The Tiger's Nest
Hidden on the southern slopes of the A-Ling Shan, this old fortress exists where none should be—across the impassable Jumpa Chasm? on the cliffs of the untracked Yehimal. In short, there is no way to reach the Tiger’s Nest or to have built it where it stands, short of magic. This is, of course, precisely how the Tiger’s Nest was built.
Ages past, the Tiger’s Nest was an independent monastery. The monks and priests who dwelt there were good, and abhorred the excesses and cruelties of the Empire. From their stronghold, the priests did all they could to defy the might of the ancient wizards, countering evil magic with powerful clerical spells. Carefully concealing the location of their fortress, they aided the peasants and thwarted the attempts of the governors. The priests became famous as the Invisible Tigers and their fortress became known as the Tiger’s Nest.
In the end, the empire fell, though the efforts of the Tiger’s Nest had little to do with it. For a time, it seemed that the defeat of the empire would spell the doom of the Invisible Tigers. Without an enemy to rail against, marry of the priests abandoned the fortress to carry on their good works elsewhere.
Not all left. A handful remained behind to perfect their arts. These devoted few purged their lives of all corruptive influences—meat, tea, talk, women, eventually even breathing were forbidden. Somehow, on their faith alone, the Invisible Tigers survived. Now these former priests have become more than human. Their extreme existence has given them incredible powers. Completely dedicated to the struggle against evil, the Invisible Tigers still venture from the fortress to carry on the struggle.
