The Clans
There are 9 Great Clans within Rokugan as well as innumerable minor clans. 8 of the Great Clans were formed by the 8 Kami who fell into Rokugan while the 9th was the first Minor Clan and eventually, through economic power and absorbing other minor clans, grew influential enough that the Great Clans eventually agreed to recognize them as a Great Clan. A declaration by a Lion Shogun that Lady Sun had approved of the new status sealed this deal.
Beyond the southern border of Rokugan in the wasteland of the Shadowlands, the minions of Fu Leng also play at being a Great Clan themselves-- but naturally no one in Rokugan recognizes this status and the lost are kept firmly behind the Carpenter Wall as much as possible. Furthermore, although the families are classified in different categories here, with very few exceptions, such as in the cases where people join the family through induction and adoption due to having certain goals and traits and tend not to have offspring, any single family will have members who become bushi, artisans, tradesmen, bureacrats and so forth. Furthermore these family lists are not complete so if you don't see any families listed in a particular category does not mean the clan does not have any families that specialize in that field-- simply that those families have not been written about yet.
The Great Clans
The Great Clans are the 8 Clans formed by the Kami and the additional Mantis Clan formed by the grandson of Hida which was elevated from Minor Clan to Great Clan status later. Over the 1000 years of Rokugani history, these initial clans have been expanded with various families either to honor great heroes or because the clan needed an organization dedicated to a particular task. Each clan resides in a different part of Rokugan and has its own unique culture, the environment, culture and breeding have meant that sometimes one can identity which Great Clan one is from based on their appearance along. If physical traits aren't enough, members of each clan tend to favor their clan colors and their heraldic animal when it comes to clothing, furnishings and accessories.
The way a member of a Great Clan who you do not yet know the name of is to use the name of their ruling family or Kami followed by a "no". For example, if you wish to call for the attention of an unknown Crane you can call them "Dojino". Due to the odd rulership status of the Phoenix, either "Isawano" or "Shibano". Virtually all samurai consider it to be a compliment for someone to be able to identify their clan by their appearance alone-- however it is considered an insult to call one by the wrong Kami, so samurai learn to be good at distinguishing the subtle clues. Using their heraldic animal would be considered akin to treating them like a Minor Clan and would be seen as an insult. So use "Togashino" rather than "Ryuuza".
The descriptions here are in very broad strokes and focus primarily on how the members of that clan differ from the others. However the culture of each clan mixes somewhat into the others and the average Rokugani will display traits of all of the clans they are used to interacting with. In fact, it is often members of the clan that break their clan's typical stereotypes that rise to true greatness. But these descriptions should help you understand what one might expect a member of a particular clan to be like.
The Crab Clan
Influence: The Crab Clan are known as the defenders of Rokugan. While they are the only Clan besides the Mantis to have never held the position of Shogun, this is because their focus has always been on defending Rokugan on the encroaching demonic entities that are a constant threat to the empire. The Crab Clan is very dependent upon support from the other clans in the empire-- their focus on their ongoing war means they don't produce much beyond some iron and other metals mined from nearby mountains. Although the Yasuki are perhaps the greatest trading family in Rokugan with the most influence in markets, it simply isn't enough to make up for the constant toll that the ongoing war causes.
The Crab Clan is also the most advanced when it comes to construction and the production of weapons. Many of the smith and mason families that exist in other clans came originally from the Crab Clan. If they were ever to be freed of the burden of dealing with the Shadowlands, it is very likely that the Crab's expertise could be used to advance Rokugani society significantly and greatly improve its cities. But, unfortunately, aside from the few groups that left their duty protecting Rokugan behind, all of their talent is utilized keeping Jigoku at bay.
The Crab Clan also holds the odd distinction of being the clan that has spawned the most minor clans, starting with the very first and most prominent minor clan of the Mantis. Whether it be the stressful lifestyle of having to guard the empire or simply that the Crab do not try to hold onto members that feel discontented, many members of the clan have broken off to form their own organizations and forge their own destinies in the empire. One might wonder how, between attrition by the Shadowlands and those who leave the clan, how the Crab Clan manages to keep their numbers up. Part of this is fulfilled by the Crab accepting any samurai or ashigaru who can venture into the Shadowlands and return to them with the skulls of 20 dead bakamono into their clan, an offer that stands for nearly half the year. However, that particular feat is easier said than done and mostly it is simply the result of Crab actively doing their best to have many offspring to replace the fallen soldiers.
In Other Clan's Eyes: The Crab are seen as often rude, brutish and stubborn. They are utterly lacking in the sophistication and grace that is meant to be as much a part of samurai are their strength. They usually use casual and impolite dialect, they will push, cajole, shake and even jab others while peppering them with insults and claim it is their way of showing comradery and affection. When they get an idea in their minds, no matter how wrong it is, it can be impossible to dissuade them from it or ever get them to accept that they have made a mistake. They handle all problems by the most direct manner which can often be a costly and inefficient manner-- while at the same time showing little care of respect for the ways of others. They show little regard for the kami or other spirits except in how they can be put to direct use in aiding them. They may be necessary to the empire, but there is little wonder they don't have much influence in the empire.
