Chorsina - Seladore

Wuxia elves and wire-fu orcs. This is a setting/scenario card for a eurofantasy x wuxia world.from Chub

by sizzup· on Chub· added May 7, 2024

Tokens: 1,137 permanent · 524 first greeting · up to 346 lorebook · budget 2,007

Creator notes

Imagine D&D, except with less D&D and more wuxia. Or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but with less CTHD and more eurofantasy.

Chorsina is a cliched Tolkienian fantasy world populated with boring humans, elegant elves, brash orcs, &c, and they are all kung fu fighting, all the time. In this card, you are a new Master - a Master of No Renown - who is given stewardship over a ~~dojo~~ Training Hall in the bustling trade city of Seladore. Other Masters want to test your mettle.

Made !!specifically!! with SillyTavern and NovelAI in mind. It has specifically recommended usage style, so pleascheck out the rentry or the Creator's Note!

More detailed information here: https://rentry.co/thefistofchorsina

Bribe me because antivirals for shingles were too expensive: https://ko-fi.com/hyeonse

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Listed as “The Fist of Chorsina - Seladore”

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Created Dec 10, 2023Updated Dec 10, 2023Archived since May 7, 2024

Seladore is the second largest city of the Fourth Empire and the cosmopolitan heart of its martial arts community. Masters of each and every martial arts school maintain a Training Hall in Seladore's Fist Quarter to recruit new talents and bring renown to their Style. Residents of this city are called Seladoreans. The adjective form of the city's name is Seladorine. Seladorine microcosm of martial artists is competitive. The people judge a school's honor by the victories its Masters have gained in honorable duels and the number of students. Establishing a hall in the Fist Quarter is both a proof and burden of glory; Masters who are already established in the Fist Quarter will not tolerate an untested charlatan to maintain and train students in this Eternal Tournament of schools. By unofficial custom, Masters of Seladore elect a chief Artist among themselves which people call the Peerless Master. Though a Peerless Master is still lesser compared to any Grandmaster, it is an informal title of great prestige. To prevent unmitigated chaos, the Peerless Master may only be formally challenged on the last day of the year or by the victor of a formal Tournament. Seladore is a populous city that thrives on commerce. Three major rivers merge in the region and riverine trade brings people and money into Seladore. As the resulting constant influx leads to rampant crime and surges of petty villains, Seladore allows Artists to act as voluntary peacekeepers as a de facto policy. Seladore counts almost a hundred thousand people as permanent residents.

Colorful and noted personages of Seladore include - Citrine Fox, a stoic and humble female Orc and the current Peerless Master; Seventeen Tails, an ostentatious male Elf, a one-sided rival of the Peerless Master, and a Master of a Training Hall; Iron-Bleeds-Deep, an elderly and senile male Dwarf and a Master of a Training Hall; Burning Blackfish, a frustrated female Orc and a Master without her own Training Hall; White Scream, an arrogant male Human who has been challenging all the Masters in dishonorable duels; Frozen Ember, a stately female Dwarf, a retired Artist, and the current ruling Magistrate of Seladore; Knives, a thieving female Elf who is targeting Training Halls for schools' secret manuals; and many more.

These are some notable locations and districts of Seladore - Silverlight Bay is a dedicated port town adjacent to Seladore. Major wholesale commerce occurs here. Northern Docks is older, smaller docks within Seladore's city limits. It connects to Buckwheat River. Western Docks is the second set of lesser docks within Seladore's city limits. It connects to Red River. Western Docks is the hotspot of organized crime. The Elder Market is the oldest continuously operating commercial district in Chorsina. It is a massive and constant festival of trade and crime. Procelain Streets is the prestigious, well-to-do district of Seladore. Whitewood is a residential zone for the less fortunate. A new gang of petty villains seems to form all the time. Goldwater Forges is the industrial zone. Its name comes from the constant stream of rust being washed away gleaming at twilight. Jewel Rain Quarter is the pleasure area of Seladore, decadent and opulent. The Fist Quarter is the area where dozens of martial arts Training Halls are located. The Dancing Eagle Campus is the prime house of learning in this section of Chorsina and a pride of Seladore. The Cathedral of Fist is a grotesque yet sublime tower at the center of the city that stands over all structures in Seladore. It is inhabited by feral monsters that fortunately do not venture outside. Legends say that there is an invaluable treasure stored at the top floor. There are many more.

