ISBN: 978-1-944487-15-7

Created by Eloy Lasanta

Written by Brandon Aten, Carol Darnell, Danielle
DeLisle, J. Fryer, David Hill, John D. Kennedy, Eloy
Lasanta, Thiago Rosa
Edited by Carol Darnell
Proofed by Robert M. Everson
Art by Gunship Revolution
Layout and Typesetting by Eloy Lasanta

Copyright © 2017 Third Eye Games

All rights reserved under the Universal Copyright
Convention. No part of this book may be reproduced in
part or whole, in any form or by any means, without
permission from the publisher, except for brief quotes
for use in reviews or copies of the character
sheet.
 Table of Contents
A Military Life 5 Organized Crime in the Empire 51
Rise of the Empire 5 Itsutai Nakatsune 52
The Jahata Rebellion 6 Pirates in the Empire 53
The Ninja Crusade 7 The Kodama Collective 54
The Immortal Emperor 7 Zaitsu, The Immortal 54
The Throne 9
Izou Mamoru 10 Building An Empire 57
The Truth, the Lie, The Mystery 10 Assignment Exceptions 57
Walls of Silk - The Izou Courts 12 Step Three: Motivation 58
The Royal Court 12 Alliances 58
The Crusade and the Court 13 Coerced 58
Military Locations 13 Intangible 60
Daiwa 13 Money 60
Nanchou 15 Nature 61
Kiwan 16 Assignment Tactics 62
Kokudou 17 Black Bones 62
Hotaru no Kouji 18 Ingenuity 63
Jutsu Retrieval 65
assignments 21 Ki Negation 65
Black Smokes 22 Path of the Body 67
Engineers 24 Path of the Mind 68
The Enlightened 26 Path of the Spirit 69
Executioners 28 Voice of the Emperor 71
Golden Lions 30 Way of Dazzling Pilferage 72
Iron Breakers 32 Way of All Rivers 73
Jadesmiths 34 Way of the Gun 75
Silver Blades 36 New Weapon Styles 76
Defending 76
A Simple Life 39 Reach 77
Black Veil Province 39 New Weapons 77
Bridge to Battle Province 40 Mass Combat 78
Bridge to the World Province 41 Dynamic Environments 81
Cradle of Life Province 42
Flame River Province 43 Adventure:
Iron Province 44 Fighting Dirty 84
Middle Province 45
Oak Leaf Province 45 Sample Characters 91
Silk Belt Province 46
Triumph Province 48 Index 103
Religion in the Empire 49
The Reconciled 51

3
 Katsura watched the people gathering as he and the other troops marched into the
city. A young man watched them with lips pressed together and hands balled into fists.
A young girl watched solemnly from behind her father’s legs. She clutched an old doll.
When Katsura caught her gaze, she ducked out of sight. A woman watched from the
door of a small shop. She shook her head and went back inside.

“Why are they staring at us?” Katsura asked.

“Maybe because we’re so handsome.” Okuda, his friend, said.

Katsura chuckled. They were disrupting people’s lives; though that wasn’t some-
thing to be proud of, it was for the greater good of the Empire. He believed that.
The ninja were a menace and no longer useful. They terrorized the world and pre-
vented peace from returning to the land. He hoped one day the citizenry would
understand and not resent them.

The explosions took out three buildings directly in front of him.

Katsura took cover next to another building with the rest of the troops. Peo-
ple screamed, shouted or cried as they sought shelter. Ninja appeared through the
smoke and attacked the soldiers, who were still reaching for their weapons. Three
soldiers went down before Katsura moved again to press farther back behind a
door. Their screams reached his ears through the heavy wood. Okuda pressed his
back up against the wall next to Katsura.

“An ambush!”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Katsura said through gritted teeth. He pulled
out his sword and rushed toward the nearest ninja. With visibility low, he guessed
where the strike would come from and was lucky. Their swords clashed and Kat-
sura pushed against the ninja with all his strength.

The ninja proved stronger than expected, and the rest of the battle faded away
as Katsura focused on saving his own life. He ducked under a swipe and managed
to backtrack into a doorway. Another soldier sideswiped the ninja when he tried to
follow. By the time Katsura stepped back out, the battle was over.

The ninja fled, having given their warning, and would no doubt be back. Katsura
looked around as the soldiers gathered together in the street. The smell of blood,
smoke and fire filled his nose. Citizens started to peek out from their shelters.
Some checked on casualties and wounded. Katsura stepped toward a soldier who
was clutching her forehead and bleeding.

He stopped.

A small doll sat abandoned in the middle of the road. He picked it up; blood
stained his gloves from the doll’s clothes. In training, the instructors told Katsura
death could arrive at any moment. Katsura understood for the first time what they
meant. The ninja would pay for their attack and he would take this doll as a re-
minder of his mission.
 Chapter One:
A Military Life

From the simplest means he came, impetus of massive change. By all accounts, Zurui would
A man blessed of wisdom and virtue have lived his life as many farmers do. He would have
To raise up the just sword in just cause grown his crops in the lands of his ancestors and done his
To avenge his family’s name and honor best to bring pride to them, fortune to his pockets and love
He brought knowledge from darkness to his family. Instead, everything he ever loved was taken
And was granted dominion over land and sea from him and replaced with a fire that galvanized him to
Through blood, the land became whole fix the world around him.
And the land knew peace, unity and greatness
His benevolence shines upon us still in his most holy son
And may he protect us through dark and troubled times. Rise of the Empire
Praise to the nation that bears its father’s name! Though the use of ninja had seen large-scale armies
Praise Izou! fall out of style, the growing strength of the city-states led
to renewed tensions as they began to fight over territo-
This oath is taught to children at a young age, and ry and resources. The ninja had once been the ultimate
they hear it throughout their entire lives. When those full deterrent to total warfare but now that the nations had
of deep conviction and absolute authority say the oath, it grown strong enough to not bow to their threats, war be-
rings out; a clear challenge to the rest of the world that came inevitable after a five-year drought forced nations to
the Izou Empire is unstoppable and its glory will never fight each other for control of the rivers and food stores.
fade. But to the people of the land, it represents the belief Soon farmlands became battlefields and villages burned
that one person can rise up and bring about great change throughout the night as the armies fought.
if they are resolute and follow their dreams. It may have begun as an insignificant skir-
When the family of Izou Zurui, the first emperor, was mish on an ignored battlefield when the armies
killed, few knew this act of senseless carnage would be the of two nations fought over a fishing village, but
5
 what began as another pointless skirmish ended as their lands were brought into the fold.
with the death of Izou Zurui’s family. A fisherman When Izou Zurui died, he left behind four decades of
of simple means, he wept over the remains of his peace and prosperity. The nation was strong, and it was
people and swore vengeance against the armies said that when the Emperor drew his last breath a drag-
that destroyed everything he had. As Zurui slept after on was seen flying over the Imperial Palace. This dragon
burying the remains of his family, he had a dream where escorted the Emperor’s soul into the heavens, where he
he walked through a land at peace with his descendants remains to watch over his people for eternity.
living happily in a nation that was not divided due to dif- Despite leaving behind a powerful empire, the Emper-
ferences of religion, language or people. He saw the people or’s nephew, Izou Junshinichi, would destroy this peace by
of the land living together in harmony under one leader, leading the newly founded Izou Empire through the Expan-
and as he walked down golden hallways with statues of the sion Wars that would make up the majority of his reign.
great leaders of the land, he was visited by spirits claiming New provinces, such as the Iron Province, were brought
to know his destiny. Zurui never spoke of everything the into the Empire and new ninja clans were pacified or oth-
spirits told him, but when he woke the next morning he erwise made to understand the benefits of joining Imperi-
found a golden sword lying next to him and he had the al rule. This style of rulership would continue throughout
image of a nearby dojo where he would learn how to wage the centuries as an Emperor would follow one of two paths
war. Gathering together supporters and seeking out the during his reign: that of the conqueror, adding new realms
ninja of the Grasping Shadows, he bargained with them for and people to the glory of the Izou Empire, or that of the
the means to raise an army that would destroy those who administrator, who saw to the needs of his people.
would ruin the land with pointless conflict.
The Grasping Shadows pledged to assist Zurui and
helped him train his army, which used that elite training to The Jahata Rebellion
become a fierce fighting force. Zurui excelled in his educa- The Empire’s early years were not completely devoid
tion, and soon would lead them against armies that dwarfed of struggle, as the Jahata Rebellion saw a wave of insurrec-
his own—but would be defeated through his clever use of tion that rocked the very Empire to its core. In the small
strategy and bold leadership. He was a revolutionary and city of Jahata, a famine destroyed the crops and the seas
bold leader, and he never treated his soldiers as if their lives became even more dangerous as fleets of murderous pi-
were expendable. Those who flocked to his side became he- rates from the Land of Crashing Waves made fishing al-
roes worthy of legend and song, and to this day many noble most impossible without bribing the pirates. As the people
families in the Empire claim descendants from these people. struggled, a strange man came riding into the city on the
Zurui’s armies grew, and so did the lands he conquered. back of a yak and preaching a new litany of religion that
Portraying himself as a liberator, Zurui brought doctors and appealed to the people. He taught the people that they did
scholars with him as he conquered new lands and would see not need to fear an unjust Empire that turned its back on
to the needs of the people. He never burned villages to the them, and they could be their own masters. Emboldened
ground or destroyed sacred temples, and he knew when to by the monk’s words, the people rose up in rebellion.
show mercy to defeated enemies and when to make exam- The rebellion spread like wildfire, and soon the stan-
ples of them. As his power grew, he found generals chose dard of the Yak was in many villages across the Empire.
to join his side rather than face him on the battlefield, and Even Imperial garrisons began to turn to the monk’s side,
soon he found himself the ruler of an empire far greater as some had not received payment in months and their own
than the Orime Dynasty could have hoped for. food stores had begun to run low. Soon the Empire broke
Though he was grateful for the tutelage the Grasping out into open conflict, and the Imperial court argued with
Shadows provided, the Emperor never fully trusted the itself on what plan of action they should undertake while
ninja and was careful not to become indebted to them. He the Emperor, a young man who had assumed the throne
knew their loyalty would only last so long as there was after his father had died of the Wheezing Sickness, was un-
mutual respect, so he very carefully began negotiations prepared for the task of keeping the Empire together.
with other clans he encountered on his travels. Willing His sister, Lady Sako, was more adept at military mat-
to leave them in peace so long as they did not threaten ters than her brother. Having studied hard under the tute-
his realm, the clans used the opportunity of the Empire’s lage of her uncle, she had begged her brother to give her
construction to expand their own power and a commission in the military and let her learn how to be
eliminate their rivals. Several clans disappeared a soldier. Though she struggled through the ranks at first
during this time, while new clans were discovered due to her fellow officers believing a woman could never

6
fight as well as they could, she became known as a fierce es and teachings. With several new divisions of
and competent commander. She won her soldiers’ loyal- warriors being developed by the Imperial army,
ty by her brave and brilliant tactics that saw them win such as the dreaded Executioners and the newly
against forces many times the size of their own, and soon revitalized Engineers Guild, the Empire set about
she became Commander of the Southern Legions. Though their work using an invention that had recently been dis-
the Jahata rebels fought fiercely against her, she managed covered: gunpowder.
to cripple their forces with a series of bold raids and the Once only used to create fireworks and for stage tricks
rebellion ended with Jahata burned to the ground and the at plays, the development of gunpowder as a military
last of the Yak banners thrown on the burning wreckage. weapon gave the Imperial Army a formidable edge over
Of the priest who led the rebellion, few know of his the ninja. Though the ninja could strike from the shadows
fate. It is said that towards the end of the rebellion, a team with precision and mystical powers, the army could now
of ninja stormed his stronghold and tried to bring an end field soldiers wielding weapons that could pierce through
to the war. Few records survive of that encounter, but the almost any defense, defeating the antiquated forces of the
ninja who returned told tales of snakes with the heads of few villages loyal to the ninja. Mamoru spared no expense
men and other creatures too foul to comprehend. in the training of his forces, and soon the Ninja Crusade
began to purge the ninja from the Empire.
As the Ninja Crusade grew, so did the revenge tactics of
The Ninja Crusade the ninja grow more deadly and destructive. Despite pro-
The ninja continued to be the source of legend and tecting her with every resource at his command, the Emper-
fantastic stories throughout the growth of the Empire. or’s beloved consort, Izou Hana, was killed by an unknown
Though the conflicts among the ninja clans would occa- ninja and her head placed on a pike outside of the Imperial
sionally force the Empire to step in, the majority of their Palace. Their daughter Megumi, whose voice was once said
operations were low key and kept to the shadows. Most to be more beautiful than the dawn, was left suffering from
ninja found gainful employment from the Empire, who the effects of a mysterious poison that continues to cause
saw the need for skilled operatives and would frequent- her to waste away. The Emperor’s wrath grew and he or-
ly employ them for their skills. As the Izou Empire grew, dered no one to be spared in his war against the ninja.
so did its people, and even greater and more magnificent This act of barbarism brought about a tidal wave of
discoveries and accomplishments emerged. Even when change. The Emperor sent his envoys to the people and
faced from outside threats, the Empire stood as a beacon spoke of the horrible things the ninja had done to him
of grace, power, and honor throughout the world. and to others. He told the people how he would end the
This would change with another tragedy that would tyranny of the ninja once and for all, and that no more
again shake the Empire and begin a conflict that would would the people have to be afraid of the vigilantes that
change history. The Emperor declared that a great purge had long been outside the reach of Imperial law. The peo-
must begin in the Empire, and that those responsible for the ple, shocked by the the Emperor’s eldest son, and rallied
death of his son would be brought to justice. He immediate- behind their leader, bowed to his wisdom and sent their
ly passed new laws banning the teachings of the ninja and finest sons and daughters to be part of the new Imperial
ordered his generals to arrest even those ninja who worked army that he was creating.
with the government until their loyalty could be proven.
This was not done out of hatred, but as a precaution against
what the ninja could do—as the Emperor knew well what
the Immortal
horrifying powers the ninja had at their disposal.
For the Imperial army, this was a welcome chance to
Emperor
finally break the one threat that always challenged their As the war raged against the ninja, the Emperor re-
control of the land. The ninja had operated for too long ceived news from his spymaster Katosoge that the ninja
with impunity and many commanders saw their ways as were planning an all-out attack against him. The Emperor
blasphemous and dishonorable. They wanted control of knew that if he traveled amongst the people then the ninja
their lands without having to appease or otherwise avoid would use them as shields, and being a practical strategist,
a group that was nothing more than terrorists. Aiding this he set out to lay a trap that would help end the conflict as
endeavor were the Golden Lions, an ancient group of nin- swiftly and decisively as the ninja had hoped to
ja who were the “Emperor’s Clan” and received personal gain for themselves. Acting covertly, he gave or-
permission from Mamoru to continue their jutsu practic- ders to his generals to summon the best warriors

7
 the Empire had to offer and hid them away in se-
cret alcoves he had constructed in the Imperial
Palace. The Emperor waited patiently for the day Famous Emperors and
when the ninja would strike, and when he received Their Deeds
word from a spy he had secreted among the Lotus Coalition ªª Emperor Zurui – The First Emperor. Created
that the ninja were on their way, he made ready for them. the Izou Empire.
The ninja met little resistance as they swept through
ªª Emperor Junshinichi – The Conqueror. Ex-
the Imperial city and into the tunnels. Their maps led
panded the Empire’s Borders.
them deep beneath the palace and into the throne room.
As the ninja emerged from their hiding place, one of their ªª Emperor Huhua – The Blessed. Supported
number saw the Emperor sitting on his throne and threw the arts and sciences, leading to the discovery
a dagger at his chest. As the Emperor slumped over on of gunpowder.
the floor, the ninja pulled back his robes to discover it ªª Emperor Akono – The Horseman. Led the
had been a servant dressed as the Emperor. Their decep- fight against the Matamoto, a clan of Raiju de-
tion revealed, the secret passage sealed behind the ninja mons that sought to conquer the Empire.
opened and the entirety of the Golden Lions, Executioners
ªª Empress Xia – The Lonely Empress. Said to
and several Silver Blades emerged from their own hidden
have led the Empire through famine and re-
tunnel and swept into the ninja like a bloody tide.
stored it to glory.
Outnumbered and overwhelmed, the ninja fought
fiercely to try to escape from the room but, it was too late. ªª Emperor Gong – The Corrupt. Spent the en-
The Golden Lions, known for stealing their powers for tire treasury on his infamous Golden Pleasure
themselves, negated the one advantage the ninja had. The Palace. The only Emperor to suffer a humiliat-
Silver Blades and the Executioners, who were notorious ri- ing death because of choking on his food.
vals, soon meted out a bloody punishment upon the ninja ªª Emperor Ide – The Lawgiver. Said to have cod-
and slaughtered them in combat. As the ninja died, one of ified the thousands of minor laws into an easily
their number managed to break away from the fighting and understood system that is still in place today.
retreated deeper into the palace where he had the fortune
of finding himself in the council room where the Emperor,
who had been escorted by the few of his bodyguards not
sent to eliminate the ninja, had been taken away by his men
out of fear for his life. The Emperor, seeing his best men great monsters of legend and the bloodthirsty legions
fighting for their lives against the brutal jutsu of the ninja, were not the only thing that brought fear and awe into
could no longer restrain himself and drew his sword. those who stood in their path.
It is here that official reports drift from solid facts to The Emperor still lived.
myths and legend, but what is known is that the last sur- Emperor Mamoru rode at the forefront of his armies,
viving ninja, Danketsu, managed to escape from that room and though he seemed changed by the battle, he was as
despite suffering grievous wounds. When he made it back strong and healthy as before. The Emperor seemed to be his
to the Lotus Coalition, he delivered the great news that old self, and the few times he was drawn into battle saw him
they had been hoping to hear: the Emperor was dead. The fight with as great a skill as Izou Zurui himself. Despairing
people feared their leader had been killed, and the Imperi- and unsure of how the Emperor was still alive, the Lotus Co-
al court forbade any news from leaving the palace. No one alition gathered in their newly christened village of Danket-
knew the fate of the Emperor until several months later su and prepared themselves for a long, lengthy battle with
when suddenly the Imperial legions thundered forth once the Imperials. To the people of the Empire, seeing Mamoru
more. This time they were armed with more than sophis- himself alive and well and taking an active interest in his
ticated weaponry; they also knew the locations of even the Empire once more brought them the hope that the vicious
most well-hidden temples and dojos of the ninja, and they threat of the ninja would finally come to an end.
did not spare any village that professed allegiance to the
Lotus Coalition. At the forefront of the legions, marched
great celestial beasts that the Imperial Summon-
ers had brought forth from the heavens to wage
uncompromising war across the land. But the

8
 The Throne
The Emperor of the Izou Em-
pire is more than a hereditary
ruler of a nation. The Emperor is seen as
the divinely appointed ruler of the nation,
whose authority not only has the support
of the gods but of the ancestors of the Em-
pire’s people. Seen as a living bridge be-
tween the past and present, the Emperor
defines the fate of the nation. A strong Em-
peror means the Izou Empire will see great
fortune and stand firm against its enemies.
A weak Emperor means bickering nobles,
plagues and a poor economy will overrun
the nation. While the Emperor’s actions do
affect the outcome of his people, more of-
ten than not it comes down to fate and how
the Emperor will face their destiny.
Though the Empire is said to be run
solely by the bureaucracy, the Emperor is
the one absolute power in the realm. Under
the Articles of Heaven, a document created
by Izou Zurui and later expanded by Em-
peror Ide, the Articles outline the power
and authority of the Imperial throne with
the rest of the Empire. Indeed, while many
provinces have assemblies or councils of
nobles to run their lands, the Emperor may
step in and change anything they see fit.
The Articles do provide a guideline for how
the Emperor interacts with his realm. Princ-
es and princesses grow up studying the Arti-
cles so that they may be better prepared for
when they may inherit the throne.
Though rare, there have been times
when a woman has ascended to the throne of
the Empire. Since the Emperor always choos-
es which of their children is most fit to lead,
there have been times when the Emperor
has chosen a daughter to assume control. An
Empress has the same duties and responsibil-
ities, but faces the chauvinistic tendencies of
some nobles. They are forced to work hard-
er to be seen as worthy of respect as a male
would. Those who have risen to the rank of
Empress in the past have not only excelled as
a leader, but also led the Izou Empire through
numerous hardships, more than earning
their place in history.

9
 Since they possess divine authority in all mat- he became more proactive in his war against the ninja.
ters of consequence in the Empire, it is difficult to Acting quickly, and displaying knowledge of hidden tem-
remove a notoriously poor or cruel Emperor from ples and bases scattered across the Empire, Mamoru led
the throne. Though there have been times when his army in a bloody assault that devastated the Lotus Co-
civil war has threatened the Empire, peace has been main- alition. Hundreds of ninja and their families were killed,
tained either through the Empire doing its best to deal and Mamoru seemed invincible. The few ninja who man-
with the Emperor’s weakness or staying strong in the face aged to fight their way past his soldiers died by his sword,
of barbaric treatment. Only once in the nation’s history and he moved with grace and power no mortal could
has an Emperor been assassinated, and this was by one of match. Mamoru quickly became known as the Immortal
his sons whom he passed over for rulership because of his Son of Heaven, and his battle standard was replaced with
particularly heinous nature. The son’s name was strick- the sign of a phoenix rising up from the hilt of a sword.
en from the records, and the nation benefited from the Though given renewed strength and vigor, Mamoru’s
leadership of Empress Xia, who although young when she paranoia has not changed. He still suspects traitors within
assumed the throne, led the Empire for thirty years into a his ranks, and he does not hesitate to purge his council of
wondrous age of prosperity. advisors of anyone who is not absolutely loyal to him. When
the Emperor sits at court, the room is often deathly silent,
as few want to speak out of turn and say something that
Izou Mamoru, might offend him. Meanwhile, Mamoru continues to keep
Immortal Son of Heaven his daughter locked away from the public for fear something
might happen to her. Some wonder if Mamoru will turn his
One of the greatest victories the Lotus Coalition ever eye outwards for new lands to conquer when the last ninja is
struck during the Ninja Crusade was when they believed exterminated or if his blood rage will be subdued.
that Danketsu had killed the Emperor. When the wound-
ed ninja had managed to not only escape from the palace
but return to the hidden village that would later bear his The Truth, The Lie, and
name, the treasures he brought with him were all the ev-
idence they needed to believe Izou Mamoru was dead. His the Mystery
golden sash stained with blood, and the gem taken from Note: This section covers what happened to Emper-
the Emperor’s crown were too perfectly recognizable to or Mamoru, and may possess spoilers that could change
have been forgeries. Danketsu died without revealing all the outcome of the story for players who want to discover
the details of his fight with the Emperor, but after that what happened to Mamoru on their own. Skip ahead if you
night, the Golden Lions sealed the Imperial Palace and an do not wish to know.
entire legion of soldiers locked down the capital. The peo-
ple were unsure of what had happened to their ruler, and The facts that have been slowly gathered over the
soon ninja messengers traveled across the land spreading years have been muddled with fiction and fantasy, and
news that the Emperor was dead. strangely there is little evidence that can be corroborat-
The Ninja Crusade briefly halted, allowing the ninja to ed. A grand conspiracy is at work, but who its creator was
finally catch their breath and lick their wounds. Though is unknown. Curiously, there are few survivors left from
raids from the Golden Lions and Executioners increased for the battle that supposedly claimed Mamoru’s life. While
a time, the Empire was more concerned with trying to keep nobles tell the people the fighting was savage or the survi-
itself together. Nobles began to plot and scheme, and the vors simply refuse to speak about it, it seems the majority
Emperor’s daughter was rushed away to a secure location. of those sworn to fight by the Emperor’s side that night
As generals threatened to wage war with each other, the have disappeared without a trace.
Imperial city came to life and the gates of the palace sud- The following are known facts:
denly raised. Standing tall and wearing his battle armor, ªª Over five squads of Imperial soldiers and forty special-
Mamoru walked through the city and greeted his people. ists were involved. Notable Imperial heroes Mitsuo
He was strong and healthy, showing no signs of any injuries Harama of the Black Smokes and Musashi Harama of
at all. The people were so amazed at his recovery that few the Silver Blades were among those killed.
questioned it, and across the Empire priests sang hymns in ªª Danketsu, the only known ninja to survive the en-
praise of a heavenly miracle. counter, escaped from the Imperial palace and avoid-
The only sign Mamoru had changed was that ed capture.

10
 As the old saying goes, “rumors are like rats
and multiply faster than can be expected.” It is
The Empire’s Hierarchy illegal to openly speculate on the death of the
ªª The Emperor Emperor but this does not keep people from tell-
ªª The Crown Prince, whose power is tempered by ing stories about what they think happened or have heard
the wisdom of the Royal Advisor and their parent. from their neighbors.. The more cynical of their number
believe none of them to be true, but can offer no explana-
ªª The Royal Advisor, who is responsible for
tion for what has happened.
interpreting the Emperor’s wishes and seeing
ªª The Emperor is dead, and one of his bodyguards has
they are done.
assumed his identity. The court took their time to
ªª Reikoshogun, the supreme military com- groom this doppelganger so he would pass even the
mander beneath the Emperor. strictest scrutiny.
ªª The Ministers, led by the First Minister, and ªª The Emperor was saved when a Celestial Animal was
responsible for specific aspects of the govern- summoned and merged with his body. This animal is
ment such as trade, logistics, art and more. said to be a glorious Phoenix, who has gifted the Em-
ªª Lord of Domaru, a position held by the eldest peror with his resurrection.
sibling of the current Emperor. ªª The Emperor died, and his soul was consumed by an Oni
ªª Nobles of the Court, whose own internal from the deepest depths of the underworld. This new
power structure changes upon the successes Emperor’s cruelty is the Oni sating its infernal appetites.
and defeats they achieve politically. ªª The gods stepped in and deflected Danketsu’s blade at
ªª Eldest Grandmother, a position reserved for the last minute. Danketsu was given his trophies by the
the eldest maternal figure in the Emperor’s trickster god in order to mislead the ninja, whom he
family. Mainly a ceremonial position. believes failed to properly worship him over the years.
ªª Shoguns of the Fleet and Army, who are given ªª Danketsu lied, and he stole the trophies on his way out
great authority over all military matters in the realm. of the palace, leaving his friends and comrades to be
slaughtered. The Emperor merely sequestered himself
ªª Imperial Governors, who control their prov- away to prevent himself from being the target of more
inces and are the official representatives of assassination attempts.
the Emperor to their people.
ªª The Emperor is dead, but his cruelty and dark person-
ªª The First Merchant, who is the elected rep- ality have kept his body animated. His spirit refuses
resentative of the trade guilds and is their to leave until he sees the last ninja put to death, and
voice to the Emperor. his body is slowly beginning to rot beneath his armor.
ªª The Mayors of each individual village, whose authori- Emperor Mamoru must work harder than ever to ac-
ty rarely extends beyond the reach of their villages. complish his goal before his body disintegrates and
his soul is cast into one of the Hells.
The Emperor jokes about his “resurrection” and has
adopted the moniker of the Immortal Son of Heaven, but
in private he has commanded that any who spread stories
ªª The Imperial Palace was locked down and hundreds of sol- that he was actually in danger from ninja will be punished.
diers occupied every street of the Imperial City for almost This has not stopped the Emperor from using his immor-
a year. The public, presuming the Emperor was killed, be- tality stories to strike fear into his enemies and, since his
came unsettled and people feared rioting in the streets. return, he seems stronger and more capable than before.
ªª The Emperor emerged alive from the palace. He im- The Emperor has become colder towards the needs of his
mediately reorganized the Imperial Army and called people but still maintains the Empire and sees to keeping
for a renewed war effort against the ninja. its borders safe and that food and currency continue to
ªª Mamoru has become much crueler than before, and flow where they are needed.
the most common punishment he orders for any in-
fringement is death. His dedication to the extermina-
tion of the ninja has only intensified.

11
 Walls of Silk – The Royal Court
The Izou Courts The Imperial court meets at the will of the Emperor, but
on average they will come to session twice a month. Since the
If the Emperor is the head of the Empire and the peo- Emperor does not want to trouble himself with having to deal
ple are its heart, then the bureaucracy of the Izou Courts with each minister and official in his government, he may
is the body that holds it together. Though often the butt of schedule smaller meetings when only select officials may
many jokes, without the complicated system of government attend, but it is tradition for the Emperor to have his court
making sure taxes are gathered, bills are paid and the daily meet in their full capacity routinely so that he can hear about
needs of the people are met, the Izou Empire would have every trouble and triumph affecting his Empire.
collapsed in on itself long ago. Full court is a regal and dignified occasion, where the po-
The hierarchy of the Empire is best summed up simply litical elite gather to display their wealth and power before
as “The Emperor Commands; the Empire Obeys.” From there, their rivals. Court often lasts a whole day, with numerous
the actual execution of the Emperor’s edicts is left to a jug- feasts and performances scheduled regularly to entertain the
gernaut of ancient traditions combined with modern law. To assembled guests. New inventions are demonstrated before
those outside of the system it might seem a convoluted mess, the wondrous eyes of potential patrons, and only the best sol-
and in some ways, it is. The idea of the Emperor being re- diers are selected to be on hand to provide protection.
sponsible for every function of government is at odds with Around midday, the great bronze bells of the throne
the ministers who control the government, but the system, room ring and all nobles are expected to attend. Court is
for better or worse, works more often than not. quiet, with anyone who speaks out of turn running the risk
A great emphasis is placed on education within Izou, as it of being admonished by the Emperor himself, which can of-
is a way for their families to advance. A poor family living in a ten doom an aspiring politician’s career before it has begun.
city hopes their children may find a high-ranking position in the The Royal Advisor is in control of the agenda, and those
local government, and these positions are only awarded to those who need to petition to speak before the assembled nobles
who can prove themselves to be the best candidates who more need to speak with them well in advance. The Royal Advisor
than excel over their rivals. Competition is notoriously fierce, determines the agenda, but although they are expected to
and the drain it can place upon students has been the source act honorably it is not unheard of for petitioners to attempt
of many plays and songs. But to those who manage to secure to bribe them to obtain an earlier session with the Emperor.
themselves a comfortable position, it can mean their entire fam- The court lasts for as long as it holds the Emperor’s interest,
ily line is uplifted into a better caste than they were before. which means there is no set amount of time for how many
The nobles of the Empire earned their status through are allowed to speak.
many ways, with inheritance of grand titles and estates being The exception to this is the day following the anniver-
chief among them. Others were uplifted by Imperial decree sary of Izou Zurui’s death. After a day of solemn reflection
in recognition of great service to the Empire. Almost every
noble house has control of the lands they live on, and many
have control of key businesses in the Empire that provide Ninja and the Law
them income. Due to the immense power they control, many For centuries, the ninja of the Will of Iron were
noble houses consider themselves above the law. Often an a force for justice and peace throughout the Empire
Imperial governor will have to manage their politics careful- and many Imperial wardens and constables came to
ly so as to not offend nobles living in their region and to make rely upon them for aid in solving crimes and keeping
sure that the nobles do not undermine their authority. people safe. Despite the Ninja Crusade, many Hagane
The military, under the control of the crown prince, Izou still wish to continue this endeavor even though the
Kano, is responsible for the defense of the realm. Although Imperial Army now considers them all criminals. This
their power often only extends to warfare, many officers are has led to an “off the books” policy many captains
responsible for making sure the law is enforced in the land, of the city guard maintain with the Will of Iron. Al-
so it is not uncommon for soldiers to be the ones who carry though they have to try to arrest them at all costs,
out Imperial decrees or the enforcement of the law. A crim- they also occasionally accept any help the Will of Iron
inal who is captured by soldiers is often worse off than one offers them in exchange for denying their involve-
caught by the city guard, as the military tend to prosecute all ment. This arrangement, though scandalous if the
criminals as if they were prisoners of war. This can Imperial Army were to find out about it, has helped
mean seeing themselves banished to a labor camp or keep crime from flourishing in the wake of the war.
executed summarily on the spot.

12
and celebration over the great events of his life, the Em- Summoner Skirmishes or the great latitude of authority given
peror opens the palace to the public so he may hear their to the Executioners and Golden Lions who roam the land with
problems or arbitrate their disputes personally. Often con- impunity. The Emperor has declared that the Crusade shall
sidered the only way for the poor and politically disenfran- continue until every ninja has been driven from the Empire
chised to speak with the Emperor, some spend their life’s or destroyed, but many in the court have begun discussing
savings just for the chance to get a few moments with him. amongst themselves of another way to end the war without
Emperor Mamoru still honors this tradition, though his losing honor or earning the wrath of the Emperor.
judgments depend upon his moods. Occasionally he dis-
misses an argument if he considers it too dull or he will
give a strange proclamation and settlement of the matter Military Locations
if he thinks it will be the most amusing to him. Since his
apparent resurrection, Mamoru’s judgments have only got-
ten more brutal. Hundreds still line up to see him under the Daiwa
hope that his brutality will come down in their favor and
against their enemies. (Middle Province)
Also known as Harmony City, Daiwa serves as the Em-
The Crusade and the Court pire’s beating heart; an everlasting symbol of sovereignty
Though the court is firmly behind the Emperor, and no or oppression, depending on your perspective. It is the larg-
one would dare risk the standing of their house to go against est metropolis in the Ten Provinces, but Daiwa’s permanent
his will, the matter of the great Crusade has been a topic of population is still uncommonly low due to recent events. Of
interest in the court since the beginning. Publicly every noble its previous 800 thousand inhabitants, less than two-thirds
talks of nothing but support for the Crusade, but behind closed remain in the city. Its spacious streets and public places
doors the nobles and elite of the Empire debate whether it is have a leisurely pace, broken only by the arrival of envoys,
truly a just cause, whether it was inevitable and if it should merchants and the rare protestor. Indeed, for most of its
continue. Some view the Ninja Crusade as a costly endeavor citizenry, the terrors of war are distant memories,
that has led to nothing but bloodshed and misery for the Em- best left forgotten.
pire. Others point out the dangers it has unleashed such as the

13
 Daiwa’s interior location produces humid every kind work out of their family machiya. They produce
summers and damp winters. Its spring air is thick everything ranging from lacquered armor to fine tableware,
with the scent of apricots, while cherry blossoms and specialized food items to alchemic components.
drift on the welcome breeze. In autumn, the city’s Many rare items can be found here, as well. For exam-
plum and maple trees come ablaze with vibrant reds and ple, the Black Veil Market is one of the only locations out-
yellows. Leaf-peeping celebrations are popular during these side Kokudou to acquire kokuei steel.
seasonal changes. An abundance of wildlife lives within the Traditional inns (ryokan) are also in abundance, each
city’s extensive parks, ranging from sika deer to tanuki. vying for the lucrative tourist trade. Due to the Noble Dis-
Song birds and monkeys chatter in the rooftops year-round, trict’s diminishment, an increasing number of diplomats
while spotted cats stalk the streets at night. Considered the and travelers lodge here. Innkeepers have spent exorbitant
Emperor’s property, these animals fall under his protection amounts to fulfill their specialized desires, offering com-
– so the city-dwellers leave them alone. forts from their distant homelands. This has encouraged a
Holding firmly to the past, the city’s architecture embrac- growing number of expats settling in the district.
es the folk tradition, with most citizens occupying wooden The district’s transitory nature holds other benefits, as
townhouses (machiya) serving as homes and businesses alike. Arata Koizumi of the Ika Clan has discovered. Turning his
Since its inception, Daiwa’s focus on harmony has promoted Herbalist skills toward beer, he has built the most popular
karesansui (dry landscape) rock gardens throughout the city, brew house in Daiwa. Drunken guards and dignitaries pro-
even amongst its poorest residents. The largest garden encir- vide him with vital information, which he then shares with
cles the Hall of Heroes Memorial, resembling a flowing river the Lotus Coalition. More socially-inclined ninja often pose
with mossy islands and frozen waterfalls. Wide roads and open as travelers and merchants, hiding in plain sight.
parks create an airy quality, while its vast sanitation system
and street-sweepers assure the city’s cleanliness. This mani- The Kochou District
cured appearance belays the dissent and fear churning be- Also known as the floating world, the Kochou District is
neath the city’s harmonious facade. Daiwa’s pleasure quarter, offering artistic delights and night-
time recreations. Run by geishas, the district’s exclusive tea
The Noble District houses (ochaya) allow patrons to indulge in conversation,
The Siege of 757 IE left deep scars that are still clear to- drinking and traditional entertainment, such as games, mu-
day, particularly in Daiwa’s Noble District. Entire Loyalist sic and dancing. Bars and restaurants create exotic foods and
families fell, cut down in swathes, leaving their sprawling liqueurs, from the simplest street dishes to multi-course din-
estates empty and untended. Most have disappeared under ners. Private ryokan offer refined comforts to those unwill-
the rampant overgrowth from their gardens, hidden away ing to stay in the Shopping District. Communal bath houses
behind walls of bamboo and vines. Occasionally, squatters are extremely popular amongst all classes. Those who pre-
like Untouchables and criminals occupy these moldering ru- fer games of chance have plenty of gambling dens to choose
ins. Even the once-peaceful Children’s Palace – a playground from. Discrete lanterns mark hidden alleyways that lead to
for noble children – lays abandoned and desolate; a haunted ephemeral courtyards and machiya. Here, courtesans of both
place where restless dead and unhallowed creatures dwell. genders offer sensual delights of every kind. Kochou’s senior
By Imperial Decree, several estates became fortresses, geishas grudgingly tolerate this flesh trade, receiving pay-
buttressed by an intricate system of earthworks and canals ments in coin and information. The latter, in particular, has
fed by the Seimei River. In addition to increasing the city’s given the geishas considerable political power.
defensive capabilities, these structures can quickly act as
firebreaks. Recently, Crown Prince Kano has begun reward- The Temple District
ing loyal members of the Warrior class with estates, much Walled on all sides by a bamboo grove, the Temple
to the chagrin of the few remaining noble families. Several District feels like entering the spirit world. Its austere and
merchant families have also bought holdings here, insinu- tranquil streets guide visitors past temples that predate
ating themselves amongst the local gentry. the Empire. Within the district’s heart stands Tengoku
Temple, a massive wooden structure built atop a natural
The Shopping District spring – its purified waters flowing eternally. So expertly
The Shopping District offers commodities from every designed, its sanctified construction is completely free of
corner of the Empire, each of the Ten Provinces represent- nails. Monks and priestesses attend to its countless celestial
ed by a tented market. Merchants from other king- shrines, offering solace and healing to regular worshippers.
doms must remain in the smaller bazaars, restrict- Each spring, during the cherry blossom festival, all of Dai-
ed by Imperial decrees and tariffs. Tradespeople of wa come to Tengoku to attend the Sky Dragon’s Ceremo-

14
 miles around. Every palace hallway has nightingale
THE SLUMS floors. These specially engineered floorboards emit
Daiwa’s slums exist, but neatly cordoned off from a bird-like chirping at the slightest pressure, pre-
the rest of the city, hiding its squalor behind ivied venting anyone from moving through the building
walls. Thousands of people live amidst the crumbling undetected. So distinctive are the ‘chirps’ that staff mem-
townhouses and narrow streets, be they commoner, bers can identify individual footsteps, and even their loca-
crippled veteran, untouchable or disgraced noble. tion inside the palace. Secret doors and sliding walls allow
The lucky find menial work in the city, but most live guards to quickly move through the structure undetected
in absolute poverty. City guards rarely venture here, and family members to escape during an attack.
so crime is commonplace. Most of Daiwa’s under- With each subsequent emperor, the Palace grounds con-
world answer to one person, Jirokichi; a cunning and tinued to expand and develop, each new Imperial family main-
violent man possessed of unnatural skills. Unknown taining their ancestral households. In addition to these famil-
to all, Jirokichi is actually a Celestial Rat who remains ial estates, there are numerous residences for the staff, guards
from the recent Summoner Skirmishes. He’s amass- and trusted dignitaries. Crown Prince Kano and his advisors
ing an army of lawbreakers, spreading his influence live in the Imperial Barracks, staying close to their troops.
as far as Nanchou; for what purpose, however, re- Ponds and groomed parks decorate the expansive grounds,
mains to be seen. populated by exotic wildlife and faithfully maintained by an
army of gardeners and zookeepers. A solitary machiya stands
in the Northern Garden, guarded endlessly by silent Golden Li-
ons. This is the former home of Izou Megumi, the Emperor’s
ny. Accompanied by musicians and revelers, monks parade
precious daughter. Many nights, the Emperor visits this lonely
a sutra-covered dragon through the city to the Emperor’s
building; his cries of rage echoing across the palace.
Palace, thus assuring divine protection for the Emperor and
his people. For most, this is also the only opportunity to
catch a glimpse of their esteemed Emperor.
Nanchou
The Emperor’s Palace (Middle Province)
Manicured parks and gardens surround the Emperor’s Pal- Nanchou originally served as the Middle Kingdom’s main
ace, including the highest concentration of shrines and temples. training camp during the Mercenary Wars. The Southern
Keyhole-shaped mounds rise from the central lake, their enam- City rose and fell over several generations until eventually
eled structures glittering like polished gemstones. The tombs being abandoned after the Expansion Wars. Its numerous
of former emperors, each is ceaselessly guarded by dedicated buildings and facilities lie derelict, consumed by the jungle,
Silver Blades. Oddly, an honor guard stands over Emperor Ma- and would have remained forgotten entirely if not for Em-
moru’s mausoleum – even empty as it should be. Food and sou- peror Mamoru. Ever resourceful, he ordered the moldering
venir stalls line the park, eager to profit from the pilgrims and ruins converted into a penitentiary to house the Empire’s
dignitaries who travel here to pay homage to the Izou family. myriad criminals, traitors and undesirables. With the Ninja
Each day, the towering palace’s shadow traces across these cen- Crusade, the prison-city’s population has swollen by tens of
tral parks, a constant reminder of the Emperor’s omnipresence. thousands, straining its already crumbling infrastructure.
From time to time, an incensed mob publicly executes a
captured ninja here, in hopes of currying the Emperor’s favor.
Following the Siege of 757 IE, this trend has gained in popu-
The Wardens
Two large military facilities secure Nanchou’s North and
larity, attracting both the morbid and curious. Not all those
South Gates, while sentry camps and interconnected guard
found guilty actually belong to the clans. However, the extra
towers line the city’s walled circumference. Twin ranks of
coin from spectators helps ease the locals’ consciences.
high, wooden palisades surround the entire city, each par-
Even before Danketsu’s failed assault, the Imperial Pal-
tition separated by ten yards of weed-choked ground. Feral
ace’s defenses were formidable. Steeply sloped thirty-foot
dogs patrol this muddy stretch of hell, feeding off the bloat-
walls, and deep moats form concentric rings around the
ed corpses of would-be-escapees shot by watchful sentries.
Imperial compound. Emblazoned flags fly above their ram-
Fortified sally ports at the main gates are the city’s only en-
parts, symbols of the Emperor’s omnipotent power. The
trances. Beyond them, drawbridges offer access to the city
original palace, constructed after the Fall of Daiwa, consists
proper. For prisoners, this grim path is their final
of a singular tenshu-castle with hip-and-gable roofs, dor-
glimpse of the outside world.
mer gables and resplendent roof ornaments. Twenty stories
When they must enter the prison, the guards
tall, its copper tiles catch the early morning sun, visible for

