Cousin to the Ito daimyo, Yudai speaks as the daimyo’s voice in matters at court. He has served as emissary to Takuya’s wishes since the start of the Dragon Wars, and no one can deny that Yudai knows his way around the deadly game of clan politics. Because of the Ito clan’s well-deserved reputation for treachery, those around Yudai still call upon him for favours. Itsunagi has courted Yudai’s good graces, swaying his uncle to the service of Orochi. Even so, Yudai serves Orochi most cynically, drawing upon Orochi’s power only when it serves him to do so.

Whale hunting is a significant source of meat, blubber, oil, and bone, which is used in all kinds of products across the Jwar Isles and even exported to the mainland. All of these hunters are competent sailors. Outside of hunting season, or when no whaling is permitted north of Jwar, they may take work on other ships.

All of this has happened before and will happen again, so say the unaging sages in The Temple of Ro-Kan’s tower of eternal wisdom. The Temple has fought and defeated The Savage Wave before. The monks of old sealed the Oni world of Krazzor away from their own, but some of that old invading force remained here, trapped in the Jwar Isles. There are known to be precisely a dozen Oni Ancients, but The Temple knows only four names...

Up in the Ro-Kan Mountains, there is rarely a need for an organised militia as most villages are protected from bandits and outsiders by the monks of the Temple. This works well enough that most organised groups know not to target villages up in the mountains. Still, the villages need protection, and most have a group of their people to watch the village at night, stop any excessive conflict between families and keep back wild animals. They solve most of their problems by bringing shouting villagers and fire to scare off the upland bears and mountain gorillas. They lack real training, and unfortunately, layers of straw armour may protect them from snake bites and even simple knives and sticks, but they are no match for a katana.

The Eddo Garrison rarely leaves Eddo, which allows them to wear the heavier armour they are known for. As a garrison, they also wield heavy naginata rather than the lighter yari. Since Hiro’s ascension to the Family seat, he has sent the Eddo ashigaru further afield. They are known for their intense personal loyalty to Hiro. These ashigaru have spent much time with the young samurai on patrols and in Eddo. They bear the burden of their heavy gear, marching far from home without complaint, and any would give their life for their daimyo.

Like all good wolves, the Ryoshi sworn to the Tanaka hunt in packs. The strict hierarchy of the clan means they do not fight with their samurai lords but in a group of their own. Even with their long bows, they like to act together to fire simultaneously at the same target.

After becoming Shadow Crows, no worms have dared attack either of the twins to gain their advancement. The two brothers have become increasingly independent, and while they have never outright disobeyed a senior in the Shadow Wind clan, their behaviour comes close to insubordination.

Only Ghost can force them to submit when they need to improve their behaviour. While they have no souls to feel Fear, Ghost’s effect on them assures loyalty to the shadows.

Many of the Silvermoon Shatei are little more than street thugs but do not doubt the usefulness of these scum to the Silvermoon as fighters. Akuto learned to fight on the streets and the prisons around the worst places in the Jwar Isles. His devastating and ruthless style has left many enemies crippled and ruined.

While he dominates those who cannot defend themselves, Akuto often needs help against trained fighters, as his lack of formal training shows through.

While Akuba has been perfecting her art and making more powerful Gasadokuro, such as Hatchi, she has also learned to make simpler skeletal servants. Akuba can create many of these, and she delights in imbuing the animating spirit with a duty to protect her coven.

Unknown to Akuba, however, the poor quality of the remains and the intractability of the kami have left these creations with a fatal flaw, one that means any lucky blow may sever the connection between the animating force and the remains, destroying the physical presence and banishing the dark animus.

Were Ito Takuya unfortunate enough to lose his heir, Ito Itsunagi, Ito Sadako might be worthy enough to take his place. Not as driven or arrogant as Itsunagi, she is exceptionally cunning and devious, even for a member of the Ito. She has seen firsthand the powerplay that pushes the leaders of the Ito clan against one another. Sadako believes that when the dust settles, she could claim the mantle of daimyo and that if she can’t, she is well-schooled enough in the art of deception to announce a successor on her terms.

