#Dan 5 — Those Whose Names Begin to Be Known

Contents

Dan 5 Use Standard. Dan 5 is an odd-numbered dan — attributes and skills remain at Dan 4 values (total +5, 13 skill points), and a talent slot opens (Dan 5 class talent + background branch/general = 7 total). The Licensed-or-higher count cap is 3 (usually 2 licenses). Masterworks and divine objects appear from Dan 7, so this dan does not have them.

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#Scent — People Whose One Word Changes the Room

Dan 5 is people whose names begin to be known. A village comes to call him, and his one word in a meeting changes the decision. If Dan 1-4 are "one person on the scene," Dan 5 is the client, adversary, mentor, or local power holder of one scenario — people with enough weight to pull the scene forward.

Three of the six are types appearing for the first time in this volume — someone half human and half something else, someone who carries souls in dolls, and a living god enshrined in a small shrine.

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#Law — Character Distribution in This Chapter

The five standard/dual-class NPCs were drawn one each from five role groups (society / economy, Front Zone / defense, Core Zone / grappling, control / terrain, divinity / transformation). 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. 2 is the third dual build case — the "path of the Confucian General (儒將)" for samurai (primary) + scholar (secondary). The Commoner slot (No. 6) is a separate axis (ex1-99-06).

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#1. Sotoku of Sakai (堺の宗徳) — Dan 5 Merchant

At the place where he sets down his tea bowl, a domain's supply line is decided.

A magnate of Sakai's go-shu (會合衆). His name is known through Nanban trade and tea gatherings, and he holds one pillar of urban autonomy. He cannot use a sword, but his gold and information network decide the supply of a battlefield.

Sotoku of Sakai (堺の宗徳) — Dan 5 merchant · client(go-shu magnate)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 3, Defense 10(plain clothes), Energy 11. Presence+3, Wisdom+2, Finesse+1, Physique 0, Courage 0, Fate-1.
Background: merchant's child (Dan 5 branch A merchant-house management) | Path/Heart: No Heart (No Heart)
Skills: Negotiation Licensed · Bribery Licensed · Perception/Deceit/Stratagem Trained · Geography Initiated (Dan 5 licenses 2=Negotiation/Bribery)
Talents: Gold Is Omnipotent[Kata](automatic) · Funding[aptitude](background) · Lucky[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Bribe(賄賂)[Kata](Dan 3) · Skilled[aptitude](Dan 3 general) / Market Control(市場支配)[Kata](Dan 5 class) · Merchant-House Network(Dan 5 background branch A)
Equipment: kaiken(hidden dagger) · accompanying bodyguard · abacus, ledgers, transaction deeds · tea bowl(tea ware) · silk clothing. 8 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Operation. Gold tactics (Gold Is Omnipotent, Market Control — disrupt enemy Domination and supply), information (Merchant-House Network — obtain enemy information before battle, +1 gold each lull). Core Zone entry is forced Breakthrough. Non-combat: go-shu socializing, trade, information network, funding. Weakness: no direct martial power (Wounds 3), bound to the interests of the za.
• Backstory. A person of the city who moves a lord with a single tea bowl. His weapon is not a sword, but trust.
• Relationship Hook. Entrusts the PCs with guarding a trade route, handling yokai rumors, or checking a rival za (client). He can be tied to Jinsuke the Black Merchant (Dan 3) through information and supplies.
• PC Conversion. Merchant Dan 1→5. Priority: Presence axis / Negotiation and Bribery licenses(2) / Dan 5 Market Control + merchant-house management branch.

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#2. Itabashi Gonnojo (板橋権之丞) — Dan 5 Samurai + Scholar Dual Build

The hand holding a sword opens a book of war, and the mouth that read the book moves squads.

A retainer commander of an eastern Kanto warrior band. To restore his fallen house, he trained both sword and strategy. The path of the Confucian General (儒將), where "sword and book are one" — he stands in its middle. This time, he faces the PCs as the commander of a rival lord.

