Dragonfly Pagoda
Court of the Storm Dragon
The chi’n ta formed a chantry, or court as the shen call it, that in Cantonese is called Fungbao Lung Miu—Court of the Storm Dragon. The court’s home is on the peninsular part of Macau but its members’ influence radiates throughout the city. Many different Traditions and a couple Crafts make their home in the court. The compression of the city and the rivals or enemies on every side means these mysticks set aside any ancient hatreds to cooperate. That doesn’t mean they don’t compete with each other; they do that more than they do with other shen. But outright infighting is not tolerated. The court’s masters, one Wu Lung and the other Akashic, long ago set aside their differences for the sake of harmony. Their disciples must do the same or face exile.
The Akashic Brotherhood could be said to dominate the court. Shi-Ren and Li-Hai dominate the present sects. Han Fei Tzu Academics tend to be the most involved with commercial and governmental Sleeper affairs, while Gam Lung have a great deal of influence in the Triads. Blue Skins revel in the night life. Their main partners in the court are the Wu Lung, an ancient Chinese Craft of “high magic” wizards who rival the Order of Hermes in elemental mastery (and arrogance). Other Traditions and Crafts include Virtual Adepts, Sons of Ether, and the 1000 Canes Society (a technomage Craft comparable to the Sons of Ether but with no interest in “ether”). Additionally, Order of Hermes mages (mostly of House Hong Lei), Cultists of Ecstasy of almost any sect, and Celestial Choristers (many of whom are Eurasian in heritage and Catholic in belief) might join. Few Euthanatoi feel welcome here. No Verbena join this court, and most Dreamspeakers find the urban setting incompatible. The Wu-Keng are not welcome here (and due to their Infernalist nature, would need to join the Shades of Darkness TUG), thanks especially to the influence of the Wu Lung. However, self-taught traditional peasant-witches, simply called Wu, are welcome (technically, they’re Orphans).
Chantryhouse
The Court of the Storm Dragon is involved in many of the temples scattered across Macau. However, its central place of gathering is the Sam Kai Vui Kun Temple (also called the Kuan Tai Temple, after Lord Guan Yu). This temple is over 250 years old and was built to honor and worship a deified general from the Three Kingdoms period. The general became a god of martial arts and prosperity. Sleepers make offerings for success in competitions, both sports and business. Built during Portuguese colonial occupation, the temple’s architecture is distinctly Western, yet there isn’t a shred of Christianity in its walls. The temple is found in Sé District, which is close to the Old Bazaar in the southeastern corner of the Macau peninsula. The temple is bigger than it appears, with a ventilated and finished basement opening up to provide both housing and additional meditation and ritual chambers to the chi’n ta. However, mostly just the more monasteric Akashayana actually choose to live there.
Nodes
The chi’n ta control one Node (Dragon Nest) located within the temple structure. A hidden lever behind the idol of the central shrine opens a secret door. The door shuts behind the accessing mage, though the lever stays in an “open” position until the mystick leaves (indicating to other chi’n ta that the Node is being accessed). This secret door leads into a short corridor, which opens into a room of golden mirrors lit only by two hanging braziers. The surrounding mirrors darkly reflect the meditating mage’s true inner self. It is considered incredibly inappropriate (a dire insult) for more than one mystick to access the Dragon Nest at the same time, as the reflections are very personal.
Defenses
The bronze idol of Guan Yu can animate in an emergency to defend the Dragon Nest. It is a deadly opponent: agile and strong and virtually invincible, while also being a master of ancient wushu. It wields the heavy dao (saber) with deadly precision (equivalent of Martial Arts and Melee 4). Once threats are defeated or driven off, it returns to its serene pose. Should it instead be destroyed (or at least disabled), it unleashes a keening wail that all aligned chi’n ta in Macau can hear wherever they happen to be. Also, the temple’s defenses include its modest local atmosphere (effecting a field of Arcane) as well as the Akashic monks and priests who are always present. (Guan Yu’s keening would also draw the Wu Lung Master, Lau Ho Man, who can and would teleport instantly to the Node’s heart to defend it with full magickal force.)
Backgrounds & Characters
All members gain the Chantry Background at ***. The chantry commands one communal Level 2 Nodes (with restrictions noted above). The temple mirror Node represents the Entropic force of Truth, though that truth manifests in a shadowy manner, revealing weaknesses and flaws. (The meditating mage’s mirror reflections often mock the mystick.)
Custos
The Court welcomes approved custos, mostly Acolytes serving as fellow priests or temple monks. Access to the temple is highly restricted otherwise. Many chi’n ta in Macau manage entire coteries of Acolytes (Triad soldiers for the Gam Lung, merchant associations for the Han Fei Tzu, etc.). Consors are less common, though some mages who call themselves Wu peasant-witches command hedge magic rather than true magick. The court does not make much distinction, so long as they pass the Masters’ background check before joining.
