Post by Toku Hirotomo on Jul 25, 2011 20:34:21 GMT -5
I am a sci-fi nut, but not so much that I'd throw that in there. Though I did add a certain sci-fi reference to part three. A cookie to who finds it first. Part three deals with changes to the Empire itself and two more minor clans I added on a drunken boast. Props to Yuushahime who helped me form the Law article.
The Empire
Law
During the reign of Iweko VII, the emperor's sister was brutally murdered. The Emerald Champions were at a loss, as were all that asked to assist, save one small team of Kitsuki. Through their unusual technique, the murderer was apprehended. The Emperor decreed that the Emerald Magistrates would now use the Kitsuki Technique, which in turn melded the order of the Empire as it is today. The new decree slowly eliminated the old way, and crime was reduced for a time.
During the rise of the Yakuza, in 1529, the samurai magistrates were at a numbers disadvantage. This led to the Imperial decree that certain members of the commoner caste could be trained as ji-magistrates. The numbers swelled and for a time the yakuza threat was diminished. This led to the commoner realization that the samurai were not needed for protection, and if they were not needed and merely taxing them, then they should rebel. The civil war of 1828, also called the Commoner's Rebellion shook the empire at its core. While the samurai were vastly more powerful, the commoners had more men and a bloody battle across ten years ensued. Though the samurai were victorious, they knew that this may not always be the case. The Crane were given the new mission to pacify the commoners with entertainment, and the Otomo devised a way to give the commoners a better life, while taking away from them their ability to fight.
Since ashigaru were the leaders of the rebellion, the stocks from which the common fighters were drawn from were limited to families that remained loyal to the samurai during the rebellion. No longer would a farmer be forced to pick up a spear, he would be replaced by the first professional army of commoners. Men trained from birth to fight, and remain loyal to the samurai lords. This created a new semi-caste. The Ashigaru Caste hovers between samurai and peasant. In some cases, the best and most loyal fighters were allowed to take fealty in their clan. It is from the Ashigaru Caste that the ji-magistrates are chosen.
To further placate the commoners, the Otomo created a Commoner's Court, known as Parliament. It is here that elected men and women call to give voice to the farmer, the craftsmen and the merchant. Though the samurai can ignore their grievances or petitions, most appease them through small favors. It takes a vote of a local parliament to bring in a ji-magistrate to oversee commoner justice, and outright brutality from a samurai now carries a harsher penalty. Through the efforts of both forms of placation, no commoner has either the training or desire to fight the system.
The Yakuza
The criminal empires remain, painted with a thin varnish of respectability. They have trouble occupying lands controlled by the Scorpion, due their glorified attitude towards vice, but in other clans, they run rampant. They keep their efforts conceived, and bribes to parliament and local ji-magistrates keep the samurai at bay. The Tortoise has a strong connection to them, casually overlooking their activities in search of larger threats to the Empire. The Yakuza after all desire stability. Wars tend to be bad for business. In some cities, their presence is seen more as a local protection force than criminals. They keep local violence to a minimum and keep the Inko and the Bloodspeekers out of town. They are reviled by the samurai for their criminal activity, but behind closed doors are lauded by the commoners.
Transportation
The horse is still seen as a samurai icon, though automobiles have changed how transportation is seen. Commoners can now work at firms miles away from thier homes, and thanks to the public transport system, it can take as little as a few days to travel the Empire by train, and a few hours by plane. The Imperial Highway is a marvel of engineering, constructed by Kakita artisans, and Kaiu engineers. Most commoners feel that public transportation is the best way to navigate the Empire, but for samurai, the car has its own freedom. Though the motorcycle is favored by the Unicorn, as their model, the Steel Horse, is the best in the Empire, the other clans favor the Car. it is among the first items after the daisho given at Gempukku. There are even schools dedicated to their use, the Miya courier school are oni themselves behind the wheel. They are seen less as a tool for war, and more as a status symbol. Kakita artisans make the most luxurious cars, while the Unicorn makes the fastest, and the durability of Crab vehicles are well known. Plane travel is limited to commoners that work for businesses that trade with the other clans, and samurai. Though nothing stops a commoner from a flight to see the wonders of the Empire, the price usually means they will choose the train. Checkpoints at all the boarders are still in place, but they worry less about travel papers and more about the safety of the system itself.
