"T'u Lung, the wild and mysterious rebels of the
south,
seeped in arcane magics and full of the savage
nonsense that leads men into their wars. T'u Lung, has
been at war since it broke away from Shou, almost
300 years! If not with our powerful legions, then with
the warring states further south, jungle barbarians or itself.
I have traveled through this land and seen the
abandoned cities cursed and destroyed by wars and
evil magic. Yet, the people endure, and new cities are
built on the ashes of the old.

I have known many from T'u Lung,, but Tan Hikao
Nong the Balladeer is my favorite. He is an excellent
storyteller, and full of all types of useful information. I
originally saw him perform in Karatin, and realized
he was using magic to influence the audience, but he <oriental bard?>
had talent and his voice was strong. Then I saw him at
the reception for the marriage of Sung Tsi, and he
sang The Three Lords? Romance. Some of the audi-
ence was moved to tears, it was so compelling. I
became interested in Tan Hikao Nong that evening.
Later, when I heard school-children chanting a bit of
his songs, or overheard a young women who
hummed passages from ?The Romance,? I realized he
had a rare gift, and so I sought him out.

Traveling with Ambassador Hing Ti Chin as advisor
and observer, I first met Nong in Shang Stzi in the
heart of T'u Lung,. He later visited me in my apart
ments in the Imperial City, and I have watched his performances
many times. Over the years, our mutual love
of histories and knowledge has made us fast
friends. This touring minstrel has returned to Shou
Lung many times, and his epic ballads and
lighthearted
melodies are part of the current popular culture
ture of both our lands. We spent a week together in
Wafang, and what follows is excerpts of our corre-
pondence,
Nong's thoughts, stories and teachings
about T'u Lung,. There?s a few things I?ve discovered
about
Tan Hikao Nong that he will not discuss
himself-the fact that he has lived 145 years, yet still
looks the human age of a robust 45 is one, and his childhood
is another. Since I was very interested, I
used my powers over time to observe his early life.

Of course, Nong will never mention his past, as
these memories are painful. He does explain his life
with Fargh Choi, so I'll leave that to him. Much of what
he relates is truth and that is why I chose him to tell
you of the rebel south. Here are the words of the
famous Balladeer of T'u Lung, Tan Hiko Nong:

The Land

"Come, ye multitudes, listen to all my words. It is not I,
the Little Child, who dare to undertake a rebellious
enterprise; Heaven has given the charge to destroy
the enemy for his many crimes against ye, the people.
The Wonders of Kara-Tur reside in the heart of T?u,
the richest culture and true divine Dynasty. The peoples
of the world are pale in comparison, art is deca-
dent and ill-inspired and magic is weak and
impermanent. T'u is the Might of the South, the bas
tion of truth and freedom, the chosen arm of the
celestial bureaucracy on Kara-Tur. We must never for
get this fact. Hold our banners high! This is T'u Lung!"

-- Wai Chu Doang, the fifth Emperor of the Lui
Dynasty speaking to his troops before the ill-fated Battle of Tan.

"The South holds many of the wonders of Shou, and
while maligned and discredited, it lies like a sleeping
dragon, awaiting the signal to rise like the sun."

-- Wei Tsao Te, Court Historian of Kao Dynasty, in
"Shichi Hsi," the 200 volume "False Histories" of Shou

I have traveled the length of my homeland and vis-
ited its most famous and obscure villages, cities and
monuments, so I will tell you of the varied places and
the colorful people that make up my T'u Lung

CITIES
 
 

Balanzia	Ha'chou	The Village and Temple of Lai Sao	Wai	-
-	-	-	-	-

Places Of Interest
 

E'do Formal Gardens	The Flooded City, Ca'hong Chwi	The Three Sisters	T'hai Salt Flats	The Yengso Rocks
The Ruins of T'u Lung	The Okan'ing School	The Fenghsintzu River	I'wa Geyser	-

Government and Politics




"The image is of Decrease, the lake beneath the mountain.
The water is evaporating, thus dropping its level and
benefiting the mount. The rock symbolizes
stubborn silence and the lake is careless joy.
In this way, the superior man learns to govern his tempers
and stubborn angers, also restrains the wild moods
that possess the mind, impulsive instincts."

-- Hsao Chronicles, Hu Ling Do.

T'u lung is divided into six provinces, each administered
by a hereditary governor. The provinces are divided into
districts and official positions are assigned on the basis of
family and graft. There are 28 districts total,
and about 45 powerful noble families in T'u Lung.
The Lui dynasty has never been able to break the power of the nobles.
Currently, the control the examination system and
have arranged for various offices to become hereditary.
These powerful clans have exempted themselves
from Imperial edicts, and ignore the tax levies.
The Emperor can enforce his will only with a
majority of consenting noble families behind him.

Each provincial governor sets up his district
bureaucracy in his own fashion, yet certain elements
are the same in all. The district officer is a sheriff and
chief accountant, and he rules two divisions, the mili-
tary office and the public welfare office. The military
includes the samurai and bushi police force, as well as
any standing armies assigned to the district, and in
some districts, the spies and assassins, too. The Public
Welfare Office is usually overstaffed, divided into a
plethora of ministries, from Housing to Hearth
Inspection, from Spirit-catchers to Laundry, and most
of these ministers and their staffs do no actual work!
Of course, they?re usually related to the provincial.
governor or some noble family to gain the position initially!
Delays are notoriously long, apathy is prevalent and
the system is very frustrating to honest peasants.

Local districts, small villages and towns, are controlled
by officers who are randomly selected from
the population each year and must provide their services
for free. Districts are referred to as townships.
Often, the less prestigious positions cause financial
burdens to the chosen families and one mistake could
result in the death of the "volunteer," so these positions
are not coveted and some avoided.

This is how it is supposed to be done: each family is
separated into a grade according to wealth, first the
richest in the sector and tenth the poorest. Township
leaders (li-cheng) are chosen only from the first grade
and they report directly to the provincial governor,
and household chiefs (hu-chang) come from the second
grade and report to the township officer. These
positions are in charge of tax collection, and they are
expected to make up uncollected tax from their own
pockets! Elders (Ch?i-chang) come from all grades and
are allowed advisory status only. Stalwart men
(chuang-ting) come from the third through fifth
grades and supply the local militia of sheriffs and
bowmen. The supply masters (ya-ch?ien) and scribes
(hsing shu-shou) are chosen from the sixth and seventh-
grades and are often hanged for lost inventory
or incorrect totals! The eighth and ninth grades are
called upon to provide messengers who may have to
run hundreds of miles to deliver an imperial edict!
The lowest grade is comprised of the homeless, the
beggars, the vagrants and the wandering priests, all
considered unfit for office and despised by higher
officials.

Of course, the actual selection for these posts is in
no way random! It is very difficult for common men
and
?shih' to move into government positions, unless
they excel in a battle or show extreme bravery and
skill as not to go unrewarded by a superior man. The
people have no recourse with the crooked officials
and courts, so they are easily oppressed.

Corruption of official posts is one of our biggest
    problems
in T?u Lung, and many are involved in the
    courtly intrigues and secrets. Many of the nobles lead
secret cults who swear to overthrow the Wai Empire.
Another problem we have is inept people impressed
into official positions, leaving us with bully-sheriffs
and
stalwart men with no morals, education or convictions!
Contrast that with the well-trained officers of Shou!

The public works built by Shou Lung have run into
disrepair, and neither the Emperor nor the nobles can
take
time away from their fighting to improve the lot
of the T?u. ?King Wai?s Canals? run haphazardly, and
are choked with reeds and mud, and the S?tuni Dam is
leaky. Many roads and trails are choked with weeds
and thickets, allowing ample hiding places for wild
beasts and still wilder men. Bandits, murderers and
monsters infest all but the biggest of highways.

It seems the biggest pastime in the cities is political
plotting. Assassination is often the best way to
improve position and wealth. Because of this, many
criminal families and evil black brotherhoods of death
are found in T?u Lung; some even control entire villages
and wards of large cities. I have performed for these
clans, and their code of honor is as strong as the
samurai's. These yakuza have become rivals of the <>
nobility
and sometimes support the Emperor in his
power struggles for favors and secret pacts.

The Provinces Of T?u Lung

?The superior man separates and defines his existence
into manageable parts, assigning life and fate his
correct and true position. Thus we are confronted
with the Image of Limit, the brim-full lake under the
sky.?
?Hsao Chronicles, Hu Ling Do.

Currently, T?u Lung is divided into six provinces and
28 districts or ?townships.? Each province has been
controlled by a clan for generations, but the district
leaders have changed at the whims of these nobles.
Size and shapes of the districts also change frequently
as one commander is rewarded and another is punished
by the Emperor or provincial governor. The following
list outlines the provinces and political
situations as they are in 2607.

Joi Chang Peninsula
The Joi Chang Peninsula Province, including the
Blood Plains and all lands north of the Mokan River, is
ruled by the Tan clan and is heavily aligned with Ausa.
The current Tan patriarch is Tan Wui Locca, who
claims to be a direct descendant of Tan Wui Han. The
Symbol of the Tan is a kingfisher and this bird is sewn
on their flags and banners. The feathers of these birds
are coveted, but the family would never harm their
chosen symbol for fear of celestial retribution. The
Tan have two fleets of 30 warships, and 48 merchant
vessels, and work together with Ausa to monopolize
water trade. The current Tan family leaders claim
direct descendancy from Tan Chin.
The province is split into five districts:
Montow District, including jurisdiction over the
?Three Sisters,? the islands north of the peninsula, is
controlled by the Tan family from Te Pachan Castle.
Lenache District, ruled by Tan Wui Locca?s friend
and advisor, Dotu Ghi Ichi.
Sian Li District, ruled by Garrison Commander
Ip Feu Choy, a renowned strategist and important
warrior.
The Blood Plains, ruled by the ruthless Lord
Bichika Toon, general of the Scarlet Riders of Yensa
Shrine.
North Mokan District, administered by the
Quan family for three generations, now ruled by
Quan To Srong of the river city Bachai.
The Forests of Joi Chang are filled with magical
beasts and T?u deserters living in hermitage. Countless
battles, great and small, have been waged on the
Blood Plains, and ghosts and ghouls wander this
cursed land.

Ausa
The Ausa Province controls all land east of the
Akensai River and south to Chedoru, and it is ruled by
the Ho clan from the port city Ausa. Ho Bai Lee rules
the province and his district, and he has seen that his
cousin controls another district to consolidate Ho
power. The Ho have a navy based in Keeling of 75 warships,
and a merchant marine of 30 ships. The Ho family
owns the Go S?tenai Quarries and their marble has
been a limitless source of wealth for four generations.
The sky-blue Ho Banner has two white daggers and
three red stars. The Ausa ships are feared throughout
Kara-Tur's mighty oceans.
Ausa Province is divided into the following districts.
Ausa District, under the control of Ho Bai Lee, the
main exporter of dried fish for T?u Lung.
Shin District, administered by Shin So Tang from
his castle west of Chunming. Shin is a direct descendant
of Shin Ginsen, and plots continually for the
downfall of the usurping Wai family. His factions are
very powerful and support the warrior Ho clan in
most ventures. You can know them by a tattoo of a
green dragon on their left arms.
Chempka District, ruled by Ho Duantu Qwi,
cousin of the Governor Ho of Ausa Province. He is an
honorable man, but many on his staff are corrupt.
Keeling District, ruled by Do Enang, the sealord
of Keeling, world renowned for the Market of the
Moons and the Isgathes Towers.
Chedoru District, ruled for three generations by
the Wai family through marriage and treaties. Wai Ga
So?in, third cousin to the Emperor, controls the southernmost
district of Ausa, and lives in a hidden fortress,
protected against assassination and wars. This
is a powerful wing of the Wai clan, and they have an
army of paid soldiers masquerading as farmers in
Chedoru and Li.
True patriots of Ausa do not recognize the Emperor,
and refer to him as the ?King of Wail.? They are obstinate
people and publicly call for the overthrow of the
government. The Nugha tribes of the hills of E?sang Yi
still follow a mysterious kio ton mu (witchdoctor). The
Nikaro Monument draws thousands of supplicants to
its yearly Festival of Akensai from all over T?u Lung.

