List of Jade Empire characters

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The following list is a collection of prominent characters from the award winning video game Jade Empire by Bioware.

Contents

[edit] Dawn Star

Voiced by Kim Mai Guest

Name: Dawn Star
Age: 20
Attack form: Long Sword
Support form: Replenishes Chi

[edit] Childhood

Dawn Star's earliest memories are of having been passed around as a child, never staying in the same place with the same people for very long, and always being ostracized from society for having an aptitude to commune with spirits. She was named after an ominous light (the burning of Dirge), only visible from the Imperial Palace in the heart of the empire. Later it becomes apparent that she is none other than the daughter of Sun Li The Glorious Strategist, the brother of the Emperor Sun Hai. She is the cousin of Silk Fox

When Sun Li betrayed the Emperor along with his brother Sun Kin, his family was ordered to be executed. Sagacious Zu was a member of the group given this task, but he could not bring himself to kill an innocent baby and turned on his comrades. Afterward, he decided to care for the baby until a more suitable replacement could be found. After she was given to Hui the Brave in Tien's Landing, she was delivered to the new master of the Two Rivers School, Master Li - who was, unbeknownst to everyone at the time, her real father. From this point she studied in Two Rivers until the age of twenty, never knowing how close her family was. (Note: If the player pursues the correct sequence of dialogue options, Master Sun Li eventually recognizes his daughter, but then quickly discards her as another tool.)

[edit] Present

Although Dawn Star still doesn't feel like she fits in, she has a great affinity for Two Rivers, which has been her home for almost seventeen years. Dawn Star has always had the ability to commune with spirits, although her power seems to be useful for nothing other than "keeping her awake at night." Dawn Star's abilities have begun to strengthen in recent years as it seems more and more spirits cannot find their way to the underworld and instead remain trapped on earth, eventually going mad.

When spirits appear to Dawn Star, such as a boy who drowned when his mother lost her grip on the rope he was holding on to, the villagers tend to mistakenly believe that she is summoning spirits and interfering with their rest. Although she is silently shunned from the masses, she is thought of (especially from martial artists and those who don't believe in ghosts) as a kind, warm, and helpful young woman.

[edit] Sagacious Zu

Voiced by Robin Atkin Downes

Name: Sagacious Zu
Age: ~40?
Attack form: Staff
Support form: Extra damage with weapon styles

[edit] History

Now living in exile as a hermit, Sagacious Zu was once a member of the Lotus Assassins, joining shortly before they reformed from the Order of the Lotus under Death's Hand.

Zu was, unlike most of his Order at that time, not at the siege of Dirge, but instead given the order to execute Sun Li's family after learning of his treachery. Zu hesitated while the rest of his team killed Li's wife, but he would not let them kill Li's newborn daughter. Instead, Zu murdered his allies and escaped from the Imperial City with the girl. He took care of her for several years before handing her over the Hui the Brave, who sought out Master Li. She did not realize that he was the father of the child. Zu seems strong in his convictions, but his loyalty to the PC's cause is not as apparent.

Zu's name is a play on Lu Zhishen, a character in the Chinese Tales of the Water Margin nicknamed "Sagacious Lu".

[edit] Personality

His troubled past has left Zu with a cold heart; he often opts for getting things done quietly, and isn't quick to forgive. However, his insight is always valuable and should be considered carefully. As per the way he was trained, Zu believes that he is being watched at all times; he claims that this philosophy has saved his life countless times in the past. As his trust in the student grows, he becomes noticeably more light-hearted; however, the secret he bears about the origins of the child he saved continue to weigh down on him.

Zu first joins the player when he or she seeks out Dawn Star in the swamp north of Two Rivers. His reason for doing so is that he does not believe that she deserved to be kidnapped. When Two Rivers and the school are burnt down, he reveals that he was once a Lotus Assassin; he was hesitant to intervene due to the fact that the Assassins leave no survivors. Through encounters with Hui the Brave and Inquisitor Lim, the player learns more about Zu.

Midway through Chapter 3, Zu, following an argument with Silk Fox over whether or not the party should enter the Lotus Assassin Fortress, leaves for the fortress on his own and evades the Watcher. He advises the player throughout the infiltration and gives cryptic hints about what is to come, as well as divulging the most important revelations about his past. When Death's Hand arrives, Zu holds him off for a few seconds. Death's Hand fatally stabs Zu, but not before accidentally slicing into the pillars, resulting in the chamber collapsing on both of them.

