Five Venoms (World of Kung-Fu)

“If you bow at all, glance upwards”—Five Venoms saying.
==Five Venoms General Information (World of Kung-Fu)==
In the dark and secret universe of organized crime, one syndicate stands above, feared by all the others. The Five Venoms. The Five Venoms was founded in 18th century China, when Wing Chun techniques were fused with traditional animal styles by jaded revolutionaries who decided to use their Kung Fu for criminal profit. Today, lesser cartels like the Mafia, the Yakuza, and the tongs and triads only exist because the Venoms allow them to, and the Venoms enjoy reminding them of the fact. In the US, the Venoms have long reigned as unquestioned leaders of the underworld, but with the appearance of the homegrown Maniac Warrior Empire criminal gangs in the last few decades, they have had to fight to keep their position. The whole international Five Venoms organization could easily crush the Maniacs if it chose, but the Venom gangs in America are expected to demonstrate that they can take care of their business.
The Five Venoms is structured around clans, each specializing in a particular style of Kung Fu. For some esoteric reason, there are more than five clans. The most powerful clans are Centipede, Lizard, Scorpion, Snake, and Toad, but other known clans include Black Lotus, River Fan, and Spider. The Venoms have no central authority. Power is invested in local shih, or warlords, who are expected to keep “order” within their territory. The shih often fight between themselves, but cooperate against external threats.
“Fifty cobras will defeat a mongoose, depending on the mongoose”—Five Venoms saying.
While most Venom agents were born into the organization, particularly competent criminal underlings drawn from the local population may be offered membership and training in return for loyalty to the death. It is not permitted to leave the Five Venoms. Those who try will be hunted for the rest of their life. Venom footsoldiers have sometimes been trained in a Venom Kung Fu style, more often, they are just local martial arts gangsters who have been put on the payroll.
Venoms are capable of both acts of great treachery and of tremendous loyalty, depending on the individual. They take their own twisted code of honor very seriously, though no two of them seem to interpret it in quite the same way. “Honor” can make Venoms chivalrous or cruel and vengeful.
==Five Venoms Styles Overview==
* T: number of Techniques in a style
* CS: number of Cinematic Skills
* CT: number of Cinematic Techniques
* P: number of Perks
Style 	Cost	T 	CS	CT	P	Criminal Specialties 	Feuds
Centipede Style	[3] 	10	3 	4 	5	Arms trafficking, extortion 	Elephant, Praying Mantis, Scorpion
Lizard Style 	[4] 	8 	3 	3 	6	Counterfeit, forgery, human trafficking 	Crane, Crow, Eagle
Scorpion Style 	[3] 	9 	3 	5 	5	Drug trafficking, counterfeit medication, cheap medication	Centipede, Horse, Praying Mantis
Snake Style 	[4] 	11	4 	5 	6	Bookmaking, casinos, loan sharking 	Leopard, Monkey, Panther, Toad
Toad Style 	[2] 	8 	5 	3 	6	Cybercrime, prostitution, protection 	Crane, Crow, Snake
==Clans of the Five Venoms==
The five main clans of the Five Venoms are Centipede, Lizard, Scorpion, Snake and Toad which is also the name of their styles. Each of these clans has its own feuds and rivalries over and above the feuds and rivalries that come with being Venoms. These feuds often lead to violence, but don’t necessarily prevent criminal cooperation when there is money to be made.
===Centipede Style===
Cost: 3 (2 skills+Style Familiarity) points.
Centipedes are stereotypically extroverted and impulsive.
Skills 	Karate, Knife 	2
Optional Skills 	 	NA
Techniques 	Back Kick, Counterattack (Karate), Elbow Strike, Feint, Ground Fighting, Kicking, Knee Strike, Spinning Kick, Spinning Punch, Stamp Kick	10
Cinematic Skills 	Light Walk, Lizard Climb, Sensitivity 	3
Cinematic Techniques	Lethal Strike, Timed Defense (Dodge), Whirlwind Strike (Karate), Whirlwind Strike (Knife) 	4
Perks 	Ground Guard, Iron Arms, Iron Legs, Rapid Retraction (Karate), Technique Mastery (Counterattack: Karate) 	5
=== Lizard Style ===
Cost: 4 (3 skills+Style Familiarity) points 
Lizards are stereotypically nontraditional and suspicious of authority.
Skills 	Broadsword, Judo, Karate 	3
Optional Skills 	 	NA
Techniques 	Arm Lock, Elbow Strike, Ground Fighting, Knee Strike, Jam, Low Fighting, Sweep, Uppercut 	8
Cinematic Skills 	Breaking Blow, Lizard Climb, Power Blow 	3
Cinematic Techniques	Backbreaker, Hand Catch; Signature Weapon: Hook sword 	3
Perks 	Ground Guard, Iron Hands, Power Grappling, Technique Mastery (Elbow Strike), Technique Mastery (Knee Strike), Technique Mastery (Uppercut)	6
=== Scorpion Style ===
Cost: 3 (2 skills+Style Familiarity) points
Scorpions are stereotypically disciplined and conservative.
