The Empire of the Rising Sun (3.5e Campaign Setting)/The Clans

When creating a character to be used in the Empire of the Rising Sun, the choice of of clan is extremely important. A character may hail from any of the major clans of the daimyo, or one of the vassal families of said daimyo. There are several minor daimyo who do not possesse any vassal families that the character may also be from, or they may elect to be ronin and have no clan. Membership in a family or clan grants a number of benefits.
 * Race: What race members of the family are. The hobgoblins did absorb the other races into their clans, and now there are entire clans made of humans, halflings, elves, and the other races.
 * Favored Class: While favored class means relatively little in Tome, since there are no XP penaltie for multiclassing, this is used to show what each family specializes in.
 * Starting Honor: The suggested starting honor score for a member of this group. While the normal starting score is 15, this feature superseeds that rule.
 * Starting Outfit: This is equipment gained in addition to the normal starting gold for a new character. Unwanted equipment can be sold during character creation for half the market price.

You may, with your DM's approval, choose to be without any faction whatsoever. Characters with no faction are either heimin (worker caste), hinnin (non-people like charlatans and geisha), or gaijin (outsiders, ie drow).

(Note: The first names and surnames presented are in Japanese order, and all the names are real. Any similarity to persons (living or dead) or characters in other media is purely coincidental.)

Akuma
Current Daimyo: Akuma Hakutaku (Male Hobgoblin Samurai 10 Demon Samurai 5)

The Akuma live on the outskirts of the clans, and their land borders on the Burning Sands. Because of how far away they are from the capital, they are often overlooked. This is to their ultimate advantage, however, as the Akuma have a terrible secret, one that should never have even existed. But exist it does, and it forms perhaps the most unique part of the clans ever.

The Akuma clan, at their fullest, represent the duality of spirit. To the Akuma, strength is everything. It is life, it is death, and to be strong is their greatest aspiration; it is also their greatest weakness. For, long ago, they realized one thing: Kurai-gami was stronger than all of the other kami, and his demonic servants were stronger than anyone in the Empire could ever dream.

To them, the choice seemed obvious: worship Kuraigami and his demonic horde in order to be the most powerful clan in existence. To make sure that their deepest, darkest secret was never uncovered, the Akuma created the Majo-kari, an organization devoted to tracking down and destroying demons. Of course, being led by demon-worshipers means that the majo-kari never go after any important member of the Akuma clan.

Since they are the clan closest to the Steep Slope of Shadow (both figuratively and literally), the Akuma are the Empire's first line of defense against demonic incursions, and, unbeknownst to the rest of the Empire, operate a huge wall of bones to act as a defense against the unliving hordes. The Akuma clan itself is made up of several vassal families that are usually in a constant state of war against one another, and the Empire does not know most of these families even exist. The Akuma lands are so alien that they could make for their own campaign setting, and will be explained more in the Burning Sands expansion (coming whenever I finish this one).

Philosophy: The philosophy of the Akuma can be summed up fairly easily: Power at any cost. It is what drove them to where they are, what continues to drive them, and what will always be in their hearts.

Allies and Enemies: The Akuma have very few friends, but also possess very little enemies. In fact, the biggest threat to the Akuma is itself. Its many factions, unknown to the rest of the Empire, and always busy squabbling for more power. In fact, the other clans only know about the Akuma and one of its "families:" The Ushinawa.

The Ishikawa
Current Daimyo: Ishikawa Hayate (Male Hobgoblin Rogue 9/Shubosha 10)

The Ishikawa are one of largest and most powerful clans in the Empire. With a whopping 6 vassal families, they have so much influence even their influence has influence. Of course, many seek to have that on their side, so the Ishikawa are very good record keepers. They wouldn't want to help finance both sides of a war. Unless it would make them money in the end.

The Ishikawa are one of the original clans created by Katzu himself, a fact that they have not forgotten and will not hesitate to flaunt. They started out fairly small, with only one vassal family, but their grasp of the political arenas and the battlefield, they were able to defeat a far larger clan and assimilate their samurai and holdings. They helped finance the first unification and were one of the major players who wrote up the law.

