ORIGINAL NINJA HERO CHARACTERS

CHRISTOPHER MASAKAI JONES

(a.k.a. DEVIL HUNTER JONES)

Val	CHA	Cost	Roll	Notes
15	STR	5	12-	Lift 200 kg; 3d6 HTH Damage [1]
20	DEX	20	13-
18	CON	8	13-
14	INT	4	12-	PER Roll 12-
14	EGO	4	12-
15	PRE	5	12-	PRE Attack:  3d6

7	OCV	20	
7	DCV	20	
5	OMCV	6	
5	DMCV	6	
4	SPD	20		Phases:  3, 6, 9, 12

6+4	PD	4		Total:  6/10 PD (0/4 rPD)
5+4	ED	3		Total:  5/9 ED (0/4 rED)
7	REC	3
36	END	4
13	BODY	3
30	STUN	5		Total Characteristics Cost:  140

Movement:	Running:	18m/36m 
		Leaping:	14m/28m
		Swimming:	4m/8m

Cost	Powers & Skills
	Martial Art:  Kenjutsu
	Maneuver	OCV	DCV	Damage
4	Evade		--	+5	Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort
	Notes:  Also Taijutsu Dodge
4	Lightning Stroke
			+2	+0	Weapon +2 DC Strike
5	Running Stroke	+1	+0	Weapon  +v/5; FMove
5	Slashing Stroke	-2	+1	Weapon +4 DC Strike
	Notes:  Also Taijutsu Kick
5	Twisting Thrust	-2	+0	HKA 1 ½d6 , Target Falls
0	Weapon Element:  Blades

	Martial Art:  Mo Chi Kung Fu and Taijutsu
	Maneuver	OCV	DCV	Damage
4	Block		+2	+2	Block, Abort
4	Punch		+0	+2	5d6 Strike
4	Snout Strike	-1	+1	2d6 NND
2	Weapon Element:  Blades, Clubs

12	Yang Chi:  Endurance Reserve  (50 END, 10 REC) Reserve:  Side Effects (1 BODY and 2 STUN per 10 END 
	spent; -½); REC:  Limited Recovery (10 REC per Hour of rest, 20 REC per hour of meditation, 
	variable REC for living well and/or being successful; -1), Personal REC (-½)
12	Yin Chi:  Endurance Reserve  (50 END, 10 REC) Reserve:  Side Effects (1 BODY and 2 STUN per 10 END 
	spent; -½); REC:  Limited Recovery (10 REC per Hour of rest, 20 REC per hour of meditation, 
	variable REC for living well and/or being successful; -1), Personal REC (-½)

25	Tenshi:  Multipower, 50-point reserve, all slots OAF (enchanted cane sword; -1)	
2f	1)  Ghost-Cutting Blade:  HKA 1d6+1 (2d6 w/STR), Affects Desolidified (ghosts and the supernatural 
	only; +¼), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½); OAF (enchanted cane sword; -1)
1f	2)  Ghost-Smashing Sheath:  HA +3d6, Affects Desolidified (ghosts and the supernatural only; +¼), 
	Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½); OAF (enchanted cane sword; -1), Hand-To-Hand Attack (-¼)
2f	3)  Magic-Cutting Blade:  Dispel 11d6, Magic Spells (+½); OAF (enchanted cane sword; -1), 
	No Range (-½), END 5
1f	4)  Ghost-Sensing Blade:  Detect ghosts and other beings of the Underworld 14- (Sight Group), 
	Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees), Perceive into a single other dimension (the Underworld); 
	OAF (enchanted cane sword; -1), Only Detects Presence, Not Direction Or Location (-½)
1f	5)  Blade Length:  Reach +1m; OAF (enchanted cane sword; -1)

