Archlord Zang
(a.k.a. Archlord of the New Road; The First Sentinel)
Zang, Archlord of the New Road, is a human Soulmaster: a human who has specific conditions that allows him to gain incredible physical capabilities, which are symbolized by his strange eye-color.
Physical Description
Special abilities
The Eyes of a Soulmaster: Zang is a SOULMASTER, a title given to beings who have mastered the emotions of their soul, and developed an ability that corresponds to it. Zang, along with all Soulmasters, share the following traits as a result of this distinction:
-They have a unique ability tied to their mental state, and are able to use said ability as long as they're in control of their own mind. (Zang's unique ability is Zornhau.)
-While their ability is active, their eyes change to reflect their soul's mood. (Zang's irises are white because Zornhau is always present, even if just a little bit.)
-With their changed eyes, they are able to judge souls on sight, and can tell if others are Soulmasters or not. (Except if they're looking at someone who can intentionally hide their soul or its properties, such as Mimic.)
-They can imbue other objects and people with parts of their soul. How much they can do this widely varies; Rock is one of the more advanced performers of this skill.
-The "intensity" of their ability scales with their state of mind. The greater control and resolve they have over their mind, the more power and finesse they have with their corresponding abilities, and the reverse is true as well. If they become of unsound mind due to external or internal factors, their respective ability will weaken to the point of becoming useless.
Zornhau: Zang's unique ability granted to him as the result of being a Soulmaster. Zornhau is Zang's ability to store, redirect, and release ALL kinetic energy generated by his own body and his sword. Every time he moves, even if it's merely blinking, the energy from those motions is channeled into him. For example, if he ran up a flight of stairs; he would 'gain' the energy that he used to climb up them, after which he could run up a second flight at double the speed, or leap up them in a single jump, by redirecting the energy back into his legs. Performing this action would further increase the energy accumulated by Zornhau, meaning that Zang is able to grow his total energy exponentially.
Zang can also redirect the energy into his body or sword in order to fortify it, and at higher levels of intensity, doing so becomes required to protect himself from self-injury as a result of more physically demanding stunts. This technique can also be used to repair injuries and alleviate soreness, meaning he can naturally replenish his own stamina so long as he sets aside energy to do so, or he has enough energy to move unaffected body parts to heal himself.
When Zang releases the energy, it appears as white light that generally takes the shape of a shockwave, but its shape and color are malleable. Zang's signature technique "Aetheria Crena" involves launching a large wave of energy with his sword. Because of its familiarity, Zang prefers to use his weapon akin to a conductor's baton which he uses to "direct" the flow of energy, however, it is not required. He can use any part of his body to release the energy and the energy released does not need to appear directly in front of him. With concentration, it's possible to release the energy above or behind him, or even several feet in front of him; equivalent to slashing his sword directly in the same location. Aiming energy this way requires a great deal of concentration and it becomes weaker the further away it is from him when he activates it.
As Zang's total accumulated energy increases, he is capable of entering a battle trance state where all doubts and fears are set aside, and Zornhau's ability extends outward, forming an aura of energy surrounding his body known as the Archknight's Territory. Now, he is capable of gaining energy from anything that moves inside the radius, and his own energy constantly swirls around him forming a perpetual motion which feeds itself. He's capable of releasing energy anywhere in the aura simultaneously, in effect creating a perpetual storm of sword strikes surrounding him, where anything that enters the radius can be cut or deflected as he likes.
-They have a unique ability tied to their mental state, and are able to use said ability as long as they're in control of their own mind. (Zang's unique ability is Zornhau.)
-While their ability is active, their eyes change to reflect their soul's mood. (Zang's irises are white because Zornhau is always present, even if just a little bit.)
-With their changed eyes, they are able to judge souls on sight, and can tell if others are Soulmasters or not. (Except if they're looking at someone who can intentionally hide their soul or its properties, such as Mimic.)
-They can imbue other objects and people with parts of their soul. How much they can do this widely varies; Rock is one of the more advanced performers of this skill.
-The "intensity" of their ability scales with their state of mind. The greater control and resolve they have over their mind, the more power and finesse they have with their corresponding abilities, and the reverse is true as well. If they become of unsound mind due to external or internal factors, their respective ability will weaken to the point of becoming useless.