However, Sadako’s weakness lies in battle rather than in court. She feels an irresistible urge to be in the thick of the action, where life and death balance on the thinnest of edges. Gone are her calm and calculating schemes, replaced by the urge for all to see her emerge victorious atop the corpses of her enemies.

“Father, you say we are the Bear clan, but what is The Bear?” asked a young Minimoto girl while she and her father ate supper. 

Outside, barreling past the house, an unstoppable barrage of metal and flesh crashed into a yet unseen attacker. Akasuki rained blow after blow down on the interloper, allowing it no defence and no chance of survival. Throughout this bloody combat, Akasuki bellowed and snarled like a mother bear defending her cubs, with that terrifying sound dropping to a low growl once she eliminated the threat standing over its mangled body.  The father looked up from his soup and pointed toward the victorious samurai.

“There. That is The Bear.”

Takashi Akio, Kumiko's father and sensei at the Takashi Koryu, shapes the next generation of Dragon samurai with his techniques and style. Despite excelling in swordplay, his daughter Kumiko decided to walk another path upon reaching age. Initially furious, he thought she was trying to disgrace him. The Takashi samurai asked Takashi Hagane to challenge Kumiko, ending a perceived waste of Kumiko’s talent. However, Hagane refused to test the girl's mettle, saying, “She has nothing left to learn; she is already among the greatest duelists of her generation.” Hagane’s words returned to the headstrong Kumiko, who has since opted for the sword over the brush. 

During a discussion, players asked for more female samurai and cheaper to make thematic lists, such as seven samurai and an all-warrior woman Blood of the Dragon list, so with a low Rice cost for a four-dice samurai and the necessary Critical Attack (1), she will most definitely be found on the list!

Tengu society is floundering since their King, Sojobo, descended from high with his followers to participate in the world below their icy peaks. With an empty throne at the heart of their lands, sedition and rebellion smoulders. She plays a mysterious role in these matters which is unclear yet, perhaps it has something to do with long-lost prophecies revealed once more.

From the depths of the ocean, never before seen by man, giant crustaceans have been thrown ashore by Ryujin’s summoning. They are used to picking food from the bottom of the ocean, often scavenging from other predators' leftovers. They do the same on land, but instead of fish guts, fins or flukes, it's monks, samurai or unlucky ashigaru. This model can become the Kani-chan or Kani-kun variant, each with its own benefits for players. Kani-chan offers a great new way to help your sharks charge bleeding models, and Kani-kun offers ranged protection and access to a new Ronin kami model.

Why not build both and see what your opponent can do against a double dose of two-tonne Malacostraca? With 10 Wounds and Armour (3), they aren’t easy to deal with, and with the standard Crab Special Abilities of Sidestep and Critical, they are excellent in Melee.

Blister contains one miniature, 60mm base and full colour profile card.

Zama is from a tribe living on the great plains north of the mainland. Once at war with the empire, her people now pay tribute to Emperor Song and hire themselves as mercenaries. Zama and her tribe had contact with Shiho Hiroto when he was travelling abroad, and in a story for another time, they became bound to him with ties of blood and honour. She and a handful of her ilk are now in Jwar, ready to repay that debt. Having power and understanding over her fearsome eagles, she is an ally to the Tengu, who she reveres and knows from her past. Zama is a peerless falconer; she directs her birds while she remains safe. When faced with larger prey, eagles attack the eyes, offering advantages for other assailants to finish them off. As a hunter, she also uses traps and snares. Zama can run them down if she snares an opponent with a barbed line.

In the game, Zama uses ranged attacks which do not need LoS. Using the Eye Peck Ki Feat can inflict the Blind State, an effective way to combat many enemy models. Her Barb Ki Feat is an excellent control element that can manipulate the battle by correctly controlling enemy movement. Zama is a Ronin model available to Shiho and Descension warbands.

Blister contains one miniature, 30mm base and full colour profile card.