Mirumoto Niten Master

Requirements

Base Attack Bonus: +5

Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 3 ranks

Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (katana), Combat Expertise, Two-Weapon Fighting

Summary

While Togashi listened to Shinsei expounding his philosophy to the first Hantei, he grew frustrated and stormed out of the court. Taking up a seat of meditation, he refused to move, or even to eat, until he understood this philosophy that Shinsei had brought. After he had fasted for nine days, Shinsei himself came to sit with the troubled Togashi. Togashi repeated his ultimatum- "I will not move until I understand"-and Shinsei responded with but three words: "Neither will I:" After a moment, Togashi laughed and bit into a plum.

Samurai ofthe Dragon clan train in a simple dojo with Shinseis three words painted on the wall. To the Mirumoto family, these words are a reminder that a samurai's duty is to his lord. While he was starving himself, Togashi was also starving those he promised to protect, and Shinsei's words reminded Togashi that he was being selfish in putting his own search for enlightenment over his responsibility to others.

The Mirumoto school teaches a unique style of swordplay, rooted in this sense of duty. Mirumoto wrote, "Some people say I am a coward. Asamurai's duty is to protect his lord. Are they so simple-minded that they cannot see that two swords serve their lord better than one?" Unlike the Two-Weapon Fighting feat described in the Player's Handbook, the Mirumoto niten ("two-sword") style typically employs the wakizashi for defense rather than offense.

Mirumoto niten masters are almost exclusively drawn from the samurai character class.

Role: DPS Support

Characteristics: Dual-wielding Swordmasters that can aid casters using their own energy.

Source: Oriental Adventures

Game Rule Information

The Mirumoto Niten Master has the following game statistics.

Abilities: Physical stats are going to be tantamount to being the best bodyguard-esque dps you can be for your chosen shugenja ally. Charisma for enhancing your samurai abilities and diamond soul.

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d10

Starting Gold: N/A

Class Skills

The Mirumoto Niten Master's class skills are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Listen (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), and Tumble (Dex).

Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Mirumoto Niten Master.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Mirumoto Niten Master is proficient with whatever they were already proficient with prior to taking levels in this class.

Niten Technique Ex: Unique among the samurai of Rokugan, the Mirumoto niten masters learn to fight with the katana in one hand and the wakizashi in the other. Unlike the style of the Two-Weapon Fighting feat, however, this technique does not teach the use of the off-hand weapon to attack. Instead, the wakizashi serves as a shield, adding a +2 armor bonus to the niten master's AC while he is wielding both weapons. This bonus stacks with other armor bonuses except for the bonus from a shield. The bonus rises to +3 at 4th level, to +4 at 7th level, and to +5 at 10th level. The niten master does not suffer a penalty to her primary attack while wielding the wakizashi in this way. If the niten master uses the wakizashi to attack, she loses this AC bonus until her next action. A magic wakizashi does not add its enhancement bonus to the niten master's AC unless it is a defending weapon or has been otherwise specially enhanced for defense.

Aid Shugenja Su: At 3rd level, a Mirumoto niten master can use her own personal energy to empower a shugenja's spell when she is the target of that spell. The spell is treated as if the shugenja had used the Empower Spell metamagic feat, including the longer casting time. The niten master can use this ability once per day at 3rd level, twice per day at 5th level, three times per day at 7th level, and four times per day at 9th level.

At 9th level and above, the niten master can apply the Maximize Spell feat to spells cast on her instead. She must decide before any applicable dice are rolled whether she wishes to maximize or empower the spell.

Diamond Soul Ex: At 8th level, the Mirumoto niten master gains spell resistance equal to 20 + her Charisma modifier. In order to affect the niten master with a spell, a spellcaster must roll the niten master's spell resistance or higher on 1d20 + the spellcaster's level.

Table 1-1: Mirumoto Niten Master Progression

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+2	+0	+2	Niten technique (+2 AC)
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+3	—
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+3	Aid shugenja 1/day
4th	+4	+4	+1	+4	Niten technique (+3 AC)
5th	+5	+4	+1	+4	Aid shugenja 2/day
6th	+6	+5	+2	+5	—
7th	+7	+5	+2	+5	Niten technique (+4 AC), aid shugenja 3/day
8th	+8	+6	+2	+6	Diamond soul
9th	+9	+6	+3	+6	Aid shugenja (maximize) 4/day
10th	+10	+7	+3	+7	Niten technique (+5 AC)