Fields of Victory

The Essential Guide to Warfare in Rokugan

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
 Credits
EXPANSION DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT Tim Huckelbery with Max Brooke

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EDITING Christine Crabb

Jeremiah J. Shaw and Megyn Johanson

PROOFREADING

RPG MANAGER Sam Gregor-Stewart

LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS STORY REVIEW Daniel Lovat Clark and Tyler Parrott

CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF STORY AND SETTING Katrina Ostrander

EXPANSION GRAPHIC DESIGN Scott Nicely

GRAPHIC DESIGN COORDINATOR Joseph D. Olson

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INTERIOR ART

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Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)

 Table of Contents

5 WELCOME TO THE 108 CHAPTER 3:

BATTLEFIELD
6 CHAPTER 1:
glorious histories
7 Armies of the Empire
14 Great Clan Army Styles
17 Armies in Action
19 Bastions of History
26 The Empire at War
45 The Lion Clan
45 Families of the Lion
acts of war
109 Expanded Mass Battle Rules
118 Battle Zones
122 New Terrain Types
123 Running Military-Themed Campaigns
127 Outfitting an Army
131 New Titles
138 Spending Opportunity in Times of War
140 Tenets of Bushidō: Honor
142 New Demeanors and NPC Templates

64 CHAPTER 2:
defenders of the empire
65 The Badger Clan
72 New Schools
82 New Advantages and Disadvantages
86 New Samurai Heritages
88 Weapons
90 Personal Effects
92 Blessed Treasures
93 Item Patterns
95 New Techniques

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)

 14th Day of the Month of Shiba, 1120, on the Plains of Honor
Akodo Saburō could see the battlefield as though he
were standing among his generals, the dry wind of the
plains ruffling his hair. Across the level ground stood
an army led by his old teacher, Matsu Chihiro, famed
for her wise words, sharp tongue, and relentless drill-
ing. He did not fight her by choice, but duty and honor
demanded they face each other, and only one could
claim victory.
He would defeat her today. Lion facing Lion, his war-
riors reflected hers, but though they looked the same,
their maneuvers would be different. Saburō knew how
she thought; her tactics would be tried, tested, and
tired, while he had a few tricks and surprises ready for
her. Today, he would prove he had studied hard and
learned well—and had become a worthy opponent.
All his bushi were ready to fight and die, but before
Saburō could give the order to charge, he must fortify
his defenses, protect his most precious general, and
position his lancers to make best use of their range and
speed. Small changes in formation now, while there
was still time, could make the difference between ulti-
mate victory and defeat. Across the plain, his teacher’s
forces shifted as though in response to his. Whatever
she was planning, she did not commit to it yet, only
prepared her warriors to withstand his attack when it
came. He could see no other plan in her movements,
but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one.
While he was still contemplating her intentions,
she sent her mounted samurai to attack his, forcing a
retreat. Despite the sting of her small victory, the attack
was hardly devastating. He had far more foot soldiers,
and his plan was to send them forward, to use their
numbers to surround and pin her generals. It would
surprise her, that he let so much ride on his weakest
force. He had always believed in the strength of the
common soldier, their courage and determination
making up for their weaker armor, their lesser training.
She had warned him before that soldiers are merely
their leader’s tools, like the duelist’s sword or smith’s
hammer. Their value would come from how he used
them. So he must use them well.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
This was what it meant to be a leader, to have the
fates of many in his hands, to end lives without draw-
ing a sword. The outcome of this battle, perhaps the
safety of the Empire itself, would depend on the deci-
sions he made, and a single mistake could lose him his
strongest fighters, and his own good name. One wrong
move, or a right move made at the wrong time, could
put a sudden end to his ambition.
His teacher’s generals brooded where they were;
they did not attempt to escape his foot soldiers, and
so he set up an attack to claim his victory, sending his
lancers behind enemy lines. Yet when her own lancers
threatened one of his generals in turn, he realized he
could not get his units back there in time. He couldn’t
just run them through the foot soldiers, who suddenly
seemed more of a hindrance than a help. There was
nothing he could do.
One of her generals put himself in a vulnerable
position, but was it some sort of trap? An invitation
for him to seek vengeance, and make a terrible mis-
take? Saburō tried to remember what she had said of
sacrifice in their lessons. Hadn’t she always said sacri-
fice was a lazy path to victory, that a true leader found
another way? He took a gamble and sent a cadre of
foot soldiers in to eliminate the weakened general. He
was honest with himself; it felt like just retribution for
his own loss.
Her mounted samurai came out of nowhere, and
he lost another general. How had he missed them? He
should have held back some of those soldiers, but it
was too late now. His last general put up a courageous
fight, but inevitably fell. The battle was lost; the game
was over.
“An entertaining game for me,” Chihiro said, “and
hopefully, an educational one for you, Saburō-kun.”
He bowed his head.
“Thank you,” he said.
“And what have you learned here today?”
He paused, sure she would tell him the correct
answer, whatever answer he gave.
“Never to assume I can predict your moves,”
he said.
“Even a Lion might advise one path, yet take
another,” she said. “Remember, on the shōgi board,
all actions are honorable.” They reset their units on the
Plains of Honor for another game.
 INTR O DU CTIO N

Welcome to the Battlefield Adventure Seeds

RUMORS AND
LEGENDS

Since the dawn of the Emerald Empire, conflict has Throughout this book,
Throughout this book, you’ll find sidebars like
you’ll find sidebars
embroiled the realm. Ambitious provincial lords raid this one presenting adventure seeds for GMs. presenting just a few of
rival territory, daimyō struggle for dominance and If you’re a player, you might want to avoid the tales in circulation
glory, and enemy invaders have attempted to conquer reading these, as doing so could spoil things about a particular loca-
Rokugan. To defend their borders, the generals of the tion or group. As a GM,
should your GM adopt the ideas! If you’re a
you might use these for
Great Clans marshal their best warriors, and when all GM, you can expand on these seeds to create inspiration when PCs
of Rokugan is threatened, the Emperor marches the fully fledged adventures, take bits and pieces, inquire about any local
grand host of the Imperial Legions to war. On the fields or simply use them for inspiration. gossip or anecdotal
of battle, legends are forged and destines are decided. reports. Following up
一 Hook This hook provides the context on such rumors could

What’s in this book? for starting the adventure and introduces

the important NPCs. We also provide a sug-
even form the basis for
an adventure.

Fields of the Victory is a guide to Rokugani warfare and
the Lion Clan, whose generals and soldiers are military
masters. In this book, players can study the pivotal bat-
二 Rising Action
tles of the Emerald Empire and train and equip their
characters to rise from the rank of soldier to Shōgun.
Fields of the Victory is divided into three chapters:
三 Climax
Chapter 1
Glorious Histories describes the general makeup of
Great Clan armies and recounts the heroic military
struggles of Rokugan’s past and present. This chapter
also features the greatest collections of knowledge in
the Empire, from the High Histories of the Ikoma to the
Great Library at Kyūden Isawa. Finally, this chapter dives
deep into the valiant Lion Clan and its military traditions.
gested way to involve the PCs in events, As with all tales, it is
which you can tailor to fit your campaign. not always clear which
are true and which are
In the next part of an false. We’ve left it up to
you to determine which
adventure seed, we briefly describe the
are which. Of course,
most likely way for events to escalate, further
even the most outland-
embroiling the PCs and raising the stakes.
ish stories might have a
grain of truth.
Finally we offer a likely climax
for the adventure, whether that is a decisive
encounter with an NPC or a difficult choice
the PCs must make. By this point, the events
of the adventure are likely to have taken
unexpected turns based on the PCs’ actions,
and you should feel free to modify the climax
or resolve matters in whatever way fits the
ongoing adventure.

Chapter 2
Defenders of the Empire introduces the hardy Badger,
a Minor Clan appointed as the guardians of Rokugan’s
northern border, along with rules for creating characters
from this clan. This chapter also offers other new player
options, including new schools, combat-related equip-
ment, advantages and disadvantages, and techniques for
leading forces into the fray and turning the tide of battle.

Chapter 3
Acts of War offers game master advice on running
military-themed campaigns and staging grand
battles. It also provides expanded rules
for mass battles, including battle zones
to more closely track the positions of troops
and terrain, as well as rules for how to raise,
equip, and train an army. Finally, new titles,
NPC templates, and a new demeanor
help GMs bring the heroes and support-
ing characters of battle to life.

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 1
CHAPTER

Glorious
Histories
The horse grooms were waiting for him as the rider
descended on the Lion Clan way station at a full gallop.
At the last possible moment, Hosokawa Tesshū pulled
on the reins to bring his horse to a stop and slid down
the saddle wordlessly. As he turned around, one of the
attendants offered him the water dipper. Tesshū greed-
ily accepted it with a nod of thanks, slurping down the
cool water between heaving breaths. He yanked off a
riding glove and splashed his dust-covered face in a
meager effort to stave off the heat of the early sum-
mer sun. His heavy armor didn't help, but he couldn't
risk being taken by surprise by a Unicorn Clan scouting
party. His family's duty was to record and to ride, and
that was what he would do.
"Your horse, my lord," came a voice. The sil-
ver-black steed was fresh from the stable and ready to
take him through the next leg of the journey. Although
he would have to ride all day and all night, by the time
Lady Sun rose the next morning, Lord Matsu Gohei
would know that the war had begun.

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Armies of the Empire
By nature, battles are chaotic, destructive storms of
metal, blood, and smoke. The shape of an army—
along with the placement of its units—has an enor-
mous impact on the likelihood of success in war. Place
a cadre of mounted archers in the fray, and they might
snipe the vulnerable from a line of armored ashigaru,
but they may prove a liability otherwise. Allow them to
move as a free, mobile unit, and they may suddenly
destroy an enemy’s tactical advantage with a well-
placed shot at its commander. The best army does not
necessarily contain the brightest or the most fearsome,
but it does come prepared with a solution for any plan
of attack.
The most skilled warrior knows to bring the appro-
priate weapon to any fight; the same is true of armies.
The heavy-armored, slow-moving Crab Clan warriors
may create an impenetrable wall from high in their
stone fortresses, but in soft, muddy marshland or end-
less desert, their renowned armor becomes a liability
both in and out of battle. The vast multitude of the
Lion Clan armies, too, lose their fearsome edge when
forced to trudge, single file, through dense forest or
up perilous mountain slopes. When compromised, an
ill-fitted army is at its most vulnerable to attack.
The Great Clans of Rokugan consider themselves
above the barbarism of early warfare. Today, most
clashes among the clans result in relatively tame skir-
mishes instead of protracted wars. Feeding, training,
and maintaining an army is a challenging affair that
requires numerous resources from the army’s clan; in
the interest of efficiency, clans rarely let battles play
out on the grand scale of legend. Further, just as in
court, officers ensure each battle follows a rigid set of
rules and etiquette; true brutality has no place in clan
warfare.
“Just as a single brushstroke may finish a painting,
a single swing of a blade may finish the battle,” wrote
the eminent tactician Seppun Yoshisato. In Rokugan,
tactics and decisive action are key to resolving battles
quickly with as little bloodshed as possible. Yet legions
of Shadowlands monstrosities wage wars of attrition,
and foreign forces have been recorded using hit-and-
run tactics or sabotage to wear down their foes. Clans
like the Unicorn and Crab, which have had to contend
with these unconventional opponents, have adapted
their tactics and style accordingly and, as a result, fight
in ways alien to the rest of Rokugan.
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CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES
Basic Units
While the discipline and structure of Rokugan’s armies
vary by clan, terrain, and strategy, the lifeblood of each
army is its soldiers, and each soldier must operate as
part of a unit. A single insubordinate soldier may cost
their army the victory; a unit acting as one may sweep
the battlefield with the force of a typhoon.
Conscripts
Conscripts are forces that are levied from a lord’s lands
in times of war or great need. They are plucked from vil-
lages, towns, and cities and thrown onto the front lines
with minimal training. They might be provided with
secondhand or piecemeal ashigaru armor—otherwise,
they must scavenge and loot armor from defeated ene-
mies. Conscripts are lucky to receive spears, but more
often they will use whatever they can bring with them
from home, such as farm implements. Due to their min-
imal training and defenses, they suffer the most casual-
ties in battle. As a result, they are often the first to flee
when the tide turns against their forces. If a conscript
survives and proves capable in battle, they might try to
enlist as an ashigaru in future conflicts.
Ashigaru
Ashigaru, or foot soldiers, make up the bulk of most
Rokugani armies. Ashigaru are semi-professional sol-
diers from various backgrounds and often have more
practical experience on the battlefield than their
leaders. They might be peasants who spend the time
between planting and harvest on the battlefield, or
they might have left their villages behind entirely to
make a career of fighting. They might even be follow-
ing in their parents’ footsteps—some families have a
hereditary tradition of serving as ashigaru for a spe-
cific lord. Over the centuries, some ashigaru have even
been elevated to the rank of jizamurai in recognition
of their service, but they often face disdain from more
established samurai families.
Ashigaru stand at the forefront in most skirmishes
between opposing clans. Ashigaru suffer fewer casu-
alties than conscripts but more casualties than bushi.
They are lightly armored and most often equipped
with long-shafted spears, naginata, or bows. Not all
clan ashigaru are equally well trained; Lion Clan ash-
igaru are famously skilled in combat and proficient in
many weapons, including the sword.
 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
Bushi
Clan samurai bushi are the finest—but usually not the
most common—type of solider in an army. Serving as
elite forces, they fight for glory in the name of their
family, clan, and daimyō. Their training is dependent
on their family and clan, ranging from the heavily
armored spearmen of the Daidoji to the nimble cav-
alry of the Shinjo, and the duel-wielding swordsmen of
the Mirumoto to the ferocious berserkers of the Matsu.
Whether fighting on foot or horseback, even a single
bushi can change the course of a battle though dis-
plays of martial prowess or stubborn resistance. The
placement of each bushi formation in an army can have
a marked impact on the outcome of a battle, although,
as the makeup of bushi units varies, there is no single
correct arrangement.
Mercenaries
Mercenary gaijin, peasants, rōnin, and former criminals
offer their expertise in short- or long-range combat to
any army. Unlike the lives of trained clan soldiers, their
lives are considered entirely expendable. It is mer-
cenaries’ responsibility to take care of their own and
maintain their own equipment. They are flexible and
may fill any role for which they are qualified. Highly
specialized mercenaries, such as shinobi or sailors, may
be deployed as needed to achieve special objectives.
Specialized Units
In addition to combatants like bushi and ashigaru,
armies also require support personnel to play specific
roles in a general’s strategy and allow soldiers to fight
more effectively.
Engineers
Rokugani military engineers build siege engines and
field fortifications when an army invests itself for a
siege of a castle or town’s walls. They build scaling lad-
ders and siege towers to allow soldiers to climb walls
without being shot by defenders’ arrows, and they con-
struct battering rams to knock in gates so that troops
may break in. They direct crews as they dig trenches for
cover or excavate tunnels under walls that are stable
enough for troops to charge through and surprise the
enemy within. During an army’s travels, engineers may
do double duty as cartwrights, fixing wheels and wag-
ons, especially if the army doesn’t have any dedicated
carpenters of its own.
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Medical Practitioners
Healers and medics are essential to keeping soldiers
and support personnel moving, fit, and battle ready.
They are trained in advanced treatments for all manner
of injuries, and are equipped with basic tools and med-
icines to heal the soldiers they accompany into battle.
A swift treatment can mean the difference between
life and death for an injured warrior. It is a violation of
Courtesy and Compassion to attack or injure any sol-
dier administering treatment on the field of battle, but
ruthless generals may ignore these virtues in the pur-
suit of victory.
Messengers
Armies communicate urgent commands via everything
from flares to signals to coded messages. Military
messengers in their stiff horo, or canopy cloaks, brave
the heat of battle to deliver handwritten notes, coded
messages, and desperate, shouted orders. Some mes-
sengers also send army-wide signals via booming taiko
drums in the heat of battle or blow on conch shells to
issue sudden orders from leaders to those within ear-
shot. Battlefield messengers, called tsukaiban, may be
deployed in service of high-ranking officials, or they
may be placed strategically to form a network through-
out an army.
Laborers and Servants
Noncombatants usually make up the bulk of an army,
especially when the army must establish itself in a single
location for an extended period of time. Servants follow
their lords into battle to assist them in getting dressed
and maintaining their quarters. Peasants clean, cook,
and tend and raise animals (and sometimes crops), mak-
ing traveling armies seem more like mobile cities. Unless
an army is especially desperate, its peasant population
hangs back during the heat of battle and trails behind
the soldiers in a long caravan during travel. It is the
height of dishonor to attack an army’s noncombatants.
Shugenja
Calling the elemental forces against their foes,
shugenja are highly volatile additions to any army. One
cannot count on the kami’s favor at any given time,
as their motivations and their feelings about humans
are subject to change on a whim. However, a well-
planned elemental strike may shift the terrain to an
army’s advantage or scatter an otherwise impervious
foe. While entreating the spirits, shugenja make easy
targets, and they must be well defended if they are to
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

province. In this way, an army might have several spear

Battlefield Healing
Medics are dispersed throughout an army
to tend to the wounded of every rank. Any
substantial cadre of soldiers likely has a med-
ical attendant on hand to dress wounds and
address sundry health issues. Other med-
ics may be highly specialized, switch roles
according the needs of their leaders, or serve
as members of a dedicated medical unit.
In some cases, medics will serve under the
supervision of a shugenja and assist in triag-
ing the injured.
leverage the meteoric currents of the spiritual world.
The best placement of a shugenja on the battlefield is
highly subjective, and they usually must be protected
by yōjimbō if they are to succeed in swaying the kami
during combat.
Shugenja also serve as healers or spiritual advisors,
which are also vital roles in armies. Water and earth
elementalists can entreat the spirits to hasten the heal-
ing process or purge infection. Shugenja can augur the
coming weather or beseech the ancestors for wisdom.
They can also speak to ethics, history, and philosophy,
and they serve an important function in maintaining
morale and counseling soldiers on their own mortality.
ashigaru and archer ashigaru units in addition to sev-
eral different samurai units, plus units of conscripts
when applicable. Maintaining focus on the battlefield
and withstanding the horrors of war requires intense
concentration and fortitude, often facilitated by the
Meditation and Martial Arts skills.
Unit Leader
A unit leader, or kashira, is a member of a unit who com-
mands their fellow soldiers in battle. Unit leaders also
direct their unit’s noncombatants, such as medics, taiko
drummers, messengers, and banner bearers. They must
often make use of their skills in Courtesy and Sentiment
to effectively influence their fellow soldiers.
Sergeant
A sergeant, or gunsō, leads a single squad compris-
ing two or more basic or specialized units and directs
it in the heat of battle according to the orders of the
chūi (see page 10). While a gunsō does not have
a comprehensive view of the larger tactical choices at
play, they are keenly aware of their squad’s movements
and successes in battle. Depending on their relation-
ship with the squad and the requirements of the battle,
a gunsō fights in the thick of combat, shouts orders
from the rear, or charges headfirst at the front line. The
gunsō may make effective use of the Command skill to

The Hierarchy of Armies

direct troops in real time and must know when to pull
back if their squad becomes overwhelmed.
In the furor of battle, a basic chain of command is key
to transmitting orders, and troops’ ability to receive
and execute those orders is imperative to victory. With-
out guidance, even the most exceptional unit may find
itself isolated and vulnerable.
The feudal mindset extends to armies, which follow
a hierarchical structure that mirrors the Celestial Order
as interpreted by the samurai. A single unit of cav-
alry, scouts, infantry, or shugenja follow a unit leader.
These unit leaders report to their sergeant, while the
sergeants report to a lieutenant, and the lieutenants
report to a captain, with the chain of command culmi-
nating in an army’s general. This basic power structure
can be found among most Great Clan armies, although
variation exists across forces.

Unit
A single unit of conscripts, ashigaru, bushi, or special-
ists comprise the simplest building block of a Rokugani
army. Units might be organized into groups of ten to
fifty soldiers based on their primary weapon and home

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 Lieutenant
Lieutenants, or chūi, command several sergeants and
have greater impact on immediate and reactionary
battle tactics. These leaders must make effective use
of the Tactics and Performance skills as they assess
the shifting tides of battle and communicate orders to
their sergeants.
Captain
Captains, or taisa, are high in the command structure
and often gain their rank through family ties. Most
belong to a provincial daimyō’s family, or they might be
an extended relative of a family daimyō. These leaders
each oversee several chūi and are thus responsible for
hundreds of soldiers. Hardened by numerous battles,
taisa draw upon their weight of experience to plan and
execute larger-scale tactics and deployment on the bat-
tlefield. They take a bird’s-eye view of the ever-chang-
ing tide of battle and report directly to their general
with breaking news. These officers use Government
and Tactics to plan and weigh the risks of specific for-
mations and maneuvers; these skills represent a taisa’s
tactical senses on the battlefield.
10
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General
A general, or taishō, is the military head of an army,
answerable only to their own daimyō, and usually leads
thousands into combat. Generals sometimes also serve
as their liege’s hatamoto, or direct retainers. They
establish the larger battle plan—often with a team of
advisors and attendants—and see that it is executed
to the letter. In extremely large battles, multiple gener-
als serving different lords may need to work together
to coordinate multiple armies. A general often com-
mands from a fixed location, removed from the fray,
though celebrated war heroes such as Akodo Ichi have
been known to bring their blades and fighting prowess
to the battlefield. Most generals lean heavily on the
Tactics and even Games skills to effectively outplay
their enemy.
Shōgun
Should Rokugan ever face an existential crisis requiring
all its armies be united as a single coalition, the Emperor
has the prerogative to appoint a Shōgun, or military
commander-in-chief. This theoretical title has never been
bestowed, so military scholars can only theorize as to how
the position would overlap with the Emerald Champion.
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

Sakae, Dedicated Ashigaru

ABILITIES

ASHIGARU VETERAN
ADVERSARY CONFLICT RANK:  3  4
As a Support action during a mass battle, Sakae may
The child of a humble farmer, Sakae was conscripted into
make a TN 1 Tactics (Earth) check targeting up to
a Great Clan army at an early age. Despite their inexpe-
two cohorts with the Rank Formation ability. If Sakae
rience, Sakae showed unexpected skill on the battlefield
succeeds, each of those cohorts’ leaders adds 1 kept
and lived long enough to develop the courage and clev-
 set to  to the next check they make.
erness associated with samurai. They became part of an
ashigaru force garrisoned along the border between
two clans. After a long period of service as a spear ash-
igaru, they were promoted to kachigashira, or infantry Adventure Seed:
leader. They have served their clan with distinction ever Lost and Found
since, engaging their opponents with direct, unflinching
violence in several prominent battles. 一 Hook While journeying though a moun-
Earlier in their career, Sakae had accepted their new tainous region, the PCs come across a mili-
life, but when they learned that their younger brother tary unit comprising a single samurai bushi
Ryota had been captured in a raid by an opposing clan, and a dozen ashigaru led by Sakae. The bushi
they were conflicted about whether they should return is young and new to command, and not yet
to support their aging parents. Sakae finally decided wise enough to trust the seasoned Sakae for
that fighting for the clan would raise their family’s advice. The bushi’s target is a group of peasant
standing more than begging permission to return to thieves thought to be operating in the area.
their village. Sakae’s focus has made them an incredi-
bly capable soldier, well known and highly respected. 二 Rising Action Sakae’s unit—along with
Solidly built thanks to a steady ration of rice, they have the PCs—is ambushed by well-armed peas-
a kind face that immediately hardens into fierce deter- ants who fight more like skilled rōnin than
mination as they prepare for battle. farmers. The peasants use the Desperate
Bandit and Experienced Bandit profiles on
SOCIETAL PERSONAL pages 315 and 316 of the core rulebook. Sud-
30 HONOR ENDURANCE
8 denly, one of the armed peasants calls out to
3 2 Sakae, claiming to be Ryota.
32 GLORY COMPOSURE
12
1 1 三 Climax Ryota begs for forgiveness from
21 STATUS 2 FOCUS
3 Sakae and explains that his band of peasants
is just trying to defend themselves from rov-
+2, –2
DEMEANOR - ASSERTIVE
VIGILANCE
3 ing bands of samurai. The samurai bushi, how-
ever, is firm that the peasants must face justice
for attacking his clan’s forces and orders his

ARTISAN 1 MARTIAL 3 SCHOLAR 0 SOCIAL 1 TRADE 1

ashigaru to continue the battle. Sakae cannot

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES disobey their superior, but they clearly want
Indomitable Will: Intolerance: to show mercy to Ryota and possibly send the
 Social; Mental, Inter-  Social; Interpersonal peasants back to the farming village where
personal they belong. What will the PCs do?

FAVORED WEAPONS

Katana: Range 1, Damage 4, Deadliness 5/7,

Ceremonial, Razor-edged

Yari: Range 2, Damage 5, Deadliness 3, Wargear

Yumi: Range 2–5, Damage 5, Deadliness 3

Gear (equipped): Ashigaru armor (Physical 3,

Wargear), traveling rations, tent (medium), a small
doll stuffed with rye in the likeness of Sakae’s brother

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 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES

THE EMERALD
LEGIONS

In 1123, the Emperor’s

The Imperial Legions warfare and agriculture. The legions are even tasked
with collecting taxes and tribute when necessary. Only
forces include ten cel- The Imperial Legions are the Emperor’s standing army: when all other options have been exhausted do they
ebrated legions called a single, unified military force tasked with patrolling and engage in violence to protect the Emperor’s agenda.
the Emerald Legions.
defending Imperial power. Their ranks include the best
Each legion has its
own reputation and soldiers from across the Empire and all the clans, united Command and Leadership
specialty: in their dedication. To be welcomed (or even conscripted)
The Emerald Champion is head of the Imperial
into the Imperial Legions is an incredible honor and
The First Legion: Legions, and most consider it a great honor to serve
No specialization, but brings glory to one’s family and clan. Moreover, the Impe-
under the Emperor and have a part in directly carrying
the most prestigious rial Legions train and feed their troops exceptionally well.
and celebrated out the Hantei’s will. Imperial decree dictates that the
When invited to join the Imperial Legions, a pro-
most adept, well-trained soldiers from each clan serve
The Second Legion: spective soldier receives a message from the office of
in the legions—though this decree is not always fol-
Spearmen and archers the Emerald Champion, delivered by a Miya messen-
lowed perfectly. Due to the prestige associated with
ger, and is given eighteen days to provide a response.
The Third Legion: service in the legions, soldiers from Rokugan’s most
Swordsmen and Upon acceptance, an ashigaru is expected to serve six
distinguished families enlist in search of glory. A great
duelists years in the Imperial Legions, though their role may
many soldiers are admitted into the Emerald Legions
shift during those years and they may renew their
The Fourth Legion: based on their families’ wealth and connections (and
Berserkers and rōnin service at the end of their term. A samurai serves for
sometimes outright bribes). The rest are among the fin-
twelve years, or until they reach the age of retirement.
The Fifth Legion: est warriors in the Empire, more than making up for the
Induction into the service of the Emperor is typically a
Shugenja lack of martial merit among other members.
joyful, celebrated affair for a soldier’s family and loved
The Sixth Legion: Members of the Imperial families inevitably rise to
ones. The Imperial Legions’ power is secured in part
Scouts and light the top ranks in the Imperial Legions, and the Seppun
because of their exceptional reputation and history of
infantry family in particular has provided a great many generals
bringing great glory to the clans.
The Seventh Legion: and other senior officers. The Akodo and Matsu fam-
At almost every great upset in Rokugan’s history,
Superior officers and ilies also have a long tradition of sending their most
an Imperial Legion has appeared to either arbitrate or,
tacticians promising samurai to serve at least one term in the
in the case of disobedience to the Emperor, sway the
The Eighth Legion: legions. Although members of any clan may join the
outcome. In some cases, the very appearance of an
Cavalry and mounted legions or rise within its ranks, a delicate ecosystem
Imperial Legion is enough to avert a bloodbath and
shugenja of political advantage is woven into the legions’ lead-
force the opposing armies to renew negotiations.
The Ninth Legion: ership structure. The advancement of a samurai to a
Naval units high-level role is synonymous with gaining the Emper-
Origins or’s favor for their clan. As such, the composition of
The Tenth Legion:
Warrior monks and Emperor Hantei Genji founded the Imperial Legions in the Imperial Legions’ leadership is constantly shifting
engineers 156 in the midst of his sweeping reforms of Imperial law as the clans vie for dominance.
throughout the Emerald Empire. While it is said that the
Emperor had hoped to lean exclusively upon the loyal-
ties of the Great Clans, it took the betrayal of General
Matsu Kaguya, who ordered her soldiers to march into
battle expressly against the Emperor’s wishes, to tip the
Emperor’s resolve. The Emperor began requiring all loyal
families to send soldiers to join the Imperial Legions to
patrol the Empire, assist in carrying out the Emperor’s
will, and mediate conflict whenever necessary.
The Imperial Legions’ duties have since largely
remained unchanged, though their scope and size have
grown immensely. Because the legions only intervene in
severe, unresolvable conflicts, they typically direct their
energy and skills elsewhere, engaging in everything
from assisting impoverished peasants in harvest or con-
struction, to mediating minor disputes, to training and
educating the citizens of the Emerald Empire in both

12

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 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

Seppun Genshin, Captain

Adventure Seed:
EMERALD
STRONGHOLDS
ADVERSARY CONFLICT RANK:  6
Seppun Genshin has made a name for himself execut-
 6
Deceptive Currents Some of the Emerald
Legions are based at
ing orders with incredible efficiency. Raised at Kyūden or near Otosan Uchi,
一 Hook While traveling in Crane or Crab
Seppun and recruited into the legions immediately the Imperial Capital;
lands, the PCs witness a Daidoji ship or car- others are stationed
after his gempuku, Genshin found a new home among
avan coming under attack. They must decide in areas that demand
his fellow soldiers of the Seventh Legion. His direct,
whether to intervene. The attackers bear constant attention,
no-nonsense demeanor and sincerity have inspired such as the Shinomen
no crest, and upon closer inspection, they
others to trust in his leadership wherever he is posted. Forest; and still others
appear to be commoner bandits or pirates.
Genshin’s tactical prowess, combined with his school- patrol the Empire’s
Behind the scenes, these criminals were set roads and territories.
ing and family ties, has propelled him to the rank of
up, lured into attacking by one of the Seventh Additional strongholds
captain. As a leader within the Seventh Legion, he
Legion’s secret shinobi. of the Imperial Legions
directs public works projects and helped spearhead include Lost Traveler
the reconstruction efforts of the Crane coast after the 二 Rising Action The next time the PCs Castle, Naishō Fort,
tsunami of 1120. While many citizens consider him a arrive in a large trading city, conflict threat- Toshi Ranbo, Shiro
fair mediator, Genshin’s ambitions have not been satis- Yogasha, and Sunrise
ens to break out between the Crane and
Keep.
fied by his current role. He is actively seeking the next Crab clans. Members of the Daidoji Trading
success that will ensure his ascendancy to Commander Council blame their rivals, the Yasuki Mer-
of the Seventh Legion, where he would report directly chant Company, for a series of raids against
to the Emerald Champion. their trade caravans and ships, claiming that
the Yasuki have been hiring mercenaries to
SOCIETAL PERSONAL
pillage their shipments. The Yasuki maintain
55 HONOR ENDURANCE
14 their innocence. As Daidoji and Yasuki forces
4 2 begin amassing outside the city, Captain
61 GLORY COMPOSURE
12
2 3 Seppun Genshin and a company from the

51 STATUS 3 FOCUS
5 Seventh Imperial Legion arrive to stave off
bloodshed at the last minute.
+2, –2
DEMEANOR - GRUFF
VIGILANCE
2 三 Climax Captain Genshin calls a military

tribunal to mete out justice and calls upon
ARTISAN 0 MARTIAL 5 SCHOLAR 2 SOCIAL 3 TRADE 2 the PCs to testify as witnesses, as one of the
raid’s survivors spotted the PCs during the

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

attacks. Captain Genshin is seeking to pin

Seasoned: Bluntness: blame on either the Daidoji or Yasuki family
 Social; Mental, Inter-  Social; Interpersonal so that he can be seen to lay down a swift
personal judgment, thereby justifying his involvement

of the Imperial Legions in the dispute and

FAVORED WEAPONS

elevating his own reputation. The PCs must
Katana: Range 1, Damage 4, Deadliness 5/7, decide whether to side with the Crane or the
Ceremonial, Razor-edged Crab—thereby winning Genshin’s favor—or
whether to make an enemy of Seppun Gen-
Wakizashi: Range 0-1, Damage 3, Deadliness 5/7,
shin by testifying that the bandits were unaf-
Ceremonial, Razor-edged
filiated with either clan.
Gear (equipped): Lacquered armor (Physical 4, Cere-
monial, Cumbersome, Wargear), smoking pipe

ABILITIES

AUTHORITATIVE NEGOTIATION
When making a Social skill check to pursue Imperial
interests or the Emperor’s agenda, Seppun Genshin
may receive up to 3 strife in order to reroll that many
 showing blank results.

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FROM THE NOTES OF
AKODO KATSUHIDE,
TACTICIAN-IN-
TRAINING AT THE
AKODO WAR
COLLEGE:
Siege warfare is taxing
for everyone involved.
If a Crab army chooses
to stay somewhere, it is
wise to simply leave them
alone and march around
them. They will return to
the Kaiu Wall eventually,
and you can return to
capture what they tried
to hold. As a rule, no one
should bother the Crab in
its shell.
FROM KATSUHIDE:
The very appearance of
a Crane army heralds a
battle; if the Crane’s fancy
lackeys in court cannot
outmaneuver their foes
in negotiations, the clan
sends its troops, gleaming
and cold in their perfect
garb. I find Crane com-
manders are often very
grumpy when called to
war, especially when they
get their own blood on
their kimono.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
Great Clan Army Styles
The Great Clans’ approaches to warfare are as diverse
as their cultures and values. Each clan brings its own
unique approach to Bushidō to bear on how it prepares
for, enters into, and engages in military combat. While
the Lion rely on their proud might and great numbers
to overwhelm their foes, the Dragon—who come from
treacherous terrain and have fewer soldiers—must
focus on creative solutions to outwit and reroute their
foes, depending on the locale. These practical and phil-
osophical delineations between the clans are reflected
in other aspects of their militaries as well, ranging from
army composition to command structure.
Crab
Stories of the Crab army’s defensive capabilities are
legendary throughout Rokugan. Defending the Kaiu
Wall against innumerable monstrosities has the effect
of pruning the Crab fighting force down to only the
best and hardiest soldiers. As such, this clan’s army is
full of stalwart, unyielding veterans who know equally
well how to survive and when to put their lives on the
line for the greater good. Crab soldiers are possibly the
most powerful and dedicated in the Emerald Empire.
Moreover, Crab medics, sharpened from years of ser-
vice defending the Wall, provide exceptional support.
The Crab army is in a constant state of war as it
defends the Empire against the Shadowlands. This
makes the Crab loath to mobilize against other clans.
Outside of a stronghold, Crab soldiers’ heavy armor
slows them down, and their highly specialized defen-
sive techniques are easier to counter. This reinforces
the clan’s unwillingness to spend its troops on merely
political warfare. The Crab army functions best hun-
kered down, stockpiling its defensive matériel, and
then striking when the time is right. On the battlefield,
the Crab are adept at finding the most defensible ter-
rain so they can fight from a position of strength.
When a Crab army does go on the move, it uses
roads when available and is highly vigilant of its sur-
roundings. The Crab’s logistics load and heavy armor
makes commanders hesitant to take soldiers through
marshy or rough terrain unless doing so provides a
defensive benefit or immediate tactical advantage.
Troops may move off-road to take advantage of defen-
sible terrain like mountains and hills, or light woods
that provide cover.
Crab armies are composed primarily of armored
infantry and archers, and their medics are among the
finest in Rokugan.
14
$ Strengths: Incredible defense, excellent tacti-
cians, highly skilled battlefield support
$ Weaknesses: Slow to muster, more reactive
than offensive
$ Typical Composition: Spear ashigaru, heavily
armored bushi, and scouts
$ Signature Warrior: Hida Defender
Crane
Much as the Crane’s reputation in court would suggest,
its army excels at subtle artistry. Each of its soldiers is
held to exacting standards in swordsmanship, archery,
and mounted combat. The Crane’s command structure
is a delicate, ever-shifting landscape of competition
and personal betterment, all geared toward achieving
decisive victory on the battlefield. Many Crane gener-
als employ specialists and scholars versed in local cul-
ture and geography in order to gain an edge in battle.
More than any other clan, the Crane rely heavily on the
deployment of rōnin.
The Crane Clan’s army understands and prizes the
importance of adaptability. As such, there is no “signa-
ture formation” for which it is known: its soldiers shift
from well-ordered groups to disparate marching lines,
then to highly mobile pods around a central unit. The
commanders and tacticians often command from the
rear or from camp during a heavy battle, channeling
their energy into understanding enemy strategy, hop-
ing to outplay their foes as in a game of Go.
The Crane army is highly respected for its emphasis
on swift, lethal close combat. Melee combat with even
the lowest ranking Crane duelist is sure to be a tense,
potentially deadly confrontation. In battle, cavalry and
archers tend to hang back initially to allow the Crane
infantry to thin the ranks of foes, then step in to finish
them off. The Crane’s proficiency close-in often ends a
battle soon after it has begun.
$ Strengths: Highly skilled duelists,
adaptable units
$ Weaknesses: Smaller armies, lack of specializa-
tion, predictable assets
$ Typical Composition: Archer ashigaru, highly
skilled bushi and rōnin
$ Signature Warrior: Daidoji Iron Warrior
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

Dragon by troop, an army resembles a honeycomb from above

as it sweeps across the widest roads and fields to its
FROM KATSUHIDE:

The rugged terrain of the Dragon Clan’s territory makes destination. The highest ranking leaders often ride at I feel that if the monks
the front to charge into battle alongside their soldiers, were truly pursuing
gathering and mobilizing an active army quite difficult.
Enlightenment, they
At best, the Dragon boast what might be called the issue orders, and inspire courage. would not be fighting at
hardiest, most specialized militia in all of Rokugan. The The Lion are legendary for their ferocity in battle. all. Is not the true path
pursuit of Enlightenment is inextricably woven into the The Deathseekers, a sect of elite and fearless soldiers, one of peace? They are
charge into battle wearing fearsome masks to terrify easily dispatched with
Dragon Clan’s philosophies of war, tactics, and military
large volleys of arrows,
engagement, setting its army apart from those of other their foes. Though Lion armies are highly aggressive,
though, as they can only
clans. The exercise of battle is almost meditative in they are not reckless; they are known for meteoric, val- catch so many.
nature for even the lowliest of soldiers, who have been orous gambits that overwhelm opponents with both
trained to pursue their own paths to universal truth. numbers and strength. Because the Lion military is
Likewise, monastic life and structure dictate each unmatched by any other in Rokugan in sheer size and
soldier’s role in the military. However, the Dragon skill, opponents must often utilize unconventional or
armies are less concerned with rank, honor, or status unorthodox tactics to win in battle.
than with each soldier’s role in the greater battle plan. FROM KATSUHIDE:
$ Strengths: Massive size, incredible logistical
As such, these armies operate as some of the small-
skills Our troops are formi-
est but most flexible military bodies in Rokugan. The dable, truly the finest
tattooed ise zumi warrior monks of the Togashi Order $ Weaknesses: Lack of stealth and subtlety; armies in all the Emerald
epitomize this ethos, filling almost every role to bring difficulty navigating treacherous terrain due to Empire. But they eat like
their faith and meditation to bear on combat. reliance on excellent Lion roads locusts. Our baggage
trains are so long, it is
Reflecting the Dragon’s individualist bent, its armies $ Typical Composition: Bushi with large numbers said, that the last wagon
are separated into neatly organized lineups of troops. of sword, spear, and naginata ashigaru never actually leaves until
Each one operates independently of the others on after the battle is over.
the battlefield, striking in rhythm like a many-headed
$ Signature Warrior: Matsu Berserker Where our army goes,
starvation often follows.
dragon. Tactics and structure are organized to support
Luckily, Lion ashigaru are
a battle style of constant, coordinated aggression.
Taken by surprise, few armies can withstand this man- Phoenix also good at rebuilding
the villages they pillage
ner of attack. The Phoenix Clan enters each battle with a key under- for food.
standing of the region’s terrain and spiritual climate.
$ Strengths: Independent troops, adaptable
More so than any other military, the Phoenix Clan’s
structure, monastic support structure
army taps into the elemental potential of its environ-
$ Weaknesses: Diminutive armies; dependent ment to utilize it against its foes. The dry forest that
on leadership style; weak on large, open bat- provides a backdrop to a fight may suddenly blaze
tlefields with all-consuming fire, devastating a foe’s focus and
$ Typical Composition: Small units of warrior providing just the right distraction to aid the Phoenix.
monks and swordsmen
$ Signature Warrior: Togashi Ise Zumi

Lion
The Lion Clan presents the most breathtaking fight-
ing force in all of Rokugan, but that force is also one
of the most unwieldy to maneuver and transport
due to its size. Many famous writers refer to
a Lion army as a “mobile city” that moves
across the plains. The Lion armies have
overwhelmed others through sheer
numbers and aggression. The wide
roads of the Lion Clan territory are
a testament to the massive size of
its armies. Meticulously organized

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 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES

FROM KATSUHIDE: Even the lowliest Phoenix foot soldiers are trained The Scorpion army often stations its archers at the
to anticipate and react to the sudden elemental cata- fringe of the battlefield to pick off as many enemy sol-
In battle, the Phoenix are clysms that Phoenix shugenja may incite. Given how diers as possible before the clash of infantry. Scorpion
highly subjective to the
crucial a single shugenja’s invocation or ritual can be scouts and shugenja act as support to help the army’s
whims of the kami they
invoke. Even the weather to Phoenix tactics, ashigaru and bushi must defend meager numbers gain the upper hand in close combat.
can bow to their spirit shugenja rites to the death in the heat of battle. As Communication and careful retreat are key to translat-
allies. I’m told one should such, Phoenix Clan forces often take the shape of a ring ing the Scorpion’s highly situational tactical strengths
never engage in a skir- of protection, or they skillfully present a façade aimed into victory.
mish with Phoenix on a
to misdirect enemy troops who might try to disrupt a
stormy day, for example.
shugenja’s prayers. $ Strengths: Psychological tactics, stealth, train-
If you must, ensure that
your troops rush and As warfare against the Phoenix has evolved over the ing in night marching
engage a Phoenix enemy years, the placement of Phoenix shugenja has become $ Weaknesses: Small army, highly situational
immediately; they will
a sort of shell game. Knowing that opposing armies tactics, mediocre infantry
never call lightning down
seek to disrupt their shugenja’s rituals, Phoenix armies
upon their own. $ Typical Composition: Scouts and shinobi as
often place decoy shugenja with yōjimbō in places
well as ashigaru and archer bushi
where they distract opponents from other shugenja’s
powerful invocations as they perform them in the heat $ Signature Warrior: Shosuro Infiltrator
of battle. Thus, a Phoenix army often resembles a large

Unicorn
circle of troops with different “pockets” of shugenja
and decoy shugenja protected by soldiers.
FROM KATSUHIDE:
The Unicorn are masters of horses and swift deploy-
$ Strengths: Powerful shugenja capable of har-
The Unicorn cavalry are ment. As such, a typical Unicorn army comprises two
nessing the elements, adept tacticians
nigh unstoppable unless distinct forces: pods of mounted cavalry with scouts
they are presented with $ Weaknesses: Too dependent on shugenja, to cut through the opposition, and heavily outfitted
an unmoving wall of lackluster cavalry and archers troops of foot soldiers equipped to fight in even the
armored infantry, truly
impassible terrain (which $ Typical Composition: Infantry augmented by most extreme conditions. Given the Unicorn’s special
their steeds may still shugenja relationship with their horses, even their foot soldiers
find ways to conquer), or keep and ride horses for transport across the desolate
perhaps some well-placed
$ Signature Warrior: Isawa Elementalist
steppe; as such, the Unicorn army is the most mobile
traps to send their horses
army in Rokugan.
sprawling.
Scorpion The Unicorn military is nothing without its horses,
so its movement and tactics are dictated by proximity
The Scorpion Clan has always favored subtlety and to grazing land and water sources. Once mobilized in
underhanded tactics; it is no surprise, then, that its battle, Unicorn cavalry approach as an engulfing swarm
army operates in similar fashion. The Scorpion army to thin the ranks of slower-moving enemy infantry, pre-
places a strong emphasis on stealth and surveillance; paring the way for the rest of the Unicorn to clean up
FROM KATSUHIDE: the arrival of its troops is often preceded by a silent afterward. If they are confined to smaller spaces where
invasion of scouts and spies eager for information. The they are less maneuverable, however, Unicorn choke
The Scorpion try, but they Scorpion’s skills in subterfuge allow them to imperson- easily. The Unicorn must reconcile their formidable
are simply not cut out for
ate their enemies’ messengers, soldiers, and support mounted forces with the demands of the battlefield in
real wars. They do excel
at dishonorable combat, personnel to conduct sabotage from the inside. every engagement.
however. When they are The Scorpion army is also notorious for its pref-
engaged under “fair” erence for traveling under cover of darkness. It only $ Strengths: Excel in open spaces, massive army,
conditions, any army may deploys its troops when the time is right, when attacks tactics unfamiliar to other clans
easily dispatch them—
which is why the Scorpion
can inflict maximum damage upon opponents. Its $ Weaknesses: Ineffective in tighter terrain, poor
ensure that the conditions shugenja are well versed in creating illusions to distract communication
are never fair. opponents on the battlefield as well. $ Typical Composition: Cavalry, both heavy
and light; archers (often also on horseback);
foot soldiers
$ Signature Warrior: Utaku Battle Maiden

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Armies in Action
Many magistrates travel lightly and thus rely on
local militaries for martial support against large
enemy forces.
As a culture, Rokugan is steeped in militarism. Every $ Address Internal Conflict: A clan might
samurai either is a warrior or plays a role that supports expand or reinforce its army to deal with an
warriors and enables them to engage in battle. Even internal threat such as a peasant insurrection
peasants play a major role in warfare in the Emerald or even a civil war. The clan will try to keep
Empire; heimin may be drafted into peasant levies or news about such conflicts under wraps, as the
do work that helps keep armies deployed and effective appearance of disunity or weakness tends to
in battle. embolden enemies. The exception to this rule
That said, the deployment of an army is a costly is the Lion Clan, which frequently permits lim-
and time-consuming endeavor. Moreover, deployed ited, supervised warfare between lords in order
samurai and commoners are not contributing to the to hone those armies’ skills and cull the weak.
Empire’s myriad other crucial affairs, such as oversee-
ing the lands, engaging in politics and cultural pursuits,
producing food, building and maintaining roads, and Conflicts with
so on. The employment and deployment of an army is,
therefore, not to be undertaken lightly. Other Clans
Given the significant expense of fielding a military Because conflicts between clans tend to attract the atten-
force, most provincial daimyō have relatively small gar- tion of the Imperial Court, they deserve closer exam-
risons ready to mobilize in times of peace. Depend- ination. Generally, the exact nature of such a conflict is
ing on the scope of the threat, one or more provincial determined by whether it has received Imperial sanction,
daimyō may be called upon to marshal their forces. as described in Sanctioned Conflicts (see page 18).
Cities maintain their own defensive forces, which In the absence of Imperial sanction, clans usually
are overseen by the city’s governor unless a general (although not always) limit themselves to small-scale
co-opts those forces into an army. Expansion and rein- actions. In peacetime, magistrates and the samurai
forcement of a clan’s army generally only occurs if it is lords of border settlements maintain a wary eye on
to be employed for a specific purpose, such as one of their neighbors of other clans. When tensions rise,
the following. lords deploy small detachments, often mounted, to
patrol the border, reporting to static lookout posts.
$ Secure a Clan’s Lands: A clan might expand
Should a patrol or lookout post detect an incursion
its standing army if it perceives an imminent
and survive to relay the news, their lord dispatches the
threat to its lands. In such a case, the clan
closest forces capable of meeting the threat.
sends forces to occupy positions along the
threatened border or maintains them in more
central locations from which they can be
redeployed quickly.
$ Fight Another Clan: Interclan battles are
the most common type of military conflict in
Rokugan, even if they are officially outlawed
without the Emperor’s explicit assent. A strong
army lets a clan attack or defend against their
current enemy.
$ Defend the Empire: It is rare for Rokugan
to face an Empire-wide threat, but should
it happen, each clan is expected to con-
tribute the largest military force possible to
the Imperial Legions, thereby uniting disparate
clans’ armies under a single banner.
$ Assist the Emerald Magistrates: Address-
ing threats such as banditry and cult activity
sometimes requires more yoriki (deputies) and
dōshin (peasant enforcers) than magistrates
have available, necessitating military assistance.

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 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES

The resulting battles tend to be brief, impromptu

clashes between relatively small forces. The attacker
commonly conducts a raid, a military operation
intended to achieve some particular objective—for
example, burning crops or seizing supplies—followed
by a rapid withdrawal. Clans studiously avoid using
the term “war” to describe such conflicts, describing
them as “skirmishes,” “disagreements,” “difficulties,”
or other euphemisms. Since no war is declared, such
hostilities have no formal start, and therefore no formal
end, continuing until one or both sides simply choose
or agree to stop.
In the case of a conflict that does receive Imperial
sanction, the aggrieved clan normally issues a formal
declaration of war. While the warring clans still conduct
patrols and raids, they may also mobilize much larger
forces, invading enemy lands in order to seize and
hold territory and resources. Prolonged battles involv-
ing massive numbers of troops may occur, with corre-
spondingly high casualty counts. When setbacks and
losses finally force one side to capitulate and accept a
peace agreement, the war formally ends.
Ikoma Hiroshika,
Advocate at Court
Ikoma Hiroshika,
ADVERSARY Advocate atRANK:
CONFLICT Court 3  5
Advocate at Court
Ikoma Hiroshika is a familiar face in the Imperial
Court in Otosan Uchi, appearing frequently before
the Throne to argue the finer points of what qualifies
as war within the Empire. Few Rokugani know the
sprawling body of edicts, petitions, and precedents on
sanctioned interclan war as well as she. Hiroshika’s is
a crucial role, especially given her clan’s penchant for
launching itself into military conflict. Whether a dispute
centers on land, resources, or a real or perceived injus-
tice or insult, the Lion Clan is eager to demonstrate it
is not to be trifled with. When its targets bring their
grievances to court, Hiroshika is well prepared to argue
that what they claim is a war is nothing more than a
disagreement, a skirmish, or a “matter of restoring
honor,” requiring no Imperial involvement. Rarely do
others find cracks in the armor of this elder courtier’s
reasoned, yet passionate arguments; to date, Hiroshika
has been successful far more often than not.

Sanctioned Conflicts SOCIETAL PERSONAL

70 HONOR ENDURANCE
14
The Hantei have recognized that they must walk a 2 4
fine line when it comes to conflict between the Great
65 GLORY COMPOSURE
12
Clans. Too much unrestrained warfare is wasteful and 4 3
can weaken the Empire. Prohibiting conflict entirely, 39 STATUS 3 FOCUS
7
however, can lengthen periods of inflamed tensions
between clans, and it can also weaken the Empire by +2, –2
DEMEANOR - RESERVED
VIGILANCE
3
allowing the clans’ military prowess to atrophy. Accord-

ingly, at the dawn of the fifth century, following a bru- ARTISAN 1 MARTIAL 1 SCHOLAR 4 SOCIAL 3 TRADE 1
tal clash between the Crane and the Crab, Emperor

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Hantei Fujiwa issued an edict prohibiting war between

the clans without the Throne’s permission. Since then, Legal Expert: Frailty:

a clan wishing to wage war upon another must petition  Social; Mental  Martial; Physical
the Emperor, laying out the case for its grievance. If the
FAVORED WEAPONS
Emperor approves the petition, the clan issues a formal

declaration of war. Considerable political maneuvering Wakizashi: Range 0–1, Damage 4, Deadliness 5/7,
typically surrounds such petitions, both for and against Ceremonial, Concealable, Razor-edged
their approval.
Gear (equipped): Courtly finery (Physical 1, Ceremo-
Still, clans sometimes engage in unsanctioned con-
nial), legal scrolls and texts, Go set
flicts (see page 17). The extent to which they can

get away with mobilizing large forces also depends

ABILITIES
upon political scheming. It is said that what constitutes
POWERFUL ARGUMENTS
a “war” within Rokugan is truly defined by whoever is
When making a Courtesy check, if Hiroshika does not
most persuasive in court.
keep any dice with results containing  symbols, she
It is noteworthy that some daimyō of the Unicorn
may spend  in the following manner:
Clan—which was absent from the Empire when Hantei
Fujiwa issued his edict—consider their clan to be offi- +: The target of the check receives strife equal to
cially exempt from the decree, following it only out of  spent this way.
respect for the Throne.

