Lion Clan

The Lion Clan is one of the Great Clans of Legend of the Five Rings, followers of the Kami Akodo and the Emerald Empire's preeminent soldiers. Not just as individual bands of honorable combatants, but an honest-to-goodness disciplined army which all others model themselves upon. As such, from the very beginning, they have served as the Emperor's Right Hand, military experts, and protectors.

And when we say experts, we mean it. The Lions wrote the literal playbook on war and Bushido, playing a major role in shaping how Rokugan fights and acts, only equaled by the Crane's cultural and artistic influence. Between that and their very tangible link to their ancestors, the Lion Clan is proud, rigid, and very traditional. Very few Clans come close to them in their reverence of Bushido and the ideals of an honorable life...though in a social code where you are well within your rights to avenge your honor through blood feuds, duels, and outright declaring war, that doesn't make them nice guys.

And yet, despite the fact that they wrote the rules and live by them as if they've got a 10-foot pole up their collective asses, and despite buying their own hype about honor and victory, the Lions also remember: war may be glorious, but it's the Emperor's lands that pay the price. And as the Emperor's most valiant servants, it's their duty to make sure wars are ended quickly. Lives are the Emperor's currency, after all; don't waste them.

History

Akodo's entire life as Hantei's most devoted servant and the path he set his Clan on hinge upon two defining moments in his life: the tournament of the Kami, and the recruitment of his followers.

The Tournament Of The Kami

Akodo, being the most martial of his siblings, went the distance and made it to the finals of the contest, going up against Hantei. In his battle fury, he would have killed Hantei, only for the future-Emperor to catch a ray of sunlight and direct it into his eyes, granting him a moment of clarity: Akodo had lost himself to bloodlust, while Hantei was the superior fighter and had only let him get that far because he didn't want to harm his sibling.

Humbled by his brother's nobility, Akodo conceded and pledged to serve Hantei with his followers. This experience gave Akodo and his followers an intense sense of loyalty to the Imperial Family and reverence for honor...which then gave them a new thing to take pride in and wage war over.

Founding The Lion Clan

As the other Kami searched for followers among the people of what would become Rokugan, Akodo stood alone, saying, "I do not look for men to follow me. I look for men worthy to stand by my side." For nearly three years Akodo wandered the newborn Empire, challenging each mortal who came to him hoping to join his cause, yet none were worthy in his eyes. Each year he would return to the Emperor's palace alone, saying, "I do not seek them. They must seek me." It may seem like semantics to most people on the outside looking in, but Akodo didn't just want loyal servants who would revere him as a god or lord; he essentially wanted people who would be part D&D party member and part military general who'd have the strength and will to follow him into any conflict, whether in the battlefield or the courts.

Eventually, over time, he would find the ones who would become his most trusted servants (who we'll get into later on): Matsu, Rokugan's killiest woman, and Ikoma, a storyteller and womanizer who used his superpower of "being really old and no longer giving a shit" to troll others and actually EMOTE. Later still, they would encounter and recruit the Kitsu lion-beastmen (after nearly destroying them, oops).

Together, they would form the Lion Clan, and began setting up the various practices and organizations which would transform a large mass of warriors into a disciplined fighting machine. Akodo's amassing of forces was met with consternation by many others, but with a bit of backing from some of his siblings, he affirmed that all of this was for the protection of Hantei and the Empire.

Since then, they have served as the Right Hand of the Emperor, his warriors, enforcers, and protectors. Theirs is the grand and noble duty of keeping the peace, whether through the threat of violence, or actual violence. Of course, every battle they ever fought over petty insults and slighted honor was ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO THE EMPIRE'S PEACE BECAUSE THE MOST LOYAL LIONS WOULD NEVER WAGE WAR FOR SELFISH REASONS.

