Gan Ning (Xingba)

[Gan Ning]

"Oh yeah! When the bells come ringin', death comes swingin'!"
- Gan Ning - Dynasty Warriors 6 Special

ABOUT THE PLAYER

Player Name/Alias: Matt Sr
Player Age: 26
Player Gender: Male
How did you find us?: Mikey
What is the 5th bold rule point in section one of the rules?: Use an OOC Account

ABOUT THE CHARACTER

Name: Gan Ning "Xingba"
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Style: Canon
Residence: Wu

THE PERSONALITY

The type of character that Gan Ning is, happens to be on the verge of disloyalty. Not in that he would turn traitor, but that he does not fit the description of a true general. Despite giving up his former life of being a pirate, he has never truly abandoned his criminal ways. You are less likely to find him in a palace, surrounded by ministers, and more likely to find him in a gambling hall, dicing with his former shipmates and local criminals. For it are these people he feels most at ease with. Unlike politicians, he knows who wants to stab him in the back, and who doesn't.

Yet, Xingba is a "people person" and enjoys being around the peasants and the less fortunate. It is not because of some special place in his heart for them, but rather conformability he feels when he is around them. Yet, he does dress in fine clothing, and drinks the best wine. Where he anyone else, he would struggle with the duality of his nature, yet he doesn't quite seem to care what people think of him, or his ways.

However, should one gain the ire of Xingba, one should quickly leave his presence. For he is not one to suffer an insult or slander against him. His dislike for certain men has found them on the receiving end of his ji zhua lian. He has been known to murder those who do him wrong, and kill them out right. He has not yet made the mistake of killing someone of a higher rank. Yet.

Though he is very uncultured and barbaric in his tendencies, he is a fiercely loyal solder. At least, to those that truly appreciate him. And he has found that in Sun Ce. Ce has quickly learned how to utilize Xingba, and that is by having him charge out into the middle of a battle and wage war. He has very little regard for his own safety and enjoys the battles he is placed in.

Having ridden boats for most of his adult life. He is sure footed when it comes to being sea worthy. He enjoys the sounds of the waves, and the toss of the ocean. And because of this, he fits perfectly in with the Kingdom of Wu. His boundless energy catapults him forward, and his optimistic attitude with whatever challenges are played out before him give him promise of a better journey.

THE APPEARANCE

APPEARANCE

The tattooed pirate. These words might best describe the man known as Gan Ning, yet even they cannot completely explain the man. When going out, he has been known to dress in fine silks, even in battle he has an expensive silk coat worn over his armor, mainly as a show of his wealth. Yet one cannot help but see the brutal reminders on his body. From scars that cross his chest and arms, to his tattoos from his pirating days. He represents duality in his various garb.

Standing taller than the average man (at 180 cm or 5'11"), he does not at first strike an imposing figure. Yet his arms are large and toned from years of fighting. This is not a man who was raised in a life of luxury and that becomes immediately obvious from his own body language. He slouches constantly and his posture is one of confidence and arrogance.

His bright eyes seem to watch all around himself at once, as though he is expecting a raid. Much like the types he himself is used to leading. He is brash and has very little respect for authority. Yet, he is a fighter and a damn good one. It is for that reason that Sun Ce would even keep the belligerent loud mouth around.

His body weight is that of a man who is ready to move, yet ready to fight. He is athletic, but muscled. His hands are rough and course, and one can see scars lining his body. His leg posture indicates his aggressive moving around and his dedication to it.

APPAREL/ARMOR

Gan Ning's armor is normal Chinese steel scale-mail, yet running across various parts of it are steel strips that cover various parts of his body. They are fitted less for protection and more for speed, yet they do still offer better protection than your standard infantry armor. His hips and flank are protected as well, by the same steel scale-mail. A leather guard comes over and protects his manhood.

He wears steel bracers and form fitting leather boots, which have steel shin guards on them. His arms are exposed and he only wears flimsy black silk pants. Yet over much of his armor he wears a red silk robe. Around his waist are eleven bells of differing size and sound, he wears these so that he cannot take the enemy by surprise, and so that when someone hears the bells jingling, they know death comes.