18

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)


Bastions of History
The people of Rokugan have an intimate relationship
with their history, the teachings of the Kami having
allowed them to keep intricate records going back
almost to the dawn of the Empire. Whenever a new
challenge faces samurai, almost assuredly the answer
to the problem lies in the past, in the experiences and
wisdom of their ancestors.
Chronicles of the Past
History and tradition are integral to every part of life in
Rokugan, from the practices of swordsmanship and war
to the elegant and ancient tea ceremony. Information
on these traditions and the meanings behind them is
preserved at locations spread throughout the lands of
every clan, places of great significance where history is
infused into the very foundations.
Akodo’s Leadership
There is perhaps no text with a greater influence on
Rokugan than Akodo’s Leadership. Written after the
War against Fu Leng, Leadership collects the Kami
Akodo’s thoughts and experience, both tactical and
spiritual, into a single volume that has become the
guideline upon which nearly all samurai base their
existence. Akodo codified his views on the warrior
spirit and presented it as something more than a sim-
ple code of ethics, but an entire way of life—Bushidō,
the way of the warrior. Over time, Bushidō, and by
extension Leadership, established how members of
Rokugan’s ruling class perceived themselves and the
world around them.
According to the philosophy of Akodo, the nature
of the world is war. Despite Hantei’s declaration of the
Thousand Years of Peace following the defeat of Fu
Leng, the Emerald Empire quickly found that tranquil-
ity between clans is a fragile, transient thing, and battle
is ever present. Just as Kakita sought the perfect sword
stroke, so Akodo sought the perfect, transcendent
form of battle. He introduced the art of war so that
the samurai of Rokugan might also learn to fight in a
flawless and honorable manner.
Leadership divides military philosophy into five
measures, each representing an element. These mea-
sures form the basis by which a military leader can eval-
uate their forces; any measure by which an army fails
is a flaw that can be exploited and ultimately lead to
its downfall. Each measure within Leadership contains
instruction for generals on how to properly command
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES
Leadership
QUOTES FROM
AKODO’S LEADERSHIP
and Censorship “A samurai must serve
and command, but before
Leadership has been altered not only with that, a samurai must
prepare and study.”
additions, but also through omissions. In the
year 445, Hantei Muratsugu removed Akodo’s
observations on the need for deception and
cunning in war, which the Emperor believed
were not in line with Bushidō. These passages
were censored from public copies of the text,
a decision that has greatly influenced the
forthright Matsu family. Many Emperors have
redacted and restored Leadership across the
line of succession.
in battle, how to represent themselves and their lords
in a proper manner, and how to train samurai to the
highest caliber. The measures offer instruction on con-
quering personal weakness, achieving strategic mas-
tery of one’s surroundings, preserving fundamental
military tradition, and innovating with new tactics.
Though Akodo was wise and had an unrivaled
military aptitude, he was able to recognize that even
he did not know everything there was to know about
war. To that end, Akodo left the end of the treatise
blank so that generals could add more tactics as they
developed them. Over time, the tome has become a
massive collection of observations and accounts of war
from the finest military minds in Rokugan’s storied his-
tory, with revised editions occasionally circulating into
the Empire’s libraries. The only original, unaltered text
remains in the care of the Ikoma.
Daidoji Library
One of the key lessons of Akodo’s Leadership is that an
army should be adaptable and capable of surprising
its foes. It would be unexpected for the Crane to take
these words from Akodo to heart, which is exactly why
they did. Ever pragmatic, the Daidoji family have long
collected the tactics of their foes, secreting the infor-
mation away in their library in Shiro Daidoji that it may
be studied, adapted, and implemented in shocking
new ways. In recent years, Daidoji Uji has been par-
ticularly aggressive in changing the attack patterns of
the Daidoji Iron Warriors, which has enabled the Crane
army to repel repeated assaults from larger forces. Lion
Clan assault teams have noted the Daidoji’s increased
use of deception on the field, as well as an alarming
increase in brutality.
19
 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
Tomes of Leadership and Influence
Much like Akodo’s Leadership, the works listed
below helped to shape Rokugan’s samurai into
what they are today:
Kakita’s The Sword
Kakita believed that swordsmanship was an art
form, and that it could be honed, as the samu-
rai had done with calligraphy and ikebana, into
something beautiful. “One soul, one sword, one
strike” served as Kakita’s mantra as he developed
the techniques of iaijutsu, the art of the fast draw.
His forms would become the foundation of fenc-
ing in Rokugan. The Sword also outlined the rules,
techniques, and necessity of the art of the duel
in Rokugan. A duel is not just a confrontation
of swords, but of souls. When a samurai loses a
duel, it exposes a flaw not in their technique, but
in themselves.
Bayushi’s Lies
“If telling a lie could save the life of the Emperor,
should it still be considered dishonorable?” Bay-
ushi’s Lies is remarkably candid—and horrifyingly
honest. Bayushi’s book exposed a Rokugan that
was superficially filled with trust, fidelity, and
honeyed words of honor, but was still driven by
humanity’s lust for power. Despite its duplicitous
subject matter, Lies was created with a noble pur-
pose in mind. Bayushi feared that an Emperor fed
only pleasant truths would be naïve and vulnera-
ble to betrayal.
QUOTES FROM
The Daidoji diverge from the rest of the Crane fam-
ilies in their acceptance of gaijin invention in their tac-
AKODO’S LEADERSHIP
tical library, kept in a secret wing known only to the
“No enemy was ever Daidoji family daimyō and their most trusted advisors.
overcome by repeating the With the exception of the Unicorn, all the Great Clans
same strategy. Innovation
learned the foundations of their tactics from the teach-
creates victory.”
ings of Akodo and Sun Tao. The Daidoji have accepted
that to truly innovate, they must be willing to look else-
where. For most Crane families, this would be a detest-
able idea, but the Daidoji have collected scrolls from
destroyed gaijin raiding teams and smuggling vessels.
These tactics from the most unthinkable of sources lie
waiting to be unleashed upon an unwitting foe.
20
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Mirumoto’s Niten
Niten, which means “Two Swords,” is a fighting
form developed by Mirumoto and recorded by
his adopted son, Hojatsu. The essay Niten pres-
ents five stances developed specifically for two-
weapon fighting. Developed with the goal of
killing gracefully and efficiently, the niten tech-
nique and the essay on it teach not just how to
move and how to strike, but also how to think.
Niten masters act with uncanny perception and
wield their blades with deadly precision. “There is
no thought, there is only the will. Will your oppo-
nent to be killed; your mind, body, and blade will
become as one, and make it so.”
The Tao of Shinsei
Shinsei developed the Tao in the earliest years
of the Empire, during the War against Fu Leng.
Most Rokugani consider it the definitive treatise
on humanity, spirituality, and the nature of the
world. The original copy of the finished work rests
in a place of honor in the libraries of the Isawa,
and it has been duplicated for study in every major
library in Rokugan. To this day, the Tao of Shinsei
continues to bring hope and compassion to the
lives of all the denizens of the Empire. For the
samurai, monks, and even peasants of Rokugan, it
is a way for them to better their lives and the lives
of others. Members of the Kolat, a secret society,
believe it validates their ruthless quest to topple
the Celestial Order.
The Great Library
at Kyūden Isawa
The Isawa family keeps the largest library in Rokugan,
a massive repository of knowledge on every subject
imaginable. The library is so enormous that it is broken
into three wings, each large enough to equal most other
libraries on its own. The Ethereal Wing contains informa-
tion unique to the Phoenix that delves into the realm of
the spiritual. It is the most complete known collection of
invocations, rituals, and information regarding shugenja
in Rokugan. The Resplendent Wing is dedicated to
great works of art, poems, and epics from across the
Empire. The final section, the Corporeal Wing, houses
histories, heraldry, and legal documentation.
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

Many of the historic events captured in the docu-

ments of the Great Library are first-person accounts.
Ikoma Nakidori THE OFFICE OF THE
JADE CHAMPION
Shiba was an avid observer and writer during his time in ADVERSARY IkomaCONFLICT
Nakidori
RANK:  2  1
the Empire, and he valued personal perspective when When the Empire still had
Longing for adventure, Ikoma Nakidori considers her-
a Jade Champion—the
documenting history. Rather than being simply factual self to be a songbird locked away in the gilded cage leading defender of the
recitations, many of the historic accounts in the Great of the High Histories, also called the Ikoma Libraries. realm from heretical
Library are poetic and elicit emotional connection. Having been trained as a battle crier, Nakidori earned threats—an office and
early commendations on the battlefield and walked quarters were built

High Histories with pride and glory alongside bushi. She was known
for them in the Great
Library. No other library
of the Ikoma to be fearless, and her war songs were fuel for the fire
raging in the soldiers of her company. One overzeal-
could offer the extensive
records needed to safely
In the late first century during the reign of Hantei Genji, ous charge and a grievous leg injury ended her career research and enforce
the libraries at Kyūden Ikoma (Sacred Watch Palace) spiritual justice. Though
afield and forced her instead to an assignment in the
the office is no longer
became the officially recognized repository of the High Histories. There, she is both elated and tor- occupied, the Isawa
recorded history of the Empire. The Ikoma historians mented by the sorting, writing, and memorizing of the family still maintains it
keep meticulous records of every moment of note in tactical history of the Lion, her spirit endlessly charged out of respect for those
Rokugan, from personal duels to major battles, from with stories of glorious warfare, and forever reminded who held the position in
the past and in case it is
Imperial proclamations to the whimsies of court, from of what she will never again be a part of. Ever dutiful, ever needed in the future.
samurai births to deaths. The records in the High His- Nakidori is glad to help any patron of the libraries with Some Rokugani even whis-
tories—another name for the Ikoma Libraries—are their studies of history and tactics, though she yearns per that the position is
preserved by monks dedicated to serving the Ikoma for a day she might escape to once again stand beside not actually vacant—that
historians. These monks carefully organize the dizzying it was just made more
warriors and light their souls aflame.
secretive to facilitate the
amount of information that the historians record daily,

defense of the Empire

compiling accounts from scouts and in delivered scrolls, SOCIETAL PERSONAL
from the threat of mahō.
from eyes and ears stretching all across the vast reaches 50 HONOR ENDURANCE
8
of Rokugan. The collection here is constantly reviewed 1 2
by historians, diplomats, court attendants, generals, 44 GLORY COMPOSURE
8
and all manner of samurai in need of knowledge.
3 3
Storing such a massive amount of information is 35 STATUS 2 FOCUS
5
a colossal task. While documents on historic figures,
poetry, war, law, heraldry, the kami, and other major
+2, –2
DEMEANOR - PASSIONATE
VIGILANCE
3
subjects are always readily available, the more esoteric
ARTISAN 1 MARTIAL 1 SCHOLAR 3 SOCIAL 2 TRADE 0
minutiae of history are filed away in the space-saving

dzuka, a series of narrow passageways between the ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

main floors of the library. Scrolls there are still orga-

nized, but they are tightly packed in efficient racks. Inspiring Presence: War Injury:
It is impossible to walk upright through these areas;  Martial; Interpersonal  Martial; Physical
typically, the attendant monks perform the less-than- Historian:
graceful task of hunting down records for samurai.  Scholar; Mental
Though chronicling the complete history of

THE HONORED SCRIBE

FAVORED WEAPONS
Rokugan is challenging, it is also an honor, a duty the

The Emperor graced the

Ikoma have performed with the utmost care and rev- Wakizashi: Range 0–1, Damage 4, Deadliness 5/7, Ikoma family with the
erence for centuries. The information held in the High Ceremonial, Concealable, Razor-edged task of recording the
Histories, including some of the most ancient texts in Empire’s history after
Gear (equipped): Scholar’s robes (Physical 1), sham- Ikoma Noritobe wrote
the Empire, has been referenced by many Emperors
isen, calligraphy set, scroll satchel his epic The Prince of
and used to save countless lives. The centerpiece of

Heaven detailing the life

the High Histories is a set of unaltered copies of Ako-
ABILITIES of a young Hantei Genji.
do’s Leadership, Mirumoto’s Niten, Kakita’s The Sword, Noritobe’s remains rest
LION EXPERTISE
and Bayushi’s Lies, all taken directly from the original in a place of honor in the
sources and among the oldest in the Empire. When Ikoma Nakidori assists another character mak- library, under a scroll rack
ing a Scholar check involving military or Lion Clan his- featuring information on
the Kami and the dawn of
tory, the character may roll two additional  instead
the Empire.
of just one.

21

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)

 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
Adventure Seed:
Counterfeit History
一 Hook The PCs have been invited to a
gathering at the High Histories of the Ikoma
celebrating the anniversary of the Lion’s vic-
tory over the Crane at the Battle of the Broken
Daishō. The PCs are asked to help investigate
when Phoenix historian Isawa Kabesuru pro-
duces shocking scrolls suggesting that the Lion
general Matsu Chusun won the battle dishon-
orably through deception and assassination,
having faked the surrender of Kakita Gosano.
二 Rising Action Chaos consumes the gath-
ering as documents are found in the libraries
that seem to be a confession from General
Chusun. In light of these contradictory find-
ings, Kabesuru immediately threatens to peti-
tion the Emperor to make the Isawa family,
and not the Ikoma, the official historians of
the Empire. As the PCs continue to investi-
gate the validity of the documents and the
intentions of the Isawa, they soon find them-
selves fighting to save their honor and their
lives: notes are uncovered implicating them
in a plot against the Lion, seemingly written
by their own hands!
三 Climax The PCs’ attempts to redeem
themselves uncover a plot woven by an
unparalleled artisan. Kabesuru has joined
forces with Kakita Oryosu, a skilled calligra-
pher and even better forger, who is more than
happy to restore the honor of Kakita Gosano
and destroy the reputation of the Lion and its
allies. Now that the two have had their con-
spiracy uncovered, they can’t afford to let the
PCs live to spoil their plan.
Kaiu Engineering
Academy
Located in Shiro Kaiu (Carpenter Castle), the Kaiu Engi-
neering Academy is where the greatest inventions of
the Empire are created. The only school in the Empire
devoted solely to the creation of technologies, the
Engineering Academy creates increasingly cunning
and deadly traps, ballistae, alchemical fire launchers,
22
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
siege engines, and more. If the Crab were ever able to
turn these weapons of war away from the Shadowlands
and toward the other Great Clans, it is questionable
whether anyone would be prepared to stop them.
Though the Kaiu have their eyes on the future,
their scholars continue to reexamine historic scrolls
to spark their creativity. One collection of documents,
restricted to Kaiu eyes only, are the documents of the
Blue Dreamers.
The Blue Dreamers were a group of Kaiu Engineers
who found that by ingesting the petals of a particu-
lar blue lotus, they would enter a strange, lucid dream
state. In that state, they imagined new inventions fully
formed and often created detailed diagrams. Curi-
ously, while the technology to realize these dream
inventions did not exist at the time, it is now possible
to complete some of them. The Blue Dreamer Kaiu
Desura, who died in 445, envisioned numerous inven-
tions with unrivaled destructive capabilities that have
just become possible to construct.
The blue lotus that allowed the Blue Dreamers to
enter this state is grown in the northwest corner of Uni-
corn lands. However, in recent decades the Unicorn
Clan, for unstated reasons, has refused to part with any
of its supply.
Secret History
of the Unicorn
The written histories of the Unicorn are unique among
those of the Great Clans. Early in the Empire’s his-
tory, the Ki-Rin, who would become the Unicorn Clan,
began their mass exodus from Rokugan. Ide himself
began to chronicle their wondrous travels and every-
thing they encountered outside of Rokugan. Adapting
the nomadic ways of the Ujik, the Ki-Rin kept their
history in the minds of their storytellers. These storytell-
ers, or kuurch, would memorize vast genealogies and
stretches of history and then share them with people
through stories, music, and art.
The earliest records of the Secret History of the Uni-
corn include not only art and song, but symbols lifted
from nature and animals, concepts that are not easily
translated back into Rokugani but are understood by
those raised in the Unicorn’s culture. In the year 138,
the Ki-Rin learned a form of calligraphy from Shima
Khilan, a captured Caliphate scholar, and soon began
transcribing their existing histories.
Since their return to Rokugan, the Unicorn have
translated a version of what they refer to as the Golden
History for the rest of the clans to see, highlighting the
beauty of the world surrounding the Empire. However,
 the shrewd Unicorn have not revealed the full depth
of their accumulated information. Still trapped away in
their symbolism, art, and song, and in writings in gaijin
languages, are the most ancient and valuable pieces
of their wisdom. Battlefield tactics, secret travel routes
around the edges of the Empire, ancient magics, and
their vital horse-breeding procedures are all hidden
where no other clan can reach them, behind the barri-
ers of language.
Akodo War College
In the second century, Lion Clan Champion Akodo
Tokoyama ordered the construction of a new castle,
one symbolic of the Lion Clan’s reverence for history
and tradition. Hayaken no Shiro, or Castle of the Swift
Sword (see page 62), was built to reflect elegance,
simplicity, and strength in the manner of Akodo. This
strategically important location would be the fortress
home of the Kitsu family and would house a temple
and shrines to memorialize the race for whom they
were named: the lionlike, shapeshifting kitsu.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
In time, the most important function of Castle of
QUOTES FROM
the Swift Sword took shape: it became the home of the
AKODO’S LEADERSHIP
Akodo War College. Initially a small, simple dōjō ded-
icated to the teachings of Akodo, it grew into one of “Lady Sun and Lord Moon
the two most prestigious military schools in Rokugan, made us with a left hand
along with the Kakita Dueling Academy. Some of the and a right hand. In the
left hand goes the text,
greatest tacticians and warriors of the Empire have
and in the right hand
come from the War College, and it is said that no grad- goes the sword. Remem-
uate has ever lost a battle. Even if that is not quite true, ber this.”
it is telling that the school’s reputation for greatness
has not wavered throughout centuries of conflict.
Training Grounds
As the oldest military academy in Rokugan, the Akodo
War College has changed little since its inception.
It continues to teach the same curriculum passed
down from Akodo to his own followers during the
War against Fu Leng. Even small changes to Akodo’s
teaching methods are frowned upon by instructors in
the War College; they believe that his words are to be
taught unaltered.
 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
Although the teachings of the War College have
remained static over the centuries, the scope of the
school has not. What was once a simple dōjō has grown
tremendously, and Castle of the Swift Sword is now one
of the major military strongholds of the Lion Clan. The
central castle still looks much the same as it did when its
construction was complete, its traditional design undis-
turbed by war or changing tastes. However, around the
central pagoda, the school has added training grounds
and barracks for many bushi, as well as storage space
for provisions for the ever-expanding army. High-rank-
ing samurai from every Lion family vie for space within
the castle walls. The Ikoma maintain a peerless library
of military history and tactical records in the castle, the
Matsu use it as a way station for troops on the move,
and the Akodo headquarter their war room there. As a
result, students of the War College learn the tactics of
every branch of the Lion and spar with every conceiv-
able type of opponent before their graduation.
Curriculum
At the heart of Castle of the Swift Sword is a single
purpose: war. At any given time, thousands of warriors
are stationed in or around the castle for training. Kiai
shouts and the ringing of steel can be heard throughout
the day, muffled only by the low rumble of hundreds of
stomping feet as soldiers conduct drilling maneuvers
outside the walls. The War College accepts only bushi
with noble heritage or who have demonstrated excep-
tional performance in the field. Although its student
population—and therefore, garrison—is smaller than
other military academies, its elite warriors would match
the mettle of any force that might dare to attack.
The Akodo War College divides its curriculum into
three seasonal courses. Students engage in rigorous
physical training and weapon mastery through the
summer and fall, followed by winter classes in philos-
ophy, tactics, and Bushidō. In the spring, the practical
and philosophical are combined in war games. They
are expected to set a sterling example for all samurai
serving alongside them or under their command.
The students at the Castle of the Swift Sword are
among the best-trained and most recognized samu-
rai upon their graduation, but they all still aspire to be
selected for the upper echelon of the War College: officer
training. Officers learn to lead groups of soldiers, to make
tactical assessments, and to organize sieges. Officer
candidates must learn from, and pass tests in, five dōjō,
displaying mastery over the five measures described in
Akodo’s Leadership. Trained by the most experienced
and decorated teachers in the Empire, officers from the
War College are virtually guaranteed an honorable com-
mand and a career serving with distinction.
24
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Adventure Seed:
Blighted Procession
一 Hook The PCs are among those invited
to attend a military procession at the Akodo
War College. Ikoma Ujiaki and commanders
of the Imperial Legions will be there recruit-
ing new graduates as sergeants for their
armies. The night before the parade, how-
ever, a mysterious illness strikes many of the
Lion present, including all of the clan’s new
War College graduates.
二 Rising Action The PCs investigate the
mysterious illness as the Lion Clan prepares
to lose face before the visiting commanders
of the Imperial Legions. Scholars research the
affliction medically, and bushi search for foul
play, but shugenja suspect that some foreign
magic has brought this upon the graduates—
gaijin magic in particular. Following the trail
to its source, the PCs discover a hidden camp
containing the notorious gaijin bandit Kelsa
Talar and her stealthy warriors. Talar can be
represented with the Skillful Rōnin profile
on page 316 of the core rulebook, while her
warriors can use the Experienced Bandit and
Desperate Bandit profiles on pages 315 and
316 of the core rulebook.
三 Climax Talar boasts that she plans to
kill the PCs and then take the weakened cas-
tle, but that strains credulity, even with the ill-
ness sweeping the college grounds. Secretly,
she was hired to compromise the Lion before
the arrival of the commanders of the Imperial
Legions so as to shame the clan. Her actual plan
is to leave the area shortly and return to Unicorn
lands, where she gained her assignment.
Mind and Body
Adjoining the War College is the Ikoma Hall of Scribes.
Though smaller than the High Histories—the libraries
at Kyūden Ikoma—it is still a very large library, full of
vital information for any military scholar. Developed as
an aid to the War College, it contains enormous sec-
tions on all topics that could be of aid to future military
campaigns. Scrolls about architecture provide informa-
tion that can topple defensive installations. Civics les-
sons offer insight into controlling a conquered people.
Geographical studies can reveal new paths by which
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

make him no friends in court or among the more con-

RELICS FROM
Tenjin, Lesser servative ranking officers of the Lion Clan. Having the BEFORE THE FALL

Fortune of Stories
good sense to stay away from formal affairs, Doju can
usually be found showing off his battle prowess in the Among the rarest and

and Secrets dōjō or talking up his military victories in sake houses. most unusual items to
be found in the High
He adores his mother more than anyone and takes her Histories are scrolls that
In nearly every great library of Rokugan is a aggressive combat training to heart. However, from predate Doji’s invention
shrine to the Fortune Tenjin. The High Histo- his father, Doju has inherited a love of dramatic histo- of the kanji writing
ries incorporate many such shrines through- ries and an unusually warm and open manner toward system. Many of these
feature pictographs used
out their immense collection space. A poet his friends.
by the cultures that were
of exceptional skill and minimal tact, Akodo Among the small contingent of soldiers under his present in the region
Tenjin was executed for offending Hantei command, Doju is known as a demanding but gener- before the Kami fell to
III with the bluntness of one of his poems. ous and gregarious leader. To his superior officers, he’s the Mortal Realm. Within
When a plague subsequently fell over the known as “that one who keeps making unsupported these images, scholars
have found curious and
Imperial Court, the Hantei sought forgiveness charges into enemy lines, but somehow manages to recurring drawings
and elevated Tenjin to the status of Fortune. come back alive.” Friend and foe alike know him for his depicting things such
Since that time, writers have come to Tenjin’s deafening war cries on the battlefield, instilling hope as people with snakelike
shrines seeking knowledge and guidance, in his allies and terror in the opposition. Ikoma Tsanuri lower bodies and human-
sized rodents in coats
leaving secrets as offerings in return. said of him after the last battle for Toshi Ranbo, “There
standing before gleaming
is no Lion who roars louder.” towers. While some schol-
ars (and Hiruma Scouts)
SOCIETAL PERSONAL know the identities of
to safely march troops or disclose natural barriers that
can trap an enemy force. All students of the War Col- 60 HONOR ENDURANCE
14 some of these nonhuman

lege are expected to have a well-rounded education 3 2 beings, the images’

meanings and why they
75 GLORY COMPOSURE
10
to keep them adaptable and capable in any situation. 2 4 are so common remain a

45 STATUS 2 FOCUS
6
mystery.

Presence of the Supernatural

The presence of kitsu shrines makes the War College
+2, –2
DEMEANOR - AGGRESSIVE
VIGILANCE
2
subject to an unusual amount of supernatural activity.

ARTISAN 0 MARTIAL 3 SCHOLAR 3 SOCIAL 2 TRADE 0

The Temple of Listening Ghosts, resting not far from

the gates of the War College in a secluded clearing, ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

is a regular destination for those reverent of the past.

Forever tinged with regret, the temple is a monument Inspiring Presence: Flamboyant:
to the nobility of the kitsu people, who are assumed  Martial; Interpersonal  Social; Interpersonal
extinct, and to the shame still felt for the genocide the Rounded Education:
samurai led against them in ancient times. All members  Scholar; Mental
of the Kitsu family travel to this shrine at least once in

FAVORED WEAPONS
their lifetime to remember the tragedy that begat their

family. However, bold students from the War College
visit there as well, as the spirits of kitsu are rumored
to sometimes emerge and give quests to samurai of
particular bloodlines.
Graduate’s Katana: Range 1, Damage 4, Deadliness
5/7, Ceremonial, Durable, Razor-edged
Gear (equipped): Personalized armor (Physical 3,
Resplendent, Wargear), wakizashi

Matsu Doju
ABILITIES

ROAR OF THE LION

ADVERSARY Matsu Doju
CONFLICT RANK:  5  2
As a Scheme and Support action during a skirmish,
A graduate of the Akodo War College who combines
Doju may receive up to 3 strife to force the same num-
the fury of his Matsu mother and the braggadocio of his
ber of enemy characters at range 0–3 to make a TN 2
Ikoma father, Matsu Doju encompasses all the skill and
Meditation check (Earth 1, Air 3). Each character who
passion of the Lion Clan. Doju’s ostentatious nature;
fails suffers the Dazed condition.
his hair, colored radiant gold like a Lion’s mane; and
his kimono, adorned with outlandish animal imagery,

25

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)


QUOTES FROM
AKODO’S LEADERSHIP
“Nothing is more
important than the art of
warfare, for it protects all
other art.”
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
The Empire at War
Conflict has troubled the Emerald Empire for most of
its eleven centuries. The vast majority of this histori-
cal strife has been local in scope: skirmishes and bor-
der disputes between the clans, and sometimes even
within them, as the ruling samurai have bickered over
land, resources, and matters of honor. Such conflicts
number in the thousands. Nevertheless, relatively few
military actions have swept up all of Rokugan, affecting
the entire Empire. Those that have done so have been
pivotal, both in the affairs of government and in the
evolution of Rokugani military philosophy and practice.
The following sections describe the most important
Empire-wide military actions, with particular emphasis
on the ways in which they have shaped the Empire’s
approach to warfare.
The War
Against Fu Leng
Shortly after they fell from the Heavens, the
eight Kami who had descended into the
lands that would become Rokugan held a
tournament to select one of their number
as Emperor. Upon prevailing, Hantei led
those Kami as they set about expanding and
consolidating their new Empire. Soon after-
ward, however, the siblings’ lost brother Fu
Leng, who had fallen apart from them into
the hellish realm known as Jigoku, arrived
and demanded his opportunity to become
Emperor—for they had held the tournament
in his absence, abandoning him to his bitter
fate instead of searching for him. When the
eight Kami rebuked Fu Leng, he unleashed
hordes of demons and other monstrosities,
sparking a bitter war that would last decades
and shape Rokugan forever.
The eight Kami and their followers fought
many battles against Fu Leng’s hordes during
this time, but despite their best efforts, they
stood at the precipice of defeat. Then, in the
year 42, a small group of mortal heroes selected
by Shinsei made a final, desperate attack on
Fu Leng himself. Those heroes, known as the
Seven Thunders, saved Rokugan and ended
the war. This struggle is known to virtually all
Rokugani, but how much of it is historical fact
and how much is heroic myth is no longer clear.
26
The Rise of the Empire
What is referred to as the rise of the Empire was not
a specific battle or conflict. Rather, it was the military,
cultural, and spiritual campaign to found, unify, and
consolidate the nascent Emerald Empire after the fall
of the Kami from the Celestial Heavens. Rokugan’s cal-
endar system, the Isawa Calendar, sets as year 1 the
year when a blazing light rent the sky and the Kami
fell to Ningen-dō, the Mortal Realm. For the next
two hundred years, the Kami spread their influence
across Rokugan, building an enduring empire through
ruthless expansion.
Despite what the official histories may say, Rokugan
was not born the moment the Kami landed in the Mor-
tal Realm. Immediately thereafter, each Kami began to
explore the lands in which they found themselves. In
those lands, they encountered diverse peoples who
encompassed a wide range of cultures, beliefs, and
systems of governance. Each Kami met people who
would change their perspective and life, and in turn,
each Kami’s actions shaped and changed the lives of
the people they encountered. Some of the Kami imme-
diately set about establishing domains of their own,
while others were pushed into positions of leadership
by their new followers. Although each Kami’s arrival
had a momentous impact, whether for good or for ill,
these divine beings each struggled with the purpose
of their new mortal life. Eventually, due to the Kami
Hantei’s efforts, the scattered siblings reconvened. This
ultimately led to a tournament, through which Hantei
assumed the title of Emperor, becoming Rokugan’s first
Imperial leader. The other Kami then traveled out into
the world and began to build what would become the
Great Clans of the Empire.
A Legacy of Strife
Two tumultuous centuries passed, during which the
growing Empire faced almost constant conflict. The
War against Fu Leng comprised much of the strife,
but by no means all of it. The eight Kami had already
swayed a number of groups to their cause through
their charisma, cunning, and force of arms. These
groups were coalescing into the beginnings of the
Great Clans. Some neighboring kingdoms and clans
saw the Kami as threats or as assets they wished to pos-
sess, and they moved to crush the domains the Kami
were building. An era of chaos emerged, as countless
factions struggled for dominance. The wars waged in
this time varied. Sometimes, the nascent Great Clans
fought to defend themselves from aggressors. At other
times, they were themselves the aggressors, striking to
seize land or resources held by neighboring groups.
The Emperor’s Kami siblings in Rokugan were at the
heart of these endeavors, each pursuing their own
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

goals and attempting to sway the Emperor to their ide- As a result, bitter fighting often erupted between IMPERIALISM IN
als. Seemingly invincible in battle against mortal foes, the early clans and those who rejected their way of life. ROKUGAN
unnaturally capable and convincing, these demigods Increasingly, any people who opposed the rule of the
changed the world in many ways—some good, some long-lived Kami or denied their divinity faced the Great Rokugan is a fictional
empire, but it does
terrible. For every monster slain or famine averted, a Clans’ violence and destruction. The Kami had begun
reflect the history of
village burned or part of a cultural legacy vanished. something greater than themselves, and for all their real-world imperial
And yet, despite the Kami’s power, many humans power, it was now beyond them to halt it. Whether powers in some ways,
balked at bending their knee to the strange, semidi- they wanted this legacy or not, the landslide could no including conquest, the
vine beings who had literally fallen from the sky. The longer be stopped. erasure of cultures, and
more. The inclusion
societies the Kami were shaping also began to move Conflicts continued to rage both within the clans’
of these events in
in ways the Kami could not have predicted—save per- lands and against outside powers. Ultimately, the Kami’s Rokugan’s history
haps inscrutable Togashi. From the start, some people followers achieved victory over their opponents, whether is not intended to
sought to use these divine beings for their own ends: driving them from their lands, subjugating them, or cul- rationalize or create
entertainment from
as tools with which to subjugate their neighbors or to turally assimilating them. Some groups became inte-
atrocities, but rather
secure their own power within society. Then, as time grated into the Emerald Empire without losing their to present a world that
passed and the Empire began to crystallize, Rokugani identities. The Isawa, for instance, still maintain the has problems resonant
humans increasingly identified with the Great Clans the unique culture they brought with them from the north with those of our own.
Kami had formed. The Kami had not, for the most part, thousands of years ago, and a number of the diverse Even so, GMs and
players should discuss
tried to push any ideology on humans. However, their set of groups called the Yobanjin accepted a degree of
how comfortable they
connection to Tengoku, the Celestial Heavens, became Imperial rule and doctrine but also maintained their own are exploring these
increasingly important to their children and grandchil- cultural traditions. Other Yobanjin societies left the lands themes before deciding
dren and those of their earliest followers. These descen- claimed by the Kami and settled in the Great Wall of whether and how to
delve into them.
dants sought power by emphasizing their progenitors’ the North mountain range, within Rokugan’s ostensible
divinity or closeness to the divine. bounds but beyond reach of the Emperor’s power. Still,

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 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES

the Great Clans destroyed some kingdoms and peo-

ples, or subsumed them so fully into the Empire that
their cultures vanished forever.
The growing Great Clans also fought one another
as they vied for control of land and resources to support
their growing populations. For the most part, the Kami
did seek to use negotiation and compromise whenever
possible, working to instill concepts of stable gover-
nance and diplomacy in their followers. Nevertheless,
even the most peaceful among them, such as Doji,
embraced a generally martial philosophy—reflecting
their youthful experiences in Tengoku—and believed
it necessary to wield military power against their sib-
lings’ followers from time to time. Some of the more
aggressive and militant, such as Akodo, even saw war
as desirable, believing it to be a far more orderly and
decisive state for a society than the endless, scheming
politics preferred by some of his siblings.
By the time the second century ended, the bor-
ders of the Empire and between the clans were largely
established. They have varied somewhat over the ensu-
ing eight centuries, but there are few instances in which
a clan has lost large tracts of territory for more than a
short period of time. This is not, however, because the
Empire has avoided strife. Though it has never reached
the bloodshed of the founding days of the Empire, the
era known as the Thousand Years of Peace has actually
been characterized by near-constant conflict.
The Battle of
Regret’s Shadow
In the early second century, the Lion Clan received a
dramatic opportunity to prove its martial supremacy
over the other clans. This came about when it waged
war against the rebellious forces of Doji Takamori,
the so-called Bloody Crane, who dared to look at the
Imperial Throne with eyes of avarice.
To Claim a Throne
By the second century, it appeared that the growing
Emerald Empire was in its cultural ascendancy. Those
who opposed it were scattered, and few major pow-
ers still opposed the might of the Hantei lineage.
Appearances can be deceiving, however. Subversive
elements lurked within the Empire’s social structure.
From among them, a man named Doji Takamori rose
to prominence. Nicknamed “the Bloody Crane” for
his ruthless approach to conflict, Takamori sought to
gain and consolidate influence among the Great Clans.
Over the course of several years, he assembled a coa-
lition among the Crane, Phoenix, and Scorpion Clans
and even some members of the Imperial families.

Lessons of History
The fundamental nature of war in the Emerald Empire
derives largely from this early period of its history.
While the Kami—particularly Akodo—introduced their
own martial ideas and philosophies, these mixed with
those of their original followers, giving rise to a hybrid
culture of war that still holds sway today. For instance,
the use of bows was already well established by the
region’s inhabitants, but they generally deployed
archers in small, loose formations of skirmishers. The
subsequent employment of bows in massed and dis-
ciplined units of archers, firing in a coordinated man-
ner, was an innovation that became widespread under
Akodo. Akodo also revolutionized the use of wartime
spies, often turning agents sent to observe him back
on their masters through false information or bribery.
Under the guidance of the Kami, the military forces
of Rokugan and, in fact, much of its social and politi-
cal structure, came to mirror the hierarchy and order of
Tengoku. This model has proven stable, and without it,
it is certainly possible that the Emerald Empire would
not have become such a durable institution.

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 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

By the year 120, Takamori’s following had grown large shadows and waiting to strike. The Emperor may once
enough to begin worrying the Emperor, Hantei Genji, more find it necessary to call upon the Lion to protect
also known as the Shining Prince. the Throne from such sedition.
To most observers, the support Takamori had
assembled reflected his sheer political acumen. In The Battle of
reality, however, Takamori was a man of endless ambi-
tion—one who knew that the world had existed before
Broken Hooves
the Kami and planned to be the one to rule the world In the fourth century—and for the first time since the
after they were gone. By 123, the Emperor had begun War against Fu Leng—the Empire was assailed by a
to discern genuine sedition simmering among Takam- serious external threat. This was a group of Ujik horse
ori’s coalition. The Shining Prince therefore approached lords, a largely nomadic people who live on the steppes
Lion Clan Champion Akodo Tokoyama and instructed and grasslands to the northwest and west of Rokugan.
him to prepare to stand against Takamori, whom he The term Ujik is somewhat misleading, suggesting a
believed would soon make a move on the Throne. single, coherent group. In fact, the Ujik encompass a
Sure enough, in the spring of 124, Takamori began wide and diverse array of cultures, religious beliefs,
marshaling a force west of the Mountains of Regret, and even ethnicities. The common factor uniting them
a rugged, forbidding range in northeastern Rokugan. is their penchant for living a primarily nomadic lifestyle
Takamori’s stated purpose was to march his forces in which horses play a central role.
north and confront the Yobanjin, an independent peo- As a result, the Ujik are superlative riders, using
ple who still had conflicts with the Phoenix and Dragon horses not only for transport, but also in war—to the
Clans in those days. Tokoyama harbored suspicions, extent that the concept of fighting on foot, as infan-
however, and assembled his own army at Loyalty Cas- try, is essentially foreign to them. In the fourth century,
tle, the Lion holding closest to Takamori’s forces. Rokugan and the other nations and peoples bordering
In the late summer of 124, Takamori made his the Ujik’s traditional lands did not make extensive use
move. He sent a small covering force westward to of cavalry. Consequently, foes on horseback typically
block Tokoyama’s army long enough to allow the main
part of his army to march on Otosan Uchi and seize the
Throne. The Lion Clan Champion was ready for this,
though, having already deployed a small force of his
own to the east of Shiro Akodo. The Bloody Crane’s
blocking force was itself blocked, allowing the main
body of Lion troops to intercept Takamori’s army near
the southern end of the Mountains of Regret.
The ensuing Battle of Regret’s Shadow saw the
Lion repeatedly outmaneuver the Bloody Crane’s
forces, blocking their way south and keeping them on
the defensive. Unable to seize the initiative, Takamori
soon found himself hemmed in against the Mountains
of Regret, Lion forces closing in on him like relentless
pincers from the north and south.
With most of his forces scattered and destroyed,
Takamori made a last stand. Witnesses claim he was
decrying the Emperor and the Kami as tyrants even after
the arrow that would shortly kill him had found its mark.

Lessons of History
The outcome of the Battle of Regret’s Shadow firmly
established the military prowess of the Lion—even after
the death of the Kami Akodo in the year 99—while also
clearly demonstrating the clan’s ongoing dedication to
the Kami and the Celestial Order. Despite the Lion’s
success over the Bloody Crane, however, rumors per-
sist that subversive elements who aim to end divine
rule over Rokugan exist to this day, hidden in the

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 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
proved overwhelming to the Ujik’s opponents. Indeed,
the only thing that likely prevented the Ujik from over-
running their neighbors and becoming the preeminent
power in the region was their own fractious nature.
Organized mainly into family groups, the Ujik have
a history of frequent infighting—sometimes for access
to favored grasslands and sometimes, it seems, purely
for the sake of conflict. During recurring events such as
the changing of seasons and various celestial phenom-
ena, the Ujik gather into larger assemblies, and these
sometimes war with one another. The Rokugani largely
remain blissfully unaware of the occasional sweeping
campaigns and huge battles fought almost upon their
western doorstep.
Furious Invasion
In the year 376, however, this was not the case. A par-
ticularly charismatic leader, known only as the Lord of
Grass, had risen to prominence among the Ujik. During
the height of his influence, a comet—also observed by
Rokugani astrologers—appeared in the eastern skies;
its tail was said to “wipe away half of the stars in the
sky.” Imperial scholars believe that the Lord of Grass
interpreted the comet as a sign from the Lords of Death,
an enigmatic pantheon worshiped by many of the Ujik,
that he should strike east on a campaign of conquest.
With a vast number of Ujik behind him, the Lord of
Grass launched an offensive that soon slammed into
the western border of the Empire.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Initially, the Ujik encountered little resistance, cross-
ing the Great Wall of the North mountains and entering
the Empire through the pass now known as the Ki-Rin’s
Path. Crossing the Snow Plain, then passing south of
Dragon’s Heart Forest, they finally encountered the
westernmost outposts of the Empire, an array of small
strongholds defended by the Lion Clan. The Lion gar-
risons, horrified by the sudden and wholly unexpected
appearance of a vast army of mounted gaijin warriors,
sent urgent warnings eastward before being overrun.
The Lion Clan hastily assembled a number of small
armies and flung them into the path of the Ujik, but the
Ujik destroyed them in a rapid succession of attacks
they carried out with ruthless precision. Mounted
archers would gallop into range of the Lion ranks, loose
their arrows, and then wheel away again before the
Lion could engage them. Once the Lion ranks were suf-
ficiently depleted and began to waver, a final, massive
mounted charge would overrun their battered lines,
sweep the survivors from the field, and decisively finish
the battle. Seemingly unstoppable, the Lord of Grass
pressed on, leading his enormous army ever deeper
into the Empire.
It was apparent to the Lion Clan Champion, Akodo
Kimiko, that stalwart bravery and skill at arms were not
going to be enough to defeat the Ujik. She therefore
traded space for time, withdrawing her forces eastward
ahead of the advancing Ujik and avoiding a decisive
engagement. Some Lion commanders saw this as
cowardice, but there was purpose to Kimiko’s actions.
Having seen the abysmal failure of the Lion’s earlier
piecemeal efforts, she concentrated her forces and
bolstered them with hastily formed levies of peasant
troops. At the same time, she studied information pro-
vided by the survivors of the earlier battles in order to
develop ways to counter the Ujik’s stunning mobility.
For almost two weeks, Kimiko maintained a delicate
balance between carefully readying her army to face
the invaders and keeping her own impatient generals
and commanders at bay. Finally, as the Ujik closed in on
Kyūden Ikoma (Sacred Watch Palace), Kimiko arrayed
her army to meet them on the plains north of the pal-
ace. This may have seemed an odd choice; the flat,
open terrain appeared to favor the use of cavalry while
providing little advantage for the defenders. Moreover,
despite having marshaled the largest army she could,
Kimiko and her forces were still badly outnumbered.
When the Battle of Broken Hooves was joined, how-
ever, Kimiko’s tactical cunning soon became apparent.
Sodden rice paddies on her army’s right flank stymied
the Ujik, limiting their maneuvers to her front and left.
The Lion also employed portable shields of wicker and
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

wood, carried and placed by the peasant levies, which

sheltered the ranks of samurai from the worst of their The Wars
attackers’ archery. Finally, most of the Lion warriors against Iuchiban
armed themselves with overlong spears and adopted
In the late fifth century, an evil sorcerer known as
square formations with soldiers facing outward in every
Iuchiban rose to power wielding potent, dangerous,
direction. Archers, enclosed in the middle, could fire in
and illicit magics in an effort to seize control of the
any direction from a position of relative safety.
Empire. Worst of all, Iuchiban seemed to have power
The Ujik hurled themselves at the Lion again and
over life and death themselves. Not only did he return
again. While the Lion suffered losses each time, Kim-
several times after appearing to have perished in bat-
iko, who personally led the army, kept her troops
tle or via assassination, but he was able to animate
rallied and their lines solid. Moreover, many of the
corpses to do his bidding and fight on his behalf. He
peasants, who previously had been only shield bearers,
even imbued those foolish and corrupted mortals who
picked up the spears of fallen Lion warriors and took
chose to follow him—the Bloodspeakers—with the
their places in the line of battle. Now it was the Ujik
power to do likewise.
attackers who suffered the more egregious casualties.
Finally, after a long, bloody day of fighting, the
Lord of Grass pulled the remaining Ujik back out of Immortal Villainy
archery range and arrayed them in a single huge for- Iuchiban’s original identity is the subject of debate,
mation. The Lion braced for a massive final charge, at least among those few scholars brave enough
but the mounted invaders only raised a single, echo- to delve into lore perilously close to the forbidden.
ing shout—apparently a salute to their unbroken Lion Some believe that Iuchiban was a gaijin magician who
opponents—then turned and thundered off westward. arrived in the Empire in secret, slowly gathering a cul-
Eventually, they passed back through the Ki-Rin’s Path tish following about him before launching his terrible
and left the Empire. They have not returned in such campaign of conquest. Others contend that Iuchiban
great numbers since. was actually a Rokugani—an ambitious samurai lord,
a power-hungry shugenja, or perhaps even a relative
Lessons of History of the Emperor—whose thwarted ambitions led him to
strike sinister bargains with corrupt powers. Still others
The Battle of Broken Hooves marks several important
believe that Iuchiban was never human at all, but rather
milestones in the evolution of Rokugani military tactics.
an ancient and malevolent being from some bleak and
It was the first major battle to see the employment of
long-forgotten Spirit Realm.
large peasant levies. In previous battles, most peas-
What is known is that in the year 510, the Lion,
ants had been relegated to supporting tasks, such as
Crane, and Crab Clan Champions all perished under
bringing supplies forward and removing casualties.
mysterious circumstances. With such dreadful events
The commoners were otherwise considered unsuit-
unfolding, a Scorpion Clan magistrate, Soshi Takasho,
able for combat. In this battle, despite being deployed
undertook an investigation that eventually led him to
only as shield bearers, the levies acquitted themselves
the Imperial Capital. There, accompanied by Imperial
with great heroism; many died alongside Lion samurai,
Guard Akodo Minobe, he uncovered an insidious plot:
standing against the Ujik charges.
a cult of Bloodspeakers, led by the elusive Iuchiban,
Since this battle, ashigaru have become an increas-
was engaged in a foul ritual to animate the dead who
ingly important, often pivotal, part of Rokugani military
had been laid to rest in the city’s tombs and catacombs.
forces. In fact, some commoners are effectively profes-
No sooner had they made this terrifying discovery than
sional soldiers. These serve in standing ashigaru garri-
Takasho and Minobe were themselves discovered by
sons or travel from region to region serving lords who
the Bloodspeakers. While Minobe fought a desperate
employ them for military campaigns. More broadly, the
rearguard action against the undead monstrosities pur-
battle shows the importance of innovations in thinking,
suing them, Takasho was able to raise the alarm.
such as trading space for time, choosing decisive times
This was fortunate, because otherwise, the city
and places for battles, and incorporating flexibility in
would have been caught completely unaware and
formations and weaponry. This not only would influ-
overrun by an implacable horde of the undead. Vir-
ence Imperial military philosophy generally, but also
tually the entire population would have been slaugh-
would serve the Lion well when the returning Ki-Rin
tered. Even worse, the Bloodspeakers would have
clan confronted them four centuries later.
animated those casualties, dramatically swelling the
ranks of their ghastly army.

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 A HHAPT
C I S T EORRY1 :OGL
F HOO
R INOOURS H I S T O R IES
Despite the warning and the immediate efforts of
the city’s guards, the battle went poorly at first for
the Imperial defenders. Their vile attackers simply
shrugged off wounds that would have slain a mortal
warrior outright. The defenders’ morale wavered, as it
seemed that their undead attackers simply could not
be slain or stopped. It was Akodo Minobe who eventu-
ally realized that decapitation and total bodily destruc-
tion were the two most effective means of neutralizing
the undead. Changing their tactics accordingly, the
Rokugani forces began to solidify their defenses, call-
ing upon all shugenja who performed Fire invocations
to join their ranks. More and more forces joined the
battle, until all of the clans found themselves united
in fighting what would become known as the Battle of
Stolen Graves.
Unfortunately, centuries of interclan conflict
meant that the clans did not fight together effi-
ciently; a great deal of friction arose due to variations
among their formations, tactics, and even battlefield
signals. The resulting confusion led to many more
losses. Even so, and despite the unspeakable horror
the Empire’s forces faced, they eventually contained
the army of undead. The Imperial forces went on the
offensive, fighting street by street and building to
building until they had destroyed all the undead hor-
rors. What happened to Iuchiban in the chaos was
not recorded even in Takasho’s personal account,
which has been preserved by the elite sages of the
Scorpion Clan’s Kuroiban, the Black Watch.
Interlude and Renewal
After the battle, the Emperor declared that from
then on, all bodies must be cremated rather than
buried or entombed. This would prevent them from
ever being subjected to animation by foul sorceries,
a previously unimagined threat and a vile desecration
of the remains of honored ancestors. In the mean-
time, several contradictory versions of the battle
and the events leading up to it were deliberately
spread across Rokugan. These accounts attributed
the battle variously to a peasant revolt, a gaijin inva-
sion, an attempted coup, a rogue Imperial Legion,
and an incursion from one of a number of possible
Spirit Realms. Common to each version of the story
was the ultimate, righteous triumph of the Imperial
authorities.
In the same vein, virtually all references to the
battle, Iuchiban, and the Bloodspeakers were omit-
ted from the Imperial histories; the whole incident
is described only as a “brief period of unrest in
Otosan Uchi, which was quickly resolved.” This is
likely why, to this day, so much uncertainty swirls
32
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
around Iuchiban’s origins, his nature, and the particu-
lar threat he and his cultist followers posed. Legend
has it that his body was sealed in a warded tomb,
its location unknown even to its architects, but the
truth of the matter is obscure. Whatever solution
they sought, Imperial authorities declared that the
threat had passed.
Unfortunately, death cannot contain one who can
raise the dead. Iuchiban was patient, his immortal-
ity affording him time to plan his next approach as
carefully as he pleased. This time, he acted more
subtly, reaching out slowly and from afar. Eventu-
ally, his schemes began to bear fruit. New Blood-
speakers began to crop up throughout the Empire,
growing increasingly organized as their dreams led
them to each other. Finally, more than two hundred
years after his defeat at the Battle of Stolen Graves,
Iuchiban had rebuilt a loyal but profoundly secretive
following, and they empowered his spirit with a body
that could support his return.
The Return
In 750, Iuchiban walked again on Rokugani soil.
Aided by a vast Bloodspeaker Cult, he possessed
the body of one of his strongest followers and once
more began summoning an army of the undead in his
efforts to conquer Rokugan. Meanwhile, his Blood-
speaker disciples instituted a wave of unrest, assassi-
nations, and sabotage throughout Rokugan to hinder
the Empire’s ability to organize a response. Amid the
spreading confusion, the Bloodspeakers converged
on the Twilight Mountains in the southern reaches of
the Empire to join their evil master.
Marshaling his monstrous forces south of the
great Shinomen Forest, Iuchiban launched them on
a vicious rampage that swept across the lands of
the Scorpion Clan, culminating in the fall of Ryokō
Owari Toshi, the City of Lies. The Scorpion desper-
ately implored the other clans for assistance, but
they knew it would take the clans time to raise forces
large enough to offer meaningful help, as their own
lands had been ravaged by the death and dissension
spread by Iuchiban’s followers.
Accordingly, the Scorpion fought a bitter and bru-
tal rearguard, now known as the Battle of the Bloody
Retreat, to buy the needed time. Pressed relentlessly
by the horde of undead, the Scorpion were forced
ever northward, toward the Spine of the World
Mountains. Eventually, they were forced out of their
lands entirely, and into Beiden Pass. The Scorpion
fought bitterly every step, but even in the narrow
confines of the pass, they could only slow their awful
foes, not stop them. Finally, with the last of their

legions about to break, the battered Scorpion forces
were driven out of the pass and into the open coun-
try to the north, where they could easily be overrun
and destroyed.
It was now, when all seemed lost, that the Lion
Clan finally arrived. Its powerful army, fresh and
eager for battle, flanked Iuchiban’s forces from the
south and drove them northward. By the time the
Lion reached the vicinity of Sleeping River in the
present-day Unicorn lands, forces dispatched by all
of the clans had arrived to support the Lion and Scor-
pion. Once again, the Empire stood together against
Iuchiban’s vile legions.
A brutal clash known as the Battle of Sleeping
River ensued. Lasting several days, the battle saw
the Bloodspeakers and their undead legions once
more defeated, albeit at a heavy cost to the Imperial
forces. As before, the clans’ uncoordinated efforts
struggled against the unified might of Iuchiban’s
undead. Afterward, again recalling the Battle of Sto-
len Graves, Iuchiban himself was never found. Some
legends say that his body was still in its tomb, cack-
ling in the darkness as his mind reached across the
world. Others claim that the tomb had never existed,
or that a tomb with his name did exist, but Iuchiban
had never been the one interred in it.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPT ER 1: A HIST O RY O F HO NO R
Lessons of History
The initial War against Iuchiban represented the first
time since the War against Fu Leng that the Empire
faced a powerful, supernatural foe who had to be
fought inside Rokugan’s borders. The Empire’s strug-
gles against Iuchiban demonstrated to the clans that,
despite their fractious politics and infighting, it was
necessary for them to remain able to quickly put
aside their rivalries and unite against a common foe.
To that end, the period following Iuchiban’s sec-
ond defeat saw much more interaction and cooper-
ation among the clans when it came to addressing
threats. For instance, the clans substantially bol-
stered the Emerald Legions, which in turn fostered
countless interclan friendships, often between indi-
viduals of great influence. This meant that it became
far more common for the schools of one clan to
accept samurai from another. Interclan cross-training
of military leaders was the norm for the better part
of a century, leading to more standardized wartime
practices. Of course, the clans still each maintained
their own unique methods of waging war—they did,
after all, remain potential enemies amid the perpet-
ual push and pull of Imperial affairs. Nevertheless,
their ultimate objective was to ensure that, should a
threat as dire as Iuchiban ever arise again, the clans
could rapidly mobilize and cooperate in defense of
the Empire.
 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES

The Battle of
Grim Resolve
In the seventh century, the Lion Clan’s martial power
was put to grim purpose, its legions being deployed
at the Emperor’s order to obliterate the Bear Clan, a
Minor Clan that supposedly had fallen into terrible
corruption, driven by the blood-tainted sorcery known
as mahō. The truth of the matter is more problematic,
however, and may not be as unequivocal as the official
histories record.
last conflict in the brief campaign, took place near the
present-day village of Shaiga, just northeast of the
Kitsune Forest.
The Bear Clan forces, hopelessly outmatched,
nonetheless fought bitterly. The few who survived the
Lion onslaught are reported to have fled into the enig-
matic gloom of the Kitsune Forest. When the battle
ended, the Bear Clan had been obliterated, and with it,
the threat of its rampant blood magic ended. The fate
of the Bear Clan still stands as a reminder of the Lion’s
readiness to enforce the Emperor’s will against any clan
that would defy the Celestial Order.

