Temple of the White God: The Baidishitu

Monastery: Temple of the White God
Element: Metal
Orientation: Good
Resident Classes: Monk, Votary (Baidi), Reverend, Clerk, Kensai, Paladin, Fighter
Location: Crescent Mountains, northwest of Minervia, south of Falconcrest Territory, west of the Empire of the Dragon
Founder: The White Stranger
Affiliations/Alliances: The Temple of the White God sits on a mountainpeak controlled by no power but the monks themselves. It maintains diplomatic relations with the Tanrishavi and Kalasravaka to the north and south and is the base of the Knightly Order of the Platinum Dragon, which is dedicated to the overthrow of the Dragon Emperor and re-establishment of the Serene Kingdom system.

Culture

The mountain people who gave rise to the Baidishitu were of ancient Tengric, Valsan, pan-Zoron, and proto-Shou origin and spoke dialect reflecting these mixed roots. This dialect only exists today in the monastery's most ancient writings, but their customs remain unchanged and look much closer to shamanism than any other O13 monastery's ways.

History

The Tavanites were a simple tribe that formed within a valley in the northern Golden Crescent mountains from several different sources, including the proto-Shou peoples of the east, the Tengric horseriders of the north, pan-Zoronites from the south, and Valsans from the west. Centuries after the valley was first settled, it became cut off from the outside world due to natural disasters (it was thought--mostly this was destruction caused by the War Against the Gods) and left to develop a distinct identity. In its isolation, it flourished culturally, but forgot the arts of war. Eventually, in the 12th millennium, a route was opened from the north and Tengric bands began riding in and raiding the scattered villages of the valley. Not knowing how to fight, the peaceful valley dwellers turned to prayer, and were answered in the form of a glimmering white dragon that routed the invaders and crashed into a mountain to shake loose boulders that would stop up the entrance to the valley. After this, the dragon transformed into a shiny white human and explain that the outside world can't be kept away forever and the people would have to learn to defend themselves. The White Stranger selected the most pure-hearted and brave among the valley people and trained them to be holy warriors and leaders. A temple and training centre was built in the middle of the valley and under the guidance of the warrior priests, a new system of governance was established to manage the defense of the valley's entrances and to prepare for trade and diplomacy with the outside world. A king was appointed, answerable to the monks, and the Serene Kingdom of the Platinum Dragon was established.
The Kingdom enjoyed peaceful relations with most of its neighbours for the next 4000 years despite periodic trouble from the north. However, at the start of the 17th millennium, the Serene Kingdom of the 5-Headed Dragon abandoned its serenity and began to conquer its neighbours, first the Tortoise Kingdom, then the Hare, then the Eagle. When the Dog King was ousted by his own monks who surrendered his throne to the 5-Headed Dragon King, the conqueror decided to push his forces into the western mountains, where he rolled through the valley of the Tavanites with relative ease, burning both the Serene Palace and the nearby Temple of the White God. In shame and terror, the Baidishitu fled further into the mountains, eventually settling in a mountaintop fortress that had been built to watch over the western border. This was further into the mountains than the newly-titled Dragon Emperor felt he could supply, and the western side of the valley of the Tavanites became the western border of the Dragon Empire.
Over time, with help from other monastic communities, and some help from divinities and dragons, the Baidhishitu established a renowned weapons training program, redeemed their reputation, and established an elite fighting force, the Knightly Order of the Platinum Dragon, dedicated to reclaiming the valley and re-establishing the Serene Crown.

Education

Common Script: Showee
Common Tongue: Showa
Liturgical Script: Dwarvish
Liturgical Tongue: Angelic
Other Languages Taught: Zoron, Tengric, Tavanite, Elvish, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Efreet, Gold Dragon, Bronze Dragon, Celestial Court
Sage Topics: Calligraphy, Physics, Metaphysics, Theology, Religious Rites, Geology, Minerology, Mathematics, Geometry, Mechanics, Metallurgy, Smithing
Martial Arts: Iron Palm, Metal Temple Style, Iron Head, Bronze Shell, Jianyi, Vulcalleum, Platinum Dragon Gung Fu, Lung Ying, Goldfinger, Wokwon, Olden Striking, Musti-Yuddha, Lethwei
Elemental Mastery: Metal, Light, Spirit, Earth, Fire
Weapons: Monk's Spade, Iron Spear, Iron Parrying Spear, Horseman's Mace, Footman's Mace, Bar Mace, Jian, Bastard Sword, Spiked Polemace, Iron Whip, Battle Axe, Bardiche, Chakram, Horseman's Flail, Footman's Flail, Chain, Morning Glory, Meteor Hammer, Jitte, Spear, Spike, Dagger, Uchine, Bo, Staff-Spear, Dart, Sash, Monk's Beads, Light Hammer, Warhammer, Judge's Brush, Jian, Shield, Rapier, Light Lance, Longsword, Horseman's Pick, Broadsword, Medium Lance, Scimitar, Heavy Lance, Emeici, Da Mo Cane, Tiger Fork, Dao, Tri-Point Double-Edged Sword, Pudao, Ji, Xinmen Dao, Lajatang, Rope Dart, Kau Sin Ke, Shuriken, Longstaff, Shortsword, Bagua Sabre
Apprenticeships: Martialist, Purist, Scholar, Naturalist
Classes Trained: Monk, Votary, Reverend, Clerk, Fighter, Kensai, Cavalier, Paladin, Mechanist

Mythology & Lore

The following deities are revered at the Temple of the White God:
Baidi, god of metal and good dragons
Bai-Ulgen, god of creation
Budai, god of wisdom
Matyr, god of courage
Shangdi, god of sky
Svarog, god of smithing
Temir, god of mining
Ur-Ana, goddess of earth
Vahagn, god of fire

Founding Date

12,000 AB