Zornhau: Zang's unique ability granted to him as the result of being a Soulmaster. Zornhau is Zang's ability to store, redirect, and release ALL kinetic energy generated by his own body and his sword. Every time he moves, even if it's merely blinking, the energy from those motions is channeled into him. For example, if he ran up a flight of stairs; he would 'gain' the energy that he used to climb up them, after which he could run up a second flight at double the speed, or leap up them in a single jump, by redirecting the energy back into his legs. Performing this action would further increase the energy accumulated by Zornhau, meaning that Zang is able to grow his total energy exponentially.
Zang can also redirect the energy into his body or sword in order to fortify it, and at higher levels of intensity, doing so becomes required to protect himself from self-injury as a result of more physically demanding stunts. This technique can also be used to repair injuries and alleviate soreness, meaning he can naturally replenish his own stamina so long as he sets aside energy to do so, or he has enough energy to move unaffected body parts to heal himself.
When Zang releases the energy, it appears as white light that generally takes the shape of a shockwave, but its shape and color are malleable. Zang's signature technique "Aetheria Crena" involves launching a large wave of energy with his sword. Because of its familiarity, Zang prefers to use his weapon akin to a conductor's baton which he uses to "direct" the flow of energy, however, it is not required. He can use any part of his body to release the energy and the energy released does not need to appear directly in front of him. With concentration, it's possible to release the energy above or behind him, or even several feet in front of him; equivalent to slashing his sword directly in the same location. Aiming energy this way requires a great deal of concentration and it becomes weaker the further away it is from him when he activates it.
As Zang's total accumulated energy increases, he is capable of entering a battle trance state where all doubts and fears are set aside, and Zornhau's ability extends outward, forming an aura of energy surrounding his body known as the Archknight's Territory. Now, he is capable of gaining energy from anything that moves inside the radius, and his own energy constantly swirls around him forming a perpetual motion which feeds itself. He's capable of releasing energy anywhere in the aura simultaneously, in effect creating a perpetual storm of sword strikes surrounding him, where anything that enters the radius can be cut or deflected as he likes.
Apparel & Accessories
Zang wears a full set of white knight armor that covers his entire body and face. Beneath his helmet, he has messy hair with bangs that reach his eyebrows. Underneath his armor he wears gold and platinum chain mail, known as the Eternal Guardian. His irises are the same color as the rest of his eyes, making him appear to have none.
Specialized Equipment
Zwedeorde: Zang's signature blade, a platinum longsword bequeathed to him by his teacher, Heran. It contains no special physical or magical properties, other than a highly reflective surface, and a hole in the hilt where Zang can fit a finger. However, as a result of rigorous training, Zang imbued the weapon with part of his soul. Specifically, the blade carried the bitterness and resentment Zang felt after being abandoned for years by society, and this dark persona was powerful enough to manifest as the Archlord Zanp during SJU. However, it is part of his soul nonetheless, and normally kept in check by Zang's will. As a result of the enchantment, Zwedeorde gains numerous features:
-If Zang is stabbed with the blade, the imbued soul will return to him, and this can be used to revive him if his own soul is depleted. However if he has zero or little of his own soul left, the Zanp personality will overtake him until his soul recovers.
-Zang's proprioception extends to the weapon, and he is able to sense its location just like any other part of his body, even if he's not in contact with it. This allows him to catch and wield it with any part of his body, even his toes. Using the hole in the hilt, Zang can place his finger or a thread and spin the blade like a fan.
-When the blade moves, it also accumulates energy via Zornhau, just like Zang's own body. Zang often spins the blade to gain energy, especially if his enemies choose not to approach him. Zang can release an energy aura around the sword to alter its effective shape, making it longer, shorter, sharper, or blunter as needed.
-If Zang is stabbed with the blade, the imbued soul will return to him, and this can be used to revive him if his own soul is depleted. However if he has zero or little of his own soul left, the Zanp personality will overtake him until his soul recovers.
-Zang's proprioception extends to the weapon, and he is able to sense its location just like any other part of his body, even if he's not in contact with it. This allows him to catch and wield it with any part of his body, even his toes. Using the hole in the hilt, Zang can place his finger or a thread and spin the blade like a fan.
-When the blade moves, it also accumulates energy via Zornhau, just like Zang's own body. Zang often spins the blade to gain energy, especially if his enemies choose not to approach him. Zang can release an energy aura around the sword to alter its effective shape, making it longer, shorter, sharper, or blunter as needed.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Zang was born as the heir to the throne of the Zanethesian Empire, a regime on a far off planet in a distant galaxy. However, this would not come to pass, as Zang and his parents were killed by a political rival, Zanar. The cruel warlord departed believing the family to be dead, but Zang's ability "Zornhau" activated afterword, resuscitating him from his fatal wound. After the incident, the child was looked after by those close to his father, Raynor, but as rumors of his survival spread to Zanar's men, they hunted down his adopted caregivers and slew them. In each case, Zang narrowly escaped either by his own will or the activation of Zornhau preventing his untimely death. However, the remaining population of the empire became fearful of raising him, believing him to be a cursed "demon child" as a result of the misfortune brought to those around him, and his unusual white eyes.
