Celestial Army and the Shen

What is a Shen? How do you translate 'Shen' into english?

Many scholars debate of the meaning of this word, to some are merely spirits but in fact these are those spirits capable to influence, interact and actually exist in the Middle Kingdom, a realm we also call home. A more accurate translation would be unhuman, much like an analogy to undead: a creature that seems human in many ways but ultimately it is not.

What's to be truly human is about many characteristics, physiological among them but one of the most important is to belong to the Middle Kingdom, to be in the cycle of Chi, to have a place between heaven and earth. Many Shen, like the vampires and the Kuei Jin are outside of the Cycle, therefore they have to steal Chi in order to survive, they were expelled from this realm or belong to another but yet they manifest here in many ways.

Mages for example being as humans, truly humans but as they grow in power and elevate their consciousness often start to phase out until Paradox or other forces exiles these humans, turning them into Shen. Many others are somewhere in between, becoming Shen for a short period of time, during rituals or powerful magical spells. There are of course those that have such a strong connection to other realms that they become gates to binds this World with another, turning themselves into Shen.

Ultimately, there's an authority and those that have been entrusted to act in thy name of that celestial being. For generations these chosen ones have trained to seek and destroy the Shen, specially those that are not looking to belong, working every night or day to be closer to reunite with the Cycle but instead pushing further away, causing havoc and destruction through that Path.

Many think to have the authority, each group swearing their fealty to a difference facet of the same principle: celestial order on earth. Each group has it's own methods, scientific, religious, mystical and so on; regardless they work against the Shen seeking to destroy them and debunk all their projects.

Among these groups is the Celestial Army, a brotherhood of hunters wise in the ways of the Chi that Hunt the Shen wherever they are. Many times in history they've proven to be more than extremists, ready to burn down a building full with innocent people just to bring down their Shen employer. Times, however, have changed and these groups have had to adapt, or at least some factions among The Celestial Army have adapted to be more effective and avoid some detrimental side effects of these ways to combat the Shen.

The following is a short list and description of The Celestial Army factions:

• Shih: The Shih are the demon hunters of the Middle Kingdom, using their own Chi in applications known as Qiao to achieve superhuman powers.
  
• Strike Force Zero: Strike Force Zero (also known as SF0) is an elite, top-secret demon hunting no-governmental agency. Unlike the Shih, Strike Force Zero does not believe that shen have any place in the natural order: they are a threat and must be destroyed before they have a chance to destroy humanity.
  
• Hunters: the imbued are also hunting down the Shen, these human awake supernatural powers of allegedly divine origin when exposed to any Shen breaking the laws of the Heavens.
  
• Inquisitors: the catholic church is also present in Asia with millions of followers of their Faith, ready to put their lives in the hands of God to hunt down the heretical Shen.

Many of these members of the Celestial Army are present in America, some have come from Asia to accomplish specific missions while others are part of permanent delegations in New York City to monitor and some times control Shen activities when the situation calls for it.