Hi everyone!
With the complicity of Daigotsu Masanori I started again to develop new minor clans. Before to add them definitely to the books, I would like to have your opinions, questions and feelings about them. Creating new and original techniques is not easy and balance them with others is even more difficult. Thank you for your help!
Based on a concept by Daigotsu Masanori
“As light dispels darkness, wisdom dispels ignorance.”
The Elephant Clan
Founding
Daigotsu Kudos always dreamed to be an explorer but had involuntary contracted a few amounts of Shadowland Taint during his childhood. Not enough to be injured by jade but enough to be worried about it and to limit his ambition of exploration. It was simply normal for a member of the Spider Clan to be tainted, but nobody asked him his choice before to give him. He was frustrated to be restricted and had always looked for a way to repress it inside him while not trying to hide it. Daigotsu Kudos always believed that the ideals of Shourido could bring him to a new way of enlightenment.
So, years later, he was happy when he and his fellows were tolerated and send to the colonies for the glory of the Empire. He would perhaps find here a way to be freed of his darkness or to exploit it? He was looking for relying theological texts, exploring an unknown area in the Frontier Colonial District were ruins of a temple were rumored to be. He finally founded it, untouched by the passage of time, a shrine that contained evidence of being the last holding visited by Shinsei on his last pilgrimage. When the new comes to Empress Iweko I, she immediately designated the temple as an historic landmark.
Daigotsu Kudos first report included the findings of scrolls written by Shinsei himself, including copies of the Forty-Seven Sayings of Mekhem and an unfinished set of techniques describing a new approach for casting spells without involving kansens or even kamis but rather simply reply on his inner void strength and his soul’s purity. The Empress discouraged the disclosure of this information to her assistants to prevent any unwanted guest and the misappropriation of these valuable texts. But Kudos Shokan seized the opportunity to use powerful maho techniques he was forced to learn against his former Spider allies, swearing to protect the interests of the Empire even against the darkest magic.
When he and his close friends furiously attacked and exposed a small conspiracy of Spider Clan members by using maho, the local Emerald and Jade officers intervened immediately. They just discovered cinders of the former Spider installations and when they investigated Daigotsu Kudos and his men’s they discovered they were the authors of the massacre but even more inexplicably purged from all Taint…
The Elephant Clan was funded in 1182 as a reward for loyalty but also to keep secret these strange techniques. With Daigotsu Kudos as his first daimyo, he chooses his own first name of Kudos to be his family name and renamed himself Kudos Shokan, he took the Elephant as the symbol of memory to never forget all the pain he had endured to find the right way. He began to write the “Book of Rancor” where he recorded all the pains that were inflicted to the Empire, promising that according to the Shourido, they would be avenged a day. His official duty was to protect the temple of Mekhem Whispers and to incorporate some Ivory Kingdom citizens and/or customs into the Empire like the Unicorn did centuries before. But more secretly he had to discover how it was possible to find the Illumination through Shourido and the Forty-Seven Sayings of Mekhem…
Geography & Economy
The Elephant Clan inherited a small area in the now designated Shinsei's Legacy in the Frontier at the Colonies. The area thriving in wildlife is home to a variety of prized plants, including ginseng and soy products that became the trade of the Elephant Clan. But the pinnacle of the elephant’s economy is his production of silk and cotton. It's a good idea to have an iron hand in a velvet glove to maintain discipline and the particular environment of the colonies is perfect for the breeding of silkworms. The obligation to observe strict hygienic conditions and to have always large amounts of mulberry available to feed the worms brings the needed calm and fastidiousness among each clan member. By securing a trading agreement with the Ide family, the Kudos family secured the economy of their Clan, transforming an unimportant settlement into a very prosperous village.
Demography
Currently the Elephant Clan is composed of approximately 2000 heimin and roughly 100 Sadhu and sorcerers that maintain the temple. They are always looking to recruit from the former Ivory Kingdom citizens but there are not many candidates. Their strange way of life makes them feared by the most of the population and it deserves them well to hide the secrets of the Temple.
Customs
Purity and wisdom are the most important virtues for the elephant and the duty of memory and preservation must be strictly observed. The life among them is strictly restricted and very harsh.
Any clan member who transgresses these rules is so severely punished that the pain could kill any other samurai just to be sure that he’ll remember his fault. The Kudos sadhus are experimented to support the most severe pain without manifesting any inconvenience. This is the true concept of “on” for them: Suffering in silence. They are not masochists but believe strongly that pain is a way to enlightment. This strange concept and their application of the Shourido make they’re often considered as very cruel and barbaric by the “true rokugani”.
All the profit they do goes to the poor, the concept of personal richest is not tolerated among them because it weakens the soul and thus the inner void.
THE KUDOS FAMILY: +1 WILLPOWER
The Kudos knew the darkness to reach the light. They are sager than the first impress they can give and carry an unjust reputation of barbarism. Their wisdom and true research for peace always astonish those they receive. But there is one thing that can make them loose their calm: Deception. As former members of the Spider Clan, all the Kudos hate them just as they severely punish even months after those who try to manipulate them. Just as the Elephant, they never forget and revenge is a dish better served cold.
