Zhi'Qiang

A guardian dragon, born by the power of belief within one of the imaginal realms of the Kabbalah Tree of Sephiroth, upon a world similar to the lands of fantasy, but more exclusive to Chinese mythology: a world of the Wuxia, "Martial Heroes", in which aspirations towards enlightenment, martial accomplishment and honor are the pinnacle of existence. Within this realm there are manifestations of the Chinese Zodiac, whose powers are given to them upon their creation, and whose destiny is seemingly written for them. Most of these Aspects of the Zodiac have not only physical forms, but also a spiritual presence, and are given the responsibilities of protectors or guardians. Zhi'Qiang is one such Aspect: a Dragon spirit, guardian to a small temple adjacent to a trade-town.

His destiny being to guard the temple until his own enlightenment, the decades began to wear on his mind, as he saw travelers from afar tell stories of great Heroes possessing strength and spirit: Masters of martial forms, capable of performing magical feats in the name of righteousness, balance and harmony. Many of these traveling storytellers were monks, similar to those in the temple under Zhi'qiang's charge, but dedicated to different spirits, according to the other animals of the zodiac. Many of these spirits were similar to Zhi'Qiang: lesser spirits, with few responsibilities but to their temple and the monks residing within it. To all of them however, Zhi'Qiang wanted to demonstrate some special significance of his own, and to no longer be bound to the isolation of his temple. He sought to be one of the great Heroes he had heard tales about, or at the least be a guardian spirit of such a champion, to enjoy the prestige that came with such grand renown.

Then one day, a Greater Dragon spirit from a noble temple, was brought to the monastery by traveling monks and emissaries. Zhi'Qiang's desire to be recognized, and to be free of his destiny, eventually began to overwhelm him. While in the presence of the Greater Dragon spirit, Zhi'Qiang felt nameless and forgotten, nearly insignificant--when a temptation too great for him to withstand suddenly appeared.

Within the realm was a balance of good and evil, and when the spiritual balance shifted, the natural flow of energies would ensure karmic harmony. Such was it that the power of good became so strong within the physical region occupied by the Greater Dragon and lesser spirits, that the counterbalance came to their town in the form of an army of evil: honor-less mercenaries, brigands and bandits, seeking chaos by means of pillage and murder. They raided the town--yet they did not do so without contest as Heroes revealed themselves, and used their powers and martial skill to beat back the dark forces. Zhi'Qiang, seeing the battle as an opportunity to prove himself to the Greater Dragon and others, as well as to break free of his destiny and experience the thrill of adventure, abandoned his charge, leaving the temple and entering the fray.

Though a lesser spirit, his powers were nevertheless far beyond those of even the great Heroes themselves--but whereas those Heroes spent their lives pursuing the path ultimately leading to transcendence, Zui'Qiang's powers were given to him merely by his having been brought into existence. Such was it that he did not understand the virtues learned by a life of training, study and meditation. The opportunity to save the townspeople and combat the forces of evil was soon no longer his ultimate goal, as he found the demonstration of his powers to be more fulfilling to his sense of pride...too much so. For as the battle was concluded--admittedly more swiftly due to his involvement--he found himself revealed to an audience that was the worse for wear--who were not interested in praising him for his deeds when their homes were burned and destroyed, and their families harmed. While the chivalrous Heroes of tradition served the people in the name of harmony, Zhi'Qiang was seen as serving himself in the name of hubris.

Returning to his temple, he found himself unable to enter the place he had always known: no longer was he the guardian of the temple, and no longer were his virtues in harmony with those that the monks represented. The Greater Dragon spirit, manifesting himself before Zhi'Qiang, told the reckless outcast of his great act of defiance, and explained to him the nature of his wrong-doing: the violation of his duty, the dishonor brought to those who worshiped the shrine carrying his likeness. No longer was Zui'Qiang a dragon spirit of guardianship, but rather one of selfishness and disloyalty. Yet he was not without the opportunity for redemption; as the Great Dragon spirit sent Zui'Qiang out of their realm, and into the Astral Plane, where he waited for an indeterminable amount of time, before being found.

The Red Banner Cult, known throughout Millennium City for their martial-arts oriented combat styles and traditions, was continuing to explore ways of gaining a stronger foothold within Westside. Dragon Priests were given permission to use what means they could to summon greater power that would benefit the clan. Though the leader of the cult expressly demanded only he could be permitted to summon great creatures and allies through mystical means, one Dragon Priest refused to heed the order. Determined that an opportunity awaited to find infamy among his fellowship, the innocent populace and even among the superheroes who continually battled their forces, he gathered a small group to begin a summoning ritual in which he searched for dragon aspects that might aid them. Such was it that Zui'Qiang was pulled out of the Astral Plane, and summoned upon the Earth. When the Dragon Priest discovered his summoned creature to be deficient of magical abilities, as well as too headstrong to submit to being controlled, a fight broke out, in which Zui'Qiang was able to battle his way to freedom.

As the confused, disoriented, and somewhat bruised Dragon emerged from the place of summoning within the slums of Westside, he was visited by a Goddess of his realm: the deified patron goddess, Longmu. Speaking to him, Longmu said there was hope for Zui'Qiang, and that he might even become the great Hero he wished to be, but that he would have to endure trials during his path to self-actualization, and from there transcendence. He would have to learn how to be more caring, selfless and honorable, and that only through study and training would he develop the traits he most desired: skill, power, and balance. Gifted with the merest essence of magic, Zui'Qiang was given the opportunity to regain his mystical abilities, so long as he did not stray from the path of harmony and righteousness. Thus gifted, and thus warned, the mundane dragon-like humanoid was left alone to pursue his own destiny, in this new world...