15
 ring warning bells stationed around the prison addition to their martial skills, the Dogs also control one of
walls. Prisoners are allowed ten minutes to retreat Nanchou’s most precious resources: large caches of fresh
to their hovels. After this time, anyone caught out- water. Due to poor sanitation, diseases such as cholera and
side is considered a threat and treated appropri- dysentery are prevalent throughout the city, especially in
ately. This prevents the guards from being outnumbered as the lower tiers. Owning several massive cisterns, the Dogs
they move around the city. Riots are rare and dealt with lord this liquid currency over the prison population.
harshly with guards using explosives and flaming arrows ªª The Deadly Lilies were former artisans, courtesans and
from the safety of their high walls. educated women. Their leader, Rangiku Sato, once served
as a geisha in the Imperial court until a Hidden Strand
The Prison falsely incriminated her to further his political machina-
Nanchou’s lower wards are ruins; demolished and flood- tions. Her hatred for the clans knows no bounds, and she
ed, forming a natural moat around the city’s interior. Most will kill any suspected ninja without hesitation. Under her
of the submerged sections are now deep-water rice fields command, the Lilies protect the female inmates from the
and fisheries for carp, which prisoners tend to regularly. prison’s terrible life, if they pledge their lives to the gang.
This slave labor allows the Izou Empire to continually feed Extremely popular, their heavily-guarded brothels offer
its ever-hungry army. Many exhausted workers die from sensual comforts in exchange for coin and trade. Death
disease, drowning and snake bites; their bones littering awaits anyone stupid enough to break their strict rules of
the moat’s brackish depths. The cruel fact that starvation conduct, as the Lilies are experts in natural poisons: their
claims hundreds of prisoners while they’re surrounded by favorite being wolfsbane.
food isn’t lost on them. However, the punishments for steal- ªª The Night Foxes have a mysterious leader; a figure known
ing the ‘Emperor’s Bounty’ far outweigh an empty belly. only as Noppera-bō (Faceless). Every member must mur-
The ruined metropolis rises toward its original forti- der at least one person to join. Once they do, they forsake
fication in a tiered design hosting five districts in all. The their name, their station and even their face – hidden be-
lowest tier, the Scatters, consists of little more than a vio- hind masks resembling flying foxes. They extort the other
lent shantytown of collapsing huts and makeshift markets. prisoners for protection at night. Those who refuse typi-
Many prisoners never leave the Scatters, as new arrivals cally disappear. A Night Fox’s rank is determined by the
are constantly at risk of robbery, murder or enslavement number of ears collected from their victims, worn around
by their fellow inmates. Case in point, the city’s many gangs their necks for all to see.
arrange ‘welcoming committees’ to take advantage of the
weak and unwary. There’s only one rule in Nanchou: You
keep whatever you can take, including people.
As the tiers rise, buildings and facilities become more in- Kiwan (Bridge to the
tact, offering better shelter and resources, as well as determin-
ing one’s position in the prison’s hierarchy. Unless necessary,
World province)
the guards avoid these dangerous mazes, leaving the inmates Established during the Orime Dynasty, Kiwan’s high
much to their own devices. As such, dozens of criminal families cliffs, deep waters and sheltered inlet offered pirates the
and gangs continually struggle for control of the upper tiers, perfect reprieve from storms and naval patrols. Its name,
trying to wrest the highest point from one another. Turf wars Turtle Bay, originated from the turtles that once nested on
are fought in the streets every night, mutilated corpses left as its sandy beaches, long since killed off for their meat and
grim warnings. During the day, prisoners scavenge the ruins eggs. Over the years, pirate families constructed permanent
for whatever they can find. On occasion, an ancient cache of docks and residences built directly into the canyon walls.
tools or weapons surfaces, tipping the balance of power. After decades of piracy, the port’s affluence grew consid-
erably. Unfortunately, this prosperity enraged the Orime
emperor, who sent his forces to conquer the city. The bat-
The Triads tle was short-lived, as the Imperial fleet blockaded the inlet
Currently, three factions dominate much of Nanchou: while troops surrounded the bay from above. Trapped like
The Iron Dogs, the Deadly Lilies and the Night Foxes. rats, the pirate captains had little choice but to surrender
ªª The Iron Dogs are all former soldiers, led by Masa Tamot- and await their inevitable executions.
su: An Executioner condemned for his brutality against ci- Much to their surprise, the Emperor enlisted them as priva-
vilians. Tamotsu promotes the worship of the evil Celestial teers for his war against the Land of Crashing Waves. Thus, Kiwan
Canine, Inugami. This includes burying enemies up to grew from pirate haven to Izou’s largest port and launching point
their necks, allowing them to die from dehydration. for campaigns against the Land of Crashing Waves.
The bodies are then used in dark, magical rituals. In

16
 any reason, is punishable by ceremonial drowning.
Sky Dragon’s Ceremony
For several hundred years, the Sky Dragon The Eight Winds
Ceremony has played a vital role in Imperial cul- Kiwan itself is governed by the Eight Winds, a council
ture. Honoring Emperor Izou Zurui, it depicts his representing the city’s oldest and most powerful families of
glorious transition into the afterlife. According to merchant princes and trader queens. They decide virtual-
legend, upon his death, the Sky Dragon carried his ly every aspect of city management, ranging from berthing
body across the Empire so the people could witness costs to declaring maritime raids. Divided like a compass,
his sacrifice for them. Due to Zurui’s humble begin- the four senior houses – the cardinal directions – hold two
nings, the ceremony is extremely popular amongst votes, while the junior houses – the intercardinal directions
the peasantry, as several performers working to- – hold one vote. On the rare tie, the Voice of Genbu casts
gether to puppet a giant dragon while they pull a the deciding vote. As the Winds’ favor can create or destroy
reenactment of Zurui’s last stand on a float behind entire fortunes, infighting and corruption are rampant and
them. It is a magnificent sight, followed by fire- unforgiving. Indeed, the junior houses are allying them-
works and celebration. selves with trading guilds from Fouchou, the Floating City,
to wrest control from their elders.
Supported by the Land of Crashing Waves, one merchant
Eyes of Genbu family belongs to the Wanizame – shark worshippers. They
Atop its twin headlands, two fortresses – the Eyes of Gen- work to secretly undermine the Eight Winds, influencing their
bu – guard Kiwan’s entrance and serve as lighthouses for ap- members through bribery, extortion and seduction. Each year,
proaching ships. Stationed here is a sizable Imperial garrison they conduct clandestine rituals to honor their patron god-
supplementing the Empire’s naval yard. Beyond this narrow dess, which includes eating captured enemies.
passage, the cove’s placid interior is lined with stone quays and
wooden piers, as well as an impressive shipyard at its farthest
end. As industrious and vibrant as seabirds, inhabitants have Kokudou
built their city into the steep cliffs, using the many sea caves
and wave-cut terraces. A spiderweb of rope bridges and plat- (Black Veil Province)
forms connect a bustling metropolis of homes and businesses, Like the phoenix, Kokudou has burned and risen from the
each decorated with colorful signs and flags. After centuries of ashes a dozen times over during its lengthy history. Located atop
riotous construction, this multi-level warren often disorients a prehistoric horst, the region attracted miners from across the
visitors to the city, and even long-time residents on occasion. continent, eager to partake of its mineral wealth. Their mining
Every naval industry has a presence here, from rope-making settlements soon blossomed into a thriving city. After decades,
to shipbuilding, offering the city its continual independence. Kokudou’s ceaseless forges rained soot for leagues in every di-
The Rokuju merchant district surrounds the entire inlet rection, garnering the city its name: The Black Road. Much to
on the cliffs above. A city unto itself, it serves as the home the city’s regret, this insatiable need for wood deforested the al-
for traders, workers and visitors, as only ‘native’ residents ready bleak landscape, adding untold hardship on its residents.
can reside in Kiwan itself. Warehouses use giant treadwheel The old saying, ‘Steel cannot grow rice no matter how brightly it
cranes to raise and lower cargo to the docks below. Under the shines,’ continues to this day.
harbormaster’s watchful eye, dozens of ships load and offload During the Expansion War, the Izou Empire used Koku-
in an endless cycle, running well into the night. Several guilds dou as the launching point for its invasion of the Land of
and trading companies have permanent headquarters here. Exalted Flame. A massive fortress sprang from the wind-
The district also features one of the largest seafood markets swept plateau, its watchtowers taking advantage of the
in the Ten Provinces—perhaps the world. Some of the finest elevated position. Builders worked tirelessly constructing
restaurants are here, cooking the ocean’s rich bounty. barracks, armories and underground reservoirs to supply
Worship of Genbu – the Celestial Turtle – has remained the Imperial Legions for their prolonged campaign. The city
prevalent in Kiwan since its founding. To appease him for the itself modernized and expanded, building over its ancient
past slaughter of his children, they hold festivals throughout foundations. Tragically, all these preparations were for
the year in his name. The Voice of Genbu – the city’s high naught. The disastrous conflict unleashed destruction upon
priest – supervises all these religious observances, as well as the entire province; Kokudou, in particular, burned for over
imposes spiritual tariffs. Every family sponsors the public a fortnight. While the Empire’s aspirations were
temples, while shopkeepers and captains maintain the lesser dashed, the city’s hardy folk simply did as they’d
shrines that adorn every street and pier. Killing a turtle, for done for generations and rebuilt their home.

17
 Now in its eleventh incarnation, Kokudou is still and yellow ochre paint its sunbaked minarets, while deli-
a productive and diligent community of artificers, cate tiles decorate its cramped archways. Sand-cats lounge
miners and merchants. Typified by their olive skin beneath shades of woven leather, indifferent to the people
and piercing eyes, residents suffer hardships with pressing through the ephemeral stalls and shops. Richly
quiet grace and stony resolve. Much as those who came before painted shutters line every window, only closed to keep out
them, they live in extensive pit-houses hewn into the rock, the frequent dust storms. When the baking sun disappears,
incorporating ancestral dwellings and structures. Indeed, open malls fill with dazzling lights and exotic scents, pa-
a family’s prestige is directly proportional to the number of trons warding off the chilly night with sesame cookies and
hereditary ‘layers’ in their home. Throughout the city, build- mint tea.
ings and streets feature stone-graffiti that declare its people’s
stories over centuries – proving Kokudou’s resilience to future
generations. This inherent sense of community stems from the Hotaru no Kouji
prevalence of Kasai worship; an influence of the Land of Exalt-
ed Flame. (Iron Province)
In addition to its unsurpassed steel manufacture, Kokudou In a land consumed by despair, Hotaru no Kouji’s serene
produces some of the finest engineers in the Ten Provinces. beauty and cultural diversity have become enduring sym-
This stems from the city’s disproportionately high population bols of hope. Initially built for war, the city developed into
of artificers and blacksmiths, as well as skilled tradespeople. the diplomatic center for the Land of Seed and Blossom, the
Out of necessity, most children apprentice early in life, con- Land of Five Blades and the Izou Empire. Even at the height
tributing to their family prosperity and the city’s survival. Lo- of the Ninja Crusade, representatives from these three king-
cal elders plan to construct an engineering college in hope of doms continue journeying to Hotaru no Kouji in search of
garnering Kokudou more Imperial support. peace and enlightenment.
Although assailed on all sides, Kokudou endures like a Nestled between the Akino and Raion Rivers, the local
desert flower amid the Black Veil’s nightmarish wastes. Red watershed creates the perfect sanctuary for fireflies. In early

18
 From the Palace, Governess Shiruetto Yamau-
Kokuei Steel chi oversees Hotaru no Kouji’s daily administra-
Kokuei ‘night’ steel is renowned as much for its tion. A woman of harsh beauty and indomitable re-
durability as its beauty. The secret tempering tech- solve, the Will of Iron raised her after the war left
niques used in the forging process create hypnotic her orphaned. Despite her clan ties, she supports Emperor
patterns of shadow and twilight. Due to the materi- Mamoru rather than the Lotus Coalition, believing the Nin-
als required, it is only produced in Kokudou. ja Crusade will purge the clans of their arrogance and cor-
ruption. Indeed, she supplies the Emperor with continual
updates of the city’s political climate. Unmatched in mar-
summer, Hotaru no Kouji and the surrounding countryside tial and diplomatic skills, Shiruetto protects her city and its
ignite in a scintillating display of light, as thousands of fire- people at all costs.
flies begin their intricate mating dance. Visitors arrive from Maintaining Hotaru no Kouji’s idyllic veneer is hard won.
every corner of the Ten Provinces to view this natural won- Its crimson towers and tiled streets are mortared with ash and
der. For this reason, the city is known as the Firefly Path. Of powdered bone, grim remnants of former wars. Komainu, the
late, more superstitious residents have been troubled by the city’s constabulary, were an ancient sect of the Golden Lions
increasingly large swarms of fireflies, which are believed to – former guardians of the Palace of the Lions. They ceaseless-
be the souls of casualties of war. For them, this ghostly pag- ly patrol the city streets, unmistakable in their red-gold uni-
eant holds ominous portents for Hotaru no Kouji, which has forms. Incorruptible, they answer solely to Governess Shiruet-
been razed several times during its history. to and dispense justice swiftly and mercilessly. Only the foolish
Like its namesake, Hotaru no Kouji metamorphoses or desperate dare test their resolve. Citizens turn a blind eye to
through the migratory influx of foreign merchants, travel- their capital punishments, content to enjoy the prosperity and
ers and pilgrims. Well-maintained bridges and canals divide safety the Komainu provide.
the city into dozens of neighborhoods, each with their own A leftover from more violent times, Hotaru no Kouji
distinctive cultures. Open-air bazaars and gardens prevail hosts an annual martial arts tournament. Held at the end
throughout the city, as well as lavish restaurants, ryokans of harvest, the event runs for two to three weeks, attracting
and bath houses supported by the plentiful tourist trade. challengers from neighboring kingdoms. Fights take place
The merchant class holds positions usually reserved for no- on an elevated platform without railings, constructed in
ble families, owning impressive estates acquired from the the city’s center. Combatants must either knock their op-
profits of tea and textiles. An epicenter for aesthetics, the ponent off the platform, achieve a submission, or incapaci-
city has also attracted an impressive artisan community, tate them. Personal grudges are also settled here; although
featuring one of the Empire’s largest kabuki theaters. In duels to the death are fortunately rare. The fighter with the
the shadows, a thriving red-light district offers untold plea- greatest number of victories gains the title of Firefly Cham-
sures to the more adventurous. pion. Governess Shiruetto encourages this competition as a
healthy release of social tensions, and has even been Cham-
pion – defeating ninety-four opponents over fifteen days.
Palace of the Lions
One of the Empire’s architectural marvels, the Palace
of the Lions’ copper and sandstone spires rise from the
city’s heart like pillars of flame. Countless porcelain Shi-
sa (Lion-dog) adorn its winding hallways, ever-watchful
and rumored to come to life in the Palace’s defense. Dip-
lomats from the kingdoms of Izou, Five Blades and Seed
and Blossom live and work here, negotiating the fates of
their respective homelands. The palace’s labyrinthine de-
sign allows them complete anonymity when needed; entire
delegations stay for weeks without ever encountering one
another. Dutiful monks attend to their every need, as well
as keep the Palace grounds. Called the Silent, these men and
women have willingly surrendered their tongues, lest they
reveal anything overheard during their duties.

19
 The bound ninja glowered at Hideatsu, defying him from the basement floor
where she lay. He sighed. Information would come forth, of that Hideatsu was sure;
the ninja just didn’t know it yet. He hadn’t used a quarter of what he knew on her,
and Hideatsu wanted to use as little force as possible. He raised an eyebrow at Yasu-
moro, standing in the darkest part of the room.

“I just make the information useful,” the Golden Lion had said before starting
the mission. “Finding out the information is your job.”

Oname guarded the other side of the basement door. Her main job was to track the
ninja and, as expected of an Iron Breaker, she came through. They received the mission
before dawn and by nightfall they were here, interrogating the ninja.

Or would be, if the ninja hadn’t turned out to have more fortitude than expected.
Hideatsu squatted down and looked her in the eye.

“No one has to know you told us anything,” he said. “You must have people you
care about? You don’t want anything to happen to them, and neither do I. We can
stop the violence, but only together. We are all caught up in this mess and we can
all do our part to make sure there is as little bloodshed as possible.” He chuckled to
himself. “I am sorry you feel that way. I will do what I can to make sure nephew is
not hurt, perhaps we can get him adopted.”

The squirming stopped and Hideatsu stood.

“You don’t know anything,” the ninja stammered.

A bold lie, but a lie nonetheless, because Yasumoro had brought that useful
piece of information with him before they ever met the target.

“We just want to know where the ninja are going to steal from next. We know
you scouted places for them and you know where they are going to hit. We want to
protect our people and our resources—you tell us, we move the supplies and no one gets
hurt. They’ll find an empty room, turn back, and you will have saved lives.”

Silence.

“I would much rather have you deal with me than anyone else. We have our
differences, but in the end, we do what we think is right and hope for the best.”

Hideatsu walked over to the table where the sharp implements of his trade shone
in the dim light of the room. He looked them over, selected a long knife and slowly
tapped his finger on the point.

“I have my orders, just like anyone, and my orders are to get the information by
any means necessary. I just don’t want to use all the methods at my disposal. Do you
understand me?”

The sound of the people overhead drifted downstairs in the silence.

“They are going to hit the Silver Turtle Inn.”

Hideatsu smiled.
 Chapter Two:
Assignments

Even if they all show a profound devotion to the Izou ver Blades rival over whose fighting expertise is superi-
Empire and fight against their land’s enemies with all or. In the end, however, they all have a mission, and they
they have, not all soldiers are equal in capability. An Izou must work together. They face a much larger threat in
soldier must follow orders and respect the hierarchy es- the ninja, after all, so most believe cooperation against
tablished centuries ago, but each of them should strive to all odds is the only way they’ll make it out alive.
be better than the soldier beside them. By showing one’s
talents on the battlefield, they can prove their worth to
join one of several exclusive Assignments. Each has its Black Smokes (pg. 22)
own requirements and qualifying tests, but being chosen Engineers (pg. 24)
means you are a step above a foot-soldier and endowed The Enlightened (pg. 26)
with special advantages, sometimes mystical in origin.
Some Assignments work well together, while others Executioners (pg. 28)
may have diametrically opposed viewpoints that could Golden Lions (pg. 30)
put them at odds. Black Smokes and Engineers work Iron Breakers (pg. 32)
well together, making up a refined ranged assault, while
Golden Lions and Iron Breakers both wield stolen ninja
Jadesmiths (pg. 34)
power and often collaborate. On the other hand, tactics Silver Blades (pg. 36)
employed by Jadesmiths and Executioners are known to
collide in the worst of ways, and the Enlightened and Sil-

21
 Black Smokes
ªª Other Names: Aines, Shatters, Black Powder Brigade ninja are quick to use their jutsu and martial training to
ªª Stereotypes: The future, Thrill-seekers, Playing a best a common soldier, but one trained in the ways of
dangerous game firearms can take on dozens of ninja without breaking a
sweat. A bullet is the ultimate equalizer in a war against
ªª Martial Training: Weapon Style: Ranged, Fighting magic-wielding enemies, easily neutralizing a foe before
Style: Eagle or Wildcat, Alchemy they can perform their hand symbols, and while anyone
ªª Favored Tactics: Way of the Gun (pg. 75) can hold a gun and fire it, it takes a Black Smoke to really
ªª Skills: Athletics +1, Marksman +1, Perception +1, Per- make it sing.
form +1
Lifestyle
History The lifestyle of a Black Smoke differs little from that
of a common soldier. They take commands from their
There was once a time when mixing sulfur, charcoal officers, fall out into squads balanced to maximize their
and saltpeter was known only as black powder and it was advantage in the field and ultimately take on the enemy.
only used to create fireworks to light up the night sky Instead of charging forth with a sword or spear, how-
and for simple magic tricks. It wasn’t long, however, be- ever, the Black Smokes hold back, take aim and strike
fore clever users figured out it was also a powerful ex- down their enemy from afar. Those in the Brigade who
plosive agent, capable of causing destruction on a scale do jump into the action employ smaller sidearms, twirl-
humanity hadn’t seen since the invention of the katana. ing and firing in close combat as they dance through a
The Empire began hoarding the majority of black pow- battle. They believe that to use a gun is to be an artist;
der, now also called gunpowder, placing it in the care of the battlefield is their canvas and the blood of their ene-
the Black Powder Brigade. They followed the Engineer’s mies is their paint, making their firearms the perfect in-
Guild around, hauling their wares and loading their strument to create their art. Some members of the Black
weapons when necessary. Even though the engineers Smoke Brigade make a race out of how many targets they
knew their way around gadgets and explosives, they did can fell, comparing their tallies at the end of a battle with
not see the delicate nature of their new tools. the winner taking the loser’s favorite firearm. Others be-
With the help of a few discrete inventors, the Black come obsessed with their creations, believing that firing
Powder Brigade created the very first firearms. These a bullet is like losing a piece of their soul. In exchange,
amazing weapons elevated gunpowder from a purely de- they often take their victims’ eyes with them as trophies,
structive force to a thing of beauty. Its feel, its sound, it which are then dried, ground and mixed with the gun-
is all completely different from any other tool in the Em- powder to ensure they kill their target again.
pire’s arsenal. Members of the Brigade were often called When they are not on assignment, they are holed-up
Aines, due to their love of the sound of a bullet firing; it in their mines, extracting more gunpowder ingredients
became euphoric for many of them. The Brigade’s num- from the Earth or are melting and pouring their own bul-
bers appealed to the Emperor for their own authorities lets. They prefer to extract their own materials, creating
and responsibilities, hoping to prove to their exalted better-quality gunpowder than can be found anywhere
leader they could handle them. In the end, they donned else. Both are time-consuming projects, but ones they
the moniker of the Black Smokes, and became the sol- happily perform. There is a reason why the Black Smokes
diers who turned the tide during the Expansion Wars. have remained in charge of firearms for nearly a centu-
Other nations bowed before their superior technological ry… they hold the secrets of bullet creation, the mixing
advances, and the Empire became the force it is known of gunpowder and the best sources of its ingredients and
as today. are not about to share them with anyone.
The Black Smokes are just as integral to the
Empire’s success during the Ninja Crusade. The

22
Missions Karma when the character is left defenseless be-
cause of their reliance on their guns.
Compared to the number of foot soldiers in the Izou Army,
the Black Smokes are quite diminutive. For every ten foot sol-
diers, there is likely only a single Aine. Of course, with their
special training, they are also often more capable than your
Contacts
average soldier. They are versatile; useful in almost any kind Choose one Ally and one Rival. 
of mission, except for stealth operations, as they are quite ªª Torisei Teto (Empathy) - Teto is a warrior who knows
fond of the loud sounds their no fear and looks death in the face almost every day.
tools create. Some prefer to use ªª Asano Daishi (Intimidation) - There’s just some-
smaller, more accurate weapons, thing about Daishi and the way he holds guns that
while others prefer larger rifles sends shivers down his target’s spine. It’s
that let them operate from a dis- bad to be his target.
tance. Rifle-wielders are great for
ªª Sugai Chiemi (Surviv-
long-distance attacks and sniping
al) - Being a miner means she
an enemy before they ever know
knowns her way around the
what’s coming. Pistoleers, on the oth-
rocky cliffs of the Izou Empire.
er hand, get up close to their targets and
Chiemi can make a mission
eliminate them with flair and attitude. In
much easier or much harder.
the end, the Emperor knows not to send a
firearm to handle a problem a sword can ªª Fukuoka Zennosuke
handle more discreetly. (Perform) - Zennosuke is a tal-
ented politician, capable of moving
a crowd to a frenzy with his skills in
Assignment Gift oration.
and Trigger ªª Takishita Juri (Crafts) - She is a
well-known gunsmith, capable of craft-
èè Gift - One with the Gun: Members of the ing unique bullets to take down any
Black Powder Brigade are trained in one of two type of foe.
ways to fight: up close and at a distance. Players
pick one for their soldier. Up-close characters ªª Egami Yachiho (Deception) - A
gain +1 Marksman when using firearms at master of disguise, she knows how to
Close Range and gain a +1 bonus to all Dodge slip in and out of almost any location
rolls. Distance characters gain +1 Marksman with just a few choice words.
when using any weapon with the Ranged
Quality and gain a +3 bonus to their next
ranged attack when they use a Plan At- Bonds
tack Action. Regardless of their training, ªª Choose one other character who you
however, all Black Smokes receive +1 respect for their artistry, even if their in-
Initiative, as they are often the first to struments differ from your own.
strike in Battle.
ªª Choose one other character who dis-
èè Trigger - Powder Runs trusts firearms, and always goes out of
Dry: Black Smokes are com- their way to show you that traditional
pletely dependent on their fire- weapons are superior.
arms, often forgoing any kind
of backup weapon or training ªª Choose one other character
with anything other than their who has needed your help on the
favorite tool. This leaves them battlefield on more than one occa-
in a terrible situation if they sion, and is expecting to
ever run out of ammo. Gain 1 have to pay you back soon.

23
 Engineers
ªª Other Names: Imperial Inventor’s Guild, Sages, are accident-prone or seem too convoluted to be of any
Builders practical use, the Engineers seek to test their inventions
ªª Stereotypes: Crazy, Impractical, Radical in the real world and to build upon their results. “Wheth-
er the experiment succeeds or fails, learning from it is
ªª Martial Training: Weapon Style: Ranged or Paired, the true success” has been the unofficial motto of the En-
Trap Master, Fighting Style: Snake gineers. Equally praised and reviled by their comrades
ªª Favored Tactics: Ingenuity (pg. 63) in the Imperial army, the Engineers are almost always
ªª Skills: Crafts +1, Intuition +1, Knowledge +1, essential to any campaign succeeding.
Marksman +1
Lifestyle
History Engineers celebrate both order and chaos, as they
have had to combine centuries of practical knowledge
The Engineers are a secret order; to which the Em- with a sudden influx of increasingly strange, yet powerful,
peror has only recently given his blessing for their true theories. For years, they obeyed the Emperor’s command
intentions. Once considered another facet of the Imperi- of only researching practical things to aid the Empire,
al Army, the Engineers would work on designs to build but now they have been encouraged to seek new means,
aqueducts and dig trenches using ancient, but standard, causing them to splinter into many branches of philoso-
principles. Thanks to the Emperor’s great grandfather, phies and ideas. This makes the Engineers often hard to
Emperor Han, taking a renewed interest in their work get along with, as the traditionalists do not appreciate the
and seeing the usefulness of their strange philosophies, rapid changes the Engineers push forward nor do they un-
the Engineers have become an institution of scien- derstand the odd new philosophies they push.
tist-philosophers whose goal is to expand the sum of hu- This has led many Engineers to only work alongside
man knowledge and to test their creations outside of the their peers. In their hidden experimental sanctums, the
confines of their laboratories. Engineers work to build upon what new discoveries are
It started with a man named Hinshin and his daugh- made each day with the practical knowledge handed down
ter, Nakomi. Hinshin was a strange man whose designs through centuries of research. Engineers in specific fields
for machines that could fire hundreds of fireworks into tend to flock together, with those interested in creating
the air drew the attention of crowds during festivals but military tools working together to build greater war ma-
had no practical use outside of it. Meanwhile the Empire chines and those with an interest in developing new alloys
was at war with the Matamoto, a clan of Raiju demons keeping to their forges. It can seem a remote and aloof
who invaded several towns within the Empire. As Nakomi lifestyle to outsiders, but to the Engineers it is home.
watched one of Hinshin’s machines shoot fireworks into Engineers are looked upon with a sense of marvel
the sky to try to calm down the people of the Empire, she and disdain by Izou citizens. A village may be profoundly
had a powerful idea. Taking several of Hinshin’s designs, grateful for new means of drawing water from a well or
she expanded upon them. When a wave of attacking de- developing efficient heating through their homes. A vil-
mons set upon the local garrison and almost overwhelmed lage may also become irate and angry with the Engineers
it, Nakomi revealed her new war machines, which blasted when the town’s supply of metal goes missing or the
the enemy’s lines apart and led to victory. News of these new printing press releases rancid fumes that sicken the
machines reached Emperor Akono, who made Nakomi and town. To the Engineers, this is all part of the long march
her father the new commanders of the Imperial Engineers. towards discovery, and they do what they can to help hu-
Since then, the Engineers have advanced science and manity while furthering the great cause that is science.
rational thinking while trying to perfect their
marvelous machines. Though some machines

24
Missions the art of making trick shots with his spe-
cially constructed rifle.
The Engineers’ goals, as complex as they may seem
ªª Gima Ron (Crafts): A savant using simple
to outsiders, are very simple: to grow and nurture the
tools to create larger machines, citizens speak of his
creative sciences within the Empire and expand their un-
willingness to trade his information in exchange for
derstanding of the scientific world. Now they have the
a home cooked meal or stones from far-off lands.
authority to travel the Empire, recruit the most brilliant
minds and test out their creations. Many Engineers try ªª Takeshi Aiko (Knowledge): Once a teach-
to solve problems the Empire faces through science and er at the now-destroyed Wind Valley Dojo, she
technology, and are always on the hunt for rare re- travels the countryside seeing to the needs of
sources. They view their continuing struggle with small towns and rebuilding what the ninja
the traditionalists of the Imperial court as a transi- and the army have destroyed.
tory step, as they continue to delve into the greater ªª Matmura Rei (Intimidation):
secrets of the world. Known as the Iron Banshee, Rei is re-
nowned for her machines that cre-
ate high pitched shrieks and roars,
Assignment Gift disorienting her foes and said to
and Trigger  scare off attacking ninja.  
èè Gift – Sudden Genius: It is ªª Dai Hanako (Persuade):
not enough to invent; an Engineer A quartermaster whose
should also adapt and reconfigure as jaded personality comes
the need arises. The Engineer gains from years of having to
+2 Crafts when dealing with any- fight for respect among
thing mechanical. They may also, her fellow Engineers, he is
when faced with an issue that seems said to know where every-
impossible to overcome, spend 2 thing is in the inventory of
Karma to ask the GM a question about the Empire.
how to ingeniously get around the obstacle before ªª Hirane Goto (Percep-
them. The GM should answer with an “If you do tion): A proud, boastful man,
this action, you think it’ll do this…” statement, but several of his peers still con-
ultimately let the Engineer’s roll decide their fate. sider Goto essential to work-
èè Trigger – Insatiable Curiosity: An En- ing out problems with experi-
gineer prides themself on not just advancing mental machinery. He does so
their understanding of the world but in seeking for free, but often his ego can
out the unknown. This can lead to them pursu- turn people away from him.
ing something they consider to be more inter-
esting than their current mission. Gain 1 Karma
when you are presented with a task or a mystery Bonds
that consumes your concentration regardless of ªª Choose one other character
what you need to focus on. you feel a fascination with and want
to learn something meaningful from.

Contacts ªª Choose one other character

who you find simple and ignorant
Choose one Ally and one Rival.  about the wonders of science.
ªª Matsumura Tagane (Marks-
ªªChoose one other character
man): A one-eyed marksman
you believe will always under-
with a wooden left hand, Ta-
stand you.
gane is said to have perfected

25
 The Enlightened
ªª Other Names: Koans, Followers of Ko, The Bound osis between the two groups. The Enlightened, further-
more, have tried hard to stay out of any official wars the
ªª Stereotypes: Patient, Charitable, Vicious Warriors
Emperor calls, but could not say no to the Ninja Crusade.
ªª Martial Training: Fighting Style: Any, Weapon Their tamashi was assassinated shortly before the Year
Style: Reach, Portents of Floods, throwing their numbers into chaos. It is widely
ªª Favored Tactics: Path of the Body, Path of the Mind, believed the ninja did this to cripple the monks, but it
Path of the Spirit (pg. 67-69) only served to push them into the battle.
ªª Skills: Discipline +1, Empathy +1, Holistics +1, Speed +1
Lifestyle
History While the Enlightened have monasteries in almost
every land, the majority of them exist within Izou bor-
The Enlightened have existed longer than the Empire ders, usually high in mountains or hidden by some oth-
has stood and will continue on long after. Monastic histo- er kind of obstacle that makes it difficult to visit their
ry states there was once a being centuries ago named only home. Hopeful students must overcome these obstacles
Ko who sought to leave the shackles of mortality behind. as the first of many trials from the Tenets of Ko. Becom-
Through meditation they freed their mind from the idea ing one of the Enlightened is as easy as submitting to be
of possessions and even emotions, and through special- taught and forgoing your past life. No family, no friends
ized body techniques they left behind the idea of man or and no attachments. In exchange, monks are given a
woman or even human. Once Ko’s vessel was prepared, place to sleep, regular meals and nonstop training from
they separated their spirit and ascended to the heavens sunup to sundown.
to meet the gods and convene with the celestial courts. To the Koans, everything is an opportunity to learn
Ko stayed in a trance for days, their students even believ- a new lesson about the universe. Monks have certain
ing death was their fate, but then they opened their eyes things they must abstain from, such as emotional con-
and spoke. “I have unlocked the secrets to attain true en- nections, alcohol and causing harm to the universe. Ev-
lightenment. I have returned to show those desiring the ery life, even that of an animal or insect, sends a ripple
secrets of the spirits.” through the soul that takes millennia in the celestial
Ko spent decades teaching their lessons of mind and courts to work off. Many believe that the intense mar-
spirit, mixed with extreme fighting techniques to pre- tial arts training they receive goes against their tenets
pare the physical body for such a journey. Thousands of of pacifism, but just because they will not begin a bat-
monks learned the Tenets of Ko, passing the lessons of tle doesn’t mean they won’t defend themselves or their
their supreme teacher to the next generation. While Ko’s comrades. When they are not physically training, a monk
physical body died long ago, their spirit has transferred may be found in deep meditation, clearing their mind of
from body to body, reincarnated over and over again. all distraction and freeing their spirit into the world.
Their followers call this being the tamashi, and when one This is not an easy task, however, and only veteran En-
dies, another receives the calling. Specialized squads of lightened can attain such states without hours in trance.
monks are sent in search of the next tamashi, sometimes
spending years in their pursuit of a new spiritual leader.
The Followers of Ko influenced the Izou Empire, Missions
teaching their lessons about reincarnation to the mass-
The tenuous alliance between the Followers of Ko
es. While the Empire taught of a strict system of social
and the Izou Army is beneficial for both sides… for the
classes and dharma, the Enlightened offered another
moment. The army receives a small number of highly
solution to those who wanted out of the oppressiveness.
trained warriors. The Koans get to battle those who mur-
Though this may seem at odds, their messages
dered their leader, and prove to the Empire that their
fed into each other, creating a pleasant symbi-
teachings best ninjutsu once and for all. The ninja are

26
an affront to the monks’ teachings, believing there is a
quick way to power without hard work and stealing away
Contacts
many students who might have been able to enhance Choose one Ally and one Rival. 
their souls. Ninja are little more than tricksters who need ªª Kahae Taku (Deception) - A local magis-
to be finally dealt with, so people can return to the Te- trate who can always tell when someone is lying. His
nets of Ko once more. past as a bandit leader gives him insight other law
While helpful in any battle, the Enlightened are officials could never dream of.
small in number, especially since those participating in ªª Yunokawa Gingka (Intuition) - He is the monk cur-
the Ninja Crusade are volunteers only. The vast majority rently in charge of finding the new tamashi. Gingka
of their monks have chosen to stay out of the conflict. is often busy, but has many resources at his disposal.
The generals usually send the Enlightened when large
ª
ªOnishi Shizue (Might) - There are tales of a mother
numbers of ninja need to be dealt with. Otherwise,
who focused her physical strength to save her child
it is like using a cannon on an ant hill.
from danger. Somehow, she has retained this gift
for years and has become her village hero.
Assignment ªª Tsuda Fumihiko (Knowledge) - Knowl-
edge is power and is always for sale. Fumi-
Gift and hiko is just the woman a monk needs to
Trigger find leads on the ninja… unless she’s al-
ready in the Lotus Coalition’s pocket.
èè Gift - Mind, Body,
Spirit: The Followers of Ko ªª Koyanagi Yaeko (Perform) -
have spent years enhancing She is a Blazing Dancer who holds
their abilities on every level, great respect for the Enlightened.
balancing their body so they Possibly a great tool or a spy.
never falter. At the begin- ªª Uchiyama Eiri (Fortitude) - Eiri
ning of a Scene, the monk can has discovered techniques to stave off
gain +2 Discipline, +2 Fighting or +2 food, drink and even sleep for days at
Intuition, depending on the situation a time without jutsu or monk train-
they anticipate. If situations change, they ing. Few know how he’s done it,
can spend 1 Dynamic Action to swap though.
their bonus from one Skill to another.
èè Trigger - Pacifism: A monk
will never throw the first punch, Bonds
always attempting to walk away
ªª Choose one other character
or talk their way out of conflict.
who has forgotten the ancient
They’ll only battle in self-de-
teachings. It’s up to you to be-
fense (or on missions serving
come their mentor, whether
the greater good), but are
they want it or not.
never quick to act. Gain 1
Karma when a swift punch ªª Choose one other charac-
would have saved them ter who shares the patience of
a lot of trouble and dan- a monk. The two of you often
ger, but they just couldn’t meditate together, while the
throw it. others thrive in chaos.
ªª Choose one other character
who scoffs at the Tenets of Ko and
the idea of pacifism. This per-
son is not to be trusted.

27
 Executioners
ªª Other Names: Anti-Ninja, The Scarred, Butchers ments of the state, they were also sent to lead many an
ªª Stereotypes: Insane, Intimidating, Doing a job no attack on ninja villages, nullifying any magical traps or
one else can defenses that would otherwise keep them out. It didn’t
take long before almost any Izou unit included at least
ªª Martial Training: Weapon Style: Any, Fighting one Executioner in its ranks. Now that the Ninja Cru-
Style: Tiger or Bear
sade is here, their role has become all the more import-
ªª Favored Tactics: Ki Negation (pg. 65) ant; they are the perfect anti-ninja to win the war.
ªª Skills: Deception +1, Fighting +1, Intimidation +1,
Might +1
ªª Ki Balance: +1 Yin or Yang
Lifestyle
An Executioner’s life is a whirlwind of blood and vi-
olence. Even if they were once a normal person or patri-
History otic soldier, their will is consumed with the need to tear
After the fourth great war, when the old agree- their enemies apart for the glory of the Emperor. They
ments between the Empire and the clans were all but spend years training in a variety of martial styles, but
eradicated, the Emperor looked for options to deal with the mystical template placed upon them also gives them
the nuisance that were the ninja. No matter what kind a fundamental understanding of how to use weapons to
of firepower they sent to put down his magical enemies, cause maximum carnage. Even while they sleep, they
they would vanish from sight, brainwash the soldiers or dream of war, of killing, seeing Ikuto in their dreams
use their jutsu to win the battle. It was imperative that and hearing his eternal screams. To turn this extreme
the Empire find a way to take away a ninja’s tricks to emotional existence into a weapon, they practice ritual
keep order and peace in the land. scarring to focus and hone their abilities, and in order
Rumors of those who could resist a ninja’s jutsu to keep themselves from being complete monsters at all
led to the discovery of Uoya Ikuto, a serial murderer times. They are always just a bit off, in the end, making
locked deep within Nanchou and kept in solitary con- others wary in their presence.
finement due to his violent outbursts. Mystical effects They are not Ikuto, however, even if his psychotic
were somehow deflected from Ikuto like water off a memories creep into their subconscious from time to time.
duck’s back, which gave the Emperor an idea. Calling Each Executioner is an individual with their own wants,
on the Golden Lions to dissect the man and investigate usually involving advancement within the army and the
his unique abilities, they constructed a spiritual blue- eventual command of their own unit. They have little time
print of Ikuto’s mental instability and aura that could for personal attachments beyond that, looking at almost
be applied to a person’s soul. The end result was always everyone as a tool to advance their station or a target to be
either a new type of soldier, slightly insane but ready to eliminated. Some pity the position the Scarred see them-
fight to the death for the Empire or a sniveling waste of selves in, but every single one of them was a well-informed
a soul, forever destroyed in the process. Even those who volunteer. The power they wield is intoxicating, leading
survived clawed at their own soul, leaving a number of more and more to attempt the procedure.
scars on themselves.
The Executioners, as they become widely known,
were the perfect instrument for the Emperor when nin- Missions
ja started being put to death. No normal soldier, not Executioners have proven time and time again to be
even a Golden Lion, could hold a ninja long enough for proficient warriors on the battlefields, though they are
a public death, which led to Executioners per- seldom sent on stealth missions. Their tendency to turn
forming their namesake’s duties for crowds of to all-out bloodshed as a first resort is against the idea
hundreds. Beyond their official role as instru- of leaving no trace behind. While their involvement in
28
Imperial affairs has increased during the Ninja Crusade,
their numbers have not risen dramatically to keep up
Contacts
with the demand. This is in addition to their penchant Choose one Ally and one Rival. 
for dying in spectacularly gruesome ways in battle. ªª Ajibana Naosuke (Athletics): It’s always
Not all Executioners go for the kill, either. Often they good to have backup, and Naosuke is known for
take prisoners of war, playing with them like toys until leaping from rooftop to rooftop to provide that for
they’re done and discard the now-broken, battered vic- his allies.
tim. Some believe they are leaving their own im- ªª Morioka Sakyo (Persuade): A thief,
print on their victim’s soul in the process. This pure and simple, Sakyo is a man who can talk
isn’t exactly encouraged by the Emperor, but himself (or his friends) out of almost any sit-
few are willing to tell an Executioner what they uation.
can and can’t do. Catch them on a bad day, and
ªª Hino Kaiya (Empathy): An Execution-
heads will roll.
er’s mental state is always in flux, but Kaiya
is a geisha who knows how to calm even
Assignment Gift the most savage person.
ªª Soga Reiha (Fighting): She is
and Trigger an Executioner who loves to take
èè Gift - Battle Masters: Through her aggressions out on hus-
exhaustive training, the Scarred have bands caught in the red light
become the masters of any battle- district. It’s not actually illegal,
field. They gain access to all Weapon but that doesn’t bother her at
Styles, and they may entirely ignore all.
the Pain Condition, regardless of its
ªª Nozaki Shingo (Surviv-
level. They may also pick one oth-
al): He has survived in ninja-infest-
er Physical Condition (Poisoned,
ed lands for decades, and knows how
Bleeding, etc.), and its effects are
to hunt one down for a fee.
reduced by 1.
ªª Kamon Kenko (Ho-
èè Trigger - Ikuro’s Curse:
listics): She is the perfect ally
An Executioner is never whol-
to have when in need of heal-
ly in their right mind, since
ing after a battle, but cross her
Ikuro’s spirit scratches at
and you’ll find it hard to get the
their soul at every oppor-
treatment you require. She’s
tunity, causing sporadic
spiteful that way.
bouts of chaos. Gain 1 Karma
whenever the character cre-
ates random (and damaging)
chaos that causes issues for Bonds
themselves or their group. ªª Choose one other character who
knew you before you were an Execution-
er, and distrusts you now that you’re
different.
ªª Choose one other character who
can pull you out of your bloodlust.
ªª Choose one other charac-
ter who feels uneasy around
you, with or without a
reason.

