Several forces have come together competing for power in the Tournament of the Dragon. Most of the competitiors in the tournament belong to one of these factions.
Some of the factions want to control the tournament, others want to use it to their advantage, still others have goal that are more mysterious. One thing they all have in common, all are competing to have the best fighters and to win as many matches as possible.
Here are the current power players in the Tournamet of the Dragon...
Moroboshi Temple
History
The Temple is an acient monastary/dojo located in the ancient capital of Japan, Nara. It's history traces back to the Shaolin Temple in China, having been founded by displaced Shaolin monks. It's philosophy has always focused on spritual and physical training, and on the belief that only by studying all forms can you become strong. They have also always held that individual competition is the best way to test forms for their strength. The temple later moved to Japan and in it's long history there has been both hero and villain to various forces in the government and the underworld. Though in recent years it has had trouble establishing it's fighting tournament, The Tournament of the Dragon has now returned in it's ancient home, the Moroboshi Temple.
Temple fighters may be monks living at the temple itself, studying forms from around the world. Or they may be fighters friendly to the Temple's ideals and independent attitude, willing to fight in it's name to stand up for those ideals and to keep outsiders from gaining control of the Tournament. Temple fighter are renown for being highly spiritual and capable opponents.
The International Fighting Commission (IFC)
History
The IFC is currently the world's largest organized fighting affiliation devoted to mixed martial arts competitions. Created in the void of the Tournament of the Dragon, the IFC is devoted to creating a competitive, full contact, well organized and popular sport for fans the world over. The IFC is in the Tournament of the Dragon to show the capabilites of it's fighters, recruit new fighters, and try to get the Temple to make the Tournament a stop on the IFC tour.
IFC fighters come from many backgrounds, most tend toward more physically compeititve, less spiritual studies of their forms. Though many struggle financially, they are respected as some of the best in the world.
Futatsutora Yakuza (Twin Tiger Crime Family)
History
The Tigers are an ancient crime family with many connections. They are believed to be involved in most levels of crime in Japan. They have a long standing grudge against the temple and have fought against Temple fighters longer than any other faction. They are in the tournament to do battle with their old foe, and work toward settling a long-standing argument of which faction's styles are stronger. The Futatsutora are strong and very disciplined.
Futatsutora fighters are loyal and known for their incredible power. Many are former,thugs who, through training and a structured life, have found their way to becoming men of respect and discipline.
Athena Inc.
History
Athena is a sportswear company that hit in big in the late 70's with the fitness craze. They are now involved in, if not in control of, many major sports around the world. Seeing the growing interest in the IFC, Athena is moving to start a league of it's own. Having financilly helped the struggling Moroboshi Temple, Athena has entered it's fighters into the Tournament to set the stage for their own fighting league.
Athena fighters are the best looking, best paid, and best condidtioned fighters in the world. They are usually former IFC fighters who decided to make more money, even if the competitions are little less "hard core".
The Red Lotus Society
Little is known about this mysterious organization except that they recruit very capable fighters from around the world, and that they are backed by several prominent Japaneese citizens who meet in a very secure office building. While no one seems to know their true motives, from their current attitude, all are sure that they mean very little good to the Tournament. There have been rumors that it may be an experiment to genetically enhance the world's perfect fighter/soldier.
Red Lotus fighters are drawn from all over the world, but are renown for their devastating quickness and timing. They also tend to be very arrogant of their superiority over other fighters.
Independents
Independents are just that, fighters who have made it on their own with no organization to back them up. They may have risen through the ranks in competition forms of martial arts, been exceptional street fighters, made their living by selling their skills, or any of thousands of other backgrouds. They are in the Tournament of the Dragon because they have caught the attention of one of it's organizers with their skills. They compete for as many different reasons as there are stories that brought them here.
Independents may lack a little training and money, but they are able to train more freely than faction fighters are are not bound by their rules. They tend to be self-achievers and strong willed. Most are talented and have good endurance.
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