Momiji Courtier School

Momiji Courtiers are the pinnacle of what it means to be refined and well-spoken. They are gregarious, generous, persuasive, poetic, and generally precisely what one might think of when one must describe a *proper* courtier. They were once the primary attendants to the Imperial families, and wielded great political power in the empire of old. These days, they are the de facto political presence of Amatsu-Kyo (and thus, the empire-at-large), and while they are not unreasonable to requests for change, are very prone to keeping things precisely the way they are in order to maintain the status quo.

## School Package

* +1 Charisma
* **Socialize** as a Favored ability, with a 1-dot specialty in *Persuasion*.
* +1 Awareness, Integrity, Performance, Presence
* Honor: 6.5
* Gear: As appropriate.

## Techniques

(Rank 1) Golden Leaf Presence
Honor and face is extremely important to the Momiji, who infuse it in their every word and gesture, like a gentle wind on falling leaves. So long as you maintain your honor at 6.0 or above, you gain a free raise on all social rolls involving the school's skills. Further, spending a Void point always guarantees 2 successes on any social roll involving the school's skills.
(Rank 2) The Autumn Wind Lifts Leaves Like Paper
The trick to persuading is to know what others want. When conversing with anyone, a Momiji Courtier may roll Charisma + Socialize (Persuasion) against their MDV to get them to talk about their interests and intimacies. How much they reveal is determined by degrees of success. Further, for every degree of success beyond the target's MDV, the Momiji Courtier may add two dice to a follow-up Charisma + Socialize (Persuasion) roll in a social combat to Persuade the target for a particular purpose so long as one of those interests or intimacies is utilized.
(Rank 3) Exquisite Dance of Changing Foliage
This needn't actually be a dance; any appropriate performance with an audience will do. Spend a Void point, then roll Charisma + Performance. For the first success and then for every two successes beyond the first, anyone who viewed (or heard the performance) has their MDV reduced by -1 against the Courtier for all Socialize (Persuade) rolls for the remainder of the scene.
(Rank 4) The Spirit is Air, Brisk but Pleasant
In-tune with methods of Persuasion, the Momiji Courtier receives a flat +1 to their MDV, and a +2 versus acts of persuasion. If they spend a Willpower point, they may add +2/+4 instead even if they might not otherwise be allowed to spend Willpower.
(Rank 5) Words like Harvest, Full of Bounty
Arguably the Momiji Family's most powerful weapon is their ability to influence others not only with a smile on their face, but a smile on their target's face as well. Persuasion is the art of giving and taking, compromise, to a point. And thus, the Momiji Courtier can make allies of friends, and friends of the most bitter enemies. Make a contested Charisma + Socialize (Persuasion) roll against the target's Charisma (or Appearance) + Integrity. If successful, the target is willing to listen, and you gain +1 die for each success beyond their roll. If they were already willing to listen, no roll is required, and you gain a flat +5 dice to the following roll. With a success, you shift the target's emotions in a favorable direction, persuading them to listen to your advice and counsel. This is not mind control, so requests in conflict with the target's basic loyalties may still be ignored. Willpower can not be spent to ignore this ability. The results of this roll are permanent until changed.