Su Zhongwu

Unlike the Japanese Kitsune and Korean Kumiho, Zhongwu is a fox spirit (huli jing) of Chinese origin and does not subject himself wholly to depravity and amoral actions. Rather, Zhongwu, like most huli jing, possesses ambiguous morality and prefer to operate within ‘grey moral’ alignments. For hundreds of years, Zhongwu has been seeking celestial status and true immortality. Yet it eludes him as he falters with failing morals and the decadence of worldly desires. Instead, Zhongwu pursues the location of the Cintamani in order to reach his goal to becoming a true celestial immortal.

## Background

Zhongwu was born to a pair of celestial fox spirits who have ascended heaven and left him all alone in the mortal realm. In his youth, he struggled living in the forests and fending for himself while other spirits did not welcome him into their community. Zhongwu’s youth was plagued with loneliness and ostracization. He dreamt of becoming a celestial immortal, like his parents but failed to find peace and solace within his own heart. Shortly after reaching his adult years, he was met with an unfortunate incident that ruined most of his life. In his desperation to rid of his loneliness, he was tricked by a ruthless demon and forced into a binding servitude. Defeated and enslaved, Zhongwu served the demon obediently, committing acts of depravity and heinous cruelty in his master’s name.

In his years of slavery, Zhongwu grew stronger under his master’s tutelage and training. When he knew he had grown powerful enough, the fox spirit made his escape through his own cunningness and trickery. Once earning his freedom, Zhongwu fled into the human society and blended himself among the mortal populace. Over hundreds of years, he learned the ways of human culture and societal rules, joined a smuggler and mercenary ring and lived rest of his life as a disguised human. When he heard about the rumors of a Cintamani/Yeouijiu circulating around in Hong Kong, he knew his dream of becoming a true immortal couldn’t be far...

## Personality

Zhongwu is the very definition of a hellion; Incendiary attitude, fiery temper and a whole lot of spunk and sass to offer. Tenacious and rebellious, the fox spirit shows disdain for authority figures, especially celestials, gods and deities. Nonetheless, Zhongwu has the capacity to show respect and admiration for those who share the same hardships as he does.

Despite his renegade-like personality, his tough front falters at the slightest offense or provocation directed at him. It’s easy to see him as petty and conceited. Just as his pride inflates quickly, his ego bruises easily at mildest insult, sending him into seething rage at times. Zhongwu is quick to disassociate himself from the people of his undesired past but quicker to seek revenge on people who have wronged him. He can ruthless, cruel and foul-mouthed.

However, Zhongwu does show redeeming qualities such as his keen, cunning intellect and wisdom. As a fox spirit, Zhongwu is the one of the examples of a trickster. His sense of morals may be considered grey or ambiguous but he has the capability to show kindness and compassion to the defenseless and innocent.

In manners of love, Zhongwu is sexually liberated and open-minded, unabashed about flaunting his sensuality and sexual allure. As a fox spirit, he is no exception of his species who have seduced mortal men in various folklore of the past -- A tempter, seducer and a sly, sensual trickster.

## Appearance

While wearing his human appearance, he appears to be a regular 24-year old Chinese man with long, wavy black hair and fair skin, dressed in punk-like outfits. Yet his golden eyes and slightly vulpine facial features may betray his true nature, though most ordinary people pass it off as a trick of the eye or something imperceivable. He sports two under his right eye and one under his left eye. His frame is of lean, athletic build.In his true form, Zhongwu has grey hair, sharp claws, ashen skin and possesses five tails as a mark of his vulpine prowess.

His fox form is only as large as a regular fox, while bearing five tails and grey fur.

## Abilities

* Mage abilities: Fire spells, poison spells, such as foxfire.
* Glamor magic: Disguises, shapeshifting in human appearances.
* Healing: Has an above-average flesh regeneration as long as he rests and eats, and can heal others with his blood and bone. Possesses some minor healing spells.
* Possession: Can possess an average human and use them as a host. However, he cannot possess humans who are strong-willed, well-practiced in magic or supernatural arts or has made pacts with supernatural entities.
* Essence Vampirism: Can feed on qi/’life essence’ on his victims with enough physical contact to replenish his own or heal. Requires deep concentration.
* Supernatural dexterity: Zhongwu is a speedy fighter; agile and quick. He has no trouble with hand-to-hand combat and uses his claws as a defense.
* ‘Faustian’ pact: Like most spirits and demons, Zhongwu can make binding contracts and preternatural pacts with any mortal or supernatural entity when an agreement is ironed out and the price is paid.
* Knowledge/intel: Zhongwu is well-versed in the history of China and parapsychology, naturally. As a veteran smuggler and mercenary, he knows how to handle firearms, familiar with locations and routes. He is also street-wise and a survival expert.