It has been quite some time since the Swordmaster had last set foot into this particular forest, yet it was just as he remembered it, and not unlike the forests on the continent he now called home: the foliage of the trees was dense, and a deep green, with mighty trees that shot from the ground and towered over you.
Indeed, the familiarity was a welcome sight for Keotsu, when he once again found himself in these lands. The figure, a man, stood in a clearing of the alcove ahead, the man recommended by two of Keotsu’s closest comrades, though Keotsu did not know the man himself.
“Hello,” spoke the swordsman in a gentle voice, pushing his long hair aside, “you must be quite something of those two would recommend you. I am Keotsu, as you already know, but I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you before.”
Acknowledging the mans calm demeanor, Oni would emulate this behavior as he responded.
"Everyone knows your name, I'm sure, I am just one of many. Although I know more of you than you do of me I'm sure it is our expert swordsmanship that brought us to this place in a setting like this..."
The Ōtsutsuki then get up and brushed the dust from his clothes before continuing. "Do you know why I chose this place, Keotsu?"
Keotsu casually leaned up against a tree as the man stood, and brushed the dust from his garb. He seemed confident in his swordsmanship, which was good; it meant his comrade’s faith was not misplaced.
“I must admit I do not - this particular forest has seen much, and from many. It means quite a bit to quite a few. What is it’s significance to you?”
"It has none to me, really. I'm simply fascinated with how the animals and even the trees themselves only adhere to people of the Nara clan and no one else. Do you believe in that? This tendency of things without consciousness or even life to sire themselves to someone?"
He nodded to the blade on the man's hip. "Like that. Do you think if that sword had a mind it would only kneel to you?"
Of course these questions weren't without purpose. Oni needed to know just exactly what kind of person this legendary swordsman was before the true purpose of their meeting was brought to light.
Keotsu smiled at the man's question, and answered truthfully. "Perhaps this sword is not the best example of a thing to pose your question for; this blade is forged with a piece of my own soul. To say that it's loyal to me would not be incorrect, even though it is not quite wholly true. The blade can only be wielded by myself, or those who I allow to wield it. So, in that regard, yes. I do believe the sword would chose to follow my path...if only because it is part of me, and so long as I stay true, so too will my blade."
With this, Keotsu slowly unsheathed the blade and held it up for the man to see, the blade's tip pointing towards the ground. The sword could only be described as beautiful. Its surface shone bright silver, and polished to a near mirror finish. Immaculate, with no imperfection on the blade's face and blade, demonstrating the both the fortitude in Keotsu's soul, as well as the mystic metal the blade was forged from. Sheathing the blade back, however, Keotsu continued.
"Hah, but now let me give you a straight answer. I think that if a sword had a mind, who it would follow would depend upon the story of the sword...wouldn't you agree? Would a bloodthirsty blade yield to a gentle soul? Would a kind sword follow a mongrel? A strong willed sword might not wield to a weak soul, where as a strong master may tame even an unruly sword. Just as some men have many masters. And others have only one. What about you? I doubt you would pose such a question if you didn't have your own answer."
Oni smiled, the answer he was looking for had already revealed itself. "I do believe the temperament of the sword affects who wields it indeed. A sly thief wouldn't carry a cleaver sword and a brute wouldn't wield a wakizashi. Either way, both animal and object can be sired to man, that was where I was getting at."
"I asked this because I'm here to learn your fabled Command Arts, and well, it would be a crying shame to discover your blade despises me, or we're incompatible." He placed his own blade carefully on the ground and bowed. "I'm curious to see if I have what it takes."
Keotsu watched as the man bowed, and thought that perhaps he had different plans that what Keotsu had intended. No matter - Keotsu had his own unique way of doing things, and that, he though, was part of the appeal.
Reaching into his knapsack, Keotsu withdrew a heavy tome. It was a leatherbound book, unlike the scrolls so common on this continent, and latched with thick metal ornamentation. The writing on the cover would be unintelligible to the man, written in the language of the other continent, but its contents inside would be in a familiar script.
"Given that you were suggested to me by two of my closest comrades, I'm putting a lot of stock in their faith in your ability; I doubt you would need me to demonstrate such teachings to you, so I recorded them all in a special tome. Once this latch is opened, you'll have five hours until the contents within this tome disappear. You'll find knowledge on all of my Command Arts found within, except for something special that we'll tackle at the end. If there's anything you need explained after reading the tome, I'll be glad to explain at that time, otherwise I'll assume that you have a good grasp on them. You don't even have to have specific questions, if you just want to know more about the technique in general."
With that, Keotsu handed the tome to the man tome and took a seat on the ground, and began preparing some tea in a manner he had been shown by a teacher of his, long ago.
