Clan of Origin: Crane
Dojo: Kosaten Shiro

Description: The Doji family is dedicated to protecting its lands and people from all threats, an expression of the Crane Clan’s devotion to the Virtue of Compassion. Consequently, they maintain this School, popular among magistrates and city guards, to teach techniques of law enforcement and peace-keeping. Its focus on observation and awareness of one’s surroundings (and opponents) also makes it popular among itinerant Swordsmen from the Crane Clan (and occasionally outsiders).

In combat, a Doji Swordsman’s eyes dart constantly across the field of battle, shifting from enemy to enemy to determine where the biggest threat lies…and what weaknesses may be present. Simultaneously, he is calculating how best to organize his assets, whether they consist of allies, advantageous terrain, or a host of other variables. Doji Swordsmen may not be the strongest or the fastest, but they are usually the smartest, and definitely the most alert.

A Doji Swordsman is trained to be completely aware of everything happening around him, which can marginally divert his attention from the situation at hand. If that situation happens to be combat with a knowledgeable opponent, this split focus can lead to momentary hesitation before attacks, and slight distraction when defending.

Basic Curriculum: Investigator, Kenjutsu
Knacks: Cold Read, Disarm (Kenjutsu), Exploit Weakness (Doji), First Strike (Kenjutsu), Lunge (Kenjutsu)

New Swordsman Knack: Cold Read. This is the art of deducing things about a person from his or her appearance and mannerisms. Handedness might be determined from a callus upon a knuckle, while a nervous twitch could reveal much to an observant eye. With this Knack you can always enter a conversation with at least a little information about the other person. More often than not, this Knack will be used in Contested Rolls against the Resolve of another, or against one of his other Knacks. This is the same as the Cold Read Knack found in the Investigator Skill, but it is considered a Basic Knack for students of the Doji School.

New Swordsman Knack: First Strike. When you have not yet drawn your weapon and wish to attack an enemy, you can declare a First Strike (using a single Action to draw and attack with your weapon). You roll Finesse + First Strike, and must take a number of Raises equal to your enemy’s Finesse in order for your First Strike to be successful. If you are successful, he cannot avoid the attack using any Active Defense. The Raises taken on this roll add Unkept Dice to your damage roll as usual. In Rokugan, this is the Knack typically used for Iaijutsu duels.

Apprentice: A Doji Swordsman’s first lesson is that one’s eyes must always be open, ever prepared for an attack. He may add his Rank in Wits to his TN to be hit when using this School. If the Swordsman has the Keen Senses Advantage, he may increase his TN to be hit by his Rank in Wits plus one.

Doji Swordsmen study at the dojo in Kosaten Shiro, where they are trained to exploit every advantage in order to take their opponents by surprise. In the first Round of any combat, Doji Swordsmen may add five to their Initiative total.

Journeyman: A Doji Swordsman’s keen eve can defeat any foe. Once per Round, he may spend an Action to make a Simple Roll of Wits + Cold Read vs. one opponent’s TN to be hit. For every five points by which this roll exceeds the TN, the Journeyman gains one Free Raise which he can use on attacks against that opponent later in the Round. Free Raises gained from this Technique are lost at the end of the Round if not used.

Master: A Doji Master has been trained to devote every aspect of his being to his art. When spending a Drama Die after an attack or Active Defense roll has been made, he may roll an extra die (+1k0), making his Drama Dice rolls 2k1 instead of 1k1.