#Fiend Class Alternate Techniques (魔人12職 代替特技)
Contents
⚠ Declaration of compliance with the core Villain Play Guide (惡役指南, Villain's Guide) protocol: the fiend alternate techniques in this document are a villain-only expansion. Whichever configuration of core §1 they are used in — Form A (villain PCs + heroic NPCs) / Form B (mixed party) / Form C (PvP) — table-wide consensus at Session 0 and GM permission are mandatory. When layered onto an ex1 "Drift of the Spirit Realm" campaign, the PC-replacement-only · 1-per-party protocol of ex1-80-08 Character Variation Guide §1.2 additionally applies, but that is an ex1-specific protocol and not core Canon.
#§ Scent — The Fiend's Branching
The 12 core fiend classes each carry the character of a dark version of a general class. This document provides alternate techniques so that the darkness does not go in only one direction. It backs multiple narrative branches — an atonement route, a hell-native route, a domain-rebellion route, and more — with rules.
#§ Law — 12-Fiend-Class Alternate Techniques
#Shurado (修羅道, Shurado) — mirror: samurai × esoteric monk (Outer Path)
Core: co-04-07-20-villain-shurado.md — a war-demon who swallowed an oni's core. Humanity system (start 10, -1 each combat, becomes an NPC oni at 0), risk of a Frenzy check at every lull.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchor of Humanity (人間性の錨) | [stance] | 1 | during the stance, recall human bonds for +3 to the Frenzy check. until the stance ends, oni-core attack bonus -1 (self-control) | Humanity preservation |
| 3 | Sword-Qi Rampage (劍氣狂暴) | [stance] | 2 | during the stance, attack +2, Defense -2. on stance end, Humanity -1 (the price of wrath's outburst) | extreme attack |
| 5 | Asura Convergence (修羅凝集) | [Kata] | 4 | for 1 round, attack +5 on 1 enemy (restriction: adjacent to self + Humanity 5 or less). on hit, a Frenzy check occurs immediately | self-consumption |
| 7 | Regret at the Blade's Edge (刀先の後悔) | [aptitude] | — | when an ally goes down, recover own Humanity +1 (1 time per 1 session). "Regret turns one back into a human." | atonement support |
| 9 | Silence of the Asura (修羅の沈黙) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. enter the voluntary ritual of removing the oni's core. lose all oni bonuses + permanent exemption from the Frenzy check. opens the atonement-ending path | atonement route |
Design note: the heart of the core Shurado is the time bomb of "Humanity 0 = loss of the character." The core 9-dan narrative of "voluntary removal of the oni's core" is made rule at 9-dan Silence. 1- and 7-dan are the Humanity recovery/preservation axis; 3- and 5-dan are the extreme-attack axis that burns Humanity. The esoteric-monk (Outer Path) half of the core is expressed as conscious control of wrath.
#Dokuchushi (蠱毒師, Dokuchushi) — mirror: shinobi × onmyoji
Core: co-04-07-21-villain-dokuchushi.md — the extreme of poison, who servitorizes the curse worms of Kodoku (蠱毒). Parasitizes worms inside the enemy's body for Wounds -1 each round, +5 difficulty to detoxify; the user is weak to fire attacks and ally Cohesion.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Infiltration Worm Spread (潛入蟲撒布) | [upkeep] | — | lull upkeep. with an Infiltration check, ambush worm eggs in the enemy's supply line/well. on success, 1 enemy Minion squad starts the next combat already in a parasitized state. for Barrier/Wounds handling see 00-05 §11 | pre-combat contamination |
| 3 | Poison-Blood Counter (毒血反擊) | [aptitude] | — | automatically inflict poison on an enemy who melee-attacks the user (Wounds -1 per round, 1 round) | counter poisoning |
| 5 | Internal Detonation Enhancement (體內爆破强化) | [Kata] | 4 | restriction: 1 enemy holding a parasite worm. on Critical Hit + restriction 2 (excluding Incorporeal = 1, adjacent enemy = 2), instant-death check (2d10 + Physique + Fate >= 15, §10). worm vanishes | instant-death trigger |
| 7 | Formless Penetration Enhancement (無形浸透强化) | [aptitude] | — | worms ignore Barriers/sacred domains. can parasitize directly even inside a Shikome-no-Tsukai/Tatarigami Barrier | Barrier bypass |
| 9 | Sovereign of a Hundred Poisons (百毒の君主) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. infinitely propagate worms in the same domain. domain Cohesion -3 (§12) + cannot be purified except by fire attack | domain catastrophe |
Design note: expands the core Dokuchushi's "parasite → no detox" design to the domain scale. 1-dan is the shinobi's infiltration (the core-mirror half); 3- and 7-dan are the onmyoji's Barrier-bypass axis. 5-dan is the restricted instant-death version of the core 5-dan "Internal Detonation." 9-dan elevates the permanent contamination of the core 7-dan "Body of Ten Thousand Poisons" to the domain dimension.
