undiscerning | (no subject)

OOC INFORMATION.

NAME: Eli

CONTACT: pm

AGE: over 30

OTHER CHARACTERS: "N/A"

IC INFORMATION.

BASICS

CHARACTER NAME: Xiao Xingchen

CANON: Mo Dao Zu Shi (novel)

CANON POINT: Before he finds Xue Yang on the side of the road.

AGE: early to mid 20s.

BACKGROUND

HISTORY: https://modao-zushi.fandom.com/wiki/Xiao_Xingchen/History

PERSONALITY: Answer three of the following questions. Limit this section to 500-1,000 words in total, or 150-300 words per question.
What impression does your character give when meeting someone for the first time? How does the first impression differ from your character’s true nature?
The thing about Xiao Xingchen is that he's exactly what he presents as. He's a genuinely good man seeking to make the world a better place who through his own well-intentioned actions brought on his own destruction. I wouldn't call him strict, but he does hold himself and others to the same standards of right and wrong, although he's definitely more likely to err on the merciful side depending on circumstances. While he is respected, he's also not aligned with any particular faction which means his choices are tied strictly to his own views and values. And while he is kind, he's also a skilled warrior with a strict code. While he will sacrifice everything for a friend, he's also a formidable enemy.
Growing up sheltered as he did, does also leave him at something of a disadvantage when he's on his own, which is one of the reasons he ends up in the trouble he does. He's aware that the world can be ugly, but not to the extent that some people can be evil and that is honestly one of his major weak points. This is actually shown in how he shows mercy to Xue Yang initially, which in turns leads to Xue Yang seeking revenge by destroying Baixue temple and blinding Song Lan. This in turns leads to the loss of his only friend, the defining relationship in his life at this point and the loss of his sight. This also what leads to his weakness coming to the forefront of his story.

What are some of your character's regrets? How is your character impacted by them?

Song Lan rejecting him and driving him away after the Baixue temple incident is his major regret. Knowing his best friend lost his sight and entire sect due to their actions haunts him and left him with scars that don't heal. While he does end up with another traveling companion, it's more that she attaches herself to him than his own choice. Xingchen does do better with company, enough so he doesn't drive her away, but he's very reticent about his past and doesn't ask questions about those he encounters either. The problem with this is that it leaves him vulnerable to manipulation since he more or less avoids the company of anyone who'd seek information regarding himself or Song Lan.

Xingchen has lost some of the idealism he had before losing the first relationship he'd built since leaving the immortal sect he'd grown up in but he's still trying to make the world better for the regular peoople in the towns he wanders through.

What are your character’s ambitions/goals? Why are they important to your character?
Xingchen is an idealist which is part of how he ended up bonding with Song Lan and their shared goal of starting their own sect willing to accept those with the talent to become cultivators no matter their standing in society. Growing up in an isolated sect free of the social expectations of the gentry sects means he doesn't have the same ingrained bias that seems to run rampant in the major sects. So establishing his own sect would offer a middle ground between the isolation of his own upbringing and the established system which allows those who lack the genealogy to also be able to cultivate if they wish to.
However, with their separation this dream is no longer a main goal and he chooses to spend his time trying to help the people in front of him to leave the world a better place than he found it. Idealistic and lofty goals, but given his sheltered upbringing, they make sense for him. He does operate more realistically, although I do think one thing he wishes for is a reunion with his friend and the chance to achieve that dream.

POWERS

SKILLS/ABILITIES:

Sword cultivation: He's a skilled swordsman, who has the ability to use his qi and the energy surrounding himself to power talismans and attacks when dealing with the undead and monsters in his own world. Cultivation involves Daoist practices that lead to enhancing physical abilities, maintaining a youthful appearance, eventually obtaining immortality, although this one is rare in the Mo Dao Zu Shi universe.

NERFING: He'll be more like a typical blind human without his cultivation to fall back on.

WEAKNESSES: He's blind, so that's the big one. Otherwise, he's more or less a normal human, at this point.

SAMPLES.