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CHArT R FUR: D EL IN G:
THEWAYOF H DRAGON , , 47
Philosophy
........ .. .. . ...... -17
Drag n Institutions . . . .. ......... -Ill
The Soul of the Dragon Dojo ..... 51
Temple of the Tran quil fire . . ... , . :l2
Togashi Testing rounds ... . .. . .. 5-1
Dragon Sensei .......... .. ... .. .. 54
I ew M echanics. .
. . . . . ....... St,
Dragon Duelin g Mechanics ..•.. 56
ew Advanced School:
Hoj alSu's Legacy (Bush i) . .
. 57
New Path:
Kikage Zu mi Madman (Monk) .. 5 7
N ew Pa th :
Kitsukl Gamcster (Courtier) .. . . 5R
New Pa th :
Mirllmoro Talons (Bushi) . . .. . . 59
New Kala : Eyes of the D ragon . . . . 5Q
New Kata: Fore st of Blades , , .. . . . 5 9
New K;lIa: Spirits and Steel. ... . .. 59
New Kiho:
Strike of lhe Dragon (Fire) .... . 0
New Kl ho:
' all Before the Master (Earth) ... 00
CHAPTER N E: T HE ART OF H
Introduction: "Set. .. Focus .. . ' trike! " . . 5
Dueling in Rokugan: A TImeline • . .. 7
Iaijut ' u: Revi sed Mechan ics . . . ... 10
Taryu-jiai ........ . ........... .. . jJ
The Way of the Courtier:
Non-Bugci Fonns of D ueli ng ..... 15
HAP R TWO: D UELING . TJ I . WAY OF TH [ CRAB . . . .. 19 New Kala: \lVhiriwind Barrier . .. .. 114
New Kala: "'/hirlwind Storm ..... , 84
C HAPT '
SEVEN:
TilE WAY Of TH
UELI
P H [ NI
85
Philosoph y . . .
Phoenix Institutions .... . .... . . • , .
Sh iba Bu sh i School ... . . ........ 88
Isawa Taryu-jiai Academ y .. , .... IN
h lba Arti san Dojo .......... . .. l) Phoenix Sen sei .. . ...... , .. , . . , .. I)! New Mechanics .. .......... .. . . . . " -I Phoenix Dueling Practices ... . ... 4 .J
New f\dvanced School :
Shiba Artisan(Courtier) .. . ..... (,1-1
New I\dvanced Sch ool:
Isawa Duelist(Shugenja) ...... . 1)-1
New Path :
Shlba laijlltsu Dueli st (Gushi) ... Q5
New Pilth:
Shiba Naginata D uelist (Gushi) . '15
New Kata: The Beak Pier(es ... . . . 1.J5
New Kala : The Phoen ix's H a en .. 9(1
Tell' Kilta: Swoop of the Wing . ... <)0
Sa
mp
le
file
Philosophy ..... . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . l lJ
rab i nslitu ti ns . . . . . ... .... , ... 2[ G rll of Earlh Dojo . . . .......... . 11 Stone Tower Dojo .......... . .. . 22 First Strike Dojo ....... .. . .. . .. 2J U nbreaka ble Blilde Dojo .. .. ..... .23 Kun! Duellst Dojo . . ........ . ... 25 Crab ense i ............ . . , ..... . 25 . . 21-1
N ew Me c h;~n ic . . . ........
Crab Dueling Mecha nl ·s. . . .
. 28
N ew chool:
CHAPTER ElG H : D U ING
I-Ilda Wrestler (l3ushi) ..... . . .. 2M
C
HAPl
ER
fl
v
DUELI
N
G:
OR.P10N ?7
THE W AY F HI E
New Adva nced School:
Hu W AY o r THE 1I N
61
Philosoph y ... . ... . ... . ...... .. . <)7
ra b Sumfli (Bu hi). .
. . . 2<1
Philosophy. . . . . .
. .. . .. . 6 1
New Advilnced School:
Scorpion Institutions ....... . . . . . .. 99
Lion Institutions. . . . . . ..
