Day 2 - Heavenly Demon
Greetings young disciple!
If you were with us yesterday, you would have gotten a good sense of how authentic the game of 9Dragons is. I told you about the Shaolin, and the lengths that the game designers have gone to in order to reflect a true feeling of ancient China - even down to having to shave your head in order to enter the temple. Well, the other clans in 9Dragons are no less authentic. And to keep with that faithfulness, I shall introduce some "yang" to go with the Shaolin "yin". If the Shaolin are the ideal representation of "good" in this ancient land, then the Heavenly Demon are the exact opposite!
Heavenly Demon's preferred weapon is the fearsome sabre. While this is nowhere near as elegant or versatile as a double-edged sword, its benefit lies in the sheer bloody destruction a heavy blow can cause.
You need to know a little about the history of this black clan. The Heavenly Demon clan was founded by an ambitious warrior. In fact, he was so ambitious that he challenged the Imperial Emperor himself - not a smart move! This warrior, who called himself The Emperor Heavenly Demon, had been brought up in the Zorastrian temple, but instead chose to enter the cult of devil worship under the teachings of Anra Mainyu. Choosing the path of evil, he was cast out of the Zorastrian temple. He found himself a base in the mountains, and over time, recruited many disciples to his alternative black philosophy. Eventually, he became strong enough to challenge the Imperial Emperor himself. But his pursuit of ultimate power was interrupted by the War of the Nine Dragons.
During this conflict, which cast a dark spell over all of China, Emperor Heavenly Demon suddenly disappeared. Perhaps the Imperial Emperor's assassins finally got to him, or perhaps there is a deeper story. Regardless, all that was left was a message to his followers that he would come back one day.
Disciples of Heavenly Demon dispersed across all of China to await the return of their master. However, they were all still followers of the black arts, and remained resentful of the Imperial Emperor and all the white clans that uphold his will. But without a leader to direct this hatred, the clan is lost and directionless. Without a clear external goal, internal strife is tearing the clan apart. Every single member is ambitious and willing to do anything to climb past the others. Only the strong survive, so watch your back.
But enough history. What can I tell you of the clan itself? First, that the leaders rule the members through pure fear. Blind loyalty is enforced through severe punishments. Hatred is the fuel that keeps them going. Failure is punished with total ruthlessness. I think you get the picture.
And what of their kung fu? Well, Heavenly Demon's martial arts style is a combination of traditional fighting styles and occult practices. Their style is known as the Bloody Hands Technique, and strikes fear into their enemies. Heavenly Demon's preferred weapon is the fearsome sabre. While this is nowhere near as elegant or versatile as a double-edged sword, its benefit lies in the sheer bloody destruction a heavy blow can cause. The fighting style is fast and furious with the emphasis on attack, not defense. Only the Wu-Tang Clan has a greater reputation for fighting.
So, my friend, after two days, you have seen a glimpse of the good and the evil within the 9Dragon clans. Tomorrow, I shall stay with the evil side and discuss the Sacred Flower - a black clan with an unusual twist!