Families

The leaders of the Lion Clan are derived from Akodo and his followers. While they cover the usual 'bushi-courtier-shugenja' trinity, all Lion families tend to be blunter and more aggressive than most of the other Clans except for perhaps the Crab and the Unicorn. They are also all trained in martial arts and military knowledge, at least at the most basic level, so even a Lion courtier might be fully capable of throwing hands. On the whole, they are united as a military organization, but also have to deal with the internal rivalries between the Akodo and Matsu.

Akodo Family

The brains of the operation and the main rulers of the Lions, descended from their Kami and his servants. They represent and define the strict military discipline and precision of the Lion, and are some of Rokugan's most accomplished tacticians and strategists. That doesn't mean they're not equipped to get into a scrap, though; whether as disciplined fighters or cohesive squads, the Akodo are just as equipped to fight as a unified army, held together by leaders who can unite, direct, and inspire their troops to perfection.

Akodo samurai are not given to wild acts of individual heroism; to them, glory on the battlefield lies in achieving an excellent victory, standing shoulder to shoulder with your troops in an unbreakable wall, and if necessary, selling your lives dearly in a magnificent last stand. Paradoxically, however, they very much live up to the samurai trope of getting ready to cut a bitch the moment they feel their honor is being questioned. Two sayings define their character and purpose in life: "When the last Akodo falls, so falls the last Hantei" represents their utter loyalty to the Emperor and their importance to his safety, while "An army led by an Akodo has never lost" is the more colloquial saying throughout Rokugan which highlights their tactical prowess and devotion to victory, even if it isn't 100% accurate.

Matsu Family

The raging yang to the Akodo's sobering yin, serving as the Clan's muscle with their own corps of elite female squads and deathseeking shock troops, all of which are supplemented by their high reproduction rate to refill their ranks. The matriarchal Matsu are descended from Matsu, who had a smoldering will-they-won't-they tension with Akodo (but never did because her ego would never allow her to be known as someone's wife and, therefore, second banana) and is either the mightiest mortal or the biggest braggart and bully of the Lions. This reputation extends to her descendants; if you can think of a good or bad thing to say about the Lions, the Matsu are those qualities writ large. If the Akodo are the head of the Clan, giving orders to coolly serve a grand strategy, the Matsu are the passionate guts, leading and inspiring troops from the front to carry out those orders with berserk fury, and both sides have a rivalry over which approach is best.

It may seem odd that such a disciplined Clan would keep such wildcards, but the Lion Clan has always had an appreciation for warrior spirit and prowess, which the Matsu have in droves, and which they temper with intense loyalty and devotion to Bushido. And keep in mind that while they're the wildest of Lions and can lash out, some Matsu can still seem like joyless stick-up-the-ass militarists next to other Clans, just as apt to talk at length about honor, tactics, and efficiency. But much like their Moto and Hida counterparts, it's not like they live and breathe their stereotypes at all waking hours. Yes, their gempukku is extremely difficult and they theoretically command failed aspirants to commit seppuku...but parents have been known to discreetly send their failed children to be adopted into other families, and therefore, no longer subject to Matsu tradition.

Ikoma Family

The archivists, historians, and courtiers of the Lion. Ikoma, their founder, was essentially a D&D Bard/Barbarian multiclass who drunkenly stumbled into L5R and basically stayed on because of his insane Charisma checks which impressed even the Kami himself. The Ikoma chronicle ALL of Rokugan's history and revere the past's ability to give context to the present and intuit the future, and all their diplomatic overtures are coloured by this, either by lending them the neutrality of historians or the fervor of storytellers. And while other Clans might be annoyed by their pro-Lion edits, their archives and libraries are among the greatest in all of Rokugan.

Some editions describe the Ikoma as naturally stoic and controlled, only emoting so outwardly as part of their duty to the Lions, while others describe their expressive tendencies to be natural. Matsu wildness aside, it's the Ikoma who are allowed to laugh, cry, howl, mourn, and generally ham it up while the rest of their Clan keeps wearing the perfect samurai mask. Basically, they're the Lion's attorneys and diplomancers. And as their courtiers off the battlefield, they're also the ones more likely to be...pragmatic when it comes to such matters as founding intelligence networks or manipulating politics to their advantage.

