Noble Houses of the Pearl Islands

Art by TaliusDesigns, source

The Great Houses

There are five great noble houses of the Pearl Islands, whose leaders are feared and respected Daimyos and who have many samurai at their command. There are also a larger number of minor houses who command fewer samurai and resources but nonetheless aspire to the same status and abide by the same rules as the five great houses. These great houses are long-lived and can trace their lineage back to before the Thyatians took over, and command great respect and honour among all Pearl Islanders. 

Each of the great houses has both an animal totem and a preferred gemstone and colour. These will feature on the banners and armour of the samurai that belong to that house, and those familiar with the houses will quickly recognise those loyal to the great houses and the more prominent lesser houses. 

The five great houses are:

• Okami (Wolf Clan)
• Based in Kaiko
• Gemstone: Yellow Topaz
• Troops: 3400 footsoldiers, 760 samurai, 8 warships
• Notes: Supported by Order of the Mandate of Heaven, currently holds the Shogunate
• Okotta-Tora (Tiger Clan) 
• Based in Saba
• Gemstone: Red Carnelian
• Troops: 3000 footsoldiers, 800 samurai, 6 warships
• Notes: Loose alliance with Order of the Snarling Tiger (Sohei)
• Kumo (Spider Clan)
• Based in Hannabira
• Gemstone: White Pearl
• Troops: 1200 footsoldiers, 620 samurai, 12 warships
• Notes: Noted for its naval prowess and maritime trade connections
• Inoshishi (Boar Clan)
• Based in Raisukawa
• Gemstone: Green Jade
• Troops: 3600 footsoldiers, 660 samurai, 4 warships
• Notes: Produces a lot of food and controls many farms. Also has a number of retained magic users (majutsu-shi)
• Shaganda-Hyo (Leopard Clan)
• Based in Yunohama
• Gemstone: Blue Lapis Lazuli
• Troops: 1100 footsoldiers, 500 samurai, 11 warships
• Notes: Considered by some to be less honourable than other houses due to their association with both ninja and yakuza. 

These great houses are all based in major cities of the Pearl Islands and control large areas of land and the peasants and artisans who work there, gathering taxes and conscripts to maintain their power bases. The Great houses will also hold one or more castles as military bases and also the residence of the senior family members. 

House Okami is currently the first among equals, being both in control of the largest city and also being the house of the current Shogun who effectively governs the whole of the Pearl Islands on behalf of the Thyatian Emperor. However, both Okotta-Tora and Inoshishi are comparable in military strength and wealth. House Okami does have the advantage of the support of The Order of the Mandate of the Heavens, an order of Sohei (warrior-monks), as long as the head of the house remains the Shogun. 

The Lesser Houses

These will often ally with or pledge fealty to a great house so as to gain some deterence from attack by another great house. Thus there is a complex web of alliances, rivalries and debts of honour. Not even the Shogun's bureaucrats are entirely sure how many lesser houses there are, as these can change as lineages are destroyed, branch off, absorbed by marriage or change their names. All hold some land and often a town or two as their base. The more powerful houses may have their own castles. Some have a preferred gemstone and heraldic animal but there are so many houses that duplication does occur with at least two minor houses claiming the cobra as their animal, and three that claim purple amethyst as their gemstone. This has resulted in confusion on the battlefield as distinguishing friend from foe becomes difficult. The five most notable of the minor houses include:

• Kyoso-Ba (Horse clan)
• Based in Shosen
• Gemstone: Opal (cyan)
• Troops: 900 footsoldiers, 400 cavalry, 120 samurai
• Sasori (Scorpion clan)
• Based in Mototake
• Gemstone: Amethyst (purple)
• Troops: 600 footsoldiers, 140 samurai, 10 warships
• Iguru (Eagle clan)
• Based in Atsui-Yogan
• Gemstone: Amber (golden yellow/orange)
• Troops: 900 footsoldiers, 160 samurai
• Tako (Octopus clan)
• Based in Watame 
• Gemstone: Coral (intense pink)
• Troops: 1200 footsoldiers, 150 samurai, 20 warships
• Shachi (Orca clan)
• Based in Tako-Ryoshi
• Gemstone: Banded Onyx (black & white)
• Troops: 1200 footsoldiers, 200 samurai, 13 warships

Good Guys and Villains?

Rather than saying that a whole house or clan is particularly heroic or villainous, I shall say it comes down to individuals. However, members of a house are expected to be loyal and obedient to their Daimyo, and therefore a house will behave in accordance with the wishes of whoever is head of that house. The change of the head of the house or his adviser can prompt a dramatic shift in the policy of that house and who it views as allies or enemies. 

For example the current head of House Kyoso-Ba  has become famous for his vigorous hunting and slaying of both bandits and monsters that plagued his lands, something his predecessor, a rather indolent and decadent uncle, did not bother with. Thus House Kyoso-Ba is now seen as being an upholder of peace and justice. Those household members who show skill and courage in defending the fiefdom are feted and rewarded by the daimyo, thus encouraging them to heroism even if it is not a natural trait. Popularity among the peasants who are spared from facing monstrous raids is an additional bonus.  

As a counterpoint the now-extinct House Mamushi slid into dishonour and disgrace when the Daimyo (who inherited his title under suspicious circumstances) was shown to be a worshipper of Chaos and had brought several chaos cultists into his household. After a failed rebellion against House Kumo resulted in the death of the chaotic daimyo, the remaining members of the house either claimed ignorance of the chaos cult, or else argued that they were being loyal to their master and to do otherwise would be unacceptable disobedience - this was not enough to save them from the blades of House Kumo. 

Serious rifts within a house can and do occur, sometimes with members being expelled or fleeing. If possible these exiles may set up a new noble house, or else they may abandon nobility and become ronin (masterless samurai) or the like. The morality within these splits may be black and white,but is usually shades of grey. 

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