Legend of The Five Rings 4E - Sword and Fan - Pdfword and Fan
Legend of The Five Rings 4E - Sword and Fan - Pdfword and Fan
Legend of The Five Rings 4E - Sword and Fan - Pdfword and Fan
Sword
Design:
Written by:
Robert Hobart
Marie Brennan, Robert Denton,
Chris Hand, Dave Laderoute, Maxime
Lemaire, Seth Mason, Eric Menge,
Thomas Willoughby
and
Fan
David Lepore
Production Manager:
Senior Brand Manager:
Todd Rowland
Chief Executive
Officer:
John Zinser
Edited by:
Robert Hobart
Head Playtester:
Art Director:
Robert Hobart
Cover Design:
Robert Denton
Playtesters:
Team 1 (Brian Yoon, Dave Smith,
Patrick Chen, Aien Elmi, Jason Kang, Ki Chang Kim, Roger
Liang, Arthur Nguyen); Team 2 (Marie Brennan, Kyle
Niedzwiecki, Terrance Seddon, Megan ONeil); Team 4 (Rob
Hobart, Becca Hobart, Shawn Edwards, Kevin Blake, Lewis
Fleak, Brett Sweeney, Todd Stites, Daniel Briscoe); Team
6 (Haters United: Greg Long, Erykah Fasset, Maxime
Lemaire); Team 8 (Team Internet: Edward Reynolds,
Mathieu Brebouillet, David & Richard Whitney, Tarl Cowley,
Francois Poncin, Jason Shafer); Team 17: (Tom Lewis, Jamie
Kipp, Gavin OHearn, Shawn MacLean, John Taylor);
Team 18: (Dave Laderoute, Lee Vollum, Tristan Maclaurin,
Corbin Allard, Alex Luty, Amanda McEvoy, Adrienne
Payette, James Shpulak, Franois Sbastien Guimont,
Devha Livingston, Kari Villa, Ryan Woodbeck, Cole
Desgroseilliers); Team 19: (Charles Caswell, Vincent Stanton,
Chuck Sweeden, Fox Whitworth); Team 20: (Matt Tyler, Scott
Pegg, Kevin Koch, Michael Lawrence, Jonathan Harrison,
Paul Casagrande, John Bradford); Team 21: (James FreemanHargis, Sarah Koz, David Wright, James Mosingo); Team
22: (Scott Shepard, Dawn Dalton, Andrew Doud, Justin
Davidson, Jon Huskey, Trista Lillis); Team 23: (James
Wagner, Ryan Bataglia, Chris Foster, Phil Jenicek, Kristin
(Kay) Markert); Team 24: (Tony Love, Nicholas Love); Team
30: (Jim Friedman, Izzy Friedman, Chris Hoffmann, Jay
Becknell, Stephen Pelton)
Cover Art:
Layout
Original Graphic
Design:
Veronica V. Jones
Robert Denton
Edge Entertainment
Group
CREDITS
www.l5r.com
Artists:
Aaron Acevedo, Christopher
Appel, Steve Argyle, Matthew S. Armstrong, Steve Argyle,
Drew Baker, Beet, Steven Belledin, Noah Bradley, Theresa
Brandon, Heather Bruton, Manuel Calderon, Sergio
Camarena, Mike Capprotti, Brent Chumley, Storn A. Cook, Ed
Cox, Jose Cua, Max Degen, John Donahue, Lino Drieghe, Pam
Eklund, Randy Elliott, Jason Engle, Shen Fei, Sam Flegal,
Felipe Gaona, Anthony Grabski, Ancor Gil Harnandez, Hector
Herrera, Andy Hepworth, Jeff Himmelman, Jon Hodgson,
David Horne, Lisa Hunt, Llyn Hunter, Janine Johnston, Jaime
Jones, Jason Juta, Michael Komarck, Heather Kreiter, Greg
Lambrakis, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, Iordanis Lazaridis,
Alayna Lemmer, April Lee, Eric Lofgren, Asier Martinez
Lopez, Jorge Matar, Thomas Manning, Britt Martin, Patrick
McEvoy, Dieter Miller, Jake Murray, Justin Norman, William
OConnor, Andrew Olson, Glen Osterberger, Chris Ostrowski,
Immar Palomera, Ben Peck, Joshua Pinkas, Eric Polak, Mark
Poole, Erich Schreiner, Adam Schumpert, Chris Seaman, Jazz
Siy, Lee Smith, Florian Stitz, Nikolay Stoyanov, Imaginary
Friends Studios, Gong Studios, A.C. Swedberg, Julien
Tainmont-Pierrat, Mario Wibisono, Brad Williams, Jarreau
Wimberly, Matt Zeilinger
Brian Bates
Table
of Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
What is this Book?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Literature of the Sword and Fan. . . . . . 9
The Book of Sun Tao. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Subtlety of the Court. . . . . . . . . 10
Other Works on War and Politics. . . 12
58
60
60
63
63
Chapter Three:
Cavalry Warfare. . . . . . . . . . 69
TABLE OF CONTENTS
16
17
18
18
20
21
27
27
28
28
28
29
30
30
30
31
32
32
33
Cavalry Tactics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cavalry Tactics
of the Unicorn Clan. . . . . . . . . . .
Modern Cavalry Warfare . . . . . .
Cavalry Tactics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cavalry War After
the Return of the Unicorn . . . . . .
Cavalry Units and
Tactics in Other Clans. . . . . . . . .
The Crab Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Crane Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Dragon Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Lion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Mantis Clan . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Phoenix Clan. . . . . . . . . . . .
The Scorpion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . .
The Minor Clans. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Imperial Factions. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Shadowlands. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Care and
Training of Warhorses. . . . . . . . .
70
71
72
76
80
82
82
83
84
85
86
86
87
87
87
88
89
42
42
51
52
53
53
53
54
55
56
56
A Brief History of
Clan-on-Clan Warfare. . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Reasons for Clan Conflict. . . . . . . . . 94
Declaring War. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Great Clans against Minor Clans. . 97
Imperial Forces against Clans. . . . . 97
Clans against Ronin/Peasants. . . . . 97
Wartime Diplomacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
War and Intelligence Work. . . . . . . . . . 99
Suing for Peace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Clan-Specific Aspects of
Clan-on-Clan Warfare. . . . . . . . . . . 102
Nonhuman and
Supernatural Enemies . . . . . . . . . . 105
Fighting the Shadowlands. . . . . . . 105
The Shadow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
The Nezumi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
The Naga. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
The Empire Against the
Outside: Gaijin Enemies. . . . . . . . . 110
Chapter Five:
Court and Civilization. . . . 119
Civility and Etiquette . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
A Warrior Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Samurai Etiquette:
How Not to be a Barbarian. . . . . . 122
Basic Rules of Conduct. . . . . . . . . . 122
The Etiquette of Swords. . . . . . . . . 123
Bragging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
The Etiquette of Revenge. . . . . . . . 125
Guest and Host. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
The Etiquette of
Dealing with Peasants . . . . . . . . . . 128
Conduct in Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Courtly Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Court Fashion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Cleansing and Purity. . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Ritual Cleansing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
The Essence of Civility:
The Tea Ceremony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Inheritance in Rokugan . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Geisha and the Karyukai . . . . . . . . . . 142
Geisha and the Clans. . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Role-Playing in Rokugan:
Why Civility Matters. . . . . . . . . . . 149
Chapter Six:
Politics Through the Year. . 153
Spring, the Season of the Plow . . . . . 155
Summer, the Season of the Sword. . . 155
Fall, the Season of the Harvest . . . . . 156
Winter, the Season of the Fan. . . . . . . 158
Small Courts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
The Provincial Courts. . . . . . . . . . . 159
The Great Courts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
The Imperial Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Dressing the Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Dressing the Grounds. . . . . . . . . . . 164
Winter Court: Things to See and Do. .
167
Dueling in Winter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
The Theater of Politics and the Art of
Diplomacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Exchanges of Hostages . . . . . . . . . 177
Trade and Commerce at Winter Court.
177
Matchmaking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Masters of the Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
New Advantages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Crab Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Crane Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Dragon Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Lion Clan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Mantis Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Phoenix Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Scorpion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Unicorn Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Imperial Families. . . . . . . . . .
202
202
203
205
205
206
206
207
209
210
Secrets of the Empire
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
TABLe OF CONTENTS
Ikoma Jun stood on a windy balcony and rubbed the stump where his left arm ended. He breathed in the crisp air,
taking in the final day of winter with profound sadness. Below the ground was covered in a final snowfall, a last pristine
blanket before spring, not yet soiled by the march to war.
Reluctantly, Jun pulled his gaze from natures beauty and examined the artistic display for which the balcony was
reserved. The painting was remarkable: a huge shoji displaying only a brief splash of stark black lines. The artist was a
profound soul named Hiruma Renzo, a darling of this years Winter Court. Renzos talent was for a concept the Kakita
dubbed ma, which Jun understood to mean the space between; the consciousness of a place.
All of the art on this silk screen rested within the negative space between the lines. The emptiness spoke volumes.
A beauty to behold, if a somewhat blunt representation of Renzos style.
Ikoma Juns clenched hand was the only indication of his surprise at the voice. He instantly recognized the purring
tone of his rival. Bayushi Kiwadoi, rikugunshokan of the Scorpion. A former Topaz Champion who had risen to lofty
heights without losing her legendary good looks.
You refer to the disapproving reminder of unneeded death, I presume? Jun spoke to the empty air, not deigning to
look at the Scorpion samurai-ko. Renzo merely anticipates the actions of the coming summer, Kiwadoi-san. He knows
once the frozen ground has thawed you will unleash that terror you call a brother. The artist disapproves.
Kiwadoi chuckled softly and ran her fingertip gently across the silk. Certainly, between the slashed lines that represented
trees, there was the vague outline of a butcher amid a pile of the dead. Pikes rose up in little lines. Upon them were
dozens of blots that could, with the right mindset, could represent the heads of defeated men.
Introduction
Renzos ability to capture the complexity of what is not being said is nothing compared to your own skill, my friend.
Kiwadois smile grew around her words.
The silence between the rising general and the older courtier grew pregnant with energy. What was not said, what
each samurai refused to lay bare, was the understanding of the power each possessed. The long breath between words
spoke volumes.
Abbot Ayushen has rescinded his endorsement of Bayushi control of the Gakka province. Jun broke the silence.
Someone has shared with him the truth behind your brothers actions and it seems he does not approve. Jun did not
need to say he had coerced the abbot of the Four Temples into withdrawing his support. Nor did he need to mention
his awareness of what should be a secret that Kiwadoi had already unleashed her brother, the reprehensible Konitsu,
despite protocol.
Plans within plans and the monster is set in motion. Kiwadoi stepped forward, mere inches from brushing Juns
shoulder with her own. I wonder, friend Ikoma, if the men who die in battle ever become aware of the machinations that
sent them there in the first place. Does the afterlife bring knowledge of our whispered words? A wise general understands
that war is not won only with martial prowess, but does that understanding reach the common soldier?
Jun finally turned to look at the half-mask that enhanced the Scorpions beautiful features. Her exposed mouth was
set in a bemused smile. Has your loss of enlightened allies turned you to theology, Kiwadoi-san?
Absolutely not! Briefly the Scorpion actually seemed offended, but she recovered swiftly. I merely find comfort in
breathing life into the words we both refuse to speak. Samurai will die in the coming months because of our designs.
We each move our pieces on the shogi board and gain understanding of one anothers strategy, but they will never know
that. Kiwadoi looked again at the painting. You hope to neuter my ability to wage war by calling out my primary
strength. If I deploy Konitsu, my reputation will diminish, yours will rise. If I fail to do so, you have taken from me a
key piece. I salute you, Jun-san.
I do not hear concession in your tone.
The victorious general strikes while the enemy plans, Kiwadoi quoted. She turned back to face her rival once more.
You will find in the coming months that while you collected information and divulged the truth of my weakness, I have
chosen action. In doing so I will gain infamy, yes, but I have also obtained secrets of my own. It seems I am not alone
in possessing dangers close to my heart.
Jun frowned. Kiwadoi had just claimed a traitor to his cause had given up important information. Moreover, the
Scorpion was stating she knew he did not yet know who it was and that fact amused her. Too many of their conversations
had gone this way in the previous months. Each ended with the Bayushi at an obvious disadvantage and the Ikoma
nonetheless wondering what trap he had sprung.
Otomo Madoka would be proud of us, Ikoma-kun. We are each so caught up in the complexity of our plans that we
may have confused ourselves. Kiwadoi rested her palm on the railing and Jun heard a soft click of stone touching the
wood. When she turned to leave, Jun saw a tiny stone carving. The shape of a monk, with a fracture ready to break the
piece in two.
Jun did not look after the Bayushi as she walked away. He spoke toward the painting. A threat, Bayushi-san?
Of course not. Merely new information to consider. Nowhere in Madokas famous work are the enlightened brothers
mentioned, and the great works of war discuss them only briefly. The stone is a reminder: the brothers are outsiders in
our clashes of words and steel. You would do well to find other allies.
When he was certain she had gone, Ikoma Jun released a frustrated sigh. Not frustration with the Scorpion she had
acted according to her nature and he could hardly expect otherwise. No, Jun was angry at himself. Kiwadoi had spoken
true. Like the style of ma in the painting, the interplay of the court had tangled the Ikomas mind and soul. The complex
network of relationships between people, ideas, and objects of desire had snared him like a web. Thinking of his fellow
samurai as pieces on a boardwhat would his sensei think?
Ikoma Jun turned and left. Behind him, the fractured stone statuette and the beautiful display of art slowly warmed in
the suns rays. Soon the balance between words and war would shift. Soon the negative space would be filled.
7
Introduction
Introduction
Literature of the
Sword and Fan
All is war. Sun Tao and Otomo Madoka
According to Akodos Leadership, the perfect samurai is
a warrior-poet who understands the need to balance skill
in battle with intellectual and cultural pursuits. Akodo
wrote that the right hand should wield a blade while the
left should hold a book.
There are no more vital works of literature on the
subjects of war and politics than Sun Taos eponymous
book and its later counterpart, Otomo Madokas Subtlety
of the Court. Each of these treatises is considered an
essential primer on its subject matter and has been
read and discussed by countless Rokugani philosophers,
generals, and politicians over the centuries. It is said that
to completely understand either work is impossible, but
ultimate wisdom can be found in the attempt.
Proper War
There are no tactics and no weapons that may be
excluded on moral grounds. Sun Tao
Sun Tao might well be considered a deeply offensive
man by the standards of Rokugans modern society.
Rokugani morality eschews the use of deception, even in
war, but Sun Tao refutes this idea. He claims war is the
most important thing for a leader to study and the only
goal of such study is to be able to win with deception a
necessary tool to that end. For Sun Tao, maintaining the
basic structure of power in society depends on behavior
that violates ideals such as righteousness and justice.
However, he also accepts that a balance must be struck
between practicality and idealism or the Empire will
devolve into a barbarous catastrophe not worthy of being
called a civilization.
9
Introduction
Introduction
10
11
Introduction
Other Works
on War and Politics
A leader always carries a text with him. The mind
must be exercised as well as the body.
Akodos Leadership
Rokugani scholars believe no subject is as studied as
war, and the myriad works written on the matter certainly
would seem to prove this true. Since politics is merely
an extension of war (or vice-versa depending on ones
perspective), it is clear to the wise that both topics must be
studied in order to attain true success in all things. While
the two books described earlier the Book of Sun Tao and
Otomo Madokas Subtlety of the Court stand out as the
pre-eminent works on war and politics, they are by no
means the Empires only literature on the subjects. In fact,
neither book has had the same level of cultural impact
as Akodos Leadership, nor does either text boast the full
weight of Imperial authorship in the manner of the tome
known as The Wisdom of the Heavens.
Akodos Leadership
Introduction
12
Tangens Lies
Do not fear your enemies. Only a friend can betray
you.
Bayushi Tangens Lies is a sort of dark twin to Akodos
famous text. In fact, when the Hantei Emperor commanded
Tangen to write a treatise on treachery, duplicity, and
espionage, Tangen stated Akodos Leadership to be the
foremost authority on each subject. Tangen wrote his
book as a brutal counterpoint to every ideal Leadership
holds dear. Where Akodo advocates leading by example,
inspiration, and love, Tangen dismisses each motive as less
desirable than fear. A lord who is loved may disappoint his
followers only once, after which he is hated... but a cruel
man who rules by fear is never spoken against. Moreover,
if he is capable of ruling with cruelty but remains just,
admiration will come his way.
Lies is as much derivative of Leadership as is the Book
of Sun Tao, but the two books arrive at very different
conclusions. In Tangens own words, the intent of his
work is to bring wisdom to the Emperor, to show him
the errors of others wisdom, and to educate him on the
nature of treacherous men, so he may root out duplicity
and kill it before this bitter fruit has a chance to spread
its seeds.
Further detail on Tangens Lies may be found the L5R
4th Edition supplement Great Clans, page 208.
Seppun Hanakos
The Articles of Heaven
Less a treatise written for inspiration than a work of legal
doctrine, Seppun Hanakos The Articles of Heaven was
written as a guide to aid the young Emperor Hantei XVII
after he ascended to the throne. Hanako herself had lived
through the reign of the infamous Steel Chrysanthemum
Otomo Yamatos
The Divine Branch
13
Introduction
Strategy
Chapter One
14
Chapter One
15
Strategy
Chapter One
Strategy
Chapter One
16
17
Strategy
Chapter One
Strategy
Chapter One
18
Strategy in Rokugan
The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy,
but does not allow the enemys will to be imposed on
him. - The Book of Sun Tao
Having explained the basic roles of strategy and
tactics, and the function of battles and campaigns within
a strategy, it is now possible to consider how these are
applied to warfare in Rokugan. Despite their obvious
superficial differences, at the strategic level all Rokugani
military forces are deployed and employed in much the
same way. The general scheme of most Rokugani strategy
proceeds through the following steps:
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
cc
Strategic planning
Mustering of forces
Strategic march and deployment
Engagement
Disengagement and consolidation
Redeployment (possibly followed by further Strategic marches and deployment, engagements, and
disengagements and consolidation)
cc Stand-down out of forces
Strategic Planning
In war, then, let your great object be victory, not
lengthy campaigns. - The Book of Sun Tao
Planning at the strategic level is developed by the
highest levels of leadership in the case of the Empire as
a whole, by the Emperor, or by Clan Champions for their
clans. However, such leaders usually make extensive
use of advisors. Retired samurai and sensei have the
experience and wisdom to offer valuable advice, while
specialists such as senior military officers, courtiers,
scholars, and shugenja can offer their own insights
regarding military, political, and supernatural aspects of
a proposed plan. Other sources of information, such as
scouts and spies, can also provide valuable intelligence
when developing a plan.
