Post by mulaqi on Mar 13, 2008 18:29:43 GMT -5
Name: Shang Huang (尚黃)
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Group: Flame Dancer’s Caravan
Nation: Earth Kingdom
Bender?: No
Physical Appearance: Standing at about 5’7” and lacking substantial girth, Shang’s build borders on athletic, but in the end is not all that noteworthy. His arms and legs show signs of muscle, but most of it is due to a general lack of fat rather than muscles mass of any real note. His shoulders and chest are not that well defined, and while he isn’t quite what one would call “thin”, he is at least “slim”. His skin is well tanned, and the back of his right hand is host to a large scar, gained from a training accident while he was in the army. His feet are dirty and callused from training and all the walking he has done in general.
His face is oval shaped, young looking with softer features. His chin is unpronounced and his nose a little small. He has brown, almond shaped eyes, and dimples that are noticeable when he smiles. His hair is sandy brown and of medium length. If he let it hang down, it would be straight, smooth, and hang midway down his neck. However, he normally keeps it pulled back poorly into a traditional topknot that is held with simple green cloth. Numerous loose strands of hair hang down loosely in front of his forehead from his bangs, his sides, and the back.
Clothing/Armor: Having sold his Earth Kingdom Army uniform, he now has reverted to wearing a simple peasants outfit. On his torso he wears a loose fitting, forest green tunic with dark yellow trimming along the cuffs of his sleeves (which, by the way, are slightly too long and extend to his palms) and also along the neck line, which has no collar. The tunic opens down the front via a series of dark yellow frog pin styled buttons, and he generally keeps the first two of these unbuttoned. The tunic, being a bit too bit for him, extends partway down his thighs, hiding under it a simple brown leather belt that holds up similarly loose forest green pants. Fortunately, they are simple a bit long rather than being overly wide, with the dark yellow hemming at the cuffs of the pants constantly getting dirty from being dragged around in the dirt. Naturally, he wears a loincloth under this, maroon in color. On his feet, he wears a worn down pair of straw sandals.
When he has more of a choice in clothing, he prefers looser clothes to tighter fitting ones, and likes darker colors, though never black or any shade of red. He also likes to keep things simple. More than half a dozen pieces of clothing isn’t his style, and certainly not anything flashy.
Weapons: He was trained in the use of spears in the armies, and his father attempted to teach him knife throwing, though he carries neo weapons with him regularly. He is mediocre at the former and terrible at the latter.
Personality: Ever since he was very little, Shang has been a more quiet and reserved individual. Though fairly intelligent and able to hold a conversation in many subject areas, he often opts for simple silence. Throughout the years, he’s lost confidence in himself and in general lacks very much pride or fire, and thus has become a shy and nervous person, not to mention a bit of a klutz. He doesn’t like to start conflicts, even when he’s being pushed around. He does have a spine hiding somewhere in there, but usually he is easily disheartened or intimidated and quick to give up. Another symptom of this is that he can sometimes find himself envious of those who, unlike him, are viewed as exceptional or remarkable. Other times, though, it can lead to simple admiration, especially if they aren’t someone who flaunts their ability. Humbleness is a trait he respects.
Still, he has his good points. He is polite, and in general quite kind and friendly to people. He has a large and well honed vocabulary gained from his love of reading, and while his shyness prevents him from being outright eloquent as a speaker, he can have his rare moments of poetry. He is open minded and always willing to listen to other people’s problems, but it is rare for him to talk of his own.
Background: Shang is a second generation Flame Dancer. His mother, Sei, joined as an earthbender sculptor. She would put on a blindfold, and create complicated sculptures by performing a complicated bending routine from memory. She would put on a blindfold, get spun around several times, and then perform the set. In the middle of her successful career, she married another performer, a knife thrower and acrobat named Jiang Huang. Eventually, they had a son together, and that son was Shang.
Because his mother was such a successful performer and bender, and his father was on par with her in terms of performance, it was silently expected that Shang would share the gift. The boy’s own actions were reinforcing this. Even when he was still too young to understand what the performance was, he would watch it intently and clap and laugh to show his enthusiasm. His parents and their friends would joke about how he would start when he was old enough to walk. Unfortunately, none of them realized that they were only digging a hole for the boy that he would never be able to climb out of.
