The Monastic Order of the Sublime Manifold Lotus

The Order of the Sublime Manifold Lotus
Concept: Hypertech Kung Fu Monastery

35 pts

Population: R0 (0 pts)

Even in a galaxy-spanning empire, there are very few people invested enough in the ways of the martial artist to become a monk and join a temple. Reforging the very soul is a difficult and arduous process, and martial arts brotherhoods rarely advertise. To reach them, you must seek them out, and to be accepted you must be evaluated for a week by the masters of the temple.

Transumanism: R3 (4 pts)

A combination of cutting-edge genetic engineering and millenia-old martial arts has blended past and present, ch'i and flesh. When genetic boosts combine with the learning enhancement techniques, the superhuman physical prowess that was available only to the dedicated and strong of spirit in the pre-scientific age is now available to anyone. The Xia Dynasty can augment the mind, the body, and the soul of its citizenry and expects every citizen to partake of such extensively.

Infrastructure: R0 (0 pts)

It's a monastery not a military base. They have civilian industry but their primary infrastructure is educational, rather than industrial.

Growth Potential: R2 (2 pts)

The monastery is the lone bastion of civilization in an otherwise untouched system, with plenty of resources for the taking that are yet to be exploited.

Military Support: R0 (0 pts)

Although the martial arts have military benefits, not every martial artist is a soldier, and monasteries are not military bases. Especially not fleet bases.

Space Fleet: R0 (0 pts)

Originally located in the heart of an empire which has lasted for millenia upon millenia, the Imperial Navy would have long since intercepted any threats to them-and as such, they have no real warships.

Diplomacy: R3 (4 pts)

Who knew that endless reserves of self-control and being taught how to feel the emotions and auras of another would make for surprisingly good diplomats? Well, I suppose everyone did.

Espionage: R1 (1 pt)

You'll want to look for another martial artists' order for spies. Maybe the Brotherhood of the Invisible Cobra? We'll put it on the map. Our students are statesmen, scholars, warriors, and yes, heroes.

General Advancement: R2 (8 pts)

The particularly ideologically-fixed may mock the blending of mysticism such as martial arts, spiritualism, and Feng Shui with cutting-edge science as crass, but often enough they forget the 'cutting-edge' in the term. Although expected to be a school for martial artists, the monastery is mandated by the Jade Emperor to teach its students a fully fledged education beyond that.

Unique Technology: R3 (4+1 pts)

The combination of mystical tradition and scientific might has provided many unique fields of technical development to the Dynasty, from weapons which disrupt Qi to the physiological science of martial arts development and various other advancements in the harnessing and disrupting of external and internal alchemy.

Emergent Technology: R3 (6 pts)

Although drastic cybernetic replacement is crass for the living and generally only expected of the honored dead, and the industrial capacity of the monks is nearly nonexistent, they were originally located at the heart of the Dynasty and have the technical infrastructure expected of such.

Magic: R4 (6 pts)

Every man, woman, and child in the Order is either a student of or a practicing martial artist, mastering blatantly supernatural and incredibly versatile techniques.