Of course, particular individuals have their own
specific methods for planning, not all of which are equally
effective. Authoritarian, arrogant, secretive, paranoid,
or overly confident leaders are likely to make little or
even no use of advisors. Tyrants such as Hantei XVI or
the Bloodspeaker Iuchiban, for example, were known to
create strategic plans on their own and issue absolute
edicts which they expected to be carried out without
question. On the other hand, when facing a subtle or
insidious foe it may be vital to restrict knowledge of
strategic plans to as few people as possible. For example,
the Hidden Moon Dojo of the Scorpion Clan (described
in the Scorpion chapter in the L5R RPG 4th Edition
supplement The Great Clans) is probably the foremost
agency in the Empire devoted to facing the threat posed
by the Nothing. However, the Dojos very existence,
much less its plans, are known only to a handful of
key individuals in the Empire; this extreme secrecy is
essential when dealing with an opponent as devious and
dangerous as the Nothing.
The risk with such secrecy, of course, is that having
few people involved in planning also means fewer
perspectives and opinions to evaluate the resulting
plans, so opportunities and flaws are both more likely to
be missed. For this reason, unless secrecy is absolutely
essential, wise leaders always draw on the expertise
and judgment of as many advisors as possible when
developing their strategic plans.
Each clan does tend to approach strategic planning
in a somewhat different manner. The more overtly
militaristic clans, such as the Lion, Unicorn, and Crab,
favor a top-down approach: the senior leaders develop
a plan as a broad outline, leaving it to subordinates to
fill in the details. Since these clans have large standing
armies and may be involved in a number of concurrent
ongoing campaigns, this is a more efficient way of using
resources; senior leaders can focus on the overall goals
without getting bogged down in the details of planning
for any one campaign.
The Dragon and Mantis both favor a more collaborative
and interactive approach, encouraging their leaders and
advisors to share ideas and work together. The Dragon
do this because of their broadly more individualistic
19
Strategy
Chapter One
Strategic Planning
in the Spider Clan
Strategy
Chapter One
20
Mustering of Forces
The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy,
neither are his supply-wagons loaded more than twice.
- The Book of Sun Tao
All of the clans maintain standing armies, since
conflict is never far from the surface in an Empire ruled
by warriors. The size and readiness of those armies varies
greatly, however. As always, the more martial clans the
Crab, Lion, and Unicorn tend to maintain the largest
standing forces. The Crab in particular are focused on
continuously fielding a large force of samurai, due to
their unique duty of defending the Empire against the
Shadowlands. However, the Unicorn also maintain a
large army of samurai, since their military strength relies
on a specialized cavalry army that must be constantly
trained. As for the Lion, they are so devoted to warfare as
the essential reason for their existence that virtually all
samurai in the clan are always on active duty.
The other Great Clans generally maintain smaller
standing armies and rely more heavily on the mustering
of additional forces to build up their strength in times
of conflict. While Lion and Crab samurai are trained as
units and drilled for battle essentially throughout the
year, the bushi of the Crane, Phoenix and Scorpion do so
Strategic March
and Deployment
The skillfully-led army may be likened to the snake.
Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail;
strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head;
strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head
and tail both.
- The Book of Sun Tao
A Rokugani army on the march is a spectacular sight
to behold. Thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of
samurai and ashigaru march in formation, resplendent
in their armor, the sun glittering off their weapons, their
battle standards and back-banners fluttering, the dust
of their passage lingering long after they have marched
on. However, the spectacle conceals an important truth:
an army on the march is a complex and cumbersome
thing, requiring vast organization and intense discipline
to prevent the whole affair from collapsing into utter
chaos.
21
Strategy
Main Body
Chapter One
The Vanguard
Strategy
Chapter One
22
Flank Guards
The role of the Flank Guards is similar to that of
the Vanguard protecting the armys flanks, providing
early warning of enemy activity, and engaging the
enemy in order to give the main body time to deploy.
However, while a general will pretty much always deploy
a Vanguard, Flank Guards are more situational. For
instance, if a general considers one or both of his flanks
secure due to terrain, reliable intelligence, or other
factors he may choose to deploy only minimal flank
security or even none at all (although he will generally
always have Scouts deployed, as described below).
23
Strategy
Chapter One
Rear
Guard
Commanding a Guard
As noted, commanding an armys Vanguard,
Flank Guard, or the Rear Guard is a prestigious duty
for a samurai. Should a PC earn such a command
appointment, a Glory reward is appropriate. As a
baseline, the GM should consider the following:
Strategy
Chapter One
24
Scouts
By discovering the enemys dispositions and
remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces
concentrated, while the enemys must be divided.
- The Book of Sun Tao
Scouts will normally range ahead of the army as
well as to its flanks and rear. Scouts are light forces,
usually operating in small detachments of a half-dozen
or so bushi, and are not intended to fight except in
self-defense. Soldiers assigned as scouts are trained
in concealment, stealthy movement, and observation.
When a Scout detachment observes an enemy force, it is
expected to make a quick assessment of the enemy and
then send a messenger back to relay the information
to the armys Command. (After relaying his information
the messenger is expected to return to his detachment
as quickly as possible, perhaps delivering orders.) The
detachment may dispatch additional messengers if
ongoing observation of the enemy dictates it. Thus, once
the enemy is close by a Scout detachment will often
have a constant stream of messengers shuttling back
and forth between its location and the Command of the
army. Under no circumstances, however, will a Scout
detachment leave an enemy force without eyes on
once it has been detected unless either ordered to do so
or forced to do so by enemy action.
Scouts may also have a secondary duty to operate
as a screen against enemy Scouts. In this case a Scout
detachment will either fight the opposing Scouts itself
or call upon heavier forces from the nearest Guard to
do so. Generally, aside from this instance Scouts will
always try to avoid direct engagement of the enemy.
Their job is to gather information and report it back
to their army, not to fight.
Most clans maintain at least some forces devoted
to scouting, and some have entire schools or even
families that are focused on the task. The Crab famously employ the Hiruma as scouts, men and women
skilled in traversing the Shadowlands and identifying
the horrifying threats from that realm. The Daidoji of
the Crane, the Ikoma of the Lion, and the Kitsune of
the Mantis are also well-known for their abilities as
Scouts. The Unicorn, with their large cavalry forces, deploy Scouts from throughout their ranks. The
Scorpion do not have forces devoted to scouting on
the battlefield as such, but do employ covert forces
25
Strategy
We may take it then that an army without its baggagetrain is lost; without provisions it is lost; without bases
of supply it is lost.
- The Book of Sun Tao
Strategy
Chapter One
26
Needless
to say, the Baggage
Train is an
attractive
target for any opposing force. By destroying the Baggage
Train it is possible to defeat an army without ever having
to engage it in a large-scale battle. Of course, the more
honorable sort of samurai may consider an attack on a
Baggage Train to be a shameful path to victory, denying
themselves and their opponents the opportunity for
honorable and glorious battle. Less honorable sorts,
however, have few compunctions at using such tactics.
For example, during the War of Spirits a young samurai
named Bayushi Paneki was famously believed to have
poisoned the water supplies of a Spirit army, neutralizing
it as an effective fighting force. Whether or not this story
is true, there is no question the Scorpion will not hesitate
to make attacks on an opponents Baggage Train and
supply lines; this only makes sense for them, since the
Scorpion army though skilled and capable is usually
outnumbered by its more militant neighbors. The Crane
likewise do not hesitate to strike at their opponents
ability to sustain armies in the field, although they are
more likely to do so through blockades, embargoes, and
other mercantile tactics that hamper an enemys ability
to obtain supplies, rather than through direct battlefield
attacks.
The Crab put extensive effort into making their Baggage
Trains as efficient as possible. To a greater extent than
any other clans, the Crab have elevated logistics into
a science, since it is simply not possible to forage in
the Shadowlands a Crab army in the Jigokus territory
will only have those supplies it carries itself. The Kaiu
family in particular considers matters of logistics to be a
noble pursuit in contrast to other clans where logistics
are generally considered a crass but necessary burden.
Only the Dragon have a similar regard for logistics, and
some samurai in the Mirumoto family devote themselves
to ensuring a Dragon army operating in the harsh and
difficult terrain of their mountainous homeland can be
properly sustained. Indeed, they do so to an extent that
more refined samurai from other clans would consider
unseemly.
Rate of March
Appear at points which the enemy must hasten
to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not
expected. - The Book of Sun Tao
27
Strategy
Engagement
Chapter One
Disengagement
and Consolidation
A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as
a pounds weight placed in the scale against a single
grain. - The Book of Sun Tao
Strategy
Chapter One
28
Redeployment
Following consolidation, the army will redeploy. This
redeployment may entail resumption of the march; the
army will re-establish its guards, once again organize
itself into march formation, and resume moving toward
a new strategic objective seizing a particular location,
occupying a piece of key ground such as a mountain
pass, or engaging in further battle. The cycle of march,
deploy, engage, disengage, consolidate, and redeploy
can potentially occur many times, especially during a
lengthy campaign. Usually, the arrival of winter and
inclement weather puts an end to the strategic movement
of an army, forcing it to occupy winter quarters such as a
captured city or fortress. In this case hostilities are likely
to resume in the spring.
Alternatively, redeployment may involve a return to
friendly territory or a friendly base. Perhaps the strategic
plan that led to the mustering and march of the army
in the first place has been achieved, meaning there is
no longer any requirement for hostilities. Or the army
may have sustained such heavy casualties that it is no
longer capable of fighting effectively, so the general may
fall back to obtain reinforcements, hoping to resume
hostilities another day.
In any case, redeployment involves organizing and
marching the army, essentially in the same way as with
the original Strategic March.
Stand-Down of Forces
Also referred to as mustering out, when soldiers are
released from military service until they are required
again. For samurai, being released from military service
generally means merely that the samurai is no longer
required for specific military duties and is returned to
the service of his lord. Naturally, a samurai is never truly
free from military service; whether bushi, shugenja or
courtier, any samurai is always considered to be in the
service of his clan.
For ashigaru, being released from military service is
just that. They cease to be ashigaru and revert back to
whatever role they served as heimin whether farmer,
artisan or laborer before being mustered for war. Some
clans allow them to retain their weapons and armor, in
order to simplify logistics when they need to be mustered
again, but more commonly they are disarmed completely
in order to maintain the proper social division between
peasants and samurai.
29
Strategy
Chapter One
War at Sea
Strategy
Chapter One
30
Notable Campaigns in
the Emerald Empire
Not surprisingly, the history of the Empire is replete
with military campaigns fought between the clans, as
well as between the Empire as a whole and threats to it
from both outside and within. Some of the more notable
of these campaigns are described here, with particular
emphasis on what strategic objectives the campaign was
intended to achieve.
31
Strategy
Chapter One
The Second
Lion-Phoenix War
Strategy
Chapter One
32
Notable Generals of
Rokugan
33
Strategy
Matsu Itagi,
Tempestuous Champion
Shiba Kaigen
Earth: 5
Honor: 4.0
Fire: 5
Status: 8.0
Water: 4
Void: 4
Glory: 8.5
Chapter One
34
Earth: 4
Honor: 4.5
Fire: 4
Status: 5.5
Water: 3
Void: 4
Glory: 6.0
Disadvantages: Ascetic
Bayushi Tozasu
Bayushi Tozasu exemplifies the concept of loyalty as it
is perceived and idealized by the Scorpion Clan. He was
the senior rikugunshokan of the Scorpion Clan in the
early ninth century, an accomplished general skillful at
both the strategic and tactical levels. His Clan Champion,
Bayushi Ogoe, entrusted all the clans military operations
to him and up until the year 815 he never lost a significant
battle. He became a close confidant and advisor to Ogoe,
and between them the two men made the Scorpion Clan
into a dominating political, military, and economic force
in the Empire.
Unfortunately, this success was actually a problem.
Ogoe realized that the Scorpion had attracted too much
scrutiny and resentment from the other clans, impeding
the clans ability to function in its traditional role as
the Emperors Underhand. He needed to diminish the
Scorpions overt standing in the Empire and discovered
a way in the newly-returned Unicorn Clan.
The Unicorn fascinated Bayushi Tozasu. During their
long effective exile from the Empire, they had developed
35
Strategy
Chapter One
Daidoji
Masayoshi
Strategy
Daidoji Masayoshi is an
enigma. In a clan considered
staunchly traditional and focused on honor, Masayoshi
was a pragmatist, willing
to do whatever was necessary to get things done. A
brilliant field commander,
Masayoshi faced the Crab
during the First Yasuki War,
using his knowledge of the
land and a wide range of
unorthodox tactics to inflict
great damage and discomfit
his foes.
Chapter One
36
Earth: 4
Honor: 2.5
Fire: 4
in
Defeat
Water: 4
Status: 5.5
Void: 4
Glory: 3.0
Air: 4
Earth: 3
Fire: 4
Water: 4
Void: 3
Stamina: 4
Honor: 4.5
Status: 6.0
Glory: 2.0
Moto Narantsetseg
Moto Narantsetseg was an accomplished taisa in
the Khol, the Unicorn Army of the Center, at the time
of the War of the Rich Frog. Young Narantsetseg had
demonstrated great aptitude not only as a warrior but
as a leader; even as a boy, when he began to train
under the Moto sensei he quickly outdid his peers and
37
Strategy
Although Masayoshi is
not well-known outside the
Daidoji family, his influence
on Crane warfare and
by extension on warfare
throughout the Empire
was profound. Akodo, in his
treatise Leadership, wrote: On
the battlefield, all actions are
honorable. Daidoji Masayoshi
took that to heart, developing
strategems and tactics that
would come to be used
extensively by not only the
Daidoji (especially the secret
Harriers) but by specialized
Chapter One
Strategy
Chapter One
38
Earth: 5
Fire: 4
of
Maneuver
Water: 4
Void: 4
Agility: 5
Honor: 3.5
Status: 6.0
Glory: 4.5
39
Strategy
Tactics
Chapter Two
40
Chapter Two
41
Tactics
The battle was lost. In fact, near the end it had become
clear to Konitsu that Bayushi Kiwadoi his rikugunshokan
and twin sister had actually planned for the Scorpion to
fail here. They were expendable. The loss of their legion
would draw the Lion further forward, thinking they had
momentum on their side. Konitsu knew the tactic well
and understood it perfectly yet he could not help but feel
betrayed.
Chapter Two
The Rokugani
Battlefield
Defeating an enemy without destroying him is the
noblest victory of all.
Akodos Leadership
Tactics
Chapter Two
42
Battlefield Formations
Although Rokugani warfare began as a crude matter of
simply arming soldiers and hurling them into the enemy
line until one side broke or retreated, that soon changed as
soldiers and generals learned to take advantage of terrain,
space, different types of troops, and momentum. Akodo
himself wrote about the concept of army formations
in Leadership, and over time these early concepts were
refined and improved.
As with all aspects of warfare in Rokugan, modern
formations include a number of basic methods that are
universal across the clans. While individual clans and
families have invented their own tactics, the most basic
approaches are so universally applicable that everyone
addition to the pattern. I will see you remembered, Hokansan, as well as your wise scout friend.
Hours later, an ashigaru looter found a head mounted
atop the broken haft of a yari, as though on display after
a victory. That was strange enough, but then the peasant
soldier found the corpse, still wearing the colors of the
Imperial house. The body was bereft of all belongings other
than his garments and his coin. The ashigaru shrugged
and tucked the string of koku under his clothing. It was
more money than he had ever seen, and could buy him a
good life if he survived the rest of this war. He left the dead
for others to find.
Anchored Line
One of the basic objectives of any battle is to break the
enemys front line and thus disrupt their entire army. The
concept of the Anchored Line formation is to prevent this
by using a heavy defensive unit to protect lighter units
behind it heavy infantry blocking advance against an
archer squad, spearmen covering for skirmishers, and so
on. The units usually stay within close proximity to each
other so enemy units cannot simply bypass the anchor
and strike the softer target beyond. The anchor may even
be entrenched in some way spears set into the ground,
small trenches or barricades constructed to stymie enemy
attacks, or the like.
Naturally, an Anchored Line formation is difficult
to maintain while moving. The entire point is to be an
immovable obstruction, which is easier to achieve when
the defending soldiers are allowed to plant both feet
firmly in the ground and ready themselves for enemy
attacks. Although it is possible to move forward in such a
formation, it requires them to advance very slowly.
Archer Squad
Even a single squadron of archers can be a significant
problem for the enemy. Every army employs basic
countermeasures against archer fire straw barriers,
concealing terrain, and even shugenja spells when they
are available. Soldiers are also trained to wait for a pause
in enemy arrow fire and charge from cover during that
moment. The Archer Squad formation seeks to overcome
these defenses by coordinating fire between two or more
squadrons of bowmen. While one squadron fires, the next
Archers Row
Though the Archer Squad formation has
advantages, sometimes sheer strength in
numbers is able to overcome opponents where
guile and positioning will not. An Archers
Row formation gathers several squadrons of
archers into one place, coordinating their fire
in order to overwhelm a portion of the enemy
army with a relentless barrage of arrows. Unless
the enemy is heavily armored, it can effectively
stop infantry advance through one particular
area - restricting the kind of enemy threats the
army has to contend with. Archer Rows can also
be used as part of a slow advance or retreat - as
one unit fires, the next one moves several steps,
and the two alternate as long as needed.
