CHRPLT - The Path Of The Demon

Summary

• Ryujin Cheon’s story
• Seeking strength and martial prowess as he hopes to rebuild the Path Of The Heavenly Demon.
• The sword he’s commissioned can/will be stolen by The Masked Monk who will flee and leave behind two emblems that read “RYU” and “RAI” in kanji (make this in canva)
• The “RYU” emblem reminds Ryujin of something he saw Master Hwan use when making his rarest of swords.
• Crafting a sword with the emblem will create a magical +1 sword called “Watatsumi - The Blade Of Ramping Tides”
  • “May your strikes hit as hard, like the waves of the sea crashing ashore during a mighty storm.”
  • The hilt resembles a cross between a serpent and a dragon’s head with the blade projecting out of it’s open mouth. The cross-guard has waves engraved into it.
  • 1 / short rest - for each successful additional attack with this weapon on this turn, add 1d4 force damage.
    • If you make two attacks in a turn and hit the first one - the second one would deal 1d4 extra damage
    • if you make three attacks in a turn and you land the first two - deal 2d4 extra force damage.

Idea

• The Masked Monk is actually Master Hwan’s only-son - and is the true reason that he had to step down 18th successor to the Path Of The Heavenly Demon.

Context

Watatsumi’s Tale “Long ago - one man ruled with an iron fist over the North-Eastern lands. For each year he reigned, he would appoint a new “master” and then challenge all of them to combat at the same time. Up until the 18th master - he hadn’t lost once.

The man’s lust for power knew no bounds, so when rumours from the West claimed of a woman with supernatural strength - he went to clip her wings for himself. He was so arrogant that he would win, that he named his son the 19th master prematurely - and made the journey to challenge the woman. He was made a fool of and experienced the sting of defeat for the first time.

Embarrassed and unable to accept the sheer gap in their power - he invoked a forbidden curse and began a deadly cycle that persists to this day.”

Ties with Snowbloods

• In the early days of The Departure, Phoenicia Snowblood repelled seemingly endless incursions of Raiders and criminals with her raw skill and power - bringing freedom to Stahn after many centuries of oppression.
• She became revered for her powers, but many also despised her for overthrowing their rule. A plot was hatched by an especially hateful man named Rasu Cheon. For many years, he worked as her assistant/advisor in order to get close to her - one day when her defences were down he managed to steal a portion of her blood and infused it into himself. Phoenicia Snowblood would die in childbirth and her husband would die within a year of their child’s 1st birthday. Their child was left to be raised by the Salvator Family instead.
• Rasu Cheon gained supernatural powers and unknowingly cursed both of their bloodlines with this act. He formed The Path Of The Heavenly Demon and built a large tower atop the highest point of the Eastern Half of The Brackett Range - before shrouding it in an endless cloud of darkness. They would colonise the Northern cliffs and the base of the mountain.

Downfall

• Master Hwan is infertile - after contracting an illness as a child, but as the elder son he was pressured into having children to continue the bloodline. Left with no other options, he and his wife - Mikoto Cheon - feigned her pregnancy and hatched a plot to have her travel away with a confidant - Kairi Song, a childhood friend and closest of her handmaidens - whilst Master Hwan continued his duties at home.
  • It was met with controversy by the elders but allowed because he finally had an heir on the way. Close to the supposed birthdate - he was sent to complete one final raid on a nearby civilization to bring them into their fold.
• One day he found an orphaned baby; less than a month old and having similar enough features to himself and his wife, left behind after his parents; detractors of Nagi Cheon who were slain for their refusal to bow down, and realized the opportunity that was presented to him. He hid the child safely and after completing the mission - took them to meet his wife Mikoto Cheon. They named him Raijin Cheon and adopted him as their son - sending word ahead of their return to the tower.
• The elders were suspicious of Raijin and placed undue pressure on him - and eventually he cracked, killing a servant girl in cold blood at the age of 13