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[Man of Paper]

Welcome to Zheng Mian.

Core Thread

Before we begin, we must determine who and what your people actually are.

What type of landscape did your people settle on? This place had a great impact on your people, and defined what became your peoples first Style. What Style was it? This Style is Unarmed and of a singular Element influenced by your people's surroundings. Proposals for Unarmed Styles should include the mindset it's practitioners aim to be in, as well as how the Element is utilized, and any techniques or strikes they specialize in.

You may refer to the Core Thread's rules for guidelines as well as ask me for basic input.

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

[NUKE9.13]

Proposal number one, number one proposal:

The Zheng Mian first arose as an identifiable culture in the Mengmeng (misty) Wetlands. It was considered a poor place to settle by surrounding tribes due to the soggy ground, unpleasant fauna, and most importantly the almost permanent mist that defines the region. The Zheng Mian, however, were outcasts from some other civilisation, who had no choice but to make their way into the foreboding mists, to eke out an existence upon the scattered areas of higher ground amidst the swamps and streams.
Yet the Mengmeng Wetlands proved to be a more palatable homeland than first thought. A key factor was that the region naturally overflowed with Water magic, and early Zheng Mian settlers learned to harness this force to their own ends. From scattered practitioners experimenting wildly, gradually a cohesive style emerged that utilised Water magic to aid in combat. Namely, the Style known as

'Open Palm, Concealed Strike' Style:
A skilled combatant can block almost any strike, no matter where it comes from or how it is applied. But no one can block the strike he does not know is coming.
The 'Open Palm, Concealed Strike' Style is, in terms of actual hand-to-hand combat, a style primarily about deflection. The open palm brushes aside enemy strikes, but is ineffectual at causing harm. Yet OPCS is no pacifist Style- the meek nature is, in fact, an illusion.
For a practitioner of Open Palm, Concealed Strike aims not to defeat the opponent through a frontal assault, but to blind the foe, then strike from an unexpected angle. They do this by accumulating Water magic with every deflected strike, gradually drawing water (the physical stuff) towards themselves. Tendrils of mist creep forth from the practitioner's body, joining together, swirling around near the ground before the practitioner unleashes the accumulated mist. At that point, the foe is overwhelmed by an all-but impenetrable fog that suddenly rises around them, practically blinding them (and reducing their hearing, as fog is wont to do). They are then assailed by blows coming through the fog- from behind, from the side, now from the front, side again, side again, back- you get the picture, unlike the victim, who has no idea what is happening, and usually has little time to think about it before being knocked out.
Practitioners of Open Palm, Concealed Strike believe that knowledge and information are the keys to any fight, and the best way to defeat the foe is with an attack they cannot respond to.

[ghost armor 1337]

I binged Royal Road, that is all

Hawk Style, Armed-Spear based [Metal]

Our capatal is founded amoung a moutan rich with Metal deposits which give rise to guilds of Craftsmen and Blacksmiths who over the genarations learnt to use Metal qi to enhance they whares to be more strong and durable than they mundane counter parts. This has given our tools and wepon such wide renown across the land that it was said our humble kitchen knife has equal worth to a finely crafted sword twice it weight. Because of that fact our people grows wealthy from trade from our neighbours. But our wealth attraced bandits who lunch ever daring raids on out trade caravans, intent to rob the contents of our caravans to either sell it to the highest bidder or use them as trophy.

At first the guilds were content to form a impromtu militia of carvan gaurds as protection for our carvans armed and payed with our finest wepons and armor. Unfotunly high quilty gear dosn't mean high quilty warriors as the guilds would find out as the bandits grows ever more vicious and daring with they raids, many youg men of carvan gaurd militia would fall to the blades of the bandits while others would join the bandit hordes seeing a easer means of wealth than the thankless task of a carvan gaurd.

Recruts to the carvan gaurd militia stedly dropped during this dark time as did our people's wealth. Many came beleved that the bandits are the true rulers of this land and has wellingly offered them self as vassals to they new overlords, it seems that we are destined to be a known as a nation ruled by ruled by bandits until the emrgance of Hong YI the Steel Hawk.

