House Rules
New Wu Tan
Hac Tao
The Black Way is the forbidden, wicked magic of the Kura Sau (and therefore may not be learned by any PCs). Hac Tao is much more broad of a Wu Tan than any other alchemy, but that is only in overall spectrum. In truth, it is fairly narrow in scope, because what a Kura Sau learns along the Hac Tao is wholly dependent on who her Yomi liege may be. Because every Yama King or Queen may teach different things, this section on Hac Tao will only provide the overall systems and guidelines, not sample I Chih.
Only true Kura Sau who have been fully corrupted by a Yama King, and pledged her loyalty to one Yama King, can learn this alchemy. Those only "partially" corrupted, or who serve multiple Yama Kings, will not be let in on its secrets.
Just like akuma traitors among the Kuei-jin, most Kura Sau must study demonism intensely for many years and communicate through a number of infernal minions before a Yama King would take the hsien's interest seriously. Those that prove themselves this way will often be granted a number of additional demonic investments. Some hsien are actually subjected to infernal torment and corruption until they surrender their minds and souls; these Kura Sau are taught only the basic regimen of Hac Tao at best.
Whereas obtaining the Jade Key is a goal of Nei Tan, the Blood-Jade Dagger is a reward for mastering Hac Tao. Kura Sau are not encouraged to master Hac Tao just for the ability to enter the spirit worlds, but because of all the wickedness the alchemy permits. The Dark Ages supplement, Blood & Silk, encourages Storytellers not to follow a linear line of progression for practitioners of Hac Tao. However, no Wu Tan really is that linear to begin with. What a Storyteller should do is outline what Hac Tao for any Kura Sau in service to a particular Yama King. Each demon lord has his or her own style, a sphere of wickedness one could say, and that would reflect in his servants' abilities and magics. Hac Tao is no different.
All methods of Hac Tao will usually have a versatile mix of physically-augmentation spells, spells of mental, spiritual and emotional corruption, demon summonings, and a number of strange, bizarre, and/or horrifying mystical effects. The latter depends most especially on the Yama King or Queen to whom the Kura Sau bows. A minion of Rangda may have grotesque powers of poison and spreading disease. A servant of Mikaboshi might have magical powers of electronic and mechanical subversion and disruption. The only static effect commonly shared by all Hac Tao methods is the reward of the Blood-Jade Dagger -- the demonic reflection of the Jade Key -- upon reaching Rank 5.
Kura Sau cannot usually be detected as Kura Sau by knowledge of this alchemy alone. However, Yomi lords may mark their servants one way or another. Any such marks are simply irrelevant to this path of magic.
Systems: Hac Tao follows the same system as all other standard Wu Tan. It costs yugen, employs Fortunes, and involves Yin and Yang as definers of any spell's difficulty. Cohort and non-Cohort I Chih are not possible. Any hsien who learns Hac Tao cannot learn Nei Tan or Meng Tan. Unlike Internal Alchemy, a Kura Sau may pursue the Black Way regardless of the state of his Chi balance. The greatest downside to Hac Tao's great power is, of course, the fact that a Kura Sau becomes a slave to a greater spirit's cruel demands.
The difficulty of Hac Tao I Chih is dependent on the Kura Sau's Chi scores as per other Wu Tan. The dicepool employed will vary per Yomi lord. The Storyteller should decide which of the nine Attributes is most applicable to that Yama King or Queen and therefore his minions. This Trait combined with the character's Hac Tao score comprises his dicepool for Hac Tao I Chih. Any Hac Tao I Chih still costs one yugen.
Virtue: none
Constructive Cohorts: none
Adversary: True Faith can be used as direct countermagic against personal attacks by Hac Tao (roll at difficulty 6). Otherwise, Hac Tao has no Wu Tan Adversary, and only the Balancing the Furies method functions against these dark spells.
Fortunes: Sites of defiled chi, corrupted Dragon Nests, blood sacrifice, torture
Yin and Yang Attributes: Hac Tao will only have one Attribute to represent both Yin and Yang, for Yomi is a twisted combination of both, and ultimately imbalanced. What Attribute employed depends on which Yama King/Queen the Kura Sau serves (and therefore the Storyteller's choice).
Modifiers: Any Modifier may be applicable to the wide variety of I Chih possible. The most common are Continuance, Circumstance, Harm, and Magnitude of Change.
As noted above, the varied possibilities for Hac Tao makes listing specifics futile. Instead, as guidelines, posted below will be a number of brief examples of what might be capable for a Kura Sau at that level of Hac Tao mastery.
Level One: Perceive the Mirror Lands, communicate with Yomi demons, observe the lack of virtue or spiritual flaws in mortals or shen
Level Two: Issue commands to lesser demons, corrupt the elemental souls of mortals or shen, travel contaminated/Yomi-controlled dragon lines, increase or decrease the Hac Tao Attribute
Level Three: Summon a lesser demon, assume a raksha demon form, summon/ride the "razor winds of hell" (demon speed)
Level Four: Summon a greater demon, create bakemono, spread corruption with a touch, awaken demon jade talismans
Level Five: Directly travel to Yomi Wan, receive the Blood-Jade Dagger and enter the Mirror Lands at will, steal a soul to torment or gift to one's liege
