ee hen I was agirl, used to dream about the future I wouldinthe service, though, land they looked after my father, Daddy was Ja lawyer, part of the Jgovernment ministry that helped the keiretsuworktogether. | \ He was stern, and he Jsmoked, and I never | [saw him very much. ‘Mymotherwas good-hearted but \!|_ conservative, the | |daughter of one of grandfather's friends from the were things she wanted to say to me, but never did. Atl fee) ey T didn't have many friends, T studied and read, and waited for the romance that would carry ‘me away. I was young, then, and it seemed like some great adventure was right around the corner. |= T TT wT ThMother died when I was fourteen. The doctors said it was ‘brain embolism — instantly fatal. Whatever she had meant ‘o tell me, she couldn't say it now. Father said nothing, I | suppose it was nothing new to him, to be left alone. TT 1F UT TTT TT TTT i Father helped arrange] my marriage, but he was! very modern about it. He made sure approved. Even’ made. sure it was a love| match. Maybe it was really love, or maybe I was just} hoping for that adventure. | ‘The ceremony was beautiful. I actually fainted, [Something I refuse to let embarrass me, even now. My| —— dreams were finally taking flight and even if I wouldn't be driving the Mach 5, wasnow the wife of a promising young executive,But promising young executives work Tong hours. When my husband wasn't working all night, he was drinking all night. Men who didn't party didn’t make the right [connections, and ended up in the back of the office trib T used to watch the trains go by our house and dream that each one. carried a bit of my life away with it. Commuter trains in the morning and the evening, freight trains in the afternoon and late at night. I felt 1s though T would live that way forever. We had hoped for a child, but one never came. We went BAe ‘to doctors, and they called it “nonspecific ovarian failur meaning they didn't have an answer. My husband didn't blame me, but I did.iy igh | {to serve his company. When the insurance firm he helped lcaptain declared bankruptcy, he hanged himself. He did lat his of fice ~ to spare me, I think. ‘Inthe days before he died, I knew what he was going to do. I wanted to beg him not to die, but the life I had chosen Inever prepared me to say such words. 7]SEaAe SS, _> ee \ A ‘My guilt was without words or reason — I didn't even know why I wanted to die. I helped myself to a ete of sleeping pills and sealed a plastic bag around m jes that American death doctor recommended, a But death wasnt The end. The troin that took my soulaway] +0 Kakuri Yomi was full of broken souls, and the ticket-taker| punched my hand to mark my fare. I hadn't known the world] [could hold enough wounded lives to fill that train. 5 7Kakuri Yomi is @ hell of snow and blackness. Of my time there, I remember only fragments. My ashes had been scattered by the time I returned, and I swirled together at la crossroads in the night, A snow-woman, I took the warmth of several before the Devil-Tigers caught me. ‘They taught me manners, and then gave me over to Pi the mandarins for training. a wale Ae inn aa ae SS nlightenment is hard wor) pest to aid my brothers and sister. , but I am rarely alone. The HA provided gladly. T have a child now, and T will raise her andf ‘teach her as best I can in the ways of living. my {|| courtshave givenmec family, and will gladly lay my toil aside SJ , | The train will not ¥ i agai What the doctors could not give me, my corpse-bod elo et tel ty fe cay from neo Tam a dragon, catching dreams within my coils. Tama er, shredding nightmares with my claws. This is my istence now, and I neither bless it nor curse.it, but Having been dead, one learns to] appreciate the value of such things. Lor PTTWe Ore THE Hungry Guosts ‘Br Grorrrey C. Grasowsk) Vane caren sv Max Rew © HagenTaam dedicated to my lover's cub. May he be sun, as cleyemas.the moon, and brave \e) ‘Art Dission, Layout & Tying: Ba Inter Becky Cloon ns Soe i ¢ Gaydos, M Uren ) a Front G i Front & Back Cove 6 f “Aeron Aparrarjous f or tne Ei a Books, tiff book contains i utegrate the syffems herein with he Mind's Eye Theatre supple- the M edo, b ice ether you you'll find alliyoueeed to| Dance of the Thrashing sn sidebar at the " chapter,Remember r final say a§ to which. Fora fee White Wolf catalog call 1-80 (Checkout White Wolf oaline a Lhupi/wwrewhite-wolf.com: ale.games white PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES,All we desire is to ’ extn on ge, oo ah it pases ‘utmost pleasure it can afford. Our only trouble is tha the by can hold no more while che mouths stil greedy, and the ps of the body give out while the lust is stil serong. —The Chuang Tzu, trans. Arthur Whaley portray themselves unliving state makes it very difficult co truly understand ng undead mon- this teaching tool olats,asdevils, And yet, Thrashing Dragons still strive to reach they truly spiritual perfection through the study oflife. They seek to h life penetrate its illusions, to understand its wisdom and to learn its lessonsin the instinctive fashion of a beast. Then road is ahard one; their bodies are numb, their appetits sters. The see themselves asagents of the ancestors, are — monsters surviving from of others. But one Dharma embra Dharma accepts the Cathayan's undes it central to its beliefs. This Dharma is the Dance of the Each vampire on this twisting path bel way to enlightenment is observation nature. This isknownasthe maya, the il and each follower accepts wholehea“ate creatures, given, le, sc bearing chil- eet to existence sitsmpoorly with marty Resplendent’ devileTigers Though iis not a rsecuted alt ts @@ often at a sadvania in poliiealaitters anddsubject tO the spin is feyetsed. There, theipow- Malay penitila rule the Soul E-All those whoitravel ith region musts their bloodycGdeof moralityyandinany traveling gipChinese varpites have mer their endibat the hands of a * Offetided blood-dfigen or at those of one Ofhermanylavers. ‘RegataleBF their location, all Thrashing Drag! ons share a dynamic approach to enlightenment, Asthe Dharmic personificationsofthe Yang principle and the eastern way, they are like green growing vines, reaching for sustenance. Where they can find enlightenment, they take it, and they are forever try- 4 ing to spread 4 new spiri- tual envi- ron ments. Be the Ten Seasons Sect or a savage penangallan, every Thraghing Dragon’ shares the same goal — to understand life'éerue and brutal lessons, and thus attain enlightenment. How To Use Tiys Boor ‘The Dance of the Thrashing Dragon is a verf@asy. Dharma to play asa caricature. But, like the other Kuel jin faiths, it has a great deal of depth for serious playets to explore, For all that it focuses on sex, drugs and violence, the Thrashing Dragon faith isa real religion that strives to better its members spiritually. The dance provides owever, and in'the ” ~3> ¢ Brae those who follow it with access to true wisdom and a road ‘back t6 the graces of Heaven. This book is your guideite sip angetous and exotic sect of killers. Reflections on OursState discusses the Dharma through the) narrativelof @mjeducated and moderate “Qiiteunye mandarin: Te portrays the Dharma and its Telationsywith the outside world. and itself, as the “aver- cage” Thrashing Dragon sees them. ‘The Holy Rhythm digeisses the tenets and sects of PheDharmaabstractly,aswell show themembers ofthis Dhatma view theP'e. Tiger’s-Claws, Dragon's Teeth fecinites the many seeclalized rituals, altemace Diseiplin¥and srifacrs that :membets ofthis, Dharma have dev ised overthe years to follow-their dangerous and challenging faith. It also provides advice for play- ing Thrashing Dragonech ters withousindilging in gross fearicarue. showcases five starting-level f characters for use as H Storyteller or player H characters. Faces of the Dance FY profiles asmumber of influ- "ental ofimportant Thrash- BP ing)Diayons active in the 7 Middle Kingdom soday. Lexicon Godlings are not tolerated in ¢ ence their existences to the fullest and without apol- ogy. It is a central tener of their faith that one must learn to love what one truly is. Not to love yourself or your good points, or to love certain things about yours ib 9 siniplypficcept and take comfort from tL. 1d Crane Mother teaches, gs, and maim it. Cutoffone 15 tits new life. It does not heen, nor does it pine for pre. Now, it is a three-legged ts business as best it ean. The ofth ingRainbow is to be like that dog — I thovt jdstification or regrets. The rainbow r FRNAL ScH i beaucy witho houghes, and nature laughs Oo tt ax fount d on sects‘aad temples ro el -ainbow is likewise exuber- like the D Te opResplendent Cra i with her as well. I am a it disorgamige like the Rootless Trees. ind I will make no pretense Member do follow different sects, af nny portrayal. ; > but the ly adherence to the teach: SBalnbow faith is primarily prac- ings of @ particulag€orpse-saint, whe advocates a iced ivilized lands of northern Asia — the proaching id. Each has thisattvas was seeker after knowledge, Gfially fewer uncommitted Ofie climbs the hierarchy. the intention of finding a iad of the Dharma. As Dh cuagicious occa. deyong Kein falter, and md O who are tain of th etpe surety Oligretbby the teach m Only thie eosis of renment truly, determined their own, and open 3 for others to follow. Quincunx, the Japanese uj and in some parts of the Green Courts. There are individual Laughing Rain- bows elsewhere, but those places are the strongholds of my path. I hope that after you finish your educa- tion here at the temple, you will choose to fallow in the Thousand Crane Mother's footsteps as well, though I will not begrudge you your faith if you choose otherwise. ‘We Laughing Rainbows often indulge in sex, drugs