The Book of the Shadowlands

Book of the Shadowlands Cover

The Book of the Shadowlands The writings of Kuni Mokuna was the third sourcebook for the first edition of the Legend of the Five Rings roleplaying game. The book itself reads like a compilation of the works of Kuni Mokuna, a well-known and most feared shugenja of the Kuni, who dedicated his life to the understanding of how the Shadowlands work.

Credits

• Written by Cris Dornaus and Rob Vaux
• Additional Material by Ross Isaacs, Ree Soesbee, Greg Stolze and John Wick

• Game System by David Williams and John Wick
• Cover artwork by Brom
• Interior Artwork by Cris Dornaus and Carl Frank
• Artwork Prepress by Cris Dornaus and Steve Hough

• Line Developer: John Wick
• Line Editor: D.J. Trindle
• Editing: D.J. Trindle, Rob Vaux and John Wick

• On Assitance, Playtesting and Ideas: Jim Pinto, David Williams, Kevin Millard, Marcelo Figueroa, Erik Yaple, Steve Swarner, Steve Hough, Brendan Goodyear, John Wick, John Zinser, Greg Stolze

Table of Contents

Introduction

• Introduction by Kuni Yori.

Chapter 1: The Shadowlands

Introduction by Kuni Mokuna

Haiku by Hiruma Kaso

• The History and Origins of the Shadowlands
• Regions of the Shadowlands
  • Swamps and plains
  • Sea of Amaterasu
  • Rivers
  • Kuni Wastes
• Magic in the Shadowlands
• Maho and the Tsukai-sagasu
  • Summoning kansen

Chapter 2: Corruption and the Taint

• The Shadowlands Taint
  • Tainted Characters
  • Taint Effects
    • Physical
    • Mental
• Zombies and Skeletons
  • Crab Protocol for the Shadowlands
  • Blessing of Cleansing
• Infection and its Prevention
• Protection from the Taint
• Healing the Taint
  • Purification Spell
  • Tea of Jade Petals

Chapter 3: Goblins

Meeting with Basher

• Physiology
• Breeding an Life Cycle
• The Goblin Mind and Society
  • Goblin Warmongers
  • Goblin Kings
  • Goblin Shaman
• Goblin Dwellings
• Big Stink, the Goblin City
• Goblin Tactics
  • Magic Mud

Chapter 4: Ogres and Trolls

It is quite noteworthy to say that this section of the Book proves that Mokuna believes Ogres are a creation of Fu Leng.

Ogres

• Physiology
• Ogre Behavior
• Ogre Dwellings
• Ogres in Combat

Trolls

• Physiology
• Habitat
• Attacks and Tactics

Chapter 5: Oni

Oni of the Shadowlands

• Unique Oni
  • Chi no Oni
  • Genso no Oni
  • Ianwa no Oni
• Common Oni Subspecies
  • Ashi no Oni
  • Byoki no Oni
  • Doro no Oni
  • Gekido no Oni
  • Kiri no Oni
  • Manesuru no Oni
  • Sanru no Oni
  • Sodatsu no Oni
  • Ugulu no Oni
  • Wakeru no Oni
  • Yattoko no Oni
• The Oni of Jigoku
  • Summoning Oni from Jigoku
  • Maho spell : summon oni
  • Spell : Banish Oni
• Rogue Oni Lords
• The Four Known Oni Lords
  • Akuma no Oni
  • Shikibu no Oni
  • Tsuburu no Oni
  • Kyoso no Oni
• Combatting Oni
• Crystal weapons/Jade weapons

Creating Oni

• Oni Appearance Chart
• How to (not) use Oni in your L5R RPG Campaigns

by Ree Soesbee, John Wick

Chapter 6: Other Dangers of the Shadowlands

• Bog Hags
• Hanemuri
• Mountain Goblins
• Mujina
• Nikumizu (heart grubs)
• Sanshu Denki (muck monster)
• Swamp Goblin
• Tsumunagi (blood eels)
• Fudoshi (tanglevine)

Chapter 7: Nezumi

• Physiology
• Life Cycle
• History and Origins
• Society and Culture
• Nezumi Dwellings
• Nezumi Philosophy
• Combat and Tactics

Index

Letter from Daidoji Nazoko to Kuni Yori