Being the ones who wrote the law, the Ishikawa are extremely skilled in manipulating it, and have a bureaucratic system so complicated even a Pit Fiend would call it ridiculous. They wrote in a clause in the national law so that they are allowed to have their own law applied to anyone who enters their land, whether the outsider knows their laws (which they usually don't) or not. The law of the Ishikawa territory is a complex thing, with many statutes, precedents, and loopholes. As such, imperial police hate going into Ishikawa territory. In fact, an entirely separate division was created specifically to deal with the Ishikawa lands.

Philosophy: The Ishikawa focus on two things: Money, and power. Sure, they might be money-grubbing politicians, but they are very, very good at their job. They are brought up learning the law, and are simultaneously taught to respect and abuse it. Despite this, they are also encouraged to follow through on their promises; so even though they abuse an already complicated system, they are actually quite honorable. They'll steal your money, but hey, they're honest about it, so who cares?

Allies and Enemies: The Ishikawa have many alliances, but they will not simply give one up at the drop of a hat. They know that their influence is sought by even the most sly Yokokiyo aasimar, and use this knowledge to their fullest potential. They usually concentrate on personal alliances rather than backing an entire clan. In the past few years, however, they have broken this precedent and backed the upstart Nobuyuki and his clan, the Ota. This surprised many of the other clans, but the Ishikawa realize the Ota's potential power, and know that Nobuyuki has enough expertise to actually ascend to the throne.

Races: Being one of the first clans created, the Ishikawa is made up of hobgoblins, and their vassal families are exclusively goblinoids.
 * Race: Hobgoblin
 * Favored Class: Rogue
 * Starting Honor: 10

Bando
Current Daimyo: Bando Yuudai (Male Goblin)

The Bando clan is, in essence, a recognized and legal mafia. The Bando are more open to making ronin, thieves, and other social outcasts part of their clan than anyone else, but they don't brag about it. Their clan focuses on providing a much needed vice sector of the economy; they control drug distribution, brothels, and the black market. Of course, in Ishikawa territory they are untouchable, since the law states that only those using the goods can be punished; those who sell them get off free.

While their main influence is in the Ishikawa territory, they have a fair amount of control over the illegal activity in the lands of the other clans as well. In these lands they also add racketeering and fencing to their list of specialties. The money they make off of all these illegal activities goes straight into their pockets and those of the Ishikawa. Indeed, it is primarily due to their influence that the Ishikawa is such a ridiculously rich clan.


 * Race: Goblin, Other. While all members of the Bando upper circle and goblins, they are not above taking other accomplished criminals into their ranks.
 * Favored Class: Rogue
 * Starting Honor: 5 (Most members of the Bando take false honor)

Etsuko
Current Daimyo: Etsuko Katsuro (Hobgoblin Samurai 12 [[Soulseared (3.5e Prestige Class)|Soulseared) 5)

The Etsuko is the military branch of the Ishikawa clan. They are mainly responsible for conducting military operations. All the Etsuko know and dream of is war. Their martial training starts before they can even walk, and spend every hour of every day training for battle. Since the death of the Emperor and Shogun, the Etsuko have been having the time of their lives. The constant warfare is more then they could have ever dreamed of.

The Etsuko tend to be aggressive, but are by no means stupid. They have a particular affinity for fire which often reaches stupid extremes, however, these burns can give them awesome power.


 * Race: Hobgoblin
 * Favored Class: [[Samurai, Tome (3.5e Class)|Samurai)
 * Starting Honor: 16

Hachirobei
Current Daimyo: Hachirobei Daiki (Male Hobgoblin Samurai 1 Marshal 12 Legendary Strategist 5)

If the Etsuko are the warriors, then the Hachirobei are the commanders. While the Etsuko may crank out hundreds of strong, battle-lusting samurai, they have a bit of a leadership problem. When all your warriors want to do is fight, making them commanders leads to unnecessary conflicts whenever they get bored. And random wars waste money.