In Their Own Eyes: The Crab Clan are the most reliable and honest of all the clans in the empire. Grounded and practical, they have learned from centuries of loss and tragedy being daily companions that all they can really live for is to carry out their duty in the best way it can be done, which means emulating those who were most successful before. Too much is at stake to allow them to play around with wild ideas. The only reason the other clans can play politics, philosophize about the universe or make art is because the Crab have made such great sacrifices for the rest. Still, Crabs enjoy a good joke and do not hesitate to have a loud laugh. The others seem to relish in wasting time when the Crab know all too well that time is not something to be wasted. Crabs are fiercely loyal friends and always keep their word, no matter what they may face. That's something most other clans cannot appreciate because they are too busy trying to get one over on each other.
Spiritually: The Crab are also far less concerned about observing any religious rituals or practices than virtually any other clan. While they will pray to the fortunes and do their best to engage in purity rituals, as they subject themselves to more tainting influence than any other clan, they are also very practical. As such they will handle the sick, the dying and the dead if that is what is necessary to get tasks done. They do not worry about work being below their station nor do they tend to lord their status as buke above the bonge or hinin much at all. While they are generally in favor of Bushido in that it teaches people to be courageous and dutiful, they do not particularly rate each other on their adherence to the code like many other clans do. The whole philosophizing of proper behavior and action is generally so far removed from the realities of their lives that they would prefer to avoid these topics all together.
Physically: The Crab are generally taller and stouter than any Clan in Rokugan save perhaps for certain members of the Unicorn, to the degree that they could be said to loom over the smaller clans. They tend to have rough, calloused, tough skin and dark, sunken eyes from many sleepless nights and tiring days engaged in drills and strategy meetings. Of all clans they often appear the most weathered and gloomy. Their hair tends to be unkempt or cut short in a rather crude and sloppy manner for efficiency rather than appearance and their clothing often faded, worn or torn. They usually do not bother to shine their armor, but keep it in extremely good working order-- though usually with more dents and scratches than one would see in other clans. Due to the eternal twilight that the Shadowlands cast on everything near them, the Crab Clan tend to have rather pale skin.
Crab Clan Diet: The Crab Clan tends to eat quite a lot more dried and picked foods than other clans. Within their own region their peasants grow tubers such as sweet potatoes and radishes, as well as some vegetables like squashes, virtually all rice, wheat and fish come from outside the lands. Most of the Crab Land doesn't even have access to rivers meaning food needs to be transported by land and water to reconstitute dried food can be rare. Foods fried in oil are also a common part of the Crab Clan cuisine as their lands do produce are large amount of soybeans that can be converted into oil. Fried tofu is a favorite dish of the Crab. Still, like most of Rokugan, rice makes up a large part of their diets and the Crab do eat quite a lot in order to support their large frames. It is simply that their foods are ones that have undergone processes to give them longer shelf lives.
Crab Clan Lands: The Crab Clan lands are found in the southern part of the empire and, in fact, they technically have dominion over the largest swath of land stretching from the Shinomen forest in the middle of the empire all the way to the Carpenter Wall that separates Rokugan from the Shadowlands. Only the coastal region, belonging to the Crab, interrupts their domain over the southern lands of Rokugan. However while they rule over such a large area of land, in reality they tend to only utilize the southern part of this region with most of the northern part claimed by countless minor clans. The Crab Clan exports very little aside from iron mined from mountains in the western edge of their mountains and is very reliant on continual support from other clans in order to maintain their thousand year war with the Shadowlands. Were they to ever be free of the constant threat of Jigoku, they could perhaps put more effort into better developing their lands-- but for as long as the Crab Clan has existed, defending the empire has consumed nearly all their attention.
Colors: Ocean Blue, Black and Red
Strongest Element: Earth
Greatest Virtues: Courage, Duty/Loyalty
Primary Religion: Fortunism
Iconic Weapon: Tetsubo
Families
Ruling Family: Hida (Bushi)
Diplomat Family: Raikuto
Treasury Family: Yasuki (Trade)
Shugenja Families: Kuni
Smith Families: Ishi (Armor), Kenru (Armor)
Artisan Families: Endo (Masons), Kaiu (Masons), Kano, Maisuna (Stonework)
Trade Families: Fundai (Sailors)
Shinobi Families: Meishozo
Bushi Families: Hiruma, Kakeguchi, Moshibaru, Nobuto, Takumi, Ugawari
The Crane Clan
Influence: The Crane Clan has shaped the culture of the empire more than any other clan. The "proper cuisine" of Rokugan is what the Crane eat, the Crane are the ones who created and popularized the Tea Ceremony, the Haiku, Noh and Kabuki style theater, and geisha houses. Even dueling is generally carried out via Crane-created rules using Crane-style katanas. Despite there having been fewer Crane shoguns who ruled for a shorter time than most other clans, the Crane have always had a massive influence over the empire. The root of the Crane's influence is that their lands produce the most food, specifically rice, than the lands of any other clan. Rice has even been adopted as the official basis for the Rokugani currency meaning that the Crane have always been the official bankers of Rokugan, and they generally turn their wealth towards the creation of art.
