#Itako (Spirit Medium)

Kuchiyose of Ou. It borrows and wears the souls of the dead, then fights with the dead person's techniques.

Role: universal technique borrowing, information gathering (soul conversation), irregular multiclass
Core Attributes: Wisdom (智), Presence (美)
Core Zone Entry: forced Breakthrough
Base Class: Arahitogami × Onmyoji
Three Ways and Six Hearts: Manifest Way, Truth/Void: "Whose will am I following?"
Skills Eligible for Master: Sorcery, Exorcism, Negotiation, Prophecy, Bearing, Perception
Starting Automatic Skills: Sorcery Trained, Exorcism Novice, Negotiation Novice, Prophecy Novice

Common to Fiend Classes: GM permission required. See Villain Play Guide.

#Scent — The Mouth of the Dead

Ou, at the foot of Mount Osore. On a desolate land where the smell of sulfur rises, blind shrine women live. Itako: those who call the souls of the dead and speak those words with their own mouths. When bereaved family come and say, "I want to hear my dead father's words," the itako chants and shakes bells to call the soul. Then the itako's voice changes, their expression changes, and their manner of speech changes. The dead father speaks by borrowing the itako's body. This is kuchiyose (口寄せ).

Ordinary itako stop there. This itako took one step further. They call the soul of a dead samurai and borrow swordsmanship. They call the soul of a dead Esoteric Monk and chant sutras. They call the soul of a dead shinobi and infiltrate. When a warrior's soul enters the itako's frail body, the itako becomes a warrior for that moment. They can wear up to 2 souls simultaneously: using a samurai's sword and an Esoteric Monk's exorcism at the same time is possible.

The price is high. When wearing a soul, the itako cannot use their own techniques. A strong soul tries to completely dominate the itako's body; on failure, the soul possesses the itako for 1 round and control is lost. And the itako's body is weak. Physique -1. Even when they swing a blade with a soul's strength, the recoil must be endured by the itako's frail arms. A shrine woman of Mount Osore says, "To borrow the strength of the dead is to owe a debt to the dead."

Recommended Weapons: none (varies by the weapon used by the soul): if the soul is samurai, katana; if Esoteric Monk, vajra
Recommended Schools: none (borrows the soul's school)
Recommended Faction Traits: Mount Osore (itako holy site), independent Ou powers, wandering

#Core Resource: Soul Catalog (靈魂目錄)

The itako maintains a list of "contacted souls" before combat.

Item	Rule
Soul Acquisition	Capture the soul of an incapacitated unit, whether ally or enemy (Presence >= 11 check). On success, add it to the catalog.
Noncombat Acquisition	Contact a soul through the grave/relic of a dead person (Presence >= 13 check). Discuss with the GM to determine class/techniques.
Soul Catalog Limit	Equal to Wisdom (智) value. With Wisdom 4, can hold up to 4 souls.
Simultaneous Wearing	Wear up to 2 souls at the same time.

#Law — Trait List

#1st Dan: Kuchiyose (口寄せ) [Kata]

[Kata] Kuchiyose (口寄せ)
Energy: 2 | Limit: —
Effect: Choose 1 soul from the Soul Catalog and "equip" it.
 - You can use 1 **1st-dan class trait** from the equipped soul's original class.
 - The itako's own class traits, except Kuchiyose, cannot be used while equipped.
 - Unequip: free action (Energy 0).
 - Simultaneous equipment maximum 2 souls. When 2 souls are equipped, all 1st-dan traits of each soul can be used.
 - You can talk with the soul (information gathering). Even in combat, 1 question and 1 answer as a free action.

#3rd-Dan Class Traits (choose 1)

Trait	Type	Energy	Limit	Effect
Deep Descent (深層降靈)	[Kata]	3	1/round	You can use 1 3rd-dan class trait from an equipped soul (lasts 1 round). The stronger the soul, the greater the resistance: after use, make Presence >= 13 check; on failure, possession for 1 round (cannot act).
Dual Descent (二重降靈)	[aptitude]	—	—	When 2 souls are equipped simultaneously, you can use both souls' 1st-dan traits in the same breath (spend Energy separately). "Two souls move in one body at once."
Soul Conversation (靈魂對話)	[aptitude]	—	—	Conversation with souls deepens. You can also call and speak with souls of dead people who are not incapacitated units, NPCs who died before combat (Presence >= 13). Excellent for noncombat information gathering.

#5th-Dan Class Traits (choose 1)

Trait	Type	Energy	Limit	Effect
Warrior's Soul (戰士の魂)	[Kata]	3	1/round	Special effect while wearing a samurai/Wildlander/Esoteric Monk soul: attack checks +2, Defense +1 (the soul's combat instinct reinforces the body). Lasts 1 round.
Practitioner's Soul (術者の魂)	[Kata]	3	1/round	Special effect while wearing an onmyoji/Feng Shui Master/shugenja soul: Sorcery checks +2, barrier automatically deploys (the soul's spiritual power manifests). Lasts 1 round.
Memory Search (記憶探索)	[Kata]	2	1/lull	Browse the equipped soul's memories from life. The GM reveals 1 piece of information that NPC knew. "Secrets only the dead know."

