#Dan 8 — Those Who Keep Things Moving After Sheathing the Sword
Contents
Dan 8 Use Standard. Dan 8 is an even-numbered dan — only attribute +1 and skill +2 points grow, and there is no talent slot (cumulative: total attribute bonuses +7, 17 skill points, 9 talents[gaijin 10, Commoner 8], 3 licenses, 1-2 Masters). They are candidates to hold masterworks or Divine Treasures, and masterworks and Divine Treasures follow the rules in
co-07-02,co-07-03, andfc05-04-01.
#Scent — The Hand That Makes Decisions
Dan 8 is not the dan where the sword cuts best, but the dan that keeps the domain moving even after the sword is sheathed. It is not the peak of firepower but the peak of responsibility — the first retainer, the temple executive, the merchant-house head, the shrine priest. One word from them determines a day in a domain.
Because this is a dan with no new talent, their weight comes from the advanced talent engraved at Dan 7, the Masters they have reached in one or two areas, and the responsibility carried by their position.
| # | Name | Class / Livelihood | Role | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uematsu Jingoro | samurai + esoteric monk (dual build) · masterwork | adversary — first retainer | Kanto |
| 2 | Ando Sekian | scholar + feng shui master (dual build) | patron — daimyo military staff officer | Kinai |
| 3 | Doami of Omi-Hachiman | merchant (society / economy) | client — merchant-house head | Omi |
| 4 | Myojinni of Usa | arahitogami (divinity / transformation) · Divine Treasure | mentor — great-shrine priest | Saikai |
| 5 | Gensei of Sanuki | onmyoji (spellcasting / summoning) | informant — magical division head of a power | Shikoku |
| 6 | Samon of Tajima Village | Commoner — Livelihood:Agriculture | local power holder — so self-governing village head | Tokai |
#Law — Character Distribution in This Chapter
The five standard/dual-class NPCs were drawn one each from five role groups (Front Zone / defense, support / healing, society / economy, divinity / transformation, spellcasting / summoning). Their origins were chosen from five different entries among the ten regions of fc09, and each has a regional name and personal anecdote (standard in the regional cross-reference table).
| # | Class (Role Group) | Region | 1st Purpose | Table Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | samurai+esoteric monk (Front Zone / defense) | Kanto | revenge, house | adversary |
| 2 | scholar+feng shui master (support / healing) | Kinai | schemes, patronage | patron |
| 3 | merchant (society / economy) | Omi | trade rights, strange news | client |
| 4 | arahitogami (divinity / transformation) | Saikai | faith, protection | mentor |
| 5 | onmyoji (spellcasting / summoning) | Shikoku | magic, information | informant |
| 6 | (Commoner slot, separate axis) Commoner (Livelihood:Agriculture) | Tokai | self-governance, popular sentiment | local power holder |
The roles, purposes, role groups, and regions of the five standard/dual-class NPCs do not overlap. The two dual builds (Nio and Geomantic Strategist) are combinations first shown in this volume. The Commoner slot (No. 6) is a separate axis (
ex1-99-06).
#1. Uematsu Jingoro (植松甚五郎) — Dan 8 Samurai + Esoteric Monk Dual Build
Sword and sutra in one body — a Buddhist guardian has taken up the sword.
The first retainer (chief elder) of a Kanto warrior house. While pursuing revenge for a destroyed house, he also trained in esoteric exorcism. The path of the Nio (仁王), "a Buddhist guardian took up the sword" — from its center, he runs the retainer corps even after sheathing the sword.
Uematsu Jingoro (植松甚五郎) — Dan 8 samurai · adversary(first retainer)
Primary Class: Dan 8 samurai / Secondary Class: esoteric monk (declared at Dan 3)
Wounds 6, Defense 15(masterwork heavy armor), Energy 11. Courage+3, Physique+3, Wisdom+1, Finesse+1, Presence 0, Fate-1.
