Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (AD&D Forgotten Realms Oriental Adventures) BOX SET

264 Pages·1988·11.52 MB·English

by  David Cook

A Sourcebook of Kara-Tur
Volume I
Shou Lung. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Tabot.....................................69
Cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Geography...........................69
Places of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Monasteries and Temples of the Cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..71
Shou Lung Priesthood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Government and Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Social Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
The Provinces of Shou Lung. . . . . . . . . . . 10 Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
The Spirit of the Shou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Social Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Warriors of the Empty Hand . . . . . . . . . . . 19 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Secret Societies of Shou Lung . . . . . . . . . . 21 Non-Player Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Criminal Tongs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Items of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Suggested Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
The Celestial Empire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
The Plain of Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Faiths of Shou Lung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Money and Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Receivers of the Dragon: Selected NPCs
Places of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
of the Empire of Shou Lung . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Tribal Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Items of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
The River Town of Cham Fau . . . . . . . . . . 37
Taxation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
T(cid:146)u Lung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Military..............................83
The Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Social Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Status and Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Places of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Government and Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
The Provinces of T(cid:146)u Lung . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Money and Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Magic Traning in T(cid:146)u Lung . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Relations with Shou Lung . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Social Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Non-Player Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Horses...............................87
Festivals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Suggested Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Money and Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
The Northern Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Non-Player Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Places of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Items of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Social Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Suggested Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Non-Player Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Items of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Suggested Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
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Shou Lung
Your guide is the great Dragon Lord Mei Lung Karatin was the home of the Sea Lords, famous
Cheng Shan, the great great grandson of the Immortal pirates and explorers who founded the expansionist
Historian of the Celestial Empire of Heaven. It is Mei Hai Dynasty in 830. It is one of the first cities to have a
Lung(cid:146)s task to assemble the vast Histories of the unified architectural theme. Buildings are arranged in
Emperor of Heaven, so that the Celestial One will orderly patterns, facing north. The streets are wide
know all that has occurred and best be able to judge and paved with stone. The Great Palace of the Sea
the actions of Mankind. Our Great Dragon is over two Lords stands in the center of the city. A two story
thousand years old, and has observed the peoples of structure similar to the Emperor(cid:146)s Palace in Kuo Te
Shou Lung over the span of Empires. He has also trav- Lung, it is the first of the palaces to have columns
elled widely to other lands as well, meeting many oth- along its outer courtyards. Karatin is also known for
er Chroniclers of Events and adding their tales to his the Temple of the Jade Empress, a most magnificent
own. He begins: structure raised by the Sea Lords around a statue of
the Empress Ti Hai Chin, wife of the Hai Dynasty(cid:146)s
(cid:147)I am Mei Lung Chen-Shan-Tien-Kung-Te, seventh
founder.
son of Men Lung Chen-Shan-Tien-Kung-Te, the Elder
The harbor of Karatin is deep and well dredged.
of our Clan, and great-great-grandson of the Immortal
Ships constantly come here to trade for silk, rice and
of History, Chih Shih Chen-Shan-Tien-Kung-Te. I am
the advanced sciences of the Empire. It is a bustling
most humbly the Grand Historian of his Most Power-
port, where one can find almost any type of goods,
ful Celestial Majesty. In this Year of the Great Sky Ser-
and meet people from all over Kara Tur. This is also
pent, in the month of Kao, the first day of Shiang, I set
the port to which most gaijin come when they visit the
pen to paper to record the Myriad Things of this Land
world of the East.
of Shou Lung, as requested by my most Honored
Friend, the foreign scholar Elminster, and as com- Kuo Meilan
manded by my Lord as the duty of the two-hundred-
The great deserted city of Kuo Meilan lies in the cen-
twenty-third Historian of the Celestial Bureaucracy.
ter of the vast Chukei Plateau, in a region stripped
As you have requested, and by direction of the
bare of all life. The city, originally named Ten Mor
Celestial One, I here have written of the lands of Shou
Shou, was renamed by the Emperor Ten Chin for his
Lung; of the Great Empire raised in the Name of the
evil consort Meilan.
