#wuju clan

[marysunburn]

Since I don’t want her to die an undeserved death I hereby decree that Jun the Prodigy is still alive after she’s separated from Xolaani.

I mean she looks like this.

But she’s come back, yay friend!

The first thing she’ll see once she comes to is Master Yi kneeling by her side. He’s thrown his helm away despite the danger because she must see his face and know he’s there for her.

“She really did her a new one”, Rhaast comments. Kayn squeezes the hilt of the scythe to shush him: that is not the time and place.

Heavens, what has he done.

“I want to go home”, Jun whispers through unfathomable pain. Despite the scabs and puss leaking from her forehead, Yi kisses it and embraces her.

The war against the Void rampages between them, but it’s as if they cannot feel it at all.

They’ll manage without him, for a while.

“We will go home.” If they still have a home after the onslaught of the Void. “Now close your eyes and meditate, dearest.”

“Don’t… don’t go.” She grabs onto his armor with one hand. “It’s dark…”

It must have been so long since she’s seen the light. Now the cursed weapon is nothing but a simple dagger, and there’s a smeltery waiting for it once they’re through.

“I’m not letting you go. We’ll meditate together. You’ll feel me, this I promise. But trust me.”

He eventually manages to pull his protégée into meditation, as the healing process of the Wuju art soothes the pain in her body and drags her away from a lethal end piece by piece.

But what they don’t know is, another Darkin is watching them from afar.

“…they make it seem so easy”, he scoffs, walking off, his thick sword making sparks as he drags it across the floor. A Void best runs at his throat, jaws agape: he swats it like a fly.

[tavina-writes]

I have another question how does Qigong compare to Rong's father in martial arts? Just wondering about the one he was teaching Jing tonight.

Hi Nonny!

AH so Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi are equals in the realm of martial arts. They're part of the wujue (Five Greats) aka the five most talented men at the last Sword Meet at Mt Hua circa 20 years prior to the present day.

The Five Greats and their current statuses are:

Wang Chongyang, the Founder of the Quanzhen Sect - the undisputed winner of the first Mt Hua tournament, and the one who took the 9 Yin Manual after the Sword Meet. Known as the Central Divinity, he's also the founder of the most orthodox sect in the world (Quanzhen), and the Shifu of the 7 Masters of Quanzhen (you've seen some of them, among them Ma Yu, who is the current sect leader, Qiu Chuji, the orthodox shifu of Yang Kang, and Wang Chuyi, the guy who was poisoned while saving Guo Jing.) Wang Chongyang died several years after the Sword Meet at Mt Hua. Current Status: Deceased .

Huang Yaoshi, the Master of Peach Blossom Island - the shifu of Lu Chengfeng, Mei Chaofeng, Chen Xuanfeng and others, and Huang Rong's dad, he's known as the Eastern Heretic. Lives at Peach Blossom Island with servants and Huang Rong and his dead wife's tomb. Current Status: Alive.

Hong Qigong, The 18th Leader of the Beggar Clan - the sect leader of the largest sect in the world by population, Hong Qigong is known as the Northern Beggar/Divine 9 Fingered Beggar, and is the shifu of Huang Rong and Guo Jing. His greatest desires in life are to have no responsibilities and eat great food. Current Status: Alive.

Ouyang Feng, The Master of White Camel Mountain - Ouyang Feng is Ouyang Ke (the sex pest)'s Uncle-Dad. He's known as the Western Venom and is from the Western Regions. We might eventually learn what a White Camel Mountain is. He's super into poisons and snakes and he's also terrifying! Yay! Current Status: Alive.

Yideng/Duan Zhixing, the Former Emperor of the Country of Dali - known as the Southern Emperor. I will not reveal what his deal is bc I think everyone should find out himself. Current Status: Alive.

Anywho, TLDR: Huang Rong's dad and Qigong are equals who would have a hard time figuring out who's better at martial arts without hitting each other 300+ times first.

[league-of-blorbos]

Been thinking about Kayn's story on LoR with Xolaani and the Wuju clan and wondering why did he even want Xolaani in the first place? We're told it's because he's power hungry and wants another darkin weapon, which that's in character for him, but why would he go so far as to attack innocent Ionians for this power? Did he need it that badly, was Rhaast not strong enough for Kayn in some way? And knowing how the darkin feel about Xolaani why would Rhaast just go along with this plan?

I'm also sad he had no voicelines with Zed cuz I can't imagine Zed approved of this attack either, did Kayn go against Zed in order to do this? Sad we probably won't get a follow up to this story since LoR is currently on life support, I'd be so curious to know more details leading up to this attack.

And where was Kayn and Rhaast in the rest of the saga, did they realize they just doomed the world by releasing Xolaani and went into hiding or something or did she just kill them both and we're never shown it?

[yi-dashi]

//In more serious posting, the mood strikes to pen out details on Yi’s family, as I am trying to get it straight in my own head more than anything. There are a lot of legacy headcanons at play here.

  Yi was an only child, raised by his mother, Huan, and father, Chao, in their smithy. The smithy itself was a generational business on Huan’s side, and Yi knew both his maternal grandparents before they passed of old age. I want to say Huan’s family was small, and that she herself was an only child. She had a small group of cousins which she was close with, but otherwise her family mostly ended there. I like the idea that Yi had second cousins to pal around with, or babysit (but not so much the idea that he had to bury them post war rip). I also play with the idea that Yi was his mother’s last name and not his father’s, or perhaps a last name they chose together. The latter seems more interesting for multiple reasons, so I’ll probably make that the case.

  Yi’s father came from off the mountain, and as such had no familial ties to anyone in Wuju bar his son, and his wife. It’s also a bit more complicated. His father was twice married, having lost his first wife in childbirth. Chao had twin half brothers, having only technically met one of them. A preventable accident saw one killed, and the other placed into a comatose state for many years afterwards. Chao was separated from both his elder sister and their mother by his father, though he would reconnect with his sibling later in life. She went on to have a stable family life, and is perhaps still alive to this day (though elderly).

  Yi himself never met any of his father’s family, not even when he left the village for war. His paternal grandparents had already passed away (his grandmother naturally, and his grandfather not so much) by the time he left the mountain, and his aunt was off elsewhere in Bahrl. Yi’s father was very particular in drilling Yi on the family tree, both his own and his wife’s, but was never particular on how to find them. One day Yi might follow through in tracing his family lines as they exist off mountain, but it’s not as if they are the family he knew his whole life? His father never knew much more than what he told Yi either.

  Out of sight, out of mind for Yi himself. He doesn’t want to grow attached to another group of people and bring his Noxian infamy down on their head again, somehow. That’s at least what he tells himself. 

[yi-dashi-a]

//Also random musings as I ponder semi Wuju related things. This is very incoherent, but I’ve been inspired by recent redposting.