Lotus at Dusk
Tactics of surprise and ambush have always been
somewhat controversial in the accepted bounds of
Rokugani warfare, even resulting in an Imperial
condemnation of portions of Leadership itself. It is often
considered dishonorable to make attacks on unprepared
foes or on helpless targets such as burning farm villages
to deny supplies to the foe. However, the idea of what
Marching Column
Many generals have had their plans of victory and
conquest suddenly thwarted by a simple problem
harassment of their marching army before it ever reaches
the enemy force. Indeed, in the Empires early history
armies on the move were considered easy targets, since
they lacked reconnaissance and could be surprised and
overwhelmed by a sudden ambush. When not deployed
for attack they were simply a column of men, unprepared
and vulnerable. The Marching Column formation was
developed as an answer to this problem.
43
Tactics
Cautious Advance
Tactics
Chapter Two
44
Crab Formations
The Crab Clan favors formations that compliment the
clans strengths brute physical superiority and heavy
weapons and armor. It may also be noticed that the Crab
formations are heavily influenced by the clans centuries
spent defending the Empires southern border against the
Shadowlands, leading to certain practices unknown to the
rest of Rokugan.
Heart
of the
Mountain
Hidas Formation
After refining the Heart of the Mountain formation in
their early history, Crab generals began to apply the same
basic concept to offensive maneuvers. Experience showed
that a heavy front line moving forward slowly was vulnerable to enemy forces outmaneuvering or overwhelming even the strongest soldiers. But where the Lion might
have thought to shore up this weakness, the Crab decided
to use this disadvantage as a potential strength.
Hidas Formation is similar to the Heart of the Mountain,
placing heavy armored units to the fore in a staggered
formation, but with larger openings between units. The
front line does not hold position but instead makes a slow,
inexorable advance, overwhelming the enemy by simple
marching over and through them. Because of their spreadout deployment, enemies often attempt to push into the
Crab ranks as the army advances which is exactly what
the Crab want. Enemies find themselves surrounded by
enormous Crab warriors who shove and slam them from
all sides as they keep advancing. Most enemy soldiers are
battered into exhaustion and then cut down by the Crab in
the last few ranks of the formation. All the while, the unit
continues advancing slowly.
This formation only works if the Crab are able to
advance slowly across open ground with no concern for
their flanks. Rugged terrain can disrupt the formation
and cause the whole conflict to degenerate into the
usual Rokugani skirmishing, while open flanks leave it
vulnerable to being defeated in detail.
Soul
of the
Crab
Iron Pillar
The Crane do not have the endless armies of the
Lion or the Crab to defend their lands, so one of
their basic principles is preserving the lives of
their individual soldiers as best they can. Heavy
armor and other such physical protections
only go so far, but blunting an enemys attack
and wearing down their morale is an effective
combination that can end a conflict quickly and
with modest bloodshed. The Crane realized early
on that robbing an enemy of a victory was one
of the surest ways to do that.
The Iron Pillar formation is formed by two
to three ranks of heavily armored soldiers, but
with only one rank of the formation engaging
the enemy at a time. The remaining ranks stand
several feet behind the front line, and periodically
a signal causes the front rank to fall back behind the
rest, being replaced with fresh troops. Traditionally,
this signal is given at the moment the enemy is
about to kill too many soldiers for the line to
hold. The replacement of a faltering line with a
fresh one is frustrating or even demoralizing for
the enemy.
Strike
and
Move
45
Tactics
Chapter Two
Crane Formations
Soul
of the
Crane
Tactics
Chapter Two
46
Dragon Formations
Though the Dragon Clan is governed by the Kami
Togashi for most of its history, the Mirumoto family
is always the one charged with the task of guarding
the clans lands. However, unlike many families with a
strong military tradition, the Mirumoto not only respect
the power of the Elements, they embrace it and their
formations reflect this understanding.
Spirits
and
Steel
Souls
in
Harmony
Soul
of the
Dragon
Lion Formations
Rain
of
Death
Tigers Mouth
An effective and visually impressive formation, the
Tigers Mouth arranges two long narrow columns of
spearmen who advance into the enemy line at the run.
Once they penetrate the enemys front, they are expected
to turn toward each other and attempt to crush the enemy
forces between their ranks. If this is done properly it can
be quite devastating, since enemy forces caught between
two lines of Lion soldiers (usually ferocious Matsu bushi)
are unlikely to survive. Like many formations, the Tigers
Mouth is essentially a one-shot action, since the troops are
unlikely to stay in position once the full chaos of battle
descends. However, even a single successful execution of
Tigers Mouth can rip open the front of an opposing army,
leaving it deeply vulnerable to follow-on attacks from the
rest of the Lion forces.
Of course, if the two spearman units are outflanked or
overwhelmed before they can fully execute their maneuver,
the formation will usually collapse without success. In
order to avoid this, the Tigers Mouth is traditionally
executed by troops chosen for their aggression, running
speed, and agility, allowing them to carry out their
maneuvers before the enemy can fully react.
Soul
of the
Lion
47
Tactics
This formations effectiveness, however, relies on enemies being unaware of the danger until it is too late. The
number of archers is relatively low, so if they are detected
before the enemy draws close their fire is easily mitigated.
Chapter Two
Mantis Formations
Tactics
Kaimetsu-Uos Formation
Chapter Two
48
Closing Wave
An exercise in the view that the most direct attacks are
the most effective, this formation spreads one large unit
out in a wide half-circle as it moves forward. The goal is
to encircle and overwhelm an enemy unit. Mantis soldiers
in this formation typically use polearms or spears to try to
press the enemy soldiers back into themselves, although
they have close-quarters weapons ready for the inevitable
melee.
This formation requires both space and numerous
soldiers to be effective, which can sometimes be
problematic. Against a foe superior in numbers or
armament, the formation can quickly collapse, and
experienced Mantis commanders usually try to use it only
against enemies who are weaker.
Soul
of the
Mantis
Phoenix Formations
Phoenix tactics and army formations focus on the
guiding principles of bringing a conflict to its end
as swiftly as possible and with as little loss of life as
possible. Due to both Isawa magic and Shiba skill,
Phoenix armies are highly maneuverable and often
choose to withdraw after disabling an enemy army,
rather than trying to pursue and destroy them.
Blessings
of
Steel
Soul
of the
Phoenix
Scorpion Formations
Unsurprisingly, the Scorpion Clan employs strategies
that focus on misdirection and confusion, attempting to
stymie enemy plans more than to advance its own goals.
Many enemies of the Scorpion often find the cost of
their victory is too high or not worth the frustration and
humiliation endured in its pursuit.
Bayushis Knives
After enduring harassment and insult both on and off
the battlefield, few enemies can resist the enticing target of
a fleeing Scorpion. The Bayushi family learned this early
on and devised a formation that relies on quick movement
of bushi and the fervor of enemies to carry the day. When
Memories
of the
Lost
Daigotsus Discipline
This basic formation consists simply of two columns
of heavy infantry with a narrow front. The twin units
charge into the strongest point of the enemys line,
attempting to breach the front and give the Tainted
troops free reign to slaughter all those around them.
Tainted soldiers, whether of the Daigotsu family or
otherwise, can easily slay large numbers of mortal
counterparts, so breaching the enemy front allows
them to use this advantage to its greatest potential.
The best responses to this formation are either to
have a resilient front line which can repulse the initial
charge a capacity generally found only among the
Crab or else to be mobile enough to flank the narrow
columns before they can strike home. However, the
latter approach requires killing a large number of the
Spider bushi before they can force their way into the
defending ranks, since the lives of individual Spider
are not considered particularly valuable by their
commanders.
49
Tactics
Chapter Two
Soul
of the
Scorpion
Tactics
Chapter Two
50
Unicorn Formations
Both before and after their return to the Empire, the
Unicorn devised tactics and formations that exploited the
clans cavalry forces, especially their speed. The Unicorn
enjoy attacking enemies from unpredictable directions or
in surprising ways.
Invincible Advance
A favorite of the Moto, the Invincible Advance formation
requires two units of heavy cavalry. The units advance
in sequence, one in front of the other. The lead unit is
expected to charge right through the enemy ranks, the
soldiers only striking at those within reach. This disrupts
the enemy line and leaves it in chaos when the second unit
charges home. If space and time allow, the first unit will
try to reform and then charge back in from the opposite
direction, crushing the enemy between the two cavalry
forces however, this requires a great deal of room to
maneuver around the enemy, and thus is not always
feasible. Additionally, if the enemy has a second or third
line that can advance to reinforce the first, the cavalry
may find they are the ones trapped and destroyed. Thus,
the Unicorn prefer to use this formation only when their
enemies are spread thin or have already been weakened
with archery or skirmishing.
Four Winds
One of the more unusual (and for the enemy, frustrating)
formations used by the Unicorn, the Four Winds assembles
a large force of light cavalry into one oversized unit,
creating an impressive sight as it advances on the enemy.
The light cavalry advances toward the foe, but even as
the center closes in the flanks break off and form two
arcs around the sides of the enemy. Given a sufficient
advantage of numbers, these two flanking wings will
each have sections break off into an even wider arc to
completely encircle the enemy. The speed with which this
formation is executed allows for little response time from
enemy generals, who can find their army forced within
minutes to fight on the front and flanks at the same time.
The Unicorn can execute this formation in many
different variations and on surprisingly small battlefields.
Its main weakness is that it requires a large number of
light cavalry; heavy cavalry are too slow to execute the
maneuvers effectively. However, light cavalry does not
have the armor and strength of heavier units, so the
formation can also be defeated by a stalwart defense.
A common variant of this formation is to place heavy
cavalry in the center while the light cavalry is restricted to
the flanks, forcing the enemy to commit its main strength
in the center as well.
Soul
of the
Unicorn
51
Tactics
Chapter Two
Battlefield Heraldry
Battlefield Boasting
War is an act of force to compel our enemy to do our
will. Tangens Lies
Tactics
Chapter Two
52
Desertion and
Other Failures of Duty
It should go without saying that desertion is viewed
very negatively indeed in Rokugan, a society with a proud
tradition of loyalty, duty, and service to those of higher
station. Furthermore, one of the infamous Three Sins that
the Rokugani seek to avoid is Fear. Thus, desertion is
considered such a repulsive act that many commanders
will even execute deserters from opposing armies if they
catch them. The Rokugani see no possible excuse, no
reasonable explanation, for such a failure of judgment
and duty.
Desertion is not only a personal crime but one that
affects the entire army. Knowledge that ones fellow
soldiers have fled from battle rips apart morale, breaks
down unit cohesion, and can cause a general collapse on
the field of battle. A single deserter can cause a rout if he
is not punished quickly and harshly. Thus, most officers
try to slay such traitorous individuals immediately, usually
by decapitation.
Any deserters lucky enough to escape the battle
who are later captured alive are punished with a more
ritualized process of execution. Generally, a commander
will gather all such deserters together for execution before
the assembled rank-and-file. Decapitation without any
option for seppuku is the traditional punishment,
and is considered so degrading that a commander
will rarely use his own blade to accomplish the
task. Instead, a specially-designed sword called
a gunto is utilized, the sword brought out only
for executions and then put away immediately
afterward, lest the offending dishonor corrupt
others. (There is also a far harsher form of
decapitation called nokogiribiki punishment
by sawing discussed in the Forbidden Tactics
section later.)
Failure in adherence to duty is the most
severe of battle crimes, but desertion is not
the only form such crimes can take. Theft of
rations and supplies, offering false testimony
against fellow soldiers, general dereliction of
duty, and repeated minor infractions all represent lesser forms of betrayal. When the clans
are not in outright war, these lesser crimes are
punished with fines, punitive duties, or with
a shaming loss of rank and status. Relegation
Hostage Taking
The custom of hitojichi (claiming hostages) dates all
the way back to the dawn of the Empire, and at times
has even been used by the Emperor himself in order to
impose peace on the clans. For example, Emperor Hantei
XI, whose reign saw the first battle with the Bloodspeaker
Iuchiban, required every major family daimyo and his
family to spend a minimum of two months of every
year in the capitol city of Otosan Uchi as guests of the
Emperor, discouraging the clans from waging war in the
uneasy aftermath of the Bloodspeakers attack. Similar
methods have been used by the clans with each other,
taking hostages to reinforce a treaty or ensure a peace.
The hitojichi traditions were badly abused during the
mad reign of Emperor Hantei XVI, who routinely tortured
and executed hostages to maintain his power. After his
death, Seppun Hanakos Articles of Heaven established
stricter requirements for the honorable treatment of
hostages. The Articles called for hostages to be exchanged
Limitations on
Standing Armies
To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles
is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without
fighting is the acme of skill. Sun Tao
Gentei higi, the ritual of restriction, is often used by
political clans to contain the threat from their more
aggressive neighbors. The size and power of all standing
armies in the Emerald Empire is limited by the Will of
Heaven as expressed through the Emperors words and
by the Imperial Bureaucracy. Clan Champions who wish
to significantly increase the size of their armed forces
must lobby the Imperial authority with their reasons.
Increasing an army without permission may result in
Imperial censure, loss of status and holdings, or even a
visit from the Imperial Legions. All of these restrictions are
ultimately expressions of the first Hanteis victory over his
brothers and sisters, granting him the right to control and
limit their military forces.
In modern times, the ritual of restriction serves as a
way for the smaller clans to place limits on the military
potential of larger clans. By appealing to the judgment of
the Throne, they can prevent the more aggressive clans
from overwhelming them. After the end of the Hantei
Dynasty, the reign of the Toturi sees this constraint become
far less reliable, as the Toturi Emperors saw little interest
in trying to restrain the martial clans. The Iweko Dynasty
and its mandate from Heaven restored this authority, but
the tumultuous events of the late twelfth century the
Destroyer War and subsequent settlement of the Colonies
wrought an environment in which the Throne seldom
imposed restraints on military forces.
53
Tactics
Chapter Two
not only to secure a treaty after a war but also prior to war
as a way of averting the conflict. Indeed, the law allows
the Emperor to ensure peace by issuing an Imperial decree
to force a hostage exchange on unwilling factions.
Tactics
Tattooing
Chapter Two
54
Chapter Two
Atama Tenji
Head Displays
Tactics
55
Tactics
Paying Tribute
Chapter Two
56
Forbidden Tactics
Winning is the most important thing in war.
Sun Tao
There are no tactics or weapons that Sun Tao excluded
from use on moral grounds, although the Great General
would be the first to admit that not all theories can be
used in practice. This section discusses those wartime
tactics and actions which the Empire considers to be at
least shameful and, in some cases, wholly beyond the pale.
Of course, a few groups such as the Scorpion Clan are
known for their deliberate use of forbidden methods of
war, both for the practical advantages and sometimes to
incite rage in their foes. The Crab Clan considers no tactic
off limits in its ceaseless war against the Shadowlands, a
foe wholly without honor and thus undeserving of honors
protections. Moreover, even the most honorable clans have
a few rogue commanders who seek victory by whatever
means necessary, claiming they are motivated by duty. A
common trick is to issue verbal orders for horrific actions
and then later disavow any knowledge of subordinates
disgraceful actions.
Deception is a near-universal tactic, utilized by even
paragons of Bushido such as the Lion. However, certain
types of deceptions are never used by honorable clans.
For example, lying in ones battlefield declarations and
heraldry is considered altogether loathsome by the Lion
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Chapter Two
Nokogiribiki:
Punishment by Sawing
Live alone and you shall die alone. Stand with your
brothers and you shall celebrate your victories in this life
and the next.
Akodos Leadership
Chapter Two
58
59
Tactics
Chapter Two
Tactics
Chapter Two
60
Mechanical Suggestions
61
Tactics
Chapter Two
Based on the above suggestions, the following section offers specific mechanical options for
GMs who want to give non-bushi more influence
in Mass Battle. Of course, it should be remembered that
these options are also changing the underlying balance
of the Mass Battle system. Some GMs may be fine with
this balance is not always important in a story-driven
RPG but if it is a concern, the GM can counterbalance
these bonuses by imposing penalties for failure, allowing
opponents to make Contested Rolls to try to negate the
PCs efforts, or allowing the other side to use the same
effects against the PCs army.
Tactics
In game terms, this sort of preparation may be handled in the same way as other non-bushi interactions
with Mass Battle, e.g. the PCs make Courtier (Gossip) or similar Skill Rolls to supplement their role-played
efforts to manipulate the court, spread gossip, squeeze allies for information, and offer favors in return for
knowledge. The result can be to simply force the opposing commander to accept the duel, but it may be more
interesting to represent the challenge as a Contested Social Roll (most likely Courtier against Etiquette) with
the earlier preparations awarding +1k0 bonuses or -1k0 penalties to the rolls. An enemy who refuses a duel
after losing the Contested Social Roll will suffer a significant loss of Honor and Glory, and at the GMs option
this may also impact the morale of his side, imposing penalties on the later Contested Battle Rolls.
Chapter Two
62
If the commander accepts the duel and then loses, that imposes an obvious penalty of its own he is no
longer alive to command his army, and a presumably less-experienced subordinate must step into the breach.
Of course, there may be circumstances where this is not truly a penalty at all! A clever GM can create a
situation in which the death of the commander in a pre-battle duel forces the PCs to step up and lead their
side to victory without him.
Shifting Perspective:
Battle as Backdrop
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory.
Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
The Book of Sun Tao
As an alternate means of involving battle and war
in the game, the GM can consider the idea of shifting
the perspective of the conflict away from generalized
battle and toward a more immediate or specialized goal.
In lieu of just personalizing a Mass Battle in the ways
described above, the GM can simply use the engagement
as a backdrop for a more specific or intimate story, with
the battle serving to enhance the tone of the tale. Any sort
of story that can be told against the backdrop of a court or
a tournament can instead be told against the backdrop of
a battle. A murder mystery and ensuing investigation, the
pursuit of a criminal or a sworn enemy, any such storyline
can take place on the battlefield. In these situations, it
hardly matters which side of the battle the PCs are on (or
even if they are on a side at all) their concern will not
be for which side may claim victory but for their own
storyline and goal.
