WRITERS: SHAWN CARMAN SETH MASON

FRED WAN RlCH WULF

BRIANYOON

EDITORS: TODD C. ROWLAND JOHN HALL DANIEL RAy

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: BRIAN BATES DARRIN CLOUGH

ART DIRECTOR: JIM PINTO

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: NATE BARNES MARIO RlVAS

RODNEY SAENZ CREATIVE INSTINCT

COVER ARTIST: NATE BARNES

INTERIORARTISTS: CHRlSTOPHERAPPEL STEVE ARGYLE, MAlTHEW S. ARMSTRONG, DREW

BAKER, BEET, ADAM BRAY, JOHN DONAHUE, JASON ENGLE, At EREMlN, CARL FRANK. DAVID HUDNUT,

LLYN HUNTER, [MAGI NARY FRIENDS STUDIOS,

HUGH JAMIESON, MICHAEL KALUTA, MICHAEL KOMARCK,APRlL LEE, BRllT MARTIN, MALCOLM

MCCLINTON, PATRICK McEvOy, PETER MOHRBACHER, TONY MOSELEY, LEE MOYER,

WILLIAM O'CONNOR, JIM PAVEUC, FRANZ

VOHWlNKLE, BRAD WILLIAMS, JARREAU WIMBERLY

CARTOG RAPHER:

CREATIVE MANAGER:

BERTRAND BESS

JIM PINTO

PROJECT MANAGER: DAVID LEPORE

BRAND MANAGER: TODD C. ROWLAND

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: JOHN ZINSER

ORIGINAL CONCEPT: JOHN ZINSER

REVISED

PLAYTESTERS: Lynn Ahlgren, Becky Anderson, Alex Andersson, Dave Ashley, Terry Baldwin, Brian Bates, Kathryn Bayne, David Black, Tom Brown, Jeremy Bullins, Chris Burns, Jed Carleton, Brett Carlos, Ryan Carman, OJ Chagnon, Patrick Chen, Christian Corriveau, Scott Coutcher, Rob Dake, Steve DiPesa, Aien Elmi, Charles Etheridge-Nunn, Greg Fitzimmons, Charles Fox, Joel Fry, Les Fulbrook, Darrick Harring, Angela Harris, Jim Harris, Paul Hartmann, Kim Hosmer, Heath Hunt, Errol Jarc, Paul Jenkins, Ashely Jetsico, Stephen Johnstone, Alex Jones, Jason Kang, Chad Kindell, Ki Chang Kim, Eric King, Chris Koch, Erin Kogan, Christopher LaHaise, Roger Liang, c.J. Lesinksi, Tom Lewis, Paul Meador, Steven Mileham, Catlin Mills, Cory Mills, Brad Moenster, Dan Moenster, Arthur Nguyen, Benjamin L. Noble, John O'Neil, Alan Olson, John Olson, Ed Owen-Jones, Patricia A. Pettinati, Danny Pichette, Jamie Elizabeth Pinault, Molly Poole, Catherine Prickett, Marc Quintard, Steven Rioux, David Robotham, Matt Schenck, Jon Schwartz, Mike Scott, Jason Shafer, Nathan Shafer, Alexander J Skrabut, David Smith, Liza Strout, Matt Strout, Mark Turner, Mike Webb, Joe White, Roger Winter, Matt Wright, Troy

The writers would like to offer their most sincere thanks to the play testers, who went above and beyond to make this the best edition of LSR yet.

SPECIAL THANKS: AEG would like to thank the original LSR Third Edition team:

Nate Barnes, Mark Jelfo, Raymond Lau, Mario Rivas, Rodney Saenz, D.J Trindle, Mary Valles, Rob Vaux, Katie Yates, Maureen Yates.

AEG would also like to thank our dedicated play testers. In particular, Darrin Clough and his team for all their hard work. Thanks a million, guys!

