Fuma Ryu Ninjutsu
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: No Alignment restrictions. Minimum Attributes include P.E.: 12.
Skill Cost: 12 Years (10 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style).

Fuma Ryu is a Japanese ninjutsu style created by Fuma Rikyu (1390-1464) around 1411 in Musashi province. The Fuma family was dispatched by the Imperial Court to settle the region and assess the threat of local tribes in 1394. Making friends with some of the local tribes during the first terrible winter because supplies were not forthcoming, they soon learned the skills necessary to live in the land. Disturbed by the fleet of warships which finally brought their supplies, they decided to hide their allies and families while they greeted the embassy. However, since the government hadn't planned on them surviving the winter, the fleet had orders to ensure the destruction of the Fuma clan. Rikyu was one of the children who had been hidden, and he watched as the government forces killed those of the clan who had met them and burnt their fort to the ground. Kokto, the local tribe which had befriended the Fuma clan made a new community for the surviving families in a special place. The guardian of this place was an old kunoichi of the Goton Juppu Ryu, by the name of Goda Aeka. Angered at the actions of the government, she offered her skills to the children of the Fuma clan so that they might extract revenge. The Kokto chief also taught the Fuma clan skills in woodcraft, plant lore, and survival.

Costume: Shinobi Shozoku: The ninja outfit consists of jacket, hakama (loose pants), hand gauntlets, sandals, tabi socks, double belt, leg ties, separate leg and arm pieces, and quilted groin and body protector. Numerous pockets are designed for concealing shuriken and other Ninja items. Also comes with a two-part hood. All of the clothing is relatively loose, with ties around the waist, wrists and ankles. (For just the clothing, A.R.: 8 and S.D.C: 15) For fighting operations on the battlefield there were chain mail jackets and leggings. Chain mail guards for the wrists, hands and neck along with a metal chin guard completed the armor. Armor triples the price of the outfit. (For chain mail armor additions, A.R. 13 and S.D.C. 59) The clothing is traditionally died one of several colors, depending on the environment in which the shinobi is working: the default color is off-black for night and utter blackness, brown for fields and forests, gray for stone and urban settings, and white for snow. True black is not available, the closest being a nearly black, dark red or dark indigo, dark brown or rust colored, due to the available dyes. For more theatrically inclined ninja, the following colors are available; blue for ninja which clumsy, incapable, or poor, red and/or orange for villainous ninja (especially ninja assassins), grey for neutral ninja, white for good ninja and evil ninja attempting to mend their ways, and no color or shinobi shozoku at all for powerful ninja. Reversible forms of shinobi shozoku may be made (or bought), with a second color or even a complete set of faux garb that can be used as a disguise (such as common bonge garb, priests's garb, etc.) when the garb is turned inside out. A second color on the reverse of the garb adds +50% to the listed cost; having a set of faux garb on the reverse doubles the cost of the shinobi shozoku.
Stance: Goku no Kamae: This is a half facing stance. The body is angled at 45 degrees away from the opponent. The hands hang naturally, with the front hand open and the rear hand in a Claw Hand.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +1 to M.E.
Add +1 to M.A.
Add +1 to P.S.
Add +1 to P.E.
Add +5 to S.D.C.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 2
Escape Moves: Back Flip, Maintain Balance, Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, Turn with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: Forward Spin, Leap.
Basic Defense Moves: Automatic Parry, Backward Turn, Entangle, Dodge, Parry.
Advanced Defense Moves: Circular Parry, Spinning Evasion.
Hand Attacks: Rotary Palm Strike, Two-Finger Strike (New!).
Basic Foot Attacks: Crescent Kick, Trip/Leg Hook.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Death Strike (NEW!), Hip Throw, Roll/Knockdown.
Holds/Locks: Elbow Lock, Wrist Lock.
Weapon Kata (Choose One): W.P. Kusarigama (Axe & Chain), W.P. Kyoketsu Shoge (Knife & Chain), W.P. Shuriken (Thrown).
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Critical Strike from Behind.
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: Select a total of TWO (2) Martial Art Powers from among Arts of Invisibility, Body Hardening, and Martial Art Techniques. If desired, any number of Martial Art Powers can be traded, on a one-for-one basis, for Basic Skill Programs (excluding Physical).
Languages: Japanese, Kokto
Cultural: Lore: Kokto History, Holistic Medicine
Physical: None.
