Nakamiyo Battousai: Young, gifted assassin who strikes with blades hidden in their sleeves, this child soldier knows little but war. The assassin's handlers, while not plot roles, are open for PCs to play, starting a stabby, manipulative web of CR. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Invisible Blade. Strike so swiftly with a thin-bladed sword that it can be heard, but not seen.
Openhanded Nakamiyo: Heir to a family of martial artists with secret, open-handed techniques, this ingenue is naive and charming, honorable and formidable in a fair fight. The ingenue’s family, less gifted but more canny, keeping their champion loyal and directed, are available for PC play. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Open Hand Mastery. Punch through brick, throw enemies twenty feet, slap weapons aside bare handed, and achieve one-handed joint locks and immobilizations.
Mibugumi Captain: Head of the meritocratic Ronin used as a defense force for the country, this warrior is stern, disciplined, mentoring, and as coldly realistic as they are dutiful. Their inner Cadre of elite warriors is available for PC play, and investigators who prove their mettle may be invited to join as well. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Three Weapon Fighting. Draw, sheathe, and exchange weapons quickly enough to effectively wield three light weapons simultaneously. Usually a short sword or dagger, a sai or sword breaker, and a nunchuck, tonfa, or battle fan/tessen.
Nakamatou Swordsmith: this ascetic blacksmith and spiritualist forges truly superb blades, Imbuing the power of the wielder’s bloodline into the steel. Their skills and serenity make them a target: for commission of new blades or sale of old, for recruitment to a cause, or for assassination. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Forge Blade. Craft a superb bladed weapon that permits connection to its bearer’s ancestral or clan legacy. Usable every seven to ten days.
Sun Guard Tattooist: this artist is a young prodigy with unanticipated skill in inking magic patterns onto skin, and is loath to unlock the potential in someone for the purpose of warfare. Their passion could easily become outrage if the blood of their found family in the Monastery is shed, however. Said loved ones are available for infiltrators. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Enchanted Tattoo. Give someone else a magical ability or increased skill or prowess by using ink to redirect their chi. Every advantage gained via tattoo, however, has a corresponding weakness, as the flow of chi to another region is redirected.
Sun Guard Master Medium: teacher of all spirit summoners in the north, this aged sage spends as much time among the dead as the living, and sees little distinction between the two, unhesitatingly slaying others but possessing no fear of losing brothers to bloodshed. Their apprentices are available for infiltrators. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: No Distinction. Gather information from the recently deceased immediately, or the generations dead via ritual.
Rogue Akuryu: this lone wolf abandoned village and clan to become a fugitive, a hated deserter, forced now to use assassin's gifts in self defense against the kinsmen hunting them. A potentially priceless recruit for other nations, their reasons for going rogue are unknown, and their motive now is simple survival. Those who were once close to the rogue, and now hunt them, are available for infiltration. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Mirrored Motion. Match another fighter's movements perfectly, making an unbeatable defense in single combat unless on bad terrain, but vulnerable to other attackers and unable to attack while using. Can also be used to hide from a single observer, regardless of terrain.
Akuryu Elder: head of the darkblades, this vicious, cold-blooded sovereign of slaughter is the ultimate mercenary, collector of secrets, and taker of heads. They will stop at nothing to achieve victory. All Akuryu answer to the elder, so CR is automatic. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Perceive Weakness. Through fighting and eye contact, know the desires, fears, or flaws of any opponent.
Incognito Ashigaru: a young Suzuki rifle, this anonymous marksman is secretly a close relative to a plot important role from another faction, and may teach restricted skills to close friends. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Classified Information. We'd tell you what this skill is, but then we'd have to kill you.
Suzuki Captain: this peerless mountain ranger and sniper commands the small elite force, trading with pirates for necessary materials, moving through the woods with incredible swiftness, and horrified by how peaceful and simple they find it to kill. Still, duty to clan and village come before all. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Flawless Stride. Move at a sprint without regard to difficult terrain, and travel up to eighty miles per day on foot.
Sign up for these roles here. Roles will be cast no later than 11:59 PM CST March 11th.