 For ease of reference because they’re all called Yi

Hui: Master Yi the Champion, as a political player in pre war politics Chao: Yi’s father, master, and the last true Wuju Master Heng: Yi’s grandfather, Chao’s Master, and the Wuju Master of the last three centuries

Interestingly, I’m having a hard time figuring out who Kusho was contemporary to in terms of the Wuju dynasty. Not that it matters much, but it feels like something to explore since both the Kinkou and Wuju were once held in equal footing to one another. Most must have considered him contemporary to Heng, but this wouldn’t have been technically correct. To speak of the power players of an Ionia of near 60 years ago would be to speak of maybe the emergence of Grand Master Kusho, and the continued dominance Clan Lord Heng... though it’s interesting to note that Kusho himself, barring any age shenanigans, would have been as old, or younger, than Chao.

Though Chao was coming on 100 by the time he was patrolling the roads for demons in Zhyun. Was Kusho also quite old by this point? If Shen was a young teen at this time, and he has apparently aged since then, was Kusho’s hair going white just him getting older pft. How old was Kusho when Shen was born, and where’s Mama Eye at??

But it’s just interesting to me how Wuju agelessness throws things like this out of alignment. Barring once again any slowed aging process that the Kinkou practice, or the effect that literally walking between worlds has (I don’t doubt that Kusho had a longer than normal life span), Heng would have seen countless Eyes of Twilight come and go in his time, though even as long lived as he was, Chao would have only known the one. Perhaps he might have known Kusho’s father, but no one cares about grandpa Eye? I wanna hear about the whole Eye of Twilight family goddamnit.

Though this sort of thinking must have made the general Ionian populous confused. By the time Hui had come around, he was already a good decade or more older than the most recent generation in Akali, Zed, and Shen... while their elder was simultaneously considered to be contemporary to a 300 year old man. Yi was old enough, at least, to have his own band of merry disciples that had to be either as old, or younger than the young teens of the Golden Demon times. The next generation of Ionians might have even thought Kusho contemporary to Hui of all people lool.

I am sure within the spheres of those who watched the political arena intently, all this would have been all the more reason to discredit Yi’s dad as a sort of transitional Wuju Master, who had claimed his birthright in a ‘’’’’hostile’’’’’ manner. Hui was certainly playing the political game back then, especially when he had at least 4 years of not being mentioned in Jhin’s lore to be running the Wuju School by his lonesome. You gotta remember that Yi is canonically stated to have not been a Wuju Master pre war, and as such could not have been patrolling the roads as well. That’s if the Wuju Masters patrolled the roads until Jhin was caught but you know we just gotta assume shit I’ve always thought it reasonable that all the Masters were gone for multiple years.

All in all, it’s probably no wonder people wanted the Wuju Swordsmen and the Ninjas gone. Shit was getting too complicated for people to understand, so you might as well shoot em all and start again.

[bladesurgence]

First of all I should put this under a read more because this is long

tafaha-means-apple replied to your post: i was talking with a friend about some dumb things...

@bladesurgence​ I disagree. First thing, the Noxian war in Ionia has pretty much stopped at this point. They still own a few isolated fortresses on the southern coasts of Ionia, but they have apparently ceased making any further inroads into Ionia. Ionia isn’t in a constant state of war anymore and they are now at relative peace, but the old social and political institutions that were in place before were shattered in the war.

My comment about the factions in Ionia stems from Jhin’s lore on the Universe page. As I see it, this paragraph:

Outside the prison, Ionia fell into turmoil as the Noxian empire’s invasion led to political instability. War awoke the tranquil nation’s appetite for bloodshed. The peace and balance Kusho had famously fought to protect was shattered from within as dark hearts rose in power and secret alliances competed for influence. Desperate to counter the power of the ninja and Wuju swordsmen, a cabal within the ruling council conspired to secretly free Jhin and turn him into a weapon of terror.

I understood this to mean that Jhin’s removal from prison was arranged during the war, if not at least planned. This timeline that comes from the writer of Jhin’s lore does state he was freed from prison after the war ended, but I believe the forces in the cabal had to exist long before that.

War has shown how fragile the past peace was and now old systems and people of power have been replaced by those shaped by violence and war. From what little we know of the Navori Brotherhood, it seems like they advocate for a united Ionia under one political group (something that has never existed before) and they seem willing to take out those who oppose them. A “with us or against us” seems like a believable mentality from a group of scarred war vets.

I’m loath to speak strongly about the Brotherhood with the scarce info we have. Unless it’s planned to be expanded in Zed’s lore or something, I choose to ignore it insofar as me being a roleplay blog. The current state of Ionia is definitely in the middle of something, but writing about it is difficult with incomplete information, so when I choose to write about Irelia I’m not paying too much attention to that at the moment.

I would also argue that Ionia, as far as I know, has been ruled by the Council of Elders for some time and that is its one political group. Unless that has been retconned with the new Ionia lore (and even if it was, I would still operate my blog using the old lore with regards to the council, an institution I’ve talked about a lot on this blog), I believe it’s still in place. While a council is nowhere near as centralized a political institution as a monarchy like Demacia or Noxus’, it seems to have governed Ionia fairly well up until this point.

I believe Ionia has probably divided into different opinions after the war regarding differing stances on whether to return to tradition or modernize in order to avoid a destructive war like that again, and it would likely come in the form of dissatisfied war veterans. I dislike the way it is only referred to in Irelia’s lore and other places, because such an institution seems like it would be an important aspect of her post-war life. (I also follow old lore here too where she is still Captain of the Guard, and I prefer imagining the Guard as a compartmentalization of power that military officials and other authority figures during the war participate in.)

The great enemy that united Ionians during the war is now largely gone from their shores. Now comes the more difficult task or rebuilding after such a traumatic event. But what is the best way to rebuild? The old ways of organizing life made Ionia ripe for invasion, so what do they replace them with? Does everyone agree on a replacement? That is where the infighting and fracturing comes from, and for a place never united before, I think it's believable.

It would be interesting to have a timeline from Ionia’s inception to the present day. Its geographical location has let it develop in relative isolation and only the expansionist policies of particularly imperialistic Noxian Grand Generals have brought it into peril. I believe many Ionians would use a similar defense, though there is definitely a significant portion of those who think that the world is shrinking due to modern technology.

Again, it’s very reasonable to believe that in-fighting develops after the war. But the use of specific groups in Jhin’s lore - ninjas and Wuju swordsmen - give me pause, especially because from what I understand in Master Yi’s lore, he’s the last Wuju swordsman. If Wuju clansmen threaten the cabal, then that would have to be during the war, and now they’re dead. If there are others, then this would require an upheaval of Master Yi’s lore.

Regarding the ninjas, I have always felt they had their own affairs to attend to. While it makes sense for Jhin to be released as he is one of the most prominent thorns in Zed’s side, I imagined this label of ninjas to describe not just the Order of Shadows but also other unnamed ninja clans, and of course the Kinkou, who are decidedly neutral in Ionian and international affairs.

