Please comment and critique . I would like to make these as favorable to the playerbase as possible. If you feel any of these should have gotten different bonuses or if my description is too lacking, I am happy to change the details. Feedback on this will also obviously be taken into account when I work on the future clans. Also, if you have created a vassal family for the crab of your own that you would like to add to this project, I would be happy to add it to the list.
The purpose of this project is to add additional lore-friendly families to every Great Clan. These are all vassal families that serve the main families of the Great Clans. The family these families serve is includes as often within Rokugan, they are referred to by their lord's family name followed by their own name, for example "Endo Ujimasa" would be called "Hiruma no Endo Ujimasa", sometimes even just calling him "Hiruma Ujimasa". However, if you want to play in a Rokugan that has a bit more diversity then you may drop the first part and simply refer to such a character as "Endo Ujimasa" under all circumstances.
The distinction here between "branch family" and "servant family" is not an official designation, but indicates whether the family came from outside the family they serve (usually entirely outside the clan, and often from ronin or peasant backgrounds) and were adopted by the family as permanent servants, which I have referred to as "Servant Family" or where a family designated some of its own members to focus on specializing in a certain task, which I have called "Branch Family". While these have never been used as terms within Rokugan canon, there is every indication that those from Branch Families get treated better than those from Servant Families.
Mechanically all of these families are a bit worse than the 4 to 5 you will find in the main RPG book. This is because these families are canonically of lower status within the clan. In fact, these characters should start off with 5 less status than regular member of their clan in addition to the lower glory and usually lower wealth found here. If GMs find that these few points of honor, glory and wealth are too great of a detriment for players to consider even playing these families, then they are encouraged to bump the glory here by 5 points, the wealth by an extra koku and not implementing the status loss for being from a branch family. The ultimate goal here is to increase the options for both PCs and NPCs-- obviously a balance between realism and enjoyment should be struck.
The Ashidaka Family
Kakita Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Earth or +1 Fire
Skill Increases:
+1 Aesthetics, +1 Smithing
Glory:
39
Starting Wealth:
6 Koku
The Ashidaka are descendants of Kakita Ashidaka who crafted the first of the Kakita style blades that have become famous throughout the empire and practically the standard among duelists in Rokugan. To this day the members of the Ashidaka family are known as the greatest swordsmiths of the Crane, if not the empire, and carefully guard their secrets. If you want a fine blade, find a member of the Ashidaka family.
The Chaneko Family
Asahina Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Earth or +1 Fire
Skill Increases:
+1 Survival, +1 Tactics
Glory:
36
Starting Wealth:
4 Koku
Although the Crane Clan is primarily known for resolving its conflicts in the court or by individual duels, their seemingly endless conflicts with the Crab, Lion and even Scorpion clans have not allowed them to be lax when it comes to their military. Often outmatched by the superior strength of the Crab and tactics of the Lion, the Crane sought to expand their range of tactical options and thus formed the Caneko family from a group of those of the Asahina who were born without the family’s traditional affinity for the kami. The Chaneko family runs an archery-focused dojo where, in addition to their own members, they teach the archers of both the Asahina and Daidoji families in the art of kyujutsu. As one might expect fr
om the Crane, their techniques tend to focus very much on achieving a perfect form over adaptable or even practical technique. This means the Chaneko archers perform superbly under ideal circumstances, but are outmatched by many other archers in the chaos of pitched battle. An attachment of archers from the Chaneko family can be found within nearly any Crane army and their members are commonly encountered within the Crane lands.
The Fujihiro Family
Daidoji Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Fire or +1 Water
Skill Increases:
+1 Fitness, +1 Smithing
Glory:
37
Starting Wealth:
6 Koku
The Fujihiro work for the Daidoji and are responsible for creating the standard armaments the Daidoji are known for. They are masters at making polearms and creating form-fitting armor that is highly protective despite not hindering one’s movements. If one finds an armor smith in the Crane lands, there is a good chance it is a Fujihiro.
The Hanamofu Family
Daidoji Servant Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Earth or +1 Water
Skill Increases:
+1 Commerce, +1 Fitness
Glory:
37
Starting Wealth:
6 Koku
The Hanamofu are officially a family of cartographers and traders in service to the Daidoji family. However, their kind of trading often involves the smuggling important relics or medicine past enemy blockades. They consider themselves to be couriers rather than true smugglers and generally undertake such tasks for the benefit of others rather than personal profit. If you do trade with the Crane, you might be dealing with a Hanamofu.
