Soukou (Bloodline)

## The Armored Demons

The Soukou Clan is a clan that hails from the Land of Demons. They do no necessarily consider themselves shinobi, but it has been said some of them do choose to align with the shinobi villages. In ancient times, The Soukou Clan were a craftsman clan, they were armorers and weaponsmiths that created weapons for their allies. However as the land of demons became a more dangerous place the Soukou Clan had to adapt, their connection to armor brought forth a hidden power within them. They were able to mold their chakra in order to create a physical armor that surrounded their body in order to fight. Abandoning their title as a Clan of Craft, they took upon combat as a new means of being known. Developing a unique style which they use in combat while they are in their armored form.

## Bloodline Traits

* Members of the Soukou Clan gain an additional 1 Point to Endurance when they master a Taijutsu or a Bukijutsu.
* Members of the Soukou Clan gain stats from their Bloodline Techniques in the same way they would as if it were a Taijutsu.
* Members of the Soukou Clan must be in their Armored Form in order to use techniques of the clan, unless otherwise stated.
* Members of the Soukou Clan take damage from their armor being hit in armor form. This is due to the fact that their armor is still part of them, however the damage they take is trivial to them while in armor form.

## Bloodline Attributes

**Armor Augment - Weaponry |** You become capable of manifesting a physical weapon/weapon combo when you enter your armor form. The weapon allows you to use techniques of this bloodline as if they were Bukijutsu Techniques specifically designed for the weapon. The weapon is functionally part of the armor, meaning it can absorb damage based on what the armor can, and degrades like the armor can. The user chooses the kind of weapon they make when they choose this attribute.

**Armor Augment - Quickness l** Your armor takes a much lighter and less restrictive form while retaining all of it's previous durability. When you enter your Armor Form, your Speed and Agility are not altered, allowing you to keep your Speed and Agility as if you were not in your Armored Form.

**Armor Augment - Partial Manifest |** You may manifest parts of your armor instead of your full armor as you wish it, allowing you to use your techniques from this clan even when you are not in Armored Form.

## Special Ability

### Armored Form

The Soukou Clan's signature ability and the baseline of all of their techniques. The user of this ability will mold their chakra into an armor-like exoskeleton that will cover their entire body. This armor-like exoskeleton modifies their physical attributes, and makes them more durable and much stronger than normal. The appearance of the armor can vary from person to person, however usually a single person will have the same armor every time they use this ability. The armor made from this is capable of absorbing the damage from up A-Ranked attacks, much like Heavy Armor, and degrades as described in the Armor System. When the armor is fully degraded, it disappears and this ability can not be used again for 5 posts.

* The armor confers statistical changes based on the user's rank.
	+ D-B: Strength: [6] Speed: [-2] Agility: [-2] Endurance: [6]
	+ A: Strength: [8] Speed: [-2] Agility: [-2] Endurance: [8]
	+ S: Strength: [8] Speed: [0] Agility: [0] Endurance: [8]
	+ S+: Strength: [10] Speed: [0] Agility: [0] Endurance: [10]
* These stat spreads are what they armor turns someone into, they do not add or subtract from a character's current stats.
* If the user's Strength or Endurance is naturally higher than what the armor gives them, then they do not change.
* The user can not use this technique at he same time as, Sage Mode, Unleashed or Awoken Stage Cursed Marks, Celestial Mark Activations, or Demon Transformations.
* The user may activate Reiken no Michi or Eight Gates Stages while this mode is active however.
* The cost of this technique is 50 Chakra and 50 Stamina per post. The cost can not be lowered by any means.
* The user's armor is subject to any effects that may alter normal armor, such as the Juggernaut Discipline.
* The user must make 5 Training Posts learning how to manifest their armor.

## Bloodline Techniques

### Stage One

**▰ Exostrike | Rank X | Simple**

The user uses their armor covered fist to punch an enemy with as much force as they can muster. Use of this technique gives +1 Strength per rank used.

**▰ X Defend | Rank X | Complex**

The user will enhance their arms with additional chakra, they will then place their arms in an X-Shape in front of them in order to defend against an attack. This technique functions as if it were spiritual for collisions.

Stage Two

**▰ Armor Spike Strike | Rank X | Complex**

The user will punch the ground with their armor covered fist. They will then project spike made up of the same material their Exo-skeleton like armor is made of with a similar appearance to parts of their armor towards the enemy with the intent to impale them. The spikes travel in a straight line forwards for 10 feet per rank of the technique.

**▰ Shed Skin | Rank X | Spiritual**

The user will channel chakra through their armor and practically molt their armor. The use of this technique gets rid of a single status effects that was once affecting the user. The user must use this technique at the appropriate rank based on the tier of the status effect they are molting away.

* E: Tier 1
* C: Tier 2
* B: Tier 3
* S: Tier 4

Stage Three

**▰ Armor Augment: Elemental | Rank C | Training**

When the user activates their Armored Form they may now choose to give the Armored Form an element based on the elements they posses. This augments their armor, giving it weaknesses and resistances based on the element of the armor. While in their Armored Form they may chose to use Simple Taijutsu as if they were Complex, adding elemental damage.

If the user has the Armor Augment: Weaponry bloodline attribute this augments their weapon, allowing them to do the above mentioned with simple Taijutsu and Bukijutsu that utilize their weapon.

Also Complex techniques of this style gain that element's properties.

**▰ Predator's Leap | Rank X | Complex**

The user will channel chakra into their armor covered legs, then kneel down and push themselves off the ground and in a desired direction, usually towards their opponent. This technique allows them to travel up to 15 feet per rank.

Stage Four

**▰ Armor Augment: Shedding Rebuff | Rank B | Training**

When the user utilizes the Shed Skin the technique refreshes their Armored Form's durability by 1. Shed Skin must be used at the rank the armor's current durability is at to gain this effect. This can only be used once per battle.

**▰ Needle Guard | Rank X | Complex**

The user will cause a bunch of needle-like spikes to extend from their armor as they defend against an oncoming attack.

Stage Five

**▰ Armor Augment: Elemental Mixing | Rank A | Training**

The user's armor may now contain 2 elements at the same time, having both armor's weaknesses and resistances. Depending on how this is used this can be a blessing or a curse.

**▰ Armor Augment: Shedding Plus | Rank A | Training**

When the user uses Shed Skin, they get rid of two physical statuses affecting them now, not just 1.

Stage Six

**▰ Armor Augment: Extra Durable | Rank S+ | Spiritual**

The user's armored form becomes much more durable in comparison to normal armor. While the user's armor durability is at A or S the armor requires 2 additional from an equal rank technique before it degrades. This technique may only be used once per battle and does not stack with the juggernaut discipline.

**▰ Armored Demon's Strike | Rank S+ | Complex**

The user of this technique will rush towards an opponent, or target an opponent already in melee range. They will hit their opponent with either a punch or a kick. As the punch or kick hits the enemy their entire armored form seems to focus itself into that area, creating a gauntlet or greave that is either the size or or larger than the user of this technique. The force behind this technique can send an enemy flying up to 200 feet away. The armor is immediately returned to normal after this technique's use.