If opposition is to come against the council, it would more logically come from these dissatisfied veterans of the war, rather than these groups who I see being more insulated. Unless ‘Wuju bladesmen’ end up receiving new information in new lore, and this group overlaps with our war veteran group.

Perhaps i should have been more thorough with my assessment of the lore, but this is not primarily a lore analysis blog, it’s a roleplay blog. A lot of my posts will contain my bias and not necessarily use all of Riot’s updated lore, because I prefer a lot of the older lore. But I still do appreciate a formal discussion of Ionia - I learned some things writing this post.

It is a bit strange that you seem to have made a tumblr account for the sole purpose of commenting on my posts since you have no posts of your own. I’m not one to judge but I am curious as to why I am getting this attention

[minopaw-blog]

Wukong & Outer Noxus

Just a short little fic of my baby Wukong. Pretty basic, combat oriented sort of drab I wrote for one of my old blogs. Any read/comment/like or the sort if it’s up your alley is very very appreciated. TW: Blood + Death

Our story begins with the capturing of the Monkey King, Wukong as he quests for new challenges and strives for validation of his strengths. This journey takes him to the dangerous outer skirts of Noxus where the apparent lower end of Noxian society dwells. Captured with his guard down and overwhelmed quickly by a group of ruffian warriors, Wukong is relieved of his weapon and armour and placed into a cage, a symbol of the animal he is perceived as by his captors.

“Six guards, no more and no less.”

The captive Ionian muttered to himself under his breath as he rested on the floor of his cage with his legs tucked up in his lap and his head hung low, unmoving in a persistent meditation as he took in the surroundings around him in an attempt to gauge his own escape attempts. His armour and staff were nowhere to be seen as he sat near bare, save for his baggy training slacks.

“Without my staff I’ve no means to break the cage, perhaps I can bargain with them when they come to retrieve me or poke fun.”

Motionless he continued to sit as the sound of crunching earth beneath heavy boots grew closer and closer, an antagonist approaching the prison of a cage. A grizzled yet intentional voice cut through the humid air, directed at Wu with an essence of malice.

“Beast, I’m sure you’ve heard stories of the lower levels of Noxus, but I promise you we’re not all animals. You on the other hand we can’t vouch for.”

A derisive snort escaped the being outside the cage as Wu took a deep breath of air, head kept hung low as he replied.

“Judging by your tone and inflection you’re the leader of this motley crew right? Once one of the highest ranking female military officers, you committed some sort of accident or deserted, and that left you exiled to rule over a group of the forsaken out of the main city.”

Deliberately slow, Wu raised his head with a devilish smirk painted across his face and opened his eyes to gaze upon the heavily armoured warrior ahead of him, shaved bald with a expression of permanent fury etched upon her scarred face, branded on her cheek with a deserter scar. He huffed cheekily in reply.

“Tell me, how close did I guess?”

Without changing conviction the ex-officer presiding over him brushed the monkey’s insults off with a grunt.

“Watch your tongue beast, you’re the one in the cage. However with such a fire in you, I’ve decided to grant you a reprise. I was to let my crew tear you to shreds and fight over what is left but I sense a warrior’s heart in you and that would only be a waste.”

Wu raised an eyebrow in query as she continued.

“I have proposed to my clan that you will not be able to best our greatest warrior; if you are successful in fact, I will award you your equipment back and allow you to leave us with no further questions. Though I can promise you his intent is to take your life and your retaliation must be equal.”

Sighing deeply to himself as he jammed his eyes shut once again Wu considered his options over in his head; ranging from leaving his legendary weapon behind and escaping when the cage opens, to allowing himself to be defeated for honours sake the potential of exploiting his captors felt slim.

“You’re asking me to betray my honour as a disciple of wuju and take one of your own to their death. Will you promise me an unconditional exit if I do?”

Nodding with a sadistic smirk, the clan leader spoke as if spitting poison.

“If you live and they do not, I will hold to my honour and return your possessions, allowing your leave.”

With a curt bow she gazed deeply at Wukong as she awaited any sort of jab or quip from his sharp tongue, receiving the opposite.

“I regretfully accept.”

Absorbing the resignation in his eyes, the leader leant forward and pressed a key to the cage lock and opened the door to her captive who slowly rose from his meditative position to stand eye to eye with her. His chest and shoulder were heavily bruised from his capture as a delicate flow of amber blood flowed from a gash on his collarbone, staining his usually subtle brown chest fur a murky red. With the conviction of a death row inmate he took a few tender steps on his dexterous feet as he felt the rough earth beneath him, a mosaic of rubble which made up the buildings of the shattered lower kingdoms of Noxus.

Following the clan leader in step through their camp ground the number of individuals under her command grew quickly as footpads stepped from the shadows, barbarians sat sharpening blades and the odd mage sat peacefully in the corners. Each held a gleam to their eye as their gaze followed the downtrodden monkey, all minds set on the fight about to take place.

As Wu followed his captor to his fate his thoughts ran amok in his head as his mind swam in a swell of apprehension at what he had agreed to do. He had trained all his life in combat; that would never be an issue. He had never however intended to kill another being without deserving reason or rhyme; he felt his morality falter.

Tearing himself away from his thought he tore vision up and fixed his eyes upon what looked to be a pit dug out of the ground, no larger than his old brawling pit in Ionia where he’d been thrown to the ground countless times at the hands of his master. With an anxious gulp he desired this brawl to end differently. Almost abruptly he was brought out of his own mind and back to reality by a familiar, cutting tone.

“Stand straight captive, if you’re going to die at least give your audience the benefit of a show. In just a moment you will enter the pit on my side and your opponent will enter the pit on his side. They’ve chosen to fight without weapons, perhaps seeking a fair fight, though I’ve no doubt he will be prepared for you. Now enter.”

Without further words to her, Wukong nodded in remorse and stepped forward to the edge of the pit dug some eight feet down before taking a long soothing breath. Closing his eyes he leapt down and landed comfortably crouched, standing and tearing his eyes open to stare over to his opposite side where a towering, lanky man now stood wearing what looked to be padded leather armour.

“A fair fight indeed.”

Wu held his ground for a moment and allowed himself to attune to his surroundings; an enormous wall surrounding himself and his assailant. He called in respect to the other warrior as they trampled the bones of past contestants underneath them, making their way towards each other.

“What do I call you, champion? I need to know your name for my own heart.”

Suddenly Wu’s world spun, caught off guard immediately as stone slammed into the side of his head as a gift from a spectator, leaving him to regain his balance as he heard the champion reply too late.

“I’m the last person you’re likely to meet, animal.”