Dragon, and of the diverse peoples and places within
The city is roughly circular, with four great roads
its far-flung boundaries. You will find in my words a
leading to the four points of the compass, and encir-
tale of a land unlike any other(cid:151)a place of sophistica-
cled by eight great concentric walls. In the center of
tion and superstition; of kings and commoners; of sci-
the city stands the Palace of the Invincible Sun, a three
ence and sorcery. Be forewarned; for it is written in
story high structure. From its center, there are pas-
the Book of Ti Pa Wang Kuo that:
sageways which lead to the undercity, and the vast
There is One Shou only. It is like what it has
crypt which encloses the Stone Armies of Shih.
received; proud and full of fire, yet wise and
Or so it is said. For very few people have ever visited
cunning. Above all, Shou, like the Dragon, is
Kuo Meilan(cid:151)it is a cursed place and haunted by all
Eternal.
manner of ghosts, demons and monsters. It is said
The great Empire of Shou Lung is the largest of the
that any traveler who spends the night in Kuo Meilan
many lands that make up Kara-Tur. It is a place of
will be dead by morning, and that the pile of white
learning, culture and government, with a proud histo-
bones of visitors is as high as the Dragon Wall. Even
ry that chronicles nearly three thousand years, span-
worse, it is said that the spirits of the evil dead will
ning the rise and fall of eight great Dynasties and over
take possession of the bodies of those who die there,
seventy Emperors. With its extensive history and sta-
to walk the earth in men(cid:146)s flesh, spreading horror in
ble governance, the Empire exerts a mighty influence
their paths.
over its neighbors. It is said that when the Emperor
No maps exist of Kuo Meilan, and all accounts of its
stamps his foot in the Capital, the earth shakes in
design are shrouded in mystery. It is a place of mys-
Koryo; such is his power. Shou Lung is also a land of
tery, groaning deep under the curse of Heaven.
many complexities; a land wise in the ways of the
world and its sophistications. Pinchow
Cities Originally a small city in the rice plains adjacent to
the Hungtse, Pingchow became a mecca for dissident
Karatin
intellectuals and scholars shortly after the capitol was
moved to Kuo Te’ Lung in 869. It is a circular city
The city of Karatin is a large seaport city located at the
much like Kuo Meilan, ringed with four walls, pierced
mouth of the Hungtse. It is built mostly on swamp,
with gates to the north and south. The center of the
with its boundaries hacked brutally out of the sur-
city has no great palaces or civic structures, but is
rounding jungle. The efforts of succeeding genera-
instead a densely packed area of tea houses, wine
tions of Emperors have drained most of the
shops, theatres and meeting houses.
swampland, reducing the insect population and the
Pingchow is also known as the Scholar(cid:146)s City,
constant threat of disease.
3
because each year the Imperial Examinations are held The Temple of Saigai
here. Year (cid:146)round, the city is jammed with prospective
The Temple of Saigai is located deep within the
scholars studying to pass their exams. There are a
mountain forests of Yu(cid:146)i, near the city of Taichan. The
great many schools, tutors and examination houses in
temple is of great stone blocks and is roughly squared.
the city, catering to this specialized clientele.
Its surfaces are covered with strange inscriptions in
Places of Interest
characters unknown to all but wu jen. It(cid:146)s inner walls
are covered with carvings of bizarre creatures who
Cliffs of Tanghai
resemble something halfway between men and
beasts. The temple has been here as long as anyone
A great black basalt cliff overlooking the Hungtse
can recall, and is described in Tabotan records that go
River near Taitun, the cliffs were inscribed by red
back as far as 8,000 years.
lightning with the words of the Path of Heaven in 440.
The cliffs are considered to be the holiest place in all Monasteries and Temples Of
of Shou Lung, as they are a living symbol of the exist-
the Shou Lung Priesthood
ence of the Celestial Heaven. The inscriptions, one
meter high, are carved along the outer face of the
The way of the monk is a narrow way, for he must
cliff, and cannot be reached by any way short of fly-
follow the Path. But no matter how narrow the Path,
ing. it may take many branchings before reaching its desti-
Fortress of Kuai nation. This is the way of it among the Shou-ling.
