General Information Type: Family
Village: Kumogakure no Sato
Province: Saishuu Province
Size: About 75 members
Traits: Dark-skinned, brown or black hair. Leathery, wind-swept skin. The Tategami spend a lot of time outside, and tend to decorate their armour with boar tusks, shark teeth or other trophies of hunts.
Traditions: The Tategami family hails from the northernmost reaches of the Lightning Country, with their clan compound sitting near the northern shores. Because their homes are so far from civilizations, the Tategami are extremely solitary individuals. They are quiet and patient and place great value in coöperation. At the same time, they can be alone very well.
Traditionally, the Tategami are very mistrusting of outsiders. When the Lightning Country was still ruled by seven kingdoms, the Tategami were seen as dangerous savages who attacked anyone encroaching on their turf. These times are long past, and the Tategami have since been ¨tamed¨ by the Raikage. Realizing they need to cooperate with Kumogakure no Sato if they want to survive, the Tategami have since then softened up towards strangers. However, they are still loners who prefer their own company. Very few people outside of the family are allowed near the compound, a territory they still patrol frequently.
Tategami are fiercely protective of their habitat. The reason they are distrusting of strangers is because they consider the growth of civilization a threat to the balance of nature, a balance they have lived in for centuries. Tategami are pragmatic, and do what they must to survive. If this means sending their shinobi to aid Kumogakure, they will do so. However, they have agreed on certain rules with Kumo about the preservation of their territory. When these rules are broken, they will not hesitate to fight.
The Tategami are by origin hunters and trackers. As such, it is common for young members of the clan to join the more experienced members on hunts and border patrols. When a young shinobi reaches a certain age, they are sent to the academy in Kumogakure to learn the ways of the ninja. At this point, they are generally more hardened than other academy students. The Tategami family pays for the academy students´ rent and board.
Once the young Tategami graduates from the academy, they travel back to the compound. Here, they are required to go on a solitary hunt in the most dangerous part of the mountains, where giant beasts are known to roam. During this hunt, they need to slay a prey of sufficient size and danger. They then present this prey to the family patriarch or matriarch, who then approves or denies the hunt based on the prey. If the hunt is approved, the young Genin is considered a full-fledged member of the clan and will return to Kumogakure no Sato. If the hunt is denied, they must return to the mountains until they´ve found a sufficient prey. When the rite is complete, the Genin will be allowed to create and name their own spear. This is seen as a sign of adulthood.
The Tategami is generally a very equal-opportunity clan. There are no defined gender roles, and kunoichi are considered just as capable to become clan leader as shinobi.
Influence: The Tategami have little influence in Kumogakure no Sato in terms of culture and politic. Their compound is located in the northernmost reaches of the Lightning Country where it is cold and lonely. They are a very solitary family and stick mostly to themselves, seeming uninterested in playing political games or the affairs of the world at large. Their primary concern usually seems to be tending to their own survival.
Within Kumo, the Tategami are usually seen in a positive, if somewhat mysterious light. Throughout history, the family has always delivered excellent shinobi. Tategami are generally considered Kumogakure no Sato´s best trackers and hunters, and their proficiency with the spear makes them outstanding fighters to boot. Tategami are also generally dutiful and cooperative, as working together with family allows them to survive in the cold wastes that is their home. While they are well-respected for these traits, Tategami members rarely let outsiders get close to them. They tend to keep their thoughts to themselves and are known to be incredibly blunt at times.
History
The Tategami have called the northern shores and mountains of Kaminari no Kuni their home as long as the documented history of the area describes. It is rumoured that they used to be part of a larger band of ninja during the first ninja wars, hence their usage of chakra, but lost the war and were forced to flee to the freezing north. During the times of the warring seven kingdoms, the area was generally left alone by each of the kingdoms. It lacked any fertile ground, and the Tategami who defended it were well-adapted at fighting on their own turf. Since the Tategami showed no interest in competing with the kingdoms and only fought to defend their territory, the kingdoms merely left them be. This allowed the Tategami to prosper in their territory, becoming the dominant force in the area.
It wasn´t after the formation of Kaminari no Kuni that the first Kumo shinobi sought out the Tategami. Bigger, more powerful threats lured on the horizon, and the Raikage needed all the men he could get. The first few parties sent to negotiate with the Tategami were never heard from again and were presumed dead. It was only when the Raikage and his elite guard himself ventured into the icy mountains that they were able to fight off the border patrols and fight their way right into the Tategami compound.