and violence, but our path is not strictly one of physical sensation. It simply requires a very pure existence, free of guilt and inhibitions. For many, this does involve physical indulgence, but it is not a prerequisite to practice this faith. Laughing Rainbows combine pure living with reflection on the nature of existence. Holding the ice of death in one hand, the Rainbow reaches out and grasps the fire of life with the other. She learns not just from the sensation of fire and the sensation of ice, but from the differences between them, and the changes they cause within her. ‘The Laughing Rainbow sect is guided by Thou- sand Crane Mother herself, who has tutored and instructed members of the faith since the beginning of the sect. Until recently, there was another bodhisattvaduring the Mongol conquest of the Souther dynasty. Tremendously powerful, afid fall 4 like joy, Black Earth Boy was. terrible foe of darlnitaay In the 1700s, he went to the Infinite Thunders Court. to fight the rakshasa and Godlings of that di Recently, when the prince of the rakshasa rose to w; the earth, Black Earth Boy and two other bodhisattvag traveled to fight him. Alll three bodhisattvas and the prince of the rakshasa were destroyed when the fires of Heaven were unleashed on the battlefield. ‘Tue Thousano-Facen THunpers The bodhisattva Moon-Eyed Tiger founded this sect early in the existence of the Dharma. It was not very long after Thousand Crane Mother gave the speech known as Scattering of the Seeds, and de- scribed thélteBew! gf the Dharma in an abstract fashién thatlefe Biisfap an road open to apo- theBtighMoon-EyedsTigér caughitthae spieitsiwere, emblematie Gf eteatiGhyar@’that to exist near spirits, velose proximity to the dance of life Faced Thilfiders sect are thus 5 kes. Ofgifallyh de Ty toand- Facet ; the AatutaliWorld, but as the XiongR@n beast- <_< et Gfebecame i intolerant the Thunders were forced tofétreat to areas: For he st 500 years fonsopthey have been largely cixy-dwelling and be- comectosely alli€el witheeicy spisits, particularly urban elementals. Te odéfnabe has been a great blessing a TT ager sect Thee ‘the méntopgand ambassadors to the Pages mentals: Ces ee infOrmation when thesefirseeame beings are powerful wn i vampires of this sect are reaping the their early patronage, ghousWhd-Faced Thtinder sect are sorcerers astirlBners of the Tapestry discipline. Just as -y makepactt and alliances with greater spirits, fthef often bid lesser spirits to their service as well. In recent nights, Thousand-Faced Thunder sect mem- bers have even begun to bargain openly with urban elementals, taking them into service without the use of binding pacts. The Thousand-Faced Thifderexploic thetemas. WFroyer elementals of the modern watldlto, work = magic oftechnology. They/eanysubvent: any security) system, brealbinto any coffiputen, Cause materials to functionsift (mpoRibleshions and failjwithout rea- PHeymsetheir spirit servantsto cree eft ab halve (ar nibre acto withyinagic Ta the Thousand. Faced Thunders arewtl ¢ fin@kedge bffeorruptions While their’ >pirin er Sari Bindi ate, theoretically undertaken Thteng te outcome rarely appears of€€ muchimare focused on goFEHERatural world, bur now Q¥ith, merchant relations in the Mirrgpsfands: a the sect once used their sorcery binds spiritSiro ct as servants, guards andClot Harshetcs his ascent respected by other Drag- ‘a bodhisattva since Moon- enlightened, her enlightenment was ‘not all of her ideas are enment as she did. Nev- xn their existences after her in all ways. the female form ity and a mystical pa relates femimine form Ej Pavune’ 1¢ feminine, Payung spent most, one form of offspr well. Most wear exaggerated d have imbalanced themselves to- ey.¢an reproduce. ging Rainbows take a measured wone. Rather than carefully wenlightenment, their life is a 3s, sexuality and combat train- ing. \t and combative enough that the a 18 are said to fear them. In the model of the bodhisattva they venerate, they throw themselves into conflict and keep harems of younger Kuei-jin held in thrall to them through guancxi rites, Passion Bloodflowers practice a form of frenzied ecstatic involvement, for which they ingest rare and maddening hallucinogens and work themselves up into a Yang-crazed frenzy. The penangallan enter this insane and bestial state to hurl themselves at their ‘enemies, or to dance in mad packs over the grounds of their properties, tearing to rags of flesh all whom they come upon. Most terrifying of all, this ecstasy ampli- fies and enhances the effects of the Dragon Dance. Predators among predators, these are dangerous beings. Their violence rivals that of their neighbors, the Brilliant Coals Devil-Tigers, whom some say also trace their faith to Piyau Payung. Passion Bloodflowers are religious fanatics whose fervent belief is not a menace to the world around them only because it professes the beauty of the jungles in which it thrives and from which it rarely expands. Walk among them with care, and do not subscribe to their crimson faith unless you truly understand what faith it is that you avow. The Crimson Queens of the Golden Courts do not have a leader. Since the departure of Piyau Payung,there have been no bodhisartvas ami@ngthem: One of, the penangallan is said to be on théWerge’of-ateatning that hallowed state, however, and actgas thee Fabra voice of the faith during times offerisls when thy, Golden Courts must make their opinion known. ‘his, vampire is called Shout of Anger and dwells ina. temple in the Malay interior. She is served by het dhampyr acolytes, and also by her harem of Tessef penangallan. Her followers train with her in confbayg and she frequently entertains visitors from around the Golden Courts to debate theology or spar in ritual combat. ‘Ten. Seasons Seer The Ten SU8Bing Sect is devofedhes the venera- ‘tion of nauaife’s Wonder as @€Gnypléx fabric of relation- sships, fhe sect is so named because tts founder, Old ‘Man Spider, opc& sald that a disciple who had his wits about him Gould become g cofpse-saint after just ten seasons Ogbie Wine gifdien. So far, noone has come close} batman have tried. ‘THA is not to say thavthe sect has not produced bodhiséittyas. Peony, Bl6%#om Princess took the Sec ond Br€athfin/ the, days. of the Qin dynasty and ascendedgintg) the Hundred Clouds shortly after Moon-Efed Tigertid so, not long before the discov- ery ofthe corruption of the Jade Ancestor of Changan. Laughing Falcon became a bodhisattva in the Three Kingdoms period and still remains in the Middle Kingdom. Neither reached sainthood in a mere ten seasons, but both confirm it to be possible. It is merely easier, they say, to see the road to enlighten- ment from the perspective of a bodhisattva than it is from that of a student. I think that this is a cheap trick to build confidence in the young, but I can admie it has value in reminding Kuei-jin that dili gent study pays off. These Dragons are famous for their collections of night-blooming orchids, but these are not the efily thing they tend. The gardens they study mayiB€ any complex system of interacting organismg inclahifig forests and ponds, or most notably, humamyéubeiites. These infeFlogking blankets of organisms'pre.callé@h gardengof the S€onds0rteand vampires ofthe Ten BC CaO en Thisi Peer aT tat on an ink tha onl ey eres iy Seasons Sect tend apd stdy them as well. They shape the growth of individual eomponents,houtithe y also direct the effect and statemeitt of the garden as a whole. These Wan Kuei pride themselves onerkieir aware: ness of the world and@on chesplendor of their gardens. Most seek toudilifenely adWinee the fadiily, bureau- Ge We prtevieor miliary unit.théy attach them: selvesto, tenelthe and ptecninggcfierations of succes- sof dndhagenits, They ust their owmpower, spies and bounid Spiries in. s}@ReeaBhs, Their awareness extends sotttward from the familynas well as inward. Using their spisitetiii@ps and the conneexipns of their garden, Wen Season Dragons are spymasters. Through theirelves on the subtler} goal of a gardener, pacar, by her peers must therefore bi subtle. To be attacked by the garden of a Dragon of this Dharma is often indisting from a run of terrible luck — small coincid build upon one another, bringing the targ ty \terrible misfortune. Oh jin society as.a whéle. Upon witnessing what he believes to be such a dangerous situation, a Scaled Magistrate does not himself act, unless the errant vampire is of his own sect and of lesser enlightenment. Instead, the mag- istrate reports what he has seen to an elder of the accused's sect or court who would be better-suited to assess whether it is legitimate behavior in the pursuit of enlightenment, or if the vampire is sim- ply becoming degenerate. Wan Kuei who seem to be burning out are watched very closely, because the numb, black chasm of ennui can devour enlighten- ment in mere weeks or even days, A vampire who is a young mandarin might one day realize that he can no longer draw upon the sensual world for inspira- tion, and that he has become jaded. For such indi- viduals, the chih-mei state can come very quickly. As they are mandarins in age if not station, it is important to apprehend them as quickly as possible. Their dark powers would make them a terrible menace if they were allowed to roam the country- side. Every effort is made to lift these vampires out of the bestial state to begin the process of recovery. North-facing Thrashing Dragons are responsiblefor this 28'Well, andl@artf” many tricks for subduing powerful chih-mei. Youare of the northern direction, and while you may hayestoffed ataSuology When you were alive, let me assure you that the Sargazing of your elders is of incrediblé’ acduraey. Even your defiant expression speaks of the