Recently I was re-reading the Heresy of the Five Rings and must say that I really like the concept of a Hawk Clan. Excellent courtiers, master duelists, with a love for night strolls in pajamas.

So I decided to incorporate them into my Rokugan, but as a Minor Clan. Their duty will be identifying and eliminate minor political threats to the Empire at the Colonies, that are not worth the time and effort to both the Crane & Scorpion. However, their true duty is to thwart the Roq Kolat Sect operations.

However, because the name was already used for a Major Clan, even though it existed for a short period of time, I assume you can't re-use it, right?

Have anybody implemented the Hawk Clan in their Campaigns?

Since the whole Heresy of The Five Rings has been erased from the official archives, if you are centuries later, nothing prevent you to use the term again. Also, it wasn't really used as the whole fusion was stopped before it fully was achieve.

Excellent! Thanks Okuma.

Hum...as for their creation, I'm thinking the firstborn of the Scorpion champion during the 9th century was an incredible courtier and the heir apparent, but fell in love with a Kakita duelist.

Rather than marrying their prearranged spouse, they decided to run off together. They actually started a war against the Crane and the Scorpion in doing so, and to put an end to it, the Emperor created the Hawk Clan, giving leadership to the starcrossed lovers.

Without a reason to fight anymore (minor Clans have protection from the great Clans) hostilities ended. Fast forward a few centuries, they have developped their craft and now serve whatever purpose you want them in your campaign.

Just an idea if you want to use it.

That the Dragonfly creation story.

Really? Guess I never bothered to read about them.

That's true, that's the origin of the Dragonfly. But thanks anyways Tetsuhiko.

I think solving a political dispute will help to establish themselves as a political driven clan.

I have another idea, but I hope this is not the origin story of another clan.

The Hantei dynasty, although much more stable than its successor, wasn't without its tense moment. Hantei XXIII's succession almost degenerated into civil war. Although the Crane Clan had an almost complete monopoly over marriages with the imperial line, Hantei XXIII's court were controlled mostly by Lions. The man who would become Hantei XXIV was second in line behind his older brother, and clearly not the best courtier among his siblings. He was, however, mostly favored by the Lions for his devotion to Bushido. He was considered a paragon of Compassion and Duty and an extremely honorable man.

A lot happened behind the scene to change the rules of succession so he could take the throne instead of his brothers, but they weren't without support either. Things were escalating quickly and war threatened the Imperial City itself. Hantei XXIII was facing a difficult decision. The Otomo, irritated by the political clout accumulated by the Lions over time, enabled a complicated scheme to solve all those problems with one stone.

They lobbied for the Lion's choice and managed to declare him heir apparent. In exchange, the first son of Hantei XXIII would marry the Scorpion Champion's daughter, renounce to his claim for the throne and found the Hawk Clan. The lands of the newly-formed Hawk would come from the Lion, which the followers of Akodo quickly accept, seeing the boons of having a Lion-friendly emperor on the throne for outweight the loss of lands.

These lands, however, were among the most fertile of the Lions, and unknown to the Lions, many Seppun diviners were expecting many years of droughts to come. When the famine struck, the Lions were prepared to face this possibility, of course, but without their best rice fields, they had to put a lot more ressources into survival, which left room for the other clans to lobby the new emperor in this time of need. His devotion to Compassion and Duty also meant he helped all clans equally with tax reliefs and support for the starving farmers, which further dilluted the Lion's political grasp on the throne. In addition, the Hawk Clan, lead by the best courtiers and duelists from the Scorpion and Crane Clan, as well as the son of the former emperor, continued the Otomo's task: to ensure no Clan outgrows the others in political or military matters.

I like the idea of the origin, I'll double check just in case. Thank you very much Tetsuhiko.

My question will be how does the Otomo will take another Clan, especially a Minor Clan to have a similar duty to them?

I had written them at the Colonies where they could be a lot of Power Struggle. However your idea of an early start might be a good idea to develop their techniques, and there is nothing that will say that they cannot go and establish a settlement there.

I have a draft of the clan including a fluff and their techniques which I was planning to submit it to DroidScotty Minor Clan repository, maybe I can post it here first.

I like the idea of the origin, I'll double check just in case. Thank you very much Tetsuhiko.

My question will be how does the Otomo will take another Clan, especially a Minor Clan to have a similar duty to them?

I had written them at the Colonies where they could be a lot of Power Struggle. However your idea of an early start might be a good idea to develop their techniques, and there is nothing that will say that they cannot go and establish a settlement there.

I have a draft of the clan including a fluff and their techniques which I was planning to submit it to DroidScotty Minor Clan repository, maybe I can post it here first.

I feel like the "Otomo duty" as presented in the RPG absolutely never really reflected the bulk of what the Otomo were doing anyway.

