Important The Hidden Monastery: The Saru Clan

[Merciful]

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Saru

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In the depths of the forest, one can find the well-hidden Saru Monastery, home of the Saru Clan; one of Jian's most elusive and obnoxious forces. Infamous for their unparalleled agility and cunning. Not to mention their intimate connection to Pang Dontian, the monkey deity of cunning, their existence is as much myth as fact. Because its members have taken an oath of secrecy, neither the exact site of their monastery nor its location are ever known to outsiders. The Saru are some of the best thieves, most competent fighters, and usres of Fathom. Though not all members have mastered the Arcana. Although their ability to influence emotions and perception using Fathom provide the Saru a significant advantage in combat.

A Clan of Tricksters and Thieves​

The persistent campaign of theft and mischief maintained by the Saru Clan is one of the many sources of unease among all of the clans in Jian. They steal from everyone, regardless of class or reputation, without distinction. Along with their naughty and clever monkey companions, they are sent on daily errands to steal food, jewels, or even weapons. The Saru enjoy using their deceit to infuriate other clans, and it has evolved into full-blown psychological warfare.

The Monkeys and the Saru​

The monkey companions of the Saru Clan are central to their way of life. These nimble, clever animals are used for everything from scouting and spying to stealing food right out of the hands of their enemies. The monkeys are so well-trained that they can enter enemy camps unnoticed, steal vital supplies, and vanish without a trace. The Saru often take food from campfires, snatch weaponry during battle preparations, and sneak into homes to take personal items, or other valuables. No clan is safe from their mischief. Even in the middle of a sacred ceremonies, or rituals , the Saru appear to, steal ceremonial sword or offerings. Typically, by the time someone realizes what's happened, the Saru are already gone, leaving nothing but frustration, and destruction behind. Entire patrols have been mobilized, just to try and catch Saru thieves. Although these efforts almost always end in failure; No one can pin the Saru down for long, and any attempts to hold one captive are met with more vicious theft and trickery.

Masters of Deception and Agility​

While their antics may seem playful, the Saru are deadly when the need arises. They train relentlessly in martial arts, emphasizing agility, speed, and acrobatic combat. Their fighting style is fluid and unpredictable, making them incredibly hard to hit. Instead of overpowering their enemies with brute force, the Saru prefer to outmaneuver and frustrate their opponents, making them fight on the Saru's terms.

In combat, the Saru use their environment to the fullest, darting between trees, leaping from rooftops, and disappearing into shadows. Their quick reflexes and mastery of deception make them difficult to track or even face head-on. Even in the heat of battle, they'll find ways to steal an enemy's weapons or cause confusion before disappearing into the night.

Fathom and Trickery​

Some Saru members possess the ability to use Fathom, allowing them to manipulate the emotions and perceptions of their foes. While not all Saru have mastered this ability, those who have can cause profound disorientation in their enemies. By amplifying fear, confusion, or doubt, a Fathom user can cripple their opponent's resolve without ever throwing a punch. The Saru see Fathom as another tool in their arsenal of trickery, allowing them to blur the lines between illusion and reality.

However, even those without Fathom rely on their natural talents for deception. The Saru have a knack for misleading their foes, making them see things that aren't there or hear sounds in the distance to draw them away from the true threat. This makes them not just thieves but psychological tricksters, capable of dismantling an enemy's confidence before the battle even begins.

Life in the Saru Clan​

Within the Saru Clan, life revolves around discipline, training, and worship of Pang Dontian, the monkey god. The Saru live by a strict code of loyalty to one another, but they show no respect for the rules or traditions of the other clans. Their hidden monastery is a place of constant movement, where they train in both combat and thievery, refining their skills to maintain their clan's dominance in stealth and deception.

Despite their chaotic influence on the outside world, the Saru Clan operates with strict internal order. They train their monkeys meticulously, treating them as extensions of themselves. Each member is expected to master both acrobatic combat and the art of theft, and those who show promise in Fathom are taught how to manipulate minds as well as bodies.

Though they may seem frivolous or mischievous to outsiders, the Saru are deeply devout in their worship of Pang Dontian. Their thievery and trickery are not just pranks; they are seen as acts of devotion, offerings of chaos to their trickster god.

