The New Winds

The society of Rokugan follows a divinely ordered pattern set down by the ten Kami, who shared their celestial blessings with the mortal realm. Rokugan is a land of strict social stratification, where an improper look at the wrong time can mean death. Face—the concept of a samurai’s stoicism and outward self-control—is paramount in Rokugan. To lose one’s face is to lose one’s status and reputation in society, and potentially one’s life. The root of the word samurai is, literally, “one who serves.” The samurai rule the Emerald Empire as nobles and lords, but they also serve others—whether the people of Rokugan below or those samurai who sit as lords above them. Rokugan is a feudal society: all of the land belongs to the Emperor, who bestows the rights of stewardship on champions and lords within the Great Clans, who in turn pass on the tasks of administration to lesser-ranked samurai.

All Imperial authority and patterns of life proceed from the Hantei, the Emperor, who is descended from divinity and sits on the Emerald Throne. He is attended primarily by his jeweled champions (the Emerald Champion in particular) and by the champions of the Great Clans. The clan champions are masters of the Great Clans, overseeing the families sworn to each. These families are descended from the heroic mortals who swore fealty to the Kami. (This in game terms means that the Emperor has ultimate authority in manners of status, then the Imperial Court/Jeweled Champions, and then the Clan Champions.)

The various families within the clan are themselves ruled over by daimyō (literally, “the great names”), lords of the families, who hold the power of life and death over their kin and command absolute loyalty. Their individual lands are divided into provinces, the divisions of land in Rokugan, which are ruled over by lesser daimyō—who themselves rule over district and city governors, lords of rich lands and wealthy cities. (This in game terms means that after the Clan Champion, the family daimyōs have power, and then below them it is tiered by status rank. Players who are in the same clan AND family consider anyone higher status than them as their superior and would listen to them. Members of the Imperial Families have no technical authority over anyone outside their own families, but most clans will listen to them out of respect. Disobeying an Imperial Family member has no immediate repercussions, but often times if slighted the Imperial will do everything they can to make future court engagements involving the person who slighted them, or even their clan, be painful.)

The task of stewarding the land for the Emperor requires a samurai to execute the Emperor’s will. This includes the Emperor’s laws, which are collected and enforced by the Emerald Champion. The maintenance of order, law, and justice in Rokugan—in that order of importance—is one of the primary responsibilities of the samurai. Crime in Rokugan is much the same as anywhere else; theft, assault, murder, and arson are all known within the Emerald Empire.

To enforce laws and maintain an orderly society within their borders, provincial daimyō appoint special investigators called magistrates. These magistrates are loyal to clan and daimyō, and are assisted by yoriki (lesser-ranking samurai) and budōka (armed peasant vassals) in tracking and apprehending criminals. Historically, two classes of magistrate have attended to Imperial crimes: Emerald Magistrates, appointed by the Emerald Champion, and Jade Magistrates, appointed by the Jade Champion. The former investigate crimes crossing multiple clan boundaries or involving national personages. The latter were shugenja tasked with investigating crimes against religion or evil magic involving the Shadowlands, but the office has not been filled in centuries

Crimes committed upward, or against those of higher social rank and against the social order, are taken quite seriously by magistrates. Crimes committed downward, such as a samurai’s theft from a peasant, are rarely investigated unless the peasant has the backing of another samurai. Rokugani criminal justice is based on honor, and considers only one form of evidence to be valid: eyewitness testimony (including confession). Fines, public reprimands, and house arrest are common punishments for samurai—although if there’s any doubt as to the samurai’s guilt, the defendant may challenge the offender to a duel, the winner of which is considered beyond reproach. (In game terms, this means that when dealing with legal matters, a Clan Magistrate has authority over their own clan, regardless of family, where an Emerald Magistrate has authority over all clans. Once testimony has been given, the highest status persons testimony is default correct, and only a duel may override it. If no testimony is given, many magistrates will attempt to get one through torture. Magistrates have final say in handing out punishments, for if someone higher than them overrode their decisions then the system would break down, though there are some extreme cases where a Champion may have interceded.)

