KANABO

Rules for Fantasy Role-Playing Adventure in

Tokugawa-Era Japan

N. Masyk

CHRONICLERS
VOLUME II OF THREE BOOKLETS

Published by
MONKEYS PAW GAMES
 KANABO
VOLUME II

CHRONICLERS

Words and Layout by N. Masyk.

Art by Dead People.
Hexmap uses the Highland Paranormal Society Cartography Kit, by
Nate Treme.
Consulting by James Mendez Hodes.
TTRPG Safety Toolkit by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk.
Lines and Veils were designed by Ron Edwards. The X card was
designed by John Stavropoulos.

Inspired by:
Tunnel Goons, Nate Treme.
BRIGHTHAMMER, Christina Stone-Bush.
SLEDGEHAMMER, John Geary.
Star Dogs, Michael Raston.
Yokai Hunter’s Society, Chema González.
Mausritter, Isaac Williams.
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .....................................................1
What is this?
On ‘Historical Accuracy’
1
1
Tools for Safe Play 2
Running the Game 3
Rolls 3
Effect 3
Consequences 3
Perception 3
Weather 4
Encounters 5
Reactions 5
NPCs 6
List of NPCs 6
A Village with a Problem 9
Fill Hexes 9
HEXCRAWL ............................................................... 9
COMMUNITIES ..................................................... 12
FACTIONS ................................................................15
ADVENTURE SITE ................................................16
 INTRODUCTION
What is this?
Kanabo is a role-playing game
inspired by sword-fighting
movies typically set in
Tokugawa-era Japan
(1600–1868). Players take on
the role of wandering Travelers
roving the countryside seeking
fame, fortune, justice, revenge,
or simply the freedom to roam.
In this time, the fierce civil wars
of the Warring States Period are
over. Left with no more wars to
fight, masterless warriors
struggle to survive and to find
purpose and peace in a society
that has largely left them behind.
Another typical theme of this
genre is the internal conflict
between the human intuition
and feeling of right and wrong,
and ones’ obligation to lord and
family.
Characters in Kanabo might be
nobles, but do not have to be.
1
On ‘Historical Accuracy’
This is a role-playing game
inspired by Japanese genre film
and makes no attempt or
pretense to portray or represent
an ‘accurate’ glimpse at
Tokugawa-era Japan. As such,
‘historical’ gender roles or
expressions and restrictions on
social strata are disregarded in
favor of inclusivity and dramatic
effect. If the presence of
prominent women and other
gender-marginalized individuals
and LGBTQA+ people in
chanbara confuses and irritates
you I recommend going outside
and touching some grass.
Tools for Safe Play
Sometimes the situations at
hand, inside or outside of the
game sphere, may make a Player
or Chronicler feel unwelcome,
unsafe, or otherwise not
enjoying themselves. Safety
tools are a way by which a group
can check in within each other
before, during and after sessions
in order to make sure that
everyone is having fun,
comfortable, and feeling safe at
the table. Communication and
trust are key for a successful
game. It is everyone’s
responsibility at the table to
make sure that the well-being of
those at the table take precedent
over whatever is going on inside
the game.
Lines and veils are used to set
boundaries on content in a game.
Lines are hard limits on content,
things that the GM or the
players don’t want to engage in.
Setting up a line means that
content won’t show up in the
game at all. Veils are soft limits,
things that are ok “behind a
curtain” or when they “cut-to-
black.” Setting up a veil means
that the content might be in the
game but not spotlighted or
described in great detail. Lines
and veils can be adjusted as
needed throughout the game.
The X card is check-in tools. It
can be used by tapping physical
cards, typing the letter in the
chat function of the video
conference software or virtual
tabletop you are using, or using
hand signals. Before the game
begins, remind everyone that it is
available and how to use it.
The X card can be used at any
point if a participant is
uncomfortable with the content
happening in-game. When the X
card is used by tapping the card
or typing an “X” in the chat, the
group can change, rewind, or
skip the content.
Other TTRPG safety tools can
be found within the TTRPG
Safety Toolkit, a resource
created by Kienna Shaw and
Lauren Bryant-Monk. The
TTRPG Safety Toolkit is a
compilation of safety tools that
have been designed by members
of the tabletop roleplaying games
community for use by players
and GMs at the table.
2
 Running the Game
You control the world around
the Travelers, and the people
within it, and the places they
have built for themselves. Fill
that world with adventure,
danger, and magic.
Consequences
Discuss potential setbacks,
complications and twists before
a roll so the players are aware of
the stakes.

