Jing He-Ping (Human/Chen Kai Religion) - Expanded!

Before Jing-Heping, all Chen-Kai followed the Ancestor Cults. It was thought that great persons would be permitted to retain their personalities as guardian spirits, while those of lesser stature would return within a new body for a new quest towards prestige. The quality of their new life was dependent on their moral character in the last.

The Jing-Heping worldview descends from similar principles. However, unlike the Ancestor Cults which emphasize lasting, worldly accomplishments, the Jing-Heping faith looks to freeing one's soul from the mortal plane altogether. They remind all that in this world, suffering is a nigh-constant. This is deemed "The Labyrinth of Being." It is believed that through disciplined dedication through multiple lifetimes to perfecting oneself, one may find Ascendence and break from the cycle of suffering. What happens then is the object of great discussion. Some may believe they rise to a higher plane of great comforts, others believe one enters into an endless blissful dream, while a few insist the Ascended souls remain, unseen and unheard, to guide others. And so on, and so forth.


The faith was brought about by the Sage-King, about a thousand and a half years ago, against a backdrop of a golden age of philosophical discourse in Huang-Cao, and the terrible "War of Nine Thrones"--which was eventually won by the Sage-King. While these epic events propelled Chen Kai society forward, it also posed many unanswered questions, and left his people confused about the purpose of their suffering, or living at all. The Sage-King contemplated on the nature of civilization, of the world itself, and the interaction of the two. He traveled the world, meeting with people of all sorts, and through meditations, glimpsed his former lives, until setting forth a lengthy system of exercises, rituals, and methods which would aid one's quest for self-perfection. The Sage-King taught that by living manifold lives, a soul would experience a nigh-infinite number of scenarios and emotions until, once fully matured, would attain Ascendence and rise beyond the Labyrinth.
 

These teachings evolved into the Jing-Heping faith.

All Adherents must respect and assist one another in their quests toward Ascendence. After all, some may go further than others in this life. If an Adherent perishes before they attain Ascendence, their soul is reincarnated in a new body. Yet they need not begin from nothing--an element of the memories and knowledge accrued in past lives remains within the soul. Thus, with each reincarnation, one comes closer to finding Ascendence.
This belief in the universality of life has led to remarkable acts of charity and foresight.

Jing-Heping, today, as widespread as it is, is not a monolithic faith.


Differing perspectives on the Sage-King's teachings have always existed between the provinces of Huang Cao and even beyond. For the individual, too, the path to Ascendence is not written in stone. The Sage-King himself affirmed that one's spiritual journey is an intimate and private affair, as "infinite as the permutations of a tree's branches and roots". This clause, however, is oft omitted by politically affiliated orders who insist their combination of diets, practices, and methodology is 'the' sole path.


The oldest and largest singular Jing-Heping denomination, known as the Serene Way, prescribes that the so-called "1001 Decisions" (a rigid, intellectual and often expensive combination of meditation and physical techniques, and alchemical aides) are the optimal path towards Ascendence. They may have history on their side, but many dissident priests have challenged the complexity and exclusivity of the Decisions... and the necessity of their immense wealth and political power.


A little over a century ago, a schism in the faith occured, with smaller branches of "Reformed" Jing-Heping emerging throughout Huang-Cao and elsewhere. The Emperors of Huang Cao have since then skillfully suppressed religious wars, though tensions are rife in some parts of his realm. Many laymen do not care for the particulars of theology, which to them, while crucial, come second before their immediate worldly priorities. Yet for those who do vocalize and act upon sentiments, a difference in denomination can lead to arguments, or even fisticuffs.


Some orders may dedicate themselves to discovering fundamental truths of creation, hoping to help those who remain behind should they reach Ascendence; yet their brother orders may be removed from worldliness, concentrated in esoteric studies beyond the edge of nihilism. Others involve themselves pro-actively, protecting the innocent, offering guidance to rulers or serfs, or rooting out evil whether or not those in need are fellow Adherents or not. More militant (and questionably politically motivated) orders--most famously, the Serene Way--go so far as to declare certain persons as being 'obstructive to Ascendence', and execute them on behalf of the Adherents. They tend to forment tensions at opportune moments, but it is a new dimension of Chen Kai politics which must be navigated.


