"You are to climb the Pagoda."
The Pagoda of Tsien-Tsin is a pagoda constructed in the Cathayan style that is home to a Chaos Cult dedicated to Tsien-Tsin, known in the Old World as Tzeentch, the Chaos God of change and intrigue. The pagoda is located somewhere in Grand Cathay.[1]
In the Pagoda of Tsien-Tsin the Chaos Cultists of the Chaos God of change, known in Cathay as the "Lord of the Fifteen Devils," and "Master of the Five Elements," train in the arts of sorcery and the martial arts.[1]
Those who hold a position of prestige within the Pagoda of Tsien-Tsin, such as those who are part of the "Fifth Tier," are known to have the power to summon and bind Daemons, tumble through the air in combat, and fight for a day and a night without breaking a sweat.[1]
All who ascend the Pagoda of Tsien-Tsin are said to possess more than a trace of warpstone in their blood.[1]
It is said that a cultist can, with the aid of opium, briefly travel to the Pagoda as a spirit in search of enlightenment.[1]
Appearance[]
The lower levels of the Pagoda of Tsien-Tsin are adorned with lotus and chrysanthemum, while the upper levels are decorated with the bones of those who failed Tsien-Tsin.[1]
An orchestra of the Fifteen Devils performs on the Pagoda.[1]
Netherhells[]
"While the Monkey Prince laughed, the Fire Master burned up the Wood Master, the Wood Master broke the hurricanes of the Air Master, the Air Master blew away into dust the Earth Master, the Earth Master absorbed the moisture of the Water Master, and the Water Master doused the flames of the Fire Master. Eventually, Lord Tsien-Tsin transported all the Masters back to the Pagoda, and subjected them to his wrath."
Those who have disappointed Tsien-Tsin are punished in the Netherhells beneath the Pagoda of Tsien-Tsin, their souls tortured for centuries as punishment for their failure.[1]
Even in a Cathayan fable Lord Tsien-Tsin transported all five Masters back to the Pagoda and subjected them to his wrath for being deceived by the Monkey Prince.[1]
The Five Masters[]
The five Masters of the Pagoda of Tsien-Tsin are Elementals of oversized Human form, capable of wielding their respective elements as weapons. They disdain each other and often debate who is the strongest among them. Just like in the fable, they have been outsmarted by the Vampire Genevieve Dieudonné, who led them to fight each other to determine who was the best among them.[1]
- Fire Master[1]
- Water Master[1]
- Wood Master[1]
- Air Master[1]
- Earth Master[1]
Other Notable Pagoda Members[]
- Dien Ch'ing- Dien Ch'ing was a Cathayan Chaos Cultist who posed as an ambassador of the Dragon Emperor of Grand Cathay to the court of Emperor Karl Franz.[1]
- Venerable Xhou Ch'ing - An ancestor of Dien Ch'ing. Dien was able to summon his spirit with a bamboo flute by blowing just a silent note, conjuring the spirit of the humble ancestor who had been buried under the tree which provided the wood for the instrument.[1]
Sources[]
- 1: Red Thirst (Short Story) by Jack Yeovil