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Clan Leadership and Beliefs:
There is not necessarily an organized leadership structure to the Nogakujin. The ones most respected are the elder performers who have the most experience in their craft. These also tend to be the ones with a great deal of experience or skill at ninja arts, but this is not a requirement for being respected. The advice of a Nogakujin elder is often heeded, but they hold no official authority over others unless they also have a rank of some kind in a given governing body, or among a Hidden Village's forces. The Nogakujin tend to be independent and are more often so-called "wanderers" than part of the forces of a Hidden Village. However, there are times when a Nogakujin will find it necessary or expedient to ally with another ninja force — whether this be a Hidden Village, or some other group or organization.
Noh Mask Transformations:
Every true member of the Nogakujin Clan is given an ordinary-looking Noh Mask (a "Noh-men" or "Omote") with special properties. It is created through a ritual that involves fasting for three days and then entering a meditative state in which the Nogakujin seeks out the spirit of either a deceased family member or another to whom the individual has a close connection — whether that be an ancient ancestor or a close friend. If the spirit feels the need is justified, and that the request is respectful and reasonable, that spirit will grant his or her "blessing" to the Nogakujin, causing the Mystic Noh-Men to become "enchanted". It is actually not "magic" so much as an infusion of pure spiritual energy from beyond the grave. This "Level One" Mask is uniquely bound to the life and Chakra of the Nogakujin who performed the ritual.
Generally speaking, no one can use a Mystic Noh-men except for the one whom it was blessed for. Non-Nogakujin Clan members are not only unable to use a Mystic Noh-men, but they are also in danger of springing various traps that are commonly placed in a given Mask. Every Mystic Noh-men is unique. Though they may look similar to outsiders, each one is crafted to be slightly (or completely) different from any other. Each Mask can empower the wearer, granting him or her special abilities for as long as it is actively channeling the Chakra of the wearer. The starting Masks are organized according to the specialty of the Nogakujin in question. This specialty is not so much chosen by the individual, but rather an affinity they are born with.
The two Nogakujin Paths available for starting Masks are "Genzai no" and "Mugen no". In Noh plays, "Genzai no" are about everyday or realistic events and people in the real world. "Mugen no" are more about ghosts, spirits, monsters, and supernatural worlds. Thus, "Genzai no Omote" are Masks that empower a Nogakujin in the ways of the firm and the real. Though the wearer may eventually achieve superhuman levels of physical ability, in the end they specialize in mastering their body and weapons, rather than Genjutsu. Conversely, "Mugen no Omote" are Masks that empower a Nogakujin in the ways of the mystical and supernatural. Such Nogakujin specialize in obtaining strange powers via mastering various non-traditional Ninjutsu, as well as some Genjutsu. They also tend to be more open to the possibility of radical Ninjutsu surgery and may seek to develop Hidenjutsu (Secret Techniques) exclusive to the Nogakujin Clan.
However, the Mystic Noh-men are not the full extent of the tools that a Nogakujin has available. A Nogakujin can eventually learn how to manifest and use additional Masks, each with different abilities, crafted from the Chakra of the individual and imbued with the spirit of a deceased individual who is closed to the Nogakujin. Likewise, the Genzai no Omote or Mugen no Omote can be improved as the bearer gains in experience and skill. However, in order to improve the starting Mask, the Nogakujin has to sacrifice the ability to make a new Mask. This is due to the energy necessary to manifest new masks being rather great. If that energy is channeled into the Mystic Noh-men, then it cannot be spent elsewhere. (This is represented by PP needing to be spent on Styles instead of improving to higher Levels of the Mystic Noh-men transformation)
See Also:
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