Discussion Loyalty in a Sect

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by Athousandhandspraying, Oct 3, 2018.

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  1. Athousandhandspraying

    Athousandhandspraying Well-Known Member

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    How should a sect in a xianxia or xianhuan novel create loyalty among the disciples?
    Usually its like disciples are employees as they must earn contribution points by doing jobs for the sect, and then use those to purchase cultivation techniques and magic treasures. That may seem fine but theres a limit to what people will do just for resources. What about in war.
    Protagonist usually join just for the resources and have no attachment to the sect. And it doesn't help that the treatment of the lower disciples is bad with bullying, life and death fights and elders abusing authority.

    So again how should a sect in a xianxia or xianhuan novel create loyalty among the disciples?
     
  2. Wolf Monarch

    Wolf Monarch Active Member

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    Sect usually take discipline when they're young . so they grow up in the sect which makes them more loyal to the sect
     
  3. Cygsiulle

    Cygsiulle error 404: title not found

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    i think it'd go a long ways just having the disciplinary groups do their jobs and if teachers beat their students for being insufferable assholes instead of holing themselves up for decades at a time.
     
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  4. otaku31

    otaku31 Well-Known Member

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    I don't think most sects care about fostering loyalty among lower disciples. Such disciples don't have much value and aren't in the know-how enuf to damage the sect even if they decide to betray said sect. The sect does ensure loyalty among core/elite/talented disciples by giving favored/special treatment and disproportionately high amt of resources.
     
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  5. Scholar Occult Cauldron

    Scholar Occult Cauldron Bonk Maestro | Ascended

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    Do it the way in Crazy Daoist (Immortal Gu). Brainwash them into having loyalty to the sect by giving them a group to be a part of, responsibility over some small duty, older members act like family to new recruits, etc. Basically, make them feel like they need to belong.
     
  6. lolilolinepu

    lolilolinepu Well-Known Member

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    During the initial parts of the story, they were mere humans before they were accepted into the sect. They can't do anything without the sect at this point. If there is a better sect, they will probably change one.
    As for main characters, they are shown as morally just and awesome guys so why would the author show how them betraying the sect that took them in.
    PROBABLY
     
  7. Saladinxc

    Saladinxc Well-Known Member

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    Hmm, this is actually a blind spot that is very unusual to be explored by most author.

    ''Good" author can bring the most out of it. For example in Zhu Xi'an we can see that loyalty come because MC is an orphan taken and taught in sect. That's why even when mc betrayed the sect, he still feel gratitude toward his old sect. I feel that old wuxia novel adhere to this idea.

    'Most' Author of xianxia novel mostly take loyalty as given.
    Actually, in most xianxia novel, we can see the sect as a company that hold many family interest together. Unlike orthodox wuxia sect that function as a school of thought and temple.
     
  8. SinnyVic

    SinnyVic Well-Known Member

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    You don't really need loyalty. Just target disciples' insecurities. If they don't have any, force some onto them.

    Brainwash them and keep them occupied enough (cultivate, cultivate, cultivate) so that they don't have enough time to majorly self-reflect on their life. If they do, then give them a little 'friendly' advice from a senior.
    Set up a power hierarchy to incite social class war (e.g. rankings, titles, positions).
    Alienate every other sect or power so that they are pressured into remaining within the sect (essentially xenophobia and nationalism).
    Create competition between all members and constantly compare members to others, then give them goals that are realistic but also take a relatively long time to complete with their current power level and encourage them to continue their wretched struggle. Introduce adrenaline-pumping/life-threatening challenges to keep their lives from being extremely dull and monotonous.
    Remind them that they would be a complete nobody without their cultivation. The majority will not be willing to return to mortal life. Let them taste a little power. Get those kids hooked.
    Or something along those lines. :blobpopcorn:
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2018
  9. lnv

    lnv ✪ Well-Known Hypocrite

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    Generally speaking, the ones who are high ranked in the sects are not random nobodies but people that are part of a prestigious family. If a person from said family betrays a sect, it would hurt their reputation. And we all know how they value face.

    The ones that are not part of the families are generally taken as outer disciples and they only get the basic cultivation resources while doing basic tasks. While they can betray, they generally don't because their betrayal isn't worth much so no one is going to take them in. Not to mention who wants a traitor to begin with?

    Otherwise, the best way to keep people loyal is drugs. Get them hooked on a drug that only the sect knows how to make/procure and keep feeding it to them. If they betray, well they will regret it. Though now it sounds like a demonic sect : /

    In the case of the protagonist, they have illogical plot armor protecting them. So they can get into sects without having any attachments while gaining favor and the like just because.
     
  10. Houye

    Houye Well-Known Member

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    They take disciples or use blood oaths when they enter the sect. Nevertheless to say for the majority there's as much loyalty as there's no semen between tits in advertisements when bad situations arrive.
     
  11. Bakaturq

    Bakaturq Tell me, what do you see?

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    Loyalty is reserved for sects that hold little power. Loyalty isn't needed in higher sects as they have the power to ensure no one betrays them, and even if they do betray, the sect will ensure they regret the betrayal.

    Besides, sects encourage rivalry as you are not going to get far in cultivation if there is no fighting, unless you have the backing of an influential people/family. Because most of the disciples come from families with no background, to ensure a "clean" slate.
     
  12. LowerTierDragon

    LowerTierDragon Well-Known Member

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    Sects are not corporations, nor are they schools.

    They're gangs. With magical powers.

    Keep in mind that the foundation of wuxia (which extended into the later xianxia/xuanhuan derivatives) is the concept of the Jianghu, the underworld outside of the bounds of polite society and imperial authority. Here, people form their own "families" through bonds of mutual benefit and friendship. The relationship between master and apprentice is another strong bond, and lineages are formed from their heritage. Interactions are touchy -- return a salute the wrong way and you're in for a fight, the loser shunned -- and the only real rule is that the strongest makes the rules (the rest are conveniently ignored when the big guys trample them, at least).

    In world like that, if you do not join a sect you are vulnerable to attack from all angles. Inside a sect, you're at least reducing that danger while using your contributions to pay for your benefits. Why are you loyal to your sect? Because your sect members wear blue bandannas on their arms and those heathen monsters across the way wear red ones. Let's not even talk about those treacherous rogue cultivators who show no loyalty anywhere.

    Compare and contrast with political tribalism in today's first world. Your team may be screwing you half of the time, but their team is hellbent on screwing you all of the time, or so you believe at least (and that belief is plenty flexible under the right pressures). The human need to belong to something and to exclude what's not in that group is primal and this all is just another expression of it. Are there examples of true camaraderie and bonds stronger than blood? Sure. There's also a lot of skullduggery and backstabbing when the price is right, though. For the glory of the sect.

    Of course, our protagonists are generally awesome enough to transcend such petty requirements when necessary. But that's merely just another extension of the only real rule, sooner or later, isn't it?
     
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