Rank: A
Type: Offensive
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 30
Damage: 20 each
Description: Unlike other Kenjutsu shockwaves which are generally large, Kougenjin is a relatively small shockwave that’s size is the same as the blade length of the sword used to launch it. Sacrificing power for speed and quantity, Mirage Blade travels at an incredible pace, relative to the user’s rank; Mirage Blade, when used by a Sannin, would be about twice as fast as a shockwave fired from the Samurai Sabre Technique, though its destructive force is obviously much less. A large amount of chakra is focused inside the user’s blade in the form of a constant flow – though normally the chakra could envelope the sword, here the chakra creates a shell on the inside of the blade, allowing the chakra to rebound infinitely and resonate with itself. When the user slashes their sword, it releases a portion of this chakra in the form of a white, rippling shockwave; thus the name Mirage Blade. Mirage Blade also carries the properties of the blade used to fire it, as well as its size; this means that if the blade used to fire Mirage Blade is sharp enough, Mirage Blade will pass through solid objects by slicing them in half and continuing on, much like a Wind element jutsu would.
*Mirage Blade is not Fuuton element, the comparison to a Fuuton jutsu takes into account an extremely sharp blade.
*Three shockwaves can be fired per use.
*This jutsu may be only be used 3 times per match.
*Useable and taught by Keotsu only.
Type: Offensive
Rank: S
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage: 80
Description: A technique based upon the premises of two of Keotsu's other Command Arts - his signature shockwave Kougenjin, and a Prayer technique known as Zekkyōdan, Rekkyōdan aims to push the principles of these attacks to their absolute limits. The user will gather chakra around their blade, coating in it a glass like layer; swinging the blade breaks the high tension layer of chakra and projects it forward, like the fragments of a broken mirror. The user can control the spread over the shattered attack, allowing it to cover either wide area to affect multiple opponents, or focus it into a tight cone to strike an individual adversary. No matter the scope of the area covered by the attack, though, the technique always launches 80 individual shockwaves. Like all Command Art shockwaves, Rekkyōdan can cut through any material the blade used to launch it can cut, meaning a sufficiently sharp blade could cut through nearly any material, and like Kougenjin it moves a twice the normal rate of traditional shockwaves.
*Note: Can be used up to three times per turn, with a cooldown of turns equal to the number of times it was used.
*Note: Launches 80 shockwaves with a single use.
(Kamei Gigei: Saisho no Inori: Hikaru Aki Hasira) Command Art: First Prayer: Shining Autumn Pillar
Rank: A
Type: Offense/Supplementary/Defense
Range: Self
Chakra: 30
Damage: N/A
Description: The first of the “Prayer” series of the Command Arts, Hikaru Aki Hashira, often called “Aki-gamae (autumn stance)” by its users, is a Kenjutsu stance instead of an actual attack. It is a variation of the Waki-gamae in that the user holds their blade at waist level, parallel to the ground, whether in its scabbard or not, a position best suited for quick-draw strikes. The user focuses their chakra throughout their entire body in a steady stream while in this stance, increasing their speed and strength by 25%. This increase in ability comes about from the chakra augmenting the muscles naturally, instead of forcefully, essentially putting the body in a natural “peak” condition. This chakra also coats the user’s blade and allows the counter-offensive nature of Aki come through. Whether sheathed or not, the user can swing their blade and dispel an incoming attack by disrupting it, allowing the user to protect themselves and then counter-attack. The method of blocking attacks is based upon the concept of an immovable pillar.
*The First Prayer can only shield the user from attacks of an equal or lower rank.
*Blocking an attack counts against one of the three allotted moves in a turn.
(Kamei Gigei: Fukutsu no Inori: Gokumonken) Command Art: Prayer of Fortitude: Prison Gate Sword
Rank:B
Type: Supplementary/Defense
Range: Self
Chakra: 20
Damage: N/A
Description: A refinement of the First Prayer: Hikaru Aki Hasira, this technique expands the ability of the First Prayer. Where as Shinning Autumn Pillar is locked only to the user’s weapon, and forces them to stand in a specific stance, this technique turns it into a full on “Mode”, covering the entirety of the user’s body and thoroughly saturating it with the same effect; This allows the user to fight unhindered by having to remain in one stance, while also allowing the effects of the First Prayer to extend to their entire body. Besides this saturation, Gokumonken provides one extra effect: techniques that would be destroyed by the First Prayer’s effect can instead be reflected back at the opponent, taking the place of the First Prayer’s defensive ability, but still counting as an additional move per turn.
*Cannot be used unless the First Prayer is active.
*Remains active until the First Prayer wears off.
*Can only be used twice in a battle.
*Reflecting attacks back counts as a move per turn, and is bound by the limitations of the First Prayer's abilities of defense.
