Whisperings of the August Personage of Jade


Advice to those with the wit to listen


So you've made the character, registered him with Trish, got the "all-clear" sign AND you're on the Little Asia ML. You're all set for the big leagues, right?

Well, maybe.

This page is particularly important if you're new to the whole online gaming thing, but some of it will be helpful to more experienced players.

First off, remember that unless you're part of an ST-run story, you're free-forming. That means, amongst other things, that you are on your honor when it comes to things like character stats and powers, not to mention rolls (if it comes to that, which should be rare).

Now, having given the obligatory lecture, some more useful tips:

Where to Play
The innate inclinations of the Shinma are to answer the prayers of mortals and tend to nature. They also like to observe the other shen, whom they find interesting. Therefore, there are several chat areas in Necropolis that would attract the attention of the Hsien:
  • Naturally, the Gardens on top of the Bamboo Tower
  • To a lesser extent, some daring Hsien might also wish to visit the Tower itself. However, due to the bad blood twixt them and the Kuei-jin, they will ONLY enter with formal oaths of security.
  • The Woods will, of course, attract virtually any Hiryanu, and even the Kamuii will be drawn to the possibility of actually communing with nature in this city.
  • Naturally, the other "public" rooms (the Apartments, the Hotel, the Sewers, the Alleys, the Fairgrounds) offer the opportunity to listen to the prayers of mortals, and so should be taken advantage of.
  • The bar known as Shadows can provide a unique opportunity to interact with other shen, especially the Waigoren, on equal ground. It can also require wading through a wave of Twinks. Consider yourself warned, and procede with caution.
  • While the history of the Ten Do makes it clear that there is a vast difference between the faith of the Shinma and that of the Westerners, it is still faith. Therefore, especially on Christian holy days (Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednsday, and of course Sundays in general), Yugen-hungry Hsien may wish to attend a service and bask in the glory of mortal faith. I'd suggest AGAINST going into Wani form here, though, unless you really WANT to be hunted through the streets as a "hell-spawned demon". *W*
  • Nyan and Hanumen can probably get away with slipping into the Freehold--they'll be mistaken as Pooka, unless they go Wani instead of just assuming their animal forms. Other Kwannon-jin, however, would stand out like sore thumbs, and should only enter if they've been brought in by a friendly Waigoren Changeling. Even the Nyan and Hanumen who enter should only do so if they have fairly high Shentao ratings (4 or better). Less than that, and you'd have real trouble finding the place.
  • Other "Home" sites (identified by the phrase "[X-character type] only") should be avoided, even if you manage to wrangle an IC invite--the Hsien are a little wary about dealing with Supernaturals, especially Westerners, on their own turf.
  • Under NO circumstances should I hear of Hsien in the Umbra room. Remember, unless your character has Nieh Tan of 5, you are going to the Thousand Hells the moment you cross the Wall. Players who fail to honor this restriction WILL be cast into the Twink List--I'm tolerant, but not that tolerant.


Attitudes
Okay, keep in mind that these are generalizations, and if there's a real reason why your character might have a different view of things, that's fine.
  • Hengeyokai are on good terms with the Hsien. There is little ground for conflict, and a great deal of ground for common efforts. Ergo, friendships should not be a problem. Kumo, however, should be avoided at all costs.
  • Kuei-jin, on the other hand.... Standard opinion ranges from "Let's hope they go away" to "REVENGE! KILL THE TRAITORS OF HEAVEN!". Follow? Yes, the chats require a bit more flexibility, but there will almost NEVER be real trust between a Hsien and a Kuei-jin.
  • Wraiths, whether Western or Kuei, are pretty much ignored by the Hsien. If they were to actually encounter one, a Shinma would most likely try to help it resolve whatever issues were keeping it from returning to the Wheel.
  • Chi'n Ta and Western Mages will also likewise be treated similarly: namely, at arm's length. These folks are DANGEROUS. Still, there was once an ancient friendship between the Wu Lung and the Kamuii--it is possible that they might make alliances with the survivors of the once powerful Dragon Wizards. The Five Metal Dragons (Technocrats), on the other hand, are to be avoided if possible, studied if contact is unavoidable, and destroyed if they learn too much of us.
  • Western Changelings are mainly a source of curiousity. Unlike the Hengeyokai and the Kuei-jin, the Hsien do not view their Western counterparts to be either a threat or an enemy--indifference, with possible friendship, is the most likely course.
  • Western Bete are, of course, similar to the Hengeyokai physically, but their manners are so crude, and their leaders so arrogant.... Best to leave them to chase their tails as the Sixth Age approaches.
  • Western Vampires: [Sarcastic voice] "Great, another type of Kuei-jin. Just what my life needed. All the greed and power-hunger of the Cathayans, combined with the rude manners of the West."


