Chi'n Ta

• Goals of the Clan
  
• Clan Rank
  
• Clan Roster by Rank
  
• Cabals
  
• Midori-no-Koyama
  
• Mentorship
  
• Conventions
  
• Traditions of the Chi'n Ta
  
• Storyteller Data

Goals of the Clan

The chi'n ta (shinta in the Japanese language) of the Court of Infinite Ages are gathered for multiple purposes. However, one of the most important goals of the Clan is quite straightforward. They wish to foster greater organization and thusly education of the chi'n ta of Little Asia while taking advantage of the mutual protection this multi-shen Court provides. Simply put, the more Awakened one hangs around with, the more about magick one learns.

Clan Rank

There is a fair diversity by both Tradition and ability in the Clan. Recently Awakened apprentices are able to study side-by-side Adepts and even under a couple Masters. Rank is awarded in the Clan by achieving greater skill in the Arts of magick, and proving new skill in simple tests that Councillor Emerald and Elder Nekoko oversee.

Rank grants a measure of authority over one's fellow chi'n ta. In Clan matters especially, members are expected to defer to sorcerors of greater rank. This is only sensible, since greater rank means greater skill. It's never wise to offend one's superior! This rank can also apply outside of the Clan but it never supersedes Court position. Thus, an Adept who is an Agent of War cannot expect a Disciple who is Assistant Minister of Omens to defer to him in Courtly matters of any sort. To determine one's Rank, use the simple chart below:

Apprentice -- Little to no magickal training: any & all Spheres at Level 1
Initiate -- Beyond preliminary training: at least two Spheres at Level 2
Disciple -- Possessing a solid mystical education: at least one Sphere at Level 3
Adept -- A sorcerous expert: one to two Spheres at Level 4
Advanced Adept -- Broadly trained and powerful: three Spheres or more at Level 4
Master -- A true guru: one Sphere at Level 5
Advanced Master -- Exceedingly powerful: two Spheres at Level 5
Grand Master -- The feared and renowned Archmage: three Spheres at Level 5
High Master -- A virtual god of magic: four Spheres+ at Level 5
Arch-Master -- A step from the fabled Oracles: at least one Sphere at Level 6

Characters must be placed on NPC status when and if they reach Grand Master Rank. They do not have to be retired completely, however. Needless to say, do not expect any Level 6 Sphere achievements to be allowed or approved, ever.

Clan Roster by Rank

• Apprentices
  Ryoko
  
  
• Initiates
  Denko
  Hong Yue
  Kinu Saiban
  
  
• Disciples
  Cai-yun Isobe
  Cassiel Rowan
  David Haikado
  Duatnefret "Dymond" Liao
  Gakai
  Grace
  Parma Tempus
  
  
• Adepts
  Konton
  Saori Hayata
  
  
• Advanced Adepts
  Daitan Shindashi
  Isamu
  Jun Ng
  Kobayashi Endo
  
  
• Masters
  Emerald of a Thousand Paper Cranes
  
  
• Advanced Masters
  Nekoko
  
  
• Grand Masters
  none
  
  
• High Masters
  none
  
  
• Arch-Masters
  none (of course)

Cabals

A cabal means a secret society or organization. In China, such small organizations of sorcerors are known as wu sing, whereas Japanese shinta refer to their groups as kumi. In the Court of Infinite Ages, the formation of cabals is optional but greatly encouraged. It is through the almost familial benefit of cabalmates that one can truly self-develop. Furthermore, Clan responsibilities are dictated to cabals instead of individuals as are the rewards for fulfilling those duties. Currently, the only duty appointed is the guardianship of the Clan's small Dragon Nest and its grounds. The reward is the Nest's Tass yield. See below. Chi'n ta are allowed to form their cabals with whatever organization and goals they desire.

Midori-no-Koyama

For a description of the Dragon Nest grounds, go here. This Level 3 Node bears the Static Resonance of "calm". All magicks used to encourage quiet, contemplative, or calming measures receive a -1 difficulty. All magicks used to create a ruckus or encourage emotional outbreaks of any sort go up +1 difficulty. Shapeshifters have a difficult time Raging here: +1 difficulty to all Rage rolls.

Up to 3 Drams of Tass may be harvested from the Node per week. The Dragon Nest was discovered by and intended primarily for the chi'n ta of the Court. The other shen have their Dragon Nests already. This medium-sized Dragon Nest is capable of sustaining the Court's magi population but little more.

Any chi'n ta may meditate to recharge his Avatar with Quintessence once a week. Use of Prime 1 ("The Rush" Effect) is permitted, but Prime-draining is strictly forbidden. Nor may magicks intended to alter the Dragon Nest's Resonance be enacted. Violators will be dealt with harshly.

