KD11

Way of the YAKUZA

A faction guide to the Yakuza Criminal Organization of Kaidan

Jonathan McAnulty

K A I D A N
 Way of the YAKUZA
a Kaidan Faction Guide for Criminal Organizations

Designer/Author: Jonathan McAnulty

Cover Artist: John Wigley
Cartographer: Michael K. Tumey
Illustrator: Michael K. Tumey
Page Layout: Michael K. Tumey
Publisher: Steven D. Russell
Compatibility with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, requires Pathfinder Roleplaying Game from Paizo Publishing LLC
See http://paizo.com//pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Paizo Publishing, LLC does not
guarantee compatibility, and does not endorse this product.

Kaidan: a Japanese Ghost Story Copyright C 2010, Steven D. Russel, Open Gaming License Copyright C 2007
Wizards of the Coast. All rights reserved, Pathfinder is a registered trademark of Paizo Publishing LLC, and the Pathfinder
Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility Logo are trademarks of Paizo Publishing LLC and are
used under the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility License. See http://paizo.com/PathfinderRPG/compatiblity for more
information about compatibility license.

This edition is printed and distributed, under license, by Cubicle 7 Entertainment Limited of Riverside House, Osney Mead,
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Page 1
 Table of Contents
Adventure Background Page 2
Adventure Synopsis Page 3
The Introduction Page 4
Beginning the Adventure Page 5
Map of the Monastery Page 7
Miyamakoori Monastery Page 8
Appendix One: New Monsters Page 16
Appendix Two: Pre-generated Characters Page 21
Appendix Three: Gamemaster Aids Page 27

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 Way of the Yakuza
Part 1: Introducing the Yakuza
Greetings, my friend. If you have come for
knowledge, enter and have a seat. Pardon me, that I
do not rise and greet you properly, but I am not as
young as I once was. As the hair grays, the bones
grow weak. I’ve outlived more than most and I’ll
wager there’s a few more I’ll yet outlive.
Yes, indeed. I’ve seen many young bo-kan like
yourself come through those doors over the years.
Full of spirit and ready to take on anyone, be they
demon or men. Most do not last long. Perhaps you
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will be different? ...Or, perhaps not. Only time will
tell, for ours is a dangerous path. Yet we would
choose no other.
In every village and every town, our presence is felt.
Though others see only the gambling houses and sake
shops, we know the true reason we fight. We are the
champions of our people, and the heroes of the
outcast. It is we who defend our way of life.
Come, I shall instruct you in the way of the yakuza, that
you may be prepared for the road you have chosen...
The yakuza is your true family. You are but one
member and all must work as a team. Never
betray your yakuza family, not even to your own
wife or child.
The Beginning of the Yakuza
In the days before the immortal emperor, after the
first great war with the oni, the land was a lawless
place. Many companies of soldiers were dismissed
from service. Many of these ronin, suddenly bereft
of income and food, turned to banditry. They
formed bands of kabukimono, looting and
plundering unprotected villages. They were a
violent, garish lot. The worst of their depredations
were directed against the eta and the hinin, for the
nobles and the samurai, or asuras, considered the
protection of such as we to be beneath them. Better,
in their mind, that a hundred unclean die than one
of their own suffers inconvenience.
In those days, the hinin and the eta castes were not
as they were now. They were a people apart from
each other, though they moved in the same realm.
The eta had land and money. Materially, most of the
hinin had little but the clothes on their back, living
hand to mouth. Yet the majority of the hinin had that
which the eta lacked: freedom! We could move
where we would in the land, doing as we pleased and
answerable to none. This is not to say that we were
not afflicted as the eta. The bakuto [lit. gambler]
houses in particular were ripe targets and it was not
safe for the tekiya vendors.
It is said that Osa Hideyoshi of Oten-jo in Hamato
province, the owner of a prosperous bakuto house,
was the first to organize the hinin into a force
capable of resisting the kabukimono. Arming those
under him with weapons plundered from the asuras,
he skillfully drove the gangs from the region around
his village. His success spurred on others and soon
hinin gangs in various towns and villages throughout
Hamato began forming, each pledging allegiance to
Hideyoshi-sama, who they named kumicho [lit.
boss]. Beyond Hamato, other yakuza gangs began to
form, offering protection to hinin and eta alike. As
the gangs gained in power and prestige, they began
to command respect from the communities in which
they operated. It was only natural that the various
kumicho began taking control of hinin businesses
such as gambling, women, and entertainment. The
eta were also brought into the fold, being made to
pay for the protection the yakuza were providing for
them. As the various kumicho gained in wealth, they
proceeded to buy ever more houses and businesses.
They hired more men, including some of the very
kabukimono they had once fought against. Within
time, the yakuza became a force to be reckoned with,
one not easily ignored, even by the nobility.
Yakuza Interests
Today, the yakuza are well organized, with gangs in
every city and hinin-eta village. Some, misinformed,
think of the yakuza as criminals. It is not so. Perhaps
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we operate outside of the emperor’s laws, but it was
the nobles who cast us out. This is not to say that we
are common thieves. We do not condone activities
such as burglary, petty theft, or violence against our
people. Indeed, should some nefarious individual
attempt such a thing in our territory he would soon
find himself our enemy. Our primary purpose, as
ever, is the defense of the people, and in exchange for
this defense, we impose a levy on our eta brethren,
though we never require more than we judge a
person has the ability to pay. At the same time, the
yakuza manage and control almost every aspect of
hinin life. Naturally, we maintain bakuto parlors,
brothels and taverns. But our interests extend far
beyond these things and we earn much profit from
theaters, butchery, tanneries and even cemetery
maintenance. Any and every aspect of hinin-eta life
falls within our purview and we work diligently to
protect our interests, both from the government
bureaucracy and from rival yakuza gangs seeking to
expand their own territory.
The yakuza also make it a practice to loan out money
to our eta-hinin brethren. While some complain about
our rates of interest, there are few other lenders
willing to take a chance on our people. In truth, we
ask little of those we make loans to except that they
continue to pay us as they are able. Some less
scrupulous yakuza gangs sometimes take advantage of
their borrowers, using debt as an excuse to confiscate
property, but generally, those who can pay back their
debts have little to fear from the yakuza. When an
individual cannot repay his loans, arrangements can
be made for him, or his family, both male and female,
to work off the debt. Many young bo-kan got their
start in the gangs while working to repay their
parent’s obligations.
There are several yakuza gangs who maintain warehouses
and operate markets. It is a sad truth that the nobles
would keep our people poor, ill defended and ill fed, the
better to keep us in line. For the sake of survival, it is
necessary to learn to move cargo, both goods and people,
away from the sight of those who would oppress and
abuse us. There are few things the yakuza cannot arrange
to buy and sell, should the price be right, and most yakuza
gangs have some experience at smuggling.
Yakuza Organization
While it is not improper to speak of yakuza gangs, it is
important to realize that, in truth, each gang is best
thought of as a family. When a man wishes to join the
yakuza, he does so through a ceremony akin to a
traditional wedding. Within a holy yokinto shrine, the
hopeful exchanges sake with the man he would accept
as oyabun. Following this ceremony, the new recruit is
instructed to think of all within the yakuza gang as his
family, closer than even blood kin.
The kumicho, or boss, of each yakuza gang is
formally addressed as the oyabun and is responsible
for the actions of all within his “family.” Those
underneath him are considered brothers, though
their rank within the gang determines if they are
Kyodai (big brother) or Shatei (little brother).
Naturally, one brother’s superior may well be
another brother’s younger “sibling.” In larger gangs,
there may even be multiple oyabun, with one oyabun
being the kobun, or son, of another, more senior
oyabun.
The yakuza has many different needs, and while it is
common for outsiders to associate the yakuza with
the image of the bo-kan, not all of our members are
young toughs. The yakuza organization possesses
many accountants, administrators, litigants, sake
servers, and bakuto. Additionally, within our employ,
even when they are not a direct part of the family,
are the entertainers, geisha, merchants and
workmen who serve in the businesses we operate.
Few oyabun run all matters themselves. Instead,
they choose a first lieutenant, or wakagashira, to
assist them in running the gang. These wakagashira,
like the kamuchi himself, help shape the attitudes
and behavior of each gang.
When a man joins the yakuza, it is natural for us to
consider his women as a part of the family as well.
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Wives, daughters, and even girlfriends of a member
are accorded respect according to the respect due
their man. Women, with only a few exceptions, never
wield great authority within the ranks, excepting that
natural influence they may be able, through strength
of personality, to exert over their men. Upon rare
occasion, if she can find an oyabun to accept her, a
woman will formally pledge herself to the group, even
to the point of obtaining tattoos on her arms and
back. Such women often serve in the bakuto parlors as
dealers, or dice casters. Parlors with female dealers do
indeed prove popular, no doubt, in part, due to the
custom of the dealer being shirtless when casting dice.
Conduct yourself properly when you wear the
insignia of your yakuza family so that shame
may not come on our name.
Yakuza Life
Specific customs may differ wildly from one yakuza
gang to another. Some kumicho run their families as
one would run a large business conglomerate, where
the focus is constantly on profit and new ventures.
Other oyabun, especially in the smaller gangs, choose
to focus on the individual needs of their people and
communities, taking their responsibilities as surrogate
parents to heart. The personality and the specific
organization of each gang thus, in many ways, reflect
the attitudes and concerns of the man leading the gang.
Still, there are some things in common among all
yakuza. Nearly every gang, regardless of size,
maintains a bakuto parlor, a structure that frequently
doubles as a sake house and sometimes even as a
brothel. As we draw our name (ya-ku-za is a losing
hand in the game of oicho-kabu) and much of our
heritage from a game of chance, this is only proper, an
homage to our roots.
Another custom which is now ubiquitous among the
various families is the ritual of penance, yabitsume,
for sleights against one’s oyabun and failure to
perform one’s duty properly. This ritual finger cutting
is more common in some gangs than in others,
depending on the severity of the oyabun, but all
practice it to one degree or another. For a first
transgression, the yakuza member is required to cut
his little finger off at the second knuckle and present
the cut finger to the oyabun as tribute. The loss of the
finger means that the one so punished must, of
necessity have a greater difficulty in wielding his
sword. Further transgressions lead to the loss of the
ring finger. If a member transgresses a third time,
most oyabun will determine the offender to be an
incorrigible son and order him slain or banished.
Truly great offenses sometimes bring retribution on
the wife and children of the traitor.
Finally, regardless of size, attitude or other interests,
every yakuza family has this in common: the wearing
of tattoos. In older days, the nobility marked those
they deemed to be criminals with tattooed bands
around their arms. The wearing of tattoos is thus a
symbol of our defiance against the constraints the
nobility would place upon us. Traditionally, the
tattoos we wear are elaborate affairs, taking months
and years to complete, not to mention much coin.
Because of this, the tattoos can tell you something of
a yakuza’s rank, for the more tattoos a yakuza wears,
the longer he has been with the organization and the
richer he is. Most young bo-kan, such as yourself,
begin with simpler tattoos on their arms or
shoulders. Eventually, it is expected that the images
cover front and back of the torso and even the legs.
The exact images a yakuza chooses is up to the tastes
of the individuals, and of themselves they typically
mean nothing. Our tattoo artists, the horomonoshi,
are all quite talented, for a bad tattoo can be more
than a man’s life is worth, and the images they
produce are veritable masterpieces of colored ink.
Yet the most expensive tattoos are those created by
the horimyo, for they have arcane virtues.

When in the headquarters of your yakuza

family, sit properly when making a greeting. Be
sure to tuck your thumbs in under your hands,
especially when speaking to your oyabun.

Yakuza Religion and Alignment
As is true with so much else, the religious
inclinations of a yakuza family are largely
determined by the leanings of the kumicho. Most
yakuza, especially the younger members, are,
admittedly, not very spiritual; but a wise oyabun
insures that his children pay the proper respects to
the kami, whether they want to or not. With all the
world against us, why antagonize the spirits as well?
The more spiritual families help maintain a local
shrine, making regular donations toward shrine
upkeep and the priests’ salaries. Most yakuza gangs
fund at least one annual matsuri, with the entire
gang helping to carry a mikoshi around the
community. Such festivals are as much about
building goodwill as they are about appeasing the
spirits. These festivals are also some of the few times,
outside of the betting parlors, or the public baths,
where gang members will openly display their
tattoos. Such affairs can be quite raucous, and,
among the less religious families, the spiritual
celebrations often end in carnal sake-soaked
dissipation.
Yakuza have a natural disregard for the laws of the
nobility. While we do not openly flaunt our defiance of
their edicts, lest we bring down the wrath of the
samurai upon our heads, most of our business is in
direct contravention of the Shogun’s will. For the
most part, the asuras and the nobility are content to
let us be. While we like to tell ourselves that this is
because they fear our blades, most of us realize that
they simply consider us as unworthy of their
attentions, perhaps not realizing how much wealth we
actually control.
A yakuza’s exact disposition is often dependent upon
his age and rank in the organization. Younger
members tend to be more chaotic and free-willed.
Older members are frequently set in their ways, and,
having gained some authority, believe it proper to
honor authority (at least within the gang). While
many members are understandably devoted to their
own self-interests and self-advancement, and while
some gangs have a penchant for cruelty, there are also
yakuza who are famed for their generosity and a
selfless devotion to their communities. Unfortunately,
these folk-heroes are all too few, existing primarily in
song and oral traditions.