East Wai
East Wai Province, the historical Wai Province,
includes all lands east of the Fenghsintzu River and
west of the Akensai River. This collection of six districts
is under the control of the Maki family, led by
Maki Wantu Ohn and his four sons. The provincial
capital is in Zun Hi, and it is an ancient castle occupied
by the Wai clan for thousands of years. The Maki clan
supports the Emperor and owes their hereditary position
to his graces. These districts produce a lot of the
rice that supports the empire.
The six districts of East Wai Province are:
The H?sin-to District administered by Hong
Kwan To. The district capital is the only ocean port in
Wai territory, a very corrupt city. The royal navy of 52
warships is docked at H?sin-to.
The Pendir Chao District overlooking the fields
of Penchow east to the Canung Marsh and south to
the Wong Flats. District officer is General Ku D?nag
Sao, who gained his position through bravery in battle
in defense of his district. He is an honorable man and
has attempted to purge graft from his bureaucracy.
The Shosun District ruled by Wai Kung Chui, the
widow of Wai Kung Hu, third cousin of the Emperor.
This woman is carrying the position in a custodial
fashion until her young son can assume the office, but
she is a ruthless dictator and wields the power of her
office with conviction.
The Zun Hi District, ruled by the provincial governor,
includes the land surrounding the cities of Fo
Liche Gai, S?seh Yando, and Ha?chou, north of the hills
of Quai. It is one of the richest districts in all of T?u
Lung.
South Quai is administered from the Hodo?ung
Cha garrison and has been governed by the Ro?aku
clan for five generations. The current district officer
is Ro?aku Swi A'un Song, a veteran of the southern
barbarian skirmishes of 2603.
The Habi District borders the Bashan Do Province
south of S?seh Yando, and is ruled by Lord Akishi
Wa Ry of ancient Quenche. This lord favors the
Emperor and harbors training grounds for the loyal
armies of T?u Lung.
 

West Wai
West Wai Province, formerly Chia Wan Ch?uan Province,
is ruled by the Emperor and has three districts,
all held by members of the Wai family, either direct or
by marriage. This is the worst province for corrupt
officials and ineffective government. The royal
bureaucracy is in knots and many of the lower administrators
are thugs and dullards, adding to the confusion.
Forgers are rampant and the imperial seal means
little-money is the language of West Wai Province.
The districts of West Wai are:
The provincial capital Wai, circled by the
?King?s Waters,? the canals and the winding Fenghsintzu
River. The Emperor rules by edicts from Dakarazu
Palace north of the capital city.
To?an District, ruled by the Emperor?s brother,
Wai Gada Mo, encompassing the land from Tsing on
the Mokan River south to the great Fenghsintzu,
including the forbidden realm of the ancient dried salt
lake, the T'hai Salt Flats.
The Noka?o Ruha District that borders the disputed
lands, Lup Iantu (Pien Lun by Shou reckoning).
This district is controlled by a criminal family which
has married into the Wai clan?while Wai Gu Sunlee is
officially in command of the district, the real power
lies with Hum Chuk, ?father? of the Qan Do Chang
clan, a powerful yakuza organization, whose son has
married the emperor?s third daughter and holds her
hostage in his fortress.
 

Bashan Do
Bashan Do Province, carved from Wai by Fengnao
during the Three Kingdoms period of T?u Lung history,
is ruled by the descendants of the general who
pried the lands away from Wai, Wen Lo Qent. The current
governor is Wen Lo Ap, and his capital city in in
the Te Lu District, just north of the Fenghsintzu. Wen
Lo Ap is very loyal to the Yang clan of Fengnao, and
ignores the edicts of the Emperor. Wen keeps a standing
army of 2,000 along the border with Shou Lung,
and another 1,000 troops along the border with East
Wai Province.
The three districts of Bashan Do are:
Dayo F?so District, west of the Fenghsintzu, the
deep woodlands south of the Pasintzu River. This wild
country is governed by Lord Atax Cho and his Dayo
Badgers, an elite army of foresters and sohei.
Te Lu District east of the Fenghsintzu River is
watched over by the provincial governor and the
entire Wen clan. Political corruption is seldom seen in
this district.
Noka Jui District is ruled by Putar Yi Onru, a
nephew of the provincial governor, Wen Lo Ap. He is
the leader of at least three organizations bent on
destroying the Lui Dynasty.
 

Fengnao Province
Fengnao Province, the vast lands north of the ?Tail
of the Fenghsintzu," has been controlled by the Yang
clan since the days of the Three Kingdoms. The patriarch
Yang Pu Tobi rules from Kichai in the far south,
and his lands are divided into six districts. The nobles
tolerate what they call ?Wai and the imperial nonsense,
? but they ignore edicts, raise their own taxes
and keep their own armed forces. The territory is less
populated, filled with dense forests and miles of rolling
hills. Strange wu jens and shukenja wander this
province, and many nonhumans flourish in the wild
land.
The Fengnao Province is divided into these districts:
The Winto Forest District, bisected by the great
Conqueror?s Highway and the Southern Passage of
Shou, is ruled by the Lord Uki Awn Cho. His seat of
power is a fortress connected to the Ha Tuin Garrison.
The Durkon District is governed by Yang Wui
Up, the cousin of the provincial governor.
The Banang District, enfiefed to the General
Kodo Smara who defeated the southern barbarians in
the battle of To?cun Cho.
The Kichai District is ruled by the provincial governor,
Yang Pu Tobi, an active warrior and inspiring
leader. Kichai votes consistently against the wishes of
the Emperor.
The Hachomi District centers around that city,
and is ruled by Gung Toa Tso, whose family has controlled
this district for five generations. The Gung
clan is of questionable ancestry, but they rule with
excessive might and keep fear in the heart of their district.
The So'iru District, west of Banang and the
Southern Passage, and south of mountainous Durkon
District, is administered by the commander of the
Tyu Ton garrison, a hereditary position held by Han
Yo Went.
Men of Yang are a silent lot, and many still mistrust
the Wai clan. While they do not publicly call for the
overthrow of the Emperor, they privately endorse
this goal and work toward it.
Fengnao Province has many religious cults, most
thousands of years old, that lurk in the deep forests or
far upriver from civilization. Care must be taken not
to fall into these cannibals, clutches!
Fengnao established political relations with the High
Lord of Oceans of Tabot and has connections to the
south, in the warring states.

Political Careers
If your players wish to enter the government of T?u
and advance their status, then they will find themselves
embroiled in a political nightmare, with everyone
out to stab them in the back, and a very stagnant
bureaucracy incapable of real action without an
emergency, such as a war. The paperwork will be
staggering, and the only road to advancement is the
death of an immediate superior, an often impossible
situation. District level positions are of little political
consequence, but provincial ministerial positions can
be influential, and so most are hereditary.
To gain one of these stations is to probably incur the
wrath of an injured clan. This could lead to a secret
vendetta against the player characters, assassination
attempts and campaigns to defame the characters?
reputations. Nothing is sacred in the politics of T?u
Lung. In this way, T?u Lung is the opposite of Shou
Lung.
 

The Symbols of Government

The symbols of government in T?u Lung are carved
peach-wood seals. These are used to seal scrolls and
denote rank and office. Usually they are carried in a
velvet-lined case, of expensive woods or scarce metal,
but sometimes a brazen officer will attach the seals to
a chain and wear them about his neck like jewels.

Bureaucracy at Work

    Dealing with government offices goes like this: first
you go to the house-hold chiefs with you problem, and it
is recorded by the local scribes. If you are lucky, the
township officer will hear your complaint and refer it to
a provincial minister so you will have to travel to the
provincial capital for an appointment with one of the
minister's assistants, who will have his scribes register
your problem in the provincial records. Usually, the
minister's office decides it is a decision for local jurisdic
tion, and refers the matter back to the township officer.

If one still pursues the issue, a gathering of the elders will be consulted and their suggestions
recorded by the scribes, sometimes forwarded back
to the minister's office for comment or decision, some
times handled by the township officer directly. It usu-
ally takes two to five years to receive government
action on a specific matter, whether it be re-building a
damaged canal wall or getting a warrant for the arrest
of a murderer! Yes, it is extremely frustrating.

Magic Training in T'u Lung

"The Image of a fresh-water spring filled with tangled
reeds, set on the side of a mountain, the Sign of Youth,
of inexperience. To seek training improves the nature
of all men. There will be advantage in being firm and
correct. Thus, superior men turn to the Way."
-- Hsao Chronicles, Hu Ling Do

Often I hear the people of Shou describing the mag
ics and arts of T?u as degenerate and ill-conceived.
Nothing could be further from the truth! I have had
the opportunity to study under two great masters,
Fargh Choi and To Nanchi, and I have charmed mil
lions with my arts. Let me tell you of my magic train
ing and you can judge if it is enlightened or barbarian.

My first master was Fargh Choi of the east, now dead
some 60 years. He was ancient even when I studied
under him, a white haired old codger who believed in a
pupils silence and absolute obedience. Before he began
formal magic training, I was physically and mentally pre-
pared through rigorous work and memorization of
important rites and names of invocation.

I became intimately acquainted with the gods of the
four directions through repetition: the East is Kou
Mang, who has the body of a bird but a human face
and rides two lung (dragons); the west is Ju Shou who
is known by the snake he wears on his left ear, who
also rides two lung; the south is Chu Jung who has the
body of a beast, the face of a human, and rides two
flaming snakes with ladies? faces; and north is Yu
Chiang who has the face of a human, but has wings of
a black hawk and feathers for hair, two small green
snakes around his ears and two green snakes coiled
around his legs. These four gods control the wind,
and they are essential to the mastering of the element
air Rites of magic were based on the simple invoca-
tions of these gods. Fargh Choi taught me that the simple
was often the most elegant and full of power. He
also taught me of feng shui, the magical art of placing
things to increase their karma and powers.

Fargh spent a long time making sure I studied the
silk scrolls and the records inked on bamboo slats that
he had collected over the years, full of philosophies
and concepts and magic treatises. I learned of the deity
of Chung Mountain which is called Hu Yinto. When
it opens its great eyes it is day, and when it closes
those great lids, it is night. When it blows breath winter
comes, and when it sucks in the air, the summer
follows. It does not eat or drink, but when it comes to
breathe, there is wind. Its body is thousands of feet
long, placed east of the peak, and it has a human face
and a snake body, completely scarlet red. It creates all
the millions of creatures that ride and guide its wind,
and it is these agents that man can control!

It was also necessary that I memorize the five elements
and their correlates, and I have summarized
them in this chart, so that you can see the connections
a learned man takes for granted.
 
 

5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Elements	Seasons	Direction	Animal	Creatures	Grains	Organs	Numbers	Colors	Tastes	Smells
wood	spring	east	sheep	scaly	wheat	spleen	8	azure	sour	goatish
fire	summer	south	fowl	feathered	beans	heart	7	red	bitter	burning
soil	false	center	dog	naked	millet	lungs	5	yellow	sweet	fragrant
metal	autumn	west	pig	hairy	hemp	liver	9	white	acrid	rank
water	winter	north	ox	shell	rice	kidney	6	black	salt	rotten

Fargh Choi taught that the cosmos is a single fabric
and to pull on one thread would produce a result
somewhere else, even in the celestial Heavens above!
A superior man can restore the harmony of the celestial
fabric, but the inept add flux and dangerous tears
that introduce demons and evil spirits into our
realms. I learned care and control of my talents, then
my master taught me how to call a mist, then a fog,
then a breeze, then a gust of wind.