What to do in Necropolis When You're Dead
Yup. You read Lo8MD right. Unless your character is totally drained of his Chi Traits (Yin and Yang), something which really only the Kuei-jin and a handful of Chi'n Ta would know how to do, your character will come back to assume another life if your current body is killed.
Needless to say, this does NOT mean you come back unchanged. Here's some tips on "resurrecting" your recently deceased Hsien character:
  • If you come back as a Hsien-tsu (in other words, take the body of a child), it will be some time before you remember your true nature. Go ahead, play a "normal" mortal kid for awhile--the experience will be good for you.
  • If you come back as a Hsien-jin, then you will be able to pick up where you left off... except for a few minor things.
  • First off, you are in a different body, and have acquired a whole new slew of memories--and your ability to remember what happened to you in the last life is limited by your new Remembrance Background.
  • As the shock of death and rebirth essentially wipe your memories clean, you have to create the new character from scratch. The following MUST be the same: Kwannon-jin. Yup, that's the only thing that definitely carries over.
  • Your new Attributes and Abilities will be determined by the person whose life you choose to mirror, so think about that person a bit: who were they, what did they do for a living, how did they come to die just as you were returning to this plane?
  • Unless your Remembrance is at LEAST 3 (4 or 5 would be even better), you won't retain things like Contacts or Retinue, without some special circumstance. (One approved character is an interesting exception--his Chu-ih-yu is also the guardian spirit of a particular family. As a result, whenever the current form is killed, the family heir takes on the duty, performing a ritual suicide to become a suitable host. Note that this means there had better be an "heir to the heir" before the transfer takes place, as Hsien are sterile. Otherwise, the new Hsien will be forced to adopt.)

OOC interrelationships
Recently, there's been some OOC difficulties in the Little Asia game on WW. As a result of the subsequent split, right now, there are two distinct groups operating on the HTML site. One calls itself the the Little Asia game, the other is generally referred to as the Court of Infinite Ages, or Yamahasu.
As of this writing, I am the Hsien ST in both games. Here's how it breaks down.
If you want to play in the Little Asia group under Brude, your char is a member (or, if not a "joiner", then would be considered to exist as a fringe walker) of the Lodge of Jade. If you prefer to play in Cam's group and stick with the CoIA, then you're a member/fringe-walker of the Yamahasu. Finally, at this time, it is still possible to belong to both; ICly, the Hsien are used to multiple Courts, so that's not an issue. You may have Title in one or both, but must take it separately. When running sessions, I will not be discriminating between players.
Now, once the long-awaited split between Mod and Unmod occurs in the HTMLs, this may change; we shall see. In the meantime, however, anyone attempting to interrupt a SL I am running with OOC clutter about the game split will be hunted down, captured, and then be trapped on a Southwest Airlines airplane that suffers an 8-hour delay before take-off, in Coach, seated between Rush Limbaugh and the Rev. Al Sharpton, both of whom will be on a PCP/CrystalMeth high.
This is a game, and a hobby, and an art. All of these are meant to bring pleasure to the person indulging in them. OOC bickering interferes with that enjoyment, and makes the ST cranky. Are we clear? Good.

Look back up and procede with your walk along Ten Do.

Go back to the Entrance Plaza.

Decide that today is inauspicious for a visit to Ten Do and return to Little Asia


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