#Dan 3 — Where Two Roads Divide

Contents

Dan 3 Use Standard. Dan 3 is the first dan where dual build declaration becomes possible under co-04-02 (secondary class declaration — Dan 3 or higher). This chapter shows the first case (merchant+shinobi) as an actual person. At Dan 3, total attribute bonuses are +4, the Licensed-or-higher count cap is 2 (these builds usually take 1 license), and there are 5 talents.

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#Scent — People Who Have Done One Job for Several Years

Dan 3 is people who have done one job for several years. A hand known by the village, called when the incident is small. Neither a Dan 1 novice nor a Dan 5 named warrior — but a working hand on the ground.

And Dan 3 is also the first place where two roads divide. Will one continue on one road alone, or add another road on top? One of the six in this chapter — a peddler who sells kosode — has already chosen the second road at that fork.

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#Law — Character Distribution in This Chapter

The five standard/dual-class NPCs were drawn one each from five role groups (Core Zone / grappling, control / terrain, support / healing, Front Zone / Defense, social / economy). Their origins were chosen from five different entries among the ten regions of fc09 (standard in the regional cross-reference table).

The roles, purposes, role groups, and regions of the five standard/dual-class NPCs do not overlap. No. 5 is this volume's first dual build example — the starting point of a "Black Merchant," declaring shinobi (secondary) at Dan 3 on top of merchant (primary). The Commoner (No. 6) is a separate axis (ex1-99-06).

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#1. Ensho (円勝) — Dan 3 Shugenja

When the village calls, he comes down to chase mountain strange things.

A young yamabushi who trained in austerities in the mountains of Kumano. When villages call, he takes commission work chasing strange things. After tying up his first few exorcisms, his name became known — but great strange things are still beyond his hands.

Ensho (円勝) — Dan 3 shugenja · client(commissioned-exorcist yamabushi)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 6, Defense 10(monk robes), Energy 10. Physique+3, Courage+1, Wisdom+1, Finesse 0, Presence 0, Fate-1.
Background: temple-born | Path/Heart: Way of Void / Compassion (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Hardiness Licensed · Fighting Spirit/Exorcism Trained · Survival/Medicine/Footwork/Perception Novice (Dan 3 license 1=Hardiness)
Talents: Vow of Fudo Myoo[aptitude](automatic) · Power of Scripture[aptitude](background) · Tough[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Fire-Walking[Kata](Dan 3 class) · Indomitable[aptitude](Dan 3 general)
Equipment: shakujō · tanto · monk robes and horagai · talismans and prayer beads · mountain kit(rope, straw sandals). 1 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Operation. Uses austerity to cut his own Wounds and empower techniques (Vow of Fudo Myoo), free Core Zone entry (shugenja Dan 1 automatic), crosses flames with Fire-Walking. Non-combat: commissioned exorcism, mountain guidance, healing (Medicine). Weakness: Wounds cut by austerity do not recover naturally — a class that burns itself.
• Backstory. A person of the mountains. Before great strange things, he borrows hands.
• Relationship Hook. If the village's strange thing is beyond his hands, he asks the PCs to accompany him (client).
• PC Conversion. Shugenja Dan 1→2→3. Priority: Physique +1 (→3, Wounds↑) / Hardiness license / Dan 3 Fire-Walking. Core Zone freedom is automatic at Dan 1, and austerity operation is the core.

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#2. Genan of Izuna (飯綱の玄庵) — Dan 3 Feng Shui Master

He reads the fortune of house lots and battlefield sites through stakes buried in the ground.

A wandering feng shui practitioner from the foot of Mount Izuna in Shinetsu. Carrying a luopan, he reads the auspicious and inauspicious signs of house lots, grave sites, and battlefield sites. He does not stay long in one place, and he searches for a disciple to inherit his secret method.

