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Captain Walker
Apr 7, 2009

Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there
I don't have a full enough concept to provide a backstory or even a picture, but a Psion Leader will be coming later today.

Captain Walker fucked around with this message at 17:07 on Nov 1, 2018

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Captain Walker
Apr 7, 2009

Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there

image source
Staff Sergeant Liu Hui, Scion of the Noble House Distinguished Republican Clan of Liu

Class/Role: Magician/Leader
Background: Frontline Strategist
Origin: Former Noble
Kit: Tinker


This post has been updated; see my post further down for mechanics

It is said that the founder of what is today the Liu clan was none other than Liu Bao himself. Legendary for his role as a strategist in the wars that first united the Cathay Empire, his seventy-odd works of writing encompass hundreds of topics, from the science of war to the proper foundations of a just society to the qualities required in a effective ruler, as well as establishing philosophical and humanist principles still relevant today. Any connection to the the modern Liu family can't be conclusively proven due to multiple century-long gaps in historical records, but the House of Liu has always maintained its lineage comes from the greatest thinker in Cathayan history, and its leaders have provided counsel to the Emperors of three dynasties for hundreds of years.

When Liu Hua became the head of the house forty years ago, the Jinlong dynasty was on the decline. The armies of the other great houses suppressed peasant uprisings so frequently that their power and influence was arguably greater than the imperial family's. In contrast, the forces of Liu were relatively weak from previous feuds with those other houses. Hua's decision to support the rebels, first by persuading vassals that the commoners' grievances were legitimate, and ultimately by openly providing funds and soldiers, was controversial to say the least. It is seen today as either a courageous stand against tyranny, showing the foresight of his distant ancestor, or a desperate man's last-ditch gambit to save his own holdings, depending on whether you're asking a Liu or not. Regardless of his motives, the Liu house was undeniably a major influence in the outcome of the war, and when lesser houses who stood to lose what little they had began to rally behind the rebellion as well, the Jinlong's fate was sealed.

Hua did not live to see the formation of the Republic he paved the way for. In the war's last days, the imperial family and their remaining vassals wished not for triumph over impossible odds, but for Hua's head, and the assassin that claimed it during the final assault on the palace took the identity of his employer to the grave. But to many in the house of Liu, their victory paled in the face of the humiliation they suffered when Hua's firstborn Xang was told in no uncertain terms that the Republic felt its debt was owed to Hua, not his family, and the new head of the house should expect no further reward beyond keeping his land and eligibility to vote (in the next election; Xang was underage at the time).

Twenty years later, Xang's "leadership" seems to consist mostly of stomping around the house complaining about the incompetence of the Republican government. The de facto head of the clan is Hua's second wife Zheng, and while the widow maintains a low profile, her daughters have eclipsed Xang in prominence. Liu Wei, Minister of Science, is the youngest major public official in the Republic. Liu Hui, two years Wei's junior, began as a research assistant to her older sister, but soon became recognized in her own right for her twice-monthly articles in the Cathay Free Post are popular not only for their ability to explain complicated civic principles concisely and humorously, but also because Hui is not afraid to chastise those in power when they stray from the ideals on which the Republic was built.

The "Silver Sisters of Liu", so named for their partial albinism caused by prolonged exposure to high concentrations of Vril, are among the most famous and influental figures in Cathay that don't hold elected office. Despite their achievements, many still distrust the House of Liu, fearing that their sudden betrayal of those in power could happen again any day. Even the Silver Sisters are no exception, with whispers that they obtained their posts through nepotism, not competence. Wei's work keeps her a reasonable distance from any kind of position of real power, and she drowns out the gossip by focusing on her research. Hui, as a military officer, takes much more flak, in multiple senses of the phrase. Her civilian achievements in science, rhetoric, and political theory were sufficient to secure her an commission in the Cathay Defense Forces. Rather than formally accepting, Hui enlisted directly in an effort to prove that she didn't require or deserve special treatment, and her prowess earned her the rank of Master Sergeant after less than a year out of boot camp.

Two years have passed since Hui became an officer, and it has done little to improve her standing. Her accomplishments as a civilian are meaningless here, and she has the persistent feeling that her assignments are hand-crafted to allow her superiors to take credit for any major successes. Her commands and decisions are frequently questioned, scrutinized, and criticized by those who outrank her, and occasionally by those who don't. In an effort to turn her career around, Hui suggested the creation of a new kind of sub-unit, a fireteam of between four and six highly-trained operatives with complementary capabilities, specializing in special operations and sensitive missions unsuited for a larger force. In support of her idea, she offered the following: "If successful, this type of unit could be expanded and adapted for covert operations against the many forces that oppose the Republic; if unsuccessful, Cathay will be relieved of the burden of one Liu."

Of course, command of the unit Hui concieved was granted to another; some REMF from another, even more disgraced noble house, but that hardly matters. The sneers of her superior officers, the rumors and lies spread to the masses, the agressive indifference of the Republican government -- none of it matters anymore. The only people Hui needs to prove herself to are her comrades-in-arms: the Republic of Cathay's 4th Special Ops Squad.

Captain Walker fucked around with this message at 07:25 on Nov 9, 2018

Captain Walker
Apr 7, 2009

Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there
Figured I'd gather all our bios/sheets into one post. In descending order of rank:

Lieutenant Dai Mei Zhen and K-9 Partner Jún-Jun, Buddies/Blaster: Daughter of the Dai house, a disgraced noble family instrumental to both the rise of the Jinlong dynasty and the revolution that eventually toppled it. Her loyalty to the Republic is unquestioned, and her zealous devotion to eradicating its enemies borderline psychopathic, but years of her career remaining essentially stagnant have have made her into a bitter, paranoid, alcoholic with a frail constitution, and any ability she had to speak without being condescending or outright rude seems to have atrophied.

Staff Sergeant Liu Hui, Magician/Leader: Scion of an illustrious noble house that provided unexpected support to the Republicans, but lost most of their stature after the Jinlong fell. Prodigious inventor and well-studied tactician, but lacks front-line experience.
Alternate sheet with detailed information on equipment, power reskinning, etc.

Specialist Zheng Wu, Warlord/Striker: Former lawyer from a Cathay province now occupied by Zipang. Little else is known of his background prior to joining the CDF as an intelligence operative; in other words, a spy.

Private Lau Kai, Martial Artist/Defender: Country-born villager. Wants the strength to protect others more than anything.

Private Jiang Weiji, Rogue/Striker: Sniper and survivalist. Former gamekeeper convicted of murdering two noble children.

Let me know if you want me to adjust the blurb for your character.

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