The Hiramachi Family
Daidoji Servant Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Fire or +1 Void
Skill Increases:
+1 Fitness, +1 Skulduggery
Glory:
33
Starting Wealth:
4 Koku
Formed during a Daidoji civil war over succession, the Hiramachi started with the son of the younger brother of the Daimyo and a large group of ronin and mantis smugglers who worked for him. The Hiramachi undertake the dirtiest of jobs for the Daidoji, including tax evasion, contraband arms, raiding rival clan’s shipments and bribing officials. However, they have their own personal sense of honor and those who do not follow it may find themselves exiled. When crossing the Crane, beware of the Hiramachi family.
The Hiramori Family
Daidoji Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Fire or +1 Water
Skill Increases:
+1 Survival, +1 Tactics
Glory:
32
Starting Wealth:
4 Koku
Formed during a Daidoji civil war over succession, the Hiramori are descendants of those of the Daidoji who followed the losing side. During that war each side had developed trap-laying and ambush strategies. The Hiramori were tasked with carrying on these traditions. They ply their trade in the marshes surrounding the Crane territory making it very foolish to attempt to invade the Crane lands through those wetlands. If you travel around the edges of Crane territory, you may just meet a member of the Hiramori family.
The Iwasaki Family
Kakita Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Air or +1 Water
Skill Increases:
+1 Design, +1 Performance
Glory:
38
Starting Wealth:
6 Koku
The Iwasaki trace their lineage all the way back to the first century, being one of the very first vassal families formed in Rokugan. They operate geisha houses within the Crane lands, using them in order to gather information on behalf of the clan. If one visits a geisha house in the Crane lands, it is likely an Iwasaki who is operating it and training the geisha.
The Junichi Family
Daidoji Servant Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Earth or +1 Water
Skill Increases:
+1 Fitness, +1 Survival
Glory:
36
Starting Wealth:
5 Koku
When the Unicorn returned to Rokugan, they gifted the Crane with a number of fine horses. The Junichi were formed in order to take care of, breed and raise those same horses. They truly love their horses and have been known to decorate their manes in blue ribbons. If you wish to find a fine horse in the lands of the Crane, seek the Junichi family.
The Katogama Family
Doji Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Air or +1 Water
Skill Increases:
+1 Courtesy, +1 Skulduggery
Glory:
33
Starting Wealth:
4 Koku
The Katogama keep the peace in Crane lands by serving as the Doji’s information gathering network. Their job is to ferret out and gather information on possible traitors within the clan, eliminating them if necessary. Although the Katogama present themselves with a friendly face and demeanor, their true nature is far more dangerous. If you meet one, be careful what you say.
The Morehei Family
Doji Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Void or +1 Water
Skill Increases:
+1 Commerce, +1 Seafaring
Glory:
35
Starting Wealth:
5 Koku
The Morehei were once an extraordinarily wealthy family of the Crane with their own island off the coast of the Crane lands. They were devoted to the Fortune of the Sea Suitengu and had an enormous statue of him. However, in the 8th century an earthquake sunk their island home along with their daimyo and treasures. The Morehei who exist today are still expert sailors, but they are a shadow of their past glory. If you are at a harbor, there is a chance a Crane you meet may be a Morehei.
The Tsume Family
Doji Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Earth or +1 Fire
Skill Increases:
+1 Command, +1 Tactics
Glory:
38
Starting Wealth:
5 Koku
The Tsume, or “talons”, are a family that was formed as a reward for Doji Kigura uncovering a Bayushi plot against his lord during a winter court. Despite this origin, the Tsume are known as particularly vicious and aggressive soldiers who primarily strike at the Lion Clan. During the recent Crane-Lion war, the Tsume struck many blows to the Lion that they are not likely to soon forget.
The Anneda Family
Kakita Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Earth or +1 Void
Skill Increases:
+1 Survival, +1 Theology
Glory:
37
Starting Wealth:
5 Koku
The family began as guardians of sakura trees at important locations, but the family nowadays more renowned for their cherry blossom material craftsmanship and their delicacies such as sakura mochi. A selection of their best members train at the Anneda Falling Blossom School, this school specializes in training guard animals. Some Crane members exchange rumours that an Anneda guard animal wielded a sword and was preforming a famous Kakita kata.
The Munehito Family
Doji Branch Family
Ring Increases:
+1 Earth or +1 Fire
Skill Increases:
+1 Commerce, +1 Design
Glory:
39
Starting Wealth:
6 Koku
If you are looking for the best kimono makers, then the Crane will direct you towards this family. Their kimono's are expansive, but the quality of such a kimono is recognizable by others, which increases the status of the wearer. A set of their best four kimono's for the Winter Court, will cost you the same amount of money as building a new castle. Luckily for poorer samurai's, they also sell (cheaper) kimono's of a lower quality. The only way to enter their one and only shop in the Quiet City if you are not a Munehito member, is by presenting a written permission by a Crane daimyo or a personal Winter Court invitation.