Trấn Hưng ĐạoGrand Prince of Hưng Đạo, Imperial Prince of Đại Việt, Hưng Đạo Đại Vương 
imgur.com/a/c7OJM1zClass: Rider
Gender: Male
Birth and Death Dates: 1228-1300
Alignment: Lawful Good
Personality: Loyalty. Loyalty is what defines Rider, to the greatest degree. Even in a great position of power, there was never a hint of him defecting or performing a coup. He tested several of his subordinates for their loyalty, and none of them were found wanting, except for his second son. He said in reply:
“My own son is a rebellious subject.”And nearly slew him in rage, and only held back because his beloved loyal son asked him to spare the second son. However, in punishment, he ordered his second son to never see his father’s face forevermore.
On a more cheerful note, Rider was a greatly talented poet, and would have pursued that path were it not for the thrice-invading Mongols. His dearest wish is for a peaceful life with his family, serving his country not with a blade, but by giving it some measure of entertainment with his poetry.
Bio: Rider was born just after the Trần Dynasty replaced the Lý Dynasty in 1225 AD. He was educated by the best tutors possible as a child in order to become a great leader of the Đại Việt, in hopes of reclaiming the honor of the Trần, as well as avenging the shame forced upon his father and his uncle when the Imperial Regent forced Rider’s father to give up his wife, Rider’s own mother, to his younger brother in order to ensure dynastic stability. This military training served Rider well when the Mongols first invaded in 1257. He was an officer in the frontier, and history records little of his time in the first invasion in favor of what came in the next two.
In 1285, when Kublai Khan sought to go through Vietnam in order to invade the neighboring Kingdom of Champa, the Vietnamese refused. In response, the Mongol horde attacked the Đại Việt and captured the imperial capital. Rider was appointed commander in chief, and lost much ground in open battle against the generally superior Mongol forces. As the enemy forces encroached and broke the Vietnamese defenses, Rider personally escorted the Imperial family, keeping them just ahead of the enemy in hot pursuit. And thus, the war switched from one of open battles, which the Mongols had been enjoying great success in, to one of attrition, as the heat and disease sapped away the strength of the Mongol forces. As the enemy retreated in hopes of colder weather that would favor them, the Đại Việt forces retaliated in a number of highly effective guerilla strikes that slew many, taking the heads of a number of Mongol generals, including Sogetu, the second in command of the Mongol military.
It was the third invasion that launched Rider into the annals of history, for all of Vietnam to remember forever. Two years after the previous invasion, Kublai Khan sent one of his most favored sons, Prince Toghan, to invade the Đại Việt in order to erase the shame of the previous defeat. The Yuan Mongol and Chinese combined force of the infantry, cavalry, and navy numbered an estimated 500,000, which swiftly devastated the Vietnamese navy and border forces, who were still recovering from the previous war. The Đại Việt were forced to retreat, but under the direction of Rider, performed intensive guerilla warfare that slowed the army enough for the Imperial Capital and all other population centers to have enough time to evacuate. Then, he burned those in the path of the Mongols to ashes, in order to prevent any spoils of war from being taken. Afterwards, skirmishes between the Đại Việt and the Yuan had victories and defeats in almost equal measure for both sides. After some time, Prince Toghan decided to consolidate his forces so his superior cavalry would be able to crush the Đại Việt’s infantry and cavalry. Toghan led the cavalry through Nội Bàng while his naval fleet commander, Omar, directly launched the naval force along the Bạch Đằng River simultaneously, unknowingly leading the way to the decisive battle in the war, the Battle of Bạch Đằng River.
As an invading force, the Mongols knew practically nothing of the terrain of the river. Thus, when Rider predicted the naval route of the enemy, he ordered the Đại Việt to set many unconventional traps in the riverbed, which would be unseen and hidden to most observation during high tide. When the retreat of the Mongol forces were ordered by Omar, the Đại Việt deployed many light vessels, which would be smaller and more maneuverable than the heavy Mongol vessels, to harass the enemy and lure them into the traps along the riverside. As high tide receded, the trap was sprung. Before the eyes of the Vietnamese Emperor and Emperor Emeritus, 400 Mongol vessels were sunk by traps, fire arrows, and other maneuvers under the direction of Rider. The entire fleet was destroyed and Omar was captured. A comparatively kinder fate faced Prince Toghan and his cavalry, who “only” were ambushed, and were divided into smaller groups that were more easily picked off. The survivors, including the Prince, arrived in China in tatters and in shame, bringing home only a fraction of the grand force they sallied into Vietnam with.
With this decisive proving of Vietnamese might, as well as some quick and decisive diplomacy on the part of the Vietnamese who capitalized on the recent victory, the Mongols never sought to invade Vietnam ever again, forced to stay satisfied with a simple tributary relationship that remained until the Yuan Dynasty’s fall.
Rider returned to his home in Van Kiep, after it all. He died in peace at the age of 73 in 1300, was cremated, and his ashes dispersed under his favorite oak tree planted in his royal estate near the Imperial Capital. This simple, private ceremony was in his accordance to his will, rather than the intended lavish ceremony and burial in the royal mausoleum. For his brilliance and great services to Vietnam, the Emperor posthumously bestowed Rider the title of "Hưng Đạo Đại Vương," the Great Lord Hưng Đạo.