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Chapter Two
Tactics
Chapter Two
64
Wedge
You are sent to be the spearhead of a wedge formation driving
deep into enemy forces.
For the duration of this
Opportunity you are considered
Heavily Engaged no matter your
actual level of Engagement. You
drive forward each Round towards
the enemy Reserves. If you make
it through (GMs choice of how
many Rounds this takes), the
opposing general receives a -2k2
penalty to his next Battle roll
and you gain 5 points of Glory.
Follow
the
Commander
Escort Mission
A high profile ally of your clan is
trapped amid desperate fighting and
her yojimbo has fallen.
You may choose to offer protection
to the ally and escort them from
Heavily Engaged to Reserves. If
successful, you gain Glory points equal
to the targets Status Rank, and also
gain the Ally advantage with that NPC,
with at least 2 points of Devotion.
Friendly Fire
Save
Fighting Street
to
Stop
the
Summoning [Shadowlands]
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Tactics
Chapter Two
Unheroic Opportunities
own side and are wreaking havoc, advancing toward your
armys Command Staff and reserves.
Tactics
Chapter Two
66
Feign Death
You slip and fall in the blood and mud, landing amid
a pile of the dead. You must make a choice between
pragmatism and honor.
You must choose either to immediately stand and
continue fighting or to hide among the dead. If you
stand, the battle continues normally and you might gain
a small amount of Honor if your current Honor Rank is low.
If you hide, for every Battle Round that you feign death
Gaijin Warfare
A member of the Command Staff has entrusted with
you a secret stash of gaijin pepper and commanded you
to use it when the time is right.
If you choose to activate the special package you will
immediately lose Honor as though Being an accomplice
to a heinous crime. However, the ensuing explosion and
chaos will cause the opposing general a -2k2 penalty on
his next Battle Roll and -1k1 on the Round after that. If
you are found out, the most likely result will be execution
or, at best, reduction to ronin.
only]
of
Deception
Defilement
A favored servant of the opposing general falls in
battle in full view of the enemy army. You may choose
to defile his body, his banner, or his sword in order to
outrage and humiliate the enemy, perhaps driving them
into an uncontrolled frenzy.
If you engage in such despicable behavior, you will
immediately suffer an Honor loss as if performing a
Major Breach of Etiquette and gain 5 points of Infamy.
Moreover, enemy forces will automatically single you
out for a skirmish with superior opponents on the next
Warlord Features
Level 1:
Personnel: Expendable Conscripts (1 point): These are
expendable heimin placed at strategic locations to soak up
the enemys assaults. They must be chosen first to destroy
by the enemy general during the Casualties stage.
Strength: 0
Defense: 1
Defense: 2
Defense: X
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The Way
Chapter Two
Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
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Chapter Three
69
Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
Cavalry Tactics
Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
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Cavalry Warfare
Cavalry Tactics
of the Unicorn Clan
Chapter Three
The only clan that had any true success with the
notion of cavalry warfare during the Empires first eight
centuries was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Lion. Akodos
followers were talented and dedicated to both the practice
and the philosophy of war, and for them figuring out
how to effectively exploit the limited advantages of
mounted soldiers was simply a matter of solving logistical
problems. To the Lion, the small number of possible uses
for warhorses was not a hurdle but a simple fact to be
included in their plans. Unlike other clans who tried to
make entire armies of mounted warriors, the Akodo
simply took the basic principle a mobile combatant to
its logical conclusion. The Lion began by fielding single
mounted warriors who were used to shock and disrupt
enemy battle lines with archery. The cavalry warrior
would charge the enemy lines, firing from a great bow
slowly, and then withdraw again.
Modern
Cavalry Warfare
While the tactics and unit structures
of Rokugani cavalry warfare vary from
clan to clan and even from family to
family, the basic principles and troop
types used in the modern Empire
from roughly the tenth century
onward are all adapted in whole or
part from the standard practices of
the Unicorn Clan.
Cavalry Warfare
Light Cavalry
Chapter Three
72
Medium Cavalry
ranks most commonly to break those ranks or to reach
a key position that can turn the course of the battle.
Prolonged melee engagement is not unheard of, but it is
usually not the most advantageous use of these soldiers,
especially given the value of their mounts. While they
are more armored than light cavalry, they lack the full
protection and barding of a heavy cavalry unit, making
it comparatively easy for enemy infantry to bring them
down in a sustained engagement. Additionally, there are
few infantry opponents that cannot be better defeated
through coordinated and constant pressure from dai-kyu
fire.
Chapter Three
73
Cavalry Warfare
Heavy Cavalry
Heavy cavalry is a fearsome force on the battlefield in
any situation that allows it to use its capabilities to the
fullest. However, such forces are quite rare outside of the
Unicorn Clan. As noted earlier, one of the first versions of
the Rokugani cavalry soldier was an expensive, heavily
armored warrior who was a nearly invincible force of
death on the battlefield. As time passed, both in Rokugan
and with the Unicorn Clan in its journeys, familiarity with
the idea of cavalry and advances in armorsmithing made
the concept of squadrons of heavy cavalry warriors at
least feasible. However, in Rokugan, the limitations of the
available mounts were just too severe to allow for these
sorts of troops to be used in great numbers even with
Kaiu ingenuity and Akodo wisdom constantly searching
for ways around the problem.
Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
74
Lancers
A uniquely Unicorn unit, mounted lancers
employ an unusual weapon, similar to
a yari but much longer and heavier,
specifically built to take advantage of
the strength and momentum of charging
heavy cavalry. Lancers are key to the
Unicorn Clans supremacy in mounted
combat, since the lance is equally
devastating against both ground foes and
enemy mounted units.
Mounted Infantry
While cavalry has its advantages, the biggest drawback
of mounted soldiers is tied to their largest advantage:
mobility. When cavalry is able to move and charge freely,
it can create devastating problems for a less-mobile
enemy. However, unlike infantry soldiers, mounted troops
are poor at holding a specific position. It is not impossible
to engage in a prolonged melee from horseback, but
unless a mounted warrior overmatches his opponents
with both skill and equipment, drawbacks soon become
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Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
76
Cavalry Tactics
Although the Unicorn are the
unquestioned masters of cavalry
warfare, every clan is acquainted with
at least the basics of mounted warfare,
and the essential tactics which such
warfare makes possible.
Harassment
As noted, among the earliest and
most obvious uses of cavalry soldiers
was hit-and-run tactics aimed at
disrupting the enemy army or throwing
off their balance and discipline. Even as
more complex tactics became available
through study and development, this
principle was never abandoned. It is
both effective and difficult to counter,
since it is quite simple and makes use
of the greatest advantage of cavalry:
mobility.
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Overpower
Chapter Three
Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
78
Encirclement
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Chapter Three
Cavalry Warfare
War was something he was bred for, and Juri was glad
to finally have the honor of facing an honorable foe instead
of the slobbering nightmares from the Shadowlands.
Though his clans duty to contain the threat of Fu Lengs
realm was no shameful task, he had always dreamed of
matching forces against such an opponent. Juri had finally
received his wish when the Unicorn Clan had overstepped
itself and attempted to annex lands too close to the Crab
borders. Relations between the Crab and Unicorn were
usually friendly, but the insult could not be borne. When
the Ide diplomats refused to agree to a retreat of their
forces, Juri was ordered to show the Unicorn exactly
what their mistake would cost them. Within weeks, Hida
warriors, Kaiu war machines, and Hiruma skirmishers
had assembled and marched north.
Chapter Three
80
Indirect Combat
Though the samurai caste is not uncreative when it
comes to making war, only two clans the Crab and Lion
make a point of studying mass warfare constantly and
seeking to innovate on existing practices. The Crab, of
course, are pragmatists, driven by the intense demands
of their constant struggle with the Shadowlands. When
they find a practice that works, they keep it and then find
ways to improve upon it. The Lion, on the other hand,
are unquestionably traditionalists, and while they do find
Mixed Units
While the Unicorn often seem to have an endless stream
of cavalry warriors, the reality is that they employ foot
soldiers in great numbers as well. Shinjo archers, Otaku
infantry, and Moto pikemen are effective units, especially
when combined with the swiftness of cavalry working
in tandem with them. Before the Unicorns return, if two
forces met with any sort of cavalry in their ranks, these
units would generally engage each other, leaving the
infantry to fight each other separately. Just coordinating
infantry and archery generally taxes most generals to their
limits.
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Chapter Three
Anti-Cavalry Tactics
The natural consequence of cavalry becoming more
widespread after the return of the Unicorn was the
development and proliferation of anti-cavalry tactics.
Previously, cavalry warriors were so rare that soldiers or
fortifications aimed at them specifically were considered
unnecessary. But with the Unicorn deploying thousands
of mounted bushi, and as more and more other armies
expanded their own cavalry arms, these measures became
vital.
Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
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Tsurus Legion
83
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Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
84
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Chapter Three
While the Dragons Wind were well known for their skill
at mounted archery, many opponents overlooked the fact
that they were also well-trained Mirumoto bushi, some of
the deadliest combatants in the Empire. The Dragons Wind
were hardly at risk if they were forced into melee combat,
and indeed their heavy armor and daisho meant they often
did so when the situation called for it. In many ways, the
Dragons Wind represented the Dragon Clan itself to the
rest of the Empire: inscrutable, possessed of surprisingly
few weaknesses, and able to confound enemies with a
variety of skills and tactics.
Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
86
Imperial Factions
The Miya have served as the heralds of the Emperor
since their founding, and consequently have some of
the finest stables in the Empire, as well as some of the
swiftest mounts Rokugan has ever seen. However, Miya
warriors are relatively rare; their mounts are trained for
use by messengers, not soldiers. While the Unicorn gifted
the Imperial houses with a great many of their impressive
steeds upon their return, the Miya still bred them for speed
rather than warfare.
The Seppun, on the other hand, made great use of these
new Unicorn mounts. The Shinjo familys gifts earned
them the Seppun familys high regard, as they found their
cavalry units were now able to fight harder, patrol faster,
and needed less rest. Before the Unicorns return, the
Seppun did sometimes conduct patrols on horseback, but
had few mounts and usually kept their steeds in reserve
for times they needed to mobilize to protect the Throne
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Chapter Three
Cavalry Warfare
Chapter Three
88
The Shadowlands
Through most of history, the various beasts and demons
of the Shadowlands do not organize into normal military
forces. While the Taint sometimes claims the soul of a
skilled soldier, a commander, or even entire squadrons of
bushi, the numbers of such tragic cases are usually low.
Several times during the Empires history, a powerful
leader falls to the Taint or emerges from Jigoku, leading
huge armies of undead, oni, and beasts, but these forces
lack the cohesive order of Rokugani armies and, in any
case, cavalry units are extremely rare within them.
It may be noted that while the supernatural beasts
of the Shadowlands do not have the same maintenance
requirements as conventional horses, there are many other
considerations that lessen their utility. Undead mounts will
eventually rot away if not tended to by knowledgeable
maho-tsukai. Free-willed Shadowlands beasts do not take
well to breaking and training, and more than one Lost
warrior has perished from underestimating the danger
of the task. Thus, for most of history the numbers of
Shadowlands mounted warriors has been low fortunately
for the Empire.
The major exception to this pattern is, fittingly, brought
about by the return of the Unicorn Clan. The daimyo Moto
Tsume leads the vast Moto legions into the Shadowlands,
determined to prove that his family can do what the Crab
The Hellbeasts
Though the Tainted and often undead horses known
as onikage are suitable mounts for many Shadowlands
denizens, the rare creatures known as Hellbeasts are
considered superior for a number of reasons. Hellbeasts
have a rudimentary intellect surpassing that of a typical
horse, which makes them a better steed in some ways and
also more dangerous, to both rider and foe. Breaking a
Hellbeasts will often requires either massive effort and
patience (the latter a quality which is lacking in most
Tainted beings) or some way to coax loyalty out of the
thing perhaps through the promise of regular meals of
human flesh.
In battle, Hellbeasts have a great many advantages over
horses, since they are tremendously strong, resilient, and
ferocious. They can use their boar-like size and bulk to
charge and crash into enemy lines with much more force
than a horse, and they also have razor-sharp claws, teeth,
and tusks, which they use to shred and even devour their
enemies in the thick of combat. Once the Hellbeasts began
appearing in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the Crab
swiftly learned to fear them, especially since any foe who
could use them as mounts was bound to be powerful,
canny, or both.
While organized units of Hellbeast riders are rare,
even after the ascension of Daigotsu to lead the Lost, the
appearance of a dozen or more such beasts at once is
considered a major crisis by the Crab. Even a handful of
Hellbeasts can carve through a hundred foot troops with
ease, and they also enjoy taking out mortal cavalry a
Hellbeast charge inspires terror and hysteria in all but the
most disciplined horses.
Care of Horses
Like any animal, horses require
certain basic resources for their
continued health shelter, food,
and regular cleaning. Even
the samurai families least
emotionally attached to their
steeds understand that their
horses show how they care for
their property, so it is extremely
unlikely to find any stable
or horse in outright poor
condition.
Depending on the clan
in question, stables can be
anything from a simple shelter
a thatched roof, partitioned
areas for each individual
mount, and a pile of hay to
a large and elaborate building
constructed with the same
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Chapter Three
90
Training of Horses
Though warhorses comprise the most visible use of
horses in warfare, the Rokugani also use horses extensively
as labor or simple conveyance. Training horses for use
in moving cargo or carrying riders is a relatively simple
task. Though breaking a horse and preparing it for these
tasks is not something just anyone can do, it is considered
the most basic and simplest job of a trainer. Apprentice
stablehands are often assigned to such tasks.
Preparing horses for war, however, is an altogether
different matter. Like most animals, horses have a strong
flight-or-fight response that must be properly conditioned
to allow them to fight in battle. A warhorse must learn that
charging into an enemy is an acceptable task, although it
cannot forget to defend itself when surrounded by foes or
otherwise under attack. The Crab Clans early attempts to
train useful warhorses conditioned some ponies so harshly
that they completely ignored fatal dangers and would
refuse to withdraw from combat even under the direction
of their rider. While some Crab approved philosophically
of these berserker steeds, their practical uses were
extremely limited.
Chapter Three
91
Cavalry Warfare
Enemies
Chapter Four
92
Chapter Four
93
Enemies
Chapter Four
A Brief History of
Clan-on-Clan Warfare
Enemies
Chapter Four
94
engagements to resolve the feud, and numerous smallerscale military conflicts take place every year due to such
feuds. In theory, any samurai can pursue a Blood Feud
against a samurai from another clan, though in practice
only those feuds proclaimed by those with significant
status lead to outright war after all, it is difficult to
pursue a war without some amount of support from the
rest of ones clan.
Some samurai will on occasion wage war solely for the
glory involved, with no more at stake than the pride of
being victorious. Many young Lion samurai in particular
often seek any excuse to start a war with a neighboring
clan in order to prove their mettle and match the deeds of
their ancestors, and the Lions neighbors have learned to
keep their borders well defended at all times.
ones own home court is generally seen as a sort of surprise attack on whichever enemy dignitaries are present
(who may be taken as hostages), and is thus frowned on as
dishonorable. More ruthless clans will still occasionally do
so, perhaps to ensure they do gain hostages.
The declaration itself will usually be given with the
permission of the host and in front of the largest audience
available. It will include at least include three elements:
the name of the commander leading the assault, the
reason for the declaration, and the name of whichever
enemy lord is expected to defend the target of the war.
Conflicts in Rokugan are usually intensely personal
affairs, and even if the war has a pragmatic objective
such as the acquisition of lands or resources the name
of the enemy lord is important and is always proclaimed.
The boldest declarations will simply name the opposing
Clan Champion, although doing so risks the escalation of
the hostilities. The style of a declaration speech is usually
boastful to the utmost, promising swift victory for the
assailant and a quick defeat and death for the enemy. The
supposed virtues of the commander are exalted, while the
putative flaws of the defender are decried. Depending on
the style and preferences of the clan involved, the names
of past ancestors may be invoked or some kind of religious
argument may be added to lend weight and honor to the
declaration. A skilled courtier will accompany the speech
with grand gestures, pacing through the room, and other
such rhetorical flourishes to impress the audience. The
ubiquitous court fan almost becomes a weapon in these
speeches, slashing through the air, pointing sharply at the
enemy delegation, and so forth.
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Enemies
Declaring War
Chapter Four
Enemies
Chapter Four
96
Surprise Attacks
Sometimes samurai from one clan will attack another
without warning. This act is particularly common among
the more pragmatic clans such as the Crab, Mantis,
and Scorpion. The Crab Clan is notably infamous for
ignoring the rules of etiquette at any time, simply striking
whenever and wherever it sees fit. Doing so causes quite
a lot of uproar in the courts and almost invariably turns
general opinion against the assailant though as noted
above, during periods of Imperial instability the protocols
of declaring war can often be bypassed altogether.
A subtler if no less dishonorable tactic is
to trick the enemy clan into attacking first or
into committing some minor breach that can
be interpreted as an attack (such as samurai
crossing the border without travel papers),
thereby creating a pretense for war without
an actual declaration of war in the courts.
Such loopholes are also frowned upon,
but can allow a clan to maintain face
while still gaining the ability to launch a
sudden attack against an unprepared foe.
When using such methods, samurai
usually attempt to achieve their objectives quickly enough for the war to end
before the enemy can respond, perhaps
even before it attracts public attention.
Scouts will be deployed to intercept
enemy messengers and courtiers will
attempt to deflect inquiries. Since the
shame of defeat is often too much for a
samurai to bear, winning the war before
it is officially declared can often shield
the victors from any political backlash.