Kitsu Family

The shugenja family, though their origins are interesting. They are, in fact (so they claim), descended from the Kitsu, a race of intelligent humanoid lions with a mystical connection to the spirit realms that were nearly hunted to extinction by Akodo on Hantei's orders. Their final survivors were blessed with human form and interbred with the Lions, and the Kitsu family was born.

Where most Lions have very strong genealogy traditions, the Kitsu take all of that up to 11. Thanks to their heritage, those with the strongest Kitsu blood are always in contact with their ancestors, and are able to directly consult them for matters of honour, tradition, tactics, or history. Every Lion feels the weight of their ancestors pressing down on and lifting them up, but the Kitsu are the ones able to join the group's voice chat. As a result, while regarded as boring traditionalists with a weak grasp of modern magic, the Kitsu make up for it with exclusive spells and abilities which are only usable by those with their blood, including serving as a medium through which departed ancestors (including those from other Clans) can speak. Only family are allowed in their gempukku, making them a truly mysterious bunch indeed.

Culture & Role

WAR and HONOR. These are the foundations of all Lion Clan culture and personality. They have the largest army, oversee all matters of war, and seek to live and die according to Bushido.

Within their own Clan, all Lions are raised to view themselves as an army first, and a family second. Before they ever get to anything personal, most of their decisions are made in terms of how it will affect the group or unit, which lends them a considerable amount of solidarity and a strong chain of command, even with hotheaded Matsu and rambunctious Ikoma. But practically all Lion families agree: the effects of war are terrible and damage the glorious Empire they serve, but the act of waging war is the ultimate expression of their courage, willpower, and duty.

As a people, Lions tend to be the closest to what one expects from the model samurai: strict, honorable, stoic, courteous, and completely ready and eager to give their lives for the Emperor. The general result of this is that Lions normally appear professional, disciplined, and humorless with the aforementioned stick up their collective asses, as well as perpetually judging you for not living up to Bushido and how no matter how hard you try, you will never be Ultramarines as honorable as them, though they'll still afford fellow samurai every courtesy their class deserves. Of course, to those on the receiving end of a Lion army or a courtier claiming "No, seriously guys, they were ASKING to be invaded when they insulted us", their more aggressive personalities contribute to the stereotype that they are brutal warmongers who glorify war and look down on less martial and traditional Clans. And their focus on war tends to mean that they treat the peasantry like shit, though it's less out of malice and more from a blunt mentality of "these half-people are our tools, and all our tools are made for war". Though Kami help you if you're an enemy population.

But all that martial spirit isn't just for show; in an Empire full of tensions and rivalries where battles have to be sanctioned now and then to vent resentments and nip threats in the bud, the Lions are vital to stability as the Right Hand of the Emperor. Besides protecting the Emperor alongside the Imperial Legions, the Lion Clan serves as a huge deterrent that keeps internal military conflicts from getting out of hand (assuming they didn't instigate it, in which case the Crane are the ones who have to convince the Emperor to rein them in). Their central location in Rokugan, besides letting them wage war in all directions, means that virtually no two rival Clans in Rokugan can wage war without their knowledge or possibly involvement, since they often have to cross Lion lands to get to the fight. In short, they're the big jock brother who may be something of a dick who'll kick your ass if he thinks you're insulting him, but they're also there to keep the younger siblings from beating the crap out of each other. Which is important when said younger siblings decide to ignore daddy telling them to cut it out.

As an aside, when they're not called to be the masters of war, the Lions are also Rokugan's main historians, and there are few archives in the Empire which are as thorough and accurate as theirs. Between the Ikoma and Kitsu, as well as the overarching importance placed on ancestors and deeds, this is certainly a natural fit. Though it's also important to note that the Lions do make use of this position to hype up the Emperor and their own Clan.