Mahō and Mystery Lessons of History

Little detail remains available regarding the Bear Clan.
In the years since, quiet discussions among historians
What is known is that this Minor Clan occupied lands
and other scholars have cast some doubt on the affair.
north of the Kitsune Forest, on the southern border of
It seems strange, for example, that such an egregious
the Scorpion Clan. The Bear gained Minor Clan sta-
use of blood magic could have occurred undetected,
tus from “an Emperor in the fourth century, in recog-
and for so long, in lands bordered by the Scorpion Clan
nition of valuable service performed for the Throne by
to the north and the Crab Clan to the south. More-
a samurai of heroic stature.” If records exist describ-
over, although mahō is a grave offense against Imperial
ing which Emperor authorized the clan’s formation,
law, not a single charge was ever brought against any
or what “valuable services” were performed by which
member of the Bear Clan. Some scholars instead claim
“samurai of heroic stature,” they are lost or carefully
to have found hints that the Bear had actually been
hidden away.
embroiled in a dispute with the Imperial authorities
What Imperial records do chronicle is that in the
over taxes.
early seventh century, “disquieting news” reached
The fact that the Emperor chose the Lion to redress
Emperor Hantei XVII regarding the Bear Clan. An
the situation, rather than the Imperial Legions, has
unnamed Emerald Magistrate reported that, despite a
some scholars further believing that the whole matter
period of favorable weather that made harvests rela-
may have been intended as an object lesson to the
tively bountiful across the Empire, many of the Bear
population about subordination to Imperial authority.
had fallen ill and were starving. The Emperor ordered
These scholars speculate that the Lion had made a
a deeper investigation, whereupon a horrific discovery
secret agreement with the Emperor to destroy the Bear
was made: the Bear Clan Champion was a mahō-tsukai,
Clan as a way to glorify their own clan and enhance
a practitioner of evil and blasphemous blood magic.
their reputation for martial ruthlessness.
Worse, many of her followers had also adopted the vile
While the official history remains one of rooting
practice. Fearing that such foul sorcery not only would
out and destroying corruption, these surreptitious
corrupt the Bear Clan and bring the Taint to its lands,
questions demonstrate the extent to which milita-
but also would spread, afflicting the lands and peoples
rism is embedded in Imperial politics. It also empha-
around it, the Emperor ordered the Lion Clan to put an
sizes the truism that warfare in Rokugan is, in the end,
end to the threat.
merely an extension of those same politics, serving
Accordingly, the Lion Clan Champion marched
to achieve objectives that cannot be as readily—and
a powerful array of legions south. Upon arriving in Bear
dramatically—accomplished in court.
lands, the Lion army immediately set about destroy-
ing the Minor Clan. The Battle of Grim Resolve, the

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Battles of the
Great Famine
In the latter part of the seventh century, Rokugan was
afflicted by a tumultuous period known as the Great
Famine. As crops failed and disease spread, haphaz-
ard and often tyrannical leadership throughout the
Empire exacerbated the population’s misery. Although
the Imperial Histories downplay the era as a “relatively
brief period of strife” that soon led to a “resumption of
a glorious time of prosperous peace,” the bitter truth
was that the Empire was riven by almost five years of
rampant starvation and disease, riots, insurrection, and
open war among the clans.
Driven by Desperation
From the year 660 to the year 665, Rokugan was sub-
jected to a period of relentlessly bad weather: intense
drought broken by bursts of torrential rain, compounded
by heavy snowfalls during unusually long and cold win-
ters. These climatic extremes ravaged the Empire’s
crops, resulting in one poor harvest after another. Des-
perate appeals to the Fortunes and elemental spirits all
failed to rectify the implacably worsening situation.
By 662, food stocks were badly depleted, and
famine spread among the clans. Outbreaks of disease
began to compound the already dire situation. Water
fever, in particular, spread rapidly due to flooding from
the sudden, intense rains and high-volume snowmelt,
which ran off too quickly to alleviate the drought but
still contaminated water supplies.
Despite this, the Emerald Champion refused to
lower Imperial taxes on the scant food the struggling
farmers did manage to produce. Exacerbating the
mounting troubles, Emperor Hantei XX—a ruthless and
devious ruler—bestowed arbitrary and dramatic favor
on the Lion and Crane Clans while expressing little
interest in the others. He ensured that these two clans
received adequate supplies of food by increasing taxes
on the rest of the Empire.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES
In 662, the simmering resentment finally boiled
over. Riots erupted in the City of Lies in Scorpion lands,
the City of Remembrance in Phoenix lands, and even
in the Imperial Capital, Otosan Uchi. The Imperial
Legions, bolstered by Lion and Crane troops, ruthlessly
crushed the insurrection. The number of commoners
killed in this bloody crackdown is not recorded, but
anecdotes from the time suggest a horrific death toll.
This ended the immediate threat, but it hardly quelled
the unrest—in fact, it threw fuel on the fire, prompting
riots and sabotage to spill from the cities and into the
surrounding countryside. Disaffected commoners, and
even many samurai disillusioned by the brutally repres-
sive response from the Imperial authorities, loosely
organized themselves into the People’s Legion.
This ad hoc army established itself in the northwest-
ern portion of the Empire, in what would later become
Unicorn lands, but they were no match for the Imperial,
Lion, and Crane army dispatched to confront them.
The long and grinding campaign that followed could
have only one outcome: the People’s Legion eventu-
ally were obliterated.
Still, even the Lion and Crane were not
immune to the turmoil shaking the Empire.
In 662, a Lion Clan delegation crossed
the Drowned Merchant River to confront
the Dragon Clan because it had done
little to stem the flood of starving ref-
ugees driven southward into Lion
lands. However, the Dragon Clan
Champion, who was in meditative
seclusion, refused to meet with the
commander of the Lion delega-
tion, General Akodo Masaumi.
Enraged, Masaumi marshaled
an army and made to march
into the Dragon lands.

A Dragon army
engaged the Lion soon
after they crossed the border.
The ensuing Battle of Drowned
Merchant River raged on for several
days with neither side gaining the upper
hand. The arrival of a Phoenix Clan force
finally convinced Masaumi to parley with his
opponents. This led to a truce. The Lion agreed
to withdraw and provide some assistance to the
famine-ravaged Dragon; the Dragon, in turn, agreed to
curtail the movement of refugees into Lion lands.
A conflict that erupted in the Empire’s south was
not so easily resolved. When Crab Clan Champion
Hida Tsuneko appealed for aid for her clan in the Impe-
rial Court, she was derisively dismissed, particularly by
the Crane. In what became known as the Rice War, the
Crab and Crane Clans engaged in an intense trade dis-
pute over rice other foodstuffs. As the dispute esca-
lated, Tsuneko and the Crab invaded the Crane lands.
Initially, and despite being critically short of food, the
Crab prevailed in battle after battle, driving the belea-
guered Crane forces northward. Only the timely arrival
of several Imperial Legions stabilized the faltering
Crane, bolstering their defenses against the relentless
Crab advance.
Finally, just outside of Lonely Shore City, Tsuneko’s
offensive ran out of momentum. The Crab, their food
stocks exhausted, were forced to plead for peace. As
the Crane had the backing of the Imperial Legions
and the favor of the Emperor, the Crab had no choice
but to accept a treaty that included a range of severe
punitive measures. These included reparations to the
Crane to be paid in coin, food shipments, and other
resources the Crab simply could not afford. Many Crab
still bitterly contend that the harm caused by this treaty
contributed significantly to the near-victory of the oni
known as the Maw when it led a massive attack against
the Empire fifty years later.
36
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Lessons of History
These battles demonstrate the extent to which social dis-
order can lead to unrest and conflict. While the Battle of
Drowned Merchant River shows that such situations can
be resolved through diplomacy, the Rice War is an object
lesson in the deleterious effects of supply shortages—
especially of food—on military campaigns. The Crab, in
particular, have since remained keenly aware of the need
to keep their armies well supplied, which is why they find
the Empire’s casual and even contemptuous dismissal of
their supply and matériel needs so infuriating.
The Battles of
Kyūden Tonbo and
the Great Climb
In the early eighth century, the Lion general Akodo
Yokutsu was betrothed to Phoenix samurai Isawa Moroko
as part of a series of negotiated agreements between
the two clans. Moroko’s family held many of the plains
to the north of Toshi Ranbo, east of Dragon lands and
west of Drowned Merchant River. However, before the
marriage could take place, Moroko’s family broke off the
betrothal so that Moroko could be free to marry her true
love, Mirumoto Ashijin of the Dragon Clan, and allowed
her to retain her inheritance even after she joined the
Dragon. Enraged at the loss of Moroko’s lands and what
he perceived as a personal slight, Yokutsu petitioned his
champion for leave to marshal an army and attack the
Dragon as revenge for “stealing” the territory he was
owed. The Lion Champion agreed but limited the size
of Yokutsu’s army to avoid any appearance of starting a
war unsanctioned by the Throne.
Lands and Legacies
In the year 704, Yokutsu led his army across the border
and into the lands of the Dragon. His objective was
Kyūden Tonbo, or Dragonfly Palace, Ashijin and Moroko’s
new holding in the southern Dragon lands. Yokutsu’s
unbridled wrath was not unexpected by the newlywed
couple, however. Realizing that their new home lacked
the defensive works to withstand a determined attack,
they appealed to their respective clans for help. When
Yokutsu reached Dragonfly Palace, he found a combined
Dragon and Phoenix Clan army waiting for him.
Undeterred, Yokutsu launched his attack. In the
ensuing Battle of Kyūden Tonbo, he made some ini-
tial headway, but his army’s limited size soon meant he
had to commit his small reserve force. Unable to main-
tain the momentum of the attack, Yokutsu’s army was
forced on the defensive. Eventually, the Akodo realized
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

he could not win the day and tried to retreat, but Phoe-
nix shugenja led by Mirumoto Moroko used their ele-
mental power to block the Lion forces’ withdrawal.
Yokutsu had no choice but to parley with his victorious
opponents. They required him to swear to the Emperor
that he would never again attack the young couple;
in recompense, the Dragon offered him a yearly tax
of rice and ore from Ashijin’s and Moroko’s lands, to
last as long as his and his heirs’ lives. Enraged, Yokutsu
refused the offer and withdrew, swearing wildly that he
would still have Moroko’s lands for his own.
In the aftermath of the battle, the agreement nego-
tiated between the Lion, Dragon, and Phoenix Clans
prompted the Emperor to recognize Moroko, Ashijin,
and their followers as members of a new Minor Clan,
the Dragonfly. The Hantei granted them the new fam-
ily name Tonbo, further insulating them from potential
political challenges. The Dragon ceded to the newly
minted Dragonfly Clan the lands south and southeast
of the Great Climb (including Moroko’s territory), with
the understanding that the new Minor Clan would help
to further both clans’ interests. In particular, the Drag-
onfly would act as the Dragon’s gatekeepers, receiving
visitors and ensuring that only those with approved or
important business were permitted to journey onward
into the mountains. The Lion Clan Champion consid-
ered the Dragon’s and Phoenix’s loss of tax revenue
from the region to be an appropriate consequence
for its role in the broken engagement. Yokutsu saw
matters differently.

Excuses for War

For seven years, peace held in the lands of the Drag-
onfly. Akodo Yokutsu had not assuaged his wrath,
however, and he continued to brood over his failed
attack on Kyūden Tonbo. He bided his time, waiting
to quench his thirst for blood; since his oath prevented
him from attacking the Dragonfly, he set his sights on
the Dragon Clan. An opportunity finally presented
itself in 711, when a Dragon ambassador spoke some
rash and poorly chosen words in the court of Shiro
Akodo (Loyalty Castle). This was all the pretext Yokutsu
needed to resume his egregious quest for revenge.
He marshaled another army, carefully marched
around the Dragonfly lands in order to maintain his
vow, then struck north for the lands of the Dragon Clan
beyond. He met the Dragon defenders in the Battle of
the Great Climb. It was a relatively brief conflict; Yokutsu
had obsessively developed specific tactics against the
Dragon, who relied on their mountainous terrain to bol-
ster their defense. Unable to hold against the Lion, the
Dragon forces withdrew into the stronghold of Shiro
Mirumoto (Last Glance Castle).

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)

 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
Yokutsu maneuvered his army to surround the
castle and threatened to besiege it, even though it
meant starving the defenders out. He then offered
an alternative: he could instead face Tonbo Ashijin—
formerly Mirumoto Ashijin—in a duel. The Dragon Clan
Champion realized that his clan could never be free
from Yokutsu’s aggression until the matter was finally
resolved, as Yokutsu would never relinquish his warped
view that Moroko and her lands were a possession Ash-
ijin had stolen. Ashijin likewise came to understand that
Yokutsu would not rest while he remained alive—and,
worse, that the brash Lion’s descendants would proba-
bly perpetuate the grudge even if Ashijin were to slay
Yokutsu. Accordingly, the Dragon agreed for the duel
to take place, and Ashijin allowed the vengeful Akodo
to slay him. Yokutsu, finally satisfied that his “honor”
had been cleansed, brazenly declared himself the new
Champion of the Dragonfly Clan.
Yokutsu’s tyranny was short-lived, however. Ashijin
and Moroko had adopted a young samurai, Tonbo
Kuyujin, as their son and heir. Kuyujin, trained in the
art of dueling by the Shiba family of the Phoenix Clan,
challenged Yokutsu to a duel to avenge his father
and protect his pacifistic mother. Kuyujin won, killing
Yokutsu, and was recognized by the Emperor as the
new Champion of the Dragonfly Clan.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Lessons of History
While these battles offered little in terms of advancing
Imperial military philosophy, they are instructive in other
ways. In particular, they demonstrate the role of per-
sonal vendetta in driving violent conflict. Akodo Yokutsu
went down in history as being synonymous with selfish
grudges—his unwillingness to relent ended up costing
the Lion Clan lives as well as reputation. The Battle of
the Great Climb also shows that not all wars are won by
battlefield triumphs; victory can very much come down
to other factors, such as the outcome of a duel.
Breaking
Betrothals
The match between Akodo Yokutsu and Isawa
Moroko certainly wasn’t the first betrothal to
be broken in the Empire’s history, nor was it
the last. The dissolution of a betrothal isn’t
undertaken lightly, and usually matchmak-
ers and clan negotiators will attempt to find
alternative means of securing alliances or
transferring lands to compensate. The indi-
viduals involved are expected to accept the
outcome, even if it means enduring what
might seem to be a personal insult.
In 1123, once again the Lion found
themselves on the receiving end of a bro-
ken betrothal—this time for a match struck
between the Ikoma daimyō and the Unicorn
Clan Champion. Hostilities between Lion and
Unicorn had been growing since before the
match was made, however, and the match
itself was designed to prevent further con-
flicts. Some believe the Ikoma created a
match that the Unicorn should have never
accepted in the first place, fully expecting the
Unicorn to reject or break the betrothal and
thus giving the Lion the pretense of having
first tried to secure a diplomatic solution.
 The Battle of the
Hour of the Wolf
The Battle of the Hour of the Wolf is one
of most infamous battles ever fought
in Rokugan. It is also one of the most
poorly understood. Even the histori-
ans of the Lion Clan’s Ikoma family,
renowned for their minute atten-
tion to detail when chronicling the
Empire’s military history, have little
to say about this particular battle. This
may be because it is remembered as
a terrible tragedy for the Lion. In any
case, the Battle of the Hour of the
Wolf has obtained an almost mythic
status, which is only reinforced by
the eerie legends that have grown in
its aftermath.

With the coming of morning, the few, battered

An Accursed Hour
According to extant accounts, sometime between
the seventh and ninth centuries, a combined force of
Scorpion and Crane legions sought to push northward,
through Beiden Pass, and into the lands of the Lion
Clan beyond. For reasons unknown, once through the
pass, this army turned east, following the south shore
of the Lake of Sorrows and marching back toward
Crane territory on the northern side of the Spine of the
World Mountains. The army then turned south, finally
clashing with a Lion army consisting almost entirely
of Matsu legions on the northern shore of the Lake
of Shining Glass. Historians speculate that the two
armies may have actually fought prior to this, and that
the Scorpion-Crane force was simply pushed east and
south by the victorious Lion, forcing it to seek refuge
in Crane lands.
Regardless, on the shore of the Lake of Shining
Glass, a ferocious battle ensued. Fighting raged all
through the day and, contrary to normal Rokugani mil-
itary practice, did not cease with the coming of night.
The armies, locked in a vicious struggle to the death,
simply continued to fight, the carnage illuminated
only by torches and the wan light of Lord Moon. It is
said that ten thousand samurai were killed during the
Hour of the Wolf. Scholars argue over whether this is
hyperbole—few armies of that era had enough samu-
rai to sustain such losses—but the number is widely
circulated regardless.
remnants of both armies withdrew, leaving their dead
strewn across the field. So much blood had been
spilled that the Lake of Shining Glass had turned crim-
son; it was later renamed Red Lake.
To this day, on the anniversary of the Battle of the
Hour of the Dog (which they renamed Hour of the Wolf
after the horror of the battle), it is said that the lake once
more turns red, and blood washes up on its shores. The
lake is also said to be haunted. The Lion further con-
sider it sacred, a resting place for their ancestors who
fell in the battle and were lost in the bloody waters. As
they make pilgrimages to the many ancestral shrines
that dot the lake’s shore, the Lion remember the battle
as a terrible tragedy for their clan, even though losses
among the Scorpion and Crane are believed to have
been just as severe.
Lessons of History
From a strictly military perspective, this is a rare exam-
ple of a large-scale night battle. This is something that
Rokugani generals largely eschew, given the difficulties
of deploying, maneuvering, commanding, and con-
trolling a large army in the dark. It is also an example
of a battle in which both sides were nearly eradicated.
The darkness and consequent loss of effective com-
munication between generals and their units probably
contributed heavily to the carnage as, being unable to
receive commands to withdraw, both sides likely kept
fighting until collapse.

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 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES

The Return of the Ki-Rin prey to whatever strange and terrible peoples and pow-
ers they likely had encountered. The Ki-Rin became a
In the year 45, three years after Fu Leng was defeated cautionary tale among the people of the Empire, an
on the Day of Thunder, the Kami Shinjo led her clan object lesson in the dangerous hostility of the foreign
on a long, arduous journey beyond the boundaries of lands that would feed Rokugan’s growing isolationism.
the Empire. While the growing Empire was rebuilding
following decades of ruinous war and beginning the Invaders from the Past
campaign to cement its borders, Shinjo was intent on
It was with great surprise, then, that in the year 815,
exploring the surrounding world. The treachery of her
a large force, most mounted on powerful warhorses,
fallen brother, with whom she had been close, affected
suddenly arrived in the southern reaches of the Empire
her deeply, so she was determined to ensure that no
having apparently traversed the Shadowlands. The
other force could come to pose a threat to the Empire.
Crab, who encountered them first, immediately pre-
Accordingly, she chose to project the Empire’s aware-
pared to withstand an assault by these strange outsid-
ness beyond its borders, to identify such possible
ers. The travelers claimed, however, to be the long-lost
threats and learn how to avoid or defeat them.
Ki-Rin Clan, now called the Unicorn Clan. For nearly
Most of her clan—known as the Ki-Rin, after a fan-
eight hundred years, they said, they had wandered and
tastic, enchanted creature that took a form similar to
explored the world outside the Empire, and now they
that of a horse—followed Shinjo on her long journey.
were back.
Those who remained eventually became a Minor Clan
Unfortunately, any forces approaching the Empire
in their own right, the Fox Clan. The bulk of the Ki-Rin,
from the Shadowlands, a sinister land of evil, were
however, journeyed across the Plain of Wind and Stone
suspect. Such forces might appear human, but when
and through the Burning Sands. They passed not only
it came to the Shadowlands, the Crab had learned that
out of sight of the rest of the Empire, but largely out
appearances could be tragically deceptive. Meeting
of memory as well. Eventually, the Ki-Rin assumed an
the Unicorn vanguard forces with a hail of arrows, siege
almost mythical status among the Rokugani. More to
engines, and some of the finest warriors in Rokugan,
the point, most Rokugani assumed that they had van-
the Crab initially rebuffed them.
ished into the surrounding world, either lost or fallen

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However, the Unicorn had ridden through the Shad- Rokugan and the Unicorn hordes finally emerged from THE BATTLES OF
owlands and knew the dangers they would endure by the mountain passes in Lion lands, they found them- WHITE STAG AND THE
remaining in Fu Leng’s territory. With the Crab unable selves arrayed against a well-organized army of trained RAGING SEAS
(or perhaps unwilling) to recognize them for who they ashigaru and valiant samurai. This time, their speed,
By the fifth century, the
were, the Unicorn followed their Clan Champion, power, and adaptiveness no longer worked to their
Empire had established
Shinjo Nishijin, who acted with swift decisiveness. advantage, as the Lion army was prepared for such a relatively open relations
The Battle of Burning Shadows was brief and brutal, force. Yet the two armies never crossed arms, for at the with the various foreign
the Crab defenders finding themselves unprepared eleventh hour, an emissary from Otosan Uchi arrived powers that existed
for the techniques the warriors from distant lands with a decree from the Emperor. beyond its borders. For
some years, represen-
employed. Invoking foreign magics theretofore unseen While the hordes had been crossing the mountains
tatives of these gaijin
in Rokugan, the hordes’ Iuchi shugenja blasted a mas- and defeating their foes in combat, Unicorn diplomats nations had engaged
sive hole in the Kaiu Wall, and the hordes overran the had ridden to their ancestral allies among the Crane. the Empire in diplomacy
unprepared Crab defenders. Although the inheritors of Lady Doji were skeptical that and trade. Unfortunately,
this new openness to
Before the Crab could even begin to formulate the foreigners were the returned Ki-Rin Clan, the Uni-
foreign relations did
a response, their line of battle had broken and their corn diplomats still carried a sandalwood fan: the one not last; pressure from
forces dispersed. Reeling from the unexpected assault that Doji had given Shinjo before the Ki-Rin departed more conservative and
and unsure how best to oppose their mounted foes, more than 800 years earlier. The historians of the Miya traditional factions in the
the Crab allowed the Unicorn to pass them by and and Asahina authenticated the ancestral artifact, and Empire eventually led to
an Imperial decree for-
regrouped to focus their efforts on repairing the Wall. the Emperor acknowledged the Unicorn as the succes-
mally expelling all gaijin
Meanwhile, the Unicorn took little time to rest before sors of the Ki-Rin. With the support of the Crane Clan diplomats and merchants
marching deeper into the Empire. Champion, the Unicorn Clan was welcomed into the from Rokugan.
In a series of successive battles, the Unicorn faced Empire and, by Imperial decree, given back their lands
In the turmoil that
armies raised by the Lion, Phoenix, and Scorpion in the northwestern portion of Rokugan. The Lion, who followed, bitter fighting
Clans. In each case, the Unicorn’s use of massed cav- had been caretakers of those lands for centuries, were erupted between Imperial
alry charges overwhelmed their opponents and drove unable to gainsay an edict directly from the Emperor; and gaijin forces, culmi-
nating in two large and
them from the field. At the Battle of White Shore Plain, nevertheless, they struggled to give up towns and
consecutive clashes: the
the Unicorn defeated a Scorpion army despite the farmlands that had essentially been theirs for so long. Battle of White Stag and
underhanded tactics its commanders employed. At To this day, the Lion and Unicorn continue to clash over the naval battle known
the Battle of Thunder Grove, the Unicorn thwarted a their territories, each having an ancestral claim to the as the Raging Seas. The
Lion ambush with a cavalry retreat that drew the Lion lands surrounding the Drowned Merchant River and Battle of White Stag is
described in more detail
soldiers into a counter-ambush that destroyed them. Three Sides River that they are unwilling to cede.
in the Legend of the Five
And at the Battle of the Peaks, as the Unicorn hordes Rings Game Master’s Kit.
crossed the Spine of the World Mountains, a team of Lessons from History These battles were fought
Phoenix Air Elemental Guards and the Hurricane Initi-
in and around the Imperial
ates attempted to ambush them, only to be rebuffed Since the return of the Ki-Rin Clan as the Unicorn, the
Capital, Otosan Uchi.
by spirits they did not recognize that answered the Empire has seen a widespread adoption of cavalry Imperial forces eventually
commands of the Unicorn shugenja. forces by the clans, including the use of warhorses, defeated and drove off
An important advantage of the Unicorn’s caval- rather than ponies, and the employment of saddles the gaijin forces, but
and stirrups. The clans have also widely implemented only after the foreigners
ry-dominated forces soon became apparent to the inflicted great damage on
other clans: unprecedented strategic mobility. While cavalry tactics.
the city and killed many of
being mounted doesn’t necessarily make an army Despite this, the Unicorn remain the undisputed its inhabitants. The legacy
much faster than one traveling mainly on foot, it masters of mounted warfare. Accordingly, the clans of this debacle was a
have also developed a range of techniques and tactics renewed distrust of foreign
does allow for much longer marches and swift reac-
powers, sparking not just
tions. These advantages allowed the Unicorn to dic- to deal with opposing cavalry, including the use of stout
a resurgence of Rokugani
tate where and when battles would be fought, seizing spears and obstacles to block and break charges, the isolationism, but an actual
the initiative from the other clans and forcing them to employment of square formations to avoid presenting hardening of it as official
abandon long-proven strategies. mounted opponents with vulnerable flanks, and a fuller Imperial policy.

Finally, as the snows of winter descended upon appreciation of terrain that limits a foe’s use of cavalry.

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The Battle of ever-mounting losses. Eventually, Sakura realized she

might win the battle, but even now lacked sufficient
Snow Plain force to reliably hold the Snow Plain for her clan. She
finally called for a parlay with Kamu. The battle ended
In the year 820, the Lion Clan faced an unprecedented
in a tactical stalemate, which represented a strategic
and complex situation—nearly half of its lands had just
loss for the Lion, who faced a winter on the plain with-
been given to the returned Unicorn Clan. Reluctant to
out actually having secured it. Still, thanks to intense
sacrifice the way of life his people had known for nearly
lobbying from the Crane, who considered the Unicorn
eight hundred years (not to mention a great deal of
their allies, the Emperor quietly issued a decree: the
fertile land), the Lion Clan Champion Ikoma Kojima
Lion would surrender the Snow Plain to the Unicorn
pressed his claim to many of the outlying towns and vil-
in perpetuity, while in return, the Unicorn would give
lages the Emperor had assigned to the Unicorn. While
most of the region’s food production to the Lion Clan
he and other Ikoma envoys brought numerous such
for a period of ten years.
cases to the Imperial Court, he did not shy away from
leveraging the Lion’s unmatched armies to defend his
clan’s history and honor. Lessons of History
Although ultimately inconclusive, this battle was an
Blood in the Water important one from the perspective of fighting in
Rokugan. By defying the expectations of the Lion—who
The Snow Plain, one of many regions the Lion had gov-
had anticipated facing mostly cavalry—the Unicorn
erned in the centuries since the Ki-Rin Clan left, was
had demonstrated the importance of unpredictability
a fertile area located south and west of White Shore
and innovation in warfare. The battle also showed that
Lake. While the Emperor had given the Snow Plain to
while maintaining an aggressive momentum is import-
the Unicorn, he had issued the edict less than five years
ant, it must be tempered by sound judgment. Sakura
before, and the clan was still in relative disarray. Taking
was headstrong and prideful, pressing her tactical
advantage of this opportunity, the Lion Clan Champion
offensive forward and losing sight of her strategic goal:
ordered his most skilled general, Matsu Sakura, to mar-
to take and hold the Snow Plain for her clan.
shal an army to strike for the Snow Plain and return it

The Battle of
to the Lion.
Sakura had studied the cavalry tactics of the Uni-
corn in great detail and carefully prepared her army Fate Gorge
throughout the summer to defeat them. In the fall,
In the year 1100, a bitter dispute flared in the Impe-
Sakura launched her offensive. The Unicorn command-
rial Winter Court between a high-ranking Lion Clan
ing the defenders, Shinjo Kamu, struck back at the Lion
general, Matsu Uniri, and the Phoenix Clan’s Master
army with a succession of small cavalry raids. Sakura
of Water, Isawa Kaiyoko. In addition to performing
was undeterred, however, and simply drove onward,
his duties to the Lion, Uniri served as a general in the
pushing Kamu’s forces ever westward.
Imperial Legions. During his tenure, fewer of the Phoe-
By the middle of the autumn, it seemed that Sakura
nix’s Isawa Elementalists entered the legions each year,
would be fully in possession of the Snow Plain. Then,
until only Water Elementalists who specialized in heal-
Lion scouts reported that a large Unicorn force had
ing were joining the ranks. As the Master of Water, Kai-
appeared not far to the west and was arraying itself
yoko had forbidden those shugenja from calling upon
HISTORICAL for battle. Again, Sakura didn’t hesitate, immediately
the kami for any violent purpose. Uniri saw this as a vio-
DISCREPANCIES preparing her army for an attack. By the time she had
lation of the chain of command, while Kaiyoko warned
her forces deployed, the Unicorn had established a
Scholars who study the that the spiritual repercussions of using shugenja on
strong defensive position among rice paddies, based
Battle of Snow Plain have the battlefield outweighed Uniri’s wishes. She argued
long been intrigued by
not on strong cavalry forces, but on spear-armed infan-
that although the Isawa family maintained the Elemen-
some inconsistencies in try. This initially threw the Lion into confusion. Between
tal Legions, this elite force was to be reserved for only
both the official histories their belief they’d be confronting cavalry, not infantry,
and surviving personal the gravest of threats, such as those presented by the
and the difficult approach to the Unicorn line of bat-
documents. The scholar Shadowlands or the Bloodspeakers.
tle through the still-sodden rice paddies, the first Lion
Bayushi Kiriko holds that The dispute boiled over when a Shiba commander
the accounts were likely attack was repulsed with heavy losses.
in the Imperial Legions joined the argument, agreeing
altered not by the Lion, The battle raged for the next several days, amid
but rather by Imperial with his general that the Water elementalists should
periodic snowstorms and generally worsening weather.
bureaucrats seeking to sow do more than just heal. Moreover, he said, the rest of
The Lion made steady gains, but at the cost of
discord among the clans.

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the Council of Elemental Masters could stand to spare Lessons of History

a few Isawa Elementalists specializing in Air, Earth, or
Fire as well. After the Shiba’s ill-fated contribution, The Battle of Fate Gorge is a testament to the scar-
Emerald Champion Doji Satsume, leader of the Impe- city and potency of shugenja in the Empire. Invoked
rial Legions, commanded that those legions remain by only a handful of Isawa Elementalists, the fury of
neutral in the dispute. However, he could not stop the elements can turn the tide on a battlefield or wreak
Matsu Uniri from marching his own Lion Clan forces havoc upon war camps and supply lines. Despite this,
into Phoenix lands to forcibly requisition the shugenja the clans rarely employ shugenja in battle, maintaining
he believed the Imperial Legions were owed. the same caution advocated by Kaiyoko. Most com-
manders keep their precious shugenja in relative safety
Magic against Steel and relegate them to supporting roles such as healing,
controlling the weather, or rapidly creating earthwork
Isawa Kaiyoko could not bear to simply stand by and defenses. By the year 1123, Kaiyoko’s shugenja had
watch as the Shiba family’s small armies paid the yet to be unleashed against the Emperor’s enemies,
bloody price of her refusal. To her side, she summoned although they had proved pivotal in the Imperial
the Tsunami Legion, one of the Elemental Legions, to Legions’ rescue efforts after a tsunami struck the
dissuade Uniri from continuing his march. By making a Crane coastline in 1120.
few displays of force, including summoning a powerful
typhoon to slow his soldiers’ progress, she hoped to
discourage him from continuing to fight. However, this
only reinforced Uniri’s desire for the Isawa Elemental-
ists’ offensive capabilities. Undaunted, the Lion contin-
ued their advance, until they imperiled the lives of the
very students Kaiyoko was teaching at the Elemental
Academies. She couldn’t allow the conflict to con-
tinue—she had to stop Uniri, and quickly.
Under the cover of torrential rain, Kaiyoko dis-
patched assassins to kill Uniri. Although they elim-
inated their target, they had not anticipated that his
wife, Yunaki, and his daughter would be in the same
war tent and would put up a fight of their own. A skilled
warrior and commander in her own right, Yunaki dis-
patched several of the attackers. Ten years old and
armed with only a wooden practice sword, the girl who
would grow up to become Matsu Tsuko killed one of
the assassins herself.
The next day, Matsu Yunaki assumed command
of the Lion army and prepared to attack the Phoenix
in what would become known as the Battle of Fate
Gorge. It was Uniri’s young daughter who proved the
true rallying point for the Lion, however. Despite her
tender years, her cries for vengeance for her father,
one of whose “craven assassins” she had slain “only
with a stick,” spurred the Lion as they charged into
the waiting ranks of the Phoenix. By the end of the
day, the Phoenix had been driven from the field with
heavy losses, and the Lion were victorious. Rather than
endure further casualties, Kaiyoko surrendered many
shugenja from her Tsunami Legion to Yunaki, and the
conflict ended.

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The Battles of When one clan was in power, its symbology would be
shown and worn throughout the city, while that of the
Toshi Ranbo other would be hidden away—at least until the ruling
clan changed again.
Established by the Lion Clan in the fifth century, Vio-
The centuries of strife led to a butcher’s bill: thou-
lence Behind Courtliness City—more commonly known
sands of dead samurai, even heavier casualties among
as Toshi Ranbo—is located in a key strategic position
the peasant levies, and countless noncombatant com-
between four Great Clans and surrounded on all sides
moners caught in the crossfire. It wasn’t until 1118 that
by fertile farmland. It sits on the northern border of Lion
the situation seemed to change decisively. In that year,
lands along the Drowned Merchant River, a major trade
the Tsume family, vassals of the Crane’s Doji family,
route in northern Rokugan. The northwestern end of
launched an attack from their holdings in the Golden
the Crane-held Golden Valley (Kintani) is also very
Valley—holdings they had seized from the Lion only a
close to Toshi Ranbo. The Dragon possess the lands
short time before. The Tsume had already destroyed a
to the north and west of the city, while the Phoenix
Lion Clan vassal family, the Damasu, and the Tsume’s
control those to the north and east. It is little wonder,
ruthlessly ambitious daimyō, Tsume Retsu, had wasted
then, that Toshi Ranbo has seen conflict rage around its
no time in pressing on with his offensive. He succeeded
ownership, mainly between the Lion and Crane Clans,
in seizing Toshi Ranbo, effectively ending the bloodline
for nearly its entire history.
of another Lion Clan vassal family, the Goseki, in the
process. The Crane Clan Champion supported Tsume
Clashes for Control Retsu’s actions, albeit somewhat reluctantly, given the
Originally, the area that would become Toshi Ranbo con- dramatic extent to which doing so would worsen rela-
sisted of a formidable fortress surrounded by only a small tions with the Lion. Retsu, through his swift, decisive,
settlement. The intent of Toshi Ranbo’s Lion founders and brutal action, had succeeded where generations
was to establish a headquarters and secure base for mil- of his Crane forebears had not. When Retsu returned
itary operations against the Crane, Phoenix, and Dragon to the Kintani, the Doji assumed formal control of Toshi
Clans. The Lion were concerned about the Crane, in par- Ranbo and began to consolidate their hold upon it.
ticular; an offensive launched by that clan from the river
could quickly break into open territory and threaten to Lessons of History
overrun much of the eastern Lion Clan lands. The Akodo
The Battles of Toshi Ranbo demonstrate multiple
tacticians studying the problem eventually settled on the
aspects of Rokugani warfare, but two, in particular,
area surrounding the fortress as the best place from which
stand out. First, the Crane and Lion Clans elevated the
not only to block any Crane aggression, but also to proj-
political scheming around permissible interclan combat
RECENT ect power against their neighbors.
to a veritable art form. Despite hundreds of years of bat-
DEVELOPMENTS From these relatively humble beginnings, Toshi
tle and bloodshed, in only a very few specific instances
Ranbo has grown into a full-fledged city—despite hav-
In the spring of 1123, were their conflicts officially considered “war.”
the Crane and Lion have
ing been the focus of almost constant conflict since
Second, the Battles of Toshi Ranbo exemplify the
a fateful confrontation about 150 years after its founding. In the late sixth
Rokugani preference for direct assault over siege war-
at the gates of Toshi century, the Crane Clan, becoming increasingly wary
Ranbo. Akodo Toturi and fare. Large, sophisticated siege engines and equip-
of growing Lion power on its northern border, abruptly
Matsu Tsuko witness the ment are normally only used by the Crab Clan in their
attacked and seized Toshi Ranbo, holding it for a short
slaying of the Lion Clan grim, unending struggle against the Shadowlands.
Champion, Akodo Arasou, time before the Lion retook it. This marked the begin-
Inside the Empire, protracted sieges are rare, even
by Doji Hotaru's arrow. ning of repeated instances in which the city switched
against strongly defended targets.
Ostensibly to reduce ownership. While under Crane control, Toshi Ranbo
tensions, the Emperor Instead, direct assaults on fortified locations are far
would become a base of operations from which the
Hantei XXXVIII appointed more common, rarely utilizing anything more sophisti-
Emerald Magistrate
Crane could strike into the Lion’s northern provinces
cated than mobile shields, ladders, and battering rams.
Bayushi Yojiro to admin- along the Drowned Merchant River, just as Lion strat-
This tends to limit damage to towns, cities, and castles,
istrate the city, with egists had feared. The Lion would, therefore, amass
support from the Imperial helping aggressors retain their value and avoid costly
forces to drive the Crane back, retake Toshi Ranbo,
Legion (featuring a and time-consuming repairs. Even more favored is the
and launch their own attacks into Crane territory. The
suspiciously high number Lion strategy of bypassing and isolating garrisons; gen-
of Scorpion legionnaires). Crane, in turn, would push the Lion back and recapture
erals simply do not like engaging in the grinding attri-
This effectively usurped the city, and the cycle would repeat itself.
tion of a lengthy siege and would much rather achieve
Crane control through a Indeed, the city changed hands so often it was said
political coup, proving swift and decisive results.
that citizens kept sets of identifying regalia for both.
that not all battles are
won on the battlefield.

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 The Lion Clan
At the heart of Rokugan stands the Lion Clan. This is true
in more ways than one. Not only do Lion’s provinces lie
at the center of the Emerald Empire, but the Lion Clan
is the core of its greatest martial tradition: that of the
samurai as a warrior. From its founding, the Lion Clan has
existed for the purpose of making war, but its samurai
are also the keepers of Rokugan’s martial traditions and a
living reminder of the Empire’s warrior heritage. The Lion
have taken this calling to heart, and over the centuries,
their soldiers have become the mightiest military force.
The Kami Akodo forged the Lion Clan into the
blade of the Emperor, prepared to attack or defend at
his command. The Lion are the Empire’s warrior con-
science, reminding its samurai what honor demands.
They are the scholars of war, producing some of the
finest tacticians the Empire has ever known. They are
keepers of Bushidō, the path of the samurai. And
through it all, they are the staunchest allies of the Han-
tei line, ever ready beside the Emperor, just as Akodo
and Hantei stood at the dawn of the Empire.
The Emperor’s first commands to the Lion Clan are
carved into the foundation of every Lion dōjō, so that every
student who crosses the threshold knows them by heart:
“Be my sword and armor, my living memory, my lantern
in the night.” The Lion interpret these orders as the clan’s
ancestral duty: to be the military arm of the Emperor, to
preserve and champion Rokugan’s warrior traditions, and
to remind the Emperor’s servants that they are samurai.
Codifying Bushidō, the way of the warrior, is among
the Lion’s most influential contributions to Rokugan’s
culture. Before Akodo, the concept of warriors’ honor
existed in many groups, but it varied across the land
and was rarely formally codified. Akodo sought to
clearly define Bushidō in his seminal text Leadership,
which outlines a code of seven virtues shared by all
honorable warriors. Although the Lion live as though
they invented the code, Akodo himself said Bushidō
is an innate truth that honorable warriors know by
instinct, and that ancient heroes walked the warrior’s
path without ever having known its name.
While ancestor worship is a prolific practice among
samurai, the Lion are especially dedicated to it. Their
practices go back further than those of most clans,
and they remember the names of more than just the
greatest clan heroes. Each Lion family keeps ances-
tral records of every person born into the family and
presents offerings to them all. Further, the Lion have
more ancestral festivals than any other clan, and their
household shrines to the ancestors are more elaborate
and crowded than any others. In the richest homes,
the household shrine is a separate building with halls
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
dedicated to especially heroic figures.
Of course, the Lion also worship the Fortunes,
especially Bishamon, the Fortune of Strength, and
Hachiman, the Fortune of Warfare. However, they con-
sider worship of the Fortunes a different religious prac-
tice altogether. Fortune worship is transaction based,
while ancestor worship is their sacred obligation. They
believe that a Lion fights not alone, but with genera-
tions of ancestors by their side.
Families of the Lion
The four great families of the Lion date from the dawn
of the Empire. The Akodo guide the clan as its moral
compass and de facto leaders, tracing their ances-
try back to their namesake and the clan’s legendary
founder. Steady at their side are the warlike Matsu, who
supply the bulk of the Lion’s military forces as the clan’s
largest samurai family. Together, the Akodo and Matsu
lead, united by respect but differing in vision and phi-
losophy. Adventurous and studious, the Ikoma are the
Lion’s scholars and diplomatic face, keeping the clan’s
histories, advising elders, and representing the Lion at
court. Finally, the Kitsu family of shugenja is the clan’s
spiritual anchor, its connection to the ancestors and the
will of the Heavens.
The roles and the hierarchy of the Lion families are
as objective as an army’s military ranks. However, all
four families have led the Lion at some point in his-
tory. Most often, an Akodo or Matsu has served as the
Lion Clan Champion. Less commonly, an Ikoma has led
the clan, and a handful of times, a Kitsu has been clan
champion. In the absence of a clear heir or the wishes
of the prior champion, the clan’s leader is ultimately
whoever everyone agrees has the strongest claim.
What this means has varied from era to era.
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 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
THE AKODO
FAMILY MON
Akodo
To establish his clan, the Kami Akodo sought out the
A reserved lion face, greatest fighters and tactical minds, challenging them in
divided into two halves:
whatever they claimed as their mastery. Whether through
one representing
the tactical thinker, the duels, tests of strength, or games of wit and strategy,
other representing the Akodo met every challenger in his search for those wor-
martial spirit. thy to share his legacy. But few proved his equal, and
his clan grew slowly. While his siblings boasted the alle-
giance of entire families and their clans began to swell,
he had only a small fellowship of warriors, tightly knit
but few in number. Akodo did not mind. He knew his
patience would one day pay off. One winter, when he
brought only a handful to court before the Emperor, Han-
tei remarked that he was “a lion without a pride.” Akodo
simply replied, “A lion does not stand with sheep.”
Such is the way of the Akodo family, even to this day.
Tight-knit, patient, and purposeful, ever judging but
accepting once their respect has been won, the Akodo
have risen to become one of the most glorious samurai
families in Rokugan. Their victories decorate the halls of
Lion dōjō and abound in the histories of the defeated.
Reputation and Values
Merely following Bushidō is not enough to the Akodo.
Bushidō must be fully embraced, all tenets given
equal weight. But if an Akodo must choose a tenet to
venerate above all others, that tenet is Honor. Lesser
warriors fixate on what Honor forbids, hesitating and
second-guessing their actions, weighing them con-
stantly against their codes. For a true samurai, how-
ever, honorable action is second nature. What honor
forbids never occurs to them, right action is obvious,
and any disgrace is unthinkable. The Akodo believe
such a warrior cannot be defeated.
The Road to War
Although the Lion lands form distinct terri-
tories, they are far more integrated than the
lands of other clans. It is not uncommon for a
Matsu palace to stand in an Akodo province,
or for the Ikoma and Kitsu to share the fiefdom
of a village, for instance. Rather than dividing
road maintenance by ancestral territories, the
entire clan maintains the Lion’s internal roads,
which are laid out for rapid deployment of
troops and are among the best engineered
roads in the Empire. They contrast sharply
with the roads along the Lion’s borders, which
the clan intentionally keeps run down and in
disrepair so as to frustrate would-be invaders.
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The other clans praise this attitude, but it also
explains the Akodo’s reputation as unyielding and
overly principled. The Akodo are notoriously difficult
to negotiate with and not half as pragmatic as their
Ikoma cousins. Famously, the Akodo trust only outsid-
ers they personally have fought in a contest, duel, or
skirmish. This is because the Akodo believe a person’s
true nature is revealed in the midst of battle, when
everything is stripped away but the “survival mind.” It
is then that a person’s essential values are laid bare and
the strength of their character shrines through.
Similarly, the Akodo remember all slights and let
nothing slide. An Akodo might remind another samurai
that their ancestor insulted the Lion centuries past—
and follow up by challenging that samurai on the spot.
The Akodo even tend to reject an alliance, however
logical, until the potential ally has apologized for an
ancestor’s role, no matter how minor, in leaving a dark
spot on Akodo history.
Culture and Traditions
As it is for most samurai families, the way of life for
the Akodo is modeled after the life of their founder.
As a warrior, Akodo lived for the thrill of battle and
embraced the path of Bushidō. As a general, he stud-
ied the ways of war and made innovations in the way
it was conducted. As a strategist, he devised a unified
theory of warcraft that laid the foundations for gen-
erations of warfare. Most of all, as a mentor, Akodo
fostered fellowship in everyone he led, taking a per-
sonal interest in each of his vassals and binding them
together as kin. The Akodo family’s traditions invoke
each of these aspects in turn.
Unlike the cultures of the Matsu and Ikoma, Akodo
culture emphasizes the group over the individual,
teaching children from a young age to prioritize the
greater needs of family. An Akodo’s path is never cho-
sen by themselves, but by their parents, their parents’
advisors, their teachers, and their lord. And, some
would insist, by their ancestors, whom the Akodo
believe guide their every step. While most Rokugani
believe their ancestors’ attention must be attracted,
and that they can dwell in Ningen-dō only for a time,
the Akodo believe their ancestors are a constant pres-
ence, always watching, guiding, and judging.
At the heart of Akodo culture is warrior fellowship.
Strong bonds are encouraged from an early age, and
each young Akodo is heavily guided to their place
within the family. This is embodied in the Akodo’s con-
cept of the dōshi, or dōjō partner. While most dōjō
pair students together as dōshi, among the Akodo,
this is considered a sacred bond. Dōshi are not just
classmates and sparring partners, but blood siblings, a
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
Imperialism in Retrospect
Rokugan is an empire, and while its days of overt
expansionism are largely in its (fictional) past, this
does not mean they do not matter. Many of its
rulers and citizens subscribe to the idea that the
actions of their ancestors were justified by the fact
that they created a massive empire—even those
actions that were undeniably wicked, such as wars
of conquest and the suppression of the groups,
ideologies, and beliefs that existed prior to the
Kami’s arrival. Far more Rokugani simply never
question the ethical decisions of their ancestors.
A few do question the origins of their society and
wonder how they can grapple with their history of
conquest. Readers should take the opportunity to
reflect more deeply on these matters when think-
ing about the story of Rokugan, as well as to con-
sider how such themes may be relevant to their
own lives.
If this is a theme a GM wishes to explore in
the game and the players are comfortable doing
so, the GM can give the characters a chance to
reflect on the past, and on the uncomfortable
truths behind how Rokugan came to be what
lifelong commitment whose ties are as strong as a kar-
mic link. Dōshi are expected to be loyal to one another
no matter the circumstance and to support each other
in their weakest moments, even into adulthood.
The most valued path in Akodo culture is that of the
general. In fact, the very word Akodo invokes genera-
tions of accomplished war generals and brilliant tacti-
cians. Throughout the Empire, the most prestigious
Akodo school is the Akodo War College, where the tradi-
tions and techniques of the Akodo Commander School
are taught. Acceptance into the War College assures a
long and celebrated career, as the school is the most
reputable institute of leadership and tactics in Rokugan
and claims the most successful army generals in history.
The halls of the Akodo War College are decorated
with war banners taken from famous defeated gener-
als of other clans, and the school maintains an open
challenge for anyone to come and take them back. So
great is the reputation of this school that it has led to
the common truism “An army led by an Akodo-trained
general has never lost.” Although this claim can be
easily disproven, it remains quite popular.
48
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
it is. For example, while the official history of
Rokugan may claim that the humans whom the
Kami first encountered were pitiable and without
culture, the Isawa’s records from centuries before
the Kami’s arrival detail complex, vibrant societ-
ies. The Isawa encountered these societies when
they arrived in the mountains that would become
their homeland. Indeed, the Isawa’s own continu-
ous culture proves that complex human societies
existed before the Kami’s arrival. Most Rokugani
believe the various groups of people they call the
Yobanjin submitted or were annihilated, and many
were indeed killed in the wars fought to bring
Rokugan under the control of the Kami and their
descendants. However, these people do still exist
in many parts of Rokugan, either maintaining their
culture while blending into the general populace
or living in remote locations, such as the Great
Wall of the North mountains, where their unique
culture still thrives. Characters who discover such
information will be forced to grapple with difficult
questions about the sins of Rokugan’s past.
Lands of the Akodo
The Lion’s lands were once the domain Akodo con-
quered for himself. Continually ready to defend the
capital, Akodo built his keep a mere day’s ride from
Otosan Uchi. These and the other provinces of the
Akodo are dominated by rolling grassy plains. Streams
originating from the Empire’s two largest rivers work
their way across Akodo lands like thin veins, bestowing
a bounty of grains, shrubs, and flowering plants.
Loyalty Castle
Shiro Akodo, or Loyalty Castle, is the ancestral seat
of the Akodo family’s power and the greatest of their
fortresses. It is located a day’s ride from Otosan Uchi
across mostly flat land, so that the Lion Clan Cham-
pion may swiftly respond to any invasion of the capital,
which is always visible on the horizon. Here, the Akodo
maintain their largest staging grounds and retinue of
smithies, constantly cycling and drilling troops and
keeping their forges burning day and night.
As a keep built for staging military campaigns,
Loyalty Castle was never intended to host diplomatic
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

guests. Not even the Akodo daimyō’s personal estate

is located on the grounds, a fact few outside the clan
realize. The castle itself is austere and underdecorated,
its labyrinthian layout designed to befuddle invaders,
its steps famously uneven so as to trip rushing attack-
ers. For all these reasons, the “home” of the Akodo
family has not received the designation of palace wor-
thy of hosting the Emperor’s Winter Court.
However, there is one occasion on which the keep
welcomes guests. Once a year, Loyalty Castle hosts
the grandest Go tournament in the Empire, crowning
Rokugan’s Go champion after a week-long competition.
During this time, the keep becomes an impressive dis-
play of Lion military might, decorated with the personal
battle standards of the family's most famous generals.
Heart of Vigilance Shrine
For ages, the Heart of Vigilance Forest remained
untouched, due to rumors that the sturdy pines and
bamboo thickets were blessed by the Fortunes. But
after centuries of deforestation within Akodo territory,
the Akodo saw little choice but to draw their lumber
from the ancient forest. Within, bushi discovered a
forgotten shrine, one that appeared far older than any
other in the region.
The shrine was dedicated to forty-two Lesser For-
tunes, including the Fortune of Agriculture and the
Fortune of Stacked Stones, yet the shrine seemed
to predate Imperial proclamations recognizing the
existence of these Fortunes. Even more puzzling, in
spite of its obvious age, the architecture was modern
Rokugani. No records could identify the shrine, nor
who built it or why.
None of these facts prevented the bushi from har-
vesting trees from the surrounding forest, for these
were their orders. Within weeks of this initial harvest,
every one of the directing bushi died suddenly. To this
day, foresters avoid the trees closest to the shrine, and
wood is drawn from the Heart of Vigilance Forest only
in times of dire need. Those who take the sacred wood
inevitably die soon after, accompanied by whispers
of having been struck down by the any of the hidden
shrine’s forty-two Fortunes.
Rejecting the Tao
The conversation between Hantei and the
monk known as Shinsei was recorded by
Shiba in a document that eventually came to
be known as the Tao of Shinsei. This docu-
ment fundamentally changed the course of
Rokugani religion and philosophical thought,
and each Great Clan pulls numerous lessons
from within its pages. It is even rumored that
each of the Kami learned a personal les-
son from Shinsei that molded their clan in
subtle ways.
All but Akodo, that is. Akodo found Shin-
sei’s philosophy to be so odious, so antithet-
ical to the samurai way, that he denounced it
as soon as he heard it, before the Emperor
and the Little Teacher himself. Convinced
that embracing the Tao would mean the
death of the warrior’s way of life, he forbade
all members of his clan to so much as glance
at its pages.
However, Hantei intervened, ordering that
a copy of Shinsei’s Tao must be given a place
of honor within all Lion dōjō. Akodo could not
disobey, and so to this day, each Lion dōjō
has a copy of the Tao of Shinsei right beside
its copy of Leadership.
And to this day, every Lion dōjō’s copy of
Shinsei’s Tao remains unopened.

Authorized City
Over the past century, the vibrant town known as
Authorized City, or Ninkatoshi, has rapidly grown from
a simple farming village at the mouth of the Golden
Valley to a full-fledged city. Historically, this is where
travelers have awaited permission to continue on into
the Akodo provinces. The growing nonresident pres-
ence has given rise to marketplaces, teahouses, and
entertainment establishments catering to travelers.

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AKODO RUMORS
“I overheard the senior
students discussing why
our teacher endures such
terrible insults from that
brute Hasawa. They said
the two were dōshi and
that they were sworn
together at the same
ceremony.”
“Akita does not care that
his actions punish us with
extra work every evening.
He will take any chance to
meet that strange woman
in the woods, even if the
rest of us must pay for it!”
“I saw Itsuko practicing
in the dōjō alone just the
other day, and after she
left, I swear the Tao of
Shinsei had been moved
from its spot!”
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
Akodo Shosuke
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
ADVERSARY CONFLICT RANK:  4  2 Unflappable: Unassuming:
 Social; Mental  Social; Mental
Akodo Shosuke is the second-born scion of the Itagawa
vassal family, whose purpose as a “forge family” is to Patient:
supply the clan with weapons and armor. But Sho-  Social; Mental
suke isn’t content with merely forging the Empire’s
FAVORED WEAPONS
weapons—he is determined to become an expert
in wielding them as well. His dream is to one day be Self-Forged Katana: Range 1, Damage 4, Deadliness
anointed with the honorary title of kensei, or sword- 5/7, Ceremonial, Razor-edged, Resplendent
saint. In the meantime, he is a dutiful quartermaster
Gear (equipped): Lacquered armor (Physical 4, Cere-
serving at the Castle of the Swift Sword, but he relishes monial, Cumbersome, Wargear), wakizashi, offerings
the chance to practice his skills against any who are for the ancestor spirits, knife, small hammer
willing to test him.
Gear (other): Plain robes, forging equipment
SOCIETAL PERSONAL
ABILITIES
60 HONOR ENDURANCE
10
3 1 DETAILED PRECISION
30 GLORY COMPOSURE
12 When making an Attack or Movement action check,
3 2 Akodo Shosuke may remove 2 strife. For each strife
37 STATUS 3 FOCUS
3 he removes this way, he adds one kept  set to  to
+2, –2
DEMEANOR - DETERMINED
VIGILANCE
2 the check and receives 1 fatigue.
QUICK FIX
As a Support action, Shosuke may receive 3 fatigue
ARTISAN 3 MARTIAL 3 SCHOLAR 2 SOCIAL 1 TRADE 1
and 3 strife to remove the Damaged item quality from
one weapon or set of armor at range 0–1.

