Lion Lands - Shiro Matsu: Last Breath Castle, Beiden Overlook, and Shiro Matsu Toshi
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:07 pm
Last Breath Castle
The Spine of the World Mountains arc across central Rokugan, dividing the Empire into north and south. Only one mountain pass opens wide enough to allow an army through: Beiden Pass, which connects the Lion Clan’s southern provinces to the northeast edge of Scorpion lands. Beiden Pass is the most direct and safest route through the Spine and the most popular one for caravans. Historically, controlling the pass means controlling trade and travel in central Rokugan.
A low rocky hill rises just below the north end of the pass, and there, the orange-and-gold banners of Shiro Matsu, Last Breath Castle, flutter loudly in the high wind. Shiro Matsu’s central keep perches atop the hill, while the rest of the castle sprawls out below it. From its position, it dominates Beiden Pass, staking a claim of control over the Crossroads of the Empire.
Last Breath Castle’s footprint is one of the largest in Rokugan, exemplifying the sophisticated and effective castle design of the Lion Clan. The castle complex is very wide, spread across and alongside the hill. The pass opens around the castle. To the east lies the Lake of Sorrows, beyond which lie the Crane lands. Just to the west against a stony hillside rests the Hall of Ancestors, a sacred temple to the fallen warriors of every Lion family. To the north is the Valley of Storms, a fertile plain of rolling foothills and black earth, dotted with comfortable farming villages.
The castle is the home of the Matsu family daimyō, Matsu Tsuko, the Lady of Lions. From here, Tsuko claims command of Beiden Pass and strikes out against rivals seeking claim to Matsu lands. Tsuko is as renowned for her menacing fury as for her devotion to Bushidō and to the Empire. She takes no insult lightly, and she has a broad definition of what constitutes an insult. As daimyō, she insists that each of her senior staff deliver briefings with exceptional detail, which she hears out with trademark intensity. Likewise, her commands to castle staff are exhaustively specific and must be carried out to the letter.
Matsu Castle, or Shiro Matsu, is a military installation, a citadel devoted to the instruction of its garrisoned soldiers. But the castle’s greatest strength does not come from its walls, its location, or its nawabari: its strength is found within its people. Last Breath Castle was founded not only on a low hill over a profoundly important strategic trade route; much more than that, it was founded on and continues to draw its strength from its denizens’ sweat and toil, their labor and discipline. Calloused hands till the earth, ring the bells, and draw the water—and without them, the castle would fall. And so the Lion Clan invests in its people.
Strengths and Weaknesses
One of the oldest castles in Rokugan, Last Breath Castle stands on the site where Matsu first met the Kami Akodo. Its walls, constructed with the aid of Crab Clan engineers, were built to withstand fire, earthquake, and, some say, even supernatural threats. The castle’s high location not only aids in defense, but provides a vantage point over the pass and surrounding lands, offering a clear view of approaching threats. Its garrison is responsible for guarding the region’s trade routes and Beiden Pass. Defense against aggression from the Scorpion and Crane has grown in importance, and stands as Shiro Matsu’s primary duty in these troubled times. The daimyō has her soldiers train ceaselessly, maintaining more than enough force of arms to respond swiftly and overwhelmingly to any invaders
Shiro Matsu has never fallen in battle, and those who visit it soon understand why. The grasslands surrounding it offer no cover on the approach, and the switchback road leading out of the pass—known as the Lion’s Teeth—hosts more guardhouses than any other in Rokugan. If invaders managed to breach the towering outer wall, they would find themselves within expansive grounds subdivided by thirty-foot-high inner walls. Every building within the inner walls is built to be defended, with sturdy walls, thick doors, and thin windows that double as arrow slits. Finally, the keep itself is accessible only by lengthy stairways that would leave intruders exposed and vulnerable
Outside the inner bailey, the castle’s barracks, training grounds, and dōjō sprawl across the grounds. Guest housing provides only modest comfort, even by Lion standards; Shiro Matsu’s importance as a political center is remarkably minor despite the considerable economic importance of the city that extends around it.
