Main and Secondary Characters

By Tonbo Karasu, in L5R LCG: Lore Discussion

Hi all,

With a total of almost 700 human characters in canon now (not to mention non-humans), my old Imperial Census thread has become somewhat unwieldy. However, I am still maintaining the Google sheet of these characters and their appearances. This allows me to somewhat track where the story is currently focussed, and who the main and secondary characters are in each Clan.

Here is the current standing:

Imperial Families

Core Characters

  • Hantei XXXVIII
  • Hantei Daisetsu
  • Hantei Sotorii
  • Miya Satoshi
  • Seppun Ishikawa

Crab Clan

Core Characters

  • Hida Kisada
  • Yasuki Taka

Secondary Characters

  • Hida Yakamo
  • Hiruma Kogoe
  • Kaiu Shuichi
  • Kuni Yori
  • Yasuki Oguri

Crane Clan

Core Characters

  • Doji Hotaru
  • Doji Kuwanan
  • Doji Shizue
  • Kakita Yoshi

Secondary Characters

  • Daidoji Uji
  • Doji Kuzunobu
  • Doji Satsume [Though deceased, his influence continues]
  • Kakita Asami
  • Kakita Kaezin
  • Kakita Ryoku
  • Kakita Toshimoko
  • Kakita Yuri

Dragon Clan

Core Characters

  • Agasha Sumiko
  • Kitsuki Yaruma
  • Mirumoto Hitomi
  • Togashi Mitsu
  • Togashi Yokuni

Secondary Characters

  • Kitsuki Kage
  • Togashi Kazue

Lion Clan

Core Characters

  • Akodo Kaede
  • Akodo Toturi
  • Ikoma Ujiaki
  • Matsu Tsuko

Secondary Characters

  • Akodo Arasou
  • Akodo Kage
  • Ikoma Anakazu
  • Ikoma Eiji
  • Kitsu Motso

Mantis Clan

Core Characters

  • Yoritomo

Secondary Characters

  • Kudaka

Phoenix Clan

Core Characters

  • Shiba Tsukune

Secondary Characters

  • Asako Maezawa
  • Isawa Tadaka
  • Isawa Tsuke
  • Isawa Ujina
  • Kaito Kosori
  • Shiba Tetsu

Scorpion Clan

Core Characters

  • Bayushi Aramoro
  • Bayushi Kachiko
  • Bayushi Shoju
  • Bayushi Yojiro

Secondary Characters

  • Bayushi Dairu
  • Shosuro Hametsu
  • Shosuro Hyobu
  • Yogo Asami

Unicorn Clan

Core Characters

  • Ide Tadaji
  • Iuchi Daiyu
  • Iuchi Shahai
  • Shinjo Altansarnai
  • Shinjo Shono

Secondary Characters

  • Iuchi Rimei
  • Moto Chagatai
  • Shinjo Haruko
  • Shinjo Tatsuo
  • Shinjo Yasamura
  • Utaku Kamoko
  • Utaku Yumino

I'd argue that Yokuni is a secondary character (haven't read the Dragon Clan novella yet) - he feels like Satsume, a presence that hovers over the story without directly getting involved.

14 minutes ago, Mangod said:

I'd argue that Yokuni is a secondary character (haven't read the Dragon Clan novella yet) - he feels like Satsume, a presence that hovers over the story without directly getting involved.

He is the most borderline of the core characters. The biggest difference between him and Satsume is that Yokuni is still alive. If he's not mentioned again by the end of this cycle of fiction, he'll drop from Core to Secondary, as will Ishikawa, Yaruma and Tadji. Those latter 3 are more likely to be around if Otosan Uchi comes up at all.

There's a lot of Secondary characters who are only around for a little while more unless they show up again as well.

I'd argue that Kosori is on the cusp of "Main" Status and that Tadaka is a "Main" for the Phoenix.

1 hour ago, Shiba Gunichi said:

I'd argue that Kosori is on the cusp of "Main" Status and that Tadaka is a "Main" for the Phoenix.

Tadaka has had less story presence than, for example, Togashi Yokuni, but if he shows up again, Tadaka will definitely hit the Core category. Kosori, on the other hand, has only appeared in 1 fiction outside the novella and has never been mentioned by anyone else IC, despite the readership's opinion. Ujina only dropped out due to being, um, gone.

However, I haven't figured out a way to weight my calculations for how recently characters appeared, and I'm not sure whether I should.

With the correction to the Mantis twins names in the recent update, Fuu and Umi join Kudaka as Secondary Mantis. The latest fiction makes Tsanuri front and centre and puts her, along with Beiona, into the list. Yokuni and Ishikawa, as expected, have faded a bit into the background

Imperial Families

Core Characters

  • Hantei XXXVIII
  • Hantei Daisetsu
  • Hantei Sotorii
  • Miya Satoshi

Secondary Characters

  • Seppun Ishikawa

Crab Clan

Core Characters

  • Hida Kisada
  • Yasuki Taka

Secondary Characters

  • Hida Yakamo
  • Hiruma Kogoe
  • Kaiu Shuichi
  • Kuni Yori
  • Yasuki Oguri

Crane Clan

Core Characters

  • Doji Hotaru
  • Doji Kuwanan
  • Doji Shizue
  • Kakita Yoshi

Secondary Characters

  • Daidoji Uji
  • Doji Kuzunobu
  • Doji Satsume [Though deceased, his influence continues]
  • Kakita Asami
  • Kakita Kaezin
  • Kakita Ryoku
  • Kakita Toshimoko
  • Kakita Yuri

Dragon Clan

Core Characters

  • Agasha Sumiko
  • Kitsuki Yaruma
  • Mirumoto Hitomi
  • Togashi Mitsu

Secondary Characters

  • Kitsuki Kage
  • Kitsuki Shomon
  • Togashi Kazue
  • Togashi Yokuni

Lion Clan

Core Characters

  • Akodo Kaede
  • Akodo Toturi
  • Ikoma Ujiaki
  • Matsu Tsuko

Secondary Characters

  • Akodo Arasou
  • Akodo Kage
  • Ikoma Anakazu
  • Ikoma Eiji
  • Ikoma Tsanuri
  • Kitsu Motso
  • Matsu Beiona

Mantis Clan

Core Characters

  • Yoritomo

Secondary Characters

  • Fuu
  • Kudaka
  • Umi

Phoenix Clan

Core Characters

  • Shiba Tsukune

Secondary Characters

  • Asako Maezawa
  • Isawa Tadaka
  • Isawa Tsuke
  • Isawa Ujina
  • Kaito Kosori
  • Shiba Tetsu

Scorpion Clan

Core Characters

  • Bayushi Aramoro
  • Bayushi Kachiko
  • Bayushi Shoju
  • Bayushi Yojiro

Secondary Characters

  • Bayushi Dairu
  • Shosuro Hametsu
  • Shosuro Hyobu
  • Yogo Asami

Unicorn Clan

Core Characters

  • Ide Tadaji
  • Iuchi Daiyu
  • Iuchi Shahai
  • Shinjo Altansarnai
  • Shinjo Shono

Secondary Characters

  • Iuchi Rimei
  • Moto Chagatai
  • Shinjo Haruko
  • Shinjo Tatsuo
  • Shinjo Yasamura
  • Utaku Kamoko
  • Utaku Yumino

Ronin

Core Characters

  • Ichiro