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Description
This illustration was released in Palladiumbooks' Rifters#44 featuring femme Fatales and a tribute to the late Erick Wujcik. A great genius Writer and GM who developed and a contribted a great deal to the RPG realm such as TMNT, After the Bomb, Ninja * Superspies, Amber, Mystic China 1 & 2, etc.

This illustration features a character that is designed for the mystic China realm that Erick played a major role in developing. The writer John C Philpott did an amazing job on the bio info of these 2 Demon fighters that you see, "Mara & Xiang".

I wont reveal their stats as that is what the book is for to purchase, but I think it wise to give you some insight on these two:

"Mara and Xiang
Outlaw Heroes of the Middle Kingdom…Under the Eyes of Celestial Powers!
By John C. Philpott based on artwork and concepts by Chuck Walton

“Her skill is worthy,” said the First.

“But her attitude is not!” countered the Second.

“She fights like a dragon,” said the First.

“But behaves like a demon!” argued the Second.

“She could be the one,” said the First.

“Yes…the one to betray us to the Yama Kings!” yelled the Second. “She is loud! She is unpredictable! She is chaotic! She is dangerous! She burns all she touches!”

“Yes,” answered the First, “you are right. Loud, chaotic, dangerous…who better to serve the Lightning!”

Mara and Xiang are a wandering duo of freelance Demon fighters. Mara is a confident, scandalous Demon Queller (Fu Yao Da Chia) who defies all authority and leaves a trail of chaos and broken hearts. Xiang is an AWOL Lightning Geoborg who is hopelessly obsessed with his partner. Their partnership has only lasted a year, but already they are gaining renown and infamy across the Freelands and the 11 Hells…and the attentions of higher powers!

It’s an unorthodox partnership to say the least. Mara breaks every rule of proper etiquette and Confucian order, scandalous even for a Fu Yao Da Chia! She’s far-too-confident and self-determined, far too intimate with talk and eye contact, and far too open in her attitudes and choice of clothing (or lack thereof). She walks boldly into town in various states of undress leading behind her a string of bound demons and a plodding Geoborg. She drinks too much, flirts shamelessly and openly, and causes fights and disorder as smitten men vie for her charms. Meanwhile, Xiang slavishly follows her, as if bound and broken like one of her demons.

However, while the team is a menace in times of quiet, they are a god-send in times of trouble. Mara, despite appearances, is a skilled and dedicated opponent of the Yama Kings. She despises authority, and what authority is greater or more oppressive than the Yama Kings? Xiang is a bold and skilled warrior, bravely going into the heart of the fray to kill or subdue their foes. Together they have defeated many of Hell’s minions and saved countless villages and people from horrible fates.

And all they ask in return is free food, drink, lodging, expenses, gambling, payment, Mara’s whims fulfilled, forgiveness of debts and damages, constant attention for Mara, entertainment, and, well, anything else she can think of at the time!

Worse yet, even when they’ve gone the troubles may not be over, for a long string of pursuers may be close behind: jilted ex-lovers or obsessed admirers of Mara’s, angry former enemies, gangsters and gamblers seeking debts or retribution, demons and Yama minions seeking revenge, Geofront authorities attempting to capture the AWOL Xiang, and any number of other disreputable and dangerous types. And, most recently, appeared the Watchers…strange mystical beings who follow the duo and observe their actions.

Needless to say, Mara and Xiang are a mixed blessing to those whom they visit. They are as much menaces as heroes. They cause as much destruction as they do salvation. And as their reputation precedes them one thing is certain: when Mara and Xiang arrive, interesting times are indeed ahead!

The Watchers:

But Mara and Xiang are just beginning to notice two mysterious figures among their usual pursuers: strange, distant beings of great power that merely watch and observe, a halo of wind and lightning about them. They stand aloof, typically from on high. Their clothing blows in the wind even on still days; their faces are hidden by their dǒu lì hats. Through the thickest of battles or the most debauched of evening gambling sessions, the Watchers watch and do not interfere. If Mara or Xiang approach, they simply fade away in a shower of lightning. If Mara or Xiang shoot or attack, the attacks pass harmlessly through the beings. Who these Watchers are and what they want remains a mystery to all on this plane of existence.

