Ronin Scout (Bushi) Benefit: +1 Perception Honor: 1.5 Skills: Athletics, Battle, Defense, Stealth (Sneaking), any 3 Skills.

Outfit: Katana, wakizashi, any one weapon, ashigaru armor; well-worn clothing and sandals, traveling pack; 5 zeni. Techniques

Rank 1: The Way of Stealth -- When you make a Battle roll to scout a battlefield (see 3ER pg. 102), you may spend a Void Point to confer the bonus Free Raise to any ally of your choice. This ally need not have studied the terrain with you, but you must share your findings with them before they enter battle at that location. You may also add your Stealth Skill to your TN to Be Hit, unless wearing armor that imposes a TN penalty on Stealth Rolls or Agility Rolls. Rank 2: Speed of Shadow -- Your base movement speed is increased by twice your Agility. You may spend a Void Point to re-roll any Athletics, Battle, Defense, or Stealth Roll, but you must keep the second result, even if it is worse. Rank 3: Reading the Shadow -- When spying on a target no more than 300 feet away, you may use a Complex Action to make an Opposed Perception/Battle (Specific Enemy) Roll against a TN equal to a target's Insight Rank x10. If successful, you may learn the Rank of any one Trait or Skill the opponent possesses (your choice). For every successful Raise, you may learn the Rank of one additional Trait or Skill. Also, when you make a Battle roll to scout a battlefield, you gain an additional Free Raise. Rank 4: Strength of Shadow -- You gain an additional attack per round. When spending a Void Point to re-roll a Skill Roll with your Rank 2 Technique, you may choose which result to keep. Rank 5: Eternal Shadow -- You may move at two-thirds your normal speed as a Simple Action while sneaking. You may add twice your Stealth Skill to your TN to Be Hit, unless wearing armor that imposes a TN penalty on Stealth Rolls or Agility Rolls (this replaces the benefit from Rank 1).

The Onmyoji School Shinseist Taoism first came to Rokugan during the Time of the Prophet though, while elements of both 'Religious Taoism' and at a later date, 'Philosophical Taoism' have had an unmistakable influence on Rokugani religion, Taoism as a distinct, institutional tradition, has never really gained a following amongst the Rokugani people, except among the eclectic and monks. However, beliefs concerning the 'Taoist Immortals' and Taoist Paradises were 'adopted-in' to various streams of Rokugani folk belief and mythology, along with Taoist mystical and medicinal practices. For example, the koshin-machi, a popular Rokugani all-night vigil undertaken as part of a longevity disciplines, is based on Taoist belief. Also, elements of Taoist magic exist in Shinto practice, and more noticeably in the mountain-centered ascetic disciplines of Shugendo. But probably the most important expression of Taoism in Rokugan is the ritualistic

tradition known as Onmyodo. Central to Onmyodo are the disciplines of astrology and Taoist Five-Element theory. While this bears certain similarities to Dragon multielemental spell theory, it diverges in that Onmyoji see the casting of many spells as using a harmonic balance of the five elements as opposed to drawing on a single element. In onmyodo philosophy there is no particular concern with (or belief in) life after death. It's primary focus was on the identification and avoidance of troubles and disharmonies in the here-and-now. Through an understanding of the natural laws of the universe, and through the application of ritualistic practice based on yin-yang/five-element theory, onmyodo sought to bring order to a world perceived as being, in the main, completely chaotic. Onmyodo is closely aligned with the Imperial Household, and matters of state. The Onmyodo practitioners are consulted on everything, from the sitting of the imperial capital, to the performance of state ritual, the interpretation of supernatural signs, and, most importantly, divining the fate of Emperors, Courtiers, and the nation. It should be noted that the onmyoji are primarily concerned with how the heavens interact with Ningen-do and the negation of disharmonies in Ningen-do in how things are done. They are not generally concerned with political favor, orders from those higher in station or much of societal convention in the normal sense. As the caste structure was handed down by the Son of Heaven, it is of course influenced by the signs from heaven and must be helped to remain proper. This leads to rather aloof or stand offish behavior on the part of onmyoji and tends to irritate many normal Rokugani. The earliest of the Onmyodo disciplines to appear in Rokugan the first century was that of the Jugondo. Jugondo was concerned with issues such as the vanquishing of monsters; curing of disease; freeing people, places and objects from possession by spirits (evil or otherwise); dispersing of apparitions, etc. The passing similarity to the Kuni shugenja is not without cause. Many early onmyoji were of the Crab bloodline and even now, both schools are very friendly towards one another. A highly ritualistic discipline, it incorporates Phoenix medical practices, Shinseist Taoist spells (using handwritten wards) and charms, magic invocations, and forms of hypnosis to induce mystical states in the practitioner. In these altered states, jugondo practitioners can undertake feats such as fire-walking and pouring boiling water in their bare skin without harm... Over the centuries, however, the various arts and practices of onmyodo gradually became absorbed into Shintao and Shinseist tradition, and also into the disciplines of the shugenja, and other ascetic groups, to the point where Onmyodo - as a distinct tradition in it's own right - to all intents and purposes ceased to exist, except for a medium-sized school based in the Crane lands and other small ones across the face of Rokugan. The school does not usually draw much attention to itself, preferring quiet contemplation and divination, eschewing the base world of the court. While this might irk courtiers of many different stripes, particularly those who might seek to use the Onmyoji for political gain, the Onmyoji have assisted enough people of various walks of life that allies will come to their aid if they come under political fire. It is also of note that the Imperial Families have long had ties to the Onmyoji and that making trouble for one should be

considered very carefully by the aspiring courtier. Benefit: +1 Awareness Honor: 2.5 Skills: Calligraphy, Etiquette, Meditation, Theology (Astrology),Spellcraft (wards), Any Two High Skills Outfit: Wakazashi, Divination Tools (pick one type), Gohei wand, Fine Calligraphy kit, Kimono and sandals, Eboshi hat, Travelling pack, 10 Koku Starting Spells :As per Asahina school Affinity/Deficiency: much like their Asahina brethren, The Onmyoji prefer subtlety and precision, but are worldly enough to favor hard knowledge and strength. As a result they have a choice between Air or Water as an affinity. The Asahina disdain for destructive magics still is prevalent among school teachers, and as such the school has a Fire Deficiency. Technique: Onmyodo (The Way of Yin And Yang): Onmyoji get a free raise on skills and techniques involving divination, when attempting to banish oni or unwelcome spirits, and for Warding Spells.