Bushido

By Jenny Parr for the Hibakusha Kasa.

* Tachi-ai - The Way of the Mind

The practicioners of Bushido have a supernatural ability to predict the actions of their combat opponents. By watching the eyes of his enemy the Kasa may forecast where her next blow shall land.

The Kasa must spend an action watching his opponent's eyes then roll Perception + Empathy against a difficulty of her Dexterity + Subterfuge. Each success decreases the difficulty of the Kasa's next dodge or parry.

** Jinshin - The Way of Earth

The Kasa are known for their aloofness and confidence in battle. By initiating this power of Bushido the Kasa will project an aura of invulnerability to fool their enemies.

At any time the Kasa is probed to discern weaknesses or made to look foolish his Wits + Subterfuge is rolled against a difficulty of his opponent's Intelligence + Empathy. Each success adds to his opponent's difficulty. This power is automatic but the Kasa needs to be awake and aware of his opponent.

*** Sazanami - The Way of Water

By virtue of their immense devotion to battle the Kasa invoking this level of Bushido can ignore wound penalties gained in battle. Pain flows away from him like pebbles striking water then sinking without trace.

When the Kasa is first wounded in battle he should roll Wits + Medicine against a difficulty of 6, the total of successes being the number of wounds the Kasa can take before being affected by the wound penalties during this battle.

**** Hano-o - The Way of Fire

Shinma and Daemons have always plagued the lands of the moon and even the Kasa have to ward against them. By taking the blood from their own hand and consecrating it to Bishomon, the god of war, the Kasa's weapon becomes imbued with divine power.

The Kasa must spend one blood point, and one round to smear the blood on his blade. This causes a melee weapon to glow with a fiery inner light and do aggravated damage to all supernatural creatures for the next two blows, or the battle whichever is shorter. A missed strike does not count, but a soaked blow does. This power appears to be related to powers of the Kyuketsuki, and does special damage to Shinma and Daemons at the GM's discretion. This power can not be set up in advance.

***** Kakyu - The Way of Air

By using this power the Kasa are able to call on the air itself to help them against dishonourable enemies, solidifying around them so they can not run away. The opponent must be within his sight and have been formally challenged.

By spending a turn concentrating and rolling Charisma + Intimidation with a difficulty of his opponent's willpower the Kasa can reduce the speed of the opponent if she is attempting to escape.

1 success	3/4 speed
2 successes	1/2 speed
3 successes	1/4 speed
4 successes	1/8 speed
5 successes	Unable to run away

This power does not affect the victim's ability to fight or dodge however.

****** Kanada - The Way of the Body

Commanding the very bodies of his enemies the Kasa is able to cause agonising pain in an opponent from a distance. The opponent must be within his vision and must have been formally challenged to the duel.

By spending a blood point and rolling Dexterity + Medicine against a difficulty of his opponent's Willpower, she experiences incredible amounts of pain. Each success results in the loss of one dice from all dice pools.

******* Tamashii - The Way of the Spirit

Obsessed with the notions of fair duelling and honour, the Kasa may use this power in order to decrease the Strength, Dexterity and Stamina of his opponent to even out a battle.

By rolling willpower vs willpower and touching his opponent the Kasa can remove one point from one of her physical attributes for each success. The opponent must have been formally challenged and no attribute may be reduced to lower than the Kasa's own score in that attribute. The effects last for one battle.

******** Konran - The Way of Chaos

Older Kasa often hunt for Shinma in order to increase their personal honour. This level of Bushido helps overcome their infernal powers. The Kasa calls a small whirlwind upon the battleground, within the storm's eye (where the Kasa and his opponent stand) no magic or supernatural powers may exist. All other combatants are pushed to the outer edge of the wind and may not interfere with the duel until the storm dies down, the Kasa is incapacitated or the opponent is incapacitated.

The opponent must be formally challenged. Then a roll of Manipulation + Occult against a difficulty of the opponent's willpower must be made. The wind pushes the opponent towards the Kasa while pushing all others away. The storm lasts for one combat round per success and counters all disciplines, gifts, spheres, magical items etc.