Raised in a world where strength is honed through ritual and endurance, you trained under the eye of a strict stable master. Sumo wrestling was more than a sport—it was a spiritual path. You awoke before dawn to train, to eat in silence with your stablemates, and to perform ceremonies that paid homage to the gods of balance, strength, and the earth. Whether you left your stable in disgrace, glory, or pursuit of a deeper calling, your path has led you into the wider world where your strength must serve a new purpose.
- Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Insight
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set
- Equipment: A mawashi (ceremonial belt), a folding fan emblazoned with your stable’s crest, a set of common clothes, a pouch containing 10 gp
During your time as a sumo, you had a specific ranking among your fellow sumo wrestlers. If unranked, select mae zumo. Otherwise, roll a d10 or choose from the options in the table below to determine your role:
| d11 | Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jonokuchi |
| 2 | Jonidan |
| 3 | Sandanme |
| 4 | Makushita |
| 5 | Juryo |
| 6 | Maegashira |
| 7 | Komusubi |
| 8 | Sekiwaki |
| 9 | Ozeki |
| 10 | Yokozuna |
| 11 | Mae zumo (unranked) |
You held an official standing within your sumo stable—such as minarai, sekitori, or san'yuku—and those familiar with the traditions of sumo recognize your status. Other martial artists, monks, warriors, or disciplined religious orders defer to you if they respect sumo customs or recognize your rank. You can invoke your title to gain audiences with respected masters, request formal duels, or secure basic lodging and food at dojos, shrines, or training halls that honor physical discipline.
In regions where sumo is revered or recognized, you can also expect respectful treatment from common folk who admire your path. You may even be able to gain temporary access to ritual spaces, training arenas, or local sponsorship, provided you uphold the customs of your order.
Suggested Characteristics
The austere traditions of sumo and the relentless discipline of stable life leave deep impressions on those who walk the path. Wrestlers are shaped by humility, ritual, and raw strength. These bonds forge powerful ideals, foster fierce loyalty to those they respect, and often leave them burdened with pride, shame, or a desire to prove their worth to the world beyond the ring.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I start every morning with stretching, breathing, and a hearty meal—discipline brings clarity. |
| 2 | I quote my stable master often, even if he was cruel or wrong. |
| 3 | I have a deep belly laugh and enjoy the company of others. |
| 4 | I treat all fights as ceremonial, even if my enemies don’t. |
| 5 | I take my time and move deliberately; nothing is worth rushing. |
| 6 | I eat when I’m stressed, angry, or confused—it calms me. |
| 7 | I loathe cheating and trickery; strength should be pure. |
| 8 | I bow before and after every fight, no matter the circumstances. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Harmony. Strength must uplift the weak, not crush them. (Good) |
| 2 | Tradition. The old ways are sacred. Strength, honor, and discipline define a person. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Freedom. I left my stable to escape suffocating rules and find my own path. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. My strength proves my worth. All should bow before it. (Evil) |
| 5 | Glory. I seek fame and respect in all lands. My name must be known. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Balance. Strength and humility. Ritual and spontaneity. I walk the line between. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I carry the crest of my stable and will restore its honor—or protect it. |
| 2 | A fellow sumo fell in battle, and I must tell their story or fulfill their oath. |
| 3 | I once lost a bout I should’ve won and it haunts me. |
| 4 | My mentor taught me to find strength in peace. I protect innocents fiercely. |
| 5 | I was exiled from my stable for breaking a sacred rule. I seek redemption. |
| 6 | A deity of strength or balance watches over me—I carry a piece of their will. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am obsessed with food and overindulge at every opportunity. |
| 2 | I can’t walk away from a challenge, no matter how foolish. |
| 3 | I believe brute strength solves most problems. |
| 4 | I’m ashamed of my body despite my strength. |
| 5 | I refuse to fight dirty—even when it’s necessary. |
| 6 | I get angry when others mock tradition or ritual. |
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