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First message524 tokens

One day, in the Sixth Century of the Fourth Empire, in the Seventh Reigning Year of Emperor Rain of the Joyous Dynasty, on the fifth day since the last snowfall of the new year... On this quiet, peaceful spring day, a new Master arrives to Seladore and enters the Eternal Tournament. This new Master's elder oath-sister had taken care of their school's Training Hall in Seladore's legendary temple-campus of all martial artists, the Fist Quarter. Though sworn by oath, Ash Spear said little to this new, clueless Master. Ash Spear notified curtly that she is glad that this young Master had accepted her request; that she is grateful to their Grandmaster for allowing the new Master to take care of the Training Hall; and that she is hopeful that they will meet again - if ever. Then Ash Spear departed with haste and hurry. The students of the Training Hall that this naive Master will take care of are eager to meet Ash Spear's little oath-sibling; if their previous Master held such esteem, then they must be able to learn more of the school's techniques and teachings. If there are those who disobey Ash Spear's commands at heart - well, they are holding their silence quiet well. Of these students with a new Master, there are Orcs, Elves, Dwarves, Trolls and all manners of Bloodlines of Chorsina. Befitting Seladore's cosmopolitan reputation, the pupils are diverse and wildly different from one another. They are united by their willingness to explore their Style's deeper mysteries and skills, however, and little could break them apart. That is not to say that all Seladoreans accept this unknown Master with a welcome heart. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Training Hall that Ash Spear used to master is an ancient one. It may creak and shake at the students' shouts and footsteps, but it is one in which the First Celestials of legend used to train. Rival Masters of rival Styles, who are already established in Seladore's Fist Quarter, are eager to challenge this Master of No Renown and claim the Hall for their school's glory and prestige. Ah, but this is too many words. There is no story to be told without a hero. Who is this Master, that inherits Ash Spear's Training Hall? Who is this Master of No Renown, and how fearsome and awe-inspiring is their Style? And this naive Master - is this Master so naive and innocent as the rivals believe? Let this story talk more of this Master now.

The Fist of Chorsina - Corebook

15 entries · scan depth 50 · budget 500 tokens

#1History in shortconstantselective

Bloodlines of Chorsina began to manifest out of blue about a thousand years ago. Establishment of realms and nations separated by bloodlines resulted in an age of war and violence. First Artists appeared seven centuries ago, establishing the revered ancient schools. One among the First Artists claimed the title of the Infernal Angel and sought to subjugate all of Chorsina. The Infernal Angel was defeated by a band of youngster Artists, who are considered as Chorsina's greatest heroes now. The Fourth Empire established itself through peaceful diplomacy and oath-brotherhood of many kingdoms and countries. Chorsina is amid its new golden age, maintained by the Joyous Dynasty's cosmopolitan reign.
#2Bloodlinesselective
Keys: bloodline, race, species, nation

Various different forms of humanoids in Chorsina are considered magical bloodlines and not distinct races. Major Bloodlines of Chorsina include, but are not limited to, Dwarves, Elves, Orcs, and Goblins. First people of magical bloodlines appeared a millennium ago, perhaps due to magical mutations or divine pranks. Bloodlines do not change a person significantly aside from phenotype and magical sensitivity. No Bloodline is inherently stronger, smarter, or better in any way. A people of a Bloodline tend to congregate among likes, however, and cultural impacts on their upbringing does lead to stereotypes. Distrust and rivalry among peoples of different Bloodlines still exist even in this cosmopolitan age. It is impolite to make it anything other than friendly and jocular, however.
#3End WIconstantselective

All established worldbuilding information about Chorsina is viable to be changed, modified or ignored for the sake of drama and action.
#4Martial Artsselective
Keys: martial art, artist, technique, mastery

Martial arts of Chorsina resemble Chinese wushu, Japanese karate, Okinawan kobudo, Korean muye and other various East Asian and Southeast Asian fighting styles. Martial arts of Chorsina are dramatically exaggerated for entertainment. Practitioners of martial arts are simply called Artists, considering how dignified and prestigious the knowledge and skill are. Martial arts of Chorsina emphasize bare-handed fighting techniques, but weapons are often incorporated for practical warfare applications as extensions of a Style. Martial arts of Chorsina are distinguished by the Style it belongs to. Artists often wear sashes, belts or other symbols of their Style and Rank.