Added Minor Clans
The Shark Clan
Seppun Takada was a guardsmen fresh from gempukku charged with the task of assisting the emperor's son with an oversees voyage. Normally, the trip would have gone without trouble, but the emperor's son was cursed with a desire to see the unknown, pushing the ship further north. The ship hit a large chunk of ice, and was sinking fast when the emperor's son was thrown overboard. The young Seppun threw himself after the young man, and saved the young man at the cost of a leg. The Emperor offered him the lordship of a new tract of islands far to the north of the Islands of Silk and Spice. Though there was little known about these new islands the young man took followers and found a land with lavish gardens during the summer, and biting cold during the winter. When a young Firefly created a submersible, the Shark ran with the idea. Their submarine fleet is the best in the Empire, serving as guardians of the north. Though they have only encountered a few ships, their brutality was to such a degree that many Gaijin admirals would rather send ships to the south, braving the Mantis, than this small but ferocious clan. Some question if the land itself fights with them, as pitfalls have driven back even Rokugani vessels. During the winter months, a treacherous path of icebergs block the path to the Islands of Fire and Ice. The Shark find their watery home to fit them, and many choose the path of the submariner, rarely leaving their cold home.
The Toad Clan
After a Third of the Burning Sands was taken over by Rokugan, a Clan was needed to oversee the oil operation. A tournament was held, and at the end, Hida Fuguri was left standing. He took a small group of followers to an isolated oasis, and built an Clan that rivals the Crane for wealth. The oil must flow, and for two centuries, the Toad had made sure of it. Though they may appear more gaijin than the rest of the Empire due to the darkening effect of the hot sun on their skin, they took Rokugan with them when they left. The architecture of Kyuuden Fuguri is more traditional than the remade Kyuuden Doji. Much like their Crab ancestors, they rely on trade with the other clans for goods due to their desert homes, still the oil under thier care makes for a useful bargaining chip. Though half of their efforts go directly to the Imperial stores for taxes instead of rice, the remainder still makes them a wealthy clan. Contracted Crab ensure no gajin forces threaten their work, and the Toad are happy with the life they were blessed with. Due to their wealth, firearms are more common here as well. After all, when the gaijin fight exclusively with firearms, it is unwise to just bring a sword.
The Empire
Law
During the reign of Iweko VII, the emperor's sister was brutally murdered. The Emerald Champions were at a loss, as were all that asked to assist, save one small team of Kitsuki. Through their unusual technique, the murderer was apprehended. The Emperor decreed that the Emerald Magistrates would now use the Kitsuki Technique, which in turn melded the order of the Empire as it is today. The new decree slowly eliminated the old way, and crime was reduced for a time.
During the rise of the Yakuza, in 1529, the samurai magistrates were at a numbers disadvantage. This led to the Imperial decree that certain members of the commoner caste could be trained as ji-magistrates. The numbers swelled and for a time the yakuza threat was diminished. This led to the commoner realization that the samurai were not needed for protection, and if they were not needed and merely taxing them, then they should rebel. The civil war of 1828, also called the Commoner's Rebellion shook the empire at its core. While the samurai were vastly more powerful, the commoners had more men and a bloody battle across ten years ensued. Though the samurai were victorious, they knew that this may not always be the case. The Crane were given the new mission to pacify the commoners with entertainment, and the Otomo devised a way to give the commoners a better life, while taking away from them their ability to fight.
Since ashigaru were the leaders of the rebellion, the stocks from which the common fighters were drawn from were limited to families that remained loyal to the samurai during the rebellion. No longer would a farmer be forced to pick up a spear, he would be replaced by the first professional army of commoners. Men trained from birth to fight, and remain loyal to the samurai lords. This created a new semi-caste. The Ashigaru Caste hovers between samurai and peasant. In some cases, the best and most loyal fighters were allowed to take fealty in their clan. It is from the Ashigaru Caste that the ji-magistrates are chosen.
To further placate the commoners, the Otomo created a Commoner's Court, known as Parliament. It is here that elected men and women call to give voice to the farmer, the craftsmen and the merchant. Though the samurai can ignore their grievances or petitions, most appease them through small favors. It takes a vote of a local parliament to bring in a ji-magistrate to oversee commoner justice, and outright brutality from a samurai now carries a harsher penalty. Through the efforts of both forms of placation, no commoner has either the training or desire to fight the system.
