#Esoteric Monk (密教僧)
Close-range exorcist. Becomes an asura in the Core Zone.
- Role: Core Zone combat, exorcism, close-range slaughter, self-healing
- Core Attributes: Courage (勇), Physique (體)
- Core Zone Entry: free
- Base Class: warrior monk of a mountain temple. The mirror image of the Pure Land monk.
- Three Ways and Six Hearts: Compassion or Truth. The double heart of one who is both monk and warrior.
- Skills Eligible for Master: Unarmed Combat, Exorcism, Fighting Spirit, Hardiness, Swordsmanship, Barrier
- Starting Automatic Skills: Unarmed Combat Trained, Exorcism Novice, Fighting Spirit Novice, Hardiness Novice
#Scent — The Path of Asura
The esoteric monk is both monk and warrior. Through mountain-temple training and the secret methods of esoteric Buddhism, they temper the body and meet yoma head-on. When an esoteric monk chants sutras and swings a vajra in the asura-field of the Core Zone, that place becomes Shurado (修羅道). At its center, the esoteric monk has neither fear nor hesitation. Fear has been burned away by training; hesitation has been sealed by mudra (印).
Scripture is armor, and mudra (印) is the blade. If other exorcists, such as onmyoji and shugenja, face yoma from a distance, the esoteric monk leaps into the yoma's reach. Surviving in the Core Zone is the esoteric monk's training. While other classes fear the Core Zone, the esoteric monk treats it as their own dojo (道場). It is where the most enemies are, and therefore where the most training is possible. A breath in the Core Zone is like a month at a mountain temple.
Outside combat, the esoteric monk is a temple monk. They chant sutras, train, counsel villagers, and treat the wounded. Esoteric medicine combines prayer and herbs, and on the battlefield it enables Wound recovery during the lull step. When an esoteric monk stays in a village, the village children do not fear them — behind the huge body and scarred face is the gentlest smile. A soft hand touches the patient, and the same hand cuts down a yoma the next day. They are the same hand.
The esoteric monk's greatest danger is becoming asura (修羅). Between the teaching that mercy should be shown to every enemy and the blade that hears yoma screams every night, some esoteric monks go mad. At first they cut enemies down, saying, "this too is compassion," and little by little they forget compassion. Then that esoteric monk is no longer a monk. The fiend class [Shurado (修羅道)] is the end of that path. Thus the esoteric monk's true training is not becoming stronger, but not forgetting. Every breath, they must not forget why they took up the blade.
- Recommended Weapons: vajra (exorcism-focused), tanto (Core Zone flurry), rokushakubo (staff, suppression), bare hands/Unarmed Combat (rakan boxing), katana (ordinary temple guard)
- Recommended Schools: Takenouchi-ryu (Unarmed Combat — joint techniques), Shugendo-ryu (combined with austerities), Shingon-ryu (Mahavairocana Mantra — zone exorcism)
- Recommended Faction Traits: Hiei League (home of warrior monks), Enryokan (spiritual cooperation), temple-origin background (natural calling)
#Law — Trait List
#1st Dan: Asura Mudra (修羅の印) [aptitude]
[aptitude] Asura Mudra
Effect: within the Core Zone (心府), all melee techniques cost -1 Energy (minimum 1).
Free Core Zone entry.
katana (2 Energy→1 Energy), vajra (2 Energy→1 Energy), Unarmed Combat (stays 1 Energy).
Zone: Core Zone only. Does not apply outside the Core Zone."In the chaos of the Core Zone, only the esoteric monk is calm."
