Martial Arts

The Empire of Chi'in has a long tradition of Martial Arts. From Jian, God of Fist, and Vo, God of Palm, who taught the ways of martial combat to Nuwa's children, to the heroes who fought alongside Song Gi. The Magistrates and Exorcists who have used their skills to combat insidious threats to the Empire to the Armies that have defended it from its enemies.

Today, there are dozens of schools and hundreds of Martial Arts styles in the Empire. Some have evolved the techniques passed down by Jian and Vo. Others have sought to emulate other gods, demons, animals or embody particular philosophies. A few are for show, not designed for combat, while others aim to maximise the user's lethality. Many styles have developed around specialised weapons, such as sabres, spears, bows, staves, etc…

The examples presented here are by no means exhaustive, and there are many more styles in and beyond the Empire.

Martial Arts in Shu are centred around the Twelve Great Schools. Built on the mountain where Jian and Vo were said to have taken the first students, the Twelve Great Schools are some of the oldest institutions in Chi'in. Hundreds of students practice one of the twelve styles descended from Jian and Vo's originals and numerous masters refine ancestral techniques and perfect moves. Some now view the styles of the Schools as extremely basic, while the masters insist that proper foundations are the way to true mastery.

The College of Exorcists maintains its own school, teaching defence from ghosts and other undead, with moves designed to protect themselves from supernatural threats.

One of the Twelve Great Schools, the School of the Ox teaches resilience and fortitude. The students harden their bodies and minds to resist any hardships, and rely on their brute strength and superior size to overwhelm their opponents.

Martial Arts in Wei are as chaotic as the cities, with tiny schools nestled between rising tenements. In the alleys of Xian Geung can be found dark, tiny spaces where for the right price, masters give instruction in styles banned by the Dragon Throne. In addition, the heavy triad presence has led to a rise in improvised styles. Without the benefit of a knowledgeable master or a proper school in which to learn, many have resorted to a 'anything that gets results' attitude. Wei styles are often highly vicious, using ravaging or improvised weapons to settle combats in brutal and efficient ways.

One of the hundreds of styles without a dedicated School, Laughing Hawk style is practiced on docks throughout the Empire as a way to dupe passers-by from their coin. The style uses a combination of feints and weaves to appear impressive while its user relieves his audience of their material wealth.

The constant strife in the Province of Wu, whether against bandits or the Tribes of the North, have led to the development of a vast number of disparate styles. The vast majority are based on the styles taught to Imperial Soldiers, adapted for use by lone warriors or small bands. In addition, Wu Martial Arts often incorporate moves from other styles that the user has found impressive or effective. Many masters come to Wu in order to exchange techniques and develop new styles. Most practitioners in Wu know the lineage of their style, and which of the ancestral ones they are descended from.

Not based in any single place, the Searing Wind Academy was founded by Master Wen when he saw the devastation wrought on a village in Wu by bandits. Students of the Searing Wind Academy travel the Province of Wu, seeking to teach peasants and the common folk techniques to defend themselves.

Basic Martial Arts are taught to all members of the Imperial Army. Or particular note are the Imperial Sword, Imperial Bow and Imperial Spear styles, a set of styles that anyone can learn and gives them basic proficiency with the three mainstay weapons of the Army. Schools exist in the Imperial Capital that teach mounted combat and styles designed to be used in specialised situations, such as when boarding ships. It is rumoured that the Dragon Throne grants special dispensation to use banned styles to certain groups, such as the Order of the Black Lotus and the Emperor's own bodyguards.

The Imperial Quan is the School for the edification and instruction of the Imperial Person and his family, often overseen by a wide variety of visiting masters. It is not associated with any one style.

People outside the Empire have their own Martial Arts, such as the Tribes of the North's specialised weapons and techniques designed to be used from horseback, or the various esoteric styles of the isles of the East. Masters in these styles are hard to find, much less convince to part with their knowledge, but there are stories of travelers who have returned to Chi'in having learnt strange new moves and armed with weapons seldom seen in the Empire, such as the obsidian daggers of the South or the warhammers used by some desert dwellers.

Travelers who come from the wild, untamed isles of the East whisper of the Dawn Star Monastery. Students of the Dawn Star are faster than most, striking at the body's chakras and disrupting the flows of chi in their opponents.