In Rokugan (a fictional empire which provides the setting for the Legend of the Five Rings collectible card game) the Crane is a clan of Samurai: Rokugan is the fictional empire which is the main power in the Legend of the Five Rings setting, the basis for the Legend of the Five Rings Collectible Card Game and Legend of the Five Rings Role-Playing Game, both from Alderac Entertainment Group. ... The Three Graces, here in a painting by Sandro Botticelli, were the goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility in Greek mythology. ... For alternative meanings, see Empire (disambiguation) An empire (also known technically, abstractly or disparagingly as an imperium, and with powers known among Romans as imperium) comprises a set of regions locally ruled by governors, viceroys or client kings in the name of an emperor. ... Legend of the Five Rings (often abbreviated L5R) is a fictional setting created by the Five Rings Publishing Group in 1995, and now under the control of Alderac Entertainment Group. ... Collectible card games (CCGs), also called customizable card games or trading card games, are played using specially designed sets of cards. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ...

Excellence. All Crane strive for it — a fire that drives their every action. A Crane will not undertake an action if he cannot do it well, and this tradition of excellence has given them a reputation as the finest poets, artists, and duelists in the Empire. For many Cranes, life itself is art.

The Crane are descended from the followers of Doji, the most beautiful of Hantei’s siblings. Doji’s children have gone on to create the foundations of Rokugan’s culture. Many outside the Crane perceive the clan as arrogant or impractical, but from the Crane perspective these observers are either jealous or merely shortsighted. Those who do not share the Crane’s high standards can hardly understand why they do what they do. Likewise, few can seriously deny the stunning achievements of the Crane. Rokugan is the fictional empire which is the main power in the Legend of the Five Rings setting, the basis for the Legend of the Five Rings Collectible Card Game and Legend of the Five Rings Role-Playing Game, both from Alderac Entertainment Group. ...

Cranes tend to have very high standards, both for themselves and others. Those who can meet or exceed those standards are worthy of respect. Those who fall short are not even worthy of attention.