Zeroth

The Jade Stream

Sorry, my power was out literally all day today because of a storm. Working on a post ASAP!

The Jade Stream

The doors slowly creaked open, a teenager in the garb of a low-ranked student appearing from behind them. He was angry, though upon seeing Dai Xin he wavered. The man in red took no notice, and clasped his right fist with his left palm before bowing.

"Good afternoon. I am--"

"We heard you the first time!" the youth said. "Do you have any idea how rude it is, to stand at someone's door and bark like a dog?!"

"My apologies." Dai Xin kept his head bowed, a sign the impertinent young man took as weakness. "I knocked, but when no one answered I became impatient. Is the headmaster in?"

"He won't see you!" the student snapped. "You're a fool to challenge us--the Five Wheel Striking Style of Mingdu is famous across the world! The master has no time for such foolishness! Go away and let us train in peace!" Withdrawing, the young man began to close the door...but found he could not budge it. He pushed harder, with both hands. When the door didn't move he looked up at the hinges with a raised eyebrow, but nothing was there that might cause it to stick. He set his shoulder against it and pushed with his whole body. It still didn't move. Then the student looked down--and saw just the toe-edge of Dai Xin's foot set against the corner.

"You--!" he began, but the sound died with a choke. Through the edge of the door, staring right at him through an opening only a few inches wide, Dai Xin's face pressed tight against the other side. In the shadow of the doorway only one eye could be seen, but it burned with an intense and barely subdued rage. The man's mouth was set in a line as grim as death.

"Please open this door, that I may speak with your master." he said in monotone. "If you do not, I shall knock on it once more. My fist is very hard, and this door is very old. I would not want to damage such a sacred place of training."

The young man stepped back from the door, and took off running further into the temple. The doors swung open hard enough to bang against the walls on either side, and Dai Xin stood with hands outstretched. He took a deep breath, folded his hands into his sleeves, and walked through the gates.

On the street below the steps to the training hall, a few passerby had just seen a man--whom some had heard screaming in a voice like a lunatic--apparently force his way into the Mingdu Temple. Some shrugged and went about their business, but others--especially those who were young and enthusiastic about such things--began running and spreading word.

"Someone has challenged the Five Wheels Temple!" they would shout to friends and onlookers. "He said his name was Dai Xin, the one who is rumored to travel Yunshou and take over other schools! There's going to be a fight!" And so the rumors went, spreading quickly, especially in the shops and stalls where there were many ears to hear...

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Alright, I'll post again in a bit when I've done some research to get at least an imitation of the art down. In the meantime, what sounds cooler to you guys: Whipping Spear Style, Iron Whip Fist, Five Wheel Striking Style, or Nine Dragons Trident Fist?

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Did you want me to just sort of do it on my own, or would you rather I just come up with some names and whatnot and then let you handle the NPCs that Dai Xin encounters and their reactions?

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Well, despite the nature of martial arts as self defense, off the top of my head I don't know a lot of styles that focus solely on counters. A quick search through wikipedia makes me inclined to suggest a few, though:

Baguazhang is a style that focuses on flowing, circular movements to evade an opponent and generate power for their own strikes. It's become popularly known for inspiring the Air Bending style in the Avatar series. Some of its techniques also seem to focus on disrupting an opponent who charges in at you.

Wing Chun and Fujian White Crane are known for being defensive styles invented by women, who had to use redirection of force, speed, and precision to overcome the power difference between genders. My experience with Wing Chun is pretty limited to the Ip Man movies starring Donnie Yen, but I noticed in those that, whether as part of the character or the style, he never makes the first attack, and does a lot of countering movements.

Choy Li Fut might be a very good fit because it's a defensive style that is said to be excellent at repelling multiple attackers at once, which is something a bodyguard to an emperor might very well have to do. Bruce Lee claimed he had never seen anything better for defending oneself against more than one attacker at the same time, and that it was "the only Kung Fu style to travel to Thailand and not be defeated by Thai boxing," which I assume means Muay Thai. If it could defend against something like Muay Thai it HAD to have something going for it, because they're one of the most "hit like a truck" styles out there.

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Since those who train at the Mingdu temple/monastery/school are renowned the world over, what would be common knowledge about their style? Like the name, the specialties or focus of the techniques, that kind of thing?

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The Mingdu training hall cut a proud and prominent figure, and any who stood at the bottom of the long stretch of stairs leading up to the temple would feel the looming, almost intimidating presence, the weight of a long history, ready to burst forth from those heavy wooden doors. Outside the grounds, it seemed to radiate a reverent aura of silence, though no doubt those training within would be making plenty of noise as they crashed fist against stone or let loose powerful shouts of battle. But outside, there was silence...until the soft tap of a footstep upon the stone. Tap...tap...tap, a slow, peaceful rhythm as a single man strode up the pathway. Red like fire was his robe, and so too his hair, but he gave off little warmth. Hands folded into his sleeves, he cast an eye as clear and calm as the sea towards the great gates.

