Shosuro Butei School: Shosuro Actors

Drawing upon their rigorous acting training, the actor adds his School Rank to his Awareness whenever he is attempting to influence or persuade. His Rank is also added to his Awareness when others are attempting to test his candor or sincerity.

The actor has been taught how to strike an unaware opponent with such skill that only a single strike is necessary. When an opponent is unaware or unable to defend himself - making his TN to be hit a 5 - the actor's raises are not limited by his Void.

From this point on, the actor learns the deepest secrets of Shosuro's technique. While other bushi spend months learning new fighting techniques, the Shosuro actor spends that time learning a new identity. At each new School Rank, the actor gains a new "Persona," an identity that is etched into his own personality. Therefore, at Rank 3, the actor gains one Persona, at Rank 4 he gains a second, and at Rank 5, he gains a third.
When he assumes his Persona, he has the skills of that person. If he takes the role of a Lion bushi, he has the skills of a Lion bushi. If she takes the Persona of a geisha, she has the skills of a trained geisha.
Many of the Persona that are taught by the the Shosuro School are listed below. GMs are free to create new Persona, so long as they follow the guidelines listed below. An actor gains these skills at their listed ranks and may use them while in the mindset of that Persona. Immersing oneself in a completely different identity is not a simple thing; it is a meditation that requires complete concentration. Therefore, while in the mindset of one Persona, it is difficult to use the skills and abilities of another.
While in the mindset of one Persona (including his own "native" Persona), the actor cannot use skills from another without great difficulty. It requires a Void+Meditation roll at a TN of the Rank of the skill x5. This represents the fact that skills that are at greater ranks are etched more strongly into the core of that other Persona, making them more difficult to summon. To switch between Personae, the actor must spend 5 minutes of complete concentration as he sheds one set of trappings and dons another.
Shosuro Personae: The following Personae are those that are taught by the Shosuro School. As an actor learns each new Persona, he gains their skills at Rank 1. The actor cannot gain ranks in these skills normally. It requires double the regular Experience Points to increase them.
Clan Bushi or Shugenja: A Shosuro actor who takes on the role of a clan bushi gains all the skills of that School, but not the Techniques. Particularly confident or foolhardy actors may also attempt to impersonate the shugenja of respective clans, but they may not use spells.
Geisha: Conversation, Dance,Etiquette, Music, Seduction, Tea Ceremony
Farmer: Herbalism, Hunting, Knife, Lore: Farming, Lore: Peasant Superstition, any 2 Craft skills
Merchant: Commerce, Gambling, Law, Lore: Streetwise, Sincerity, any 2 Craft skills
Monk: Bojutsu, Jiujutsu, Shintao, Theology, Tea Ceremony, any 2 Craft skills