(Kamei Gigei: Dai ni no Inori: Zekkyōdan) Command Art: Second Prayer: Broken Mirror Severing
Rank: S
Type: Offensive/Defensive
Range: Short-Mid
Chakra: 40
Damage: 80
Description: The second in the “Prayer” series of Command Arts, Zekkyōdan differs in its working depending on if the user’s blade is being resheathed or drawn, though in both cases the move is a strange type of Battōjutsu, meaning that it involves multiple cuts. In the event that the sword is being sheathed, there is a quick flash as the blade’s guard meets the top of the scabbard, during which a chakra burst creates a countless number of cuts in a 360 degree short-range dome around the user, shredding any incoming attack to dust; this being the defensive variant of the move. When unsheathing the blade, however, the affect is “launched”; that is, when the blade is unsheathed, a cyclone of chakra is shot forward, with the chakra inside the cone-like structure acting as tiny knives, shredding that which they come into contact with; this is the offensive variant of the move.
*Cannot be used unless the first “Prayer” has been activated.
*Can only be used once per turn.
*Due to needing to reset their stance, this move cannot be used back-to-back, even between turns, meaning another technique must be used in between uses.
*The same version of this move cannot be used consecutively – meaning, if the defensive variant is used first, the offensive variant must be used the next time the technique is used.
(Kamei Gigei: Dai san no Inori: Sōgenmu) Command Art: Third Prayer: Twin Phantasms
Rank: B
Type: Supplementary
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 20
Damage: N/A
Description: The Third in the “Prayer” series of Command Arts, Sōgenmu is a type of Psuedo-bunshin developed specifically for Kenjutsu. The user will coat their body in a layer of chakra, creating a rainbow colored doppelganger. This doppelganger mimics every attack the user makes, down to even the launching of shockwaves and the amount of force behind an attack. At first, the doppelganger fluctuates only slightly around the user, making it appear as if the user is surrounded by some sort of haze. As time progresses, and the phantasm becomes more unstable, the user can “slide” and “rotate” the doppelganger away from them; though it will still mimic the user’s moves exactly, it will remain a set distance from the user. This changing in orientation allows the user to use the doppelganger to maximum effect.
*Cannot be used unless the first “Prayer” has been activated.
*The doppelganger remains for five turns.
*Can only be used once per turn.
*Can only be used three times.
*Every jutsu that the clone uses counts as an additional move per-turn with the exception of the Command Art Mirage Blade (Kamei Gigei: Kougenjin).
*The distance the clone can move is as follows: T1: Short; T2: Between Mid-Short; T3: Mid; T4: Between Mid-Long; T5: Long.
(Kamei Gigei: Saigo no Inori: Tenshōha) Command Art: Final Prayer: Heaven’s Illumination Conquest
Rank: Forbidden
Type: Offensive
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 50
Damage: 150 (-50 to user)
Description: The final “Prayer” of the Command Arts, Tenshōha is also the only offensive Prayer to not directly attack with the user’s sword, though it still falls into the Kenjutsu category due to needing the user’s sword to activate. Breaking the semi-crouching stance attained by the first Prayer, the user will stand and focus their chakra into their blade. By sheathing their blade, the user activates the technique. Their chakra will be unleashed in a powerful burst, calling forth a massive pillar of energy from the Heavens that descends upon the battlefield. Falling with incredible strength, the pillar has enough force to level the terrain completely and leave nothing but dust in its wake, though the after-effects of the jutsu seem to encourage the growth of life in the area. The user, at the epicenter of the blast, takes 50 damage; the only reason they do not pass out is because the chakra coursing through their body from the first Prayer forms a protective dome around them, lessening the blow of the blast.
*Can only be used if the first “Prayer” was used sometime earlier in the battle.
*When used, the effects of the first “Prayer” end.
*Can only be used once.
*The user can only use two techniques in the turn this is used, this jutsu included in that tally.
*No other Prayer can be used in the same turn.
*No Prayers can be used in the next turn.
*This is a Non-elemental blast.
Rank: A
Type: Supplementary
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 30
Damage: N/A
Description: The Kenjutsu technique allows Swordsmen to more easily fight against Shinboi attacks of all sorts; the user will activate this technique by quickly focusing chakra into their weapon and spinning it in a complete circle in front of them. After this simple ritual is completed, a “magnetic” burst of chakra is released all around the user that causes all foreign chakra to be condensed as it approaches the user. Ultimately, the “magnetized” chakra will be drawn into the user’s weapon, effectively concentrating even large scale jutsu into simple, yet still equally powerful, streams or orbs, depending on the incoming techniques composition. This technique can easily be described as turning the user's weapon into a "Chakra Lightning-rod", thus the name.
*The strength of drawn in techniques does not diminish at all, and if the user doesn’t counter the techniques, the chakra will flow into the user’s body via the weapon and do full damage or preform its intended purpose
*Once activated, this remains active for four turns, but it’s effect is only valid while the user is holding a weapon.
*Only useable 4 times per battle.