You do not need mod permission to be part of one of the cadres of close CR to the plot roles mentioned above, but you should clear it with the players attemping to get those parts.
Casting Call
Openhanded Nakamiyo: Heir to a family of martial artists with secret, open-handed techniques, this ingenue is naive and charming, honorable and formidable in a fair fight. The ingenue’s family, less gifted but more canny, keeping their champion loyal and directed, are available for PC play. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Open Hand Mastery. Punch through brick, throw enemies twenty feet, slap weapons aside bare handed, and achieve one-handed joint locks and immobilizations.
Mibugumi Captain: Head of the meritocratic Ronin used as a defense force for the country, this warrior is stern, disciplined, mentoring, and as coldly realistic as they are dutiful. Their inner Cadre of elite warriors is available for PC play, and investigators who prove their mettle may be invited to join as well. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Three Weapon Fighting. Draw, sheathe, and exchange weapons quickly enough to effectively wield three light weapons simultaneously. Usually a short sword or dagger, a sai or sword breaker, and a nunchuck, tonfa, or battle fan/tessen.
Nakamatou Swordsmith: this ascetic blacksmith and spiritualist forges truly superb blades, Imbuing the power of the wielder’s bloodline into the steel. Their skills and serenity make them a target: for commission of new blades or sale of old, for recruitment to a cause, or for assassination. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Forge Blade. Craft a superb bladed weapon that permits connection to its bearer’s ancestral or clan legacy. Usable every seven to ten days.
Sun Guard Tattooist: this artist is a young prodigy with unanticipated skill in inking magic patterns onto skin, and is loath to unlock the potential in someone for the purpose of warfare. Their passion could easily become outrage if the blood of their found family in the Monastery is shed, however. Said loved ones are available for infiltrators. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Enchanted Tattoo. Give someone else a magical ability or increased skill or prowess by using ink to redirect their chi. Every advantage gained via tattoo, however, has a corresponding weakness, as the flow of chi to another region is redirected.
Sun Guard Master Medium: teacher of all spirit summoners in the north, this aged sage spends as much time among the dead as the living, and sees little distinction between the two, unhesitatingly slaying others but possessing no fear of losing brothers to bloodshed. Their apprentices are available for infiltrators. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: No Distinction. Gather information from the recently deceased immediately, or the generations dead via ritual.
Rogue Akuryu: this lone wolf abandoned village and clan to become a fugitive, a hated deserter, forced now to use assassin's gifts in self defense against the kinsmen hunting them. A potentially priceless recruit for other nations, their reasons for going rogue are unknown, and their motive now is simple survival. Those who were once close to the rogue, and now hunt them, are available for infiltration. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Mirrored Motion. Match another fighter's movements perfectly, making an unbeatable defense in single combat unless on bad terrain, but vulnerable to other attackers and unable to attack while using. Can also be used to hide from a single observer, regardless of terrain.
Akuryu Elder: head of the darkblades, this vicious, cold-blooded sovereign of slaughter is the ultimate mercenary, collector of secrets, and taker of heads. They will stop at nothing to achieve victory. All Akuryu answer to the elder, so CR is automatic. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Perceive Weakness. Through fighting and eye contact, know the desires, fears, or flaws of any opponent.
Incognito Ashigaru: a young Suzuki rifle, this anonymous marksman is secretly a close relative to a plot important role from another faction, and may teach restricted skills to close friends. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Classified Information. We'd tell you what this skill is, but then we'd have to kill you.
Suzuki Captain: this peerless mountain ranger and sniper commands the small elite force, trading with pirates for necessary materials, moving through the woods with incredible swiftness, and horrified by how peaceful and simple they find it to kill. Still, duty to clan and village come before all. EXCLUSIVE SKILL: Flawless Stride. Move at a sprint without regard to difficult terrain, and travel up to eighty miles per day on foot.
Sign up for these roles here. Roles will be cast no later than 11:59 PM CST March 11th.
You do not need mod permission to be part of one of the cadres of close CR to the plot roles mentioned above, but you should clear it with the players attemping to get those parts.