Team Jourei Bengoshi: Stuart Biggs, Darrin Clough, Colin Cox, Ryan Goossens, Robert Knight, Jean-Phillipe Lafond, Brebouillet Mathieu, Edward Reynolds, Aaron Rubman, David Whitney, Richard Whitney.

LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS and all related marks are ™ and © Alderac Entertainment Group Inc. All rights reserved.

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BOOK OF EARTH The Clans ........................ 46 BOOK OF FIRE .............. 164 Factions of Rokugan ... .. ............ 6 The Crab Clan . .... .......... .... 46 Basic Die Rolls ................... 166

The Crane Clan .................. 48 "Exploding" Dice ........•....... 166 The Dragon Clan ................. 51 Ten Dice ...................... 166

The Crab Clan .............. .. .... 6 The Crane Clan ................... 6 The Dragon Clan .................. 6 The Lion Clan ..............•.... 53 Void Points ...................... 166 The Lion Clan ................... . 6 The Mantis Clan ................. 55 Other Uses For Void Points ........ 16 The Mantis Clan ......... ..... .... 7 The Phoenix Clan ................ 57 Combat Resolution ................ 168 The Phoenix Clan ................. 7 The Scorpion Clan ........ ........ 59 Skirmishes ..................... 168 The Scorpion Clan ... .... .......... 7 The Spider Clan .................. 61 The Combat Round .............. 168 The Spider Clan ................... 7 The Unicorn Clan ................ 63 Attack and Defense .............. 169 The Unicorn Clan ................. 7 The Minor Clans ................. 67 Wounds ....................... 169 The Imperial Families .............. 7 The Imperial Families ............. 72 Healing ....................... 170 The Minor Clans .................. 7 The Brotherhood of Shinsei. ........ 74 Combat Postures .............. .. 170 The Ronin ....................... 8 Ronin .......................... 76 Actions .......... .............. 170 The Brotherhood of Shinsei. ......... 8 Prominent Ronin Families .......... 78 Raises (Maneuvers) .... .......... 171 The Shadowlands ................. 8 Types of Rolls . ................... 172

Skill Rolls ...................... 172 Raw Trait Rolls ................. 172 Raw Ring Rolls ................. 173 Spell Casting ................... 173 Contested Rolls ................. 173 Combat ....................... 173

Raises .......................... 173 What is a Raise? ... ... .......... 173

Poison and Disease ................ 174 Specific Poisons/Disease .......... 174

Metsubishi. ...................... 177 Poison Metsubishi. .............. 177 Crafted Metsubishi .............. 177 Improvised Metsubishi ........... 177

TN Modifiers ..................... 178 Blinded ....................... 178 Deafened . ... ..... ............. 178 Going Without Sleep ............. 178 Going Without Air ............... 178 Darkness ...................... 179 Flanking ....................... 179 Higher Ground ................. 179 Lower Ground .................. 179 Off-Hand Fighting ............... 179 Prone ......................... 179 Surprised ... .......... ......... 179 Two-Weapon Fighting ............ 179 Uneven Terrain ......... ........ 179 Unknown Attacker .............. 179

Special Combat Situations .......... 179 Grappling ...... ................ 179 Iaijutsu Duels .................. 179 Ranged Attacks ................. 180 Unarmed Combat ............... 180

Schools of the Mantis Clan .......... 136 Armor ........................... 181 Schools of the Phoenix Clan ......... 139 Schools of the Scorpion Clan ........ 142 Schools of the Spider Clan .......... 145 Schools of the Unicorn Clan ......... 149

BOOK OF WATER . .......... 80 The Game of Twenty Questions ....... 82 General Game Mechanics ............ 85

Roll & Keep ..................... 85 Rings & Traits ................... 86 Skills ............. . ............ 88 Clan, Family, & School . . ... .. ... .. 88 Character Points ................. 89 Advantages & Disadvantages ....... 89 Honor ......................... 90 Glory & Status ............ ...... . 90 Heritage ........................ 91 Insight Rank & School Rank ....... 91 Advanced Characters ............. 92

