Overview
Darkbinding is a controversial monastic discipline pioneered by Ryuu. It begins with the Pandaren principle that mastery of the self is the foundation of martial practice, then extends that discipline outward to bind, contain, redirect, and weaponize manifested Sha energy.
Darkbinders regard the Sha as inherently corruptive enemies rather than benign powers to be accepted. Ryuu developed the tradition after surviving Sha corruption at the Temple of the Jade Serpent and concluding that emotional discipline can prevent inner darkness from taking control without, by itself, teaching a monk how to master darkness once it has taken form.
Emotional discipline prevents the darkness within from mastering you. It does not teach you to master the darkness once it has taken form.
Ryuu studied containment, warding, controlled exposure, channeling, and the preservation of identity from practitioners who handle hostile forces, particularly warlocks and Shadow priests. Darkbinding adapts those lessons through chi, breath, emotion, physical discipline, and martial arts; it is a monastic tradition rather than a separate caster practice.
Known Connections
- Ryuu - pioneer and first true Darkbinder.
- Sha - hostile power the discipline attempts to bind and turn against its source.
- Temple of the Jade Serpent - the site of Ryuu’s formative Sha corruption and subsequent training.
Open Questions
- The discipline’s limits, costs, safeguards, and reception among Pandaren monastic orders remain unsettled.