Xing Yi image sheet

Just an awesome image of xing Yi and expressions, by Sara and Gi, a link to their page is under the artists tab. And their name is on the peace/

Zhuni (Race)

A specific race of the Zhu species: Species info

Sketch Henry

The native people of Zhu Shang Qiao and majority of the mainland population are a race known as the Zhuni. Appearance wise they are very human, specifically appearing as humans from the region of East Asia. That appearance extends to the common aesthetic of many buildings and the majority of their clothing, resulting in the superficial feel of being in ancient china to travelers from Earth. The most major difference between humans and Zhuni is of course that that as Zhu, Zhuni have a different form of chi and extra senses built solely around energy. In general Zhuni are also physical greater than humans in every aspect, although with significant training a human could bridge the gap on most. They as a whole tend to look pretty fit, with the partial energy being state of their existence pretty much making even the unhealthy Zhuni rarely look it unless the result of a powerful poison or illness. When it moments of high emotion or stress their eyes tend to glow whatever color their chi tends to manifest itself as, their aura subtly becoming visible around them as well. Appearance wise the sexual differences between men and women are the same as with humans, though it mostly ends there. Physically speaking there is no difference between Zhuni men and women in regards to strength, speed, or toughness,; though the women tend to be lighter and thus easier to knock backwards. In regards to the Dantian women have a much wider center and their chi reserves go deeper on average, with men having a narrow dantian that makes using chi easier but normally weaker.

Zhuni have a very stable birth rate and although spikes occur they mostly keep around the same population for extended periods of time, with the majority of people almost always being in their teens and 20s. The average life expectancy is around 50 although through magic and chi control one can live to be hundreds of years old, it simply takes too much to be a practical solution to most. For the same reasons the physical effects of aging rarely show on Zhu outside of their 20s, their bodies keeping a mostly consistent form no matter how old they get and only the energy itself beginning to wear down. Most couples have their first child between the ages of 15 and 17 and another one shortly after; the Zhuni having a pregnancy (specifics on that will come later. It isn't like a human's) of only 4 months makes many births end up closer together then on Earth. The family duties are pretty evenly split although with the fathers normally having a much larger role than the mother while the first child is a toddler as she will be in the military and on active duty in most cases. A mostly matriarchal society (this extends to the most other Zhu races also), the Zhuni mothers are head of the household and tend to be who makes all the major decisions involving a family or clan.

Culturally they are a society that admires strength and martial prowess above most things, resulting in the highest levels of fame being that of great warriors and martial artists. To keep that focus all women are forced to undergo military training and brief service upon graduation from school, with men being able to choose if they want to. They are deeply entrenched in tradition and it shows in their extreme respect for their environment, animals, and the importance of family. They are bound by the concept of honor to such a degree that if known for having been dishonored you are treated as subhuman by many and stripped of your job in most cases. Entire books and branches of government exists to help define what things are dishonorable and honorable as well as to what degree since it is such an important part of life within the nation.

Hwang Ce Bio

Art by Henry

Hwang Ce is considered a living legend among not just his planet but any planet that knows about life beyond their own.  His raw power and dedication to knowledge is the cause of both great respect as well as great fear among civilizations, with just as many developing measures to fight him as those who wish to work with him. Initially an unremarkable scholar known more for fringe theories than anything else, the once low class Zhuni disappeared one day along with a young girl both returning over a decade later almost like different people.  He was much wiser than before and carried a powerful presence more befitting a noble than the commoner he was.  Most notably however was his new found power, his magic had grown immensely and he showed the School of Magi a strange substance, a creature that looked as if it was made of shadow but had an energy composition unlike anything anyone had ever seen.  The creature had bonded with his spirit and become a part of him, him claiming he was tapping into the power of existence itself through it.  Through his new power he was able to shed new light on the Universe as well as what the Zhu people refer to as the system.  With new found influence he began to travel the universe growing stronger and learning more, eventually the School of Magi retooling their entire methods of teaching and knowledge based on what he brought back, the ideas spreading across the universe as he brought new technology and mystic techniques across various planets and societies.  For 200 years he ushered in an era of progress across interstellar space, though recently his attention has drifted elsewhere.  Frequent meetings with the Seer Hirara indicate that something serious is going on, yet neither is speaking publicly about it. All people know is if Hwang Ce can't handle what is coming, then even the gods will wish to hide from the future.  

