Shadows of Shen Zhou: The Blue Flame Clan

Destiny cost: 2
Study Difficult: 20

The Blue Flame Clan is a minor clan that began as a splinter sect of the Blue Jade Ink Society, a criminal organization that seeks to undermine the powerful who stray too far from Confucian principles. The founding members of the Blue Flame Clan came to view this as a futile mission, for one cannot expect the leaders of an unenlightened society to behave properly. The solution to this problem is to fight ignorance. Philosophically, the Blue Flame Clan trended more toward Daoism and held deeper reservations of legalism than its parent organization, as they believe we must increase our understanding of the world may we live in greater harmony with it.

In its early years, the Blue Flame Clan pursued this by rediscovering lost knowledge, much of it destroyed by Ying Zheng, who destroyed a great deal of knowledge for the sake of expediency. This put them into conflict with other groups seeking ancient lore. One of their key rivals, the Falling Wren Society, viewed the Blue Flame Clan as criminal as the Blue Jade Ink Society. For their part, the Blue Flame Clan viewed the Falling Wren Society as being more interested in romanticized nostalgia than actually useful knowledge.

Time passed, the world evolved, and the Blue Flames found that while the knowledge they were uncovering was still brilliant and useful, it was not as directly applicable to Shen Zhou's present as they hoped. This lead the clan to a controversial conclusion: as the world and the Dao change, the ways of achieving harmony cannot remain static. Instead of reconstituting the past, it was now built upon. The past must always be respected, to be sure, but one cannot live there. The Blue Flames became futurists, interested in discovering or developing technologies, as well as determining the proper way they can be implemented in society. They believe that greater technology increase both society's and the individual's potential for virtuous action. Technology can allow us to live more effectively, increasing Jian or frugality. Further, it allows us to help those in need more, increasing Ci or compassion. Some claim they violate the third jewel of Daoism, “do not be first in the world,” though the Blue Flames counter that this is a question of the proper application of technology, not a warning against progress. When used correctly, technology can prolong life in non-ostentatious ways.

This places them in direct opposition with other Daoist organizations, such as the Dali clan, are not as enthusiastic about the emancipatory nature of technology. The old ways are best ways, in their eyes, not merely because they are old, but because they have been perfected over long periods of time. The Dali know how make extremely productive, sustainable rice paddies using agricultural techniques they claim are centuries if not millenia old. How can we trust Blue Flame's engineered crops? While the Blue Flame Clan acknowledges the Dali have great knowledge, they view them as miserly hoarding that knowledge more than promoting a generally harmonious society. Additionally, their knowledge is stagnant, stopping with antiquity.

Today, the public face of the Blue Flame Clan is the Blue Flame Corporation with two endeavors. First, it is venture capitalist firm that supports R&D projects. The clan leadership uses this to nudge technological development in directions they believe necessary, and use the patents & proprietary technology created to help fund the clan. Second, it runs a management consultant service that specializes in technology management & implementation (i.e. which database system fits your needs, what management styles seem to work best with this production process, etc.) This arm promotes the use of technologies in harmonious ways. The clan also recently created the Azure Ember Foundation, a non-profit that encourages social engineering by encouraging infrastructure, and urban planning.

Other, less public branches of the clan are then deployed for espionage, acquisitions, and other shadowy operations. Though their anti-legalist tendencies prevent them from being truly cut-throat in the promotion of progress (at least thats what they tell themselves)

Discounts on related lore

-1 Daoism. Understanding is essential for us to transcend to a more harmonious world.

-1 The Qin Dynasty. Few rulers supported ignorance as much as Ying Zheng. Know thy enemy.

-1 Advanced Technology. Technology is a secret art, and knowledge of it can be amazing or terrible to behold.

Secrets of Destiny

2: Destiny. Connect your destiny with that of the Blue Flame Clan.

4: Destiny. Join the Blue Flame Clan. This may give you access to their uncommon Blue Flame Spear Kung Fu, but you will likely have to take onerous obligation

3: Secret. Technological Impact Technique. +5 on a predictionism roll that involves how technology will effect the outcome.

3: Secret. Inventing new tools is pointless without knowing how to use them. Blue Flame consultants are experienced at analyzing an organization's technology in regards to information, communication, and logistics. In doing so, they can effect the outcome of the Great Game through good management rather than mere manipulation. +5 involving communication, records, and logistics.