*This jutsu only effects "non-solid" techniques like Wind, Fire, Lightning, Water, or objects like mud. Techniques with a sturdy molecular composition won't be affected by this technique, such as Earth or Ice, but does nothing to change their effects if they are not dealt with.
(Kamei Gigei: Ensuizan)Command Art: Circling Water Slash
Type: Supplementary
Rank: A
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 30 (-5 per turn)
Damage: N/A
Description: A refinement on the Kenjtusu technique (Kamei Gigei: Raijinshō) Command Art: Raijin Rising, which turned the user's blade into a virtual lightning rod for chakra, which allowed them to more easily handle techniques that the swordsman would come against. This technique is activated by focusing more chakra into the user's blade, and then spinning it in a figure eight while the parent technique is active. This technique empowers the abilities of Raijinshō, now allowing it to affect any technique with chakra in it, regardless of its composition (with the exceptions of things like modes, which is obviously illogical), by augmenting the "magnetized" chakra released by said technique. This means Ensuizan allows Raijinsho to affect solid techniques where it didn't before, such as Doton and Ice, as well as having enough force in the "magnetic pull" that it can pull foreign chakra within the user's bodies into the sword itself (such as Genjutsu), though Ensuizan does nothing to negate the abilities of such techniques. A by-product of this technique is that if Raijinshō turns the user's blade into a lightning rod, this turns the user's blade into a divining rod; the sword will gently sway, if allowed, towards the largest source of foreign chakra present on the field; akin to a compass with magnetic north, or a divining rod with water.
Note: This technique makes (Kamei Gigei: Raijinshō) Command Art: Raijin Rising last indefinitely, so long as a -5 chakra cost is payed every turn for technique upkeep.
Note: This technique allows for (Kamei Gigei: Raijinshō) Command Art: Raijin Rising to affect any technique that heads towards the user, and will change the trajectory to the user's blade; however, like the original technique, this does nothing to stop the effects of the techniques that are drawn towards the blade, unless they are dealt with.
Note: User must retain a sword in hand for the technique to remain in effect.
Note: Useable twice per battle.
(Kamei Gigei: Suiretsusen) Command Art: Water Fury Flash
Rank: S
Type: Supplementary/Attack
Range: Long(for rain) - Short- Medium (for attack)
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage Cost: 80
Description: Holding their blade sideways, the user will run Suiton chakra through their blade, activating the technique. A great downpour will come over the terrain, providing water for this technique, as well as dropping all Fire Justu down one rank, and reducing their damage by 10. A ring of water will form around the user with a radius equal to that of the complete wingspan of the user (meaning it would be roughly 10-11 feet [roughly 3.2 meters] in diameter). This ring has a single tentacle for each of the eight points of the Compass Rose: North, South, West, East, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. The tentacles will strike at anything within range as the user commands them, but they do not attack on their own; they are approximately 5 feet [1.5 meters] long, and the user must know the general vicinity of the opponent(s) to strike them if they are behind him/her.
*As long as the rain continues to fall, or if there is an ample water source nearby, this technique remains in effect. The maximum, however, is four turns.
*Only once per battle.
(Kamei Gigei: Raikōsen) Command Art: Lightning Ray Flash
Rank: S
Type: Offensive/Supplementary
Range: Short – Mid
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage: 80
Description: The user will run Raiton chakra through their blade while holding it skyward, to activate this technique. This technique fills the air with energy – so much so, that Doton jutsu fall one rank (due to the charges in the air disrupting the formation as the energy disperses into the earth), and that a lightning bolt continuously streaks from the user’s sword, enveloping it in electricity, to the sky. Though meant as a Support technique, using the lightning to augment physical and water element attacks or by creative means, this technique is not without its own offensive measure. Once per turn, the user can swing their blade, and send a bolt of lightning flying in the direction of their swing – the energy is discharged from the constantly streaking bolt that originates from the blade, though this can only be done twice, and not on consecutive turns, due for the need for the electricity to replenish.
*The lightning can only be fired once per turn, every other turn.
*This jutsu last for four turns before the electricity dissipates, and all modifiers are returned to normal.
*Only once per battle.
*Raiton cannot be used for two turns after this jutsu ends, due to the air being unable to hold a charge after being supersaturated with energy.
Type: Offensive/Supplementary
Rank: S
Range: Short-Mid
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage: 80
Description: The user will run Fuuton chakra through their blade while slashing it downwards to activate this technique. Completing a philosophical trio with Suiretsuen (which is "radial") and Raikosen (which is "linear"), Shippūga creates two "fields" of wind, that spiral around the user; though the wind currents themselves are invisible to the eye, the wind currents are wild where they meet the ground, creating a visible cue at the user's feet that looks like they are standing in a hurricane. The powerful vortex of wind whips up currents that empower Fuuton techniques so that they can neutralize Raiton techniques a rank higher than normal, and once per turn the user can swing their blade and release a massive arcing current of slicing or vacuum wind that reaches up to a mid-range distance, and is capable of forcing back even large summons - the vacuum current is capable of pulling even a large summon forward a mid-range distance; however, doing so diminishes the wind vortex, allowing it to only be used twice, and not on consecutive turns, since the wind must replenish before it can be launched. When one current is used, its "pair" is sent out behind the user, similar to the arms of a hurricane.