Are they guardians? If so, why do they not assist in battle? Are they spies? If so whom for? Are they agents of some great power? If so, what? The mystery is a source of great anxiety for Xiang and great annoyance for Mara.

The Gift:

Things grew even stranger one morning when The Gift appeared. In the place of Mara’s Demon Hunter Defender sword was a strange new object: a mystical hovering crescent! The item crackled with electricity and glowed with mystical energy. Intuitively she knew it was her Defender sword…but new, changed. She could direct it, move it by thought, stand upon it and float through the air. She could command it to attack with its razor-sharp points or send bolts of lightning into her foes. It was everything her old sword was and more. But why? Who gave it to her? The Watchers?

The mystery grows. She learns more and more about the strange crescent, uncovering new powers and abilities all the time. She dubbed it the Demon Thunder Moon, but the frustration of not knowing what it is, why she received it, or for what purpose plagues her. Will all be revealed in time? Should she drop the possibly cursed object as soon as possible?

For the moment she waits…and wonders.

Mara

When Mara’s mother first became pregnant, a fraudulent soothsayer told the family that the child would be a girl and that she’d be of exceptionally demure and humble demeanor, forever devoted to her family. He was right on one prediction: Cho An Xiao was definitely a girl. However, even from infancy An was anything but harmonious – she was a living terror! Nothing her harassed mother could do could keep the child in check! Punishments were shrugged off. Scolding was ignored. Even corporal punishments were met with impudent scowls! The Terrible Twos extended into Terrible Threes and Fours. Her first and favorite word was “No!” Childhood brought hours of trying to find the dastardly little thing or clean up her many messes. Adolescence brought a living hell to the family no Yama King could match!

Young An ran away from her small traditional village in the Freelands at age 14 when it became apparent that her parents were willing to practically bankrupt the family and pay any dowry to anyone who’d marry the disgraceful young girl. The search for her was abandoned rather quickly and quietly. Changing her name to “Mara” in honor of the she-demons of the same name, she claimed to be 19 and a trained mystic. She attempted various jobs in various villages or ran various scams, but always ran into a constant external push to be quiet, controlled, and to above-all to conform. She grew not only to dislike people and society, but grew to despise Confucius and everything he wrote. So much so that she carefully read and memorized everything he and other scholars wrote on proper behavior in a young woman…and then proceeded to do the exact opposite! She talked loudly, she stared directly and invasively into people’s eyes, she wore revealing clothes that exposed as much skin as possible, she drank and smoked in public, she eschewed any job and was openly insubordinate to any authorities. In short, she was a public menace!

Mara’s attitude continued to get her into trouble as she fled village after village and job after job. She attracted unwanted attention from criminal elements and demonic agents alike. As she grew up and filled out, she also gained the attentions of every man, young and old! She learned quickly that her body was a weapon and used it as such. Her looks, charm, and audacity became a tool and she strung along countless admirers and shattered many hearts in pursuit of her needs, desires, and whims. Soon she was leaving a trail of heartbreak, anger, and annoyance in her wake and found herself on the run from an increasing number of pursuers: amorous and/or vengeful ex-lovers/admirers, demon-slayers-to-be that were certain she was an infernal, criminals and gamblers after her for debts, authorities after her for petty crimes, and servants of the Yama Kings after her for punishment…or recruitment!

In the end her chaotic ways would certainly have led to a very short life were it not for one old man: Jiu Nien Ya (“Nine Sticky Ducks” – it’s a long story). “Ya” was a Demon Queller of much renown. He’d bested over a hundred demons and reformed over twelve. He was also known as a drunken philanderer and a general pain in the ass. Perhaps this is what motivated him to take Mara under his wing as a student. Perhaps he was just a dirty old man. Either way, he soon decided that Mara would be his apprentice, whether she wanted that honor or not.

