Name: Sigurd Surtson
Alias: Flamebringer
Occupation: Brigand, Cult Leader
Gender: Male
Age: 46
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Proto-Indo-European Fire Worship
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 390 lbs

Appearance:

Hair:
A long, thick black mane, with streaks of grey hair sprouting from the roots.

Facial Hair:
A tattered, unkempt mess, flowing down to his chest, and over each shoulder.

Face:
Below a protruding hairless brow, two faded, disjointed eyes stare out in random directions. Encircling these lifeless eyes are large, red burn-marks, that cover much of his face. His nose is hooked and crooked, the result of being broken before. His lips are dry and tight, occasionally opening to reveal false, metallic teeth. His complexion is sickly and grey.

Build:
Large and muscular, with slouched gorilla-esque shoulders and forearms.

Other notable features:
The palms of his hands, and soles of his feet are severely burned, leaving them covered in thick, dark, leathery skin. His eyes appear completely blinded, yet his hair is kept greased backward, out of his face.

Fighting styles:

Unarmed:
While able to overpower most opponents with raw strength, Sigurd prefers to properly counter their blows and strike weak-points, having been trained in hand-to-hand combat since childhood. However, if the opponent presents themself as a reasonable threat, he doesn't hesitate to discard all form and simply pummel them into the ground.

Longsword/Bastard Sword:
It is a rare sight to see Sigurd wield a longsword in both hands. He prefers to handle it as though he were fencing with an oversized cutlass. This, coupled with his naturally long reach, grants him a considerable range advantage over his opponents. He's often able to lunge forward, and cleave an enemy's limb off before they can get close enough to return the favour.

Polearm/Halberd:
What makes Sigurd's handling of the halberd, like other weapons, so uniquely effective, is simply his excessive size and strenght. He's able to weild the halberd properly, but with greater speed, reach, and force, than a normally proportioned man.

Equipment:
Head: Iron Nasal Helm
Shoulders: Bear Fur Cloak
Torso: Iron Chainmail
Underclothes: Leather Padded Wool Tunic
Pants: Iron Plated Leather
Arms: Iron Plated Leather
Hands: Studded Leather Gloves

Feet: The Ashtreaders.
Thick iron boots, tainted by long hidden spiritual entities. They glow bright orange, emitting excruciating heat, as though heated by a forge. Sparks dispurse around them as they strike the ground. Plants whither, puddles turn to steam, and wood is set ablaze when beneith them.

Primary Weapon: Karlingsbane, the skull-cleaver.
An elongated pseudo-halberd, with a piked, two faced axe on the end. The tip is tempered, folded iron, dark and weathered. Handed to Sigurd at the age of 15, by his father, it is the oldest weapon in his possession. A weld can be seen two thirds of the way up the shaft, where it had to be extended to accomidate for his growth.

Secondary Weapon: Glitsever, the flame-keeper.
A shining, exquisitely crafted steel longsword. Holy scripts, written in ancient runes, run along the entire length of the blade. The pommel, in contrast, has additonal symbols crudely scratched into it, clearly added long after the sword's forging.

Additional Weapons:
-2 Throwing Axes

Magical Abilities:

Vision of the Flamebringer
Sigurd can't see by conventional means. He channels the thermal energy of the world around him, granting him 360 degrees of vision, even in pitch darkness. Still, he's unable to see through thick walls, below a a couple feet of water, or under conditions where heat would be virtually undetectable.

Breath of the Haugbui
Sigurd is able to ignite flame within his trachea, and shoot steam from his mouth in short, 10-second, bursts. However, he must wait twenty minutes, or drink water, to produce more steam.

Non-Combat Items:
-1 Torch
-1 Smoking Pipe
-1 Pouch of Herbs
-2 Firesteels
-1 Lantern
-1 Bottle of Kerosene

History:
Sigurd was born into a seclusive tribe in the mountains of Ulfheimr, a temperate land, now lost to history and geographic politics. This tribe called themselves the Muspelhugrs and worshiped a volcanic god, known as Feigrsurt, who they believed to be heating the hotsprings that surrounded their village. From an early age, Sigurd was taught to fight with every manner of weaponry. This was done in the name of Feigrsurt, who was believed to reward skilled warriors, and favour villages that raided their neighbours. Needless to say, this meant the village was constantly at risk of retaliation from nearby tribes.
At the age of 20, Sigurd's village was overwhelmed by an imperial army that sought to annex the region into their empire. In a last-ditch effort to save his village, Sigurd sacrificed his eyes to Feigrsurt, by burning them out with a piece of heated iron. Feigrsurt smiled upon this act of flagilation, and granted Sigurd the strength to defeat the invading force. Feigrsurt bound his feet in hot iron, and set his lungs ablaze. Sigurd charged the opposing force in a blind rage, spewing steam, kicking up embers from the ground, and swinging a halberd. The enemy soldiers broke ranks and sprinted away in fear, and Sigurd was declared the spiritual leader of his tribe.
That night, Feigrsurt came to Sigurd in a dream, appearing as a living flame, proclaiming, "You will no longer be mere human, mountain dweller. You will be my fire giant, my flame bringer, and you will pave the way for my conquest."
From then onward, they knew him only as Flamebringer, and he led them as a band of savage marauders, pillaging and murdering wherever they went.
Years later, Sigurd would abandon his tribe, with a small group of his most devout followers, on a quest to summon Feigrsurt in physical form, and bring about a fiery apocalypse. After many years more of searching without success, Sigurd returned home, only to find his tribe had been eradicated while he was away. What he found instead was the outpost of a neighbouring kingdom. He and his men slaughtered the soldiers stationed there, and burned the post the the ground. They then proceeded to march into the kingdom's capital, and butcher the king with his own sword. This sword, crafted by the royal blacksmith, Sigurd named Glitsever, which he strapped to his side, to remind him of his quest for vengeance. Likewise, he strapped his old halberd, Karlingsbane, to his back, to remind him of his quest for redemption.
To this day, Sigurd wanders the world, searching for enemies worthy of his strength, as well as magics great enough to either bring his tribe back from the dead, or kill the rest of humanity along with them. He walks about, clad in the furs and armours of the animals and men who've crossed his path. Fueled by the spirit of Feigrsurt, Sigurd's strength only grows with every challenge, and every scar.

Name: Gunnaya Njordsdottir
Alias: Seer Skadi
Occupation: Shaman, Alchemist, Herbalist
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Nordic Totemism
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 190

Appearance:

Hair: Long blond hair flows down her back, decorated with countless beads, feathers and braids.

Face: Long and slender, with gentle features, and one piercing blue eye. Her left eye remains hidden below a wrap of bandages that cuts across her face at a diagonal.

Build: Gunnaya sports bulging muscular thighs, calves and arms, with a slender, toned waist.

Other Notable Features:
A complex blue tattoo covers the entire left half of her face. Narrow tattoos, in various shades of blue and black, can be found across her entire body. Three deep scars run down her torso, from under her right arm.
Equipment:
Head: Thick Fur Hood
Shoulders: Thick Fur Cloak
Torso: Thick Fur Shirt
Undershirt: N/A
Arms: Iron Plated Leather Vambrace
Legs: Long Fur Skirt
Hands: Thick Fur Gloves
Feet: Thick Fur Boots

Primary Weapon: Staff of the Medicine Woman
A long, thick quarterstaff, made of solid oak, and tipped with steel bands. The skulls of various birds and rodents dangle from one end, tied by string and rope.