While the priests of the Way are usually wandering
The Fortress of Kuai is located in the center of the
shukenja (known as dang-ki) or wu jen, aloof in their
old Imperial Capitol of Hsi-Feng. It is a massive con-
mysteries and strong in power, the backbone of faith
struction of stone blocks, each block far too heavy for
is the priesthood of the Shou-ling. These monks and
any hundred men to lift. Legend has it that the Second
temple warriors wander the lands doing good, or
Emperor Chin of the Ho Dynasty employed a family of
gather together in great temples and monasteries.
giants from the wilds of Koryo to raise the blocks of
Each temple is a place of worship, open to the com-
the fortress. At his death, the Emperor had the giants
mon people, and also a place where relics of the
seal his body within the fortress with a great stone
immortals and sages are displayed. Temples are usu-
block. It is said that any man who can lift the block will
ally located within a city of some size. Most are dedi-
find the treasure of the Second Emperor buried with
cated to one of the Nine Immortals, although other
him, as well as the magic ring he used to control his
sages and deities may also be included jointly in this
unwilling giant servants.
dedication. The patron immortal is represented by a
Impossible Palace of the Silver Domes central statue, which is ringed with small naves
where the lesser patrons are depicted. Temples are
The Impossible Palace of the Silver Domes is a leg-
staffed with about 20 to 40 priests, as well as being
endary palace which appears at random times all over
guarded by a small number of sohei (up to 30), who
the Empire. It is most often seen in times of great
protect the temple from desecration and theft.
strife within Shou Lung. Many parties have attempted
A monastery incorporates a temple as part of its
to enter its eight great domed sections, only to disap-
design, but also has living quarters for a larger num-
pear forever.
ber of monks and sohei (as many as two or three thou-
The Impossible Palace is, as I (Mei Lung) have men-
sand at the greatest ones). Monasteries are usually
tioned earlier, my home. As a rule, I do not take kindly
located in remote areas, as these orders desire peace
to strangers invading my home for any reason, and
and isolation to better study their particular branch
have been known to eat most parties of adventurers
of the Path.
who do so. I move the palace magically from time to
An order of the Shou-ling faith may have many tem-
time, to avoid this very thing. Most of the time, it is
ples or monasteries, scattered in a number of cities.
located at the bottom of a river or in a remote loca-
Rarely are there two or more temples of the same sect
tion.
within the same city(cid:151)there is too much chance of a
There is one time when the palace is most accessi-
schism eventually splitting the two temples apart!
ble, and that is when a great danger faces the Empire.
No matter the order, the life of a monk is much the
While I am prohibited from directly taking a hand in
same. Members of the order rise one hour before
the affairs of men, I am allowed to make available
dawn, going to the central temple to chant and pray to
information, weapons or spells to those brave enough
the patron immortal. At dawn, the monks begin the
to enter my doors. I deal with each transgressor in a
first of their two kung fu training sessions, this one
different way; some, I ask riddles, others I send great
concentrating on stretching and exercises. After this
monsters against. Occasionally, as in the case of the
session, they will have breakfast, then move on to
hero Wo Mei, I merely talk to them, discussing the
morning activities; chants, meditation, scribe work,
classic works and current events, until I have divined
farming or crafts. The midday meal marks the end of
the true nature of the one I am dealing with. Each of
this work, and the start of the afternoon kung fu prac-
my tests is different.
tices. These are with weapons, movement exercises
But be warned. The superior man knows when he
(kata), and sparring between monks (kumite). After
faces certain death. And it is certain death to disturb
the practice, one of the older monks gives a sermon,
my privacy without reason!
reading texts from the monastery(cid:146)s sutra library. Fol-
4
lowing this is a time of meditation. At dusk there are Emperor(cid:146)s Army of the Western Marches, battling the
the evening prayers, with an hour of meditation after- fierce horse barbarians. The monks particularly
wards, and the last meal of the day This meal is often enjoy plucking riders from horseback and wrestling
a place where younger novices can ask questions of horses to the ground with their great strength.