In Other Clan's Eyes: The Crane can seem arrogant and condescending, and they have been known to turn social engagements into elaborate rituals. Going to meet with a Crane to discuss simple business that could be negotiated in a matter of minutes can turn into a days-long affair, and the Crane can be offended by someone not knowing the "proper way" of conducting themselves, with even making the wrong gesture or saying words in the wrong order being enough for them to walk out of an important discussion. Other Clans, particularly their diplomatic families, have to some degree adopted some of these Crane habits simply out of being forced to engage in them when dealing with the Crane until they become a matter of habit. The Crane are ever seeking true perfection in their every movement, every word and every expression. Under the surface they can be a tightly wound ball of nervousness and they are often constantly looking to impress others and gain approval, but they make their surface calm, cool and serene. They want it so that a painting could be made of any moment of their life and it would be a work of art. And to do this, they need others to cooperate and engage in the long tried-and-true way of acting things out. If others do not follow the script, then they are threatened to be driven off script too.
In Their Own Eyes: The Crane are tasked with setting a proper example for the behavior of other Rokugani. Anyone can plainly see that whatever the Crane do, the other Clans eventually adopt it proving that the Crane way of doing things was the right way all along. But the Crane are a kind people who try to avoid violence. They are pacifists second to perhaps only the Phoenix, and they treat their peasants well. When disputes arise, they are very much advocates that it should be dealt with between those individuals-- if there is to be violence, it only those involved engage it it and minimize the damage to even them if possible. Crane understand emotion deeply, are very empathetic in this regard and know how to appeal to people's hearts to sway them to their side. So many of the other clans are constantly riled up for war, but the Crane are the best clan to rule over a time of peace and can transform anything they have influence over into its most ideal version. The Crane also uniquely know how to convey what criticisms they have for others in a subtle way or coated in compliments-- if only the other clans could be so polite. This also means that the Crane can pick up on insults from other clans even when the individuals themselves speaking might not be aware of the attack they are leveling.
Spiritually: The Crane observe the "7 Fortunes" (8 Fortunes) more than perhaps any other clan in Rokugan. However their form of worship could be said to come off as a little insincere and tacky. They love making shrines, statues, and trinkets that invoke the name or appearance of the Fortunes, though they tend to love making artwork of many other things too. They treat these objects more as lucky charms or turn to them only when they expect to face challenges or are going to bet on a chance for success. So one can hardly say they show the kind of consuming devotion to their religion as other clans. The shrines in their land almost serve more as workshops to craft trinkets to sell to other regions or for Crane members to use them as gifts.
Physically: The Crane Clan tend to be fairly short and slim compared to many other clans. They tend to have smooth, healthy, tanned skin and sharp features. They are usually rather slim as a rule, but a plump member of the Crane Clan isn't unheard of. They tend to use a wider variety of cosmetics than any other clan. Perhaps most uniquely striking about the Crane though is the common practice of bleaching their hair, often until it is stark white, and many of them seem to have naturally blue eyes. It is said that Lady Doji was the most beautiful being to live in Rokugan and the Crane Clan seem to have spent centuries breeding themselves in an attempt to replicate her appearance.
Crane Clan Diet: The traditional Crane Clan diet consists of fluffy white rice and fresh, raw fish with various kinds of tuna, salmon, mackeral and eel being the most common kinds. The fact that all of the Crane Land is adjacent to the sea means that there is a near endless supply of fish. There are various ways of preparing them, but this diet is so popular in Rokugan that it has been adopted as the Rokugani standard of a proper meal. In fact, the common term for "meal" in the Rokugan language literally means "rice". Even the peasants in the Crane lands are able to eat their fill of rice and have easy access to fresh fish every day. If the fish isn't perfectly fresh though, they don't turn their noses up at grilling it.
Crane Lands: The Crane Lands are located in the southeastern part of the Rokugan along the coastline. This region is the hottest and wettest region of the nation with temperate falls and springs and relatively mild winters. However the summers are extremely humid and every early summer sees the coast hit with waves of tsunamis. For all that is said about the Crane devotion to artwork, in reality many of their coastal villages and palaces need to be rebuilt every year after the tsunami season. There are those that mourn the artwork lost while others see this as a new blank canvas onto which new art can be created. Rice grows extraordinarily well in Crane lands, to say nothing of the bounty they can get from the sea, and their relatively small area, less than a tenth of Rokugan's size, provides the majority of the food that feeds the entire empire.