WEAPONS

Gan Ning fights with twin Ji Zhua Lian. The Ji Zhua Lian, otherwise known as chicken-claw sickle, are long handled weapons, with a sickle-looking head on one end, and a spear at the top of it. The haft of the weapons are made out of a solid wood core with a metal exterior. The ends of the weapons are wrapped in leather to provide it with an ease-of-access grip.

Leviathan: The Leviathan is a ji zhua lian in which the haft of the weapon is made out of a strange black metal. The metal is flawless and unscarred, even though having been used many times over. The length of the weapon is 76.2 centimeters, which translates to about 2 and a half feet. It weighs in around 9 kilogram, or 20 pounds. The top of the weapon, which holds the head to the handle is crafted out of bronze, and inlaid with special Chinese characters. The head of the weapon is made out of steel, and it's arching shape is consistent with a traditional farmer's sickle that has been designed for war. The top of the weapon is fashioned with a spear head, the allows for a thrusting action of the weapon. The back of the weapon has a pointed pick. This allows for greater weapon penetration, should his enemy be wearing chain-mail.

Jormungandr: Jormungandr looks very much like his brother, Leviathan. A long black hand, the same length, and weighted about the same, perhaps a little heavier. The handle is silver, though, and wear haft meets head, there is black metal that covers that area, with strange Chinese characters. The head of the weapon, though, is slightly different than Leviathan. It still has the same sickle head, yet the back of the weapon is blunted, and crafted to allow the weapon to be used like a mace. The top of the weapon still has the spear-like stabbing blade.

THE HISTORY

Gan Ning was not always the famous general, that he is now. He used to be quite the low life, living in a life of poverty and shame. He had been involved in the Yellow Turban Rebellion when he was a teen, mainly in a way to act out against a regime he saw as cruel, oppressive, and designed to allow the rich to become richer. Meanwhile, peasants were forced to live a life of squalor and misery. So he tied a yellow turban to his head joined this group.

But when Zhang Jiao was killed, Ning was left with nothing more than a mark on his head. He was now a wanted man and a criminal. He had been a captain in the ranks of the Turbans, and he lead a group of men on their ambushes and raids. This group had formed into a tight nit band of followers who allowed Gan Ning to be their leader. With nothing to lose, this group pillaged the country side of western China, making money and gaining bounties.

It was after an experience with a man who called himself Zuo Ci that Xingba found himself wanting more out of life. So he joined a man by the name of Liu Yan.

Liu Yan had just come back from a war with the tyrant Dong Zhou, who had been pushed back after a coalition of other warlords, lead by Yuan Shao. The lands of China were in a state of flux, and many powerful warlords saw this as a chance to expand their power base. Liu Yan was one of these men, and begrudgingly allowed the former bandit into his keeping.

By that time, Gan Ning had taken up several scholarly arts and reading books by some of the more famous Chinese leaders. Yet even though he proved himself in combat against Liu Yan. He found that he could advance no further, regardless of his skills. This began to insult Ning, and he began to conspire to leave. As it was, when Liu Yan passed away, and his son Liu Zhang was to inherit the position, Gan Ning took it as his time to leave.

He would wander the country side with his gang of ruffians. He would eventually come to the lands of Liu Biao and ask this man if he had a space in his holdings. While Liu Biao knew he could use a man such as Gan Ning, he knew that the reputation of the man could hurt his power. As such, he sent Gan Ning to the company of Huang Zu.

Huang Zu was a truly incompetent commander, he saw no worth in Gan Ning simply from his background. He would send the man out on the most worthless assignments and never grant him any recognition for his merits. Instead he scorned and belittled the man. He hoped to send Xingba out and the man would be cut down by someone else, so that he would not have to deal with him.

So when it was that Sun Ce [url=http://shattered-legends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=historicevents&action=display&thread=37
]invaded the lands

[/url] of Zu, Ning was pressed into service to repulse back the Little Conqueror, Sun Ce.

