Shenlonghui, the Thunder Serpent's Sect

[certainly]

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After many, many years, something seems to have been properly organized in Xuefeng. That is the Shenlonghui, or The Thunder Serpent's Sect, as it was localized to Meranthe. The Shenlonghui is a Meranthine interpretation of a Shengese faith that revolved around Shenlong, the Lord of Rain and Thunder, referred to by some scholars as the Dragon of Knowledge. It takes the Fourfold Path as a basis - as do all Shengese religions - and adds onto it the concepts of Creation and Defense to bring purpose to the balance of Family, Spirit, Judgement, and Honor.

In Sheng, faiths around Shenlong have always served as a gathering of scholars first, and a place of worship second, and the Meranthine interpretation is no different than the original notion. As such, the concept of Creation and Defense are not set in stone; they are free for each participant to interpret in some way, and bring balance through their own lines of thoughts. Some create weapons for others, which are in of itself a tool of defense; others seek to add onto a pile of knowledge, defending that knowledge through debates.

Debates are special and highly regarded in this Sect or Society (as the Upper Jianghuran name claims). They are the way through which ideals are upheld; they are the way through which growth is achieved, an important pillar for many, and they are the way through which claims are proved to be right. But those claims must be founded in truth; there was a common proverb in the beliefs of Sheng, "the true fool is he who believes opinions and fact are the same", which is still held as a basis for the Knowledge in Shenlonghui.

But aside from that, participants, or rather scholars, are free to make their own interpretation of the world. It becomes apparent, then, that what unites all of these people together are not a strong set of beliefs, but rather, a single one, a belief in Shenlong as a higher deity, one that encourages Knowledge, has the power to bring forth many good things, such as a bontiful harvest or the protection against natural disasters, and who is... notably idealized as the perfect being, who all scholars should strive to become, uniting Heaven and Identity.

Though this laxness... changes rather quickly if one decides to ascend from a simple scholar to a real priest of the Faith, they who are entasked with conducting rituals and oaths; as Shenlong has always been one prideful Dragon... and mediocre prayers can and will bring bad things.

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Despite the laxness of the Society, there are still ranks, envisioned not so one could be superior to the other, but so an elder may help a junior, and nothing more.

Believers are the first of which. They hold a belief in Shenlong, but they either have not taken the necessary steps in becoming a Scholar, have no interest, or any other reason. They are not an official part of the Shenlonghui.

Scholars (the Ru) have properly dedicated themselves to the pursuit of Creation and Defense, and may or may not have shown dominance over the Four Arts of Qin (any string instrument), Qi (the mana), Shu (any shengese calligraphy), and Hua (painting). It is common (though not necessary) for them to pursue arts of crafting such as alchemy, artificing, runewriting, or things of the like.

Rivers (the Heliu) are encharged with holding festivals, teaching others about the faith proper, and conducting rituals. Elder Scholars (the Zhanglao Ru) oversee the practices of Scholars, and hold authority over projects created by them. Rivers must be Elder Scholars, but Elder Scholars may not necessarily be Rivers. Both must have partaken in a special ritual to receive their roles.

Headwaters (the Shuiyuan) are the second general authority in Shenlonghui. They are experienced in Shenlong's ways and oversee the faithful activities, ensuring their good quality. They must have partaken in another ritual, and taken additional vows than Rivers or Elder Scholars.

The Sky (the Tian) is the authority in Shenlonghui. They are, aside from an overlooker in inside dealings, also the representative of the Sect, speaking for them in political matters when it is needed. It is said that to be the Sky, one must have been directly blessed by Shenlong themselves; but rumors that circulate around who first held this role may prove that this is... not necessarily true for now.

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Shenlonghui, as any gathering of scholars, harbors topics of common discussion and of common agreement. Though this sect has not lived enough for them to organically form, some artificial thoughts have been put, most of them following Shenlong's first teachings to Their first drakanites. These are as followed, referred to as the Nine Thoughts:

1. Growth is the most desirable aspect a person may revolve their lives around.
   
2. Seek to understand even that which has been already understood. Revisit concepts and shake their basis.
   
3. Be kind, and be hopeful. Learn that you will reach boulders in the path of growth, and learn to go around them.
   
4. Defend yourself and what you deem worthy with force if it is necessary.
   
5. Employ the balance of the Fourfold Path, and never focus on a sole pillar.
   
6. Be malleable when it comes to extremes. Learn when to wander around them, but never step into them.
   
7. Stay open-minded to all ideologies that come forth, even if they may seem "objectively evil".
   
8. Look to Shenlong as an example, to Their teachings, interpret them, and apply your interpretations to your life.
   
9. Create, and defend those creations with the restlessness of storm's wrath when they are opposed.
   

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Lastly, attributed to official announcements - and not official records detailing the ins and outs of the sect - are contact information. Secretary Qiu Zaiqiang seems to have taken the sacrifice to be the leader, its first Sky, and those interested should contact him to learn more about the sect, and the faith proper -- that is, Shenlong's history and teachings.

There seems to be a special incentive in those announcements to drakanites who happen to have no wings, but antlers for horns and a thick tail unlike most their kin.