There, the Raikage gave the head of the clan one simple choice: join Kumogakure no Sato or die. After a long debate, the Tategami hesitantly agreed. Terms were made: the Tategami were to add to the shinobi workforce whereas Kumogakure would leave the Tategami´s territory for themselves to manage. Until this day, the treaty stands.
Shinobi Information Base Concentration:
Taijutsu:
- Polearm Weapons
- Perception
- Footwork
Taijutsu StylesShow
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Arctic Huntsman StyleShow
Tategami are famous for their proficiency with the spear. Tategami members favour the spear as their go-to weapon, and most members are taught from a young age to handle the weapon. Members who have studied the art of the spear are very quick and deadly with this weapon. More skilled members can increase the deadliness of their spear by conducting chakra through the blade, increasing sharpness and adding other effects based on the elements of the user. This style requires the user to possess a spear about 5/6 ft in length.
This style places great focus on footwork and rhythm, taking advantage of the spear´s superior range to launch attacks at the opponent while remaining safe from counter-attacks. This style employs various quick jabs and slashes along with quick footwork in order to wear down the opponent´s stamina. Users of this style are very focussed on their opponent, reacting to almost every movement the opponent makes with a movement of their own. Generally, practicioners prefer to keep their opponents within an ideal range of about four to five feet, out of the reach of most swords. The style also has several distance-closing techniques and defensive techniques.
Requirements [Polearm Weapons][Perception]
Spear TaijutsuShow
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Hunter Stance
D-Rank Taijutsu Stance
The hallmark Stance of Hokkyuryoushi Sensu, the practitioner lowers their body, planing their body sideways and crouching slightly, shrinking their profile and limiting the surface area of their body exposed to the opponent to strike. The practitioner holds the spear angled slightly upwards at the opponent, the haft of the spear braced against the practitioner's chest for stability and support. When the practitioner attacks while in this Stance, they quickly jab or slash with the spear, never fully committing to an all-out attack unless they're confident it will hit, which allows them to safely harass the opponent without compromising their defenses. Using this Stance drops the practitioner into a reactive state, allowing them to more closely read their opponent's movements and more accurately predict their next action. This allows the practitioner to feint the opponent with attacks and bait them into traps for more punishing attacks or to counter-attack an opponent in the small openings that naturally occur after they finish the attack and begin recovering from the motion. Opponents with an average of their Taijutsu and Speed stats, rounded up, higher than the practitioner's average of their Taijutsu, Speed, and Instinct Stats, rounded down, will still be able to move without having their movements be easily tracked.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Chasing Beast
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Requires Human Stance
A Taijutsu manoeuvre technique that focusses around prediction and quick, single steps. The user bends through the knees slightly, holding his or her spear close and moving the arms close to the body to make themselves a smaller target. The user then takes a series of quick steps towards the opponent, each step reacting to what the opponent does. The success of this technique comes from finding the correct rhythm, taking each new step in a slightly different direction just as the opponent was about to react. If done correctly, the user can close the distance between themself and the enemy while easily dodging most incoming attacks.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Pine Tree Guard
D-Rank Taijutsu Stance
The user holds their spear horizontally in front of them to meet a physical attack with superior strength. If the strength of the user is higher than the strength of the opponent, the user will be able to perform a quick deflect thrusting the spear forward during the time of impact. This will cause the opponent´s weapon (or limb) to be knocked back significantly, leaving them open for a counterattack.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - One-handed Style
D-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
This technique symbolizes the user´s ability to wield a spear with only one hand and perform attacks with the same amount of precision as when using both hands. This technique allows for greater use of the spear´s reach as the full length of the spear can now be utilized. The user can also switch freely and fluently between both hands, with them being able to wield the spear in both hands with equal skill.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Striking Spider
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
The user reacts to the forward momentum of an enemy´s attack. For example, after a charge or forward lunge. The user sidesteps into whichever direction the blade of the spear is pointing and swipes the butt of the spear upwards in order to smack the opponent in the face.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Gliding Owl
D -Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
This technique requires the user to have a higher ground than the target. The user aims their spear at the opponent and dives down towards them, holding the spear in both hands towards the opponent and before the user´s body, with the shaft across the side. The user raises the leg at the side where the spear is held so that the upper leg runs alongside the spear with the knee bent. The user soundlessly glides towards the opponent, the entire body and spear being completely stil in order to produce as little friction and sound as possible. If this technique connects, the user will bury their spear into the opponent´s body and push it down further using the force of their own impact.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Stab-and-Switch
D -Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
