The Eight Devils come from a really cool anime called (in America) Ninja Scroll, and originally known as Jubei Ninpucho (aka "Legend of Jubei" I think...). This is a wild, fantastic martial arts anime combining elements of more traditional samurai movies with sequences of pure fantasy. It sort of reminds me of what a movie made by both Akira Kurosawa and Tsui Hark would look like. Fortunately, this movie can be found in many video rental stores. I recommend the sub-titled version. (Note: this movie is a bit graphic at times!)
The adaptions presented will be of all eight "Devils of Kimon", as well as the other three major characters of the film; Jubei - a wandering ninja/ronin, Kagero - ninja of the Koga clan, and Dakuan - a spy masquerading as a priest.
The character designs have been deliberatly 'fleshed out' a bit from what is presented in the movie. I've tried to add in an assortment of skills that would seem to be appropriate for each of the characters. By the way, the power level of the Eight Devils is rather high. I suspect that the average total will easily be 375 points per each one. I recommend using these characters in high-powered fantasy or wild martial arts games.
Right now I'm going to post my first two adaptions, the rest will follow as I finish them. (really! honest!)
*************************************************************************** * "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion * * Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net * * Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT * * Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark * ***************************************************************************
Description: Utsutsu is tall, about 6' in height, with a thin build. His hair is very long, falling almost to his waist. He is reasonably handsome, with eyes that are perpetually closed due to his blindness. He dresses in a fine white kimono and dark hakama. He carries a daisho (paired swords) in his belt.
Powers Notes: Aside from his physical prowess with the swords, Utsutsu is very strong (he supported Jubei and Kagero as they climbed up Jubei's sword wire with one hand), and very fast. He is capable of blindingly fast sword strikes, quick dodges and incredible leaps. His most impressive power, though, is his hearing.
Although blind, Utsutsu is more than capable of fighting multiple opponents by listening to their movements. At one point he goes toe-to-toe with Jubei in a bamboo forest without a problem.
Disadvantages Notes: Utsutsu's disads pretty much speak for themselves. He likes to test his skill against other swordsmen, and duel (or attempt to duel) any well known warrior he comes across. He is very sure of his abilities, even going so far as to tell Jubei "In order to beat me you must not make a sound...". Due to his perceptive hearing, his blindness is only a small hindrance, but is still a disadvantage.
As with all of the Eight Devils, he is subject to the orders of Himuro and Yurimaru.
STAT VAL COST Str 20 10 Dex 30 60 Con 18 16 Body 13 6 Int 20 10 Ego 14 8 Pre 20 10 Com 14 2 PD 8 4 ED 7 3 Spd 7 30 Rec 8 0 End 36 0 Stun 32 0 Char Total 159 Power Total 225 Total Cost 384 COST POWERS & SKILLS MA: Kenjutsu - use art with swords 4 Bind +1 OCV +0 DCV 30 STR Bind 4 Block +2 OCV +2 DCV Abort 4 Disarm -1 OCV +1 DCV 30 STR Disarm 4 Evade +0 OCV +5 DCV 4 Lightining Stroke +2 OCV +0 DCV Weapon +1 DC 5 Running Stroke +1 OCV +0 DCV Weapon +v/5; Full Move 5 Sacrifice Stroke +1 OCV -2 DCV Weapon +2 DC 5 Slashing Stroke -2 OCV +1 DCV Weapon +2 DC 21 HKA: 1 1/2d6, +1 OCV, 0 END, OAF: Katana 13 KA: 1d6, +1 OCV, OAF: Wakazashi 26 Flash Attack: 2d6 vs Sight Group, 0 END, Requires Avaliable Light Source (-1/4), OIF: Any bladed weapon (-1/2) 10 Running: +5" Running, (11"/22") END 2 6 Superleap: +6" (10" total), END 2 35 Spatial Awareness (acute 'hearing'), 360 Degrees 3 Breakfall 15- 3 Climbing 15- 3 Concealment 13- 23 Danger Sense (out of combat, normally sensed attacks) 15- 10 Defense Maneuver (full) 5 Fast Draw 16- 3 High Society 13- 3 KS: Kenjutsu 13- 3 KS: Famous Swordsmen 13- 3 Riding 15- 3 Sleight of Hand 15- 3 Stealth 15- 1 WF: Sword 1 Lang: Japanese (literate) 12 CSL: +4 with Kenjutsu Disadvantages 100 Base 10 DS: Kenjutsu 10 Phys: Blind 20 Psych: Overconfidence 15 Psych: Gunslinger Mentality 10 Psych: Obeys Orders 15 Rep: One of the Eight Devils of Kimon 11- (Ext) 10 Rivalry: All other swordsmen 184 Blind Swordsman Bonus (Utsutsu Mujuro created by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)
*************************************************************************** * "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion * * Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net * * Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT * * Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark * ***************************************************************************Oops!