Secondary Weapon: Axe of the Ancients
A thick, iron war axe, with leather bindings around the handle and an iron spike protruding from either end. Celtic carvings decorate either side of the head. Haunted with the souls of fallen warriors, in shrieks in agony when swung.

Additional Weapons:
-1 Yew Longbow
-2 Quivers
-60 Iron-Tipped Arrows

Abilities:

Cry of the Skymonger
Gunnaya is able to perfectly emulate the shrieks of various birds, summoning them to her aid.

Friend of the Valkyries
Gunnaya calls her flocks of trained ravens to her side, commanding them as hunting and battle companions.

Feast of the Valkyries
Gunnaya uses singing and the scent of rotten meat to send her ravens into a suicidal rage, swarming and dive-bombing anything around her.

Njordsdottir
Gunnaya calls upon the fury of various ocean and sky spirits, summoning a ferocious storm of wind and rain. In climates of dust, sand, or powdered snow, this can seriously obstruct vision and mobility.


Alchemy Materials:

-2 Vials of Mimsblood
Mimsblood, a unique mixture made by Gunnaya, numbs all pain and constricts damaged blood vessels, preventing the drinker from bleeding out.

-1 Flask of Flametongue Mead
This brew remains hot to the touch at all times, and super-heats the drinker's body, protecting them from any amount of cold weather.

-3 Vials of Potent Poison

-5 Vials of Corrosive Acid

-2 Vials of Jormungar
Jormungar, another Gunnaya original, is a cocktail of highly reactive elements. When exposed to open air, they explode into a cloud of toxic gas, which takes two minutes to fully settle, unless blown away.

-2 Antivenom Herbes (best applied directly to wound)

Non-Combat Items:
-1 Leather Bound Book of Spiritual Healing Rituals
-1 Blunt Carving Knife
-1 Whetstone
-1 Spare Bowstring
-1 Vial of Wood Stain
-1 Satchel of Raw Meat
-2 Sticks of Chalk
-1 Jar of War Paint

History:

Abandoned as a child, Gunnaya grew up in the woods, gathering berries, and snaring small animals for survival. She made shelters of branches and leaves, and slept beneath animal fur. She experimented with various herbs, fungi, and minerals that she stumbled upon, inventing new remedies for sickness and pain. This healed her body and occupied her mind, keeping her both alive and sane in isolation. Throughout her youth, she remained deep in the wilderness, afraid of the expanding civilization around her. She preferred the company of animals, and spirits she believed were watching over her, protecting her from the elements.
As a young adult, however, she came to realize the perks of associating with normal society. She'd construct small sheds and cabins on the edge of town, and present herself as a seer, able to commune with the souls of the dead. Villagers would come to her shack, with offerings, desiring to speak with their lost loved-ones. This was complete nonsense, of course, but it kept her fed, and allowed her to learn about the civilized world, through talking with these people.
Her knowledge of herbs, however, did provide a real benefit to the towns she visited. She cured multitudes of sick folk, and became a revered spiritual and political figurehead. Town elders and low-ranking lords would come to her shack, bringing exotic dyes, ancient religious books, and even new materials for her potions. Word of her magical abilities was carried far and wide, and her visitors became wealthier and more frequent. Eventually, a powerful prince came to her, claiming to be haunted by the restless souls of his princedom's graveyard. He promised her great riches, if she could rid him of this curse.
She accompanied him back to his princedom, where she stayed the night, so as to hear the spirits he spoke of. Sure enough, as the moon rose, screams began to fill Gunnaya's mind, ringing and echoing all around her. Recoiling from the shock, she fell out of her bed, and landed heavily on the floor. Rising to her feet, she rushed down the hall, to the prince's chambers. Guards stopped her as she approached, asking her business. From behind the door, she could hear the prince gasping and groaning in torment. She explained that she needed to exercise the spirits in his presence, so she was allowed access. She found him flailing on the floor, still asleep. She shook him awake, and demanded that he lead her to the graveyard.
Hoisting a thick robe over himself, and calling three guards to his side, he led the way out of the castle's gate, and across town to the graveyard. The five of them entered the yard, a moderately sized block of the town, filled with raised mounds of grass-covered dirt, and simple stone tablets marking each mound. Gunnaya collected herself, and attempted to discern individual voices from amidst the ghastly screams. Sure enough, she heard half a dozen voices, calling her in different directions. Following them one at a time, she came to each of the graves-mounds, in which they resided. She marked them out, and tasked the guards with fetching shovels, and digging these mounds up.
The guards did so, and an hour later, the dirt was moved, revealing six petrified coffins. One by one, these coffins were raised from their pits, and placed on the freshly-cut graveyard grass. Gunnaya grabbed one of the shovels, wedged it beneath one of the coffin's lids, and pried it open, revealing a calm, still corpse. She did the same with the other five, and each time, found corpses that remained very much dead. It wasn't the horrific fight Gunnaya was expecting.
She turned back to the prince, who had gone pale as parchment.
"What troubles you?", she asked. "These bodies remain dead. They are no danger to you."
"These men...", the prince whispers, "were buried by my grandfather, sixty years ago. Their bodies remain intact."
The prince, shivering in the cold night air, slowly walked over to the nearest coffin. With one hand cupping his mouth and nose, either in horror or disgust, he leaned over and peered at the cold corpse.
"Even their clothes and weapons remain untarnished.", he proclaimed, gesturing at a dark, well decorated war axe, laying serenely at the soldier's side.
Gunnaya, strode over, and lifted the axe from its resting place, examining its condition.
"Who were these men", she inquired.
"They were soldiers.", the prince responded plainly.
"Is that all?"
The prince faltered, composing himself before continuing.
"Nay", he said, "They were our people's seers. They healed our sick, and spoke to our fallen on our behalf. When it came time for my grandfather to fight his siblings for inheritance of the kingdom, they were conscripted. All six of them died in battle".
"And now they demand peace", Gunnaya finished.
"So it would seem."
Still holding the old weapon, Gunnaya closed her eyes in thought. The six voices grew louder in her mind, shouting with a great anger.
"The prince remains unwed", they hissed. "The last of a tyrannical bloodline. End it! End it! Sever the lineage! Cut the head of the snake! Cleave him in two!"
Louder, and more insistent, the voices grew. Their shrieks became painful, even excruciating. Gunnaya needed silence. With all of her being, she was driven. She had to find an escape to this endless noise. Raising the axe above her head, she swung around, and slashed downward with all her might. The axe blade buried itself in the prince's head with a mighty crunch. He collapsed into a heap on the ground. The awe-stricken guards gaped at the act for but a moment, before drawing their swords and charging the attacker. One by one, she hacked through them, with an inhuman strength that was not her own. The voices sighed in relief, and dissipated, leaving dead silence.
Gunnaya stood there, four bodies laying around her, still leaking scarlet blood onto the green grass. Entire minutes later, standing alone in the night, the full effect of her actions washed over her. Trembling from the shock, she bolted out of the graveyard, through the empty town streets, and out into the surrounding countryside. The axe stayed firmly clasped in her grasp.
Days of traveling later, her feet aching from the journey, she returned one of her long-abandoned shacks, in the woods that encompassed a small village. Here she stayed, contemplating the risk of retaliation from the princedom. With their ruler dead, and given the supernatural context of the event, she concluded that the townsfolk would be too occupied to seek her out and exact revenge. Certainly not for a while, at least. Besides, this shack wasn't the one she had been summoned from. It was unlikely the princedom knew the locations of her previous homes.
The axe remained in her possession. For one reason or another, she hadn't the heart to part with it. On cold nights, she could still hear the soft voices of those fallen soldiers, showering her with thanks and praise. She tried her best to find comfort in this.

