Note: Players can come from these clans or apply to be apart of them. This is up to the Nation Leader of Nippon. TWoK would also like to point out that some clans are based of Clans from Legend of the Five Rings CCG/RPG.
Clans
Crab
For thousands of years, the Crab clan has defended the empire of Nippon from outside invaders. They have done this through strength, courage, and honor. However, this has left them little time to develope courtly skills and are often blunt and uncouth. Many question their ability to stay true to the nipponese ideal with the dark influences that often plague them as they guard the southern border at the Dragonwall.
Families - Hida, Hiruma, Kaiu, Kuni, Yasuki
Hida - leaders of the Crab, they are known for their battle strength
and endurance. They are also known for their impulsiveness, bull-headedness,
and hot tempers.
Hiruma - this family is known for their scouts who venture into the
wilderness beyond the great wall.
Kaiu - this family are the artisans and engineers who built and now
maintain the great wall in defense of the empire.
Kuni - made up of some of the most feared shujengas in the empire,
the Kuni are known for studying the dark powers of their enemies to gain
knowledge and power. They also hunt down all the practitioners of tainted
magic in the empire
Yasuki - The Yasuki are the crab clans merchants and politicians,
the family who represents the clan in court and who handle the clan's mercantile
interest.
Relationships with other clans
Allies - Lion, Tiger
Respect -Falcon, Phoenix
Despise - Crane, Scorpion
Imports - foodstuffs, wool, timber
Exports - iron, steel, coal, arms and armor
Geography
Heavy mountain regions, with a river at the southern border. Also there is
the Dragonwall. Known as the first defense of the Empire, the wall is made
by fortifications and castles at the border interconnected by a 50 foot tall
wall, and 20 feet thick. Because of the mountains, there is little arible
land for farming, but the mountains have heavy deposits of iron, lead, coal,
and other metals. The citadel city of Kyuden Kuni lies just sight of the
Dragonwall, while the Crab city of Kani Toshi is in the border with Lion.
Dragonwall - This is a series of 70 foot tall towers interconnected by a 50 foot wall. The walls are 60 feet wide and allow easy transport between towers, all the way to Kyuden Kuni. Signal fires and flags are used to alert of enemy incursions and assualts. Catapults are on the wall tops while rockets and ballistae can fire from gunports are the walls and towers.
Kuni Kyuden - Set at the border between the Shadowlands and the eastern sea, this city is fortified against an assualt from both sides. A squadron of Imperial warships are always in harbor and on patrol against incursions. Being a citadel, the city is mostly military oriented and doesnt recieve too many visitors. This city is also the provincial capital of the Crab province.
Crab Mountains - Most of the Crab province is made up of high mountain ranges. The northern portion has lower mountains and light forest, while the southern portion has fewer vegetation. What the province lacks in plant matter is made up for in the mountain's mineral wealth.
Kani Toshi - Lying on the border of the Lion province, this city is far more open than Kuni Kyuden. Here the mineral wealth of the Crab territory is traded for foodstuffs. A lot of weapons and armor is bought and sold here of the highest quality.
Crane
The Crane clan is known for its artistic and diplomatic abilities. For as long as the Nipponese empire has existed, a Ryudo emperor has almost always had a Crane as a wife. This means that almost all emperors have had a Crane mother. The Crane clan have cultivated a lot of favors from all clans, and many clans despise them for looking weak and being sycophants to the Dragon throne. Despite all this, Crane clan members are quite capable of defending themselves when it comes to conflict.
Families - Doji, Kakita, DaiDoji, Asahina
Doji - The Doji are some of the most recognized diplomats and courtiers
in the empire. They lead the Crana clan.
Kakita - Known for their artisans and their iajutsu masters, the Kakitas
have evolved swordsmanship to an art form.
DaiDoji - Also known as the "Iron Crane", the DaiDoji are the Crane's
military arm.
Asahina - Devoted to pacifism and the creation of magic items, the
Asahinas are the Crane's magic-users.