At this point, Zang is old enough to survive on his own, but as a street urchin, just scraping by as he has to stay on the run from both the law, who are after him for varying thefts (even if it's just to eat) and Zanar's goons, who seek his head to earn money or favor with the new emperor. In great pain from starvation but seemingly incapable of dying, Zang ponders his own fate when he encounters the traveling swordsmaster Heran, who takes the boy under his wing and teaches him the way of the sword, so that Zang can work as a mercenary. Heran explains that he and Zang are both Soulmasters, and Zang learns his own history and the meaning of the titles he has. After honing his skill and powers for years, Zang is able to avenge his father and slay Zanar after all, restoring the Empire to its rightful heir.
Zang enjoys prosperity as the new emperor, but his life is constantly under threat by others who wish to challenge him for the throne. However, Zang's legendary endurance and ability enable to him outlast them all, until he encounters "Mimic", a shrewd Soulmaster in his own right. Knowing that he cannot defeat Zang via normal means, Mimic uses a technique to banish Zang into space. Afterword, Mimic uses his shapeshifting ability to impersonate Zang as the Emperor while the real Zang is lost. After wandering through darkness for some time, Zang eventually was lead to TGC by following a woman's voice, which he would learn later belonged to Willow, the Core Guardian. In gratitude, he swore his loyalty to the being. His checkered past made him slow to make new friends on the planet, but eventually earned respect as a fearsome and righteous warrior.
At this point, Zang is old enough to survive on his own, but as a street urchin, just scraping by as he has to stay on the run from both the law, who are after him for varying thefts (even if it's just to eat) and Zanar's goons, who seek his head to earn money or favor with the new emperor. In great pain from starvation but seemingly incapable of dying, Zang ponders his own fate when he encounters the traveling swordsmaster Heran, who takes the boy under his wing and teaches him the way of the sword, so that Zang can work as a mercenary. Heran explains that he and Zang are both Soulmasters, and Zang learns his own history and the meaning of the titles he has. After honing his skill and powers for years, Zang is able to avenge his father and slay Zanar after all, restoring the Empire to its rightful heir.
Zang enjoys prosperity as the new emperor, but his life is constantly under threat by others who wish to challenge him for the throne. However, Zang's legendary endurance and ability enable to him outlast them all, until he encounters "Mimic", a shrewd Soulmaster in his own right. Knowing that he cannot defeat Zang via normal means, Mimic uses a technique to banish Zang into space. Afterword, Mimic uses his shapeshifting ability to impersonate Zang as the Emperor while the real Zang is lost. After wandering through darkness for some time, Zang eventually was lead to TGC by following a woman's voice, which he would learn later belonged to Willow, the Core Guardian. In gratitude, he swore his loyalty to the being. His checkered past made him slow to make new friends on the planet, but eventually earned respect as a fearsome and righteous warrior.
Personality Characteristics
Likes & Dislikes
Likes: Zang enjoys most kinds of martial activities (such as training and meditation) and philosophical activities, such as discussions of ethics or society, and intellectual activities like chess and reading. As a result of his background, he has come to enjoy minimalism from a stoic perspective, and is content with few to no possessions, so long as he is able to stimulate his mind and body and enjoy the company of his friends.
Dislikes: He is hostile to the majority of societal customs, and things he believes to be built on them. As such, he dislikes grand displays of decadence or materialism, and also things that disconnect him from nature and personal relationships. As such he's generally indifferent to technology and machine-powered devices. What he hates most of all are things that cause his companions pain; if the source of his friends' pain can be cut, he will do so without hesitation.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Heran: The mentor who took Zang under his wing, and became in effect his foster father. Zang owes much of his knowledge and swordsmanship to his tutor, however Zang's own style of teaching is also influenced by Heran's as well. Although Zang laments not giving his teacher a proper farewell, he has no doubts that Heran is alive and well, given the man's own fortitude.
Mimic: The closest thing Zang has to a rival. Mimic is an amoral Soulmaster with the ability to shapeshift into others, making him a dangerous individual and also one who stands against everything Zang believes in. Despite this, Zang knows relatively little about his foe, as Mimic spent most of his time disguised as another underling before eventually revealing himself. The one thing he knows for certain is that Mimic lacks the ability to truly ever defeat Zang, but Zang must keep his blade and eyes sharp so he's ready to slay Mimic the moment he shows his face again.
