Empatheias app

[young_oldman]

⌈ PLAYER SECTION ⌉
Player: San
Contact: fanfictionming@Plurk
Age: 23
Current Characters: NA


⌈ CHARACTER SECTION ⌉
Character: Lu Meng Ziming. Traditional Chinese naming conventions would have him ask to be addressed as Lu Ziming by those unfamiliar and younger than him, while Lu Meng is only to be used by those who are older and/or close to him. However the english version of Dynasty Warriors ignores this practice and simply has him addressed as Lu Meng by everyone, and so for simplicity's sake I will do the same.
Age: 29
Canon: Dynasty Warriors
Canon Point: Post Death, after the victory at Fan Castle

Background: Wikia Link here.

Personality:

"Stop calling me old man. I may not look it, but I'm still quite young."

..but for all his insistence on his youth Lu Meng really acts the part of an old veteran soldier, nagging away at the newer members on the army to improve themselves. He lectures Gan Ning frequently on the ex-pirate's rude manners and rash impudence, and he consistently hectors Ling Tong on the importance of working together as a team. It probably doesn't help that he takes his duties very seriously and rarely jokes or smiles with others, or that he's often the one tasked to chase after the rowdier members of the army and keep them in line. His gruff and seemingly taciturn nature further cements his status as a grumpy old man who doesn't know how to lighten up.

However while Lu Meng does come across as a stern and no-nonsense teacher to the newer soldiers of the Wu army, he's also patient, supportive and willing to guide those under his wing. He never gives up on Gan Ning and Ling Tong despite how these two drive him up the wall with their constant bickering, and in the Warriors Orochi series he further takes on Kiyomasa and Masanori as two more charges, offering advice to the former while keeping an eye on the latter. While Lu Meng does occasionally bemoan the impeding headaches and/or stomach ulcers that comes from playing nanny to the hot-blooded young men of the army, it's a role that he nevertheless throws himself into whole-heartedly.

That's because Lu Meng views it as his duty to his country to ensure that the next generation of army officers will be ready to take up the mantle of protecting the borders of Wu from the looming threat of Tsao Tsao's conquest and ambition. He's always been a responsible person who regards his obligations seriously whether as a son, a soldier or a leader. Both Grand Commander Zhou Yu and then Zhou Yu's successor Lu Su entrust the future of Wu to him as they approach their deaths, and Lu Meng takes their words to heart and pushes himself to the utmost limit, unwilling to let their good faith in him go to waste.

But Lu Meng isn't just driven by obligations; he does what he does because he is also fiercely loyal to his kingdom, to his ruler and to his troops. He especially loves his homeland with all his heart; he proudly declares after every successful victory that he's accomplished "one more for the glory of Wu". Every action and choice is made with the best interests of the kingdom of Wu in mind. So if Lu Meng is required to sacrifice his life and his honor to protect the land and the people that he cares about, then so be it.

And Lu Meng does care very, very much about his soldiers. Lu Meng pushes himself very hard during the battle of Fan Castle, despite knowing the toll this campaign would take on his already worsening health. He admits the reason why to his protege Lu Xun with strained breath. "I thought I should be the one to do the dirty work." He didn't want any of the other officers to carry that regret, the guilt and the shame of betraying an alliance on their souls. Lu Meng is really an honest individual who dislikes using tricks and lies; Lu Su once comments that he's too guileless and that his honesty was actually holding him back from fulfilling his potential as a general and strategist. But it's because Lu Meng cares for his charges that he decides to play dirty just so that he could keep their conscience clean. And most of his officers, even the more stubborn and obdurate ones, know that Lu Meng has their best interest at heart and respect him all the more for it.

Altogether Lu Meng remains a very determined character with strong motivations. And he doesn't back down, period. He's willing to stain his hands with blood and mud to accomplish his ultimate goal of seeing peace return to Wu.

His devotion does, thankfully, take other more positive forms that don't involve bloodshed. Though initially an uneducated thug, Lu Meng is a man who likes to learn and who constantly seeks to improve himself as a general and a person so that he can better carry out his duties. He expresses excitement at the the prospect of being able to observe Wu's famed strategists Zhou Yu and Lu Su in battle and to learn from their wisdom. And later on, following advice from Sun Quan and Lu Su he decides to give studying a try and finds to his delight that he has an aptitude for it.

But although he may have matured over the years, there's still bits and pieces of that hot-headed and brash teenager that would kill a man over an insult lingering inside him. One thing that hasn't changed is how fiercely passionate he can get about matters that he feels strongly about. He's definitely developed a better grip on his temper and has taken to thinking before acting, he's still got his moments when he gets emotional and lets slip an outburst. He lashes out angrily at Guan Yu when Guan Yu curses Wu for their treachery, venting his frustration and bitterness over how Shu cared so little for Wu's well-being despite them supposedly being allies. It's a rare display of temper from Lu Meng, a normally calm leader with a steady head on his shoulders.

He also retains his straight-forward, almost blunt speech from his younger days. Lu Meng doesn't mince his words much; he'll call a spade a spade and an idiot an idiot. He is of course respectful to his commanding officers and to his lord, but he doesn't hesitate to call Gan Ning an insolent pirate and give him a solid whack on the head when the ex-brigand brings up the 'old man' moniker again. However this also means that praise from Lu Meng is real, solid praise. He's very happy when Ling Tong and Gan Ning begin to put aside the bad blood between them and commends them for their performance in battle. In fact, he's in such a good mood to see them getting along that he's willing to indulge in a little celebration and wine with the two, proving that underneath his serious demeanour is actually a more light-hearted individual.