the masters and discuss the events of the day. At day(cid:146)s Travelers will find a solid welcome here, if not a
end, the monk returns to his meditation cell to sleep. great deal of comfort. Straw mats on stone platforms
are the extent of sleeping arrangements. The fare is
Temple Conflicts
strictly vegetarian, except on feast days, when chick-
The myriad of directions along the Path makes for en or fish are permitted. Visitors to the order are
lively dissension and argument between the priest- advised to not interfere too much with the monk(cid:146)s
hoods. Oftentimes, the many orders of the Shou-ling duties and to follow the teachings of the Path while
have raised up great temple armies of sohei and they are there!
monks, to destroy other orders considered to be here- The current abbot of the monastery is Ta Ping Tsu
tics. Although the Emperor opposes this, temple bat- (Large Feet), the youngest abbot in the history of the
tles continue even today, as rival orders clash on the order. Ta Ping Tsu was selected at the age of 28 by the
streets of the capitol and other places of the Empire. previous abbot, as the old Master of the Order lay on
There are more than two hundred sects, or orders, his deathbed. The young abbot is extremely strong,
all professing to be the True Way to follow the Path of both physically and spiritually, though perhaps a little
Enlightenment; only perhaps two dozen are recog- conservative and suspicious of the outside world.
nized as (cid:147)approved(cid:147) by the Department of Celestial
The Order Of Silence
Supervision. Here then, I present a small sample of the
most outstanding ones, so that you too will be enlight- This Temple of the Cobra School is of the unapprov-
ened. ed monastic orders(cid:151)possibly related to the Temple of
Quiet Sliding in Chu(cid:146) Yuan. Two centuries ago, the
The Strong Claw Monastery
monk Huo Tseng (Fiery Hate) returned from his trav-
The Strong Claw monastery is located near Yen els to find his large, prosperous merchant clan had
Ching, in Ma(cid:146) Yuan Province. It is one of the oldest been wiped out by the armies of Prince Shin Ginsen.
monastic orders in the Empire, and it is considered a Ostensibly, the wealthy Tien Lun family had given aid
great honor to be accepted here, despite the monas- to the forces of Prince Shin Lu, but it is more likely
tery(cid:146)s relative isolation from the rest of the world. The that the avaricious Prince Ginsen killed them so that
patron immortal is Fa Kuan, but Chih Shih is also wor- he could seize their properties for his war efforts.
shipped here. The life of the monks is a hard one, and Returning to his home poor and clanless, Huo
applicants are tested both physically and spiritually Tseng, a student of the Cobra school of kung fu, gath-
before they are admitted. The order accepts both male ered together other homeless men and shared his
and female novices, although the two sexes live in sep- knowledge with them. This was the foundation of the
arate quarters and must pledge a vow of chastity dur- Order of Silence, also known as the Order of the
ing their tenure with the order. Cobra, which has survived to this day.
Located on a high, cold plain, the buildings of the The monks of the order vow never to speak until all
monastery are cave-like, with few windows to pre- injustice is eradicated from the lands. In the wars
vent heat from escaping. The walls of the enclave are between Shou and T(cid:146)u Lung, they defended the local
high and thick, to keep out the bitter winds and fell people with incredible ferocity, showing mercy to nei-
creatures that wander the steppes at night. The land ther side. When the generals of the armies tried to
of Ma(cid:146) Yuan is well known for its huge beasts, mon- crush the monks, they seemed to slither away into the
sters and spirits, although not as feared as the dead wilderness. Finding brute force useless, the nobles of
and cursed plains of Chukei. the Shou attempted to court the order with rich gifts
During the summer months, the monks of the order of land and money. These Huo Tseng used to build a
raise sorghum and wheat, which they store in under- great monastery to Chan Cheng, although he would
ground caves below the monastery buildings. In the never, to the last, choose a side in the conflict. This is
bitter winters, they retreat into the monastery(cid:146)s vast why the order remains unapproved by the bureauc-
and echoing halls, to study the writings of the Path racy.
and to say the One Thousand Chants required in the Unfortunately, power and hatred have corrupted
teachings of the order. It is said by the monks that the charitable ideals of the Silent Order. While the
should the cycle of chants be broken, and the full one monks still protect the common people from the dep-
thousand not said each day, the world will end in fire. redations of the nobles, it has also become a source of
In all seasons, the monks of the order study the of fear throughout the Southern Provinces.
