#Hanyo (半妖, Half-Yokai)
A human-yoma hybrid. A being caught between two worlds. The more yoma power they use, the more their humanity erodes.
- Role: transforming warrior, yoma negotiation, crisis burst, night scouting
- Core Attributes: Courage (勇), Fate (運)
- Core Zone Entry: free
- Base Class: human, but not human. A person of identity.
- Three Ways and Six Hearts: Truth or Compassion, or Demon. Determined by the ratio of the two bloods.
- Skills Eligible for Master: Fighting Spirit, Perception, Hardiness, Unarmed Combat, Intimidation, Fortune
- Starting Automatic Skills: Unarmed Combat Trained, Perception Novice, Fighting Spirit Novice, Hardiness Novice
#Scent — Two Bloods
Mother was human. Father — cannot be remembered. All the hanyo knows is that at night, their nails lengthen, their eyes shine gold, and wounds heal abnormally fast. As a child, they thought it was a blessing. Other children hurt for days when injured, but the hanyo heals in an hour. Watching a friend envy that, then slowly keep distance, the hanyo finally understands: they are a different kind of person.
Hanyo are rejected by human society. Children throw stones, and adults avoid their eyes. If even a single person in the village is hurt, the hanyo is blamed. "That child did it" is a death sentence. So hanyo leave the village young, not knowing where they are going. But on the battlefield, when yoma surge in and ashigaru flee in terror, no one complains when the hanyo steps forward. Only in that moment are the hanyo's claws welcomed. That is the hanyo's saddest comfort.
The problem is yoma power. The more it is used, the stronger they become; the more it is used, the more humanity blurs. With every transformation, the question "am I still human?" grows heavier. There was a hanyo who realized, during one transformation, that their hands were around a friend's throat. After that, they never transformed again. But without transformation, they are weak. If they are weak, companions die. So they transform again. And once more, they lose themselves. That is a hanyo's life: losing part of the soul in every battle.
The hanyo's deepest loneliness is belonging to neither of the two worlds. Human society fears them, and yoma society sees them as "half-made." Even Shuten-doji, seeing a hanyo, does not call them companion, but "failure." So hanyo are always alone. Even the closest companion may suddenly draw away one day. Then the hanyo must decide: follow the human within, follow the yoma, or create a new place between the two worlds. That is the hanyo's hardest choice, and that choice makes the hanyo a hero or a monster.
- Recommended Weapons: claws (unarmed/Unarmed Combat — when transformed), kodachi (two-sword style), uchigatana (human form), tanto (concealed), kaiken (stealth)
- Recommended Schools: Takenouchi-ryu (Unarmed Combat — unarmed), no school (self-taught — tribal hanyo), Yagyu Shinkage-ryu (martial way — nonlethal)
- Recommended Faction Traits: none (most common — belongs nowhere), Biu Mountain (yoma-side alliance — dangerous), Kagura Domain (rare — subordinate hanyo unit)
#Law — Trait List
#1st Dan: Yoma Blood [aptitude]
Always-on effects:
- During the lull step, automatically recover 1 Wound (supernatural regeneration).
- Yoma detection automatically succeeds within 2 zones.
- +2 to negotiation checks with yoma.
- Free Core Zone entry/exit.
Separate from the Spirit Realm Child background's [Spirit Realm Resonance]. If both are held, only the class version's recovery effect (Yoma Blood) applies, and detection effects are added together.
Cost:
- When an allied Minion squad is first deployed in the same zone as the hanyo, Cohesion -1 (fear/hatred). Can be negated by the Pure Land Monk's "Amida's Shield" or Background Route A's "Blood Suppression."
A hanyo's very existence is a double-edged sword. The hanyo is strong, but makes subordinates uneasy.
