from trade
in standing with the Shadowlands but neither taxes. Their farmers manage cultivating the lands
could they re-admit the Harinezumi among their nearby the River of the Unexpected Hero but the
ranks, since they clearly betrayed their lord. On climate is too dire during winter for allowing good
their part the Harinezumi could not help but hate rice harvests.
the Crab not just for having sided with the
Shadowlands but also for having destroyed the The Hedgehog recently discovered good
Harinezumi families. Toturi found a solution. As and pure clay banks on the river side, so they hope
part of the agreements through which Kisada was produce pottery which would power up their
elected as a Fortune Toturi managed to prize economy; however they have not yet managed
Harinezumi Nobuo with the foundation of a new organizing a proper production. The Hedgehog
minor clan: the Hedgehog was born. elite is trying to attract famous potters through
48 court actions but they have been unsuccessful thus
The first decision made by Nobuo was to far. Their political power is very low, and mostly
change the family name. The old name based on their Unicorn allies, and their lands on
"Harinezumi/Hedgehog" was kept with the clan the border of the empire are not very attractive for
name but he wanted a family name which never famous artists.
was subdued under the Crab rule: he chose
Hironoda. The name of the Crab sensei who did Given the paucity of resources the Hedgehog were
not want it to be used for a vassal family became forced to seek them on the border of the
now the name of the ruling family of a Minor Shinomen, collecting wood, fruits and game. The
Clan. ex-Crab samurai here had to developing Hunting
skills they were not used to in their old homelands.
Geography & Economy
Demography
Founding
It's a story we've all heard, and if we haven't, we As they traveled back to the Imperial
should have. The Emperor is traveling through his Capitol and the haze of the concussion lifted, the
Empire when his entourage is suddenly ambushed Emperor had a horrible realization: He had totally
by Bloodspeakers, slaying his guards and nearly forgotten about the existence of the Hare Clan,
him as well. Only the efforts of a heroic ronin and they existed for the exact purpose he would
come between the Emperor and death at the hands give to Naomi's clan. He could not cheapen the
of a maho-tsukai; one samurai saves the Empire deeds of Reichin and his ancestor in creating the
from falling into chaos and darkness. To show his Hare by essentially copying them, but nor could he
gratitude, the Emperor rewards his savior by go back on his word that he would award Naomi
granting him a Minor Clan. You know this as the her own clan.
origin of the Hare Clan. But that was just the first
53
time it happened. So he delegated, and the Otomo were
tasked with finding purpose for the clan. After
The second time, it was Hantei XXIII some deliberation, it was decided this clan would
ambushed on the road, managing just barely to be protector of the peasantry, and would be called
escape, covered in his own blood, jaw shattered, the Hummingbird Clan -- as Naomi expressed no
royal finery stripped away, suffering from a serious preference of animals and the Otomo daimyo liked
concussion. And the ronin was a taciturn samurai- hummingbirds.
ko named Naomi, who came across the half-dead
Hantei by a river. She traveled with a band of Naomi and some ex-ronin followers who
peasants she had evacuated from an area took her name settled in their land in White Grass
threatened by the Bloodspeakers, and she took the Village, and began protecting the peasantry to the
Hantei with her as well, despite the fact that she best of their ability. The Crane saw this and spread
had no idea he was anything but a peasant and he word that this meant the adjacent Lion lacked the
could not speak to tell her, despite the fact that ability to take care of their own peasants, enraging
the seriously wounded man would slow them down the Lion Clan. The Otomo, fearing their pet
and drain their resources, because she would not project would be destroyed due to their error,
see anyone, samurai or peasant, be left behind. decided to change the Clan's purpose -- after all,
the dictates of the Otomo are not the immutable
When she led her group to safety in the will of the Heavens, why can't the Otomo say they
next province and the Emperor had his jaw healed have found a better solution? The task of the
enough to speak, he revealed who he was, Hummingbird clan was changed. Precedent was
shocking everyone. He turned to address Naomi, established, and from there, the floodgates were
who feared she would be executed for having the open.
peasants place their hands on him to carry him, Over the years, the Hummingbird have
and thanked her. He said she would be rewarded had hundreds of purposes. They have been bushi,
with ruleship of a Minor Clan, and bade her to courtiers, artisans, scouts, merchants, navigators,
return to Otosan Uchi with his new entourage as diplomats. They serve each task to the best of their
soon as it was assembled. ability, and inevitably some other great or minor
Clan objects to their task, how they perform it, or smattering of members from other Clans. The
the fact that they perform it and not someone else, Hummingbird's samurai population is quite high in
and the Otomo family changes the Clan's purpose relation to its peasant population, only about 3000
to something less objectionable. There was a time peasants, owing to a population boom during the
when the Naomi samurai hoped that the Otomo prosperous period when the Naomi were merchant
would find a permanent place for them in the patrons.
Empire, but now they don't even bother with that The population, samurai and peasant, is
false hope. They have to study everything, be mostly urban and is completely unsustainable on
ready for any job, because the Heavens alone know the lands the Hummingbird own. This is why
what the Otomo will have them do next. around half of all Hummingbird samurai are out
working for other Clans at any given time, not just
Geography & Economy so that they can bring others with new knowledge
back to teach the Clan, but so they can secure
enough rice to feed their people, using the one
Shiro Naomi, the Hummingbird capitol, lies next thing they have in abundance.
to the Hummingbird's only city, White Grass
Village. The village was once on the edge of Crane Peasants under the Hummingbird clan
and Lion territory, but due to recent military number among the most well-treated in the
victories of the past fifty years, now lies entirely Empire. They are well-educated, offered limited
within Lion lands. It has avoided annihilation at tutoring at Shiro Naomi, treated kindly, and given
the hands of its neighbors solely because it a great deal of autonomy. The last item is
happens not to lie on any line drawn between any considered the most beneficial to their samurai
major Lion stronghold and any major Crane masters; if the content and loyal peasants will
holding. happily run their own affairs, that's one less thing
the Naomi have to worry about, freeing up a lot
The size of Hummingbird territory cannot more time and effort to pursue their studies at
produce enough rice to feed its population, and the home and abroad.
Clan must import the rice to feed itself and pay its
taxes. The Naomi produce little goods, and those Customs
they do make are highly varied, weapons and
armor to tools to artwork to on a few occasions, It is ironic that the Clan's lack of consistent
54 boats. Most of their economy centers around the purpose throughout the years has not left them
exchange of services; a samurai who requires a listless and adrift, but shaped their lives and
consultant or who is tasked to do something he is customs into a very defined, very unusual
not skilled at may employ a Naomi to substitute structure. The Naomi have experience in a broad
for him, in return, he either goes to Shiro Naomi number of fields, and seek to expand their base of
to teach a skill he does possess, or he can simply knowledge to pass on to their descendants. Their
remunerate in the form of rice. lives are devoted to the pursuit of knowledge; not
for its own sake, but because they believe they
To prepare for whatever task they may be might be called upon to use it. Naomi samurai
asked to do, the Hummingbird clan is always begin their studies from a very young age, taught in
looking to add to its skill base by taking in, groups by their elder samurai in every topic in
temporarily or permanently, skilled instructors which they have expertise, offering hands-on
from other Clans in exchange for offering their lessons where applicable. The samurai gempukku
services to the other Clans; most Naomi samurai early, at 13, by undergoing a series of tests on
will spend a great deal of time employing their topics they have never been educated in, to see if
skills for other samurai in order to secure they can infer from what they do know how to
knowledge or funding for the Clan. solve the unfamiliar problems. And after this
gempukku, the Naomi samurai go right back to
Demography classes, the only change to which is that they may
The Hummingbird Clan consists of roughly 750 now be tutored by teachers from outside the Clan.
Samurai of the Hummingbird clan are expected to
samurai, about half to one third of which are remain in school for most of their lives, with
'abroad' at any one time. Most of them come from exceptions for infirmity and for times when the
Lion, Crane, and Scorpion stock, with a small samurai is abroad.
The tradition of "trading knowledge" While individual Hummingbird samurai may be
might be called mercenary by some, but not within employed as bodyguards or advisors for Clan
earshot of the Naomi family. They don't consider armies, and in years of especially bad harvest the
that they are really "selling their services", they are Clan's budoka have been lent to other Clans for
trading, and they are substituting. A samurai has use as sappers, the Clan's general attitude toward
something he needs done that he hasn't the skill warfare is to stay as far away from it as possible.
to do, so a Naomi samurai will substitute for him. This is not always easy with the Lion adjacent to
And that samurai has some skill or expertise the them, but by carefully ensuring they never, ever do
Naomi lack enough of, so he will travel to Shiro anything to offend them, they've managed to stay
Naomi for a time and teach it, in order to increase out of harm's way.
the depth or breadth of their knowledge. The fact
that sometimes they receive money for the service Recent Events
is really only secondary.
Members of all Clans have been known No specific timeline of duties for the
to employ the services of the Hummingbird, Hummingbird Clan is given, players and GMs are
generally low- to mid-ranking samurai without the encouraged to invent as many absurd and unlikely
means or pull to have things done themselves, or Clan duties as they want to justify why the Naomi
who need long-term advisors without having the samurai might teach a certain fact or skill. They
status to merit one. The most frequent patrons of are currently without a specific purpose, after the
the Clan's services are the Crane, Dragon and Mantis Clan declared themselves Defender of the
Scorpion. The Crane are fond of sponsoring People and, for the ninth time, the Hummingbird
Naomi artisans for the unconventional "outsider had the task of some form of "protect the
art" perspective they can bring, as well as the fact peasantry" taken from them. Before that, the
that a Naomi taking care of the mundane things mission to be the liaisons between the Great Clans
frees them up to enjoy the finer things. The and the Imperial Families, which was shot down by 55
Dragon can sometimes find, in their search for the Miya due to the fact that they were barely
inner wisdom and knowledge for its own sake, that being used and it overlapped far too much with the
they lack knowledge of a more immediately useful Miya's duties, preceding another period of
and practical nature, and employ the Naomi to fill joblessness.
this gap. And the Scorpion, those who know of
them, absolutely adore the services of Naomi The current daimyo is Naomi Yui, a
samurai because nobody can ever be sure just why woman who was granted the position by Naomi
one was brought in. The Naomi could have been Norio after he stepped down. She has served for far
called in as a yojimbo, a code breaker, a healer, an longer than most daimyo, a period of eight years,
engineer, or he could be there to remodel the and shows no sign of preparing to step down from
interior of the lord's house -- and over his career the traditionally-temporary position. She aged
he may have done all of those at one point or about ten years over the first half of her tenure as
another! daimyo, overstressed and overworked tracking all
of the Clan's business and comings and goings,
One other custom of note for the every year certain that this is the year the ends
Hummingbird Clan is the fact that they have an won't meet, they won't make enough rice to feed
open invitation to every samurai in the Empire to the people and pay taxes. In the most recent four
attend their Winter Court. Those few who know years her health and mood raised considerably,
of it and have no better place to go will find the though she remained an intensely private woman.