My apprenticeship under Fargh Choi lasted four
years, and he taught me how to charm people and the
element air and its correlates. Most important, he
taught me tong, a passive martial art, a nonviolent
form of judo that has always saved me in hand-tohand
combat. He also made me my own master, cooling
many of my youthful lusts with sound knowledge
and sage advice. When I left him I was well prepared
for the streets of T?u Lung, a follower of the way and a
true wu jen.

About 40 years later, after many loves and adventures,
I grew serious with my life and sought out a
new teacher, one who I could respect and follow. I
heard that a man in Hachoni had been playing the
flute steadily for 10 days and people believed he was
cursed and would soon die. I hurried to the place to
see if I could be of service. But when I arrived, the
man stopped playing and told me he had been waiting
for me! This is how I met To Nanchi.

To Nanchi was my greatest teacher and I followed
his wandering path for 12 years to master his skills.
He taught me to have an intuitional understanding of
the lunar and solar nodes and their effects on people
and the fabric of the cosmos. I slowly learned to channel
the tides of these celestial bodies into my music
and magic, adding great powers I had never considered
or even knew were there to command!

To become active in the community, I learned the
essential shamanistic ritual for the Great Exorcism
Festival, held yearly to drive away the demons, pestilence,
droughts and lingering problems of the previous
year I know how to consecrate the robes that
are placed on the city?s walls, and I have worn the
bearskin with four golden eyes during the ceremonial
(and transcendental) battle at the height of the festival.
To Nanchi?s greatest gift was to teach me the art of
crafting a magic flute. First I learned to select a virgin
stand of bamboo, never felled by man. Each stalk
must be sounded with a knock until the one most in
tune with my inner being ?rings? to me. Then it must
be felled with a single blow. The bamboo staff is polished
and oiled. With the appropriate offerings, I perform
a ceremony where the sound holes are burned
into the wood with a gaze! Of course, when the ceremony
is finished I possess an enchanted flute, but
then one must learn to play it! It took years to master
this instrument, and I still have much to learn.
In all, To Nanchi taught me 17 new and powerful
spells, which I keep listed in my journal. He is a very
powerful wu jen who wants the countryside aiding
the weak and seeking knowledge, and, while he is
ancient, he is still wandering to this day.
 

Wu Jen
Wu jen are also called ?Fang-hsiang Shih,? or the
master of recipes. The necromancers are powerful
and are best left to their own paths. Many wander the
the hills and forests of T?u, and the simple folk are
wary of their evil eyes and magic spells. Sometimes
they are consulted as diviners of dreams, or asked for
sage advice, although often they are of little service to
any except themselves.

Social Customs
Secret Societies of T?u Lung
?The Image of a Thunderstorm at Night, the Symbol
of Chaos. The superior man is diligent and sincere,
bringing order to the discord. Call to the Phoenix for
rebirth from the ashes.?
-- Hsao Chronicles, Hu Ling Do
53
Most men of T?u Lung are involved with some secret
society, black market, yakuza clan, or clandestine
sect, for to live without ?contacts? is to be poor,
oppressed and outcast in T?u Lung. Many of the current
cults and secret societies are groups that gained
amnesty from the First Emperor, Chin, when he
allowed them to join his combined armies, although
most returned to their clandestine ways after Shou
was repelled. Some of these groups have a small,
exclusive membership, while others have thousands
of members. Sometimes a secret organization will
approach one for membership, often a group of likeminded
individuals who believe you are with them in
mind and spirit. I have been approached no less than
16 times in my long life! While there are probably
hundreds of secret groups in T?u Lung, I only know a
little bit about a few. Here are five of the most infamous
secret societies that I have learned about in my
time:

The Black Leopard Cult of Durkon: regardless
of whether you believe in the Black Leopard myths of
Tabot and Fengnao, the cult still exists in the area
around Durkon and on Akari Island. Its number has
grown steadily since the amnesty granted by the First
Emperor, for its warrior legions have gained a reputation
for courage and valor. They meet at night and
each member knows a secret signal that affords him
passage into their hidden temples. The average folks
of the townships appreciate the cult?s presence
because it keeps the government?s agents honest, but
the secret meetings sometimes end with a ritual sacrifice
of cattle, or worse, and the good men of the lowest
grades bear the evil fruits of the cult?s expansion.
When I was last in Durkon (I sang for the Tonu clan
Wedding Celebration six months ago), I saw the black
paw mark of the cult?s curse on two houses, and both
were burnt to the ground that same evening. Local
gossip said one was the house of a mercenary who
had slaughtered a leopard and proudly displayed its
skin, while the other was the house of a local scribe
who had written about the cult in the logs of the district.
Rumors say they drink the blood of their victims,
but I think that is nonsense. I do believe they are
a dangerous group and best avoided.

The ?Red Eye-brows? Faction: originally started
by Yang Juinto Fa to avenge his father?s disgrace
and memorialize his mother?s name, the ?Red Eyebrows
? were formed by a group of knights errant
who banded together against the taxes and tyranny of
the Green Dynasty under the fists of Wai Chu Doang.
The membership was very exclusive, and those in this
secret army were known only to each other. They
championed the weak and oppressed peasants, and
usually sneaked away before any reward could be
offered. Their mark was a hand with three fingers
held high, and many peasants began to use this sign to
affiliate with their protectors.
It is not certain whether this group is still in existence,
but their good deeds have become proverbial,
such as ?his heart was as if he had red eyebrows,? or
?she turned down the gift so they would think her
eyebrows red.? These warriors are very popular folk
heroes.

The Yellow Lizards of Keeling: This is a pirate
conspiracy based in Keeling harbor. Men who join
must get a purple crane tattooed on their right arm
and it usually means they have no regards for the laws
of T?u Lung. This society of seafaring murderers and
cutthroats is the terror of the shipping lanes. No one
knows where the pirate base is located, nor do we
know who leads this outlaw band. Honest men fear
the black sails of these killers, and their banner, a yellow
sea-lizard on a green field, usually means trouble.
There is a standing reward for any information leading
to these scoundrels or their lair, but few are brave
(or stupid) enough to attempt to collect it! I have heard
rumors that members of the Ho clan are involved
with this secret band of pirates, but I have never seen
proof.

The Gilded Monkey?s Foot: I have heard that in
Banang, an honest and upright man will be
approached to join the Order of the Gilded Monkey?s
Paw, a secret society of good men working to better
the community. It was relayed to me that hundreds of
trustworthy men have joined the ranks of this group,
and they perform civic works in secret and expect no
reward. They always leave a gilded monkey?s paw
behind to show that they had passed, and to increase
the name of their order. The signs, symbols and signals
of this band are a secret, but certain members
have been known to be found at every gate and inn in
Banang, and they are sometimes referred to as the
monkey?s eyes. That is where we get the saying,
?under the monkey?s eyes; when we mean we?re
being watched by someone we trust.

The Cult of the Eight Jade Tokens: This quasireligious
order has members throughout Wai, centered
in a village called U?ling Su. This group is the
black market in east and west Wai provinces, and
members are believed to be rich and dangerous. Various
yakuza groups answer to the commands of this
secret society, and it is rumored that a part of this
organization is a training school for ninjas! I had an
experience in which a group of bandits ran away
from our caravan because one of my companions was
a recognized member. That was sobering, I assure
you. The remainder of the journey was most nervewracking

nervewracking,
as I knew one of my fellows was a member
of a secret outlaw band, but I couldn?t tell which, and I
was afraid of a knife in the darkness!

The Festival to Welcome the Ethers
During the Festival to Welcome the Ethers (of the
seasons), held each year on the fifth day of the month
Yu, we cook and serve a rabbit stew, and remove all
the bones except the rabbit?s kneecap. The men who
find the kneecaps in their bowls are lucky for the next
year and often get married or find treasure, or some
other form of good luck befalls their family. This custom
is carried out in all parts of the land.

Water Clocks
Water clocks are kept in most villages and they are
set by the rising of the sun, so local time varies from
place to place, and season to season. The water clock
in the capital city runs from an aqueduct and is never
reset with the seasons or dawn, so it is called the true
time. True time is important only if one has an important
meeting with the Emperor who always observes
?true time.?

Languages
The language is the same as Shou, with local variations
and accents that sometimes render it difficult to
understand. Dress is slightly different, as the hotter
climes in T?u Lung require lighter garments, linen
tunics and cotton robes, rather than wools and furs of
Shou Lung?s styles. Silk is still one of the most important
status symbols, and richly dyed, stained and patterned
silk is artfully woven into most upper-class
clothing. Tattoos are considered lower class and
marks for servants, and while many secret societies
and cults require them as tokens of initiation, most
gentlemen keep them hidden.

Festivals
Clay Bulls are used as sacrifices in festivals and religious
ceremonies throughout T?u Lung. These massive
pottery works are filled with rice and fruits,
incense and other offerings, then burned or cast from
the walls, whatever is the local custom. Sometimes
they are painted and decorated with jewels for a special
occasion. Once in a great while a clay dragon will
be made by some master potter, and filled with precious
objects for presentation to the gods. These special
festivals usually include tightrope walkers who
perform daring feats and ?dragon parades? in which
men dress as a long paper dragon and dance in the
streets to wild music and fireworks.

Money and Commerce
Our currency is exactly like Shou, same denominations
and value, but the rate of exchange with Shou is
notoriously bad, as Shou coin is almost useless in T?u
Lung. Only along the border can a man find a reasonably
fair exchange.
Everybody who makes money in T?u Lung pays
taxes?one-third goes to the township officers. ?Tax
evasion leads to confiscation of all assets and deporta-

tion, unless the Emperor wants one?s head. There are
prominent offices in each city where a player can
declare the money he?s made and contribute to the
welfare of his state. Of course, anyone can hide funds
and not report, and many are living outside the system,
evading the tax collector?s net year after year.

Conflicts
Visitors must beware conscription, for T'u Lung is
constantly fighting somebody and new fronts are just
around the corner. I have become quite elusive in my
years, but I?ve been caught twice and forced to serve
in the infantry, marching wearily, to watch my comrades
trampled by enemy cavalry and chariots. You
would think that the T?u generals would come up with
defenses that protect more lives, but they haven?t yet.
Over the years it?s a wonder Shou has not regained
control, for the blunders and repetitive errors the T?u
armies have committed have never hindered their
advance, only their own inefficiency has stopped
them.

Non-Player Characters
The Garrisons
There are 15 garrisons, all originally built by the
forces of Shou when they conquered the land in the
years between 420 and 475. They have played an
important part in the defense of T?u, from the Shou
raiders as well as the jungle barbarians. Each garrison
houses 400 cavalry who patrol as sheriffs when not
actively fighting in battles.
Many towns have sprung up in the protective
shadows of these fortresses in the wilderness. The
names of the 15 garrisons are:
1. S?ian Li
2. We?peng
3. Hodo?ung Cha
4. Jinko
5. Mireng Do
6. Nashki
7. Bophuni
8. Wafang
9. Ha Tuin
10. Sung Ho
11. Chun
12. Lan Ichi
13. Asundra
14. Qui Yaro
15. Xang Ti
Conscription is another matter. Often a group of
characters will find themselves drugged by the inn's
food, only to wake up in a secret army under the whip
of a savage leader! Battles are a way of life in T?u Lung
and men are always needed?to defend against Shou,
put down a revolt, avenge a political killing, or settle a
clan war. There are many ways recruits are caught,
with wine, women and song, by trick or by force, but
all of them quickly put the characters into life or
death struggles. Some players may find the mercenary
life enjoyable and it is a popular vocation in T?u
Lung.
On an average, once every year some group will
attempt conscription on any given character, and this
is understood by the population, who have all served
at some time, and either have been maimed or have
become good at escaping the draft.

Gencha Village
The shrine in the market of Gencha village has a
powerful P?oh spirit living in it, and offerings have
been made continually to it for 435 years. In return,
the spirit has not allowed the village to become entangled
in a battle or war.

