Mirumoto Gunslinger School
History: The Gunslingers were seen by some to be a natural development of Niten style. Certain more historical wise Bushi were quick to point out that Mirumoto was remembered as slightly brash and proud of his skill, just as much as he was for his amazing talent and his willingness to learn new things, thus seeking the enlightenment and wisdom of Togashi.
However, the vast majority of the Clan were more hesitant to accept such rational. Sure, Mirumoto was all those things, but in many ways, it was his son, Mirumoto Hojatsu who truly founded and established the Mirumoto Bushi School and the Niten style used to this day.
That the father would favour any means to victory, that he would boldly stride over tradition, and would be almost arrogant in his belief that he was right meant nothing. It was Hojatsu who truly understood what it meant to be Dragon and Hojatsu who proved to be Kakita’s near equal. As such the gunslingers remained in the minority among the Dragon.
However, likewise a small group of Taoist Swordsman also saw the potential for seeking their path enlightenment in these new weapons, and joining the original group of Mirumoto Bushi, began to develop a school that all but abandoned the sword in favour of the gun. This has led to a school that is largely a mix of these two paths.
Benifit: +1 Reflexes
Skills: Athletics, Defence, Firearms (Pistol), Investigation, Meditation, Craft: Firearms, any one Bugei or High Skill.
Honour: 3.5.
Outfit: Light Armour, Sturdy Clothing, Daisho, Two Pistols (Radiant), Travelling Pack, 5 Radiant Pistol batteries (6 shots each) 2 Koku.
Special: The Gunslingers are confident they follow the true vision of Mirumoto, that they are moving forward towards a successor school, that all will see the truth behind what they teach in time. While they are rarely one to brag up such things, it is rare for them to walk away from a fight against those who stick with Katana. Mirumoto Gunslingers start with the Overconfident disadvantage, with no point gained from it.
Techniques
Rank 1: Niten is Niten, no matter the Weapon.
Initiates in the Mirumoto Gunslinger School start out very similar to the traditional Mirumoto Bushi School, learning how to understand and master the Niten technique. However while the Mirumoto Bushi focuses on defence with that second weapon initially, the Mirumoto Gunslinger focuses on learned to feel the void that connects them, their pistols and the battlefield around them, drawing on that connection to increase their efficiency.
When wielding two pistols you suffer no penalties of any kind for duel wielding. Additionally, while duel wielding pistols, every round you spend in Void stance gives you a free raise on your next attack (maximum of 3), in addition to its other benefits.
Rank 2: Aim with my Eye.
At this stage of training the Gunslinger is taught not to look outwards, but inwards, focusing on your place in the universe, the soul of their weapon, the void that connects them, their weapon, and all those around them, even their enemies. The result of this is a trance-like state in combat.
When spending a Void point on an Attack roll with the firearms skill gains 2k1 instead of 1k1. In addition, the TN penalty for shooting into melee or while in melee is reduced by 5.
Rank 3: Don’t Aim, know.
As the exploration of Niten continues, the Mirumoto Gunslinger realises the folly in aiming. You can only ever be accurate with one pistol. The Void allows one to feel those around them, to sense where the enemies lie, and to trust yourself and your guns to point where the enemies are. All things have a connection through the void, and the gunslinger need not see the target to know where he is.
Attacking with Pistols is a Simple action. Reloading in Void Stance is a Free Action.
Rank 4: Shoot with my Mind
As the Gunslingers connection to their soul and that of those around them grows, they reach a state that from which they must continue on alone. Only so much understanding can be taught...true enlightenment requires walking your own path, and more understanding of the world then just Void.
However few find this barrier a true negative, for the Gunslinger’s connection to the world around them at this stage is almost supernatural.
If you spend the first round of combat in Void stance, you gain a free Void Point that must be used by the end of combat or is lost. In addition, the round after leaving Void stance, your raises on a roll are limited to twice your void ring, instead of only equal to your void ring.
Rank 5: Kill with my Heart.
Despite not being any further enlightened, and some have suggested possibly even straying onto a false path, the gunslinger finally grasps the lesion he has been learning from the beginning. That we are not all just connected through the Void....in the Void, we are one.