Even during times of peace, Last Breath Castle maintains a garrison of thousands of ashigaru and samurai. In fact, at nearly any given time, all of the Lion families have contingents present there. Of course, the notorious berserkers and beastmasters of the Matsu are in themselves enough to ward off any but the most determined or foolhardy attackers. These unusual and fearsome warriors maintain their own barracks at an almost-comfortable distance from those of samurai from other Lion families and of the ashigaru. The beastmasters sleep alongside their charges and servants are quite careful while working within the presence of such fierce mounts
Beiden Overlook
The lookout post on the southeastern end of Beiden Pass is only a few li from Beiden Province; in fact, the outpost falls within Scorpion territory. Yet, perhaps due to the proximity of Last Breath Castle and its substantial garrison, the Bayushi family seldom contests the Lion’s claim to the mountainside watchtower. With no walls and no keep, the lookout post would make easy prey for any Scorpion force who sought to take it, however briefly, but defense against an assault is not its purpose. The bushi stationed at the Beiden Overlook are there to provide advance warning to Shiro Matsu of approaching attackers, and so are equipped with some of the fastest horses in Lion lands. Any warrior at the outpost would proudly give their life to protect a messenger
Castle Culture
To courtiers accustomed to courtly life nearly anywhere else in Rokugan, life at Last Breath Castle is almost unbearable. Many dignitaries of the Crane, Scorpion, and Phoenix consider an assignment to Shiro Matsu a sign of their lord’s great disfavor. It is true the Matsu care little, if at all, for diplomacy, art, or commerce—despite their castle’s traditional role as defender of trade routes. The interior of Last Breath Castle is stark, lacking even much of the martially themed decor of other Lion holdings
Matsu Tsuko and her samurai vassals are likewise blunt to the point of rudeness, and guests seldom feel welcome within the castle walls. Each morning, guests wake before dawn to the violent sounds of hundreds of soldiers engaged in practice drills. While the Matsu hold no malicious intent with this disruption, neither would they countenance putting off daily drills to a later hour simply for the comfort of soft guests who would prefer to rise only with the sun. The food and drink on offer is basic and utilitarian, in stark contrast to the expectations of pampered Crane or Scorpion courtiers
Shiro Matsu Toshi
As the stronghold of a Great Clan family located along a major trade route, Last Breath Castle has given rise to a thriving castle town. The city, known simply as Shiro Matsu Toshi, is among the largest in the Empire, and certainly in Lion lands. The Akodo, Kitsu, Ikoma, and Matsu families all have holdings there, and it is home to peasants who serve in the castle, merchants, and tradespersons of all kinds. Although many of these people work to support the castle, just as many find their business or duty tied up with the constant traffic through Beiden Pass.
In the spring, summer, and autumn, the city’s population consists of nearly as many travelers and visitors as permanent residents, including traders, dignitaries, and samurai pilgrims to the Hall of Ancestors or Shrine of Makoto. The city is as raucous as any in the Empire, and traditions from across Rokugan and even beyond clash in the streets and markets.
The city is home to a number of dōjō, with some of the most respected sensei in the Lion Clan. As one might expect of a city under the purview of the Matsu, most of the schools represented train bushi, but schools of other types are also present. One of the most renowned bards of the present day, Ikoma Kanoko, accepts a single new student here each spring
To remain continually on a war-ready footing, Last Breath Castle demands a constant supply of weapons, armor, and other matériel. Beyond the expert sword-smiths who reside within the walls of the keep, the city is home to numerous craftspeople who create arms and armor. These craftspeople supply legions of ashigaru and samurai who serve the Lion Clan not only at Last Breath Castle but throughout Yama Province and beyond. Even smiths who fail to meet the exacting standards of their Matsu lords can nonetheless make a brisk trade bartering their “Lion-made” blades with merchants traveling far and wide
What Attracts Visitors
Few have ever dared to attack Last Breath Castle directly, but this only underscores its importance—Shiro Matsu’s very presence deters threats to the Lion Clan’s southern border and vital trade routes. It is fortuitous that the site of Akodo and Matsu’s fateful meeting should have occurred in such a strategically vital area; Beiden Pass is not only the sole significant passage through the Spine of the World for more than a hundred li around, but is the sole route through any part of the Spine of the World large enough to accommodate an army. The pass is, effectively, the entirety of the Lion Clan’s southern territorial border requiring defense; the clan of Akodo appreciates this fact and devotes as much effort to its security as one might expect
Supernatural Phenomenon
As with any venerable castle, Last Breath Castle has seen its share of spirits throughout the centuries. Most notably, the Hall of Ancestors, the most sacred place in all of Lion territory, lies carved from the hillside nearby, its protection the responsibility of the Matsu family. In this sacred place, the presence of sorei—spirits of honored ancestors—is undeniable
Hall of Ancestors
Though all samurai venerate their honored ancestors, no others do so with the fervor and dedication of the Lion Clan. This special focus on the honored dead is exemplified in the Hall of Ancestors, a massive temple complex that holds the earthly remains—the bones and ashes—of hundreds of the Lion Clan’s greatest heroes. Statues of these ancestors stand before each urn, serving as shrines to the sorei. If a Lion worthy of interment there dies and their remains cannot be recovered, the clan erects a statue and places an empty urn. This is the case with Matsu herself
Plaques record the names, lineages, births, deaths, and deeds of many of these heroes. Others are so famous and revered that no details are needed beyond perhaps their name. Yet in the deepest corridors of the sprawling mountain complex are some ancient statues bereft of identification. Certainly, the keepers of the hall must know the names and deeds of these fallen heroes, for to forget and neglect the sorei would be shameful and surely invite the wrath of Heaven.