Relationships with other clans
Allies - Falcon, Dragon
Respect - Phoenix,
Hate - Lion, Crab, Scorpion
Imports - Iron, silk, spice
Exports - foodstuffs, crafts, art, sake, fish
Geography
Northern Crane - Terrain is mountains on the east and heavy forest
to the west, by the seaside. A good deal of villages lie at the seaside,
with the main port city of Kita Minato (northern port) lying at the northern
shore. It's a main port for the Crane and the Nipponese imperial navy. At
the central plain also lies the northern provincial capital of Kyuden Doji.
Kita Minato - One of the northern ports of the empire. Here the northern fleet is based and where a good deal of fishing boats come to offload their catch from the northern sea. Besides having a busy port area, this is also where the Crane Asahina shujenga school is located.
Kyuden Doji - This city is where the palace of the Doji family resides. Resplendent and luxurious, the palace is a hallmark of Crane power. Built in the central plain of the province, the palace itself is full of rock gardens, koi ponds, dozens of shrines, and vast flocks of cranes. This palace is the seat of Crane Clan power.
Southern Crane - Terrain is low rolling hills and open plains, with light forest as one gets to the western seaside of the province. The provincial capital of Kyuden Kakita lies at southeastern section of the providence, close to the borders of the other provinces. It acts as a central location for merchant traffic and also as a buffer against offensive actions by other clans. The port city of Seibu Minato (western port) lies at the southern edge of the country. Its where a good deal of the merchant sea traffic makes its way to.
Seibu Minato - The western port of the empire, this is where the Western main fleet guarding Nippon come to restock and repair. Its a flourishing trade port, trading with ports up and down the western side of the empire. The DaiDoji family make their home in this city.
Kyuden Kakita - As the Southern Crane provincial capital, the city and palace is designed to take on any Lion incursions into Crane territory. A significant portion of their military is here, guarding the city and the various roads leading to and from it. The Kakita family reside in this city.
Crane Training Hall - Located just outside Kyuden Kakita. this is the training Dojo for the Crane clan. These are some of the most civilized and well tended training grounds in the empire. The student here learn iaijutsu, as well as how to use the land to their advantage. In that respect, the main hall is covered in huge map of the surrounding countryside.
Climate - Tropical with rainy and dry seasons. On dry seasons the temperatures get high and humid, on rainy seasons expect typhoons and flooding once or twice a year.
Dragon
Ever since the beginning of the Ryudo dynasty, the dragon clan has remained secreted in the high mountains of northern nippon. There, they meditated on the nature of the spirit world and studied magic and sorcery. They have mastered the ability of having samurai, monks, wu jen, and shugenja work together to achieve victory over numerically superior enemies. Always enigmatic, the other clans see them as aloof and bizarre, and are often just left to their monastaries.
Families - Mirumoto, Togashi, Tamori, Kitsuki
Togashi - As leaders of the Dragon clan, the Togashi are known for
their wisdom. Most of the Togashi are monks.
Mirumoto - The warrior family of the Dragon clan, the Mirumoto use
a specialized form of two handed combat using both weapons of the daisho.
Tamori - The Tamori are the remnants of the Agasha family which did
not secede to the Phoenix clan. They are shugenja and keep the secrets of
Dragon clan magic.
Kitsuki - Known for their diplomatic skills, the Kitsuki act as diplomats
and magistrates for the Dragon clan.
Relationships with other clans
Allies - Crane, Falcon
Respect - Lion, Phoenix
Despise - none
Imports - foodstuffs
Exports - Gold, wool, coal
Geography
- Terrain is mountainous, with much geothermal activity in the region. Hot springs and an active volcano are in the area. There is a small open central valley where a good deal of the population is. Rice terraces line the lower hillsides which provide some rice, but most of the provinces resources is in animal and mineral production like wool, coal, sulfur, and marble. The city of Ryu Toshi lies at the central valley, but the main provincial capital of Kyuden Mirumoto lies at the high western mountain range.
