Mage: The Ascension

Akashic Brotherhood

The Akashic Brotherhood's sects are broken down into five major sect groupings. Each major sect, however, can be broken down into a number of minor sects. These include:

Shi-Ren
Believing in strict legalism and meritocracy, the Shi-Ren are the most politically and financially-minded of the Brotherhood. They believe all things have a place in the universe. Their arts are the most subtle, and they use lengthy rituals that involve calligraphy and social discipline.

Gam Lung: The Golden Dragons were established to crush the enemies of the Brotherhood. To that end, they formed secret societies across Asia, established a vast financial network, and even soiled their hands in the criminal underworld. They took huge losses in the 1990s when they clashed with the Syndicate and other financial powers.

Han Fei Tzu Academy: This acts as the administrative arm of the Shi-Ren and a think tank for the whole Brotherhood. They accept all nationalities into this school of thought. The Academy serves as a source of tutelage for the Brotherhood overall. The Academy encourages personal achievement through a strict meritocracy. The Han Fei Tzu attracts students from all over the world through a variety of front companies.

Kaizankai: This is a Japanese cabal of patriotic legalists who trace their ancestry to the 7th century imperial throne. They moved into the feodality and became enmeshed in the politics of their country. They adopted to the economic power of Japan after the Meiji Restoration, scheming against the Zaibatsu. They accept only Japanese members.

Li-Hai
This "Mongrel Dharma" is a sect of Akashic Brothers that embraces a multitude of different schools of thought and practice. These Akashics' principles are based more on morality than metaphysics, promoting a concept called "equal love": compassion and justice above all. The Li-Hai oppose tyranny and promote fluidity and open-mindedness among its students. They liken to the ancient heroes of old, never abandoning those they swear to defend.

Blue Skins: A synthesis of Tibetan mysticism and Mohist doctrine, the name derives from the legend of blue-skinned deities who point the way to enlightenment. The Blue Skins believe in "Crazy Wisdom". They hold that even intense, "sinful" emotions like vanity and lust can point the way to Ascension. In their view, fashion exists to discipline the body with the mind and pleasure is a living mantra to aid concentration.

Kalunga: Specializing in sub-Saharan African traditions of martial prowess, this sect was established only two decades ago. Foisting these mages into the Euthanatoi or Dreamspeakers ("but you'd make a good Red Spear!") was insulting (and racist) to the scholarly tradition these Doists pursue.

Leeists: The most recent Li-Hai sect, the Leeists are predominantly found in America and are mostly non-Asian. They idolize Bruce Lee as the father of modern kung fu, and credit him with propelling martial arts to the popularity it has today. They follow Master Lee's advice in the practice of martial arts, eschewing "styles" and gathering techniques that they feel work for them best. The jeet kune do schools that formed after Bruce Lee's death are aberration to the Leeists. Unfortunately, the Leeists miss vital elements of Do training with their sporadic hopping, and often suffer severe overconfidence. The fact is: Bruce Lee was a natural when it came to kung fu, and he could master techniques in a short time. But the Leeists aren't Bruce Lee and their skills often lack compared to more traditional Akashayana. Their dedication and moral philosophies are sound at least, so while their approach to technique earns them a snicker behind their backs, the Brotherhood respects their commitment to Li-Hai beliefs of "equal love" and justice.

Mo-tzu Fa: The oldest school of thought of the Li-Hai, the Mo-tzu Fa carry on the tradition of folk heroism and universal love. Members vow to use any means necessary to promote "equal love". Anarchists, philosophers, and vigilantes world-wide assist peoples living in poverty, violence, and disaster. They also view the spirit world in an animistic way, believing that spirits are not separated into offices, and must be placated with sacrifices and offerings of friendship and love.

Roda d'Oro: Specializing in European traditions of martial prowess, this sect -- translated as "Circle of Gold" -- was established soon after the Grand Convocation. Originally designed for the regions that Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors settled, the sect's framework of physical discipline is open to any mage whose beliefs and methods fit only here.

Kannagara
A highly monasteric sect, the Kannagara trace their origins to Mt. Meru itself. They tend to be the most aloof of all Akashayana, avoiding Sleeper affairs. Their monasteries remain anchors for the whole Tradition. Warriors who are too overcome with hatred or need guidance often visit the Kannagara. The Kannagara embrace core Akashic teachings, disavowing materialism and promoting asceticism often blended with Taoism. Most Kannagara were monks before Awakening.

Jina: The Jina sect, also called the Jain Brothers, are the most extreme ascetics of the Kannagara. They renounce all material possessions, practice an ethic of strict non-violence, and do not travel or involve themselves in worldly affairs. These pacifists are even careful not to slay small animals or microscopic life.

