"In him I put not my trust, for I know what he is. A man of ambition. But he is necessary. Ours shall be an alliance. The Wolf and the Dragon. We shall not be stopped. We shall not be bound. A downfall is coming."
-Astrea
General Zhi is a cunning and respected Wu Lin leader who rose to prominence after the "Ghost Festival Catastrophe." He aims to unite the Wu Lin and make them a major player in the struggle for Heathmoor. For this purpose, he has been amassing support and, where necessary, rid himself of rivals, even through deceit. In a play for power, he would ally himself with the Horkos and Astrea, ceremoniously gifting her the Starfall Sword, a mythical Wu Lin weapon and a symbol of peace between warring factions. In secret however, he would already plan his betrayal.
He is the basis for For Honor's 15th Hero Skin for the Zhanhu.
Overview[]
War has torn apart the Wu Lin empire for generations. And although most believe the strife will never come to an end, the Zhanhu General Zhi is determined to achieve the impossible. Even if that means being the most ruthless strategist the Wu Lin have ever seen. With the Starfall Sword, a legendary weapon forged from a meteorite that holds great reverence to his people, Zhi intends to forge an alliance with the Horkos. But that is only one part of a much larger plan. With Astrea coming to him, Zhi intends to finally restore honor to his Faction.
As winter sets in on Heathmoor and Frost Wind celebrations stir, he has invited the Warmonger to a windswept harbor under his control, offering the fabled sword as a token of allegiance. He knows her thirst for dominance mirrors his own. Yet, behind the formalities, Zhi's mind churns with stratagems, preparing for the next steps of his plan. In his heart, Zhi carries both the scars of war and the hope for a future where his people rise from the ashes, finally united under his banner.
Appearance[]
General Zhi's fine armour is adorned with ornaments of both dragons and snakes. His upper body and arms are protected by scale armour which he wears over a dress of fine silk, while distinctly wearing gauntlets with claw-like appendages. Zhi's armour shows slight signs of battle and wear, as he is not only a cunning leader, but also a skilled fighter. All of this is tied together by a cloak which mysteriously floats around him.
His helmet has the appearance of a snake's head, its sides folded upwards and decorated to look like wings. The top of the helmet mimics a Guan (Chinese: 冠), a type of Chinese noble headwear.
He wields the Starfall Sword, secretly known as the Serpent Sword. The blade is engraved with scales, distinctly designed in two parts: the forte (lower portion) incorporates a constellation of gems pulsing with energy, symbolizing the sword's celestial origins, along with four spiked edges at four of the seven constellation points; the upper section of the blade and tip are wavy. Combined with a dragon's head-shaped pommel at the end of the handle, the whole sword has an appearance of a mythical serpent.
Biography[]
The Serpent - Part 1[]
A long time ago, before the earth shook and when the light was still young, there was a great war. Two armies, locked in battle for what some perceived to be ages. Warriors died by the thousands. Over time, the reasons for the battle were lost to them. All anyone remembered was the anger. The need to fight. And so weapons were forged. Blood continued to spill. But then, one night changed everything.
After regrouping, the two armies were about to charge into battle yet again. That was when it came. A silvery light, plucked from the sky. Twinkling as it fell, rumbling and burning as it grew closer. Before the two armies could once again clash on the battlefield, it hit the ground, fire roiling, grass burning and dirt splattering. The explosion hushed the two armies, every warrior brought to a standstill. Leaders from both sides walked to the crater, looking down at a rock not of this world. They took it as a sign - intervention from the heavens. Fate made manifest.
The time of battle was over. The two armies came to an understanding. No more pain and suffering. No more death. Now had come the time of peace.
Blacksmiths from both sides were called forth, and together, they used metal from the fallen rock to forge a weapon, one whose blade reflected the very stars under which it was made: the Starfall Sword. A symbol of peace, of understanding. Fealty. A sword that would, throughout time, be given in times of great turmoil. A gift meant to put aside our differences. Something to make us - the Wu Lin - stronger.
With his story over, General Zhi looked down at the weapon in front of him. Both his palms rested on the table, the Starfall Sword gleaming in the firelight. Then he looked up, at the opposite end of the table. There sat Lord Shun, a renowned Jiang Jun warrior who commanded respect - an old man with many victories under his belt whose frown served as an impenetrable helm. He was flanked by his guards: two sitting at his side, and a row of five standing behind them. They all stared at Zhi, as stoic as their lordship. A lesser man would have been vexed. But that was not who Zhi was.
The General had attained his title with blood. With the broken-and-twice-mended knuckles on his hands. With the respect of his men, and banners only raised once he attained power. And above all, with ruthlessness.
The Serpent - Part 2[]
"I am more than familiar with the legend of the Starfall Sword, General Zhi," Shun said flatly. "But that still does not answer the question I asked you: why have you summoned me here?"
The question was as cold as the wind whistling outside the warmth of these halls. To Zhi, the answer was obvious. Perhaps Shun was not as smart as he thought he was.
Leaving the sword on the table, Zhi moved to the side, towards his guest. "Too long have we been divided, the General declared. "At war with one another. I seek to finally put an end to our internal conflict."
"You want me to join you?" Shun held back a laugh, then let it out. It took over the entire room, filling the otherwise silent hall with a tension as sharp as Shun's own guandao. When he was done laughing, the Lord squared his shoulders. "Let me tell you something," Shun continued, condescension in his tone. "I know what you have been up to, ever since the Hungry Ghost Festival catastrophe. You are growing in power, amassing more and more men behind you. And it seems to have gotten to your head, Zhi. Here is the truth: you were just at the right place, at the right time. You got lucky. You think you can, what? Save us? Unite us? There is nothing special about you."