To Na?u Brotherhood
The Ferrymen at Fo Liche Gai have formed a union
of honest men, called the To Na?u Brotherhood, an
army serving justice. These kindhearted men will
help anyone in distress, and have been known to harbor
hounded criminals from the law. They number
20, but some believe that many more have joined their
ranks in secret.

Wai Gada Sinzu, the grandson of Wai Gada Hysu,
and Eighth Emperor of the Lui Dynasty of T?u Lung,
bearer of the Imperial seals, known by the honorific
name of Emperor Wy;
capital city, West and East Wai Provinces;
wu jen 2d level;
LE, human, male.
The Emperor is a middle-aged man of 47 years with
a barrel chest and muscular physique. He is never
without his imperial guard, known as the Silent
Tigers, who dress in black uniforms with brass buttons.
His court is in the entrance halls of Dakarazu
Palace in the capital city, and he only views the people
on court days, once a week when he reviews and
judges civil disturbances and captured criminals.
The Emperor has a reputation of being bloodthirsty
and cruel. He carries an ivory wand which is said to
hold a magic that will render any man helpless, and
also protects him against evil spirits.
Always at his side, the Emperor?s most trusted advisor
is a mercenary named Ye?ahn Joshu, who leads the
Silent Tigers. This man is about 35 years old, and is
rumored to be a master of the ?perfect accident," a
deadly ninja!
The Emperor has five concubines, but only four
children, his two older daughters and his twin sons,
Anku and Soreti. He likes caged birds, but has collected
them in excess, with a bird in almost every room of
the palace. When he tires of a certain bird, he releases
it so his companion Ye?ahn can practice his archery
skills. It is rumored that he collects the skulls of his
enemies and has built a mock throne from them, in
which he sits new victims before he has them
beheaded!

Empress Dowager Wai Locunni Eio, whose title
is ?Queen Mother of the Gentle Winds;?
confined to Dakarazu Palace;
LN, human, woman.
The Emperor?s mother is a sophisticated woman of
72 years with iron gray hair and a straight back. Her
demeanor is strict and prim, and she hovers about the

court, insisting on correct procedures and proper ceremony.
She is ruthless with those who cross her, and
it is rumored that she carries a dagger dipped in the
poison of the yankara root, which causes instant fiery
pains. She is the only woman who can make demands
of the Emperor and see them carried out.
As a young woman, Locunni Eio was a great beauty,
and her portraits adorn tapestries and paintings in
various rooms of the palace. Her long life is attributed
to the prophecy and blessing of Ku He Long who said
she would live until her son had measured 60 summers
? time. If she does fulfill this prophecy, she has
many years left to subtly influence the court.

Kodo Smara, general of Fengnao Province, hereditary
li-cheng (township officer) of the Banang District;
samurai 16th level;
NG, human, male.

The General of Banang secured his position by
repelling the invasion of a tribe of southern barbarians
in the battle of To?cun Cho. The new officer displaced
the Bantu clan which had held the position for
two generations, and now has a blood feud with the
Kodo clan. Luckily Kodo Smara came from an old T?u
Lung family, and they were prepared for the generals
new office, with a secret army to defend the district
officer?s house and family.
General Kodo is a tall man of 50 years, with a thick
beard and a magical scimitar and copper shield. His
armor is also copper, and his headdress is horrific, a
dragon-demon?s cowl. He often wears his armor and
practices wargames or rides with his cavalry on
patrol. An old soldier at heart, he keeps his old battle
cronies as advisors and has let the financial health of
his district suffer through neglect. It is said that he
values courageous men and will entertain adventurers
for their exciting tales.

Rah Kigi Lo, the Emperor?s secret concubine;
closeted in Y?cho Kang;
yakuza 14th level;
NE, human, female.
The dragon-lady of Y?cho Kang is currently kept by
the Emperor himself in apartments adjoining the royal
summer house. This evil widow collected the riches
of four men before she managed to reach the Emperor
?s court. Her holdings are, large, and her family
accounts for about half of the crime in Y?cho Kang.
The business of extortion and smuggling is run by Rah
Kigi Lo through her two sons, Rah Kointo and Hayu
Wan. These two thugs have been introduced into high
T?u Lung society by her grasping plans, but they are
more at home in street battles with the rival yakuza
family, the Iyo Chan clan.
Rah Kigi Lo is a proud woman of excellent figure
and hypnotic eyes. They say she casts a spell with her
deep green eyes, and she killed her first husband with
her own hands. She owns and runs a fleet of river
barges and three warehouses in the village of Wai T?lu
just downriver from Y?cho Kang. Rah?s most hated
enemy is Wai Kung Chui, the widow who is the township
officer for Shosun, a day upriver from Y?cho
Kang.

Wai Ghuto Sa, the Emperor?s cousin;
Chempka,
samurai 9th level;
LG, human, male.
Referred to as the ?White Hart of Chempka," the
Emperor?s cousin is an honorable man who owns an
estate just outside the city on the road to Anechu. He
is considered by most to be the most trustworthy man
in the entire Wai clan. When he was 18, He led the Wai
clan armies into the Canung Marsh to capture the outlaw
Robo T?io and his band of cutthroats. The treasure
they recovered was wisely invested by the
?white hart? and has grown into a large fortune.
At age 42, Wai Ghuto Sa is often sought after as
intermediary in conflicts with the Wai clan or the
Emperor. Sa lost two fingers of his left hand in personal
combat with the bandits, so he always wears silk
gloves to disguise this fact. He has three sons and a
wife and he dotes on his family. The peasants regard
him kindly for his civic works and the respect he
returns them.

Lord Ghira Tso of Lenachi, the ?last of the brothers;
?
samurai, 6th level;
LN, human, male.
56
There were six brothers in the Ghira clan before
their father was cursed by the shukenja Won of Sunob
Bay. The elder Ghira was to see all his sons die
before his own funeral. One by one the bothers died,
each in a terrible accident or by a wasting sickness
with no cure. The deaths came in order, so the youngest
son decided he had the longest time to live and
quested for the old shukenja. Ghira Tso found Won
and repaid the wrong his father had done, and he was
released from the curse, but only after his five older
brothers had died in their father?s arms!
Lord Ghira Tso is one of the nine hu-chang (household
chiefs) in Lenachi, and he is an advisor to Dotu
Ghi Ichi, the district official. His father is Ghira Ma,
one of the city?s ch?i-chang (elders). His wife is a member
of the Shin clan, distant relative to Shin Ginsen,
the first emperor of T?u Lung. He has the honorific
title of ?lord? because his clan is one of the original 34
noble families of T?u. Tso is a short man with a belly
from overeating, but his wit is sharp. He commands a
private army of 100 bowmenguards. Politically, he is
loyal to the Tan clan and the provincial government,
but he has no respect for the Emperor or the Wai family.
As a respectable citizen, he does not hire mercenaries
or conscript men for his legion, but pays good
wages and provides excellent training. His father
receives revenues from four rice farms and the family
owns a successful logging operation under the supervision
of a barbarian named Vindrana.

Ruri Woh, ?Chi uan?Ko Quai? (white bird of Quai
Hills);
shukenja 16th level;
LG, human, male.
This seemingly frail and bent old man can be found
wandering the hills of Quai from the village of U?ling
Su all the way south to the border and west to the
Fenghsintzu River. He is a powerful master, and has

spent years aiding the distressed and good at heart,
especially the peasants and the few hill tribes in deep
Quai. He often approaches a group of strangers in the
 form
of a scrawny white bird that flutters about and
perches on warriors? helms to eavesdrop. In this form
he is virtually impossible to hit with a hand-held weap-
except for a net. He is known for defeating two hill
giants and destroying the Jiki-ketsu-gaki of I?kuni
Wanta.

Do Enang, Sealord of Keeling;

bushi 10th level;
LN, human, male.
The township leader has changed every generation
in Keeling, and the current high district officer is a
retired
sea captain of the Do clan. His family owns and
runs a fleet of 20 merchant ships and 35 fishing boats.
His face-has a scar that runs from his left eye to his
jawbone, a wide band with jagged edge, a rip from a
sea
monster. The thing?s sun-dried head hangs in his
trophy room along with other savage totems of his
explorations of Xifung Reef. His family has a fortress
on La Island, and it is rumored that they have war-
ships docked there in secret.

Ukito Wan, general of Ausa;
samurai, 12th level;
LN, human male.

A confidant of Ho Bai Lee, the provincial governor,
Ukito Wan gained his reputation in leading the Ausan
forces in the battle of Do Orabi five years past. He is a
young man of incredible martial skills, with an enthu-
siasm for battle and a great strategic mind. It is said
that he is a shrewd judge of character and has sur-
rounded himself with the best advisors. While his
father?s holdings were in the sixth grade, Ukito Wan
has increased his personal wealth to measure first
grade status, and he has wisely refused a position in
the government, for his meager clan would be
destroyed in a blood feud with a displaced clan?
although it is rumored that he does have a secret
army of his old command, dedicated followers sworn
to his support. Ukito values the kensai, and he hosts
skill contests and rewards the winners with large
sums and free services.

Osu Qyu Lo?ahn, merchant of H?sin-to;
bushi
3d level;
NG, human, male.

Osu Qyu Lo?ahn was the third son of a township
scribe in E'pong Li. At age 14 he left his father?s house
and traveled downriver to H?sin-to. After working
various trading ships he was impressed into a crew of
a merchant vessel bound for Keeling. Tied in the hold,
he was the only survivor of a sea demon that ate all
the others in the crew! Once he freed himself, the
thing had left, and he found a crew of fishermen who
helped him sail the ship into port as salvage. This gave
him
his first merchant ship.

A daring man, Osu traveled to Awana Island three
times to collect the treasured herbs, and the proceeds
from those trips allowed him to buy a house and four
more ships. He is considered an expert on collecting
trips to Awana Isle. He loves to barter and frequents

the markets of H?sin-to, flanked by three hefty guards.
He is a collector of rare artifacts and sometimes
invites adventurers for dinner if they possess something
thing he wants, or if he thinks he can talk them into
fetching some special relic for him.
 

Utwa So, Master of the ?salt-zombies;?
T?hai Salt Flats;
wu jen 18th level;
CE, human, male.

In a hidden fortress deep in the desolate salt flats,
Utwa So lives with his wife, a hengeyokai badger-
woman named Yujirra. He has killed the heroes Man-
cha Wi and Wai Tan Hu and displays their heads on his
keep's walls. His army of undead ?salt-zombies? wan
der the deserted dunes and jagged landscape, always
searching for more lost souls to add to their numbers.
Utwa So has a bajang (lesser spirit) that serves him as a
familiar, usually taking the form of a wildcat. He occasionally
sionally leads his armies into Hojuro and Dan for new
victims. His curses and magic are feared throughout
West Wai Province.
 

Ghutan Dox Ayani, sorceress of Tsing;
wu jen 7th level;
CG, human, female.

The "witch of Tsing" is a beautiful woman who lives
in a bamboo hut by the Mokan River. Her powers
encompass the elements of fire and earth, and she has
the magical mirror ?Flame-eye? that allows her to spy
through any open flame! She once healed the mighty
warrior Ho Maki Unta and required him to bring her
the shell of a kappa as repayment. This shell she made
into a magical raft which floats in whatever direction
she commands, even upriver! She has been known to
foil crooks and river pirates, and for that reason she is
tolerated by the officials of Tsing. The peasants and
river coolies fear her and avoid her paths and hut.
 

Heto Yiodo, ?Chai Wanderer? or ?Ridgewalker;?
Rintai Plains and Chai Ridge;
shukenja 14th level;
CG, human, male.

The ridgewalker is a holy man with long, unkept
hair and beard, who sleeps during days and travels at
night. It is said that he is a friend of wild beasts, and a
tiger provides him with game and protection. Certainly
birds like him, for flocks always follow him and
deliver his messages and warnings. He has healed
    strangers and left their camps before they could
thank him. It is rumored he lives in a small cave, and
the spirits of the celestial bureaucracy visit him there
because of his pious and true nature.

