Stupid question: ooc

[Daidoji Hikori]

if the spider are an aknowledged minor clan in this setting what is their family name? Or are you more like a ronin band?

[Shoju]

I'm unsure how we are being looked at in game right now, since we haven't been granted Major Clan status. AFAIK, they were never a recognized Minor clan.

You will find Daigotsu Bushi and Courtier, Chuda Shugenja, and Goju Ninja as well. I am debating making a push to have the shadowlands monks (maybe even Kokujin since timeline wise he isn't dead yet) added. Though, adding that might be difficult.

[Daidoji Hikori]

So I suppose you are presented more like a band of ronin rather than a clan with the members themselves calling each other spider clan...interesting rp opportunities!

[daigotsukentaro]

Stupid follow-up question:

I suspect this has been sorted out already, but all I found was some speculation. I'm trying to pin down how to represent myself in open court. There are items in the EE game that use the term "Spider clan", but is this just a convenience of standardized nomenclature, or a sign that we are a clan? Or, are these issues being decided by an action elsewhere, that I'm not gonna talk about. ("The first rule of Spider Clan is that you don't talk about Spider Clan. The second rule of Spider Clan is that you DON"T TALK ABOUT SPIDER CLAN.")

So, are the Spider unknown except as individual ronin?

Does the empire think we are a band of ronin?

Are we a minor clan?

Do they know we (mostly) serve Daigotsu?

Are they aware of the term "Spider"?

[Shoju]

I will post on this tomorrow when I'm feeling a little better based on how I've been RPing.

[tadakasan]

It's nomenclature Genko; Much like how a Spider Clan faction existed as a playable Clan faction between the time they were the shadowlands horde and being "recognized". Most of Rokugan at the time knew nothing about the Spider. And those who did know of the Spider merely thought of them as a band of Ronin who were known for protecting villages and travelers from bandits and monsters, and some even heard rumors that they employed brutal tactics in this "protection" they provided. But despite some curiosity on some people's part there was nothing to suggest that these ronin were tainted or had some kind of hidden agenda, merely a noble band of protectors,

The truth at the time (which is the same point in time we're on in EE more or less) was that Daigotsu was sending infiltrators into the Empire. Some were there bands of "protectors" while others infiltrated great clans or courts. As far as the real story behind these protectors... while it was true that they would brutally kill any bandits they came across, many of these battles were staged; the ultimate goal was to build legitimacy through the courts and spreading the word of their acts of duty to the Empire.

It aort of worked, but things started to unravel. Some Spider were caught infiltrating and some were discoved to have the Taint. Things only really collapsed though when Iweko took the throne; being divine she knew what the Spider Clan was and ordered them disbanded. Which they did not do of course, they merely went back into hiding.

The answer the last few questions of what should be right about this point in EE; The Spider should currently seen as a band of ronin, They are most certainly not a minor clan, for only the Emperor can declare the creation of a minor clan, and he obviously did no such thing for the Spider, so that wouldn't work one bit to even try. No one knows about the connection between Daigotsu and the Spider pretty much, with only a few people discovering little tidbits of information. And lastly, they are aware of the term Spider. I do not believe they were publicly calling themselves the "Spider Clan" per say, but their brotherhood was known as the Spider and a mon of a Spider; that way the glory for their deeds would lead somewhere.

Oh, and one last detail; the Spider Monks at the time did not actively identify themselves as Spider to the Empire at the time. They infiltrated the Empire either as single or groups of wandering sohei monks. So as far as you presenting yourself personally in court, you would be treated the same as any monk from the Brotherhood; sometimes good for wisdom or mystical knowledge but not of the Samurai caste and not worthy of attending courts or anything reserved for samurai; unlike the Togashi, the Spider monks don't have a Clan to give them that status so they're stuck. Which makes infiltrating easier, but makes politics and such pretty much a no go unless you could get a position as a sensei or outside advisor to teach the wisdom of a monk. Just as a side note.

[daigotsukentaro]

Thank you, Tadaka-san.

I was mostly aware of the CCG / RPG timeline and history, but was unsure how EE was treating it. I would feel like a prize ******* presenting as a Minor Clan, only to find out I'm not.

In my background, I was of Great Clan, then became ronin due to an indiscretion [OOC: didn't look at what I clicked on while grinding tokens, only to realize I didn't mean to get, well, you know... So I made some lemonade, seppuku'd the character, and rebuilt as Spider]. So, for the moment, I will remove my "Spider Clan" tag, and add "Samurai" and "Ronin".

Again, thank you for the clarification.

[Shoju]

Now that I'm awake, and not as sore:

I have been RPing as a ronin, who has a lord. When pushed on the issue, I make vague references to how Daigotsu and Toturi (Clan Wars era) are very similar. both are building for a better future, both are masters of ronin, etc...

My current RP in the courts is the closest I have come to "saying" I'm spider. Even when Shiro Saisei went down, I always kept up the idea that I'm a ronin, with a master.

[Daigotsu Thrakhath]

I've only RPed on the board twice, and once was with other Spiders. The one time it wasn't I played up the whole ronin thing

[daigotsukentaro]

Sadly, after resurrecting this thread, I found this info already posted elsewhere. D'oh!

Again, thanks for all the help and advice.