“The Elements are not the means to an end… they are the beginning and the end.” – Shinsei

Thunder crashed from the Heavens, shaking the earth below. The Shrine of Osano-Wo responded with its own thunderous boom as the monks of the Order of Osano-Wo bellowed their ki shouts in time with the storm. The sound rolled down through the empty Plains of Thunder, echoing for miles across the land.

“Thank Kaze-no-Kami for getting us here so quickly!” The Mantis captain chuckled, smiling at the brothers. Yoritomo Rangai had been sailing from the City of Lightning to the mainland for years, allowing the Osano-Wo’s monks to spread their word amongst Rokugan and communicate with their brethren on the mainland. The winds had been particularly fierce during this voyage and brought them from the friendly little town of Yama ue no ho ni Umi Mura, Wall Above the Ocean Village, a day earlier than expected.

“Thank Osano-Wo as well, Yoritomo-san. His benevolence brought us here. Tonight is an important night. We couldn’t afford to miss the Night of Thunder’s Kiss.” One of the brothers smiled as he spoke to the captain, gathering supplies for the temple.

The other sailors moved crates and barrels down the gangplank and off the ship alongside the brothers. When all the cargo was off the ship, the monks began a procession up through the City of Lightning to their temple, carrying the supplies they could and letting porters and Mantis sailors get the rest.

When the procession reached the Shrine of Osano-Wo, the monks quickly stored the supplies they had brought with them at the temple’s dining hall and hurried into the temple proper. Rain began pelting the streets and rooftops with renewed fervor.

“We gather here for the Night of Thunder’s Kiss! Let us celebrate in Osano-Wo’s name and hear the Thunderer’s voice!” The leader of the temple spoke to all in attendance, beginning the Thunder’s Kiss kata and leading the monks of the temple through a complex series of attacks. Each burst of thunder was followed again by the ki shouts of the monks of the order. The sailors in attendance shouted as well as they worked to put away rest of the food and other supplies they had brought up to the temple.

Captain Rangai worked alongside them, cheerfully moving barrels and singing a bawdy song that described the many talents of the geisha that worked in Crane lands. The shouts of the monks and sound of thunder began to crescendo, getting louder and louder with each passing moment. The Mantis captain could no longer hear his own song. Indeed, he could hear nothing besides a now continuous rumble through the heavens.

The storm grew suddenly quiet and the monks silenced themselves as well. The sailors noticed the change and paused in their work. After a few moments, something again boomed through the Heavens, but this time it was a voice only those on the temple grounds could hear.

Shiba Tsukune, daimyo of the Shiba family and champion of the Phoenix, stood before Osano-Wo. She had not known why she had been led here; ever since she had lost the Ancestral Sword of the Phoenix, Ofushikai,, the Soul of Shiba had not spoken to her. Now she felt almost as if she could hear her ancestors’ voices again, and they had led her here.

Tsukune had been led to a small, forgotten shrine to the Fortune of Fire and Thunder there next to a set of large boulders. Each of the large rocks had been inscribed with kanji declaring Osano-Wo’s glory and power in various aspects. She had begun to wonder why she was here when a violent burst of lightning struck the boulders and a thunderous boom knocked her to the ground.

“Shiba Tsukune. Your time has come.” Osano-Wo’s voice rumbled across the Phoenix plains. He had appeared within a nimbus of lightning atop the rocks, staring down at the Phoenix champion.

“Your place is not here, daughter of Shiba,” the Thunderer said, his voice shaking the sky. “Your place is with the Soul, anchored to the sword that now shines in the heavens. I shall lead you to your destiny, if you have the courage to follow.”

Tsukune frowned at Osano Wo. It seemed almost as if the Fortune were leaving something out.

“There are dark times ahead for the Phoenix,” Osano Wo said. “You must come with me. There is a place for the Soul of Shiba in Tengoku, the Celestial Heavens. You would be a Fortune, with all the power of a god.”