Using Skills ....... .... ............ 93 Making Skill Rolls ....... ......... 93 Extra Skills ..................... 95 Skill Substitution ................. 95 Learning New Skills ............... 95 Emphasis ....................... 95 Mastery Abilities ................. 95

Skill List .......................... 96 High Skills ...................... 96 Merchant Skills ................. 10 1 Bugei Skills .................... 102 Low Skills ..................... 106

Advantages ............... . ...... 108 Disadvantages .................... 115 Example of Character Creation ....... 120 Schools of the Crab Clan ............ 122

Love and Marriage ............... 34 Adventurers ..................... 35 Languages ......... ..... ..... ... 36 Coin and Commerce .............. 36 War ........................... 37 Magic in Society ................. 39 Superstition ............ . ... . .... 40

Time and Seasons .................. 42 Imperial Schools .................. 15 I Schools of the Minor Clans .......... 153

The History of Rokugan .............. 8 What has gone before (Pre-History) ... 8 First Century (1-100 IC) ............ 9 Second Century (101-200 IC) .... . _ 10 Third Century (201-300) ........... 11 Fourth Century (301-400) ......... 11 Fifth Century (401-500) ............ 12 Sixth Century (501-600) ........... 13 Seventh Century (601-700 IC) ...... 13 Eighth Century (701-800 IC) ........ 14 Ninth Century (801-900 IC) ........ 15 Eleventh Century (1001-1100 IC) .... 16 Twelfth Century (1101-1200 IC) ..... 16

Customs and Culture ............... 27 The Celestial Order ............... 27 Samurai ........................ 27 The Clergy ...................... 28 The Bonge ...................... 29 Eta .. .......................... 29

Home and Hearth , Customs and Laws .. 29 Government. .................... 29 Crime and Punishment ...... ...... 30 Travel. ......................... 30 On (Face) ....................... 31 Dishonor ....................... 31 Bushido ........................ 31 Gempukku ...................... 32 Seppuku ....................... 32 Games ......................... 32 Etiquette ....................... 33 Learning ........................ 34 Gender Roles .................... 34 Schools of the Crane Clan ........... 125

Schools of the Dragon Clan ......... 128 Schools of the Lion Clan ............ 132

Time in Rokugan ................... 42 Lore of the Land ................... 45 Ronin Schools .................... 157

Rokugani Names .................. 160 Male Names ................... 160

Climate . ......... .. ........ ...... 45 Flora .. ...... .................. 45 Fauna ...... ................... 45 Female Names . .. ............... 161

Heritage Tables ................... 161

Weapons ........................ 182 Arrows ........................ 182 Bows ......................... 182 Chain Weapons ................. 183 Heavy Weapons and Axes ........ 183 Knives ........................ 184 Ninja Ranged Weapons .......... 185 Peasant Weapons ............... 185 Polearms and Spears ............. 186 Staves .................... .... 188 Swords ............. .. ... ...... 189 War Fans ...................... 190

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Miscellaneous Items ........ . ...... 191 Mastery Level 2 ... .. ... . ........ 242 Struggling against the Darkness .... 277 Clothing and Accessories .... . . . .... 194 Mastery Level 3 ................. 243 Removing the Taint .............. 277 Item Quality ..................... 195 Mastery Level 4 ......... . ....... 244 Reveling in the Taint: Glory and Status . . ................ 196 Mastery LevelS ............ . ... . 244 Benefits of the Shadowlands .... 278

Status .......... . .. . ........... 196 Mastery Level 6 ......... • ....... 245 Shadowlands Powers ............ . . 278 Glory .......... . ..... . ... . .... 199 Earth Spells .............. . ...... . 246 Minor Shadowlands Powers ....... 278

Honor ............... . .......... 202 Mastery Levell ................. 246 Major Shadowlands Powers . .... . . 278 Honor Losses and Gains . . ... . .... 203 Mastery Level 2 ................. 247 Greater Shadowlands Powers . . .... 278

