Jianghuren (jee-ahng-hoo-ren)

“Those outside of polite society must know their place within the hierarchy. They must speak and act deferentially to those above them, keeping their eyes lowered from their betters. They must never seek to rise above their station in this life, and those above must show proper benevolence to those below, in this way is societal harmony achieved. For only through proper observation of the Six Virtues can anyone hope to achieve the state of the Superior Being.”

Sage, Tong Zhao-zi

Career

Qualifications

Jianghu is a Dayang term that generally is used by artists to refer to a romanticized version of the empire's history used by writers and poets. In that vein, it has been used almost synonymously with the Daiin term of Ukiyo. Among the general populous, Jianghu is often used as the darker reflection of the Ukiyo where hoodlums abound and criminal societies flourish. Therefore, the Jianghuren are the people which populate the world of the Jianghu. 
Owing to the fact that these "worlds" are largely in the poorer districts of many cities, the vast majority of the people who inhabit them are hard-working, poor folk who want nothing more than to have a roof over their heads and full bellies. They are not the Jianghuren. The Jianghuren are those which move through the criminal underbelly that exist within these places. They are the thieves, masterminds, confidence artists, fixers, itinerant gamblers, thugs, gang members, and mob bosses. Accordingly, the only true qualifications needed to operate as one of the Jianghuren are a general lack of empathy or respect for one's fellow sentient beings, and an even greater disdain for the idea of "personal property."
Though, the ability to sneak around, disguise oneself, or steal things without being caught are also handy skills to have.

Career Progression

Due to the fact that Jianguren is a sort-of catch-all term to describe any people which operate outside the bounds of polite society, there are very few, if any, "common career paths" or "ranks" within this profession. The only groups where any sort of progression or standard titles exist are within the "black societies" of the Jianghu. 
Among the Gakudou, which is the term for the organized, criminal groups among the Daiin peoples, the ranks are thus:

• Kyoudai: these are the foot soldiers, the rank-and-file members, the so-called brothers and sisters of the Gakudou.
• Wakagashira & Shateigashira: These are the first and second lieutenants who are responsible for overseeing the foot soldiers of the family.
• Saika-komon: These are the (often civilian) advisors to the head of the family. They apprise the head of the mood of the people of the neighborhood or district where the gakudou is based. They also bring in civilian contractors and specialists (known as Kaikei and Shingiin) to be the faces of the gakudou's "legitimate" business interests. 
• Oyabun or Kumicho: is the head of the gakudou family.

Among the Heishehui, which is the term for the organized, criminal groups among the Dayang peoples, the ranks are thus:

• Changsha (Straw Sandals): these are the foot soldiers, the rank-and-file members, of the Heishehui.
• Lanquan (Blue Lanterns): these are the more "professional" soldiers responsible for security and protection, and the elite enforcers for the family.
• Hong Dengzhao (Red Lanterns): these are the specialist enforcers, spies, and infiltrators for the family.
• Hexiang (Incense Master): are the spiritual and ritual leaders of the family. They may often be legitimate priests or powerful wizards in their own right.
• Hong Zhang (Red Poles): are the high-ranking members and lieutenants who are responsible for discipline and overseeing the foot soldiers. 
• Baizhi (White Paper Fans): These are the civilian advisors to the head of the family. They apprise the head of the mood of the people of the neighborhood or district where the heishehui is based. They also bring in civilian contractors and specialists to be the faces of the gakudou's "legitimate" business interests the way a paper fan may hide a blade.
• Louzhu (Dragon Head): is the head of the heishehui family.

Payment & Reimbursement

It could be argued that the "payment system," if there is such a thing, of the Jianghuren are based on a commission or upon completion of a job. Even within the more organized gangs and families, nobody eats until the job is done.

Other Benefits

There are very few benefits to being in this line of "work." The only people it truly benefits are the people who live in the jianghu, themselves. As has been stated, the jianghu, as spoken of by the common populations, only exists within the poorest districts of the imperial cities. Oftentimes, the only way for a person from these areas to get enough to eat is to join with one of the many gangs or families that operate in that world. It offers its own status, and sense of society for those without. Sometimes even its own protection for those who might not otherwise have it.

Perception

Purpose

Technically, the Jianghuren fulfills no role within society. That's part of the reason they're considered to be outside of society.

Social Status

Jianghuren have no real status to speak of outside of their own world. Some gangs or families can be quite popular with the most destitute of imperial citizens. Those who fall through the cracks of polite society and who feel overlooked by their social "betters." Sometimes these gangs or families can offer the one thing to these peopel which the empire cannot: a feeling of relative safety. In these instances, the criminals will be held in higher regard than official guardsmen or police, and the citizens under their protection will often close ranks around the criminals in times of trouble.