Skills 	Karate, Spear 	2
Optional Skills 	 	NA
Techniques 	Axe Kick, Counterattack (Karate), Exotic Hand Strike (Scorpion Tail), Eye-Poke, Ground Fighting, Low Fighting, Targeted Attack (Kick, Vitals), Targeted Attack (Punch, Vitals), Uppercut	9
Cinematic Skills 	Pressure Points, Pressure Secrets, Sensitivity. 	3
Cinematic Techniques	Flying Jump Kick, Lethal Kick, Lethal Strike, Pressure Point Strike (Karate), Pressure Point Strike (Spear). 	5
Perks 	Ground Guard, Iron Legs, Special Exercises (Striking ST +1), Technique Mastery (Targeted Kick to Vitals), Technique Mastery (Targeted Punch to Vitals) 	5
=== Snake Style ===
Cost: 4 (3 skills+Style Familiarity)
Snakes are stereotypically calculating, intuitive and diplomatic, but moody. In Chinese tradition, they are associated with fire, orchids, and cactus.
Skills 	Judo, Karate, Meditation, Shortsword 	3
Optional Skills 	 	NA
Techniques 	Arm Lock, Break Fall, Choke Hold, Counterattack (Judo), Counterattack (Karate), Exotic Hand Strike (Snake Fangs), Evade, Finger Lock, Targeted Attack (Karate Punch, Neck), Sweep, Wrist Lock	11
Cinematic Skills 	Blind Fighting, Hypnotic Hands, Pressure Points, Pressure Secrets 	4
Cinematic Techniques	Lethal Strike, Pressure Point Strike (Karate), Pressure Point Strike (Shortsword), Springing Attack (Karate), Springing Attack (Shortsword) 	5
Perks 	Chi Resistance (Any), Clinch (Karate), Ground Guard, Technique Mastery (Counterattack Judo), Technique Mastery (Counterattack Karate), Technique Mastery (Targeted Karate Punch to Neck) 	6
=== Toad Style ===
Cost: 3 (2 skills+Style Familiarity)
Toads are stereotypically jolly, rude and disgusting.
Skills 	Karate, Polearm (Monk’s Spade). 	2
Optional Skills 	 	NA
Techniques 	Back Kick, Ground Fighting, Hammer Fist, Jump Kick, Kicking, Knee Strike, Springing Attack (Karate), Springing Attack (Polearm) 	8
Cinematic Skills 	Body Control, Flying Leap, Immovable Stance, Mental Strength, Push 	5
Cinematic Techniques	Flying Jump Kick, Hand Catch, Roll With Blow 	3
Perks 	Ground Guard, Iron Neck, Skill Adaptation (Acrobatic Kicks), Special Exercises (DR 1 with Tough Skin), Technique Mastery (Jump Kick), Technique Mastery (Springing Attack: Karate)	6
==Five Venoms Relations==
“Wushu fighters kick your head / Assassins strike: The Venoms want you dead. Bandits jump you in the street / With flying fists and whirling iron feet. Babe, that’s Kung Fu, babe. That’s Kung Fu, babe. That’s Kung Fu, babe.”— Zhu Ānxiè,“That’s Kung Fu”, Manchu Dynasty, 1837.
Wushu and the Venoms are enemies, with Wushu working to stamp out organized crime, and the Venoms resisting the power of governments and police forces. On the other hand, in the US, the Venoms are more concerned about fighting the Maniac Warrior Empire, who are a more direct and immediate threat to their profits. The Venoms generally avoid the Laughing Devils, but sometimes enterprising Venoms have taken the risk of employing Devils for their unique skills. This usually has disastrous consequences.
The Venoms are annoyed by both the Circle of Iron and the Infinite Fighting Federation, because they believe that they should control public fights, both underground and on lucrative pay-per-view. The Venoms despise Ninja, who compete with them for the title of the world’s greatest mercenary assassins.
==Five Venoms as Heroes==
The classic Five Venom hero is a warrior torn by their conflicting duties to do what is right and to help their friends and family. Too good by nature for a life among the Venoms, and distrusted by the Wulin, they flee to the Vigilantes and now protect the streets where they once preyed. Yet they still owe a debt of honor to Venoms and Venom allies; their parents, their teachers, their one-time trusted comrades in times of danger.
Category:Setting Concepts
Category:Martial Art Styles