[hider=Wu Dan]

[center][b][h3] Wu Dan [/h3][/b][/center]
[center][b][h3] O-Dan  [/h3][/b][/center]
[center][hider=武段][img]http://pre13.deviantart.net/c7db/th/pre/i/2005/272/3/5/monk_study_5_by_crying_man.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]
[center][b][h3] "When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." [/h3][/b][/center]

[b]Nickname:[/b] [i]The Fifth Grandmaster[/i]
[b]Age:[/b] 372
[b]Region of Origin:[/b] North
[b]Hometown:[/b] The Mountain Village of Heibai
[b]Deity:[/b] All Four, Harmoniously.
[b]Master:[/b] Force Master

[b]Gender:[/b] Male
[b]Race:[/b] Jin
[b]Height:[/b] 5'8"
[b]Weight:[/b] 120 lbs.
[b]Hair:[/b] snowsilk-white
[b]Eyes:[/b] Pure-white from Cataracts.
[b]Skin:[/b] Deceptively wiry muscles under gaunt sagely light skin, blood vessels which easily explode out.
[b]Handedness:[/b] Right-handed.
[b]Scars:[/b] Old fading scars from his youth both from training and sparring students from the other schools, as well as rash acts of heroism. Fortunately they are concealed beneath his robes.
[b]Tattoos:[/b] A small colour tattoo of a turtle, bird, tiger, and dragon in the respective cardinal directions upon the back of his left palm. The turtle is in black, the bird is red, the tiger white, and the dragon yellow.

[b]Basic Description: [/b] His balding crown hidden underneath his conical hat, and his white facial hair impressively making his pure-white eyes that much more intimidating. One glance at him, and one knows this was no ordinary old hermit as he sits holding his prayer beads in a two-toned robe of scarlet and goldenrod. Beneath the flowing white beard and solemn expression upon his heavy brow, the old master has let time touch his appearance, but not his body by much for he can still demonstrate great physical feats even now in his very old age.

[b]Likes:[/b] Tea, Calligraphy, Art, Fishing, Nature, Meditation, Harmony, Teaching.
[b]Dislikes:[/b] Coffee, Industrialization, Loud Parties, Disharmony, Upstart Youth.
[b]Goals:[/b] To Harmonize the World, both the Yin and the Yang.
[b]Fears:[/b] There is no more hope for the world, and he shall die without seeing his vision passed on.
[b]Mannerisms:[/b] Having trained under the four Grandmasters, The Fifth Grandmaster as the common people refer to him by was amongst the more powerful of men in his youth, yet despite this even he cannot win wrestling against old age. Thus in his retirement, Wu Dan downplays his abilities for the sake of his philosophy. He is now content with teaching and passing on his philosophy to anyone who would listen, breaking down the duality while establishing it. There is a good and evil, but they serve balance each other, just as fire which warms the body, and water which cools it. Both are necessary and are part of the natural order, thus while there are chi and dark chi, there is also no distinction between both. A rather Zen and philosophic view of the world which some disregard as a rambling old man's dreamy-eyed ideals.
[b]Psychological Condition:[/b] Ennui. 
[b]Superstition:[/b] None, Wu Dan is too wise and venerable, what he does he does because it is out of truth rather than superstition.
[b]Social Pressures/Problems:[/b] Life as an old wandering hermit has its problems with understanding some of the new technologies and cultural trends. Wu Dan would tend to use what some would consider an archaic dialect in speaking, difficult for some to understand.

[b]Parents:[/b] Orphaned by birth, taken in by Master Black Tortoise of the North.
[b]Sibling:[/b] None Known.
[b]Rivals:[/b] None, the ones from his youth are mostly dead, others he does not see them as rivals as much as colleagues.
[b]Enemies:[/b] Those who would seek to throw the land into chaos.

[center][b][h3] Weapons [/h3][/b][/center]

[b]Iron Prayer Beads:[/b] The iron prayer beads around his wrist are deceptively heavy as they aid to weigh him down, it is said that only the virtuous could ever hope to hold the beads without being pulled under by their tremendous weight. It is true, for the beads represent the weight of the burdens upon one's morality, the more innocence that is lost and the more blood spilt, the heavier they become as the ultimate device to punish the wicked. Of which why he seeks his own absolution to make up for his youthful ignorance.

[center][b][h3] Skills [/h3][/b][/center]

[b]Fisherman:[/b] Ice fishing, fishing, or Ki fishing, Wu Dan knows how to not only catch fish, but also knows that the fish will come if they want to be caught. He understands how to prepare fishing rods, nets, cages, spears and bait for catching such creatures, but often fishes with a hookless and baitless rod patiently waiting for the fish to grab hold of his line. Perhaps as a metaphor for his quest.

