XIAN (Shyen)

By Chris Jones (dartfrog@hntp2.hinet.net) (18 May 1996)

Description

Once they were the proud and regal nobility of a mythological paradise known among Chinese mortals as Xian Jing, though today they are but shadows of their former glorious selves. As a race, they are nearly extinct, and those who do remain carry within their hearts a great and terrible sadness, as well as a bitter anger that borders on outright hatred. Unlike their Western counterparts, the Sidhe, the Xian no longer look to the future and dream of the time when they can return to the safety and splendour of their home within the Dreaming. This is because centuries ago, just before the Shattering drove the Jin into hiding, their ancestral homeland was lost to them, taken away with savage force by the grotesque armies of Hei Àn Dà Dì, the Lord of the Dark.

Today, when they look back (those who have survived), they refer to the invasion as the Great Betrayal, but most of their Jin brethren know not the specifics of it. What is known, all too well amongst the Xian, is that they had grown dangerously complacent, overconfident in their authority over the great Empire of Xian Jing, and dependent upon thousands of years stale tradition. For millennia they had governed over the affairs of the Eastern Fae, and they had become haughty and imperious in their ways. Their absolute authority went ever uncontested as they presided over the two imperial Courts, the Seelie Yang Gong and the Unseelie Yin Gong, with unparalleled pomp and pride. In most respects, disregarding their fantastic nature, the Xian reigned over the Jin much like the humans they so often inspired ruled over the Middle Kingdom. And like the human Dreamers, they stagnated in their hubris and tradition. Where in the human world imperial dynasties occupied the Dragon Throne as often as the seasons changed in the immortal blink of an eye, the Xian dynasty, seated in the Eastern aspect of Arcadia, continued unchanged for millennia on end. And this led, ultimately, to its downfall. The angelic and ethereal Xian were subject to the Mandate of Heaven as well, it appeared, and the day came when the gates to Xian Jing were somehow opened wide for the nightmarish armies of Hei Àn Dà Dì to march in with near impossible ease. Before the Jin knew what had happened, the armies had begun their slaughter in earnest, capturing easily those who offered no resistance, and destroying those who resisted in the least. Blinded by their own arrogance, the Xian were caught totally unawares. Those who were captured were later consumed by the Lord of the Dark, only to be spat out later, hideously deformed and mutated beyond all recognition as evil servitors to a new master. These Xian became known as the 'Mèi' and to this day are dedicated to the destruction of all things Fae, including the Dreaming. Those Xian who did not die or get captured managed to escape back into the world of the mortals, the Middle Kingdom, where they were met by an old adversary, though stronger and fiercer than they ever remembered it: Banality. Few stayed behind in Xian Jìng to try and resist the Lord of the Dark, but it was viewed by the others a futile attempt to met out a Pyhrric victory at best.

Unfortunately for the Xian, their prior excursions into the mortal world had been far and few between, and they had forgotten just how heavy the burden of Banality had become in recent centuries. Upon their arrival, they found a harsh and brutal world waiting for them, one where their Kithain brethren and former subjects had already begun 'assimilating' into Dreamer society. The pressure of such overwhelming Banality was oppressive, and the Xian sought frantically for some escape or reprieve. Time passed and the Mundane struck swiftly and decisively, cutting down their ranks ever faster. Days, then months, then years fell by the wayside, and all seemed lost for them, for they feared 'assimilation' almost as much as they feared the final death. Fortunately, though many today disagree, a solution was discovered. The remaining Xian pooled together the sum of their magicks, weaving about themselves elaborate, enchanted shells of Glamour in order to mask themselves in thick shrouds of misperception spawned by it. These cocoons were spun with the intent to disguise their weavers within mortal seemings, as artifacts and objets d'art meant to inspire, however feebly, the following generations of Dreamers far into the future. This self-imposed state of hibernation is today known as the 'Long Sleep.' Shortly thereafter, the Shattering struck the world like a smithy's hammer ringing out against his anvil, and the Dreaming broke away entirely from the Dreamers and their Middle Kingdom.