“If the Phoenix are in danger, I would stand with them,” she said defiantly, meeting the Fortune’s gaze.

The sky rumbled. Osano Wo frowned dangerously, but Tsukune did not look away. The Fortune of Fire and Thunder sighed. “Long ago, Shiba bound his soul to your line so that he could remain and guide the Phoenix. The sword, Ofushikai, was his anchor in this realm. With the sword exiled from this realm, he cannot reincarnate. If you die, Shiba dies. Forever.”

“Shiba would not abandon the Phoenix if they were in need, and neither will I,” she said.

Osano Wo sneered. “The Phoenix will suffer, but they will survive,” he said. “They will do as the Phoenix have always done and rise from their ashes, to be born and reborn again, following the kharmic cycle. Remain, and you might rob the Phoenix of the wisdom that has always guided them.”

Tsukune frowned. “And what of my son?” she asked.

Osano Wo cut the air with a violent gesture. “Choose, Phoenix!” he demanded. “Remain mortal and save your son, or ascend with me and save the Kami’s soul that dwells within you.”

Tsukune stood in thought; her hand passed through nothing as she attempted by habit to rest it on the hilt of her katana. She had already left the clan’s new celestial sword with her son. A samurai never left her sword behind. She had made her choice before she had even known there would be one. She knelt before Osano-Wo, looking at the ground and at her old, weathered hands.

“I am ready, Thunderer. To protect the Soul of Shiba and to do my duty for my clan, I choose to ascend.” Tsukune looked up at Osano-Wo, fire in her eyes.

The Thunderer smiled. Lightning flew from his hand and struck Shiba Tsukune instantly, joined by seven bolts from the heavens. She felt no pain as her mortality was burned away, her body turned to ash. She saw the wrinkles from on her hands smooth and vanish, her youthful vitality restored with a vengeance.

“Arise, Tsukune, Fortune of Rebirth. Take your place among the Celestial Heavens.” Osano-Wo intoned.

Those in the Temple of Osano-Wo now understood why they had been meant to hear the words of the Fortune of Fire and Thunder. Each of the brothers nodded and stood. Half of them remained where they were. The other half slowly walked, one at a time, to momentarily pray before the altar of Osano-Wo and then leave the temple to begin their new path to enlightenment.

The sailors present each looked at each other in disbelief at what they had heard. Some left to follow the monks who were now proceeding down the hill from the temple back into the city. Others stood in shock or knelt to pray to Osano-Wo. One trotted ahead of the rest, moving past those who had suddenly become the Brothers of Rebirth.

“Well, they’re going to need someone to sail them to the mainland! Come on!” Captain Rangai laughed and led some of his sailors down to the docks, hurrying ahead of the monks who had left the temple.

“And when we get there, perhaps they will not mind having another join them in their task.”

The Brothers of Rebirth
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities. In the expert’s, there are few.” - Shinsei

[d20 callout begin]

Favored Class: Monk.
Starting Honor: 2.
Class Skill: Concentration.
Starting Outfit: Masterwork ono, masterwork healer’s kit.

[d20 callout end]

[d10 callout begin]

Starting Honor: 2, plus zero boxes.
Skills: Any Hand-to-Hand skill, Medicine, Meditation, Shintao, Theology, 2 Bugei Skills.
Benefit: Monks from this temple are completely immune to Fear. In addition, they add 10 to the result of any Willpower-related skill rolls or opposed rolls.

[d10 callout end]

The Brothers of Rebirth were recently created at the behest of Osano-Wo to serve Tsukune, Fortune of Rebirth. They were once members of the Order of Osano-Wo, but have now sworn to obey the will of Tsukune.

Still defenders of the temples of Rokugan, the Order of Rebirth has rededicated themselves to finding enlightenment through understanding the cycles of the world. They seek to be “reborn” themselves and find that potential in others. To do this, some have begun teaching their skills to any who would listen. Others have become personal sohei to samurai and shugenja, traveling the land in search of new learning. The only price they ask is to be taught in return, to attempt to glean something new from each soul they encounter. Eventually, they believe, they will learn enough to become enlightened or at least they will improve their chances for enlightenment in the next life.