Itabashi Gonnojo (板橋権之丞) — Dan 5 samurai · adversary(rival retainer commander)
Primary Class: Dan 5 samurai / Secondary Class: scholar (declared at Dan 3)
Wounds 4, Defense 14(tosei-gusoku heavy armor, Physique+1 offsets Energy), Energy 10. Courage+3, Wisdom+2, Physique+1, Finesse 0, Presence 0, Fate-1.
Background: fallen noble (Dan 5 branch A restoration) | Path/Heart: Way of Courtesy / Loyalty (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Swordsmanship Licensed · Military Science Licensed · Intimidation/Fighting Spirit/Stratagem Trained · Geography Initiated (Dan 5 licenses 2=Swordsmanship/Military Science)
Talents: Immovable Formation[stance](automatic) · Family Name[aptitude](background) · Tough[aptitude](Dan 1 general)
    / Retainer Command(家臣統率)[aptitude](Dan 3 class) · Tactical Instruction(戰術指示)[Kata](Dan 3 general slot -> borrowed from secondary scholar)
    / Guard Stance(護衛態勢)[stance](Dan 5 class) · Retainer Summons(Dan 5 background branch A)
Equipment: uchigatana · wakizashi · tosei-gusoku(heavy armor) · saihai(command baton) · books of war, house banner. 5 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Dual Build. Primary samurai Dan 5 / secondary scholar (declared at Dan 3). Prerequisites met: Wisdom +2 · Military Science trained (scholar prerequisite: Wisdom+2, Military Science trained+). Borrowed talent: 1 Dan 3 general slot is replaced with the scholar Dan 3 talent Tactical Instruction. Secondary Renown Title, secondary Dan 1 automatic talent (Divine Calculation), and Dan 7+ advanced options are not gained. Core Zone entry follows the primary samurai rule (forced Breakthrough). Dedicated Renown Title at Dan 10 = Confucian General (儒將).
• Operation. Front Zone anchor (Immovable Formation — zone Domination +4) + squad command (Retainer Command, Tactical Instruction, Field Command; Retainer Summons deploys a trained squad for free) + Guard Stance. Non-combat: retainer administration, tactical advice. Weakness: bound to the ambition of restoring his house.
• Backstory. Someone trying to climb with books as well to a seat that cannot be reached with a sword alone.
• Relationship Hook. Faces the PCs as the commander of a rival lord (adversary). On the road to house restoration, a former enemy may become an ally.
• PC Conversion. Samurai Dan 1→5, declare secondary scholar at Dan 3. Why two paths: sword alone could not raise the house, so he added strategy. Dan 10 = Confucian General. See dual build patterns.

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#3. Nuemaru (鵺丸) — Dan 5 Half-Yokai

Half human, half something else — yet he suppresses that blood and lives as a person.

A half-yokai from the borderlands of Ou. He suppresses yokai blood and lives as a human, helping people as one who knows yokai. The village says he is half human and half something else. The day that blood awakens is what he fears most.

Nuemaru (鵺丸) — Dan 5 half-yokai · mentor(one who knows yokai)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 5, Defense 12(light armor), Energy 10. Courage+3, Physique+2, Fate+1, Finesse 0, Wisdom 0, Presence-1.
Background: child of the Spirit Realm (Dan 5 branch A human will) | Path/Heart: Way of Mystery / Truth (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Unarmed Combat Licensed · Perception Licensed · Fighting Spirit/Hardiness/Survival Trained · Exorcism Initiated (Dan 5 licenses 2=Unarmed Combat/Perception)
Talents: Yokai Blood[aptitude](automatic) · Spirit Realm Resonance[aptitude](background) · Indomitable[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Claws(爪)[aptitude](Dan 3 class) · Tough[aptitude](Dan 3 general) / Mixed-Blood Intuition(混血の直感)[aptitude](Dan 5 class) · Blood Suppression(Dan 5 background branch A)
Equipment: kodachi · claws(bare hands, Dan 3 talent) · light armor · yokai-exorcism talisman · mountain kit. 2 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Operation. Barehanded/claw melee (free Core Zone entry — half-yokai Dan 1 automatic Yokai Blood), automatically recover 1 Wound during a lull (Yokai Blood), sensing and negotiating with yokai. Blood Suppression (human will) negates the cost of Yokai Blood (Cohesion -1 to foot squads in the same zone). Non-combat: yokai knowledge, mountain survival instruction. Weakness: hatred of half-yokai (human society), conflict between Truth and Demonic blood.
• Backstory. A half-yokai who chose to live as a person. That resolve is tested every day.
• Relationship Hook. Teaches the PCs yokai knowledge, barehanded fighting, and survival (mentor). If his blood awakens — the tragedy is that the mentor becomes an enemy.
• PC Conversion. Half-yokai Dan 1→5. Priority: Courage axis / Unarmed Combat and Perception licenses(2) / Dan 5 Mixed-Blood Intuition + human will branch. Core Zone freedom is automatic at Dan 1.