Tactics

Lions are THE preeminent warriors and military leaders of Rokugan, and their army is its largest standing force at a whopping total of half a million troops organized into thousands of units, over twice the size of the next largest army. The extremely well-made roads of their lands help to mobilize this fighting force at a somewhat reasonable speed, aided by the fact that their leaders know how to delegate to specialists instead of trying to prove they're a master of EVERY detail in running an army.

Every Clan has its own ways of war suited to their strengths, and a few like the Crab and Unicorn are even just as martial in their traditions, but it's the Lions who wrote the art of war and developed the chain of command that other Clans would imitate. With their developed lands and high population, it's a given that a Lion army will always outnumber their opponents, remain united with a cohesive chain of command and unbreakable morale, and be directed by proven commanders who meet their exacting standards of leadership, whether through intelligent decisions or berserk fury.

When it comes to tactics, aside from "win with your superior MARTIAL MIGHT AND HONOR", Lions are actually rather competent generalists. They've had a looooong time to study what the other Clans do, and while they may dismiss certain methods of war as being dishonorable or blasphemous, they also co-opt anything they think is worth learning. Some, like the siege engineers of the Crabs or the elite cavalry of the Unicorns, were adopted pretty quickly, but others such as the special ops of the Scorpions or the magical force multipliers of the Phoenix only saw minor acceptance or counterplay.

But in all cases, the Lions religiously examine all their fights post-mortem to properly dissect how they won or lost. Especially if they lost because, no matter how bitter, defeat reveals a lot more about what they're doing wrong, whether it's a loss to a devastating new tactic or an incredible blunder in command like marching your troops up a hostile mountain without any preparation because your pride thought your honor would be enough to see you through it. The Lions diligently record these lessons and endeavor to never repeat them...and then proceed to make new mistakes generations later for similar reasons because they fixate on the mistake and not the attitude that caused it.

Bushido & Religion

If the Lion Clan has any form of religious fervor, it's for Bushido and ancestor worship. They may not seem pious when compared against the mainstream religions of Fortune worship and the Tao of Shinsei, but Lions have a devotion to Bushido, the ancestors, and honor which can rival that of any holy man from the Dragon or Phoenix Clans. Funnily enough, Bushido wasn't even meant for day-to-day samurai and was more a code for warriors initially; it just really, really caught on as Rokugan's social values.

As stern warrior traditionalists who practically wrote the actual book on war and Bushido (Akodo's Leadership and its various editions), its tenets and honor matter a great deal to the Lions. But where the average samurai from another Clan deals with the usual tension between their public mask and inner self, following some tenets while paying lip service to the others, the Lion Clan seek to make sure there is no difference, in essence shaping themselves to fit Bushido rather than the other way around.

There are many ways this can play out, but it all boils down to the ideals of living honorably, serving loyally, and being firmly for the Emperor and the Clan. That doesn't mean they don't have exceptions to this attitude, though. While your average Lion tends to buy their own hype, Akodo himself infamously wrote "On the battlefield, all actions are honorable." Seriously, his initial draft was so pragmatic in how to provoke enemies and exploit weaknesses that Hantei VII declared the work dishonorable. Ikoma scholars have edited subsequent editions to be more PG-13 for everyone, and only they and the Lion Champion actually know the original contents (while giving all later versions a 5-out-of-10 "It was OK" review).

Lions also revere their ancestors, using their honored, glorious dead as examples to live up to. Given their actual tangible connection to the spirits of the dead which the Kitsu can give voice to, it's understandable; when your descendants can call you up to ask questions, it gives you an incentive to live on the straight and narrow. All Lions know their ancestors are very actively watching their every move, and long to be worthy additions of that honored assembly when their time has come.

But while the Lions are devoted to Bushido and their ancestors, they are notably hostile to the Tao of Shinsei. Its emphasis on contemplation and seeking enlightenment from worldly matters is seen as the antithesis of how the Lions prioritize taking action within the world as soldiers, a difference of opinion which stems from Akodo's scorn for Shinsei. He refused to let the Tao be preached or followed among his followers until Hantei commanded him otherwise.