north. You can run into the arms of your horoscope or you can run away from it, but you will eventually end up in its embrace Soum Called Hungry Red Dragons, Thrashing Drag- ons of the southern direction are the warriors of our sect. Natural masters of the martial arts, these vampires are the foremost practitioners of the Dragon Dance, a Yang-laden battle trance that forms the heart of the Yang Prana. Its masters bend with the grace of bamboo and strike with the fury of fire. Many of the Thrashing Dragons of the Goldett Courts are of the southern direction, and thegPas- sion Bloodflower philosophy of emotioni@ifid comd bat skills certainly rewards them urprise,” 19 5 since PiyamBayung was the greatest Red Digagon the world hag ey@hseen. a Southef Dfago®s Yenerate ferocious creatures like the shark, wolf or eagle. Some even model theig; behavior after the habits of these creatures, and theSe vampires are known for the deadly animal characters istics of their Dragon Dances. Others celebrate the, raw ferocity of nature as embodied in natural forcéSg These vampires, sometimes called ThunderVetierat= ing Dragons, are often master praesiftOnesGfthe Ghost-Flame and Storm Shintal. South-directed Thedsitng "Dragons are the pro- tectors of the Dhariifa agsinst}suipernatural enemies, and are often involvedin guaiding their fellows against angry ghosts, spirits, beasteehangers, hsien, andie¥en other vampires. As well aj Being muasteewarriors, Red Dragons have a reputation for being fasweallkersyT hey: have the animal charisina ofall Southern Kuei-jiteantd the predator's awareness rhat inisberter to win asmiaft victory withoupsightingithian a gréat onedithigh cost “On-the-spot: ‘pegpuiatorsanidtapid-fireteachersarmed auith thihsiams Of che¥ang Praia, they talk when they te ablomnd BKt wlicn they must. Ear ‘Kadivnas HEMP Hae, subverting Dragons, ‘ing Dragons of the east perform a role much ,_ ee Qn ' fF. ean emongiimortals to secure the antindividu jal@jthrough whatever \egessary. B hery, murd sed to i © all are pormfssible. This oy sf i he misdeeds of the apeaialel gsi Ptcer — preventing Sftygategatyreerae 7 high would bring demon huni 44 d the Shih upon the Kuei-jin — is one o Dharma’s contributions to unliving society as a Dharmas gain influence in mortal instiitions to further their own agendas — Devil-Tigets often have control of the corrupt, Resplendent @ranes seek to manage government bureaucracies ic is the Magistrate-Subverting Dragons who gaithin juence purely for the purpose of ensuring a prot ive silence over the doings of our kind. Int ancient days, Magistrate-Subverting DragonsiWe quite, open about their activitie, selling the|halls of power openly , Agejand the lessons o ave taught them hole. Other owhiddep, and d lirected hing B ile certain thar members of the Dit {ce9S to the sort of tools one needs for! slightenment. For this reason, they are. tiously called Discreet Pros- | riture- Proce en, Most do not mind, for his dogs rerfere with their business as moni pe artbeat's ebb. The cold, of the Shadow are not Wéf¥study the state of death, while is sttidhprhe act of dying. They are ove the feeling of life ending Iso, natural scholars, putes # their experimen: Bone Bathe DAgonsees after the . ; some lurk in 5 uses. Bone-Eating Drage ect tR€'Dharma by \bldgking the act angtyewith their murder or the mist OF, thei descendents. Such ghosts can fil io coliptetcede in the bility to carry jade into the Underworld ay bes to magistrates, and ties the case Up it endless hearings for months or years until the ghost loses heart and abandons the case. This may seem unjust to you, butt is the way of things. If they did not do what they do, angry ghosts would dog the steps of your eternity Hlinger, disease and luck — these are not foreet which understand justice or injustice, but theyare, the for at gle drive the natural world. x or GOs are known to fall to an we call corpse-kissing acTitwan undue fascination with shew'the living. Some even take up ‘ellow Springs, feeding on ghosts brgathing world only for matters of Pus The Scaled Magistrates spend a ing fighting the spread of the fever, for detachment and collapse to eshiniy Dfagons of the center are called Teachers of Dancing. Students of life, they seck to ascertain what questions the world asks of its inhabie- ants, and how it rewards success and punishes failure. Indoing this, they come to truly understand creation’s goals and patterns. They seck to share this under- standing with their fellows. Though many belong to one of the sects, they all attempt to keep an objective sense of their place in creation. Thrashing Dragons of other directions who are puzzled by the problems of existence often take council with one of these phi- losophers. Discretion is the specialty of the Teachers of Dancing, and it is considered quite disgraceful to take advantage of the confidence between a counselor and the Dragon who consults with him Teachers of Dancing also train young members of the Dharma in the ways of the faith. I face the center and have lived here at the temple one year out of three for the past 50. I have educated 17 young vampires like you, teaching them the ways of the faith and educating them in proper behavior. Centered vam- pires are very important to the Dharma, because we determine the knowledge and history that every Thrashing Dragon knows. We define the roots of the faith, while the paths of the bodhisattvas form its trunk and branches. If you wish for young Kuei-jin to become familiar with your teachings, it is good tomake friends with some of your convince them of your wisdom. Oruer Marrers The Wan Kuei do not live alone in the Kingdom. Beyond the mortal swarms, there are spi demons, skin-changers and magicians of every 9 contend with. The world has changed with the tig and sorcery and incantation now lurk behind cx business and corrupt government, engaging in struggles over dragon nests and scraps of occult power. Politely, the mortal world overlooks it, pretending it does not exist. You must learn to navigate the maze of this ‘magical world — there are many who would use you as a pawn or bound servant in their struggles. Stay among the Wan Kuei when you're able, and always come to their aid when there is trouble with outsiders. gin demands loyalty to one’s fellow fest essence of the maya reverence as the incai ROE act out the are the us, becoming able to ir favor is important to fs to understand the jorld, Members of the sect are the most avid in of all the sects Bécome involved with spirit world matters from time to time. Generally, to earn the favor of the spirits and the spirit courts, you must do something that pleases them. Sometimes, this will involve an elaborate quest into the Yang world, to retrieve some object of sym- bolic or ceremonial significance. However, such quests are more typically given to beings with favorable ties to the spirit. As one of the Ten Thousand Demons, you are more likely to be asked to serve as a fixer of some sort, Most powerful spirits have mortal or magi- cal concerns that need watching over and that de- sell ties, and memories — negotiate with them instead. ‘There is a value among the exceedingly long-lived in being polite. With a life chat lasts afe to bind. They will not remember ter it has ended, and have no sense of identity to resent it. Other spirits do have identi- shaky peace is marked by violent incidents betwe youths on both sides, and occasional raids over ters one or both sides consider important. You probably cannot make friends among hengeyokai. They do not want anything t blood-eating corpses, a sentiment you share if you were not suc! you may be able to cor blood-eating corpse wl honest. Look at you pire, and anyone st likely to be eaten. ae canbe sure you're nor efi ‘rass young vam- d you for too long ‘most likely to be ply ignore you. that, and they{valuable ‘But rare! : widely disliked: HavinigeNecumi as your allies is ‘uanslates into influence with othet, héngeyokai. Tengu riven, men are the most Like] jia speak wat you Ty dom ike the Wan Kuet very miich, but they listen. If what you tell thems! worth répeating, they'll sptead the Word. ‘Youshould know that XfongRen who" with. the Wan Kuci too frequently ate known todieespe-_ ‘ciallyterrible deaths, deaths so horriblerharthe other hengeyokai go to any lengchs to cOver them up. I'm ‘not sure of the nature of this — it may besome sort of divine curse. Whatever does cause it, it doesn’t make them any more eager to deal with us. Cay’ Ta The chi’n ta, the Lightning People, are minaele workers. They have unlocked secrets that have taken. us a journey through Yomi to discover. They ate mortals who hold the keys to Heaven, and theit _ power isas frail and mighty as all other mortal power They.are magicians, not true shen. Theyshave very: poorlyideveloped senses of obligattOn, and tertible, mannersiiThey’re impetuous beings can leam aigredt deal from the life and. ‘Unfortunately, their short life spians.also z coe a are not terriblyadverse t@abusing'theit might, Reale istically or #0f) maRY expect to move from position of strength to position ofistrength until they die or reach apotheosis, Thus, some seek to bind you to their will: Soifie.use spells that constrain you for a time, while others seekito enslave you forever. Re- gardless, thishhas tersible consequences to your Road Back. While you might learn agreat deal as a slave, You sill probably be ser to dangerousfor suicidal ‘asks. Be yery careful how faryou trusts magician, or you maytegtet it for ®yery long time.» ‘The Lightning People come in two' are thosewho, practice: S-Thefirst forms and / traditionsBheyare m: 'Chieghan- | nelingsalchemy, superna anidprayer: _slipcreationi, The foremost these criiditions are the WaLung