Dragon Hot Springs - a favorite spot for Nipponese seeking rest and relaxation, the hot springs here are varied, with some rumored to cure various ailments. Located just outside of Ryu Toshi.
Kyuden Mirumoto - The main palace of the province, this city is also the center of Dragon martial arts training. Here, the two-handed sword technique is taught in the Mirumoto dojo in the city. This is also where the tattoed monks of the Dragon clan make their home for study.
Ryu Toshi - While the rest of the Dragon province is less accessable to outsiders, the city of Ryu Toshi is open and accepts outsiders. Most of the business needed by the province is handled here. The Wu Jen of the clan also make their home here and exchange some magic to outsiders for other magic not known to them.
Shiru Hitomi - The main port of the Dragon province, it is located at the northest section of the province. It handles most of the northern fishing fleets, as well as the home port for a squadron of Imperial vessels. Due to the occasional occurence of piracy by gaijin pirates, the town is fortified and defended against a seaside attack.
Climate - Tropical, with a slightly longer rainy season that dry. The high mountains experience a little snowfall.
Falcon
As one of the newest clans in Nippon, the Falcon have had to endure much
in the 500 years of their inception. The Falcon clan was born from nomadic
horsemen and skyknights who joined the empire. Oftentimes seen as barbarians,
they are thought of as outsiders despite their loyalty to the empire. Their
sincerity however cannot be doubted, as they have proven themselves in battle
with their new methods and abilities. With their winged companions, the giant
Aesthir falcons, the Falcon clan rules the skies over Nippon.
Families - Osamu, Tachibana, Sato, Asagiri
Osamu - The Osamus are the leaders of the Falcon clan. Most of them
are warriors, with emphasis on flying the giant Aesthir falcons in aerial
combat.
Tachibana - The Tachibana are known as some of the more innovative
and fastest kensai in the empire.
Sato - made of mostly Wu Jen and some shugenjas, this is the Falcon
clans magic family.
Asagiri - This family is composed of the Falcon clans cavalry arm,
and is run by battle maidens.
Relationships with other clans
Allies - Crane, Dragon
Respect - Lion, Crab
Hate - Scorpion, Tigers
Imports - Silver, gold
Exports - horses, diamonds, wool
Geography
Bordering the territory of the Dragon and Pheonix, most of the province is steppes and rugged hills at the western half, with open plains and light forest at the eastern lowlands. The city of Kyuden Osamu lies at the foot of the border with the Dragon province, besides the Yellow river. The eastern port of Higashi Minato is at the shore of the eastern sea and services the fleet of ships the Nipponese keep to patrol those waters. Last of all, the Eastern Imperial capital of Edo lies at the lowlands just outside of the steppes.
Edo Eastern Capital - The eastern capital of the nipponese empire. It spreads out for a distance, divided into various sections. With its population numbering into 1 million nipponese, it is easily the most populous city in the empire. Watchtowers are located just outside the city for advanced warning, while sections of the city are fortified. The city is a fortified citadel, due to the fact that it is always a target for attack by giant monsters like Gojira or by Shadowlands hordes landing from the ocean. Despite all the attacks however, the capital remains whole, and still stands as a beautiful symbol of the empire.
Higashi Minato - The eastern port is the home of the eastern fleet of Nippon. The eastern fleet , with its flagship, the Yamato, is the key defense of the empire against naval intrusions by shadowlands hordes trying to cross over via the water. The city is heavily defended and even has 3 squadrons of Aesthir falcons based there.
Kyuden Osamu - located just under the Dragon mountain range, this city is home to the Osamu family and the main nesting area of the Aesthir falcons. Often overshadowed by the presence of Edo in the province, Kyuden Osamu is nevertheless important to the Falcon clan as a city. Much trade is conducted here, including the trade of horses and sheep from the ranches, and gems from the mines.