Founded by one who had once stood guard over the Emperor himself, and who had offered wise counsel, the school of Mingdu was known far and wide across the Three Kingdoms. Only a few from among thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, would be chosen to receive instruction from those who had inherited the founder's art. And among those chosen, fewer still would attain the ranks of masters, grandmasters...legends. Mingdu was such a quiet, tranquil place, yet perhaps within it there slept dangerous beasts? This man aimed to find out.

He stood before the mighty temple of Mingdu, and raised one hand to one of the two large, decorated rings of steel held in the mouths of lions. He let the knocker drop once, twice, thrice. Then, once more folding his hands into his sleeves, he waited as still as a statue. A gentle breeze toyed with the tails of his robe, and the tail of his hair. He waited, as no answer came for several minutes. Perhaps those within the temple were too busy training to hear the knock? He raised his hand from the sleeve a second time, and contemplated the lion's steel ring...then returned the hand from whence it came.

He took in a deep, slow breath.

Then a voice like thunder rang out over the temple grounds.

"Dai Xin, sole disciple of Grandmaster Wu Ji of the Fist of the Sky, requests entrance to the school of Mingdu! This one seeks the right to challenge!"

Startled birds made a mad dash for the heavens from the rooftops of the temple. As the last echoes of his explosive voice died away, the man once again waited in silence before the gates.

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Since the creatures are based on youkai and the like, will they be similar in attitude (mischievous or individualistic) as well, or are they more directly "evil" or otherwise opposed to human beings? And if they're not always hostile, do some of them live openly/in disguise among humans or would they stick to their own kind?

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Character is up, with some of the tweaks we talked about over PM.

The Jade Stream

Name: Dai Xin
Gender: Male
Age: 26
Appearance:

Dai Xin

Can Manipulate Qi/Ki?: Yes
Specialization: Martial Arts

Abilities:
Specialized Personal Enhancement - While increasing one's speed, strength, or senses is common among those who practice Qi manipulation, Dai Xin has been taught to over-specialize in that enhancement to attain pin-point abilities. His use of Qi strives to attain as much power as possible with as little energy expenditure as possible. Such efficiency is a common goal of martial artists, but Dai Xin simply takes it to another level.

External Destruction - Dai Xin's primary fighting style focuses on hard, fast blows, and the building of base physical power and resilience. It draws from the real world arts of Shorin-ryu Karate, the Wutan family Bajiquan, and slightly from Chen family Tajiquan (Tai Chi). In a fight, Dai Xin focuses more on breaking bones and crushing organs than anything else, while hardening his muscles like armor to take most forms of retaliation. His punches and stances are particularly solid.

Personality:
Dai Xin is, at first glance, heavily stoic and seemingly unconcerned with what's going on around him up until the point that it begins to affect him personally. Rather than detached or aloof, it would be more accurate to call him "single minded." His focus lies in his martial arts and little else. Despite all this, not that bad a fellow and not anti-social when he can be coaxed into interaction--he's the type that will say absolutely nothing for hours, then when you get him started on something he likes he'll never shut up.

Has a deep hatred of bullies and those who would abuse positions or power to lord over others, but rarely passes judgement on most other people, even those he comes to blows with.

History:
Born a peasant boy in a small and poor village, Xin's life was forever changed when, just like always, he went into the nearby woods to gather firewood. While there he came upon a man who was under attack by multiple opponents, and bore witness to amazing feats of martial arts mastery. Though the man killed his assailants, he was heavily wounded, and would have died had Dai Xin not dragged him back home and begged his parents to help the man. As payment, the man offered to teach Xin martial arts, and the boy practically worked himself to death in the pursuit of this skill.

Years later, his master died, and with his last words sent Dai Xin on a quest to wander the world. He has never shared with anyone the specifics of his master's last wish, but some rumors claim that he seeks total mastery of the martial arts world. This is because, as he traveled, Dai Xin visited many schools and challenged many masters, and proclaimed himself "the new master" whenever he defeated them, effectively taking over their schools by force. He has even stolen techniques that were considered sacred, only meant to be passed down through family lines or to one dedicated student out of hundreds. Such a man is heavily despised by those who consider their martial arts something to be held closely to one's chest.

Other:
Has a habit of announcing his techniques when using them, apparently unafraid of others attempting to steal or interrupt them.