USAGI YOJIMBO

TOMOE AME

Val	CHA	Cost	Roll	Notes
13	STR	3	12-	Lift 151.6 kg; 2 1/2d6 HTH Damage [1]
18	DEX	24	13-	OCV:  6/DCV:  6
15	CON	10	12-
12	BODY	4	11-
14	INT	4	12-	PER Roll 12-
18	EGO	16	13-	ECV:  6
18	PRE	8	13-	PRE Attack:  3 1/2d6
18	COM	4	13-

7	PD	4		Total:  7 PD (0 rPD)
6	ED	3		Total:  6 ED (0 rED)
4	SPD	12		Phases:  3, 6, 9, 12
6	REC	0
30	END	0
27	STUN	0		Total Characteristics Cost:  92

Movement::	Running:	6"/12"
		Leaping:	4"/8"
		Swimming:	2"/4"

Cost	Powers & Skills
	Martial Arts:  Falling Rain-ryu Kenjutsu
	Maneuver	OCV	DCV	Damage
4	Block		+2	+2	Block, Abort
4	Cut		+0	+2	Weapon +2 DC Strike
4	Evade		--	+5	Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort
4	Lightning Stroke
			+2	+0	Weapon +2 DC Strike
5	Slashing Stroke	-2	+1	Weapon +4 DC Strike
5	Thrust		+1	+3	Weapon  Strike
1	Weapon Element:  Blades, Empty Hand

22	Katana:  HKA 1 1/2d6 (2 1/2d6 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); OAF (-1) plus 
	+1 OCV; OAF (-1) plus Range Based On STR (+1/4) for up to 25 Active Points of HKA; 1 Recoverable 
	Charge (-1 1/4), OAF (-1), [1 rc]
14	Wakazashi:  HKA 1d6 (2d6 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); OAF (-1) plus 
	+1 OCV; OAF (-1) plus Range Based On STR (+1/4) for up to 15 Active Points of HKA; 
	1 Recoverable Charge (-1 1/4), OAF (-1), [1 rc]
10	Yadome-jutsu (Arrow Cutting):  Missile Deflection (Arrows, Slings, and so on.), Adjacent Hex (+1/2); 
	OIF (any sword of opportunity; -1/2)
2	Spring In Her Step:  Leaping +2" (4 1/2" forward, 2" upward), END 1

	Perks
3	Fringe Benefit:  Chief Retainer to Lord Noriyuki
10	Fringe Benefit:  Kirisutogomen

	Talents
6	Chambara Swordswoman:  Combat Luck (3 PD/3 ED)
32	Dairokkan:  Danger Sense (immediate vicinity, out of combat, Discriminatory, Function as 
	a Sense) 12-
7	Swordmistress:  Deadly Blow:  +1d6 (with swords)
4	Resistance (4 points)

	Skills
12	+2 with HTH and Ranged Combat
6	+2 with Kenjutsu
8	+4 OCV with Yadome-jutsu
8	Penalty Skill Levels:  +4 vs. Hit Location modifiers with swords

5	Acrobatics 14-
3	AK: Geishu Province 12-
3	Breakfall 13-
3	Climbing 13-
10	Defense Maneuver I-IV 
3	Iaijutsu:  Fast Draw (HTH Weapons) 13-
3	High Society 13-
3	KS: Falling Rain-ryu Kenjutsu 12-
0	Language:  Japanese (idiomatic; literate)
2	PS: Samurai 11-
5	Rapid Attack (HTH) 
3	Riding 13-
3	Stealth 13-
3	Tactics 12-
4	WF:  Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons

Total Powers & Skill Cost:  224
Total Cost:  316

150+	Disadvantages
15	DNPC:  Lord Noriyuki 14- (Normal; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills)
10	Distinctive Features:  Samurai Bearing (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By 
	Commonly-Used Senses)
10	Distinctive Features:  Style (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Large Group)
20	Hunted:  Enemies Of The Geishu 11- (As Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish)
20	Psychological Limitation:  Code Of The Bushi (Common, Total)
20	Psychological Limitation:  Code of Vengeance:  Must avenge all insults to self and lord (Common, Total)
20	Social Limitation:  Subject To Orders (Very Frequently, Major)
51	Experience Points
316	Total Disadvantage Points

Background/History: Tomoe Ame is the daughter of Tatsutaro, the founder of the Falling Rain School of fencing. Tatsutaro taught Tomoe everything she knows, making her into one of the finest female swordswomen in Japan (of which there are very few, to be honest). Afterwards, she became a samurai in service to the Geishu Clan, whom her family has served for some 10 generations. In time, she has become Lord Noriyuki's most trusted and closest advisor, and his chief retainer and personal bodyguard, seeing to the defense and well-being of the Geishu lands.