The kiho below are a mixture of ones used by the Order of Osano-Wo as well as new ones recently discovered by the Brothers of Rebirth. Rules for using the Brothers of Rebirth are also included. In the d10 system they are a new monk temple, in d20 they count as a family, albeit one that is only allowed for monks and inkyo.

[begin d10 section]

Beginning and End
Element: Fire
Type: Aiki
Mastery: 5

The master of this kiho understands that the cycle of rebirth affects almost everything equally, but for the one thing that can be both the easiest and hardest to change: the mind. Using this kiho allows the monk to channel his creativity from within and rethink even the most ingrained ideas. This effect will allow the character to switch the ranks of any two skills the character possesses while the kiho is active.

While the monk is under the initial effects of this kiho, his “rebirth” of thought consumes all of his awareness. He is completely concentrated inward, attempting to rebuild his own beliefs and knowledge. He will be easily ambushed and is simply unaware of his surroundings (+15 TN to all rolls to perceive ambush or any other threat). While this kiho remains in effect, the character cannot gain more than half of the total experience rewarded unless it directly involves one of the skills that have been switched. The excess Fire in the mind of the user simply makes other learning nearly impossible.

The Endless Well
Element: Void
Type: Zanshin
Mastery: 8

While there are some who understand the depths of the void, those capable of casting this kiho realize that while the void is nothing, it is everything as well and can therefore be shaped by a powerful will, if for but a short time.

The monk may channel his chi and the power of the Void into creating any one item. By initially spending one Void Point, the monk may fashion any one non-magical item in any design he sees fit as long as its total volume and mass doesn’t exceed one-forth of the monk’s own volume and mass. Each round, the monk must spend another Void point to keep the item in existence. While this kiho is in effect, the monk may not replenish his Void Points in any way, whether by a self-generated effect or through the actions of another. Once the monk is out of Void Points, the item fades into nothingness, returning to the Void from whence it came.

Fate’s Merciful Hand
Element: Water
Type: Kharmic
Mastery: 7

The kharmic wheel spins for each soul, eternally moving from each person’s actions back to their original source. This kiho helps those who help others and rewards them for their positive kharma.

If the monk declares Full Defense, he may direct one attack per round against a target within five feet to himself. If he does so, he may not be reduced below Down by his wounds. The first time he would have been reduced to Down by this effect, he loses all remaining Void Points and this kiho is deactivated. This kiho automatically deactivates if you have less than half your maximum Void Points.

Kawaru Focus
Element: Air
Type: Zanshin
Mastery: 5

One of the most basic zanshin, this kiho reflects the possible futures surrounding a set of items. It is even said to possibly give insight into the next lives of those who hold the items in question. The name of the kiho comes from the Kawaru coins that some of the wisest heimin use to perform this “peasant magic”.

To use the kiho, the monk must focus upon a small item such as a coin or yarrow stick and spend a Void Point. Thereafter, the monk can generally sense the location of the items, as well as the well-being of the person holding them. Any time the monk spends a Void Point thereafter (during the duration of the Kiho) he learns the following: approximate distance and location of the item, the identity of the current holder (only if it is someone the monk has personally met), the current Wound Penalties suffered by that person, and their general physical and emotional state (happy, angry, asleep, poisoned, diseased, etc.). This is only a momentary flash of insight; the monk cannot monitor the target’s location, read their mind, or home in on them (though it is conceivable a monk could spend Void multiple times and triangulate the target’s position).

This kiho has a duration equal to the monk’s Void in hours.

This kiho has a mastery level of 4 for all monks without a clan alignment.