Background: fallen noble (Dan 5 branch B revenge) | Path/Heart: Way of Courtesy / Loyalty (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Swordsmanship Master · Fighting Spirit Master · Exorcism Licensed · Intimidation Licensed · Military Science/Unarmed Combat/Perception Initiated (Masters 2=Swordsmanship/Fighting Spirit, licenses 2=Exorcism/Intimidation)
Talents: Immovable Formation[stance](automatic) · Family Name[aptitude](background) · Tough[aptitude](Dan 1 general)
/ Duel Declaration(一騎討ち)[form](Dan 3) · Vajra-Body(金剛不壞)[aptitude](Dan 3 general slot -> borrowed from secondary esoteric monk)
/ Ironwall Guard(鐵壁守備)[aptitude](Dan 5) · Blade of Grudge(Dan 5 background branch B) / Musou(無双)[form](Dan 7 advanced) · Indomitable[aptitude](Dan 7 general)
Equipment: masterwork heavy armor "Nio Gusoku(仁王具足)" · uchigatana · vajra(secondary esoteric monk) · wakizashi · house banner. 5 gold.
Source: co canon + masterwork "Nio Gusoku" = narrow Canon (this volume only).Masterwork Heavy Armor "Nio Gusoku(仁王具足)" [co-07-02 masterwork rules / fc05-04-01 ownership bond · narrow Canon] — Ownership Condition: recognition of military merit (bestowed by the lord for distinguished service). Masterwork Technique: Vajra Ironwall[form] (Fighting Spirit Master(4 points) prerequisite — met). Blessing[aptitude]: Defense +2 against yokai attacks. Cost: oath of Loyalty (忠) to the lord who bestowed it — if betrayed, the armor dulls (GM-decided effect).
- Dual Build. Primary samurai Dan 8 / secondary esoteric monk (declared at Dan 3). Prerequisites: Physique +3 · Exorcism Master (esoteric monk prerequisite: Physique+2, Exorcism initiated+). Borrowed talent: 1 general slot is replaced with the esoteric monk Dan 3 talent Vajra-Body. Secondary Renown Title, secondary Dan 1 automatic (Mark of Asura), and Dan 7+ are not gained — Core Zone entry follows the primary samurai (forced Breakthrough), and the secondary esoteric monk's Core Zone freedom is not borrowed. Dan 10 = Nio (仁王).
- Operation. Front Zone anchor (Immovable Formation), Duel Declaration and Musou (Dan 7 advanced), Swordsmanship and Fighting Spirit Masters (offense-defense unity and vajra), anti-yokai through Exorcism license, Vajra-Body (defense). Masterwork Nio Gusoku (Vajra Ironwall, Fighting Spirit Master prerequisite — met). Non-combat: first-retainer operation and anti-yokai Front Zone command. Weakness: bound by revenge and by the masterwork's oath of Loyalty (忠).
- Relationship Hook. Opposes the PCs as a first-retainer commander (adversary). If the revenge target or a yokai becomes entangled with the PCs, a former enemy may become an ally.
- PC Conversion. Samurai Dan 1→8, declare secondary esoteric monk at Dan 3. Why two paths: he added sutra to sword to cut both human enemy and yokai. Dan 10 = Nio. See dual build patterns.
#2. Ando Sekian (安藤碩庵) — Dan 8 Scholar + Feng Shui Master Dual Build
The eyes that read the battlefield read the land, and the mind that read the land makes the battlefield.
The peak military staff officer of a Kinai daimyo. He added feng shui to military theory and is known as a "one who makes the battlefield (地略家)." He reads both the land on which to set formation and the land to collapse, dividing victory and defeat on a battlefield without ever lifting a blade.
Ando Sekian (安藤碩庵) — Dan 8 scholar · patron(daimyo military staff officer)
Primary Class: Dan 8 scholar / Secondary Class: feng shui master (declared at Dan 3)
Wounds 4, Defense 10(plain clothes), Energy 12. Wisdom+3, Presence+2, Finesse+2, Physique+1, Courage 0, Fate-1.
Background: fallen noble (Dan 5 branch A restoration) | Path/Heart: Way of Courtesy / Loyalty (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Military Science Master · Stratagem Master · Barrier Licensed · Negotiation Licensed · Geography/Prophecy/Medicine Initiated (Masters 2=Military Science/Stratagem, licenses 2=Barrier/Negotiation)
Talents: Divine Calculation[aptitude](automatic) · Family Name[aptitude](background) · Field Command[aptitude](Dan 1 general)
/ Tactical Instruction(戰術指示)[form](Dan 3) · Leyline Sympathy(地脈感應)[aptitude](Dan 3 general slot -> borrowed from secondary feng shui master)
/ Supreme Command(總指揮)[form](Dan 5) · Retainer Summons(Dan 5 background branch A) / Zhuge Liang(諸葛孔明)[aptitude](Dan 7 advanced) · Tough[aptitude](Dan 7 general)
Equipment: hankyu · tanto · gunbai and saihai · books of war, luopan(羅經, secondary feng shui master), maps · plain clothes. 4 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.- Dual Build. Primary scholar Dan 8 / secondary feng shui master (declared at Dan 3). Prerequisites: Wisdom +3 · Barrier Licensed (feng shui master prerequisite: Wisdom+2, Barrier initiated+). Borrowed talent: 1 general slot is replaced with the feng shui master Dan 3 talent Leyline Sympathy. Secondary Renown Title, secondary Dan 1 automatic (Twist Leyline), and Dan 7+ are not gained. Core Zone entry follows the primary scholar (forced Breakthrough, Rear Zone type). Dan 10 = Geomantic Strategist (地略家).