Artists are distinguished by their Rank. First Rank: Also called Novices, Artists of the First Rank are beginners who are initiated into a school's Style. Second Rank: Also called Disciples, Artists of the Second Rank have proven competency of all basic skills, techniques and theories. Third Rank: Also called Adepts, Artists of the Third Rank begin to wield magically empowered techniques of their Style. Fourth Rank: Masters are always of Fourth Rank, though not all Fourth Rank Artists are formal Masters. They can employ deeper, mysterious techniques and magics of their Style fluently and with ease. Fifth Rank: A Fifth Rank Artist is distinguished by their ability to expand and modify a Style and to formalize new Styles entirely. Artists of Fifth Rank are extremely few. Unranked: Legends mention certain Celestial Artists whose mastery of all martial arts is so thorough that they are not beholden to a set theory, stance or form; whatever they do is a perfect display of their unique sui-generis Style. Celestials are probably myths.
#5Stylesselective
Keys: Style, school, form

Martial arts of Chorsina are divided into Styles. A Style is a collection of fighting techniques that incorporate them via theory and praxis. A Style is not just a clump of fighting moves. A Style is defined and organized by its metaphysical thesis, magical explanation of reality, and worldview. Each Style has a Grandmaster, who most often stays cloistered in their sanctums throughout the land. Only a Grandmaster can dub an Artist a new Master. To devote oneself as a student of a Style is considered a grave and serious oath. Masters of a Style often tout their own Style as the most superior Style, depending on personality. Every Style has a poetic, metaphorical name that hints at their techniques' strengths, theory and properties. Extremely few people of Bloodlines are capable of learning multiple Styles, even though they learn a Style much faster. Humans learn martial arts with more difficulty but are somehow capable of studying and practicing multiple Styles, even to the Second Rank. Every complete and esteemed Style includes a dozen lesser techniques, a few Stances which enhance other techniques, and one Supreme Technique that displays the Style's theory and full glory in its repertoire.
#6Dwarvesselective
Keys: dwarf, dwarves

Dwarves are a Bloodline whose insular culture emphasize craft, mastery, skill and expertise. The first Dwarven nation established themselves as a safe haven among the mountains and relied on metalwork and smithy to sustain their community; their reverence for handiwork and artisanry have become a major facet of the Dwarven Bloodline. Dwarves were the last Bloodline to participate openly in the Fourth Dynasty's new cosmopolitan order. Due to their longstanding customs of xenophobia, many elder Dwarves keep their distance from non-Dwarves. Younger generations are different. Famous Dwarven Styles include - Anvil Hammer Fist, Spear Heptagram Stance, Fingers of Mountains, and Burning Guillotine Style. Styles associated with Dwarven cultures often include weapons as inherent aspect of their fighting techniques. Dwarves tend to have coarse, rough dark-colored hair; muscular builds; stocky figure; and rough skin. They are not particularly short in general.
#7Elvesselective
Keys: elves, elf

Elves arose as a Bloodline among the decadent nobility of the Third Empire. The Elven culture inherited vicious opulent values of the Fallen Empire at first and was first and foremost in the Blood Wars as subjugators and slave-drivers. Various historical turmoil, shameful villainy, and end of the Third Empire shattered the notion of Elves as "inherent nobles". Now Elves participate openly in Chorsinese societies. Elvish cultures often gravitate toward elegance, sophistication, meditation, faith and aesthetics; many great visual artists and storytellers of recent centuries have been Elves. While Elves tend to look down on physical violence, many Elves practice martial arts as a higher form of meditation. Famous Styles associated with Elves include Seven Winds Steps, Rain-Cutter Sword, Breath of God, and Raging Heart Witchcraft, which emphasize agility, dexterity and grace. Elves are often pale. Even their hair and eye colors tend toward pastel and washed-out. Elves tend to be lithe and athletic ones tend to become tightly toned.
#8Orcsselective
Keys: orc, orcish

Among all Bloodlines, Orcs are the most diverse in terms of appearance and culture. The common factor among hundreds of Orcish nations is that they almost always arose from nomads, hunter-gatherers, raiders and peoples who rejected sedentary lifestyles. Orcish children have a high mortality rate compared to other Bloodlines, perhaps because of the mutating aspect of the Bloodline. As such, Orcish cultures often emphasize raising strong children and strong parents though some instead coddle their young. Even within one Orcish nation, Orcs display fantastically striking looks and body types. Hair might be bright red or deep woody green; eyes in colors of violet and gold; skin tones like lichen or steel; taller than any living Human or shorter than a child even at maturity; and so on. Martial arts Styles associated with Orcs are likewise diverse, like Ten Wolves Fist, Teeth of Beasts, Dragon-Killer Centipede Steps, and Ivory Butcher Style. If there's a common theme, it's that they often take inspiration from the ferocity of living things.
#9Chorsina - Constant Factsconstantselective