There are no further words by Perception

which I might describe or
prepare you for the journey
ahead.
The contents of this tome, much
like the contents of the Universe,
are mostly lies.
Describe situations in detail;
give the players all of the
information they would
reasonably be able to glean
based on gear, abilities, and
situation.

Only roll to gather information if

a failure to obtain it places them
Rolls at risk in some manner.

Only the players roll the dice.

A roll always changes the

situation somehow; nothing
never happens. Have the world
react to the Traveler’s choices
and allow their actions to have
weight and meaning.

Effect
In cases where the effectiveness
of a roll is important, check the
tens die. A 1 is a narrow success
while a 6+ is an overwhelming
victory.

3
Weather
Roll for weather each day. Some weather may make overland travel
more difficulty.

Spring Summer Fall Winter

1 Frost Thunderstorm Heavy Rain Deep Freeze
Torrential
2 Rain Storm Fierce Winds Blizzard
Downpour
3 Muddy & Wet Cool Rain Muddy & Wet Sleet & Hail
4 Drizzle Muddy & Wet Cold Rain Overcast

5 Ominous Overcast Clear Skies Freezing Rain

Clouds
6 Overcast Clear Skies Overcast Clear Skies
7 Cloudy Skies Brilliant Sun Clear & Crisp Brilliant Sun
8 Clear Skies Warm Rain Cool Rain Cold Rain
9 Brilliant Sun Warm & Dry Brilliant Sun Clear & Crisp
1 Unseasonal Oppressive Cold Snap Early Thaw
0 Warmth Heat

4
 Encounters
When the Travelers are
exploring an Adventure Site, roll
for encounters every three turns,
or whenever the party creates
noise or otherwise draws
attention to themselves.
Reactions
When the Travelers encounter a
creature whose reaction to the
party is not obvious, you may roll
for their disposition.
1-2 - Hostile

When the Travelers are 3-4 - Unfriendly

exploring the wilderness, roll for
encounters at the start of the 5-6 - Uncertain
morning watch and evening
watch. 7-8 - Talkative

To roll a random encounter, roll 9-10 - Helpful

a d10. On a 1, an encounter
occurs. On a 2-5, an omen
appears (signs or hints of an
encounter).

5
NPCs
All NPCs have a harm stat, a number of Wounds, a mien, and a special
ability.

If a player rolls above their target number on an attack roll, they may
suffer wounds equal to an NPC’s harm stat. If the damage is not
interesting or appropriate, create an interesting complication the player
must overcome instead.

Just like a PC, when an NPC suffers harm, mark off that many
wounds. When their last wound is marked off, they die.

Most intelligent NPCs will attempt to flee combat if more than half of
their wounds have been marked off.

Special abilities can allow NPCs to perform supernatural feats, or force

Travelers to overcome or avoid negative effects.

List of NPCs
A few of the most commonly-encountered NPCs.

Recruit Experienced

An inexperienced human Anyone with a few seasons’

assailant such as a forest bandit
or a local magistrate’s deputy.
May attack from a range with
bows or matchlock firearms.
Harm: 1
Wounds: 2
worth of service under their belt.
These could be low-ranking
soldiers or nobles, a young
magistrate, or a bodyguard to a
government official or a criminal
underlord.
May challenge an opponent of
equal status to a duel.