Hong YI was a humble son of Tofu sellers who have taken up the task of carvan gaurd as a means of providing for his family after a drought left our nations bean felds barren. He soon proved to be fairly skilled with the Spear and this fact has earned some renown amoung the carvan gaurds and eared him a circle of frends, which he lost over the years to bandits as his skills to proves to bearly a match to the ferocious  of the bandits. During that time Hong YI fell into a state of dispar with his charges saying he resemble a walking statue than a human, he went on this state for many months bairly sleeping least the  the bandits jump him.

When Hong YI finally fainted from exhaustion,while he is unconscious he dreamed of a falcon patiently circling over tiger chashing a herd of Cattle. The Cattle herd puts up a vailant fight but they numbers were slowly witted down by the tiger's attack then the falcon dived into the tiger and with a single decisive strike it ended the tigers life.

 After waking up from the dream Hong YI promply left the caravan towards the cillfs leaving only a note stating he must "gain the wings of a Hawk". A fellow caravan gaurd by the name of Zhaou Chow is worried, convinced that Hong YI has finally snapped from the stress, he looked from any trace of Hong YI on the nearby cliffs but there no sign of him. Fearing the worse  Zhaou Chow returnd to his carvan to resume his gaurd dutites. A month while later when Zhaou Chow is caught in a ambush by bandits a shadow fell out of the sky and implaed the bandit leader. As the dust settled Zhaou Chow quickly  recognize the shadadow to be none other than Hong YI. Then underling of the the recently slain bandit chief charged  Hong YI intent on avenging they slain leader which Hong YI responded by stiking with unnatral speed and strength.

Because during his saclusion Hong YI has gained a revaltion on the nature of qi techniques that the guilds uses to enhance they wares could also be used to enhance the body, boosting it to match the wepion it welding and surpass human limts.

After Hong YI despached all the bandits  Zhaou Chow and the surviving carvan gurds all offer them shelf to become  Hong YI first disciples and thus in this moment the school of Steel Hawk is formed.

Hong YI and his deciples would go on to to fell many bandit warlords and librate many towns from they grasp, gaining many more disciples and bolstering they ranks. Until that fateful day Hong YI met his match with the terrible bandit warlord kown only as the Pigiron King who breack Hong YI's spear along with body but not before  Hong YI peraced his his heart with the broken remains of his spear.

Thus the burden of leader fell to Zhaou Chow, who swore to uphold tents of the Steel falcon style to be keen and swift as the falcon and Strong and bright as Steel.

(TLDR: Favoured  wepon: Spears
QI tecnuque: strengthening body and wepon
Goal:to protect our carvans and ensure posprety to our relm.)

[Twinwolf]

The home of the Zheng Mian is a dark and dreary place, a jungle with such a thick cover of foliage that there are few places where the light shines through. It is difficult to find large enough patches to farm, harder still to avoid the predators of the jungle. Were it just a bit more hospitable, maybe the Zheng Mian would have lived more comfortably. But they also wouldn't have attained their great spirituality. The Jungle of Light is the name given to this eternally dark land.

Many might have associated the jungles with the element of Wood. And perhaps in the outer regions they might be right. But in the darkest depths of the land, it is not the trees that define the lives of the Zheng Mian monks - it is the light. Those pure beams of sunlight shining through the rare break in the canopy, the light that gives the people the light to farm by, to see by, to live by. The Sun is the most important feature of the Zheng Mian's homeland. Through this trial of darkness and the purity of light, the founders of Zheng Mian learned to see the world for what it was.

The deathly home of the Zheng Mian paradoxically instills a lively character in it's people; they are those to whom death is a close friend, and not something to be feared. To be a cynical soul is to bring the dark into your heart, so laugh, and let in the light.

