Youlan

**"Youlan" (幽蘭)** or "Lone Orchid" is a magus and *Harmonist* from the Eight Courts of Crimson, and is one of the courts' Masters of Illusion. A life of insignificance was avoided when she became apprentice and wife to Xián Guǎn, a master of a relatively obscure type of sorcery called "Harmonic Magic". Through the use of song and mana, Youlan was able to exert her own will onto the minds and souls of the others using music as the language that humanity understood in a spiritual level. Her ability to influence the minds and bodies of others through Harmonic Magic over the course of centuries have earned her the title of Master Illusionist among the Eight Courts of Crimson, and she continues to keep her old master's sorcery alive not through selfishly hoarding as a secret like most orthodox magi, but instead teaching it to those who showed potential. Her music and poetry enters the soul, not just ears alone.

## Background

Born as Yun Li during the 15th century in the Ming Dynasty, Youlan was born to magi from the Crimson Courts, and due to her being the youngest surviving daughter, she was less of a priority in the family's magical tradition. By the age of 14, she was married off to Xián Guǎn, a harmonist from the Court of Wind, in order to repay a debt. Her husband, an old man centuries her senior, preferred to have the debt be repaid in money but begrudgingly accepted after realizing the Li were short on riches. Surprising to her husband's peers, Yun's marriage was a chaste one and she was treated more like an apprentice than a spouse. Years later, Yun would deduce that her husband married her for the sake of appearances, as magi of the Courts were expected to appear as virile. Their union was never consummated, and when she asked her husband why, he simply said "You are 200 years too young for me". Her marriage resulted in her learning of her husband's brand of magic, Harmonic Magic, or the use of song and music to influence the minds and even the very souls of others.

By learning under Xián, she discovered that her husband was an oddity compared to the other magi in the Courts. The Guǎn lineage had no history of magical studies, and Xián has never had an heir whom he would pass down family sorcery. Xián told her that magi are obsessed with familial legacy, to the point where the preservation of magic was stunted due to different magi prioritizing their own lineage and keeping their magical studies as obsessively guarded in secret instead of knowledge for the public. Yun and her husband would travel across Asia, masquerading as musicians, and Yun's education in Harmonic Magic was greatly improved because of this. The technical skills needed in playing instruments and singing that Xián thought her were key to mastering the magic he practiced, which was an antithesis to other styles of magic in the Courts. While others obsessed with coveting magic and declaring them as their lineage's birthright, Yun learned that Harmonic Magic was all about building upon and using the shared works of others in the form of compositions and songs. The very music she performed became the arcane force that "spoke" directly to the listeners mind and soul. Her husband found her skills to be excellent enough to declare that she will be the heir to Harmonic Magic, which is passed not by family but through the dedication of those who appreciate and understand its nature. She naturally dedicated herself to assuming the role, seeing as she would have never even received such an honor with her old family's magic.

Harmonic Magic meant that she exerted her will into the world through song, and influencing both mind and souls of her listeners so greatly that she can have them feel as if they are dragged into the stories or the meaning found within the thousands of songs and poems she has learned. At age 321, the song which was Xián's life finally came to a finale. Seeing as he had nothing else to teach his wife and she became a better harmonist than he could ever be, he simply decided it was time to rest. and Yun mourned his lost greatly But she soon went to work and performed the final song her teacher and husband taught her. The Melody of Millennium, a Harmonic song and spell that willed her very being into a longer life, evoking the beauty and resilience of life within her very soul. By this time, the 40 year old Yun donned the title of "Youlan" or the "Lone Orchid". She has mostly went by the alias as only a few would remember her as Yun Guǎn. While her days of playing for the courts of emperors, kings, and nobles in China became less frequent, she dedicated the first century of her longevity to travel the rest of the world, learning more about different cultures and most importantly exploring how their human experience through songs and poetry were expressed.

The more she learned of the music and poetry of different lands, the more potent her arsenal became, to the point where her return to the Crimson Courts by the 19th century and her challenging different magi from the Court of Wind for her to gain higher standing in the Courts. She was granted the rank of Master after proving her Harmonic magic to be a very powerful form of Illusion magic. Her music and poetry spoke to the mind and soul so well that it made those who listened and even those who have made themselves deaf for protection but remain in the area where the sound waves travelled believe that the images and situations evoked by her works were real and the effects physically affected them, as if a form of placebo. Joyous odes filled people with bliss, while deathly dirges stopped the hearts of her enemies.

While she earned a high rank in the Courts, she has cut herself off from its politics and instead focused primarily on teaching students and apprentices. And similar to how her old master and husband brought their lessons to many places, she travels the world with her apprentices, using the stipend from being a Master to fund her pupils' expenses during travel. She remains one of the famous Masters of Illusion in the Courts, and is considered a rarity as the other Masters are less keen to take in students and instead restrict themselves to their personal workshops and research. Youlan views this as an outdated method of keeping magic such as her Harmonic magic alive and she honors her husband's tradition of ensuring magi, regardless of their background, can learn the art of Harmonic magic and continue to help it evolve as humanity carries on and brings about new songs, poems, and experiences through artistic expression.