A reactionairy technique where the user parries an opponent´s attack with the blade of their spear. Whereas a parry usually implies using equal force, the user instead mitigates their own force and uses the opponent´s force to push the blade of the spear down and bring the back pole of the spear up. All the user has to do is guide the momentum of the back of the spear into the side or back of the opponent´s head. The user then quickly slides back into their previous stance.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Dual Wield
C -Rank Taijutsu Discipline
This disciplin represents the user´s ability to wield two spears simultaniously with the exact same skill with which they can wield a single spear, suffering no penalties whatsoever.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Manhunter Stance
C – Rank Taijutsu Stance
Requires Dual Wield
This stance focuses on wielding two spears and using one for offence and one for defence. The user has one side turned towards the opponent, arm raised at chest-height holding the spear diagonally with , with the blade pointing towards the opponent. The spear is typically held about halfway the shaft. The other side has the arm slightly lower, holding the spear near the butt of the weapon.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Soaring Owl
C -Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prequisite: Requires Gliding Owl
An advanced version of the Gliding Owl, this technique can be initiated without the user having the high ground. Instead, the user simply jumps straight into the air, reaching a height of a maximum of ten meters before twisting their body into position and aiming themselves at the opponent. The user aims their spear at the opponent and dives down towards them, holding the spear in both hands towards the opponent and before the user´s body, with the shaft across the side. The user raises the leg at the side where the spear is held so that the upper leg runs alongside the spear with the knee bent. The user soundlessly glides towards the opponent, the entire body and spear being completely still in order to produce as little friction and sound as possible. If this technique connects, the user will bury their spear into the opponent´s body and push it down further using the force of their own impact.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Leaping Ape
C -Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prequisite: Requires One-handed Style
The user takes at least five steps towards the intended direction before sticking the blade of their spear into the ground and performing a pole jump towards the intended location at the user´s own speed plus 5. The user can chose to begin swinging their spear overhead in a downwards trajectory as soon as mid-air, but also later, in order to instantly attack the area in front of the user with an overhead downward slash upon landing.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Crumbling Mountain
C– Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
The user lowers their body slightly to gather force from their core, and launches a quick, powerful stab at a target. The trick of this technique is for the user to focus all their force into one jab, making it >5 their usual strength. This technique when used on the weak spot of a defence can crumble said defence.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Destructive Owl
B– Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prequisite: Requires Soaring Owl
An advanced version of the Gliding Owl, this technique can be initiated without the user having the high ground. Instead, the user simply jumps straight into the air, reaching a height of a maximum of ten meters before twisting their body into position and aiming themselves at the opponent. The user aims their spear at the opponent and dives down towards them, holding the spear in both hands towards the opponent and before the user´s body, with the shaft across the side. The user raises the leg at the side where the spear is held so that the upper leg runs alongside the spear with the knee bent. The user soundlessly glides towards the opponent, body spinning rapidly. This technique, when fully connected, almost guarantees a one-hit kill unless the opponent has great defence or has performed a defensive technique to mitigate the damage. The impact is strong enough to leave an impact crater as ground is up heaved and flung across the area.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Bear Toss
Requires Human Stance
B– Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
A defensive technique in which the user catches a charging enemy with their spear and, using the opponent´s own momentum, uses the spear to throw them overhead and smash them into the ground behind them.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Deep Azure
Requires at least 10 Control
B– Rank Taijutsu Discipline
This technique symbolizes the user´s ability to manifest an aura of chakra around the blade of the spear. This chakra aura traditionally takes the shape of a blue flame burning around the blade, although the shape can be manipulated as long as it remains roughly the same size. This technique, while active, increases the damage of all techniques by one rank. For example, a D-rank spear technique will do damage equal to a C-rank spear based technique while this technique is active.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Boar Stampede
Requires Deep Azure
A-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
One of the Tategami´s less subtle but more powerful techniques, it requires the user to have enough chakra control to channel their chakra into their blade, creating an aura of chakra along the spear around the size of an auto mobile. The user then performs a vertical charge at a speed that is the user´s own speed plus 10. Being caught by the brunt of this technique will result in heavy damage to the body, merely being grazed will result in broken bones at the area of impact. The charge lasts for about fifteen meters. The downside is that this technique can only be performed in a horizontal trajectory. The aura of chakra can also be used to deflect attacks from the side, with only the user´s rear being vulnerable during the charge.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Screeching Mountain Spirit
A-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
The ¨quick draw¨ of spears. The user can draw their weapon and transition into an attack in the blink of an eye. The speed is so much that only shinobi with at least 30 in perception can register it and at least 30 in speed can react to it.