By tradition, the administrator and chief guardian of the Hall of Ancestors, known as the Defender of the Hall, is the second-born sibling of the Matsu family daimyō. This spiritual and martial duty is seen as a great honor.
The Lion Clan has no great love of the Tao of Shinsei, but it is no stranger to asceticism. Monks dedicated to Bishamon, Fortune of Strength, tend to the Hall of Ancestors under the leadership of the Defender of the Hall. These monks act as caretakers and stand ready to defend the honored ancestors from any threat, spiritual or mundane. However, they defer to the priests of the Kitsu family, who hold a unique authority here, for they can hear the voices of the sorei as no others can. The shugenja who tend the Hall of Ancestors are among the most venerated of their order, and the head priest holds a responsibility for the spiritual well-being of the ances-tors just as weighty as the Defender of the Hall’s duty
Though it is as quiet as any tomb, the Hall of Ancestors receives a steady supply of visitors. All Lion samurai make the pilgrimage to the hall at least once in their lives, and many, particularly those whose direct ancestors reside within, visit somewhat regularly. Lion visit the Hall not just to show the proper respect and piety, but also to seek the wisdom of the sorei, to find direction in important matters. Throughout the centuries, the ancestors have answered these prayers in a number of miraculous ways, from the subtle to the awe-inspiring. It is relatively rare for non-Lion to visit the Hall of Ancestors, and they must receive special dispensation to do so. The most likely such visitors are members of the Imperial families and accomplished shugenja from other clans. Regardless of the specifics, only a worthy guest receives permission to enter the hall; the occasion is invariably marked with ceremony, and the visitor is accompanied by an honor guard during their time among the Lion ancestors
The Spine of the World Mountains arc across central Rokugan, dividing the Empire into north and south. Only one mountain pass opens wide enough to allow an army through: Beiden Pass, which connects the Lion Clan’s southern provinces to the northeast edge of Scorpion lands. Beiden Pass is the most direct and safest route through the Spine and the most popular one for caravans. Historically, controlling the pass means controlling trade and travel in central Rokugan.
A low rocky hill rises just below the north end of the pass, and there, the orange-and-gold banners of Shiro Matsu, Last Breath Castle, flutter loudly in the high wind. Shiro Matsu’s central keep perches atop the hill, while the rest of the castle sprawls out below it. From its position, it dominates Beiden Pass, staking a claim of control over the Crossroads of the Empire.
Last Breath Castle’s footprint is one of the largest in Rokugan, exemplifying the sophisticated and effective castle design of the Lion Clan. The castle complex is very wide, spread across and alongside the hill. The pass opens around the castle. To the east lies the Lake of Sorrows, beyond which lie the Crane lands. Just to the west against a stony hillside rests the Hall of Ancestors, a sacred temple to the fallen warriors of every Lion family. To the north is the Valley of Storms, a fertile plain of rolling foothills and black earth, dotted with comfortable farming villages.
The castle is the home of the Matsu family daimyō, Matsu Tsuko, the Lady of Lions. From here, Tsuko claims command of Beiden Pass and strikes out against rivals seeking claim to Matsu lands. Tsuko is as renowned for her menacing fury as for her devotion to Bushidō and to the Empire. She takes no insult lightly, and she has a broad definition of what constitutes an insult. As daimyō, she insists that each of her senior staff deliver briefings with exceptional detail, which she hears out with trademark intensity. Likewise, her commands to castle staff are exhaustively specific and must be carried out to the letter.
Matsu Castle, or Shiro Matsu, is a military installation, a citadel devoted to the instruction of its garrisoned soldiers. But the castle’s greatest strength does not come from its walls, its location, or its nawabari: its strength is found within its people. Last Breath Castle was founded not only on a low hill over a profoundly important strategic trade route; much more than that, it was founded on and continues to draw its strength from its denizens’ sweat and toil, their labor and discipline. Calloused hands till the earth, ring the bells, and draw the water—and without them, the castle would fall. And so the Lion Clan invests in its people.