Colors: Sky Blue, Ocean Blue and White
Strongest Element: Air
Greatest Virtues: Courtesy, Honor
Primary Religion: Fortunism
Iconic Weapon: Katana
Families
Ruling Family: Doji (Diplomats)
Treasury Family: Daidoji (Also Warriors/Ninja)
Shugenja Families: Asahina
Smith Families: Ashidaka (Swords), Fujihiro (Spears)
Artisan Families: Kakita (Paintings/Swords), Munehito (Kimono)
Trade Families: Anneda (Guard Dogs), Hanamofu (Smuggling), Iwasaki (Geisha), Junichi (Horses), Morehei (Sailors)
Shinobi Families: Katogoma
Bushi Families: Chaneko (Archers), Hiramachi, Hiramori, Tsume
The Dragon Clan
Influence: The Dragon Clan may well be the least influential clan in Rokugan. Even the Unicorn who have been gone for the majority of the Imperial History and the Mantis who have been recently risen up to Great Clan status have more influence. The few times there have been a Dragon Shogun, the reigns were fairly short and tended to be ended voluntarily after whatever crisis Rokugan faced that caused the Dragon to leave their mountains had passed. The Dragon Clan is the source for a lot of the innovations in Rokugan-- being the ones that invented gunpowder, fireworks, devices used for irrigation of crops, windmills used for grinding grain and removing the husk on rice and many other innovations. They have also pioneered medical and forensic techniques, however such techniques are considered only the work of hinin by most other clans so they have not received wide adoption. The Dragon are second only to the Phoenix in discovering and cataloguing new spells and do so with far fewer shugenja as well.
In Other Clan's Eyes: The Dragon Clan are a mysterious Clan that lives high in the mountains, keeps to themselves and comes down every now and again to tell everyone that they are doing everything wrong and should adopt whatever new ideas they have come up with. Individually they are often quiet and introverted, yet regularly give off airs that they feel themselves superior to other clans. When they do speak it tends to be to ask questions, often inappropriate questions. They have little in the way of modesty and they tend to frequently violate rules and norms whenever it is convenient for them to do so. Although it is fairly rare for Dragon to act with criminal intent, in fact they are often the first to offer assistance in stopping criminals-- though seemingly only because they like to unravel riddles and mysteries than any sort of true sense of justice-- they are nonetheless often troublemakers.
In Their Own Eyes: Being a member of the Dragon Clan means being inquisitive and curious. The Dragon are always learning from others by watching and listening closely and patiently. Dragon members also wish to pass on what they have learned and discovered, while knowledge is power-- it is power meant to be shared by all so that we can all be better off for it. Because one never knows who might provide you with additional insight after you pass on what you have learned, no soul-- no matter how small-- should be discounted. Dragon live to unravel the mysteries of the world and will engage with any puzzle they are presented until satisfied that they have solved it. Although people accuse the Dragon of being secretive, it is only because they frustratingly don't listen or can't accept that a lot of answers are not so simple or easy to be explained briefly. Those who stay home are actively engaged in research and study, those that go out are doing field research and looking to help Rokugan as they do. The Dragon Clan tends not to engage in much diplomacy or trade simply because there is very little need for it and little to be learned or gained from it. If more clans set up libraries and forums rather than courts and markets, the Dragon would be found outside their homes far more often than they are.
Spiritually: The Dragon Clan follow the spiritual beliefs of Togashi that one must find their own way in the world and look both within oneself as well as carefully examining the universe. Only the Togashi Order actively seeks to reconnect with their past lives, but the rest of the clan is far more willing to be inquisitve and question things than any other clan. Few of them are satisfied with the answer that things are done a certain way because that is the traditional way of doing them and instead are willing to test and experiment to see if they can find a better way. They believe that the place of one's birth is an accident and that everyone needs to find their own path to enlightenment. They not only act fairly freely themselves, but encourage others to as well.
Physically: The Dragon Clan is one of the taller clans in Rokugan, often with slightly longer limbs than the other clans. They tend to be relatively light skinned due to spending so much time in the often cloudy mountains. Even those who are not part of the Togashi Order often shave their heads, though allowing their hair to just hand free or keeping it in a top knot is not unusual. Many Dragon Clan members have the odd trait of having green eyes. Their clothing tend to be more functional than decorative and they tend to wear about as little as they can get away with. However their armor is quite another matter-- with brilliant golden trim and often supremely polished, they are perhaps the flashiest of the clans. But perhaps they are able to keep their armor in such prestine condition because they make use of it so infrequently.
Dragon Clan Diet: The Dragon Clan diet revolves a lot around breads, dumplings, and dairy products. The peasants keep goats and yaks which are used to produce milk that then gets turned into yogurt and cheese-- the animals themselves are not eaten and doing so would even be considered offensive, if not slightly sacreligious. From the plants that are grown in Dragon Clans, a kind of mild vegetible curry can be created and is a common food to be serves among the buke, although as the Dragon Clan tend not to keep any particular schedule it has often returned to room temperature when it is eaten.
Dragon Lands: The Dragon Clan occupies the most defensible but least farmable land in the empire-- the volcanic mountains in the center north of Rokugan. Though the soil of their lands are rich in nutrients, the uneven ground, lack of rainfall and long winters make it difficult to make use of the soil. Most farms also get overrun by wild plants. The peasants tend to live in the valleys between the mountains while the buke create their castles, fortesses and monstaries further up. The mountains do supply a large amount of gems and precious metals, however Zokujin and other creatures make their homes in the mountains and mining can be a very risky venture.
