Editing Scorpion Clan (section)

==History==
From their very inception, the Scorpions have worked from the shadows in their Duty to the Empire. To the other Clans, the things they do would seem unthinkable and distasteful in the extreme. But to the Scorpions, it is Loyalty and Duty which are the greatest of virtues. If a lie, bribe, seduction, assassination, or more would save the Emperor, then in their eyes, the choice is obvious to the truly loyal servant of the Empire. And the stains to their reputation are a price they willingly pay time and time again.

===The Scorpion and the Frog===
In the Tournament of the Kami, after thoroughly trolling his sister Shinjo with increasingly lulzy ring outs (culminating in matadoring her into charging off a cliff), Bayushi prepared for his bout with his [[Omegon|twin]] Shiba. Shinsei, founder of the Tao, met with him and proceeded to share his wisdom with him.

Shinsei began by telling the tale of the Scorpion and the Frog. Bayushi, certain he'd already heard it, almost interrupted Shinsei, but was stopped when the wise old monk changed the ending: When Frog got stung and claimed they would both die, the Scorpion simply replied "But Frog: I can swim." [[Eldrad|What a dick]].

This twist gave Bayushi his own epiphany: The true power of cunning and deception lay in [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX|showing others only what you want them to see]] while [[Just As Planned|keeping your true strengths hidden]]. Get them to underestimate you, lie about your capabilities, and you will always have the advantage. The fact that it made it easier for the snarky Kami to perfect the art of being a backstabbing [[Assholetep|asshole]] was simply a welcome bonus.

Bayushi was so delighted that he quickly donned a simple cloth mask to hide his smile, creating his Clan's most iconic traditional dress code. So while Shiba apparently won because he was too wise to fall for Bayushi's deceptions, the truth was that Bayushi threw the match. All to convince the spectators that surely, there was no way he could pose a threat, not knowing that this Scorpion could swim. And it would not be the last time the Scorpions would feign weakness.

===The Emperor's Underhand===
When Hantei was building his Emerald Empire, he asked his brother Bayushi to do the dishonorable, cutthroat things necessary to keep it safe from equally dishonorable threats. Threats that would be accustomed to lying unseen in the shadows and playing dirty in ways their siblings never would or could. Fully understanding the darker sides of humanity, Bayushi agreed with the fateful words "''I will be your villain, Hantei''"...but warned the Emperor that if he ever screwed him or his followers over, he should remember that he had never faced ''him'' in the Tournament of the Kami.

And the Scorpion did not disappoint. Highly unscrupulous yet fanatically Loyal, Bayushi and his Clan proved incredibly proficient at their Duty. With Shosuro, his greatest student and waifu/adoptive daughter (maybe, the lore is ambiguous...or is it?), Bayushi shaped the Scorpion Clan into Rokugan's greatest intelligence network and masters of clandestine, covert operations.

To combat crime, they mastered the ways and organizations of criminals. To catch corruption, they spread bribery among their own magistrates and used this reputation to seem like easy marks. And if the peace of the Empire depends on dirty, underhanded tricks, they won't hesitate to pay that price. Lies, betrayals, seductions, false flags, anything to get the more aggressive or blindly honorable Clans to move the way they want: back in line, doing what the Emperor demands of them. After all, what is Honor next to the lives of thousands, or even millions? If a lie would save the Emperor, they would gladly tell it.

This is the mask they presented to the Empire. Much like the ones they physically wear, it is a reputation that is meant to be seen by everyone, warning them: they're masters of deception, and you shouldn't trust them. So they take on this reputation, endure any insult, live with their choices and betrayals. No matter how lonely the path or how much it might conflict with their own values, they do it all and go to any lengths in the name of Duty and Loyalty. Even if saving the Empire means striking down the noblest samurai, the most cherished Clanmate...or even the Emperor himself.