Matsu
While many warriors strove to meet Akodo’s challenges,
eager to join his clan, there was one who denied him.
The warrior Matsu garnered a fierce reputation as a
bandit lord, targeting those she deemed unjust and
corrupt. One day, she saw the harm she had caused to
the meekest commoners, and she cast aside the bandit
life and distributed her ill-gotten goods to the suffering
villages, settling down to open a martial school and con-
template her life. Her former followers came to avenge
her betrayal of them, and each ended up buried in the
yard of her school. When word of this reformed bandit
reached Akodo’s ears, he was intrigued.
Yet Matsu ignored Akodo’s many requests for an
audience. To her, he was like all the other corrupt lords
and bandit kings she’d known in her adolescence—
just another brute killer rising at the cost of others.
Eventually he came to her village, his forces in tow,
and offered her a place by his side, as his wife. She
countered his offer with a challenge to duel. When they
finished, Akodo lay on his back with Matsu’s blade at
his throat. That same day, Matsu pledged herself to
Akodo’s cause, on the condition that they be equals in
the clan. While legends speculate about what changed
her mind, her descendants believe their duel revealed
Akodo’s honor and ambition; from these, she judged
him worthy of her respect and loyalty, believing that
their skills together would take the pair further than
either could rise alone.
The Matsu family has served as the Akodo’s right
hand since the Lion Clan’s founding. A proud family
that maintains many matriarchal traditions in Matsu’s
honor, it fully embraces the Lion’s philosophy, regard-
ing all aspects of life through the lens of warfare. Seek-
ing to emulate their founder in all aspects and famous
for their hot-blooded temper, they are the beating
heart of the Lion Clan, embodying the will, fierce emo-
tion, and courage of their founder.
Reputation and Values
The Matsu name is synonymous throughout the
Empire with both the best and worst of the Lion Clan,
embodying its greatest strengths and weaknesses. This
reputation stems from the Matsu’s natural aversion to
hesitation. Boldness and impetuous action are virtuous
in Matsu culture, or as the Matsu put it, “Hesitation is a
thousand deaths.” The ideal state of the warrior is one in
which there is no space between thought and deed, and
the warrior is nothing more than a vessel for pure martial
instinct. If one does not commit fully to action, conse-
quences and all, then one cannot call oneself a samurai.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES
The Matsu believe their honor is their greatest
weapon. Bushidō is not merely a collection of virtues
THE MATSU
FAMILY MON
codified by Akodo: it is an innate truth of the universe,
the distilled mindset of a warrior. The Matsu do not A lion’s paw, grasping a
sword. In early centuries,
regard the Bushidō virtues as limits, but as sources
the depicted sword was
of strength. This accounts for their inspirational lead- a chokutō. This was
ership style. A Matsu general always plunges into the amended to a wakizashi
thickest fighting, galvanizing everyone around them. in the sixth century.
For all that the Matsu are famous for their honor
and battle prowess, as well as for their natural cha-
risma and fierce loyalty, the Matsu are most famous
for their strong emotions. Other clans consider a short
and mighty temper to be their defining trait. After all,
the Matsu battle rage is the hallmark of their school. A
common saying is, “The Akodo do not forget, but the
Matsu do not forgive.”
The Matsu regard their anger as a source of strength
to be harnessed. This is epitomized in the Matsu battle
rage, an entranced state in which a warrior is at one
with their martial instincts, becoming an unstoppable
force on the battlefield, immune to hesitation, fear, and
pain. The best-laid plans and most carefully deployed
advantages crumple like rice paper beneath the con-
trolled storm of the Matsu Berserker. The key is know-
ing when to hold back, and when to unleash the fury.
Culture and Traditions
Matsu culture derives from the life of their founder, the
legendary folk hero who was one of the Seven Thun-
ders. The Matsu seek to emulate her in everything,
from the courts to the battlefield, in peace and in war.
Whether through art, poetry, games, or the martial arts,
everything the Matsu do is fully committed and seen
through the lens of the warrior mind.
For instance, Matsu poetry is spontaneous and
improvised, as simple as it is audacious. It is composed
from cutting words and delivered with unflinching emo-
tion. Matsu theater favors the Kabuki style and is filled
with action and passion, focusing on the individual
and packed with special effects. Writers and directors
regard their troupe members as soldiers of a unit, drill-
ing relentlessly for a flawless show. The Matsu pursue all
arts in this manner: not as meditation or personal enjoy-
ment, but as disruptive expression, a battle to be won.
This is why other samurai say, “No matter what a Matsu
attempts, they are sharpening their claws.”
Unsurprisingly, Matsu culture is thoroughly martial.
From the age of six, Matsu children are trained in lethal
combat. Those who do not take to martial arts are
swiftly placed elsewhere: fostered to other families or
sent to monastic life. Even Matsu who become artists
and courtiers conduct themselves as warriors, destined
for a very different battlefield.
51
 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES

The Deathseekers
The Deathseeker tradition originates in terri-
ble disgrace and glorious redemption. During
a border dispute between the Lion and Scor-
pion, a Matsu lord betrayed his liege and
sided with the Scorpion. His retainers rebelled
against his treachery, took his head, and
served in the vanguard of the liege's forces
to redress their lord's failures. After defeating
the Scorpion, the vanguard's only survivor,
Kirifu, swore to serve in the army's most dan-
gerous positions in order to spare others.
Kirifu's oath became a path to atone-
ment, a commitment to redemption through
selfless action, and others who had suffered
disgrace followed her lead. Yet volunteering
for the riskiest missions, forming vanguards
for armies without being asked, and throw-
ing themselves recklessly into danger, gives
the impression of someone who is trying to
die. These so-called "Deathseekers" hope
to redeem themselves by achieving one last
great victory for the clan, or as many as possi-
ble before they die.
Adopting their oaths voluntarily, a Death-
seeker returns their katana, wakizashi, and
any other family relics, and gives up their
rank and holdings. No longer beneath any
lord, they swear to forever follow a warrior
pilgrimage, to disregard their own safety, and
confront necessary dangers so others do not
have to. While permitted to keep their family
name, some elect to adopt a new personal
name to distance themselves from their for-
mer identity. A Deathseeker can be identified
by their black-and-white painted face, the
braided cord around their arm or forehead,
and their relative lack of armor.
While many admire and praise Deathseek-
ers, the tradition is nonetheless controversial.
Shielding others from harm is considered self-
less, but many consider it selfish to sever one-
self from lord and family. Others bemoan the
human cost in expertise, resources, and lives.
Ultimately, no one is ever pleased to hear that
a loved one has joined the Deathseeker ranks.
For rules on making a character a Death-
seeker, see page 132.

52

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 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

The stringent standards of the Matsu are demon-

strated in their gempuku, which is considered draco-
nian even by Crane or Scorpion standards. Students
A Life of Battles
must pass many tests to reach adulthood, including The Matsu believe that life is a series of bat-
reciting memorized passages from Leadership, prov- tles. Farmers battle the land to yield crops,
ing their martial prowess with a variety of weapons, sailors battle the ocean to cross the waters,
quartering a tossed pomegranate before it touches the magistrates battle criminals, and so on. Sta-
ground, and enduring numerous strikes from a bamboo tion and rank do not matter; every person
practice sword called a shinai against their bare back. fights an invisible war, be it against them-
Those who pass the tests are marked with the Matsu selves, the elements, or very real enemies.
crest as a sign of their eternal devotion. Those who do No one can possibly understand the nature of
not pass are “allowed” to commit seppuku to spare another’s war, and it is no one’s place to judge
themselves and their parents the shame of their fail- how that war is fought, except by the met-
ure. While the other Lion families sometimes adopt the ric of personal honor. If life sets one samu-
same tradition, it is the Matsu who are most strongly rai against another, then it is inevitable that
associated with it. they will fight. To be allies one moment and
Matsu lords and vassal families are always seeking enemies the next: that is the life of samurai,
to expand their territory. While the frequent targets are according to the Matsu.
the lands of other clans, it is common for the Matsu to
conduct limited conflicts with each other. In fact, the
Matsu encourage limited intrafamily warring, believing
it will keep the family strong. Matsu leaders cannot
show any sign of weakness, lest their neighbors sense
an opening to capture their lands.
It is commonly said that “a Matsu makes no prom-
ises.” A Matsu’s word and deed are as one; promises
are unnecessary, and to ask for one is an insult. How-
ever, Matsu samurai may still demonstrate their sincerity
through a tradition called kinchō, in which they strike
their swords together in order to “seal a promise.” It is
believed that if one party is lying, their sword will break,
and therefore they will be cut or killed by the other.
Among the most unusual of the Empire’s martial
traditions are those of the Matsu Beastmasters. These
warriors train lions and other animals to fight alongside
Lion soldiers in battle. Among the rarest Lion samu-
rai, a Matsu Beastmaster is always accompanied by at
least one trained animal, raised alongside them since
adolescence, with which they have formed a bond of
mutual respect. Caring for the lions of the Matsu is
considered a sacred task, for legends claim these lions
carry the spirits of ancient kitsu, accounting for their
unusually high intelligence.

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)


MATSU RUMORS
“Merchants are saying our
lord is extending fealty to
the bandits in the hills. I
shut them up, but what if
it is true?”
“A true account of Kaki-
ta’s slight to Lady Matsu
has been discovered in
the Imperial Libraries,
one that proves our lady
was not the villain of that
story. But the lickspittles
in the Crane are covering
it up!”
“A lone lion is wandering
the Valley of Storms, a
lion that is completely
black. Some say the lion
was rejected by its pride,
but I heard it is simply
seeking a pride worthy
enough to join.”
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
Lands of the Matsu
The varied lands of the Matsu family unfurl across Lion
provinces like a waving banner. Oxen and lion prides
freely roam the flatlands, while herds of deer wander
through the few but dense forests. The lands grow
steadily hillier as they reach south and west, eventu-
ally culminating in the Spine of the World Mountains,
whose foothills house rich copper mines, one of the
clan’s most important exports. To the southwest is
Beiden Pass, one of precious few crossroads through
the mountain range and part of the most important
trade route in the Empire.
A person could throw a stone from the edge of
Matsu lands and strike the open gates of Kyūden
Kakita, which taunt the military might of the Lion
behind treaties and thin diplomacy. The lands along
this border have changed hands countless times over
the centuries, causing resident farmers to lose track of
who their current lord is on a regular basis.
Hall of Ancestors
Built into the western hills above Shiro Matsu (Last
Breath Castle), the most sacred site of the Lion con-
tains the remains of the clan’s greatest heroes. Jointly
maintained by the Matsu and Kitsu families, the Hall of
Ancestors with its many tombs, shrines, and memorials
is the largest funerary complex in the Empire. To be
enshrined there is to be recognized as a legend among
the Lion; it is one of the clan’s highest honors. Also
inside the complex are the histories of the dead, one
of the richest collections of genealogical information
available to the clan. Traditionally, Lion samurai visit
this place at least once in their lifetime to honor the
memories of the great heroes who went before them.
Humility’s Lesson
The largest Lion keep against the mountainous Scor-
pion border, the castle known as Kenson no Gakka did
not always have that name. Originally belonging to the
Ikoma, the castle was infiltrated and taken by the Scor-
pion Clan in the sixth century. Renaming it Castle of
Honor, the Scorpion intended to use it as a bargaining
chip in their campaign to seize Kyūden Ikoma (Sacred
Watch Palace). However, their campaign was disrupted
by the Matsu family, whose samurai stormed the keep
and killed every Scorpion living within. From there, the
Matsu staged their forces to press into Scorpion lands
through the southern Beiden Pass, eventually com-
ing within sight of Kyūden Bayushi (Silk and Shadow
Palace) itself before the Scorpion lobbied for Imperial
intervention. The Matsu gained a foothold into Scor-
pion territory in the resulting trade.
54
Since then, the Matsu have retained the castle to
keep watch over the Scorpion, renaming it Kenson no
Gakka, or Humility’s Lesson, in honor of their victory.
They hold an annual festival on the anniversary of the
castle’s recapture, marked with imported fireworks and
boisterous song. The Matsu ensure the yearly festivities
can be readily seen and even heard from miles away,
particularly from Scorpion lands.
Last Breath Castle and
the Valley of Storms
Overlooking Beiden Pass from a rising sea of golden
grass before the Lake of Sorrows, Last Breath Cas-
tle, or Shiro Matsu, is the home of the Matsu family
daimyō and the military might of the family. It was
built at the historic site where Lady Matsu first met
the Kami Akodo. The nearby town was once the tiny
village that Matsu called home but is now the largest
and most industrious settlement in Lion lands. Visitors
from across the provinces arrive at the castle on their
pilgrimage to the Hall of Ancestors, which is under the
keep’s protection. Truly, Last Breath Castle would be
the capital of the Lion were the Akodo not the tradi-
tional leaders of the clan.
To the north, the fertile Valley of Storms forms the
breadbox of the family. South of the castle, Beiden
Pass lies exposed to Matsu scouts and way stations.
Any travelers who enter the pass without the Matsu’s
permission are immediately discovered, although
those seeking passage into Crane lands to the south
are generally allowed through. Unlike Loyalty Castle,
Shiro Matsu hosts diplomats from other clans year
round. Still, few considerations are given to a guest’s
comfort, and most courtiers consider an assignment to
Last Breath Castle to be a severe punishment.
Mercy Among
the Matsu
Even in this harsh family, there is familial love
that cannot easily be set aside. If a Matsu
parent believes their child will not pass their
gempuku, they are likely to seek to have the
child adopted by another family, such as a
vassal family or even a family of a Minor Clan,
or have them enter a monastic order. This
way, they can maintain the family tradition
without condemning their child to death, a
fate few parents can endure no matter how
disciplined they may be.
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

Matsu Naoko
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

ADVERSARY CONFLICT RANK:  4  2 Trained Survivalist: Hot-Tempered:

 Martial; Physical, Mental  Social; Mental
Naoko’s parents first noticed something unusual about

their third-born child when she collected a dozen FAVORED WEAPONS

housecats in the garden teahouse and was feeding

Magari-Yari: Range 1–2, Damage 6, Deadliness 4,

and caring for them. More unusual was the rapport
Cumbersome, Razor-Edged, Wargear
she shared with the felines—they seemed to follow
her lead. On a hunch, her parents introduced her to Gear (equipped): Common clothes (Physical 1, Mun-
a teacher from the Beast’s Heart dōjō. When she was dane), daishō (katana and wakizashi), knife
fourteen, she received a newly weaned lion cub, a rare
Gear (other): Tattered kemari ball (Tami’s favorite toy)
honor for an inexperienced student. Now a proud stu-

dent of the Matsu Beastmaster tradition, Naoko and

ABILITIES
Tami, her lioness companion, use their bond in their
WHIRLING CLAWS AND SPEAR
work as cartographers and scouts for the Lion Clan—
When performing an Attack action against a target at
when they aren’t hunting game across the plains or
range 0 of one of Naoko's allies (such as Tami), Matsu
sleeping beneath the open stars.
Naoko may spend  in the following way:
SOCIETAL PERSONAL : The target suffers the Disoriented condition.
60 HONOR ENDURANCE
12 FELINE EMPATHY
3 2 Naoko can understand the motives of cats great and small
40 GLORY COMPOSURE
9
3 3 and can communicate with them in a rudimentary way.
39 STATUS 2 FOCUS
5 BEASTMASTER
Tami the lioness is never far away from Naoko and
+2, –2
DEMEANOR - ASSERTIVE
VIGILANCE
3 uses the Hunting Cat profile on page 327 of the

core rulebook.
ARTISAN 1 MARTIAL 3 SCHOLAR 3 SOCIAL 1 TRADE 0

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 Ikoma
Akodo found many of his greatest warriors via cross-
roads duels and in dōjō, yet his closest ally, the elder
Ikoma, he found drunk in a sake house. The only patron
THE IKOMA
who refused to bow to the divine Kami, Ikoma met
FAMILY MON
each of Akodo’s threats with one in turn and topped
each of Akodo’s boasted feats with several of his own.
A stylized torii arch
depicting a lion’s face, When Akodo expressed disbelief at what he saw as a
representing a portal to doddering old man’s claims, Ikoma regaled the Kami
knowledge and discovery.
with battle tales of his youth well into the night. By
morning, Akodo had warmed to the old man, offer-
ing him a place at his side. The founder of the Ikoma
family is remembered as a braggart and a wastrel, a
brawler and a boaster, and an old fossil quick to speak
his mind. But he is also remembered as a charismatic
storyteller, a wise advisor, a mischievous ally, and one
of few mortals whom Akodo called “friend.”
The Ikoma family serve the Lion as historians,
scholars, seneschals, and diplomats. They are the liv-
ing memory of the clan, keeping the stories of their
ancestors alive. They are gatekeepers to the clan’s
wealth, the first contact for alliances and favors. But
most importantly, the Ikoma are the mortar of the clan.
They bond Akodo and Matsu, young and old, warrior
and scholar, glorious path with hopeful future.
Reputation and Values
Outside the Lion Clan, the Ikoma have a reputation as
the Lion’s resident troublemakers, an impressive feat
for the clan of the impetuous Matsu. This reputation
is owed in part to the infamy of the family’s founder,
Ikoma, who notoriously preferred brothels and sake
houses to dōjō and tea gardens, and who fought with
his bare hands against armed opponents. In spite
of this, the Ikoma are usually regarded as the most
approachable Lion family.
56
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Culture and Traditions
The Ikoma way is that of the adventurer-scholar,
embracing knowledge and martial prowess in equal
measure. Ikoma was Akodo’s most valued advisor, and
Ikoma culture molds its members to serve in similar
capacities, as military strategists, scholars, and experts
in law. The art the family values most is that of the sto-
ryteller-performer, embodied in its famous bardic tradi-
tion. Ikoma often serve as clan representatives based
on family reputation alone.
These values and traditions stem from Ikoma’s
teaching that pride is a virtue. The past should be ven-
erated, one’s ancestors celebrated, and one’s deeds
eagerly shared. Bragging is encouraged, for when
a person is recognized for their deeds, so are their
ancestors. As a samurai’s name is inherited, each samu-
rai’s personal goal should be to return it even more
glorious than before.
The Ikoma’s study of history serves them well in
fulfilling the family’s ancestral duty. They are charged
with keeping the official clan histories, a daunting task
that includes recording the genealogies of its samu-
rai; interpretations of its laws; and military innovations,
victories, and perhaps most importantly, defeats. So
seriously do the Ikoma regard this duty that neutral
Ikoma heralds are regularly deployed to both sides of
momentous battles, honor bound and sworn against
interfering, in order to record the events precisely as
they happen. The Ikoma have even been known to
accept the written accounts of soldiers who witnessed
important battles as marriage gifts in arranged mar-
riages and as bargaining chips in negotiations.
The Ikoma carefully preserve these records in the
Ikoma Libraries (see High Histories of the Ikoma, on
page 21). Housed at Kyūden Ikoma within an ever-ex-
panding shrine to Tenjin, the Lesser Fortune of Stories
and Secrets. The documents in the High Histories are
 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

tended with the same reverence as religious texts. Main- Emotion is what sets these bards apart from other IKOMA RUMORS
taining the largest library in the Empire is the most expen- clan storytellers. They are among the few who may
sive and time-consuming endeavor of the Ikoma, yet they show open emotion in court without a loss of clout, “I have it on good author-
embrace it with great zeal, boasting of its sheer size and such is their socially accepted role. They are the voices ity that the farmers of the
nearby Daidoji-owned prov-
depth. It is the pride of the Ikoma, their living legacy. of the voiceless, the accusers on behalf of the wronged,
ince are dissatisfied with
Officially, the Ikoma Libraries house the records and the ones who boast while the accomplished their rulers. It would be a
used by the Imperial families, who have open access remain silent. Often it is an Ikoma Bard who argues a shame if they took matters
to them at all times. Simply put, if it isn’t in the Ikoma Lion samurai’s point in court, passionately recounting into their own hands.”
Libraries, the Ikoma insist that it never happened. That the slights they’ve endured, while the injured party “My sister heard voices
the records within the libraries always seem to paint remains serene beside them. At funerals, a bard recalls in a corner of the Ikoma
the Imperial line (and, in many cases, the Lion Clan) in the deeds of the departed and openly mourns their Libraries the other day,
but no one was there
the most flattering light is beside the point. Naturally, loss. The bard is the only one present who is permitted
when she looked.”
there are historical events that the Ikoma prefer not to to cry, expressing the emotion others cannot, allowing
record, and others whose records they have altered the departed’s loved ones to maintain face even in the “I overheard several
scribes complaining about
to preserve the dignity of the lords involved. Yet few wake of overwhelming tragedy.
scrolls having been rear-
Rokugani dare to contradict the handpicked accounts Often, these bards wander the lands in search of ranged in the underfloor
within, lest they inadvertently offend those who pen the new tales. They follow warrior companies and join stacks, and now others
histories that are embraced by the Emperor himself. honor guards, acting as mediators or advisors, collect- claim the very words are
The Ikoma are most famous for their bards. While ing as many stories as they can. In court, they recall changing on some of the
older histories! Surely the
other clans boast famous oral storytelling traditions, the deeds of the brave, bragging on their behalf, so
ancestral spirits must be
such as those of the Crane Clan and of the warrior-po- that their glory might be multiplied. By reminding at work here.”
ets of the Sparrow Clan, none of these storytellers are Rokugan’s samurai of their best, the omoidasu hope to
quite as versatile as the Ikoma Bard, who is part histo- show them how great they can be.
rian, part folklorist, part adventurer, and part performer.

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 Lands of the Ikoma
In the northeast corner of the Lion lands lie the Vener-
able Plains of the Ikoma, a dusty region of rolling hills,
wild grasses, bamboo groves, and signal towers along
minor rivers. There, the lands resemble those of the
Lion’s Unicorn neighbors, suitable for the clan’s meager
pony herds. Relatively sparse throughout, Ikoma lands
are more heavily populated at their borders, especially
to the south, where they cast a wary eye on the Scorpion.
The Lion’s Shadow
Sacred Watch Palace
While the Akodo and Matsu hold themselves
The ancestral seat of the Ikoma family, Sacred Watch to high standards, the Ikoma understand the
Palace (Kyūden Ikoma) stands just beneath the face ugly realities of warfare. Prolonged war is
of the Mountain of Seven Thunders. The castle was bad for the Empire, and needless loss of life
originally built as the primary signal tower of the Lion’s shames the Emperor. But more so than this,
western border. While suitable to host diplomatic they understand the power of information to
meetings and the Emperor’s family, it is still defensi- decide a battle’s outcome.
ble and retains its original military purpose of signaling To serve war’s necessities, they maintain a
Western invasions. Within this keep are the vast Ikoma small network of spies and infiltrators for the
Libraries (see High Histories of the Ikoma on page purpose of gathering information and, some-
21), the pride of the Ikoma family and the envy of times, to end a battle before it even begins.
historical scholars throughout the Empire. Beyond this, they train select students in sub-
terfuge and stealth to serve as spymasters
The City of Honor’s Sacrifice and saboteurs. While this is not especially
well-known within the Lion, it is obvious to any
Among the oldest cities in Ikoma territory, the City of
general that the military leaders have access to
Honor’s Sacrifice dominates the northern Firefly Plains
enemy troop numbers, deployments, strate-
and is set against the Drowned Merchant River, making
gies, and battle plans, things that are difficult to
it rich with trade from Unicorn and Dragon travelers. It
explain without the presence of spies. All a Lion
also boasts the greatest geisha house in Lion lands, the
Clan general must do is ask the right Ikoma.
House of Morning Dew.
Akodo himself endorsed espionage in
While its original name is lost to history, its current
warfare, since he knew information is the
name derives from the legend of Ikoma Arimi, a Lion
greatest weapon a general can wield. He
samurai whose sterling reputation was ruined when her
even rewarded his spies more handsomely
lone indiscretion was exposed by her many enemies.
than his highest-ranking advisors, ensuring
Requesting ritual suicide to cleanse her family of this
their loyalty and willingness to take unthink-
shame, her spiteful lord gave her a wooden practice
able risks. The Ikoma are quick to point this
sword to complete the ceremony, intending to cast her
out to any Matsu or Akodo who object, and
under further disgrace. Regardless, she impaled her-
also to emphasize the distinction between
self upon the blunt weapon, erasing any doubt as to
“shinobi,” who are outlawed by Imperial
her honor and shaming all who had disbelieved her. A
edict, and “spies,” whom the law never men-
statue to her memory still watches over the Firefly Plains.
tions. After all, what is so dishonorable about
simply observing others?

58

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 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

Ikoma Shiniko
FAVORED WEAPONS

ADVERSARY CONFLICT RANK:  2  4 Iron-Soled Sandal (improvised weapon): Range 1,

Shinko was not born a member of the samurai caste
but was adopted by an Ikoma samurai, who pitied the
war orphan while also recognizing her usefulness. Now
a member of the Ikoma Shadow School (see Courts of
Stone page 92), Shinko compromises her honor on a
daily basis, adopting guises and wrapping herself in
Damage 2, Deadliness 3/4
Gear (equipped): Splendid geisha "outfit or other
suitable disguise" (Physical 1, Ceremonial, Resplen-
dent)
Gear (other): Kiseru, writing kit, tea set

lies for the good of the clan. She has been well com-
ABILITIES
pensated for the personal risks she takes, receiving a SLIPPERY
fine estate in the town surrounding Last Breath Castle
Once per scene as a Movement and Scheme action,
and enough wealth to ensure her comfort for many
Shinko may receive up to 3 fatigue. Increase the TN
years, far more than is typically given to one who is
of checks targeting her by 1 for each fatigue received
peasant born. Originally believing she would only be
this way until the start of her next turn.
needed for a few missions, it has slowly dawned on
Shinko that she will never be finished with this duty, FLEXIBLE PERSONA
and deep down, she wishes to be free of her obliga- At the start of each scene, choose up to two shūji of
tions so she can enjoy the trappings she has earned. the same element of rank 3 or lower. Until the end of
the scene, Shinko can perform those shūji.
SOCIETAL PERSONAL

25 HONOR ENDURANCE
6
1 3
20 GLORY COMPOSURE
10
4 2
30 STATUS 1 FOCUS
5
+2, –2
DEMEANOR - DUPLICITOUS
VIGILANCE
4

ARTISAN 2 MARTIAL 0 SCHOLAR 2 SOCIAL 3 TRADE 4

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Inexhaustible Politeness: Skittish:

 Social; Interpersonal  Martial; Mental
Calming Presence:
 Social; Interpersonal

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 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES
THE KITSU
FAMILY MON
Kitsu
When Akodo first set out to tame the heartlands of
A stylized profile of a Rokugan, among those he encountered were a feline
lion’s head with a flaming
mane. Members of the
warrior people known as the kitsu. These powerful
supernatural beings had aspects of both humans and
Kitsu family claim this
depicts one of the five lions. The kitsu had existed in the Empire’s heartlands
founders of their family. for as long as anyone could remember, but little was
known about their true nature. According to the Kitsu
family, Akodo’s war against the kitsu people started
when he and his followers mistook the lionlike beings
for monsters. As the final battle loomed and the exter-
mination of the kitsu seemed inevitable, a single kitsu
made their way to Akodo, confronting him in his war
tent. But instead of killing the enemy general, the kitsu
offered his surrender.
This shocking incident caused Akodo to realize the
kitsu were intelligent, and indeed possessed the same
sense of honor as he. According to legend, Akodo
apologized to the last of the kitsu people and offered
them a place within his clan. Those who accepted took
human form, founding the Kitsu family.
The Kitsu are the descendants of these mortal
kitsu and their human spouses. Many Kitsu trace their
bloodline back to these shapeshifting beings and have
inherited their unique spiritual abilities to communi-
cate with the blessed ancestors of Yomi, summon their
spirits into the Realm of Mortals, and even travel to
other Spirit Realms. As the Lion’s lone shugenja family,
the Kitsu are regarded as the foremost mediums and
mythologists in the Empire. Famous for their sōdan-
senzo spirit callers, who have an ability no other family
in the Empire can claim, the Kitsu serve the Lion as
liaisons of the ancestors and wardens of the clan’s most
ancient traditions.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Reputation and Values
Members of the Kitsu family are rarely encountered
beyond Lion borders. Other Rokugani regard them
as unusually fierce for shugenja, blunt in manner, and
strangely comfortable with death. Among the princi-
ples of Bushidō, the Kitsu most highly venerate the
tenets of Honor, Compassion, and Righteousness.
The Kitsu bow to Heaven first, and their duties to
their ancestors come before their duties to the Lion
Clan. They know it is the Fortunes and ancestors who
judge them first and finally. Theirs is a calling greater
than the concerns of individual mortals. This sometimes
sets the Kitsu at odds with the Akodo and Matsu, but
only the truly foolish would stand in a sōdan-senzo’s way.
Few things offend a Kitsu like speaking ill of the
dead. Kitsu family members believe that a person’s
karma is left behind when they pass on, and while
the Fortune of Death, Emma-Ō, judges mortals by
their deeds in life, spirits are ultimately redeemed by
the Realm of Punishment to which Emma-Ō assigns
them. Kitsu honor even angry spirits and seek to settle
their grudges.
The Kitsu make no attempt to hide the tragic and
terrible origins of their family. They believe that elab-
orating on or obscuring history shows disrespect to
those who lived through it. A common Kitsu proverb
is, “Embrace your history, warts and all.” It should,
then, come as no surprise that while Rokugani culture
shows considerable tolerance for interpretive truth, the
Kitsu care not about recorded history. Instead, they
commune with the ancestors to seek out what actu-
ally happened. They are far more likely to embrace
controversial ideas than other Rokugani are, and their
written records tend to be unelaborated, simple, and
uncomfortably frank.
Culture and Traditions
Of all the traditions of the Lion Clan families, the ways
of the Kitsu are the most unusual. This is because they
have derived some of their traditions from their ances-
tors, the feline kitsu people. The Kitsu family believes
it is their duty to keep the ways of their ancestors
alive. Akodo promised this to the last of the kitsu in
atonement for his misunderstanding that destroyed
their people.

Kitsu family members with close ancestral connec-
tions to the kitsu bloodline inherit the physical traits
of their feline ancestors. Golden eyes are such a trait,
as are elongated canines, bushy eyebrows, and thick
red manes of hair. Not all Kitsu inherit these physical
traits, but within the family, they are regarded not only
as marks of beauty, but also as evidence of strong ties
to the kitsu bloodline.
The most important sign of kitsu heritage is an
innate connection to spirits and ancestors. The kitsu’s
abilities primarily revolve around peering into the Spirit
Realms, which allows them to give physical form to
ghosts, channel ancestors, and perform other such
feats. The greatest of the kitsu can physically cross
into the Spirit Realms to confer with the dead. Some
members of the Kitsu family whose connection to their
bloodline is strong also inherit these abilities. A Kitsu
Medium can call upon the dead, grant them spectral
form in the Realm of Mortals, and even allow them
to possess the medium’s body for a time. Through a
special ceremony, Kitsu Realm Wanderers (see Celes-
tial Realms page 85) can even enter the realms below
and other Spirit Realms for a time. These traits are why
the Kitsu are considered the “voices of the dead”; they
allow the ancestors to speak to their descendants, a
gift rarely held by other shugenja.
The Kitsu family members are notoriously insular,
even isolating themselves from other Lion families.
They forbid outsiders to study the Kitsu ways, and
they consider revealing the secret traditions of the
Kitsu to be akin to betrayal. This is true even for those
who marry into the family, although individuals whom
the Kitsu eventually judge worthy may be allowed a
glimpse behind the curtain. The Kitsu never reveal
the secrets of the sōdan-senzo to people who cannot
prove they have inherited the kitsu bloodline abilities,
whether they are part of the Kitsu family or not. No Lion
would ever disgrace the honorable Kitsu by requesting
a place in their secret ceremonies, while they know that
to be offered a seat is a gesture of trust and a great
honor. This has led to the prevailing perception that
the Kitsu are secretive and suspicious.
Birth into the Kitsu is no guarantee that one will
possess ancestral abilities. Kitsu matchmakers are pri-
marily concerned with preserving this ancestral con-
nection, but many children seem to lack the desired
capacity, and true sōdan-senzo grow rarer with each
generation. Kitsu family members who lack this poten-
tial usually become bureaucrats, courtiers, shrine keep-
ers, or scholars by training in other Lion schools. The
Kitsu family even maintains the Kitsu Medic School (see
Shadowlands page 90) to help place many of its people
as battlefield medics in Lion Clan units.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES
Lands of the Kitsu QUOTES FROM
AKODO’S LEADERSHIP
Kitsu family territory is at the heart of Lion lands, pro-
tected by other Lion territory on all sides but north. “Soldiers will follow
These are the most fertile of the Lion’s provinces, boast- orders. Families will
embrace them. Therefore,
ing their most numerous and prosperous farms and
foster fellowship!”
orchards, due in part to the blessings invoked by the
Kitsu themselves. Terraced hills, buckwheat fields, trick-
ling streams, and vast plains roll along Kitsu provinces,
dotted occasionally by humble shrines, small farming
communities, and ancient crumbling tombs. Outsiders
traveling here are under immediate suspicion, as there
is little that would attract pilgrims or non-Kitsu.
Changing Borders
Only a portion of the Lion’s lands can be con-
sidered “ancestral.” Many of their southern
territories used to belong to other clans. To
the southwest, Scorpion ancestral lands now
lie under Lion banners. Yōjin no Shiro (Castle
of Vigilance) once marked the northernmost
Crane border and is part of the ancestral lands
of the Daidoji family; however, it is now Matsu
territory and has been for hundreds of years.
The Lion have lost territories as well. Lion
lands once extended farther north, across the
Drowned Merchant River. Those lands were
ceded to the Dragonfly Minor Clan by Impe-
rial decree to compensate for unsanctioned
aggression. The Kintani (Golden Valley), once
a Lion province bordering Phoenix lands,
was more recently taken by an ambitious
Doji lord and has been held by the Doji for
a generation.
Lion territory once extended all the way to
the western Rokugani border. During the sec-
ond century, foreigners invaded the territories
once held by the Ki-Rin clan, and the stew-
ards Shinjo had left behind were unable to
hold them back. The Lion intervened but then
refused to return the territories since the den-
izens had proven unable to protect Rokugan’s
borders. The Lion held these lands until the
Unicorn returned in the ninth century. To this
day, some of the oldest castles and shrines
in Unicorn lands display ancient Lion archi-
tecture and sensibilities. The reassignment of
those lands to the returned Unicorn has never
sat well with the Lion.
61
 C H APT E R 1 : GL O R I O U S H I S T O R IES

KITSU RUMORS
Blue Chrysanthemum Village keep was built to surround the sacred grounds. Today,
the Castle of the Swift Sword is the official estate of
Named for the unusual blue chrysanthemums that grow
“The local lord’s child is the Akodo War College (see page 23), the most
not his own. I saw the throughout it in autumn, Blue Chrysanthemum Village
prestigious of the Akodo family’s schools, yet it is also
child’s true ancestors is the most common destination of travelers permitted
the ancestral seat of the Kitsu shugenja family and the
watching over the child, to wander Kitsu territory. The blue flowers, which are
and I believe they may home of its daimyō.
famous throughout the Empire and prized by ikebana
have been the Hantei The dual nature of the keep as both temple and cas-
Emperors.” artists, grow only in this territory. Folktales attribute
tle reflects the harmonious relationship of the inhabitants
the flowers to two star-crossed lovers, a Kitsu and a
“I could have sworn the within. The Kitsu family governs its lands from an Akodo
Doji, whose marriage arrangement was severed by
other day that I heard two court, and students of the greatest war college in Lion
visitors call each other the Lion Clan Champion. Shamed by the couple’s pro-
lands study warfare on consecrated temple grounds.
“Shimizu,” but I cannot test suicide, the Lion Champion relinquished his titles
The keep’s libraries contain not only records of battle,
be certain I heard them and became a monk, erecting a shrine to the Fortune
but also star maps and genealogies for Kitsu shugenja.
correctly. What does that Benten in atonement. The monk mingled the lovers’
word even mean?” The Lion’s northernmost keep stands vigil over the
ashes together and scattered them in Blue Chrysan-
lands of the Dragonfly Clan and the mountain pass lead-
“There are whispers of themum Village; the locals believe it is from their ashes
ing into the Dragon Clan lands beyond. As the castle
kitsu within the Shinomen that the first blue chrysanthemums grew, a sign that the
Forest. If this is a chance sits along a major trade road, merchant caravans are a
lovers had forgiven the foolish lord for his spite.
to understand our common sight, as are diplomats seeking audience with
ancestry better, we should the Akodo and Kitsu. Overnight visitors whisper com-
arrange an expedition to Castle of the Swift Sword plaints of having felt ill at ease during their stay, as if
meet them.”
Standing watch over the Lion’s northern border at the they sensed something was watching them within their
foot of the Drowned Merchant River, the Castle of the rooms. Yet only samurai of other clans ever seem to
Swift Sword (Hayaken no Shiro) rises above the Plains experience this, and few visitors would suggest anything
of Bloodied Honor on a steep, curved foundation of were amiss directly to the Akodo’s and Kitsu’s faces.
ancient stone. Within this foundation sits the Tomb of
the Five, where rumors say the sacred bones of The Kitsu Tombs
the Kitsu family’s founders rest in a
While most of the Lion Clan’s heroes are entombed
secret ancestral shrine. Before the
within the Hall of Ancestors (see page 54) above
fourth century, only a temple
Shiro Matsu, the Kitsu family lay their dead to rest
stood there, but bandits
within the ancestral tombs of their family, known simply
and other threats
as the Kitsu Tombs. Although they are a Kitsu hold-
necessitated an
ing, the tombs and the temple above them rest within
expansion into a
Matsu territory. The holding’s martial appearance has
military outpost,
led visitors to mistake it for a small castle within the
and eventually
Kaeru Forest. The Kitsu daimyō owns an estate on the
an entire
grounds, and several shugenja and other samurai live
in the temple’s dormitory. The first floor contains the
personal library of the Kitsu daimyō, while the second
floor is a dōjō training both shugenja and their yōjimbō.
The third and final floor of the temple is closest to the
Heavens—and thus, the honored dead—and is used as
a place for meditation and other rites.
The splendid temple sits atop layers of catacombs,
many of which date from before the Empire’s found-
ing. Indeed, the foundations of the temple were once
sacred to the kitsu people, and they are currently
among that civilization’s few remaining structures. It is
within the deepest tombs, away from prying eyes,
that the sōdan-senzo train to cross into Yomi,
the Realm of Blessed Ancestors, and Meido,
the Realm of Waiting, where the deceased
await judgment.

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 CHAPTER 1: G L O R IO U S HIST O R IES

Kitsu Ginchiyo, ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Medium-in-Training

Mystical Intuition: Just a Child:

ADVERSARY CONFLICT RANK:  4  3  Scholar; Mental  Martial; Physical
Not yet having reached gempuku, Ginchiyo is none- Holy Personage: Haunted:
theless one of the most powerful Kitsu Mediums  Social; Interpersonal  Social; Spiritual
(sōdan-senzo) in generations. Ginchiyo wants only to

FAVORED WEAPONS
be a painter and storyteller, but to leave one’s abilities

undeveloped is unthinkable to the Kitsu. The family Gear (equipped): Sanctified robes (Physical 1,
believes the child’s own wishes are secondary to the Supernatural 3, Ceremonial), assorted offerings to
preservation of their dying traditions. If they knew that the ancestors
some of the spirits Ginchiyo has been communing with

ABILITIES
aren’t honored ancestors, but vengeful ghosts, per-

haps they would think otherwise. DISCIPLE OF SECRET LORE

Choose four invocations (see page 189 of the core
SOCIETAL PERSONAL
rulebook) and up to three rituals (see page 212 of the
60 HONOR ENDURANCE
12 core rulebook). Ginchiyo can perform these invoca-
3 3 tions and rituals.
48 GLORY COMPOSURE
12
3 3 POSSESSION
34 STATUS 4 FOCUS
6 Once per game session, Ginchiyo can become pos-
sessed by an ancestor spirit. Apply any one appropri-
+1, –1, –2
DEMEANOR - DETACHED
VIGILANCE
3 ate NPC template to Ginchiyo’s profile and adjust her

conflict ranks by +1. This effect persists until the end
ARTISAN 3 MARTIAL 0 SCHOLAR 2 SOCIAL 3 TRADE 0 of the scene.

63

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)

 2
CHAPTER

Defenders
of the
Empire
A young samurai prostrated herself before the gilded
altar. The candles guttered in an ice-cold breeze.
“I am Matsu Tsuko,” she explained, rising. “Daimyō
of the House of Matsu, Twice-Chosen, victor of the Bat-
tle of Fate Gorge. My father was Matsu Uniri, the late
lord of our family. Now, I have inherited his position.”
The air went still, as if awaiting Tsuko’s entreaty.
“Honored ancestor,
I seek your counsel. I
would lead my family for-
ward, but my vassals dis-
regard me. They say a
child could never lead the Matsu, even one
endorsed by the Lion’s Pride, even one who was
Topaz Champion. They undermine me, scheming
behind my back. I cannot tell which are true and which
are traitorous.“ She knelt her head. “What should I do?”
“Take what is yours,” a voice replied. “Hone your
emotions as you would a blade. Hold all Bushidō vir-
tues in equal measure. If you must grasp power, snatch
it from the unworthy. If you must take a step, let it be a
step forward. And when all seems lost, and you draw
your final breath, let it be a cry that shakes the heavens!
Draw your blade, tilt your head back, and roar.
“Like a lion.”

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The Badger Clan
It is every samurai’s duty to protect the Empire and its
inhabitants from threats within and without. For the
Badger, standing between Rokugan and the hordes
of gaijin on horseback beyond the Great Wall of the
North mountains, this duty colors every part of their
lives. They protect the few passable mountain trails,
acting as sentries and lookouts. From childhood, Bad-
ger are taught to be watchful and ready at all times to
warn the rest of the clan, and the Empire, of outsiders
in the mountains. This wariness, combined with the
inhospitable terrain of their home and the hardships it
brings, necessitates the toughness for which the Bad-
ger are renowned. Visitors to the clan might expect to
find hardworking, serious bushi offering little in the way
of hospitality or entertainment. This is where the Bad-
ger can surprise.
An isolated clan, the Badger are always eager for
news of the rest of Rokugan, and once a visitor is deemed
friend rather than foe, the hosting castle takes on an air
of celebration. There is feasting and drinking, music and
dancing, and many competitive games, especially ones
involving wrestling and feats of strength. Visitors to the
lands of the Badger are few and far between, and the
clan makes the most of each one. Most of those travel-
ers return home with tales of samurai twice as large as
normal bushi, children who run up and down mountains
like goats, and terrible table manners.
When left to themselves, which is most of the time
due to their isolated location, the Badger are industri-
ous and focused. Their bushi train hard and work with
peasants at the harsh task of mining to provide ore for
the engineers and smiths. Their artisans create weap-
ons, armor, tools, traps, and innovative contraptions
unknown to other clans. Children wrestle each other
when they’re not busy with chores, while older Badger
tend Mulberry Valley and its silkworms, creating del-
icate silken items for trading. The ratio of samurai to
peasants among the Badger is unusually balanced, and
the Badger samurai do not shy away from hard labor
that other clans might leave to the lower classes. Bad-
ger peasants who aren’t mining invariably work in agri-
culture, specializing in intensive farming of the clan’s
rich volcanic soil to feed the always-hungry populace.
The Badger have never forgotten their Crab heri-
tage and consider the Crab distant relations who share
a common goal. While there is truth in this, Crab are
likely to point out that while their bushi fight against the
Shadowlands daily, the Badger are called upon to fight
once a month, or less. Moreover, while much of the
Badgers’ mountainous territory is cold and unforgiving,
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
it is hardly as dangerous or forbidding as the border of
the Shadowlands. This may account for the fact that
while the Crab and Badger share many similarities, the
latter boast a more jovial attitude.
The Badger have an uneasy alliance with the Lion,
whose scorn of Badger manners and customs is thinly
veiled by the courtesy necessary to trade with them.
While Badger weapons may not have the reputation
(or beauty) of other renowned blades, they are very
reliable in battle and inexpensive. Badger armor is
likewise plain but practical. Moreover, Badger forges
can produce both in large numbers. This makes Bad-
ger weapons and armor appealing to the Lion, at least
when equipping their vast armies of ashigaru. However,
it is the Badger’s more complicated items that the Lion
really prize, such as mechanical limbs with fully articu-
lated digits, designed to replace those lost in battle.
Only the design of their traps do the Badger refuse to
share. These devices give them an element of secu-
rity in their mountain home but could be devastating
if used to destroy a castle or camp within the Empire.
Well-placed traps, checked regularly by sappers,
aren’t the only way the Badger protect the mountain
passes. The entire clan is organized with protection in
mind. Most bushi work at patrol duty regularly through-
out their lives, and the Badger built their fortresses in
particularly vulnerable areas. Each member of the clan
is put to an appropriate use dependent on their indi-
vidual strengths. Many of the Badger are naturally well
built and physically strong, especially their warriors and
guards. The fastest samurai are trained as scouts, who
travel the mountains silently in small groups and periodi-
cally enter gaijin lands to watch for growing threats, such
as a massing coalition of Ujik or other would-be invad-
ers. The rare Badger who are sensitive to the kami train
as shugenja, while those with inquisitive and creative
minds become inventors and smiths. All Badger samurai
have important roles to play in the defense of Rokugan.
The Founding
In the second century, a young Crab named Hida
Domogu enjoyed sumai, or wrestling, above all other
pursuits. He excelled at the art and gained glory within
his clan, and his victories made him proud. Trying to
curb his pride, his family sent him on his musha shugyō,
with instructions to travel as much of Rokugan as he
could in his year away. He took the name Ichirō for his
warrior’s pilgrimage to develop his skills, already seek-
ing humility in selecting such a common child’s name.
Outside his clan, other samurai saw him only as
rōnin; he was presumed crude and uncultured, and his
reputation as a wrestler was unknown. Ichirō sought
competitions to prove himself. Sadly, he found that in
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 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E
the rest of Rokugan, sumai was not as popular as other
arts, such as iaijutsu and ikebana, in which he held
much less proficiency.
Humbled, Ichirō focused on his task and traveled as
widely as he could. He reached what he thought was the
northwestern edge of Rokugan, in what was Lion terri-
tory, only to be told that there was a village within the
rugged border. Intrigued to meet people who chose to
live at the very edge of civilization, he made his way into
the mountains. There he fell into a cunningly concealed
pit trap in the pass, and villagers armed with nothing
more than farming tools captured him.
The villagers weren’t all peasants: there were
rōnin among them, and bandits, and a large-statured
woman whose features were gaijin though she spoke
Rokugani. Viewing Ichirō as a common outcast samu-
rai, they took him in and allowed him to learn their
ways of defending their lands from outsiders. In turn,
he taught them sumai, and soon a thriving school grew
in the mountains.
It was not long before Ichirō was a valued mem-
ber in the village, which was fortunate when one day
the sounds of horns and hoofbeats were heard in the
distance. Scouts reported a force of mounted gaijin
descending from a mountain pass, one so large it might
have been several tribes working together. If it wasn’t
stopped, the unprepared Rokugani samurai defenders
to the south would be hard-pressed to repel the invaders
without suffering heavy losses and leaving the Empire
open for further attacks. Before that, though, the villag-
ers, even with their traps and other defenses, would be
quickly slaughtered. They made ready to abandon their
homes, but the newcomer had other plans.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Ichirō was no mere villager—he was Hida and thus
always ready to defend. Now also armed with the skills
he had learned from the villagers, he organized mul-
tiple squads to slow the invaders and cleverly force
them into narrow pathways where few could hold off
many. The squads employed drums so they could all
communicate with each other, using rhythms so natural
sounding that the invaders could not determine their
origins or meaning.
The gaijin riders found themselves assailed with
rocks from above, their pre-scouted passages newly
filled with iron spikes and progressively more treach-
erous and unstable. They soon realized that they
were being crowded into a single killing ground. As
their horses slowed, the sounds of the drums became
louder and louder. Panic began to set in. Those who
desperately tried to climb to freedom reached the
clifftops, but only to reappear flying through the air
and plummeting to their deaths.
The mountains began to shake as the drumbeats
echoed and rocks rolled down the sides toward the
trapped horde. The gaijin scattered, but many were
crushed beneath the boulders. Ichirō led his sumai
warriors into final battle, pulling the invaders from their
horses in crushing attacks. Those gaijin who escaped
would later tell of how the mountains, angry from the
pounding drums, awoke and slew their invading force.
Ichirō was hailed for his efforts and named the new
village leader. The final path where they had routed
the gaijin, he announced, should be known as the Path
of Woe, as it had and would prove woe to any who
thought to invade Rokugan.
By the time Akodo scouts brought a Lion army
to defend their territory, the villagers had improved
on their defenses in case a second wave of invaders
would arrive. When the Emperor heard the tale, he ele-
vated the villagers to the status of Minor Clan. Ichirō
was made their daimyō and the new clan was entrusted
with defending Rokugan’s border in those mountains.
The Lion considered this a slight but could not openly
disagree with the Emperor’s decision. In the years that
followed, the new Badger Clan built fortresses and set
traps, and the Emperor was pleased with their prog-
ress. So began the vigil of the Badger.
 CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E

Lands of the Badger Sumai among

The entirety of Badger territory lies within the Great
Wall of the North mountains, to the west of Dragon
the Badger
lands. The only known access to Badger lands from
Sumai is an unarmed martial art, a duel of two
the rest of Rokugan is through the Path of Woe, which
wrestlers requiring great skill and strength.
passes all the way through the mountains and out of
Each wrestler tries to force the other out of
the Empire. Since defending the pass is the purpose
the wrestling ring or onto the ground. A large
of the clan, almost every Badger holding sits in a stra-
number of rules govern how the wrestlers
tegic position along that path, its people ready to
may achieve this, and these vary slightly from
repel invaders.
clan to clan. The Badger follow the same rules
The terrain within the mountains is largely cold and
as the Crab, while the Lion have developed
unforgiving, but the Badger use their ingenuity to work
their own rules and have introduced these to
with their land. They make the most of every patch
the Imperial Court.
of volcanic soil, every ore-rich vein in the rock, every
Badger samurai enjoy many competitions
hot spring and sunny valley. Each building and mine
of strength and battle prowess, a necessity
is carefully planned to make defending an area easier
since they are rarely able to prove themselves
or make the pass more difficult for enemies to navi-
on the battlefield. Bushi compete in sumai
gate. Bushi, wrestlers, and peasants work in the mines,
matches as part of their training, but sumai
building their strength while following the direction of
is considered more than a mere sport. The
shugenja sensitive to the kami of metal and stone, who
Badger hold sumai matches before important
let them know where best to seek ore and where they
ceremonies to impress local kami and scare
might weaken the mountainside to turn certain routes
away those that might otherwise do the clan
into traps for approaching enemies.
harm. The most successful wrestlers are con-
Badger shugenja are rare, however, so any Badger
sidered favored by the kami and treated with
who shows ability is encouraged to apprentice with an
great respect. In particular, the reigning Bad-
elder shugenja and share their duties as quickly as pos-
ger sumai champion is treated as the Badger
sible. Often such shugenja have an affinity for Earth or
Clan Champion’s equal, though the sumai
Fire, surrounded as they are by mountains and dormant
champion’s powers and duties are limited to
volcanoes. Their duties extend to warning the clan of
the spiritual sphere.
upcoming earthquakes, landslides, and even the very
The Badger hold the Great Games in
infrequent volcanic eruptions. They can influence these
the Castle of the Badger (Shiro Ichirō) each
events, and tales are told of armies defeated by trem-
year, inviting representatives of every clan
ors encouraged by shugenja. Badger shugenja share
in the Empire. This contest, at which sumai
their spiritual duties with the highest-ranking sumai
is the main event, is usually poorly attended
wrestlers. These wrestlers learn how to conduct cere-
despite the days of revelry that follow. This
monies and rituals, though they do not share a shugen-
may simply be because the Badger are so
ja’s skills in communicating with the kami directly. Such
remote, or it may be because no Badger
sumai masters often serve as priests when no shugenja,
sumai champion has yet been defeated by a
priest, or monk is available.
contender from another clan.
Badger shugenja and wrestlers both use drums
during rituals, but the use of drums within the clan also
serves other purposes. Messages can be sent from one
If the clan is ever overrun, drummers know how to cre-
Badger fortress to another using these instruments,
ate rockfalls to destroy passes and trap enemies within
and each patrol includes a drummer who can signal
the mountains as a final, desperate defense.
a warning that echoes through the mountains. These
Luckily, the mountains are rich with useful minerals,
messages can convey a great deal of information,
as the clan is otherwise poor in resources. Smiths and
and most Badger samurai can interpret the messages
engineers use ore from the mines to create weapons
hidden in the rhythms. Within the Castle of the Bad-
and tools for trade, as well as traps and other inven-
ger and some of the larger homes, drums are used to
tions to aid their clan’s cause. The Badger encourage
accompany dances and other entertainments. All Bad-
invention, and rumor has it that Badger smiths and
ger know there are some places where it is not safe to
engineers are even attempting to make machines that
use a drum, where loud noises might cause landslides.
can take to the air.

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 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E

The Badger consider trade important, not least Castle of the Badger
because of the information traders bring with them.
The home of the Ichirō daimyō, the Castle of the Bad-
Given that some of the original villagers had gaijin
ger is an enormous fortress built high on the mountain-
blood, it is unsurprising that the clan even trades with
side, overlooking the widest and most open section
some gaijin who have demonstrated peaceful ways.
of the Path of Woe. Roughly in the center of Badger
This is kept a secret from the rest of Rokugan, though,
territory, it is the only castle the clan owns. The Great
or at least circumspect.
Games are held annually within its vast courtyard and
As well as growing rough grains such as millet and
on the nearby mountainside. It has seldom-used guest
buckwheat, the Badger cultivate a variety of native
quarters for competitors to stay in, all equipped with
fungi and catch fish in mountain rivers. They grow
heated baths, and a grand dining hall where stunning
plum and mulberry trees in areas warmed by volcanic
silk hangings adorn the walls. All kinds of mountain
activity and exposed to enough sun. From these, the
delicacies grace the Badger table, including mountain
clan produces plum wine and silk, which they both use
goat, silkworm pupae, and giant mushrooms cut to
themselves and trade. Badger Clan si4k is particularly
appear like fortresses themselves.
fine and delicate, and even the Crane are rumored
This castle was built near fertile ground suitable for
to purchase it raw—though no Crane would admit to
farming, so that during an invasion, the peasant farm-
using such an uncultured source. Painting the silk is
ers can retreat to safety. Even for the economical Bad-
considered an appropriate task for elder Badger samu-
ger, the gaijin hordes must be kept back at any cost;
rai, whose art hangs proudly in the halls of the Castle of
every life is worth saving if possible. To that end, the
the Badger and other homes, enrobes their shugenja,
Badger laid out a number of narrow paths and con-
or is sent to the Emperor as part of the rice tax. These
structed several underground passages to the castle,
artists’ designs are inspired by the jagged beauty of
all of which can be collapsed or blocked if necessary.
the mountains and volcanoes they call home and are
In the lowest levels of the castle are several forges
considered splendid curiosities in the Imperial Court.
and workshops, where Badger engineers, inventors,
weaponsmiths, and blacksmiths design, produce, and
Locations test all manner of items. The more dangerous experi-
To better protect both their own territory and the north- ments are usually undertaken outside the castle, where
west route into Rokugan, the Badger have built several strange black marks spread across the nearby rock face
fortresses overlooking particularly vulnerable sections give evidence of their work. Occasionally, a new trap or
of the Path of Woe. Breweries, mulberry groves, and experimental device might detonate within the castle
peasant farms nestle in more protected areas or within walls, but Badger architecture is sturdy enough that the
the shadow of a fortress. damage done is minimal.

The silk trade

The Badger are quite protective of their silk
farm, only allowing accompanied visitors to
enter the valley or caves involved in silk pro-
duction. This is because the gaijin north of
the mountains are known to place great value
on silk. Once, a visiting “monk” enjoying
Badger hospitality was found trying to smug-
gle silkworms north out of Badger lands in his
traveling cloak. The imposter was a greedy
merchant who had been promised great
wealth by the Yobanjin if he could bring them
the secret of silk. Since then, the Badger have
guarded their valley jealously, wary of plots
from gaijin or even other Rokugani clans.