Laughing Lizard Style, Unarmed [Fire]

The Laughing Lizard style is one that cultivates a fierce passion in it's practicioners - but an equally burning creativity. Laughing Lizard is not a style of flinging fire into the foe's face like many of it's brethren in the element, but it's all about expression, creativity. To more rigid styles the movements of the Laughing Lizard seem random and haphhazard. The Laughing Lizard warriors fight with a smile on their faces, as if they were participating in a friendly game and not a potentially lethal engagement. Those sorts take themselves far too seriously; it's what makes it such a joy to see the stupefied look on their faces when they start getting hit!

The magic of the Laughing Lizard style isn't as directly offensive as many others. Instead, the user's erratic movements lend aid to the fiery mirages that trail them. In the split second where an afterimage is visible, it's not clear whether the fighter is dancing away from your punch or countering it, whether there's a low kick sweeping your legs or a high one jarring your brain.

[Light forger]

Yǒnghéng Yùnxíng
The birthplace of the Zheng Mian is the vast mountain of Yǒnghéng Yùnxíng. It’s an immense granite mountain topped with a vast icy peak which supplies the countless rivers of the lands below it. At the base of the amiss the multi-story waterfalls Zheng Mian was founded, powered by the ample supply of water and fertile albeit scarce soil. A common theme among Zheng Mian spirituality is the idea of ever moving water being divine with stagnant pools of water being shunned. Reflective of this the people of Zheng Mian focus on change even sometimes for its own sake. After all, only in death do we become still.

Eternity’s Fall Style [Water]
Founded under of the greatest of the Yǒnghéng Yùnxíng many waterfalls Eternity’s Fall is a highly defensive style based around stalling your foe until you can land the perfect killing blow. In order to do this the user shrouds their body in ever moving mist. The mist both masks their movement and even helps to gently push away blows. While doing this the user is meant to be ever moving constantly dancing around their foe without ever landing a strike . This is a gambit designed to force their foe into over committing at which point the user will gather all the mist they are shrouded in and make a single bone-crushing strike using their foes' own strength against them.

[Twinwolf]

Open Palm, Concealed Strike Style:
Laughing Lizard Style (1): Twinwolf
Eternity's Fall Style:

[NUKE9.13]

Open Palm, Concealed Strike Style:
Laughing Lizard Style (2): Twinwolf, NUKE9.13
Eternity's Fall Style:

I'd be fine with all three of these options. Voting for Laughing Lizard for now.

[Light forger]

Open Palm, Concealed Strike Style:
Laughing Lizard Style (3): Twinwolf, NUKE9.13, Lightforger
Eternity's Fall Style:

[The Ensorceler]

Open Palm, Concealed Strike Style:
Laughing Lizard Style (4): Twinwolf, NUKE9.13, Lightforger, Ensorceler
Eternity's Fall Style:

dont actually have much preference just want to go next design

[ghost armor 1337]

Open Palm, Concealed Strike Style:
Laughing Lizard Style (5): Twinwolf, NUKE9.13, Lightforger, Ensorceler,ghost armor 1337
Eternity's Fall Style:

dont actually have much preference just want to go next design

[Man of Paper]

Proposal: Laughing Lizard Style and the Jungle of Light
Difficulty: Normal
Result: (6+5)=11, Masterwork

The Jungle of Light is not a hospitable place. Insects, creatures, plants, even the water here can kill you. Exiled from their homelands, the people who would become the Zheng Mian were pushed into the darkest reaches of this jungle, stalked by man and beast alike as they sought some form of refuge and safety. The Jungle was merciless and did not offer aid to the people, but they saw hope in that which penetrated both the dense canopy above and the oppressive darkness below. Beams of sunlight offered warmth, sight, and most importantly, a beacon with which to guide the Zheng Mian. It is said that the few people who led the way were following the whispers of the spirits of the light, and while the travels were hard, the people had hope.

