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Application for Etraya
Sep. 1st, 2024 01:22 am⏵ player information
name and pronouns: Alice (she/her)
age: 40+
contact: PM or Discord: mimarinrin
⏵ character information
name: Nie Huaisang (Western Order: Huaisang Nie)
canon: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel timeline but I use non-contradictory supplemental material from author interviews and other adaptations of the canon to flesh out gaps in detail.)
age: 35
canon point: Chapter 21, during his rest at Lotus Pier after the Second Siege of the Burial Mounds.
history: Wiki history
abilities: Spiritual Abilities
Cultivation - Essentially, mystic disciplines incorporating martial arts and meditation practices with the eventual goal of obtaining immortality. Used to slay spirits and demons. In practice, cultivators harness spiritual energy within their bodies and can used it augment their physical capabilities: increase strength, endurance, agility, etc. It's also used to improve health and extend lifespans. Cultivators can also pass this energy to others as well as use it to heal wounds or fly around using their swords. For the most part, Nie Huaisang's abilities are largely unspecified though it's suggested that he has a hard cap on his power level due forming his golden core (internal spiritual power source) nine years later than his peers. He has no notable abilities but he's advanced enough to maintain a youthful appearance well in his thirties, generally an indicator of some level of power in the genre . He was able to exert minimal control over his brother's cursed arm that took multiple cultivators to suppress by himself for an brief, indeterminate amount of time until he was forced to seek further aid. According to the author, Nie Huaisang prefers to appear more useless than he is, suggesting that he may be downplaying his abilities to his peers somewhat but is ultimately, a mediocre cultivator at best.
Saber Cultivation - The signature style of the Qinghe Nie Sect that draws power from negative energy emanating from slain beasts. It's a fighting style that emphasizes physical strength and aggression, two areas that Nie Huaisang is lacking in. He's an unskilled martial artist, to a point his brother claims that he could not defend himself under attack during his youth. Considering that he'd barely mastered any saber techniques before casting the weapon aside after Nie Mingjue's death, it's assumed he still doesn't have much in the way of skill at martial arts. Where Nie cultivators normally have a spiritual connection to their sabers and keep them in close vicinity, Nie Huaisang has no such connection with his saber or much ability to control it.
Daoist Magic - Basically, magic spells utilizing mystical symbols to produce various effects. This can be used both offensively and defensively. It can also produce a myriad of effects like producing light, starting fires, repelling spirits, disorienting others via tampering the appearance of ones surrounding through illusionary terrain, etc. In the live action movie, Fatal Journey, Huaisang is said to be good at Daoist magic and his skills as an artist and calligrapher support him being adept at drawing talismans and arrays with proper materials if need be. The novel doesn't contradict this information in any way whatsoever so it's safe to assume that he possesses the same capabilities there as well. Just like with his cultivation, there are limits on how much spiritual power he's able to weave into his magic meaning that it can me overcome by any entity or person at a higher level than he is.
Mundane Abilities
Acting - He's a phenomenal actor, capable of adopting and maintaining a persona for years without breaking character even when threatened or pressured to do so. He's capable of fooling both close friends and society at large when he puts his mind to it.
Leadership - Huaisang not your typical leader, preferring to maintain a low profile within groups annd influence its movement through more more subtle means. He relies on more covert manipulation and precise nudges to get the ball rolling in whatever direct he wants. He also has a knack for organizing and managing large groups of people and keeping them on track without them being the wiser.
Fashion - Huaisang has keen fashion sense. He's pretty adept at throwing together a stylish outfit that expresses the image he wants. He's also able to use this talent to disguise himself if he wishes to dress down and go incognito for travel.
Fine Arts - Huaisang skills lie in painting, calligraphy, and composing poetry. He also has an eye for quality art and collects it as well.
personality: On the surface, Nie Huaisang seems like a pretty flighty and useless individual, prone to crying for help, running from danger, and hiding behind others bigger and stronger than him. He fears physical pain, crumples like a paper ball under pressure, and generally makes a melodramatic spectacle of himself, often drawing others to view him with resigned contempt for his behavior. He's passionate about fashion and the scholarly arts and shows little interest in martial arts, cultivation, or being a 'proper' sect leader.
While this persona can overlap with genuine aspects of Nie Huaisang's personality, it's primarily a facade used to trick others into lowering their guard around him so he can observe them more closely without being perceived as a threat or manipulate them into doing various tasks he wants done. He's a rather coldly pragmatic and ruthless person, one who is very focused on his plans and sees others as simply tools to carry out those plans. That said, there's little personal malice behind the risks he takes with others lives; to him, it's an unpleasant means to an end that will benefit a greater good in the long term. For the most part, he plays the role of puppetmaster out of deep mistrust and an absence of faith in others after losing both his father and brother to sneaky, underhanded acts of betrayal. The former's suspicious death was largely met with indifference from the other sects and the latter's murder of which was committed by someone he trusted and loved deeply who continued to deceive him from that point onward.
