Kyuden Hida

The Capital of the Crab
There is nothing subtle about the castle, no gardens surround the walls, no paintings adorn its state rooms. It is the mightiest fortress in Rokugan, made seemingly of the mountains themselves. In more than a thousand years, no Rokugani had ever dared to assault Kyuden Hida, and when fortress was in view of the Battle of the Cresting Wave and the War Against the Shadows, not so much as a single arrow hit its walls. It overlooks the cliffs of Earthquake Fish Bay. It is the headquarters of the Crab army and location of the Hida Bushi School.

The skulls of The Maw and Tsuburu no Oni hang above the gates of Kyuden Hida, a testiment to the strength of the Crab. Having been purified by Kuni shugenja, the skulls protect the mortal realm, as these Oni cannot return to Ningen-do while they exist. The gates are often left open, a hundred Hida bushi standing guard at all times.

The Kuni gatherings
Once every year, at winter equinox, the Kuni meet to discuss findings, exchange spells, recruit new shugenja and engage in scholary matters concerning the clan. At this time the Kuni Witch Hunters return from their wanderings to select new members.

The Temple of Persistance, Sun and Thunder
A new addition to the castle has been a private shrine to three of the Hida's greatest ancestors--Kisada, Yakamo, and Osano-Wo. Only those of the central Hida line and those closest to them have been admitted, and no non-Crab has ever seen the temple.

The temple's stained glass windows open to allow the morning sun to flood the room. It holds an artifact from each ancestor--Yakamo's wakazashi, Kisada's tessen, and a shard of the gate of Shiro Shiba that was struck by lightning by Osano-Wo. This is where the Clan Champions go to to commune with their ancestors.

(Crab pp. 34, 43, 92, SoCrab, 14-15)