Togashi Suguhara

Hitomi Suguhara, Commander of the Tenth Legion

Like most members of his order, Hitomi Suguhara was once something else. Strangely, he can remember very little of that time. He remembers that he was lost, desperate and morose over his station in life, and that the first true moment of clarity he ever experienced was when the tattoo signifying Lady Moon’s blessing first appeared. On that day, a dismal, unhappy, weakling of a man departed for the High House of Light. By the time Hitomi Suguhara arrived at the palace, there was nothing of that man left, not even a memory. Where that man had been weak and uncertain, Suguhara was strong and resolute. He was the very model of a loyal Hitomi, and was accepted with open arms.

In the months that followed his acceptance, Suguhara quickly developed a reputation as a relentless warrior. He adapted quickly to the martial arts practiced by the tattooed men, and advanced through their ranks rapidly. His precision and strength were such that few could oppose him. In short order, he became a sensei of sorts, teaching other members of the Hitomi order to call upon Lady Moon for inspiration, seeking strength from within to seek enlightenment by overcoming adversity. It is likely that Suguhara would have continued in this manner indefinitely if not for the untimely arrival of an honored guest of the Dragon, the man the Emperor Toturi had once named Defender of the Empire, Bayushi Paneki.

Paneki held a position as a ranking officer in the First Legion, an advisor to the Emperor’s daughter Toturi Tsudao. Paneki sought the counsel of Togashi Satsu in a matter relevant to the Legion, and seemed surprised to see Suguhara. He called the monk by a different name, a name that Suguhara had chosen to forget. For the first time since his arrival, he felt a wave of doubt. In a moment of panic, the monk leapt over the balcony where he had been practicing his kata and disappeared into the foothills below, fleeing from a memory.

Suguhara remained hidden for days, his mind racing. His abandonment of his previous life had been so utterly complete that he could no longer remember it, even if he wished to do so. Why did the idea of confronting it frighten him so? Suguhara was overcome with self-loathing at his weakness, for it was the antithesis of everything he had come to value during his time among the Dragon. Finally, he rose from his place of hiding and returned to the High House of Light, determined to overcome this obstacle as he had all others.

Paneki was waiting for him. The Scorpion apologized with a genuine smile, explaining that he had clearly mistaken Suguhara for someone else, someone that had died a number of years before. The resemblance, he explained, was quite remarkable, but he had not intended to cause his honored ally among the Dragon discomfort by succumbing to a moment of melodramatic weakness. He asked Suguhara’s forgiveness, and the monk readily gave it. It was only then that Paneki informed the monk that Hitomi Kagetora had granted his request to have Suguhara come and teach unarmed combat to his soldiers in the Legion.

Suguhara’s students among the Legions were far less adaptable than the monks he had previously instructed. They were unwilling to forego their previous knowledge to embrace his teachings, but he found their reluctance exhilarating. Suguhara’s leadership qualities blossomed under the challenge of teaching such men. During his instruction to key members of the Tenth Legion, Suguhara and the others came under attack by a vicious cell of Bloodspeakers flush with power in the wake of Iuchiban’s return to the Empire. The Legion’s commander and most of his command staff were killed, and Suguhara took command out of sheer necessity. When the other commanders learned of what had happened, the personal recommendation of Bayushi Paneki was sufficient for Suguhara to be awarded command of the Legion. The appointment of a monk to such a position was unheard of, but Suguhara quickly proved that the decision was well-made. His Legion is among the most disciplined, adaptable in the Emperor’s service, and is frequently called upon by First Legion commander Toturi Miyako when she had a difficult duty that must be performed quickly and precisely.

Hitomi Suguhara, Commander of the Tenth Legion Air: 4 Earth: 3 Stamina 6 Fire: 3 Agility 5 Water: 3 Void: 4 School/Rank: Tattooed Man (Kikage Zumi) 4 Glory: 6.1 Status: N/A (6.3) Honor: 2.7 Advantages: Bishamon’s Blessing, Death Trance Disadvantages: Overconfident Tattoos: Bat, Blaze, Carp, Scarab, Snake Kiho: Self No Self, Way of the Willow Skills: Artisan: Sculpting 3, Athletics 6, Battle 4, Instruction 5, Jiujutsu 7, Kenjutsu 4, Kyujutsu 3, Meditation (Void Recovery) 4, Tea Ceremony 3, Theology (Fortunes, Shintao) 4 Note: Suguhara is exempt from the normal rules regarding monks and Status. Despite that he is technically a monk, his position as commander of the Tenth Imperial Legion supercedes normal social conventions and causes others to treat him with the same Status afforded to others of such rank.

New Tattoos Hitomi Suguhara has many tattoos, both mystical and mundane. He has a number of tattoos that are not described in the Third Edition rulebook, including the following:

Carp The carp is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, and those tattooed men who bear its tattoo embody those traits. This tattoo is always on. A number of times per day equal to your Insight Rank, you may immediately re-roll any roll.

Scarab The scarab is an insect found across the Burning Sands, although a handful were brought back by the Scorpion after that clan’s banishment there. In the Burning Sands, the scarab is seen as a symbol of the ruthless sun, a sinister entity there but a revered deity in Rokugan. You may spend a Void Point to activate the Scarab tattoo, which remains active for a number of rounds equal to your Insight Rank. While the tattoo is active, you are immune to damage from any non-magical fire or heat, and any fire spell targeting you has its TN increased by your Insight Rank x5.

Snake The Snake tattoo is among the most dangerous and sinister of all ise zumi tattoos, and usually only manifests on those who have the strength of will to keep such power in check. After making a successful unarmed attack that strikes bare flesh, you may choose not to roll damage and spend a Void Point. Doing so immediately afflicts your target as if he had been afflicted with snake venom (see Third Edition, page 162). Rolls to resist or heal this affliction have their TN increased by twice your Insight Rank. You may spend a second Void Point to immediately end the effects of this poison in a victim. Allowing a victim of this attack to die is grounds for being cast out of the tattooed orders.