Oniwaban

Background

Oniwaban means ‘the one who is in the garden’ or ‘the gardener’. During the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate, each Shogun had in his service a personal gardener that belonged to the elite of a Ninja clan. The Oniwaban was the Shogun’s link with the Ninja. In the palace, the official rank of gardener was due to their knowledge of plants, used to create powerful poisons. The Oniwaban were clan territory chiefs, with groups of Ninja at their call, carrying out the personal commands of the Shogun. Recent unofficial and unconfirmed reports suggest the presence of Oniwaban in the Yu Jing StateEmpire army, depicting them as skilful and experienced Ninja with a group of efficient killers under their command. It seems they personally carry out the most complex of operations, as well as coordinating and supervising the tasks of their subordinates.

The real names of the Oniwaban are unknown, as is their appearance, which they can change whenever they wish. Probably, when an Oniwaban dies definitively, his Cube and any safe copy destroyed, he can be substituted by another, taking the same name of his predecessor to provide a sense of continuity and immortality. However, of course, the existence of an elite inside the Ninja is, like the Ninja themselves, an idea that belongs to the past, a fantasy in a modern society like that of Yu Jing. Even the most alarmist citizens must trust in the StateEmpire government criteria and let the myth of Oniwaban vanish in the mists of time.

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Oniwaban means “the one in the garden” or “the gardener.” During the Tokugawa shogunate each shogun had a personal gardener at his service that belonged to the elite class of a ninja clan. The Oniwaban was the link between the shogun and the ninjas. In the palace the official position of gardener was due to their extensive plant knowledge used to make potent poisons.

The Oniwaban were territorial clan leaders, with groups of ninjas available at their orders to fulfill the personal orders of the Emperor.

Currently, recent unofficial and unconfirmed reports discuss the presence of the Oniwaban in the Japanese Secessionist Army, describing them as superior level Ninjas, better prepared, and more skilled. Apparently, as well as carrying out supervision and coordination tasks, the Oniwaban also carry out the most complex operations personally.

The physical appearance and true identity of these operatives are both unknown, changing them as they see fit. It is believed that when one of them definitively dies, when both their body and Cube are destroyed, it is substituted by another who takes on the same name as its predecessor, thus giving the sensation of total continuity and immortality.

Nevertheless, all of this is nothing more than just fictitious stories. The existence of an elite within the Ninjas is, just like the actual Ninjas themselves, an approach that belongs to the past. Complete nonsense in such a modern society like the Nipponese one.

The good citizens of the Great Japan should trust the good criteria of the Party and let the myth of the Oniwaban disappear in the mists of time...

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These "master gardeners" received that name due to their extensive knowledge of botanics, which is necessary to prepare poisons, and that supposedly enabled them to oversee the Imperial Gardens. They were expert ninjas, entrusted with the most difficult missions, and had a highly optimized profile that made them fearsome. Their Hidden Deployment—which renders them invisible adversaries—combined with their advanced infiltration capabilities—that allow them to reach almost any point on the gaming table—and their outstanding martial prowess, make these master gardeners the main threat of the JSA attack forces.

Known Oniwaban

• Hideo Kawakami - Ninja, secretly working for Japan. Killed Dragon Lady Zao Qing, but spared her niece. Punished for the fact.

Eqiupment

• The shinobigatana are the weapon of choice for Oniwaban and anyone who values armour penetration over power, versatility, or keeping all of their fingers attached. These specialized blades are as difficult to come by as the mythical ninja who supposedly inspired them. Using a monomolecular wire stabilized by a faint E/M field, these monofilament blades bring a new meaning to cutting-edge technology.

Profile

N4

ISC: Oniwaban			Elite Troop			Skirmisher
Fury: Non-Impetuous			Training: Regular			Back-Up: Cube
MOV	CC	BS	PH	WIP	ARM	BTS	W/STR	S
4-4	24	11	12	14	1	0	1	2
Skills and Equipment: Martial Arts L4, Surprise Attack (-3), Camouflage, Courage, Hidden Deployment, Dodge (+2"), Infiltration (+6), Mimetism (-6), Stealth, Terrain (Total)

Loadout

Special Skills

Weapons and Equipment

Melee Weapons

Points

SWC

1

Boarding Shotgun

Pistol, Monofilament CCW, E/M CCW

38

0

2

Submachine Gun, Nanopulser

Pistol, Monofilament CCW, E/M CCW

34

0

3

Lieutenant

Boarding Shotgun

Pistol, Monofilament CCW, E/M CCW

38

1

N3

Retired

ISC: Oniwaban Skirmisher Fury: Non-Impetuous Training: Regular Back-Up: Cube MOV CC BS PH WIP ARM BTS W/STR S 4-4 24 11 12 14 1 0 1 2 Skills and Equipment: CH: TO Camouflage, Martial Arts L4, Superior Infiltration, Multiterrain, Kinematika L2 Name Skills and Equipment BS Weapons CC Weapons Points SWC Lieutenant Lieutenant Boarding Shotgun, Nanopulser Pistol, Monofilament CCW 41 1 Boarding Shotgun Boarding Shotgun, Nanopulser Pistol, Monofilament CCW 41 0 SMG Submachine Gun, Nanopulser Pistol, Monofilament CCW 37 0

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