The Yakuza
The criminal empires remain, painted with a thin varnish of respectability. They have trouble occupying lands controlled by the Scorpion, due their glorified attitude towards vice, but in other clans, they run rampant. They keep their efforts conceived, and bribes to parliament and local ji-magistrates keep the samurai at bay. The Tortoise has a strong connection to them, casually overlooking their activities in search of larger threats to the Empire. The Yakuza after all desire stability. Wars tend to be bad for business. In some cities, their presence is seen more as a local protection force than criminals. They keep local violence to a minimum and keep the Inko and the Bloodspeekers out of town. They are reviled by the samurai for their criminal activity, but behind closed doors are lauded by the commoners.
Transportation
The horse is still seen as a samurai icon, though automobiles have changed how transportation is seen. Commoners can now work at firms miles away from thier homes, and thanks to the public transport system, it can take as little as a few days to travel the Empire by train, and a few hours by plane. The Imperial Highway is a marvel of engineering, constructed by Kakita artisans, and Kaiu engineers. Most commoners feel that public transportation is the best way to navigate the Empire, but for samurai, the car has its own freedom. Though the motorcycle is favored by the Unicorn, as their model, the Steel Horse, is the best in the Empire, the other clans favor the Car. it is among the first items after the daisho given at Gempukku. There are even schools dedicated to their use, the Miya courier school are oni themselves behind the wheel. They are seen less as a tool for war, and more as a status symbol. Kakita artisans make the most luxurious cars, while the Unicorn makes the fastest, and the durability of Crab vehicles are well known. Plane travel is limited to commoners that work for businesses that trade with the other clans, and samurai. Though nothing stops a commoner from a flight to see the wonders of the Empire, the price usually means they will choose the train. Checkpoints at all the boarders are still in place, but they worry less about travel papers and more about the safety of the system itself.
Added Minor Clans
The Shark Clan
Seppun Takada was a guardsmen fresh from gempukku charged with the task of assisting the emperor's son with an oversees voyage. Normally, the trip would have gone without trouble, but the emperor's son was cursed with a desire to see the unknown, pushing the ship further north. The ship hit a large chunk of ice, and was sinking fast when the emperor's son was thrown overboard. The young Seppun threw himself after the young man, and saved the young man at the cost of a leg. The Emperor offered him the lordship of a new tract of islands far to the north of the Islands of Silk and Spice. Though there was little known about these new islands the young man took followers and found a land with lavish gardens during the summer, and biting cold during the winter. When a young Firefly created a submersible, the Shark ran with the idea. Their submarine fleet is the best in the Empire, serving as guardians of the north. Though they have only encountered a few ships, their brutality was to such a degree that many Gaijin admirals would rather send ships to the south, braving the Mantis, than this small but ferocious clan. Some question if the land itself fights with them, as pitfalls have driven back even Rokugani vessels. During the winter months, a treacherous path of icebergs block the path to the Islands of Fire and Ice. The Shark find their watery home to fit them, and many choose the path of the submariner, rarely leaving their cold home.
The Toad Clan
After a Third of the Burning Sands was taken over by Rokugan, a Clan was needed to oversee the oil operation. A tournament was held, and at the end, Hida Fuguri was left standing. He took a small group of followers to an isolated oasis, and built an Clan that rivals the Crane for wealth. The oil must flow, and for two centuries, the Toad had made sure of it. Though they may appear more gaijin than the rest of the Empire due to the darkening effect of the hot sun on their skin, they took Rokugan with them when they left. The architecture of Kyuuden Fuguri is more traditional than the remade Kyuuden Doji. Much like their Crab ancestors, they rely on trade with the other clans for goods due to their desert homes, still the oil under thier care makes for a useful bargaining chip. Though half of their efforts go directly to the Imperial stores for taxes instead of rice, the remainder still makes them a wealthy clan. Contracted Crab ensure no gajin forces threaten their work, and the Toad are happy with the life they were blessed with. Due to their wealth, firearms are more common here as well. After all, when the gaijin fight exclusively with firearms, it is unwise to just bring a sword.