Climate - Tropical, with only rainy and dry seasons. No snow except on occasion at the south.
Lion
Of all the clans of Nippon, the Lion embody the very ideal of Bushido. They
follow the way of the warrior to its very epitome. The Lion are very honorable
and oftentimes without pretense. As the primary guardians of the emperor,
it falls upon their shoulders to safeguard the imperial line. And for the
time that the empire has existed, over half of the Shoguns have been of the
Lion clan. Few dare face the Raging Lions.
Families - Akodo, Matsu, Kitsu, Ikoma
Akodo - The leaders and nobility of the Lion clan, they are composed
of samurai who are completely devoted to Bushido.
Matsu - Ferocious warriors and battle leaders, the Matsu is a matriarchal
clan led by women.
Kitsu - The Lion clans magic-using family, the Kitsus use spirit
magic and talk to the ghost of their ancestors.
Ikoma - Historians and storytellers, the Ikoma are also warriors,
magistrates, and rogues.
Relationships with other clans
Allies - Crab, Phoenix
Respect - Falcon
Despise - Crane, Scorpion, Tiger
Imports - Arms and armor, coal
Exports - timber, copper, tea
Geography
Northern Lion - The Lion province lies at the central location of
the empire. The terrain is mostly open plains and rolling hills. While there
is ample land for farms, most of it lies fallow as the Lion do not make full
use of their potential. A good deal of the area is used for roads. Due to
the central location in the empire, the provincial capital of Kyuden Akodo
gets a lot of merchant traffic and profits from it. Most of this is used
however to maintain its large standing army, ready and willing to defend
the emperor. The city of Raion Toshi lies at the western edge close to the
Scorpion province border. The temple city of Kami Tokai lies to the eastern
part of the province.
Northern Lion Plains - The central plain of the province, where a multitude of roads come together. The land is open plain and rolling hills. Farmland abounds here, supporting the Lion forces. All around, there are Lion troops either on patrol, or on training missions.
Kyuden Akodo - The provincial capital for the northern Lion, this city holds the palace and main residence of the Akodo family. The city is also a merchant center due to its location and road network. This is also where the main Lion dojo is, and where the samurai get trained in tactics and force of arms.
Raion Toshi - Lying on the northern edge of the province, close to the Scorpion territory. Here is where the heart of Lion divine magic lie and more importantly where the shujenga communicate with their ancestors.
Kami Tokai - The temple city of the empire, this is the center of religion for the people of Nippon. As the religious center, this is where people can go to worship the Kami and learn about the celestial order. The city is peopled by mostly monks and shujenga, and visitors must go through purification rites before entering through the city gates.
Kyuden Matsu - As the southern Lion capital, Kyuden Matsu is also the family holding of the Matsu family, and many great and powerful warriors come from this city. The city is also the economic center of the province due to the forest products coming from the south, as well as the copper mines in the hills surrounding it. The atmosphere is decidedly paranoid at times however, as the clan is always on alert for Scorpion infiltrators from the north.
Minami Minato - The southern port of the empire, Minami Minato is heavily defended due to the undersea attacks of the Shadowlands as well as gaijin pirates who wish to raid. Visitors coming into this port are screened and given visas to enter the land as well as explanations of the laws of the empire.
Climate - Tropical with adequate rainfall and dry seasons to grow crops.
Phoenix
While the Lion exemplify honor and the samurai ideal, the Phoenix exemplify the model shugenja. Masters of magic, the Phoenix are devoted to the Kami (spirits) of the celestial order. Their attunement and expertise with the realm of magic has made them often favored by the Kami. While they still have samurai and practice bushido, their samurai are sworn to protect the magic users before their own lives. With their devotion, few can match the Flame of the Rising Phoenix.
Families - Isawa, Agasha, Shiba, Asako, Kenritsu
Isawa - This family has arguably the greatest shugenjas in the empire
and lead this clan. The family focuses on all the elements, not just one.
