Major Wulin Hero Factions

Shaolin Sect: Easily one of the oldest and most powerful wulin factions, this ancient sect of Chen Buddhist monks operates almost entirely out of the Shaolin Temple in Henan. Despite the level of power and respect they get from their status, they are known for being notoriously apolitical in their dealings when taken as a whole rather then as individuals due to their religious beliefs of removing all worldly attachments. Currently led by Abbot White Cloud.

Heaven Sword Alliance: Often considered the largest faction in the Wulin, they are in actuality five separate groups (one for each Great Mountain) and thus often fairly isolated from each other. Following the Dao of the Sword almost exclusively, the Alliance is widely regarded as just and powerful, but are often internally fractious due to it's scattered nature. The individual sects are; Dōngyuè ("Tranquil Mountain", East Great Mountain,) Sword Sect, Xīyuè ("Splendid Mountain", West Great Mountain, ) Sword School, Nányuè ("Balancing Mountain", Southern Great Mountain) Sword School, Běiyuè ("Permanent Mountain", North Great Mountain) Sword Sect, and Zhōngyuè ("Lofty Mountain", Center Great Mountain) Sword Temple. Sword Saint, who is rarely seen outside his secluded refuge of Sword Heaven near the Central Branch of the Alliance, leads the faction in name.

Wudang Sect: The most powerful Daoist sect in all of the wulin. Known for their swordplay, even-handed stance on politics, and sense of justice, the Wudang Sect is much more worldly then the mightier Shaolin but is no less honored or righteous, and thus is often compared to the Shaolin Sect as their Daoist counterpart. While the sect is composed of Daoist priests with specific ideals and codes of conduct, they are not celibate or monastic like the Shaolin Sect. Headquartered on Wudang Mountains and led by Chang Chongxu.

Emei Sect: One of the few sects in the Wulin to notable be populated entirely by women. Emei Sect is a group that mixes Buddhist and Daoist teachings as well as an emphasis on traditional feminine virtues resulting in a very flexible and versatile skill set amongst it's members. While the head of the Sect is always a Buddhist nun not all of the individual members of the sect are. As the sect is monogendered and isolated from the rest of the world, Emei members are often mildly uncomfortable around men, though this varies by individual. Somewhat ironically their greatest rivals in the Wulin are the Resplendent Phoenix Society, the other major all-female faction in the jianghu. In theory this comes from ideological differences; Emei is staunchly traditionalist and thinks the Phoenix Society is too secular in it's aims (as well as recklessly ambitious), while the Phoenix Society claims that the Emei Sect is holding back women in both the Wulin and secular world alike by retaining traditional values. More cynical observers of the feud note that this ideological divide seems almost entirely driven by an underlying desire both factions have to be THE primary women's faction of the Wulin as often as it is any actual ideological differences. The current sect leader is Abbess Jingfei.

Beggar's Fraternity: Though the Heaven Sword Alliance is generally considered to be the largest faction, the Beggar's Fraternity may technically be larger, as it brazenly claims ALL beggars in the world are member of the faction. While this may or may not be true, the Fraternity is easily the most widespread faction in the jianghu. Though stereotyped as being all poor, smelly, wandering vagrants, the group has many people who live seemingly normal lives in the secular world while serving the Fraternity. Their near-omnipresence as well as their nearly invisible nature gives the Fraternity an incredibly accurate and swift information network compared to the other factions despite their extremely loose organization. Led by the Beggar King, a rarely seen individual who is rumored to have a taste for elaborate practical jokes.

Tang Clan: A large group of thirteen separate families and their servitors, the Tang are an infamous faction widely known for being the most talented assassins in the jianghu. Theor mastery of stealth, hidden weapons, and especially poisons makes them nearly unstoppable killers, and their numerous martial methods gives them a highly unpredictable edge. It is rumored that only once in it's history has all thirteen families of the Tang Clan been hired to kill one target at the same time. Despite this villainous profession, the Tang are generally considered a neutral faction since they seemingly deliberately avoid almost all power grabs and politics of the Wulin and generally only kill secular authorities. In addition when not on a contract they are free to act as they please (including virtuously) so long as they do not endanger the Clan or reveal it's secrets to outsiders. Ironically many Tang Clan killers double as doctors, as the medical knowledge they possess is useful for healing as well as taking life. Currently led by Tang Chengpu, also called Grandfather Tang.