Things started out just fine, mind you. Shang was a well tempered child, usually smiling and laughing as he played with other children around his age. He was younger then most, but tended to get along just fine early on. As he grew older, he proved a fairly intelligent boy as well. However, it was soon learned that he lacked the ability to earthbend at all, and when his father tried to teach him basic acrobatics, and other athletic feats he proved less than stellar. He possessed the flexibility and general athletic tools necessary, but he was clumsy and lacked advanced coordination.. His parents weren’t disappointed, if a little shocked, and simply focused on training him in various non-bending performances. Not coordinated enough for knife throwing or juggling, acrobatics was focused on, but he simply proved incapable. He could do basic routines only. He was simply not cut out for high flying acts. The one thing he showed any potential for was the “daredevil” stunts like trapeze artistry or dives due to his light weight and compact stature. However, he lacked the nerve for them, and advanced training in them was never even considered.
Though his parents tried to hide their disappointment, which they themselves were ashamed off, young Shang could feel it anyway. Himself disappointed, he became more reserved and shy as his self confidence dropped. He began to play with the other children less, preferring quieter ways to spend his time. As the other children in the caravan started to display latent talents in one area or another, he proved more mundane and average by the day. The Wu twins in particular seemed to wow people, the adults with their talents and the younger girls with their charm and looks. He envied them, and was even bitter to an extent about it, but he never expressed it. The one thing that seemed to keep his spirits up was his little sister, Xiang. Born when he was nine, the two seemed to share a close bond from the start, and could put a smile on each other’s faces whenever they were together.
As Shang grew older, he his shyness and private way of living continued. He came to love books and stories, though he could only read them. He was no good at writing himself. Eventually, his training became nothing more than exercise, as it was clear he was not fit to perform in an act. He helped around in the caravan, setting up the tens, feeding the pack animals, and cleaning things, but he never really participated in the acts. By the time he was sixteen, he realized that this would be all the caravan would have to offer for him, and so he did something no one expected: he left to join the Earth Kingdom Army. Given a big, tearful farewell by his parents and sister, he left to enlist at the nearest Earth Kingdom base.
The truth was, though, this decision was less out of bravery and more out of misconceptions about military life combined with a chip on his shoulder about not being “good enough” to perform with the Flame Dancers in any capacity. Training was hard, but he gutted it out and made it through. Several times, he considered leaving, as he was barely on par with the military’s standards, but the shame of a failed return home combined with what determination he had left in him got him through. Turning out to be an average soldier in terms of ability after a year of training, Shang was assigned to guard a rear supply base. The base didn’t see much action, and for the last four and a half years, he guarded it without incident. His shy personality did not win him loads of friends within his unit, but had a few men that he liked to be around. In particular, a large, jovial bender around his age named Ling Yu became good friends with him. They had the same shift, and spent most of their on time duty chatting. Shang eventually came to consider Yu the best friend he had ever had.
Two months ago, his base was unexpectedly attacked by the Fire Nation. With no warning or reinforcements, the panicked base was overrun. Shang himself was terrified. He had no real combat experience and as the city burned around him, all he could do was flail his spear at the firebenders as he ran away. He wasn’t successful in doing much but scaring a few of them, and had to be saved by Yu from several firebenders. Together, they started to escape. They had made their way to the rear city gates when a projectile smashed into them and sent the gates crashing down towards them. Shang escaped unharmed, but Yu was caught in the debris. His legs were crushed by a large wooden beam, and he was trapped. Firebenders could be seen heading towards the rear gate from the city, and would arrive soon. Yu told Shang to leave him and escape, and in a decision that Shang has yet to even begin to forgive himelf for, he listened. He ran away as fast as he could, crying and scared for his life. Eventually, he could run no more, and fell by a small creek. When he woke up, he was alone in the wilderness. He realized he was not cut out to be a soldier. He lacked the bravery and the toughness of a real warrior. Not knowing what to do, he did the only thing he could think of and started to head home, deserting the Earth Kingdom army. He sold his armor, bought normal citizen’s clothes, and searched for the Flame Dancer’s caravan.
At last, he has found the caravan, where he hopes to work hard and perhaps find some act he can actually perform. He has resolved not to tell anyone about his time in the army out of shame, though he wonders what the others might assume, especially his family and those he grew up around. He doesn’t want to lie, but he would rather be dishonest than admit to his family just what a disgrace he believes his life has been.
