Twin Soul Temple

Twin Sould Temple is a venerable temple established centuries ago by the Order of Chikai, that has remained hidden for most of its history. In a tradition that would be unusual among most clans, the temple offers training facilities for bushi but also the customary libraries and shrines for shugenja.

Special Training
The training at the temple emphasizes the close bond between shugenja and yojimbo, teaching the bushi to protect his charge at all costs but also teaching the shugenja to value the counsel and courage of his bodyguard, protecting him in turn. The pairs of shugenja and yojimbo who train within this temple and pass their gempukku ceremony are among the most effective and cooperative samurai who serve the Phoenix Clan.

The Order of Chikai
The Order of Chikai is one of the most oldest and most prestigious institutions within the Shiba family, and is an elite cadre of hand-selected bushi who serve primarily as yojimbo for the Council of Five. Founded after the tragic death of Shiba Chikai, this august group takes it's name from that most revered of warriors and has continued in her tradition for centuries.

Purpose of the Order
Although the Order regards its primary duty as the protectors of the Council of Five, yet that is not their only task. They are limited in what they can accomplish, however, as there are never more than three dozen members at any one time, with fully one-third of that number in training. Each member of the Order must locate and train a suitable replacement should he fall in battle, and this is what tis known as a Master-Student pair. At any given time one master-student pair from the Order protects each of the Elemental Masters in addition to the that Master's own yojimbo. Additionally, one pair is assigned to the daimyo of each of the other Phoenix families with another pair to each of the family's ancestral estates. The remaining twelve members are sensei to those students who do not belong to a Master-Student pair. The Order also serve as personal yojimbo to any important guests.

Many aspire to be a member of this famous institution but only a few are able to become members of the Order.