Clan of Origin: Dragon
Dojo: Iron Mountain Dojo

Description: Famous throughout the Empire for its unique teachings, the Mirumoto School is the lone fighting style that utilize the Niten technique, wherein a samurai wields both the katana and the wakizashi simultaneously. This is a controversial style because it flies in the face of the traditional style use by the other clans for centuries, although Niten was actually developed at the same time as the one-sword style. It is also unusual in that there are few pre-set forms. The Swordsman learns the basics of Kenjutsu, and then learns to fight from instinct, from a higher mind: the no-mind. Many opponents, knowing that members of the Dragon Clan have a reputation as mysterious and erratic, are surprised when they face a calm, implacable Mirumoto Swordsman.

A student of Mirumoto fights with his katana in his right hand and his wakizashi in his left, forming a barrier that is difficult for enemies to pierce. Mirumoto’s response to Kakita’s “One Sword” technique was that if he had two swords, he could better serve his Lord by using both of them. The rivalry between students of the Mirumoto School and students of the Kakita School is heated even during times of peace.

The weakness of the Mirumoto school is its detachment. A Mirumoto’s no-mind puts him in a somewhat numbed state, and a quick and clever enemy can capitalize on this.

Basic Curriculum: Athlete, Kenjutsu
Knacks: Double Attack (Kenjutsu/Kenjutsu), Exploit Weakness (Mirumoto), First Strike (Kenjutsu), Lunge (Kenjutsu), Wall of Steel (Kenjutsu/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.

Apprentice: Students of Mirumoto learn the Niten technique, wielding a katana and wakizashi simultaneously. They may wield the two weapons without incurring an off-hand penalty for use of the wakizashi. In addition, Use of the two swords simultaneously leaves fewer openings for an opponent to attack; the Swordsman may add his Mastery Level in Mirumoto to his TN to be hit.

Apprentices of Mirumoto study at the Iron Mountain Dojo, where they are taught that Swordsmen who cannot learn to think on their feet and deal with new situations at a moment’s notice do not last long. They may add twice their Mastery Level in Mirumoto to all Perception Rolls made in combat.

Journeyman: Once an opponent presents himself as a threat, a Mirumoto Swordsman will stop at nothing to defeat him to defend the honor of the family’s teachings. If an opponent attempts to attack you and misses, you may add two Unkept Dice (+2k0) to your next Attack Roll against him, provided it is made in the same Phase. In addition, because Mirumoto Swordsmen study traditional dueling styles alongside Kenjutsu, Journeymen may add their Rank in Attack (Kenjutsu) as a bonus to their First Strike (Kenjutsu) roll during an iaijutsu duel.

Master: The Master has perfected the meditative “no-mind” techniques taught to him by the Mirumoto School, so he can adapt and react to openings in combat at a moment’s notice. Whenever he Knocks Out a Henchman, Hero, or Villain, the Master receives a bonus Action Die showing the current Phase.