Great Clans
against Minor Clans
Although the samurai of the Great Clans form the vast
majority of samurai in Rokugan, they are not the only
ones serving the Emperor. By the Imperial edict issued at
the creation of the Fox Clan, Great Clans are forbidden to
wage war against Minor Clans. While this could be expected to offer them absolute protection, the truth is more
complex. In practice, the edict means the Great Clans must
find proper excuses when they wish to confront a Minor
Clan rather than simply declaring war outright. The best
excuse, of course, is to blame the Minor Clan for initiating
hostilities. More than once through the Empires history,
an insult or minor clash with a Minor Clan has been interpreted in the courts as an attack, resulting in hostilities.
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Enemies
Clans against
Ronin/Peasants
Chapter Four
Wartime Diplomacy
Diplomacy remains an important part of samurai
relations even during war. In fact, it is often expected
for diplomats from enemy clans to meet frequently to
discuss the progress of the war, negotiate the terms of the
next engagement, or eventually to pursue a peace treaty.
Such meetings are often striking for their overt civility,
with representatives chatting politely over tea while they
discuss their clans conflict. The tone of the meeting, of
course, can be anything from icy cold to outright friendly,
but the majority of samurai will always attempt to
maintain a veneer of basic courtesy. Clever diplomats will
cater to the clan they are talking to while a meeting with
a Crane or Phoenix counterpart is almost guaranteed to
go pleasantly, Crab diplomats have been known to reach
for their weapons in the middle of a sentence, while every
diplomat is advised to bring his own teacup to a meeting
with the Scorpion.
Enemies
Chapter Four
98
Intelligence Agents
You would be astounded at what a merchant sees in the
course of his day.
- Yasuki Chue
The people who gather information are rarely spies in
the usual sense of the word. They do not break into houses
or eavesdrop through shoji screens. They do not interrogate captives. Indeed, very little of what they do is in any
way dishonorable which is why so many of them would
be offended to hear anyone suggest they are spies at all.
These agents simply pay attention to the world around
them and communicate what they see to their superiors.
When an interesting visitor comes to town, or a merchant
patron strikes a deal, or two samurai have a falling-out, or
a military unit undergoes extra training, the agent takes
note of it. Simple observation and ordinary gossip are
the tools with which these individuals work. Individually,
each piece amounts to little. It is in the aggregate that the
truth becomes clear.
Enemies
Chapter Four
Campaign Seed:
Behind Enemy Doors
Masters of Intelligence
I had never taken notice of Wakkamu-san
until the day I inherited my fathers position.
And that is as it should be.
Yoritomo Daiki
Enemies
Chapter Four
100
101
Enemies
Chapter Four
An Asako courtier, laboring under an unimportantsounding title, writes a letter to her family daimyo stating
that the Lion are likely preparing to attack Kosaten Shiro
in the spring.
Enemies
Chapter Four
102
Clan-Specific Aspects of
Clan-on-Clan Warfare
The Great Clans of Rokugan have been each others main
enemies for centuries, and for most of the Empires history
there were only six of them (the Unicorn were outside of
the Empire and the Mantis were an obscure Minor Clan).
It should be no surprise that they developed very specific
strategies, tactics, and policies for dealing with each other,
some of which are detailed below.
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Enemies
Enemies
Chapter Four
104
train a number of elite shock troops such as the Fanatics and Vindicators. The Shinjo assets are useful in engagements with numerically superior enemies such as the
Lion, the infantry are essential in campaigns where terrain
limits the usefulness of cavalry (such as the mountainous
lands of the Dragon), and the Moto elites are valuable for
breaking the strong defenses of opponents like the Crab or
the Daidoji. (The Moto are also unique in the clan in having experience and training for facing the Shadowlands.)
Nonhuman and
Supernatural Enemies
Akodo Kiyotaka stood atop the Kaiu Wall, his eyes taking
in the dreadful yet spectacular proceedings of the battle in
front of him. Beyond the great fortification, thousands of
Shadowlands demons gathered to try to invade Rokugan.
So far, however, the Sons of Hida and a few Daughters
as well were containing the massive attack.
Impressive, isnt it?
Kiyotaka turned around the massive shape of Kaiu Juuzo
behind him, wearing the heavy all-metal armor the Crab
called tetsu-dou. Kiyotaka felt almost inadequate in his
own normal yoroi. He bowed low. Between his status as a
hostage, his own low military rank, and his much younger
age, he knew he owed the man great respect. Besides, here
in the Crab lands a lack of respect could earn a severe
beating, something Kiyotaka had learned very quickly.
It certainly is, Kaiu-sama, the Lion samurai replied as
he turned back to observe the battle. However, may I offer
an observation?
Go ahead. The Crab took a position near the younger
Lion.
Forgive my impudence, but I was wondering if now
wouldnt be the time for your warriors to advance from
the Wall and envelop the enemy? It seems as if you have
the upper hand, and this could help you achieve victory.
Chapter Four
105
Enemies
Enemies
Chapter Four
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The Shadow
While the Shadow also known variously as the Living
Darkness or the Lying Darkness probably represents
a danger to the Empire as great as if not greater than
the Shadowlands, it rarely chooses to face samurai on
the field of battle. Rather, its main tools are deception,
manipulation, and corruption though to be sure, these
tools can have great effect when battle is joined. On
the rare occasions when the Shadow waged war on a
large scale, primarily during the Hidden Emperor era, it
preferred to mislead Rokugani armies into fighting each
other, rather than fielding its own troops. That epoch saw
the Shadow lure the Mantis into conflict with both the
Crane and the Phoenix, as well as concocting a Crane civil
war. Some smaller conflicts during the earlier history of
Rokugan were also triggered by the mysterious whims of
the Shadow, or had their outcome altered by its minions.
The true purposes behind this activity are difficult to
comprehend, but in some cases the Shadow used a war
as a cover-up to eliminate a particular individual or
replace that person with a Ninube decoy. Defeating or
shaming a samurai could make his mind more susceptible
to Shadow corruption. Some conflicts were also staged to
kill off enemies of the Shadow itself, such as members of
the Kolat or the Scorpion Clan who had gained too much
knowledge about it. The Darkness typically would place
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The Nezumi
Few in Rokugan would consider the Nezumi noteworthy
enemies, or even enemies at all. Most regard them as little
more than a clever sort of vermin, to be chased away or
hunted down if they become too problematic. And since
the Nezumi easily take to fleeing, this opinion remains
prevalent. In truth, the Nezumi do have trained warriors,
heirs of a tradition dating back to before the days when
humans walked the Mortal Realm. In their modern form
as small wandering and scavenging tribes, however, the
Nezumi are too weak to do more than live on the fringes of
human society, scrounging for whatever they can without
attracting too much attention.
When faced with the prospect of a major military
confrontation, the Nezumi will adopt a strategy largely
alien to Rokugan: guerrilla warfare. The very concept of
a field battle between opposing ranks is anathema to the
Nezumi, who see the lives of their own people as far too
valuable to squander in such a way. They much prefer
striking from darkness or concealment, retreating before
the opponent can retaliate. This can make them extremely
frustrating opponents for samurai, since they never seek
to hold ground or take it and never hesitate to run when
there is a chance to do so.
Although most Nezumi tribes only number a handful
of individuals, the largest ones can boast of several
hundred able-bodied warriors, and are capable of causing
tremendous chaos if they wish to do so. While the Nezumi
are usually reluctant to enter into any form of conflict,
they will certainly attack when no other option is available,
such as when they are facing famine or especially when
their young are in danger. Samurai who consider these
creatures cowardly are in for a shocking and dangerous
surprise if they ever corner them, since a nezumi with
no chance to flee will suddenly fight with great ferocity.
Moreover, the Nezumi warriors include a small number
of formidable berserkers, the chitatachikkan, born without
fear and able to withstand pain beyond human levels.
These fury-crazed warriors are more than a match for any
samurai, and usually either lead the vanguard of an attack
or stay behind to delay an enemy while the rest of the
tribe retreats. When the situation is truly dire, one of the
rare nezumi shaman called Nameseekers may also take
the field, bringing their strange and potent magic to bear
against their foes. A single Nameseeker may be enough to
tip the balance of a fight in the favor of the Nezumi.
Ironically, the greatest experts in fighting off Nezumi
incursions are also considered the greatest friends of the
Nezumi tribes: the samurai of the Hiruma family. Having
fought alongside the rat-like creatures for centuries in the
joint struggle against the Shadowlands, the Hiruma have
learned much from the Nezumi and have taught them
much in return. Indeed, while they do not advertise the
fact outside their own ranks, many Hiruma tactics are
based on Nezumi methods. This collaboration becomes
much closer after the fall of the Hiruma lands in the eighth
century and the change in the familys fighting style to
one based almost entirely on stealth and ambush.
The Naga
For centuries the Naga were
nothing but an obscure legend to
most of Rokugan. The few encounters
between Naga and Rokugani usually
involved very small groups in the
Shinomen forest and usually ended
with the destruction of one side or the
other. However, all that changed when
the Naga awoke in large numbers at the
onset of the Clan War, bringing a new
actor onto Rokugans military stage.
The Naga were numerous and had a
strong warrior culture, having waged
many battles in their past against their
own people and many other races.
They also had unique natural and
supernatural advantages, most notably
their strange collective soul known as
the Akasha. While the bulk of the race
eventually returned to their magical
slumber, in the few years they were
present in large numbers the Naga left a
distinctive mark on Rokugani warfare.
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The Unicorn are keenly aware of the danger the Yodotai represent, having encountered them during
their travels through the gaijin lands. While they have carefully studied all the information they can get on
the Yodotai, they have not yet been able to devise a strategy to defeat such a deadly and cunning opponent.
Recently they have learned the disquieting fact that the ancestors of the Yodotai protect them during battle,
shielding them from any form of hostile magic, and thus negating what could be a key Rokugani advantage.
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If the Yodatai can be said to have any true weakness, it is sailing, since their religion makes them utterly
terrified of the sea (in Yodotai belief the sea is the merciless incarnation of fear). Of course, the Unicorn
are far from being great sailors themselves, but they have begun covertly working with the Mantis Clan to
devise strategies making use of river attacks, which they hope will give them an edge over the Yodotai. The
Unicorn would also like to seek the help of the Lion, especially the Kitsu family, in finding a way to counter
the ancestral protection the Yodatai enjoy; unfortunately, between their oft-strained relations with the Lion
and the Kitsu familys secretive nature, these efforts have come to nothing.
However, the Lion themselves are also becoming aware of the Yodotai threat. In the late twelfth century
the Lion find a book called De Bellis Yoditorum which describes the fundamentals and tactics of Yodotai
warfare. They eventually manage to translate it, and while they are disgusted by the lack of honor in these
gaijin, they do not hesitate to integrate some of the tactics into their own repertoire, using them to great effect
against both human and supernatural enemies. This also gives the Lion insight into the danger the Yodotai
represent and into possible ways to counter the threat. Thus, should the gaijin empire ever set its eyes upon
Rokugan, the Lion armies will be at the forefront of battle even more than in past wars.
The Yobanjin
These deadly Yobanjin warriors bring
their fearsome steeds into the middle of
combat, where man and beast fight as one.
Gruesome and effective. Mirumoto Kei
The warrior tribes living north of Rokugan
proper, known collectively as Yobanjin, have
conflicted with Rokugan many times on both
small and large scales. On the rare occasions
when several Yobanjin tribes have united,
they have launched mass invasions into
the lands of the Phoenix, Dragon, and
Unicorn most infamously during the War
of Dark Fire. More frequently, however, the
individual Yobanjin tribes are content to
occasionally raid the border of the Empire for
supplies, riches, slaves, or even just the glory
of battle. At other times, they live in peace
with the Empire and even engage in a small
amount of cross-border trade.
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A Warrior Culture
Ultimately, Rokugan is a warriors society. The nobility,
the Fortunes, the priests, the diplomats, even the scholars
are all considered warriors. Everything in the Empire
is viewed through a martial lens, and the courts are no
different. Courtiers are warriors on a battlefield an
altogether different battlefield from the ones where bushi
clash, but no less important or deadly for that. The sword
may be the most venerated weapon in Rokugan, but far
more have been killed by the subtle weapons of court:
the displeased frown, the exchanged glance, and the quiet
whisper.
Most of Rokugans customs directly result from this
underlying warriors culture, including the basic code of
ethics (Honor and Bushido), most aspects of spirituality,
and the emphasis on personal responsibility. This warrior
culture encompasses every level of the samurai caste.
Anything a samurai does, he does as a warrior. Thus, most
aspects of Rokugani social convention can be understood
both as ways of supporting the warrior culture and ways
of keeping it in check. Social norms help ensure the
samurai caste does not become corrupted or dangerous
to the rest of society (and also provides acceptable
outlets for aggression without endangering the stability
of the Empire), while also ensuring the samurai remain
formidable and respected combatants.
Observing and maintaining this social order is perhaps
the single most important aspect of Rokugani culture, and
most of the Empires customs are based on this purpose.
Bowing to a superior and showing respect to ones host,
for example, are both variations on the basic custom
of deference to authority, a principle that is central to
the Rokugani way of thinking. After all, without such
deference, samurai society will collapse back into the
primitive chaos that prevailed before the fall of the Kami.
Humility
The word samurai literally means to serve in close
attendance to the Emperor. Ultimately, a samurai is
merely a servant of a greater lord. Although pride in
ones name and deeds is considered virtuous in samurai
culture, hubris and disrespect are considered shameful.
One must always be humble in the presence of ones
superiors, and much Rokugani etiquette is concerned with
the proper demonstration of this humility. A demanding
or overbearing samurai brings shame to himself and his
family, and showing a lack of humility is a good way to
insult others badly enough to start an unwanted feud.
Samurai are expected to always be striving for
excellence, and humility is seen as an integral part of this
effort. A true samurai knows that no matter how skilled
he may be, there is always much more to learn. This
belief is echoed in Akodos Leadership: A true samurai
acts without claiming credit; he does not wish to appear
superior to his lord.
Humility is also championed by Rokugans religious
philosophy of Shinseism, which teaches that one must
deny the self, surrender attachment to the material world,
and bow before the Heavens. Shinseis Tao claims that
humility comes from an awareness of the lack of self; a
person with no prideful attachments to a construct of self
can thereby embrace temperance, self-awareness, and the
ability to improve.
Small wonder that when samurai are unaccustomed to
court, many courtiers give a simple piece of advice: When
in doubt, err towards humility. It is a rule of thumb that
works far more often than it fails.
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Character verses Player
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Samurai Etiquette:
How not to be a Barbarian
A rash word can damage a man more swiftly than the
sharpest sword. Kakita Yoshi, Imperial Chancellor
Samurai are expected to conduct themselves far
differently than those of lower station. Indeed, the ways
of the samurai are alien and strange to most heimin.
To the lower castes, samurai have a reputation for
unpredictability and eccentricity, but this is merely a result
of how differently samurai conduct themselves and live
their lives. A virtuous samurai adheres to proper ways,
while a samurai who violates the rules shames himself and
is treated accordingly.
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Sword Etiquette
in Home and Court
How a samurai carries and handles his while guesting
in someones home or court is a matter of considerable
concern. Discussions in court can get heated, and it would
not do for the disagreeing parties to draw swords before
the host and disgrace the home or the lord with unseemly
violence. There are strict guidelines to such things, and
those who deviate from these rules risk great shame and
dishonor. A samurai who does not conform to sword
etiquette while visiting another may be denied courtesy
by the host without a loss of face.
When visiting the home or court of an ally or friend, a
samurai almost never brings his sword inside. The sword
is always left at the door, often in the keeping of swordpolishers whose supposed care for the blade provides
guests with a face-saving excuse to leave their swords
behind. Of course, the polishers always do their jobs well,
polishing and cleaning the swords and keeping them safe
while the samurai visits. If a samurai does not wish to
entrust his swords to another in this way, an alternative
choice is to leave the blades in a private room, typically
on a display stand.
A host may choose to permit a visiting samurai to carry
his blade in the home or court, especially if the samurai
is performing a duty that requires it a yojimbo, for
example, or a sensei who has been invited to court to
demonstrate kata. This courtesy must be extended by the
host explicitly; it can never be assumed. It should be noted
that extending this offer to a guest without such a suitable
cause is actually a subtle threat; the host is effectively
telling the samurai that he is not safe. Likewise, carrying a
sword into the Imperial Court or the court of ones daimyo
or allies without prior permission is considered an insult,
showing the samurai does not trust his host.
A samurai always almost carries his sword when in the
court or home of his enemy. Indeed, if he chooses instead
to leave the blade behind, this is an insult; the samurai is
saying his enemies are not true threats.
When greeted by ones host, a samurai traditionally sits
or kneels and removes his sword from his obi, placing it
on the floor. This can be to the left or right. Placed to the
left, the sword is easier to draw; this means the samurai
does not trust his host, or perhaps is making a killers
intent known. Placed to the right, the blade is harder to
reach, signifying trust in the host. Laying the sword so
that the hilt points toward the host means the samurai
does not think much of the hosts sword skills.
In many cases, a samurai is permitted to carry a sword
into court but it is still considered unacceptable to draw
it (pretty much all swords within the Imperial Court fall
into this category). In these cases, or in any other instance
when a samurai wishes to publicly demonstrate that he
has absolutely no violent intentions, he will demonstrate
his sincerity by tying his blade into the sheath with a
peace knot. Essentially, the knot ties the tsuba and the
saya together so that the blade cannot be drawn. These
knots are very elaborate and take considerable time to
undo, creating a great hindrance to drawing the blade.
A samurai shows both trust to his host and obedience to
social convention by tying his blade.
Bragging
It is common for samurai to brag
about their exploits. This might be
seen as haughty in other cultures,
but not in Rokugan so long as
it is done properly. A samurai
is expected to boast about the
deeds he has accomplished in the
name of his lord and clan. Samurai
will boast in court to increase their
prestige, or at the start of a battle
or duel to gain a psychological
advantage. It is common practice
for samurai to introduce themselves
by naming something significant
from their past. I am Matsu Nyoko,
veteran of the Battle of Shiro Giji!