Because of the lack of foresight in even the smartest Etsuko samurai, the Hachirobei exist as a necessity. They are trained in the more subtle, intelligent parts of war. They are commanders extraordinaire, and are the ones pulling the strings behind every Ishikawa attack. While they themselves are not always in the attacking force (such as when it is a small raiding party), they are the ones calling the shots. Because of their limited usage, the Hachirobei are a relatively small family.

Hiroyuki
Current Daimyo: Hiroyuki Sho (Male Goblin Knight 10 Samurai 4)

The Hiroyuki vassal family for created for one reason: to protect the other members of the Ishikawa clan. They are essentially mercenaries who own their own land and collect taxes; whenever another clansman needs a bodyguard of significant calibur (usually they are either Kagabu or Hachirobei), a number of Hiroyuki samurai are sent to protect them. Foes who underestimate a Hiroyuki guard based on their small size will quickly be proven otherwise.

Unlike the Etsuko, who focus on the offensive and attacking as swift as fire, the Hiroyuki prefer a more staunch approach. They are taught from birth that their lives are inconsequential compared to that of their ward, and will take a fatal blow for those they are protecting. The Hiroyuki are also talented equestrians, though they prefer to ride worgs. Unfortunately, due to the nature of their job, they rarely get to show off this talent.


 * Race: Goblin
 * Favored Class: Knight
 * Starting Honor: 20

Kagabu
Current Daimyo: Kagabu Kosetsu (Female Elementalist 3 Snowsoul 12

Part of the Ishikawa lands are located on and around the mountains that separate the civilized samurai from the gaijin of the reito butsu. This land is the home of the Kagabu, the spellcasting branch of the Ishikawa. They are rather unique in that they specialize in a pseudo-elemental: ice. The coldness of the mountains, the snowfall, and the extreme tundra beyond serve only to strength their magic.

The Kagabu are not the nicest individuals out there, since most of their hearts are frozen--literally. While they can be cruel, this cruelty is considered an immense asset during times of war, when their chilling abilities, especially the ones that manipulate the battlefield, can be used to full effect. During times of peace, there is little for the Kagabu to do, so they tend to have some measure of artistic ability that they use to entertain themselves during long down times. The state of chaos has increased the demand for Kagabu elementalists, a fact that makes them shiver with joy.


 * Race: Hobgoblin
 * Favored Class: Elementalist
 * Starting honor: 14

Okazaki
Current Daimyo: Okazaki Masaru (Male Bugbear Assassin 7 / Meteor Ninja 7)

Feared by many, officially acknowledged by few, the Okazaki are the secret police of the Ishikawa. They hunt down and kill anyone who has broken one of their laws, even if this pursuit leads them outside their sphere of influence. They are also responsible for ensuring that each peasant pays his taxes. The Okazaki have been a notorious thorn in the side of the Imperial Police, since they have a tendency to go outside their territory on the hunt for criminals of the Ishikawa.


 * Race: Bugbear
 * Favored Class: Assassin
 * Starting Honor: 11

Mizuchi
Current Daimyo: Mizuchi Nanami (Female Half-Elf Storm Lord 15)

The clan now known as the Mizuchi started off as a large group of pirates who all swore a truce when the Empire first started. In the beginning, they were not viewed with high esteem, nor did they own any land. As time went on, however, the pirates conquered the coastal islands of the continent, and formed a social structure that was an imitation of the mainland's. As they widened their territory and began to form genuine trading partnerships with other clans, they became more and more integrated into its structure.

Eventually, they simply used the name of their alliance as a family name, and developed several branches off of the main line. As time went on, they became more and more like a clan, until they were eventually recognized by the Emperor. Now that they were a definite presence, the Mizuchi set their sights on acquiring at least a piece of the mainland, as well as looking more like an actual clan. Within several years they had absorbed two minor clans: the Suzumebachiand and the Mukade.

The Mizuchi have almost a total monopoly on sea travel and trade, as well as providing a large selection of mercenaries of varying types to the other clans. Mizuchi samurai are famous for using peasant weapons, and it is not uncommon for the farmers of the islands to be formidable warriors in their own right.

