Reserved For more Lore

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[hider=School of Magi]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.[/hider]

[hider=Qigekki]Of all the castes within Zhuni Society none is more both honored and feared then the Qigekki. Caused by a mutation in the dantian that affects about 1% of the female population these women are given an incredible gift and burden. At an early age the mutation will affect and change the way their energy is seen by other Zhuni and often change their hair color. Life is normal until they hit the age 12 of which they will be given the option to finish school or go to the training camps, if they finish school then upon age 16 (unless they are pregnant) they will be sent to the camps for training. There they are physically, spiritually, and mentally conditioned to extremely loyal to their faith and nation as well as supreme warriors. They are given the highest training possible and taught to live with nothing but their skill and power as it is harnessed. They are renown around the world for their energy manipulation which is used for a variety of techniques involving their martial arts (increased power, speed etc. As well as more creative uses such as claws, and range extensions, and some with some really crazy things) as well for weaponless ranged attacks. Despite this renown status very few non Qigekki know about their training and very few non Zhu truly understand their cultural and religious status. This power comes with a price, as with the exception of very few people most will die before 30 from their own power burning their bodies apart. This isn't considered bad in the Zhuni religion though, instead it is seen as them returning home to the Great Mother. But because they are needed, they are expected to have children as soon as possible with someone of quality genetic stock. 

While a Qigekki is alive they are the most respected members of society short of nobles and religious leaders. People shower them with gifts and affection, many offer up their sons as possible husbands and their daughters as assistants in hopes of gaining their favor. They tend to be some of the richer members of society since the government pays them a lot even if they just guard a town or such . Their families receive free aid and healthcare from the finest healers for the next three generations as a condition of the service (although a Qigekki can chose to not give their family anything). They hold large amounts of influence in society and most can sentence someone to death or imprison on their word alone. They are a very unified organization both the camps and every active or inactive Qigekki taking their orders from a commander selected by the current Empress everyone obeying their orders and reporting to their stations areas without question. Typically any gang that isn't stupid will leave a fully initiated Qigekki alone as pissing one off could possibly piss off the whole order.[/hider]

[hider=Tribals]Back when the current form of Zhu Society was formed and the Prophet Zhu Shang Qiao freed all the races she began to set down laws and a way of life they all must adhere to. Most of the people accepted it gladly, having already been convinced of her teachings and not having any reservations about it. But whereas most gladly went with her and the other prophets to rebuild and forge the proper society, there were some that didn't want to simply change their lives because they were told to. Zhu Shang Qiao made an agreement with them that they could be separate from the society and it's laws but that they had to remain the jungles like they had been doing beforehand, unable to forge a large society or build anything but small villages. 

Over the next several thousand years the Tribals have changed from what they once were, countless generations of living with the land and having to fend off predators changed their mind set, they were more instinct based and survivalist. Their language skills changed as stealth became so important, most of their communication done through their auras and simply motions, with spoken words being short, quick, and without any of the organized grammar of the official tongue. Their senses are very enhanced and they hunt as well as any animal native to the area. Very rarely do any have the needed discipline to really use their chi in powerful ways most using it for simple tasks such as aiding their weapon strength or healing poison, the one that master it tend to be chiefs and marry the shamans who are strongest in magic. 

They live in dozens of small tribes scattered all across the jungles, each tribe being its own separate group with its own beliefs in most cases though most have a lot of overlap. According to Zhu law tribal's have to be left alone unless in a manner of self defense, the only other occasion is if a tribe grows to large the Qilun and sometimes Qigekki are sent to forcibly split it up into smaller tribes in order to not put too much strain on the environment and go back on the initial agreement. These forceful relocations sometimes end up violent and frequently split up families and lovers, resulting in most tribals hating the others and wanting nothing to do with them. On the very very rare occasion a tribal is born a Qigekki, that child is kidnapped and forced into training and Zhu society with no regard for how the tribe feels. By the time training is done she's normally too brainwashed to remember.[/hider]

[hider=Brakyu's steel]A mysterious Faction that operates within the Zhu Empire, most notably within the capital kingdom of Zhu Shang Qiao. Not much is known about their origin and until very recently all that was known is that they all wear a symbol of three metal spheres or rings overlapping each other, it always somewhere physical on their body, as well as tattoos of an unknown language. For years they were thought to be some random gang that while connected to several crimes, was always lower priority then many larger groups who did more large scale criminal work. They were thought to be mostly responsible for disjointed random acts of thefts that went on during other conflicts and events, an opportunistic set of thieves afraid of conflict. It was only during recent years that the shroud began to be lifted and they were seen for what they really are. Strange events happened during the conflict between the empress and Niang that neither side could explain, and eventually it they were found to be responsible. Reopening the case files the Qizhou began to paint a more clear picture of the group, as well as using info gained from the now loyalist Twin Suns. 

