The
Shinomen Snake ClanThe
Shinomen Snake ClanHistory
This clan has been founded one hundred years ago by Mirumoto
Shinda and Asako Kenji, the two survivors of a maho-tsukai hunting group
of magistrate, in return of saving the daughter of the Emerald Champion.
Accomplished master of the Mirumoto technique Shinda researched a new way to use two weapons, a more offensive way. He designed the Shinomen Snake Style from an attempt he had done during his last fight to save the endangered girl...
Kenji, a shugenja with a strong affinity to the water and air elements, has gone deeper in his search of the ancient Naga race and developed some skills. His descendent are considered expert in Naga Lore.
To expand their people Shinda created an annual event, the Tournament of the Lost City, opened to ronin bushis wanting to find a master. At first only the Shinomen Snake Clan recruited, but with years passing other Clans attended the tournament to recruit the cream of the ronins.
The last thirty years, under the rulership of Shinda Jotaro, the clan has begun to be a mercenary clan going farther from bushido and their original purpose (see in Secrets below).
Secrets
During the fight to save the Emerald Champion's daughter the group was nearly defeated. Only the intervention of a Naga Scout saved the day. Sh'lissa, a Shalasha Chameleon female has been awakened from her long sleep by the presence of the maho-tsukai and the powerful Oni he summoned. Sh'lissa intervention gave the time for Shinda and Kenji to strike and defeating both abominations.
After this the Naga and the two humans stroke a deal. They'll ask to be given this part of the land and they'll help the Naga to hunt down Shadowland creatures and Maho-Tsukai and they'll help the whole Naga people when they'll wake be it in one year or in one thousand year. In return the Naga will teach them one or two things and help Kenji to design a ceremony to make some of them stronger so they won't be wasted by the first Shadowland creature or Maho-Tsukai they'll encounter. The result was a sort of blood link. The applicant receiving a small amount of spell modified Naga blood.
Since 35 years now other Naga have awakened the number of Naga present in the city is merely a dozen. Essentially Scouts from the Chameleon and Greensnake bloodlines, there is only one Cobra shugenja present. All males stay hidden. Female shapechange when they have to go out. One of the female Naga is posing as Shinda Jotaro’s wife. Of course Shinda Jotaro's son, Shinda Yoshikawa isn't half Naga. But he has Naga blood like his father and their forefather.
All shugenja of the clan are initiated to it's great secret and pass the ceremony during their gempukku. This is the reason why there are no ronin shugenja allowed at the Tournament.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Naga Blood (5 points):
You have undergone the ceremony and received Naga Blood, choose one of the following powers or design one new with the GM.
Resistant to the Taint: When you have to make a test the TN is reduced by 5.
Chameleon Blood: When you try to hide outdoors gain a Free Raise.
Night Seeing: When you try to see the night, if there is a faint light (stars) you gain a Free Raise.
Great Lungs: You may stay underwater one minute per Earth Rank.
Mutation (3 or 6 points)
You have too much Naga blood in your family and
you pay the price.
Minor mutation (3 points): you have an easily
hidden mark. If it's ever seen all social interactions have their TN raised
by 5 and they'll be branded as Tainted.
Major mutation (6 points): the same problem
but this time at greater scale, it could be a webbed hand, snake eyes,
and so on ... All Social TN are raised by 15 and they'll be hunted if they
show themselves too much.
Visions (3 points)
You can’t focus when you rest or meditate. When
meditating you gain one point less than you should, but you always gain
at least one point. If a shugenja you restore one spell less (from the
total), with a minimum of one spell restored.
Family & Schools
Shinda Family: +1 Reflexes
Kenji Family: +1 Intelligence
Shinda Bushi School
Benefit: +1 Void
Begining Honor: 1.5
Skills
Iaijutsu, Defense, Battle, Naga Lore, Kenjutsu 2 or Nofujutsu
2 or Tantojutsu 2.
Shinda Bushi does not lose Honor when using Nofujutsu.
Outfit (Average Quality)
Katana, Wakizashi, Bow, 20 arrows of any type, Traveling
Pack, Light Armor, Kimono, 2 weapons of the same type or a wakizashi, 1
koku.
Rank 1: The Snake's Fangs
The Bushi has learned to fight with two same type weapons
be it Wakizashi (Kenjutsu), Sai, Jitte (Nofujutsu), Tanto, Aiguchi (Tantojutsu).