As a result, every Lion dojo holds a copy of the Tao in an honored spot. Honored, and unopened, a perfect reflection of the Lions' attitude to Shinseism. Something to pay lip service to because they have to, and ignore otherwise. And for the most part, that's as far as their dislike goes, because the Lions would never be so dishonorable as to actively attack or persecute honored monks...but they have been known to make convenient excuses that let them basically leave endangered monasteries to die. Ironically, using equivocation which is right out of the Doji playbook they so despise. That being said, if a Lion samurai approaches retirement age (assuming they actually let themselves retire), it's rare but not unheard of for them to join a monastery and spend their life in introspection after a lifetime of handling outward affairs.

Clan Relationships

The Lions do not play nice with anyone. Which is understandable, what with the many, many wars waged by and against them, as well as their more-Bushido-than-thou attitude. Condescension and judgement color most of their inter-Clan relationships, which is bad enough in times of peace but worse during a war. Particularly if they started (or decided to end) it.

However, just as every Clan has some beef with them, every Clan also respects them. No Clan discounts the staggering size and power of the Lion Clan army, nor the competence of its leaders. And while their bragging about their honor grates on the other Clans' nerves, they are indeed respected for their devotion to the highest ideals of Bushido and their determination to live by them; you can generally count on a Lion to do what's honorable for honor's sake. In most cases, it's a reluctant teeth-grinding respect for dicks who are extremely good at their job rather than genuine admiration for someone with positive traits. Not that the Lion concerns itself with the opinions of the sheep.

Because their military is one of the most powerful and active, their rivals always make sure to tread carefully at Court. The Lion's influence as the Right Hand of the Emperor, their reputation for honor, and their military might shape a great deal of the Empire's political landscape. Many decisions revolve around finding an ally to stand against the Lion, or convincing the Lion to either join or stay out of a war.

The Crab Clan: Believe it or not, the Crab Clan might just be the closest thing to a Great Clan that the Lions don't actively despise. Oh, sure, they look down on how they are mannerless brutes who have forgotten what it means to be "civilized". And of course, there are the usual amount of conflicts popping up as a result of Lion ego or Crab bluntness. But aside from the fact that their lands are far removed with few opportunities for open war, the Lions have one attitude which dramatically improves their relations with the Crabs: They actually actively acknowledge and respect their duty to hold back the Shadowlands. This is honestly a step up from the more mainstream attitudes of "You're making this shit up", "We're not discussing this tainted stuff in polite company", or "Look, it can't be that bad, right? You don't really need all that rice, do you?". And while the Lions observe "etiquette" in many social situations, both they and the Crab tend to dislike all the social feints and masks which make up Rokugani court life. So rather than sending armies halfway across the Empire, they're content to stay where they are, gruffly acknowledge the other's duty, and bicker with their neighbors instead.

The Crane Clan: The iconic rival of the Lion Clan, their acrimony comes from more than Kakita besting and refusing to bow before Matsu. Aside from the shared reasons others have for disliking the Crane (being entitled snobs who use Imperial connections, wealth, and social rules to dominate others and avoid consequences), the Lion and the Crane also have fundamentally opposed philosophies about what it means to pursue their duty as samurai. The Lion glorify war and sacrifice in the name of duty, while the Crane believe that the greatest duty lies in diplomacy and prosperity. Ironically, this leads to extremely similar reasons for hatred between the two: each looks down on the other's way of life, resents the other's high standing, and paints them as a jealous bully. Think of it like if Ferrus Manus and Fulgrim were bitter rivals instead of best bros.