Page 6
Yakuza Adventurers
It is the nature of the true yakuza to be devoted to a
single community. Most gang members dwell with
their brothers in a dormitory, going here and there,
only at the bidding of their oyabun. Violence, when it
comes, is deadly, but quick. Gang wars are seldom
long, protracted affairs, as such conflicts would not
be good for the business of the families involved.
Such a life, while exciting in its own right, is scarcely
conducive to the activities one associates with
adventuring. Yet there are those associated with the
yakuza who live the life of the traveling adventurer. I
would say that such individuals tend to fall into one
of three categories.
The first is the sekkou. Loyal to a particular gang and
oyabun, these yakuza are trusted to deliver
messages, investigate rumors in distant lands, and
scout out the activities of those who would oppose
us. Yakuza with the loyalty and skills necessary to
serve away from the gang are rare commodities,
much prized by their oyabun. This is one of the few
areas of yakuza life where women are as well
represented as men. The missions of the sekkou
frequently place them in dangerous situations.
Though typically loners by nature, wise sekkou,
knowing that two blades are always better than one,
learn to ingratiate themselves into the company of
adventuring swordsmen so as to have allies when
trouble threatens.
The second sort of yakuza adventurer is the
rakugosha, the outcast among outcasts. These are
those individuals who have fled their oyabun for one
reason or another. While most rakugosha are pitiful
sorts, lacking the courage to properly make amends,
others are simply the victim of bad circumstances,
noble men attempting to make the best of their
situation. Many rakugosha are under a sentence of
death and thus take steps to hide their identity and
their past. They travel from town to town, settling
down until they draw unwanted attention to
themselves.
Take responsibility for your own actions and
your own abilities. Do not compare yourself
with either your betters or your inferiors. Never
make excuses or shift the blame to others.
Part 2: Yakuza Characters
The yakuza are criminal gangs specializing in
gambling, prostitution and extortion. They view
themselves as protectors of the community, or at least
that’s how they describe their activities; but, the
majority of them are hard, violent men following a
hard, violent code. A campaign realistically focused on
a group of yakuza brethren is going to be a dark,
sordid affair. In a heroic game, the yakuza are better
used as antagonists and obstacles.
That is not to say that heroic yakuza characters are
out of the question. While, as a group, they tend to be
evil; any large group of people is going to have some
who go against the grain. Perhaps the PC’s
involvement with the yakuza is involuntary, the result
of a debt incurred by the PC’s father. The PC must
work as a sekkou until the debt is repaid. Perhaps the
PC, after refusing to take part in some sordid plot, has
fled his yakuza family and lives as a rakugosha. Or
perhaps the character is not really a member of a
gang. The hinin-eta caste is broader than the yakuza
itself. Many wandering gamblers and swordsmen of
the caste are quite willing to associate with yakuza
members, even to the point of working the
occasionally odd job, if they feel the cause is just. The
character rules that follow do not require PCs to be
active members of the yakuza in order to use them,
but they do assume the PC has some connection with
the nefarious organization.

The third sort of yakuza adventurer is the furosha.

These vagabonds are not truly gang members,
though they are often incorrigible gamblers and
quite knowledgeable of yakuza ways. Wandering
from one town to another, as their whim takes them,
they live off of the land and the kindness of those
they meet. The most talented of these individuals are
sometimes sought by oyabun for difficult jobs, but
their migratory nature prevents them from ever
having true allegiance to a single boss. A powerful
furosha swordsman can tip the balance in a gang
war, but the prices such mercenaries demand can be
quite high.

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Yakuza Traits
Geisha Training (female only)
If your GM allows, the following traits may be taken
Though you ended your training early, you have
at 1st level by Yakuza characters. Otherwise they
spent many hours practicing etiquette and
must be gained through the purchase of the
performance skills.
Additional Traits feat.
Benefit You gain a +1 trait bonus to Diplomacy and
Performance (any one) and one of these (your choice)
Bakuto Child
is always a class skill for you.
You grew up around a bakuto parlor and have
always had a knack for games of chance.
Hinin Performer
Benefit You gain a +1 trait bonus to Profession
Your parents were constantly traveling, taking their
(gambler) and Sense Motive and one of these (your
performances from one town to the next; you learned
choice) is always a class skill for you.
to assist them at an early age.
Benefit You gain a +1 trait bonus to Performance
Yakuza Bodyguard
(any one) and Knowledge (geography) and one of
You have spent considerable time working protection
these (your choice) is always a class skill for you.
detail for high ranking yakuza officials, an occupation
which has honed your ability to react aggressively.
Lucky Tattoo
Benefit You gain +1 to initiative checks and a +1
You were plagued by bad luck until you purchased a
trait bonus to Intimidate.
“lucky tattoo” from a mysterious traveling artist. On
that day, your luck did, indeed, seem to improve for
Eta Child
the better.
Your parents were poor, but hard-working. They
Benefit Once per game-session, when called upon to
taught you that you should never be ashamed of
make a d20 roll, you may roll two dice and choose the
honest labor, no matter how vile others might think it.
better result.
Benefit You gain a +1 trait bonus to Profession (any
one) and a +2 trait bonus to Fortitude saves against
Mystical Tattoo
effects which would sicken or nauseate you.
As a young man, you purchased a tattoo from a
mysterious traveling artist. You have always felt the
tattoo to be mystical in nature.
Benefit You gain a +1 trait bonus to one saving throw of
your choice.

Shrine Helper
When you were younger, you helped care for your
village’s shrine and thus spent much time in the
company of the shrine’s priest.
Benefit You gain a +1 trait bonus to Knowledge
(religion) and a +2 trait bonus to Diplomacy when
dealing with individuals who have Knowledge
(religion) as a class skill.

Yakuza Child
You were exposed to the yakuza at an early age, for
your father was a member of the yakuza, constantly
in debt, frequently drunk, and often angry. You
learned to remain out of sight, but you were always
listening to the gang as they talked.
Benefit: You can speak a single Yakuza Cant and
gain a +1 trait bonus to Stealth.

Bow properly and respectfully, but never lower

your eyes, unless you bow to your oyabun or
another yakuza superior.

Page 8
Class Archetypes
The following character class archetypes work well
for yakuza characters. Consult your GM before using
them.
Bard (Moso Archetype)
The moso are blind bards who wander the country,
playing for all and sundry. They specialize in
religious songs and are sometimes employed to drive
evil spirits from a house with their music. In addition
to their religious music, they also know a repertoire
of secular songs, and it is in this connection that they
find themselves working with the yakuza, who
regulate all entertainment within their district. Most
moso find it easier to cooperate with the yakuza and
pay their dues, when required, to a district’s oyabun.
The traditional instrument of the moso is the biwa.
Class Skills
The moso’s class skills are Appraise (Int), Bluff
(Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha),
Escape Artist (Dex), Knowledge (all) (Int),
Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (oratory,
singing, string) (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense
Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int),
Stealth (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A moso is
proficient with all simple melee weapons, plus all
one-handed swords. Moso are also proficient with
light armor, though not with shields, and can cast
bard spells while wearing light armor without
incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance.
Like any other arcane spellcaster, a moso wearing
medium or heavy armor incurs a chance of arcane
spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic
component. A multiclass moso still incurs the
normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells
received from other classes.
Disguise checks made against a moso suffer a -10
penalty. An effect which nullifies sound or renders a
moso deaf suppresses this ability. A moso’s ability to
audibly discern an individual’s location and identity
improves by 5 feet at 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th level.
Bardic Performance: A moso gains the following
types of bardic performance.
Ward: At 1st level, a moso can use his music to guard
his listeners against evil influences. When a moso
uses this ability, all listeners within 30 feet of the
moso’s playing and singing benefit as if affected by
protection from evil for the duration of the
performance. This ability replaces distraction.
Counterfear: At 1st level, a moso can use his music to
strengthen the resolve of others. For the duration of the
performance, all listeners within 30 feet have a bonus to
saves versus fear equal to half the moso’s class level, and
those already under the effects of fear are allowed a new
saving-throw each round. This ability replaces fascinate.
Song of Life: At 6th level, the moso can use his music
to damage undead. For the length of the performance,
all undead within 30 feet of the moso must succeed at
a Will save each round (where the DC is equal to 10 +
1/2 class level + Charisma modifier) or take 2d6
points of damage. The amount of damage increases by
1d6 every 3 levels to a maximum 6d6 at 18th level.
This ability replaces suggestion.
Dismissal: At 12th level, a moso can use his bardic
performance to create an effect identical to dismissal.
To use this ability the moso must perform
uninterrupted for 4 rounds and the target must hear
the song the entire time. This ability replaces soothing
performance.
Soothing performance: A moso gains soothing
performance at 18th level in place of mass suggestion.

Blind: All moso are blind and automatically fail any

visual Perception checks. Moso cannot use scrolls or
any other magical item requiring reading or
functioning eyes. However, they are immune to gaze
attacks and other effects which target the eyes. Moso
are trained to use their other senses, particularly
their ears, and gain a +10 class bonus to all auditory
Perception checks. A trained moso’s other senses are
so acute that, unless a target succeeds on a Stealth
check, the moso can identify, by sound (and
sometimes smell), any creature within 20 feet and
suffers no penalties in melee combat from being
blind or when attacking invisible creatures. A moso
can target creatures he can identify with spells or
ranged attacks but all creatures outside of the moso’s
sensory range benefit from full concealment. All