dragoniwizards and dealings with them ‘you are cautious The other Sfnore disturbing. They are Dragons and they travel the ic and science to suppress ir agents often look and act like goverfiment investigatrs, and many carry the identi- fication of o¥ernmentt agencies. The Metal ‘Dragons arev. he electronic world, and so t ct often comes in "OfeMeru, the d become in- Asien fought over whe aft Xian’s fall volved in the world folle frovif graees The argunieyits led to fratricide, andthe AugispPersonage of Jade was offended. The biel Gods were cast outinto the world and set to moving from body to body."As.associety, they blame the Kuei-jin for their misfortunes Todalyy'the bitcle Gods ate Heaven's Last agents ‘on.edrth. Some are animalistic shape-shifters and others are Hoble elementals. Allare practitionets of ‘elémentalalchemy. If they would let you, you could leafmvast amounts about the nature of lifé from them. Alas, they will not let you near. The Chi of the hsien is still divine in nature, the same golden elixir chat the Wan Xian once respired and is thus extremely addictive to Kuei-jin who drink it. It is powerful, aiid creates in us the sensation of once again ‘being alive; Kuei-jin have preyed on hsien sinee the time ofthe Yellow Emperor, and the Little ‘Gods have little love for our kind. However, they a¥e~protective of nature and if you profess your Dharma, they may recognize you and treat you as ‘something other thar’adeadly enemy. Even then, etheypwill be distrustful. Devil-Tigers are not ad- wverse to lying abour their Dharma in order to gain ‘wmeal of golden Chi. Youimay fightWwith the hsien, make alliances with theity,or just live inuneasy peace — all are possible, ‘depending on the local conditions and the personali- tiessinvolved. Whatéveryou do, do not drink their Chi. Addiction (0°iteis, a terrible thing — almost certdinly/a death Senrence — and to take a single drink isto be an addict. Your P’o will tell you their golden blood can make the world more alive for you, and it is correct. But to attempt enlightenment that way is a fool's game. The Sun However carefully you pass your existence, you eventually have to deal with demon hunters. Humans die and their families seek revenge; this is the way of things. Though you may be a prince of the earth, your flesh burns like flash paper and rots in the sun. Live carefully, and always have someone to guard your corpse in the daylight hours. Learn to follow in the crab's footsteps, and cross into the relative safety of the Yang World during the day if you are concerned about mortal attack. Do not play with mortals — they are weak, but the sting of the smallest wasp can humble a tiger. Yet single, angry mortals are not our only prob- lem. Throughout history, a gang of demon-hunters called the Shih have dogged our footsteps. In the time of the Qin dynasty, these warrior-monks led a cam- paign of annihilation against our kind. They failed, we survived and pulled their temples down. Now, they ate drunkards and wandering vageants, roaming the roads, robbing people to eat and hunting bakemono. If you draw their attention, they are likely to attack,and their specialized forms of m: capable of dealing you terrible bl When the Shih come for you, it that you have enemies among the shen. Typi you lose political face to the point where your think they can survive the backlash of an ass tion attempt, they'll feed information of your abouts and habits toa Shih. Then the demon hu: do the rest. The Shih are very dangerous people, a if you manage to survive one of their attempts on you, you are be better off just counting yourself lucky rather than seeking revenge. This is especially true because your rivals are probably watching and ready to make an attempt on you themselves, and then lay itat the feet of the demon hunter. The Yeow Springs fe ig spirit world, there is also a world passion. The history ion of storms, uprisings fs and nlyence i the Pa to meet dbe to return, cl. For us, it is Heaven's tless Dead, it is a choice. és between ourkind and, will not feed on them, haunt us for our killing. Ie his is truly the case. Certainly, well-connected ghosts can make trouble for you, and important Kuei-jin can have other ghosts take care of, spectral problems for them. There may even be bu- reaucrats involved, and itis even possible they would be acting in their official capacity. The reality is as everywhere — those who have influence prosper, and those who have none are the victim of their betters. Asyouwill often have litte influence at court, it pays to walk carefully. The Sun There isnothing so gloriousas the sun. Golden orb, itrains down the rays of energy that the world need thrive and survive. Without the sun, the world be a place of ice, starvation, and darkness. perish, and even death would grow lonely glorious isthe sun that Heaven could not. es over the horizon to take its light gu are a creature of the night, but not a ss. Do not wrap yourself in a cloak of shadows, or shut away the sun from your existence. Do not think of itas hateful, or as your enemy. The sun is asthe wn has always been — brightapdot and true ded toward Yang to repro- are something that man of us experience. In addition, the acts of givit birth and of caring for young are central to | Thrashing Dragons have reason, and licens explore these matters. One of the important things to remer you are bearing and raising a dhampyr fear, or filial pie being. If you do not 4 his or her own, it will your accounting. This! tary, but it can be vei dhampyr properly. ‘an independent ild to havea lifeg Of the child. Be * however.Doso 4 gun on you and ‘cause they will[Reruscrious on Ou Start servant, Thisiig/e¥cellenteif. you are in need of a diligent Sind faithfulservant, but so much of raising childrenvis that theyiareynot Servants, but whole and independefit beings irucheit own ight. If you deprive them of their freedom, yousdeprive yourself of the Dharmie education of watching them explore! that freedom —watching how they reeeive the lessons you teach and apply them to the real worlds, watching What theyaccept or reject, and why. That allwanishes the moment when the dhampyr's soul is shackled to'your will, and in return, you gain nothing but a reliable accountant. There are times youwillywant accountants, and there are times you will wat an education. Be sure you know what you want before you irrevocably turn one into the other: q Tae Yana Kings There can be no mention of the Wan Kuei without mention of the Yama Kings. These be ings were once the lords of the Underwerld. They riled the dead, tormenting mortals soulls im purga- tion of their'sins, chen passing thetirback into the Great, Cyele to be reborn. But power and dark forees corrupted the Yara Kings. They fell from their station as Heaven's punishes andijudges of the dead: They fed of tainted Chi and carved kingdomis'out of the twisted fabri¢ off the Yin atid Yang welds’ They sealed their domain away from the:test of the Tapestry and called it Yomi Wan, and all the spirit-lands inside itare the Thousand Hells of Yomi The Yama Kings/have openly declared their ambition onithe Throne of Heaven..They trap and torture souls in the Yomi,hells, colleeting the energy of their suffering and using if toypower machinations in the Middle Kingdom. Soon;'the Yamia Kings believesthe Atugust Personage of Jade will abdicate. One of cheir number will séize the throne of Heaven, becoming the Demo Emperor, tearingthe Wheel of Ages from its hub, atbusher inggin amage of eterfial dirkness. Each of the Yama Kings aspites to the or6wn of the Demon Emperor, and they vie daily for,the position. "All Kuei-jin must beartms against the Yama Kings: This is one ofthe. primary purposes of the Way of Obligationi=-to prevent the sort of dark dealings with the Yama Kings that | the downfall of the Wan Xian. To de the Yama Kings is aicapical erime. Suspi ciomthat youare inlleague with the Yama Kingsstarnishes you and. you can never eseape, its grimyelutehes, evenvif the allegation is falses ‘We oppose the YamaKings and the $itits of ‘Yomi, but not beediise they ate unpleasant or perform an objectionable task in| the, cosmic order. The necessity of demans isevident in thefact that Heaven created Yomi and the first place, and that the Devil- ig bodhisattvas. Life and the world are places, but even the eaters of shit & their place in the natural process. The Thrashing Dragons instead oppose th tempted to promote themselves to kings of cre- ation. They are not just demons, they are mutineers against the celestial order. They pervert all they touch, twisting it with their dark power. Animals are diseased and made self-destructively ferocious, men are twisted into loathsome goblins, and even the very spirits are rendered cancerous and twisted by the blighted touch of Yomi. Those things which cat the dead havehgir place, and that place is not ny ing one eye - + Thousand-Faced hunting the rituals or technological , and their equally te members of their upon signs of corruption by the forces of Yomi, The Ten Season Dragons are careful gardeners and remove the problem where itis small or easy to deal with. Yet they are subtle creatures, and to act boldly would endanger their gardening. More often than not, they carefully cover their sources and then let information slip toa Devil-Tiger orhengeyokai, and allow them to handle the situation. Regardless of sect, we are all weaty of the power of Yomi. The wise predator does not engage in fights where she may be injured. Victory in one battle is meaningless if leads to defeat in the nex Unlike the warlike Resplendent Cranes and D Tigers, our first question is not if we cag victory, but if we can escape the fray wi ous harm. Nature rewards the cunnii so good to