Kiho
From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings
Kiho are abilities possessed by the more learned members of the Brotherhood of Shinsei. They can manifest themselves as advanced martial arts techniques, near-superhuman feats of ahtleticism or even spell-like elemental spirits. Kiho are similar to spells in that they are all aligned with one of the five elements, and by aligning their inner chi to one of those elements inside their body the monks are capable of inexplicable feats. When a kiho is performed they can sometimes be indistingiushible from spells. In addition to being kiho of elemental properties they can also be broken down into categories of martial, internal, kharmic and mystical kiho. [1]
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[edit] Martial Kiho
Martial kiho mostly take the form of precise strikes against a targets nerve centers. The strikes are called atemi, and while they rarely inflict much damage to their target they can render their target completely immobile. The non-nervestrikes are just normal jiujutsu attacks. [2]
[edit] Internal Kiho
Internal kiho are defensive kiho that draw upon the lifeforce of the monk to enchance their physical or mental capabilities. The monk bonds their chi to the particular element and channels their energy. While granting great powers the internal kiho also often come with drawbacks, and monks rarely utilize internal kiho unless in the direst circumstances. [3]
[edit] Kharmic Kiho
Kharmic kiho are perhaps the most powerful of the kiho. Shintao postulates the existance of a great kharmic wheel, distributing every mortal soul the punishment or reward it is due. Kharmic kiho tap into the vast resevoir of energy within the monk to achieve minor effects in the minor world. Each kiho has a specific trigger for it to occur, and if the trigger does not happen the kiho eventually dissipates. [4]
[edit] Mystical Kiho
Mystical kiho are the least understood kiho. They often defy explanation and verge from being merely incredible to supernatural. Only a soul on the path to Enlightenment could truly master a mystical kiho, and even then they would rarely have a true understanding of the mechanisms of the kiho. [5]
[edit] Non-Monks and Kiho
Kiho are a representation of a persons ability to understand their place in the universe, and the monks of the Brotherhood are unparalleled masters of this art. They are not the only ones who are capable of accessing this hidden power however, as some people are capable of performing kiho instinctively. Any such feat always impresses the Brotherhood, and these people will invariably reach high positions within the Brotherhood when they retire. Shugenja are the most likely to possess such knowledge due to their training as priests of the kami giving them a familiarity with both the elements and Shintao. There are rarely any non-monk, non-shugenja who learn kiho, but those few who are invariably study at a school with spiritual teachings. [6]
[edit] Kiho
[edit] Air Kiho
- Air Fist (martial)
- Be the Breeze (martial)[7]
- Flee the Darkness (kharmic)[8]
- Fortune's Breath (internal)[9]
- The Great Silence (mystical)[8]
- Harmony of the Mind (mystical)
- Soul of the Four Winds (internal)
- Seven Storms' Fist (martial)
- Stain Upon the Soul (martial, atemi)[9]
- Steal the Air Dragon (internal)[8]
- Soul of the Four Winds (internal)[8]
- The Thunder's Clap (martial, atemi)[10]
- Thunderstroke (mystical)[10]
- Way of the Willow (kharmic)[9]
- Wind's Truth (internal)[8]
[edit] Earth Kiho
- The Calm of Shinsei (internal) [7]
- Cleansing Spirit (internal)[11]
- Earth Fist (internal)
- Embrace the Stone (internal)
- Grasp the Earth Dragon (internal)[11]
- Harmony of the Body (kharmic)
- Heart of Stone (kharmic)[12]
- Remember the Mountain[13]
- Rest, My Brother (martial)[11]
- Root the Mountain (mystical)[14][14]
- Tsuchi-do (martial)[11]
- Walk Through the Mountain (mystical)[14]
- Way of the Earth (martial)
[edit] Fire Kiho
- Ai Uchi (kharmic)[15]
- Breaking Blow (martial)[16]
- Channel the Fire Dragon (internal)[15]
- Dance of the Flames (martial)[16]
- Falling Star Strike (martial, atemi)[16]
- Flame Fist (martial)
- Hitsu-do (internal) [9]
- Kharmic Strike (kharmic)
- Kuzushi (martial) [16]
- Fire's Fleeting Speed (kharmic)
- Palm of Fire (mystical)[13]
- Purity of Shinsei (mystical)[9]
- Shatter the Elements (martial)[10]
- Unbalance the Mind (Kuzushi) (mystical)
- Way of Flame (internal)
[edit] Void Kiho
- Ancestral Guidance (mystical)[8]
- Eight Directions Awareness (mystical)
- Happo Zanshin[17]
- Kharmic Vision (kharmic)[18]
- Kukan-do (zanshin) [17]
- One with All (kharmic)
- Overwhelm the Spirit (martial)
- The Power of Nothing (mystical)[13]
- Ryoku (martial) [19]
- Self, No Self (internal)[20]
- Touch the Void Dragon (internal)[20]
- Unattunement (kharmic)[19]
- Void Fist (mystical)
- Way of Void (Kukan-do) (mystical)
[edit] Water Kiho
- Across the Orochi's Back (internal)
- Boundless Depths of Water (kharmic)[15]
- Chi Protection (martial, atemi)
- Ebb and Flow (kharmic)
- Freezing the Lifeblood (martial, atemi)[21]
- Gift of the Water Dragon [13]
- Parting the Waves (internal)
- Ride the Water Dragon (internal)[15]
- Slap the Wave (martial)[21]
- Speak to the Soul (mystical)[21]
- Speed of the Waterfall (internal)[10]
- Spirit of Water (mystical)[15]
- Water Fist (martial)
[edit] Endnotes
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings:Third Edition page 252
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings:Third Edition page 253
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings:Third Edition page 253
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings:Third Edition page 253
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings:Third Edition page 253
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings:Third Edition page 253
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Way of Shugenja, page 78
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 The Way of Shinsei, page 62
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 The Way of Shinsei, page 61
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 The Way of Shugenja, page 80
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 The Way of Shinsei, page 56
- ↑ The Way of Shinsei, page 55
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 The Way of Shugenja, page 79
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 The Way of Shinsei, page 57
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 The Way of Shinsei, page 59
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 The Way of Shinsei, page 60
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 The Way of Shinsei, page 65
- ↑ The Way of Shugenja, page 79
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 The Way of Shinsei, page 64
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 The Way of Shinsei, page 63
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 The Way of Shinsei, page 58