## Personality

As many of her students would say, Youlan can be described as a "Golden Muse" at first glance, due to the aura of musical harmony she exudes, as if she is a shining beacon of the arts. Some even jokingly call her a "Golden Mommy" due to her nurturing side as a teacher as well. Youlan carries a harmonious air about her, much like the melodies she creates. Her presence alone can evoke tranquility and inspiration in those around her, creating an environment where creativity and mutual understanding can flourish. Ever since she started taking in apprentices even before she was a Master for the Courts, Youlan's deep connection to music and poetry has heightened her sensitivity to the emotions of others. She can intuitively grasp the subtle nuances of feelings, allowing her to interact with a heightened sense of empathy and understanding. She is considered to be the reliable mentor that knows exactly what to say in order to brighten the day of her students, or the silver tongue who can talk her way out of even the most trickiest situations. Some describe their encounters with her as Interactions woven into stories by her, turning mundane moments into vivid narratives, as if chapters in an ongoing epic rather than mere everyday conversations. While she certainly has the knack of creating poems and stories and even turning them into vivid songs and compositions, she finds this description of her as flattery and exaggeration. As a mentor and teacher, Youlan's creativity extends to her leadership style. She inspires her students by encouraging them to find their unique artistic voice. The nature of Harmonic Magic emphasizes more on the technical skills of its user in music as well as their creativity, making Youlan the type of teacher that allows her pupils to embrace their own way of expressing themselves artistically. She herself is an extremely skilled musician and poet, capable of playing different instruments from several parts of the word, and a grasp of poetry that lets her give even the most mundane situations an artistic twists in how she describes them through verse. Not only is she a teacher in magic, but from a Sleeper's perspective, she is a very well-read and researched music teacher as she memorized many songs and poems that are from ancient times, especially old Chinese music and verses, and she can just recite them from the top of her head.

Exposure to a myriad of cultures and artistic expressions has cultivated an open-minded attitude in Youlan. She embraces the value in the different ways people express themselves, contributing to her ability to connect with individuals from various backgrounds. Youlan's extensive travels have transformed her into a cultural polymath. Beyond merely appreciating the superficial aspects of different cultures, she delves into their histories, traditions, and societal nuances. This multifaceted understanding allows her to weave intricate layers of meaning into her magical compositions. As her old master and husband has instilled in her, Youlan is acutely aware that her magic's potency is directly linked to her understanding of not just the meaning but also the cultural and historical depth of the songs and poetry she incorporates. By going beyond surface-level interpretations, she taps into the collective emotions and experiences embedded in the cultural tapestry, infusing her magical performances with a richness that captivates the minds and souls of the listeners.

She is a staunch opponent of the more traditional approach to the preservation of specific magics in the Crimson Court. Normally, mage lineages in the Court keep the most important aspects of their family sorcery secret, and only sharing the very basic or superficial side to their craft. Youlan's Harmonic Magic is by nature, the opposite of that tradition, as it draws strength from the different magi from different backgrounds and lineages utilizing the sorcery and evolving it throughout different generations. This disregard of tradition was also influenced by her rise as a mage, since she would have just been some mage's bedchamber spouse in her youth due to her being the last daughter in a mage family, but instead Xián Guǎn showed her how Harmonic Magic could go against what might be considered the norm and even thrive from the deviation. Although she is certainly against certain traditions of the Eight Courts, she remains pragmatic and maintains an amiable, if a bit deviant at times, relationship in the organization so she can continue to get a stipend as a Master and teacher.

Unlike her husband, Youlan was not as chaste and after becoming the Lone Orchid, she has had many close companions and lovers throughout the century. Despite this, she continues to remain unmarried and childless, following her husband's path in life. She wonders about the day when she'll need to pass on the torch to the most promising of her students, but she remains content with still holding the mantle of Harmonist. Much to the disappointment of her students, she has little to no interest in her pupils. The riches she has earned by playing for nobility for centuries have also earned her quite the fortune, and despite her constantly travelling, she has a rather luxurious home hidden in a Border Realm accessed naturally through the wilderness in Chia, although it's mostly used as a retreat for when she needs a place to teach a lot of students in one place and have the tranquil environment.

## Abilities

### Physical Capabilities

Although she does not immediately appear to be physically intimidating, centuries of travel and encounters with not-so-friendly Sleepers and Magi has made her adept at martial arts, mostly for self-defense as well a way to keep her physically fit. While she has prolonged her lifespan, she still needs regular exercise and proper diet to appear young, unlike her husband who just accepted looking like an old man, which she always teased him for.

### Magic

Youlan has become a well-rounded magus over the years, as expected of a Master of the Eight Courts. Her grasp on magic is on par with many of the high-ranking magi in the Courts, but her main specialty is her brand of Illusion sorcery called Harmonic Magic.