Survival: Forest-wise, Wilderness Survival
Temple: None.
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Kusarigama (Axe & Chain), W.P. Kyoketsu Shoge (Knife & Chain), W.P. Shuriken (Thrown).
Philosophical Training: Ninja Code of Honor: The ninja code of honor stresses four areas, motivation towards the mission, loyalty to the clan and ryu, improvisation through awareness, and disguising one's true nature. Motivation to the mission is stressed by accepting missions only from the ninja's chunin, considering the enemies of the employer as one's own enemies, never refusing or questioning a mission, failure not being an option in the mission, putting the mission before oneself, killing in a mission when necessary and avoiding killing when not necessary, escaping when captured, killing one's self when escape is impossible, resisting when suicide is impossible, and taking the life of a comrade rather than allowing them to be captured. Loyalty to the clan and ryu is achieved by never betraying the clan, putting the clan before oneself, not striking another member of the ryu, aiding a genin of the ryu, and not ever leaving the ryu, even to the point of killing ninja who do leave the ryu. Improvision through awareness is achieved by always observing other people and knowing one's surroundings with the thought that one is always being observed and being mentally and physically alert enough to make use of anything at hand. Disguising one's true nature is accomplished through maintaining disguises, never revealing one's true self, speaking in circumlocutions and obfuscation while in public, using code words and metaphors which jeopardize neither one's self or the mission. Due to the unique requirements of the ninja code of honor, the character does not have to have an alignment with a discipline of honor.
Mikkyo Buddhism: This form of Buddhism is also known in Japanese as mikkyo, meaning "secret teaching". Mikkyo is one of several streams of practice within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. Mikkyo blends many doctrines, philosophies, deities, religious rituals, and meditation techniques from a wide variety of sources. Assimilation of Hindu and local deities and rituals was especially marked in the Buddhism that became Mikkyo. Such diverse elements came together over time and, combining with Mahayana philosophical teachings, formed a comprehensive Buddhist system of doctrine and practice. Esoteric (Tantric) teachings, central to the Tendai and Shingon schools, also contributed to Buddhism's eventual broad acceptance. These teachings, termed "esoteric" because they were transmitted orally and in secret from master to qualified disciple, were designed to lead a practitioner to Buddhahood in his present life. In this sense esotericism was highly elitist, but it was also laced with folk elements, such as techniques of healing and magic, that enhanced the appeal of Buddhism to simple people. Aristocrats and commoners alike were also attracted by the expressions of esoteric Buddhism--Sanskrit syllables uttered as charms, splendid and colorful rites, and images of the buddhas carved on mountain cliffs. The Tendai and Shingon schools, two new versions of Buddhism introduced from China, both established their most important monasteries in the mountains, and mountain temples soon became quite common.
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Araki Ryu Kusarijutsu (3 Years), Asayama Ichiden Ryu (3 Years), Enmei Ryu (3 Years), Fudo Ryu (4 Years), Ganritsu Ryu (2 Years), Gyokko Ryu (6 Years), Hakko Denshin Ryu (4 Years), Kashima Shin Ryu (3 Years), Kukishinden Ryu (8 Years), Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-Ryu (4 Years), Togakure Ryu (7 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +2 to Strike, +1 to Spin, Critical Strike from Behind.
2nd: +2 to Back Flip, +1 to Turn (either with Punch/Fall/Impact or Forward/back).
3rd: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Strike.
4th: Death Strike on a Natural 20.
5th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility, Body Hardening, or Martial Art Techniques.
6th: +1 to Back Flip, +1 Parry/Dodge.
7th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Spin.
8th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, Critical Strike on a Natural 19 or 20.
9th: +1 to Back Flip, +1 to Parry/Dodge.
10th: +1 to Turn (either with Punch/Fall/Impact or Forward/back).
11th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility, Body Hardening, or Martial Art Techniques.
12th: +1 to Spin, +2 to Maintain Balance.
13th: +1 to Turn (either with Punch/Fall/Impact or Forward/back), Death Strike on a Natural 19 or 20.
14th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Parry/Dodge.
15th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility, Body Hardening, or Martial Art Techniques.
Why Study Fuma Ryu Ninjutsu?
More at home in the wilderness, there are always surprises. A favored style of kunoichi (female ninja).