Colors: Lime Green, Forest Green and Gold
Strongest Element: Fire
Greatest Virtues: Sincerity, Compassion
Primary Religion: Shinseism (Togashism)
Iconic Weapon: Daisho (Katana and Wakizashi)
Families
Ruling Family: Togashi (Monks)
Treasury Family: Kitsuki (Magistrates)
Shugenja Families: Agasha, Chiyu
Monk Families: Kouken
Smith Families: Remiki (Armor)
Artisan Families: Seiya (Artists)
Trade Families: Atsumaru (Medicine/Gunpowder), Hiasobi (Fireworks)
Bureaucrat Families: Izaku (Spell Library), Kobori (Clerks)
Shinobi Families: Sakura
Bushi Families: Mirumoto, Zurui
The Lion Clan
Influence: The Lion Clan controls the largest army in all of Rokugan. This is not simply the result of being the clan with the most samurai and the largest number of warrior families of any clan, but also because they regularly conscript and train their peasants as ashigaru. It can be no surprise then that they have controlled the position of Shogun the second most of any clan. Perhaps as a direct result of having such military power, the Lion Clan regularly has clashes with its neighboring clans-- which, given their centralized location in the empire means all clans but the Crab Clan. The Lion states that the purpose of these clashes is to keep all the soldiers of Rokugan ready and experienced for clashes with outside powers that would engage in far less honorable combat. More cynically though it is very likely that the Lion Clan simply engages in raiding the adjacent lands in order to help feed their bloated army. While a significant number of samurai and peasants may die in these wars, there is little attempt by the Lion to inflict any true lasting damage and more often than not the Lion Clan simply returns claim for any lands won at the beginning of each year.
In Other Clan's Eyes: The Lions are domineering and cruel bullies who are quite to anger and even quicker to violence. They are constantly looking to turn any disagreement into a fight. This makes them quite unpleasant to deal with and many clans would avoid them if it were not for their habit of simply brazenly forcing their way into situations. They look down on the other clans, finding fault with them and often being tactless enough to point them out whenever they can. The Lion focus all too much on the past and hold grudges for generations -- even winning can mean dealing with some Lion looking to avenge the loss later.
In Their Own Eyes: The Lion are the clan that defines what it means to be a samurai. The other clans may respect bushido and teach its tenets, but only the Lion Clan truly lives bushido. The Lion keep the spirit of a warrior and the long history of Rokugan alive. It is up to the Lion to keep the traditions of Rokugan alive in the face of all the clans that try to blur the lines. Although the Lion armies have rarely been needed to use against a true enemy of Rokugan, it is because the Lion strength is so great that no enemy would dare to attempt to invade the empire.
Spiritually: The Lion Clan is the most devoted to the practice of ancestor worship. Each family keeps their own shrine to their family's past generations and the favorite past time of the Lion are to listen to and share stories of the great heroes of Rokugan's past. Naturally there is a bias towards their own clan, but the Lion are happy to tell stories about heroes from other clans too-- so long as they displayed the traits that the Lion would consider virtues. Many Lions could tell the story of a hero from just about any family in Rokugan providing it has been around long enough and has had a significant enough impact. The Ikoma family even keeps geneological records on all of the clans, with other clans traditionally sending notice to the Ikoma when a new samurai is born or at least once they have passed gempukku. As much as the Ikoma attempt to keep these records organized, the sheer volume of the records can make it difficult to do any proper research on the background of any single samurai. However if one has days to spend, there is a good chance they can trace your family back to the first person to become a proper samurai. The records particularly focus on those who are descended from the original Kami or their first companions. In addition, while most other clans treat Bushido as merely idealist virtues to live by, the Lion Clan devote themselves to Bushido in a way that it could almost be said to be more of a religion to them than a proper lifestyle. They seem to constantly rank themselves and others primarily on how closely the have adhered to those virtues with their actions.
Physically: The Lion are one of the larger of the clans, they would likely be the second largest if it weren't for the Unicorn's foreign blood, and are usually fairly muscular, everyone within the clan seems to engage in rigorous athletic activities. They have mid-toned skin and dark eyes. Although most of the Lion have the same jet black hair common in most clans, the practice of dying one's hair to be a light brown or even dark blond seems to have picked up popularity at some point, particularly among the Matsu family. The Lion care a lot about their appearance and try to keep their clothing and armor looking fine, wishing to present themselves as virtually regal-- although their lifestyle does mean that it isn't uncommon for them to have a layer of dust across their clothing. The colors they choose can seem as though they are trying to make looking at a Lion akin to looking at the sun, though it is just as possible that they are simply trying to mimic the appearance of their heraldic animal. The men of the clan tend to grow out their beards more than the other clans, and they can be anything from wild and wooly to very neatly and intricately trimmed.
