After he was wrongfully disinherited, Prince Chou fled to the West and formed a rebellion. He died in battle, but left behind three sons to carry on his claim.
Lord Jiao is Prince Chou's eldest son and the current heir to his stolen throne. A skilled fighter with sword and spear, Jiao is unequalled in battle. He has long dominated the chariot duels which traditionally precede most battles, to the point where few now face him in such encounters. These days he prefers to lead cavalry charges, and he owns one of the finest horses in the kingdom. Although his advisors urge him to remain safe behind the front lines, he takes nearly every opportunity he can to plunge into the thick of the melee. Thus far he has emerged largely unharmed, but he bears many scars.
Off the field he is jovial and outgoing, always eager to share a laugh or a drink. His disarming charm has won him the loyalty of his men, and turned more than a few hearts among the women of the realm. Frankly he is something of a womanizer, and he never seems to stay with one for long. Not all of his conquests were single when he met them, and there are several husbands in the realm who hold a particular grudge against him. But thus far the populace at large seem to like him. Perhaps it is easier to forgive his flaws if it wasn't your wife or daughter he slept with.
To Jiao's numerous children, at least the ones he knows of, he is an indulgent if often absent father. None are full grown yet, but nearly all the boys are eager to follow in his footsteps as warriors. He treats his wives well enough, although he does not seem to have any particularly deep relationship with any of them. Some say that he is more interested in the hunt than the quarry, and that seems to be true. A few of his conquests are scouts in the Flying Corps, and his second wife is the head of it.
His personality makes him a decent enough diplomat, and it is largely due to his connections with the territory of Xin that the vital alliance between them and Shan is maintained. His horse was a personal gift from the Xin ruler.
In counsels of war Jiao contributes little save for the odd joke here and there. He seems to prefer action to deliberation, although he has displayed quick thinking on the field itself. He never speaks of his plans for running the country after the war, and if pressed on the issue he directs people to his younger brother, Tongyi.
Tall and narrow-faced, Tongyi generally wears the robes of a scholar, even on campaign. His official title is Chief Strategist, and most of the Shan victories in recent years were the fruit of his foresight and planning. He tends to stay off the battlefield itself, directing events from a distance in a chariot he designed and built personally. He has a complex but efficient system of signals and messengers to relay orders.
Not all of his contributions to the kingdom are military. He planned and oversaw the creation of several irrigation canals which have greatly improved crop production in the valley. His suggestions have also led to some major restructuring in both the government and the military. In his spare time, Tongyi is almost always reading or writing, save when he practices the forms of his martial art. He has developed a unique style of unarmed combat, and it is said that his fists strike like hammer-blows, breaking blades and shattering armor. It is also whispered that he has knowledge of arcane arts and can bend the wind to his will, although this may be nothing more than the idle talk of the superstitious.
Most of what people tell of him is hearsay or conjecture, for little is genuinely known. By all accounts he is private and reserved-- some would say cold and aloof. He speaks little, save when debating policy or strategy. No one seems to know if he has any actual friends. He has never taken a wife, and is seemingly indifferent to romantic pursuits. This naturally sets off its own set of rumors. Some say there was a great beauty in his past who left him jaded. Others say that the school of study to which he adheres requires celibacy. Still others quip that he is simply inhuman and soulless. While nearly all respect him, few seem to like him, and many admit that they find his presence unnerving.
If Tongyi is unnerving, the youngest of the three brothers is outright abrasive. Gutuo is known for his irritable and testy nature. Those who spend time with him find that he often picks quarrels or engages in arguments seemingly for no reason.
Perhaps his soul is twisted by his body's condition. Since childhood he has had to suffer from chronic pain, usually dull but sometimes increasing to agonizing intensity. The cause of this ailment is unknown, and he has spent the majority of his life studying medicine to find a cause and a cure. The diagnosis has thus far eluded him, but he has become an expert in treating the illnesses of others. Keen and observant, his knowledge of how the body functions is far in advance of most doctors in Liangyu. His expertise in pressure points aided Tongyi in developing his martial art style. He is skilled in treating humans, animals, and even canids.
Such knowledge of the body is deadly when turned to harm. Gutuo knows all the kill shots of most creatures, and is an excellent tracker. A crack shot with bow and crossbow, he is intrigued by firearms, although the ones that have made their way to Liangyu are far too inaccurate for sharpshooting. His duties as a healer tend to keep him away from the battlefield itself, but he stays in practice. Archery is something like meditation to him, helping to take his mind off his troubles.
While his attitude is grating to nearly everyone, it is widely acknowledged that he works tirelessly on behalf of his patients. Many lives have been saved through his efforts. Indeed, he often does much to help people without letting them know. It is said that he doesn't care much for praise, viewing it as mere flattery.
He keeps no concubines and has only one wife, a commoner, to whom he is devoted. It is rumored that she is the only person to outlast him in an argument, and that he was smitten instantly. To hear their barbs and jabs tossed back and forth is like watching two skilled swordfighters at play. Most find it exhausting to listen to them, but there is a certain elegance in their verbal battle that is lacking in his other interactions. It is almost as though they have elevated the spat to an art form.
If there are any people in the world he does not try to antagonize, it is his small children. They have found him a strict but patient father. To all others, his personality is a hindrance that only a small handful have overcome. These few friends and retainers seem to have earned his confidence at any rate. Many more are grateful for his aid, but glad to keep him at a distance.
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