[b]World Traveler:[/b] Wu Dan was born, raised, and trained in the Cold North, he has travelled to the South, East and West to receive further training, and as such is quite familiar with both surviving the elements and the burden of travelling. That said, in his retirement from the martial arts he has only increased his wandering lifestyle, rejecting riches and possessions save for his walking stick, prayer beads, travelling calligraphy set, hat, clothes, and pipe.

[b]Calligraphist:[/b] OF course, the world does require some form of payment for food and drink, as well as medicine and toys for the sick and children, as well as alms for the poor. As such, Wu Dan is a calligraphist, who can write beautiful Hanji/Kanji scrolls for a modest donation of alms.

[center][b][h3] Abilities [/h3][/b][/center]

[b]Chi Invigoration:[/b] While all martial artists are inhumanly strong, the Kung Fu Masters being the masters of chi take strength to a whole new level. By charging their bodies with chi to strengthen not only their bodies but their minds, they becoming living and breathing wrecking balls. The body can only contain so much chi before it starts to strain, thus it is important that the Kung Fu Master always train to condition their bodies to handle more and more. They can do so through meditation and pushing themselves to the limit. This is what keeps Wu Dan going in his age to keep up with the more youthful spirits, but he certainly can no longer accomplish great feats of force without effort.

[b]Chi Determination:[/b] A body with a weak mind is like a sword of glass. Chi elevates his senses, and reflexes. This technique is required for Wu Dan to see given his cataracts. Once set upon a goal, Wu Dan will continue to pursue that goal until he is enlightened otherwise to abandon it, or he dies in attempting to accomplish it. To which he often smiles and mentions if not in this life, perhaps the next. Suggesting either his spirit will continue, or his reincarnation do so.

[b]Call Upon the Heavens:[/b] Rain, Snow, Hail, Thunder, Lightning, Tornados, Meteors, Fire... If it can fall, it shall fall at Wu Dan's Request. Shout to the heavens and your Ki shall change the weather to bring forth a gentle rain to quell the drought, a heavy storm to douse the ranging flames, or a mighty torrent to punish the wicked with the tears of many. Although this technique is best used sparingly as it takes quite a bit of Ki.

[b]Wu Xing:[/b] Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth are at Wu Dan's command. Metal increases or decreases in weight, Water bends and moves, Wood grows and recedes, Fire ignites or dwindles and Earth splits or compresses. Controlling the five elements by manipulation of Ki is simple, and yet effective enough to turn the tides of battle. A swordmaster cannot lift a sword too heavy to bear, a gunslinger cannot use his powder if it is wet, it is the little ways in which controlling the five elements work to the advantage of the Ki Master. 

[b]Ki Blast:[/b] The most simple of ways one can utilize Ki is often the most deadly. Manifesting Ki as pure energy for example and using it to strike opponents from afar. Wu Dan uses these blasts to deal with the majority of his enemies, seeing how his old body is not keen on hand-to-hand combat.

[b]Ki Shield:[/b] Ki can also be made into safeguarding barriers, manifested Ki as a protective energy aura around the body for example, or widening it into a full dome to protect others. Wu Dan uses these to surround himself with a damage-reducing barrier to avoid damaging his elderly form and the need for bulky armor.

[b]Chi Drain:[/b] Ki and Chi are related, intertwined to each other as an energy, as duplicitous as light. While it is normal for a user of chi to internalize their energy to bolster themselves, practitioners of Dark Chi techniques can user Ki to connect the gap and drain the chi from another being. This requires direct contact with a person, usually done over the forehead with a firm tiger-claw grip. This is the secret to his Longevity, but Wu Dan does not condone the use of Dark Chi techniques if it is done righteously for if they drained others in life, so too shall they be drained.

[b]Chi Block:[/b] The fine balance between Chi and Ki is to be maintained and manipulated by a skilled practioner. However should that balance be redirected, by striking critical points on the body and overwhelming them with Ki, it is possible to disrupt the flow of Chi. Thus, this technique blocks the use of Chi techniques, and may or may not cause temporary instantaneous paralysis depending on how strong the target is. 

[b]Inner Palm:[/b] A technique developed by Wu Dan over the years of his walking hermitage. A single palm strike upon the torso as an entry point for the Ki which divides the Chi. The opponent is then faced with two version of himself, one representing the best in his nature, and the other representing the worst within him. First the palm strike pushes out the bad from the body, then grabs and pulls the good. The Opponent must then face these new combatants, along with Wu Dan.

