12 Clans of the Valley

As the oral stories and scribed scrolls go, the clans first originated from a secret forested valley long ago. They were once a single clan. However eight generations ago, the clans leader boor twelve children who all sought for the leadership of the clan. As the story goes, a civil war broke out, with each child gaining supporters from different parts of the clan. Each one would split off and form a new clan, becoming known as the twelve clans of the valley.

As time went on the clans would fight bloody battles with each other. Picking crystals and gemstones that matched their fighting styles and using that color crystal or gemstone as their own. They choose to call their leaders Warlords and over the course of the next seven generations, many of the clans would go through multiple Warlords, some more then others. Each clan also choosing an animal that best fit the way their clan was perceived by the other clans.

Eventually resources became scarce in the valley. The clans had grown in size and they soon realized they could not stay here and maintain their holds forever. Thus the clans would leave the valley, moving from place to place in the hopes of one day find a new home for each clan.

They also left behind their bloody battles and instead decided to settle who would lead the Clans, in a honor duel that happens once a year in the summer. All 12 Clans arrive and pick a champion to fight for their Clan. A series of randomly chosen one on one fights are used to determine who would be crowned Shogun of the Clans. The winner of each round moves on until there are only three such warriors left to fight in the third and final round. The first and second finalist duel each other, followed by the first and third and finally the second and third. Thus each warrior will fight twice in the final round. Should there be a tie, a final fight determines the winner. In some years all three finalist have had to square off with each other at the same time. The first year was won by the Gōrudo. They have the most wins overall in the yearly tournament. Some clans, like the Kuro have yet to win. Once the winner has been declared, the Warlord of the Clan is given the title of Shogun. The longest any Clan has held the title, was for five years by the Gōrudo. When it comes time for the tournament to begin, it is the Shogun Clan of the pervious year who decides where the tournament will be held and it is their duty to host and provide food and the like for the other 11 Clans.

The title of Shogun allows that Clan to call a Moot or Thing of all Clans. Rallying them to whatever business the Shogun Clan wishes, including in times of war to fight for the Shogun Clan. They may also call a yearly decree, in which a single law is given for a year and a day until the next tournament. This could be almost anything, from requiring one Clan to end their feud with another Clan, the acquisition of extra food gathered from the yearly harvest as tribute to the Shogun Clan by each Clan paying tribute, declaring a new holiday, outlawing a particular thing, etc. This decree only lasts for one year, even if the same Clan should win the honor combat the following year, Clan law says they must make a new decree. All thou there is nothing to stop a decree from two or more years ago from being used again.

There have been a total of seven generations of the Clans, since the formation of the 12 Clans. In that time, some Clans have had many Warlords, as civil war among some Clans are not unheard of, as the heir's to the Clan leadership, sometimes will try and seize power for themselves. The Gōrudo are among the most honorable of the clans, with the Midori among the least honorable, with their open use of poison as a weapon.

Each clan has a colored stripe across the eyes of the face, from one ear to the other. Those adopted into the clans, or kept as slaves instead will wear a colored arm or head band, or other item of clothing that identifies them as part of that clan. This can be a combination of colors, crystals, gemstones and/or animal related items used by the clans. It’s not unheard of for clans to adorn their armor with crystals. Many a clan warrior can be seen with crystals sharpen upon their shoulders as extra protection, as well as other parts of their armor. They even adorn their weapons with crystals as well. Many clans use weapons and armor that have been fashioned from such crystals or gemstones.

The Crystals and Gems** match the clans color, animal and names of clan as follows:

Clan name--Color--Gemstone-Animal Most Associated with the Clan

Aka-Red---Ruby--Rooster or Hen

Orenji---OrangeGarnetHouse Cat or other feline

Ki--Yellow--CitrineGoat or Sheep

Midori--Green--Emerald---Snake or other Serpent

Ao (ow)BlueSapphire--Grox

Shiroi--White--Bone&Ivory**--Boar or other Swine

Murasakino-Purple-Amethyst--Monkey or any related Cercopithecoidea

KuroBlack--Onyx--Raven (Formerly a Crow)

Kasshoku---Brown-Brown Topaz---Dog or other related Caine such as a Wolf

Gurē---Grey---Diamond---Rat or other small scavengers

Gin (ein)Silver--Silver--Rabbit

Gōrudo-Gold---Gold---Owl

** (instead of crystals the Shiroi (white) clan adorns themselves in bones, ivory tusks, horns, antlers and the like. All their weapons and armor are made from such things.

Each clan also has a secondary weapon of choice. All the Clans use a sword and some use a war fan when casting magic, but their secondary weapon is unique to each Clan.

Clan Name               Secondary Weapon

Aka---Jezzail

Orenji-Fist (Red Claws)

KiCharging weapons like a pole arm or spear.

MidoriChain Weapons and Poison. Daggers are commonly use to deliver the poison

Ao---Hammers, mace and other crushing weapons. Strong like an Grox

ShiroiVarious Ivory head and bone shaft weapons

Murasakino---Staff

Kuro--Long Spear

Kasshoku-Axe

Gurē-Like a Rat they scavenge weapons and will use just about anything. Frying Pan, broom, shovel, rake, hoe, etc. peasantry style weapons.

Gin--Javelin and other throwing weapons.

Gōrudo--Salamander