Schools, Paths & Dojos
Some of the samurai nicknamed the school “The school of Pain and suffering”. While not totally inexact, its learn how to maintain his inner void intact and pure. With this extraordinary strength, a Sadhu can endure nearly anything.
Kudos Sadhu School
[bUSHI]
Techniques
Rank 1: Tusks of the Elephant
You gain a +Xk0 bonus to all you Defense were X is equal to half your Rank of Knowledge: Theology rounded up (maximum bonus equal to your actual School Rank). You gain a +1k0 bonus to your attack rolls when fighting with a Spear, or a Chain weapon.
Rank 2: Never Forgive, Never Forget
You gain a +2k0 to all your attack rolls and opposed social tests against any enemy you’ve already been opposed before. This technique also applies if your adversary is a creature of a kind you’ve already encountered before. Your GM has the final word.
Rank 3: Strength of the Void
Reduce all you wounds penalties by 5 (with minimum of 0). When you’re on you are on Injured or Crippled wound level, you can spend a Void point as a Simple Action to ignore all wounds penalties for an entire round.
Rank 4: Trunk of the Elephant
The Trunk of the Elephant is like a prehensile arm they can use to reach any opponent from anywhere. You may make attacks with a Spear, a bow or a Chain weapon, as a Simple Action instead of a Complex Action.
Rank 5: Insight of the Void
Each time you spend a Void Point to boost an attack roll you can spend two Void Points instead as a Simple Action to gain a total bonus of +4k2. This bonus stacks with technique of rank 2.
Kudos Purist School
[sHUGENJA]
Technique: The Pain Touch Only the Impure - Kudos are known to use the old techniques earned from their Spider founders against their former allies without suffering from Jikogu's influence.
But maho remains maho and even if it don’t’ brings Taint to its user it’s very bad perceived by rokuganis.
You gain one Maho spell with each rank in addition to any other spell gained for advancing a rank. You can cast Maho spells against tainted targets without gaining any Shadowland Taint.
Each time you target an untainted creature or character (even if you don’t know that) with a maho spell apply the normal rules.
Kudos Mahout (New Path)
Technique Rank : 2
Replaces : Any Elephant school 2
Requirements: Animal Handling (Elephant) 2
Technique: On the Back of the World
When you’re Mounted on an elephant, you can only attack with a Spear or any bow but gains a bonus of +1k1 on attack rolls against un-mounted/lower characters rather than the normal +1k0. A mounted character may not use the Full Attack Stance.
Kudos Avenger (New Path)
Technique Rank : 2
Replaces : Any bushi school at rank 2
Special: To apply to this technique, you must have
either the Higher Purpose (Defeat the Shadowlands) Advantage or the Driven (Defeat
the Shadowlands) Disadvantage. You must also have a complete Shadowland Taint rank.
Technique: Redemption in the Wrath
Once per skirmish, you can lose a Shadowland Taint point after successfully inflicting a blow that makes 20 or more points of damage to a tainted opponent. All the damages must come from a lone attack not from all attacks in a round. You may never lose your first rank of Shadowland Taint in this way.
Advices for players and GMs
If the GM permits it, the Elephant Clan is a good option for a player take on Ivory Kingdoms Schools presented in the Second City – The People pp. 104-105.
Edited by droidscottyNew Empire of Emerald Stars Clans.
All of this work is not my entire property:
-Dulenheim and Chris Koch developped the Bear Clan Techniques
-T he Anglerfish Clan is based on a concept by Daigotsu Masanori
- DukeofWolfsgate developped Kyoshi Guardian School that I adapted for Aibisu War Dancer School of the Ibis Clan
The Anglerfish Clan
“In space, no one can hear you scream.”
Founding
The Anglerfish Clan is a faction of the Spider clan who openly separated from the rest of the clan and lent allegiance to Iweko Ist. At first they had no other status than a pariah one and no other one was actually granted if it is the ability to work for the glory of the Empire in the colonies as they remained loyal and destitute of all traces of Taint of the Shadowlands. This aroused some bitterness but they accepted this position gracefully as the distrust of the other clans was great. The monitoring of the Dragon Clan never faltered and any sign of corruption was systematically eliminated. With time things came to settle and confidence was established.
The real stroke of genius was fulfilled when the Anglerfish clan was created. The Dragon Clan had found a strong interest in the exploration of the nebula of the east border and needed as many resources to operate strange worlds that he already devoted to colonize them. The responsibility for monitoring the Spider Clan was then entrusted to the clan of Anglerfish.
Corruption, however, catches up with the new clan. First, because some members of the samurai caste were unwittingly suffering mutations. Some think they are due to Spider clan who surreptitiously used Shadowland Taint to transform them. The Spider clan fiercely defended by claiming that they were due to atomic fallouts of the Alliance War. No one really knows the answer but this crisis led to a large number of refugees. These were treated as outcasts and while having no longer a place to live within the other clans, they refused to join the Spider. The clan of the newly created Anglerfish was so all found to accommodate them. Over time the Anglerfish became the instrument of the Spider: a smokescreen for its darkest activities and a kind of ambassadors just as the Dragonfly clan work for the Dragon clan.
