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MASK AND JADE

by Eloy Lasanta

No books for 4/2004 Summary: Playing a Thousand Whispers

The last of the orthodox Dharma in this series is the Path of a Thousand Whispers. I chose to
wait for this one, because it is not only the hardest to understand, but also the hardest to
explain. Funny, also, how it sort of fits with the whole Halloween thing, huh? Anyway, this
won’t be the last of my series; I plan on going into the heretical Dharmas, hopefully shedding
some light on them as well. But, here we go, hope you like. This will be a little long winded,
because there’s a lot to cover.

WHAT AM I?
When you think about the actual philosophy of the Thousand Whispers, it is hard for some to
grasp, especially those fresh from the grave. During the Fire and Water tests, the decision of
which Dharma the newly risen will take is still unknown. The Mandarins and teachers look at
the stock <> and choose those that should follow their Dharma, but the choice is always that
of the student, not the teacher.
Hunter Book: Wayward

So, what would make someone take up this Dharma more than any other? When you think
about it, the others are much easier to follow (if you can say any of them are really “easy”).
The Song of the Shadow calls forth with its Quiet Song to those who are very introspective
and morbid. The Dance of the Thrashing is taken up by those exactly the opposite, as they
delve into huge amounts of sex, drugs and life itself. The Way of the Resplendent Crane is for
those who enjoy the control of the masses and being the judge, excelling in morality and law.
While the Howl of the Devil-Tiger and their intense hatred and anger are the keys to opening
the doors to becoming a devil.

The Rootless Trees, however, must be none of these and all of these are the same time.
They are creatures of balance, being hot tempered one minute and apathetic the next. They
live in a world of extremes, riding the edge of each Dharma but not getting sucked into any of
them. They must return to balance; it is where their knowledge lies.

This, of course, can be a hard thing to stay on top of. A particular Kuei-jin might like one
extreme more than another (one of the main reasons for the huge amount of defectors from
this Dharma to the others). More on this in the Directions section.

A GLIMPSE OF WHAT COULD BE

So, how do the Thousand Whispers gain enlightenment if they follow no one set path? The
answer is that they take on the life of a mortal, learning lessons taken for granted by most
humans. This is their way.

How do they gain enlightenment by pretending to be human? This would be where the
distinction happens. They do not pretend to be human. By taking on the life of a human, they
are now that person. They acquire friends, family, lovers, etc. the same as any other mortal,
except that they learn from their life, while the rest of humanity toil away in ignorance.
Specific rites were created to aid them, as well, letting them change their spiritual name to
that of their life and also ways to change their appearance, voice, and even their sex.

Also, this lesson that they seek in each life is not one they actively search for. Shit happens.
Life happens. The Rootless Tree journeys through this life, waiting for that spark of
enlightenment. If they jump the gun or try to force this experience, it simply will not happen (a
reason why patience is a virtue to this Dharma).

What kind of lessons do they learn? Sadly, this can range quite a lot, depending on the Kuei-
jin, as this is the most personal Dharma of them all. A lesson for a Running Monkey might be
to just learn patience, a lesson on how to end a relationship or how to keep a job. Any kind of
intercommunicative lessons are always good. What needs to be understood, is that the
Thousand Whispers is playing out not only the lives that are given to him by his sensei (which
they most often are), but also the lives that he wished he could have had.

The life of a struggling actor might yield a lesson of patience, poverty, hunger, begging, faith
or any other number of things. Then they will abandon this life in favor of another and repeat
the process, learning a different lesson. An important note for STs: they can never learn the
same lesson twice. If they learn and squander, that’s their fault.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SHADOW LIFE

At the same time that the Kuei-jin must literally become the life they lead, it is also important
for them to remember what they really are. This is another point that is hard for followers of
the path. They are this person, yet they are someone completely different as well. Their
existence as a Kuei-jin is referred to as their Shadow Life. It is important for the Thousand
Whispers to live both lives to the fullest, another example of moderation and balance. He
must not get too swept up in any one life, even his true one. This is one of the reasons they
are regarded as crazy by followers of the other Dharmas. What type of Shadow Life they lead
has much to do with their Directions.

