Clan of Origin: Ki-Rin
Dojo: Naoko Infantry Dojo

Description: The Naoko Family, vassals to the Ki-Rin clan’s Otaku Family, are responsible for training the infantry that fights along side the legendary Otaku Battle Maidens. While the School bears the name of the smaller family, and many of the Naoko’s sons are students of the School, the majority of its practitioners are sons of the Otaku: men who are forbidden from riding the fine Otaku steeds into battle, but support the Battle Maidens as an elite infantry force. In past generations, these warriors have either become respected stable masters for the Otaku or studied at the Shinjo dojo and learned the art of war away from their homeland. Hpwever, a small school of warriors trained in the art of infantry warfare slowly evolved through the generations as the family’s male members sought to aid the clan however they could.

On the battlefield, the Naoko infantry are silent and intimidating. They do not scream, brag, or shout like other warriors, overwhelming their foes from all sides with deadly silence and keen mastery of their katanas. Because they train alongside the Otaku Battle Maidens, Naoko Swordsmen develop a deep understanding of cavalry warfare and are often used to negate enemy horsemen. Any pity the rest of Rokugan feels for these “lesser” members of the Ki-RIn forces is slowly being replaced with a deep respect for their infantry skill.

The main thrust of Naoko training is to press, and press, and press an attack. While the School also embraces defensive training (as shown by its Knacks and Techniques), such defenses are readily set aside when faced with an opportunity to strike down an enemy. By choosing to reveal a weakness (even a feigned one), a seasoned opponent can control when and where a Naoko Swordsman will strike, making it easier to both defend against an attack and launch a counterattack while the Swordsman is exposed.

Basic Curriculum: Athlete, Kenjutsu
Knacks: Exploit Weakness (Horse), Exploit Weakness (Naoko), Lunge (Kenjutsu), Wall of Steel (Kenjutsu), Whirl (Kenjutsu)

Revised Swordsman Knack: Wall of Steel. Your weapon is an ever-present blocking device, and you use it like a tortoise uses its shell. If you have not attacked yet this Round, then each Rank of this Knack increases your TN to be hit by two. You cannot use your Parry Knack with the relevant weapon for Active Defenses in any Phase where you benefit from this Knack.

Apprentice: Even at its most basic level, the Naoko School teaches its students to counter a cavalry charge, sometimes by attacking the horse and sometimes by attacking the rider. When facing a mounted opponent, a Naoko Swordsman may choose to use his Exploit Weakness (Horse) Knack against the rider as well as against the steed. While it is preferable to avoid attacking the animal, there is no dishonor in doing so if it means eliminating a threat. War is brutal.

Students of this School train at the Naoko Infantry Dojo. On their first day, students are issued a finely made katana and wakizashi, and they are expected to maintain their daisho in pristine condition for the entirety of their lives. When using either weapon, the Naoko infantryman may add his Mastery Level in Naoko to all Damage Rolls that result from a successful attack or Lunge.

Journeyman: Naoko infantrymen are known throughout the Empire as elite Swordsmen, and their training backs this up. A Journeyman receives a free Rank in his Attack (Kenjutsu) Knack. This may increase their Rank to a six. If it does not, he may increase it from a five to a six later by sending 25 XP.

Master: As a Master, a Naoko Swordsman has become a dizzying whirlwind on the battlefield. His movements are unpredictable and unavoidable. His TN to be hit is increased by ten whenever he is using Footwork as a Passive Defense Knack. At any point in a combat Round, the Master may choose to sacrifice this bonus to gain two free Raises on his next attack. If he does, he loses the bonus to his TN to be hit until the beginning of the next Round.