Nu?sazto Ichi;
Wai, the capital city;
barbarian 6th level;
CE, human, male.

The barbarian in the Emperor?s court is the treach
erous Nu?sazto, a murdering son of a captured general
of the Warring States. The Emperor is amused by the
barbarian?s crude behavior and stumblings with the
pomp of his court, and he keeps Nu?sazto around to
annoy his mother. Nu?sazto is always planning to kill
the Emperor, but he seems to always turn imperial

evidence when his conspirators face the block. He has
uncovered many assassination plots and has curried
favor with the Emperor and other members of the
Wai clan.

The barbarian dresses in his native clothes with
conceit. The women of the court have flocked to him
and he has had to fight two challengers for offending
their masculine honor. In both of these duels he has
killed mercilessly, and has the reputation for hating
T?u Lung and its people. Some believe that he is seeking
the perfect opportunity to murder the Emperor,
but others believe he is living better than he ever
 could back in the south, and he will continue his charades
to amuse the court. Nu?sazto has a quick temper,
and often goes to elaborate means to gain revenge.

Chu Raiza Pwee, widow proprietor of the Elk?s
Brow Waystation in the Forests of Xahn;
Bashan Do Province;
    NG, human, female.

The matron of the Elk?s Brow is well-known for her
strength and kindness. She housed her local village in
her walled waystation when Shou troops attacked,
and she commanded the defenses that held for 14
days. The armies of the north moved on and have never
bothered the waystation or the village of Hahn-ri
since! Chu Raiza Pwee was given the honorary title,
?gatherer of thorns,? by the provincial governor. Soldiers
have come to her for advice and to stay in the
safe and restful confines of the Elk?s Brow.

Chu's husband was killed by a deepwood boar and
he left her with three daughters and the station, a
wide compound with nine buildings and stalls. She
hired 14 women as her staff, and has trained each as a
warrior. The Elks Brow can hold 45 single guests,
many more in times of trouble, and under the walls is
a series of tunnels and dungeons build to aid in
defense and to store supplies for the winter.

Ghira Bui So, second cousin to the Lord of Lenachi;
Do Orabi;
samurai 9th level;
LN, human, male.
Ghira Bui So is the leader of the secret army known
publicly as the Nuchi Gai, the ?honest wolves." He commands
a walled fortress which he maintains as a
?school for natural history.? The honest wolves fight
for the continuation of the current realm, and they
enforce the laws to the letter, even if it means the
death of well-meaning peasants! They are zealots in
their duty, and have many times volunteered to fight
against the invasion of Shou troops. The order is a
clandestine group, and, unless serving in a war, the
banners and symbols of the honest wolves are kept
hidden and secret.
Ghira Bui So is a middle-aged man with a bald head
and yellow eyes like a cat. He listens well, and is
believed to carry ninja weapons without disgust,
though he is not aligned with a black brotherhood. On
his right hand is a heavy gold ring that has magic
powers, and he also wears an earring in the barbarian
fashion.

Gyoro, the seer of Chedoru;
0 level sage;
LN, human, male.
Along the southern border in the exotic town of
Chedoru, one can find the seer Gyoro sitting in the
town center as a beggar, telling stories to the children.
In the evenings he sits before the shrine of the crossroads
god and watches the sun set, and has visions of
the future in the colorful sky. It is his curse to sit by
this shrine and foresee events through rain or cold.
Many people come and question him about his visions,
and he faithfully tells the truths he has learned,
whether they are relevant to the person or not. He is
allowed to sleep in apartments adjoining the Heng
household, as his visions have aided their fortunes. It
is believed that when he gets too old to continue the
nightly visions, he will find another worthy shukenja
and pass the curse on to a new ?Seer of Chedoru.?
Yondak, the Giant of Durkon;
forest and mountains of north Durkon District;
15 hit dice;
CN, giant, male.
Yondak has caught and eaten a few peasants, but he
is famous for three great accomplishments. The first
was his complete destruction of the bandit gang of Ko
Ali. He placed their heads on poles before the gates of
Durkon to the cheers of the crowds on the city?s walls.
His second feat was with the hero Yuga Sin, when he
lifted the mountainside so the hero could trap the
tengu Ancheen in its lair.
Ghira Bui So, second cousin to the Lord of Lenachi;
Do Orabi;
samurai 9th level;
LN, human, male.
Ghira Bui So is the leader of the secret army known
publicly as the Nuchi Gai, the ?honest wolves." He commands
a walled fortress which he maintains as a
?school for natural history.? The honest wolves fight
for the continuation of the current realm, and they
enforce the laws to the letter, even if it means the
death of well-meaning peasants! They are zealots in
their duty, and have many times volunteered to fight
against the invasion of Shou troops. The order is a
clandestine group, and, unless serving in a war, the
banners and symbols of the honest wolves are kept
hidden and secret.
Ghira Bui So is a middle-aged man with a bald head
and yellow eyes like a cat. He listens well, and is
believed to carry ninja weapons without disgust,
though he is not aligned with a black brotherhood. On
his right hand is a heavy gold ring that has magic
powers, and he also wears an earring in the barbarian
fashion.
Yondak?s third triumph was in a battle with three
Me-zu Oni who had been commissioned by the Celestial
Emperor. These monstrous horse-faced spirits
were sworn to the destruction of Va?shee, a village on
the Fenghsintzu south of Durkon, but they had decided
to ?take the long way? and the things landed in the
forests north of Durkon. As these evil creatures
began their wanton destruction, Yondak crossed their
paths and challenged them. It was a magnificent battle,
with polymorphed moths casting spells on the
giant, and incredible feats of strength, like uprooting
full oaks to deflect fireballs. The conflict lasted one
full night and Yondak again placed heads on his poles
before the gates of Durkon.
59
The giant is huge and bald, and he wears a huge
leather girdle and 18 brass bands around each arm.
He is missing most of his teeth, but his mind is quick,
and his traps are deadly. It is rumored that he will join
a quest if the cause strikes his fancy.
Tenrax, kio ton mu (witchdoctor) of the Nugha
tribes;
hills of E?sang Yi;
wu jen 12th level;
CN, human, male.
The seldom-seen leader of the horsemen of E?sang
Yi is a wizard-priest of ancient knowledge and dangerous
lore. As one of the few remaining kio ton mu,
Tenrax performs ancient rites for the Nugha tribes,
the nomadic peoples of the hill country south of
Chunming in Ausa province. For thousands of years
they have held to their traditions and shunned the
ways of civilized man, living in crude tent cities with

their horses and flocks of goats. Tenrax has spoken
for the tribesmen in the courts of Wai, but his presence
is considered a novelty, not to be taken seriously.
He is a tall and commanding man, with dark eyes and
shaggy eyebrows, and he wears the ceremonial robes
of his priesthood, made of leathers, furs, and copper
rings.
Benchi, the ferrykeep of Bex Yr across the wide
Fenghsintzu at Shosun;
kensai 7th level;
CG, human, male.
When Benchi was a boy, he was orphaned and sold
to an old kensai named No Koni Wa, uncle of the
famous To Jano. Benchi was taught the art of the
sword by the great master To Jano himself, starting
his training at the age of four At 25, the year To Jano
died, Benchi began his travels and gained local
renown for his swordsmanship. Tiring of the mercenary
life, Benchi bought a barge and turned it into a
ferry. The poling has made his arms stronger and his
sword has saved his passengers? lives, overpowering
river pirates and thieves many times. His reputation
as an honest man and a kensai is known everywhere,
as the balladeer has written songs about his exploits,
though some are rampant exaggeration.
Echu Nan the mercenary;
the Blood Plains;
bushi 8th level;
LN, human, male.
There?s always work for a mercenary on the Blood
Plains?whether it be Shou or T?u or just a bandit mob
raiding some poor village, it?s there in the no man?s
land between the Mariner province of Shou and the
Joi Chang Peninsula. This is where one finds Echu
Nan the ?money warrior? who hires his fighting
swords. He carries two short scimitars into battle, and
has survived 12 clan wars, three vendettas and 16 battles
with Shou troops. His left leg has a deep scar on
the calf and back flank, but it does not hamper his
abilities. He shaves his head except for a long pony-tail
which he ties in a knot at the back of his neck. His
courage is well known among professional fighters
and many of his colleagues dread discovering that
they have been hired to meet Echu Nan on the field of
battle, He has also killed a gentleman who attempted
to cheat him of his wages, after a successful but
bloody victory.
Sang Yi the potter of Dentarr;
bushi 5th level;
LG, human, male.
As a young boy Sang Yi learned his father?s trade as
a potter, but he left home at age 16 and wandered
looking for his fortune. He met up with Jenshi the tanner
?s son and Heomo Ling the swordsman, and the
three became known as the three chu?ong li (the frogs
that whistle in the evening). The three were very courageous
in the Stand of Punton Bridge, fighting for the
Wai clan, and they were well rewarded for their bravery.
Sang Yi spent 10 years in the Wai army, then took
a wife and retired a rich man. He moved back to Dentarr
and resumed his father?s vocation.

Over the years, Sang Yi?s pottery gained a reputation
for style and grace, and various wu jens and shukenjas
were made welcome in his compound, and
asked to repay with a little magic. Sang Yi bowls never
chip, they change color with different contents, and
keep contents hot or cold. Many of the pitchers are
magical as well. His greatest creations have been with
a wu jen named Techi Ugo, and these have been
offered to the Emperor as gifts.
Sang Yi is broad shouldered and no longer carries a
sword, but he can fight with his clay tools very aptly!
His jaw is wide and he always seems to be smiling,
with lines and dimples in his cheeks. He smells of pinewood
and smoke, and he smokes from a long carved
pipe with a crystal stem.
Hong Too, the hem of Hijan;
yakuza 12th level (ninja 12th level);
CN, human, male.
When the village caught fire, Hong Too carried
many women and children to safety. He carried water
and inspired others to help contain the blaze. Even
after it seemed hopeless, the hero of Hijan continued
to fetch buckets of water and dowse the flames. Hong
Too was one of the first to start rebuilding and personally
sheltered eight families while their homes were
raised from the ashes.
Some believe that he is the leader of a yakuza band
operating out of Hijan and that his rebuilding efforts
are only attempts to regain a new hold on the village.
Now, many people owe him their lives for his kindness
and they will support him in any way possible,
which lend legitimacy to his way of crime. All of Hijan
follows his lead, and Hong Too exerts his powers over
as many as possible.
Hong Too is of medium build, about 50 years old
with graying temples and a long braided mustache.
He commonly wears a brightly colored cap and has a
katana at his belt.
Tan Mikao Tso, the Bear of T?kon Chi Springs;
the Blood Plains;
bushi 10th level;
CE, human, male.
A distant relative to the ruling clan, Tan Mikao Tso
keeps an apartment in Lo?ang, a village on the mouth
of the Fenghsintzu River. He is a huge man and he
loves to wrestle, often pinning opponents under his
great bulk to win the match. Because his hair is so
thick and stands up like a bristle brush, people call
him the Bear. The Bear is best known for hiring on
with caravans as protection, and he is a guide for the
Bachai to Do Orabi run, through the T?kon Chi
Springs. Tan is often sought during the Great Exorcism
Festival to portray the part of the bear-god in
morality plays.
Cheng Ta Ubo, mine boss of the imperial mines;
south of Fo Liche Gai;
bushi 17th level;
LE, human, male.
His hands black from the dust and grime of the deep
wells, Cheng is the cruel slavedriver forcing convicts
and prisoners of war to scrape and dig for gold, cop-

