Post by Rakugo on Feb 10, 2018 19:01:31 GMT
The Crane Clan, Left Hand of the Emperor, is known throughout Rokugan for its skilled duelists and artisans. The Crane are also noted courtiers, wielding great power in the courts of the land. The Crane were founded by the Kami Doji. They pursue excellence in all things, and the traditions established by Lady Doji are now customary in the Emperor's Court. The formal dueling system, iaijutsu, was established by Doji's husband, Kakita. Their preferential status with the Imperial line is renowned and throughout history the clan had had fewer taxes and more gifts heaped upon them than any other. They are the masters of the courts and have the status and wealth commensurate with such a position.
The lands of the Crane Clan stretch for miles on every side of the capital, Otosan Uchi. Everything from the foothills of the Mountains of Regret in the north to the Asahina fields of the southern peninsula are claimed by the Crane. Their lands also cover most of the coastline of Rokugan. The people of the Crane live a good life. The fields are rich, the taxes are light and the magistrates that patrol the lands pride themselves on their honorable and just nature.
The coastal regions of the Crane stretch across ninety percent of all of mainland Rokugan's coast. This gives the Crane a major hand in all seagoing trade. There are multiple established ports and marketplaces along the entire coast, making the Crane the most effective means of transporting things by sea. Trade roads also run down along the coast, and are heavily patrolled by the Daidoji. The majority of the Crane population live along the coast, and the cities are packed with people from all corners of Rokugan.
The northern parts of Crane lands border the Phoenix and Dragon Clans, the lands of the Emerald Champion, and Otosan Uchi. These lands have been mostly peaceful throughout history, with only a couple of exceptions. The area is filled with merchants who run a brisk trade with the Phoenix as well as with numerous shrines maintained by the Brotherhood of Shinsei. The lands of the Emerald Champion are technically owned by the Emerald Champion, but the frequency with which the Champion has been a Crane meant the lands were usually under Crane control.
The western lands of the Crane Clan are one of the keys to the prosperity of the Clan. The fertile rice fields are cultivated by the farmers and heimin of the Crane, and although the lands have often been disputed by the Lion Clan, the Crane maintain they had been given to Lady Doji by the Emperor Hantei when the lands were divided. The Lion frequently make forays into the lands to plunder their riches. Shiro no Yojin remains the main defensive castle on the Western border. To the south is Beiden Pass. For centuries the pass has been heavily contested by the Crane, Scorpion and Lion.
Near the border with the Scorpion Clan lies Western Works Village.
The Fantastic Gardens of the Crane are delicate beauties that are spoken of throughout Rokugan. They cover huge tracts of land reaching up to thirty li (miles), having been converted from arable land into pleasurable gardens by past Crane Clan Champions. The Crab complain and call it a waste of land, but the vast and rich lands of the Crane afford some spare for beauty. The gardens are works of art, containing bonsai trees, flower bushes and trickling streams that create the illusion of careless perfection. They were the result of generations of gardeners who spent their lifetimes perfecting their art. In addition to being art, the gardens symbolize something mythical, spiritual or historical.
The Crane are mostly identified with sky blue and silver colors.
The lands of the Crane Clan stretch for miles on every side of the capital, Otosan Uchi. Everything from the foothills of the Mountains of Regret in the north to the Asahina fields of the southern peninsula are claimed by the Crane. Their lands also cover most of the coastline of Rokugan. The people of the Crane live a good life. The fields are rich, the taxes are light and the magistrates that patrol the lands pride themselves on their honorable and just nature.
The coastal regions of the Crane stretch across ninety percent of all of mainland Rokugan's coast. This gives the Crane a major hand in all seagoing trade. There are multiple established ports and marketplaces along the entire coast, making the Crane the most effective means of transporting things by sea. Trade roads also run down along the coast, and are heavily patrolled by the Daidoji. The majority of the Crane population live along the coast, and the cities are packed with people from all corners of Rokugan.
The northern parts of Crane lands border the Phoenix and Dragon Clans, the lands of the Emerald Champion, and Otosan Uchi. These lands have been mostly peaceful throughout history, with only a couple of exceptions. The area is filled with merchants who run a brisk trade with the Phoenix as well as with numerous shrines maintained by the Brotherhood of Shinsei. The lands of the Emerald Champion are technically owned by the Emerald Champion, but the frequency with which the Champion has been a Crane meant the lands were usually under Crane control.
The western lands of the Crane Clan are one of the keys to the prosperity of the Clan. The fertile rice fields are cultivated by the farmers and heimin of the Crane, and although the lands have often been disputed by the Lion Clan, the Crane maintain they had been given to Lady Doji by the Emperor Hantei when the lands were divided. The Lion frequently make forays into the lands to plunder their riches. Shiro no Yojin remains the main defensive castle on the Western border. To the south is Beiden Pass. For centuries the pass has been heavily contested by the Crane, Scorpion and Lion.
Near the border with the Scorpion Clan lies Western Works Village.
The Fantastic Gardens of the Crane are delicate beauties that are spoken of throughout Rokugan. They cover huge tracts of land reaching up to thirty li (miles), having been converted from arable land into pleasurable gardens by past Crane Clan Champions. The Crab complain and call it a waste of land, but the vast and rich lands of the Crane afford some spare for beauty. The gardens are works of art, containing bonsai trees, flower bushes and trickling streams that create the illusion of careless perfection. They were the result of generations of gardeners who spent their lifetimes perfecting their art. In addition to being art, the gardens symbolize something mythical, spiritual or historical.
The Crane are mostly identified with sky blue and silver colors.