"Clans of Rokugan" articles, like this issues Brotherhood and Mantis articles, are introductions to the clans. For a more detailed look at advanced decks and strategies, visit the Legend of the Five Rings website or see the Legend of the Five Rings issue of TopDeck" magazine.

"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice" -Ikudaiu

Out of the many truths that describe the Shintao monks, one states that you should fear the fury of a patient person. As the Brotherhood has meditated for over a thousand years, they have become very patient.

The origins of this monastic order remain shrouded in mystery, but it is obvious that Shinsei himself founded it, either deliberately or inadvertently. It is as old as the Empire itself--if not even older.

When the Empire was first founded, the fledgling clans found themselves embroiled in a bitter war against the horrid forces of Fu Leng. Fu Leng was one of the Kami who had fallen from the sky and the most beloved of his father, Lord Moon. When the children of the Sun and Moon crashed to earth, Fu Leng fell some distance from the other Kami. While they decided who would rule the Empire, Fu Leng formed his own empire in the Shadowlands. When he finally launched an attack against his siblings, his forces seemed unstoppable.

But one mortal, Shinsei, saw a way to defeat Fu Leng. He led the Seven Thunders, mortal warriors chosen one from each clan, deep into the heart of the Shadowlands, and there they defeated Fu Leng. Of Shinsei and the Seven Thunders, only one returned: the Scorpion Thunder, bearing twelve Black Scrolls.

The Brotherhood of Shinsei has perservered from this ancient time, keeping and preserving the descendants of Shinsei and teaching them Shinsei's wisdom until the day when, as it was prophesied, Fu Leng would return.

Perhaps Shinsei saw the future, or perhaps his follower! simply saw the need to be prepared. Whichever the castthe Brotherhood has carefully arranged the tutelage of Shinsei's heirs for a thousand years. At the time of the Scorpion Clan Coup, Shinsei was the man known across Rokugan as the Hooded Ronin, with the bearing of a samurai and the kinship of the ashigaru.

Known mainly as spiritual healers and advisors, the Shintao monks gained another title during the Clan Wa warriors. It was a role they did not want, but Shadowlands assaults upon their shrines and temples thrust it upon them. Under Tetsuya's leadership, theey took up their staves and proved themselves capable of fighting, with a tenacity that coaxed even the Crab to a respec Even so, they could not keep the dark forces a bay indefinitely, and the Shadowlands Horde sacked many precious libraries and temples.

Since the Day of Thunder, the Brotherhood monks have gone out among the warring clar to preach a message carried earlier by the Naga-that the clans should unite against the growing forces of the Shadow. But while the clans had ignored the Naga, Takao's strength in combat against Lord Moon's champion gave weight to the monks' arguments.

Recently, the monks learned that their Tao may be a forgery. The fact has torn them apart. The shrines are in turmoil, and their very foundation threatens to split.

The beings of myth conflict with mortals. A Kami has returned, but she seeks to destroy the Emperor-and-he is now no Tao, no Uikku, to guide the monks.

But once they find the truth in Norikazu's words, then will be reborn.

Considered intermediaries of the Fates, the monks have the goodwill of most of their fellow Rokugani. Normally guided by the Tao of Shinsei, they have heard rumors that the document they consider the font of their wisdom and guide to enlightenment is a forgery. In spite of this, their ranks have grown to include some of the Empire's greatest luminaries. New monks, showing signs of true wisdom, have accepted the mantle of the Elemental Acolytes.

Most Monk decks focus on Military, Enlightenment or a combination of the two. The first deck listed here is pure Military, using The House of Tao and leading with the Ring of Water. Use your superior mobility to attack your opponent's undefended Provinces. Alternatively, you can assign where your opponent has defended if you have superior force and the Flee the Darkness/The Great Silence combo. Be the Mountain is another nasty addition. Defensively, it can give +513 to one of your defenders. Offensively, you can have your Cultists cast it on a defender. Using Cultists to cast it lowers your opponent's Province Strength to 0 with no consequent Force bonus for your opponent.

The second deck can win via Military or Enlightenment. Play The House of Tao with Kaede Sensei and lead with the Ring of Water. Against Unicorn and Ninja, lead with the Ring of Earth, dropping the Armor of Earth as quickly as possible. Finding the Harmonies gets the Ring of Water back into play. Mystic Ground can get you the Ring of Earth as well, since it prevents the destruction of your Province. Look out for the Sneak Attack/Deadly Ground combo, as that prevents Mystic Ground from activating. The deck-manipulation Kihos net you the Ring of Air and should get you the cards you need for the rest of your Rings.

Military Monks

A House of Tao Stronghold

Dynasty Deck (40)

Events (7)

1 Blessings of Isawa
1 Imperial Gift
1 Inheritance
1 Iris Festival
1 Kisada's Funeral
1 March of the Alliance
1 Recovering the True Tao

Holdings (14)
3 Black Market
3 Jade Works
3 Merchant Caravan
3 Prayers Shrines
2 Temple to Shinsei

Personalities (17)
3 Hoshi Eisai
3 Hoshi Maseru
3 Hoshil Maseru Exp
3 Ikudaiu
1 Ikudaiu Exp.
3 Shidoa
3 Yoshun

Regions (2)
2 Farmlands

Fate Deck 41

Actions (18)

3 Blook Supply Lines
3 Charge
3 Destiny Has No Secrets
3 Rallying Cry
3 Refugees
3 Superior Tactics
Elemental Ring (1) Ring of Water