The Anglerfish clan strives to remain pure and free of any Taint but only to mask the growing scale of the disproportionate and unreasonable ambitions of the Spider clan. His apparent sincerity is a lure of light designed to attract easy preys into the deep abyss where the Spider clan hides...
Geography and Economics
Most of the revenues come from voluntary donations and even the imperial support in memory of their “unwavering loyalty”. They also grow tea of Jade petals officially to guard them from the Taint of the Spider but especially to make an illegal black market.
In reality, the funds come obviously from the dubious or downright illegal activities of the Spider. Their territory is not more extensive, being limited to a single Torid-E class station located at the edge of Spider space. It would be easy to get around but decorum order to respect the courtesy and traditions.
Demography
The Anglerfish clan will always claim to be understaffed because it suits well. In this way, it may justify certain breaches of its jurisdiction and still require more funds to the imperial treasury. Some, however, go up to use racket to bring a guest in relation with the Spider but this practice is very subtle, pernicious and often repressed.
Although it was never a very influential clan, it demonstrated good manners by gathering the outcasts and the poorest even in the ranks of the ronin, etas or the peasantry. But this is also a deception because they know anyway that most of them will end up in the web of the spider if they come to talk.
Customs
Members of the Anglerfish Clan are working to stay as pure as possible in order to hide the darkness of their dark intentions. They are courteous and sincere but this is mostly a facade. They act as diplomats and smokescreen to the Spider clan that weighs on them to show that their intentions are good. In reality the Spider clan always exercises its formidable Daigotsu courtiers but they can now act more freely on condition of even more anonymity. The Anglerfish managed to deceive the vigilance of the clan of the Seahorse clan which she often uses to purge their members of their surplus of Shadowlands Taint.
Anko Family: +1 Awareness
Anko's family lives mostly reclusive and only show up to bite most often to defend its interests or to make believe that it is closely monitoring the Spider. This is not a close family nor welded formed because of people who were united there by desperation and trapped. Only the most influential members of the Anglerfish are aware of its profound goals and enjoy a comfortable life. The others are most often left behind except when it comes to exercise a demonstration of good graces.
Schools, Paths and Dojos
Anko Courtier School
The techniques of the Anko Courtier School are largely inspired by those of the Daigotsu Courtier School although they fiercely defend from it. The honor is of little value to an Anko as long as he can afford to keep their secrets.
TECHNIQUES
Rank 1: The Dark Side of the Moon
You may voluntary lose a maximum of 10 Honor Points (a complete rank) to add the same bonus to any Contested Social roll. You may do it for a willing ally but (s)he loses Honor at your place.
Add your School Rank to your Honor Rank whenever another is attempting to discern your true Honor Rank.
Rank 2: The Bright of the pure Darkness
Once per month you may attempt a Contested Roll of Courtier/Intelligence versus the Courtier/Awareness of a non-player character of a superior Status than your own. If you succeed you immediately gain a number of Koku equal to the difference of Status and lose the same number of Honor.
Rank 3: Bigger the smile, sharper the knife
You may spend a Void Point or lose 5 Honor Points to make your attacks with a samurai weapon or a knife as Simple Actions rather than Complex actions during this skirmish.
Rank 4: The Back Of The Medal
Any rolls made to detect your lies have their TN increased by an amount equal to 5 x your School Rank. You gain a free Raise when you use your Sincerity (Deceit) or any Low skill.
Rank 5: To The Abyss of the anglerfish
Every student of the Anko Courtiers is accomplished at the art of pretending that his faults are those of another. When you have to loose Honor or Glory or even Status, you may spend a Void point as a Complex Action to try to shift this loss to someone else of lower Status than you who is present at the moment of the accusation. You must make a Contested Roll of your Sincerity (Deceit) / Awareness versus the victim’s Sincerity (Honesty) / Awareness in order to make the shifting of blame stick.
The Bear Clan
Founding
In 2968 After the Alliance War, Emperor Iweko CXI created many new minor clans, handing out titles and land to almost anyone who had performed any act of heroism during the war. It was a thinly veiled attempt to re-populate the samurai caste, and the Great Clans, as a whole, looked down on these new ""samurai". Some of the Great Clans even challenged these new Minor Clan Daimyo's claims of bravery and heroism, wishing to prove that they did not deserve the titles the emperor had given them. No one challenged the claim of the Kuma.
Hida Kuma grew up worshipping a controversial hero: Hida Kisada. The legends painted the father of the last Crab Thunder as a conflicted man, often doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, and vice versa. But the legends always ended one way -- he did the right thing for the *right* reason, and paid for it with his strength and title.
Kuma marveled at this man's story, but even more, at his tactics. They were inventive, revolutionary -- and mostly forgotten, because of Kisada's reputation. He thrived on the tattered scrolls, painstakingly piecing together the techniques and maneuvers his idol had developed more than eighteen hundred years before. Kuma graduated from the Hida War College with honors, after writing his thesis on Kisada's tactics. And when the Alliance War began, Kuma was put in command of a vital supply outpost, not too far Kyuden Hida Prime.