With thundering brute force Wu felt the heavy fist of his opponent plant into the centre of his chest as he hurtled backwards into the wall he had leaped from; rubble, bone and dirt showering him from the impact as he took a sharp breath.

“Focus!”

He called to himself in his mind as he forced his eyes open against the careering dust clearing around him in time to see another wild blow launched at him, the open palm of the champion chopping into the his deeply bruised chest and knocking the air from his lungs, gasping for air and taking in dust.

“Focus!”

His master’s voice now seared through his mind as he knelt doubled over regaining his breath as he heard the assailants footsteps backwards a moment, jeering the crowd on as he taunted the fallen monkey.

“Someone mentioned you were a great warrior once. They were right in saying once.”

Retreating into his thoughts for a bare moment, cleared his mind and felt the ground shudder softly as the warrior moved in for another attack.

“React.”

Reflexes shining through, Wu tumbled to his side as a powerful kick hurtled towards where he had been only to miss entirely as the monkey twirled on his feet with his tail for balance, rising elegantly to his opponent’s side. With one swift movement Wu jammed his hip in against the leg of his much taller adversary and grabbed his arm, ducking down and throwing the champion over his back with a heaving effort. The warrior hurtled to the floor and slid heavily with a surprised gagging cough, before fervidly arose to his feet and rushed at Wu with a chilling battle cry.

“Don’t stop thinking, use his momentum.”

As the champion lead with a wild swing, the monkey king dodged sideways and lashed out at the arm with his tail, gripping tightly and twirling himself back behind the assailant. Raising his arms and gripping the soft leather of his armour Wu strained with exertion as he bowed forward and pulled the warrior over his head, slamming him mightily into the floor of the pit. Wu retreated with a flip backwards towards the wall, maintaining his distance as the clan’s champion groggily leapt to his feet once more.

“Please just tell me your name warrior. You’re fighting valiantly.”

Met only with another roar as the combatant rushed forward yet again, Wu huffed in frustration as he took a new tact; rushing with speed straight towards the warrior, he waited till the last moment possible before leaping into the air as they clashed. Landing heavily, the monkey collided his legs with the heavy chest of the champion, forcing all of his weight through the kick as his power outlasted his opponent’s; the warrior falling backwards into Wu’s animalistic kick as he landed on his back once again, the heavy weight of the monkey now standing on his chest.

Immediately dropping to his knees on top of the champion to pin his arms down, Wu launched a brutal punch between his eyes before tearing away with another across his jaw. Raining down blows without relenting Wu felt his fury rise as he watched the man he’d only met mere minutes before grow bloodier with every strike.

“Enough!”

The ever present conscience within Wu reached out to him in his mind as he held his blows, looking down at the helpless fighter beneath him and to his own fists. His chest and arms were stained with new blood, both his and the champions. He took a deep breath and looked down with pity upon the warrior he had bested who laid spitting blood in an effort to breathe. An eerie silence overtook the clan as their captive knelt upon their warrior, a shadow of his former self.

“Please champion, I need to know your name; for yourself as much as for myself.”

The heat of emotion welled within Wu’s belly as he looked down upon the almost sorry face of his opponent, a fragile tear running down his cheek as he waited for a reply. Through a gagging cough of pain, the champion responded.

“I am Varen. My clan has watched my failure before them, please end this.”

He jammed his eyes closed as he continued his struggling final breathes as soft tears from Wu fell and mixed with the blood.

“I’m sorry Varen, you didn’t deserve this. May you find a peace that I cannot with your blood on my conscience.”

With a final raised arm, Wu rained a final blow onto Varen’s face with a sickening crack, collapsing into the bloody mess below him as he wept for his mistakes. Stepping up behind him after clambering into the pit, the clan leader stood by Wu’s side and placed a careful hand on his blood-stained shoulder.

“Join me in my quarters when you are ready, you have proven yourself beyond fierce. My clan will mean you no harm or intent.”

Helped out of the pit by silent clansmen and women, Wukong felt nothing but emptiness deep within himself; the fruit of all of his training had lead to the death of a stranger. His mind quarrelled over itself as he made his way to the well appointed tent of the clan leader, entering to find her sitting on the floor in front of simmering fire in the centre.

“Sit, please.”

Without so much as consideration, the downtrodden monkey sat cross-legged across from the woman and sat with a low head. Her words seemed softer than before.

“You showed me what no warrior ever has. You had respect for your opponent.”

Raising his head as bloody tears painted his usually ecstatic face; he tore his gaze onto the leader.

“But most of all, you recognised your actions. You weren’t just fighting another fight and you were fully aware of the life you extinguished. That would be the same remorse I felt for deserting my squad years ago now.”

She stared across the room at the battle-scarred monkey with a face bereft of the anger he had previously seen, rather this time it was understanding painting her expression.

“I can’t say that I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through today, as it’s all I know these days. However I want you to know that my hand forcing yours does not disgrace your name, your clan or even your beliefs, warrior. You fought like no one I have met in a circumstance thrust upon you, and yet you excelled. Your honour is intact, mine has been lost.”

Wu stifled the tears trailing across his face as he nodded in reply to the leader’s sincerity.

“For me then, this is just another lesson. You have harmed me more than anyone I have met, but at that expense you’ve left me with another lesson.”

Between maudlin sighs he stood in his place as he spied his gear resting against the nearby wall. Collecting it slowly in his arms and moving towards the entryway to the tent, Wu looked over his shoulder at the sitting woman.

“I am sorry for the life you lead, and the path of my own.”

Tying his armour up in a cloth satchel and holding his staff by his side and still stained heavily in crimson fury, he took his leave in the direction of the coast, anxious to return to his own homeland.

[priests-and-potions]

He didn’t even flinch to what she was doing to his hand. “A better test is with a knife but that can be for after you hear my story” singed moved away and sat down on a near by chair. “The noxian invasion of Ionia was a brutal one.Early on the noxians commissioned me to make chemical weapons for them at the recmendation of some chem barons. I gladly accepted as it could be my chance to finally write my name into history. Also I respected the noxian culture . The culture where you can move up not from birthright but instead though strength and smarts. So after makeing the damn weapon I was sent out. With me was some commander and a squad lead by someone named Riven.At one point we spit up to cover more ground and Rivens squad was attacked by Wuju assassins. Now at this point I think “hey let’s go get em we got this.” Singed signed and started to shake a little bit. “But the commander thought other wise. He used by bombs to nuke the wuju assassins...and rivins squad as a test.This was shocking to me cause while we zaunites would gladly fight eatch other but if some noxian or piltie attacks our own we band togather, not attack both sides.But the commander treated it like it was nothing at all.A few days later for “revenge” I was charged on distorying the wuju clan. I wanted to fight back and say how wrong they wore but...if they did that to there own what would they do to me?So I went along with it and bombed them. It was the only time I was ever sickened by my exparments...seeing entire family’s littarly being melted away.” Singed took a deep breath and looked at the lunari. “After that I had enough,got paid and then went home...I hear Riven is alive some how. I haven’t made contact but I’m sure she’s not happy with me and same goes to some wuju master who lived as well.” Singed got up and pulled out a book from a drawer. “All I do know is that I did write my name in history.” He showed the book. It was a Ionian textbook detailing what happened in the war with the page flipped to the one on what singed did

«Singed, why don't you grow up some muscles?»

