Shen Qiu, Black Beast of the North

Region

Southern Territory

Origin

Commoner

Spirit Foundation

Tiger Lord of the Heavenly Menagerie (Mystic Beast)

The Tiger Lord represents unequaled resilience and relentless prowess among the Mystic Beasts. It is a foundation that overcomes all struggles through sheer force of will and unparalleled force. The Tiger Lord resonates mostly with techniques that boost the user's resilience and toughness, allowing them to endure incredible punishment and still remain capable of fighting back. The foundation also excels in attack and defense, forgoing other styles of techniques in favor of polishing these two aspects to their exemplar peaks.

Talents

Body: 5
Skill: 4
Intelligence: 1
Perception: 4

Perks

True Will

O tiger lord of beasts, rage!
Strain every sinew till the marrow shakes!
Bend thy brow towards the horizon and cry victory!

Natural Insight (beasts)
Pressure II

Biography

There's tales of a beast in the halls of the Xun compound, and to many who come face to face with Shen Qiu, the tales seem to be most true indeed. An imposing, towering figure who permeates an aura of unrestrained prowess that makes lesser men, beast and all in between shiver under his gaze. Shen Qiu was child to a humble family of farmers that was unfortunate enough to be too close to the border of the Dark Demon Mountains, he was the last survivor of the village and would have died a miserable death to the elements had he not found the strength to survive by his own name. Many years were spent surviving the wilderness and learning from the world, before his vagrant path made him meet another cultivator, one who saw his own reflection in Shen and took him under his wing.

After years if rigorous training and growth, he was scouted by the Xun family and offered a position within their compound. More often than not, his job entails tailing behind a high ranking member of the family, acting as a both protection and deterrent against any one foolish enough to try and attack. While he mostly performs as a bodyguard, he is also dispatched towards the more backwater areas of the region to dispose of undesirables. Both many bandits, wannabe villains and demonic beasts have met a swift and terrifying end at his hands.

Personality

Many find themselves distraught by his flat tone and seeming penchant for deadened silences mid conversations while others confuse this for a sort of ascended wisdom that reveals his prowess as a cultivator. In reality, Shen Qiu is a man that values calm and quiet and prefers to let other people waste air in pointless posturing and platitudes. He's confident in his skills as both cultivator and warrior, and knows that pointless words do nothing but show the offender lacks the strength to impose his own will over his own.

Despite this and his unrefined social skills, Shen Qiue is a loyal servant to those who show themselves as capable and will stop at nothing to ensure his orders are accomplished to the letter. Another unexpected quality is his frugality, contrary to the usual image of a cultivator, Shen Qiu requires little to enjoy himself, a quiet room, a good bed and a good tea are enough to set him for an evening, with the occasional entertainment and proper food never being overused.

Techniques

Yellow:
Relentless Hunter Stride

A movement technique founded upon the natural world, the user is able to move through any space with the fluidity of all manner of beasts. Leap through the air and soar above the lands as the mightiest of birds of prey and gallop through the plains as a noble and wild steed, move within thick woods and jungles like a monkey sage or even dash underwater like a jade scaled koi.

Earth:
Path of Claws and Fangs (elder)

A combat technique that utilizes Qi to sharpen the fingers, hands and limbs of the user into weapons capable of rending even the toughest demonic beast hides to ribbons. Composed of an almost endless variety of moves inspired by the beasts of the world, it is said that facing a proficient user of this technique is akin to facing every single beast in the realm all at once.

Earthen Aspect Vitality (elder)

A utility technique. It revolves around meditating in untamed natural areas, as the user surrounds himself with natural Qi, his own beast Qi resonates with it and enhances his regeneration and healing tenfold

Heaven:
Tiger Blood Crucible Heart

A cultivation technique oriented on the act of consumption and hunting, the user's Qi takes a wild and beastly aspect. A careful balance of prey must be followed, for improper over-consumption of beasts may permanently alter the meridians and flow paths of Qi within the body, there's tales of reckless practitioners of this technique mutating and degrading themselves into beasts.

Relentless Soul Roar (elder)

A body refinement technique that focuses on enhancing the resilience of the body beyond merely enhancing it. At it's core, the technique focuses on transforming the user's body into a fortress capable of enduring unimaginable damage, it does not focus merely on making the body invulnerable. Tales and excerpts of this technique speak of masters continuing to battle even with part of their brains missing or suffering catastrophic damage. Once combined with a resilient body only a heavenly attack may fell the user.

Elder

Old Man of the Mountain.

An cultivator who made his path hunting down Demonic Beasts, he resided for the longest time within the Dark Demon Mountains. Only going outside to test himself or to gather rare resources. He found Shen Qiu and took him under his wing, teaching him everything he knows of his techniques. Wether he still resides within the Mountains is still unknown and no knowledge pf his status can be extracted from Shen Qiu.

Items

Utility:
Tiger and Wolf Killing Pellet

A coarse iteration of medicine, taking this pill instantly flood the body with a thick, explosive beastly Qi that both rejuvenates the body, reinvigorates the user and simultaneously forces them to endure indescribable pain, however, if one is to successfully survive the initial ordeal, they will be healed from even the most devastating wounds, poison or curses found within the realm. Overconfident cultivators who had little compatibility with this medicine died in the spot, their hearts having collapsed into themselves. Only usable by those initiated in the Tiger Blood Crucible Heart technique or individual with an incredibly resilient body and psyche.

Complications

Insidious Cult
Ghost Domain
Stars of Destiny
Rival (?????)