Samurai

Though many are trained in the art of the sword, few have the dedication, sense of duty, and honor to truly be a samurai. To be a samurai is not only to be a warrior, it is to hold yourself to a higher standard and serve others.

Narrative Ability
Prerequisites

To become a samurai, you must:

  • Have an Inspect Arms narrative ability in your build (not from treasure)
  • Have either a Critical Damage passive ability in your build OR a Crit Damage Combat ability with the Melee trigger in your build (not from treasure).
  • Pledge themselves to, and be accepted into, the service of a noble family of Vostour
Ethos

All samurai follow a strict moral code known as bushidō, embodying their eight virtues.

  • 義 Gi (Righteousness). To the samurai, all points of view are deeply considered regarding honesty, justice and integrity. Samurai make a full commitment to their decisions.
  • 勇 Yū (Heroic Courage). A samurai must have heroic courage. While it is absolutely risky, heroic courage is not blind; it is intelligent and strong.
  • 仁 Jin (Compassion). Samurai develop a power that must be used for good. They help their fellow men at every opportunity. If an opportunity does not arise, they go out of their way to find one.
  • 礼 Rei (Respect). Samurai have no reason to be cruel; they do not need to prove their strength. They are not only respected for their strength in battle, but also by their dealings with others.
  • 誠 Makoto (Honesty). When samurai say that they will perform an action, it is as good as done. Nothing will stop them from completing what they say they will do.
  • 名誉 Meiyo (Honour). Samurai have only one judge of honor and character, and this is themselves. Decisions they make and how these decisions are carried out are a reflection of who they truly are.
  • 忠義 Chūgi (Loyalty). Samurai are responsible for everything that they have done and everything that they have said and all of the consequences that follow. To everyone that they are responsible for, they remain fiercely true.
  • 自制 Jisei (Self-Control).

While both paladins and samurai follow moral codes, there are distinct differences. While paladins actions are dictated by the law of the land they find themselves in, samurai are guided by personal beliefs and duties. While a paladin may not kill a slaver in a land where slavery is allowed, a samurai would have no such qualm if he thought it were right to do so.

Bearing on Duty: Samurai hold themselves to a standard greater than the individual. They represent the family they serve in all they do, and value its position over their own. While a samurai may carefully debate a course of action, they will never abandon a task. Once set on a path, they are implacable.

Bearing on Service to the Family: A samurai's first duty is to the family they serve. If through action or inaction they damage their family, they will not rest until they have repaired the damage and more. In extreme circumstances, a samurai will willingly commit ritual suicide to atone for grievous damage to the family, particularly upon the death of their master. In that event, samurai who do not complete the ritual are branded as rōnin.

Rōnin: Samurai become rōnin upon the death of their master, or after the loss of their master's favor or privilege. Depending on the circumstances, rōnin are shunned at the very least. In cases where the samurai themselves led to the death of their master, they are often outright hunted by other samurai. If a Samurai comes across a Rōnin, they may compel the Rōnin to flag or leave the area.