Resplendent Phoenix Society: The other major women's faction in the jianghu, the Phoenix Society could not be more different then the Emei if they tried, and it seems that often they do. Populated entirely by incredible beauties, the Phoenix Society is thus quite popular across the jianghu and secular world alike, for who doesn't love the company of beautiful people? Beyond their surface appearances, the Society's goals involve bettering the station of women across all of the jianghu and the secular world, even in defiance of social norms and the law if necessary. They thusly often seek to accrue influence by marrying off specially trained members, called Phoenix Brides, to other factions and important secular individuals to gain power and influence in both worlds. In stark contrast to Emei Sect's quiet modesty, the Phoenix Society openly displays their physical charms in a way that occasionally shocks or embarrasses many, flaunting their attractiveness while distracting the more foolish or gullible from their political motives. Currently they are led by Blue Phoenix Princess, a middle-aged woman who is still an exceptional beauty. Day-to-day affairs are handled by the Four Celestial Maidens. Their rivalry with Emei Sect is legendary to many xia at this point.

Eastern Dragon Clan: Less a faction and more of a government in exile, the Dragon Clan is a pirate nation found on the island kingdom of Tungning to the far east formed by Eastern Dragon King Ao Guang, former Sworn Brother of the current Emperor of Ming. While some of it's members are clearly criminals, many in the clan are professional soldiers and sailors for their factions and act like it as well. They generally take tribute from areas they lend their protection too (much as the Ming take taxes) but also genuinely keep the areas safe from predations. Nonetheless they are often considered rogues thanks to their piracy and political subversive activities. Led by Dragon King Ao Guang and his wife Lady Stingray.

Jinyiwei: The Ming's secret police force. A close-knit organization of constables and killers who serve the Ming, they have a mixed reputation in the jianghu thanks to adhering closely to the rule of law, which all too often xia act outside of. On one hand they regularly apprehend or kill dangerous criminals in the jianghu, while on the other they do the same to the xia who break the law. This Legalist viewpoint has made them looked upon somewhat nervously by the Wulin. Their infamous Invisible Hell Killers are perhaps some of the most feared warriors in the jianghu, for they join other factions and blend seamlessly with the other faction members, all the while waiting for orders from the capitol to assassinate the faction head should it ever be required of them. The mysterious Qinglong is the leader of the Jinyiwei, though given that every leader has had this "name" it is likely an inherited alias of sorts.

Junzi Society: Named after the Confucian concept of the ideal gentleman, the Junzi Society is a very old and very traditional faction. A group of aristocratics, intellectuals, and scholars strictly adhering to Confucian ideals and wagging fingers at those who do not, the Society generally sees itself as the quiet moral compass of the Wulin, though most other factions would take underage at the label. They often lament the passing of years and changes in society as time moves forward, often proclaiming that purer ideals are lost sight of in the rush for progress. Despite their conservative attitudes they are still quite heroic, saving people from harmful forces and factions who wish to exploit them and are generally staunch allies of justice. They have a quiet rivalry with the Resplendeng Phoenix Society and their desire to alter the balance between men and women further (an important Confucian concept), but this rivalry was declined in recent years thanks to the Phoenix's emphasis on outdoing the Emei Sect. There is a sub-faction within them called the Blue Ink Scholars who believe that progress is inevitable and should be encouraged, not constrained. The current leader of the society is Quiet Willow, a noble man with a scholar's heart and sad eyes.