per and iron from the shallow hills of north Quai. He
has an evil smile permanently cut into his face by an
enemy?s blade, and an ugly scar runs the length of his
right arm, ending in a lost thumb. This has not
stopped him from gathering four concubines who are
blinded by his wealth and power. His guards are an
elite force hand-chosen by the Emperor to protect the
mines and their fruit. Cheng Ta Ubo enjoys the
Emperor?s favor, which encourages his sadistic and
evil nature. Many of the miners are dying from starvation
and exhaustion, too weak to attempt a revolt.
Nuska Ohm Wy;
Henai River;
hengeyokai (monkey), CN, male.
This monkey can change into a man at will, and he is
known for mischief along the river from the dammed
lake to the outskirts of Zun Hi. Nuska Ohm Wy is a sly
animal and he uses his trouble and commotions to
cover his petty thievery, but most times he just enjoys
making fools of humans. This monkey-man will try to
join caravans or travelers on the Broken Road and
dupe them into believing he is just a fellow adventurer
in need of some labor or companionship. Sometimes
he will steal everyone?s clothes while they sleep, or
poke slow leaks in boats or rafts. He is devious, but
not evil, never intending death, just maximum embarrassment.
The local peasants have a saying, that
?You?ve met Nuska? when a situation is very awkward.
Items of Interest
The Runes of Norzahk
Appearance: This book is bound with the hide of a
ki-rin, a silvery-blue fur of silky texture. This beautiful
hide is stretched over two thin slices of bamboo which
are sewn together at the spine. It is only one hand
width wide, while it is three tall, and it is one finger
thick. The pages are laminated silk, with different colored
enamels highlighting the most important runes.
The first page in the tome holds a cursed rune that
turns the reader to stone.
History: The legends and myths of the mighty wu
jen Norzahk abound in the eastern lands of Banang
district. Coming from a poor family with very little
honor, Norzahk showed aptitude for wizardry and
called his own familiar by the age of 12. He studied
under four different masters, outpacing each before
he moved on to the next. By middle age, Norzahk had
captured a river dragon and rode a foo dog as a
mount. He built a secret fortress with a series of catacombs
beneath it and sponsored a school for his followers.
Norzahk?s accomplishments include destroying the
coven of Jurindo and dispelling many malignant spirits.
It is believed he moved the course of the
Fenghsintzu River and that he could fly faster than
any bird. As he grew older, he became a hermit,
studying the arcane magics of necromancy in order to
prolong his life. But the evil magics perverted his neutral
nature, and the mighty wu jen grew hateful and
corrupt. Soon he was murdering innocents to extend
his own life, and his powers were a blight on the land.

    Many heroes and warriors lost their lives attempting
to rid the world of Norzahk. The evil wu jen finally
disappeared and ceased to haunt the southern villages
at night, looking for unwary victims.
Norzahk?s students told a story of the wu jen?s Book
of Runes, a powerful book of magic that listed all the
necromancer?s spells. The wu jen carried it with him
when he taught in his school, but he had taken it into
his hidden fortress when he became a hermit. It was
filled with enlightened runes of magical powers that
held the knowledge of all Norzahk?s spells. Many of
these students had searched in vain for the ancient
wu jen?s fortress when it was believed that he had
died, but it is said that the tome still lies undisturbed
with its dead master.
The runes contain an assortment of typical spells
known throughout the land, ranging from 1st to 8th
level, but also include two unique spells, Year Stealing
and Thornbush Arrows and the detailed recipe for
Flame Eggs.
Year Stealing (necromantic) reversible
Level: 8
Range: Special
Duration: Special
Area of Effect: Special
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 6 segments
Saving Throw: Half loss
Explanation/description: By means of this spell an
evil wu jen can steal years from a victim?s life and add
them to his own life. This draining of life force
demands special preparations. It is an arcane art lost
for hundreds of years. This spell is the truth behind
the old wives? tales that wu jen?s could steal a man?s
life.
Before attempting to steal years, a wu jen must gather
blood from his intended victim, which he mixes
with his own and water, then places the liquid in a special
glass screen made for this purpose. The glass
screen must be at least waist high, formed of two panels
with a thin channel between, and a hole bored
through the center. An unlit black candle is placed on
the victim?s side of the glass pane and a white candle is
lit on the wu jen?s side (this is reversed to reverse the
spell). A unicorn?s horn is stuck through the glass
pane in the hole left for this reason, and this acts as a
conduit for the magic. When the wu jen casts the
spell, the glass screen glows with the light of the candle
and this light builds in intensity until a flash of
white light envelopes all components, including the
people. When the light recedes the white candle has
blackened and is blown out while the unlit candle is
now streaked with gray and burns with a blue flame.
The wu jen becomes 2d6 years younger, while the victim
adds the same amount of years to his age. The unicorn
?s horn turns to useless dust.
Thornbush Arrows (Alteration)
Level: 5
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 round
Area of Effect: 5 thorns/level

Components: V, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Saving Throw: None
Explanation/description: Thorns are the most
important component of this spell. Whole thorns
must be sliced from a rose bush and kept with petals
from the same plant?s blossoms. When the spell is cast,
the wu jen must hold the thorns on his open palm and
wave a feather of a phoenix over them, then direct
them toward a target. The thorns will fly up and
strike with a +4 to hit the target. The little barbs
cause 1-2 points of damage (use a coin), but they can
be dipped in various poisons before being launched.
They all must be used in one shot, but can be spread
out over an area to strike multiple targets. These magical
thorns only hit targets a wu jen can see, and cannot
follow a fleeing or evading individual.
The phoenix feather is useless after the spell and
blackens with spent energy. Wu jens who have
learned this spell are constantly on the lookout for
nice rose bushes or flowering thorn trees.
Flame Eggs
The Runes explain the recipe for Flame Eggs as follows:
Made from duck eggs or rubbery lizard eggs, Flame
Eggs are fragile wards usually set on a treasure or as a
trap. The slightest tremble sets them off, causing 2d6
points of damage to all subjects in a 10-foot radius. A
steady hand and calm movements are needed to create
these powerful objects.
First the wu jen making the eggs must have mastered
the element of Fire enough to possess the ability
of Fire Breath (5th level spell). Fresh eggs are
required, and the yolks are blown out by pricking a
hole in both ends of the egg and using a straw to blow
through the hole. Then the bottom hole is sealed with
the chip removed from the egg.
Over a small fire, the wu jen must bring oil from the
karmak tree to a full boil, then fill the eggs with this
hot oil. A scale from a flame adder is used to seal the
eggs. The wu jen places the hot egg in his mouth and
recites all the words to the spell Fire Breath except for
the very last, then removes the egg from his mouth.
When the egg cools, it is ready to be placed.
After the egg has come to the spot it will guard, the
wu jen leans down close to the object and whispers
the final word to the spell. The egg will tremble, for
the spell has been set off inside but the shell is just
strong enough to hold back the flames. The lightest
touch will explode it.
Karmak trees are found in the Winto Forest in scattered
groves. They are considered useless for their
wood is thick with an oily sap and warps when cured.
The sap must be purified and distilled into a fine oil
for this spell. The better the oil, the more effective the
eggs, according to the recipe.
The Juia Lo?tanu
Appearance: This tome is bound with the timeblackened
skin of a giant eel, smooth and glossy. On its
cover is a painting of a red and white spotted carp, the
symbol of hard work and success. Inside are 20 paint-

ings done on translucent silk that has been stiffened
with clear lacquer. The paintings can be viewed from
either side. They are of tranquil subjects with hidden
deeper meanings. Examples of the subjects are: two
kittens watching swimming carp in a pool with water
lilies; the sun setting behind a picturesque mountain;
three girls farming in the rice-paddy. The book has no
magical wards or traps, as it was designed to be accessible.

History: This very beautiful work of art was painted
by Da?u Ching Tso with the magical paints given to
him by the pigfaced spirit from the Heavens. It was
inspired by the teachings of the wu jen Korsanna the
Orator, who infused his magic into Da?u?s expressions
of art. The thoughts, feelings and knowledge of the
student and master are gained through study of this
tome.

Korsarma took this treasured book throughout the
land, using it as a teaching tool. This was in the years
1240-1280, and many great speakers are known from
this period, most of whom followed Korsanna for a
while. Then Korsanna died mysteriously in the village
of Sou Tu, now ruins in southern Noka Jui District.
The Juia Lo?tanu passed through a few hands who
admired it only as art, then came to rest in the hands
of the Wai clan about the year 1425. This tome was
held and studied by the Wai family, and many believe
that this magic enabled the Wai men to gain their
power and stature in the communities of southern
Shou. By the year 2000, the Wai clan was one of the
most powerful noble families of southern Shou Lung,
well known for their imaginative and engaging public
speaking.
Just before the Moon Feast Festival in the year 2065,
the Wai clan fortress and compound was raided by a
band of marauding jungle barbarians, who succeeded
in breaking through the main gate with a fireball from
their leader?s magic staff. This group of fools stole
many of the family heirlooms, but also took the Juia
Lo?tanu. This ancestral home was located east of the
modern city of Ha?chou, and the escaping brigands
rode east to the Henai River, crossing at Tarepi. Here
they were caught mid-stream by the Shou posse and
many of them were killed by arrows. Only the wizard
leader and five men eluded the law. Historians speculate
that these barbarians were the same group that
raided We?noa and Chin a year later, and were ultimately
captured at Cufa Twi Caverns. The Juia
Lo?tanu and the rest of the Wai heirlooms were lost.
Gossip and legend places the treasure in a citadel,
deep inside the caverns, but this is only hearsay.
If a character has an Intelligence of 15 or higher, he
will gain from intense analysis of this tome. Alignment
is unimportant to the magical lessons. After 1d4
months of scrutiny, the tome gives insight into the art
of magical oratory, a fantastic gift, and the skill is
passed on to the reader. It gives the character a magical
ability to influence any group he addresses toward
his position or conclusions, often swaying a crowds
support. The player must speak for a half-hour or
more. The effectiveness of this ability is situational,
and entirely dependent on the DM?s interpretation. It
is not a mass hypnotism or suggestion, because it can

be learned by any character class and it is not as powerful
as a true wu jen spell. A magical speech will add
10 percent to the morale of followers or troops in the
speaker?s command. It also increases the courtly abilities
of Poetry and Noh by lowering their base chance
of success by two.
For example, if the magical orator is addressing a
group of friends, or any neutral crowd, they may be
easily convinced that the speaker?s purpose or meanings
are correct and true, and action may be expected.
However, a speech before an angry Emperor or a
lynch-mob may only save the character?s life, with a
quick trip to the local prison or a public flogging the
punishment-the situation will dictate the outcome. A
low-classed bushi warrior can only expect a magical
speech to get gentlemen to listen and maybe reflect on
his words. A good benchmark is that 15 percent of
any neutral group will be swayed to action or belief
by magical oratory.
The Edu?sascar
Appearance: These magical placards are painted
with the hallowed symbols of the monks of old S?tung
Monastery Each is a cream-colored card two hands
tall by one and a half wide, with a powerful magical
symbol painted in black on the surface, and etched
with gold. The ink of the giant river squid was used to
pen the signs, and it was purified and blessed by the
monks. The cards were formed of flax and silk fibers,
mixed with bamboo pulp, a local tuber called tocara
root, and dried flowers of the dogwood tree. This mixture
was rolled out flat and cut with a holy blade from
the S?tung Temple. The five cards are kept wrapped in
silks and stored in a dragon leather satchel made to
hold them. The dragon leather is from the throat of a
river dragon and it resembles alligator skin. It is a
very soft and pliable leather, but it is highly resistant
to scratches or cuts.
History: The five Edu?sascar were made by the
founder of the S?tung Monastery in 894. This
shukenja-turned-monk?s real name is lost, but his
posthumous title is ?Sky Father,? for he was an avid
astronomer and left many charts of the star?s paths
and records of shooting stars and comets. He had his
followers create the placards, then this ancient abbot
carried these empty cards and his ink on a purging
journey into the wilderness. When he returned four
months later, he had drawn the magical symbols. The
golden highlights were added by later generations of
adoring and pious monks.
The Edu?sascar have always been held by the monks
of S?tung, and the few times they were stolen, a terrible
curse hounded the thieves and they returned the
plaques. The curse causes everything alive that is
touched by the cursed person to soon die by a stroke
of bad luck. Plants are stepped on, trees are struck by
lightning, horses stumble and break their backs, people
are drowned or killed in accidents. The weights of
the deaths and anticipation of a dismal future or guilty
consciences drove the criminals back to the monastery
to return the holy relics.
The Edu?sascar are brought out to the walls of the
monastery for the yearly ceremony honoring the

