application to mask or menace

[deadwenwalking]

application page

PLAYER INFORMATION

PLAYER NAME: Lauren (she/her)
PLAYER CONTACT: laverinth | laverinth#9043
CURRENT CHARACTERS: none
RETURNING CHARACTER?: n

CHARACTER INFORMATION

CHARACTER NAME: Ning Wen, courtesy name Qionglin
(referred to as Wen Ning in the application and in game)
JOURNAL: deadwenwalking
CANON: The Untamed
CANON POINT: end of series (pre-movie)
AGE: 30+ (looks more in his 20s because ~magic~)
ALIAS: Ghost General

SYNOPSIS:

Wen Ning was a member of the QishanWen sect, the original antagonists of the series. As a child he had part of his soul taken by an enchanted statue and was left sensitive to certain magics afterward. He and his sister became close with the protagonists, which was the only thing that saved a handful of his clan members when everyone turned on their people as a whole after their leader's defeat. Wen Qing, his sister, goes to find help when she and her brother are seprated. She finds Wei Wuxian, and he helps her locate Wen Ning - too late to save him from harm. Not knowing that he wasn't dead but only near death, Wen Ning ends up being brought back as a "Puppet" by Wei Wuxian, who is later able to return his consciousness to him.

The two stayed with him along with what remained of their clan after its defeat by the other united sects, but after Wen Ning (while being controlled) accidentally kills Wei Wuxian's sister's fiance in an ambush they turn themselves in for punishment. His sister and the rest of his clan, save for one child, are killed while Wen Ning, unbeknownst to everyone, is kept locked up for the current ruling clan's future use. Only when Wei Wuxian returns years later does he wake back up and reunite with his master.

With no one else to turn to, Wen Ning follows Wei Wuxian around to help out when needed until he's finally able to travel along with him and Lan Wangji without hiding. He's ecstatic to find out that his young cousin is not only still alive, but has been close by as a disciple of the Lan clan this whole time. At the end of the series, he decides to go off on his own and build a proper cenotaph for his fallen people.

ADAPTATION:

Being from ~ancient fantasy China~ Wen Ning will have to adapt to how out of time he is. He's not going to recognize most of the food served here, much less all the technology. Though he'll be given a hand in that regard seeing as he's interacting with the fractured AU version of Wei Wuxian who's been in that world for several years and has adapted somewhat.

That being said, Wen Ning lives to help people. He doesn't normally get to, given his world's opinion of him and his family. He's extremely loyal to those close to him, and he would stay by the side of people he knows at first. But with the option to go out on his own without everyone being afraid of him, he might eventually step into the hero territory.

PRESENTATION:

Wen Ning is viewed fairly negatively in his own world on account of being considered the Yiling Patriarch's lapdog, but for people who don't recognize him as that on sight he's just a tall, quiet individual who avoids eye contact. He can look intimidating, given his pale skin, the visible marks on his neck, and the dark clothes he usually wears - so if he's being serious people will keep their distance. But when he's casually walking through town he's been teased multiple times for being an easy target, and he doesn't want to hurt anyone which means he puts up with it or even calls for help in those situations.

He fluctuates between scary serious and socially awkward depending on the situation, and can talk with a bit of a stammer when nervous. That happens less often now than it used to, but he does hesitate between phrases more often than the average person. He's matured a lot since he he first met Wei Wuxian and the others, and while his old goofy nature still makes appearances he can become all business when he needs to be.

PSYCHOLOGY:

Something of a weakling from a young age, Wen Ning was content to spend most of his life in his sister's shadow. He is extremely grateful to anyone who's helped either of them and will always go out of his way to repay any debts. He's very subservient, having few ambitions of his own until the end of the series where he finally intends to go off and live a life for himself.

He does feel guilt for many of the things he's done while being controlled, even though he couldn't help what happened. He still blames himself for the outcome. While it was not Wei Wuxian but another who actually took control and directed him to kill Jin Ling's father (at least in the drama), he accepts punishment for the action as though it had been on purpose.

He's slowly gained more confidence in himself as a person, but he still has a long ways to go. He knows he needs to focus on himself as an individual and not just a follower, but he's still going to want to look out for the people he cares for. It's a matter of baby steps in the right direction. He's not as naïve as he used to be.

POWERS:

• POWER #1: conscious puppet

  DESCRIPTION:

  In the original book, Wen Ning was a "fierce corpse" - or a zombie who retained the ability to think for themself. Due to censorship of anything involving necromancy in mainland China, this was changed so that he's now a "puppet" instead. It's kind of this weird not-quite-human state that isn't entirely explained in the series so I have to wrangle together some rules the best I can. He still breathes and bleeds like a normal person, but he can't cry (because this was an awkward carry-over from the book). He can eat, but it seems like he probably doesn't need to eat or sleep as much as the average person. I have it so that he still needs to at some point or he will get worn out.
  
