Editing Phoenix Clan (section)

==Clan Relationships==
When it comes to their political connections, the Phoenix certainly punch above their weight. Although their peaceful territories are isolated and don't have many natural resources (which actually helps them be overlooked by other Clans), they hold important and influential positions due to their expertise in magic and religion. And with their belief that the benefits of their enlightened knowledge must be shared, their samurai are more likely to get involved in the Empire's affairs than the Dragon.

Phoenix scholars and envoys preaching the way of peace are a common sight at major courts, and in a land where magic and religion go hand in hand, their counsel is as highly valued as their arcane might. That, and their strict adherence to tradition lends them some prestige in the eyes of some Clans...while also making them seem like arrogant snobs to others.

'''The [[Crab Clan]]''': On the surface, it might seem like the Phoenix and Crab would want to have nothing to do with each other, the former being uptight traditionalists and the latter being crude pragmatists. And certainly, there's some tension to be expected, as the Phoenix dislike the Crab's fierce martial culture and lack of manners. Yet surprisingly, there's something akin to a strange respect between the two Clans, aided by the distance between their lands. The Crab, for instance, respect that the Phoenix truly stand up for their beliefs even when the going gets tough, while the Phoenix acknowledge with far less backsass than most that the Crab have a vital duty. Perhaps what unites them most is that they're very much in touch with the mystical side of life: the Crab, facing the hordes of Jigoku and the horrors of the Taint, would be the last ones to devalue knowledge about magic, while the Phoenixes, being experts on mystical threats, have an appreciation for the severity of the Crabs' duties. The Asako Inquisitors might occasionally butt heads with the Kuni Witch Hunters to gain more influence, but the two Schools have been known to collaborate against the threat of ''maho-tsukai''.

'''The [[Crane Clan]]''': These two bird-themed Clans share a close bond. Both are proponents of tradition, peace, and culture, with the Crane focusing on politics while the Phoenix dives into religion and magic. They also share a close camaraderie over their shared enemies who tend to look down on both of them for being "unmanly", and openly appreciate what the other is capable of, be it shugenja force multipliers or a single courtier averting a war with words. While they're wary of one another's respective egos and capabilities, the Crane and Phoenix generally form solid alliances over common ground.

'''The [[Dragon Clan]]''': The Phoenix and the Dragon are both highly spiritual and magical Clans, but like practically all Dragon relations, there is a fair bit of ambiguity in their relationship. The Dragons, of course, are extremely isolationist, and their introverted approach to Enlightenment contrasts against the main attitudes of the Phoenix which hunger for knowledge proactively. This can sometimes lead to tension when a Phoenix with a big ego thinks the Dragons aren't getting shit done, or wants to uncover their mystical secrets. However, there is also a distant respect between the two of them, seeing that each is a dedicated scholar on the path of knowledge. Additionally, the Dragonfly Clan is honored not just for its origins with both the Dragon and the Phoenix, but for their unflinching devotion to peace and diplomacy.

'''The [[Lion Clan]]''': A Clan dedicating itself to pacifism and magic, and a Clan that lives for war and martial might. Yeah, this was never going to go well. Though the Lions may have a bigger hate-boner for the adjacent Cranes and Unicorns, the Phoenixes aren't held in high regard by them either, and this animosity is mutual. The huge egos of both Clans makes diplomacy difficult, and each believes their way of life (and more to the point, their way of waging war) is superior. So when a Lion army overruns the Phoenix before they can cast, or when a handful of Phoenix shugenja utterly wipe out a Lion invasion, each takes their victory as proof of their superiority, and their defeat as proof that their rivals are bullshit cheaters spamming netlists. Honestly, it's not unreasonable to imagine it like the bitter rivalry between Magnus the Red and Leman Russ.

'''The [[Mantis Clan]]''': On several levels, the Mantis Clan and the Phoenix Clan do not get along. Philosophically, there is certainly cause for mutual disdain: the Mantis are unorthodox capitalists with a strong military and mercantile tradition that prizes getting shit done, while the Phoenix are pacifists who promote conventional norms and prefer endless studies of mystical knowledge. Add to that the fact that they share borders, and conflict happens frequently, with the Mantis raiding the Phoenix coastline with very little opposition thanks to their swift fleets and the Phoenix's small armies. Thus, the Phoenix tend to oppose the Mantis at court and frequently petition for their Great Clan status to be removed. There is an exception, however, with the Moshi Family of the Centipede Clan, who originally came from the Phoenix.

'''The [[Scorpion Clan]]''': Surprisingly, despite being a Clan steeped in tradition and ideals, the Phoenix have a careful, guarded respect for the Scorpion. Perhaps it might have to do with Bayushi and Shiba being twins, but the Phoenixes are insightfully aware of how the Scorpions have mastered the many loopholes and pitfalls of society's rules. Though they might balk at the more cutthroat deceptions of the Scorpion, the Phoenix actually somewhat respect a Clan that can achieve that level of mastery and insight, rather than blindly going "SCORPION BAD, LIES BAD". The Scorpions don't necessarily share such a glowing evaluation of their cousins, often thinking of them as nerds who don't get much done and are quick to be overwhelmed by worldly problems, but their disdain is at least the conventional amount they have for everyone, and not the venom they hold for those that truly infuriate them. Plus, given their liberal use of the mystic arts for spycraft as well as their stewardship of the Twelve Black Scrolls of Fu Leng (and the fact that Shiba himself sacrificed his life to let Shosuro return), the Scorpions probably have a greater appreciation for shugenja and magical experts than they let on.

'''The [[Unicorn Clan]]''': The Unicorns and the Phoenixes have a complicated relationship, and as their lands are far removed from each other, both of them will seldom see the need nor the opportunity to get to know each other better. Although the Unicorn have not forgotten how the Phoenix believed them when they said they were Shinjo's people, relations since then have cooled considerably, largely due to their attitudes. As quite possibly the most unorthodox Clan in Rokugan (even beyond Crab crudeness and Mantis capitalism) who also happen to have strong martial traditions and military policies, a lot of the Unicorn Clan's character rubs the Phoenix Clan the wrong way. Meanwhile, the Unicorns see the Phoenixes as well-intentioned but pretentious scholars who are patronizing to everyone despite being so inactive, which runs counter to the Unicorn way of always moving towards a decision. However, because of that distance between their lands, they seldom have reason to fight each other, so their attitudes stay at merely a skin-deep impression rather than a well-rooted hatred. They also both recognize the unique strengths of the other as incredibly potent, and claim that they'd be willing to cooperate more fully if the other party would just shut up and listen.