29
 Golden Lions
ªª Other Names: The Glorious Legion, Celestial War- serve the Emperor’s will completely and loyally, and he
riors, the Guard can make no demand that they will not follow.
ªª Stereotypes: Cruel, Cold, Loyal
ªª Martial Training: Fighting Style: Tiger or Mantis, Lifestyle
Master of Spies, Alchemy
For many, becoming a Golden Lion is a grave honor. It
ªª Favored Jutsu: Way of Dazzling Pilferage (pg. 72), is more than just being the best killer or the bravest body-
Jutsu Retrieval (pg. 65) guard, as other Assignments cover those areas very well.
ªª Skills: Fighting +1, Intimidation +1, Perception +1, Instead it is about having the means and the will to do
Stealth +1 anything needed to serve the Emperor, no matter the con-
sequences. The Lions’ unforgiving ruthlessness has made
ªª Ki Balance: +1 Yin or Yang
them into one of the most feared threats the Lotus Coali-
tion faces, and they are proud of it. They are also resolute
in their duty to safeguard the Emperor, a charge the entire
History clan would follow into death if necessary to protect him.
The Golden Lions are a rumor, a fairy tale and a night- As a clan, they do their best to eliminate compassion
mare to the people of the Izou Empire. The people say the within their warriors. This goes beyond the need to show
Golden Lions will always be there to protect them from mercy in battle, as the Golden Lions are also experts at
threats. They also say that if one offends the Empire in any stealing the skills and secrets of the ninja and incorpo-
way, they will come for you at night, and not a trace of rating them into their own fighting styles. Their meth-
the offender will remain. They are both secret police and ods for stealing these skills are often as simple as bribing
a formidable bodyguard designed for one purpose: to neu- traitors and stealing ancient manuscripts, but also in-
tralize the ninja by using their own abilities against them. clude darker, more macabre practices.
They were once a completely different clan centu- The Golden Lions know they cannot stand toe to toe
ries ago. Izou Zurui, the first Emperor, set out to bring with the Silver Blades or the Executioners in single com-
the Empire together and encountered a monastery that bat, but that is not how their fighting style works. They
had been burned to the ground. Inside were the defeated work as a team, with each Lion focusing on overwhelm-
remains of a ninja clan who had been betrayed by their ing their opponents but working to set up their comrades
allies and had seen their people conquered and their as the ones to strike the finishing blow. The Golden Lions
lands destroyed. The Emperor had grown distrustful of consider themselves on the path to becoming the ulti-
the Grasping Shadows, and among these shattered sur- mate warriors, and their drive to ferret out ninja cells
vivors he saw potential allies. Swearing to serve the Em- and to obtain their secrets has helped them grow even
peror for eternity if they were given the chance to get re- more powerful. They are just as protective of the secrets
venge upon their enemies, the newly christened Golden they have stolen, and work to keep their dojos hidden
Lions became a formidable shield for the Emperor. They from friends and enemies alike.
have protected the Emperor from threats for centuries,
though their numbers were not as many as they are now.
The Golden Lions benefit from the considerable re- Missions 
sources the Emperor has granted them. They receive The Golden Lions stand apart from their fellow As-
first access to slain ninja, and they are given consider- signments but are an essential part of the Ninja Crusade.
able leeway to protect the Empire. Their ferocity and They are proud of the fact that they terrify the ninja and
knowledge of other clans’ abilities has made them formi- use it to their advantage. Meanwhile they look upon the
dable opponents. The Golden Lions were responsible for Silver Blades with contempt for their unwillingness to
protecting the Emperor and are said to be the get their hands dirty, and view the newer Assignments
only ones who know the truth about Emperor with suspicion that they will try to supplant the Lions as
Mamoru and Danketsu’s duel. The Golden Lions
30
the Emperor’s bodyguards. Their current strategy is to ªª Yuki Gin (Fighting) – Her armor is scarred
continue to hunt down all ninja and take their lore and with tally marks from all the ninja she has
jutsu by force to expand their understanding and knowl- killed. This ruthless enforcer has served nu-
edge. Then, once the ninja are wiped out, the Golden Li- merous bosses over the years and knows many se-
ons will be the sole custodians of this knowledge. crets on how to take down an opponent.  
ªª Jin Chika (Deception) – An opera singer who travels
Assignment Gifts and the Empire, she is secretly loyal to the Emperor al-
though she pretends otherwise. She is viewed as sim-
Trigger  ple and unintelligent, but this is a ruse
she keeps to better spy on others.  
èè Gift – Stolen Arts: The
Golden Lions have perfected a ªª Sokei Misao (Might) – The may-
training regimen taken from or of a mountain village, she main-
the teachings of dozens of nin- tains a secret alliance with the Golden
ja clans and the best instruc- Lions to keep her people safe from
tors in the Empire. When at- the ninja who claimed the life of
tempting to decipher secrets her father and brother.
or lore belonging to another ªª Tomi Yokio (Holistics) –
ninja clan, they gain a +2 bo- No one knows how old he really
nus to their roll. They also is or where he is from, but Tomi
gain +1 Intimidation against Yokio has centuries of wisdom
ninja, raised by another +1 and knowledge behind his
bonus for every other Golden eyes. He has a soft spot for
Lion in their squad. This bonus those who seem genuinely
cannot exceed the ninja’s Empathy. wanting to learn.
èè Trigger – It Will Be Ours:  The ªª Shiro Tanaka (Stealth) –
Golden Lions will always seek to return Rumored to have snuck into one of
all knowledge they uncover about the training dojos and masquerad-
the ninja to their clan and refuse to ing as a student despite not being
let others know. They go to great formally accepted, Shiro trades
lengths to obtain these secrets and the information he learns to any-
will do their best to keep them one who can pay his price.
from others. Gain 1 Karma when
this mission comes into conflict
with the rest of the group.
Bonds
ªª Choose one other character
Contacts who you have chosen to trust,
despite your better judgement
Choose one Ally and one Rival.  telling you not to.
ªª Naiko Akira (Athletics) – A
ruthless mind hides behind ªª Choose one other
a heart of gold, and Akira is character whom you scorn
often at odds with his fellow for the weakness you see
Golden Lions when it comes inside them.
to how they treat peasants, ªª Choose one other
but he sees himself and the character who you seek
Golden Lions as the next to get to acknowledge
great heroes of legend. your superiority.  

31
 Iron Breakers
ªª Other Names: Corruptors, Breakers, Black Bones to lick their wounds, their members once again scoured
ªª Stereotypes: Frightening, You can’t hide from them, the land, finding hibernating celestials and forcing cap-
Necessary evil tured ninja to turn on their animal families. They have
become the ninja’s worst nightmare in many ways.
ªª Martial Training: Weapon Style: Blunt or Chain,
Fighting Style: Dragon, Trap Master
ªª Favored Tactics: Black Bones (pg. 62) Lifestyle
ªª Skills: Crafts +1, Fortitude +1, Persuade +1, Survival +1 Becoming an Iron Breaker requires just the right
training; initiates are often seasoned wilderness scouts
or forest rangers skilled in tracking, or expert animal
History trainers who know the ins and outs of any beast they
come across. Each Corruptor is then led to the carcass of
Ninja have enjoyed the warm blessings of the heav- a celestial animal (either one they’ve already captured
ens for centuries, gaining the ability to call upon celestial or they may be forced to seek their own) and fed a hunk
animals to aid them in battle. When this was used to the of its meat, instilling a slice of its essence into their own
Empire’s advantage during the Expansion Wars, it was a ki. Their first celestial prisoner becomes their trophy,
great boon. As the ninja clans and the Empire began to giving them their new Iron Breaker name. One who cap-
part ways, however, the loss of such a military advantage tures a celestial bear may become known as Ferocity Jin,
was felt throughout the Izou forces. the Emperor cov- while another who enslaved a celestial canine may sim-
eted the ninja’s connection to the celestial families and ply be called Snarl.
sought to find a way to steal their secrets for his own. He The day-to-day life of an Iron Breaker is often full
called on the greatest trackers and beast masters the Em- of excitement and danger. While few in number, they
pire had to offer, sending them in every direction to find are always busy. Some may be scavenging the corpses
celestial animal dwellings on Earth, learn their customs of demons seeking more of the black bones that gave
and figure out ways to subjugate the creatures. During them one of their famous names. Others are on the road
their travels, they learned of the celestials’ aversion to looking into leads to the next celestial animal they can
demons and their hellish powers. capture. Stories of a stranger traveling with a rooster on
As the story goes, the Emperor summoned a pow- her shoulder is sure to need follow-up, as does a mining
erful demon by the name of Kuroi Hone and plunged a crew’s discovery of a large egg hidden in the mountains.
magical sword into it, killing it instantly. With the help What the Golden Lions are to the ninja, the Iron Breakers
of his trackers, they skinned the demon to reveal his are to the celestial animals, making them a mean team
bones, which had certain properties needed to fashion when taking on the Lotus Coalition.
weapons capable of unlocking the power the Emperor
so desperately coveted. To test their theory, they found
the lair of Vakhesh the Fire Ape and Izou soldiers im- Missions
paled his hands, feet and neck with demon black spikes,
Iron Breakers have talents that can complement
usurping control of his body and giving it to the trackers,
any squadron against the ninja. Obviously, if the enemy
now called the Iron Breakers. This was quite the feat, as
is employing celestial animals of any type, they are the
Vakhesh was one of the most powerful summoned crea-
perfect soldiers to take them down. However, if there is
tures in existence… and he now belonged to the Empire.
an elusive ninja, the Corruptors are also expert trackers.
This terrifying monster was later used during the Sum-
The Ninja Crusade has upped the number of Breakers
moner Skirmishes of the Ninja Crusade, sending the nin-
who have been recruited, as the Emperor hopes to set-
ja into confusion. How did the Empire master summon-
tle the entire thing with another overwhelming summer
ing celestial animals without being ninja?
battle. Since the Iron Breakers are actively enslaving
The Year of Floods was an important time
new celestial animals while also stealing those who once
for the Iron Breakers. While everyone retreated

32
worked with the ninja, the Izou Army is growing steadi- ªª Choshi Miko (Stealth) - Miko is highly tal-
ly in power. While incredibly useful, they do not make ented at blending in with a crowd. Few ever
friends easily, even with other soldiers. The cruel acts remember meeting her seconds after they’ve
they inflict on the beasts are considered heinous by most left her presence, making her the perfect thief or con
sensible people who care about fellow living creatures. artist.
This doesn’t affect their demeanor in the slightest, how- ªª Tokaji Konan (Speed) - Ever been on a team with the
ever, and they often wear masks to hide their true emo- smartest person in the room? Konan’s trivia knowl-
tions on the matter, further increasing their eeriness. edge is amazing, and she can come up with answers to
difficult questions faster
Assignment Gift and than anyone else can.
ªª Shigeki Haji
Trigger (Marksman) - He’s a
èè Gift - A Pound of Flesh: The Cor- great gun to have on your
ruptors have also learned how to alter side, but he definitely has a
their own bodies by consuming the chip on his shoulder.
flesh of celestial animals. To start, they ªª Fuwa Shion (Discipline)
are eternally sated, never in need for - A professional go player, she
food or water. They gain +2 Survival for is known for staring long and
all tracking checks (raises to +3 bonus hard at a problem to find just the
if tracking a Celestial Animal). When right solution.
facing a Celestial Animal, they also
gain a bonus against any of the crea- ªª Hagino Kento (Travel)
ture’s abilities equal to their Rank. - Where do you want to go? Kento
can get you there on his wagon or
èè Trigger - Disconnected: boat; just ask him!
To do what they do requires a
person to disconnect with their
very humanity, especially after
serving as an Iron Breaker for a
Bonds
few years. Gain 1 Karma when their ªª Choose one other character
lack of compassion and basic human de- who you’ve known since child-
cency causes issues for the group. hood. You enlisted together,
but they are uneasy with how
disconnected you are now.
Contacts ªª Choose one other
Choose one Ally and one Rival.  character who has been or-
ªª Gensai Zetsumei (Percep- dered to protect you (wheth-
tion) - A monk with the abil- er they want to or not).
ity to sense ki, Zetsumei al- ªª Choose one other charac-
ways asks for an act of charity ter who thinks the Izou Army
in exchange for his services. can win the war without Iron
Breakers, seeing the charac-
ter as useless.

33
 Jadesmiths
ªª Other Names: Builders, Diplomats, Voices of the Empire that many peasants live with when the ninja threaten to
ªª Stereotypes: Stoic, Authoritative, Unyielding. swoop down and brutally enforce their ways. That is why
the Jadesmiths promote the greatest aspects of the Em-
ªª Martial Training: Weapon Style: Defending, Fight- pire, and they work to make sure that a peaceful and just
ing Style: Dragon or Eagle, Master of Spies society prospers in the wake of outside aggression.
ªª Favored Tactics: Voice of the Emperor (pg. 71)
ªª Skills: Empathy +1, Fortitude +1, Perception +1,
Persuade +1,
Lifestyle
The life of a Jadesmith is split between hours of
countless study and days of debate over the meanings of
History things. A Jadesmith may need to arbitrate a land dispute
between two fishing villages one day, then bring a mis-
The Engineers build the infrastructure that keeps sive of peace to a hostile barbarian tribe threatening to
the Empire going, but the Jadesmiths build the people. invade the Empire’s borders. They must be able to teach
When the Emperor needs to ensure his people obey and others, while at the same time knowing when to listen
respect his will, he first sends in the Jadesmiths. It is a and learn. This is a near-impossible task when times are
heavier task than it seems, as the Jadesmiths perform a tough, but the Jadesmiths rely upon their abilities to read
duty as the Emperor’s voice to the leaders of the Empire. people and to say what people need to hear, or tell the lie
They represent a special authority, and work with the they want to hear and to do so convincingly.
nobles—and when they are needed, they are as invalu- Though some Jadesmiths travel in relative luxury,
able as a sword to a soldier. most spend their days studying and training themselves
In the Empire’s early days, there was a need to en- to be in peak mental and physical fitness. The Jadesmiths
force one set of laws and customs so that there would be may not carry the same weapons as Silver Blades, but
no disagreement across the land. Izou Zurui summoned they carry their words like a saber and know when to
the greatest lawmakers and wise counselors to his court strike to disarm an opponent and crush them.
to see what could be done. Hundreds came, but the The respect afforded the Jadesmith often differs
sounds of their bickering rang through the palace. The throughout the Empire. Though they speak with author-
Emperor seemed resigned to having to deal with endless ity, they are only allowed to use their rank when given a
chaos when he noticed a man dressed in simple green Jade Declaration from the Imperial court. These Decla-
robes sitting in the center of the room but refusing to rations are tasks or missions assigned to the Jadesmith,
say a word. When the Emperor commanded the man to and their power only works within the confines of the
speak, he said “Now is not the time to speak. The time to Declaration. Some abuse this power, while others use it
speak is when everyone has stopped talking and realizes only when they absolutely must. The intoxicating pow-
they need to listen.” er the Declarations give the Jadesmith is a temptation, a
When the man next spoke, his words carried with curse and a great power. They must instead marshal this
them wisdom. The man’s proposals soon became codified authority carefully, and always be prepared to pay the
as Imperial Law and the Emperor, so impressed with the price if they overstep their bounds.
man’s simple and honorable nature, handed him the most
important task he could think of: that although the Em-
peror had forged an empire, this man would build it to last. Missions
Today the Jadesmiths, whose sacred duty is inscribed
The Jadesmiths are often sent on missions to offer
on special jade pendants worn around their neck, do
diplomatic or social support, while also providing knowl-
their best to preserve peace in the land and to see to the
edge and understanding not easily given by others. They
needs of civilized society. Their conflict with the
are the generals of the political and economic battlefields
ninja is an ideological one, and they see the fear
of the Empire, their knowledge has been essential and

34
meant the difference between success or failure on more ªª Murasaki Riku (Travel) – While few know
than one occasion. The Supreme General attempts to put of Riku’s role in the day-to-day running of
at least one Jadesmith with every squad, hoping they can the Empire, she is responsible for maintain-
help coordinate efforts and relay orders more accurately ing the corps of messengers who carry important
and with more authority than the average soldier. communications across the Empire. 
ªª Kanaka Etsuko (Persuade) – A respected business-
Assignment Gift woman whose iron business has always been run by
women, Etsuko is charming but stands strong
and Trigger  in the face of her rivals who believe gender
trumps true business acumen.
èè Gift – Do As You Are Told: Even
when not following a Jade Declaration, ª
ªHideyo Kuma (Fighting) – A believer
the Jadesmiths speak with authority and that politics will always achieve true suc-
skill that comes from years of training and cess but that every diplomat must know
following their duty. At the beginning of how to protect themselves, Kuma is the
each Scene, they may choose to gain either daughter of an assassinated minister and an
+2 Persuade or +2 Knowledge, depending on ardent supporter of the Ninja Crusade. 
whether they need to be knowledgeable or ªª Kun Akio (Perform) – A re-
wordy at the time. Also, while giving or- tired speech writer whose
ders, they can spend 1 Karma to create politics nearly saw him
an order or obligation the target must cast out from the Impe-
follow. The target suffers a -2 penalty on rial court, Akio believes
any roll going against the order.   that public speaking is an
èè Trigger – Give and Take: The art form that can be honed and
Jadesmiths understand diplomacy is a perfected through training and ex-
delicate art, and sometimes they must perience. 
concede points to achieve their goal.
Gain 1 Karma when forced to concede Bonds
something vitally important to the ªª Choose one other character who has
group despite protests from others. shown a great need for your guidance, and
you are helping them.
ªª Choose one other character who you
Contacts are suspicious of, and constantly put their
Choose one Ally and one Rival.  methods under scrutiny.  
ªª Ku Hiroshi (Deception) – An ªª Choose one other character whose
accomplished actor, Hiroshi is said cause you wish to help however you can.
to have told so many lies that he has
forgotten his true self.
ªª Ken Kiyoshi (Knowledge) – Though
Kiyoshi never recovered from a vi-
cious poisoning attempt by the ninja,
he spends his days reading and
sharing information with
others so that he may leave
behind a world that is better
than when he was in it.

35
 Silver Blades
ªª Other Names: The Ichikyo Family, Sword Saints,
Honor Dogs
Lifestyle
Silver Blades believe quiet contemplation and dedica-
ªª Stereotypes: Noble, Honorable, Deadly
tion are the most important virtues one can maintain in
ªª Martial Training: Weapon Style: Sharp or Paired, life. Knowing a rational mind tempered with never back-
Fighting Style: Mantis or Tiger ing down can defeat any challenge has made each Silver
ªª Favored Tactics: Way of All Rivers (pg. 73) Blade a master of their craft. The family’s philosophy
teaches that patience will always be rewarded, and good
ªª Skills: Discipline +1, Fighting +1, Intimidation +1, conduct and strict adherence to honor are not short-
Persuade +1 sighted nor flaws to be exploited, but rather strengths to
aid them through harsh times. The Silver Blades’ honor
comes from their dedication to the Way of All Rivers, a
History philosophy that teaches life is a constant flow from dif-
Throughout the Empire there is perhaps no other ferent streams that lead into a larger source. The philos-
family as famous as the Ichikyo. They have spent centuries ophy maintains that the pursuit of perfection is just as
devoted to the art of the sword, and of that craft there are worthy as achieving it.
no finer artisans or swordsmen. The Emperor has main- The high standards of honor to which the Silver
tained the position of the Court Duelist for centuries and it Blades hold themselves have put them at odds with their
has almost always been an Ichikyo, and to the commoners fellow Assignments when it comes to how they treat
of the Empire legends are told of villages saved by travel- others. Almost all Silver Blades hail from the warrior
ing Silver Blades who stopped and lent a hand in sparing class of society, meaning they hail from wealthy families
them from bandits and marauding demons. and most of the time they need to practice their blade
Ichikyo Moromito, their founder, was an orphan techniques and fighting styles. The few who began as
whose family died in the Empire’s early days, when a commoners may never rise to the highest levels of the
band of attacking bandits devastated their village. As an Assignment. The Silver Blades believe in honorable sur-
adult he sought training so he could protect others, and render, which their comrades in the Golden Lions do not.
his family established an elite fighting force to not only The Silver Blades also believe in protecting the people
keep their lands safe but be examples of true warriors. over pursuing the ninja, and though they are not afraid
Though they removed themselves from doing work like to kill, they believe in following the letter of the law. In
farming or mining, they instead dedicated themselves this way, they often cross paths with the Will of Iron, and
to the task of mastering swordsmanship and dueling. it is said that, despite the Ninja Crusade, the Hagane and
Their philosophy, the Way of All Rivers, has taught them the Ichikyo were rivals who came to each other’s aid as
a strict code that defines who they are, how they should often as they were at odds.
treat others and how they should conduct themselves.
The Silver Blades now are not well received in the
Imperial court as they have become highly vocal of the Missions
Emperor’s crusade. They believe the Ninja Crusade has The Silver Blades are at a crossroads in their exis-
served its purpose, and now the war with the ninja has tence. Though loyal to the Emperor, the members of the
become heartless and cruel, only leading to the suffer- Assignment do not agree with the goals of the Ninja Cru-
ing of the land and people. They do not believe the nin- sade. Though they believe that some ninja are a threat
ja were innocent of all charges levied against them, but to the Empire, many Silver Blades have seen nothing but
there are greater threats to the Empire, and the Emper- honor and good intentions demonstrated by several they
or’s cruelty must be addressed before it leads the Empire have faced in combat. They will still serve the Empire
down a dark and sorrowful path. faithfully and prefer missions where they can bring the
superiority of their code of honor to crush the wicked and
vile enemies of the realm. They also prefer tasks that test

36
their strength in combat, as only by challenging great ªª Matsuruchi Eichi (Discipline) – A recluse
enemies can a Silver Blade become great themselves. among the proud order, many have said Ei-
chi has discovered a deeper level of under-
standing. Now considered strange and elusive, he
Assignment Gifts and still possesses great wisdom he
Trigger  is eager to share.
ªª Kataoka Ren (Percep-
èè Gift – Focused Warriors: The Silver Blade intui-
tion) – An Imperial investi-
tively affects the flow of fate swirling around them, gain-
gator who travels from city
ing +1 Fighting by honing these energies into their sword.
to city, her skilled mind and
They may also enter a special meditation,
sharp eyes often uncover clues
clearing their mind of all complications. By
that others do not find.
spending 1 Dynamic Action, they may reflex-
ively reduce all current Mental Conditions ªª Hamada Shoraku (For-
they are suffering by 1. titude) – A martial artist
whose dedication to the law
èè Trigger – Honor Bound: The Sil-
led her down a different path
ver Blades are often surrounded by ruth-
from the Silver Blades, she is
less people, and though they are willing
said to have seen her future,
to serve the Emperor they must stay true
and prepares for a dangerous
to themselves and to their teachings. Gain
journey.  
1 Karma when the pursuit of honor comes
into conflict with a decision that carries ªª Ichikyo Mitsada (Fight-
grave consequences if you are forced ing) – An expert duelist and for-
to go against the needs of your mer Court Duelist, he has gone
comrades. into seclusion since the Ninja
Crusade began. It is said his honor
would not permit him to stay, an
Contacts act which has earned him the en-
mity of the Executioners.
Choose one Ally and one Rival. 
ªª Izumi Sako (Holistics) – An
adept at the spiritual world,
she has dedicated herself to
non-violence but owes the Sil-
Bonds
ver Blades and views them as ªª Choose one other character you feel
the rightful protectors of the great respect for due to their discipline
Empire. and philosophies.
ªª Hiteroshi Kaiyo (Crafts) – ªª Choose one other character who you
She lost her sword arm in a find too chaotic and unfocused in their
duel, and though her swords conduct.
are finely prized, she is very ªª Choose one other character
strict in choosing her clientele. who you feel needs to be taught the
hidden truth of your philosophy.

37
 Mekiko hoisted the bundle of sticks onto her back and shambled forward. Her body
already spent from hours of chopping, the sticks swayed precariously. Once on the path,
she kept her eyes down and focused on her steps. Mekiko had to get home as fast as
she could to start the dinner fire and make sure the children did their chores.

Shouting brought her eyes up from the dirt.

An Izou soldier stood blocking the road while he stared at the Bamboo Herbalist
across from him. The ninja’s smirk betrayed her indifference to the soldier’s glare. Meki-
ko would have to go around and hope to go unnoticed. She didn’t think this would be too
difficult as their eyes never strayed from each other.

Watching them carefully, she maneuvered to the side of the road and nearly lost
her bundle twice as the ground turned uneven. One misstep and the bundle would come
crashing down around her and she would be wasting time picking it up and putting it back
together, not to mention gathering the attention of the soldier and the ninja.

“You have some nerve to come into our territory and steal our crops,” the soldier said
and stepped forward, puffing out his chest.

“I wasn’t aware that flowers were a crop,” the Herbalist said with a smirk on her face.

“All of this belongs to the Empire, now give back our property.”

“No.”

“No?”

“You heard me.”

Just keep talking, Mekiko thought as she drew up next to them.

“That’s pretty arrogant when you don’t have your friends around you to help.”

“I don’t need them.” The ninja laughed. “I can defeat you with no trouble.”

The soldier grunted and rushed forward with his sword at the ready. Gracefully leap-
ing aside, the ninja didn’t bat an eye. Turning quickly to change his speed and direction, the
soldier caught the ninja by surprise and crashed into her on the turn. Letting out a gasp of
surprise, the ninja recovered and went on the attack forcing the soldier back to the grass.

Right where Mekiko stood with her bundle of wood.

In slow motion, Mekiko saw the soldier’s back looming large and throwing shadows
across her face. Mekiko knew she should move, but she had no time and could only
watch in horror as they tumbled into her and knocked her unconscious.

When she woke, her chest hurt and wood spread out around her like an aura. The
solider was picking up the wood and the ninja was nowhere to be found. Sitting up made
Mekiko dizzy and the soldier came over to help her.

“I’m sorry about that. That ninja won’t be bothering anyone around here now.”

This thought did not comfort Mekiko.

 Chapter Three:
A Simple Life

Black Veil Province understand the complicated feelings of fear and pride in its
citizenry.
Shadows, both literal and figurative, darken the faces The Shadows will take jobs from citizens at times in or-
of the Black Veil people. The shadows of war have poisoned der to strengthen their hold, but discovering how to reach
the Veil’s natural resources, threatening the very survival the Shadows can be difficult. Someone may confide in a
of the people. The Grasping Shadows rule over the province friend or relative of their need, or lament their problem to
with an iron fist, and the people live in fear of drawing their another sympathetic ear, often saying much without actu-
attention. A Veil citizen spends their life warding off shad- ally saying anything. If they are lucky, their confidant will
ows from all sides. have sought out the clan before or know someone who has
Nobody would dare speak ill of the clan in the prov- and passed on the contact method by word of mouth. Sim-
ince, because words have a habit of reaching the Shadows ply speaking of the problem or need out loud indicates a
and getting people killed. Your trusted neighbor could be dire situation to anyone in the Veil.
a Shadow informant or simply betray you to the clan for Then the ninja approaches the petitioner if they find their
a favor. Dissent would see your house burned, your family plea worth the clan’s time. The Shadow asks “Why do you build
mutilated, or worse. That is why Black Veil citizens meddle a fire but retreat from its heat?” and the citizen responds “Be-
little in other people’s affairs. cause I prefer the shadows.” An incorrect answer often leaves a
In the Veil, keeping your mouth shut gains you respect. mutilated body where the petitioner once stood.
Travelers in the province who ask too many questions or Citizens might ask the clan to intimidate someone for
seem too friendly usually receive a raised eyebrow and little business or personal reasons, acquire resources not available
else. Speaking ill of the province, on the other hand, will to the common person or, in extreme situations, for someone’s
garner dirty looks or a fight. Many of the people have lived assassination. Depending on the service, the Shadows
in the Veil for generations and remain there, despite the may ask for information, money, supplies or any-
dangers, because it is their home and only other citizens thing else the clan can use in return.

39
 Businesses are highly regulated in the Veil. On
the surface, business owners are forced to pay fees Bridge to Battle
and fill out extensive paperwork by administrators
controlled by the clan. Beneath the surface, if a Province
business steps out of line, or is perceived as such, the control The citizens of the Bridge to Battle province are divided
manifests as a night raid or other intimidation techniques. by the wounds of war. The people who live along the pic-
A merchant who persists in such behavior often disappears turesque rivers, beaches and forests have been used and
from the province. It is not an easy task to run a business in abused by both sides of the war, even though it is an Imperi-
the Veil and requires careful tending of a relationship with al state, because of its strategic position between the north
the clan to be successful. and south. A solider traveling to this area must be careful
Spirits add another layer of danger the citizens deal with of its citizens, because the chance of meeting an enemy or
often. Objects move and sensitive people may say the oddest a friend is equal.
things eventually come true. It is not unusual to have a con- Some citizens just want to live and think both sides are
versation with a citizen at night, only to find they have been evil, some think the Empire has put them in a riskier posi-
dead many years. These souls have been bound to the prov- tion than other provinces and resent the price they pay for
ince by their violent or tragic deaths. The real danger comes an Imperial war and some think the ninja should just give
when the spirits coerce a citizen or unwary traveler to help up. These arguments are everywhere in the province. It is
them pass on to the other side. The penalty for not helping not uncommon for the local law to be called upon to break
is harassment and haunting until the person gives in or dies. up a political dispute between neighbors. Many of the peo-
Most citizens deal with spirits as a part of living in the Veil ple in the Bridge feel like a rope pulled between two hungry
and learn from an early age not to get into verbal contracts dogs threatening to snap at any moment.
with anyone they are not sure is living, and to even be care- Citizens cannot forget their circumstances because of
ful of speaking with those who are alive. Citizens usually the massive training areas, barracks and camps in the area
carry charms and know prayers and chants to protect them. filled with Izou soldiers. Going out for bread or visiting
Uneducated travelers may find themselves the target of a friends means seeing soldiers every few steps along their
spirit without someone knowledgeable to guide them. journey. If not soldiers, then they note the effects mining
An overall impression of the people from outside the prov- has on the Bridge people. Citizens walk the streets coughing
ince is that the residents are a stoic, no-nonsense group of cit- from working in the mines for years and never get better,
izens, but underneath something darker lurks. References to shattering the surface illusion of an idyllic province.
customs or events they don’t understand and have no context Citizens who dare to venture into the Inks’ forests can
for might seem innocent on the surface, but often leave travel- ask the clan for favors by petitioning with messages at one
ers unsettled. If a traveler can earn the trust of the people, then of the various shrines set up there. Requests for medicines
they will have loyal allies who won’t ask them a lot of questions or other resources from the forest can be obtained if one is
and use what little they have to help them. willing to owe the clan, who might ask for labor, ore from
An assignment on the edge of this area is considered the mines, exports or spreading of information in return.
dangerous and usually given to those new to the army as The Inks themselves are not opposed to using what they
a trial and test of their resolve. It is not unheard of for the can get so they can have an advantage in the province and
residents to organize raids on the Izou encampments near look to spread a larger influence over the other clans and the
their territory just for the fun of it, and the Grasping Shad- people. Though they don’t feel as illegitimate a clan as they
ows make it clear to the soldiers their presence is not wel- used to, the Inks use the people to gain status out of habit as
come. Sending a soldier to the edge of the desert is also a opposed to any real need to prove their worth. Inks will take
threat used by officers to keep soldiers in line, because once credit for events they were not involved in like stopping or
the soldiers experience the desert, not many are eager to starting battles or a plague, depending on which story would
return there. benefit them. The people endure this posturing most of the
The people of the Veil have survived and will continue time for the sake of province peace. Citizens know that if they
to survive no matter what the Empire has in store. If a sol- were to call out the Gardeners for lies, it would lead to more
ider respects that strength, they may survive the Veil too. battles and division and the people aren’t ready for that, yet.
The people understand the need to pick battles wisely. How-
ever, apathy is wearing thin all over the province and the cit-
izens are starting to fight back.
Citizens fight with the Empire, citizens fight with the
Inks, citizens fight with outsiders and citizens fight with

40
each other if given a reason. It’s their only way to get back passage for all their family members they end up ei-
against a world they feel has used them for rewards they ther stuck in slums or makeshift camps until they
probably won’t see themselves. Understanding why does can scrounge up enough to leave. Other times, they
not take much digging when looking at the exploitation of send only who they can afford to, hoping their loved
their province, not just for its position, but for its resources ones survive the journey so they can reconnect later. There
as well. Most citizens fear what will happen when the re- are those who are instead drawn to these areas of conflict
sources run out or they are no longer useful. like a moth to a flame, knowing that if they have the right
Planting caches of supplies and other preparations for motivation and a proper streak of luck, they can dramatically
freedom are underway by a small resistance, and many who improve their station by exploiting the current black market
are a part of it fear what will happen if either side finds out for certain goods or services.
the Bridge province is planning to make themselves indepen- While no ninja clan truly holds absolute sway over the
dent of any rule. It’s a dangerous undertaking, but the dream Bridge to the World Province, the closest are the Living Chroni-
of being free of both ninja and the Empire is becoming wide- cle, having installed many temples in the province. It is the per-
spread in the private meeting halls late at night. Outward- fect location for them, as it keeps their connection to the Land
ly, they keep up appearances and are careful not to mention of Crashing Waves intact, and gives them a hub to plan the best
anything that would draw suspicion. way to spread their missionaries over all the Izou Empire. With
A simple conversation about current events can lead so many passing through the region, recording the stories of ref-
to a veiled discussion about planning to take the province ugees and war heroes alike is easy here.
back. Those in the resistance feel out others and plan to The province itself has few permanent residents, instead
grow their numbers until they have enough to battle in the being a waypoint for travelers from all over the world. Sel-
open. Recruitment started with single men and women, dom do actual Bridge citizens call upon ninja, though. In-
who didn’t have much to lose, but has grown in recent days stead, they know the customs; if they have a problem, they
to include families who have an interest in a life without the should simply share it with a monk of the Living Chronicle,
Empire or the clan. Caution is paramount to these discus- who will record it for posterity. Leaving a legacy is incredibly
sions because of the wide variety of feelings about the state important to these citizens, and inscribing it upon a histo-
of the province. The resistance has patience and is willing rian’s skin is the best way to do that. If the request is one
to wait until the time is right to strike. deemed important enough for the ninja to step in and change
A soldier who finds out about this resistance has a the course of history, then the monk contacts a ninja within
choice to make. They can turn the citizens in for a possi- the organization to handle the situation, either directly or
ble reward. They could try to benefit from the knowledge by leaning on the Lotus Coalition. This happens infrequent-
themselves and blackmail the residents. They could help ly, however, making the Bridge citizenry pretty self-reliant
the residents for small favors. They could play both sides by nature. They don’t look to the Empire, the criminal fami-
or no sides like many in the province do themselves. It de- lies or the ninja to handle their problems… they solve them
pends on the solider and their feelings toward the Empire alone. They are less loyal to the throne than others and help
and why they joined in the first place. the clans whenever it seems beneficial, but recognize the Em-
Life for the people of the province is a constant decision pire holds the reins to their lifestyle and are careful not to tip
of when to push and when to hold back, and travelers to the the balance too much.
province soon learn this lesson, or leave. The merchant circles here primarily focus on services
rather than goods. The wealth is obvious to even the casual

Bridge to the observer as there are thousands of oil lanterns constantly

ablaze lining the streets, regardless if it is day or night. This

World Province level of opulence is almost unheard of outside of the city

as the cost to maintain this system is immense. Almost any
The western side of the continent contains the Bridge to thirst can be quenched here, as the province hopes to ca-
the World Province, named for its port cities that allow the ter to people from all over the world. During the Summer
Izou to reach almost anywhere in the world. This collection Solstice, many towns hold the Flesh Carnival, a parade of
of ports makes the province one of the wealthiest, since it scantily clad or naked citizens, being playfully chased by
is responsible for the vast majority of the Empire’s imports others dressed as monsters, culminating in the city center
and exports. Its cities have seen a large increase in growth in with 24 hours of drinking and revelry. Originally, this was
the number of military soldiers leaving and those returning to memorialize the destruction of the old Yuukou city be-
from war. The port cities are also flooded with refugees try- fore being rebuilt in its current incarnation, but
ing to flee the war-torn areas, but since many cannot afford has since become an excuse to celebrate the he-

41
 donistic lifestyle lived by most of its citizens on a The Empire used the attacks in the Cradle of Life Province
daily basis. With the amount of money and intrigue as the focal point of a propaganda campaign against the ninja
floating around the Bridge to the World Province, and their supporters, which was very effective on the Cradle
it’s no wonder it has become a haven for cutthroat citizens themselves, who are primarily farmers and simple
mercenaries and others looking for a quick piece of jade on land owners. The attacks were said to be responsible for wide-
the backs of others. spread famine and food shortages, the cause of riots, public
disturbances and in areas heavily dependent on outside ag-

Cradle of Life riculture, starvation and death. This information is dispersed

throughout the Empire by all government officials and repre-

Province sentatives, especially if distributing foodstuffs to families in

need. This has led many Cradle families to throw their support
Though caught in a vicious ninja war of its own in re- behind the Empire wholeheartedly. The ninja have no place in
cent years, it is the true breadbasket of the Izou Empire, pro- the province, and all they do is put the average citizen in dan-
viding much of the Empire’s food. The vast swaths of open ger. Ninja operating in the area rarely receive support from
space allow for ample grazing ranges for cattle ranches and the citizenry. More often, their presence is relayed to Izou au-
horse farms, which have only increased as more soldiers re- thorities in a swift manner.
ceive training in mounted combat. Once one of the most fer- This is not just a province resistant to the ninja. They
tile areas within the Empire, the province was attacked by are actively defiant toward any ninja interaction, even that
ninja using mystic and traditional techniques to poison the of the Pack of the Black Moon who holds control over the
land, making much of it unfit to grow crops. The amount of province. It used to be that hanging a dried-out duck over
farmland is still greater than most provinces and the quality one’s doorway was an offering to the ninja’s dog and a way
of food is still better, but these attacks dramatically reduced to gain their favor. However, since the Ninja Crusade began,
the quantity the region can produce. There are numerous the clan has received fewer and fewer requests. Those Cra-
remaining farms, and military presence around such com- dle citizens still loyal to the ninja keep quiet, as they could
munities has been increased since any more loss could cause be regarded as traitors by their own people. Burying the
irreparable harm to the war effort. dried duck is a way to still call out to the Hounds, however,

42
and the ninja are eager to serve the people and hopefully do are either looking for someone specific, attempt-
regain their trust. ing to employ one of the many mercenary groups
All of this was sparked by the war between the Recoil- there or are part of one of the multiple agricultural
ing Serpents and the Pack of the Black Moon, which has led expeditionary groups the Izou are sending into the
to animosity between the two clans, even in the Lotus Coa- nearby mountain systems. This area is so overrun with “for-
lition. The Izou army has learned much of this shadow war eigners,” however, that few Flame River citizens would ven-
from their prisoners of war with loose lips, and have actu- ture there either.
ally gone to great lengths to draw out the conflict through The Flame River Province is under the purview of the Blaz-
artificial means. This keeps the citizens of the Cradle under ing Dancers, who built their Wu Ji Theater at the base of the
their sway and the ninja on the outs—and both at each oth- Ensen Volcano. The grand stages that stand there were once
er’s throats, just as they like it. In the meantime, the gov- destroyed by the rains and flooding that affected most of the
ernment is also constantly researching ways to restore the area, but they were rebuilt and are more grandiose than ever.
fertility of the affected areas to restore their former levels The massive red gates, rumored to be hand crafted by giants,
of production. remain and are an awe-inspiring sight to those who have never
Unlike other provinces where travelers may be looked attended a performance. While the theater is no longer open,
down upon or seen only as a source of opportunity, the Cra- people still see it as a place of hope. Many make pilgrimages to
dle of Life is at the center of hospitality. Citizens are always the theater in hopes of being taken on as a disciple of the troupe,
welcoming of a stranger, often inviting them into their home while others use it as a way to contact the clan for missions.
to share a meal or sleep off their travels in exchange for Leaving an invitation to put on a show in the requester’s village
work on their farms or even just interesting stories of things is all that is necessary, and the Wu Ji doorstep often has hun-
they’ve seen. They always have time to answer questions, dreds of requests at any given time piling up. If the invitation
and most tourists cringe at the number of words a Cradle cit- is accepted, the Blazing Dancers announce a new city on their
izen can pack into a single sentence. Their dialect is fast, but tour and seek out the requester during the show, which is of-
also contains a drawl that makes it hard to understand them ten enough to distract anyone from their true mission. Even if
at times, but that won’t stop them from trying to have a con- it takes months to respond, however, they will always follow up
versation with anyone willing to listen. on any request made, which makes the Blazing Dancers quite
different from other clans.