Naomi are hospitable and accommodating, and This is because she began taking advice in private
quite grateful for their presence. Soon after that from her budoka assistant, a peasant named Sae,
they will find that the Hummingbird has very little and after that took more and more until the
politics to discuss and doesn't have a Winter Court peasant is now expertly conducting most of the
so much as a Winter Semester, where they are Clan's business through Yui. The stress of keeping
expected to contribute. this secret is starting to outweigh the load lifted
from Yui's shoulders -- respecting the peasantry is
War one thing, and this is another. This is the kind of
thing that gets entire Families destroyed.
the Naomi family mon is now an absolutely
THE NAOMI FAMILY: +1 INTELLIGENCE indecipherable mass of squiggles. Copies of the
mon, scaled up to three feet across so as to be
Always eager to marry new members in from the readable, are kept at Kyuden Otomo, Toshi Ranbo,
Great Clans, the Naomi have blood from all and Shiro Naomi; Naomi samurai wear a mon that
corners of the Empire, but are primarily Scorpion, contains the kanji for "substitute", meaning "This
Crane, and Lion. Physically fit but almost never is a substitution for the actual mon, on file with
muscular, the Naomi would tend to be quite the Otomo."
attractive if they dressed or carried themselves in a Family Rules (Optional): Members of the Naomi
way that in any way accented their appearance. family receive one additional character point for
They favor short, conservative hairstyles for both the Obligation disadvantage.
men and women, go clean-shaven, and wear
clothing that is functional rather than attractive. Schools, Paths, & Dojos
The Naomi family has suffered a long It is a bit of a misnomer to say that the
string of minor humiliations at the hands of the Hummingbird clan has a bushi school or a courtier
Otomo's constant attempts to find a place for school (though we will say it anyway). The Naomi
them, and they tend to take such things in stride, dojo is an everything school, teaching bushi,
not because they don't value their own honor but courtier, scout, and even a smattering of shugenja
because they don't see the importance of the techniques to those who can learn them, all side
insult. They have a well-developed sense of by side. The difference between a Naomi Bushi
humor, though ironic and a touch cynical, and and a Naomi Courtier is not which school they
they are far more likely to roll their eyes and have entered and trained in, but which skills they
inwardly scoff at another samurai's ignorance than have been better able to pick up when taught.
they are to do or say anything about it. Though There is, of course, marked amounts of overlap,
they appear humble, they do like to show off their and a Naomi Bushi may be called upon to perform
knowledge in subtler ways -- they often give a courtier duties and vice versa. All the more reason
complicated or obscure answer when a simple one for the Hummingbird samurai to have as wide a
will do, then pretend not to notice when anyone range as possible.
reacts.
The Naomi are often traveling around the NAOMI FACTOTUM
56 Empire, filling in for one samurai or another who [BUSHI] (New Path)
finds he lacks a skill he needs. This, and their Technique Rank: 1
constant and wide range of educations, engenders Replaces: Any bushi school at Rank 1.
a worldly and generally pragmatic outlook on life. School Bonus: +1 Agility
By this point, most families of samurai would have School Skills: Athletics, Defense,
found some other way to make the koku for their Kenjutsu, and any four other skills
taxes, and nearly all would have stopped putting Starting Equipment: Same as the origin
up with the Otomo's efforts and just accepted school
being a Clan without purpose. That's really the Starting Honor: 2.0
Naomi family's secret: Deep down, they like to feel
wanted and useful. TECHNIQUE : THE NAMELESS WAY
The Naomi bushi does not limit himself to just the
The Naomi actually hate being called the study of combat and you still maintain the wide
Hummingbird Clan, or showing their clan mon (a expertise for which is Clan is known. When you
simple drawing of a hummingbird), because take this technique, you gain an additional 12
hummingbirds have nothing to do with any part of experience points that may only be spent on
their Clan identity and there's nothing glamorous purchasing and increasing High, Merchant, and
about them. They much prefer to just be called the Bugei skills. If taken at character creation, you
Naomi family. They never show the Naomi family must still obey the normal maximum limit for
mon, either, though that is for practical reasons. raising skills. Additionally, after you have directly
As every time the Otomo have given them a encountered a Bushi School or Class's technique
purpose, they have added something signifying once, you count as having "studied it in some
that to the family mon, and since they won't deny detail" for purposes of buying ranks in a skill linked
their past by removing something from the mon,
to this school or technique that you dont possess Ancestral Items
and have a bonus rank of 1 on it.
Even while in court, the Fushii try to Mechanically, the Fushii courtiers excel in two
attend regular services and prayers. While this areas: resisting manipulation by higher-ranked
gives them a reputation for stuffiness and a holier- opponents, and helping others. This supporting
than-thou attitude (which not many would role is the result of the Brotherhood's influence, as
outright speak against), they are also known to most Monks are designed to be supporting
genuinely enjoy festivals and spread appreciative characters in varied areas.
spirit at those times.
The Shrine of the Stone Sutra is home to a sect of ORDER OF THE HIGH PATH
militant monks. They are devoted adherents of
Shintao and believe that physical prowess can be a The Order of the High Path is an offshoot of
direct consequence of spiritual enlightenment. Shinmaki, a highly heterodox sect questioning
Therefore, they test themselves in physical activity many strictures of society as imposing limits on
the way other sects use koans, in order to bypass enlightenment. Yet they are not firebrands, but
the incomplete tools of words and logic. The rather tend to isolate themselves in order to
Shrine and its affiliated temples also offer explore enlightenment. Many members are
protection to the pilgrims and to other sects in the hermits or the lone caretakers of small shrines, but
Three Schools region. there is one large and isolated monastery, which is
traditionally headed by an elder nun. 61
Devotion: Shintao
Benefit: +1 Stamina Devotion: Shinmaki (Shintao)
Honor: 4.5 Benefit: +1 Intelligence
Skills: Jiujutsu, Staves, Lore: Theology Honor: 4.5
(Shintao), Meditation, Defense, any two Skills: Meditation, Tea Ceremony,
skills. Defense, Investigation, Lore: Theology
Technique: Even the Pebble The Order teaches (Shintao), any Lore skill, any one skill.
that strength is much less important than the Technique: Inwards, Outwards The Order's
ability to endure the tribulations which will bring relentless pursuit of internal enlightenment allows
enlightenment. Whenever you spend a Void point them to unlock their potential. You can have two
to reduce damage received, you can ignore up to Internal kiho active at the same time.
20 points of damage.
HAJIME NINJA
HAJIME BUSHI SCHOOL (NEW PATH)
This nemuranai is a special creation of Hajime The second form to bypass the Lynx's
Tsukiko and is only given out only to high ranking Ward is by wearing a powerful amulet known as
officers of the Lynx in addition to the delegation the Amulet of the Lynx (see description). This
leaders of the Shosuro-Ikoma Alliance as well. The nemuranai will allow free passage through the
amulet takes the form of a small blue crystal shard mists to you in addition to a handful of individuals.
about half an inch long and is usually worn on a
metal chain around the neck. These shards are TSUKIKO'S LEGACY
crafted from a large piece of crystal named the Star
of the Lynx that was given to them by the Phoenix Tsukikos tied a little part of herself to her mask to
when the Clan was founded. Any samurai wearing guide the future generation of her beloved Clan.
the amulet is able to pass safely through the Lynx While wearing Tsukiko's Mask, you are bestowed
Shrouds barrier of mist and illusions, and can with the ability to see into the future for a brief
bring up to ten others of his choice with him moment. Mechanically this is treated as the the
safely. Initially colorless the shards take a blue hue Advantage Inner Gift Lesser Prophecy, and can
after the Lynx Shugenja perform a ritual that only be used by a shugenja once per game session.
imbues the bearer to safely cross the mists. The You also gain a Free Raise on any spells with the
properties of the amulet are never disclosed to Ward keyword.
anyone outside the clan with the exception of the
leaders of the Shosuro-Ikoma Alliance.
Amongst the Blind, the Sighted shall go unseen.
Most samurai, outside of the Moth at least, are Geography & Economy
blissfully unaware of the history of the Moth.
Founded in 396 by Isawa Ga, who had been The lands of the Moth lie to the north of the Lion
rewarded for Moth unspecified services to the and west of the Phoenix, on the eastern edge of
empire, their initial purpose was never clear: Their the forests that lay to the southeast of Drowned
official charter was to protect a revered shrine to Merchant River and almost directly west of the
Fukurokujin in the at-then unaligned village of Valley of Two Generals. It is largely a flat,
Forests Crossing but beyond that they had little temperate area that becomes damper and more
land, no duties and few supporters in other clans. wild the further one progresses away from the
Even from the beginning, in spite of his imperial plains and past the copses into the deep recesses of
recognition, Ga found himself stonewalled by his the forest, Once tamed, these grounds have proven
former clan. The neighboring Lion were little quite fertile and rich in resources such as timber
67
more respectful, combining their disdain for the and, surprisingly, stone. Because of this the clan
minor clans and their contempt for Phoenix has managed to become almost self-sufficient,
philosophy. though they must still trade during the rare times
they require iron or other metals.
While all the details of their founding
given in the official records are, strictly speaking, With most of their samurai being out in
true they fail to capture the true reasons for the the empire, the Moth has needed external ways to
creation of the Moth: As a dumping ground for pay their way. This has often been by acting as
those samurai whose tendency to imagine dark messengers, scribes or just as scholars for hire.
conspiracies had led them to stumble upon (or Particularly amongst the minor clans who do not
arouse the suspicion of) the first Gozoku. It was a command the favors necessary to retain the
largely successful campaign the poor men and services of a great clan sage on anything
women 'honored' with marriage into the Moth approaching a regular basis.
became too busy adjusting to life in the ever more
secluded clan and the sheer breadth of samurai The primary 'city' of the Moth is Shiro Ga,
sent down to them made it nearly impossible for situated right on the edge of the forest proper.
anyone to see the patterns emerging exempting Considering it a true Shiro is perhaps somewhat
the Moth themselves. The scholarly and courtly presumptuous on the part of the Moth many
traditions that were common to their early recruits clans think of it as little more than a fortified
quickly allowed them to perceive something of a household overlooking a small village but it does
guiding nature to their predicament and how it satisfy the traditional requirements of a Shiro. The
related to the ever-shifting imperial records. This fortified castle occupied by a daimyo even if it is
led Ga to create a second, unofficial, charter for roughly the size of a Crab outpost, with far fewer
the Moth: To catalogue all information they could defenses.
gather, regardless of content or the politics of
history.