“Well,while yes I don’t have the muscle mass of let’s say dr.mundo I am quite strong being able to lift a car with no problem”

[masteredshadows]

x. @themasterofwuju gets to be zed’s babysitter, ‘cause kusho is too fed up with zed’s bullshit to do it himself anymore.

     Screw you, Kusho.

     Zed slumps against the window of the carriage, staring out at the rolling mountains and sparse grassland whizzing past him. Why do I have to go to the Wuju clan or-- whatever they’re called? Is that seriously how you think you should respond to someone disagreeing with you? If you want me to see the merits of balance, give me an actual explanation, don’t shove me off to Wuju daycare.

     He frowns. With every action that Kusho takes, Zed begins to doubt him just a little bit more. He is revered, yes, the type of man whose feats will be made legend, but...

     Zed narrows his eyes. When images of corpses arranged into horrific sculptures caressing limbs haunt his nightmares, it is difficult to see the reasoning behind his decision. In the window’s reflection, all Zed can see is the Golden Demon cowering before his blade. The Golde-- Jhin should be dead right now, not living a peaceful life behind Tuula’s bars. What good is balance if it allows monsters like him to survive?

     Zed blinks again, and the sight of mountains returns once more. I would be willing to hear Kusho out if the man would just talk to me. What reasonable adult would accept “Because that’s how it is” as a reason for neutrality, for restraining oneself, for the imprisonment of men as vile as Jhin?

     He is pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of a crack in the air and the feeling of the dilapidated carriage shuddering to a stop. Great. Zed is sure a week with the babysitters who didn’t even believe Jhin was human will do wonders to explain why balance is needed. He sighs, but stands up, heaving his bag off the floor and pushing the door open. So be it. He has no choice -- he might as well get this over with.

[yi-dashi-a]

//I want to write a drabble about Shon-Xan’s elder being butthurt that Yi, back in the pre war days, refused like their nieces or nephews from the Wuju School, and Yi being such a wise man but also drama queen (I’m sure that’s possible) where he goes ‘Puh-leeze I don’t play favorites. If your relatives suck then they suck. No amount of tuition stops them from sucking.’

But I don’t want this to be headcanon, so I will just post it in this form.

[yi-dashi-a]

On Wuju School Influence Pre War and Yi Hui: The Political Figure

//You know when you’re inspired to write serious headcanon posts while thinking about your muse being lovey dovey with people who look effectively older than him but are his age because wuju agelessness is dumb

  While not Elders, not even within their own province, the influence of the Wuju School within Ionia was hard to ignore. The most skilled of their craft were ageless, neigh immortals with speed and agility the likes of which have yet to be seen elsewhere. Furthermore, their devotion to Awareness in all things made them good, distant minds to pick at when influential people needed an outside opinion.

  This then put one foot in the door for the Wuju School in Ionian politics since time immemorial, and by extension its ruling clan of Yi and the Wuju Swordsman within or under said clan. It’s no surprise that some people were so, “Desperate to counter the power of [...] Wuju swordsmen, [that they] conspired to secretly free Jhin and turn him into a weapon of terror.”

  There were a good handful of ‘Wuju Swordsman’ alive pre war, though the ones that held any true political merit were:

Yi’s father (Master Yi Chao)

Yi’s grandfather (Master Yi Heng),

Grandpapa’s students (Da-Shei, Da-Kahd, Da-Zhy, and Da-Izu)

A fifth, ostracized student of Heng’s (Affectionately known as Wu-Jhei)

And, of course, Yi himself (Head Teacher Yi Hui)

  Some had greater political aspirations than others, and this is by no means in order of their political influence. Yi’s father may have only held as much sway as he did because he was a Telepath, and therefore was open for discussion from great lengths across Ionia. He had no desire to play political games. He wasn’t even prepared for them when he became Head of School so very suddenly, though he still tried to play the roll.

  When the political sphere of a pre war Ionia thought of the most influential Wuju Swordsman, it would have certainly been Yi’s grandfather who first came to mind. Yi Heng was Head of School until effectively the turn of the era (whether still canon or not), and had overseen generations of Elders turn over in his day. With a good deal of highly trained men under his thumb, it may have been he alone that prompted nerves from some.

  With smooth talking as well as strong arm tactics, Yi Heng was able to pull strings from the mountainous catacombs he exiled himself to, even long after he was deposed as Head of School. He was able to buy favors, keep the Wuju Lands in check, influence local political affairs, and even had aspirations of being an Elder himself one day. In Wuju doctrine it is strictly prohibited to take a political seat in any capacity, as decreed by the First Master Yi because of Wuju agelessness. It is seen as unfair for a man who lives forever to take a finite seat. Yet still Yi Heng’s ambitions burned hot, though maybe if he had survived post war he might have mellowed out in his lobbying ways.

  Another thing that struck fear into the hearts of some would have been the way the Wuju School effectively, with a high percent of success, churned out capable swordsman. Swordsman who were more often than not seen as some of the greatest in Ionia, perhaps only rivaled by the likes of the Wind School or the highly specialized Kinkou Ninjas. They were just good at what they did. Too good it would turn out, and that nicely brings us to the last Head Teacher at the Wuju School: Yi Hui.

  Yi himself was certainly not unknown to those in the political sphere, because he made it his goal to be known. Even before he took up a teaching roll at his father’s school, Yi would run the gambit of invites to parties from Shon-Xan’s noble clans, and he’d essentially network like crazy. He never got the chance to use his network or contacts for anything much, but it was all for the ego points anyway. Yi was already being heralded as a protégé the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the Master who literally invented Wuju Stageplay millennia ago. Yi knew he was destined to be a powerful man in a figurative sense, and he was all the more affirmed by that when he internalized Wuju agelessness at just twenty-five years old.

  But Yi was also not in a rush to become Head of School. To become the Master Yi. He deliberately built himself up, and he planted the image in the minds of some that he could become Master Yi at any time. That the debaucherous (at least by Ionian standards), idealistic loud-mouth who just happened to be a tactical genius would be, any day now, among their ranks. It made people squirm, and he drank it all up. It didn’t stop him from becoming a Wuju teacher to delay his process towards Master, which then subsequently humbled him a lot, but he still wanted the name Yi Hui to be known.

