Liao School

The Liao School, otherwise once known as "The Liao Family," was once a family of Path of Closed Fist assassins, since then converted into a more traditional martial arts sect. The Liao School were once among the most dangerous assassins in all of Kun'lao, ancient rivals to the North Star Cobra practicioners and Xiao Family. The current head of the Liao School, Fheng Liao, decided to abandon the Family's role as assassins in Kun'lao, instead opting to open a school which anyone could join. While the Liao School is open to Path of Closed Fist, it is open to everyone and is theoretically dedicated to "the eradication of evil."

For some time, Fheng Liao had reformed his school into a group of vigilantes and rogue martial artists dedicated to eradicating crime and evil, especially in Chengu. However, the Liao School has recently been eradicated by an evil martial artist known as The Tiger's Vessel. There are believed to be fewer than 5 martial artists who remain using this style.

History

The origins of the Liao School are considered folk story at this point. Liao Assassin Arts was said to be founded by Nuwa Liao, a killer whom had apparently abandoned her original martial arts sect, believing it to be weak. In search of power, she began to train her martial arts style through experience, purposely putting herself in life or death situations to slowly grow the effectiveness of her style. Eventually, an invasion from the Kingdom of Wei threatened Chengu, the island where Nuwa mainly operated. Although she did not consider herself a protector, she saw the invasion as a chance to test her skills. It is said that Nuwa had managed to kill 999 Kingdom of Wei soldiers whilst protecting Chengu.

Nuwa Liao's adopted children would be taught her newly created martial arts style: Liao Assassin Arts. Nuwa and her children continued to put themselves in life or death situations, albeit now charging for their effectiveness in killing. They began to take jobs all over Chengu. Meanwhile, the current Emperor of Kun'lao heard of the Liao Family's effectiveness as killers. He began to take an interest in them, sometimes having vassals hire them out for missions too controversial to be connected to even the Emerald Guard.

Eventually, the combined works of the Liao Family and their rivals, the Lao Family, managed to usher Chengu as one of the 8 Heavenly Cities. Whenever Kun'lao was in danger of falling into chaos, the Liao Family would be called in as assassins to keep the peace. By any means necessary.

This would remain the Liao Family's role for generations, until the birth of one Fheng Liao. An exceptional student born with natural talent towards the martial arts, Fheng learned quickly. He also had other plans for the Liao Family. Seeking reform, not just in his family but in Kun'lao overall, Fheng Liao believed that the Liao Family had become tools for the government. So, he killed his father, before soon engaging in a duel with his brother over the fate of Liao Style. Fheng would defeat his brother, and legend goes that he killed him as well.

From there, Fheng Liao reorganized Liao Assassin Arts into Liao-Style Martial Arts. He began to take on students from not just Kun'lao but the world. From there, The Liao School grew im prominance, as did Fheng Liao's personal philosophy. The Liao School would become the "protectors" of Kun'lao for a generation, before nearly being wiped out overnight by the machinations of the Tiger's Vessel.

Culture

The Liao School are Path of Closed Fist personified, although that does not make them all necessarily evil. They believe in might makes right, and are taught as part of their training that the only way to truly enforce justice in the world is to enact one's own personal brand of justice through violence. "Violence is sacred," it is said "Only through violence can we achieve harmony" Liao teaches. Liao School fighters are still expected to be good people, but they are in essence taught to be sociopaths who must use violence to make the world a better place.

It would then be no surprise to hear that most Liao fighters traditionally became vigilantes. They would often take to the streets of Chengu, the home of the Liao School, and begin doing battle with the different street gangs and other criminals that operated there. Often, many Liao fighters killed their enemies. This transformed the Liao School and Black Dragon from rivals to bitter enemies overnight. This became especially true when Fheng Liao became one of the Mighty Seven and began to personally tear Black Dragon apart over several decades.

Membership

Membership into the Liao School is always open, and ranks within the school itself are few.

• Junior Student: Reserved for children and new disciples, taght basic martial arts as a means of protecting oneself.

• Senior Student: Students taught the fundamentals of Liao-Style, tasked with teaching Junior Students. Also taught more advanced techniques by Liao masters.

• Masters: Those who have a well-rounded understanding of Liao-Style martial arts. Typically considered one-man armies capable of killing dozens on their own. These are the actual members of the Liao School typically tasked with running its day to day operations.

• Grandmaster: A spot reserved for the undisputed master of Liao-Style Martial Arts. So far, this role has only ever been held by Fheng Liao of the Mighty Seven.

Qi Techniques

The following are examples of prominent Qi techniques often used by the Liao School. Note that this list is not comprehensive, and actual abilities can vary wildly.

• Enhancement Style - Phoenix's Claws: A Qi technique that involves permanently transforming one's nails into razor sharp claws, often used by Liao Fighters particularly invested in killing their opponents with claw strikes.

• Special Style - Forbidden Life Draining: The secret technique of the Liao Style, taught by the forbidden Dragon Scroll that the Liao Style has traditionally protected: Kōng De. This technique allows for one to drain and consume the life force of other living Beings. This technique is considered extremely dark, and an atrocity to nature. This is because this technique is actually one learnt from the Blanks, unnatural energy vampires that endlessly consume souls. If one does not properly control themselves after learning this technique, it is possible to be consumed by one's hunger and transform into a Jiangshi, an undead Qi vampire. Many Liao School students have fallen to such a fate.

• Pure Style - Phoenix Wings: A Liao Style technique that involves creating wings made of Pure Qi, which are then used for flight by the user. Typically just used as a means of transportation, although some practicioners have found a way to utilize such a technique in battle.