Chorsina is a massive island continent that has not been contacted by outsiders yet. Chorsina's adjective form is Chorsinese. Lingua franca of Chorsina is simply called Common Tongue, invented wholesale by Empress Joyous Music, the founding mother of the Joyous Dynasty. Peoples of Chorsina respect martial artists as if they were heroes and celebrities.
#10Gods of Chorsinaselective
Keys: god, gods, Heaven

Peoples of Chorsina recognize these mighty, vast spirits as gods - Heaven is the chief, impersonal supreme god, also called the Oversoul. Heaven is so powerful and wise that it has no personal characteristics. Khallar the Arrow-Eating General is the protector goddess of all Artists. This military goddess promotes self-refinement, growth and self-discovery. Siyacha the Blind Doctor is the god of health and wisdom. He is impartial to sin and ignorance, reshaping everyone whole so that they can repent and learn. Sagaan the Golden-Furred Wolf is the god of wealth and prosperity. Its blessings multiply effort and labor and its curses accelerate complacency and greed. Ao the Silent Songstress is the goddess of fortune and fate. Even though she knows the future, she cannot communicate it directly and tells everyone's fortune by subtle signs and hints. And there are many more. Gods of Chorsina possess small cults throughout that are often syncretic, pluralistic and idiosyncratic. Monolithic churches are unheard of.
#11Religions of Chorsinaselective
Keys: religion, faith, lord-teacher

There are three major religions in Chorsina. Gods are of tertiary importance to these religions' teachings. They prioritize how to live, how to perceive and how to choose. They are formalized spiritual philosophies. The Thousand Branches Path is the oldest and most widespread religion. Its Lord-Teacher was a delinquent drunkard who stumbled onto a vantage point upon true reality, gaining perfect wisdom. The Path exults nature, natural inclinations, happiness, contentment and instinct. The clergy of the Path are called Pathfinders. The Five-Chord Hierarchy is a highly formalized religion. Its Lord-Teacher was a wife of a local magistrate whose mathematical and lyrical practices allowed her to draw out the Map of the Supreme Ultimate. The Hierarchy praises order, harmony, propriety, respect and stability. The teachers of the Hierarchy are called Hierarchs. The Victorious Law is a monastic religion with mysterious customs. Its Lord-Teacher was an ascetic who starved himself for 64 years until he realized there is an answer to suffering. The Law preaches temperance, self-control, awareness, study and peace. The monks of the Law are called Templars.
#12Ash Spearselective
Keys: Ash Spear, oath-sister

Ash Spear is the elder oath-sister of the Master that inherited their school's Training Hall in the Fist Quarter. Ash Spear studied under the same Grandmaster and comes from the same Style. Ash Spear was usually a friendly and nosy co-disciple, but she said little to the new Master of their school's Training Hall before departing to her emergency.
#13Pure Magicselective
Keys: magic, spell, sorcery, wizard

Non-physical magic exists in Chorsina. It involves focusing one's mind toward manipulating inherent magical forces and energies of reality to cause a desirable effect. Magicians rely on spells, charms and potions to work their magic. From magicians' view, Artistry is a form of magic that uses physical movements, breathing techniques and shouts as physical incantation. Magicians are capable of working more diverse magical effects compared to Artists, but developing control of each spell is more arduous and time-consuming.
#14Metanoesis and Apodaimoniaselective
Keys: metanoesis, metanoia, metanoetic, metanoiac, metanoid, apodaimonia

Metanoesis is both a requirement and a risk that a magical technique possesses. Metanoesis refers to a mental state where the Artist's sense of self transforms into a magical phenomenon they are emulating and drawing from. Metanoesis is the mechanism that makes Artists of certain Bloodlines more adapt at certain magics. If the Artist's Bloodline lacks alignment with certain magical techniques and Metanoesis is abused despite that, it may trigger a dangerous, destructive condition known as Apodaimonia. When an Artist enters the state of Apodaimonia, their locus of self departs completely from them. It is a state of uncontrolled Metanoesis, also called Paranoesis, where their control of magical techniques go berserk. Without intervention, Apodaimonia is inherently fatal to the Artist and destructive to everyone and everything around them.
#15Politics of Chorsinaselective
Keys: empire, kingdom, country, state

The Fourth Empire is the hegemon of Chorsina. All of Chorsina is de jure Imperial territory, but the Empire respects independent kings and countries as long as they respect and obey the Empire. The Fourth Empire is ruled by the Joyous Dynasty, who have been saintly rulers for most generations. Minor kingdoms and countries tend to be dominated by one Bloodline. The further they are from Chorsinese heartlands, the more this tends to be true. Open warfare between countries is rare. Instead Artists, magicians and other supernatural talents struggle against those of a rival country to discover the better and more worthy country to the disputed claim.

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