  So if your muse had their ear to the pulse of Ionian politics pre war, then they may well have heard the name Yi Hui, and they will certainly know of the Wuju School. Whether or not they can place a name to a face is another thing entirely, though Yi with his amber eyes, and now a white highlight to his hair I guess pft, was certainly a hard face to forget. Doubly so since that face has literally not changed all these decades later. 

[yi-dashi-a]

//I’ve always liked the implication that the Wuju Masters, at the very least, were involved in the whole Jhin hunt for a couple of years, but at the most the four years it took the Kinkou to investigate, plus the 'at least more than one year’ they were already there.

  It gives Yi -- who wasn’t a canonical Wuju Master at the time, and therefore wasn’t involved -- time to just dick around on his own pre war. Kinda just being the only Wuju guy int he Highlands for a while. Aggravating some Lhotlans probably. Writing some dumb letters to other clans in the Highlands. Going out on flights of fancy. Buying more silken ribbons and robes than he would know what to do with. Getting too attached to his Wuju disciples. Going on a ‘field trip.’ Maybe burning down a house on accident and blaming a demon. Writing a play about burning down the house after so no one remembers the story right.

  You know, all the fun stuff I can only just gleam from his sassy ass in game quotes. I’m sure Yi got up to a lot of trouble, even when he was coming on forty.

[yi-dashi-a]

//Flashback oh yess

“|By the Stars. It’snoon and I’m not nearly drunk enough…|”

“Hui…”

His quarters within the Wuju temple were quite understateddespite his roll in the Institution. He had his sleeping mat, stands for hissword collection, a thatched basket for his various outlandish outfits… and afloor littered with various bottles of different wines. Expensive wines. Wine’she’d procured for special occasions, yet he’d sucked them down for noparticular reason. And he was barely decent too. Only just did his blanketscover his form, even as his aging mother parted the curtains in his doorway. Hecared not for anything as his tired eyes looked her up and down before hishair cushioned his slump back to his sleeping mat.

“Don’t Hui me.” Heslurred, “I’m Yi Dashi. Master ofthis house…”

“Why have you done this?” She asked, trying so hard to hidethe warble on her voice. She wasn’t very good at it. Even he, in his stupor,could dissect her tone, “What’s the matter? Pleasetell me.”

“I’m just trying, you know, trying to escape from my perfectlife. Great, perfect life!”

“Mama?” A feminine voice sounded, he couldn’t say who, “Ishe—”

“—Make sure none of the disciples come by here.” She orderedwith strength enough to compel him to prop up his form, “Tell them he’s sick. Noclasses today.”

“Y-Yes Mama!”

With that, the matron of the Yi Clan hid her arms in the expansivesleeves of her robes, probably so she could twiddle her fingers away from his amethysteyes. His eyes shone even then, as if his resolve transcended even this mild leaveof his senses.

“Now…” She took steps closer, letting the heavy curtain fallbehind her, “Surely you’re being sarcastic.” She wasn’t even subtle as shebegan picking up bottles from the floor to stack them neatly side by side, “Howmuch of this have you actually drunk?”

“Enough… that I want to throw up.” He said that, but stillsomehow managed a crooked smile, “But I can’t, ‘cus I’ll… ruin my clothes…”

“You’re not wearing any clothes, Hui.”

“I’ll still ruin everything…” Some power ordered him to stand,and he tried to oblige it best he could. The mother of the grown man seemed totense with panicked energy as all of him came to bare, before channeling hermotherly resilience and wrapping his blanket around his hips before she had toavert her eyes for too long, “… But does it matter? Nope… Doesn’t matter. Icould ruin this whole Stars’ Damned Wuju and it wouldn’t matter. Nothingmatters. I don’t… don’t even get satisfaction in being scolded anymore. No one dare challenge me.”

“Sit down, Hui.” She cooed, but his continued grinning onceagain summoned the mother in her, “Now, Hui. Sit back down.”

“Fine! Don’t…” Don’t pity me, he wanted to say, but the words just didn’t come out as she all but forcedhim back to his bedding. But even if those words didn’t come, he had others justdesperate to leave his lips.

“I’m your mother.” The woman put hands on both his shoulders,caressing them lightly with her thumbs, “You must tell me all of your troubles.”

“It’s nothing I haven’t already said.” He replied, mindlesslylulling his head from one side to the other, “I just want to get out of thisplace. Leave me be to leave my senses, and fetch… fetch me more wine if you please…”

“No…” She breathed, before shaking her head, “You can leavehere whenever you fancy. I don’t see what’s the matter.”

“Hmph.” He lurched forward as the twirling of his headbecame too much for him to manage, and the matron caught him without a secondthought. His words dribbled out his mouth regardless of his orientation in space though,“You know that’s… it’s not true. I haveto stay here. Too much is here. I have power, holdings, a school, a people, a…land. Lots of possessions. I have people who… they stay with me here without…you know. But! But…” He laughed, andyet for whatever reason the act was accompanied by hot tears, “It’s Master whogets to go kill demons… not me. It’s Master who gets to go see all the world,not me. Not me. Always not me. I have to stay and keep house. I’m trapped here. Trapped with my stupid, dumbchildren—”

That was a feat. He managed to cut himself off, biting hisown tongue so hard that he feared he’d chomp the thing in two. None of thismade sense once it left his mouth, he could only feel like, yet it all felt so passionatelyreal. How he wish he hadn’t drunk the last of his wine.

“… I love my students.” He wept, for some reason, “By theStars, I’m drunk.”

“Shh…” His mother soothed, her caressing of his back softeven though her hold on him was like a vice, “You want to see the world. Iknow. I know you do. It’s okay, Hui.”

“I love my students.”

“I know. And when your father returns from his time away, Iwill surely organize some sort of trip for everyone far, far away from here.Just please tell me first when you feel this sad, because I don’t want to seeyou indulging in things that are going to hurt you.”

“I… love my students…” He said again, as if it were an apologyto all of them.

“Shh…” She responded with again, pausing only in hercomforts to wipe the tears from his eyes, “It’s okay. It’s okay… Just rest,Hui. Go to sleep. Sleep this away, and talk to me about it when you have aheadache after. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here…”

But she wouldn’t get out of it that easy. He’d take his timeto cry himself into unconsciousness before he lay his own head to rest. Noteven in the depths of liquor could he find any release for his quiet angsts.

[yi-dashi-a]

What separates/makes Wuju unique from other forms of Ionian Martial Arts?

//I suppose if you get right down to it, one main difference is the cult of personality Wuju had once built up around its Masters. Wuju was specifically maintained by tribes of people, and not just confined to one temple or place/s of practice. It was a life philosophy that could be practiced passively under Wuju Master guidance, or actively in the form of the Wuju School itself. Wuju Masters were also effectively immortal, and all but one have succumbed to a violent or tragic end instead of their old age. This means that generations of people were groomed under a single Master, and with the extremely rural setting it allowed Wuju to diverge from the rest of Shon-Xan. They were effectively a cultural minority upon their cleansing.