gods of the seasons, held on the winter equinox. At
this time they are held out and their combined
powers sweep the sky with colorful rays of light, like
an aurora borealis. All the cards are invoked by concentrating
on the ink image. The placards can be used
individually and their symbols and powers are as follows:
Ki, the symbol of the Power Within. With this card
a monk or shukenja can increase the ki powers of a
congregation one level for one round. The number of
people effected increases by three per level of the
character using the card. It does not work in the
hands of lay men or women.
Mo, the sign of the Calm Sea, the symbol of Inner
Calm. This card can be used by any character of any
class or level to calm storms. It is reversible by inverting
the card, which calls a wind and thunderstorms.
This placard?s side-effects cause the wielder?s skin to
pale to an ashen white which returns to normal only
after a long and restful sleep.
Di, the sign of Flowers of Spring, the symbol of
Nature?s Strength. This allows a shukenja, monk or
wu jen to speak with plants and cast the spell Quickgrowth
with no prior training in this sort of magic.
Lay men have no ability with this card.
Fo, the sign of Cloudy Sky, the symbol of Hidden
Power. This card works only for monks of neutral
good alignment. All others receive an electrical shock
which causes 1d4 points of damage. By focusing on
this card the monk can cast Immunity to Weapons and
Invisibility to Enemies. A monk can also hold this card
over his head and pronounce the word symbolized on
the card, and it will be as if the word were a Holy
Word, as in the spell.
La, the sign of Bridges over the Depths, the symbol
of the Strength in Brotherhood. This card can only be
wielded by a shukenja of 10th or higher level. It allows
the manipulator to Mass Heal, a particularly handy
battlefield skill! The spell heals a total of 100 hit points
per casting, and this can be spread among as many
individuals as desired by the caster in increments of 5.
In other words, 10 characters would get 10 points, or
20 would receive 5, or 1 might receive 20 points while
another got 80, at the caster?s whim. This powerful
card is the most coveted of the Edu?sascar, as it has
been used to support and rally T?u Lung troops when
joined by the monks of Stung. It?s side-effect is that it
ages its wielder by 1d6 years each use, so it is used
sparingly.
The Scrolls of Ha Rahni
Appearance: The scrolls are long silk rolls wound
on ornate teak spools. The spools fit tightly into
matching carved boxes, inset with gems and brass
chasings. There are four scrolls per box and two boxes,
and each scroll is a treatise, diary, notebook and
spellbook of the famous wu jen of Old Banang, Ha
Rahni. These scrolls list the following spells: Accuracy,
Bind, Fire Shuriken, Whip, Disguise, Haste, Fire
Rain, Hold Person, Scry, Melt Metal, Wall of Fire, Conjure
Elemental, Telekinesis, Enchant an Item, Surelife,
and Internal Fire. Most of the scrolls are illuminated
with colored threads and small illustrations, and they

one day in one, then the next day in another.
History: Ha Rahni began the scrolls after his touring
days, when he took the profits of his adventures
and settled down in Banang, around the year 2180. He
was a powerful and inquisitive man, setting up many
laboratories and recording numerous arcane facts in
his scrolls. These records remained in his hands until
2212, the year of Ha Rahni?s death, when the scrolls
were passed on to his students. Many of the illuminations
to the texts are attributed to these followers of
the great wu jen. Ha Rahni?s house and grounds
became a school in the methods of his magic, led by an
enthusiastic young wu jen, Xogah Koo, who never
reached Ha Rahni's level of skill in magic, but far outpaced
his teacher as a businessman. The Ha Rahni
School is a martial arts and magic training school in
modern Banang, a tribute to the skills of Xogah Koo.
In the year 2297, the main house in the school compound
caught fire and the scrolls were rescued only
seconds before disaster. The evil wu jen Hordolaz
stole the scrolls and flew to his tower in the city of
Ca?hong Chwi, before it was flooded. Hordolaz hid the
scrolls in his apartments overlooking the city, and
used the knowledge they gave him for evil purposes.
In 2315, when the city was flooded and destroyed, the
evil Hordolaz was killed by T?u warriors, but the
scrolls were not recovered. It is rumored that they
still exist hidden in the submerged tower of the wu
jen.
The Warfu Stones
Appearance: The magical gems were placed on
Kara-Tur by the Lords of Karma, at the direction of
the Celestial Emperor. They have many colors, but
always sparkle with an inner fire or seem to encase
movement. These jewels cannot be crushed or melted,
and, when in use, float over the head of the wielder,
or circle the head like a miniature moon. Warfu
stones have been found and used by heroes and villains
throughout history, and the stories that surround
their use often mention incredible feats
attributed to the stones. Here are the types of Warfu
Stones known in T?u Lung:
Color Power
Green raises level by one
Blue bestows flight
Red protects from fire
Yellow raises strength by one point
Violet raises charisma by one point
Opal doubles ki power
White raises comeliness by one
point
Black allows one additional martial
art special maneuver
Crystal increase weapon proficiency
by +2
Mokan Riven Pearls
64
The Mokan River pearls come from the lance mussels
of the Mokan River, a common bivalve with a
pearly inner shell with long, razor-sharp edges. These

mussels are harvested by river coolies by the thousands
for their meat and occasionally a single pearl is
found. These large animals make large pearls, sometimes
as big as an eye, and they are coveted for false
eyes due to their smoothness. Often these pearls are
swirled with a bright scarlet or turquoise color, and
these are even more prized. A single pearl will bring
10-50 Ch?ien and a necklace of these pearls can be
worth thousands of Ch?ien. They are believed to be
prized by the Moon Women, the lesser gods of the
Celestial Bureaucracy.
The Death Rock of the Darahd S'tin
The Cult of the Darahd Stin are an evil congregation
that worship the giant river salamander. Their
kio ton mu carries a horrible relic called the Death
Rock which is an inky-black stone about the size of a
fist. This stone is rumored to enable the possessor to
cast the following spells: Shadow Door, Passwall,
Creeping Darkness, Pain, Mass Suggestion, Withering
Palm, and Power Word-Kill. It also gives the wielder
the ability to cast an Ancient Curse and Cause Critical
Wounds like the shukenja spells. Anyone who finds
the Death Rock in their house or placed in their path is
cursed by the cult and can expect death soon.
It is believed that the Death Rock is really the black
heart of the nameless god who watches over assassins
and murderers, often pictured in the shape of the
giant black river salamander. It was given to the cult
by the god himself when he began to encourage their
worship. This cult is filled with unsavory types, thugs
and thieves with no honor. The members are believed
to be spread throughout T?u Lung. No one knows
where the Temple of the Darahd S?tin is located, but it
is rumored to be somewhere northwest of Kichai.
The Monkey Fist of Ha?chao
Dark and ratty, this relic appears to be a tightly
clenched monkey fist severed at the wrist. It is dried
and a silver cuff attaches it to a long silver chain. Its
hairs are black and wiry, and it seems to be holding
something, but the fingers cannot be forced open. It
has no odor, but if a Detect Magic is cast on it, the
object shines bright white light.
History: Long before mankind was visited by the
Nine, Fa Kuan, the god of justice, was directing the
Lords of Karma in the ways of the Eternal Change,
when one of these spirits was distracted by a passing
Jade Lady. As a punishment for wandering attention,
Fa Kuan turned the spirit creature into a monkey to
illustrate change, and the embarrassed spirit hid his
face among his peers.
After a few years of sulking, the spirit returned to
Fa Kuan and, once again, began his studies. A century
passed and the monkey-spirit became restless
?when would his master return him to his true form?
After a few more years, he approached Fa Kuan and
begged mercy. The god told the spirit creature that it
must approach the Celestial Emperor.
The Emperor knew the monkey-spirit would come
to him as he knew the outcome of their meeting.
When the silly creature appeared to beg forgiveness
in all humility, the Celestial Emperor placed a grape in

his mouth and then took it out and held it up for the
monkey-spirit to see. The grape sparkled with saliva.
?This will return you to your former shape,? the god
began, ?but, once you eat it, you will lose your immortality
and soon fade from our existence. It is yours to
decide.? And the Celestial Emperor handed the grape
to the spirit creature.
The monkey looked at the pale green grape, and
rolled it in his hand. ?And what happens if I crush this
fruit?? the spirit asked and squeezed the grape until it
popped! A great fire of incredible light engulfed the
foolish monkey, and it stumbled about the court for a
moment. The little ape quickly leaped to Chan Ching,
the god of heroes, and grabbed his long dagger. Grasping
the blade with his left hand, the spirit chopped off
his hand with a swift stroke. The monkey?s paw fell
out of heaven, still flaming with the white fire, and the
spirit was restored to his true form, less his lost hand.
The paw fell into the Fenghsintzu River where its
flames were cooled and it washed on the banks where
the city of Kichai now stands. The first to find the
magic paw started its cult of worshipers, who were
dispersed by the Shou invasion about 415. The Monkey
?s Fist then passed into the hands of the great wu
jen, Ha?chao.
Ha?chao learned its many powers and wielded them
in many parts of the Empire, spreading his fame and
gathering wealth. The wu jen retired to his secret fortress
in Canung Marsh and that was the last the magical
paw was seen for 1,200 years. In 1689, Wang Di
Uno, the hero of Rochung, located the lost fortress
and recovered the Monkey Fist. His son used the magic
in the battle of Kao 2, 1723, when southern jungle
barbarians were routed along the border near
Hodo?ung Cha garrison. For five generations, this relic
increased the power and honor of the Wang clan, but
it was finally stolen by a daring thief, and has been lost
since 1974. Nothing more is known about the relic,
but legends and myths abound, and many adventurers
have searched for it in vain.
The Fist is useless to all except a wu jen of 8th level
or higher. To these it bestows the following spells and
abilities:

Adventure Ideas
I have decided to cover one garrison and its trade
town in depth as an example of T?u Lung villages, and
the best example I believe is Wafang, on the Southern
Passage where the Fenghsintzu crosses from the
Cha?yuan province of Shou Lung into the Fengnao

province of T?u. This spot sees a lot of traffic and the
inns of Wafang are famous for their hospitality and
excellent food. Besides its fine reputation, it is the garrison
I know best, since I have visited this town innumerable
times.
Key to Wafang Garrison and
Trade-town
1. The Gate of Yanching, across the Southern Passage
Highway
2. The Wafang Fortress and Garrison, east compound
3. The Wafang Garrison, west compound
4. Bok Chu?s Inn
5. Nudo Juss?s House, the money-changer
6. Rankow the Wu Jen?s house and towers
7. The merchant Yo Ven Cha?s warehouse
8. The Market Square
9. Sonuk Du?s Mansion and observatory
10. The Master Potter
11. The blacksmith Wogentu?s yard
12. The butcher Man?to?s stockyard
13. The Fanu clan house
14. The mansion and rice paddies of the Hoji clan
15. The Gai clan mansion
16. The Qu Tung School of martial art
17. Banda Inu the seer?s house
18. The mercenary Gwee?s house and stables
19. The Fox?s Clearing, where the rain shrine stands
20. The merchant Wiscu Chon?s Yards
21. The Uisa To School compound
22. Fandro the merchant?s mansion
23. The Yang Keep
24. Xircon the arms-seller
25. The stables of Han So
26. Fan?intu?s Inn
27. The Donang clan home
28. Unido the interpreter?s house
29. Wise Mara?s house
30. Tarungo the barbarian?s shop

Government Careers
It is a fact of life that unless a character is a superhero,
if he doesn?t belong to the correct clan, his
chances of advancement in the government are very
slim. Yet, often fast advances are maneuvered by
smart clansmen who put their position and powers to
the best use. So, while it is virtually impossible for a
peasant to rise above his birth status, a wise gentleman
can work his way into the highest levels of T?u
Lung society.
While this may deter some adventurers from T?u
Lung, it more than makes up for its rigid society with
ample opportunities for escapades! T?u Lung is filled
with abandoned mines, half-burnt cities, monsterfilled
ruins and haunted houses. It is the antithesis of
Shou where the countryside is well-groomed and
safe: the government?s harsh rule and corruption
encourages yakuza clans and highwaymen! T?u Lung
is still untamed, and its face has been scoured by the
continual wars that have raged across the lands. It is
possible for players to go from adventure to adventure
and never deal with the governmental structure,

other than tax collection and conscription attempts.

