Imperial Families in 1178

[Dapper Dog]

The Imperial Families

The Imperial Families are the closest members to the Imperial line, with the end of the Hantei line that has fallen to the Oturi, who ascended after the Clan War and the Second Day of Thunder a new era has dawned on Rokugan. The change was not an easy one to take as lineage and blood lines are sacred among the kuge and the idea that a lineage without connection to the divine Hantei did not sit well with many, hence the Last Hantei War and the betrayal of the Seppun and their replacement by the Ikeda.

The Otomo endured the changes with pragmatism and although some did protest those voices were convinced of the new reality or they were silenced. The Otomo still serve as they have in the past and it is expected that the additional children of the Empress will join their ranks as others did in the past to avoid any conflicts. One interesting tidbit is that some of the Otomo knew about the Seppun plot but the family daimyo Otomo Kijimasa made the decision that they would stand by the Oturi and issued a quite order that those voices that aligned with the Seppun be silenced. It was a sad state of affairs that so many Otomo had strange accidents that ended with their deaths.

The Miya maintain their role as the messengers of the Empire, but more than that they maintain the lines of communication that keep the Empire running. They control the message and are experts in propaganda and communication warfare. There is a slight rivalry with the Scorpion as many members of the Great Clan are trying to adjust the messaging or control the flow of information that keeps the Empire flowing. This has pushed the Miya to work more closely with the Crane who are more than happy to offer their fleet of ships or vast wealth to aid the Miya in these dynamic shifting times. The Unicorn have also started a breeding program with the Miya that will hopefully produce stronger messenger horses, and this has brought them closer to the Miya as well.

The Ikeda are the newest family named after Seppun Ikeda a young page who chose to warn the Empress of the ambush at Winter Court in 1151, barely 17 at the time he chose to defy his betters for the Crown and was rewarded with being the head of the family at the war’s conclusion. The Seppun name was stripped from the family. According to the proclamation the Seppun died on the Day of Thunder and what came after were not worthy of the name. The Imperial samurai, who were not executed, were given three options join the Ikeda and continue as guardians of the Empress, join the Miya and never touch the blade again, or die. Most joined the Ikeda but many joined the Miya who monitored the samurai and those found wanting had accidents.

As Empress Oturi begins to decline in health all eyes turn to her children, Toriyama is expected to take the throne, nearing thirty he is trained as a battle commander and already serves with the Imperial Legions. Many expect that military expansion will be his focus. His younger half-brother Toturi is expected to join the Otomo and serve in an advisory capacity, while the youngest Yuahime, the heir’s half-sister, is expected to join the Ikeda and serve as a guardian of the lineage.