One of the more interesting pursuits of the Mizuchi is the trade of illegal goods, which they are far more involved in then any of the clans suspect. Each of their buyers believe that they are one of a privileged few; in reality, there are hundreds who benefit from the Mizuchi's services. Because of their clan status, the number of people who owe them, and the war between the clans, their smuggling has gone largely unnoticed.

Philosophy: The Mizuchi's basic motto is "anything, for a price;" for the right amount of money, the Mizuchi will acquire almost anything for a prospective client. They are very secretive about their operations, and usually will not go back on a deal. There are certain exceptions, but for the most part they are fairly honorable about their dishonorable dealings.

Allies and Enemies: The Mizuchi have special agreements with many powerful people, and could conceivably bring down respected families with knowledge of their purchases. Because they sponsor many different people and ventures, the Mizuchi are seemed as largely neutral.

Races: The Mizuchi are comprised of an plethora of races, and they are the only clan that accepts half elves and half orcs. In fact, the Mizuchi clan proper is comprised of them exclusively. The vassal families are comprised of many different races.


 * Race: Half-Elf
 * Favored Class: Storm Lord
 * Starting Honor:10
 * Starting Outfit: TBA

Ikefuka

 * Current Daimyo: Ikefuka Ryo (Male Half-Orc Fighter 13)

The Ikefuka are the warriors of the Mizuchi. They are known across the Empire for their extremely unorthodox fighting style, which focuses on peasant weaponry. Because they can fight with just about any farm implement, an Ikefuka samurai is never truly without a weapon. Their style is distinctive, so it is easy to spot an Ikefuka regiment on the battlefield. They are largely responsible for the Mizuchi clan's reputation for wielding odd weapons.


 * Race: Any
 * Favored Class: Fighter, Soldier
 * Starting Honor: 8
 * Starting Outfit: TBA

Kurokawa

 * Current Daimyo: Kurokawa Ren (Male Hobgoblin Windseeker 11)

The Kurokawa family specializes in the ocean. While the Ikefuka are often the men serving on the ships, it is the Kurokawa who build and pilot the Mizuchi's impressive fleet. Out of all the Mizuchi, the Kurokawa are the most devoted to Susano-o, the kami of storms and the sea. They call upon his power to manipulate the wind and better steer their ships. In naval combat, the Kurokawa are famous for stopping the wind behind their opponent's sails.


 * Race: Any
 * Favored Class: Windseeker, Rogue
 * Starting Honor: 10
 * Starting Outfit: TBA

Mukade

 * Current Daimyo: Mukade

The Mukade are the spiritual and magic users of the Mizuchi clan. They do not exactly fit in with the rest of the clan, but this is because they were absorbed by the larger clan. They focus on fire magic and worshiping Amaterasu, the sun goddess. Because they were originally their own minor clan, the Mukade are made up of halflings.


 * Race: Halfling
 * Favored Class: Spirit Shaman
 * Starting Honor: 12
 * Starting Outfit: TBA

Suzumebachi

 * Current Daimyo: Suzumebachi

The Suzumebachi are the bounty hunters and mercenaries of the Mizuchi. Unlike other samurai clans, they focus their energies on a different weapon than most: the bow. In the old days, the bow was actually more of a samurai status symbol than the katana, but as warfare changed so too did the weapons. Because they focus on ranged combat, the Suzumebachi were always treated as outcasts; even their absorption into the Mizuchi has not totally gotten rid of this negative view.

Aside from mastering the bow, the Suzumebachi market themselves to the other clans as bounty hunters, willing to hunt down almost anyone and anything for a price. Because bounty hunting is not the most honorable activity, the Suzumebachi actually came up with their own honor code that is, to them, more important than bushido. They are identified by a yellow and black striped wristband that all Suzumebachi wear.