#3rd-Dan Class Traits (choose 1)
| Trait | Type | Energy | Limit | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vajra Invulnerability (金剛不壞) | [aptitude] | — | 1/round | when Wounds would be reduced, succeed at 2d10+Physique >= 13 to negate that Wound loss. "The body of vajra." |
| Exorcism Sutra (退魔經文) | [Kata] | 2 | 1/round | all yoma units, including adjacent zones, take Defense -2 (1 round). The sutra weakens yoma. |
| Mudra: Fudo Myoo (印法: 不動明王) | [stance] | 2 | maintain | while maintained, Defense +3 against all hits. Cannot move. "Block the enemy with an immovable stance." |
#5th-Dan Class Traits (choose 1)
| Trait | Type | Energy | Limit | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vajra (金剛杵) | [aptitude] | — | — | unlock special weapon "vajra." Energy 2, standard size. On hit against yoma, 2 Wounds. Against humans, 1 Wound. |
| Bloody Struggle (血鬪) | [aptitude] | — | — | whenever your Wounds decrease, your next attack technique gains a +2 bonus (cumulative). "The more you are hit, the stronger you become." |
| Lotus Meditation (結跏趺坐) | [upkeep] | — | 1/lull | during the lull step, automatically recover 1 Wound. "Heal wounds through meditation." |
#7th-Dan Advanced Traits (choose 1)
| Trait | Type | Energy | Limit | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asura (阿修羅) | [aptitude] | — | — | within the Core Zone, one-breath limit +2 (→7). "The Core's chaos empowers the esoteric monk." |
| Great Exorcism Array (大退魔陣) | [Kata] | 4 | 1/combat | all yoma in the target zone take 2 Wounds + yoma entry is blocked (2 rounds). |
| Mantra (眞言) | [Kata] | 2 | 1/round | all allies, including adjacent zones: fear immunity + Defense +1 (that round). |
#9th-Dan Advanced Traits (choose 1)
| Trait | Type | Energy | Limit | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Weapon (人間凶器) | [aptitude] | — | — | unarmed attacks (Unarmed Combat) cost 0 Energy, even outside the Core Zone. On hit, guarantee 1 Wound. "The body itself is a weapon." |
| Nirvanic Stillness (涅槃寂靜) | [Kata] | 0 | 1/combat | even at Wounds 0, revive: recover all Wounds. 1 round later, incapacitated. "Just one more time." |
| Blessing of Mahavairocana (大日如來) | [aptitude] | — | — | all allies in the same zone: when hit by yoma attacks, Wound loss is halved (round normally). Effective yoma resistance. |
#Typical Esoteric Monk Breath Patterns (in the Core Zone)
| Breath | Maneuver Combination | Energy | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asura Flurry | vajra holy strike(1)+holy strike(1)+holy strike(1)+defense(1) | 4 | 6 Wounds to yoma (3 hits x2) + defense |
| Maximum Asura | holy strike(1)x5+defense(1)+holy strike(1) = 7 | 7 | 12 Wounds to yoma (7th-dan Asura, breath 7) |
| Sutra+Attack | Exorcism Sutra(2)+tanto thrust(1)+thrust(1) | 4 | yoma Defense -2 + 2 hits |
#Zone Bonuses
| Zone | Effect |
|---|---|
| Core Zone | Asura Mudra: all melee -1 Energy. The esoteric monk's optimal zone. |
| Front Zone | can tank in the Front Zone with Mudra: Fudo Myoo + Defense +3. |
| Rear Zone | recovery position for Lotus Meditation (upkeep). |
#Three Ways and Six Hearts
| Natural Heart | Conflict |
|---|---|
| Compassion (Way of Emptiness) | "Chant sutras even while cutting down yoma. All beings have buddha-nature." |
| Conflict: toward Demon | "If you drown in the pleasure of battle, you become asura (修羅)." The esoteric monk's greatest danger. |
| Conflict: toward Loyalty | "Obey the temple's orders. Follow the will of Hiei League." The organization's faithful warrior. |
The esoteric monk's Three Ways and Six Hearts question: "Is a monk who carries a blade still a monk? Is killing while chanting sutras compassion, or slaughter?"
Namu Daishi Benzaiten. This sutra is armor, and this fist is the Buddha's compassion.
#Squad Tactics Traits (Esoteric Monk)
Slot Rule: Squad tactics traits are included in the class trait choices for that dan. When choosing 3rd/5th-dan class traits, you may choose a squad tactics trait instead of an ordinary class trait.
The esoteric monk's squad tactics are spiritual defense. Barriers and sutras protect the squad from yoma.
| Trait | Type | Learned Dan | Energy | Limit | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dharma-Guardian Barrier (護法結界) | [Tactic:Stance] | 3rd dan | squad order cost+1 | maintain | deploy a barrier in the squad's zone. When yoma enter, they take 2 Wounds / entry check (Wisdom >= 11). Squads inside the barrier are immune to fear. |
| Vajra Guardian Formation (金剛力士陣) | [Tactic:Kata] | 5th dan | squad order cost+1 | 1/round | the esoteric monk must be in the same zone. The squad attacks yoma in unison with the esoteric monk's Exorcism Sutra. Squad attacks against yoma +3. [Incorporeal] applies. |
Three Ways and Six Hearts (Squad Tactics): Dharma-Guardian Barrier is Compassion (protect sentient beings). Vajra Guardian Formation is Loyalty — "become a guardian who protects the Buddha's law."
"Sutras are armor, and mudra (印) is the blade. And compassion is — a breath that does not stop."
#Example Character
→ Enku — Sample Sheet (1st/5th/10th dan + step-by-step backstory)