*This technique lasts for four turns once activated.
*The wind current can be deployed once per turn, every other turn.
*The modifier to Fuuton techniques is removed once the technique ends.
*Usable once per battle.
Keotsu watched as the man bowed, and thought that perhaps he had different plans that what Keotsu had intended. No matter - Keotsu had his own unique way of doing things, and that, he though, was part of the appeal.
Reaching into his knapsack, Keotsu withdrew a heavy tome. It was a leatherbound book, unlike the scrolls so common on this continent, and latched with thick metal ornamentation. The writing on the cover would be unintelligible to the man, written in the language of the other continent, but its contents inside would be in a familiar script.
"Given that you were suggested to me by two of my closest comrades, I'm putting a lot of stock in their faith in your ability; I doubt you would need me to demonstrate such teachings to you, so I recorded them all in a special tome. Once this latch is opened, you'll have five hours until the contents within this tome disappear. You'll find knowledge on all of my Command Arts found within, except for something special that we'll tackle at the end. If there's anything you need explained after reading the tome, I'll be glad to explain at that time, otherwise I'll assume that you have a good grasp on them. You don't even have to have specific questions, if you just want to know more about the technique in general."
With that, Keotsu handed the tome to the man tome and took a seat on the ground, and began preparing some tea in a manner he had been shown by a teacher of his, long ago.
Rank: A
Type: Offensive
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 30
Damage: 20 each
Description: Unlike other Kenjutsu shockwaves which are generally large, Kougenjin is a relatively small shockwave that’s size is the same as the blade length of the sword used to launch it. Sacrificing power for speed and quantity, Mirage Blade travels at an incredible pace, relative to the user’s rank; Mirage Blade, when used by a Sannin, would be about twice as fast as a shockwave fired from the Samurai Sabre Technique, though its destructive force is obviously much less. A large amount of chakra is focused inside the user’s blade in the form of a constant flow – though normally the chakra could envelope the sword, here the chakra creates a shell on the inside of the blade, allowing the chakra to rebound infinitely and resonate with itself. When the user slashes their sword, it releases a portion of this chakra in the form of a white, rippling shockwave; thus the name Mirage Blade. Mirage Blade also carries the properties of the blade used to fire it, as well as its size; this means that if the blade used to fire Mirage Blade is sharp enough, Mirage Blade will pass through solid objects by slicing them in half and continuing on, much like a Wind element jutsu would.
*Mirage Blade is not Fuuton element, the comparison to a Fuuton jutsu takes into account an extremely sharp blade.
*Three shockwaves can be fired per use.
*This jutsu may be only be used 3 times per match.
*Useable and taught by Keotsu only.
Type: Offensive
Rank: S
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage: 80
Description: A technique based upon the premises of two of Keotsu's other Command Arts - his signature shockwave Kougenjin, and a Prayer technique known as Zekkyōdan, Rekkyōdan aims to push the principles of these attacks to their absolute limits. The user will gather chakra around their blade, coating in it a glass like layer; swinging the blade breaks the high tension layer of chakra and projects it forward, like the fragments of a broken mirror. The user can control the spread over the shattered attack, allowing it to cover either wide area to affect multiple opponents, or focus it into a tight cone to strike an individual adversary. No matter the scope of the area covered by the attack, though, the technique always launches 80 individual shockwaves. Like all Command Art shockwaves, Rekkyōdan can cut through any material the blade used to launch it can cut, meaning a sufficiently sharp blade could cut through nearly any material, and like Kougenjin it moves a twice the normal rate of traditional shockwaves.
*Note: Can be used up to three times per turn, with a cooldown of turns equal to the number of times it was used.
*Note: Launches 80 shockwaves with a single use.
(Kamei Gigei: Saisho no Inori: Hikaru Aki Hasira) Command Art: First Prayer: Shining Autumn Pillar
Rank: A
Type: Offense/Supplementary/Defense
Range: Self
Chakra: 30
Damage: N/A
Description: The first of the “Prayer” series of the Command Arts, Hikaru Aki Hashira, often called “Aki-gamae (autumn stance)” by its users, is a Kenjutsu stance instead of an actual attack. It is a variation of the Waki-gamae in that the user holds their blade at waist level, parallel to the ground, whether in its scabbard or not, a position best suited for quick-draw strikes. The user focuses their chakra throughout their entire body in a steady stream while in this stance, increasing their speed and strength by 25%. This increase in ability comes about from the chakra augmenting the muscles naturally, instead of forcefully, essentially putting the body in a natural “peak” condition. This chakra also coats the user’s blade and allows the counter-offensive nature of Aki come through. Whether sheathed or not, the user can swing their blade and dispel an incoming attack by disrupting it, allowing the user to protect themselves and then counter-attack. The method of blocking attacks is based upon the concept of an immovable pillar.