The people followed the paths illuminated by the rays light until one day, long after the last of their pursuers had died or given up the chase, they came across a large clearing in the jungle. The tender, warm caress of light finally embraced the Zheng Mian whole, and legends say that it is within this clearing where the first Zheng Mian monks "meditated" for days on end. While most of the people set to work building homes, setting up small plots to farm, and erecting a wall of wooden stakes, the monks danced around the village fire, tending to it and celebrating the gift which the light had given them. Some monks fell into trances on the first day of celebration, and moved fluidly and with ease nonstop for many days afterward. As time went on the people of the village could see the image of the dancing monks dragging behind them and playing tricks on their eyes, until one morning the fire was completely encircled by a singular dancing figure and her afterimages. She collapsed soon after the dance completed and fell into a deep slumber. During this sleep she was visited by the spirits of the light. As she had embraced them wholly, they would return the favor in kind, giving her a taste of the sun which burned above and guided her people to safety. This gift is known as the Laughing Lizard Style.

--

Laughing Lizard Style is a Fire Elemental style that focus more on movement than fighting necessarily. The Dance of Movement is itself a joyous celebration embraced by practitioners. Like the fires that taught them to dance, Laughing Lizard Warrior-Monks move and shift constantly. Each step, like the light that guided and continues to guide them, is certain in where it will fall, but does so gently enough to hardly bend a blade of grass before shifting and continuing the fluid motions of the dance. Laughing Lizard Warrior-Monks use quick strikes with their hand and feet, and are much more likely to try to avoid an attack than block one. The Laughing Lizard Warrior-Monks focus on the defensive, outmaneuvering opponents until they tire out and leave an opening for the Laughing Lizard Warrior-Monk to exploit.

Laughing Lizard Style utilizes Fire in a fluid defensive manner not unlike the way Laughing Lizard Warrior-Monks fight without it. When the monks use the Dance of Movement, their skin becomes warm to the touch and they begin to emit an aura or glow around themselves. This aura acts almost as a mirage lining the edges of a large flame, blurring that which moves within it and leaving an afterimage dragging behind the practitioner as they move. This mirage combined with the movements of the monks leads to a, for lack of better words, trippy image for those observing them as dragging afterimages blur together. The most skilled Laughing Lizard Warrior-Monks can even move in such a way that their mirage appears to move in ways which they are not, making it seem, for example, like a high kick is coming in when it's actually coming low. The movements are relatively simple to learn and train with, making the Laughing Lizard Style highly accessible and a Common practice among the Zheng Mian.

--

With the Laughing Lizard Style to protect and guide them, the Zheng Mian monks flourished, finding more slices of paradise within the murderous jungle. As time went on, the monks centralized their training in two places, building a monastery near the Teaching Flames of the first village and another deep in the jungle where it is rumored that the voices of the spirits first spoke to the Zheng Mian people.

--

GM Pregame Insight: Hey, here's some special insight during these three question phases from yours truly! The Laughing Lizard Style was judged to be Normal difficulty because of the more sustained method of utilizing the Element. Otherwise, the style was relatively simple as it didn't utilize any more specialties, signature moves or elemental usage, and kept itself pretty focused. It was also not harder than Normal due to the enforced lack of Qi usage.

--

Question 2

As your people expanded outward they required larger armies to face their growing number of enemies. What type of lands laid adjacent to yours did you desire enough to take by force? Describe two distinct biomes. What Basic Armed Style was developed to accomplish this? A Basic Armed Style proposal should include the weapon being developed as well as the overall combat doctrines drilled by Warrior Monks using the Style, in addition to the same subjects of mindset, and special strikes and techniques as an Unarmed proposal.

You also get one "Design" to determine what your monks wear. It is important for someone representing the Zheng Mian to be identifiable as one of the Warrior Monks. For all intents and purposes, consider this a "uniform" design but with, you know, martial arts flavor. It is meant to be Common, so if you try to do much extra with it then it's going to suffer regardless.

You can also rename the Units you get. Just make sure it's voted on the phase after you get them.

