Lion Clan Army

The Lion}} army is widely known for two things: ferocity in battle, and its massive size. Over half a million men are organized into many thousands of units make the Lion army almost double the size of any other army, save perhaps the [[Unicorn_Clan|Unicorn.

The organization of the Lion Clan's armies reflects the level of disipline each Lion samurai direct their daily lives with. Although the command structure is incredibly complex, they are strictly defined and enforced. From the youngest Lion bushi, to the Clan Champion himself, each and every Lion samurai knows his place and duty in the giant war machine that is the Lion army.

The most important breakdown within the Lion army is between two families - that of the Akodo, and that of the Matsu. This rivalry is clearly shown in the prime focus and training of the armies as much as it is in individual samurai.

The Akodo Army
The training of Akodo children is begun under the words of the house motto - "Duty, Honor, Leadership". These three words reflect the beleif that strength can be gained when warrior support each other. Most Akodo drills are designed to emphasize co-ordinated efforts - two or more bushi working in concert to maximize their combined strengths. Akodo bushi train constantly to wheel and march on command, and to perform complicated tasks with speed and efficiency.

Every other family in Rokugan relies upon individual glory to inspire their fellow bushi, the Akodo knows that with his brothers and sisters he is stronger than his opponent can be. If he trips, his brother will pick him up. If his sword arm is severed, his sister will step in and fufill his duty. If his courage should ever fail, his ancestors will bolster him, and fill hi, with the spirit of the Lion.

Flowing like water around their opponents attacks, an Akodo army redirects the opposing force, the crashes into them like waves from the sea.

Ranks
Lion samurai depend on glory to understand their place in the heirarchy. To all Akodo, all men are sons of the first Akodo, and all are considered equal in his eyes. Their Champion is the "eldest son", the incarnation of Akodo One-Eye, and heir to the Lion throne. Other Lion must prove their worth to the family, and thus earn their place in the heirarchy, rather than relying solely on birth to bring them glory. The Akodo are more united than almost any other family in Rokugan, so this rarely leads to bickering and glory-hounding.

When a soldier rises in rank, his comrades cheer and conragulate them, rather than evy them because of their success. This comradeship is part of what it means to be an Akodo, and it is widely known and accepted that to insult a single Akodo is to insult all Akodo.