History

Though the criminal phenomenon has roots as deep and ancient as the sex trade, extending further into the world's past than even elves remember, it is said that the current Shadow Societies began to appear during the Age of Bushi. Specifically during the last few centuries of nominal peace when many of the warriors had naught to do. These ronin would usually fall to either roving bands of bandits or outlandish urban gangs known as kabukimono or protectors from said bandits known as machi-yakko. Though the kabukimono groups were eventually quashed by the bakufu government of the time, this did not stop other disaffected groups from rising up to take their place and form equally outlandish gangs of their own. Indeed, it is thought that many of the themed gangs and the Heieshilin of the modern era got their start with the ronin samurai and qishi of the kabukimono.
Two other groups arose during this time, as well, in which the current Black Societies may have their roots: the tekiya, or peddlers, who were primarily responsible for commerce and stall allotment during festivals and who had highly organized, hierarchical groups, and the bakuto, who were chiefly itinerant gamblers who ran illegal gambling houses and loan-sharking businesses under the bakufu. These two groups eventually began hiring the masterless warriors to protect their various interests. Including the machi-yakko.
Over time, especially in the chaotic times after the Kami War, the machi-yakko went one of two routes: either joining firmly with their new employers or becoming legitimate police forces in the rural villages and the weakened cities. Throughout this time, the disparate groups of merchants, gamblers, and warrior-gangs were merging into cohesive units based on the upon the oyabun/kobun (father/son) relationships of the merchants where each could support and protect each other physically and financially. Complex entry rituals and ranking systems were implemented, and, often bloody, punishment rituals enacted for anyone who betrayed the groups. As their Imperial Majesties' and their Bureaucracy tightened their grip upon the empire, these groups eventually went underground in order to avoid the fiery gaze of Heaven, and became Heishehui, or Shadow Societies.

Operations

Tools

Considering that the Jianghuren are all individuals who practice their "arts" in different ways, there is hardly any "standard" equipment that is carried amongst them. Some Jianghuren use their skills as smooth talkers and manipulators in order to ply their dubious trade. Others use stealth and tools such as lockpicks to complete their tasks. Still others use violence and intimidation to get what they want. No two Jianghuren are exactly alike or even, necessarily, have the same training.

Workplace

Many of the gangs and more organized families work out of legitimate business fronts. Some might use noodle shops or tea houses. Others might work out of brothels or even fancy restaurants, inns, or hot springs. Most often the fronts are small, unassuming, and in the poorer areas of a city.

Provided Services

The smaller gangs will often run protection rackets with the small shops and carts that do business within the territories they've claimed. In return for a nominal fee, these gangs will provide protection from other gangs, criminals, or anyone else the shop owner needs protection from. Except themselves, of course. 
The larger families will also provide "protection" and are often a lot more reliable than the random, hooligan gangs which ply the trade. Depending upon the family, they also provide a wealth of other services such as drugs, prostitutes, stolen goods, smuggling, gambling, contraband, even banned magic.

Dangers & Hazards

The original bakuto were disdained even in their own time, and much of that stigma has carried over onto their spiritual descendants. The main hazard for the profession, however, is that of Imperial Law. Of course, many of the acts these individuals, gangs, and societies do are against the law with many being punished with corvee labor, at the very least. Other punishments include fines, servitude, corporal punishment, mystical punishment, branding, or even death.

Alternative Names

Tufei (bandit), Heieshili ("dark force"; gang), Heishehui ("shadow society"; organized group), Baotu, Egun, Koukojin, Touzoku (bandit) Gokudou ("extreme path"; organized criminals), Akuto, Elven - Ziangho-nyan, Sahoiden, Dwarven - Gangho-in, Gaengdan

Type

Illicit

Demand

There is currently, nor has there ever been, any demand for folks' sleeves to be cut, to be scammed, strong-armed, robbed, or otherwise targeted by the criminal element.

Legality

Most everything within the Jianghuren repertoire is illegal to a greater or lesser extent.

Jianghuren Level Progression

The Jianghuren is the general rogue archetype who specializes in infiltration, stealth, and general skullduggery. Jianghuren gain the following at Lesser First Rank:


Health Points: +4 Health Points.
Face: +0
Arts: Jianghuren gain one point and are adept in two Exploration Arts of the player's choice. Jianghuren also gain one point in each of the following Arts: Bluff, Vigilance, and Skulk.