The Dragon Clan: Being the most insular of the Great Clans, the Dragon Clan seldom gives the Lion Clan reasons for open war. The Lions simply hold a cold disdain for their lives of monastic contemplation and non-traditional solutions, but rarely to the extent of their more open and bloody feuds. The Dragons, for their part, recognize the power (and danger) represented by the Lions, and take care not to foolishly provoke them. However, in the long history of Rokugan, they have had prominent reasons for a rivalry, given that the Lions suffered a humiliating military defeat from trying to invade the Dragons only to lose the majority of their troops to hazardous terrain and weather. Additionally, the Dragonfly Clan was raised as a Minor Clan from a feud between a Dragon samurai who fell in love with a Lion samurai's fiance and eloped with her.

The Mantis Clan: Funnily enough, the Lion Clan doesn't totally hate the Mantis Clan. Sure, there's the general elitist view against the Minor Clans, and the traditionalist complaints of how they're unorthodox with a highly mercantile nature, but the Lions actually do respect the naval and martial prowess of the Mantis, and their locations make it hard for them to war with each other anyways. As for the Mantis, however, while later generations among their families have cooled, there's a lot of historical baggage and resentment. Besides the general view most Clans have of "respect their might and honor, but hate how they look down on everyone", the majority of the families in the Mantis alliance have specific grievances: the Lion attempted to conquer the Moshi, drove the Kitsune from their lands (though thanks to that they discovered their Kitsune spirits and could now have fox-lady waifus), and betrayed Tsuruchi himself (which the Lions, of course, tried to spin as a case of "That dishonorable mercenary had it coming!"). Only the Yoritomo have some respect for the Lions, in part because they are said to be descendants of Osano-Wo and a Matsu bride.

The Phoenix Clan: There is, of course, tension between the Phoenix and the Lion. Each has a sizeable ego that rubs others the wrong way, and, much like with the Crane, opposed philosophies. The Phoenix, of course, venerate peace and their shugenja's magic while the Lions live by war and prefer to earn glory the old fashioned way with blood and steel. Phoenixes find the militaristic attitudes of the Lions barbaric, while Lions find their reliance on magic to be unmanly. It doesn't help that the fiance who eloped with a Dragon to later found the Dragonfly Clan was a Phoenix.

The Scorpion Clan: Yet again, another Clan the Lions are heavily against. And much like the Cranes, for pretty obvious reasons. Scorpions hold Bushido in low esteem with the exception of Duty and Loyalty, and use all manner of cutthroat deceptions and blackmail, even on the battlefield. And the Lion Clan, being the Bushido-est of them all, hate everything about that situation, from the blatant defilement of their most cherished values to how the Scorpions have the gall to say "Oh, but we're only doing this out of Duty, we swear! Wink!" The Scorpions, for their part, actually aren't that bothered and don't have an active dislike for the Lions like everyone else. They tread carefully around their easily-bruised egos, but if anything, they actually like how the Lion Clan's stoic, honorable nature makes them predictable and easy to manipulate. All according to keikaku.

The Unicorn Clan: Oh boy. You know those cold wars the Lion has with the other Clans, kept cold by either diplomacy or distance? Yeah, with the Unicorn Clan, it's a hot war. The Unicorn Clan shares borders with the Lion Clan, allowing both of them to share polite and reasonable discourse more frequently. While each respects the other's proven might and military acumen, the super-traditional Lions have nothing but disgust for the unorthodox foreignness of the Unicorns, who reciprocate the feeling wholeheartedly. There are occasionally exceptions in their history where they try and make peace, but with both sides actively invading each other's territory while deliberately sabotaging most diplomatic overtures (usually making up an excuse about insults or offering terms the other party would never accept), conflict has been the norm between the Lion and the Unicorn. And of course, there's the whole gaijin thing where most Rokugani view outsiders as soulless barbarians. To be fair, the Lions aren't the only ones thinking that...but they are the ones within spitting distance to act on that view. Even so, it's important to note: the Unicorns give as good as they get, and aren't exactly a poor, unfairly persecuted party.

See Also

• Ultramarines: Ordered generalists eager to hype themselves up...IN SPACE.
• Lion El'Jonson: The OTHER lion-themed hardcore professional general.
• Paladin: For D&D's stick-up-the-ass class.