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Kira retaliated with rumor and innuendo, and the backwoods Crab not once referred to by name became
the butt of countless jokes and a figure of constant mockery. Asano found himself alone in the court, emasculated
by Kiras whispers. Asano grew angry and finally lost his temper, assaulting Kira with a dagger in open court. The
Bayushi was saved by the Seppun, and in punishment for this gross flouting of law and protocol, Asanos lands were
confiscated and his family disbanded. He was forced to commit seppuku, his wife was sent to a monastery, and the
samurai who served him became ronin.
Among Asanos retainers was his hatamoto, a grizzled bushi named Oishi who had spent his life commanding
scouting missions into the Shadowlands. Oishi was shattered by the news of his lords disgrace and death, but he knew
Bayushi Kira was unassailable, a political favorite ensconced in the safety of Otosan Uchi. Seemingly unable to bring
justice to his masters enemy, Oishi closed out Asanos affairs and disbanded his followers.
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For the next year Bayushi Kira stayed inside his home in Otosan Uchi, fearful of potential retaliation from Asanos
former vassals. He commissioned spies to keep tabs on the ronin, but they found nothing of interest. One ronin
founded an archery dojo. Another joined the crusade of the mad Crane named Doji Hotei. A third enrolled in a Kuni
monastery, training as a Witch Hunter. Oishi himself surfaced in Ryoko Owari. He divorced his wife, turned to sake
and geisha, and started a drunken duel in a kabuki theater. It seemed the ronin of Asano were no threat. Indeed,
they were often called cowards or worse, examples of how far Bushido could fall, since samurai who would allow the
murderer of their lord to go unpunished were truly worthless.
After a time Kira was no longer able to maintain his spies. The Emperor had exiled the Scorpion from the court
in order to avoid controversy, and without his ability to extract bribes Kiras finances dwindled. He finally dismissed
his spy network and contented himself with a small contingent of sixty loyal bushi. He felt confident that he would
eventually regain his position in the courts.
He was wrong.
A year to the day after Hiruma Asanos death, thirty-one men gathered in the streets outside Bayushi
Kiras home. They battered the doors of Kiras home, stormed the mansion, and slaughtered the surprised
guards. While the fighting took place, a single elderly ronin stood in the road before Kiras gate and held
a placard up to the passersby: We are the ronin of Shiro Asano. This night we come to avenge our master
with the death of Bayushi Kira. We intend you no harm.
Spearheading the assault was Oishi, strangely sober and competent despite his year of carousing. He
personally confronted Kira down and slew him, easily overcoming the courtiers feeble skills. Oishi claimed
the Scorpions head and took it to display at the tomb of his dead master.
When the Emperors soldiers arrived, the ronin surrendered peacefully to Imperial justice. Their story spread
like wildfire among the people: how they had plotted in secret despite the Scorpion Clans best spies, how they had
defied an unjust punishment in the name of honor, how they had fought against impossible odds and triumphed.
They had demonstrated to all of Rokugan that Bushido was alive and well.
Emperor Hantei XIII was perplexed. The Scorpion were demanding blood for the wanton murder of their
samurai by lawless ronin. Certainly, Asanos men could not be excused from their criminal act, but to execute
them would be a political disaster. To satisfy both justice and the people, the Emperor granted the thirty-one
ronin the right of honorable seppuku. Kiras few surviving retainers were given the same punishment. The ashes
of Hiruma Oishi and his followers were buried beside their lord, and Hiruma Asanos former holdings were
reinstated to the Crab.
The Crab still tell this story and accept every word of it as true. However, the Ikoma histories reject
some aspects of the tale, claiming they were added to defame the character of the Hantei Emperor.
Whatever the case, once a year on the day of Kiras death the Hiruma family holds a festival in
remembrance of the thirty-one ronin.
Private War:
The Etiquette of Blood Feuds
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Seeking an Audience
With Ones Lord
Dropping by the home of ones daimyo unannounced
is in poor taste at best. Even if the lord is seen in court
on a daily basis, any important matters must be handled
appropriately. If a samurai must speak with his lord, he
makes an appointment with one of the daimyos personal
retainers to formally discuss the matter. The retainer will
arrange the appointment; he knows the lords schedule
and can make sure there is adequate time for the meeting.
The petitioning samurai has little to no say in when the
meeting will happen. Usually, the retainer will arrange
for the meeting to happen as soon as possible, since their
lords time is precious and important matters can rarely
wait. However, if the lord is busy, the matter is considered
less important, or the retainer (or the lord) is hostile to
the samurai, the wait can be longer, perhaps much longer.
An outrageously long wait for the appointment (the
honorable lord should be available in five months time)
is considered a strong hint that the samurai is in disfavor
and is not welcome by his superior. Of course, the samurai
must honor the assigned time of the meeting, no matter
how inconvenient it might be.
Of course, if the retainer or the lord makes things too
difficult, this carries risks. If a samurai patiently waits and
finally arrives at the assigned time, the lord must honor
the appointment to do otherwise is to lose face for
slighting his guest.
Usually, retainers wishing to deny appointments will
simply say something vaguely neutral, such as the
appointment will be scheduled. A promise without a
specific date for the meeting is a euphemism for never.
Most samurai count this as a slight and will remember it,
perhaps turning against their lord in retaliation.
The Etiquette of
Dealing with Peasants
Heimin are much lower in social rank than samurai,
so a samurai is not required to extend the same
courtesy to commoners that he would to another
samurai. However, there are still things a samurai
should observe when dealing with them so he
may appear gracious and noble. Heimin may
be like livestock, but they are still someones
property, as well as living beings deserving of
some basic degree of dignity.
A samurai visiting or passing through a
peasant village is a common occurrence in
populated areas, but the more remote and rural
the village, the more uncommon samurai will
be. Many remote villages go all year without
seeing a samurai. Regardless, all peasants are
extremely wary of samurai. Samurai behavior
is strange to them and they rarely understand it.
They only know that samurai are very deadly,
unpredictable, and often unreasonable, so they
must be cautious and obedient toward them at
all times. Most heimin prefer to give samurai a
wide berth whenever possible.
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Conduct in Court
A court is rarely open to everyone. A samurai must
be invited, and invitations are earned through reputation,
status, and social connections. Sometimes the purpose
of a court will also determine the nature and identity
of the guests. In some cases, like the Imperial Winter
Court, every clan will receive a certain number of blank
invitations which are distributed by the Clan Champion
to his followers as he sees fit. A clan will almost never
deliberately send a guest who might damage its reputation,
and the importance and honor of the occasion are always
stressed to every attendee.
The host of a court will greet each guest as they arrive,
and a skilled host will distribute the invitations in such
a way that every guest arrives at roughly the same time.
Under normal circumstances, the guests will introduce
themselves in the traditional manner of samurai; if the
host offers his own greeting first, it considered is a great
honor, for he is showing familiarity with the guest and
his reputation.
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Ryorishi
Rokugani chefs are known as ryorishi. They
are more than culinary specialists; most also have
extensive knowledge of herbs, flora, and medicinal
spices. They are skilled in cooking, food preparation,
the creation of antidotes, and the detection of poisons.
Because of their knowledge and skill, the status
of a ryorishi is often higher than that of other house
servants. In fact, some ryorishi are samurai, although
this not common. Many ryorishi are also known to
be skilled herbalists, and when a samurai requires
something to help him sleep, to aid in healing, to cure
his cold, or to help with a hangover, his first thought
will be to consult his household cook. Furthermore,
a good ryorishi can recognize poisons and toxins,
allowing the noble he serves to eat without fear of
poisoning... as long as the cook is treated well.
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Courtly Dining
Rokugani meals tend to be very seasonal, since many
ingredients are only available at certain times of the year.
For this reason, the types of meals consumed in court vary
widely. Menus are often designed around what is available
or what types of fish were caught that day. There are, of
course, a few staples that are available year round, such
as rice, tea, miso, mushrooms, and sake. Some manner of
fish is almost always available as well.
A courtly meal is much grander than a home-cooked
meal, even among the richest samurai. In court, a formal
dinner will feature multiple courses served in a grand
procession. Generally, small dishes are served first,
followed by a grilled dish, a steamed dish, a simmered
dish, and then a deep-fried dish. Every dish gets a separate
plate. Sashimi is often served alongside throughout the
meal, and a traditional dinner always ends with miso soup
and pickled vegetables. The concept of dessert does not
really exist in Rokugan sweets such as rice candy are
an indulgence for children, and are believed to disrupt
the digestion.
Seating arrangements at dinner banquets require
careful consideration. The best seat, known as the
kamiza, goes to the guest of honor; it is usually the seat
farthest from the door, since it is both the warmest during
winter and the safest from attack. The host is seated to this
guests right. Guests are then seated according to rank,
with the most important guests closest to the kamiza, and
the least important closest to the door. Usually the guests
are expected to seat themselves, which creates potential
challenges of etiquette if a guest seats himself or herself
too close to the kamiza, it is considered presumptuous.
Offering someone a seat far from the kamiza is usually
considered insulting, since it is a direct statement that
the person is unimportant. Sometimes rival samurai
disagree as to where someone is permitted to sit, or try
to get another guest to move to a different seat, and such
seemingly trivial quarrels have occasionally led to duels
or feuds.
It is customary for the lords guest of honor to initially
take a seat near the middle, far from the kamiza seat,
as a gesture of humility; then the host approaches and
encourages the guest to move to the kamiza instead. It
is also a custom in some courts to give the kamiza seat
to a Minor Clan samurai or someone else of lower status,
offering them a moment of luxury in their otherwise
unimportant lives. This is considered the mark of a very
generous host, although no host will make this gesture if
he has a truly distinguished guest at the court. Regardless,
for a low-ranked samurai, being offered the kamiza seat in
a court is a very significant event, one worthy of boasting
about for a lifetime.
When receiving the meal each guest speaks a ritual
phrase, itadakimasu, which roughly means I humbly
receive. This acknowledges all of the work that went
into the meal and also expresses gratitude for whichever
living things died to provide it (in accordance with
Shinseist belief). A guest may also complement the meal
or even specific dishes, but he should not linger over it.
Court Fashion
While it might seem frivolous, wearing the right
ensemble of clothing can heavily influence a court, and
in some cases can be as effective a weapon in politics
as a sword is on the battlefield. Especially stunning
outfits can influence the fashion of a hundred different
courts and be emulated throughout the Empire during the
season. Since extra outfits can be prohibitively expensive,
it is important for samurai to pay close attention to the
seasons fashions. Being out of fashion is a source of
shame and embarrassment, while placing ones own touch
and variation on an established style can win considerable
fame and prestige. Of course, boldly breaking the current
fashion trend makes a statement of its own.
Traditionalist Rokugani dress speaks volumes about
the wearer. Layering kimono is an art unto itself, and a
courtier can effectively invoke any season, emotion, or
topic by layering the right colors and patterns. Such an
outfit can make a statement as surely as spoken words, yet
remain as subtle as a masters poem.
It is common practice for a courtier to wear the most
intricately-patterned kimono on the innermost layers.
Ideally, this is the kimono that most closely reflects
the courtiers personality or her mood that day. Every
layer above it hides the outfits core identity. Thus, the
outfit becomes a metaphor for the courtier
herself protecting her true identity behind
a carefully crafted On. Fashion games like
this are quite common in the long months
of a Winter Court.
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Hanakotoba:
The Language Of Flowers
Hanakotoba is the Language of Flowers, a secret
code by which courtiers can communicate using
ikebana arrangements. Specific messages are not
normally conveyed, but the essence of the courtiers
meaning is communicated using particular plants,
flowers, and colors. Wise courtiers will attempt to
influence guests by using hanakotoba to suggest
a mood or emotion. Knowledge of the Flower
Language is essential to the ikebana artist. Below are a
few examples of flowers and their meanings, although
this is by no means comprehensive.
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Cleansing at a Shrine
Any Rokugani can be cleansed at a shrine tended
to by monks or shugenja. The ritual of cleansing
is a complex and personal one, requiring prayers,
passing through torii arches, and prostrations before
sacred objects, as well as physical contact with at
least one of the four purification substances. These
Baths
Physical bathing is extremely important in Rokugan,
and those who do not bathe or keep their clothing clean
are treated as little more than peasants with a title. Thus,
all Rokugani houses, inns, and castles contain bathing
chambers. The largest chambers will be segregated by
gender, but private houses and peasant villages have
communal baths, and soldiers in the field must also
bathe together with whatever facilities are available.
Observing proper etiquette while bathing with members
of the opposite sex is a delicate task, and co-ed bathing is
usually a matter of necessity rather than being encouraged.
Ideally, of course, the preference is to bathe separately, but
this is not always possible.
The most prestigious baths are the onsen (hot springs).
These are small springs heated by natural warmth from
beneath the earth. When the Rokugani find such springs,
they wall them in to create bath-houses. Sometimes the
bathers will soak in the springs themselves, but the waters
are also gathered and placed in tubs of cypress or granite.
Hot springs are considered to be blessed places and their
waters are believed to have healing powers. Many nobles
have spent vast fortunes to try to replicate the effects of
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Misogi
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Temae
An aspect that unites all versions of the tea ceremony is the nature of each physical movement deliberate and graceful, from beginning to
end. Each action, from ladling the tea to extinguishing the coals, is performed in a specific way and at a slow pace to create a sense of control and
serenity. These motions can be thought of as similar to kata in that they are practiced repeatedly and meditated upon until they can be performed
without thought. They are known as temae.
There are temae for all aspects of the tea ceremony, including serving the tea, accepting ones cup, holding the ladle, and even sipping. There
are temae for guests as well as hosts; thus even guests must have some degree of training in the tea ceremony to be able to participate without
embarrassment. (Thankfully, the temae for guests are far less strict and taxing than those of the host.) It is shameful to be invited and then prove
incapable of proper participation, and some daimyo will purposefully forget to invite less-cultured guests to tea in order to spare them the
embarrassment of flubbing the event. Conversely, receiving an invitation to an important tea ceremony is a gesture of trust.
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After the tea is finished, the host cleans the utensils and
puts them away, pausing in between so each guest may
admire them (they are often family heirlooms and works
of art in their own right). It is common for the host to tell
a story about an ancestor who once owned them. During
this time the guests are offered small rice cakes, which
are eaten slowly to demonstrate control and gratefulness.
Once finished, all the participants rise and bow. When the
host also bows, the ceremony is over; the guests leave in
the order they entered.
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What is a Geisha?
At the simplest, a geisha is a highly specialized artisan
entertainer. The name literally means woman of the arts.
A geisha is trained in all of the classical Rokugani artistic
skills, performing them for the amusement and joy of
others. Her purpose is to be beautiful, graceful, wise, and
compassionate; to brighten the world and bring happiness
to others through her arts. However, this also means geisha
are considered hinin in the Rokugani social order nonpersons, lower even than farmers.
Social Order
Among the Willows
The karykai contains its own strict social order,
maintained by a council of elderly madams located in
the Imperial City (Otosan Uchi up until the Four Winds
era, and Toshi Ranbo thereafter).
At the bottom of this ranking system are the maiko, the
young apprentices being trained in the ways of geisha.
Above them are the geisha proper, but there are ten
ranks of mastery within those geisha. Novices are ranked
from one to three, while masters are ranked from four
to ten. These rankings have nothing to do with wealth,
inheritance, or lineage; instead, they correspond directly
to the capabilities and skills of the geisha in question.
There are only ever five geisha in the world at the tenth
and highest rank; these are the masters of the karykai, the
equivalent to daimyo in the samurai world. It is sometimes
said their artistic skills can rival those of Master Sensei at
the Kakita Academy, although such a thing is normally
only whispered in suitable company.
It is worth noting that in the history of the Empire, no
taikomochi has never attained a rank higher than four.
The okaasan or madam of an okiya (geisha house)
is a position that exists independently of these rankings.
The okaasan is the undisputed mistress of the okiya. She
owns the contracts of every geisha beneath her, and may
even own the geisha house itself. Normally, the okaasan
was once a geisha herself, but retired after either purchasing her own contract or winning the support of a wealthy
patron. It is her job to manage the house, to look after
and care for all of the geisha who work there, and indeed
to behave toward them rather like a mother toward her
children. In fact, the word okaasan means mother in the
Rokugani tongue.
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Taikomochi
literally
means
drum-bearer, and the name holds
a double meaning. In Rokugan,
to beat the drum is to flatter
someone, something the taikomochi
are trained to do. The second meaning
symbolizes their difference from the
geisha: where a geisha learns to play soft
beautiful music, often from the samisen or the
shakuhachi flute, a taikomochi masters percussion. It is
an important distinction, since drums are associated with
the battlefield while other instruments are associated with
the courts.
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During this time the minarai will also take lessons from
her okaasan. The madam teaches her the many arts which
geisha are expected to master. She learns how to serve tea
and food, how to play music, how to tell stories, how to
dance. She is taught to speak the dialect of the samurai
caste and learns all of the skills befitting a courtly hostess.
In many ways, this training is similar to the education of
a courtier.
But there is more to this training than merely acquiring
skills. These things must become second-nature to her; she
must be a living example of beauty and grace, a mysterious
and gentle creature that even a Scorpion would trust. A
samurai must be willing to confide everything to a geisha,
so it follows that a geisha must be easy to confide in. Thus,
a maiko is taught to be mysterious and alluring, beautiful
and gentle, nonjudgmental and empathic. A good geisha
can see through a samurais On as well as any trained
courtier, but a truly great geisha never needs to do this,
for in her presence the samurai will drop his On willingly.
When the maiko turns twenty, she becomes a fullfledged geisha. She exchanges the red-collar kimono of
the apprentice for the white-collar kimono of the geisha, a
ceremony known as erikae. She also finally earns the full
wage of a true geisha, though the okaasan always keeps
the majority of what she brings into the okiya.
