Shadow Shintai

By Antuan Wallace ("Hibiki") (hibikix0x@aol.com)

Description

One of the greatest accomplishments and secrets of the Koga is this esoteric Shintai Discipline. It grants the Koga Shinobi power of shadow and darkness by channeling their Yin energies. The mastery of shadows and darkness induces great abilities in not only stealth but also control over the substance of shadow.

It was developed during the height of the Shogunate, during the unification of Japan. The student of Shadow Shintai becomes a master of stealth and misdirection. At the higher levels of the discipline the student begins to tap into more than just shadow, they begin to tap into the P'o itself, the ultimate shadow.

Chi Attunement: Dexterity

* Silencing the Wrathful Dragon

This power grants the practitioner the ability to move about in absolute silence across any surface or even through water without a sound. Through a channeling of their Yin and breathing exercises the vampire moves about without making so much a whisper.

System: No roll is needed; the vampire must be in a state of wind soul to use the power. The power is always active, and equally unnerving, and decreases the difficulty rolls of stealth by 2 when in use.

** Run the Shadows

It is rumored that the Ninja could move unseen through the shadows. Cathayan who have faced Koga Shinobi know the dark truth of this power. This power allows the vampire to move under a veil of deceptive Yin energy, literally making the vampire invisible to sight. The vampire could move in the open unseen even amidst a crowd.

System: The vampire spends a point of Yin Chi to initiate the power, while hidden in shadow or darkness. The power lasts until called off or detected, touching someone is considered detection. The vampire can move normally (i.e., run, swim, walk, or even climb unseen).

*** Black Mist

The vampire has gained sufficient control over the power of shadow to release a concentrated cloud of Yin energy. The cloud blinds and deafens any within; this technique was developed for the sole purpose of escape and diversion. The "cloud," more like a growing shadow/darkness, is exuded from the mouth as if exhaling or blowing.

System: The vampire spends a point of Yin Chi and then breathes out the Black Mist. Mortals are automatically struck blind and deaf for a number of turns equal to the vampires permanent Yin rating. Shen roll Willpower (difficulty is the vampire's Yin rating + 4, maximum of 10) to avoid the effects as may specially trained mortals.

**** Master of Shadow's Children

At this frightening level of control, the vampire can create Yin spirits, duplicates of himself. This power is often used to confuse opponents and escape. This power has been rarely seen, as there are few vampires that have reached this level of skill in Shadow Shintai. These Yin spirits can go about a variety of actions depending on their "complexity" of creation.

System: The vampire spends 2 points of Yin Chi then rolls Stamina + Yin (difficulty 8). Each success garners 1 point towards constructing a duplicate of the vampire. None of these constructs can speak, and they last for a scene.

Successes	Capabilities
1	Minor illusion, can complete one action (i.e., run, climb, stand still, etc.).
2	The construct will react to situations, albeit simply (e.g., run, reach a wall then climb, but it will not engage in combat, always fleeing).
3	Same as before but it can engage in combat and do "damage." Use the vampires permanent Yin rating as its combat skills. If it does damage it drains a point of Yin Chi, or equivalent. The Spirit can only take 3 health levels; the construct may not soak.

***** Mastery of the Shadow Form

This power is greatly feared, among those who have seen it demonstrated. Truly the vampire has become a true master of Shadow, channeling his Yin to become a fearsome Shadow Demon. The Cathayan exudes darkness in this menacing form and is quite powerful physically. Some whisper that this power is not so much a manifestation of Shadow but the true face of the P'o.

System: The transformation costs 4 Yin Chi and four turns to transform. The vampire becomes nothing short of a Demon swathed in impenetrable shadow, an eerie aura of darkness and cold flowing from the vampire. The manifestation of darkness exudes outward 5 feet per permanent Yin Chi. This darkness is chilling and disorienting, making actions for others difficult, increase the difficulty for all actions by 2, excluding the "Shadow Demon."