[edit] Sky

Voiced by Cam Clarke

Name: Sky
Age: ~28
Attack form: Dual Sabers
Support form: Replenishes Focus

[edit] History

Sky is a self-proclaimed 'wandering spirit.' Early in his childhood, he decided not to be shackled down to laws of society and went where he pleased. Although a friendly person, he was not above petty robbery in order to make a living. On his travels, he became acquainted with a woman who lived in the same style as he did and they decided to travel together, going where the wind took them and doing as they pleased. They eventually married and had a child.

[edit] Vengeance

Sky's wife died in childbirth, but their baby survived. Although he mourned his wife, he looked upon his new daughter, Pinmei, as a gift and decided to settle down into a more stable life to raise her. When Pinmei was five, she was captured by slavers from Sky's farm near the town of Tien's Landing. Sky was away on business at the time, and when he returned he desperately followed her tracks until he found her body on the roadside. According to Sky, Pinmei was always a fighter; the slavers probably considered her too much trouble and killed her. Sky's quest for vengeance lead him to discover that the man responsible for the slaving operation was the influential and shady businessman Gao the Greater. Sky tracked Gao to a pirate island, where he met the student and discovered that Gao the Greater had dealings with the Lotus Assassins. The student eventually fought with and killed Gao the Greater, finally allowing Sky to have his revenge. Afterwards, Sky decided to travel with the student; he believed that their group would attract the attention of the Lotus Assassins and give him the opportunity to further exact revenge for his murdered daughter.

During the siege of Dirge, Death's Hand approaches Sky and offers to bring Pinmei back from the dead. Sky feigns agreement in order to trap Death's Hand, but only tells the student about this just as his plan is about to go into effect, fearing that Death's Hand would approach the others. His plan succeeds, eliminating Death's Hand's entourage and allowing the player to defeat Death's Hand.

[edit] Wild Flower

Voiced by Nicky Pugh

Name: Wild Flower
Age: ~7
Attack form: Attacks in Demon form
Support form: Replenishes Health

[edit] The Flooding of Old Tien's Landing

Wild Flower's natural childhood was cut short after the tragic flooding of old Tien's Landing. After her death, the demon Chai Ka chose her to be his anchor in the physical world; without her, he could not physically exist and complete his duty. In exchange, he keeps Wild Flower out of danger.

[edit] Chai Ka

Chai Ka is a type of demon called a Heavenly Gate Guardian. He was charged with safeguarding a broken piece of the Spirit Monk amulet and returning it to its rightful owner. Chai Ka is a being of light, but he is also powerful and can easily crush anyone who either threatens the safety of the amulet piece or Wild Flower. Although Chai Ka is a strong and loyal friend, his seclusion in the remains of Tien's Landing renders him slightly gullible and unaccustomed to lies; he is very blunt about himself and his purpose. Since there must be a balance between all things, Chai Ka's creation necessitated the creation of his negative, the Other. Chai Ka speaks Tho Fan.

[edit] Ya Zhen

The other demon that resides in the body of Wild Flower, he is locked in a constant struggle with Chai Ka. As a negative duplicate of Chai Ka, he is very clear about his hatred of humanity, his goals for world domination, and his nature of being evil. Ya Zhen is empowered by the evil surrounding the Imperial City, and he soon forces his way to the surface to become as powerful as Chai Ka. Ya Zhen tries to get the student to fight Chai Ka, promising to serve the student as a humble servant. The more the student talks to Ya Zhen, the stronger he becomes. At one point, Ya Zhen makes a bid to take control of Wild Flower. The player must fight either Chai Ka or Ya Zhen in order to resolve the conflict; the losing demon is subsequently no longer available as a party member. Unlike his counter part, Ya Zhen does not speak Tho Fan.

[edit] Silk Fox

Voiced by Masasa

Name: Silk Fox / Princess Sun Lian, The Heavenly Lily
Age: ~20
Attack form: Long Sword
Support form: Extra damage with martial styles

[edit] The Two Faces

As the student goes about the journey to discover Master Li's whereabouts, the party is confronted several times by a mysterious, black-clad assassin named Silk Fox. She later reveals her true identity as Princess Sun Lian, The Heavenly Lily; she is the daughter of Emperor Sun Hai and heir to the Jade Empire. During her days in the Imperial Palace, she watched as Death's Hand gained more and more influence over her father. Convinced that he is attempting to take control of the empire, Sun Lian took on the role of a commoner and assumed her childhood nickname Silk Fox. The very opposite of her public face, Lian could move around the empire without attracting attention and investigate Death's Hand. She is the cousin of Dawn Star

[edit] Personality

Although Lian is well traveled and experienced in the Jade Empire, her breeding is still apparent; she is quick to dismiss people more than occasionally. Being snobbish and a bit naive, she sees her allies as commoners who are only worthy of traveling with her because she allows it. Nonetheless, she enjoys her other side as it gives her the freedom to break away from tradition from time to time.