. ...... 63
Bayushi Bushi School . . ... . ..... <;9
I l idn Defender (Sushi) .... . ... 3l'
Castle Llf the Swift Sword .. . .. . . . 63
' h suro Champion Dojo
.. . . 100
New Pa th: H iruma Grapp ler (Bushi n !
Lion Institutions . . .............. , 03
Wielder of Ve ils Academy ... . ... 102
New Palh : Ku nl Duelist (Shugc nja) ,I
Golden Spider Dojo ...... , . . , .. . 05
N w Pa th: Tetsu bo D uelist (Bushi). 31
Yogo Shugenja School.
. . .. . . 102
Hemt of the K ..l tana ............. 65
Shinobi Duels:
N ew Path: Yasuki Sumo i (Courtier) 32
Open Hand of the Lion Dojo . .. ... 67
The Bayushi Courtier School ilnd
CHAJ'rrR THR[E: DU LllNG '
Li n Sen sei . . . . . . . . . .
. . ... . . . . oR the Shosuro Shinobi School ..... 103
THE WAY OF T HE C RANE .... 33
New M echanics .............. .. .. 70
Scorpion Sensei. . . . . . .
. ....... t l3 Lion Dueling Mecha nics ......... 7
New ,Vlechanics. ...... . ... , ..... L06
Ph ilosophy ....... .. .. . .. . . . .. . . 33 New Advanced SChOLlI: .. . .. .
New Path: Lion ess Legion Wushi) . 71
Cra ne Insti tutions ....... . ........ J-I Shosul'O hampion (Bushi) .. . ... I ' tl
N ew Path: Matsu D uelist (Bush i) .. 71
Kaklta Dueling i\Cademy ..... . ... 3-1 New Kata: Armed Bril li. nce .. . ... 7 1
Nell' Advanced School:
Kakita \ rtisa n Academy ........ . 36 Yogo Duelist (Shugenja) ...... 107
New Kata: Emply lng the Soul . .. .. 71
Doji Courtier I\eademy ... . ...... J;
New ['Mh:
New Kata: The Pa rago n of Dciense 72
i\sah lna D uelist Seho I. .. . .. . ... ~R New Kala: The Perfect Sl ance ..... 72
Bayushi Defender mushi) .... . t07
The Master of Wits .. .... . ...... .,'Ill New Kata: Th e Soul 's Readiness . . .
New Path :
rane Sense i. . . . . .
. . .. . . .. . . . .19
Sayu hi Defiler (Courtier) . .... 108
ell' Mechanics....... . , . . . . . . ... -II
CHAPTER IX. D U[L1 NG:
New Path:
I ew ch ool :
TH WAY OF THE MAN I ·" . 73
'osh i D uelist (Shugenja) ... • . I('1H
Kakltc Artisa n (Courtier) ... . ... II
Ph ilOSllphy ....... .. . . ...... • . .. 73 I ew Adva nced School:
Cl IAPT R NINE: DUELING :
M antis l nslil utions ... ..... _ ..... . 76
l o ji Rhetori c!an (Courtier) ... . . -1 ,,[
T HE WAY o r H UN ICORN 109
Yori romo Bush i Dojo ... .. . .. • ... 70
N 'w Advanced School:
lIunter of M en Dojo . . ... • .. , ... 71>
Introduction . ............ . ..... 109 Doj i alllester(Courtier) .. . . .. . -I-I
The Green Blade DoJ .... , . . , ... 79
Unicorn Instit utions .. . .......... 11 1
New Path:
Mantis ' c n:;ei ...... .. .... . .. . . .. 70
floating Leaf Doja ....•.. • .. . .. II I
Asahi lla D uel ist (Shugenja) .... 45
New Mechanics . . .
. ..... . .. H!
