Tora Bushi School (revised)
Benefit: +1 Void
Skills: Battle, Jitjutsu, Kenjutsu (Katana), Iaijutsu, Lore: History, Shintao, any 1 Bugei skill
Honor: 6.5
Outfit: Light or Heavy Armor, Sturdy Clothing, a copy of the Collected Writings of Sun Tao & Sun Pin, Daisho of Good quality, 2 samurai weapons of choice, Clogs, Travel pack, 1 item of excellent quality
The Tora School : Mu-Ryu AKA Mu-Do (The Empty Sword or Empty School)
Rank 1: The Way Of The Tiger
This School was designed by the current sword master of the Tora, Tora Katsushiro and has caused something of a stir in dueling and other circles. Either in a dueling ring or in battle, a student of the Tora is known to be exceptionally difficult to assess, as the Tora technique focuses on suppressing a samurai's satsuki (murderous intent) which all samurai are trained to look for in a duel or the battlefield to judge an opponents strength's or weaknesses, as well as intentions. It has led to the defeat of more than one overconfident duelist who thought they could defeat a minor clan samurai with little work.
When in a Iajutsu or Kenjutsu duel, the Tora student adds Void to TN's for Iajutsu assessment and readings of intent (Awareness rolls). In a battlefield or general melee, the Tora must make a contested Void roll with their opponent. If they win, the opponent loses the initiative against them for 1 round equal to school rank.
Rank 2: The Empty Heart
The Tora has become unpredictable in movement and thought, become difficult to strike, and some movements come rather unexpectedly.
The character now adds Void x3 to TN for dueling and may adjust battle rolls up or down by Void x3, and may perform the Guard maneuver while on Full Attack.
Rank 3: Oneness of the Void
The Tora has attained harmonized flow within the Void, achieving a speed rarely matched.
The Bushi may now make attacks as a Simple Action instead of a Complex Action. Void X 3 to regular Armor TN
Rank 4: Honor and the Void
The Tora have not forgotten their heritage, in spite of what some might think. Their reverence for the ancestors and honor is so strong that it can be felt through the void. As such, the Void reflects within this technique as they use it to punish the dishonorable. The Tora's blow is infused with the force of their honor, smiting those who turn from honor, with ancestors powering the force of the blow.
The Tora adds their Honor Rank (rounding down) to damage kept rolls if the target has a lower honor rank than the bushi.
Rank 5: The Empty Sword
The pinnacle of the Tora School and a technique few have managed to master. The Tora bushi becomes a force within the Void, moving between targets, difficult to spot, and even more difficult to stop, a vague hint of where they are, before they strike.
The Tora must spend a Void point as Free Action to activate this technique. When activated the Tora becomes exceptionally difficult to hit wither in a duel or on the battlefield (Void x 5 to TN for Duels, Armor TN, or adjusting battle rolls Battle rolls (pick one)), and the targets of the Bushi are considered Harried after a Contested Void roll for a duration equal to the Tora's School rank. The Tora must step at least 5 feet between targets while attacking multiple targets, if this done, the Tora may take a 3rd attack at 3 raises instead of 5.
New Condition: Harried (2 Raises): When making the raises for this, the target has had their concentration disrupted and are prone to making mistakes while gathering their thoughts. The mechanical benefit removes -1K1 dice and the target MUST make 2 raises to perform a maneuver (stances do not apply). In a Duel, this condition will put the target on the defensive, disrupting their Focus for 1 round.
The Great Clans View of the Tora
Traditional Crane: While we find the Taking of Kyuden Kurogane-Hana a blow to the Clan, particularly by the low bred Tora Kiyone, we blame that incompetent fool, Lord Hiyawasa (may his name be struck from the record) for it's loss and not the Tora. During Kiyone's brief reign, she had been nothing but charitable and gracious to the clan and our best Courtiers detected no mockery in her voice as she spoke. While a leader of a minor clan, she was the epitome of Honor, and would be nothing less if rumors of her ties to Matsu are to be believed. Still, the Tora are upstarts that need to be put in their place.
The Dark Crane: Hmph, the half-breed illustrated our point we have been making within the Clan that we have become weak and simpering idiots, grown fat, lazy, and indolent. The current leadership of the Crane are idealistic fools more appropriate for a more civilized age. We do not fault the Tora their victory as it serves our purposes, and annoys those idiots in Kyuden Doji. Our Courtiers will support the Tora as they are quiet agreeable, if a bit of a mystical bent.
Traditional Scorpion: Only more proof that the Crane are unworthy of their position, but they bear careful watching. They have a truly staggering amount of wealth and are exploiting it with a degree of sophistication that we had not given a former Lion, much less a Matsu. Which leads to the question: Where did they get that kind of wealth from? But otherwise, they are Lion with a Mystical bent and just as a horrible temper if aroused. Intrigues should be played very carefully.
