The Court of the Ebon Flame
The Great Step Outward
The Great Step Outward is an ambition of the Quincux -- the ancient collection of the Five Chinese Courts. The other vampires of the Middle Kingdom do not necessarily share this plot. Most believe that Asia needs to be improved before expanding to foreign territories. Though that does not mean non-Chinese vampires will not be found in Little Asia, Kansas City. It only means that Chinese Kuei-jin will be more common.
And so, the Great Leap Outward is the Court of the Ebon Flame’s not-so-secret goal. “Not-so-secret” is said because the Chinese Wan Kuei are well aware of this Quincux plot, and many non-Chinese Kuei-jin know of it, too. But few outside the Hundred Corpse Families can claim to have heard of this.
For the success of this grand goal, Kansas City is a target of conquest. However, most of the Quincux is focused on the West Coast cities. Kansas City is a step ahead of how far the Hungry Dead have actually gotten. It may be awhile before they reach this far into America. But that has not daunted Cathayans from arriving here “ahead of schedule” or just to try their luck in America, away from the “main battles” in Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, and San Francisco.
The Kuei-jin in Kansas City are therefore focused on establishing their Scarlet Screens, financial influences, and useful allies. They avoid outright conflict as much as possible with Kin-jin and other shen. They have been somewhat successful so far, but the Court of the Ebon Flame remains small. A lack of interest in this Midwestern city by most Kuei-jin has kept its population small enough to effect only slow, subtle gains and changes over the space of the past few decades.
The Great Principle
This webpage will not go into great detail regarding the Great Principle, also known as the Fivefold Way. It will list each principle and then explain how strictly and in what sense the Court of the Ebon Flame observes each principle. Other rules follow.
The Way of Origin
This principle is very important so far from home. In the West, it’s so easy for even jina and elders to get caught up in the barbaric ways of the Kin-jin. The Kuei-jin of the Court of the Ebon Flame must remember that they are united in their curse and path alike, and that the Kin-jin are not.
The Way of Lineage
This precept is acknowledged within the Court of the Ebon Flame. It is understood that many vampires who choose to come to Little Asia may be more of a more rebellious streak. But the elders will be respected and the Koa will be extended the same. And both sides will strive to hear one another. In a city of potential enemies, infighting between the young and old -- or worse, between the Mandarins and Bamboo Princes -- would be damned near suicidal.
The Way of Integrity
The Way of Integrity follows similar suit to the Way of Lineage. However, it trickles into all thoughts of respect. As the saying goes, respect is earned not given. No Koa can expect to be genuinely respected if he acts like a kyon-shi buffoon in such a dangerous setting. Therefore, the various behaviors attached to all manner of integrity should be obeyed if one expects respect to be accorded. While rarely enforced as a rule of the Court, a Running Monkey can expect to be treated like a child if he acts like one.
The Way of Obligation
This principle is split into a quintet of precepts that all apply with the same intensity. The Kuei-jin must stick to their guns, to their beliefs of their duties to one another, the Court, and the world beyond, if they are to survive and prosper in this foreign land.
The Way of Propriety
The elders understand that many Koa will populate the Court of the Ebon Flame. So like the Way of Integrity, the Court warns all members that if they expect anything to be done for them, the ancient Reciprocities must be followed. If they don’t want anything done for them, they can lock themselves up in their havens. This principle is obeyed particularly during Lectures and other official meetings involving the Court elders.
The Policies of the Coalition of Little Asia
The Court of the Ebon Flame will adhere to these policies so long as they further the Court’s interests. And for the most part, they do. The Court elders are honorable enough -- or shrewd enough to realize that deceit will probably not be concealable in Little Asia -- to know that if they decide that the policies are not in the Court’s interest, to try to get them changed or simply leave the folds of the Coalition.