Page 9

Fighter (Yakuza Bushi Archetype)
Every oyabun, sooner or later, finds himself wanting to
employ professional warriors, or bushi. Bushi are used as
private guards, keigo, frontline warriors in gang conflicts,
and even as koroshiya. When possible, these fighters are
brought into the “family,” but if necessary, traveling
mercenaries can find themselves making good money
working for the yakuza during times of turmoil and
violence.
Class Skills
The yakuza-bushi’s class skills are Appraise (Int), Climb
(Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha),
Knowledge (local), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis),
Ride (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4+ Int modifier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A yakuza-bushi is
proficient with all simple and martial weapons, the katana
and the wakizashi. He is also proficient with light and
medium armors but not with shields.
Quick Response: At 2nd level, the yakuza-bushi learns
to react more quickly to threats. He gains a +2 bonus to
initiative. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels
beyond 2nd. This ability replaces bravery.
Swift: At 3rd level, the yakuza-bushi’s speed increases by
10 feet and he gains a +2 bonus to Acrobatic checks. This
ability replaces armor training 1.
Leaping Attack: At 5th level, when a yakuza-bushi
moves at least 5 feet prior to attacking, he gains a +1 bonus
on attack and damage rolls. This bonus increases by +1 for
every four levels beyond 5th. This ability replaces weapon
training 1.
Page 10
Rogue (Bakuto archetype)
Every yakuza family maintains a bakuto parlor, a
gambling house which frequently doubles as the
organization’s main office and primary front. For
most participants, the gambling is a diversion, a
source of recreation, but others take it much more
seriously, living for the toss of the dice and the yell of
the dealer. Gambling can be an expensive occupation,
and it is perhaps not surprising that many unaffiliated
bakuto must look for other ways to earn coin, a
necessity that leads some of them to become
adventurers. Within the yakuza, those with the bakuto
rogue archetype can be found working in bakuto
parlors or running street games. The bakuto rogue
specializes in games of chance, both honest and
dishonest. This focus helps sharpen their focus and
their ability to read people.
Recommended Skills: The following skills
compliment the bakuto archetype: Appraise, Bluff,
Intimidate, Perception, Profession (gambling), Sense
Motive, and Sleight of Hand.
Skilled Cheat: A bakuto adds half her class level
(minimum +1) to all Sleight Of Hand checks made
with dice, cups, cards, or other gambling
paraphernalia. This ability replaces trapfinding.
Skilled Gambler: A bakuto adds half her class level
(minimum +1) to all Profession (gambling) checks.
Gambler’s Eyes: Beginning at 3rd level, the bakuto
adds +1 to all Perception and Sense Motive checks.
This bonus increases by an additional +1 every three
levels (6th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 18th). If the check is
made in relation to a game of chance, the bonus is
doubled. This ability replaces trap sense.
Rogue Talents: The following rogue talents
compliment the bakuto archetype: canny observer,
hard to fool, and honeyed words.
Advanced Rogue Talents: The following rogue
talents compliment the bakuto archetype: skill
mastery, slippery mind, and thoughtful reexamining.
Never hide your hands when talking to a superior.
Keep your arms always at your sides.
Rogue (Kyodai Archetype)
The way of the yakuza can be a hard, violent life, so it
is not surprising that many of the yakuza brethren
are hard, violent men. These kyodai are less versatile
than other rogues but make up for that loss of
versatility through their skill at intimidation,
extortion and doing harm to those who are in their
way. They are especially dangerous when working
together.
Class Skills
The kyodai’s class skills are Acrobatics (Dex),
Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy
(Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate
(Cha), Knowledge (local), Linguistics (Int), Perception
(Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Int), Sense Motive
(Wis), Stealth (Dex), and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Kyodai are
proficient with all simple weapons, plus the kama,
longsword, sap, shortbow, short sword and
wakizashi. They are proficient with light armor but
not with shields.
Family Cant: Each yakuza family has a personal
cant with which they can communicate simple
messages. At 1st level, a kyodai automatically knows
the cant of the gang with which he is affiliated.
Note: As with any language, each unique cant can be
learned by any character willing to spend a rank of
Linguistics, so long as she has a teacher or sufficient
exposure to the cant. However, teaching a yakuza
cant to a non-family member is a severe offense in
must yakuza gangs.
Fearsome: The kyodai gains Toughness as a bonus
feat at 1st level. Furthermore, when making an
Intimidate check, the kyodai gains a bonus equal to
half his class level (minimum +1). This ability
replaces trapfinding.
Strength in Numbers: Beginning at 3rd level, the
kyodai has learned how to work well with others in
combat and draws strength from the presence of
allies. So long as he is adjacent to one or more allies
who are also engaged in melee combat, he gains a +1
morale bonus to saves versus fear effects and a +1
bonus to melee attack rolls (it is not necessary for the
ally to be attacking the same opponent but it is
necessary that they are actively involved in the
combat). These bonuses increase by an additional +1
every 3 levels (6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th). This ability
replaces trap sense.
Page 11
Rogue Talents: The following rogue talents
compliment the kyodai archetype: assault leader, fast
stealth, offensive defensive, resiliency, powerful
sneak, slow reactions and strong impression.
Advanced Rogue Talents: The following advanced
rogue talents compliment the kyodai archetype:
another day, crippling strike, deadly sneak, and
opportunist.
Rogue Talents
These rogue talents are available to all rogues, but are
particularly suitable for yakuza members.
Fearsome Tattoos: A rogue with this talent has
tattoos which give him a fearsome appearance. When
he reveals his tattoos, they give him a +2 bonus to
Intimidate checks. This talent can be taken a second
time adding an additional +2 to Intimidate checks.
Read Tells: Once per day, a rogue with this talent can
add +10 to a single Sense Motive skill check. This
talent can be taken more than once and each time the
rogue takes it, he gains an additional use of the ability.
Samurai Trained: A rogue with this talent has the
katana exotic weapon proficiency.
Advanced Rogue Talents
These advanced rogue talents are available to all
rogues, but are particularly suitable for yakuza
members.
Reckless Charge: A rogue with this talent can choose
to gain an additional +2 bonus to attack and damage
when making a charge attack. This bonus stacks with
any other bonuses gained from charging into combat.
When using this talent, the rogue loses any AC
bonuses gained from Dexterity for the round.
Vengeful: A rogue with this talent gains a +2 morale
bonus to attack and damage rolls made against an
opponent who has physically injured him.
.
Wizard (Horimyo Archetype)
There are few customs so distinctive to the yakuza as
their tattoos. Besides being an indication of an
individual’s willingness to suffer pain for the
brotherhood, these tattoos serve as signs of status
and rank within the yakuza society. Horimonoshi are
naturally found wherever there are yakuza, but none
are so respected as the Horimyo, occult tattoo artists
who have learned to infuse their creations with
arcane energies. These spellcasters are capable of
casting spells in a manner similar to wizards, but
their true power is found in the application of ink to
skin. Horimyo are constantly seeking to expand their
spell repertoire and are always ready to infuse others
with their arcane masterpieces, provided, of course,
that the price is right. Some Horimyo adventure for
much the same reason as other wizards: to discover
new spells. Others are wandering the world, looking
for the perfect spot to set up a shop of their own. Still
others move from place to place, trying to escape the
yakuza lifestyle, or, as often, the wrath of a particular
yakuza boss.
Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Horimyo are
proficient with the club, dagger, kama, quarterstaff,
and throwing needles. Horimyo are proficient with
leather armor and padded armor, but it potentially
interferes with their spellcasting, as normal.
Tattoo Craftsman: One of your available skill
points, each time you gain a level of the horimyo
class, including at 1st level, must be placed in Craft
(tattoo). However, you gain a bonus to Craft (tattoo)
equal to half your class level +1. At 7th level, the
amount of time it takes for you to create a tattoo,
mundane or magical, is halved.
Spells: A horimyo prepares and cast spells drawn
from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. Like the wizard,
Intelligence is the chief factor in determining how
many spells a horimyo can prepare and how well he
can cast them. To prepare and cast a spell, a horimyo
must have an Intelligence score at least equal to 10 +
the spell level.
Traditionally, horimyo do not keep spell books.
Rather, their known spells, including the appropriate
tattoo illustrations for that spell, are kept on scrolls:
one scroll per spell. Horimyo guard these scrolls
jealously, though they will sometimes agree to allow
other horimyo to copy one of their scrolls, most often
in return for being allowed access to one of the other
horimyo’s scrolls.
A horimyo may learn any number of spells, but he
may cast only a limited number of them a day, as a
wizard. To prepare his spells, a horimyo must have
eight hours of sleep and an hour in which to ready
Page 12
his spells. To prepare a spell for casting, a horimyo
ritually transfers the image of the spell onto his skin.
Though he uses a needle and a small amount of ink, the
process is much faster than the process of creating
actual tattoos. Still, at the end of the hour-long
preparation, the horimyo possesses one tattoo for each
prepared spell and as he uses each spell, the tattoo
disappears. Uncast tattoos may be removed the next
day as the horimyo prepares his spells for the day.
A horimyo without access to both his scrolls and a
needle and ink cannot prepare his spells for the day
unless he has the proper feats.
Horimyo add scrolls to their selection in a manner
identical to how wizards add spells to their spell-
books. Likewise, a horimyo chooses a school of magic
in the same manner as a wizard.
Cantrips: A horimyo does not require a tattoo to cast
a cantrip and may prepare and cast cantrips in a
manner identical to a wizard. However, it is possible
for a horimyo to ink cantrip tattoos onto his flesh
permanently, at the cost of 250 gp per tattoo. These
cantrip tattoos do not take up a magic item slot, but
they do reduce the number of cantrips he can prepare
a day at a 2 for 1 ratio. That is, for every two such
tattoos, the number of cantrips the horimyo can
prepare a day is reduced by 1. Note that the odd
number of cantrip tattoos does not affect his ability to
prepare cantrips. Thus the first such cantrip tattoo
does not decrease his cantrips per day, but the second
does. The third likewise has no effect, but the fourth
does.
Bonded Tattoo: Each horimyo begins his career
with one powerful magical tattoo (often tattooed on
either an arm or the horimyo’s chest). This tattoo
grants the horimyo a +3 bonus to a skill of the
horimyo’s choice and can be used to store one extra
spell per day. The prepared spell must be one spell
level lower than the highest spell level he is able to
cast (minimum 1st level). Beginning at 4th level, the
tattooed bond adds +1 to one of the horimyo’s
physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, or
Constitution). This bonus increases by another +1
every 4 levels. This ability replaces arcane bond.
Craft Spell Tattoo: At 1st level a horimyo gains the
Craft Spell Tattoo feat as a bonus feat. This ability
replaces Scribe Scroll.
Craft Wondrous Tattoo: At 5th level a horimyo
gains the Craft Wondrous Tattoo feat. This ability
replaces the bonus feat the wizard would normally
receive at 5th level.
Tattooed Familiar: At 8th level, the horimyo gains
the ability to tattoo a chosen animal onto his skin.
The animal may be summoned for a number of
rounds per day equal to his class level and is
statistically identical to a druid’s animal companion,
with the hoorimyo’s class level functioning as his
effective druid level. If the animal is slain, the
horimyo takes 2d6 points of damage and loses the
tattoo. The tattoo may not be replaced for 2 weeks.
At 15th level the horimyo may have two such tattoos.
This ability replaces the bonus feat the wizard would
normally receive at 15th level.
Arcanic Energy Transfer: At 10th level, the
horimyo gains the ability to sacrifice a prepared spell
to make a touch attack with a range of 25 + 5 ft/level
which does 2d6 points of force damage per level of
the spell sacrificed or 1d8 points of energy damage
per level of the spell (fire, acid, cold, or electrical).
The horimyo may use this ability a number of times
Page 13
per day equal to 1 + his Charisma modifier (minimum
1). This ability replaces the bonus feat the wizard
would normally receive at 10th level.
Tattoo Master: At 20th level, as a standard action,
the horimyo learns to control and warp the tattoos
worn by others, so as to cause the pictures and ink on
their skin to painfully turn against them. The target of
this ability must have tattoos for the ability to be
effective and is allowed a Will save where the DC is
equal to 10 + 1/2 the horimyo’s class level + the
horimyo’s Intelligence modifier. If the save fails, the
target takes 20d6 points of damage and is shaken for
2d6 rounds. A Fortitude save (with the same DC as
the Will save) halves the damage and avoids the
shaken effect. When the attack is over, the affected
tattoos are blackened and twisted but not removed.
The horimyo may use this ability once a day. This
ability replaces the bonus feat the wizard would
normally receive at 20th level.
New Prestige Class: Machi-Yakko
The yakuza consider themselves to be the defenders
of their communities, civil servants who keep the
peace and ensure tranquility and order. Historically,
machi-yakko was the designation given to those
individuals who banded together against the
predations of the kabukimono. Today, the machi-
yakko is a title of respect for prominent yakuza,
typically oyabun. Because of their position within the
yakuza, the machi-yakko receive a great deal of
respect from their community and have ready access
to family resources. Utilizing enchanted tattoos,
these yakuza leaders can be fearsome opponents in
combat, though most opponents must first fight an
army of underlings if they wish to challenge a machi-
yakko. However, the machi-yakko’s real power is in
their ability to manipulate and influence others.

The machi-yakko is a natural prestige class for a

rogue or bard, but is available to any yakuza member
who meets the criteria.

Role: The machi-yakko is a prominent member of a

yakuza family. He works well as a behind-the-scenes
mastermind, rarely venturing forth to do the gang’s
dirty-work himself, though his enchanted tattoos
give him an edge when he is forced to draw his blade.
Alignment: A machi-yakko must possess a lawful
alignment. Because of their yakuza background,
most machi-yakko are lawful evil or lawful neutral,
but there is nothing preventing a machi-yakko from
being lawful good.
Hit Die: d8
Requirements
To qualify to become a machi-yakko, a character
must possess all of the following criteria.
Skills: Bluff 5 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks, Knowledge
(local) 5 ranks, Sense Motive 5 ranks.
Feats: Leadership, Toughness
Special: Must be able to speak a yakuza cant and
possess yakuza tattoos.
Class Skills
The machi-yakko’s class skills are Appraise (Int), Bluff
(Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device
(Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha),
Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (local) (Int),
Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis),
Sense Motive (Wis), Stealth (Dex), Swim (Str), and
Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks at each level: 8 + Intelligence
modifier.
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Machi-yakko
are proficient with all simple weapons, plus the kama,
longsword, sap, shortbow, short sword and wakizashi.
They are proficient with light armor but not with
shields.

Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special

1 +0 +0 +1 +1 Community Leader, Gang Leader, Tattoo
2 +1 +1 +1 +1 Tattoo
3 +2 +1 +2 +2 Gang Profits, Sneak Attack +1d6
4 +3 +1 +2 +2 Tattoo
5 +3 +2 +3 +3 Community Father
6 +4 +2 +3 +3 Tattoo, Sneak Attack +2d6
7 +5 +2 +4 +4 Skilled Leader
8 +6 +3 +4 +4 Tattoo
9 +6 +3 +5 +5 Sneak Attack +3d6
10 +7 +3 +5 +5 Tattoo

Page 14
Community Leader: A machi-yakko adds his class
level to all Diplomacy and Knowledge (local) checks.
Gang Leader: When determining the machi-
yakko’s leadership score, levels from the machi-
yakko prestige class count double.
Tattoo: At 1st level, the machi-yakko gains an
enchanted tattoo. The machi-yakko gains an
additional tattoo at 2nd level and ever 2 levels
thereafter. These tattoos do not take up a magical
item slot and can utilize, if needed, preexisting
tattoos. The machi-yakko can choose from the
following options. Each choice, unless the
description indicates otherwise, can be taken only
once.
The Boar: The machi-yakko’s Constitution is
permanently increased by 2.
The Bow: The machi-yakko gains a +2 bonus to all
ranged attack rolls made using a bow.
The Demon: The machi-yakko gains a +5 bonus to all
Intimidate checks.
The Dice: The machi-yakko gains a +1 bonus to all
saving throws. Additionally, once per day, the machi-
yakko can reroll any one failed saving throw.
The Dragon: This tattoo can be taken twice. The first
time it is taken, the machi-yakko gains fire resistance
10. The second time it is taken, the machi-yakko
gains the ability to breathe fire, three times a day,
doing 1d6 damage for every two character levels. If
the machi-yakko chooses, this tattoo, when taken,
can instead be used in conjunction with electricity,
cold, or acid, and multiple forms of the dragon tattoo
can be chosen so that the machi-yakko gains more
than one type of energy resistance or breath weapon.
The Fish: This tattoo can be taken three times. The
first time, the machi-yakko gains a +5 bonus to all
Swim checks. The second time this tattoo is chosen,
the machi-yakko gains a swim speed equal to his
normal movement rate. The third time, the machi-
yakko gains water breathing permanently.
The Flower: The machi-yakko’s Charisma is
permanently increased by 2.
Page 15
The Horse: The machi-yakko’s Strength is
permanently increased by 2.
The Shade: This tattoo can be taken twice. The first
time it is taken, the machi-yakko gains a +5 bonus to
all Stealth checks. The second time it is taken, the
machi-yakko can cast invisibility on himself three
times a day.
The Snake: The machi-yakko’s Dexterity is
permanently increased by 2.
The Spear: The machi-yakko gains a +4 bonus to
initiative checks.
The Sword: The machi-yakko gains a +2 bonus to all
melee attack rolls made using a sword.
The Tree: The machi-yakko gains a +10 bonus to CMD
when resisting bull rush, overrun and trip attacks.
The Turtle: The machi-yakko’s natural armor class
increases by +2. This tattoo can be chosen more than
once and each time it is chosen, its effects stack.
Gang Profits: By 3rd level, the machi-yakko’s
position insures him a continual income. Each week
he gains an amount of gp equal to twice his leadership
score. At 5th level, the amount of gp he is earning
from this ability increases to three times his
leadership score and at 10th
level it becomes five times his leadership score. If, for
any reason, the machi-yakko’s followers are killed or
dispersed, this income is reduced to zero until such
time as he can gain new followers.
Sneak Attack: At 3rd level, the machi-yakko gains
the sneak attack ability. This ability functions exactly
like the rogue ability of the same name and stacks
with any sneak attack bonuses granted from other
classes. The amount of sneak attack damage dealt
increases at 6th and 9th levels.
Community Father: At 5th level, the machi-yakko
is so respected he can take 10 on any Diplomacy or
Intimidate checks.
Skilled Leader: At 7th level, the machi-yakko’s
ability to influence others improves. The machi-yakko
gains a +2 bonus to all Charisma-based skill checks.
 Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to Perception checks.
Yakuza Feats Furthermore, if you succeed on a DC 20 Perception
City Tough check, you can tell what numbers are showing on any
Your life on the street has made you harder and meaner. dice you have heard land. When playing gambling
Prerequisite: 1st level only. games which require you to guess the face of dice, you
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to Intimidate checks may add your Perception skill when making a
and 2 hit points. Profession (gambling) check.