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 CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E

Badger’s Scowl
Ichirō Hinata, Sapper BADGER WEAPONS

This fierce-looking craggy volcano is actually a source Ichirō Hinata,

ADVERSARY Sapper
CONFLICT RANK:  4  2 The Badger make a variety
of great joy for the Badger. The Scowl has long been of weapons, some of which
Hinata’s duties involve checking traps and fixing or
dormant but supplies hot springs and steam vents. The appear nowhere else in
replacing them as necessary, so he is something of an Rokugan. These tend to
former provide the Badger with hot, therapeutic baths,
engineer as well as a warrior. He also undertakes patrol serve a dual purpose, such
and the latter serve as a heat source for Fureheshu Mine.
duty, as most Badger are expected to do. His mood can as the Ichirō sapper ax (see
change remarkably quickly, so he is gruff and defensive page 88), which is half
Fureheshu Mine hand ax and half hammer,
one minute, and heartily welcoming the next. A sturdily
with a smooth wooden
The reinforced edifice of Fureheshu Mine is irregular built mature man, Hinata has dyed strips of his greying handle that can be used to
and jagged in its construction, such that the building hair black and white—the colors of the Badger mon— beat a drum. Ichirō-made
and regularly removes his helmet to reveal this. weapons usually bear the
looks like part of the surrounding mountainside. The
Ichirō pattern as their only
second-largest Badger holding, it is home to the Fure- adornment and tend to be
SOCIETAL PERSONAL
heshu daimyō and in times of need acts as a Badger for- stronger and more durable
tress. Chunks of rock underneath its protruding towers 60 HONOR ENDURANCE
16 than counterparts made
have been half-broken, so they can be easily dislodged 3 2 elsewhere in the Empire.
50 GLORY COMPOSURE
12
and dropped onto any attackers who might struggle 3 2
up the narrow paths toward the mine. The area also
39 STATUS 2 FOCUS
5
contains the Badger sumai training ring and a brewery
that produces a famously strong plum wine. The mine +2, –2
DEMEANOR - GRUFF
VIGILANCE
7
itself has veins rich with iron ores, and the work needed
to extract them from underneath the earth is often an

ARTISAN 3 MARTIAL 3 SCHOLAR 1 SOCIAL 1 TRADE 1

important part of sumai and samurai training.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Mulberry Valley

Engineer’s Hands: Uncouth:

When a silk merchant decided to stay with the Badger  Trade; Mental, Physical  Social; Interpersonal,
rather than face his debts at home, no one expected Mental
him to be able to establish a silkworm farm in the cold

FAVORED WEAPONS
mountains. However, one sun-warmed, volcanic valley

turned out to be the perfect place to grow a rare vari-
ety of mulberry tree. Generations after the merchant’s
death, silk production has grown to become an import-
ant source of wealth for the Badger. Children help feed
the silkworms in their caves, bringing in baskets of
Ichirō sapper axe: Range 1, Damage 3, Deadliness
5, Durable
Gear (equipped): Badger armor (Physical 2), basic
sapper tools (Mundane), small drum

leaves from the valley, and talented Badger samurai

ABILITIES

paint breathtaking mountain landscapes on the silk BADGER SAPPER

before it is sold to other clans.
Hinata can spot Badger-made traps, and automatically
points them out to any character with whom he is trav-
Mysterious Shrine eling. As a Movement and Support action, Hinata can
This small shrine in the mountains near Badger’s Scowl disarm or reset one trap (without making a check).
offers no clue as to the kami that might inhabit it. Bad- SOUR MOODS
ger patrols sometimes come across it seemingly by Hinata’s demeanor is usually Good-natured. However,
accident and silently pay their respects before moving after Hinata becomes Compromised or unmasks, his
on. Only the Sumai Champion ever goes there with demeanor becomes Gruff until the end of the scene. If
purpose, to sit in contemplation. Visits from outsiders he has had a particularly bad day, he may also start a
are exceedingly rare, though occasionally one appears scene Gruff to signify this fact.
under escort to offer their respectful prayers. Rumors
abound as to its true nature. There are tales that a
lost Kami’s grave resides here, or that it is the location
where the first silk-producing butterflies were found,
or that an oni is buried underneath—one that only a
Sumai Champion could defeat should it ever emerge.

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 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E

Fureheshu Ayaginu, Adventure Seed:

Sumai Champion Lair of the Badgers
ADVERSARY CONFLICT RANK:  7  4
Fureheshu Ayaginu has held the title of Sumai Champion 一 Hook The PCs encounter an injured
of the Badger Clan for two years in a row. She is a woman bushi while traveling near the Empire’s north-
of great renown within the clan, and her name is well- ern border. He was on his way to participate
known to sumai enthusiasts across Rokugan. As Sumai in the Badger’s Great Games but can no lon-
Champion, she has spiritual duties to perform; Ayaginu ger compete and represent his clan. He asks
spends as much time communing with the kami as she a PC of the same clan to compete in his place.
does training. She speaks little by nature, and a number 二 Rising Action The PCs are challenged
of rumors surround her: that she can hear the voices of the by a gruff Ichirō Hinata as they approach
kami, that everything she utters is prophecy, and that she the Castle of the Badger, but when they
is too pure to ever draw blood or take a life. None of the reveal the purpose of the visit, he becomes
rumors are completely true, and very few Badger know friendly and welcomes them with enthusiasm.
of the most important duty of the Sumai Champion in He leads them to the castle, where it soon
protecting one of the most sacred locations in Rokugan. becomes apparent that very few contestants
SOCIETAL PERSONAL
have turned up for the games, although the
Badger always invite every Great and Minor
60 HONOR ENDURANCE
18 Clan to take part. All the PCs are encour-
5 2 aged to compete, not only in sumai (the main
50 GLORY COMPOSURE
12
4 2 event), but in games of rock throwing, races
39 STATUS 3 FOCUS
7 across the treacherous mountainside, and
other contests of strength and prowess.
+1,+1,–2
VIGILANCE
5 三 Climax If the PCs perform well, not only
DEMEANOR - DETACHED

do the Badger offer them gifts, but any unat-

ARTISAN 1 MARTIAL 3 SCHOLAR 3 SOCIAL 2 TRADE 0 tached PCs are invited to spend time with
a matchmaker. The Ichirō daimyō is keen to

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
make alliances with other clans and bring

Strength of a Mountain:
 Martial; Physical
Wisdom of
Ancient Stones:
 Scholar; Spiritual
Softheartedness: new, worthy blood into his clan. The PCs may
 Social; Mental also make connections with friendly gaijin
who are attending the Great Games. How the
PCs deal with this situation determines their
future reception in Badger lands.

FAVORED WEAPONS

Grip of iron: Range 0, Damage 5, Deadliness 1

Gear (equipped): Badger-silk kimono (Physical 1,

Spiritual 1, Ceremonial)

ABILITIES

CRUSHING WATERFALL THROW

While making a Martial Arts [Unarmed] check, Ayaginu
may spend  as follows:
Earth +: If either the target’s silhouette or vig-
ilance is lower than  spent this way, the target
suffers the Immobilized condition and receives
4 fatigue.
Water +: If either the target’s silhouette or vigi-
lance is lower than  spent this way, the target is
thrown 2 range bands in a direction of Ayaginu’s
choice and receives 4 fatigue.

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Badger Clan
Player Characters
Players who wish to build a Badger Clan character can
do so using the clan and family provided in this chap-
ter. At the GM’s discretion, a Badger character could
study at a Great Clan school, or a character from a
Great Clan could fall in with these stubborn defenders
of the Empire’s northwest border. The rules for two of
the most iconic schools of the Badger, the Ichirō Grap-
pler School and the Ichirō Ironsmith School, can be
found on pages 76 and 77.
The Badger Minor Clan
While most clans seem to spend all their time fighting
each other, the Badger steadfastly defend the northwest
border of the Emerald Empire. The trivialities of courtly
life and interclan intrigue are less than important—and
not even interesting. Only the Crab face a more con-
stant threat. Still, although the Badger readily admit
that no gaijin invader rivals the terrors of the Shadow-
lands, this doesn’t diminish the importance of their duty
deep in the Great Wall of the North mountains. Often
forgotten by most of the major powers of the Empire,
the Badger continue their charged duty with little to no
outside support. Only by being as strong, resilient, and
What Does Your
Character Know?
All Badger Clan characters have a greater awareness of the
following topics:
$ You have a strong grasp of the politics and cultures
within the Badger territory along the Empire’s northwest
border, as well as general information concerning the
Crab Clan.
$ You know much about the many mountain passes in this
area, especially the Path of Woe.
$ You have a strong familiarity with Ujik and other gai-
jin peoples who might attempt to enter the Empire
through force or stealth. You may even have had first-
hand experiences with one or more of them.
$ You may have some knowledge of a mysterious shrine
located in Badger lands and its true importance to
the Empire.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
self-reliant as the mountains themselves can the Badger
ensure no invaders gain entrance to Rokugan through
the mountainous terrain they guard.
Ring Increase: +1 Earth
Skill Increase: +1 Martial Arts [Unarmed]
Status: 25
The Ichirō Family
The Ichirō family dominates much of Badger life and
has since the clan’s founding in the early years of the
Empire. Most Rokugani who know of this Minor Clan
simply assume the Ichirō and the Badger are one and
the same. Much like the Crab, from whom the Bad-
ger founder originated, the Ichirō are dedicated and
direct in their actions, and they care little for anything
that separates them from their duty. When they are not
watching over the border or repelling would-be invad-
ers, however, the Ichirō are just as dedicated to activi-
ties such as wrestling and other competitive pastimes.
Many Rokugani are aware of the Badger’s skills in forg-
ing weapons and armor, and while Badger products
are universally derided as lacking elegance, the clan
never seems to have a shortage of buyers.
Ring Increase: +1 Earth or +1 Fire
Skill Increases: +1 Fitness, +1 Tactics
Glory: 35 Starting Wealth: 3 koku
What Does Bushidō
Mean to Your Clan?
The Badger are one of the most isolated clans in the Empire,
and their samurai are as direct and hard as the mountains
themselves. Sumai teaches them that strength comes from
honest application of muscle and skill, not from honeyed
words or blind acceptance. For this clan, to defend the border
is to protect the Empire, and there can be no weakness in this
area. When truth and honesty are forgotten, there is little to
separate samurai from foreigners. For this reason, Righteous-
ness (Gi) holds a special place for the Badger.
The Badger rarely leave their mountains, and while they are
lively and enjoy games of all sorts, there is rarely need for man-
nered behavior within their lands. Every time they visit another
court, they see only deceit and underhanded ways of twisting
the truth for political gains. For a clan that prizes strength and
iron, those samurai who rely on words instead of muscle are to
be frowned upon at best. Thus, the Bushidō tenet of Courtesy
(Rei) is less important to members of the Badger Clan.
See page 301 of the core rulebook for more information on
how these can affect your honor and glory.
 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E

New Schools
ADVANCE TYPE
NEW CONTENT
INTRODUCED IN Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
THIS BOOK
Courtesy Skill
The following are new schools that PCs can select as
Techniques with bolded
part of character creation. Medicine Skill

RANK 1
names are new to this
book and can be found Theology Skill
starting on page 95. Agasha Ascetic School
Rank 1 Air Invocations  Tech. Grp.
[Shugenja, Bushi]
= Clouds Parted by Steel  Technique
Combining the teachings of mystic and warrior, the Grasp of Earth  Technique
samurai of the Agasha Ascetic School fill a valuable
Scholar Skills Skl. Grp.
role when the Dragon Clan goes to war. Their skills in
calling upon the kami to aid the clan are impressive Martial Arts [Melee] Skill
enough, but their martial abilities mean that they are Meditation Skill

RANK 2
able to attack and defend in combat as well as any
Survival Skill
bushi. This battlefield flexibility that makes them dan-
Rank 1–2 Kata  Tech. Grp.
gerous and vital to the clan’s small armies.
Rings: +1 Air, +1 Earth = Beseech Togashi's Vision  Technique
Starting Skills (choose five): +1 Fitness, +1 Martial = Vanish in the Shadows  Technique
Arts [Ranged], +1 Martial Arts [Melee], +1 Meditation,
Trade Skills Skl. Grp.
+1 Sentiment, +1 Tactics, +1 Theology
Honor: 45 Fitness Skill
ASCETIC INVOCATIONS Techniques Available: Invocations (), Kata (), Rituals () Martial Arts [Ranged] Skill
Starting Techniques: RANK 3
The Agasha Ascetic School Theology Skill
teaches its students invoca-
tions by Elemental names,
$ Invocations (choose two): Caress of Earth, Rank 1–3 Earth Invocations  Tech. Grp.
for they follow the Tao of Cloak of Night, Wall of Earth, Yari of Air = Employ Terrible Thunder  Technique
Shinsei and see the world $ Kata (choose one): Striking as Air, Grasp of the Air Dragon  Technique
through the lens of the five
elements, or rings. (See Striking as Earth Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Invocation Names and $ Rituals: Cleansing Rite, Commune with Spirits
Traditions on page 190 in Command Skill
the core rulebook). Sentiment Skill
Stand as the Mountain (School Ability): After you
RANK 4

channel an invocation, increase your physical and super- Theology Skill

natural resistances by an amount equal to the number Rank 1–4 Kata  Tech. Grp.
of dice you reserved, to a maximum of your school rank.
Imbue Thunder  Technique
This effect persists until the start of your next turn.
Starting Outfit: Sanctified robes, traveling clothes, Rise, Air  Technique
daishō (katana and wakizashi), scroll satchel, journal, Scholar Skills Skl. Grp.
traveling pack.
Fitness Skill
Martial Arts [Melee] Skill
RANK 5

Meditation Skill
Rank 1–5 Air Invocations  Tech. Grp.
Ever-Changing Waves  Technique
Striking as Void  Technique

Soul of Deepest Stones (Mastery Ability):

RANK 6

When you successfully make a check to

augment or mend a target, add a number
of bonus successes equal to your ranks
in Fitness.

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 ADVANCE TYPE

Martial Skills Skl. Grp.

Command Skill
Courtesy Skill
RANK 1

Government Skill
Rank 1 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Tactical Assessment  Technique
Righteous Example  Technique
Social Skills Skl. Grp.
Fitness Skill
Martial Arts [Melee] Skill
RANK 2

Tactics Skill
Rank 1–2 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Flowing Water Strike  Technique
= Preserve Strength  Technique Akodo Soldier School [Bushi]
Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Lion samurai are renowned across Rokugan for their
Culture Skill prowess in war, and Akodo Soldiers are no exception.
Medicine Skill Almost all are products of the Akodo War College,
RANK 3

Smithing Skill where they specialize in having no specialization. Each

Rank 1–3 Kata 
= To Smash the Heart 
Rallying Cry 
Scholar Skills
Courtesy
Martial Arts [Ranged]
RANK 4
can fill almost any role in the clan’s order of battle,
Tech. Grp.
wielding any of Akodo’s vaunted six weapons of the
Technique samurai with equal expertise. Such is their training that
Technique they can also provide battlefield medical support and
Skl. Grp. tactical advice when needed.
Rings: +1 Fire, +1 Water
Skill
Starting Skills (choose five): +1 Command, +1 Fit-
Skill ness, +1 Martial Arts [Melee], +1 Martial Arts [Ranged],

Tactics Skill +1 Martial Arts [Unarmed], +1 Medicine, +1 Tactics

Honor: 50
Rank 1–4 Fire Shūji  Tech. Grp.
Techniques Available: Kata (), Rituals (), Shūji ()
= Pin the Fan  Technique Starting Techniques:
Disappearing World Style  Technique
$ Kata (choose one): Striking as Fire, Striking as
Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Water
Command Skill
$ Kata (choose one): = Crescent Moon Style,
Government Skill
RANK 5

= Pelting Hail Style

Sentiment
Rank 1–5 Kata 
Moment of Glory 
Striking as Void 
Strike Without Shadow (Mastery Ability):
RANK 6
Skill
Drilled Precision (School Ability): When making an
Tech. Grp.
Attack or Movement action check, you may remove an
Technique amount of strife from yourself up to your school rank.
Technique For each strife you remove this way, add one kept 
set to  to the check and receive 1 fatigue.
Starting Outfit: Ashigaru armor, traveling clothes,

When you succeed at an Attack or Movement

action check, you may spend 1 Void point
to add bonus successes equal to your ranks
in Fitness.
daishō (katana and wakizashi), yumi (bow) with quiver
of arrows, yari (spear), nodachi (great sword) or naga-
maki (see page 88) or nagae yari (page 88), yoroi-
doshi (page 88), knife, battlefield medical pack
(page 90), traveling pack.

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 ADVANCE TYPE

Trade Skills Skl. Grp.

Fitness Skill
RANK 1 Martial Arts [Melee] Skill
Martial Arts [Ranged] Skill
Rank 1 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Clouds Parted by Steel  Technique
= Swift Scouting  Technique
Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Government Skill
Medicine Skill
RANK 2

Skulduggery Skill
Rank 1–2 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= The Patient Viper  Technique
= Employ Terrible Thunder  Technique
Scholar Skills Skl. Grp. Daidoji Harrier School
Labor Skill [Bushi, Shinobi]
Martial Arts [Melee] Skill Rumors have long run of Daidoji battlefield agents who
RANK 3

Tactics Skill gather intelligence and disrupt enemy supply lines. Yet
under the leadership of the most recent Daidoji daimyō,
Rank 1–3 Air Shūji  Tech. Grp.
the Harrier corps has become far more effective at end-
= Imbue Outburst  Technique ing conflicts before they begin. Through sabotage,
= Vanish in the Shadows  Technique assassination, and forgery—tactics many would find
Trade Skills Skl. Grp. dishonorable—a single harrier might negate tens, if not
hundreds, of enemy warriors and ensure the Crane Clan
Martial Arts [Ranged] Skill
is well defended. Often the only sign a harrier is present
Medicine Skill is the sound of thunder and the smoke of a collapsed
RANK 4

Sentiment Skill bridge or fallen fortification.

Rank 1–4 Kata  Tech. Grp. Rings: +1 Air, +1 Fire
Starting Skills (choose five): +1 Culture, +1 Fitness,
= Wreak Havoc  Technique
+1 Martial Arts [Melee], +1 Martial Arts [Ranged], +1
Beseech Bayushi's Medicine, +1 Sentiment, +1 Skulduggery
Technique
Absolution 
Honor: 40
Martial Skills Skl. Grp. Techniques Available: Kata (), Rituals (), Shūji ()
Courtesy Skill Starting Techniques:
Medicine Skill Kata (choose one): Soaring Slice,
RANK 5

$
Survival Skill Striking as Air
Rank 1–5 Fire Shūji  Tech. Grp. $ Ninjutsu: = Skulk
Pin the Fan  Technique
Explosive Arrival (School Ability): After you perform
= Silencing Stroke  Technique an Attack action against a target who is Dazed or
Spreading Chaos (Mastery Ability): After unaware of your presence, that target receives strife
you use your school ability during a duel or equal to your school rank. If your target is an enemy
skirmish, your target and each other char-
RANK 6

acter friendly to them at range 0–3 suffers
the Dazed condition. After you use your
school ability in a mass battle, the leader
of the cohort you targeted suffers the
Dazed condition.
leader’s cohort in a mass battle, the enemy army also
receives that much panic.
Starting Outfit: Traveling clothes, common clothes,
daishō (katana and wakizashi), any one weapon of rar-
ity 6 or lower, knife, traveling pack.

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 ADVANCE TYPE

Social Skills Skl. Grp.

Fitness Skill
Martial Arts [Melee] Skill
RANK 1

Tactics Skill
Rank 1 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Beseech Hida's Might  Technique
= Battle of No Escape  Technique
Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Command Skill
Games Skill
RANK 2

Sentiment Skill
Rank 1–2 Earth Shūji  Tech. Grp.
= Great Anvil's Measure  Technique
Hida Battle Leader School
= Beseech Shiba's Calm  Technique [Bushi, Courtier]
Trade Skills Skl. Grp.
Unlike all other clans, the Crab are continually at war.
Command Skill
Even the Lion cannot claim the same. The Shadowlands
Performance Skill never sleeps, so neither can the stalwart samurai who
RANK 3

Tactics Skill are the primary defenders along the Wall. Hida Battle
Leaders oversee this war, and must rely on tactics and
Rank 1–3 Kata  Tech. Grp.
sheer grit to counter the overwhelming forces of Fu
= The Patient Viper  Technique Leng. These are the most respected commanders of
= Beseech Akodo's the Crab Clan, as adept on a tactical board as they are
Technique
Judgment  on the field of battle.
Martial Skills Skl. Grp. Rings: +1 Earth, +1 Void
Command Skill Starting Skills (choose five): +1 Command, +1 Fit-
ness, +1 Games, +1 Government, +1 Martial Arts
Medicine Skill
RANK 4

[Melee], +1 Sentiment, +1 Tactics

Smithing Skill Honor: 55
Rank 1–4 Void Shūji  Tech. Grp. Techniques Available: Kata (), Rituals (), Shūji ()
= Striking as Void  Technique Starting Techniques:

Steady the Hammer  Technique $ Kata: = Tactical Assessment

Social Skills Skl. Grp. $ Shūji (choose one): Fortress of Necessity,
Fitness Skill Stonewall Tactics, Weight of Duty
Sentiment Skill
Thunderous Courage (School Ability): Once per
RANK 5

Tactics Skill scene after you perform a Support action, you may
Rank 1–5 Earth Shūji  Tech. Grp. choose any number of characters within a number of
range bands equal to your ranks in Command. Each
Rouse the Soul  Technique
chosen character treats their composure as increased
The Immovable Hand of Peace  Technique by your school rank. This effect persists until the end
 Technique
of the scene.
Unbreakable Resolve (Mastery Ability):
RANK 6

Compromised characters affected by your
school ability can keep a number of dice con-
taining  up to your ranks in Command.
During a mass battle, if you are a leader, your army
treats its discipline as increased by your school rank.
Starting Outfit: Lacquered armor, traveling clothes,
daishō (katana and wakizashi), any two weapons of rar-
ity 7 or lower, finger of jade, tessen or gunbai (see page
91), several scrolls of battle tactics, traveling pack.

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Ichirō Grappler School [Bushi] ADVANCE TYPE

Sumai is a very serious sport in most of Rokugan, with Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
traditions and rituals that date back hundreds of years. Games Skill
Few are as devoted to it as the Badger and Crab Clans, Labor Skill

RANK 1
however. Those who train exclusively as Ichirō Grap-
Theology Skill
plers apply their skills in all aspects of their lives, fend-
ing off gaijin invaders just as they stand firm against Rank 1 Kata  Tech. Grp.
their opponents in wrestling matches. In battle, a skilled = Lord Hida's Grip  Technique
Grappler needs no weapons other than their tenacious
Open-Hand Style  Technique
grip and immovable body to ensure none of their foes
Social Skills Skl. Grp.
are able to pass.
Rings: +1 Earth, +1 Water Fitness Skill
Starting Skills (Choose five): +1 Fitness, +1 Games, Martial Arts [Unarmed] Skill

RANK 2
+1 Martial Arts [Unarmed], +1 Meditation, +1 Perfor-
Medicine Skill
mance, +1 Survival, +1 Tactics
Honor: 45 Rank 1–2 Earth Shūji  Tech. Grp.
Techniques Available: Kata (), Rituals (), Shūji () Beseech Hida's Might  Technique
Starting Techniques: = Thicket's Embrace Style  Technique
$ Kata: = Fierce Badger Style Scholar Skills Skl. Grp.

$ Shūji: (choose one): All in Jest, Honest Fitness Skill

Assessment Meditation Skill
RANK 3
Performance Skill
Badger’s Hold (School Ability): After you succeed
at an Attack action check using the Martial Arts Rank 1–3 Kata  Tech. Grp.
[Unarmed] skill, if the target is Immobilized or Prone = Your Enemy's Arrows  Technique
(see pages 272–273 of the core rulebook), they also
Shattering Tide Style  Technique
receive fatigue equal to your school rank.
Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Starting Outfit: Ashigaru armor, traveling clothes,
daishō (katana and wakizashi), sumai garb, small Games Skill
drum, Ichirō sapper ax (see page 88), Sentiment Skill
RANK 4

traveling pack.
Theology Skill
Rank 1–4 Water Shūji  Tech. Grp.
= The Patient Viper  Technique
Steady the Hammer  Technique
Social Skills Skl. Grp.
Culture Skill
Fitness Skill
RANK 5

Martial Arts [Unarmed] Skill

Rank 1–5 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Victory Without a Sword  Technique
Soul Sunder  Technique

Killing Grip (Mastery Ability): When you

RANK 6

inflict a critical strike on a target, if the target

is Immobilized or Prone, you may receive 3
fatigue to increase the severity of the critical
strike by two times your ranks in Fitness.

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 ADVANCE TYPE

Artisan Skills Skl. Grp.

Fitness Skill
Martial Arts [Unarmed] Skill
RANK 1

Survival Skill
Rank 1 Water Shūji  Tech. Grp.
= Fierce Badger Style  Technique
Fortress of Necessity  Technique
Social Skills Skl. Grp.
Commerce Skill
Fitness Skill
RANK 2

Smithing Skill
Rank 1–2 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Shattering Tide Style  Technique
Great Anvil's Measure  Technique
Artisan Skills Skl. Grp.
Culture Skill
Labor Skill Ichirō Ironsmith School
RANK 3

Survival Skill [Artisan, Courtier]

Rank 1–3 Rituals  Tech. Grp.
While the Kakita and other swordsmith schools pro-
= A Samurai's Fate  Technique duce weapons that are unparalleled works of art, the
Thicket's Embrace Style  Technique hard realities of life in the mountains means a differ-
Martial Skills Skl. Grp. ent path for the Ichirō. There is little call for art in this
school, which concentrates on weapons and armor as
Command Skill
tough and reliable as the rugged hills the Badger call
Government Skill home. Ichirō Ironsmiths are also famous for the speed
RANK 4

Smithing Skill with which they produce weaponry, something the Lion
Clan relies upon greatly to arm its legions of ashigaru.
Rank 1–4 Void Shūji  Tech. Grp.
Rings: +1 Water, +1 Void
= Striking as Void  Technique Starting Skills (choose five): +1 Commerce, +1 Cour-
Your Enemy's Arrows  Technique tesy, +1 Fitness, +1 Labor, +1 Martial Arts [Melee], +1
Artisan Skills Skl. Grp. Martial Arts [Unarmed], +1 Smithing
Honor: 40
Courtesy Skill
Techniques Available: Kata (), Rituals (), Shūji ()
Fitness Skill Starting Techniques:
RANK 5

Martial Arts [Melee] Skill $ Shūji (choose two): Coursing March Chant,
Rank 1–5 Water Shūji  Tech. Grp. Courtier’s Resolve, Honest Assessment,
= Wreak Havoc  Technique Stirring the Embers

Rouse the Soul  Technique Starting Patterns: Ichirō Pattern. You can apply this pat-
tern (see page 94) to any weapon or armor you craft.
Tenacity of the Forge (Mastery Ability):
Hide of Iron (School Ability): Once per game session
RANK 6

When you create a new set of armor, you may

apply two different patterns you know to it when you make a check to craft, improve, or maintain a
(instead of one). weapon or set of armor, you may receive an amount of
fatigue up to your school rank to reroll that many dice.
Starting Outfit: Traveling clothes, common clothes,
wakizashi (short sword), any one weapon of rarity 6 or
lower, smithing hammer, Ichirō sapper axe (see page
88), traveling pack.

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Ide Messenger School [Courtier] ADVANCE TYPE

Ide Messengers call upon the powerful steeds of the Social Skills Skl. Grp.
Unicorn Clan to allow them to traverse the Emerald Composition Skill
Empire (and often beyond) with information useful to Fitness Skill

RANK 1
their clan. They do more than simply carry messages,
Survival Skill
however. They carefully interpret these messages so as
to ensure that information can convey multiple layers of Rank 1 Earth Shūji  Tech. Grp.
meaning for both originator and recipient. The grace = Beseech Shinjo's
Technique
and subtlety these diplomats display is legendary, as Empathy 
the Messengers use their travels to gather information = Swift Scouting  Technique
useful for the Unicorn in both courts and battlefields.
Trade Skills Skl. Grp.
Rings: +1 Earth, +1 Void
Martial Arts [Melee] Skill
Starting Skills (choose five): +1 Courtesy, +1 Fitness,
+1 Government, +1 Martial Arts [Ranged], +1 Perfor- Performance Skill

RANK 2
mance, +1 Sentiment, +1 Survival Sentiment Skill
Honor: 50
Rank 1–2 Water Shūji  Tech. Grp.
Techniques Available: Kata (), Rituals (), Shūji ()
= Call the Wild  Technique
Starting Techniques:
Beseech Doji's Wisdom  Technique
$ Shūji: = Lady Shinjo’s Speed
Artisan Skills Skl. Grp.
$ Shūji (choose one): Courtier’s Resolve, Honest
Courtesy Skill
Assessment
RANK 3 Performance Skill
Sympathetic Bearing (School Ability): After you make Survival Skill
a check for Initiative (or enter the scene, for a narrative
Rank 1–3 Rituals  Tech. Grp.
scene), you may choose another character in the scene.
That character removes strife equal to your school rank, = Regal Bearing  Technique
and you reduce the TN of your next Social skill check Rallying Cry  Technique
targeting that character by 2.
Scholar Skills Skl. Grp.
Starting Outfit: Traveling clothes, wakizashi (short
sword), yumi (bow) and quiver of arrows, satchel of Command Skill
messages, calligraphy set, knife, Unicorn warhorse Composition Skill
RANK 4

(see page 327 of the core rulebook),

Martial Arts [Ranged] Skill
traveling pack.
Rank 1–4 Void Shūji  Tech. Grp.
= Rouse the Soul  Technique
= Vanish in the Shadows  Technique
Social Skills Skl. Grp.
Culture Skill
Fitness Skill
RANK 5

Survival Skill
Rank 1–5 Air Shūji  Tech. Grp.
Buoyant Arrival  Technique
Striking as Void  Technique

The Herd Flourishes Together (Mastery

Ability): When you make a Social skill check,
you may spend  as follows:
 : Choose another character’s social
RANK 6

objective that you know. You may transfer

any number of momentum points you have
accrued to the completion of their objective.
After that character completes their objec-
tive, you gain the Support of [That Charac-
ter's Group] advantage (see page 110 of the
core rulebook) if you do not have it already.

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Isawa Tensai School [Shugenja] ADVANCE TYPE

TENSAI INVOCATIONS

The shugenja of the Isawa Tensai School practice an Scholar Skills Skl. Grp.
Following the same tradi-
even more elite and specialized path than other Isawa Courtesy Skill tions as the Isawa Elemen-
schools. Isawa Tensai concentrate on a single element Meditation Skill talist School, the Isawa
Tensai School teaches its

RANK 1
with which they have a natural affinity. This allows them
Survival Skill students invocations by
to focus their energies upon that element and develop
= Rank 1–2 Inspired Elemental names. (See
a unique link to the kami who embody it, letting them Tech. Grp. Invocation Names and
Element Invocations 
wield powers few can match. Traditions on page 190 in
= Sting of Warrior's Pride  Technique
Rings: +2 any one ring the core rulebook).
Starting Skills (choose three): +1 Courtesy, +1 Martial Divination  Technique
Arts [Unarmed], +1 Meditation, +1 Sentiment, +1 Sur- Social Skills Skl. Grp.
vival, +1 Theology
Culture Skill
Honor: 50
Techniques Available: Invocations (), Rituals (), Martial Arts [Unarmed] Skill

RANK 2
Shūji () Theology Skill
Starting Techniques: = Rank 1–3 Inspired
Tech. Grp.
Element Invocations 
$ Invocations (choose one): Any one rank 1
= Beseech Shiba's Calm  Technique
invocation of your inspired element
= Open-Hand Style  Technique
$ Rituals (choose two): Cleansing Rite,
Commune with the Spirits, Threshold Barrier Martial Skills Skl. Grp.

$ Shūji (choose two): Ancestry Unearthed, Bor- Performance Skill

rowed Courage, Truth Burns through Lies, Sentiment Skill
RANK 3

Shallow Waters Theology Skill

Elemental Inspiration (School Ability): Choose one: = Rank 1–4 Inspired

Tech. Grp.
Element Invocations 
Air, Earth, Water, or Fire. This is your inspired element.
When making a check to activate an invocation of your Incite True Nature  Technique
inspired element, add a number of rolled  set to  = Battle in the Mind  Technique
results equal to your school rank.
Scholar Skills Skl. Grp.
When making a check to activate an invocation of your
inspired element, you trigger spiritual backlash (see page Fitness Skill
190 of the core rulebook) only if you keep four or more Meditation Skill
RANK 4

dice containing  symbols (instead of three or more). Survival Skill

When making a check to activate an invocation not = Rank 1–5 Inspired
of your inspired element, you trigger spiritual backlash Tech. Grp.
Element Invocations 
if you keep two or more dice containing  symbols
A Samurai's Fate  Technique
(instead of three or more).
Starting Outfit: Sanctified robes, traveling clothes, Pillar of Calm  Technique
wakizashi (short sword), scroll satchel, traveling pack. Social Skills Skl. Grp.
Government Skill
Sentiment Skill
RANK 5

Theology Skill
= Rank 1–5 Inspired
Tech. Grp.
Element Invocations 
Rouse the Soul  Technique
= Striking as Void  Technique

Attuned Invocation (Mastery Ability): Once

per scene, when making a check to activate
RANK 6

an invocation of your inspired element, you

may spend 1 Void point. If you do, you may
keep any number of your rolled dice (instead
of a number up to your ring value).

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Martial Skills Skl. Grp.

Command Skill
Culture Skill

RANK 1
Survival Skill
Rank 1 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Lightning Raid  Technique
= Beseech Shinjo's
Technique
Empathy 
Trade Skills Skl. Grp.
Fitness Skill
Martial Arts [Melee] Skill

RANK 2
Sentiment Skill
Rank 1–2 Fire Shūji  Tech. Grp.
= Call the Wild  Technique
Lord Akodo's Roar  Technique
Matsu Beastmaster School [Bushi]
Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
All Matsu bushi are ferocious warriors, but Beastmasters
Courtesy Skill
are doubly dangerous, for they always have devoted
animal companions fighting at their sides. This school RANK 3 Medicine Skill
teaches how to strengthen what could be an existing Performance Skill
bond between human and beast. Their combined roar
Rank 1–3 Kata  Tech. Grp.
as they charge into battle is often enough to send
Beseech Akodo's
lesser samurai running before steel or fang have even Technique
Judgment 
reached them.
= Swift Scouting  Technique
Rings: +1 Fire, +1 Water
Starting Skills (choose five): +1 Fitness, +1 Martial Arts Scholar Skills Skl. Grp.
[Melee], +1 Medicine, +1 Meditation, +1 Performance, Command Skill
BONDED ANIMALS
+1 Sentiment, +1 Survival
Martial Arts [Unarmed] Skill
RANK 4

A pair of large dogs (see Honor: 45

page 326 of the core Techniques Available: Kata (), Rituals (), Shūji () Survival Skill
rulebook) is the most Starting Techniques: Rank 1–4 Water Shūji  Tech. Grp.
common bonded choice
of bonded animals of To Smash the Heart  Technique
$ Kata: Warrior’s Resolve
the Matsu Beastmaster. = Vanish in the Shadows  Technique
$ Shūji (choose two): Coursing March Chant,
However, at the GM's Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Righteous Example, Sensational Distraction
discretion, your char-
acter could have a dif- Culture Skill
ferent bonded animal, Starting Advantage: Animal Bond (see page 111 of
Survival Skill
RANK 5

in which case you may the core rulebook)

select one animal with One with the Pride (School Ability): Increase each Theology Skill
 6 or lower, such as of your bonded animals’ endurance, composure, Rank 1–5 Kata  Tech. Grp.
a hunting cat.
and ranks in Martial skill group by an amount equal
Sear the Wound  Technique
If you choose an animal to your school rank (its skill ranks still cannot exceed
with  3 or lower, = Wreak Havoc  Technique
5). If a bonded animal is a minion, it becomes an
you may have a pair of
adversary instead. With the Soul of a Lion (Mastery Ability):
such animals as your
bonded animals instead Starting Outfit: Ashigaru armor, traveling clothes, After you perform an Attack action, each of
RANK 6

your bonded animals may perform an Attack

(and your school and daishō (katana and wakizashi), zanbatō or nagae yari action against the same target, if able. If your
mastery abilities apply (see page 88) or nagamaki (see page 88), yoroi- attack action did not succeed, reduce the
to each one individual- TN of each of your bonded animals’ Attack
doshi (see page 88), 1–2 bonded animals (see the
ly, as does the Animal action check by 2.
Bond advantage). Bonded Animals note, left), traveling pack.

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 CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E

ADVANCE TYPE Yogo Penitent Order [Bushi, Monk]

Martial Skills Skl. Grp. Stories say that when the Yogo curse comes to pass
Labor Skill in a betrayal too painful to bear, the betrayer may be
Skulduggery Skill offered a place in the Penitent Order. In monasteries
RANK 1

scattered across Scorpion lands, these monks train

Theology
Rank 1 Kata 
= Skulk 
= Swift Scouting 
Scholar Skills
Command
Martial Arts [Unarmed]
RANK 2
Skill
their skills to a razor’s edge. Yet unlike many other
Tech. Grp. monks, who look inward for Enlightenment, those
Technique belonging to the Yogo Penitent Order seek redemp-
Technique
tion through service.
Anyone who makes the pilgrimage to one of these
Skl. Grp.
hidden monasteries may plead their case to the Order. If
Skill the Order agrees this cause serves the good of Rokugan,
Skill by its own cryptic measure, it dispatches a deadly agent

who serves that person’s cause—even unto death.

Meditation Skill
Rings: +1 Air, +1 Void
Rank 1–2 Air Kihō  Tech. Grp. Starting Skills (choose four): +1 Fitness, +1 Martial
= Beseech Bayushi's Arts [Melee], +1 Martial Arts [Unarmed], +1 Medita-
Technique
Absolution  tion, +1 Survival, +1 Theology
= The Patient Viper  Technique Honor: 40
Artisan Skills Skl. Grp. Techniques Available: Kata (), Kihō (), Rituals ()
Starting Techniques:
Fitness Skill
Martial Arts [Melee] Skill $ Kata (choose one): = Iron Forest Style,
RANK 3

= Veiled Menace Style

Skulduggery Skill
Rank 1–3 Kata  Tech. Grp.
$ Kihō (choose one): Air Fist, The Great Silence
= Entice with Falsehoods  Technique $ Rituals: Divination, Threshold Barrier
Still the Elements  Technique Starting Disadvantage: Dark Secret (see page 132 of
Scholar Skills Skl. Grp. the core rulebook) or another disadvantage suitable to
Martial Arts [Unarmed] Skill your past betrayal
Oath of Sacrifice (School Ability): Once per scene,
Meditation Skill
RANK 4

after you defend against damage or suffer a critical

Survival Skill strike, you may unleash your current kihō. Immedi-
Rank 1–4 Kata  Tech. Grp. ately end its enhancement effect, then resolve its burst
= Vanish in the Shadows  Technique
effect as if you had a number of bonus successes equal
to your school rank plus the amount of fatigue you
Moment of Glory  Technique
received or the severity of the critical strike you suf-
Martial Skills Skl. Grp. fered. If the burst effect has one or more targets, you
Courtesy Skill may choose appropriate targets in range.
If you have used this ability already this scene, you
Culture Skill
RANK 5

may spend 1 Void point to use it again this scene

Theology Skill (you can do this any number of times, pro-
Rank 1–5 Void Kihō  Tech. Grp. vided you have Void points to spend).
= Silencing Stroke  Technique Starting Outfit: Common clothes, bō
(staff) or yari (spear), 3 shuriken (throw-
Striking as Void  Technique
ing stars), knife, traveling pack.
Empty Soul Ki (Mastery Ability): When
RANK 6

you defend against damage, if all your Void

Points are spent, treat your physical and
supernatural resistances as being equal to
your Void ring.

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 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E

New Advantages and Traditional Adherent (Earth)

Day in, day out, the shrine keeper swept the floor, lit

Disadvantages the candles, burned the incense, honored the history

On the battlefield, a samurai must manage their
strengths and weaknesses in order to succeed. To pres-
ent vulnerability to a foe is to invite defeat, but to con-
trol it may bait that same enemy into overextending. In
much the same manner, awareness of one’s own power
can be the line between confidence and hubris. Thus,
self-awareness and understanding are essential traits
to samurai everywhere, and especially to the tacticians
and generals of the Lion Clan. Courtiers may view the
life of a bushi as straightforward compared to the com-
plexity of court, but the flow of battle can be no less
confusing without this crucial awareness.
of the shrine. Day in, day out, visitors came to pray
and seek guidance. Day in, day out, the shrine keeper
tended to their needs and sought nothing for himself.
Day in, day out, all was as it was and had been.
Day in, day out, the shrine keeper went to bed
satisfied with a job well done.
Types: Mental
Effects: The following apply to a character with the Tra-
ditional Adherent distinction:
$ You have a mastery of tradition and routine,
and are able to perform ceremonies and social
functions exactly as you were taught without
variation, even under trying circumstances.

Specific Distinctions $ When you make a check to maintain the tradi-

tions of the past (such as a Performance [Earth]
These distinctions follow the same format as those in check to recite a poem in a style long-since
Chapter 2 of the core rulebook. out of fashion in the courts, or a Composition
[Earth] check to examine a historical account for
Guiding Ancestor (Void) inconsistencies), you may reroll up to two dice.
That night, the dreams came again. Kitsu Masaru
tossed and turned as if in the grip of a tempest, and
his husband could not wake him for some time. When
Specific Passions
Masaru’s eyes opened, he appeared troubled, yet These passions follow the same format as those in
there was something of serenity about him as well. Chapter 2 of the core rulebook.
“It was a warning,” Masaru said at last. “Just as they
did before the Battle of Rushing Rivers, the Unicorn
hope to pass our guard in the night. None of the scouts
we sent to find them ever returned in life. Now one has
returned from death to make sure we do not fail again.”

Types: Spiritual
Effects: The following apply to a character with the
Guiding Ancestor distinction:

$ You are watched over by a benevolent ances-

tor spirit, or sorei, who has high hopes for
you and your deeds. The spirit cannot
communicate directly but may send cryptic
omens in dreams and strange phenomena
to help you achieve a great destiny.
$ When you make a check to interpret
omens or to intuit a course of action (such
as a Theology [Void] check to understand
your dreams or a Tactics [Void] check to
guess the plans of an unknown enemy gen-
eral), you may reroll up to two dice.

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Ancestry (Earth)
“…Son of Matsu Hoshiko, who was the daughter of
Matsu Jirō, who inherited the title from Matsu Kaoru,
his aunt, and not from his direct forebears. And so we
continue tracing the line from Matsu Kaoru, who was
the daughter of—”
“How can you remember all of this?” the young girl
asked in wonderment.
The tutor looked at her and smiled, and answered
simply, “How can I not?”
Types: Mental
Effects: The following apply to a character with the
Ancestry passion:
$ The recollection of lineages comes easily to you.
You know your own family history as far back as
it has been recorded, and can swiftly recall the
lineages of notable figures in Rokugan’s history.
With a few contextual cues, you can deduce the
ancestry of those you meet and remember the
great deeds of their forebears.
$ After performing a check to recall or determine the
family history of another character (such as a Gov-
ernment [Earth] check to remember a past daimyō
of a family, or a Command [Earth] check to remind
a subordinate of the expectations their ancestors
would have of them), you remove 3 strife.
Glorious Deeds (Fire)
“Even should a samurai evade death on the battlefield
and survive to see their great-grandchildren come of
age, one day they will pass. Such is the way of mortals.
But the stories that people tell of that samurai—those
may live forever.” The Ikoma historian gave his sibling
a shrewd look.
“But you did not come to listen to the lectures I have
for students, I suspect. You want to be the subject of
my next lecture. Tell me of your accomplishments, and I
will make sure they are recorded in the family histories.”
With that prompting, the eager bushi launched into
a story about their efforts in the recent conflict, and
they were not silent until late into the night.
Types: Martial, Social
Effects: The following apply to a character with the
Glorious Deeds passion:
$ You find risking your life to be a simple matter, as
long as there is a witness to remember your brav-
ery. No threat or challenge deters you if you might
be remembered for it, making even the most
daunting tasks easy ones for which to prepare.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
$ After performing a check to improve your reputa-
tion or gain fame as a great samurai (such as a Per-
formance [Fire] check to impress a court with your
new melody, or a Tactics [Fire] check to execute a
daring raid on the enemy), you remove 3 strife.
Specific Adversities
These adversities follow the same format as those in
Chapter 2 of the core rulebook.
Blood Feud (Water)
“Thank you for welcoming me within your house,
Shiba-sama. It is a generous host who allows in a weary
guest without so much as inquiring of their name!” The
Unicorn samurai bowed deeply.
“It is no trouble,” responded the Phoenix lord. “I
welcome all under my roof unless they have done me
or mine wrong, and no one has done such a thing since
the passing of Moto Batjargal.”
Moto Jochi found his stay with the Phoenix
considerably more fraught after that exchange, and
he soon decided to continue his travels, despite
his weariness.
Types: Interpersonal, Social
Effects: The following apply to a character with the
Blood Feud adversity:
$ Your bloodline is locked in a deadly struggle
with another family or group, which makes mem-
bers of that group hostile when they learn your
affiliation. They may bar you from their courts
and homes, refuse to meet with you, or even
challenge you to duels over slights in which you
had no personal involvement. Confer with the
GM to select a campaign-appropriate family or
group when choosing this disadvantage. Note
that the family lines that participate in a given
feud are much smaller than a full Great Clan
family—this adversity represents a feud with
a group such as the descendants of a specific
Kakita lord, rather than the entire Kakita family.
$ When performing a check to interact with the
chosen group or family that relies on their
goodwill toward members of your family (such
as a Courtesy [Water] check to seek hospitality
on the road while traveling on family business,
or a Performance [Water] check to impress
them with a song attributed to you under your
family name), you must choose and reroll two
dice containing  or . After resolving the
check, if you failed, you gain 1 Void point.
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 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E

Alternate Scar Disadvantages

When a character suffers a sufficiently grave critical strike, they
receive a Scar disadvantage, as described on page 270 of the
Minor and Major Scar
core rulebook. However, the Scar disadvantages that appear Disadvantages
under Adversities in the core rulebook (starting on page 116)
If the Scar is assigned by a “Permanent Injury” critical strike,
are not meant to be the only possible permanent injuries char-
it should be an adversity that is rather narrow in its impact or
acters can receive. When a character receives a Scar disad-
one that comes into effect somewhat infrequently. Its narrative
vantage, GMs and players can collaborate to create new Scar
impacts should be noticeable in the character’s life, but might
disadvantages using the guidelines here.
have a relatively small impact on their activities. Generally, a
minor Scar disadvantage reflects a permanent effect upon a
Scar Effects by Ring part of the body or sense or, occasionally, complete loss of a
body part that has redundancies within the body, such as one
Each ring governs a certain group of senses, activities, and
or more fingers or an eye.
approaches, so each Scar’s narrative and mechanical effects
If the Scar is assigned by a Maiming Blow critical strike, it is
should pertain to the ring which it is connected. This not only
more impactful. It can be an adversity with a wider-ranging set
determines its mechanical effect, but can also help to deter-
of effects, or it can be a narrower one that is likely to come into
mine what part(s) of the body it affects. Each ring has certain
effect frequently. Its narrative impacts should be noticeable in the
associations with different senses, body parts, and modes of
character’s day-to-day life, and might require them to adapt some
acting in the world.
of their behaviors to compensate. Generally, a major Scar disad-
Air: Air often governs delicate, sensitive activities. Thus, vantage reflects debilitation or total loss of a body part or sense.
Scars that affect the Air ring might make it harder for a charac-
ter to move with perfect precision, detect buried nuances, or
express certain subtleties.
Sample Air locations include the wrist, jaw, and ear. Sample Skills Affected
Earth: Earth often pertains to stability and exhausting activ-
Each Scar disadvantage should have two sample skill checks
ities. Thus, Scars that affect Earth might make it more laborious
that it affects. While it does not need to affect these skills
for a character to maintain their stamina (mentally, physically, or
under all circumstances, and can certainly affect other skills at
emotionally), or undertake activities that require perfect balance
the GM’s discretion, this serves as a helpful jumping-off point
or sustained effort.
for knowing when to apply it.
Sample Earth locations include the knee, shoulder, and toes.
For example, a Scar disadvantage associated with a wrist
Water: Water often helps a character act flexibly, with
injury is most likely to affect checks for Composition and Martial
the whole picture in mind. Thus, Scars that affect Water might
Arts [Melee] skills. A knee injury could affect checks for Fitness
make it more difficult for a character to move fluidly or over
and Seafaring. An ear injury could affect checks for Sentiment
distance, keep track of multiple things at once, or recover
and Survival. A nose injury could affect checks for Medicine and
from exhaustion (mental, physical, or emotional).
Survival. And a neck injury could affect Fitness and Meditation.
Sample Water locations include the elbow, hips, and calf.
Fire: Fire often manages swift, decisive bursts of activity.
Thus, Scars that affect Fire might make it more work for a char-
acter to quickly shift from inactivity to activity, maintain bursts Putting It All Together
of energy, or overwhelm problems immediately.
Once the GM and player have determined the Ring and a
Sample Fire locations include the ankle, nose, and hands.
logical location for the injury, the scale, and the sample skills
Void: Void often deals with matters of perspective, intro-
affected, they can construct the new Scar and give it a relevant
spection, and understanding of one’s role in the universe.
narrative effect. Remember that you will still need to create a
Thus, Scars that affect Void might impede a character’s efforts
suitable narrative effect (based on the logical challenges the
to understand themselves or the cosmos around them.
injury could create) and the specific cases in which the skills
Sample Void locations include the neck, skull, and brain.
are affected (as they should not be affected in all cases). The
GM should also feel free to adjust any of these to create an
effect that suits the injury the character has suffered, and the
specific ways it may affect them.

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 Specific
Anxieties
These anxieties follow the same for-
mat as those in Chapter 2 of the core rulebook.
Belligerent (Earth)
“Matsu-san, no! We are guests here.” The courtier
looked on in horror as Matsu Chiyoko gripped her
blade as if to draw it.
“They should have remembered their duties as
hosts, then, instead of insulting me,” Chiyoko retorted,
before returning her attention to the Crane samurai in
front of her. “I challenge you, for your insult! If you would
belittle my courage, I dare you to prove your own.”
Types: Interpersonal
Effects: The following apply to a character with the
Belligerent anxiety:
$ You find it nearly impossible to keep your
cool when provoked, and may even look for
an excuse to fight with people you consider
deserving of a good thrashing. Delicate social
situations can easily spiral out of control when
you suspect the other party of giving offense.
$ After performing a check to respond to provo-
cation without resorting to violence or threats
(such as a Performance [Earth] check to calmly
sing a song that was originally composed to
paint your lineage in an unflattering light or a
Meditation [Earth] check to stay in formation
when you spot a rival across the battlefield),
you receive 3 strife. If this is the first time this
has occurred this scene, gain 1 Void point.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Braggart
(Water)
“…And that is how I defeated the bandits who plagued
Gentle River Village.” Ikoma Daisuke looked around
the court, expecting an impressed audience within the
teahouse. Instead, they seemed impatient, even bored.
“You must do better than defeating rōnin and
peasants to be counted a warrior among the Crab,”
sneered a burly Hida sitting across the room from him.
“Bandits! Speak to me when you have felled monsters.”
Types: Interpersonal
Effects: The following apply to a character with the
Braggart anxiety:
$ You can’t resist an opportunity to share your
great deeds with others, and you grow dis-
tressed when your audience isn’t impressed by
your accomplishments.
$ After performing a check to share your past
deeds with others without emphasizing your
own accomplishments or trying to impress your
audience with your story (such as a Courtesy
[Water] check to allow a superior to take credit
for your deeds or a Performance [Water] check
when recounting a tale in which you played a
part), you receive 3 strife. If this is the first time
this has occurred this scene, gain 1 Void point.
85
 New Samurai Heritages
A variety of unique heritages arise from having a
bloodline derived—at least in part—from the Lion. This
is true even for non-Lion characters, who may bear Lion
blood because of the marriages of members of that
clan into their family lineage. Some heritages are also
appropriate to the great warriors and generals of all
clans, even if they are most common within the Lion.
Table 2–1: New Samurai Heritages represents
these backgrounds when players create a new samu-
rai PC who has ancestral connections to the Lion Clan
or to famous masters of the battlefield. This table can
be used instead of Table 2–1: Samurai Heritages on
page 96 of the core rulebook and should be employed
in the same manner.

Table 2–1: New Samurai Heritages

ROLL RESULT MODIFIERS OTHER EFFECTS

Born on the Battlefield: One of your ancestors

was born amid war and bloodshed, even if not Decrease
You gain the Guiding Ancestor (Void) distinction
1 literally on the front lines. The omens of your birth your glory
(see page 82).
reflect an affinity for that ancestor, as such omens by 3.
have done for others in your family line.

Increase
Roll a ten-sided die to determine a skill you
your glory
Strategic Mastermind: You are descended learned by studying your ancestor’s deeds (1–2:
by 5 and
2 from a warrior known for their cunning and Tactics, 3–4: Command, 5–6: Government, 7–8:
decrease
wartime acumen. Culture, 9: Commerce, 10: Theology); gain +1
your honor
rank in that skill.
by 5.

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Table 2–1: New Samurai Heritages (Continued)

ROLL RESULT MODIFIERS OTHER EFFECTS

Roll a ten-sided die and add the following family

Victory against the Crane: In your family, one
of your ancestors held a decisive victory over
the Crane. It may have been a battle, a game
3 of shōgi, a duel, or any number of other things.
The circumstances are irrelevant; the Crane were
humbled, and your ancestor brought honor to
your clan.
heirloom to your starting items (1–3: a weapon,
4–6: a game set of your choice, 7–8: some other
Increase
item relevant to your ancestor’s victory, 9: a horse
your glory
or other animal, 10: the deed to a small piece of
by 3.
land on the border of Crane territory). In addition
to its other properties, this item is a battlefield
heirloom (see page 90).

Roll a ten-sided die to determine a skill you

Victory against Invaders: The Lion Clan’s fore-
Increase learned to honor your ancestor (1–2: Command,
most duty is to protect the Empire from outside
4 your honor 3–4: Government, 5–6: Tactics, 7–8: Survival,
threats, and one of your kin acquitted themselves
by 3. 9: Theology, 10: Meditation); gain +1 rank in
honorably in this endeavor long ago.
that skill.

Shamed by Defeat: Among your kin is one who

failed the clan. Whether they were beaten in bat- Decrease Choose one of the starting skills for your school
5 tle or a duel, humiliated in court, or something your glory in which your character has no ranks; gain +1
else, the need to redeem your line burns within by 3. rank in that skill.
you and drives you to excel.

Choose a weapon and add it to your starting

Blade of 10,000 Battles: You have been
Increase outfit. At the GM’s discretion, certain weapons
entrusted with a storied weapon with an ancient
6 your glory may be inappropriate choices and cannot be
history and lineage, and you must prove yourself
by 3. selected. In addition to being a weapon, this
worthy to continue its legacy.
item is a battlefield heirloom (see page 90).