Lion Clan Diet: The Lion Clan lands are made up of rolling plains of wheat. The wheat is ground into flour which is often used to make flatbreads and noodles. The Lion also produce poultry, which they declare is not meat, though they still have hinin actually prepare the birds for consumption. In fact the habit of eating poultry has slowly made its way into some of the neighboring clans, particularly the Scorpion and Owl. The poultry served in Lion lands is often raw, but sometimes roasted. However the poultry is primarily grown for the production of eggs which are used in quite a lot of the Lion Clan foods and are a necessary component for creating the wide variety of noodles that the clan produces using different kinds of flour.
Lion Lands: The Lion Clan occupies the central plains of Rokugan north of the World Edge Mountains. They have borders with every clan except for the Crab. Their lands sport large rolling plains and are known for supporting a fair number of large animals that aren't found in other regions such as lions and elephants which were brought into Rokugan from foreign lands ages ago. The large wild grasses that grow in the region have been turned into various grains such a wheat and buckwheat. The plains are fairly dry, mostly served only by occasional rainfall and the run-off from the melting snow at the top of the mountains in the Dragon Clan lands. Brush fires started by lightning storms are not uncommon. The Lion Clan lands sport no true natural defenses which would make them vulnerable to aggression from other clans, however it is virtually always the Lion who are the aggressors.
Colors: Gold, Orange, Brown
Strongest Element: Water
Greatest Virtues: Honor, Courage
Primary Religion: Ancestor Worship
Iconic Weapon: Noudachi
Families
Ruling Family: Akodo (Bushi)
Diplomat Family: Ichime
Treasury Family: Tomaru {Kaeru}
Shugenja Families: Kitsu, Noroko
Smith Families: Itagawa (Armor)
Artisan Families: Damasu (Actors)
Trade Families: Katai (Lumber)
Bureaucrat Families: Ikoma (Historians), Hosokawa(Couriers), Seizuka (Cartographers)
Bushi Families: Goseki, Hyameru, Ikeda (Cavalry), Ise, Koritome (Archers), Matsu, Murame
The Mantis
Influence: The Mantis Clan controls the smallest amount of land holdings of any clan, but their lands in the Isles and Silk and Spice are functionally impossible to invade as no one in Rokugan can match the Mantis navy power nor has the experience living on the open ocean that they do. The Mantis have effectively dominated both deep sea fishing as well as most of the foreign sea trade, and are known to act as pirates to those who try to get around them. Within the empire, the Mantis have a lot history as serving as mercenaries and while many dislike them, the power and influence they can leverage means that the other clans have been forced to accept them. The Mantis have only held the position of Shogun once, very briefly, but they have been instrumental in deciding who controls that power several times. They prefer the position of kingmaker to trying to keep a grasp on the position themselves. There is little that can enforce Rokugani law or tradition in the Isles of Silk and Spice, so they are able to act with a certain amount of sovereignty-- as their own little micronation. Most of Rokugan doesn't even know of the deals they have struck in places like the Ivory Kingdoms.
In Other Clan's Eyes: The Mantis are little more than mercenaries and pirates who have grown beyond their apporpriate station. They are akin to bandits that everyone has been forced to accept because otherwise they will assist your enemies. They have little regard for Rokugani customs, norms and traditions. They are loud, crude, greedy and sacraligious. A lot of them are very obviously not proper Rokugani at all. When they are around they fill the sake houses, gambling halls and opium dens usually being as loud and obnoxious as possible, they are liars, swindlers and cheats-- when around them one should never trust anything they say and keep one hand firmly on one's coin purse and the other close by one's weapon.
In Their Own Eyes: The Mantis forge their destiny through hard word, clever minds and a fair bit of luck. No one is more resourceful and cunning. The Mantis are always ready to answer the call to adventure and face any peril with brave hearts and iron wills. Life is too short and fleeting to be too concerned about the details. A short life enjoyed is better than a long one wasted. The rest of Rokugan is simply too close-minded and unwilling to adapt and change with the times-- aside from the Mantis, only perhaps the Unicorn can understand that there is a whole world out beyond the boundaries of Rokugan and even they are generally focused on just guarding against it instead of embracing it and becoming part of it.
Spiritually: The Mantis Clan could be said to adhere to the Fortunist religion, however most of their worship and focus is to the fortune of Osano-wo-- who was the first mortal to be appointed as a new fortune by the Empress after the formation of Rokugan. More than half of all orders that are devouted to Osano-wo and shrines that worship Osano-wo are found in Mantis Clan lands. This is perhaps unsurprising as Osano-wo was the father of the founder of the clan and because storms shape the lives of the Mantis more than any other clan. In addition the Mantis have adopted many religious practices from abroad, at least one of which is a particularly prevelent monotheistic religion from the Ivory Kingdoms. Most Mantis are fairly lax in their approach to the religion, making their religious rites part of their every day routine while giving it very little thought the rest of the time, but there are those who can be a bit obsessive about it and make a big ritual out of giving praise every few hours. Most Mantis don't engage much with the other Rokugani religions, at least less so than any other clan, but despite their bad reputation they are diplomatic enough to at least act respectfully about them.
