Age of Wulin Sects Introduction

Age of Wulin Sects Introduction by LordKisame

Shaolin

Story

In the 19th year of the reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty, an Indian monk, Batuo, was greatly admired by Emperor Xiaowendi.

Whilst travelling, the monk came across a mountain range that looked like a lotus flower, where he wished to establish a monastery: the emperor granted his wish and had a temple built on Shaoshi Mountain, from where the school derived its name – the Shaolin Temple.

Disciples of the Shaolin Sect focus on external skills, in which they are widely considered to be matchless.

Weapons

The principal weapon of choice is the staff, which is used in close combat, but can also reach further than a sword or blade. The Shaolin are also competent at very close range and can use their empty-hand skills to launch powerful attacks.

Fighting Style

Their martial art skills are powerful and direct; the moves focus on close range attacks which inflict more damage and provide better defence. They have great survival capabilities.

Sect Position

By joining the Shaolin Sect you will learn to hone your attack and defence skills. This sect offers a vast amount of knowledge and skills.

The Shaolin Sect has its own martial arts theories and has come to be the most respected faction in the Chinese martial arts world.

The Shaolin Sect is a Righteous sect, leading the way in upholding moral standards and justice.

Emei

Story

The founder of the Emei Sect was a Taoist nun who had formerly been a Shaolin disciple. The sect was established on Mount Emei and all of its disciples are female. Emei is named after the beautiful mountain it’s located on; a mountain regarded as one of the most majestic in all of China. It is one the four famous ‘Buddhist mountains’ Emei Sect is an all-female sect, whose disciples are compassionate, brave and just. The sect is celebrated for its martial arts, and with Shaolin and Wudang it is one of the three great sects in the Jianghu.

Weapons

Twin-Spears (daggers) are most commonly used by Emei disciples; they are weapons designed for use with two hands. They are highly regarded by the women of the sect on account of their light weight and agility. The combat moves for double-spear are as elegant and intricate as dance. They are also known to use smaller, more discrete weapons which are unique to Emei.

Fighting Style

Disciples of Emei usually study medicine, are compassionate, and are willing to make use of their superb medical skills to heal people; they are greatly respected among the Wulin. This means they have strong defence capabilities and endurance during combat, however their advanced attack skills are less well developed.

Sect Position

Emei is very powerful in the south-west region of China and is one of the three giants among the Wulin in the Central Plain.

Emei is a Righteous Sect

Wudang

Story

The Wudang Sect began during the Ming Dynasty. The famous Taoist Zhang Sanfeng established the Sect on Wudang Mountain near the city of Jun, located in Hubei province.

Wudang is renowned for its mountain range: Mount Canshang and Mount Taihe are two of the most well-known and their soaring peaks and deep valleys have inspired generations. In fact, in ancient times it was thought that the main peak, Tianzhu Peak, propped up the sky. In addition, Wudang Mountain is known as “nature’s pharmacy” for there are over 400 different kinds of herbs that grow there.

Weapons

The Wudang tend to prefer the use of swords: one of the ancient short weapons, it is widely regarded as the “gentleman of weapons.” These ancient swords are forged from metal; they are long and the tip is fashioned to form a three-point cutting edge. The Wudang are also known for their use of the twin-sword.

Fighting Style

Their attacks are powerful yet yielding, they can be direct or hidden. They are skilled in ranged attacks, assisting with recovery, and helping other team members, furthermore, they have very strong survival capabilities. Their main weakness is in defending themselves during ranged (AOE) combat.

The Wudang Sect, apart from spreading the ideology of Taoism, advocates utilising the opponent’s force, making use of so-called ‘soft techniques’ in its martial arts. Tai Chi specialises in combining form and spirit, and using intention over force. Wudang kung fu emphasises the importance of self-cultivation: it does not focus on the development of force as with the other schools, but on the refining of internal skill. The so-called ‘defeating a thousand pounds with four ounces’ developed from Zhang Sanfeng’s self-realisation, employs the Taoist notions of emptiness and flexibility and occupies the highest position of all the sects and schools.

Sect’s Position

They believe in the theory of ‘conquering the unyielding with the yielding’.

The mental cultivation methods of Wudang can be regarded as the fist of internal force. It belonged to the Quanzhen school of Taoism. Its disciples often went down the mountain to save the people. This faction is as famous as Shaolin and is held in high esteem in the Jianghu.

Wudang is a Righteous Sect

Beggar’s Sect

Story

In every dynasty there were beggars. They often went out in groups and always punished villains; they are somewhat similar to the legend of ‘Robin Hood’ in the West; the Beggars’ Sect became the largest school in the Jianghu and their ‘Dog Beating Staff Technique’ and ‘Eighteen Dragon-subduing Palms’ are widely renowned.

The Beggars’ Sect has branches spreading across all provinces, although it could be considered that their headquarters are in the capital of China, Beijing. As the largest school in the Jianghu they can collect information and join a fight very quickly, which is a great advantage.

Weapons

Palms are the weapon of choice for their strong and direct power, although a staff or stick is also known to be used. Their two ultimate skills are the famous ‘Dog Beating Staff Technique and Eighteen Dragon-subduing Palms’.

Fighting Style

Their moves inflict a great deal of damage but their defense is of less concern. They do however, on account of their knowledge in the field, have good defence against poisons.