He began simply by “running into her” in the strangest of places. He’d take the opportunity to crassly mock and harass her, calling her a “stupid, clumsy girl” or other such demeaning insult. At first she thought him a harmless old drunk, but one day when she was jumped in the woods by three demons bent on revenge for some past slight Jiu jumped out of a tree and defeated them all in humiliating ways. Impressed, she asked him to train her. He laughed and called her a disparaging name. She was outraged. Who was this old drunk to mock her? She screamed at him. She taunted and challenged him. She insulted him and questioned his manhood. He laughed and walked away.

Soon she was following him! No person had so insulted her! Many had called her unforgiving names or questioned her morals, but none had questioned her ability. None had openly insulted her. And above all none had refused her! Perhaps there was some wisdom in Jiu’s actions, for soon she became obsessed with learning his secrets. Little by little he seemingly “relented” and told her a small secret or gave her a small pointer, all the while continuing to mock and insult her and question her abilities. “Give up, girl! You could never best a demon! Run along and fetch me a drink!” Every insult and questioning of her abilities merely fueled her ambition to succeed and prove the “old fool” wrong.

Despite all outwards appearances the unorthodox apprenticeship worked like a charm. By the time she reached an actual 19 years she had mastered the art of Demon Quelling as a Fu Yao Da Chia Demon Catcher. She’d become tough, athletic, graceful, confident, and most importantly cunning and patient. She and Jiu parted ways and she took up a career of her own in a field where her strange ways were somewhat acceptable as long as she saved the village from the demon(s). Her fame increased, as did her infamy, for despite all she was still the insubordinate and anti-authoritarian scandalous woman who spoke too loud and stared too long and wore too little. She still mouthed off to elders and authorities (Jiu’s “training” merely taught her more inventive insults!) and continued to leave a trail of broken hearts wherever she went. She was still the selfish brat she always was, only now her energies were turned to fighting that ultimate “authority”: the Yama Kings!

Now, years later, she has built up quite the resume in demon quelling, having bested dozens and is near reforming one (see below). She uses other humans as pawns, however, having few lasting friendships, but she is almost never deliberately cruel (just utterly self-absorbed). Currently she associates with Zhong Xiang (see below), but how long this will last remains to be seen. While her skill, luck, and fame continue to keep her wealthy, active, and generally tolerated by even the most conservative societies, she’s making enemies as quickly as she’s making friends. In her short career she’s built up a long list of disgruntled or obsessed former lovers and admirers, angry authorities, crossed criminal groups, and enraged demons and Yama Kings. And many wonder how long she can keep this life up before her past indiscretions catch up with her.

Could this be why The Watchers watch?

Zhong Xiang

Lim Chih Lang was born and raised in the Geofront, the middle child of a respected family (both parents were trusted party members). As almost the quintessential “middle child”, Lang felt at odds with the family being neither the “chosen successor” like his older brother or “family baby” like his little sister. From a young age his strong and sensitive mind was overlooked. His ambitious brother and athletic sister showed “great potential to the family and nation” while he was simply the “strange, moody, clumsy one”. His siblings soon dubbed him “Zhong Xiang”, the “middle elephant”, for his birth order, bad skin, and plodding gait.

As he grew he was plagued by childhood illness that scared his face and by social dysfunction that pushed him deeper into the books. While he excelled at classes he continued on a spiral of social displacement and unpopularity. Martial Arts training helped to overcome his total lack of confidence and childhood clumsiness (a clumsiness based more on his hesitation than on any physical disability), but his inner demon of self-doubt never completely went away. His studies and mastery of Maoist and Classical learning rocketed him to the top of his class and brought praise, but still his inner doubts made him question the sudden admiration.

Eventually he continued on to training at a PLA academy and joined the Party. There, he gave himself fully over to the PLA and volunteered for the Lightning Geoborg program. He excelled at every test, even the psychological test. This latter he aced with near perfect answers – a more suspicious bureaucrat might have noticed they were a little too perfect.