Other Aspects of Honor. .......... 204 Mastery Level 3 ...... . . . .... . ... 248 Natural Shadowlands Creatures .... 278 Kata ........ . .. . ......... . ...... 204 Mastery Level 4 ................. 249 Deformities ......... . .......... 279

Kata Format. ...... .. . . ......... 204 Mastery LevelS .... . ............ 249 Scarification ....... . ...... . ..... 279

Common Kata ......... . ........ 205 Mastery Level 6 . ... . ............ 250 Tea of Jade Petals

Crab Kata ............ . .... . ... 207 Fire Spells ............. . ......... 251 and Shadowlands Powers ....... 279

Crane Kata .... . ............... 208 Mastery Levell . . .. . . .. ..... .. .. 251 Minor Shadowlands Powers ....... 279

Dragon Kata ........ . .......... 209 Lion Kata .... . ... . ............. 210

Mastery Level 2 ....... . .. . .... . . 252 Mastery Level 3 ................. 253

Major Shadowlands Powers .... . .. 280 Greater Shadowlands Powers ...... 281

Mantis Kata ..... . .. . ........... 211 Mastery Level 4 ............. . ... 254 Maho ........................... 282

Phoenix Kata ........ . .......... 213 Mastery LevelS .......... . ...... 254 Maho Spells ...................... 283

Scorpion Kata .... . .. . . . ...... .. 214 Unicorn Kata ... .. .. . ........... 215

Mastery Level 6 ................. 255 Void Spells ....................... 256

Mastery Levell .... . ... . .... . ... 283 Mastery Level 2 ................. 284

Mass Battle .... . ...... . ......... . 216 Mastery Levell ................. 256 Mastery Level 3 ............ . .... 285

Resolving Battles ................ 216 Step One: Declaration ........... . 216

Mastery Level 2 .......... . ...... 257 Mastery Level 3 ..... . ........... 257

Mastery Level 4 ........ . ...... .. 287 Mastery LevelS .. ... . .... . ...... 287

Step Two: Tides of Battle ....... . .. 217 Mastery Level 4 ..... . . .. ........ 257 Step Three: Determination ........ 218 Step Four: Resolution ........ . ... 218 Special Rules: Naval Battles ....... 219 Special Rules: Fighting

the Shadowlands . . ...... .. .... 219 After the Battle ..... . ........... 219 Battle Opportunities ............. 220

Experience and Character Progression. 223 Experience Points ............... 223 Character Progression ............ 223 Awarding Experience Points ...... . 223

BOOK OF AIR .............. 225 The Way of the Kami .............. 226

Cosmology, Spirit Realms, and the Afterlife ................. 227 The Kami, the Sun, and the Moon .. 227 Fu Leng ....................... 228 The Seven Fortunes .............. 228 The Lesser Fortunes ...... . ...... 229 Ancestors ............... . ...... 229 Sins .. . ........... ... ......... 229 Folk Magic ..................... 229 Dragons ... . ...... . .......... . . 230

Mastery LevelS ..... . . . .. . ... . . . 257 Mastery Level 6 ........ . ..... . .. 258

Water Spells ............ .. .... . . . 258 Mastery Levell .............. . .. 258 Mastery Level 2 ........... . .. . .. 259 Mastery Level 3 ........... . ..... 260 Mastery Level 4 ............. . ... 260 Mastery LevelS .............. . .. 261 Mastery Level 6 ................. 262

Monks .................... . .. . .. 262 Common Qualities .............. 263 Fortunist Monks .......... .. .... 263 Students of the Tao . ............. 263 Ancestor Worship .... . .......... 263 Playing a Monk ...... . .......... 263

Monk Schools ......... . .......... 264 The Four Temples ............... 264 The Shrine of the Seven Thunders .. 264 The Temple of Kaimetsu-uo ....... 265 The Temple of Osano-Wo ......... 265 The Temples of the

