Wu-Tang

The House

Master Tianxing Rank: Clan Leader Role: Chief Strategist, keeper of the clan’s greatest secrets and conveyor of main quests. Description: Has been the master of The House of Wu-Tang for over three decades and is considered by many to be close to hanging up his blade. He is a swordsman of direct lineage to The House of Wu, as is his prized, yet tainted lost pupil, The Master Lingyun.

Master Huangho Rank: Elder of Wu-Tang Role: Keeper of the clan’s Kung Fu and Chi Kung techniques and conveyor of quests. Description: Reportedly he is over 140 years old. His personality is tough and his mind is as sharp as his steel. He was initially doubtful of the clan leader’s selection of Master Lingyun as a disciple, and believes his doubts were proven true following Lingyun’s disappearance after The War of Nine Dragons. He remains a trusted advisor to Tianxing. He is also credited with training Xuanxuan, who is reputedly the second best swordsman in Wu-Tang. It is said that Master Huangho will not die until he has discovered and trained the swordsman who can exceed Master Lingyun.

Master Xuanxuan Rank: Truist of Wu-Tang Role: Kung Fu instructor and giver of quests. Description: He was the first teacher responsible for training Master Lingyun, and is currently revered as the second best swordsman beneath him. He is also the first candidate to become the next clan leader since Master Lingyun is missing. Because of his strict discipline and rough manner, disciples fear that clan life will change drastically once he becomes the clan’s master. His black garb, symbolic of his lineage, stands out in striking contrast against other Wu-Tang disciples, who wear the traditional blue and white clan wardrobe.

Juyun Rank: Truist of Wu-Tang Role: Manager of clan contributions and giver of quests. Description: The surname ‘Yun’ marks him as the same generation of swordsmen as Master Lingyun, and he is regarded the second best swordsman of his class. Juyun differs greatly from his fellow brother, Qingyun, who is something of a braggart, and he is revered for his mastery of Boundless Fists technique.

Qingyun Rank: Taoist of Wu-Tang Role: Quest giver. Description: Talented with the sword he may be, but he is flawed in his manner of constant boasting, especially in regard to his relationship to Master Lingyun. Though he shares the same generation name and lineage as the lost Dragon, it is the result of sharing common teachers and they never actually studied together. He commonly criticizes Master Lingyun’s way of life and sword skills, and often exaggerates his own.

Caiyun Rank: Taoist of Wu-Tang Role: Seller of clan goods Description: A woman in her thirties who sells clan goods. She does not tolerate men flirting with her, and as they often misjudge her Kung Fu skills, it is a common sight to see her drop a male disciple to his knees.

Longfeng Rank: Blue Sword of Wu-Tang Role: Captain of The Guard Description: Fierce leader of the clan’s Blue Sword Guards, and first graduate of the class of Feng. He is known to display a hot temper. The wooden sword that he carries is not for practice, but for swift punishments doled out to new trainees.

Cuifeng Rank: Tao Journeyman Role: Quest giver Description: A recent graduate of the class of Feng, who plans to become a Tao Scholar and Priestess, which means she may never get married. Many male disciples consider this ambition a waste of her beauty.

Territory

Clan Stronghold

Wu Tang Shan is located in the North Lake District. There the high mountains are shingled by layered, crystallized formations, caused by natural erosion, which have created many strange looking peaks, crooked valleys and streams. Wu-Tang’s stronghold is nestled in the center of the range’s three highest peaks.

Organization and Rank

Ranks of the Clan

Truist The title of Truist is the rank for a disciple who has become an initiate of the ways of The Tao. Upon achieving this title and demonstrating one’s knowledge of the true nature of The Land, a Truist can be considered a leader or an elder of the clan.

Tao Ascetic This title is used to refer to a Taoist Priest or Priestess.

Taoist Once you become a Taoist, you are considered a true student of The Way. Caiyun and Qingyun are Taoists. Lingyun shares the syllable "yun" with both of them, meaning they all are of the same generation within the clan.