One of Sun Lian's greatest skills is manipulation; she uses her beauty and cunning to get what she wants, even as Silk Fox. She is also competitive, confrontational, determined, slightly callous and, to a degree, immature. She cares for the well being of the Empire and its people, and she hurried to Two Rivers to aid survivors despite being too late to help.

You may notice her character to be changing passing the main story line. This mainly depends on your attitude to her as you can convert her to follow the closed fist and handle people as tools (bullying them (especially Dawn Star) but actually PC character does the same) or she would follow the open palm side and be able to care about those next to her (compare dialogs when you meen at Imperial City for the first time and when you meet at Dirge). The relation between Silk Fox and Dawn Star turns into jealousy from "tool-handling".

[edit] Henpecked Hou

Voiced by Josh Dean

Name: Henpecked Hou
Age: ~35?
Attack form: None
Support form: Throws bottles to activate Drunken Master Style

[edit] History

Life has not been too kind to Hou. In his youth he was a master of the rare martial style Drunken Master, which is only useful when large quantities of wine have been consumed. After working his way to the top, the toll on his body soon left him unable to fight and he became destitute. Three years of cleaning creature cages later, his promoter offered him a generous contract. Instantly signing it, Hou managed to get his way back to the top, yet his celebration was short-lived when the promoter revealed to him the small print of the contract - he had to marry the promoter's niece. She had plans for Hou herself, and repeatedly commanded him to stop fighting and drinking. Eventually, she spiked his drink before a fight and he was badly beaten. The next day Hou woke up and reluctantly agreed to give up his livelihood, and instead become a Bun Master.

Before traveling with the student, Hou was kidnapped by the cannibals that had taken over the Pilgrim's Rest Inn. Since he was too skinny to eat, they decided to keep him around in an effort to make the inn seem more 'normal' to the few individuals who made it to the inn. These unlucky souls were quickly taken and either transformed or eaten. While traveling around the Jade Empire, Hou is repeatedly reminded of his wife, and he expects she has destroyed the Imperial City looking for him. He also has collected some rare turtle eggs - an insulting gift in the Jade Empire - for his coming anniversary, but he offers them to the student in one variation of a story quest.

[edit] Kang the Mad

Voiced by Paul Eiding

Name: Kang the Mad
Age: Immortal
Attack form: N/A
Support form: N/A

[edit] Inventions

It is obvious how Kang came by his nickname 'the mad'. He is an avid inventor who specializes in making things 'fly and explode,' preferably not at the same time. He is generally eccentric, not very socially skilled, and quite arrogant about his creations.

Kang is responsible for building the Amber Mosquito Flyer, the most common form of short range flyer in the Jade Empire. From the start of his career, Kang worked out of his own workshop with only limited funds. After an experiment destroyed a line of estates and his tools, he was hired by Gao the Greater to mass produce his Mosquito; this bothered Kang greatly as he believed that the process of duplication cheapened the worth of the original. Kang was then ordered to start production on a medium capacity fast-flyer for the Lotus Assassins. He reluctantly built a new model he dubbed the 'Marvelous Dragonfly,' but near its completion, Kang sabotaged it in order to delay its departure and mass production. He also has some connection to Lord Lao's Furnace, a place accessible only if the student follows his story arc using his wind maps. After experimentation, it is revealed that Kang is in fact Lord Lao, whose memory was erased by the gods to punish him for proclaiming that his inventions rivaled theirs.

[edit] Zin Bu

Name: Zin Bu
Age: Immortal
Attack form: N/A
Support form: N/A

[edit] Celestial Bureaucrat

Zin Bu was once a highly positioned member of the Celestial Bureaucracy, and he was charged with keeping tabs on the damage caused by the student and cataloging it to keep the universe in balance. What first seemed like an easy job soon turned into a nightmare and Zin Bu was replaced by an entire department. Now relegated to trade, Zin Bu buys and sells items to help the student. He is sour about losing his position at first, but soon finds that he enjoys trading a lot more. Zin Bu does not appear at the Base Camp like the others; his shop is called from the party selection screen.

[edit] The Black Whirlwind

Name: The Black Whirlwind
Age: ~35?
Attack form: Dual Axes
Support form: None

[edit] History

The Black Whirlwind got his name due to the fact that he has single handedly defeated entire armies. His father was an abusive drunkard, and when he fought and killed his father one night, he was disowned by his mother. He spent the next few years begging until he found work as a mercenary. His affinity for wine, a short temper, and his eagerness to kill got him in trouble more than once; there is one famous story in which it is believed he stormed an entire fortress while naked, unarmed, screaming like a madman, and dead drunk. At one point he was engaged, but, after sleeping with his future mother-in-law, he found who he thought was his bride sleeping with another man and killed them both. However, the unfortunate couple was, in fact, his bride's sister and brother-in-law. He later got a job in the Great Southern Forest working for Lord Yun and Spear Catches Leaf, where he meets the student and joins up with the group in order to aid in their struggle to free the Empire.

