WORK IN PROGRESS

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Kakita Iaido (Major Martial Art)

In order to learn any of these Maneuvers you must have the Kakita Iaido emphasis of
Iaijutsu. Because of the impact Kakita had on the development of Iaijutsu in Rokugan,
any dojo that teaches the Iaijutsu skill will also be able to teach the Kakita Iaido emphasis
unless it is a Mirumoto or Matsu dojo.

Novice (Novice): If your blade is sheathed, you may draw and strike in a single action.
Make a Reflexes/Iaijutsu attack roll with a TN equal to your opponents TNtbH or 25,
whichever is greater.
Cost: 11 xp, - 3 for Crane Clan, -3 for Kenshinzen or Kakita Bushi (non-cumulative), -3
for Great Potential: Iaijutsu

Intermediate (Apprentice): For every piece of information you learn during the
appraisal stage of a duel you gain a +1 to all Focus and Strike roles made in that duel.
Cost: 22 xp, - 6 for Crane Clan, -6 for Kenshinzen or Kakita Bushi (non-cumulative), -6
for Great Potential: Iaijutsu

Advanced (Journeyman): Standing up is only a simple action for you and you suffer no
penalties for being prone or kneeling when making an iaijutsu attack.
Cost: 33 xp, - 9 for Crane Clan, -9 for Kenshinzen or Kakita Bushi (non-cumulative), -9
for Great Potential: Iaijutsu

Expert (Master): You may now draw, strike, clean your blade, and return it to it’s saya
as part of your attack roll. This does not require any raises.
Cost: 44 xp, - 12 for Crane Clan, -12 for Kenshinzen or Kakita Bushi (non-cumulative), -
12 for Great Potential: Iaijutsu

Master (Grand Master): During the evaluation phase of a duel, in addition to the usual
information, you can chose to learn your opponent’s defense skill, your opponent’s
kenjutsu skill, or any of your opponent’s traits.
Cost: 55 xp, - 15 for Crane Clan, -15 for Kenshinzen or Kakita Bushi (non-cumulative), -
15 for Great Potential: Iaijutsu

Matsu Iaido (Minor Martial Art)

While it is true that Kakita won the first test of the Emerald Champion, it was Lady
Matsu who defeated more foes than any other on that day. While the Lady was not so
conceited as to commit her style to paper, she did teach it to her lieutenants, and they
taught it to their lieutenants, and eventually it found its way into the standard training
regimen of several Matsu dojo, being passed on in the traditional manner, from master to
student. (Some Ikoma historians wonder at the authenticity of this form, as several
accounts from the Dawn of the Empire indicate that Lady Matsu prefered to begin her
duels with sword drawn, but for the most part they keep these concerns to themselves)

In order to learn any of these maneuvers you must learn the Matsu Iaido emphasis of
Iaijutsu. This emphasis is only typically taught at Matsu dojo, and will only be taught to
visitors from other Clans if they have not already studied Kakita Iaido.

Novice (Novice): Unlike the modern katana, Lady Matsu’s preferred blade was long and
straight. The practice of Matsu Iaido teaches how to ready this, as well as other, more
contemporary blades. You may make a Reflexes/Iaijutsu (Matsu Iaido) roll TN 30 to
draw any sword without taking an action.
Cost: 22 xp, -6 for Lion Clan, -6 for Matsu Family, -4 for not knowing Kakita Iaido, -2
for Crab Hands, -2 for being female

Advanced (Journeyman): To Lady Matsu, strength and finesse were one and the same.
At the beginning of a duel you may select your Reflexes, your Agility, or your Void. Set
the selected trait equal to your Strength for the remainder of the duel.
Cost: 66 xp, -18 for Lion Clan, -18 for Matsu Family, -12 for not knowing Kakita Iaido, -
6 for Crab Hands, -6 for being female

Master (Grand Master): One of the elements of Lady Matsu’s fighting style that has
survived to this day is her endless tenacity. If your total number of focuses is equal to or
less than your Willpower when Strike is called, regain 1 Void Point (this cannot raise you
to above your maximum).
Cost: 110 xp, -30 for Lion Clan, -30 for Matsu Family, -20 for not knowing Kakita Iaido,
-10 for Crab Hands, -10 for being female

Mirumoto Niten (Minor Martial Art)

Okay, okay, I can hear it already, why is this a Minor Martial Art when Kakita Iaido is a
major martial art. The answer is simple, the Mirumoto Bushi don’t need a martial art to
make them more effective at what they do.

In order to learn any of the following maneuvers you must have the Niten emphasis of
Kenjutsu. This emphasis is taught at most Mirumoto dojo, but it virtually unheard of
elsewhere.

Novice (Novice): You have learned to keep your blades from interfering with each other.
You no longer suffer any penalties for making off hand attacks with a wakizashi. You
may apply the Niten emphasis even when substituting Kenjustu for Iaijutsu.
Cost: 13 xp, -3 for Dragon Clan, -5 for Mirumoto Bushi or Swordmaster (non-
cumulative), -4 for Ambidexterous

Advanced (Journeyman): You may substitute your Kenjutsu skill for your Iaijutsu skill
at any time.
Cost: 39xp, -9 for Dragon Clan, -15 for Mirumoto Bushi or Swordmaster (non-
cumulative), -12 for Ambideterous

Master (Grand Master): You may add your Kenjutsu skill to your TNtbH when
wielding a katana and wakizashi at the same time.
Cost: 65xp, -15 for Dragon Clan, -25 for Mirumoto Bushi or Swordmaster (non-
cumulative), -20 for Ambideterous

Traitor’s Blade Iaido (a.k.a. Shoju Iaido - Minor Martial Art)

While most Scorpion study Kakita Iaido like the rest of the empire, they are far too
pragmatic a clan to not have developed variants to suit their own purposes. This is but
one of many such variants taught by the Scorpion. (Anyone who was alive during the
Scorpion Clan Coup may make an Intelligence/Iaijutsu roll TN 40 to recognize this as the
variant of Iaijutsu practiced by Bayushi Shoju).

Novice: Whenever you make an attack with your katana you may chose to flick off all
blood (and foreign substances) at the end of the stroke without requiring raises. In
addition, you may chose to learn your opponents Perception durring the appraisal phase
of a duel.
Cost: 20xp, -6 for Scorpion Clan, -6 for Bayushi Bushi, -4 for Crafty, -2 for Lame: Left
Arm

Advanced: Practicioners of Traitor’s Blade Iaido give almost no indication when they
are about to draw. If no one has attacked yet this combat, you may attempt to surprise the
combatants with the speed of your draw. If you successfully ready your blade without
taking an action, every other combatant immediately gains the penalties for surprise
unless they can beat your Reflexes/Iaijutsu roll with a Perception/Investigation or
Perception/Iaijutsu roll. If you use your katana to attack one of the people who is
surprised by this maneuver that person will be considered to be unaware of your attack
unless they are targeting you with Full Defense.
Cost: 60xp, -18 for Scorpion Clan, -18 for Bayushi Bushi, -12 for Crafty, -6 for Lame:
Left Arm

Master: You do not betray your intent to strike even when under the scrutiny of another
trained duelist. If you have not yet spent any Void Points this duel and you chose to call
‘strike’ instead of attempthing the Focus roll, your opponents must make a
Perception/Iaijutsu roll vs. your current Focus TN. If your opponent is successful, he
strikes first, as is normal, otherwise the attack resolves as if your opponent had been the
one to declare ‘strike.’
Cost: 100xp, -30 for Scorpion Clan, -30 for Bayushi Bushi, -20 for Crafty, -10 for Lame:
Left Arm