Tao Journeyman Cuifeng is a Tao Journeyman, meaning she has just graduated from her apprenticeship.

Tao Disciple A clansman who has entered a class of swordsmen, taken a clan name, and begun his or her apprenticeship. Apprenticeship often takes a disciple several years to complete, and it is their Sifu, or trainer who deems their individual ascension to the next rank by ascertaining their Kung Fu merit and mastery.

Tao Apprentice An aspirant of Wu-Tang Clan who has yet to become a full disciple.

Rules and Regulations

Rules and Regulations of the Clan When a person joins Wu-Tang they are renouncing their own worldly will to the higher purposes of The Tao, as dictated by their elders, and swearing an oath of allegiance to defend The Imperial Emperor. The Tao is a philosophy, not a religion, a noble path to align oneself with the law of The Land from the natural balance of Yin and Yang. With this in mind…

1. Seek to comprehend the Tao in all things. Through meditation on The Five Elements, The Three Treasures, The writings of the Tao Te Ching, and your own observations of the world, come to know The Tao and your rightful place within it.

2. Lay down your sword at the foot of The Imperial Emperor. Learn your lessons in Tai Chi Chuan and utilize them to master your Kung Fu and sword techniques. Then come to full realization that you yourself are the sword and pledge your allegiance to The Imperial Emperor, whom The Land itself has selected as its voice.

3. Take back the Art when it violates The Tao. If you encounter a martial artist who uses their art to selfish purpose that violates The Tao, you must allow your sword to disable or retire their ability to do so.

Three Punishments

► Violation of an elder disciple’s command is grounds for banishment.

► Violation which endangers The Imperial Emperor is cause for execution.

► Violation of the natural order of The Tao by one who comprehends such violation is said to promulgate insanity by the offender in both this world and that which lies beyond.

The Clan’s Strengths and Weaknesses

► Strengths: Personal loyalty from pupil to master, and the desire to become selfless to the will of one’s sword, as dictated by The Tao, and one’s world, as dictated by The Imperial Emperor, makes Wu-Tang one of the most efficient clans in all aspects of commerce and chain-of-command.

► Weaknesses: Personal grudges over honor and correct interpretation of The Tao, between disciples and others, as well as between clans, cause conflict and vendettas to arise that almost always result in bloodshed.

Clan Allegiance and Perspective Wu-Tang’s role in The Land is one of enlightened governing force. It acts in defense of that which is righteousness, and its disciples carry their honor as if it were a religious code. Whether or not the current Imperial Emperor, or his Court, whom they have sworn to defend, are perceived as fair, Wu-Tang has always been revered by the commoners as a pillar of strength and as an arbiter of justice. Wu-Tang views Shaolin, the clan from which it sprang, as a brother and both Heavenly Demon and Sacred Flower clans as mortal enemies.

Tao driven disregard for personal karmic responsibility in combat.

► Bright Side: Since disciples of Wu-Tang believe that “The sword kills not the disciple” or that the pupil has surrendered himself to the judgment of The Way, they do not believe themselves responsible for the bad karma brought about by killing. Whereas a Shaolin monk must focus his energy on disarming his opponents, to avoid unnecessary killing, the disciple of Wu-Tang is free to defend the weak and powerless with greater aggression and to greater effect.

► Dark Side: Unlike Shaolin, which try to reform the evil through Buddha’s mercy and compassion, Wu-Tang believes that a balanced cosmos demands justice through retribution against evil. Unfortunately, the level of comprehension of The Tao, which acts as each Wu-Tang disciple’s moral compass, varies from disciple to disciple. Therefore, a rightful death or assassination in the eyes of one clansman, might be seen as a lesser offense by another. In this regard, disputes often arise, and if the laws of Karma are in fact, not as the Wu-Tang disciples interpret, then bad karma may well be their collective downfall.

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