The Mantis Clan Rules for Playing Characters from the Islands of Spice and Silk the MANTIS CLAN
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The Mantis Clan Rules for playing characters from the Islands of Spice and Silk THE MANTIS CLAN Credits EXPANSION DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT Max Brooke FICTION Sam Stewart EDITING Christine Crabb PROOFREADING Tim Huckelbery GRAPHIC DESIGN Joe Olsen and Michael Silsby GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER Christopher Hosch COVER ART Agri Karuniawan INTERIOR ART Aurlien Hubert, Antonio José Manzanedo, Adam Schumpert, Le Vuong ART DIRECTION Crystal Chang and Andy Christensen PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Jason Glawe and Dylan Tierney VISUAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brian Schomburg SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER John Franz-Whichlacz SENIOR MANAGER OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Chris Gerber EXECUTIVE GAME DESIGNER Corey Konieczka HEAD OF STUDIO Andrew Navaro © 2018 Fantasy Flight Games. Legend of the Five Rings and the L5R logo are trademarks of Fantasy Flight Games. Fantasy Flight Games and the FFG logo are registered trademarks of Fantasy Flight Games. FANTASY Fantasy Flight Games 1995 West County Road B2 FLIGHT Roseville, MN 55113 GAMES USA Updated 8/12/2020 For more information about the world of Rokugan and Legend of the Five Rings, visit us online at www.FantasyFlightGames.com 2 For hours, the Shimakage had crept up on the plodding “I do remember him saying something of the sort.” merchant ship out of Earthquake Fish Bay. She kept on “And yet, here we are. With a fat merchant ship to a course that didn’t quite parallel the Crab vessel, and our lee, and us in the perfect position to swoop down kept her sails reefed just so, conveniently keeping any on them with the wind at our backs.” symbols on the cloth hidden from sight. To the merchant Still not looking Kai in the eye, Shio walked back ship, the Shimakage must have appeared as just another toward the solid pine beam of the Shimakage‘s til- trading vessel heading for the Islands of Silk and Spice. ler. The sailor operating it saw her coming and relin- “Are you enjoying yourself?” Kai asked as he quished control with a short but respectful bow. The leaned up against the ship’s gunnels. captain put her hands on the tiller, feeling the minute Hanging off over the blue-green foam, a single vibrations of the ship and the waves through the wood. firm grip on the stays the only thing keeping her from “Kai-san, did I ever tell you about growing up in the plunging into the depths, Shio glanced back from the City of Lightning?” horizon with the guileless expression of a child. “What- “A few times, Captain.” ever do you mean, Kai-san?” “When I was a child,” Shio continued, “My aunt Kai snorted. “Come on, Captain. I’ve been watch- brought home some sweet honey candies from her ing you work ever so casually to windward of that adventures to the South. Oh, how I wanted one! But kabutogani there all morning,” he nodded dismissively my aunt insisted that they be saved for a special occa- towards the Crab ship on the horizon. sion. ‘Think of how good they will taste,’ she would say, Shio gave the other vessel another look, then 'if you enjoy them at the perfect moment.’” pulled herself aboard with a casual tug on the stays. Shio leaned against the tiller, gazing at the horizon She landed firm-footed and slightly crouched on the with unfocused eyes. “So one morning, I went into heaving deck, then straightened into the bow-legged the kitchen and asked, again, for a candy. And when swagger natural to any true sailor. Ignoring Kai, she my aunt, bless her memory, began to lecture me on walked to the edge of the quarterdeck. The rest of the patience, I snatched one from the box and fled.” Shimakage stretched out before her, and she gave it, Her eyes snapped back down to meet Kai, and a and her crew, a casual once-over. “I’m just taking us broad grin split her face. where the winds are.” “I don’t know if that was the ‘perfect moment.’ But “We practically have Tamon breathing down our it tasted pretty damn good to me.” necks now,” Kai said. “Any further north, and we’ll miss Shio shoved hard on the tiller, and the Shimakage Toshi Inazuma by a league or more.” heeled over sharply, the square prow digging deep “As if my navigator would let that happen,” Shio into the waves before breaking through the crest in a chuckled. “I’d wager you could tell me how many li to shower of blue-green spray. The wind caught the bat- Otosan Uchi, if I asked.” tened sails and filled them with a sudden crack, the “It isn’t seemly for a captain to take money from great green Mantis mon proudly emblazoned on the her crew.” straining canvas for all to see. The crew rose from their The two stood in comradely silence for a long stations, eyes fixed upon their captain. moment. Then Kai spoke again. “You know that Yorito- The navigator shook his head, but the smile on his mo has forbidden us from raiding Crab ships.” face matched his captain’s. He raised his voice. “Sailors Shio nodded. “I was at the assembly last month, as of the Shimakage! To arms! We have a prize to take!” were you.” “Something about a plan of his. ‘Be free to pluck any Cranes you find on open water,’ he said. ‘But leave the Crab be. Now is not the right moment to make them into enemies.’” THE MANTIS CLAN There are many minor clans in Rokugan, but perhaps the most famous—or certainly the most infamous, if you are in Crane lands—are the Mantis. Players who wish to build a Mantis character can do so using the clan, family, and schools What does your provided here. The Worldly Rōnin school character knoW? on page 87 of the core rulebook is also a good The Mantis Minor Clan All Mantis Clan characters have a greater school for a Mantis +1 Water awareness of the following topics: character, especially Ring Increase: Skill Increases: +1 Seafaring one who joined the clan $ You have a general awareness of the later in life. Status: 25 politics of Crane and Crab lands, as well The Mantis minor clan are a group of rugged sailors, At the GM’s discretion, as ports many Mantis call home, such as having grown from a loose alliance of merchants, rōnin, a Mantis character Tempest Island and Thunder Dragon Bay. could alternately study and castoff members of the Great Clans to a massive at a Great Clan school, organization that operates along Rokugan’s coastline. $ You know many basic facts of life about or a character from a While the Crane Clan has historically been one of the lands accessible by sea, such as the Great Clan could fall Isles of Silk and Spice, as well as foreign in with these motley Mantis’ major clients, recent political turmoil has pushed seafarers. As with any them apart, and the Mantis have sought allies elsewhere lands like the Ivory Kingdoms. character extending in the Empire. They sail from mainland ports to the Isles $ You know at least some words from for- beyond their clan’s of Silk and Spice and beyond, and rival the Unicorn Clan teachings, the GM has eign languages such as Ivindi, Myantu, in their exposure to foreign cultures. Having risen from final say over whether and Portuga, and might even be fluent. a particular concept less than the Great Clans, they are not so quick to look $ You know how to make yourself use- is appropriate for the down upon those of lower station—but humble origins story being told. do nothing to quell the ambitions of their dashing and ful aboard a ship, and are used to piratical leader, Mantis Clan Champion Yoritomo. shipboard life. The Families of the Fleet What does Bushidō Ring Increase: +1 Fire or +1 Water mean to your clan? Skill Increases: +1 Commerce, +1 Survival Glory: 36 Starting Wealth: 7 koku The Mantis believe that everyone must prove For complicated historical reasons, the Mantis do not themself—higher station of birth carries certain have a family name. Its samurai all belong to the Man- benefits, but comes with an expectation that tis Clan fleet, however, and so they take their names an individual will achieve greater heights to from the kobune ships they sail with. Tsuraikaze no match. Even the lowliest member of the clan Kudaka (Kudaka of the Bitter Wind) or Susano-o no can advance if they serve exceptionally. Cour- Hitoshi (Hitoshi of the Susano-o) are how they style age (Yu) holds a special place for the Mantis. themselves, changing their names as they sign on with Most members have ancestors who were different crews. Those Mantis who stay on land are born as commoners or fell from grace, so the known by the port where they live, such as Kinushima Mantis is more tolerant of foibles than other no Miaka or Tokigogachu no Tōya. clans. The Bushidō tenet of Honor (Meiyo) is less important to members of the Mantis Clan. See page 301 of the core rulebook for more information on how these can affect 4 your honor and glory. THE MANTIS CLAN ADVANCE TYPE NEW TECHNIQUES Trade Skills Skl. Grp. Storm Fleet Sailor School [Bushi] Osano-wo’s Boast is Fitness Skill Life on the seas between and beyond the Isles of Silk a new technique that Games Skill and Spice has made the Mantis Clan practical. Its sailors can be found on page know most true fights do not take place in a dōjō, but in 7 of this document Martial Arts [Ranged] Skill wild ambushes and on the rocking decks of kobune.