As a Lightning Geoborg (M.O.M.) Xiang attained new godly skills and abilities, but still the demons of doubt festered. He excelled at training and in the active service, gaining immediate recognition for his discipline and bravery, but still his feelings of inadequacy plagued him. He gained a reputation for quiet, meditative professionalism, but that was a façade. Inside he still hated his scared face (rarely takes off his Geoborg mask) and loathed his weakness. It was a recipe for disaster in a Lightning Geoborg.

He was on a solo recon mission through the Freelands when he met and immediately fell for Mara. His inner doubts had led to a monk-like existence of isolation and celibacy his entire life. What others saw as restraint and composure was in fact a gnawing fear of success. Besides, women were either married to the Party or too demure for him. But Mara, this wild, demon-taming, dripping-with-confidence woman was unlike any he’d ever seen. She was strong. She was exciting. She was sure to break his heart and he knew it…and needed that rejection.

It began as a simple teaming-up. Their missions coincided. Both hated the Yama Kings. Both saw a real strategic advantage in partnership. As always, Mara used her feminine charms and wiles and he fell madly and self-destructively in love with her. Perhaps she even felt a small bit of affection for him. Perhaps she still does. But as their brief affair burned hot, it burned out fast and Mara moved on to the next lover/victim/toy. But Xiang was still infatuated, still in love. It’s an attraction that has grown from infatuation to love to full obsession – an obsession that may grow dangerous as his M.O.M.-damaged mind continues to deteriorate. In a “moth to the flame” enticement he followed her, went AWOL, and turned his back on everything he once held dear to be next to her, even if he could no longer have her. She accepted his “artnership of friends and comrades” and the two formed a team.

Now he stands with her still, the junior partner and bodyguard to a woman who loves him not. In his mind he’s convinced himself it’s out of duty and friendship, but in his heart he knows he’s hopelessly addicted to her, for in her he sees what he wishes to be, and finds the rejection he subconsciously so desperately needs."

I have always had a big awe for the Wu Xia genre (Storm riders, Zu, the Condor films, the Monkey King journey, etc.) rather it be in Hong Kong comics or films, the style of Fantasy portrayed has always captivated me and I seek to play a role in contributing my part of ideas and storytelling to the genre as well.

Description
This illustration was released in Palladiumbooks' Rifters#44 featuring femme Fatales and a tribute to the late Erick Wujcik. A great genius Writer and GM who developed and a contribted a great deal to the RPG realm such as TMNT, After the Bomb, Ninja * Superspies, Amber, Mystic China 1 & 2, etc.

This illustration features a character that is designed for the mystic China realm that Erick played a major role in developing. The writer John C Philpott did an amazing job on the bio info of these 2 Demon fighters that you see, "Mara & Xiang".

I wont reveal their stats as that is what the book is for to purchase, but I think it wise to give you some insight on these two:

"Mara and Xiang
Outlaw Heroes of the Middle Kingdom…Under the Eyes of Celestial Powers!
By John C. Philpott based on artwork and concepts by Chuck Walton

“Her skill is worthy,” said the First.

“But her attitude is not!” countered the Second.

“She fights like a dragon,” said the First.

“But behaves like a demon!” argued the Second.

“She could be the one,” said the First.

“Yes…the one to betray us to the Yama Kings!” yelled the Second. “She is loud! She is unpredictable! She is chaotic! She is dangerous! She burns all she touches!”

“Yes,” answered the First, “you are right. Loud, chaotic, dangerous…who better to serve the Lightning!”

Mara and Xiang are a wandering duo of freelance Demon fighters. Mara is a confident, scandalous Demon Queller (Fu Yao Da Chia) who defies all authority and leaves a trail of chaos and broken hearts. Xiang is an AWOL Lightning Geoborg who is hopelessly obsessed with his partner. Their partnership has only lasted a year, but already they are gaining renown and infamy across the Freelands and the 11 Hells…and the attentions of higher powers!

It’s an unorthodox partnership to say the least. Mara breaks every rule of proper etiquette and Confucian order, scandalous even for a Fu Yao Da Chia! She’s far-too-confident and self-determined, far too intimate with talk and eye contact, and far too open in her attitudes and choice of clothing (or lack thereof). She walks boldly into town in various states of undress leading behind her a string of bound demons and a plodding Geoborg. She drinks too much, flirts shamelessly and openly, and causes fights and disorder as smitten men vie for her charms. Meanwhile, Xiang slavishly follows her, as if bound and broken like one of her demons.