- Operation. Energy transfer and Supreme Command (multiple squads), Military Science and Stratagem Masters, Leyline Sympathy (reading terrain), Zhuge Liang (Dan 7 advanced). Non-combat: peak daimyo staff officer, operations, terrain advice. Core Zone absolutely forbidden (Rear Zone). Weakness: no personal martial power (Wounds 4) — allies protect him.
- Relationship Hook. Raises the PCs as one move in a larger strategy (patron). A higher state of strategist Bokusai (Dan 6).
- PC Conversion. Scholar Dan 1→8, declare secondary feng shui master at Dan 3. Why two paths: feng shui reads the grain of land that military theory cannot reach. Dan 10 = Geomantic Strategist.
#3. Doami of Omi-Hachiman (近江八幡の道阿弥) — Dan 8 Merchant
One of his ledgers sets the rice price of a whole region.
The head of an Omi merchant house. He holds trade networks, funds, and information in one hand. He has no sword, but one line in his settlement decides the supply of a domain and shakes the rice price of a region.
Doami of Omi-Hachiman (近江八幡の道阿弥) — Dan 8 merchant · client(merchant-house head)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 4, Defense 10(plain clothes), Energy 12. Presence+3, Wisdom+2, Finesse+2, Physique+1, Courage 0, Fate-1.
Background: merchant's child (Dan 5 branch A merchant-house management) | Path/Heart: No Heart (No Heart)
Skills: Negotiation Master · Bribery Master · Perception Licensed · Deceit Licensed · Stratagem Trained · Geography Initiated (Masters 2=Negotiation/Bribery, licenses 2=Perception/Deceit)
Talents: Gold Is Omnipotent[form](automatic) · Funding[aptitude](background) · Lucky[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Bribe(賄賂)[form](Dan 3) · Skilled[aptitude](Dan 3 general) / War Economy(戰爭經濟)[aptitude](Dan 5) · Merchant-House Network(Dan 5 background branch A) / Great Merchant House(大商團)[aptitude](Dan 7 advanced) · Field Command[aptitude](Dan 7 general)
Equipment: kaiken · accompanying bodyguard · abacus, main ledger, bills of exchange, seal · tea bowl · silk. 15 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.- Operation. Gold tactics (Gold Is Omnipotent), War Economy (supply control), Great Merchant House (Dan 7 — gold + each lull), Negotiation and Bribery Masters. Non-combat: merchant-house head, trade network, funds, information. Core Zone entry is forced Breakthrough. Weakness: no martial power, bound to the merchant house's interests.
- Relationship Hook. Entrusts the PCs with a major deal, escort, or checking a rival za (client). A higher merchant-house head above banto Sorin (Dan 6) and magnate Sotoku (Dan 5).
- PC Conversion. Merchant Dan 1→8. Priority: Presence axis / Negotiation and Bribery Masters(2) / 2 licenses / Dan 7 Great Merchant House. Core Zone entry is forced Breakthrough.
#4. Myojinni of Usa (宇佐の明神尼) — Dan 8 Arahitogami
The priest of a shrine, and a living god — until faith runs out.
The shrine priest of a great shrine in Saikai and an arahitogami. Through her indwelling divinity, she spreads sacred ground and supports the faith of one region. When she delivers an oracle, even the lord stops — but that power comes from the village's faith.