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Of all the clans, the Crane have the least need to hire
a geishas services for court. After all, the Crane are
themselves masters of the arts, and their skills as hosts
are beyond reproach. Even the lowest Crane samurai has
at least a rudimentary grasp of the arts for which one
might otherwise seek geisha, so in Crane courts the duties
for which a lord might hire geisha are instead performed
by Crane courtiers and artisans. In addition, because the
Crane lands are wealthy, the Crane hinin and heimin are
less likely to have to sell their children to geisha houses.
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On the other hand, some could argue the need for geisha
is actually greater within Crane lands. The high standards
to which Crane samurai hold themselves allow little
room for compromise, and their duties can be extremely
stressful. Very few of these samurai are willing to open
themselves up to their friends and allies, and the Crane
even more than other samurai believe appearances
are everything. Thus, it is geisha who can allow Crane
samurai a moments respite from their inflexible lives.
This is why there are still plenty of okiya in the lands of
the Crane despite the clans mastery over the arts.
Role-Playing Rokugan:
Why Civility Matters
It is very easy for players and GMs alike to cast aside the
traditional social conventions during their role-playing,
either for comedic effect or simply because the players
see an inherent appeal in playing rebellious, go-it-alone
characters who do not care for tradition, who scoff at the
courts and want little or nothing to do with politics. It can
be tempting for the GM to let these sorts of characters go
free of repercussions and this is fine if that is the sort of
game all of the players wish to play. However, a lot of the
charm, drama, and aesthetic appeal of L5R is dependent
on following the social rules of the setting. The games
richness and flavor are lost when these aspects are cast
aside or ignored.
Players are sometimes resistant when a GM tells them it
may not be a good idea to wear armor while traveling in
another clans lands, or to bring a sword into court, or to
search a dead body for loot. In part this is because many
other RPGs do not have any sort of social repercussions
for such behavior, so the transition to a setting where
social codes and public morals have actual repercussions
can be jarring and difficult. (Of course, for some players
this is actually one of the primary appeals of Rokugan as
a setting.)
But all of this is dancing around the issue. Ultimately,
the problem boils down to one question: why does civility
matter? Why should a samurai not be a jerk?
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Reacting to a Spectacle
The Rokugani have a specific attitude toward public
spectacle. It is called mokusatsu, meaning to kill with
quiet contempt.
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The Otomo family reverses the ratio found in the Great Clans, sporting ten courtiers for every bushi,
but the familys total numbers are quite small and fully half reside within the Imperial City, serving mainly
in the vast Imperial Bureaucracy. They usually leave the capital only to visit Clan Champions courts, and
only very rarely does an Otomo deign to stay at the court of a mere family daimyo or Minor Clan
Champion. Those courts are more often visited by the Miya, whose ratio of courtiers to bushi is similar to
that of the Otomo, and who are known as gracious guests no matter where they stay.
It should be noted that for most of the Empires twelve-century history, the Imperial Legions were used
as a dumping grounds for poorly performing courtiers and embarrassing relatives, shunting them off
to an area where they could do little damage to their clan. Legionnaire courtiers were sometimes forced
to serve as mere line soldiers, or they might be given largely mundane organizational tasks, such as
ensuring the banners were kept clean, counting the arrow stocks, and advising the unit leaders on matters
of heraldry and history. Those who were found to have some martial talent could eventually be moved
higher in the ranks, serving as officers or putting their education to use as advisors to the commanders.
With the creation of the office of Shogun in the twelfth century, the Legions were reorganized and this
custom was largely abandoned in favor of greater military efficiency. Fortunately, the office of Imperial
Treasurer was created soon after, and lackluster courtiers soon found themselves instead banished to
serve there, practicing commerce for the good of the Empire, ensuring the coins are counted properly, and
advising the bureaucrats on matters of personal chops and local tax codes.
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The Scorpion Clan is nearly as widespread in other courts as the Crane, but has far fewer trained courtiers
and thus relies on its bushi to serve in a similar capacity. The menacing nature of Scorpion diplomacy
doubtless owes at least part of its nature to the fact that it is more likely to be conducted by warriors than
by courtiers.
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The Crane consider fully half of all their samurai to be trained as courtiers (although this number
includes artisans and many others who serve in the courts but do not actually attend the Doji Courtier
School). This is a staggering number, made possible only due to their great wealth and their relative neglect
of military matters. (Indeed, it is sometimes noted that if the Crane ever mobilized their entire samurai
population for war, they could rival the armies of the Lion and Crab.) It is often said there is a Crane at
every court, and this is only the mildest exaggeration. The Crane Clans vast number of non-military
samurai allows it to extend its presence throughout the Empire in a way no other clan can match. Indeed,
the refined manners and soft words of the Crane make them the very definition of a good guest, reflecting
the hospitality they offer to any who rest under their own roof. This omnipresence plays a major role in the
massive network of connections, alliances, favors, and friendships which give the Crane such wide influence
on matters of trade, war, politics, art, and the culture as a whole. In the Crane Clan, being appointed to
notable and refined courts in the lands of the Phoenix or Scorpion is seen as a desirable posting, while being
sent to the Crab courts or worse, the courts of the Minor Clans is a sure sign that a courtier has given
grave insult to higher authority or has been judged incompetent in his duties.
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Small Courts
The lowest-ranking lords rarely hold much in the
way of courts, lacking the influence to invite prominent
courtiers to their modest domains. Such courts usually
consist of the lords own vassals and low-ranking samurai
from the local area. Historically, when a small lord grows
bold enough to try to hold a major court and invite his
neighbors to reside with him for the winter, he is probably
hatching some sort of plot and wants to gain the backing
Provincial courts held in the province of a familys ruling line are generally of greater prestige
and are usually hosted by the family daimyo
himself (or by a trusted vassal if the daimyo has
been called to a higher-status court). Such courts
are usually referred to by the family name, such
as the Kakita court or the Matsu court. In the early
years of the Empire it was common for these courts
to be hosted by the family daimyo, but in later
centuries it became more typical for most of these
daimyo to attend higher courts (either the Clan
Champions court or the Imperial Winter Court).
While all of Rokugans major cities lie within
provinces ruled by other lords, their economic
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The Gentry
While all samurai are nobles in a sense, only a tiny
fraction of them are gentry landed nobility. The kuge
are of course the highest ranking of the nobility, but
most of the gentry are found among the higher ranks
of the buke. Provincial governors, also called provincial
daimyo, are at the top of the buke, overseeing entire
provinces or large cities. Typically, each major family
within a Great Clan will control one to five provinces,
each needing its own governor, and any major city
within those provinces will need a governor as well.
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The Guests
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The Dais
The one feature standard in any Winter Court main
chamber is the dais, a raised platform where the Emperors
Throne is placed. Usually this is large enough to also
have a smaller throne for the Empress and places for the
Chosen and the Jeweled Champions to stand in service.
Traditionally there are five levels of the dais, with the top
two reserved exclusively for the Emperors family and the
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Court Banners
By tradition, the ancient and revered Imperial
Banner is always the largest banner present at the
Imperial Winter Court, and it is hung directly behind
the Emperors dais. To its right hangs the Seppun family
banner, and to its left the Otomo family banner. The
Miya banner, a tiny thing by comparison, hangs beneath
the Imperial Banner virtually unseen.
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tis from many other factions, they were often still assigned
to the area reserved for Minor Clans. It was many years
before the Mantis gained enough respect for all the clans
to offer them proper housing at Winter Court.
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Winter Court:
Things to See and Do
Travel through Rokugan is never an easy thing,
between bad weather, primitive roads, bandit activity,
and many other potential threats and delays. Traveling to
Winter Court is made even more challenging by the fact
that it happens at the beginning of winter, easily the most
treacherous time for travel in Rokugan. Thus, while the
Imperial Winter Court officially begins on the first day of
winter (and lasts until the new year), the court does not
actually open until a week into the season, allowing time
for stragglers to arrive. During this first week, the main
court chamber remains closed and little political business
gets done. The delegations are shown their quarters,
introductions are made for those who are new, and each
group of samurai begins feeling out the court and
learning who they will be sharing the next three months
with. In the second week, the court formally opens and the
court truly begins.
Each days formal court starts when the Sun is at its
highest point, the Hour of the Horse, and rarely lasts longer than a few hours. Thus, samurai need other activities
to occupy the many hours of the three winter months.
There are a number of traditional entertainments and
events which take place at every Winter Court.
Throughout the winter, the hosts keep heimin
entertainers and artisans on hand, and other clans
especially the Crane and Scorpion usually make sure
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The Winding
Water Banquet
The first big event of every Winter Court is
the so-called Winding Water Banquet, which traditionally takes place at the end of the first two
weeks before the snowfall has become regular and the streams in the palace gardens have
frozen. Unlike many events, attendance at and
participation in the Water Banquet is considered
mandatory for all guests. After all, an understanding and appreciation of poetry is expected
of any samurai who does not wish to be considered a brute.
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The winner and his sponsor are given one final prize:
a private dinner with the Emperor and his family, an
opportunity whose value cannot be overstated. The
Emperor sometimes grants a personal boon to a contestant
who showed particular nobility above and beyond mere
skill, a boon which no sponsor would ever dare take from
the contestants hand.
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see fit. In most years, the Winter Court will see one or two
duels to the death, often just past midway in the season,
when tensions have built to the breaking point. Once a
samurai dies, it tends to drain much of the stress away;
unlike their bushi counterparts, courtiers usually have
little stomach for witnessing death. However, in years of
war or intense political conflict, or when samurai with
blood feuds come to court together, there can be several
duels to the death in a single season not to mention new
blood feuds starting.
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Duels of Strategy
The love of Go among Rokugani cannot
be exaggerated. It is the one game played
by Emperors and peasants alike, used
by monks to describe the spiritual
world and by bushi to describe the
mundane realm. Young and old, rich
and poor, all are united by Go. For this reason, Goban
(Go playing boards) are found at every court, allowing
samurai to enjoy simple entertainment and intellectual
competition regardless of clan. Discussions during
and around these games can range from the simple to
the sublime, from genuine compliments to threats to
romantic flirtations, all couched in the language of the
game. Just as knowledge of poetry separates a samurai
from a common brute, so too does knowledge of
Go separate the brilliant samurai from the dullard.
Every Winter Court features a Go tournament between
the guests, an event not only of prestige but also
of opportunity the participants are given much
time in one anothers presence, allowing for unusual
negotiations to be held over the table when meetings
might otherwise be inconvenient or controversial.
Should two samurai be from clans at war with each
other, it might be inappropriate or suspicious for them to
meet in private, but if they instead meet over a game of
Go, they can speak readily enough indeed it would be
rude to not speak while playing. Similarly, there have been
many nights where samurai and samurai-ko of different
clans play Go in the moonlight, an honorable recreation
that could never give rise to rumors of tawdry romance.
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Kemari
Sumai
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Private Diplomacy
While political theater is important, it is in private
diplomacy that most of the real work at the court gets
done. Matters of commerce and trade are negotiated,
resources are bought and sold, military support is
pledged or withheld, and marriages and hostages are
promised. This is especially important for clans and
families which are heavily involved in commerce, such
as the Crab Clans Yasuki family or the Mantis Clan, since
commerce is a topic which samurai try to avoid in public.
Moreover, it is in private that courtiers can speak without
the need to maintain public postures of enmity or alliance.
Indeed, samurai who are bitter enemies on the floor of the
court chamber may actually be the best of friends behind
closed doors, laughing together over a meal and making
important deals, fully aware that the next day they will
once again insult one anothers intelligence and honesty
in the courts public eye.
To be sure, there is a degree of political theater even in
private meetings, depending on how well the participants
know one another and how many samurai are gathered in
one place. The larger the meeting, the more public it will
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The Process of
Private Diplomacy
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Exchanges of Hostages
One of the often-overlooked aspects of Winter Court
is the exchange of hostages between the clans. While
most such exchanges happen in the spring when courtiers
return from Winter Court with new agreements, hostages
of higher status (such as the children of Clan Champions
or family daimyo) are exchanged at the end of Winter
Court itself. While the shugenja prepare for the Devil
Chase, a courtier from each family will quietly attend
the other delegation, the two delegations will meet in the
court chamber one final time, and the hostages walk past
each other to stand beside the delegation of the clan which
will now host them. The hostages are expected to dress in
the colors of their host clan, symbolizing their submission
and acceptance of their role. This exchange method is used
both to present new hostages and to return them to their
family later, and the Miya always watch over such events
to ensure no blood is spilled.
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Matchmaking
Kakita Shigero? Yes, I know the boy. His mother
was a cousin of Doji Hayahime, and her father was
Doji Gennu you know, the one who commanded the
fleet against that pirate wako. Well-connected, certainly,
but theres ill health in the family. I wouldnt recommend
him.
Doji Korakami, nakodo
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Marriage Gifts
Your generosity is too much, Tamori-san. I could not
Mirumoto Hirami
possibly accept.
No important endeavor in Rokugani society is complete
without gifts, and the process of betrothal and marriage
is no exception. Parents would never dream of paying
a nakodo for her services, but it would be rude in the
extreme for them not to present her with a gift to show
their gratitude. Families likewise exchange small gifts
during the first omiai meeting, as do the prospective bride
and groom; these are often culinary delicacies or other
ephemeral things.
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After Marriage
The planting of the seed is the easy part. Cultivation
- Ide Aetsu
takes effort.
Marriage usually entails a name change (as when
Shosuro Kachiko became Bayushi Kachiko), and which
spouse takes which name is often a point of negotiation
during the matchmaking process. If one spouse has higher
social status, the other will almost always take that
family name. If status is roughly equal, a samurai who
has been trained in a dojo run by the family into which
he is marrying is more likely to take that name. Specific
traditions may also apply, such as the Matsu convention of
always insisting on keeping their names when they marry
others. Regardless of nomenclature, however, samurai
generally maintain a strong loyalty to their own kin. An
Ide bride who marries into the Shiba will henceforth serve
a Shiba lord, and honor demands she do so with complete
sincerity but such service does not make her a Phoenix.
To herself and to a lesser extent to those around her
she is and always will be a Unicorn.
The nature of the couples relationship after marriage
varies widely, depending not only on their individual
circumstances but also their clan and on other traditions.
For example, many samurai families allow men to keep
official concubines in order to ensure they perpetuate
their bloodlines. Such women often maintain their own
households, paid for by their lovers indeed, this is seen
as a means of displaying ones wealth and influence.
Alternatively, a man may also take a concubine if his
wife proves barren. An official concubines
children are considered legitimate and
can even be placed ahead of children
borne by the wife although this is
quite likely to produce bitter enmity
with both the wife and her family.
Regardless, keeping concubines is
not considered dishonorable so long
as it is done properly, in accordance
with social convention and without
creating public incident or scandal.
(Women, unfortunately, have much
less leeway owing to the necessity of
ensuring their children are legitimate.)
It may be noted that not all marriages
last. The Rokugani do not believe a
wedding makes a husband and wife
into one soul and one flesh; a marriage
is an alliance between two families,
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Earth:
3
Awareness: 6
Honor: 2.3
Fire: 3
Water: 2
Intelligence: 4
Perception: 5
Status: 9.0
Void: 5
Glory: 6.0
Kakita Yoshi,
Advisor to Many Emperors
I live to serve the Emperor, in this life and the next.
Kakita Yoshi
Kakita Yoshi was daimyo of the Kakita family and
one of the greatest courtiers in the history of the Crane
Clan. A handsome, slender man with quick and precise
movements, he always dyed his long hair white in the
traditional Crane style, and his ice-blue eyes were sharp
and cold. However, it was his deep and resonant voice that
gained him the most attention; some said he could entice
stones to sing. In fact, his voice was so enthralling that he
was often called upon to compose impromptu poetry to
amuse the Emperor and his court. But Yoshi was far more
than his face and voice. He led his family through the
terrible crises of the early twelfth century, including the
Clan War, the War Against the Darkness, and the War of
Spirits. He served as Imperial Chancellor, was an advisor
to three Emperors, and was one of the most powerful men
in Rokugan in his day. His influence was found in the
Imperial court, where he controlled favors and debts of
honor from daimyo of every clan. He had allies in every
house in the Empire and could obtain anything his friends
might need, be it goods, appointments, or secrets. Of
course, Yoshis assistance could have a price, since those
he helped were always expected to return the favor when
he needed them to.
Unlike most daimyo of his family, Yoshi was not trained
in swordsmanship. This was not through preference but
rather due to a curse laid upon his familys stronghold,
Shiro sano Kakita, long before his birth. Centuries before,
a wandering ronin shugenja who claimed the title of
Grandmaster of Elements announced he would visit the
Kakita palace. The Kakita left the front gate open for
nearly six years, awaiting the famed shugenjas arrival.
Finally the Grandmaster arrived, only to have a sudden
gust of wind blow the gates shut in his face. Enraged and
insulted, he cursed the castle, saying that if any child
born surrounded by the walls of the castle ever drew steel
the Crane would turn against the Kakita and the castle
would fall. To circumvent the curse, the Kakita left the
doors to the castle open whenever a child was due to
be born. However, when Yoshi was born four centuries
later, the castle was under siege by the Lion Clan and the
gates were closed out of necessity. To avoid triggering the
curse, Yoshi was forbidden from ever drawing a weapon, a
custom he kept all his days.
Yoshi first entered Imperial service under Hantei
XXXVIII, where he became the Emperors aide and
political liaison. Yoshis influence quickly expanded until
he was one of the most well-known and respected names
in Rokugan, eventually earning appointment as Imperial
Chancellor. Interestingly, Yoshi considered himself a spy
of sorts, since he reported all he saw and heard to the
Emperor, even the movements of the Crane. The Crane
Clan Champion, Doji Satsume (and later his son Hoturi)
knew about this and tacitly approved, considering it well
worth the price to have a Crane as Chancellor.