THE DARK JADE LOVER

This name is synonymous with death itself. The Dark Jade Lover is the representation of the
Rootless Tree’s removal of a certain mask and the death (symbolic or real) of their former life.
The Second Breath is their first Kiss from the Dark Jade Lover and those followers continue
to live life after life, coming back to her for more and more until they may leave this existence
and regain their status in the Wheel of Ages.

First, how do you end a life? The obvious way to end a life would be to just walk away from it.
But, that rarely works, especially after the Kuei-jin has gained lovers and friends whose ties
are just as strong as any family’s. In most cases, the Kuei-jin must make a symbolic and real
cut from his life, by taking the life of one of his closest “relatives.” This is called the Ritual of a
Thousand Cuts. They must sever every link to that life, selling off all possessions, breaking
up relationships, even killing those who are very persistent.

After that is completed, which can take up to a year by itself (once again with timing and
patience), the Thousand Whispers embraces the Dark Jade Lover. At lower Dharma levels,
he simply lays dormant (similar to Torpor) for several days to reflect on the lessons of the last
life. At higher levels (and higher risk), he actually plunges a knife into himself, causing the
Little Death. If done wrong, the Kuei-jin just ended his Shadow Life.

STEALING A LIFE
Under certain circumstances, the Rootless Tree may take on the mask of a being that really
does exist, instead of creating a completely new life. The mortal must have been an affront to
balance itself, leading a life in one of the extremes. If the Kuei-jin decides that life must be
corrected for the greater good, they may take it and become that person. They will adopt all
the family, friends, and other relations of the being, as well as his memories. Freaky, huh?
There are of course certain rites they must purchase to be able to perform this feat (found in
Dharma Book).
IMBALANCE
Thousand Whispers are creatures of balance. It creeps into every aspect of their life. Even
when they might be going to an extreme, they will eventually return to the center again,
readying themselves to go to another extreme. A quick glance at the Tenets of the Dharma
will quickly let you know that the Rootless Trees are a focused bunch.

If they see something that is out of balance – a corrupt man embezzling money, a younger
man addicted to drugs and sex or a woman unhealthily wasting her life in books – the
Thousand Whispers’ first thing to do is to attempt to correct the imbalance. Getting the man to
admit his failing and give back the money or helping the woman to get a social life beyond her
local library are both examples of correcting that subtle, yet potentially destructive imbalance.
Even though they will one day resemble each of those people, there will be actual purpose
and enlightenment when they do it. It is pointless for a mortal, for they cannot understand like
the Kuei-jin can.

If they do not understand the imbalance, they have the second option to question it. Finding
out why something is imbalanced is the quickest way to know its weakness, as well as a
quick spark of enlightenment. This is one of the reasons why the Rootless Trees will often
ask questions of the other Dharmas, trying to find out why they chose their path. They will
stump many, and still others will know exactly the right answers. This divides the true
followers from hapless wannabes. Those wannabes will no doubt be converted to the Path of
a Thousand Whispers soon after, if the Kuei-jin did his job correctly.

Their final choice to take is the utter and final destruction of the source of that imbalance. This
does not always mean the death of the person however. Using the examples above, the Kuei-
jin has the choice to either murder the corrupt embezzler or get rid of the money, destroying
his credibility in the city, making him loose his job and the prospect of ever doing it again. The
Kuei-jin could go on rampage killing the addicted party man, or they have the choice of
making deals with the local drug lord, making sure the young man never gets his hands on
another ounce of drug. This might lead to the suicide due to withdrawal, but then again he
could have just killed him in the beginning right? Killing the closeted woman is a bit extreme.
In her case, the destruction of her livelihood (i.e. the Library) could do it, or arson to her home
and all her earthly belongings, while at the same time taking on the mask of a man to sweep
her off her feet and get her out of her shell. You have to be creative. It’s not all about death.