Corrupt Scorpion: Oh wonderful, a new minor clan. I swear they pop up like rats at times...where was I. Oh yes, Horribly honorable and worshiping the irate Bandit Queen Matsu like she was the coming of Amaterasu. That and Lions with Money can never be a good sign. And it's fairly evident from the military buildup from all the ronin and former Lion and Crane that have been inducted that the Tora are Up To Something, but few of our agents have survived long enough to get an idea of just what the hell is going on there.
Dragon: Greetings, Little Sister. I hope your lessons are coming along well. It will be most interesting to see what comes of Lion training fused with the Tao.
The Lion: It is good to see Matsu's Honor restored and given an appropriate place to contemplation. While perhaps a bit more ostentatious than we would like, many of the students that have returned seem to have a deeper understanding of Honor and their place in the Celestial Order. As such we have no objections to the Tora.
The Mantis: Drive, Hunger, and Honor. Not often you see that combination work together in a positive way, but this lot seem to have managed a balance of it, which is to be respected. Clan intelligence states that their Shomyo was kinda a screw up starting out, Matsu temper mixed with Lion Honor and apparently Kitsu nature. Sounds like an ugly combo, but what do I know? They are, however, polite to us and are good customers for our wares. The Shomyo has a taste for the exotic and kinda failed at the whole Aesthetic business, so you never know what they might want. That and their Bushi are honorable, but a bit off. Not bad. Just strange. Can't argue their effectiveness in the field though.
The Crab: Monkish Lions. Now I've heard everything. More seriously, their training must be effective if the managed to over run a Crane Kyuden. So that is at least respectable. And I'm lead to understand that they've won no small amount of duels. Now if only they would send a few of them to the wall...
The Unicorn: We know little about them other than what the rumor mill has told us, but they appear to be honorable sorts. That and they have plenty of money to spend.
The Phoenix: Lion Reading the Tao. It only took them how many centuries?
The Spider: They. Are on. To us. Give them a wide birth while figuring out how to neutralize them.
The Imperials: Well, after much observation it is of our opinion that His Eminence is a master politician. Or has a genuinely perverse sense of justice. Or quite possibly both with the creation of the Tora. Neutralizing the Lion and Crane in a single stroke and sticking a blade in their craw at the same time. For formalized duels, they have to go on bended knee to a newly created minor Clan. This will prove most amusing.
The Tora's View of the Great Clans
The Crane: Lady Doji's clan is sick inside. Oh, there are many new hopefuls and strong and proud leaders, but there is a rot within the Clan. They think we do not see it behind the smiles and the Gala parties, the training, The duels, and the art. The Clan is screaming in pain and madness encroaches. We have seen what sits on the Kakita, and Daidoji Thrones. We must warn the Empire carefully and not draw attention to ourselves. The Clan can be saved, but only if it's true sons and daughters rise to the occasion.
The Lion: While we honor and respect you, remember: We were put here because of You and The Crane.
The Scorpion: We see your plots and intrigues and our friends among the Hare and the Wasp have warned us about you. And we have seen the infighting within your clan. We know that those who follow Bayushi's purpose honorably are isolated and alone. We will give succor to them. You were great once, but the whispers in the Dark your clan was known for have arisen and killed many of your worthy. But we will not give them to you. Lady Matsu and Honor demands we stand against you. So come then. All of you.
The Dragon: You presume familiarity with us. You are not like us, and we are not like you. We have taken the best of Ninten, Akodo's Tactics, and The Sun Tao and made them our own. Do not assume you know us. We are nothing like you.
The Mantis: While perhaps in the past, your reputation was...questionable at best, we have listen to the various Samurai and peasantry, and find you....questionable. That being said, we would prefer not being beholden to the Lion, or in debt to the degenerating Crane. While you are crude, we respect your boldness in carving your own way in the Empire. And we suspect you may wish to avail your selves of our skills. And our wealth. Do not presume to become too familiar, though.
The Crab: Perhaps the most under appreciated Clan in the Empire performing the most dangerous of tasks of all and risking eternal damnation. We do not envy you and we will make allowances for your lack of refinement in the area of shido. While perhaps rough, your illustrious Ancestor Hida-No-Kami was at least well spoken. We will only say try following his example more. Lord Tsueno does.
Unicorn: Feh. Iteki with their wearing of flesh and use of Iteki equipment nearly puts them outside the Celestial Order, but his Eminence tolerates them. Still, if we must have foreigners, I'd rather it be them. The Ide are quite agreeable to speak with. That and Lady Matsu always got along with Lady Shinjo. So suffer their presence if you must. But make sure they don't leave any flesh behind.
The Phoenix: For those that profess wisdom and power, they have little of the former and much of the later. Never a particularly good combination. We do not envy the Shiba their duties.
The 'Spider': After speaking with the Hare and the Kuni, we beginning to wonder if this is the 'Subtle Hand of Fu Leng' we have heard of. They are far more organized that any form of Tsukai or Blood speaker cults we have ever heard of. Constant Vigilance is required.
The Sparrow: Well, We seem to have much in common. The mutual condescension of our parent Clans for one. Lets talk.
Edited by TheWanderingJewels