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#4. Saruta Dokuro (猿田道九郎) — Dan 5 Puppeteer

The hand pulling strings behind the stage pulls information as well.

A wandering puppeteer from Awa in Shikoku. He uses puppet theater as an excuse to travel from village to village and gather information. He controls two puppets, sending them to scout, fight, and hide, while the true body hides behind the stage. He too may be someone's puppet.

Saruta Dokuro (猿田道九郎) — Dan 5 puppeteer · informant(wandering puppeteer)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 3, Defense 10(plain clothes), Energy 12. Wisdom+3, Finesse+2, Presence+1, Physique 0, Courage 0, Fate-1.
Background: merchant's child (Dan 5 branch A merchant-house management) | Path/Heart: Way of Mystery / Truth (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Stratagem Licensed · Disable Licensed · Perception/Disguise Trained · Bribery/Deceit/Prophecy Initiated (Dan 5 licenses 2=Stratagem/Disable)
Talents: War of Threads(絲の戰爭)[aptitude](automatic) · Funding[aptitude](background) · Danger Sense[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Simultaneous Operation(同時操作)[aptitude](Dan 3 class) · Skilled[aptitude](Dan 3 general) / Multiple Puppets(複數傀儡)[aptitude](Dan 5 class) · Merchant-House Network(Dan 5 background branch A)
Equipment: 2 puppets(dolls; Wounds 2 and Defense 12 each) · puppet blade(傀儡刀) · kaiken(true body) · strings and control frame · puppet-theater stage tools. 5 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Operation. Operates 2 puppets (War of Threads + Multiple Puppets + Simultaneous Operation — dolls scout, fight, and hide), only puppets have free Core Zone entry (true body uses forced Breakthrough). Non-combat: puppet theater (information gathering and transmission), disguise, bribery, rumors. Weakness: true-body combat power (if the strings are seized, the true body stops), backlash when a puppet is destroyed (true body Wounds -1 + defenseless for 1 breath, recreated during a lull).
• Backstory. The hand of the stage. Whether that hand pulls strings or people, the audience does not know.
• Relationship Hook. Feeds information to the PCs through puppet theater (informant). "Whose strings?" — the possibility that he is someone else's puppet is a long-term hook.
• PC Conversion. Puppeteer Dan 1→5. Priority: Wisdom axis / Stratagem and Disable licenses(2) / Dan 5 Multiple Puppets(2 bodies). The true body is non-combat; the puppets fight.

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#5. Sakuya of Mimoro (三諸の咲耶) — Dan 5 Arahitogami

The village believes that a living god has taken residence in a small shrine.

An arahitogami (現人神) enshrined in a small shrine in Saikai. The village says the divine nature of Sakuya-hime dwells in her. She heals the sick and binds the village into one faith. But when faith runs out, she returns to being "just a person."

Sakuya of Mimoro (三諸の咲耶) — Dan 5 arahitogami · ally(arahitogami of a small shrine)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 4, Defense 10(miko robes), Energy 10. Presence+3, Wisdom+2, Physique+1, Finesse 0, Courage 0, Fate-1.
Background: temple origin (Dan 5 branch B righteous monk) | Path/Heart: Way of Emptiness / Mercy (Inscribed Heart)
Resource: Faith (starts 3 · maximum 10)
Skills: Bearing Licensed · Barrier Licensed · Sorcery/Agitation Trained · Medicine/Exorcism/Prophecy Initiated (Dan 5 licenses 2=Bearing/Barrier)
Talents: Manifest Divine Majesty(神威顯現)[stance](automatic) · Power of Sutras[aptitude](background) · Indomitable[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Blessing(祝福)[Kata](Dan 3 class) · Field Command[aptitude](Dan 3 general) / Healing Light(癒しの光)[Kata](Dan 5 class) · Great Medicine(Dan 5 background branch B)
Equipment: kaiken(self-defense) · sacred mirror(神鏡), bells, gohei · miko robes and chihaya · herbs and sacred water(神水). 2 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.