Despite the need for secrercy, it isn’t unheard of for a lord to have members of other families from the same clan in their service if those samurai’s area of expertise is outside the purview of the lord’s family’s specialty. Because samurai from the same clan have pledged fealty to the clan champion, they are honor bound to work together to further the interests of the clan

Status Effects

Once per session, All characters who are status 2 or higher may add twice their status rank (Rounded down) to any contested Courtier, Etiquette, or Sincerity roll before they roll if their target has equal or lower Status. This effect only may be used when thematically appropriate (A magistrate telling someone in their own clan something is appropriate, a general of the Crane telling a Lion soldier is not appropriate). When in doubt, ask a GM.

((This is a WIP, Not yet applicable)

Value || Example
100 || The ruling Emperor
90–99 || The Imperial Spouse, the Voice of the Emperor, the Emperor’s children, daimyō of the Imperial families, the Emerald Champion, the Jade Champion, the Imperial Advisor, the Imperial Chancellor
80–89 || Great Clan Champion
70–79 || Minor Clan Champion , the Imperial Herald, the Imperial Treasurer, a Great Clan family daimyō, a great general
60–69 || A hatamoto, a provincial governor, a commander of multiple companies
59 || Estate Daimyō (Head of an estate)
50–59 || A city governor, a captain of a military company, a vassal family daimyō
50 || Karō (Head of Staff for an estate)
45 || Hatamoto to an Estate Daimyō (Advisor to estate Daimyō)
40–49 || Darō, Emerald/Jade Magistrate, revered sensei, clan magistrate, lieutenant
40 || Bugyō (Mid-level administer and overseer of estate)
35-39 || Hikan (Samurai of a particular estate)
30–39 || Abbot of the Brotherhood, average Great Clan samurai
25–29 || Average Minor Clan or vassal family samurai, monk of the Brotherhood
20–24 || Village officer, disgraced samurai, rōnin
10–19 || Ashigaru, artisan, laborer
1–09 || Merchant, bandit0Burakumin (entertainer, geisha, leather-worker, butcher, torturer, or gravedigger), one outside the Celestial Order

Titles:
Emerald Magistrate
Emerald Magistrates are agents of the Emperor’s Law, warrior-sages who dispense wisdom and justice.

Assigned By: The Emerald Champion, the Emperor, and other high-ranking officials in the office of the Emerald Champion can appoint Emerald Magistrates, and do so when a samurai proves worthy of the post or when the need arises for more arbiters of the Emperor’s Justice.


Advisor
Advisors serve daimyō, Emerald Magistrates, generals, and other notables with their minds and their words, giving them guidance, ideas, and counsel as request-ed. A great leader must have access to far more information than any one person can reasonably know, and therefore they employ various specialists and experts who keep them up to speed on dozens of vital topics. As a result, many military strategies, legal precedents, and trade deals are penned by advisors in the name of the one they serve, and these people wield great power as a result.

Assigned By: Daimyō, Emerald Magistrates, military leaders, high-ranking courtiers, and other individuals of import can appoint Advisors, and do so at their discretion


Clan Magistrate
Clan magistrates are similar to Emerald Magistrates but have a jurisdiction confined to the lands and holdings of their parent clan. More specialized (and low-er-ranking) types of clan magistrates, called regional or municipal magistrates, have jurisdictions that are further restricted to a specific area or a particular town or city. Most crimes in the Empire are investigated by clan magistrates, although they often work with Emerald Magistrates operating in their clan’s territory. This is particularly true in cases of serious crimes with Empire-wide implications, such as treason or use of illegal magic. Having a clan magistrate work with Emerald Magistrates conducting an investigation in their territory allows a clan’s leadership to ensure that their interests are represented and to keep tabs on what the Emerald Magistrates may be up to in their lands.

Clan magistrates generally patrol their jurisdictions on a regular basis, inspecting travelers’ papers to ensure they are in proper order. They also oversee the collection of taxes, including designated levies on the production of food and other commodities by commoners and tariffs on goods sold or traded by merchants.

Several clans maintain specialized groups of clan magistrates, such as the Asako Inquisitors of the Phoenix, the Kuroiban (“Black Watch”) of the Scorpion, and the Kuni Purifiers of the Crab. Each of these groups deals primarily with illegal and blasphemous magics and incursions into the Empire by the Shadowlands.