Country Hooligan Incorrigible Gambler

Your life in the country has been rough and hard, but You have long been a gambler, and greatly enjoy the
you have learned to survive, no matter the odds. toss of the dice and the jingle of coins exchanging
Prerequisite: 1st level only. hand.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to Survival checks and Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to Profession
+1 bonus to Fortitude saves. (gambling) and a +2 bonus to both Sense Motive and
Bluff checks made in conjunction with a game of
Craft Spell Tattoo (Item Creation) chance in which you are involved.
You can create spell tattoos.
Prerequisite: Caster level 1st. Short Blade Warrior (combat)
Benefit: You can create a spell tattoo of any spell
You have trained extensively with smaller swords and
you know. Tattooing a spell takes 1/2 hour per DC if
can use them to make quick, vicious attacks.
its base price is 250 gp or less, otherwise it takes 1
Prerequisite: BAB +3.
hour per DC. To tattoo a spell, you must use raw
Benefit: When wielding a light, one handed sword,
materials costing half of this base price. You are also
such as a short sword, dagger or wakizashi, you gain a
able to create enhanced tattoos as if you had the
+2 bonus to initiative and a +1 bonus to damage with
Master Tattoo Artist feat. cost of a spell tattoo is the
that weapon. The initiative bonus applies only so long
normal cost of scribing a scroll of that spell plus 50
as the weapon is in your hand and you are making a
gp for ink and supplies. The spell tattoo may only be
melee attack.
activated by the person upon whom the tattoo is
inked and once the spell is used, the tattoo
disappears. Spell tattoos do not take up a magical Smuggler
item slot. You have considerable experience in concealing items
and merchandise from the authorities. This
Craft Wondrous Tattoo (Item Creation) experience helps you to know what to look for when
You can create wondrous tattoos. you are searching for hidey-holes.
Prerequisites: Craft Spell Tattoo, caster level 3rd. Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to bluff and a +4 bonus
Benefit: You can create a wide variety of wondrous to Perception to find hidden doors and secret
tattoos. Crafting a wondrous tattoo takes 1 hour per compartments.
DC. To create a wondrous tattoo, you must use up
raw materials costing half of its base price. You can
also mend or modify any wondrous tattoo if it is one
you could normally create. Doing so costs half the
raw materials and half the time it would take to craft
it scratch. The cost of creating a wondrous tattoo is
equivalent to the cost of creating a wondrous item,
plus 100 gp for ink and supplies. Most wondrous
tattoos use up the magical item slot most relevant to
their function and location upon the body. A tattoo
increasing speed, for instance, would most likely be
inked on or near the feet and would use up the foot
slot. Tattoos which do not take up a slot are twice as
expensive.

Dice Whisperer
Your ears are so sharp, and so attuned to the fall of
the dice, that you can tell, sight unseen, what
numbers are showing on their faces.
Prerequisites: Blind, 6 ranks in Perception, Incorrigible
Gambler.
Page 16
Yakuza Equipment Tattoo Cost and DC Modifiers By Size
The following items are either typical of items one Tattoo Approximate DC
might find on a yakuza member or are in some way Size Measurement Cost Modifier
associated with the yakuza. Fine 0.5” by 0.5” 7 sp/DC +4
Diminutive 0.75” by 0.75” 13 sp/DC +3
Tiny 1.5” by 1.5” 25 sp/DC +2
Loaded Dice: These dice are weighted so that Small 3” by 3” 5 gp/DC +1
they will nearly always roll the same. A person Medium 6” by 6” 10 gp/DC ―
handling the dice, who succeeds on a Perception Large 12” by 12” 20 gp/DC ―
check, notices they feel off. The base DC for noticing Huge 24” by 24” 40 gp/DC ―
the dice are weighted is 15. The DC may be increased
at a ratio of 5 gp per +1 to the DC. (Example: Loaded
dice with a Perception DC of 16 would cost 15 gp and Yakuza Spells
those with a DC of 20 would cost 35 gp.) Base Cost The following spells are especially suitable for Horimyo
10 gp. casters.

Straw Backpack: This backpack is little more Burning Ink

than a woven straw basket with shoulder straps. The
pack holds 2 cubic feet worth of material, but it
cannot hold more than 20 lbs. worth of material
without breaking. The pack is naturally extremely
flammable. Cost 2 cp.
Sword, Cane: A cane sword is essentially a short
sword hidden within a walking stick. Drawing the
blade from the cane can be done as a swift action (or
a free action if the sword wielder has the Quick Draw
feat). An observer who sees the cane must succeed at
a DC 20 Perception check to identify the item as a
weapon. If one handles the weapon, the DC
decreases to 10. Cost 45 gp.
Tattoo Kit: This kit contains steel needles and ink
for the purpose of making tattoos. Without such a
kit, the tattoo artist must use improvised tools (-2
penalty to Craft checks). A kit contains enough ink
for 2 medium tattoos. Cost 25 gp. Ink refill 5 gp.
Tattoo Kit, masterwork: The golden needles
in this kit make the application of ink to skin much
easier, adding a +2 bonus to the artist’s skill check.
The ink for this kit is the same as for a non-
masterwork kit. Cost 100 gp.
Tattoos: Tattoos are ubiquitous among the Yakuza,
though not all tattoos are created equal. Abstract
tattoos, formed of patterns, stylized images, script,
runes, or geometric figures, are cheaper as they are
easier to make. The DC for an abstract tattoo is equal
to 10 + size modifier. Masterwork tattoos and
multiple colors increase the DC by +5 each. Tattoos
featuring actual images of people, creatures, places
or things increase the DC of the tattoo by another +5.
All yakuza are expected to obtain masterwork tattoos
and a horimonoshi knows it is more than his life is
worth to impart a poor tattoo.
School: Transmutation; Level: Brd 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Casting Time: 1 round
Components: V, S, M (a needle valued at 1 sp, the needle
is destroyed by the spell)
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft/level)
Target: One creature possessing tattoos
Duration: 1 round/ 2 levels
Saving Throw: Will negates; Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell turns mundane tattoo ink embedded in the skin
into acid. If a creature has no tattoos or the tattoos of the
target are enchanted, the spell will not work, nor does the
spell function if the target succeeds on a Will save. If the
save fails, the target’s tattoos turn against the wearer,
dealing 1d4 points of acid damage per your caster level and
lasting for a number of rounds equal to half of your caster
level, rounded down. The spell ruins the tattoos of the target
creature.
Dead Man’s Ink
School: Universal; Level: Brd 1, Clr 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Casting Time: 1 minute
Components: V, S
Range: Touch
Target: One dead creature and one target creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None; Spell Resistance: No
When you cast this spell, you can remove an enchanted
tattoo from a slain target and place it upon the skin of a
willing subject, including, if you choose, yourself. You
cannot use this spell to place an enchanted tattoo which
requires an open magic item slot upon a creature which
already has that slot occupied by an enchanted tattoo.
Remain calm, no matter the danger. Work to
solve problems and always further the interests
of your yakuza family

