The Dragon Clan
Little is said about the enigmatic Dragon… even less is known with any certainty. Situating themselves in mountain monasteries, looking down at the rest of Rokugan, the brooding Dragon follow the patterns of eternity, monitoring the flow of fate. Its samurai are known for their philosophical pondering, but few are foolhardy enough to disturb their esoteric thoughts, fearing their twin sword daisho techniques… and the solemn secrets that they guard in their hermitage.
The Dragon Clan, founded by Togashi, live in the mountains far to the south. In their solitude they contemplate enlightenment and simply watch the world. Seldom do they become involved in any battle or courtly affair. When they do it is almost certain things will go their way. The Dragon are known for strange behavior and motivation, but none may question their loyalty to the Empire.
Colors: Gold on Green
Daimyo: Togashi Yokuni
Personalities: Togashi Mitsu (spokesman for the Togashi family and head Ise zumi), Togashi Hoshi (son of Yokuni), Mirumoto Hitomi (Mirumoto Diamyo and attempted Emerald Champion), Mirumoto Daini (brother of Hitomi)
Families:
- Togashi
: Not a true family by samurai standards, most members of the Togashi are adopted. The Togashi consist primarily of the enigmatic Ise zumi (monks that use mystical tattoos to harness the powers of the elements)
- Mirumoto
: While the Togashi sit atop their mountain and contemplate enlightenment, the Mirumoto are primarily responsible for running the day to day affairs of the Dragon Clan
- Agasha
: The Agasha family is known for its unique insight into problems that befuddle some of the keenest traditional philosophers in Rokugan
- Kitsuki
: Originally an offshoot of the Agasha, the Kitsuki family took the riddles of their forebears and applied them to forward thinking. This has made the Kitsuki some of the most effective magistrates in the Empire
Dojos:
- Mirumoto Bushi Dojo
: Adaptive and ever prepared for conflict, the Mirumoto are the only bushi in the Emerald Empire to utilize both the katana and wakizashi at once. This style confuses other samurai and is oft bemoaned by their rivals, the Kakita Kenshinzo of the Crane Clan
- Agasha Shugenja Dojo
: Life is a riddle, and the Agasha are the cypher. They dive headlong into their studies, prepared to face whatever consequences arise for their knowledge
- Kitsuki Magistrate Dojo
: The Rokugani justice system is based on two things, direct evidence and testimony. The Kitsuki Magistrates add another element to this equation, speculation. By studying the minds and motivations of their suspects, the Kitsuki can uncover the truth where other magistrates fail for lack of evidence
- Togashi Ise Zumi Monastery
: The mysterious "tattooed-men" of the Dragon Clan. The Ise Zumi monks are known for adorning their bodies with tattoos, as well as for possessing strange, superhuman powers. Ise zumi have been attributed with everything from the ability to leap over a horse to breathing fire
Special Notes:
- The Dragon are the most difficult of the Great Clans to integrate into any campaign and must be carefully used. They are powerful warriors with extraordinary powers. Beyond those abilities and skills mentioned below do not add more. And never combine them. No Dragon, not even the Daimyo Togashi Yokuni himself, has the fighting style of the Mirumoto, the insight of the Kitsuki, and the mystical abilities of the Ise zumi
- The most enigmatic pair of the most enigmatic clan are the Daimyo Togashi Yokuni and his son Hoshi. With the exception of very few high-ranking Dragon and Scorpion, no one knows the true identity of Yokuni. In truth he is the same original Togashi that fought with the Seven Thunders against Fu Leng. He is the only live Kami and wishes to keep this fact very secretive. Even more secretive is his true form. Yokuni is only ever seen, and even this is rarely, in fully armor and masked helmet. The fact that Togashi is an elemental dragon is the most closely kept secret in Rokugan. The only reason that the Scorpion know is because of Togashi Hoshi. In a distant age, the head of the Bayushi family sent a Shosuro spy into the Dragon clan to learn more about them. She never returned but sent her information to the Scorpion then bore Hoshi. Hoshi is evidently mystical, taking on the form of a half-man half-dragon in battle. Hoshi continues to lead Dragon armies to this day.
- Mirumoto bushi use a style unknown anywhere else in Rokugan. They use the niten (twin sword daisho) technique. This style can only be learned at the Mirumoto Dojo and is taught sparingly to outsiders. All Miromoto Bushi have the Niten Technique skill.
Niten Technique
Base Cost: 300
Attribute: CSE
Skill Type: Warrior
Extra Dice: res
The bushi of the Dragon clan are notorious for using both swords in their daisho together. While other clans see this as barbaric, Dragon samurai depend on this skill. Their style will only be taught to fellow Dragon Bushi, all others are thought unworthy.
This skill allows certain warriors to use both katana and wakizashi simultaneously. It may only be performed with a katana in their primary hand and a wakizashi in their off-hand. Due to movement and power necessities, this skill is NOT possible in heavy armor (any armor that adds additional dice to a strength check). Finally, this skill can never be a higher rank than the Wakizashi skill.
To properly use this skill, instead of rolling against their Wakizashi skill, roll against this skill as well as the Katana skill. A two die check to this skill allows the samurai to make a single off-hand attack with the Wakizashi in addition to any attacks they can take with their Katana. As with Multi-Attack, if one of the attacks misses, you do not get anymore.
Since the wakizashi is in the off-hand, the standard penalty applies unless the warrior also uses the Ambidextrous skill.
This skill does not work properly with spells that increase attacking speed. Thus under the influence of certain spells, this skill can not increase attacks beyond those allowed by the spell.
- Agasha Shugenja use their magic in a quest for knowledge. They prefer to specialize in Air Magics where the Scrying group serves them well
- The Kitsuki Magistrate is a formidable keeper of law. They see crimes where others see nothing at all. It is said that it is impossible to lie to a Kitsuki Magistrate, even if the sincerity is there. This does not translate well into game terms, but they have a sixth sense of sorts when people lie to them (people can still lie to them, but they have to be good at it)
- The Togashi Ise zumi are the most difficult samurai to use in any game. They have powers far beyond those of mortal men. As a result, it is possible for them to do things normal men cannot. They are not shugenja, but have powers related to them. The best way to describe an Ise zumi’s abilities are as if they are Nomadic Incants. I’ll get around to writing the rules for these later.