Air: 5
Earth: 3
to
Many Emperors
Fire: 3
Water: 4
Void: 4
Perception: 6
Honor: 6.2
Status: 9.0
Glory: 6.0
Otomo Madoka,
Influential Matchmaker
The bonds we make through marriage hold the Empire
together. Otomo Madoka
Otomo Madoka was an Imperial nakodo (matchmaker)
of incredible skill and influence. She arranged marriages
for the greatest of families, acting as the go-between for
Clan Champions and their most powerful daimyo. Her
experiences in her brothers court and her adroit handling
of the desires of the most powerful samurai in the Empire
gave her unmatched skills. Born in the year 640, Madoka
was a younger daughter of Hantei XIX. She was 10 years
old when her brother ascended to the throne and became
Emperor Hantei XX. As tradition demanded, she joined the
Otomo family, ensuring her brother and his family were
the only Hantei.
During the many decades of Hantei XXs reign, he
showed extreme favoritism to the Crane. He routinely
stripped the Otomo of many court positions, giving them
to his beloved Crane instead. While the diminishing
power and influence of the Otomo infuriated the family,
Madoka used her position as a nakodo to maintain
Otomo relevance in the Imperial courts. She was the most
prominent matchmaker who was not a Crane, which made
her an attractive option for clans who did not want to
be indebted to the children of Doji. The Scorpion Clan in
particular used her almost exclusively during this era.
Madoka was 20 years old when the Great Famine began.
For the next eight years she watched as the Famine and
the subsequent peasant rebellion tore Rokugan apart. She
watched as communication failed and wars plunged the
Empire into widespread suffering. She began to question
whether the Otomo familys traditional drive to put the
clans at each others throats had gone too far. By opening
lines of communication between families, she argued, the
disagreements between the Lion and the Dragon and later
the Crane and the Crab could have been contained before
183
Politics Through the Year
Chapter Six
Earth: 2
Fire: 3
Willpower: 3
Honor: 7.2
Water: 3
Void: 4
Perception: 4
Status: 4.0
Glory: 3.0
Chapter Six
184
Earth: 3
Fire: 4
Water: 3
Void: 3
Awareness: 4
Honor: 8.7
Status: 9.0
Glory: 6.0
Susumu Kuroko,
Dark Fortunes Daughter
The rest of the Empire may hate us, but they cannot
refuse us. Our family will be the very soul of courtesy
and sincerity.
Born in 1172, Susumu Kuroko was but two years old
when the Susumu family was founded. She is the daughter
of Daigotsu Susumu (the former Imperial Advisor who
became the Dark Fortune of Deception) and Kakita Shizuka
(a Crane maiden possessed of incredible beauty). Kuroko
was destined to become the first daimyo of the Susumu
family after the Spider Clan was recognized by Iweko I.
Like her mother, Kuroko was a beautiful woman with
pristine features and pleasing mannerisms. She dressed
conservatively, but always in a way that flattered her
looks. Her eyes held a fierce brilliance, which revealed her
formidable intellect and cunning. She dyed a single lock
of her hair white over her right temple as a tribute to her
mothers clan.
Earth: 3
Fire: 3
Water: 2
Void: 3
Perception: 3
Honor: 2.4
Status: 7.0
Glory: 6.0
185
Infamy: 4.0
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
186
Chapter Seven
187
Outsiders in Rokugani Politics
Chapter Seven
The physical fighting was long over, but true victory did
not come from the simplicity of a raised blade.
Jun gripped the folded letter in his hand. His clan did
not need him in court for the concession, but a letter from
Doji Seiyami could not be ignored.
Chapter Seven
188
189
Outsiders in Rokugani Politics
Ronin in Court
Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
190
191
Outsiders in Rokugani Politics
Chapter Seven
Monastic Advisors
The eyes that see most clearly are those that watch
from a distance.
Shiba Machitoru
Chapter Seven
192
Petitioners
Enlightenment does not keep the rain out.
- Hashu, minor abbot
After a courtly advisor, the next most common
reason for monks to be present at court is because
politics have driven them there. The ideal of most
Brotherhood sects, of course, is to remain wholly
separate from such worldly affairs, but in truth even the
most ascetic monk still lives in the material world and
must sometimes deal with its demands.
193
Outsiders in Rokugani Politics
Chapter Seven
Wanderers
Responses to
Monks at Court
Welcome them when they come, treat them politely
while they are present, and breathe a sigh of relief when
they are gone.
Akodo Tsukitomo
Outsiders in Rokugani Politics
Chapter Seven
194
195
Outsiders in Rokugani Politics
Gaijin in Court
Chapter Seven
GMs Toolbox:
Adding Gaijin to the Game
Gaijin Themes
Each of the major gaijin cultures surrounding the
Empire shows a theme in its relations to Rokugan.
Chapter Seven
196
GMs Toolbox:
Gaijin Terms in the Court
GMs who wish to have their PCs interact regularly
with gaijin may choose to add more flavor by
sprinkling in gaijin words and terms. The following
is a basic list of terminology that can be added to the
game to enhance the gaijin flavor.
Medinaat
al-Salaam:
Courtier: Safeer/Safeera
Spellcaster: Sahir
Ivory Kingdoms:
Warrior: Kshatriya
Priest/Scholar: Brahmin
Courtier: Dalala
Diplomat: Rajanayika
Ambassador: Rajaduta
Mystic: Guru
Courtier: Tjatey
Advisor/Diplomat: Vezir/Vezira
Merenae Kingdom:
Courtier: Cortesano/Cortesana (male/female)
Swordsman: Espada
Advisor: Consejero
Yodotai Empire:
Courtier: Sectorem
Envoy: Nuncio
Ambassador: Legatus
Yobanjin Tribes:
Guard: Kesig
Steward: Bavorchi
Judge: Yarguchi
Scribe: Bitikhan.
197
Outsiders in Rokugani Politics
Chapter Seven
Senpet Empire:
Chapter Seven
198
199
Outsiders in Rokugani Politics
Chapter Seven
New Advantages
Appendix
202
Technique Rank: 2
Replaces: Hida Bushi 2, Hiruma Bushi 2
Requirement: Horsemanship 3
Special: Admission to Tsurus Legion adds a steed
(Rokugani pony) to your outfit if you do not
already possess one.
Technique: Overrun
The cavalry of Tsurus Legion are trained to deliver
decisive attacks at the critical moment of a battle. When
you are mounted, you may perform the Knockdown
maneuver for one less Raise and you may spend a Void
Point to add +Xk0 to an attack roll with a weapon, where
X is your mounts Strength.
cc Technique Rank: 4
cc Replaces: Doji Courtier 4
cc Requirements: Etiquette (Courtesy) 5
203
Sword and Fan
Appendix
cc Technique Rank: 4 or 3
cc Replaces: Hida Bushi 4, Hida Pragmatist 4, Yasuki
Courtier 3
cc Requires: Willpower 4, Intimidation 5, Battle 3
Appendix
204
The Doji Courtier School thrives on alliances, maintaining a vast network of friends and favors. The elite order
known as the Children of Doji claims absolute dominance
over the Crane system of allies and favors. Each of these
elite courtiers is trained to understand that nothing is beyond ones reach so long as one has the aid of a few
dozen friends. The Children of Doji know everyone desires
something and all samurai below the Emperor must bow to
the will of another. Know the correct favor to offer, know
the right ear in which to speak, and an entire court will
dance to ones tune. Even a wars course can be changed
by such influence with sufficient skill and artistry.
Techniques
Rank One: Social Butterfly
A Child of Doji makes friends like others breathe and is
able to call upon them with the mere mention of a name.
When making any Contested Social Skill roll, you gain a
bonus of +Xk0, where X equals the number of Allies you
possess in this court with a Devotion of 2 or greater (this
bonus cannot exceed your Insight Rank in dice). Also, if
you have at least three such Allies in this court, you may
expend (lose) one of those Allies to gain the Darling of the
Court Advantage for the remainder of this season (spring,
winter, etc).
Although all traditional Ikoma are trained as battlecriers, inspiring their fellow Lion on the field by
recounting the deeds of their ancestors, some in the clan
have found ways to adapt such methods for the courts.
The Lion historians credit the first Orator as Ikoma Tasuki,
a skilled courtier from the time of the Gozoku, whose
intense speeches on behalf of the Empress Yugozohime
were instrumental in cementing her power and convincing
many former Gozoku from the Crane and Phoenix to retire
or commit seppuku. After his fortieth birthday, Tasuki was
permitted to start a dojo and teach his speech-making
methods to other Ikoma.
205
Sword and Fan
Appendix
cc Technique Rank: 3 or 4
cc Replaces: Mirumoto Taoist Swordsman 3,
Mirumoto Bushi 4
cc Requires: Horsemanship 5, Kyujutsu (Dai-Kyu) 5
cc Special Note: Joining this Path adds a steed
(Rokugani pony) and a bow (Dai-Kyu) to your
Outfit if you did not already possess them.
cc Technique Rank: 4
cc Replaces: Akodo Bushi 4, Matsu Berserker 4, Ikoma
Lions Shadow 4, Ikoma Bard 4
cc Requires: Strength 4, Jiujutsu 5
Appendix
206
Technique Rank: 3
Replaces: Asako Loremaster 3
Requires: Lore: History 3, Lore: War 3
Special Requirement: This path is only open to
characters from the Shiba family.
cc Technique Rank: 2
cc Replaces: Asako Loremaster 2, Shiba Bushi 2, Isawa
Shugenja 2
cc Requirements: Sincerity (Honesty) 3
cc Special: Members of the Mediators must swear an
oath never to initiate violence against their fellow
Rokugani. Violating this oath should entail a major
loss of both Glory and Honor (roughly equivalent
to a Blasphemous Breach of Etiquette) and will also
result in expulsion from the Mediators organization.
207
Sword and Fan
Appendix
Special GM Considerations for the Asako Mediator Technique: If the parties in a conflict are deeply or honorably
committed to their quarrel, the GM may require the Mediator to call Raises on the roll (anywhere from 1 to 5 Raises,
depending on the depth of their anger or the strength of
their Honor). Note that this may result in the Mediator being unable to impose a solution due to being unable to call
enough Raises quite likely when trying to mediate the
highly honorable and easily-angered Lion, for example.
cc Technique Rank: 3
cc Replaces: Bayushi Courtier 3
cc Requirements: Sincerity (Deceit) 3
Appendix
208
cc Technique Rank: 3
cc Replaces: Bayushi Bushi 3, Shosuro Actor 3
cc Requires: Lore (selected clan) 3, Kenjutsu 5. At the
GMs option, characters may substitute Heart of
Vengeance [Selected Clan] for the Lore requirement.
cc Technique Rank: 2
cc Replaces: Shinjo Bushi 2, Utaku Battle Maiden 2,
Moto Bushi 2, Moto Vindicator 2
cc Requires: Investigation 3, Lore: Law 3
cc Technique Rank: 4
cc Replaces: Shinjo Bushi 4, Utaku Mounted Infantry
4, Moto Bushi 4
cc Requires: Awareness 3, Willpower 4, Animal
Handling (War-Dogs) 5
cc Special: Enrolling in this Path grants you a pack of
Unicorn War-Dogs (core rulebook, page 321). The
total number of war-dogs you can have in your
pack is equal to your Awareness
209
Sword and Fan
Appendix
Appendix
210
cc Technique Rank: 5
cc Replaces: Seppun Guardsman 5 (with the GMs
permission, any bushi Basic School 5 if the character
is enrolled in the Imperial Legions)
cc Requirements: Strength 4, Horsemanship 5,
Spears 5
cc Note: Joining this Path adds a steed (Rokugani pony
or Unicorn riding horse, GMs choice) to your outfit
if you do not already possess one.
Technique Rank: 3
Replaces: Otomo Courtier 3
Requires: Awareness 4, Etiquette 5, Sincerity 5
Special Requirement: You must have at least Status
4.0 to be admitted to this elite dojo.
211
Sword and Fan
Appendix
Index
A
Akodos Leadership. . . . . 12, 42, 122
Anti-Cavalry Tactics. . . . . . . . . . . 82
Articles of Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Asako Mediators. . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Index
214
Baggage Train. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Baths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Battlefield Formations. . . . . . . . . . 42
Anchored Line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Archer Squad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Archers Row. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Cautious Advance. . . . . . . . . . . 43
Crab Formations. . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Crane Formations. . . . . . . . . . . 45
Dragon Formations. . . . . . . . . . 46
Lion Formations . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Lotus at Dusk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Mantis Formations . . . . . . . . . . 48
Marching Column. . . . . . . . . . . 43
Phoenix Formations. . . . . . . . . 48
Unicorn Formations. . . . . . . . . 50
Battle Maidens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Bayushi Distracters. . . . . . . . . . . 207
Bayushi Kaukatsu. . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Bayushi Tangen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Bayushi Tozasu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Blood Feuds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Book of Sun Tao. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Bowmans Wager. . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Bragging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 125
Bushido. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
C
Care of Horses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cavalry Tactics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Crab Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Crane Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dragon Clan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Encirclement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Harassment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
70
82
83
84
79
76
Heavy Cavalry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Indirect Combat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Lancers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Light Cavalry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Lion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Mantis Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Medium Cavalry. . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Minor Clans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Mixed Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Mounted Infantry. . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Overpower. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Phoenix Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Scatter and Pursuit. . . . . . . . . . 78
Scorpion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Spider Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Strike and Retreat. . . . . . . . . . . 78
Tack and Saddle . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Unicorn Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Battle Maidens. . . . . . . . . 76
Chefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Children of Doji. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Chrysanthemum Festival . . . . . . 156
Civility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120, 149
Clan-on-Clan Warfare. . . . . . . . . . 94
Commanding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24, 26
Commerce. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Concubines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 141
Courtesans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Crab Clan. . . . . . . . . . . 102, 191, 202
Crane Clan. . . . . . . . . . 102, 191, 203
Crane-Crab War. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
D
Daidoji Masayoshi. . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Deployment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Desertion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Diplomacy . . . . . . . . . . . . 98, 101, 175
Doji Apologist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Dojis Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Dragon Clan. . . . . . . . . . 103, 191, 205
Dragons Wind . . . . . . . . . . . 85, 205
Dueling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
E
Engagement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Etiquette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120, 122
Blood Feuds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Conduct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122, 131
Dining. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Peasants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Revenge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Seeking an Audience. . . . . . . . . 128
Swords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
F
Fall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Fashion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
First Yasuki War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Flank Guards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Forbidden Tactics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
G
Gaijin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110, 195, 197
Ivinda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Merenae and Thrane . . . . . . . . 111
Senpet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Yobanjin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Yodotai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Geisha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Courts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Crane Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
erikae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Flowers and Willows. . . . . . . . 142
Kolat 148
Maiko. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Mantis Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
okaasan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
okiya 143
Okiya. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Romance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Scorpion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Social Order. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Social Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Taikomochi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Gentei higi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Gentry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Guests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127, 161
H
Hanakotoba. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Head-Taking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Hellbeasts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Heraldry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
hitojichi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Hostages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 177
Hosts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127, 160
Humility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
I
Ikoma Orators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Ikoma Scrappers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Ikoma Tacticians. . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Imperial Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Imperial Influencers. . . . . . . . . . 210
Imperial Observers. . . . . . . . . . . 211
Inheritance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Intelligence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Iweko Dynasty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
K
Kakita Artisans. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kakita Yoshi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Karyukai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
kegare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kemari. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
P
167
182
142
134
173
L
Language and Dialect. . . . . . . . . 130
Lion Clan. . . . . . . . . . . . 103, 191, 205
Lion-Phoenix War. . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Lion Tacticians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Lion Wardens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Looting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Lying Darkness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Naga. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Nakodo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Naval War. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
New Advantages. . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Sage of the Sword and Fan. . 202
Strategist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Nezumi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Nokogiribiki. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
O
okaasan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
okiya. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Okiya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Omiai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Orochi Riders. . . . . . . . . . . . . 86, 206
Otomo Madoka. 10, 60, 183, 187, 210
Otomo Yamato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Rate of March. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Rear Guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Redeployment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Ritual Cleansing. . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Ronin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Ryorishi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
S
Saving Face. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Scorpion Clan. . . . . . . . . 104, 191, 207
Scorpion Elite Guard. . . . . . . . . . 208
Scouts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Seppun Hanako. . . . . . . . . . . 12, 184
Shadowlands. . . . . . . . . 88, 105, 197
Shiba Advisors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Shiba Kaigen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Shinjo Magistrates. . . . . . . . . . . 209
Shogi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Silken Sect (Kolat). . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Special Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Spectacles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Spider Clan. 19, 25, 49, 89, 115, 185,
189, 199
Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Standing Army Limitations. . . . . 53
Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Strategic Planning . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Strategy versus Tactics. . . . . . . . 17
Subtlety of the Court. . . . . . . . . . . 10
Suicide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Sumai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Summer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Sun Tao. . 9, 10, 16, 18, 20, 21, 24, 26,
28, 51, 53, 56, 63, 202, 214
Surprise Attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Susumu Kuroko. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Sword Polishers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
T
Taikomochi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Tangens Lies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 42
Tao of Shinsei. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Tattooing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
U
Unicorn Clan. . . . . . 71, 104, 191, 209
Unicorn War-Dog Masters. . . . . 209
V
Vanguard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Victory with No Strike. . . . . . 29, 62
W
War Declaration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
War of the Rich Frog. . . . . . . . . . . 32
Winding Water Banquet. . . . . . . 168
Winter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Winter Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Wounded Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Y
Yasuki Taskmasters. . . . . . . . . . . 203
215
Index
Maiko. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Main Body. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Mantis Clan. . . . . . . . . . 104, 191, 206
Mantis - Ivory Kingdoms. . . . . . 32
Mass Battle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Additional Options. . . . . . . . . . . 63
New Heroic Opportunities. . . . 64
Non-Bushi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Unheroic Opportunities. . . . . 66
Warlord Battle Rules . . . . . . . . 67
Matchmaking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Omiai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Matsu Itagi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Minor Clans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Misogi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Monks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Moto Narantsetseg . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Mustering of Forces . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Peace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Phoenix Clan. . . . . . . . . 104, 191, 206
Punishment by Sawing. . . . . . . . . 57
Purity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134