[edit] The Dueling Ring

Before becoming a mercenary, Black Whirlwind and his younger brother Raging Ox were combatants in the Imperial City's dueling ring. The local Guild presence, who demanded the fights fall in their favor approached Whirlwind to throw matches and become part of the Guild. After refusing, his brother was chosen, and soon found himself working for the Guild as an enforcer - much to Whirlwind's discontent. After following his brother one night to convince him to stop, he was confronted by Raging Ox and the Guild boss, Kai Lan the Serpent. In a drunken rage, Whirlwind killed Ox while the Guild boss looked on and laughed. Ashamed by his outburst, Whirlwind left the city, but never forgot what Kai Lan did to him or his brother. Whirlwind is known around the Imperial City for other reasons than being a champion of the Dueling Area and has been suspected of drunken behavior, indecency, violence, and even multiple reports of defecating in public.

  • Black Whirlwind is clearly inspired by the character Li Kui from the Chinese novel Water Margin as Li Kui was also known as the Black Whirlwind or Iron Ox.

[edit] Death's Hand

Name: Death's Hand
Age: 50
Attack form: Fallen Blades
Support form: None

[edit] Imperial Adviser

Imperial adviser and the closest man to the Emperor, Death's Hand is the leader of the Lotus Assassins. He is believed to be fanatically loyal to the emperor. However. the emperor's daughter Sun Lian, The Heavenly Lily, has other thoughts about his loyalty, assuming that he is attempting to seize control of the Empire.

[edit] Identity

Death's Hand is none other than the youngest brother of the Emperor himself, Sun Kin. After he and Sun Li's betrayal Sun Hai bound Kin's almost dead body to Li's discarded armor. He then became a slave to the emperor's will and Death's Hand was born. He is now considered to be less a person and more an extension of the Emperor, enforcing his will with brute force. Only shown in black armor like that of the old Japanese samurai, Death's Hand is mostly seen wielding two blades. At one point the player has a choice to either keep Kin as a partner or allow him to enter the realm of the dead. The former choice draws opposition from the party members; the player can either release Sun Kin to pacify the group, or bind the objectors.

[edit] Story

Death's Hand is the Emperor's right hand in the Jade Empire. Always clad in his fearsome armor, he serves as the head of the mysterious Lotus Assassins. Using fear and efficient brutality, Death's Hand has ensured everyone is afraid of even speaking his name.

Near the start of the game, Death's Hand attacks the hero's home with his assassins and kidnaps the main character's mentor, Master Li, who is actually Sun Li the Glorious Strategist, brother of the Emperor. He brings the former royal family member to Emperor Sun Hai and continues his dark deeds.

Later, the hero comes to the Imperial City, and infiltrates the Lotus Assassin fortress. After proving his or her worth, the hero corrupts a Jade Golem and kills Death's Hand's second-in-command, Grand Inquisitor Jia, who reveals that the Emperor, not Death's Hand, is responsible for the dramatic changes in the Jade Empire. Death's Hand himself comes to the fortress, seeking to destroy the hero. Saved only by the warning of friend Sagacious Zu, the ex-Lotus Assassin, the hero narrowly misses a slash by the black armored fiend only to promptly be kicked across the room. Zu hastens his fellow out, and delivers a kick to the mask of Death's Hand. The villain misses twice more in an attempt to cleave the one-time Assassin, but hits two pillars instead. Finally, Death's Hand pauses and then turns around with lightning speed, finally stabbing his blade through Zu's chest. The Lotus Assassin leader forces Zu to his knees, saying mockingly, "You knew you could not beat me, Exile." To this Zu responds, "I wasn't looking for victory...just a few seconds!" Death's Hand retracts his blade in time to see the whole ceiling collapse on top of him.