For centuries the world choked itself on the curse of Banality. Meanwhile, the sleeping Xian began to Dream, suffering horrible, maddening nightmares. Eventually their cocoons weakened, and the sinewy tendrils of the Mundane seeped in between the cracks and infected their slumber. Trapped between their small pockets of Dreaming and Banality, the Xian gradually lost their collective mind. Many died outright from this prolonged insanity, while others erupted prematurely from their cocoons only to be ripped to shreds immediately by the harsh reality of the outside world (for the world was still very far away from reuniting with the Dreaming). Others died in their sleep at the diabolic hands of Hei Àn Dà Dì's vile minions (for whom it had become mysteriously possible to traverse the world unaffected by Banality) who actively sought out the hibernating Xian that they may destroy them. Finally, the Dreaming once again touched down on Earth, brought closer by inspiration the landing of manned spacecraft on the moon's surface promulgated. The Xian awoke from their Long Sleep in far fewer numbers than ever before, subtly altered in some fundamental way. Never again would they be the same. Today, their eyes carry the haunted look of shell-shocked veterans returning home from prolonged battle. No longer are they the oblivious butterflies of fashion randomly flitting from passion to passion. Rather, they have become quiet, almost obsessed by the thoughts lancing about inside their heads. Passions which once compelled them to act with pomp and pretense now fuel their desire for vengeance. They are still haughty and arrogant, still possessed of confidence and power, but there is now a dark, dangerous edge to them that disturbs many who stand in their presence. Since their return, they have begun to vigorously reclaim the Court of the Emperor of Summer and that of the Empress of Winter from the hated Wâng Liâng 'usurpers,' motivated by something altogether uncharacteristic of their former selves. With the fresh influx of Glamour seeping out of recently inspired Dreamer minds coming into conflict with the iron cold Banality of the world around them, memories have become easily clouded and ancient prejudices reborn with renewed might. The Xian's millennia old enmity for the Wâng Liâng is as strong as it ever was, if not stronger, and has become their excuse to depose them from the twin Courts' aristocratic positions, more often than not violently. As the months pass, and more and more Xian cocoons are discovered and forced into awakening, the patrician Fae lords of Asia are once again reaffirming their ancient authority.

In short, the Xian are back and they are pissed.

Appearance

Like their Western counterparts, the Sidhe, the Xian are all impossibly beautiful and glamorous. Standing only slightly taller than the average human, their presence alone is so magnificent that they seem like slender, willowy giants around non-Xian. Both males and females are so similar in the slightness and delicateness of their features that it would be rather difficult to distinguish between the two genders (for humans it'd be altogether hopeless) were it not for their differing fashions. Both sexes wear their beautiful, silky black hair long, usually down past the shoulder blades, although the men more often than not tie theirs up in a long top-knot while the women coiffure theirs in up elaborate styles (often requiring many lacquered chopsticks and slender jade hairpins to support). All of them have very large eyes the color of richly fertile earth, and skin that is often compared in color to that of springtime clouds trapped forever in twilight, an enchanting shade somewhere between the natural golden tint of normal Chinese skin and the soft white of the clouds. Both males and females wear only the finest clothing available, traditionally favouring deep lustrous reds and yellows as well as a wide variety of pastels. In the modern day and age, however, they wear whatever the current trend dictates despite coloration.

Seemings

Yòu Chóng (Childlings) are usually left to their own devices and are rarely reprimanded unless some action of theirs garners the ire of Grumps and Wilders of other Kith. Because of this, Xian Childlings tend to be imperiously spoiled.

Yông (Wilder) Xian are arrogant, pretentious, and proud. Whenever possible, they hang out in large unruly groups and do their best to act like intimidating punks. However, when the Grumps are present they are mindful and silent.

Chéng Chóng (Grumps) have come into their own by now and have realised the burden of their responsibility in leading the other Kith in the double-sided war against both Banality and the Dark. They are quiet and brooding, the arrogance and contempt for others having become more subdued and tolerable as they have matured.