Gentle Gumd Doj ... • .. , .. . .. 11 3
CIV Path : Daldoji Dueli t (Bu hi). IS
Mantis Dueling Pra tlces ... . . . . . 81
N ew Pa th : Doji Arbiter ( ourtler) . . -Io
Single Strike DoJo . ..... .. . .... I 1-1
lew Pa th:
New I\Liv<lnced Scho I:
The World 's l'lalance . . . . .
. lt5
Moshi Duelist (Bu sh i) . . ....... to U nicorn Sensei. .
. .. . .. • . i I Cl
Doji M aster of Ikebana (Courtier) -Ito
j lew Mechanics.... .. . . ........ , I 1H
New Path : Master of \~il (Courtier) -1 0
New Path :
Un ic rn Dueling M echanics ..... I III
Yoritot110 Kobunc Pllol (Bushi) .. R3
New Pa th:
Yorilot11o Whirlwind Duelist (Bushi) fH
New S h oi:
Muster of Petry (Courtier) . ... • 46
Ide Duelist chool (Bushi) . . . . /21
n
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--~-- ~
Philosophy .. . ...... .. .... . ....
Shadowlands Institution s .....• . . .
Cursed Blade Dojo . . . . ... ... . .
Voice of Thc Lost Acadcmy . . . .. .
Shadowlands Sensei . ...... . .. . ..
New Mechanics.............. . ..
Shadowlands Dueling Mechanics.
Ncw School:
Voi ce of Daigotsu (Courtier) . ..
New Advanced School: Champion ofThc Lost (Bushi) .
Ncw Advanced School: Mouth of The Lost (Courtier) . .
New Pa th: Obsidian Claw Duelist (Bu sh i) .
Ncw Pa th: Tsuno Duelist ([\ushi) . . . .. . . .
Ncw Spcll (Maho): Avatar's Strangehold ....... . .
New Kata: Storm of Shards ......
New Kata: The Black Veil .... . ..
Ncw Kata : The Claw Strikes eel'
12 123 125 120 l 2Cl 127 12<)
121)
1.10 13 1 132 13' D·' 1 4
I,(,! I:1n 1'0 C I1A[l1 R [LV[N ; THE IMPERIAL FAMILI ES &M1N R LAN . 137 Philosophy ...... .. .. . . . . ......
The Imperial Families • . .....•... .
Thc Minor Clans ... .. .. . . . .. ... .
Imperi;l l Institutions •.•. .... . . . ..
Sapphire Blilde Dojo • ........ ..
House of the White Chry anthemum .......
Dojo of the Righteou s Word ... ..
Mino r Clan Institutions ...........
Heart of the Mountain Dojo . ....
Embassy of the Alliance .. . .....
lIlI Water Temple . . ...... . ....
Ujlna Torid-e . . ..... . ... . . ... .
The Dojo of the Eye in Nanashi Mum . ...... . . ...
The Sword of Yotsu ojo ..... . ..
Ronin Institutions ...............
The Temple of Kanosci Purudera .
Imperial. M mor Clan and Ronin Sensei ..... .... . ... . • . .
New Mechanics: Imperial ...... .. .
New Advantage: Guest of the Dojo . ....... . . .
Adva nced School: Sludent of the Ruby Dojo (Bushl)
Nell' Path: Otom Orator (Court ier) .. . ...
1
13 138 139 131) file
WlANDS . . .........