Name: Alicia Zhang
Alias: Hellcat
Gender: Female
Race: Asian
Occupation: Mercenary, Sharpshooter
Age: 24
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 110 lbs

Appearance:

Hair: Dyed amber, shaved down the middle, with a short ponytail on either side.

Face: Pale and pudgy, making her look younger than she really is, with high cheek bones, sleepy eyes, and excessively plucked amber eyebrows. Her dark eyes have a betraying innocence to them.

Build: Slim, and somewhat fit.

Other Notable Features: Her skin has a mild, yellowish tan, but her face is powdered to maintain an excessively pale complexion.

Equipment:

Head: Red Kerchief and Aviator Sunglasses
Shoulders: Leather Bandolier
Torso: Thick Leather Jacket
Undershirt: White T-Shirt
Arms: Studded Leather Vambraces
Legs: Baggy Denim Jeans
Feet: Steel-Toed Boots

Primary Weapon: Boom-Kitty & Sassy-Cat
Two shiny .44 Magnum revolvers, with gold-plated handles.

Secondary Weapon: "Schwing!"
A long, rusty machete, with a leather-bound handle.

Additional Weapons:
-10 steel-tipped darts, stolen from a local bar
-1 switchblade
-1 hunting knife
-2 nail bombs
-50 .44 Magnum bullets
-20 .22 LR bullets
-1 .22 LR High Standard Pistol

Abilities:

Psycho-Vision
Hellcat removes her glasses, and her eyes dart around at a rapid speed, mentally locking-on all targets in her field of view. She's then able to fire at them with flawless accuracy, without using her gun's sights. Her vision goes blurry for a moment after she's done this.

Cross-Eyed Killer
Hellcat is able to move her eyes independent of one another, looking in two different directions, and using the sights of two guns at once.

Scentaholic
Hellcat has a flawless memory of smellscapes. She's able to identify her position by the smells around her, and identify any target by its scent.

Partial Deafness & Nerve Damage
Years of shooting guns indoors have seriously damaged Hellcat's hearing. On top of this, excessive body and head trauma, and overexposure to the elements, have severely reduced her ability to feel. This, in her mind, is an asset, because it means she's no longer phased by sharp pain, and no longer stunned by shock-waves and loud noises.

Social Crocodile
Hellcat is able to burst into tears on command. This, coupled with her almost-childlike appearance, causes many individuals to completely lower their guard, opening them up to an easy attack.

Non-Combat Items:
-1 pack of cigarettes
-2 lighters
-2 books of matches
-1 bristled metal pole (for cleaning gun barrels)
-1 tin of wax
-3 rags
-1 bottle of hairspray

Name: Redwater Jormun
Occupation: Ship-Sinking Monstrosity
Age: 210
Gender: Male
Height: 88'4"
Weight: 4000 lbs

Appearance:

Face: Dark green scales compose Jormun's outer shell. Two sharp red eyes rest on either side of his long, rough face. Long fangs protrude from the front of his massive jaw. His huge gills sway on either side of his head, as he patrols the deep sea.

Body: A long, scaly, winding, serpentine form, with sharp spinal protrusions along his back, and a massive, spiny fin at the end of his thrashing tail.

Other Notable Features: N/A

Equipment: N/A

Primary Weapon: Teeth

Secondary Weapon: Tail

Additional Weapon: Spikes

Abilities:

Bite

Constrict

Thrash

Swing Tail

Charge Forward

Swim Away

Non-Combat Items: N/A

History:
No one lives to tell it.

Name: Drashmak
Alias: Failsafe One
Occupation: Assassin
Gender: Male
Age: 32
Race: Orc
Height: 6'
Weight: 250

Appearance:

Face: Thick, with a snubbed nose and a heavy-set jaw. His glaring red eyes are almost buried beneath his deep, primitive brow. Pointed ears sprout from either side of his head, reaching lengths comparable to an elf.

Hair: The bangs of his jet-black are tied back, with a knot on the top of his head. From the back, however, his hair flows long and unrestricted.

Facial Hair: Short stubble traces his jawline.

Build: Very fit, but not particularly wide for an orc. Drashmak's body has been refined, for agility beyond what is typical of his race.

Equipment:

Head: N/A
Shoulders: N/A
Torso: Leather Straps & Pouches
Legs: Loose Wool Pants
Arms: Steel-Reinforced Leather Vambraces
Feet: Leather Boots
Hands: Leather Archery Gloves

Primary Weapon: Yggspitter
An ash shortbow, too thick and stiff for the average man to use.

Secondary Weapon: "Failsafe Two"
A large crossbow, crafted from oak and yew, with a long steel bayonet mounted on the end.

Additonal Weapons:
-4 Throwing Knives
-30 Crossbow Bolts
-30 Steel-Tipped Arrows
-1 Copper Shortsword
-2 Jars of Nitroglycerin
-1 Iron Axe

Other Equipment:
-1 Grappling Hook
-2 Spare Bowstrings
-1 Bear Trap
-1 Backpack
-1 Flask of Water
-1 Spyglass

Abilities:

Bowstring Tendons
Surgical scars on the backs of Drashmak's legs hide the bundles of artificial muscle-fiber that run throughout his legs, allowing him to leap inhuman heights, and land without injury.

Spitting Viper
Artificial sacks, filled with potent venom, sit implanted in the back of Drashmak's throat. This, coupled with a developed poison immunity, allows Drashmak to shoot venom from his mouth at close range.

Steel Forearms
Steel bars, running along Drashmak's ulna and radius, greatly increase the weight and impact of his punches, as well as providing a way to block blades in an emergency, without having his arm cleaved off.

Name: Xi Xiu (习秀)
Alias: Gunrat, Bluebird
Age: 23
Team:
Free Agent

Powers: Superhuman reflexes, individually focusing eyes, pain resistance, metal plating under her scalp and forearms, and the ability to dislocate any body part at will.

-Note: A great deal of her power comes not from her physical ability, but from her connections to weapon-smugglers, anarchist groups, and other various factions. Her origins in China, and illegal immigration to America, means that no public record of her existence exists. As far as the government is concerned, she's a ghost.

Weaknesses:
Bullets, knives, drowning, fire, explosions

Personality:
A violent chain-smoker, easily unhinged, with very little regard for individual human life. She's a strong believer in "the ends justify the means", and wouldn't hesitate to kill one person herself if it meant saving five. She holds deep resentment for sentimental heroes, and those who attach themselves to trivial things. If they aren't using the most direct solution to a problem, no matter how inconsiderate, they're wasting time. Nonetheless, she holds heroes like Batman and Raven in the highest regard, simply on account of their abilities and accomplishments. Also, while efficiency is her ideal, her own mental trauma does make her prone to emotional outbursts, if provoked.

