L5R: Ronin

• Trait: +1 AGI
• Skills: Athletics 1, Defense 1, Hunting 1, Intimidation 1, Kenjutsu 1, Knives 1, any one Weapon Skill 1
• Honor: 4.5
• Outfit: Light armor, sturdy clothing, daisho, any one weapon, traveling pack, 1 koku

Techniques

Rank 1: Strength of My Father

When suffering TN penalties from Wounds, you can make an Earth Roll (ignoring Wound TN penalties) in the Reactions Stage of each Round, with TN equal to 5 + 5× Wound Ranks you are suffering. On a success, you can ignore the effects of Wound penalties until the next Reactions Stage. This Technique does not work in the Down or Out Wound Ranks.

Rank 2: Never Yield

When outnumbered in a skirmish, you get a bonus to Armor TN equal to the amount by which the number of enemies exceeds the number of allies, up to School Rank ×2.

Rank 3: Bite of the Wolf

You may attack as a Simple Action when wielding a katana or a knife.

Rank 4: Twice-Cutting Spirit

Choose one additional melee weapon: you may attack with that weapon as a Simple Action. Once per skirmish, you can spend a Void Point on a damage roll regardless of what weapon you are using.

Rank 5: Valor of the Wolf

Choose another melee weapon: you may attack with that weapon as a Simple Action. You can spend a Void Point to activate your Rank 1 Technique without an Earth Roll; when activated this way, it lasts for Rounds equal to your Fire.

The Forest Killers of Shinomen Mori are the most ruthless and infamous bandit group in the history of the Empire. Eliminated by the Emerald Champion, their legacy resurfaced among other bandits in surrounding lands.

Technique Rank: 1

• Trait: +1 AGI
• Skills: Athletics 1, Defense 1, Hunting 1, Kenjutsu 1, Kyujutsu 1, Stealth 1, any one Weapon skill 1
• Honor: 1.5
• Outfit: Light armor, sturdy clothing, daisho, any one weapon, traveling pack, 2 koku
• Technique: Strength of the Forest. You gain additional Wounds per Wound Rank equal to your STA. You add your STA to the total of all damage rolls from melee attacks.

In the 7th century, during the Great Famine, a commoner named Asahime raised a peasants' revolution, called the People's Legion. They had some success before they were destroyed, and their memory still sometimes inspires the common folk. This path represents the uncommon heimin who take up arms, perhaps even pretending at samurai inheritance, and learn to fight together.

• Trait: +1 STA
• Skills: Athletics 1, Defense 1, Hunting 1, Knives 1, Spears 1, Stealth 1, any 1 Merchant or Low skill
• Honor: 0.0
• Outfit: Ashigaru armor, sturdy clothing, yari, any one peasant weapon, backpack, 5 zeni
• Technique: Unity of Purpose. After Initiative is rolled at the beginning of a skirmish, you can take a Free Action to lower your Initiative to match that of an ally with this Technique. If you and an ally with the same Initiative attack the same opponent, you get +1k0 to the attack roll for each ally attacking that foe (up to a number of dice equal to 1 + your Insight Rank).

Some ronin seek to protect the innocent and helpless, especially peasants, from the conflicts and dangers that plague Rokugan when the Great Clans are otherwise occupied.

Technique Rank: 1

• Trait: +1 AGI
• Skills: Defense 1, Etiquette 1, Investigation 1, Kenjutsu 1, Spears 1, any one Skill 1
• Honor: 4.5
• Outfit: Light armor, sturdy clothing, daisho, any one weapon, traveling pack, 1 koku
• Technique: The People's Will. When you spend a Void Point to add +1k1 to a Skill or Trait Roll, you also add your Honor Rank to the total.

Many ronin become bandits, either out of desperation, bitterness, or simply because it is where their skills can be put to use. Ruthless bandit bands, like the mountain robbers calling themselves Tengoku's Justice—in the Dragon mountains—can pillage entire villages, and grow stronger and more numerous in times of war and instability.