move slowly algo medile in horsemen, but the imperial powers of the West They divided up China like devils cutting up a baby, each taking apart of the county. They used opium to extract the count 3 citizenry, and they sup} grasp wa Japanese er and Resplendent true of jina and older. a died in the brutal condi,“ tions around the fall of the Manchu dynasty, ~ civil war and the Japanese occupation. Rather tl seeing the barbarians as a novelty to be lean from, they treat them as foes to be defeated. This, understandable, but it makes it difficult for us a3 a Dharma to study their existence. The Westerners also by terrible supernatural them. Many stories creatures. One of with Xue for o wa i isa OF Yin-asperted disciples. FAMIBTOONARE fediche touch of fire 4 aeGubjugating the addictive sub-yy are, however, ca- Ives by sucking out the seding the corpse some Smany areas of the ik their bl r ncestors, hastuled that the lieionly proper conduit for negotiations reatures. If you come upon Kin-jin, youmustm. report it immediately to the ancestor and the first oni or barbarian-suppressing general. In modern times, we have been coming into the closer and closer contact with the Kin-jin, and how we are rodeal with them is an increasingly important question for us. Somevelders favor striding boldly intotheV uffing out the Leaders of their ioe ase fet ‘hunting down their children said, afterall, that this was iE"steppe vampires at the “Others are more moderate, ure the Middle Kingdom first, and “built ‘up their strength, proceed in oward eradicating or controlling the bares Soe annot say whith philosophy I agree with, but ie (daieet@nconingful threats. For the lesand jina have been going to "and Singapore, attempting to dL nests of Kin-jin, Others went their creator, and lineage are treated 2 by some distortion of Xue’s teachings abo Yama Kings. The Kin-jin are forever seeking to ent colonize new areas, establishing their twisted Concession at later at Hong coni@ to China in opium-sn ever smuggling in their fel- era establish fiefdoms on the tothe City Of Los Angeles and established they spread amilit ethment there which includes Kin-jin princes and nobles among its members. One of the Kin-jin empires has paid us a great tribute, and has silver promised not to send its children to our shores. The ‘Western blood-eaters are a critical part of the future, done and you should learn what you can of them. Though they are Dharmically uninteresting, they are also say Politically central to the coming days.FHE NOLY RANYFHM ‘On action alone be thy interest, ‘Never on its fruits. Legnot the fruits of action be thy motive, , This chapter describes. the inner workings of the Dance ofthe Thrashing Dragon, describing theDhirma’s Approach to its tenets, ics philosophy regarding the Demon, and thé belief of rhc four major seers Core Brijers ‘Though therearemany interpretationsof the Dance of the Thrashing Dragon, there must by definition be some shared understanding between the members of the faith. That core group of beliefs gives the Road Backeits redemptive charaeser, aed Kuei-jin who profess the Dharmaall feel similarly (but not the sanie) aboue them. ‘The different emphases they place on the varying tenets and how they implement them in the real world —those aremattersof determined by the individual’s personality and sect ‘The following pages enumerate the eight tenets of the Dharmay/as found in Kindred of the East; and describe them in greater derail, Each section includes a section’ called “The Truth,” whieh discusses how the tenet is generally implemented by members of different Nor be thy attachment to inaction, Bhagavad Gita, 2:47 . sects. Thousand Crane Mother first put che tenets forth, but phrased them abstractly, so thatthey could support interpretations other than her own. This act, called the Spreading of the Seeds, isone of the greatest moments of the Dharma, for it made the path to Heaven wider, and it is celebrated by all seers. ‘The Fist Tener: Arrowenenrro Lyre Attune Yourself to Life in All Tts Forms ‘This tenet indicates that the maya itselfis the subject ‘of the Dharma’s inquiry. The Darice of the Thrashing Dragon isan attempt to attain enlightenment by under- standing the world and the placeof its inhabitants in the natural. cyéle. Kuéljin of this Dharma’are seeking ro comprehend the illusion of creation and learn the lessons illustrated by che grand phantasm of existence. Thousand ‘Crane Mother was, and concinues to be, adamant char vampires onthe Dharma cannotlose themselves intbestial behavior and still actain this understanding. “ “A.wolfor tiger cannot beebme a bodhisarva,* she teaches. “As chib-mel, we aie as wolves and tigers. We live only in a world of instinct. Fram the outside, this isito occasionally immerse rit attacks. Tha is its that is themselves, Thisis not for shut-away schol- “the way of wolves Boers a5 Well, This state fs the ars §s {eis a falchof people who act and key to much wisdom, but not all wisds : ee and experience. Thrashing Dragons recog- © “Ir is a staneiweith out speech or need forspeech. tis. nize th aplace of actionand teaction and momentary.sensation. “There is n0.Road Backfrom there — only the Road” drawn, ical part of theit faith, and Dragons ominig too meditative and with supitivelaborace ploys by their Forward, into the next thoughtless moment: This isfine fellowsy These ploys are intended so make their lives for-beasty, and ont could even see it as a" Fand shock them back into really expe- Hyou feel thagyy, can say existence. Thése often involve litele you. H abd ages ty cael ata ecel Blase cilcipa, but che’ pranks of man- ‘have brought nations te war'in the past. «their willing- important tos ot a solitary, MEd. Thc aac aanial fordésand the bedrock of game — it requires lovers aiid'rivals andromance and the world!/Sp theimaya is not the onily thing in creation. danger, if itis tokeep the Thrashing Dragorvon edge and There tire forces in exgation as well. Those 7 awake. Such-an exciting life tequires a strong cast of q,and spirit the maya live without the| ‘supporting characters, and Thrashing Dragonsas group Bkehiought or Six they.are eternal eae sera willing to entangle others in their affairs, not stop You: ‘orchat is their ‘ Kuei- im and other shen, they typically observe cthac is al aan ce othe ce Riving offense might lead to a duel or is his spiritual . When we were ee inks. Wheridealing with those who are not shen, wedid not tend to selyes. Nowy wel 1. theyneed not beso polite, Heaven has assigned themthe placed outside theamaya, separated from life, Wi te ve penance of walking the Road Back and achieving en- _»» Ghgeagain retreat into the illusion like cowardly dogs? ' lHightenment. Theit Dharma requires that they indulge Youate a dead “Maguerading as an animal will do” themselves in every sort of sensation, and itis their right younogood) ol Heaven's bs Bs the nanural order4o do s0,As Wan Kuei they are erdicton you. Youre one of the Wan Kuei:fyouwish “beyond biuman morality, and must walk thieie path hack come part of the! sa vbele and nrlive ae 1 aldo Be ‘them. Thrashing Dragons are as fugitive frou its you muse oes ae beasts, and 1 4 eee ean if student of the maja vba rither than pretending they must tear a mortal into rags to ind the enlighten- sae Deis apace aan apentwichin thea that is whar they shall do. If Heaven ‘The Truth= Dragons with: would never find enlightenment. this, beeause’ those es ears ae pane cient nme ‘Thrashing Dragan loves chit-mei sta is2seriaus problem amon; with humans. Morcals Pie hs tee, ee Agi oe ea ee oe ae eee reand cannot be roused from ae = and are-ceribly fageitiating and instructive sital, These uhfortunacés areigiven over toithe Devil- "9 watch. Jt is terribly dangerous to be a mortal around ‘Tiger chil-mei’ handlers of the courg;‘or pur déwa if 2 Thrashing the monster may find some there is cornet shen Those who’ sitvivpaccepe pa of you s0 that. i¢ devours you for it. na a ft thatthe: ‘of shen depends largely on sect. arma’ enlightensneni of but is different _ Dragons of the Laughing Rainbow and Ten St. ee beatific “perfe _a thoughcless. be Me eferéntial to other shen. Laughing jina go withoue’ we rstendo keep other shen out of their search for “~~ because they lack we watched enlightenment. Ten’ Season Dragdns, however, see cle spine ny mst ictions. with the. shen as an enticing Dhatmic fall into the bestial stace aswell a ie deertesenoeitA lover’ Arial? ‘mentor ot and ally? Unless she has a preference or a Tee Foor ile JMOVURENCE M. PASSION. preniciencedtoachicyesoineuval the Dragon accepts Meditaté Upon Passions; Do Not, Shit’ ‘Them ‘the presuppositions ofthe thingshe is interacting with, Out, But Expericheé Them, Learn, ‘becoming what t or least cxpect to see, Every Encourage ieee Mp ~ oneknows se themselves well and easily, To the £ _. This tenet justifies ae el Bice ae ins, wisdom lies in learning how to be other Thrashing i en me ‘to induilge” things well and easily. ’ Dragon their compses Total aac gpadinch and-Fadéd Thunder sect are _f to invents the Pe oof others. —" 2m oir ‘othietshen in their lives. a é eS 4 6 xTre Hour Revo walkers among the Yang courts, they lead spirit jot Naturally return onsted silk leashes and dine with the lesser Tinea POE é, Conscientious Thrash- Yang World. Such’ Kuetjin ate used to dealingsyith) ure not to damiage'ereacion unduly, spirits (and some other shen) on a teglar basis. While pidamage: ‘edipinot prevent. they are mannerly in their actions, they-still use shen a8 Afterall, therespesefil sturent doesnot track mud int props, foils and scenery in theit quest fgr enlighsenmentt- her teacher's classroom. The reltionship is still one of Members of thePassion Bloodflowersectare totally man to object, buritis a respecte object,” ‘without regard for manmers'in their involvement with “not t0 Cecaaitaant ae? r shen. They are predator queens, andthe Worldistheitste | The Trath: Thistener [inthe grand seale, | explore. They are jist’sinclined to rake ghosts forlovers.. bul of little comfort to mortals set upon'by Thrashing as goto warwith the hetigeyOkai.. They are nor climbing. Dragons. That isto say, the vampice is usually eareful to the path to enlightenment, they are hurling themselves miake.amends for any misdeeds, but those amends are vit. Any handhold isaceeprable, so longas it leads one made Hor t0, individual vierims:They are io closer t Heaven, . 