Myojinni of Usa (宇佐の明神尼) — Dan 8 arahitogami · mentor(great-shrine priest)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 5, Defense 10(miko robes), Energy 11. Presence+3, Wisdom+2, Physique+2, Finesse+1, 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 Master · Barrier Master · Sorcery Licensed · Agitation Licensed · Medicine Trained · Prophecy Initiated (Masters 2=Bearing/Barrier, licenses 2=Sorcery/Agitation)
Talents: Manifest Divine Majesty[stance](automatic) · Power of Sutras[aptitude](background) · Indomitable[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Blessing(祝福)[form](Dan 3) · Field Command[aptitude](Dan 3 general) / Great Barrier(大結界)[form][stance](Dan 5) · Great Medicine(Dan 5 background branch B) / Sacred Ground Expansion(神域擴張)[aptitude](Dan 7 advanced) · Tough[aptitude](Dan 7 general)
Equipment: kaiken · sacred mirror(神鏡), bells, gohei · miko robes and chihaya · Divine Treasure "Great Shrine Mirror(大社の鏡)" · herbs and sacred water. 3 gold.
Source: co canon + Divine Treasure "Great Shrine Mirror" = narrow Canon (this volume only).Divine Treasure "Great Shrine Mirror(大社の鏡)" [co-07-03 Divine Treasure rules · narrow Canon] — Acquisition: Divine Treasure dedicated to the great shrine (sacred body of the divinity). Ownership Conditions: Bearing Master(4 points) + faith match (Shinto -> Way of Mystery, Truth/Demon). Devotion Technique: Oracle Descent[form] (when aligned with Way of Mystery). Blessing[aptitude]: sacred ground (Manifest Divine Majesty) range is 2 times larger. Curse[aptitude]: Faith loss accelerates (on a fumble, -3 instead of -2). If Heart Shift occurs (Three Ways and Six Hearts change), the devotion technique becomes unusable.
- Operation. Sacred ground (Manifest Divine Majesty, Great Barrier, Sacred Ground Expansion Dan 7 — sacred ground reaches adjacent zones), Blessing and Great Medicine (recovery), Bearing and Barrier Masters, Divine Treasure (Oracle Descent). Core Zone entry is forced Breakthrough, Rear Zone type. Non-combat: great-shrine priest, patron of regional faith, healing, oracle (one word that can stop a lord). Weakness: if Faith reaches 0, all divine abilities stop — "just a person" (powerless).
- Relationship Hook. Supports the PCs through sacred ground and guides them with oracles (mentor/patron). A higher state of Sakuya the arahitogami (Dan 5).
- PC Conversion. Arahitogami Dan 1→8. Priority: Presence axis / Bearing and Barrier Masters(2) / 2 licenses / Dan 7 Sacred Ground Expansion. Faith resource operation is central. Core Zone entry is forced Breakthrough (Rear Zone).
#5. Gensei of Sanuki (讃岐の玄静) — Dan 8 Onmyoji
He releases three shikigami and reads the fortune and enemy situation of one region at once.
The magical division head of a power in Shikoku. He controls a great shikigami to see far away and shapes battlefields with curses and barriers. His shikigami read the fortune and enemy situation of one region at once — people say there are few movements in this land that he does not know.
Gensei of Sanuki (讃岐の玄静) — Dan 8 onmyoji · informant(magical division head of a power)
Secondary Class: none (single class)
Wounds 4, Defense 10(plain clothes), Energy 12. Wisdom+3, Finesse+2, Presence+2, Physique+1, Courage 0, Fate-1.
Background: fallen noble (Dan 5 branch A restoration) | Path/Heart: Way of Mystery / Truth (Inscribed Heart)
Skills: Sorcery Master · Barrier Master · Exorcism Licensed · Prophecy Licensed · Perception Trained · Negotiation Initiated (Masters 2=Sorcery/Barrier, licenses 2=Exorcism/Prophecy)
Talents: Shikigami Command[form](automatic) · Family Name[aptitude](background) · Yokai Knowledge[aptitude](Dan 1 general) / Curse(呪い)[form](Dan 3) · Danger Sense[aptitude](Dan 3 general) / Curse-Kill(呪殺)[form](Dan 5) · Retainer Summons(Dan 5 background branch A) / Great Shikigami(大式神)[form](Dan 7 advanced) · Tough[aptitude](Dan 7 general)
Equipment: tanto · rokushakubo · shikigami talismans(great shikigami) · shikiban(式盤), astronomical tools, calendar · plain clothes, eboshi. 4 gold.
