The Scorpion Clan is, ironically, known for its secrecy. One of its greatest weapons is the Butei - actors so skilled in the arts of disguise and mimicry that they can alter their appearance with a simple shift of posture, a change of expression. The Butei are the Scorpion's eyes and ears outside the clan. They might impersonate anyone from a powerful courtier's assistant to a lowly farmer if it serves the purposes of their Bayushi Masters. It is said that a Butei never wears the same face twice, and a Butei would proudly claim that even this is an under-statement. If, that it is, you could find one...

Ninja and rogues are most frequently drawn to the Butei class. A handful of multiclass rogue/courtiers and rogue/samurai find their way here as well. Shugenja almost never undergo the training required to become a Butei.

Role: DPS Utility

Characteristics: Masters of disguise with a slew of rogue-like abilities (sneak attacks, poison use, etc)

Source: Rokugan Campaign Setting

Game Rule Information

The Butei has the following game statistics.

Abilities: Dexterity for all of your sneaky abilities is important. However, your key stat is your charisma as it will help you remain disguised and emulating those you disguise yourself as.

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d6

Starting Gold: N/A

Class Skills

The Butei's class skills are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Innuendo (Wis), Knowledge (Local) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Cha), Pick Pocket (Dex), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), and Tumble (Dex)

Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Butei.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Butei is proficient with all simple weapons, no armor

A Thousand Hearts Ex: At first level, the butei has already begun to ingrain the arts of disguise into his very being. He can easily shift from one persona to another, though he still relies upon physical implements and makeup to assist in his disguise. He gains a circumstance bonus to all Disguise checks equal to his Butei level. In addition, if he possesses a knowledge skill that relates directly to his target, such as Knowledge (nobility and royalty) to emulate a court noble, he gains an additional +2 circumstance bonus to his Disguise check.

Poison Use Ex: Butei gain this ability at first level. As butei sometimes serve the Scorpion in the capacity of assassins, all are educated in the proper use of poisons, and do not risk accidentally poisoning themselves when applying or brewing poison.

Sneak Attack Ex: At second level, the butei gains a sneak attack damage bonus similar to the Rogue. This damage bonus applies when a target is denied his Dexterity bonus to his AC. Should the butei inflict a critical hit, the sneak attack damage is not multiplied. The butei's attack does +1d6 damage at second level, and increases by +1d6 every third level thereafter (+2d6 at fifth level and +3d6 at eighth level). The butei may apply the bonus damage with a ranged weapon, but if only if the target is within thirty feet. The butei may choose to inflict subdual damage on a sneak attack with a sap or unarmed strike. This extra damage stacks with damage applied from other sneak attack abilities. Creatures immune to critical hits are not vulnerable to sneak attacks.

A Thousand Faces Sp: At fourth level, the butei begins to pierce the deeper secrets of the Scorpion impersonators. With a simple act of concentration, the butei can change his face, posture, and demanor while weaving a subtle illusion about himself through mere concentration. You make yourself-including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment-look different. You can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between. You cannot change your body type. For example, a human caster could look human, humanoid, or like any other generally human-shaped bipedal creature. Otherwise, the extent of the apparent change is up to you. You could add or obscure a minor feature, such as a mole or a beard, or look like an entirely different person. You gain a +10 to disguise checks. This lasts for ten minutes per character level, this can be used a number of times per day equal to their Charisma modifier.

The Scorpion's Sting Ex: Though not all butei are assassins, all are trained to take advantage of helpless enemy should the need arise. At fifth level the butei may perform a coup de grace against a helpless opponent as a standard action. This is an extraordinary ability.

Piercing the Veils Sp: A butei who reaches seventh level no longer needs to rely on illusion to conceal his identity. The core of his existence has become a thing of deception. The illusion created by A Thousand Faces now become real, effectively upgrading to an Alter Self spell cast by a sorcerer of his character level rather than A Thousand Faces. This change carries certain limitations when compared to a true alter self spell; the butei can either emulate other humans or become a faceless creature with no identifying features whatsoever (He cannot emulate wings or gills). Unlike normal shape-shifting, if the butei dies while in an altered form he remains permanently in that form. This is a spell like ability.

No More Masks Su: At tenth level, the Butei's Piercing the Veil's effect has an unlimited duration. In addition, once per day, as a standard action, the butei can effect a horrifying transformation, directing a gaze attack against one target of his choice. The target must make a Will save (DC 10 + half his character level + Charisma bonus). If this save fails, the target stands helpless for one round. This is a mind-affecting supernatural ability.