Temple of the Yellow God: The Huandishitu

Monastery: Temple of the Yellow God
Element: Earth
Orientation: Neutral
Resident Classes: Monk, Votary (Huan-Ti), Reverend, Clerk, Fighter, Sifu, Martial Advisor
Location: Central Dragon Empire
Founder: The Yellow Stranger
Affiliations/Alliances: The Temple has pledged loyalty to the Dragon Emperor and has served as one of his elite training sites for 6000 years.

Culture

For millennia, the Huandishitu carried on traditions established in ancient proto-Shou times. Although they exchanged ideas with the missionaries of Baghadeesh in the 14th millennium, they did not significantly alter their habits. More recently, they have adapted to the modern Showa ways of the Empire of the Dragon.

History

In the late 12th millennium, the brutal warlord Vul-Ga controlled the central region of what is now the Dragon Empire, and had not ceased expanding his domain since taking the throne. To fuel his war machine, he taxed his subjects to poverty, had slaves perform most industry, and put anyone engaged in useless employment to work feeding, equipping, or being soldiers. When it was decreed that all clergy were employed in a useless field and were to be conscripted, the priests that Vul-Ga was unfit to rule over any land and the land itself would rise in revolt against him. This is literally what happened when soldiers came to Huandi Temple to gather up the priests. The earth rose up and threw the soldiers in all directions and then swallowed the temple, leaving a huge mound in its place. The miracle was dismissed by the warlord, who assumed the priests had escaped and his soldiers were afraid to admit this. In fact, the temple had been taken into the earth where its entrances led out into a cavern complex that would serve as the new home of the cult. Out of the shadows of this new home, the Yellow Stranger emerged to explain why he had saved the priests and what their task would be. Over the next three years, further recruits were rescued from the surface and the growing temple ranks were trained in advanced fighting techniques and strategy under the guidance of the yellow prophet of Huan-Ti the war god. When they were ready, the Huandishitu used the tunnels connecting their temple to the surface to emerge and lead the peasantry and slaves in a revolt against Vul-Ga. Thanks to surprise plus fatigue on the part of Vul-Ga's forces, it was a quick victory and the high priest immediately set out to negotiate peace with all the realm's neighbours. These other areas had seen the emergence of their own warrior-monk orders, and between them the Serene Kingdom system was worked out, with monasteries either appointing or being required to bless future rulers of the lands of Shoulun. The central region became known as the Serene Kingdom of the Dog.
The Serene Kingdom system lasted 4000 years, but was upset when the Serene Kingdom of the 5-Headed Dragon began conquering others. The Tortoise, Eagle, and Hare and kingdoms had fallen quickly, the first two losing their southern halves to the Dragon and their north to the Tengric tribes that were waiting for such an opportunity. The Hare kingdom was completely swallowed up and its oldest monastery burned. The Huandishitu carefully weighed the situation, seeing that the Dragon King had followed the natural contours of the terrain to establish a northern border and having hit the mountains of the west, would logically start turning south and inward toward the Dog Kingdom. They also assessed their odds and determined that to avoid the fate of the Hare monks, they would remove the Dog King themselves and offer to join with the Dragon forces. The surrender was accepted without the shedding of any blood but the Dog King's and his personal guard, and the Huandishitu have since remained loyal to the Dragon Empire that was officially established with this agreement.

Education

Common Script: Showee
Common Tongue: Showa
Liturgical Script: Indri, Dwarvish
Liturgical Tongue: Modron, Gnomish
Other Languages Taught: Zoron
Sage Topics: Calligraphy, Physics, Metaphysics, Theology, Religious Rites, History, Geology, Geography, Plant Biology, Agriculture, Minerology, Herbalism, Alchemy, Military Discipline
Martial Arts: Earthand, Earth Temple Style, Earthpaw, Dishuquan, Wan Sing Pro, Zuiquan, Tai Tzu, Lung Ying, Wuzuquan, Vulcalleum, Imperial Shield, Dragon Horse Gung Fu, Qi Na, Gungdo, Imperial Gung Fu, Olden Locking

Elemental Mastery: Earth, Time, Spirit, 5 Elements, Mist, Metal, Smoke

Weapons: Monk's Spade, Quarterstaff, Rake, Spear-Mace, Dirk, Spike, Maduvu-Shield, Tetsubo, Wolf-tooth Club, Warhammer, Horseman's Pick, Footman's Pick, Pole-Pick, Voulge, Voulge-Guisarme, Glaive-Guisarme, Lasso, Rope Dart, Tachi, Shield, Jo, Siangkam, Iron Whips, Parasol, Bo, Kiseru, Gourd, Flute, Horse Bench, Knife, Dagger, Tiger Fork, Tambo, Dao, Butterfly Swords, Three-Piece Rod, Longstaff, Spear, Double-Spear, Awl Pike, Judge's Brush, Chicken Sickles, Jian, Halberd, Kwandao, Glaive, Naginata, Whip Disc, Wind and Fire Wheels, Xue Di Ji, Da Moe Cane, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Shuriken, Light Hammer, Chain, Kukri, Maru, Club, Horseman's Mace, Footman's Mace, Shortsword, Longsword, Scimitar, Long Bow, Urumi, Short Bow, Cho-Ku-No Pudao, Light Lance
Apprenticeships: Martialist, Purist, Scholar, Naturalist, Stealthist
Classes Trained: Monk, Reverend, Votary, Clerk, Fighter, Kensai, Survivalist, Alchemist, Martial Advisor

Mythology & Lore

The following deities are revered at the Temple of the Yellow God:
Huan-Ti, god of war, earth, and good governance
Chao Kung Ming, deputy god of war
Chiyou, god of fire and war atrocities
Confuzu, god of duty
Fuxi, god of writing, fishing, and hunting
Nuwa, goddess of earth
Pishamen Tian, protector of the empire
Tiangou, god of dogs
Yen-Wang-Yeh, god of death

Founding Date

12,000 AB