Assigned By: Clan champions, daimyō, and other leaders within a clan may appoint magistrates to enforce the law within the clan’s territories and among its vassals


Daimyō
Daimyō are provincial rulers who oversee the day-to-day rule of vast swaths of the Emerald Empire. They are responsible for collecting taxes and, to expedite this process, for the general infrastructure of their realm and wellbeing of their citizens. Ultimately, however, it is rare for even the clan champion or Emperor to question a particular daimyō so long as their taxes are paid in full, on time. Thus, they are afforded a great deal of leeway in the rule of their domains. Some seek to better the lives of the commoners and samurai they over-see; others callously exploit these people to advance their personal ambitions.

Assigned By: Clan champions, the Emperor, and other high-ranking officials in the Imperial hierarchy can appoint Daimyō, and do so when a previous Daimyō retires or passes away, or when they see fit to change the ruler of a province


Gunsō
While the vast majority of soldiers in a Rokugani army are ashigaru and conscripts, many samurai are called to military service, either in the armies of their own clan or in the Imperial Legions. When samurai do take to the field, they often these serve in leadership positions. While each lord's forces have their own structure and character, common titles are used throughout Rokugan to indicate similar levels of authority. When a lord gathers a large force for battle, they may nominate one or more gunsō to command the kashira who lead individual units.

A gunsō is responsible for all aspects of battle readiness for the troops under their command, including the troops’ training, discipline, and equipment. When battle begins, gunsō direct their troops in accordance with commands from their superiors, meaning they have to maintain good awareness not only of their own unit but also of the broader battle unfolding around them. Perhaps most importantly, gunsō are expected to display conspicuous leadership during battle, leading their troops from the front and rallying their soldiers, keeping them in the fight even as losses mount and their morale begins to waver.

Assigned By: A daimyō may assign a samurai a rank within their military forces, and samurai serving with-in the military rank structure may be promoted by a superior officer


Monastic Acolyte
Most monks in Rokugan belong to either the Brother-hood of Shinsei or the Order of Ten Thousand Fortunes, having entered the order while young and making it their life’s work. There is, however, a separate category of monks who are retired samurai. While they still generally enter one of these two orders, these individuals have spent their life in service to their clan as a bushi, courtier, artisan, or shugenja. Even samurai who spend time as a sensei, instructing and guiding a younger generation of samurai, eventually reach a point at which their age begins to make such service difficult. Many then put aside their clan affiliation, shave their head, and become a monk, living out their remaining days in quiet introspection and contemplation.

More militant samurai may prefer to meet a glorious end in battle, but there is no shame in retiring to become a monk. Without the intensive training young monks receive, such retired samurai seldom perfect the kihō commonly associated with monks. Nevertheless, such individuals are greatly revered, being sought by younger samurai for their guidance and wisdom.

Assigned By: Most monasteries accept anyone as a monk, as long as they take the required vows and shave their head. A samurai who becomes a monk leaves their old life behind, including both their clan and family identity, and takes a new name


Priest
When the term “priest” is used to describe a samurai, it is natural to think of shugenja, those rare and powerful individuals who are able to invoke the elemental kami directly and cause them to manifest potent effects in the Realm of Mortals. Most priests, however, are not shugenja. Rather, they are sincere in their devotion to and reverence for the kami, but their communion with the spirits is subtler. By no means does this diminish them or their importance, however. For most spiritual purposes, samurai seek the guidance and assistance of these priests. Such individuals offer prayers and devotions to the kami—and may, from time to time, even be rewarded with minor blessings by the spirits. They also conduct many of the rituals important to samurai and commoners alike, such as blessing fields and sanctifying ritual spaces, performing weddings and funerals, and crafting charms and talismans blessed by their favored deities.

Assigned By: Most priests train for their role from a young age. In rare cases, an individual who has shown a particular devotion to or affinity for the kami may take up duties at a shrine or temple, where the head priest assigns their title.


Spy
Being designated a spy is problematic for many samurai. By definition, a spy uses deception and subterfuge to gather information, and they may even employ more sinister methods, such as blackmail or extortion, to achieve assigned objectives. Such nefarious and underhanded methods naturally fly in the face of the Bushidō tenets of Sincerity, Righteousness, and Hon-or. Indeed, some particularly honorable samurai will commit seppuku before acceding to their lord’s wish for them to act as a spy, no matter how great the need. That said, many samurai have fewer qualms and accept the harm to their honor if that is the duty assigned to them by their superiors.