Strengths and Weaknesses
One of the oldest castles in Rokugan, Last Breath Castle stands on the site where Matsu first met the Kami Akodo. Its walls, constructed with the aid of Crab Clan engineers, were built to withstand fire, earthquake, and, some say, even supernatural threats. The castle’s high location not only aids in defense, but provides a vantage point over the pass and surrounding lands, offering a clear view of approaching threats. Its garrison is responsible for guarding the region’s trade routes and Beiden Pass. Defense against aggression from the Scorpion and Crane has grown in importance, and stands as Shiro Matsu’s primary duty in these troubled times. The daimyō has her soldiers train ceaselessly, maintaining more than enough force of arms to respond swiftly and overwhelmingly to any invaders
Shiro Matsu has never fallen in battle, and those who visit it soon understand why. The grasslands surrounding it offer no cover on the approach, and the switchback road leading out of the pass—known as the Lion’s Teeth—hosts more guardhouses than any other in Rokugan. If invaders managed to breach the towering outer wall, they would find themselves within expansive grounds subdivided by thirty-foot-high inner walls. Every building within the inner walls is built to be defended, with sturdy walls, thick doors, and thin windows that double as arrow slits. Finally, the keep itself is accessible only by lengthy stairways that would leave intruders exposed and vulnerable
Outside the inner bailey, the castle’s barracks, training grounds, and dōjō sprawl across the grounds. Guest housing provides only modest comfort, even by Lion standards; Shiro Matsu’s importance as a political center is remarkably minor despite the considerable economic importance of the city that extends around it.
Even during times of peace, Last Breath Castle maintains a garrison of thousands of ashigaru and samurai. In fact, at nearly any given time, all of the Lion families have contingents present there. Of course, the notorious berserkers and beastmasters of the Matsu are in themselves enough to ward off any but the most determined or foolhardy attackers. These unusual and fearsome warriors maintain their own barracks at an almost-comfortable distance from those of samurai from other Lion families and of the ashigaru. The beastmasters sleep alongside their charges and servants are quite careful while working within the presence of such fierce mounts
Beiden Overlook
The lookout post on the southeastern end of Beiden Pass is only a few li from Beiden Province; in fact, the outpost falls within Scorpion territory. Yet, perhaps due to the proximity of Last Breath Castle and its substantial garrison, the Bayushi family seldom contests the Lion’s claim to the mountainside watchtower. With no walls and no keep, the lookout post would make easy prey for any Scorpion force who sought to take it, however briefly, but defense against an assault is not its purpose. The bushi stationed at the Beiden Overlook are there to provide advance warning to Shiro Matsu of approaching attackers, and so are equipped with some of the fastest horses in Lion lands. Any warrior at the outpost would proudly give their life to protect a messenger
Castle Culture
To courtiers accustomed to courtly life nearly anywhere else in Rokugan, life at Last Breath Castle is almost unbearable. Many dignitaries of the Crane, Scorpion, and Phoenix consider an assignment to Shiro Matsu a sign of their lord’s great disfavor. It is true the Matsu care little, if at all, for diplomacy, art, or commerce—despite their castle’s traditional role as defender of trade routes. The interior of Last Breath Castle is stark, lacking even much of the martially themed decor of other Lion holdings
Matsu Tsuko and her samurai vassals are likewise blunt to the point of rudeness, and guests seldom feel welcome within the castle walls. Each morning, guests wake before dawn to the violent sounds of hundreds of soldiers engaged in practice drills. While the Matsu hold no malicious intent with this disruption, neither would they countenance putting off daily drills to a later hour simply for the comfort of soft guests who would prefer to rise only with the sun. The food and drink on offer is basic and utilitarian, in stark contrast to the expectations of pampered Crane or Scorpion courtiers
Shiro Matsu Toshi
As the stronghold of a Great Clan family located along a major trade route, Last Breath Castle has given rise to a thriving castle town. The city, known simply as Shiro Matsu Toshi, is among the largest in the Empire, and certainly in Lion lands. The Akodo, Kitsu, Ikoma, and Matsu families all have holdings there, and it is home to peasants who serve in the castle, merchants, and tradespersons of all kinds. Although many of these people work to support the castle, just as many find their business or duty tied up with the constant traffic through Beiden Pass.