22	Steel Skin:  Aid  CON and PD 5d6, Expanded Effect (x2 Characteristics or Powers simultaneously) (+½); 
	Only to Aid Self (-1), END 4
30	Fading Light Strike:  Drain END 3d6, Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per 
	Minute; +1); Only Drains END For Supernatural END Reserves (-½), Shih (i.e. Christopher) Must 
	Strike Specific Points On Target' Anatomy With A Weapon (-½), END 6
3	Celestial Punishment:  RKA ½d6, Affects Desolidified (ghosts and the supernatural only; +¼); OAF 
	Fragile (rolls of paper on which prayers are written; -1 ¼), Only Does Killing Damage To Vampires And 
	Wraiths; Only Does STUN Damage To Other Shen (-1), 9 Charges (-¼), Costs Endurance (Only Costs 
	END to Activate; -¼), END 1
8	Heavenly Flames:  RKA 1 ½d6; OAF Fragile (rolls of paper on which prayers are written; -1 ¼), Only 
	Versus Shen (-½), 9 Charges (-¼), Costs Endurance (Only Costs END to Activate; -¼), END 2
5	Do:  Resistant Protection (4 PD/4 ED); Requires A Roll (10- roll; covers Hit Locations 10-13; -¾), 
	OIF (breastplate; -½), Half Value Versus Modern Firearms (-¼)
30	Cloud Walking:  Trackless Stride; Costs Endurance (Only Costs END to Activate; Yang Chi; -¼) plus 
	Invisibility to Hearing and Smell/Taste Groups , No Fringe, Costs Endurance Only To Activate 
	(Yang Chi; +¼); Limited Effect (only affects Tracking Smell; -¼), END 3
5	Cloud Leaping:  Leaping +10m (14m forward, 7m upward), END 1
6	Swift Of Foot:  Running +6m (18m total), END 1
8	Opened Eyes:  Detect Shen 12- (Sight Group), Perceive into a single other dimension (the Underworld); 
	Costs Endurance (Only Costs END to Activate; Yang Chi; -¼), END 1
5	The Closing Wound:  Healing BODY 2d6; Extra Time (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12), Character May Take No 
	Other Actions, -1 ½), Only To Aid Self (-1), Does Not Work On Some Damage (not on broken bones, 
	severed nerves, or burnt flesh and/or energy damage; -½), END 2
4	Elimination Of Impurities:  LS  (Immunity All terrestrial poisons; Immunity: Common Cold/Flu); 
	Only Protects Against Minor Illnesses And Poisons Currently Affecting The Shih (-½), Costs Endurance 
	(Only Costs END to Activate; Yang Chi; -¼), END 1\

	Perks
3	Well-Connected
4	1)  Contact:  Anna Sachiko (Goddess of the Moon) (Contact has useful Skills or resources, Very Good 
	relationship with Contact) 11-
3	2)  Contact:  Garesu Ishidoru, Yakuza (Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact has 
	useful Skills or resources) 11-
2	3)  Contact:  Shenzi Bladefeather, Tengu of the Beast Courts (Contact has significant Contacts of 
	his own, Contact has useful Skills or resources) 8-

	Talents
2	Off-Hand Defense

	Skills
20	+2 with All Combat
16	+2 with HTH Combat

3	Breakfall 13-
3	Climbing 13-
0	Language:  English (idiomatic; literate)
4	Language:  Japanese (completely fluent; literate)
3	Lockpicking 13-
3	Paramedics 12-
3	Shadowing 12-
3	Stealth 13-
3	Streetwise 12-
2	Survival (Urban) 12-
3	Tracking 12-
6	WF:  Blades, Common Martial Arts Melee Weapons, Common Melee Weapons, Karate Weapons, Small Arms
3	Scholar
2	1)  KS: Hengeyokai Habits And Haunts 12-
1	2)  KS: Kenjutsu 11-
1	3)  KS: Mo Chi Kung Fu 11-
1	4)  KS: Taijutsu 11-
2	5)  KS: The Shen/Supernatural World 12-

Total Powers & Skill Cost:  316
Total Cost:  455

400+	Matching Complications (75)
10	Distinctive Features:  "Scruffy" Looking--long hair, unshaven, worn clothing (Concealable; Noticed 
	and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)
10	Distinctive Features:  Style (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Large Group)
10	Hunted:  Kumo (spider demons) Infrequently (As Pow; Harshly Punish)
10	Money:  Destitute
15	Psychological Complication:  Loner (Common; Strong)
15	Psychological Complication:  Oath: To Hunt And Kill Monsters (especially Kumo) Who Get Out Of 
	Line (Common; Strong)
10	Social Complication:  Foreigner, Not A Full-Blooded Japanese (Frequently, Minor)
20	Social Complication:  Trained As A Shih; Expected To Us His Training Only To Hunt And Kill 
	Monsters (Very Frequently, Major)

Total Complications Points:  75
Experience Points:  55
Christopher Masakai Jones

Background/History: Christopher Masaki Jones was born and grew up in Japan, the son of an American businessman and his Japanese wife. Most of his early years were fairly normal, although he did have to deal with occasional instances of harassment for his gaijin origins. On the other hand, his uncle Katsuhito offered to teach him kendo, as a way of learning discipline and confidence. For his part, young Christopher found he enjoyed the lessons, and often spent summers at his uncle's dojo.

As he grew, Christopher's sessions with his uncle began to evolve beyond the mere "sport" aspect of kendo and into the more combative form of kenjutsu. At the same time, Uncle Katshuhito introduced Christopher to differing forms of unarmed combat, as well as holding forth of the habits and capabilities of different creatures from Japanese myth—and how to best deal with them. Christopher, for his part, took it all in stride, considering it nothing more than his uncle spinning fantastic yarns for the entertainment of a favored nephew.

