#4 Fighting Spirit Training Methods

Contents

⚠ Not a school. Every training method presumes Fighting Spirit (鬪志) Master (4 points) or above. No encroachment on the core Saint stage. 1 simultaneous training method per 1 PC.

#§ Scent — What Cultivating Fighting Spirit Means

Fighting Spirit is the dedicated skill of Courage (勇). The strength to grip a sword before fear. That depth cannot be learned in a dojo — it arises from within oneself. These 4 training methods are the thought of that inner cultivation.

#§ Law — The 4 Training Methods

#20-02-01. Zen Seated Meditation (禪宗坐禪) — Personal Transmission · Japan/China

Cultural origin: the seated meditation of the Rinzai, Soto, and Shaolin Zen lineages. No-thought, no-mind. Letting go of both fear and desire.

Approach: Fighting Spirit Master + 5 or more sessions of cultivation at a Zen temple + Renown Title "Path of the Zen Monk" recommended.

Main effect [stance] Seated Meditation — Sword of No-Thought: Energy 1 (stance declaration). Automatic effect on the first round + the effect persists while the stance is maintained.

Immune to Fear effects (all stages of core Fear).
First-round stance Energy -1 (automatic upon stance declaration).
Refuses entry into enraged/frenzied states (self-blocked).
Occupies 1 stance slot. Adheres to the core §1-stance rule.

Achievement narrative: the PC becomes "one who does not fear." Yet at the same time "one who cannot rage" — enraged-type abilities are sealed. Branching to the Renown Title "Path of the Zen Monk" is possible.

#20-02-02. Bushido Orthodoxy (武士道正統) — Oral Mind-Method · Japan

Cultural origin: Bushido thought — Yamamoto Tsunetomo's Hagakure, etc. Facing death + honor + loyalty.

Approach: Fighting Spirit Master + birth into a warrior house + main-class dan 5 or above, or official recognition by warrior society.

Main effect [aptitude] — Calm Before Death:

attack +2 at Energy 1/3 or below (morale bonus).
flight check -3 (refuses flight).
upon an honor-violating action, the effect is sealed for the next 1 session.

Achievement narrative: the PC becomes "a warrior who does not fear death." Yet under the yoke of honor, freedom diminishes. Branching to the Renown Title "Orthodoxy of the Samurai" is possible.

#20-02-03. Stoic Discipline (Stoic Discipline) — Foreign Training · Greece/Rome

Cultural origin: Greek and Roman Stoic philosophy. Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius. Unshaken by external circumstances.

Approach: Fighting Spirit Master + Foreign Adaptation (Western) or Greek/Roman origin + instruction under a scholar.

Main effect [aptitude] — Only What Can Be Controlled:

external Intimidation/Fear effects -3.
immune to mental effects upon the death/departure of an accompanying NPC.
refuses situations of lost self-control (frenzy, hallucination, drunkenness).

Achievement narrative: the PC becomes "one who is unshaken." Yet at the same time may appear as "one who cannot empathize." Social NPC rapport -1 (a distance caused by lack of emotion).

#20-02-04. Viking Berserker Mind-Method (Berserker) — Foreign Training · Norse

Cultural origin: the 8th~11th-century Norse Viking berserker tradition. Deliberate entry into frenzy + combat neutralization.

Approach: Fighting Spirit Master + Norse origin or Foreign Adaptation (Northern) + a 1st frenzy experience (scenario event).

Main effect [aptitude] — Sword of Frenzy:

deliberate entry into frenzy 1 time per 1 session (1 combat).
during frenzy, attack +3 · Defense -2 · the GM controls the PC for 1 combat only.
after frenzy ends, Energy -5 · Qi-Exhaustion state (1 session).

Achievement narrative: the PC becomes "a friend of frenzy." But a friend is often also an enemy. Accompanying NPC rapport -1 (a dangerous person). Branching to the Renown Title "Berserker" is possible.

#§ Design Perspective

The 4 training-method types: Personal Transmission 1 (Zen) + Oral Mind-Method 1 (Bushido) + Foreign Training 2 (Stoic · Viking).
Diversity of thought: no-thought (Zen) · facing death (Bushido) · indifference to the external (Stoic) · facing frenzy (Viking) — 4 different Fighting Spirit philosophies.
Balance: every training method is benefit + cost. No free bonuses.
Renown Title linkage: 3 training methods allow Renown Title branching.

"Fear does not come from outside. It arises from within oneself. So to govern fear is to govern oneself."