Murim in the present era is a land of tension, ambition, and secret schemes. The once-stable power of the Five Great Sects has expanded into twelve influential organizations, each vying for territory, artifacts, and martial supremacy. While some maintain diplomacy and honor, others pursue forbidden techniques, exploiting fear, rumor, and chaos to gain advantage.
The traditional heartlands of Iron Crane, Stone Tiger, and Azure Lotus remain central hubs of Murim culture, but expansionist sects push the boundaries:
Obsidian Wolf Sect aggressively claims frontier lands, clashing with Silver Fang Sect and local independent villages.
Verdant Crane Sect leverages environmental Qi, controlling forests and rivers, often restricting access to other sects.
Iron Raven Sect, newer but formidable with Soul-Link techniques, acts as a strategic wildcard, occasionally allying with older sects but pursuing independent goals.
Quests & Hooks:
Mediating conflicts between competing sects.
Defending villages caught in territorial disputes.
Scouting unclaimed lands for strategic advantage.
Ancient artifacts and lost martial techniques remain a constant source of friction. Phantom Artifacts appear sporadically, leading to violent confrontations among ambitious sects.
Crimson Lotus emphasizes strategy, aiming to secure these artifacts for long-term control.
White Emerald Cult secretly safeguards shards of lost techniques, shunned due to rumors of high fatality rates.
Rare techniques like Soul-Link and Nature’s Flow create additional competition among sects seeking mastery.
Quests & Hooks:
Tracking down ephemeral artifacts before rival sects do.
Securing fragments of lost star-based techniques.
Preventing sabotage or theft during artifact recoveries.
The Shadowed Abyss Sect grows in power, utilizing Demonic Cultivation to manipulate Qi and destabilize regions. Their actions threaten Murim’s delicate balance:
Rumors of Eclipse-aligned rituals suggest a looming global Qi surge.
They maintain secret laboratories and cult-like networks across remote territories.
Quests & Hooks:
Infiltrating hidden Abyss sect facilities.
Rescuing disciples or uncovering forbidden knowledge.
Mitigating dangerous Qi anomalies before catastrophe.
The remaining traditional sects—Iron Crane, Stone Tiger, Azure Lotus, Shadow Fang, and Jade Serpent—navigate diplomacy to maintain influence:
Alliances shift, often based on access to cultivation techniques, resources, or information.
Festivals and tournaments act as both celebration and political maneuvering ground.
Independent towns like Moonrise Village and Jade Springs become key bargaining hubs.
Quests & Hooks:
Negotiating alliances or resolving disputes between rival sects.
Protecting diplomatic envoys or retrieving stolen intelligence.
Participating in martial competitions that influence political standing.
Unique phenomena in Murim shape present conflicts:
Nature’s Flow Technique users manipulate forests and rivers, creating hazards or defensive zones.
Celestial events like The Eternal Eclipse affect Qi flow unpredictably, altering training, battles, and cultivation potential.
Ancient guardians and hidden ruins challenge any adventurer daring to explore.
Quests & Hooks:
Navigating natural Qi anomalies to complete missions.
Investigating ancient structures activated by rare cultivation methods.
Harnessing environmental Qi for defensive or offensive purposes.
Players may:
Align with a sect, choosing between honor, strategy, or ambition.
Hunt lost techniques or rare artifacts, competing against rival sects.
Investigate mysteries like the Vanishing Continent of Qi or the Wandering Sect.
Participate in city-based events, tournaments, or secret missions affecting sect balance.
Murim’s present is a web of overlapping ambitions, secretive plots, and ancient mysteries—perfect for exploration, conflict, and storytelling.