No one ever expected Akuma's fleet's to make it past the blockade. When his outpost was attacked, the young taisa used a maneuver he'd gleaned from Kisada's ancient techniques. Confident that it would repeal the attacking vessels, he watched... as his vessels fell like cut grain. Confused, Kuma panicked, and did the one thing a Crab must never do: he fled. Of the whole division, only he came back alive. Shamed, he was denied permission to commit seppuku, and thrown out of the Halls of the Crab forever.
Alone, Kuma wandered the Star Empire, working as a mercenary as the Alliance War raged on. He continued to study the scrolls of Kisada's tactics he'd taken with him, learning as much as he could. He knew it wasn't the tactics that were deficient -- it was him. He'd implemented them wrong, chose the wrong strategy for the situation. And as his understanding of the scrolls grew, he modified them, adding his own twists and turns to the techniques.
People began to be impressed. As Kuma fought and learned, he refined his techniques. He began to attract a following. Ronin and Heimin alike came to him, pledging allegiance and loyalty. Even some Crab, who had lost their leaders in battle, began to congregate under Kuma's banner. Soon, he led an army. As the Alliance War progressed, Kuma's army gained more and more prestige. They were at the forefront of many battles, led by Kuma himself, fighting alongside the Great Clans with unparalleled tenacity. The comparatively small army was famous for always being the last to pull out, sacrificing themselves to protect the Emperor and the Empire -- even to the last day of the war.
Kuma intended to convince the legions of the Dragon to intervene but they did everything they could to dissuade him. Kuma compromised. He took half his army to fight, and left his second in command, the insightful Ajina, to lead the other half in helping to protect the Emperor. But Kuma and his legions did not return.
In recognition of Kuma's sacrifice, Emperor Iweko CXI gave the remaining half of Kuma's army Minor Clan status, and Ajina was made the Clan's daimyo. He took the name of the Bear for his newborn clan, after the fabled Crab general who Kuma had idolized. Since that day, the Bear have been one of the most respected minor clans in Rokugani Star Empire.
Geography & Economy
The Emperor granted them the lands of on Osano-Wo Reach. Their given duty was to regulate the planet, and ensure it was kept safe for travelers. Secretly, the Emperor did this to avoid a new conflict between the Lion and Mantis clans to erupt. They also find a good hobby and source of revenues in bee-breeding and make the best honey of the galaxy. They keep the Imperial Families supplied and are one of the few Minor Clans with the protection of the Emperor. Most Great Clans have their own honey supplies, but the Bear's honey is so good that they do good business with everyone.
The Bear have holdings on trade stations and Bee-friendly worlds across the Empire. Their biggest holding is the Honey Jar, a series of stations in an asteroid belt in a Phoenix system where they conduct experiments in zero-G beekeeping, hive mind and robotics.
Demography
The Bear are, of course, close to the Crab. There are many Bears who can say their Great-Grandfather was a Crab, after all. Aside from that, the only clan the Bear have any close ties is the Monkey. The Monkey see in the Bear much of what they were in their infancy, and the Bear respect the Monkey's vigilance and ingenuity. The friendship has blossomed and been fruitful over the last century, with many intermarriages between the two clans. An exchange program has opened up between the two recently, with the sons of the Monkey and Bear Clan Daimyos having trained in the other clan's school.
Customs
Bears are quiet strength, renowned for being dreamers but quick to respond when action is necessary. Parents often tend to overprotect their children and take their education very seriously, up to push back the date of their gempukku ceremony to the limit of unreasonable. They like to take time to do things well and can be very contemplative to simple details.
Kuma Family: +1 Stamina
The Kuma family are those who took the name of the Bear's progenitor, Hida Kuma. Many of them were former Crabs, who followed Kuma during the Shadow War, and felt an obligation to bear his name into the future. Their lands lie in the old Shadowlands, where through strength and tenacity, they have carved out a home. Kuma Genkyu, the current Bear Clan Champion, is a gruff and pragmatic man, known equally for his rage and his wisdom. He is known to be on very friendly terms with Hida Tengyu, and many say that Genkyu's resemblance to the First Kuma is uncanny.
Kuma Bushi School
[bUSHI]
The bushi of the Bear Clan are trained in the tactics that Kuma developed during the Shadow Wars. Much of the school is adaptation and elaboration of the tactics Hida Kisada developed a thousand years ago, and thus, the Kuma are well known for their unparalleled tenacity.
TECHNIQUES
Rank 1: The Way of the Bear
The Bear knows true strength is not simple force, but tightly controlled power. The Bear receives a number of free raises on all Strength rolls equal to the number Kuma Bushi School ranks he has achieved. (Obviously, as Damage rolls are not skill rolls, these are not included in this technique.)
Rank 2: The Guardian of Osano-Wo Reach
The samurai of the Bear Clan learn from an early age that they must face their enemies not by blade, but by courtesy and honesty, as to shield themselves from the power of greater forces. You gain the Balance Advantage (if you already possessed the advantage, the experience point value is refunded).