In reality, most spies do little more than simply observe and report on events and happenings of interest to their superiors. Some, however, go on to develop more sophisticated methods and techniques, including using stealth and disguises to enter places that are otherwise off-limits to them, and communicating crucial and sensitive information by means of complex ciphers and codes.

Assigned By: Daimyō, clan champions, magistrates, and clandestine organizations surreptitiously task a samurai with acting as a spy. Unlike other titles, of course, this is never announced publicly


Yōjimbō
Yōjimbō are dedicated bodyguards, appointed to protect a specific individual at any cost. While any samurai should willingly lay down their life to protect their lord, a yōjimbō is their master’s last line of defense. They are also likely to serve as their proxy in duels of honor, and have the grim task of acting as their lord’s second should they need to commit seppuku, decapitating them to end their suffering. Most follow their master even into death, should they not have the chance to die in their service.

Assigned By: Daimyō, Emerald Magistrates, military leaders, high-ranking courtiers, and other individuals of import can appoint yōjimbō, and do so at their discretion


Yoriki
Because magistrates are relatively few in number, they make extensive use of a variety of retainers and assistants. These include yoriki: samurai who function as permanent deputies. Generally, a magistrate may have one or two yoriki, but if needed, and their status permits it, they may have as many as a dozen. Yoriki have some of the same duties as their patron magistrate, such as investigating crimes, gathering testimony (and, in the case of yoriki working with Kitsuki Investigators, physical evidence), overseeing the torture of offenders to obtain confessions, and applying punishments. Their authority to engage in these tasks is usually limit-ed with respect to offenders who are samurai, however, and is more broadly applicable to commoners. Yoriki report regularly to their patron magistrate.

Yoriki are normally drawn from the clan of the mag-strate they serve, although some Emerald Magistrates employ rōnin as yoriki to remove any appearance of bias. Particularly competent yoriki may be considered "magistrates in training."

Assigned By: Magistrates of all kinds directly appoint their own yoriki as their needs require


The Damned
One of the tragic realities faced by the Crab is that death isn’t necessarily the worst outcome of confronting the Shadowlands. Even if they survive battle relatively unscathed physically, many become afflicted with the Taint of Jigoku. For most Rokugani, becoming Tainted is so abhorrent that even seppuku seems preferable to the slow, creeping corruption that twists their body and imperils their soul. However, some samurai have duties they cannot so easily abandon. As such, the Crab allow the Tainted to serve, eventually moving those too suffused with the essence of Fu Leng to the Damned, a legion based in a fortress located close to the Wall—the so-called Barracks of the Damned. The existence of the Damned is not exactly a secret, but neither are the Crab quick to speak of them, particularly to outsiders.

Assigned By: Kuni daimyō or other officials. Only tainted samurai can be assigned a position in The Damned


Harvesters
Even those among the Crab who are most fervently devoted to destroying the creatures of the Shadow-lands recognize value in obtaining specimens—both living and dead—for study by anatomists and other scholars. Harvesters are samurai skilled in traversing and surviving the Shadowlands, who also undertake the profoundly dangerous task of collecting and returning such specimens for research. Unsurprisingly, Harvesters are most commonly found among the Hiruma. Individuals or small groups of Harvesters hunt and trap smaller Tainted creatures; occasionally, larger groups of Harvesters, often supported by detachments of Crab bushi and Kuni shugenja, set out to collect bigger (and correspondingly more dangerous) monstrosities.

Assigned By: Hiruma or Kuni officials


Twenty Goblin Crab
At one time, the character was a rōnin, eking out a meager existence on the fringes of Rokugani society with no lord to provide for them. Now, however, they are an accepted member of the Hida family of the Crab after completing a harrowing Twenty Goblin Winter. By slaying and bringing back the heads of twenty goblins from the Shadowlands, they earned a place among the Crab. As far as their comrades are concerned, they have always been one of the Crab—even if they can’t forget the long, bitter days of being cursed and reviled by “proper” samurai of the Empire as an honorless rōnin dog