Lost Heirloom: An ancestor of yours was once

Choose a weapon to be the lost heirloom, which
entrusted with a peerless weapon, but through Increase
is now held by some individual or group hos-
their own failure, they lost it. It may have been your honor
tile to you or your clan. At the GM’s discretion,
taken by another clan as a trophy in battle after by 5 and
7 certain weapons may be inappropriate choices
your ancestor’s defeat, stolen by bandits or shi- decrease
and cannot be selected. In addition to being a
nobi, or even dishonorably sold to cover gam- your glory
weapon, this item is a battlefield heirloom (see
bling debts. Whatever its fate, it has fallen to you by 3.
page 90).
to recover it.

Increase
Selfless Sentinel: Your ancestor was not well- your honor
known or highly favored, but they served with by 5 and Gain the Traditional Adherent (Earth) distinction
8
honor, if not glory, and protected Lion lands from decrease (see page 82).
attack for all their life. your glory
by 3.

Increase
Mighty Conqueror: One of your ancestors once Choose one: double your starting koku, add one
your glory
seized a valuable prize for the Lion Clan in a past item of rarity 6 or lower to your starting items
by 3 and
9 war, such as a village, castle, or valuable hostage. that is a battlefield heirloom (see page 90) in
decrease
The benefits of this prize still come to those of addition to its other properties, or gain the Glori-
your honor
their descent. ous Deeds passion (see page 83).
by 3.

Right Hand of the Emperor: The crowning glory

of your line is the victory one of your ancestors
won in the name of a past Emperor. They may
have crushed an enemy of the Empire, won great
Increase Gain the Support of [One Group] distinction. The
political favor, or even been a close associate or
10 your status group chosen must be the Seppun, Otomo, or
friend of the Emperor in times past. As such, the
by 3. Miya family, or the Imperial Legions.
Imperial families have more respect for you than
for most clan samurai—and they expect you to
achieve accomplishments as glorious as those of
your ancestor.

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Weapons
Fighting for the Empire and for honor demands arma-
ments, and the Lion call upon smiths from their lands
and beyond to fill this need. While most of the clan’s
bushi wield katana, some of which have been passed
down through generations, others employ different
weapons. This especially holds true for the vast legions
of ashigaru and conscripted peasants who make up the
bulk of most Lion armies.
Polearms
Through the centuries of Rokugan’s existence, the
polearm and the bow have competed for supremacy
as the defining weapon of warfare. While the sword has
ever been a symbol of warrior nobility in Rokugan, the
spear is no less influential upon history.
Magari Yari
Favored by the Matsu family, the magari yari is a heavy-
tipped, triple-headed spear. Because of its unwieldy

Axes head, using it in battle requires particular training.

While axes are not a common weapon of war in
Rokugan, the Badger Clan makes great use of these
versatile arms in their constant campaign to protect the
border of Rokugan.
Ichirō Sapper Ax
Crafted by the relentlessly pragmatic Badger Clan, the
Ichirō sapper ax doubles as both a hammer and an
ax. Resembling a regular hand ax but with a knobbed
pommel and a smoothly polished or lacquered handle,
this weapon can be flipped in one hand to brandish
either the blunt hammerhead or the sharp ax-head.
Like its creators, the Ichirō sapper ax is notoriously
hardy and difficult to break, making it a great asset
both in and out of battle.
An Ichirō sapper ax counts as an ax when wielded
with its standard 1-hand profile, and as a blunt weapon
when wielded with its blunt profile.
After performing an Attack action check with a
magari yari, a character suffers the Disoriented condi-
tion unless they choose to receive 3 fatigue.
Nagae Yari
Many ashigaru favor the nagae yari, or straight-headed
spear. Featuring a flat steel blade at the end of a very
long hardwood pole, it is ideal for repulsing attacks
against fixed positions.
Before performing an Attack action check using a
nagae yari, a character may choose to suffer the Immo-
bilized condition. If they do and succeed on the check,
they add 2 bonus successes
Nagamaki
Favored by infantry, the nagamaki is a single-edged
blade with a significantly lengthened hilt. While the
blade varies in length, the hilt of this weapon is known
for being almost as long as its blade. Designed with
a two-handed grip in mind, the nagamaki is normally
swung in long, sweeping motions to slice the foe.

Table 2—2: Weapons

NAME SKILL RNG DMG DLS GRIPS QUALITIES RARITY PRICE

1-hand:–
Ichirō Sapper Ax [Melee] 1 3 4 1-hand (Blunt): Dam- Durable 2 3 koku
age +2, Deadliness –3

Cumbersome, Razor-
Magari Yari [Melee] 2 7 4 2-hand: – 6 20 koku
Edged, Wargear

Nagae Yari [Melee] 2 5 2 2-hand: – Wargear 2 1 koku

1-hand: Cumbersome
Razor-Edged,
Nagamaki [Melee] 1–2 3 5 2-hand: Damage +2, 4 30 koku
Wargear
Deadliness +2

1-hand: – Concealable, Razor-

Yoroi-Doshi [Melee] 0 2 4 5 10 koku
2-hand: Deadliness +3 Edged, Wargear

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 CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E

Yajiri (Specialized Hand Weapons

Arrowheads) While the humble knife may seem a petty weapon on
the battlefield, it was no mistake that Akodo named it
alongside the long sword, spear, and bow as the Six
As varied and unique as the artisans who
Weapons of the Samurai. Knives are extraordinarily
craft them, yajiri are ornate steel arrowheads.
versatile as tools and weapons alike, useful in almost
These artisans favor the traditional inverted
any situation a soldier might face and easy to carry and
heart shape for its ability to pierce armor and
conceal compared with most other arms.
hide. Many yajiri crafters engrave sacred or
accusatory patterns into their arrowheads,
along with ornate mon or personal sigils— Yoroi-Doshi
either their own or those of the intended Designed specifically for stabbing through armor at
wielders. Others split the arrowhead points close quarters, the yoroi-doshi is an especially thick
into two- or three-headed tips or add addi- tantō blade worn at the belt. The hefty steel head of
tional flourishes to make wielders’ shots this blade is razor-sharp and intended to pierce thick
especially deadly. While many favor steel hide or armor in a single motion. Most samurai and
yajiri, others craft arrowheads of copper, iron, soldiers wear the yoroi-doshi on their favored side so
jade, or even obsidian. they can draw it in their off hand in the heat of battle.
When used with a bow, these arrows mod- When performing an Attack action check with a
ify the weapon’s profile as follows: yoroi-doshi, a character may spend  as follows:
: Your target treats their physical resistance as 2
$ Steel-Tip Yajiri: Razor-Edged quality
lower. This effect persists until the end of your next turn.
(1 koku each, Rarity 3)
$ Jade Inlay Yajiri: Sacred quality
(1 koku each, Rarity 8)
$ Obsidian Splinter Yajiri: +4 deadliness,
Forbidden, Razor-Edged and Unholy
qualities
(10 koku each, Rarity 9)

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 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E
Personal Effects
Soldiers in wartime must equip themselves both for
the battlefield and for respite afterward. To success-
fully navigate the chaos of war, warriors must bring the
right tools.
Animal Helm
Favored by samurai and warriors who wish to flaunt
their prowess in battle, the animal helm is a visible
display of a samurai’s ferocity. This helmet is crafted
to closely resemble the head of a dangerous animal,
a roaring lion’s head being the obvious favorite of the
Lion. While such headgear offers little additional pro-
tection, it does bolster the courage of warriors who see
their leader proudly wearing one, as they know that
even if the leader falls, the fighting spirit of the animal
continues on.
When a character who wears an animal helm while
leading an army or cohort in a mass battle is removed
via the Cut Off the Head strategic objective, reduce
the panic the cohort receives by half (rounding up).
(Cost: 1 koku. Rarity: 5. Item Qualities: Wargear.)
Blasting Powder (1 Charge)
A rare substance known only to the learned, blast-
ing powder is a chemical concoction created from a
number of common ingredients in extremely specific
proportions. Discovered centuries ago, it has been
heavily researched and developed by the Agasha fam-
ily. Blasting powder’s only legitimate uses are for fire-
works, flares, and other such devices, and it is viewed
as something sacred—a dangerous power best left to
priests and others who can use it for its proper ends,
such as the invocation of the Kami. However, the Kuni
and Kaiu families have also taken a great interest in
this substance, hoping to create devices to slay Shad-
owlands creatures resistant to traditional arms, and
over time, knowledge of its composition has slipped
to other organizations in Rokugan. Thus far it has
never been used against human targets, or so says the
official record.
A single charge of blasting powder can be used to
make dozens of fireworks or flares, but it must be han-
dled carefully. If a charge of blasting powder is ignited
by a stray spark, the charge explodes and each charac-
ter at range 0–2 suffers 10 physical damage, items at
range 0–2 gain the Damaged quality, and each char-
acter at range 0–4 suffers the Disoriented condition.
(Cost: 20 koku. Rarity: 9. Ceremonial, Forbidden to
non-shugenja.)
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Battlefield Heirloom
Handed down from generation to generation, a battle-
field heirloom is a relic from a famous battle—one that
a revered ancestor fought in many years ago, if not cen-
turies. This prized possession can be almost anything
small, such as a fragment of a cracked mempō (face-
plate), a broken arrowhead, or the tassel of a gunbai.
Once per game session, a character with a battle-
field heirloom may reflect on the item as a Support
action. If they do, they increase their composure (and
their army’s discipline, during a mass battle) by 2 until
the end of the scene.
As battlefield heirlooms are unique, they cannot be
purchased as normal, and are usually handed down from
ancestors or found by soldiers who fought at particularly
momentous battles in Rokugan’s history. The GM is the
final arbiter of what qualifies as a battlefield heirloom.
Battlefield Medical Pack
Specifically outfitted with needle and thread for stitch-
ing wounds, as well as tinctures to clean the wounds
and numb pain, the suture kit is carried by many units
on the battlefield to assist their fellow soldiers. This
small, clothbound kit is about the size of a pocket book
and contains everything one might need to sew up a
minor wound or staunch bleeding long enough to seek
assistance from a medic.
Once per scene as a Support action, a character
with a battlefield medical pack may remove the Bleed-
ing condition from another character at range 0–1.
(Cost: 2 bu. Rarity: 3.)
Brilliant Flare
Flares are essentially fireworks designed for use in bat-
tlefield signaling. Pioneered in Rokugan by the Kaiu
family, flares come in numerous colors and are avail-
able to most commanders who seek them out.
As a Support action, a character may make a TN
3 Martial Arts (Ranged) check to fire a flare. The
flare is generally visible to all characters at range 0–6.
(Cost: 1 koku. Rarity: 6. Wargear.)

Gunbai
The gunbai, a leader or commander’s war fan, is a sta-
ple of samurai officers for communicating orders to
their troops at a distance. Each gunbai is unique, as are
the gestures the officers use to communicate orders
to their troops. With a flick of the wrist, an officer may
order their troops to fall back or to charge into the fray.
Often gilded with metal, a gunbai is used to convey
urgent tactical shifts and defensive moves. (Cost: 3
koku. Rarity: 4. Qualities: Ceremonial, Wargear.)
A gunbai can be wielded as a one-handed Martial
Arts [Melee] weapon with the following profile: Range
1, Damage 2, Deadliness 2.
During a skirmish, a character with a gunbai read-
ied can perform shūji targeting characters who can see
them at range 0–6 (as opposed to the usual auditory
range restriction of range 0–4).
During a mass battle, for each of an army’s leaders
equipped with a gunbai, the army increases its disci-
pline by 2.
Mempō
Many samurai wear a mempō, or mask, to cover their
face on the battlefield. They use a mempō partially for
both protection and intimidation. A mempō is crafted
from iron or leather, covered with lacquer or clay, and
painted to resemble a face. While some mempō may
have human features, most showcase jagged oni teeth,
a ferocious mouth, and a frightening expression. (Cost:
5 koku. Rarity: 4. Item Qualities: Ceremonial, Wargear.)
Saihai
Used for nonverbally communicating orders to troops,
the saihai, or war baton, doubles as a status symbol for
commanding officers. This item is a lacquered wooden
rod with a tassel made of brightly colored ribbons or
horsehair at its head. It is hung by a small loop from the
waist. The saihai makes it easy to signal troop movements
from mid-range. Traditionally, commanders brandish their
saihai to signal charging and offensive maneuvers, as
complex signals are difficult to convey at a distance.
During a mass battle, if an army’s commander car-
ries a saihai, increase the army’s discipline by 2. (Cost:
4 bu. Rarity: 3. Item Qualities: Ceremonial, Wargear.)
Sashimono
Clan mon and armor are essential for soldiers to tell
friend from foe in the heat of battle, but sashimono—
small, square banners attached by poles to soldiers’
armor—help commanders and tacticians better discern
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CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
the tide of battle. A soldier’s armor is designed with a
fitted clasp at the back of the cuirass for a sashimono
pole to slot into. Each sashimono is plainly decorated
and dyed with easily discernible colors so that com-
manders can recognize their soldiers at a glance. (Cost:
6 bu. Rarity: 2. Item Qualities: Wargear.)
Smoking Pipe
Crafted from reeds or carved from fine wood, the
smoking pipe is a staple for many soldiers, who fill
it with tobacco, opium, or other substances to calm
themselves both before and after battle. The benefits
are purely psychological but well understood through-
out the clan armies. Unfortunately, the relentless hor-
rors of combat have pushed many ashigaru and even
bushi to a nearly incapacitating addiction to the calm-
ing effects of opium.
(Cost: 1 bu. Rarity: 2.)
Tetsubishi
A type of caltrop welded together in the shape of
sharp-spined stars the size of a fist or larger, tetsubishi
are a type of iron makibishi designed to be scattered
on the battlefield in front of fortifications as a defense.
They may also be used to delay pursuers. While their
sharp edges may pierce the soles of unsuspecting
samurai’s boots, these mass-produced weapons are
especially effective at penetrating the hooves of horses
used by cavalry and mounted infantry.
As an Attack and Support action, a character may
scatter a handful of tetsubishi targeting a patch of
ground at range 0–2. The terrain at range 0–1 from the
point of impact gains the Dangerous and Ensnaring
terrain quality (Cost: 5 bu per handful. Rarity: 4).
Uma-Jirushi
Resembling a soldier’s sashimono banner, the massive,
heraldic uma-jirushi banner sets a daimyō or general
apart as they ride into battle. While some uma-jirushi
may simply be larger, more ornate sashimono, some
daimyō contract artisans to create elaborate, three-di-
mensional shapes or even entreat shugenja to add
elemental flourishes (such as a perpetual, slow-burning
flame or a constant gust of wind) to make their banner
stand out.
When making a Command check, a leader in a mass
battle who displays a personal uma-jirushi adds one
kept  set to . Should the bearer of an uma-jirushi
be killed via the Cut Off the Head or Challenge action,
their army receives 4 additional panic. (Cost: 3 koku.
Rarity: 7. Qualities: Resplendent, Wargear.)
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Blessed Treasures
The following blessed treasures pertain to Rokugan’s
glorious history of warfare, and as can be imagined,
many are tied to the Lion Clan. Many are nemuranai, or
awakened items (see page 307 of the core rulebook).
All are rare and hard to acquire; GMs may wish to
require characters to engage in long quests to locate
or prove themselves worthy of such items.
Banner of Amaterasu
After Hantei won the Tournament of the Kami and
was named the first Emperor of the Emerald Empire,
he commanded his siblings to go forth and unite the
peoples of Rokugan under one rule. Akodo crafted a
great uma-jirushi that seemed to capture the rays of
his divine mother, Amaterasu, within it, heralding his
arrival like the rising of the morning sun. Some believed
the banner was also a reminder of the match between
Akodo and Hantei, and how the reflection of the sun
on Hantei’s blade stilled Akodo’s own sword.
Under this banner, Akodo’s growing Lion Clan
marched to battle, pacifying and unifying peoples wher-
ever he went. The Lion Clan also used it during the War
against Fu Leng, but since then, the banner has become
a sacred relic and has rarely been used in battle.
Awakened Item: The Banner of Amaterasu is a nemu-
ranai. As such, it has the Durable and Sacred item qual-
ities. A character wielding this banner adds a kept 
set to an  result when making Command checks.
$ Quirk: While the banner is exposed to direct
sunlight, all friendly forces hear battlefield orders
in the voice of their first martial instructor.
$ Sealed Invocation: The banner has the Cour-
age of Seven Thunders invocation within
it, which the wielder may perform once per
session using the Command skill instead of
Theology.
The Claws of the Kitsu
The Claws of the Kitsu are both venerated relics and
reminders of Akodo’s horrible mistake in slaying almost
the entirety of the kitsu race. These claws have grown
sharper and harder over the centuries and give off a
soft golden glow under moonlight. Few remain, as
some enemies of the Lion seek to eliminate the last
vestiges of the kitsu from Rokugan.
Awakened Item: Each Claw of the Kitsu is a nemuranai
and so has the Durable and Sacred item qualities.
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$ Quirk: While carried in a pouch or wrapped
cloth, a claw struggles as if trying to escape.
$ Sealed Invocation: Each Claw of the Kitsu
has the Vapor of Nightmares invocation within
it, which the wielder may perform once per
session using the Courtesy skill instead of The-
ology.
The Five Akodo Daggers
The legendary Five Akodo Daggers were forged by
Crane artisans and gifted to the Lion Clan as a peace
offering. Although the peace was short-lived, Akodo’s
five children kept them, and the daggers are priceless
treasures to this day. Forged with a silvery hue, they
glint with a strange iridescence. Each is engraved with
the Lion Clan mon and a subtle likeness of the Lion
carved into the handle.
One dagger is retained by the Lion Clan Champion,
while the others are gifted to family or other members
of the Great Clans as a sign of favor. When the Lion
Champion dies, the daggers must always be returned,
as per tradition.
Awakened Item: The Akodo Daggers are nemuranai
weapons. As such, these knives have +2 deadliness as
well as the Durable and Sacred item qualities.
$ Quirk: The Akodo Daggers grow uncomfort-
ably hot if the blades of two or more of them
come into contact with each other.
$ Sealed Invocation: Each dagger has the Biting
Steel invocation sealed within it, which the
wielder may perform once per session using
the Martial Arts [Melee] skill instead of Theol-
ogy.
Leadership Scrolls
Akodo wrote several copies of his masterwork, Leader-
ship, and some of those original scrolls still survive to
this day. Each is a priceless relic deeply venerated by
the Lion Clan and only retrieved from heavily guarded
alcoves in the Akodo War College with the special per-
mission of its headmaster. Other copies are thought to
exist elsewhere, and periodically, one is discovered far
underneath the ruins of an ancient castle or resting by
a tree near a forgotten battlefield.
$ Effects: Each scroll has the Durable and Sacred
item qualities. As a support action, a character
may spend one Void point and read from the
scroll. If they do, they may use the Tactics skill
instead of the skill they would normally use
when making Social skill checks. This effect
persists until the end of the scene.

Item Patterns
Not all items are created equally. Depending on the smith
or artisan and the materials used in its creation, weapons,
armor, and even clothing can vary greatly, not just in style,
but in performance. The patterns used in item creation
are usually carefully guarded secrets, ones that a master
would entrust only to the worthiest of their apprentices.
There are two methods for gaining an item with one
of these patterns. The first is for a character to appren-
tice themselves to a master to learn the means of craft-
ing a new item with the desired pattern; this requires
the PC to win the master’s trust within the story of the
game and then to spend the XP to learn the pattern.
The other method is to requisition, purchase, or find an
existing item with the pattern. The price is the same, but
the rarity is altered by the pattern’s listed rarity modifier.
Akodo Pattern
The Akodo are known for their regal bearing and sta-
tus throughout Rokugan. A weapon or piece of armor
crafted by the Akodo family bears the characteristic fam-
ily mark and looping inlay. As a result of its association
with the regal family, any equipment made by an Akodo
elicits an implicit trust in anyone who trusts that family.
The Akodo pattern can be applied to a weapon or
set of armor. A character carrying or wearing one or more
items made in the Akodo pattern increases the discipline
of any army of which they are the commander by 5.
XP Cost: 6 Rarity Modifier: +4
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CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
Burning Water Pattern
While the secret of blasting powder is one of the great-
est in the Empire, there are even more secretive artisans
who dare experiment with its formula. One alteration
uses rarer ingredients that still react when wet, allowing
dishonorable saboteurs to use blasting powder in the
rain or against structures that are underwater (making
destructive items even more difficult to detect).
Blasting powder fashioned using the burning water
pattern has its damage reduced by 1. Blasting powder
fashioned using the burning water pattern can be used
when wet or even underwater.
XP Cost: 6 Rarity Modifier: +4
Concealment Pattern
While most samurai wear their colors proudly, there
are those who see the value in armor camouflaged to
their environment. The Badger Clan, used to fighting
large numbers in close quarters, often use such armor
to their advantage, as do many members of the Crab
Clan, who face foes upon whom honor is wasted.
Armor produced with the concealment pattern
gains the Wargear quality, and loses the Ceremonial
and Resplendent qualities; it cannot gain those quali-
ties. Reduce its supernatural resistance by 1 (to a mini-
mum of 0). While a character wearing it is in Obscuring
terrain, they increase the TN of Attack action checks
targeting them by an additional 1 (to a total of +2).
XP Cost: 6 Rarity Modifier: +4
 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E
Deadly Fangs Pattern
Lion armies often include ashigaru forces, their vet-
erans armed with especially deadly polearms forged
to hold fast against attackers. Few enemies can avoid
becoming impaled on the needlelike points when
these polearms are firmly planted.
A polearm made in the deadly fangs pattern gains the
Cumbersome quality and increases its deadliness by 1.
If an entire cohort is equipped with polearms with
the deadly fangs pattern, its leader reduces the TN of
the Reinforce action by 1 (to a minimum of 1).
XP Cost: 7 Rarity Modifier: +4
Fearsome Snarl Pattern
Less a formal pattern and more a set of motifs, the fear-
some snarl pattern appears on many Rokugani samurai
armaments. Whether it takes the form of a swooping
crane, a roaring lion, or a menacing crab, it conveys a
simple message to all enemies.
The fearsome snarl pattern can be applied to a
weapon or set of armor. It loses the Concealable qual-
ity (if it has it) and gains the Wargear quality.
XP Cost: 3 Rarity Modifier: +1
Ichirō Pattern
In wartime, the need to produce weapons and armor
cheaply on a mass scale is a prime concern for the Great
Clans, especially when dispatching thousands of ashi-
garu for combat. The Badger have gained renown for
their special forging techniques that allow them to pro-
duce such items en masse for peasant soldiers (though in
some circles, such practices are met with equal disdain).
Named for the Ichirō smith who perfected the tech-
nique, the Ichirō pattern has become synonymous with
inexpensive, durable, and quickly crafted equipment.
Weapons or armor produced with the Ichirō pattern
halve their price (rounding up) and lose the Ceremonial
and Resplendent item qualities if they would otherwise
have one or both qualities. Such items can never gain
either quality. Ichirō pattern weapons and armor are
also produced in half the time (rounding up) it would
otherwise take to make them.
XP Cost: 4 Rarity Modifier: –1
(to a minimum of 1)
Mountain Silk Pattern
Most beings who know of the Badger think only of their
expertise in sumai. More cultured individuals also know
of the clan’s expertise in silk, and eagerly seek out the
raw material so it can be used in their own creations.
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Like the Badger and the mountains that surround
them, this silk is hardy and tough, even when crafted
into elegant robes fit for the finest courts. It instills in
its wearers the quiet strength of rock that has endured
for countless years.
When a character wearing armor made with moun-
tain silk succeeds at a check to resist a critical strike,
they add one bonus success. Armor with physical resis-
tance 2 or lower made using mountain silk loses the
Cumbersome quality (if it has it) and gains the Dura-
ble quality. Armor with physical resistance 3 or higher
made using mountain silk gains the Durable quality
and reduces its physical resistance by 1.
XP Cost: 6 Rarity Modifier: +3
Screaming Fire Pattern
While blasting powder is frightening enough, some
variant mixtures include alchemical items from gaijin
lands designed to emit terrible shrieks and thunderclaps
when used. Even veteran soldiers become alarmed and
prone to flee when the air itself assaults their senses.
Blasting powder fashioned using the screaming
fire pattern has its damage reduced by 2. When it
causes an army to receive 1 or more panic during a
Mass Battle, that army receives that amount of panic
plus 3 instead. Additionally, the area it affects becomes
Imbalanced (All Elements) for 1 week.
XP Cost: 6 Rarity Modifier: +4
Toriyama’s Endurance Pattern
When a fire broke out in Toshi Ranbo’s archive, schol-
ars feared that centuries of knowledge would be lost,
but were surprised to discover that many of the earliest
tomes, scrolls, or other literary artifacts were undam-
aged while later volumes had burned or been irrepa-
rably damaged by smoke. That the volumes remained
intact was due in part to the scientific advancements of
the ancient wartime scholar Toriyama. When Toriyama
was assigned to Toshi Ranbo’s library in the city’s early
days, he feared that the city might be sacked and the
library put to the flame, for wars already raged around
that region. As such, he developed new, more enduring
inks and painstakingly researched chemicals that could
slow the burning of a scroll (without ruining the con-
tents). After the fire in the library centuries later, Toriya-
ma’s methods were rediscovered and propagated, and
are still taught to scribes and archivists today.
Parchment and scrolls that are made with Toriya-
ma’s endurance pattern gain the Durable item quality,
but only against the effects of fire and water.
XP Cost: 3 Rarity Modifier: +3
 New Techniques
The following are new techniques that samurai from
the Lion and other clans can use to lead armies and
engage in battle on behalf of their clan and the Empire.
Close Combat Kata
The Badger Clan teaches its students a number of
techniques to improve their grappling abilities, encour-
aging them to use terrain to the utmost advantage to
wear down their foes. Some of these techniques have
even become famous across the Emerald Empire, and
are taught by grapplers beyond the stony passes of
Badger Lands.
The following kata are performed with weap-
ons that use the Martial Arts [Melee] or Martial Arts
[Unarmed] skill.
Fierce Badger Style Rank 2
The Fierce Badger Style relies on controlling an enemy’s
position on the sumai mat and battlefield alike. It lets
the combatant hold their opponent in check until
they collapse, or, if desired, hurl them outside the
designated area—or off a nearby cliff.
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Unarmed]
check targeting an a character at range 0, you may
spend  in the following ways:
+: If the target is Immobilized, they receive 1 strife
per  spent this way.
+: If the target’s silhouette and vigilance both are
lower than or equal to  spent this way, the target is
thrown 2 range bands in a direction of your choice and
suffers 3 fatigue.
Thicket’s Embrace Style Rank 3
A warrior must always remember that there are two
opponents they must face in combat: their foe, and
their environment. It might be easy to chop away thick
vegetation covering the terrain, but a true master uses
the territory to their advantage. By becoming one with
the environment, the warrior can concentrate more on
their foe and thus end a fight much faster.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Unarmed] or
Fitness check, you may spend  in the following ways:
: If you are in Entangling or Obscuring terrain, reduce the
TN of the next attack check you make by 1 (to a minimum
of 1). This effect persists until the end of your next turn.
 : If you are in Entangling or Obscuring terrain, you
may ignore its negative effects. This effect persists until
the end of your next turn.
Shattering Tide Style Rank 3
It is rare that a samurai can pick the site of a battle, and
battles can occur in locations where no actual fighting
is needed for harm to come to all parties. Where the
environment is as hazardous as sharp steel or heavy
fists, learning ways to incorporate such terrain into
attacks makes each strike all the more effective.
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Unarmed]
check, you may spend  in the following ways:
: If you succeed, and both you and your target are
in Confining or Dangerous terrain, treat the damage
and deadliness of the weapon you used as 1 higher for
each kept  result on your check.
 : If both you and your target are in Confin-
ing or Dangerous terrain, your target suffers the
Dazed condition.
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Rituals
Warfare is not a thing apart from society in Rokugan,
and has its own rules that warriors are expected to
uphold and customs warriors are expected to partic-
ipate in. Rituals of battle might be used to prepare a
sumai dōjō or purify a place of combat or cleanse it
after blood has been shed there. By maintaining cer-
tain traditions in war, samurai endeavor to remain true
to themselves amidst even the chaos of battle. The rit-
uals in this section pertain to warfare or how to live a
proper life on the battlefield.
Beseech Akodo’s Judgment Rank 3
In Leadership, Akodo wrote of the importance of
terrain in battle, and of knowing how best to use
terrain not only to one’s advantage, but to motivate
one’s troops. The terrain will guide the actions of the
troops as much as the words of the commander, or
so Akodo holds, and so a prudent general seeks the
terrain that will maintain order in their own soldiers
while disrupting that of their enemies.
Activation: Once per game session as a Support
action, you may make a TN 3 Tactics (Void) check
targeting one terrain feature on the battlefield (or one
battle zone, if using the rules for battle zones).
Effect: If you succeed, increase your army’s discipline
by your glory rank plus your ranks in Command as long
as your army has at least one cohort occupying the
chosen terrain feature (or in that battle zone, if using
the rules for battle zones). This effect persists until your
army has no cohort occupying that feature (or zone), or
until the end of the scene.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
New Opportunities
+: If you succeed and designate a fortification (or a
battle zone with a fortification in it), while your army
occupies that fortification, increase that fortification’s
difficulty level by 1 per  spent this way.
 +: Each time your army suffers panic from battle
fatigue during this scene, it suffers 1 less per  spent
this way (to a minimum of 1).
Beseech Bayushi’s Absolution Rank 4
Bayushi never denied the ugly truth of war, nor did the
Kami of the Scorpion Clan shy away from it. Instead,
the self-proclaimed villain of the Emperor faced it with
clear eyes and hidden emotions. When faced with an
impossible task or the need to set their heart aside to
carry out their lord’s orders, many samurai across all
the clans appeal to Bayushi and his unending loyalty,
working to focus their entire being on their goal.
Activation: Once per game session as a downtime
activity, you may make a TN 3 Sentiment (Air) check
targeting yourself.
Effects: If you succeed, the next time you would
receive strife or fatigue, reduce the amount you receive
by your focus. This effect persists until the end of the
next scene.
New Opportunities
: If you succeed, the next time you would forfeit honor,
reduce the amount you forfeit by half (rounded up).
Beseech Doji’s Wisdom Rank 2
Doji believed that war was a necessary evil, and hoped
that each time Rokugan went to war, it might emerge
more enlightened, so that future wars might prove
unnecessary. As such, she took seriously the task of
recording the wars she witnessed, for without a history
to study, her descendants could never learn from these
mistakes and aspire to transcend all such mortal strife.
Activation: Once per game session as a downtime
activity, you may make a TN 3 Composition check to
transcribe a historical event you witnessed to paper.
The event must have transpired within the recent past,
before it has become well-known across the Empire.
Effects: You write from the heart to create a record of
the event that rings a genuine account and omits no
details of significance. Readers with vigilance lower
than your honor rank trust the events to be true, or at
least recorded in good faith.

New Opportunities
Fire : If you succeed, each character who is awarded
one or more glory as a result of their involvement in
this event receives that much glory plus your ranks in
Culture instead.
Fire : If you succeed, choose one Great Clan or other
major organization. The first time a character of that
organization reads the text each scene, that character
gains 2 strife.
Earth : If you succeed, the text gains the
Durable quality.
Earth +: If you succeed, when referencing the text
as part of a check concerning the recorded historical
event, reduce the TN of the check by your ranks in
Government (to a minimum of 1).
Air +: If you succeed, you may omit one detail of
significance per  spent this way without creating con-
tradictions or obvious gaps in the text.
Air  : If you succeed, choose one character. If that
character is awarded one or more glory as a result of
their involvement in this event, they receive double or
half (your choice) that amount (rounded up) instead.
Water : If you succeed, reduce the TN of any check
to copy the text by 2 (to a minimum of 1).
Water : If you succeed, choose one Great Clan or
other major organization. The first time a character of
that organization reads the text each scene, that char-
acter removes 2 strife.
Void  : The text becomes inhabited by a perma-
nent blessing. It gains the Sacred item quality (see
page 241 of the core rulebook).
Beseech Hida’s Might Rank 2
Contests of strength were a favorite of the Kami Hida,
and even today, spiritualists in Rokugan call upon his
blessing when sanctifying an area for ritualized battle.
Whether the arena is a circle for sumai or a parting
of the battle lines for a field duel, it is important that
it be properly respected as a place for champions to
take up arms.
Activation: Once per game session as a downtime
activity or Support action, you may make a TN 2 Med-
itation (Fire) check targeting an area encompassing 3
range bands around yourself.
Effects: If you succeed, this area becomes an arena.
When a character makes a Martial Arts check in the
arena during the event and does not gain strife from
the check, that character reduces the TN of their next
check by 1 (to a minimum of 1). This effect persists until
the end of the next scene.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
New Opportunities
: If you succeed, the arena gains the Hallowed (Fire)
terrain quality until the end of the scene.
+: If you succeed, increase the Endurance and Com-
posure of each character fighting a duel in the arena by
1 per  spent this way.
+: Reduce the TN of checks to remove the Bleeding
and Dying conditions from characters within the arena
by 1 per  spent this way (to a minimum of 1).
Beseech Shiba’s Calm Rank 3
Shiba was a warrior, but he did not love war—despite
his vast might, he sought peace over conflict and
compromise over bloodshed. Yet war was inescapable
in his lifetime, and so he sought Isawa’s spiritual
expertise to learn methods for purifying battlefields
after times of bloodshed profaned the land. As the
War with Fu Leng dragged on, Isawa saw the wisdom
in sharing this knowledge, and the rites he taught
Shiba for stilling the unsettled spirits of the land after
the shedding of blood are used in Rokugan even
centuries later.
Activation: Once per game session after participating
in a Mass Battle or as a downtime activity, you may
make a TN 3 Theology (Void) check targeting an area
upon which a mass battle was fought earlier that day.
Effects: If you succeed, remove the Defiled terrain
quality from the area.
New Opportunities
: If the area gained the Dangerous, Entangling, or
Obscuring terrain quality during the battle through
supernatural means, remove one or more of those ter-
rain qualities of your choice.
 : Remove the Imbalanced terrain quality from
the area.
 : Until the end of the game session, non-Tainted
beings reduce the TN of Theology checks they make in
this area by 1 (to a minimum of 1), and Tainted beings
increase the TN of all checks they make in this area
by 1.
+: Reduce the TN of any Fitness or Meditation checks
that characters in your army need to make at the end of
a scene by 1 per  spent this way, to a minimum of 1.
Beseech Shinjo’s Empathy Rank 2
Shinjo’s innate connection to the wilds of the world
is carried on by many of her descendants. On their
long journey across the wider world and back to
Rokugan, Shinjo’s heirs have kept her wisdom alive
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and flourishing as they raise and train animals from
hounds and hunting hawks to mighty Utaku steeds.
Their techniques have even been adopted by some
stablemasters of other Great Clans after their return
to Rokugan.
Activation: Once per session as a downtime activity or
Support action, you may make a Survival (Water) check
targeting a friendly animal at range 0–1. The TN is equal
to the  conflict rank of the animal. If this is an animal
you are bonded with (see page 111 of the core rulebook),
reduce the TN of the check by 2 (to a minimum of 1).
Effects: If you succeed, your target removes 3 fatigue,
plus 1 additional fatigue per bonus success on the check.
New Opportunities
: You and the target each remove 1 strife per
bonus success.
: If you succeed, your target removes additional
fatigue equal to your ranks in Medicine.
: Remove the Bleeding condition from the target.
 : Remove the Lightly Wounded condition from the
target, or reduce the Severely Wounded condition to
the Lightly Wounded condition.
 : If you succeed, remove the Dying condition from
the target.
 +: Choose one additional friendly animal of the
same  conflict rank or lower in range as a target per
 spent this way.
New Opportunities
: If you succeed and you are the commander of an
army, you may choose a leader in your army to perform
the action instead.
: While you perform the prepared action, reduce the
TN by your ranks in Tactics.
Imbue Thunder Rank 4
Fireworks are the sacred domain of specifically trained
priests and spiritual artisans, and many among the
Agasha and Asahina specialize in creating beautiful
alchemical displays for festivals and other cultural
events. These same techniques could, of course, be
used to create blasting powder, but meddling in the
domain of priests for purposes of waging war would
surely constitute some form of blasphemy.
Activation: To perform this ritual, you must first assem-
ble the proper ingredients (charred wood, salt of earth,
pollen that burns) in the proper proportions. One full
set of materials costs 10 koku and has a rarity of 6,
and is consumed by the process. Once per session
as a downtime activity, you may make a TN 4 Medi-
cine check to properly mix the ingredients to create
blasting powder.
Effects: If you succeed, you create ten brilliant flares
(see 90), plus ten per two bonus successes, or one
blasting powder charge (see page 90), plus one per
two bonus successes.

Beseech Togashi’s Vision Rank 3

New Opportunities
Togashi always saw the bigger picture, especially in the
 : When used in a skirmish, the charge inflicts the
War with Fu Leng. When he stood as Hantei’s cham-
Dazed condition on all characters at range 0–4.
pion, set to face Fu Leng in a duel, Togashi named his
Air  : When used in a skirmish, increase the charge’s
weapon as no less than the entire Empire. And though
range band by 1.
Fu Leng was eventually defeated at the Day of Thun-
Earth  +: When used, the charge inflicts 2 addi-
der, some say that Togashi’s duel with his fallen brother
tional damage (or attrition) per   spent this way.
rages to this day, each celestial power subtly moving
Fire  +: When used, the charge inflicts 2 additional
pieces back and forth across a board no others can per-
strife (or panic) per   spent this way.
ceive. Strategists across the Great Clans often appeal to
Water  : When used in a skirmish, the charge inflicts
Togashi’s enigmatic wisdom, even if they cannot claim to
the Bleeding condition on all characters at range 0–2.
understand designs of such vast and cosmic complexity.
Void  : When used, the charge frightens away all
Activation: Once per game session as a downtime kami in the radius of effect (or across the entire bat-
activity or as a Scheme and Support action during a tlefield, in a mass battle). The affected area becomes
Mass Battle, you may make a TN 3 Meditation (Void) Imbalanced (All Elements) terrain. This effect persists
check targeting a character you can perceive (or a for 1 day.
leader or commander of an enemy army in the scene).
Effects: If you succeed, you assess another character’s
strategy. Once before the end of the next scene, after
that character performs an action, you may reveal that
you were prepared for this and immediately perform
one action.

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Shūji
“I write not to embellish Akodo’s words, but to under-
score his wisdom. Mine is a humble torch lit from that
bonfire, but as a torch can be carried more easily in a
warrior’s hand in the field, reminding all who see it of the
bonfire, I hope that my words are suitable reminders.”
– Ikoma Yanagi’s commentary on Leadership, included
alongside other scholars’ remarks in versions of the
text read by students of the Akodo War College
Air Shūji
“War may be an art of deception, but truth rings clear
in the clash of blades. This is the virtue Akodo evokes
when he writes of a righteous general in the Measure
of Wind.”
– Ikoma Yanagi’s commentary on Leadership
Borrowed Courage Rank 1
A skilled leader’s task is to guide their forces to victory,
and sometimes, this means misleading them away from
defeat. When an army is demoralized, when the odds
are harsh, when the foe truly is stronger—these are the
times a leader may need to spin a tale of the enemy’s
weakness, of coming allies, or of a secret plan to guar-
antee success. The line between falsehood and truth
may be dim or bright; regardless, sometimes warriors
need hope to struggle on, even if that hope is forlorn.
Activation: As a downtime activity, you may make a
TN 4 Performance (Air) check targeting an army or
a number of characters who can hear you up to your
ranks in Sentiment. You may stake up to 3 honor to
reduce the TN by that amount (to a minimum of 1) to
embellish the truth.
Effects: If you succeed, you spread a powerful rumor of
your foe’s weakness, of allies certain to arrive, or of some
other hidden advantage that should ensure victory. The
first time your target receives panic or strife during the
next scene, they reduce the amount they receive by
your ranks in Performance, to a minimum of 0.
Whether you succeed or fail, if your side loses the
battle, you lose your staked honor (as your boasts
proved false). Additionally, there might be narrative
social ramifications should individuals remember the
lies you told.
New Opportunities
Air : If you fail, nobody remembers exactly what you
said, so there are no narrative social consequences for
your fabrication.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
Air : Add 1 kept  set to  to the first Scheme
action check you make during the next mass battle
your army fights.
Clouds Parted by Steel Rank 2
Warriors often claim a certain kinship with one another
and speak of how no one can hide their true nature in
a life-or-death battle; thus, they say, bitter foes might
know each other as well as sworn comrades, or even
better. While the truth of the matter is perhaps more
complicated, a skilled observer can indisputably learn
a great deal about someone by crossing swords with
them enough times, seeing how they react to fear,
frustration, success, and relief as a battle rages on.
Activation: When you make a check to perform a
Strike action (see page 264 of the core rulebook) or an
Assault action (see page 278 of the core rulebook), you
may spend  as follows:
Air +: If your target’s vigilance is lower than your ranks
in Sentiment plus  spent this way, choose one of the
advantage/disadvantage types: interpersonal, mental,
or physical. If your target has one or more advantages
or disadvantages of that type, you learn what they are.
Entice with Falsehoods Rank 4
In general, there is no victory to be had if the enemy can
easily see through a strategy. To deceive the enemy,
however, a commander must sometimes deceive their
subordinates and allies, only revealing the true plan at
the moment to strike. A leader who believes they have
seen through their own commander’s strategy might
attempt to anticipate this plan. This is simpler when
there is terrain to conceal your actions from vigilant
observation, and risky if your venture fails and disrupts
the strategy of your superiors.
Activation: Once per scene during a mass battle as a
Scheme action targeting the commander of the enemy
army, you may make a Tactics (Air) check. The TN
is equal to the target’s vigilance. If you are not your
army’s commander, you must stake 5 honor and 5 glory
on your success. If your cohort is in Obscuring terrain,
reduce the TN by 2.
Effects: If you succeed, you immediately change your
army’s current strategic goal to a new goal of your
choice. Any momentum points your army had accrued
toward the previous goal are applied to this new goal.
If you fail and you are not the commander, your com-
mander’s scorn falls upon you for overstepping your
position. You lose your staked honor and glory.
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 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E
New Opportunities
Air : Your target remains unaware of your machinations.
Air : Gain 1 momentum point toward your army’s cur-
rent strategic objective.
Air +: All characters in the scene with vigilance
lower than or equal to  spent this way are unaware of
your machinations.
Earth Shūji
“Life rises from the earth. To hold earth is to hold
the means to grow rice, and barley, and millet. When
Akodo writes that the Measure of Earth is understand-
ing the ground on which a general stands, he means
also that the general must understand the value of the
land, for from it arises life itself.”
– Ikoma Yanagi’s commentary on Leadership
Fortress of Necessity Rank 1
While some generals favor a barren battlefield where
steel can face steel, many others look for places where
their forces can draw on cover. These locations offer
troops a place to regroup, resupply, or take defensive
action, but not all battlefields are so accommodating.
In such cases, the commander has their army make
their own fortifications.
Activation: As a downtime activity or a Support action
during a mass battle, using adequate supplies and a
suitable area, you may make a TN 3 Command (Earth)
check targeting a position you can reach.
Effects: If you succeed, you erect a defensive struc-
ture of trenches or short barricades in the area. In a
mass battle, this structure is treated as a fortification
with difficulty value equal to your ranks in Labor plus
your bonus successes, which reduces attrition suf-
fered by the cohort occupying it by 2. In a skirmish,
this structure is treated as Obscuring terrain by anyone
attacking those inside from outside. This structure is
temporary, and degrades completely if left to the ele-
ments for more than a few days. It can be maintained
with a TN 2 Labor (Earth) check as a downtime activ-
ity, which might need to be made more frequently in
harsh weather conditions such as rain or snow.
New Opportunities
Earth : When you perform the Reinforce action in
this fortification during a mass battle, treat the TN as
reduced by 1 (to a minimum of 1).
Earth  +: Add one of the following terrain qualities
per   spent this way to the area extending from
range 1–3 around the building: Dangerous, Entangling,
100
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Obscuring, or Recessed. During a mass battle, ene-
mies attacking a cohort in the fortification are treated
as being in terrain with the added qualities.
Great Anvil’s Measure Rank 2
A proud leader often draws attention to themselves in
battle, and a leader both proud and skilled does so
to draw their enemy into attacking them—especially
when the enemy would rather attack elsewhere. When
the leader’s troops are properly readied, and especially
when they are in a highly defensible location, such an
attack against them is doomed to fail.
Activation: When you make a check to perform a Guard
action in a skirmish (see page 264 of the core rulebook)
or a Reinforce action in a mass battle (see page 279 of
the core rulebook), you may spend  as follows:
Earth + (Guard): Choose any number of characters in
the scene with focus lower than or equal to your ranks
in Performance plus 2 per  spent this way. Each cho-
sen character must receive strife equal to your ranks in
Performance to perform an Attack or Scheme action
targeting any character other than you. This effect per-
sists until the end of your next turn.
Earth + (Reinforce): Choose any number of leaders in
the enemy army with focus lower than or equal to your
ranks in Performance plus 2 per  spent this way. The
enemy army receives panic equal to your ranks in Per-
formance each time any of those leaders performs an
Attack or Scheme action targeting any cohort other than
yours. This effect persists until the end of your next turn.
Steady the Hammer Rank 4
Even under fierce attack, the clever general sees
opportunities to outwit their opponent. When a
staunch counterattack is not possible, the general
lures the enemy into a position where they become
vulnerable to attacks from the general’s allied forces.
Such an act not only achieves victory, but also displays
to all the general’s superior tactical skills.
Activation: As an Attack and Support action during
a mass battle, you may make a TN 5 Tactics (Earth)
check targeting one enemy leader’s cohort that per-
formed an Attack action check targeting your cohort
this round. If that enemy cohort is in Confining, Entan-
gling, or Recessed terrain, reduce the TN to 2.
Effects: If you succeed, decrease the TN of the next
Attack action check made by a friendly leader that tar-
gets that cohort by 1 plus your bonus successes (to a
minimum of 1). If that check succeeds, add additional
bonus successes equal to your ranks in Command. This
effect persists until the end of the round.

New Opportunities
Earth +: This effect applies to one additional Attack
action check made by a friendly cohort before the end
of the round per  spent this way.
Fire Shūji that they shoulder a portion of the risk alongside
“The soul of fire of which Akodo writes is the war-
rior’s spirit. The Measure of Fire warns us to choke this
flame if it is unrighteous, for Akodo knew all too well
the risks of letting this fire burn unchecked. The Kitsu
family’s history reminds us that we may never again let
our pride burn without righteousness and scorch the
innocent.”
– Ikoma Yanagi’s commentary on Leadership
Call the Wild Rank 3
While an animal or spiritual companion can be a source
of comfort and camaraderie for Rokugani, there are
times when the untamed beast is needed. Even the
bravest of bushi might falter when a great cat bares its
claws and makes ready to leap, or a growling wolf pads
out of the darkness with blood on its fangs.
Activation: As a Support action, you may make a Sur-
vival (Fire) check targeting one friendly animal or man-
ifest kami at range 0–2. The TN of the check is equal to
the animal or kami’s  conflict rank.
Effects: If you succeed, increase the damage and
deadliness of the animal or kami’s weapon profiles by
1, plus 1 for every two bonus successes beyond the
first. This effect persists until the end of the scene.
New Opportunities
+: You may target one additional friendly animal or
manifest kami per  spent this way.
+: The target animal or kami removes 1 fatigue per
 spent this way.
: The animal gains the Enraged condition, then
removes all strife.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
Righteous Example Rank 1
A leader’s power exists only in the minds of their
followers, yet none can deny the power of an army. In
Rokugani warfare, leaders and even commanders often
take the field themselves at the start of battle, showing
their warriors. This helps spur their forces on to great
victories no warrior alone could achieve.
Activation: As an Attack and Support action during a
mass battle, you may make a TN 3 Martial Arts (Fire)
check targeting an enemy leader’s cohort.
Effects: If you succeed, the enemy army suffers attri-
tion and panic equal to 1 plus your bonus successes.
If you succeed, other leaders in your army reduce
the TN of their Attack action checks by 1. This effect
persists until the end of your next turn.
If you fail, reduce the TN of Attack and Scheme
action checks targeting your cohort by 1. This effect
persists until the end of your next turn.
New Opportunities
Fire  : If you are both the commander and a leader,
your army gains 1 momentum point toward its current
strategic objective.
Sting of Warrior’s Pride Rank 2
Courage and shame sometimes exist as two sides of
the same coin in Rokugani society. To face death with
courage is the measure of a samurai, and one who
cleaves sincerely to the Code of Bushidō is unlikely to
break even in the face of death. Still, not all samurai can
attain such lofty stoicism. When philosophy alone is
not enough to bolster a samurai against fearful
odds, the spur of shame can keep a sword arm
firm and feet planted in rank.
 C H APT E R 2 : DE F E N DE R S O F T HE EMPIR E
Activation: As a downtime activity, you may make a TN
4 Performance (Fire) check targeting an army or one
character who can hear you. You may stake up to 3 glory
to reduce the TN by that amount (to a minimum of 1).
Effects: If you succeed, you spur your target to greater
courage in the face of death. The first time your target
is dealt attrition or damage during the next scene, they
reduce the amount by your ranks in Performance, to a
minimum of 0.
Whether you succeed or fail, if you are observed
acting in a cowardly manner by your target during the
scene, you lose any glory you staked on this technique.
To Smash the Heart Rank 4
Like a case of fireworks, a battle is a volatile thing.
A single spark in the right place can blast apart all
semblance of order within even an experienced
army. A moment of hesitation by a commander, the
death of a trusted leader—these can ignite countless
sparks at once, sending an army’s cohorts spiraling in
all directions.
Activation: Once per scene, after a character in the
scene (or enemy leader, in a mass battle) becomes
Compromised or is killed, you may immediately make
a TN 4 Tactics (Fire) check targeting that character.
Effects: If you succeed in an intrigue, skirmish, or duel,
each character in the scene allied with your target who
has lower status than your target receives strife equal
to your bonus successes plus your ranks in Sentiment.
If you succeed in a mass battle, the enemy army
receives panic equal to your bonus successes plus your
ranks in Sentiment.
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
Water Shūji
“When Akodo writes that water has neither form nor
shape, he does not mean that it is chaotic. Water is
in its own way ordered, each drop following dutifully
behind the ones that lead it. This is what Akodo means
when he speaks of flow—not a state of disorder, but a
state in which commands are unnecessary, for the nat-
ural path aligns with the path to victory.”
– Ikoma Yanagi’s commentary on Leadership
Coursing March Chant Rank 1
Marching is as old as armies, and some methods have
changed little across the thousand years of Rokugan’s
history as an Empire. An army marching on extra
rations, with a rousing chant or musicians to keep its
pace, will fare far better in the long run than one that
marches in silence on empty stomachs.
Activation: As a downtime activity, you may make a
TN 4 Performance (Water) check targeting an army or
targeting a number of characters traveling with you up
to your ranks in Command. You may expend an addi-
tional day’s rations (army rations for an army, individual
rations for an individual) to reduce the TN by 2 (to a
minimum of 1).
Effects: If you succeed, you and your targets can march
twice the distance they normally could in that time.
New Opportunities:
Water : If your target is an army, it removes attrition
up to your ranks in Medicine.
Water : If your target is an army, it removes panic up
to your ranks in Culture.
Water +: One individual target per  spent this way
removes fatigue up to your ranks in Medicine.
Water +: One individual target per  spent this way
removes strife up to your ranks in Culture.
Water  +: Choose one mundane terrain quality
that would normally affect the targets on the march per
  spent this way. Each target ignores that terrain
quality during the march.
Preserve Strength Rank 2
A general who wins a battle but loses a war is a
failure, and the fewer casualties that become fatalities,
the better their army will fare over the course of a
campaign. Thus, wise generals always find skilled
healers, charging them with keeping their forces in
fighting shape and preserving throughout the course
of the war the core of experienced warriors necessary
for winning battles.