When he uses two same type weapons the bushi can add its Rank to the dices
he rolls to hit.
Rank 2: The Snake Gaze
The Bushi has learned to distract his opponent using
his two weapons. By spending a Void point and making a simple Void roll
vs the target Willpower x 5 he may reduce his target TN to be hit by 5
times his Rank.
Rank 3: The Snake Venom
The Bushi has learned to use fully its two weapons. Now
he may add the weapons damage code, effectively doubling it's dice to roll
and to keep.
Kenji Shugenja School
Benefit: +1 Perception
Beginning Honor: 1.5
Kenji shugenja have a Free Raise on water spells.
Skills
Calligraphy, History, Meditation, Shintao, and any one
High Skill, Naga Lore 2
Spells
Sense, Commune, Summon, 2 Water, and 1 Air
Kenji Shugenja has the Naga Blood advantage for free.
Outfit (Average Quality):
Kimono, Traveling Pack, Scroll Satchel, Wakizashi, Tanto,
and 2 koku.
Clan Personalities
The Shinda
Shinda Jotaro
Earth: 4
Willpower: 6
Water: 4
Strength: 5
Fire: 3
Intelligence: 4
Air: 3
Reflexes: 5
Void: 5
School/Rank: Shinda Bushi 3 (Insight: 232)
Honor: 2.5
Glory: 6.1
Advantages: Major Ally (Hida Kisada), Minor Allies (Dragon,
Phoenix), Ambidextrous, Clear Thinker, Leadership *, Naga Blood (Unique
see below) **, Tactician *, Voice, Way of the Land (Shinomen Snake Clan).
Disadvantages: Bad Reputation (Mercenary), Visions (Naga
Dreams) **, Lost Love (Kakita Otsu).
Skills: Battle 4, Calligraphy 3, Courtier 3, Defense
3, Iaijutsu 3,Kenjutsu 5, Kyujutsu 3, Naga Language 5, Naga Lore 4, Shintao
3, Sincerity 3, Tea Ceremony 3.
Naga Blood: Will of the Eyes: Shinda Jotaro can persuade someone of a single thing during a discussion by winning a contested Void vs Void roll.
Shinda Jotaro is the daimyo of the Shinomen Snake Clan. It’s an old but still strong man. He should have retired since twelve years now.
Shinda Jotaro is the only son of the late Shinda Darihe. During his youth he was told he had to fight the Shadowlands and help the Nagas. During his youth he joined his father on the field and studied the way to lead the men. Later after his gempukku, he traveled to the Crab and Dragon lands and has been in battle with the young Hida Kisada and Mirumoto Sukune.
When he was twenty-five he has married a Kakita actress, Kakita Otsu, who bore him a son two years later and took his name. When his son was three years old a tragedy occurred. As he traveled with his mother in the Naga Road Plains, brigands attacked them. They killed the mother and took the boy away, planning to get a ransom. Jotaro went mad of sorrow and has gone alone killing every bandit he found. To maintain the veil of unity he asked one of his Naga friends to take the appearance of his late wife. Since she had no real weight in the court she was easily skipped. The masquerade still stays on.
Two years after this dreadful event Jotaro’s father was killed when fighting a strong Shadowland strike force behind the Kaiu Wall. Jotaro has been the Clan Daimyo since. Finding that men could be more cruel and dangerous than Shadowlands, he decided to reduce his clan duty in fighting the Shadowland threat and begun to sell his clan abilities to the Great Clan.
But his wife death still plague him and now he fear for his only son, knowing that if give him the reins of power he risks to be killed at every turn. Moreover he’s been plagued by strange dream since a few years. He told of them only to his old Naga friend Sh’lissa. And what she told him scare him to the death.
Shinda Yoshikawa
Earth: 3
Willpower: 4
Water: 4
Perception: 6
Fire: 4
Air: 3
Reflexes: 4
Void: 4
School/Rank: Shinda Bushi 3 (Insight: 219)
Honor: 2.0
Glory: 4.5
Advantages: Absolute Direction, Benten’s Blessing, Great
Destiny, Naga Blood (Unique see below) **, Perfect Balance.
Disadvantages: Meddler, Minor Mutation (Scales under
the hair) **.
