Historypart1

The Shih, the enigmatic warrior judges of the Middle Kingdom. Let us talk of them. Loners, warriors, priests or pariahs, they walk the dangerous line between man and monster to preserve the balance of order and defend humanity.

    Through the centuries they have gained the respect and sometimes fear of Shen as well as the few mortals who have encountered them. Unlike Hunters of the west the Shih are not wanton killers seeking blind justice against all Supernatural creatures regardless of the being's actions or nature. Instead, they act as judge, jury and if need be, executioner. For over 3,000 years they have watched over the people of the Middle kingdom, making the nights a little safer and the mighty shen a little less haughty. Usually, although not always alone, they travel from place to place carrying out there battles.

    These judges draw upon a history that began with a great warrior-mage named Yi some centuries ago.

    Wan Kung Yi was born to nobility during the Shang Dynasty. The young man grew to great prowess as a warrior, but lacked the skills he needed to take his father's place in the court as a leader. To improve this somewhat, he was sent by his parent to collect taxes from the villages of his province. During this journey he saw the subtle workings of the shen upon the people and how they feared for their lives. This enraged the youth who returned to his father demanding to be allowed to raise troops to route the creatures.

Yi's father was a good man, but also held in check by the mighty Kuei-jin. He refused his son, realizing it would only doom the innocents around them. Yi's temper overcame him, as his father appeared to not only be aware of the activities of the Kuei-jin, but condone them. The youg man lashed out, calling his parent cowardly and insulted him angrily. The elder Wan could not let Yi's words go unpunished. He striped his beloved son of title and exiled him with only a wagon, his weapons and his armor.

   Humiliated, Kung Yi traveled, learning of the ways of the shen and the other people of the land. He lived amongst the barbarians to the north rather than face his own people in humiliation. Over time he fought the shen repeatedly, still believing it was for the best. Despite his best effortsYi would only fail time after time. Never did he do more than wound one of the great creatures before being forced to run away.

   Eventually, he came to a temple beset by shen. Seeing the monks and sages trapped within, Yi decided to help. By this point, the 5 years of wandering and failure had taken their toll. Yi expected to die here. However, with heaven's blessing, at least his death might count for something. The threw himself into the battle with all he had: slashing with his sword at the spider-demons attacking the temple. In the heat of the battle, something happened. The gods smiled upon Yi. As the shen attacked Yi found the strength and power to return their fury with his own. When the last Kumo fell, Yi stood alone bloody and barely alive, but he had won.

   Yi collapsed from his injuries and was nursed back to health by the monks of that temple. While he healed there, they taught him of balance and the oneness of things in the great wheel. Slowly Yi came to realize that even the shen had a place in the natural order of things. The Shen acting in much the way a fire might destroy a forest, to allow the land to start over again. Still, he searched for a way to stop their preying on humanity. He troubled over how one man could stop something so mighty, but recived good council from the Abbott of the temple, finding his answer. An answer that he shared, with the other monks of the temple, who were soon convinced to join Yi on his new quest. They became the first Shih.