Arishikage Clan Ninja (5e Subclass)

History

Several members of the Arishikage clan. Source

Centuries ago, the Emperor of Japan asked his general to protect the Jewel of Amaterasu, a gem said to allow the wielder to control their chi. The gem was so well concealed, that its location was lost with the ascendancy of emperors, and the general's family was eventually reduced to simple farmers, who would later become the Arashikage. For generations, the Arashikage worked as shadowy assassins, using deception to earn their keep as ninjas, as well as developing a reputation for being able to perform impossible tasks.

Later, the Arashikage would continue the deception, financing front businesses to hide their true work as covert operatives, bounty hunters, thieves, and contract killers. Their remote compound was hidden in the mountains of Japan. Only those who truly prove their worth, and commitment to the Arashikage katas and discipline, were allowed full membership into the clan. This was denoted by the tattooing of the clan symbol on the forearm, the 63rd hexagram of the I Ching.

An Arishikage Clan Ninja gains 5 Techniques over the course of his or her training. They learn 3 Techniques when they join the Clan. When they learn their 4th Technique, they become known as the "Young Master". Once they learn their 5th Technique, they are the "Silent Master". And Finally when they learn the final Technique, they are the "Hard Master" or Clan Leader.

Uniform and symbol. When a Rogue selects this Archetype, they gain the following; Members of the Arashikage clan wear a tattoo on their right forearm, which is the ba gua symbol for 'water' and 'fire', representing the 63rd hexagram of the I Ching.

Arashikage Practice Starting at 3rd level, you learn 3 techniques that you can move into and out of with a standard action. When you learn new techniques, you may move into and out of those techniques as well as a standard actions. An Arishikage may only use ONE technique at a time and must take an standard action to move into a new technique.

1. Arashikage Mind-Set The Mind-Set is a form of hypnotism that requires extreme concentration and focus. It is perhaps the most powerful and dangerous of the Arashikage secrets, granting a warrior unshakable resolve and tenacity. The Mind-Set will cause a warrior to ignore pain and fear, and has proven capable of casting off the effects of brainwashing.

- While in this technique, you gain advantage on save vs Fear Effects.

- Additionally, while using this technique, if you are reduced to 0HP, you gain advantage on your first Death Saving Throw.

2. The Cloak of the Chameleon Using extreme physical control, the Cloak of the Chameleon alters breathing and circulatory patterns, in order to perfectly mimic the sounds of another person.

- When using this technique, you gain advantage on Deception or Performance skill checks to pose as another same-sized humanoid

3. The Ear That Sees An exercise that concentrates hearing, to compensate for loss of sight. The Ear That Sees allows a warrior to identify a foe through sound alone, with cues such as heartbeat, the sound of cloth against cloth, and the patterns of breathing and other movement.

-When using this technique, you may make a Perception Skill Check with advantage to attack a target while within magical or natural darkness, blinded or otherwise have your sight hindered, as long as you are not deaf. This skill check is made against the target's Stealth Skill. An inanimate object makes no sound.

The Sleeping Phoenix Starting at 9th level, This technique mimics death, by exerting extreme physical control over involuntary bodily processes. It has proven valuable in fooling enemies, and in extending survival.

-When you use the Sleeping Phoenix technique, you gain +10 to any Perform Skill Checks to 'play dead' as one might against a Bear attack or other Monsters who are looking for a lively opponent. -Additionally, this Technique can be used to mimic a zombie (undead) and walk among them without being noticed. Like an invisibility spell, once you take any standard action that would dispel an invisibility spell, you are revealed to the undead.

The Way Of The Inner Anvil By 13th level, The most well kept secret technique handed down from ninja to ninja through countless generations whereby one may still one's breath and heartbeat to the semblance of death itself.

-This technique allows you to make Stealth Skill Checks with a +10 bonus when trying to avoid being heard. -Once this technique is in effect, you cannot be perceived by sound. A keen nosed or eyed tracker can still find you, however.

The Blind Sword When you reach 17th level, A lesser sword fighting technique that allows the practitioner to defend himself in low-visibility conditions, consisting in just extending the sword, using its scabbard for touch to compensate for the loss of sight.

- This Technique allows you to keep your guard up when your foe may have the advantage. If you cannot see because of quality of light, blindness or other ways of taking away your sight, your attacker does not gain an advantage when making their attack on you.

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