The Mystic Schools of the Steppe

The Mystic Schools of the Steppe

The system of Mysticism being used here is based on that in Hero Wars, but developed rather differently.

Zho Lath Ey  (Mysticism, Illusion)

“All life is slavery”

Mythos and History

Zho was a great practitioner of some of the magics of Aptenace the Sage, who saw that the rules to be applied to life in the Kralorelan Empire were simply restrictions.  He meditated on how to live a life that was unbounded, and came to the realisation that any interaction with another being imposed limitations.  Over time he encountered illumination, and as Zho Lath introduced a reclusive Way that distanced the practitioner from all others.

This served him for two centuries, until he realised the isolation from others was also a chain.

His subsequent period of meditation brought him to the realisation that he declaimed to the Exarch of Boshan, “All Life is Slavery, including your life and that of the Dragon Emperor”.  His mystic powers enabled him to avoid further restraint and execution.

As Zho Lath Ey he introduced a new Way, one that people of all ranks could embrace, seeing all the enslavements of life, and choosing which to accept and which to reject.

Depiction

Open coffle chains.

Particular Likes and Dislikes

No great favour to any, but absolute detestation for any who place others in chains.

Cult Organization and Holy Places

Each Dojo is independent, with absolute disobedience being as accepted as absolute obedience.

Holy Days

None as such.

Physical Training

All methods of escapology and gymnastics.  There is no Martial Art within the way of Zho Lath Ey.

Mental Training

The mystic is taught extreme introspection, with the ability to see any restrictions being imposed, by community, self, or other individual.

Spiritual Training

The mystic is taught the magics that allow them to shatter restraint, and to discard slavery.

Powers

Escape Physical Restraint

Identify Restraint

Overcome Restraint

Escape Slavery

Gymnastics

Novice

Anyone with a Mysticism rune may join.  They are schooled in the basics of the Way at their Dojo, discovering the hidden powers of slavery in the world.

Mystic

Anyone with 1Ш in either of the cult runes may attempt to convince their Dojo’s Enlightened E y that they are fit to be a Mystic.  This is overcoming a Hard resistance.  They learn all the Powers as indirect magical abilities.

Enlightened Ey

A Mystic with 11Ш in the keyword must overcome Very Hard resistance to be accepted as an Enlightened Ey.  The Enlightened must depart their Dojo, and have the option of starting one of their own.

The Enlightened use their Powers as direct magical abilities.

Sheng and his first seven disciples in Boshan

Immanent Mastery (Mysticism, Dragon)

“Let us shorten the Path”

Mythos and History

The form of the School of Immanent Mastery which has been brought to the plains is similar, yet distinctly different from that of Kralorela.  The powers that are available are those of draconic humanity, not of dragons limited by human form.

Depiction

A naked bisexual figure covered in scales..

Particular Likes and Dislikes

Likes any draconic power.

Cult Organization and Holy Places

Each Dojo is independent, with absolute disobedience to the Incipient Dragon as a requirement.

Holy Places for the cult are those where dragons are known to dwell or frequent.

Holy Days

None as such.

Physical Training

Strength and endurance.  The Martial Art of The Growing Dragon is both an armed and unarmed style.

Mental Training

The art of Draconic Thought is taght, along with Auld Wyrmish in both written and rudimentary spoken form.

Spiritual Training

The mystic is taught the magics that allow them to imitate draconic powers.

  

Powers

Skin hard as dragonscale

Health as impervious as dragonsgut

Shrug off flame as if draconic

Kata of the Growing Dragon

Claws sharp as dragon talons

Novice

Anyone with a Mysticism rune may join.  They are schooled in the basics of the Way at their Dojo, discovering the hidden dragon within themselves.

Mystic

Anyone with 1Ш in either of the cult runes may attempt to convince their Dojo’s Incipient Dragon that they are fit to be a Mystic.  This is overcoming a Hard resistance.  They learn all the Powers as indirect magical abilities.

Incipient Dragon

A Mystic with 11Ш in the keyword must overcome Very Hard resistance to be accepted as an Incipient Dragon.  The Incipient must depart their Dojo, and have the option of starting one of their own.

The Incipient use their Powers as direct magical abilities.

Third Eye (Mysticism, Storm)

“Now I see your inevitable defeat”

Mythos and History

When Shavaya opened the Third Eye of the Solar Storm, some of the cultists discovered that they had found a different way to power, while they had lost their original contact with the Solar Storm.

The cult is highly secretive, and has established a presence in and beyond the Jankley Bore, where they seek to grow in influence without becoming tools of other powers.

Depiction

A mighty king and mage with three eyes, the third central and upright.

Particular Likes and Dislikes

Detest Shavaya cultists, and intensely fear Can Shu.

Cult Organization and Holy Places

Each Dojo is independent, with absolute obedience to the Open Eye.

Holy Days

None as such.

Physical Training

Running, swimming, climbing and leaping.  The Martial Art of the Whipping Wind is both armed and unarmed.

Mental Training

The mystic is taught to judge the intentions of others, and to hear lies and false friendship.

Spiritual Training

The mystic is taught the magics that allow them to shatter the rocks of the Bore, and to hide their path.

Powers

Kata of the Whipping Wind

Hear deceit in your voice

Blow rock apart to release the Inner Wind

Whip scree across my path

Snatch weapon away with Wind Whip

Novice

Anyone with a Mysticism rune may join.  They are schooled in the basics of the Way at their Dojo, discovering the benefits of an opened Third Eye.

Mystic

Anyone with 1Ш in either of the cult runes may attempt to convince their Dojo’s Open Eye that they are fit to be a Mystic.  This is overcoming a Hard resistance.  They learn all the Powers as indirect magical abilities.

Open Eye

A Mystic with 11Ш in the keyword must overcome Very Hard resistance to be accepted as an Incipient Dragon.  The Incipient must depart their Dojo, and have the option of starting one of their own.

The Incipient use their Powers as direct magical abilities.

Setting forth to fight Shavaya,
before the opening of his Third Eye

These are the three Ways with an 'organised' presence on the steppe.  There are others that may be found in individual communities that have no other fellow groupings in Pent.