Shuriken

A shuriken was a small bladed throwing weapon.

Description
A piece of sharpened metal, there were many sizes and shapes in use, but there were three main kinds of shuriken: the spike, the small star, and the large star. The spike was simply a large pin that tapered to a sharp point. A star could have three to eight razor-edged points; the design ensured that at least one point would strike a target.

Uses
A shuriken could only be used as a throwing weapon, thrown with the hand, and was not used in melee. It inflicted small piercing injuries. Their effective range was quiet short; typically 10 feet (3 meters).

Owing to their small size, shuriken were easy to conceal, being tucked within sashes of folds of clothing. The spike shuriken could even be worn as a pin in the hair.

Training
The shuriken was an exotic weapon that required special training to use effectively. It was commonly wielded by monks, who could use it with their special martial arts techniques. However, they were primarily used by ninja.

Notable shuriken

 * ''Stars of Ojy-do
 * Fangs of Night