D-Rank Taijutsu Stance
The hallmark Stance of Hokkyuryoushi Sensu, the practitioner lowers their body, planing their body sideways and crouching slightly, shrinking their profile and limiting the surface area of their body exposed to the opponent to strike. The practitioner holds the spear angled slightly upwards at the opponent, the haft of the spear braced against the practitioner's chest for stability and support. When the practitioner attacks while in this Stance, they quickly jab or slash with the spear, never fully committing to an all-out attack unless they're confident it will hit, which allows them to safely harass the opponent without compromising their defenses. Using this Stance drops the practitioner into a reactive state, allowing them to more closely read their opponent's movements and more accurately predict their next action. This allows the practitioner to feint the opponent with attacks and bait them into traps for more punishing attacks or to counter-attack an opponent in the small openings that naturally occur after they finish the attack and begin recovering from the motion. Opponents with an average of their Taijutsu and Speed stats, rounded up, higher than the practitioner's average of their Taijutsu, Speed, and Instinct Stats, rounded down, will still be able to move without having their movements be easily tracked.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Chasing Beast
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Requires Human Stance
A Taijutsu manoeuvre technique that focusses around prediction and quick, single steps. The user bends through the knees slightly, holding his or her spear close and moving the arms close to the body to make themselves a smaller target. The user then takes a series of quick steps towards the opponent, each step reacting to what the opponent does. The success of this technique comes from finding the correct rhythm, taking each new step in a slightly different direction just as the opponent was about to react. If done correctly, the user can close the distance between themself and the enemy while easily dodging most incoming attacks.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Pine Tree Guard
D-Rank Taijutsu Stance
The user holds their spear horizontally in front of them to meet a physical attack with superior strength. If the strength of the user is higher than the strength of the opponent, the user will be able to perform a quick deflect thrusting the spear forward during the time of impact. This will cause the opponent´s weapon (or limb) to be knocked back significantly, leaving them open for a counterattack.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - One-handed Style
D-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
This technique symbolizes the user´s ability to wield a spear with only one hand and perform attacks with the same amount of precision as when using both hands. This technique allows for greater use of the spear´s reach as the full length of the spear can now be utilized. The user can also switch freely and fluently between both hands, with them being able to wield the spear in both hands with equal skill.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Striking Spider
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
The user reacts to the forward momentum of an enemy´s attack. For example, after a charge or forward lunge. The user sidesteps into whichever direction the blade of the spear is pointing and swipes the butt of the spear upwards in order to smack the opponent in the face.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Gliding Owl
D -Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
This technique requires the user to have a higher ground than the target. The user aims their spear at the opponent and dives down towards them, holding the spear in both hands towards the opponent and before the user´s body, with the shaft across the side. The user raises the leg at the side where the spear is held so that the upper leg runs alongside the spear with the knee bent. The user soundlessly glides towards the opponent, the entire body and spear being completely stil in order to produce as little friction and sound as possible. If this technique connects, the user will bury their spear into the opponent´s body and push it down further using the force of their own impact.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Stab-and-Switch
D -Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
A reactionairy technique where the user parries an opponent´s attack with the blade of their spear. Whereas a parry usually implies using equal force, the user instead mitigates their own force and uses the opponent´s force to push the blade of the spear down and bring the back pole of the spear up. All the user has to do is guide the momentum of the back of the spear into the side or back of the opponent´s head. The user then quickly slides back into their previous stance.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Dual Wield
C -Rank Taijutsu Discipline
This disciplin represents the user´s ability to wield two spears simultaniously with the exact same skill with which they can wield a single spear, suffering no penalties whatsoever.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Manhunter Stance
C – Rank Taijutsu Stance
Requires Dual Wield
