Clan of Origin: Hare
Dojo: Reichin’s Refuge Dojo

Description: Few clans have experienced the hardship the Hare have endured. Even in times of peace, their holdings have been besieged by the Scorpion, leaving them with virtually nothing to call their own. Shortly thereafter, an Imperial edict disbanded the clan after four witnesses came forward to give testimony of the Usagi family’s use of Blood Magic. Only through the valor and persistence of Usagi Ozaki and a handful of valiant samurai from the Great Clans was a nefarious Kolat plot revealed and the Hare reinstated. Ozaki’s first act as daimyo of the reinstated Clan was to establish Reichin’s Refuge Dojo, where the Techniques developed during the Clan’s travails could be taught to its members.

The Usagi Swordsman School has been perfected in battle and blood, and Usagi Swordsmen have painstakingly learned what works and what simply fails. The Usagi School takes a lesson from the Clan’s signature animal and channels it into a combat advantage. Usagi Swordsmen learn to move faster than the average warrior, darting in to deliver a punishing blow then dashing out of range of any counterattack. An unprepared opponent is quickly overwhelmed as h is attacked from what seems like all sides.

The Usagi School suffers from the weaknesses common among all movement-based Schools. By maneuvering the Swordsman into uneven ground, backing him into a corner, or weakening him through strikes to the legs, an opponent can reduce the Swordsman’s maneuverability and efficacy in combat.

Basic Curriculum: Athlete, Kenjutsu
Knacks: Exploit Weakness (Usagi), Flurry (Kenjutsu), Leaping, 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: Flurry. When attacking an enemy, you can declare a Flurry. You roll Resolve + Flurry, and must roll a number of Raises equal to your enemy’s Resolve in order for your Flurry 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.

New Swordsman Knack: Leaping. You can jump higher and farther than most people. This can often come in handy when exploring dusty tombs or fleeing across rooftops. In addition, you use this Knack as your Defense Knack while leaping. This is the same as the Leaping Knack found in the Acrobat and Athlete Skills, but it is considered a Basic Knack for Usagi Swordsmen.

Apprentice: Even as a beginner, the Usagi Swordsman begins to incorporate astounding feats of agility and athletics into his normal combat routine. He receives a free Raise on all uses of the Leaping Knack (including Active Defenses). In addition, he may add his Rank in Leaping as a bonus to any use of the Lunge Knack. This Technique applies at all times, unless the Apprentice is using a different Swordsman School.

Students of the Usagi School train at Reichin’s Refuge Dojo, where they learn to emphasize speed and athleticism. Usagi Swordsmen may add their Rank in Leaping as a bonus to their Initiative Total while using this School.

Journeyman: Usagi Journeyman possess the quick wits and reflexes of the Hare Clan’s namesake. Usagi Swordsmen receive one Free Rank in the Leaping Knack upon becoming a Journeyman. This may increase their Rank to a six. If it does not, they can increase it from a five to a six later by paying 25 XP.

Master: A Master of the Usagi School has perfected the art of “hopping” in and out of danger. After executing a Lunge (whether it is successful or not), the Master may still make an Active Defense using Leaping as his Defense Knack.