The vampire gains 2 more dots in all Physical attributes, but has an appearance of 0 and cannot speak. The Shadow makes no sound and gains +4 dice to all stealth rolls; no light except Sunlight can pierce the sphere of darkness. The Transformation lasts for a scene.

***** * Unleashing Shadow's Dragon

The vampire masters who have achieved this level, often called Shadow Dragons, are able to turn the residual Chi energy around them in darkness and shadows into Demon Chi by using their P'o. The P'o greedily consumes the Yin Chi and refines it into Demon Chi, albeit a mockery of this energy, which the Shadow Dragon may use to fuel their rage and fury. This power is used sparingly since the P'o rarely likes be used without trying to wrest control from the vampire. It can be said that as one travels further down the path of Shadow, one comes closer to the source of the P'o.

Many sages speak that protracted use of this power can corrupt an area's Chi, the truth of which is unsure. Many whisper that many Shadow Dragon haven are rife with unclean spirits and shadow horrors. The truth of which can neither be proven nor discounted, as the mysterious Shadow Dragons do not reveal their secrets.

System: The character must spend two points of Yin Chi and then roll Willpower (difficulty 8) to attempt to draw out the P'o and keep it under control. If the roll is unsuccessful then the vampire immediately enters Shadow Nature. If the roll is botched, the P'o maintains control for the rest of the night, a most inauspicious occasion. The Storyteller may increase or decrease the difficulty depending on the situation and location and the availability of shadow. A well-lit area may prove impossible to draw any Demon Chi, a room lit candles or firelight would suffice as would night streets would also suffice. If the P'o is successfully drawn out then it may attempt to gather Demon Chi from the shadows every turn afterwards. At the beginning of every turn the vampire may roll her P'o (difficulty 8). Every success garners a point of "shadow" Demon Chi that she must use before the duration of the Discipline is up. The P'o is controlled in this way for as many turns equal to the Yin. At the end of the duration a contested roll must be made for shadow nature to continue the discipline; if successful the duration is the same as before. The vampire is considered to be in a state of Fire Soul and may ignore wound penalties.

***** ** The Ten-Thousand Shadowy Katas

It can be said that the Shadow Dragon is a fearful foe and master of stealth and misdirection. Those few who have seen this ability and survived have not only a great respect but also fear for the Koga and their Shinobi. The vampire is able to appear invisible or near so during even combat. This greatly unnerves foes and makes the Shadow Dragon a force in combat. The vampire, through channeling his Yin, becomes nothing short of an invisible killer.

System: The vampire spends two points of Yin and if hidden from view initiates the power automatically. If he is in full view he must roll Yin + Stealth (difficulty of the highest Wits + 4) to initiate the power. The vampire is invisible from sight for a number of turns equal to his permanent Yin, in which he may attack and still remain unseen and unheard. The opponent or opponents increase their difficulties to attack the Kuei-jin by four for as long as he stays invisible. As an added plus, unless opponents somehow detect the vampire, they cannot dodge or defend against their attacks. As said before this is a deadly art.

***** *** Carve the Shadowy Jade

In the early nights of Koga's existence they were charged with destroying those shen who displeased the Bishamon. Many suspect this power is a holdover of that time. The Shadow Dragon may create weapons of delicious destruction against the Shen, out of shadow. These weapons take on the appearance of milky-black jade, and are usually carved beautifully and adorned with many designs. By infusing the Shadow's Jade with Yin Chi the weapon becomes wispy and cold, it looks to be smoking slightly with potent energy. These weapons can easily cleave even the Hengeyokai as if running one's hand through a river.

System: The vampire spends two Yin Chi and rolls Manipulation + Crafts (difficulty 8). Success means that the vampire has created a Shadowy Jade weapon that does aggravated damage and exists for as many nights as successes. The Shadowy Jade weapon for one turn may do unsoakable aggravated damage to any shen, by spending a point of Yin Chi at the beginning of the turn. The Shadowy Jade weapon may be made permanent if the vampire is will to sacrifice one point of permanent Yin Chi.