Huang Zu and Sun Ce had a history together. When Sun Jian, Ce's father, had left the Imperial Capital, he had taken with him an item. Many knew it to be the Imperial Seal, and many wanted it for themselves. When Sun Jian crossed the lands of Huang Zu, the general marched out and ambushed the warrior. He slayed Jian, yet did not make off with the seal. Instead it had been placed in the protection of Sun Ce and Zhou Yu.

And now it was that Ce was looking for revenge of the deed. Yet Huang Zu thought very little of the man, secure in his alliance with Liu Biao. As such, he sent Gan Ning out to confront the warlord. And Gan Ning, hoping to finally prove his worth, engaged him. Xingba would prove to be a match for Ce and began to push back his forces and in the end, Ce was forced to retreat.

Ning had assumed that this victory would grant him some recognition for his deeds and worth. Yet, Huang Zu paid him very little mind and proceeded to isolate him from council. It was then that Gan Ning knew he would not last long in the service of Zu.

So when it was that Ce returned with a larger force, Zu sent Ning out once again to stop Ce. Ning was again threw his all of his strength into defeating Ce, yet he proved no match for the young warlord, and was thrown back. He knew that if he returned to Zu he would be killed for his failure, so instead he gathered his men together and ambushed Huang Zu. After a short battle, Gan Ning slayed Huang Zu, and brought the head of the man to Sun Ce.

Gan Ning had become a Liegeslayer, a traitor to his sworn oaths. Sun Ce was not sure he could allow the man to live. While he was happy to see the head of Huang Zu, he wondered about what he would be thought about if he let Ning live. Blessedly for Gan Ning, Zhou Yu and Lu Meng noted that Gan Ning would make an excellent addition to their ranks. They persuaded Sun Ce to not only let Gan Ning live, but to give him a title as well. He had proven himself a capable commander and leader, and had even repulsed the Little Conqueror.

Xingba's first challenge would be the Battle of Red Cliffs, in which he would lead a small band of warriors in attacks on Cao Cao and Yuan Shang's flanks. Though he would not prove a major character during these battles, it was here that he would met his true nemesis, Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao was a warrior in Wei, who had joined the service of Cao Cao after his own lord, Lu Bu, had been defeated. Liao had proven himself to be a capable warrior and fighter, and he had been charged by Cao Cao to deal with the problem of Gan Ning. The two would engage in a series of clashes during the battle, with neither side gaining a true advantage. Liao was forced to retreat, not because of Ning, but rather because the winds from the south swept up the fire to Cao Cao's ships.

Liao would prove instrumental later in defending Cao Cao from the advances of Wu.

Gan Ning would not do to much until the [url=http://shattered-legends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=historicevents&action=display&thread=14
]Battle of Xiaoyao Ford[/url]. For it was here that Sun Quan had been tasked with an invasion of Wei. Yet the lord of the castle was none other than Zhang Liao. Gan Ning had not been part of the force, yet Sun Ce, seeing a problem that might arise, sent him out to assist his younger brother in the offensive.

When he arrived with the general Ding Feng he noticed that Sun Quan was about to be surrounded by the smaller force of Zhang Liao. The two charge the general and started to cut a swath into the forces of Wei.

Zhang Liao came out and engaged Ding Feng. Feng quickly saw that he was no match for the skilled Wei general and was hard pressed to even stay on his horse. Yet soon enough Gan Ning joined the fray and the three matched blades back and forth. Yet Sun Quan soon called a retreat and Gan Ning was soon to find that if he did not join the young lord, he would be surrounded by Wei soldiers. So bidding Liao farewell, he retreated.

Leaving who was the greater warrior between the two still undecided...

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[Brian]

Very nicely done.

I love the Koei antlers over everything else. I'd recommend you make those ridiculous things a highlight of your character. And don't wear a shirt, and spike your hair back like you're a Final Fantasy character.

I'll give you time to breathe those suggestions in, and in the meantime, you, sire, are

APPROVED!

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