Shiro Ga sits not far from a common thrice been extended to samurai outside the clan.
trade route between the Lion and Phoenix lands, Outsiders who stay within the Moths lands often
as well as being situated within a reasonable find discussions between shugenja to be
distance of the eastern section of Drowned exceedingly arcane and difficult to follow and are
Merchant River. The clan does a brisk trade in frequently unnerved by the tendency for word to
allowing travelling samurai the chance to lodge in spread faster than a man on foot could carry it.
their houses and, in the case of more scholarly
persons, the use of their remarkably broad library, One of the few constant beliefs within
which also doubles as a shrine to Fukurokujin. the clan is that outsiders are to be trusted only
Unusually astute theologians will find that it also after proving their faithfulness. While the clan is
contains a large section dedicated to Muzaka, the willing to grant the use of many things in return
Fortune of Enigmas. for the right favors, much of their library and
understanding is withheld from visiting samurai
Demography until the relationship has blossomed.
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, You may spend a Void point as a Complex Action
they possess few of these weapons. A handful of and roll of your Perception/Water against your
maho scrolls taken from denounced maho-tsukai. enemy Willpower/Earth. Add your Insight Rank to
Some aged, unfinished tomes on the Shadow your result. If successful, the target is drained of all
copied from the Scorpion when Shosuro Heiji fled thought and forgets everything she lived for the 10
the purging of the Shinobi after Oblivions Gate, minutes (or an entire skirmish) and is dazed for a
feigning death before eventually joining the Moth, Round. You also gain a free raise on any spells with
and two Obsidian-tipped Yari recovered near the the Divination tag.
Wall.
GMs Note: For games with a more
It may not be much, but in the hands of conspiratorial/horror tone, the above technique
Kajiko it may be enough. Even as she and her should be adjusted to play up the corrupting nature
followers pore over every text in a terrible search of its use feel free to throw in any or all the signs
for a hope of survival, she prays that her treachery of shadow corruption, up to and including Shadow
will do more than delay the destruction of her Points for using it. In a particularly grim game, this
family. could even spill over into affecting a non-branded
recipient of such technique.
THE GA FAMILY+1 INTELLIGENCE
Spells: Sense, Commune, Summon, 3 Water, 2
The Moth clan has only one family, the Ga. It was Air, 1 Earth
founded by Isawa Ga and the leadership of the
family has passed down the line uninterrupted
Ancestral Items
The Nightingale Clan discovered that their leader had contracted the
taint, and while he fought it, rather than be
overwhelmed, he decided to commit seppuku,
Founding leaving the group to Shionos care.
Shiono traveled the Empire for a few This went on for nearly a decade, with no
years, provoking duels in anger and bitterness, praise for their actions or deeds, until chance
until he came upon a group of samurai whose would intervene. The group of samurai was
leader followed the tenets of Sun Tao. The returning to their small stronghold from a foray
follower of Sun Tao engaged Shiono in a duel, and against an ogre, when they came upon a convoy
bested him. However, rather than taking Shionos under attack by a group of Forest Killers. Though
life, he offered the man a place amongst his groups. they were outnumbered two to one, the element of
Not long after, the call went out to the Empire: surprise and their tactics aided them against the
The Crab needed aid. The Maw was attacking, and enemy unit. They were able to sow enough
the empire was in grave danger. confusion and casualties amongst the Forest Killers
that they were able to extract the caravan, and
The group traveled south, and was escort them to their own village, which had been
effective in battle, though they gained little named Nightingales Rest.
prestige. Many of their number remained with the
Crab, swearing fealty and bettering their lot in life. It was there that they found the caravan
The few that remained returned to their village to be a Scorpion magistrate collecting taxes. The
that lay in a mountain crevice in the Spine of the Forest Killers had attacked from ambush, and of
World Mountains. the initial 50 samurai that were assigned to guard
it, only a handful remained. The Forest Killers had
Having seen all of the clans united, if recovered quickly, and set up a siege point outside
even for a short time, in a common cause so of their small valley. While the Forest Killers
shortly after a major war had been averted, caused couldnt attack the village without potentially
Shiono to obtain a small measure of calm. Their being destroyed, Shiono and the Scorpion couldnt
group began to grow again. However, it was reach for outside help.
The standoff lasted for weeks, and even granted minor clan status, with the purpose of
though they were only a few weeks travel from a maintaining peace within the parts of the empire
very busy crossroad of the empire, there was no that escaped notice at times. It came as a bit of a
sign of aid. With the storehouses reserve shock to Shiono that they had been sponsored for
dwindling, Shiono hatched a plan. He moved such a role, not only by the Scorpion Clan
outside of the stronghold, and shouted a challenge Champion, but by the Dragon Clan Champion as
to the leader of the Forest Killers. He would face well.
each of the bandits in single combat. If he should
fall to any of them, the village would surrender, as Geography and Economics
well as the caravan.
The Forest Killers leader accepted, and The Nightingale Clan has what is considered to be
Shiono moved to the deadzone between arrow a single province, though it is far smaller than
range of either side. He awaited his opponent, who most. Little more than a large box canyon, with
emerged from the mouth of the canyon that led to Nightingale Village situated against its rear wall, it
Nightingales Rest. Each side was ready for is said to be one of the more defensible positions in
treachery to emerge from the enemy, thus, each the area. The entrance to the canyon starts at a
maintained its place save for the two duelists. small pass that is easily missed if an outsider isnt
Shiono dispatched the first, then the second, and looking for it, and though it transitions into a
so on, until he had defeated 10 opponents. fairly wide valley, it is fortified well enough to keep
even large forces at bay should they attempt to
The leader of the Killers had been intrude.
studying the technique of Shiono, and thought he
had the bushis measure. He emerged from his At the center of the village is a relatively
group of bandits, confident that he would easily be large torid-e, that houses not only the Daimyos
able to best the samurai, who seemed to be residence, but also the two dojo of the Nightingale
flagging. He met with Shiono, who had removed Clan. Both schools reflect the myriad teachings
his shirt to reveal his tattoos. The two stood only a that its founding members had, tempered by their
swords distance from each other, and all was still. duty to the empire. One would not think a minor
However, Shionos stance was different. It was clan would have the ability to develop two schools
neutral, his arms at his side. It was not until in such a relatively short period of time, however,
72 Shiono drew both blades, that the Forest Killers it is easily explained.
leader realized that he was dead. His final action
was to call for a charge, before he was decapitated. Though there is enough arable land to
sustain the population of peasants and samurai, it
With the forces now equal, and the is only just enough to allow for them to remain
backing of the few remaining Scorpion, Shionos healthy and set enough aside for storage. The
force carried the day. The samurai of Nightingales clans wealth comes from their trade in the
Rest escorted the caravan to the village of Beiden, abundant varieties of ores and gems that they mine
where they were allowed to remain to visit. from the surrounding mountains. The vast
Initially, the local daimyo sought to have Shiono majority of this would go to the emperor for taxes,
and his followers incarcerated. They were, after all, if it werent for the fact that Beiden pays for the
using the emperors land without permission, and taxes of the Nightingale Clan.
hadnt paid taxes for all the years that
Nightingales Rest had existed. This is due to a judgment by the Scorpion
Champion himself. After the governor of Beiden,
The plan almost worked, until two as well as his immediate relatives were given a
magistrates, one Soshi trained, the other Kitsuki home in Traitors Grove, he sanctioned the village
trained, appeared in Beiden with evidence and for allowing its governor to become corrupt. This
testimony that the local daimyo had been behind allowed for the population to not be expunged, but
the plot to rob the caravan. Furthermore, Shiono also kept the Scorpion on good terms with the
and his followers were granted amnesty for the tax Nightingale, something that has served the
burden, and were given the mountain valley they Scorpion well over the years for what they
inhabited as their own land, as they had been consider a small price.
Whenever the previous Clan Champion
Customs retires, he shaves his head, and retires to a small
shrine that is perched atop the rear wall of the box
canyon, along with other retiring members of the
Generally speaking, a member of the Nightingale Nightingale. However, the samurai of the
Clan is your typical Rokugani. As a matter of Nightingale do not take the vows of a monk.
course, theyre almost too Rokugani. This is due to Rather, they maintain their samurai status, so that
the fact that their members have always come from they can serve the clan in the capacity of a
different walks of life ever since their inception. samurai, should the clan require it.
Many of their customs are adopted from otokodate,
minor clans, and even major clans due to former The monastery serves a secondary purpose
members that live their life on the waves joining as well, one initially created by Shiono himself,
the Nightingale. with the help of an ise zumi. Should a ronin join
from the outside, and already have knowledge of
The single custom they have preserved is techniques, they are sent to the monastery. There,
that their women samurai are not allowed to both they are taught how to forget their past, if they so
be active in combat and married. This is due to the desire, so that they can be taught the ways of the
fact that at their core, the Nightingale are very Nightingale. Few have undertaken this exercise, as
regimented, to the point that they maintain many it is a strenuous thing to unlearn what one already
customs from years gone by. Generally, the most knows. The process has been known to take
married women are allowed to do, are to be upwards of two and a half years to forget.
artisans or courtiers, and this is only after their
children have begun their training. War
Ikaso was a ronin shugenja who has been raised The Nightingale were formed nearly a decade after
and taught in a monastery. Her origins as the The Maws first attack. From that time until the
daughter of an ishi and a peasant mattered little to Scorpion Clan Coup, they perform their duties as
any who came into contact with her, for even set down by the Emperor. Following the Coup,
though she was quiet and detached, her mere they quietly offer many Scorpion a place to call
presence could calm those in her vicinity. She home. When Kisada marches north to Beiden
taught her children and followers the ways of the Pass, many of their members join Toturis Army,
kami, and demanded that they be knowledgeable though they do so under the guise of being Ronin.
about the beliefs and customs of the empires
people. Throughout the Clan War, they see a
steady decline of their number, until they have
Today, their close ties to the many of the various only enough members to protect their home
orders of monks, as well as the different otokodate against the Shadowlands, with very few forays into 75
throughout the empire, gives them close ties to the the empire beyond the areas immediately around
elements. Their inherent gift to glean the future is Beiden Pass. Following the Second Day of
magnified by these connections, and strengthens Thunder, many of the ronin that were weary from
their bonds to the kami who bestow their gifts the waves found the Nightingale, and replenished
upon their members. their numbers. This, combined with many political
based Scorpion marriages returned them
Benefit: +1 to either trait in your Affinity eventually to full strength.
