Important Lianhua

[Merciful]

Lianhua

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Lianhua – The Hidden Oasis of the Saru Clan
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Lianhua, a secret sanctuary and secondary base of operations for the Saru Clan, is concealed deep in Koyomis thick, tropical jungles, far from the inquisitive gaze of the other clans. Lianhua is a more accessible, yet still secret, outpost for the Saru and their affairs than the elusive and meticulously maintained Saru Monastery. Though it is difficult to find and nearly impossible to approach without detection, Lianhua has an idiosyncratic role in the livelihood of the Saru Clan. It is a hub of training, trade, and subterfuge—an essential part of the Saru Clan's operations across Jian.

Purpose of Lianhua​

An Escalation Area for New Prospective soldiers: Lianhua serves as an evaluation area for junior Saru Clan members, teaching them the arts of cunning, illicit activity, and hand-to-hand fighting under the direction of seasoned Saru. With frequent training exercises and simulated battles to hone the physical prowess of Saru warriors, Lianhua is a more dynamic and turbulent place than the calm and contemplative Saru Monastery.

Lianhua is the covert marketplace used by the Saru Clan to exchange or sell the loot they take from their ceaseless thievery.. The Secret settlement is the epicenter of stolen goods, with rare ingredients, magical relics, stolen commodities, and even information about Fathom moving freely amongst traders. These transactions are paramount to the Saru Clan's criminal activities because Lianhua is only accessible to trustworthy merchants and renegade traders who are frequently not connected to any significant clan. The Saru make use of the territory in settings that mimic the strongholds or towns of other clans, honing their techniques of theft and trickery. The elder Saru control the reins while working behind the scenes, orchestrating large-scale thefts, raids, and absurdities throughout Jian, while the younger Saru are sent out on their first noteworthy missions from here.

A Secure Haven for Monkeys and Saru Like: The monkeys, who are so essential to Saru's existence, are allowed to roam freely in the center of Lianhua. There is a multitude of distinct kinds of monkeys in this community, spanning from the smaller and more agile ones that live in trees to the bigger and more powerful varieties that are trained to fulfill heavier duties. The monkeys are not just the clan's closest friends but also its most reliable spies and robbers. They coexist peacefully with the Saru in Lianhua, where they receive rigorous training, play, and downtime in between their naughty tasks.

The monkeys are revered here, considered sacred creatures in Saru culture, blessed by Pang Dontian himself. Statues of the monkey god can be found throughout Lianhua, and the Saru conduct regular rituals and offerings to ensure their continued favor and success.

The Layout of Lianhua
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Lianhua is a village unlike any other. Blending seamlessly into its natural surroundings, it is hidden by layers of jungle canopies and misty waterfalls. Most of the buildings in Lianhua are suspended high up in the treetops, connected by a web of rope bridges, ladders, and narrow walkways that only the Saru and their monkeys can navigate with ease. The structures are built from bamboo and wood, designed to blend into the dense jungle around them. From a distance, Lianhua is virtually invisible, camouflaged by foliage and natural barriers.

The village is spread across a series of cliffs and plateaus, with some homes nestled in cliffside caves while others are built atop towering trees. The terrain is deliberately tricky to navigate, with hidden paths, swinging bridges, and routes that can only be traversed through acrobatics. This layout is not only a reflection of the Saru's combat style but also serves as a defense mechanism, ensuring that outsiders will get hopelessly lost or fall into traps before they even catch a glimpse of the village.

At the center of Lianhua is a large, circular platform where Saru leaders gather to discuss strategy and trade deals, surrounded by rows of platforms where goods are displayed for sale or barter. The sounds of monkeys chattering, traders haggling, and warriors sparring fill the air.

Guardianship of Lianhua​

Despite its hidden nature, Lianhua is not unguarded. The Saru have rigged the entire area with traps and alarms, many of which are managed by the monkeys themselves. Any intruder that somehow stumbles into the area will face a barrage of tricks, from nets falling from the treetops to the sudden appearance of monkeys swarming them, stealing everything in sight.

The Saru Clan takes great pride in the fact that no enemy has ever successfully breached Lianhua, and those who have tried have found themselves stripped of everything they carried, often left wandering in the jungle, disoriented and embarrassed. Even elite assassins or warriors who think they can match the Saru in stealth find themselves outmatched by the clan's intimate knowledge of the jungle and their unparalleled skill in deception.

Mystical and Ritualistic Nature​

Though not as spiritually focused as the Saru Monastery, Lianhua is still steeped in ritual. Shrines to Pang Dontian dot the village, with regular offerings of fruit, shiny objects, and tools left out for the monkeys and for the Pang Dontian. Saru warriors also perform daily meditations and exercises in agility and cunning, often testing each other's abilities in mock raids or stealth competitions.

Lianhua is a place of constant activity and life, a chaotic haven for the Saru and their companions, but it also serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between chaos and discipline that defines the clan. It's where they sharpen their skills, grow their strength, and prepare for their next grand heist—all while remaining hidden from the world, laughing in the shadows at the chaos they leave behind.