There are those Rootless Trees, however, that hold onto balance like a crutch, instead of
using it to empower themselves. They will balance their Chi, their Hun and P’o will be in strict
competition with each other, neither winning wholly. Most will also choose the center
direction. This will eventually create an imbalance of Balance. They are creatures of
extremes. To cling to the balance, is to take up the Tempest of Inward Focus, which will have
a Thousand Whispers falling from their ladder to heaven quicker than a jack rabbit running
from a wolf.

DIRECTIONS
Although the Center Direction is obviously the Wise Centipede’s rightful course, remember
that they are creatures of extremes. They must journey from the Center to find their way back
again. They must learn to play all parts well, as they are all a part of a balanced spirit. The
Path of a Thousand Whispers is not separated into various Sects as other Dharma. However,
they do share gatherings of like Directions that could rival any secret sect meeting.

North: The Bunraku – The Invisible Men. They are puppeteers of the course. They
have the savvy needed to turn any situation to their own desires. In their Mask, they
will be CEOs or other leader-type people. In their Shadow Life, they are a marvel in the
courts of the Kuei-jin, gaining favor in all areas through careful manipulation of the
others.
South: The Scarlet Centipedes - These are the creatures that other Dharma fear.
They are known for their extreme changes and the chaos they cause, as the changes
they make come so frequently. They change too much, some would say. They leave
their lives quickly; ever ready to move to the next. They fight with vigor and ferocity. In
their Mask, they would no doubt portray roles that could easily be dodged if wanted.
Drug dealer, bouncer or convenience/porn clerk would be some good choices. In their
 Shadow Life, they are the most savage, violent and cruel warriors of Yomi. They are at
the frontline of every battle, ready to fight the enemy.
East: The Dancing Peacocks - Centipedes of this direction are responsible for
tending to the mortal herds of the Middle Kingdom. They are humanity’s caretakers,
saving them from enemies that might harm them, just to be kept as sustenance for the
Hungry Dead. In their Mask, they will portray police officers or other protector-types. In
the Shadow Life, they are some of the fiercest warriors against Yomi, making sure they
defend the mortals, whose blood will be needed to continue the fight.
West: The Exalted Jade Masks. The western Reeds are envoys to the Dark Kingdom
of Jade. They speak with the spirits and have made it their duty to correct the
imbalances they have left behind (for surely if they had led balanced lives, they would
have passed to heaven by now, right?). They will act as the tools of the ghosts, but if
the Wraith stays even after the target of his angst is destroyed, they too will fall by the
Jade Mask’s blade. To outlive your vengeance is also a great imbalance. In their Mask,
they will portray roles that allow them easy access to contact with the dead: a medium,
a mortician or gravedigger. Their Shadow Life should be self explanatory from the
description.

THOUSAND WHISPERS AND YULAN-JIN

This Dharma does have a special affinity to the Yulan-jin, those Kuei-jin’s whose souls have
been warped by Yomi. These beings cannot hold onto a body for very long and with every
Little Death they encounter, they are hurled to another body where they are left without
memories. The Yulan-jin find it easier to follow the Path of a Thousand Whispers, as you are
supposed to leave the old behind holding only onto the lesson learned. However, they will
often forget that lesson as well. Yulan-jin become Wise Centipedes more than any other
Dharma.

TENETS (A BRIEF OVERVIEW)

