Whitewall
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Martial Artists of Whitewall
The Heavenly Blade Association
- Type: Dueling Club
- Styles: Even Blade Style (Master Lord Chaowin Registrope's variant)
- Dojo: The Heavenly Blade Association, Afton District of Whitewall
- Sifu: Master Arani Malis
Considered one of the most elite social clubs in Whitewall, the Heavenly Blade Association is open only to those who belong to the middle and upper class in Whitewall – generally those that have the luxury of being able to pay the dues of this social and dueling club, to train the long hours it expects of its members and to attend the lavish tournament/social affair it throws every season.
Founded by Master Arani Malis, a Fire-Aspected outcaste who was the prized student of Master Lord Chaowin Registrope in his youth, the Heavenly Blade Association attracts the attention of the well-to-do outcaste Dragon-Blooded, god-blooded and many raucous young mortal nobles in the city of Whitewall. Once one is accepted into the good graces of members of the Heavenly Blade, it is easy enough to get access to the means by which one's Essence might be awakened – Master Malis has a source of celestial cocaine that he is willing to parcel out to those who pay the exorbitant “touring fees” he sometimes requests of those interested in joining the Association.
Northern Sky-Shaking Brotherhood
- Type: Dueling Club
- Styles: Even Blade Style (Master Resolute Brigada's variant)
- Dojo: The Northern Sky-Shaking Brotherhood's chapterhouse
- Sifu: Master Uncompromising Integrity
The Northern Sky-Shaking Brotherhood is a dueling club based out of the hubbub and havoc of Foretown and its working class peoples. Its founder, Uncompromising Integrity, has a history of rivalry and feuding with Master Arani Malis of the Heavenly Blade Association.
Before he became Uncompromising Integrity, he was Dathan, a young miner's son. A boy of incredibly attractive features, Dathan became obsessed with the martial artists of the Heavenly Blade, and used to spend time with some of the other street boys hanging over the wall to watch the swordsmen of the Association fight. Arani Malis noticed the adolescent boy's attention – and his attractiveness. Master Malis lured the young man into the club and then his bed with offers of training in the martial ways of the Association, but once Master Malis had seduced the boy, claimed his virginity and had his fun, he grew bored with him and kicked him out of the Association. Tearful and ashamed, Dathan fled the city of Whitewall.
Fifteen years later, he returned, with the name Uncompromising Integrity. He immediately marched up to the doors of the Heavenly Blade Association and challenged Master Arani Malis to a fight. The Dragon-Blooded mocked him, and accepted, only to discover that young Dathan had gone in search of a master, and found Master Resolute Brigada, the rival of Malis' own master. His determination was strong, and it was clear that Uncompromising Integrity had learned his art well.
Unfortunately, the fight was never resolved, as the city's Guardians broke up what they viewed as dueling in the streets. Tellingly, though, Master Arani Malis has never again accepted a challenge from Uncompromising Integrity – whom he calls “Unwashed Audacity” – despite many challenges being issued. Master Malis' incredible charisma and social grace ensures that none of the upper crust view him as a coward, though; he simply makes it clear that dueling with some former peasant that has gone out and learned a few moves is beneath him.
Denied the chance at his vengeance, Uncompromising Integrity chose another path – he founded a dojo, and began to train others in the arts. Apparently his training include geomantic thaumaturgy as well as the techniques of the Even Blade, for Uncompromising Integrity uses Essential River Channeling to awaken the Essence of other poor and middle class citizens of Whitewall that Malis and his cohorts have wronged somehow.