Weapon: A plain wooden staff. It used to have a pointed end, but when he was escorting the Imperial Family during the great retreats in the initial second Mongol Invasion, people suspected he might attack the Emperor and Emperor Emeritus. To dissuade such suspicions, he discarded the pointed end, and was left with only the stave.
...on a less notable point, he also has a curved steel sword, as befitting his position as the commander in chief of the Vietnamese military.
ParametersStrength: C
Endurance: B
Agility: B+
Mana: C
Luck: C
Class Skills Riding: A
The ability to control and ride mounts and vehicles. At this rank, it is sufficient in ability to ride anything up to Phantasmal and Divine-Beast Class.
Magic Resistance: D
Protection against magical effects, this skill outright cancels spells. At this rank, it is capable of canceling Single-Action spells. In essence, it can protect against mystical effects to the same degree that of an amulet that rejects magical energy.
Personal Skills
Guerilla Warfare: B
A skill that represents harassment-like tactics. Rider was arguably the individual who pioneered hit and run tactics. Using a poorly trained and equipped army, he demonstrated his mastery of geographical warfare, using advantageous landscapes where the enemy’s main tactics were rendered useless, allowing him victory. As long as Rider “in combat with” or “opposing” a target, a continuously increasing debuff is placed upon the foe, similar to how the Mongols, even when successful militarily, felt an ever-increasing physical and mental strain when encountering the Đại Việt’s harassment, ranking parameters down. Furthermore, within the territory Rider acts in, he has the ability to see and understand what occurs inside, simply due to the nature of guerilla warfare of knowing what is going on in the chosen battlefield. Finally, in the area, the opponent suffers a demerit to their “maximum health” after taking damage regardless of their Endurance.
Disengage: C+
The ability to withdraw in the middle of battle, or to reset the conditions of the battle. At rank C, returning the conditions to what they were at the start of the battle is possible. This is borne from the many retreats the Dai Viet were forced into by the Yuan in open battle. However, they were able to swiftly regroup and retaliate, slaying many Mongol officers such as Sogetu.
The skill obtains a “+” when Rider enacts a “fighting retreat,” in accordance with how he escorted the Imperial Family ahead of the incensed Yuan Dynasty military forces. Because of that aspect of his legend, he can also “retreat” with allies, such as his Master.
Subversive Activities: B
Before combat, during the preparation stage, this ability shaves off some of his enemies’ power. It’s the hallmark of a master of traps. This ability was formed from sheer necessity, as Rider was forced to face a Mongol military force over half a million strong with the far weaker and poorer Vietnamese military, and made up the difference with the tactics that would inspire Ho Chi Minh and his North Vietnamese army centuries later. The invading forces soon learned to fear the jungle. At this rank, it greatly decreases the level of enemy heroes, and depletes the ranks of enemy forces by half.
Noble PhantasmsBạch Đằng RiverThe Doom of the Fleet of the KhanRank: B+
NP Type: Anti-Army, Anti-Navy
Range: 10-50
Maximum Number of Targets: 1000
Description: A recreation of the final great battle between Vietnam and the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. The great Mongol fleet was lured down the river by fishing boats to an area where the Grand Prince had planted unconventional steel-tipped stakes into the depths of the water. Even when the Mongol admiral attempted to retreat, the Vietnamese fishing boats harassed and agitated the Mongols into remaining in the trap, until the high tide receded. Then, the trap was sprung. The Mongol fleet, composed of boats that were grand and had great depth, were impaled without fail on the stakes. Immediately, the Grand Prince ordered for flaming arrows to be shot at the enemy fleet. Like fish in a barrel, 80,000 Mongols were slain that day in exchange for 4,000 Vietnamese soldiers. In one day, the entire Mongol fleet sent to subjugate Vietnam was destroyed.
Here, the effects remain the same. The targets are trapped in a burning, sinking ship, immobile and impaled by metallic spears. Afflicted by harsh burns and hundreds of stab wounds, it is practically impossible to escape. Rather, it is better to not have been caught in the first place, though if given sufficient parameters, one may be able to escape. Firstly, one must be able to make a sufficient AGI check to escape the stakes themselves. Secondly, one must be able to make a sufficient END check in order to move through the burns and the flaming arrows. Nevertheless, until the targets exit the range of Bạch Đằng River, they will remain afflicted by the burns and impalement, similarly to how the Mongol Prince Toghan and his cavalry were hounded and cut apart on the road through Nội Bàng until they reached China.
Đức Thánh TrầnDivine Protector From HarmRank: C
NP Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
Range: 10-100
Maximum Number of Targets: 1000
Description: An amalgamation of many facets. Rider’s still ongoing worship in many Vietnamese temples as a warrior deity. His Proclamation to the Officers, which inspired his army to face the Mongol hordes with heightened ability, and to stand their ground. And perhaps most chiefly, his extreme loyalty to his liege and his nation, to the point that he threatened to kill his second son for even hinting at treason. Through this Noble Phantasm, Rider is able to designate an area to be “protected.” Within this area, Rider gains the skills “Presence Concealment” and “Presence Detection” at Rank C , and lowers the cost of the use of his abilities.