Page 17
Erase Tattoo
School: Transmutation; Level: Brd 1, Clr 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Casting Time: 1 minute
Components: V, S, M, (gem dust with a value equal
to twice the value of the tattoo to be removed)
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None; Spell Resistance: Yes
You may use this spell to remove a mundane tattoo
from a willing subject. If the subject is not willing to
lose the tattoo, or the tattoo is enchanted, the spell
fails and the material components are wasted. So
long as the subject is willing, the tattoo is
permanently removed upon the completion of the
spell. If a subject has more than one tattoo, the spell
can affect larger areas of skin at the same time, but
the material cost increases accordingly.
The Spreading Mark
School: Necromancy; Level: Sor/Wiz 5
Casting Time: 1 round
Components: V, S, M (a needle and a bit of ash)
Range: Touch
Target: One creature
Duration: Varies
Saving Throw: Will negates, Fortitude save delays
(see spell text); Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell creates a painful black tattoo which slowly
grows, until at last it kills its victim. When the spell is
cast, the caster must succeed on a melee touch attack
to complete the spell, though a Will save will still
negate the effects. Once struck by the spell, a small,
black, swirl-patterned tattoo appears on the target’s
skin. The tattoo is painful and imposes a -2 penalty
to all the target’s d20 rolls. Each day the target must
succeed at a Fortitude save or lose 1d4 points of
Constitution as the tattoo grows in size. When the
target’s Constitution is 0, the tattoo covers the whole
body and the target dies. The tattoo can be removed
through the successful casting of remove curse,
dispel magic or wish (or some similar spell) but until
the tattoo is removed, the Constitution damage
cannot be healed.
Enchanted Yakuza Tattoos
Enchanted tattoos can be used to mimic the effects of
any number of worn wondrous items. Most
enchanted tattoos take up a magic item slot and are
priced identically to wondrous items plus 100 gp for
the cost of the ink. If a character has a tattoo
occupying a slot, the tattoo always takes precedence
over an item the character may attempt to wear. The
following tattoos are just some of the possible
enchanted tattoos worn by yakuza members.
Page 18
Fiery Dragon
Aura moderate evocation; CL 5th
Slot neck; Price gp 11,000; Weight -
Description
This tattoo is most often rendered with a red dragon
entwined around the chest and shoulders. Twice a
day, the user can breathe a 20 foot cone of fire, doing
5d6 points of damage (DC 16 Reflex for half).
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Tattoo, fireball;
Cost 5,500 gp
Hidden Sword
Aura moderate conjuration; CL 9th
Slot 1 hand; Price 3,000 gp plus cost of weapon;
Weight -
Description
This tattoo is most often rendered with the image of a
weapon on the inside wrist of the user. To create this
tattoo, the spellcaster needs access to an actual
weapon, and the weapon is then melded to the tattoo,
so that it is carried, weightlessly, in the tattoo. A
weapon carried in this way may be “drawn” as a free
action and “sheathed” at will within the tattoo. Once
the weapon for the tattoo is chosen, it cannot be
changed without dispelling the tattoo first, though a
different weapon can be “sheathed” in this way on
each arm and additional weapons can be added to the
same hand for twice the cost of the original tattoo.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Tattoo, secret chest;
Cost 1,500 gp plus cost of weapon
Mistwalker
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 5th
Slot Back/Cloak; Price 15,000 gp; Weight -
Description
This tattoo is most often rendered with the large
image of a woman, the bottom half of which is misty
and ghost-like, inked onto the back of the user. Twice
a day, the user can cause their form to shift and waver
for 5 minutes , as with blur. Once per day the user can
assume a gaseous form for five minutes.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Tattoo, blur,
gaseous form; Cost 7,500 gp
Never back down, no matter the odds. Never
give in when negotiating and never show
weakness or indecision.
Oni
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 5th
Slot bracers/arms; Price 32,000 gp; Weight -
Description
This tattoo is most often rendered with the image of
a red-skinned oni on one arm. The tattoo’s owner
gains Resist Fire 10 and can, twice a day, increase his
Strength score by 4, for 5 minutes.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Tattoo, bull
strength, resist energy; Cost 16,000 gp
Phoenix
Aura strong conjuration (healing); CL 15th
Slot Back/Cloak; Price 32,500 gp; Weight -
Description
This powerful tattoo is most often rendered with the
large image of a phoenix, inked onto the back of the
user. When the wearer is brought below 0 hit points,
he does not die, but instead, 1 round later, is fully
healed. The tattoo is effective only once per day.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Tattoo, heal; Cost
16,250 gp
Quick Fox
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 3rd
Slot neck; Price 6,000 gp; Weight -
Description
This tattoo is most often rendered with a fox, resting
on the chest and shoulders. The tattoo’s owner gains
Page 19
a +2 bonus to Initiative and a +4 bonus to all
Perception checks.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Tattoo, cat’s grace,
owl’s wisdom; Cost 3,000 gp
Shy Maiden
Aura strong transmutation; CL 8th
Slot head; Price 20,000 gp; Weight -
Description
This tattoo is most often rendered with the large
image of a woman inked onto the upper back of the
user. The tattoo’s owner has a +2 increase to
Charisma and can, at will, assume the form of any
Small or Medium woman, as with alter self.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Tattoo, alter self,
eagle’s splendor; Cost 10,000 gp
Storm
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 5th
Slot bracers/arm; Price 36,000 gp; Weight -
Description
This tattoo is most often rendered with the image of a
storm cloud and lightning on one arm and
shoulder. The tattoo’s owner gains Resist Electricity
10 and can cast three lightning bolts per day (5d6
damage, DC 16).
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Tattoo, lightning
bolt, resist energy; Cost 18,000 gp
Part 3: Creating a Yakuza Gang
Though there are some commonalities from one
gang to another, each yakuza family has its own
peculiarities. The oyabun is the primary factor in
determining the attitude and actions of the gang as a
whole, but there are other factors, including the
personality of the second-in-command, the size and
wealth of the gang, and the gang’s enterprises.
Yakuza Family Stat Block
A yakuza gang stat block is organized as follows.
Name: The name of the yakuza gang is presented first.
Alignment and Type: The gang’s alignment is the
general alignment of its members. Individual
members and officers in the gang can be of any
alignment, but the majority of the gang will be within
one step of the alignment. The gang type indicates
both the wealth level (impoverished, poor, typical,
prosperous, wealthy) and the overall size of the gang
(band, gang, syndicate). (Population) The actual
size of the gang is recorded parenthetically.
Modifiers: A yakuza gang possess modifiers
(Honor, Morale, Lore, and Society) which affect the
difficulty of specific skill checks made in relation to
the gang. A gang’s default modifiers are -2 but these
modifiers are further adjusted by the gang’s
alignment, qualities, size and wealth.
Kumicho: The name, alignment, class and level of
the gang’s oyabun are listed here. (Kumicho
Qualities) Three qualities, describing the overall
personality of the kumicho are noted parenthetically.
Wakagashira: This entry provides the name,
alignment, class and level of the gang’s number two
man. Additionally the actual job of the number two
man, within the gang, is noted. (Wakagashira
Qualities) Three qualities, describing the overall
personality of the gang’s number two are noted
parenthetically.
Gang Qualities: As with the oyabun and the
second in command, three qualities are used to
describe the overall personality of the gang. The first
of these must be chosen from one of the three
qualities possessed by the oyabun and the second is
taken from one of the three qualities possessed by
the second in command. The third quality is
reflective of the gang’s alignment.
Table 3.1 Gang Statistics
Yakuza Gang Gang
Smuggling Modifiers
Type Population
Band 20-40 -2
Gang 41-100 -2
Syndicate 101-500 -2
Major Syndicate 501+ -2
Page 20
Notable Members: This section lists any notable gang
members. The listed members are identified by their role in
the gang, followed by their names, alignments, class and level.
Gang Enterprises: The activities of the yakuza gang
within their communities are listed here. All yakuza gangs
have gambling as an enterprise. The size of the gang
determines how many other ongoing activities they have.
Purchase Limit and Smuggling Limit: This
section lists the amount of money the gang, as a
whole, has at its disposal for the purchase of any single
item at any one time. The smuggling limit reflects the
price of the most expensive item the gang can smuggle
into a community for the purpose of selling it to a ready
buyer, or for its own use if it has at least a week to
gather together the funds. Generally, the smuggling
limit is twice the purchase limit, but both amounts are
subject to further adjustments based on the gang’s
alignment, qualities, size and wealth.
Yakuza Modifiers
The difficulty of interacting with yakuza members is
represented through four modifiers, each of which affects
the use of specific skills. A gang’s default modifiers are -2,
but these modifiers are further adjusted by the gang’s
alignment, qualities, size and wealth.
Honor: Honor is a measure of how truthful, loyal
and trustworthy a group is and how well the group, as
a whole, pressures its individual members into
behaving in a manner that reflects well on the whole
group. Groups with high honor hold themselves to a
higher standard than groups with low honor. The
Honor score modifies the DC for all Bluff, Diplomacy,
or Intimidate checks made to compel a member of the
group into doing something contrary to the group’s
personal code. You should also consider the group’s
Honor when determining how members of the group
react to temptations or bribes.
Morale: Morale is the measure of a group’s general
cheer, optimism and determination. Groups with a
high morale are, as a whole, harder to intimidate.
Individuals in groups possessing a low morale are
more easily cowed and dispersed. The Morale score
modifies the DC for all Intimidate checks made
against members of the group by those outside the
group. You should also consider the group’s Morale
when determining how they react to danger.
Base Additional Gang Purchase
Enterprises Limit Limit
1 500 gp 1,000 gp
2 1,000 gp 2,000 gp
4 5,000 gp 10,000 gp
6 25,000 gp 50,000 gp
Lore: Lore is the measure of a group’s overall
attitude towards knowledge and scholarly pursuits.
Groups with a high Lore modifier are more likely to
possess libraries and hold scholars in high regard.
Groups with a low Lore modifier are more likely to
be taciturn and distrustful of new ideas. The Lore
score applies to Diplomacy checks made to gather
information from members of the group and
Knowledge checks made using the group’s personal
resources. You should also consider the group’s Lore
when determining how chatty and communicative
the members of the group are. (Note that a group’s
Lore modifier supersedes the Lore modifier for the
community in which the group dwells. That is, when
speaking to a member of the group in question,
replace the community Lore modifier with the group
Lore modifier.)
Society: Society is a measure of how open-minded
and civilized a group is. A group with a low Society
modifier is going to be distrustful of those from
outside the group and will be more insular. A high
society modifier indicates a more cosmopolitan
attitude towards outsiders. A group’s Society score
should be applied to all Disguise checks made
against a member of that group, as well as to
Diplomacy checks made against members of the
group by outsiders. (Note that a group’s Society
modifier supersedes the Society modifier for the
community in which the group dwells. That is, when
speaking to a member of the group in question,
replace the community Society modifier with the
group Society modifier.)
Yakuza Gang Size
As yakuza families grow larger, they control larger
territories and branch out into an increasing number
of enterprises.
Band A yakuza organization of this size operates
either within in a village, or a hinin-eta
neighborhood set within a larger community, such as
a city. The members of the gang are very likely to be
big fish in a very small pond. Besides the band’s
bakuto parlor, these yakuza are most likely to be
operating an extortion racket, hitting up their
neighbors for protection money.
Gang A typical yakuza gang controls a hinin-eta
town, managing many of the businesses and taking
protection money from those not directly under its
thumb. Besides gambling and extortion, such gangs
frequently branch out into one or two other
enterprises, such as smuggling, drug-crops, or
prostitution.
Syndicate A syndicate is what you get when a single
family has gangs in multiple towns and one or two
cities. Each locale will have its own bakuto parlor and
offices, but all pay fealty (and a percentage of their
profits) to the central kumicho. A
syndicate’s gambling profits are often only a small
portion of its income, as it has branched out into a
number of other profitable vices.
Major Syndicate Major syndicates control the
activities of almost all the yakuza within a large
territory. They possess gangs in multiple cities and
outright control several towns and villages, with their
fingers in as many different ventures as is possible.
Such organizations have a tremendous amount of
money and power, but those at the top rarely rest
easy, for there are always a number of ambitious
members eager to carve out a name for themselves,
and being so large, conflicts with other yakuza
families are inevitable.
Yakuza Wealth Levels
There are five possible wealth levels for a yakuza group. The
five levels are impoverished, poor, average,
prosperous and wealthy. These wealth levels modify
the Purchase Limit and Smuggling Limit of each
yakuza gang, as described on Table 3.2. Once the
wealth level is chosen, multiply or divide the base
Purchase and Smuggling Limits as indicated. This
adjustment is done before any adjustments indicated
by gang qualities. Table 3.2 may also be used to pick a
random wealth level, if so desired.
Never be late. Never hesitate. Act with decisiveness.

Table 3.2 Wealth Level Adjustments

d10 Wealth Level Adjustment for Purchase and Smuggling Limits
1 Impoverished Divide Limit by 10
2-3 Poor Divide Limit by 2
4-7 Typical No adjustment
8-9 Prosperous Multiply Limit by 1.5
10 Wealthy Multiply Limit by 2

Page 21
 Table 3.3 Yakuza Alignment
d100 Alignment Possible Qualities (choose one)
01-59 Lawful Evil Devious, Meticulous, Vicious
60-79 Neutral Evil Cold, Devious, Greedy
80-89 Lawful Neutral Cold, Honorable, Meticulous,
90-96 Chaotic Evil Cruel, Riotous, Vicious
97 Neutral Good Charitable, Greedy, Just
98 Lawful Good Charitable, Honorable, Meticulous
99 Chaotic Good Charitable, Lawless, Riotous
00 Chaotic Neutral Greedy, Lawless, Riotous

Yakuza Alignment
A gang’s alignment describes the overall attitude of Table 3.4 Kumicho Qualities
the gang at large. Most yakuza organizations are d20 d20
Lawful Evil, but there are exceptions to this rule. The 1 Active 11 Romantic
alignment of the gang must be within one step of the 2 Bold 12 Ruthless
alignment of the group’s kumicho, or else the group 3 Gloomy 13 Stern
has the fractured quality. The alignment of the group 4 Hot-Tempered 14 Strong
affects the gang’s modifiers as follows. A lawful 5 Jolly 15 Stubborn
alignment increases the group’s Honor by 1. A 6 Just 16 Suspicious
Chaotic alignment decreases Morale by 1. An evil 7 Lazy 17 Superstitious
alignment decreases Honor by 1 and a good 8 Learned 18 Thoughtful
alignment increases morale and honor by 1. A 9 Quiet 19 Unpredictable
neutral alignment increases Lore by 1 (true neutral 10 Religious 20 Vengeful
doubles this increase).

If you wish to randomly determine the alignment of Yakuza Gang Qualities

a yakuza official, member, or gang you may use Table ach gang should be assigned three qualities. The
3.3. Accompanying each alignment is a list of three first of these is chosen from the three qualities
possible qualities associated with that alignment.
Once alignment has been chosen, choose one of the
possessed by the kumicho and the second is
qualities associated with that alignment and apply it chosen from the three qualities possessed by the
to the individual or gang being created (remember gang’s second in command, the wakagashira. The
that if the alignment of the group and the group’s third quality is taken from Table 3.3, according to
kumicho is more than one step apart, the quality the gang’s alignment. Qualities cannot be chosen
chosen must be the fractured quality). twice.
Table 3.3 Yakuza Alignment Active Bustling with energy, an Active individual is
d100 Alignment Possible Qualities (choose one) always planning, working, and moving. Groups with
01-59 Lawful Evil Devious, Meticulous, Vicious this quality are likewise constantly busy. Active
60-79 Neutral Evil Cold, Devious, Greedy Group’s Morale modifier increases by 1 and their
80-89 Lawful Neutral Cold, Honorable, Meticulous,
90-96 Chaotic Evil Cruel, Riotous, Vicious
Purchase and Smuggling Limits increase by 10%.
97 Neutral Good Charitable, Greedy, Just Bold An individual or group with the Bold quality acts
98 Lawful Good Charitable, Honorable, decisively and fearlessly. Members of a group with the
Meticulous Bold quality increase their Morale modifier by 2.
99 Chaotic Good Charitable, Lawless, Riotous Charitable An individual or group with the
00 Chaotic Neutral Greedy, Lawless, Riotous Charitable quality frequently gives to the poor and
needy. In such a group, Honor, Morale and Society
Kumicho and Wakagashira Qualities are increased by 1 but the group’s Purchase limit is
When assigning qualities to the yakuza kumicho 20% lower.
(and their second in command), choose one Cold An individual with the Cold quality is distant
alignment related quality from Table 3.3 and then and emotionally unapproachable. Groups with the
choose two qualities from those presented on Table same quality are aloof towards those outside the
3.4. If you desire, Table 3.4 allows you to randomly group and maintain a facade of passionless efficiency.
select these qualities. Groups who are Cold have their Honor quality
increased by 1 but their Social modifier decreases by 1.