*The First Prayer can only shield the user from attacks of an equal or lower rank.
*Blocking an attack counts against one of the three allotted moves in a turn.
(Kamei Gigei: Fukutsu no Inori: Gokumonken) Command Art: Prayer of Fortitude: Prison Gate Sword
Rank:B
Type: Supplementary/Defense
Range: Self
Chakra: 20
Damage: N/A
Description: A refinement of the First Prayer: Hikaru Aki Hasira, this technique expands the ability of the First Prayer. Where as Shinning Autumn Pillar is locked only to the user’s weapon, and forces them to stand in a specific stance, this technique turns it into a full on “Mode”, covering the entirety of the user’s body and thoroughly saturating it with the same effect; This allows the user to fight unhindered by having to remain in one stance, while also allowing the effects of the First Prayer to extend to their entire body. Besides this saturation, Gokumonken provides one extra effect: techniques that would be destroyed by the First Prayer’s effect can instead be reflected back at the opponent, taking the place of the First Prayer’s defensive ability, but still counting as an additional move per turn.
*Cannot be used unless the First Prayer is active.
*Remains active until the First Prayer wears off.
*Can only be used twice in a battle.
*Reflecting attacks back counts as a move per turn, and is bound by the limitations of the First Prayer's abilities of defense.
(Kamei Gigei: Dai ni no Inori: Zekkyōdan) Command Art: Second Prayer: Broken Mirror Severing
Rank: S
Type: Offensive/Defensive
Range: Short-Mid
Chakra: 40
Damage: 80
Description: The second in the “Prayer” series of Command Arts, Zekkyōdan differs in its working depending on if the user’s blade is being resheathed or drawn, though in both cases the move is a strange type of Battōjutsu, meaning that it involves multiple cuts. In the event that the sword is being sheathed, there is a quick flash as the blade’s guard meets the top of the scabbard, during which a chakra burst creates a countless number of cuts in a 360 degree short-range dome around the user, shredding any incoming attack to dust; this being the defensive variant of the move. When unsheathing the blade, however, the affect is “launched”; that is, when the blade is unsheathed, a cyclone of chakra is shot forward, with the chakra inside the cone-like structure acting as tiny knives, shredding that which they come into contact with; this is the offensive variant of the move.
*Cannot be used unless the first “Prayer” has been activated.
*Can only be used once per turn.
*Due to needing to reset their stance, this move cannot be used back-to-back, even between turns, meaning another technique must be used in between uses.
*The same version of this move cannot be used consecutively – meaning, if the defensive variant is used first, the offensive variant must be used the next time the technique is used.
(Kamei Gigei: Dai san no Inori: Sōgenmu) Command Art: Third Prayer: Twin Phantasms
Rank: B
Type: Supplementary
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 20
Damage: N/A
Description: The Third in the “Prayer” series of Command Arts, Sōgenmu is a type of Psuedo-bunshin developed specifically for Kenjutsu. The user will coat their body in a layer of chakra, creating a rainbow colored doppelganger. This doppelganger mimics every attack the user makes, down to even the launching of shockwaves and the amount of force behind an attack. At first, the doppelganger fluctuates only slightly around the user, making it appear as if the user is surrounded by some sort of haze. As time progresses, and the phantasm becomes more unstable, the user can “slide” and “rotate” the doppelganger away from them; though it will still mimic the user’s moves exactly, it will remain a set distance from the user. This changing in orientation allows the user to use the doppelganger to maximum effect.
*Cannot be used unless the first “Prayer” has been activated.
*The doppelganger remains for five turns.
*Can only be used once per turn.
*Can only be used three times.
*Every jutsu that the clone uses counts as an additional move per-turn with the exception of the Command Art Mirage Blade (Kamei Gigei: Kougenjin).
*The distance the clone can move is as follows: T1: Short; T2: Between Mid-Short; T3: Mid; T4: Between Mid-Long; T5: Long.
(Kamei Gigei: Saigo no Inori: Tenshōha) Command Art: Final Prayer: Heaven’s Illumination Conquest
Rank: Forbidden
Type: Offensive
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 50
Damage: 150 (-50 to user)
Description: The final “Prayer” of the Command Arts, Tenshōha is also the only offensive Prayer to not directly attack with the user’s sword, though it still falls into the Kenjutsu category due to needing the user’s sword to activate. Breaking the semi-crouching stance attained by the first Prayer, the user will stand and focus their chakra into their blade. By sheathing their blade, the user activates the technique. Their chakra will be unleashed in a powerful burst, calling forth a massive pillar of energy from the Heavens that descends upon the battlefield. Falling with incredible strength, the pillar has enough force to level the terrain completely and leave nothing but dust in its wake, though the after-effects of the jutsu seem to encourage the growth of life in the area. The user, at the epicenter of the blast, takes 50 damage; the only reason they do not pass out is because the chakra coursing through their body from the first Prayer forms a protective dome around them, lessening the blow of the blast.