However, while the team is a menace in times of quiet, they are a god-send in times of trouble. Mara, despite appearances, is a skilled and dedicated opponent of the Yama Kings. She despises authority, and what authority is greater or more oppressive than the Yama Kings? Xiang is a bold and skilled warrior, bravely going into the heart of the fray to kill or subdue their foes. Together they have defeated many of Hell’s minions and saved countless villages and people from horrible fates.

And all they ask in return is free food, drink, lodging, expenses, gambling, payment, Mara’s whims fulfilled, forgiveness of debts and damages, constant attention for Mara, entertainment, and, well, anything else she can think of at the time!

Worse yet, even when they’ve gone the troubles may not be over, for a long string of pursuers may be close behind: jilted ex-lovers or obsessed admirers of Mara’s, angry former enemies, gangsters and gamblers seeking debts or retribution, demons and Yama minions seeking revenge, Geofront authorities attempting to capture the AWOL Xiang, and any number of other disreputable and dangerous types. And, most recently, appeared the Watchers…strange mystical beings who follow the duo and observe their actions.

Needless to say, Mara and Xiang are a mixed blessing to those whom they visit. They are as much menaces as heroes. They cause as much destruction as they do salvation. And as their reputation precedes them one thing is certain: when Mara and Xiang arrive, interesting times are indeed ahead!

The Watchers:

But Mara and Xiang are just beginning to notice two mysterious figures among their usual pursuers: strange, distant beings of great power that merely watch and observe, a halo of wind and lightning about them. They stand aloof, typically from on high. Their clothing blows in the wind even on still days; their faces are hidden by their dǒu lì hats. Through the thickest of battles or the most debauched of evening gambling sessions, the Watchers watch and do not interfere. If Mara or Xiang approach, they simply fade away in a shower of lightning. If Mara or Xiang shoot or attack, the attacks pass harmlessly through the beings. Who these Watchers are and what they want remains a mystery to all on this plane of existence.

Are they guardians? If so, why do they not assist in battle? Are they spies? If so whom for? Are they agents of some great power? If so, what? The mystery is a source of great anxiety for Xiang and great annoyance for Mara.

The Gift:

Things grew even stranger one morning when The Gift appeared. In the place of Mara’s Demon Hunter Defender sword was a strange new object: a mystical hovering crescent! The item crackled with electricity and glowed with mystical energy. Intuitively she knew it was her Defender sword…but new, changed. She could direct it, move it by thought, stand upon it and float through the air. She could command it to attack with its razor-sharp points or send bolts of lightning into her foes. It was everything her old sword was and more. But why? Who gave it to her? The Watchers?

The mystery grows. She learns more and more about the strange crescent, uncovering new powers and abilities all the time. She dubbed it the Demon Thunder Moon, but the frustration of not knowing what it is, why she received it, or for what purpose plagues her. Will all be revealed in time? Should she drop the possibly cursed object as soon as possible?

For the moment she waits…and wonders.

Mara

When Mara’s mother first became pregnant, a fraudulent soothsayer told the family that the child would be a girl and that she’d be of exceptionally demure and humble demeanor, forever devoted to her family. He was right on one prediction: Cho An Xiao was definitely a girl. However, even from infancy An was anything but harmonious – she was a living terror! Nothing her harassed mother could do could keep the child in check! Punishments were shrugged off. Scolding was ignored. Even corporal punishments were met with impudent scowls! The Terrible Twos extended into Terrible Threes and Fours. Her first and favorite word was “No!” Childhood brought hours of trying to find the dastardly little thing or clean up her many messes. Adolescence brought a living hell to the family no Yama King could match!

