Courage

Hailing from a foreign land, Xiao is an unwelcomed figure in Japan. The Chinese Warlord, eager for conquest gathered her armies and traveled East. Dedicated to eradicating the land of blights upon the beautiful earth, her ideals can be a bit... over zealous. Hailing from a nomadic tribe, she differs greatly from the nobility, and civilized social elites of her country. Her upbringing guiding her to be humble to the earth, and fierce in her resolve. Though she has risen from a less than ideal past, she has proven to be educated and analytical. Providing faultless manuevers and strategies which helped her gain rank in her endeavors. It is with such knowledge and a progressive prowess upon the battle field that at such a young age she raised to the status of a Warlord. || Despite such efforts, she is still belittled and frowned upon by those -corrupted with greed- who have seats of power amongst nobility. It is this reason she has sought conquest and ventured further east into Foreign territory in an effort to prove herself worthy of the Gods and of her people. Though she does not speak out often, she can be compassionate. Even if it's simply about spilling blood in sacrifice to the Gods.

Understanding

There is little to life, that can not be earned. That which is not earned, can not be enjoyed to its fullest. This was a lesson learned in the early years of Xiao's childhood. Though she was the first born to the Nomadic Tribes leader, succession was not a guarantee. From birth, there were many a great expectations of the female child. Born with an innate affinity for Nature, there was no stopping her given their constant enviornment. Even in infancy Xiao was a quiet child, intelligent, but rather than acting out she usually spent her time watching. Studying. Into her toddler years, she began acting. Not in the way most children did, wondering at the world, she wondered at the art of battle. Often spending her time quietly listening to the stories of war from her elders. As she became a teenager, she expressed a great prowess in battle. A sharp mind built for tactical, strategic approaches. A natural affinity for Nature based magics had proven to be useful, even if her chosen skill was with a bow.

She imbued her bow and arrows with a part of herself, embedding her magic deep within the handmade weapons, sealing them with blood and sweat and tears. In the beginning, her father always told her it would never be enough to save her, but it would be enough to lead their people in victory, should it ever arise. Even with the birth of her younger sister, the attention never strayed from Xiao. Even when Yesheng promoted a more open attitude towards the world, and a physical attunement with stone. It was these very differences that drew Xiao to truly connect with Yesheng in their adolescence. She used her sisters power for her own gain and vice versa. Yesheng held no desire to take their fathers place, she supported Xiao whole heartedly, believing she was the strongest of the siblings. Whether that faith swayed when their brother was born. Xiao never knew. When Xiao turned 14, her father had told her, that one day... she would be a queen. A promise she assured him as ridiculous, she was going to be a warrior!

The reality of her fathers words sank in a year later, when at 15 Xiao was sent away with a convoy from the Emperor. Though she did not understand, exactly, what the Emperor wanted with her... she used the opportunity in her advantage. Upon her arrival to the Palace, a thief was making an attempt to escape with valuables belonging to the Empress. In earnest to instill justice, Xiao reacted out of instinct. Not only did she stop the thief, who had evaded Royal forces, she prevented the thief from taking the Emperors Life. In the split moment it took her to conjure her vines and pierce the thiefs heart with an arrow... the Thief had drawn a weapon to strike down the man who stood in his way. That man, had been the Emperor. Impressed, and indebted to Xiao, the Emperor allowed her to plead her case. He agreed to allow her to enlist in his army, to serve her years as his loyal hound.

By the time Xiao was twenty, she had wormed her way from the bottom. Taking control as Captain, and soon General. For the following six years she served the Emperor. Putting her life on the line to ensure his will was met, to ensure that his enemies trembled merely at the mention of his name. Though, as she turned twenty-six, Xiao felt severely insulted. The Emperor had claimed that Xiao's time as a warrior was enough, it was time she become a woman. Settle down and learn to be a proper wife. He had given her a weeks time to choose her successor and say her farewells to her army. Rather than follow her orders, Xiao refused to ever meet her Fiance, rather she used that time to gather her men and supplies. Preparing a sizable armada to take to the seas. She headed east to Japan. She would conquer Japan in the name of China and prove to the emperor, she was worth more as a warrior than she ever would be a simple wife.