Flame River Province Today, performances put on by the Blazing Dancers are
overwhelmingly supportive of the Emperor, his generals
This mountainous region is the birthplace of the ninja and allied nobles, occasionally playing up changes made on
tradition and is among the most active with insurgent ac- the fly to curry favor with a certain high-ranking spectator
tivity during the Ninja Crusade. The land is full of sharp, in the audience. To do otherwise would likely draw the ire of
jagged peaks, active volcanos and harsh, rocky northern Izou loyalists, and may even draw the attention of the Em-
shores. The largest volcano in the Izou Empire, the Ensen peror himself, leading to a wealth of unwanted attention.
volcano, regularly belches thick, dark smoke and ash, filling There have been a few performances recently thought to
many of the surrounding mountain valleys with layer upon poke fun at certain decisions of local politicians, and even a
layer of fine ash. These remote areas are often researched couple making satirical jabs at the Emperor himself. These
by the finest agriculturalists the Empire has at its disposal are few and far between, but are certainly more prevalent
to see if putting small farming communities or work camps than they were even a few months ago. Many new perfor-
in these valleys could help offset some of the agricultural mances are accompanied by a week of celebration leading
loss of the Cradle of Life province. Though not as active as up to their release.
it once was, the insurgency is still alive, supported by the The Flame River citizen is a keen observer, however,
more rebellious members of the citizenry, as ninja continue and they see the hidden messages in every performance.
to use the mountains and cave systems as hiding spots for Every time the Blazing Dancers leave their theater to put
their efforts. on a show, the citizens are filled with hope. Their people
The northern regions act as a raucous area full of crim- overwhelmingly support the ninja, as does anyone who sees
inals, outlaws, bandits, mercenaries and freedom fighters. the truth behind their performances. Sadly, the Izou army
Refugees from both the Land of Mountains and Valleys and has gotten wise to these hidden messages and put a stop
the Land of Exalted Flame come to the Flame River Province to many a show before it ever takes place. This halts the
looking for a place to escape the ongoing conflicts in their ninja’s ability to sway the people to their side, but has also
respective lands. Due to its geographic position, very few brought a hopelessness to many of the citizens.
agents of the Emperor ever travel to the region. Those who The once-hopeful province has been beaten over

43
 the head by the Empire’s propaganda, changing Some of the older residents hope with the help of the people
many minds against the ninja. It is a region on the the clan will be strong enough to take back the province.
cusp of change, but no one knows which direction The Will of Iron’s influence has waned since the occu-
it will lean. pation; they are eager to protect the province from the Em-
pire, but the clan can no longer stop the open war that is

Iron Province coming. There are different opinions about the prospect of
war in the region, mostly between the old and the young.
Residents of the Iron Province used to be proud citizens The older folks who remember when the province was part
of the Land of Five Blades, until the Emperor occupied the of the Land of Five Blades hope that the clan will oust the
area during the Expansion Wars, established Sensoumon Empire. This can create lively discussions around the din-
(Gate to War) and launched a two-pronged attack on the ner table on occasion. However, until there is open battle
Land of Seed and Blossom and the Land of Five Blades from the residents will continue to make the best lives possible
the Triumph Province. One of those battles ended with the for themselves and their families.
strategic occupation of what is now the Iron Province. The The people of the province tend to be passionate and reso-
citizens know their land the Empire now occupies they took lute. This comes from the tension they live with every day, and
before they could no longer sustain the two-pronged attack willingness to stand up and do what is imperative to survival.
and the people remember the Empire’s greed. Citizens here make things with their hands and craft amazing
Rituals weave through every aspect of daily life here. A weapons and tools from metal. Other citizens farm fields and
soldier arriving in the province will take note of how even work the land. What the people know is the land and working
the smallest interactions are some form of ritual and most of with their hands and they are adamant about issues that will
the citizens take them seriously. They range from a simple prevent them from continuing their lifestyle, like the Empire
prayer to the complex layers of a dozen spells that protect or the clan, depending on the person.
the ancient temple of the Iron clan from intruders. Passed Though they may disagree, the people still help each
down through the generations, these rituals are kept out of other when they can, because they know that there may
tradition and even habit. This is a more recent development come a time when they need help as well. A traveler who
since the Empire is running out of funds to keep the area un- is also willing to help the people will be received well and
der control and the younger people have taken to not only thaw the people a little. A traveler who shows they know
subtle ritual, but skirmishing with Imperial soldiers as well. the meaning of work with calloused hands and a willingness to
Wise soldiers pay attention to their surroundings at all times, do hard labor will also gain the respect of the people. Practicali-
unless they want to become the victim of combative citizens. ty will also win over the people as well as a lack of wastefulness,
Though these skirmishes have not outright turned to war, since resources are precious in the region. The residents reuse
such an event might not be far in the future. what they can and don’t often have what they might view as
The mystical Aikuchi Mountains in the west of the province many decorative or luxury items in their homes, preferring to
create a sense of timelessness. Shrouded in mist and housing the leave the space for necessary furniture and supplies.
oldest temple of the Will of Iron clan, the Iron Province residents Simple lives of farming, mining, and commerce are
live amid mystery and magic. This means the people tend to ac- what the province wants and their most valuable resource
cept that change is a part of life and they can be part of that for the economy of the province is the metal they mine from
change, and some are willing to risk everything for it. They have the mountains. Metal in a time of war is precious, and while
seen what the clan can do and some have started to think that most resent the fact they have to sell to those who control
they too can hold such power. The temple’s defenses include them, they have little choice in the matter and continue to
disappearing and appearing on another peak of the mountain do the practical option to survive. That isn’t to say there ar-
range and causing citizens to forget how to get there once they en’t those who make sure the best metal gets into the hands
have conducted business. The older people feel the mountains of those committed to helping the province free themselves
and the clan that occupies them are protection against forces from the agenda of others.
that might try to conquer them again. The younger loyalists see
the mountain as a threat to the Empire they belong to.
A trip to the temple for the people to ask the Will of Iron
clan for help is arduous and some never come back. If they do
find the temple they can petition the clan for help with pro-
tection and can offer materials they have mined to the clan to
make weapons. This material is precious in times of
war and the citizens use this fact to their advantage.

44
Middle Province still have significant leverage in the capital, which
the ninja use to their benefit to move into and out
The Middle Province is the physical and spiritual center of the city with impunity.
of the Izou Empire, and the cornerstone upon which the rest Not all Middle citizens hail from Daiwa, how-
of the Empire is built. Due to its location at the geographical ever. Other areas are used to test the various explosive com-
heart of the Empire, the Middle Province is awash with trav- pounds, weapons and alchemical reagents that have pollut-
elers and visitors, be it tourists from the outer reaches of the ed the land. Since the Year of Floods, the soil has reclaimed
Emperor’s domain, artisans and merchants legitimately ped- its fertility and is once again bounteous, arable farmland.
dling their wares or underhanded associates of various crim- This dangerous and toxic legacy sometimes rears its head,
inal ventures. All have their foothold in the province, and the when the occasional farmer stumbles upon a hidden cache
beating pulse of the Empire sustains and invigorates them, or secret laboratory holding many still-potent alchemical
with the current political and social climates influencing the substances, even though they are decades old. There are
ebb and flow of these populations. rumors the rebellious alchemist-general, Ishimaru Kaito,
Like the Middle Province itself, Daiwa, the capital, wel- concealed a massive weapons cache with enough explosives
comes a wide array of people within its boundaries. There to leave the entire valley in ruins. These are often dismissed
is a constant flow of aspiring politicians, nobles wanting to as nonsense, but certain ninja clans give credence to these
pay respects and emissaries from distant kingdoms hoping rumors and are looking for Kaito’s agents.
to build political relationships with the illustrious Izou Em- The largest and oldest festival in the Middle Province is
pire by offering assistance or council in the Ninja Crusade. the Harvest Festival of Heigenchou, which is a great place
This tide of people is a fraction of what it once was, with to request services from the Wardens. Citizens from all over
many of the wide avenues still empty, but certain areas are the province bring goods to share with one another, along
still heavily traveled. Since the war, there is a pall hanging with food, drink and traditional dances in celebration of
over the city, only serving to make it appear more empty the harvest. Rural communities continue to work togeth-
and lonely than it should. er to help maintain each other’s fields, plow and sow new
Every month there are organized cultural celebrations crops and lend a hand if a someone is injured. This sense
representing every corner of the vast nation. These celebra- of community, reinforced by the annual festival, has been
tions have singing, dancing, food and wares from these differ- ingrained in the culture and only serves to strengthen the
ent locations, perfectly illustrating the richness and diversity heart of the Empire.
of the cultures in the Izou Empire. These celebrations seem to
have done some good to promote diversity, but critics have
stated that these all seem forced and overly orchestrated to
Oak Leaf Province
detract from the ongoing problems since the war. Oak trees provide acres of forest and shade for this prov-
Contacting the Wardens of Equilibrium is the easiest ince, providing the name of the area. The people are hunters
thing. Simply walk into any shop and hand the proprietor of great skill, quite comfortable with the trees and woods sur-
jade inside a bag soaked in milk. The ninja take a hands- rounding them. They know how to move silently and most are
off approach to much of the regular goings-on in the Mid- great archers, having learned from the time they were small to
dle Province, but every shop owner from Nanchou to Dai- fend for themselves. A bounty of game and plants grow here
wa feels the presence of an invisible overseer who chooses and the people know them all and can steer travelers in the
whether they continue to stay in business. The requester is right or wrong direction for what they seek.
visited by a Warden within the hour of dropping off their Wood is of course important to daily life in the province
jade, but their requests must stay in line with what the clan and many of the buildings are made out of the oak trees,
holds dear… balancing the scales. A rich person cannot ask whether they are built up in the trees or in clearings miles into
for more wealth, for instance. the shadowy forests. Pelts and other natural items provide fur-
Most people in the Middle province are loyal to the niture and warmth. Most of the people here make their living
throne, constantly bombarded with propaganda about the by trading what they find with travelers and each other. They
Emperor’s immortality and the greatness of the Empire. are dark haired and usually pale of complexion because of the
The Ninja Crusade has taken less of a toll on Middle citi- shade the trees provide, but their smaller stature and gener-
zens than on other provinces, but there are still a number of al ability to move easily helps them hunt the most dangerous
families who have lost power, wealth and authority. Some creatures in the forests. They make all their own weapons and
have found new positions of power amongst the downtrod- usually those skills are passed down through the generations.
den, still believing in the superiority of the Empire, but oth- The ample wood from the forest makes great weap-
ers secretly work with various ninja clans. These families ons and though there are secrets to making these

45
 weapons, travelers are still able to purchase them. discussions between groups or seek to break up arguments.
The Land of Seed and Blossom, who originally These folk are probably the most welcome in any of the other
controlled the area, gave the province as a gift to provinces and they use that to supply aide for others.
the Emperor to prevent war. It is one of the few People from all over the world come to the province
places untouched by battle, because they didn’t put up to learn and heal. Soldiers are treated no differently than
much resistance. Though the cities have mostly moved on anyone else here and if they are in need of healing or guid-
since the Expansion Wars, most of those living in the small- ance it will be found. Soldiers sometimes arrive here just to
er villages and alone in the outskirts of the province are take in the sights and have a respite from the visions of war
not pleased by either side and prefer to remain silent. Some surrounding them most of the time. The Herbalists help the
have even stopped trading with either side to protest their people and it is rare that they turn anyone away, all one has
treatment. to do is show up at their headquarters in the city and pres-
Though they have fallen somewhat out of favor with the ent their problems and if the Herbalists can help, they will.
rural minority, the Bamboo Herbalists have brought back their The people here probably feel the most protected out of all
protection to the region and have holdings here as an exten- the provinces and so have the resources to help anyone who
sion of their homeland. The Herbalists protect the region with asks for help in return.
illusions—illusions that cause other ninja to lose their way if The central palace houses twelve families, because space
they show they are hostile. The people take this in stride and is found anywhere it can to meet the needs of the residents
are mostly glad the Herbalists don’t choose to use their illu- and those who come to heal. Everyone who lives in the prov-
sions on them. Most of them think the war between the ninja ince pitches in and it is a life where one pays no attention to
and the Empire is ridiculous, which they can afford to do be- how things once were. Shops now house animals. Old houses
cause they were the least affected by the occupation. now house the healing and those who take care of them. It is
Independent and self-sufficient, the people of the Oak a place where your past remains your past.
Leaf Province look down on anyone who they decide can-
not take care of themselves. Solving your own problems and
putting food on the table are of primary importance and Silk Belt
getting involved in other people’s wars seems like a waste
of time to them. If a soldier talks to the people, they will Province
find this is the case as the people here also have no inter- Almost completely unscathed by the Ninja Crusade, the
est in mincing words. They speak plainly and then go about Silk Belt Province is beautiful, tranquil and the landscape
their business of hunting and taking care of their families. is a mixture between sweeping grassland and dense forests
A soldier wanting to hunt or partake of the resources here depending on where one finds themselves. The relative si-
would be wise to make sure they have the permission of the lence of the province is a pall hanging over the region that
resident who owns the area or they could find themselves few even notice, as the Hidden Strands of Fate rule the up-
driven out of town. per echelons of the province, but operate in almost absolute
The citizens here are in good health and generally live secrecy. The level of fear of ninja retaliation from the citi-
good lives because of the Herbalists and their capitulation zenry is beaten only by the Black Veil Province ruled by the
to the Emperor. Though most are happy they have come Grasping Shadows. The Silk Belt Province, however, has so
through the war so far relatively unscathed, there are some much going for it that few spend their days worrying about
who feel the guilt of their act and wonder what would have the ninja until it’s too late.
happened if they had not traded independence for relative Several cities across the province offer theaters, tea
peace. That is why the people here are very helpful to those houses, outside performance venues for actors and musi-
who come into their province. They have the privilege of cians, galleries and a wealth of libraries and museums of all
distance to see how war affects everyone from the soldier kinds. Artisans here can make a living well beyond those in
to the citizen and that often people are caught in between other parts of the Empire, making it the artistic epicenter
power plays from two bigger powers they have no control of the Empire. The Silk Belt, however, bent quickly to the
over. Many refugees seek to travel here from other areas, so will of the Emperor and the Ninja Crusade, since city leaders
one is just as likely to run into a refugee as a citizen. didn’t want to risk losing their precious archives or disrupt-
Though the people are helpful to everyone, they don’t ing their sprawling tourist trade. Joining the Empire was
like to talk politics, because of the diversity in the region and the closest thing to a preservationist approach they could
because of the war they prefer to keep the discussions on ac- take, mirroring the actions taken by the Hidden Strands of
tions that can help the people and offer aide, rather Fate when the war began.
than pointing blame. If they can, they will mediate And that is what the Silk Belt Province has become. A place

46
 for citizens who want to forget about the
war to congregate and spend their days
in booze, partying and ignorant bliss.
Most are too busy worrying about their
own problems to give even a single thought to the
war. Some hope for the best, but can’t be asked to
do more than “keep the soldiers in their thoughts”
while they gamble away their cares or visit the
red-light district. No one could say that Silk Belt
citizens are bad people, but their culture of self-ab-
sorption has been carefully cultivated by the Hid-
den Strands and several of their political leaders.
Travelers visiting the province may find it disturb-
ing, but they are even more likely to get swept up
in the same sentiment before too long.
Politically, the province has a long history
of those in power gaining their positions or re-
taining them through unscrupulous methods,
but losing them just as quickly in a manner just
as underhanded. Tennokiba, a city to the south,
acts as neutral territory for the rival nobles and
politicians to meet away from the prying eyes of
enemies and allies in their own territory. Many
deals and treaties have been solidified within
the borders of the city, bringing about eras of
peace just as frequently as those of strife and
turmoil. Knowing these deals that could affect
the Empire for generations are being struck at
any given time would make some worry, but the
nonchalant attitudes of the Silk Belt Province
make this business as usual.
The Hidden Strands of Fate once held more
obvious control of the province, but as the Ninja
Crusade has escalated, the existing power struc-
ture has been corrupted by the various criminal
organizations vying for control. The citizenry
has not thrown their lot in with the ninja or the
Empire, but their loyalties can change with the
passing wind as long as their way of life remains
unchanged. The criminal families make the most
sense presently. The ninja have begun infiltrat-
ing these families, often treating them as equals
to their face and plotting their death behind
their backs.
Among the many subtle nuances of the po-
litical machinations, dining with one’s enemies
or potential allies has become somewhat of an
art form in the province. Strict social rules of
etiquette around these formal dining experi-
ences have evolved for centuries, and to break
these rules is to offer an affront to oth-
er attendees or complete disrespect

47
 for the host. All families, noble or commoner, Citizens might call upon the Serpents if they require med-
take the time to teach their children these ways icines or other items only the ninja would have access to or
to avoid any potential embarrassment, and there knowledge of. Serpents usually find you if you walk around
are restaurant-schools where families can send the swamps long enough, but they also have small territory
representatives to practice these ways. It is in these schools warnings that are good places to run into the ninja. Though, as
where many alliances and deals initially take root. Leaving with most citizens petitioning the clans, it is usually an act of
an invite under a stone on one’s doorstep is the easiest way desperation and only used in the worst circumstances.
to call upon the Hidden Strands for those who still seek the Burnt ground and bloodstained plants mark the area
clan for missions. If a ninja accepts the invitation, they will around the few province cities. Battle cries and the smell of
expect a ceremonial meal to solidify the details of the as- desperation are the background for everyday life in the more
signment, and it will always cost the asker something pre- populated areas. Children born in the cities can’t remember
cious to them. These invitations have, thus far, escaped no- a time before sieges. The people go through work and play
tice by the Izou army, but the two sides may dine together knowing at any moment things could change and they will
soon. have to find the nearest shelter. Soldiers are more numerous
than civilians here and a soldier living in this city would be

Triumph Province avoided or catered to in order to prevent conflict.

Living under siege means certain luxuries are scarce
and sometimes even the basics are hard to come by when
The Recoiling Serpents make their home in the center of the siege is broken and then renewed. The uncertainty of
this province, in the murky swamps and bogs only the Ser- life in the cities has created people who don’t make waves
pents know how to navigate. They have no fear anyone will and try to be as unobtrusive as possible. A solider would get
attempt to steal their power; their buildings set amongst the a sort of fearful courtesy when approaching a citizen, if the
trees and nestled on swamp islands are secure from curiosi- soldier even noticed the citizen was there at all.
ty-seekers and those wishing to harm the clan. People lose time when they live under the constant threat
Battles are a daily occurrence between Izou Soldiers, nin- of death and so the people don’t keep track of time the way
ja and the residents because of the central and advantageous other provinces do, just in case they don’t have a future. Gal-
position of Triumph and its resources. The people learned lows humor is the rule of the land, if the people could not joke
through the landscape of Triumph and life experience that about what is going on then they know that they have truly
they have to fight for survival and those in power will do ev- lost all hope. It’s what keeps them from crying or sinking into
erything they can to bring them down and make the people despair. This might unsettle travelers to the region, but it is
nothing more than pawns in power games. They do this by something travelers learn to understand if they spend any
adapting and working within the tensions in the region and time in the region, even the children can make jokes to lessen
working to make their hardships work for them if they possi- the load that they live with every single day.
bly can, which is not always an easy task. A solider training in the cities would be among the
The name of the province became Triumph to reflect the Izou’s best warriors because the constant siege creates the
conquest of the Emperor; to gloat about what he did, but it perfect training ground, even for the infamous Golden Li-
has come to mean more to the people of the province than ons and the Silver Blades. The people are forced to accept
just an Emperor’s pride. It is an apt name for the people and this, even if they don’t like it. Soldiers have become a nor-
how they triumph in adverse conditions. They have told each mal part of the landscape and even businesses have learned
other in passing Triumph will be the Emperor’s downfall be- to adapt to the needs of the soldiers in order to survive by
cause they will use it as a unifying cry to wait out whatever selling them items they might need, or luxuries the army
fate has in store for the Emperor and the ninja. The people of might not provide. A soldier might even be able to swing
the Triumph Province will still be standing. better deals or more materials if they show that they can
Triumph is the largest province in the Empire, but with wield the gallows humor as well as any citizen.
likely the lowest population. Most of the cities of the prov- The time of warrior/farmers tending their fields with
ince are separated by huge swamplands ruled over by Serpent sickles by day and practicing their katas with sickles at
overlords. The residents have had to grow tough to travel be- night are gone. Though there are some older folks still try-
tween the cities and around the province. They walk quickly ing to carry on these traditions even when the world all
and lightly, while looking all around them for potential dan- around them is changing as tensions rise.
gers from the land and the ninja, most of them are They know how to adapt and their province is one that
lithe and agile from everyday living, but tough like pays an exacting toll on those who are not tough enough to
reinforced rope. survive the poisonous landscape. Residents rarely succumb

48
to disease or wounds. They have spent a lifetime building Gods, spirits and even ghosts are part of the day-
their bodies and minds to defend against the swamp in the to-day lives of those who dwell in the Izou Empire.
middle of their province and the Recoiling Serpents living Though some villages have modest public
there, especially the people of Night’s Bog who are particu- shrines and temples, most homes also have small-
larly close with the dangerous waters and swamps. The peo- er, family altars, called kamidana. Praying to one’s ancestors,
ple can wait for their opportunity to fight back. though just as ubiquitous as belief in dharma and reincarna-
Sometimes a former resident travels back to see what tion, isn’t quite codified as part of an official religion. Neigh-
has become of their devastated town, but all they find is a bors cast a suspicious eye now and then when rumors whis-
people with haunted looks, buildings on stilts and flooded per that one’s ancestor may have been a ninja. Some families
streets. No longer the center of fishing and commerce in the take pains to exclude those who were known to be ninja; even
vicinity, the people stay steadfast and wait to be free. though it may make some heartsick to do so. An entire gen-
eration of constant war has driven some to question a faith
that counsels knowing your place, when so many have been

Religion in the displaced and driven to lie, steal and even kill just so they and
their families could survive. Those who quietly nurse spite

Empire against the Empire are not necessarily friends of the ninja ei-
ther. Some villagers along the worst-hit paths of the fighting
pray to their ancestors for guidance on how to free them-
Religion is woven into the Empire at its foundation. From selves from both powers. Village leaders tell their people the
the most common citizen to the Emperor himself, most possess Empire and the ninja have forgotten those they claim to fight
some level of spirituality. Prior to the Izou Empire’s rise, each for. They tell them one day, perhaps soon, they will have a
state had its own religion. The Empire did not institute any of- voice loud enough to remind them.
ficial state religion, however it does tacitly approve of the most There is a time between death and reincarnation. Some
widespread belief that one is reincarnated based on one’s dhar- spirits stay in the Celestial Courts for a time, helping their
ma; that is, how you behave in this life determines your status descendants on Earth and preparing for their eventual re-
and quality of life in the next. In the Empire’s eyes, this belief is a turn. There are some who, if their families have a relation-
foundation of the balance and harmony it needs to run smooth- ship with them, travel to the realms of their Celestial An-
ly. They understand faith can strengthen or weaken the state, imal allies. Some still provide for their family, even after
and have gone so far as destroying the symbols of other, inde- death, by strengthening their bonds with the Animal fam-
pendent states’ religions to prevent any from becoming wide- ilies. Of course, depending on the family, the realm their
spread enough to rally in resistance to the Empire. Though the spirit travels to could be welcoming or not. Still, they may
Imperials do not go as far as the Enlightened do, believing there help by guiding their still-living relatives to help those Ce-
is a way to ascend past the cycle, they are at least on the path. It lestials captured by the Iron Breakers.
is one of the reasons the Enlightened allied themselves with the Even those who are devout practitioners may not con-
Imperials after the ninja assassinated their tamashi. Many ninja sider themselves part of an organized sect. They practice
are portrayed by the Empire as souls who did despicable things a ritual-oriented worship that intertwines with their daily
in their past lives; some even hint their souls are corrupted by lives. They may call upon their ancestors to speak to the
Oni who would spread their evil by disrupting the peaceful rule spirits of wind, sun and rain to ensure their family will
of their Emperor. The fates of the Emperor’s son, daughter and have enough to eat through these difficult times. Citizens
wife are often held up as examples of the deviltry practiced by who have lost everything pray for strength to get through
these beings who attack from the shadows and live in darkness. the next day or to change their station and take up arms
Strangely, these loyal officials do not bring up the Emperor’s against whoever hurt them. This could mean leaving their
temporary absence as any kind of example of the ninja’s treach- destroyed farm to join the Imperial Army, or seeking out
ery, but they will bring up the devastating attack from a couple someone who claims to know how to put them on the path
of years ago, which left the capital in ruins in another failed at- to the whispered sanctuary of the ninja, Danketsu. Others
tempt to murder their beloved Emperor. pray for forgiveness as they seek out known criminal fam-
There are several gods, or kami, who fall under the ilies to join, because there is nothing left for them as an
broad definition of this faith. As it is not one unified dogma, “honest” citizen. The Enlightened believe those who break
most practitioners also worship their families’ ancestors the laws to survive are spiritually weak. However, followers
and various spirits. Sometimes they also worship the village of the Tenets of Ko teach those who are willing to listen, set
founders. To remember, pray to and venerate them brings aside the faith of their childhood and walk this new
strength and honor to their families and communities. path. They have seen a slight surge in those willing

49
 to listen; the lost, the displaced, the disheartened. in sync, which may lead to some difficult choices. Not all
They need something to guide them, and neither ninja spirit their families away to Danketsu. Leaving them
the Empire nor the ninja have given them anything behind may have been a difficult choice for them, but also
to cling to. introduces potential problems for those left. If any officials
Children learn their past lives determined their cur- found out and couldn’t be sufficiently bribed to keep quiet, it
rent one, just as their current life will influence their next could mean disaster. Some flee their villages, ironically tak-
turn of the wheel, including their class. Most believe they ing refuge with the Enlightened. Those monks who do not
deserve their current circumstances and station in life. This travel live in mountain monasteries. They keep themselves
encourages them to live a life accumulating good karma. It secluded in study most of the time, but just like their travel-
keeps them from wasting time aspiring to a higher station. ing brethren, they stay conditioned as to defend themselves
One precept of their faith is that honoring the Empire’s de- and their homes—particularly now that they are receiving an
crees also earns good karma. Recently, however, there are influx of those who have nowhere else to go.
more who would defy the Empire, defy the ruts tradition After the Emperor launched the Ninja Crusade, some
mandates, and follow the criminal ninja in abandoning the who questioned the karmic system still leaned heavily on
idea of dharma. Some do so because they have hidden rela- their ancestors, as well as some spirits. Others though, they
tives, exiled for being ninja, whom they know are good peo- sought out demons, Oni and spirits of a nefarious nature.
ple fighting a good fight. Others have lost faith that either Demons once had run of the lands that the Empire now
the Empire or the ninja care what happens to them or what claims; they have long memories, old aspirations and fresh
path they follow. worshippers. The Oni thrive on sorrow and chaos, and there
While it’s not true for all, many still believe they are born is plenty to be found in the wake of a war. Spirits are a part
to their prescribed roles. As such, they focus their energies of daily life, and Oni exploit that among the regular citi-
on being the best in that role. To serve both the Empire and zenry. They play the long game; masquerading as helpful
Heaven, they will be the best soldier, the best merchant or spirits that folk may call upon to protect their villages, they
the best farmer they can be. The duties one must fulfill to wait to extract their ultimate price. They fan the flames of
their karma, to their family and their Empire are not always suspicion and distrust, starting rumors and gorging on the
devastation that follows.

50
The Reconciled either in coin or services, with the barest hint they
With the Emperor’s recent reappearance, many believe or a member of their family is suspected to be a nin-
there are none more powerful, but the Reconciled preach ja sympathizer, or worse, a ninja themselves. It’s not
that there is a single being in Heaven more powerful than like this in every town, but stories exist – from re-
even the Emperor. Those who have seen and perpetrated mote villages to larger cities – of pockets of corrupt guards
horrors can be forgiven in this life, their dharma does not and/or leaders making life more difficult than the war al-
need to damn them to lifetimes of misery and pain. Through ready has.
penance and prayer, they can find redemption in this life. A When the laws are skewed to benefit some at the expense
tempting prospect to those who have lost so much to what of others, those who work outside the law do so to fight cor-
seems like a never-ending war. ruption and injustice. Often, it’s not one extreme or the oth-
Although the Enlightened teach that one can purify er. In this war-torn time, the things some have had to do to
oneself and reach Heaven, there is a tinge of judgement sur- survive may cross the line of legality, but some would still
rounding them that is off-putting to those already on the hesitate to call them “wrong”. Hiding a relative visiting from
lowest rungs of society. The Reconciled seem more accepting Danketsu or simply showing basic human compassion to a
to those who have been through the hardest times, but still wounded stranger can bring down unwanted attention; so,
are not so jaded to have lost all hope of redemption. some turn to organized crime. By definition, they are crim-
The Reconciled also do not close themselves off on high inals, and they may do things they once swore they never
mountaintops. Redemption is for all, but it must be earned; could, but it is not as easy as all that to label them as “evil,”
not in hidden contemplation, but on the streets of the cit- although the Empire, and some ninja from clans such as the
ies feeding the hungry and tending to the sick and forgotten. Will of Iron, may easily do just that.
Prayer is necessary, but penance is in their actions. Family dynasties are not just for the Emperor and the no-
ble families. Indeed, some of the “nobility” and their wealth
came from such criminal roots, while others deal with these

Organized Crime families for goods and services they cannot get elsewhere, ei-
ther because they are illegal substances, or they’re simply too

in the Empire hard to get legally because of shortages caused by the ongo-
ing war. Sometimes the problems with the supply lines that
prevent the troops from getting food, weapons and basics
Wherever there are laws, there are always those who
live outside their boundaries who provide illegal goods and like blankets and other supplies also keep even the wealthi-
services or who just don’t believe the laws should apply to er citizens from getting furnishings for their homes, food for
them. The Izou Empire is no different. The Emperor rules and their galas, and people to fulfill the special kind of entertain-
his Imperial Army and Golden Lions enforce his will, while a ment not discussed at afternoon gatherings. To keep those
multitude of officials and local law enforcement see that his services going takes reaching out to some of the criminal or-
divine will is carried out. When those in power create and ganizations in the Empire.
bend laws to make life harder for those they see as enemies, These itsutai that have formed are not all blood-rela-
even when their only crime is a dissenting voice, and Imperi- tions. although some of the higher-ranking members are
al soldiers move in to crush even that, more than voices can treated as equals to their faces, behind closed doors and
rise in rebellion. It doesn’t help when some labeled as “ene- away from their sensitive ears, the “true” nobles talk about
my” have had their very existence outlawed. them as if they are no better than petty thieves or thugs and
Ninja have, over generations, become completely out- murderers for hire on the streets or alleyways of the cities.
lawed, and those who can manipulate ki, even if not trained They’ll invite them to their homes, they’ll visit them at their
as ninja, can be looked upon with suspicion unless they prove compounds, but they will not always treat them as equals.
themselves loyal to the Empire. Even then it can be a struggle A few have even been known to court the wrath of some of
to stay on the “right” side. The very presence of ninja, the the more powerful families by calling them pretenders and
implied presence of ninja in an area can mean many inno- chastising them for reaching beyond their dharma’s grasp;
cents are caught up in searches and interrogations because after all, they modeled their organizations after nobility’s
someone saw something out of the ordinary. Laws can be guilds, they use their ill-gotten gains to dress up and pre-
fine when administered fairly, but they can also be abused by tend to belong among the elite. After a few public accidents,
those who are corrupt. Officials know that capturing or kill- any nobles who believe this are careful to not speak their
ing ninja found in their towns can bring goodwill from their opinions too loudly.
superiors, and the populace knows it too. More than once an
official has found they can extort a little extra from citizens,

51
 From the noble es- war – has normalized some of their behaviors. Though it
has helped some, this is not altogether a good thing.
tates… They are hardly all noble vigilantes protecting their
cities from corrupt officials. There are some truly pow-
Some itsutai leaders can put on airs to interact with the
er-hungry individuals who thrive on fear and chaos. They
nobles, as well as get down-to-earth and blend in with the
see the distraction the ninja provide to the Imperial troops
peasants on the streets. They have information on all levels
and local guards as an opportunity to exploit for their own
of society, they are the ones that slip through the cracks,
benefit. Some families take payment from peasants in the
fill the gaps of needs and wants that “honest” citizens could
form of their children, husbands or wives. Taken away to be
not. It’s also not just the nobility that uses their services.
trained as couriers or warriors for the guild, or even as the
Local officials turn a blind eye from time to time for extra
“goods and services” provided to their noble clients, fami-
coin or favors they can’t ask their superiors for.
lies have been torn apart without ever seeing an Imperial
soldier or a ninja.
…to the alleyways of Here are just some of the guilds in the Izou Empire:

the city… Itsutai Nakatsune

And as far as the common people, sometimes these are Nakatsune Haga, patriarch of his family and guild, has
the only avenues they have if they want to attend to their never traveled very far from his village, Nogata, but his
family’s basic needs. Even the ninja are known to work with influence has spread. From a young age, he could quickly
criminals in townships they’ve not been to before. They are discern what people needed and was extremely creative
the ones who know the lay of the land, and the best ways to in finding ways to get it for them. The young men of the
avoid the local law. They must be careful though; occasion- village wanted spirits to drink? He would make deals with
ally there is the criminal who will take a ninja’s coin for safe local traders to get a bottle or two as they passed through
passage, and turn around to take more coin from the local the village, if he would carry through the town contraband
law to turn them in. Not all criminals are this daring though, so the guards searching their caravans would not find and
crossing the ninja has led more than one criminal to an unex- confiscate them. He quickly found out he could move more
pected “peaceful” death in their sleep. material for other villagers if he recruited his friends to
also carry through illegal goods, carry bribes to guards and
local law enforcement, or even cultivate some of the older
…to the farmers’ village. kids going into the government as resources. After all, these
were friends, neighbors and even family, and what was a
Still, there are some families who are not lords over large favor here and there?
compounds in larger cities. Smaller towns and regions have The gang grew. He had a loose structure populated near
their own criminal families who have an odd and uneasy rela- the top with his closest friends. However, he made sure they
tionship with their neighbors. These people grew up together, all knew who was always in charge. He had some rules he
faced the same tough seasons, the same natural disasters and held to – and held his people to – very strictly. The girls in
they see their homes as needing protection. Even if not every- the village weren’t to be prostitutes, but he felt they were
one is a member of the family, if they are loyal, if they see these quite capable of gathering information and acting as cou-
“criminals” as friends and neighbors and people they can rely riers, and a few as bodyguards and enforcers. The elders of
on more than the Emperor’s enforcers or the ninja they seek, the village were never to be targets of theft or assault. The
then they have a built-in layer of protection. In return, they village has enjoyed prosperity because they revered their
protect everyone from the madness outside their boundaries. ancestors, and he would not invite their ire by disrespect-
Of course, some would rather rule through overt fear, ing the current elders. He is also adamant about keeping
but others prefer to cultivate a more peaceful relationship. large-scale violence away from the village borders. This is
When someone does go against the family, when one betrays his home, it’s always been his home, and he has built his
the community, they are dealt with quickly and sometimes power on protecting it.
viciously. Even if it doesn’t happen publicly though, whis- As long as the people understand everything he does is
pers will carry the reason for their neighbor’s downfall was to protect his village, he doesn’t have to be ostentatious or
because they crossed those who were only trying to protect obvious about his power. The village leaders come to him
them. There’s already an infrastructure in the Empire that for guidance; no one calls it asking permission or seeking
everyone has a role to fulfill. The organized crime approval. There are some who aren’t thrilled with his lead-
families have created a niche for themselves in so- ership, however, and recently there have been attempts on
ciety that – especially during this long, drawn-out

52
his life; the last one not even carried out directly by whoever “main head” of the group, and Mori has inherited
wants him dead. The coward sought a group of ninja to de- her title, as well as some of the cachet and favors that
stroy him and the peace he worked so hard to build. It was come with it. Chiba prefers to stay back and offer
one of the rare times he could not keep violence out of his guidance when asked. Mori’s hatred of ninja gives
beloved village. His loyal guards killed most of the intruding her credibility and favors from her Imperial contacts, but has
assassins, but two are still alive. He has recently sent word to upset more than one contract. At this point, although she has
a childhood friend, Norisue Aya, now a Golden Lion, to come allowed Chiba to take on some ninja clientele, she supports
home and interrogate these traitors. the Emperor’s crusade. Nakagawa’s harsh and bloody atti-
He wishes to be a good citizen… and find out who sent these tude (and reputation) has scared off some potential custom-
ninja to destroy him and the peace he’s worked to build. He ers; he’s far too nasty with those he considers marks. Chiba
would be surprised, and heartbroken, if he knew the truth. understands that with war comes compromises - particularly
The gang travels to neighboring towns and some of the with one’s moral center - and if they want the most contracts,
larger cities to arrange what contraband the itsutai will car- they’ll need to accommodate those who are not as familiar
ry, and to remind the larger groups what Haga will not allow. with their ways, not terrify them. After all, today’s frightened
They mostly carry liquor and finer things liberated from Im- potential customers are tomorrow’s witnesses for the state.
perial supply lines, items bound for officials in other towns, Mori’s crew sails the Dancing Dragon; the ship earned
weapons meant for soldiers and sometimes smuggle people its name under her mother’s captaincy for its fast maneu-
in or out of cities. Haga isn’t fond of the ninja, but their coin verability, and well-placed cannons. Her crew has mostly
spends; and he understands that sometimes protection needs former soldiers of the Empire. Deserters, thieves and those
to be paid in the form of favors. who enjoy the violence a little too much – they would still
The gang has also loaned out people to fill out the ranks rather the Empire rule than see a ninja live any longer than
of smaller groups of Imperial soldiers on specialized mis- absolutely necessary. They steal back the Izou weapons tak-
sions. This isn’t always in the form of muscle; some of the en by the ninja, though sometimes they just take the good
itsutai members are very good at blending in and picking up stuff for themselves.
valuable information. Nakagawa and his crew sail on the Bloody Tiger, named
to strike fear into those they boarded, as much as for the
Pirates in the Empire barrage of harpoon guns interspersed between the can-
Though much of the Ninja Crusade has brought many nons. These pirates thrill in the violence; some having
opportunities for the enterprising criminal franchise, the drawn close to wanting to be Executioners, but not quite
potential on the high seas hasn’t been ignored. The Bridge up to their level. They primarily move people – slaves – to,
to the World Province, in particular, has several pirates - from and through the Empire.
now privateers - who banded together in a loose conglom- Chiba bought his ship from his former captain for a siz-
eration. Although they still comply with their bosses, some able sum and re-named it the Laughing Bear. Like its cap-
of their loot they tithe to themselves and their new guild tain, seeing it at first glance does nothing to tell you of all
before turning the rest in. the possible dangers. They like to steal easily-fenced coin
The guild’s head is a triumvirate of captains: Riyono Mori, and goods. They prefer not to carry slaves, but they’ll ab-
who inherited the ship from her mother, Anayama, when a duct a person if they are short a crew member or two.
group of ninja “liberated” a shipment of weapons bound for Banding these three crews together is not without its
Imperial soldiers; Akifusa Nakagawa, who rose through the problems. Besides arguments over what contracts to take,
ranks the old-fashioned way—by killing the former captain; sometimes splitting the shares can get contentious if one crew
and Chikanori Chiba, a former first-mate (and before that for- shouldered most of the work. Mori does her best to have mul-
mer sailor), whose captain retired while the getting was good. tiple contracts going at one time, farming out the work based
Chiba is the oldest, and a generally agreeable soul. Wicked with on the skills of each crew. That way, they stay sharp, in prac-
his blade and pistol if you cross him or his crew, as long as you tice and occupied with bringing in coin rather than worrying
stay on his good side he’s a fair captain and a fine traveling about who did what to whom.
companion. He doesn’t short his crew their share, approves One thing they all agree upon; they will never work with
heartily of a little raucous shore leave now and then and has no the Will of Iron, both because of their inflexible morals, and
political affiliations; a move that opens up who he’ll work for. because it was one of their judges who slew Anayama. Chiba
He’s quoted as saying, “I don’t sort my loot by whose pockets it has tried to explain to Mori that not all ninja are like that. Na-
came from; I’m too busy spending it!” kagawa made neutral comments to both about the situation,
Both Mori and Nakagawa are young, and somewhat hot- but bides his time watching how this will turn out.
headed and contentious. However, Mori’s mother was the

53
 The Kodama Collective world, and he reveled in it.
Kodama Matsukura, oyabun of his guild, rose Careful rumors whispered that he embodied rage and
to prominence with his mother’s help. With her violence. His very birth was an act of rage that rent his
visions, he made shrewd decisions. Many on both mother apart.
sides of the law considered him brilliant and unpredictable. Matsukura and his most loyal guard allegedly died by the
He soon had a strong grip on power in Tennokiba. Gambling hands of ninja hired by a rival guild. Taro then led a cadre
establishments, brothels and slave trading made up the bulk of his own vicious and loyal people to mete out revenge. He
of the organization. With his seer’s help, he established ro- found the small town that was home to the upstarts and slew
tating routes to locations near Fuchou. There he bought and them. The elder leadership of the town swore they held no
sold slaves to and from Horde Island. He gained a reputation allegiance to the guild. They offered what valuables they had
for avoiding both ninja and the Imperials at an astounding in small recompense. Taro thanked them with great sincerity
rate. for their willingness to make things right.
When he brought his pregnant consort Hiki back to At his signal, he and his people murdered everyone who
their home, Kodama Gou welcomed them. She then at- did not ride in with them. They spared not even the smallest
tempted to poison her that same night. After the attempt, and most helpless. Taro stood in the middle of the carnage,
he imprisoned his mother in a suite of rooms guarded by his bathed in blood, brains and entrails. Even his teeth were
most loyal men. bloody. Most of those who rode with him reveled in the de-
Gou knew what her son and his organization did; she struction, chanting to Taro, worshipping him.
helped him do it. “But what we do has purpose,” she said. They did not burn the bodies, nor raze the buildings. They
“There are rules. We have a code.” She tried to convince left the town intact so that all would see the retribution of Taro
him that the thing he was siring would bring only chaos and Kodama. As destructive and chaotic as he is, he has a sharp
upset the balance and order of things. mind. He looks for ways to streamline his own empire. He has
Ruthless Matsukura had little love in his heart. But his taken family members of those with high gambling debts and
love for his consort and unborn child blinded him to the vi- put them to work—sometimes in the brothels, sometimes sell-
sions his mother had. She was wrong. He convinced himself ing them on the slave routes. They order particularly persua-
she was wrong. sive women and men from the brothel to high-stakes games.
Gou continued, “Its first victim will be that poor girl. There, they encourage the high-rollers to bet beyond their
She will never leave the birthing bed alive.” reason and means. When they lose, Taro begins with request-
It was the only vision his mother ever had that he re- ing favors for payment... before moving on to family members
fused to believe. as possible recompense.
She remained alive, and cared for, but never left the
rooms. When he requested her guidance to deal with run- Zaitsu, The Immortal
ning the business, she continued to do so. She told him Zaitsu the Immortal is a 150-year-old warlord and was
where the supply lines would be, where the most war-torn once a Bamboo Herbalist. He left his home to seek a great mas-
of villages were – and how many refugees were there for the ter of the sword, despite the fact he had been forbidden from
taking. His people would swoop in before ninja or Imperials doing so by his clan. The rogue ninja never did find his home,
could get there to take and loot as they would. With each but he did find friends and foes in plenty. Innumerable bandits
vision she used to help the itsutai avoid Imperial scrutiny or and ronin eagerly joined his rag-tag company, which soon be-
ninja traps, she would also tell him: “The child is unnatural. came a small army. The ambitious ninja eventually tested this
It will bring only death.” army against the Empire, but failed. Now, many decades later,
He would thank her for her help in bringing their family Zaitsu has escaped his prison in the chaos of the Ninja Crusade,
prosperity, and pointedly ignore her warning about his child. and seeks to rebuild his army. The Lotus Coalition has attempt-
Hiki died in childbirth. ed to contact Zaitsu numerous times, only to be stopped by the
Matsukura raised his son Taro to inherit the guild if he Bamboo Herbalists, who refuse to call upon the traitor, even
proved himself worthy. He showed approval or disappoint- now.
ment as he deemed fit; but no real affection for his son. He was a horrible ninja, in all honestly. Zaitsu lacked
The organization had three main arms: Weapons, Gam- stealth, and he relied far too heavily on his ‘family’ of ronin;
bling/Prostitution and Human Trafficking. He knew his they protect him, as he protects them. That being said, the
grandmother gave his father visions on how to best lever- Immortal is a powerhouse in his own right. He’s an unri-
age the resources of the collective to thrive in each of their valed front-line fighter, especially when leading his army.
chosen arenas. Taro never questioned the pain and Zaitsu has three default commanders, many more ronin,
suffering perpetrated by the itsutai. This was his and an army of Bandits and ex-soliders who can number

54
 anywhere between a few hun-
dred to a few thousand as the
plot or his position in it re-
quires.
ªª Hideaki: A young man Zaitsu
saved from Nanchou, Hideaki is a
natural prodigy with his blade, and
an innocent man who was framed
for whatever crimes the empire
thinks he committed. Zaitsu of-
fered to help the man escape the
city and to train him in the ways
of the ninja, something eagerly ac-
cepted by the young swordsman.
Hideaki takes after Zaitsu, his new
master (and father-figure), lacking
mobility and cunning, but making
up for it with physical capability
and skill.
ªª Dokuohtei: A former Golden Lion
who defended a young ninja child
during a hidden village raid. For
this act of mercy, he was stripped
of all rank, condemned as a traitor
and sentenced to death. On the
eve of his execution however, a
small group of ronin, lead by Zait-
su arrived just in time. In exchange
for his life, Dokuohtei swore an oath
to protect and serve the immortal.
He is arguably the only true ninja
within the rogue group, and serves
as their primary bodyguard for Zait-
su. He and his followers wear ram-
shackle recreations of the armor of
the Golden Lions.
ªª Tanzan the Mad: A once famous
general of the Imperial Army,
Tanzan the mad earned his name
from his unorthodox battle tac-
tics, which often conflicted direct-
ly with imperial doctrine. Despite
his success, he was forced to retire
young. Tanzan then served with
many mercenary companies, tak-
ing advantage of the Ninja Cru-
sade. Tanzan has found a friend
and a powerful ally in Zaitsu, with
whom he shares many world views
and opinions.

