Woolen Hooves

Please note: This article is about the descendants of the Tribe known as the “Kogarashi,”. For other uses of the term, please see Kogarashi (disambiguation).
The Woolen Hooves were a tribe who were once known as “Kogarashi,” a name that meant “leaf-wilting wind,” the first frosty winds
of autumn that heralded the coming winter. It was at this time that they would descend from the mountains into the foothills of what would bee border of the Dragon and Unicorn provinces. Legend had it that this was the tribe of Utaku, the founder of the Utaku family. Writ of the Wilds, p. 41
== History ==
=== Fall of the Kami ===
The Kogarashi thrived in the foothills and plains for centuries, but as the Empire began to expand, they found their hunting grounds turning into farmlands and villages. A fallen goddess, Shinjo, was gathering the tribes and leading a transformation of the lands. The Kogarashi valued their freedom above all else, and they refused to join the forces of the goddess. To avoid a conflict, their leader sought out the goddess and issued her a challenge, a duel of archery from horseback. The leader of the Kogarashi lost, so he surrendered the ancestral hunting grounds and led his tribe north peacefully, into the mountain tundra. Some remained behind to join the goddess. 
=== Yobanjin ===
After taming the wild horses of the plateaus, they shed their old name, embracing their new way of life and their new name. Their namesake, the special breed of wooly mountain ponies, were specifically bred for the climate, and to carry their warriors on hunts, races, and in battle. Since then, the Woolen Hooves people kept mostly to their northern territories, having little contact with the Empire. Brave explorers would venture south into Rokugan to see how far they can get without being detected, having sometimes come to blows with Unicorn or Badger samurai. Their horse archery traditions frustrated the Rokugani samurai in these skirmishes, but they did not consider the Rokugani enemies. The Woolen Hooves traded with the Unicorn at Khanbulak, or with the Dragon Clan. Writ of the Wilds, pp. 41-42
== Traditions ==
The Woolen Hooves continued to carry the traditions of their ancestors as nomadic horse archers. Each family kept a small herd of mountain ponies, which was both a sign of station and proves their place within the tribe. When tribe members married, the families of the newlyweds were each expected to gift half a breeding pair of these ponies so they can begin their own herd. Lineages of these breeding horses were traced and managed carefully, recorded just as accurately as they might their own. The traditional garb of the Woolen Hooves incorporated arrows into their clothing. Their proudest tradition was their unique style of horse archery. To graduate to adulthood within the tribe, one must demonstrate the ability to successfully fire arrows at targets from the back of a galloping pony without losing control of the steed. They were also known for their pony racing festival, a spectacle that attracted other Yobanjin tribes. During the festival, families placed bet on each-other's herds; losers must repay their debts via favors. They followed different game depending on the season, careful to avoid overhunting. On the first snowfall the tribe returned to their designated “winter lands,” a large plain adjacent to a vast mountain lake. There they settled in pit dwellings and yurts to wait out the winter, making elaborate carvings out of lake ice. Writ of the Wilds, p. 42
== Enemies ==
The Woolen Woves were enemies of Ujik raiders, with whom they clashed frequently. A species of gigantic birds of prey known as the giant teratorn, whose wingspans could measure over twenty-two feet long, hunted the same game as the Woolen Hooves.
The claws, feathers, and iron scutes of the bird were highly prized materials for weapons and armor. 
Category:Woolen Hooves