Fengdaoism

The flowing Triskelion, a common religious motif among Fengdaoans

*"Good and Bad. Positive and Negative. All spiritual energy is valuable and must be protected. The evil forces of the world attempt to destabilise this eternal dance but one thing is clear, the spiritual energy in all of us is what keeps the world alive. Preserve harmony and all shall prosper" -* Ancient Fengdao Proverb, date unknown

The religion of the Fengdao Theocracy, Fengdaoism is a highly syncretic religion which allows for aspects and elements of other faiths to be integrated within it.

Fengdaoism achieves this by encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on the ancient Fengdaoans and their populace. Ancient Fengdao was made up of a conglomeration of species and races, there were Humans of course but also more obscure species that have continued to thrive within the Theocracy such as Cave Lobsters, Cavemen and Molemen. All of these races have contributed to the religious makeup of Fengdaosim.

Some Fengdaoist monasteries vary in their practices and interpretation of holy texts, which are composed of collections of short stories gathered from the adherents of the Fengdao.

For many, Fengdaosim consists of not just a belief system but also a way of life and a philosophy. Widely observed practices include the reverence of water and common presence of bells, which when rung help ward off "evil" spirits. All Fengdaoans also adhere to the belief of "enlightenment", i.e. attaining harmony with the spirit world and allow "spiritual energy" to flow freely within oneself.

## The Mythos of Fengdaoism

### The Spirit World - 精 神 境 界

In the beginning, there was a primordial ocean which covered the world. The ocean allowed the energy of the spirits to flow freely and provided purity.

The spirits lived freely throughout this world and were neither good nor evil. They flowed alongside ancient fish in an eternal dance in harmony.

After thousands of years the ebb and flow the primordial ocean began to recede and the eternal dance fell apart. Without harmony to allow the spirits to flow, the water spirit Tsuma knew that she wouldn’t be able to remain in this new world for long.

To prevent all the world's spiritual energy from draining and disappearing into a bottomless pit, Tsuma conspired with Ku-Fu,the moon spirit. The two spirits, aware that their world would need a flow of energy to survive, ensured that spiritual energy would instead be concentrated in 3 areas for all of life to discover. Over many years, the spirits would reveal the Chakras to mortals and they would in turn, take a flowing Triskelion as their symbol to show the flow of the 3 centres of spiritual energy in all living things and would connect them.

### The 3 Gurus - 三位大师

#### The first Guru, Guru Kalit - 第一大師

Amidst the living creatures of the world, a man named Kalit spent hours upon hours meditating. His realm was beset by continuous war and famine in their desert homeland.

Seeking to gain knowledge from the spirits to once more bring harmony, Kalit once more beseeched the spirits to give him the strength to bring peace to his realm.

One night a beast appeared before him, with the head of a wolf and the body of a snake.

“You lack the bravery to do what must be done, look within yourself and find your bravery Chakra” commanded the creature. “Only by accepting your fears and your reality, can this Chakra be loosened, fear is the mind killer and only fear is stopping you from saving your realm”

Immediately, Kalit saw a bright light and the beastly spirit once more vanished. Due to the knowledge gained, Kalit was able to go out and save his people in a great battle. His people called him “Guru” or father and from then on, religious leaders would be called such. After the great battle, Kalit would always be remembered as the guide of great warriors.

#### The second Guru, Guru Lao Dong - 第二大师

Many years later and inspired by the tales of Guru Kalit, Guru Lao Dong spent much of his life living in avaricious pride. It was hoped that by always ensuring he had the essentials of food, warmth and shelter that he would never have a distraction from achieving enlightenment.

Sleeping in thick clothing and beside a roaring fire at night. A spirit appeared one night with the body of a pig and the head of a monkey in the dreams of Guru Lao Dong.

“You will never achieve enlightenment while you sleep in your warm lodgings and enjoy a bountiful supply of meats. For your spiritual energy to flow, you must let go of your material wealth and feed your neighbours, the poor and the needy. Allow your spiritual energy to flow from your heart and open your 2nd Chakra”

Once more, the spirit disappeared and forced Lao Dong to see the errors of his ways. It is said that when he eventually died, loved by the thankful masses, his mortal body disappeared into thin air and returned to a realm of the spirits. From there, Guru Lao Dong would be the example for all charities to strive for.

#### The third Guru, Guru Isabu - 第三大师

The first ever female Guru, Isabu was raised amongst the desert nomads of her race in a continent called “Humnal”. Like her own kindred Isabu was physically intense and would labour for days upon days repairing the tools of her people.

Isabu hoped that by being generous, kind and brave that she too would reach enlightenment. Now in her old age however, no spirits had ever revealed themselves to her.

Whilst travelling the sand dunes to an Oasis, a spirit rose Infront of Isabu with the body of a sloth and the head of an eagle and materialised out of sand. “You are the first for many reasons Isabu” the spirit preached “but to reach enlightenment you must unlock the third Chakra. You do the same tasks over and hope for advancement, you must unlock the Chakra of ambition and continue to go where no man ever has. Only by doing this will you reach enlightenment and join the spirit realm”

Shocked by this revelation, Isabu pushed herself and would go on to become the greatest of all Guru’s, not just a leader to her people, but a mother and guide to all those seeking technological excellence.