5 ting the indiVidual fos his suffering; they ‘Tie Timp Tener: Srewannsuye or CReation ee Use Your Power As the Fattmer Employs His is ‘Thrashing Dragons plant large, Threshing Toolse Break the Stalks, Gather the Rice, untidy gates, or maintain large’ tracts of parkland Scatter the Seeds, Let Them needs ofthe ‘This tener is the mandate s todo what aattionig thew they must to find enlightenment. te mat” am Dragons are; tals, t petform savage acts and then carefully 8 16 the local the outcome, to immerse themselves lifein its tue vibrant stare —withourmorals Or1 : road to enll iy andithey ate doing Heav to follow it. their actions than devour mortal would regret holy prayers. # Yet this tenet is not purely a license to rapinehile” also specifies that the Dragon has a responsibility wo retum ta the cycle, The farmerdoes not eat all theriee’ hhe reaps; he saves seed rice, and cultivates the fields 4, before planting, and so there-is rice the next year as: y well. A Thrashing Dragon isa teritble force, drainting the life Gut of the world around je to fuel itsaetemprs to achieve enlightenment, This€an cause immense dam- ‘ wee interac nape Ogee at eng a so much and eats 30 litte as the Hungry Dead se a meal of enlightenment. ;34 ‘Toe Fourrw Tener: Say Tue Dying Helpall Living Things Thrive. When Something Appears to Be Dying, Consume It and!Send It Back Tnto the Cycle f ‘As the Thrashing Dragons protect and learn fram the maya, they also tend it and see to its well-being. ‘Dragons find weakness abominable, Infirmity in old age, decrepit buildings and moldy old social structures are all loathsome for they trap energy out of creation, holding itinstasis. The eyele and process of death and rebirth are vital to creation, and to cling rofongevity for too long is t6 disrupt che flow of history. Te remove such obstruc- tions isthe dutyof the right-thinking’Thrashing Dragon Ivisthe way of things that new growth pushes aside old, -dead wood. In forests where this is nor the case, terrible canditions reign, and all de trees tos and decay. Every storm brings more sick giants crashing down, until ar last the forest isnothing more than rotting wood and bushes: soln a forest where thete are young saplings ready ro leap sand seize evetpécrap of sunlight, the passing of the giants would kill treesjbut not the forest. Nosystem € indispensable components ‘The past should not hte the present. Those whose time has elapsed shouldspass Sway swiftly and with stace. Thiskeeps theworldhealthyand vigorous, much Tike pruning a fruit tree encourages the tree to produce more and better fruit. This way is true not orily of plants, butalso of organizations, réligions and nations ‘eThrashing Dragons, particularly those of the eastern tection, often seek to descroy institutions they feel are burdens to society. ‘The Truth: This tenet ig typically used to justify a Thrashing Dragon's tendeney to kill and eat anyone oranythinghe pleases. However, itis also a statement of obligation. Again, the Thrashing Dragon is com- amjrted to che well-being of the maya, and not just his ‘own betterment, This tenet allows for destruction; however, it also. festricts Dragons from causing the paralysis they Joathe —they cannot be agents of stasis: They have historically shiedaway fromthe control of goremmentor other parts ofthe dynasticcycleasa result; Theymayhave influence in many organizations, but ayoid outright domination, «The teinptation to enter into aimethical compromise én such @ situation is tog great. . ‘most passionate champions of this tenet in its physicallinemation are the penangallan of the Golden Courts, These vampires will nor abide infirmity or old age in their hotiteholds, and would rather appear as a ‘man than with a wrinkled or liver-spiotted form. When a periangallan's montaliservants age beyond their uscful- ness, they-can expect to beconsumed by theif mistress or one of hetlangsut féllowers. On the otherend of the spectrum, the Ten Seasons sect has built much ofits philosophy on tending and ‘Pruning instirutions and social systems, those it calls pont oF Tar East ‘gardens ofthe second sor Its members attemprtokeep these organizations in good: health, to make. them, bertersubjects of stuly. However, like good gardeners, they know tharsome plantseangot be prned, bucmust becut back orburned out, Ten. Dragons do this as quickly and efficiently as possible. This often brings them into contaet with DevilTiger gangs of similar intent. The two groups do/#idt always share the same ideas of, what is worthy of destriction, and there are en Vlggsteltsoes which wey some srruc- ture, and when. i ‘The Fire Tener: Escoew Masr-Ljre ‘ ‘Half-Life Is An Abominable Stare. Be As Alive As You Can, va ‘The condition of the Thrashing isa pun~ ishment, It is Heaven’s ctirse levied on errant ‘ander- lings. Iris nota thing ta hecomipromised with, oF grown sed to, or utilized for its maximum benefit. Thrashin Dragons do not deny that they are hungry ghosts, but they do not'make it int® a badge of perverse honor by developing Disciplines that take. advantage of their corpse-form. Thrashing Dragons typically find the Bone and Blood Shintai to be tepulsive, as those take-speeific advantage ofthe Kuei-jin’s undead form. Many instead practice the Chi and Soul Disciplines, or carefully learn the other shintai oe : This tenet is a philosophical reminder to Thrash- ing Dragons rezanfless of sect. This is nor their goal. The half-existence of the Wain Kuet isa waiting place on the lip of the Mouth of Yomi, and the Jastcarriage- house on the road co oblivion. There is hoting to be learned from*its.other than how to leave it more quickly. Right-thinking Dragons. become students of their inner nature sind nature as a whole, not students of their own physical remains. To venerate the corpse- flesh is to pay homage to crimes that incurred the August Personage’s curse, using cleverness to make Heaven’s displeasure into atblessing. ‘The tenet ismotian injunction to Yang Imbalance, though. some interpret it as such. Most Thrashing Dragons differentiate berween life and Yang suffusion, To many members of the Dharma, particularly’ the Penangallan, petimanient Yang irabalimnce isa way of life Its bunger and ferocity brings abotira way of seeing thie world that they find eonducivé to Dharmic-advance- ment. Other vampires ind reproduction a necessity on their Dharmie quest, and are forced into permanent Yang imbalance as a result. Yet it is the outlook or fecundity of that state thar members of the Dhaitia seek, not the state itself: They are lively corpses, but corpses nevertheless. ‘The Truth: This tenet is followed by @inase all Thrashing Dragons, ‘of sect. Just as the Road Forward, the mindless existence of the chih-mel, is Dharmic dead ehidyso.also is the inward-turning path of the dedicated imamortal vampire. Toa Thrashing Dragon,i a ‘and pull it close, by farto turn one’s i (oa mate heaton Devil Tiger, Bone et oF Wome. The Dance of the Thitishing Dragorxis space the dance of the living orld, stot of the'dead one, The “diligent dancer always keepithat in, mind. ‘eet ‘The! Truth: Ic is. almost impossible for a vampire Tveom- otro come t0 an acceprance with her state. Iris the They wake “nature offlifetocdtne aot eadaptat fions,and the Pee allows for them. It pute Recled tethe Diegondo what she cantoremind herself thather state i fof is not natural, but is a profoundidisorder. She muse ye eae ste one " femember that the sunlit world isa place of beaucy and ° ai soft of thinking is. life, and that she ishotits adversary but itsstudentand Eire ae oaten a bu prgSogty ,regardless ofseéthonor this, “ = tenet in a similar fashion. Every moming, as the sun ing Dragons “begins to. Pa each hese”. fase tieactions hela golden face rse above them ofthe world. Every ms. often moming, just before they sleep, pape eyes upon "Many of the fursace at dhe'beart of Every Phrathing, nd even” Dragon ees to sleep knowing that there isdivine mercy. Even in its wrath; Heaven could nor bear to cut them off ‘wholly from the face of life. The inafiliy to follow this tenet: is onesof the most/serious problems:for Yin- ced Thiashing Dragons.” e/a. ee ee tenet is not an ‘igjuncdon oe al humorous though many Thrashing Dragons are. It is an admonition from the Thousand”Crane persuade Mother vo avoid becomingbumorless scholars. Thrash Ate ing Dragons are students of life and Yang. Yer scholar, ship watching andlea ming and studying andwriting ~ doimehtaties — isa profoundly Yinyact and scholars tend 10 be bookish, retiring with the ida hes our Slab an dca me. inking Thrashing Dragon. In ordes to dance ‘Dharmic dane, a vampire must,beeeme 2 natural Like aTadist priest, she mustbeat home in the, Ad she'studies. This is nota matter of taste — ¥in enetgies color and transform the experience. While ¢ ccoling and tempering of experience isnecéssary, ‘excessive Yin.is wampite’s Dharmic think- ing ean decrease = impact of her studies, depriving Iherofthe dén sheseeks. : A Thaw 1s Gut Off from theithava, bur she need riot be distant from it. Her studies Should be acm i her directly, inthe life she