Physically: The Mantis share the impressive height with their Crab Clan cousins, but they tend to be slimmer or at least less solidly built. They are generally built for swimming as everyone in the clan gets a fair bit of practice at doing so. The Mantis also have noticeably darker skin than any other clan-- this is in part because their lifestyle out on boats leaves them thorouhg tanned, but also because of generations of intermarrying with people from the Ivory Kingdoms and other foreign nations. There are many Mantis who do not look particularly "Rokugani" or even have foreign names. The Mantis usually have wild hair and clothing, usually wearing very loose garments and often not very many garments at that. Their armor tends to be lightweight-- so they can either carry its extra mass or they can easily escape it should they fall overboard into the sea during a fight. They are the only Great Clan that does not usually carry swords-- big steel swords have a tendency to rust when kept in wet, salty conditions and as a result the Mantis have taken to using peasant weapons and bows which can be easily replaced when broken or warped. The Mantis actually use a remarkable variety of weapons though they are primarily associated with the use of kama.
Mantis Clan Diet: The Mantis have practically a monopoly on deep sea fishing which allows them to enjoy a larger variety of fresh seafood than the rest of Rokugan. In addition to the kinds of fish eaten by the Crane, they also enjoy squid, octopus, clams, sea urchin and crab. Their islands are not called the Isles of Silk and Spice without reason as they sport a large variety of different spices, many imported by them, and regularly use both spices and salt in their food. While they are often happy to eat much of their food raw, they also enjoy boiling soups and broths. The Mantis Isles are also home to some fruits that are not found elsewhere in Rokugan such as pineapples, bananas, limes, papayas, and coconuts. While Crane Clan cuisine may be the "proper Rokugani cuisine", the Mantis cuisine may be the one that most Rokugani are envious of.
Mantis Clan Lands: The Mantis control the Isles of Silk and Spice as well as being one of only two clans to have claim on any holdings outside of Rokugan proper. At one point they controlled some holdings within Rokugani, but they have by and large been seized by the other clans by now. The Mantis Isles are often battered with storms, even typoons, particularly during monsoon season, as a result the important structures on their islands are built to withstand quite a beating while most of the rest are designed to simply be rebuilt each year. The summers are incredibly humid, but the Mantis are the only clan to never see snow in their homeland during the winter.
Colors: Sea Green, Gold, Red
Strongest Element: Fire
Greatest Virtue: Courage, Sincerity
Primary Religion: Fortunism (Especially Osano-wo)
Iconic Weapon: Kama and Bows
Families
Ruling Family: Kaimetsu (Bushi)
Diplomat Family: Hogosha
Treasury Family: Gusai (Bushi)
Shugenja Families: Moshi, Unmei {Koumori}
Smith Families: Chichiri (Armor)
Artisan Families: Iongi (Temples), Watanabe (Shipwrights)
Trade Families: Hoji (Gambling)
Magistrate Families: Suguru
Bushi Families: Goriaku, Kagehisa, Tsuruichi (Archers)
The Owl Clan
Influence: The Owl Clan is officially in charge of incorporating the various imperial edicts declared by Shogun through the centuries into a legal framework of imperial law and were responsible for creating the legal framework that outlines the rights and responsibilities of various groups in Rokugan. Although individual daimyo are pretty much free to ignore these in practice within their own territory, suffering at worst a poor reputation, it does very much come into effect in neutral territories and in matters regarding inter-clan conflict that doesn't rise to the level of war. The Owl clan contains many of the legal scholars, magistrates and judges that execute this law in such cases. In addition the Owl Clan's primary city, Otosan Uchi, is the single largest and most cosmopolitan trade hub in all of Rokugan although it would be more fair to say that it is their responsibility for keeping law and order there than it being a true benefit to them. A lot of the koku that flows into the Owl Clan flows out in order to support the Brotherhood of Shinsei, which is probably what truly gives them considerable influence within Rokugan as many retired samurai join the brotherhood and the monks of that order have more sway with the general people of Rokugan than any of the Great Clans. This means even outside of their clans, the Owl Clan is generally held in slightly higher regard by the commoners than other clans. But that also comes with a greater expectation that they will perform heroic deeds and uphold a good image. The Owl Clan has held the position of Shogun perhaps more often than any other clan in the 1000 years of Rokugani history despite their lands not even intersecting with Taiyoushi.
In Other Clan's Eyes: Owl Clan members are dull, legiticious and uncreative. When not reciting some law, they tend to spew off quotes from the Tao of Shinsei as if it adds any weight to whatever inane thing they are going to say. They lack any sort of artistic spirit or proper pride in being samurai, they dress traditionally if even shabby and their buildings are simple and often almost entirely devoid of artwork. It can be hard to tell them apart from ashigaru. Trying to get them to act on anything can be walking into a web of buereacracy as they want to make sure everything has the correct documentation approved by the right people before they dare to do much that isn't clearly spelled out as law. They lack the spark of adventure and amibitious found in most other clans, but if they are as strongly traditional as they appear then they lack even the strength of convictions to fight for that as they show a unsavory tolerance for those who fall outside the proper celestial order. They claim it is because of Shinsei, but really-- it seems like they are just too lazy to even uphold their own values.
