Matsu Family
The Matsu family are largely bushi, the foot soldiers of the Lion Clan and the source of most of the Clan's stereotypes.
Brash, hot-blooded, and aggressive, the Matsu are the most numerous of the Lion's families and make up most of its army. They live for war, and have mastered the art of turning their rage and bloodlust into a carefully honed weapon that they can use against their enemies. Combined with their rigid adherence to traditionalism, the Matsu are well known in Rokugan for their tendency to throw themselves fully into whatever challenge they face with little room for half measures or negotiation.
The Matsu were a tall, proud family, who rarely dyed their dark hair like others in their clan. Their ancestress, the Lady Matsu was the last to join the Kami Akodo, and she was the only follower Akodo sought out.
Since the beginning, the Matsu have stood beside the Akodo family, providing the Akodo's tactical foresight with the fierceness to succeed. There have been times when the leadership of the clan has been uneasy, and even open anarchy between the two houses.
The Matsu family represent some of the greatest warriors in Rokugan, and not even the Crab Clan ignore the threat presented by the mighty Matsu army. No sane man would ever knowingly question the honour of a Matsu, for honour is more than a word and more than a record of a person's standing in the Empire. To a Matsu, honour is the link that ties them to their ancestors, and the blood that links them to their oath. Since the first Matsu, they have never faltered in their duty to protect the Empire.
The mon of the Matsu was crafted with their passion for war in mind. It showed a sword carried in a lion's paw, raised to the heavens in defiance of any who would challenge them.
When a man married into the Matsu family, he took the Matsu name, and all men who married outside of the family must forever forsake their Matsu name. The Lady Matsu began this tradition upon her wedding day, when she married the fourth follower of Akodo. It was said that Akodo came to her and asked why she chose this man over him, and she replied "For if I marry you, I will be the wife of Akodo. If I marry him, then he shall be the husband of Matsu". The fifth house of the Lion, who were recorded only briefly in only the earliest Ikoma family texts, were completely absorbed into the Matsu.
Whereas members of the Akodo family were said to be the brain of the Lion, the Matsu were said to be the heart, for it was the Matsu who charged onto the battleground and directed the troops.
All Matsu were hot-tempered, emotional, strong-willed and intractable, just like their founder, but they were also highly courageous, loyal, dedicated and fierce. The Matsu were the epitome of every other Clan's view of the Lion, good and bad.
Matsu leaders were chosen more for their skill with a katana and combat prowess than their ability to break down an enemy strategy. As had been shown time and again, even the best laid plans often fell like rice paper to a katana when faced with the furious charge of the Matsu. In addition to this fire within, the Matsu lived for the purity of honor. The Matsu believed that the purity of a samurai's soul was often as potent a weapon as his blade. Often, with the Matsu's ancestors guiding his blade, a samurai's purity of soul became more important, for even the dullest blade would cut deeper than the sharpest blade that had been turned aside. The Matsu ancestors would guide the killing blow and guarded the samurai from harm if he was filled with a pure, noble soul.
Description
Brash, hot-blooded, and aggressive, the Matsu are the most numerous of the Lion's families and make up most of its army. They live for war, and have mastered the art of turning their rage and bloodlust into a carefully honed weapon that they can use against their enemies. Combined with their rigid adherence to traditionalism, the Matsu are well known in Rokugan for their tendency to throw themselves fully into whatever challenge they face with little room for half measures or negotiation.
The Matsu were a tall, proud family, who rarely dyed their dark hair like others in their clan. Their ancestress, the Lady Matsu was the last to join the Kami Akodo, and she was the only follower Akodo sought out.
Place of the Matsu
Since the beginning, the Matsu have stood beside the Akodo family, providing the Akodo's tactical foresight with the fierceness to succeed. There have been times when the leadership of the clan has been uneasy, and even open anarchy between the two houses.
The Matsu family represent some of the greatest warriors in Rokugan, and not even the Crab Clan ignore the threat presented by the mighty Matsu army. No sane man would ever knowingly question the honour of a Matsu, for honour is more than a word and more than a record of a person's standing in the Empire. To a Matsu, honour is the link that ties them to their ancestors, and the blood that links them to their oath. Since the first Matsu, they have never faltered in their duty to protect the Empire.
Matsu Mon
The mon of the Matsu was crafted with their passion for war in mind. It showed a sword carried in a lion's paw, raised to the heavens in defiance of any who would challenge them.
Marriage and the Matsu
When a man married into the Matsu family, he took the Matsu name, and all men who married outside of the family must forever forsake their Matsu name. The Lady Matsu began this tradition upon her wedding day, when she married the fourth follower of Akodo. It was said that Akodo came to her and asked why she chose this man over him, and she replied "For if I marry you, I will be the wife of Akodo. If I marry him, then he shall be the husband of Matsu". The fifth house of the Lion, who were recorded only briefly in only the earliest Ikoma family texts, were completely absorbed into the Matsu.
Temperament of the Matsu
Whereas members of the Akodo family were said to be the brain of the Lion, the Matsu were said to be the heart, for it was the Matsu who charged onto the battleground and directed the troops.
All Matsu were hot-tempered, emotional, strong-willed and intractable, just like their founder, but they were also highly courageous, loyal, dedicated and fierce. The Matsu were the epitome of every other Clan's view of the Lion, good and bad.
Leadership among the Matsu
Matsu leaders were chosen more for their skill with a katana and combat prowess than their ability to break down an enemy strategy. As had been shown time and again, even the best laid plans often fell like rice paper to a katana when faced with the furious charge of the Matsu. In addition to this fire within, the Matsu lived for the purity of honor. The Matsu believed that the purity of a samurai's soul was often as potent a weapon as his blade. Often, with the Matsu's ancestors guiding his blade, a samurai's purity of soul became more important, for even the dullest blade would cut deeper than the sharpest blade that had been turned aside. The Matsu ancestors would guide the killing blow and guarded the samurai from harm if he was filled with a pure, noble soul.
Type
Family
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