In the spring, summer, and autumn, the city’s population consists of nearly as many travelers and visitors as permanent residents, including traders, dignitaries, and samurai pilgrims to the Hall of Ancestors or Shrine of Makoto. The city is as raucous as any in the Empire, and traditions from across Rokugan and even beyond clash in the streets and markets.
The city is home to a number of dōjō, with some of the most respected sensei in the Lion Clan. As one might expect of a city under the purview of the Matsu, most of the schools represented train bushi, but schools of other types are also present. One of the most renowned bards of the present day, Ikoma Kanoko, accepts a single new student here each spring
To remain continually on a war-ready footing, Last Breath Castle demands a constant supply of weapons, armor, and other matériel. Beyond the expert sword-smiths who reside within the walls of the keep, the city is home to numerous craftspeople who create arms and armor. These craftspeople supply legions of ashigaru and samurai who serve the Lion Clan not only at Last Breath Castle but throughout Yama Province and beyond. Even smiths who fail to meet the exacting standards of their Matsu lords can nonetheless make a brisk trade bartering their “Lion-made” blades with merchants traveling far and wide
What Attracts Visitors
Few have ever dared to attack Last Breath Castle directly, but this only underscores its importance—Shiro Matsu’s very presence deters threats to the Lion Clan’s southern border and vital trade routes. It is fortuitous that the site of Akodo and Matsu’s fateful meeting should have occurred in such a strategically vital area; Beiden Pass is not only the sole significant passage through the Spine of the World for more than a hundred li around, but is the sole route through any part of the Spine of the World large enough to accommodate an army. The pass is, effectively, the entirety of the Lion Clan’s southern territorial border requiring defense; the clan of Akodo appreciates this fact and devotes as much effort to its security as one might expect
Supernatural Phenomenon
As with any venerable castle, Last Breath Castle has seen its share of spirits throughout the centuries. Most notably, the Hall of Ancestors, the most sacred place in all of Lion territory, lies carved from the hillside nearby, its protection the responsibility of the Matsu family. In this sacred place, the presence of sorei—spirits of honored ancestors—is undeniable
Hall of Ancestors
Though all samurai venerate their honored ancestors, no others do so with the fervor and dedication of the Lion Clan. This special focus on the honored dead is exemplified in the Hall of Ancestors, a massive temple complex that holds the earthly remains—the bones and ashes—of hundreds of the Lion Clan’s greatest heroes. Statues of these ancestors stand before each urn, serving as shrines to the sorei. If a Lion worthy of interment there dies and their remains cannot be recovered, the clan erects a statue and places an empty urn. This is the case with Matsu herself
Plaques record the names, lineages, births, deaths, and deeds of many of these heroes. Others are so famous and revered that no details are needed beyond perhaps their name. Yet in the deepest corridors of the sprawling mountain complex are some ancient statues bereft of identification. Certainly, the keepers of the hall must know the names and deeds of these fallen heroes, for to forget and neglect the sorei would be shameful and surely invite the wrath of Heaven.
By tradition, the administrator and chief guardian of the Hall of Ancestors, known as the Defender of the Hall, is the second-born sibling of the Matsu family daimyō. This spiritual and martial duty is seen as a great honor.
The Lion Clan has no great love of the Tao of Shinsei, but it is no stranger to asceticism. Monks dedicated to Bishamon, Fortune of Strength, tend to the Hall of Ancestors under the leadership of the Defender of the Hall. These monks act as caretakers and stand ready to defend the honored ancestors from any threat, spiritual or mundane. However, they defer to the priests of the Kitsu family, who hold a unique authority here, for they can hear the voices of the sorei as no others can. The shugenja who tend the Hall of Ancestors are among the most venerated of their order, and the head priest holds a responsibility for the spiritual well-being of the ances-tors just as weighty as the Defender of the Hall’s duty
Though it is as quiet as any tomb, the Hall of Ancestors receives a steady supply of visitors. All Lion samurai make the pilgrimage to the hall at least once in their lives, and many, particularly those whose direct ancestors reside within, visit somewhat regularly. Lion visit the Hall not just to show the proper respect and piety, but also to seek the wisdom of the sorei, to find direction in important matters. Throughout the centuries, the ancestors have answered these prayers in a number of miraculous ways, from the subtle to the awe-inspiring. It is relatively rare for non-Lion to visit the Hall of Ancestors, and they must receive special dispensation to do so. The most likely such visitors are members of the Imperial families and accomplished shugenja from other clans. Regardless of the specifics, only a worthy guest receives permission to enter the hall; the occasion is invariably marked with ceremony, and the visitor is accompanied by an honor guard during their time among the Lion ancestors