Spoiler: Zheng Mian Unarmed Styles (click to show/hide)

Fire:
Laughing Lizard Style: A defensive style of martial arts that focuses on footwork and constant movement, with fist and foot strikes as the primary means of offense. The Dance of Movement emanates light heat and creates a mirage effect around the monk, causing very bizarre afterimages to drag behind them.

Spoiler: Units (click to show/hide)

Laughing Lizard Warrior-Monks: Monks utilizing the Laughing Lizard Style. The easy fluid movements make it a popular style among the Zheng Mian. While their fighting style is more guarded, their teachings promote openness, joviality, and celebration of all things. In their daily lives they often take positions of guidance and mentorship, teaching others the benefits of being happy. Laughing Lizard Style monks come from all backgrounds and train at the monasteries in The Jungle of Light by the Teaching Flames in the village and at the First Light deep in the jungle.(COMMON)

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

[NUKE9.13]

A thing I was working on before the update. Not final. Posting here to get feedback on Discord.

Stubborn Tiger Macuahuitl Style
The Zheng Mian macuahuitl is generally made of jungle hardwood embedded with obsidian shards. The 'blade' is about eighty centimeters in length (not including the grip) and eight centimeters wide, with eight obsidian blades on each side forming a continuous edge. The grip is two-handed and wrapped in leather. The weapon is hefty, but not unwieldy- a skilled user can manoeuvre it with sufficient speed to intercept strikes (well, normal strikes) from any angle. The obsidian blades are, of course, razor sharp, and with the weight of the club behind them they can decapitate a horse in a single strike.

The overall nature of Stubborn Tiger Macuahuitl Style is about solid strikes and solid blocks. The flat of the 'blade' is used to block attacks directly, and the edge is used to power through enemy defenses. This is not to say that the style is crude- no, it takes considerable skill and focus to use the somewhat unconventional weapon effectively.

Practitioners learn five basic strikes, three basic blocks, and three stances.
Of the strikes, the uppercut strike is noteworthy for its unconventional angle of attack. The user steps back and down to provide downward momentum for the back hand, while the fore hand is yanked up. The blade thus pivots upwards with surprising force- not as much as the overhand swing, but enough to cut through a hasty block, which is the best many opponents can muster against the unexpected move.
Of the blocks, the smash block is noteworthy in providing defence against even very powerful strikes. The flat of the 'blade' is manoeuvred to intercept the strike as in the jab block, but the off hand is quickly slid up the opposite (flat) side of the 'blade' to provide additional reinforcement. Taking advantage of the wide 'blade' this way lets the macuahuitl act as more of a shield when necessary.
The three stances are attack, defend, and pivot- the first two being obvious, the third being a counter to foes attempting to outflank the practitioner, letting them quickly turn to face their foe.
Needless to say, students must learn to combine and adapt these techniques, as an opponent is unlikely to be so kind as to attack and defend in exactly the right way. However, all adaptations are based on the basics above- the Macuahuitl is not suited for freestyle combat. The edge is the edge and the flat is the flat- never block with the edge, and (almost) never strike with the flat.

In addition to their combat training, students are instilled with discipline and focus- when fighting, one must be wholly in the fight, yet have the self control not to become consumed by it. An adept practitioner can remain concentrated on the fight almost indefinitely- even if they need to fight for twelve hours straight, no distractions will cross their mind (although their stamina is not superhuman, and most would be likely to collapse from exhaustion).

In pitched battle, practitioners fight in blocks typically four deep and eight wide. The formation of each block is quite widely spaced, giving each combatant room to manoeuvre whilst still being able to assist those around them. Though a block is fairly rigid in internal structure, each block can move freely relative to other blocks. The wide spacing allows for blocks to pass through each other fairly easily, allowing fresh troops to be cycled in to the front line.
In a mixed force, Stubborn Tiger Macuahuitl Style troops will generally take on a front-line role, serving as a solid & disciplined core that is equally able to take punishment and dish it out.

E: A narrative origin of the above style, maybe. Having written it, I'm now not so sure it's, like, martial-arty enough, but whatever. At worst it can serve as a topic of discussion for what elements we'd want to see instead.

