Demons in Zhen Zhou
(Note: this is version 1.0 of this LS - a 2.0 version is currently in the works.)
DEMONS IN ZHEN ZHOU
Destiny cost: 3 Learning difficulty: Learning (30)
The temple at Sun Mountain
The temple was in disarray; statues hadbeen vandalized, obscene statements written in the blood that had ben spattered all over the floor. There was also the matter of the heads of the monks that had been carefully placed on the vacant necks of the guardian statues.
“So,” said the priest. “Doubtlessly you have come here to offer me your body and your flesh?” His garments were stained in blood, and his teeth and nails were jet black.
“Hardly,” said the woman who had entered. She was very beautiful, and the irises of her eyes were almost completely white. “My husband had me promise to return safe and intact – it would not reflect well on my memory if I broke that promise!”
The priest laughed. “Then I shall return to him dressed in your flesh – and after I kill him, I will roast and eat your children! When I am done, your family will curse your name and pray for your death. They will send their strongest warriors to kill you, and I will kill and eat them – unless one of them catches my eye, in which case I shall wear him as I wore you before him.”
“That would be unexpedient,” said the woman. “Instead, I think I will just defeat you and seal you away from this world.” With this, she sprung into action; her palm found his face before he could react, and he was sent hurtling through three walls! The demon-priest roared with anger and leaped out through the debris, a cloud of dust painting everything white!
The demon hefted one of the great temple bronze bells, and spun it around his body in wide, powerful arcs that sent a strong wind against the woman. Sword in hand, she cut through the winds and launched a furious thousand-blade offensive, cutting through the demon from all directions at once!
Their battle raged furiously through the ruined temple, until the white-eyed woman struck a decisive blow, severing the demon´s hands from its´ priest-body. As the bell fell to the floor, crushing the stones underneath it, she drove the point of her sword through the demon´s mouth, shattering its´ black iron teeth. As her opponent sunk to the ground, she held up a long band of prayer beads – each orb a different type of stone.
“This,” she said, “is my All Shadow Binding beads. This is where I will keep you for the rest of time.”
And she struck, and bound him to one bead, so that it turned into black iron. Kneeling and reciting her prayers to the Heavens, White Eyes Lei deciced that it was time to go home. Her husband was waiting with the children, and she would not like to keep them waiting.
Tomorrow, the rituals for the fallen monks could be performed.
The August Garden of Leaves
“How could you?” said Tall Legs Lei. “You have not only killed your husband, who was faithful to you in all ways, but also your own children! As if that wasn´t enough, now you are trying to take our father´s life? Have you no honor?”
“He was not my husband, brother, nor were they longer my children.” White Eyes stood before her brother in the August Garden of Leaves, sword in hand. Her brother – strong, capable warrior that he was – wielded the huge stone pillar Righteous God-Finger. She wasn´t at all sure that she could beat him.
“You have gone mad! Kowtow to our father and beg his forgiveness, and maybe your husband´s clan will relent!”
“He is no longer my father, brother. I do not wish to fight you, but I have little choice in the matter. I cannot allow that demon to deface my father´s memory. And when I´m done with him, I will find whoever broke the black iron pearl and send him screaming to his death.”
Demons: discussion
After the Celestial Goddess had defeated the Enchanted Demon, his ranks shattered – his lieutenants and minions spread over Zhen Zhou, and hid from her righteous gaze. In time, though, they regained their composure, and in a sense, things got worse – with no general to gather around it was every demon for himself, making them hard to track down and destroy. Being drawn to helplessness and the opportunity to do evil, they preyed upon humans – cursed them, slated their lusts on their sons and daughters – some even stole the bodies and faces of great men, to do evil in their name! Most dangerous, though, was the influence that they wielded in the service of the Thousand Hells – their capability to grant power to those who sought such and strength to those who considered themselves too weak – and too many proud Wulin fighters fell for this kind of insidious influence in the mistaken belief that it would help them achieve greatness.
[The Jin Shen: discussion]
The demons couldn´t escape Heaven´s attention forever, though; there were strong warriors and wise scholars who, guided by divine favor, decided to take up the struggle and work to either seal the demons away or destroy them outright! The strongest and most powerful fo these were the Scholar-Warrior White Eyes Lei, of the bloodline that would once become the Heaven Sword Clan; she fought and won battles with more demons than anyone else, and sealed them away in the orbs of her All Shadow Binding prayer beads!
After White Eyes killed the Iron-Tooth Demon that had possessed her father, she was forced to leave her clan behind – though it could be proven that her deeds were righteous, there was much resentment and even hatred towards her – many felt that she had brought her family low, attracting bad luck and the influence of demons. Leaving alone, continued her work – and founded a new bloodline, the Jin Shen. Perhaps as a mark of divine favor, the first children born in this new line manifested a differing Legacy than that of her birth Clan – the variant Legacy called the All-Seeing Eye.