Source: co canon — no source badge needed.- Operation. Multiple shikigami (Shikigami Command — Wisdom +3 -> 3 bodies + lord-grade shikigami through Dan 7 Great Shikigami), Sorcery and Barrier Masters, Curse and Curse-Kill. Core Zone forced Breakthrough (shikigami only), Rear Zone type. Non-combat: magical division head, divination, calendars, information, exorcism. Weakness: personal combat power (Wounds 4).
- Relationship Hook. Holds information through shikigami eyes, trading or clashing with the PCs (informant). Connected to Astronomical Officer Dohaku (Dan 6) and Reian (Dan 4) through the world of practitioners.
- PC Conversion. Onmyoji Dan 1→8. Priority: Wisdom axis / Sorcery and Barrier Masters(2) / 2 licenses / Dan 7 Great Shikigami. Core Zone forced Breakthrough (shikigami only).
#6. Samon of Tajima Village (但馬村の左門) — Dan 8 Commoner · Livelihood:Agriculture (Craftsman)
Whether the village rises up or obeys is decided by one word from Samon.
The village head (otona, shoya) of so (惣) self-governance in Tokai. From a myoshu house that has led the village for generations, a farmer bears both arms and self-governance. Whether the village rises up or obeys is decided by his one word — so even the lord cannot treat him carelessly.
Samon of Tajima Village (但馬村の左門) — Dan 8 Commoner · local power holder(so self-governing village head) [ex1-99-06]
Wounds 6, Defense 10(work clothes), Energy 11. Physique+3, Wisdom+2, Presence+2, Finesse+1, Courage 0, Fate-1.
Background: farmer (Dan 5 branch A commoner leader) | Path/Heart: Way of Emptiness / Mercy (Inscribed Heart)
Skills(Dan 1 9 points[free allotment 5 + background 2 + free 2] + 4 even-numbered dan +2 = 17 points): Negotiation Licensed · Perception/Agitation/Geography Trained · Herbalism/Survival/Hardiness/Intimidation/Stratagem/Fortune/Deceit/Bearing Initiated (license 1=Negotiation, within dan cap / background Farmer perks=Survival·Hardiness). Livelihood:Agriculture Craftsman [ex1-99-05] is a separate layer(domain residence +1), not counted in the 17-point main build.
Talents: (no automatic talent — Commoner) Child of the Earth[aptitude](background) · Grasp Popular Sentiment(Dan 5 background branch A) / Field Command, Skilled, Tough, Long Haul, Indomitable, Danger Sense[aptitude] (6 general, all within the 10 Commoner types)
Equipment: farm tools and fields · village seal and ledgers · work clothes · rice and grain · yoriai(寄合) meeting seat. 6 gold.
Source: Commoner [ex1-99-06] · Livelihood:Agriculture [ex1-99-05]. If ex1 is absent — replace with an unranked non-combat NPC(domain elder).- Operation. Non-combat — agriculture (Livelihood:Agriculture Craftsman +2, cannot be used for battlefield checks), village self-governance leadership (Grasp Popular Sentiment — allied squad Cohesion +1 during lull, Negotiation/Agitation +2), mediation. Local power holder: peak of so self-governance; the village follows him, and he decides Ikko uprisings. On the battlefield, he is an untrained Commoner -> treated as rabble (雜) (Wounds 0, instant death — mobilizing foot squads during an uprising through Grasp Popular Sentiment is handled narratively).
- Backstory. A hand that holds the will of a village without holding a sword. He is the mouth of the village.
- Relationship Hook. Entangled with the PCs through village self-governance, popular sentiment, and uprisings (local power holder). Connected by popular sentiment to the Ikko dojo of Ryokai (Dan 4) and Gyonen (Dan 7).
- PC Conversion. Commoners cannot be used as PCs. To move him into play, rebuild him as a samurai or wildlander with a main-text farmer background.
#Closing Dan Note — The Operating Layer of One Domain
- Sword and Mind. If Jingoro (first retainer) holds the Front Zone and Sekian (military staff officer) plans operations, both the force and the brain of one daimyo are in Dan 8 hands — if they serve different lords, one war becomes a calculation between Dan 8 figures.
- Gold and Faith. The supply of Doami (merchant-house head) and the oracle of Myojinni (shrine priest) are two pillars of one domain — hunger and belief are each held in one hand.
- The Village's Mouth. If Samon (village head) decides an uprising and Gensei (practitioner) divines fortune, the fate of one village splits through the calculations of two people.
#Scent — One Sentence
"Dan 8 is not the dan of the strongest person — it is the dan of the person responsible for the most."