Red Secret Technique - Performance of a Hundred Puppets

Akahigi - Hyakki no Souen (Red Secret Technique - Performance of a Hundred Puppets)
Ninjutsu (Summoning; requires Kugutsu no Jutsu (5), Advanced Puppetry V (a), Epic Technique (Akahigi - Hyakki no Souen) (f)) [Akasuna no Sasori Hijutsu]
Rank: 17 (S Epic)
Range: 10 feet;
Effect: One swarm of puppets;
Duration: Encounter (D);
Saving Throws: None;
Chakra Resistance: No;
Chakra Cost: 15 (huge) or 25 (gargantuan) or 35 (colossal).

This technique was created by the sand's legendary puppet-master, Sasori of the Red Sands. It is said to have been used to bring down an entire country. The user controls a swarm of puppet through this technique and is unable to control any other puppets, or puppet swarms. When damaged while maintaining this technique, the user must make a Concentration check (DC 10+damage dealt) to avoid losing control of it.

To control the swarm of puppets works in the same manner as Kugutsu no Jutsu, except that the use must spend a full-round action controlling it every round. In order to march, he must make a Concentration check (DC 25); failure means he cannot march this round, but does not lose his action. The distance penalty is negated for the first 100 feet while controlling a puppet swarm, plus additional distance from other puppeteer abilities if any, rather than the normal 30 feet. Furthermore, the bonus HP for a construct's size are halved when applied to a swarm. Any abilities the user can bestow his puppets, the swarm gains also. When the swarm is slain, or the duration expires, or the user loses control of it, it vanishes as a summoned creature would and the scroll used as focus becomes blank.

The size of the swarm depends on the performance scroll used, and does not share the user's Defense or Reflex save. It does not possess any components, and deals either bludgeoning, slashing or piercing damage, determined when creating the performance scroll. The swarm cannot be used to use a skill. The technique lasts for the duration of a whole encounter, or until it is dispelled or slain.

Mastery
Every step of mastery in this technique increases the swarm's hit points by 5, up to 25 at the fifth step.

Expendable Component: A puppet performance scroll. To create a performance scroll, the user must spend resources, time and experience points depending on the category of puppet swarm.

• A Performance Scroll (Huge) allows the user to summon a huge swarm (see special creatures chapter for detail). The user must make a Craft (calligraph) check (DC 35) and spend 10 days, 500XP and must make a Purchase DC 25 for the required puppet and puppet parts. The user must choose the damage type of the swarm when he creates the performance scroll and purchases the materials. The user can also poison the puppet's weapons, but to do so, he must also purchase or craft poison and the Purchase DC of the poison increases by 20. If the user crafts the poison, the Craft and Material cost DCs increase by 10.
  
  
• A Performance Scroll (Gargantuan) summons a Gargantuan swarm. The Craft DC is 40, the time required is 15 days and the user must pay 1000XP, and make a Purchase DC 27. The purchase DC of adding poison increases by 25, and the craft and material cost by 15.
  
  
• A Performance Scroll (Colossal) summons a Colossal swarm. The Craft DC is 45, requires 20 days and a Purchase DC 30 to craft, as well as 1500 XP. The purchase DC of poison increases by 25, and the craft and material cost by 20.