#Itako (Itako, Itako) — mirror: arahitogami × onmyoji
Core: co-04-07-22-villain-itako.md — a miko of Osorezan who borrows and wears the souls of the dead. Manages a soul registry (as many as Wisdom), wears 2 at once, strong souls risk Possession, Physique -1 weakness.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omen of the Soul (魂の前兆) | [stance] | 1 | during the stance, pre-select 1 soul to wear on the next breath. +2 correction to the Possession check | soul preparation |
| 3 | Dual-Descent Stabilization (二重降靈安定) | [aptitude] | — | when wearing 2 at once, +2 to the Possession check (using the core 5-dan "Warrior's Soul" bonus). keeps the user's Physique -1 penalty | stable wearing |
| 5 | Restricted Descent: Scholar Soul (限定降靈: 學者魂) | [Kata] | 3 | restriction: holding a scholar/onmyoji soul. for 1 round, use that soul's 3-dan technique + the Possession check auto-succeeds (limited to non-combat information gathering) | non-combat use |
| 7 | Necromancy Block (死靈遮斷) | [aptitude] | — | automatically resist the enemy's necromancy/spirit-summoning/Possession techniques (Presence opposition). can nullify the Shikome-no-Tsukai's necromantic revival | spiritual defense |
| 9 | Miko of Ten Thousand Souls (萬靈の巫女) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. temporarily 2× the soul-registry cap + expand simultaneous wearing to 3 (3 rounds). on end, 1 permanently vanishes (removed from the registry) | multiple descent |
Design note: the core Itako is "an all-purpose borrower who wears souls." It assumes the core's soul-registry, simultaneous-wearing, and Possession systems as-is: 1- and 3-dan are stable wearing, 5-dan is non-combat information gathering (history, memory), 7-dan is the nemesis role against the Shikome-no-Tsukai, and 9-dan is the restricted-activation version of the core 9-dan "Miko of Ten Thousand Souls."
#Jikiniki (食人鬼, Jikiniki) — mirror: hanyo × wildlander
Core: co-04-07-23-villain-jikiniki.md — a Hannyakai mutant who grows infinitely strong by devouring corpses. On devouring, Wounds +1 (no cap); permanent mutation at 3 accumulated; self-destructs when starving (-1 per round); annihilates human society.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corpse-Recovery Upkeep (屍體回復整備) | [upkeep] | — | lull upkeep. ingesting a corpse in own zone recovers own Wounds +1. 1 time per 1 lull. for Wounds-recovery handling see 00-05 §3 | self-recovery |
| 3 | Yoma Sense of Smell (妖魔嗅覺) | [aptitude] | — | automatically detect downed/wounded units (at half of max Wounds or less) within a 3-zone radius. relocation toward the wounded +1 | target tracking |
| 5 | Human-Flesh Distribution (人肉分配) | [Kata] | 3 | restriction: right after the user devours a corpse (= restriction 1). transfer 1~3 devoured Wounds to 1 ally in an adjacent zone. the receiving ally gains attack +1 on the next round | ally supply |
| 7 | Hunger Control (飢餓統制) | [stance] | 1 | during the stance, nullify the corpse-absence penalty (-1) + nullify the inability to identify allies in frenzied devouring. devouring bonus halved | controlled mutation |
| 9 | Chain of Karma (業の連鎖) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. on Critical Hit + restriction 2 (adjacent to self = 1, enemy at half of max Wounds or less = 2), instant-death check (2d10 + Physique + Fate >= 15, §10). devour the instantly-killed enemy immediately + use 1 of that enemy's class techniques until the next combat | devouring chain |
Design note: arranges the core Jikiniki's "devouring resource economy" along three axes: upkeep recovery (1-dan), ally distribution (5-dan), and control (7-dan). 9-dan is the climax, the restricted instant-death version of the core 9-dan "Chain of Karma."
