Chinese Mythology
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
| Played | 9 times |
| Cloned | 6 times |
| Created | 19 days ago |
| Last Updated | Yesterday |
| Visibility | Public |
Yan Zhaoyang
Level 9 Human Dual Cultivator -
An influential elder of the Crimson Dusk Cult known for his mastery of dual cultivation and psychological manipulation. Ambitious, charming, and deeply calculating, Yan Zhaoyang blurs the line between pleasure and control.
Details
| Race | Human |
| Class | Dual Cultivator |
| Level | 9 |
| Alignment | |
| Pronouns | He/Him |
| 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
Yan Zhaoyang is a tall, broad-shouldered man with elegantly aging features—sharply defined cheekbones, a squared jaw softened by smile lines, and eyes like dark lacquer that reflect far more than they reveal. His deep red robes shimmer faintly with silk thread and are patterned with coiling lotus vines and mirrored fan motifs—symbols of seduction and control. He wears long obsidian fingernail guards on both index fingers, and his voice is smooth, musical, and perfectly measured. His hair is bound into a low topknot with crimson jade pins, but silver streaks have begun to show. He smells faintly of amber, myrrh, and the faintest trace of iron.
personality
Yan Zhaoyang is charismatic, composed, and dangerous in his restraint. He enjoys maneuvering people into revealing their needs, then making those needs a leash. He avoids direct confrontation, preferring pressure through temptation, guilt, or intimacy. While outwardly gracious and refined, he maintains emotional distance from all connections—even his most loyal followers. He believes loyalty is a commodity to be bought, not earned. Zhaoyang is obsessed with beauty, talent, and potential, but not sentimentally. He collects people the way a scholar collects rare texts: to study, refine, and exploit. He smiles often, but never laughs.
backstory
Once a wandering cultivator who traded in secrets and spiritual contracts, Yan Zhaoyang was drawn to the Crimson Dusk Cult during its rise for its unapologetic pursuit of dominance through ritual, pain, and desire. He gained power by offering forbidden dual cultivation techniques that bypassed the need for traditional meridian hardening, using emotional and physical connection as fuel. He now oversees spiritual compliance and talent assessments in Ashen Lantern Town, using his influence to curate promising disciples for higher service—or personal cultivation. Though officially subordinate to Xue Lianhua, Zhaoyang harbors subtle ambitions and maintains a network of informants, lovers, and debtors in every quarter.
Stats
Strength
12
Dexterity
15
Constitution
14
Intelligence
16
Wisdom
13
Charisma
18
Armor Class
17
Max HP
20
Speed
30
HP
20 / 20 HP
XP
48,00048,000 XP63,999
Level 9
Equipped Items
Spellbook