What is the place of the samurai in a greater Rokugan? The samurai have been placed at the top of the Celestial Order by the power and wisdom of the Kami and in turn are trusted with the defense of the Empire. All samurai live and die by the code of bushido with the ultimate goal of defending the Emerald Empire. The wars and conflicts between the clans serve only to kill noble samurai and weaken the defenses of the Empire. A samurai in a greater Rokugan would not live to kill or be killed by fellow Rokugani but rather serve as the ultimate defenders of the Empire. The virtue of Chugo should be towards the Empire as a whole instead of loyalty towards petty lords and their petty conflicts.
The people of Rokugan have always looked towards the samurai to lead the defense of Rokugan and in this coming age it is once more the samurai who should lead the Empire.
One of the key virtues of the Samurai is Chugo, duty to family, duty to one's lord, and duty to the Emperor and the Empire. That final duty should be the most important. Duty to the Empire should transcend duty to family and duty to clan. Too often have the petty lords of Rokugan sought to expand their own power and glory at the expense of the wider Empire. Truly virtuous Samurai are defenders of the Empire as a whole and whose loyalty first and foremost belongs to the Emperor.
誠 Makoto