KANNUSHI "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form." Kannushi are Shinto priests (shrine maidens are referred to as Miko). It is a shamanic animist belief holding that the world is full of spirits called the Kami, the most powerful of which are Gods. They can represent animals, plants, natural phenomena, concepts, etc. Unlike many beliefs it is more concerned with this life than the next, often leaving that to Buddhism. Like many religions it has something of a code of ethics:
i) Do not transgress the will of the gods.
ii) Do not forget your obligations to ancestors.
iii) Do not offend by violating the decrees of the State.
iv) Do not forget the profound goodness of the, gods, through which calamity and misfortunes are averted and sickness is healed.
v) Do not forget that the world is one great family.
vi) Do not forget the limitations of your own person.
vii) Do not become angry even though others become angry.
viii) Do not be sluggish in your work.
ix) Do not bring blame to the teaching.
x) Do not be carried away by foreign teachings.
Originally derived from a mix of Ainu shamanism and other beliefs, Shinto dealt with allowing oneself to be possessed by the Gods or used as a vessel to speak or act through. This was influenced through other beliefs to eventually include ancestor worship, and a close intermingling with the state. Shinto is obsessed with the idea of 'purity', with certain deeds or situations causing a ritual uncleanness that require purification ceremonies to expunge. Obvious minor examples were the breaking of religious or societal (and later legal) taboos. Major examples include death and disease and anything associated with them, childbirth, and menstruation. These impurities not only affected the lives of the guilty party, but his entire community if they were not managed properly. It is not entirely an homogenous practice, with varying beliefs at different times and places. There is Koshinto (the original Ainu beliefs from before the introduction of Buddhism) and Mizoku-Shinto which is a mixture of these beliefs with local traditions, Buddhism, and Taoism. There will also eventually be Jinja-Shinto, or Shrine Shinto, stereotypically portrayed as purveyors of good luck charms at festivals and systematized symbols of patriotism.
MAKING A KANNUSHI Your powers come from being possessed by the Kami (which is usually comparatively easy. You will also have to deal with Onryo (vengeful spirits), and Ikiryo (vengeful spirits of living beings who have attached themselves to someone and act as a curse). You will also be expected to deal with Tatari (powerful curses put down by vengeful ghosts, Kami, or the Gods). Your willpower had best be up to the task.
Abilities: A Kannushi is all about Wisdom. It enhances your Will Saves and appropriate skill checks. Charisma may also come in handy for dealing with the public, and supernatural entities. Constitution would be nice to increase one's physical endurance.
Races: As Shinto is pretty much a human religion, almost all Shinto clergy are human (though it is possible for non humans to convert).
Alignment: Kannushi tend towards Lawful and Neutrality. Evil or Chaotic is fairly rare unless the Kannushi has turned away from the Kami or been possessed.
Starting Wealth: +(1d3+1)
Reputation: +2
Starting Age: Same as Cleric.
Edo Period Caste: Clergy are outside the caste system, and are thus reputable Hinin.
Class Skills The Kannushi's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Autohypnosis (Wis), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (Arcana, Geography, History, Local, Nature, Religion)(Int), Listen (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Cha), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skills Per Day at 1st Level : (6 + int)x4
Skills Per Day at Each Additional Level : 6 + int
Hit Dice: d6
[b] BAB Fort Ref Will Abilities[/b]
1. +0 +2 +2 +2 Religious Training, Ki Pool, Ki Abilities
2. +1 +3 +3 +3 Spirit Possession
3. +2 +3 +3 +3 Purification
4. +3 +4 +4 +4 Religious Training
5. +3 +4 +4 +4 Spirit Possession
6. +4 +5 +5 +5 Purification
7. +5 +5 +5 +5 Religious Training
8. +6 +6 +6 +6 Spirit Possession
9. +6 +6 +6 +6 Purification
10.+7 +7 +7 +7 Religious Training
11.+8 +7 +7 +7 Spirit Possession
12.+9 +8 +8 +8 Purification
13.+9 +8 +8 +8 Religious Training
14.+10 +9 +9 +9 Spirit Possession
15.+11 +9 +9 +9 Purification
16.+12 +10 +10 +10 Religious Training
17.+12 +10 +10 +10 Spirit Possession
18.+13 +11 +11 +11 Purification
19.+14 +11 +11 +11 Religious Training
20.+15 +12 +12 +12 Prophet
Weapon Proficiencies: Kannushi are not proficient with Armor or Shields. They may choose 6 weapons from the Magician list, and 2 Exotic Weapons.
Ki Pool (Ex): At 1st level the Kannushi first begins to learn to channel his Ki to perform acts he would be otherwise unable to do. He may use his Ki a number of times per day equal to either his Charisma or Wisdom Modifier (whichever is greater) plus twice more per day for each level of Kannushi he takes.