#### 和谐魔法 - Harmonic Magic

**Héxié Mófǎ**, also known as Harmonic Magic, is a rare type of Illusion magic developed in China, said to be as old as the first dynasty. Harmonic Magic is unique, in which it relies on the skill of the magus in playing instruments, and or singing songs, as well as writing their own compositions and poems. It of course also involves the fudnamental rule of magic where the mage uses mana to "exert their will" onto Earth's reality and perform otherwise impossible or improbable feats. Through the use of song or poetry, Youlan can impose her own willpower on others, having their minds be exposed to illusory experiences through the principle of "Yīn Hún" or "Music as the Language of the Soul". In layman's terms, Youlan uses her artistic catalysts to impose her own meanings and interpretations of song and poetry into the minds and very souls of those who would listen (and not properly defend themselves by increasing their magical resistance). One prime example is her playing a soothing melody through a flute, and its nurturing aspects casting an illusion of bliss and serenity onto a target's mind. And through the Principle of Music transcending spoken language and "directly" affecting one's very soul, the illusion becomes so strong that the target's mind and body believe that the nurturing is physical and wounds or ailments are cured. Another example of this is Youlan using the Melody of Millennium, a special musical piece that takes years or even decades to master, to affect her very soul and have it age slowly.

As Harmonic Magic relies on the caster's interpretation of the song or poem before it can be actually imposed on the minds and souls of others, a certain song-spell may have different effects on the listener depending on the performer, as not every Harmonist can create the exact same meaning from every composition.

Guòqù Línghún De Huíshēng or "Echoes of Past Souls" is a special technique used by Harmonists that allows them to draw upon their very soul's experiences with instruments and singing and summon an entire orchestra of instruments or choir of singers to aid them when performing a spell. They are of course invisible and exists as mere manifestations of Youlan's experiences in the arts, but they nevertheless elevate the magnitude of her performances. Organized orchestral music and coordinated singers increase the impact of songs in the minds and souls of humans, after all.

One countermeasure to Harmonic Magic is of course blocking out the sound of their performances to nullify their mind-altering effects, and this is certainly true to novices of the magic, but masters such as Youlan can use their mana to will the very vibrations of the songs and poems she performs, where the mere passing of the vibrations of a target's body can already cause them to feel the effects of her Harmonic Magic.

#### 共鸣幻想 - Resonant Fantasy

**Gòngmíng Huànxiǎng** or Resonant Fantasy is another special technique that Harmonics use which is essentially a way of trapping listeners in a Bounded Field in their very minds by imposing the image or idea of a poem/song into their very psyche, to the point where they would feel transported to said Bounded Field where the interpretation of the Harmonist is something the target would feel like is happening to them in real time and also could physically affect them, where in reality, they are just standing there with a blank expression, their consciousness somewhere else. This is one of the more dangerous techniques used in fighting, as Youlan can potentially drive someone insane just by trapping them in the Resonant Fantasy.

One of the most iconic usages of the technique by Youlan was when she was being tested for the rank of Master in the Courts. When she was challenged by a Master of the Court of Thunder in Single Combat. The Thunder Court Master was renowned in martial arts and weapons, and was considered unbeatable, but Youlan had a trick up her sleeve. Using Resonant Fantasy, she imposed unto his mind and soul her interpretation of a poem   from Chapter Four of "The Romance of the Three kingdoms ". Her Echoes of Past Souls conjured booming drums, imposing horns, and a choir to recite the poem as it invaded the mind of the Thunder Court Master.

*董贼潜怀废立图*

*The rebel Dong Zhuo conceived the foul design*

*汉家宗社委丘墟*

*To thrust the Han aside and wrong its line.*

*满朝臣宰皆囊括*

*With folded arms the courtiers stood, save one*

*惟有丁公是丈夫*

*Ding Guan, who dared to cry that wrong was done.*

The Thunder Court Master found himself in the palace courtyard of the old Imperial Capital of Chang'an, Soldiers, ministers, and eunuchs stood in the plaza in an orderly manner. One man stood at the stairs of the palace, the Tyrant Dong Zhuo who stared down at the Master with ridicule. The Master soon heard footsteps behind him, and Lu Bu, the Warrior Without Equal, approached him with his halberd, and was poised to strike. The Master was extremely skilled in combat, but as Lu Bu is interpreted as "a warrior Without Equal, the Master found himself in an illusory duel where he was humbled by Lu Bu in battle. In his mind he fought a long and arduous duel where he saw little chance of winning, but in reality, he was standing there, his hands and feet shaking from the movements he was doing in his mind but his body was not properly following. Such mental prison was enough for Youlan to walk up to him and knock him out, ending the test.

Poems from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms are not the only sources for Resonant Fantasy. In fact most pieces of poetry and music can be used to create fantastical bounded fields and recreate phenomena and events, it is all up to the Harmonist on how to perform them and interpret them so that these images and events can be forcefully imposed onto the minds and souls of others. One comical example was when she kept her sleepy student from dozing off by using Wham's Wake Me Up Before You Go Go and leave them constantly awake for their lessons.