Technique Rank: 1

• Trait: +1 STR
• Skills: Athletics 1, Defense 1, Horsemanship 1, Hunting 1, Kenjutsu 1, Kyujutsu 1, any one Skill 1
• Honor: 4.5
• Outfit: Ashigaru or light armor, sturdy clothing, daisho, bow with 20 arrows or knife, traveling pack, 1 koku
• Technique: Heaven's Curse. Whenever you surprise an opponent in a skirmish, you double your STR for damage dice.

The legendary Sun Tao was a ronin who studied with each of the Great Clans, and wrote The Book of Sun Tao, a seminal work on warfare. Those who claim to follow his teachings are skilled duelists.

Technique Rank: 1

• Trait: +1 REF
• Skills: Athletics 1, Defense 1, Hunting 1, Iaijutsu 1, Kenjutsu 1, any two Skills 1
• Honor: 4.5
• Outfit: Light armor, sturdy clothing, daisho, any one weapon, traveling pack, 1 koku
• Technique: The Gaze of Sun Tao. You add your Honor Rank to the total of all Iaijutsu Skill Rolls.

These ronin master the use of the tessen, or war fan, as a defensive aid. Frequently, such ronin serve as guards, yojimbo, or even policemen in towns or cities that must hire their own. The Tessen of Toshi Ranbo are an otokodate (brotherhood) tasked with policing the city, where only the Crane Clan are allowed to draw swords.

Technique Rank: 1

• Trait: +1 STA
• Skills: Battle 1, Defense 1, Investigation 1, Jiujutsu 1, War Fans 1, any two Skills 1
• Honor: 3.5
• Outfit: Light armor, sturdy clothing, daisho, war fan, any one weapon, traveling pack, 2 koku
• Technique: Folds of the Iron Fan. When wielding a war fan in your off hand, you suffer no penalties for attacks with that hand. When wielding a war fan, you add your War Fans Skill Rank to your Armor TN.

The East Wind otokodate (brotherhood) protect the common folk of East Hub Village outside Otosan Uchi. They keep a low profile while seeking to keep crime and other excesses down to a minimum.

• Requirements: Commerce 1+, Horsemanship 2+, Honor 4+
• Technique: Shielded by the East. When in the Defense or Full Defense Stances and performing the Guard Action, you increase your and your charge's Armor TN by 5.

Nanashi Mura ("Anonymous Village") on the southern border of Dragon lands is administered by a ronin otokodate (brotherhood), who enforce the law honorably.

• Requirements: Lore: Law 3+, Honor Rank 4+
• Technique: Strike the Center. You get +1k1 on any attack roll intended to disable rather than kill. (GM's discretion, but Disarm and Knockdown Maneuvers should usually qualify.)

Ronin often join criminal gangs, such as the infamous fireman gangs of Ryoko Owari, who control gambling houses, brothels, and other businesses of ill repute.

• Technique: Master of the Dice. Add your Intimidation ranks to the total of any Contested Social Skill Roll you make.

This otokodate was founded by Porisu, and winters in Porisuko, a remote village named after him. They hire out as guards, bodyguards, and escorts, and rarely engage in banditry.

• Requirements: Cannot be Forest Killers, a Ronin Bandit, or the like.
• Technique: The Guards' Wrath. When you take the Guard Action, your TN is not reduced.

Nanashi Mura ("Anonymous Village") on the southern border of Dragon lands is administered by a ronin otokodate (brotherhood), who enforce the law honorably. The Masters of Games among them are skillful diplomats.

• Technique Rank: 2
• Requirements: Courtier 3, Etiquette 3, resident of Nanashi Mura or member of a ronin group with similar resources
• Technique: Forge Your Own Fate. When making a Social Skill Roll against someone of higher Status, you gain +2k1 so long as you maintain a modest and subservient manner and tone.