Followers (9)
3 Berserkers
3 Cultists
3 Imperial Legion

Item (1)
1 Gunsen of Water

Kihos (12)
3 Flee the Darkness
3 Be the Mountain
3 Chasing 0sano-Wo
3 Great Silence

Hybrid Monk

The House of Tao Stronghold

Dynasty Deck (41)

Events (5)
1 Blessings of Isawa
1 First Scroll is Opened, The
1 Imperial Ambassadorship
1 Imperial Gift
1 Iris Festival

Holdings (17)
3 Black Market
1 Grove of the Five Masters
3 Jade Works
3 Merchant Caravan
3 Prayer Shrines
1 Prophet's Tower
1 Retired Advisor
2 Temple to Shinsei

Personalities (17)
3 Hoshi Maseru
1 Hoshi Maseru Exp.
3 Hoshi Wayan
1 Hoshi Wayan Exp.
2 Ikudaiu
1 Ikudaiu Exp.
1 Shioda
3 Yoshun

Regions (2)
2 Mystic Ground

Fate Deck (43)

Actions (11)
3 Iaijutsu Art
3 Loss of Face
3 Sneak Attack
2 Storms of War

Kihos (19)
3 Banish all Shadows
3 Boundless Depths of Water, The
3 Chasing 0sano-wo
2 Dharma Technique
3 Double Chi
3 Finding the Harmony
2 Great Silence, The

Followers (3)
3 Warrior Monks

Items (4)
1 Armor of Earth
2 Armor of Osano-Wo
1 Gunsen of Water
Elemental Rings (all 5)
Sensei (1)
1 Kaedel Sensei

This deck is all about Tattoos. The goal is to develop your Tattoo powers first to delay your enemy from attacking, then crush Provinces. The deck has several nasty combos.

Mitsu Exp. can get a Dragon Tattoo. If you are attacked, he can bow for a ranged attack, straighten with A Stone Circle, get more Fire tokens from his Dragon Tattoo, and repeat. Mind you, his ability prevents him from getting more Fire tokens, but the Dragon Tattoo does not. Thus, if you have him overlaid and have the Stone Circles for it, he could dish out a Ranged 5 Attack, a Ranged 3, and another Ranged 3, and still be a 7F/7C monstrosity.

When playing against an Event-heavy deck, give Shiryo no Tetsuya to Botsumoku. Every time an Event goes off, Botsumoku gains +2F/+2C. Otherwise, slap Tetsuya on someone with a Dragon or Mountain Tattoo, and double those bonuses.

The Dragonfly Tattoo works great with the Mountain or Dragon Tattoo, and can turn people into real Province-busters. Ditto the Centipede Tattoo, especially early in the game. Finally, the Crane Tattoo is great for Mitsu or people with the Dragon Tattoo. If they lose a battle, hey, they're bowed, but they lose all of their tokens when they go to the discard pile, so they'll straighten shortly.

Rare and Fixed Cards Used The Stronghold and Vows of the Brotherhood are fixed cards but still easy to get. Slap the Wave, Tattooed Men, the Monastery, and Shiryo no Tetsuya are all rares from the Hidden Emperor set (episodes 2, 2, 3, and 6, respectively) and should be easy to find or inexpensive to buy on the singles market. None of them are essential, except possibly Shiryo no Tetsuya, who is very valuable in this deck. Hoshi Wayan Exp. and Ikudaiu Exp. are rares from the Honor Bound and Ambition's Debt expansions, respectively, but as they are both 112s and Unique, they should be pretty easy to find or buy.

Variants

This deck has only three cards that are not jade legal: The Courage of Osano-Wo, Warrior Monks, and Dance of the Elements. You can replace The Courage of Osano-Wo, which is illegal in jade Extended format, with the Event of your choice, depending on your play environment. Warrior Monks and Dance of the Elements are illegal in Strict jade format. You could use Temple Guard in place of the Warrior Monks and Master of the Rolling River instead of Dance of the Elements. Setsuban Festival works if you don't have Slap the Wave. Edward Bolme

Tattooed Monk

The House of Tao Stronghold

Dynasty Deck (40)

Events (4)
1 Blessings of Isawa
1 Courage of Osano-Wo, The
1 Fair Voice of Lies
1 Monsoon Season

Holdings (16)
3 Jade Works
3 Large Farm
2 Monastary
3 Prayer Shrines
1 Prophet's Tower
3 Stone Circle
1 Vows of Brotherhood

Personalities (20)
2 Botsumoku
3 Hoshi Eisai
3 Hoshi Kumonusu
3 Hoshi Maseru
3 Hoshi Wayan
1 Hoshi Wayan (exp)
1 Ikudaiu (exp)
3 Togashi Mitsu
1 Togashi Mitsu (exp)

Fate Deck (40)

Actions (15)
3 Centipede Tattoo
2 Crane Tattoo
3 Dragon Tattoo
2 Dragfly Tattoo
3 Mountain Tattoo
2 Elemental Rings: Void, and Air

Followers (7)
1 Shiryo no Tetsuya
3 Tattooed Men
3 Warrior Monks

Kihos (18)
3 Dance of the Elements
2 Fist of the Earth
2 Flee the Darkness
1 Mercy Shrouds the Earth
3 Root the Mountain
3 Ryoko
2 Slap the Wave
2 Walk through the Mountain

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