Karmachakra: Scholars of the Great Wheel, the Karmachakra maintains the oldest traditions of the Akashayana. They tend all histories of the Brotherhood, including the Akashic Record. These linguists and historians also act as final arbiters of Tradition policy. Its members are often invited based on their Avatars' past incarnations' association with the Karmachakra; this provides continuity but breeds poor perspective.

Shaolin: The best known sect within the Kannagara, if not the whole Tradition, the Shaolin use an acrobatic style of Do with Zen Buddhism as focus. They no longer inhabit their great monastery in China but still thrive throughout Asia and in a few places in the West. The level of asceticism varies from monastery to monastery.

Jnani
The Jnani were always hermits, shamans, and wanderers, traveling throughout Asia and absorbing the beliefs of its myriad cultures. Consequently, their practices vary widely from place to place. They use their spirit-warding powers and divination then to protect the people in areas where orthodox religions helped little. They believe all things are united, but all things are illusions used to realize the Self. The Jnani lets spirits co-inhabit their bodies to enforce their own will; they also use elaborate mandalas, internal alchemy, and visualization exercises to merge the Self and join the Cosmic All. The Jnani do not seek out students but let interested parties come to them; they tend to make such apprenticeships difficult to test dedication. Jnani tend to live as loners, meeting in isolated places, and classifying themselves by cultural region.

Chabnagpa: The "Black Water Sect" combines Tibetan spirituality with Vajrayana rites. Some are lamas who have taken strict monastic vows or yogis, lay teachers who perform practical rites such as weather divination and exorcisms. Spirit possession and binding are common to these Jnani. The Chabnagpa keep the Brotherhood's oldest and darkest secrets, including lore stolen from the Euthanatoi during the Himalayan Wars. The Chabnagpa tend to stay to their Tibetan monastery, in which it's said that a physical transcription of the Akashic Record can be found in the cellars…as well as other things.

Lin Shen: The Vagabonds don't exist. That's according to Tradition policy: they're just a paranoid rumor that the Brotherhood's enemies cultivate. The legends attributed to the Lin Shen are similar to those of the fabled ninja. The truth is, the Lin Shen don't exist as a sect. A Vagabond is independently trained from a secret manual known as the Forest Classic, which describes the spells, skills, and justification for these shadowy methods used to wage shadow war on their enemies.

Wu Shan: These are Taoist mystics who practice internal alchemy. They learn the appropriate catalogs of spirits and the properties of the rites needed to summon, placate, and bind them. Wu Shan use Do to balance their physical energies and cultivate a sense of serenity that resonates in the physical world.

Yamabushi: Yamabushi refers to those Japanese ascetics who blend Shinto animism with Buddhist esoterica. Most live in the wilderness in Japan, predominantly its wide mountain ranges. They occasionally come down to the Sleeper world to perform cures and exorcisms as needed. While in their mountain homes, they practice superhuman feats to focus their minds and practice Do as one with the elements.

Vajrapani
The Vajrapani began as devotees of hard physical labor and exercise. As they traveled Asia, they found their prowess to be helpful in repelling bandits and armies. Do transformed from a way to perfect everyday life to a war art. Many grew too war-like and had to be rehabilitated by the Kannagara. Many retreated to small communities throughout Asia, honing their arts. The Vajrapani's training is quite harsh, believing that sincere effort with a clear conscience is the key to enlightenment. Very familial and nationalistic with 48 different clans, the Vajrapani open their doors to more outsiders than they used to through the fronts of martial arts academies worldwide.

Tenshi Arashi Ryu: This Japanese fellowship expresses Drahma through Shinto and Tendai Buddhism terms. Swordmanship, mounted combat, weaponless defense, and archery are all expressions of Do from this school. The Ryu establish schools around the world.

Banner of the Ebon Dragon: In China, the Banner is a secret society of Vajrapani clans that guards its fellow Akashayana and teaches kung fu to anyone willing to learn. In America, the Heilong Athletic Society reaches out to students in almost every place a Chinese population has settled.

Sulsa: This is a secretive school of Korean warriors and spies. Theirs is among the most complex of Vajrapani arts, as they have been heavily influenced by the Kannagara and Jnani. They specialize in swordsmanship, learning a special dance that can hypnotize enemies and disguise violence in graceful steps. They combine martial prowess with the art of invisibility and mind control. Unlike the other schools, the Sulsa are made up of Awakened Warriors alone.

Vajraguha: The most recent banner of Vajrapani warriors, this group is actually a conglomerate of cultures ranging from India to Polynesia. Even more familial than most, the Vajraguha have opened few "gate arts" academies to the West. Most of its members are of the native cultures. The Vajraguha includes styles like kalari payat (India), muay thai (Thailand), Thaing (Myanmar), Pentjak-Silat (Indonesia), Bersilat (Malaysia), We Do Kan (Laos), and Qwan Ki Do (Vietnam). In fact, there are so many styles of different ethnicity, belief, and method that the Vajraguha only formed to politically represent the Vajrapani south of China.