*Can only be used if the first “Prayer” was used sometime earlier in the battle.
*When used, the effects of the first “Prayer” end.
*Can only be used once.
*The user can only use two techniques in the turn this is used, this jutsu included in that tally.
*No other Prayer can be used in the same turn.
*No Prayers can be used in the next turn.
*This is a Non-elemental blast.
Rank: A
Type: Supplementary
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 30
Damage: N/A
Description: The Kenjutsu technique allows Swordsmen to more easily fight against Shinboi attacks of all sorts; the user will activate this technique by quickly focusing chakra into their weapon and spinning it in a complete circle in front of them. After this simple ritual is completed, a “magnetic” burst of chakra is released all around the user that causes all foreign chakra to be condensed as it approaches the user. Ultimately, the “magnetized” chakra will be drawn into the user’s weapon, effectively concentrating even large scale jutsu into simple, yet still equally powerful, streams or orbs, depending on the incoming techniques composition. This technique can easily be described as turning the user's weapon into a "Chakra Lightning-rod", thus the name.
*The strength of drawn in techniques does not diminish at all, and if the user doesn’t counter the techniques, the chakra will flow into the user’s body via the weapon and do full damage or preform its intended purpose
*Once activated, this remains active for four turns, but it’s effect is only valid while the user is holding a weapon.
*Only useable 4 times per battle.
*This jutsu only effects "non-solid" techniques like Wind, Fire, Lightning, Water, or objects like mud. Techniques with a sturdy molecular composition won't be affected by this technique, such as Earth or Ice, but does nothing to change their effects if they are not dealt with.
(Kamei Gigei: Ensuizan)Command Art: Circling Water Slash
Type: Supplementary
Rank: A
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 30 (-5 per turn)
Damage: N/A
Description: A refinement on the Kenjtusu technique (Kamei Gigei: Raijinshō) Command Art: Raijin Rising, which turned the user's blade into a virtual lightning rod for chakra, which allowed them to more easily handle techniques that the swordsman would come against. This technique is activated by focusing more chakra into the user's blade, and then spinning it in a figure eight while the parent technique is active. This technique empowers the abilities of Raijinshō, now allowing it to affect any technique with chakra in it, regardless of its composition (with the exceptions of things like modes, which is obviously illogical), by augmenting the "magnetized" chakra released by said technique. This means Ensuizan allows Raijinsho to affect solid techniques where it didn't before, such as Doton and Ice, as well as having enough force in the "magnetic pull" that it can pull foreign chakra within the user's bodies into the sword itself (such as Genjutsu), though Ensuizan does nothing to negate the abilities of such techniques. A by-product of this technique is that if Raijinshō turns the user's blade into a lightning rod, this turns the user's blade into a divining rod; the sword will gently sway, if allowed, towards the largest source of foreign chakra present on the field; akin to a compass with magnetic north, or a divining rod with water.
Note: This technique makes (Kamei Gigei: Raijinshō) Command Art: Raijin Rising last indefinitely, so long as a -5 chakra cost is payed every turn for technique upkeep.
Note: This technique allows for (Kamei Gigei: Raijinshō) Command Art: Raijin Rising to affect any technique that heads towards the user, and will change the trajectory to the user's blade; however, like the original technique, this does nothing to stop the effects of the techniques that are drawn towards the blade, unless they are dealt with.
Note: User must retain a sword in hand for the technique to remain in effect.
Note: Useable twice per battle.
(Kamei Gigei: Suiretsusen) Command Art: Water Fury Flash
Rank: S
Type: Supplementary/Attack
Range: Long(for rain) - Short- Medium (for attack)
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage Cost: 80
Description: Holding their blade sideways, the user will run Suiton chakra through their blade, activating the technique. A great downpour will come over the terrain, providing water for this technique, as well as dropping all Fire Justu down one rank, and reducing their damage by 10. A ring of water will form around the user with a radius equal to that of the complete wingspan of the user (meaning it would be roughly 10-11 feet [roughly 3.2 meters] in diameter). This ring has a single tentacle for each of the eight points of the Compass Rose: North, South, West, East, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. The tentacles will strike at anything within range as the user commands them, but they do not attack on their own; they are approximately 5 feet [1.5 meters] long, and the user must know the general vicinity of the opponent(s) to strike them if they are behind him/her.
*As long as the rain continues to fall, or if there is an ample water source nearby, this technique remains in effect. The maximum, however, is four turns.