When acting in the behest of your clan, you gain +2k2 instead of +1k1 when spending Void Points to improve Courtier, Etiquette or Sincerity rolls.
Rank 3: The Claws and the Fangs
When there is no other solution than a combat, the Bear know how to act quickly without making too many damages. Attacking is a simple action instead of a complex action when using weapons with the Samurai keyword.
Rank 4: Bearing the Burden
The tenacity of the Bear is unrivaled. At this rank, the Earth ring of the Bear is considered increased by 1 to calculate her wound ranks.
Rank 5: Rage of the Great Bear
The Bear has learned the final of Kuma's teachings: rage is not merely an emotion, it is a lethal weapon. On the Bear's initiative, he may declare that he is using this technique. If he chooses to do so, his initiative is automatically last. On the Bear's turn, he may attack normally, but may also make one attack against all enemies which attacked him that round, whether they succeeded in their attack or not. Use of this technique is considered a Full Attack, though does not gain the normal Full Attack bonus.
The Ibis Clan
Founding
The Clan of the Ibis was born of war. But not from the inspiration that can give the war. I have nothing to do with tactics or even strategy but with propaganda and morale. Like the Emperor, Doji Aibisu could no longer see his countrymen constantly quarreling over territory. She had lost her parents, both mowed down by infighting while the Alliance War threatened to destroy the Emerald Empire from within. Doji Aibisu knew it better than anyone.
She was not particularly good with blades or weapons but excelled from an early age in the art of eloquence. So she began to send letters to all clan warlords to try to resolve the conflict. But nothing helped. Even the pacifist Phoenix clan refused to listen to reason. Then she took drastic measures and decided to contact the Emperor himself.
The son of Heaven heard his supplication and offered the girl to speak on his behalf as the Voice of the Emperor. There has never had such a young person in this position but Doji Aibisu not retired. She spent long days to prepare a speech for the Emperor and almost a month later, it was widely distributed throughout the Empire by the YNN. The words were so righteous, the emotion was such that resounded to the ends of the galaxy and the fighting ended early. The Emperor delighted to finally see peace return proclaimed as soon the new Aibisu family name of the Ibis clan. The one that had delivered the message was the first daimyo. He entrusted her the mission to maintain the morale of the population in all conditions, to ensure that the joy lives in the hearts on and that culture was a vector of peace. The Crane Clan took offense of this purpose that was assigned to her then Aibisu Ishiko purposed to become the spokesman of the Minor Clan Alliance. The Emperor agreed. Since then, The Ibis Clan represents the cultural strength of the Alliance.
Geography & Economy
Most Ibis holdings are broadcasting stations or recruitment agencies in places offered to them by the Great Clans. Their largest holding is Ko-no-hama's Bloom, an ocean city (with a station in geostationary orbit above it) on the Unicorn world of Suitengu's Grasp with a spectacular view of a nearby nebula. (The Unicorn gave them the territory to ensure they'd get all Ibis broadcasts.). Notably the Ibis Clan is one of the richest of minor clans and its revenue comes from advertising and prohibitive fees of artists among its ranks.
Demography
Ibis's clan has more people than it seems at first look because its members are not all situated in Ko-no-hama's Bloom but scattered throughout the Empire. Gossips claim that only the wealthiest or the most famous are entitled to become members of this very select clan but it is not in reality. As the clan serves as cultural window to the alliance of minor clans, it seeks to show only its finery but all celebrities started at the bottom of the scale even if it is true they are almost always from the samurai caste. You can find etas, heimins and hinins in the clan but they are often relegated to menial tasks such as handling and maintenance.
Customs
Is not a member of the Ibis who want. For a chance to be accepted as such it must be recognized by his peers as an outstanding individual. Many people claim to be from Ibis clan because of his high dispersion while they have never even been approached by one. The Ibis clan recruits by itself and unsolicited applications and volunteers rarely have a favorable response. Only the best of the best should expect to be welcome.
The clan holds every winter an annual gala to receive donations that will go to the poorest. The event is broadcast throughout the empire by Yumeji News Network. However unlike the favor of the Miya family, the funds raised are generally used only for Minor Clan Alliance members.
Aibisu Family: +1 Reflexes
The Aibisu family is not prestigious by his struggles or his bravery but by his eloquence, his wit and panache. The Aibisu are usually exuberant in their habits, their demands and their clothing, they're one of the few Minor Clans families who can expect to be known and recognized wherever they go. The glory they get usually serves them as an excuse for all the etiquette or courtesy errors they may commit. Having a member of the Clan of the Ibis at his court is a pledge of fun as much as prestige. Aibisu are proud, sometimes even arrogant and often behave with a slight disdain. They never fail to remember that they are appreciated to the court of the Emperor…
Ibis clan members may buy the Stardom advantage for 3 points instead of 5 buy may never buy the Bland advantage.
Aibisu War Dancer School
[bUSHI]
TECHNIQUES
Rank 1: The Blaze of the Ibis
The Aibisu truly believes that her work serves a higher purpose and has often little care about her own protection. So, they are used to have servants to take care of them and especially yojimbos at their service to protect them against hordes of groupies. You may but the Servant advantage for 4 points instead of 5. Anyone may Guard you as a Free Action. You also gain a +1k1 bonus to your Perform skills.