Lifestyles

Despite being dour and preoccupied with wreaking vengeance on the Dark and the ones who 'betrayed' them, the Xian are still, at heart, blue-blooded nobility. This being said, they most resemble their former selves in their deep-seated desire for the most expensive material goods money can buy. Appearance to them is everything. Their rationale: If you look like you have power, then those around must assume you have power. They live in the most expensive homes of the most elite districts, dine at the classiest restaurants, and buy only the coolest most modern toys. Of course, this doesn't make them feel any happier. It just gives them more status than everyone else. In order to support this Epicurean lifestyle, the Xian invariably hold highly distinguished positions in society.

Affinity

Strangely (or perhaps not so strangely, actually), the Xian awoke from their long sleep with an affinity for Prop (although with some, it is, inexplicably, Realm). Those Xian, far and few between, whom survived in Xian Jìng during the interim and are just now escaping to the mortal world have no affinity to speak of, similar to the Sidhe.

Birthrights

Awe and Beauty: The same power as the Western Sidhe. See the Changeling: The Dreaming source book, p.149, for details.

Noble Bearing: Same as the Sidhe. See the Changeling: The Dreaming source book, p.149, for details.

Frailties

Banality's Curse: Same as the Sidhe. As above, see the Changeling: The Dreaming source book, p.149, for details. During the Long Sleep the Xian's exposure to the Banality was, well, considerably different than those Jin who assimilated into the mortal world as Changelings. Because of this, they were driven slightly mad by it, but never became fully accustomed to it like the other Kithain. They suffer from a plague of synaesthetic nightmares that give them a -1 die to every roll for one scene after they draw a Nightmare card. This is not a cumulative effect.

Quote

"When you see me riding down upon you to send you into your next life, when you see the hatred, the anger, and the bitterness burning in my eyes, then and only then will you know what it means to fear."

Outlook

Mèi—I: Despise what they are and would kill every last one of them in an instant. Yet, they were my brothers at one time. They deserve a merciful death at the very least.

Táo Qì Gûi: If they weren't so damned funny half the time, I'd ship the whole annoying lot of them over to Ardry and let him deal with them.

Wâng Liâng: Hideous freaks who deserve nothing better than the extinction my people are currently faced with. If only it had been they whom the Lord of the Dark defiled.

Yao Jin: They make powerful allies and dangerous enemies. I would pay them triple the weight in gold of what they steal from this Court every time they visit just to get them to swear the Oath of Fealty. But I know they owe allegiance to no-one except themselves.

Zhu Rú: A most curious breed of Jin if there ever was one, but they are given to an over-zealousness that frequently blinds them in their various historical and philosophical endeavours.

Boggan: Of all the Jin in the West, they are perhaps the most useful. They do what they're told and don't ask too many questions. They are the ideal A-mah's for the larvae.

Eshu: Shiftless drifters. Nonetheless, they tell entertaining stories.

Nockers: Their odd mechanical constructs always leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Pooka: They are a pale imitation of the Yao Jin and certainly more annoying than our own Táo Qì Gûi.

Redcaps: Vile creatures almost as bad as the Wâng Liâng. They make excellent bodyguards but only if you can tolerate their repulsive eating habits and the foul stench that accompanies them everywhere.

Satyrs: Good company if you ignore their mood swings. Just watch your back during rutting season.

Sidhe: Our noble and esteemed cousins in West are all too often preoccupied with masquerades and debutante balls than they are with staving off the crushing weight of Banality. Of the terrible Darkness eating away at the fringe of their own homeland, they know nothing. Their unwillingness to heed our warnings pains me deeply.

Sluagh: By what right do this serpentine slugs call themselves Jin?

Troll: Noble and majestic warriors whose virtue among the Jin is unmatched anywhere. They seem slow-witted and daft but this couldn't be farther from the truth. There is something about them, though, that discomforts me and I can't quite put my finger on it.