Clan of Origin: Ki-Rin
Dojo: Sudden Strike Dojo

Description: The Ki-Rin Clan detests iaijutsu dueling as a whole. However, they realize that iaijutsu is a necessary skill when dealing with the other Great Clans. The Ide Family, the political power behind the Ki-Rin, created this Swordsman School to make sure iaijutsu does not become the fatal chink in the Ki-Rin’s armor. The School does not have anything like the elite status of the famed Kakita School of the Crane Clan or the Zurui School of the Dragon Clan, and is barely known outside of the Ki-Rin Lands. Still, the students of this School pride themselves on being able to hold their own against any other iaijutsu duelist.

As students of a rare Ki-Rin School that emphasizes the importance of Rokugani tradition, Ide Swordsmen learn skills that help them overcome the Ki-Rin’s traditional weakness of unfamiliarIty with the rest of Rokugan. The students study iaijutsu. courtly customs (but not necessarily etiquette), history, and the law of Rokugan. Ide students become well rounded Swordsmen, ready to face many different types of danger. Graduates of this School form the majority of the bodyguards for the Ki-Rin CIan. Some become devotees to the art of the duel and gain leave to refine their iaijutsu skill for the rest of their careers. Most often, Ide Swordsmen who do not become bodyguards become magistrates. The school’s emphasis on the intricacies of law makes the transition to magistrate an easy one.

The School’s split focus on Rokugani tradition and the Ki-Rin Clan’s resistance to tradition can cause momentary hesitations in combat as an Ide Swordsman selects the proper response to a challenge. Knowledgeable opponents learn to attack and defend against Ide Swordsmen in ways that invite multiple responses, creating openings they can exploit,

Basic Curriculum: Kenjutsu, Scholar
Knacks: Exploit Weakness (Ide), First Strike (Kenjutsu), Flourish (Kenjutsu), Lunge (Kenjutsu), Wall of Steel (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.

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.

New Swordsman Knack: Flourish. When attacking an enemy, you can declare a Flourish. You roll Panache + Flourish, and must take a number of Raises equal to your enemy’s Panache in order for your Flourish 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.

Apprentice: Ide Swordsmen are the shields of the Ki-Rin courtiers, protecting them from potential enemies among the other Great Clans. They are trained in the skills that will help protect other Ki-RIn in the courts, and act as a shield from the dangers that wait to strike. They gain one free Raise when attempting to resist the Repartee System. This Technique is in effect at all times,

Students of the Ide Swordsman School study at the Sudden Strike Dojo, where they learn the history, customs, and laws of Rokugan alongside iaijutsu dueling. Ide Swordsmen get five Knacks from the Scholar Skill at Rank 1 instead of three for having the Skill in their Basic Curriculum, and Law is considered a Basic Knack for them.

Journeyman: An Ide Swordsman is taught to maintain control of his emotions so that he may be ready for anything during a duel. As long as he is ready for the enemy’s attack, his own strike will be calm and perfect. During the focus phase of an iaijutsu duel, if he has focused at least twice, he may Raise twice on his next focus. If he does, he may focus one additional time beyond his normal limit. The Journeyman may use this Technique a number of times in a duel equal to his Mastery Level in Ide, but each time, he must focus twice before he applies the Technique 

Master: Through force of will, an Ide Master perseveres through whatever trouble he faces so that he may serve his Clan. Once per Scene, at the beginning of any Round, the Master may spend a Drama Die to gain a bonus to his Active Defense, Attack, and Damage Rolls equal to his Rank in his First Strike Knack. These bonuses last for a number of Rounds equal to his Mastery Level in Ide. The Master may also activate this Technique at the start of an iaijutsu duel; if he does, the bonuses last for the duration of the duel.