The Descension
For countless cycles the elders of the mountain have watched and waited, their quiet vigil in the high places of the world unbroken. Silently they have overseen the rise and fall of innumerable clans, the petty squabbles of mortals bare no relevance to their goal. Gifted with generations of knowledge passed down through the written teachings of the koroko shisai and oral histories of the karasu shugenja they hold the secrets of the world in their lofty homes. Now stirred into action, one can only imagine the danger that looms that has rustled the Tengu to war.
Playstyle
The Descension is the union of the ancient, bird-like tengu, and humans from various tribes. Their playstyle is suited to those who like to outmanoeuvre their opponent. In raw fighting power they are outclassed by the samurai factions, so you must use your high mobility to catch weak or out of position models. Be wary about where and when to commit. Due to their fragility - rooted in a lack of re-rolls and low wounds - a single mistake may leave a model waiting for their next reincarnation.
The smaller species, mostly suzume and kakyu, are the fastest among the tengu. This makes them possibly the best scenario-runners in the game. Furthermore, many of them bring short bows whose strength is not in the quality, but the quantity of shots. Joining these troops are the two magic-focussed species. The curious karasu call lightning from the skies to strike their foes, whilst the wise koroko protect, heal, and redistribute ki.
The larger species are slower than their smaller cousins but hit harder. Their combination of speed and strength can catch your opponent off-guard. While the medium-sized haiatake struggle against well-prepared samurai, the towering kurama are able to cut them down or, in the case of Buzenbo, impale them from afar with a single well-aimed shot.
Tribesmen are tougher than the average bird, but their strength lies more in their offense then their defense. They mostly lack defensive skills and re-rolls but their melee attacks and short-range throwing weapons hit way harder than you may expect.
- jonschke, Bushido community member