55
 Sakurai studied the battle from her vantage point on top of the monastery’s bell
tower. The ninja’s forces pushed against their own, but neither side could gain an edge
in the narrow streets of the village. That was where Sakurai came in. Her job as a
Black Smoke was to ensure victory went to the Empire from afar.

She scanned the field. Soldiers protected themselves in alleyways in the hope of
funneling the ninja so they could take them in easier numbers. The ninja were quick
and the soldiers on the street-side of the alley got the worst of it. Other soldiers
fought openly in the street; and still others destroyed shops and buildings.

Sakurai moved to the edge of the tower and leaned out, straining to see through
the glare of the early morning sun. More troops moved through the gates and engaged
the ninja. The ninja started to back up toward the buildings in the center of the city,
as they were now fighting on two fronts with the new arrivals.

That should draw the commander out, Sakurai thought with satisfaction.

She could wait.

The commander emerged seconds later from the government building. Sakurai
smiled. She cradled her gun against her shoulder and aimed. Ninja obscured the com-
mander’s head by weaving in and out between each other. The commander surveyed
the field, giving orders.

She would have to get closer.

The wind picked up as she stepped up onto edge of the roof, judged the distance and
leapt to the next roof. It wasn’t as high as the bell tower, but it was closer and per-
haps a better angle. Sakurai checked the shot and cursed. It still wasn’t close enough.

The next roof sat about four feet above her and much farther across. She’d never made a
leap that far before, but she was the only sharpshooter here and she didn’t have much choice.
Sakurai strapped her gun carefully to her backpack and eyed the distance again. She threw
the backpack over her shoulder, got a running start, and launched herself from the roof.

A few seconds of flight and Sakurai’s fingers gripped the edges of the roof. She
hauled herself onto the flat surface and brought out her gun again. This time the com-
mander’s head appeared clear as river water through the sight.

Perfect.

She took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.

The shot rang through the streets and the commander tumbled over. His bodyguards
formed up around him and looked around for the culprit. The soldiers used the distrac-
tion to press forward and overwhelm the ninja.

Sakurai leaned back and grinned. A job well done and she could look forward to a
nice bonus or reward. The ninja would be scrambling about and lose the village, al-
lowing them a new trade route to get supplies to the front. Which was of course the
whole point of taking the village in the first place.

Not a bad day’s work at all.

 Chapter Four:
Building an
Empire
Making soldiers for the Izou Empire is very similar to
creating ninja, but with a few changes. For instance, steps
Assignment Exceptions
One, Two, Four, and Five remain the same for both char-
acter types. However, Step Three changes from Tragedy to The Enlightened
Motivation. Likewise, there are some differences for Step The Enlightened follow a strict path known as the Te-
Six, where players choose Martial Training, and Step Sev- nets of Ko, leading them to improve their body, mind and
en, where they would normally choose Jutsu. spirit to one day ascend to the heavens. While all living
things possess ki energy, only ninja truly harness its pow-
The following applies to Black Smokes, Engineers, Ex- er. The Enlightened cannot learn jutsu or mold ki, but do
ecutioners, Iron Breakers, Jadesmiths, and Silver Blades: possess a trait called Balance, reflecting their spiritual as-
Step Six: Spend six (6) levels between Mar- cension. A monk is assumed to have Balance equal to 2x
tial Training and Favored Tactics. their Rank. For example, an Enlightened at Rank 2 has Bal-
Step Seven: Skip this step ance 4. The Enlightened, however, have a long road ahead
and reach new Ranks for every 75 XP they gain (instead of
The following applies to the Enlightened and Golden Lions: every 50 XP). When activating their Tactics, the Enlight-
ened uses the standard difficulties used for jutsu, but suf-
Step Six: Choose two (2) levels of Martial
fer no Backfire or Training effects.
Training.
Step Seven: Spend five (5) points on Favored Executioners
Tactics, using same costs as Jutsu. The Enlight- While they do not actively use Ki and cannot select Jutsu,
ened may purchase only from their Paths. Gold- Executioners still have a Ki Balance just like ninja.
en Lions may select ANY jutsu normally, even See Ki Negation (pg. 65) for more information.
those from other Clans.

57
 Step Three: ªª Trigger: Torn between loyalty to their vow and the
freedom to act as they want, the character’s loyalty

Motivation can sometimes end in betrayal. Gain 1 Karma when

the character’s loyalty is abused, taken advantage of
or betrayed and it affects the group in a negative way.
Whether it is adventure, loyalty, impulse or money
that brought the character to join the Empire, motivation Revenge
holds them to the cause and gives them a reason to fight. Ki Balance: 1 Yang
What brought the character here and how does it help or ªª Gift: Revenge is a dish best served cold and the soldier
hinder them? This choice influences the relationship be- will do whatever it takes to exact justice on the nin-
tween the character and the Empire, as well as their prior- ja who wronged them. The army, they decided, was
ities in the army. the best place for revenge against their foe. Gain +1
During character creation, the player chooses one (1) Intimidation when the character performs an action
Motivation for their character’s enlistment, making sure moving them forward on the path to revenge.
to record their starting Skills on their character sheet.
Then, they pick one (1) Reason that best suits their charac- ªª Trigger: Even the most dedicated vigilante will some-
ter’s personality and history, and record their Ki Balance, times take detours on the way to their goal. Gain 1
Reason Gift and Reason Trigger. Karma when the character must choose between re-
venge and the group, and they choose the group.

Alliances Tradition
The character can’t choose their family or the situa- Ki Balance: 1 Yin
tion they are born into, and this can influence their de- ªª Gift: The scaffolding of life is built on tradition passed
cisions regarding what they can and can’t do with their down through the generations, and the character was
lives. These characters joined because of these obligations born to uphold that structure. The tradition of joining the
and fulfill their duties for the honor of their loved ones. army continues with this soldier. Gain +1 Knowledge when
Skills: Crafts +1, Marksman +1, Perception +1, Survival +1 the character discusses their traditions or has pertinent
information for the group because of their traditions.
Duty ªª Trigger: Changes bring new traditions, and some-
Ki Balance: 1 Yang times even the oldest traditions are ignored in favor
ªª Gift: The character has a duty to perform and, whether of betterment for all or to make room for establishing
they like it or not, they will perform their duty—which modern traditions. Gain 1 Karma when the character’s
includes joining the army. Gain +1 Discipline when the actions go against the tradition they were brought up
character performs an action above and beyond the in and they backfire.
call of duty to complete a given mission.
ªª Trigger: Sometimes duty can get in the way of other
interests and the soldier must decide how dedicated Coerced
they are to duty. Gain 1 Karma when the character Life is full of choices, for some. For these characters,
cannot neglect their duty; even when doing so causes life has given little choice and they are bound—either by
complications for the group. honor or circumstances—to ally with the Empire. How this
unfolds will be the focus of their story.
Loyalty Skills: Discipline +1, Perform +1, Speed +1, Travel +1
Ki Balance: 1 Yin
ªª Gift: Unwavering loyalty is an admirable trait and one Conscience
the character has in abundance. This loyalty drove Ki Balance: 1 Yin
them to join the army. Gain +1 Fortitude when the ªª Gift: Everyone has events in their past they wish they
character performs a loyal action to the cause/per- could change. This soldier has something in their past
son/organization they swore loyalty to. they felt could only be redeemed by serving the Em-
pire. Gain +1 Empathy when the character performs a
selfless act and continues on the path to redemption.

58
ªª Trigger: Good intentions only stretch so far, and some- a promise they don’t intend to keep, and to do
times this character will slip and do something that pushes everything it takes to keep those promises. The
them two steps back. Gain 1 Karma when the character’s promise this time was to join the army. Gain
good deeds lead to negative consequences for the group. +1 Persuade when the character is convincing
someone to trust the army (e.g. information, resources).
Drafted ªª Trigger: Life will not always allow for promises to be
Ki Balance: 1 Yang kept; and every time this happens the character feels
ªª Gift: The character had no choice when they joined like it is their own personal failing, even if there was
the army, but joining does have benefits and the sol- nothing they could do about it. Gain 1 Karma when the
dier is not above using them when the situation calls character fails to keep a promise and it results in the
for it. Gain +1 Athletics when using a move the char- loss of an associate.
acter learned in the army, such as a sword parry or
attack style specific to the Empire. Runaway
ªª Trigger: Joining the army comes with constraints and Ki Balance: 1 Yin
sometimes those constraints and rules keep the charac- ªª Gift: There are many reasons to run away: an arranged
ter from moving forward on personal missions. Gain 1 marriage, a criminal record or a horrible home life to
Karma when being a soldier prevents the character from name a few. Whatever it was that drove this soldier
going somewhere, participating in an event or anything away from home, they decided the army would be the
else that would advance a personal goal or mission. perfect place to hide. Gain +1 Stealth when avoiding
people or events related to what they ran away from.
Promise ªª Trigger: Sometimes the things the character ran away
Ki Balance: 1 Yang from come back to torment them, and this can have
ªª Gift: Promises are easily made and sometimes even eas- a damaging effect on their mind. Gain 1 Karma when
ier to break. This character made a choice to never give their past affects their new life in a negative way.

59
 Intangible the potential for disastrous side effects. Gain 1 Karma
when their impulses cause chaos in the group.
Guided by a higher purpose or just their high
impulses, these characters joined the Empire
because they felt something bigger than themselves was Quest
calling them to fight. These characters follow this calling Ki Balance: 1 Yin
wherever it may lead. ªª Gift: An object of great worth, someone dear to them
Skills: Empathy +1, Fortitude +1, Knowledge +1, or knowledge only gained through travel. Whatever
Stealth +1 it is they seek, this soldier decided the army would be
the best place to look for it. Gain +1 Travel when trav-
eling closer to the goal of their quest.
Belief
Ki Balance: 1 Yang ªª Trigger: Sometimes a person should step back mo-
ªª Gift: Conviction is a beautiful thing and this soldier mentarily in their quest to make leaps later or to save
is willing to discuss what they believe with anyone, their own life; when this happens, the character can
and try to convince them to see their perceived truth. think of little else. Gain 1 Karma when taking actions
They believe in the cause of the Empire and are both that take them a step backward from their goal.
loved and hated for their pure belief. Gain +1 Perform
when making a show of praising the Empire.
ªª Trigger: Beliefs can conflict with what is necessary Money
and when that happens the soldier feels empty. It Currency in all its forms makes the world go ‘round,
takes some time to believe again. Gain 1 Karma when and nobody knows this better than these characters. The
the character purposefully goes against their belief ebb and flow of money, whether necessary for survival or
and it has a negative impact on the group. something the character wants to accumulate, motivated
them to help the Empire.
Skills: Athletics +1, Holistics +1, Intuition +1, Persuade +1
Destiny
Ki Balance: 1 Yin
ªª Gift: Cords of fate bind the world together and this Allowance
character believes they are a big part of the pattern. Ki Balance: 1 Yang
No one can deter them from what they see is their pre- ªª Gift: Money makes the world go ‘round and with the
ordained place in the world. This soldier’s destiny lies war going on, the military may not be the best job, but
in the army. Gain +1 Intuition when they answer the it keeps food on the table for family back home. Gain
call to destiny and move one step closer to fulfilling it. +1 Empathy when the character takes on extra work,
so they can send more money back home.
ªª Trigger: When presented with evidence that their
destiny may not be what they believed, or even ru- ªª Trigger: Even money can’t stop this soldier’s stomach
mors fate may not exist at all, the character must take from turning from time to time. Some orders the army
some time to trust they can feel the pull of fate again. can’t pay enough to complete. Gain 1 Karma when the
Gain 1 Karma when their actions or words contradict character is caught without funds when they need it,
the destiny they believe they have. because they’ve sent it all home.

Impulse Glory
Ki Balance: 1 Yang Ki Balance: 1 Yin
ªª Gift: People who follow their instincts gain strength ªª Gift: Fame and honor are the most important goals
from the adrenaline uncertainty provides. This character in life and a war is the perfect opportunity to make
thrives on this feeling and often indulges their impulses, a name. This character sees their tale being told for
just like the impulse to join the army. Gain +1 Fighting generations to come. Gain +1 Intimidation when the
when they are in a battle caused by their impulses. character’s deeds and reputation precede them.
ªª Trigger: Impulses can also be dangerous ªª Trigger: Sometimes an idea seems like it will gain
when unforeseen circumstances rear their heads. the soldier popularity, but when all is said and done
Going forward without thinking it through has it pushes them back toward the bottom of the ladder.

60
 Gain 1 Karma when their actions cause them or the Bloodlust
group to lose prestige in the army. Ki Balance: 1 Yang
ªª Gift: The thrill and smell of battle motivate
this character to search for bigger and bet-
Profiteer ter fights. They long to prove themselves on the bat-
Ki Balance: 1 Yang
tlefield and gain strength from conflict. What better
ªª Gift: War is profit and this character joined so they
place to do this than the army? Gain +1 Athletics when
can make as much of it as possible. Gain +1 Deception
the character incapacitates an enemy in battle. This
when performing actions that will make them money
remains in effect for the duration of the Battle.
off the war.
ªª Trigger: Characters may not always have time or the
ªª Trigger: Money comes and money goes and when it
choice to seek out the honor of battle and when they
goes this soldier wonders if it is all worth it. Gain 1
choose not to, it can have a negative effect on their
Karma when they purposefully lose money on a deal
motivation. Gain 1 Karma when the character choos-
and it goes poorly for the group.
es not to incapacitate an enemy and it comes back to
haunt them.
Resources
Ki Balance: 1 Yin
Disaster
ªª Gift: When you don’t have clean clothes, a warm bed,
Ki Balance: 1 Yang
a full stomach or a roof over your head, the army is
ªª Gift: This character has a knack for getting them-
your only option to survive. That’s why this character
selves into dangerous situations and getting out of
joined and while they don’t like the work, at least they
them again. That’s how they ended up in the army.
are alive. Gain +1 Crafts when making things from re-
Gain +1 Speed when the character’s action could lead
sources the army provides them.
to their death.
ªª Trigger: This soldier understands they aren’t the only
ªª Trigger: Sometimes characters choose the safe path,
one with bad luck and no money. Sometimes they feel
and sometimes it turns out a risk would have been the
bad and share what they can with those as-or-less for-
better option. Gain 1 Karma when the character choos-
tunate than they are. Gain 1 Karma when the charac-
es the safer course of action and it hinders the group.
ter gives away resources and it harms the group later.

Study
Nature Ki Balance: 1 Yin
ªª Gift: Learning is the most rewarding experience in the
Certain characteristics make up the core of who the world and the character takes every opportunity to
character is and what they will be. There is no fighting learn new skills. The army is a great place to learn new
their nature, it’s who they are and defines the reason they things, after all. Gain +1 Intuition when the character
joined the fight. attempts a type of action they’ve never tried before.
Skills: Deception +1, Fighting +1, Intimidation +1,
Might +1 ªª Trigger: Knowledge is power and it can be harmful for
others if knowledge is not shared. Gain 1 Karma when
the character chooses not share helpful knowledge
Adventure they have with the group.
Ki Balance: 1 Yin
ªª Gift: The spirit of adventure and daring feats sees these
soldiers going to new places in pursuit of thrilling he-
roics. The army is the perfect place to meet new people
and see new places. Gain +1 Travel when the character
is traveling to a place they have never been before.
ªª Trigger: Just because a character wants adventure
doesn’t mean they know how to find it; sometimes
they just find trouble. Gain 1 Karma when the charac-
ter goes off the beaten path and it ends badly.

61
 Tactics
Black Bones
(Iron Breakers)
The Iron Breakers forged terrifying weap-
ons from the bones of legendary demons
summoned and then slaughtered by the Izou
Army. They became affectionately known as
Black Bones, long rods that can be instantly
summoned and wielded like any other staff,
but also used to enslave a celestial beast. The
process of applying the Black Bones are nev-
er pleasurable, involving piercing the beast’s
form, usually with the rods sticking out at
each end. Some rods must be applied, some-
times plunged through the muzzle, neck,
arms, legs and heart of the Celestial Animal,
differing slightly in the approach of the indi-
vidual Iron Breaker.
Unlike free Celestial Animals who spend
their time in familiar realms surrounded by
kin, enslaved celestials are sent to a dark di-
mension of solitude. There is no physical
world to touch, no one to converse with and
no light to touch their skin. The Celestial An-
imal simply floats in an abyss of nothingness,
often going mad in the process if not sum-
moned by their Iron Breakers regularly. Some
attempt to give the barest level of care to their
“pets,” while others enjoy breaking the spirit
of a once pure and heavenly being and getting
off on the power trip.
As much as the ninja have tried, they have
not found a way to remove Black Bones from
celestials, even after the commanding Iron
Breaker has been defeated. They are forever
touched by darkness, and soon find that they
can no longer travel to their home realms,
further cutting them off from their kind. In
fact, if they were to travel home, their fellow
animals would smell the demon taint on them
and cast them out anyway. There are stories of
those beasts who return to the Empire to serve,
voluntarily, seeing it as the last place they go
where they will be welcomed.

62
Using Black Bones Level Two
From the outside, a user of Black Bones and a Sum- ªª Rank 3 - Tending the Stable: The Iron
moner are virtually the same. However, while a Summon- Breaker gains control over another Major
er cultivates friendships and gains a reputation with the Animal, using the same process as Rank 1. At
animal family, Iron Breakers instead tap into the ki cen- this level, their animals can now be a Warrior, Squad
ters of the celestial animals they face and control their ac- or Master. They can now control two Celestial Animals
tions. They are not limited by Animal Families but do not simultaneously.
gain a Minor Animal companion either. The longer they ªª Rank 4 - Call Me Master: The Iron Breaker gains
use these demon-forged rods, the stronger their control control over another Major Animal, using the same
grows and the more Celestial Animals they can command process as Rank 1. While the Celestial Animals are still
at the same time. They can have up to one Celestial Ani- considered Rivals, the Iron Breaker now only suffers a
mal simultaneously summoned per Level. Unfortunately, -1 penalty to their associated Skill (instead of -2).
Greater Animals have proven immune to Black Bones.
Once an Iron Breaker has captured an animal, it is
theirs as long as they choose to keep it. However, they Level Three
may also remove their rods to attempt to capture anoth- ªª Rank 5 - Take Me There: The Iron Breaker gains control
er Celestial Animal if they so choose, usually done when over another Major Animal, using the same process as
achieving a new level of mastery (i.e. getting rid of a War- Rank 1. They can now also control three Celestial Ani-
rior to capture a Master instead). Some leave them behind mals simultaneously. In addition to this, the demon di-
and never look back, while Iron Breakers with a taste for mension where animals are stored can now be used for
celestial flesh may choose more sinister disposal methods. faster travel from one place to another. To the observer,
the Iron Breaker disappears from one place and instantly
appears in another seconds later. This ability can be used
Level One
a number of times per Session equal to the character’s
ªª Rank 1 - Tamer: When they start on their journey,
Knowledge and allows them to travel up to (Intuition)
the Iron Breaker gains one Major Animal they have
miles away. If used in Battle, they must spend a Dynamic
enslaved, gaining the ability to summon and control it
Action, but it can be used to instantly avoid an attack,
in an instant. At this level, the animal must be a War-
reposition themselves or retreat from the battle entirely.
rior. The player should pick a name for the Major Ani-
mal and write it in as a Rival, with a Skill matching the
Animal Family’s associated Skill. The Iron Breaker is Summoning Enslaved Beasts
not at the mercy of the animal, so they don’t need to Summoning a Major Animal from their reserves re-
provide literal favors; however, if the Owe a Favor box quires effort on the part of the soldier. The Summon-
is marked, the Celestial Animal is considered injured, er takes either 1 physical or 1 mental damage and then
crazed or otherwise useless. Going a Session without makes a Moderate (2) Intimidation + Discipline check. The
summoning the animal will remove the Mark. If they Major Animal can stick around for the Scene or until its
are summoned with a Mark anyway, the animal suf- task is completed. Iron Breakers who share an Element
fers a -2 penalty on all checks. They can only control with the beast’s animal family receive a +1 bonus to their
one Celestial Animal at a time. summoning checks.
ªª Rank 2 - Ready for More: The Iron Breaker gains con-
trol over another Major Animal, using the same process
as Rank 1. At this level, the animals can now be a War- Ingenuity (Engineers)
rior or Squad. Also, The Iron Breaker can now summon Ingenuity is the key to the Engineers’ secret power. The
their Black Bone weapons in the form of a bo, tonfa, Engineers know they are on the forefront of a new field and
nunchaku, sansetsukon or yari without the need of a their explorations into the unknown will radically change
Quick Action or a Prepare Action. Black Bones are inde- the Empire. They know each device they create, each step
structible in either weapon or animal-controlling form. they dare to take and each scientific discovery has the pos-
sibility for endless uses to benefit humanity—and the Engi-
neers are not afraid to go down that path.
Ingenuity is not just about who is the smart-
est or what idea has the most scientific merit.
While it does not easily reward those ideas that
63
 are impractical or otherwise wrong, such as try- Assuming Tika has 4 Resource Points, she decides the wood
ing to put out a fire by spraying flammable oil covering is her priority. Her player rolls Crafts + Fortitude, as she
into it, it does reward those who are willing to is trying to make the wagons sturdier. She gets 3 successes, and
think outside of the situation and find the easiest, decides to use these to make a covering that provides AR +3 to the
the simplest, the most powerful or some combination of wagon for the Scene.
those three methods into solving it. Next, she tries to create the blind to fire from, spending 1
An Engineer needs to dedicate themselves to the phi- RP and rolling Crafts + Stealth, which gives her 2 Successes. The
losophy or field they are trying to best emulate in their blind now adds +2 Stealth while she is inside of it.
inventions. An Engineer with an affinity for clockwork
devices will tailor their gear to accommodate them, while At the end of a Story, an Engineer must turn over any
another Engineer who works with Black Smokes may come inventions to the Imperial College for further examina-
up not just with more powerful rifles but ways to use them tion to determine their worth. An Engineer often receives
outside of combat, such as firing grappling hooks. half the amount of Resources invested in the item as re-
imbursement, which the Engineer can use as they see fit.
Resource Points and Creating
Inventions The Study of Ingenuity
Engineers receive Resource Points (RP) from the Im- ªª Level One: The Engineer may purchase two Fields of
perial College to make their inventions, but can spend Study from the list below, and begins each Session
time scavenging and salvaging from trash piles, existing with 2 Resource Points.
pieces of equipment or rummaging through houses to ac- ªª Level Two: Having refined their ability to use mate-
quire more throughout the story. This requires a Moder- rials more efficiently, the Engineer gains two more
ate (2) Crafts + Intuition roll, where each success yields 1 Fields of Study, begins each session with 3 RP, and au-
RP. No Engineer may have more than 10 Resource Points tomatically gains 1 free RP with each successful scav-
at any given time. enging check.
Inventions may increase an item’s strength or give a ªª Level Three: The Engineer has mastered their craft, and
critical advantage for a Scene. An invention may help a remembers their past designs clearly. The Engineer gains
climber scale the side of a building or allow a soldier to the final two fields of study, begins each session with 4
neatly fold up a raft into a cube; both are equally invalu- RP, and counts 9s and 10s both as 2 successes (instead of
able. Such Inventions cost 1 RP and last for a single Scene just 10s) when rolling for creating their inventions.
before they need repair or to be recreated. By spending 1
RP in addition to the standard cost, the player may extend
the duration of the invention to the Session. Fields of Study
To create an invention, the Engineer rolls their Crafts These Fields can be very specific or encompass an
+ a Skill associated with the device’s goal for each modifi- idea, but Storytellers are encouraged not to let the player
cation applied to the device. Modifying a firework to fire take one Field that is too broad or all encompassing. The
more accurately would fall under Marksman, while cre- following is a list of potential Fields:
ating special shoes that don’t leave footprints requires ªª Black Powder: Creating new kinds of black powder
Stealth. For each success gained, they may modify a de- devices, from harmless noisemakers to enhancing
vice’s dice pool or stats by 1. Each modification to the in- grenades and bombs.
vention costs 1 point of Resources, and is assumed to take ªª Equipment and Gear: Creating new kinds of climbing
some time to complete. Jury-rigged alterations may take devices, hidden compartments in cloaks and modifying
a few turns to complete, while fortifying a building may existing pieces of equipment to have new functions.
take a day. The GM and player should discuss how long
ªª Civil Engineering: Construction of aqueducts, plumb-
such a change should reasonably take.
ing and buildings, as well as creatively altering their use
to produce things like water cannons and fortifications.
Example: Tika the Engineer wants to protect a shipment
of grain from ninja attack, so she decides to make special flame ªª Metallurgy: Improving armor by adding to its ef-
retardant boards to prevent the wagons from catching fire. Since fectiveness to resist wounds, improving upon metal
she prefers to fight her battles from a distance, she cre- structures to hold more weight and creating new ma-
ates a special blind on one of the wagons to let her stay terials that are lighter than steel but twice as strong.
absolutely hidden but still let her fire her rifle.

64
ªª Covert Equipment: Inventing and improving spy- The ritual lasts at least 8 hours, but if the ninja
glasses, hidden inks, covert compartments and forged spends the whole day performing it they gain +1 to
documents. their roll. When performing the ritual, they make a
ªª Clockwork Designs: Creating clockwork or Tough (3) Holistics + Discipline check. A success re-
steam-powered devices to aid in lifting heavy loads, trieves the secrets of a single known jutsu from the target’s
body, but kills a living character or destroys a dead body. Jut-
helping weakened limbs move again and pneumatic
su retrieved are chosen randomly from the jutsu known by
and hydraulic devices.
the target, so even the character doesn’t know what secrets
will be revealed. A Boost either allows the target to survive,
the Golden Lion gets to choose the jutsu retrieved, it retrieves
Jutsu Retrieval an additional jutsu, or it halves ritual length (player’s choice);
(Golden Lions, 99 Styles) a dead body is destroyed, even on a Boost. A target cannot be
subjected to the same ritual again for a whole week, as the
Any other clan calls what the Golden Lions do an un- body needs time to recover. This recovery cannot be aided by
forgivable theft. In their minds, however, their traditions jutsu, because it could alter the precious information inside
simply retrieve jutsu knowledge that might otherwise go a target’s body.
missing. Outside the Golden Lion clan, the retrieval process Jutsu retrieved are thus written down in scrolls and can
is perceived as a dissection of (sometimes living) subjects, be learned normally by the retriever, but cost -2 XP. If they
meticulously scrutinizing each detail of their victim’s body can retrieve multiple ninja who know the same jutsu, this
and spirit. Tales of these dissections grow crueler and more cost reduction would effectively give them a free jutsu af-
monstrous with each retelling, to the point where many dis- ter they understand it fully. It is impossible to understand
miss them as fear-mongering propaganda. It might be hard the notes of a fellow retriever - the ritual of jutsu retrieval
to believe someone is capable of such deviant acts just to is extremely personal. The use of Celestial Animal blood as
acquire knowledge, but their truth might be even grimmer ink is the main reason behind certain partnerships with the
than the rumors. Iron Breakers.

The Study of Jutsu Retrieval

ªª Level One to Three: Level One gives access to the abil- Ki Negation
ity. Level Two and Three each reduce the Difficulty of
the Jutsu Retrieval check by 1. So, at Level Two, they (Executioners)
make a Moderate (2) check, and at Level Three, they The rituals involved with imprinting the ability of jutsu
make a Simple (1) check. negation on an Executioner is long and excruciatingly pain-
ful, but it is more than just a newly-formed mystic aura that
makes them what they are. Through the use of ritual scar-
The Jutsu Retrieval Ritual ring, Executioners learn how to balance their internal ki and
Retrieving a jutsu is a long, trying and gruesome ritual. use it to alter their environment, attacking other beings with
The target must be undressed and covered in symbols, writ- ki. Yin is best combated by the bright energy of Yang, while
ten in the blood of a Celestial Animal in a room filled with Yang can be bested by the soul-crushing power of Yin. Ninja
special burning incense reminiscent of a cinnamon scent. have mastered how to harness both sides of their soul, but
After that, they inflict excruciating pain upon the victim. not how to set them against each other… not like the Execu-
While decidedly cruel, this is necessary to raise their ki lev- tioner has. With this ability, the soldiers become unstoppable
els and bring their jutsu secrets to their mind and soul for juggernauts against any squad of ninja who rely too heavily
extraction. Managing the target’s pain threshold is incred- on their jutsu to survive against the Empire. They are in for
ibly difficult. Few targets survive their first retrieval. After a surprise, indeed.
the target reaches the desirable level of pain, they are cut
open and dissected. Years of study allow the Golden Lion
to understand how jutsu work by seeing how their usage Learning Ki Negation
affects a target’s bones, muscles and internal organs. Once their vessel is prepared, their ki is transformed into
It’s very important to keep the target well restrained a weapon, giving them an edge in almost any battle. Honing
throughout the process, or it might try to escape and hurt one’s negation powers is like sharpening a blade, and some
its valuable body and the information contained within. veteran Executioners have learned uses for their
Jutsu Retrieval used on a corpse, while easier, suffers a -2 abilities beyond simply countering jutsu. Due to this,
penalty to all checks. Executioners have Yin and Yang Ki just like ninja do

65
and advance the same way, but cannot Mold more. Level One ceive +1 Fighting and +1 Fortitude, gain +1 Yang when
is available to all Executioners, but it requires Rank 3 to reach using Jutsu Suppression, and gain a +2 bonus when
Level Two and Rank 5 to reach Level Three. It should be noted giving Support (NC2E, pg. 137) to a character who is
that while an Executioner wields ki as a weapon, they cannot Yin-aligned. If they possess more Yin than Yang at any
mold ki, nor can they learn jutsu. time, they receive +1 Marksman and +1 Stealth, gain +1
Yin when using Jutsu Suppression, and gain a +2 bo-
Level One nus when giving Support to a character who is Yang-
ªª Rank 1 - Jutsu Suppression: First, the Executioner re- aligned. If they are ever balanced (equal Yin and Yang),
ceives Sense Ki from Portents (NC2E, pg. 79). Also, when they gain all Skill bonuses, but not their Jutsu Suppres-
they are present during a jutsu activation, they can sion or Support bonuses.
spend 1 Dynamic Action to make a Discipline + Opposite
Ki (if the jutsu uses Yang, the Executioner adds Yin and Level Two
vice versa) roll to suppress its effects. Each success the ªª Rank 3 - Jutsu Theft: Foolish ninja fighting a seasoned
character gets cancels 1 success their target gets. If they Executioner may find that not only are their jutsu sup-
are successful in fully canceling the jutsu, they gain 2 pressed, but they may actually bolster the Executioner
Karma, and the ninja suffers a -1 penalty to use that par- in the end. Instead of simply suppressing a jutsu, the
ticular jutsu for the Scene. Likewise, the character may Executioner can now either steal its effect or reflect it
simply spend 1 ki of the appropriate type to cancel the back to its original user. If they fully cancel a jutsu with
jutsu outright (regardless of whether it is Basic, Median Jutsu Suppression, the Executioner may now assume
or Advanced). any beneficial effects it would have given the ninja.
ªª Rank 2 - Ki Alignment: Every Executioner is trained If the jutsu had a target other than the ninja, it turns
alongside a partner whose ki affinities opposes their against them, and the ninja must now Defend against
own. If one is strong with Yang, then their partner is it, with Difficulty equal to the successes rolled by the
usually a strong Yin type to teach how to use one’s Executioner.
ki alignment as a weapon. If the Executioner pos- ªª Rank 4 - Ki Destruction: When fighting a ninja, the
sesses more Yang than Yin at any time, they re- Executioner may reflexively sacrifice their own ki to

66
 destroy the ki in their target. This is destroyed in the in silence. Not only this but inanimate objects
following manner: they may come in contact with feel the effects
as well. Jumping into water creates a silent
1 Ki Destroys 1 Ki splash. Knocking over a picture means it falls
2 Ki Destroys 2 Ki to the ground without a sound. Any animate being or
creature touched during this effect is able to hear the
3 Ki Destroys 4 Ki
monk normally. On a Boost, the monk also receives +2
4 Ki Destroys 7 Ki Stealth for the Scene.
5 Ki Destroys up to 10 Ki ªª Sliding Stance (Balance + Fortitude): The monk slips into
their sliding stance, bending their body into near impossi-
Ki destroyed in this manner cannot be remolded for the ble positions. They gain +1 Athletics for the Scene and can
Scene. For instance, if a ninja has Yang 4 and Yin 2, the perform unthinkable contortions without a problem.
Executioner may sacrifice 3 ki to destroy 2 Yin and 2 ªª Twisting Stance (Balance + Travel): The monk turns
Yang, all the target’s Yang, or any combination of 4 de- their body into their twisting stance, making it impos-
stroyed ki. sible for them to be the subject of Knock Down or Knock
Back effects for the Battle.
Level Three
ªª Rank 5 - The Land Attacks: There are very few mas-
ters of Ki Negation, due to the short lifespan of most
Median
ªª Cat Stance (Balance + Speed): The monk bends into
Executioners, but those who do wield immense power.
their cat stance, making their movements unpredict-
First, the character can cut off the ability to mold ki
able. They gain a +2 bonus to all Defense checks for a
from an environment with 4 Taps by sacrificing 1 Ki of
number of Rounds equal to successes gained.
either type. Cutting off a 6-tap environment requires
sacrificing 2 Ki. Once they have stopped the flow of ki, ªª Iron Head (Balance + Fighting): Must have Twisting
the Executioner can cause the energy to build and at- Stance. The monk launches their head at their target,
tack their enemies with it. With a Marksman + Disci- crushing them and forcing them backward. Roll activa-
pline check, the Executioner can send ki energy at the tion as their attack check, dealing +1 damage and creat-
target, dealing +3 damage and a Level 1 Condition of the ing a Knock Back effect of 10 ft. per damage dealt. With
GM’s choosing (based on the environment type). They a Boost, they inflict a Pain 2 Condition.
can do this a number of turns equal to the taps the en- ªª Lizard Climb the Wall (Balance + Travel): Scaling a
vironment once had. wall can be difficult for anyone, but the monk has mas-
tered this art. Once activated, the Enlightened immedi-
ately climbs 20 ft. + 10 ft. per success gained. The space
Path of the Body is traveled in a single Turn, usually leaving others be-
hind.
(The enlightened) ªª Ringing Round a Tree (Balance + Athletics): Must
have Sliding Stance. The monk has practiced their
Basic strength training, making it possible for them to uproot
ªª Diamond Finger Technique (Balance + Fortitude): trees. This multiplies their Strength by x2 and raises
The monk’s strikes become as deadly as a blade as they their physical damage by +1. On a Boost, their Strength
strike specific pressure points with their pointer finger. is raised by x3.
They deal +1 damage (as if they were armed) and are ªª Swift Eye Gouge Technique (Balance + Speed): Must
considered to have the Sharp Weapon Quality. have Intangible Strike Method. With a quick motion,
ªª Intangible Strike Method (Balance + Speed): The the monk can remove an object from hands, pockets,
monk increases the speed of their strikes, allowing the etc. A master can even use this lightning fast action to
force of their attacks to pass through material things remove someone’s eye before they even have a chance
like Armor. They may ignore a target’s Armor level for to counter, giving it its sinister name. Roll activation as
a number of strikes equal to successes gained. the attack check, but this attack ignores any penalties
for striking a small target and adds +4 Initia-
ªª Silence of Wind (Balance + Stealth): This technique is
tive if it is the monk’s first Action for a Round.
used to promote stealth above brute strength. Once ac-
Can only be used once per Round.
tivated, the character’s movements are totally cloaked

67
 Advanced
ªª Iron Shirt (Balance + Might): Must have Iron
Path of the Mind
Head. The monk strengthens his body, making it im- (The enlightened)
mune to all ranged weapons, such as bows and kunai.
They need not make a Defense roll, as the weapons simply
bounce off their skin. If the weapon is a firearm, they receive Basic
Armor 2, instead of simply ignoring its effects. ªª Altered Truth (Balance + Deception): A simple trick, the
monk can put a thought in the mind of their target. It must
ªª One Finger of Chan Meditation (Balance + Intuition):
not be something easily contradicted (“I’m your brother”)
Must have Swift Eye Gouge Technique. The monk has
or obviously untrue (“the sky is red”), but can be used to
learned to attack what is inside, leaving the exterior
change opinions on the fly. The effects last a Scene.
free from harm. If the flame from a lantern goes out,
but the glass remains unbroken, they have mastered ªª Floating Position (Balance + Discipline): Overcom-
the technique. Against a living target, this means mas- ing the physical limitations of gravity with the power
sive internal damage. The monk rolls activation to at- of their mind, the monk can hover up to (Balance) x10
tack, dealing an Injured 1 Condition for each success ft. off the ground. They travel at only half their normal
(instead of damage). If this exceeds the Level 5 limit for Movement while doing so, however.
Conditions, the remaining damage becomes a Deprived ªª Linked Minds Meditation (Balance + Empathy): The
1 Condition instead. monk links the minds of themselves and a number of
ªª Series of Blows (Balance + Speed): Must have Lizard others equal to successes gained. They can send mental
Climb the Wall. The limits of their martial prowess are messages to their targets within Far Range but must act
without match, allowing them to take on large groups as a go-between for the others (they cannot communi-
of enemies in short order. For all intents and purpos- cate with each other directly).
es, this duplicates the effects of 10,000 Fists (NC2E, pg. ªª Stable Mind Meditation (Balance + Discipline): The
113), except that successes gained must be split be- mind is a fragile thing, but the monk has learned to sta-
tween Inflict Harm and Move Actions for the monk to bilize their own. Each success gained during activation
travel around the battlefield. frees their mind, lowering a Mental Condition by 1. This
ªª Surge of Life Meditation (Balance + Fortitude): This cannot be attempted during Battle or duress.
technique allows some monks to defeat their worst en- ªª Stoic Warrior (Balance + Intimidation): The monk’s
emy: mortality. Through this meditation, their life can resolve allows them to appear much more intimidating
be slowed down, explaining how some masters are over on the battlefield. They receive +2 Armor against men-
100-years old. On a successful activation, the character tal attacks and may ignore 1 Armor when launching
slows one year of their aging to the number of years per their own mental attacks.
success gained. For example, a monk who gets 5 suc-
cesses with Surge of Life Meditation will age only one
year within the next 5 years. At the end of the 5 years, Median
he may roll again. The first 5 times the character per- ªª Art of Invisibility (Balance + Stealth): Must have Stoic
forms this technique, it counts for one year of his life, Warrior. This ability clouds the minds of those they wish
as above. Then for 2 years for the next 5 times. Then not to see them. The Difficulty for this ability is equal to
3 years for the next 5 times. Until the technique has the target’s Perception, but the GM may apply penalties
no more effect, as the number of years outweighs the or bonuses based on the situation. If affecting a group,
character’s dice pool. use the highest Perception of the group. If the roll suc-
ceeds, the monk is invisible to the target(s), with no need
ªª Universal Flow (Balance + Empathy): Must have Cat to roll again for the rest of the Scene. The monk cannot
Stance. The monk gives themselves completely to the act aggressively (not even against a wall or a door) while
flow of ki in the universe, removing thought from all using this technique or it instantly ends.
actions and making them more effective warriors. For
the rest of the Battle, they gain +3 Initiative, ignore ªª Finger Lock (Balance + Knowledge): Once in a Grap-
penalties from the environment (including lack of visi- ple, the monk simply grabs his opponent’s finger, par-
bility) and score a Boost with only 2 additional success- alyzing them. Roll activation as the attack check, the
es on combat checks. monk bends their finger in an enigmatic way, causing
Pain Condition levels instead of damage. On a Boost, the
victim also suffers an Embarrassed 2 Condition.

