Work in progress:<br/><br/>Name:  Ikoma Sasuke<br/><br/>“Honor is best discussed over the bodies of your enemies.”<br/><br/>(http://lovehkfilm.com/panasia/aj6293/dororo_a.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rxo-dVWeH5A/SfNiHU9i77I/AAAAAAAAGec/n2mgh_btPj0/s400/Satoshi_Tsumabuki_wallpaper_1.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://www.cutehotguys.com/11224-3/Japanese+sensibility+actor+Satoshi+Tsumabuki++_29_.jpg)<br/><br/>Clan:  Ikoma<br/>School:  The Lion’s Shadow<br/><br/>EXP   40/0<br/>Insight:  126<br/><br/>Air: 3<br/>3   Reflexes<br/>4   Awareness<br/><br/>Earth 2<br/>2   Stamina<br/>2   Willpower<br/><br/>Fire 2<br/>2   Agility<br/>2   Intelligence<br/><br/>Water 2<br/>2   Strength<br/>2   Perception<br/><br/>Void 2<br/><br/>Skills:<br/>0   Battle<br/>1   Calligraphy<br/>0   Defense<br/>2   *Courtier<br/>2   *Etiquette<br/>2   *Jiujutsu<br/>2   *Kenjutsu<br/>0   Kyujutsu<br/>1   Meditation<br/>2   *Investigation (Notice)<br/>2   *Sincerity<br/>1   *Stealth<br/>1   Storytelling<br/><br/>Flaws:  \<br/>3  Bad Fortune: Secret Love<br/>2  Bitter Betrothal<br/>4  Cursed by the Realm:     (Always targeted first by hungry dead.)<br/>1  Fascination: Naga<br/><br/><br/>Merits:<br/>4  Benten’s Blessing<br/>9  Ikoma Ancestor (+1k0 to inelegance roles, +2k0 to unarmed damage.)<br/>6  Hands of Stone<br/>4  Sage<br/><br/><br/><br/>School:<br/>The Ikoma Lion's Shadow (Bushi):<br/>Although many modern Ikoma no longer recall it, or have chosen to forget, the first Ikoma was not a particularly honorable man.  He served his lord Akodo with great distinction and lyalty, but the means by which he executed his dutes are frequently omitted from any historical record.  Most Ikoma do not consider this an issue, but there are some among them who understand this omission is a means of protecting the family's honor, as the first Ikoma was a ruthless, pragmatic individual who would gleefully embrace dishonorable tactics as a necessary means of completing his duties.<br/>The Ikoma Lion's Shadow are a small and extremely secretive group within the Ikoma family who remember exactly who and what Ikoma was, and they celebrate his memory.  They consider themselves extremely practical individuals who exist as a sort of foil to the dire machinations exercised by the Scorpion and other unsavory individuals.  Although they frequently are called upon to sacrifice their honor for the sake of their clan, they do so willingly and without regret, and almost always with the greater Lion Clan remaining completely ignorant of their activities.<br/>Benefit: +1 Awareness<br/>Skills: Courtier, Etiquette, Kenjutsu, Investigation (Notice), Sincerity, Stealth, any one High or Low Skill<br/>Honor: 3.5<br/>Outfit: Traditional Clothing, Daisho, any one weapon, Calligraphy Set, Traveling Pack, 5 koku<br/>Rank One: No Boundaries - Those who walk the path of Okoma choose a life of self-sacrifice and questionable actions in order to serve their clan as their founder did.  You do not lose Honor for using Low Skills if they are used directly for the goals or glory of the Lion Clan (subject to GM judgement).  As a Free Action you may target a number of opponents equal to your School Rank; you gain a bonus of +1k) to the total of all attack rolls and Contested Rolls made against these opponents.  This bonus may be activated a number of times per day equal to your School Rank and lasts until the end of the day.<br/><br/>Rank Two: The Lion Cannot Fail - The first true lesson of the great Ikoma is that surrender is never an option and failure can be overcome regardless of circumstances.  You gain a bonus of +1kO to all Skill Rolls using School Skills.<br/><br/>Rank Three: The Spirit of Ikoma - Although many among the Lion remember him differently, the followers of the Lion's Shadow know that Ikoma was a warrior who cared for victory first and the means of attaining that victory second.  Once per Round, you may lose three points of honor as a Free Action to add +2k1 to your attack, damage and Contested Social Skills Rolls until the end of the Round.<br/><br/>Rank Four: The Quiet Lion's Claws - Although their principle battleground is that of the court, those who bear the name Lion's Shadow are sons of Ikoma first and foremost and carry the ferocity of their ancestor within their veins.  You may make melee weapon attacks as a Simple Action instead of a Complex Action.<br/><br/>Rank Five: Ferocious Determination - The wrath of a disciple of Ikoma is terrible to behold.  You may spend a Void Point to take a Free Action to make a Contested Roll of your Courtier/Awareness versus against an opponent's Etiquette (Courtesy)/Awareness.  If you win the roll, you have shaken his resolve by reminder him of his past failings.  The opponent subtracts a penalty equal to your Awareness plus the opponent's own Honor Rank from the total of his attack and Contested Social Skills Rolls against you for a number of hours equal to your School Rank.  This Technique does not work against those who possess no Honor Rank.<br/><br/>Attacks:<br/>Katana<br/>--To Hit   4k2<br/>--Damage   5k2<br/><br/>Unarmed<br/>--To Hit   4k2<br/>--Damage   5k2<br/><br/><br/>The bard Ikoma Hiroki was wed to Matsu Katsumi—a celebrated heroine of the Lioness’s Pride.  Despite their busy lives, they had a son named Ikoma Sasuke.  As a child he was a wide eyed idealist, despertly in awe of his mother’s deeds and his father’s stories of past warriors.  He trained daily even as a little boy to be like her.<br/>When he was still young, Katsumi defended the honor of a woman at winter court and killed a scorpion bushi.  That scorpion’s family retaliated with a whispering campaign at court that resulted in Katsumi’s disgrace.  Rather than lower herself to the level of those who assailed her, Katsumi left her husband and child and joined an order called the Death Seekers, ending her life in a glorious campaign early in the conflict with the Bloodspeakers.<br/>Sasuke was both heartbroken and disillusioned.  For many months he sulked and railed, demanding of the gods why his mother did not find her true enemy and drive her katana through his heart.<br/>One night, the gods answered…<br/>In the gardens outside of their home, a samurai sat in the moonlight in old fashioned clothes, sipping from a gourd of sake.  The samurai asked the boy his troubles, and he found himself responding.  “Your mother was a very great warrior,” he replied, “But she lacked the knowledge of the court to find her enemy.<br/>“If you were in her place, and you did find him, would you turn the whispers against him?”<br/>“Why would I do that, sir?  That would just fill the air with more poison and hate.  I would find my enemy and strike him down.  Let the honor of my actions be discussed over his body.”<br/>The samurai nodded.  “I will help you.  Ask your father to introduce you to his brother.  Ask him also for the old stories about Ikoma, the ones not so popular anymore.”<br/>