As the Zheng Mian flourished in the depths of the Jungle of Light, they began to build settlements throughout the land, and roads linking them. Trade with the outside world began to take place, providing the Zheng Mian with resources not found within their jungle home- though they rarely got a fair deal, with outsiders regarding them as 'ignorant primitives', not equals to treat with respect. Nevertheless, the Zheng Mian did not seek wealth, and did not complain.
However, trade was not the only thing the outsiders had in mind. Conflict proved to be the way of the world, as outlying settlements fell victim to raiders seeking slaves and plunder. The [Laughing Lizard Warrior-Monks] were thus called upon to act in self-defence. For some time, this worked well- the raiders proved incapable of overcoming the monks' surreal skillset, and damage caused by these raids was kept in check.
But things changed, as they always do. Fortunately, at the pivotal moment, a pivotal individual emerged.

Tekuani had wanted to become a Warrior-Monk since she first saw one dancing in her home village. In her adolescence, she travelled to the Monastery of the Teaching Flames, but was judged to have no affinity for Light magic due to her mind being too rigid. Disappointed, she returned home, where she eventually joined the local militia- the first line of defence versus raiders, intended to buy time for the monks to arrive and drive the raiders back.
This continued for some time. Tekuani became a respected member of the militia, as she was skilled with her chosen weapon (a wooden club embedded with shards of flint), and good at tracking raiders and setting traps for them. She still admired the monks, and often accompanied them when they dealt with raiders in her area, though she noticed that while they were rarely defeated, their carefree and haphazard approach would sometimes place them in undue risk.
One day, her militia band was urgently summoned to travel to a nearby village. A massive raid force had been sighted. Fortunately, a large group of warrior-monks happened to pass through the village, and they assured the militia that they would drive the raiders back. Tekuani joined the monks as they tracked the raiders. They easily found the trail- too easily.
When they caught up with the raiders, Tekuani was shocked at what she saw. Raiding parties usually consisted of a few dozen raiders, travelling in a disorganised fashion. This group consisted of hundreds of well-equipped men, marching in neat columns. Tekuani understood that this was not a raid; this was an invasion. She tried to get the monks to understand the situation, but they treated the massive (relative to a raiding party) army with the same carefree exuberance they always displayed. Heedless of her warnings, the monks prepared to intercept the enemy, certain of victory.
Tekuani watched, helpless, as the monks ambushed the army. At first, the soldiers were unprepared for the whirling, flickering Light-worshippers, and dozens of soldiers fell before they knew what was happening. But that still left hundreds alive, who quickly assumed defensive formations, presenting squares of outward-facing shields ands spears. The monks could not penetrate the formations, and attempts to do so led to the defenders' spears reaping a bloody toll.
When the monks realised they could not break the lines, they tried to lure the defenders out instead, only to be showered with javelins. While their flexible movement and misleading afterimages made the javelins unlikely to hit, the sheer number ensured that some found their mark. Having now suffered more casualties than they had ever experienced, the resolve of the monks began to falter. Their permanent smiles started to fade, and soon they began to back away from the relatively fresh defenders.
The soldiers were not content to let the monks flee, however. A horn sounded, and the soldiers charged, a wall of spears descending upon the monks. Some stood and fought- and were cut down. Others ran, though many were still caught between the soldiers and the dense foliage. Of the 60-odd monks who attacked, barely a dozen escaped. Tekuani met with the survivors, who were still jovial ("You win some, you lose some. Better luck next time!"). Where previously their upbeat nature had endeared them to Tekuani, she was now disgusted by it. She told them they needed to change tactics to defeat the soldiers, but the monks would not listen to her. They opted to retreat all the way back to the Monastery of the Teaching Flames- abandoning the villages in the area to their fate.