Activation: Once per scene as a Support action or as
a downtime activity, you may direct triage by making
a TN 3 Medicine (Water) check targeting a friendly
army or a number of characters at range 0–3 up to your
ranks in Command.
Effects: If you succeed during a mass battle, your
target removes 5 casualties, plus 1 for every two
bonus successes.
If you succeed during a skirmish, each of your targets
reduces the TN of their next Medicine check by 2, plus
1 for every two bonus successes (to a minimum of 1).
New Opportunities
Water   (Mass Battle): If you succeed, choose a
friendly leader in the target army. Remove one of the
following conditions from that character: Bleeding,
Burning, Dying.
Water   (Skirmish): If you succeed, each of your
targets may immediately move 1 range band, or 2
range bands toward a character who is suffering the
Bleeding, Burning, or Dying condition.
Your Enemy’s Arrows Rank 4
A skilled commander sees the enemy’s troops as if they
were under their command, then issues orders to their
own army such that the enemy will fall into place for
their destruction. By erasing the distinction between
the foe’s assets and one’s own in their mind, a general
can see the battlefield as a whole, and maneuver the
pieces to the endgame of their choosing.
Activation: Once per scene as a Scheme action tar-
geting another character who can perceive you or your
cohort, you may make a Tactics (Water) check. The TN
is equal to the target’s focus. You may stake up to 3
glory on your success to reduce the TN by that amount.
Effects: If you succeed, the next time your target
accrues momentum points toward an objective, add
those momentum points to your objective instead.
If you fail, you lose the glory you staked upon
your success.
New Opportunities
Water : Your target remains unaware of your machi-
nations. If you failed, regain your staked glory.
Water : Gain 1 momentum point toward your
current goal.
Water +: All characters in the scene with vigilance
lower than or equal to  spent this way are unaware of
your machinations.
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CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
Void Shūji
“When Akodo writes that there is no explaining the Mea-
sure of Heaven (or perhaps Emptiness, or Void, as Akodo
uses the terms interchangeably at times), a part of me won-
ders if his hand had simply cramped with the brush ear-
lier in the evening, or if he had tired of students with their
unending chorus of ‘why, why, why?’ But perhaps in blas-
phemous thought, a kernel of truth exists. In emptiness is
the absence even of desire. In his silence, Akodo forces us
to ask the question of ourselves. I desire the answer from
Akodo, that I need not achieve it for myself. And to desire
knowledge is to desire, but a samurai’s thought should not
rest on desire. What we desire to know is irrelevant. We
must focus on what we do know, and how it can be applied
for the betterment of our lord. That is emptiness.”
– Ikoma Yanagi’s commentary on Leadership
Battle of No Escape Rank 2
There are no conditions of battle simpler or more
motivating than “win or die.” A warrior surrounded,
with no hope of surrender, is far more likely to be willing
to fight to the death, clinging to the feeble chance of
survival presented: seize victory or pay the ultimate
price. An outnumbered or outmatched commander
might intentionally place their troops such that retreat is
difficult or impossible, keeping them fighting to the last
despite the terrible odds against them.
Activation: Once per scene as a Support action, you
may make a TN 5 Command (Void) check target-
ing your cohort or a number of characters who can
hear you up to your ranks in Meditation. Reduce the
TN of this check to 2 if all targets are in Confining or
Entangling terrain.
Effects: If you succeed during a mass battle, your army
does not suffer morale collapse if its panic exceeds
its discipline, and continues to function normally. This
effect persists for one round, plus one round for every
three bonus successes.
If you succeed during an intrigue, duel, or skirmish,
each target ignores the effects of the Compromised
condition. This effect persists for one round, plus one
round for every two bonus successes.
New Opportunities
Void + (Intrigue, Duel, or Skirmish): Choose one
additional target per  spent this way.
Void   (Intrigue, Duel, or Skirmish): If you suc-
ceed, each target also ignores the effects of the Inca-
pacitated condition for one round, plus one round for
every two bonus successes.
103
 Moment of Glory Rank 3
Sometimes, an army’s survival falls to a single individual.
When defending a bridge, a narrow pass, or a castle
gate, a single warrior might find themselves facing
the brunt of an entire army’s attack. Many tales tell of
heroic samurai holding back the full wrath of the enemy
for some time in such a circumstance, sometimes
even driving the foe back before succumbing to their
wounds. While these occurrences have been few and
far between, and many are shrouded in myth, they have
nonetheless left an indelible mark on history, and the
names of these samurai have been enshrined forever
as Lesser Fortunes of war, courage, and self-sacrifice.
Activation: Once per scene as an a Movement and
Support action during a mass battle, you may make
a TN 4 Meditation (Void) check. Reduce the TN
of this check to 2 if your cohort is in Confining or
Obscuring terrain.
Effects: If you succeed, whenever your cohort is tar-
geted with an Attack action check, reduce any attri-
tion it inflicts on your army to 0, and receive that much
fatigue yourself instead. If fatigue you receive this way
causes you to suffer a critical strike, the severity is 16.
This effect persists until the start of your next turn.
New Opportunities
Void +: If you succeed, while this effect persists,
reduce any fatigue you receive by 1 per  spent this
way (to a minimum of 0).
Void  : If you succeed, if you suffer a critical strike
this way, it is not applied until the end of the scene, at
which point you receive any critical strike results you
deferred this way.
Void : If you succeed and you survive, double any
glory you are awarded from your action.
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Victory Without a Sword Rank 6
To win without conflict, to conquer without destroying,
to unite with prowess rather than merely subjugating—
this is the ideal Akodo is said to have reached by the
end of his long and violent life. Though he never put it
to words himself, several of his students from his later
years did. His lessons were simple. Any battle should
be as swiftly won as possible, and the greatest general
would be the one who never needed to fight, their
superiority clear to all who could see it. To fight at all
was its own sort of failure, a lesson he had learned all
too well across ceaseless campaigns to unite Rokugan
for his Emperor. Of course, up to the end, Akodo found
it necessary to fight, so perhaps this ideal was beyond
even the Kami of the Lion Clan, a dream image of a
world barely visible through one tired eye.
Activation: As an Attack, Movement, Scheme, and
Support action during a mass battle, you may make
a TN 6 Tactics (Void) check targeting the enemy
commander. Reduce the TN of this check to 4 if all
cohorts of the enemy army are in Dangerous, Entan-
gling, or Obscuring terrain. This technique can only be
attempted once per army per scene.
Effects: If you succeed, the enemy commander imme-
diately resists with a TN 5 Command check (Void 3),
adding 1 to the TN for every 10 strength your army has
in excess of the enemy army’s strength. If the enemy
commander succeeds, their army suffers no ill effects.
If the enemy commander fails, the enemy army suffers
10 panic for each point of their shortfall. If the enemy
army collapses this way, its forces surrender. Individual
leaders may choose whether they wish to withdraw or
hold the line as their troops surrender.
If you fail, reduce the TN of Attack action checks tar-
geting the cohorts of leaders in your army by 2 (to a min-
imum of 1). This effect persists until the end of the scene.
 CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E

Ninjutsu $ (Mass Battle) Any nearby cohort (such as those

in the same zone, if using the rules for zones
HONOR AND
BLASTING POWDER
“Akodo writes of deception in war, of deceiving his on page 118) is caught by the blast, and that
subordinates to win the day, yet whenever some appar- army receives 5 attrition and 5 panic, plus 1 per Blasting powder is
usually viewed as intrin-
ent contradiction arises in his text, it never seems to bonus success.
sically dishonorable, and
occur to any of my fellow scholars that Akodo might $ (Mass Battle) If you placed the blasting powder some samurai would
have lied. A general faces deception on all sides, spies inside of a fortification (see the Fortifications never deign to use it
among their ranks, and ploys on the battlefield. I, for as a weapon of war.
sidebar on page 276 of the core rulebook),
However, honor does
one, think Akodo wished to teach his descendants that. reduce its difficulty value by 1, plus 1 per not generally extend to
A pity most of them missed the lesson.” bonus success. the minions of Fu Leng,
– Bayushi Kiriko’s commentary on Leadership, for they have none to
$ (Mass Battle) One cohort leader affected by the spare for the foes they
included in almost every edition presented
explosion suffers the Immobilized and Lightly slaughter. If the targets
to students in Scorpion Clan dōjō
Wounded conditions. are Tainted creatures, or
the blasting powder is
Employ Terrible Thunder Rank 2 $ (Other Scene) Each character at range 0–2 of being used in the Shad-
the target position suffers 10 physical damage owlands, at the GM’s
For some samurai, there is something they prize plus 1 per bonus success, suffers the Dazed discretion, the honor
above honor: victory. For them, honor is meaningless forfeit needed to use
condition, and receives 5 strife.
if their lord is dead or their family lost. Any method blasting powder may be
$ (Other Scene) Items at range 0–2 of the target reduced or eliminated.
that achieves victory is worthy, even if the Emperor
position gain the Damaged item quality.
themselves has outlawed it.
$ (Other Scene) Any structure (such as a bridge,
Activation: As a Movement and Support action, you
house, or wall) at range 0–1 of the target posi-
may make a TN 4 Skulduggery check and expend 1
tion gains the Damaged quality.
charge of blasting powder (see page 90) to place it
in your environment at a target position at range 0–1 of
you. You must forfeit honor equal to equal to half your New Opportunities
honor rank (rounded up) to use this technique.
Effects: If you succeed, you set the blasting powder to : Any item or structure damaged by this effect gains
explode at the end of the next round. Some or all of the Destroyed quality instead.
the following occur based on the scene type:  : The area at range 0–2 of the position of the
explosion gains the Dangerous and Obscuring ter-
rain qualities, and flammable objects in the area are
set ablaze.
+: The blasting powder does not detonate for one
additional round per  spent this way.

Swift Scouting Rank 1

The line between a shinobi and a scout is mostly one of
their current assignment. Yet, while traditional scouting
can take days or weeks, sufficiently experienced
survivalists who have lived in the wilds can undertake
scouting missions much more quickly than typical
observers. Shinobi must often spend long periods
of time traveling Rokugan, hiding in the wilderness,
or spying on targets on the road. As a result, many
are intimately familiar with the sorts of environments
found in those types of locations and can quickly

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sweep an area to identify the points of interest inside
it. Especially skilled shinobi are likely to leave traps
behind for enemy scouts or forces in the area.
Activation: As a downtime activity, or once per scene
as a Movement and Support action, you may make
a TN 3 Survival (Water) check to scout the terrain
around you. If you activate this technique in an urban
environment or on the ocean, use Skulduggery or Sea-
faring instead, respectively.
Effects: If you succeed, you discover all terrain quali-
ties of the area around you (several miles in all direc-
tion during downtime, or the entire area in which the
scene is occurring), as well as any fortifications in the
area. Characters with vigilance lower than your Air Ring
plus your bonus successes do not detect you during
this time.
New Opportunities
Water   (Downtime or Mass Battle): If you suc-
ceed, you may choose one part of the area (a single
battle zone, if using the rules for battle zones) and add
one of the following terrain qualities to that area: Con-
fining, Dangerous, Entangling, Obscuring.
Water   (Other Scene): If you succeed, you may
choose a position in the area you scouted. Up to three
range bands surrounding that position gain one of
the following terrain qualities: Confining, Dangerous,
Entangling, Obscuring.
Water +: You discover the location and composi-
tion of any enemy forces in the area led by characters
with Air Ring lower than your vigilance plus  spent
this way.
Water   : During your next turn, if you perform
an action targeting an enemy cohort, ignore any fortifi-
cation it is occupying. You may resolve effects as if you
were inside that fortification.
The Patient Viper Rank 2
Sometimes, the best way to approach a target is to
stand still. Shinobi often lie in wait for hours or even
days, patiently maintaining their position to ensure that
they strike well when their foe arrives.
Activation: As a downtime activity, you may make a
TN 4 Fitness (Earth) check targeting your cohort (if
you are currently the leader of a cohort) or yourself and
a number of other characters up to your ranks in Com-
mand (in any other scene) who are within Dangerous,
Entangling, or Obscuring terrain.
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Effects: If you succeed, all targets become hidden and
are not noticed by characters with vigilance lower than
or equal to your Earth Ring plus your bonus successes.
These hidden characters cannot be the target of Attack
actions. This effect persists until the end of your next
turn, or until any target you have hidden performs an
Attack or Movement action.
New Opportunities
Earth +: This effect persists for one additional round
per  spent this way.
Earth +: Reduce the TN of the first Attack action
check one of your targets makes against another char-
acter in the terrain in which your forces are hidden by 1
per  spent this way.
Vanish in the Shadows Rank 3
Shaking a pursuing cohort of soldiers is far more
difficult than simply hiding and requires intimate
knowledge of the terrain and a willingness to exploit
this for every advantage.
Activation: As a downtime activity or once per scene
as a Movement and Support action, you may make a
TN 5 Survival (Air) check targeting your cohort (in a
mass battle) or yourself and a number of characters up
to your ranks in Command (in any other scene) who
are within Confining, Entangling, or Obscuring terrain.
If you activate this technique in an urban environment
or on the ocean, use Skulduggery or Seafaring instead,
respectively.
Effects: If you succeed, all targets become hidden and
are not noticed by characters with vigilance lower than
or equal to your Air Ring plus your bonus successes.
These hidden characters cannot be the target of Attack
actions and cannot perform Attack actions. This effect
persists until the end of your next turn, or until any tar-
get performs an Attack action.
New Opportunities
Air + (Mass Battle): If you succeed, if an enemy army
has one or more cohorts within the terrain, it receives 1
panic per  spent this way.
Air + (Other Scene): If you succeed, each character
you did not target who is within the terrain receives 1
strife per  spent this way.
Air   : If you failed, increase the TN of Attack
action checks targeting each of your targets by 2. This
effect persists until any of your targets performs an
Attack action or leaves the terrain.

Wreak Havoc Rank 4
While Leadership counsels against the needless
destruction of the enemy’s assets—for these can
become one’s own assets if seized—sometimes fire
provides an avenue that subtler means could not.
Baggage trains, fortifications, or even the tents of
the wounded—for dishonorable commanders, any of
these can make tempting targets for the flame.
Activation: Once per game session as an Attack and
Movement action during a mass battle, you may make
a Skulduggery (Fire) check targeting one enemy lead-
er’s cohort. The TN is equal to the vigilance of that
cohort’s leader. You may expend 1 charge of blasting
powder and forfeit honor equal to half your honor rank
(rounded up) to reduce the TN by 2 (to a minimum of 1).
Effects: If you succeed, you achieve one of
the following:
$ Reduce the difficulty value of a fortification the
target is occupying by 4 plus your bonus suc-
cesses. If this reduces the difficulty value to 0
or lower, the fortification is destroyed; any army
with a cohort occupying it receives attrition
equal to your bonus successes, and any leader
or commander inside suffers a critical strike
severity equal to 6 plus your bonus successes.
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CHAPTER 2: DEF ENDER S O F T HE EMPIR E
$ Remove the Confining and Entangling ter-
rain quality from a fortification the target
cohort occupies, but add the Dangerous and
Obscuring terrain qualities to that area as it
catches ablaze.
$ Remove one cohort ability from the target
cohort. This ability is restored when the army
resupplies (such as when making a mainte-
nance check, as described on page 115).
Additionally, if you succeed, the target leader must
resist with a TN 5 Command check (Air 6, Water 3) or
their army suffers panic equal to your ranks in Perfor-
mance plus their shortfall.
New Opportunities
Fire : If you succeed, the target cohort’s leader suffers
a critical strike with severity equal to equal to 6 plus
your bonus successes.
Fire  : The target cohort’s leader suffers the
Dazed condition.
Fire +: If you succeed, you may expend a number of
additional charges of blasting powder up to  spent
this way to add two bonus successes per charge
expended this way.
 3Acts
CHAPTER
“Halt! You are trespassing on Kakita land!” Kakita Tak-
eno shouted, drawing her blade in warning. For her to
come across one of the Lion Clan’s scouting parties this
far to the south…
“Are you sure you are not lost, Kakita-sama? This
territory has belonged to the Matsu family for genera-
tions!” explained one of the samurai, dressed in brown-
and-gold armor. “I fear it is you who is trespassing here.”
Their presence was a clear message, and one of
provocation. The blood feud between the Kakita and
Matsu families was kept from escalating into an all-out

of War
war only due to the efforts of the diplomatic Doji and
the staid Akodo. But neither of those families were
here. “That is a lie,” she answered.
“You would hurl insults, then? I would be glad to
teach the Kakita family a lesson in etiquette!”
Behind them, white-hot lightning pierced black
clouds. Any moment now, rain would fall to the ground.
And soon, so would blood.

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 CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR

Expanded Mass What About

Standing Armies?
Battle Rules While Clan Champions and powerful daimyō
This section expands on the rule for armies and mass often have a core of samurai and some units
battles presented in the core rulebook, giving GMs of ashigaru who have dedicated themselves
new options for using mass battles in their campaigns. to full-time preparation for war, keeping many
retainers battle-ready in this manner is expen-
Marshaling an Army sive, and that cost can become difficult to
justify in times of peace. The Lion Clan in par-
Readying an army for battle is a complex process that
ticular struggles with this, for its task is to be
begins long before the troops arrive on the battlefield.
ready to make war in the Emperor’s name, yet
If players wish to create their own army, gathering allies
in times of peace massive armies can become
to the cause and deploying resources to assemble a
a crushing drain upon Lion lands. The Lion
fighting force, they should use the rules for marshaling
Clan addresses this in part by sending many
an army in this section. The narrative process of fully
of its soldiers to serve in the Emerald Legions,
assembling an army can be the subject of numerous
which are funded by the Imperial Court’s man-
sessions on its own, as the PCs undertake diplomatic
date, relieving some economic pressure from
missions to gather support from other lords, skirmish
the Lion Clan but keeping its warriors active
against enemies who oppose their plans, and role-
even in times of relative serenity in Rokugan.
play the logistics of organizing and training a fighting
When war does break out in Rokugan, the
force. However, a character can begin the process and
first steps are almost always the gathering of
assemble a baseline fighting force with a single check.
resources, the securing of alliances, and the
organization of logistics to rally, train, and
The Marshaling Check supply armies.
To raise an army, a character must have access to their
holdings and retainers (or community, for commoners),
and must make a TN 3 Command check as a down-
time activity. If the character succeeds, they form an
Table 3–1: Determining
army that consists of their retainers. The army’s maxi-
Army Strength
mum strength is set by the character’s status (see Table STATUS MAXIMUM STRENGTH
3–1: Determining Army Strength), although a charac-
ter can always choose to form a smaller army (to a min- 100 150
imum of 5) if they desire, as smaller armies are easier
to maintain. 90–99 120
The army’s discipline is set by the character’s bonus
80–89 100
successes and their honor (see Table 3–2: Determin-
ing Army Discipline).
70–79 80
A character can spend  from the check to marshal
their army in a number of ways described in Table 3–3: 60–69 65
Spending Opportunity while Marshaling an Army
(see page 111). 50–59 60
The check to marshal an army not only gathers the
troops to the field, but also the support staff required 40–49 55
and the supplies needed (food, gear, travel equipment)
to keep them fighting for one month. At the start of 30–39 35
each subsequent month, a character must make another
24–29 20
check to keep their army functional and loyal (see
Maintaining an Army on Campaign on page 115). 20–24 15
Generally, a marshaling check can only be attempted
once per month for a given set of holdings, though the 0–19 5
GM may alter that restriction as the narrative dictates.

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Money and Power
Status grants a decent approximation of a
character’s available wealth—sometimes.
However, even daimyō can find their coffers
drained after a drought year, and merchants
can grow startlingly wealthy. If a character’s
wealth is uncharacteristic of their status, the
GM should treat their status as being one that
reflects their accessible wealth for the check
to marshal an army. For example, a wealthy
foreign ship captain (status 0) with a hold full
of goods to entice allies might treat their sta-
tus as 30, while a destitute Great Clan samurai
(status 30) whose estate is in ruins and whose
vassals have been dismissed might treat their
status as 10.
Additionally, at the GM’s discretion, a
character who is appealing to a group of
peers (or even their superiors) rather than
their subordinates might use Performance or
Courtesy for their marshaling check instead.
TEMPORARY STATUS
MODIFIERS Supplemental Forces
The following examples A character can expand their army once it has been mar-
show how the wealth a shaled in a number of ways, described in this section.
character has access to
could translate into treat-
Raising Additional Forces
ing their status as higher
for a marshaling check:
If a character gains access to substantial new resources
A large storehouse or a new source of potential soldiers, the GM might
of food: +10 allow them to make a new marshaling check, treating
A town’s yearly their status as increased by an appropriate amount
taxes: +20 for the check. For instance, if a character captures a
rich city on campaign, they might be able to use the
A ship with luxury
goods: +30 resources from that city to attempt to build an even
bigger army for their next target. If the new check’s
A small city’s yearly
result would not create a preferable army, the character
taxes: +40
can choose to simply maintain their prior army.
A large city’s
reserves: +50
Mercenary Forces
The GM always has the
final say of whether and A character might get the chance to hire mercenaries
how such a bonus applies. while on campaign, should they encounter such indi-
viduals. Mercenaries must be paid a fixed amount each
month when a character makes the check to maintain
their army. See Table 3–4: Mercenary Forces for var-
ious types of mercenaries a character might be able
to hire. If a mercenary force is operating as an army
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Table 3–2: Determining
Army Discipline
BONUS
SUCCESSES DISCIPLINE
60 + ranks in Government
4 or more
+ glory rank
40 + ranks in Government
3
+ glory rank
2 25 + ranks in Government
1 15 + ranks in Government
0 10 + ranks in Government
on its own, it uses the Base Army Stats; otherwise,
apply its Modifiers to the army it is joining. If the force
lists a rule, it applies to the entire army if it is oper-
ating independently, or to one cohort if it has joined
another army.
Allied Forces
A character might be able to persuade another lord to
commit resources to their cause. This should generally
require an Intrigue or a number of significant roleplay-
ing scenes, and a character might have to make signif-
icant offers to that lord, such as agreeing in advance to
certain concessions of territory taken in battle, making
pacts for favorable marriages, or promising to defeat
the other lord’s enemies in addition to one’s own. If this
effort is successful, an allied lord can offer an amount
of support based on their status (see Table 3–5: Allied
Forces), which are added to the character’s army. If an
allied force is operating as an army on its own, it uses
the Base Army Stats; otherwise, apply its Modifiers
to the army it is joining. If the force lists one or more
rules, each rule applies to the entire army if it is oper-
ating independently, or to one cohort if it has joined
another army.
Parting of Ways
If a force splits from an army, divide the casualties
and panic as evenly as possible between the splitting
forces, with the larger forces receiving the additional
casualties or panic if it cannot be divided evenly. If any
force cannot function with the number of casualties or
panic it receives, it disperses and its members split up.
 CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR

Table 3–3: Spending Opportunity while Marshaling an Army

RESULT EFFECT

Reduce the TN of your first army maintenance check (see page 115) by 1 per  spent
Any +
this way.

In addition to the army, you are given use of a fortification near your lands for the war effort.
Earth 
This fortification counts as an outpost (reduce attrition suffered by 2, difficulty value 6).

Earth   Increase the army’s discipline by 5.

In addition to the army, you raise 100 koku per  spent this way. You must forfeit 10
honor to spend this money on anything but equipment upgrades (see page 114), mer-
Water +
cenary forces (see page 110), or other expenses that the GM deems to benefit the army
or the cause.

The army gains one of the following equipment upgrades (see page 114): Baggage
Water  
Train, Battlefield Medical Supplies.

For the first mass battle in which the army participates, reduce the TN of each of its lead-
Fire 
ers first Assault actions by 1 (to a minimum of 1).

Fire   Increase the army’s strength by 5.

The army assembles without attracting the attention of any local powers not currently at
Air 
war with you.

Air   One cohort gains one of the following doctrines (see page 112): Out of Nowhere, Sappers.

The army assembles at a place of your choosing (that a large numbers of soldiers could
Void  plausibly reach) in up to one month in the future rather than assembling immediately at
your current location.

Void   Increase the army’s strength and discipline by 3.

Table 3–4: Mercenary Forces

BASE ARMY KOKU PER
NAME STATS MODIFIERS RULES MONTH

Ashigaru Strength 20, Strength +10, Rank Formation

200 koku
Veterans Discipline 40 Discipline +5 (see page 280 of the core rulebook)

Foreign Strength 25, Strength +15, Elite Training: Infantry (see

400 koku
Sellswords Discipline 25 Discipline –10 page 280 of the core rulebook)

Mantis Strength 30, Strength +20, Strike as the Storm

475 koku
Privateers Discipline 30 Discipline –5 (see page 114)

Ujik Strength 35, Strength +25 Thunderous Charge

500 koku
Outriders Discipline 30 Discipline –5 (see page 114)

Strength 20, Strength +10, Out of Nowhere

Bandits 100 koku
Discipline 20 Discipline –15 (see page 113)

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Table 3–5: Allied Forces

STATUS BASE ARMY STATS MODIFIERS RULES

Elite Training (one per cohort): Cavalry, Siege

Strength
Strength 150, Specialists, Infantry, Archers, and Mystics (see
100 +135, Disci-
Discipline 80 page 280 of the core rulebook), Siege Defend-
pline +20
ers (see page 114)

Elite Training (one per cohort): Cavalry, Siege

Strength +95,
Strength 120, Specialists, Infantry, Archers, and Mystics (see
90–99 Discipline
Discipline 75 page 280 of the core rulebook), Siege Defend-
+15
ers (see page 114)

Clan Doctrine (see page 113), Elite Training

Strength +75,
Strength 100, (one per cohort): Cavalry, Siege Specialists,
80–89 Discipline
Discipline 70 Infantry, Archers, and Mystics (see page 280 of
+10
the core rulebook)

Clan Doctrine (see page 113), Elite Training

Strength 80, Strength +55, (one per cohort): Cavalry, Siege Specialists,
70–79
Discipline 65 Discipline +5 Infantry, and Archers (see page 280 of the
core rulebook)

Clan Doctrine (see page 113), Elite Training

Strength 65, Strength +35,
60–69 (one per cohort): Cavalry, Infantry, and Archers
Discipline 60 Discipline +0
(see p. 280 of the core rulebook)

Strength 60, Strength +30, Clan Doctrine (see page 113), Rank Formation
50–59
Discipline 50 Discipline +0 (see p. 280 of the core rulebook)

Strength 55, Strength +25, Rank Formation (see page 280 of the
40–49
Discipline 40 Discipline +0 core rulebook)

Strength 35, Strength +15, Conscripted (see page 280 of the

30–39
Discipline 20 Discipline –5 core rulebook)

Strength 20, Strength +10, Conscripted (see page 280 of the

24–29
Discipline 15 Discipline –5 core rulebook)

Strength 15, Strength +5, Conscripted (see page 280 of the

20–24
Discipline 15 Discipline –5 core rulebook)

0–19 – – –

Outfitting and Training once. If a doctrine applies to one cohort, it can be

Armies can be improved through two means described
in this section: DOCTRINES and EQUIPMENT UPGRADES.
Doctrines
Doctrines are army and cohort rules that characters can
add to their army. As a downtime activity, a character
may make the listed TRAINING CHECK to attempt to train
their army in a new doctrine for which it meets the nar-
rative requirements. Each doctrine specifies whether it
applies to one cohort or to the entire army. If a doctrine
applies to the entire army, it can only ever be applied
applied to multiple cohorts by succeeding at the train-
ing check multiple times.
Battle-Tested
Soldiers who have faced the enemy before as a unit
are generally more reliable, as each soldier knows how
their comrades will behave under the stress of battle.
Training Check: TN 4 Command (Earth) check
Narrative Requirements: The army must have sur-
vived one mass battle.
Applies to: Entire army
Effect: Increase the army’s discipline by +5.

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Clan Doctrines Out of Nowhere

Each Great Clan has its own preferred strategies and
tactics, and the samurai of each clan are trained to best
support their commanders’ methods of warfare.
Training Check: None
Narrative Requirements: The army must consist pri-
marily of the forces of a single Great Clan.
Applies to: Entire army
Effect: The entire army gains one of the following
based on its clan.
Crab: When this army would receive panic, it receives
that amount of panic minus 2 instead (to a minimum of 1).
Crane: After a leader in this army makes a successful
check to perform a Challenge action, if the challenging
leader wins the clash, the enemy receives panic equal
to that character’s glory rank. If the challenging leader
loses, their army receives panic equal to their glory rank.
Dragon: When performing the Rally action, if a leader
in this army succeeds, add a number of bonus suc-
cesses equal to that leader’s ranks in Meditation.
Lion: When this army would remove 1 or more casu-
alties or panic, it may remove an amount equal to the
status rank of its commander instead.
Phoenix: After a leader in this army performs an
Assault action, if they succeed, the enemy army suf-
fers attrition equal to that leader’s ranks in Theology
instead of Command.
Scorpion: Reduce the TN of the first Scheme action
check each leader in this army makes each mass battle
by 1 (to a minimum of 1). If this army’s commander is
also a leader, reduce the TN of the first Scheme action
check the commander makes by 2 instead (to a mini-
mum of 1).
Unicorn: When performing the Rally action, a leader in
this army may make a TN 1 Survival check instead of
a Command check.
Stealth tactics are viewed by some as dishonorable,
but Akodo wrote with great regard for the power of
infiltrators and spies.
Training Check: TN 4 Skulduggery (Air) check
Narrative Requirements: The army must have access
to a forest or other large piece of Obscuring terrain in
which to train.
Applies to: One cohort
Effect: When this cohort’s leader performs an Assault
action, if the target cohort is in Confining or Obscuring,
the leader may spend  as follows:
+: The enemy army receives panic equal to the lead-
er’s ranks in Skulduggery plus  spent this way.
Sappers
Capturing a fortification through direct attack is a
bloody, brutal prospect most commanders prefer to
avoid. Capturing a fortification with a small force by
using subterfuge is a far more appealing option.
Training Check: TN 3 Labor (Air) check
Narrative Requirements: The army must have access
to a fortification in which to train.
Applies to: One cohort
Effect: When this cohort’s leader generates momentum
points toward a strategic objective to seize a fortification
(such as the Capture a Position objective against a forti-
fication), they generate 2 additional momentum points
toward that objective.

Fervor
A belief in one’s own righteousness is a terrifyingly
effective motivator, and convincing one’s soldiers that
the will of the Heavens guides their cause makes them
far more motivated to stand against harsh odds—but
also more likely to come to believe that they should be
interpreting this will for themselves.
Training Check: TN 6 Theology (Fire) check
Narrative Requirements: None
Applies to: Entire army
Effect: Increase the army’s discipline by +10. Increase
the TN of monthly checks to maintain the army by 2.

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Siege Defenders
Defending a fortification against attackers is preferable
to facing them in the open, but specialist troops will
still perform better than those without experience in
defending an entrenched position.
Training Check: TN 3 Labor (Earth) check
Narrative Requirements: The army must have access
to a fortification in which to train.
Applies to: One cohort
Effect: While this cohort occupies a fortification, treat
its difficulty level as 2 higher.
Strike as the Storm
While most Rokugani warfare is based around land tac-
tics, attacks by water are not unheard of, and Mantis
sailors are rightly respected as some of the most skilled
at unexpected flank attacks and ambushes.
Training Check: TN 4 Seafaring (Water) check
Narrative Requirements: The army must have access
to at least one warship, or several smaller vessels,
capable of carrying the cohort with this ability.
Applies to: One cohort
Effect: When the leader of this cohort performs the
Assault action as part of their initial landing, they may
spend  as follows:
: The target cohort’s leader suffers the Dazed condition.
 +: One additional enemy leader per   spent
this way suffers the Dazed condition. If using the rules
for Battle Zones, this can only affect leaders whose
cohorts are in the same zone as the target.
Thunderous Charge
Among the Great Clans, only the Unicorn Clan trains
heavy cavalry units in significant numbers. However,
since their return to Rokugan, the other Great Clans
have begun to experiment with their own cavalry units.
Training Check: TN 5 Fitness (Fire) check
Narrative Requirements: The army must have access
to enough quality steeds (Unicorn warhorses or equiv-
alent) to equip a cohort with this ability.
Applies to: One cohort
Effect: The first time the leader of this cohort performs
an Assault action during each mass battle, if the enemy
cohort is in Open terrain and the leader succeeds, they
inflict additional attrition and panic to the enemy army
equal to their ranks in Survival.
Equipment Upgrades
Equipment upgrades can be added to an army as well,
by purchasing or requisitioning them. Each equipment
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upgrade specifies whether it applies to one cohort or
to the entire army. If an equipment upgrade applies to
one cohort, it can be applied to multiple cohorts by
acquiring it multiple times.
Baggage Train
Supply logistics are crucial to keeping an army in ser-
vice for long periods of time, and without a baggage
train, an army cannot operate far from its garrison.
Rarity/Cost: Rarity 6 / 2,000 koku
Applies to: Entire army
Effect: Reduce the TN of monthly checks to maintain
this army by 2 (to a minimum of 1).
Battlefield Medical Supplies
Giving soldiers the means to staunch minor injuries can
help keep an army in the field, curbing infection and
the spread of disease. For the rules of a single charac-
ter using this item, see page 90.
Rarity/Cost: Rarity 3 / 50 koku
Applies to: One cohort
Effect: When a character leading this cohort removes
1 or more casualties from the army, they remove that
amount of casualties plus 1 instead.
Nagae Yari
Needle-pointed spears arranged in a hedge are an
imposing sight for anyone, even heavy cavalry. For the
rules of a single character using this item, see page 88.
Rarity/Cost: Rarity 6 / 1,000 koku
Seizing Resources
Resources can be seized in battle. Sometimes,
the enemy’s equipment upgrades or food
stocks can be taken after a victorious battle,
and this is generally viewed as an acceptable
tactic. Other times, ruthless commanders will
order their troops to take supplies from the
peasants living nearby. While this tactic is
dishonorable, it has happened many times in
Rokugan’s history, for many warlords believed
that their ends justified such means.
When resources are seized, their value
should be added to the army’s war coffers or
army equipment, depending on the nature of
the items. The GM is the final arbiter of how
much captured resources are worth.
 CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR

Table 3–6: Army Maintenance Check Results

CHECK
RESULT EFFECT

Success with
one or more Remove casualties and panic from the army equal to your ranks in Government, plus 2
bonus suc- per bonus success.
cesses

Success Remove casualties and panic from the army equal to your ranks in Government.

The army receives panic equal to your shortfall. If the army’s panic exceeds its discipline
Failure with
this way, reduce the army’s panic until it is equal to its discipline. However, the army
1–3 shortfall
refuses to fight for the next month.

The army receives panic equal to two times your shortfall. If the army’s panic exceeds its
Failure with
discipline this way, it breaks apart into multiple chunks. These new armies and warbands
4–6 shortfall
spread across the countryside, pursuing their own agendas or even turning to banditry.

Failure with The army revolts, and attempts to overthrow its commander and their leaders. Chaos
7+ shortfall ensues, and the commander must fight for their life, negotiate, or flee to survive!

Applies to: One cohort

Effect: When an enemy leader performs an Attack
action check against this cohort, they treat all terrain as
Dangerous terrain (see page 267 of the core rulebook).
Tetsubishi
Designed to ruin the feet and hooves of enemy troops
and horses, tetsubishi are iron caltrops make the prospect
of attacking a unit extremely unpleasant. For the rules of a
single character using this item, see page 91.
Rarity/Cost: Rarity 4, 100 koku
Applies to: One cohort
Effect: As a Movement and Support action, the leader
of this cohort may deploy tetsubishi. Until the end of
the next round, after the leader of a cohort (or army)
with the cavalry or heavy cavalry rule performs an
Attack action check targeting this cohort, that leader’s
army receives 3 casualties and 3 panic.
Upgraded Armor
While investing in one’s soldiers’ armor is expensive,
keeping troops alive for longer allows them to gain
vital experience on the battlefield, making the army
stronger as its members become more skillful.
Rarity/Cost: Rarity 7, 3,000 koku
Applies to: Entire army
Effect: If the army’s commander succeeds at the check
to maintain the army, they add 2 bonus successes.
Maintaining an Army
on Campaign
The core rulebook explains how to use an army in a
mass battle, and this section offers expanded guidance
on managing an army across a longer period of time,
such as a military campaign or a long-term assignment.
Removing Casualties and Panic
Armies receive casualties and panic much like charac-
ters receive fatigue and strife. Character abilities can
also remove casualties and panic. Additionally, armies
recover via an Army Maintenance check.
Army Maintenance Check
Once rallied, an army must be regularly maintained. At
the start of each month, the commander must make a
Command check to keep their army in order, distrib-
ute supplies, and reorganize in the wake of losses. The
TN of this check is equal to the 10s digit of the army’s
strength (or 10, if the army’s strength is higher than
99), as larger formations are harder to keep organized
and equipped. Depending on the result, the army may
remove casualties and panic, receive additional panic,
or even rebel upon its commander. See Table 3–6:
Army Maintenance Check Results for details.
At this time, a commander must also pay any mer-
cenaries they have hired. Unpaid mercenaries might
leave, or even take their forces and turn on the army if
they believe they can take valuable hostages.

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Harsh Conditions
A number of factors can negatively impact the
commander’s Army Maintenance check. See
below for some examples:
$ If the army is in hostile lands without a path
of resupply, increase the TN by 1.
$ If it is winter and the army is not garrisoned
in a shelter, increase the TN by 2.
$ If the army has been on the march for two
weeks of the last month (or more), increase
the TN by 1.
Incentives
On the other hand, a number of factors can pos-
itively impact the commander’s maintenance
check. See below for some examples:
$ If the commander’s status rank is 6 or higher,
decrease the TN by 2 (to a minimum of 1).
$ If the commander has publicly promoted
one or more jizamurai or ashigaru for a val-
orous act in the last month, decrease the TN
by 2 (to a minimum of 1).
$ If the troops have access to entertainment
provided by the commander (such as small
luxuries like tea or sake, bards and other
entertainers, or the opportunity to partici-
pate in activities such as hunting or contests),
decrease the TN by 3 (to a minimum of 1).
Dispersing an Army
At the end of a successful campaign, a warlord’s vas-
sals and allies generally expect recompense for their
efforts. While in Rokugan most samurai do not expect
to be paid in spoils, they do expect compensation—
titles, positions, status, and most of all, lands captured
are considered to be the proper reward for shedding
blood on one’s lord’s behalf. Soldiers of the line, on the
other hand, such as ashigaru and conscripts, generally
prefer to be paid in currency (or village tax exemption,
for many commoners) for their labor unless they hap-
pen to be among the exceptional few elevated to the
samurai class thanks to their heroism or deeds.
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$ If the army is short on food, increase the TN
by 1.
$ If the army is short on water, increase the
TN by 3.
$ If it is exceptionally hot, increase the TN
by 1.
$ If the army is plagued by insects and other
vermin, increase the TN by 1.
$ If the army is plagued by disease, increase
the TN by 3.
$ If the army has been victorious in a mass
battle within the last month, decrease the
TN by 4 (to a minimum of 1).
$ If food is plentiful, decrease the TN by 3 (to
a minimum of 1).
$ If the troops are fighting a defensive conflict
in their own homeland, decrease the TN by
6 (to a minimum of 1).
$ If the commander has the backing or mandate
of a character with status rank 7 or higher,
decrease the TN by 3 (to a minimum of 1).
$ If the commander or their backer has made
a considerable sacrifice of personal wealth
(forfeiting 5 or more status), decrease the
TN by 1 for every 5 status forfeited this way.
After an army has served its purpose, most com-
manders seek to dismantle it, letting its various mem-
bers return to their previous lives and reducing the
strain upon their estates. To get an army to disperse
properly, its commander must make a TN 4 Command
(Air) check and pay any mercenaries their final dues. If
the commander succeeds (and any paid troops are sat-
isfied), the forces return to their homes or prior occu-
pations without incident. If the commander fails (or fails
to pay any unpaid mercenaries), the troops go on to
cause problems for the local area or the commander.
 CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR

Table 3–7: Ransom Amounts

Hostages
STATUS KOKU PCS SURRENDERING
In the purest ideals of to which many Rokugani aspire,
a samurai is expected to be willing to fight to the bit- N/A (decorum would always If the PCs are defeated
ter end, but an idealized samurai is also expected to 100 demand seeing such an individual in a mass battle and
offer mercy to worthy adversaries who stand defiant safely back to their home) offered a chance to
surrender, their players
to the end. As such, if a small group is surrounded by
always make the
the enemy, or if the outcome of a mass battle is clear 90–99 10,000 koku
decision on whether or
(such as if an army has been routed or suffered morale not they actually do.
80–89 1,000 koku If a player wants to let
collapse) and the enemy leaders cannot escape, the
GM should consider whether any NPCs in that group the dice decide, they
70–79 500 koku can ask the GM to have
surrender. If some of the NPCs are not inclined to sur- an NPC make the TN
render due to their pride or convictions, the victorious 60–69 250 koku 3 Courtesy (Air) check
side may attempt to get them to accept their hospital- to convince them to
ity. A representative of the winning side must make a 50–59 100 koku surrender.
TN 3 Courtesy (Air) check; if the character succeeds,
the target agrees to the terms and becomes their 40–49 50 koku
“guest” (hostage). After all, once a battle is decided,
further bloodshed is pointless. If the character fails, the 30–39 10 koku
target attempts to fight on, which can be resolved with
20–29 1 koku
narration by the GM, or perhaps a duel if the winners
are gracious. Taking a character hostage against their 10–19 5 bu
will by subduing them is a minor violation of Courtesy
(Rei), and requires forfeiting honor as normal. 00–09  2 bu

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After a battle or campaign, it is customary to return
any hostages taken in battle to their families. Gener-
ally, a hostage is returned either in exchange for a hos-
tage of equal status rank taken by the other side, or
for a number of koku described in Table 3–7: Ransom
Amounts (see page 117). If a character returns a hos-
tage without any demands (or frees them), this is consid-
ered a sacrifice in the name of Righteousness (Gi), and
the character should generally be awarded honor equal
to the hostage’s status rank (and glory equal to the hos-
tage’s status rank if they do so publicly). After a character
frees someone of higher status rank this way, they also
gain the Ally [Name of Character Freed] advantage (see
page 101 of the core rulebook).
A samurai is expected to care for any “guests” in
their custody as they would any esteemed guest. When
a samurai takes a prisoner on the battlefield, they must
stake honor and glory equal to that individual’s status
rank. If their hostage comes to harm, they lose the
staked honor (and glory, if their failure becomes known)
in addition to any forfeits of honor and glory they must
make if they themselves treat the hostage with any-
thing less than the expected decorum. Refusing to
return a hostage in exchange for an equivalent hos-
tage, fair price, or suitable favor to be repaid later after
hostilities have ceased is also considered a breach of
Courtesy (Rei) of a scale of the GM’s discretion. 
Of course, the GM should modify any of these
amounts based on the importance of the individual
to those who hold the purse-strings within their clan
or faction, as well as applying appropriate modifi-
cations based on negotiations undertaken by the
various parties.
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Battle Zones
The Mass Battle rules included in the core rulebook are
meant to center the action on the PCs and keep the
combat flowing quickly. As such, they abstract certain
details, such as distance and travel time. However, for
campaigns where Mass Battles will be a frequent event,
having more detail can add to the flavor of the narra-
tive and give players interesting new options based on
the more tactical decisions they can make.
Battle zones are an optional rule that GMs can add
to their Mass Battles to more closely track the posi-
tion of cohorts, fortifications, terrain, and commanders
within the field.
Mapping the Area
Before the start of the Mass Battle, the GM should
map out the area. To do so, the first place the key geo-
graphic features such as:
$ Fortifications such as castles, fortresses, and
barricades
$ Mountains and hills
$ Hollows and valleys
$ Roads
$ Towns and portions of cities
$ Fields and other open areas
$ Lakes, rivers, mountains, forests, and other
natural barriers
$ Key choke points such as passes, bridges,
and tunnels
$ Impassible areas
 Designating Table 3–8: Assigning Terrain CONCEALED

Battle Zones Qualities by Feature BATTLE ZONES

At the GM’s discretion,

After drawing out the map, the GM should divide FEATURE TERRAIN QUALITIES
certain areas might
the map into battle zones. Each battle zone is an be partially or fully
abstracted area in which the battle can be fought, Cliff Elevated, Dangerous concealed, leaving one
or both commanders
defined by the key geographic features it contains.
uncertain what lies
Generally, each battle zone should be drawn to have within. The terrain
Hill Elevated
one of the above key geographic features as its defin- qualities, cohorts, forti-
ing aspect, and potentially contain other features that fications, and other ele-
Hollow Recessed
alter it in various ways. ments with these areas
should be revealed only
The GM then outlines each zone, making clear where Valley Confining, Recessed when a cohort moves
each zone overlaps with any neighboring zones, and leav- into the area.
ing gaps for areas where passage is normally impossible. Road Open
If two zones have overlapping edges, they are con-
sidered ADJACENT zones. Cohorts can move between Town Confining, Obscuring
adjacent zones and can sometimes affect other cohorts
Field Open
in adjacent zones, as described later in this section.
Finally, the GM should note the features within each River Entangling, Recessed
zone and any terrain qualities that affect cohorts within
those zones. See Table 3–8: Assigning Terrain Quali- Swamp Entangling
ties by Feature for ideas.
Forest Entangling, Obscuring
Using Battle Zones Bridge Confining
Before commanders make their checks for Initiative,
the GM should show some or all of this map to the Tunnel Confining, Obscuring
players and establish the position of each leader and
commander in the areas visible to the players. Chasm Confining, Recessed

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BATTLE ZONES:
MAPPING THE AREA

The GM divides the map

into zones based on key
geographic features. In
this example, the Lion
Encampment (Zone 1)
has pickets surrounding
it, creating artificial
barriers. Meanwhile,
the Lower Plains
(Zone 4) and Upper
Plains (Zone 7) are
divided by the Hilltop
(Zone 5). While Zones 4,
5, and 7 are not divided
by any clear physical
barrier, holding the
Hilltop makes passage
between the other
two zones much more
difficult, as the only
other route requires
traveling through the
Rice Paddies (Zone 6) or
Mine Paths (Zone 3). The
GM should also note any
fully impassible zones,
such as the Mountains.

BATTLE ZONES:
ASSIGNING TERRAIN
QUALITIES

Next, the GM assigns

terrain qualities to the
zones. In this example,
the Lower and Upper
Plains and Hilltop have
the Open terrain quality,
while the Rice Paddies
and East Pass have the
Entangling quality. The
Mine Paths have the
Dangerous and Elevated
qualities. The Mountains
are impassable for the
purposes of the mass
battle, and the camps
have no terrain qualities.

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 CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR

Zone Restrictions If you made the Command check and succeeded,

you may then move your cohort one additional time to
When running a Mass Battle with zones, use the stan- an adjacent zone, plus one additional time for every
dard rules for Mass Battles on 274 of the core rulebook three bonus successes.
with the following amendments:

$ Cohort leaders cannot target other cohort lead-
ers who are not in the same zone.
$ Once during each cohort leader’s turn, before
or after they perform an action, that leader may
move their cohort to an adjacent zone.
$ After a cohort leaves a zone, if that zone was
occupied by an enemy cohort, the withdrawing
cohort’s army suffers 5 panic.
$ Cohort leaders may use the following
new action:
March
Activation: As a Movement action, you may reposition
your cohort. You may make a TN 3 Command check
to move further.
Effects: You move your cohort to an adjacent zone.
Army and Cohort Rules
While Using Battle Zones
Some army and cohort abilities alter how they behave
when using the battle zones rules. These include:
Cavalry: This cohort does not suffer panic when leav-
ing a battle zone with an enemy cohort.
Archers: While in Elevated terrain, this cohort can per-
form Assault actions targeting cohorts in an adjacent
zone, increasing the TN of the check by 1. However,
while performing an Assault action targeting a cohort
in an adjacent zone, this cohort cannot fulfill the follow-
ing strategic objectives: Capture a Position, Cut Off the
Head, Seize Victory. It can still contribute momentum
points to these objectives, but cannot be the action to
complete them.
Mystics: While in Elevated terrain, this cohort can
perform Rally actions targeting cohorts in an adjacent
zone, increasing the TN of the check by 1.

BATTLE ZONES:
ASSIGNING FEATURES

Finally, the GM notes

the features within each
zone, including forti-
fications. The features
should be locations that
can affect the outcome
of the battle in some
way—choke points
(such as the Central
Hilltop and Fortified
Gate), strategically
important targets (such
as the Lion Supply
Train), and especially
defensible locations
(such as the Diamond
Mines and Mountain
Vale). Any location that
provides an especially
significant defensive
benefit should be
represented with a for-
tification (see page 276
of the core rulebook).

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 New Terrain Types
The following are new terrain types. These ter-
rain types are especially useful for skirmishes and
mass battles, but can also be used in duels at the
GM’s discretion.
Confining
Confining terrain is cut off from multiple angles,
forcing those passing through into a file. As a result,
it is effectively impassible if held by a dedicated
defender. This is a mundane terrain type found in
most regions.
Effects: While a character is in Confining terrain, the
following applies to them based on the type of scene:
$ Duel or Skirmish: When a character makes a
check to wield a weapon or activate a tech-
nique with a maximum range of 2 or higher,
increase the TN by 2.
$ Mass Battle: When a cohort occupies Confin-
ing terrain, other cohorts cannot move into
the same area of terrain. If using the rules for
battle zones on page 118, other cohorts can
enter the zone but cannot pass through it.
Examples: Narrow alleyways, rope-bridges across
chasms, teahouse interiors, narrow passes, tunnels.
Elevated
Elevated ground is significantly higher than most of
the terrain around it, has a wide view of the area,
and grants both line of sight and an advantage to
ballistic attacks based on its relative height. This is a
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mundane terrain type found in most regions.
Effects: While within Elevated terrain, a character
reduces the TN of their Martial Arts [Ranged] checks tar-
geting characters outside of Elevated terrain by 1 (to a
minimum of 1). At the GM’s discretion, this benefit could
extend to other ranged attacks, such as the invocations
of shugenja. Depending on its height and steepness,
Elevated terrain might require a check to reach.
Examples: Hilltops, castle towers, watchtowers,
mountaintops, rooftops.
Open
Open terrain is designed to facilitate movement,
helping even large armies move quickly. This is a
mundane terrain type found in most regions.
Effects: While within Open terrain, a character
reduces the TN of their Movement action checks by 1
(to a minimum of 1).
Examples: Roads, flattened fields, cleared woodland.
Recessed
Recessed terrain is significantly lower than most of
the terrain around it, and is exposed to fire from all
directions. This is a mundane terrain type found in
most regions.
Effects: While a character is within Recessed terrain,
the TN of each Martial Arts [Ranged] check targeting
them is reduced by 1 (to a minimum of 1). At the
GM’s discretion, this benefit could extend to other
ranged attacks, such as the invocations of shugenja.
Depending on its depth and steepness, Recessed
terrain might require a check to reach.
Examples: Hollows, ravines.

Running Military-
Themed Campaigns
War is woven into the fabric of Rokugani society,
and particularly into the Code of Bushidō. Given the
Empire’s long history of military conflict to draw upon,
running a campaign themed around or set during a
Rokugani war can be highly engaging. War-focused
campaigns can be great fun for GMs and players alike,
full of rich drama and challenges. However, as with any
campaign theme or major plot, it is important to think
through the implications of war in Rokugan to ensure
that the campaign is as cohesive and engaging as pos-
sible for all involved. The following sections highlight
key factors of a wartime campaign and how the GM
can incorporate them to their group’s best advantage.
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Wartime Considerations
Wars vary considerably, depending on initial conditions
and other factors. Some, such as an invasion by a for-
eign culture from beyond Rokugan’s borders, might be
a war for survival. Others are conflicts over territory,
such as the Lion and Crane’s constant battle over the
city of Toshi Ranbo and the rich Osari Plains. Many
conflicts in Rokugan are matters of honor, fought to
avenge a past insult or even a previous war. Some wars
even start over matters of philosophy, with different
interpretations of important Rokugani cultural tenets
leading to violence. And of course, while most wars
are ultimately fought between samurai, major peasant
uprisings can be effectively wars in scope.
Despite this variation, there are certain common
elements to consider no matter what type of war a GM
plans to incorporate into their campaign. Some are
purely game-world considerations about how Rokugan
goes about waging war, while others have to do with
how players at the gaming table interact with war and
battle as a topic.
 C H APT E R 3 : A C T S O F WAR
The Cause of War
War does not simply happen, nor does it happen lightly.
Skirmishes and small-scale conflicts sometimes seem to
occur on the spur of the moment, such as when a lord
takes issue with the presence of samurai from another
clan within their lands. However, even these outbreaks
of violence are informed by existing tensions and other
political factors. True war, with mustered ranks of ashi-
garu and a call to gather bushi under a unified banner,
is both rarer and more deliberately planned.
A declaration of war always has a reason behind it,
ranging from a need to claim resources or territory, to
a failure in the courts, to a long-standing grudge hav-
ing reached its boiling point. The reason that provokes
the first troop movements and strategic steps may
be known only to the lord who begins operations, or
it may be obvious to all involved. In either case, the
leader initiating military action usually has a reason for
engaging in battle that they can use as ammunition in
the courts—although this reason may or may not have
anything to do with their actual motivation for conflict.
For example, if a clan knows that a province’s iron
mines are running dry, they might act to seize a neigh-
bor’s mines. The clan would have planned this before
the original mine was played out. The attacking clan
probably would conceal its true strategic objective (the
neighboring iron mine) and would pore over histories
to justify “reclaiming” a village or two near the mines
they wish to possess.
Conditions for Victory
Just as wars do not begin haphazardly, they do not end
without reason. The flames of violence, once ignited, do
not gutter out easily. A war’s end is determined by the
justifications and objectives used to start it. A war dedi-
cated to settling a grievance may end with the death of
a specific enemy lord or general, while reclaiming terri-
tory requires both pushing back enemy forces and for-
tifying the territory to prevent future incursions. During
longer wars, objectives may shift or be added due to
emerging circumstances, and the onset of winter may
interrupt outright hostilities, providing a chance for the
brokering of peace in the courts.
In a Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game
war-themed campaign, the GM should consider what
factors may bring that war to an end. Having a plan
for the war’s conclusion helps the GM set the length of
their campaign. If the game’s story starts during a time
of peace, having victory conditions in mind helps the
GM know when to return the game to its previous style.
In addition, the GM should consider how PCs
might engage with the war based on the combatants’
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Including Wars
In the real world, war is horrific and terrible,
both for the people fighting and the civilians
who are drawn into it. By contrast, Legend of
the Five Rings Roleplaying typically features a
romanticized version of war, with heroes who
are proud to have trained to become soldiers
since birth. Groups who want to include wars
in their campaigns should do so after getting
full buy-in from their players (including the
GM) and after considering what level of real-
ism they want to include.
Some players may be uncomfortable with
detailed descriptions of violence and gore, or
they may be sensitive to descriptions of activ-
ities that typically take place in medical tents
after the battle. Outbreaks of disease and
famine are also by-products of warfare, and
their inclusion can be upsetting. Although
many players may have enjoyed lives of
peace, groups should be considerate of the
fact that they might have real-world refugees
or combat veterans at their table. Discuss
what level of description everyone is comfort-
able with before play.
As always, GMs should discuss the type
of content they plan to include in their cam-
paigns with the players before introducing
that content into the game. Neither players
nor GMs should include content that will
diminish the amount of fun they or others at
the table will have while playing.
strategic objectives and the PCs’ own goals. Some
player groups might be interested in leading mass bat-
tles across enemy territory but have no interest in infil-
trating a castle to take out the leaders of an opposing
force, while the reverse might be true of others.
The Chain of Command
In a war, commanders expect complete obedience from
their troops, and they make specific deployment plans
that they expect to be followed. This provides ready
sources of conflict for PCs who like to go off on their
own, which may lead to harsh consequences for break-
ing orders. Naturally, players may find strict obedience
to their PCs’ commanding officers a limit on their cre-
ativity. However, war’s chaos and limited communica-
tions give players leeway to take more independent

action with their PCs. The PCs may need to be circum-
spect about details to avoid consequences.
A GM can take any number of approaches to let PCs
retain agency in a war-focused campaign. Depending
on the group’s character composition, independent
operations may be entirely appropriate, such as if the
characters hail from a third-party faction that is not (or
not yet) directly involved in the conflict. Similarly, a
party of shinobi should be expected to operate with
a certain freedom of action. Alternatively, the PCs’
commander might be a junior officer or inexperienced
enough to not notice lapses in how subordinates follow
orders. The officer might even be self-aware enough to
acknowledge the PCs’ depth of experience and give
them commensurate loose rein.
Finally, some players enjoy the subterfuge of
accomplishing personal goals alongside official ones,
or won’t mind the strict discipline expected of their
characters in an army. In all cases, communication with
the players about their expectations and interests is
vital to an engaging game.
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CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR
The Courts and the Battlefield
A bushi spends most of their life preparing for war, and
a Legend of the Five Rings campaign focusing on war
puts them in their element. However, players of less
martial characters, especially courtiers, might worry
about their ability to contribute to the group’s success
or about getting a turn in the narrative spotlight. GMs
should keep in mind that centering on a war does not
mean a campaign must focus entirely on mass battles
and skirmishes, or even primarily on conflict scenes.
There are many ways for courtiers, artisans, and others
to contribute to the group’s efforts during wartime. Ele-
ments such as parleys, neutral factions, troop morale
issues, councils of war, and more can bring these social
characters to the forefront. Similarly, the upheaval of
battle might unsettle local kami or other supernatural
elements, giving shugenja and monks time to shine.
GMs who make full use of these opportunities for
alternate approaches to war-focused campaigns should
ensure they stay aware of how players allocate their
XP. A bushi who concentrates entirely on Martial skills
might dominate skirmishes but have little opportunity
to engage elsewhere, just as a courtier who focuses
entirely on Social skills has the reverse problem. If play-
ers are willing to take turns in the spotlight, this can
work well. Alternatively, the GM can advise players to
invest their XP in less archetypal skills, allowing a bushi
to participate in negotiations or a courtier to face down
the angered ghosts of vanquished soldiers.
 C H APT E R 3 : A C T S O F WAR
Opportunities for Glory
PCs have many avenues for distinguishing themselves
during war. Success on the battlefield is an obvious
one, and characters who triumph over difficult foes or
command an army’s successful engagement are likely
to earn glory awards for their victory. These rewards are
especially likely for bushi characters. However, these
are not the only ways PCs can prove their mettle and
worth during a war.
Courtiers might earn glory for negotiating the sur-
render of an enemy army, for securing the release of
hostages taken by the enemy (or concessions for hos-
tages taken by their own side), or for otherwise defus-
ing the danger of war for their allies. Courtiers who trick
the enemy into making mistakes or use rumors at court
to provoke an enemy general into unwise maneuvers
might even win accolades without fighting directly.
Shinobi characters tend to be more infamous than
famous, but even (or especially!) if no one can prove
that they assassinated an enemy leader or sabotaged
a hostile camp, their lord will surely reward them for
their cunning. Shinobi might also find themselves sup-
porting other types of characters covertly, preparing
the way for an attack by bushi or retrieving secret doc-
uments from secure locations and delivering them to
courtiers who can deduce vital information from them.
Artisan characters are critical for supplying the war
effort. Engineers and swordsmiths might support bat-
tlefield operations directly, while painters, poets, and
other creators of more ephemeral works can support
a courtier with gifts and stories to use as leverage in
their negotiations.
Shugenja and monks are rarely at home with war
and violence, but they can nevertheless be vital to
their clan’s success. They may be needed to pacify
the unquiet dead, learn secrets not even shinobi can
uncover, or maintain morale among troops troubled by
the losses of comrades and friends. Whatever sort of
character a player has, the GM should remember to
include ways for them to prove their worth.
Running a War-
Themed Campaign
If a campaign begins with the outbreak of war or
during an extended conflict, then war can inform play
on every level. GMs running such campaigns should
closely consider all aspects covered under Wartime
Considerations, on page 123, but especially the sub-
sections The Cause of War and Conditions for Vic-
tory. Knowing how the war begins and is likely to end
allows the GM to plan a complete narrative arc for the
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game. Even if the PCs change things in unexpected
ways, this preparation gives the GM a starting point
from which they can adjust.
Although a war-themed campaign does not need
to end with the war it focuses on, it is a good idea
to consider the group’s next steps after the war ends.
Characters who were brought together to serve in
war might need a new reason to continue working
with each other in peacetime, and their ninjō and giri
might need to change with new circumstances. GMs
can handle such matters as they come up, or they can
discuss the characters’ next steps between sessions or
during a hiatus after the war’s completion. Of course,
if the PCs were instrumental in their side’s victory, it
might make sense to just end on a high note and start
a new campaign!
Integrating War into
an Ongoing Campaign
Campaigns that do not focus primarily on war can still
incorporate the drama and conflict a wartime narrative
provides. However, GMs who veer into such territory
mid-campaign should be aware of how this can change
the tone at their table. They should be sure to review
The Chain of Command (page 124) and The Courts
and the Battlefield (page 125), as military conflict
is likely to change characters’ duties and the party
dynamic in terms of narrative spotlight.
While a war can be an interesting result of existing
narrative arcs, or an engaging way to create an unex-
pected complication, GMs should ensure that the out-
break of war fits with players’ expectations. Suddenly
altering the course of a campaign can feel disruptive
and unfun. As such, the GM should balance the new
elements of war with the campaign’s existing themes
so that players can continue to engage with something
familiar. For example, the onset of interclan conflict can
mean familiar NPCs become allies, enemies, or any-
thing in between, but existing relationships should still
influence how they interact with the PCs.
The history built up before a war can also influ-
ence how characters respond when they must battle
longtime friends or request aid from bitter rivals. Sim-
ilarly, once the war is over and the normal flow of the
campaign resumes, players and NPCs alike might find
it difficult to trust those who were trying to kill them
just a season before—a conflict that can drive great
samurai drama.