Wuju Masters were also seen by their people to be born of Celestial purpose, and their rules were law. They were always holders of land and assets, and acted as heads of their clans within the loosely defined political arenas of pre war Ionia. With Elders / powers in the Ionian isles regularly seeking advice from even just regular Wuju Swordsmen, the people of Wuju felt even more justified in putting what bordered on religious faith in their Master of the day. Some may still revere Yi even to this day if he were to suddenly show up in Shon-Xan again before they remember that people were being targeted and executed out of fear for such things just a decade or so ago and they wave at their local Noxian steward submissively.

Of course there are also the techniques that distinguish it, the Alpha Strike being the main one. Perhaps the Double Strike, Meditation, and Wuju empowerment itself could be seen as unique to the art, but I’m sure these concepts show up in one art or another in some form. People might know of Wuju for the specific benefits that Yi’s in-game E provides, but to behold a Wuju Master Alpha Striking would have been a true secret honor to anyone who got the chance.

Influence is also a thing. Why is it that the Kinkou and the Wuju Swordsmen all seem to be on a higher seat of influence than the other sects? Obviously there’s been some power-broking going on for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The Kinkou have their connection to the spirit world, and Wuju has it’s keenly analytical, hyper Aware Masters in the real world. They almost balance each other out, I suppose. Though I suppose I should say they did, yet the Kinkou seems to be doing a lot better than Wuju is right now.

Anyway, I’m sure I could list off a lot more things, but I’ll leave it as this Wuju is dead AF anyways so riip

[yi-dashi-a]

🙌

“|Outlander, do no ill in this land. Surrender all weapons, and lay your honesty before my feet if you posses any mage mischief. If you do these things, then I might tolerate you. Welcome to the lands of my ancestors. The lands which I oversee.|”

The life of Master Yi Heng is remembered differently by different groups of people. To Ionian historians, the secretive Wuju Practitioner is an enigma among his Wuju peers. Less is publicly known about him than any other Wuju Master, while the man simultaneously campaigned to ensure his influence was known by all. Those under the Lordship of his clan, however, know a Clan Lord both revered and reviled for his cult-like grasp over the Wuju Lands. What most can agree on, however, is that when someone looks for the point where Wuju began to decline prior to it’s culling, all lines of inquiry lead back to Master Yi Heng.

(and woa this is long but I guess this guy was also 300 ish years old rip)

Born as the youngest of three to Master Yi Tsu and his seamstress wife, Ni,those under Wuju control cheered for the normalcy that would return to theirart. For hundreds of years had the seat of Master Yi been in turmoil, and thebirth of a son who survived to his naming day was a sign of good fortune. Andby all accounts Heng was destined to be the next Wushi, head of school. Hisblade skills were keen, perhaps moreso than even his own Master, and he was apolite and studious child who was reminded, again and again, by his father thathe could do no wrong. That he was great, and everyone was proud of him. Thisenvironment planted in him seeds of ambition that would follow him all his days.

At the age of forty, quite a young age for an immortal Wuju Practitioner,Heng gained the title of Dashi, and as such opened the Wuju school for intake.He did not take any students though, finding most of them unworthy. Instead, hemanaged to find a wife. A keen swordswoman, named Noiru, came to the school toseek training and fair combat, and Heng attempted to turn her away. She wasfirm, and he was amused, so they sparred many times when she refused, day uponday, to leave. Every day she would be bested by Heng, until weeks of fightingfinally saw her take a battle for herself. By then she had decided herselfattached to the man and his gruff exterior, and she set about courting himevery day instead of sparring. Inspired by his deep respect of her for herefforts and eventual, single triumph, he let himself be romanced.

They were wed on the second anniversary of when she had first bested him incombat, though she had successfully bested him many more times since then. Hengis on record as the youngest Wuju Master to be married, with his siblings andmother still alive at the time of his wedding. The pair consummated theirmarriage quite quickly though, and soon Noiru was with child. Complicationshampered the pregnancy, but still the pair in their love drunkenness theassumed things would turn out okay. Little did Heng know that when the womenfolkof the village took her away, that would be the last time he’d see his wife alive.

The child was saved, but Noiru was not, and Heng spiraled into a deepdepression. He had only known the woman for three years, and had been marriedfor less than one, but he would hold onto her memory for the rest of his life.He truly considered her his soulmate, and he was not prepared to care for hisson alone. He named the boy Shing, as per request of his wife before herpassing, though the boy would not live to see many years of his life. At justbarely two, Heng had become so disconnected from the child that he saw fit tosmother the boy in his sleep. His first attempted suicide was that night.

But Heng survived, supported heavily by his enabling father, and wouldcontinue on in his Wuju studies. He would hone is bladecraft all the more assome years went by, his escape being found in the martial art he cherished. Butit hit him all at once, about five years on from the loss of his wife, andthree from the murder of his son, that Wuju would not go on if he didn’tproduce an heir. So he set out once again to find a wife, though this time hesought to find someone he would not connect to. He bartered behind closed doorsfor the high-profile daughter of another major clan, and in return for his effortshe was served the woman Zhai. Zhai was timid and subservient, just as hewanted.

They were wed, and her pregnancies went much more smoothly than Noiru’s had.She even birthed twin boys, and for a moment Heng thought his life had returnedto some level of calm. Despite their wedding being one of convenience, he andZhai grew to at least have a working relationship with one another, and hissons Dai and Huang took to Wuju instinctively. For a moment there was calm.

Then deaths started rolling in again. First it was his mother, who passedaway in her old age after battling a mystery disease. The next it would be histwo boys, though this time not by his own hand. While erecting the totems usedin one of the Wuju festivals, the giant wooden pillar fell atop all thosepulling it with ropes, killing quite a few men of the village. This includedDai, who was killed instantly, and Huang who was knocked into a comatose statefrom which he never awoke. Heng’s father tried to care for the boy for a goodfew weeks, but eventually his condition began to deteriorate such that Heng persuadedthe man to stop in his care.

Then came the death that led Wuju into decline. Heng’s father.

It was simple. The man merely wanted to clean the multi storied roof ofthe Wuju School. What better way to get up there than to Alpha Strike to thebirds that made their perches atop the structure? While Heng watched on, stillfreshly grieving from the deaths of his sons, he thought he would get a laughout of watching his father try something silly. Instead he got to watch as thebirds took flight before his father could rematerialize, and the man fell tohis death from five stories up. It was on that day that the man once againtried to commit suicide, only to be thwarted by his wife. He responded bybanishing her and the daughters he had from the temple, and at sixty he shutthe doors. No one from the outside was allowed to enter for the next century.