Clan Relations​

Every clan in Jian has suffered at the hands of the Saru. They have stolen from the Moonflower Clan's ceremonial blades, raided the Shuu Clan's military supplies, taken food from the Futo Clan's tables, and even stolen magical artifacts from the Huo Clan. No one is safe, and no clan can predict when or where the Saru will strike next.

Despite their endless pranks and thefts, the Saru remain untouchable. Their ability to vanish without a trace has left every other clan frustrated and angry, but the Saru seem to enjoy these reactions. They see it as proof of their superiority and cleverness, laughing at the chaos they leave in their wake. The Saru Clan is a constant thorn in the side of every other clan in Jian, and they wouldn't have it any other way. They thrive on the chaos they create, knowing that no matter how much the other clans may try, the Saru will always slip away before they can be caught.

 

[Merciful]

Saru Enkōkage 猿侯影

Daichi "The Warden of Forgotten Shadows"​

Role: Elusive Mastermind of the Saru
Reputation: A myth, a whisper, a ghost
Traits: Unrivaled manipulator of minds, master of subterfuge, unseen by all but a select few

Daichi, the elusive leader of the Saru Clan, has embraced his connection to their sacred animal so fully that his physical appearance has transformed into that of a full-blown monkey having been that effected by Pang Dontian's Outer Alchemy. His presence is both unsettling and mesmerizing, combining the natural agility of a primate with the cunning intelligence of a master of subterfuge.

Physical Description:

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Daichi is a short statured hybrid-creature he stands approximately 5 feet tall. With a lean and muscular frame typical of a large primate. His is covered in thick fur with a brownish-tint. Streaks of silver and white line his arms, back, and chest. The fur is coarse with some areas being more matted than others. Indicative of time spent in the forests, having lived alongside his Clansmen.

His face is clearly simian, yet there is an undeniable idiosyncracy and malice in his expression. His eyes are wide and amber-colored, with an unnerving glint that reveals a considerable intellect. They are ever changing and monitoring his surroundings, not missing a detail. His brow is heavy, and his nostrils flare in a way that betrays both his heightened animalistic instincts and an intimate knowledge of his surroundings. Daichi's mouth is somewhat elongated, adorned with sharp teeth that, although not instantly confrontational, suggest the potential for aggression if necessary.

He moves with the fluid grace of a masterful thief. His limbs swing with remarkable grace as he climbs or navigates through the dense trees. His tail is prehensile, almost the length of his body, and he uses it as an extra limb. The tail is one of his many unique features, it coils and moves, constantly; suggesting a readiness to strike or evade at a moment's notice.

Although he resembles a monkey in almost every way, his posture shifts between a quadrupedal stance and a bipedal one. When standing on two legs, Daichi's height, combined with his formidable presence, makes him an intimidating figure, even more so because of his unpredictability.

Legacy

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Daichi, known only through whispers as "The Warden of Forgotten Shadows," is the unseen ruler of the Saru Clan, and to meet him is something few can ever claim—because those who do forget it ever happened. He operates from the shadows, an enigmatic presence that weaves the Saru's network of espionage, sabotage, and theft without ever revealing himself. Daichi is rumored to possess unparalleled mastery of Fathom, a dangerous ability to manipulate minds so completely that any encounter with him is erased from memory.

Those few who have been in his presence only recall the faintest details—if at all. It is said that if Daichi ever chooses to meet someone in person, the encounter will be wiped from their memory immediately after, and they will find themselves standing in the exact same place and time as before.

For those deemed too dangerous to be left alive or too unworthy to forget, Daichi takes a more sinister approach: he consumes their minds. Those whose paths cross his in a way he finds inconvenient never live to tell the tale. He tends to entirely devour and alter the minds of his victims, leaving behind empty, soulless husks. This act not only serves to protect Daichi's anonymity but also fuels his ever-growing knowledge of the world, making him all the more dangerous.

Under his leadership, the Saru are a chaotic force of nature in Jian, operating with a kind of reckless precision that can only come from a man who no one has ever seen, yet whose influence is everywhere. To hear Daichi's name is a reminder that if you ever meet him, you will never know it—and if you do, you may not remember yourself at all.