NAME: Kong Liu NICKNAMES: K, Kong, Wind of the East AGE: 32 DATE OF BIRTH: May 1889
MARITAL STATUS: Single SEXUALITY: Fluid
OCCUPATION: Wind Dancer TIER LVEL: 3 DATE JOINED ZION: 1918 HOMETOWN: China CURRENT RESIDENCE: Zion PARENTS: Wang Liu (father), Fei Hong (mother) SIBLINGS: Here
NAME: Rae AGE: Old DISCORD: Theraeness#1928 PLAYED-BY: David Chiang CONTACT:dropbox TIME ZONE: Central
PERSONALITY
Wisdom and intellect course through his veins like his very lifeblood. Ideas surface from after his time and while they may not be yet implemented due to restrictions of the age he records them nonetheless. Life is a journey and filled with surprises yet to be discovered. Though he can come off as stoic or cold, Kong is far from it once you have been deemed worthy to enter his small circle of trust. Once you have earned that trust you have a lifelong, albeit fickle, friend.
Focused, determined, driven, yet resourceful, he has learned to navigate through a harsh, dark world. From a young age Kong was instructed to be self-reliant, to guard his heart, and to not trust those with sweet words and big promises. A man of many secrets those close have only breached the surface of his extent of knowledge and solid will. As you earn the smile you shall receive it, otherwise expect silent observation, astute listening skills, and busy hands.
When it comes to matters of the heart Kong will never confess to being in love with any one, singular being. He couldn’t give his heart to any even if he wanted to due to the fact that he closely resembles the capricious breeze. Trying to understand a commitment of such magnitude is often lost upon him as smart as he is. That, and many are unable to get over his inability to see and think they can control him because of that slight.
Kong is not outspoken. He is reserved, humble, but proud of who he is and what he can do. He’s not showy, or flashy, exotic, or overly dominating but what he lacks in aggression he makes up for in many other aspects.
APPEARANCE
Lithe, tall (standing at 6’2”), lean. Kong is willowy but slightly toned, opting for keeping himself in good health rather than sculpted. His olive skin is soft, supple. Long, pin straight, ebony hair flows down to the small of his back that he often keeps untamed. Only when he is performing does he do his best to put it up in a traditional style though often it finds itself slipping free and fluttering. Full lips are pink and though he once had dark brown eyes the color of the earth they are now covered with a white veil which masks any color at all, giving them the appearance of being milky.
Because of his element it’s not uncommon to see Kong’s hair fluttering or billowing even without the wind blowing. Inside or outside his hair can be in a constant state of subtle motion which serves to enhance the ethereal beauty he exudes. His smile is wide, kind, eager. Not one to be the most posh or chic when it comes to appearance he opts for comfort over luxury knowing that he could have the finest things if he chose to. Much like his hair, his clothes will billow or flap even indoors. Because of his inability to see, Kong is almost always with a long stick that was carved for him exclusively that he uses to get around and so as not to bump into anyone or anything while in motion. This is also to keep appearances up that he is human only, and not more than he seems.
His dwelling is a small, humble wagon. Those privileged to enter the abode would find an amount of books in various stages of consumption, many of which had been translated into braille, an assortment of trinkets gathered from his travels, an old tea set, and a modest but comfortable bed big enough to fit two though mostly it is only him.
10 THINGS
01. Kong means sky, Liu means flowing. 02. Trained in martial arts. 03. Loves to sing. 04. Can cook. 05. Adores the rain. 06. Is blind. 07. Prefers cats to dogs. 08. Enjoys painting. 09. Has the air element. 10. Good listener.
ABOUT
Species:Air Elemental
This includes and is not limited to all aspects of air and its movement, including sound moving through the air and many aspects of the weather. While Kong cannot control the weather, his influence upon it can be determined upon his focus and the reason. As is tradition in their culture, his primary focus rallies around anything to do with the wind, the air, and anything that might be contingent or exist upon or within in. For centuries, his people have been guardians of the Air Element in an effort to protect the ability and hone it’s skill for the use of furthering mankind and the planet. Air elementals can shift air currents and hear distant voices on the wind.
Those with the Air Element abilities can possess immortal qualities in some aspects. Kong is not affected by strong winds, even gale force or cyclonic in nature, for example. Nor will he succumb to blizzards, heavy rains, lightening. However this is dependent solely upon his focus. If he is distracted his ability to manipulate his gifts lessens and can cause more damage than good. He can still be harmed by everyday dangers: plague, illness, pollution, sunburn, exposure, temperature, and man-made dangers like weapons. Sharp wind, rain, or anything derived by the element himself he can withstand and will not affect him (i.e. he cannot be blown away) but he can be struck by lightening the same as anyone else, he does get soaked when it rains, but he cannot be deprived of oxygen or suffocate. This can also take a toll on ones mental state and can cause nosebleeds, migraines, headaches, or blackouts in those in the earlier stages of ability control.