Harm: 2
Wounds: 3

6
 Expert
A lord’s retainer, an expert
duelist, a pirate warlord. These
warriors have not fought
dragons, but rather become one.
Great leaders such as these are
sure to bring help with them.
Harm: 3
Wounds: 4
Tree-Spirit
Tiny ghost-lights that flicker
around special trees that grow
high within the mountains.
Some of these tree-spirits are
benevolent, some are not.
Harming a kodama or cutting
down their tree invokes a curse.
Harm: 0
Wounds: 2
7
Lurker
Small, green aquatic creatures
with a turtle carapace that reside
by water’s edge and lure
children to their drowning
deaths. If the water bowl atop
their heads is spilled, they are
greatly weakened.
Skilled wrestlers; will attempt to
grapple their pray and drag them
under the water.
Harm: 1
Wounds: 2
Trickster Sprit
At times, a wizened old man
with an exceptionally long nose;
at others, a humanoid bird-of-
prey with sharp eyes. Beware
solitary aescetics in the high
mountains, who speak in riddles
and sow dissent.
Despite the appearance of age,
remarkably spry and skilled in
the martial arts.
Harm: 3
Wounds: 2
Ghost Ogre

Spirits barred from a peaceful A fearful hulking horned demon

afterlife. They roam the places
where they once lived, seeking
either the proper burial rituals
they were denied in death, or a
resolution of an emotional
conflict.
with a thick, warty purple or
blue hide. They roam the low
places of mountains or forests,
wearing loincloths of tiger pelts
and wielding massive iron
Kanabo.

Incorporeal. Touch reduces Earth Drawn to places where deeds of

by -10. great wickedness have been
performed.
Harm: 0
Wounds: 2 Harm: 4
Wounds: 5
Fox-Spirit

Shapeshifters known for their

capriciousness and love of
secrets. It is said they delight in
replacing newborns with their
own offspring. The more tails a
fox-spirit has, the older and more
powerful they are.

Wields powerful magics,

particularly those relating to
confusion, misdirection or
illusion.

Harm: 1
Wounds: 3

8
 HEXCRAWL
A Village with a Problem
Each session, the Chronicler
should create a small hex-map
featuring a community in some
kind of distress, desire, or
disaster. Present problems and
allow the Travelers to find or
invent solutions.
Fill Hexes
Start with a 5x5 map of one-mile
hexes. Place a community in the
center. To fill the remaining
hexes, roll on the hex contents
table or use them as inspiration.
Write a brief description for
each hex.

Hex Type
1-2 Grassland
3-4 Forest
5 Flood Plains
6 River
7 Swamp
8 Valley
9 Mountain
10 Hamlet

Landmark - Grassland Landmark - Forest

1 Solemn Dolmens. Cascading Waterfall.
2 Old Farmhouse. Lonely Shrine.
3 Field Of Strange Flowers. Mossy Stones.
4 Bone-white Tree. Stately Pines.
5 Rice Paddy. Tranquil Glade.
6 Guarded Orchard. Stunted Firs.
7 Cobbled Road. Tangled Ruins.
8 Well-traveled Shrine. Gnarled Oldgrowth.
9 Wheat Field. Meandering Brook.
10 Mist-shrouded Bridge. Razor Briars.

9
 Landmark - Flood Plains Landmark - River
1 A Spiting Geyser. Water Mill.
2 Sunken Barge. Fallen Tree Crossing.
3 Converging Tributaries. Stone Bridge.
4 Eroded Riverbank. Sunken Shrine.
5 Stepping-stones. Dry Riverbed.
6 Muddy Flats. Canal Lock.
7 Row Of Dead Trees. Lonely Island.
8 Massive Boulder. Haze-covered Waterfall.
9 Silty Dam. Covered Bridge.
10 Twisted Roots. Sheer Cliffs.
Landmark - Swamp Landmark - Valley
1 Tar Pits. Steep Hill.
2 Giant Mushroom. Grape Orchard.
3 Beached Barge. Stone Wall.
4 Sunken Hollow. Craggy Trees.
5 Tangle Of Roots. Isolated Shrine.
6 Haunted Moor. Toll Booth.
7 Row Of Dead Trees. Stand Of Pine.
8 Grove Of Ferns. Quiet Road.
9 Submerged Trash. Field Of Clovers.
10 Hidden Shrine. Huge, Flat Rock.