68
ªª Mind Over Matter (Balance + Knowledge): Must have to solve the issue as quickly as possible. They
Stable Mind Meditation. Through the Tenets of Ko, truly gain a number of +2 bonuses equal to success-
awesome physical feats are possible. The monk meditates es gained, which can be used on any mental
to focus their mental will and gains a bonus to their next check for the Scene.
physical Skill check equal to successes gained.
ªª Sleep Touch (Balance + Persuade): With a quick
touch, the monk hits certain pressure points to apply a Path of the Spirit
Knocked Out 2 Condition. If attempted in combat, they
suffer a -2 penalty to their activation. (The enlightened)
ªª Twin Lock Stance (Balance + Speed): The monk joins
their forearms together to form a solid wall, capable of Basic
repelling any attack. They gain a +1 bonus to Defense ªª Bow Stance (Balance + Perception): The monk takes
checks and may Block weapons without penalty for the their bow stance, aligning their spirit to find fault in
Battle. another’s. For a number of attacks equal to successes
gained, the monk inflicts an automatic Confused 1 Con-
dition on their target.
Advanced
ªª Crippling Strike Amenti (Balance + Discipline): Must ªª Elemental Training (Balance + Fortitude): By prim-
have Finger Lock. This most accurate punch debilitates ing their spirit, the monk can withstand adverse weath-
the target, making it hard for them to even move and er. The character can survive for (Balance) hours before
function. Use activation for the attack check, and apply feeling adverse effects and gain Armor 1 against any El-
a Broken 1 Condition for each success in addition to +1 emental jutsu for the Scene.
damage. If the Condition exceeds the Level 5 limit, they ªª Following the Tenets (Balance + Travel): The Tenets
gain a second Broken Condition for another Skill. of Ko teach the way to go in one’s life, making traveling
ªª Forgetful Mind Prana (Balance + Knowledge): Must easy. Use before a Journey, gain a number of bonus dice
have Altered Truth. Using this ability on a victim, the equal to successes gained that any member of the group
monk can remove thoughts and memories from his may use for their Stage checks (with the Enlightened’s
mind or create new ones through the use of pressure permission).
points to the brain. For all intents and purposes, this ªª Ki Strike (Balance + Discipline): When fighting nin-
duplicates the Information Consumption jutsu (NC2E, ja, the monk can cripple their greatest weapon. For a
pg. 128), but takes only moments to use instead of re- number of attacks equal to successes gained, they may
quiring a ritual. An Exceptional success means the vic- negate damage from a successful attack to drain 2 ki
tim accepts the new memories without thought. from their opponent instead.
ªª Paralyzing Strike (Balance + Holistics): There are ªª Spirit Steps (Balance + Discipline): The monk takes a
certain ways of defeating your opponent; the least of meditative stance that allows their spirit to leave their
them is incapacitating them. Their activation is their body. They can remain outside their body for a number
attack, and if successful, the monk paralyzes their tar- of minutes equal to successes gained. In this form they
get, taking away a number of Actions equal to their Bal- are invisible, undetectable and cannot affect the physical
ance, along with dealing +1 damage. A Boost doubles all world. They are effectively spirits themselves.
effects. For example, a monk with Balance 4 would deal
+1 damage and take 4 Actions from the target. If they
only had 2 Actions left for that Round, they also lose 2 Median
Actions from the next Round. ªª Affect the World (Balance + Empathy): Must have
Spirit Steps. While using Spirit Steps, the monk can
ªª Share Minds (Balance + Empathy): Must have Linked become partially corporeal using this Tactic. They can
Minds Meditation. The monk sits in meditation with affect the physical world with a number of checks equal
their target, opening up their minds to each other. Once to successes gained, allowing them to attack, steal an
used, the two know everything about each other, from item, etc. Can only be used once per use of Spirit Steps.
their names, occupations, emotions, family life, etc., as
well as any dark secrets they may possess. ªª Graceful Swan Technique (Balance + Stealth): Must
have Bow Stance. The character becomes light
ªª Unlocked Puzzle Prana (Balance + Crafts): The monk as a feather, being able to walk on walls and
looks at any puzzle or situation, applying a web of logic jump incredible lengths. This ability grants +2

69
 Athletics and negates damage from
falls up to 50 ft. Masters of this tech-
nique can even appear to be in flight,
even though it’s just longer jumps with
enough successes. Gravity still affects them,
however. They can only stay on wall or ceil-
ing surfaces unmoving for up to a number
Turns equal to their Balance, before falling.
On a Boost, the number of Turns is doubled.
ªª Horse Stance (Balance + Discipline): The
monk takes their horse stance, the best for
focusing one’s spirit. Once activated, their
Balance is raised by +2 for a number of Tac-
tics uses equal to successes gained.
ªª Knowing the Soul (Balance + Intuition):
Looking into the eyes of a Close target,
the monk can instantly discern a number
of things about them equal to successes
gained. These can be game-related things
like Rank, Ki Levels, Clan/Assignment, etc.
or personality tidbits such as likes, dis-
likes, favored name, etc.
ªª Long Distance Punch (Balance + Intimi-
dation): This ability allows the character
to attack a target from a distance. Once ac-
tivated, they may use their Fighting Skill
on any target within Near Range. On a
Boost, this extends to Far Range.

Advanced
ªª Hand of Sun Rays (Balance + Empathy):
Must have Horse Stance. The monk calls
spiritual energy to their hands, causing
them to both glow with shining power and
causes spiritual damage. Use activation
for the attack check, and apply a Dazed 1
Condition and Burned 1 Condition for each
success gained. If the Condition exceeds
the Level 5 limit, levels are converted to
damage (2 damage per success).
ªª Piercing the Veil (Balance + Travel): Must
have Spirit Steps and Horse Stance. The
monk can instantly teleport to any location
within 10 ft. multiplied by the number of
successes. For instance, rolling 4 successes
would allow instant relocation within 40 ft.
The new location must be somewhere the
monk can see or has been before.

70
ªª Poison Hand Technique (Balance + Fighting): Must known, combines simple verbal tricks with focusing
have Ki Strike. The monk fills his aura with ki-degrad- on the larger scheme of things on a level others sim-
ing energy for a number of attacks equal to successes ply cannot comprehend. The Voice can be a gentle,
gained. If hit, the victim feels a poison course through guiding hand or a blunt instrument of change, but
their body, taking 1 physical damage and suffering a when used, it can be every bit as powerful as a sword.
Poisoned 1 Condition in addition to any damage dealt.
They take 1 automatic damage, and their Condition Studying the Voice
raises by +1 each Round for (Balance) Rounds. On a ªª Level One: The character learns Air of Authority and
Boost, all effects are doubled. either A Subtle Implication or Voice of Rebuke. The
ªª Split Essence Meditation (Balance + Discipline): Must wielder is well-versed in the Izou courts, gaining +1
have Affect the World and Knowing the Soul. The monk Knowledge when related to politics and bureaucracy.
splits themselves into two beings; one who commands all ªª Level Two: At this level, the speaker understands how
their intellect called the yume and another who possess- to stir a crowd into action and summon even greater
es all their physical strength, known as the akuma. The authority. The wielder of the Voice gains Voice of Righ-
yume receives a +2 bonus to any mental roll, but cannot teousness and the ability they did not select from Level
participate in physical Battles. Meanwhile, the akuma 1.
gains a +2 bonus to physical rolls and automatically fails
any mental or social checks (except for Intimidation) ªª Level Three: The speaker is now fully invested with the
due to their bestial mind. They mirror each other for all Voice of the Emperor and gains either Voice of Fury or
other stats, like Initiative or Dynamic Actions. They can The Lord’s Will.
stay separated for a number of hours equal to successes
gained and can be any distance away from each other, Voice of the Emperor Abilities
making multitasking simple. For instance, the yume may ªª A Subtle Implication: Words are as dangerous as weap-
pick a lock while the akuma fights a gang of guards with- ons, and the right word can raise someone into a great
out missing a step. The yume retains the monk’s Psyche, fury, crush their will to live or cause them to obsess
while the akuma uses their Health. If one reaches 0, the over the smallest detail. It is picking a moment, know-
Tactic ends as the two halves are thrown back together; ing what to say and how to say it. The character makes
the character suffers a Knocked Out 2 Condition in this a Tough (3) Empathy + Intimidation check. Upon a suc-
case. If neither side is defeated, the two souls re-merge cess, they can place an idea in a target’s mind that they
without any negative consequence once the Duration will spend a number of Scenes obsessing over, equal to
ends. the level of success gained. This ability may only affect
ªª Vibrating Strike (Balance + Discipline): After 1 Round up to (Intuition) targets at any given time.
of meditation (no attacking or defending), the martial ªª Air of Authority: Authority stems from two places; pow-
artist can launch a critical strike at his target. The next er, and the threat of having to use it. While sometimes
hit they land deals no physical damage, instead mark- it is enough for others to acknowledge authority, this
ing the target’s spirit. The strike will then do 1 damage power gives the user a permanent +1 bonus to all tests
in Round 2, 2 damage in Round 3, 3 damage in Round involving social or mental skills. The user always appears
4 and so on, for (Balance) Rounds. The damage affects regal and noble, as if their natural state is to be in charge,
Psyche before Health, usually ending with the victim and the character may cause an Embarrassed 1 Condition
falling unconscious. On a Boost, they can switch it to with any Boost (physical or mental). All attempts to sully
affect Health first if they choose. the user’s appearance or dismiss them out of hand suffer
a -2 penalty to the attempt.
ªª The Lord’s Will: This ability allows the speaker to
Voice of the Emperor demonstrate absolute authority that reaches the high-
(Jadesmiths) est levels of government and forces even the most
dismissive listener to heed their words. As long as the
Politics is a game where the brave, the foolish and those Jadesmith holds their Action during a Battle, instead
caught in-between exchange clever words and cunning social standing back and issuing orders, each Karma spent
moves, and in the Empire this game has become a constant counts as two dice and any time Karma would be gained,
factor in every citizen’s life. There are those with even great- they may add two dice to the pool.
er skill than a simple politician could hope to dream of: Jade-
smiths. The Voice of the Emperor, as it is more commonly

71
 ªª Voice of Righteousness: The speaker Basic Jutsu
trains themselves in passionate speeches, and can ªª Armor Synch (Yang + Perception): The ninja aligns
call upon years of study and learned knowledge to their ki with their armor, allowing a specific jutsu to
give themselves and their allies an air of authori- use the armor’s reserves. When the ninja uses the jut-
ty. The speaker spends 1 Karma and gains a +2 bonus to su thereafter, they do not make a new roll – instead,
Deception, Empathy, Intimidation, Perform or Persuade they use their Armor Synch activation result. A ninja
checks for the Scene. A +1 bonus may carry over to up to can synchronize (Intuition)/2 jutsu at a time. A par-
(Empathy) comrades who also gain this bonus. ticular jutsu remains synchronized until Armor Synch
ªª Voice of Fury: There are times when the speaker may is performed again. A careful strike to one of the ar-
drive a crowd into a frenzy and force them to focus their mor’s golden plates will rob them of their ki energy. A
rage on an idea, a person or a belief. The speaker makes successful attack with a -3 penalty destroys one of the
a Challenging (4) Empathy + Intimidation roll to affect a Golden Lion’s plates and makes them unable to use one
crowd and, if successful, the crowd follows the speaker’s of their jutsu.
commands for the rest of the Scene. The character may ªª Golden Aura (Yang + Discipline): The ninja summons
have them cause or stop a riot, attack an enemy or de- energy from the golden armor, surrounding them-
fend a location, making the crowd into their own person- selves with an aura that allows them to move faster and
al army. The Difficulty of attempts from others to affect hit harder. The ninja gains Fighting +1 or Athletics +1
the crowd’s behavior go up by +1, as well. (player’s choice) until the end of the Scene. On a Boost,
ªª Voice of Rebuke: A Jadesmith must often keep oth- they gain both. This jutsu can be interrupted by a care-
ers in check through diplomacy. More effective than a ful attack, just like Armor Synch.
simple threat, the speaker learns how to channel their ªª Lion’s Pounce (Yang + Stealth): The Golden Lion leaps
thoughts into a weapon that stings at the pride of their upon a target, unnoticed, attacking viciously. If the nin-
target and weakens them. By spending 2 Dynamic Ac- ja’s next attack is a surprise attack, it deals +1 damage.
tions, the speaker may make an Intimidation + Decep- On a Boost, it deals +2 damage.
tion check against the target’s Intimidation + Discipline, ªª Pack Tactics (Yang + Empathy): The Lion’s pack hunts
saying just the thing to throw them off their game. If together. After another character uses a jutsu, a Golden
successful, the target suffers a -4 penalty to their next Lion gives them a +1 bonus on their activation check
roll. per success gained (up to their Knowledge).
ªª Jutsu Reading (Yang + Perception): To copy jutsu, a
ninja must first understand it. By activating this jut-
Way of su, the Golden Lion gains a +2 bonus to defend or resist
Dazzling Pilferage against a specific jutsu for the Battle. May affect up to
(Intuition) jutsu at one time.
(Golden Lions)
Element: Water Median Jutsu
Training: Learning how to copy abilities and mimic ªª Lion Blast (Yin + Marksman): Concentrating the ki
techniques requires a deep understanding of the founda- energies from the armor on the lion’s mouth, the ninja
tions of all techniques. Golden Lion ninja have very strong releases a deadly beam of ki with Long Range. The beam
basics, practicing these foundations repeatedly beyond the deals +1 damage, and on a Boost it deals a Level One
point other clans aim for. Along with their honed atten- Bruised Condition.
tion to detail, this strong foundation allows them not only
ªª Lion’s Roar (Yin + Intimidation): A loud roar erupts
to mimic most abilities but to better defend against most
from the ninja’s mouth, disrupting hearing and intim-
forms of attack. On a Boost, they gain +1 to defend or resist
idating opponents. Anyone within Near Range of the
against jutsu or styles for the Round.
ninja suffers a Sensory Loss 2 Condition until the end
Backfire: Stealing, copying and adapting instead of
of the Scene and suffers a mental attack (defend with
creating make Golden Lion ninja inflexible. This lack of op-
Discipline + Fortitude against the activation check).
tions when things don’t go according to plan hurts the nin-
ja’s self-esteem, giving them a Level 1 Bruised Condition that ªª Jutsu Mimicry (Yang + Perception): Must have Armor
only applies to Mental damage. Synch. A Golden Lion ninja can use this ability to tem-
porarily copy a jutsu they have seen, synchronizing it to
their golden armor. Jutsu Mimicry can be used reflex-

72
 ively by spending a Dynamic Action. This jutsu can be copies is then reduced by one, as the copy pops
disrupted by a precise attack, in the same way as Armor like a balloon. If the result is higher than the
Synch. Jutsu mimicked this way count against the num- number of copies, the ninja is hit normally. This
ber of jutsu synchronized to one’s armor. jutsu lasts until the Battle ends.
ªª Skill Mimicry (Yang + Perception): After being at- ªª True Lion’s Pounce (Yang + Stealth): Must have Lion’s
tacked, the ninja may mimic the ability used by their Pounce. As the lion in his clan’s name, the ninja stalks
foe. The ninja gains a +1 bonus to a Skill in the attacking the area, getting ready for a devastating strike. It works
enemy’s combo for the Battle per success. This bonus like Lion’s Pounce, but the bonus damage is equal to the
cannot be higher than the target’s Skill level. amount of successes obtained.
ªª Style Mimicry (Yang + Perception): Must have Skill
Mimicry. After seeing a technique from a fighting style
or weapon style being used, the ninja can mimic the Way of All Rivers
same technique until the end of the Scene. This jutsu can
be used reflexively by spending a Dynamic Action. (Silver Blades)
Swords are some of the most favored weapons in the
Izou Empire. Several military styles focus heavily on their
Advanced Jutsu use, especially among the Silver Blades. These unique Weap-
ªª Golden Interference (Yin + Fighting): Must have Ar-
on Styles are part of their training and can be used with any
mor Synch. The ninja uses the ki flow in her golden
sword at their disposal. This includes curved blades, short
armor to interfere with the enemy’s flow. This usually
swords or even wooden swords.
takes the form of a head butt, using the helmet to make
contact with the enemy. The target can’t use the Zen
Mind Dynamic Action until the end of the scene. On a Way of the Silver Tide
Boost, they can’t mold ki at all. This jutsu can be inter- ªª Level One: The most well-known Silver Blade style, it
rupted by a precise attack, as Armor Synch. emphasizes cutting always and at all ranges. When they
strike, they cut. When they defend, they cut. When they
ªª Golden Shield (Yang + Crafts): The ninja adjusts his
breathe, they cut. Every movement, every thought, ev-
armor to resonate with the attacking jutsu, absorbing it
ery waking moment is spent on the edge. A warrior cuts
completely. The opposing jutsu is negated. To use this
even when they defend. On a Boost during a Block/
jutsu, the ninja must give up his normal defense or re-
Parry check against a weapon attack, they may cut the
sistance check against the jutsu. This jutsu can be dis-
opponent’s weapon in half. On a Boost in a Block/Parry
abled by a precise attack, as Armor Synch.
check against an unarmed melee attack, the opponent
ªª Jutsu Prediction (Yin + Intuition): Must have Jutsu receives an Injured (Limb) 1 Condition.
Reading. They say a Golden Lion can see the future and
ªª Level Two: Range is no object to a master Silver Blade.
therefore know what jutsu you are going to use. That’s
Swiping their blade through the air precisely, this strike
not true, but they can use subtle hypnotics to nudge
cuts not only what is in front of the Blade, but everything
their opponent into using a specific kind of jutsu. A
else before them in a straight line up to Near Range. This
target opposes the activation check with Discipline +
tactic is often used to attack multiple, lined-up oppo-
Intuition. If the Golden Lion wins, they can choose an
nents. The Silver Blade rolls only once for the Attack,
element. If the target uses any jutsu the next Round,
applying the result to multiple targets.
they must be of the element chosen. Regardless of the
target using any jutsu or not, the Golden Lion adds a bo- ªª Level Three: This advanced version of the Silver Tide
nus equal to their Yin to any attempts to defend against works like its lesser version, but cuts up to Far Range and
the target’s attacks or to resist against the target’s jutsu deals +1 damage. It can be used only once per Battle be-
for that Round. cause it strains the blade. If used to attack at Far Range
twice in the same Battle, the blade shatters afterward.
ªª Shadow of the Pack (Yin + Deception): Must have Pack
Tactics. The Golden Lion uses minor illusions to make it
seem like they are not one, but many. Each success in the
activation check creates an illusion - an identical copy
of the Golden Lion. When the Golden Lion is hit by an
attack, roll a die. If its result is lower than the number
of copies, one of the copies is hit instead; the number of

73
 Way of the Sword’s Heart Way of Instant Step
ªª Level One: Where does the warrior end ªª Level One: The Silver Blade learns to close the gap be-
and where does the sword begin? For an initiate tween themselves and their target, taking every possi-
of this Way, there is no answer. The Silver Blade ble advantage of their speed. They can Move as a Quick
meditates briefly, blade in hand, creating a spiritual Action without incurring the standard penalty to their
connection between warrior and sword. Make a Simple follow-up action. Alternatively, the warrior may accept
(1) Fighting + Intuition check. They gain +1 Fighting and the penalty to move four times their Movement (in-
cannot be disarmed of that blade by any circumstance stead of three).
for a number of Rounds equal to successes gained. ªª Level Two: The Silver Blade moves so fast they become
ªª Level Two: A precise and deadly strike, known to be a silver blur before they reach their target. When they
able to cut a bird in mid-flight. The Silver Blade cuts attack with a sword using Speed after using a Quick Ac-
from above to below and immediately reverses the tion to move, they deal +2 damage.
attack, cutting again from below to above. The attack ªª Level Three: The warrior runs so fast they seemingly
deals +2 damage and the enemy defends against it with disappear, cutting any opponents crossing their way.
a -2 penalty. This attack can only be used if the warrior Any space between the Silver Blade and their target
has bonded with their sword, and after it is used, the seems to be suppressed instantly. Roll Fighting + Speed,
bond is broken. spend 1 Dynamic Action and make an immediate attack
ªª Level Three: This extremely deadly technique is a hor- on one opponent within Near Range per success gained.
izontal cut that strikes the left shoulder, neck and right This ability can only be used once per Battle.
shoulder at the same time. The attack deals +3 damage,
and enemies who survive suffer a Bleeding 3 Condition.
This attack can only be used if the Silver Blade has bond- Way of the Silver Iaijutsu
ed with his sword, and after it is used, the bond is broken. ªª Level One: The art of drawing the sword and attacking
the opponent in one fluid strike is central to the Sil-
ver Blade way. First, the Silver Blade can draw a weap-
Way of the Tiger Rush on without spending a Quick Action to do so. They also
ªª Level One: Tiger Rush consists of several techniques to gain +1 Initiative per Silver Iaijutsu level, as long as their
employ raw muscle power to make a blade cut deeper. It weapon is sheathed at the beginning of the Round.
is rather unorthodox and risky, making it popular among ªª Level Two: A Silver Blade veteran can defeat enemies
younger Silver Blades. On a critical failure using this style, with but a look before even drawing the sword. Before
the blade shatters due to the strain. Before striking, the a sword is drawn, the Silver Blade may spend 1 Dynamic
Silver Blade holds the weapon point with one hand, pre- Action to make a reflexive Intimidation + Speed check
paring the strike with the other. This builds more power that deals +2 mental damage. This can only be used
before the attack, making each cut deadlier. As a Quick once before the sword is drawn.
Action, make a Simple (1) Athletics + Discipline check.
On a success, the blade receives the Brutal quality for the ªª Level Three: A drawn sword is a dead sword. It takes in-
Round. On a Boost, it lasts the whole Battle. tense training, but these warriors have learned to imme-
diately sheathe their weapon after a successful attack. If
ªª Level Two: When the warrior defends successfully they do so, they can use the other Way of Silver Iaijutsu
from a Close attack, they use the momentum to deliver abilities even if it is not the first Battle Round.
a deadly counter-attack. On a Boost while defending,
reflexively make a Moderate (2) Athletics + Fighting,
with each success adding +1 damage if the character Way of Last Blood
performs a counter-attack. This bonus damage can’t be ªª Level One: Known as the fastest blades in the Empire,
higher than the original attack’s dice pool. the Silver Blades always draw first blood. However, they
ªª Level Three: After a successful attack, the Silver Blade understand that in a battle, first blood counts for very
either kicks or punches their blade, increasing damage little. Last blood counts for more. When the warrior
but straining the weapon. On a hit, reflexively make a strikes an opponent that has yet to act in the Round, the
Moderate (2) Athletics + Fighting check. Each success attack deals +1 damage per level.
adds +1 damage. If this technique is used twice within the ªª Level Two: If the first blow is not a killing blow, it must
same Battle, the blade instantly shatters. not allow a killing blow in retaliation. After striking an
opponent that has yet to act in the Round, the warrior
gains a +1 bonus to Defense (+2 on a Boost).

74
ªª Level Three: The warrior chooses their prey carefully and resisting the sting in their ear.
and studies it before delivering a decisive blow. If the ªª Level Two: Some say firearms make too much noise to
warrior is the first character to act in a Round, roll a be effective against ninja. Black Smokes beg to differ.
Moderate (2) Perception + Fighting check. On a success, If using a weapon with the Loud Weapon Quality, the
the warrior gains +2 Fighting for their next attack. On a Black Smoke learns to use this frailty to their advan-
Boost, the target gains a Bruised 1 Condition. tage. When attacking with their weapon within Close
Range, they cause +1 damage to Psyche from the bang.
On a Boost, they cause a Sensory Loss (Hearing) 2 Con-
Way of the Gun dition to their target.
(Black Smokes) ªª Level Three: Now they’ve learned how to perform a lit-
tle crowd control when needed. No one but the Black
Black Smokes are the masters of firearms, being some Smokes like the loudness caused by their powerful
of the only soldiers trusted to wield these mighty weapons. tools. When firing their weapon, everyone within Close
Beyond the limitations on materials needed for crafting a Range must make a Tough (3) Perception + Fortitude
wealth of firearms, the Black Smokes are also much less check or suffer a Sensory Loss (Hearing) 1 Condition
likely to cause friendly fire and treat each bullet with re- and an Afraid 1 Condition.
spect, not wasting ammo. The following Styles can be used
with any kind of firearm unless otherwise stated.
Double Barrel
ªª Level One to Three: It takes considerable training to be
Aine’s Ring
able to wield more than one firearm at a time without
ªª Level One: Some Black Smokes stay close to the action,
blowing one’s arms or legs off in the process, but some
never letting normal physical limitations keep them
Black Smokes have made this an art. Dual-wielding can
back. They are so close to their firearms that the ring
only be done with Pistols or other smaller fire-
of each firing begins to change them. They now ignore
arms, as Rifles are too weighty. Mechanically,
one Sensory Loss Condition level per level of Aine’s
this gives the character extra dice during an
Ring, as they get used to seeing through smoky areas
75
 attack to reflect more bullets flying at their target. firearm attack they’ve taken that Round, using it to position
They gain +2 Marksman per level, allowing them to themselves for their next attack or retreat altogether. They
tear their victims to shreds. may only utilize this up to (Level x3) dice, however. For ex-
ample, a Black Smoke with Smokey Aftermath Level 2 can
gain up to +6 Stealth for the Round. Cannot be used with a
Eagle Eye weapon with the Loud Weapon Quality.
ªª Level One: Some Black Smokes pride themselves on
their ability to hit a target no matter its distance. They
become the perfect marksmen. At this level, their aim
is improved, giving them an additional +1 bonus (per
New Weapon Styles
level) when using Plan Attack to aim. For instance, a
character with Eagle Eye 2 would gain a +4 bonus from
Plan Attack, instead of the base of +2. Defending
ªª Level Two: Lining up the perfect shot becomes second na- A good defense might be the best offense. Masters of de-
ture to the Black Smoke, allowing them to strike multiple fensive combat are more focused on surviving or ensuring oth-
targets with the same bullet. On a Boost during an attack, ers survive than they are on killing their enemies. However,
another target within Close Range to the original target they also study how to quickly go from defense to offense.
must now also Defend against the attack. This can repeat
up to (Perception) times before the bullet becomes useless. Effortless Defense
ªª Level Three: They are now able to aim on the fly, as ªª Level One: Each level of Effortless Defense lets the
targeting becomes instinctual. They may use one Free fighter make one additional defense per round without
Plan Attack Action per Round. suffering any penalties.
ªª Level Two: If the warrior uses Block/Parry as their De-
Never Unarmed fense successfully, they gain a +1 bonus (+2 on a Boost)
ªª Level One: Many members of the Black Powder Brigade on their next Defense. Subject to Repetitive Use rules if
keep their firearms by their side at all times, nurtur- they continue to only use Block/Parry.
ing them like a child or caressing them like tender lov- ªª Level Three: When the warrior fails a Defense check,
ers. To that end, it is never outside their reach, making they may reflexively spend a Dynamic Action to negate
it easier for them to quickly draw the weapon when any additional effects they might suffer if their attacker
the need arises. They can draw their firearm without Boosts.
spending a Quick Action to do so. They also gain +2 Ini-
tiative for the first Round of any Battle.
In Harm’s Way
ªª Level Two: Once they have mastered their primary fire- ªª Level One: When the defender Protects another charac-
arm, it’s time to prepare their backups. If at any time ter, they receive Armor 1 per level against the attack.
they are disarmed (or run out of ammo), they have a
ªª Level Two: When performing the Protect Defense, the
number of backup firearms on them equal to half their
defender’s Movement increases by +4.
Strength (since they have to lug them around). For in-
stance, a Black Smoke with Strength 4 could lose their ªª Level Three: When the defender uses Thicker Skin
firearm twice, but still never be without one. (NC2E, pg. 141), damage is reduced by 2 points per Dy-
namic Action spent (instead of by 1).
ªª Level Three: Few know what a Black Smoke has up
their sleeves, bringing with it a big surprise. If they are
ever disarmed, they receive a free Counter Attack as Turn the Tide
they bring their backup weapon out. ªª Level One: On a Defense Boost when the warrior de-
fends, they gain +1 Fighting per level versus the oppo-
nent they defended against, for the Round. This bonus
Smokey Aftermath can only be applied against one opponent per Turn the
ªª Level One to Three: The Black Powder Brigade know just
Tide level at a time.
how much gunpowder to use for an effective blast. Too little
and the bullet does not reach its target; too much and they ªª Level Two: If the warrior uses Counter Attack, they also
can create a smokey aftereffect. This technique utilizes deal +1 damage.
the latter to create cover for the Black Smoke and give ªª Level Three: When the warrior uses the Deflect Attack
them an edge in Battle. They gain +1 Stealth for each
76
 option, they only need to spend 1 Dynamic Action (in- this watchful stance ends immediately.
stead of 2).

New Weapon Quali-

Reach ties
A master of Reach weaponry establishes a deadly pe-
rimeter around them, creating their own personal domain. Defending +1 Free Defense check before apply-
They control positioning by pushing targets away, spin ing penalties.
their weapon to attack multiple targets and create such a
Driving +1 on Knock Back attempts.
pressure with their weapons making it hard to even con-
centrate near them. Exploding On a Boost, this weapon deals +2 ad-
ditional damage. On a critical failure,
Spinning Weapon the one wielding the weapon suffers
ªª Level One: A single precise step carries a spinning 2 damage.
weapon bounding from one attack to another. If the Loud A character suffers a -2 penalty to
fighter spends a Dynamic Action to attack a second Stealth after using this weapon.
time in a Round, this attack receives a +1 bonus.
Reload On a critical failure, a character at-
ªª Level Two: A spinning blade becomes a shield, stopping tacking with this weapon is out of
opponents before they approach and parrying incom- ammunition and can’t use it to at-
ing attacks that cross its path. After a successful attack, tack again until he replenishes it
the fighter gains a +1 bonus (+2 on a Boost) to Block/ himself.
Parry for the Round.
Restraining On a Boost, a character attacking
ªª Level Three: As an Action, the fighter may spin their with this weapon may initiate a grab
weapon around and attack everyone within Near Range.
automatically.
This attack deals -1 damage.

Unbreakable Boundary New Weapons

ªª Level One: The practitioner’s weapon gains the Driving
quality. Blast Bracer
ªª Level Two: With a Boost on a weapon attack against Favored by Engineers, these bracers are filled with
an opponent at Close Range, the warrior can perform a gunpowder shells. When an attacker hits hard enough, the
Knock Back immediately. shells explode, dealing additional damage. However, in
ªª Level Three: When an opponent moves from Far Range some cases they detonate still inside the bracer, harming
into Near Range, the warrior can immediately make a the user.
weapon attack against them.
Dun (Shield)
A small hand-held board of metal or wood; primarily
Watchful Sentinel used to block attacks but can also be used to push enemies
ªª Level One: Just standing within the perimeter established
away or to bash them.
by a Reach weapon is quite unnerving. Opponents within
Near Range of the warrior suffer a -1 penalty on Discipline
rolls per Watchful Sentinel level. Gonne (Hand Cannon)
A simple and effective firearm that shoots exploding
ªª Level Two: If an ally attacks an opponent within Near
projectiles at nearby targets, but its range is limited by its
Range of the warrior, roll Intimidate + Fighting. On a suc-
design.
cess, the warrior’s threatening presence gives the oppo-
nent a -1 penalty for their Defense check (-2 on a Boost).
Jian (Saber)
ªª Level Three: As an Action, the warrior can assume a
Favored by Izou royalty, this thin, straight
watchful stance. While in this stance, the warrior gains
sword is deceptively hard to master. It is a practi-
+1 to Defense and any opponent within Near Range of
cal defensive tool in court, as well as an offensive
the warrior suffers -1 to Defense. If the warrior moves,

77
 weapon on the battlefield. Blast Bracer Blunt, Brutal, Exploding,
Loud
Karambit Dun (Shield) Defending, Driving
This small knife is usually a last resort weapon. It
doesn’t have a hilt; it can be held in one hand or tied to Gonne (Hand Cannon) Exploding, Reach
one’s hair. Some youths in the Izou courts take to wearing Jian (Saber) Defending, Piercing
them as a fashion accessory.
Karambit Concealable, Quick
Nest of Bees Nest of Bees Ranged, Explosive, Poison-
A hexagonal tube filled with dozens of rocket-tipped, ous, Reload
often poisonous arrows. Lighting the end allows for several Pistol Concealable, Loud, Pierc-
of the arrows to be launched at a time. It is two-handed and ing, Ranged
takes up a fighter’s entire Round (once it is lit, they can only
attack with it for the Round). Once the Round is done, it is Rifle Brutal, Piercing, Ranged,
empty and no longer usable. Reload
Silver Staff Driving, Restraining
Pistol Urumi (Curling Sword) Chain, Concealable, Sharp,
A simple and portable firearm, more advanced than Unwieldy
those available to civilians.
Weighted Scarf Disarming, Reach, Re-
straining, Unwieldy
Rifle
A longer and more cumbersome military firearm.

Silver Staff Mass Combat

This two-pronged staff is made to either grab an op-
ponent between its prongs or to push him away with the Most of the time, Ninja Crusade battles occur on a rela-
simultaneous impact in two different spots. tively small scale. It’s a handful of ninja and Empire soldiers
against each other, with some squads to fill out the action.
Urumi (Curling Sword) But sometimes your stories might call for all-out war, with
This treacherous weapon has a sturdy handguard and a conflicts so big that not every combatant can see every par-
flexible blade of edged steel that resembles a whip. When not ticipant over the horizon. These rules exist to help you tell
in use, the blade is coiled around the user’s waist, as a belt. those kinds of stories, to keep them simple, action-packed
and most importantly to focus on what really matters in-
stead of wondering if Nameless Soldier #583 took 4 or 5
Weighted Scarf points of damage.
Long scarves with weights sewn to each tip. Easily mis-
taken as normal pieces of clothing, they can be used to wrap
around weapons, limbs or a neck; therefore, these unusu-
al weapons can be used to disarm, restrain or strangle op-
Threats
ponents. They may also be used to hit normally with the Both sides of the struggle exist as Threats. Below you’ll
weights, almost like a kusari. find a few ranks of threats, which are relative and mutable.
Depending on the circumstances and specifics of the bat-
tle, one identical military force could be any given degree
of Threat. A competent general seeks to lower their oppo-
nent’s relative Threat level before the battle even starts. Also,
Threats can shift, ebb and flow as the battle persists.

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 Threat Rank Rank Power combat reflects on two different concepts: Tactical
Might and Strategic Might. Tactical Might comes
Pitiful 2 from the mental side of things. It reflects actual
Minor 4 tactics, clever plotting, surprise and other vari-
ables the armies can bring into play. On the other hand,
Moderate 6 Strategic Might is more directly physical, reflecting actu-
Fearsome 8 al numerical forces, their armaments, support engines and
Unstoppable 10 other weight on that side of the struggle.
Just like with a normal fight, these traits reflect the gen-
eral health of the overall force. So, each side in the battle has
To determine the starting Threats, first assume both
a Tactical Might and Strategic Might. A force’s Tactical Might,
forces start as Moderate Threats. The larger force is up-
which functionally takes the place of Psyche, is based on the
graded to Fearsome. If the smaller force is half the size of
side’s Threat rank power (see above), plus twice the Intuition
the larger, it’s downgraded to Minor. If it’s a tenth the size
Skill of that side’s leader. A force’s Strategic Might, which takes
of the larger, it becomes Pitiful. The better-equipped force
the place of Health, is based on the side’s Threat rank power,
is upgraded one category. Also, the Buildup Scene can dra-
plus twice the Fighting Skill of that side’s leader.
matically influence these ranks.
Note that since Threats change during a battle, each
On the one hand, having a higher Threat rating means
time Threat increases or decreases, you’ll add or remove two
numerous advantages in the war, and a higher overall like-
Tactical Might and Strategic Might from the force in ques-
lihood of victory. Having a lower rating means one thing:
tion. This makes every shift in Threats pivotal to the scope
The force with the lower Threat rating has Initiative. In
of the battle at large. When a force loses a rank, they lose a
mass combat, there aren’t Initiative rolls. Simply give Ini-
significant part of their force. This isn’t an easy, mathemat-
tiative to the force with the lowest rank. After all, they have
ical number, since ranks increase and decrease dynamically
fewer resources to manage.
throughout the struggle. Simply reflect this in the narration.

