Gyokushin Ryu Ninjutsu
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: No Attribute or Alignment requirements.
Skill Cost: 16 Years (14 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style).

While the origin of Gyokushin Ryu, a Japanese ninjutsu martial art, is shrouded in mystery. With the style's origin in Kishu and Takeda provinces, it is believed that the founder was Sasaki Goeman Teruyoshi. This style supposedly concentrated on spying techniques (Cho Ho).

Unarmed techniques in Gyokushin Ryu include many forms of throws (Nagewaza), particularly sacrifice throws (Sutemi Nage). Other techniques include Kosshijutsu as well as blocks and strikes similar to Gokko Ryu. The only known weapon used by this school is the Nagenawa, or lasso.

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: I-nori no Kamae: The "pledge of the brotherhood" stance. The body is sideways to the opponent, with the left leg forward, right leg back (body weight 50/50 on each leg) with foot at 90 degrees to body. The right hand is clenched into a fist and comes rearward slightly until vertical. The left hand comes around, parallel to the ground, until it crosses the right arm.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +5 to Chi
Add +2 to P.P.
Add +4 to Spd.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 2
Escape Moves: Maintain Balance, Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: None.
Basic Defense Moves: Automatic Parry, Dodge, Parry.
Advanced Defense Moves: Breakfall, Disarm.
Hand Attacks: Fore-Knuckle Fist, Thumb Drive Fist (New!).
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick Attack.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Choke, Death Strike (New!), Hip Throw (New!), Hand Throw (New!), Joint Throw (New!), Pickup Throw (New!), Sacrifice Throw (New!), Shoulder Throw (New!), Sweeping Throw (New!).
Holds/Locks: Wrist Lock, Elbow Lock.
Weapon Kata: W.P. Nagenawa (Demon Snare).
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike.
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: Select a total of TWO (2) Martial Art Powers from among Arts of Invisibility. Automatically receives Kosshijutsu. Except for Kosshijutsu, any number of Martial Art Powers can be traded, on a one-for-one basis, for Basic Skill Programs (excluding Physical).
Languages: Japanese.
Cultural: Hojojutsu.
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Nagenawa (Demon Snare).
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: Gyokko Ryu (6 Years), Hakko Denshin Ryu (4 Years), Hontai Yoshin Ryu (5 Years), Ittasu Ryu (2 Years), Kito Ryu (4 Years), Koto Ryu (5 Years), Kukishinden Ryu (8 Years), Kumogakure Ryu (6 Years), Masaki Ryu Kusarijutsu (4 Years), Shinden Fudo Ryu (7 Years), Sosuishitsu Ryu (4 Years), Takagi Yoshin Ryu (5 Years), Togakure Ryu (7 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +1 to Parry/Dodge, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Throw (includes all throws)(Throws do an extra die of damage for a total of two dice of damage).
2nd: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility.
3rd: +1 to Breakfall, +1 to Disarm.
4th: +1 Attack per Melee.
5th: +1 to Breakfall, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +2 to Throw (includes all throws).
6th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility.
7th: +1 to Parry/Dodge, Death Strike on a Natural 20.
8th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Disarm.
9th: +1 to Breakfall, +2 to Throw (includes all throws).
10th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility.
11th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Disarm.
12th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Breakfall.
13th: +1 to Parry/Dodge, +1 to Disarm, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
14th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility.
15th: +1 to Breakfall, +1 to Throw (includes all throws)(Throws do an extra die of damage for a total of three dice of damage).
Why Study Gyokushin Ryu Ninjutsu?
One of the premier ninja styles when it comes to keeping the secrets of this style secret. What little is known is talked about by other ninja only in rumors.