The Way of the Scorpion

Way of the Scorpion Cover

Way of the Scorpion was the first source book for the Scorpion Clan in the Legend of the Five Rings roleplaying game and the fifth in the Way of the Clan series.

Credits

• Written by: John Wick
• Additional Material by: Ree Soesbee, D.J. Trindle. Patrick Kapera, David Williams and Jennifer Mahr
• Game System by: David Williams and John Wick
• Art Director: KC Lancaster
• Cover Artwork: Dave Leri
• Interior Artwork: Mary Lee Bryning, Audrey Corman, Jim Crabtree, Cris Dornaus, Scott James, KC Lancaster, Jennifer Mahr, Ramon Perez
• Maps: Jeff Lahren
• Artwork Prepress: Cris Dornaus, Steve Hough
• Line Editor: D.J. Trindle
• Editing: D.J. Trindle, Patrick Kapera
• Interior Layout: Steve Hough, Sean Thompson

Table of Contents

The Honest Scorpion (page 4)

• Fictions with Matsu Ino, Bayushi Yojiro and Bayushi Kachiko.

Chapter One: The Subtle Scorpion (page 10)

• From the journal of Matsu Sanuro.
• Letters from Daidoji Kukojin to Doji Yabu.
• From Kakita Ryoku's famous novel, Winter.
• From Bayushi Namaru's book, Bayushi's Promise.
• The Children of Bayushi.
  • The Ninja.
  • The Frog and the Scorpion - A story told by Bayushi Guwahime.

Chapter Two: Families of the Scorpion (page 20)

• Shosuro
• The Betrayer
• Bayushi's Thunder
• The Hidden Shadow
• The Twelve Scrolls
• The Shosuro Acting Troupe

Events

• Togashi
• The Ninja
• Iuchiban
• "To Protect The Emperor..."
• Shadow Brands

Battles

• Battle of the Bloody Retreat (750)
• Battle at Fortune's Plain (554)
• Battle of White Shore Plain (815)

The Other Clans

• Crab Clan
• Crane Clan
• Dragon Clan
• Lion Clan
• Phoenix Clan
• Unicorn Clan
• Minor Clans

Chapter Three: Character (page 38)

• New Skills
• New Advantages
• New Disadvantages
• The Yogo Family
  • The Yogo Shugenja School
• The Shosuro Butei (Acting) School
• The Bayushi Courtier School
• Heritage Tables
• Scorpion Fortune Tables

Chapter Four: Who's Who (page 50)

• The Bayushi
  • Bayushi Aramoro
  • Bayushi Kachiko
  • Bayushi Shoju
  • Bayushi Tangen
  • Bayushi Yojiro
• The Shosuro
  • Shosuro Hametsu
  • Shosuro Taberu
• The Soshi
  • Soshi Bantaro
• The Yogo
  • Yogo Junzo
  • Yogo Asami

Chapter Five: Character Templates (page 66)

• Shosuro Actor
• Bayushi Honorable Bushi
• Shosuro Courtier
• Bayushi Ninja Infiltrator
• Soshi Shugenja Interrogator

Appendix I: Treachery 101 (page 78)

or "How to be a sneaky git and not get killed by the other characters.

• Part One: Some Basics
  • A Little Bit About Ethics.
  • The Laws of Warfare
  • Loyalty
  • Scorpion Honor
• Part Two: Advanced Treachery
  • Win or Die
  • Choosing Two Evils
  • Lying
  • Patience is it's Own Reward
  • Aid a Doomed Conspiracy
• Part Three: "I'd Have More Fun..."
  • What Have You Done For Me Lately?
  • Scorpion Loyalty
  • Putting On The Pain
  • Secrets And Porcelain
• Part Four: Tragic Misconceptions
  • The Crab
  • The Crane
  • The Dragon
  • The Lions
  • The Phoenix
  • The Unicorn
• Conclusion

Appendix II: Ninjutsu (page 89)

• Part One: All About Ninja
  • The Gauntlet
  • The Art of Not Being Seen
• Ninja Tools
  • Kimono (Ninja Style)
  • Ninja-to (Ninja Sword)
  • Shuriken (Throwing Stars)
  • Lock Picks
  • Blowgun (Fukiya)
  • Climbing Tools
  • Nageteppo (Egg Grenades)
  • Tetsubishi (Caltrops)
  • Han-kyu (Half Bow)
• Part Two: The Ninja Campaign
  • The Problems
  • The Solutions
• Ninja In Training
  • Traits
  • Skills
  • Character Points
  • Honor & Glory
• The Shosuro Shinobi (Assassin) School

Appendix III: Magic and Poison (page 94)

• Part One: Magic and Nemuranai of the Scorpion Clan
  • Itsuwari: The Ancestral Sword of the Scorpion Clan
  • Bayushi's Mask
  • Shosuro's Cloak
  • Yashin (Ambition) - The Third Iuchiban Blade
  • Meiwaku Fans
  • Shosuro's Hand & Mirror
• Tejina: The Magic of the Soshi Family
• Shadow Brands
• New Spells
  • Bad Kharma
  • False Tongue
  • Forget
• Kuwasu: Ward Magic
• Part Two: Poison
  • How Much Does It Cost?
  • Administering Poison
  • Poison & Herbalism
  • Poison Types
    • Bee & Wasp Venom
    • Kirei-Ko
    • Ketsu
    • Warui Paseri
    • Jellyfish
    • Jeruku Ropu
    • Pufferfish (Fugu)
    • Scorpion Venom
    • Snake Venom
    • Spider Venom
    • Fuantei Shi
• Conclusion

Appendix IV: Miscellany (page 103)

• Bayushi Castle
  • Castle of the Two Faces
  • Traitor's Grove
  • The Sleeping Lake
• Shosuro Castle
  • Herb Gardens
  • Itaru, Temare and The Kempi Flower
• City of the Open Hand
• Geisha
• Fortunes and Winds: Dicing in Rokugan
  • The Dice
  • Rules
  • Samurai and Gambling

Appendix V: Two Scorpion Clan Decks (page 111)

• "Bowed, Controlled, Dead or Discarded"
• "The Dark Sword of Bitter Lies!"