Thousand Fortunes . . .. . ....... 265 Kiho ................ .. ....... . .. 265

Learning Additional Kiho . . ....... 266 Martial Kiho ................... 266

BOOK OF VOID . ........... 289 Game Mastering Tips . . . ... . ....... 290

Gaijin's First Samurai ............ 290 The First Party .................. 290 Maintaining a Campaign .......... 291

Creatures and Non-Player Characters .... 292 Creature Rules .................. 293 Creatures ........... . .......... 293

Rokugan: Eras of Play ............ . . 300 Dawn of the Empire ....... .. .... 300 Reign of the Gozoku .. . .......... 300 The Second Rise of luchiban .. . ... 300 Pre-Scorpion Coup Era ........... 301 The Clan War ........... . ... . .. 301 The Hidden Emperor/

War Against the Darkness ....... 301 The War of Spirits ......... . .. . .. 301 The Four Winds Era ... .. .. . . . ... 302 Race for the Throne ............. 302 Alternate Settings .... . .......... 302

Geography of Rokugan ........... . . 303 The Lands of the Crab .... . ....... 303 The Lands of the Crane ......... . . 305 The Lands of the Dragon .......... 307 The Lands of the Lion ..... . .. . ... 309

The Spirit Realms .......... . .. . . 231 Internal Kiho ....... .. . . ........ 266 Lands of the Mantis ...... . ...... 310 Nemuranai ................... .. . 234 Kharmic Kiho .................. 266 Lands of the Phoenix ..... . ...... 312

Nel11uranai Rules ............. . . 234 Spells and Magic ...... . ..... . .. .. . 236

Mystical Kiho .............. . ... 266 Non-Monks and Kiho .......... . . 266

Lands of the Scorpion ..... . ...... 314 Lands of the Unicorn ............ 315

Learning a Spell. .............. . . 236 Innate Abilities ......... . .. . .. . . 236

Additional Costs ................ 266 Air Kiho ............ . ..... . .... . . 267

The Unaligned and Minor Clan Lands .. . ....... . .. 317

Casting a Spell. ................. 237 Range and Area of Effect. ......... 237 Ritual Magic ........... . ....... 237 Affinity/Deficiency ........... . ... 237 Concentration Levels and Duration. 237 Raises ..... . .................. 238

Earth Kiho ................ . .. . ... 268 Fire Kiho ....... . ... . .. . ......... 270 Void Kiho ........................ 271 Water Kiho ............... . ...... 273 The Shadowlands Taint. ..... . ..... . 275

Protection ..................... 275

Naga Lands .................... 319 Major Geographical Features ...... 319 Lands beyond Rokugan ........... 324

Suggested Reading ............. . .. 325 Legend of the Five Rings

Sourcebooks ..... . ....... . ... 325 Universal Spells ..... . ....... . .... 239 Dangers of the Shadowlands Taint .. 275 Air Spells .................. . .... . 241 Taint Symptoms ................. 275 Character Conversion .............. 32

Mastery Levell ... . .. . .... . ..... 241 Living With Taint. ............... 277 Glossary of Rokugani Terms ......... 329

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r akuro staggered slightly as he walked out of the sake house, wincing at the bright light of the morning sun. His two comrades laughed as they spilled out on either

side, similarly unsteady from the previous evening's entertainments. Takuro glanced about him with an arrogant sneer. He and his

brothers had arrived in this village almost a week ago. This place was unaccustomed to being visited by samurai; the peasants here were weak and afraid. They had offered food and lodging with quiet terror, asking for nothing in return, clearly petrified by the two swords at his hip. Takuro and his brothers had decided that they liked it here; this village was theirs now.

As he looked around, however, he realized that something was different. The peasants all huddled at the edges of the open square before the sake house. They watched qUietly, waiting. There was still fear in their eyes, but it was different somehow.