#Kaibutsu (怪佛, Kaibutsu) — mirror: esoteric monk × arahitogami
Core: co-04-07-24-villain-kaibutsu.md — a living Buddha who achieved sokushin-jobutsu (卽身成佛). A static fiend, unable to relocate, unable to speak, with a Holy Fire area and an automatic Barrier.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silent Zazen (無言の坐禪) | [stance] | 1 | during the stance, allies in the same zone are Fear-immune. the Kaibutsu itself cannot relocate or speak (core protocol compliance) | static Barrier |
| 3 | Talisman Barrier (護符結界) | [upkeep] | — | at a lull, charge the own-zone Barrier with +1 Wounds (this §11) | Barrier enhancement |
| 5 | Holy Fire Acceleration (聖火加速) | [aptitude] | — | accelerate the natural Wounds reduction of yoma within the Holy Fire area (-1 → -2 per lull) | purification enhancement |
| 7 | Reflection Enhancement (反射强化) | [aptitude] | — | on spiritual reflection, additional Wounds -1 to the caster (retribution) | spiritual reflection |
| 9 | Descent of Fudo Myoo (不動明王降臨) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. when all yoma in own zone immediately Critical Hit, instant-death check (2d10 + Physique + Fate >= 15, Incorporeal/yoma restriction = 3 restrictions §10) | purification rite |
Design note: keeps the core Kaibutsu's "cannot relocate or speak" static-fiend concept while heading toward enhancing the Barrier, Holy Fire, and spiritual reflection. 9-dan is the climax of the purification rite through Fudo Myoo's wrath. From the PC's standpoint, it is a build that, sitting in zazen in the middle of the battlefield, reflects all of the enemy's [Incorporeal] attacks back.
#Kekka (血花, Kekka) — mirror: performer × ronin
Core: co-04-07-25-villain-kekka.md — the dancer of blood. On an enemy going down, blood-dance stack +1 (max 5); per stack, attack/bond +1 for allies in own/adjacent zones; -1 per lull (blood-addiction withdrawal).
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dagger Breath (短刀呼吸) | [stance] | 1 | during the stance, dagger attack costs Energy -1 (minimum 1). offsets the blood-dance stack's dagger-consumption penalty (Energy -1) | Energy aid |
| 3 | Bewitching Blade (妖艶刃) | [aptitude] | — | can use the Presence attribute (instead of Courage) on a dagger attack. on hit, the target's Defense -2 on its next round | Presence-based attack |
| 5 | Baptism of Blood (血の洗禮) | [Kata] | 3 | restriction: when the blood-dance stack reaches 3 or more (= restriction 1). all allies in own zone Wounds +2 recovery. the user cannot recover. 1 time per session | ally recovery |
| 7 | Death-Blood Dance (死血舞) | [Kata] | 5 | restriction: 1 or more downed allies in own zone + holding a blood-dance stack. blood-dance stack +1 per 1 ally corpse (targets cannot be revived). Cohesion -2 (§12) | tragedy as resource |
| 9 | Blood-Flower in Full Bloom (血花滿發) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. immediately charge the blood-dance stack to 5 + no reduction for 3 rounds. during full bloom, when an enemy in own zone Critical Hits, instant-death check (2d10 + Physique + Fate >= 15, restriction: blood-dance 5 = 1, adjacent to self = 2, §10) | full-bloom climax |
Design note: the heart of the core Kekka is the "blood-dance stack economy" + a fixed 覇/魔. 1-dan eases the burden of maintaining stacks with Energy aid; 5-dan is a restricted variant of the core 3-dan "Baptism of Blood"; 7-dan is the core 5-dan "Death-Blood Dance" — a tragedy that makes even ally corpses part of the dance. 9-dan is the climax, combining the core 7-dan "Full Bloom" with an instant-death check.