Purity of Spirit
Element: Earth
Type: Mushin (Atemi)
Mastery: 6

This kiho is one of the more complex atemi. The monk using it makes a series of fingertip strikes around the neck or face, causing no actual damage. If he manages to strike a target successfully, the monk may spend a Void Point to make a contested Earth roll against his target. If the monk wins the contested roll, the target is momentarily stunned by a powerful burst of chi flowing from the monk at the last point struck. This burst seeks the Earth within the body, slowing the victim. The target is considered stunned and cannot attack or move for a number of rounds equal to the Monk’s Earth.

Any target of this kiho with any number of Shadowlands Ranks is stunned for an additional number of rounds equal to the Monk’s Earth plus the target’s Shadowlands Rank.

[end d10 section]

[begin d20 section]

Beginning and End
You understand the cycles of rebirth can affect even the mind and can use that knowledge to your advantage.

Prerequisites: Monk or Inkyo level 7+, Int 15+, Void Use.

Benefit: By spending one Void Point and concentrating for ten minutes per skill rank switched, you can switch any two of your skill levels for twenty-four hours. During the initial trance used to switch the skills, you are almost completely unaware of your surroundings and must make a Listen or Spot check (DC 30) to react to any attack or any real change in the environment around you. During the rest of the time this feat is active, you have a -50% experience penalty unless the experience awarded directly involved the two skills switched. You may end the effects of this feat prematurely by spending a Void Point or meditating for fifteen minutes and making a Concentration check (DC 15).

The Endless Well
You have learned to create something from the nothingness of the Void, albeit temporarily.

Prerequisite: Inkyo level 7+, Concentration (10 ranks), Wis 17+.

Benefit: By spending one Void Point, you may create, as a standard action, any one non-magical item with a volume and mass less than or equal to one-forth your own. Each round, you may spend another Void Point to keep the item in existence. While this kiho feat is in effect, you may not replenish your Void Points in any way, whether by your own actions or the actions of another. When you are out of Void Points or end this effect, the item fades into nothingness, returning to the Void. This is considered a supernatural ability.

Fate’s Merciful Hand
You understand that the kharmic wheel turns and that those who do good deeds will not go unrewarded, as this kiho feat demonstrates.

Prerequisite: Monk or Inkyo level 12+, Void Use, Depths of the Void, Wis 14+.

Benefit: When using the aid another action to improve another character’s AC, you may redirect one attack per round to yourself (you are affected normally even if you are out of range of the original attack). If an attack would reduce you below zero hit points, you immediately spend all of your remaining Void Points to cancel the damage. This is considered a supernatural ability.

This feat cannot be used if you have less than half your maximum Void Points.

Kawaru Focus
You are able to see the possible futures surrounding an item or set of items and act upon that vision.

Prerequisite: Any one other kiho feat, Void Use.

Benefit: One of the most basic zanshin, this kiho reflects the possible futures surrounding a set of items. It is even said to possibly give insight into the next lives of those who hold the items in question. The name of the kiho comes from the Kawaru coins that some of the wisest heimin use to perform this “peasant magic”.

To use the kiho, the monk must focus upon a small item such as a coin or yarrow stick and spend a Void Point. Thereafter, the monk can generally sense the location of the items, as well as the well-being of the person holding them. Any time the monk spends a Void Point thereafter (during the duration of the Kiho) he learns the following: approximate distance and location of the item, the identity of the current holder (only if it is someone the monk has personally met), the current Wound Penalties suffered by that person, and their general physical and emotional state (happy, angry, asleep, poisoned, diseased, etc.). This is only a momentary flash of insight; the monk cannot monitor the target’s location, read their mind, or home in on them (though it is conceivable a monk could spend Void multiple times and triangulate the target’s position).

This kiho has a duration equal to the monk’s Void in hours.

Purity of Spirit
You become able to perform a complicated series of atemi touches, resulting in a burst of pure chi that stuns your target.

Prerequisites: Monk or Inkyo level 9+, Stunning Attack, Void Use, Con 15+.

Benefit: The save DC of the character’s stunning attacks is increased by 4.

[end d20 section]