Generally speaking, the official stance of Adherents is to reject the Ancestor Cults as obstructions to Ascendence. Ancestral reverence is a fundamental part of Chen Kai culture, but to actively receive aid and supernatural power from imperfect ghosts (who have chosen an unnatural, semi-mortal confinement in the Labyrinth) contaminates an Adherent's quest for self-perfection.

But the world is a complex place...


With the increase of traffic between the continents of Mileria and Huang-Cao, the Reformed elements of the faith are finding an unexpected following amongst non-Chen Kai who seek a religion without overtly racial or political stances--a phenomenon which sadly and bloodily blemishes much of Milleria's history.

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How it Works: All followers of Jing-Heping follow one of four school of thoughts, described below. The largest school of thought, The Serene Way, is in and of itself a denomination. The other three schools of thought, however, house many denominations under their philosophical umbrellas. A player is open to invent their own name for the denomination they belong to. Such examples on how to indicate this on character sheets are: "Temple of the Armoured Crane (Wanquan)" or "Order of the Five Graces (Material Esotericism)".


The conventional role of exorcist or "witch-hunter", has almost always fallen to the Custodians (Clerics, Paladins, etc.) of the Ancestral Cults, and few Adherents of the Jing-Heping faith possess the know-how of dealing with the undead through turning or rebuking magic. In exchange, they have the option of building a fundamentally similar yet visibly different type of Cleric which corresponds to their chosen school of thought.


That said, players are still open to creating a Cleric without a homebrewed variant while remaining a member of a denomination. This would be a favourable route for those who wish to retain the standard features of a cleric.



Special: These ACFs (Alternate Class Features) cannot be combined with Cloistered Cleric, or any other ACF which affects Turn Undead or Proficiencies.

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The first of the Jing-Heping denominations, the Serene Way is a sprawling network of temple-cities, monasteries, and priests of all sorts and their congregations who aid one another in achieving the mission of Ascendence. They are headed by the present reincarnation of the Grand Seneschal. The title stems from the office of the Sage-King's own seneschal, said to be the second to the achieve Ascendence, and the first to agree to re-entering the Labyrinth for the sake of guiding future generations. (The Sage-King departed from the Labyrinth to prove it were possible--he soon sent proof of his ascended state by endowing his surviving disciples with divine powers).


The selection of the correct Grand Seneschal is an arduous and sacred affair, involving manifold curious tests, such as the selection of childhood toys, to judge which candidate is the correct reincarnation.


Unfortunately, its immense age had led to corruptions of the original vision of Jing-Heping, but most of those grievances were addressed by the more recent Grand Seneschals. Those of The Serene Way are dedicated to restoring the unity of their faith, for they see not benefits from the Reformers' mission, but endangerments to the mission of Ascendence. They cite the emergence of charlatans and madmen leading deviant denominations as a symptom of ills brought about by the Reforms.... the worst of which was a massacre of 124 Ancestor Cultists by fanatics of a Wanquan denomination.

Adherents of The Serene Way are noted for their excellent education in matters both civil and martial, and the comparative affluence of the temple grounds they maintain.




1. Teach and follow the 1001 Decisions as the optimal path to Ascendence. Deviations from the Decisions are ill-advised but not forbidden. There have been scandals before of wealthier Adherents paying gold to be "expressly graduated" beyond some of the 1001 Decisions.


2. Support the presence of clergymen playing an active role in politics. The Reformers have valid gripes because of past abuses, but this is a new age. Lead by example, inspire others.


3. Insist upon the divinity of the Sage-King; and that divine powers of the faithful stem from his agency, and not from the philosophy as a whole. Fundamental Jing-Heping is distinguished by extensive prayers and rituals held before opulent altars of the Sage-King.