Skills: Battle 2, Calligraphy 2, Courtier 2, Defense
3,Ettiquette 2, Heraldry 2, Iaijutsu 2, Kenjutsu 4, Kyujutsu 2, Medicine
3, Naga Language 3, Naga Lore 3, Shintao 3, Sincerity 3, Tea Ceremony 3.
Naga Blood: Purity of the pearl: Shinda Yoshikawa is immune to the Taint like the Naga. He can’t be the target of corrupting spells or Oni binding spells.
Shinda Yoshikawa is the only son of Shinda Jotaro and is destined to lead the clan after his father retirement… If he ever retire. Yoshikawa don’t understand why his father struggles to stay the daimyo. He knows that his father isn’t a power hungry man and that make him suspicious. Yoshikawa think that his father knows something and that he does not want to tell.
Shinda is in his mid thirties and isn’t married. He had many adventures but none of them has been longer than a season. He feels his father shadow upon him and want to be freed from it but he still love his father. The only thing he has never understood was why his father chooses to make everybody thinks that his mother was still alive.
Shinda is expecting an explication from his father soon or he’ll try to find the answer at his questions by himself, beginning by asking the Naga about the whole thing.
Shinda Otsu (a.k.a. Alimsha)
Earth: 3
Water: 3
Perception: 6
Fire: 2
Air: 3
Reflexes: 5
Void: 2
School/Rank: Naga Scout 3 (Insight: 178)
Rank Powers: Can see as if in daylight as long as there
is faint starlight.
Can sense Shadowland Tainted creatures and maho-tsukai
in a line of sight of 30 feet.
Can fire two arrows in a round.
Bloodline: Chameleon. Bloodline Advantage: 2 Free Raises
when using Stealth or Conceal skills.
Honor: 2.0 (0.0)
Glory: 3.0
Advantages: Absolute Direction, Way of the Land (Shinomen
Forest & surroundings).
Disadvantages: Driven (Court Influence).
Skills: Akasha 3, Calligraphy 4, Conceal 5, Defense 3,Etiquette
5, Hunting 3, Yarijutsu 5, Tantojutsu 5, Kyujutsu 5, Lore: Naga Civilization
3, Medicine 3, Rokugani Language 4, Stealth 4.
Alimsha is a middle aged Naga Scout. Before the Great Sleep she was part of the scouting team of Sh’lissa. Their job was of keeping the borders of the Shinomen Forest free of Tainted creatures that crawled around at this time. She was the second Naga to awaken after Sh’lissa, but she awakened only 35 years ago. She used her ability to shapechange to learn the way of the human and her knowledge was used when Jotaro’s wife was murdered. Sh’lissa and Jotaro asked her to take Otsu’s place. This has been a boon for the Naga because it gives them an ear in the daimyo’s court.
Alimsha enjoy her position but is aware that
she will have to go back to the shadows if Yoshikawa ever sit on the throne.
She’ll do anything to convince Jotaro to stay on the throne.
The Kenji
Kenji Hemusa
Earth: 3
Willpower: 5
Water: 4
Perception: 5
Fire: 4
Intelligence: 6
Air: 3
Void: 3
School/Rank: Kenji Shugenja 4 (Insight: 211)
Honor: 2.0
Glory: 5.0
Advantages: Innate Abilities (2 Water, 1 Air, 1 Fire),
Naga Blood (Unique see below) **.
Disadvantages: Bad Health, Major Mutation (Snake Eyes).
Skills: Calligraphy 3, Defense 2, History 5, Meditation
4, Naga Language 5, Naga Lore 5, Lore: Naga Magic 5, Shintao 4, Sincerity
3, Stealth 2, Tea Ceremony 3.
Naga Blood: Attuned to Water: When Kenji Hemusa has to make any roll involving Water he gain a Free Raise.
Spells: Sense, Summon, Commune, Counterspell, all basic Water spells, any 5 Air spells, any 4 Fire/Earth spells, Last Rites *** and Fear ***.
Hemusa is an old shugenja who first served under Jotaro’s father rulership. He is far beyond his seventies now and has passed the rulership of the family to his granddaughter Kamiko. He still continues his experiences and researches a way to meddle Rokugani Magic with Naga Magic. He his very proud of his granddaughter as family daimyo. It is the light in the shadow of his old years.
Everything would be great for Hemusa if his lifetime friend Jotaro stepped down and let his son took his destiny in his hands. For years Hemusa asked himself why his friend didn’t step down, why he looked so full of sorrow. And yet he knows. A month ago he was visited by his grandfather Kenji, he told him that the Naga are going to awake, that a terrible doom will come upon Rokugan and that Jotaro knows it.