Ki Abilities (Su): By tapping the power of his Ki a trained Kannushi can enhance his abilities in battle, in art, and in life. A Kannushi learns one new use for his Ki Pool at each level if he meets the prerequisites. If a Kannushi multi classes into a PrC that allows him to continue to learn Ki Abilities, he may still choose Ki Abilities from the Kannushi Class list if he meets the prerequisites. At 1st level he may expend up to 1 daily use of his Ki Abilities per round, and the benefits from the Ability last for 1 round. This increases to twice per round at level 6 (with a duration of the entire encounter), and 3 times per round at level 13 (with a duration of 1 day). Ki abilities are skills the Kannushi has trained to perfection, and despite being more than natural, they are not vulnerable to Antimagic Fields and as such are Exceptional Abilities unless it is noted otherwise. They generally either reflect specific combat maneuvers from a school of martial arts, an enhanced use of a skill, or an enhanced use of a Feat. A Kannushi may choose from the following School Ki Abilities:
Ki Casting (Su): A Kannushi may choose from the following Magic School Ki Abilities: Diviner, Exorcist, Jukondo, Kami Worship, Kotodama, Medium, Nazoraeru, and Ofuda. Ki casting works a little differently than normal Ki abilities. To start with the key stat for Ki casting varies depending on what magical school you are using (and is listed with said schools). When they can choose a new Ki Ability they can choose from the usual lists like other classes or choose a Ki Spell you meet the prerequisites for from a School their Class has access to. While you can only use one Ki Spell Ability per round you may expend as much Ki as you would like (normally you only do this if you have Feats or Class Abilities that let you modify Ki Abilities by expending extra Ki). Duration and all other effects are the same as the regular spell the Ki Spell mimics. Save DC's are based off of the Key Stat of whichever School of Magic the Ki Spell belongs to, and Caster Level is equal to your Hit Dice. In other words if you're a first level Samurai, 4th level Kannushi, you're a 5th Level Caster.
Religious Training:Spirit Possession (Su):Purification (Su): Prophet (Su):PLAYING A KANNUSHI Your obsession with purity, and regular maintenance of purifying rites allows you to act as an intermediary with the Kami. Your position is hereditary within the clan, and your children will likely inherit it. If you are a Miko you care for shrines and go into trances conveying prophecies by the Kami. Due to Shinto's unfortunate relationship with the ruling class you often have to deal with secular decisions made about your religious practices, most often ones reducing you to poverty to control you and your influence. Some became Aruki (traveling) Miko to drum up support for their temples through performance of Kyogen (plays), sacred dancing, or in the minds of the more vulgar, prostitution. Many married Yamabushi who were likewise travelers. Kannushi may actually be part of the Imperial Courts attempts to separate Shinto and Buddhism as most original Shinto clergy were all Miko.
Religion: Obviously you follow Shinto being as you're a priest of the religion. Whether or not you also accept Buddhism and similar creeping Chinese influences is up to you. In some ages the Court wishes to cleanse Buddhism of 'local superstition', meaning Shinto, so you will be repressed. In others you will enjoy great favor, meaning the government will try to control you to control the populace. So all in all, you might not be so favorably disposed towards Buddhism.
Other Classes: The Samurai classes generally have some grudging respect for you as you have obvious supernatural power. That doesn't always mean they like you. In eras where you fall on truly hard times you may be approached by the Shinobi or Yakuza classes, but they simply want you to use your powers, they don't truly feel any companionship to you. Most Buddhist classes think of you as superstitious fools, albeit dangerous ones with power they may not understand how to use wisely.
Combat: Shinto has fairly strong taboos towards death and disease. The only combat you will see is spiritual combat with supernatural beings if you want to keep your powers, and even then their destruction is not your goal so much as containing or appeasing them.
Advancement: Advancement is fairly rigid for you, and is decided by the needs of your Clan, the community, and sometimes the Imperial Court as well. There's also always the chance your possession could be permanent, or corrupt you to the point you become an Oni. Life will be a little twitchy for you.
KANNUSHI IN THE WORLD "A priest is he who lives solely in the realm of the invisible, for whom all that is visible has only the truth of an allegory. " You kind of scare people. Most common folk (and even the nobility) wet themselves at the idea of contact with the Kami or Ghosts, and you're expected to do so on a regular basis. That doesn't exactly make people grateful. When they need you, you are fawned over. When they don't you are a danger who must be 'controlled'. Quite honestly if you ever snap and become a Bakemono, your local peers need only look into the mirror to see the reasons why.
Daily Life: When you are not acting as an agent of the Gods or trying to mediate for the Dead, your life is consumed by purification rites and caring for your Shrine. In the times when you are tools of the state you may have political duties as well, though many of your kind may chafe at some of these.
Notables:
Organizations: All Kannushi belong to a temple or shrine, but it's rare they get involved in organizations bigger than that, other than those who work directly for the Imperial Court.
NPC Reaction Religious NPC's are in aw of you, non-religious ones are...well let's say they have respect for your power but that's about it. Be careful who you are friends with.
KANNUSHI IN THE GAME Kannushi have official duties, which means you can't feel free to leave whenever you want to, or that there are consequences for doing so. If your temple is responsible for the care of many holy place or Kami you will be asked to travel, and many Miko do so to get funds for the temple. Additionally the taboos imposed on you by your religion may be troublesome.
Adaptation: This is good for silly or serious, Shinto clergy feature prominently in both Japanese horror and comedy.
Encounters: Kannushi are found in shrines and temples, either in cities or occasionally in lonely places (though one should beware of shrines in lonely places).
EPIC KANNUSHI Hit Die: d6
Skills Points at Each Level : 6 + int
Class Ability Class Ability.
Bonus Feats: The Epic Kannushi gains a Bonus Feat every x levels higher than 20th