The T?u Lung Calendar of Events
The Year 2607

Tsou
A vendetta is begun by a faction within the Yang
clan against the Hohm clan of Hachoni. Both sides are
enlisting men in secret armies. The Yang?s dispute the
Hohm?s claim to forestry land north of the city, and
blame the Hohms for a recent death of one of their
spies.
The ghost of an ancient ancestor of the Ho clan is
seen in Ausa. He was executed by the Shou troops
who put down their revolt hundreds of years ago, yet
he had no part in the rebellion. He was an honorable
man and mourns his lost name. This spirit is haunting
the streets of the city and has not been exorcised by
the local priests and monks.
A forest near the city of Banang is turned into stone.
Many people visit the sight and experts say it is a visitation
by the celestial forces, but there is no validation
to this claim.
The Emperor discovers a spy in his court and tortures
him to discover his master. People say he was of
the Tan clan and they are gathering an army now to
forestall the Emperor?s punishments. However, others
believe the spy died before revealing his master?
in any event, the unfortunate man?s head hangs from
a pole on the southern gates of the capital city.

Ju
The village of Bu Han in the So?iru district in
Fengnao province is visited by a celestial minion, a
spirit creature with pig?s feet, a man?s head and torso
and long white wings. This thing warns of an impending
doom that will soon destroy the village and all
inhabitants!
Poisoned chunming pepper wine is served to the
Emperor, and he gets very ill, but lives through the
ordeal. He blames the Shin family of Ausa, and
demands the leaders of this clan be executed and their
heads be brought to him. The Shin clan is warned and
escapes the punishment by hiding somewhere in the
hills of E?sang Yi. Some believe the Nugha are in league
with the Shin clan but no one can find them. An Imperial
edict offers 15,000 Ch?ien to be split equally
among the people who find and bring the Shins to justice.
The shukenja Anwan of Ujoh is killed by an evil spirit.
This thing has eaten several villagers and a sheriff
sent from Hachoni.

Yu
The earth quakes and the S?tuni Dam is damaged,
draining the Sin Bukai Lake. Monsters crawl out of
the uncovered city in the center of the pool and begin
to cause problems for the local villages. The rice paddies
also drain and the crops are ruined. A hero
named Ju Ghoni drinks a potion that gives him phantom
wings and he flies to the celestial heavens to steal

the supreme emperor?s ?swelling mold? to fix the dam.
He is caught and turned to stone by the angry celestial
bureaucracy, then placed in the market of Hifuwa village
as a warning to men not to tamper with the celestial
beings.
A large force of bakemono attack We?peng garrison
and breach the wall in a surprise move. They are
repelled, but casualties are high. Volunteers are being
collected to serve at the fortress.
A battle is fought between a small group of soldiers
loyal to the Emperor and a secret army with a green
and red banner. A reward is offered for information
about this faction.

Kao
The Kohuno clan of Keeling celebrates its oldest
daughter?s coming of age with a feast, and many prospective
suitors are invited. Do Enang the Sealord is
sending his second and third sons, since he favors the
Kohuno family and has made a number of their clan
household chiefs.
General Ku D?nag Sao, the district officer of Pendir
Chao, is found dead in his apartments. The general
had no sons. His son-in-law attempts to take his place,
but is killed by a rival clan in street battles. The
Emperor sends 500 troops to the district capital to
quell the riots.
The group of Nugha riders take control of the Ye
T?sau Well and allow no watering there. Posses from
Chunming and Ausa muster a force of 100 and ride to
retake the well, but when they arrive, the tribesmen
have disappeared into the hills of E?sang Yi.
The Emperor has an argument with his brother,
Wai Gada Mo, which results in a court division. About
one third of the courtiers leave the capital for the
To?an district in support of Wai Gada Mo. There is talk
of civil war.

Kao II
The Emperor issues an Imperial edict calling for
conscription for an offensive with Shou. The troops
are being assembled in Noka?o Ruha so they can
invade and retake the Lup Iantu territories (Pien Lun).
Wai Gada Mo is summoned to the Emperor?s court,
and after delays, he appears and is arrested by his
brother and thrown into the dungeons of the Dakarazu
Palace. Wai Gada Mo?s friends withdraw all support
of the army in protest, but no uprising occurs.
The Emperor moves Wai Gu Sunlee and his family to
oversee To'an district and places the care of Noka?o
Ruha district in the hands of his trusted Minister of
Royal Ceremony, Yung Aah Soo.
Twelve men wearing masks and carrying an orange
banner with a skull in black attack the village of Chun
Ki, just a day downriver from Banang. No one knows
who they are, but they do succeed in killing the village
?s household chief and stealing a heaven stone, a
carved jade ring, from a local shrine. One man notices
they rode Nugha horses.

Chu
The ambassador from Wa visits the T?u Lung court,
and the Emperor gives him many gifts and signs a

treaty opening T?u Ports to Wa warships and merchant
marines. Wa is searching for a partner in invading
Shou, but the Emperor declines the opportunity,
the recent losses still fresh in his mind.
Tan Wui Locca is visited by an apparition which
warns him of a Shou attempt to take the Three Sisters,
the islands that are part of the Montow district. He
prepares a secret army on JeuKung and anchors a
fleet of warships east of Awana.
A Lu Nat, an evil lesser spirit, is seen in the ruins of
Quenche. The mercenary Vang Hu is overcome by the
monster and carried into the ruins. It is said that the
warrior was holding a ring of strength, but it is in the
hands of the spirit now.

Hsiang
A caravan on the Conqueror?s Highway is overrun
by bakemono from the Winto Forest. Only two survivors
make it to Shang Stzi with their tale. The district
officer drafts 20 new men to patrol the roadways and
hunt down these dangerous monsters.
The great sage Zahn Jo dies in his home in Sanki.
Many travel to his funeral to honor his name. The
sage is given the posthumous title of Wa?duinta, which
means ?fountainhead.? The two most important tomes
in his collection, The Hisiorical notes of Chi and The
Studies of Metaphysics of Time and Illusion by the
master illusionist I?chu Gho, are discovered stolen
after the ceremonies.
The Emperor increases taxes to support the war
efforts along the border with Shou. Many complain of
the excessive amounts and the heavy burdens placed
upon them. The Fengnao and Bashan Do provinces
decide to ignore the edict.

Chuang
A comet is seen in the southern skies, arcing out
over the oceans to the east. Many wisemen call this a
good omen.
River pirates set fire to the village of Handu, a day
upriver from Banang. The entire village is burned to
the ground. The provincial governor, Kodo Smara,
vows revenge and sends his private army out searching
for these pirates, who are led by a man known
only as the Silver Watersnake.
There is a revolt in the Wai mines and over half of
the slaves are killed before the uprising is put down.
Rumors are that it is dangerous to travel in this region
of East Wai, as the Emperor is indiscriminately gathering
new slaves for his mines, catching anyone who is
not of the upper classes and putting him to work.
The Tan clan announces the birth of a new son at Te
Pachan Castle. A naming ceremony is scheduled and
many important guests are expected to attend.

Hsuan
A river monster resembling a giant hippopotamus
builds a lair under the Punton Bridge. It kills four
mighty warriors of S?seh Yando who were sent to
defeat the thing, and it now controls the bridge and
demands a toll from all who wish to pass.
The Prince Wai Gada Anku leaves court again.
Rumors are that he is attempting to get into Shou

Lung to visit his love, the Princess of Shou. He has
been absent for three weeks, and there is no word of
his fate.
A poetry contest is scheduled for the end of the
month in Ausa. Prizes are to be provided by the Ho
clan, and the first prize will be a fortress on the Sunob
Bay. Poets are well respected and admired in this
province.

Yang
A ship arrives in H?sin-to carrying a load of waxcased
pills from far and exotic Kozakura. This new
medicine is coveted throughout the land and it commands
a very high price.
The Shrine of the God of Thunder in the village of
Gencha is turned to dust by a passing shukenja who
claims that it was inhabited by an evil spirit. This
unknown benefactor captures the spirit in a glass bottle
and floats it down the Fenghsintzu River. The
shrine is being rebuilt to honor the god.
A group of fearsome Tigbanua buso move into the
area of Kichai and begin raiding local villages. A
reward is offered by the township officer for their
destruction.
A giant carp sinks two fishing boats on the Henai
River near Tarepi. The villagers are afraid of this monster
and are looking for a brave group of adventurers
willing to capture or kill the beast.
A criminal band calling itself the ?Blue Tigers?
becomes troublesome on the Conqueror?s Highway in
the Bashan Do province. The Wen clan sends its private
army out to bring this group of bandits to justice,
but they are unable to locate the group so far.

Ku
A major earthquake causes the walls of Ha?chou to
tumble down, killing and injuring many peasants and
citizens. Rebuilding is going very slowly for lack of
supplies.
Two yakuza clans in west Wai begin a war for control
of the criminal activities in the province. The battles
are secret, but the dead left in the streets are not,
and many of the local officials encourage the fighting,
which just strengthens their positions.
A dragon is seen by the Emperor and his court flying
over the Dakarazu Palace. The sooth-sayers proclaim
that this is a good omen, and the Emperor gives
amnesty to all in his prisons to celebrate the occasion,
including his brother, who returns to his district without
position.
The village of Fon?awu in the Banang district is swallowed
by an earthquake and completely destroyed. It
is rumored that an incredible treasure was lost in this
terrible calamity, carried by the adventuring party
who called themselves the ?Honest Dawn-cocks.?
These men had raided the lost temple of Anduax and
stole cursed gems from the caverns beneath the
altars.
In Durkon district, reports are that a hunting pack
of yeti have been attacking smaller villages and homesteads,
carrying off peasants as food. The yeti number
more than 50, and the district officials are hastily
gathering an army to stop the monsters? raids.

A famous lama or monk of Tabot comes to the Wai
court as ambassador of the High Lord of Oceans.
Tabot wishes to enter into a trade agreement with T?u
Lung, as well as join armies to quell Shou aggression
in both lands. The Emperor welcomes the lama and is
rumored to be very interested in Tabot?s offers.

Tu
Merlox, the wu jen of Pe Nok, completes five magical
tapestries that cause whoever gazes at them to see
a vision of the past which they portray. These magical
items are given to the Tan clan as tribute for their protection,
and the beautiful weavings are hung in the
great hall of Te Pachan Castle.

Some infidel enters the Imperial tombs and disturbs
the rest of the dead Emperors. The Wai clan offers a
reward for the capture of the criminals and the
return of the stolen treasures.

The village of Lo?ha is chastised for hiding escaped
mine slaves, and its three household chiefs are
hanged in the town center as a warning. Production
at the Wai mines is down, and Rumors are that the
Emperor is displeased.

Ancient undead warriors are accidentally raised
from their graves by a group of rice farmers extending
an irrigation canal near the village of Gawat. Coming
out of an extensive unmarked sepulcher? the
monsters attack and kill six of the diggers. The things
keep the workers from their fields.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Provinces of T'u Lung

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T'u Lung

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Kara-Tur