Re: Around the World With A New Character Each Week
#147 Auntie Xu (Saint Lucia)
AUNTIE XU
Character Sheet (Click Here)
Background
The cries of a nearby nightingale mingled with the cries of Xu Ling-Ling. The young maid sat next to the river under a maple tree contemplating killing herself. Her master had dismissed her from his estate, all over the mistake of hers. Xu had accidently spilled tea on the silk vestments of the visiting Mongol overseer. In his rage, her master had beaten her with a bamboo rod and then had her thrown from the estate. Xu was inconsolable. The welts across her back throbbed and she dipped a strip of a clothe from her dress in the cool waters of the Fen River to cool down the pain.
It was the clopping of hooves that brought Xu out of her misery. A giggle escaped her lips, before she had time to cover her mouth. Out of the darkness came an ancient man riding a white donkey, backwards. Obviously the man was quite drunk as he swayed back and forth as the donkey, who seemed to know where he was going, walked.
The donkey walked up to Xu and nuzzled her hand looking for some sweets. Xu tried to push the beasts head away but it persisted.
"I am so sorry," said Xu Lin-Ling to the donkey, "I have no treats to give you."
"Huh," said the ancient man turning in his saddle to look at Xu, and promptly fell off the donkey.
Worried that the old man might have injured himself Xu rushed to his side.
He tried to brush Xu off saying that he was fine, and had only hurt his pride. With the help of Xu the elderly man was able to regain his feet. The donkey barely noticed this being too busy drinking from the river. The man swayed a little, but Xu did her best to keep him from falling again.
"Now my child," said the ancient, "Why all the fuss? Why all the tears? The night is young, and the nightingales sing. This is a time of contimplation, a time to reflect, a time for a drink."
So saying the old man pulled forth a bottle from the long sleeves of his sparkling white robes, and took a long pull upon the bottle. A warm glow seemed to enfuse the old man. He let out a long sigh after his drink, which was followed by a belch.
"Excuse me my dear," said the ancient man, "That was most rude of me."
The man turned around as if looking for a place to sit. Finding no chair or stool, he merely sat down in the dirt next to the river. Xu was horrified. She was certain that he would ruin his fine robes, and told him so.
"Please, please my dear," said the man, "Do not carry on so."
This just seemed to have the opposite effect on Xu. She burst out in tears.
Xu's tears seemed to sober the old man somewhat. In desperation, he offered her his bottle, but Xu turned face away. The ancient man scratched his head a little, and then his eye lit up.
"Perhaps," said the old man, "you are hungry instead?"
A grumbling from Xu's stomach was answer enough. From his other sleeve the old man pulled out a wonderful looking peach. It was golden yellow and seemed to glow in the moon light.
With a smile the man held it out to Xu. She just starred at the peach.
"I cannot take it," said Xu, "It would be wrong."
"Perhaps, you are right my dear," said the old man, "Perhaps an exchange. You tell me what goes on hereabout, and while you do you may take of this peach that me and the others of my clan partake."
Smiling through the tears that plastered her face Xu took the peach.
"A word of warning though," said the old man a little to late. Xu had been starving and had already bitten into the fruit. The juices were light and tangy like ambrosia, the flesh of the fruit was the sweetest thing she had ever eaten. It was heaven.
The old man said no more, and all through the night Xu told him all that she knew, and when the dawn crested the horizon the old man was quite satisfied, and smiled on Xu.
That meeting with Elder Zhang Guo, one of the eight immortals was centuries ago. He had given Xu Ling-Ling one of his peaches of immortality. Xu has traveled the world a thousand times over, and has been countless people. However, even all of this became too much. For Xu it was time to retire. Using her fortune, Xu constructed a boardhouse in Saint Lucia, and decided to stay awhile. To the natives of Saint Lucia, she's known as Auntie Xu a local favorite. However, there are a few super-powered people in the Caribbean who've tried to attack the people on Saint Lucia. All of them were in quite a suprise from this little Chinese lady called Auntie Xu.
Personality
Auntie Xu is a well liked person on the island. She's always caring for the children and the sick. Auntie Xu does her best to make sure everyone is healthy. While she does run a boarding house, she often times lets her renters fall behind on their rents. However, the one who disrespects Auntie Xu in anyway finds themselves flung to the road, usually with the aid of Auntie Xu's broom.
Auntie Xu is normally a very calm and philosophical woman, radiating serentity whereever she goes. Nothing ever upsets her, except for possibly rude people. Her one real weakness, is that Auntie Xu loves to gossip. She has even made a profession of it. If there is something that Auntie Xu doesn't know she certainly knows the person to talk to about it. Auntie Xu likes to keep abreasted of everything that goes on, and most people don't mind.
Quote
"No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see."
Powers
Believe it or not, but Xu Ling-Ling is probably the greatest martial artist in the world. However, Auntie Xu as she's known the island over isn't one to brag, let alone let most people even see her perform her form of martial arts, which she calls Broom Fu. Part of her style comes from centuries of practice, but some of it comes from the Peaches of Immortality that she ate. Needless to say even the most experienced martial arts cannot hold a candle to Auntie Xu.
Her Broom Fu is quite impressive. Auntie Xu can use all parts of her broom to deal damage to a foe from the end of the broom to the brissles at the other end. She's adapted some parts of accupuncture to an attack that paralyzes the victim, so that they cannot move until freed by similar means.
Other abilites that Auntie Xu has aquired over her long life is the ability to leap from place to place with what appears to be no effort. One moments she could be standing in front of someone, and the next she could be halfway across the island. Auntie Xu has also seen it all, and nothing really impresses her much anymore. Pirates, and other thugs have left her alone just because of the fact that they couldn't intemindate her.
Auntie Xu knows the ancient Chinese art of accupuncture, and often times acts as a doctor for the peoples of the island. Her helping others on the island makes the islanders quite protective of her. Often times people coming looking for Auntie Xu will not find her simply because the islanders will mislead the person, or just not answer their questions.
Lastly, Auntie Xu is immortal. She gained this by unknowingly eating of the Peaches of Immortality.
Appearance
Xu Ling-Ling isn't very tall. That is probably the first impression anyone makes upon meeting her. The second is that she's a Chinese woman living on an island in the Caribbean. Auntie Xu's normal way of dressing is a green dress with matching slippers. She isn't a super-hero, and certainly doesn't dress like one. Usually not far from her hands is her trusty broom. Since Auntie Xu likes to keep it a secret that she's immortal she over time adds makeup and coloring to her hair to make her look older. When it is time to change identities, Auntie Xu pretends to retire back to China, and has a granddaughter from China take her place. No one has ever figured out that the new Auntie Xu is the same person.
