Xiaoli Xiou

The Blue Orchid. Holy warriors in the service of Arqueros whose blades are guided by a power and law higher than that of men, some might (in hushed tones) call the members of the Blue Orchid “assassins”. But amongst their own and those who have need of their skills, there is another term for what they do.

Gardeners.

With the motto of the Blue Orchid etched across her arms in scar tissue and lovingly inked floral highlights, Xiaoli embodies the values of the brotherhood. Upon her right arm, “Nurture the Virtuous” and upon her left, “Cull the Wicked”. Skilled in moving swiftly and slaying enemies with a single stroke, it is sometimes hard to marry the diametrically opposed aspects of her duty and her personality.

Cheerful and eager to bend an elbow with the best of them at the tavern, she could easily be mistaken for an exotic bard. She makes friends readily, and it seems almost odd that this initiate of the mystic arts and holy warrior is so worldly. It is hard to imagine her as a woman who has studied at great length the art of hand to hand combat and bladed combat directed against the forces of evil. In fact, these past fifteen years have been a journey, from mindless holy warrior of Jascar, to a devoted servant of Arqueros, the enlightened. There was a period of atonement when she left Jascar's faith, and sought to cleanse her soul and embraced the philosophy and aesthetic teachings of Arqueros.

Originally the third child of a merchant family in Hesuel Ilshar, her father would travel to distant lands and return with rare herbs and unsanctioned news and tales of what he had seen. Her mother would compound them into potions for all manner of ailments. Their work was noble and made them wealthy, but greed was a stone in their hearts.

Obedience was a must in their society, and accumulation of wealth was forbidden. Her family was ratted out by others who were jealous, and they were at least able to get their children out before the secret police came for them. Refugees in Sunndi, they were taken in by an orphanage run by the Church of Jascar, and in Xialoi they found the perfect instrument. She was accepted into the Paladin Order of the church, and eventually met her comrades.

Years of adventuring had given her friends and purpose, but after their time aiding the Lord of Ratikhill, Xiaoli had begun questioning her place. She felt lost, and blamed her parents, the Scarlet Brotherhood and Jascar's faith in equal measure for using her, misleading her, and stealing her childhood and experiences from her. She ended up abandoning Jascar, and seeking enlightenment, although there were a few years of wandering lost before Shei finally spoke to her.

She has purple hair, and the fair skin of the Suel. Her eyes are green, and she has multiple tattoos across her body. She is tall, nearly six feet, and agile, and as wise as she is beautiful. She wears no armor, instead trusting in her agility and her aesthetics's training to keep her out of harm's way. She wears a pair of bracers emblazoned with dragonflies, Shei's symbol. She carries one weapon, a katana, and does not normally wear shoes, although she has a pair of sandals that she will wear for important functions. A minimalist, she does not care for material possessions, and instead will use funds for experiences, such as tattoos, good food, or drugs to enhance her mind.

Her time without faith took her to many parts of Oerth, and she has learned much.

She worked for several years to gain her faith back, and her work in the Monastery of the Blue Orchid paid off, she was healthy, she was confident, and her time in meditation and training honed her skills, and made her again, the Righteous Blade in the fight against evil.

The Blue Orchid seeks to remove the scourge of evil from the land, uproot it and to give it the choice to repent or be destroyed.

Some question the holy order and their methods. There is another proverb among those who the Blue Orchid deem “wicked”.  “Good iron is not used to make nails. Good men do not become soldiers.” Xiaoli is equally known for her diplomatic skills as well as her deadly blade. She prefers to rely on her tongue, but she sharpens her Katana nightly in case her words fail her.