Now Hemusa is waiting to find the good moment to
talk with his friend and convince him let destiny flow. If he cannot he
fear for the future of the clan. Destiny cannot be denied.
Kenji Kamiko
Earth: 2
Willpower: 4
Water: 3
Perception: 3
Fire: 2
Intelligence: 4
Air: 3
Void: 3
School/Rank: Kenji Shugenja 2 (Insight: 154)
Honor: 2.0
Glory: 3.0
Advantages: Innate Abilities (1 Water and 1 Air), Luck
(3 point), Naga Blood (Unique see below) **.
Disadvantages: Small, SoftHearted.
Skills: Calligraphy 3, Defense 1, Meditation 3, Naga
Language 4, Naga Lore 3, Lore: Naga Magic 2, Shintao 2, Sincerity 2, Tea
Ceremony 3.
Naga Blood: Favor of the Kami: Kenji Kamiko may declare Raises after rolling the dices for Water and Air Spell.
Spells: Sense, Summon, Commune, Counterspell, 5 Water spells, 3 Air spells and 1 Fire or Earth spell.
Kamiko is the current daimyo of the Kenji family and she’s full of promises. Kamiko never knew much of her parents, which died when she was only three during a battle with a rampaging Oni. Since then her grandfather Kenji Hemusa has raised her.
She felt both respect and fear for the old man. First she respected the old man for his skills and abilities far beyond what his old age showed. Then she feared him for the power he holds what it had done to him.
She has been lucky by the fact she didn’t ended with mutation but she ended up with being the daimyo of one of the most secretive family of shugenja and this has been the real challenge.
Her family attunement with Naga and their magic has made that she felt a change in the energies surrounding the Shinomen Forest but has not been able to connect it to any recent event. She is still investigating and hope to find the answer soon.
Another problem she cares for is the recent involvement of the Naga, and especially Alimsha, in the clan politics. She has planned to go ask Sh’lissa about the recent moves made by Alimsha and hope to find an agreement.
The Naga
Sh’lissa
Earth: 3
Water: 5
Perception: 7
Fire: 3
Air: 4
Reflexes: 7
Void: 4
School/Rank: Naga Scout 5 (Insight: 256)
Rank Powers: Can see as if in daylight as long as there
is faint starlight.
Can sense Shadowland Tainted creatures and maho-tsukai
in a line of sight of 50 feet.
Can fire two arrows in a round.
Can resist sleep a number of day equal to Earth + Rank.
Once done they cannot perform it again until they have slept normally for
an equal number of day.
Can detect any life form in a range equal to 10 times
(Perception + School Rank) in yards. They can aim and shoot at the target
if possible even if not seen.
Bloodline: Chameleon. Bloodline Advantage: 2 Free Raises
when using Stealth or Conceal skills.
Honor: 0.0
Glory: 3.0
Advantages: Absolute Direction, Ally (Shinomen Snake
Clan), Clear Thinker, Immune to Fear ****, Way of the Land (Shinomen Forest
& surroundings).
Disadvantages: Bad Reputation (Naga), Can’t Lie, Unluck
(6 points).
Skills: Akasha 4, Calligraphy 5, Conceal 5, Defense 5,Etiquette
5, Hunting 5, Yarijutsu 5, Tantojutsu 5, Kyujutsu 5, Lore: Naga Civilization
5, Lore: Rokugani Culture 3, Medicine (Naga) 4, Rokugani Language 5, Stealth
5.
Sh’lissa was the first of the Naga to awake and has been the only one ‘til the past 35 years. She was once the leader of small group Naga Scouts whose purpose was to maintain the northern border of the Shinomen Forest clear of Tainted creatures. When the Great Sleep came, she and her group were assigned to this outpost where they remained undisturbed until the last century.
Sh’lissa awakened with a bad feeling, the other one still slept and she was alone in the secret basement of the outpost. She was alone and she felt the familiar feeling of the Dark Gift. She had awakened because there was some powerful and dark magic operating out there and she was the most attuned to it.