1. Live 1,000 lifetimes, each one different from the last: The Central tenet is self
explanatory.
2. Learn what you can from each life: This tenet teaches that each life can teach an
important lesson. Hold onto that lesson, but leave the rest behind.
3. Change as much as possible between breaths: This tenet teaches that each life
must be drastically different. You cannot go from being a caretaker to a doctor to a
paramedic. What would you learn? If you follow one road, you must also experience its
reverse. Following the road of P’o (becoming a serial killer for one of your lives) would
prompt for your next life to follow Hun (a leader or diplomat of some sort). Everything
must be different every time.
4. If you grow too close to something, kill it. It will only hinder you: Anything that
holds you down, that might halt your need to be ever changing, must be destroyed.
This is an important part of the process and the reason for the Ritual of a Thousand
Cuts.
5. Turn your back on each life as you leave it: Say goodbye to each life, and never go
back. Do not keep contacts from that life or visit for old time’s sake. You have left it
behind; it is your life no longer. Remember that.
6. Give when generosity is required; take when theft is required: This is their excuse
to do whatever they want, when they want. Seriously, whatever is needed at the time is
what the Wise Centipede will do. But don’t forget to balance everything out. Stealing
something, means replenishing something as well.
7. Pry open the eyes of the sightless, and make the mute defend their wordless
state. All beings must confront their choices, so question them as you pass:
Question everything. This might make you seem dumb, but you teach with questions.
If the person you ask cannot answer, then they cannot aptly defend their choice and
then must change their minds.
8. When something appears to be out of balance, correct it. If you cannot, destroy
it: See Imbalance above.

SUGGESTED DISCIPLINES
Equilibrium (the most important)
 Chi’iu Muh
Feng Shui
Internalize
Jade Shintai
Mibasham

PORTRAYING THE DHARMA (FOR PLAYERS AND STS)

The Thousand Whispers is definitely the hardest to play and understand. During character
creation, player and ST should get together to gather the pieces of the character’s first life.
And there are two ways to handle this.

The first way is the simplest. Because the Rootless Tree is encouraged to separate his Mask
and Shadow Life from each other, you can simply do just that. During the sessions, the
character will be mingling with their wu (or uji). In this method, the Mask is kept to e-mails
between the ST and player, with only mild actual playing of the Mask with the group. The
second way is to make the Mask part of the story. This forces the player to act out both roles
(Mask and Shadow Life) at the same time, which can be very challenging.

Also, I might suggest that when leaving a life that had a strong impact on the character, they
should be forced to make some sort of Willpower roll vs. Depression. That sort of thing is not
easy to get over and will probably hover of the Kuei-jin for a while. However, don’t make it last
too long, as they will not be able to Embrace the Dark Jade Lover until they are at ease with
leaving that life behind.

SUGGESTED AUSPICIOUS OCCASIONS

Correcting a significant imbalance
Whenever a lesson is learned from a Mask
After making a radical change that costs the Centipede something important
Making a difficult cut during the Ritual of a Thousand Cuts

ORIGINAL DISCIPLINE VARIANTS

MONKEY GRIP (JADE SHINTAI 1 VARIANT)
By creating a link between the Kuei-jin personal Chi and an item that he holds in his hand, it
can be assured that it does not leave it until he wishes so. He will not drop his weapon or be
disarmed. Neither will he fall from a great height as long as he has a hold of the ledge. This
one is very handy.

System: Using a reflexive action, the character can create a hold on something that cannot
be broken. Nothing can be taken from his hand unless he wants to let go. It requires no Chi
points or Willpower expenditure.

MIND OF MATTER (INTERNALIZE 2 VARIANT)

Few Kuei-jin can disassociate themselves from their undead bodies. But in some cases, it is
very important for a Rootless Tree to do so. With the use of this discipline, the Wise
Centipede may cut himself off from his body, while still being able to control it. He can walk
over hot glass without pain and fight for unimaginable lengths of time.

System: After one complete turn of concentration, the Kuei-jin can roll a Willpower check
(difficulty 7) and may ignore one die of Wound penalties per success.

CONCLUSION
After writing this, I feel confident that STs will have a better chance to have workable
Whispers in their groups. I had the most fun writing this one, as you can tell by my rants and
 long explanations. Like always, email me with suggestions, comments or complaints. : P See
ya!

All Content and Art is copyright ©1999, 2003, 2004 Katherine Burress and Christopher Simmons unless otherwise
Specified.
Applicable information, books and products are © 1997 White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved, any
reproduced artwork or text are for review purposes only.