Inspired by the Isawa Tadako v Isawa Rujo combat, I've been trying to create rules for that kind of ritual fight. One of my PCs is a Shugenja, and he's interested in the way they portrayed it. I'm considering doing this in place of the Melee for him and the NPC Shugenjas in the upcoming Topaz Championship.
It doesn't fit as a Taryu-Jiai, because the competitors are trying to convince each other's kami to come live in their own shrine rather that just beat each other into submission using elemental spells. So this is what I've sketched out in the last... 30 minutes of thinking about it? It's gonna need some work, I'm sure.
Phase 1: Enshrine the kami .
TN1 Theology – Using the element matching the kami to be enshrined. Success adds 1 to Initiative (plus an extra 1 for every bonus success).
OP+: Increase shrine Endurance by 1 per OP spent.
Initiative is Focus. Shrine Endurance is equal to double the value of the Ring corresponding to the kami enshrined.
Phase 2: Take turns. Run as either a Duel or Skirmish
Each character begins within Range 1 of their own shrine.
New Actions:
Bolster: As a Support action, using the Ring matching your kami , TN2 Meditation: increase your shrine’s Endurance by 1.
OP+: Deal 1 fatigue to another shrine within a Range equal to the Ring used for the check.
Coerce: As an Attack and Scheme action, target a shrine within Range 0-2. TN2 Theology using the Ring matching the kami within the targeted shrine. Deal fatigue to the target shrine equal to your Ring used, plus 1 per bonus success. You may use an Offering for its Invocation bonus on this action.
Phase 3: Resolution.
When a shrine’s fatigue exceeds its Endurance, the enshrine kami flees to another shrine. If multiple shrines are still standing, the kami will flee to one matching its own element first, and its opposing element last.
Edited by Hida Jitenno