Sample RP:
Shang couldn’t help but constantly look over his shoulder and peer around as he walked through the town, shirtless, shoeless and carrying a bundle under his right arm as he hugged the walls on that side of the street. He clung to it tightly. No one could see it. He couldn’t bear it. The town was fairly quiet. Not many people were walking its dusty streets, and eventually his nerves calmed. Still, he only rarely glanced at the road actually ahead of him. For the most part, he kept his gaze down. This carried on for some time, until finally he spotted a sign for an outfitters. It was an old, run down place. That was good. His goods would be more valuable there.
Cautiously, he entered the shop and glanced around. No one was there save for an old man behind the counter with a bushy white bear, half asleep. Shang approached and set his bundle down on the counter. As he did so, it unfurled, revealing it as an Earth Kingdom Army uniform…minus the pants.
“Um, excuse me,” he started cautiously, rousing the old man from his daze. “I’d, uh, like to sell this. And the pants, too.”
He raised his leg to show the pants as the old an rubbed his eyes. The old man looked at him quizzically for a moment, then shook his head. Shang felt shame and fear spread through him momentarily, but it was dissipated as the old man mumbled something about poor soldiers not getting their proper pay. He must have assumed Shang’s tour of duty had ended. Shang breathed a small sigh of relief.
“I take it you’ll want some clothes then, young man. Or are you planning to run around naked.”
“Oh! Yes. I was getting to that,” Shang said with a bit of a start.
The old man pointed Shang to the section of the store that held men’s clothes. He was very kind. It made Shang feel guilty. A short while later, Shang was walking out of the store with a new set of clothes, and some extra money in his pocket. He would need it for food during his journey home. Thinking about his destination made him grimace. He missed home. He missed his family. Even so, he was not looking forward to having to return in this way, and it wasn’t like there was much waiting for him. There, his future was a life of chores and menial labor. It was better than a life of fear and death, though, he’d learned that much. His head lowered again. He should have never joined the army. What had he been thinking?
With a sigh, Shang feebly tried to clear his mind, and started on his long walk home.
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Group: Flame Dancer’s Caravan
Nation: Earth Kingdom
Bender?: No
Physical Appearance: Standing at about 5’7” and lacking substantial girth, Shang’s build borders on athletic, but in the end is not all that noteworthy. His arms and legs show signs of muscle, but most of it is due to a general lack of fat rather than muscles mass of any real note. His shoulders and chest are not that well defined, and while he isn’t quite what one would call “thin”, he is at least “slim”. His skin is well tanned, and the back of his right hand is host to a large scar, gained from a training accident while he was in the army. His feet are dirty and callused from training and all the walking he has done in general.
His face is oval shaped, young looking with softer features. His chin is unpronounced and his nose a little small. He has brown, almond shaped eyes, and dimples that are noticeable when he smiles. His hair is sandy brown and of medium length. If he let it hang down, it would be straight, smooth, and hang midway down his neck. However, he normally keeps it pulled back poorly into a traditional topknot that is held with simple green cloth. Numerous loose strands of hair hang down loosely in front of his forehead from his bangs, his sides, and the back.
Clothing/Armor: Having sold his Earth Kingdom Army uniform, he now has reverted to wearing a simple peasants outfit. On his torso he wears a loose fitting, forest green tunic with dark yellow trimming along the cuffs of his sleeves (which, by the way, are slightly too long and extend to his palms) and also along the neck line, which has no collar. The tunic opens down the front via a series of dark yellow frog pin styled buttons, and he generally keeps the first two of these unbuttoned. The tunic, being a bit too bit for him, extends partway down his thighs, hiding under it a simple brown leather belt that holds up similarly loose forest green pants. Fortunately, they are simple a bit long rather than being overly wide, with the dark yellow hemming at the cuffs of the pants constantly getting dirty from being dragged around in the dirt. Naturally, he wears a loincloth under this, maroon in color. On his feet, he wears a worn down pair of straw sandals.
When he has more of a choice in clothing, he prefers looser clothes to tighter fitting ones, and likes darker colors, though never black or any shade of red. He also likes to keep things simple. More than half a dozen pieces of clothing isn’t his style, and certainly not anything flashy.