Brakyu's Steel has been active for a while, being confirmed responsible for dozens of large scale kidnappings and disappearances (many of which were sacrifices) over the past 50 years. Using other groups and conflicts as a smokescreen they have taken items that alone seem random but when put together show an interest in ancient superstition and mystical patterns. They are now known as a large cult, using criminal activity as a way to fund their activities and research into dark gods deep within the past of Kios. Their numbers are large and mixed and are known for being very dangerous, the magic being brought to the table never clearly known. With their cover of mystique partially blown the group has become more hostile and open in their actions, leading to conflict with Qizhou as raids have become more common in hopes to stop them and find their leader.[/hider]

[hider=Twin Suns]While the exact details of their history are a little murky it is known that the Twin Suns as they are currently known can trace their origins to three war bands from a recently found seedworld. It was the year 4430 Age of Tiger (it's currently the year 5098) and their nation had recently been contacted by the Zhu Empire the first time anyone on their planet had had contact with aliens or magic. Their society themselves having just recent invented gunpowder they found themselves awestruck by Zhu power and technology. When the Zhu explained that the people were their younger siblings who had just recently been guided into maturity by their Goddess, the people accepted it with very little resistance not that they really had a choice. Three warlords who had previously been trying to conquer the land soon became the leaders of those who didn't want to be ruled by the Zhu. Naming themselves the Twin Suns after their binary star system. 

Initial public reaction to the Twin suns was strong as they promised to prevent Zhu oppression and fight until the Zhu withdrew their occupation. While they talked big the reality didn't go as planned, days slowly turned into years and they had made no progress against the might of the Zhu people, every battle and attempt ended in failure or a temporary stalemate until more soldiers came. As the years went by they began to lose support partially due to their ineffectiveness but mostly due to the fact that the people didn't really feel that they were being oppressed. Once they had opened their minds more they were able to see that the Zhu really did see them as brothers and sisters, eagerly teaching them of their culture and magical sciences. They explained the ever evolving world around them and taught them how to properly develop the new senses and powers that they had begun to develop. When the world officially adopted the Zhu religion the Twin Suns knew they were through. It's unknown what exactly they did for the next few generations but a century after they were founded, they went through a major change. 

The people were now full Zhu citizens and a fully integrated part of the empire, so far integrated that their culture was barely distinguishable from the other Zhu races. With their war having been lost the Twin Suns refound purpose in this new age and became a criminal organization under the guise of protecting their people from the other nations and groups on their planet who held disdain for their new progress. While they made many public spectacles to back this up in reality they were doing just as much harassment, blackmail, extortion, and staling as the people they fought against. With the bulk of the Zhu military out of their lands now, the Twin Suns attracted many of their own and Zhu alike into their new organization and overtime expanded into the massive organization they are today. Now they exist on every Zhu world and most cities. As generations passed the culture was barely distinguishable from any other Zhu with a few exceptions and as such the Twin Suns hardly show their old roots and are now known as the largest Zhu gang with members from all areas of the empire. 

In recent years their current incarnation began to have clashes with the religious organizations of the Empire which began to cause them to be more on the defensive and down low with their activities as the other gangs essentially went to war with the Magi, priestesses, and monks. When the issue of government vs. religion reached its apex it became civil war between Empress Li Hua and High Priestess Niang, with the desperate priestess' summon spirits and channeling demonic warriors to their cause to force their change. During this chaotic time many gangs wanted to go grab as much territory as they could, but the Leader of the Twin Suns had a better idea. She organized a meet with her biggest rivals and managed to have Li Hua meet with her and leaders of the next 5 largest gangs. At the meet they all bowed down to their Empress and swore undying loyalty to her, knowing full well that if Niang won her Utopian ideals would result in them all being killed and their legacies destroyed. And so the Twin suns were rebranded as Li Hua loyalists and fought for her during the civil war, using their connections and disregard for honor to become valuable assets in the conflict. After Li Hua stomped out her opposition she granted all of those who helped her a boon and gave them semi protected status as long as they kept a low profile and kept to minor crimes. The Twin Suns gladly accepted and to this day remain under the guise of Li Hua loyalist who happen to deal in illegal drugs on the side. Under the surface they still deal in all manner of illegal activities, from murder to illegal slavery, and extortion. They are widely feared and considered untouchable by most Qizhou since any member caught simply claims to have gone rouge and the factions as a whole is left alone. How long this current state will remain is unknown to all but Li Hua herself, all anyone else can do is stay out of their way. [/hider]