The Moonless Riders otokodate (brotherhood) operate out of Nanashi Mura ("Anonymous Village") on the borders of Dragon lands. They are excellent scouts and couriers; their specialty is night-riding.

• Requirements: Horsemanship 3+, Way of the Land
• Technique: Moving the Shadow. You suffer no penalties from natural darkness. At night or in other darkness, you get +2k1 instead of +1k1 when you spend a Void Point to enhance any non-Weapon Bugei Skill.

Some ronin seek to serve the Empire by hunting down threats to it, ranging from monsters and bandits to Bloodspeakers and maho-tsukai. Such vigilante ronin are often exceptionally ruthless.

• Requirements: Wary, Driven
• Technique: Hunting the Darkness. You get +2k2 to your first attack roll in a skirmish if you know for certain that your target has violated Imperial law.

The Silent Blades otokodate (brotherhood) fancy themselves shinobi, assassins and infiltrators, but fall far short of the skill of the legendary ninja. Still, they have maintained their reputation, because clients who hire ronin assassins hardly have better recourse. They are also frequently hired to act as scapegoats or distractions for other, better assassins.

• Requirements: Ninjutsu 3+, Stealth 3+
• Technique: Black Hearts, Red Blades. If you are attacking an opponent who is unaware of your presence, you can add your Stealth Skill Rank to the total of all attack and damage rolls against that opponent for the entire skirmish.

Founded by the ronin Tamedaore during the First Yasuki War in the late 4th century, the Thousand were a large, well-equipped otokodate that fought for the Crane Clan. Their numbers gradually waned over the centuries, until they were all but wiped out by the Unicorn Clan in 816.

• Requirements: Iaijutsu 4, Void 3
• Technique: Tamedaore's Secret. While in the Center Stance, and on the Round immediately after you leave it, you get +2×Void to your Armor TN.

Poor ronin are often hired as mercenaries in war, and rarely have horses; those who survive the battlefields long often learn how to fight against mounted samurai.

• Requirements: Polearms 3+, Heart of Vengeance (Unicorn)
• Technique: The Tiger's Teeth. You may make melee attacks as a Simple Action instead of a Complex Action when using a polearm. You get +1k1 on attack rolls against targets Mounted on horses or similarly-sized creatures.

The Hidden Sword otokodate (brotherhood) patrols the outskirts of Shinomen Mori, protecting the surrounding lands from the threats within—mostly bandits like the Forest Killers, but sometimes they fight the monsters and creatures of the forest. They are driven by virtue and honor, but remain pragmatic.

• Requirements: Hero of the People
• Technique: Keeping the Peace. When fighting against an opponent with lower Honor Rank than you, you may make melee attacks as a Simple Action instead of a Complex Action when wielding weapons with the Samurai keyword.

The Machi-kanshisha are the guardians of the City of the Rich Frog, a major trade hub between the Lion and Unicorn clans, employed by the Kaeru ronin family. They are famed for using the machi-kanshisha pipes as weapons.

• Requirements: Athletics 2+, Staves +3
• Technique: Smoke and Mirrors. When using a machi-kanshisha (iron pipe), you get a Free Raise on any Disarm or Knockdown Maneuver. You may spend a Void Point to make a melee attack with a machi-kanshisha as a Simple Action. (This Void Point may be spent in addition to any others you are allowed to spend.)

Some ronin otokodate train to fight together, side-by-side, spears in hand. This discipline requires some degree of honor.

• Requirements: Spears 3+, Polearms 3+, Honor Rank 3+
• Technique: Wall of Pikes. While in the Defense Stance and wielding a spear or polearm, immediately after an opponent makes an attack against you or one of your allies within 10' (whether it hits or not), you can spend a Void Point to take a Free Action to attack them with your spear/polearm. You can use this technique in the Full Defense Stance, but that requires spending 2 Void Points instead.