Agasha - This family originally came from the Dragon clan and are
a point of hostility between the two clans as Dragon clan Wu Jen magic secrets
was taken to the Phoenix clan.
Shiba - The Shiba family is the main warrior family of the Phoenix.
The Shiba's are sworn to protect and support the Isawa and Phoenix clan.
Asako - Made up of mostly monks, the Asako family are librarians,
healers, and historians.
Kenritsu - The new family in the Phoenix clan, they strive to bring forth the best that is to be Phoenix as warriors.
Relationships with other clans
Allies -Lion, Tiger
Respect - Crane
Hate - Crab, Dragon
Imports - Gold, wool
Exports - timber, crafts
Geography
Great Lake at center of province. Land is mostly rolling hills and verdant forest. At the western shore of the great lake lies the Phoenix palace and city of Kyuden Isawa. Another city is at the edge of the forest, Fushicho Toshi (aka Phoenix city)
Phoenix Lake - A great lake sitting in the middle of the empire, Phoenix lake holds within it a mystery. Mists and fogs abound at the center of the lake, hiding a secret. There is a legend that within the mists lie an small shrine, and within that shrine is a legendary sword which has the power to call the Divine Wind. Many a samurai have tried to search for it, few have returned.
Spirit Forest - Within these woods lie many spirits and fey folk. It is said that whenever the woods is shrouded in mists, strange things happen. People disappear in the fog, coming back later with stories of different places, and sometimes strange people would appear here, and leave with the mist. Many ancestral ghosts seem to make these woods their home.
Kyuden Isawa - The capital of the Phoenix clan, the city is steeped in learning and devotion to the Kami. The schools of magic here have a well earned reputation for teaching the best students in the land. Learning, research, and prayer hold the highest place in this city.
Fushicho Toshi - This city lies at the edge of the Spirit forest, and it is here that the clan's commercial interest are taken cared of. Woods and other forest products are traded in this city. This city is also the center of martial studies for the Shiba family.
Climate - Temperate having 4 seasons, but has shorter winters and longer summers.
Scorpion
Always mysterious and enigmatic, the Scorpion hide many things behind their masks. Keepers of secrets and masters of lies, the Scorpion fulfill a needed role in the empire. It would be easy to simply cast them as evil and call them servants of the dark spirits. But it should be known that while the Scorpion do not value honor as much as the other clans, they do value loyalty. And it is due to loyalty that they do what is needed of them for the sake of the empire.
Families- Bayushi, Shosuro, Soshi, Yogo
Bayushi - Masters of secrets and lies, the Bayushi value loyalty above
honor. They lead the Scorpion clan.
Shosuro - The spies and assassins of the Scorpion clan, the Shosuro
use their skills to benefit the clan and the empire.
Soshi - This family is composed of wu jen and study the magic of shadows
and wind.
Yogo - The Yogo family is composed of shugenjas, always seeking
enlightenment and divining the secrets of good and evil.
Relationships with other clans
Allies - Tiger
Respect - Phoenix, Dragon
Despise - Lion, Falcon, Crane
Imports - Iron, tea
Exports - opium, silver, fish
Geography
Terrain is crisscrossed by streams and creeks, with portions of the province actually under the sea level. Marshland at the western section, plains and hills going eastward. The capital of Kyuden Bayushi lies at the west, being the main port of the province. Resources include silver mines are at the eastern hills, while the crops of vegetation and opium lie at the central plains.
Kyuden Bayushi - The central home of the Scorpion clan, it is fair to say that this city is a den of intrigue and lies. The city has also been sacked and burned down 2 times before in clan wars, but has always been rebuilt stronger than ever. It is here that the clan teaches its members the ars of deception and lies. This city also host the best Kabuki theatre in all of nippon, as its actors learned their craft from the best.
Ninja Hideout - Located somewhere in the eastern hills, this hideout is where the Scorpion ninja make their home. Here they hone their skills and practice the art of ninjitsu. The last time that a army tried to take on the scorpion ninja in their hills was a disaster, as 10,000 samurai was beaten by less than 2,000 ninja defending the hills.