Genan of Izuna (飯綱の玄庵) — Dan 3 feng shui master · mentor(wandering earth-vein practitioner)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 4, Defense 10(plain clothes), Energy 11. Wisdom+3, Finesse+1, Physique+1, Courage 0, Presence 0, Fate-1.
Background: wanderer | Path/Heart: Way of Mystery / Truth (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Barrier Licensed · Geography Trained · Sorcery/Stratagem/Survival/Fortune/Prophecy/Perception Novice (Dan 3 license 1=Barrier)
Talents: Twist Earth Veins[Kata](automatic) · Wanderer's Intuition[aptitude](background) · Sense Danger[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Earth-Vein Resonance[aptitude](Dan 3 class) · Tough[aptitude](Dan 3 general)
Equipment: rokushakubo(staff) · tanto · luopan(feng shui compass) · talismans and barrier stakes · plain clothes and straw raincoat. 2 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Operation. Binds a zone's Domination cap to -3 (Twist Earth Veins, Energy 2), senses earth veins and installs barriers. Non-combat: feng shui consultation (houses, graves, battlefield sites), auspicious/inauspicious readings, barriers. Core Zone entry is forced Breakthrough. Weakness: weak in direct combat, cannot remain in one place.
• Backstory. Cousin to the onmyoji. He reads earth more than stars.
• Relationship Hook. He offers to teach a PC practitioner "how to read the ground" (mentor). The inauspicious ground he has seen is a scenario hook.
• PC Conversion. Feng shui master Dan 1→2→3. Priority: Wisdom +1 (→3) / Barrier license / Dan 3 Earth-Vein Resonance. Core Zone by forced Breakthrough.

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#3. Seki Bunzo (関文蔵) — Dan 3 Scholar

The hand that teaches letters opens books of war by night.

A village teacher in eastern Kanto. He teaches children letters and sums while reading military texts and advising a small lord. His dream of advancement under a greater lord draws him to the battlefield.

Seki Bunzo (関文蔵) — Dan 3 scholar · helper(village teacher and strategist)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 3, Defense 10(plain clothes), Energy 11. Wisdom+3, Presence+1, Finesse+1, Physique 0, Courage 0, Fate-1.
Background: fallen noble | Path/Heart: Way of Rites / Loyalty (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Military Science Licensed · Stratagem/Negotiation Trained · Geography/Prophecy/Medicine/Perception Novice (Dan 3 license 1=Military Science)
Talents: Divine Calculation and Ghostly Strategy[aptitude](automatic) · Family Name[aptitude](background) · Battle Sense[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Tactical Direction[Kata](Dan 3 class) · Field Command[aptitude](Dan 3 general)
Equipment: hankyu(short bow, self-defense) · tanto · fan(command fan) · military texts, maps, brush · plain clothes. 3 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Operation. Energy transfer (Divine Calculation and Ghostly Strategy — 2 Energy to a Front Zone ally, squad order Energy always 1), Tactical Direction. Non-combat: village teacher, tactical adviser, scribe. Weakness: almost no personal combat power (Wounds 3) — companions protect him. Core Zone absolutely forbidden (Rear Zone only).
• Backstory. A person of the brush more than the blade. That brush moves squads.
• Relationship Hook. Joins the PC party as a tactical adviser (helper). His ambition to find a greater lord is a long-term hook.
• PC Conversion. Scholar Dan 1→2→3. Priority: Wisdom +1 (→3) / Military Science license / Dan 3 Tactical Direction. Core Zone absolutely forbidden.

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#4. Horie Hanzaemon (堀江半左衛門) — Dan 3 Samurai

After serving as an ashigaru squad leader, he has been entrusted with one unit for the first time.

A lower retainer in the retinue of a small Omi lord. Raised in a jizamurai house, he passed through ashigaru squad leadership and was entrusted with one unit for the first time. Ambition to rise by military merit puts him in the Front Zone.