Page 22
Page 23
Cruel A cruel individual enjoys causing pain in
others, whether physical or emotional. Cruel groups
seek to hurt those in their community at every
opportunity. The Honor and Society modifiers of a
Cruel group are decreased by 1, but the Morale of
such a group is increased by 1.
Devious A devious individual is manipulative and
scheming. Though not all devious people are liars,
one must parse one’s words carefully. Devious
groups seek to use those outside the group to their
own advantage, and even those within the group
must be alert to the machinations of their comrades.
Devious groups decrease their Honor by 1 but their
Lore Modifier increases by 1.
Fractured A group with the Fractured quality is
being torn apart by internal struggles. All modifiers
in such a group are decreased by 2.
Gloomy Constantly morose, Gloomy individuals
wallow in pessimism. Groups with the Gloomy
quality are full of such individuals. Morale in Gloomy
groups decreases by 1.
Greedy A Greedy individual covets that which he
does not have and seeks monetary success,
frequently through less than honorable means.
Groups with this quality are likewise focused on the
acquisition of worldly wealth, even at the expense of
others in their community. The Purchase and
Smuggling Limits of such a group are increased by
30%.
Honorable An Honorable individual’s word is his
bond. He lives according to his own personal code,
even when others fail to do so. Honorable groups
likewise have a rigid code of conduct, whether
spoken or unspoken and expect each member of
their group to live according to this code. The Honor
of groups with this quality is increased by 3 and the
Morale modifier is increased by 1.
Hot Tempered Quick to anger, Hot Tempered
individuals frequently take out their frustrations and
wrath on those around them. When an entire group
is Hot Tempered, the community walks gingerly,
fearful of displeasing the group. A Hot Tempered
group’s Society modifier is decreased by 1.
Jolly Jolly individuals enjoy their jests. Laughing
often, they are seldom seen without a smile. Groups
with the Jolly quality are good natured and friendly,
at least outwardly. Morale and Society modifiers are
both increased by 1 in a Jolly group.
Just A just individual attempts to insure that people
are treated as they deserve to be treated. Just groups
attempt to distribute justice to their community,
according to the code of the group and the mores of
their society. Groups with the Just quality increase
their Honor by 2.
Lawless An individual with the Lawless quality
does as he pleases, when he pleases and must be
forced to do otherwise. A group with the Lawless
quality is out of control. Members barely obey their
superiors, and only when their superiors are on hand. Honor,
Page 24
Morale, and Lore modifiers are all decreased by 2 in
such a group.
Lazy When possible, a Lazy man avoids labor and
strenuous activity. If intelligent, it is likely that the lazy
man seeks to do his work efficiently and quickly, so it
does not have to be redone. Lazy groups suffer from a
lack of motivation and frequently try to coerce others
into doing what has to be done. The Morale modifier in
a Lazy group is decreased by 1 and their Purchase and
Smuggling Limits are decreased by 30%.
Learned Learned individuals have studied
extensively and are knowledgeable about one or more
areas of interest. Groups with the Learned quality
value scholars and wisdom. The Lore quality of such
groups is increased by 3.
Meticulous A Meticulous individual is very exact in
both his appearance and his record keeping. A group
with this quality expects its members to be clean and
to maintain good accounts. In a Meticulous group,
Honor and Lore are both increased by 1 and Morale is
decreased by 1. The Purchase and Smuggling Limits of
a Meticulous group are increased by 10%.
Quiet A man with the Quiet quality does not speak
unless what he has something worth saying. Groups
who share the Quiet quality are calm and subdued in
their dealings. A Quiet group’s Society modifier is
increased by 1.
Religious Whether pious, zealous, or simply devout,
a Religious man is concerned with matters spiritual
and makes the time to participate in the faith he has
chosen. Religious groups give regularly to their faith,
participate in festivals and other times of worship,
and are respectful of the clergy. The Honor and Lore
of a religious group are each increased by 1. The
Purchase Limit of such a group is reduced by 10%.
Riotous A Riotous individual is unruly, wild and an
incorrigible carouser. Such people are frequently
intoxicated, almost always boisterous, and frequently
belligerent. A group with this quality is comprised of
wild individuals given to dissipation and carnal
excesses. In a Riotous group, Honor is decreased by 2,
and Morale and Lore are both decreased by 1.
Additionally, the group’s Purchase and Smuggling
limits are both reduced by 10%.
Romantic Sentimental and possibly idealistic, a
Romantic finds pleasure in situations and people who
capture his imagination. Groups possessing this
quality are prone to hero worship and theatrics.
Honor and Society are each increased by 1 in a
Romantic group.
Ruthless Trampling on all who come between them
and their goals, a Ruthless man, and a Ruthless
group, stop at nothing to get their way. A Ruthless
group decreases its Honor modifier by 1 but increases
its Morale modifier by 1.
Stern An individual with the Stern quality is hard on
himself and on others, expecting the best from each.
Stern groups are frequently mirthless, expecting all to
conform and do their part as required. A Stern group’s
Honor and Morale modifiers are increased by 1, but
their Society modifier is decreased by 1.
Strong A Strong individual appreciates strength in
himself and in others, whether that strength be
physical or mental. Groups with the Strong quality
likewise value personal strength and hold those that
can demonstrate strength in high regard. Such
groups increase their Morale modifier by 1.
Stubborn A Stubborn man does not easily change
or back down. Groups who also have this quality are
likewise set in their ways, refusing to change their
beliefs and actions until there is no other choice.
Stubborn groups increase their Morale modifier by 1
but decrease their Society modifier by 1.
Suspicious Individuals and groups with the
suspicious quality do not easily give their trust.
Groups with the Suspicious quality have their Society
modifier decreased by 2.
Superstitious A Superstitious individual holds any
number of beliefs concerning the spirit world, luck
(and the loss thereof) and the proper way one should
act concerning both. Frequently fearful of change
and the unknown, Superstitious groups engage in
numerous small activities meant to placate the
spirits and increase good fortune. Both the Lore and
Society modifiers of a group with the Superstitious
quality are decreased by 1.
Thoughtful A Thoughtful man thinks before acting
and is frequently given to introspection and
philosophy. Groups possessing the Thoughtful
quality are seldom rash, but plan efficiently before
setting themselves into motion. The Lore of a
Thoughtful group is increased by 1 and the
Smuggling Limit of such a group is increased by
20%.
Unpredictable Some Unpredictable people are
crazy, others may simply be purposefully erratic.
Either way, one is hard pressed to tell how they will
react to any given situation. When a group has the
Unpredictable quality, its members tend to be violent
and wild, exulting in anarchy and chaos. An
Unpredictable group’s modifiers are all decreased by
1. Additionally, Purchase and Smuggling Limits are
both reduced by 10%.
Vengeful An individual or group with the Vengeful
quality never allows a slight or hurt to rest, but
makes sure to return cut for cut and hurt for hurt,
tenfold. They constantly pursue vendettas against
their enemies, both real and imagined. Morale in a
Vengeful group is increased by 1 but Society is
decreased by 1.
Vicious A Vicious individual thinks little of hurting
others and is given to savage moods and vindictive
vendettas. Brutal and violent, groups with the
Vicious quality possess a bloody reputation. Morale
in a Vicious group is increased by 1, but Society is
decreased by 2.
Page 25
The Role of the Number Two Man
The kumicho normally chooses his own number two
man and this choice both reflects the priorities of the
oyabun and helps shape the personality of the gang.
The influence of the number two man is reflected in
the yakuza stat block in two ways. First, one of the
qualities of the gang is drawn from the qualities of the
number two. Second, the exact job of the number two
may affect either the yakuza gang’s modifiers, or its
Purchase and Smuggling Limits. Choose one of the
three following roles for the gang’s number two man.
Accountant The number two man is in charge of
keeping the family books and paperwork in order. The
choice of an administrator, or accountant, for a
number two means the kamushi is focused on profit. It
is also a fairly safe choice for the oyabun as accountants
only rarely conspire to take control of the family. Gangs
with an accountant in the number two position
decrease their Morale modifier by 1 and increase their
Lore modifier by 1. These gangs also increase their
Purchase and Smuggling Limits by 20% each.
Dealer The number two man still works in the gang’s
bakuto parlor, overseeing the betting and sometimes
even tossing the dice himself for the customers. The
choice of a dealer for a number two man indicates the
kamushi is focused on the family’s traditions and the
day-to-day activities of the gang. Yakuza families with
a dealer as the number two man increase their Morale
modifier by 1. These gangs also increase their
Purchase Limit by 20%.
Enforcer The number two man is in charge of family
discipline and doling out violence to those that oppose
the yakuza. He is a violent man and dangerous to
cross. The choice of an enforcer indicates the kamushi
wants to keep the community in line, through
intimidation and violence if need be. Gangs with an
enforcer as the number two man increase their
Morale modifier by 1, but decrease their Society
modifier by 2. The Smuggling Limit of these gangs is
increased by 20%.
Gang Enterprises
Each yakuza gang maintains a bakuto parlor. As the
gang grows in size and influence, it regularly
branches out into a number of other nefarious
enterprises, generally starting with extortion and
prostitution and then moving onto narcotics,
smuggling, entertainments, and sometimes even
assassinations. Beyond these endeavors, each gang is
also likely to operate a number of more mundane
businesses associated with the hinin-eta castes.
These legitimate businesses are expected to be
profitable but also serve as fronts when necessary for
the gang.
Bakuto Parlor Every yakuza gang maintains at
least one bakuto parlor, a gambling establishment
which frequently serves double duty as a gang
meeting hall, main office and sake house. The exact
nature of the gambling offered may vary from one
location to another, but dice games are fairly
ubiquitous. Many yakuza gangs are willing to
advance credit to their customers, so long as the
customer is a member of the community, but the
interest on these advancements is high and often
lead to the debtor selling his own family members to
the yakuza so that the debt may be worked off.
Extortion After the bakuto parlor, most yakuza
organizations quickly move into the extortion
business, charging a fee to local businesses for the
privilege of the yakuza’s protection. Those
individuals who do not cooperate voluntarily can
expect to suffer assaults upon their persons and their
property until they capitulate. The yakuza are not
above kidnapping the women of those men who do
Page 26
not go along with their program of mutual communal
defense, or, upon occasion, burning down the homes
or businesses of the same. Just as they are willing to
advance credit in their bakuto parlors, yakuza groups
often make business loans to members of their
community, but, again, the interest rates they charge
are typically high, and those who cannot repay must
frequently give over their wives, sons or daughters.
Entertainment The yakuza traditionally control the
entertainment industries, if such exist, within the
communities they occupy. Street theaters, geisha,
acrobats, wrestlers and the like are all brought into
the yakuza organization, and forced to pay fees for the
privilege of performing. In towns or cities with actual
theaters, the yakuza gang often owns the property,
allowing only those entertainers loyal to them to
perform within.
Prostitution While not all yakuza gangs operate
brothels, most of the larger families do. The women
are seldom there voluntarily. While some have been
kidnapped, or are supporting drug habits, most are
“working” off debts run up by their husbands or
fathers.
Smuggling While all yakuza gangs have some
experience with smuggling contraband, a few operate
regular smuggling rings, making scheduled runs.
Weapons, drugs, luxury items, and even food are all
transported out of the sight of government officials
and the taxman. Gangs involved in smuggling often
deal in shoddy or stolen goods as well, though they
almost never steal, or condone stealing, from the
community in which they are stationed.
Drugs Yakuza families involved in the drug trade
are most likely to be found in the cities, but some
rural gangs make a good living off of the production
and smuggling of narcotics.

Assassinations Assassinations in this case is

short-hand for violence and death done for profit. It
includes the kumicho hiring out his men as
mercenaries, banditry (always engaged in outside of
the community in which the yakuza gang operates),
and traditional killings done for a fee.

Yakuza Gang Names

Yakuza gangs are named in a variety of ways. Some
are named after the community they dwell in, some
are named for the kumicho, others have more
poetical names. The following three tables can be
used to create an authentic sounding yakuza gang
name. Simply choose, or roll randomly, one word
from each table.

Table 3.5 Japanese Adjectives Wakagashira Simoro Hako LN expert 6 (accountant)

d20 d20 (cold, gloomy, stubborn)
1 take (bamboo) 11 midori (green) Gang Qualities gloomy, meticulous, superstitious
2 kage (shadow) 12 kin (golden) Notable Members
3 hisui (jade) 13 kogoshi (celestial) Chief Dealer Damku LE rogue 5
4 hono (flame) 14 hogosha (guardian) Chief Enforcer Tapeka Akune fighter 6
5 kuroi (dark) 15 sogo-na (glorious) Madame Sapira Rin NE expert 3
6 warui (wicked) 16 ideai-na (great) Gang Enterprises Bakuto Parlor, Extortion, Prostitution
7 dai-ichi (prime) 17 osoroshi (dreadful) Purchase Limit 1,300 gp; Smuggling Limit 2,600 gp
8 kura (black) 18 chidarake (bloody)
9 aka (red) 19 goyona (audacious) Poor Band of Yakuza Smugglers
10 aoi (blue) 20 un-ga (lucky)
Toa-ikka
NE poor yakuza band (25 members)
Honor -4, Morale +1, Lore -1, Society -5
Table 3.6 Japanese Nouns Kumicho Eizo Katabachi LE ranger 6 (stern, stubborn,
d20 d20 vicious)
1 kumo (spiders) 11 ni-no-iri (sunset) Wakagashira Tomeo Yoshida NE rogue 4 (enforcer)
2 borei (spectres) 12 akuma (devils) (greedy, ruthless, superstitious)
3 tora (tigers) 13 no-o (phoenix) Gang Qualities devious, ruthless, stubborn
4 hebi (serpents) 14 tatsu (dragon) Notable Members
5 okami (wolves) 15 ino-shi-shi (boar) Chief Accountant Shiroo Godai NE expert 3
6 sasori (scorpions) 16 taika (authority) Gang Enterprises Bakuto Parlor, Smuggling
7 taka (hawks) 17 han-dan (judgment) Purchase Limit 250 gp, Smuggling Limit 600 gp
8 kaze (wind) 18 inago (locusts)
9 kaminari (thunder) 19 shi-shi (lions)
10 bofuu (tempest) 20 cho-cho (butterflies) Big City Syndicate
Shingitokaze-kai
Table 3.7 Japanese Group Descriptor LE prosperous yakuza syndicate (250 members)
d6 Honor -1, Morale +0, Lore -1, Society -4
1 Ikka (family) Kumicho Atjime Kitayama LE rogue 7/ machi-yakko 7
2-4 Kai (association) (learned, meticulous, romantic)
5-6 Gumi (association) Wakagashira Atjime Ota LE rogue 7/machi-yakko 2
(dealer) (active, devious, jolly)
Sample Yakuza Gangs Gang Qualities active, meticulous, vicious
Notable Members
Typical Small Town Yakuza Gang
Chief Accountant Kabo LN rogue 6
Takeakuma-gumi Chief Enforcer Atjime Nishaniwa LE fighter 10
LE typical yakuza gang (75 members) Gang Enterprises Bakuto Parlor, Drugs, Entertainment,
Honor -1, Morale -5, Lore -1, Society -3 Extortion, Prostitution
Kumicho Hatake Komosa LE rogue 7 (meticulous, Purchase Limit 9,750 gp, Smuggling Limit 16,500 gp
quiet, superstitious)
Page 27
 6