After defeating the Emperor, the hero is killed by Sun Li. As a spirit, the hero returns to the defiled temple of Dirge, where he or she meets the ghost of Abbot Song, who ruled Dirge before its downfall. He tells the main character the true tale of the falling of Dirge. Emperor Sun Hai, Sun Li the Glorious Strategist, and Prince Sun Kin the Hand of Heaven assaulted Dirge and its people, sparing none. They made their way to the inner temple, and Sun Hai stepped beyond his station and stole the Water Dragon's power. However, his two brothers were not content to watch their sibling come to power, and Prince Kin plunged his blade into the Emperor's back. But with his new strength, Sun Hai now had the power of a god. He killed Sun Kin, and Sun Li fled and left his brother to suffer the Emperor's retribution. Sun Li followed the hero's guardian, who was trying to save the main character (who was still just a baby) from the Emperor. Li killed the guardian, taking his identity, and fled the land with the hero. Li abandoned his fearsome armor and swords when he left. Sun Hai tried to follow his brother, but it was too late. As a taunt to his treacherous brother, the Emperor bound Kin's spirit to the armor Li left behind...and Death's Hand was born.

With the Abbot's help, the hero returns to the land of the living and meets up with his or her fellows. The Glorious Strategist senses his former student's return, and using his new power resurrects Death's Hand, raising his brother from the ruins of the Lotus Assassin fortress. Sun Li uses his army of golems to assault Dirge once more, but due to some quick thinking by the hero and his or her group, they hold off the main force. The bell in the Dirge Temple rings and when the hero goes to investigate, he or she finds out that friend Sky told the Lotus Assassins he would help them. Sky quickly says that was a lie, and when Death's Hand comes to kill the hero and congratulate Sky, the dashing rogue sets off some explosives, killing the evil warrior's group of Assassins and hurting him. He then confronts the hero, and after a short exchange of words, they do battle.

The hero defeats Death's Hand, but an apparition of Sun Li appears, telling the hero that Death's Hand is more than Sun Kin ever was, being bound to his armor. The hero then engages in a battle of wills with his or her former master. If the hero fails in the battle of wills, Death's Hand perishes. However, if the hero should win, there are two options. He or she can either let the tormented soul of Prince Kin go free, or bind the spirit to his or her command. The former is the "open palm" option, while the latter is the "closed fist".

If the player chooses the latter, Death's Hand returns with his new Master outside, where some of the hero's followers do not agree with the enslaving of the villain. Depending on who the hero romanced and turned "evil", the main character will have to bind up to four followers. This forces the bound followers to do their binder's will, whether they like it or not. After this, the group finally returns to the palace, where they enter the tomb of the Water Dragon, and see the horror that is her torment. The hero has two choices here.

1. The hero kills the bound followers and poisons the Water Dragon with their blood, weakening Sun Li for the upcoming battle.

Finally, Death's Hand's master defeats Li, and takes control of the Empire. Death's Hand grows stronger each passing day, infused with his Master's power. Eventually, he grows outside of Li's armor and becomes something other, much to his Master's approval.

Death's Hand lives as long as his Master lives, and always shows up when the face of fear was needed to quell rebellion within the Empire.

2. The hero destroys the body of the Water Dragon, weakening Sun Li for the upcoming battle. Finally, Death's Hand's master defeats Li, and restores Princess Sun Lian to the throne.

After the power of the Water Dragon is restored, Death's Hand is sustained by the hero's force of will. Some consider this cruel, and to Death's Hand it is just continued enslavement, but in the weeks that follow, the influence that had corrupted him begins to fade, and a semblance of self returns. For the first time in decades, Death's Hand feels something other than rage; sadness for how he, as Sun Kin, had helped attack Dirge so long ago. Acceptance of this changes him, and he wanders the Empire seeking redemption. No longer bound to Sun Li's armor, he wears it anyway, a symbol not of the monster he was forced to be, but of the monster he had not recognized within himself.

[edit] Abbot Song

Voiced by Armin Shimerman

Name: Abbot Song
Age: ~55? at time of death
Attack form: Monk Spade
Support form: Replenishes Chi, Focus and Health

[edit] The Spirit Monks

Once one of the leaders of the Spirit Monk Order, Abbot Song was killed in the siege of Dirge by Sun Li and Sun Kin while attempting to buy time for the escape of the last Spirit Monk and his guardian. After his death and the murder of the Water Dragon, Song could not pass into the Underworld and was trapped in Dirge. However, since he was not killed in the main attack, he did not suffer the same fate as the rest of his Order, or the slain attackers, to battle endlessly. Instead, he waits for the last of the Spirit Monks to return and to restore balance.

Song has remained faithful to the Water Dragon, even in death, and helps the PC restore the fountains of Dirge, and then help his fellow monks cross into the afterlife at last. When they do, his role in events ends and he goes to the Underworld.

[edit] Master Li

Voiced by Barry Dennen

Name: Sun Li, The Glorious Strategist
Age: ~60?

[edit] A Humble Master

Master Li presents himself as a quiet but capable martial arts master. His deep yet soft voice was often filled with wise counsel. The people of Two Rivers came to respect the man and attributed the small town’s success to his presence.

