"Many a man has lost his faith because the heavens wouldn't show him enough. I've never known a man to lose his faith, because the heavens showed him too much."

Kuni Girakuma is a victim of too much research. To the Kuni the Shadowlands are a laboratory for arcane discovery. To that end goblins, ogres, onis, and the like are Prime research materals to a resourceful and aggressive Kuni shugenja. Kuni Girakuma's over zealous desire for more and more research subjects led him as deep into the Shadowlands as most would dare to explore. A Hiruma of the time (his name lost to history long ago) reported that "the body of Girakuma was beyond recognition and his eyes were replated with evil. His skin and soul were forsaken, and I fled for my life when his lipless mouth smiled at me"

Born Circa 620, Girakuma was a mere 14 year old student of the dark ways of the Kuni when he cut open his first goblin under the instruction of his teacher, Kuni Mikoro. Girakuma was drawn to the study of dead things instantly.

While most of Rokugan dared not even touch the skin of humans, Girakuma enjoyed the rapture of taking finely shaped knives and cutting deep into the withered flesh of dead beasts from the Shadowlands. It was this macabre fascination with the dead, that led Girakuma to study it to the point of mastery.

When he was 24 years of age, Girakuma's family was struck by a sickness that was unidentifiable to any Kuni. Only he was strong enough to survive the ravaging scourge, but he watched his wife and children die. Determined to find a way to undo their demise, Girakuma set out to find what only the Shadowlands could provide - an escape from death. An unnatural desire for immortality and a sick obsession with the dead completed Girakuma's chaotic descent into darkness.

While studying an arcane text, Girakuma came upon an unholy scroll... a scroll offering undreamed of power and life. The key to life and strength - the sacred scroll of the Fierce Blood of the Earth. It has been too many centuries since Girakuma began his mad quest; too many years spent hunting down and killing anything with a stronger life essence than his own; too many days spent trying to remember who he is, where he came from and what led him down this path.

The Moto are the greatest thorn in his side. Even Kuni witch hunters are afraid of his name: but the Moto that seek death as a release, hunt the reclusive Girakuma... and the sword! He even believes that the sword can smell him. He knows its power...

Girakuma is not a simple old man, turning bloodied bodies into walking dead. He is everything wrong that has ever been made right. He is the fear in a little boys eyes, and the smell of death that a samurai knows when he draws in his last breath. He is what the Kuni have forgotten, what the Moto wish to destroy and what happens when the luster of power is stronger than the will to resist it.

Minor Oni Servant

His servant is an Oni he has calls Shizuko (quiet little helper). Shizuko was the name of his first born, and when he mastered the Art of Oni Naming (Summon Oni) he took the hands from his dead daughter and sacrificed them (along with his own blood) during the summoning ritual. The power of the Oni is great, but Girakuma possesses the power to destroy it with a thought. That alone has kept both of them safe in the knowledge that their wills are focused on the task at hand, which can change as quickly as the wind.

It has been over 300 years now, and Girakuma Insanity has twisted his memory. 'He' has long forgotten why he named the Oni Shizuko or why he sometimes weeps when he calls its name. All he knows, is that it is loyal and he has never needed another servant.

Shizuko maintains communication with Girakuma, and performs the smallest of tasks that Girakuma has determined are beneath him. Talking with Nezumi, retrieving the weapons of fallen enemies, and destroying small peasant villages are among his responsibilities. Shizuko is a reptilian looking Oni the size of a pony with five legs and incredible speed. A long craning neck ends at a spiky frog-lilke : head with strong teeth pushing in every direction out of its mouth. It has long strong legs that end in sharp hooves. However, Shizuko does not use its legs when attacking, but prefers to swing its long neck around and bite at its opponents. Shizuko is swift, and more likely to run than to continue a losing engagement against strong opponents.

Oni no Shizuko (unique)

EARTH: 4
WATER: 2
Strength: 4
FIRE: 3
Agility: 5
AIR: 3 Reflexes: 6
Attacking: 5k4
Damage: 5k3
TN to be hit: 30
Armor: 2
Wounds: 20: -1; 40 -2; 80: dead

Special Abilities: Oni nu Shizuko has developed a mental link of sorts with Girakuma; each always knows what the other needs.

The Fierce Blood of the Earth

A unique scroll, The Fierce Blood of the Earth is in the possession of Kuni Girakuma. This spell is Maho.

Once per year, the caster may use The Fierce Blood of the Earth to completely consume the life of any living being. This life force is immediately absorbed by the caster and the earth he is standing on. The aging process is halted for one year for each casting of the spell, as well as healing all immediate damage. Continued use of the scroll dries and erodes the skin and warps the caster's internal organs. If the caster ever has no Taint he will be utterly destroyed when the five natural elements violently reenter his body - the power of the Shadowlands runs deep in the veins of those that would wield its power.

GMs are encouraged to develop additional effects of draining particularly with strong individuals.

Base TN: 30
Casting Time: 1 Day
Duration: Instantaneous
Mastery: 20
Concentration: Full

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