Battle at Fortune's Plain

Two armies, one Crab the other Scorpion, had been fighting for hours near the shrine of Osano-Wo for control of the rich farmlands near the shrine, when they saw a massive Lion army marching towards them.

Either the Crab or the Scorpion could combat the Lion and win, but the Lion would surely be the victors if the Crab and Scorpion continued to fight one another. The Scorpion general proposed an alliance, but the Crab general did not trust him. So the Scorpion general propsed another option, "We roll the dice. Whomever rolls highest will take the plain, the other will remove himself from the field."

The Crab general agreed but demanded they use his dice. The Scorpion general agreed.

Rolling first the Crab rolled a 12, with his men cheering him, he told the Scorpion "You cannot hope to beat that!"

"No," came the reply, "But I can tie." The Scorpion general then rolled and indeed rolled a 12 also.

Snatching up the dice, the Crab general rolled again. "Twelve again!" he shouted, "Certainly the Fortunes favor me to win this day!"

"Perhaps," said the Scorpion, "But I have not yet had my second turn." He picked up the dice, prayed to Bayushi and span them across the ground. When they landed one came up a six, the other broke into two halves.

"You have lost!" shouted the Crab.

"No," said the Scorpion, "For the halves have come up a six and a one. Six and six and one make thirteen. The plain is mine."

The Crab cursed and took his men from the field. The Scorpion then went on to defeat the Lion and took the shrine of Osano-Wo. (Scorpion p.31)