#3rd-Dan Class Traits (choose 1)
| Trait | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Claws | [aptitude] | unlock unarmed attacks (Energy 1). On hit, inflict "bleeding" (1 Wound each lull, Physique>=11 ends). No worry about weapon breakage. |
| Yoma Eyes | [aptitude] | automatically see through all infiltration/disguise/illusions. Know yoma weaknesses (attacks against yoma +1). Complete night vision. |
| Aura of Fear | [aptitude] | enemy Minions/Mobs in the same zone take -2 penalty on attacks against the hanyo. When an enemy squad recovers Cohesion, if the hanyo is in the same zone, recovery amount -1. |
#5th-Dan Class Traits (choose 1)
| Trait | Type | Energy | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Transformation (半變身) | [Kata] | 2 | yoma form for 1 round. Attack +2, Defense +2, movement 1 Energy. 2 times per combat. On use, allied squads in the same zone Cohesion -1 (fear). |
| Yoma Qi Absorption (妖氣吸收) | [aptitude] | — | whenever you defeat a yoma, recover 1 Wound + Fate Intervention +1 use (that combat). "Absorb the enemy's yoma qi." |
| Hybrid Intuition (混血の直感) | [aptitude] | — | at the start of each round, know the next action of 1 enemy (GM reveals). Automatically detect traps/ambushes. Initiative bonus +2 (first breath only). |
#7th-Dan Advanced Traits (choose 1)
| Trait | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Awakening (完全覺醒) | [aptitude] | Half Transformation ([Kata]) strengthens to 2-round duration. Critical Expansion (adjacent eyes also count as Critical Hits). Uses 3/combat. |
| Yoma Domination (妖魔支配) | [Kata] | 3 Energy. Opposed check against 1 Elite yoma (2d10+Courage vs target 2d10+Courage). On success, turns allied for 2 rounds. 1/combat. |
| Regeneration Rampage (再生暴走) | [aptitude] | triggers automatically at Wounds 0: immediately revive at Wounds 3 + attacks +3 for the next 2 rounds. However, after 2 rounds, forced incapacitation (out of control). 1/combat. |
#9th-Dan Advanced Traits (choose 1)
| Trait | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ruler of Two Worlds (二界の支配者) | [aptitude] | benefits of both yoma and humans: halve Wound loss from yoma attacks + negate human squad Cohesion penalties. Recognized as "same side" by both. |
| Great Yoma Transformation (大妖魔化) | [Kata] + [stance] | activate with [Kata] 5 Energy. + [stance] Great Yoma form for 3 rounds: Wounds +5, attack +4, Defense +4, fear aura (all enemies Courage >= 13). Occupies stance slot. After ending, Wounds 1, Energy 0. 1/combat. |
| Hegemony of Karma (業の支配) | [aptitude] | Fate Intervention uses = Fate modifier x2. When making doubles, may adjust ±2 (not ordinary ±1). |
#Recommended Weapons
| Weapon | Reason |
|---|---|
| Kodachi (small sword) | Core Zone flurry. Combo slash 1 Energy. Two-sword style possible. |
| Tanto/Claws (dagger/unarmed) | Claws (3rd-dan trait) cannot suffer weapon breakage + bleeding. Easy to conceal. |
| Uchigatana | all-purpose weapon before transformation. Still usable after transformation. |
#Typical Hanyo Breath Patterns
| Breath | Maneuver Combination | Energy | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Combat | kodachi combo slash(1)x3 + cross defense reservation(1) | 4 | 3 hits + defense. Stable. |
| Half-Transformation All-In | Half Transformation(2) + claws(1)x3 | 5 | transformation+3 hits (each attack +2). Inflict bleeding. |
| Fate Gamble | kodachi slash(1) + induce doubles with Fate Intervention -> Critical Hit | 1+ | overturn combat with Fate Intervention. |
| Great Yoma Rampage | Great Yoma Transformation(0, 1/combat) + all techniques +4 | all | for 3 rounds, Wound loss received from attacks is 0. Cost: Wounds 1+Energy 0. |
#Zone Bonuses
| Zone | Effect |
|---|---|
| Core Zone | free entry. Kodachi/claws flurry. The hanyo's bestial instinct manifests. |
| Front Zone | while transformed, fear aura lowers enemy squad Cohesion. However, allied squads also take Cohesion -1 penalty. |
| Flank Zone | automatic yoma detection. Good for scouting. |
| Outside Zone | during Half Transformation, can detect Outside through yoma signs (not at shinobi level). |
#Three Ways and Six Hearts
| Natural Heart | Conflict |
|---|---|
| In Conflict (Truth↔Demon) | the hanyo's core story. Live as human (Truth), or follow yoma instinct (Demon). |
| Background Route A (Human Will) → Truth | "I will be recognized in human society." Fight prejudice. |
| Background Route B (Yoma Awakening) → Demon | "I will accept this power." Risk of abandoning humanity. |
| 3rd Path → Compassion | "I will become a bridge between two worlds, neither human nor yoma." The hardest path. |
The hanyo's Three Ways and Six Hearts question: "What am I? Human, yoma, or something that is neither?"
Two bloods fight in one body. The winner of that war is decided by the self.
#Squad Tactics Traits (Hanyo)
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.
Hanyo squad tactics are the power of fear. The mere presence of a transformed hanyo terrifies enemies and stirs complicated emotions in allies.
| Trait | Type | Learned Dan | Energy | Limit | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoma Roar (妖魔の咆哮) | [Tactic:Kata] | 3rd dan | squad order cost+1 | 1/round | can activate only while the hanyo is transformed. All enemy squads in adjacent zones gain fear + Cohesion -2. Allied squad Cohesion also -1 (they fear the hanyo). |
| Yoma Shield (妖魔の盾) | [Tactic:Aptitude] | 5th dan | — | — | when the hanyo is in the same zone, the squad is immune to yoma mental attacks (fear/fascination). "Yoma power for allies too." However, squad maximum Cohesion -1 (unease toward the hanyo). |
Three Ways and Six Hearts (Squad Tactics): Roar is Demon (wield yoma power). Shield lies on the boundary between Compassion and Demon — "the monster inside me protects you."
"Two bloods fight in one body. The winner of that war is decided by me. Every breath, every time anew."
#Example Character
→ Shion — Sample Sheet (1st/5th/10th dan + step-by-step backstory)