10
 Landmark - Mountain Landmark - Hamlet
1 Mist-shrouded Waterfall. Strawberry Hedge.
2 Ring Of Stones. Grazing Livestock.
3 Spitting Volcano. Busy Road.
4 Cloud-shrouded Lake. Overgrown Gardens.
5 Winding Path. Modest Shrine.
6 Veiled Caverns. Run-down Farmhouses.
7 Cliff Face. Moss-covered Ruins.
8 Snow-capped Shrine. Lantern-lit Graveyard.
9 Carvings In The Rock. Empty Village.
10 Pine-topped Ridge. Crumbling Tower.

Details
1 Noble’s manor. What made them rich?
2 Site of a recent battle. Who’s left?
3 Herd of beasts. What are they feeding on?
4 Witch’s hut. What knowledge do they possess?
5 Hunting grounds of a monster. What treasure are they guarding?
6 Predator’s den. What are they hunting?
7 Humming stones. What makes them hum?
8 Haunted by a spirit. What do they demand?
9 Bandit hideout. Who are they preying on?
10 Completely lifeless. What happened?

11
 COMMUNITIES
Size
1-2 Farm or manor (1-3 families)
3-4 Crossroad (5-10 families)
5-6 Hamlet (50-150 people)
7-8 Village (150-300 people)
9 Town (300-1000 people)
10 City (1000+ people)

Governance
1-2 Village Elders.
3 Merchant Landowner.
4 Chief Magistrate.
5-6 Low-Status Noble.
7 High-Status Noble.
8 Manor Lord.
9 Military Governor.
10 Duke.

12
 Inhabitants Notable Features
1 Wary of outsiders & newcomers. Meditative gardens.

2 Traders of high-quality silks. Too many shrines.

3 Shave strange hair.

patterns into their A mill.

4 Wear face coverings at all times. A bustling marketplace.

5 Desperate for news from afar. Mess of closely-packed domiciles.

6 Highly superstitious. No-one goes out at night.

7 Wear flamboyant ornamentations Sprawling manors.

in their clothes.
Exceedingly beautiful
8 Famous brewers of fine sake. architecture.
9 Impoverished by a lord’s tithes. Secret cult temple.

10 Long-standing blood feud with Crumbling fortifications.

another community.

13
 Industry Events
A natural disaster. Everyone is
1 Vast, sprawling poppy fields. packing to leave.
A popular, well-frequented The locals prepare for a regional
2 marketplace. celebration.
Farmers, tending to rice paddies. A nearby creature has everyone
3 on edge.
A wedding. Priests purifying a
Stonemasons, mining from a
4 shrine with blessed salt
nearby quarry. beforehand.
Woodcutters, with axe and saw. The local Duke demands a heavy
5 tithe.
Rough and rowdy sailors and Market day. Merchants are
6 fishers. flocking to the settlement.
7 Gardens of rare and exotic herbs. A traveling theatre troupe arrives.
The Governor is levying soldiers
8 Merchants and traders. for a campaign.
An illness ravages the
9 Hives of bees and their veiled community. Carts of dead, pulled
keepers. by masked physicians.
Several children have gone
10 Kiln-fired pottery. missing.

14
 FACTIONS
Factions are the major powers within your hexcrawl. These can be
anything from Clans and other powerful families to merchant cartels to
criminal organizations.

Faction Type
1 Noble Family.
2 Labor Union.
3 Local Lord.
4 Populist Commune.
5 Wandering Warriors.
6 Religious group.
7 Government official.
8 Artisan guild.
9 Merchant cartel.
10 Criminal fraternity.

Goals
1 Subjugate a Community.
2 Stop an Impending War.
3 Dominate a Trade Route.
4 Start a War.
5 Establish a Protection Racket.
6 Political Marriage.
7 Capture a Fortress.
8 Obtain a Rare Artifact.
9 Establish a New Settlement.
10 Recruit the Vulnerable.
Resources
Hired Mercenaries.
The Emperor’s Blessing.
Extravagant Wealth.
Supernatural Powers.
Ruthless Reputation.
Religious Fervor.
Secret Hideout.
Solidarity with Common Folk.
Advanced Weapons.
Strength in Numbers.