Scorpion Lowlands - The marshlands and swamps in the western edge of the province, with rice paddies at the eastern edge. These lowlands grow rice, as well as opium for the Scorpion clan. Other than farmers and bandits, the only other inhabitants here are the large number of alligators.
The Great Bridge - coming from the peninsula, the Great Bridge of Nippon connects the Empire to the land of Cormyr. This bridge is well protected and patrolled, with warning bells and lights stationed every 100 feet. The bridge itself is almost a mile long, made of stone and wood. There is a immigration office on the Nippon side for people to get Visas and general education of Nippon's laws.
Climate - Temperate, with long summers and winters. Summers can be
real wet and hot, with occasional dry spells without rain.
Tiger
Also known as the Tora, the Tiger clan is similar to the Falcon clan in that
they are both recent additions, both only being 500 years old. But that is
where the similarities end. The Tiger clan is known for its use of the Shiki
armored warriors and for sneak attacks and traps in defending their territory.
A Tiger army that retreats in the face of the enemy is only preparing a ambush
for their foes. As masters of defensive manuever warfare, they have shown
their worth to the empire. But one cannot see if inside, their honorable
side is simply a facade to evil designs on the empire.
Families - Toranaga, Hatori, Kenji, Mitsubishi
Toranaga - Masters of unconventional warfare, the Toranaga are known
for their ability to defeat their foes using deceit and hit-and-run tactics.
Hatori - While known publicly as a clan of warriors and merchants,
the Hatori are also a ninja clan in the service of the Crimson Tigers.
Kenji - This family is composed of mostly wu jen and other sorcerers.
Their ability to use battlefield magic has aided the clan in the past against
great odds.
Mitsubishi - Masters of artifice and mechanical marvels, the Mitsubishi
family are known for creating the Shiki giant warriors.
Relationships with other clans
Allied - Crab, Phoenix
Respect - Scorpion
Despise - Falcon, Lion
Imports - wool, timber
Exports - silk, spices
Geography
Swampland at the east, rolling hills at the center, with mountains at the west. The provincial capital of Kyuden Ikari lies at the center and is built like a citadel, essentially now a fortress city against Shadowlands incursions fromt he north. The city of Tora Toshi lies at the western section, before a pass in the mountains to the rest of the country. The pass is called Roka Kurosawa (Kurosawa Pass), and is the only way through Tiger territory to get to the other provinces as mountains (and other geographic features) all around make it difficult to get large forces through anywhere else.
Roka Kurosawa - Kurosawa Pass, this road is the only road which allows passage through the mountains into the center of the empire. As such, it is heavily defended and well maintained by the Tiger clan, with no fewer than 10 Shiki there at all times.
Tiger Swamps - At the eastern edge of the province, this swamp is used by the Tiger clan in all military planning in defending their territory. Tiger clan units are always training in these swamps to gain in edge in warfare. The swamp is also full of creatures, both natural and unnatural.
Tora Toshi - Tiger City, it is also known as the "Crafter's Den". The Mitsubishi clan make this city their home, and it is here that they make the mechanical marvels for the empire. The Shiken mecha are all produced here, and smiths here are always competing with one another over who has the best design.
Kyuden Ikari - The provincial capital of the Tiger Clan, this city is a fortress against the darkness of the shadowlands. It is also where the silk of the clan is produced as the silkworms of the clan are located here. It is also here that the clan teaches its principals of defensive warfare. In all its history, this city has never fallen to invasion.
Northern Shadowlands - North of the Tiger Province, there is a small section that has been invaded and claimed by the Shadowlands. To combat this threat, a series of small forts were constructed, and a force of the empires army was stationed there to prevent further incursions from the Shadowlands.
Climate - Temperate, with longer summer and winters. Summers can be
real wet and hot, with occasional dry spells without rain.