#Shikome-no-Tsukai (醜女使い, Shikome-no-tsukai) — mirror: onmyoji × esoteric monk
Core: co-04-07-26-villain-shikome.md — an apostle of Izanami who opens the gate of Yomi. Always servitorizes shikome (Veteran-grade), necromantic revival (downed enemies/allies → minion-grade undead), free passage of the Spirit Realm, Wounds -1 every 5 rounds (mortal-world attrition), 2× damage to all Exorcism.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mortal-World Binding Posture (現世結縛姿勢) | [stance] | 2 | during the stance, halt the mortal-world attrition (-1 per 5 rounds) count. on stance end, apply the accumulated count immediately | attrition delay |
| 3 | Undead Legion (死靈軍團) | [aptitude] | — | expand necromantic revival to the Minion-squad unit. a downed Minion squad → an undead squad (3 Minions) | squad revival |
| 5 | Soul-Binding Enhancement (靈魂捕縛强化) | [Kata] | 3 | restriction: 1 adjacent enemy + Critical Hit. Presence opposition (2d10+Presence vs enemy 2d10+Courage). on success, the target cannot act for 1 round, Defense -4 | single neutralization |
| 7 | Net of Grudges (怨念の網) | [stance] | 3 | during the stance, own zone becomes a "grudge area" — spiritual beings (yoma/onryo/shikigami) Defense -2, user's Sorcery +2. performers/Pure Land Monks suffer Fear for 1 breath if they fail Courage≥13 each round | area weakening |
| 9 | Opening the Gate of Yomi (黃泉開門) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. open the gate of the Spirit Realm. for 3 rounds, Konryu Fragments (mobs) appear automatically each round from the Spirit Realm rift (the Shikome-no-Tsukai does not attack). domain Cohesion -3 (§12) | domain erosion |
Design note: the core Shikome-no-Tsukai is "an apostle of Yomi," and the core mirror is onmyoji × esoteric monk. It assumes the core's key systems (shikome servitude, necromantic revival, mortal-world attrition) as-is. 1-dan supports protracted battle by delaying mortal-world attrition; 5-dan is the restricted version of the core 5-dan "Soul-Binding"; 7-dan is the core 7-dan "Net of Grudges"; 9-dan is the domain-erosion climax of the core 7-dan "Opening the Spirit Realm Gate."
#Tatarigami (祟り神, Tatarigami) — mirror: Pure Land Monk × arahitogami
Core: co-04-07-27-villain-tatarigami.md — a god who punishes gods. Absorbing Barriers/sacred domains is the sole resource; -1 per lull in the absence of absorption; healing → reversed to damage; all faith factions are automatically hostile; fixed at the extreme of 虛.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrier-Sense Upkeep (結界感知整備) | [upkeep] | — | lull upkeep. grasp the position/strength of Barriers/sacred domains within a 4-zone radius (core 1-dan auto-detection +1 zone) | Scouting |
| 3 | Eye of the Curse (祟りの眼) | [aptitude] | — | see through a faith-type enemy's Barrier-maintenance cost/sacred-domain range. attack against that enemy +2 | weakness exposure |
| 5 | Holy-Fire Reversal Enhancement (聖火逆轉强化) | [Kata] | 4 | restriction: right after the enemy's healing/protection activates (= restriction 1) + 1 adjacent enemy. on Critical Hit, reverse the effect 100% (recovery N → damage N) + the caster's Cohesion -1 | faith reversal |
| 7 | Domain of Silence (沈默の領域) | [aptitude] | — | nullify all prayers/mantras/norito in own zone. faith-type techniques incur only the Energy cost, effect 0 | faith Blockade |
| 9 | Godslaying (神殺) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. on Critical Hit + restriction 2 (spiritual being = 1, accumulated sacred-domain absorption 3 or more = 2), instant-death check (2d10 + Physique + Fate >= 15, arahitogami/divine-beast/spiritual restriction, §10). on instant death, that sacred domain permanently vanishes | divine annihilation |
Design note: the core Tatarigami is Pure Land Monk × arahitogami — "a betrayed priest, a god who punishes gods." It assumes the core's key systems (absorption resource, weakening in the absence of a Barrier). 1-dan is upkeep Scouting; 3-dan is the core 3-dan "Eye of the Curse"; 5-dan is the restricted-enhancement version of the core 3-dan "Holy-Fire Reversal"; 7-dan is the core 7-dan "Domain of Silence"; 9-dan is the instant-death-check arrangement of the core 9-dan "Godslaying."
#Tengushi (天狗師, Tengushi) — mirror: wildlander × feng shui master
Core: co-04-07-28-villain-tengushi.md — a disciple of a human tengu who passed Sojobo's trials. Flight (Outside Zone ↔ anywhere for 1 Energy), 50% auto-evade at range, arrogance infection (Negotiation -2), Sojobo's judgment at 3 accumulated arrogant acts (Wounds -3).