Bands of ronin sometimes become wako (pirates), plying the waves for plunder. The Mantis Clan are their relentless enemies.

• Requirements: Knives 3+, Sailing 3+, Honor Rank 3 or less
• Technique: The Serpents' Coils. When wielding a wooden weapon or a weapon with the Peasant keyword, you may make melee attacks as Simple Actions rather than Complex Actions.

Some ronin bands, particularly those influenced by the Unicorn, become cavalry, scouts, and mounted couriers.

• Requirements: Athletics 3+, Horsemanship 4+
• Technique: The Journey's Beginning. You can ignore terrain movement penalties from snow and ice. You can spend a Void Point while Mounted to make a single attack as a Simple Action.

The Scales of the Carp is a smuggling ring run by the Yasuki, trading with the Crane, who otherwise block Crab trade.

• Requirements: Commerce 4, Lore: Underworld 3, must be recruited by existing members
• Technique: Swimming Beneath the Waves. You get +1k0 to all Temptation (Bribery) rolls. Against Crab or Crane samurai, you get +1k1 instead, and if the samurai takes the bribe, you may (GM's discretion) by able to spend a Void Point to gain them as an Ally with Devotion 1.

During a Twenty Goblin Winter, a band of thirty ronin entered the Shadowlands. A dozen survived, all tainted, and fled into the Shinomen Mori. A Naga teacher worked with them, and found a way to cure their taint—but this required them to kill creatures of the Shadowlands. The tradition still survives, and tainted ronin can seek improbable salvation through the Unbroken.

• Requirements: Lore: Shadowlands 3, Taint 1.0+
• Technique: The Unbroken. When fighting Shadowlands creatures or the Lost, you can add your Taint Rank as unkept dice to attack rolls, but gain 3 points of Taint each time you do. Any time you single-handedly kill a Shadowlands creature or one of the Lost, you can spend 1 Void Point to permanently lose 1 Point of Taint. If you ever single-handedly kill an extremely powerful Shadowlands foe, you can spend a Void Point as a Free Action to make a Contested Earth Roll against them; on a success, you instantly purge all your Taint, and lose the ability to use this Technique. (GM's discretion what counts as extremely powerful: major oni, Onisu, or the Lost of 2+ Insight Ranks higher.)

Some ronin serve as assassins, even forming small otokodate (brotherhoods) and maintaining strict secrecy through codes, secret hand signals, and disguises.

• Requirements: Dark Secret (assassin, or membership in a conspiracy) OR Allies (some suitable conspiracy) OR Obligation (some suitable conspiracy)
• Technique: Twist the Weave. If you have ever won a Contested Skill Roll against someone using your Sincerity (Deceit), Intimidation, or temptation, you gain a Free Raise against them in the first Round of any skirmish.

This otokodate (brotherhood) traces its history back centuries. It was founded by seven ronin, one from each of the Great Clans, and is still organized into seven-ronin teams when possible.

• Requirements: Clan Ronin only
• Technique: Roaring to Shake Heaven. When fighting alongside your allies, you gain a bonus of +2 to the total of all attack and damage rolls for each different Basic School represented among your group (up to a total of twice your Void).

The Sword of Yotsu are a brotherhood in the service of the Yotsu family. The ronin Yotsu rescued the wife and son of Emperor Hantei XXXVIII from a Bloodspeaker cult—sacrificing his own son—and was rewarded with the establishment of his own family as a direct vassal of the Seppun family. Yotsu himself teaches his Technique to ronin who swear loyalty to him.

• Requirements: Kenjutsu 4+, Hero of the People, Honor Rank 5+
• Technique: Shelter the Blameless. During any Round when you are actively defending or protecting another (GM's discretion), you gain one bonus Void Point to use that Round. Unspent Void Points are lost in the Reactions Stage.

Some ronin hold firm to the principles of Bushido, living its principles even when cut off from clan and family. Sometimes, such ronin band together under a worthy leader or for a worthy cause.