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1
5 4

2
3

ZAWAIZUMI
Mountain Village
250 feet
Part 4: Zawaizumi ,
Yakuza Mountain Village
Zawaizumi is a village nestled in the scenic foothills of the
mountain. An abundance of wildlife, coupled with a
multitude of freshwater streams, has allowed the village,
for many years, to live off of the profits of its hunters and
leatherworkers. Unfortunately, for the last ten years, life in
the village has been less than idyllic. About fifteen years
previously, bandits began to plague the region and the
villagers, fearing for their safety, found themselves turning
to Oshiro Amuro for protection. Amuro was from a
different village, but he agreed to help if he was allowed to
set up a bakuto parlor in the village so that he might “have
a place in which he could peacefully spend his few
remaining years.” Amuro-san arrived with thirty men,
built his bakuto house and declared the whole village
under his protection.
At first the village was glad of its decision. Besides the
promise of security, the “retired” yakuza boss brought
entertainment and merriment to the village. His
establishment offered cheap sake, pleasant music and easy
credit. It was only when several of the villagers found
themselves deeply in debt to the kumicho that they
realized their mistake, but by then it was too late.
Currently more than twenty of the village women have
been confiscated by Amuro as “collateral” on debts owed to
him. A lucky few are allowed to go home during the day,
the rest are housed on the premises. Periodically a
husband or father objects to the situation, only to be cut
down by Amuro’s wakagashira, a violent swordsman
named Takeshi.
Beyond running his establishment, the kumicho has also
established the village as an epicenter of smuggling and as
a hideaway for yakuza members fleeing prosecution
elsewhere. Illicit goods are brought into the village weekly,
over the mountain, only to be shipped out with the
monthly shipment of treated furs and prepared leather.
Zawaizumi, Yakuza Village
LN Village
Corruption +1; Crime -2; Economy -1; Law +1;
Lore +1; Society -4
Qualities notorious, rumor mongering citizens
Danger 10
Demographics
Government overlord (kumicho)
Population 190 (99 % humans; 1% hengeyokai)
Notable NPCs
Kumicho Oshiro Amuro LE rogue
7/machi-yakko 3
Priest Hamashi Nobuo LG cleric 5
Village Elder Homaku Kurou LN expert 4
Marketplace
Base Value 650 gp; Purchase Limit 3,750 gp;
Spellcasting 3rd
Minor Items 2d4; Medium Items 1d4; Major
Items -
Page 29
Village Locations
The following are some of the more notable locations
in the village.
1. Amuro’s The village simply refers to this
sprawling building as “Amuro’s” The kumicho has
added onto it several times over the past fifteen years,
the most recent addition being the collection of rooms
used to house Amuro’s female “guests” during the
day. The front rooms of the building serve as a
gambling parlor and there are several rooms on the
second floor for more private entertainment. Drink
and credit both flow freely within the establishment,
and the mood is normally merry, though a discerning
individual soon realizes much of the mirth is forced
and desperate.
2. The Tannery The Homaku family owned this
tannery, ideally situated downwind from the rest of
the village, for many years; but five years ago,
Homaku Shou, son of the village elder, ran up great
debts to Oshiro Amuro and was forced to hand over
the deeds to the family business. Homaku Shou still
runs the tannery from day to day, but he is little more
than a glorified slave, indentured to the yakuza. The
yakuza gang keeps its smuggled goods in one of the
rooms of the tannery, a room which is always
guarded. Much to Shou’s horror, his youngest son,
Tatsuoa, has recently joined the yakuza gang,
accepting Amuro as obuyan.
3. The Village Shrine This small shrine sees little
traffic for most of the year, but Hamashi Nobuo works
diligently to maintain it. Ironically, in all the village, it
is the murderous Takeshi who is most mindful of his
spiritual duties. He visits the shrine every morning to
offer incense and prayers. From time to time Nubuo
publicly expresses his disapproval of the yakuza, but
thus far Takeshi has refused to take action against the
priest.
4. The Village Elder This small dwelling houses
Homaku Kurou, the patriarch of the Homaku family
and the oldest man in the village. Even before his son
lost the deed to the family business, Kurou had come
to realize how detrimental the yakuza’s presence in
the village was to the lasting well being of the
community. He has secretly sought some method to
drive the gang from the community, thus far in vain.
5. Keiji’s Before the arrival of the yakuza, Keiji
provided sake for the village. Keiji still serves sake for
anyone visiting his place, but he does not actively seek
business, instinctively recognizing that to do so might
be bad for his health.
6. The Beekeeper Yoho no Gozu faithfully follows
in the footsteps of his ancestors, gathering honey
from the bee hive in the ancient oak growing on his
property. While the frugal beekeeper has kept
himself out of debt and financially free of Amuro’s
tentacles, his family has still suffered and Gozu is a
man full of grief and anger. Gozu’s daughter, Atsuko,
became attached to a handsome young kyodai
named Hiroyuki, who plied the girl with gifts. One
evening, a month ago, an intoxicated Hiroyuki took
the maiden to meet his “younger brothers,” who,
along with Hiroyuki, beat and raped her through the
night. In the morning, when at last she could flee,
Atsuko took her life by throwing herself into a deep,
rocky ravine northwest of the village.
Adventuring in Zawaizumi
Despite the fact that Amuro ostensibly settled in the
village so that he might drive away the bandits, other
than a few token “patrols” around the village, the
yakuza gang has done little to actually keep the
bandits at bay, nor, until recently, was there an
apparent need for them to do more. Their mere
presence has acted as a deterrent and the bandits
wisely sought other prey. Now, however, a series of
Amuro’s shipments into the village have gone
missing, as have the men who were carrying the
goods over the mountain. Amuro suspects one of the
bandit gangs and must now find individuals willing
to comb the mountain for the bandit’s village. In
truth, the problem lies not with bandits, but with
tengu who dwell in hidden villages further up on the
mountain. The smugglers, of late, have come too
close to one of their villages and the tengu have
begun ambushing the shipments.
...Meanwhile, village elder, Homaku Kurou, has been
discreetly sending his youngest son into nearby
villages to spread tales concerning the great
treasures the gang hides in the tannery. Thus far, the
tales have attracted little attention, but the old man
trusts that greed may ultimately lead to the arrival of
warriors who will be able to drive the yakuza from
the village.
...Meanwhile, a yakuza shatai has been found dead,
his body broken on the rocks in the ravine where
young Atsuko took her life. While Takeshi suspects
the beekeeper, Gozu, the truth is that the ghost of
Atsuko, hungry for vengeance, now haunts the road
between Amuro’s and the ravine. The undead spirit
presents an interesting dilemma for would be ghost-
hunters: should her murderous quest be aided or
thwarted?
...Meanwhile, one elderly couple in the village, Sabuo
and Saki, are not quite what they seem. Though they
Page 30
have dwelt in the village for over three decades, working
their humble garden, raising pigs, and quietly aiding
their neighbors, they are not human. Rather, both are
hengeyokai wizards of the rabbit clan. Two weeks ago,
one of Amuro’s men captured a young hengeyokai girl,
Saki’s niece in fact, as the girl was coming to visit her
aunt. Delighted with this acquisition, Amuro has placed
her in his brothel, though she has, thus far, only been
required to provide light entertainment and wait upon
guests. The two hengeyokai are horrified, but fearful of
rescuing her themselves. They have sent word to their
clan concerning the problem, hoping for heroes to
rescue the innocent maiden.
...Meanwhile, though the gang rarely purchases or
smuggles true treasure (silk, spices and weapons
comprise the bulk of the “merchandise” Amuro’s gang
carts over the mountain each week; while the weapons
are illegal, the silk and spices are shipped thus to
avoid the Imperial fees and road taxes), recently, one
of the smugglers, while purchasing the goods on the
far side of the mountain, had the opportunity to
purchase a golden omamori, which he proudly gave to
his oyabun. Amuro, recognizing the amulet as an
arcane treasure, now wears it, at all times, attached to
his sword. However, though the omamori does confer
protection, it is also cursed (see sidebar) and it is only
a matter of time until it causes the whole village to
erupt in violence and bloodshed.
Izumioshiro Ikka
LE prosperous yakuza gang (55 members)
Honor -2, Morale +0, Lore -2, Society -6
Kumicho Oshiro Amuro LE rogue 7/machi-yakko 2
(devious, ruthless, vengeful)
Wakagashira Takeshi LE Fighter 10 (enforcer) (hot
tempered, religious, vicious)
Gang Qualities hot tempered, vengeful, vicious
Notable Members
Chief Accountant Daimicho Arata LN expert 4
Chief Dealer Sukota NE rogue 6
Madame Oshiro Harumi LE rogue 4
Gang Enterprises Bakuto Parlor, Prostitution, Smuggling
Purchase Limit 1,500 gp; Smuggling Limit 3,600 gp
Oshiro Amuro, Kumicho of the Izumioshiro-ikka
At sixty five years old, Oshiro Amuro is a thin man,
with close-cropped white hair, a pleasant smile, and
a devious heart as black as pitch. Though he
habitually maintains a facade of pleasant geniality,
he is ruthless in his dealings, and, when angered, his
cruel expression is all the more terrifying for its calm
serenity. Despite his bloody nature, Amuro generally
avoids dirtying his own hands with violence, much
preferring to leave such matters to his wakagashira,
Takeshi. Amuro genuinely, and possessively, regards
Zawaizumi as his retirement village, and he fully
plans on dying (though not for many more years)
peacefully in his bed surrounded by lovely women.
Oshiro AmuroCR9 (XP 6,400)
Male human rogue (kyodai archetype) 7 / machi-
yakko 3
LE medium humanoid
Init +1; Perception +14
Defense
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+1 Dex, +1 dodge, +2
natural)
hp 72 (10d8+27)
Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +6
Defensive Abilities evasion, uncanny dodge;
Resist Fire 10
Offense
Spd 30 ft.
Melee +1 wakizashi +11/+6 (1d6; 18-20)
Special Attacks Sneak Attack +5d6
Tattoos The Demon, The Boar
Statistics
Str 8, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 17, Wis 12, Cha 14
Base Atk +7; CMB +6; CMD +14
Feats Dodge, Leadership (16), Skill Focus
(Intimidation, Profession [gambler]), Toughness,
Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (wakizashi)
Skills Acrobatics +15, Appraise +15, Bluff +16,
Diplomacy +19, Intimidate +27 (+29 if tattoos are
visible), Knowledge (history) +15, Knowledge (local)
+20, Perception +15, Profession (gambler) +18,
Sense Motive +15, Use Magic Device +14
Languages Common, Goblin, Infernal, Kaidanese,
Yakuza Cant
SQ community leader, gang leader, gang profits,
strength in numbers
Rogue Talents Fearsome Tattoos, Finesse Fighter,
Read Tells,
Gear Enchanted Oni Tattoo (increase strength by 4
twice a day), amulet of natural armor +2, +1
wakizashi, the golden omamori of Tsudoki no
Takeyama (current DC 12)
The Golden Omamori of Tsudoki no
Takeyama
Aura Strong Enchantment; CL 15th; Identify DC 40
Slot none; Weight 1/4 lb.
Description
In ancient times, Tsudoki, a powerful kami of
wondrous beauty, dwelt for a time within the
Takeyama-san shrine. The warrior Rokushimo, full of
pride, sought to woo the goddess, but she knew his
heart, that it was wicked and covetous. Yet, as he was
handsome, she decided to test his worthiness and she
gifted him with a mighty omamori made of gold and
full of virtue. She cautioned Rokushimo that the gift
was not without danger, for if the warrior was greedy
or violent, the omamori would work to awaken feelings
of murderous rage in those around him. Full of his own
importance, the swordsman failed to heed the words of
Tsudoki, continuing to live as he always had. He was
murdered six months later by his retainers, the
strongest of whom
Page 31
claimed the omamori for himself. Over the years,
the golden omamori has passed from hand to
hand, blessing some, but causing others to
suffer.
A thin rectangle of gold, one inch wide and two
inches long, the golden omamori of Tsudoki no
Takeyama is emblazoned with runes of fortune
and has a small hole near its top so that it might
be hung from a belt, tied to weapon, or even
worn about the neck. Any character who carries
the omamori upon his person benefits from a +1
bonus to all d20 rolls. However, all characters
within 100 feet of the omamori, including the
bearer, must succeed at a DC 5 Will save or be
compelled, as with suggestion, to engage in an
act of violence by making a melee or ranged
attack which will, if successful, deal damage
against the first individual to insult, slight or
harm them. Those who successfully make their
save are immune to the effects of the talisman
for 24 hours. Those who fail their save and
subsequently engage in an act of violence are
allowed make a new Will save to be free of the
compulsion. Failure indicates that they are
compelled to attack the next individual to insult,
slight or harm them. This continues until the
affected person at last makes his Will save, or he
himself is slain. If the wearer of the omamori
engages in any violent or greedy activity, the DC
of this Will save is increased by 1 for each such
act.
The bearer of the omamori, once it is worn, will
not willingly part with the talisman, and if the
talisman is forcefully removed from the bearer,
will seek to regain it, using whatever means
necessary. If the bearer of the omamori is slain,
the DC of the Will save resets to 5.
Cure
To be free of the talisman, the bearer must
submit to an atonement spell, cast in
conjunction with a successful remove curse (DC
26). Once the bearer is free of the omamori, the
DC of the Will save resets to 5.
Takeshi, Wakagashira of the
Izumioshiro- Ikka
Takeshi, a psychotic killer who delights in feeling his
blades cutting the flesh of his foes, has been with
Amuro for twenty-five years and is completely
devoted to his oyabun. Tall, whip-thin and
handsome, with long, black hair, Takeshi dresses
stylishly in black kimonos; but he cannot hide his
vicious personality. Despite his murderous ways,
Takeshi is quite religious, visiting the village shrine
daily to offer incense and prayers. He has never
killed a priest, nor is he eager to do so, though he
would if pressed to it.
Takeshi CR 9 (XP 6,400)
Male human fighter (yakuza-bushi) 10
LE Medium humanoid
Init +7 (+9 with short blade); Perception +9
Defense
AC 21, touch 15, flat-footed 16 (+6 armor, +3 Dex,
+2 dodge); ACP -2
hp 85 (10d10+30)
Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +2
Defensive Abilities quick response, swift
Offense
Spd 40 ft.
Melee wakizashi +17/+11 (1d6+8; 18-20/x2)
Special Attacks leaping attack (if Takeshi moves
more than 5 feet prior to attacking, he gains a +2
bonus to attack and damage rolls)
Statistics
Str 16, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 12
Base Atk +10; CMB +13; CMD 27
Feats Alertness, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Critical
Focus, Dodge, Greater Weapon Focus (wakizashi),
Mobility, Power Attack, Short Blade Warrior, Spring
Attack, Weapon Focus (wakizashi), Weapon
Specialization (wakizashi)
Skills Acrobatics +5, Appraise +13, Intimidate +14,
Knowledge (local) +8, Perception +9, Profession
(gambling) +12, Sense Motive +1
Languages Kaidanese
SQ weapon training (light blades +2, heavy blades
+1)
Gear +2 leather lamellar armor, kurodeba (+2
wakizashi), enchanted hidden sword tattoo
(kurodeba)
Sukota, Yakuza Chief Dealer
A rotund man with a hearty laugh and a wide smile,
Sukota welcomes anyone and everyone into his
bakuto parlor. His jovial nature is matched only by
his avarice and Sukota will cheerfully slit a man’s
throat for the contents of his purse if he thinks he
can get away with it. When not dealing with guests
to the bakuto house, Sukota is far more serious and
Page 32
businesslike. The men who work for him know better
than to try to embezzle the house’s money, for more
than one shatei has been severely beaten for having
the temerity to attempt such a thing.
Sukota CR 5 (XP 1,600)
Male rogue (bakuto) 6
NE Medium humanoid
Init +7; Perception +10
Defense
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge)
hp 39 (6d8+12)
Fort +3, Ref 8, Will +1
Defensive Abilities evasion, uncanny dodge
Offense
Spd 30 ft., other types of movement
Melee masterwork short sword +9 (1d6; 19-20/x2)
Special Attacks sneak attack +3d6
Statistics
Str 10, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Base Atk +4; CMB +4; CMD 18
Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Skill Focus
(profession [gambling], sense motive),Weapon
Finesse, Weapon Focus (short sword)
Skills Appraise +8, Bluff +11, Diplomacy +11,
Intimidate +11, Knowledge (local) +11, Perception
+10, Profession (gambling) +13, Sense Motive +12,
Sleight of Hand +12 (+15 with dice, cups, cards),
Stealth +12, Swim +9
Languages Common, Kaidanese, Yakuza Cant
SQ gambler’s eyes (+2), skilled cheat, skilled gambler
Rogue Talents finesse fighter, hard to fool, read
tells
Gear enchanted fiery dragon tattoo, masterwork
short sword
Kurodeba
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 9th;
Slot none; Price 12,000 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
Description
Kurodeba measures 27 inches long, with a 19-
inch, single-edged blade of black steel and a full
tang. The sword’s collar, guard and buttcap are
fashioned from the same black steel as the blade
and the wooden handle is wrapped with cords of
black silk. Kurodeba functions as a +2 wakizashi
which, when gripped, also grants its user a +1
dodge bonus to AC and an additional +2 bonus
when confirming critical hits.
Construction
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor,
cat’s grace, keen; Cost 6,000 gp
to heed the words of Tsudoki, continuing to live
as he always had. He was murdered six months
later by his retainers, the strongest of whom
Hiroyuki, Kyodai of the Izumioshiro-ikka Oshiro Harumi CR 3 (XP 800)
Hiroyuki has a handsome face and a honeyed Female human rogue 4
tongue, especially when he is charming a woman, LE Medium humanoid
but the beauty is only skin deep. A masochistic Init +2; Perception +7
misogynist, Hiroyuki sees each woman as a
challenge, but once a woman has succumbed to his Defense
charms, he has no further use for her. When AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (+2 Dex)
conducting gang business, Hiroyuki relishes the hp 26 (4d8+8)
opportunities afforded him to threaten, cower and Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +1
intimidate those that resist the will of his oyabun. Defensive Abilities evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny
(Note: Hiroyuki’s stats can be used for any of the dodge
kyodai in the Izumioshiro-ikka.)
Offense
Hiroyuki CR 4 (XP 1,200) Spd 30 ft.
Male rogue (kyodai) 5 Melee type +5 (1d4-1)
LE medium humanoid Special Attacks sneak attack +2d6
Init +1; Perception -1 Statistics
Defense Str 8, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 18
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +1 Dex, +1 Base Atk +3; CMB +2; CMD 14
dodge) Feats Skill Focus (Diplomacy, Profession
hp 32 (5d8+10); [prostitution]), Weapon Finesse
Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +0 Skills Appraise +7, Diplomacy +14, Disable Device
Defensive Abilities evasion, uncanny dodge +9, Intimidate +11, Perception +7, Perform (dance,
Offense sing) +11, Profession (prostitution) +7, Sense Motive
Spd 30 ft. +7, Sleight of Hand +9
Melee wakizashi +5 (1d6+1; 18-20/x2) Languages Kaidanese, Yakuza Cant
Special Attacks sneak attacks +3d6 SQ trapfinding
Statistics Rogue Talents charmer, read tells
Str 12, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 8, Cha 14 Gear masterwork dagger
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 15
Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Skill Focus Daimicho Arata, Chief Accountant of the
(Intimidate), Toughness, Weapon Focus (wakizashi), Izumioshiro-ikka
Weapon Finesse When he was younger, Daimicho Arata found himself
Skills Bluff +11, Diplomacy +11, Intimidate +16 (+18 deeply in debt to the yakuza and, as a result, was drafted
when tattoos are exposed), Perception +8, Profession into their service as a bookkeeper, a job at which he
(gambling) +8, Stealth +10 excels. Now a much older man, Arata tries to tell himself
Languages Kaidanese, Yakuza Cant that he has nothing to do with the wickedness around
SQ strength in numbers (+1) him, but he cannot quite bring himself to believe it, and
Rogue Talents fearsome tattoos, finesse fighter each night, after he has finished his work, he drinks
Gear masterwork wakizashi, masterwork leather himself into a sake-fueled bliss of unconsciousness,
lamellar armor, loaded dice upstairs at Amuro’s. Arata has for the last four years,
been having an affair with Amuro’s wife, Harumi. He is
Oshiro Harumi, Madame of the smitten by her beauty and she views it as an opportunity
to strike out at her husband.
Izumioshiro-ikka and Amuro’s Wife
Growing up in a yakuza family, Harumi was thrust Daimicho Arata CR 2 (XP 600)
into prostitution from a very young age. Her beauty Male human expert 4
allowed her to marry well within the yakuza, but LN Medium humanoid
she has never been able to leave the sordid life of the Init +0; Perception +0
brothel, nor would it ever now cross her mind to do Defense
so. Harumi hates nearly everyone, her husband in AC 10, touch 10, flat-footed 10
particular, but she masks her hatred behind a calm, hp 18 (4d8)
cold exterior. Nevertheless, she uses every Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +4
opportunity to take out her anger on the girls under Offense
her care, berating and beating them whenever they Spd 30 ft.
give her an excuse to do so. Statistics
Str 10, Dex 10, Con 8, Int 15, Wis 11, Cha 12