She first met Usagi while trying to escape from the Neko Ninja, who were bent on killing Lord Noriyuki and thus preventing him from being named heir to the Geishu lands. Together they kept Noriyuki alive, and afterwards Noriyuki wished to offer Usagi service, but the rabbit had already left. Since then, Usagi has met with Tomoe and Noriyuki several times, often assisting the Geishu in times of need (or being assisted by them). Usagi is always welcome in Geishu lands, and there are hints of romantic feelings between Tomoe and Usagi.

Tomoe Ame is the first of the major supporting cast characters to appear, showing up in Volume 1, The Ronin, in the stories Lone Rabbit And Child, and The Confession. She has appeared sporadically since, playing important parts in the The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy and Grasscutter story arcs.

Personality/Motivation: First and foremost, Tomoe Ame is concerned with the safety and well-being of Lord Noriyuki. Most everything she does is with this in mind. In many ways, she is a true samurai (even more so than Usagi), who thinks nothing of her self, but instead is totally dedicated to her lord. On several occasions she has nearly sacrificed herself so her lord may live and/or see his plans or needs or taken care of. In one case, she urged Usagi to flee and leave her, so he could get a message through enemy lines, basically stating her life wasn't important enough for him to risk capture. Although utterly loyal to Noriyuki, Tomoe Ame does have personal feelings, including a romantic attachment to Usagi. However, it is pretty much a given that this relationship will never develop, unless Usagi decides to settle down and take up service with Lord Noriyuki.

Quotes: "I must see to my lord's comfort as well as his safety!"

"Blood. So much blood. I despise all of this killing!"

Powers/Tactics: Tomoe Ame is a master of Falling Rain Kenjutsu and a highly-skilled warrior. She has fought against massed foes and is just on the verge of gaining the Area of Effect strike many other top-end fighters seem to have. As it is, she's quite capable of Sweeping a Lightning Stroke and killing two foes in a single attack. She has also shown skill in Riding, the bow, and the spear. In combat, she will see to the safety of Lord Noriyuki first, with getting him out of harms way her first, and foremost, priority. Otherwise she will take the fight to the enemy, cutting them down with fast and efficient strokes.

Appearance: Tomoe Ame is a pretty anthropomorphic feline with tan fur, black hair, and an attractive face and features. Her hair is very long, and falls down to her waist, even with the topknot she wears. Her clothing usually consists of hakama, kimono, obi, and haori. I'm unsure of the colors, but the cover of the Grasscutter volume seems to indicate a green haori, red kimono, and blueish hakama. The obi is white. Tomoe Ame normally carries a katana and wakizashi, but has been trained in the use of the naginata and the yari.

Designers Notes: Tomoe's character sheet is derived from the Fuzion stats given in the Usagi Yojimbo Role-Playing Game put out by Gold Rush Games. Additional skills were derived from material in the Sengoku Role-Playing Game and from scenes in the comic series. Tomoe herself is loosely based on the real world female samurai Tomoe Gozen, although her name comes from a candy called "Tomoe Ame" that Stan Sakai enjoyed as a child. Interestingly, "Tomoe" is the character's given name, not "Ame," which is her family name.

Tomoe is a very popular character with UY fans, and many have pushed for a romantic involvement between her and Usagi. Stan Sakai has made hints to this effect, but the most recent story arcs have her forced into marriage with neighboring lord. It remains to see what the fallout of this will be.

As written Tomoe is avery capable samurai. However, her stats (taken from the GRG RPG) might be a tad low. To "punch up" Tomoe's combat skills, give her the Area Of Effect attack I've given to other main samurai as well as a DEX of 20 or so.

(Tomoe Ame created by Stan Saki, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)

Tomoe Ame's Hero Designer File


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