techniques of bear style kung fu; the style of great Travelers are welcome at the temple as long as they
strength and slashing movements favored by the accept the arrogant ways of the monks and do not dis-
fierce peoples of the Western Marches. The Strong turb the local people. The cobra is considered sacred
Claw Order is famed for its mastery of this technique, to this order, and many roam the grounds of the tem-
and many have journeyed to the remote monastery to ple freely(cid:151)it is forbidden to kill one, even in self
learn its secrets. The sohei of the order are also famed defense (there is a 60% chance of encountering a
for their skill with the tetsubo, or iron club. Both sohei cobra during any given day, but only a 5% chance that
and monks have served with distinction alongside the the cobra will attack if encountered; they are very
5
The Order of the Dragon Monastery
used to humans). The monks of the order admire dan-
gerous people, but hold little regard for arms and
The largest and best known monastery in Shou
armor(cid:151)one reason they have never developed a sohei
Lung, this order is the home of the dragon form of
brotherhood within the temple. The fare is excellent
kung fu. Each New Year, the monastery hosts a great
and plentiful, featuring many unusual specialties of
martial arts competition, open to all orders within the
the south, except, of course, cobra.
Shou-ling priesthood. The current abbott of the order,
The current abbot is Kui Tzu (Sly Words); a small,
Iron Hand, won this competition seven times running,
slight, quick man; politically agile as well as an out-
although this occurred many years ago. He is a solid,
standing martial artist. He supports the traditions of
thoughtful man, with piercing eyes and a calm,
the temple(cid:151)the many hours of meditation, kung fu
friendly demeanor. However, he detests dishonesty
practice, and temple chants and ceremonies. But
and has an active dislike of the nobility, whom he
menial labor is now done only by novices or hired
views as self-seeking thieves.
labor. The monks sleep in comfortable rooms and
The monastery(cid:146)s close location to the Capitol, and its
often have personal servants. The vow of silence is
strong ties to the court have given the order a great
less strictly enforced, and seems to be totally absent
deal of prestige. Dating back to the early Kao Dynasty,
among the higher ranks of the order.
the actual monastery grounds predate the construc-
The Order of the Nimble Hunter tion of the city of Kuo Te(cid:145) Lung, and have grown con-
tinuously over the past centuries. The buildings are of
This temple-based order is located in the Imperial
yellow brick, with red tile roofs, and ramble over the
Capital of Kuo Te(cid:146) Lung, in Wang Kuo Province. As stu-
length of breadth of the order(cid:146)s hilltop properties.
dents of the cat style of kung fu, monks of this very
The largest building is a four story temple to the
civilized order train long and hard to develop quick-
patron immortals, Chan Cheng and Fa(cid:146)Kuan.
ness and agility. But they are also trained in the under-
The life of a monk here is fairly traditional, if lighter
lying philosophy of the Path, as well as the literature
in manual labor and heavier in comforts than more
and arts of Shou Lung. This makes them clever
conservative orders would approve of. Besides pro-
debaters, and gives them a depth of religious under-
viding teaching for all classes of students, the monks
standing uncommon among the Shou-ling priesthood.
also maintain farms, copy rare manuscripts, and go
The order also has a large number of women in its
among the people to heal the sick and injured. In war-
ranks, more than any other Shou-ling sect. It is fitting
time, the sohei and monks of the Dragon Order are
that Ai Ch(cid:146)ing is the patron immortal of the sect.
invaluable defenders of the Emperor and serve with
Monks of the order are highly prized as advisors,
distinction in the Army of the Kingdoms. The sohei
religious counsellors, and personal bodyguards to the
are famed for their use of the naginata and halberd(cid:151)
Court. In fact, the Abbotess Yen Yu (Jade Eyes) was
many have become members of the Imperial Guard
once bodyguard to the Emperor(cid:146)s mother.
and serve as both religious teachers and protectors
The monastery has been heavily endowed by
within the walls of the Imperial Palace.
wealthy court patrons, and is very beautiful-some
Because the Order of the Dragon is in the largest
might say even opulent, as the order believes that
city of Shou Lung, with all manner of hostelries and
great beauty also serves the Path. Travelers and court
sanctuaries, it is unlikely that it will be used by trav-
patrons are very welcome, particularly for the news
elers. In the court, the sohei and monks present will
they bring. Food and lodging are most pleasant and
often (30%) be of this order, and that in any conflict
comfortable.
between sects, they will automatically do what they
White Crane Temple
feel is correct to protect the person or will of the
Imperial Family. Do not (cid:151) repeat (cid:151) do not ask a monk
The Order of the White Crane is located in Kirin,
of the Dragon to do something treasonous or sedi-
Hungtse Province. The order(cid:146)s abbott, Ch(cid:146)ang Tui
tious. He will kill you and atone for it later.