During the ages, the Jin Shen has continued to exist – most of the time, onky one new Demon Hunter, born under the auspicious signs, manifests per generation. Theirs is a heavy duty, but there must always be someone who can defend the people of Zhen Zhou from the influence of the Thousand Hells!
Secrets of Destiny: the Jin Shen
3 Discovery: In game, you discover that you are a scion of the Jin Shen bloodline, and will have the opportunity to buy Affiliation and Status within the society-clan as well as the opportunity to learn their martial secrets!
- Bonus: You get to learn the Formless Buddha´s Eye Technique, that is taught to the Hunters of the Jin Shen.
2 Fortune: You develop good relations with the Jin Shen. 5 Rival: As a member of the Jin Shen, you catch the eye of a member of the Heaven Sword Clan who is determined to shame you for the sake of her ancestors! (-5: This is your first or second Disadvantage.)
White Eyes Lei: Destiny
White Eyes Lei was the first Jin Shen, a scholar-warrior of repute. She was the one to imprison the Iron-Toothed demon within her legendary All-Shadows Binding Beads; when a traitor within the Heaven Sword Clan responded to the nighttime whisperings of the demon and shattered the beads, it let its´ brothers possess her family! Even as her own clan turned against her, Lei slaughtered the demons, stopping only when she released the Iron-Toothed from the skin of the family elder with a swift stroke of her blade.
2 History: Descending from White Eyes Lei by blood or martial tradition
5 Victory: If you descend from White Eyes Lei, you manage to uncover or reconstruct the fabled Treasure, the All-Shadows Binding prayer beads.
- Bonus: You gain a +1 bonus on your Learning. This can boost it to 6.
Weapon of the Gods: Two Silver Saint
Two Silver Saint, the fabled blade of the Jin Shen, was rumored to have been a gift from Heaven – a token of favor of White Eyes Leis quest! Unfortunately, it was lost during the Time of Chaos, when the Jin Shen hunter Bronze Tiger duelled with Pei Pei, the corrupt eunuch warrior wielding the infamous Weapon of the Devils Harmonious Brass Petal.
Two Silver Saint is a Class II Divine grade long sword, said to prophesize the end of all enemies of the Jin Shen, to be able to cut the wind itself and to protect its´ owner against dark forces! It is also said to resonate in some uncertain way with the All-Seeing Eye, but the knowledge on this is sparse.
3 Entangled Destiny : Your Destiny will touch that of Two Silver Saint.
2 Defense : Improve your defense against Two Silver Saint´s techniques.
14 Victory: Through some deed or extreme fortune, you acquire Two Silver Saint.
(-3: An enemy of yours acquires Harmonious Brass Petal at the same time, and it is only a matter of time before the battle between Bronze Tiger and Pei Pei is reenacted...)
TWO SILVER SAINT (v 2.0, based somewhat on the Predictionist Blade in the WOTG Companion).
Two Silver Saint is a strange and beautiful sword; its´ guard is actually an advanced Predictionist instrument, it´s concentric layers shifting and locking in response to its´ wielder and her enemies. The argent gleam of the blade is accentuated by its´ intricate etchwork – quotes from the Classics detailing Nuwa´s battle against the Enchanted Demon!
Speed +20 Strike +25 Damage +20
Effortless power: The Chi investment for the Formless Technique Buddha´s Eye is effectively doubled.
Major Power: Know Thyself – the wielder can make a Prediction about the next battle the blade will be used in, just as if she used the Secret Arts of Prediction. The Strike bonus of the weapon can be added to the roll. To make a prediction, the wielder has to perform a sword form, an elaborate dance of movements, for a scene (or less, with the appropriate penalties). If successful, the wielder must also spent 1 point of Joss, as per usual for predictions.
(Unknown power: The Saint-blade is rumored to resonate with and augment the powers of the All-Seeing Eye, taking it to new heights. To others than the Jin Shen, this power in the blade is rumored to grant the wielders of the blade access to their Legacy! The details of what happens to one of the Jin Shen is murked in the annals of history.)
Weapon of the Devils: Harmonious Brass Petal
Little is known about Harmonious Brass Petal, except that it was rumored to be a gift to Pei Pei from some demonic patron or other – possibly related to the Iron-Toothed Demon! Like Two Silver Saint, Harmonious Brass Petal is rumored to be an exceedingly beautiful sword.
3 Entangled Destiny : Your Destiny will touch that of Harmonious Brass Petal.
2 Defense : Improve your defense against Harmonious Brass Petal ´s techniques.
14 Victory: Through some deed or extreme fortune, you acquire Harmonious Brass Petal.
(-3: An enemy of yours acquires Two Silver Saint at the same time, and it is only a matter of time before the battle between Bronze Tiger and Pei Pei is reenacted...)
Discounts to related Lores:
The Enchanted Demon (-2)