Ring. This cannot be Void, unless the
Ishiken-do Advantage is bought. When the Scorpion are exiled to The
Skills: Calligraphy (Cipher), Divination, Burning Sands, many of the Scorpion that remain
Lore: Theology (Any 1 Emphasis), behind once again find refuge with the
Meditation, Spellcraft, Any 2 High or Nightingale. When the Crane attack Yoritomo,
Bugei Skills. the Nightingale aid the Mantis, supplying them
Outfit: Sturdy Robes, Wakizashi, Any one with what they can. The Nightingale refuse the
skilled Weapon, Traveling Pack, Scroll offer of Yoritomo to join the Mantis, which he
Satchel, 1 koku. unexplainably accepts. During the years that
Affinity/Deficiency: Ikaso Shugenja are followed, including the time of Shadow Mad
trained to embrace the element of the Toturi, the Nightingale carry their duty with
kami they have the closest connection to. fervor, aided by the Scorpion refugees. Upon the
They have an affinity in any one element, Scorpions return, they are rewarded for their aid
and a deficiency in its contrasting to the Mantis.
element. If the Shugenja is an Ishi, then
they receive an affinity in Void, and a
deficiency in two other elements.
The more militant clans will often say "If it bleeds,
we can kill it." For us however the phrase is "If it's
already dead, we'll deal with it."
The Octopus Clan but it was a living! Tako was a flexible artist, one
reason he had never really excelled at his studies
was because he dabbled in many fields, a little
Founding
interested in all of them. Now he found himself
forging documents and artwork, inventing poems
The Octopus Clan is one of the least known clans for merchants to impress their mistresses and even
of Rokugan, and one of the most bizarre and they printing propaganda leaflets for people he never
prefer both of these things to be true. Their motto asked questions of.
has always been Nobility is art, but not all art is
noble. They are a clan that blends the roles of Soon samurai patrons were requesting,
artisan and shinobi together in equal measure, like very discreetly to make wedding night manuals,
the Kasuga, Daidoji or Yasuki, they have deep portraits of their favorite geisha and personally
roots amidst the more unsavory parts of Rokugani commissioned pieces that regular society would
culture. The formation of the clan is cloaked in find shocking. Tako was very useful because he
quite a bit of mystery. would happily produce these pieces, while, at the
same time, having a level of quality beyond the
What is known is that their founder was normal peasant artists who would usually create
Kakita Tako - though even this is uncertain, for these sorts of things. It wasnt long before Tako
80 Kakita Tako admitted himself to altering his name had to get help in meeting the demand. He
at least once to give himself a new identity. Tako scraped together some of the least prestigious
was a Kakita Artisan who had nothing notable members of the famous artisan schools, and began
about him, except, perhaps, his lack of notability. to tutor ronin samurai seeking a touch of
refinement.
He was constantly compared unfavorably
to his classmates, and his sensei deemed him What is still vague is exactly what earned
worthy of only a life of mediocrity. Disillusioned Tako the grandest prize of a Minor Clan, for
and wanting for money, Tako let his honor slip in whatever it was apparently it was sworn to secrecy.
order to make ends meet, killing his integrity as an The records only state that he did a Great Service
artisan. He began making goods for rich merchants to the Imperial Family, without saying anything
or upstart local magistrates, who were eager to gain more on the matter.
Authentic Kakita Artwork. Usually such objects
would only be obtainable through gift giving or Tako took the Octopus as his symbol to
large sums, but Tako made offers that were represent how he was not the master of one focus,
considered quite reasonable, at least by his new but of many, and as homage to one of his personal
clientele. favorite works. The Octopus also represented the
distribution of the clan instead of having any
Tako soon found that his new contacts central holdings, the clan instead established
opened up a whole new, disreputable world for him humbler bases in most major Rokugani cities.
which he took to with a gusto that surprised even
himself. For the first time in his life, he no longer
felt like he was useless. It was a dishonorable living
Geography & Economy help identify monstrous creatures, and detailed
anatomy diagrams. Many Tako also work as tutors
The Tako have no great holdings, like the octopus, in art for ronin and merchants - the world of the
their reach is everywhere or at least in most major Octopus is always a busy one.
Rokugani cities. If they have anywhere that can be
considered the Octopus's "Head", it could be an Those Tako with less artistic skills aid
estate outside of Lonely Shore City, where the their clans in other ways, often more criminal. The
clan daimyo traditionally lives and manages his Tako are known to use art in the smuggling of
networks. Any who do know of the Octopus Clan information or even goods - secret codes worked
usually think of this location . The Octopus into paintings, or messages hidden at the bottom
daimyo is by tradition open and friendly to of flower vases. Though it is not something they
travelers, and will usually happily tell a false speak about, even among themselves, the Tako
history of his clan. As an example, they were a have, on occasion, fallen into the role of art
minor family of the Crane elevated for their thieves for patrons, stealing artwork and replacing
production of quality paints and inks, with which it with a near identical forgery. The Tako are also
they won an important artistic challenge at an often asked to produce particularly evocative
Imperial Winter Court. prints for the purpose of advertisement and
propaganda. Unbeknownst to even the Tako
Demography themselves, their patrons for this are very often
members of the Scorpion Clan, Daidoji or Yaskui
To this day the Tako Family, as they became families, who are fully aware of what the Toka do
known, provides a coarse, freewheeling, anarchic and consider them a useful tool.
approach to art, existing in the shadows beyond
the higher artisan families. This position never The Tako spend most of their time
bothered Tako much to him, all art served a honing and practicing their skills and most of their
purpose, in one way or another. samurai have much leeway in the commissions
they take - usually all Tako in a single city report 81
Customs to a senior member of the family who acts as an
overseer. The Tako tend to dress plainly. Indeed, if
not for their mon, many would mistake them at
The Tako exist in a sort of "art underworld" of
first glance for ronin. The one exception to this is
their own creation. They undertake jobs requiring
the Tako court at Lonely Shore City, where
the hand of an artist with the skill level of a
glamorous purple and black robes are generally the
samurai, but with a sense of dishonor or secrecy
fashion.
attached.
To those not actively seeking the wide
This can range from creating
range of their services, the Octopus tend to assume
objectionable art, to forging documents, to
a nature of humility. They present themselves as
spreading propaganda among the lower classes.
but a simple clan of minor artisans, not as lofty as a
The Tako also undertake the more prosaic task of
Great Clan, but ones who attempt their best, and
producing artwork that is affordable and accessible
will be happy to demonstrate the more mundane
by poorer samurai and ambitious merchants and
examples of their artwork. There are even a few
ronin, who wish for a measure of quality but are
samurai who honestly appreciate the Octopus's
unable to normally procure it from loftier artisans.
legitimate work, describing it as "quaintly urban,
Many Tako artisans never make anything
with a clear appreciation for the city and the sea."
particularly beyond the norm, focusing on swiftly
made and satisfactory pieces and imitations.
The rise and acceptance of the Mantis
clan and their gaudier art forms has done much to
The Tako are more willing to swallow
help the Octopus clan gain a small and narrow
pride in their work than most artisans as well, and
niche of acceptability for their "mainstream"
for an extra fee, they will keep quiet about the true
pieces.
authorship of the skillful poem a ronin composed
for his mistress. As well, much of their
"objectionable" art serves a social purpose. These
include their Wedding Night Manuals, pictures to
THE TAKO FAMILY +1 AGILITY RANK 2: HIDDEN IN COLOR
The first Tako retainers were a combination of the You may add your Forgery skill ranks to the total of
fallen and the raised samurai artisans, mostly any Artisan skill roll. When making a Forgery skill
Kakita, who struggled to succeed or had been roll, you may spend a Void point to add the rank of
shamed in some way, and ambitious ronin who your highest Artisan skill to the total. Using this
aspired to have at least some artistic training. ability also increases the TN to determine the
forgery by the same amount.
This invariably led to a suspicious
character among many of the new recruits. Kakita RANK 3: FLOATING E XISTENCE
Tako did a remarkable job in giving such a You gain a +1k0 on all Low Skill Rolls, Perform
disparate group of samurai training in such a Rolls and attack rolls made unarmed or with
disparate style some semblance of unity. Unlike weapons with the Small keyword.
other artistic schools who attempt to instill a sense You now only lose half Honor, rounding down, for
of beauty first, Tako believed in teaching practical using Low Skills.
technique as a priority, letting his students develop
their own senses of beauty over time. As he RANK 4: ARMS THAT GIVE
enjoyed reminding his students "Unskilled hands You gain a bonus of +2k0 to all Social Rolls
on a brush are as disastrous as unskilled hands on a against heimins, etas, ronin, geisha, criminals and
katana." all targets you know currently in ownership of a
Schools, Paths & Dojos piece of your artwork.
TECHNIQUES
The Otter Clan is a primarily shugenja oriented THE MORTAR AND PESTLE OF THE
Minor Clan. It is a very obscure and small one, OTTER
with a specialization on treating diseases. Otter
Clan mansion is the only dojo of the Clan. Special The mortar and pestle used by the founder of the
attention is given to the study of medicine, family is still in display at the Otter mansion. It is
herbalism, the kami and the Tao of Shinsei. normally not used any more, but some shugenja
Its only stronghold can only be described as a sort whisper that it is awaken. The fact is that the
of hospital or "lazaret" for rare or terminal diseases. current daimyo's daughter was seen brewing some
potions with it just before she departed for the
Schools, Paths & Dojos Phoenix capital to help finding a cure to the
Zombie Plague.