Rank 2: Bright of the Iron Fan
No one in the Empire has mastered the facets of the iron fan with the same fluency at the Aibisu War Dancers. When wielding a war fan or a music instrument in your off hand, you suffer no penalties for attacks made with that hand. You also add your rank in War Fans to the total of your Armor TN at all time while wielding a War Fan.
Rank 3: Speed of the Stars
With speed built upon endless training, the Aibisu strikes an opponent from every angle. Attacking is a simple action instead of a complex action when listening good music or using War Fans or a music instrument.
Rank 4: Anonymity shield
The Aibisu War Dancer wear extravagant clothes while on stage, both to inspire fear in opponents, imagination of their audience and to make them difficult to distinguish from one-another.
When wearing extravagant clothes, you gain Fear 2. This effect rises by 1 for every five additional Aibisu War Dancer fighting alongside you, to a limit of Fear 6. When wearing traditional clothes, this effect does not occur. However, when someone makes a Lore: Heraldry/Intelligence roll to determine your identity, you may voluntarily choose to increase the TN of that roll by 10.
Rank 5: Trance of the Rhythm
Those who have mastered the Aibisu School seem to strike from everywhere at once. If you attack more than once in the same turn while listening good music and wielding a Tessen or a music instrument, you may make a single extra attack maneuver each time with your off hand for 3 raises instead of 5.
The Panda Clan
“When the appetite goes well, all is well ..."
Founding
Sometimes it is memorable meals that mark the spirits. Hida Kunshin was among people who thought that. Originally he was a sumai warrior from the Crab Clan, but his overweight prevented him from being truly effective in combat. He always liked to eat, it was sickly for him. So rather than bring shame on his family, he preferred to retire to a Brotherhood monastery in order to find the serenity that he lacked.
This works wonderfully and Kunshin finally found his inner peace. But when the Alliance War raged and many inhabitants of the Empire were driven from their homes, many people died of starvation. Kunshin who loved food could not bear it.
He brought much of his attention in devotion to the Fortune or rice Inari but it seemed to him that she remained insensitive to his pleas. Also, he undertook to bring all possible resources to create a soup to help the poor. He was little inclined to use diplomacy to get funds then he has a strange idea. He excelled in the art of preparing meals with few resources and petitioned the Bat clan so he can disseminate culinary ideas on Yumeji News Network.
The Bat clan accepted. The Kunshin television show enjoyed a successful start, up to boost the morale of a population ravaged by war by his debonair and playful humor. Soon he was joined in his effort by others who put their talent at the service of the poor. Certainly the Crane Clan obviously tried to oppose this initiative, but it had to bow to the growing popularity of the show to concentrate on their war effort.
The legend says that the Emperor himself heard of it and that once the war ended, he disguised himself begging to mingle incognito at the soup kitchen. When he saw the effort made to feed the population, he immediately revealed his identity and said he had never eaten better food than he had consumed. A food that filled not only the stomach but mostly fed the soul. As a reward he conferred Kunshin the family name of Xiongmao and asked him to found a minor clan for his initiative to endure. Kunshin Xiongmao is now long dead but his charity work continues and there is even a restaurant that bears his name in rebuilt city of Otosan Ushi on Rokugan.
Geography and Economics
The wealth of the Panda Clan is almost indecent for a family of monks but it is mainly due to imperial support and to their popularity. They never use their fame or wealth of apparent manner, preferring to live in a humble and quiet way and entrust money to the rest of the Brotherhood and to the poor. They often live independently, their popularity earning them more often to be warmly welcomed everywhere. They have only one fixed place, the Peaceful Bamboo Monastery located in the Dragon space.
Demography
There are often more mouths to feed than monks in Panda facilities but the food is never lacking for those who appreciate good food.
Customs
Members of the panda clan are reputed to be constantly feeding, snacking or chewing something, even when they meditate. All excuses are good to eat something and they multiply meals every day. They are often grumpy when they cannot sustain but their reserves allow them to hold several days without food just with meditation. They have good relations with the minor clans as the Albatross, the Tanuki, the Salmon and the Bat and they are also in very good terms with the Miya imperial family. Xiongmao Monks revere all Fortunes but especially Inari, Toyouke-Omikami and Kojin.
XIONGMAO FAMILY: +1 STAMINA
The panda is a symbolic animal of friendship, peace, a quiet strength and determination. Under his apparent gentleness, he reiterates the importance of establishing a clear scope to delineate the space of privacy and sense of security. The Xiongmao family reflects this and its members are likely to be quite emotional and make proof of compassion. A stable material comfort is a source of well-being, sometimes to the risk of dependence and goes to excess. Xiongmao so encourage integrating different aspects of the personality into a harmonious whole without depending on material goods. Whoever refuses food to a person who requests is severely punished.