In Their Own Eyes: Of all the clans, the Owl Clan is the most concerned about being just and fair. The job of keeping the law falls upon the shoulders of the Owl Clan and acting impulsively would undermine that mission. Hantei passed the teachings of Shinsei onto his followers and they should be used to guide one's life and teach to be respectful to others and be tolerant of other ways of life while not clinging to things that only serve to distract from living a sincere and honest life. Only the Owl Clan could rule over a place like Otosan Uchi and, in fact, the Owl Clan are so good at keeping the peace in mixed, urban settings that Owl Clan members regularly serve as the law keepers in cities beyond their own territory.
Spiritually: The Owl Clan are scholars of the Tao of Shinsei, and to some degree use it to guide their lives and actions. They have actively worked to spread the news of Shinsei throughout the empire. However it could be said that it is seen by them more as guidance on how to live a good, proper, righteous and just life than something they truly reflect on to reach enlightenment. As much as they want others to believe it, their understanding of it can often come across as quite shallow. The Owl Clan also tends to have a lot of faith in astrology and will shape their lives around what was read into the stars during their birth. They plan certain events around celestial occassions and are even known to seemingly spontaneously do something or cancel something simply because a horoscope said that it was a good thing to do so. The belief in Shinseism and the belief in astrology are generally tied together for them intimately as they believe Shinseism tells one to lead their life properly and the stars tell them what sort of life they are supposed to be leading.
Physically: The Owl Clan can almost entirely disappear into the populace of Rokugan. They are of fairly median height and tend to have median, if not a bit slightly stout builds. They have medium skin tone and generally fairly common features. They often dress in drab, dusty browns and grays with only a bit of light green clothing as a show of their heraldry. Their hair cuts tend to be rather traditional, which means that the men usually shave at least the top of their heads while the women keep their hair medium length and then tied up in buns and liberal use of hair wax is pretty common. The younger members of the clan might display more casual, loose hair-- but if anything it just makes them look even less distinct. Perhaps an odd member of the Owl Clan could be said to be very attractive due to being such a nice average of all the features that all the other clans admire, but for the most part they tend to be described as pretty indistinct instead. The single odd feature found among the Owl Clan is their often golden eyes, perhaps a sign of very diffused Crane or even foreign blood.
Owl Clan Diet: The Owl Clan enjoy various kinds of noodles, seafood and vegetables. In fact, Otosan Uchi is somewhat famous for its different kinds of ramen, udon and soba-- all of which follow the tendency of Owl Clan cooking of other foods which tends to simply be to throw everything into a big pot of boiing water then either the server or the individual can pluck out their food, put it in a bowl then eat fairly quickly before heading off to their next task. Even when doing communal dining, hotpots are usually the go-to method of cooking for the Owl Clan where everyone gathers around a big pot of boiling water where all the various food stuffs have been tossed and plucks out what they want to eat. In addition the Owl Clan has access to tangerines, persimmons, lemons and mangoes which all found more in their lands than anywhere else in Rokugan. And, of course, as the live in the major trade hub in Rokugan, the Owl Clan does have access to the dishes of all other clans and even of foreign lands and few in the clan are adverse to trying them should it be convenient. In fact, some believe it is their duty to try any foreign foods to ensure that they are appropriate for Rokugan consumption.
Owl Clan Lands: The Owl Clan control the smallest region of land of any of the clans except perhaps the Mantis, bordered on both the both and south by rivers and with a large bay in the center. The secluded bay makes the region extremely attractive to sailors and bordering four other clan lands turned the Owl Clan lands into the major trade hub of the Empire. Even though the amount of land may be small, the Owl Clan lands sport the largest population of any of the clan lands, and have the highest population of merchants and trademen of any of the lands. While a ton of focus is on the large city, the Owl Clan lands beyond that are surprisingly rural and rustic, almost as if there is a barrier at the edge of the city that divides the common from the intense. The lands are filled with monasteries, fruit tree groves and some castles that provide residence for the upper echelons of the clan. While a lot of the Owl Clan, those not out traveling the nation, live within the bustle of the city-- the elite of the clan choose a more peaceful life where they can overlook things from a distance.
Colors: Lime Green, Brown and Gold
Strongest Element: Earth
Greatest Virtues: Righteousness, Sincerity
Primary Religion: Shinseism (Hanteism)
Iconic Weapon: Jian Sword
Families
Ruling Family: Hantei (Magistrates)
Diplomat Family: Otomo (Bureacrats)
Treasury Family: Kasuga (Trade)
Shugenja Families: Seppun
Monk Families: Reju, Someisa
Smith Families: Tsi (Swords)
Artisan Families: Anou (Masons)
Bureaucrat Families: Hanako (Law), Miya (Cartographers)
Shinobi Families: Fukumachi
Bushi Families: Hyobe, Satoshi, Yoshun, Yotsu
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:43, Sat 27 Feb 2021.