Despite the playbook of deception and shady undertakings that Nie Huaisang uses in order to get things done, he views himself as a righteous man driven to difficult choices and desperate measures. After so many years of being seen as a good-for-nothing, even by his own beloved brother, Nie Huaisang's self-worth is pretty low. He sees himself as weak, stupid, and nowhere near to being the sect leader that his brother was, mostly unaware of his own high level of intelligence or talent for political strategy. He believes himself to have no worthwhile talents or skills, as shown in disparaging, matter-of-fact comments he makes about himself.
Morally speaking, Nie Huaisang believes in justice and that vigilante justice is better than none at all. Traitors and criminals who deliberately prey on the weak and helpless for their own self-aggrandizement are among the worst people in his eyes. Much like his brother, he believes that doing the right thing takes courage and integrity though his own interpretations of how to best proceed when acting on that belief are far more flexible. He sees issues in far less black-and-white terms and is more accepting and tolerant of nuance and shades of gray. Despite this, he stays within the moral lines expected of him by society in his time for the most part. His revenge is both personal and aligned with his society's collectivist beliefs on filial loyalty and what are generally considered heinous, unforgivable crimes. This is reinforced by the author's statement on him that even if Nie Huaisang's role in Jin Guangyao's takedown was publicly known, he committed no crime in avenging his brother.
Ultimately, all Nie Huaisang truly wants is what he's always wanted: a carefree, simple, and peaceful life that isn't troubled by constant stress or anxiety. For the most part, he's a patient, gentle soul who would rather not fight and can be surprisingly generous and kind if he's in a position where ha can actually help someone. He's not a killer and takes little pleasure in carrying out his obligations to his clan; in fact, the text states outright that it's a miserable position for him to be in. He takes some measure of comfort in his hobbies, interests, and simply luxuries but by condemning himself to live life from underneath a mask, he's sacrificed his dreams, his reputation, and the majority of his relationships to do what he believes to be the right thing, even if he has to act out the part of a villain at times to see it through to the end.
samples: Ellana
Fandaniel
Wen Kexing
Vincent
name and pronouns: Alice (she/her)
age: 40+
contact: PM or Discord: mimarinrin
⏵ character information
name: Nie Huaisang (Western Order: Huaisang Nie)
canon: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel timeline but I use non-contradictory supplemental material from author interviews and other adaptations of the canon to flesh out gaps in detail.)
age: 35
canon point: Chapter 21, during his rest at Lotus Pier after the Second Siege of the Burial Mounds.
history: Wiki history
abilities: Spiritual Abilities
Cultivation - Essentially, mystic disciplines incorporating martial arts and meditation practices with the eventual goal of obtaining immortality. Used to slay spirits and demons. In practice, cultivators harness spiritual energy within their bodies and can used it augment their physical capabilities: increase strength, endurance, agility, etc. It's also used to improve health and extend lifespans. Cultivators can also pass this energy to others as well as use it to heal wounds or fly around using their swords. For the most part, Nie Huaisang's abilities are largely unspecified though it's suggested that he has a hard cap on his power level due forming his golden core (internal spiritual power source) nine years later than his peers. He has no notable abilities but he's advanced enough to maintain a youthful appearance well in his thirties, generally an indicator of some level of power in the genre . He was able to exert minimal control over his brother's cursed arm that took multiple cultivators to suppress by himself for an brief, indeterminate amount of time until he was forced to seek further aid. According to the author, Nie Huaisang prefers to appear more useless than he is, suggesting that he may be downplaying his abilities to his peers somewhat but is ultimately, a mediocre cultivator at best.
Saber Cultivation - The signature style of the Qinghe Nie Sect that draws power from negative energy emanating from slain beasts. It's a fighting style that emphasizes physical strength and aggression, two areas that Nie Huaisang is lacking in. He's an unskilled martial artist, to a point his brother claims that he could not defend himself under attack during his youth. Considering that he'd barely mastered any saber techniques before casting the weapon aside after Nie Mingjue's death, it's assumed he still doesn't have much in the way of skill at martial arts. Where Nie cultivators normally have a spiritual connection to their sabers and keep them in close vicinity, Nie Huaisang has no such connection with his saber or much ability to control it.
