The Manual of Yi
Qiao
Qiao of the Zhen Jing
The Bridge of Wandering Souls encompasses the demon hunter's affinity with the spirit world. Most humans are quite out of touch with the Yang and Yin Worlds. Those of highly-developed artistic potential or ch'i can sometimes glimpse into the spirit world (this is called the Periphery). But only those who meditate on the mysteries of the ephemeral universe can hope to expand from the Periphery to the Mirror Lands -- and perhaps beyond. This Qiao cannot be focused without a reflective device of some sort. Traditionalists prefer an octagonal mirror, though a shard of glass or pool of water would work.
* Touch the Wall
The first step of the Qiao involves recognizing the boundary between the material realm and the spirit realms. This barrier, known as the Wall in Zhongguo (the Gauntlet or Shroud in the West), separates the universes. It is thinner in some areas than others, however, and it can be very important to know just how thick it is.
System: The Shih rolls Perception+Occult (difficulty 7) and spends 1 Willpower point. He becomes aware of both the local Gauntlet (Yang World) and Shroud (Yin World) ratings. This ranges a score from typically 3-10 -- ten the thickest, evident near science laboratories, while three would likely indicate a powerful Dragon Nest.
** Heed the Ghosts
The first step taught the hunter how to divine the strength of the Wall. This level teaches how to discern the strength of the inhabitants beyond the Wall.
System: The Shih must first be aware of the presence of a spirit, whether Yang-spirit or wraith. He need not know its exact location, however. The hunter then rolls Perception+Occult (difficulty 8) and spends 1 Yang or Yin Chi (depending on the spirit type). Each success grants the Shih greater insight into the spirit's power. For Yang-spirits, this normally epitomizes their Power/Chi scores. For wraiths, it's often a matter of age and personal power. The Storyteller should feel free to be as vague as he'd like.
*** Drawing the Curtain
After learning how to define the ephemera around, the Shih begins to learn how to manipulate it. Through channeling his own life-force, the hunter learns how to alter the skeins of energy surrounding and running through the universe. He may thin or thicken the Wall at will, depending upon necessity.
System: Roll Manipulation+Occult (difficulty 8) and spend 1 Yang and 1 Yin Chi. Each success reduces or increases the local Wall rating by one for the duration of the scene.
**** Locked Door
The Shih eventually learns how to manipulate the Wall in such a way that it becomes completely impassable from either side. This prevents bad things from entering the material realm -- or escaping the hunter's wrath. The downside is that so long as the Locked Door step is in effect, the Shih cannot use any of his other Zhen Jing steps.
System: The Shih rolls Willpower (difficulty 8), then spends 3 Yin Chi and 1 Willpower. For the rest of the scene, no shen -- spirits, shapeshifters, mages, nobody -- can step sideways into or out of the spirit world, or Materialize/deMaterialize (though destroying a Materialized spirit will send it back to the spirit world even under a Locked Door). This ban applies only in the hunter's current, immediate vicinity -- same room or a 10x10 yard area outside.
***** Walking the Mirror
This phenomenal final step of the Qiao grants the Shih what most human beings can only dream about. It permits the hunter to step sideways. Many demons have been shocked when their tenacious pursuit followed them through the Wall to finish the job...
System: The Shih must spend 4 Yang or 4 Yin Chi to step through the Wall into the Mirror Lands. Yang Chi expenditure brings the hunter into the Penumbra (see Werewolf: the Apocalypse) while Yin Chi brings her into the Shadowlands (see Wraith: The Oblivion). The Shih's body is literally transformed into spiritual matter, and it takes a full turn to complete the transformation. Neither realm is hospitable in the least to intruding human hunters and exploration is ill-advised. The Yin World especially can wreak psychic havoc that even the Qiao of the Meng would have difficulty cleaning up. And due to the cost of using this step, most Shih "step sideways" only as a last resort and return as quickly as possible. Returning to the material realm is simple, requiring no roll or cost, and occurs virtually instantaneously.
Reckoning
Hear the winds of time:
the dragons will return.
I am Wah Sung Yi.
I will be among the dragons,
and you will know me
by the Voice of Wani.
Heed Its truth.
