Difference between revisions of "IsleOfJade/Students"

Latest revision as of 23:38, 13 September 2007

The Students of Two Rivers

There are approximately 25 individuals who study under Master Li. Of these, six are Dragon-Blooded. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the numerous ghosts on the Isle, there is also a ghost-blood among them. Somewhat more surprising is the elemental that has chosen to forsake her duties in the terrestrial bureaucracy to study martial arts under Master Li. The remaining individuals are mortal, although these are often possessed of exceptional skill despite their lower status.

Students are organized into four broad categories, and then ranked according to their position on the Hierarchy of the Three Ways. Among the categories, the lowest is that of Aspirant. Next is Student, then Apprentice, and finally Master Apprentice. The only exception to this normal way of functioning is the Hero, who seemingly remains outside the normal system (although her status is that of first student). Despite the fact that she is a non-essence user, she is being taught advanced techniques reserved for the Apprentices and Master Apprentices that teach the control of essence flow. She also seems to be above the Apprentices and Master Apprentices alike in terms of garnering the Master’s favor.

Aspirants

Aspirants are those hopefuls who have not yet been fully accepted into the school. They are primarily concerned with learning stances, basic punches and blocks, and focus on conditioning and basic fighting principles and philosophy. They are also required to obey the more advanced students, and to serve the basic needs of the school by doing chores, cooking, general maintenance, etc. Aspirants who do well during this stage are accepted into the school after one year, after which they become Students and earn a rank on the Hierarchy of the Three Ways. Most of the permanent students pay the Aspirants little mind unless they have a chore for the Aspirant to complete, as many do not get admitted. There are currently four Aspirants hoping to be admitted to the school.

• Aspirant Nyami - A young Water Aspected Dragon-Blooded girl of 14 years, she hails from among the ice fisher tribes of the North originally. Despite the very different world to which she is now getting acclimated, she has shown unusual promise for one so young. Most students assume she will be admitted at the end of her one year term, and therefore treat her better than they do any of the other Aspirants.

• Aspirant Si Pat - The newest Aspirant came to the school just over a month ago, after having grown up on a nearby silk farm. The teenager seems overwhelmed and unconfident. He has therefore been assigned the unenviable task of guarding the school gate. He is supposed to question any who exit or enter, but mostly he just gets harassed by those higher ranking students who wish to pass. Only time will tell if this assignment will toughen him up or if he'll break.

• Aspirant Tuan - Tuan is tough and hard, and he doesn't take lip from anyone. His father makes a living guarding caravans carrying goods on their way to Yu, and young Tuan has been a part of the mercenary world for his entire life. Unfortunately for Tuan, this makes him a target for some of the students who enjoy putting the raw brawler in his place. Its also unclear if the hot-headed Tuan has the temperament Master Li usually requires of his students.

• Aspirant Zan - Zan is the son of educated bureaucrats within the central government who were assigned administrative duties over the Golden Delta, which includes Two Rivers as well as a half dozen other farming communities. It also includes a significant bandit problem, and it was that problem that resulted in Zan's parents being waylayed in the countryside and murdered for the trouble they've caused. Zan has sworn revenge and has come to the Two Rivers School to learn the skills necessary to accomplish his task.

Students

Students are the most numerous group, and during their time at this stage they move from basic knowledge of the most fundamental and simple maneuvers to full martial artists with knowledge of advanced techniques. They still work on the fundamentals, but they couple that with katas and complex martial arts philosophy. There is no set amount of time that individual remains a Student, but average time is about seven years of rigorous training (after which a student can expect to have MA 4). Some exceptional Students complete their training in five, and some spend as many as ten or more years, although this is rare unless they are moving on to the Apprentice rank. The following Students are those currently studying at the School: Detailed Descriptions to Come.

• Seventeenth Student Bayar

• Sixteenth Student Ghazan

• Fifteenth Student Wen – A student new to Master Li’s school, he previously studied at the Black Leopard School in Yu. He is fairly skilled but lacks confidence in his abilities.

• Fourteenth Student Phan

• Twelfth Student Lin – A young student of middling skill and experience who is known as the school gossip. She is a little jealous of the attention given to the Hero, but not dangerously so.

• Eleventh Student Eiji

• Tenth Student Mae

• Ninth Student Kalaya

• Eighth Student Po

• Seventh Student Mallingor

• Sixth Student Nagari

• Fifth Student Ton Tong

• Fourth Student Minh

• Third Student Ssima

• Second Student Jing Woo –

• First Student Hero

Apprentices

Students become Apprentices only when two things happen. First, they must achieve advanced mastery of at least one natural, non-supernatural martial art style. Second, they must learn to wield the essence that flows throughout Creation. That means that most Students never achieve this level of skill and leave the school with exceptional, but not supernatural, martial arts ability. Dragon-Bloods, as well as other essence wielders of exceptional ability, make up the entirety of this group. All Apprentices are taught to use Terrestrial level Supernatural Martial arts and study both supernatural katas designed to promote the flow and control of essence in any given style and the philosophies behind that style. They also continue to work on the most fundamental techniques they’ve been learning at the previous two ranks and are expected to help teach those fundamental techniques and philosophies to the youngest aspirants and students. Detailed Descriptions to Come.

• Sixth Apprentice Dawn Star – Dawn Star is a ghost-blood who has been at the school as long as anyone can remember, including her. Very beautiful and quite kind, she is a disturbed creature haunted by dark dreams and even darker visions of the underworld.

• Fifth Apprentice (Hold)

• Fourth Apprentice Kia Min – One of the top students at the school, Kia Min is a Water Aspect Dragon Blood. She is the current sparring champion of the school.

Master Apprentice

An Apprentice who shows exceptional aptitude is given the opportunity to continue his or her studies beyond the Terrestrial level of Supernatural Martial Arts. These Apprentices are referred to as Master Apprentices, and they are further divided into two groups, although this is not formalized as such. Master Li really doesn’t distinguish between the Apprentices and Master Apprentices in how they are treated, but are taught either a single Celestial Supernatural Martial Art or to use Terrestrial Circle Sorcery in conjunction with their Terrestrial Martial Arts. They are never taught both. Because of the skill levels required to learn to wield essence at this level, there are few non-Dragon-Blooded who have become Master Apprentices. Detailed Descriptions to Come.

• Third Apprentice Hold for PC

• Second Apprentice Hold for PC

• First Apprentice Gao, the Lesser – A Fire Aspect Dragon Blood of exceptional skill, large ego and questionable character. Master Li took him in when he was a young ruffian and tough, and melded the Exalt into a fine martial artists. He has worked extremely hard to master the techniques Master Li has taught him, and his ability is unquestionable. However, Master Li’s tendency to admit and even favor the non-exalted puzzles and often angers him, and he sees the Hero as a rival for Master Li's attention. His father, Gao the Greater, is said to have ties to the Guild and the local bandits in the area.

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- Created by Yeled