The House of Yizhi
The Three Families
The House of Yizhi, small by comparison to most of the other factions, is divided into three groups, or families. A member's family is dictated by the human's defining physical or mystical characteristic.
The Family of Yi contains the Coalition's Shih demon hunters. Though it may seem very strange to Western eyes that the hunters side with the supernatural, it is not particularly unusual for the Shih. The Shih are not ignorant rabble-rousers, but educated, skillful, and feared warriors. Their job has always been to observe the shen and make sure they never step past the line of their appointed, celestial duties. They do not slaughter the supernatural, they police the supernatural. Although traditionally loners, the few gathered in the Coalition of Little Asia recognize the danger they, the shen, and their protectorate -- the human population of the city -- face here. Demons are far too overabundant here to hunt entirely alone and cut off from allies.
Folk and ceremonial magicians, bonified psychics, dhampyrs who eschew their vampiric parentage, and other mystically-inclined persons member the Family of the Empowered. They are set apart so their unusual skills stand out to the House at whole.
Completely ordinary but no less useful and skilled humans belong to the Family of the Bannin. Bannin is Japanese for "guardian", indicating that everyone in the House of Yizhi has value and none should be underestimated, a member of this Family most of all.
It should be realized that it would be very rare that any full Western human be invited to the House of Yizhi. The old ways of the shen are pretty alien to Americans. Exposure to the supernatural would likely result in negative consequences. Western monster-hunters are not likely to be found in the House. Of course, bakemono (fomori) and infernalists wouldn't be allowed to join the House.
(Please note that the CoLA game does not use Revised editions or Year of the Reckoning supplements. The Year of the Reckoning gameline is considered an extension of the Revised metaplot. Therefore, the Imbued are not permissible characters in the CoLA troupe.)
House Rules
The House of Yizhi is much too loose to appoint "officials" or even serious leaders. The few leadership roles are as described below.
House Leader
This person is essentially the Court "elder". His or her task is to oversee that the House is pursuing its primary objectives efficiently and honorably. He is also the person who ranks as a "Commander of the Coalition", meeting with the other Coalition leaders/Court elders each month.
Family Leader
There are three Family leaders, obviously. Each has the task of micro-managing his respective Family, reporting to the House Leader, and acting as an adviser to the House Leader.
Surrogate Family Leader
Each Family leader has an assistant who helps manage respective Families. The Surrogate may lead in their superior's stead when needed.
Correspondent
The Correspondent is the House of Yizhi's sole effort to produce a diplomatic role. This person's task is represent the House to the other Courts of the Coalition. The Shih, rarely tactful enough to execute this role, leave it to a Bannin or Empowered individual. However, the Correspondent (as the name suggests) has another duty. While diplomacy is his or her vocalized purpose, he or she is also an observer of the Courts. Even the Shih rarely get an in-depth glimpse of the internal workings of the shen. The Correspondent will also be responsible for any contact made with Western organizations (namely Western "hunter" organizations).
All Leaders are chosen based on experience, skill, and wisdom. Though anyone can be the House Leader if they qualify, currently Ting An serves in that task. He revised his wandering circuit to pass through Little Asia at least once per month. When he is away, the Family Leaders manage their groups.
The Shih do not control the House of Yizhi namely because they do not desire "control". However, it is clearly their ideas and concepts, as well as ability and power, that helped originally generate and guide the House of Yizhi. It is very well possible that without their traditional ideals, the more spontaneous "empowered" of Little Asia would be an inharmonious organization bent on aggravating the shen.
Teams
Forming teams in the House of Yizhi is encouraged. Organization is always beneficial to stability and enhanced lines of communication. Each team will have its own infrastructure, goals, and methodologies. Though the Shih traditionally do not team up, the other members of the House are certainly welcome to do so.
Keeping It Real
The entire House of Yizhi meets actively, albeit casually. Once per week at the Hung Family Kwoon (usually in the “inner sanctum”) a meeting is held that all are to attend. These meetings are usually minor and brief affairs, but may involve a small pizza party or whatever else the hosts (the House leaders) wish to offer. The purpose of these meetings is to simply ascertain each member's current welfare. There is always a lot of weirdness occurring around and by the shen. It is a good idea to make sure no one's freaked out. Even the Shih aren't immune to the dangers of human psychology overexposed to supernatural.
These meetings also give the Shih the opportunity to check one another and their fellow mortals for more supernatural concerns. During each weekly meeting, the Shih will check each other and their fellow humans for spiritual contamination. Those Shih with the Qiao of the Yu An worked up to Level 2 (Divine Perceptions) should take the time to study their Housemates. This will help to uncover anyone in the House who has been Blood Bound, possessed, Obligated, Dominated/Presenced, Mind magicked, and anything else that is causing subtle abuse of the mortals' minds and free will. With enough successes, the culprits can even be exposed -- shen take heed! The House of Yizhi does not consist of a bunch of convenient pawns at your disposal!
