created by Colin Chapman aka Psychedelic Goblin
The Jade Spider Clan are survivors, of that there can be little doubt. Two millennia ago, when the Time of Chaos enveloped the land in a bloody shroud, the Spider Overclan stood as lord astride the southernmost sector of the Shogunate, and few would face them or their I allies.
Distinguishing himself during these troubled times, the great samurai Hisuiiro Kumo Musashi, son of the Spider Clan’s Overlord, was granted boon to form his own splinter clan, and taking his verdant eyes as his influence, the Jade Spider Clan was born. Few could have foreseen what was to be.
The Battle of Hellstorm Gate was among the most bloody of conflicts seen in those dark times, as the Spider Clan clashed with the Tatsu. The conflict dragged on for weeks, and the Spider forces were gaining the upper hand, but alas they were weakened. Turning to nurse their wounds for a fresh assault they fell under the treacherous tusks of their I allies, who had thrown in their forces with the Tatsu in return for monetary aid. The Spider Clan was all but annihilated.
Too small to face the traitors, the Jade Spider Clan went underground to survive. Against all odds they succeeded and prospered, forging many contacts and allies with their wit, cunning and honor.
Gradually re-emerging under the reign of the Kitsune Shogun Mara, the strengthened Jade Spider Clan have since become a Clan of note, independent from all others until a mere decade ago. Noting the worrying signs of an impending Age of Darkness they made moves to ally themselves with the Tora Overclan, and the deal was cemented with the marriage of Lady Hisuiiro Kumo Ama to the Tora Overlord Hehachi (pg. 45-46 Shogunate).
Hisuiiro Kumo Musashi, founder of the Jade Spider Clan was graceful. passionate and attractive, with eyes of a unique emerald hue. Swift and mind, wit and sword, he was also tenacious in the extreme and honorable to a fault. It is these lofty qualities that allowed the Jade Spider Clan to thrive, and this legacy that the emerald-eyed samurai strive to uphold.
Eloquent, honorable and fair in their dealings, the Jade Spider Clan sit at the centre of a vast web of businesses, manufacturing everything from textiles to foodstuffs, vehicles to weapons. However, they refuse to deal with Ninja, Yakusa or criminals of any stripe, and in truth, this has slowed their steady progress.
Despite this strong adherence to codes of honor, the Jade Spiders are terribly patient, cunning and vengeful. Deceiving them is no easy task, and they are quick to react to such ploys. When you deal with a Jade Spider it is usually on their terms.
Garbed in black armor with emerald green accents, the samurai of this clan are striking, and still practice the Way of the Spider; the martial art created by their mother clan. Calm and imperturbable in conflict, they fight to win, and honor is secondary to success in war. Passionate and loving in peace, they are charming, witty and friendly to all save the I.
Now, with a powerful ally, and tumultuous times ahead, the Jade Spiders begin to plot the downfall of the over-ambitious I, for honor demands vengeance, and no traitor should be allowed to assume the mantle of Shogun.
Hisuiiro Kumo Kage The current overlord of the Jade Spider clan, is new to his position, having recently ascended to rulership after the retirement of Hisuiiro Kumo Akira. While fairly youthful, he has been through 3 reincarnations, and is an experienced warrior. He was also insightful enough to forge the alliance with the Tora, and his clan hold him in high regard.
THE WAY OF THE SPIDER First developed by Hisuiiro Kumo Tetsuo of the fallen Spider Overclan, this martial art has seen continued practice and refinement by the Jade Spider Clan.
Taking the patient waiting, entanglement and swift strike of the spider as inspiration, this school demonstrates some unusual techniques.
The basic Spider stance is crouched low, with arms spread wide, and favors swift, abrupt movements. Once per combat, students of the Way of the Spider may make a Grab attack on an opponent, with no action penalty.
This Way costs 5 points. SKILLS SPIDER STRIKE Type: Normal Forming your fist into a single, curving ;fang’ you slash down swiftly, ‘biting’ at your opponent’s head, neck and shoulders. This blow inflicts 1M-1+ST damage, and any attempt to dodge or parry it suffers a -2 penalty due to its speed and downward curving motion.
ENCROACHING STRAND Type: Normal Hooking your leg around your opponent’s in an abrupt movement, you cause them to overbalance and trip, falling prone at your feet. You make the attack at no penalty, and if successful, your opponent must make a DX roll minus your Martial Arts skills level, or fall over. This gives you the +4 to hit advantage for being above a knocked down foe, while they suffer the -4 penalty for being below you and knocked down.
SPIDER SPRING Type: Normal With a snap movement you pounce at your opponent, hitting them with both arms and legs. This does 1M+MR+ST damage and allows you to make a standing leap simultaneously with the action and suffer no movement penalty. It can only be used when there is a sufficient distance between yourself and your opponent.
PIERCING BITE Type: Normal Prerequisite: Spider Strike Hammer a Spider Strike down with great force and momentum, you try to pierce your opponent’s armor. You may ignore upto half your Martial Arts skill level in AR when striking with this attack, which suffers a -1 to hit penalty, but does 1M+ST damage.
BUGEI CENTRE OF THE WEB Focusing your Tau, you exude an intangible, invisible web of energy all around you, and any movement in this web will instantly be known to you. While in use, you cannot be surprised by any sneak attacks from anywhere around you, and you suffer no penalties to dodge or parry any attacks from any angles. You must spend 1LF per round to keep this power active.
VENOMOUS BITE This bugei uses your Tau to infiltrate the nervous system of your opponent’s body effectively paralysing them for a time. When you successfully hit with a Venomous Bite (striking with the fang-fist used in Spider Strike), you can spend 1 or more LF to try and paralyse the victim. They must make a PW roll minus your Martial Arts skills level or fall to the ground, completely paralysed for a number of rounds equal to the LF you spent on the attack. You cannot spend more LF on this attack than your Martial Arts skill level. This attack causes no damage, and since the Tau energy is channelled directly into your opponent, this attack ignores armour. It is stopped by psi shields and psi screens.
WALL WALKER By spending 1LF per round, you can crawl across walls, ceilings and other sheer surfaces, just like a spider at half your MR.