Schools, Paths and Dojos
Xiongmao sumai School
[MONK]
The Xiongmao Monks practice a particular art for Sumotori. Not widespread and focused on non-violence, their techniques are easily laughable to the uninitiated. They teach above all patience and intuition, to avoid combat whenever it’s possible. Enjoying the protection of the Emperor, its members are among the most honorable of the Brotherhood.
TECHNIQUES
Rank1: Heaven Stability
The TN any test to throw you down or make you lose your balance is increased by 20. You must purchase the Corpulent Disadvantage but benefit from a Fortune of Foods ‘Blessing of your choice.
Rank 2: Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body
All your buys of Mental Advantages and Physical Disadvantages are reduced by 1 point. You get a bonus of + 1k1 in all your school skills.
Rank 3: Never Repeat
Pandas are known to meditate long and to be symbols of peace and wisdom. But when there is no other solution than confrontation, they work with disconcerting speed and high efficiency. You can make your attacks Unarmed or with a bo or a pair of jo with Simple Actions instead of Complex Actions.
Rank 4: To Spread Imperial Peace
The Emperor greatly appreciates the quiet side of the Xiongmao family. If a person tries to unfairly slander you, you can try a Social Opposed Test of Sincerity (Honesty)/ Intuition against Sincerity (Deception) / Intuition your opponent. If successful, any loss of honor due to this lie is doubled and imposed on the liar.
You can buy the Sacrosanct and Imperial Alliance (with Miya family) Advantages for one point less.
Rank 5: Solid As a Bamboo
Pandas are known for their incredible resilience. They can withstand longer than normal to impact and lack of food. You can spend one Void Point as a Simple Action to ignore all damage taken during an attack. You also receive the Advantage Blessing of Inari for free.
Xiongmao Master of Sushis
(Alternate Path) [ARTISAN]
As Xiongmao are not samurai monk by their status, nothing prevents them from cooking without anyone taking offense. They even past masters in the fine art of preparing sushis that they consume in vast quantities. They fill this practice with katas which apply only to sushis, a thousand times repeated gestures that bring them culinary excellence.
The first time you use one of these two skills to prepare a meal for a person of higher status to yours and that it is successful and appreciated, you gain 2 Glory points.
Edited by droidscotty"Love is the only true heat ..."
The Tern Clan
Founding
The history of the Tern clan begins in a very strange way. The daimyo of a minor family Utaku Toraburu had an only son named Hoshi who was born when his mother died in childbirth. From the beginning his father was concerned with it and it would not work out.
Deprived of the love of his mother, Hoshi became fascinated with the Utaku steeds and dreamed above all to ride one from his early childhood. But his masculine condition requires him to ever be able to. In time he came to despise not only the Battle Maidens but the fairer sex as a whole. He admired their grace, beauty and subtlety but was furious not being able to appropriate them for himself. He had few friends, mostly boys. The last straw came when Toraburu discovered that his son loved men and that he would always refuse to take a spouse.
Distraught, almost ashamed Toraburu praised the Fortunes to help him but no one answered. Everyone however, was not deaf to his pleas. Toraburu should ask his ancestors by promising them great sacrifices to ensure his son finally becomes a respectable person, admired by all and that he decided to marry. When in the dark of night, Toraburu prayed before the full moon, the Obsidian Dragon granted his vow.
The next day when he awoke Toraburu only crossed frightened servants, screaming of a curse. Faced with so much chaos, he rushed into the room of his son and was flabbergasted. Before him stood a graceful young woman who looked exactly like his son. He believed in a hoax but Hoshi knew soon how to show him that it was reality. The son of Toraburu had been transformed into a daughter. Hoshi shone with joy and proclaimed that she would now be called Satsuei. She quickly accommodated herself to her new womanhood literally embracing all heart femininity as much desired as liberation and began to venerate the Moon to thank her. But her happiness was short...
The bitterness of her father went growing. Worse it seemed that the new of the metamorphosis had spread quickly. The Kuni wanted to make sure she was not the work of Jikogu, the Kitsuki wanted to investigate, the Moshi worried about the work of the moon, the Doji and Matsu proposed to educate the young woman, the Shoshuro wanted to ensure that there was no deception, the Isawa wanted to examine the magic of the moon and offered their services to find a solution ... All the clans had mysteriously heard about this story and found a good excuse to be interested more closely. Only the Unicorn clan not mingled. Utaku Battle Maidens even refused the candidacy of Satsuei by questioning her legitimacy. All of this had attracted far too much attention to Toraburu that filled of shame, filled and closed the pact with his sacrifice by committing seppuku.
This did not go in improving things, on the contrary. With no further heiress that Satsuei, the family was divided on whether to leave her or not to become the new daimyo. The disagreements were numerous and other clans were granted the opportunity to be involved. They drive Satsuei to many dishonorable interrogations and other humiliating anatomical examinations to determine her true nature. The situation degenerated; Hoshi become female could not find happiness despite the miracle she had received. Exhausted, she decided that enough was enough. She gathered her courage, her possessions and those who remained faithful to her and decided to become a ronin. She would look into exile to the new colonies as a way to start a new life, away from the worries of the Empire.