I left off a *very* *important* note!
I'd like to give thanks (and design credits) to David Kuijt for creating the intial Eight Devils of Kimon write-ups that I have used for the basis of my own designs.
Thanks.
*************************************************************************** * "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion * * Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net * * Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT * * Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark * ***************************************************************************
TESSA
Designers Notes:
Tessa is the largest of the Eight Devils, with the power to transform into a
rock-like state that is resistant to swords, shuriken and similar attacks. He
carries an enormous throwing blade that can cut through entire trees with ease.
He is quite violent, even for a Devil of Kimon. An interesting side note: Tessa
means "made from iron".
Description:
Tessa is huge. He looks to be easily 8' tall and is massive, his body bulging
with muscles. A good idea of his size is shown by the fact that his hand is
large enough to cover Kagero's (the female ninja) face. Tessa is bald, with a
thin beard along the bottom of his jawline. His skin is dark but not
exceptionally so.
When transforming to rock-form, his skin becomes dark gray, as well as gaining a "pinched" looks as his body develops ridges and sharp points.
Originally, he is shown wearing hakama (trousers), with a short-sleeved kimono (robe) and a kataginu (sideless vest). Later, he is dressed only in green hakama.
Powers Notes:
Aside from his massive strength and sheer size, Tessa possesses the ability to
make his skin impervious to weapons of all sorts. It takes about a phase to do
this, as his skin darkens and hardens into a rock-like texture. Tessa's
strength also allows him to use an most unusual weapon, a throwing blade that
resembles a an airplane's propeller, consisting of two blades joined by a handle
in the middle.
Although Tessa can use this weapon in hand to hand combat, it's true power is revealed when he throws it, as it's size and speed allows him to mow down entire groups of people in seconds. Note that he must roll to hit each target when he does this.
Because of Tessa's size, and the sheer mass of the throwing blade, it's bought as an OIF. You can get it away from him, but it's going to take more than a simple disarm...
Disadvantages Notes:
Tessa's disads are pretty self explanitory. He's a big guy, even with his power
turned off. He kills without a second thought, believes his armored body is
impervious to just about everything, and tells Kagero that "A dead girl might
make an interesting lay...". Interestingly enough, he is rather obedient to
orders from his superiors (Himuro Gemma and Yurimaru).
STAT VAL COST Str 45 25 Dex 21 33 Con 28 36 Body 23 22 Int 13 3 Ego 13 6 Pre 20 10 Com 8 -1 PD 9 2 ED 7 1 Spd 5 19 Rec 13 0 End 60 0 Stun 60 3 Char Total 159 Power Total 207 Total Cost 366 COST POWERS & SKILLS 13 Growth: 2 Levels, 0 END, Always On: +10 STR, +2 Body, +2 Stun, -2" KB, 880lbs 80 (120) Multipower: Throwing Blade, "OIF" 4 u HKA: 2 1/2d6, 0 END (4d6 w/ STR) 8 u RKA: 4d6, AOE - Line, Non-selective, 1/2 END, END 6 21 Armor: 13 DEF, Hardened, Full Phase to Activate (-1/4) 13 Lack of Weakness: 10 Points linked to Armor (-1/2) 7 Power Defense: 10 DEF, linked to Armor (-1/2) 7 Presence: +10 Points, linked to Armor (-1/2) 6 Running: +3" (9"/18") END 2 3 Breakfall 13- 3 Climbing 13- 3 Tracking 11- 3 Riding 13- 5 Stealth 14- 6 WF: Common Martial Arts Weapons, Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons 1 Lang: Japanese (literate) 12 CSL: +4 with Multipower 12 CSL: +4 with Grab, Haymaker, Punch Disadvantages 100 Base 15 DF: Huge Man, 8' tall, massively muscled 15 DF: Rock-like body/skin 15 Psych: Casual Killer 15 Psych: Misogynist 20 Psych: Overconfidence 10 Psych: Obey Orders 15 Rep: One of the Eight Devils of Kimon 11- (Ext) 161 Made of Iron Bonus (Tessa created by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)
*************************************************************************** * "'Cause I'm the god of destruction, that's why!" - Susano Orbatos,Orion * * Michael Surbrook / susano@access.digex.net * * Attacked Mystification Police / AD Police / ESWAT * * Society for Creative Anachronism / House ap Gwystl / Company of St.Mark * ***************************************************************************