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feng Shui Ley-Line Upkeep (風水靈脈整備) | [upkeep] | — | lull upkeep. activate 1 ley-line zone (in the next combat, that zone's movement +1, feng shui check +2) | feng shui half |
| 3 | Whirlwind Kick (旋風脚) | [Kata] | 2 | 2d10+Finesse+Unarmed Combat ≥ Defense. 1 Wounds + force the enemy to relocate to an adjacent zone. +1 bonus when used while in flight | forced relocation |
| 5 | Wind Wall (風壁) | [stance] | 2 | during the stance, ranged attacks in own zone automatically fail. on stance end, can shift into a Humanity-recovery stance (arrogance accumulation -1) | ranged blocking |
| 7 | Great Whirlwind (大旋風) | [Kata] | 4 | restriction: in flight + own zone is Outside Zone or high ground. on Critical Hit, force all units on the battlefield (friend and foe) to relocate + destroy all barricades | battlefield reshaping |
| 9 | Sojobo's Seal of Approval (僧正坊の印可) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. enter the rite — permanently gain arrogance immunity (release the Negotiation penalty) + whip attack [Pierce All]. however, cannot activate at 5 or more accumulated arrogance (disqualification) | human return |
Design note: the core Tengushi is wildlander × feng shui master. 1-dan is the feng shui master half (ley-line use); 3-, 5-, and 7-dan are the core body as-is (Whirlwind Kick, Wind Wall, Great Whirlwind). 9-dan makes the core 9-dan "Sojobo's Seal of Approval" a rite-activated type — only a PC with arrogance accumulation under 5 passes the qualification, that is, only a PC who has restrained arrogance can return to being human.
#Tesshin (鐵身, Tesshin) — mirror: autonomous automaton × artisan
Core: co-04-07-29-villain-tesshin.md — a mechanized human of the Kunitomo Guild. Instantly switches 3 built-in weapons (blade, teppo, shield), immune to poison/Fear/bleeding, Fate permanently 0, vulnerable to water burial (水葬)/magnetism, full mechanization when the human part reaches 0%.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Self-Repair Upkeep (自家修理整備) | [upkeep] | — | lull upkeep slot. own Wounds +2 recovery (compensates for the nullification of Medicine/faith healing). 1 time per 1 lull | self-recovery |
| 3 | Electromagnetic Barrier (電磁防壁) | [Kata] | 2 | own-zone electromagnetic barrier. allies in the zone Defense +2 (2 rounds). deflect ranged attacks by 50% | area defense |
| 5 | Squad Mechanization (分隊機械化) | [Kata] | 5 | restriction: 1 ally Minion squad in the same zone + out of combat or a lull. permanently mechanize that squad (attack/Defense +2, immune to poison/Fear/bleeding, Fate auto-fails). domain Cohesion -1 (§12) | permanent modification |
| 7 | Fortress Mode (要塞模式) | [stance] | 4 | during the stance, cannot relocate, Defense +6, ranged range +1. cannot use the blade. provides half-cover to allies in the zone | static fortress |
| 9 | Self-Destruct Protocol (自爆手順) | [Kata] | all remaining Energy | 1 time per session. convert remaining Energy into explosion damage. when all units in own + adjacent zones Critical Hit, instant-death check (2d10 + Physique + Fate >= 15, restriction: adjacent to self = 1, Energy 6 or more = 2, §10). the user goes down | self-destruct climax |
Design note: the core Tesshin is autonomous automaton × artisan — machine-squad modification and the self-destruct protocol are the core's heart. 1-dan is self-repair upkeep (compensates for Medicine nullification); 3- and 7-dan are the core 3- and 5-dan (Electromagnetic Barrier, Fortress Mode) as-is; 5-dan adds a domain-Cohesion cost to the core 5-dan "Squad Mechanization"; 9-dan is the instant-death-check arrangement of the core 7-dan "Self-Destruct Protocol."