"You are the ron in that calls himself Takuro?" called out a calm voice. A man stepped forward from the shadows of a building across the street. A thick cloak was draped over his head and shoulders to ward off the evening chill. Like Takuro and his brothers, he wore the two swords on his hip, the symbol of a samurai.

Suddenly the haze ofTakuro's alcohol and exhaustion was burned away by a surge of adrenalin. He felt his brothers tense beside him. They had all been ronin long enough to know the dangers of the life they led. Samurai were warriors, soldiers whose blade served the whim of their daimyo. A ronin, a samurai with no master, was a wild, uncontrolled force in the Empire. Though they offered no allegiance to any man, they had no protection save their own wits.

"I am Takuro, " he growled. "What business have you with me?" "I am an acquaintance of a young lady by the name of sei, " the

stranger replied. "She has told me that you treated her in a disrespect­ful manner. Is this true?"

Takuro laughed, and his laughter was echoed lewdly by his brothers. "Yes it is true, and what of it?" he asked. "She is nothing, Just a geisha."

"She is my friend," the stranger said, "as are the men and wom­en of this Village. If you are men of honor, you wtll offer them your apology."

"Apologize to peasants?" Takuro asked with a laugh. ''They are unworthy. I will treat them as I please and you will stay out of it."

"If you will do what you please, ronin," the man seemed to spit out the word, "then so shall 1 - and it pleases me to champion this village'S honor. If your apology is not forthcoming then the matter will be settled with violence."

Takuro eyed the man cautiously. "You are a fool, stranger," he said. ''There are three of us and one of you. "

"So you accept my challenge?" the man asked. "So be it," Takuro laughed. "I do not know where you came from,

but you have come a long way to die in this forsaken village." The man allowed his cloak to fall from his shoulders, revealing

long white hair and a brilliant blue kimono, the mon of a crane standing on one leg emblazoned on his right shoulder. He adjusted his stance, holding his right hand palm up over the hilt of his katana, as if offering a gift. He looked up, fixing cold crystal blue eyes upon the ronin and his brothers. "My name is Kakita Mitsuo," he replied in an even voice, "and I come (rom the Esteemed House of the Crane."

A chill of fear ran down Takuro's spine. The Kakita were among the most renowned swordsmen in the Empire. Even so, it was too late to back down now. He could not show weakness in front of these filthy peasants, not after lording over their village as he had. The Crane had challenged him, and what remained of his honor demand­ed that the challenge be answered. Of course so far from the eyes of the Crane's kin, there was no reason for the fight to be a fair one.

"Kill him," Takuro hissed to his brothers. They ran (orward with a defiant cry, drawing their blades and mov­

ing to (lank Mitsuo. The Crane glanced quickly (rom one to the next and fell into a low stance. He ducked smoothly to one side, avoiding the first man's sword and kicking at the man's ankle to throw him off balance. Mitsuo's blade was free of hiS sheath and in his hand faster than the eye could follow, moving in an upward stroke and de(lecting the second blade with a clang. The sword came back down with a savage stroke, cutting cleanly across the first man's back. The second man's blade lashed out again and this time MiL~uo did not move quite quickly enough, a lash of blood welling across his left aml. His return stroke was deadlier still, his shining blade slashing from hip to shoul­der and leaving Takuro's brother to fall in tIVO pieces. 5

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Mitsuo turned, blade still in hand, and faced Takuro again. The leader o{ the ron in still stood at the doors of the sake house, watching the battle placidly.

'These men were your brothers," Kakita Mitsuo hissed. "You would not fight beside them?"

Takuro laughed. "They had no chance against a Crane," he retorted. "Better that they should die than 1. They served their purpose."

"1 still stand," Mitsuo replied, moving toward the ron in. Takuro began to back away. "Not for long," he answered. "You

grow weaker every moment you bleed. A bit longer and even a Kakita will be easy prey."