Appearance:
Xiu is Chinese-American, 5'4", with a round, flat face, sickly pale skin, wide eyes, thin eyebrows, and a large forehead. Her head is shaved down the middle, with amber-died ponytails on either side. Her build is slim, but also very fit. She wears steel-toed boots, work jeans, and a thick leather jacket. Hidden within her jacket are four holsters (two on her chest, and two at the hip), carrying various members of her pistol collection. Strapped to her thigh is a combat knife, and rattling in her jacket pocket is a switch-blade. She keeps a red kerchief tied around her head, and wears oversized aviator glasses during the day.

During times of emergency, or when acting in a more public role, she wears a blue and black, masked superhero uniform, with a metallic collar and chestplate. A parting gift from Bluebird. On formal occasions, she wears a plain green dress, with a black sash around the waist.

Brief Bio:
Xiu was born the daughter of two Taiwanese political activists, who made it their goal in life to delegitimize the Chinese government, and incite civil war. When pro-Taiwan protests began breaking out around China in the 1990's, her parents were at the very front of the movement. Fearing that this civil unrest could spread, the government used military force to break up the protests, sending citizens fleeing to their homes. That night, police operatives broke into the homes of those involved in inciting the protests, including Xiu's parents. They were imprisoned, interrogated, and eventually killed, leaving her as a child of the state. Needless to say, no media sources were allowed to cover this, and the world went on completely unaware.
From early childhood, Xiu was raised by various agents of the Chinese Ministry of State Security. Their goal was to create an assassin to infiltrate the governments of Taiwan, Japan, and America giving China direct leverage over the life and death of any state officials who might stand in the country's way. Training included various mental and physical experiments and surgeries, in an attempt to make her more agile and durable than a normal human. This also necessitated that she be fluent in Chinese, Japanese, and English. Chemical and surgical treatments overclocked her brain, reinforced her muscle fibers, and replaced her joints, boosting her agility, intelligence, and flexibility beyond normal human means, but left her nervous system fried and numbed, and her personality a neurotic mess. In spite of these setbacks, her resourcefulness surpassed their expectations. As a teen, she was able to hack into the ministry's computer network, and review all of the ministry's data, including her own file. Learning of her parent's cause in full detail, and how expendable she was to the state that killed them, she decided that she owed nothing to the government that raised her. Distraught, she became uncooperative to her handlers and teachers. Before too long, it was decided that she was a lost cause, and was scheduled for execution. Learning of this, she subdued her guards, and escaped the facility.
Xiu traveled to Shanghai, where she survived for over a year by robbing street vendors and convenience stores. Eventually, she made it onto a freighter on its way to America. There she found a new purpose, modeling herself off of America's many superheroes. With the help of a couple anti-government hacker groups, she began monitoring and capturing low-level criminals, wannabe supervillains, and corrupt politicians. Unbound by the moral compass that leads most heroes, she sees herself as superior to them, and hopes to replace more traditional super-groups with her own vigilante, paramilitary organization.

Name of Nation:
The Celestial Empire of Da Nanguo

Territory: Light Brown



Description of Government:

A theocratic monarchy, under Supreme Emperor Qing Ji. Ji resides in the Palace of Heaven, in Diarjing (Shanghai), with all his advisers (composed of family members, close friends, military officials, and the Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka). Bills are drafted by the advisers, and signed into law by the emperor.
Laws are mostly lax, although the government reserves the right to claim any corporation or piece of land as property of the state. The young emperor Ji has done this many times since inheriting the throne from his father, resulting in one massive industrial monopoly that stretches across the entire empire. Due to the relatively small number of skilled administrators, government programs run largely unregulated, leading to a great deal of corruption and abuse. Nonetheless, there is universal support for the government, because all state media, education, and literature enforces the notion that the government is divinely appointed, with Ji being a direct descendant of the God of the Heavens. All community organization is centered around local Temples of the Sky, and all legal documents require a prayer to Heaven to be legally binding.


Description of Economy:

Nanguo's economy was historically upheld by trade in spices, foods, exotic medicines and jewelry. However, with the discovery of blue coal, and its applications, the Emperor began massive, crown funded mining projects across the entire region, and recycled all profits back into further expansions of the industry. Now the economy is fueled overwhelmingly by coal, with great steam ships being built to carry unprecedented loads of cargo across the South China Sea, and even along the coast of Africa and the Middle East. The imperial factories have turned the sky black above Nandijing (Nanjing), Diarjing (Shanghai), Nanhaijing (Hong Kong), and the new industrial megacity of Heijing.
Although countless citizens suffer from what they call "Hei Fei Bing", the Black Lung Disease, the standard of living has otherwise improved. The country prospers under its advanced, new industry, and very few go hungry.

Description of Culture:

The culture of Da Nanguo, while still founded in the traditions of the Hanren (largest ethnic tribe), glamorizes many trends originating from the island peoples of the Dahan Sea (South China Sea). With trade, immigration, and interbreeding being so commonplace throughout the empire's subkingdoms and allies, Daoren (island people) music and food are staples of any major city. Seasonal festivals are observed regularly, celebrating the empire's ethnic diversity. This stands in stark contrast to the military parades that are also regularly held in every metropolitan region.
As the Nanguoren, as they call themselves, learn more about the empire's trading ambitions into the far west, and exploration into the far east, they feel a deep desire to spread their culture to the rest of the world. Missionaries and performers regularly accompany trading and military vessels, looking to bring more people into the empire's "loving" arms.
Citizens are free to practice cultural, even religious, traditions, so long as they don't bring the authority of the state into question. There is no ban on religious observance, but citizens are required to make weekly non-monetary offerings to their local Temple of the Sky, and pray a prayer of thanks to the Emperor. Legal documents and agreements are required to include a prayer to Heaven in order to binding. Following this, many people include state-sponsored prayers at the end of personal letters, and advertisements. It's believed to be good luck, and to make the Emperor smile upon you for your devoutness. To encourage this kind of behaviour, the Emperor regularly bestows gifts to individuals and charities, claiming to have seen their faithfulness. At this point, it is difficult to know how new or old this tradition is. It may have come about as a method of controlling the masses, once the Emperor saw the power of blue coal, or it may have been a natural evolution of the traditional folklore of East Asia. What's most important of all is that no one cares. Nanguoren are encouraged to live in the present, and forget the inferior ways of pre-industrial, pre-Nanguo Great Han (China) and Laguo (Vietnam).


Description of Military:

The Royal Army of Da Nanguo is as ancient as the dynasty itself. It may have changed names over time, as well as form, but what remains constant is its overwhelming size. Simply by number of heads, the Royal Army is an overwhelming force. Swords and spears are still used next to firearms, partially out of tradition by this point, but the hands that wield them are as skillful as they are numerous. When the empire is at peace, officers of the Royal Army serve alongside the Royal Police Force. Needless to say, crime rates range from catastrophic to nonexistent, depending on whether or not a war is underway.
The Royal Navy of Da Nanguo, once moderate and nonthreatening, is now brings great fear to neighbouring countries. While the sailors aren't well drilled yet, and the leadership isn't particularly experienced, again the force is saved by scale. The Emperor's greatest pride are his massive, coal burning warships. The fleet rests off the coasts of Diarjing and Nanhaijing, towering out of the ocean like floating fortresses. Clouds of smog drift across the waves around them. As the ships rock with the roar of their cannons, imposing waves roll from below their massive studded/plated hulls.
There is no Royal Airforce of Da Nanguo, nor does the leadership have any dreams of exploring the technology of sky travel. It's a pointless project, and a waste of money, when the empire already has the keys to endless wealth and power.