Guardianship of Midori-no-Koyama is expected of the Clan's cabals. Each cabal guards the Dragon Nest for one full month before the schedule rotates to another cabal. They must be prepared to guard the Node physically and spiritually. They must also keep the grounds clean and beautiful and free from contamination. And quite importantly each member of the cabal should donate 1 dram of Tass or 1 point of Quintessence to the Dragon Nest each week during their period of guardianship. These donations keep the Node fresh and vibrant.

To effectively perform this duty, each cabal must keep at least half of its members on the Midori grounds at all times throughout the assigned month. A cabal may and should obviously call for aid from the Clan or Court when necessary should the Nest fall under attack. The guarding cabal also insures that the Node is not abused by fellow chi'n ta, Courtmates, or outsiders. Councillor Emerald owns Midori-no-Koyama, graciously sharing its wealth with her Clanmates. She oversees the Node at all times and makes final decisions, such as when a member of the Clan may meditate in the Node once more that week.

Any cabal caught failing in its duties will be cited and punished before the whole Court.

Here is the current guarding schedule for the first part of 2003 by cabal:

• January..........Tian-Baoshi
  
• February..........Reito
  
• March..........Tian-Baoshi
  
• April..........Reito
  
• May..........Tian-Baoshi
  
• Jun..........Reito
  
  

Mentorship

The primary reasons magi gather are to share resources, protection, and knowledge. In the Court of Infinite Ages, no mage is required to take or become a mentor. Mentors are known as sensei in Japanese and sifu in Chinese.

The relationship between mentor and apprentice is solely up to the discretion of the pair involved. Traditionally, the apprentice should strive to fulfill the mentor's demands. Indeed, the society of the chi'n ta, he is morally obligated to do so. However, outlandish or improper requests may not only be refused, but brought to Councillor Emerald for justice.

Mentors can pass onto their apprentices (apprentice in the lower-case) appropiate Talents (Storyteller's discretion), most Skills and Knowledges, and of course, Spheres. Obviously, the student must study and work hard, too. Note: the use of the Instruction Talent may be used instead of the Mentor Background for appropiate Abilities but Instruction cannot benefit Sphere development.

The system for the Mentor Trait has been altered from the version originally presented in Mage to universalize with the other World of Darkness core games. To gain the benefit of the Mentor Background, after at least one month of study and training under one's teacher, roll Mentor (difficulty 6). Each success reduces the cost of the Trait being taught by 1, to a minimum cost of 1 XP (it will always cost at least 1 XP).

A character's worth as a Mentor, what level he's equal to for his student, is associated with his mystickal skill and experience. Thus, it is equal to his Clan Rank, as follows:

          Mentor *           Initiate
          Mentor **           Disciple
          Mentor ***          Adept
          Mentor ****          Master
          Mentor *****          Advanced Master

Conventions

The Awakened meet en masse seldomly in the Court of Infinite Ages. When they do meet, their encounters are known as Conventions. These gatherings occur once every three months, and all mages of the Court may and should attend. Each Convention is actually timed for the yearly solstices and equinoxes.

Normally, the elder mages use these Conventions to help the Awakened of the Court become more aware of their fellow willworkers. Also, current events regarding the Awakened may be discussed en masse, especially issues concerning the mages of the Court. Conventions will vary in consistency. Some will be solemn meetings where only business is handled. Others will be philosophical debates. Some will be more like parties and revels. Conventions can also give attending mages a chance to demonstrate their current skills. Emergency Conventions may be called by the Councillor Emerald or Elder Nekoko.

Traditions of the Chi'n Ta

This is a list of those Traditions and Crafts considered "true" chi'n ta. This is not to say that mysticks of Western background cannot join the Court, but like the Westerners in other Clans, may find themselves ostracized by purpose or fault. Remember, mages are among the most intelligent yet most bigoted supernaturals in the World of Darkness. Many Asians are racist to some degree as a cultural rule. It's only natural that even chi'n ta Tradition members treat fellow Tradition members from other nationalities as lessers.

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The Nine Traditions among the Chi'n Ta

Akashic Brotherhood: Suffice to say, this Tradition has the strongest roots in Asia. Its members can be found from nearly any nationality, though some purists may doubt the ability of a Western mind to grasp the Akashic philosophy. (The fact that every other Western Akashic really is more like Jean-Claude Van Damme than David Carrere doesn't help this occasional bigotry.)

