Isawa Chuda was a man of conviction and wisdom, and his family reflected that purity for generations. The Chuda were completely loyal to Rokugan and hated the dark forces that menaced its borders. Their hatred of maho-tsukai was well known and the Snake Clan often hunted down illegal cults with vigor.
When a samurai performs a feat of great heroism to Rokugan, the Emperor may reward his service by making him the leader of his own Minor Clan. The leader of the new Minor Clan gathers followers eager to join his cause and serve the Empire in their own unique ways. This great favor has been granted many times during the course of Rokugani history, producing an interesting and diverse group of proud warriors.
Minor Clans generally control a small region of the Empire and their populations are quite low compared to the Great Clans. Most Minor Clans have only a single family name, and the smallest ones may only have a few dozen samurai in their ranks.
The tale of the Snake Clan began with auspicious heroism and ended with tragedy. Isawa Chuda earned the right to his own Minor Clan when he deduced and foiled a maho attack against the Emperor's life. Unfortunately, the malevolent create Shuten Doji later took hold of the Snake land and turned all of the Snake into mere puppets for its will. The Phoenix Clan eradicated the Snake Clan in the Five Nights of Shame, and those who survived escaped with knowledge of their dark arts.