Hwang Ce Concept

Sketch by Henry

Hwang Ce is a rather important character in my world, who I've toyed with for awhile but only recently really managed to turn him into a real character.  Initially he had appeared in an early story of mine in the shadow form, spewing cryptic messages around certain events and encouraging certain actions. I don't fully remember where I was going with him back then, but I think he was going to be one of the later villains or something who had been at a sort of war with the priestesses.   After I began to flesh things out more and shifted the focus on the stories, I begin to think about the various figures that would result of magic.  In the current incarnation Hwang Ce represents one of those Issac newton type figures, a genius who changed the way things are thought of.  He's used as a character to show off high level magic and information as well as explore the different schools of thought and ways of approaching large scale conflict within the universe.  I regard him as neither a hero or villain (though I'd put him more on the anti hero side if I had to), just a scientist who will do what he has to, in order to preserve the beauty of the cosmos and unlock its many secrets.

The School of Magi

History

While magic has been utilized and studied across Kios from the very first days that people began to walk along its surface there was no central organization that handled magic as it related to the Zhu until the beginning of the modern Zhu Empire.  It's earliest incarnation was much more simple and was literally one school in which some of the Zhu prophets taught people the basics of magic and more select people were taught higher understanding and spells.  From there it began to grow as more and people began to learn what many thought of as the correct way of magic, forming the foundation for the modern form as more and more people began to teach others over the generations.  Over time various people were teaching what they had learned about magic all over the Empire creating a rather robust Magi caste.


Eventually attempts were made centralize all this knowledge and ensure that everyone was learning the same principles and methods.  Eventually these efforts formed the School of Magi a branch of the government focused in all things magic including education as well as military applications.  While it has been updated and adapted to new theories and magics since then, it had always stayed the same at its core only changing the details and not its foundation regardless of who ran it or what theories were leading at the time.

Role

The School of Magi is government run organization that is in charge of all things magical as they relate to the Empire. As its name suggests it 's primary function is running all the schools for Magi and all the classes in non magic schools that involve magic. One doesn't need their training to practice magic, but if you want to work in a magical field within the empire you have to be at least licensed by them. Any one teaching magic to non family members is required by law to pass the School of Magi teaching exam, and any course dealing with magic must be approved by them. Their schools have a reputation of being some of the best in the known Universe (only counting space faring races) and have much higher percentage of aliens and foreigners then the rest of the Empire. A fact that is also helped by their more accepting nature due to the dangers of untamed magic being greater than any nationalism they may hold.


Outside of schools they are the primary source of funding for magical research, expeditions, new magic based technologies, and defensive barriers. They supply the military with battle magi, and normally are the ones supply royals with their Gakeouzu( not always though). Essentially if it's important and involves a magi or a lot of magic, it more than likely is the result of the School of Magi. Unless it's necromancy or demon summoning as such things are outlawed.

Licenses

Trainee: Self explanatory, still in the basic training.

Rank 2: Mastered or are very skilled in the basic concepts and is currently studying intermediate spells and classes. Qualified to be an assistant to any higher ranked Magi and to use magic in public areas or the work place.

Rank 3: An Intermediate level Magi, qualified enough for most magic related jobs. Such as teachers, Combat Magi, enchanter, magic maintenance person.

Rank 4: Someone who was at the top of their class in the studies, an Expert mage. If you plan on working in a lab and researching all the most potent and rare items you'll have to be a rank 4.  Most of the more complex spells or permanent effects require rank 4.

Archmage: Master Magi; required to be the head of a school, grant ranks, Judge magic related crimes.


Highmage: Reserved for the most powerful and influential magi around. They are the highest authorities within the school and tend to be Military Veterans as well. Can only be disciplined by two other Highmages or a high ranker Government official in general.