Young An ran away from her small traditional village in the Freelands at age 14 when it became apparent that her parents were willing to practically bankrupt the family and pay any dowry to anyone who’d marry the disgraceful young girl. The search for her was abandoned rather quickly and quietly. Changing her name to “Mara” in honor of the she-demons of the same name, she claimed to be 19 and a trained mystic. She attempted various jobs in various villages or ran various scams, but always ran into a constant external push to be quiet, controlled, and to above-all to conform. She grew not only to dislike people and society, but grew to despise Confucius and everything he wrote. So much so that she carefully read and memorized everything he and other scholars wrote on proper behavior in a young woman…and then proceeded to do the exact opposite! She talked loudly, she stared directly and invasively into people’s eyes, she wore revealing clothes that exposed as much skin as possible, she drank and smoked in public, she eschewed any job and was openly insubordinate to any authorities. In short, she was a public menace!

Mara’s attitude continued to get her into trouble as she fled village after village and job after job. She attracted unwanted attention from criminal elements and demonic agents alike. As she grew up and filled out, she also gained the attentions of every man, young and old! She learned quickly that her body was a weapon and used it as such. Her looks, charm, and audacity became a tool and she strung along countless admirers and shattered many hearts in pursuit of her needs, desires, and whims. Soon she was leaving a trail of heartbreak, anger, and annoyance in her wake and found herself on the run from an increasing number of pursuers: amorous and/or vengeful ex-lovers/admirers, demon-slayers-to-be that were certain she was an infernal, criminals and gamblers after her for debts, authorities after her for petty crimes, and servants of the Yama Kings after her for punishment…or recruitment!

In the end her chaotic ways would certainly have led to a very short life were it not for one old man: Jiu Nien Ya (“Nine Sticky Ducks” – it’s a long story). “Ya” was a Demon Queller of much renown. He’d bested over a hundred demons and reformed over twelve. He was also known as a drunken philanderer and a general pain in the ass. Perhaps this is what motivated him to take Mara under his wing as a student. Perhaps he was just a dirty old man. Either way, he soon decided that Mara would be his apprentice, whether she wanted that honor or not.

He began simply by “running into her” in the strangest of places. He’d take the opportunity to crassly mock and harass her, calling her a “stupid, clumsy girl” or other such demeaning insult. At first she thought him a harmless old drunk, but one day when she was jumped in the woods by three demons bent on revenge for some past slight Jiu jumped out of a tree and defeated them all in humiliating ways. Impressed, she asked him to train her. He laughed and called her a disparaging name. She was outraged. Who was this old drunk to mock her? She screamed at him. She taunted and challenged him. She insulted him and questioned his manhood. He laughed and walked away.

Soon she was following him! No person had so insulted her! Many had called her unforgiving names or questioned her morals, but none had questioned her ability. None had openly insulted her. And above all none had refused her! Perhaps there was some wisdom in Jiu’s actions, for soon she became obsessed with learning his secrets. Little by little he seemingly “relented” and told her a small secret or gave her a small pointer, all the while continuing to mock and insult her and question her abilities. “Give up, girl! You could never best a demon! Run along and fetch me a drink!” Every insult and questioning of her abilities merely fueled her ambition to succeed and prove the “old fool” wrong.

Despite all outwards appearances the unorthodox apprenticeship worked like a charm. By the time she reached an actual 19 years she had mastered the art of Demon Quelling as a Fu Yao Da Chia Demon Catcher. She’d become tough, athletic, graceful, confident, and most importantly cunning and patient. She and Jiu parted ways and she took up a career of her own in a field where her strange ways were somewhat acceptable as long as she saved the village from the demon(s). Her fame increased, as did her infamy, for despite all she was still the insubordinate and anti-authoritarian scandalous woman who spoke too loud and stared too long and wore too little. She still mouthed off to elders and authorities (Jiu’s “training” merely taught her more inventive insults!) and continued to leave a trail of broken hearts wherever she went. She was still the selfish brat she always was, only now her energies were turned to fighting that ultimate “authority”: the Yama Kings!