As the master of the Two Rivers school students knew him for being firm but fair. Ever there to see was the kindness of his nature, even taking in more troubled students such as Gao the Lesser. He was ready and able to protect and save his students from outside peril, such as when he saved Kia Min from a bandit attack. The only discernible anomaly about the man was his prize pupil, who seemed to excel beyond the others, and was subject to some degree of favoritism. This caused some minor animosity and discontent and some that was not so minor from Gao the Lesser.

But the people of Two Rivers, both of the school and of the town, also knew that behind the mortal frame of such a kind old man lay a great power, which they got to glimpse on rare occasions. He once destroyed an entire ship with the use of his Chi energy, and then killed an assassin with a few well-placed moves.

[edit] The Glorious Strategist

But all this was just a façade with shadings and half-truths. Master Li was in fact the middle child of the Sun Brothers, Sun Li, and was head of the Imperial Army thusly proclaimed as the Glorious Strategist. At a young age, Li was discovered to have amazing intellect. A particular field that he was peerless in was strategy and planning. Li would carefully lay down his plans, sometimes years in advance, predicting and preparing for events that may lie in the distant future. One of his favorite strategies was playing on the human mind, as he had a psychological insight as to how people would react to his stratagems. For example, when he needed to disappear, he hid in plain sight adopting the persona of the kindly Master Li, knowing that his enemies would be expecting him to be underground raising an army.

As revealed by the spirit of Abbot Song, during the assault on Dirge, Li and Kin attempted to betray their brother and seize the Empire and the power of the Water Dragon. But their plan was sprung too late and the Emperor defeated them both easily. Li fled, leaving his brother to die, and settled in the small town of Two Rivers with a baby, the last spirit monk, and planned his revenge. His latest machinations involved bringing up the child at his school, training him or her, and even including a specific flaw in his or her fighting style that only he could exploit - several others, such as Crimson Khana and Silk Fox, notice it, but are not able to exploit it. Master Li's actions were thus directed to seek vengeance against and overthrow his brother.

But when the appointed time came, all that he had pretended to care about were shown to be disposable tools to him, as a result of his schemes, the town of Two Rivers was laid waste with most of his students killed; he had hoped that this would happen so "there would be nothing holding [the PC] back".

The one contingency Master Li did not foresee was that in that moment, while Sun Hai’s power was still being transferred to Sun Li, the Water Dragon became strong enough to guide the last Spirit Monk’s soul back to life. He somehow sensed this, and resurrected Death's hand from the ruins of the Lotus Assassin fortress (making the interesting remark, "You are too valuable to abandon a second time"). He also mobilized the army and sent it against Dirge, with it arriving the day after his student returned to life and reunited with his or her companions. The army, however, was defeated when Kang the Mad, protected by Silk Fox, destroyed the only bridge leading to Dirge, and the others held off the troops that entered from the air. Death's Hand was sent against the hero, but was defeated.

Sun Li confronted the hero after being cut off from the Water Dragon's power, which he realized was the prize in his struggle, not a means to an end. He expressed his utter callousness, seeing his family as tools and heirs that were useless to a god. Sun Li had more cunning strategies in store for the player; creating demons out of stone with his magic and attempting to use his student's own doubt against him or her. Sun Li then faces the player in single combat and is defeated.

Notes and Trivia

  • There is an alternate, and often called Neutral ending, in which the player can willingly surrender to Li and allow themselves to be killed. It is the only one of the three endings in which Li does not perish.
  • During the first part of the game there are subtle allusions to indicate that Li may have killed the former master of the Two Rivers School in order to take his place. For instance, there are very few people around who can even remember the former master. One who does is the old man by the beach, but a failing memory means he can not remember how Master Li came to replace his predecessor. Additionally, the master died after the Water Dragon's death.
  • One can also tell that Master Li(before he is captured) is planning a takeover of the empire. He allowed Gao the Lesser to know he was the Glorious Strategist, knowing full well that Gao was in contact with the Lotus Assassins, His concern about the players first vision of the Water Dragon, and his story of Dirge is clearly flawed.

[edit] Emperor Sun Hai

Voiced by Armin Shimerman

Name: Sun Hai
Age: ~60?

[edit] The Emperor's Plans

The natural born emperor and eldest of the three Sun Brothers his reign was threatened when a time known as the 'Long Drought' crippled the Empire. As the water shortage became more severe and people began to die from famine and riots, he demanded that the temple of Dirge, home of the Water Dragon, join the Empire as a means to end the drought (presumably an idea that was Sun Li's), but the spirit monks refused. After this refusal he asked Sun Li, The Glorious Strategist to plan an assault on the temple. After Hai discovered he could gain the power of the Water Dragon for himself, he and his armies attacked the temple, with the intent of ending the drought, with only a few knowing it would allow their emperor to become a god.