Within the actual story, we saw Otomo serving as the tax collectors, serving as the imperial ambassadors within courts across Rokugan, were almost certainly those who were serving as the filters to those who would wish to seek an audience with those of higher imperial office (when they themselves weren't holding the office), were the ones who probably decided when and where any imperial aid would be focused, handling the stationing, supply, training, and general upkeep of the imperial legions when the emperor had no need for them, were almost certainly the people that the magistrates were reporting to and were the ones assigning them missions...

Honestly, for a supposedly "small" family, there was a massively wide berth of duties that they are supposed to be handling.

How their "duty" ended up being presented in the RPG is one of those many narrow-visioned decisions that really destroys the RPG's functionality. Yeah, I get the whole "the only way the emperor remains emperor is if none of the clans get powerful enough to take him down" is something that would have popped into someone's head as something that is direly important in the long run. But it is one of those dangers that would arise infrequently. To suggest that this was nearly the entire focus of every single member of the imperial courtiers rather than a minor province that needed to be addressed maybe once a century and played little part in the day-to-day functions and far more pressing issues that occupied the majority of their concerns was a mistake.

Mind you, the whole idea that Otomo would be using fairly dark, deceptive and underhanded tactics for the good of all and yet somehow maintain their veneer of respectability and honor seems completely spot-on given that most Otomo ever depicted in the story ended up being corrupt... if not corrupted.... but the idea that 90% of what they do is intentionally stir up **** and cause strife and warfare in an empire facing an existential threat like the Shadowlands just seems massively off-base.

As such... I wouldn't really see it as a major problem, except...

Well.. what exactly can a tiny little minor clan, even one that started with an imperial heir a bunch of scorpion and crane duelists (oh, worship the duelists for surely they are living gods that can do absolutely everything better than everyone mentally involved I suppose) exactly do in order to keep any sort of semblance of balance between the clans? They would be absolutely ineffectual in that role unless it was to simply piss all other clans off so much that they would conspire together to destroy the Hawk Clan rather than fight one another.

In fact, in the story Tetsuhiko laid out, I can tell you exactly what would happen to them-- they would be wiped out within 2 generations as the hungry Matsu and Akodo with absolutely nothing to lose overrun them 1000 to 1 and with expert tactics totally lacking within the Hawk, slaughter them all and take their lands before seeking forgiveness from their Lion Clan-controlled emperor. After all, Minor Clans have absolutely no imperial protection-- something all too often clearly forgotten by those who invent them by the dozens.

On the contrary, Minor Clans are protected by a pretty clear imperial edict: None shall attack them.

On the contrary, Minor Clans are protected by a pretty clear imperial edict: None shall attack them.

When exactly did that happen?...

The Phoenix were free to wipe out the Snake, the Scorpion were free to wipe out the Hare, the Dragon were free to wipe out the Dragonfly, none of these actions needed permission or oversight. Attacks between great clans is supposed to be banned by imperial edict, but it was made very clear in the earlier editions that minor clans were afforded no such protections. In fact, that is a lot of the reason why Yoritomo was even able to create a minor clan alliance-- because absolutely none of them were safe without allies.

So wen exactly did this imperial edict come about? It would have had to be part of the Iweko dynasty since neither the Hantei nor the Toturi ever put any such edict in place.

Hantei Genji made sure that no Great Clan made war against a Minor Clan.

Hantei Genji made sure that no Great Clan made war against a Minor Clan.

Given the three examples I cited, he did a pretty poor job of it, didn't he?

Granted, none of those exterminations stuck. The Chuda went underground for centuries before arising larger than ever as part of the Spider Clan while the Hare and the Dragonfly came back within a strikingly short amount of time.

But, nonetheless, as a general rule it seemed the minor clans had no protection. So, really, this idea that the minor clans are afforded greater protection than the great clans are seems like a retcon.

In the very least, given what was allowed to transpire in the three cases I listed, there can be little doubt that if one takes the best of the Lion lands and leaves them to starve, they will not hesitate to wipe out your little half a dozen samurai and take their lands back regardless of some ancient edict that is clearly never upheld.

Hantei Genji made sure that no Great Clan made war against a Minor Clan.

Given the three examples I cited, he did a pretty poor job of it, didn't he?

Granted, none of those exterminations stuck. The Chuda went underground for centuries before arising larger than ever as part of the Spider Clan while the Hare and the Dragonfly came back within a strikingly short amount of time.

But, nonetheless, as a general rule it seemed the minor clans had no protection. So, really, this idea that the minor clans are afforded greater protection than the great clans are seems like a retcon.

In the very least, given what was allowed to transpire in the three cases I listed, there can be little doubt that if one takes the best of the Lion lands and leaves them to starve, they will not hesitate to wipe out your little half a dozen samurai and take their lands back regardless of some ancient edict that is clearly never upheld.

During a thousand year period, an imperial edict only gets broken three times and you call that a bad job? For centuries, Minor Clans were able to survive and develop even when the Great Clans all around them were waging war against each others. For Rokugani, the decisions of an Emperor is VERY serious business.