15
 ADVENTURE SITE
Adventure Sites are locales filled with wonder, peril, and often
treasure.

History
1 Ancient Shrine.
2 Deep Mine.
3 Crumbled Watchtower.
4 Misty Moor.
5 Lord’s Manor.
6 Fog-Shrouded Bridge.
7 Burial Site.
8 Grain Mill.
9 Warrens, into the Earth.
10 Blood-Soaked Battlefield.
Happenstance
Flooding.
Site of a Great Battle.
Inhabited by Supernatural
Creature.
Buried in a Landslide.
A Great Fire.
Overgrown with Roots and
Moss.
Attacked and Overrun.
Mysteriously Abandoned.
Torn down in a Storm.
Haunted.

Inhabitants … Searching For

Desperate People Driven to
1 A Sign.
Desperate Acts.
2 A Mournful Spirit. A Vast Hoard of Treasure.
People Held in the Thrall of the
3 A Rare Herb or Flower.
Supernatural.
4 A Spirit of Nature. An Ancestral Heirloom.
5 A Traveling Troupe of Actors. The Writings of a Wise Sage.
A Government Official and
6 A Lost Relative.
their Full Court.
7 Proselytizing Priests. A Cursed Treasure.
8 A Nefarious Spirit. Food and Supplies.
The Original Residents, A Map Drawn Up by an
9 Strangely Twisted. Imperial Cartographer.
10 A Lord and their Servants. A Safe Place to Live or Hide.
16
 Secret
1 The Place Where All Good Souls Come to Rest.
2 Frozen in Time, 1000 Years Ago.
3 Den of a Powerful Spirit.
4 The Home of Many Spirits.
Rich Seam of Treasure that Fuels the Chaos of the Outside
5 World.
6 Forgotten Grave of an Ancient Emperor.
7 A Place Where the Dead do not Rest.
8 Tunnels Leading Deep into the Living Rock.
9 Crystal Prison of a Great Evil.
10 Strange artifacts that control the weather.

Discoveries
1 Trinket
2 Valuable Discovery
3-4 Unusual Discovery
5-6 Large Discovery
7-8 Useful Discovery
9-10 Hoard Of Coin

Trinket Valuable Treasure

1 Spirit Lantern. Ceremonial Fan.
Suit of Ornamental Heavy
2 Jade Figurine. Armor.
3 Conch-Shell Trumpet. Esoteric Texts.
Ancestral Blade, Without a
4 Tiny Stone Statuette.
Handle.
5 Ritual Branch. Solid Gold Bar.
6 Ghost Incense. Polished Silver Mask.
7 Tree-Spirit Offering. Jade Ritual-Bead.
8 Sacred Ash. Ancient Writing-Brush.
9 Fragrant Branch. Silver-Chased Spear.
Preserved Floral Hair-
10 Talismanic coin.
17 Ornament.
 Unusual Treasure
1 Comical Mask.
2 White Paper Pinwheel.
3 Blasphemous Prayer Beads
4 Corroded Sword-Guard.
5 Foreign Holy Symbol.
6 Frozen Tears.
7 Lock of Hair.
8 Bundle of Pungent Herbs.
9 Lover’s Kiss.
10 5-Color Rice.
Large Treasure
Dancing Dragon Mask.
Bronze offering-bowl.
Lifesized Feminine Clay Statue.
Stone Pillar Inscribed with
Prayer.
Great White Whisker.
Terra Cotta Funerary Statue.
Verdigris-Etched Bronze Bell.
Gilded Urn.
White Lotus Flower.
Bronze Mirror.

Useful Treasure
1 Well-preserved Rations.
2 Spirit-Banishing Prayer Scroll.
3 Bundle of Dried Torches.
4 Satchel of Healing Herbs.
5 A Well-Cared-For Weapon.
6 Gourd Canteen of Fine Liquor.
7 A Helpful Spirit.
8 Leather Pouch of Explosive Powder.
9 Maps of the Surrounding Region.
10 A Purified Circle of Ground, Safe to Rest.

Hoard of Coin
1-2 Towering mound of d10 x 10g.
3-4 Overflowing chest of d10 x 5g.
5-6 Heavy bag of 2d10 x 5c.
7-8 Small purse of d10 x 10c.
9-10 Loose scattering of d10 x 5c.

18
NOTES