Āntèguàn

[Short Summary of Āntèguàn]

## Attributes & Statistics

Homeworld: Ante
Force rating: 6
Cunning rating: 7
Wealth rating: 5
Wealth assets: *Harvesters*, *Pretech researchers*, *Medical center*, *Monopoly (sector human psychic academy)*, *Laboratory*, *Union toughs*, *Base of influence*
Hit points:
Tags: *Psychic academy*, *Theocratic*
Goals: *Peaceable kingdom*, *Inside enemy territory*, *Intelligence coup*

## Culture

The secretive order known to outsiders as The Monastery of Ante is an ancient fixture in the history and culture of the tiny planet's minority human population. Reticent to reveal their secrets to outsiders, the many ranks of the sect observe a complex and interdependent social model which hinders outside influence and promotes stability. Its myriad strata include lay followers, monks, shrine priestesses, reliquary maids, water watchers, liminal speakers, and yet more. For more than a millennium, these monks have honed a complete martial art which aims to draw out "evil intents"- both in practitioner and adversary, and neutralize them by way of physical and mental-philosophical practices (disciplines and techniques)

For the Āntèquán practitioner, a one-on-one fight is an opportunity to examine and rebut dissonant thoughts and feelings- those that do not match up with the fighter's "natural way"- and master them. Only by facing an opponent, finding the opponent's emotional weaknesses, and turning inside-out their points of hubris can Āntèquán monk align both self and foe toward a more complete, mature view of self and other (even if it only results in a tense respect.) The ultimate goal of an Āntèquán monk is to reveal what is hidden most to self and other: the secret mind.

One early name for this order aligned its followers with the classical element of water. While other martial orders rose to challenge each other for the top spot among Ante's intelligentsia, only the "Secret Mind" remained relatively unconcerned, nearly placid regarding decades of turmoil. They assumed their present role as mediators, guardians of peace, and occasionally frightening warriors not by coercion but because they sought esoteric power where others carved out bloody niches across the planet's surface.

## Martial Art

The Āntèquán style purposely explores the extremes of both internal and external martial arts practiced by pre-Mandate religious sects. By thrusting practitioner into challenging emotional and physical states, the mind- and only the mind- must rise to solve seemingly absurd puzzles, defeat an opponent by laughter, bluff one's way out of danger, and so on. Intense physicality during intellectual training exercises aims to help a practitioner retain the ability to think clearly and naturally without the turbulence of instinct, anger, or doubt. It is in retrospect unsurprising that psychic ability developed early among this order, potentiated by close proximity and erstwhile rivalry with mantidae factions.

## Five Sacred Treasures

Whether they represent real artifacts or are conceptual pillars of the Āntèguàn philosophy is not known. However, the Five Sacred Treasures combined serve as a schematic for teaching and maintaining the priesthoo