Now, years later, she has built up quite the resume in demon quelling, having bested dozens and is near reforming one (see below). She uses other humans as pawns, however, having few lasting friendships, but she is almost never deliberately cruel (just utterly self-absorbed). Currently she associates with Zhong Xiang (see below), but how long this will last remains to be seen. While her skill, luck, and fame continue to keep her wealthy, active, and generally tolerated by even the most conservative societies, she’s making enemies as quickly as she’s making friends. In her short career she’s built up a long list of disgruntled or obsessed former lovers and admirers, angry authorities, crossed criminal groups, and enraged demons and Yama Kings. And many wonder how long she can keep this life up before her past indiscretions catch up with her.

Could this be why The Watchers watch?

Zhong Xiang

Lim Chih Lang was born and raised in the Geofront, the middle child of a respected family (both parents were trusted party members). As almost the quintessential “middle child”, Lang felt at odds with the family being neither the “chosen successor” like his older brother or “family baby” like his little sister. From a young age his strong and sensitive mind was overlooked. His ambitious brother and athletic sister showed “great potential to the family and nation” while he was simply the “strange, moody, clumsy one”. His siblings soon dubbed him “Zhong Xiang”, the “middle elephant”, for his birth order, bad skin, and plodding gait.

As he grew he was plagued by childhood illness that scared his face and by social dysfunction that pushed him deeper into the books. While he excelled at classes he continued on a spiral of social displacement and unpopularity. Martial Arts training helped to overcome his total lack of confidence and childhood clumsiness (a clumsiness based more on his hesitation than on any physical disability), but his inner demon of self-doubt never completely went away. His studies and mastery of Maoist and Classical learning rocketed him to the top of his class and brought praise, but still his inner doubts made him question the sudden admiration.

Eventually he continued on to training at a PLA academy and joined the Party. There, he gave himself fully over to the PLA and volunteered for the Lightning Geoborg program. He excelled at every test, even the psychological test. This latter he aced with near perfect answers – a more suspicious bureaucrat might have noticed they were a little too perfect.

As a Lightning Geoborg (M.O.M.) Xiang attained new godly skills and abilities, but still the demons of doubt festered. He excelled at training and in the active service, gaining immediate recognition for his discipline and bravery, but still his feelings of inadequacy plagued him. He gained a reputation for quiet, meditative professionalism, but that was a façade. Inside he still hated his scared face (rarely takes off his Geoborg mask) and loathed his weakness. It was a recipe for disaster in a Lightning Geoborg.

He was on a solo recon mission through the Freelands when he met and immediately fell for Mara. His inner doubts had led to a monk-like existence of isolation and celibacy his entire life. What others saw as restraint and composure was in fact a gnawing fear of success. Besides, women were either married to the Party or too demure for him. But Mara, this wild, demon-taming, dripping-with-confidence woman was unlike any he’d ever seen. She was strong. She was exciting. She was sure to break his heart and he knew it…and needed that rejection.

It began as a simple teaming-up. Their missions coincided. Both hated the Yama Kings. Both saw a real strategic advantage in partnership. As always, Mara used her feminine charms and wiles and he fell madly and self-destructively in love with her. Perhaps she even felt a small bit of affection for him. Perhaps she still does. But as their brief affair burned hot, it burned out fast and Mara moved on to the next lover/victim/toy. But Xiang was still infatuated, still in love. It’s an attraction that has grown from infatuation to love to full obsession – an obsession that may grow dangerous as his M.O.M.-damaged mind continues to deteriorate. In a “moth to the flame” enticement he followed her, went AWOL, and turned his back on everything he once held dear to be next to her, even if he could no longer have her. She accepted his “artnership of friends and comrades” and the two formed a team.

Now he stands with her still, the junior partner and bodyguard to a woman who loves him not. In his mind he’s convinced himself it’s out of duty and friendship, but in his heart he knows he’s hopelessly addicted to her, for in her he sees what he wishes to be, and finds the rejection he subconsciously so desperately needs."

I have always had a big awe for the Wu Xia genre (Storm riders, Zu, the Condor films, the Monkey King journey, etc.) rather it be in Hong Kong comics or films, the style of Fantasy portrayed has always captivated me and I seek to play a role in contributing my part of ideas and storytelling to the genre as well.