 * Race: Hobgoblin
 * Favored Class: Fighter, Drifter, Scoundrel (Sublime Suzumebachi typically specialize in the mystical rain and surreptitious bandit styles
 * Starting Honor: 6

The Ota
Current Daimyo: Ota Nobuyuki (Male Human Samurai 9, Warblade 6, Legendary Strategist 5)

The Ota originated from a fairly small, disorgainized minor clan surrounded on all sides by other small clans, each jockying for more power. Annoyed by the petty squabbles within his clan, Nobuyuki rose up and attacked uncle's castle, taking care of his main opposition and thus uniting the clan. He was prone to fits of anger and would often curse the entire empire openly in front of the other daimyo, which led him to being called "the fool of the Ota." Nobuyuki's anger was not necessarily at the court, but at the minor clans that surrounded his. Outraged by their mediocrity, he invaded the other clans in what was seen as a foolish, overconfidant move.

But Nobuyuki's foolishness paid off, as a combination of good logistics, poor enemy commanders, and the very weather itself led to the Ota totally eclipsing the other minor clans in the area, absorbing them into their fiefdom. The only remnants of the opposing clans are the vassal families of the Ota. However, just as soon as the kami seemed to favor him, a new force of opposition appeared: the yamabushi. Also known as sohei, these warrior monks opposed Nobuyuki at every turn, raining down death and destruction from their fortress-monasteries located in the mountains.

Enraged by the sohei's dishonorable, guerilla tactics, the Ota struck back at the sohei, sending a large bulk of their army into the mountains to deal with the threat. Nobuyuki was at the head of the invading force, and the yamabushi were no match for the daimyo's superior strategy. As payback for all the property damage they had caused, Nobuyuki burned their temples to the ground.

The Ota had largely stayed out of the conflict between the Shogun and Emperor, but their death has opened a new door for Nobuyuki's ambition. He seeks to the throne for himself, and will not rest until the entire empire knows the might of the Ota clan.

Philosophy: The Ota's core philosophy is simple: If met with opposition, destroy it. Nobuyuki showed this explicitedly when he razed the yamabushi's monasteries, but this core dogma can be applied to much of everything else. While it seems excessively ruthless, and it oftentimes is, the Ota philosophy is meant to bring peace and prosperity by eliminating anything that would stand in the way. This often makes Ota warriors impulsive, quick to act, and easily angered. It is wise to avoid the wrath of an Ota.

Allies and Enemies: The Ota are known as "the upstarts," and because they rose to prominence fairly recently, they have few allies in court. Nobuyuki doesn't seem to care about alliances with the other daimyo too much, and his brash nature has led many to suspect his mind and honor are lacking. Despite all this court tension, the Ota have an alliance with their neighbors to the northwest: the mighty Ishikawa. Because of their crimes against the monastic order, many monks and sohei have made it their duty to eliminate the Ota clan.

Races: The Ota clan was originally comprised only of humans, but their absorbtion of the surrounding clans has led to several goblinoids in their ranks. The Ota tend to distrust them, if only because they could be allied with clans comprised entirely of goblinoids, but deal with them because they are excellent warriors.


 * Race: Human
 * Favored Class: Samurai.
 * Starting Honor: 10
 * Starting Outfit: To be completed when I finish the gear and equipment section.

Arato
The Arato are a clan comprised of men who, like Nobuyuki, follow the sublime way. While the Yasuga clan also chooses this path, the Arato are much more direct, and far less esoteric. Most of the members of the Arato family are ronin and peasants who study the Art of War, and in this way there are the unofficial clan of the Gaze of Sun Tzu.
 * Current Daimyo: Arato Ryu (Male Human Warblade 12)
 * Race: Any. When Nobuyuki formed this family, he left it open to anyone who followed the Art of War.
 * Favored Class: Warblade.
 * Starting Honor: 15

Harada
The Harada used to be a fairly sizeable minor clan made out of humans, just like the Ota were orignally. At one point in time, they were the largest all-human clan, and maintained a human-centric philosophy. A decade or so ago, the Harada marched against the Ota, intent of crushing the small, disorganized clan with their large army. But a combination of Nobuyuki's shrewd tactics and a great storm caused them to lose. What was left were assimilated into the Ota, who let them keep their family name.
 * Current Daimyo: Harada Kaito (Male Human Samurai 10)
 * Race: Human.
 * Favored Class: Knight. Most become Imperial Knights at 10th level.
 * Starting Honor: 17

