Courtier

The courtier functions as an officiator and diplomat in Rokugan. Where bushi are the force on the battle field, the courtier is the force in the courts. Courtiers are members of the samurai caste and serve their clans by making alliances between other clans, representing the clan's interests in the Imperial Court, and handling general public relations.

While all clans produce courtiers, some simply have better access to resources, training, information and raw talent. Clans such as the Scorpion, Crane, and the Imperial Otomo family wield among the most political power in the Empire due to the influence of their courtiers. Even clans such as the Crab and Mantis, who vehemently dislike politics, require the aid of courtiers to arrange trade, produce food supplies, and stand for their interests in court. The Crab, have the Yasuki to meet this need, where the Mantis are attempting to build a stronger courtier school with in the Yoritomo family.

The courtier is of the Samurai caste, but will often not be found wearing a katana. Do to so would indicate the wear is ready, willing and capable of its use. Many courtiers have found that the time they spend brokering deals and negotiations, does not allow them the time to practice with their ancestors weapons. The courtier does how ever wear the wakizashi for this is the symbol of their samurai position and authority.

The Clan Politicians
=Crane= It is widely felt that no clan rivals the Crane in shear political might. Though the Scorpion might silently chuckle at such a notion. They have been for centuries at the center of politics, trade, and culture. The Doji courtier school teaches the trade of favors for political gain. Typical Crane courtiers tend to be attractive, witty, and verbose. They enjoy friendly civil chatting mixed with small verbal duels of wits. A Crane courtier has a way of finding out what one needs and supplying it, and with in the Doji family a very extensive tally is kept of what goes where, and whom has received what.

=Scorpion= “Mouths are the locks for secrets” In a clan known for its secrets and tricks, politics is perhaps their favorite game, even the most ruthless of Scorpion bushi knows a few tricks of the trade. It could be said that everything is political with the Scorpion, and they would tell you that it’s their job to make sure they know what is going on everywhere. Through political maneuvering the Scorpion have perhaps caused the most damage or good (as your allegiance may be) for the Clans. Scorpion courtiers are sly, witty and charming, much like their Doji counter parts, but where the Crane excel in the trade of favors, the Scorpion excel in the trade of secrets. It has been said that if you have a secret, somewhere there is a Scorpion who knows it. The Bayushi courtier school has produced many of the most dangerous men ever to live in the empire, but it is not uncommon to find any of the Scorpion families working as courtiers, with perhaps the only exception being the [Yogo].

=Dragon= The Dragon clan has for much of its existence been only heard from via its few courtiers. Prior to the Clan War they were rarely seen outside of the Imperial Court due to the reclusive nature of The Kami Togashi. Their courtiers tended to appear aloof and enigmatic. While in many cases this was simply a ruse, it could be said that they were simply acting according to their nature. Dragon Courtiers are typically chosen for their wisdom and listening abilities rather than shear negotiating skills. A Dragon courtier is on average a Kitsuki, as their investigative skills makes them excel at cutting through the verbal banter and finding the true nature of the discussion. Their style of dress is always very formal, as they are use to being the total representation of their clan.

=Phoenix= Perhaps no family is as traditional as the Phoenix, they maintain among the best education systems in the empire, and as a result their courtiers have cunning, honed minds filled with a vast assortment of lore, logic, and spiritual mysteries. The Asako family produces the bulk of the clans courtiers, but Isawa and Shiba often find their ways to the courts as well. Phoenix courtiers are polite, contemplative and conservative in their dealings and what the clan lacks in secrets and favors, they make up for in respect and religious authority, having a Phoenix on ones side of an issue commands a great deal of power.

=Lion= The Lion Clan has a notoriously low tolerance for politics. Despite their fundamentalist outlook, and tremendous armies, they have lacked political force for much of their existence. Their position as right hand of the Emperor and close proximity to the Imperial cities has been a contributing factor in their ability to maintain a voice in the courts over the centuries. The saving grace for the clan has been the Ikoma family, their uncanny intuition and oratory skills have saved many Lions from miserable fates. It is rare to find a Lion courtier who is not trained by the Ikoma, as this family has taken the clans flare for war and brought it to the court, in some cases literally. Ikoma has a speech for every occasion and will speak with eloquent directness.

=Unicorn= The ability to negotiate is of critical importance when dealing with new cultures for the first time, no one knows this better than the Unicorn Clan and within that clan, the Ide Family. For hundreds of years, the disarming and insightful nature of the Ide keep the Ki-rin Clan a power to be recognized in the harsh Burning Sands. Ide have in a fashion been selectively breed to be good at negotiations and compromise, for those who did not possess these traits often found themselves killed by foreigners. Ide have a calming effect, their voices and mannerisms typically call upon the good nature and reason of their opponents. While their clan often has a reputation of being savage barbarians, no family could be more acclimatized to the Empire than the Ide are.

=Crab= There is no clan who hates politics more than the Crab Clan. That being said, it is however come to their attention numerous times that politics are a necessary evil and as a result the Yasuki Family has meet that need and meet it with the vigor of a Hida berserker. They have built a virtual mercantile empire for their patrons and made sure their voice is not drowned out by other less important matters, Yasuki are smaller, and darker skinned than most other Rokugani, and while many courtiers go to their clan and other courtiers for aid and secrets, Yasuki often go to the root of matters, consulting with less than reputable individuals, their results how ever can not be denied, their ability to anticipate the needs of others, and have exactly what they need in surplus has been a driving factor in the Crabs endless battle against the [[Shadowlands.

=Mantis= The Mantis are in no want of ambition, they have it in endless reserves. Since becoming a Great Clan they have had the need for a stronger voice in the political machine that is Rokugan. The last thing they want is to be considered less than what they have earned. Yoritomo courtiers are endlessly obsessive compulsive in their pursuit of the clans political needs and goals, and do it brutally, so to speak. Mantis Courtiers are often considered by many to be the most boring insipid humans anyone could deal with, when filibuster and overwhelming bribery fails, they turn back to some of their clans more colorful past and outright mentally intimidate. There are few courtiers who desire to see the bad side of a Mantis courtier with orders from his Daimyo.