Then came the night when his parents were brutally murdered by immense spiders, spiders the size of men, who spoke in hissing voices and acted with coldly calculating deliberation. Christopher managed to escape into the night and fled to the only place he knew might offer shelter—his uncle's dojo. There he spilled out his story, half expecting his uncle to either laugh at him or brand him a liar. But Katshuhito did nether, instead he listed to the tale without comment and then stood up and left the room. When he returned, it was bearing an old and worn-looking sword, a weapon he said was named Tenshi, a ghost-cutting blade created for the purpose of finding and destroying the creatures known as shen, who walked the night, even in a city as modern as Tokyo.

Katsuhito, it seemed, was more than a mere kendo instructor, he was a former shih, who had been forced to abandon the path of the monster hunter when age and injuries had caught up to him. Thus, he'd moved to be near his sister, intending to watch over her and her family, and had taught Christopher what he could, wishing to pass on his skills to an avid pupil.

With the death of his parents, Christopher began to develop his skills in ernest. No longer was his training passed off as exercise or confidence building, now it was deadly serious, as Christopher began to formulate a plan to try and find the hengeyokai responsible of the death of his parents and destroy them. Unfortunately, they found him first. One evening the dojo swarmed with shape-shifting spiders, who smashed their way through the building, finally overpowering and dragging down Katsuhito and nearly capturing Christopher, who once again escaped into the night, carrying with him Tenshi and a burning desire for revenge.

Personality/Motivation: Christopher is very driven. He has seen his family killed before his eyes (twice!) and has sworn himself to the path of the shih. Thus, he has discarded any idea of ever living a normal life and does his best to avoid such things as long term friendships and romantic relationships (not that a shih usually has much of a chance for either....) In addition he is totally committed to the ideas of the shih, and will gladly hunt down and slay hengeyokai (and similar terrors) where ever they may lair, regardless of who or what stands in his way.

As a shih, Christopher has become more than a little paranoid. He realizes that in many ways, they really are out to get you, and trusting others is a good way to end up meeting a messy end. He avoids most people, and will never let a stranger look at, much less touch Tenshi. If lucky enough to have his own room, he will place the sword in a position of honor, creating a shrine of sorts with ofuda, a cup of sake, and a photograph of a young boy in kendo gear standing next to a smiling Asian man.

If possible, Christopher will sleep late into the day, as he spends most of the night away. He often works menial jobs, such as washing dishes and the like, in exchange for a little food, money, and maybe a hot bath. He also tries to train whenever possible, correctly surmising that his skills are the only thing keeping him alive, and will meditate for at least an hour before going out on one of his nightly hunts.

Quote: "Death does not bother me, for I have seen the terrors that stalk the night. Seen then, fought them, and overcome them. In some ways, death might almost be a welcome release—if not for what I've seen done with the restless dead."

Powers/Tactics: As a shih, Christopher has access to a wide variety of abilities that allow him to hunt down and fight shen. Primary among them is the sword Tenshi, which allows Christopher to detect the presence of various supernatural beings (such as ghosts) by creating blue flickers of flame along the blade when they are near. The sword can also cut ghosts, even ones that are for the most part insubstantial.

In combat Christopher will usually attempt to activate his Steel Skin ability (if he has the time), other wise he will open with a either Celestial Punishment or Heavenly Flames, depending on his foe. He will then follow up with Tenshi, usually seeking to dispatch his opponent as quickly as possible. Once he closes to hand-to-hand range, his exact tactics will depend on the nature of his target—a hengeyokai might receive a Twisting Thrust followed by a Snout Strike, while a vampire would probably be hit with a Fading Light Strike.

Being able to fight and slay shen is one thing, finding them is another. While Tenshi will tell Christopher if certain supernatural beings are near, the blade has to be out and exposed for the ability to work, and a naked sword in the hands of a scruffy-looking man is usually cause for alarm in deceptively peaceful Tokyo. Normally, Christopher uses far more mundane means to locate possible targets—he checks the papers. Sightings of "monsters," stories of strange crimes and/or murders, and so-called "ghost stories" will quickly catch his attention. He will also deal with several contacts among the Tokyo underworld, looking for any information, even if it is a mere rumor, of bakemono supposedly lurking amid the side streets and back alleys of Tokyo.

Appearance: Christopher is Japanese on his mother's side, and retains mostly normal Caucasian features. His hair, however, takes after his mother, and is rich black and very straight. As regular grooming is a thing of the past, Christopher wears his hair long—past his shoulders, and often sports several days of stubble as well. He is lean, and rather tall for a Japanese, standing near 5'10". He wears a worn pair of boots, trousers, an old kendo ghi, a kendo breastplate, and a long, ankle-length overcoat. The inner coat pockets are stuffed with ofuda, while Tenshi is usually slung from his belt.

Designer's Notes: Christopher Jones was developed for a HERO System World of Darkness game. His powers and abilities were taken from Demon Hunter X using Robert Harrison’s World of Darkness to Hero conversion notes.) This is probably the 3rd or 4th incarnation of the character and certainly the most expensive.

(Character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)

Christopher Masakai Jones's Hero Designer File


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