Hashimoto
The Hashimoto are the only gnomes to be members of the samurai class. They are reknowned armor and weaponsmiths, and their daimyo, Osamu, is no exception. They tend to be rather eccentric and often are perfectionists; Osamu has been known to lock himself in the forge for days trying to perfect some new technique. The Hashimoto were one of the first allies of the Ota, and volunteered to become a vassal family very early on. The Ota's success is often attributed to the Hashimoto, for they have some of the finest equipment makers in the entire Empire.
 * Current Daimyo: Hashimoto Osamu (Male Gnome Fighter 7/Samurai 5)
 * Race: Gnome.
 * Favored Class: Fighter.
 * Starting Honor: 10

Sarumata
The Sarumata were a small clan with no vassal families, specializing the the applications of the element Fire. While small, they had a fairly good influence on the surrounding area, where they used their fire power to amuse and delight people for money. They were neighbors to the Ota clan while it was still small, and often lent them support. They were repaid with family-hood, serving the Ota as spellcasters.
 * Current Daimyo: Sarumata Ryuunosuke (Male Hobgoblin Elementalist 6/Fire Mage 10)
 * Race: Hobgoblin.
 * Favored Class: Fire Mage.
 * Starting Honor: 15

Yokokiyo
Current Daimyo: Yokokiyo Akio (Male Aasimar Tenken 7/Iaijutsu Master 7)

Excellence: It drives all the Yokokiyo. Members of this clan will not undertake an action if they cannot do it well, and this tradition of excellence has given them a reputation as the finest poets, artists, and duelists in the Empire. For many Yokokiyo, life itself is art.

Many outside the Yokokiyo see them as arrogant or impractical (and they're right), but from the Yokokiyo perspective these observers are either jealous of their heritage or merely shortsighted. Those who do not share the aasimar's high standards can hardly understand why they do what they do. Likewise, few can seriously deny their stunning acheivements.

Though most Yokokiyo disdain open warfare, they do not shun combat all together, and they have known their share of warfare throughout the long history of the Empire. The true power of the Yokokiyo, however, is not in the battlefield but in the courts. The skilled politicians of the Yokokiyo are rvaled only by those of the halfling families. Few important lords in the Empire do not have at least one Yokokiyo ally.

Philosophy: The Yokokiyo, being made out of aasimar and feytouched, tend to think of things in extremes. Either they are extremely passionate about a particular subject, or they can barely contain their disdain. While Yokokiyo are not prone to emotional outbursts any more than the average samurai, most maintain a quiet passion for living that extends to everything they do. Those who share their joy for living and can appreciate the finer things in life have a chance to earn their respect and friendship.

The Yokokiyo tend to have very high standards, both for themselves and others. Those who can meet or exceed those standards are worthy of respect. Those who fall short are not even worthy of attention. Of course, few people ever meet their high expectations.

Allies and Enemies: While most other clans dislike the Yokokiyo for their snobbishness, they have few real enemies. They try to stay out of conflicts as much as possible, since they aren't that plentiful. The Yokokiyo have a large amount of disdain for the Ota; Nobuyuki's clan has more members than the Yokokiyo, and the Ota are fairly new. This has not erupted into war yet, but it likely will.

Races: The Yokokiyo and one of its vassal families are made up of aasimar, descendants of the kami who now breed true. The other vassal family is made up of feytouched, and they share a strange kinship with their celestial brethren.


