Rokugan

Rokugan is the fictional empire which is the main power in the Legend of the Five Rings setting, the basis for the Legend of the Five Rings Collectible Card Game and Legend of the Five Rings Role-Playing Game, both from Alderac Entertainment Group. It is similar to feudal Japan, though it also includes aspects of other Asian cultures, as well as magic and mythical beasts. The setting was used by Wizards of the Coast as the basis for their updated Oriental Adventures D20 supplement.

There is no given name for the entire world which the setting describes, so "Rokugan" is used alternately to refer to the specific nation within the setting or to refer to the entire world. Strictly speaking this is incorrect, but as the Emperor lays claim to all that is as a right of being the descendant of Amaterasu and Onnotangu -- Lady Sun and Lord Moon -- the courtiers of the Emerald Empire would see this as an appropriate use. The citizens and rulers of the Burning Sands and Ivory Kingdoms might disagree, however.

The Empire of Rokugan

Rokugani society is based on a clan structure, with seven (and later eight) so-called "Great Clans", as well as several minor clans. Great Clans are made up of several family lines, each with their own general purpose within the clan. Minor clans, on the other hand, generally only have one family. Each clan also has areas of land bequeathed by the emperor under their control. The emperor retains ownership off all lands, however, and the clans essentially rent the lands they use by paying taxes annually.

Crab Clan

The Crab Clan is considered the least cultured or courtly of all the clans. Their duty is to guard the wall that separates the empire of Rokugan from the foul and tainted Shadowlands. Families of the Crab Clan are: Hida, Hiruma, Kuni, Kaiu, Yasuki, Toritaka. Colors of the Crab are grey and dark blue.

Crane Clan

The Crane Clan is considered the most artistic of all the clans. They are the Emperor's Left Hand. They are known throughout the empire for their trained courtiers and duelists. The families of the crane clan are: Asahina, Daidoji, Doji, Kakita, Yasuki. The Crane's colors are white and light blue.

Dragon Clan

The Dragon Clan controls the mountains to the north of the empire. They are aloof and removed from the affairs of the empire. Families of the clan include: Hitomi, Hoshi, Kitsuki, Mirumoto, Tamori, Togashi, and formerly the Agasha (the Agasha have since joined the Phoenix). The colors of the Dragon Clan are emerald green and gold.

Lion Clan

The Lion Clan is known as a very aggressive and honor-driven clan. They are the Emperor's Right Hand, personally defending his causes above all else. Lion families are: Akodo, Ikoma, Kitsu, Matsu. The Lion Clan uses brown and yellow as their colors

Mantis Clan

The Mantis Clan started as a group of minor clans that banded together under the banner of one powerful man. They are the only new Great Clan, as previously the requirement for such recognition was being founded at the founding of Rokugan. They are known for their seafaring ability and their fine silks. Mantis families are: Moshi, Tsuruchi, Yoritomo. The Mantis favor silver and green as their colors

Phoenix Clan

The Phoenix Clan is known as the most skilled with magic in the empire. They have schools of magic associated with each element, including the empire's only school dealing with Void magic. Phoenix families are: Agasha, Asako, Isawa, Shiba. The Phoenix' colors are red and orange.

Scorpion Clan

The Scorpion Clan is known as the Underhand of the Emperor. They are known for their courtiers' abilities. Their ninja are so well trained that they are not known of at all. Families of the scorpion are: Bayushi, Shoshuro, Soshi, Yogo. Scorpion colors are dark red and black.

Unicorn Clan

The Unicorn Clan is known for their cavalry and horsemanship. They are considered barbarians by the other clans because the clan as a whole spent nearly 800 of the last thousand years outside of the empire. Families of the unicorn are: Moto, Horiuchi, Ide, Iuchi, Shinjo, Utaku (formerly Otaku). The Unicorn's colors are purple and white.

Minor Clans

There are many minor clans in Rokugan -- clans that have been formed since the birth of the empire by those other than the seven Kami. New clans are not founded lightly. The founders of these clans generally performed some extraordinarily valiant deed or favor for the Empire.

Other Regions

Burning Sands

The Burning Sands lie to the north and west of Rokugan. These lands consist mostly of vast stretches of desert where nomads roam the land and bitter wars are fought over the smallest reservoirs of water.

Ivory Kingdoms

The Ivory Kingdoms lie far to the south of Rokugan, past the Shadowlands. Little is known of these islands and their inhabitants to the general populace of Rokugan, although secretly (and illegally) the Mantis Clan has been carrying on trade with this nation for some time.

Shadowlands

The Shadowlands border Rokugan to the south and south-west. While not a nation, per se, this is a vile land where the very air can be poison and foul, unholy creatures are summoned forth by dark powers to wage a never-ending battle against all life in Rokugan.

Recently, the Shadowlands have been united by the Dark Lord Daigotsu, and later by the Bloodspeaker Iuchiban. These two leaders have ended the reign of the mindless Horde over the Shadowlands and forged it into a nation in truth, becoming a much stronger threat than ever before.

Denizens

In the world of Rokugan, there are many different and extraordinary creatures roaming the lands, and humans are not the only beings to have developed a civilization.

Humans

The great majority of the population of Rokugan are humans. Humans almost exclusively make up the population of the clans, great and minor, as well as the other groups within Rokugan. The number of non-human members of Rokugan's clans throughout history can probably be counted on one's fingers.

Kenku

The kenku are an ancient race resembling very large humanoid crows. Kenku are legendary swordsmen and are, at least in legend, responsible for training some of the most famous Rokugani swordsmen in history. Seeing a kenku is rare, and getting one to take on a student is nearly impossible. These creatures have removed themselves from Rokugan almost entirely.

Naga

The naga are an ancient race of creatures who appear half-human, half-serpent. Long before the rise of Rokugan, the Naga had a vast and vibrant civilization. At some point in pre-history, however, the entire race of Naga entered a deep sleep, where they remained for nearly 100,000 years. They awakened briefly during the Second Day of Thunder, but after a few short years of involvement in Rokugani affairs, they once again returned to their slumber.

Nezumi

The "ratlings" are a race of large, intelligent rats. They currently live in squalor, barely better than animals, although they claim to have once had an extensive, advanced society. Unfortunately, this civilization was entirely within what has become the Shadowlands, and was presumably destroyed when the dark Kami Fu Leng fell to the earth.

Zokujin

The "copper goblins" are small creatures with wiry hair and heads vaguely resembling those of frogs. They have extraordinary natural tunneling abilities -- being that they eat rock for nourishment, this is little surprise. Because of this, they are often used -- involuntarily more often than not -- by the clans of Rokugan in their various mines. Zokujin live to be centuries old, and an experienced zokujin shaman will have more powerful abilities in the area of Earth magic than is possible for human shugenja.

External links

The Abyss (http://www3.sympatico.ca/jcmarshall/Main/fmain.htm) - Fansite for several RPGs, including an entire, usable Legend of the Burning Sands RPG.
Alderac Entertainment Group (http://www.alderac.com) - The publishers of Legend of the Five Rings.
The L5R Wiki - Rokugan (http://l5r.wikicities.com/wiki/Rokugan) - Rokugan information on L5R Wiki.
Legend of the Five Rings (http://www.l5r.com) - The official Legend of the Five Rings home page.
The Miya Archives (http://www.legendofthefiverings.com/miyaarchives/) - A compilation of writings on and from Rokugan and the Burning Sands.

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Categories: Legend of the Five Rings