Following the restoration of the empire's Due to the nature of their niche
agriculture, by a thankful Isawa Michikata, combined with their somewhat low profile, the Rat
Takahiro's conduct has to be investigated by his enjoys a moderately positive reputation with those
daimyo. It was determined that while he had samurai in the empire who know of their existence
disobeyed an order, the outcome had been much at all.
preferable. Punishment and reward seemed equally
inappropriate to the Scorpion daimyo. So he The Rat are cordial and cooperative with
eventually decided a combination of them was in their parent clan, though the Scorpion keep them
order: he petitioned the Emperor to sponsor at arm's length, considering them cousins who
cannot quite be trusted. The Rat enjoy a friendly The disastrous folly of the Scorpion Clan coup left
rivalry with their counterparts in the Crane Clan. the Rat in a very precarious position: they were the
However the immense resources and prestige of only legitimate samurai near and in Scorpion
the Crane put them in an entirely different playing lands, but they lacked the manpower, resources,
field when it comes to arranging noble marriages. and authority to maintain much law and order
Among the rest of the clans the Rat are an outside the city.
occasionally useful curiosity, considered harmless
and polite enough to invite to Winter Court, THE TAKAHIRO FAMILY: +1 INTELLIGENCE
should they be in the area.
They are a family that specialize in finding suitable
Sadly, as the world is not like heaven, the marriages for middle-class samurai and who may
Rat have need for bushi as well. Most of their lack the connections and know-how to find such
warriors are trained to a modest standard though spouses on their own. They are especially adept at
there are a few every generation that show greater brokering marriages between minor samurai from
promise. The daimyo of the Rat Clan will often differing clans.
call in favors to have these students attend more
prestigious dojo. Most train with the Bayushi, but Contrary to most of the clans, the Takahiro nearly
Rat samurai have been known to train with the always marry by love and not for political
Hida, Shiba, and Daidoji as well. The bushi of the ascension. The clan is still too small to pretend
Rat Clan typically guard the clan's holdings or act anything more than give company to those who
as yojimbo for their nakodo brethren who travel need it.
abroad
Schools, Paths & Dojos
Musubi-no-Kami, the Fortune of Marriage
is obviously venerated by the clans matchmakers The Takahiro Nakodo School is a courtier school
who wish to make their choices for their clans, and that use his techniques to find a suitable spouse or
by unmarried samurai wishing to betroth. The husband for a client, though they can be used in 87
Fortune has a small shine within the clan territory. other advisory capacities as well. Suggesting the
geisha house that best matches a certain samurai's
War interests and budget is a good example and a Rat
nakodo never forgets a name or a face
Due to its strategic and centrally-located position,
the city of Beiden, the lands of the Rat has been TAKAHIRO NAKODO SCHOOL
the site of many battles throughout the history of [COURTIER]
the Empire. This has thrust the militarily-weak Rat Benefit: +1 Perception
Clan into harm's way quite a few times. Though Skills: Courtier (Gossip), Calligraphy,
they have rarely participated in any full-scale wars, Etiquette, Lore (Heraldry) 2, Sincerity,
the Rat Clan has always suffered when war came any one High skill
to Beiden. However, the aftermath of war usually Honor: 3.0
provided opportunities for their unique talents, Outfit: Sensible Clothing, Wakizashi,
and many of the Rat Clan's most prestigious Calligraphy Set, Traveling Pack, 2 koku
marriages were arranged following the conclusion
of a destructive conflict. TECHNIQUES
The Salmon clan differs from many other clans Schools, Paths & Dojos
due to the diffusion of its members, and small
amount of land ownership. The most obvious Most Salmons practice the Bushi School of their
result of this is the fact that the clan divides itself clan, one that was developed over years of
into multiple family units that are based on sturdy protection of Rivers, and assaults on Bandit boats
river boats or groups of boats. The Salmon clan and exploitations. The Salmon quickly learned the
therefore makes most of their living from fishing advantage of being able to turn punts and oars into
and trade. There are famous for their sushi houses. deadly jabbing weapons, as well as the use of spears
and, harpoons, fishnets and hooks in boat to boat
The Salmon have a relatively small ratio combat, both for offense and defense.
between the amount of samurai and peasants in Like the Mantis, the Salmon tend to be wary about
their clan - often the peasant servants of the using their Daisho where it could be lost. Some
Salmon operate their own rafts separate from the prefer the range of the Yari in fording off enemies,
houseboats of their masters. This means that the while others find the Nage-Yari more manageable
94 Salmon often have to engage in many duties in close quarters and useful for throwing if need be.
Samurai would find rather distasteful, such as
fishing and punting their boats. SAMON BUSHI SCHOOL
Benefit: +1 Strength
THE SAMON FAMILY: +1 REFLEXES Skills: Athletics, Defense,
Investigation, Jiujutsu, Sailing,
The Samon are a hardy stock, taking their original Spears, any one Skill
members from a variety of clans and places along Honor: 3.5
the rivers of the eastern Empire. They tend Outfit: Light Armor, Sturdy
towards wiriness and swift movement. To many Clothing, Daisho, Knife, Yari OR
their appearance appears slightly crude, due to not Nage-Yari, Traveling Pack, 6 koku
making much use of the kimono on their river
patrols, preferring to wear as simple clothing as TECHNIQUES
possible for maximum ease of movement, similar in
some ways to the style of the Yoritomo. They are RANK 1: WAY OF THE S ALMON
known for heavily tattooing their bare arms, as a The Sasumata, Sodegarami and Bo Weapons may
ritual to gain the favor of the water kami of the be used with the Spear Skill instead of their
river. normal respective skills. Note when doing so, they
may not benefit from their normal rank bonuses,
but can benefit from any Spear Rank bonuses
you must pick at the start of each turn how you
will uses these weapons. As well, when youre
using a punting pole or oar to fight, count it as a
Bo staff instead of an Improvised Weapon,
including being able to roll attacks with it with the SALMON T ASTER
Spear skill. You also gain a +1k0 to Initiative rolls (NEW PATH)
and suffer no penalties to movement due to being Technique Rank: 2
on an unstable surface, like a boat on the water. Replaces: Any School at rank 2
SALMON INFILTRATOR
(NEW PATH)
Technique Rank: 4
Requires: Athletics 5, Knives 3, Stealth 3
Replaces: Samon Bushi Rank 4
Of course, that attitude might be tested if The contingent made their way north,
the Empire at large were to know of the Scarab into the harsh desert of the Burning Sands. It was
Clan. The Emerald Empire has children it doesn't a harsh and perilous journey, and not all of them
know about, you see. And they are about to return found their destination, but the Dragon are hardy
to their beloved father. folk; eventually, they found themselves in a
strange land of brown-skinned men with hooked
Around the turn of the first century IC, swords, buildings crafted of yellow stone, and
96 there was a bit of a debate amongst the Dragon obelisks bearing the image of a scarab beetle. They
Clan and the Brotherhood of Shinsei. At certain had found their destination, a land the locals
times during his travels around the Empire, Shinsei called the Senpet Empire.
had made mention of the "people of the scarab"
who apparently lived some ways north of Rokugan, The expedition never spoke to the
though as he did not mention them in his Pharaoh directly, as they were but simple students
conversation with the Hantei, there was no record and holy men, but they were welcomed into the
of them in the Tao of Shinsei. Most students of Empire by those with whom they did meet, as the
Shinsei's teachings had a passing interest in them Senpet's borders are far more open than
at the very best, but a few were convinced if they Rokugan's. The place was strange, its customs
could speak to these people of the scarab, and bizarre, the language barrier nearly impossible to
learn what they knew of Shinsei, they could overcome, but the Dragon persevered. They
expand their understanding of the Tao. learned of the Prophet called Mekhem, and
deduced that he must have been Shinsei. They
Though the Empire had not codified its learned of the people's religion, of Re and Toth
strong anti-gaijin stance yet, this was met with and Anubis and Bastet and the Ten Thousand
skepticism by most; and besides, weren't the Ki- Gods, and found its parallels and deviations from
Rin going to talk to them anyway? The group was Fortunism fascinating. There was so much
insistent, however, saying that while they did not knowledge to be found in this place!
doubt Shinjo and her clan's abilities as explorers
and diplomats, they probably didn't know the Eventually, they realized this would not
specific questions to ask of the people of the scarab be an endeavor they could complete in a few years
to gain understanding of the Tao. and return home with a report. They began to
establish a permanent base, a monastery and
village of the style with which they were tradition, and an expected amount of cultural drift,
accustomed, on a remote mountain near the has led them to have a strange mishmash culture
Senpet's border. They sent messengers back to that is both Senpet and Rokugani at the same
Rokugan to inform them of this decision, saying time. They revere the Ten Thousand Gods,
where and how they could be contacted, outlining holding special significance for the one thousand
their plans and goals, and informing Togashi (who that are also Fortunes. They honor and pray to
was still alive as far as they knew) he could contact their ancestors, and mummify their bodies as a sign
them if he needed anything from them. They of respect and so that their spirit will be intact
formally requested that since they were still loyal when it goes to be reincarnated. They follow the
samurai and monks of Rokugan but were no longer honor of Bushido and the laws of the great
really connected to the Dragon chain of command, Pharaoh Hantei. They consider themselves loyal
Togashi might, if he agreed, petition for them to Rokugani citizens on Rokugani soil, next to the
be named a Minor Clan for administrative Emerald Empire's most steadfast ally, the Senpet.
purposes. They suggested the name "The Scarab And always, they seek enlightenment, in the Tao,
Clan". the Ten Thousand, even the Book of the Dead.
The party of messengers bearing this They carried out their task dutifully for
message were devoured by a giant on their way generations, thinking that if the Empire had need
back to the Empire and it never found its way to of them, it would call for them, and the long
its recipient. Those who remembered the silence meant everything was running smoothly.
expedition assumed the Sands claimed their lives But now, it is they who have to travel to Rokugan,
before they ever reached their destination. bearing grim news. The Yodotai now occupy all of
the Senpet lands and hold them in a blasphemous
From their monastery, the "Scarab Clan" death-grip. Worship of the Ten Thousand Gods
began their study. They studied the Tao, the and Thousand Fortunes is forbidden. Rokugan
teachings of Mekhem, the Fortunes, the Ten would never stand for such aggression against its
Thousand Gods, the elemental kami, the strange oldest, most loyal ally! 97
creatures of smokeless flame, and all the customs of
the Senpet people. Their monastery was regarded Geography & Economy
as a local curiosity by the Senpet who lived near it,
and the monks who lived there coming out to
speak with them about philosophy and ultimately The Scarab Clan monastery lies just
harmless oddity. outside the western edge of the Senpet Empire,
north of Medinaat-al-Salaam, on a low mountain
So they stayed, and they spoke, and they named Mount Zurkhaneh. It actually lies between
studied for many years. They had children and the Yodotai and Senpet and is currently
grew old. In time, they began to be approached by "administered" by a Yodotai governor whom the
Senpet who wished to join their order, and study Scarab have managed to, out of necessity, hide the
their strange ways to attain enlightenment. They religious nature of their practices from, appearing
were happily let in, as the Scarab were glad to as a secluded cadre of athletes and martial artists.
spread the wisdom of the Tao and were glad to The Scarab lifestyle is ascetic, much like
have Senpet natives help them unravel these the Dragon. Though not in the Burning Sands
mysteries. The Senpet monks integrated, were proper, food and resources are still scarce, leaving
accepted as part of the group. Further years passed, little room for luxury. Most of the wealth the Clan
and a new generation was fathered, descendants of had come from a small marble quarry at the base of
samurai who were half-blooded Senpet. And more the mountain; since the Yodotai invasion, it was
Senpet joined, and the next generation was three- taken over and mined dry.
quarters Senpet. And so on, and so forth.