studies must leagh to be a part of things while’ still absorb- the experience, The Dance,6fthe like alf dances: meaninglesso-oimmediate and hands-on one, and by and large they do “the bist thef can to stay involved in the world around them. Nor all sueceed, bur all attempt ity The difference between sects is in how literally they take the tenet’s injunction. Thousand-Faced Thunder Dedigons.are noratall prone to humor —theyarehumble. ambassadors to the spirits. Laughing Rainbows, partak- ing of life as they do, bringaa certain thing that they call’ “laughtex?to the world —bafflementand amazement at theiranimal grace;and theit own predatoryjoyataghase. well-run and a fall in their jaws Passion Bloodflowers deicht in tricks and novelties —clockwork animals, mechanical puzele boxes — any thing to bring curiosity and amazement into the heart. They delight in giving each other these elaborate gifts, © and in challenging one another's intellect, How does such a wonder function? What makes it possible? This is the latighter of the Pasion,Bloodflower — a quest foe sa inovledge of the physical world, intimately connected Mpitttheir existence. Understanding such wonder isan act.of meditation for them, and the modern age brousdat their creativity to.a peak. Prodigies of si and amazing objects abound in their collections/Aftd the rich among them pay great sums to cheit toy makers, Such toy makers are neverkilled during warfare berweens the pernamgollan. Instead, they are ransomed or made to for their new master. Membersof the Ten Seasons séet are the most prone go bringing actual joy to the world around them, Garden- social structures thatthey are, Ten Season. see that joy and humor serve a special role in gardens of the second sort. A. happy and harmonious body politic makes fora healthy structure. Ten Season Dragons often sptead good lucky arrange successful marriages and en- courage the harmonious coexistence of the parts of the _gatden. Though the joy they distribute is always ine, tehded to somehowshape the soctal garden, itisasortof joy thait mortals can comprehend and share ‘The Ejqurn Tener: Prorecr Spjajrs: Protect the Spirits Without Them, the Life- ‘Dance Stops ‘The Thrashing Dragon are the students, guardians. and gardeners of the maya. “And it cannot really be disputed chat spirits insome way personify differen parts of the Tapestry. Sicken the place, sicken the spirit, Sickeftithe spirit; sicken the place. Thus, spirits are in. one of ¢réauion’s most fragile links, for they are suscep tible t direct'eorruprion and assault ‘Originally, this tenct was fele to mean that the ‘Thrashing Dragons should’tend to and cultivate the spirit world, as theystended to and culrivared the Middle Kingdom, Laver, asthe menace of the Yama Kings grew, it became apparenc thar the Thrashing Dragoris would weed to become the watchdogs atthe gates of the Yang "World. The spirits didnot need cultivation, they needed Vigilant guircianship. They were not the onlyprorectors _of the spirit court. feet eee ‘Yer there were oneal not sear Pa ae fa see eet tural world made dead ‘to.them. Here, the Thrashing patrolled the sight, hi spirits of comuption and unnatural disease. his datiful service, Thrashing Drag. cons have as reliionship with city spirits. ‘Dragons are respectful. of spirits, but not “unduly defe Spirits are beings of supernatural power, mselves, and not deities worthy of wor ship. A Thrashing Dtagon never h to Ruard the, Yang World against a thr It me are feonly spirits of the Yang Wi ghosts di 1, Yin spicits disturbingand demons worthyofeombar ithonor. ‘Most Thrashing Deagons enter the Yellow Springs only in the direst of circumstances: ith: Each sect relates to spirits differently. ‘Thousanid-Paced eo Pedi eaa ae ee as peers ena world in. ways. that spiri abil for tlle The seen ‘Th are masters of the-modem elementals of electricity, glass and data. The explosive growth of thé semiconductor design ancl fabrication industry in Asia grétly exp. thieir technological sorcery has then pie io mah oo saty asscourges, hunting ret walk the spiric world as dignitaries: THete for battle skills d te: p throw in with Various oot aes is good. The Passion Bloodflowers ‘into Yomi-tainced parts of the Yang ied fi attacking the siengeh of theit Yer these lo ate rppically executed as "The Passion Bl sport ora formofmedita sécial pageants and times to dis mbat ability and the loyalty of oe ‘The targets of these arracks are stheit ability toprovide an entertainingfight, ae ee to the world, The Paésion lowers a i of the Mukade devil- a amc chase after clever temptess or slow c orruprers. 4 ~The Ten Seasons scct deals with very small spirits “Constantly: Its members use them along with surveil ance devices and human agents, to set up theit nage networks. Butthey| bird; monkey and messengers, ‘it-splfite oftheir beautifl gar- dens.‘Ten a Dragons parely become inwolvedwith the doings of the spirit comes, The Laughing Rainbows protecy the spits and thie spirit Siibeengase in direct commerce with fem. Many altos sa: the Middle Kingdom fySS ‘Tar Hows Rory 9 the Mirror Lands, preying on forces of const of his Dharmic id ‘the geniiinely they have little direct contact. with the spitit pepe that awaits the world, the: lure of an "They see the spirit world on the whole as something existence rrowsstrong. When'teseems deservis Se as amet as or sheet p eeileeipe aaa sei aheres ni spitits. Some may be worthy of respect like an ancestor novelty, no thrill leftin physical or bodhisateva, Hut most ar€ just creatures, ike any > then theisiren song.of an anita others in the maya: ‘Being spirits, they are inherently furure becomes strong. holy, bur they are meither perfect nor inviolate. ‘The: os . Laughing Rainbows guard the spint world, and have TE BNO fe es congress with spiriisswhen they must; yet:most Sg Common among Thrashing Dragons, and!indeed enlightenmentth oughtheitsuudiesofthenacaral the Bandit is full of weach. Ie haves! and iot spirit écologies. In some places/thisprotecriomt " thecreation thatgaveiralifeso teftibleifellinto You, has an abullyingcharactertoityas the Dragons cow and. and it hanes the sweat saw full fit to pulbitforth, threaten the spirits they watetPover, punishing and. and i oe bee gees cao, ae storear od ss allinto the fires ofa universal the Bandit might serv the Yama .. as muchias i a The Posthe bane of eve we ae : ape eee) Whe é one of the Gui Ren. eae Se cue the Dent ar a Petia ls dias naga and or Lioness Sel ekates set their dark side in very different Ways: id rarelyidlevelops complex plan’ or Ih mental stimulus, not by the. Demon shifting, to. mate! faith, bur by thefact aived milled the Kuei-jin’s pe ape {although amplified and. given voice). The various Dharmas ach appeabsto different sorts of, vamp a eqn: Demo appear more commonly than others. Palen Dench Thifishing Dragons treat their P'o as their anlia e Parchcrype'spredatory bent, half. They do not seek to crush it, but instead lear. of Teindulges in sensation for the sheer from, study and ultimately controlit. Toobey the P’o _ offfensaition, withour worry or remorse. Worse, Kuei- is to walk the Road Forward, eo pursue the oblivion 6f fiwho have such a P'o are typically those who a instinct rathée than the nipgfnaof trae enljghtén Soe 9 its blandi These ment. Those Thrashinig Dragons who obey aC Copytenlighte rather than studying it soon fall into che ehih-mi a ‘hat is little Among the Thrashing Dragons, three P'o archers Ral Gavia bolo are-most commbn, eve Demon's. Monkeyiean heap! ‘itshane Toe Devon ina ieee | ‘The moat common P'o arehecvpe. sent Thi i gambirs for immedtace! ae Dragons is the Dethon.. This P'o,resembles thewampire care a rapist ot thiefas easily &s, os Mania Po before it escaped the Ptison of the k naa state-of pure i, oftensvery dangerous for Thrashing sone who, hhungerand began vo walk the Road Back in enonést. Tis peices tn, emujquite ince or even Soa Urges ee se sociable Thiscar cases fat dal f oul because ies of ei Howard the simplicity. (HE the diftcwence imbbehavior between Po isnot blissful ignorance: -guilcless self Findylgence ofthe sar. bat n distrust mt caste Road Forward scares ft fs rooteagy to be tlekc by the Monkey, This demon is most AMG onsen many such vampires tse thei P'o.as an excuse for very old Kuei-jin, Young Kuei_jin simply haven't de- Hun’ misbehaviors ‘veloped themechanismstodealwiththeendlessurgings —*The Mortkey Pro is most are topong %, toward animalistic behavior. OldenGui Ren fall to its” jig, and mote. faded Thrash eee blandishments for the samne reason they often beeome™ eypjcall akuma "=after cetturies on the Road Back, when the havior in their timesbetween auspicious occasi@né is measured it dé ments have ltt cades and the vampire is wise enough torealize the true tat 33a “The Sects ‘The Thrashing Dragon Dharma does onlya minimal Amount of capturing. and ‘tiaining’of ehih-met. They mainly rely om Devil-Tigers arid Thousand Whispers to train Jarval vampires for them in che basic ares of sur- ‘vival. Dragons then take themand train them forthe rest of their 1¢, teaching them the Dharma and preparing them for their Fire and Stone test After the Fu@and Stone rest, the Kuei-jin doesnot immediately join a sect: Inge@ad, young Thrashing Dragons mustexplore the worldon their own fora time Thisallows the vampire ta experience existence with- out the preconceived notions of the sects. The ances- -torsiof the faith believe that young varnpires should “ aekept a sect, rather than be pushed into one. Many young ThrashingDragons exploreseveral sectsat once, only S8trling nto a singledenomination when they _, become jina or evenmandarins. From the ranks of the “ Rudisjin who never fd a sect to their liking come the ‘ew seers, as individual Kuei-jin