Willow: The Core Guardian who led Zang to TGC. Upon their first interaction, Zang judged her to be highly virtuous, and reasoned that Willow represents the "Heart" of TGC. He decided he would use his blade to protect her and her land without question, believing it would lead to the prosper of virtue and the well-being of all. To this day, he has had no doubts in his assertion and believes he made the correct choice.
[Rock: Zang quickly bonded with Old Rock during the events of SJU, given their shared convictions and desire for justice. Zang enjoys testing his physical and mental endurance against him, and the two alternate being the mentor and mentee to one another. (See Rock's bio for more detail.)
Zang's Confidants: These are select individuals who Zang has judged their souls to be of noble character and implicitly trusts them, even if the feeling is not mutual. (This list can be expanded.)
Known Members: Willow, Rock, Vulcan Blitz, roboiago, Neko Middy, Deku/Locke (if applicable)
Borderline: Stardust Phoenix (post-Seraph's awakening), DJ (post-Inheritance)
The Sentinels: The group of elite soldiers that was officially formed by Zang following the Purge. The sentinels' job is prioritize the defense of Willow and the Core above all others.
Mimic: The closest thing Zang has to a rival. Mimic is an amoral Soulmaster with the ability to shapeshift into others, making him a dangerous individual and also one who stands against everything Zang believes in. Despite this, Zang knows relatively little about his foe, as Mimic spent most of his time disguised as another underling before eventually revealing himself. The one thing he knows for certain is that Mimic lacks the ability to truly ever defeat Zang, but Zang must keep his blade and eyes sharp so he's ready to slay Mimic the moment he shows his face again.
Willow: The Core Guardian who led Zang to TGC. Upon their first interaction, Zang judged her to be highly virtuous, and reasoned that Willow represents the "Heart" of TGC. He decided he would use his blade to protect her and her land without question, believing it would lead to the prosper of virtue and the well-being of all. To this day, he has had no doubts in his assertion and believes he made the correct choice.
[Rock: Zang quickly bonded with Old Rock during the events of SJU, given their shared convictions and desire for justice. Zang enjoys testing his physical and mental endurance against him, and the two alternate being the mentor and mentee to one another. (See Rock's bio for more detail.)
Zang's Confidants: These are select individuals who Zang has judged their souls to be of noble character and implicitly trusts them, even if the feeling is not mutual. (This list can be expanded.)
Known Members: Willow, Rock, Vulcan Blitz, roboiago, Neko Middy, Deku/Locke (if applicable)
Borderline: Stardust Phoenix (post-Seraph's awakening), DJ (post-Inheritance)
The Sentinels: The group of elite soldiers that was officially formed by Zang following the Purge. The sentinels' job is prioritize the defense of Willow and the Core above all others.
Social Aptitude
To most, Zang is heavily guarded and taciturn. Depending on how he judges the character of those around him, his brusque speech can come off as simply being reserved or as scorn directed at those who are not forthcoming in their thoughts or words. However, to those he's decided to bare his soul to, he's quite relaxed, almost even jovial. In either scenario, he is always upright about his own principles and what he believes to be just, never backing down from what he believes. In the event he doubts himself or is uncertain or uncomfortable, he would sooner say nothing than to lie or bend the truth. To this end, he enjoys pitting the beliefs of others against his, testing their resilience and acting as a kind of gadfly, or a mischievous stealth mentor.
In general, you can consider him a chivalrous character; he is sympathetic to people with pasts similar to his own, such as the poor and the persecuted; he's guarded and judgmental with the majority of people he encounters, and energetic among his trusted companions and others who earn his respect.
In general, you can consider him a chivalrous character; he is sympathetic to people with pasts similar to his own, such as the poor and the persecuted; he's guarded and judgmental with the majority of people he encounters, and energetic among his trusted companions and others who earn his respect.