#7th-Dan Advanced Traits (choose 1)

Trait	Type	Energy	Limit	Effect
Spirit General Descent (靈將)	[Kata]	5	1/combat	Equip a powerful Elite-grade or higher soul. You can use 1 5th-dan class trait from that soul. However, after use, make Presence >= 15 check; on failure, complete possession for 3 rounds (GM determines actions according to the soul's purpose).
Soul Rampage (魂の暴走)	[Kata]	4	1/round	Explode 2 equipped souls simultaneously. Use all 1st-dan+3rd-dan traits of both souls at once (sum Energy costs). After use, both souls disappear (remove from catalog).
Dead-Spirit Interdiction (死靈遮斷)	[aptitude]	—	—	The itako's soul-control ability also applies defensively. Automatically oppose enemy dead-spirit/necromancy/possession techniques (Presence opposed check). Can negate Shikome-no-Tsukai's dead-spirit revival.

#9th-Dan Advanced Traits (choose 1)

Trait	Type	Energy	Limit	Effect
Miko of Ten Thousand Spirits (萬靈の巫女)	[aptitude]	—	—	Soul Catalog limit 2 times (Wisdom×2). Simultaneous wearing limit expands to 3 souls. +3 bonus to possession checks from Deep Descent. "Thousands of souls dwell in this body."
Final Descent: Heroic Soul (最終降靈: 英雄の魂)	[Kata]	all	1/session	Fully descend the most powerful soul in the Soul Catalog. You can use all class traits of 7th dan or lower from that soul for 3 rounds. The itako's consciousness disappears completely, and the soul controls the body. After 3 rounds, soul disappears + itako Wounds 1 (near death).

#Extreme Strengths

Universal technique borrowing: fills in techniques from classes the party lacks through souls. Maximum flexibility.
Master of information gathering: speaks with the dead. Knows secrets the living do not.
2-soul simultaneous wearing: operate 1st-dan traits from 2 classes at once. Combination possibilities are endless.
Enemy soul use: defeat an enemy, steal that soul, and use it. The enemy's technique becomes an allied weapon.

#Extreme Weaknesses

Own techniques sealed: while wearing souls, the itako cannot use their unique traits. Without souls, they can do nothing.
Possession risk: the stronger the soul used, the higher the chance of possession. On failure, the GM controls the body; it may attack allies.
Physique -1: the itako's base Physique is low. It is hard to bear the physical strain of combat.
Soul disappearance: using Soul Rampage or Final Descent makes souls vanish. You must secure replacement souls.
Ethical issue: using the souls of the dead as "tools." Did the souls consent? Esoteric Monks and Arahitogami regard this as "desecration."

#Typical Breath Pattern (5th Dan, Dual Wearing)

Count 12 — Combat preparation:
 Kuchiyose: equip samurai soul(2) + Kuchiyose: equip Esoteric Monk soul(2) = 4
 → samurai 1st-dan (Swordsmanship bonus) + Esoteric Monk 1st-dan (free Core Zone entry) operated simultaneously

Count 8 — First breath:
 Deep Descent: use samurai 3rd-dan technique(3) = 3
 → attack with samurai 3rd-dan Swordsmanship technique (possession check required)

Count 5 — Second breath:
 Warrior's Soul(3) = 3
 → attack +2, Defense +1 bonus

Remaining Energy: 11 - 4 - 3 - 3 = 1 (dangerous: Energy management is life for the itako)

#Zone Bonuses

Zone	Bonus
Front Zone	Front Zone combat is possible while wearing a warrior soul. But the body is weak with Physique -1. Bodyguards required.
Rear Zone	Safe zone. Rear support with practitioner souls. Information gathering through Soul Conversation.
Core Zone	Free Core Zone entry while wearing an Esoteric Monk soul. But if possession fails, isolation in the Core Zone can be fatal.
Outside Zone	Center of noncombat soul conversation. Near Mount Osore, soul contact is easy.

#Three Ways and Six Hearts Conflict

The itako's core drama is the disappearance of the self.

"Is it me fighting now, or the soul?" Each time the itako wears a soul, the self grows a little fainter. The pleasure of swinging a blade with a warrior's soul: is it the itako's, or the samurai's?
Boundary of Truth and Void: The itako's Three Ways sway between Truth and Void of the Manifest Way. Conveying the "truth" of the dead is Truth, but is using that soul as a tool not Void?
Grudges of souls: Some captured souls carry grudges. Will you answer a soul's demand to "kill my enemy"? If refused, it rampages through possession.
Law of Mount Osore: "The souls of the dead must be sent on in peace." Yet the itako holds souls and uses them in battle. Is this salvation, or bondage?
Meaning of Final Descent: When the strongest soul is completely descended, the itako's consciousness disappears. Is that "the itako's death," or "the soul's resurrection"?

"Whose voice is this? Whose hand is this? Whose anger is this? I no longer know whether I am myself."

#Example Character

→ Integrated Sample for 12 Fiend Classes (1/5/10 Dan + Corruption Path Story)