Then she readied her ancient jade and crystal short sword, readied her bow, took some pearl edged arrow, prayed the Akasha and prepared to fight Evil once more, … but alone this time. When she came near the source of the Evil she saw a group of strange creatures unknown to her fighting the Evil but being beaten. Two of them were lying in a pool of blood and the two other were trying to stand for a last fight. One man was clutching a broken blade along with a shorter one and the other was looking like trying to cast a spell. Sh’lissa decided then to help the two of them in the fight, she knew she’d need help in the time to come and that even her wasn’t powerful enough to kill this two monstrosities.
Next instant she killed the maho-tsukai with two well aimed shots and threw her crystal and jade fused wakizashi to Shinda. In few instant the weakened Oni was killed by the joint forces of Shinda steel storm, Kenji magic and Sh’lissa pearl arrows.
The days after have been spent to communicate. When little communication has been reached Shinda and Kenji promised to come back to make a deal. The rest is history. Secret history of course.
Sh’lissa is now a venerable Naga but she’s
far from stupid. She has seen the recent changes in Alimsha personality
but she doesn’t know how to act. Since a very long time she’s not been
faced with a challenge. Now she has one, but a very different kind from
which she has been faced until now.
Various NPC
Standard Shinomen Snake Bushi
Earth: 2
Water: 2
Strength: 3
Fire: 2
Air: 2
Reflexes: 3
Void: 3
School/Rank: Shinda Bushi 1
Skills: Iaijutsu 1, Defense 2, Battle 1, Naga Lore 1,
and Kenjutsu 3.
Or Iaijutsu 1, Defense 2, Battle 1, Naga Lore 1, Kenjutsu
1, Nofujutsu 2 or Tantojutsu 2
Shinda Bushi does not lose Honor when using Nofujutsu.
Rolls When attacking: 2 Wakizashi and Kenjutsu 3: 6k2
1 Katana and Kenjutsu 3: 5k2
2 Sai or Jitte and Nofujutsu 2: 5k2
2 Tanto or Aiguchi and Tantojutsu 2: 5k2
1 Katana and Kenjutsu 1: 3k2
Rolls For Damage: Wakizashi 5k2
Jitte / Sai 4k1
Aiguchi / Tanto 4k2
TN to Hit: 20 (Light Armor)
Wounds: 4: -0; 8: -1; 12: -2; 16: -3; 20: -4; 24: Down;
28: Out; 32: Dead
Honor: 1.5 Glory: 1.0
Elite Shinomen Snake Clan Bushi
Earth: 3
Water: 3
Strength: 4
Fire: 3
Agility: 4
Air: 3
Reflexes: 4
Void: 4
School/Rank: Shinda Bushi 2
Skills: Iaijutsu 3, Defense 4, Battle 3, Naga Lore 3,
and Kenjutsu 5.
Or Iaijutsu 3, Defense 4, Battle 3, Naga Lore 3, Kenjutsu
3, Nofujutsu 5 or Tantojutsu 5.
Shinda Bushi does not lose Honor when using Nofujutsu.
Rolls When attacking: 2 Wakizashi and Kenjutsu 5: 10k3
1 Katana and Kenjutsu 5: 9k3
2 Sai or Jitte and Nofujutsu 5: 10k3
2 Tanto or Aiguchi and Tantojutsu 5: 10k3
1 Katana and Kenjutsu 3: 9k3
Rolls For Damage: Wakizashi 6k2
Jitte / Sai 5k1
Aiguchi / Tanto 5k2
TN to Hit: 25 (Light Armor)
Wounds: 6: -0; 12: -1; 18: -2; 24: -3; 30: -4; 36: Down;
42: Out; 48: Dead
Honor: 2.0 Glory: 3.0
Standard Shinomen Snake Shugenja
Earth: 2
Water: 3
Fire: 2
Intelligence: 3
Air: 2
Reflexes: 3
Void: 2
School/Rank: Kenji Shugenja 1
Skills: Calligraphy 3, History 1, Medicine 1, Meditation
3, Naga Lore 2, Shintao 2, and Tantojutsu 2.
Rolls When attacking: 4k2
Rolls For Damage: 4k2
TN to Hit: 15 (No Armor)
Wounds: 4: -0; 8: -1; 12: -2; 16: -3; 20: -4; 24: Down;
28: Out; 32: Dead
Special: Naga Blood advantage: choose a minor power
Spells: Sense, Commune, Summon, 3 Water, 2 Air, 1Fire
and 1 Earth.
Kenji Shugenja has a Free Raise on Water Spells.
