Chinese Mythology Jumpchain CYOA by Ericshaofangwang Credits to /U/1000Peopleandamonkey for Their Contributions
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Chinese Mythology Jumpchain CYOA by ericshaofangwang Credits to /u/1000PeopleAndAMonkey for their contributions Welcome, Jumper. You might recognise this place from the myths of the Far East. This the land of Chinese myth, a world born when Pangu split the primordial egg that contained the universe. To prepare you for your journey here, take 1000 CP. You may freely choose your age or gender, it does not truly matter much here. Time and Places You may choose your time and place of origin. Time Creation You arrive just after the world has been created, and its first creatures have formed. Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors A mythical period of time, when god-kings and emperors ruled the people. This time is a golden age for mortals, being prosperous and guarded. Dynastic China From the Xia to the Qing, these are the times that mortals rule themselves. Places Diyu The underworld, or hell. It’s unknown how you arrived here, but unless you work in this place it’s best for you to leave. Tian From the 36 Heavens to the Pure Lands, the places that make up Tian, or Heaven, are where celestial beings reside. Presided over by the Jade Emperor and the Buddha respectively, this locale is mostly safe and calm. Earth Ah, yes. The earthly realm, sitting between Tian and Diyu. This is the location for most events that take place in this world, and where the stories of many stories of great heroes and monsters came to be. Origins Origins are free. All three origins can be used as drop-in options, where you don’t receive in-jump memories. Human You count yourself among the mortals of the land, a fragile existence of flesh and blood. Life is dangerous, with humans being small fish in a big pond. While many great figures come from this lot, the journey to renown is fraught with danger. Yaoguai Monsters, spirits and fallen celestials, the yaoguai are a very broad category of supernatural beings. These supernatural entities are as distinct as they are varied. They are considered to be mostly earthly beings, with some having links to heaven or hell. You can choose what kind of yaoguai you are. Celestial Being From the immortals of Heaven to the Bodhisattvas and Arhats of Nirvana, these figures are seen as divine. Celestial beings reside not in the earthly realm, but in the various heavens and pure lands. Perks 100 CP perks are free when discounted. Universal [Free] The ************* Sage If there's one thing that can be said for the figures here, is that they hold poetic and flavourful titles. You can style yourself a title that others will know you by instinctively should you introduce yourself to someone. [100] Hermit There are many sages and immortals who live a solitary existence away from civilisation. Long periods of isolation do not negatively affect your mental state, and you can spend as much time outside society and civilisation as you want without worry. [100] Yin and Yang The universe is balanced on a cycle of two opposites, just as your mind is. You possess this balance in both mind and body. You are healthy and fit in body and mind, not being subject to fragility in either. [200] Alchemy Countless alchemists have tried to attain immortality through their craft. Some are said to have succeeded, and some failed. You have satisfactory skill in this supernatural art, being able to transmute one substance into another and create elixirs and potions of longevity, if not outright agelessness. [200] Cultivated Power You are a passable Taoist magician. You can perform most basic spells, such as creating simple wards to repel lesser yaoguai, imbue items with magical power to enhance some of their qualities and are able to perform a few transformations. Your spirit is stronger than most mortals and you can live several centuries. [300] Oracle Bones You are a skilled diviner, able to read prophecies of the future through various divining rituals. The events that are in these prophecies are always the most likely outcomes of current and future affairs, and can go as far as several centuries into the future. [300] General Tales and legends abound for the generals of celestials, demons and mortals alike. You have what can be considered decent skills for a general. You are skilled in martial arts and fighting with weapons that can be expected to be seen on ancient and medieval Chinese battlefields. Your leadership skills are enough to command several hundred men competently and you are well versed in tactics and strategy. [400] Expulsion of Three Worms Through the practice of Taoism, you have reached the goal of eternal life. By permanently expelling the three worms, Disease, Old Age and Death from body, you have shed away your physical mortality. You cannot ever become sick nor age, and your body is nigh-unkillable. Nearly any injury you take upon your body will heal, up to and including total annihilation, though sufficiently powerful magical and/or otherwise supernatural weapons and effects can negate this protection. Your mind and soul do not share this protection, however, so be careful. [600] Present Gods Every phenomenon, life form and object has a god. No matter if it’s the wind and seas, or mountains and forests, a god resides in each one. Most of all, this is especially true for you. Every time you offer up a sacrifice in the form of food and drink or currency or valuable possessions to the gods, the phenomenon or action you ask for will come to fruition. The sacrifices scale with the potency and scale of the phenomenon or action; asking for some light rain on a farm might only cost a meal or two, while asking for a flood or great catastrophe might cost a banquet fit for hundreds. Similarly this can also be used to dispel natural phenomena, with appropriate costs accordingly. Human [100] Which Emperor? For the most part, the common citizens of the various dynasties have lived the same lives for thousands of years. The emperor may change, but most of the time, life was the same and people would carry on. Things are similar for you. Worry and fear about changing times and circumstances will never overwhelm you, and you’ll carry on like always. [200] Examinations and Bureaucrats Imperial China’s administrative machine needed both a solid bureaucracy and people to fill those roles. You can now proudly call yourself a capable administrator, having some expertise in logistics and delegation. You are able to go through paperwork at a rapid pace, quickly reading everything and not missing a single detail. [200] Philosopher There’s something to be said for the far-reaching influence of philosophers in China. Confucius and Laozi undoubtedly left deep marks in the development of Chinese philosophy. You, too are able to make your mark on others’ mindsets, crafting attractive philosophies and ideologies. You are socially adept and charismatic as well, navigating social cues and quickly extrapolating circumstances of people from your interactions with them. [200] Controlling the Floods The floods that once devastate the central plains were able to be tamed by humans. And in particular, the efforts of one man stand out above others. Yu, the first ruler of Xia. You hold the same strength of will as he, for you will carry through any adversity and obstacle. Even when your body is crumbling and worn, your unshakeable will shall be the same as ever. [400] Shooting Suns Just as Hou yi was able to shoot down nine suns with the skill of his archery, so too can you. Your skill with the bow is legendary, rivalling that of greatest archer in Chinese myth. You are able to effortlessly shoot the wings off a gnat from kilometres away, hit a moving target obscured by bushes and trees, and a whole manner of archery skills. [400] Potential for Divinity If there’s one thing standing out in this world, it’s the number of mortals who either ascend or become deified by others. You too hold a similar sort of potential; while the rate of growth for your abilities has not changed with this perk, your potential for improvement is unlimited. Through hard work and effort you too can call yourself a peer to the celestial beings above. [400] Wugushen It was said that Shennong, the legendary founder of Chinese of medicine, tasted and tested hundreds of plants to test their medicinal value. You have managed to inherit his skill in the same arts. Your body is immensely resistant to poison and toxins, unaffected by all but the strongest poisons this world can offer. Your knowledge in the medicinal value of various substances is broad and deep; you are able to identify the effects different materials have on the body with but a taste, if not from a glance, and you are able to quickly and accurately diagnose patients with conditions in but a fraction of the time it usually takes. [600] Mandate The Emperors of China ruled under the Mandate of Heaven, an accord that the people would accept their rule if they performed their role justly. While many used it as a convenient justification for their overthrow of a previous dynasty, for you it is a very real thing. Should you lead a group or organisation of any sort, the people within will accept you as their rightful leader without opposition so long as you don’t perform any serious transgressions against them. Likewise you are also able to easily incite rebellions against oppressive leaders and regimes, having them replaced by you or someone else.