So she took the sea with his supporters and prayed to find peace on a land virgin of contempt and prejudice. The Obsidian Dragon granted her again. As soon as had they set sail to the west that a terrible storm unleashed. Some boats were lost and other so severely damaged that they could not be repaired. They drifted for weeks without being able to maneuver, still further to the north. Some boats ended up landing on a frozen land, devoid of land and trees.
The survivors took advantage of the little wooden ships to build makeshift shelters, confident that relief would come but no one ever came. Some tried to reconnect with Rokugan but they never saw them again. The vast majority resigned, it was now necessary to survive.
Satsuei encouraged her followers, persuaded them to remain united, organized hunts, fishing and mutual care. The beginnings were titanic but a community established permanently in ice and snow habitats. Faced with so much determination, a man decided to make Satsuei his wife and in extreme cold of the far north, Satsuei finally discovered the true warmth and genuine love. Later she gave birth to twins: a boy and a girl who ensured the clan lineage.
After many years of isolation, Satsuei decided and proclaimed herself they now formed an autonomous clan, the Tern clan. This animal was known to be a great explorer, elegant as much for her strength than to the effort and cold she could sustain. It matched with the ideals of the clan. When Satsuei died at a more than a respectable age, her descendants adopted her name as their family name. They were not to be truly recognized as legitimate until centuries later when new contacts were restored with the Empire.
Demography
The clan was never densely populated and suffers mainly from lack of genetic mixing of its population. With time and natural selection operating, their skin eventually became darker and their eyes more wrinkled than those of an average Rokugani. In an environment where the day can last more than six months in a biting sun, this natural evolution protects them.
Geography and Economy
The Tern Clan occupies some sedentary coastal villages sat at the end of the world but it kept a nomadic culture from its distant origins in search of livelihood. They travel by sleigh, pulled by wolves or bears, taking with them their yurts they defend only against very few looters and wild beasts.
They rarely trade, especially practicing barter of whale oil and amber, walrus ivory, skins and furs and surviving mainly on hunting and fishing. The currency they use kept a symbolic value and is mostly carved in ivory rather than forged of gold.
Any agricultural culture is virtually impossible. The only possible breeding is that of carnivorous creatures such as polar bears and other wolves they sometimes ride in honor of Satsuei. Intake of fruits or vegetables figures imperial dishes. The metals, wood, paper, sand, glass or clay are extremely rare commodities, precious and preserved with utmost meticulousness.
Customs
The clan worships the Moon as Moshi do to the Sun. They actually consider the Obsidian Dragon for the miracles he performed daily by governing tides. The northern lights are always interpreted as manifestations of his mood and based on their colors and movements sometimes omens of misfortune or blessings for the clan.
They hide from the moon through masks when performing rituals and dances because they believe that these give them the power to speak with the kami without the Obsidian Dragon seeing them and thus cannot interact. Tradition and teaching are transmitted orally only.
They have a habit of greeting, rubbing noses against each other in a back and forward movement. In fact it is not a form of erotic salutation serving in an intimate context for two people to greet at a time when almost only their noses and eyes are exposed to cold.
The Satsuei Family: +1 Willpower
The Tern clan still has the need for children to survive. The family is the social hub around which is organized life. Women are therefore particularly pampered, protected and valued. They are often very beautiful and feminine, with fine lines and graceful movements. Their exotic beauty - heritage of the gift of the moon- would be most appreciated into the eyes of the rokuganis of the continent. The Tern clan remained matriarchal since its foundation but men are of great importance as hunters-fishers and protective warriors of the clan. Anyone who shows good will is welcome but visitors are extremely rare. The Satsuei family is known for his empathy and his good life despite the rigors of her environment.
Schools, Paths and Dojos
SATSUEI SHUGENJA SCHOOL
In a permanently frozen land, the kami of Fire and Earth are virtually absent. As for their physical survival, the Satsuei therefore focused exclusively on what they disposed for their psychic survival.
Technique : The Way of the Ice - You can spend a Void Point as a Complex Action to increase by 1k1 all the damage caused by your Air and Water spells until the end of the next round or to release an ice ball from your hands. This ball strikes one target within a range of 5’ x your Water Ring. It rolls and keeps a number of damage dice equal to half your Air Ring. You may not expend spell slots to increase the damage of this ball.
You win a free Raise to all spells carrying the Divination tag.
Spells : Commune, Sense, Summon, 3 Water, 2 Air, 1 Fire or 1 Earth.
BOOMERANG
Woods and metals are an extremely rare commodity in northern countries. Yet to have ranged weapons is essential for hunting. Members of the Tern clan therefore developed a special weapon that always returns in their hand when missing the target to not waste resources. This is most often a curved piece of carved bone. The outer edges have been rendered sharp and hardened in soot. The metal models are extremely valuable and rare, as a mark of wealth and prestige.
Advices for players and GMs
Members of the Tern clan naturally have access to the following paths as alternative routes as long as they meet the prerequisite of skills and advantages only. They have just discovered those techniques and appointed them for themselves:
-Snow Riders (Enemies of the Empire p. 203)
-The Acolytes of Snow (Book of Water p.179)
-Disciples of the River (Book of Water p.178)