find their own paths to heaven on che the Dhara, Every one of the sects was found ie ampire who felt campetled to find her own way to Heayen. However, most-Thrashing Deagonsdobecomemem- bbersof one of the secrs over time. This is rarely a matter of official nore, even among the Passion Blaodflowers. Though the Bloodflowers throw great revels when an- cother vampire becomes 1 penangallan, the act of actually Glaiming adherence tothesectis something the vampire simply does. Asa vampire gravitates more toward asect, she begins to makehetselfa parc of t. Contactingelders, she professes interest and obtitins the sect’s important theological. tracts: She attempts to practice the sect’s version of thefaith as well as she sable, consulting with herimentorsand tutors when she encounters difficulties: Jf She persists andishows aptiuude for the sect’s brand of understanding, she will progress. Lauguyng Rajnsow Secr ‘The Laughing Rainbow: sect was the first) and for some tine the only Thrashing Dragon sect. After the Demon Watrior Empire fel before the teachings of Xue became known, many jin walked the night looking for. solace’ or enlightenment: One of them, whose name has been forgotten, heard of Xue's Fivefold ‘Way afd teachings trom one of het fellow Gui Ren. She listened to the reports of Xue's message for three nights, and then sunder the moon and through the night thinking abour the matter fora lunat’month. She vrasalteady close to dah, and hearing Xue's message vent herdecp. into:meditation. ‘Onemofning, this Kueiyjin stood in a plum grove in the South China mountainsyiand looked our across a mist-filled valley. Shestooped down to pick up a fallen jplam. She bir into it, and its sweetand dew-covered taste surprised her. Overcome, she laugtied atthe taste. In the imist below her, @ thousand startled eranes took wing. Seeing this, the Rue: eee yandentered © the Hundred Clouds. ae pee call herself after the event that caused her to complete the Road Back, she became Thousand Crane Mother. The bodhisaccva be- gan to travel the world, taking disciples who wished ro hear her teachings. She saught for time, and inhet.wisdoxt learned 2 Tesson. The road of Dhartna, she oafnetounderstand, was onc upwhicha Kuei-jin traveled: bios ins eer ‘Though ir was narrow and difficult in places, triwas still, ‘pathway wider than herowm: ing her own path and novthe:wourse of the raid as a whole, she made the travails of those who fo ‘unnecessat- ily bash, and their road nesillessly Yer life was successful not because it tied the wise path burbecause it tried every path. Seeing: her ertor, Thousand Crane Mother called hermostadvanced disciples together an taught alesson now known.as the Scattering of the Seeds, In it, she. explained the crue tenets of the Dharma, not of hee own belief and practicés...n doing this, she laid out the markers of the road of the faith, but allowed-those who followed after her to find their awn path along Yet not every disciple sought his or her own toad. Even with the road of the Dfiser opened, many chose not to follow theit own patlispbut to stay close to the footsteps of the Thousand Crane’ Mather. Ter- rible, graceful and fieree, she faith of action, experience and reflection. Those who wishédxo emu- late’ her, she said, must be terrible, like an enraged shark. They miast experience the world with the eves of « beast, and take in each moment and sensition ag if iCwere new and unexpected. Finally, these Laugh- ing Rainbows must be reflective, for they: were holy: creatures, and not beasts. Their road so salvarion Jay not in animal behavior, but in enlightenment. Learn- ing the lessons ofythe tiget and the wild beast, the Laughing Rainbow! must apply those lessons to a greater matter than survival into the nexe moment, ‘And 50 it remains at the end of the Fifth Age: The Laughing Rainbow attempts to be lively, for life is a lively place, and those withouthigh Yang spirits do not easly understand it. She attempts to dance the Dance ofthe Thrashing Dragon and laugh the laugh that sets a thousand cranes to flight. It is not a state of life, but astate in emulation of living, seeking to learn by ‘natural study and meditation. ‘ Laughing Rainbows canoften be found experiment- ing with new ways of living, sometimes pretending o be different kinds of people, at other-simes, indulging in hew sensations and meditaing upon them: _ stalk wild and lonely placts, looking for mortals to prey > ‘on and hakemono to chistise. Others walk the edge of the Yang World, steking to guard the spiritual supports ofthe maya irom comruption bythe forces of Yomi. Often. “f =~f disyant one. Mandarins who hecome very wide often once sda hierarchy, However, acolytes can switch mentorsfteely, and 96 follow whichever master’s teachinigs seem best to them, in accord with the principle that the road. of Dharma is wider than any one set of footsteps. Hory Paces ‘The sect has a number of modest temples in rural areax of China, Set on land bargained from the Xiong Ren, these refuges ure small places, and have no perma- nent staff OF durable constriction, they are inhibited, sometimes by several mandarins and acolytes, some- ‘times bya ina who clears the leaves from the gutress ‘acts a8 priest, of just enjoys the beautiful solitude until “Someone else. comes along who has a use for the place: Sometimes, they dre inhahited only by the badgers'and foxesand tigensthat are drawn to these places of Yang energy. The most famous of these places is the © SeThousand Crane Monastery in the mountains of South “China. There still stands the plum grove where the Thalsand Crane Mathet bent to pick up a phim. Below § it still lies the lake where a thousand cranes posests'the dawn in response to her laughter. The cranes do not go there any more, for the world is no longer so full off auspicious things 4 it once was. Yet one an easily picture them, rising through the mist and crossing the slowing orange dise of the rising sun, Reapers ‘The sect is “led” by the Thousand Crane Mother-— she is the final arbiter of her teachings. While her commentary is at this point rather exhaustive, at least ‘once or twice a year the mandatins must pose’ to her a question regarding” matcers of enlightenment. These ‘elder Laughing Rainbow mandarins are several dozen ip umber, and mast have several younger mandarin who ‘occasionally consult-them. This group of elders exerts. influence on the behalf of the sect and Dharma, proteet~ ing members from persecution and working asa group to steer the'sect. Most Thrashing Dragons are rather friendly. to these efforts, and advice or instructions ftom the elders of the sect is generally heeded. Passion Bicopriower Sect ‘The reality is that the so-called Golden Courts are an umbrellacast over a disparate number of culeutes and religions The region as a whole does not have a domi- nant sect hut some regions do. The Malay Peninsula ts! thehome of sestof vampires x0 fearsame they cdlorthe reputation ofall of Southeast Asia as whole. Before the late Fourth Age, it was the custom of the many Thrashing Dragon Gui Ren in Malaysia to survive as the wives of men. Those who were female or could become female lived as women, and those who were male in gender becamé transvestites and lived as the ‘Mistresses of men_who preferred women of that sort. Kiva oF we Ease et i pt yest tions ence, oie ea sn prematurely), the enangallan would mournfully take berleave to return to “her sagt + district” and move along, finding shay ae litferent area. Such vampires did not bear dhampyrs because of the difficulty such offspring caper refines cath This was often |nany of thes vampires were killed by Xiong Ren or demon hunters. Many others fell. into the clutchewof the Yama ‘Kings, as they imade’ dark ‘bargains to find rich spous srantee the health of» their husbands. Bysthecime: Sung dy- nasty, it. was.clear the region was ine et control of akania, ‘One Thrashing Dragon, Piya Payung, was siting on her doorstep one night; watching a mantis in the garden. Asit finished devouring its mate, the vampite -was enlightened. The savage nature of the genitive force shown to het, and she entefed the Hundred Clouds. -as a source of them through the art ‘occult influ. -soon took students first from the Devil-Tigersof the region, anththe ‘Thrashing Dragons. She tanghe the primacy of the female form, che sired natute of the reproductive actand the importance of aguression and.clominance in suecess. She and her students de- scended.on the altuna of che regionsdike mad animals, forin her newfound wisdom the bodhisacrvahad devised new fighting ee aii! her followers’ own: Dragon Piyau Payung il Way of living, but instead ate the importance of sisterhood and power in the'face of the perilous world. The Wan Kuei bes Sioa late Sarena capable of many dangerous young, and willing to eat their-matc when then weref no use. This was not the Way Forwand; the descenc into the chih-melflesh-eater state, but a true embracing of. the principles of the Thestipe 1¢ Dragon. Laugh often. Break the stems and seatrer the seeds. Bat what_you like of thar which’ you vend. These aft-the cénets of the’ Dharma —if the Passion’ Bloodflowers follow them more openly and immediately than the rest of the Dhara, then pethaps that is because their insight is keener. ~~ The mandarias of this sect aré. called penangallan, ‘andall have mastered theare they call “dancing without one’s skin.” These vampires use Flesh Shintai to allow theirhead, bowels tive otgans to pull away frow theit body, travel thpouigh the air like this by mea eh. Thy dsp in this eb ‘ed form at cert they say it embodies the basic truths of life: consumption, digestion and repro duction. These 3 avedesttictive creatures who walk near the he, Devil-Tiger faith. They, 4