We can also look at your three examples and see the reasons behind the attacks:

1. The Snake Clan was being taken over by a hive mind that threatened the whole Rokugan if nothing was done to stop it. The Phoenix struggled with this dilemna for a long time before acting and had to answer for their actions before the Emperor himself.

2. The Hare Clan were expert investigators and threatened the secrets of the Kolat. The conspiration manipulated the Scorpion Clan and the Emperor into believing they were maho-tsukai and a dangerous threat to the Empire, in a similar way than the Snake Clan.

3. The Dragonfly Clan...I really don't have a good answer for this. The Lions are supposed to be paragon of bushido and honor, yet used a poor excuse and suffered almost no repercussion for a direct attack on the MInor Clan. Considering how the whole Four Winds Era was a mess in terms of the story coherence, I would be inclined to treat that as a bad idea and bad execution from the story team.

Now, if you disregard the last example or by keeping in mind this is one exception in a thousand years, the Lions, being the honorable samurai they are supposed to be wouldn't defy an imperial edict that easily. Also, they would be commiting an illegal act against the Emperor's brother. The guy they lobbied so hard to put on the throne. Even if it meant having more food, it wouldn't be worth angering their trump card by doing something so harsh. In addition, the newly formed Hawk Clan courtiers are not fools. They own among the best lands of Rokugan in times of famine and have only very few people to feed. They would use it and trade all the surplus they have to their neighbours (Lions and Cranes). Basically, the Lions would have a non-negligible amount of food from these lands, but they would have to sacrifice other goods and political influence to get it.

The plan was to weaken the influence of the Lions, not starve them after all.

Well said Tetsuhiko.

The question will be it is worth it to wipe out your Emperor's honorable Minor Clan for a small piece of land? I don't think so... To risk your Emperor's favor just for a small parcel of land.

Can't your courtiers call in favors and help their clan in their times of famine. Hard to believe...

Please remember, this is going to be used in YOUR Rokugan. Take what you need and use it as you see fit.

Finally: This a game... No Emerald Magistrate is going to knock on your door... Enjoy

Now back to the topic.

After discussing this with Okuma I beleive that the perfect duty for the Hawk: serve the Imperial Herald supporting the Imperial Arbiters, the Shikken.

In my Rokugan the clans have the only duty to collect taxes and watch their borders.

Have you ever consider to make the clan a newborn in the colonies, a new clan made of "dissidents"? (this reminds me something...)

Because this is what I've planned for this clan in the past.

In my Rokugan the clans have the only duty to collect taxes and watch their borders.

Have you ever consider to make the clan a newborn in the colonies, a new clan made of "dissidents"? (this reminds me something...)

Because this is what I've planned for this clan in the past.

You read my mind. My original idea was to be stationed in the Colonies, and the duty was assist the Ivory Magistrates while keeping tabs on the Roq Kolat Sect. They were formed after they uncovered some Roq Kolat agents.

Takaoka Agito was a a samurai of the Shosuro family fascinated by something which shouldn't interest those of his rank: the money.

He often come along with merchants, farmers and even burakumin in order to understand the flow of the money, and in the end, to control it.

However, his behavior was noted and caused some rumors; jealous relatives cast him away in colonies and try even to strip him of his family name.

Takaoka Agito laughed and took the chance to meld with the merchant class.

His family thought he would be never more a problem, but some time later, rumors of a new rich village in the colonies start to spread: clever merchants and skilled artisans lived there and apparently, the village was protected by some ronins lead by a strange and clever person.

Doji Akemi, a bored courtesan, was interested by these rumors and went to the village, that now was a town full of life: there she meets Takaoka and fell in love with him.

However, it was hard for her to leave her clan, but Takaoka helped her making several gifts to the Doji clan, and disguise as an important member of the gozoku and was able to convince the family to let him to marry her.

However, shortly the wedding, the Shosuro clan discovered the truth about the rich new town and convinced the Doji clan to take the weapons against Takaoka; unfortunatly for them, to help the ronins of the town there were also some strange sohei and the common people of the tow, the Red-Bricks-Village Ikki, all lead by Takaoka himself.

The defeat was hard for the small armies of the Doji clan, and in meantime Akemi was able to convince some members of the court to give official recognition to the Takaoka clan, playing with their greed.

Takaoka choose the Falcon as his mon and attracted more supporters.

However, the doctrine of the five rings, which teach that every one have a important function in the society giving to all the same importance, is disliked by the other clans, as the custom of the Red-Bricks-Village to live in a sort of democratic league. The fact that everyone can carry a kodachi, and in time of war, even other weapons is seen as a serious threat, but usually, the people is not armed during the civil life. However, the people of the rest of the empire see the inhabitants of Red-Bricks-Village as bandits.

Of course, the difference between the old casts still exist, but are less strong here than in other parts of the Empire, so many "exiled" seek refuge in the new town.

P.S.: sorry for my bad english.