Anything that can be blown around - paper airplanes, leaves, up to large objects like people can be affected by his ability. Focus can be draining. It isn’t uncommon for Kong to have to rest and refuel, sometimes for days, depending on the extent that his ability has been used and on what. For the sake of performance he uses little of his actual ability that could be considered draining. Even extended performances don’t sap as much energy as trying to whip up a tornado or blow someone off of their feet if they posed a danger to him.
Like many others who are without sight Kong has been graced with enhanced senses, particularly in the area of hearing. This allows him to better navigate through a permanent darkness with grace and dignity. Using sounds around him he is able to detect where objects or people might be in relation to where he is. This does not give him sight nor does it compensate for depth perception, it only aids in movement in small spaces or getting around places. In those few, sacred places that he is familiar with he does not use his stick and seems to navigate solely on memory. If something is out of place or shifts without him realizing it, though, he is apt to knock someone/thing over or even tumble himself.
History:
China was plagued with war. Across it’s expansive lands were warlords tearing at the economy, battling each other for control of the government and resources for an ever-growing population. Citizens of the country worked hard and received very little in compensation, mostly out of fear or repay debt. The port towns like Shanghai were dominated by foreign nations who sought to stake claim on the land and keep the Chinese from receiving critical shipments from trade without negotiation that favored the other, outside entities. The Qing Dynasty was in full effect. War was always on the cusp of the horizon, even in the more peaceful and secluded of places.
Carried by the wind were tales of the fallen, the cries of the dying, the fields of rice and crops poisoned with blood. This news reached the ears of the Feng. Since anyone could remember the small group of Chinese had protected the legends of the wind and the air. Nearly lost to word of mouth alone, the people fled into the mountains of China in an effort to preserve their culture and teachings. There were few, according to the legends, who were selected to receive the blessings of the air. Many of the villagers came to the temple to beg to be gifted, to be touched and cleansed if only to save China from the maddening destruction of war and bloodshed and dominance.
The Liu family went back centuries as protectors of the Wind, the family sworn to keep it’s secrets. The line was blessed with the ability to manipulate, control, and will the very air at their beckoning though the gift skipped generations. Children were taught to preserve the legends, to tell none of the secrets nor reveal what those of the small village could do. The drawback to the gift was that any it was bestowed upon were rendered blind. Any children who began to show the signs were put through a series of trials, tested to ensure that the ability was there, and once determined to possess the gift a blinding ritual began. The ritual was performed in an effort to ensure that no distractions would overcome any with the gift. Full focus was the key to ultimate control over one’s abilities and ridding oneself of distraction gave way to enlightenment.
The child would be taught to be intellectual, how to use their ability to serve those that could not help themselves, to be cautious yet graceful. Martial Arts were a large part of the regimen and training. Fight only when necessary.
In the tradition, the gift usually was bestowed upon the male’s of the village. The same was upheld when Kong began to show signs of the ability. Around age five he found he could make the pebbles roll on their own simply by making himself focus hard enough. Before he knew it his sight was taken and he was whisked away to train with the elders who possessed the same ability. Time had seemed to slow and as he aged, Kong honed his gift and was an honored, humble pupil.
Like any great civilization, Kong’s village was discovered and eventually burned to the ground. One of a few remaining survivors, with aid he fled and ended up in a place known as Zion. Zion was a haven for someone like himself seeking safe refuge. While he will never get the full benefit of the sights that the Carnival relocates to, he finds that what he lacks in sightseeing he makes up for in other ways.
The Act:
When you first approach the podium that lay outside the seemingly small tent a man with a large smile and a convincing tone lures patrons with the promise of surprise. For a five cent piece the allure of awe and wonder await just beyond the curtain. Once the patrons step inside they’re facing a small stage area that is set up to inspire. The ambiance is relaxing, a soft, playful breeze is felt but none would feel chilled.
Out would step the Wind of the East - the man few really know but many hope to. He takes the center part of the stage dressed in ceremonial Chinese garb that on its own seems to billow and flutter, causing many colors to illuminate. Or is that only an illusion? A black scarf is tied gently around the eyes of the man in the middle, hair twisted and pinned up though even the audience can tell it wishes to free itself from its tangled burden.
The show begins quietly, telling the story of his people and the ritual of those who are given the gift of the Air. The sacred, secret teachings told from beginning to end for paying customers. The wind seems to die down all at once leaving a calming stillness. And then the wonder begins as the man lifts his hands. His legs move, carrying him in a ritualistic dance of his people, one he learned decades ago and now replicates time and time again with practiced ease. Around him leaves, flowers, even paper shapes begin to flutter as if dancing alongside him. The parchment is inscribed with a single Chinese character in careful, yet precise and elegant hand writing and they float to the guests for keepsakes. The tale tells of the young child who sacrifices his sight for the gift, the struggle to find the balance between the life and the ability and their place in the world. It’s a tale of woe, heartache, but pride and humble determination to carry on the legacy and traditions.
Music plays all the while in the background, wrong for the dance but orchestrated by those of the carnival and not of his lineage but they would never know. The dance is performed and when it is over everything stills once more as if it had never been disturbed in the first place. Patrons leave with a sense of calm and peace that they had not felt upon entering.