But Sun Li and Kin also planned to take this power for themselves. The betrayal was executed, Prince Kin impaling his older brother with his sword, but the Emperor had already gained the Water Dragon's power, and the sword did no apparent damage. Emperor Sun Hai unleashed his new powers; Sun Li escaped, but Prince Sun Kin was trapped and was killed. As a means to taunt Sun Li the Emperor used his powers to bind Kin's Spirit to Li's old armor creating Death's Hand; an almost mindless servant to his will.

With the Water Dragon now weakened, he ordered that the Dragon's physical form be taken to the Imperial Palace. There the Water Dragon's body was cut open so that a continuous stream of water would flow from it. This is what ended the drought.

The drought ended, the monastic order was changed and twisted, much as Kin had been twisted. The Order of the Lotus became the dreaded Lotus Assassins. One of their first missions was to find Sun Li and his family to eliminate them. Sun Li was able to avoid this fate. Sun Hai ruled for the next twenty years slowly draining the powers of the Water Dragon. He did not see the evil of his ways, arguing that his actions were necessary to save the Jade Empire. He apparently was corrupted in other aspects as well; he apparently did not care about the devastation that was caused when the dam at Tien's Landing flooded the old Tien's Landing, killing many people, including convicts, orphans and Wild Flower.

Emperor Sun Hai captures Sun Li (presumably as part of Sun Li's plan), but the player tracks him to his palace. By now, Sun Hai has rejected the notion that he is what Sun Lian describes as a "figurehead" for the Celestial Bureaucracy, and incapacitates Master Li and the player's allies with a blast of energy. The player fights off Sun Hai's guard and kills Sun Hai himself, just as Sun Li had planned.

[edit] Sun Kin

Name: Sun Kin, The Hand of Heaven
Age: 30 - at death

[edit] The third brother

The youngest Sun brother Kin was appointed leader of the monastic order, the Order of the Lotus. Little is known about Sun Kin during the first half only that his life was the cost of the Emperor's hubris. It is also established that though he was the youngest he was always more than a match for his brothers in battle. Later on it is revealed that he conspired with his older brother Sun Li to kill their oldest brother Sun Hai. The character himself explains that his older brother, Sun Li revealed to him how unstable their oldest brother was, and therefore for the good of the kingdom agreed to be his accomplice. As he says, "I believed my brother wise beyond my years." Had he known the price to pay, he would have fought to stop both his brothers and their assault on the Heavens.

Sun Kin failed in his attempt at fratricide, and Sun Li, his initial plan unraveling, fled and left him to face Sun Hai's wrath. Due to his prowess in combat and to taunt Sun Li, he was then bound to Sun Li's armor, and became Death's Hand.

During Master Li's attack at Dirge, in an effort the kill the last of the Spirit Monks, Kin was able to re-emerge when Li and the Spirit Monk fought for control of Death's Hand. In the twenty years that had past, Kin had grown remorseful about his ambition and attempt on his older brother's life. When Li and the last Spirit Monk fight for control of Death's Hand the battle was manifested as a battle between the spirit of Prince Kin and his alter-ego Death's Hand.

When the battle is won the Player Character has two choices, either release Kin's spirit that it may rest or rebind him to once again become a remorseless servant.

[edit] Gao the Lesser

Voiced by Nathan Fillion

Name: Gao the Lesser
Age: ~20

[edit] Personal History

Gao the Lesser is a fellow student under Master Li. Although he is the son of the corrupted Gao the Greater, Master Li attempted to lead him away from his father's dark path. However, it came to no avail, and Gao the Lesser continued to practice in his dark fighting forms. It is unknown exactly where he learns these forms, but it is implied they were taught to him by his father. Most of the students dislike him, especially Dawn Star, who is the unwilling subject of his infatuation.

Gao the Lesser supposedly follows the Way of the Closed Fist.

[edit] Last Acts of a Lesser Man

At the time of the pirate attacks, Gao boasts that he took on the brunt of the enemy force, although everyone knows that he did not do as much as he claimed. Gao resents the player being assigned to enter the Spirit Cave, and challenges him or her; Master Li arranges a duel, but suspects that Gao will not fight honorably. They fight, and after a heated match, the player prevails. Enraged after losing, and desperate to defeat the player Gao unleashes one of his dark styles, a fireball, but Master Li steps in to stop the shameful act, expelling Gao from the school and banning the rest of his family.

