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| The Brotherhood http://spiritwar.fallenash.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=48 |
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| Author: | Mindshred [ Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | The Brotherhood |
The Brotherhood The Brotherhood of Shinsei is composed of a diverse group of monks and scholars dedicated to rescuing the soul of the Empire. They oversee the thousands of temples, shrines, and monasteries of Rokugan and live their lives in search of the state of enlightenment, a perfect understanding of the world and everything that lives within it. Each sect of the Brotherhood believes its own method of enlightenment is the truth path. This has led to hundreds of different techniques dedicated towards calming the spirit and restoring balance. The Brotherhood of Shinsei would have it no other way, since their founder's greatest adage is that each man must follow his own path. The Four Temples Devotion: Shintao The Four Temples that surround Kyuden Seppun are the heart of the Empire's religion. The Master of the Four Temples has traditionally been considered the voice of the Brotherhood in the courts, and for the most part is considered to be its leader. Monks of the Four Temples believe that enlightenment can only be found through interaction with the world around them, and as such they frequently wander the land, helping those they meet in whatever ways they are able. More often than any other sect, the monks of the Four Temples sometimes take up positions as advisors to daimyo, governors, and military leaders, where their wisdom and knowledge of the Tao is considered to be quite invaluable. The current Master of the Four Temples is Aimoto, the Heir of Shinsei. Though unknown before the late Master of Water teleported him into the Imperial Palace and announced his birthright to the Emperor, Aimoto soon gained quite a bit of fame and renown, with pilgrims traveling the entire length of the Empire to congregate outside the Imperial City in the hopes of meeting Shinsei's descendant. After the Elemental Council was wiped out, Aimoto petitioned the Emperor to be made the Master of the Four Temples, replacing its previous master, the venerable Atushi. Thus far, Aimoto has done little with his new position, but the monks of the Brotherhood are quite enthusiastic about the future and see his ascension as a good omen in these otherwise dark times. The Shrine of the Seven Thunders Devotion: Shintao The Cave of Thunder is one of the most sacred temples in Rokugan. The shrine honors the original Seven Thunders, and the Yamabushi monks who tend to the shrine believe that enlightenment can only be reached by meditation, contemplation, and the study of the Seven Thunders. The Cave is located in the Spine of the World Mountains, near the peak of a mountain whose sides have been carved to resemble the faces of the Seven Thunders. It is said that Amaterasu gave birth to her children on the hillside of this mountain and that from its snowy peak one could still find a mystical bridge leading into the Celestial Realms. The current Master of the Shrine of the Seven Thunders is Nendai, a Matsu Berserker who long ago gave up her name to seek enlightenment in the study of Matsu's life. Her antagonistic attitude has been known to put other monks on the defensive at times, but for the most part, the other members of her order have come to recognize that her mannerisms are merely the trappings of her former life, and that Nendai has fully dedicated herself to a life of peace. Except for that one time that she threw a Kakita samurai from the peak of the mountain, but those bringing up that particular story are quick to mention that Nendai regretted her actions afterward. Enlightenment is often a gradual process, after all. The Temple of Kaimetsu-uo Devotion: Fortunist / Shintao The Temples of Kaimetsu-uo house the monks who follow the path of the Mantis Clan founder Kaimetsu-uo. The monks of this order are one of the most active of the Fortunist monastic orders in the Empire, though their order still places a great deal of value in the teachings of Shinsei. The Order of Kaimetsu-uo believes that enlightenment comes with hard work and physical exertion, and that a well-trained body leads to a well-trained soul. They are notorious for ritually scarring their skin to mark the progress of their training, giving them an alarming appearance. Monks of Kaimetsu-uo do not initiate violence, but they do respond to it in kind with a level of fury and skill that has become legendary throughout the Empire. They are prohibited from bragging or intimidating others and tend to focus purely upon unarmed combat, and often wander far from their temples on the Mantis Isles. More than one bandit gang, corrupt magistrate, or other evildoer on the mainland has been stopped by a roving band of monks of Kaimetsu-uo. As such, the Order of Kaimetsu-up is extremely popular amongst the heimin and non-samurai classes. The current Master of the Order of Kaimetsu-uo is Jishinkaminarikajioyaji, a former Mantis pirate who readily admits that he chose the name just to frustrate others. Jishinkaminarikajioyaji is a large man with a body so well-toned and heavily muscled that he is said to be able to punch holes in solid stone, a rumor that he laughs off whenever it is spoken of in his presence. The Temple of Osano-Wo Devotion: Fortunist Perhaps the most militant of all Brotherhood sects, the Temple of Osano-Wo reveres both the mortal life and the divine power of Hida Osano-Wo, the son of the Kami Hida, Crab Clan Champion, and the Fortune of Fire and Thunder following his death. Based primarily in the lands between the Scorpion and Crab Clans, the first Temple of Osano-Wo was the birthplace of sohei, monks who train as warriors. Though the order manages many temples throughout Rokugan, the largest is located on the Plain of Thunder near the Shinomen Mori. While all Clans have representatives among the monks of the temple, the majority have always been retired Crabs. Monks of Osano-Wo believe that enlightenment and mastery of the art of war were by no means mutually exclusive. Their order maintains a large private army of monks in their great Temple of Thunder, which is the home of their current Master Sensei, the monk Ryuu. Though rumored to have mastered the legendary Death Touch kiho, Ryuu is forbidden from leaving the Temple of Thunder until his death, as have all those who have held his position previously. Many sohei have traveled to the Temple of Thunder to receive training from the mysterious Master Sensei, but very few actually survive Ryuu's brutal lessons. The Temples of the Thousand Fortunes Devotion: Fortunist While technically a part of the Brotherhood of Shinsei, the Temples of the Thousand Fortunes are in actuality a large network of shrines that are more devoted to individual Fortunes than studying the Tao. This network is dominated by the seven largest temples, each of which is primarily focused upon the worship of one of the Seven Fortunes. These temples are scattered throughout the Empire, and beyond them lie a network of hundreds of smaller shrines and temples, some so small as to only be tended by a single devoted monk. The doctrines of each temple vary depending upon which Fortune or Fortunes are worshiped there. Despite this variety, the monks of these temples are united in their belief that the Fortunes do not coddle mortals, but rather bestow their blessings upon those they deem worthy. |
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