Assigned By: Hida daimyō or other officials


Witch Hunter
Because of the diffuse structure of the family, the Kuni are known as much for their order of Witch Hunters as they are for their schools. Garbed in dark robes and daubed with imposing makeup to hide their faces from evil spirits, the members of this group seek out mahō-tsukai and any who dare to practice the foul art of mahō within Rokugan. While the Kuni would generally accept anyone with the skills needed (shugenja primarily, but rarely, other mystics or experienced hunters of mahō-tsukai), in recent years, only members of the Crab Clan have sought out this solemn duty. Most are from the Kuni Purifier School. Witch Hunters operate with little oversight, each doing what they deem necessary to defend Rokugan against these threats. Any Witch Hunter can elevate another to the task, though few do so unless their apprentice has proven themself time and again, and faced horrors that would shatter any soul still harboring doubts or uncertainties.

Assigned By: Another Witch Hunter


Castellan
While a daimyō presides over one or more castles, daily management of a fortification invariably falls to one of their subordinates. A castellan is generally one of their daimyō’s most trusted agents, for they see to the safety and readiness of the daimyō’s primary holding. To serve in this role, a character must not just be trustworthy and loyal, but also learned in topics from logistics and wartime defenses, to the cultural expectations of entertaining guests from the highest echelons of society.

Assigned By: A daimyō after putting the samurai in charge of the day-to-day management of a castle. A castle can have a single castellan.


Covert Agent
There are countless ways in which a samurai might become an asset of someone other than their sworn lord. Sometimes, even samurai who believed their loyalty to Bushidō unshakable discover that they cannot serve both their lord and their conscience. Sometimes, covert agents are embedded in enemy courts and swear false loyalty in service of their true lord. And, of course, some samurai are not so high-minded in their treachery. Blackmail, bribery, revenge, jealousy, fear, and even hope for a better world can all sway human hearts from the hard path of Bushidō. However should a character become a covert agent, they now serve a secret purpose, and must quickly develop new skills to stay one step ahead—or face disgrace and a brutal demise.

Assigned By: Any individual who gives the samurai a task that requires them to act against the interests of their sworn lord (or falsely enter the service of another lord)


Esteemed Negotiator
When the Great Clans of Rokugan stand at the precipice of conflict, they often call upon renowned mediators. The Deer Clan is well-known for its counselors, but they are hardly the only group that serves this role in the Emerald Empire. Daimyō in need of impartial mediators often turn to the Brotherhood of Shinsei, the Togashi Order, and other organizations known for their great wisdom or unconventional perspective, such as the Asako, Ide, Asahina, and Yogo families. To be called upon as an outside mediator is a great honor, and those who become renowned at defusing mounting conflicts are ever in demand in the Emerald Empire.

Assigned By: A daimyō or other individual of status 50 or higher who requests the specifically specifically as a mediator for a political problem (and the samurai's lord assents to this assignment)


Kenshinzen
The most legendary of living duelists in all of Rokugan, the kenshinzen are an order within the Kakita Duelist tradition who have achieved a rank of mastery over iaidō that few can even conceive, drawing their swords with a fluid speed the swiftest eye can hardly track. These artists of the sword are highly sought-after as yōjimbō, advisors, and generals, and any duelist who faces a kenshinzen lightly is sure to taste defeat.

Assigned By: Two existing kenshinzen, after witnessing the samurai defeating a kenshinzen in a duel. The samurai must also have an honor attribute of 65 or higher.


Kyūden Asako Shieldbearer
Training in venerable weapons that others might view as archaic, the Shieldbearers of Kyūden Asako are skilled martial artists who maintain a tradition older than the Emerald Empire itself. The Shieldbearers’ unorthodox fighting style makes them difficult for many samurai to engage individually or as a unit, and their ancient tradition has proven its worth each time it has been tested by attacks upon their home.

Occasionally, Shieldbearers are assigned to other lords in the Phoenix Clan and even beyond, for their unique tactics and keen understanding of defensive fighting make them excellent yōjimbō and unusual but effective unit leaders.

Assigned By: The commander of the Kyūden Asako Shieldbearers when the samurai joins their ranks.


Master Artisan
Once in a generation perhaps, a human’s art touches the divine, stirring the world itself with its clarity of purpose. There are numerous fables of Kakita artisans whose final masterworks changed the course of history, and every artist’s tradition claims some number whose works reached these heights, establishing their creators as masters among masters. The Sevenfold Palace is one location that produces some number of Master Artisans, but there are other schools and facilities in Rokugan whose students often lay claim to this title. To take on the title of Master Artisan is to begin this elusive pursuit—to reach the realization that mastery of an art is not the end of their journey, but the beginning.