While the player is in the Spirit Cave, Gao kidnaps Dawn Star with the help of his father's men. He kills Student Si Pat for attempting to stop him, and frightens a young gate guard into passing out. His men fight with some bandits in the swamp, and Dawn Star breaks free and escapes into a monster-infested cave. Gao pursues her while his men search elsewhere, despite resenting their task. Gao catches up with Dawn Star just as the player arrives, and the player can fight Gao with Dawn Star, Sagacious Zu, or alone. Gao dies, but claims that he kidnapped Dawn Star to save her from the forthcoming attack on Two Rivers.

[edit] Grand Inquisitor Jia

Voiced by ?

Name: Grand Inquisitor Jia
Age: ~60?

[edit] Personal History

Little is known of Grand Inquisitor Jia. Her history before the sacking of Dirge is enigmatic. It is known that Jia was once a member of the ecclesiastic Order Of the Lotus meaning that her duties revolved around the spiritual development of the Emperor. What is known is that in the chaos that followed Sun Hai's usurpation of the Water Dragon's Power Jia not only proved her loyalty to the new order but rose to prominence as second in command of the new Lotus Assassin Order under Death's Hand.

In this position Jia acted to brutally and ruthlessly enforce the will of Death's Hand. In the minds of many Lotus Acolytes, Jia and Death's Hand became almost a single entity. Lotus Acolytes were taught to fear and respect both in equal measure. Jia even went so far as to adopt a similar style of dress including full face mask. So fearsome was her reputation and demeanor that Jia's name is used with the same fearful reverence given to Death's Hand and she is described by some Lotus Assassins as being violent and sadistic. The Last Spirit Monk is repeatedly warned by various people about her dangerously capricious nature and lack of tolerance for even the slightest hint of disrespect. It is reasonable to assume that Jia is the head of the Inquisitor branch of the assassins, Indeed they seem to reflect her determined and ruthless methodology. Working subtly and silently behind the scenes to enforce the emperor's brutality while insuring that all attention and fear was focused directly upon Death's Hand.

Jia follows the Way of the Closed Fist.

[edit] The Grand Inquisitor Appears

Jia is first glimpsed in flashback. Jing Woo, a fellow student, describes the woman who directed the Lotus Assassins in their vicious attack on Two Rivers and the School. Later she is seen remonstrating Inquisitor Lim about his delay in returning with the Dragon Amulet fragment found in Old Tien's Landing. She informs her subordinate that she is already aware of the Spirit Monk's activities in the area. Jia coldly speculates about Lim's ability to deal with the situation. She remains a shadowy presence throughout the rest of the Spirit Monk's journey until she confronts the Spirit Monk in the bowels of the Lotus Assassin Fortress.

[edit] Jia's Folly

Her tendency to favor some acolytes over others based on their cunning would be her undoing. Upon arriving at the Lotus Assassin Fortress, The Spirit Monk was drawn into the power games of Masters Gang and Shin. By taking advantage of the environment of animosity, the Spirit Monk was able to engineer the death and humiliation of both men allowing the Spirit Monk to not only disrupt and cripple almost the entire Golem army headquartered in the underground complex but to gain evidence directly linking Sun Hai to the activities of the Lotus Assassins.

Jia would meet her end at the hands of the Spirit Monk who killed Jia as she defended the last Dragon Amulet fragment. The Spirit Monk would, however, be unable to stop Jia from summoning Death's Hand to the Fortress.

[edit] Lotus Assassin

Lotus Assassin is a fictional paramilitary organization created by Emperor Sun Hai to enforce his will and carry out any of the more brutal tasks he deemed too important to be entrusted to the imperial army. The Lotus Assassins were staffed with fanatically loyal subordinates from the former Order of The Lotus who devoted their lives to the order and its leadership, especially Grand Inquisitor Jia, head of operations in the Imperial City and Death's Hand, the overall head of the organization.

The Assassins were based in the Imperial City in the middle of the Necropolis. Their base of operations being the Tomb that had been reserved for Emperor Sun Hai until his assumption of immortality made a tomb unnecessary. From this base the Lotus Assassins enforced the will of the emperor across the Jade Empire, often to brutal extreme.

Notable missions undertaken by The Lotus Assassins include the Assassinations of the family of Master Li - the Glorious Strategist, the subsequent two decade search for Sun Li as well as the razing of the town of Two Rivers when Sun Li was located and captured there, the search for a fragment of the Dragon Amulet at Tien’s Landing, the search for “The Scourge of the South” their pseudonym for the Last Spirit Monk and the creation of the Golem Army via the killing of slaves.

The Last Spirit Monk destroyed the Lotus Assassin base in the Necropolis while uncovering evidence of Sun Hai true role in their operations.