ple
SH AD
m
IIAI'T[R T EN : DUI:.UNG TII E WAY OF THE New Path: Seppu n Duelist (Bush i) 150 New P;lth: Seppun Duelist (Shugenja) . ... 1- 0 New Kata: In H;lntei's Honor .... 15 1 New Kata: Chrystanth emum Petals
intheRain ........ . .... . ... 151 New Mechanics: Minor Clan s ... .. . lSI New Path: Minor Ian Explore r . • 152 NelV Path: Kasuga Deceiver . .. .. 152 New Path : Oriole Craftsm:lIl ... .. 152 New Path: Minor Clan Sumai (Bushi) .... 152 Ncw Path : Suzume Duelist (Bushi) I 'i2 Ncw Path : Tary u-)iai Duelist (Shugenja) .. 153 New Kata: The Crushing Earth ... IS:> New K;lta: Reichin 's Stance ..... 153 New Kata: One Soul 's Triumph ... 153 New Kata: Ride Wilh the Th unde r 153 New Spell : Visions of the Future (Dragonfly Clan) ........ . • .. 15 New Spell: Soul of the Kilsune (Fox Clan) . 15.3 New Mechanics: Ronin . . .. ...... . I S4 Gambling Rules ... . ........ . .. 154 Fortunes & Winds ......... . •.. 155 Oichu-Kabu .................. ISS New School: Master of Games (Ronin Courtier) 1St>
New Path : The Eyes of N:mashi and thc Nanashi Duelist . ... . ... . 150 New Path: The Weavers (Ninja) .. 157 New Kat a: In the V-Ie aver's \Neb .. 1'>7 New Kata: Death in th e Sh in men 157 New K:Ha: Path of the Hidden SWllrd ..... 158 Sa
Ncw Path: Iuchi Master of the Swift Waves (Shugenja) .. . .•. 122 New Path: Mota Acrobat. ... .. • . 122 New Meehani ; Spirit Creatures . . . 10" Spirit rea ture Dueling Mechanics 100 New prit Powers ( plrH Creat ures) .... ... . .... I b€1 Kilsu ne ................ . ... . 1(10 Koumori. ....•.. • . ... .. ..... • 107 Ryu .. .. .. ...... . . ...... . . .. loll Saru .. .. .. .. ..... . ......... . I tl lJ Tanuki . .. . ........ • . . .. .. .. . I tit) Tsuru ...... . . . . .......... . .. 170 ~ATTL
Philosophy ...... . . . . . ..... . ...
Personal Scores ...... . .... . .....
lides of Ba ttle ... .. ..... .. . . ....
Champions ........... . . .. . . . . .
Countermeasurcs ... . ..• . ... . .. .
New Mechanics .. . ...... ..... ...
R vised Battlefield Opp rtunity: Attack the Sh ugenja . ..... . ..
Rev ised Battle field Opportunity: Show M e Your Stance .. .. ....
Nelli Bartlefield Opportunity: Strike at the Head .. . . • .. . . •.
171 \71 171 171 173 17, 17 17J 1N 174 HArTER FOURTEE :
TH[ ARTIST'S WEAPON
Crab : Jade Katana ..... . . ...... . .
Cra ne: The Fan of Yoshi ... . .. .. .
Cra ne: Tsuken 's Blad ....... . . ...
ragon: N ighti ng;lJe Blade ...... . .
Dragon: The Bisento of Lady Moon .
Lion: Ikoma War Fan ............
Lion: Blade of the olden ranc . ...
Milntis: The Sword of Ga les . . .... .
Phoenix: Ko uken Blade ... . .. . . .. .
Phoenix: Shiba 's Hon r ..... . . . ..
Scorpion: Ha metsu' Kiss ...... ...
Scorpion: Nagflmaki of the Ashalan .
Unicorn : f olden Steel Scimitar .....
Unicorn: Night Crystal Blade ......
Shadowlnnds: Ob idlan Slade .... .
Imperial: Otomo Wakizashi .... . ..
Minor Cla ns: Golden Tiole Katana .
M inor Clan: M i ako's N aginala . ...
Ronin: The Blade of Sun Tao ......
Naga : Blade of the Temple..... . ..