History:

Emperor Ji traces his family heritage through his father (known as the Dream-Killer Emperor, or the Third Prosperity Emperor), through his great grandfather the Qianlong Emperor (now known as the Great Coal-Bringer, or the First Prosperity Emperor), to the earliest members of the Jin (Qing) Dynasty, who united the Jurchen tribes and overthrew Xi (Ming) Great Han (China) in the 1600's.

In the 1700's, through Great Han's long-established land trade routs to the west, First Prosperity learned of the advancements that were being made there with new coal energy. He decided to expend the entire royal treasury on the establishments of mines all across Great Han. At the same time, he went to great lengths to promote and fund the expansion of the state religion. This would be a key social program carried on by his heirs.

In the late 1700's and early 1800's, Second Prosperity began to confiscate Great Han trade companies, merging them into one massive crown corporation. He established land and sea trade routs across all of Eurasia, and the eastern coast of Africa, and constructed massive trade fleets to transport Great Han's goods. Around this time, Akitsukuni (Japan) began its expansion onto the mainland, capturing Shendong and Wodejing (Beijing), among other key areas. Shortly later, the emperor died of suspicious causes, and the country was thrown into chaos. Third Prosperity had all his siblings assassinated, leaving him as the only legitimate heir to the throne. He took command of the Royal Army, and reunited what remained of the country (minus Akitsukuni's expansions). He then refitted all of his father's trade ships as military vessels, and requested that a number of Great Han's weaker (but more strategically important) trading allies declare themselves sub-kingdoms of the larger Great Han empire. This resulted in Laguo (Vietnam), Malaysia, and Sri Lanka becoming subjects of the Emperor, with their state leaders now acting as the Emperor's advisers. He declared this to be the Celestial Empire of "Da Nanguo" (literally "Big Southern Kingdom"). Third Prosperity then set his sights on "Japan", and made great shows of force with his military. The national anthem of Nanguo was changed to a ballad about the thunder of the Empire's cannons. It described the Emperor's fleet as a "merciless storm that kills dreams", and the Royal Army as a "rushing tide of spears and bullets".

Finally, only a couple years ago, Third Prosperity died, leaving his son as the new Emperor. At his own request, the son wasn't crowned "Prosperity", but was instead crowned "Ji", or "Machine". Under him, the mining city where blue coal was first extracted in Great Han, Heijing (in the North-West of China), was declared the second capital of Da Nanguo. Now massive relocation and housing projects are underway, to turn Heijing into the population and industrial capital of the world. Trade networks are being spread, with the goal of reaching every corner of the globe, and a modern military is being assembled and enforced, with the goal of taking back all that was lost to Akitsukuni.

Legal Nation Name:
The Hutterite-Chiliwack Coalition.

Area Controlled:
In Pink



Political Party:
Hutterite - The Fellowship of God
Chilliwack - The Canada Restoration Party

Type of Government:
Chilliwack - Republic
Hutterite - Communist Theocracy

The government of Chilliwack is democratically elected by a general vote of its citizens. The current incumbent government is The Canada Restoration Party, which promotes heavy migration and extreme military action, to reclaim all of what was once Canada, and to then expand south. The party is lead by Prime Minister William McGuinness, a grizzled, industrious man, who seeks to ensure his name is not lost to history.
Each of the Hutterite communes is individually governed by a council of elders, who are appointed to the position by the elder before them. Needless to say, almost all the elders are the sons of the previous ones. The councils regularly gather together, to ensure that changes in government affect every Hutterite community simultaneously, giving the functional effect of having all Hutterites live under a centralized government.


Date Out of Bunker:
Chilliwack - 2209
Hutterite - N/A

Productions:
Cereal, Fruit, Spices, Meat, Lumber, Ships

History of the Nation:
When the bombs fell, the major cities of Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton were wiped off the map. When the descendants of the Vancouverites emerged from their bunkers in the early 2200's, they found a wasteland where their city had been. This lead to the great pilgrimage of 2209, where the surviving tribes of Vancouver traveled inland, and discovered that the British Columbian city of Chilliwack hadn't been hit by a bomb. It was here, in the decayed, but largely intact ruins of Chilliwack, that they rebuilt Canadian civilization, establishing the Republic of Chilliwack. As they reestablished contact with communities along the Pacific coast, and up into the north of British Columbia, they discovered that several areas where already inhabited by some strange German-speaking cult. Eventually, contact was made with the elders of this tribe, who still maintained a grasp on the English language. They identified themselves as the Hutterites, a religious minority that fled Europe in the late 1800's, who had been living in isolation for more than 300 years. Being far away from any civilization, and pacifist in nature, they were completely untouched by the war's destruction. With all other remaining life hidden inside sealed bunkers, the Hutterite communities flourished. They expanded across the prairies, and into northern British Columbia, establishing a heavily populated agriculture empire. They even sent scouts out, marking out and walling-off radioactive zones. Needless to say, their technology hadn't developed as it had in the bunkers. They rejected most technology, and only made advancements relating to agriculture.
The people of Chilliwack needed fresh food and materials to supply their expanding society, and the Hutterites needed protection from the technological giants that would be emerging in the world, so they drafted the "Treaty of Kamloops", establishing a dual-government coalition between the Hutterite communes and the Republic of Chilliwack.
This strong coalition, combining a relatively massive population and food surplus, with modern military technology, now seeks to expand its reach, uniting and recolonizing the rest of North America. The problem that obstructs these ambitions, of course, are the other surviving societies that have since emerged in North America. While the Vancouverites of Chilliwack would gladly use force to expand their empire, the Hutterites are strict pacifists, and would refuse any such action. With the majority of the coalition's population being Hutterite, it's simply not an option. Nonetheless, there is a great deal of empty land, ripe for the taking.

Main Race:
Hutterite - German/Caucasian
Chilliwack - Chinese/Asian

Main Religion:
Hutterite - Anabaptist Christian
Chilliwack - Baptist Christian

Military:
The Republic of Chilliwack has a moderate force of full-time soldiers, who are stationed at outposts across all coalition land. They are armed mainly with pre-war assault rifles, but the Chilliwack National Guard is outfitted with laser weaponry and light power armour. Research is constantly underway in the heart of the capital city, developing new methods of "keeping the Republic safe".
The Hutterite communes believe that the nuclear fallout of the world was God's fulfillment of "the meek shall inherit the Earth", and that it is their sworn duty to remain unarmed at all times. As such, the population eligible for military enlistment is greatly limited, with all soldiers coming from the non-Hutterite regions of Southern British Columbia.

National Anthem:

Name: Gottesland & The Albertasleut

Flag:

Claims: in purple


Terrain: Fertile, endless fields of wheat, corn, and grass. Only a few sparse patches of trees in the far north of the country. There are four main craters in Gottesland, where the pre-war cities of Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, and Saskatoon once stood. These areas are known as the "raptured lands", and are sealed off with mighty fences and walls. Rumors circulate through cities of Gottesland, of great inhuman monstrosities emerging from the irradiated depths, but none can comment with any degree of certainty.