The sect is famous for its ‘Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms’ and its ‘Dog Beating Staff Technique’, which are only passed down from a chief to his successor. The green jade staff which is carried by the chief is  a symbol of his leadership.

Sect Position

There have been beggars in every dynasty that have formed alliances to defend against injustices and fight for righteousness. By the end of the Song dynasty the Beggars’ Sect had become one of the foremost righteous sects in the Jianghu.

Although beggars occupy the lowest position in society, many of them are of noble character, remaining steadfast, unyielding, and maintaining impeccable moral standards. They would not hesitate to give up their lives in the name of righteousness and comradeship.

Beggars’ Sect is a Righteous Sect

Scholar’s Academy

Story

The Scholar’s Academy was established by Prince Bieqing and the famed scholar Shi Yanbing after they met on Taihu Lake and became firm friends. They decided to establish the academy, located on the shores of the lake, so that they might associate with like-minded people: people talented in literature, music and painting.

The members of the Scholar’s Academy are all refined scholars and highly skilled in the four Confucian arts of guqin,  Chinese chess (weiqi), calligraphy and painting, as well as some unusual martial arts that use music and dance as their principal attack methods. They emphasise internal training and the cultivation of internal energy.

Weapons

They are highly skilled in the refined art of the sword and their ‘Limitless Sword Technique’ is renowned in the Jianghu, they also use musical instruments as weapons as well as empty-hand techniques.

Fighting Style

The disciples of the sect utilise the magical power of music in their attack strategies, inflicting great but short-lived damage. Should they not inflict great damage in one attack, they are open to counter-attack owing to their low defensive capabilities. They can attack multiple players at the same time, but they only have limited sets of moves. They also only have limited skill in long-range combat.

Sect Position

Disciples of the Scholar’s Academy are literary men and women, highly skilled in the guqin, Chinese chess, calligraphy and dance. They are all refined and profoundly educated, not concerning themselves with the mundane struggles within the Wulin.

They are a neutral sect.

Tang Clan

Story

The Tang Clan is a family sect, renowned in the Wulin for its use of hidden weapons and poisons. It has been in the Jianghu for several hundred years, but is still shrouded in mystery. Disciples of the clan are skilled in strategy and the development of all kinds of hidden weapons and poisons.

They rarely move around in the Jianghu preferring to stay in the family castle located in Chongqing, Sichuan. The castle is heavily fortified; it is covered with hidden weapons and secret devices making entry extremely hazardous. The head of Tang is elected from the lineal disciples and he keeps the four family treasures: The scroll, robe, marble, and staff.

Weapons

They prefer to use the dagger and the flying dart as they are easily concealed, suiting their underhand methods.

Fighting Style

Tang special skills focus on controlling others, absorbing their HP and internal energy. Their hidden weapons are used for ranged attacks, but are not suited to melee attack, however, if they do win in melee attacks, they add negative BUFFS to their enemies.

Their poisons are very effective and can penetrate strong defences.

Sect position

The members of Tang don’t like to show themselves in the martial-art world; they are extremely secretive and mysterious,

The Tang Clan is a Neutral sect.

Blissful Valley

Story

The creator of the Blissful Valley Sect was a very astute man but he had a temperamental nature; he was also skilled in the lost art of fortune-telling. Because he predicted that he would not live beyond 46 years of age, he created the Blissful Valley in order to escape his fate and cheat death.

In support of his cause, he recruited many sinister and ruthless figures who relied on vicious martial arts skills to rampage in the Jianghu, killing indiscriminately. Blissful Valley is located on a secret island in Yunmeng Lake and is surrounded by hills, which act as a natural barrier and choke point. It is regarded as the most dangerous and immoral sect within the Wulin.

Weapons

They prefer to use the twin broadsword for its strong and direct power. They are also skilled in the twin-short sword, as well as in empty-hand techniques.

Fighting Style

They have special skills in creating traps and are proficient in ranged attacks, as well as defensive techniques. They can also surround themselves in a protective cloud in order to make a quick getaway.

School Position

Blissful Valley is an Evil sect in the Jianghu

Royal Guards

Story

The Royal Guards were established by Zhu Yuanzhang, taking orders from him directly. However by the reign of Emperor Yongle, they had cultivated more skill, and become stronger and more ambitious, finally breaking away from the imperial court and joining the Jianghu.

Their headquarters, composed of gruesome, prison-like buildings, is located in the west of the capital. The Royal Guards undertake secret missions and have special privileges and abundant funds. Even though they no longer carry the authority of the  imperial court, they are still an immensely  powerful sect. They are cruel and cold-blooded, practising sinister yin style martial arts; all sects in the Jianghu fear them.

Weapons

They prefer to use the broadsword or sword, however, they are also skilled in ‘eagle’s claw’ and the chain.

Fighting Style

They have many special skills that can increase attack to inflict great damage. They cultivate dark yin energy, forging steel-like bodies impervious to harm. However, their cool-down period is relatively long, with more usage limitations.

They can also quickly alternate between attack and defence modes. (Crowd Control)

School Position

The Royal Guards roam the Jianghu, secretly participating in the affairs of the Wulin and conducting spying, arrest and interrogation activities. They are extremely brutal and will use any means necessary to accomplish their mission. They are regarded by all in the Jianghu as an Evil sect.

Rank (for each school)

You gain school reputation through your assignments and your training.

You will be able to challenge NPCs from your school which hold a higher rank. If you win the fight you will gain their title and obtain the outfit which is paired with your new rank.