Tekuani did not accompany the monks as they retreated. She chose instead to help the villagers in the area evacuate. However, the very next day, a solar eclipse occurred, and during the midday darkness, Tekuani was inspired. In her mind, she saw hunters chasing deer. The deer fled, and were run down one by one. Then she saw the same hunters face a tiger. The tiger stood, and though outnumbered, was able to kill the hunters. As the vision faded and the sun re-emerged, Tekuani knew what she must do.
She delegated the evacuation efforts to a village elder, while sending runners to every village she knew of, summoning anyone and everyone who knew how to fight. So absolute was her resolve that even second-hand, all obeyed her orders, and people began to converge on her location.
A second, even larger group of warrior-monks also found her, the leader of which reprimanded her for causing panic and overstepping her authority. Tekuani's warnings went unheeded again. And again, the monks were defeated. As the surviving monks fled through the now-bustling village, they finally listened to her commands, and joined her makeshift army.
When the invaders reached Tekuani's village, they found a thousand weapons assembled against them. Yet they could see these were inexperienced villagers, their weapons disparate and makeshift. Confident, they advanced against them. Indeed, the villagers were no match for the soldiers individually. Only Tekuani was able to fight them on even footing, her macuahuitl cutting down soldiers left and right- but she could not hold them off alone. But the villagers had the numbers, and Tekuani's leadership inspired them to bravery, fighting on despite grievous losses.
Even so, defeat would have been inevitable, had not the warrior-monks who listened to Tekuani emerged from the jungle, attacking the soldiers from behind and sowing confusion through their ranks. Caught between the villagers and monks, the soldiers were broken, the invasion beaten back.

When word of this victory spread, many travelled to Tekuani's village, to seek her wisdom. These aspirants she trained to fight as the soldiers had fought, developing discipline and uniform skill amongst them. Subsequent invasions would occur, yet between Tekuani's Tigers and the Lizard Monks, they were beaten back with far greater ease.

In due time, Tekuani would lead her forces in a counterattack that overran their aggressive neighbour. Even after she passed away, her teachings remained, and a monastery was founded in her name, where students learned the Stubborn Tiger Macuahuitl Style. Combined armies of Laughing Lizards and Stubborn Tigers would go on to conquer more lands, expanding the territory of the Zheng Mian to encompass [REGION ONE] and [REGION TWO].

[Twinwolf]

Environmental Proposal: The Broken Plateaus

As one leaves the jungle behind, in one direction at least, one finds the land slowly growing dry and cracked. Soon, they find themselves in the Broken Plateaus - a region in which the dominant feature is a series of ravines cris-crossing the landscape like veins of a giant stone beast. It is said that, in a friendly spar between the Gods, the Broken Plateaus were saturated with the essences of Earth and Metal. The land cracked open, revealing a treasure trove of mineral wealth beneath the surface.

The Broken Plateaus can be split into two; the plateaus themselves are roughly level with the surrounding lands, and over the years, bridges have been built to cross them and villages constructed on top of them. The plateaus are seperated by deep ravines, going well below sea level, and filled with hardy wildlife. The Zheng Mian came here for two reasons. One was to strike back against those who drove them into the jungle, who owned the region. The second was to claim a source of abundant metals, in the form of the mines that have been built into the walls of the ravines.

-----

Zheng Mian Uniform

The Zheng Mian uniform is a simple white outfit. Woven together from jungle plants and dyed white using a flower unique to the Jungle of Light, the Zheng Mian uniform is a canvas on which the wearer's philosophy can be painted. From the baseline of a white uniform top and pants, the outfit is modified by each order of Monks to fit their order. As part of raising one's rank to a level to participate in open combat, monks go into the jungle alone, and come back with some kind of material associated with their order to be used in their personalized uniform; the Laughing Lizard monks from their oldest days to gather the fiery red venom of a monstrous lizard the size of a bull named by modern scholars as the "Zheng Mian Dragon", and use it to dye the sashes that bind their shirt together; another order might have a completely different tradition.

A magical martial artist does not need to hide on the battlefield. The Zheng Mian were driven from their original homes - the taking of the color white as theirs was a symbol that they would no longer be driven into hiding.

