Courtier
A member of the court did not inherit land from his position. Without land, he had no access to real resources, and he must trade political favors for money. The members of the Imperial Court had immediate access to the Emperor's ear, so they should learn how to manipulate opportunities in his favor. [1] The courtiers of lesser courts had few chances to improve and gain honor for their families.
Courtiers are often refined people, with wide general knowledges, a high sense of Etiquette and of the various intrigues of court politics. They master various arts and always act with sophistication. In their daily work, courtiers tend to wear the shorter wakizashi, rather than the katana - which is considered to be too deadly to carry around important nobles. Because they evolve in the environment of Rokugan's highest social class and because they must make the best impression possible, they always wear rich clothes and use the most beautiful objects. Even though these are actually often provided by their Clan or Family, it gives the impression that they are wealthy individuals. This is not always true, but Courtiers that have used their station to amass personal wealth are unfortunately not uncommon.
Some courtiers view their station as their life's calling, fully devoting themselves to the Courts. Others see it as a burden, an annoying task which must still be fulfilled for the greater good of their Clan or of the Empire. Some of them, eventually, see the whole Rokugani politics as a gigantic chess game, where other courtiers are nothing more than pawns, whose intensions are soley to be used for their amusement.
The art of the Courts is a difficult one, but also one where deception is often essential. More than one Courtier has had to choose between his Honor and his Duty. The line is thin between outright lies, deceit, and the "sincere" answer does not necessarily reveal the entire truth. Some excel at this game naturally, while others are participants by their birthright. In any case, winning the favour of a Court, especially the Imperial one, is often a short term experience, and the "allies" of one day can easily turn upon the Courtier the moment a weakness is available.
Perception
Purpose
Courtiers are the politicians and higher civil servants of Rokugan. They are often diplomats, sent by a clan or a family to another clan, family or even the Emperors court. Some can be sent officially as ambassadors or to study a technique or an art within another part of the Empire, or to attempt to foster trade and commerce with others for the benefit of their Clan. Some are simply administrators, attendants, ministers or civil servants in one of the many courts.
Social Status
Some of the clans of Rokugan have mastered the work of the court as an art form. The Crane Clan foremost of these clans, particularly the Doji family, have even invented many of the various courtier techniques over the past centuries. The Scorpion Clan are the closest rivals to the Crane, in their own treacherous way, and of course the Otomo Imperial family have been the official regulators of the Emperor's court for many centuries.
Alternative Names
Diplomat
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