Lion Clan

The Lion Clan are the Right Hand of the Emperor. They are the epitome of bushido and the picture of valor. Next to the Seppun, they are most likely to serve as the Emperor's guardsmen, and they make up the greatest share of the Imperial Legions. The Lion Clan was founded by the Kami Akodo.

Akodo
The Akodo family was founded by Akodo himself. They are known throughout the empire as the finest and most valiant warriors. Histoically, the Akodo have led the Lion Clan, with only three exceptions throughout all of history (one of which is claimed to be falsified by the Ikoma) until the Scorpion Coup. Since the Coup and the disbanding of the Akodo, there has not been an Akodo Champion, nor have any of the other families been able to establish a clear line of succession for Championship.

Ikoma
The Ikoma are the historians and strategists of the clan. They are decended from the followers of Ikoma, the first and closest of Akodo's followers. Where the Akodo and the Matsu lead armies with skill unparalelled in Rokugan, the Ikoma direct and plan their battles just as well.

Kitsu
In a clan of warriors, the Kitsu are the shugenja. They are descended from the last five living kitsu remaining at the end of Akodo's purge. Because of their ancestral link to the other realms, many Kitsu can communicate easily with the spirits of the ancestors, and one of their family schools is devoted to this task.

Matsu
The Matsu armies comprise some of the fiercest in the empire. Where the Akodo fight with skill and prowess, the Matsu fight with fiercenesss and power, just like their namesake.

Shimisu
The Shimisu family is the darkest secret among the Lion. The small family was disbanded only a few hundred years after it was founded because its leaders had been, for centuries, raising a nightmarish oni and using its power to conquer their neghboring Lion daimyo, jeajous of their land. Eventually, word of their activities came to the Akodo, who marched on the family and slaughtered them and the oni. Records of the Shimisu were erased from the histories and geneologies of the empire, and the secret is closely kept by the Lion.

Schools
The following are the schools within the Lion Clan:
 * Akodo Bushi
 * Akodo War College
 * Ikoma Omoidasu
 * Ikoma Tactical
 * Kitsu Shugenja
 * Kitsu Sodan Senzo
 * Matsu Bushi

Samurai
See Samurai of the Lion Clan for a listing of notable members of the clan, both current and historic. For the leaders of the clan, see also:


 * Lion Clan Champion
 * Akodo Daimyo
 * Ikoma Daimyo
 * Kitsu Daimyo
 * Matsu Daimyo
 * Shimisu Daimyo