Symbol: A sixteen-spoke, oaken wheel, representative of the peasant wagon which the Sage-King rode upon shortly before his Ascendence.

Alignment: LN

Domains: Focus, Community, Mysticism, Law

Favoured Weapon: Any

Lose: Turn Undead


ACF: "Priest of the Eldest Order"


Skill points are gained at 4+Int per level, add Perform (Oratory) and Perform ([Musical Instrument]) to the list of class skills. Clerics of this denomination begin play with x2.5 starting gold (Note: Legacy gold bonuses are applied after multiplication), and receive a +2 bonus on charisma-based checks made with Chen Kai. Should they take the Leadership feat, their charisma-check bonus will apply in the formula to calculate cohort and follower levels.


At 3rd level, they are able to cast "Tongues" and "Comprehend Languages" as spell-like abilities, each 2/day at a Caster Level equivalent to their Cleric level.


At 7th level, their charisma check bonus increases to +4, and extends to even non-Chen Kai. They gain the feat "Master Manipulator" for free.


At 10th level, the charisma check bonus increases to +6. They also receive a stipend of (PRICE) -- sufficient to open a decent-sized temple and lead a congregation of Jing-Heping Adherents.

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The Reformers' schools of thought vary even amongst themselves but they break from Fundamental Jing-Heping in the following, major ways:


1. Reject the "1001 Decisions", considering them as not only archaic but also restrictive and superfulous. According to the Reformers, Ascendence can be achieved by other means.


2. Concentrate less upon the observation of rituals and consecrated holidays, and more upon the active elements of the Path to Ascendence, such as physical or mental activity. There is a greater sense of urgency amongst Reformed schools to attain Ascendence.


3. Downplay or entirely reject the divinity of the Sage-King. Reformers believe that many tales of the Sage-King's divinity are manufactured, and that he, too, had human flaws. Furthermore, they are certain that it damages the inspirational message of their faith--"even the lowliest mortal can find greatness on their path to Ascendence."


There are too many denominations of Reformed Jing-Heping to list. But below are the three major schools of thought which all Reformed denominations belong to.

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Adherents of the Wu-Zhi-Shi school look towards the perfection of the self via the perfection of materiality, by including matter as extension of the will. This would include creations; and the arts of alchemy, and now clockwork, are popular amongst the Adherents. They ponder upon the question of where the self ends and the world begins, and the nature of perfection. Adherents tend to be brilliant or budding scholars, and believe that knowledge and observation yield the path to Ascension.
They hold a particular fascination with the tangible immateriality (or immaterial tangibility?) of time and the procession of celestial bodies.


Symbol: Formally, a complex multi-faceted figure representative of an eye beheld through a kaleidoscope. Simplistically depicted as a symmetrical six-point star.

Alignment: CN

Domains: Knowledge, Creation, Transformation, Luck

Favoured Weapon: Shikume-Zue

Lose: Turn Undead, Proficiency in Heavy Armour and Martial Weapons (except Bows)



Gain skill points at 6+Int per level. Gain Skill Focus (Craft: Alchemy), or Skill Focus (Knowledge: Any) as a bonus feat at level 2. This decision cannot ever be changed.


At 6th level, they gain the feat which was not selected at 2nd level for free. Furthemore, they receive a permanent +1 sacred bonus to Initiative rolls.


At 8th level, the weekly progress which an Adherent rolls for when crafting or constructing mundane objects, buildings, or alchemical items (including poisons...) is tripled. Their bonus to Initiative rolls is increased to +2.


At 10th level, the Adherent gains a new ability:
"A Glitch in the Labyrinth"

When casting spells from the schools of Divination, Abjuration or Conjuration, they may make two sets rolls and take the higher result of the two. This ability can be used a number of times per day equal to their Wisdom modifier, but only once per spell casting. The two sets must be written distinctively on the dice roller.

