Baochou Monastery

Baochou Monastery is dedicated to Arn, supreme god of Dabgach. The monastery is located at the foot of the highest peak of the southern spur of the Golden Crane Mountains, north of Trao Le. The entrance to the monastery is hidden behind illusions and magical deceits; at least one monk will meet those who attempt access and pose riddles or other tests to measure the worthiness of visitors. The monastery lies beyond huge double doors that are rarely opened more than a crack. They will not permit the entry of any evil or cursed being and they will use their golden blades to fight against demonic entities, invoking the magical chant “Pao-Yeh-Pao-Lo-Mi” to unleash golden light from their weapons that strikes opponents with unerring accuracy.



The two hundred monks who reside in the monastery wear red robes and practice meditation, martial arts and spiritual studies. Traditionally, the monks remain aloof from political and worldly affairs although there was a crisis during the time of Poo Ta’s impotent reign when splinter groups believed they should take an active role in guiding the land to a more harmonious level of development. Some monks (such as Merzei) left to pursue this aim.



The present Abbott of the monastery is known as Dry Jade and his two highest-level subordinates are Flying Turtle (the martial arts instructor) and Black Cauldron (master of the hidden truths). Initiates must spend at least at least a year performing menial duties before they are permitted to commence learning martial arts. This period of servitude is meant to help the initiate master emotions such as pride. Baochou Monastery currently practices the crane style of fighting; they practised the striking cobra style in early generations but have since eschewed it as being overly aggressive (although they still keep records of its secrets). The Zhizhu Monastery in Trao Le is run by a splinter group of the Baochou Monastery.



In the depths of the Baochou Monastery are black marble gates that lead to the Deep Land in which initiates face their final test. The initiate is told that they are entering the “underworld” under the guidance of a monk named Meng Zhidao but in fact the ordeal takes place within their own mind where they must confront their fears.