Before the days of the Yodotai
Today the Scarab Clan consists entirely occupation, the Scarab clan members were
of Senpet members with vanishingly little regarded among the nearby Senpet populace as a
Rokugani blood, Senpet who have not forgotten local curiosity; it was not uncommon to entertain
their ancestors' mission. They study the ways and visitors in the monastery who were simply there to
riddles of Rokugan and the Senpet and this gawk at the weird customs of the monks. The
Scarab never really objected to it, (or the sayings of Mekhem speak of harsher and simpler
donations the visitors sometimes left), but nor did truths. The man seeking Enlightenment is
they feel the need to explain themselves in depth therefore wise to recall that he is but a man even
to people there simply to watch; consequently for all his wisdom, that overcoming inner turmoil
their Rokugani origin was widely unknown, most cannot affect the world's outer turmoil, that he
people knowing them as having traditions that seeks not to be one with the perfect world, but
were "exotic". that it is Shilah's will that he find harmony with
this world, for all of its faults and flaws.
Demography
Thus, the spirit cannot be perfected if the
body is left to languish; enlightenment is as much
The original Togashi bloodline to which to be found with one's hands as with one's
all Scarab claim ancestry has been diluted so thin thoughts. The Scarab practice their own martial
that it's invisible to all but the Scarab themselves. arts, based long ago on Dragon jiujitsu, as a way to
Though each member can trace back his or her purify the body and mind but also as a way of
heritage to one of the original samurai that anchoring oneself to the physical world. A man
founded the "clan", every other area of that who studies alone for a thousand years will still
heritage is likely to be Senpet, with about one in lack the wisdom of a man who has been in a good,
ten or so members coming from the pre-Prophetic clean, honorable fight. Until recently, these arts
tribes that settled the Jewel of the Desert. There have mostly been about fitness and athleticism
are around 250 Scarab samurai -- but no peasants than about combat, but the shattering of the Jewel
or eta, all members being of equal standing. This is and the conquest of the Senpet Empire have seen
not an egalitarian position -- the original Dragon the Scarab Clan pit their fists against spear and
samurai didn't bring a contingent of peasants, and blade far more than they would have liked.
none of the natives wanted to volunteer for the Above all gods is Lady Sun, Shilah, Amaterasu,
position. The samurai-monks are all expected to whose continued grace sustains mankind, prayers
participate in the duties peasants normally are to be offered to her at dawn and dusk, thanking
perform, a practice that also helps build a needed her for her grace in allowing mankind continued
sense of humility. existence, and for watching over his works.
The Seahorse Clan angry, as it was the case centuries earlier against
the family Morehei.
Founding
Yoritomo Tatsuno with this new asset
from Suitengu, decided to devote her life to him
Like some other clans, the creation of the minor and became a nun. She recovered without too
Seahorse clan comes from a disaster. But this birth much difficulty the bodies and property of those
didnt emanate from pain but from honor. The who had perished at sea and brought them back to
origin of this clan dates back to the Battle of their families without asking anything in return.
White Stag. At the end of it, there were many These were met and told the matter which did not
families who lost some loved ones at sea. The fail to come to Hantei Muhaki ears.
bodies sometimes having been swallowed by the
ocean with their property, it was sometimes very The new Emperor seeing that the young
difficult or impossible to make the appropriate woman did not hesitate to risk her life to preserve
funeral rites for them. Although the samurai are the honor of the dead and to show unwavering
not known for openly expressing their sadness, this devotion immediately gave her the family name of
provoked among them many discomfort and Toshigo. The Emperor allowed her to found her 99
malaise that cannot be appeased. And that sadness own minor clan, bowed to the will of Suitengu and
might sooner or later turn into anger or asked the new clan for preserving the seas of the
bitterness... taint of the Shadowlands. Tatsuno then quickly
attracted supporters, mostly people from families
A young bushi of the Mantis Clan, she had helped and who swore on their honor to
Yoritomo Tatsuno, could not bear to see so many help her in return. The minor Clan of the
people burdened with suffering. She has therefore Seahorse had seen the day.
into her head to find a way to bring the bodies and
souls of the dead to those in needs. She tried to ask Geography & Economy
a favor to water kamis but received only modest
results since she did not hear their whispers. But
that does not discourage her and then she prayed Tatsuno received an island from the Emperor,
Suitengu, Fortune of Sea, pleading for help and south of the lands of the clan of the crane, off the
promised to serve him in return. She remained Shadowlands where the taint had already felt its
prostrate for days and nights in the small temple influence. It took all the cunning of the Kuni
chanting and asking the fortune to share with her family from the nearby Crab Clan to purge all
the suffering of his fellow men. His determination traces of corruption. This demanded years of effort
and faith were such that when exhaustion tears but allowed Tatsuno to forge the technique that
touched the altar, Suitengu manifested. the seahorse school still teaches today. Since then,
no one rule on the island that peace, tranquility
He gave her and to her descendants the and prosperity.
gift of being able to breathe underwater as long as
her intentions remained pure. In exchange, he The lands themselves are as a modest
asked her to ensure that the seas were preserved concession as the clan itself. Its main sources of
from the corruption of the taint of the supply come from the sea and every inch of arable
Shadowlands so that he never again has to get land is exploited. Fortunately these are fertile
because supplied with undertows and skimming
from the seas. Seahorses also grow salt marshes and revere fortunes. This is taken very seriously and
give the fine flower of salt they produce onto the constantly reminded as disrespect to the fortunes
table of the Emperor. They may also sometimes may cause the wrath of Suitengu again.
put the hand on a treasure hidden on the seabed
and their natural pearl artisans are renowned All seahorses monks make it a point of
throughout the Empire. honor to rescue the sailors and fishermen in
distress. To deny such a request would cause the
The modest clan does not have more worst dishonor to those who would. The island is a
than one Kobune and a small fleet of fishing haven and refuge for those who have found peril at
vessels to defend but its enough for the seahorse sea or looking for a way to honor those who have
clan to stay autonomous and exist by itself. experienced such a misfortune.
The vast majority of the clan community Seahorses also provide the bulk of
lives in the monastery of Toshigo Shdin. Its a diplomatic relations between the Empire and the
large fortified residence located on the heights of Ningyo. Very elusive and xenophobic, contacts
the island. There is no provision for preserving it with them are very rare because they prevent and
from the sea to allow free access to Suitengu if he repel almost any access to the nearby sunken city
were to have the desire to do them the honor of of Candas.
his visit. However the modest home is able to repel
the attack of possible looters and pirates. The clan also has good contacts with the
Mantis, Crane and Crab Clans with whom they
Demography cooperate when it comes to explore the seabed and
does not fail to report any strange activity to the
The clan is sparsely populated and the island never Turtle and Firefly clans.
has more than a hundred permanent residents. It is
not unusual to see a member of the clan in mission War
but especially along the coasts or seas. It is unlikely
to see a member of the clan of the seahorse in the The Seahorse Clan is not built for combat and is
inner lands but they never fail to respond favorably only attached to neutrality, content to help
to the invitation from another clan. anyone in need without distinction of clan. They
do not, however, trade and have relationship with
100 The monastery has more rooms and the gaijin. This position prevails and desserts the
accommodations than necessary to accommodate clan by its modest pretensions and status of minor
any visitor in need with minimal comfort. But all clan.
that space needs to be maintained. Thus, its asked
in return to participate in the daily tasks according Recent Events
to her capacity as the clan need or to pay a penny
to keep the home in good condition. A Kaiu can
repair a wall, while an Akodo would provide It happened often the monastery serve as a relay
overnight guard duty for example. and provisioning point during the recent war
against the Ivory Kingdoms. However, the clan
Customs was never actively involved in the conflict.
The Squirrel Clan neighbors minor clans when they need assistance
in exchange for their expertise.
Founding
Peasants in the Shinomen Mori base live
relatively free of harassment by spirits, save for
The Squirrel was founded by Bayushi Itachi, a Jade
times when the full strength of the Itachi is
Magistrate who was born in a set of triplets. He
actively foiling a plot by another realm. So they
was cursed by Sakkaku at an early age and never
have good relations with the heimins of their
once had a set of robes that fit him. He was able to
lands.
appease a group of mujina by finding an artifact
they had lost, and as a result the yokai stopped
bothering both him and several important Imperial Customs
Family members.
They praised Itachi's name, and the The Itachi travel in threes and often
Imperial Family determined it might be in make use of kamas, as their founder did. They are
everyone's best interest to have a small clan that bushi for the most part, but serve any shugenja
can catalog the spiritual component is still present born within the family proper.
within any item...
They are on bad terms with the Unicorn
102 Geography & Economy Clan due to them causing a kerfuffle over a
caravan of crystal that were being brought in
without official jurisdiction and both clans come
The Itachi often have to worry about the balance to odds in matters of determining the origins of
of their duty and how many enemies they can items. They also aren't on the best terms with
afford to make. They are thought to have two anyone who trades with non-humans because
bases: the main Itachi Shiro is located on the Nezumi and Naga artifacts are disconcerting.
border of the Shinomen Mori, and the other, as
very small estate is within the Imperial city. They Theyve good relations with their
are often poor. Their only wealth comes from rare neighbors of the Dog clan that often provides
artifacts and nemuranais they have in deposit and them with guardsman and Inu dogs they use for
sometimes exchange or hire for revenues. their scent.