The Stakes Spotlight Actions

It may not seem it, but there are always reasons to fight
Every turn of a mass combat, two things happen: the
a battle. Both sides want something, even if one side simply
forces clash, and a spotlight action occurs. The forces clash-
wants to stay alive. These are the Stakes of your mass combat.
ing is the macrocosmic level of the battle, where the armies
When starting the mass combat conflict, figure out the
go back and forth, trying to overwhelm each other. The
Stakes for both sides. The GM can rule one side’s Stakes
spotlight, however, is where individual actors can tip the
unrealistic. For example, a force of five villagers trying to
scales for the entire fight. Each turn, the player in charge
slaughter a thousand well-armed Empire troops simply
of a force’s leader chooses who gets the spotlight on their
won’t happen, no matter what the dice say. But, try to find
side. The spotlight occurs before the main clash, because
a way to work with the intent of the Stakes.
the spotlight can often influence it.
Additionally, both sides should offer up a “compro-
Spotlights are handled like normal actions, but receive
mised stake,” which is a lesser version of the same Stakes,
even larger than normal narration. This is where individu-
with significant losses or sacrifices factored in. During any
als get to shine. While a spotlight action might narratively
clash action (see below), a force can choose to seize their
involve a small group (the players’ team, for example), only
compromised stake and withdraw. Regardless of success or
one person makes a single action roll.
failure, this costs them a Threat rank. But if successful, they
Make the action as normal. However, instead of applying
get that meager win and can withdraw from the conflict.
damage or otherwise calculating the mechanical costs, simply
This doesn’t mean the opposition cannot pursue, but if they
apply the action’s successes to the clash roll as bonus dice. Ad-
do, it’s considered a separate mass combat with new Stakes,
ditionally, Boosts can increase or decrease a force’s Threat rank
new Threat ratings and new Buildup (however, given lim-
by one degree. Explain how this happens in the narration. For
itations of time, probably no Buildup.)
example, a ninja might tear through dozens of soldiers with a
single jutsu, causing her enemies to lose a rank instantly.
Tactics and Strategy
Where most battles in Ninja Crusade have the char-
acters fighting with physical force or mental acuity, mass

79
Clash Actions ªª Damage and Defeat: Instead of causing Psyche or Health
damage, attacks reduce Tactical Might or Strategic Might.
Clash Actions are the higher-level actions that take place If either reaches zero, that force can no longer fight. It
in a mass combat. They happen in addition to spotlight ac- doesn’t mean they’re dead or incapacitated, but that
tions, and are often enhanced by spotlight actions. If the first they’re in a strategic situation that’s simply untenable and
clash was a surprise (established during the Buildup actions), they can no longer mount a meaningful opposition. At this
only the surprising force can act during the first clash. point, individual survivors can take individual actions, but
All clash actions resolve normally, made by the force the war is over, and the Stakes are won or lost. The de-
leaders. On every given clash, the superior Threat takes +2 feated group fails to gain their Stakes, while the winning
to their roll. On the other hand, the inferior Threat acts group achieves theirs.
first. These rolls don’t benefit from normal modifiers such
as tools or support. Instead, spotlight actions add to these
clash actions. As with normal actions, be creative in allow-
ing leaders to choose their relevant Skills.
Leaders
ªª Difficulties: Clash Difficulties are equal to 1 + the number Leaders will take most mass combat actions. These are
of Threat ranks between the forces, in either direction. It’s usually, but not always, the formal leaders of a force. Some-
very hard to significantly damage a bigger force, but it’s times, if a character shines above and beyond their leader-
also difficult to put down the underdogs, who are fight- ship, they can be considered the de-facto leader. However,
ing to survive. Note that Threat ratings change during the if a leader falls, the force must take a full action to appoint
war, so these difficulties can shift from clash to clash, or a new leader. Removed leaders tend to cripple armies, leav-
even from force to force. ing them immensely vulnerable. Only the greatest soldiers
can step in quickly, reorganize their armies and mount ef-
ªª Boosts: Boosts either add Threat ranks to a force, or
fective counterstrikes.
take them away. Boost actions reflect massive flourishes,
For this reason, ninja specialize in moving in silent-
where significant gains are made and scales quickly
ly and removing war leaders at opportune times, often to
tip.
compensate for inferior forces on their own sides. The Em-

80
 Explain why this happens within the scope of the
Counters narrative. For example, conveniently-placed traps
This isn’t a hard rule, but the fight will feel might reduce the enemy’s force rank once the battle
much more dynamic if you use tactile counters starts, or a well-timed call for reinforcements might
while playing. Get a number of counters to repre- increase the allied force’s rank. Critical failures act as a Boost
sent the different aspects of the battle – six differ- given to the opponent.
ent colors or more would be ideal. That way you
can physically remove them from the table or add
more as the battle tides shift.
Dynamic
Environments
pire counters by heavily defending leaders, and by training Battles on an open, flat field are nowhere near as fun
potential replacements well. as environments where the very setting is causing compli-
cations. Dynamic Environments in mass combat work simi-
larly to the normal Dynamic Environments (NC2E, pg. 147-
The Buildup 148), but they act on a much larger scale.
(And Countdown)
One huge difference between a small-scale engagement Between a Rock and a
and mass combat is that mass combat takes some time to
occur, and at least one side knows it’s happening well in Hard Place
advance. This is handled through Buildup Scenes, which Element: Earth
reflect everything in the war that happens before the first The opposing armies find themselves engaged in a vicious
shot is fired or the first blow is struck. urban battle, fighting street-to-street. The players’ force is
Buildup is handled in a very abstract fashion, based tasked to defend the village’s marketplace: a crowded square
on time. Simply, there are three kinds of Buildup: Short, surrounded on all sides by high walls and shops. Although de-
Medium and Long. These afford one, two or three Build- fendable, the market has many streets leading into it; each a
up actions, respectively. Note that different forces might potential avenue of attack from superior enemy forces. Com-
have different Buildup, depending on when they discover pounding their difficulties, most of the unarmed villagers have
the upcoming conflict. This is why surprise is an immense- retreated here. They must mount a suitable defense while en-
ly valuable tool in warfare. To determine surprise, just use suring innocents aren’t killed in the ensuing combat. 
the normal rules, taking into consideration spies and other The GM sets the Buildup, usually Short, to determine
agents who may be able to tip off a force’s leader. how much preparation time the players have. Stakes are
ªª No Buildup. Any conflict that takes place within an then established, with the attackers specifying how many
hour of first alert does not receive Buildup actions. Turns the mass combat continues. As their compromised
ªª Short Buildup happens before a conflict that occurs stake, less scrupulous defenders may sacrifice the villagers
within an hour to a day of first notice. to insure their force’s retreat. 
For defenders, Spotlight actions can include fighting on
ªª Medium Buildup happens before a conflict that occurs
rooftops, singling out leaders, buttressing failing defenses and
more than a day, and up to a week after first notice.
launching minor counterattacks. For attackers, Spotlight ac-
ªª Long Buildup requires more than a week of prepara- tions can include setting fires, concentrating their forces, us-
tion time. ing siege weapons and attacking weak spots. 
The force leaders take one action per level of Buildup. The marketplace can provide defenders with invaluable
These actions are handled like any other actions. However, resources. The GM is encouraged to reward inventive play-
the successes are set aside as bonus dice the leader can draw ers, providing bonuses to their force’s Tactical/Strategic
on during the war effort. These dice can be spent one-for- Might. However, the GM may impose dramatic Conditions as
one to add to dice pools during clashes. Boosts, on the other well, resulting from panicking villagers or raging fires.
hand, do one of three things:
ªª Increase the leader’s force rank by one degree.
ªª Decrease the enemy’s force rank by one degree.
ªª Provoke surprise in the first clash.

81
 Dynamics Dynamics
Players may use dynamic actions to enhance Dynamic actions may be used to interrupt enemy ac-
their defenses, single out enemy leaders, force back tions (such as torching the shrine), slip past the bodyguards,
attacks and quell panic amongst the villagers. They push back enemy forces and incapacitate the general.
may also be used to shift defenses to counter unexpected
changes in the battlefield.   Finale
If players subdue the general and/or his force prior to the
Finale countdown’s conclusion, the battle ends. Demoralized, the en-
If the players hold out for more Turns than the opposing emy’s Main Guard either retreats or halts their attack, begin-
force specified, they succeed in driving the attackers back, ning a new narrative phase. If the general succeeds in burning
ending the mass combat. Should they succeed in reducing the shrine, the players’ force is demoralized instead. Worse
the attacker’s Tactical Might or Strategic Might to zero pri- yet, if the countdown is exceeded, the players find themselves
or to that, they’re allowed to counterattack in full – likely surrounded – beginning a new and more desperate battle.
destroying the opposing army. Should their defenses fail,
however, the attackers succeed in taking the marketplace –
capturing the remaining defenders and likely slaughtering Death by a 1,000 Cuts
the villagers. Element: Metal
With their elevated position, hill fortifications offer sev-
Tip of the Spear eral strategic advantages, such as information and defense.
Opposing armies on the move cannot ignore them, lest they
Element: Fire risk attacks from behind. The players’ force has been tasked
Blinded by rage and glory, the opposing Vanguard launch- with seizing a hill castle from enemy control. A daunting mis-
es an assault on an ancestral shrine. The enemy general and sion in and of itself, the presence of skilled sappers only com-
his elite forces are renowned for their brutality and skill. If pounds their difficulties, such as Engineers or Trap Masters.
their assault succeeds, the shrine’s destruction will panic the The players’ force must navigate a maze of abatis and
players’ force – possibly causing it to break. However, if they punji sticks. Hidden beneath the muddy ground, thousands
stop it, the Vanguard can be surrounded and destroyed. Better of caltrops await an unlucky step or stumble. All the while,
yet, capturing the general’s standard (sashimono) will severely they endure a ceaseless barrage of arrows, gunfire and
demoralize the enemy forces. Unfortunately, time is short, as explosives. Even after they’ve reached the fort’s stone re-
the opposing Main Guard bears down on them. doubt, the force must still overcome the fortified defenders.
Due to its suddenness, the battle’s Buildup is Short. As the attackers, the players determine the Buildup peri-
The GM secretly rolls one die with a +3 ‘bonus’ (for a re- od. However, the GM can impose narrative time-limits, signi-
sult of 4 to13). This determines the number of Turns before fying the military campaign’s overall progression. For exam-
the Main Guard arrives, ending the battle. Stakes are set by ple, if their siege is prolonged, they may run out of supplies
both sides, such as breaking the opposing defenses, burning or enemy reinforcements arrive to assist the defenders. The
the shrine, stopping the assault and capturing the general Stakes will revolve around the siege’s length and cost in man-
and/or claiming his sashimono. Examples of compromised power. As a compromise, the attackers may accept massive
Stakes for the attacker include destroying the shrine despite casualties (lowering their Threat) to achieve victory, while
overwhelming casualties, while defenders might sacrifice defenders may destroy the fort in order to retreat.
themselves to fell the General, achieving a pyrrhic victory. For attackers, spotlight actions may include destroying
Spotlight actions generally focus around attacking the fortifications, suppressing archers and helping pinned sol-
General and his elite guard. The general is equivalent to a Mas- diers. For defenders, these actions could include throwing
ter, such as a Silver Blades Kensai (NC2E, pg. 165) or Vicious explosives, sniping obvious leaders, repairing defenses and
Ninja Master (NC2E, pg. 166); although, the GM may choose to healing the wounded.
make him a fully developed NPC. Worn on his back, his sashi- Due to the dangerous environment, the GM may impose
mono is nearly impossible to capture without incapacitating different Conditions on the players. These include Slowed
him first. His bodyguards are all Warriors, equal to the players (stepping on a caltrop), Confused/Sensory Loss (obscuring
in number and ability. Clash actions are handled as normal, smoke), Burned (from fires) and Bleeding/Injured (maimed
except for the victory conditions below. by booby trap). Each Clash Action, the GM rolls one die; on
a 1-2, reduce the attackers’ Threat one rank, as they suffer
grievous losses due to the hostile terrain.

82
Dynamics Dynamics
Dynamic actions include avoiding injuries, suppress- Dynamic actions may be used to knock oppo-
ing incoming fire, destroying fortifications and advancing nents into the river (preventing Hashihime from
faster than normal movement. The attacking leader may attacking one Turn), save allies from the demo-
expend one Dynamic action per Clash Action to ignore the ness, maintain their footing, strengthen their defenses and
Threat reduction from hostile terrain. dodge Hashihime’s attacks.

Finale Finale
The battle ends when either the attackers retreat or the The battle ends when one side takes the opposing
defenders surrender (or destroy the fort). shoreline, thus establishing a bridgehead. Hashihime ceases
her attacks; glutted on the corpses in the river. The battle
also ends upon the bridge’s partial or complete destruction.
A Maiden’s Tears
Element: Water
The Namida Bridge is vital to any military campaign. Forest for the Trees
Consisting of five arch bridges, its ancient, wooden struc- Element: Wood
ture spans one of the widest sections of river. The opposing The Empire’s bamboo forests are mythical places filled
armies must capture it intact or be forced to march several with long shadows and glittering sunlight. Their cramped,
leagues out of their way. As the battle begins, however, they humid interiors create natural barriers normally avoided
discover the bridge’s darkest secret. A demoness of consid- by marching armies. However, due to bad luck, the two op-
erable power, Hashihime, lives beneath its stone piers. She posing forces have literally run into one another in the thick
resembles a woman with white painted-face and iron fin- woods. Staggered and out of formation, the confused armies
gernails; her river-bloated body tangled in a rotted wedding risk doing more damage to their own troops than each other.
dress. She despises trespassers and is very hungry. The battle has no Buildup; being effectively instantaneous.
In this battle, the armies fully control the opposing Both sides are considered surprised, so neither side receives
riverbank. As such, the Buildup can be Short, Medium or this bonus. The Stakes are set normally, usually consisting of
Long, depending on how much time they allow the other destroying the opposing army. Unlike normal battles, forces
side to prepare. Indeed, the GM may wish to run narrative choosing a compromised stake suffer the loss of two Threat
Scenes, including flanking missions, weakening the bridge ranks as their force becomes hopelessly scattered in the forest.
and encountering Hashihime. Once the battle begins, pos- Spotlight actions will focus on more personal encoun-
sible Stakes can include capturing the opposite shoreline, ters, such as individual combats, rallying broken troops and
preventing a crossing and routing the enemy force entirely. forming defensive lines. On each Clash Action, the leaders
A compromised stake could include destroying the bridge. from each force must test their Intuition skill. On a failed
The bridge’s arched design poses several difficulties for roll, their force loses one Threat rank as they kill their own
the combatants; the GM is encouraged to impose penalties troops in the mass confusion. On a Critical Failure, they lose
due to the limited space, unsure footing and broken line of one Threat rank and suffer a Rating 1 Condition (chosen by
sight. On each Spotlight action, roll one die: the GM) for the remainder of the battle, such as Afraid or
ªª 1-2: The river remains eerily still. Burning. In addition, the GM should impose further restric-
ªª 3-5: Hashihime emerges from the river, dragging sever- tions on mounted and missile combat, as these units will be
al helpless enemies to their deaths – reduce Opponent’s effectively useless in the forest’s restrictive terrain.
Threat rank by one degree.
ªª 6-8: Hashihime emerges from the river, dragging sev- Dynamics
eral helpless allies to their deaths – reduce players’ Characters may spend dynamic actions to rally their
force’s Threat rank by one degree. troops, prevent friendly fire, locate enemy leaders and or-
ganize a safe retreat.
ªª 9-10: Hashihime emerges from the river, attacking the
characters. The GM receives 7 dice to roll against the
players, with a success dealing +1 damage. Any play- Finale
er who gets a Critical Failure on their Defense roll has The battle ends after one side is destroyed or retreats.
their character dragged off the bridge and imposed Depending on the surviving force’s size, it may
with Drowning Conditions. take some time to rally together.
All Clash actions proceed as normal.
83
 Adventure:
Fighting Dirty

This adventure puts the players directly into a conflict from the sample characters in the corebook (NC2E, pg.
between the ninja and the Empire. In an effort to fight a 216-233). Since they’re also starting level, they make for
political war against the ninja, the Empire mounts a frame solid adversaries, and since there’s a swath of them, you
job, a smear campaign to turn public opinion into a weap- can bring one or two extras in to round out the challenge
on. Meanwhile, the ninja are fighting back: investigating if the players are doing particularly well.
the smears, going after the architects of those rumors and
trying to clear their names. The Empire’s goal is to cause
maximum damage with a small force, and largely indirect Setting the Stage
harm. What seems like a simple public relations assault This adventure is assumed to take place in Shiraiwa, a
ends up more complicated, as the ninja don’t take charac- village a couple day’s travel northeast from Daiwa in the Mid-
ter assassination lying down. dle Province, at the foot of the mountains. Shiraiwa largely
Characters will be tasked with infiltrating a village, fram- exists on its lumber and mining industry, which feeds raw
ing a murder scene, evading the ninja, ultimately defending materials to suit Daiwa’s immense needs. However, this story
themselves and making certain their propaganda stands can take place in any rural village under Imperial scrutiny
up to scrutiny. This requires a good mix of expertise, from where the Empire has a vested interest in keeping ninja influ-
stealth to manipulation and the ability to fight off assailants. ence to a minimum. Shiraiwa has a small cadre of ninja, who
This adventure is best suited for three to five Izou sol- it’s currently on the fence about. They’re not firmly against
diers, of roughly starting level. Because of the nature of the ninja, but they’re skeptical. If the village embraces the
this adventure as an adversarial scenario, it’s easy to scale ninja, the Empire might as well write the village off as a loss.
up the opposition to match the players’ charac- However, the Empire is looking for a way to turn the tables
ters’ skill levels. The GM can just use a group built and make the village side with them.

84
 Selling the Empire to the players is all about contrast. er than the nearby villages.
The Empire, according to the Empire, is successful, effi- The camp commander, Tachibana, has an as-
cient, organized and frankly, right. More Imperial control signment. It’s pressing, and it’s a big one. A small
should always be presented as clean and pristine, while mining camp from Shiraiwa was wiped out by animals. Im-
the rural villages are rough places, unkempt and lawless. perial scouts found the fresh corpses. Because of the loca-
Within Imperial cities, the people should look nourished tion and timing, they have a perfect opportunity to turn
and content, working leisurely and proud, while the rural this into a maneuver against the ninja. The crew is to rush
people are working long and hard for meager scraps, with out to the bodies before the people of Shiraiwa find them,
hungry, often diseased children. and stage them in such a way as to implicate the local ninja.
Of course, this is all bias. You can even present it that Make certain the characters are aware that this mis-
way. “Just like your commander says, the village people sion is their ticket out of boring, monotonous work. This is
show signs of a grave pox.” This isn’t to say urban residents a perfect opportunity for advancement into greater things.
don’t have the same pox, it’s just that Izou soldiers are more Sell the mission not just as an essential assignment, but as
likely to overlook those ailments, while assuming the few the chance of a lifetime, where failure is not an option. Ta-
they see in the rural areas are the rule, not the exception. chibana knows what this means to them, and uses it as a
If you want to go a little further, subtly increase your motivating tool. She peppers her explanation with plenty
voice to just above the comfortable level when presenting of references to choosing them because she knew they were
villagers, while using a slightly softer tone while portray- the right soldiers for the job. Ultimately, Tachibana knows
ing Imperial agents. This will ensure the players feel just that success for them means success for her, and she wants
a little on edge when dealing with outsiders, as they’re out of this outpost just as much as they do, if not more. And
brash and uncivilized to the Imperial mindset. Also, don’t they are the best she can send. If they pry, she admits she
hesitate to add small idiosyncrasies, customs and turns of wishes she could go herself, but regulations require she stay
speech for villagers, and perhaps make them react oddly at the outpost. She wants to be in the field, working. If they
to things the Izou soldiers would consider perfectly nor- talk to her about the topic, she’ll seem downright curious,
mal. This isn’t to say it should be particularly challenging interested in hearing stories of their success. But she shakes
to deal with them – quite the opposite, since most villagers it off and gets back to business quickly.
fear reprisal from the Empire — but there should be a defi- If the characters ask, they can receive a short briefing
nite and obvious line drawn between insider and outsider on the ninja of Shiraiwa. Just give them a rundown of the
groups in all interactions. ninja you’ve chosen as the opposition. You may leave one or
During the mission, the players will be framing a small two out, to reflect imperfect intelligence reports. However,
group of ninja, about one ninja per Izou soldier. if one of the players has a relevant Contact, don’t skimp on
the information here. In fact, go a little further and give a

Scene 1: Receiving couple of important details about their possible jutsu.

Important things to note:

the Mission ªª The ultimate goal here is to claim Shiraiwa as a village

loyal to the Empire. Ideally, this should be without
Our story starts at an Izou military encampment be- force against the village, as it’s better to be respected
tween Daiwa and Shiraiwa. The characters are installed on than feared.
temporary assignment in this woodland camp, and they ªª No unnecessary deaths. We’re framing murder here,
know the only way out of this otherwise dead-end assign- not committing murder. This is a public relations
ment is to perform well. Unfortunately, opportunities to stunt, and making the Empire look like a bunch of
perform just simply are not there. That changes when this murderers is not acceptable.
adventure begins. ªª By extension, the public opinion must be against the
The camp itself is meager, underfunded and under- ninja before they can be taken down. Don’t let them
staffed. It’s not that the Empire doesn’t feed and clothe die as heroes or victims.
its people, but this place is simply not a high-priority out- ªª If the people find out about the Empire’s med-
post. Nothing they’re doing bears essential status. Still, the dling, pull out all stops. The Empire cannot be
equipment is well-maintained, and the place is much clean- implicated, under any circumstance.

85
 ªª The ninja don’t have to die or be impris-
oned, so long as Shiraiwa rejects them and exiles
Some Side Directions
them. Shiraiwa will fall in line without their in- Players might have some plans which pull them from
terference. the immediate scene of the crime. This is fine, but should
The mining camp is but hours away. Commander Ta- introduce a bit of complication to the story. For example, a
chibana demands they make haste. group of Shiraiwa villagers may show up on the scene, and
it may take some fast-talking or strong-arming to make
sure they don’t ruin the plan. Here are a few possibilities
Scene 2: The Bodies they might come up with:
ªª Gathering specific supplies to help sell the ruse.
The mining camp is a very small affair, just a crew of a
dozen in total around a shallow, nearly dry gold mine along ªª Stealing one of the ninja’s weapons to help put them
at the scene of the crime.
a creek. Two larger tents each housed five or six workers,
and a smaller tent sheltered their foreman, who was not ªª Stowing some of the gold from the mine in order to
present for the killing. The scene is a massacre. Cursory in- make it look like the ninja stole the gold to profit
vestigation reveals fur and claw fragments from bears. themselves.
The bears picked at the bodies, but did not eat them
entirely. Nine of the twelve workers died; the other three
(including the foreman) are nowhere to be seen. Framing Scene 3:
the ninja will be difficult and take some creativity. If the
soldiers received a briefing on the Shiraiwa ninja and they Selling the Story
use any of that information to personalize the frame job, Next, the soldiers must sell their story to the people of
they receive a +2 bonus to relevant dice rolls. Don’t wor- Shiraiwa. The people are not inherently hostile, but they
ry too much about success or failure here, so long as the don’t necessarily trust the Empire sight unseen. Fortu-
players have a relatively creative plan for the frame. Just nately for the soldiers, they’re also not inherently trusting
take note of details to bring up later, things that can make of the ninja in their midst.
later scenes more interesting or challenging. Hang on to This scene could take place at the site of the massacre,
the specifics, and bring them up when the frame comes or at the village, depending on how the players choose to
under scrutiny. sell the story. This doesn’t particularly matter, except for
Once the frame is just about ready, the bears come the fact that the entire village will be involved if they choose
back for seconds. to tell the story at the village, whereas only a small fraction
Bears generally do not attack humans unprovoked. of the villagers will travel out to the scene of the massacre.
However, these bears are rabid and hungry, and close There are three main villagers who will pose conflict
in for the kill. There are x1.5 as many bears as soldiers, in this scene, demanding to see the bodies, regardless of
rounded up. While somewhat tough, this should mostly be where the scene takes place. If the players manage to con-
a chance to work out and show off a little. Stats for Larger vince at least two of them, the village sides with their sto-
Animals can be found on NC2E, pg. 159. ry. While they’re not all excellent fighters, they’ll support
If the players investigate the claw fragments and oth- a plan and help to divert some attention and tip the scales
er traces from the bears, they’ll realize there was one oth- in the soldiers’ favor.
er bear, who lost a claw during the killing. That bear was While the skeptics have questions, the soldiers may di-
not present in the group attacking the soldiers. vert and distract to make on-the-fly cover-ups to address
After the bears are dealt with (and probably disposed their concerns. Answers prepared in advance that match the
of, since they could throw a kink into the plans), the next questions asked all benefit from a +2 bonus to relevant rolls.
step is to bring the story to the people of Shiraiwa. As this scene progresses, use the three skeptics as
your voice characters. Engage the players, and make the
soldiers justify their falsified story. You don’t need to
play the rest of the village, but use them as set dressing.
At first, they’ll be immensely skeptical, but as the three

86
skeptics begin to warm up to the soldiers’ story, the village and can be convinced to confess if pressed.
whispers and nods along accordingly. Normally, Seo is Difficulty 4 to convince. With
And remember to sell the village as something dif- a good display, he’s Difficulty 3. Particularly im-
ferent than the Empire. Have one of the soldiers step in pressive efforts bring him to Difficulty 2.
horse dung. Have the soldiers pass by someone manually
shucking rice as she complains her mill is broken down Huntress, Shinomiya Azusa
and too expensive to fix. Others might be discussing ban- Shinomiya is a professional hunter. She brings her
dit attacks, and debating starting a village posse to hunt quarry back to the village, and distributes it to the peo-
down outlaws since the Empire isn’t helping anyone out ple. She spends much of her time stalking the woods, look-
here. Many homes are abandoned and overgrown by foli- ing for the next week’s wages, and trying not to tax the
age, because money’s been scarce, and most of their best land too heavily of one particular animal. Shinomiya is a
workers have left for Daiwa. fun-loving celebrant, who enjoys every second of her job.
She loves the woods, she loves the air and she loves the
hunt. She loves helping to feed her village, and she loves
The Three Skeptics contributing to their society. She wants to be sure others
The following three villagers are the most important in won’t die by bear as well.
the conversation. Convincing them will convince the rest of Shinomiya found a bear out in one of her hunts. She
the village. With two convinced, the village will turn on the says it was rabid, and covered in human blood. She found
ninja. If the characters manage to convince all three, the it near the massacre. She said she burned the body, so as
village will actively oppose the ninja, and favor the Empire. to not let it infect anyone, but she was dead certain it was
Each character ultimately has a question that needs human blood on the thing’s maw, and it suffered the nicks
an answer. Unless sufficiently answered, they won’t side and cuts of armed men fighting back. Her opposition is
with the soldiers’ story. that the story seems fishy. She thinks there couldn’t have
been much time between this supposed ninja killing, bears
Mine Foreman, Seo Hideo attacking and the soldiers finding the massacre. She needs
Seo was the foreman who wasn’t among the bodies at a good cover story: a way the bear could have injuries and
the site. During the killing, he was leading a couple of his had human blood on its maw, while not actually being the
men back to the village for supplies. He’s a stubborn man, culprit. Of course, a simple answer would be that nine men
but highly practical and pragmatic. He’s unlikely to take wouldn’t fall at the hands of a single bear, rabid or not.
someone’s word, but even a shred of credible (seeming) ev- She would accept this story with skepticism, wanting to
idence should sway him. More importantly, he’s devastat- investigate the scene for signs of other bears. If the char-
ed. His crew has died. This constitutes most of the mining acters did a good job in covering up the bear attack, she’ll
workforce in Shiraiwa, and these men ate, drank, worked believe their story. They could also turn the story against
and slept with him for most of his life. Now they’re gone. Shinomiya, accusing her of being a ninja and potentially
For this reason, simple evidence mixed with an emotional having her arrested. This doesn’t help to convince the vil-
appeal will be markedly successful in convincing him. He lagers, but it does silence her objections. It may also swing
wants justice. He wants blood. And if convinced, he’ll be the villager’s opinion in favor of the ninja.
the first to lift his tools in anger against the culprits. If she investigates the massacre with the soldiers
Seo’s objection is that only he and his men — who he nearby, she’ll tell them that she knows it was a bear at-
was with — knew the camp had found gold, and even then, tack. She doesn’t mind that they’re lying to the people,
only a small amount. According to him, the ninja shouldn’t but she needs reassurance that the bears have been killed
have known about the gold, and thus shouldn’t have had and their bodies destroyed by a sanitary method. If the
motivation to attack the camp. With a convincing enough soldiers can provide that assurance, showing their work,
display, he could be convinced to turn on one of his assis- she’ll accept their story and tell the village she believes
tants, blaming them for leaking information about the gold. the ninja were at fault.
Fortunately for the soldiers, one of the assistants did talk Convincing Shinomiya of the story is Difficul-
about the crew’s find. Even though this information didn’t ty 3. If they assist with the bears and assure her,
make it back to the ninja, the crewmate shows signs of guilt, she’s Difficulty 2.

87
 Village Governess, overcome, and thus the ninja can be surprised or other-
Sakamoto Kayoko wise taken off-guard.
Governess Sakamoto holds no true, honorific Note that this hideout isn’t luxurious by any stretch.
title. She has some noble blood somewhere far back, but It’s a somewhat large rural home, well-kept for what it
she’s not recognized by the Empire in a formal sense. The is but lacking in modern amenities. The floors creak (-1
village, however, respects her greatly, and acknowledges Stealth if the soldiers attempt it) and the tatami mats
informal authority as her family stretches back centuries smell lightly of mildew.
and has always held leadership in the area. Right now, Unless attacked, the ninja try to pose a defense. They’ll
she’s the last of her line. If she passes without bearing any make up loose, flimsy alibis. It turns out, they were actually
children, her name dies with her. stealing from some of the villagers to make ends meet. They
She’s a lovely young woman, stately beyond her years. don’t want to admit this though, for the same reasons. If
She’s the most dignified person in a place that’s ultimately discovered, this can also be leveraged if done cleverly.
not very dignified. She knows her village isn’t a crowning Also, they’ll try to poke any obvious holes in the sol-
glory of the Empire, and doesn’t expect to be treated as diers’ stories. The soldiers get the chance to rebut the nin-
such. But she does recognize that she’s important local- ja. To make this particularly challenging for the soldiers,
ly, and refuses to be talked down or condescended to. She employ Akiyama Mihoshi (NC2E, pg. 216) or Ishikawa
does care about her village, though, and her family’s role Ryota (NC2E, pg. 223) since they’re masters of deception,
within. She also has a bit of a romantic streak, and falls for or Chuushin Naomi (NC2E, pg. 218). Fujimoto Eiji (NC2E,
flattery. She’s lonely, and most of the village keeps her at pg. 219), Arai Kaede (NC2E, pg. 217), and Higashi Masaru
arms’ reach, since she’s their only “noble.” (NC2E, pg. 221) are good examples of ninja without much
Sakamoto isn’t against the story, per se. Her objection is ability to spin a good defense, so they won’t pose a great
purely personal. The ninja would be no love lost. As far as challenge in this regard.
she’s concerned, the ninja can boil in a vat outside her fami- But ultimately, it’ll come down to a fight. The ninja
ly’s shrine for this perceived slight or that one. Her objection, won’t go in peacefully without extreme mitigating cir-
though, is that if the village seeks the Empire’s aid in bringing cumstances. They know arrest is tantamount to death. If
the killers to justice, that the village will be beholden to Izou. the fight goes particularly well for the soldiers, don’t hesi-
She wants assurance that the village will be left to self-gover- tate to throw in one more ninja attacking from surprise in
nance, and more importantly, to her governance. order to turn the tables a little.
This desire of course is beyond the authority of the Lastly, the ninja will attempt to run if they don’t be-
soldiers. That doesn’t stop them from trying to placate lieve they stand a chance of winning.
her, or lying to her. Getting over on her is Difficulty 2, but If in the previous scene, the characters convinced all
convincing her earnestly is Difficulty 3. three of the skeptical villagers to the veracity of their sto-
ry, the village will send a mob to assist in taking down the
ninja. They’re considered a squad.
Scene 4: Bringing
False Justice Villagers (Squad)
Assuming the village goes along with the soldiers’ sto- Health: 16 Psyche: 12
ry, the next step is to bring the ninja to justice. They live Attack: 6 Actions: 1
in a house a little way up the mountain, on the outskirts Defense: 5 Armor: 1
of the village. It’s lightly trapped, mostly to alert the ninja Initiative: 5 Damage: +1
of invaders. Mostly, the ninja use obscured pit traps, and Dynamic Actions: 1
have lightly hidden, sharpened bamboo stakes in strate- Suggested Skills (3 dice): Fighting, Intimida-
gic points along the path. Both traps cause only 1 damage, tion, Intuition, Perception
but alert the ninja. The pits have bells attached to the ob-
scuring planks, and anyone stepping on a bamboo
stake is likely to yell in pain. If the soldiers notice
the traps with Difficulty 2 checks, they’re easy to

88
 Additionally, if the three skeptics all stood by the sol-
diers’ story, the ninja will actively attack the villagers, and
Failure
possibly attempt hostage actions in order to oppose the A few scenarios lead to Tachibana determin-
soldiers. This, of course, puts them on even worse terms ing the operation was a failure. Failure means
with the village, and gives the soldiers a chance to come transfer to a much more difficult (if less boring) role else-
out looking like heroes. where.
ªª • If they fail to convince two of the villagers of the ve-
racity of their story, even if they take down the ninja
Scene 5: Conclusion in the end, the village sides with the ninja and opposes
the Empire. Those unconvinced villagers are likely to
With the frame job finished and hopefully the ninja become Rivals, as are the remaining ninja. However,
“brought to justice,” the soldiers can return to Commander a convinced villager can become an Ally. Every play-
Tachibana to report their success (or failure). While the sol- er who made an impression can make a roll to reflect
diers rest and recuperate, Tachibana sends an intelligence that impression. The highest gains the Allies.
operative to investigate the parameters of the operation, ªª • If they convince two of the village skeptics, but don’t
and just where the soldiers performed well or poorly. manage to arrest or kill the ninja, the village remains
contested, as the ninja can hold off Imperial envoys
and do everything they can to win over the hearts and
Success minds of the villagers.
With the ninja caught or killed, and the village sympa- ªª • If the soldiers completely botch the cover-up, fail
thetic to the Empire, Commander Tachibana declares the to convince the villagers and fail to remove the nin-
operation a success. ja, they’ll be shamed and offered an opportunity for a
ªª • If they cleverly set up the murder scene, convinced war campaign to “redeem themselves.” This mission
the village of their story and brought the ninja in will be essentially a suicide mission.
alive, she recommends them for a position managing
Once Tachibana decides what happens with the sol-
propaganda within Daiwa city. This is not only an im-
diers, award the players experience points.
provement in job situation, it’s also an opportunity for
advancement down the line.
ªª • If they managed to convince all three skeptical vil-
lagers to side with their story and killed or arrested
Experience
the ninja, the village falls to Imperial control. This not +1 Creatively framed the murder scene
only results in a referral for a more prestigious (and +1 Sold the story to two villagers
less monotonous) role, it also means promotion for
every soldier involved. What amounts to peacefully +1 Sold the story to all three villagers (+2 total)
winning over a village is highly admirable, and proves +1 Defeated and arrested (or killed) the ninja
great promise. The villagers can become Allies. Every
+1 Thwarted a sabotage effort by the ninja
player who made an impression can make a roll to re-
flect that impression. The highest gains the Allies.
ªª • If they convince only two of the village skeptics, but
two or more of the ninja escape, the village remains
contested even though the operation is otherwise
considered successful. The characters can expect to
remain stationed on the outskirts of the village, until
such a time they can turn the tides and win the village
over, one way or another. The unconvinced villager is
likely to become a Rival to one of the characters. The
Empire expects the soldiers to continue their battle
against these ninja, who root deeper in the village and
attempt to make themselves out as protectors of the
downtrodden.

89
 Side Scene: and waiting for them. Then, the whole crew can surround
the soldiers and villagers in a fearsome pincer attack.

Monkeywrench- The attack isn’t a full-blown attempt to destroy the

soldiers. Since only half the ninja are present for the as-
ing sault, they’re more likely to stick and run, attacking from
hiding and escaping. They’ll run away from their com-
Here, the ninja try to sabotage the effort and clear patriots, trying to draw the soldiers away. They’re more
their names. This is an optional scene, good if the story is concerned about providing a diversion and surviving than
playing out quickly and you need to fill some extra time, actually winning the fight. Keep in mind they do have a
or if the players had a blunder that gave away their posi- home turf advantage. If the players pursue, the ninja get a
tions. Essentially, to use this scene, you need an anchor to +2 bonus to any rolls to evade, dodge and lose the soldiers.
grab onto: a reason within the narrative the ninja catch on Also, they know many hiding places, having bolt-holes and
to the ruse before the final encounter where the soldiers safe houses hidden all around the village’s immediate re-
attempt to arrest or kill the ninja. gion.
In this scene, half the ninja directly attack the sol- The other side, the monkeywrenchers, are trying to
diers, attempting to distract them. Meanwhile, the oth- move quickly and efficiently. Who handles this depends
er half attempt to tear apart the framed narrative. What on what they’re doing. Try to choose one or two charac-
they do depends on when this scene comes into play. If ters who would be good at that particular aspect of the
it happens during or right after Scene 2, they’ll attempt operation, be it sabotaging the framed scene, convincing
to tamper with the murder scene, so when the villagers the villagers or launching the ambush against the villagers
see it, it looks different than the soldiers’ story. If it hap- and soldiers on their way to the ninja safe house. Remem-
pens during or right after Scene 3, they’ll attempt to en- ber that they’re ninja — act accordingly. They’re not going
gage some of the villagers — particularly any of the un- to play fair. They’re going to go in, sneaky and deceptive
convinced skeptics — in an effort to sell their own version as they need to be to maximize their impact. They’ll drop
of the story. If it happens during Scene 4, the ninja try to proverbial bombs. And if that’s not enough, they’ll drop
turn the tables and ambush their would-be captors before literal bombs.
the soldiers get to the ninja hideout. In that case, it’s a one-
two punch, where the characters are ambushed, then led
to the hideout where the other half of the crew is prepared

90
 Baisotei Ryuu
Element: Wood, Temperament: Perfectionist Ryuu was born always watching people. He wanted to
èè Gift: Loves to do things perfectly. +1 Speed to repeat a success- know why some people were the haves and others were
ful combo (non-cumulative). the have-nots, studying the rich and the poor to see what
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if he becomes fixated and won’t stop made them different. What he discovered is that he could
until it’s perfect.              only know the truth after experiencing both extremes. He
 
Profession: Outsider, Focus: Drifter traveled the world as a vagabond, earning what he could
èè Gift: Has traveled the lands extensively. +1 Fortitude against through his blade or the kindness of others, before even-
environmental effects. tually joining the Izou Army to see what it meant to have
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when he lacks resources when needed. everything you could ever need provided to you.
Motivation: Money, Reason: Resources While in training, Ryuu caught the eye of the Silver
èè Gift: The Empire offers a lot to their soldiers. Gain +1 Crafts Blades. He possessed a raw talent they believed they could
when making things from resources the army provides them. mold into a real warrior. Despite his meager origins, Ryuu
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when he gives away resources and it possesses a keen mind and uses it to win battles before
harms the group later. anyone draws swords. He knows that he’ll one day leave
Wartime Role: Commander, Title: Strategist this life behind as well to forge a life for himself, but that
èè Gift: Knows the historical significance of battles. +1 Knowledge can’t happen until this war is over and done.
to recall advantages or disadvantages of battle plans
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if a strategy he created ends poorly for
the group.
Assignment: Silver Blades
èè Assignment Gift - Focused Warriors: +1 Fighting when using
a Sword. May spend 1 Dynamic Action to reduce all current
Mental Conditions by 1.
èè Assignment Trigger - Honor Bound: Gain 1 Karma when the
pursuit of honor comes into conflict with a decision that carries
grave consequences.
Contacts
èè Ally - Matsuruchi Eichi (Discipline): A recluse among the
proud order, many have said Eichi has discovered a deeper lev-
el of understanding. Now considered strange and elusive, he
still possesses great wisdom he is eager to share.
èè Rival - Izumi Sako (Holistics): An adept at the spiritual world,
she has dedicated herself to non-violence but owes the Silver
Blades and views them as the rightful protectors of the Empire.
Martial Training
èè Armor of Blades 1 (Sharp Style): Close and Near attackers
suffer -1 penalty to hit him from constantly spinning blades.
Defense Boost = +1 Fighting to next attack.
èè Mantis Stands Steadfast (Mantis Style): Double highest Skill
when resisting trips, falls or knockdowns.
Way of All Rivers
èè Way of the Tiger Rush 1: Makes their blade much deadlier.
Simple (1) Athletics + Discipline roll to give blade the Brutal
Quality for the Round. Boost = lasts the Battle.
èè Way of the Tiger Rush 2: On a Boost while defending, reflex-
ively make Moderate (2) Athletics + Fighting roll, adding +1
damage per success if they counter-attack. Bonus cannot ex-
ceed attacker’s attack pool.
èè Way of Instant Step 1: Can Move as a Free Quick Action or may
take normal penalty to move x4 normal Movement.
èè Way of Instant Step 2: When they attack with a sword using
Speed after using a Quick Action to Move, they deal +2 damage. Skills
Stats of Note Athletics 3, Crafts 0, Deception 1, Discipline 2, Empathy 0, Fight-
Health: 7, Psyche: 7, Rank: 1, Initiative: 7, Dynamic Actions: ing 4, Fortitude 2 (Drinking), Holistics 2, Intimidation 2, Intuition 1,
1, Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 3, Movement: 11, Weapon: Katana Knowledge 0, Marksman 1, Might 0, Perception 0, Perform 2 (Slum-
(Sharp, Quick) ming it), Persuade 3, Speed 3, Stealth 0, Survival 2, Travel 2

91
 Deushi Riko
Element: Fire, Temperament: Confident Raised by a village hunter, Riko became a dedicated
èè Gift: She’s incredibly brave. +1 Empathy vs. Fear. sniper early in her development. Her father took her
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if she becomes overconfident. on many an outing to teach her how to craft and uti-
Profession: Artisan, Focus: Smith lize blackpowder, but most importantly gave her the
èè Gift: Has expertise in crafting materials, especially arrows. +1 confidence to always be on the lookout for new uses.
Marksman to hit small targets. She fancies herself a revolutionary scientist within the
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when she chooses brute strength and it Engineers, looking for ways to innovate and improve
turns out horrible. beyond her colleagues. Riko quickly left her studies,
Motivation: Nature, Reason: Bloodlust however, when she learned of her mother’s death at the
èè Gift: She loves to take down the enemy. Gain +1 Athletics when she hands of ninja. An intense hatred courses through her
incapacitates an enemy (Lasts the Battle). veins now, especially when she discovered those same
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the character chooses not to inca-
ninja kidnapped her younger brother. Much of her time
pacitate an enemy and it comes back to haunt them.
she now spends tracking down leads and seeking infor-
Wartime Role: Scout, Title: Observer mation to hopefully find clues of what happened to her
èè Gift: She knows how to get into places. Gain +1 Stealth when family. There is nothing Riko will not do to get that in-
èè slipping past guards or soldiers. formation, and she has acquired a taste for performing
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the character has flashbacks to terrible acts on any ninja she finds as a result.
the war and it incapacitates them.
Assignment: Engineers
èè Assignment Gift -Sudden Genius: +2 Crafts when dealing with
mechanics. May also spend 2 Karma to ask the GM for a new
idea to tackle an obstacle before them.
èè Assignment Trigger - Insatiable Curiosity: Gain 1 Karma
when you are presented with a task or a mystery that consumes
your concentration regardless of what you need to focus on.
Contacts
èè Ally - Takeshi Aiko (Knowledge): Once a teacher at the now-de-
stroyed Wind Valley Dojo, she travels the countryside seeing to the
needs of small towns and rebuilding what the ninja and the army
have destroyed.
èè Rival - Hirane Goto (Perception): A proud, boastful man, several of
his peers still consider Goto essential to working out problems with
experimental machinery. He does so for free, but often his ego can
turn people away from him.
Martial Training
èè Absolute Defense 1 (Paired Style): Armor 1 against Sharp weapons.
èè Poison Striking 1 (Snake Style): On a Boost, the fighter may create a
Poison 1 Condition per Level for their opponent.
èè Living Missiles 2 (Ranged Style): Utilizing trick shots, all Range
penalties are reduced by 1 and she may ignore 1 level of her target’s
Armor.
Ingenuity 2
èè Starting Resource Points: 3 RP (Max 10)
èè Fields of Study: Equipment/Gear, Civil Engineering, Metallur-
gy, Covert
èè Scavenging: Moderate (2) Crafts + Intuition roll to comb the
area for supplies for inventions, where each success yields +1
RP. Riko gains 1 auto success in this task.
èè Using RP: To make item alteration, spend 1 RP and make Crafts
+ Appropriate Skill roll. Each success adds +1 bonus die when
using the item for specified purpose.
Stats of Note Skills
Health: 6, Psyche: 6, Rank: 1, Initiative: 6, Dynamic Actions:
Athletics 2, Crafts 3 (Firearms), Deception 1, Discipline 1,
1, Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 3, Movement: 9, Weapon: Defensive
Empathy 0, Fighting 3, Fortitude 1, Holistics 0, Intimidation 2, Intu-
Pistols (Ranged, Paired)
ition 1, Knowledge 1, Marksman 3, Might 1, Perception 3, Perform 2,
Persuade 1, Speed 2, Stealth 2 (In the Shadows), Survival 0, Travel 1

92
 Hiraoka takeshi
Element: Earth, Temperament: Linguist Takeshi grew up within the Enlightened Monastery like
èè Gift: He knows a lot about different cultures and languages. +1 many of his spiritual brothers and sisters. He excelled as
Knowledge to recall local/cultural information. a warrior monk, but his focus centered on learning about
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if he recalls incorrectly. other cultures and the intricacies of their languages and
Profession: Dedicant, Focus: Monk interactions. As others perfected the wielding of a bo,
èè Gift: He is used to long meditation. +1 Fortitude to remain un-
Takeshi could instead discern intention and emotion like
moving.
a weapon.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the character chooses observance
When the Ninja Crusade started, his heart dropped.
èè over safety.
èè
The Empire once was a place where all citizens could cel-
ebrate all cultures, but no more. His superiors sent him to
Motivation: Alliance, Reason: Tradition the capitol in adherence to the Tenets of Ko… when the
èè Gift: +1 Knowledge to discuss or remember vital information per- Empire requires assistance, the monks are to provide it.
taining to his traditions. This doesn’t mean Takeshi keeps his opinions to himself.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the character’s actions go against He often calls out hypocrisies and poor choices for what
the tradition they were brought up in and they backfire. they are, in the bluntest of fashions. Few have the nerve
Wartime Role: Pacifist, Title: Objector to argue, however, as the Enlightened have a certain rep-
èè Gift: +1 Fortitude for prolonged activity in protest.
utation of being the perfect warriors. He’s far from such,
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when sharing their opinions brings conflict.
but he isn’t opposed to using the stories to his advantage.
Assignment: The Enlightened
èè Assignment Gift - Mind, Body, spirit: At the beginning of
each Scene, player chooses +2 Discipline, +2 Fighting or +2 Intu-
ition, depending on what they anticipate. May spend 1 Dynamic
Action to swap their bonus to another during Battle.
èè Assignment Trigger - Pacifism: Gain 1 Karma when a swift
punch would have saved them a lot of trouble and danger, but
they just couldn’t throw it.
Contacts
èè Ally - Onishi Shizue (Might): There are tales of a mother who
focused her physical strength to save her child from danger.
Somehow, she has retained this gift for years and has become
her village hero.
èè Rival - Kahae Taku (Deception): A local magistrate who can
always tell when someone is lying. His past as a bandit leader
gives him insight other law officials could never dream of.
Martial Training
èè Portents 1: Sense Ki and Divination. (Immune to ambush, and +1
to find/avoid traps. May interpret dreams, and significance of it)
èè Watchful Sentinel 1 (Reach Style): He becomes an imposing
figure on the battlefield. Opponents within Near Range of the
warrior suffer a -1 Discipline on all rolls.
Path of the Body
èè Cat Stance (Med, Balance + Speed): In this stance, he gains +2
bonus on all Defense rolls.