Horie Hanzaemon (堀江半左衛門) — Dan 3 samurai · rival(lower retainer)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 4, Defense 14(tosei gusoku heavy armor, Physique+1 offsets Energy), Energy 11. Courage+3, Physique+1, Finesse+1, Wisdom 0, Presence 0, Fate-1.
Background: farmer(jizamurai) | Path/Heart: Way of Rites / Loyalty (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Swordsmanship Licensed · Fighting Spirit Trained · Military Science/Intimidation/Hardiness/Survival/Perception/Geography Novice (Dan 3 license 1=Swordsmanship)
Talents: Immovable Formation[stance](automatic) · Child of the Earth[aptitude](background) · Tough[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Vassal Command[aptitude](Dan 3 class) · Indomitable[aptitude](Dan 3 general)
Equipment: uchigatana · wakizashi · tosei gusoku(heavy armor) · jingasa · house sashimono. 4 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Operation. Front Zone anchor (Immovable Formation — zone Domination +4), squad command (Vassal Command), Swordsmanship license. Non-combat: retainer work (requisition, patrols, village mediation), intimidation negotiation. Core Zone entry is forced Breakthrough (stances are invalid in the Core Zone — the Front Zone is his headquarters). Weakness: inflexible, bound to his house.
• Backstory. Son of a jizamurai. One who was both peasant and armed man now lives by the sword alone.
• Relationship Hook. A rival competing with the PCs for merit on the same battlefield. Once he acknowledges them, he becomes a reliable companion.
• PC Conversion. Samurai Dan 1→2→3. Priority: Courage +1 (→3) / Swordsmanship license / Dan 3 Vassal Command (squad reinforcement) or Declare Duel.

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#5. Kosodeya Jinsuke (小袖屋甚助) — Dan 3 Merchant + Shinobi Dual Build

The feet that sell kosode and the ears that pick up rumors walk the same road.

A kosode peddler who travels the trade ports of Saikai. He looks as though he belongs to a guild, but in truth he is someone's eyes and ears. His reason for taking two roads is simple — money. He is this volume's first dual build case, and the starting point of one who will become a "Black Merchant (黑商)" if he reaches Dan 10.

Kosodeya Jinsuke (小袖屋甚助) — Dan 3 merchant · informant(kosode peddler and spy)
Primary Class: Dan 3 merchant / Secondary Class: shinobi (declared at Dan 3)
Wounds 3, Defense 10(plain clothes), Energy 12. Presence+2, Finesse+2, Wisdom+1, Physique 0, Fate 0, Courage-1.
Background: merchant's child | Path/Heart: No Heart (無心)
Skills: Negotiation Licensed · Bribery/Perception/Ninjutsu Trained · Deceit/Infiltration Novice (Dan 3 license 1=Negotiation)
Talents: Golden Leverage[Kata](automatic) · Funding[aptitude](background) · Lucky One[aptitude](Dan 1 general)
    / Merchant-House Supply[upkeep](Dan 3 merchant class) · Ambush[aptitude](Dan 3 general slot -> borrowed from secondary shinobi)
Equipment: kaiken(concealed dagger) · kosode peddler baggage · abacus and ledger · disguise clothing · small poison and smoke screen. 8 gold (5+Funding 3).
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Dual Build. Primary merchant Dan 3 / secondary shinobi (declared at Dan 3). Prerequisites met: Finesse +2 · Ninjutsu Trained (shinobi prerequisite: Finesse+2 and Ninjutsu Novice+). Borrowing: 1 general talent slot is replaced with the shinobi Dan 3 talent Ambush (within the secondary class Dan 1, 3, and 5 range). Secondary-class Renown Title, free Core Zone entry, and Dan 1 automatic talent (Shadow Crossing) are not acquired — Core Zone entry follows the primary-class merchant rule (forced Breakthrough). Exclusive Renown Title upon reaching Dan 10 = Black Merchant (黑商).
• Operation. Adds espionage (Ambush — first infiltrating attack is an automatic Critical Hit, Ninjutsu and Infiltration) on top of merchant tactics (Golden Leverage — enemy Domination -2 for 1 gold, Merchant-House Supply). Non-combat: peddling, information gathering, bribery, disguised infiltration. Weakness: walking two roads means reaching the peak of neither; trust is hard to gain — he leans toward whoever pays more.
• Backstory. A peddler's feet and a spy's eyes are on the same road. The one who first learned that begins to walk two roads.
• Relationship Hook. He sells kosode while selling rumors and layouts of castle towns (informant). If he sells information to the enemy side, he becomes that day's adversary.
• PC Conversion. Merchant Dan 1→2→3, declaring secondary shinobi at Dan 3. Why two roads: wherever the peddler's feet reach, information has a price. If going single-class, return the Dan 3 general talent slot to a merchant talent. Dan 10 = Black Merchant. See Dual Build Patterns §Law 4.