#Yorijin (妖理人, Yorijin) — mirror: scholar × gaijin
Core: co-04-07-30-villain-yorijin.md — a natural-philosophy heretic who dissects, classifies, and reassembles yoma. Automatically reveals all yoma weaknesses, a disassembled-parts economy, tool crafting (on-the-spot demand), refuses Exorcism/faith healing, the temptation of human dissection.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taxonomy Lecture Upkeep (分類學講義整備) | [upkeep] | — | lull upkeep. brief all allies on the current battlefield's yoma weaknesses. allies who receive the briefing gain +1 when attacking that yoma until the end of combat | ally synergy |
| 3 | Nanban Observation Device (南蠻觀測器) | [aptitude] | — | view the exact Wounds/Energy values of all units within 2 zones. also detect concealed/infiltrating units (Wisdom≥12) | information superiority |
| 5 | Weakness Snipe (弱點狙擊) | [Kata] | 3 | restriction: a yoma whose weakness is grasped + adjacent to self. 2d10+Wisdom+Finesse ≥ Defense ([Pierce 3], weakness-exposure bonus). on hit, 3 Wounds. on Critical Hit, no separate instant-death check occurs (separated by complete disassembly) | weakness attack |
| 7 | Reverse-Engineering Barrier (逆設計結界) | [Kata] | 3 | restriction: holding 1 disassembled part. generate a Barrier dedicated to that yoma kind (only that kind cannot pass, Wounds -1 on contact) | species-specific Barrier |
| 9 | Complete Disassembly (完全解體) | [Kata] | 5 | 1 time per session. on Critical Hit + restriction 2 (yoma/Incorporeal restriction = 1, weakness grasp completed = 2), instant-death check (2d10 + Physique + Fate >= 15, Elite-grade or lower restriction, §10). on instant death, automatically obtain 3 parts | disassembly climax |
Design note: the core Yorijin is scholar × gaijin — a natural-philosophy anatomist whose heart is weakness analysis and tool crafting. 1-dan is the upkeep type of the core 3-dan "Taxonomy Lecture"; 3-dan is the core 3-dan "Nanban Observation Device"; 5-dan is the restricted arrangement of the core 5-dan "Weakness Snipe"; 7-dan is the core 7-dan "Reverse-Engineering Barrier"; 9-dan is the instant-death-check arrangement of the core 7-dan "Complete Disassembly."
#Zakkasho (雜貨商, Zakkasho) — mirror: merchant × artisan
Core: co-04-07-31-villain-zakkasho.md — a general-goods dealer of a Sakai back-alley. A gold economy during combat (combat start 8 / lull +2 / cap 30), supply, bribery, mercenary hire, and information trade; lowest direct combat power (attack -2); all techniques unusable at 0 gold; fixed at Mushin.
| Dan | Alternate Technique | Type | Energy | Effect | Branch Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency Supply (緊急補給) | [Kata] | 1 | spend 2 gold. 1 ally in the same/adjacent zone Wounds +2 recovery. 1 time per 1 round | ally supply |
| 3 | Black-Market Network (暗市場網) | [aptitude] | — | out of combat, gather city information for 1 gold. in combat, gold +1 per lull (back-deal income) | gold income |
| 5 | Price Manipulation (價格操作) | [aptitude] | — | all Zakkasho gold consumption -1 (minimum 1). 1-dan general-goods Minion squad hire cost 5→4 | cost reduction |
| 7 | Insurance Contract (保險契約) | [aptitude] | — | at the start of combat, grant "insurance" to 1 ally Lord/Elite (spend 4 gold). when the insured target goes down, immediately Wounds +3 recovery + invincible for 1 round. 1 time per combat | ally revival |
| 9 | Hand of Ebisuya (戎屋の手) | [Kata] | 3 | 1 time per session. spend 10 gold. summon Sakai's finest goods. choose 1: 【Nanban Cannon】 Critical Hit + restriction 2 (adjacent to self = 1, range 1 zone = 2) instant-death check (2d10 + Physique + Fate >= 15, §10) / 【Elixir】 fully recover 1 ally's Wounds / 【Poison】 1 enemy Veteran-grade -2 per lull | all-purpose supply |
Design note: the core Zakkasho is merchant × artisan — a supply/economy character of the battlefield. The heart is the gold-economy system. 1-, 5-, and 7-dan are the core 3-, 5-, and 7-dan as-is (Emergency Supply, Price Manipulation, Insurance Contract); 3-dan is the lull gold income of the core 3-dan "Black-Market Network." 9-dan is the multiple-option core 7-dan "Hand of Ebisuya" + 1 instant-death-check option.
#§ Design Perspective
- 12 fiends × 5 dan = 60 alternate techniques. Complies with the core 04-19-villain-guide principles of villain-only · Session 0 consensus · GM permission. In an ex1 campaign, the PC-replacement-only and 1-per-party limits additionally apply.
- Reinforcing atonement/return routes: Shurado 9-dan "Silence," Jikiniki 9-dan "human return," Kaibutsu 9-dan "Descent of Fudo Myoo" (sokushin-jobutsu climax), and the like make atonement/purification/completion narratives rule.
- Many great-catastrophe 9-dan: the 9-dan of Dokuchushi, Tatarigami, Kekka, Shikome-no-Tsukai, Zakkasho, and others are domain-/society-scale catastrophes. Directly affects the 1st-expansion 01-06 morale system.
- Numerical balance: within ±1 of the core fiend original. Keeps the "powerful but campaign-limited" principle.
"Even a fiend has forks of choice. But not all of those forks are good."