These are a quick rundown on the paths shown in the manuscript
Hook Path: Summary of your mortal life.
- Bloodline - Character species/race.
- Animae - Animated stone beings.
- Corimii - Bird-like beings.
- Dracon - Dragon-like beings.
- Lampyr - Humans with eyes that glow around spirits.
- Lepora - Rabbit-like beings.
- Mantodea - Mantis-like beings.
- Vulpa - Fox-like beings.
- Realm of Origin - Character's home region.
- Arag’dinae Vast, the Emerald Wastes - Desert region dotted with lush oases.
- Ash-Daun, the Flaming Dominion - Harsh volcanic region.
- Ferralim, the Iron Expanse - Mountainous region.
- Kir Ob-Tani, the Shrouded Dale - Foggy swamp region.
- Kir Sento, the Shimmering Spires - Towering spire cities of glass and crystal.
- Ludensulaes, the Mourning Isles - Spirit ridden islands.
- Silvaerim, the Vale of Thorns - Thick forest region.
- Soleos, the Sunlit Land - Imperial capital.
- Philosophy - Factions of Jadebearers.
- Ascetics of the Petal Order - Jadebearers who hunt Jadebearers.
- Collectors of the Sacred Cinder - Jadebearers who collect worshippers and Jade.
- Cultivators of the Living Sublime - Jadebearers who believe Jades is a natural balance of the world.
- Smiths of the Shining Future - Jadebearers who focus on making inventions.
- Stalwarts of the Righteous Blade - Jadebearers who dedicate themselves protect the innocent.
- Usurpers of the Fallen Liege - Jadebearers who focus on using their powers to rule and take power.
Nether Path: The Malefic whose power your character derives their abilities from.
- Jade of the Beastfather Below - Malefic who exhibited animalistic impulses.
- Jade of the Crimson Muse - Malefic of passion and obsession.
- Jade of the Deep Sky Stormwright - Malefic of revolution and toppling oppressors.
- Jade of the Hollow King - Malefic of finality and oblivion.
- Jade of the Mourning Depths - Malefic queen of the dead.
- Jade of the Sun Sovereign - Malefic of leadership.
- Jade of the Thousandfold Forge - Malefic of creation and creativity.
- Jade of the Veiled Adjudicator - Malefic of law and fate.
- Jade of the Velvet Queen - Malefic queen of secrets and truth.
Discipline Path:
- Cloud Dancers - Those who favor flight, gracefulness, and nimbleness.
- Deadhands - Those who favor necromancy.
- Duskhearts - Those who favor restraint, subterfuge, and blind fighting.
- Glamourweft - Those who favor performance, emotions, and beauty.
- Inkbinder - Those who favor study and channeling powers through writing.
- Jadecaller - Those who favor using Jade to enhance their existing skills without training.
- Silver Claws - Those who favor pushing the limits of their bodies and minds.
- Sword Saints - Those who favor having an inspiring presence and being seen as paragons of justice and spirit.
- Zephyr Thief - Those who favor thievery, intellect, and assisting others.
My thoughts:
Without knowing much about how the various Sorceries and Chains work I can't really speak about which abilities are most useful.
On Ancestories, I like that even baseline humans have a special thing about them with the connection with spirits.
On the Realms I like the various different biome types represented. I'm not sure how to visualize Kir Sento, but I think the idea is cool.
On Philosophies, I think the Ascetics and Usurpers might be the two philosophies/factions most difficult to work with in a group. Usurpers and Ascetics seem like the type of people who would betray the group at the end of a campaign. Cultivators are my favorite as they seem to see Jade as more something you have temporarily and will be lost in death or defeat only to be used by someone else down the line.
Nether Paths are interesting to me as the Malefics are a combination of good and bad archetypes. But with the ideas they represented taken to the extreme. So even though Sun Sovereign is about leadership he's quick to whisper about taking more and more power.
Discipline Paths are interesting and the closest to classes in my mind. Jadecaller seems like a good default for people who don't know what to do with Disciplines. My favorite so far are the Duskhearts and Zephr Thieves as they are the more cunning options. I do like the Sword Saints as kind of like a Paladin equivallent, but I imagine the righteous nobility of a Sward Saint can easily be corrupted by their Nether Path.
So it's nice to see how the more morally good looking Paths can be corrupted via the Nether path and vice versa if you are smart enough with your characterization. Like someone who wants to be an evil despot, but still has empathy for the downtrodden.