Honor: 1.5 Glory: 1.0
Elite Shinomen Snake Shugenja
Earth: 3
Willpower: 4
Water: 4
Perception: 5
Fire: 3
Air: 4
Void: 4
School/Rank: Kenji Shugenja 4
Skills: Calligraphy 4, History 3, Lore: Naga Magic 3,
Lore: Maho 2, Medicine 3, Meditation 5, Naga Lore 4, Shintao 4, Sincerity
3, Tantojutsu 3, Theology 3.
Rolls When attacking: 6k3
Rolls For Damage: 5k2
TN to Hit: 20 (No Armor)
Wounds: 6: -0; 12: -1; 18: -2; 24: -3; 30: -4; 36: Down;
42: Out; 48: Dead
Special: Naga Blood advantage: choose a minor power
Spells: Sense, Commune, Summon, 6 Water, 4 Air, 3 Fire
and 3 Earth.
Kenji Shugenja has a Free Raise on Water Spells.
Honor: 2.0 Glory: 4.5
Shinomen Snake Courtier / Emissary
Earth: 3
Willpower: 4
Water: 3
Perception: 4
Fire: 3
Intelligence: 4
Air: 3
Awareness: 4
Void: 3
School/Rank: None
Skills: Calligraphy 4, Courtier 5, Heraldry 5, History
3, Iaijutsu 1, Kenjutsu 1, Law 4, Meditation 1, Naga Lore 2, Sincerity
5, Tantojutsu 3, Tea Ceremony 3.
Rolls When attacking: 6k3
Rolls For Damage: 5k2
TN to Hit: 15 (No Armor)
Wounds: 6: -0; 12: -1; 18: -2; 24: -3; 30: -4; 36: Down;
42: Out; 48: Dead
Honor: 2.0 Glory: 4.0
The Clan Nemuranai
The Ancestral Daisho of Shinda
The Ancestral Daisho if the Shinda family is made of a Blessed Kakita Katana and of the family Wakizashi of Mirumoto Shinda.
Shinda’s Katana was broken during the fight with the powerful Oni the dark sorcerer summoned and it has been a great loss for him. Beside the favor they asked to the Emperor to reward this ever helping magistrates, the Crane offered them an item, for Shinda it was a Kakita Blade, a Katana blessed by the Daimyo of the Asahina.
The Wakizashi was part of the original Daisho and stood well against all the creatures its wielder faced.
All those weapons handle and saya have been remade to match the Clan colors. The daisho is wield by the family daimyo in time of peace during official meetings. In time of war the Daimyo tends to use only the Wakizashi.
Each of the Nemuranai has a different power.
The Katana is a standard Kakita Blade, 4k3 allowing to re-roll one dice in Iaijutsu duel, blessed by the head of the Asahina. The blessing allow the wielder radiate a Rank x 10 feet daylight.
The Wakizashi is fine quality blade, doing 3k2, and allowing rolling and keeping a number of initiative dices equal to the School Rank. This weapon can only be wield by a member of the Shinda family, any other person will wield a perfectly normal Wakizashi.
The Wakizashi of Sh’lissa
This Wakizashi was once the property of Sh’lissa the original awakened Naga Scout, She owned this blade from her father who was from a Constrictor Bloodline. Its purpose is to kill creatures with the Dark Gift, and that was Sh’lissa team mission but with her skill at archery she never needed it so she gave it to Shinda. It is the Daimyo who own it and he only wield it when in battle.
Its blade is not of steel but of an early attempt of the Naga shugenja to use other materials than pearls to hurt Tainted creatures. It is a blade of fused Crystal and Jade. It looks like a Jade blade with veins of Crystal.
The blade is unbreakable, and has the power of a strength 3 crystal blade. The jade allows to hit even if the crystal fail and do 3k2 against Shadowlands or Tainted creatures and 2k2 against non-Tainted ones. If the crystal succeed it adds a +3/+1 to the damage rating.
The Jingasa of Kenji
The Jingasa of Kenji has been in Asako Kenji family for generation. It is said that it powers comes from the soul of all the passed ancestor who add their strength to the magic of the helmet. It was used by the former Daimyo of the Kenji family during many battles. It is actually in the hands of Kenji Kamiko but she reluctant to use it in the same way it was used for nearly one hundred years.
