Ritual of Abdication (TCG)

The Ritual of Abdication was the adoption of the Otomo name by those younger children of the Emperor who were not expected to inherit the Throne. Following this ritual, such younger Imperial siblings usually joined the Otomo family, undergoing gempuku regardless of their age and taking the Otomo name. In this way, the Otomo helped preserve the Hantei bloodline, such that if an Emperor died without an heir, efforts could be made to trace the bloodline back to the most direct Hantei relative. Typically, this would be an Otomo, who would then reverse their abdication and assume the Throne as the new ruler of Rokugan.