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Rank	Attacks	Abilties
First Lesser	1	Jianghu Aspect: Beginning at the Lesser First Rank and Rank up to Sixth Rank, a Jianghuren acquires a Jianghu Aspect.
First Greater	1	Jianghu Aspect
Second Lesser	1	Jianghu Aspect
Second Greater	1	Jianghu Aspect
Third Lesser	1	Jianghu Aspect
Third Greater	1	Jianghu Aspect
Fourth Lesser	2	Extra Attack Phase: At the Lesser Fourth Rank, the Jianghuren gains an extra Combat Phase to be used for the Attack Action. Jianghu Aspect
Fourth Greater	2	Jianghu Aspect
Fifth Lesser	2	Jianghu Aspect
Fifth Greater	2	Jianghu Aspect
Sixth Lesser	2	Jianghu Aspect
Sixth Greater	2	Jianghu Aspect
		Jianghuren Aspects
		Dodomeki's Veil: the Jianghuren is able to hide and secure about their person a number of small items, making them nearly impossible to find even with a search. The player makes a Skulk check with a DV of 15. If successful, the character may hide the requisite number of items about their body equal to their Grace score. Anyone searching the character succeed on a DV 19 Vigilance check to find the items. Though the items may be moved at any time, it takes a free action to draw them during combat, and they must be secured again anytime the character changes clothes. If they are strip-searched, the items will be found.
		Stealthy Approach: Gain a +2 bonus to Passive Defense when attempting to move silently or remain unseen. During combat, this ability costs an extra Combat Phase to invoke. The effect ends once the Jianghuren takes any action aside from Movement or a Free action.
		Dirty Tricks: the Jianghuren can attempt a deceptive or distracting maneuver, imposing a penalty on the next attack or Defense of a targeted opponent. The Jianghuren must use an Attack Phase and roll their Skulk against the opponent's Vigilance. If the Jianghuren wins, their opponent takes a -2 on their next Attack roll or a -2 to their Defense for the next turn. The number of "tricks" a Jianghuren has is equal to their Skulk Art rating.
		Lu Bu's Talent: Once per turn, the Jianghuren may spend an extra Combat Phase in order to attack an opponent's vitals from their blind side, thus doing an extra d6 worth of damage.
		Trap Master: the Jianghuren gains a +1 to Arts rolls made to detect or disarm traps.
		Strategic Ambush: the Jianghuren uses a Combat Phase to initiate a surprise attack against enemies entering an area Controlled by the Jianghuren.
		Fox Tongue: +1 bonus to Bluff and Sway Arts.
		Okuninushi's Glamour: provides a +1 bonus to Skulk and Disguise Arts. Allows a Jianghuren to blend seamlessly with a crowd. So long as the Jianghuren is out of the line of sight of any suspicious individuals, they may use Skulk Arts to remain unobserved. Using crowds this way takes a whole Turn, and a Skulk roll against the highest Vigilance. If successful, the Jianghuren matches their mannerisms and body language with the crowd in order to move about unnoticed. Depending upon the type of crowd infiltrated, the character may need to make a disguise check, as well.
		Poison Master: +1 bonus to Herbology and Alchemy Arts to create and apply poisons.
		Cat Spirit's Blessing: +1 bonus to Athletics checks made to jump, climb, and maintain balance.
		Leopard's Gift: +1 bonus to Skulk checks made to hide, move silently, and ambush.
		Cunning Strategist: the Jianghuren gains +1 to Combat Arts when utilizing Combat Arts for tactics involving misdirection or deception.
		Rat Spirit's Favor: +1 to Athletics checks made to escape from bonds, holds, or otherwise tightly confined spaces.
		Perimeter Alert: the Jianghuren gains a +1 bonus to Vigilance to detect enemies entering their Controlled area. Upon successful detection, they gain a bonus Combat Phase to react before their enemies even if they were lower on the Initiative Order.
		Yaoguai's Gaze: the character may spend a Combat Phase to Chill enemies within their Controlled Area. As an alternative, outside combat, the Jianghuren gains a +1 bonus to Coerce Arts.
		Lowborn General: the Jianghuren's tactical strategies grant any allies within their Controlled area a +1 bonus to Attack rolls.
		Adaptive Control: the Jianghuren may move throughout their Controlled area without losing Control. So long as they do not move beyond the boundaries where the initial Control was set up, they may maintain Control over the area.
		Zone of Silence: when within an area they Control, the Jianghuren may use a Combat Phase to move about their area a number of feet equal to 5x their Skulk rating and remain undetected by enemies. The Combat Phase is used to activate an area-wide stealth device such as a smoke bomb or a darkness spell.
		Meridian Strikes: the Jianghuren knows how to exploit the weaknesses of their enemies. From within a Controlled area, they may use those exploits to debilitate or hamper their enemies. After declaring their intentions, the player sacrifices an extra Combat Phase and makes their attack roll. If successful, the target of said roll suffers an extra effect from the attack, whether that be negatives to Fleetness, Defense, Attacks, etc.
		Light Touch: +1 bonus to Skulk Arts involving lockpicking or cut-sleeve work.