Schools

Bushi : Courtiers : Shindōshi : Specialists

Schools represent the style of training a character has been given. Characters will typically remain a part of one school for their entire lives, and often whole families will be trained as members of the same school. Skills are within your school skill list and do not require Instruction to learn.

You can choose to come from one of the three core schools, or to be a specialist.

Bushi

Bushi are martial characters, trained as warriors to defend the lands and honour of their clan. All bushi carry a wakizashi (a small sword) on their belt in court to denote their school. This represents their martial prowess and readiness to engage in martial combat or resolution.

Bushi are not permitted to speak in formal court, and must either be represented by a courtier, or directly asked to comment by the host.

Carrying weapons other than a wakizashi in a formal court setting can be considered an insult to the hosting clan. Some bushi schools will train with weapons other than the katana, using them in the same way, which may be viewed poorly by more traditional clans and individuals.

School Abilities

Core School Skills: Battle Tactics, Defence, and Duelling

Core only: You have the Heavy armour proficiency and can wear heavy armour.
You have all of the weapon proficiencies, can use any weapon in combat, and can learn weapon masteries without the need for Instruction. Only bushi may develop a weapon mastery over level 1.
1 use per respite, you can assess another bushi and gain insight into their martial abilities after witnessing them in a battle or a duel. You may ask them, or a referee, one of the following questions:
- - What is their maximum HP and AP?
  - What level is their Duelling skill, and what styles have they learnt?
  - What weapon masteries have they learnt?

Courtiers

Courtiers are diplomats and ambassadors, and are responsible for all communications within court, for trading favours and information, for spending Influence, and for the negotiation of alliances. All courtiers carry a fan from their belt in court to denote their school. This represents their social prowess and readiness to engage in social combat or resolution.

Only courtiers may speak in a formal court setting. All clans hold court in slightly different ways according to their traditions.

School Abilities

Core School Skills: Alchemy, Calligraphy, and Tea Ceremony

You can see the lasting Honour, Glory, and Influence levels of other characters, as shown by the beads on their belt.
You may receive fleeting Influence from other characters. Only courtiers can spend Influence within the court.
1 use per respite, you can read another samurai’s body language and gain insight into their social standing after watching them for an appropriate amount of time. You may ask them, or a referee, one of the following questions:
- - How much fleeting Influence do they currently have?
  - Do they hold any titles in court?

Shindōshi

Shindōshi are wielders of elemental magic. All shindōshi carry a scroll case from their belt in court to denote their school. This represents their knowledge and magical ability and readiness to engage in magical combat or resolution.

Shindōshi are not permitted to speak in formal court, and must either be represented by a courtier, or directly asked to comment by the host. All clans have their own ways of performing magic and ceremonies, according to their traditions, and have restrictions on which elements they can call upon.

School Abilities

Core School Skills: Ceremony Master, Divination, and Spellcraft

You are aware of the basic and advanced spell lists as they appear in the rulebook, but are only able to cast spells you have learned.
Pick 5 basic spells to learn. You cannot pick Kū or Kage spells unless you have the ability to cast from those elements.
You have 5 spell slots every day, which you use to cast spells. You can perform ceremonies by expending at least one spell slot. Only shindōshi can gain and use spell slots.

Specialists

There are six specialist schools – one from each clan (see Clans section for more details on the individual specialisations).

Specialists can be aligned to a core school, gaining all of their school abilities (excluding those marked core only, such as the bushi and courtier school skill lists) in addition to their own.

During character creation, some specialists are required to pick between being a bushi specialist or a courtier specialist.

Hinotori Monk

School Skills: Calligraphy, Enlightenment, and Tea Ceremony

You can be a bushi specialist or courtier specialist.
You have a maximum lasting Influence value of 0, but you may gain fleeting Influence.
You have the H2H weapon proficiency.

Kani Scout

School Skills: Alchemy, Defence, and Hunting

You are a bushi specialist.
You have the H2H weapon proficiency.

Ryu Tattooist

School Skills: Calligraphy, Divination, and Tattooing

You can be a bushi specialist or courtier specialist.
You are aware of the basic tattoo list, but are only able to apply tattoos you have learned.
You gain the option to add a tattoo to yourself as a universal advantage.
You have a maximum lasting Influence value of 0, but you may gain fleeting Influence.
You have the H2H weapon proficiency.

Sasori Shinobi

School Skills: Alchemy, Assassination, and Calligraphy

You can be a bushi specialist or courtier specialist.
You may pick a skill from that school’s skill list to swap with one of your own, such as swapping Alchemy for Defence.
You have the H2H weapon proficiency.

Shishi Berserker

School Skills: Battle Tactics, Berserker, and Defence

You are a bushi specialist.
You have the H2H weapon proficiency.

Tsuru Harrier

School Skills: Battle Tactics, Defence, and Spy Master

You are a bushi specialist.
You have the H2H weapon proficiency.

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