Shiho Clan
The once proud and dominant Shiho had ruled the Isles since the time of the eighth Emperor, before the Takashi led an uprising against them. Led by Shiho Hiroto, ‘The Black Eagle’, their affiliation is to no one and his return has now rallied the fading remnants of the Shiho, like fresh wood on the dying embers of a fire. The Prefecture may play down the strength and resources of the Shiho, it certainly had clipped the Eagle’s wings during the Dragon Wars, but any within the Takashi clan that take solace from this have surely never seen an eagle fight beak and claw on the ground.
One thing is for sure, the storm is brewing and the Black Eagle will be at its crest.
Playstyle
Driven to the brink of extinction, Shiho are not afraid of restoring their lost glory by any means necessary. This means that they don't fight fair - striking whenever and wherever it is least expected and will hurt the most. The average Shiho model is quite fragile and will not last long in a fair fight, however the Eagle clan has lots of tools and tricks to get an upper hand. Playing as the Shiho means biding your time by evading engagements, thus exhausting your opponent’s resources while preserving your own, finally making a quick but deadly attack against a vulnerable target.
Shiho are not alone in their struggle as the Tanaka family remains loyal to their old rulers and helps the Eagle in secret while cunningly keeping their small clan out of the open confrontation. Akin to the wolf pack, Tanaka strike in groups and overwhelm an isolated prey before moving onto the next one. While all factions utilise mercenaries to some extent, none have access to so many and none integrate them in their themes as well as Shiho do. The Eagle clan is not picky about its allies and needs all the help it can get. While building your lists you can expect to field a lot of unique and interesting Ronin who will not only help with covering your weaknesses, but will also make your force even more flexible and unpredictable.
The Eagle wins with cunning, and those who like setting up a tactical masterstroke will find themselves at home playing as the Shiho clan.
- Aiku, Bushido community member