  As a puppet, he's far stronger than a regular human, and able to endure more pain. He's been shown to be able to lift large, very heavy objects with his bare hands and he's also easily punched a hole through someone's ribcage with his fist. Typically the extra strength requires building up resentful/demonic energy and letting the temper he usually keeps hidden away come to the surface. He can be controlled and directed by Wei Wuxian's music and the Stygian Tiger Amulet. Even while not fully conscious he's been described as difficult to control by anyone else and he did not respond to Xue Yang's attempts to do so.

  WEAKNESS:

  He's not invincible. He can still be cut, stabbed, punched, you name it, like any other person. He can be killed. Despite his resistance to control from others that doesn't mean it's impossible - especially if the controller is able to mimic Wei Wuxian's techniques. This is what happened (at least in the drama) during the ambush that led to Jin Zixuan's death.
  
  Magic-wise, he's also considered something of a demonic entity, meaning that wards and talismans meant to protect against evil spirits will also make things uncomfortable for him.

• POWER #2: cultivation

  DESCRIPTION:

  Before Wen Ning became a puppet he was a cultivator, someone who "cultivates" spiritual energy into a golden core that can then be used to power various abilities. Unfortunately we don't get to see many of those abilities in action, but he does originally carry a sword like all other cultivators. We don't see him flying on said sword, but we can assume he can by the way his sister doesn't panic for him at first when they need to get on their swords to avoid a creature in the lake in earlier episodes. He can "fly" short distances on his own, which we see him do many times after being changed. He can also wield Wei Wuxian's sword once it's been unsheathed for him without being worn out, meaning he can provide the energy needed to sustain its use. We can therefore assume that the core remains in him, even if he's not a particularly strong user of cultivator abilities on their own and instead relies on the strength given to him as a puppet. Basic skills aren't beyond him.
  
  In the drama he's not shown to ever use his own sword again, but in the movie follow-up he's able to control a set of chains, moving them around in a sort of telekinetic fashion. I'm not pulling him from the movie as I don't think it's a good representation of his character, but I do believe in the potential development of his abilities and like to leave that open as a possibility. It comes with further improvement of his own mental strength.

  WEAKNESS:

  Proper use of cultivation requires dedication and focus. Many cultivators don't reach a high enough level, even after developing a golden core, to use some of the more powerful techniques. Failing to keep one's energies properly balanced and maintained can result in qi deviation and ultimately the death of the user. A cultivator can also only create one golden core in their lifetime, and if that is destroyed they'll never be able to make another and therefore never use any spiritual techniques ever again.
  
  In addition, many techniques require an item, like a sword or an instrument, to focus their energies through.

• POWER #3: spiritual susceptibility

  DESCRIPTION:

  This isn't much of a power so much as it's a separate weakness that sometimes proves useful. Wen Ning is missing a portion of his soul on account of that incident as a child and this makes him more open to spiritual influence. It also makes it easier for him to feel when certain powerful objects or beings are nearby. It's not a hugely reliable ability, but he has on occasion been asked if he senses anything. (Because of the change in his backstory, this ability only pertains to the drama version of this character.)

  WEAKNESS:

  Being too open to spiritual energies is already not that great of an issue to have. He's an easy target for possession, and actually was possessed by the spirit of Nie Mingjue's saber for a time at the end of the drama.

SKILLS:

Wen Ning was part of a small branch of the Wen Clan that specialized in medicine over combat. His sister was an expert in the field and he learned some from her but wasn't especially talented in it. He would have basic medicinal knowledge and perhaps a few extra things taught by her, but he wouldn't be able to improvise much or do major procedures.

He's also very talented in archery, or used to be. He hasn't practiced it in some time so he might be a little rusty but it should be something he could easily pick up again.

IN-GAME DEVELOPMENT:

n/a

SAMPLES

THREAD SAMPLE:

Here!

VOICE SAMPLE:

1. "Is there anyone who holds a grudge against you? What will you do if they're here?"
   I think there are many people who hold a grudge against me. And... well I don't blame them. I've caused a lot of trouble in the past, and if they want to take their anger out on me I wouldn't mind - as long as they don't involve anyone else.
2. "Have you ever killed anyone? What was your reason?"
   I've killed a lot of people. Some of it I did to protect my friends and family. Some of it I don't remember doing, but that doesn't mean I don't feel bad about it. My sister... she used to tell me we were the healers of our clan - that we don't kill. I'm sorry I wasn't able to live up to that.
3. "Do you feel that every life is equal in value? What makes someone less deserving?"
   This is a hard question... Everyone is going to value a life differently, aren't they? I think... on some level we're all equal. But we also do things that make us unequal in the eyes of others. I might hate someone for some wrong they did me... but they might have family at home who thinks they make the sun rise and fall. So I guess... I can't judge anyone's actual worth. I can only feel a certain way about them. Is that too confusing?
4. "Do you believe in second chances? What would be the exception?"
   I think I would have to... or else I wouldn't be here. And for someone who's gotten that chance I don't think it would be fair for me to say what an exception would be.
5. "What do you need from this world in order to consider it your home?"
   Someone who needs me here. I think... that's really all it is.