*Only once per battle.
(Kamei Gigei: Raikōsen) Command Art: Lightning Ray Flash
Rank: S
Type: Offensive/Supplementary
Range: Short – Mid
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage: 80
Description: The user will run Raiton chakra through their blade while holding it skyward, to activate this technique. This technique fills the air with energy – so much so, that Doton jutsu fall one rank (due to the charges in the air disrupting the formation as the energy disperses into the earth), and that a lightning bolt continuously streaks from the user’s sword, enveloping it in electricity, to the sky. Though meant as a Support technique, using the lightning to augment physical and water element attacks or by creative means, this technique is not without its own offensive measure. Once per turn, the user can swing their blade, and send a bolt of lightning flying in the direction of their swing – the energy is discharged from the constantly streaking bolt that originates from the blade, though this can only be done twice, and not on consecutive turns, due for the need for the electricity to replenish.
*The lightning can only be fired once per turn, every other turn.
*This jutsu last for four turns before the electricity dissipates, and all modifiers are returned to normal.
*Only once per battle.
*Raiton cannot be used for two turns after this jutsu ends, due to the air being unable to hold a charge after being supersaturated with energy.
Type: Offensive/Supplementary
Rank: S
Range: Short-Mid
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage: 80
Description: The user will run Fuuton chakra through their blade while slashing it downwards to activate this technique. Completing a philosophical trio with Suiretsuen (which is "radial") and Raikosen (which is "linear"), Shippūga creates two "fields" of wind, that spiral around the user; though the wind currents themselves are invisible to the eye, the wind currents are wild where they meet the ground, creating a visible cue at the user's feet that looks like they are standing in a hurricane. The powerful vortex of wind whips up currents that empower Fuuton techniques so that they can neutralize Raiton techniques a rank higher than normal, and once per turn the user can swing their blade and release a massive arcing current of slicing or vacuum wind that reaches up to a mid-range distance, and is capable of forcing back even large summons - the vacuum current is capable of pulling even a large summon forward a mid-range distance; however, doing so diminishes the wind vortex, allowing it to only be used twice, and not on consecutive turns, since the wind must replenish before it can be launched. When one current is used, its "pair" is sent out behind the user, similar to the arms of a hurricane.
*This technique lasts for four turns once activated.
*The wind current can be deployed once per turn, every other turn.
*The modifier to Fuuton techniques is removed once the technique ends.
*Usable once per battle.
"The First and Second prayers as well as the one of Fortitude flow so seamlessly and compliment each other. I'm as impressed as I am honored, Keotsu."
As soon as Oni had finished reading the tome he tore a piece of cloth from his cloak, wrapped the precious book, and placed it on his waist. Next he sat before the swordsman. "Oh, tea."
OOC: Lightning Ray Flash.. for the shock waves you're able to produce, I don't see where it says it consumes a move slot. Do they? I'm inclined to believe they don't, and that would be amazing.
"The First and Second prayers as well as the one of Fortitude flow so seamlessly and compliment each other. I'm as impressed as I am honored, Keotsu."
As soon as Oni had finished reading the tome he tore a piece of cloth from his cloak, wrapped the precious book, and placed it on his waist. Next he sat before the swordsman. "Oh, tea."
OOC: Lightning Ray Flash.. for the shock waves you're able to produce, I don't see where it says it consumes a move slot. Do they? I'm inclined to believe they don't, and that would be amazing.
OOC: That is the intention, correct. The initial cast consumes a move slot, but the shockwaves are not supposed to, which is why they can only be cast in the way they can (you should be able to get two shockwaves maximum out of the technique, otherwise you only get one "real" use of it during the cast). Also note the last note. "Raiton cannot be used for two turns." Not you can't use Raiton, Raiton in general can't be used; it wont work for anyone. Consider it a terrain effect, of sorts.
"Indeed. It's the First Prayer, and its refinement Gokumonken, that elevated the Command Arts to the status they have now. The Second Prayer serves the purpose of a powerful attack, meant to bring abilities normally beyond the scope of the first prayer into range that they may be effected by it, though this strategy is not always needed."
As the man sat down across from him, Keotsu offered him a cup of the tea, still steaming from the heat.
"It seems you have no questions, so we will move on to the special topic, as I promised. A large flaw of the Command Arts is that, despite their high level of synergy, they're nothing special on their own in terms of strength. This was less of a problem for me, due to my blade Mythos, but posed a problem for my students.
"There was difficulty in figuring out a way to circumvent the restrictions on my sword, until I realized that the problem lied within me, as they blade was forged from my soul. It was not until I could truly accept another that I could learn to impart a small piece of Mythril from my blade to another, and allow others to push the Command Arts to their true potential."
With that, Keotsu once again withdrew Mythos from its scabbard, the mythril blade shining in the light.
"I'll need you to chose a blade that you're comfortable with, as well."