Weapons: He was trained in the use of spears in the armies, and his father attempted to teach him knife throwing, though he carries neo weapons with him regularly. He is mediocre at the former and terrible at the latter.
Personality: Ever since he was very little, Shang has been a more quiet and reserved individual. Though fairly intelligent and able to hold a conversation in many subject areas, he often opts for simple silence. Throughout the years, he’s lost confidence in himself and in general lacks very much pride or fire, and thus has become a shy and nervous person, not to mention a bit of a klutz. He doesn’t like to start conflicts, even when he’s being pushed around. He does have a spine hiding somewhere in there, but usually he is easily disheartened or intimidated and quick to give up. Another symptom of this is that he can sometimes find himself envious of those who, unlike him, are viewed as exceptional or remarkable. Other times, though, it can lead to simple admiration, especially if they aren’t someone who flaunts their ability. Humbleness is a trait he respects.
Still, he has his good points. He is polite, and in general quite kind and friendly to people. He has a large and well honed vocabulary gained from his love of reading, and while his shyness prevents him from being outright eloquent as a speaker, he can have his rare moments of poetry. He is open minded and always willing to listen to other people’s problems, but it is rare for him to talk of his own.
Background: Shang is a second generation Flame Dancer. His mother, Sei, joined as an earthbender sculptor. She would put on a blindfold, and create complicated sculptures by performing a complicated bending routine from memory. She would put on a blindfold, get spun around several times, and then perform the set. In the middle of her successful career, she married another performer, a knife thrower and acrobat named Jiang Huang. Eventually, they had a son together, and that son was Shang.
Because his mother was such a successful performer and bender, and his father was on par with her in terms of performance, it was silently expected that Shang would share the gift. The boy’s own actions were reinforcing this. Even when he was still too young to understand what the performance was, he would watch it intently and clap and laugh to show his enthusiasm. His parents and their friends would joke about how he would start when he was old enough to walk. Unfortunately, none of them realized that they were only digging a hole for the boy that he would never be able to climb out of.
Things started out just fine, mind you. Shang was a well tempered child, usually smiling and laughing as he played with other children around his age. He was younger then most, but tended to get along just fine early on. As he grew older, he proved a fairly intelligent boy as well. However, it was soon learned that he lacked the ability to earthbend at all, and when his father tried to teach him basic acrobatics, and other athletic feats he proved less than stellar. He possessed the flexibility and general athletic tools necessary, but he was clumsy and lacked advanced coordination.. His parents weren’t disappointed, if a little shocked, and simply focused on training him in various non-bending performances. Not coordinated enough for knife throwing or juggling, acrobatics was focused on, but he simply proved incapable. He could do basic routines only. He was simply not cut out for high flying acts. The one thing he showed any potential for was the “daredevil” stunts like trapeze artistry or dives due to his light weight and compact stature. However, he lacked the nerve for them, and advanced training in them was never even considered.
Though his parents tried to hide their disappointment, which they themselves were ashamed off, young Shang could feel it anyway. Himself disappointed, he became more reserved and shy as his self confidence dropped. He began to play with the other children less, preferring quieter ways to spend his time. As the other children in the caravan started to display latent talents in one area or another, he proved more mundane and average by the day. The Wu twins in particular seemed to wow people, the adults with their talents and the younger girls with their charm and looks. He envied them, and was even bitter to an extent about it, but he never expressed it. The one thing that seemed to keep his spirits up was his little sister, Xiang. Born when he was nine, the two seemed to share a close bond from the start, and could put a smile on each other’s faces whenever they were together.
As Shang grew older, he his shyness and private way of living continued. He came to love books and stories, though he could only read them. He was no good at writing himself. Eventually, his training became nothing more than exercise, as it was clear he was not fit to perform in an act. He helped around in the caravan, setting up the tens, feeding the pack animals, and cleaning things, but he never really participated in the acts. By the time he was sixteen, he realized that this would be all the caravan would have to offer for him, and so he did something no one expected: he left to join the Earth Kingdom Army. Given a big, tearful farewell by his parents and sister, he left to enlist at the nearest Earth Kingdom base.