Lu Meng does actually know how to enjoy life and to relax; he's mentioned that he used to over-indulge in wine when he was younger. Perhaps it's a combination of the stress of preparing the next generation of Wu, his busy duties of keeping Wu's borders safe, as well as the precarious situation that his homeland is in, that keeps him pensive and strict with his men. But in another ending within the game that can be unlocked if certain criteria are met, Lu Meng survives to see the end of the wars. Sun Quan throws a party to celebrate the beginning of a new era of peace and calm and Lu Meng can finally be seen laughing, relaxing and enjoying himself with everyone else.

Overall, to call Lu Meng an 'old man' would not be inaccurate. But there's still some trace of that young, impetuous teenager that he used to be. Lu Meng remains a faithful servant of Wu till his death, and he passes on secure with the knowledge that those he had watched and taught would carry on protecting Wu long after his demise.

Abilities:
Lu Meng first started out as a warrior; with almost fifteen years of service in the army under his belt he's an experienced and very capable fighter. For a sample of his martial prowess, check out this video here.

Lu Meng also seems able to utilize a few fire elemental attacks with his pike. The flashiest he gets is summoning a flame pillar; it's never explained in-game how he's able to do so (everyone in the game is supposed to be human save for the mystic Zuoci) but for RP purposes I'm inclined to say that it requires him to channel his qi energy, and that he needs time to build up enough energy to use his fire elemental attacks.

He's also a shrewd strategist. Lu Meng is decent at war tactics, but his key strength as a strategist comes from being able to quickly take stock of the situation and to put the pieces together to see the big picture.

Lastly Lu Meng is very perceptive of people. Already born with this talent, and after having spent quite a lot of time observing those around him to learn from example, Lu Meng has developed the ability to roughly discern most people and their motivations, as well as quickly analyze them for their strengths and weaknesses. He can be fooled by good liars and/or those who are skilled at hiding their thoughts and emotions from others.

Other:
NA

⌈ SAMPLE SECTION ⌉
First Person Sample:
Previous TDM thread!

Third Person Sample:
It's been...quite stressful for Lu Meng, to say the least. Following his encounter with Guan Xing, Lu Meng has found that his emotions have been in quite a lot of turmoil. If he could be honest...he doesn't regret what he's done. Guan Yu was a threat and had to be neutralized; so were his children. When a warrior takes to the battlefield he or she must understand that death is impartial, and always a hair's breadth away.

There was never anything personal from Lu Meng's side, at least with regards to Guan Yu's children. He only bore some disappointment and anger towards the man himself for his over-bearing arrogance and pompousness, and towards Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei for giving Wu nothing but false hopes and broken promises. Wu is not to be Shu's shield, meant to bear the brunt of Tsao Tsao's anger while their supposed ally flourishes within the shade. Allies help each other out, support each other in their time of need. With Shu though...Wu had just been a quick opportunity, yet another puppet in Zhuge Liang's play. Master Zhou Yu and the whole of Wu had just been collateral damage along Liu Bei's path to benevolence; Lu Meng would never forget that, could never forget that. So when push came to shove he took the opportunity so presented to him, and he made the bed that he laid in that night.

But he will not deny that he had acted dishonourably. And that it is cruel for children to witness their father being put down. Lu Meng had never known his own, the man having died shortly after his birth, but he had his mother and he understood the bond that ties a child to their parent. He prayed to the Buddha that she was shielded from the true cause of his death; that would cause her too much pain and distress then she could bear. But much in the same way he had inflicted a similar pain onto Guan Yu's children. And he had robbed the younger siblings of an older brother as well.

Would he have killed the children? He wonders idly as he gazes into the deep blue sky of Empatheias. The adrenaline, the passion, the anger, the hatred, the vicious bloodlust, the thrill of victory...he had been completely consumed by these intense emotions. Compassion and empathy was nowhere to be found that night, only cold logic.

So yes, he probably would've killed them.

In death he has had the time to think over his actions. And that's a sobering thought, that he would stoop to such levels. And that he would do it again if he had to. It's kept his mood low ever since he and Guan Xing parted ways and swore to stay out of each other's path, out of respect for the laws of the land. That such terrible familicide had to be carried out for the greater cause...the land had truly turned into a bloody stage if such a tale could be stomached by the masses, even championed as a victory.

Lu Meng sighs and glances over to the drooping sunflowers on his right that had just, about five minutes ago, been standing up straight, tall and proud before he had taken his seat here.

"Sorry. I just can't shake this bad mood off."

It seems funny to address flowers. But Lu Meng can't apologize to Guan Xing. Even if he did it would be scant condolences and probably nothing short of his head would do to soothe the younger man's hurt and justified anger.

The very least he could right now is offer his apologies to the pretty things.

Questions:
Lu Meng's death in the latest Dynasty Warriors instalment is said to be by illness. Other games have had him suffering from an old arrow wound as well, while the original source material that the games are based on cites that he died by possession. My personal headcanon is to have him die by possession but that the true cause of his death was covered up to prevent his poor mother from dying of grief, as well as to prevent the Wu army from getting spooked out. I'd like to request if I can use this particular headcanon for this application? It would definitely be an intense emotional experience to die from having your insides explode, and I'd like to have Lu Meng reflect more on his role at Fan Castle.