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Post by Ma Chao on Apr 5, 2012 21:21:28 GMT -5
"Ma Chao has the courage of the likes of Ying Bu and Han Xin, but he also has the heart of the Qiangs and the Huns." - Yang Fu ABOUT THE PLAYER
Player Name/Alias: link0505 Player Gender: Male How did you find us?: Part of community. What is the 5th bold rule point in section one of the rules?: Use an OOC Account.
ABOUT THE CHARACTER
Name: Ma Chao "Nickname." (opt.) Age: 39 Gender: Male Style: Canon Residence: Hanzhong
THE PERSONALITY
Ma Chao is, when simply defined, a man of emotion. He lives, and has lived, according to the urges of the moment and the now, the feelings and calls of his heart. Rather than relying on the instructions of the mind, this trait of near intellectual ignorance has mostly served as a drawback for the mighty warrior. Mengqi is almost always reliant on his comrades for the area of strategy, but he is always courageously willing to take risks and offer his utmost in brawn. Often when in difficult circumstances, Ma Chao becomes subject to rage and revenge toward his foes, developing emotions of hatred that can blind him beyond his better judgment.
THE APPEARANCE
Ma Chao stands at an impressive height of 5'11", a good head or two above the average man. He has a lithe body, though toned with muscle and with limbs of incredible strength. His complexion is white and flawless as jade, his brown eyes clear and bright. Years of stress in battle has, however, worn down his face despite his relatively young age.
Ma Chao dons light armor, suitable for versatile movement while fighting on horseback. Above a suit of black cloth, he dons an armored vest shaded light blue and silver that reaches down to his thighs, with a pair of shoulder guards. The piece of armor is held in place by a light blue sash wrapped under white furs from the northwest, clasped on by a leather belt adorned with gold. His long, flowing robe is made of white furs as well, worn around his neck and let loose to his rear. Ma Mengqi also sports an iron helmet, light blue and decorated by the shape of a massive tiger head and and a bundle of "helmet hair." As well, he also wears light arm guards and high field boots.
THE HISTORY
Early Life and Campaign Against Li Jue and Guo Si (193)
Ma Chao, styled Mengqi, was born in Maoling, Fufeng, in the year 176, as the son of Ma Teng. When he was 17, his father, along with the latter's colleague and ally Han Sui, attacked the capital to purge it of the remaining followers of Dong Zhuo, led by Li Jue and Guo Si. Following him in his first battle, Mengqi displayed his prowess when he single-handedly killed enemy commander Wang Fang in mounted combat. Riding back to his lines in victory, Ma Chao, however, had his back to Li Meng, Fang's comrade, who was pursuing him to avenge his fallen friend. Ma Teng cried out a brief warning, and Mengqi immediately turned around and, avoiding his enemy's spear thrust, took Meng prisoner with his bare hands.
Pressing through the passes toward the capital at Chang An, the Xiliang army was met by a stubborn defense by Li Jue and Guo Si. Refusing to accept the challenge of the western warriors, they shut their gates tight and did not make a move. Eventually Ma Teng and Han Sui's armies ran short of food and supplies and began to retreat, only to find the enemy general Zhang Ji pursuing them with his troops. Only Ma Chao's brave efforts drove the enemy off, and the Xiliang army went back home in defeat.
Fight for Tong Pass (211)
18 years later, Cao Cao, who had come to take control of the emperor and the capital, appointed Ma Teng an official and invited him to Ye. It was then that Teng related to his son the story of how he, along with Liu Bei, Dong Cheng, and many other officials at the capital, and plotted against Cao. The plan had been foiled, and all involved, except for Liu Bei and Teng himself, had been executed. He then asked for Ma Chao's opinion on whether or not to answer Cao's summons, and received such a response:
"Cao Cao has the command of the Emperor to call you. If you do not go, that will mean disobeying an imperial command and you will be punished. Obey the summons in so far as to go to the capital, where you may be able to arrange to carry out your original intention."
However, Ma Dai, Mengqi's cousin, had opposing opinions and warned Ma Teng of the dangers of Cao Cao's designs. To this, Ma Chao proposed, "Let me lead the army against the capital. Can we not purge the empire of evil?" However, his mind set, Ma Teng assured Mengqi that he would be safe as long as he was protected, and, along with his three sons, Ma Tie, Ma Xiu, and Mengqi, went to Ye to meet Cao Cao.