I b
170 171;1 I 76 177 177 I i7 177 I ill I ill 17R 171' 17') 179 170 18(1 lI:ill 180 14(1 C HArTE R TW[LVE: DUELIN .:
14 I NON- H U MAN RA U .. .... 1';9
14 I I 12 Ph i1osophy . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 15<) H2 Kenku .. . .......... . . . .. ... . . . 159 l4-1 Naga . ........... . . . . . ... . . . .. I bO 14-1 Nczumi . . .... . . . . . .. . . . ...... . 101 Ogres .. .. .. . .. ... . ... . .... . ... 161 145 Spirit Creatures ................. 102 IRO 145 Non-Human Institutions . . ........ 102 tHO 145 Non-Human Se nsei. . ... . .. . . . .. . to.3 1-17 New Me hanics: Kenku .... . ..... 164 AI>P[NDIX' TH[ TE T OF THE [MfRALD HAM PION ... 181 New Advanced Sc hool: 1 17 Ken ku Duelist (l3u shi) .... . .. . 104 14Q New Mechanics: Naga ... .... . .. . 165 New Path : Naga Blade Duelist ... 105 14Y New Path : N aga hampion ..... l oS New Mechanics: Ncz umi . ........ t 60
j-l Q Nezumi Dueling Mechanics ..... 1(10
New Path:
15(1 N ezumi Sword sman (\Narrior) . Ill 0
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CHAPTER ONE:
THEART
OF THE DUEL r
"Focus only on today. " the monk insisted. "Tell me what will hap
pen."
" Vel}' wdl, " Emiri said. 'Today, I will champion an Asako courtier
in the matter of his dispute with a member of the Scorpion om-00550
(lor's dclega/lon. I will Juel the offended party's champion to determine
Ivho is in the right."
Sutu/lo chuckled. "[ was a peasant, a lifetime ago. [ must admit
that after decodes of introspection, the concept of dudi17g is still quite
foreign to me. How does it serve to resolve disputes, again?"
"/1 is on exercise' in purity," £miri ex/ lained. CIS if reciting a text her
sensei had ordered her to memorize. "Purity of spirit. purity of body,
and purity of purpose. A pure spirit and oody steels 0 samurai for his
task. Purity of purpose invites Ihe ancestors to lend him strength. that
he might prove the honor of hl.- Family and Clan. /I has been thus
Since the Komi descended "
"For be it from me to question the Komi." the monk said. 'Tell me
ofycwr opponent. "
Emlri frowned. "I know little of him. His name is Bayushi Yumi/o.
although in some circles he is simply called the Black Scorpion because
of his armor. /I is black. lVi/hout adornment, and polished so thaI it
almost looks like a mirror. He nev .r speaks unless directly questioned
by someone of superior rank. /I is said that he has slain over a dozen
duelists."
"Is the duel to the death?"
"Certainly not," she said. "'The duel is to first blood. [ admit, how
eller, that 10m uncertain as to the reliability of YUilli/O with regard to
such restrlel/ons. W /II he kill Ille? He might attempt it. But I do /lot
(oor dea/h .··
"You fea r (ailure." Suhuto apparently could read her evcr)'
thought.
"I fear the strife that will come between the Phoenix and Scorpion
if I (ail." sho: oJmitted. "If Yumita is lIictorious. and if he tLlkes my
/ife as I suspect he Jcslrc.~. there will be great di(fiwlty between our
Clans. We W/l/lot endure another conflict so soon after the war with
Iht: Mantis. "
Sui1uto pondered her\Vords . "vVould the Scorpion wish uch a con
ple
file
he sun rose an Pale Oak Castle, creeping aver the distant
treetops to the east. The ligh t was warm, but did liltle to
dispel the chill throughout the area. It was always cool
in this region of the Asako holdings. regardless of the season. Shiba
Emlri had only been here a few short weeks. but already she loved
the place for the crispness in the morning air. It Invigorated her. and
she loved to rise with the sun to enjoy It to the fullest . This morning.
however, there was precious little enjoyment to be had.
The young Phoenix samural-ko rose (rom where she knelt In Ihe
shrine. It was merely one of many shrines that dolted the majestic
landscape around Pale Oak Castle. She had been there for several
hours, having awakened long before the dawn in order 10 prepare her
self for todays ordeal.
Today, she might die.
Truthfully, Emiri did not really fear death. She had seen so much
pain and suffering In her relatively short lifetime that she imagined
the release of death might be a welcome release from her journey. No,
tt was not fear of death. but failure that plagued her. Failure \Vas the
most heinous sin imaginable, and she had borne i/5 burden (or (or too
long as It was.