[b]Current Story:[/b] After studying with the Four Grandmasters, Wu Dan had still to find the truth he was looking for under their tutelage. Each master had their own vision of what is right and just, though none could see the entire picture as their compasses pointed in their own direction. Deeply troubled by this, Wu Dan left the honored Four in a self-imposed exile to their disappointment. He was a fine student, a worthy Master to pass on the tradition of their art and philosophy. The heavens however seemed to have a different mandate for Wu Dan as he travelled from land to land, city to village, town to fortress. Everywhere people were troubled, plagued by lack of food and water, worried by bandits and dark spirits, and saddened by the death of their child or parents to strife or sickness. And no matter what amount of heroism Wu Dan displayed with his fists or staff, there was always more troubles that would spring like bamboo once he left the grove.

As such Wu Dan became troubled with his own view of the world, decided to retreat away from the cruelty into the Northern mountains he once called home. For many years atop the peak he meditated and prayed for enlightenment until his body weary and tired. Then one day it came to him: Harmony. Yes the world is built upon duality, but in the duality there is unity. A concept which seemed to defy itself for how can heaven and earth reconcile? And yet there they had, upon the mountain the Earth reached up toward the Heavens, and the Heavens beneath down to grace the Earth. And upon that mountain he shifted his martial arts from merely physical into the spiritual. Using his Ki he made a Temple for the Grandmasters, Shangri-La or Valhalla, as it is called, where the stone was cut clean by blasts of Ki. Carved into the mountain top a hermitage and labor of training. Then there he as he descended down the mountain to return to the world of man, Wu Dan established Eight schools to serve temples and places to teach the new Unified Styles of the Four Grandmaster. 

[hider=The Eight schools:]

The Eight schools which wind the two path around the mountain, twisting around towards the peak as their eight temples dot the landscape. Rising in the order of wolf, ram, raven and dragon, as two paths alternate the journey of black and white in their ascent to the peak. As a general rule, the schools of Wolf are well-rounded, Ram requires more physicality, while Raven prefers ability, and Dragon is almost exclusively philosophic. Additionally, The White schools tend to gravitate towards rooting oneself, while the Black schools tend to focus on moving oneself. Each school specializes in a particular weapon which symbolizes their teachings. While each of the eight schools are equal in official hierarchy, it is said that the path to true ascendance is to travel between each school and master each animal starting from wolf and ending at dragon as one climbs up and down the either side of the mountain for many years to master all eight schools before making the pilgrimage to Shangri-La-Valhalla.

The White Wolf: The aspect of Self: Teaches its acolytes the ways to fight against overwhelming odds. Methods to become an one-man army, knowing many techniques to attack and defend against a myriad of foe, although not a style well suited for fighting enemies one on one. Their chosen weapon is the Spear.

The Black Wolf: The aspect of Synergy: Teaches its acolytes the ways to fight together to defeat a greater foe together. Methods to synchronize strikes and attacks, as well as defend each other, yet not a style suited for fighting enemies one on one. Their chosen weapon is the Sword.

The Black Ram: The aspect of Stamina: Teaches its acolytes the ways to fight without ever fatiguing. Methods to simply outlast the opponent, minimally using energy to block and meld with the opponent in order to absorb and redirect everything, yet not a style suited for aggressive combat. Their chosen weapon is the Knife.

The White Ram: The aspect of Strength: Teaches its acolytes the ways to fight explosively to end it quickly. Methods to overwhelm and force oneself into victory, finishing the fight in as little as one move, yet not a style which defends at all preferring to strike rather than block. Their chosen weapon is the Hammer.

The White Raven: The aspect of Skill: Teaches its acolytes the ways to fight with precision and cunning. Methods to keep appropriate distance and control the flow of the battle, using pressure points to attack nerves and joints, yet not a style which can used effectively in open areas where distances are too vast for such close-range techniques to work. Their chosen weapon is the Fan.

The Black Raven: The aspect of Speed: Teaches its acolytes the ways to fight as if dancing across a battlefield. Methods to leap and tumble through the air, jumping and kicking across the grounded foes as if like flying, yet not a style which can be used effectively in enclosed spaces as it requires a great deal of space for some techniques to work. Their chosen weapon is the Axe.

The Black Dragon: The aspect of Spirit: Teaches its acolytes the ways to fight mortality itself. Methods to extend one's life and hone one's body to perfection using the Chi reflected upon oneself until time itself loses its grip in the form of old age, yet not a style which teaches combat and confrontation. Their chosen weapon is the Staff.

The White Dragon: The aspect of Secret: Teaches its acolytes the ways to fight reality itself. Methods to influence one's world and manipulate one's surroundings to one's design using the Ki reflected upon the world until it changes itself harmoniously into the form of one's desire, yet not a style which teaches combat and confrontation. Their chosen weapon is the Whip.
[/hider]

Now wandering the world once more seeking those who wish to be enlightened in the Way of Harmony, Wu Dan has heard of a terrible influence which has overrun the School of the Black Tortoise.  A dark sorcerer has taken over and ousted the master. Where had the Grandmaster gone? Perhaps it is best to confront the defeated student.
[/hider]