An extremely skilled swordfighter, Steel Shadow's chosen weapon is a classic in Japanese swordfighting - the no-daichi (battlesword). The no-daichi is an Oriental version of what might be called a bastard sword - somewhat larger than the katana, though not by much, the no-daichi is considered more a tool than the soul of a samurai, a legend intimately connected with the no-daichi's brother, the katana.

Clad in a simple, black, cotton kimono when in the ring, with his long hair unbound, and his face hidden behind a featureless mask of brushed steel, little is known about Steel Shadow. What is known, however, is that he carries the mon (symbol) of the Lightning school of swordfighting, a school thought to be extinct for over a century and a half.

The Lightning school believed in the one, perfect cut, basing their repertoire of techniques on the premise that a swordfight should not have to last beyond the first cut, and that that cut had to be made with the purest intent possible - not to maim or injure, but the pure, simple intent to kill. Steel Shadow embodies that, in that many of his battles did not last beyond his first cut, often executed with such flawless skill and perfection of intent that the opponent did not realize he was cut before the blood started seeping out from the cut.

Steel Shadow employs a simple, unadorned steel no-daichi in battle, granting him +0 / +4 / +0 (LF 9).

Attributes
Strength	llll	Charisma	lll	Perception	lll
Dexterity	lllll l	Manipulation	ll	Intelligence	ll
Stamina	lllll	Appearance	ll	Wits	llll

Abilities
Alertness lllll  Dancing  Insight lll  Instruction  Interrogation  Intimidation lll  Manage  Searching llll  Streetwise  Subterfuge	Blind Fighting lllll l  Bookie  Demolitions  Disguise  Drive ll  Leadership  Publicist  Repair  Security  Stealth lll  Survival	Arena lll  Computer  Cybernetics  Finance  Investigation lll  Law ll  Linguistics  Medicine  Mysteries ll  Science  Style Lore lll

Backgrounds
Contacts (Japanese swordmakers and -fighters)	llll	Resources	llll
Sensei (Last Master of Lightning School)	lllll

Techniques
Punch	ll	Kick	ll
Block	lll	Grab
Athletics	lllll	Focus	llll
Sword	lllll l

Special Maneuvers
Maneuver	Spd	Dam	Move	Notes
Punch Maneuvers
Jab	8	5	5
Strong Punch	6	7	5
Fierce Punch	5	9	4
Elbow Smash	8	8	One
Spinning Back Fist	5	8	6
Kick Maneuvers
Short Kick	7	6	5
Forward Kick	6	8	4
Roundhouse Kick	4	10	4
Slide Kick	5	9	6	KD if opponent is damaged.
Block Maneuvers
Block	10	-	-	+3 Soak
Grab Maneuvers
Grab
Athletics Maneuvers
Jump	9	-	5	Aerial
Movement	9	-	8
Focus Maneuvers
Regeneration	4	-	-	max 4 Chi to heal Health damage
Speed of the Mongoose	6	-	3	1 Chi; either +4 Speed or +6 Move on next maneuver
Weapon Maneuvers
No-Daichi Jab	8	13	5
No-Daichi Strong	6	15	5
No-Daichi Fierce	5	17	4
No-Daichi Berserk	4	18	2	1 Willpower
No-Daichi Disarm	5	-	-	May disarm opponent
No-Daichi Parry	10	-	-	+6 Soak; +2 Speed on next weapon maneuver
Clear Sky Lightning Stroke	x	x	x	1 Willpower to initiate; 1 Willpower 1 Chi to execute
Deflecting Cut	8	14	-	+6 Soak versus other weapon maneuvers only; counterattack will land after opponent's attack; counts as a Parry
Heavenly Cleaving Stroke	5	18	3	1 Willpower; Aerial; Will hit Crouching; Lands in same hex as opponent; Aerial opponents suffer KD
Stone-Cutting Strike	4	20	One	1 Willpower
Wide Sweeping Cut	5	17	2	Aerial opponents suffer KD

Combos
No-Daichi Parry	to	Stone-Cutting Strike
No-Daichi Disarm	to	Heavenly Cleaving Stroke
(Clear Sky) Speed of the Mongoose	to	(Clear Sky) Stone-Cutting Strike	to	(Clear Sky) Deflecting Cut
(Clear Sky) Speed of the Mongoose	to	Clear Sky Lightning Stroke
Deflecting Cut	to	Wide Sweeping Cut	to	No-Daichi Fierce	dizzy
No-Daichi Parry	to	Jumping No-Daichi Strong	to	No-Daichi Fierce	dizzy
Block	to	Slide Kick	to	Elbow Smash

Other
Chi	nnnnn n	ooooo o
Willpower	nnnnn nnn	ooooo ooo
Health	nnnnn nnnnn nnnnn	ooooo ooooo ooooo

Glory

nnnnn nnooo ooooo ooooo

Honor

nnnoo ooooo ooooo ooooo

Standing
Division	Duelist	Rank	7
Wins		Losses
Draws		KOs

Fight Record
Versus	Result	Notes