• Operation. Forms sacred ground (Manifest Divine Majesty — fear immunity in the same zone, prevents squad Cohesion collapse, Presence aura 2 times, consumes 1 Faith each interval), Blessing, Healing Light, and Great Medicine (recovery). Core Zone entry is forced Breakthrough, Rear Zone type. Non-combat: rites, healing, mediation, oracles. Weakness: if Faith reaches 0, all divine abilities stop — she is "just a human" (powerless). She needs protection from the Rear Zone.
• Backstory. The indwelling divine nature (Sakuya-hime) is RP only; the rules are the same. Her power comes from the village's faith.
• Relationship Hook. Stands with the PCs and protects through sacred ground (ally). The moment faith is tested — when a god returns to being human — is the drama.
• PC Conversion. Arahitogami Dan 1→5. Priority: Presence axis / Bearing and Barrier licenses(2) / Dan 5 Healing Light + righteous monk branch. Faith resource operation is central. Core Zone entry is forced Breakthrough (Rear Zone).

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#6. Yazo of Kunitomo (国友の弥三) — Dan 5 Commoner · Livelihood:Gunsmithing (Craftsman)

People say orders for his gun barrels come even from far away.

A teppo gunsmith of Kunitomo in Omi. People say orders for his gun barrels come even from afar. Daimyo and merchant houses seek him, but he is still one step short of Master Artisan (名匠). "Gunsmithing" is the Livelihood of a maker — separate from the shooting skill (Archery).

Yazo of Kunitomo (国友の弥三) — Dan 5 Commoner · local figure(teppo gunsmith) [ex1-99-06]
Wounds 4, Defense 10(work clothes), Energy 13. Finesse+3, Wisdom+2, Physique+1, Courage 0, Presence 0, Fate-1.
Background: farmer | Path/Heart: Way of Mystery / Truth (Inscribed Heart)
Skills(Dan 1 = 9 points[free 5 + background 2 + free 2] + even dan +2 = 13 points): Disable/Perception Licensed · Hardiness Trained · Survival/Geography/Deceit/Negotiation/Fortune Initiated (Dan 5 licenses 3, used 2=Disable/Perception) — Livelihood:Gunsmithing Craftsman [ex1-99-05] is separate
Talents: (no automatic talent — Commoner) Child of the Earth[aptitude](background) / Skilled, Tough, Long Haul, Indomitable, Lucky[aptitude] (5 general, all within the 10 Commoner types)
Equipment: gunsmithing workshop tools(bellows, files, barrel mold) · prototype(試作) teppo sample · work clothes · gunpowder samples · license document(za affiliation). 4 gold.
Source: Commoner [ex1-99-06] · Livelihood:Gunsmithing [ex1-99-05]. If ex1 is absent — replace with an unranked non-combat NPC.

• Operation. Non-combat — teppo crafting and repair (Livelihood:Gunsmithing Craftsman +2 — known in the domain, cannot be used for battlefield checks), mechanisms and locks (Disable), iron and precision (Perception). Local figure: Kunitomo's known gunsmith, receiving orders from daimyo and merchant houses. "Gunsmithing" (maker) is separate from the shooting skill Archery. On the battlefield, he is an untrained Commoner -> treated as rabble (雜) (Wounds 0, instant death).
• Backstory. Craftsman (+2) is the "known in the domain" stage — Master Artisan (+3) is one or two people in a lifetime, so he still has one step left.
• Relationship Hook. Crafts and repairs the PCs' teppo, walking a tightrope among daimyo and merchant-house orders (local figure). He is connected through guns and ammunition to Manoel the Gaijin Marksman (Dan 2).
• PC Conversion. Commoners cannot be used as PCs. To move him into play, rebuild him as a main-text official route (firearms production), gaijin, or similar.

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#Table Hooks — The Six in One Scene

• Guns and Gold. Sotoku (magnate) buys Yazo's (gunsmith) teppo, and those guns reach a battlefield — the making hand, selling hand, and shooting hand meet in one transaction.
• Sacred Ground and Yokai. When Nuemaru (half-yokai) enters Sakuya's (arahitogami) sacred ground, divine power and yokai blood face each other in one zone — purify, or embrace?
• Whose Strings? If Dokuro's (puppeteer) puppet theater stages the house secret of Gonnojo (Confucian General), the adversary's weakness is revealed in one scene.

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#Scent — One Sentence

"For a name to become known means that one person's decision is no longer theirs alone."