"Emir/-san, • a qulel voice said. "You must nol dwell In the past. "
Emjri glanced at the calm, even features of the monk she had come
to know, In her lime at the astle. "A simple Ihing to say, Sutubo-san."
she said. "11 Is nol qulle sa simple to live."
"You dtd noL (all In Ihe Rain of Blood," Sutubo said softly. "You did
not (all your harge. You protected him from everything but hlmsel(.
Against Ihe darkness In hls spirit, )'{Jur blade stood no chance. The
fault was never yours."
Emlrl nodded. Three year.s ago, she had been a yo/tmoo assigned
to Ihe shugen/a called lsawa Nodotal. He had been her frtend as well
as her charge. and she thoughl she had truly known him. When an
ancient rttual by the most powerful blood sorcerer in history created a
mystical rain ofblood, however, she had seen the true Nodotai emerge.
The roln had corrupted hls spirit, bringing forth every evil thought and
urge he possessed. He went on a rampage, as did many others, alld
the City o( Remembrance had nearly burned to the ground. She had
been his YOI/moo, and In her mind, she had failed. She had spent the
Intervening year.s in a monastery, allempUng to come to terms with
what had happened.
m
-
Sa
,-- -
/11 t1"
IniYoduction: /I Set . .. "
Sa
m
ple
There arc few activities that capture as many facets of what it
ml:ans to be a samurai in Rokugan as docs dueling. II is a tesl
of moral and physical courage, for in a weapon duel your life
- or at least your well-being - rides on victory or defeat. It is a
test of personal honor, for not only are duels commonly fought
10 defend one's good name , but that good name also stands to
gain or lose by how you cc ncluCl yourself in the course of defend
ing it. It CHn be H 1'(:51 of I yalty a nd service to Family, Clan a nd
Emperor, for in Illany ca ses their fortunes and reputation , too,
ride on a luc list's blade. It is also a test of skill, for every form
of dueling involves an end avor that at least some samura i find
worthy of pursuit, something (o r which he tmins long and ha rd
for years to perfect, frolll his youth to - in some cases - the wry
lasl moments of his life.
At the same ti me, it would be a ml take I defi ne due ling in
Rokugan too closely. Mention dueling to most Rokugani , and the
fi rst thi ng that comes to mind is a fight with the kata na, wh ethe r
the ke njutsu duel s with which Lion bushi seek to c nt rol the
battlefield, or lightn ing-quick and dead ly iaiju tsu du els. of whi h
the Illost famous is still the confrol1tation between Kakita and
Ivlirumoto Hojatsu a t the dawn of the Empire. Bu t suc h is the e m
phasis that Rokugani saillurai place on pcrsonal contests of will.
skill a nd nerve that a wide range of activities, as practiced by the
samurai class, can be described ,1S serving the same pu rpose .
Shugenja have long h,ld the tradit ion of due llng th rough their
special skill for channeling the power of the kami. C.tlled taryu
jiai, it is said to have origlll <ltcd among the Phoeni XClan . It exIsts
in two gCllerally accepted forllls, onc in which the due lists attack
each other directly and another in which they figh t through ava
tars of Elemcntal en ergy that they reale for themse lve .
Courtier' pra ctice neither thc art f swordsma n- hlp nor CO I11
munion with the kam i, but personal contests thm serve a func
lion so similar to tha I of dueling thM they might ::t well be called
duels arc an aspect of their life, as well. \lVh lle S lilt' ourtlcrS
have yojimbo to deflect any attempt to challcnge them on unfa
vorable terms (and the more important he is, the more likely he
is to have a bodyguard aSSigned to him), most also like to settle
their own scores when they can, through contests of artisanship
or performing skill, or skill at games.
file
"\l\1ho can say with the Scorpion?" she asked. 'There is no way 10
he certain."
"Then there is hut a single outcome."
"And what is that?"