• Requirements: Honor Rank 5+
• Technique: Black Lion Talon. Whenever you spend a Void Point to enhance an attack roll, you add your Honor Rank to the total as well.

The Iron Gauntlet Brotherhood is made up of ronin who have survived the destruction of their prior bands or brotherhoods. These scarred veterans join together to form a feared warband.

• Requirements: Earth 4, any one Weapon Skill at 5+
• Technique: For My Brothers. When fighting alongside other members of the Iron Gauntlet Brotherhood, you can spend a Void Point to reduce the damage inflicted on an ally by your Void ×5.

The Shadowed Steel otokodate (brotherhood) was formed as a deniable asset by the Scorpion Clan, always kept at a safe remove. They are skillful assassins, and make use of the Silent Blade otokodate as a cover and distraction.

• Requirements: Athletics 4+, Ninjutsu 4+, Stealth 4+
• Technique: Death's Dark Shadow. When you succeed on a Contested Stealth Skill Roll against an opponent, you can spend a Void Point to add the amount by which your roll exceeded theirs to the total of the next attack roll against them, within 1 hour.

Some ronin shugenja are taught by a teacher, either another ronin, or from one of the established schools; some shugenja consider it blasphemy to let the gifts of the kami go to waste by not teaching one gifted with magic.

• Trait: +1 INT
• Skills: Calligraphy 1, Lore: Theology 1, Lore (pick one) 1, Meditation 1, Spellcraft 1, any two Skills 1
• Honor: 4.0
• Outfit: Sturdy robes, wakizashi, any one weapon, traveling pack, scroll satchel, 5 bu
• Affinity/Deficiency: Choose any one non-Void Element as your Affinity. You get the opposing Element (Air-Earth, Fire-Water) as a Deficiency.
• Technique: Soul of Study. When casting one of your beginning spells (given to you by your mentor), you get +1k0 on Spellcasting Rolls.
• Spells: Sense, Commune, Summon, 3 spells of your Affinity, 2 spells of one non-Deficient Element, 1 spell of another non-Deficient Element; you learn new spells when increasing in Rank if you remain on good terms with your mentor.

Some ronin shugenja are taught by independent orders or monastic sects, perhaps by retired Clan shugenja.

• Trait: +1 AWA
• Skills: Calligraphy (Cipher) 1, Divination 1, Lore: Theology 1, Lore (pick one) 1, Meditation 1, Spellcraft 1, any one Skill 1
• Honor: 5.0
• Outfit: Sturdy robes, daisho, traveling pack, scroll satchel, 5 bu
• Affinity/Deficiency: Air / Earth.
• Technique: The Path of Discipline. You gain 1 Free Raise on all Sense, Commune, and Summon spells for all Elements except Void and Earth.
• Spells: Sense, Commune, Summon, 3 air, 2 Water, 1 Fire

Self-taught shugenja are exceedingly rare, favored by the kami to the point that they are able to call upon them without formal teaching.

• Trait: +1 WIL
• Skills: Athletics 1, Hunting 1, Meditation 1, Spellcraft 1, any three non-High skills 1
• Honor: 4.0
• Outfit: Sturdy robes, wakizashi, any one weapon, traveling pack, scroll satchel, 5 bu
• Affinity/Deficiency: Choose any one non-Void Element as your Affinity. You get the opposing Element (Air-Earth, Fire-Water) and any one other Element as Deficiencies.
• Technique: The Kami's Gift. When you spend a Void Point on a Spellcasting Roll, you get +2k2 instead of +1k1. You do not automatically learn new spells as you advance in Rank, and must seek them out.
• Spells: Sense, Commune, Summon, any 5 you can cast.

Void Mystics are those born with the talent to call upon the Void who have escaped the notice of the Isawa, and learned to wield their power through other means.