Government Type: The nation of Gottesland is a self-titled 'Communist Christian Theocracy'. On the local level, this is true. On the federal level, however, it operates very similarly to how Canada's government ran. The nation is divided into Colonies (Provinces/States), with each colony having an advisory council with one Prediger. The Prediger rules his colony as a king, with the advice of his council, but also represents the colony in the national Parliament (Congress). There are 462 Predigers of 462 Colonies, and 5 Albertasleut Ministers, representing the Albertasleut Tribes. Parliament has a vote every 5 years, to elect both a Prime Minister and a President. The Prime Minister rules the country, and handles all domestic law. The President manages everything outside the country, and deals with international law and trade. There is no Senate. All law is handled between Parliament and the two executives ministers (PM and Pres). Since all the Predigers serve for life, and are appointed, there are no political parties. The only elected seats are the 5 Albertasleut Ministers, who run as independent individuals.

Capital: Argyllsberg


Heads of State: President Pat MacFearghus-Kruger, Prime Minister Lukas Steinmann

Other Important People:

-Lady Victoria Albertasdottir, leader of the 'Kingdom of Albertasleut', a rapidly growing cult. She claims to be the only living heir to the British royal family, making her the de facto ruler of Canada, and she further claims that the British royal family was appointed by God himself, making her the descended avatar of God's will. Obviously, there is no way to verify this claim, and she goes unrecognized by Parliament. Nonetheless, she has already amassed a large following among the Albertasleut Tribes.

-Sir James Painter, Albertasdottir's second in command, and leader of the millitant wing of 'the Kingdom'.

-Chief Vann-Falcon Ouellette, spiritual leader of the First Nations populations of Albertasleut.

-General Luke MacFearghus-Kruger, head of the military, and brother of the president.

Population: 4.282 million

Attitude Towards Evols: Evols are believed to be marked by God for their sin, and are banned from the Colonies of Gottesland. They are tolerated residents of the tribes of Albertasleut, but are still regularly victimized by local gangs.

Economic System:

Gottesland is an agricultural powerhouse! All 462 colonies are farming colonies, and have managed to hobble together a series of coal-fired and man-powered contraptions to accelerate the farm work. Their production of meat, vegetables, and cereal is currently nothing short of excessive. This surplus of food is only made greater, due to the fact that all citizens have to follow a strict system of regimented, limited meals. The local government dishes out a pre-determined amount of food to each citizen, three times a day. Everybody eats at the same time, in the same place. If they don't show up on time, they don't eat. Each colony possesses a stockpile of pickled and dried foodstuffs, in case of famine, and make regular shipments of preserved food to Argyllsberg.
Argyllsberg functions not only as the capital of the nation, but as an international trading hub, where all Gotteslandish exports are pooled and priced.
The Albertasleut Tribes operate a series of coal mines across the country, maintaining just enough output to supply the nation's many farming vehicles. Any remaining coal is confiscated by the government, and kept in storage. Technology and fossil fuel is only used for farming, and pursuits relevant to farming, in Gottesland. This is the way it has always been.
The nation suffers from a lack of metals, and a limited (and rapidly disappearing) supply of wood. To meet the nation's need for building materials and tools, they trade their vast supplies of food to neighbouring nations and tribes. Those at the lowest rungs of Gottesland society are sent out on scavenging missions, to collect metal scrap. This helps keep everything running, during times of slow trade.

Currency: Bartering, although even this is discouraged. In the vast majority of cases, if a citizen wants something, they submit a formal request to the government, explaining why it is desired. The government is not keen on granting requests either, unless it directly increases production, or encourages 'Christian values'.

Technology: Technology is not something that the Gottesland people hold in high regard. They have maintained and collected some very advanced machinery from before the war, but it is almost entirely farming equipment. Entertainment and other industries are not allowed to develop any new technology without express permission from the government. The only historical case of this exemption ever being granted was when the Albertasleut wanted to restore some of the pumpjacks of Old Alberta, in an attempt to add oil-power to Gottesland's productivity. This effort is ongoing.

Official Religion: Hutterite Anabaptist Christian

Religious Information: The only official religion is of the Hutterite people. It's essentially the religion of the Amish, but with allowances made for farming and crafting technology. The Hutterites upheld the belief that the meek would inherit the Earth, and when the nuclear war happened, destroying much of the world's population, they believed this to be God fulfilling his promise. As such, the Hutterites uphold a strict policy of peace and pacifism, and forgiveness at all costs, in keeping with what they believe to be God's law.

Ethnic/cultural makeup:

79% German
14% British
5% First Nations & Metis
1% French
1% Chinese

History:
When the bombs fell, the great cities of Canada were wiped off the face of the Earth. Nearly all of Canada's Anglo-Franco population was erased. This left the German Hutterite colonies of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba as Canada's largest demographic. Due to their colonies being far away from any urban development, they were entirely untouched by the bombs. With their large food production, policies of til-death marriage, no contraception, and now no competition from the rest of Canada, their population exploded! They established colonies all across the prairies of Canada, and even trading outposts as far as New Brunswick. The surviving Anglo-Canadians, now without a centralized government, or any societal structure, flocked to the Hutterites for food and shelter. Being largely non-Christian, and unable to speak German, they formed a segregated peasant class in the new society. Even after being integrated into Hutterite society, the majority of Anglos rejected the religious teachings of the Hutterites, and upheld more urban, pre-war values. This grew over the years, until a religion was founded around it. Anglos began worshiping the historical figures of Canada, as the gods of a lost era, with the British crown (Canada's official head-of-state) at the centre. Eventually, as tension began to form between the Hutterites and Anglos, the government decided to form designated 'tribal land', where the non-Germans could form their own communities. These became known as the Tribes of Albertasleut (Alberta's People).
Over time, the surviving Native tribes of Canada gathered together, and merged with the Albertasleut, swelling the tribal population.
As the governments of the Hutterite Colonies became more and more centralized, they decided to establish a proper Parliamentary government, who would manage the law of the land as a single entity. They dubbed this formalized nation 'Gottesland' (God's Land), and appointed Joseph Jager and Albrecht Schmidt as the nations first President and Prime Minister, respectively.

Culture:

The official language of Gottesland isn't English. Instead, English is considered a commoner's tongue, used by the less devout, the less moral, and the less clean. The language of the holy and the pure is German, and this is the only language spoken in government. The one official organisation where English is used is the military. This is because only non-Hutterites and Hutterite non-Christians are allowed to serve as soldiers.
Among Hutterites, clothing consists of white or plaid shirts and suspenders for the men, and plaid dresses for the women. Black is worn on Sundays, and in government. Hats are commonly worn, but the style changes depending on the colony.
Among Albertasleut, clothing varies greatly. Many replicate the fashion of the Hutterites, while others wear more casual and modern outfits. Denim is a universal material among all workers, and has become so popular that non-Hutterite men often get married in Denim tuxedos.
Non-Hutterite women are discouraged from dressing provocatively, or from wearing pants, but no law is in place to regulate this. It's simply up to the traditionalism of any given community. In some, it's even common to see public nudity.

Military Numbers: 20,760
20,000 English servicemen
230 German ministers
200 First Nations servicemen
100 French servicemen
230 Company Commanders

Military:

The Gottesland military is populated exclusively by non-Germans, with the exception of unarmed ministers.

Soldiers operate in groupings of 102. 100 servicemen, 1 minister, and 1 commander. Within these companies are soldiers of various rank, but they all work together as a unit, and only the commander has the final say on any given decision. In the event that the commander becomes incapacitated, the minister steps in as the company's leader, until a new commander can be assigned.

