Zi

**Zi** is the mystical life force of the cosmos. Its poisoned form is known as **Tainted Zi**.

## Overview

Zi pulses through the world along Ley Lines, coalescing at dragon nests. Although all of the undead utilize Zi in some manner, they all use different types of Zi which are not necessarily compatible.

### Murmurs

The Murmurs process Zi internally, absorbing it from various energies of life (blood, breath, their surroundings) in order to animate their bodies. The body of a Zi acts like an alembic that distils consumed chi into two kinds of bodily ichors that they use.

Murmurs maintain three kinds of Zi.

* **Yin Zi**, also referred to as *Black Zi*, is cold, dark, wet, dead, feminine, passive; it is the energy of the corpse. Zi who use Yin Zi are able to operate for longer periods without burning energy, but they adopt a corpselike mien. Within a Murmurs' body, it coalesces into a viscous, blackish liquid or a heavy black mist. When consuming Yin Zi, the experience is dark, soothing and deceptively intoxicating, similar to a narcotic.
* **Yang Zi**, also referred to as *Scarlet Chi*, is hot, bright, dry, alive, masculine, active; by burning yang chi, Murmurs are able to masquerade as living creatures, but burn the energy quickly. Yang chi transforms a seething, effervescent liquid or gas that flows freely through the Murmurs corpse. Consumption of Yang Zi is a heady, often euphoric, experience.

Absorbing too much chi for too long results in *chi imbalance*, where the vampire is subject to permanent changes. Vampires with an excess of Yin become more corpselike, adopting the frightening appearance of a corpse, Murmurs with too much Yang become too lively - a host for diseases and possibly also children.

In addition to Yin and Yang zi, Kuei-jin also have access to Demon zi, energy provided by their beast. Demon zi allows potent physical activity, but also risks causing shadow soul if used too much.

When Kuei-jin use disciplines, they are often required to spend chi of a certain type. This is the major use of chi, apart from animating a corpse.

## Origin

It is regenerated wherever the potential for life exists and flows through the universe, coalescing at places that resonate with life. Untapped, this energy is a passive force of emotional connectivity, revealing itself through remembered passions (often in the form of vestiges).

Zi is the power that rises in life to escape pain. Mages that have encountered it describe it as the "essence" of the world as it manifests. Awakened magic interacts with it like a smith holding tongs, while the Murmurs preferred to grab this molten stuff with the spiritual equivalent of their bare hands.

## Use

The murmurs were the first to actively harness the flow of Zi, using it to create their magic, their relics and eventually the Rite of Return. While certain sorcerer cults have exhibited a limited amount of control over Zi in the form of rituals, such powers pale before the lost knowledge of the Nameless Empire.

The Murmurs do not produce Zi, but they alone are able to store and concentrate it to fuel their powers. As they are undead, they are animated by Zi and if this force wanes, the Murmur becomes weaker. Each murmur begins their Descent with 10 Zi and slowly loses them throughout their waking period until they descend again into death. Also, Murmurs can sense Zi imbued into artefacts with a special sense and use it unconsciously to maintain the mystical façade that makes them pass as normal humans.