Void Mystics may also be created as Clan Ronin, using the Trait, Skills, and Outfit of another shugenja school, but the Affinity/Deficiency, Technique, and Spells below.

• Trait: +1 WIL
• Skills: Defense 1, Divination 1, Hunting 1, Lore: Elements (Void) 1, Meditation 1, Stealth 1, any one non-High Skill 1
• Honor: 3.5
• Outfit: Sturdy clothing, wakizashi, any one weapon, travelling pack, 5 bu
• Affinity/Deficiency: None. You begin with the Ishiken-do Advantage and the Touch of the Void Disadvantage.
• Technique: The Void's Caress. You may cast any Void spell up to your current Mastery Level, expending a spell slot as normal. You do not need to speak aloud to cast your spell.s You can only cast each spell once per day, and may never cast Void spells above Rank 5. You get a Free Raise on Divination Skill Rolls.
• Spells: You can cast any Void Spell up to your Mastery Level, and no non-Void spells, except for Sense, Commune, and Summon. You cannot Importune for spells.
• GM's Option: The Void Mystic may be granted one additional spell slot for each Insight Rank attained.

Ronin shugenja healers founded this order in the 8th century, after the second war against Iuchiban. Isashi taught others to heal injuries in battle. Members of the order travel the land, healing the injured and treating the sick, asking for no repayment. They are rarely welcome outside the lands of the pragmatic Crab Clan, as others tend to see their presence as an implicit condemnation of their ability to care for their people.

• Technique Rank: 3
• Replaces: Ronin Shugenja 3 (any school)
• Requires: Medicine 3, Honor Rank 5.0+
• Technique: Isashi's Mercy. You get +1k0 to Medicine Skill Rolls and a Free Raise when casting any spell that heals Wounds or cures illness.

Ekuro was once Isawa Ekuro, a Void Tensai who became a ronin. He visited many dojos, proving himself skilled with all weapons, and specialized in the elemental weapons. The order he founded maintains the secrets of Ekuro's Weapons.

• Technique Rank: 4
• Replaces: Ronin Shugenja 4 (any school)
• Requires: Heavy Weapons 3, Kenjutsu 3, Spears 3, Staves 3
• Special: Must be able to cast at least two of Yari of Air, Tetsubo of Earth, Katana of Fire, and Bo of Water
• Technique: Ekuro's Weapons. You may cast any of the four Elemental Weapon spells as a Simple Action rather than a Complex Action. You can spend a Void Point as a Free Action to be able to attack with these summoned weapons as a Simple Action for a number of Rounds equal to your Insight Rank. If you have the Ishiken-do Advantage, you can learn the secret spell Dart of Void.

Spell: Dart of Void

• Ring/Mastery: Void 4
• Range: 100'
• Area of Effect: One target creature
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Raises: Range (+100'), Targets (+1 per two Raises, maximum targets equal to Void)

Casting this spell requires spending a Void Point. It summons a missile of pure void that unerringly strikes one target within range, dealing damage with DR equal to your Void. This ignores Invulnerability and Reduction from any sources.

The Disciples of Sun Tao are an ancient otokodate (brotherhood) founded by Terumoto, student of Sun Tao. The band's leaders claim to possess the sole complete copy of the Book of Sun Tao. Most members begin as Ronin Duelists. The band are frequently hired as mercenaries by the Great Clans.

• Rings/Traits: Fire 4, Water 3
• Skills: Battle (Mass Battle) 4, any two Weapon Skills 4
• Other: Must be admitted (or born into) the otokodate.

Techniques

Rank 1: Terumoto's Lesson

Choose any three Weapon Skills and gain +1k0 to rolls with them.

Rank 2: Sun Tao's Legacy

+1k1 to Battle Skill Rolls to determine who is winning a battle, and +1k0 to determine your status on the Mass Battle Table.

Rank 3: Aikumo's Perfection

You may make attacks with melee weapons as a Simple Action.