The majority of the military consists of foot-mounted servicemen, armed with rifles and swords. The nation has a large horse population, but it is reserved for farm work unless during times of war. Still, a small portion of the military is trained in mounted combat, just in case.

Artillery is mostly limited to recommissioned cannons, which were left in working order along various Canadian forts as demonstrative set-pieces before the war.

The uniform of the military deviates from one company to another, but is generally green camo, coupled with a coloured beret. The most accomplished companies of Gottesland's military are known for wearing blue berets, inspiring a great many folk ballads about this quality.

During times of war, many soldiers are outfitted in heavy metallic armour, forged in the haphazard style of Ned Kelly.

Being a landlocked power, Gottesland has no navy, and technological limits don't allow for an air force. Every soldier is either an infantryman, a specialist, or an artillery operator.

Bio:
Forseti was a fisherman who lived and worked off the northern coast of Norway. His village had, of course, sworn itself to Njord, God of Storms, and patron of the fishmongers. Njord, however, recognized the strength of the Aesir, Norse gods of war, who rivaled Njord and the other peaceful gods. He erected several hidden shrines outside the village, honouring Aesir like Odin and Thor, and even devious Jotunn (giants) like Loki and Hel. Two days after his twenty-ninth birthday, his shrine to Hel was discovered, in a tool shed he'd forgotten to lock up before heading out. The village elders, fearful and furious, summoned Njord, and told him of this treachery.
As Forseti sailed out to his fishing spot, unaware of the elders' discovery, Njord himself appeared before Forseti. He told Forseti that his village had always been faithful to him, and had begged Njord to spare the fisherman's life. So Njord demanded Forseti's servitude, and repentance, in exchange for his life. Just as Forseti began to bow, he heard whispers in his head, commanding him to reject the demand. With a sudden rage, he pulled out a knife, and slashed and Njord's legs while he was in his mortal form. Wounded and betrayed, Njord stumbled off the ship, and into the ocean below. Sinking to safety within the depths, he summoned a great storm to kill Forseti. A mighty wave arose, and swallowed Forseti's boat, plunging him into the deep cold ocean. As the currents pulled him downward, he prayed to the whispers that had driven him to assault a god. The whispers answered, and Loki and Hel revealed themselves. They smiled and laughed, as Forseti squirmed and thrashed, water quickly filling his lungs. As the light began to leave his eyes, a third form swam around him. A great, slithering monstrosity.
He awoke on a beach in Scottland, still wearing his sailing gear. Able to speak English well enough, he got a job with a local fishing company there. He lead a normal life for a while, until one Friday night, when he was enjoying a beer with his coworkers at a local pub. He once again heard whispers in his head, but this time they were followed by complete blackness. When he awoke, the bar that had once been filled with laughing drunken sailors, was now filled with mutilated corpses. He fled from Scottland, and was fortunately never identified by the authorities.
Making his way to the south of England, he enlisted in the British Navy. Many years passed, and many promotions were gained, and it began to sink in that a man who was well into his forties hadn't aged since his twenty-ninth birthday. It wasn't just him either. The sailors beneath him began to joke, about the gaunt captain who didn't age. It was then, that the whispers returned yet again, although this time they didn't compel him to kill. Instead, they taught him of his new abilities. He was able to alter his appearance, either subtly, or into an entirely different person. While this ability carried a great deal of potential, he simply used it to make himself appear to age normally, so as to not arouse suspicion. The whispers told him of his inhuman strength, but he suppressed this. The whispers told him that he could survive beneath the waves, without air. He was fortunate enough to not need to test this.
At the age of fifty-four, he retired, and purchased a small beach-front residence in the distant nation of Seaside. Living off of his savings, and some light harbour work, he spent two years dedicated to worship, in a desperate attempt to lift the curse that had clearly been placed on him. The advantage of Seaside, is that it was a new world, and he could return to his twenty-nine year-old appearance without arousing suspicion. His reclusive cottage on the coast also meant he was able to experiment with the powers that had been granted to him, in case the gods required their usage.

Name:Lawrence Chun-Lin Long, PhD

Aliases:Lao-Shi, Professor Long, "Little Yip Man"

Age: 43

Birthday: January 7th

Ethnicity: Chinese-American

Birth Place: Seattle

Location At time of outbreak: Seattle

Gender: Male

Major/Minor: English/Political Science

Occupation Before The Outbreak: Teacher

Languages: English (fluent), Mandarin (fluent)



Height: 5'11"

Weight: 150 lbs

Build: slim, fit

Eyes: dark brown

Hair: black

Skin Tone: slightly tan

Tattoos/Scars/Piercings: Chinese demon tattoo on his back, scars on his back and arms

Calm-Headed * Distrustful * Perceptive * Addictive Personality

Sexuality:Straight

Relationship Status: Widowed

Personality:

Lawrence is a man with a history of self-isolation. He refuses to get close to those around him, and has extreme difficulty trusting anyone. He does this due to a recent history of hardship, and the loss of loved ones, that has left him very scarred as a person. Rather than face the world, and put trust in other people, he finds a deep sense of peace when he is alone. The only time he opens up to those around him is when he works. Before the breakout, Lawrence's life was occupied entirely by work, and by a drive to succeed.

Now, his purpose in life comes from a drive to thrive in this post-apocalyptic world, as well as love of long silences and periods of meditation. He meditates to escape the world around him, and he works to escape his own mind. Somehow, by balancing the two, he is able to maintain an uncommon level of peace and satisfaction, even when surrounded by death. The dead do not concern him anymore, because he refuses to get attached to them. All he has is himself, and his memories, and these are the only two things that matter to him.

Habits: Smoking and Prayer

In a world without electricity, without real recreation and community, Lawrence's habits are his entire life. He's constantly searching for remaining packs of cigarettes, or anything else he can smoke to hold off the cravings. He dedicates time every evening, to meditation and self-reflection. When he doesn't have necessary tasks occupying his time, he spends long hours staring into nothingness, looking back on the life he once had.
He carries a bracelet of Buddhist prayer-beads with him at all times, that he often plays with. These were a gift to him, long ago, and he believes them to be very sacred. He works them over in his hands, to keep them shiny and smooth.


Hobbies: Music

Lawrence has a deep love of music, and hums, whistles, and sings to himself when alone. His favourites are Chinese pop-songs from the 1980's and 1990's. In truth, he knows every word to hundreds of them, and was known locally as a decent singer in Shanghai. Unfortunately, they're very ethnic, and aren't well appreciated in America, so he's never shared them with others. He dreams of discovering an unlooted music-store one day, and uncovering an intact violin, but he knows how unlikely this is.

Fears: Slithers, Swarms, and Spirits

Lawrence has a deep fear of snakes and crowds. Snakes send him into a panic, and refuses to approach any one that he sees. Needless to say, this leads to a great many frustrations, when attempting to survive in the woods. His fear of crowds developed after the death of his wife, when he shut himself off from the world.
Lawrence is also a deeply spiritual man. Talk of ghosts, spirits, and bad luck genuinely upset him. He will not sleep in a place he believes to be haunted, or otherwise cursed with bad luck. Like his fear of crowds, this difficulty came only after the death of his wife. The anxiety from his loss mixed with his faith, and turned his spiritual beliefs into crippling superstitions.

