Asahina Archer

Asahina Archer School
Even though the Crane Clan prefers to resolve disputes in the courts or though Iaijutsu Duels, sometimes they need to settle conflicts through force of arms. Although they rely heavily of the guerrilla tactics of the Daidoji, once the skirmishes are done and te battle joined, the Crane Often find themselves at a serious disadvantage against the veteran units of the Crab or the legendary leadership of the Lion. Long before the Asahina Battle School was founded, the Asahina needed to find a way for those who either lacked the capability to commune with the kami or the pacifist mentality required to study at its shugenja school to serve the clan. The Daidoji also relized they needed a force to fill the niche between the highly unorthodox Daidoji Harriers and their move conventional forces. The development of formal archer units was a natural outgrowh of the sensibilites of both families; even the martially inclined Asahina had no particular desire to be physically close to the victims of their violence, while the Daidoji had an affinity for any tool that could weaken a foe before he could retaliate.

History of the Asahina Archers
Prior to the War Against the Darkness, the Asahina and Daidoji jointly maintained a school for their archers at a small kyuden near the border of the Asahina and Daidoji estates. The Asahina Archers played a small often understated role until their pivotal role against other members of the Crane clan. The Asahina Archers were mobilized during the war to initially reinforce Daidoji garrisons defending the major Crane holdings. However, when the Lying Darkness manipulated Daidoji Uji into attacking Shiro no Youjin held by the Lion clan, he enlisted the majority of the Archers in the ensuing seige of the castle. Uji succeeded only to find that Doji Kuwanan, had disavowed all knowledge of Uji's action and had declared open war upon Uji and his followers. Uji resorted to extreme measures to preserve his command from both Crane and Lion armies unleasing the Daidoji Harriers and the Asahina Archers against his kin in several brutal engagements. Eventually, Uji and Kuwanan discovered that their civil war had been instigated by the Darkness and ceased their conflict. Unfortunately by this time the damage had been done as the Crane forces had been crippled. The Asahina Archers had acquitted themselves ampty, but were horrified by the amount of damage they inflicted upon their own clan. This led the archers to swear again to never take arms against another Crane, an oath and led them into conflict with Doji Kurohito during the War Against the Spirits. Pressed severely by Hantei XVI's forces, Kurohito order the archers to take the field against the Hantei armies, an order that the archers refused to follow and led to the seppuku of many of their senior senseis and the disgrace of the school. However since Torui's victory of the forces of the Steel Chrysanthemum, the arhcers have been relegated to support roles in the Crane armies, where they still server waiting for an opportunity to show they can serve their clan as well as any bushi.