This unofficial fan-made school for the Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game: 5th Edition was

created
using the school creation rules/guidelines provided in L5R RPG 5th Ed supplement: Path of Waves.

The Otter Minor Clan WHAT DOES YOUR

Ring Increase: +1 Water CHARACTER KNOW?
April Fools! Skill Increase: +1 Seafaring All Otter Clan characters have greater awareness
Status: 22 of the following topics:

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The Otter Clan
was the primary Once a riverboat troupe of geisha performers and their
subject of The
hired ronin bodyguards, the Otter were catapulted
Last Province
Podcast’s 40th into minor clan status for the accidental rescue of a
Episode, “Sunken lost imperial heir. From their tiny fleet, the Otter Clan
Costs,” a purely- scavenge, travel, and trade along Rokugan’s rivers. Led by
invented online mercantile performers of the Usogawa and guarded by
supplement we
pretended was real
the Susaki Ferriers, the Otter are mercenaries, explorers,
as an April Fool’s entertainers, and by some accusations, smugglers.
prank in 2019.
Unlike most clans, the Otter have no true homelands
However there
was fan interest or primary power base, spread out as they are along the
in the Otter Clan Empire’s many rivers. Instead they claim a small fleet of
we created for the lavish river yachts known as yakatabune, trawlers to collect
episode, and so we
forgotten goodies from riverbeds, and floating Izakayas
put this together
as a homebrewed
resturants and inns. If one place could be called the central
5e resource for holding of the clan, it would be the so-called “Ehime Toshi,”
our supportive a cluster of permanently-anchored riverboats and barges
listeners. Enjoy! floating at the center of the Lake of Cherry Blossom Snow.
The Usogawa Family
Ring Increase: +1 Water or +1 Air
Skill Increase: +1 Games, +1 Perfomance
Glory: 34
The Usogawa are the leaders of the Otter, performers
and merchants who guide the clan. Descended from a
geisha who was elevated to lorded status, the Usogawa
enjoy a slight reputation as unflappable diplomats and
party connoisseurs, often renting their riverboats to
wealthy samurai for special occasions, or as neutral
ground for treaties and other ceremonies. Their
investments in sake breweries and curio shops often
hide as a front for less-scrupulous ventures.
The Susaki Family
Ring Increase: +1 Fire or +1 Earth
Skill Increase: +1 Fitness, +1 Survival
Glory: 32
Authors As the descendents of a ronin fellowship hired to escort
This homebrewed and protect the Usogawa riverbarge at the clan’s inception,
5th Ed L5R stuff the Susaki family serve as the Otter’s bodyguards, ferriers,
created by the and enforcers, taking on all matters of security and
hosts of The Last logistics. Due to their origins, the Susaki famously make
Province Podcast:
Dan Tickle, George
no differentiations between “friend” and “family,” and
Maney, and Robert indeed the concept of “found family” is a guiding principle
Denton III for their values and traditions. They take in more orphans
than any other minor clan, and the doors of their school is
open to anyone who earns their trust.
This fan school is a creation of The Last Province Podcast, your source for L5R lore, RPG tips, and YOUR stronghold province!
• You have a general awareness of the politics
concerning inter-province trade and travel,
including different clan regulations and
restrictions (and how to circumvent them),
and can generally identify when something
you find is worth more than it appears.
• You are aware of the political climate of the
Lake of Cherry Blossom Snow’s surrounding
communities, including the Crab Clan, the
Falcon Clan, and the Hare Clan.
• You know most of the paths of Rokugan’s many
rivers and byways, how to transport goods
along those rivers, and facts pertaining to
navigating and surviving in freshwater bodies.
• You know how to swim and can hold your
breath for several minutes, and you are
familiar with freshwater flora and fauna.
WHAT DOES BUSHIDO
MEAN TO YOUR CLAN?
The Otter are somewhat forced into a more
pragmatic lifestyle than most samurai families, and
to survive, their philosophy encourages them to
simply “go with the flow.” The goal of every Otter
is not only to serve the family, but to find their own
place in the world. Even so, the Otter depend on
the bonds they form with friends and family, and
their way of life relies on the trust they form with
one another. Filial peity is first among their vitues,
followed closely by honoring friendships, favors,
and contractual obligations. The tenet of Loyalty-
Duty (Chugo) is the most important to the Otter.
While Otter are trustworthy to friends, family, and
allies, necessity can make one opportunistic, and
the Otter sometimes suffer from their reputation
as smugglers and dirty-dealers. A good Otter guard
asks no questions about their transports, and they
are generally loose with their interpretations of the
law. The tenet of Rightousness (Gi) is less important
to the typical Otter.
See page 301 of the core rulebook for more
information on how these can affect your honor
and glory.