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#6. Teppei of Nonomiya (野々宮の鉄平) — Dan 3 Commoner · Livelihood:Blacksmithing (Skilled)

Every blade and farm tool in the village passes over Teppei's anvil.

A skilled blacksmith in a Shikoku village. He tempers farm tools and blades, almost at the threshold of "an artisan known in the domain." As the only forge in the village, everyone knows him.

Teppei of Nonomiya (野々宮の鉄平) — Dan 3 Commoner · local figure(village blacksmith) [ex1-99-06]
Wounds 5, Defense 10(work clothes), Energy 12. Physique+2, Finesse+2, Wisdom+1, Courage 0, Presence 0, Fate-1.
Background: farmer | Path/Heart: Way of Mystery / Truth (Inscribed Heart)
Skills(Dan 1: 9 points[free allocation 5 + background 2 + free 2] + even Dan +2 = 11 points): Perception Trained · Disable/Geography/Negotiation/Survival/Hardiness/Bribery/Intimidation/Herbalism/Fortune Novice [free allocation=Perception Trained, Disable/Geography/Negotiation Novice / background(farmer)=Survival/Hardiness Novice / free=Bribery/Intimidation Novice / even Dan=Herbalism/Fortune Novice] · Livelihood:Blacksmithing Skilled [ex1-99-05] is separate (not counted in the 11-point main total)
Talents: (no automatic talent — Commoner) Child of the Earth[aptitude](background) / Skilled[aptitude]·Tough[aptitude]·Sense Danger[aptitude] (3 general, all within Commoner 10)
Equipment: forge tools(hammer, tongs, anvil, bellows) · kitchen knife · work clothes and leather apron · scrap iron. 3 gold.
Source: Commoner [ex1-99-06] · Livelihood:Blacksmithing [ex1-99-05]. Without ex1 — replace with an undanned non-combat NPC.

• Operation. Non-combat — blacksmithing (Livelihood:Blacksmithing Skilled — weapon and farm-tool creation and repair, cannot make battlefield checks), sense for iron and roads (Perception/Geography), locks and mechanisms (Disable). Local Figure: the village's only forge. On the battlefield, untrained Commoner → treated as Rabble (Wounds 0; instant death).
• Backstory. At the threshold from Skilled (+1) to Artisan (+2). Artisan is the stage of being "known in the domain," so he lacks one step.
• Relationship Hook. Repairs the PCs' weapons and armor and tells village news (local figure). Another faction targeting him is a hook.
• PC Conversion. Commoners cannot be used as PCs. If you want to move him over, rebuild him as a core-book artisan or similar class.

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#Table Hooks — The Six in One Scene

• Village of Inauspicious Ground. Genan (feng shui master) has warned that "this village site is inauspicious," and Ensho (shugenja) enters it chasing a strange thing — Teppei's (blacksmith) village is the stage.
• The Calculus of Two Strategists. If the lord Bunzo (scholar) advises and the lord Hanzaemon (samurai) serves collide, Jinsuke (Black Merchant) sells information to both sides — the calculations of three people clash on one battlefield.
• The Price of Kosode. Whether what Jinsuke sells is kosode or rumors — the one who notices wins this scene.

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#Scent — One Sentence

"At the place where two roads divide, some dig deep into one road — and some begin walking two roads together."