This stance focuses on wielding two spears and using one for offence and one for defence. The user has one side turned towards the opponent, arm raised at chest-height holding the spear diagonally with , with the blade pointing towards the opponent. The spear is typically held about halfway the shaft. The other side has the arm slightly lower, holding the spear near the butt of the weapon.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Soaring Owl
C -Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prequisite: Requires Gliding Owl
An advanced version of the Gliding Owl, this technique can be initiated without the user having the high ground. Instead, the user simply jumps straight into the air, reaching a height of a maximum of ten meters before twisting their body into position and aiming themselves at the opponent. The user aims their spear at the opponent and dives down towards them, holding the spear in both hands towards the opponent and before the user´s body, with the shaft across the side. The user raises the leg at the side where the spear is held so that the upper leg runs alongside the spear with the knee bent. The user soundlessly glides towards the opponent, the entire body and spear being completely still in order to produce as little friction and sound as possible. If this technique connects, the user will bury their spear into the opponent´s body and push it down further using the force of their own impact.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Leaping Ape
C -Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prequisite: Requires One-handed Style
The user takes at least five steps towards the intended direction before sticking the blade of their spear into the ground and performing a pole jump towards the intended location at the user´s own speed plus 5. The user can chose to begin swinging their spear overhead in a downwards trajectory as soon as mid-air, but also later, in order to instantly attack the area in front of the user with an overhead downward slash upon landing.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Crumbling Mountain
C– Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
The user lowers their body slightly to gather force from their core, and launches a quick, powerful stab at a target. The trick of this technique is for the user to focus all their force into one jab, making it >5 their usual strength. This technique when used on the weak spot of a defence can crumble said defence.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Destructive Owl
B– Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prequisite: Requires Soaring Owl
An advanced version of the Gliding Owl, this technique can be initiated without the user having the high ground. Instead, the user simply jumps straight into the air, reaching a height of a maximum of ten meters before twisting their body into position and aiming themselves at the opponent. The user aims their spear at the opponent and dives down towards them, holding the spear in both hands towards the opponent and before the user´s body, with the shaft across the side. The user raises the leg at the side where the spear is held so that the upper leg runs alongside the spear with the knee bent. The user soundlessly glides towards the opponent, body spinning rapidly. This technique, when fully connected, almost guarantees a one-hit kill unless the opponent has great defence or has performed a defensive technique to mitigate the damage. The impact is strong enough to leave an impact crater as ground is up heaved and flung across the area.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Bear Toss
Requires Human Stance
B– Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
A defensive technique in which the user catches a charging enemy with their spear and, using the opponent´s own momentum, uses the spear to throw them overhead and smash them into the ground behind them.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu - Deep Azure
Requires at least 10 Control
B– Rank Taijutsu Discipline
This technique symbolizes the user´s ability to manifest an aura of chakra around the blade of the spear. This chakra aura traditionally takes the shape of a blue flame burning around the blade, although the shape can be manipulated as long as it remains roughly the same size. This technique, while active, increases the damage of all techniques by one rank. For example, a D-rank spear technique will do damage equal to a C-rank spear based technique while this technique is active.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Boar Stampede
Requires Deep Azure
A-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
One of the Tategami´s less subtle but more powerful techniques, it requires the user to have enough chakra control to channel their chakra into their blade, creating an aura of chakra along the spear around the size of an auto mobile. The user then performs a vertical charge at a speed that is the user´s own speed plus 10. Being caught by the brunt of this technique will result in heavy damage to the body, merely being grazed will result in broken bones at the area of impact. The charge lasts for about fifteen meters. The downside is that this technique can only be performed in a horizontal trajectory. The aura of chakra can also be used to deflect attacks from the side, with only the user´s rear being vulnerable during the charge.
Hokkyuryoushi Sensu – Screeching Mountain Spirit
A-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
The ¨quick draw¨ of spears. The user can draw their weapon and transition into an attack in the blink of an eye. The speed is so much that only shinobi with at least 30 in perception can register it and at least 30 in speed can react to it.