Over the course of that century he would ponder his own life and the futureof Wuju. Once again he was faced with the conundrum: If he were to die thenWuju would also die. He wasn’t the last Wuju Swordsman, but he was the lastmale of the Yi line. He wished for nothing more than to see Wuju go on, yet healso despised his own life. So instead he absorbed himself in his training. He didthe same things day on day until he was numb to the passage of time. He traineduntil he convinced himself that his only goal was the prosperity of Wuju. Thathis life, and the lives of anyone else, were secondary. He would do whatever ittook to make Wuju the greatest martial art in Ionia, even if that meant him becomingan Elder and indoctrinating the rest of the country into its ideals.

And so, at around one hundred and sixty years old, he re-emerged from hisisolation. For another few decades he went on to roam Ionia, seeing how muchhad changed in his time away. He took all challenged and reintroduced himselfto a world that had forgotten him. Once more he would endeavor to barter hisway to an influential wife, this time her name being Neng. In his two hundredthyear she bore him a boy after some daughters, and with that he banished her and hisson, Chao’s, siblings from the Wuju Temple. Heng didn’t know that his wife wasa mage though, and when Chao began to exhibit mage like powers – magic wasstrictly frowned on in Wuju practice – a reign of terror began.

Heng opened the school once more, though it took him twenty years before hehad compliant families tell him of the sort of children he wanted to teach. Hetook in these boys with the plan to indoctrinate them into a worship of Wujuthat would ensure they’d always remain subservient to his wishes, and as suchhe would control some of the most powerful swordsman in the land. This oftencame at the expense of Chao, who was hen-pecked by his peers for his magicalaffinity while being simultaneously over protected. All Heng needed Chao forwas to continue the Yi blood line, and he figured the more beaten down he wasthe easier he would be to control. As such, it was commonplace for Heng’sstudents to watch on as Heng all but tortured his own son both physically andmentally, and they were expected to do nothing if they were to be ‘upstandingWuju Disciples.’

All was going well for Heng, at least from his own perspective. His son grewinto his sixties without any sign he would defy him, and his students not ofhis blood would lay down their lives for him. Chao, however, wasn’t assubservient as he first thought. One day he rode off on his horse and came backwith a wife when Heng had already betrothed him to someone. In a blind rage heslit his son’s throat, but was quickly stopped in his tracks by the woman Chaohad ridden home with. The woman, Huan, was a mage with powerful telekenisis,and almost crushed Heng to death. From there one of his students, Jhei,rightfully sought to try his Master for attempted murder, and Heng petitionedto banish himself from the temple. Chao would survive the encounter, and would go on to have a story of his own.

For brevity’s sake, things didn’t change much for Heng once banished. Hisstudents that were still loyal followed him to the mountains, and from there hestill tried to plot and scheme for Wuju power and control. He would go on toarrange marriages for his granddaughters, with threats of violence against themlulling parents into submission. It would be he, his students, and his son thatwould go on to hunt the infamous Golden Demon of Zhyun, though their patrollingefforts were tantamount to failure. The war would then come, and Heng wouldforgo any participation to stay at home with his new goal in mind, becomingShon-Xan’s Elder. He would sit idly by as the Zaunites marched up to the homeof his martial art and burn it to the ground.

He wasn’t aware of the destruction at first, so consumed he was in his plansupon plans. His students had left him long before that to fight in theconflict, and they had never returned. So on a day he thought would be justlike any other, he ventured out of his cave loft to find the village below himup in flames. Everything below him, all the power he had tried to amass, wasburning before his eyes, and he stood there numb for the longest time. Finallyuncontested when such urges came to him, the man was finally able to take hisblade to his throat and end his own life.

If he had waited only a day, he would have found his grandson – one warveteran by the name of Yi Hui – scrambling into his cave to assure hissurvival. Instead, Yi found his grandfather in a murky pool of his own blood, witha gash across his neck and a sword by his side as the only indication of whathad happened.

[yi-dashi-a]

Law & Order in the Wuju Lands

//Given their power and seemingly immortal lineages, the tribes under Wuju control enjoyed some level of autonomy within Shon-Xan (hence the label tribes, I’ve always thought). While culturally Highlanders outwardly, most other powerful clans left the Wuju Lands alone enough to let it develop as a distinct entity. As such, the way lawkeeping was handled under Yi Clan rule was slightly different from the rest of Shon-Xan.

  As with most things, disputes were handled by the active Wuju swordsmen and women of the day, with petty crimes and theft being handled mostly without any sort of outside interference. A person with the prefix Wu-, or Da- if there was no Wu- around, would see to the crime, and their opinion was almost unanimously regarded as final. Punishments were well grounded in the eye-for-an-eye mentality, leading to at times harsh punishments for physical or sexual crimes.

  If the label Sheriff had to be put to anyone, it would be to whosoever held the title Dashi. (imagine pre war Yi the beat cop looool)

That is, to give a brief summary of the hierarchy again, you have your Clan Lord / Master of Wuju (The Wushi), his son(s) who teach at the Wuju school (The Dashi(s)), and then the students under the Dashi (Their names are either unmodified, or are prefixed by Da-, and then at highest level by Wu-)

  If a crime was dire enough that it needed investigation, or a Wu-/Da- requested it, then the Dashi would go investigate and act as prosecution or defense depending on the situation. If the Dashi got involved, then it wouldn’t be a matter of civil discourse. A trial would take place in these instances, and ultimately the punishment would be handed down by the Wushi.

  The most popular punishment was exile. Banishment to the mountains of the Highlands was historically seen as a worse dishonor than execution. Ever since the first immortal Wuju Master banished himself there when he felt his art had become shameful, even the simple word exile holds a lot of emotional meaning. It may well be a contributing factor to Yi’s own isolation.

  But on topic, a crime that came to Wuju trial would only really have one other outcome. There was no jail system in the Land, which lends to the reason the above and next punishments were popular. Executions were not common, but they did occur. Generally, this would only occur if a criminal being propositioned with exile refused. Individuals who either chose or were sentenced to death would, more often than not, be bound to rocks and weights, and thrown into the nearby river to drown.

  Execution by drowning also held cultural significance to Wuju practitioners, as it was the drowning of a historic Wuju Master that caused the First Wuju Master to exile himself in the first place. Sometimes if suffering had already be wrought by the criminal, the Wushi would just cut down the person with their sword, though this of course comes in different levels of humane.

  So under the centuries rule of long lived Wuju Masters, the people of the Wuju lands had been almost culturally bred for their peaceful and submissive natures in regard to Wuju law. It’s a strange cult like that, in some ways, though that isn’t to say that a Wushi’s ruling was akin to Celestial judgement. Trials could run long, as Wuju also values Awareness in all things. As such, all leads were investigated with the utmost rigor, and more often than not people might have simply been found innocent if any doubts still remained.

  Long story short, if Wuju culture was still around, you would’ve done well to not commit a crime in it. Either a whole village watches you climb a mountain, you drown, or you lose a finger or toe for your efforts.