And nobody wants them to denounce an You do not learn the specifics of their curse. When
item that was allegedly blessed by ones ancestors as acting against these individuals socially, you gain a
not really being as magical and blessed as it was +3 bonus to Social Rolls per Curse they might
claimed. Nobody likes being the nude Emperor possess.
after all.
RANK 3: SICKLE OF THE NIGHT P ARADE
THE ITACHI FAMILY: +1 STAMINA When it comes time to liberate an item from an
individual, they are not always willing. When
The Itachi Family is feared to bring ill-omen due wielding a samurai weapon or a peasant weapon,
to their purpose: retrieving cursed nemurenai and you may make melee attacks as a Simple Action.
cataloging nemurenai in general on behalf of the
Jade Magistrate's Office. They work alongside the RANK 4: RIDDLE OF THE HUNGRY GODS
Kitsune in the cataloging of items found within Possession by spiritual entities or becoming cursed
the Shinomen Mori, and after the Destroyer War by the items you seek to reclaim is always a risk the
they work alongside the Kasuga for the purpose of Itachi must consider. You may add your Lore:
determining Destroyer relics which have been left Theology or Lore: Elements to your TN to be hit
behind in the wreckage. when attacked by curses, spells, or supernatural
powers. If you possess an Emphasis related to the
spell being cast against you [i.e. Lore: Elements
(Fire) when being hit by a Fire Spell], you may
"To know the truth, look under the surface"
Most Minor Clans are small and obscure, because Thus the new Emperor Toturi I rewarded
of fate or bad luck. One, however, is the magistrates with the creation of a new family
inconsequential by design. The Swan Clan, since and a new Minor Clan, then provided them with
its founding near 50 years ago, has a secret duty it their secret but fully official new purpose of
performs for the Imperial Throne: to protect and housing sensitive refugees, caring for them and
hide selected individuals sent to it. protecting their lives and giving the blood of the
Hantei family a way to survive. He also gave them
When some of the Scorpions daimyos a false legitimacy to bear in front of the other
started to complot to build what would become the clans: to educate them in the good way of the
Scorpion Clan Coup, not all of them were willing court, to preserve purity, simplicity, courtesy and
to participate. Rather than betray the purpose of honesty, hoping that this way conspiracies like this 105
the Scorpion, they would join together to protect should never happen again. The leader of the
the imperial throne even from itself. They begin to magistrates and the Clan's first daimyo was
seek a solution in case of the worst could happen Asahina Ryoshin, who chose the name of
and finally discover the first of their guests Shimanashi for the new family. He was an ancient
Hantei Shimanashi. He was born heir to the and very honorable shugenja, and rumors had it
throne, preceding his twin brother by twelve that at the time of his death he was enlightened.
minutes. However, their parents had been warned
by the Oracle of Air that the First shall bring Nowadays, the Swan Clan maintains its
doom if he sits on the throne, though the Second duty. There are rarely more than two or three
will be First if he but rises . Nozumis existence individuals who are sent to the clan for protection
was kept a secret; his rare visible actions passed off each generation, but they are integrated within the
as those of his brother. However, he was still clan, given a new name and identity, and provided
theoretically heir to the throne, and when his with a new future. The clan sometimes refers to
father Hantei XXXVIII died, something had to be them as distant cousins or honored relatives
done to remove the threat of the Scorpion , or more informally, teacups , from a story
permanently. In particular, the Emerald Shimanashi Ryoshin first told to Hantei Nozumi
Magistrates who investigated the Emperor's demise relating the to the imperfection of enameled
had come very close to uncovering the truth. teapots and the worth they acquire thereby.
Children make up most of these permanent guests,
Hantei Shimanashi having seen what the as they can't be retired to monasteries or executed.
responsibility of being the supreme leader could do In all cases, they are formally (although secretly)
and the horror of his father possessed by Fu Leng, adopted within the Clan.
should finally refuse to claim the throne himself,
rather joining them to preserve the secret of his Beyond that duty, the Swan makes every
protectors. effort to appear as an archetypal Minor Clan,
concerned with its small territories, maintaining a
small Court, and having no distinguishing Demography
characteristics whatsoever.
Recent Events
The Ryoshin were founded, not by
Shimanashi Ryoshin, but by his nephew, who had
The Swan Clan carefully avoids been raised as a hostage in the Crab Clan. From
involvement with politics or major events. his days as a political pawn he had kept a
However, it has had to adapt to both its determination to tutor children with respect and
geographical position and the political grace rather than distance and cold. He gathered
developments of its time. students at his temple and taught them in the ways
of his enlightened uncle, creating a serene
During the Four Winds Era, both Isawa environment that continues long after his death.
Yoshun and Toturi Tsudao became aware of the
Clan's purpose and duty. While Yoshun only sent Schools, Paths & Dojos
two of his students to make sure that his siblings
would not attempt to use the Swan as a power
base, Tsudao once had to send twelve survivors of SHIMANASHI BUSHI SCHOOL
a Bloodspeaker attack to the Swan Clan as she
hunted the cell down. This unprecedented influx The Shimanashi Bushi School was founded by the
of arrivals forced the Swan to close its Winter bodyguard for Hantei Nozumi, a dour man from
Court and most of its borders to make sure none of the mountains who brought practicality and focus
the guests would be recognized. to his duty. Because the first members of the Clan 107
came from everywhere, but were mostly ronin and
This posed a problem with the Crab, who former magistrates, the School founder went back
were counting on the Swan as a client in its to basics and taught a very streamlined form of
economic efforts to beat back the Crane. The kenjutsu, favoring economy of effort overelaborate
resulting time of turmoil left the Swan Clan with flourishes. This makes Shimanashi bushi very
several important favors owed to the Crab, which versatile. "Do one thing, and do it well; then you
have not been collected yet. can do anything" is a school maxim.
The Swordfish Clan that describes the Swordfish Clan's on-again, off-
again connections with the Crane.
Founding
Geography & Economy
The Swordfish Clan's origin is shrouded in myth.
Rumors have portrayed the clan's founder as
The Clan's most important holding is the
everything from the secret daughter of a Crane
Yamashoko, a library, dojo, and temple. It contains
champion, the pupil of tengu swordmasters, or
many rare, and even some unique, records on the
even a mountain kami.
history of and treatises on the practice of bushido.
Donations for accessing the archive and visiting
What is certain is that the ronin
the temple, plus dojo fees, form a major part of the
swordswoman Marumaru was involved peripherally
Clan's income. In addition, the Clan maintains
in the momentous events of the 12th century. She
many smaller libraries, which double as small
first enters the records defending helpless villagers
hostels for Clan members and other wandering
from bandits. Her prowess with the sword and
samurai. These are often tucked into awkward, out
devotion to the tenets of bushido earned her the 109
of the way place and are quite spartan.
respect of other samurai. In particular, she became
a favorite of moralists, who saw her as a paragon of
Customs
an older and simpler code, in opposition to the
esoteric and abstract ideas that had grown up
around bushido. The Emperor charged Marumaru to create a clan
that would continue the tradition of bushido as the
These attitudes were best displayed in a path of the individual swordsman, adhering to duty
famous event just before the Clan was founded. and honor as a personal duty. The Swordfish have
Unscrupulous parties manipulated court always interpreted this as a calling to both
proceedings to deny Marumaru her swords before a individual heroism and study of bushido. By
duel with the brilliant Doji Iori in an attempt to tradition, after their gempukku Swordfish bushi are
discredit both. The plan backfired badly. Iori first expected to wander the empire, traveling by their
offered Marumaru the use of her own katana, own means and taking on problems no one else is
intending to fight with her wakizashi. This willing to deal with.
honorable display raised Iori's standing. In return,
Marumaru declined, explaining, "A samurai's soul This regularly causes tensions with other
is her sword." This inversion of the old proverb clans, who do not appreciate interference and view
was so often repeated afterwards it is essentially the the Swordfish as little more than up-jumped ronin.
Swordfish's motto. A consistent refusal to take advantage of their
position to their Clan's benefit and several storied
In any event, Marumaru faced Doji Iori examples of defying impossible odds with no
with no weapon in hand. Iori won the duel on a thought to self-preservation because bushido
technicality as she drew blood first, but demanded it have made it politically difficult for
acknowledged Marumaru as the superior warrior as any Clan to move against them directly.
she was able to land the first blow - though Iori
later was to win several duels against Marumaru, Additionally, the Swordfish have amassed
when no outsiders intervened. The two were rivals perhaps the most extensive collection of writings
and friends for the rest of their lives, a relationship about and examples of bushido. Their archives are
often consulted by scholars from other clans, The Kurita Vassal Family
especially since they often include a great deal of
otherwise forgotten history. Moreover, the Within a few decades of their founding, Marumaru
Swordfish's origins and views have often led to invited the Kurita into the Clan, beginning the
them interacting with non-Rokugani, and even Swordfish practice of collecting information about
non-humans, on equitable terms. The Clan's bushido. Though the Clan sought to follow
unquestioned devotion to bushido shields them bushido as a living, practical way of life as opposed
usual disapproval of such interactions. to an esoteric philosophy, the founder felt the
Clan couldn't just muddle through, or they would
The Clan's reputation for incorruptibility eventually lose their way. They needed to balance
and personal prowess has led to a disproportionate studying bushido with putting it into practice. For
number of magistrate appointments. This has led many years the Kurita were small and quiet, little
to the Swordfish becoming involved in important known outside scholarly circles.
events regularly, but rarely in a way that benefits
the Clan directly. It does, however, mean the Clan The Kurita scholars spend their time
has excellent relations with the Imperial families cajoling others to not forget bushido in these eras
and bureaucracy, which provides a shield against of change, and reminding samurai that their duty
hard feelings from more powerful Clans. extended to all their subjects, regardless of origin,
and generally making a nosy nuisance of
Demography themselves. Ultimately the Kurita's legacy is the
Swordfish archives, and in several important
Due to their small number, the Swordfish have treatises on applying bushido in foreign lands,
never been particularly important militarily. comparing non-Rokugani practices with bushido,
Though Swordfish units often perform above and interacting honorably with non-humans
expectations for their size, there are never enough
of them to tip the scales except on a local scale. The Sanada Vassal Family
Politically, what influence they have stems from a
reputation for unbiased arbitration, limiting their The expansion of the Empire led to the creation of
ability to make use of it. The Clan is fairly poor as a third family, the Sanada explorers. The
well, as their customs work against acquiring major Swordfish were very active after the colonization
holdings. of Ivory Kingdoms and the absorption of Medinaat
110 Al-Salaam, and into the eventual conquest of the
The Swordfish are close allies and Yodotai. The Sanada specialized in providing an
supporters of the Monkey, stemming all the way interface between subject cultures and Rokugani
back to the founding of both clans (Marumaru and court, and were key in spreading Rokugani ideals
Toku were supposedly friends). They find the Carp to them. They naturally dwindled as assimilation
to be kindred spirits, even if they think the other progressed.