Daoist Magic - Basically, magic spells utilizing mystical symbols to produce various effects. This can be used both offensively and defensively. It can also produce a myriad of effects like producing light, starting fires, repelling spirits, disorienting others via tampering the appearance of ones surrounding through illusionary terrain, etc. In the live action movie, Fatal Journey, Huaisang is said to be good at Daoist magic and his skills as an artist and calligrapher support him being adept at drawing talismans and arrays with proper materials if need be. The novel doesn't contradict this information in any way whatsoever so it's safe to assume that he possesses the same capabilities there as well. Just like with his cultivation, there are limits on how much spiritual power he's able to weave into his magic meaning that it can me overcome by any entity or person at a higher level than he is.
Mundane Abilities
Acting - He's a phenomenal actor, capable of adopting and maintaining a persona for years without breaking character even when threatened or pressured to do so. He's capable of fooling both close friends and society at large when he puts his mind to it.
Leadership - Huaisang not your typical leader, preferring to maintain a low profile within groups annd influence its movement through more more subtle means. He relies on more covert manipulation and precise nudges to get the ball rolling in whatever direct he wants. He also has a knack for organizing and managing large groups of people and keeping them on track without them being the wiser.
Fashion - Huaisang has keen fashion sense. He's pretty adept at throwing together a stylish outfit that expresses the image he wants. He's also able to use this talent to disguise himself if he wishes to dress down and go incognito for travel.
Fine Arts - Huaisang skills lie in painting, calligraphy, and composing poetry. He also has an eye for quality art and collects it as well.
personality: On the surface, Nie Huaisang seems like a pretty flighty and useless individual, prone to crying for help, running from danger, and hiding behind others bigger and stronger than him. He fears physical pain, crumples like a paper ball under pressure, and generally makes a melodramatic spectacle of himself, often drawing others to view him with resigned contempt for his behavior. He's passionate about fashion and the scholarly arts and shows little interest in martial arts, cultivation, or being a 'proper' sect leader.
While this persona can overlap with genuine aspects of Nie Huaisang's personality, it's primarily a facade used to trick others into lowering their guard around him so he can observe them more closely without being perceived as a threat or manipulate them into doing various tasks he wants done. He's a rather coldly pragmatic and ruthless person, one who is very focused on his plans and sees others as simply tools to carry out those plans. That said, there's little personal malice behind the risks he takes with others lives; to him, it's an unpleasant means to an end that will benefit a greater good in the long term. For the most part, he plays the role of puppetmaster out of deep mistrust and an absence of faith in others after losing both his father and brother to sneaky, underhanded acts of betrayal. The former's suspicious death was largely met with indifference from the other sects and the latter's murder of which was committed by someone he trusted and loved deeply who continued to deceive him from that point onward.
Despite the playbook of deception and shady undertakings that Nie Huaisang uses in order to get things done, he views himself as a righteous man driven to difficult choices and desperate measures. After so many years of being seen as a good-for-nothing, even by his own beloved brother, Nie Huaisang's self-worth is pretty low. He sees himself as weak, stupid, and nowhere near to being the sect leader that his brother was, mostly unaware of his own high level of intelligence or talent for political strategy. He believes himself to have no worthwhile talents or skills, as shown in disparaging, matter-of-fact comments he makes about himself.
Morally speaking, Nie Huaisang believes in justice and that vigilante justice is better than none at all. Traitors and criminals who deliberately prey on the weak and helpless for their own self-aggrandizement are among the worst people in his eyes. Much like his brother, he believes that doing the right thing takes courage and integrity though his own interpretations of how to best proceed when acting on that belief are far more flexible. He sees issues in far less black-and-white terms and is more accepting and tolerant of nuance and shades of gray. Despite this, he stays within the moral lines expected of him by society in his time for the most part. His revenge is both personal and aligned with his society's collectivist beliefs on filial loyalty and what are generally considered heinous, unforgivable crimes. This is reinforced by the author's statement on him that even if Nie Huaisang's role in Jin Guangyao's takedown was publicly known, he committed no crime in avenging his brother.
Ultimately, all Nie Huaisang truly wants is what he's always wanted: a carefree, simple, and peaceful life that isn't troubled by constant stress or anxiety. For the most part, he's a patient, gentle soul who would rather not fight and can be surprisingly generous and kind if he's in a position where ha can actually help someone. He's not a killer and takes little pleasure in carrying out his obligations to his clan; in fact, the text states outright that it's a miserable position for him to be in. He takes some measure of comfort in his hobbies, interests, and simply luxuries but by condemning himself to live life from underneath a mask, he's sacrificed his dreams, his reputation, and the majority of his relationships to do what he believes to be the right thing, even if he has to act out the part of a villain at times to see it through to the end.
samples: Ellana
Fandaniel
Wen Kexing
Vincent