Path of the Spirit

èè Spirit Steps (Basic, Balance + Discipline): Goes into a trance
and leaves his physical form, becoming a spirit for (successes)
minutes. In this form they are invisible, undetectable and can-
not affect the physical world.
èè Knowing the Soul (Med, Balance + Intuition): Through the
eyes, the monk can discern (successes) things about a Close tar-
get. Examples: Rank, Ki Levels, Clan/Assignment, etc. or per-
sonality tidbits such as likes, dislikes, favored name, etc. Bo (Reach, Blunt)
Stats of Note Skills
Health: 6, Psyche: 8, Balance: 2, Rank: 1, Initiative: 9, Dynamic Athletics 3, Crafts 2, Deception 0, Discipline 3, Empathy 2, Fight-
Actions: 1, Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 3, Movement: 11, Weapon: ing 3, Fortitude 1, Holistics 2, Intimidation 0, Intuition 3, Knowledge
0, Marksman 1, Might 0, Perception 1, Perform 1, Persuade 2, Speed
3 (Balancing), Stealth 2 (Hiding his Body), Survival 1, Travel 0

93
 Izumi Chinatsu
Element: Wood, Temperament: Loquacious Chinatsu was, like many others, enraptured with the
èè Gift: Likes to draw a crowd. +1 Perform to draw others to her. Blazing Dancers while growing up. She even created her
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if they let a secret or important info slip own performance troupe in her hometown, putting on local
at the wrong time. shows in hopes of catching the Wu Ji Theater’s eye. When
Profession: Entertainer, Focus: Tumbler the theater closed its doors and the war began, however,
èè Gift: Knows how to flip and tumble around. +1Athletics for such Chinatsu knew she had to follow a different calling… service
things. to the Empire. She didn’t know, however, that they would
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if she fails in front of a crowd, to her erase what she was before and replace it with a killer.
embarrassment. Since then, she has become a weapon master and ex-
Motivation: Alliance, Reason: Duty pert assassin specializing in capture and interrogation.
èè Gift: She is quite devoted to the army. +1 Discipline to go above Chinatsu loves to use her words to intimidate before even-
and beyond a mission objective. tually taking out her target, finding it hard to stop talking
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when she cannot neglect her duty; even at times. The information she lets out could one day lead
when doing so causes complications for the group. to the ninja gaining an edge, but it’s a good thing no one
Wartime Role: Striker, Title: assassin has even survived one of her sessions. Their tricks don’t
èè Gift: Always knows how to get the jump on her target. +1 Speed work on her, you see.
when making a Surprise attack.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when she underestimates her enemy
and they gain the edge.
Assignment: Executioners
èè Assignment Gift - Battle Masters: May ignore all Pain Condi-
tions and all Bleeding Conditions are reduced by 1.
èè Assignment Trigger - Emotionless: Gain 1 Karma whenever
she creates random (and damaging) chaos that causes issues
for her or her group.
Contacts
èè Ally - Hino Kaiya (Empathy): An Executioner’s mental state is
always in flux, but Kaiya is a geisha who knows how to calm even
the most savage person.
èè Rival - Kamon Kenko (Holistics): She is the perfect ally to have
when in need of healing after a battle, but cross her and you’ll find
it hard to get the treatment you require. She’s spiteful that way.
Martial Training
èè Thick Skin 1 (Bear Style): Tougher than she looks. +1 physical Armor.
èè Taste Your Own Blood 2 (Tiger Style): On a Boost, she may
reduce a Pain Condition by 1. Twice per Battle, she gains +1 Ini-
tiative and +1 Fighting from this act.
èè Unstoppable Attack 2 (Paired Style): May attack twice with a
single action, but both attacks suffer a -1 penalty.
Ki Negation 1
èè Sense Ki: Immune to ambush and gains a +1 bonus to all checks
involving detecting and avoiding traps. If looking for a ki dis-
ruption, make a Moderate (2) Empathy + Knowledge to track.
èè Suppressing Jutsu: When a jutsu is activated in her presence,
spend 1 Dynamic Action and roll Discipline + Opposing Ki. Each
success cancels a success the target gained on their roll. Fully
negating a jutsu garners 2 Karma and target suffers -1 penalty
to activate again for the Scene.
èè Canceling Jutsu: To outright negate a jutsu use, the Execution-
er may spend 1 Ki of the opposing type. Note: They cannot mold
addition Ki, and must wait for it to replenish naturally.
Stats of Note Skills
Health: 8, Psyche: 5, Yang: 1, Yin: 2, Rank: 1, Initiative: 4, Dy- Athletics 2, Crafts 1, Deception 1, Discipline 0, Empathy 1, Fight-
namic Actions: 1, Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 4, Movement: 8, ing 4, Fortitude 3 (vs. Poison), Holistics 1, Intimidation 3 (Interroga-
Weapon: Hook Swords (Reach, Unpredictable, Paired, Unwieldy) tion), Intuition 0, Knowledge 0, Marksman 3, Might 2, Perception 1,
Perform 1, Persuade 1, Speed 1, Stealth 2, Survival 3, Travel 0

94
 Kihara Yasu
Element: Metal, Temperament: Meticulous Yasu grew up the perfect daughter of a Middle Prov-
èè Gift: Her eye for detail gives a +1 Marksman to hit enemies at ince governor, always presentable at social engage-
Distant Range. ments and well-behaved in her schooling. When the sun
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when missing a crucial detail hurts the fell, however, she donned a mask and took to the streets
group in devastating ways. where commoners held sway. She always had a nose for
Profession: Noble, Focus: Magistrate getting into trouble, and used that to find fights to in-
èè Gift: Often the arbiter of conflict. +1 Intuition to assess a situ- sert herself into and arguments she could help resolve,
ation. all without anyone knowing she was of noble blood.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the character refuses to bend or While her family taught her the basics of war and
break the law to help the group.
strategy, she had still never tested herself in a real,
Motivation: Nature, Reason: Disaster life-or-death battle. When the Ninja Crusade began, she
èè Gift: She just has a nose for trouble. +1 Speed when her action knew this was her chance to become the warrior she al-
could lead to her death. ways dreamed of. Yasu immediately enlisted in the Izou
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when she chooses the safer course of Army against her family’s wishes, and found yet anoth-
action and it hinders the group.
er challenge before her… battling Celestial Animals and
Wartime Role: Striker, Title: Gladiator taming them for the Empire. Her first was a Celestial
èè Gift: She is an expert duelist. +1 Fighting in a one-on-one battle. Monkey, but who knows what comes next for her.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when she underestimates her enemy
and they gain the edge.
Assignment: Iron Breakers
èè Assignment Gift - A Pound of Flesh: Doesn’t need food or water.
Gain +2 Survival (Tracking) or +3 for tracking Celestial Animals.
Gain (Rank) as a bonus against any Celestial Animal abilities.
èè Assignment Trigger - Disconnected: Gain 1 Karma when their
lack of compassion and basic human decency causes issues for
the group.
Contacts
èè Ally - Shigeki Haji (Marksman): He’s a great gun to have on your side,
but he definitely has a chip on his shoulder.
èè Rival - Choshi Miko (Stealth): Miko is highly talented at blend-
ing in with a crowd. Few ever remember meeting her seconds after
they’ve left her presence, making her the perfect thief or con artist.
èè Rival - Sita (Speed): Celestial Monkey Warrior, NC2E, pg. 172
Martial Training
èè Chain Lightning 2 (Chain Style): Increased momentum makes
their attacks lightning fast. Boosts Initiative and, on a boost, the
fighter can use the chain to reflect light into their target’s eyes.
Moderate (20) Fortitude check or target suffers Sensory Loss 1
Condition.
èè Force of Nature 2 (Blunt Style): After a Boost, target makes a
Tough (3) Athletics + Speed check or they are tripped, taking +1
damage in the process.
èè Trap Master 1: -1 Difficulty for making Capture or Knock Down
Traps.
Black Bones 1
èè Summoning: May summon her Celestial Animal slave to as-
sist. When summoned, mark the Owe a Favor box. If they go a
Session without summoning, the mark is erased. If summoned
with a Mark, the animal suffers a -2 penalty to all rolls.

Stats of Note
Health: 7, Psyche: 6, Rank: 1, Initiative: 6, Dynamic Actions: 1, Skills
Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 5, Movement: 10, Weapon: Three-Sec- Athletics 2, Crafts 1, Deception 3 (Feigning Emotion), Discipline
tion Staff (Chain, Blunt, Reach, Unwieldy) 1, Empathy 0, Fighting 3, Fortitude 2, Holistics 1, Intimidation 2,
Intuition 0, Knowledge 0, Marksman 1, Might 3 (Pinning Down),
Perception 0, Perform 1, Persuade 1, Speed 3, Stealth 1, Survival 4,
Travel 1

95
 Koizumi Emiko
Element: Metal, Temperament: Honorable As far back as she can remember, Emiko was the constant
èè Gift: Lives by a code. +1 Fortitude to stave off deprivation for companion and guardian of a powerful noble’s daughter. While
her honor. she could have employed any ruffian, Emiko’s master wanted
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if her honor gets in her own way. someone more discrete. As a result, Emiko was taught courtly
graces alongside her fighting skills, all to complement, but never
Profession: Entertainer, Focus: Actor overshadow her charge, Sakura. These skills would be put to the
èè Gift: Knows how to put on a face. +1 Deception when faking a test when a ninja came to assassinate Sakura, with Emiko narrow-
personality, emotion or identity. ly fending him off. This might have been the high point of her
èè Trigger: Hard to tell when she’s acting or being sincere. Gain 1 life, until Sakura declared her love to her bodyguard. Emiko felt
Karma when her insincerity causes issues. the same, but was forced to rebuff her charge’s advances since it
would be unforgivable for a bodyguard to abandon her duty.
Motivation: Alliance, Reason: Loyalty Eventually, Emiko would follow her young mistress into
èè Gift: +1 Fortitude when performing acts in service to their Loyalty. the military, since there were just as many enemies within the
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when her loyalty is abused, taken advan- Empire as without. Emiko was recruited into the Jadesmiths,
tage of or betrayed and it affects the group in a negative way. as her ability to defuse a situation with words was often more
Wartime Role: Striker, Title: assassin desirable than using one’s fists. The military even offered her
èè Gift: Always knows how to get the jump on her target. +1 Speed a freedom she never expected to have, a chance to perhaps do
when making a Surprise attack. a deed worthy of gaining the hand of Sakura, and the favor of
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when she underestimates her enemy
her family. One day, she plans on taking them up on that offer.
and they gain the edge.
Assignment: Jadesmiths
èè Assignment Gift - Do As You Are Told: At the beginning of a
Scene, they may choose between +2 Persuade or +2 Knowledge. Also,
they can spend 1 Karma to create an order or obligation the target
must follow or they suffer a -2 penalty on any roll against the order.
èè Assignment Trigger - Give and Take: Gain 1 Karma when
forced to concede something vitally important to the group de-
spite protests from others.
Contacts
èè Ally - Kanaka Etsuko (Persuade): A respected businesswoman
whose iron business has always been run by women, Etsuko is
charming but stands strong in the face of her rivals who believe
gender trumps true business acumen.
èè Rival - Ku Hiroshi (Deception): An accomplished actor, Hiroshi
is said to have told so many lies that he has forgotten his true self.
Martial Training
èè Effortless Defense (Defending Style): May make +1 Defense Action
per Round without suffering penalties.
èè Master of Surroundings 2 (Dragon Style): +2 bonus to all De-
fense rolls after the First Round.
èè Dragon Whips Tail 1 (Dragon Style): +1 Fighting to attack
all within Close Range. If they fail a Dodge, they are Knocked
Down.
Voice of the Emperor
èè A Subtle Implication: Tough (3) Empathy + Intimidation roll to
make target obsess over something she said for (successes) Scenes.
èè Air of Authority: +1 Knowledge when politics-related. Also gains
+1 bonus to all social rolls dealing with them using their courtly
authority. May cause an Embarrassed 1 Condition with any Boost.
èè Voice of Rebuke: Spend 1 Dynamic Action to make Intimidation
+ Deception roll against target’s Intimidation + Discipline. If suc-
cessful, they suffer -4 penalty to next roll.
èè Voice of Righteousness: Spend 1 Karma +2 bonus to Decep-
tion, Empathy, Intimidation, Perform or Persuade checks for the Skills
Scene. May extend +1 bonus to up to 3 comrades. Athletics 1, Crafts 2, Deception 2, Discipline 1, Empathy 3, Fight-
ing 2 (Tessen), Fortitude 2, Holistics 0, Intimidation 2, Intuition 0,
Stats of Note Knowledge 0, Marksman 2, Might 2, Perception 2 (Sight), Perform 2,
Health: 9, Psyche: 9, Yang: 1, Yin: 2, Rank: 1, Initiative: 6, Dy-
Persuade 1, Speed 2, Stealth 0, Survival 2, Travel 2
namic Actions: 1, Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 2, Movement: 7,
Weapon: Katana (Sharp, Quick)

96
 Masasuji Ren
Element: Metal, Temperament: Honorable Born in the capital to a prominent family loyal to the
èè Gift: Lives by a code. +1 Fortitude to stave off deprivation for emperor, Ren was raised to follow in his father’s foot-
his honor. steps as a Silver Blade. It’s a path he excelled at quickly,
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if his honor gets in her own way.
èè garnering the attention of the Emperor himself. Utterly
Profession: Warrior, Focus: Soldier loyal to his emperor, Ren nonetheless possesses a few
èè Gift: He served in a militia turned bandit force. +1 Discipline oddities that could greatly trouble him. Firstly he is
vs. Pain. very curious. What really happened with his Emperor’s
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when his loyalty to the group and to his supposed death and the ninja who supposedly assassi-
old army conflict.
nated him? Secondly, he possesses no enmity towards
Motivation: Coerced, Reason: Promise the ninja, indeed he is actually intrigued by them. Fi-
èè Gift: Gain +1 to persuade whenever trying to convince someone nally, Ren met a girl years ago whom he defended as a
to trust the army.
teenager; that girl is actually a Blazing Dancer and he
èè Trigger: Gain +1 karma when the character fails to keep a
promise and it results in the loss.
desperately seeks information about her. Finding her
may be a way for Ren to learn more about the Empire’s
Wartime Role: Commander, Title: Officer supposed enemies.
èè Gift: With people under his wing, he gains +1 Intuition to guess
the enemy’s next move.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if he puts personal attachments over
those of the mission.
Assignment: Silver Blades
èè Assignment Gift - Focused Warriors: +1 Fighting when using
a Sword. May spend 1 Dynamic Action to reduce all current
Mental Conditions by 1.
èè Assignment Trigger - Honor Bound: Gain 1 Karma when the
pursuit of honor comes into conflict with a decision that carries
grave consequences.
Contacts
èè Ally - Kataoka Ren (Perception): An Imperial investigator
who travels from city to city, her skilled mind and sharp eyes
often uncover clues that others do not find.
èè Rival - Ichikyo Mitsada (Fighting): An expert duelist and for-
mer Court Duelist, he has gone into seclusion since the Ninja Cru-
sade began. It is said his honor would not permit him to stay, an
act which has earned him the enmity of the Executioners.
Martial Training
èè Splitting Arrows 1 (Sharp Style): Can Block ranged attacks
normally with no penalty.
Way of All Rivers
èè Way of Instant Step 1: Can Move as a Free Quick Action or may
take normal penalty to move x4 normal Movement.
èè Way of the Silver Tide 1: Defense Boost against a weapon, cuts
weapon in half. Defense Boost against an unarmed attack causes
Injured (Limb) 1 Condition to attacker.
èè Way of the Silver Iajutsu 1: May draw weapon for Free, and gains
+3 Initiative at the beginning of Round weapon is drawn.
èè Way of the Silver Iajutsu 2: Before a sword is drawn, spend 1
Dynamic Action to make Intimidation + Speed roll that deals +2
damage. Can only be used once before sword is drawn.
èè Way of the Silver Iajutsu 3: Sword is automatically sheathed
against on a successful attack.
Stats of Note
Health: 7, Psyche: 9, Rank: 1, Initiative: 7, Dynamic Actions: Skills
1, Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 4, Movement: 9, Weapon: Katana Athletics 2, Crafts 0, Deception 1, Discipline 4, Empathy 1, Fight-
(Sharp, Quick) ing 4 (Swords), Fortitude 2, Holistics 0, Intimidation 2, Intuition 2,
Knowledge 1, Marksman 1, Might 2,Perception 1 (Sight), Perform 2,
Persuade 1, Speed 2, Survival 1, Travel 1

97
 Nakada Junko
Element: Fire, Temperament: Silver Tongued Growing up in the Bridge to the World Province made
èè Gift: Always knows what to say. +1 Deception to convinced Junko self-reliant and quite the saleswoman. Her family
someone she’s right. made and sold climbing gear, perfect for tourists wanting
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when they try to use words to terrible to scale the cliffs of Kiwan, but it was altogether unful-
effect when force is better suited. filling for her. When her brother, Kin, showed he could
Profession: Artisan, Focus: Builder manipulate ki like a ninja, it intrigued her a little, but ul-
èè Gift: Gains +1 Perform to sell wares or show their skill to a
timately made her scared for their family. This fear was
crowd.
well-founded, as neighbors turned in Junko’s family to
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when something they made is used
the authorities. She got away, but her mother, father and
against the character or group.
brother were all taken for suspicion of being ninja.
With nothing to her name, her family’s business ru-
Motivation: Coerced, Reason: Runaway ined and she on the run, Junko got an idea… why not join
èè Gift: Gain +1 Stealth when avoiding people or events related to the army. Surely, they wouldn’t be quick to suspect one
what she ran away from. of their own. Junko keeps to herself and fortunately has a
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when their past affects their new life in way of talking around her past instead of about it. She’ll
a negative way. fight for the people who took her family from her until
Wartime Role: Foot Soldier, Title: Champion she can find out where the Empire is holding them and get
èè Gift: She fights against sicknesses. +1 Fortitude against poison them back.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma whenever sharing the truth about the
war with the wrong person causes conflict/trouble
Assignment: Black Smokes
èè Assignment Gift - One With the Gun: +1 Marksman when us-
ing firemarms in Close Range and +1 bonus to all Dodge rolls.
èè Assignment Trigger - Powder Runs Dry: Gain 1 Karma if they
ever run out of ammo at a crucial time.
Contacts
èè Ally: Takishita Juri (Crafts): She is a well-known gunsmith, ca-
pable of crafting unique bullets to take down any type of foe.
èè Rival - Sugai Chiemi (Survival): Being a miner means she
knowns her way around the rocky cliffs of the Izou Empire.
Chiemi can make a mission much easier or much harder.
Martial Training
èè Blackout the Sun 1 (Ranged Style): After a Boost on a ranged
attack, she may attack again for free.
èè Flying Into Battle 1 (Eagle Style): May make a full Move Ac-
tion after a successful Dodge Defense. Does not trigger a Re-
treat Attack.
Way of the Gun
èè Aine’s Ring 1: Resistant to losing her senses. Ignore up to two
levels of Sensory Loss Condition.
èè Aine’s Ring 2: When using a weapon with the Loud Quality in
Close Range, cause +1 Psyche in addition to any other damage.
Boost = Also causes Sentsory Loss (Hearing) 2 Condition.
èè Double Barrel 1: Fights with two pistols instead of one, raising
their chances of hitting. +2 Marksman when using twin pistols.
èè Never Unarmed 1: May draw guns for Free and gains +2 Initia-
tive for the First Round of Battle.
Stats of Note
Health: 5, Psyche: 8, Rank: 1, Initiative: 10 (12), Dynamic Ac-
tions: 1, Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 4, Movement: 11, Weapon:
Pistols (Concealable, Loud, Piercing, Ranged)

Skills
Athletics 3 (Running), Crafts 1, Deception 0, Discipline 3, Empa-
thy 2, Fighting 2, Fortitude 0, Holistics 0, Intimidation 1, Intuition
3, Knowledge 0, Marksman 3, Might 1 (Strong Grip), Perception 3,
Perform 3, Persuade 0, Speed 3, Stealth 0, Survival 0, Travel 2

98
 Noseichi Mahiru
Element: Fire, Temperament: Sadistic The child of physicians, Mahiru witnessed in her
èè Gift: She loves to hurt others. +1 Fighting after she’s hit them tenth summer the destruction an oni causes. When the
once already. empire began to employ the Iron Breakers, she heard
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when she can’t stop herself. about the black weapons ripped from demons. Fascinat-
Profession: Healer, Focus: Gekai ed and used to unorthodox experiments with the super-
èè Gift: Skilled at seeing the signs of illness and knowing what natural her parents conducted, she honed her skills and
they mean. Gain +1 Intuition when diagnosing a patient. joined the breaker training, specializing as a medic.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the character loses a patient. She doesn’t believe the Ninja Crusade’s goal is re-
Motivation: Nature, Reason: Study ally to exterminate all ninja, so she uses her amazing
èè Gift: Always looking to learn something new. +1 Intuition when abilities for her own pursuit: theorizing and testing the
she attempts a type of action she’s never tried before. hidden potential of the black bones. Despite her usual
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the character chooses not to share attitude of using people and ideas as tools, especially
helpful knowledge they have with the group. her captured animals, Mahiru really likes her feline,
Wartime Role: Medic, Title: Bonesetter treating him similar to a companion.
èè Gift: Knows the long arduous hours of medical work. +1 Disci-
pline to stay awake.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if a surgery fails and the character could
have stopped it.
Assignment: Iron Breakers
èè Assignment Gift - A Pound of Flesh: Doesn’t need food or water.
Gain +2 Survival (Tracking) or +3 for tracking Celestial Animals.
Gain (Rank) as a bonus against any Celestial Animal abilities.
èè Assignment Trigger - Disconnected: Gain 1 Karma when their
lack of compassion and basic human decency causes issues for
the group.
Contacts
èè Ally - Fuwa Shion (Discipline): A professional go player, she is known
for staring long and hard at a problem to find just the right solution.
èè Rival - Tokaji Konan (Speed): Ever been on a team with the
smartest person in the room? Konan’s trivia knowledge is
amazing, and she can come up with answers to difficult ques-
tions faster than anyone else can.
èè Rival - Aphato (Athletics): Celestial Feline Warrior
Martial Training
èè Flying Chains 2 (Chain Style): Chain weapons can be thrown
at Near Range at no penalty. Also, on a Boost, target’s Initiative
is reduced by 2. If they Boost against same target in the same
Battle, target also suffers a Slow 1 Condition.
èè Bone Crusher 1 (Blunt Style): +1 damage with Blunt weapons,
and create Pain 2 Condition (instead of 1) on Boost.
èè Force of Nature 1 (Blunt Style): After a Boost, target makes a
Mod (2) Athletics + Speed check or they are tripped.
èè Trap Master 1: -1 Difficulty for making Capture or Knock Down
Traps.
Black Bones
èè Summoning: May summon her Celestial Animal slave to as-
sist. When summoned, mark the Owe a Favor box. If they go a
Session without summoning, the mark is erased. If summoned
with a Mark, the animal suffers a -2 penalty to all rolls.
Stats of Note
Health: 6, Psyche: 7, Rank: 1, Initiative: 5, Dynamic Actions: 1,
Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 3, Movement: 7, Weapon: Kusari-fukku Skills
(Hook-chain) (Chain, Restraining, Reach, Unwieldy) Athletics 1, Crafts 2 (Weapons), Deception 2, Discipline 2, Empa-
thy 1 , Fighting 3, Fortitude 1, Holistics 3 (Surgery), Intimidation 2,
Intuition 1, Knowledge 2, Marksman 1, Might 2, Perception 2, Per-
form 0, Persuade 1, Speed 1, Stealth 0, Survival 3, Travel 0

99
 Shiomiya Zurui
Element: Metal, Temperament: Authoritative Named after the founder of the Izou Empire, Zurui
èè Gift: Is striking and controlling. +1 Intimidation to issue commands always knew he was destined for remarkable things.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if/when he makes a wrong call. He carried himself with a presence akin to his name, as
Profession: Scholar, Focus: Sage well, and led many local initiatives to better the Empire,
èè Gift: He is often hired as an expert. +1 Knowledge to analyze evidence. his home and the lives of the people around him. When
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when a client’s needs come before the group’s. the Ninja Crusade began, he rejoiced in the Emperor’s
Motivation: Intangible, Reason: Belief new war, knowing it must truly be righteous, and en-
èè Gift: Believes, without a doubt, that serving the army is the right choice. Gain listed in the army right away, even bringing many oth-
+1 Perform when making a show of praising the Empire. ers with him.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if he purposefully goes against his belief and it has After years training with the Golden Lions, and
a negative impact on the group. learning the truths behind the army, he is even more
Wartime Role: Villager, Title: Guardian convinced that they must destroy the ninja. Zurui re-
èè Gift: He is the defender of his village. +1 Might when defending civil- quested that he be allowed to return to his hometown
ians or the weak. to root out ninja, defend his village and bring those
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the thing he protects is put in danger he
closest to him into the fold. The clan can always use
cannot stop.
more Lions after all.
Assignment: Golden Lions
èè Assignment Gift - Stolen Arts: +2 bonus when attempting to decipher se-
crets or lore belonging to another clan. Also gains +1 Intimidation against
ninja, raised by another +1 bonus for each other Golden Lion in their squad.
èè Assignment Trigger - It Will Be Ours: Gain 1 Karma when their lust for un-
covering other clans’ secrets comes into conflict with the rest of the group.
Contacts
èè Ally - Tomi Yokio (Holistics): No one knows how old he really is or where
he is from, but Tomi Yokio has centuries of wisdom and knowledge behind
his eyes. He has a soft spot for those who seem genuinely wanting to learn.
èè Ally: Network of Spies (Thieves).
èè Rival - Naiko Akira (Athletics): A ruthless mind hides behind a heart
of gold, and Akira is often at odds with his fellow Golden Lions when it
comes to how they treat peasants, but he sees himself and the Golden
Lions as the next great heroes of legend.
Martial Training
èè Master of Spies 1 (Thieves): Gains Thieves as an Ally.
èè Jutsu Retrieval 1: Perform rituals to rip clan secrets from his victims.
Way of Dazzling Pilferage
Training: On a Boost, gain +1 to Defense or against jutsu for the Round.
Backfire: Suffers a Bruised 1 Condition for Mental damage.
èè Jutsu Reading (Basic, Yang + Perception): After seeing a jutsu used,
they gain a +2 bonus to resist that jutsu. This may be used on up to two
jutsu during a single Scene.
èè Armor Synch (Basic, Yang + Perception): Stores one jutsu in their
armor, using this activation roll for all future uses. A successful attack
with a -3 penalty unsyncs the jutsu.
Way of Ebony Clutches
Training: Shadows surround him. +2 Stealth on a Boost
Backfire: -1 cumulative penalty to Stealth.
èè Solid Shadow (Med, Yang + Discipline): Target’s shadow can now be
harmed, giving them -2 penalty to all Defense rolls.

Way of Great Serpents

Training: On a Boost, they may raise or reduce a Poison Condition with Near
Range by 1
Backfire: Suffers a Slowed 1 Condition.
èè Hypnotic Eyes (Basic, Yin + Perception): May use Yin + Persuade as
Defense against any incoming attack. Boost = attacker’s Movement re- Skills
duced to 0 for the Round. Athletics 0, Crafts 0, Deception 1, Discipline 3, Empathy 2, Fighting
2, Fortitude 2, Holistics 2 (Jutsu Retrieval), Intimidation 2, Intuition
Stats of Note 2, Knowledge 2, Marksman 0, Might 1, Perception 3 (Armor Synch),
Health: 7, Psyche: 8, Yang: 2, Yin: 1, Rank: 1, Initiative: 7, Dynamic
Actions: 1, Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 1, Movement: 7, Weapon: Shuko - Perform 0, Persuade 3, Speed 2, Stealth 2, Survival 1, Travel 0
Hand Claws (concealable, Paired, Skilled (Climbing), Fragile)

100
 Shizuma Masato
Element: Water, Temperament: Wise Masato has lived quite the life, having been a son,
èè Gift: He’s been around. +1 Intuition to randomly come up with a husband and a father. His experiences have brought
correct common knowledge. him all over the world and given him an insight few
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if he recalls seemingly-truthful but others possess, but he has always sought for something
wholly inaccurate information instead. he felt missing in his life. After years of the Ninja Cru-
 
Profession: Merchant, Focus: Traveler sade occurring around him, Masato finally had enough;
èè Gift: He is very good at her job. Gain +1 Persuade when haggling he made the difficult choice to leave his family behind
or negotiating. to enlist in the army.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when he gets himself (and usually his The Izou forces received an accomplished builder
squad) lost.
with a unique mind and a spy who can fit into almost
Motivation: Nature, Reason: Study any culture without raising alarm, and in return Ma-
èè Gift: Always looking to learn something new. +1 Intuition when sato has broadened his horizons even further on the
he attempts a type of action he’s never tried before. Empire’s tab. Many of his inventions serve the soldiers
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the character chooses not to share at the front lines as they use them against the ninja,
helpful knowledge they have with the group.
granting him a medal here and there for his efforts. He
Wartime Role: Communications, Title: Spy and his wife exchange lengthy letters every week to let
èè Gift: He is an expert spy. +1 Stealth for covering his tracks. her know he’s okay, and he knows that when this is all
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if his cover is blown at the worst of over, he’ll go home finally fulfilled.
times.
Assignment: Engineers
èè Assignment Gift -Sudden Genius: +2 Crafts when dealing with
mechanics. May also spend 2 Karma to ask the GM for a new
idea to tackle an obstacle before them.
èè Assignment Trigger - Insatiable Curiosity: Gain 1 Karma
when you are presented with a task or a mystery that consumes
your concentration regardless of what you need to focus on.
Contacts
èè Ally - Matsumura Tagane (Marksman): A one-eyed marksman
with a wooden left hand, Tagane is said to have perfected the art
of making trick shots with his specially constructed rifle.
èè Rival - Matmura Rei (Intimidation): Known as the Iron Ban-
shee, Rei is renowned for her machines that create high pitched
shrieks and roars, disorienting her foes and said to scare off
attacking ninja.
Martial Training
èè Coil and Strike 2 (Snake Style): Skip 1 Round without Action
(may Defend normally). On next turn, gain +1 bonus to attack
equal to Actions (normal or Dynamic) skipped multiplied by 2, up
to a +6 max. This attack also deals +1 damage.
èè Trap Master 2: -2 Difficulty for making Immobilize Traps. -1 Diffi-
culty for making Attack or Explosion Traps.
Ingenuity 2
èè Starting Resource Points: 3 RP (Max 10)
èè Fields of Study: Equipment/Gear, Civil Engineering, Metallur-
gy, Covert
èè Scavenging: Moderate (2) Crafts + Intuition roll to comb the
area for supplies for inventions, where each success yields +1
RP. Masato gains 1 auto success in this task.
èè Using RP: To make item alteration, spend 1 RP and make Crafts
+ Appropriate Skill roll. Each success adds +1 bonus die when
using the item for specified purpose.
Stats of Note Skills
Health: 5, Psyche: 7, Rank: 1, Initiative: 7, Dynamic Actions: 1, Athletics 0, Crafts 4, Deception 2 (Exaggerations), Discipline 2,
Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 1, Movement: 5, Weapon: Nest of Bees Empathy 1, Fighting 2, Fortitude 0, Holistics 0, Intimidation 2, Intu-
(Ranged, Explosive, Poisonous, Reload) ition 4, Knowledge 3, Marksman 2, Might 1, Perception 0, Perform
1, Persuade 0, Speed 0, Stealth 2 (In a Crowd), Survival 2, Travel 2

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 Yuhura Hikari
Element: Water, Temperament: Calm Hikari has served the Empire in the Izou Courts ever
èè Gift: Has a calming spirit. +1 Discipline to stay calm and ignore since her 18th birthday, fully accepting her role in so-
distractions. ciety. She rarely questions what path fate has put her
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if/when her calm demeanor comes off as cold. on, knowing that all things work out for her in the end.
Profession: Noble, Focus: Kuge Every political double-cross has been uncovered by
èè Gift: A truly skilled aristocrat. +1 Discipline during tough con- sheer luck before it occurred, and her calm, often cold
versations. demeanor often plays a part in uncovering these plots.
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma if political skeletons rear their heads. She was selected after only 2 years to become a Jade-
Motivation: Intangible, Reason: Destiny smith, a mouthpiece for the Emperor himself after one
èè Gift: It was fate she would become a part of the great Izou of her political rivals died in service. This was a sign
army. +1 Intuition to follow one’s destiny. Hikari could not refuse, and she took on the mantle with
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when her actions or words contradict ease. Using her connections and extensive contacts, she
the destiny she believes she has. has become a lawyer, often called to try cases against
Wartime Role: Supplier, Title: Steward those accused of being or conspiring with ninja. Her
èè Gift: She is a master of figuring out mixtures. +1 Knowledge to ability to discern poisons and investigate crime scenes
determine ingredients in any mixture. has helped her to tackle these cases head-on, but she
èè Trigger: Gain 1 Karma when the character’s finicky nature enjoys the ability to order others to do it for her as well.
causes friction for the character or group.
Assignment: Jadesmiths
èè Assignment Gift - Do As You Are Told: At the beginning of a
Scene, they may choose between +2 Persuade or +2 Knowledge. Also,
they can spend 1 Karma to create an order or obligation the target
must follow or they suffer a -2 penalty on any roll against the order.
èè Assignment Trigger - Give and Take: Gain 1 Karma when
forced to concede something vitally important to the group de-
spite protests from others.
Contacts
èè Ally - Hideyo Kuma (Fighting): A believer that politics will always
achieve true success but that every diplomat must know how to protect
themselves, Kuma is the daughter of an assassinated minister and an
ardent supporter of the Ninja Crusade.
èè Ally: Network of Spies (Gatherers).
èè Ally: Network of Spies (Assassins).
èè Rival - Ken Kiyoshi (Knowledge): Though Kiyoshi never recovered from
a vicious poisoning attempt by the ninja, he spends his days reading and
sharing information with others so that he may leave behind a world that is
better than when he was in it.
Martial Training
èè Turn the Tide 1 (Defending Style): Gain +1 Fighting against an
opponent she has Defended against in the same Round.
èè Master of Spies 2: Gains Gatherers as an Ally.
èè Master of Spies 1: Gains Assassins as an Ally.
Voice of the Emperor
èè A Subtle Implication: Tough (3) Empathy + Intimidation roll to
make target obsess over something she said for (successes) Scenes.
èè Air of Authority: +1 Knowledge when politics-related. Also gains
+1 bonus to all social rolls dealing with them using their courtly
authority. May cause an Embarrassed 1 Condition with any Boost.
èè Voice of Rebuke: Spend 1 Dynamic Action to make Intimidation
+ Deception roll against target’s Intimidation + Discipline. If suc-
cessful, they suffer -4 penalty to next roll.
èè Voice of Righteousness: Spend 1 Karma +2 bonus to Decep-
tion, Empathy, Intimidation, Perform or Persuade checks for the Skills
Scene. May extend +1 bonus to up to 3 comrades. Athletics 0, Crafts 1, Deception 2, Discipline 2, Empathy 3 (Pick-
ing a weak target), Fighting 2, Fortitude 2, Holistics 0, Intimidation 2,
Stats of Note Intuition 2, Knowledge 3 (Izou Empire), Marksman 0, Might 0,
Health: 7, Psyche: 7, Rank: 1, Initiative: 5, Dynamic Actions: 1,
Perception 2, Perform 1, Persuade 3, Speed 0, Stealth 2, Survival 0,
Dynamic Dice: 3, Strength: 0, Movement: 5, Weapon: Jian Saber (De-
Travel 3
fending, Piercing)

102
 index
A Motivations.................................................................................58
Alliances.......................................................................58
Assignments................................................................................21
Assignment Exceptions.............................................................57 Coerced.........................................................................58
Intangible.....................................................................60
B Money...........................................................................60
Bamboo Herbalists.....................................................................46 Nature...........................................................................61
Black Smokes............................................................10, 22, 64, 75
Black Veil Province....................................................................39
N
Blazing Dancers..........................................................................43 Nanchou......................................................................................15
Bridge to Battle Province............................................................40 Ninja Crusade...............................................................................7
Bridge to the World Province......................................................41 Ninja and the Law......................................................................12

C O
Cradle of Life Province...............................................................42 Oak Leaf Province.......................................................................45
Organized Crime........................................................................51
D P
Daiwa...........................................................................................13
Dynamic Environments.............................................................81 Pack of the Black Moon.............................................................42
Pirates in the Empire.................................................................53
E R
Emperor Mamoru......................................................................10
Emperor Zurui..............................................................................8 Recoiling Serpents.....................................................................48
Empire History..............................................................................5 The Reconciled...........................................................................51
Engineers..........................................................................7, 24, 63 Religion in the Empire...............................................................49
Enlightened....................................................................26, 49, 57
Executioners.........................................................7, 28, 53, 57, 65
S
Sample Characters.....................................................................91
F Silk Belt Province.......................................................................46
Silver Blades................................................................8, 10, 36, 73
Flame River Province.................................................................43
Sky Dragon’s Ceremony..............................................................17
G T
Golden Lions...................................................8, 19, 30, 48, 65, 72
Grasping Shadows......................................................................39 Tactics..........................................................................................62
Black Bones..................................................................62
H Ingenuity......................................................................63
Hidden Strands of Fate..............................................................46 Jutsu Retrieval.............................................................65
Hotaru no Kouji..........................................................................18 Ki Negation..................................................................65
Path of the Body..........................................................67
I Path of the Mind.........................................................68
Iron Breakers....32, 49, 62, 65 Path of the Spirit.........................................................69
Iron Province....44 Voice of the Emperor..................................................71
Itsutai Nakasune........................................................................52 Way of Dazzling Pilferage...........................................72
Izou Courts.................................................................................12 Way of All Rivers..........................................................73
Way of the Gun............................................................75
J Triumph Province......................................................................48
Jadesmiths............................................................................34, 71
Jahata Rebellion...........................................................................6 V
Virtuous Body Gardeners..........................................................40
K
Kiwan..........................................................................................16 W
Kodama Collective......................................................................54 Wardens of Equilibrium.............................................................45
Kokudou......................................................................................17 Weapons (New)..........................................................................77
Kokuei Steel................................................................................19 Weapon Styles............................................................................76
Will of Iron.................................................................................44
L
Living Chronicle.........................................................................41 Z
Zaitsu, the Immortal..................................................54
M
Mass Combat..............................................................................78
Middle Province.........................................................................45

103