Page 33
Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 13 Homaku Tatuosa CR 1 (XP 400)
Feats Skill Focus (Appraise, Knowledge [local], Male rogue (kyodai) 2
Profession [accountancy]) NE Medium humanoid
Skills Appraise +10, Diplomacy +8, Intimidate +8, Init +5; Perception +4
Knowledge (history) +9, Knowledge (local) +12, Defense
Linguistics +9, Perception +7, Profession AC 13, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+2 armor, +1 Dex)
(accountancy) +12, Sense Motive +7 hp 13 (2d8+4)
Languages Common, Draconic, Giant, Goblin, Fort +1, Ref +4, Will -1
Kaidanese, Sylvan, Yakuza Cant Defensive Abilities evasion
Gear none Offense
Spd 30 ft.
Melee masterwork short sword +4 (1d6+1)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Homaku Tatuosa, shatei of the Statistics
Izumioshiro-ikka Str 13, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 9
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 13
The youngest son of tanner Homaku Shou, Tatuosa Feats Improved Initiative, Toughness, Weapon Focus
grew to think of his father as weak, when his father (short sword)
lost the tannery to Amuro. Soon afterwards, he left Skills Acrobatics +6, Bluff +4, Intimidate +5,
his family and pledged himself to Amuro. Since that Knowledge (local) +5, Perception +4, Profession
time, Tatuosa has worked hard to prove himself to (gambling) +4, Profession (tannery) +4, Stealth +6
his new family, fully embracing all their ways. Languages Kaidanese, Yakuza Cant
(Note: Tatuosa’s stats can easily be used for any of Rogue Talents fast stealth
the younger yakuza members.) Gear leather armor, masterwork short sword

Page 34
 Glossary of Terms

Asuras The samurai caste

Bakuto Gambler
Biwa A stringed lap instrument akin to the lute
Bo-kan An urban hoodlum, an in-town ruffian
Bushi A warrior
Eta Literally filthy. An outcast caste, historically comprised of those who performed
undesirable jobs; eventually the eta and the hinin castes merged into a single society.
Furosha A traveling vagabond
Hinin Literally non-human. An outcast caste, historically comprised of performers, gamblers and
criminals; eventually the eta and hinin castes merged into a single society
Horimonoshi Tattoo artist
Kabukimono Literally crazy ones, garish ronin bandits
Keigo Bodyguard, honorguard
Kobun Yakuza follower, literally, “son”
Koroshiya Hitman
Kumicho Yakuza boss
Kyodai Yakuza superior, literally, “big brother”
Machi-yakko Literally, “town servant.” The term conjures romantic images of dashing heroes who
protected the poor against the attacks of kabukimono bandits.
Matsuri A festival or holiday; exact dates and occasions vary from one community to another
Mikoshi A portable shrine
Moso Blind, itinerant musician
Oicho-kabu A card game, similar to black jack, where 19 is a winning hand and ya-ku-za (8-9-3) is a
bust
Omamori A prayer amulet believed to bring protection and good fortune
Oni A race of demonic beings in mortal flesh
Oyabun Yakuza superior; literally, “father”
Oyabun-kobun The foster father-son relationship at the heart of a yakuza family
Rakugosha Dropout, outcast or failure
Ronin A master-less samurai
Sekkou A scout, or spy
Shatei Yakuza inferior; literally, “younger brother”
Tekiya A street peddlar stall
Wakagashira Yakuza lieutenant
Yabitsume A ritual of penance; literally, “finger cutting”

Page 35
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
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The Way of the Yakuza Copyright 2011, Steven D. Russell and Michael Tumey, all rights reserved; Author Jonathan McAnulty

Page 36
 KD10

K A I D A N
T H E WAY O F T H E YA K U Z A
Greetings, my friend. If you have come for knowledge, enter
and have a seat. Pardon, that I do not rise and greet you
properly, but I am not as young as I once was. As the hair
grays, the bones grow weak. But I've outlived more than most
and I'll wager there's a few more I'll yet outlive.

Yes, indeed. I've seen many young bo-kan like yourself come
through those doors over the years. Full of spirit and ready to
take on anyone, be they demon or men. Most do not last long.
Perhaps you will be different? ...Or, perhaps not. Only time will
tell, for ours is a dangerous path, yet we would choose no other.

In every village and every town, our presence is felt. Though

others see only the gambling houses and sake shops, we know
the true reason we fight. We are the champions of our people,
and the heroes of the outcast. It is we who defend our way of
life.

Come, I shall instruct you in the way of the yakuza, that you
may be prepared for the road you have chosen...

The Way of the Yakuza

by Jonathan McAnulty

A Faction of Kaidan
designed for use with the
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game