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Those who walk the path of Tranquility are paradoxically praised as being the most holistic, and yet nihilist by their detractors. They search beyond physicality in their quest for Ascendence, considering materiality to be a prison of the spirit. Many of them follow compressed versions of the "1001 Decisions", and devote to unusually long periods of fasting, meditation and introspection, and the study of testimonies left by those Adherents said to have been closest to Ascendence. Nevertheless, even the most removed Ping-An Adherent is well aware that there is a critical difference between the journey and the destination. Remarkably, this devotion to immateriality has produced potent spell-casters, some of whom incorporate the school's teachings in Arcane magic.


Symbol: Huang-Ni character for Spirit

Alignment: TN

Domains: Liberation, Mind, Force, Repose

Favoured Weapon: Kama

Lose: Turn Undead; Proficiency in Martial and Chen Kai Weapons, Medium and Heavy Armour; BaB follows Weak (1/2) Progression



At 1st level, an Adherent gains the following abilities: +2 to Concentration Checks. Add a +1 sacred bonus to attack rolls made with ranged and melee touch attack spells. Once per day, may re-roll a Concentration Check. This can be done after the roll indicates a failure.


At 3rd level, the Adherent gains a new ability:

"Null Resuscitation"


Through incredible discipline and insight into the workings of mind, spirit and magic, a Ping-An Adherent may recover an expended domain spell by passing a Knowledge (Religion) check (DC 15 + level of the spell) as a full-round action. This is accompanied by the chanting of key mantras. Spells over 5th level cannot be recovered in this matter. This power is usable once per day.


At 6th level, the bonus on Concentration Checks rises to +4, and the sacred bonus to attack rolls on touch attack spells to +2. They gain the feat "Spell Penetration" for free.


At 9th level, an Adherent may now use "Null Resuscitation" with any spell available to them.


At 12th level, an Adherent may take one meta-magic feat for free. They must still meet the requirements, however.


At 15th level, slot penalties for applying meta-magic to spells are reduced by 1.

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The Wanquan school seeks to engage oneself in the world, embracing deeds and exertion of the external self as the principal route towards Ascendence. Martial aptitude is valued in this school, and Adherents strive to synergize their techniques with "divine magic" as much as possible. Moderates seek trouble in the world, not for the sake of excitement, but for the dual-purpose of testing oneself and bettering the world for the less fortunate. Extreme elements believe death is the ultimate purifier--great acts of heroism or sacrifice allow the fullest union of mind, body, and spirit, bringing them one step closer to Ascension at the moment of death. Unfortunately, some denominations derived from this school have taken the militaristic aspect too far, and justify their holy wars ("to preserve the mission of all Adherents") as the pretext for pre-emptive conflict and assassinations.



Symbol: A fist held against an open palm--symbolizing the strength to fulfill duty, and the wisdom to guide it.

Alignment: LN

Domains: Protection, Travel, Law, War

Favoured Weapon: Any Chen Kai Weapon, or Unarmed Strike

Lose: Turn Undead* (Special; see below)


ACF: "The Turners of Wheels":

Special: Unlike Adherents of other schools, an Adherent of the Ten Thousand Fists retain their daily Turn Attempts but exclusively for the purposes of powering Devotion or Divine Feats.

An Adherent receives the feat "Improved Toughness" as a free feat at 2nd level, without needing to meet pre-requisites.


At any class level after 6th, but only twice in total, and once at a given level, an Adherent of Wanquan may forfeit a level of spellcasting to take any feat designated as a Fighter Feat. For the purposes of meeting Base Attack Bonus pre-requisites, a Wanquan Adherent's Cleric level counts as their Base Attack Bonus. They must still meet all other conditions to take those feats, however, including pre-requisite feats or save bonuses.


At 10th level, once per day, an Adherent gains a new ability:
"I, Crusader"

They may cast one spell as a swift action. The spell cannot have a casting time longer than a Standard action, a range further than 'Self', or be modified by meta-magic. The spell must be chosen at 10th level. This spell must be explicitly indicated on the Adherent's character sheet for it to be usable by this ability.

At 12th level, an Adherent may choose a second spell, and gains another usage of the ability per day.