 * Race: Aasimar
 * Favored Class: Tenken
 * Starting Honor: 15

Hanabusa
The Hanabusa are the diplomatic family of the Yokokiyo. They are famed duelists, but their true power lies in the courts. They have a long tradition of powerful shubosha, and some argue that they have the most power after the shogun's demise. They are the "face" of the Yokokiyo, and recognize that the snobbish nature of their aasimar brothers is detested by the other clans, and attempt to be as inviting as possible. They will not hesitate to help out or lodge powerful people, as long as they will provide a slight favor to be named in the future.
 * Current Daimyo: Hanabusa Daiki (Male Aasimar Tenken 6/Iaijutsu Master 3/Shubosha 10)
 * Race: Aasimar
 * Favored Class: Tenken
 * Starting Honor: 7

Ozawa
The Ozawa are the single family of feytouched in the entire Empire. Because of their ancestry, they are more connected to the animal spirits of Chikushudo then anyone else. They are also the most spiritually aware of all the clans. They are somewhat estranged from the rest of the Yokokiyo families, prefering to stay in their woodland retreats. The rest of the clan doesn't mind; the philosophical musings and qualms of the Ozawa get in the way of their political schemes.
 * Current Daimyo: Ozawa Kokoro (Female Feytouched Knight 10/Druid 5/Defender of the Wood 2)
 * Race: Feytouched
 * Favored Class: Druid
 * Starting Honor: 17

The Minor Clans
The larger clans can trace their history back to the beginning of the Empire (well, most of them, anyway). They are not the only clans that exist, however. Throughout history, a number of samurai, races, and occasionally ronin have been granted clans of their own: their clans are called minor clas. Minor clans survive by going unnoticed or by allying with a more powerful clan; otherwise, they would simply be assimilated.

The main difference between a minor clan and the other clans is that a minor clan has no vassal families. Occasionally a minor clan will rise up and take over its neighbors, which then promotoes it higher on the chain of command Because of the rise of the Ota clan, there are currently less minor clans then ever before. The current minor clans are as follows.

Nishihara
The Nishihara clan is made up entirely of gnoll bushi. Because of their help during the Great War, Katzu granted them their own stretch of land. Unlike the other races, however, the gnolls never attempted to increase their holdings, prefering not to deal with politics at all. With social status high enough that they have servants waiting on their beck and call, the gnoll's innate laziness has reached new lows, and they rarely ever venture out of their castles, let alone their land. They will let almost anything slide; as such, the peasants of the Nishihara (who are not gnolls) don't mind being heimin at all. Most of the other clans disregard them, and barely acknowledge they exist, which is fine with them. If a warrior had the skill and power to raise them as an army and actually do something, they would be one of the most powerful forces in the Empire.
 * Current Daimyo: Nishihara Ichiro (Male Gnoll Samurai 3/Ranger 2)
 * Race: Gnoll
 * Favored Class: Any
 * Starting Honor: 15

Sugiyama
The Sugiyama are what's left of the elves. Gone are the days when "elf" was synonymous with "tree hugging wizard." They lost their forests long ago, and because of that necromancer (who was probably a member of the Sugiyama) they can't even practice wizardry anymore. They have close ties to the Fuuma ninja clan, and their daimyo is one of the Kyosho of the shadowy organization. It is entirely possible that elves created the Fuuma in the first place, but they only have passing ties to them now. The Sugiyama are so dedicated to taking revenge that they don't bother in politics; they plans span several of their generations, which are significantly longer than the other races of the Empire. Petty squabbles and political affairs are the things of the shorter-lived, inferior races.
 * Current Daimyo: Sugiyama Itsuki (Male Elf Samurai 3/Rogue 5/Fuuma Ninja 10)
 * Race: Elf
 * Favored Class: Assassin
 * Starting Honor: 6

Yasuga
The Yasuga are a clan made up of ronin accepted into their order or that are descended from the legendary warrior of the same name. The Yasuga have their own land in the mountains, where they run several schools that teach interested samurai the Sublime Way. Additionally, the Yasuga are in charge of a sizable portion of the capital. They are unique in that they only accept ronin who pledge their allegiance to the Blades of Yasuga. Joining the Yasuga means renouncing their old name, their old life, and swear sole fealty to upholding justice and protecting the innocent.
 * Current Daimyo: Yasuga Yuriko (Female Human Fighter 2, Samurai 4, Swordsage 10)
 * Race: Human, Other. Yasuga's surviving heirs are all human, but the clan will accept a worthy ronin from any race or clan.
 * Favored Class: Swordsage
 * Starting Honor: 20