Fight Style/Role in a Fight
He's familiar with various schools, but Zang's personal preference is his teacher's style, which resembles the German School of Swordsmanship. This style divides sword strikes based on angle and direction; such as a top-strike, diagonal strike, etc. and is intended to strike in a manner that breaks the opponents' guards. However, by combining this with Zornhau, Zang is able to simultaneously release energy-slashes in the same or different directions as his physical blade, to either double up on power or go for a one-two strike. However, Zang is not afraid to mix and match techniques from other styles as he sees fit, either to throw off his enemies or simply gain momentum as needed. Zang is a highly kinetic fighter and in general will move as much as possible to fuel Zornhau, since energy that would normally be 'wasted' is recaptured. This can involve simply swinging his sword and bouncing back in forth in his 'idle' state, to performing more adventurous stunts like kartwheeling around his enemy or throwing Zornhau into the air and catching it to strike from above. He can also engage in non-sword movements for the sake of offense or gaining momentum. Despite his chivalry, he's not above throwing a punch or a kick with his free arms and legs to release energy at the same time. Because Zang's power and stamina grow as he fights, rather than decaying, it's advantageous for him to 'stall' opponents that he can't readily defeat and dance around them to gain momentum. Even the legendary Joestar tactic of "running away" is valid because sprinting would allow him to gain speed and energy, potentially putting him at an advantage in power by the time his enemy catches up to him. However, this isn't to say Zang won't immediately dispatch someone weaker than him if given the chance. Once Zang thinks he can comfortably reach an enemy with a Zornhau strike, he'll move in for the kill. By extending the range of his energy strikes, he's able to attack vital areas (such as the neck or internal organs) that a "normal" swordsman would require direct physical contact in order to hit. With careful aim, he's able to bypass external defenses like armor or scales, but this is contingent on Zang knowing where to strike. Zornhau makes Zang highly adaptive and against truly fearsome opponents, or instances where an approach is difficult or dangerous, he may use releases of energy to distance himself and fight in a way that could not even be called sword-fighting at all. In this defensive, ranged approach, Zang can simply spin Zornhau continuously to defend his front, rear or top and flick off energy attacks with his free hand or feet. This method is rarely his go-to because of its incredibly unexciting nature, and not as powerful as direct slashes from his blade, but stalling, trolling, and wearing down his opponent work to his advantage, as Zang has all the time in the world to gain power. If Zang gains enough energy and focus to enter the Archknight state, he is virtually unstoppable, as any attack that would require contact to hit him could be deflected. (Although this is true to a lesser extent of regular Zang; it's impossible to "beat down" Zang as he can simply replenish his stamina or energy via Zornhau. This naturally makes him the ultimate sparring partner as well.) While his abilities give him immeasurable strength, he has a few notable weaknesses. The most obvious is that at the beginning of a fight, Zang must build up energy from scratch, provided he did not run a marathon or something in preparation. This is when he's at his "weakest" and easiest to dispatch. Next is that gaining and releasing energy requires Zang to move his body in some capacity. Any change to his body or environment that would slow him down (such as water, gravity, etc.) would reduce the speed he gains energy, although with enough time, he will have enough strength to overcome these kind of limitations. In theory he could be bound or paralyzed but the methods would need to have 100% efficacy, lest he use another part of his body to overcome his bonds. (And even in these cases, his heart and lungs will generate energy as long as they are active.) Smaller spaces with less room would also prove a (temporary) obstacle, but he can simply destroy them as needed. When it comes to his attacks, they are generally required to be aimed, with the exception the Archknight's Territory, so the use of illusions, camouflauge, or just being weird will impede his ability to make direct strikes. Additionally, his power requires considerable mental concentration and effort to use, and anything that interrupts his 'flow' state will considerably weaken his powers as well.Trivia
-In his homeland, his codename is pronounced "Zong" (rhymes with 'song') and it's a derogatory / profane curse word, commonly used to describe him when he was but a demon child. However, he adopted it out of spite and made into something positive, kind of like how "based" became something positive in the real world. Since that point he has never used his birth name except where legally required. -Zang came to TGC with nothing but his clothes and his sword, and to date those are still the only items he legally owns in Arbolisk. However, he's paid a salary as a sentinel, and has enough for his own meals and can generally stay at places like the palace or RICR if the weather doesn't permit him to stay at his favorite park bench. -Zang is insistent upon carrying these two items with him at all times, which can lead to amusing scenarios such as him attending a ball in chain mail underneath his tuxedo. He also eschews a number of customs; in general, he does not shake hands, as he would not let go of his sword from his right hand for such a trivial reason. Lefties are OK though. -As hinted above, Zang can go technically go without food using Zornhau to gain ATP, however he would still get hunger pains so he prefers not to do this.
Species
Conditions
Currently Held Titles
Year of Birth
9981
28 Years old
Children
Eyes
White
Hair
Dirty blond
Height
6'2" (6'5" in armor)
Weight
180lbs (280lbs with armor)
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