The Gunslinger at this rank realizes that there is only one target, one journey, and that all that face him in combat on this journey are just another step along the path. And after one step comes another.
When you kill an opponent with a pistol, you may immediately attempt another attack against a different target.
However, the vast majority of the Clan were more hesitant to accept such rational. Sure, Mirumoto was all those things, but in many ways, it was his son, Mirumoto Hojatsu who truly founded and established the Mirumoto Bushi School and the Niten style used to this day.
That the father would favour any means to victory, that he would boldly stride over tradition, and would be almost arrogant in his belief that he was right meant nothing. It was Hojatsu who truly understood what it meant to be Dragon and Hojatsu who proved to be Kakita’s near equal. As such the gunslingers remained in the minority among the Dragon.
However, likewise a small group of Taoist Swordsman also saw the potential for seeking their path enlightenment in these new weapons, and joining the original group of Mirumoto Bushi, began to develop a school that all but abandoned the sword in favour of the gun. This has led to a school that is largely a mix of these two paths.
Benifit: +1 Reflexes
Skills: Athletics, Defence, Firearms (Pistol), Investigation, Meditation, Craft: Firearms, any one Bugei or High Skill.
Honour: 3.5.
Outfit: Light Armour, Sturdy Clothing, Daisho, Two Pistols (Radiant), Travelling Pack, 5 Radiant Pistol batteries (6 shots each) 2 Koku.
Special: The Gunslingers are confident they follow the true vision of Mirumoto, that they are moving forward towards a successor school, that all will see the truth behind what they teach in time. While they are rarely one to brag up such things, it is rare for them to walk away from a fight against those who stick with Katana. Mirumoto Gunslingers start with the Overconfident disadvantage, with no point gained from it.
Techniques
Rank 1: Niten is Niten, no matter the Weapon.
Initiates in the Mirumoto Gunslinger School start out very similar to the traditional Mirumoto Bushi School, learning how to understand and master the Niten technique. However while the Mirumoto Bushi focuses on defence with that second weapon initially, the Mirumoto Gunslinger focuses on learned to feel the void that connects them, their pistols and the battlefield around them, drawing on that connection to increase their efficiency.
When wielding two pistols you suffer no penalties of any kind for duel wielding. Additionally, while duel wielding pistols, every round you spend in Void stance gives you a free raise on your next attack (maximum of 3), in addition to its other benefits.
Rank 2: Aim with my Eye.
At this stage of training the Gunslinger is taught not to look outwards, but inwards, focusing on your place in the universe, the soul of their weapon, the void that connects them, their weapon, and all those around them, even their enemies. The result of this is a trance-like state in combat.
When spending a Void point on an Attack roll with the firearms skill gains 2k1 instead of 1k1. In addition, the TN penalty for shooting into melee or while in melee is reduced by 5.
Rank 3: Don’t Aim, know.
As the exploration of Niten continues, the Mirumoto Gunslinger realises the folly in aiming. You can only ever be accurate with one pistol. The Void allows one to feel those around them, to sense where the enemies lie, and to trust yourself and your guns to point where the enemies are. All things have a connection through the void, and the gunslinger need not see the target to know where he is.
Attacking with Pistols is a Simple action. Reloading in Void Stance is a Free Action.
Rank 4: Shoot with my Mind
As the Gunslingers connection to their soul and that of those around them grows, they reach a state that from which they must continue on alone. Only so much understanding can be taught...true enlightenment requires walking your own path, and more understanding of the world then just Void.
However few find this barrier a true negative, for the Gunslinger’s connection to the world around them at this stage is almost supernatural.
If you spend the first round of combat in Void stance, you gain a free Void Point that must be used by the end of combat or is lost. In addition, the round after leaving Void stance, your raises on a roll are limited to twice your void ring, instead of only equal to your void ring.
Rank 5: Kill with my Heart.
Despite not being any further enlightened, and some have suggested possibly even straying onto a false path, the gunslinger finally grasps the lesion he has been learning from the beginning. That we are not all just connected through the Void....in the Void, we are one.
The Gunslinger at this rank realizes that there is only one target, one journey, and that all that face him in combat on this journey are just another step along the path. And after one step comes another.
When you kill an opponent with a pistol, you may immediately attempt another attack against a different target.