Path Skills: Academics, Leadership
Virtues: Yin and Yang
Scent of the Divine: Ink and old paper, with a sound of rustling silk
Shen Motif
Alchemy manipulates the energies both within and without the body through exercises and concoctions associated with the five elements.
The Shén order heaven, hell, and the World through a great celestial bureaucracy. At its head is the Jade Emperor, and from him all power flows downward in the form of positions and titles, privileges and responsibilities: the Tianming, or Mandate of Heaven. This Purview holds sway over the hierarchy of the heavens as well as all mortal bureaucracies, which are seen as Worldly extensions or reflections of the celestial model.
Shen Signature Purview: Tianming
The Shén order heaven, hell, and the World through a great celestial bureaucracy. At its head is the Jade Emperor, and from him all power flows downward in the form of positions and titles, privileges and responsibilities: the tianming, or mandate of heaven. This Purview holds sway over the hierarchy of the heavens as well as all mortal bureaucracies, which are seen as Worldly extensions or reflections of the celestial model.
Tianming Innate Power
You ignore all Complications from bureaucratic delay, corrupt officials, missing paperwork, long lines at the DMV, or similar obstacles that impede the right functioning of bureaucratic and official institutions.
VIRTUES
Yīn vs. Yáng
The Shén must balance the yielding passivity of Yīn with the activeness of Yáng, knowing when to refrain from acting and when to act with total force.
THE CELESTIAL BEURACRACY
CHANG’E, THE IMMORTAL IN THE MOON
Aliases: Heng’e, Changxi
Callings: Healer, Lover, Trickster, Outsider
Purviews: Epic Stamina, Beasts (Rabbits, Toads), Beauty, Health, Moon
CONFUCIUS, THE MODEL TEACHER FOR TEN THOUSAND AGES
Aliases: Kong Qiu, Kong Fuzi, Zhongni
Callings: Judge, Leader, Sage, Shepherd
Purviews: Artistry, Order, Passion (Filiality)
ERLANG, THE MERCIFUL AND MIRACULOUS KING
Aliases: Li Erlang, Yang Jian, Governor Zhao Yu
Callings: Guardian, Hunter, Warrior
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Stamina, Forge, War, Water
FUXI, ANCESTOR OF HUMANKIND
Aliases: Paoxi, Baoxi, Taihao
Callings: Creator, Hunter, Sage, Outsider, Shepherd
Purviews: Artistry (Musical Instruments, Writing), Beasts, Fertility, Forge, Fortune, Health, Order, Sun
GUAN YU, THE DIVINE GENERAL
Aliases: Yunchang; Changsheng; Shouchang; Marquis Zhuangmou; Duke Zhonghui; the Lord of the Magnificent Beard; Guan the Holy Great Deity, God of War Manifesting Benevolence, Bravery and Prestige, Protector of the Country and Defender of the People, Prow and Honest Supporter of Peace and Reconciliation, Promoter of Morality, Loyalty and Righteousness; Sangharama Bodhisattva
Callings: Guardian, Leader, Warrior
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Stamina, Artistry (Historical Fiction), Order, Passion (Loyalty), Prosperity, Sky, War
GUANSHIYIN PUSA, WHO PERCEIVES THE SOUNDS OF THE WORLD
Aliases: Avalokiteshvara, Hayagriva, Guanyin, Kannon, Cundi
Callings: Guardian, Healer, Sage
Purviews: Epic Stamina, Deception, Health, Journeys, Passion (Mercy), Water
HUANGDI, THE YELLOW EMPEROR
Aliases: Gongsun, Xuanyuan, Youxiong, Zhongyue Dadi
Callings: Creator, Leader, Sage
Purviews: Beasts, Death, Earth, Forge, Health, Order, Prosperity, War, Magic
LAOZI, THE OLD MASTERS
Aliases: Li Er, Lao Dan, Boyang, Taiqing, the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord, the Universally Honored Virtuous One, the Daoist Ancestor
Callings: Leader, Sage, Trickster
Purviews: Epic Stamina, Artistry (Poetry), Chaos, Darkness, Health, Order, Water, Magic
PRINCE NEZHA, THE MARSHAL OF THE CENTRAL ALTAR
Aliases: The Third Lotus Prince, Nataku
Callings: Guardian, Trickster, Warrior, Outsider
Purviews: Epic Stamina, Epic Strength, Artistry (Animation), Health, War
NUWA, THE SNAKE GODDESS WHO MENDS THE HEAVENS
Aliases: Nügua
Callings: Creator, Guardian, Healer
Purviews: Earth, Fertility, Forge, Health, Moon, Sky
SUN WUKONG, THE MONKEY AWAKENED TO EMPTINESS
Aliases: Miao Min, Tôn Ngô Không, Heng Chia, Son Ogong, Sun Gokong, Son Gokū, the Monkey King, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, the Protector of the Horses, Sūn the Novice, the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Clever Stone Monkey, That Damned Macaque
Callings: Liminal, Trickster, Warrior
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Artistry (Opera), Beasts (Monkeys), Chaos, Deception, Journeys, War
YANDI SHENNONGSHI, THE FLAME EMPEROR AND DIVINE FARMER
Aliases: Sinnong, Thán Nông, Entei, Shin’nō, Five Grains Emperor, Medicine King
Callings: Healer, Leader, Sage, Shepherd
Purviews: Epic Stamina, Artistry (Storytelling), Fertility, Fire, Forge, Health, Prosperity
DOUMU, MOTHER OF THE BIG DIPPER
Aliases: Marīci, Marishiten
Callings: Judge, Leader, Sage
Purviews: Beasts (Boars), Fortune, Order, Prosperity, Stars
Shen of China
AO GUANG
Aliases: Ao Kwang, Cānglóng, Dōnghăi Lóngwáng, Qīnglóng, Ryūjin, Thanh Lóng, Xiănrén
Callings: Destroyer, Monster, Tyrant
Purviews: Beasts (Aquatic Animals, Dragons), Sky (Storms), Water Virtues: Dominance, Yin.
KUAFU
Aliases: None
Callings: Adversary, Creator, Liminal
Purviews: Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Journeys,
Order, Passion (Devotion), Sun, Water (Drought)
SU DAJI
Aliases: Dá Jĭ
Callings: Adversary, Lover, Tyrant
Purviews: Artistry (Excess), Beasts (Foxes), Beauty, Passion (Lust), Prosperity
THE WHITE EYEBROW, BETRAYER OF SHAOLIN
Aliases: Bak Mei (Cantonese), Bái Méi (Mandarin)
Callings: Adversary, Sage, Warrior
Purviews: Deception, Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Epic Strength, Health, War
Virtues: Rapacity, Yin. The White Eyebrow is no longer welcome among the Shén; he just happens to be irreparably Yin-imbalanced.
PRIMORDIALS
XIWANGMU, THE QUEEN MOTHER OF THE WEST