"You must lI'in, " Subuto said plainly. "Your steel must win the
day."
Emiri raised an eyebrow. "Is that all? HolV Silly IVe been,"
The morning sun \Vas still on its path to the center o( the sky center
II'hen the two opponents (aced one another in the courtyard o( Pale
Oak Castle. Suddenly, Emiri (elt her mind clear after her meditations
and her conwrsation with the monk She remembered her duty. and
focllsed on tho/. The memories that had haunted her but a short time
ago had left. She had learned (rom them. and put them behind her
- (or good this time, shl' hOpl'd.
Bayushi Yumita, the Black Scorpion, tool~ his stance across (rom
he1: As she had expected, he said nothing. His armor gleamed in the
morning Slln, bright enough to blind her (an intentional e((ec/, o(
course), and so she (ocused on his shadow instead. His elle!)' mOlle
rCl'Calcd itself to her as she Ivatcheel the shadow creep across the
ground. EIIe!)' breath he took, el'c!)' tiny mcwemcnt lVas hers to sec.
lind so when he made his mistake, when he altered his stance almost
impaccptibly to create Gn opening, she IVClS ready.
Shiba Emiri drell' her blade and struck with a pllre spirit, mind,
and pllrpose.
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On top of that. there are also a variety of miscellaneous forms
f competition that do not really fit an y of these cia slfica tion s.
Somc are unique to a certain Clan or Family. like the kobune
boat races of the M antis. or even t certain Schools. like the wil
derness survival challenges to wh ich Dragon isc ZlImi subject
them selves. This book covers all of them. for all are in their own
way part of a great Rokugani tradition and integral p;lrts of ;l
samurai's life.
''Focus ... "
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Sa
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Later in th is chapter. you will find revised rules mechanics for
iail utsu . that ampli fy and clarify exactly what happen~ in an
ialjutsu duel. You will also find rules for taryu-jiai. or shugenia
duels. as well as a variety of less overtly violent activitie s that
can be treated as personal contests. such as gnmes and tests of
oratory an d artisanship.
Later cha pters cover non-human intelligent races and their re
lationship to the art of the duel. including the dueling customs
of the naga and nezumi, and expanded rules for kcnku sword
master scnsei and training under them speCificall y in iaijutsu;
desc riptions of fa mous and otherwise remarkable dueling wcnp
ons; and also suggestions for making formalized single com bat
a mor~ prominent part of the mass battle experience. The ap
pendices describe t'wo important tournaments in which sa murai
can show off their prowess through various forms of dueling and
peTS nal competition . the legendary Test of the Emerald Cham
pi n hip and thc Tournament o f the Minor Clans. They include
ru les mechanics for re solving each tournament 's various tests.
a description of the ambience of each. and adventure hooks for
incorporating them into n campaign.
In bet'ween. you will find a wealth of material covering the
Rokugani art of the duel from the perspective of each Great Clnn.
as well as the the Imperial Families. Minor Clans and Ronin .
and the role of dueling in the warped version of samurai culture
emerging in the Shadowlands among The Lost. Eac h of these
chnpters covers one faction. or se t of factions. Each includes dis
cu ssions of a that faction 's philosophy of dueling. unique and
characteristic forms of dueling and perso nal competition. in stitu
tions involved in tea ching skills used in dueling. typical (or atypi
cal) sensei. and a variety of new mechanics: Schools. Advanced
Schools. Paths. Kata and more. These chapters touch upon not
only the classic Kakita and Mirumoto iaijutsu styles. but also
traditions and practic es as diverse as Phoenix naginata duels.
Tsuruchi archery contests. Unicorn competitions of horseman
ship skill. Crab and Badger sumai wrestle rs. Ikom.~ story telling
contests. Doii courtiers who cultivate debating skill s - even
Crab Clan drinking games. All of these conventions. both famous
and obscure. capture the various ways in which the samurai of
Rokugan challenge each other in the name of honor. and have
rai cd those challenges through the ages of to the level of art .
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