"You will not live that long, ronin," the Crane snarled. He leapt toward Takuro, blade held high. The ron in drew his own blade in re­ply, deflecting the Crane's stroke. He drew a knife in his free hand and slashed it across the Kakita's stomach. The man's blue eyes widened with pain. Takuro expected the man to falter. but he did not. He felt a cold sensation in his shoulder as Crane steel severed his aml. A sWift kick sent him sprawling to the earth.

Takuro laughed as the taste o{ his own blood filled his mouth. He looked up at the Crane defiantly. "Fool!" he spat. "You are days {rom any healer. You may kill me, but you will die of your wounds as well. You have gilren your life {or nothing."

The Crane only smiled. "For the coward there is no life," he said in a steady voice. "For the hero there is no death ."

Then Kakita Mitsuo's blade fell one last time, and ended Taku­ro's life.

t=actions of Rokugan

The story of Legend of the Five Rings is ultimately the story of the Great Clans and other smaller factions, such as the Mi­nor Clans, Imperial Families, ronin, and the Shadowlands. The character you play in Legend of the Five Rings will hail from one of these groups. While all of them will be discussed in detail later in this book, here is a brief synopsis of each of the ma­jor powers in Rokugan that might help inform newer players as they consider which of these groups they might enjoy playing.

The Crab Clan Descendants of the mighty Kami Hida , the Crab Clan are the defenders of Rokugan. They patrol the Empire 's southwestern border, where it meets the twisted Shad­owlands. Daily, Crab warriors perish upon the Great Carpenter Wall, giving their lives that the other clans may live in peace and security, a security that has been purchased with a thousand years of Crab blood.

The Crab value duty above all - even above honor. To the Crab, victory matters more. If they fail in their duty, if they are defeated, then honor will do little to protect those who depend on them. As a result, many find the Crab gruff, unkempt, and downright rude , but no one questions their strength or courage.

The Crane Clan The Crane pursue excellence in all things. Their founder, the Kami Doji, was the most beautiful and eloquent of her broth­ers and sisters, and it was she who es­tablished the traditions now customary in the Emperor's Court. Doji 's husband Kakita established the formal dueling sys­tem of iaijutsu , and served as the Emperor's personal champion. Throughout history, the Crane have been intertwined with the Imperial line, proViding beautiful brides for the vast majority of Rokugan's Emperors.

The Crane are the Emperor's Left Hand, defending his honor and his Empire in court and maintaining the traditions laid down by their founder. Their preferential status with the Impe­rial line is renowned, as they tend to have fewer taxes and more gifts heaped upon them. They are the masters of court, and have the wealth commensurate with such a position.

The Dragon Clan The Kami Togashi was the most enigmatic of his siblings, poorly understood even by the other children of the Sun and Moon. He and his followers among the Dragon Clan retreated to the mountains and remained there, interacting with the Empire only on rare occasions. The bushi of their clan prac­tice the daisho technique, a unique fighting style that utilizes both swords at once, and are familiar with the techniques of shugenja . Dragon shugenja are likewise familiar with the weapons traditionally used by bushi , a distinction that sets them apart from other priests. Strangest of all , the Dragon have multiple orders of tattooed monks among their number, men and women who bear mystical tattoos allowing them pow­ers and abilities beyond those possessed by mortals.

The Dragon mystify everyone, perhaps even themselves. Their methods and outlook stand out among those of the other Great Clans, often considered aloof and mysteriOUS by outsiders.

The Lion Clan If the Crane sit at the Emperor's Left Hand, then the Lion are surely to his Right. The Lion are the most militant and aggres­sive of all clans. They revere bushido and loyalty to the Emperor as life 's two most essential governing principles. They maintain the largest standing army in the Empire, rivaled only by that of the Uni­corn Clan. Many of history'S most brilliant generals have been a product of Lion training, and while it is not strictly true , many still believe the old adage that no Akodo-trained general has ever been defeated on the battlefield.

The Lion's rigidity and strict adherence to tradition has resulted in difficult diplomatic relations with other clans, most notably the Crane and Scorpion , but in recent yea rs the Unicorn as well.

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