Celestial Chorus: Traditionally, religion in Asia was limited to animism and ancestor-worship (see Dreamspeakers below) and so-called philosophy-religions like Taoism and Confucianism. However, starting in the past millennium, more deity-focused theologies have spread over the Middle Kingdom. With them have arrived Choristers. Some came as pilgrims from the West, others Awakened on their own and were later indoctrinated into the now global Tradition. But not all Choristers are Christian in basis. In Asia, Celestial Choristers can be found among Buddhists and Hindus, too. Buddhist and Hindu Choristers would probably be considered chi'n ta, while Christian, Muslim, or Jewish Choristers would be considered Western outsiders despite the influence these religions have in Asia.

Cult of Ecstasy: There are many small sects unique to Asia from the Cult. Many of the stranger ones are fairly confined to India. Out of Tibet and China, however, hails two unusual sects: the K'an Lu and Ka'a. Both sects practice Tantrick magick. The K'an Lu are probably the strictest group of Ecstatics in the world, believing sexual congress is best reserved for ritualistic ceremony only. The Ka'a consist of only women known and feared for their "succubus"-like techniques involving astral projection and "will-theft".

Dreamspeakers: Throughout Asia but particularly the Pacific rim -- the islands, Japan, and Southeast Asia -- animists, spiritualists, and naturalists still abound. Dreamspeaker shamans have been there for ages, though it's only been within the past few centuries or so that they, like shamans around the world, were gathered into the Dreamspeaker Tradition.

Euthanatos: Due to their lasting rivalry with the Akashics, the Euthanatoi have little influence in Asia proper. They are the strongest Tradition in India to be sure, and have influence in those nations nearby. A few small fringe sects have sprung up in pockets throughout the Far East, such as the 30-or-so-strong Shiryokosha in Japan.

Hollow Ones: They aren't chi'n ta, for sure.

Order of Hermes: They are blatantly Western! There is almost nothing chi'n ta about the Order. However, there is a very small House, the Crimson Thunder, which is a part of House Ex Miscellenae, that makes its home in Zhongguo. There is also a Craft (see below) that strongly resembles the Order of Hermes, and may even predate it.

Sons of Ether: Yes, technomagick is big in Asia, particularly Japan. The Sons of Ether, however, are not. There are technomancer Crafts that sprang up on their own native to the Middle Kingdom (see below).

Verbena: These witches are entirely Western in origin and even today there are few if any Verbena in Asia. They seem to keep disappearing...

Virtual Adepts: As the Sons of Ether, above.

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The Crafts

Be it due to arrogance or ignorance, many of the so-called Crafts below were not invited to join the Council of Traditions or waved away the offer. Some of these so-called Crafts are as ancient if not older than the Nine Traditions.

Five Rings Gama: These "computermancers" are similar to the Virtual Adepts. They specialize in hacking moreso than the Cybernet, using the ancient kaja glyphs in their programming.

Go Kamisori Gama: The true and original ninja of the World of Darkness, the ULAG does not use the version presented in the Dragons of the East based on that book's basically corny presentation of the Craft. Cam has written an alternative version and the webbook can be found here.

Thousand Canes Society: The East's answer to the Sons of Ether, the 1000 Canes Society blends technology with "chi fusion" to produce all sorts of "weird science".

Wu Keng: The night witches are feared for their subtle magicks and rightfully so. Due to their infernalism, they are not suitable player characters for the CoIA troupe.

Wu Lung: As ancient if not moreso than the collected Houses of Hermes, the Wu Lung are proud icons of a bygone mystical age. Their command over the ways of heaven has not faded, however, and they are masters of kaja as the Hermetics master Enochian.

Wu: Wu is Chinese for simply "witch", and any mage who studies the ancient "peasant" witcheries of Asia and manage to avoid the subtle grasp of the Wu-Keng are simply called Wu.

The other Crafts and Elemental Dragons found in Dragons of the East are not suitable mage characters for the CoIA troupe. Orphans are found worldwide and those who are Asian in origin may find themselves better treated than Western Orphans...but in the eyes of the traditional chi'n ta, an Orphan is an Orphan.

Storyteller Data

Sim is the Mage Troupe Storyteller. Chaz is the Assistant Mage Storyteller. An independant site dedicated to the chi'n ta of the ULAG is currently under construction by Chris (Chris volunteered to do the site, he is not a Mage Storyteller). Here are the contacts:

          Sim: prince_sapphire_dark_moon@yahoo.com
          Chaz: silentmorbeus@hotmail.com
          Chris: gtwolives@yahoo.com
          Chi'n Ta Site: http://c_eggers.tripod.com/chinta/

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