Tonbo Bushi

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The Tonbo Bushi School

by Shosuro Shisai

The small Tonbo Bushi School was officially disbanded by the venerable Dragonfly Daimyo Tonbo Kuyuden. Actually, Kuyuden kept practicing his father’s teachings. He thought that the legacy of Asajin were too precious to be simply forgotten. Kuyuden recorded the knowledge of the Tonbo bushi school and instructed his followers to teach it’s secrets only to a few chosen bushi, the true Guardians of the Dragonfly Clan and protectors of the minor clan’s shugenja school. To this day, there is in all Rokugan less than twelve Tonbo bushi.

Benefit: +1 Perception

Beginning Honor: 1.5

Skills: Defense, Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu, Meditation, Mountaineer, Etiquette, Tea Ceremony, one Bugei Skill

Starting Outfit: katana, wakizashi, kimono, yumi, 20 arrows, traveling pack, any one weapon, 1 koku

Techniques

Rank 1: Way of the World

The Tonbo believe that change is the key to enlightenment. Based on that principle their bushi style is devoted not to one but two basic fighting stances: offensive and defensive. The Tonbo bushi flows from one stance to other during a fight, always befuddling his adversaries. The bushi can add his Water Ring to his TN to be Hit or to any Bugei skill. When entering in combat he must declare which stance he will use. To change the stance, the bushi concentrate for one round and roll a Void (TN 10) check.

Rank 2: Dragonfly’s Dance

In the same way as the symbol of their clan, the Tonbo bushi fighting style is agile, harmonious and yet, unpredictable. Learning from their Mirumoto ancestors, a Tonbo bushi can use his weapon in great efficiency with both hands. If his first attack don't hit the enemy, the bushi can spend a Void point to quickly change his weapon to his off-hand, seeking a better way to penetrate his enemies’ defenses. The bushi gains a second attack with his off-hand against the same adversary.

(The Ambidextrous Advantage costs one point less for a Tonbo samurai).

Rank 3: Guided by Nothing

The Tonbo bushi is so focused on the principle of change that he sees every art and technique as a refletion of the same way. If he spent on Void point he can use his Kenjutsu skill in the place of any other Bugei skill for the rest of that combat (or round if used during a battle round).

Rank 4: So Above, as Below

The Tonbo bushi blade is now in harmony not only with the ways of Ningen-do but also Tengoku. The bushi may make two attacks per round. Any Void spent to gain an extra dice in one attack benefit both.

Rank 5: Changing Fate

The Tonbo bushi finally begin not only to accept change as a natural event of life, but also to learn how to ride Fate’s inconstant weaves. The first time he is wounded in a combat, the bushi gains a Void point. He also gains a Void point the first time he tries to hit an enemy and fails. These extra Void points are not limited by the bushi’s Void rank but are lost if not used in this round or the next.