Phyzhiengsa- Resonant Monks

[Cai Dorough]

Resonant Monks

While all Phyzhiengsa share the ability to sense the natural vibrations of matter, a few off-shoots of their race are born with the ability to mentally match certain vibration levels, effectively letting them alter the current state of whatever form of matter they match, an ability known among the Phyzhiengsa as “resonating.”

From a young age, Phyzhiengsa are monitored for signs of resonance. It is crucial for the safety of the Resonant, as well as the rest of the population, that they be identified as early as possible so they may be taught to harness their abilities at a monastery. Resonants are removed from society and must undergo at least 20 years of rigorous training and meditation in order to understand and control their abilities and reintegrate. Being able to resonate is a very rare gift, possessed by less than one in every 400,000 Phyzhiengsa. Once identified and taken to the monasteries, Resonants remain among their order for the rest of their lives, adhering to their meditations and rules. However, being a Resonant Monk is considered a very honorable place in Phyzhiengsa society.

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Training

1. Unstill

Most Phyzhiengsa who have the ability to resonate are identified between the ages of 9-14. Immediately after identification, the nearest monastery is notified to send monks to escort the new resonant to begin training. Once one reaches the monastery, they are tested to find the extent of their abilities and the level of their resonance. As all matter vibrates at different frequencies, different Resonants are able to affect different forms of matter and therefore must be placed under the tutelage of others who resonate at similar frequencies. Until a Resonant is given to the care of a mentor, a process that usually takes no more than a two weeks, they are addressed as Bushaizi, meaning “Unstill.”


2. Young Mind

When placed under a mentor, the Resonant is addressed as Xuetzi, which has no translation but roughly means “young mind.” For the first 20-25 years of training, Xuetzi Resonants remain under constant watch by their mentors as their abilities are rough and untempered. They spend many hours every day in silent meditation, listening to the world around them and feeling the natural vibrations of matter. They learn study the way matter forms and acts in an effort to understand their abilities and how they themselves influence the world around them. All Xuetzi undergo strict physical training and practice in forms of martial arts as a method of directing focus and their abilities to resonate, the basic form of which is known as Xin da Phigeng (roughly “True Balance”). Each monastery has its own variations of Xin da Phigeng, and from there the variations increase even more as the masters of each discipline within that monastery utilize different forms to suit their own abilities.


3. Learned One

Once a Resonant is considered knowledgeable enough to interact with society again, they graduate to Renxu, or “learned one.” At this point, they are allowed to leave the monastery so long as they are accompanied by Zhenyu or higher Resonant. This is to ensure that they are not overwhelmed while away and do not lose control of their abilities. So complex is the understanding and mastery of Resonating that, even though they have learned enough to interact with other people, Renxu must remain under constant watch. While the transition from Xuetzi to Renxu passes at nearly always the same time, graduating from Renxu and beyond is largely subjective. In order to reach the next stage of their training they must pass a test called the Xingyuan, the “Heart’s Truth.” This test varies between monasteries but always tests the Resonant in the strictest ways and pushes them to the very edge of their mental and physical stamina. Renxu only take this test when they feel they are ready for it and request it of their mentor. However, if a Renxu fails this test then he/she will forever remain a Renxu. Most Resonants take the test within 30 years of being raised to Renxu.


4. True Walker

If a Renxu graduates the Xingyuan, they are raised to Zhenyu, or “true walker.” As a Zhenyu the Resonant is no longer under the constant watch of a mentor. Passing the Xingyuan signifies to the monks that the Resonant is now maintains ability enough to no longer present an uncontrolled danger to society. Zhenyu take their studies and practice into their own hands at this stage and often make excursions outside of the monastery to observe and practice their abilities. They travel between villages of Yshier and interact with people, sometimes resolving issues along the way as a practice of gaining understanding and learning to establish balance. Most resonants remain as Zhenyu for the rest of their lives. As a Zhenyu, a Resonant is allowed to accompany Renxu away from the monastery, retrieve Bushaizi and escort them back to the monastery, and to assist in training Renxu under the tutelage of the Renxu’s mentor.


