Kitsuki Jotomon
  1. Characters

Kitsuki Jotomon

Noble woman

SHIGEKO'S DOSSIER: No one is quite sure what to make of her. She shows little interest in the romances which occupy the young nobles, nor aptitude for the merchant schemes which fascinate the older ones. She has one passion only, and that is swordplay.

Make no mistake; though she seems naive and trusting, she is a dangerous woman if she has a weapon within reach. I'll give an example; I was once present for a demonstration of her skill. I'd like to say I saw it, but it was too swift to be seen. She stood before a lit candle, set onto a bamboo pole. Then she cut the candle in half down the center, along with a foot of bamboo. All this she did with such quickness that it looked like only a twitch; but she had cut the candle's wick in half as well - and both sides remained lit. It's a telling example of her skill, but there is more to Jotomon than skill. I heard a story about her from the Strong Arm Firemen. They said that one time they found some Moment's Edge Firemen in their area of town and, since they outnumbered them, decided to give them a beating to "keep them humble': It happened that Jotomon came upon this fracas while the leader of the Strong Arms was kicking a fallen opponent.

He said that Jotomon grabbed him and immobilized him, and then she said to him, "What are you doing? Don't you realize you could be executed for this? What if you kill him? Can't you see that he is helpless?" He told me that he was amazed that even as he struggled with her, she was concerned for his future and wellbeing. Perhaps this attitude explains some of her more outlandish behaviors - specifically, she has opened a dojo located in the Merchant Quarter, not far from the southeast pier. She has a few noble students - the sons of Ide Baranato study with her, along with luchi Sadako and a member of the Mantis clan called Shrimp. She also accepts peasant students, which occasioned much outcry (as you can imagine). When Governor Hyobu learned that [otomon was teaching bushido to commoners, her first thought was to enact a law forbidding such instruction. Jotomon, however, asked for an opportunity to argue her case. Hyobu agreed, and convened a panel consisting of myself, the Governor, Jocho and Yogo Osako. The panel would be allowed to freely advise, but in the end it was Hyobu's sole decision. Osako and Jocho were expecting little from Jotomon, except some transparent attempt at political maneuvering. Jotomon was certainly transparent; she said that if any student of hers was convicted of a crime, Jotomon would share in any punishment. "It is my belief," she said, "that the code of bushido strengthens souls and improves those who study it. I will eject any whom I feel are unfit vessels for my knowledge, and I will accept the consequences of any failures in judgment:' Then she said she would gladly accept the law if we could answer two questions. "First, if you believe that the way of the warrior improves the soul, does it not make sense to give its improvements to those whose souls are weakest? Oris it only the samurai whose souls need improvement? Secondly - if you believe that the samurai are truly superior to the heimin and hinin; why are you afraid? Surely such inferior stuff could never be made into superior fighters?" We had no answers. Hyobu accepted Jotomons arguments and struck down her law. However, Osako, myself and the Thunder Guard all keep a close watch on her and her common students. There have never been any problems.

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STATS

Kitsuki Jotomon, Dragon Clan Sensei

  • Name: Kitsuki Jotomon
  • Role: Sensei, Bushido Devotee
  • Clan: Dragon Clan
  • Occupation: Sensei on a mission to spread the ideals of bushido
  • Affiliations: Dragon Clan, Ryoko Owari
  • Goal: To teach bushido as a path of self-improvement for all who are willing, regardless of social standing or background.

Backstory:

Kitsuki Jotomon is a wandering sensei of the Dragon Clan, dedicated to bushido not just as a martial code, but as a path to personal enlightenment and self-perfection. She travels with the sole purpose of teaching bushido to those who are willing to learn, believing that it should be available to anyone with the will and dedication to follow the way of the warrior, no matter their station. Jotomon is an idealist who practices what she preaches, living by the code of bushido in every aspect of her life, even if it baffles or unnerves those around her.

In Ryoko Owari, a city filled with hidden agendas and corruption, her straightforward nature is seen with suspicion. People wonder if there’s something more to her motivations, but Jotomon remains transparent: she truly is just a sensei on a mission, with no ulterior motives. Despite being unsophisticated in the subtleties of court politics, she is an excellent judge of character, and no one can hide their true nature from her once she has seen them in action, either in the dojo or in battle.

Rings:

  • Air 2 (Perceptive but unpretentious)
  • Earth 3 (Steadfast, Unyielding)
  • Fire 2 (Passionate, Driven)
  • Water 3 (Adaptable, Compassionate)
  • Void 3 (Focused, Enlightened)

Social Attributes:

  • Status: 35 (Respected sensei)
  • Glory: 50 (Known for her sincerity and dedication)
  • Honor: 75 (Lives by bushido)

Skills:

  • Martial Arts [Melee] 4 (Highly skilled in kenjutsu and other weapons)
  • Meditation 3 (Disciplined mind, inner focus)
  • Sentiment 2 (Good judge of character, especially through action)
  • Courtesy 1 (Direct, but respectful)
  • Command 2 (Natural leader in the dojo)
  • Culture 1 (Aware of etiquette, though unsophisticated in court)
  • Theology 2 (Understands the spiritual aspects of bushido)
  • Fitness 3 (Well-conditioned, can endure physical challenges)

Advantages:

  • Unshakable Ideals: Jotomon’s dedication to bushido is absolute. She gains bonus successes when resisting temptations, dishonorable actions, or attempts to deceive or mislead her. Her sense of honor gives her great strength in moments of moral conflict.

  • Insightful Teacher: When observing someone in action (be it in training or combat), Jotomon can quickly gauge their true character. She gains bonus successes on Sentiment or Martial Arts checks to detect flaws or hidden intentions through physical action.

  • Stoic in the Face of Conflict: Jotomon remains calm and unshaken in combat situations, giving her an edge in duels and battles. When dueling, she gains a bonus to Initiative rolls and can strike decisively.

Disadvantages:

  • Naive to Deception: Jotomon’s straightforward nature makes her vulnerable to those skilled in manipulation. She suffers penalties on Social checks involving deceit or complex courtly intrigue.

  • Blunt and Unrefined: While not rude, Jotomon’s lack of courtly finesse often leads to misunderstandings in high society. She struggles with social grace, gaining Strife in situations where subtlety or diplomacy is required.

Armor:

  • Light Armor (or no armor, as she travels often and relies on her skill in combat)

Weapons:

  • Katana (Martial Arts [Melee])
  • Wakizashi (Martial Arts [Melee])
  • Bo Staff (Martial Arts [Melee])
  • Tanto (Martial Arts [Melee])

Wounds and Fatigue:

  • Endurance: 12
  • Composure: 10
  • Fatigue: 8
  • Wounds Threshold: 14

Techniques:

  • Strike as the Soul Commands (Void): Jotomon can act with perfect clarity of purpose, striking swiftly and decisively in combat. Once per duel, she may make a Martial Arts [Melee] check, adding her Void Ring to the roll.

  • The Path of Bushido (Earth): When teaching or instructing others in the ways of bushido, Jotomon gains bonus successes on Command or Theology checks. She can inspire others to embrace the code with her example.

  • Breath of the Dragon (Meditation/Water): Jotomon is trained in breathing exercises and meditative techniques that allow her to recover from fatigue quickly. Once per scene, she may remove 2 Fatigue by making a successful Meditation (Water) check.

  • Flowing Strike (Water): Jotomon’s fighting style is fluid and adaptable. When attacking an opponent with Martial Arts [Melee], she may spend bonus successes to disarm or reposition her opponent without inflicting damage.

October 6th, 2024