Xuan Wu
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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| Master Wu trains his disciples well | |
| Xuan Wu | |
| Player: @Doctor Fear | |
| Origin: | Magic |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Mastermind |
| Threat Level: | 22 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Xuan Wu |
| Known Aliases: | Confidential |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | Confidential |
| Height: | 5'6" |
| Weight: | 150lbs |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Hair Color: | None |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | Chinese |
| Occupation: | Leader of the Ghost Shadow Society |
| Place of Birth: | Confidential |
| Base of Operations: | The Rogue Islands |
| Marital Status: | Confidential |
| Known Relatives: | Confidential |
| Known Powers | |
| Confidential | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Master of Forbidden Void Kung-Fu | |
| Equipment | |
| Confidential | |
| No additional information available. | |
Contents |
Ghost Shadows
The Ghost Shadow Society has apparently existed for centuries, if not millennia, in one form or another. A league of Assassins, they are largely believed to have been formed in Eastern China at the end of the Qin Dynasty, during the time of the six warring states, offering their services to the various factions for a price. Operating in absolute secrecy, care to maintain anonymity of their employers, and a flawless record of success, ensured that the society prospered. Their shadowy hand has been behind a number of historic events, involved in theft, espionage, sabotage, and assassination in various conflicts throughout the region. Over the centuries, the organization has maintained its secrecy and gathered untold amounts of wealth in its hidden strongholds.
To those outside the society, and to the majority of its recruits and low-level operatives, it appears to be nothing more than a secretive, ruthlessly efficient crime syndicate with a long history that has become steeped in its own traditions and rituals, especially a cult of personality around its leader. The truth is, of course, much different.
Xuan Wu
Throughout its history, the leader of the organization, a position called The Void Dragon, has always been a man named Xuan Wu. It is presumed that the founder of the society was called Xuan Wu, and each of his successors has taken on his name both to honor him, and to draw upon the power of his legend. The image of the eternal wise master is a powerful one. It is believed it is this imagery that the Society hopes to draw upon, presenting its leader as the ancient spiritual master with an unbroken line of wisdom to its ancestors and possibly to some deeper truths. Implausible attributions of superhuman ability are fostered as a cult of personality around the group's leader, making a variety of awe-inspiring claims such as the current Xuan Wu being more than 250 years old and able to kill a man with the slightest touch.
The current Xuan Wu has not been seen or heard from in any capacity for over 30 years, leading to rumors of his death. Only recently he reportedly arrived in the Rogue Islands, and his presence has been confirmed. What could have possibly drawn out such a secretive and mysterious figure after such a long period of time gives pause to those familiar with the Society. He has reportedly taken students from amongst the local populace, expanding the presence of the Society in the Rogue Islands considerably. As always, the new recruits are unshakably loyal, drawn in to the Cult of Personality surrounding the mysterious figure of Xuan Wu.
The true origins behind Xuan Wu are, however, as shrouded in mystery as the origins of the Ghost Shadow Society itself.
The Forbidden Void
In the Beginning
"Your Existence-Hating Radiance cannot compare to the Pangu Binding Edge!" Pangu cried, and sundered The Void's corrupted core. It exploded into a million shards. As The Void dissolved, its components flew apart. The lighter components, such as clouds and wind and azure, rose to become the sky. The heavier components, such as iron and weight and deep places, fell to form the world.
Existence-Hating Radiance
Even though the Void was sundered, all things that comprised it became a part of the world. It's primal energy that draws the Formed to the Formless and dissolves Creation is the Existence-Hating Radiance, also known as Void Chi. This energy also became a part of the world, where it can be seen in disease and decay. The entropic forces of the universe itself are part of the Void Chi. It resides in the heart of the Atom. Places of great evil, where necromancers ply their art and where things die en masse are all infused with Void Chi. True to its name, Existence-Hating Radiance despises all things, seeks only to destroy, to disintegrate, to collapse the universe back to one formless, Eternal Void.
All Things Return to The Source
The Void had been shattered into a million pieces, but the Existence-Hating Radiance survived, too. Over time, it grows in power, and as it does so, it works to dissolve everything and bring it back into itself. In time, many believed, the Void would draw its pieces back together, and unmake Creation. As the river flows into the ocean, so must all things return to the Void.
An ancient cult formed in the earliest days of mankind that worshiped the Void, seeing its nihilism as the ultimate enlightenment, to truly unite everything in Oneness with everything else. True dissolution of form, mind, and spirit. Perfect Godhead.
A Legacy of Darkness
Demons, being destructive manifestations of darkness were revered as incarnations of The Void itself. Few demons were capable of remembering their heritage, however that did not stop them from enjoying their mortal worshipers. These Oni came to be amongst the most powerful and influential members of the Cult.
