It is the Golden Age of the Middle Kingdom. It is a time of great
prosperity and cultural advancements. Philosopher kings reign, the arts
reach their peak, and wars between neighboring states have all but
ceased. Unfortunately with this state of tranquility comes a sense of
affluence and complacency never before witnessed. People become
increasingly lethargic and arrogant, quickly forgetting the sacred
customs and traditions of the ancients. Heaven becomes increasingly
alarmed.
It is at this time that Nuwa, Queen of Heaven, concerned with the
happenings on earth, decrees a celestial banquet to be held for the
leaders of Heaven. The event, known as the Peach Blossom Banquet, is
attended by all the gods of Heaven, their various ministers and
servants, and a select group of mortals. The event begins peacefully but
soon calamity strikes
It begins with the action of one man. A highly decorated and
arguably one of the most powerful militarists in Heaven, The Crimson
General of the Heavenly Navy, drunkenly begins harassing the Moon
Goddess asking her for a dance. The Goddess, nervous and frail, finds
herself defenseless from the advances of the inebriated General but as
Heaven does not stand for such improprieties, the God of Decency,
enraged at the General's heretical actions, banishes the immortal
General to the human planes.
Following the General's disturbance, Nuwa calls for a toast and
requests that her most cherished possession, the Divine Peach-Wine
Chalice, be brought to her to settle her mood. Her servant, in his haste
to please the disturbed Goddess, trips and accidentally drops the
sacred vessel shattering it into thousands of pieces; all which
immediately fall to the mortal realm below.
During the commotion, the Treasure of Heaven, which had been on
display in the banquet hall, suddenly disappears without a trace. The
treasure, a sacred ark infused with special magical seals to prevent any
evil from coming near it, has now vanished.
These are the events that led to a state of emergency being declared
within the Heavenly realms. Calamity, chaos, and accusations of
corruption ensue. Dignities point fingers at one another, each accusing
the other as the culprit.
A Heavenly decree is made stating that an expedition will be sent to
the Western Lands to seek the knowledge, wisdom, and blessings required
to calm and purify the Heavens once again. It is decided that a monk
will lead the journey, and that he will be the one to retrieve the
blessings which are inscribed on magical scrolls. Strong and virtuous
warriors of the Earth's three races are to accompany and protect the
spiritually advanced, but physically weak, monk.
In preparation for this mission, the three races of the earth the
Renzu, Yaoh, and Shenzu are called upon by Heaven to perform specialized
tasks to prove themselves worthy: the Renzu are given the task of
gathering the shards of the broken chalice; the Yaoh are entrusted with
the duty of tracking down the sacred ark; and the Shenzu are
commissioned to locate the now-banished General who has now been deemed
of great importance.
When these tasks set forth by Heaven have all been completed, each
race will be given the honor of choosing their respective candidate to
take part in the Holy Mission.