Fantasy Flight Games and Edge Studios had no association or involvement with the creation of this fan-made school.
Legend of the Five Rings is a trademark of Fantasy Flight Games.
 This unofficial fan-made school for the Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game: 5th Edition was created
using the school creation rules/guidelines provided in L5R RPG 5th Ed supplement: Path of Waves.

Susaki Ferriers [Bushi] ADVANCE TYPE

At the clan’s inception, perhaps the greatest challenge Martial Skills Skl. Grp

Kawauso the Susaki warriors faced was the development of a Seafaring Skill
martial school that could protect their charges even Medicine Skill

RANK 1

Check us out at thelastprovince.com

This fan school is a creation of The Last Province Podcast, your source for L5R lore, RPG tips, and YOUR stronghold province!
Some otters, on the unpredictably shifting decks of riverboats and
like foxes, are Survival Skill
actually sentient
barges. Honed over generations, the Susaki style
emphasizes “making do” with improvised weaponry, Rank 1 Kata Tech. Grp.
shapeshifting
animal spirits, using shifting terrain to one’s own advantage, and a v Landslide Strike (Path of Waves) Technique
able to adopt particular style of “martial swimming” (or “Suijutsu”)
human form Beware The Smallest Mouse (CoS) Technique
inspired by the antics of river otters.
at will. Stories Trade Skills Skl. Grp
persist of river Affiliation: Otter Clan
otters (kawauso) Fitness Skill
who take human
Rings: +1 Water, +1 Earth
Culture Skill

RANK 2
shape in order Starting Skills (choose five): Fitness, Martial Arts
to sow mischief [melee], Martial Arts [unarmed], Tactics, Commerce, Sentiment Skill
among docks
Seafaring, Labor Rank 1-2 Water or Earth Shūji Tech. Grp.
and river towns.
These spirits are Honor: 30 v Like A Ghost (CoS pg 114) Technique
said to possess
Techniques Available: Kata ( ), Rituals ( ), Slippery Maneuvers Technique
some illusion
abilities, turning Shūji ( ) Social Skills Skl. Grp
ordinary objects Starting Techniques:
into something Seafaring Skill
else, only to revert
• Kata: v Improvised Assault (PoW, pg 87)
RANK 3 Martial Arts [Melee] Skill
them at the last • Kata (choose one): Striking as Water, Striking
moment. Martial Arts [Unarmed] Skill
As Earth, Trip The Leg (CoS, pg 113)
Rank 1-3 Kata Tech. Grp.
GMs who wish Way of the Otter (School Ability): Once per scene,
to include the
when you attempt a check while under water or in v Foreseen Need (CoS pg 119) Technique
Kawauso can
use the Kitsune Entangling terrain, you may add a number of kept n Daring Swing (Path of Waves pg 88) Technique
profile on page set to c results equal to your school rank.
Trade Skills Skl. Grp
128 of Path of Starting Outfit: Traveling clothes, straw poncho,
Waves, replacing Martial Arts [Melee] Skill
the “Dangerous
wakizashi, boat oar, traveling pack; your choice of:
a sling and five bolts, a fishing net, or an umbrella. Sentiment Skill
RANK 4

Allure” Advantage
with “Playful Tactics Skill
Trickster,”
and making Rank 1-4 Kata Tech. Grp.
appropriate Laughing Fox Style (PoW pg 89) Technique
changes to the
Shapeshifter v To Float or Sink (CoS pg 114) Technique
ability Martial Skills Skl. Grp
IMPROVISED Commerce Skill
WEAPONS
Seafaring Skill
RANK 5

An improvised
Skulduggery Skill
weapon uses
the most similar Rank 1-5 Kata Tech. Grp.
weapon profile
Buoyant Arrival Technique
(often a club or
a knife), with Swirling Tempest Style (PoW pg 90) Technique
DMG and DLS
reduced by 1, Dance of the River Otter (Mastery Ability): While
in Water stance and wielding a melee weapon, the
or more at the area within the range of your weapon is considered
GM’s discretion. Entangling terrain. Once per scene, you may spend
RANK 6

They are wielded 1 Void point for the area within the range of your
with Martial Arts weapon to also be Dangerous terrain until the start
[Unarmed]. of your next turn.

Fantasy Flight Games and Edge Studios had no association or involvement with the creation of this fan-made school.
Legend of the Five Rings is a trademark of Fantasy Flight Games.
 This unofficial fan-made school for the Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game: 5th Edition was created
using the school creation rules/guidelines provided in L5R RPG 5th Ed supplement: Path of Waves.

