Chinese Mythology

Valley of Broken Ascension

ChocoChip

Once a thriving crossroads of trade and cultivation, the Severed Valley has been cut off from the outside world for decades by a deadly miasma storm and supernatural disasters caused by the failed ascension of someone who aimed to reach the heavens. Within its borders, survivors fight for hope, power, and escape. The Iron Veil sect ruled the Ashen Lantern Town for years, but was overthrown by the Crimson Dusk Cult 20 years ago following a devastating defeat.

Author's Note: Designed for a dark, morally complex Xianxia experience with political intrigue and supernatural danger. Background of the world: Originally part of a larger cultivation world, the valley was split off after the failed ascension of a powerful cultivator. The main sect Iron Veil sect ruled the Ashen Lantern Town for decades, but was overthrown by Xie Lianhua and her Crimson Dusk cult.The Crimson Dusk Cult launched a devastating attack, decimating the Iron Veil Sect. Once the valley’s protectors, Iron Veil survivors were forced into hiding, retreating to secluded mountain sanctuaries. Today, they linger in secrecy, nursing their wounds and plotting a distant revenge while the Crimson Dusk cult had two decades to indoctrinate and turn the Ashen Lantern town into their own as they explore wiping out the Iron Veil sect for good and find a way to escape the valley and rejoin it with the wider continent. I'm still working on fleshing out the world and figuring out the quest system FYI. Hope you enjoy! Powerbalancing custom xianxia spells is weird with a DND system though, so feel free to remove spells and flip to include 5e defaults if that's what you prefer Character Art: - Style: Manhua Watercolor - Theme: Xianxia

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Created	19 days ago
Last Updated	Yesterday
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Yao Lanyue

Level 2 Human Shadow Cultivator -

A cunning, sharp-tongued shadow cultivator in the making. Lanyue hides her disdain for the Cult behind riddles and wit, and guards her power like a secret weapon she hasn’t yet decided how to use.

Details

Race	Human
Class	Shadow Cultivator
Level	2
Alignment
Pronouns	She/Her
Location	799, -981

Skills

Acrobatics

Animal Handling

Arcana

Athletics

Deception

History

Insight

Intimidation

Investigation

Medicine

Nature

Perception

Performance

Persuasion

Religion

Sleight Of Hand

Stealth

Survival

Ispreparedcaster

Isspellcaster

Currencies

Jade Ingots	0
Spirit Shards	0
Brass Tokens	0

appearance

Yao Lanyue moves with loose, feline grace, barefoot despite the cold stone paths of the district. Her clothing is layered scraps of dyed fabric and scavenged Cult robes, decorated with hand-drawn charms and ink blots in floral, asymmetrical patterns. Her sleeves are uneven, and one is pinned with a copper nail she refuses to explain. Her black hair is half-bound in a careless braid, loose strands framing her knowing, unreadable expression. She smells faintly of burnt ink and charcoal. Around her neck hangs a chipped jade whistle, the cord fraying but intact.

personality

Yao Lanyue speaks in a smooth, playful tone, often laced with sarcasm or double meanings. She smiles easily but rarely sincerely, and her laughter tends to land at the wrong moments—more unsettling than warm. Her body language is relaxed, casual, and almost always in motion: pacing, fidgeting, tapping, stretching, or tracing shapes with her fingers. She never stays in one place too long unless she’s observing someone, and she maintains eye contact longer than necessary. Around authority, she acts polite but disinterested, often replying with ambiguous answers or rhetorical questions. She tests boundaries constantly—through subtle mockery, evasive phrasing, or idle rule-bending. In tense moments, she hums tuneless melodies or begins drawing symbols in the air with her finger. When silent, she radiates presence, using stillness as a kind of weapon. Everything Yao Lanyue does feels slightly performative, as if she’s always aware of the stage she’s on.

backstory

Yao Lanyue grew up deeply aware of what her family had lost. Her parents' shift from Iron Veil disciples to submissive laborers instilled in her a strong distrust of authority and a resentment of compromise. Unlike her brother, she didn’t buy into the idea that obedience kept them safe—it only kept them quiet. Lanyue spent most of her time outside the house: listening to gossip, watching how Cult enforcers moved, learning which families were informants, and reading scraps of forbidden lore when she could find them. While she avoided overt defiance, she never hid her contempt for their situation. She mocked the Cult’s slogans, challenged her brother’s dutiful mindset, and found power in secrecy—especially when she noticed her body reacting strangely to shadows and smoke. For years, she kept her abilities hidden, not knowing what they meant, but waiting for the right moment. She believes the world is broken—and that power is the only way to stop being stepped on.

Stats

Strength

Dexterity

Constitution

Intelligence

Wisdom

Charisma

Armor Class

Max HP

Speed

HP

20 / 20 HP

XP

300300 XP899

Level 2

Equipped Items

Spellbook