The truth was, though, this decision was less out of bravery and more out of misconceptions about military life combined with a chip on his shoulder about not being “good enough” to perform with the Flame Dancers in any capacity. Training was hard, but he gutted it out and made it through. Several times, he considered leaving, as he was barely on par with the military’s standards, but the shame of a failed return home combined with what determination he had left in him got him through. Turning out to be an average soldier in terms of ability after a year of training, Shang was assigned to guard a rear supply base. The base didn’t see much action, and for the last four and a half years, he guarded it without incident. His shy personality did not win him loads of friends within his unit, but had a few men that he liked to be around. In particular, a large, jovial bender around his age named Ling Yu became good friends with him. They had the same shift, and spent most of their on time duty chatting. Shang eventually came to consider Yu the best friend he had ever had.
Two months ago, his base was unexpectedly attacked by the Fire Nation. With no warning or reinforcements, the panicked base was overrun. Shang himself was terrified. He had no real combat experience and as the city burned around him, all he could do was flail his spear at the firebenders as he ran away. He wasn’t successful in doing much but scaring a few of them, and had to be saved by Yu from several firebenders. Together, they started to escape. They had made their way to the rear city gates when a projectile smashed into them and sent the gates crashing down towards them. Shang escaped unharmed, but Yu was caught in the debris. His legs were crushed by a large wooden beam, and he was trapped. Firebenders could be seen heading towards the rear gate from the city, and would arrive soon. Yu told Shang to leave him and escape, and in a decision that Shang has yet to even begin to forgive himelf for, he listened. He ran away as fast as he could, crying and scared for his life. Eventually, he could run no more, and fell by a small creek. When he woke up, he was alone in the wilderness. He realized he was not cut out to be a soldier. He lacked the bravery and the toughness of a real warrior. Not knowing what to do, he did the only thing he could think of and started to head home, deserting the Earth Kingdom army. He sold his armor, bought normal citizen’s clothes, and searched for the Flame Dancer’s caravan.
At last, he has found the caravan, where he hopes to work hard and perhaps find some act he can actually perform. He has resolved not to tell anyone about his time in the army out of shame, though he wonders what the others might assume, especially his family and those he grew up around. He doesn’t want to lie, but he would rather be dishonest than admit to his family just what a disgrace he believes his life has been.
Sample RP:
Shang couldn’t help but constantly look over his shoulder and peer around as he walked through the town, shirtless, shoeless and carrying a bundle under his right arm as he hugged the walls on that side of the street. He clung to it tightly. No one could see it. He couldn’t bear it. The town was fairly quiet. Not many people were walking its dusty streets, and eventually his nerves calmed. Still, he only rarely glanced at the road actually ahead of him. For the most part, he kept his gaze down. This carried on for some time, until finally he spotted a sign for an outfitters. It was an old, run down place. That was good. His goods would be more valuable there.
Cautiously, he entered the shop and glanced around. No one was there save for an old man behind the counter with a bushy white bear, half asleep. Shang approached and set his bundle down on the counter. As he did so, it unfurled, revealing it as an Earth Kingdom Army uniform…minus the pants.
“Um, excuse me,” he started cautiously, rousing the old man from his daze. “I’d, uh, like to sell this. And the pants, too.”
He raised his leg to show the pants as the old an rubbed his eyes. The old man looked at him quizzically for a moment, then shook his head. Shang felt shame and fear spread through him momentarily, but it was dissipated as the old man mumbled something about poor soldiers not getting their proper pay. He must have assumed Shang’s tour of duty had ended. Shang breathed a small sigh of relief.
“I take it you’ll want some clothes then, young man. Or are you planning to run around naked.”
“Oh! Yes. I was getting to that,” Shang said with a bit of a start.
The old man pointed Shang to the section of the store that held men’s clothes. He was very kind. It made Shang feel guilty. A short while later, Shang was walking out of the store with a new set of clothes, and some extra money in his pocket. He would need it for food during his journey home. Thinking about his destination made him grimace. He missed home. He missed his family. Even so, he was not looking forward to having to return in this way, and it wasn’t like there was much waiting for him. There, his future was a life of chores and menial labor. It was better than a life of fear and death, though, he’d learned that much. His head lowered again. He should have never joined the army. What had he been thinking?
With a sigh, Shang feebly tried to clear his mind, and started on his long walk home.