During Teng's disastrous meeting with Cao in which the former was ambushed by swordsmen, Ma Chao had been waiting out in the courtyard throughout the night, mounted on his white horse and in his silver armor, long spear in hand. Upon hearing the commotion and Cao's sword-bearing soldiers, he shouted, "Traitors!" before letting out a whistle that called forth all of the horses in the palace's stables. Having them join in his charge, he broke down the palace doors and rushed in, managing to find and rescue the rest of his family before they all escaped to Ye that night. The party continued fleeing, to Xiongnu and then back to their homeland, through the assistance of the western tribes, whom the Xiliang warriors were on diplomatic terms with.
After speaking with Han Sui of the matter, Ma Teng joined forces with his colleague once more to form the Guanxi Coalition against Cao Cao's westward attack. They immediately marched on and took over Chang An, but the Emperor had already been moved from the capital. Cao Cao also led his army to counterattack, and the two armies collided at Tong Gate. Both armies, however, were unable to defeat the other, and Cao decided to attempt to cut off the coalition army's retreat at the River Wei. Ma Chao, seeing through his enemy's plan, took 10,000 riders and pursued Cao, but, despite his best efforts to shoot the enemy lord down, Cao escaped on a ferry due to the help of his bodyguard, Xu Chu.
The next day, Ma Chao continued his pursuit of Cao Cao, knowing that the enemy was vulnerable and without a fort after their desperate flight. However, he found Cao safe behind a castle of ice, created overnight by freezing water poured into the sandy soil used to build the walls. Unable to penetrate it, Mengqi retreated and, when Ma Teng asked why he had been defeated, he answered, "He had made a castle out of ice! There was no way to assail it!"
At length, the Guanxi Coalition decided to send someone to sign an armistice with Cao Cao. Han Sui was their representative, but he had also been a long time friend with Cao, which sparked Ma Chao's suspicion for his ally. Furthermore, Cao broke his promise and suddenly attacked, destroying the coalition and retaking Chang An, forcing them back to the west.
Battle of Jiameng Pass (214)
Over the course of the next three years, Lu Bu, at the head of Cao Cao's army, rushed through the west despite strong resistance from Ma Chao, seizing Hanzhong and soon after occupying Tian Shui for himself. The Guanxi Coalition immediately responded by sending Mengqi to retake the poorly defended Hanzhong, which he did with minimal effort. Named the Prefect of Hanzhong, Ma Chao soon allied with Liu Zhang in return for a promise of much land in Shu when the warlord in Yizhou began to struggle against the invading Liu Bei. Volunteering to destroy Liu Bei, Mengqi and Ma Dai marched to Jiameng Pass.
There, Ma Chao challenged Liu Bei's officers to battle, and Zhang Fei rode out in rage to fight him. Upon being asked if he knew of Fei, Mengqi replied, "My family having been noble for many generations. I am not likely to know any rustic dolts!" With that, the two warriors clashed for a hundred bouts, but neither prevailed. Liu Bei signaled for Fei to return, but soon after the two generals fought again, to the same unyielding result. Although having initially decided to retire for the night, they soon lit torches and battled in the dark. Having plotted a ruse to kill Zhang Fei, Ma Chao pretended to flee after a few bouts before turning around and swinging a concealed copper mace. Zhang Fei dodged it however, and used the same tactic of fleeing before firing an arrow at the pursuing Ma Chao, but Mengqi also avoided it. Only when Liu Bei told him that he would be left in peace to withdraw did Ma Chao return to his camp.
Meanwhile, Ma Teng had been influenced by many officials in Wu Wei to be misguided into judgments colliding in view with Ma Chao, including continuing to fight a losing war against Cao Cao up north. Upon falling back to Hanzhong in moral defeat against Liu Bei at Jiameng Pass, Ma Chao was unexpectedly met by Fa Zheng, an envoy from Liu Bei. Zheng soon convinced Mengqi to join forces with Liu Bei, as the aging Ma Teng was no longer dependable, and Han Sui of the Guanxi Coalition had long been viewed with spite by Mengqi ever since the incident at Tong Pass.
Thus, as an officer of the King of Shu, Ma Chao's first and immediate role was to act as the prefect of Hanzhong to check Lu Bu in the north, who had come into possession of Tian Shui.
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Post by Ma Chao on Apr 5, 2012 22:12:40 GMT -5
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Post by Ma Chao on Apr 5, 2012 22:12:58 GMT -5
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Post by Kyle on Apr 6, 2012 5:00:39 GMT -5
Accepted, bro. Impressive application. You might even get a poke as a reward from me.
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