Clan a bit too frivolous and happy-go-lucky. They
also have some of the best relations with friendly Recent Events
non-humans, and still regularly act as
intermediaries when non-humans interact with In the modern age, the Swordfish are much as they
the Empire on an official basis. Their history have always been - small, poor, but respected.
generally insulates them from the disapproval this They continue to be at the forefront of Imperial
sort of interaction leads to, but does contribute to expansion, exploration, and interaction with non-
the widespread view that the Swordfish are humans, nearly always on an unofficial basis.
something of country cousins to more cultured They have been a long-time stalwart of the Minor
samurai. Clan Alliance. Their Imperial connections are
very valuable, as is their reputation for adherence
to bushido. This, along with their close
relationship with the Monkey, means they still
provide a disproportionate number of Alliance
magistrates and officials.
THE MARUMARU FAMILY: +1 REFLEXES RANK 3: SUN FLASHES BEHIND S TORM CLOUDS
The core and currently only family of the Swordfish bushi learn to strike without fear or
Swordfish Clan, the Marumaru embody the Clan's delay. You may make an attack as a Simple Action
founding credo. Younger members typically travel if you are engaged with more than one foe, or if
far from home, which keeps them from becoming you are engaged with an opponent who is capable
too insular. Every Marumaru trains rigorously with of making attacks as a Simple Action.
the sword and studies bushido extensively. They
are taught to focus more on practice than theory, RANK 4: HERALDS THE STORM
though. Swordfish bushi are respected throughout Even when surrounded by chaos, a Swordfish bushi
the Empire, but not always warmly welcomed, learns to become the eye of the storm. When you
given their connection with officialdom and take the Center Stance, the bonus increases to
penchant for heralding future trouble. Xk1 plus double your Void Ring, where X is the
number of foes you are currently engaged with to a
Schools, Paths & Dojos maximum of your School Rank. In addition, you
gain a Simple Action while in the Center Stance
MARUMARU BUSHI SCHOOL that can only be used to activate a Kata.
Benefit: +1 Agility
Skills: Athletics, Defense, Iaijutsu, Lore: RANK 5: A S WORDFISH IS MORE THAN A SWORD
Bushido 2, Lore: Theology, Kenjutsu You may now have three katas activated
Honor: 6.5 simultaneously, subject to the same stacking
Outfit: Light Armor, Sturdy Clothing, restrictions as Rank 2. In addition, at the start of
Daisho, any 1 weapon, Traveling Pack, 5 the day you may meditate to activate one Kata,
koku which is treated as active for the rest of the day
unless replaced by another Kata or until you rest.
TECHNIQUES
While the lands of the Wolf hold vast The sacred duty of the Wolf Clan is to
amounts of natural resources the Wolf do not take safeguard and patrol Mount Chikiba, the Wolf's
more than they need to survive. They cut lumber Wood and the surrounding wilds and to also
from the Wolf's Wood, but make sure to carefully maintain a constant vigil and honor guard at the
keep track of how much and allow the forest to Spirit Gate to Chikushudo atop the peak of the
mountain. They consider this both a duty and a bond with one of the minor spirits that calls this
tribute to their founder who almost died to protect realm home. Once this has happened the spirit
this land. Another, more secret duty of the Wolf is will lead them back to the gate where they entered
to track down and slay the unnatural creatures from and even follow them through it and into
who call the ruins of their lands home. It is not yet Ningen-do. Once this bond is formed, it lasts until
known why or how these creatures keep appearing, death.
but so far the Wolf have been able to hold them
back without much trouble as nature herself aide When the, now, Wolf samurai returns
them in their cause. from the spirit realm they are lead back to the
Wolf's Den by their sensei to a feast and
Customs celebration held in their honor and the honor of
their now bonded Animal Spirit. From this point
The Wolf have a handful of oddities and on the spirit is almost always at the samurai's side
customs they adhere to when compared to most and does it's best to aide them in their duties.
Rokugani samurai. The most obvious to outsiders Contrary to what you may think, the spirit is not
first meeting a Wolf would be how much they always that of a wolf. In fact, most of the time it is
respect and revere nature and the creatures that not, though those of direct blood descent from
inhabit it. And as a way to emulate the animals Fenroku and Oka almost always have some form of
they hold high and as a method of keeping self- wolf. Among the Wolf Clan there as many
sufficient on the lands they've been given, they different types of spirits as there are samurai.
consume red meat. They hunt regularly in the
woods and use all parts of what they catch, the One last custom that has caused
meat for food, the furs for clothing and the like confusion when interacting with other Clans and
and the bones to be milled into fertilizer for their Rokugani as a whole is that the Wolf tend to refer
crops, although they keep these most of these to their clan as "The Pack" and their Clan
practices to themselves and only within their own Champion as "Alpha" or "Alpha Wolf". And while
lands sometimes a Wolf will wear fur when this is normally cleared up with a simple question, 119
traveling outside their borders. this causes much confusion on imperial paperwork
and records and has led to some confusing
They also appear to be rather straight conversations.
forward individuals, never beating around the bush
and always getting right to the point. This reflects GM Note: You should not make a Wolf lose honor
in almost every action they undertake, be it for consuming red meat, wearing fur or handling
conversation or fighting. Some say they have an animal corpses as it's a honorable part of their
animal vibe about them, and they would not be culture and history, though openly doing such acts
incorrect in saying so. Not only do they have in front of non-Wolf may lose them Glory. This
animal tendencies and mindsets but most, if not ultimately is a GM's Call.
all, Wolf samurai have some form of animal trait or
marking on their physical body. This is a result of War
both their bloodline and their gempukku.
When a young Wolf has mastered their
school's first technique they are considered ready Partly because the Wolf is still young and
to undertake the trail that will make them an adult partly because they like to avoid conflict with
and full member of the Clan. They are gifted a other humans when possible the Wolf did not
new set of clothing and one weapon they feel best participate in any war up until the Destroyer War.
suits their personal fighting style then they are During said conflict they acted as scouts and light
lead, sometimes alone, sometimes as a small group, shock and raid troops for the armies of the empire.
to the summit of Mount Chikiba. It is then they While not many got to see them in action due to
are brought through the portal to Chikushudo for their limited numbers, those who did said a pack of
the first time and left among its untamed wolf samurai descending on their prey was not like
wilderness. They are expected to survive and live anything they have ever seen before. For their
among the animal spirits of this realm. For how service they have gained a small amount of respect
long depends fully on the individual, but it's among the larger clans, although this is limited by
always after they have formed a deep and strong the fact they are still very small in number.
Other than the Destroyer War the only Schools, Paths & Dojos
conflicts they have participated in have been
skirmishes with bandit forces in and around their
lands and the constant fight against the unnatural FENROKU RANGER SCHOOL
creatures that lurk their forest. [BUSHI]
The Bee Clan The first thing a Bee samurai learn is how to
properly criticize art, finding the smallest of
flaws in any work. Rare is the samurai who
can measure up to their standards, but for
those their reputation is assured. You gain a
+2k0 bonus to all Games: Sadane rolls, and to
any Artisan or Perform rolls made to appraise
the quality of somebody elses work. If the
work of art or performance youre reviewing
was made with at least as many raises as your
school rank, the artisan or performer gains an
amount of glory points equal to your school
rank if you publicly praise them.
THE HACHI FAMILY: + 1 AWARENESS
RANK 2: COLORS OF THE SEASON
The Hachi were a small family of sharp witted The Bee know that fashion follows cycles not
samurai, led by the five matriarchs descended unlike those found in nature, and choose
from the founders of the Clan. Most their outfits accordingly, subtly enhancing
dedicated their lives to the arts, and to their their social talents. Before attending court,
deeper meanings. They were in their natural you can make a Lore: Fashion/Intelligence
element in the highest courts of Rokugan. roll at TN 15 to select your outfit. If
successful, you gain a +2k0 to rolls using a
HACHI COURTIER SCHOOL specific emphasis of the Courtier or Etiquette
126 Although it was difficult to realize at times, skills (ex: all Courtier (Manipulation) rolls, or
the Hachi were truly passionate about the all Etiquette (Conversation) rolls) for the
arts. They saw the ability to create deeper duration of the day. You can roll again for a
meaning out of mundane means as the new outfit the following day, but must choose
greatest skill of mankind, akin to magic and a the same bonus unless you successfully make
gift from the Fortunes. But this also meant two raises on your roll. The GM is free to
they hated to see mediocrity, considering it disallow usage of this technique if your supply
an offense to the Kami and a stain on ones of clothing is somehow limited, but the ones
honor. As such, the Hachi became merciless included in the schools starting outfit are
courtiers, travelling the courts of Rokugan to considered enough for the purposes of using
dispense their judgments, like magistrates of this technique.
the fine arts. This gave them significant
political clout which, true to their Crane RANK 3: THE WORDS OF MY S ISTERS
heritage, they never hesitated to use to Members of the Hachi Family are a tightly
solidify their position in the Empire. knit group, and although their activities often
Benefit: +1 Perception cause them to be separated they kept contact
Skills: Calligraphy, Courtier through extended correspondence. Using the
(Gossip), Etiquette (Conversation), flowery language of the arts, the Bee were
Games: Sadane, Lore: Fashion, Tea able to communicate information to one
Ceremony, any one Artisan or another, hidden even to those who might
Perform skill read their letters. By writing a letter and
Honor: 6.5 succeeding at a Calligraphy/Intelligence TN
20 roll, the Hachi Courtier can request
information from another member of the The Raven Clan
Family. The letter cannot be fully understood
by anyone who doesnt have access to this
technique the metaphors used are unique to
the Bee Clan. The information usually
pertains to the arts and fashion, such as
upcoming new trends, the rise and decline of
specific artists, or the location of performer
groups. The information can take from one to
four weeks to come, but once obtained can
provide a +3k0 onetime bonus on a roll
related to it, such as reviewing a piece of art
related to the new trend or obtaining favors
through showcasing a popular artist. THE KARASU FAMILY: +1 STAMINA
TECHNIQUES