The Enchanted Demon was the first of his kind to remember his origin as a part of the Eternal Void. He sought to unmake creation by encouraging the flow of the dreaded Void Chi, that which destroys what it touches, through his own style of Kung-Fu. He gathered a mighty cult of both humans and demons around himself, and taught his most trusted worshipers the secrets of his Forbidden Void Kung-Fu. Foremost amongst his students was a young man he dubbed "Xuan Wu", the Dark Master, who understood the true nature of The Void and rejoiced in the Enchanted Demon's nihilistic philosophy.
When the Enchanted Demon was slain by the Celestial Goddess, his followers scattered. Many were hunted down by the disciples of Pangu, and slain wherever they were found. A few, including Xuan Wu, managed to hide, using their Forbidden Void Kung-Fu to conceal themselves from Pangu's gaze. Unable to reach them directly, Pangu placed a curse upon them. For Ten Thousand Years they would be forced to remain hiding in the shadows, and their own Existence-Hating Radiance would consume their spirits, leaving them as empty as The Void they worshiped. If they hated existence so much, then their hatred would begin with themselves.
Over many years, all eventually died when their own Existence-Hating Radiance finally consumed their spirits, ending with their taking their own lives. All but one. Xuan Wu alone of his brethren remained. Withered and consumed by his own Existence-Hating Radiance as was his curse, spiteful of life, he still found the discipline and fortitude to continue on after a particularly wise demon visited him one day and told him of his destiny.
A Prophecy Revealed
The demon, himself a disciple of The Enchanted Demon, presented Xuan Wu with a Prophecy. After the Ten Thousand Years had passed, Xuan Wu would travel to the land of the Serpent and complete the Enchanted Demon's work. To accomplish this, he required three things, a Child of The Enchanted Demon, a Man who consumes the soul of a Dragon, and ten thousand weapons wielded by ten thousand arms. With these, he would be able to murder Creation and restore the Void.
The demon taught Xuan Wu how to control the flow of the Void Chi, to steal the life of others to sustain himself. It taught him the deepest mysteries of the Forbidden Void Kung-Fu, how to generate the Existence-Hating Radiance to destroy the Chi of others. It showed him secrets of dark sorcery. While the Curse of Pangu still lingered and he hated his own existence above all else, his hatred of Pangu and Creation itself was a close second. For the chance to restore the Void, despite the Celestial Goddess' deception that slew The Enchanted Demon, despite the Curse of Pangu... that would be a destiny worth enduring his own hated existence for.
Ten Thousand Years
For Ten Thousand Years, Xuan Wu waited. He did not remain idyll, however. He mastered Forbidden Void Kung-Fu, developing new techniques. He formed The Ghost Shadow Society so he would have Ten Thousand Arms to Wield Ten Thousand Weapons with which to murder Creation. He searched for, and found, the few remaining descendants of The Enchanted Demon, giving them power, wealth, and respect within the Society, cultivating their bloodline. He spent years meditating on The Void, attuning his mind to it in ways no man ever had before or since. Through it all he was consumed by his hatred, and more than once the temptation to achieve oblivion by his own hand taunted him. But he remained resolute and did not falter.
The Sun Sets in the West
The vast information network of the Ghost Shadow Society turned up information about the Children of Enos, a renegade religious sect from France that reportedly engaged in bizarre rites and demonic rituals. They relocated to the Rogue Islands, and reportedly cast-offs from their cult became strange serpent-like beings. The creatures known only as The Snakes surfacing on Mercy Island in recent years and spreading has convinced Xuan Wu that these islands are where he will fulfill his destiny after so very long. The gathering of so many powerful beings, each wielding so many fell weapons, the vast dark magics practiced here, all point to this location being a nexus of energy where the dragon lines of Chi intersect. It is from this place that The Ghost Shadow Society will plunge its blades into the Heart of Creation.
I Have Become Death, Destroyer of Worlds
The darkest secret of Forbidden Void Kung-Fu is that it does not draw upon this Void Chi, it generates it. Each time that the techniques of Forbidden Void Kung-Fu are used, a small part of Creation withers and weakens. For this reason, Xuan Wu teaches at least rudimentary techniques of this Kung-Fu to all his disciples. He has trained Hei Feng, the Child of The Enchanted Demon, his most pure-blooded descendant, in the techniques, and she in turn has passed it to her own disciples. They have together found in the isles Dragonmancer, a man who seeks to consume the soul of a dragon which, if he is the One who was foretold, he will accomplish soon. He has ensured that Ghost Shadow Society cells around the world are prepared for his next command, and he gathers yet more loyal assassins into its fold in preparation. The time is nearly at hand. The Prophecy will be fulfilled, and Creation itself will breathe its last breath before it is finally torn asunder, plunging the entire universe back into the limitless Void.