Zhi stopped his hand from curling into a fist. He held back the anger bubbling inside of him. He hadn't gotten where he was now by reacting irrationally. This was all going according to plan. But still, Shun's entitlement and false sense of superiority gnawed at his patience. "No, Shun, I don't expect to save anyone. What I'm interested in... is greatness."
With these words, Zhi moved ever closer to the end of the table. He noticed Shun's guards tense, ever so slightly.
"Knights, Vikings, Samurai... they are all anyone talks about. In Heathmoor," Zhi scoffed, "we are nothing short of an afterthought." At this point, Zhi circled past the guard sitting to Shun's right, and stopped in front of the five warriors standing behind. "I want to restore honor to the Wu Lin name," he continued. "It's time for all to recognize us. Time for all... to fear us."
The dagger was in Zhi's hand before any guard could react. He slit the first guard's throat and, in one effortless twirl, circled around to stab another in the heart.
The remaining guards erupted into battle, unsheathing weapons and screaming of treason. No, that is what none of them understood. This was not treason. This was Zhi thinning out the herd. To make it stronger. To make it something to be proud of.
The Serpent - Part 3[]
They swung at him and, with elegant twirls and side steps, he avoided their blades. A step back here, another there -- with every move, Zhi inched closer to his side of the table. He blocked an arm and broke it, before lodging the blade into the guard's side. The warrior fell back, taking the weapon away from Zhi. But it didn't matter, for the Starfall Sword was now within reach.
The ceremonial sword now in his grasp, Zhi leaped on the table, his robes whirling and flapping with grace, and he got to work.
***
He had asked for privacy. His personal guard had offered to be in the room with him. But he had insisted. This was something he felt he needed to do on his own. And now, it was almost done.
Fresh blood covered the walls in spots and streaks, all the way up to the ceiling. General Zhi stepped over the bodies scattered on the floor - left foot over an arm, his right next to a severed head. He was careful not to bother them. With a clean piece of cloth, he wiped the blade of the Starfall Sword, making sure to remove all traces of blood off the ancient weapon. And as he did, he approached his final victim.
Lord Shun was lying on the ground, one hand trying to stop the profuse amount of blood spilling from his stomach. And with his other, he clawed at the ground, desperately trying to reach the door. He barely moved an inch.
"I wonder," Zhi calmly said, "if you are as familiar with the legend of the Starfall Sword as you claim... Do you know of its other name?"
Shun gasped for air, spitting up blood.
"No, I don't suppose you do," Zhi continued. "It's not commonly known. It's a name only whispered by those who have wielded it. A secret passed down only to the very few."
The Jiang Jun attempted to curse at him, but all that came out of his mouth was a gargle of suffering. Zhi reached him, standing tall. Mighty. Heartless.
"Let me educate you then, my Lord. In the dark, we call this weapon... the Serpent Sword."
He plunged the blade into Shun, and the Jiang Jun finally stopped moving.
With a wet squelch, Zhi took the blade out. Another sweep of the cloth, and the cool steel was free of blood. He dropped the dirtied fabric on Shun's body, and headed out of the hall, where his guards awaited. The air was crisp. Cold. Winter was almost here.
"General," one guard exclaimed. "The messenger has returned. The invitation was accepted. She will be here within a fortnight."
His face obscured, Zhi smiled. A crooked, toothless line on his face.
"Excellent."
Trivia[]
- Zhi's character incorporates both the European and Chinese fantastical symbolisms of the snake, being both scheming and insidious, along with being cunning and wise.
- One of General Zhi's inspirations as a character is the historical Chinese warlord Cao Cao, as noted in the reveal Warrior's Den. Cao Cao was a key figure during the Three Kingdoms era of China, who was known for many talents and feats, but most of all his cruelty and craftiness.
- In pop culture, Cao Cao is often portrayed as a person of some alignment of evil, such as being the main antagonist of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." This is rooted in how Cao Cao is often portrayed as a man who will commit "necessary evils" in order to remain on top.
- The Chinese version of "speak of the Devil" comes in the form of the proverb "Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao shall appear" (说曹操,曹操到; shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào).
- One of General Zhi's inspirations as a character is the historical Chinese warlord Cao Cao, as noted in the reveal Warrior's Den. Cao Cao was a key figure during the Three Kingdoms era of China, who was known for many talents and feats, but most of all his cruelty and craftiness.
- The floating cloak that surrounds Zhi may be meant to emulate a "feather garment" (羽衣; yǔyī), a cloth that is able to grant flight and is a garment for immortals (仙 or 僊; xian).
- In history, many different cultures have used meteoric iron for tools, weapons or ceremonial purposes. In China in particular, several Shang Dynasty axes have been confirmed to be made of meteoric iron[1].
- It is unknown which constellation is represented on the Starfall Sword. Currently, the closest constellation would be the dipper mansion (斗宿; Dǒu Xiù), one of the 28 mansions of the Chinese constellations, which is at times associated as being the snake that intertwines the Black Tortoise of the North of the Chinese Four Symbols. Although a six-star constellation, it has a similar pattern and shape as the constellation found on the Starfall Sword.
- The two cords across his chest are called "aiguillettes" and are part of many western ceremonial military dresses. At the time of writing, it is unknown if Chinese military fashion had a similar braiding or cord.
- Loading Screen Tips:
- General Zhi: "A Wu Lin leader of great importance, General Zhi is cunning. Some say he cannot be trusted."
- An Important Alliance: "General Zhi is ready to forge an alliance with the Horkos."
- Frosty Frost Wind: "The offering ceremony between the Horkos and the Wu Lin is filled with tension."