### The Trials of the Desert - 沙漠的考验

Long ago, the ancient Fengdaoans were desert nomads, roaming from place to place in search of water and life. Without anywhere to truly call a home, they one day realised they had made a grave mistake.

Having lost their bearings and low on water, premature death was almost certain.

Running out of hope and feeling abandoned, the Fengdaoans once more beseeched Tsuma or Ku-Fu to save them in their time of need. No reply came for while the spirits may on occasion reveal themselves to mortals, they are neither truly benevolent or evil and could never truly be understood.

A cabal of spirits, angry with Tsuma and Ku-Fu saw an opportunity to tease the water and moon spirits. For while Tsuma and Ku-Fu saw a way to preserve spiritual energy within all living things, some spirits wished to feast upon the living and consume their souls and spiritual energy entirely.

Once more, a desert apparition appeared before the desperate band in the desert, now baking in the light of the sun.

“Mortals, I have heard your plea and will give you an opportunity to escape this desert land. There are evil creatures within these sands, defeat them and I will give you your way home.”

Increasingly more tired and wishing to taste life once more, the Fengdaoans agreed without hesitation and readily prepared themselves for combat.

Before they could truly react, hordes of undead and skeletal warriors accosted the group. Despite fighting continuously for many hours, only one of their number was eventually slain, when a beast the size of a house and horns longer than a tree slew the unsuspecting desert dweller. In time however, even this beast fell down dead in the desert.

“Very well” claimed the spirit “there is one more creature that lurks here – three-headed and full of spite, kill it and the route to safety is yours.”

Immediately a dust-devil engulfed the group and the sun itself was blotted out. Silence fell upon them until only one noise was heard. A 3-headed wither had been summoned.

For 5 days and 5 nights, the nomads duelled the evil creature. One by one the nomads fell, withering away into sand themselves – failing to reach the spirit realm. When only 3 Fengdaoans remained, they came upon a cunning plan, the 3 survivors would leap upon the Wither all at once, each slicing into a different head.

When the opportunity presented itself, they leapt upon the Wither but not without 2 of them falling foul of the Withers’ attacks. The third Fengdaoan, also hit with the wither effect somehow survived the sand spell cast upon their brethren.

Frustrated and resigned to failure, the spirit once more appeared Infront of the survivor.

“Very well mortal, you and your people fought well and have amused me so. Once I have gone you may look upon your equipment and see a star cut from the heart of a wither itself. This gem will lead you to a bastion of paradise. I will not forget your insolence however; I will one day return to your people and I will harvest your souls. My name is Heian Zhi Wang and your souls will be mine!”

The survivor aghast at this revelation realised that this had all been a trick. Found within their equipment was water aplenty. The spirit had hidden their water from them and tricked them into agreeing into a contract.

Once any survivors had regrouped, they made their way to a mountain by following the lights within the Gem they had earned in their battle. The ancient Fengdaoans named this “The Guru star” and claimed it could lead one to whatever you desired within the mortal plain.

At the core of their new mountain holdfast, it is said was a myriad of freshwater springs. From this mountain, waterfalls and pools aplenty nourished the surrounding area and provided the lush paradise that the spirit had promised. The Fengdaoans would build a monastery at this site, which would overlook the desert remnants of their battle.

The battle of Zhi Wang as it would later be called, was so intense that it is said the scars remain on the desert to this very day. It became customary for the ancient Fengdaoans to ring bells to ward off any malevolent intent that the spirits would later bring upon their people.

### Vengeance of the Spirits - 精神的复仇

Many years after the battle of Zhi Wang, the Fengdao Monastery was prosperous and beautiful. White and standing out atop a mountain cliff like a beacon of hope.

Heian Zhi Wang, the spirit that had been bested during the desert trials had not forgiven the Fengdaoans for the insubordination and had worked for many years to gather the unhappy spirits of the world for one final assault upon the Fengdao.

In the middle of the night the spirits worked their magics as the wind and rain battered the mountainside refuge. A torrential storm of thunder and lightning rendered the monks helpless and forced to remain indoors.

During this moment of vulnerability, Heian Zhi Wang struck. Once more, hordes of undead, skeletal warriors and yet again, a Wither assaulted the monastery.

Unable to defend themselves the monks panicked and had no choice but to retreat further and further inside the mountain. It is said that once the vengeful spirit had at last eaten his fill of souls and yearned to rest, he laid a curse upon the Fengdao.

“Never again should you call your home the outside world, this mountain shall be your grave and your refuge now. If you or your descendants should ever forget my final command, I will awake from my slumber and return. If I do so, I will ensure the Fengdao are never able to pass into the spirit world upon death and shall never know a single day of peace. This is the pledge of Heian Zhi Wang, the lord of the undead!”

With that final pledge, the spirit and his horde of undead once more returned to the wind and vanished.

It is said that to this day, Heian Zhi Wang watches over the Fengdao now forced to live underground. There, they focus on achieving harmony with the spirit world, follow the teachings of the Gurus and hold great reverence for the water that surrounds them. It is hoped that once more, the spirits Tsuma and Ku-Fu will look upon the mortal realm and free the Fengdao from the curse of Heian Zhi Wang. One day.