The Jingasa allows its wearer to cast one more spell of each Element. If a non-shugenja tries to wear the Jingasa he must immediately make Stamina roll vs 20 or suffer the loss of a Void Point.
The Fan of the Blue Crane
This fan is the gift made from the Doji family to Asako Kenji in return of having saved the Emerald Champion daughter. Each side of the fan has different Mon. One of the side bear the Doji Mon and the other bear the Shinomen Snake Clan Mon. This fan usually is guarded in Kuyden Kenji and is lend to the emissary during important court events.
The fan allows its wielder to re-roll any failed court skills (Courtier, Etiquette and Sincerity).
The Land of the Shinomen Snake Clan
The lands of the Shinomen Snake Clan extent from the northern border of the Shinomen Forest to the shores of Chrysanthemum Petal Lake in the north and to the eastern part of Naga Plain Road.
There is a dozen of small villages in the lands of the Shinomen Snake with a number of inhabitants ranging from 50 to 150.
Beside these villages exist two little towns:
Many monks and shugenja interested by the Naga travel here and try to discover some new facts in the ruins that could still be found in and around the city. The major trades are made with the Unicorns and the Crabs. Beside these sources of income the Clan is well known as a sell sword and is often dragged in the skirmishes of the Great Clan.
The two palaces of the Clan Families could be found in the City of the Lost Naga.
Shiro Shinda is seated on the hill that dominate the city and is build on the ruins of the former Scout outpost of the Naga, allowing those to stay hidden there. Constructed near are the barracks and training academy of the Shinda Bushi School. The barracks could hold the greatest part of the Clan army (approx. 800 soldiers). Four Kaisha and a Yobihei Kaisha could be permanently found here.
Kyuden Kenji is located in the center of the town and serve as the Kenji Shugenja School. Under the foundation of the palace lies the secret laboratory where Kenji Hemusa works with the Cobra Shugenja, trying to find a way to merge the two type of magic. It is too in these walls that the Naga Blood Ceremony is performed.
The military forces the Clan
The Shugenja
A note about shugenja in the Clan is required. There is no possibility to join the family. No one. Only the original followers of Kenji are accepted in the School. Thus the number is relatively low and varies from 40 to 60 shugenja at one moment. During skirmishes shugenja would be VERY protected by their samurai bodyguards.
The army of the Shinomen Snake Clan
The core of the army is the Squad (Guntai) and is lead by a Sergeant (Gunso). Most of the Gunso are Standard Bushi of the clan and the core of the squad is made of twenty-trained soldier (non-samurai). It is the size of the standard patrol squad in the lands and it will be the type of unit send when small trouble happens in a town.
The basic war unit is the Company (Kaisha) and is lead by a Lieutenant (Chui). Most of the Gunso are Elite Bushi of the Clan. The Kaisha is made up of five infantry Guntai and two archery Guntai for a total of 152 troops.
Another war unit is the Reserve Company (Yobihei Kaisha). It is made up of six Guntai, two shugenja, two archery and two infantry. Note that the shugenja Guntai is made of 10 shugenja and 10 samurai bodyguard appointed to protect them.
The last type of unit is the Squadron (Daibutai). It consists of six-field service Kaisha and one Yobihei Kaisha. It is the greatest size of army the Clan can achieve and it is rather powerful for a Minor Clan. The commander is usually the Clan Daimyo and when fighting as mercenary he has the rank of Captain (Taisa).
For each town there is garrison consisting of one Kaisha and one Yobihei Kaisha. Guntai are assigned to a weekly patrol. There is approximately one infantry Guntai for two villages. When not on patrolling duty, Soldiers are required to work at the garrison and train.
When going on military business with other Clan, the major part of the clan lands is left undefended by regular troops. At this time the highest-ranking samurai left in lands is put in command. Standard procedure is the deployment of the two Yobihei Kaisha left and the calling of a reserve force of approximately 420 persons (5 % of non-samurai population). Those untrained troops may form 21 new Guntai and Yobihei Kaisha officers are re-deployed in those new Guntai and other members are assigned to the training of the new troops.
During the absence of regular troops the borders are patrolled very carefully so any approaching troops could be spotted early. This would allow the commander to react quickly enough to prevent too many losses. Anyway the Crab have no interest in attacking a long time ally, the Unicorn and the Dragons don’t have any reason invade those nearby lands too. Only the warlike Lions would make the move. But the prey is so insignificant that they won’t move. For now.