#Artisan Sample: Tetsu (鐵)
Contents
"There is nothing I cannot make."
#1st Dan — Village Blacksmith
#Scent
A blacksmith settled in a Kagura Domain border village. Quiet, with a large build. More familiar with hammers than blades, and even more familiar with calculations than hammers. On the battlefield, he is assigned to a support role.
#Background — How the Adventure Began
Tetsu's real name is Tetsujiro (鐵次郎). At twelve, he became apprentice to a master blacksmith. His manual skill was ordinary, but his eye for structure was different: the angle of a blade, the seams of armor, the tension of a bowstring. The master said, "This one is better suited to being an artisan than a blacksmith." An artisan (工人) is someone who makes things and also builds battlefield positions.
At nineteen, his master died of old age, and Tetsu inherited the forge. Since it was a border village, battle often came close, and he volunteered to repair weapons and set up temporary palisades for ashigaru squads. His first combat experience was village defense. When a band of kooni attacked the village, he built one Karakuri Fieldworks in half a day: a simple defensive structure where spearheads sprang out by spring mechanism. The village survived.
#Law
Tetsu — Artisan 1st dan
Wounds 5(3+Physique 2), Defense 12(craftsperson's vest), Energy 10
Courage+1, Finesse+0, Physique+2, Wisdom+1, Presence+0, Fate-1
Background: Wanderer (artisan lineage) | Heart: Truth (Way of Mystery)
Weapons: suyari(combat use) + hammer(tool)
Maneuver List:
| Source | Maneuver | Type | Energy | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suyari | Thrust | technique | 2 | Front Zone only |
| Trait | Karakuri Fieldworks | Kata | 3 | Defense +1 environment in zone (1 combat) |
| Trait | Repair | upkeep | — | mend squad equipment during a lull |
| General | Tough | aptitude | — | Wounds +1 |
Typical Breath: deploy in Front Zone → Karakuri Fieldworks(3) + Thrust(2) = 5. Build the position in the first round.
#5th Dan — Battlefield Engineer
#Scent
He directly operates a Field Forge. He handles fortress renovation and position construction for Kagura Domain. He builds karakuri dolls, simple autonomous defensive devices, and assigns them to squads.
#Background — How He Came This Far
After 1st dan, Tetsu spent four years handling renovations for Kagura Domain border fortresses. In the third year, the autonomous automaton Karakuri Ichi visited. Ichi said, "I want to see your designs," and Tetsu took out a bundle of blueprints. Ichi looked over them for three days and then said, "If you change one gear here, efficiency becomes eight times greater." Tetsu was startled and accepted the advice. Since then, the two have often exchanged letters. The core design of the karakuri dolls Tetsu makes came from Ichi's advice.
In the fifth year, Tetsu completed the concept of the Field Forge: a mobile forge that repairs squad equipment and replenishes ammunition at each lull step. Kagura Domain's military supply system was reorganized by his hands.
#Law
Tetsu — Artisan 5th dan
Wounds 6(3+Physique 3), Defense 13(craftsperson's vest+reinforcement plates), Energy 10(10+Finesse 0)
Courage+1, Finesse+0, Physique+3, Wisdom+2, Presence+0, Fate-1
Background: Wanderer route A (Fortress Artisan) | Heart: Truth (Way of Mystery)
School: none (independent artisan lineage)
Weapons: self-made mechanical hammer + suyari
Additional Maneuvers:
| Source | Maneuver | Type | Energy | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd dan | Barricade | Kata | 3 | zone Defense +2 |
| 5th dan | Karakuri Doll | Kata | 4 | summon 1 Minion-grade karakuri |
| 5th dan | Field Forge | upkeep | — | squad equipment repair + ammunition refill during a lull |
Typical Breath: shift Rear Zone to Front Zone → Karakuri Doll(4) + Karakuri Fieldworks(3) = 7 (Overload check). Or Barricade(3) + Thrust(2) = 5.
#10th Dan (Tatsujin) — "Tetsu of the Fortress"
#Scent
The highest authority on fortress design in the realm. People say a castle made by his hands does not fall. Honorary master artisan (工人長) of Kagura Domain.
Renown Title: Class Capstone — Fortress Artisan.
#Background — How He Earned the Renown Title
Tetsu's legend lies in the defense of Minamoto Castle. When a great fiend attacked Minamoto Castle, Tetsu had redesigned the entire castle structure starting a month earlier. Double-layered walls, changed moat paths, internal karakuri placement. The great fiend's assault continued for three days, but the castle did not fall. During those three days, the person who made the most hammering sounds on the walls was Tetsu. Even during battle, he kept repairing.
After receiving the Renown Title Fortress Artisan, Tetsu became chief supervisor for three major Kagura Domain castles. Castles built from his designs share one common point: every castle always has an evacuation route so civilians can escape first.
#Law
Tetsu — Artisan Tatsujin
Wounds 6(3+Physique 3), Defense 14(modified heavy armor — Physique offsets the Energy penalty), Energy 12(10+Finesse 2)
Courage+1, Finesse+2, Physique+3, Wisdom+3, Presence+0, Fate-1
Background: Wanderer Tatsujin (artisan chief)
Heart: Truth (complete)
Renown Title: Fortress Artisan (Class Capstone)
Weapon: self-made masterwork mechanical hammer (huge weapon, masterwork)
Additional Maneuvers:
| Source | Maneuver | Type | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th dan | Indestructible Position | stance | zone Defense +4 (maintain) |
| 9th dan | Great Karakuri | Kata | 1 Elite-grade karakuri (1/combat) |
| Renown Title | Fortress Artisan | aptitude | 2 zones made impregnable (check -3 Defense) |
"This wall will not fall."