[NUKE9.13]

Just putting up two region proposals.
These two regions are both in the same vein as the Jungle of Light- a region that on the surface is dominated by one element, but is actually more attuned to the element generated by it. So instead of Wood>Fire, they are Fire>Earth and Water>Wood.

Region: The Slopes of Ash
To the [north/south] of the Jungle of Light, the land rises into a series of mighty volcanoes. Though many are active, the region is densely populated, as the slopes and valleys are made fertile by the frequent showers of ash. It is this ash that defines the energy of the region, bring forth prosperity and (surprisingly, given the regions on surface volatile nature) stability. The reliable harvests feed large cities that are strategically located outside of the eruption-fallout zones. Some of these cities have stood for thousands of years, and their people consider themselves true metropolitan citizens- far above their barbaric neighbours.
Despite the large, wealthy population, when the Zheng Mian began to expand, the armies of the Ash-folk proved incapable of besting the fanatical warrior-monks. This was in part due to the region being divided politically- the proud citizens of the ancient cities would not dream of asking for help from a rival city. After several humiliating defeats, cities began to surrender to the approaching armies- with the condition that the Zheng Mian would let them retain their way of life and a degree of autonomy, while providing their 'barbarian' overlords with yearly tributes.

Region: The Wetlands of Endless Spring
[North/South] of the Jungle of Light stretches a mostly-flat expanse of sodden wetlands between the Jungle and the Turquoise Sea. No less than three major rivers flow through the region, each with many tributaries, and each splitting into sprawling deltas that intertwine with each other, making the 'shore' of the region almost impossible to define, so muddled becomes the distinction between land, sea, and river. In addition to the rivers, the sea also plays a major role in the region. Oceanic currents keep the climate temperate year-round, to the point where it is all-but impossible to distinguish summer and winter.
As a result of the constant influx of silt (frequently redistributed by flooding) and the consistently pleasant climate, the region is said to experience an "Endless Spring". Plantlife thrives year-round, tended to by swarms of buzzing insects, while animals of all kinds make their homes amidst reed and river. The human residents of the region are almost entirely spared the indignity of agriculture- so bountiful are their surroundings that they can sustain large communities by harvesting wild fruits and grains, supplemented by copious quantities of fish and game. Legends, both local and foreign, believe that humanity originated in the region. Some claim they should never have left, for all evils of the world originate from humanity trying to overcome nature.
The Zheng Mian did not enter the region as conquerors, but as 'liberators', displacing a different foreign empire who had established dominion over the region. For the most part, the Zheng Mian saw fit to leave the locals to live freely, though a modest tax was imposed, and the displaced empire's port-cities were occupied, providing the Zheng Mian with the means of trading with the wider world.

I'm also considering changes to the Macuahuitl style, primarily to make it more distinct. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

[Kashyyk]

Been thinking some more about a counterpart to our Dancing Lizard style. Thoughts?

The Jungle of Light is a dangerous place, and yet we must live here. The poisonous plants and infectious insects can be avoided with care, but when you're not the top of the food chain and your prey can gut you with a single swing, we must take a lesson from the jungle snakes of our home. Thus, when our future turned to war, we continued to use the weapon that had kept us alive in the jungle.

Just as these Hunters can deliver a single, deadly strike, the Coiled Serpent style uses a spear to deliver strong, carefully aimed blows at vital points, such that any one will be a finisher. Thus, any opponent is forced to keep out of range and weather a series of lethal blows before they can respond. A Coiled Serpent monk is thus always watchful. Poised and ready to spring into sudden action.

The spear itself is fashioned from jungle hardwoods and tipped with metal, it stands approximately a head and a half taller than its user. Just back from the head is a pair of "wings", about the size of a hand, used to prevent a charging animal from running up the length of the spear and gutting you before it takes you've impaled it. These wings are sharpened in war time, allowing near misses to be turned into slashes, and to discourage opponents from grabbing the haft.