• Snakes
• Crowds
• Ghosts

Likes:

• All Food
• Working/Being Productive
• Hiking
• Silence/Calm Music
• All Traditional Forms of Art
• Kung-Fu

Dislikes:

• Optimists
• Large Groups
• Lazy People
• East Indians
• African-Americans
• Snoring

Pre Outbreak Skills:

• Kung-Fu
• Ability to play string instruments
• Teaching
• Public-speaking/projecting his voice
• Herbalism/Traditional Medicine

Post Outbreak Skills:

• Knife-wielding
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Trapping
• Scaling/Climbing things (trees/walls/rock-faces)

Current Supplies:

• Current Clothing - White (well, not anymore) dress-shirt, black suit-pants, hiking boots, underwear, women's straw-hat, Buddhist bead-bracelet
• Hunting Knife
• Scissors
• Roll of medical gauze
• Bottle of cleaning alcohol
• Pack of cigarettes
• Second pack of cigarettes
• Lighter
• Locket-Necklace
• Copy of Chairman Mao's "Little Red Book"

Your First Walker Encounter:

Lawrence encountered his first walker while visiting his senile mother in Seattle. One of the nurses at the retirement home turned, and began ravaging the seniors. He killed the walker before the carnage was too severe, and stayed to protect his mother. It was only a few days before more appeared, and he knew he wouldn't be able to keep her safe. As the walkers began bashing through the door to her room, he smothered her with a pillow so she wouldn't suffer from being eaten alive, and then he escaped through the window.

History Before Outbreak:

A former English teacher, raised in America, employed in Shanghai, was on vacation in the states when the outbreak began.

Lawrence was born in Seattle, to two Chinese immigrants. They raised him to uphold traditional Chinese values, and to settle for nothing less than a traditionalist Chinese wife. Thanks to family connections, they had him attend a Hong-Kong style Kung-Fu school in the city, to help him learn discipline. They had him take music lessons as well, when affordable. His parents were deeply stern people, with some racist beliefs that unfortunately rubbed off on him. They weren't wealthy enough to send him to a high-end university, but he studied hard at the college they could afford, and became a successful English teacher. He worked at a small school for a number of years, as he continued his education, eventually gaining his PHD. Upon graduation, he was able to secure a high-paying job in Shanghai, where English teachers were desperately needed.
It was at this time that he began gambling, looking to make extra money to send back to his parents. His job already paid wonderfully, but he wanted more. Coming from a poor family, he saw money as the answer to all his problems. Over a couple years, he discovered new gambling dens across the city, with higher stakes, and more prestigious clients. Of course he knew that all these establishments were run by the Triads, but he didn't expect it would present a problem, so long as he made his money and left. He was sorely mistaken, and found himself at the wrong end of a gun after winning a few too many games, and being accused of cheating. As was common practice for the Triads, they blackmailed him, and indebted him into their service. Before long, he was running errands, and helping with smuggling. Once he was in the organization, he started partaking in other money-making schemes. He entered fighting dens. Even though he lost the majority of his fights, he walked away with a profit. They started calling him "Little Yip Man", after the Hong-Kong martial artist.
On top of living this double-life, he continued teaching. The fighting made him more fit, and more confident. Eventually, he charmed and married one of his students. Her name was Fan-Bing, and she was a decade younger than him, but neither of them cared. While they were dating, she saw the tattoos that the Triads were forcing him to get, and his secret became their secret. As he reached the age of 37, he was ready to get out of organized crime and settle down. He tried to escape back to America, but they refused to let his wife immigrate, so he kept both careers going, sucking away all his time. He became severely overworked, and his addictions only grew stronger. Then the Avian Flu reached China. His wife fell sick while he was away from home, on a trip for the Triads, importing smuggled cars. By the time he returned, she was too far gone.
The day after the funeral, he fled the country. He moved back to Seattle, to care for his mother, and to hide from the Triads. Only a year later, the real outbreak started.

History Since Outbreak:

Lawrence stayed in Seattle for a while, holding up in an apartment complex with his cousin. They were largely able to avoid and distract the walkers, sneaking into convenience stores to steal food. On one such raid, his cousin was grabbed and overwhelmed by the horde. Lawrence made a genuine effort to fend them off and recover his body, but it was no use. With nothing else tying him to Seattle, he raided their apartment for supplies, and left.
He traveled through the woods of Washington state, making his way inland. In this time he learned how to hunt, fish, and trap for food. His parents had taught him various traditional Chines medicinal recipes. This, coupled with his university education that included so biology electives, helped him identify and utilize some local plant-life, to stave off sickness.
Traveling alone, further into America, Lawrence was left to his own thoughts. The grief of his wife's death, that he was able to ignore through work and walker-evading, finally began to catch up to him. He prayed often, but his prayers became tainted with sadness and regret. His dreams became nightmares. The darker his thoughts became, the more he buried himself in them. Thankfully, as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, and the months into a year, the pain became less and less. He found he could escape the pain by focusing on religion, and by escaping into the traditions he had been taught so long ago. He had also kept his father's old Little Red Book, a parting gift before he passed away. Lawrence didn't particularly care for Mao's philosophy, but reading it over helped pass the time, and distract his mind. Oddly enough, it reminded him of happier days.
Eventually he reached civilization again, a small ghost-town, seemingly untouched by walkers. By this point, he didn't know how far he had traveled, or even what state he was in. Nonetheless, he housed himself there for a time, and tried to feel at home again. One night, while staying there, another couple survivors broke in, and threatened to kill him if he didn't hand over his supplies. Thankfully for him, they were far more malnourished than he was, and he was able to overpower them. He tried to beat them into running away, but they were too desperate. They kept fighting. Finally, as he had one of them pinned down, the other grabbed him from behind and attempted to strangle him. Fearing for his own life now, he pulled his knife out and stabbed over his shoulder. The knife buried itself in the man's throat, and he fell backward, choking to death on his own blood. In a vengeful rage, the other man rose up and charged Lawrence, only to be stabbed in the chest. With a dead man on either side of him, panic overtook Lawrence. He grabbed his supplies and ran back into the woods.
The next morning, he awoke to another man rummaging through his supplies. He didn't know if he was in the same group as the other two, but he knew that he was stealing his precious food. Noticing that Lawrence was awake, the man made a run for it, Lawrence's bag under his arm. Lawrence chased after him, knife in hand, and caught the man by stabbing him in the back. Now in a state of pure adrenaline and primal survival, Lawrence reclaimed his bag, and rummaged through the man's pockets. Finding nothing of value, he again fled, further into the woods. Lawrence had killed three men in less than 24 hours, this haunted him.
Thankfully, he had his solitude to return to. Weeks of hunting, sleeping, and praying, and he found himself again. He continued traveling, killing the occasional walker along the way. Raiding small towns wherever he could find them, looking for food, water, and cigarettes. Sprinting back into the woods, at the first sign of other human life. He even found a pair of scissors, to keep his hair somewhat tidy. He was happy, and civilized, in his solitude. He found that walkers no longer frightened him, that it was easy enough to sleep in a tree, and feel safe at night.



Character Quote: "I don't like smiling. People look less intelligent when they smile. Easier to trick."

Theme Song:


How Many Walkers Have You Killed: Twenty

How Many People Have You Killed: Four

Why: Two of them tried to kill him first, one of them was out of mercy, and one of them stole his food.

Anything Else: roleplayerguild.com/topics/88853-times..

_{*By submitting this CS in its completion I am stating I have read all the rules for this Rp and am agreeing to follow them to the fullest with respect and courtesy.}