Outfitting an Army
Preparation is the key to a successful military deploy-
ment. Failure to prepare, even in small respects, can
lead to an army’s defeat and even destruction. Prepa-
ration falls under two broad categories. First, troops
must be equipped with the items most directly neces-
sary for combat, ranging from weapons and armor to
the communication equipment leaders need to exer-
cise effective command and control. Second, armies
require the logistical necessities that allow troops to
remain on the march and in the field—such as food,
water, maintenance supplies for weapons and armor,
and medical supplies for dealing with injuries.
Equipping for Battle
To fight effectively, armies must have adequate equip-
ment and supplies from the following key categories.
Weapons
In Rokugan, most samurai already own the paired
blades of a daishō: the longer katana and the shorter
wakizashi. These are deadly weapons, but they are usu-
ally secondary weapons on the battlefield, where bows
and polearms offer extra reach. Further, many samurai
are hesitant to wield ancestral weapons in the chaos of
open battle, where they can become broken or lost.
Most samurai still carry their daishō, should the oppor-
tunity for single combat with another leader arise. For
honor, for their clan, or simply to save the lives of their
troops, samurai will put aside other weapons to cross
blades when challenged in the midst of battle.
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CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR
Many samurai, and all of the ashigaru, wield more
basic weapons in battle. The iconic weapons of a
Rokugani army are spears and some types of polearms,
because they are suited to massed ranks of troops.
Beyond their extra reach and their ability to present a
threat in tight formations, spears and certain polearms
are inexpensive to make quickly and in large num-
bers, and they are relatively low maintenance. Further,
troops with limited training can be drilled to effec-
tiveness with spears in a short period of time. More
specialized weapons, such as bows, longer spears,
and oversized swords for fighting cavalry, can also be
obtained, though they require more training to use and
more resources to manufacture.
Many clans have even more specialized weapons
for particular circumstances. Crab warriors wield a vari-
ety of heavy weapons, such as hammers and clubs, to
crack open the chitinous carapaces of the Shadow-
lands monstrosities they face. They also favor weapons
inlaid with jade, a sacred substance inimical to Tainted
beings. Likewise, troops expected to fight aboard
ships, or to engage in other close-quarters combat,
employ compact weapons. These are often adapted
from more mundane tools, such as the kama, a small
sickle used by farmers, and the tonfa, a club derived
from the handle of a millstone.
 C H APT E R 3 : A C T S O F WAR
Armor
Just as they typically own a daishō, most samurai also
possess armor. However, while daishō are generally
reserved for single combat, armor is viewed in a more
utilitarian way. Many samurai wear even very valuable
armor, with a lengthy history of family ownership, in the
midst of heavy melee. A warrior must wear their armor
regularly to maintain their ability to fight in it. More-
over, ancestral armor is believed to provide samurai
with their ancestors’ protection and guidance. More
pragmatically, a samurai can be recognized by the
armor they wear, enhancing their glory and reputation
in battle.
However, few of the ashigaru who make up the bulk
of Rokugani armies own armor. Even some samurai
need their lord to provide it, especially if they have not
inherited any. Other samurai simply deem most armor
too cumbersome in the swirl of melee combat, espe-
cially the heaviest of armors, such as ō-yoroi. Samurai
employed in scouting, skirmishing, and archery roles
favor light armor, as they value mobility over protec-
tion, and mounted samurai require armor suited for use
on horseback.
Accordingly, clan armorers produce a variety of
light- and medium-weight armor designed to be quick
and easy to make with readily available materials, as
well as to be simple to maintain. Such armor may incor-
porate wood, bamboo, and stiffened, laminated layers
of linen or other cloth. While lighter armor does not
provide the same degree of protection as more elabo-
rate and sophisticated heavy armor, it may offer a bet-
ter balance of defense and encumbrance for its wearer.
Mounts
Mounts play three primary roles in Rokugani military
forces. These are:
$ Carrying their riders directly onto the battle-
field, so these samurai can engage in battle
while mounted, as cavalry.
$ Carrying their riders to the edge of battle,
where the riders dismount to fight. This use
of mounted infantry often also includes com-
manders and their staff, who need mounted
mobility to observe and direct the flow
of battle.
$ Carrying troops on support missions, like scout-
ing or foraging ahead of the army, or pulling
wagons full of supplies and injured soldiers.
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For the first role, most Rokugani ponies are unsuit-
able; they lack the stature and strength to be good
cavalry mounts, and they lack the temperament to be
ridden into harm’s way. They are, however, well suited
as infantry mounts (and as beasts of burden if other
animals aren’t available to fill that role). Prior to the
Ki-Rin’s return to the Empire as the Unicorn Clan, cav-
alry essentially did not exist in Rokugan. The Unicorn
brought with them several breeds of horses, including
fast, powerful, and much larger animals ideal for use
as cavalry mounts. The descendants of some of these
horses became the basis for cavalry forces among all of
the other clans. The purest and most robust bloodlines,
such as the famous Utaku steeds, are an exception;
the Unicorn stubbornly reserve these for themselves.
On the rare occasions they do offer these magnificent
animals to those outside their clan—as gifts, for exam-
ple—they are normally gelded, so they cannot breed.
For the last role, that of beasts of burden, Rokugani
employ a variety of animals, including donkeys, mules,
oxen, and water buffalo, animals suited to labor that
favors strength and stamina over speed.
Fortifications
Rokugani armies make liberal use of defensive devices
in battle. Most common are large, freestanding shields,
usually made of light wood or wicker, that provide con-
cealment and limited cover against enemy archery. An
army invested in a longer fight often deploys support
troops to build earthworks and palisades from stone,
earth, wood, and other materials found on-site. Build-
ing these requires appropriate tools, like axes, picks,
shovels, and hammers—as well as laborers who must
be protected from enemy archery and spoiling raids.
Occasionally, armies build even more elaborate
field fortifications, including walls and towers, also
often constructed from local materials. However, these
fortifications may instead be partly or entirely pre-
fabricated, then transported in manageable sections
and assembled wherever needed. The shiro-chi—
essentially a small wooden castle—may be carried
and deployed in this manner. Such elaborate works
are only used during large campaigns and sieges of
enemy fortifications.
 CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR

Special Items and Equipment Food and Water

Armies employ a variety of specialized equipment
chosen to match the expected terrain, seasonal condi-
tions, and tactics used by the enemy.
Command and Control
Commanding an army in battle requires communica-
tion more robust than the commander’s voice. War
fans, horns, drums, flags, and banners—and more
exotic devices such as signaling mirrors, firework-like
colored rockets, smoke pots, smoke arrows, and carrier
pigeons—are all tools that a skilled commander may
use to wield their army like a surgical instrument rather
than an armed mob.
Siege Weapons
Rokugani military doctrine avoids protracted sieges.
Commanders instead prefer direct assault of forti-
fications. Ladders and battering rams are useful on
the assault, while more challenging fortifications may
require more elaborate siege weapons, such as cata-
pults, stone throwers, and siege towers. No clan has
more experience with siege engines than the Crab,
who must use them against monstrous Shadowlands
creatures attacking the Kaiu Wall.
Soldiers expend a great deal of energy marching to
and then fighting in battles. Accordingly, they require
adequate supplies of food and potable water to sus-
tain them as they exert themselves. Much of Rokugan
is bountiful with plant and animal life, so some of these
needs can be met by foraging for food, water, and tim-
ber for fuel and construction. However, this takes time
and runs risks. Parties of foragers who roam ahead of
the army can alert the enemy about their own army’s
intentions and positions. Further, although pillaging
farms and villages isn’t uncommon for an army, it is
considered a last resort, since ownership of these same
farms and villages is often a key objective of conflicts
in the first place.
As a result, most armies carry the bulk of their food
and water with them. Each soldier carries at least a
day’s worth of food, while the rest is transported in a
baggage train, located near the rear of the army’s col-
umn of march, where it can be protected.
The food an army travels with must be relatively
easy to transport and store and resistant to spoilage.
Rice, oats, and millet are the bulk of what soldiers eat,
livened up with dried vegetables and salted fish. Each
soldier requires a minimum of about a quarter kan
(roughly two pounds) of food per day.

Other Equipment
Sometimes, the needs of a campaign require even
more specialized equipment, often dictated by ter-
rain or weather. Armies need boats, barges, and pon-
toon bridges to cross rivers and other bodies of water,
and they need ropes and climbing gear for traversing
mountainous terrain. A late fall campaign may catch
the enemy by surprise, but could require cold-weather
gear and heavier tents, while extremely rare instances
of winter battles require sledges and other equipment
for crossing snow.

Sustaining the Army

More armies are defeated by logistics than by battle
casualties. Armies require food and water for soldiers,
fodder for animals, materials and support for equip-
ment maintenance and repair, and medical support
for injured personnel. Denial of any of these things to
an enemy can bring a victory without combat. Conse-
quently, a skilled commander always knows where their
supply train is and assigns reliable troops to keep that
supply train safe.

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 C H APT E R 3 : A C T S O F WAR
Further, a soldier on the march typically requires at
least two sho (around three and a half quarts) of water
per day, and more in hot weather. Because water is
heavy and cumbersome to transport, armies draw sig-
nificant portions of their requirements from streams,
lakes, and rivers along their line of march. When possi-
ble, they boil this water to ensure it doesn’t make per-
sonnel good strategist will look at the map, estimate
how far an army can move in a day, and lay ambushes
or place scouts at streams and other bodies of water.
The management and distribution of food and
water is the purview of quartermasters, who are some-
times samurai, but may also be heimin. Quartermas-
ters and their subordinates normally accompany the
baggage train, engaging in combat only to protect the
vital commodities they supervise.
Consumable Supplies
In addition to food and water, armies consume large
volumes of material supplies. Foremost among these
is fuel. Wood, coke, or charcoal is used for cooking,
watch fires, and portable forges for repairs. In addition
to candles, lanterns fueled with oil made from animal
fats provide illumination.
Timber, which requires foraging, is needed for pal-
isades and on-site construction. Artisans, who accom-
pany the quartermaster, need the raw materials of their
trades, which include making candles, rope, and wicker
as well as repairing barrels and wagons. Artisans may
also supplement stocks of expendable weapons and
ammunition by crafting spears and arrows.
Additionally, armies require a wide array of mis-
cellaneous goods to replace unrepairable, worn-out,
and lost items. These include articles of clothing, both
under- and outerwear; socks, sandals, and other foot-
wear; headgear; and packs, satchels, and cases of
different types.
Maintenance
Soldiers are expected to carry out routine maintenance
on their own weapons, basic armor, and equipment
to ensure they are ready for battle; harsh punishment
awaits those who let their gear fall into disrepair. How-
ever, some types of damage and wear exceed soldiers’
ability to fix. This is particularly true of more complex
weapons, such as swords, and more sophisticated
types of armor. An army’s artisans repair such items
using specialized tools, and when repair is not possible,
the quartermaster stores might have replacements.
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Medical Support
The most effective means of treating and healing inju-
ries is through the elemental invocations of shugenja.
However, shugenja are rare and conducting invocations
is too demanding for armies to rely solely on this type
of treatment. Healing by shugenja is normally reserved
for important and high-ranking individuals. The vast
majority of soldiers must expect to receive more mun-
dane treatment for their wounds.
To that end, Rokugani armies have medics: individ-
uals skilled in medical procedures to treat wounds and
care for the injured and ill. In battle, soldiers too injured
to continue fighting must make their way to the army’s
rear for treatment; unfortunately, those too badly
wounded to do so usually must wait until the battle
has ended to receive aid. Armies have made attempts
to employ commoners as litter bearers to evacuate the
wounded during battle, but with only some success;
the danger and confusion of battle makes most such
efforts impractical.
Medics and their assisting staff treat the wounded
by administering opium-based painkillers; cleaning,
stitching, and bandaging wounds; and when this is not
sufficient, amputating injured limbs. Soldiers too badly
injured to return to duty are evacuated to the nearest
friendly village or town. This spares the army the effect
on morale when soldiers see their comrades suffering
from grievous wounds and missing limbs—or dying of
infections—when there is little they can do to help.
Mobility Support
Moving an army across the countryside may entail sig-
nificant challenges, as it may need to cross rivers or
traverse rugged and difficult terrain. For assistance,
an army sometimes conscripts local commoners as
laborers—under the supervision of engineers or sap-
pers (specialists in field fortifications or demolitions)—
to construct roads through forests, clear trails in the
mountains, run ferries across rivers, or build bridges.
Depending on the nature and objectives of a cam-
paign, these contingents can be very large, with con-
siderable baggage and supply trains of their own.
 CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR

New Titles Using the

The courts of Rokugan like to reward remarkable Impe-
Ashigaru Title
rial citizens with prestigious titles reflecting their glori- The Ashigaru title is not likely to be earned
ous deeds and honorable souls. The various positions by many Great Clan samurai. However, there
within a Rokugani army require titles as well. The fol- are a few types of characters for whom it is
lowing new titles follow the rules described on page extremely useful:
305 of the core rulebook.
$ Peasants and other characters in a Rise
Ashigaru from the Dust campaign (see page 306
of the core rulebook).
Though samurai represent the pinnacle of martial
prowess in Rokugan, even the mightiest among them
$ Ronin, gaijin, and others made using
can be felled by a wall of yari or a cloud of arrows. the rules from Path of Waves.
Ashigaru, soldiers from the peasant class, make up the $ Disgraced samurai, or samurai traveling
front line of Great Clan armies, surrounding samurai in disguise as commoners.
who stray too far from their own lines or turning the
tide in wars of attrition.
For some, ashigaru is a temporary title granted in A Thousand Stinging Cuts (Title Ability): When you
times of necessity. For others it is a death sentence. provide assistance (see page 26 of the core rulebook)
But for many peasant soldiers, serving as an ashigaru on the Martial Arts [Melee] Attack action check of
is a career, an honor, and a way to better their status another character at range 0–2, the character you are
in life by entering the lowest rung of the buke class. assisting treats their target’s physical resistance as 1
Some of the Great Clans, including the Lion, offer bet- lower for each assisting character with this ability.
ter training and equipment to their foot soldiers than
other clans do, as well as more recognition. An ashi-
Ashigaru
garu who serves with distinction can gain a small share
of the glory of battle, and even be called up to perma-
ADVANCE TYPE
nently serve as a guard or scout. It is not uncommon
for ashigaru families to serve a daimyō across multiple Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
generations, having found pride and purpose in their Courtesy Skill
service.
Command Skill
Assigned by: Any samurai officer. You must survive at
TITLE

least one mass battle to receive this title. Survival Skill

Glory Award: +5 (to a maximum of 29) = Rank 1–2 Kata  Tech. Grp.
Status Award: +3 (to a maximum of 19) = Thicket’s Embrace Style  Technique
XP to Completion: 20
= Slippery Maneuvers  Technique

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 Deathseeker
Some call them Deathseekers because these
samurai appear to charge headlong toward their
deaths, heedless of any danger. Others believe that
the mantle of Deathseeker is a punishment for those
who have failed their lords. On the contrary, the
Deathseeker tradition is a type of warrior’s pilgrimage
undertaken voluntarily by Lion Clan samurai who have
suffered failure or disgrace and who wish to redeem
themselves through action. Those who walk this path
of atonement take on the burden of greatest risk so
that other samurai might be spared, but they try to sur-
vive as long as possible to continue serving their clans.
KIRIFU, THE FIRST
The Deathseeker tradition is controversial even
DEATHSEEKER within the Lion Clan, and not all lords will allow their
samurai to take Kirifu’s oath, as it is called. Those who
For more information on do become Deathseekers forsake their previous station
the Deathseeker tradition,
and relinquish their titles and belongings, including
see page 52.
daishō. They paint their faces ghostly white to inspire
fear in their enemies.
Assigned by: Disgraced Lion Clan samurai may take this
title upon themselves, pending approval from the GM.
Status Award: –25 (to a minimum of 20)
XP to Completion: 8
Immediate Effects: You give up any positions you hold
and your worldly possessions, save one weapon and a
set of ceremonial robes, are returned to your family.
Kirifu’s Oath (Title Ability): As a Support action, you
may suffer the Enraged condition (see page 272 of the
core rulebook).
While you are Enraged, you can perform Attack
actions even while Incapacitated.
Elemental Guard
Although all shugenja know the spiritual risks of invok-
ing the elemental kami on the battlefield, there are
some threats that are so grave, such as those posed by
the Shadowlands, that the Council of Elemental Mas-
ters sanction the formation of shugenja units in battle.
During these times, the Elemental Guards of Air, Earth,
Fire, and Water are called upon to protect the Empire.
Each Guard specializes in a particular element, joining
their voices together in prayer to call forth hurricanes,
earthquakes, wildfires, and tsunami.
Assigned by: An Elemental Master.
Glory Award: +10
Status Award: +10
XP to Completion: 20
Wrath of the Elements (Title Ability): Choose one:
Air, Earth, Fire, or Water. This is your elemental spe-
cialty. Once per scene after making a Martial skill
check that uses the ring of your elemental specialty,
you may inflict an amount of strife or panic equal to
your ranks in the ring associated with your elemental
specialty against a target at range 0–3 or a cohort in
the scene.

Deathseeker Elemental Guard

ADVANCE TYPE ADVANCE TYPE

Martial Skills Skl. Grp. Martial Skills Skl. Grp.

Courtesy Skill Command Skill
Labor Skill Government Skill
TITLE

TITLE

Theology Skill Medicine Skill

= Rank 1–3 Kata  Tech. Grp. = Beseech Shiba’s Calm  Technique
= A Samurai’s Fate  Technique = Tactical Assessment  Technique
= Moment of Glory  Technique = Warrior’s Resolve  Technique

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Elemental Legionnaire
Although the shugenja of the Elemental Guards can
call forth the very fury of nature, their complex invo-
cations leave them vulnerable to attack. In battle, the
Elemental Legions of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water are
sworn to protect their corresponding Elemental Guard.
Assigned by: A daimyō of the Shiba family or the
Phoenix Clan Champion, with permission from a mem-
ber of the Elemental Council.
Glory Award: +10
Status Award: +10
XP to Completion: 24
Strength of the Elements (Title Ability): Choose one:
Air, Earth, Fire, or Water. This is your elemental spe-
cialty. Once per scene after making a Martial skill
check that uses the ring of your elemental specialty,
you and a number of targets at range 0–3 (or other
cohort leaders in the scene) up to your ranks in Com-
mand may remove strife equal to your ranks in the ring
associated with your elemental specialty.
Elemental Legionnaire
ADVANCE TYPE
Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Command Skill
Medicine Skill
TITLE
Smithing Skill
= Rank 1–3 Kata Matsu samurai. Membership must be offered by the
 Tech. Grp.
= Great Anvil’s Measure  Technique
= Moment of Glory  Technique
General
The pinnacle of military command, a general serves as
the mastermind behind all aspects of their army, seeing
the will of their daimyō done through intricate planning
and masterful stratagems. But there is more to a gener-
al’s duties. A general must lead by example; the expec-
tations they have of their troops must be mirrored in
their own actions. Their voice must electrify the souls of
those under their command, inspiring them to charge
enthusiastically to what may be their deaths. Their
combat mastery must be without flaw. Their decorum
and personal honor must be beyond reproach.
Though it is a high honor to be given command,
it can also be burdensome. Leadership is often a
weary, isolating task. On their shoulders rest the
will of their lord and the security of their homeland.
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CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR
Assigned by: A clan or family daimyō with a status of
60 or higher, often following a great military achieve-
ment by the character.
Glory Award: +10
Status Award: +25 (to a maximum of 85)
XP to Completion: 50
Superior Command (Title Ability): While you are the
commander of an army during a mass battle, your army’s
discipline value is increased by your ranks in Command.
Additionally, when making an Initiative check during a
mass battle, increase the result by your ranks in Tactics.
General
ADVANCE TYPE
Social Skills Skl. Grp.
Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Government Skill
TITLE
Survival Skill
= Rank 1–2 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Rank 1–3 Rituals  Technique
= Rank 1–4 Shūji  Technique
Lion’s Pride Warrior
Descended from a group of bandits who broke away
from their gangs and followed Lady Matsu after she
reformed, the Lion’s Pride is among the most renowned
matriarchs of the unit, and only the most elite Matsu
samurai are permitted to join.
The Lion’s Pride are functionally a small family unto
themselves. In a communal keep located at Bishomen
Seidō, they live together, train together, and share the
lessons of their founder. They choose which battles they
fight, and on whose side; not even daimyō can compel
them, so their presence in an army is considered a sign
of the general’s rectitude. In battle they fight as one, an
unstoppable force of the Matsu family’s best and bright-
est. Their martial deeds fill the Ikoma histories, and they
are famous throughout Rokugan for their victories.
Assigned by: An existing member of the Lion’s Pride.
Glory Award: +10
Status Award: +20 (to a maximum of 59)
XP to Completion: 24
Fury of Matsu (Title Ability): Once per scene, when
you deal damage to a target or deal attrition to an
enemy leader’s cohort, increase the damage or attri-
tion by an amount equal to the difference between
your honor rank and the target’s honor rank.
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Lion’s Pride Warrior Poet of War

ADVANCE TYPE In battle, a force’s morale can be of greater impor-
tance than their armament. A troop in high spirits
Martial Skills Skl. Grp. works more cohesively as a group, resists the terror
Command Skill of battle, and attacks with the strength and ferocity
Sentiment Skill of a much larger force. Generals value the ability of
TITLE

bards to put fire into the veins of their warriors, and

Survival Skill
will often bring criers, heralds, and signalers with their
= Rank 1–3 Kata  Tech. Grp. army into battle—individuals called “poets of war”
= A Samurai’s Fate  Technique in the famous third century poem of the same name
= Battle of No Escape  Technique by Akodo Shunryu. The most brave and dedicated
bards in the Empire, they demonstrate as much feroc-
ity on the battlefield as any warrior, and have drunk
Master Saboteur deep the military histories of Rokugan, absorbing
centuries of combat lore into their very being. During
Akodo wrote that destroying fortifications mostly
battle, they charge forth with the samurai, screaming
serves the satisfaction of generals who have had to
legends of their accomplished ancestors across the
besiege them, for earthworks should, when possible,
field, steeling the souls of the warriors around them.
be captured intact. However, the Kami of warfare knew
Assigned by: A general or other officer with status 50
the value of disabling key defenses to make fortresses
or higher.
indefensible, and wrote extensively of the use of sap-
Glory Award: +10 (to a maximum of 55)
pers. To this day in Rokugan, sappers remain a critical
XP to Completion: 20
part of most battles near fortifications, for an extended
The Hand of Our Ancestors (Title Ability): After you
siege can easily ruin an entire campaign. Each gen-
perform a successful Rally action, the targeted cohort
eration of saboteurs trains the next, and only once a
deals 1 additional attrition when its leader performs a
trainee has proven themselves in front of a number of
successful Attack action check. This effect persists for
their mentors are they accepted as a peer.
one round.
Assigned by: Three other master saboteurs, who
are usually members of a general’s command staff
or found leading specialized clandestine units. Poet of War
Status Award: None
XP to Completion: 40 ADVANCE TYPE
Ender of Works (Title Ability): When a fortification’s dif- Social Skills Skl. Grp.
ficulty value would be reduced during a mass battle, the
Composition Skill
value is lowered by that amount plus your ranks in Labor
instead. If there is a cohort occupying it, that cohort’s Culture Skill
TITLE

army suffers panic equal to your ranks in Skulduggery. Sentiment Skill

= Rank 1–2 Fire Shūji  Tech. Grp.
Master Saboteur = Borrowed Courage  Technique
= Coursing March Chant  Technique
ADVANCE TYPE

Trade Skills Skl. Grp.

Government Skill
Martial Arts [Unarmed] Skill
TITLE

Medicine Skill
= Rank 1–2 Ninjutsu  Tech. Grp.
= Imbue Thunder  Technique
= Wreak Havoc  Technique

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Quartermaster Renowned Warrior

It is no secret that a well-supplied army will defeat an
ill-equipped one nearly every time. An army can lose
before a single sword is drawn, defeated by logisti-
cal delays resulting in hunger or inadequate shelter.
It is the heavy responsibility of the quartermaster to
ensure that their fellow soldiers have access to food,
water, weapons, armor, and anything else required
by terrain, weather, or circumstances of war. The
quartermaster must have an organized, efficient
mind and steely determination to acquire everything
needed for their army. This is especially true when
the army travels through enemy territory or con-
ducts a prolonged siege. Though a quartermaster
may not share in the immediate, bloody glory of the
soldiers at the front, every general knows who else
they owe credit to at the end of a successful battle.
Assigned by: Clan or castle daimyō, army general, or
other officer of sufficient rank.
Status Award: +5 (to a maximum of 35)
XP to Completion: 24
Procurement and Supply (Title Ability): When
you make a check as a downtime activity to pro-
vision an army, you may spend  as follows:
+: If you succeed, your army increases its discipline
and strength each by 1 per  spent this way. This effect
persists until the end of the next mass battle scene.
Quartermaster
Most samurai who serve on the battlefield are not
driven by a desire for monetary recompense, but this
does not mean that they are not motivated by rewards.
Recognition by one’s daimyō or commander is highly
sought-after, and a choice word of praise from an indi-
vidual of sufficient influence can spread quickly through
a province or even across the entire Empire.
Assigned by: A daimyō or army commander with
status 60 or higher after you have been part of
a mass battle in which your cohort was the one
to complete at least one strategic objective.
Glory Award: +5
Status Award: +5 (to a maximum of 40)
XP to Completion: 16
Behold the Legend (Title Ability): Once per scene,
after you make a successful Martial Arts check that
inflicts fatigue or a critical strike on the target, you may
have each friendly character at range 0–3 of you or the
target remove an amount of strife equal to the TN of
the check.
Renowned Warrior
ADVANCE TYPE
Martial Skills Skl. Grp.
Command Skill
Culture Skill
TITLE

Performance Skill
ADVANCE TYPE
= Rank 1–2 Kata  Tech. Grp.
Trade Skills Skl. Grp. = Heartpiercing Strike  Technique
Courtesy Skill = Righteous Example  Technique
Government Skill
TITLE

Tactics Skill
= Rank 1–2 Air Shūji  Tech. Grp.
= Rank 1–2 Water Shūji  Tech. Grp.
= Fortress of Necessity  Technique

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QUOTES FROM
AKODO’S LEADERSHIP
Spirit Caller
Many in Rokugan venerate their ancestors and call
“I borrow my name from upon their wisdom through prayer or by studying
my ancestors. I must re-
turn it to them unharmed.
writings left by the departed. A blessed few have the
I borrow my honor from ability to reach through the veil of the Spirit Realms
my descendants. In sham- and make direct contact with their ancestors. Best
ing myself, I shame them exemplified by those of the Kitsu family bloodline,
as well.”
these gifted individuals can speak to a shiryō (blessed
ancestor spirit) or, through extensive training, allow
the soul of the departed to enter their body and
speak through them. While bonded in this way, they
can perceive the memories of this venerated ancestor,
and in turn, the spirit may look again into the Mortal
Realm and impart words of wisdom to those in need.
Through the Spirit Caller, an entire family’s knowledge
and skills from time immemorial can be accessed, and
secrets thought long lost can again be brought to light.
Assigned by: An instructor of a Kitsu school or other
appropriate spiritual leader.
Status Award: +15 (to a maximum of 40)
XP to Completion: 38
Eyes of the Ancestors (Title Ability): Once per game
session as a Support action, you may spend 1 Void
point to summon the spirit of an ancestor to partially
possess you until the end of the scene. Choose a ring
and a skill from that ancestor’s profile; while possessed,
you count as an Otherworldly being and use your
ancestor’s ring value and skill rank in place of your own,
as well as your ancestor’s honor value. Your ancestor
can use any non-unique human NPC profile (or a kit-
su’s or other supernatural being’s profile, if your char-
acter has such an ancestor). The higher of this NPC’s
 conflict rank and  conflict rank cannot exceed
your school rank plus your ranks in Meditation. While
you are possessed, the ancestor spirit may divulge per-
tinent information at the GM’s discretion. Afterward,
your character will have only a hazy memory of any-
thing they experienced while possessed.
Spirit Caller
ADVANCE TYPE
Scholar Skills Skl. Grp.
Courtesy Skill
Meditation Skill
TITLE
Performance Skill
= Rank 1–2 Rituals  Tech. Grp.
= Ancestry Unearthed  Technique
= Preserve Strength  Technique
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Sumai Master
Many samurai, especially of the Badger and Crab
Clans, practice sumai, a test of physical and mental
strength. Sumai can become an important part of a
samurai’s life, not only as a way to demonstrate their
prowess to their fellow samurai, but also as a connec-
tion to the very spirit of their clan. True masters of the
art are some of the finest duelists in the Empire. Their
skills can fell opponents in matches and enemies on
battlefields alike.
Assigned by: An existing sumai master, once you have
proven your ability to them.
Glory Award: +10 (to a maximum of 50)
Status Award: +10 (to a minimum of 35)
XP to Completion: 30
Unsurpassed Soul (Title Ability): When you make a Mar-
tial Arts [Unarmed] check targeting another character, if
your Void ring is higher than or equal to your target’s Void
ring, reduce the TN by 2 (to a minimum of 1).
Sumai Master
ADVANCE TYPE
Social Skills Skl. Grp.
Culture Skill
Martial Arts [Unarmed] Skill
TITLE
Theology Skill
= Rank 1–2 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Beseech Hida’s Might  Technique
= Fierce Badger Style  Technique
Sword-Saint
The kensei, or sword-saint, is a living master of the
sword whose preternatural skills are hailed through-
out the Empire. While kenshinzen duelists epitomize
the highest level of iaidō, the sword-saint embodies
the purest form of kenjutsu, or swordsmanship more
broadly. To witness a single strike of a kensei is to expe-
rience a moment of spiritual clarity—their bond with
their blade is considered sacred. A true sword-saint
might come along once per generation, and past prec-
edent maintains that only one person may bear the title
at a given time. Students of the Heart of the Katana
dōjō in Lion lands devote their lives to the sword with
the hope of one day being anointed as a sword-saint.
Assigned by: A clan champion or the Emperor. Alter-
nately, the title can be assigned by an existing sword-
saint who is slain by the character in an honorable duel
to the death.
 CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR

Glory Award: +20 (to a maximum of 100)

XP to Completion: 24 War College Graduate
Invincible Blade (Title Ability): When you perform an The Lion Clan contains many of the finest tacticians in the
Attack or Support action check that uses a sword, you Emerald Empire. But even among this formidable pool
may spend  as follows: of military minds, there are the elite: the graduates of
Void +: Reduce the severity of the next critical strike the Akodo War College. The oldest military institution in
you would suffer (before your Fitness check to resist) by Rokugan, the Akodo War College has a curriculum based
your ranks in Meditation plus 1 per  spent this way. on the philosophies of Akodo, refined over one thou-
This effect persists until the start of your next turn. sand years to near perfection. The academy is especially
Any  : Increase the base damage and deadliness renowned for its instruction concerning mass warfare and
of your weapon by 3. This effect persists until the leading armies. Students endure rigid structure and gru-
end of the scene. If you activate this  multiple times eling training drills year-round, honing their bodies and
during a scene, the effect is cumulative (add together minds with studies of battle, siegecraft, and Bushidō. By
all increases you have applied this scene with this ). the end of their training, the graduates of the Akodo War
College are impeccable leaders and immaculate war-
Sword-Saint riors, paragons bred for one purpose: victory.
Assigned by: An instructor at the Akodo War College.
ADVANCE TYPE Glory Award: +5 (to a maximum of 60)
Status Award: +10 (to a maximum of 40)
Martial Arts [Melee] Skill
XP to Completion: 36
Meditation Skill Learned from History (Title Ability): During a mass
Smithing Skill battle, when you accrue 1 or more momentum points
toward the Draw Them In or Seize Victory strategic
Tactics Skill
TITLE

objective, you accrue that many momentum points plus

= Rank 1–5 Close
Tech. Grp. 1 instead. Additionally, if your action completes that
Combat Kata 
strategic objective, the enemy army receives additional
= Soul Sunder  Technique casualties and panic equal to your ranks in Tactics.
= Victory Without
Technique
a Sword  War College Graduate
ADVANCE TYPE

Martial Skills Skl. Grp.

Command Skill
Culture Skill
TITLE

Government Skill
= Rank 1–3 Kata  Tech. Grp.
= Rank 1–3 Shūji  Technique
= Beseech Akodo’s
Technique
Judgement 

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Spending Opportunity
honor, glory, or merely survival, samurai at war must
make use of every weapon in their arsenal.
GMs running war-focused games may use Table

in Times of War 3–9: Spending Opportunity in Mass Battles to give

players additional means of spending  in their games,
or as inspiration for new options of their devising. The
The unprepared rarely survive war, and only those with
table focuses on the rules for Mass Battles found on
the drive to seize an advantage when it presents itself
page 274 of the core rulebook, but similar results could
thrive amid war’s chaos and danger. Whether driven by
be used in other types of conflict scenes.

Table 3–9: Spending Opportunity in Mass Battles

COST OPPORTUNITY

Choose an allied leader other than yourself. Reduce the TN of that leader’s next check
Air +
for a Scheme action by 1 per  spent this way. This persists until the end of the scene.

Choose a leader in a fortification. That leader’s cohort loses the benefits of the fortifica-
Air  
tion until the beginning of your next turn.

Earth + Remove 1 panic from your army per  spent this way.

Choose an allied leader other than yourself. That leader’s cohort cannot be targeted by
Earth  
Attack actions until the beginning of your next turn.

Fire + The enemy army suffers 1 panic per  spent this way.

When performing an Attack action against the cohort of an enemy leader with vigilance
Fire + lower than or equal to  spent this way, after its effects are resolved, inflict a critical
strike with severity equal to the deadliness of one of your weapons on that leader.

Choose an allied leader other than yourself. Reduce the TN of that leader’s next check
Water +
for a Movement action by 1 per  spent this way.

Choose an enemy leader. That leader’s cohort cannot perform Movement actions until
Water  
the beginning of your next turn.

Void + Your army and each enemy army suffer 2 attrition per  spent this way.

When you perform a Support action, after its effects are resolved, you may immediately
Void  
perform a Challenge action targeting an enemy cohort’s leader.

Void   Increase the army’s strength and discipline by 3. This persists until the end of the scene.

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 CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR

Table 3–10: Spending Opportunity in Contested Territory QUOTES FROM

AKODO’S LEADERSHIP

COST OPPORTUNITY “There is no greater

strength, no greater
You discern subtle signs of incoming trouble and can take steps to avoid it. The next resource, than those who
Air  time you enter a conflict scene this session, you may add a kept die showing  to share your bloodline.
your Initiative check. A family’s abilities can
be harnessed in war to
You create a clever disguise or ruse to get the jump on potential foes. The next time tremendous effect—and
Air   you enter a conflict scene this game session, after Initiative has been determined, should be.”
or    choose one character in the scene. On that character’s next check, they must reroll all
results containing  symbols.

Not even the chaos of war or the strangeness of foreign lands can faze you. Reduce
Earth  the TN of the next check you make to deal with an unfamiliar situation or opponent
by 1.

You hold fast to the thought of home while in distant locales and dangerous situa-
Earth 
tions. You may remove 1 strife for each condition you are currently suffering.

A clever theory fills in the gaps in your knowledge. You may immediately attempt a
Fire   Scholar skill check of your choice to learn about your current situation or an NPC who
is present, lowering the TN by 1 (to a minimum of 1).

As you incite your allies to great fervor, any number of them may remove 1 strife for
Fire + each  you spend. For each character affected, you receive 1 strife as you let your
passion overtake you.

Your charm wins over even enemies. For each   spent, one hostile character within
the scene becomes friendlier toward you. What exactly that means depends on con-
Water  +
text—it may defuse an imminent conflict, or encourage your foes to try to take you
alive, but it won’t stop bloodshed altogether once blades have been drawn.

With cunning, you flow smoothly from one conclusion to the next. You learn of one
Water   key feature, fortification, or terrain quality present in the surrounding area, and
whether or not enemies have passed through recently.

In all things, one can find balance, even in a duel of words or blades. You and a hos-
Void + tile character of the GM’s choice in the same scene each recover 2 strife for each 
spent in this way.

You find serenity amid adversity. You discover a neutral meeting place, protective
Void  
legal precedent, or similar safe haven applicable to your situation.

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 C H APT E R 3 : A C T S O F WAR

Tenets of Bushidō: Honor Defining Honor

Samurai are defined by their honor; Bushidō literally
means “way of the warrior.” A samurai’s honor refuses
to let them be anything less than courageous on
the battlefield and refined in times of peace. Honor
devotes a samurai to a purpose, a lord, and an ideal
that they serve and protect even unto death. It is a
quest for perfection in all things physical and spiritual.
The honor of a samurai has etched out a place for them
in history, one that elevates them from the designation
of warrior to the status of legend.
The Empire of Rokugan depends upon this legend
to flourish. Dangers loom on every horizon, with for-
eign threats from the north and from the eastern sea,
and the hellish nightmares of the Shadowlands crawl-
ing up from the south. Clan division or a peasant upris-
ing could tear the Empire apart in the blink of an eye.
Honor gives samurai the strength to defend the Empire
from outside threats and preserve peace through
courtly negotiation. Perhaps most importantly, it is
honor that maintains samurai’s nobility in the eyes of
the peasant classes, honor that prevents samurai from
descending into despotism, and honor that preserves
the state of the Celestial Order. Honor is the soul of
the Empire, and without it, Rokugan would descend
into chaos.
Honor, or Meiyo, may be the most important tenet of
Bushidō, but it is also the most nebulous and difficult
to define. One cannot assess through exterior exam-
ination the honor of a samurai, for it is something
possessed solely as part of their innermost self. Some
samurai are mistakenly driven to lash out in vengeance
to “defend their honor,” shedding blood over per-
ceived slights against their heritage or character. These
samurai are not actually preserving their honor, but
rather attempting to save their reputation. The honor-
able samurai knows personally the quality of their own
character and does not need to defend it against the
barbs and jeers of lesser people. The wise samurai is
able to distinguish between the public perception of
honor, and honor according to the code of Bushidō,
which is an internal possession.

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Honor’s constant nature is its defining factor; when

present in an individual, it bleeds over into all aspects The Burden of Dishonor
of their life and into every other tenet of Bushidō. Honor is personally important to most samurai, but
Other tenets can be performed for gains in reputa- there is also a societal element to honor. If others
tion, or ceased when others aren’t watching, but honor believe a samurai is no longer an individual of integ-
always serves as a samurai’s moral code, driving them rity, their reputation may also be at risk by association,
to follow all other tenets as perfectly as possible at and so they may avoid that person. In the worst cases,
all times. A samurai remains righteous when no one a samurai might even be rejected by their lord, and
would be the wiser, and courageous even when no one forced to leave their service. Such a samurai may even
is looking, because of their honorable character. They end up as a rōnin, unable to rise back to their station
do so regardless of whether they might receive praise without the permission, and thereby forgiveness, of
or reward, but simply because it is the right thing to do. their former lord.
This personal integrity compels a samurai to continue From their former peers, a publicly dishonored
to do what is right even when it would cause society samurai finds little solace or pity, and certainly no trust.
to judge them unfairly, or when it would force them to Worse, such circumstances may force a samurai to take
defy a lord who has fallen into corruption. on dangerous or disreputable jobs, further diminish-
ing their social standing. While a samurai could cleave
Honorable Life to the belief that honor is intrinsically valuable during
such a trial, surely their belief in the Code of Bushidō
When the Kami Akodo ordered that Bushidō in
would be tested.
Rokugan should be codified, it became both the stan-
What’s more, a samurai’s retainers and family are
dard for conduct and the goal for all samurai and those
put at risk if they are disgraced publicly. This means
who would hold themselves to a samurai’s code. To be
that if a samurai’s reputation is soiled, they may have to
a samurai comes with a burden: that of upholding per-
make sacrifices to protect those who rely upon them,
sonal integrity at all times, no matter what situation or
even if their reputation was ruined unfairly. A samurai
demands they face.
who wishes to regain their lost esteem might need to
Despite their noble station, samurai are still mor-
undertake a substantial deed to make amends with
tals. With mortality comes fallibility and the pressures
their lord, or find a different patron whose trust they
of society. A life devoted to honor faces demands to
can earn through their actions. Failing to do so jeop-
act in ways samurai could consider personally dis-
ardizes not just the individual, but also many others in
honorable. Honor is a personal appraisal, but some
their life.
might not agree with that assessment. Survival itself
But such redemption is not achievable by all. Some
could force a person into actions a samurai would see
publicly disgraced samurai instead take the vows of
as dishonorable. Maintaining honor when faced with
a monk, leaving behind the Code of Bushidō to find
dishonorable orders from a daimyō, wartime clashes in
purpose in a different sort of life. Some clans offer a
which dishonorable tactics would win a bloodless bat-
path for disgraced individuals: the Lion Clan’s Death-
tle, court intrigues that call for poisoned lies to crush
seekers, for instance, fight in the most dangerous bat-
a foe—all these and more test samurai who desire an
tles to show their dedication to their clan. Such paths
honorable existence, yet must balance this desire with
can spare their family and retainers the worst conse-
Duty and other demands of Rokugani life. To act hon-
quences. Others content themselves with a simpler,
orably sometimes may mean ignoring or casting aside
humbler life among the commoners of Rokugan. And
other aspects of Bushidō, so samurai must judge which
some, who have truly discarded their honor, go on to
holds sway. For the Lion, honor is paramount, but this
prey upon those weaker than themselves, as brigands
is not the case in all clans or samurai.
or rogue warlords.
For a samurai, failing to uphold their honor is a fail-
Honor, then, is not just personal. A samurai’s actions
ure to live up to the legacy bestowed upon them by
reflect on their family and clan, so they must take
the Kami. They have fallen short of their own expec-
responsibility for their actions beyond simple individual
tations, as well as those of their forebears, and some
honor. Even if they believe their actions are not per-
believe this blemishes forever their immortal spirit. It
sonally dishonorable, if their deeds stain their family or
is this burden that drives a samurai to take immediate
clan with dishonor, then great sacrifices may be nec-
action to rectify incorrect deeds. If the error cannot be
essary to atone. Thus, the honor of the family or clan
undone, then the samurai must seek to make tremen-
stays intact—a small price to pay for such an essential
dous sacrifice, perhaps even of their own life, to see
aspect of existence in Rokugan.
their honor restored in the eyes of their ancestors.

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 C H APT E R 3 : A C T S O F WAR

QUOTES FROM
AKODO’S LEADERSHIP
Trifling Breaches
and Small Sacrifices
“One army may be stron-
ger than another, but
none are stronger
The Legend of the Five Rings core rulebook contains
guidelines for gaining honor for virtuous deeds, as well
than hunger.” as guidelines for forfeiting honor in order to act dis-
gracefully. However, minor acts can affect a character’s
honor as well. A samurai strives to adhere to Bushidō
in all aspects of their life, and many small positive or
negative demonstrations eventually add up.
What follows are optional additions to Table 7–1:
Honor and Glory Forfeits/Awards, on page 300 of the
core rulebook, and to the examples related to honor
on page 303 of the core rulebook.
Trifling Breaches
When a character wishes to commit a breach of honor
that is judged to be less serious than a minor breach,
they must first forfeit 1 honor.
Examples of trifling breaches of honor:
New Demeanors and
NPC Templates
Game masters can always call on the wide assortment
of NPCs from the Legend of the Five Rings core rule-
book when creating adventures, but stories of wars and
history demand more for the valiant NPCs featured in
them. Many of these characters are likely to be of the
Lion Clan, perhaps leading armies, recording martial
deeds, or training new military leaders for future wars to
defend Rokugan. Some might be from the Badger Clan,
entrusted with guarding the Empire’s northern passes.
This section provides GMs with a new demeanor
and new NPC templates for fashioning new charac-
ters using the NPC profiles from the core rulebook
and other supplements as their basis. These tools take
NPCs without an assigned clan and make them into
Lion or Badger samurai, or other characters who might
be found in a library or war college.

Telling a half-truth to make a story

New Demeanor:
$

more interesting.
$ Carrying out your lord’s orders in a less expedi-
ent manner for personal convenience.
$ Privately, but verbally, cursing the actions of a
higher-status samurai.
Small Sacrifices
When a character makes a sacrifice in the name of
honor, but it is judged to be less significant than a
minor sacrifice, they are awarded 1 honor.
Examples of small sacrifices of honor:
$ Allowing a verbal insult directed at you (one
that causes you to forfeit 1 glory or more to
ignore) to pass without reprisal.
Honorable
The following new demeanor is designed to reflect a
personality often found in Lion Clan members and in
other samurai who value the tenet of Meiyo—Honor—
above all others. Such characters do not hesitate to
overcome their fear and act correctly regardless of the
consequences. Honorable works in the same manner as
the other demeanors on page 310 of the core rulebook.
Social Skill Check TN Modifiers: Fire +2, Earth –2
Common Way of Unmasking: Honor’s Challenge
The NPC holds to very high standards of behavior and
expects others around them to do the same. When
they observe breaches of integrity, they are quick to
judge what should be the correct action and insist that
it be followed.

$ Refusing to use information overheard from

behind a closed door as testimony.
$ Aiding a friend who has been publicly dis-
graced but you know to be innocent.

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New NPC Templates
The following new NPC templates allow GMs to turn
generic NPC samurai profiles into ones the PCs might
more commonly encounter in Lion lands, on battle-
fields, or in institutions where historical records are
studied or preserved. Each template works the same
way as the templates in the core rulebook on page 311.
Badger Clan Samurai
This template can be used with any clan samurai profile.
Conflict Rank: Combat +1
Ring: +1 Void
Skills: +1 Martial and Trade skills  sonal], Subtle Observer (Air) [Social; Interpersonal]
Advantages (add/replace 0–2): Bishamon’s Blessing
(Water) [Martial; Physical, Spiritual], Flexibility (Water)
[Martial; Physical], Keen Balance (Earth) [Martial; Men-
tal, Physical]
Disadvantages (add/replace 0–2): Disdain for Cour-
tesy (Air) [Social; Flaw, Mental], Overly Suspicious (Fire)
[Social; Interpersonal], Whispers of Poverty (Water)
[Social; Interpersonal, Infamy]
Techniques (add 0–2): Kata (), Rituals ()
Demeanor (replace 1): Gruff, Shrewd
Historian
This template can be used with any clan samurai profile
or subjects of Rokugan.
Conflict Rank: Intrigue +2
Ring: +1 Water
Skills: +2 Scholar skills
Advantages (add/replace 0–2): Famously Reliable
(Earth) [Social; Interpersonal], Fukurokujin’s Bless-
ing (Fire) [Scholar; Mental], Precise Memory (Earth)
[Scholar; Mental]
Disadvantages (add/replace 0–2): Bishamon’s Curse
(Water) [Martial; Physical], Bluntness (Air) [Social; Inter-
personal], Lives in the Past (Earth) [Social; Mental]
Techniques (add 0–2): Rituals (), Shūji ()
Demeanor (replace 1): Assertive, Detached
Imperial Legionnaire
This template can be used with any clan samurai profile
as well as the trained ashigaru and skillful rōnin profiles.
Conflict Rank: Combat +2
Ring: +1 Earth
Skills: +1 Martial and Trade skills
Advantages (add/replace 0–2): Indomitable Will
(Earth) [Social; Mental], Seasoned (Void) [Social; Inter-
personal], Traditional Adherent (Earth) [Social; Mental]
Disadvantages (add/replace 0–2): Hidebound (Earth)
Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)
CHAPTER 3: ACTS O F WAR
[Social; Interpersonal], Whispers of Cruelty (Void) [Social;
Interpersonal; Infamy]
Techniques (add 0–2): Kata (), Shūji ()
Demeanor (replace 1): Ambitious, Assertive, Gruff
Instructor
Apply this template to someone who is passing their
skills on to someone else.
Conflict Rank: Combat +1, Intrigue +1
Ring: +1 Air
Skills: +1 Martial and Scholar skills
Advantages (add/replace 0–2): Keen Hearing (Air)
[Martial; Physical], Seasoned (Void) [Social; Interper-
Disadvantages (add/replace 0–2): Calcified Thinking
(Earth) [Social; Mental], Impatience (Earth) [Social; Mental]
Techniques (add 0–2): Kata (), Rituals ()
Demeanor (replace 1): Assertive, Gruff
Lion Clan Samurai
This template can be used with any clan samurai profile.
Conflict Rank: Combat +2, Intrigue +1
Ring: +1 Earth
Skills: +1 Martial and Social skills 
Advantages (add/replace 0–2): Paragon of Honor
(Void) [Social; Mental], Seasoned (Void) [Social;
Mental, Interpersonal], War College Graduate (Water)
[Martial; Physical]
Disadvantages (add/replace 0–2): Eager for Bat-
tle (Martial; Mental], Maimed Visage (Air) [Social;
Physical, Interpersonal, Scar], Overconfidence (Earth)
[Martial; Physical]
Techniques (add 0–2): Kata (), Shūji ()
Demeanor (replace 1): Assertive, Honorable, Gruff
Mercenary
This template can be used with any bandit, rōnin, or
ashigaru profile, or for someone selling their services.
Conflict Rank: Intrigue +2
Ring: +1 Air
Skills: +1 Social and Trade skills 
Advantages (add/replace 0–2): Better Quick than
Dead (Fire) [Martial; Physical], Famously Successful
(Fire) [Social; Interpersonal], Wily Negotiator (Water)
[Social; Interpersonal]
Disadvantages (add/replace 0–2): Disdain for Duty
and Loyalty (Earth) [Social; Flaw, Interpersonal], Greedy
(Water) [Social; Mental], Insolent Cur (Air) [Social; Inter-
personal, Mental]
Techniques (add 0–2): Shūji ()
Demeanor (replace 1): Ambitious, Shrewd
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 FIELDS OF VICTORY
The fate of Rokugan is
forged in battle...
Since the founding of the Emerald Empire
and the First War, conflict has shaped the
history, lands, and society of Rokugan.
Even in times of peace, the samurai of the
Great Clans devote themselves to the arts
of weaponry and war, for their generals
know that the next call to arms is only a
brushstroke away.
Fields of Victory details warfare in Rokugan,
both past and present, and describes the
units, ranks, and logistics of the armies of
the Great Clans.
In this sourcebook for the Legend of the
Five Rings Roleplaying Game, you will find
information for running military campaigns
as well as information on the valiant Lion
Clan, including:
$ The strongholds of the Lion Clan as well
as the Empire’s foremost libraries and
academies of military history and learning.
$ Rules for the Badger Minor Clan, plus new
schools, titles, techniques, equipment,
and weapon patterns suited for battle
and reconnaissance.
$ Support for GMs including guidance on
running campaigns that feature warfare;
expanded mass battle rules and rules for
how to raise, equip, and train an army;
and tips for how terrain can change the
tide of battle.

Fields of Victory L5R14

ISBN: 978-1-63344-374-7

53995
EAN 13

9 781633 443747
201351N
Printed in China

Gleb Karaman (Order #31327874)