Kumogakure Ryu Ninjutsu
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: No Alignment restrictions. Minimum Attributes include P.P.: 12 and Spd: 12.
Skill Cost: 13 Years (11 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style).

Kumogakure Ryu, or the Hidden Cloud School, is a Japanese ninjutsu martial art created by Toda Kenjiro (????-ca1250). This style specializes in Shojo Taijutsu, a form of combat which specializes in fighting in armor and tight clothing. Combat techniques include many jumps and multiple parries. Armored sleeves are typically worn by practitioners to protec themselves. Some members also wear a Demon Mask which makes their Demon Horn Fist (Kikaku-Ken) more effective. Weapons used include Kamayari, Ninjato, and Shuriken, as well the Ippon Sugi Nobori. Other training includes survival and being able to light fires in all conditions. Shinobi Mikkyo school

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) They may also wear demon masks and chain kote (armored sleeves) A.R. 10 and S.D.C. 25 if wearing shinobi shozoku with demon mask and chain kote. 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: Nage Uchi no Kamae: 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 left hand is extended until parallel with the ground, the fist is rotated until flat. The right hand comes up to nose height and is rotated so the back of the fist is facing the nose.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +1 to P.S.
Add +2 to P.P.
Add +4 to Spd.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 2
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: Somersault
Basic Defense Moves: Automatic Parry, Dodge, Parry
Advanced Defense Moves: Breakfall, Circular Parry.
Hand Attacks: Claw Hand, Palm Strike, Thumb Drive Fist (New!).
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick
Jumping Foot Attacks: Flying Jump Kick, Jump Kick.
Special Attacks: Choke, Death Blow (REVISED!), Death Strike (NEW!), Headbutt/Gore (Kikaku Ken/Demon Horn Fist; If wearing a Demon Mask, the Headbutt does 2D6 damage, without the mask, a Headbutt does 1D4 damage.), Hip Throw (New!), Leap Attack, Shoulder Throw (New!), Springboard Leap Attack (New!).
Holds/Locks: None.
Weapon Kata: W.P. Ippon Sugi Nobori (Chain), W.P. Kamayari (Polearm).
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Critical Strike from Behind.
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: Automatically receives the Mokutonjutsu Martial Art Power. Select a total of ONE (1) Martial Art Power from among Arts of Invisibility 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.
Cultural: Dance.
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Ippon Sugi Nobori (Chain), W.P. Kamayari (Polearm), Ninjato (Short Sword), 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: Goshinjutsu (3 Years), Gyokko Ryu (6 Years), Gyokushin Ryu (7 Years), Kogusoku (3 Years), Koto Ryu (5 Years), Kukishinden Ryu (8 Years), Shinden Fudo Ryu (7 Years), Takagi Yoshin Ryu (5 Years), Tatsumi Ryu (5 Years), Togakure Ryu (7 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +1 to Strike, +2 to Parry, +1 to Body Flip/Throw, Critical from Behind.
2nd: +1 to Dodge, +1 to Leap (add four feet of distance).
3rd: +1 Attack per Melee, +2 to Damage.
4th: +1 to Strike, Death Strike on a Natural 20.
5th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility, Chi Mastery, or Martial Art Techniques.
6th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Body Flip/Throw.
7th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Leap (add four feet of distance).
8th: Critical Strike on a Natural 18, 19, or 20.
9th: +2 to Dodge, +1 to Leap (add four feet of distance).
10th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility, Chi Mastery, or Martial Art Techniques.
11th: +1 Attack per Melee, +2 to Parry.
12th: +2 to Body Flip/Throw.
13th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Leap (add four feet of distance).
14th: Death Blow (Can be used whenever desired (i.e. No Natural Number required), however, character must announce intentions to use the Attack per Melee, costs two melee attacks).
15th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Arts of Invisibility, Chi Mastery, or Martial Art Techniques.
Why Study Kumogakure Ryu Ninjutsu?
You may look unarmed and constricted, but you're actually quite at ease with tight clothing. Surprise attacks at close range in situations someone wouldn't normally expect is the hallmark of this ninja style.