The world is divided into the Three Teachings, the Seven Schools, and the Nine Streams, a bewildering variety of groups. The Three Teachings are Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The Seven Schools include Confucianism, Legalism, Mohism, the School of Agriculture, the School of Names, the School of Eclecticism, the School of Diplomacy, and the School of Yin-Yang. The Nine Streams are divided into the Upper Nine, which include emperors, sages, recluses, children, scholars, warriors, farmers, artisans, and merchants; the Middle Nine, which include scholars, doctors, physiognomists, painters, calligraphers, musicians, chess players, monks, and Taoists; and the Lower Nine, which include private secretaries, constables, butchers, matchmakers, runners, shamans, bandits, thieves, and prostitutes. The Lower Nine have the most members, and are further divided into many different groups according to their occupations. In this world, everything comes at a cost. If you want powerful magic, you must trade something else for it.