(Long Legs), maintains the traditions of the White
The monastery and temple settings offer a wide
Crane sect; a conservative tradition based on versatili-
variety of possible adventures. Monks may join forces
ty and worship of Shu Chia, the patron immortal.
with imperial soldiers to fight military threats. They
Members of the order are not only skilled in their
can wander aimlessly across Shou Lung, seeking
devotions and kung fu training, but are also physi-
enlightenment and incidentally fighting monsters,
cians, herbalists, astrologers, craftsmen and histo-
evil brigands and corrupt officials.
rians. Equal time is devoted to the study of the Path of
Enlightenment, the White Crane style of kung fu, and Government
manual labor. and Politics
Travelers are gladly offered the same simple sleep-
ing mat, vegetarian fare and training regime as the Great is the Government of Shou. Great in its scope,
monks of the order. Those staying for any length of grand in its execution, magnificent in its justice and
time greater than a week are required to work. The adaptability.
White Crane style of kung-fu is noted for its grace and The citizens of Shou Lung owe their ultimate alle-
speed. It(cid:146)s sohei are masters of two paired weapons; giance to the Emperor. He is the Son of Heaven, and the
jitte, sai, butterfly blades and nunchaku. Divine Gate to the Celestial Sphere. The symbol of the
Eternal Empire, he is wise, just and merciful to those
6
who oppose his commands. Under him, the bureauc- is worthy of the Emperors direct attention. The Chan-
racy and the court exist only as agents of his will. cellor controls to a large degree who can and cannot
The Emperor chooses his own successor from those see the Emperor, manages the Imperial Family(cid:146)s calen-
he deems most suitable; usually the eldest sons of his dar of appearances, makes sure that the Emperor(cid:146)s
bloodline, but often a daughter if no son is available. directives are followed and his proclamations posted
He may choose to resign his high office and return to in all the cities of the Empire, and watches the
private life, but this is most rare. For behind each Bureaucracy diligently for the first signs of treason,
Emperor rests the fate of a dynasty, and in a land corruption or subversion.
where ancestors are worshipped as near gods, even As one of the most powerful people in the Empire,
the Son of Heaven must honor the traditions and the Chancellor faces a great deal of temptation. This is
deeds of those who came before him. why many Chancellors of past reigns have found
themselves beheaded for the slightest hint of corrup-
Emperor Kai Tsao Shou Chin
tion, while others have become all but Emperor in
10th level Samurai/Noble
name.
L,G human male (with one-quarter hengeyokai blood)
The Chamberlain
In his middle 50s, the Emperor Kai Tsao Shou Chin
truly lives up to his name of Rebuilder of the Dragon.
The Chamberlain of the Imperial Court is responsi-
He is a tall, powerfully built man, with the stature and
ble for maintaining the Household of the Imperial
character of his mountain ancestors. Calm, slow to
Court. He handles the Palace finances, schedules the
anger, and thoughtful, he rules with a firm hand over
maids, guards and entertainers. He administers to the
the mighty Empire, its sprawling bureaucracy, and its
needs of the Imperial Family and their various concu-
contentious nobles and priests. Under his directives,
bines, courtiers and guests. Under his auspices, ban-
the navy and armies have been rebuilt, and there is
quets are prepared, state ceremonies arranged, and
peace with Wa and Kozakura. His (cid:147)Gathering of the
gifts delivered. The Chamberlain is also responsible
Pearls(cid:148) has recovered much of what previous weak
for tasting the Imperial Family(cid:146)s food for poison,
Emperors have lost.
which is one of the larger drawbacks of the position.