The Four New Houses: Four relatively new but increasingly powerful factions united in a single alliance, each of the Four Houses is led by a famous individual who created his faction from nothing. Realizing that despite their power none of the four could compete with the older and more established factions, they created a political alliance between the four of them to lend financial and military support should any of the others be pressured or threatened. This has made then surprisingly influential in the jianghu disproportionate to their actual size. The Four Houses are; the Yuan Clan, Peerless Castle, Sky Ice Fortress, and White Crane Pavilion. It is rumored that all four heads traveled together when they were younger, and thus had strong bonds of friendship and loyalty even before their ascension to power.

Kongtong Heroes Society: A sect of highly chivalrous warriors who are considered extremely unpredictable, this faction was founded by a boy named Mulingzi who met an immortal and learned his skills from him. Mulingzi was warrior who hated villainy to a degree that became legendary, and he even strictly punished his students who broke the rules. This trait has influenced the entire faction, making them EXTREMELY outgoing in their fighting of any injustice they perceive, imagined or otherwise. They are thus often considered somewhat impetuous and bungling at times, though few would say it to their faces. One notable trait of the sect is that they eschew using anything resembling traditional weapons. Instead each member has his own custom-made weapon that is unique to the member, making their methods a bizarre melange of skills and techniques. Despite this (or perhaps because of it) the Heroes Society is generally thought of as quite powerful thanks to it's incredibly wide variety of skills and diverse methods, as well as the impressive martial secrets of it's founder.

Kunlun Sect: Supposedly founded by the mythological figures Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun, this sect is located in distant Xīyù (Western Regions) and thus has strong roots in a culture very different from the rest of the jianghu. This alien-ness makes them somewhat strange by Han standards, but they are generally considered an increasingly influential power in the Wulin thanks to the efforts of their current leader He Zhudao. They frequently follow the religion of Ma, which has it's origins to the far west of Tianxia, and every morning they pray in that direction at sunrise.

Eagle Clan: The Eagle Clan is simultaneously one of the newest and most powerful factions in the Wulin. A massive organization of bodyguards, mercenaries, and caravan escorts led by the mighty Gallant Eagle (one of the Top Ten most powerful in the Wulin), the Clab rose from obscurity to prominence thanks to his incredible efforts and gallantry in battle. Though perhaps not the most martially powerful sect nor the most widespread or numerous, they are without a doubt the wealthiest in the jianghu thanks to their dozens of business connections and protection contracts. Despite their heroic attitudes and demeanor, their fierce tempers and tendency to be willing to work for whoever pays them sometimes puts them in a villainous light in the eyes of their peers; the Eagles don't care who or who they guard as long as they are paid, and tend to be massive glory-hounds as individuals. They have a rivalry with the Tang Clan that is rumored to have started by Gallant Eagle himself for unknown reasons.

Holy Flame Cult: Originating in Yuènán, the Holy Flame Cult was formerly a horde of southern barbarians powerful enough to threaten all of China and the Wulin. Led by the nefarious Fire God Zhurong, they worshipped fire as a purifying force, though they seemed to largely express this by destroying absolutely everything they came across. The Flame Cult is significantly less powerful since Storm Dragon slew their leader, though they now follow a new Zhurong and can still be found across the southern territories.

Black Lotus Syndicate: Generally considered the most nefarious evil faction in the Wulin, the Unrivaled Heaven and Earth Society is the single largest organized crime group in the jianghu and out of it. More popularly called the Black Lotus thanks to their unofficial symbol, the Syndicate operates like a slow poison in the veins of Tianxia, spreading graft, corruption, and strange drugs imported from the southern lands to civilization as they gain power and influence. Their leader is the nefarious Black Storm Buddah, who once was the chief pupil of Shaolin's Abbot White Cloud before sons schism between them caused him to reject Buddhist teachings and embrace villainy. His deadliest enforcers are the Three Storms, who terrorize any area they arrive in and keep the widespread Syndicate in line through force and fear.

The Ming Empire: Not precisely a faction, but the official government of all of Tianxia. With a massive military, potent resources, and a seemingly endless population, this faction could conceivably crush all of the Wulin of they desired, though they have never had the desire nor organization necessary to accomplish such a thing.