5. One of True Sight

In order to undertake a Bushaizi as Xuetzi, a resonant must be a Shixzhun, “one of true sight.” Shixzhun have studied for many years and reached a state of deep understanding of natural order and their abilities. They are wise and able, having practiced and studied many aspects of the world and come to truly masterful level of control over resonance. Shixzhun are called upon to settle disputes between villages or even nations when the two sides cannot reach a peaceful resolution on their own. In Yshier, the wisdom of a Shixzhun carries with it the weight of years of experience and the trust of millions of Phyzhiengsa. The only way to reach this level from Zhenyu is to be tested by five Shixzhun, each being from a different monastery, with a unanimous decision after being tested in what is known amongst the monks as Undizhou, “The Heart’s Last Walk.” The details of the Undizhou are forbidden knowledge to any outside of the Shixzhun, though it has often been described as “walking through the sun’s fire while your mind is torn apart.” Zhenyu who are tested and do not pass are never allowed to speak of the Undizhou and it is suspected that the Shixzhun possess some method of physically sealing the memory of the test away to ensure it. If one fails the Undizhou, one may never again ask to take it.

[Amelia Pond]

Approved!

[Cai Dorough]

ADDITION #1: Xinhuosa (Heart's Fire) and Huezho (Ash Walker)
(not for character adoption)


The Resonant gene is a random mutation among the Phyzhiengsa with no pattern of development through generation, sex, environment, or heritage. While in the womb, for whatever reason that causes the gene to manifest, the pregnancy also begins to alter the DNA of the mother. In most cases, the effects are minor and are relegated to small physical alterations; a change of eye color, a pitch or tone shift of the voice, hair changing colors, or any of various other effects. However, in the most rare of cases, the gene developing in the baby will leak into the mother. Nothing is known of the reason why this happens, though many theories have been offered over the generations ranging from a curse of natural imbalance, breach in the womb causing blood from the baby to seep into the mother's own bloodstream. There is no method to detect the gene defect in a woman until it is activated.

Whatever the cause for the defect, the end result is what is known among Phyzhiengsa as Xinhuosa, or the Heart's Fire. Such a rare occurrence as it is, this disease has become much of a legend or horror story among the Phyzhiengsa, and not without reason. Those affected by the Heart's Fire, known as Huezho (Ash Walker), are the greatest secret of the people of Yshier, spoken of as ghost stories and a sense of calamitous outbreak.

Once infected with the disease, it may lay dormant in the mother for many years or even for the life of the mother. Xinhuosa is generally activated under conditions of severe stress and mental trauma, as most reported cases have occurred on the day of a child being identified as a Bushaizi and taken away by monks to his/her monastery to begin training. Some mothers can not bear being separated from the child and the panic causes undue strain on their hearts, thus activating the Xinhousa. The disease can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to affect the host, though some stories have noted a mother being affected years after her child was taken.

The first sign of the Xinhousa taking affect is a darkening of the fingernails and veins in the extremities, slowly spreading over a week but sometimes up to a month. Afterwards, the host begins to lose rationale and reason as the disease starts to decay the mind. Her hair fades to a pale, ashen grey and her eyes become bloodshot, the pupils dilating to twice their normal size. With the disease slowly decaying the mind, the Huezho will become more and more agitated, prone to fits of anger and violent outbursts. As this progresses, the Huezho will begin manifesting resonance. However, with the degrading state of mind and loss of control, their abilities go unchecked. Huezho will lash out, using the ability to resonate, and attack with untempered force. Worse still, the disease has no strict range frequency as the gene does in resonants, and will continually manifest in different patterns, allowing the Huezho to resonate with myriad forms of matter. It has been marked in a few ancient stories that some Huezho could affect others at a touch, disabling or even poisoning a person's blood, but no accounts have been verified by credible source.

With their uncontrolled and untempered power, Huezhos are the most dangerous and terrifying subjects to the Phyzhiengsa. If one becomes infected and beginss to manifest symptoms, it is culturally expected of the victim to display honor and turn herself in to the nearest monastery as quickly as possible. There, unfortunately, the Shixzhun of the order are tasked with neutralizing the Huezho before her disease can progress to the point of becoming a danger to the society. Those who do not, and let the disease run rampant, are hunted down and exterminated at all costs.