Kai Chin faces many obstacles in his reign. Chief
However, this is balanced by the access the Chamber-
among these is the opposition of the mandarinate to
lain has to the treasury and gifts of State.
his policies of reform. The addition of science and
alchemy to the traditional ministries is viewed with The Emporer(cid:146)s Wu Jen
alarm, as are his policies of eliminating corrupt offi- Kao Shan Ten
cials and replacing them with new blood. He has L,G Human male
angered the nobles by refusing to allow new fiefs and The Emperor(cid:146)s Wu jen is one of his most important
properties to be taken from peasant lands. And the advisors, for it is he who employs the necessary sorce-
official Faith of the Empire faces a great schism which ries to see the future, spy upon enemies, and turn
he must somehow heal over in the coming years. away magic threats to the Empire. The Emperor(cid:146)s Wu
Kai Chins Empress and two concubines have pro- Jen is usually, but not always a follower of the Chung
vided him with a total of eight heirs, including three Tao faith, for they are known to be the most powerful
fine sons in direct line of succession. His daughters wizards in all Shou Lung.
are both clever and accomplished, sharing the same
The High Priest
great beauty as their mothers. At present, his greatest
family problem has been the recent kidnapping of his As High Priest of the official Faith, the Royal Abbott
next-to-youngest daughter, and his eldest son(cid:146)s is responsible for the spiritual concerns of the Royal
enraged reaction upon learning that Princess Mei Family. It is he who makes sure the proper sacrifices
Ling was secretly involved in a romantic liaison with are observed; that the Imperial Family is devout and
the young prince of T(cid:146)u Lung. are proper symbols of the Path, and that the Emper-
The Mandarinate or(cid:146)s proclamations do not contend with the writings
of the Path. At least that is the theory. The High Priest
The Mandarinate is made up of the upper echelon confers the deific name upon the Emperor upon his
of scholars and officials, and includes both court death. In all things, he is the spiritual teacher of the
scholars and the heads of various official ministries of Empire. This in turn gives him great influence over
the bureaucracy. The mandarins are select group, the temples and monasteries. Many a High Priest has
centered around the court in Kuo Te(cid:146) Lung and the taken bribes to sway the Emperor. Even upright men
neighboring city of Ping Chow. They are considered have sometimes proven too zealous in their punish-
to be the embodiment of the (cid:147)superior man(cid:148) of Lao ment of false beliefs.
Chin-Mao; talented, cultured and well educated. The The current High Priest is Kung Pu Mok. Vain, arro-
mandarinate includes: gant and stubborn, he longs to establish the power of
The Chancellor the Path once and for all. He believes that no earthly
ruler can truly understand the Will of Heaven, and
The Chancellor is the right hand of the Emperor, that the Empire should become a theocracy.
and is chosen by him at the Son of Heaven(cid:146)s ascension. Kung Pu Mok also harbors a not so secret desire for
It is the Chancellor who must read all of the reports the Emperor(cid:146)s third daughter, the Princess Pai.
from the Ministers of the Bureaucracy, deciding what Although she has spurned his advances several times,
7
he hopes that the Black Chung Tao will help him win view, understood the ways of Heaven and Tradition.
her love. In exchange, he has allowed the Black Ones He did not seek to command, but to lead by example.
to place spies and sorcerors into the Court, disguised Based on Lao Chin(cid:146)s principles, a new class of bureau-
as monks of the Shou-ling Faith. crat arose; a man who was educated, cultured and a
gentleman. These early (cid:147)superior men(cid:148) called them-
Court Painter, Poet, and Historian
selves the Mandarinate, and they remain today the
Constantly changing as the fashions at Court model for superior governance within the Empire.
