The eight great sects of Murim are more than schools of martial arts — they are civilizations in miniature. Each sect teaches its disciples a unique way to cultivate Qi, rooted in centuries of philosophy, tradition, and bloody trial. To join a sect is not simply to learn techniques, but to inherit a Dao lineage, a worldview, and a destiny.
Every sect emphasizes different aspects of the three cultivation pillars — breathing, martial techniques, and Dao heart — and their disciples walk paths that shape not only how they fight, but how they live.
The Shaolin temple is both monastery and fortress, where boys are taken in as disciples and trained through ascetic discipline. For Shaolin, the body is the temple, and cultivation is a way to cleanse karma and resist worldly temptation.
Dao: Dao of Discipline & Righteousness.
Breathing Style: Iron Body Breathing — Qi circulates to skin and bone, hardening the body like iron.
Martial Techniques: Eighteen Arhat Fists, Diamond Body, Great Buddha Palm.
Philosophy: Power must always serve virtue.
Breathing: +1 AC unarmored, resistance to non-magical weapons at mid-levels.
Martial Techniques: Unarmed strikes infused with Qi (extra d4–d10 damage scaling).
Dao Heart: Flaw risk = arrogance in righteousness; failure leads to hypocrisy demons.
Founded by Zhang Sanfeng, the Wudang sect believes in harmony between man and cosmos. Their martial arts embody flow — soft overcoming hard, stillness overcoming motion.
Dao: Dao of Harmony & Balance.
Breathing Style: Cloud-Flow Breathing — Qi flows like rivers, drawing in external Qi easily.
Martial Techniques: Taiji Sword, Cloud Step, Qi Redirection.
Philosophy: Strength is not in force, but in balance.
Breathing: Faster Qi recovery during rests, bonuses in nature-rich environments.
Martial Techniques: Redirect attacks (reaction: spend Qi to turn hit into miss or counter).
Dao Heart: Flaw risk = indecision/apathy; failure leads to paralysis of will.
An all-female sect blending Taoist meditation with martial grace. Their discipline lies in serenity — a calm blade cuts truest.
Dao: Dao of Serenity.
Breathing Style: Moonlight Breathing — Qi flows in long, graceful cycles, stabilizing Dao Heart.
Martial Techniques: Emei Swordplay, Flowing Petal Strike, Meditation Stance.
Philosophy: Harmony through compassion, yet lethal precision in combat.
Breathing: Advantage on Dao Heart saves.
Martial Techniques: Sword Qi projections, disarming counters.
Dao Heart: Flaw risk = compassion turning into hesitation.
Secretive assassins, the Tangmen cultivate poison Qi and deadly throwing weapons. They are feared not for strength, but for inevitability: once struck, death is certain.
Dao: Dao of Shadows & Venom.
Breathing Style: Venom Breath — Qi infused with toxins, body gradually resists poison.
Martial Techniques: Poison Fang Needle, Venom Mist, Silent Step.
Philosophy: Mercy is weakness; shadows protect survival.
Breathing: Immunity to poisons at higher levels, ability to refine poisons into Qi.
Martial Techniques: Ranged poison weapons, life-drain techniques.
Dao Heart: Flaw risk = paranoia and distrust.
An amoral, chaotic faction of outcasts, heretics, and killers. They embrace forbidden Qi, demonic techniques, and corrupt paths. Founded by a Divinator who foresaw his death, they thrive in shadows.
Dao: Dao of Chaos, Dao of Blood, Dao of Despair.
Breathing Style: Blood-Burning Breath — converts life force into explosive Qi.
Martial Techniques: Life-Steal Strike, Corruption Palm, Demonic Qi Release.
Philosophy: The world rejects us, so we reject heaven.
Breathing: Trade HP for Qi (sacrifice 1d6 HP = gain 1 Qi).
Martial Techniques: Drain Qi/HP from enemies on hit.
Dao Heart: Flaw risk = obsession with power, madness.
Founded by literati, this sect fuses art with martial practice. Members channel Qi through music, calligraphy, painting, and games like weiqi, making aesthetics into weapons.
Dao: Dao of Culture & Art.
Breathing Style: Harmonic Breath — Qi vibrates in rhythm, aligning with frequencies of music and sound.
Martial Techniques: Sound Wave Strike, Ink Seal, Calligraphy Binding.
Philosophy: Art refines the soul as much as battle.
Breathing: Qi attunement grants bonuses to Insight and Persuasion.
Martial Techniques: Buff allies, weaken enemies through artistic performance.
Dao Heart: Flaw risk = pride in intellect, disdain for “brutes.”
Elite enforcers of imperial will. They wield state-sanctioned brutality, striking swiftly against corruption — or dissent.
Dao: Dao of Authority & Law.
Breathing Style: Dragon Breath — Qi refined to enforce domination.
Martial Techniques: Execution Strike, Suppression Aura, Dragon Roar.
Philosophy: Power is legitimacy; the empire stands above all sects.
Breathing: Aura imposes disadvantage on enemies’ fear saves.
Martial Techniques: Precision assassination strikes, battlefield suppression.
Dao Heart: Flaw risk = corruption, tyranny.
The most widespread and chaotic sect, uniting outcasts and wanderers under loyalty and justice. Despite ragged appearance, they hold unmatched martial arts.
Dao: Dao of Brotherhood.
Breathing Style: Wine-Breathing — drunken, chaotic circulation that hides genius precision.
Martial Techniques: Dog Beating Staff, Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, Drunken Fist.
Philosophy: Loyalty above all; strength belongs to the people.
Breathing: Advantage on saves when fighting for allies.
Martial Techniques: Unpredictable strikes; advantage on attacks when drunk.
Dao Heart: Flaw risk = overconfidence in loyalty, blind trust.
Cultural Rivalries: Shaolin monks see Tangmen as dishonorable; Tangmen see Shaolin as hypocrites.
Political Power: Royal Guards enforce law but often clash with Beggars’ Sect loyalty.
Philosophical Conflicts: Wudang’s harmony vs Wanderer’s chaos.
Player Hooks: Each sect provides different cultivation manuals, breathing techniques, and Dao philosophies.