Yoritomo Courtier

When the Mantis Clan achieved equal status with the Great Clans, it quickly became apparent that the glorious armies of the Mantis would not be enough to earn and maintain influence during times of peace. Those Mantis who were skilled in the arts of courtly maneuvering were commanded to establish a school so that their arts might be shared with others. After several years and direct funding from the overflowing Mantis coffers, the Yoritomo Courtier School was comparable to the courtier dojos of other Clans. In a purely Mantis approach to the art, the founders of the school made up for their lack of formal training with dedication. What dedication did not unlock for the Mantis was tossed aside in favor of something more fitting for the Yoritomo family. In the end, the school become something of a hybrid of Doji favor-mongering, Scorpion ruthlessness, and pure Mantis 'charm' – the sort of charm that made other courtiers mildly concerned for their own personal safety. Courtiers of the Yoritomo Courtier School are trained to apply several tactics, one after the other until the desired result is achieved. At first, the courtier politely but bluntly states what it is he wishes and then opens the floor to negotiation for favors in return. Failing that, the Yoritomo quietly attempts to discern just how much koku would need to be applied to the situation to make things easier. If that response is ineffective (or deemed completely useless beforehand), the courtier then attempts tactics of intimidation – first of an emotional, then of a physical nature. Though the Mantis are often seen as boorish thugs in court, the balance they maintain is a complex one. Most courtiers somehow manage to maintain just the right threat level to scare opponents into action but not draw their wrath upon themselves. Like their bushi cousins, Yoritomo-trained courtiers prefer others being caught off-guard by their true ability. (3E, p.134)