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I couldn't find it in what my collection gives me (or I am blind), but: is there a mention in the sources - or an official depiction - that details if Rokugani Dragons have three or four toes on their hands? I want to work out the description of a mural, but that detail eludes me, and the number has actual cultural significance, 4 being the typical civilian Chinese number, three the typical Japanese number

Or... might it be totally different and have five as depicted in some of the TCG cards and reserved for the Chinese emperor traditionally?

To establish lore, let's assume the following hierarchy, top to bottom:

  • text from Official RPG books for the Legends of the 5 Rings RPGs
  • text from Oriental Adventures material not under the L5R rules but set in Rokugan
  • text from Official Adventures not in the print products (aka an official campaign)
  • Official L5R Novels text & CCG/LCG fiction text
  • Official RPG artwork
  • Official CCG/LCG card text
  • Official CCG artwork

Not allowable as a source are inofficial texts and book covers from the novels. Fanzine contents is only permissible as supporting evidence.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ So... just as a point of clarification, most of the official fiction is not in novel format. community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/258529-fiction-library looks like it lists the stuff that's been published since Fantasy Flight took over, and kazenoshiro63445525.wordpress.com looks like it has the whole archive since forever. \$\endgroup\$
    – Ben Barden
    Oct 27, 2020 at 20:27
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    \$\begingroup\$ @ThomasMarkov Rokugan is a hodgepodge of japanese and chinese culture through a western lens. However, the number of toes on a dragon is culturally significant IRL: 5 toes is restricted for the Chinese Emperor, 4 is a Chinese "common" dragon, 3 is any dragon in Japan. \$\endgroup\$
    – Trish
    Oct 30, 2020 at 20:36

1 Answer 1

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It varies. My understanding from this wiki entry is that dragons in L5R choose how they appear, so it's probably a matter of personal preference by the particular dragon.

Four Toes

This Jade Dragon card's art depicts it as having four toes.
This Air Dragon card's art depicts it as having four toes. So does this one and this one.
This Celestial Dragon card's art depicts it as having four toes.
This Fire Dragon card's art depicts it as having four toes.

Three Toes

This Black Dragon card's art depicts it as having three toes.
This Earth Dragon card's art depicts it as having three toes. So does this one.
This Fire Dragon card's art depicts it as having three toes.
This Thunder Dragon card's art depicts it as having three toes.

Others

This Earth Dragon card's art seems to depict it as having only two toes. Meanwhile, this one gives it five toes.
This Thunder Dragon's card depicts it with five toes.
This Fire Dragon card's art seems to imply it doesn't even have legs.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ interestingly, some of the cards do have a "thumb" claw, others do not. \$\endgroup\$
    – Trish
    Jul 7, 2021 at 16:05

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