Let's talk a little bit about the Sophisters.

The mainstream stance of the Monks of the Crystal Hand is that its members pursue group and individual paths toward greater perfection of the individual. This perfect form is considered impossible to achieve, but to pursue it greatly improves the individual along every possible dimension.

In particular to the Sophisters is the notion of right and wrong action. Sophisters debate the basis of morality endlessly, but it has a constant center on the idea that an action can be right or wrong objectively. The Plane of Probability provides them with infutable proof that one course of action may be better (insofar as they're defining their moral basis this week) than another.

The wise Sophister understands that all this is, really, not very achievable. The perfect individual is an ideal, a goal to reach for, and its impossibility does in no way hamper or diminish the value of the pursuit. The Sophisters, despite reputation, are not filled completely by wise individuals.

A significant minority of the sect considers this notion of the impossibility of the pursuit to be well-worn fatalism. They diverge on two points: Perfect Action and Perfect Body.

They argue first that right action, while well and good, can be advanced to perfect action. Prophecy and foresight can be honed deeper and deeper, leaving the possibility that all circumstances behind their actions can be known in their entirety and actions chosen with omniscient surety. Certain Moon Mages, particularly those that have meddled with the Astral Plane, raise an eyebrow in their direction.

Then, more troublesome, is the pursuit of the Perfect Body. All but the most bullheaded Sophisters understand there's an absolute limit to how much debate and martial arts can perfect the individual. They would argue, though, that this is a limit and flaw of the Sophisters' methods and not an ontological limit of the individual. Certain scholars will raise an eyebrow when "ontological perfection" is brought up.

Indeed, these Sophisters often come to bad ends. It's a well buried embarrassment that the Sophisters are more likely than any other sect to fall to Necromancy, hearing the clarion call of the Perfect Body. Those who resist the most obvious evil dabble on the fringes of Lunar magic. Their attempts have included (but are not limited to):

Shaping the universe with Teleologic Sorcery to allow for "easy" immortality.
Becoming a non-corporeal entity of Psychic Projection magics.
Creating the perfect, sapient golem.
Body stealing.
Retreating into alien planes permanently.

So far the Perfect Body Sophisters have failed in their individual goals, or in the case of the planar travelers have never been heard from again, but meddling with the fringes of Lunar magic is not guaranteed to remain a quiet endeavor.

-Armifer
"Perinthia's astronomers are faced with a difficult choice. Either they must admit that all their calculations were wrong ... or else they must reveal that the order of the gods is reflected exactly in the city of monsters." - Calvino Italo

Wouldn't fusing your body with a cambrinth shell, and the subsequent death of your fleshy innards, be an abomination to those of Perfect Body? Do Y'shai keep their souls in the process? Do they age and eventually die accordingly? I know the moonmages have a tendency to skirt the edges of necromancy, but just how similar/different would Y'shai, Perfect Body, and Transcending be?

The Y'Shai still have their "essential mortal core," the details of which have been left up to our imagination.

-Armifer

https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Post:Necromancer_-_Enchanting:_Phylactery_-_03/13/2013_-_07:13

>>Interesting. Though moon mages are the only other guild that can achieve something akin to the lich-state with the Y'Shai...

Nobody really knows what's up with the Y'Shai and how Moon Mages managed to create them without corrupting themselves. If Moon Mages really did create them. Or if the creators really haven't corrupted themselves.

The Moon Mage Guild benefits from this lack of scrutiny and will continue to keep the Y'Shai outside of the spotlight for many, many years to come.

>>But it is not "technically" a lich, so no go on the necro label. Got it.

For the sake of the Necromancer-centric lore, a lich is "technically" defined as a permanent, self-imposed and self-powered undead state. The usual features of this state are extreme durability and the lack of a soul.

https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Post:Necro_Walks%3F_-_8/9/2009_-_15:51:56

>>Y'shai construction certainly seems to push the line.

Whatever it is that angers the Gods about certain types of necromancy, the Gods don't seem to care about the Y'shai... but then again if a Y'shai dies they're denied the Starry Road. So maybe the Gods do care?

The Y'shai fall under that category of "Things that would likely cause riots and angry mobs if people actually understood what was going on." But they don't, because they Y'shai are just scary powerful mages in shiny cambrinth plate. Right?

https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Post:Background_-_10/05/2013_-_14:30

Many Nomads undoubtedly see the Y'Shai a symbol of the Moon Mage guild who was sent to protect guild property. By the nature of her position, Cherulisa is tied to the guild more than many of the Nomades. She also has a practical streak that recognizes the prudence of placing a guard on Dor'na'torna. However, it is likely that many among the Nomads are not pleased by the presence of another symbol of the organized Moon Mage guild.

https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Post:Tales_from_the_Windswept_Peaks:_Y%27Shai_-_4/13/2009_-_16:54:36

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I think any rational person would consider a Y'shai an abomination, especially if they knew the specifics behind their creation. Of course when given the opportunity for magical experimentation and the pursuit of unassailable power few moon mages can be considered rational. Rationalizing yes, rational no.

The Sophisters seeking Perfect Action and Perfect body are extreme examples of your average moon mage. They're probably less rational. I think some of them would consider Y'shai an abomination but an interesting failed experiment as far as Perfect Action or Body. A Y'shai exists solely to protect the interests of the guild, rather than self-improvement and they sacrifice almost of themselves to that aim.

I agree the process would probably be interesting to them as far as avenues to perfection but not the end result of a Y'shai. Aside from the conditioning/brainwashing a Y'shai also doesn't appear to change. For someone focused on perfection, you're always going to be striving to improve on whatever you are at the moment. A static state of being as a Y'shai would be a nightmare to them. I think a process that burns away most of everything that constitutes an individual also doesn't leave much room to improve.

Powerful tools, not paragons of perfection.

Thank you for the in depth lore on the Monks of the Crystal Hand.

Does anyone know how and why the Monks of the Crystal Hand were founded? Or by whom? Or what their name symbolizes?