change, the Court Painter and Poet serve the will of The bureaucracy is organized into eight great min-
the Emperor by composing works of poetry or art istries; State, War, Magic, Faith, Sea, Agriculture, Pub-
honoring his reign. The Court Historian is appointed lic Works and Security of the State. Of the eight, State
for life, as his task is to chronicle the events of the is the most powerful, covering fifteen separate
Court and the Dynasty. The current post for Court departments and having indirect command over the
Poet is vacant since the death of the previous appoint- Ministry of State Security as well. The various minis-
ee last year. There is growing sentiment in Court that tries constantly jockey for position in the ever-shifting
the position should be offered to the T(cid:146)u Lungian min- government, for no one is entirely safe from falling
strel Tan Nong, author of the popular Romance of the into political disfavor. At a single word, the Emperor
Three Lords; however, the promotion of a renegade may choose to abolish or create a ministry, as Kai Chin
(anyone from T(cid:146)u Lung) is a politically divisive issue. did in establishing the Departments of the (cid:147)Gathering
of the Pearls(cid:148) in 2589. This, combined with his wide-
The Nobility
reaching network of spies and censors, helps the Son
The noble class is the weakest of all the many fac- of Heaven maintain ultimate control over his sprawl-
tions at Court, a typical lord having far less power ing empire of bureaucrats.
than the average minister. Although each lord has his The Civil Service Examination
own private army, these are kept small by Imperial
decree, and must act in conjunction with the Provin- The foundation of the bureaucracy is the Civil Serv-
cial Governors when the Empire faces a threat. ice Examination. The examination is a way of assuring
The nobility, of course, chafes under these restric- that only the most qualified will run the Empire, and
tions, and therefore is a hotbed of dissent and rebel- that they will be selected in a fair and equitable way,
lion. The various noble houses constantly ally and by ability, not rank. The concept of the examinations
re-ally to determine the best way of taking power was first introduced by the Sage Lao Chin-Mao in 581,
from the bureaucracy and the priesthood. Plots are and immediately was favored by the mandarinate,
constantly afoot. The Ministry of the Security of the who saw it as a way to break the power of the nobles
State is ever vigilant to the perfidy of the noble lords. even further.
The examinations are held each year in the city of
The Bureaucracy
Ping Chow, eight days after the New Year. The exami-
The bureaucracy controls the day to day operations nations take place over a ten day period, with several
of a vast empire spanning nearly two thousand miles thousand applicants attending.
and over thirty million people. It is the single most Each applicant is enclosed for ten hours in a small
powerful force in the Empire, for although the chamber, one of some two thousand covering the vast
Emperor(cid:146)s will is law, it is the actions of the bureauc- Examination Field at the edge of Ping Chow. The
racy that enforce that law and make it reality. applicants are tested on their knowledge of the clas-
The bureaucracy was not always this powerful. sics; the Book of War, the Book of Heaven, and the His-
From its beginning as a group of court scribes in the Li tories. At the command of the Emperor Kai Chin,
Dynasty, it gradually grew as lax nobles delegated mathematics, physics and science have recently been
more of their authority to the clerics. It was during added to the examinations, although the mandarinate
the War of the Nobles (435-440) that the bureaucracy opposes this as a breach of tradition.
first came into its own. Embracing the Faith of the Applicants must take the examinations. In the past,
Nine (cid:145)Ravelers as its own, the bureaucracy quickly Emperors frequently appointed men to posts; this
found ways to play the various noble houses off of was simply a matter of the right bribe to the right per-
each other by controlling access to the Imperial Per- son, but recently, the Emperor has cracked down on
son. Requests were misplaced, decrees re-written, this corrupt practice. However, Emperor Kai Chin still
and records of inheritance lost, as clever clerks and considers the petitions of worthy applicants, no mat-
scribes cut arrogant nobles down a notch. By the late ter what their birth, and he has detailed a Department
400s, the power of the nobility-had been broken for- of the Ministry of State to seek out those who have
ever in a sea of paperwork. shown exceptional ability.
The final form of the bureaucracy was established The applicant must be of at least 3d level to apply to
during the tenure of Lao Chin-Mao (531-597). Realiz- take the examination. To pass, a roll below the charac-
ing that a nation the size of the Empire required a ter(cid:146)s Intelligence score on 1D20 must be made.
steady hand upon the wheel of state, the sage codified Scholars add +2 to Intelligence when making the
much of the manners and rules of proper behavior check. For every point below your Intelligence, your
into his massive Book of Heaven. Among the princi- score places you at a higher starting position within
ples of the book was the concept of the superior man, the bureaucracy:
or ch(cid:146)ao teng te jen. The superior man, in Lao Chin(cid:146)s
8