Assigned By: Someone of status 75 or higher after the samurai performs a great artistic feat for them.


Winter Court Champion
Each year at the Winter Court, samurai take the opportunity to prove themselves, participating in numerous challenges, games, and tests. While these events are in many ways backdrop for the bargains and machinations on the grand stage of politics, they are hardly unimportant. Becoming a Winter Court Champion offers a character more than just the accolades of the court for the remainder of the proceedings. It also gives them unpar-alleled access to the authorities of Rokugan, including the Imperial Court, which is usually sealed away in Otosan Uchi behind high walls of stone and higher walls of bureaucracy. Thus, winning a contest at a Winter Court can be a unique opportunity to advance their clan’s agenda—and one’s own agenda within the clan!

Assigned By: The Emperor or one of their chosen agents after a samurai wins one of the major contests at a Winter Court


Seven Fold Palace Acolyte
The Seven Fold Palace serves as a proving ground for skilled artisans of the blade, of armor, and of other arts as well. Apprentices and journeyman artists toil ceaselessly amidst the pristine grounds, each someday hoping to achieve the vaunted rank of Master Artisan. The life of an aspirant is not easy, filled with long hours and harsh judgment for failed works, but the opportunity to learn is also unparalleled in Rokugan. Few succeed in the quest to become a Master Artisan, and yet there is never any shortage of new students willing to hurl themselves into this crucible of learning.

Assigned By: One of the masters of the Seven Fold Palace after the samurai begins studying there


In Service To A Lord
To be in the service of a lord as a rōnin or peasant is a fantastic honor. For a rōnin, this is one step closer to being admitted into a family or clan and regaining lost status. For a peasant, being seen as valuable enough to perform missions directly for a lord is a recognition of outstanding courage and skill, setting them apart. Working for a lord, however, does not necessarily mean one is accepted as anything more than skilled or useful, and to be in such a position has a way of drawing unwanted attention from other rōnin or peasants. Though a rōnin might enjoy the opportunity to prove their worth and climb socially, working for a lord does not guarantee the lord’s protection or respect. Additionally, a lord can very easily back out of payment for any reason, leaving a rōnin or peasant with no recourse and nothing to show for their efforts

Assigned By: Daimyō, advisors, and other individuals of import who can assign titles to individuals on their lord’s behalf.


Perfect Land Sect Member
Anyone who hears the chant of the Perfect Land and earnestly accepts the Little Teacher into their life could be considered a member of the Perfect Land Sect. However, unless a person joins a small, regional Perfect Land Sect community, they must impress Hige and the other sect leaders in order to join it formally. Simply finding the main body of the sect is a challenge, and a potential member cannot be accepted until they prove the purity of their commitment to the cause. The Perfect Land Sect’s leadership is supremely cautious and skeptical of outsiders, and with good reason. The Empire doesn’t like the heretical and dangerous ideas of the sect and is constantly seeking to exterminate the movement

If someone manages to find and make a place for themself among the sect’s members, they may find a loyal and supportive community, even if it comes with the cost of hard work and constant travel. If they join a more regional community, they may find opportunities for leadership or autonomy beyond what their station would allow them outside the sect. Being part of the sect gives members a renewed sense of purpose as they work together to help bring each other out of their challenging livelihoods and toward a common goal of Heavenly peace.

Assigned By: A leader of the Perfect Land Sect


Ghostlands Warrior
Those who hunt and live in the vine-choked, Tainted forests of the Ghostlands know all too well what one must do to survive in a place where the very air threatens to change you, where twisting, malignant vines crawl and cling to every surface, and your allies may turn out to be shapeshifting monsters. The Yodhaniya of the Ivory Kingdoms are the only people to willingly spend most of their lives in the Ghostlands, leaving only sparingly to cleanse themselves between the Pillars of Purity. These fierce and cunning warriors have mastered the ability to see through illusions and deception, which is critical in a landscape that constantly shifts and morphs, teeming with vile creatures that change their form on a whim.
Assigned By: A member of the Yodhaniya of the Ivory Kingdoms.