Usogawa Entertainers [Courtier] ADVANCE TYPE

The first Usogawa daimyo was once a lowly geisha, a Artisan Skills Skl. Grp

The Founding specialized sort of entertainer who is trained in making Performance Skill
of the Otter guests feel comfortable and at ease. Continuing the Games Skill

RANK 1

Check us out at thelastprovince.com

This fan school is a creation of The Last Province Podcast, your source for L5R lore, RPG tips, and YOUR stronghold province!
tradition of their founder, the Usogawa entertainers
Few historians Culture Skill
are trained in a variety of performance arts, hosting,
care to admit that Rank 1 Shuji Tech. Grp.
the fate of the
conversation, de-escalation, and negotiation. Just as the
Emperor’s family otter’s playful anctics sets others at ease, the Usogawa v Skulk Technique
once rested in the Entertainer softens even the harshest social edges. v Fluent Bargaining (PoW pg 94) Technique
hands of a riverboat
troupe of geisha Affiliation: Otter Clan Social Skills Skl. Grp
entertainers and Rings: +1 Air, +1 Water
Sentiment Skill
sake-brewers. As
Starting Skills (choose five): Commerce, Courtesy,
the story goes, a Composition Skill

RANK 2
botched kidnapping Performance, Games, Sentiment, Skulduggery, Culture
Culture Skill
by group of bandits Honor: 35
resulted in the loss Rank 1-2 Kata Tech. Grp.
of the imperial heir, Techniques Available: Kata ( ), Rituals ( ),
who was swept Shūji ( ) v Dazzling Performance Technique
into a river and
Starting Techniques: Wayfarer’s Path (PoW pg 97) Technique
presumed dead after
days of searching. • Shuji: v Tributaries of Trade Trade Skills Skl. Grp
While the empire • Shuji (choose one): Assess Strengths (CoS, Command Skill
mourned, the boy
pg 117), Beware The Smallest Mouse (CoS, pg Government Skill
was actually saved RANK 3
by a river otter, 118), Fun and Games (CoS, pg 119).
Design Skill
who sustained When In Danger, Smile (School Ability): When
him and kept him Rank 1-3 Shuji Tech. Grp.
you fail a Performance, Courtesy, or Games check,
floating on the
river. you may either remove strife from yourself equal to v Foreseen Need (CoS pg 119) Technique

The boy was your school rank, or remove one strife each from a Blessing of the Dance (CR pg 110) Technique
discovered by a number of present targets equal to your school rank.
Scholar Skills Skl. Grp
geisha matron of a Starting Outfit: Traveling clothes, ceremonial clothes,
passing riverboat, Commerce Skill
makeup kit, artisan kit, traveling pack; your choice of: a
who reeled him in
small game, traveling tea set, or an umbrella. Courtesy Skill
RANK 4

and nursed him

back to health. Meditation Skill
When he revealed
his identity, the
NPC Template: Otter Clan Samurai Rank 1-4 Shuji Tech. Grp.
troupe smuggled This template can be used with any clan samurai profile. v Bend With The Storm Technique
him along the river,
protecting him Conflict Rank: Combat +1 v To Float or Sink (CoS pg 114) Technique
from danger and Ring: +1 Water Social Skills Skl. Grp
returning him to
Otosan Uchi. The Skills: +1 Martial and Trade Skills Aesthetics Skill
overjoyed Emperor Advantages (add/replace 0-2): At Home In The Tactics Skill
RANK 5

elevated the troupe Water (Water) [Martial; Physical], Alert (Air) [Mental],
to Minor Clan Sentiment Skill
status.
Expert Haggler (Water) [Social; Interpersonal], Sea
Legs (Water) [Physical], Improvised Weaponry (Water) Rank 1-5 Shuji Tech. Grp.
It is said that the
matron soon met [Martial; Physical], Navigator (Air) [Mental]. Mentor’s Guidance (PoW pg 93) Technique
a young man who Disadvantages (add/replace 0-2): Blunt (Air) [Social; Watch My Back (PoW pg 94) Technique
claimed to be the
Interpersonal], Doofus (Earth) [Social; Interpersonal], Song of the Bay Otter (Mastery Ability): Your
very river otter
that had saved the Obtuse (Air) [Interpersonal, Mental], Restless (Earth) When In Danger, Smile school ability also applies
[Mental] when someone else fails a Performance, Courtesy,
imperial scion. The or Games check.
RANK 6

two eventually Techniques (add 0-2): Kata, Shuji

married, and it
is believed that Demeanor (replace 1): Assertive, Playful, Shrewd
the shapeshifting Equipment: Replace one weapon with “Boat Oar”
river otter advised
his wife for the
remainder of her
days. Fantasy Flight Games and Edge Studios had no association or involvement with the creation of this fan-made school.
Legend of the Five Rings is a trademark of Fantasy Flight Games.