Keep having your grunts fall on the Good Guys' swords during the first assault, leading to significant losses and very little progress towards your Dark Ambitions?
Fear not! Now available are Martial Arts minions! Martial Arts minions are deadly, highly trained warriors who possess a vast array of combat techniques that make them far superior to regular grunts. Sure, their extra training makes them harder to come by than the typical grunt recruits, but they are worth the quite modest investment! They survive longer in combat, and eliminate many times their number of idiots-with-swords! Their advanced fighting skills, combined with their stealth and tactical cleverness, make them the perfect weapon to unleash upon your enemies!
Oh, but, their increased intelligence means a few will sometimes think about running away to a better life, but just make sure your Sinister Sensei encourages unwavering loyalty to you, the Master, and I'm sure they won't try to escape, right? Surely..
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two of -
- Athletics: Much of life as a student of your Sinister Sensei was about simple manual labour. After all, why would the Master bother to train an army of soldiers if not to make them do all the heavy lifting?
- Intimidation: Though you were training to be in an army, your primary function was to complete any missions assigned by the Master. This ironically meant avoiding fighting more often than not, so you can complete your mission without distraction. Intimidation is a great way to bypass a fight quickly.
- Stealth: In the Master's army, you were often required to perform acts of thievery, cat burglary, kidnapping, ambush, and assassination. Stealth was survival for you and the other students.
- Survival: The Master only cared about keeping you on your feet and tended to ignore luxuries like "basic sustenance" and "first aid". You were often left to your own devices when it came to basic survival.
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose one Martial Artist tool, which you picked up during your training with the Sinister Sensei: Brewer's Supplies, Calligrapher's Supplies, Painter's Supplies, Weaver's Tools, Woodcarver's Tools, Dice Set.
Choose any one tool or, if the Master was a being capable of appreciating music, a musical instrument of your choice. The Master has all his minions participating in the mundane but necessary tasks for maintaining his tiny little evil army / society.
As part of your training, you've learned to seek the stillness of your inner universe. Meditation allows you to achieve a higher level of focus and concentration later in battle. You carry with you a handheld token to remind you of your meditative routine, and to help trigger the required physical responses such as slowed breathing and quieting of mind.
Choose one of -
| d6 | Meditation focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Prayer beads: To count how many times you've recited a mantra or prayer during meditation. |
| 2 | Incense and incense holder: To burn, so you may focus your attention on the rising smoke while meditating. |
| 3 | Singing bowl: To mark the beginning and end of a meditation session. A singing bowl is a type of bell that produces a soothing sound when struck. |
| 4 | Lotus flower: To reminder you of your spiritual path. The lotus flower is a symbol of purity and enlightenment in some mystic practices. |
| 5 | Rock or pebble: To help you focus your attention. You may hold it in your hand or place it in front of you while meditating. |
| 6 | Meditation figurine: To remind you of your sensei's teachings and of the path to enlightenment. |
The life of any minion is difficult, but as a highly trained warrior whose main purpose is still to get killed on the front lines, you are especially accustomed to hardship. You've learned to work through it to a degree.
Until you reach Exhaustion Level 2+, ignore the effects of Exhaustion Level 1.
At and beyond Exhaustion Level 2, any Exhaustion effects apply as normal, which include the stacked consequences of Exhaustion Level 1.
Suggested Characteristics
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | You enjoy the camaraderie and community of the martial arts. Even your enemies deserve respect for their skill. You thrive on the energy and excitement of competition and love to showcase your skills in front of others. |
| 2 | You focus on personal growth and development through your art, preferring to quietly observe and analyze the techniques and strategies of your foes, seeking weakness. |
| 3 | You are detail-oriented and disciplined, paying close attention to technique and striving for precision. You are diligent in your training regimen and meticulous in your approach to the art. |
| 4 | You may be prone to anxiety and overthinking, constantly analyzing and second-guessing your techniques and strategies. You tend to be highly critical of yourself, thinking you could have done it better. |
| 5 | You like to be friendly and cooperative, and work with others to achieve a common goal. You prioritize harmony and collaboration in training, in competition, and in life. |
| 6 | You are curious and receptive to new ideas and techniques, always seeking to expand your knowledge and understanding of the art. You can sometimes be experimental and innovative in your approach to new problems. |
| 7 | You are confident and decisive, unafraid to take risks and make bold moves on the mat. You can sometimes be highly competitive as you are driven to succeed, always pushing yourself to be the best you can be. |
| 8 | You have lofty goals and aspirations, striving to achieve greatness in the art and earn recognition for your skills and accomplishments. You are highly motivated and dedicated, willing to put in the hard work. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Discipline: Your art is demanding, requiring discipline and commitment to master. You wouldn't have gotten this far if not for your strong discipline, which has helped you cultivate focus, self-control, and consistency in your training. |
| 2 | Respect: Your art is rooted in traditional values that emphasize respect for one's training partners, instructors, and the art itself. You value respect as a means of creating a positive and supportive training environment. |
| 3 | Humility: Despite your art's focus on competition and self-defense, it also emphasizes humility and respect for one's opponents. You see humility as a means of maintaining perspective and being open to learning. |
| 4 | Perseverance: Your art is sometimes frustrating, requiring a great deal of patience and resilience to succeed. You value perseverance as a means of overcoming challenges, pushing through setbacks, and continuing to improve. |
| 5 | Courage: Your art involves physical contact and the potential for injury, which can be intimidating to participate in. You value courage as a means of facing your fears, taking risks, and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. |
| 6 | Community: Your art is practiced within a dojo, a close-knit community of fellow students who support and challenge each other in their training and competition. You value community as a way to build relationships and experience a sense of belonging. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | You participate a highly competitive sport, and basically always win! In fact, winning at all costs is the name of the game. |
| 2 | Your training was complex and nuanced, requiring time and practice to master. Why bother? Learn just enough to beat the next guy and you'll be fine. |
| 3 | You've always done it this way and it has worked in the past. If it's not working now, you're just not being patient enough. |
| 4 | Sure, my art is primarily defensive, but life is risky. If I hurt you while on my own road to success, it's your own fault. Walk it off. |
| 5 | I just hope I'm good enough to get through this next battle. If I'm not, well.. tell my mother I love her. |
| 6 | The sensei threw so much information at me. Honestly I'm just winging it at this point. Don't tell me the plan, I'll forget it. |
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