Roleplaying game

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Chapter 8: Non-Player Characters
Mahō-Tsukai (Adversary)
Mahō-tsukai are vile sorcerers who strike unthinkable bargains with the 
kansen, the dark kami that usher forth from the Festering Pit of Fu Leng. 
Theirs is a forbidden art, one of blood sacrifice that twists all it touches 
and befouls the very land. Its practice is among the foulest of crimes, and 
one of the most important duties of Emerald Magistrates and shugenja 
families alike is snuffing out these evil mystics whenever they appear.
EARTH
RESILIENCE
COMPOSURE
FOCUS
VIGILANCE
PHYSICAL 
RESISTANCES
SUPERNATURAL
RESISTANCES
FIRE
AIR
WATER
VOID
4
3
3
14
7
1
8
4
3
3
2
Conflict Rank: Combat 4, Intrigue 3
Skills: Scholar 3, Social 1, Trade 2, Martial 1
Advantages: Excellent Liar (Air) [Social; Interpersonal], Whispers of Fu 
Leng (Void) [Scholar; Spiritual]
Disadvantages: Rotting from Within (Earth) [Martial; Physical, Spiri-
tual], Shadowlands Taint (Void) [Scholar; Spiritual]
Demeanor: Cowardly (Fire –2, Earth +2)
Typical Outburst: Flee 
Honor: 0  
Glory: 19  
Status: 0
Abilities: Curse of the Kansen (Choose zero to three additional mahō 
techniques (see page 140) that this mahō-tsukai can perform. Add 1 to 
this character’s combat rank for each mahō technique chosen this way.)
Gear (equipped): Wakizashi (Range 0–1, Damage 4, Deadliness 5/7, Cer-
emonial, Concealable, Razor-Edged) or ritual dagger (Range 0, Damage 
2, Deadliness 4, Concealable, Mundane, Razor-edged, Unholy), sacrile-
gious robes (Physical 1, Supernatural 3, Mundane, Subtle), scroll satchel.
Techniques
Incite Haunting
Activation: As an Attack action, the mahō-tsukai may make a Theology 
check targeting one character or corpse at range 0–1. This check uses any 
ring of the mahō-tsukai’s choice, and the TN of the check is equal to the 
target’s vigilance (or 1 for a corpse).
Effects: If the mahō-tsukai succeeds, the target suffers the Afflicted con-
dition for a ring based on the ring the mahō-tsukai used for the Theology 
check (see page 170).
If the mahō-tsukai fails, the target rebuffs their efforts. If the mahō-tsukai’s 
shortfall is 2 or higher, the target also becomes aware of these efforts.
Opportunities:
•• 
+: Count the maximum range of the technique as 1 higher per  
spent this way.
•• 
+: Choose 1 additional target per  spent this way.
Mark of Desecration
Activation: As a Support action, the mahō-tsukai may make a TN 2 
Theology (Earth) check targeting up to three corpses with the Afflicted 
condition at range 0–3.
Effects: If the mahō-tsukai succeeds, each target rises as a Zombie Peas-
ant (see page 204).
If the mahō-tsukai succeeds or fails, an area encompassing one range band 
around each target’s position gains the Defiled terrain quality (see page 167).
Provincial Daimyō (Adversary)
The typical daimyō is stern, serious, and inured to flattery. Their time 
is valuable, so they appreciate brevity and clarity from any samurai who 
address them. While most no longer take up arms often, they can be 
extremely deadly in battle, for they often possess arms and armor of sur-
passing quality and a lifetime of experience fighting to maintain what is 
theirs at court and in combat.
EARTH
RESILIENCE
COMPOSURE
FOCUS
VIGILANCE
PHYSICAL 
RESISTANCES
SUPERNATURAL
RESISTANCES
FIRE
AIR
WATER
VOID
4
4
4
14
7
1
16
4
0
3
4
Conflict Rank: Combat 7, Intrigue 6
Skills: Artisan 1, Martial 4, Scholar 3, Social 3, Trade 2
Advantages: Wisdom of Experience (Void) [Scholar; Mental], Veteran’s 
Wariness (Earth) [Martial; Mental, Physical]
Disadvantages: Long at Court (Water) [Martial; Mental]
Demeanor: Gruff (Modifiers: Air –2, Earth +2)
Typical Outburst: Inappropriate Remark 
Honor: 55 
Glory: 70  
Status: 65
Abilities: Lord’s Command (Once per scene, as a Support action, a provin-
cial daimyō may advise a character who can hear them on how to complete 
a task they wish the character to perform. The character may use the pro-
vincial daimyō’s ring or skill in place of their own for the next check they 
make to complete this task before the end of the game session.)
Gear (equipped): Daishō (katana [Range 1, Damage 4, Deadliness 5/7, 
Ceremonial, Razor-edged] and wakizashi [Range 0–1, Damage 4, Dead-
liness 5/7, Ceremonial, Concealable, Razor-edged]), ceremonial robes 
(Physical 1, Ceremonial), chop of office.
Gear (other): Plated armor (Physical 5, Cumbersome, Durable, 
Wargear).
Techniques
All Arts Are One
Activation: As an action, a provincial daimyō may make a TN 4 Martial 
skill (Void), Games (Void), or Performance (Void) check to rapidly 
absorb a new activity covered by that skill.
Effects: If the daimyō succeeds, they immediately intuit how to wield 
a new weapon, play a new game, or perform a new instrument, song, 
dance, or other task. They do not suffer any TN increases that might be 
associated with dealing with something completely new to them.

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